No. 8 BYU secured a monumental 28-24 victory over No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday night, Oct. 17, 2026, at a sold-out LaVell Edwards Stadium. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier orchestrated a decisive 10-play, 55-yard drive to score the go-ahead touchdown with 1:47 remaining, halting the Fighting Irish's 16-game winning streak.
A Night of Major Upsets
The victory for the Cougars, who have now started 6-0 for the third consecutive season, comes during a historic Saturday in college football. Per Fox Sports reporting, five of the top eight teams in the AP Top 25 lost on the same regular-season day for the first time, a trend that included No. 1 Georgia's 27-24 loss to Auburn. This marked the first time since Nov. 17, 2012, that the top two teams in the nation lost on the same day during the regular season.
Special Teams and Turnovers
The game was defined by momentum swings and critical special teams errors. BYU took a 14-10 lead in the second quarter following a 15-yard touchdown run by Bachmeier that followed a 15-yard touchdown catch by Kyler Kasper. However, the momentum shifted late in the half when Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr fumbled while attempting to spike the ball with six seconds remaining. Isaiah Glasker recovered the loose ball, allowing the Irish to maintain an 11-point lead heading into halftime.
Notre Dame's Second Half Rally
Notre Dame attempted to mount a comeback in the third quarter. Following a punt by Jasper Scaife, freshman Bubba Frazier recovered a dropped punt by Cannon DeVries at the BYU 41-yard line. This gave the Irish a scoring opportunity, leading to a 31-yard field goal by Spencer Porath that cut the deficit to eight points. The Irish defense, led by Luke Talich and Drayk Bowen, who recorded eight tackles each, managed to hold the Cougars to just seven points in the second half.
Defensive Stand and Ejections
Despite the Irish surge, BYU's defense remained resilient. Jayden Sanders recorded a key interception at the Irish 15-yard line with 8:05 left in the game, and Keon Keeley recorded a pass deflection at the line of scrimmage. The Irish's offensive efforts were hampered by the loss of defensive player Boubacar Traore, who was ejected for a targeting foul on BYU's first possession. The ejection followed a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on Traore that was upheld after review.
The Final Drive
The final minutes saw Notre Dame push deep into Cougar territory. CJ Carr completed several clutch passes, including a fourth-down connection to Micah Gilbert that placed the Irish at the BYU 9-yard line with four seconds remaining. However, a final pass intended for Jaden Greathouse in the end zone fell incomplete as time expired, ending the game. Carr finished the night completing 27 of 49 passes for 261 yards, with Greathouse accounting for 125 of those yards through eight receptions.
Looking Ahead
The outcome leaves BYU with a 6-0 record and a matchup against UCF on Oct. 24. Notre Dame, now 6-1, will travel to face Navy on Oct. 31. The Irish struggled with red-zone efficiency, settling for field goals despite starting multiple drives within BYU territory.
Final Score Details
The box score for the matchup confirms the final score of 28-24 in favor of BYU. The game highlights a significant shift in the national rankings, as the second-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell to the Cougars in a high-intensity environment.
