Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier recorded a rushing, passing, and receiving touchdown on Saturday night, Oct. 17, 2026, to lead No. 8 BYU to a historic 28-24 victory over No. 2 Notre Dame at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The win, occurring during a high-stakes primetime matchup, marked the highest-ranked opponent the Cougars have defeated since their 1990 victory over No. 1 Miami.
A Historic Triple-Threat Performance
Bachmeier's multifaceted performance secured the win for the Cougars. The sophomore quarterback completed 23 of 36 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown, a score to tight end Walker Lyons in the fourth quarter that helped reclaim the lead. He also added two rushing touchdowns and caught a 15-yard touchdown on a double pass from Kyler Kasper in the second quarter, marking the first receiving touchdown of his collegiate career.
Breaking Longtime Records
The victory was particularly significant as Bachmeier became the first FBS player in the last 30 years to record a rushing, passing, and receiving touchdown in a single game against an AP Top-5 opponent. He also joins former Cougar legend Steve Young as the only players in BYU history to achieve those three specific feats in the same game, a feat Young accomplished during the 1983 Holiday Bowl.
Coaching Reaction to Victory
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake expressed satisfaction with the team's resilience following the win. While acknowledging mistakes, including a failed fake punt, Sitake credited his players for embracing the spotlight of the ESPN College GameDay and ABC primetime broadcast. He noted that the statistical output of both teams remained closely matched in terms of rushing and passing yardage, making the final outcome a tight contest that came down to the final play.
Defensive Stand Secures Win
The defensive effort was equally vital to the win. Linebacker Cade Uluave led the Cougars with nine tackles, while safety Raider Damuni recorded seven tackles in his first game back since the season opener against Utah Tech. The BYU secondary limited Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr to a 55% completion rate and prevented any passing touchdowns.
Transfer and Starting Status
Bachmeier's path to the BYU starting lineup involved a significant transition from the Stanford Cardinal. After enrolling early at Stanford for the 2025 spring season, the sophomore decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal during spring practices to join his brother, Tiger Bachmeier, at BYU. Bachmeier was named the starting quarterback for the Cougars on Aug. 19, 2025, making him the first true freshman in program history to start a season opener.
High School Career Overview
Before transferring, Bachmeier was a highly touted recruit. A four-star prospect, he was ranked as high as the No. 11 quarterback in the nation by ESPN. During his sophomore season at Murrieta Valley High School in California, he recorded 6,810 passing yards and 59 touchdowns, alongside 1,724 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns. His high school career included a return from a knee injury that caused him to miss the first eight games of his senior season, yet he still led his team to the Division 2 title game.
Family Football Ties
The Bachmeier family maintains a strong football lineage. Bear is the younger brother of wide receiver Tiger Bachmeier and former collegiate quarterback Hank Bachmeier. His brother Hank previously played quarterback at Boise State, Louisiana Tech, and Wake Forest. Additionally, Bachmeier's mother, April, is from Thailand.
