No. 8 BYU defeated No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, on Oct. 18, 2026, to snap the Irish's 16-game winning streak. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier led the Cougars with a versatile performance, accounting for three touchdowns through rushing, passing, and receiving plays.
Late Game Drama in Provo
The victory for the undefeated BYU (6-0) came via a dramatic final drive, as the Cougars took a decisive lead with 1:47 remaining in the game. On a third-and-goal from the 6-yard line, Bachmeier threw a touchdown pass to Walker Lyons to cap a 10-play, 55-yard drive, according to prior reporting by NBC Sports.
Notre Dame (6-1) attempted a final response behind quarterback C.J. Carr, who converted two fourth-down passes to move the Irish to the BYU 4-yard line with just 4 seconds left on the clock. On the final play, Carr threw an incompletion into the end zone intended for Jaden Greathouse, who was unable to secure the ball while making contact with a BYU defender. While a replay review was not conducted on the final play, there appeared to be approximately one second remaining when the ball hit the ground, according to NBC Sports.
Bachmeier's Triple-Threat Performance
Bachmeier's performance was a historic one for the BYU quarterback, as he became the only BYU signal-caller to record a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown in a single game. His rushing touchdowns came on 5-yard runs during the first and second quarters, while his receiving touchdown was a 12-yard connection from C.J. Carr during the second quarter.
Notre Dame struggled to maintain momentum throughout the contest despite several opportunities. The Irish held a 24-21 lead with 9:31 remaining in the game after Jonaz Walton scored on a 3-yard touchdown run, but they were unable to hold the advantage. The loss ended a streak of 16 consecutive wins for the Irish, all of which had been decided by double digits and dated back to September 2025, according to NBC Sports.
Key Turning Points and Penalties
The game was marked by significant defensive plays and penalties. Early in the first quarter, Notre Dame defensive lineman Boubacar Traore was ejected for a targeting penalty following a helmet-to-helmet hit on Bachmeier. This ejection occurred just 2:30 into the contest, according to NBC Sports.
BYU also benefited from a fumble recovery on a punt return in Notre Dame territory, which helped lead to a field goal. Additionally, the Irish failed to convert a fake punt on fourth and 5, which allowed the Cougars to set up a 46-yard field goal by Sebastian Porath that was successful at the 5:06 mark of the first quarter.
Notre Dame Offensive Struggles
Notre Dame's offense featured strong individual performances despite the loss. Quarterback C.J. Carr completed 27 of 49 passes for 261 yards. Nolan James Jr. led the Irish rushing attack with 16 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown.
One notable moment occurred late in the second quarter when Carr attempted to spike the ball to stop the clock but lost control of the football. A replay review confirmed the fumble, which was Notre Dame's first of the season, preventing a potential touchdown or field goal before halftime, according to NBC Sports.
Coaching Reactions
Following the game, BYU coach Kalani Sitake expressed pride in his team's aggressive play style. "They wanted some pressure, we gave it to him, it worked out for us," Sitake said. "Our coaches did a great job. I told you we were going to have fun tonight. We wanted to make some memories, you’ve got to be aggressive. Really proud of our guys and happy for our fans."
Sitake also noted the significance of the matchup, stating that this was the first time the stadium had hosted two ranked teams in the top 10. He concluded by saying the team would remain "humble and hungry" as they continue their work, according to NBC Sports.
National Rankings Impact
The outcome of the BYU and Notre Dame matchup contributed to a historic Saturday in college football. Along with Notre Dame, top-ranked Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas were among five of the top seven teams in the AP Top 25 poll that suffered losses. With Georgia losing to unranked Auburn, No. 3 Miami is expected to inherit the No. 1 ranking after their double-overtime victory over Florida State, according to NBC Sports.
