No. 8 BYU secured a historic 28-24 victory over No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday night, Oct. 17, 2026, at LaVell Edwards Stadium, marking the highest-ranked opponent the Cougars have defeated since 1990. Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier led the offense with a rare combination of rushing, passing, and receiving touchdowns to secure the win in a matchup featured on ABC primetime coverage.
Bachmeier's Historic Performance
Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier delivered a standout performance that achieved several collegiate milestones. Bachmeier threw for 224 yards on 23 completions out of 36 attempts and recorded one passing touchdown, a score delivered to tight end Walker Lyons in the fourth quarter to reclaim the lead. Additionally, Bachmeier rushed for two touchdowns and secured a receiving touchdown on a double pass.
With his performance, Bachmeier became the first FBS player in the last 30 years to record a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown against an AP Top-5 team in a single game. He is also the first Cougar to achieve this feat in any game since Steve Young did so in the 1983 Holiday Bowl.
Coaching Reaction
The victory was a significant milestone for the BYU program, representing the school's first win over a top-ranked opponent of this magnitude since defeating No. 1 Miami in 1990. BYU head coach Kalani Sitake expressed satisfaction with the team's ability to perform under the spotlight of ESPN's College GameDay and ABC's primetime broadcast.
"Really happy with the win. What a great game," Sitake said following the game. "I have to give a lot of credit to Notre Dame for taking this game and being out here in Provo. The spotlight was on this game and on our guys, and I thought our guys embraced the opportunity."
Strategic Decisions
The game was characterized by tight competition and strategic risks. Coach Sitake noted that the team made mistakes, specifically citing a fake punt attempt that failed. "I probably got a little too risky and aggressive, but we’ll be alright," Sitake said. "I can learn from some lessons and be better. The fake punt was on me. I thought we had a good call there, but Notre Dame had a better one."
Sitake also noted the statistical parity between the two teams, observing that run yardage and pass yardage were very similar on both sides, resulting in a game that remained competitive until the final play.
Defensive and Offensive Stats
The BYU defense was instrumental in holding the No. 2 Fighting Irish to a 55% completion percentage and preventing any passing touchdowns. Linebacker Cade Uluave led the defensive effort with nine tackles, while safety Raider Damuni recorded seven tackles in his first appearance since the season opener against Utah Tech.
On the offensive side, running back Preston Rex contributed 66 rushing yards, while Bachmeier added 45 yards on the ground. Kyler Kasper and Legend Glasker each totaled 66 receiving yards to lead the Cougars' aerial attack. Tight end Walker Lyons contributed five receptions for 49 yards, including the critical go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Scoring Summary
The first quarter saw BYU take an early 7-0 lead after Bachmeier scored on a 5-yard designed quarterback run. Notre Dame responded with a 46-yard field goal by Spencer Porath to make the score 7-3. In the second quarter, Notre Dame took a 10-7 lead following an eight-yard touchdown run by Nolan James Jr.
BYU reclaimed the lead in the second quarter when Bachmeier scored his first collegiate receiving touchdown on a 15-yard play involving a backward pass from Kasper. The game remained a defensive battle through the first half, with Notre Dame's offense struggling to find consistent rhythm against the BYU secondary.
Sportsmanship Highlight
Beyond the competitive action on the field, the matchup featured moments of sportsmanship between players. During the game, BYU's Matthias Leach was observed taking a moment to help up Notre Dame's Jaden Greathouse.
Final Result
The victory for No. 8 BYU over No. 2 Notre Dame stands as one of the most significant wins in the program's recent history, driven by Bachmeier's multi-dimensional offensive role and a disciplined defensive performance that prevented the Fighting Irish from scoring a single touchdown.
