Bear Bachmeier led BYU to a thrilling 28-24 victory against Notre Dame on Saturday in Provo, Utah. With only 1:47 to go, Bachmeier threw a crucial touchdown pass that secured the win for BYU against the No. 2 ranked Fighting Irish. This victory was part of a historic day in college football where five of the top eight teams lost, according to Sportradar.
Earlier in the day, No. 1 Georgia experienced a surprise 27-24 defeat to Auburn. These results marked the first time since November 17, 2012, that the top two teams in the country had both lost on the same regular-season day.
Bachmeier’s performance was pivotal for the Cougars. He scored two touchdowns by running and threw for 224 yards, contributing significantly to BYU’s victory. Additionally, he caught a touchdown pass in a solid performance against Notre Dame, breaking the Cougars’ winless streak against the Irish since 2004.
Preston Rex bolstered BYU’s offensive efforts with 66 yards on 10 carries, contributing to the team’s undefeated start this season. After the win, BYU fans erupted in celebration, storming the field to join the festivities.
“BYU fans storm the field after beating Notre Dame 28-24 on Saturday.”
— (Tyler Tate/AP)
CJ Carr of Notre Dame made several crucial throws, including a fourth-down pass to Micah Gilbert, placing Notre Dame at BYU’s 9-yard line with seconds remaining. Despite the late attempts, Carr’s final pass was incomplete, sealing BYU’s triumph.
Notre Dame came back from an 11-point deficit at halftime, narrowing the gap to five before field goals helped them recover from a muffed punt and a failed fake punt by BYU. Jonaz Walton’s 3-yard run gave Notre Dame a brief lead of 24-21 in the fourth quarter.
Bachmeier continued to challenge Notre Dame, leading BYU to the Irish territory. Despite Jayden Sanders intercepting a pass at the Irish 15-yard line, BYU forced a three-and-out, giving Bachmeier the opportunity to drive for the decisive touchdown with a 6-yard pass to Walker Lyons.
“BYU’s Walker Lyons celebrates after scoring the go-ahead touchdown.”
— (Chris Gardner/Getty)
CJ Carr ended the game with 261 yards and Nolan James Jr. contributed 77 yards and a touchdown. Notre Dame’s 16-game winning streak was snapped due to their inability to effectively finish drives in the red zone.
Bachmeier showcased a combination of accurate passing and strong running to put Notre Dame under pressure. He achieved a 72% completion rate in the first half, leading to a commanding offensive display. BYU took an early lead with a 5-yard touchdown from Bachmeier, followed by an 8-yard run by James securing a 10-7 position for Notre Dame.
Bachmeier dominated the Irish defense with a key reception from Kyler Kasper and a 15-yard touchdown run. His 1-yard dive further extended BYU’s lead to 21-10 at halftime. Despite Notre Dame’s late first-half efforts, Carr’s fumble preserved BYU’s lead.
Notre Dame: The Irish faced issues in converting crucial opportunities in the red zone, settling for field goals and losing possession in BYU territory. BYU: The Cougars missed a chance to extend their lead due to penalties and special teams errors that allowed Notre Dame to re-enter the game.
Upcoming Matches:
- Notre Dame: vs. Navy on October 31
- BYU: vs. UCF on October 24