Notre Dame asked for BYU. The Cougars made the Irish regret it

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Notre Dame asked for BYU. The Cougars made the Irish regret it

Notre Dame asked for BYU. The Cougars made the Irish regret it

John Brice, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Sun, Oct 18, 2026 ·

2 min read

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PROVO, UT – Careful what you wish for, Notre Dame .

You asked BYU to play . The Cougars weren't messing around.

Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier hit tight end Walker Lyons on 3rd-and-goal from the 7 inside the final two minutes, providing the go-ahead score in a 28-24 Cougars upset , Saturday, Oct. 17.

In spring, its rivalry with USC unraveling, Notre Dame called BYU and said, "Let's play."

More: Big 12 admits blown call, says Notre Dame deserved one more play vs BYU

More: Did BYU commit pass interference vs Notre Dame? See final play here

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BYU stuns Notre Dame to deny Irish's bid for top college football ranking

Bear Bachmeier and unbeaten BYU stunned Notre Dame 28-24 , ending the Irish's path to the No. 1 ranking. Relive the biggest plays, celebrations and reactions from the Cougars' statement victory.

Above, Bear Bachmeier of the Brigham Young Cougars warms up before their game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Provo, Utah.

(Chris Gardner, Getty Images)

Brigham Young Cougars tight end Walker Lyons makes a catch to score a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Brigham Young Cougars tight end Walker Lyons celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Preston Rex of the Brigham Young Cougars is chased by Leonard Moore and Luke Talich of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half of their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Provo, Utah.
(Chris Gardner, Getty Images)

Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Kyler Kasper (3) makes a catch against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Bear Bachmeier of the Brigham Young Cougars is lifted by Bruce Mitchell and Kyle Sfarcioc #64 after scoring a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half of their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Provo, Utah.
(Chris Gardner, Getty Images)

A Brigham Young Cougars cheerleader performs before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Jojo Phillips makes a catch against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Brigham Young Cougars safety Matthias Leach reacts during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Brigham Young Cougars running back Preston Rex runs against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Raider Damuni of the Brigham Young Cougars celebrates breaking up a pass play against James Flanigan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half of their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Provo, Utah.
(Chris Gardner, Getty Images)

Brigham Young Cougars offensive line Siosiua Latu-Finau celebrates after a touchdown by quarterback Bear Bachmeier (not pictured) during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Brigham Young Cougars defensive end Braxton Lindsey celebrates after a play during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier passes against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Brigham Young Cougars cheerleaders celebrate with flags on the field during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Brigham Young Cougars fans celebrate after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
(Rob Gray, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Only one team fulfilled that bargain to the fullest Saturday night inside sold-out, LaVell Edwards Stadium — with its crowd of 65,179 the most since the Irish's last visit in 2004, also a Notre Dame loss.

This contest carried immense stakes.

Especially as Notre Dame was positioned to perhaps wake up Sunday morning back in South Bend as college football's top-ranked team.

Earlier Saturday, No. 1 Georgia, No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Texas and No. 7 Alabama all lost .

In this game, Bachmeier — who tried to commit to the Fighting Irish of Marcus Freeman in 2023, only for Notre Dame to hold out for Deuce Knight — scored touchdowns passing, rushing and receiving.

Opinion: Call BYU's win anything you want just don't call it a fluke

It was a dart to Lyons, the tight end who arrived this year from USC, who gathered the ball in his midsection while sliding to the turf in the end zone — almost directly in front of the stunned fans of Notre Dame.

The Cougars charged to a 21-10 halftime lead because they consistently marched the field against Notre Dame's defense, which had entered the contest as the nation's No. 4 scoring defense — just 11 points per game.

Instead, BYU churned through touchdown drives of 75, 75 and 72 yards.

Notre Dame held BYU scoreless through the first 28 minutes of the second half, but Bachmeier delivered the magic that finished off a 10-play, 55-yard drive.

The Cougars, now 7-0 and with a showdown against fellow unbeaten and heated rival Utah looming Nov. 7, should move into the top-5 of the US LBM Coaches Poll, and may even get consideration for the top spot after Saturday's carnage.

Meanwhile, the Irish see their season boil down to this: a date that same first Saturday in November, in primetime on NBC against Miami — likely the nation's top-ranked team after surviving rival Florida State in double-overtime.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Notre Dame asked for BYU. The Cougars made the Irish regret it

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