Bear Bachmeier Leads No. 8 BYU to 28-24 Upset Win Over No. 2 Notre Dame

Bear Bachmeier delivered the performance of his young career Saturday night, accounting for all four touchdowns to lead No. 8 BYU to a thrilling 28-24 upset of No. 2 Notre Dame at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The sophomore quarterback had 269 yards, throwing for one touchdown, rushing for two scores and catching another. He completed 23 of 36 passes and added 45 rushing yards, helping the undefeated Cougars overcome the absence of running back LJ Martin.

BYU (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) appeared in control early, building a 21-10 halftime lead However, turnovers and costly mistakes allowed Notre Dame (6-1) to claw back into the contest.

The Fighting Irish scored 15 unanswered points, capped by Jonaz Watson's four-yard touchdown run and a successful two-point conversion, to take a 24-21 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Bachmeier then faced a defining moment. With 8:05 remaining, his deep pass intended for Kyler Kasper was intercepted by Jayden Sanders at the Notre Dame 15-yard line. BYU's defense responded by forcing a three-and-out, giving the Cougars another opportunity. And Bachmeier made the most of it. He guided BYU downfield with several key completions before using his legs to move the offense into scoring position.

With 2:31 remaining, the Cougars faced a goal-to-go situation. Three plays later, Bachmeier connected with Walker Lyons for a six-yard touchdown, reclaiming the lead at 28-24.

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, who finished 27 of 49 for 261 yards, could not orchestrate a comeback. The BYU defense stood firm on the Irish's last possession, sealing one of the biggest victories in program history.

The loss snapped Notre Dame's 16-game winning streak, which had been the nation's longest. For BYU, the victory will provide a major boost in the national rankings and add to its College Football Playoff resume.

With several top-ranked teams suffering losses in Week 7, the college football landscape will shift dramatically with the latest AP Top 25 poll on Sunday.

BYU now has an opportunity to climb into the top four. This was a thrilling game that came down to the final second and tested the will of both teams. But the Cougars stood tall and picked up the biggest win in the College Football Playoff era. 

There hasn't been a college football Saturday with so many upsets in the AP Top 25 era. No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Alabama and No. 7 Texas all falling in Week 7. 

The Cougars' only ranked opponent left of the schedule is No. 11 Utah. This year's edition of the Holy War falls on Nov. 7 in Salt Lake City.