No. 8 BYU Stuns No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 in Historic College Football Upset

PROVO, Utah — In a thrilling top-10 showdown that will be etched into college football lore, the No. 8 BYU Cougars stunned the No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 28-24 at a raucous LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday night. Behind a transcendent, multi-touchdown performance from quarterback Bear Bachmeier, BYU mounted a late fourth-quarter comeback and delivered a dramatic goal-line stop on the game's final play to secure the upset. The victory sparked a massive field-storming in Provo, cementing the undefeated Cougars as legitimate national title contenders in the 2026 season.

A Historic Night for Bear Bachmeier

The architect of the seismic upset was sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who authored one of the most unique stat lines in modern college football history. According to sports statisticians, Bachmeier became the first FBS player in the last 30 years to record a passing touchdown, a rushing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown against an AP top-five team in the same game. He threw for over 220 yards while adding two scores on the ground, utilizing both his arm and his legs to keep a formidable Notre Dame defense off balance.

The Game-Winning Drive

Despite taking a 21-10 lead into halftime, the Cougars found themselves trailing late in the fourth quarter after the Fighting Irish offense caught fire. Undeterred, Bachmeier engineered a clinical, go-ahead drive in the closing minutes. With just 1:47 remaining on the clock, Bachmeier found wide receiver Walker Lyons for a clutch 6-yard touchdown strike, reclaiming a 28-24 lead. Running back Preston Rex also provided a much-needed physical presence throughout the night, grinding out 66 crucial yards to sustain the BYU offensive attack.

The Final Stand

Notre Dame, however, refused to go quietly. Quarterback CJ Carr, who had previously threaded several needles to bring the Irish back from a double-digit deficit, orchestrated a frantic two-minute drill that pushed deep into the red zone. With the clock expiring and the game on the line, Carr fired a desperate pass toward the end zone intended for receiver Jaden Greathouse. A swarm of BYU defenders converged, making contact as the ball sailed incomplete over Greathouse's head, sealing the victory and ending Notre Dame's impressive 16-game winning streak.

A Program-Defining Victory

The win represents BYU’s highest-ranked conquest since their iconic 1990 victory over No. 1 Miami, snapping a long-standing losing streak against Notre Dame.

"I'm really proud of the way we played," BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said following the game. "Obviously, made some mistakes, probably more on me than anything else... but he's just so tough man, and he's resilient."

For Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, the loss highlights missed opportunities and a costly inability to punch it in when it mattered most, sending the 6-1 Irish into their bye week with critical adjustments to make.

Editorial Takeaway

This 28-24 triumph is more than just a memorable Saturday night in Provo; it is a paradigm shift in the 2026 college football landscape. By toppling a powerhouse like Notre Dame, BYU has proven that their undefeated record is no fluke, firmly establishing the Big 12 as a central force in the national championship race. As the Cougars prepare for the back half of their schedule, they carry with them the undeniable momentum of a program that has finally, and definitively, arrived on the sport's biggest stage.