BYU Upsets No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 in Provo
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that BYU defeated No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 with a late touchdown pass from quarterback Bear Bachmeier to tight end Walker Lyons at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. Earlier in the week, CBS Sports said BYU athletic director Brian Santiago arranged the home matchup, giving the Cougars a top-10 opponent and a chance to improve playoff prospects. Deseret News quoted Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman warning that Provo’s high altitude would be a challenge, while BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and his players emphasized respect for the Irish and defensive preparation. The outlet also noted that both teams expected to rely on strong defenses and turnover battles, framing the contest as a defensive showdown.
After the win, Deseret News reported that the Cougars rose to No. 2 in the Associated Press poll. USA Today relayed Bachmeier’s comments that his performance was key and that he felt disrespected by Notre Dame during his high-school recruiting. Fox News highlighted a one-second clock controversy surrounding the game.
