PROVO, Utah — No. 8 BYU secured a 28-24 victory over No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday night, in a closely contested game decided in the final minutes. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw a decisive touchdown pass with 1:47 remaining, enabling the Cougars to take the lead. BYU’s defense then stopped Notre Dame inside the 10-yard line on their last possession, preserving the win.

The game ended amid controversy as the Big 12 conference indicated that an official review revealed time remaining on the clock after Notre Dame’s final play. According to the Big 12, the replay officials prematurely ended the game when an incomplete pass hit the ground, allowing the conclusion without additional plays. The conference announced it will carry out a comprehensive review of its end-of-game officiating procedures before the next round of games.

The upset highlighted a day of significant upsets in college football, with five of the top seven teams in the AP Top 25 suffering losses. This included No. 1 Georgia's 27-24 defeat to Auburn, marking the first time since November 2012 that the top two ranked teams lost on the same regular-season day.

Bachmeier was instrumental in the win, accounting for three touchdowns—two rushing, one receiving—and throwing for 224 yards. This marked BYU’s first victory over Notre Dame since 2004 and improved the Cougars to 6-0, their best start in three seasons. Running back Preston Rex contributed 66 yards on 10 carries, providing crucial support in the ground game.

With the win, BYU continues its strong season, while Notre Dame faces questions following the narrow loss and the disputed ending.