BYU’s 28-24 win over Notre Dame had plenty of moving parts, and the postgame grades reflect that. The Cougars got enough big plays from the offense, enough timely resistance from the defense and just enough consistency from the coaching staff to finish the job at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Bear Bachmeier earned the top offensive spotlight. The sophomore quarterback tossed a pick and missed on a few throws, but he was still the best passer on the field against Notre Dame’s Heisman candidate CJ Carr.
Bachmeier finished 23-for-36 for 224 yards and a touchdown, and he added 45 rushing yards with two scores on the ground. His biggest throw came on the 6-yard touchdown to Walker Lyons, the play that wound up deciding the game.
The tight ends and receivers made their mark at the right times, too. Lyons was a difference-maker early and then delivered the winning touchdown catch.
Legend Glasker found ways to get open against Notre Dame’s top secondary and helped BYU move the ball late. Kyler Kasper had multiple strong moments, while Jojo Phillips chipped in with two notable receptions, including a key third-down conversion late.
Behind them, the offensive line held up well enough for Bachmeier to work from the pocket. Freshman Bott Mulitalo stood out the most among the linemen from his right tackle spot. Protection was solid, and while the run game did not always find open space, there were stretches when the backs had room to gain positive yards.
The running back group did its part without LJ Martin in the lineup. Preston Rex put together his best game yet, gaining 66 yards on just 10 carries and helping keep Notre Dame honest.
He also handled pass protection well, while freshman Journee Tonga had his reps limited. The group didn’t blow the game up, but it also didn’t hurt BYU’s effort.
Defensively, the front seven had a mixed night against a Notre Dame offense that was able to run better than expected, especially in short-yardage situations. Still, the line tightened up as the game went along and generated enough pressure at times to help force incompletions from CJ Carr. It wasn’t a dominant outing, but it was respectable against a strong Irish front.
The linebackers were steady, with Isaiah Glasker back much earlier than many expected and making an immediate impact. He recorded four tackles and knocked down three passes.
Cade Uluave was active, even if a couple of near sacks slipped away. The unit helped hold Notre Dame to 24 points and showed up when the game got tight.
In the secondary, Raider Damuni turned in one of the biggest all-around performances of the night. The senior safety made his presence felt in run support and coverage after returning sooner than expected from injury.
Faletau Satuala also had a strong game, and the cornerbacks held up well despite a few busted assignments. Mathias Leach deserves mention, too, after stepping in late for the injured Jayven Williams and limiting downfield chances.
Special teams was the one area that really dragged. The fake punt nearly backfired badly, and Cannon DeVries’ muffed punt gave Notre Dame a jolt.
Those mistakes swung momentum the wrong way and could have changed the game entirely. Fuller Shurtz was the bright spot, pinning Notre Dame inside its own 20 on two of his three punts.
On the sideline, the coaches drew a mixed review. The fake punt decision hurt the grade, but Aaron Roderick’s first-half game plan was nearly perfect before the offense got too cautious in the third quarter.
His final-possession play-calling, though, was nearly flawless. On defense, Kelly Poppinga mixed coverages well and kept Carr and the Irish passing game from settling in for much of the night.
In Other News...
BYUs UCF Test Suddenly Looks Very Different At Quarterback
UCFs quarterback picture for the BYU game has shifted enough to change how the matchup should be viewed heading into the week. Alonza Barnett III, who has been working back from a hamstring injury, is reportedly not expected to start, and coach Scott Frost has made it clear the staff is taking a careful approach with his recovery. Steve Cooper said Barnett has returned to practice on a limited basis, but his status remains up in the air.
For BYU, that adds a new layer to a road test that already had plenty of intrigue. Preparing for one quarterback is one thing, but the Cougars now have to account for a situation that could look different by kickoff, depending on how UCF handles Barnetts availability. Frosts emphasis on avoiding a setback suggests the Knights are thinking long term, even if that leaves some uncertainty for a game that suddenly feels a little less settled. [Read more 🡒]
Bear Bachmeiers Breakout Just Took A Strange Turn After BYUs Upset
Bear Bachmeiers rise went from the center of BYUs biggest win of the season to an unexpected conversation topic almost as soon as the Cougars left the field. After helping BYU knock off No. 2 Notre Dame, 28-24, and move to 6-0, the freshman quarterback suddenly found himself attached to a broadcast-side anecdote that had little to do with the upset itself and a lot to do with how quickly his name is spreading beyond Provo.
The odd detour comes on the heels of Bachmeier also saying Notre Dame disrespected him and his family during his recruitment, adding another layer to a story that already had enough emotion wrapped around it. BYU has the kind of marquee win that can change the tone of a season, but in Bachmeiers case, the attention now extends well beyond the football field, with one loose, unconfirmed comment threatening to become part of the fallout from an otherwise statement-making night. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Crowd Watched One Student Turn Pregame Nerves Into A Fortune
Long before the first snaps of the night, one BYU student turned a routine pregame promotion into the kind of scene people at LaVell Edwards Stadium wont forget soon. Carter Smith, 21, stepped into Pat McAfees Kicking Is Easy contest and came through on his second field goal attempt, a pressure-packed swing that suddenly made him the center of attention for everyone in the building.
The result was life-changing, with Smith walking away $3 million richer and instantly drawing widespread recognition. Even with that kind of windfall, his plans remain grounded in the classroom and beyond it, as he intends to keep working toward his education and a future career in dentistry. [Read more 🡒]