BYU upsets No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 amid officiating controversy

No. 8 BYU secured a historic 28-24 victory over No. 2 Notre Dame at LaVell Edwards Stadium, ending the Fighting Irish’s 16-game winning streak. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier led the Cougars with a standout performance, accounting for four touchdowns through passing, rushing, and receiving, while recording 224 passing yards.

The game concluded with significant controversy regarding the officiating. While the final play saw an incomplete pass in the end zone, the Big 12 Conference later acknowledged an error, stating that “time remained on the clock when the ball hit the ground and the play was incorrectly cleared by the replay officiating crew.” This error meant Notre Dame should have had one final second for a potential game-tying or winning play.

Additionally, analysts noted a potential missed defensive pass interference call on the final drive. The victory moves BYU to 6-0 for the third consecutive season, while Notre Dame falls to 6-1.