deseret
Approximately 15 hours after No. 8 BYU toppled No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday night, the Associated Press Top 25 voters—media members from across the nation—largely disregarded the controversy surrounding the game's ending, including the Big 12's assertion that the final play warranted a review for potential remaining time and possible defensive pass interference. Instead, they ranked undefeated BYU No. 2 in the country, a clear sign of respect.
That respect was not evident before kickoff, as most national pundits forecasted an easy Notre Dame victory and a reality check for a BYU program that was considered good but not elite, especially after two lackluster performances against Texas Tech last year on big stages. "Yeah man, we were tired of being disrespected," said BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who bolstered his Heisman Trophy candidacy by outplaying Notre Dame QB CJ Carr when it counted most. "We know who we are, and man, this was a great win for sure."
Linebacker Cade Uluave, who led BYU with nine tackles, including one for loss, echoed the sentiment. "A lot of people weren't respecting us. A lot of people thought we were a fluke or didn't think we were all that. Now we went out and beat the No. 2 team in the country, so hopefully people will put some respect on our name."
Social media buzzed throughout the game as BYU matched the mighty Irish in nearly every meaningful statistical category, confirming that respect has finally taken root in Provo. Stewart Mandel of The Athletic wrote: "I will admit, I did not think No. 8 BYU could beat No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday with its star running back LJ Martin on the shelf. I sorely underestimated Bear Bachmeier and the Cougars. The Irish may have, too."
Despite missing its top two running backs—Sione Moa was listed as questionable but did not play—BYU rushed for 87 yards in the first half and finished with 121, the most Notre Dame has allowed on the ground this season. The previous high was 77, by North Carolina. In the first top-10 matchup ever at LaVell Edwards Stadium, BYU made a statement not just for Kalani Sitake's program—now 29-4 over the past three seasons, the second-highest winning percentage behind only Indiana—but also for the often-disrespected Big 12, Mandel noted.
In the latest AP poll, Texas Tech rose to No. 8, Utah to No. 10, Houston to No. 14, and Arizona—one of BYU's two wins over ranked teams—entered at No. 25. National observers said BYU carried the Big 12 banner on Saturday night, and the Cougars delivered emphatically. A message was sent, and the country received it.
"I think if you come to our house, we're gonna defend it. We can play with anyone in the nation, and the job's not finished," said running back Preston Rex, who ran for a career-high 66 yards on 10 carries. "It was a great win. We're gonna celebrate it for the weekend. But come Monday, we're gonna make the necessary preparations for the next game, for UCF and then for ASU. We are a real contender and we're just gonna take it week by week."
There are more BYU believers now than in recent memory, but the target on their backs will grow bigger, beginning this weekend in Orlando, Florida. "Notre Dame is a great team, and they got the most out of us. I thought it was a good move for us to have this game, because our team grew up quite a bit, and I was really proud of the way they developed throughout this week, and the sense of urgency that we've been wanting from this team, I think, is here," said BYU coach Kalani Sitake. "So we just gotta stay humble and keep working. I mean, this is one game that we're really proud of, and really excited for, but we gotta get ready for the next one, too, and we'll celebrate and be happy about this win. We'll look at the things that we can learn from and get better, but we've got to be humble and hungry, and we've got to find ways to get better and improve for next week."
In many ways, Sitake's coaching mettle will be tested like never before this week. Fresh off an emotionally draining victory over a Notre Dame team that had won 16 straight games by double digits, the Cougars must travel two time zones away to face a decent UCF team (1-2, 3-3) that had a bye last weekend. Saturday's Big 12 game will kick off at 1:30 p.m. MDT and will be televised nationally by FOX.
"Did you guys see what happened (in college football Saturday)?" Sitake asked. "I just heard about a lot of the scores, and so college football is hard, and it's difficult to win games, and you can never take anything for granted. You just have to keep playing the game and keep working hard. So we'll test our humility, but we've got to find ways to stay humble, and we'll make that work."
BYU safety Raider Damuni returned to action after going down in the opener and immediately made his presence felt, notable considering two of BYU's top three cornerbacks—Tre Alexander and Jayven Williams—got dinged up. Damuni had seven tackles and broke up a pass. More proof that BYU matched Notre Dame's physicality: BYU had three tackles for loss, while Notre Dame had two. BYU won despite losing the turnover battle, 2-1. The Cougars were a perfect 4 for 4 in getting touchdowns in the red zone, eight days after struggling there in the 24-10 win over Iowa State.
"It is one of those moments that you dream of as a kid," Damuni said. "Growing up as a BYU fan, you dream of playing in these games and winning these games. That's the most fun I've ever had playing a college football game."
So remember the day—Oct. 17, 2026. It was the day that BYU not only upset the biggest brand in college football but did so when the entire country was watching, from daybreak to day's end—controversial finish or not. It will never be forgotten. It was transformational for a program that has punched above its weight class for decades. Now it has to be considered a heavyweight in the college football world.
Key Analysis
BYU's victory over Notre Dame signifies a seismic shift in national perception, as the Cougars proved they can compete with elite programs. The win not only elevates BYU's stature but also bolsters the Big 12's reputation. With a challenging schedule ahead, the Cougars must maintain their humility and focus to sustain success.
Originally reported by deseret.