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Notre Dame's 28-24 defeat at BYU on Saturday was more than just a loss; it was a painful display of missed opportunities and questionable decisions. The game, which remained undecided until the final snap, saw the Fighting Irish squander numerous chances to secure a significant road win and potentially climb to the top of the AP Poll.
Several individuals and units had particularly rough outings for Notre Dame. Here's a closer look at the most glaring issues.
Quarterback Play
CJ Carr struggled mightily for much of the night. He missed an easy touchdown throw to Jordan Faison early, repeated the mistake with tight end Jack Larsen just before halftime, and fumbled a spike attempt that cost his team valuable clock. These errors alone erased at least two scoring opportunities in a game that was decided by a single play. Carr did rally late to give Notre Dame a chance to win, but his overall performance fell short of the standard required.
Defensive Coordination
Defensive coordinator Chris Ash faced similar criticism. While his unit improved later in the game, the first half was a disaster. BYU's gadget plays exposed Notre Dame's defense as ill-prepared, and the group's struggles against top-15 opponents—such as Miami, Texas A&M, and now BYU—raise doubts about whether its previous success was merely a product of inferior competition. The late surge couldn't mask the early deficiencies.
Final Play Execution
The game's final play also drew scrutiny. Why was the pass confined to one side of the field when Carr's strength is scanning the entire field? Why not target Jaden Greathouse with a slant instead of a deeper route that hadn't worked all night? And why was no pass interference flag thrown, or one second restored, when the ball hit the ground with time remaining? These questions linger after a loss that could have been avoided.
Key Analysis
Notre Dame's "Leave No Doubt" mantra, adopted after last season's College Football Playoff snub, was meant to ensure the team left no room for subjective decisions. Instead, Saturday's performance did exactly the opposite—it left doubt. By putting themselves in a position where a pass interference call could have altered the outcome, the Irish failed to uphold their own standard. Now, they likely need to win out, including a victory over a Miami team that could be ranked No. 1, to keep their playoff hopes alive.