BYU Quarterback Bear Bachmeier Fueled by Past Notre Dame Slight in Upset Victory

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier revealed that a past slight from Notre Dame served as a significant motivator in the Cougars' upset victory over the No. 2 Fighting Irish. "Out of high school, Notre Dame disrespected me and my family pretty badly, and I wasn’t going to lose to those guys," Bachmeier told reporters following BYU's 28-24 win on Saturday night.

The sophomore quarterback fulfilled his promise, leading an eighth-ranked BYU team to stun the undefeated Fighting Irish. Bachmeier contributed 224 passing yards, one touchdown, and an interception, alongside 45 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. His six-yard touchdown pass to Walker Lyons proved to be the decisive score, ending Notre Dame's 16-game winning streak.

Bachmeier's history with Notre Dame had been a subplot leading into the highly anticipated matchup. He had reportedly received a scholarship offer from the university, which was later rescinded after Notre Dame secured a commitment from Deuce Knight. Knight, however, eventually decommitted from Notre Dame, briefly committed to Auburn, and later transferred to Ole Miss.

Notre Dame's starting quarterback, CJ Carr, completed 27 of 49 passes for 261 yards in the losing effort.

Bachmeier initially enrolled at Stanford before transferring to BYU for the 2025 season. The departure of Stanford coach Troy Taylor created an opportunity for Bachmeier and his brother, Tiger, to transfer in the spring.

Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman acknowledged Bachmeier's talent, noting on film he was "a gifted quarterback that had strengths in the run and the pass" and came from "a great family."

Following the monumental win, BYU is now ranked No. 2 in the nation in the latest AP poll.