One Second Left? BYU Stuns No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 — Bear Bachmeier Did Something No One Has Done in 30 Years

BYU beat No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 — here is the direct answer

No. 8 BYU upset No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 on Saturday night, October 17, in Provo, as quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw for a touchdown, ran for two more and caught another — then BYU survived a final play from the 8-yard line that left Notre Dame arguing there should have been a flag, and one more second on the clock.

It is the kind of finish that explains itself in one replay and still starts a thousand arguments. Notre Dame had the ball, the season's No. 1 ranking suddenly within reach after chaos elsewhere, and four seconds to steal it back. Instead, the pass fell incomplete, the flags stayed in pockets, fans poured onto the field, and BYU had its first win over Notre Dame since 2004.

What happened in BYU vs. Notre Dame?

BYU built the win early. Bachmeier opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run to cap an 11-play, 75-yard drive. Notre Dame answered with a field goal and a touchdown to lead 10-7, but BYU closed the first half with back-to-back touchdowns — including Bachmeier catching a 15-yard touchdown on a trick play — to take a 21-10 halftime lead against a Notre Dame defense that had entered the night among the nation's best.

Notre Dame did not fold. The Irish chipped away with two third-quarter field goals to make it 21-16, then took the lead in the fourth quarter when Jonaz Walton scored on a 3-yard run and added the two-point conversion for a 24-21 edge with about nine and a half minutes left.

Bachmeier threw an interception that could have ended it. Instead, after BYU forced a punt, he led a 10-play, 55-yard drive and found tight end Walker Lyons for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:47 remaining. That made it 28-24 — and set up the drive everyone is still talking about.

The controversial final play, explained

Notre Dame reached first-and-goal at the BYU 8-yard line with four seconds left. Quarterback CJ Carr threw toward Jaden Greathouse in the end zone. The pass fell incomplete as Greathouse tangled with a defender, no pass interference was called, and the game was ruled over.

Two complaints exploded online at once. First, the contact: USA Today reported that ABC analyst Kirk Herbstreit said there was contact throughout the route, and ABC rules analyst Matt Austin said the play should have warranted a flag. Second, the clock: replays appeared to show one second still remaining when the ball hit the turf, which would have given Notre Dame one more play. Officials did not add time back or review that point, according to multiple reports.

BYU's side of the story is simpler: the defense held on the play that was called, in the stadium that was shaking, against the No. 2 team in the country. Both things can be true — it was a famous win, and it ended in controversy.

Why Bear Bachmeier's night is historic

Bachmeier accounted for all four BYU touchdowns. He completed 23 of 36 passes for 224 yards with one touchdown and one interception, rushed 13 times for 45 yards and two touchdowns, and caught a touchdown pass — 269 total yards in the accounting highlighted by Sports Illustrated.

That combination is the stat going viral. Per CBS Sports research cited by SI, Bachmeier is the first FBS player in the past 30 years to record a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown against an AP top-five team in the same game. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III called the go-ahead drive a "Heisman moment" on social media, and the label stuck because the moment fit: a sophomore quarterback who, by USA Today's reporting, once tried to commit to Notre Dame, beating the Irish with everything — his arm, his legs and his hands.