BYU QB Bear Bachmeier scores TDs in 3 different ways in No. 8 Cougars' upset win over No. 2 Notre Dame

No. 8 BYU needed Bear Bachmeier to do it all to beat No. 2 Notre Dame.And that's exactly what Bachmeier did.The Cougars QB ran for two scores, caught a TD pass and threw the game-winning TD pass with 1:47 to go as BYU beat the Fighting Irish 28-24. Bachmeier hit Walker Lyons for the go-ahead score, before the BYU defense came up big and prevented CJ Carr and Notre Dame from scoring a TD on its final drive.OHHHHHHHH YEAH @walkerly0ns!!!!!!📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/kUgebv4k3L— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 18, 2026 Notre Dame got to the BYU 9-yard line with four seconds to go, but CJ Carr's final-play pass fell incomplete in the end zone as he tried to find Jaden Greathouse.There was a ton of contact in the end zone between Greathouse and CB Evan Johnson. But pass interference wasn't called. Watch the ticker closely too. There was still a second left on the clock when the ball hit the turf. Notre Dame also has a case to have another play even without a penalty being called.INCOMPLETE! NO FLAGS! BYU TAKES DOWN NOTRE DAME! pic.twitter.com/7YMrJNgM3Q— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) October 18, 2026 Notre Dame scored 14 straight points to start the second half after trailing 21-10 at halftime. The first half ended in bizarre fashion. With Notre Dame facing a first-and-goal on the BYU 9-yard line with nine seconds to go, Carr took the snap and tried to spike the ball, but it flew out of his hand and BYU smartly fell on the ball.The play was called an incomplete pass. But after a BYU timeout, officials reviewed the play and determined that Carr fumbled.It was a turning point in the game. Notre Dame was poised to either cut the lead to eight or even four with a touchdown. Instead, the Irish trailed by two scores at the break, and their two third-quarter field goals meant that BYU still led entering the fourth quarter.Notre Dame took a 24-21 lead with 9:31 to go on a 3-yard TD run by Jonaz Walton. He then added the 2-point conversion to put the Irish up by three.The Big 12 has three unbeaten teamsCan the Big 12 really get three teams in the playoff?BYU will almost assuredly be in the top three of the AP poll on Sunday along with Miami and Ohio State in some order. And the Cougars are well positioned to make the College Football Playoff after missing out a season ago following two losses to Texas Tech.BYU entered Saturday's game without star running back LJ Martin because of a lower-body injury. That put all the offensive responsibility on Bachmeier, who responded with aplomb as he showed he could be the best quarterback in the Big 12 as a sophomore.Bachmeier was a solid first-year starter in 2025, but there were limitations to his game. He's clearly made a leap this offseason, and has shouldered the responsibility without Martin over the Cougars' last two games.The Big 12's schedule also gives the conference the significant opportunity to get multiple teams in the playoff in 2026. With BYU, Utah and Texas Tech still undefeated, only BYU and Utah play each other this season. It's highly likely that two of those three teams will meet each other in the Big 12 championship game. And the loser could still make the playoff.Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA seasonWhat's Notre Dame's margin for playoff error?The Irish are off in Week 8 before a game vs. Navy. Then Notre Dame plays an even bigger game on Nov. 7 when it hosts Miami.Given the chaos in the SEC, Notre Dame is still likely to make the playoff with a loss to the Hurricanes. Notre Dame will still be heavily favored against the Midshipmen, Boston College, No. 24 SMU and Syracuse. And even if Notre Dame finishes at 9-3, the Irish could still have a strong playoff chance.But Saturday's loss did dent Notre Dame's hopes for a first-round bye. At least temporarily. A win over Miami will position the Fighting Irish squarely back in the top four given that there are just four undefeated power conference teams.