When the No. 8 BYU Cougars football team needed its quarterback to deliver against one of college football’s best teams, Bear Bachmeier answered.
The sophomore accounted for all four BYU touchdowns Saturday night, leading the Cougars to a dramatic 28-24 upset of No. 2 Notre Dame at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The victory improved BYU to 6-0 and handed the previously undefeated Fighting Irish their first loss of the season.
But the significance extends beyond the final score.
Playing without injured star running back LJ Martin, Bachmeier carried much of the offensive responsibility against a Notre Dame team that entered the matchup as a double-digit favorite.
He completed 23 of 36 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception while rushing for 45 yards and two scores. He also caught a 15-yard touchdown pass on a trick play, showcasing the versatility that made him the driving force behind BYU’s biggest victory of the season.
His performance raises a legitimate question: Has Bachmeier done enough to enter the 2026 Heisman Trophy conversation?
The answer should be yes, even if his candidacy remains a work in progress.
A signature victory against an elite opponent
BYU established its offensive identity early, with Bachmeier scoring on a five-yard quarterback run during the Cougars’ opening possession.
Notre Dame briefly took a 10-7 lead in the second quarter, but Bachmeier quickly helped reverse the momentum.
He caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Kyler Kasper on a trick play before adding a one-yard rushing touchdown later in the quarter. By halftime, BYU had built a 21-10 advantage.
The second half, however, tested the Cougars’ resilience.
Notre Dame tightened its defense and capitalized on BYU’s mistakes, including a muffed punt and an unsuccessful fake punt. The Fighting Irish converted those opportunities into field goals before eventually taking control in the fourth quarter.
Running back Jonaz Walton scored on a three-yard touchdown run and added the two-point conversion, giving Notre Dame a 24-21 lead with 9:31 remaining.
BYU’s offense had gone cold, and Bachmeier had thrown an interception during the fourth quarter. The Cougars needed one final response.
After BYU’s defense forced a punt, Bachmeier led a 10-play, 55-yard scoring drive. His six-yard touchdown pass to Walker Lyons with 1:47 remaining restored the Cougars’ lead at 28-24.
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr nearly answered, guiding the Fighting Irish deep into BYU territory. But his final pass toward Jaden Greathouse fell incomplete in the end zone as time expired.
The Cougars survived, securing their first victory over an Associated Press top-two opponent since defeating No. 1 Miami in 1990.
For Bachmeier, the moment provided something every serious Heisman candidate needs: a defining performance against elite competition.
Why Bachmeier belongs in the Heisman discussion
Heisman candidacies are built on more than passing yards and touchdown totals. Individual impact, consistency, team success and performances in high-profile games all help shape the national conversation.
Bachmeier now has an important achievement in his favor.
Against a Notre Dame team that entered Saturday undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the nation, he accounted for every BYU touchdown and delivered the winning score when the Cougars were running out of opportunities.
The performance also demonstrated his value beyond traditional quarterback statistics.
Bachmeier’s ability to extend plays with his legs, contribute as a receiver and direct a decisive late scoring drive made him difficult to contain.
He entered the season with an impressive foundation.
In 2025, Bachmeier earned Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors after throwing for 3,033 yards and producing 3,560 yards of total offense. He accounted for 26 touchdowns during his freshman campaign, establishing himself as one of the conference’s most promising young quarterbacks.
Saturday’s victory strengthened that reputation while giving him a national showcase against one of college football’s most recognizable programs.
It also highlighted his importance to BYU’s offense without Martin, the 2025 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Still, the Cougars’ victory was not exclusively Bachmeier’s achievement.
BYU’s defense kept Notre Dame from turning several favorable situations into touchdowns, giving its quarterback another opportunity after the Fighting Irish seized the fourth-quarter lead.
That distinction matters. A strong Heisman argument should recognize both the quarterback’s individual excellence and the team contributions that made the victory possible.
A Heisman contender, but not yet a favorite
One extraordinary game does not automatically transform a quarterback into a Heisman favorite.
Bachmeier still has work to do.
His interception against Notre Dame and BYU’s offensive struggles for much of the second half demonstrate that there is room for improvement. His overall production also must be measured against the sustained performances of other candidates across the country.
The Heisman Trophy rewards a complete season, not a single Saturday night.
Nevertheless, signature moments can elevate a player’s candidacy, particularly when they come against nationally ranked opponents with significant stakes.
Bachmeier has now delivered one of those moments.
BYU’s remaining schedule will provide opportunities to determine whether Saturday’s performance represents a breakthrough or the beginning of a sustained Heisman campaign.
The Cougars return to Big 12 competition October 24 with a road matchup against UCF, where Bachmeier will have another chance to demonstrate the consistency required of a national award contender.
If he continues producing touchdowns, limiting mistakes and leading BYU to victories, his Heisman argument will become increasingly difficult to dismiss.
For now, he has earned something meaningful: consideration.
Bachmeier did not win the Heisman Trophy against Notre Dame. But on a night when BYU needed him most, he delivered the kind of performance that can launch a serious campaign.
And after Saturday’s upset, leaving him out of the conversation would be a mistake.