The BYU Cougars have officially stamped its mark on the college football landscape.
On Saturday night, the Cougars pulled off an upset against No. 2-ranked Notre Dame for the biggest win in program history. Its 28-24 victory was more than just another win, but it was a matchup quarterback Bear Bachmeier had marked on his calendar for years.
Before committing to BYU during the 2025 recruiting cycle, Bachmeier visited South Bend and nearly committed to Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish.
However, until Bachmeier’s post-game press conference, it wasn’t known that Notre Dame apparently disrespected him during his visit. He spoke to reporters after the game highlighting this game as extra motivation, and it goes back to his recruting experience with the program.
“[Coach Kalani Sitake] I don’t like what I’m talking about, but from high school, Notre Dame looked down on me and my family pretty bad,” Bachmeier said. “I’m not going to lose to those guys. There was no way I was going to lose to these guys tonight.
Bachmeier made the most of his revenge against the Fighting Irish on Saturday night, delivering one of the best performances of his career. He completed 23-of-36 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown, adding 45 yards and two scores on the ground.
His highlight came late in the fourth quarter when he threw six yards for a touchdown to tight end Walker Lyons, giving the Cougars the lead with 1:47 remaining.
Bachmeier played all night with a shoulder sprain and assumed the offensive back in the absence of running back LJ Martin. Whether he was watching from the sidelines, playing on the field, or listening from the radio booth, it was evident that there was more to him than the game.
During his visit to South Bend, Bachmeier intended to commit, but it was the Notre Dame staff match focused on the five-star Deuce Knight throughout the season. Once Knight committed, Bachmeier was left out in the cold, which could be where his disdain stems from.
The Knights were disappointed by Notre Dame and flipped to Auburn under coach Hugh Freeze. Bachmeier then committed to the Cougars and found his next playing season, leading the program to a 12-2 record and winning the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
With the drama behind his recruiting and building a strong resume at BYU, it appears that Bachmeier and his family have all worked out. The Cougars are now ranked No. 2 in the latest AP Pollmarked their highest since 1984.