BYU beat Notre Dame in a game that ended amid online questions about whether the final seconds were handled correctly. The supplied account says the discussion followed a close finish, but does not provide an official review, a clock ruling or a response from either team addressing the concern.
The result came on a Saturday when No. 1 Georgia also lost, giving No. 2 Notre Dame an opportunity to move into the top position with a win. Instead, the Fighting Irish fell to unbeaten No. 8 BYU, according to the source. The loss ended Notre Dame’s 16-game winning streak.
Notre Dame’s defensive line was affected early when Boubacar Traore was ejected after a targeting call on a hit against BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier. BYU capitalized on the ensuing sequence, driving for the game’s opening touchdown. Notre Dame answered with a first-quarter field goal, then took a 10-7 lead in the second quarter when running back Nolan James Jr. scored.
The Cougars regained control before halftime. Bachmeier scored on a play involving a blocker, then ran for another touchdown shortly before the break. BYU went into halftime ahead 21-10.
Notre Dame had a chance to add to its score before halftime, but the drive ended in a turnover. With nine seconds remaining and the Irish at BYU’s 5-yard line, quarterback CJ Carr tried to spike the ball. The source reports that officials reviewed the play and ruled it a fumble because Carr had not secured control. BYU took possession, and Notre Dame came away without points on the opportunity.
The Irish rallied in the second half and moved ahead by three, setting up a late response from BYU. With less than two minutes left, Bachmeier threw his first touchdown pass of the game, connecting with tight end Walker Lyons. The score put BYU ahead by four, leaving Notre Dame needing a touchdown rather than a field goal.
Notre Dame converted a fourth-and-2 during its ensuing drive. After failing to score, the Irish faced fourth-and-5 with 10 seconds on the clock. They converted that attempt with four seconds remaining, creating one final play. The source says there was contact on the play but no penalty flag. It does not describe an official determination that the contact warranted a foul.
After the game, a clip circulated on social media and prompted questions about the clock. The account says the field had been stormed and the teams had gone to the locker room before the clip began circulating. It does not identify the people making the claims or establish that the clock was stopped or managed incorrectly. The apparent clock concern should therefore be treated as unconfirmed, not as evidence that the outcome was invalid.
The report said Notre Dame was scheduled to have a week off before playing Navy, while BYU was set to travel to Orlando to face UCF. It also noted that the weekend’s results could affect rankings and the College Football Playoff picture, but provided no updated rankings or playoff decisions.
