What BYU QB Bear Bachmeier must do for Cougars to upset No. 2 Notre Dame

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The 8th-ranked BYU Cougars are going to need a strong effort from quarterback Bear Bachmeier to beat the No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday. This will be one of the toughest games of his young career in front of a sold-out crowd at LaVell Edwards Stadium. But this is also a point where the BYU sophomore can hit a different stride in his career. 

Bachmeier is well-known around Provo and in the Big 12. However, his name is not known on a national level with other QBs ahead of him. One of those, CJ Carr, will be on the opposite sideline for Notre Dame this weekend. If Bachmeier can stand out in the QB battle and lead the Cougars to victory, he'll put himself in the conversation with some fringe Heisman Trophy consideration. 

BYU has yet to face a team as good as Notre Dame this season. While the Cougars can afford to suffer a loss because this is a non-conference game, the same can't be said for the Irish. To avoid any type of situation like last year with the College Football Playoff committee, this is a must-win game for Marcus Freeman's team. Notre Dame was still kept out of last year's postseason bracket with a 10-game winning streak.

The first six games of the year have gone as expected by both teams. BYU has a real opportunity in front of them. For Bachmeier, he'll have to do some heavy lifting without Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin in the Cougars' backfield. Both teams have two of the strongest rosters in college football. Notre Dame came into the season with a title or bust mentality. BYU isn't considered to be at that level, but this is a game where they could push their way into being viewed as elite. 

BYU doesn't win this game if Bachmeier doesn't play his best. The way he took over against Iowa State is the same level Kalani Sitake and his staff needed him at this week. Luckily for the Cougars, they've gotten the best out Bachmeier this season. He's been able to be a Swiss Army Knife quarterback and know what's needed at the moment. The flow of the game will determine what Bachmeier needs to do.

Notre Dame will give BYU everything they've got on Saturday. The only way the Cougars win is if Bachmeier plays turnover-free football and creates explosive plays with his arm and legs.

BYU hosts Notre Dame on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. ESPN College GameDay will be on campus earlier on the day.

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