CBS Sports projects BYU football as new No. 1 in AP Top 25 poll

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For years, the BYU Cougars have worked to establish itself among college football’s most respected programs. On Saturday night, Kalani Sitake's team delivered a statement that the entire country had to hear.

No. 8 BYU defeated No. 2 Notre Dame, 28-24, in the biggest home win over the past three decades. Bear Bachmeier led the Cougars to their first victory over the Fighting Irish since 2004, snapping the nation's longest winning streak for the national powerhouse at 16 games.

This was more than a signature win, but also an opportunity for BYU to prove that its unbeaten start was no fluke. Where does this put the Cougars moving forward? CBS Sports' contributor Chip Patterson projects BYU at the new No. 1 in the nation.

"This is a bold prediction given the gap between BYU and No. 1, but it's one that we feel comfortable making with the Cougars' unbeaten record and high-profile upset win against Notre Dame," Patterson wrote. "There's also some credit earned with the AP voters in terms of BYU's recent success."

Now, with a 6-0 record, the Cougars have positioned themselves as a team capable of challenging college football’s established powers.

Bachmeier Delivered on the Biggest Stage

Every defining victory needs a defining performance; BYU found one in sophomore field general Bear Bachmeier. He completed 23 of 36 passes for 224 yards, threw a touchdown, and rushed for two scores. Not to mention, he received a touchdown on a trick play as well. Bachmeier became the first FBS player in 30 years to record the "hat trick" against a top-five opponent in the same game. His versatility gave Notre Dame problems throughout the night.

Even after the Fighting Irish erased BYU’s advantage and took a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter, Bachmeier didn’t fold. The moment showed what BYU can become when its quarterback embraces pressure rather than running from it.

The BYU Defense Refused to Break at the End

Bachmeier delivered the offensive heroics, but BYU’s defense had the final stand of the game. Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr led the Fighting Irish down the field in the closing seconds, giving his team one final opportunity to steal the game. The Irish reached the BYU 9-yard line, but Carr’s last pass sailed incomplete as time expired.

BYU had made mistakes of its own, including special teams miscues that helped Notre Dame climb back into the game. But when the result rested on the final defensive possession, the Cougars found a way to stand tall.

The College Football Playoff Conversation Has Changed

Being able to beat Notre Dame doesn’t guarantee BYU will make the 12-team postseason bracket. The Cougars still have work to do in the final weeks of the season. Not to mention, maintaining an undefeated record becomes increasingly difficult as the season moves towards December. However, the victory changed the way the country must evaluate BYU, who demonstrated they can compete with the best programs in the country.

BYU gave college football a reason to take its championship ambitions seriously. They'll have to prove it multiple times on the way to a possible Big 12 title rematch with Texas Tech, but the Notre Dame upset demands respect.

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