Controversy aside, BYU makes big statement for Big 12 with thrilling upset of Notre Dame

Controversy aside, BYU makes big statement for Big 12 with thrilling upset of Notre Dame

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Controversy aside, BYU makes big statement for Big 12 with thrilling upset of Notre Dame

Controversy aside, BYU makes big statement for Big 12 with thrilling upset of Notre Dame originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Was it pass interference? 

There was definitely contact between BYU defensive back Evan Johnson and Notre Dame receiver Jaden Greathouse on the final play of Saturday's top-10 showdown between the Cougars and Irish.

It's a no-call that will come up later. No. 8 BYU beat No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 in a top-10 thriller at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The Cougars (6-0) made a huge statement for the Big 12. The Irish (6-1) missed a chance to grab the No. 1 ranking in the next AP Poll after a wild day when five top-10 teams lost. 

It also places a premium on Notre Dame's Nov. 7 date with No. 3 Miami (6-0). The Hurricanes should ascend to the top spot in the rankings after a 43-35 double-overtime victory against Florida State. 

Will that missed call loom large for the Irish at the end of the regular season? 

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Notre Dame mistakes in loss to BYU

Notre Dame had a rough first half. Edge rusher Boubacar Traore was ejected for targeting on a helmet-to-helmet hit on BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier early in the first quarter. CJ Carr missed potential TD passes to Jordan Faison and Jack Larsen. The Irish had a chance to cut into the lead in the final seconds of the first half, but Carr's spike attempt was ruled a fumble, which Jayven Williams recovered. 

BYU led 21-10 at halftime behind Bachmeier as a result. The Cougars opened the game with a 11-play, 75-yard TD drive where the dual-threat quarterback had six passes and three runs that accounted for 59 yards. Bachmeier had two rushing TDs and a 15-yard TD catch on a pass from Kyler Kasper. 

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Irish rally in second half 

The Irish clawed back with the help of special teams in the third quarter. Bubba Frazier recovered a muffed punt, and Joey O'Brien tackled BYU punter Fulluer Shurtz on a fake punt. Notre Dame turned those miscues into a pair of field goals by Spencer Porath. 

Notre Dame took a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter on a drive set up with a 38-yard connection between Carr and Jaden Greathouse. Freshman Jonaz Walton scored a 5-yard TD run and added the two-point conversion with 10:34 remaining. 

But BYU responded. Bachmeier hit Walker Lyons for a 6-yard TD with 1:47 remaining on third and goal to give the Cougars back a 28-24 lead. That set up the wild finish in the final two minutes. 

CJ Carr nearly leads TD drive for Notre Dame 

Carr nearly played the role of hero on the final drive. He connected with Greathouse on fourth-and-3 and third-and-10 for gains of seven and 24, respectively, against a heavy BYU blitz. A fourth-and-5 connection to Micah Gilbert set up the game's final play. 

Carr tried to hit Greathouse, but Johnson had the coverage. Good call? No call? Was there one second left? 

It doesn't matter. Bachmeier, who had 224 passing yards, 45 rushing yards and three total TDs, played the hero. Carr, who finished 27 of 49 for 261 yards, fell short. That end-of-half sequence on the botched spike in the first half showed up later. 

Impact of Notre Dame's loss to BYU 

It's a huge statement victory for the Big 12, which still has unbeaten teams in No. 10 Texas Tech (6-0) and No. 11 Utah (5-0). On a day where chaos took control in the SEC, the Big 12 is more stable at the top. 

BYU, the only school to win double-digit games each of the last two seasons and not make the College Football Playoff, are in great position under coach Kalani Sitake. 

Notre Dame faces a different narrative. There could have been a call on the final play, but you can't be counting on that on the road. The Irish are now 3-4 on the road against ranked opponents under coach Marcus Freeman, and the Cougars edged the Irish in the fourth quarter. 

Notre Dame missed the playoff last year with a 10-2 record – and this was one of the marquee games on the schedule. Is the game in South Bend against Miami a gotta-have-it game knowing Notre Dame's strength-of-schedule will be panned against the SEC and Big Ten at-large candidates? If you don't know the answer, then you weren't paying attention last season.

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