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Notre Dame Trolled by BYU, Big 12 After Loss with Pop-Tarts Bowl Opt-Out, McAfee & Steve Young Photo

Joseph ZuckerOct 18, 2026

The jokes were flying on social media after eighth-ranked BYU toppled No. 2 Notre Dame in Provo, Utah.

BYU noted ESPN's Pat McAfee and famed almunus Steve Young correctly picked the outcome on College GameDay:

There was also the storyline of the Fighting Irish declining the opportunity to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl last year against the Cougars. The Big 12 Conference and others were all too happy to remind Notre Dame of that:

BYU threw away an 11-point halftime lead as Notre Dame jumped ahead 24-21 thanks to a Jonaz Walton three-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Walton also punched it in on the two-point conversion attempt.

Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who had to settle some personal scores with the Fighting Irish, hit Walker Lyons for the game-winning touchdown with 1:47 on the clock.

With the victory and results elsewhere, BYU could climb to its highest position in the Associated Press Top 25 since its national championship-winning season in 1984. No. 1 Georgia, No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Alabama and No. 7 Texas all lost, so at the very least a top-five spot is all but assured for the Cougars.