It’s safe to say that BYU’s upset win over Notre Dame on Saturday night was extra sweet for Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier.
The signal caller was impressive during BYU’s 28-24 win over the Irish, throwing for 224 yards and a touchdown while rushing for a pair of scores in one of a handful of stunning upsets across the sport.
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Speaking with the media after the win, Bachmeier was asked what it was like to be a part of a field-storm-inducing victory at BYU, which is when he brought up some receipts he’s kept over the years.
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BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) warms up prior to a college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the BYU Cougars on October 17, 2026 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, UT. (Photo by Aaron Baker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Aaron Baker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“Out of high school, Notre Dame disrespected me and my family pretty badly, and I wasn’t going to lose to those guys, there was no way I was going to lose to those guys,” the California native explained.
BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) runs the ball defended by Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Luke Talich (28) during a college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the BYU Cougars on October 17, 2026 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, UT. (Photo by Aaron Baker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Aaron Baker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Bachmeier did not go into detail about what exactly it was that the Fighting Irish allegedly did to disrespect him during his high school playing days, but it almost certainly has to be tied to his recruitment process.
Notre Dame was one of over a dozen big-time programs that offered Bachmeier when he was at Murrieta Valley, and according to Adam Gorney of Rivals, he was nearing making his commitment to the Irish, but the program had Deuce Knight above him on its prospect list.
Knight committed to Notre Dame in September 2023, effectively taking Bachmeier’s spot, but ultimately decommitted before taking his talents to Auburn. Meanwhile, Bachmeier enrolled at Stanford, but did not stay with the Cardinal long and put his name in the transfer portal during spring practices.
BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) makes a pass during a game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and BYU Cougars on October 17, 2026, at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Boyd)
Bachmeier opted to transfer to BYU, along with his brother, Tiger, a wide receiver for the Cougs. He was thrust into the QB1 role during the 2025 season after starting quarterback Jake Retzlaff transferred to Tulane after admitting to having premarital sex, a violation of BYU’s honor code.
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Bachmeier, a true sophomore, has thrown for nearly 1,300 yards and rushed for 284 yards in six games for the Cougars this season.