It turns out BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier had a lot more to play for than just stacking another win on Saturday night. Bachmeier completed 23 of 36 passes for 224 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, and he rushed for 45 yards and two more scores to lead the No. 8-ranked Cougars to an upset of the No. 2-ranked Fighting Irish in a game that sent shockwaves through the college football world. The BYU win surprised many, especially those touting Notre Dame as the top team in the country.
For Bachmeier, however, the win was an eventuality considering the chip on his shoulder that he carried into the game. During his postgame media availability, Bachmeier explained why Saturday’s victory was personal for him. There are some receipts kept.” The situation Bachmeier is referring to happened years ago.
He was a three-star quarterback out of Murietta Valley High School in California. Notre Dame had just offered him a scholarship in July 2023. It was a moment of celebration for him and his family considering his late grandfather was a diehard Notre Dame fan.
Two months later, Deuce Knight had committed to Notre Dame and taken the spot that Bachmeier believed was his. He eventually committed to Stanford, and Knight ultimately flipped his commitment to Auburn, though he’s since transferred to Ole Miss. At the time of Knight’s commitment, Bachmeier admitted to Rivals that he was seriously considering committing to the Irish but had quickly shifted gears once they landed a QB commitment.
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