5 instant reactions to Notre Dame’s comeback bid falling short vs. BYU

October 18, 2026

Notre Dame’s season took an unexpected turn Saturday night as the Irish fell to BYU 28-24 in a hard-fought road game, marking their first loss of the year. Down 21-10 at halftime, Notre Dame staged a dramatic comeback, seizing a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter before BYU’s late touchdown sealed the upset.

The Irish’s offensive struggles were evident, with quarterback CJ Carr completing just 261 yards on 49 attempts without a touchdown, including a costly fumble on a spike attempt that replay overturned. Carr’s performance was his worst of the season, and the offense’s execution faltered, compounded by four penalties totaling 40 yards—including a targeting call on Boubacar Traore that led to his disqualification early in the game.

Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Chris Ash’s unit, which has allowed 28.5 points per game against top-20 opponents, couldn’t stop BYU’s late surge, raising further questions about their consistency against elite competition. The loss also sparked debate over Notre Dame’s decision to bench Jonaz Walton, whose absence appeared to impact the offense’s rhythm and play-calling.