PROVO, Utah — Notre Dame football is unbeaten no more.
On a wild night that saw four lead changes and plenty of momentum-swinging plays, the second-ranked Irish fell 28-24 to eighth-ranked BYU at Edwards Stadium.
The eighth-ranked Cougars came in with 15 straight night wins, including eight straight at home. Coach Kalani Sitake’s team was 41-4 in its past 45 games under the lights.
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Notre Dame had lost the past three times it trailed at the half: in 2025 against Texas A&M (28-24) and Miami (14-7) and in the 2024 CFP title game against Ohio State (21-7).
Here's how we grade the Irish's performance against the Cougars.
Offense: C+
CJ Carr looked uncomfortable in the pocket for the first time since the first half of the season opener against Wisconsin. He overthrew Jordan Faison in the end zone on the first drive and finished the first half with a bungled spike that was ruled a lost fumble after official review. Nolan James Jr. was a force early (10 carries, 68 yards and a score in the first half). The Irish had an empty series to open the second half for the third time in four games, then settled for a combined six points despite back-to-back short fields.
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Defense: C+
Five plays in, sacks leader Boubacar Traore was ejected for targeting after a helmet-to-helmet hit on quarterback Bear Bachmeier. The Irish pass rush was a non-factor the rest of the half. Confusion hit at several points, including a 9-yard option run, a 15-yard throwback touchdown pass and an end-around to speedy Legend Glasker. Leonard Moore returned to the lineup after missing the Stanford game with a concussion.
Special teams: A-
Spencer Porath connected from 46 and 31 yards. Jasper Scaife flipped the field with a 51-yard punt in the first half. Freshman gunner Bubba Frazier recovered a muffed punt at the BYU 41 after a fourth straight empty Irish offensive series. Luke Talich stuffed punter Fuller Shurtz on an ill-advised fake on fourth-and-5 from the BYU 28.
Coaching: C
Losing two starters in tight end Cooper Flanagan (hamstring) and Traore (targeting) made this an even trickier spot than it already was, but Notre Dame came in as a double-digit favorite. The Irish ran out of time before they did timeouts, a cardinal sin in a one-score loss.
Overall: C
With No. 1 Georgia’s home loss to Auburn on Saturday, the Irish were in position to ascend to the No. 1 ranking for the first time since losing to Alabama in the 2012 BCS Championship game. Now the Nov. 7 visit from Miami takes on do-or-die implications.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: See how Notre Dame football graded out in top-10 showdown with BYU