BYU QB Bear Bachmeier says Notre Dame ‘disrespected’ him and his family following upset win over Irish
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier said Notre Dame had “disrespected” him and his family during his high-school years, adding extra motivation to the Cougars’ 28-24 upset win over the Irish. He made the remark after helping BYU secure a victory that prompted fans to storm the field.
Bachmeier did not specify what happened, though the article links the grievance to his recruitment: Notre Dame reportedly prioritised another quarterback prospect, Deuce Knight, who later decommitted and joined Auburn. Bachmeier went to Stanford, transferred to BYU with his brother, and took over as starting quarterback in 2025; across six games, he had thrown for nearly 1,300 yards and rushed for 284.
- Bachmeier cited an old Notre Dame slight after BYU’s 28-24 win.
- He did not explain exactly what he felt the Irish did.
- He has nearly 1,300 passing yards in six games this season.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Bachmeier’s account may reflect a personal experience in which Notre Dame’s handling of his recruitment felt disrespectful to him and his family. Even without public details, a perceived slight can be a legitimate source of motivation, and his comment offers context for why the win mattered to him.
The case against
The report gives no specifics about what Notre Dame or its staff did, so the characterisation of their conduct cannot be assessed from the available information. Recruiting decisions often involve prioritising one prospect over another; that alone does not establish disrespect, and the remark may reflect Bachmeier’s personal interpretation rather than a substantiated account of misconduct.