Kyler Kasper played a decisive part in BYU’s 28-24 win over Notre Dame, throwing a double-reverse pass to Bear Bachmeier for a 15-yard touchdown in the first half. It was the kind of calculated, well-drilled play that can swing a game against a top-ranked opponent.
BYU’s victory over then-No. 2 Notre Dame at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo was more than just a headline result. It moved BYU to No. 2 in the country and gave the Cougars a major boost in their College Football Playoff case.
The trick play stood out because it was not improvised. Aaron Roderick said Kasper “won it on the first throw” and added that he had “thrown it perfectly all week in practice.”
A planned strike, not a fluke
The play also had some history behind it. BYU modeled it on a 2022 score against Baylor, when Chase Roberts and Jaren Hall connected on a 22-yard touchdown. On October 17, 2026, the same idea resurfaced with Kasper, an Oregon transfer, executing the pass cleanly and giving BYU an early spark.
That mattered even more because BYU entered the game without injured running back LJ Martin for the second straight week. In that context, finding another way to create a touchdown against Notre Dame’s top-rated defense in the country was vital.
Kalani Sitake praised the offensive staff for the preparation, saying “A-Rod, Fesi (Sitake), TJ (Woods), just the entire offensive staff did a great job planning this one,” and adding that “they were on point.”
Roderick’s trust in the playmakers
Walker Lyons also backed the plan, saying BYU was “pretty dialed on offense” and that Roderick “puts the playmakers in good positions.”
Lyons added that the game plan spread the responsibility around. “There wasn’t one person who had this crazy game, and a lot of other people didn’t really contribute much,” he said. “But I think that’s one of the strengths of him as a coordinator; he puts all of the people who have different strengths in the right opportunities to make the plays.”
That is the broader takeaway from the Notre Dame win. Kasper’s touchdown was the visible flashpoint, but the result came from a coordinated offensive performance that finished with 224 passing yards, 45 rushing yards, 24 completions, and six different receivers involved.
And if Roderick’s comment is any guide, Kasper may not be done just yet. After the game, he said Kasper was “already asking for more throws,” before adding, “So we’ll see.”
For BYU, the result was simple: a 28-24 upset over a No. 2-ranked team in the country, and a play from Kyler Kasper that will be remembered as one of the key moments of the night.
