Too little, too late.
After falling behind once again, BYU’s second-half comeback attempt fell short Saturday night as the 16th-ranked Cougars lost 28-20 to Notre Dame at Allegiant Stadium — home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. Attendance for the game was 62,742, the largest crowd for a college athletic event in Nevada history.
The Irish were led by quarterback Drew Pyne who threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target was tight end Michael Mayer who caught 11 passes for 118 yards and two scores. Mayer also became the school’s all-time receptions leader for a tight end on a 24-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.
MICHAEL MAYER. NOTRE DAME’S ALL TIME RECEPTIONS LEADER BY A TIGHT END ☘️☘️ pic.twitter.com/IwEWqET4zF
— Barstool Irish (@BarstoolIrish) October 9, 2022
For BYU, the Cougars played their worst offensive game of the season as the team managed just 67 yards in the first half en route to 280 yards for the game. Notre Dame nearly doubled that as the Irish finished with 496 yards on a balanced attack (262 passing and 234 rushing).
After taking some questionable hits last week against Utah State, Jaren Hall was not himself on Saturday as he completed just 9 of 17 passes for 120 yards. The junior did have two touchdowns, but he also threw an interception.
“I don’t think he was 100% … he definitely was banged up,” said Kalani Sitake after the game. “We have to go back and figure out what our game plan was, and what he can do.”
BYU football: Comeback effort falls short against Notre Dame after another slow start
Christopher Brooks led the way on the ground for the Cougars with 14 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown. Kody Epps was Hall’s favorite target as the freshman caught four passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
With the win, Notre Dame improves to 3-2 on the year and extended its winning streak to three games. With the loss, BYU falls to 4-2 on the season and will look to get back on track against a good Arkansas team next week at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Here’s how the media, fans, and players reacted after the loss:
The Irish just don't lose in the Shamrock Series ☘️
Notre Dame moves to 11-0 in that game with a win over No. 16 BYU in Vegas! pic.twitter.com/tFfq0nrLxN
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 9, 2022
Must credit @BYUfootball for their mental toughness & maturity for not folding when down 25-6 . They get back in game vs @NDFootball & trail 28-20 Will Irish be able to close this baby out ?
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) October 9, 2022
The coaching staff. That’s the pie chart. You are fundamentally failing when you have your team 4 weeks in a row crap the bed every 1st half. No one to blame besides this staff. They failed.
— BYU for the W (@BYUinsider) October 9, 2022
Biggest fix needed is on our coordinators! Can't come out flat in the 1st half of every game! Kalani needs to fix that!
— Kung Fu Kevy (@DJ_Kevy_Kev) October 9, 2022
That second half was a whole different ball game. Too little too late but good to see no one rolled over coming out of half with how it felt the game was going. On to the next. #GoCougs #BeatArkansas
— Tyler Farrell (@TattooCoug) October 9, 2022
It's a minor miracle that BYU trails Notre Dame by only 6 in 2nd qtr. BYU offense is still on the bus. Many miscomms between QB/WR. Safety when QB held ball too long in pocket in EZ. Will be interesting when BYU's offense shows up. No dis to ND def but this part is self-inflicted
— Trevor Matich (@TMatich) October 9, 2022
BYU needs to figure out why it starts slow, and certainly needs to in time to play a very potent Arkansas team next Saturday. Razorbacks are much better than the Irish
— Brandon Gurney (@BrandonCGurney) October 9, 2022
-Puka and Romney combined for 8 yards receiving
-Outside of Kody Epps, BYU had 5 receptions for 20 yards
-BYU gave up a Safety
-BYU missed a PAT
-BYU didn't have 11 players on the field 3 different times
-Notre Dame ran 27 more offensive plays than BYU did— House of Mars (@eldermars) October 9, 2022
Fans never gave up. Neither did the team. Win some you lose some. Felt like this was one we should have won but on to the next. #GoCougs #BYUFootball
— Chad Taylor (@jonnnnylingo) October 9, 2022
I was disappointed in the offense. We just looked flat. This offense was more potential than it has shown all year. I thought the defense played hard. I was proud of their effort, but they were on the field too long.
— AaronEnglebright (@Abrightdevil) October 9, 2022
Someone has to ask @CoachRoderick why in the hell you take the ball out of your NFL prospect QB’s hands on 4 straight plays. #gocougs #byu
— Nick Newman 🇺🇦🇺🇸 (@nicknewman801) October 9, 2022
NFL QB and we run the ball four straight times
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) October 9, 2022
BYU football has 99 Problems and Michael Mayer is 1… #BYUvsND
— Jason G. (@JasonGIles5) October 9, 2022
I've never seen a single player be more dominant in a game than ND TE Michael Mayer is in this BYU game.
He's tremendous.— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) October 9, 2022
Hall to Epps is the new Stockton to Malone. #BYUvsND
— Tyson (@TysonHymas) October 9, 2022
Jaren Hall to Kody Epps x 2
Epps has 5 TD’s in the last 4 games @BYUfootball | @NBCSports pic.twitter.com/pVP5QAh45U
— Porter Larsen (@Larsen_ESPN) October 9, 2022
Kody Epps is running clean ass routes and reaping the rewards
Not near the biggest or most athletic guy on the field, just doing his job and trusting the QB
— Porter Larsen (@Larsen_ESPN) October 9, 2022
Tough one. That slow start was a big hole to climb out of. Better second half. Takeaways. Fourth down stops on both sides. Drops. Missed calls. Big plays. This had it all.
Bummer.
Beat Arkansas next week.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) October 9, 2022
What a fun game.
BYU had chances, too bad we couldn’t pull it off.
Everything about the game was a blast, though. Absolutely electric, and BYU fans showed out!#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/Tv14tvocC0
— Steve Carter (@50stev) October 9, 2022
Always proud of the Cougs but man this stings! Beat the Razorbacks! #GoCougs 🤙
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) October 9, 2022
Coolest moment of the game was during the third quarter break & ND were trying to do their light show & the BYU fans drowned it out with “Let’s go Cougars” 🥹🥹🥹
Just know the players and coaches appreciate the passion! I know they’re shattered by the result. #GoCougs always
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) October 9, 2022
Tough night for the Cougars, but a great night with our friends. Father Jenkins, the President of Notre Dame, was kind and gracious to spend time with us. We are grateful for faith leaders that build and unite. pic.twitter.com/TUroNMnJkb
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) October 9, 2022
Shawn Bradley in attendance for #BYUvsND#BYU @kslsports pic.twitter.com/B17fDIa0c2
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) October 9, 2022
Let’s come together and console one another on this less than awesome night of college football. #GoCougs #UtahUtes #LoveOneAnother pic.twitter.com/A8abtBRE98
— Travis Jordan (@travisb_jordan) October 9, 2022
