The BYU Cougars defeated the Iowa State Cyclones on Friday, despite crippling injury news. Prior to that game, the team’s leading rusher and Big 12 Player of the Year, LJ Martin, was lost to a ‘lower leg’ injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for at least a month. Martin departed the TCU game early and quarterback Bear Bachmeier almost single-handedly picked up the slack.

Bachmeier finished that TCU game with only 62 yards passing, but more importantly added 66 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. The second of which ended up being the difference in the game. Bachmeier completely flipped his production vs Iowa State, throwing for 329 yards and rushing for another 109 yards.

The Iowa State game presented some challenges and minor concerns to clean up. On a few specific plays, Iowa State was able to extend drives due to allowing small plays to end with large gains. To call it a tackling problem might be a step too far, but the score could have been wider if not for some miscues.

Bear’s brother Tiger also did not have a great day. A muffed punt return led to a turnover as well as one he should’ve let bounce into the end zone. That second one started a drive on the BYU one-yard line. Bachmeier and Legend Glasker were able to overcome the small issues and win somewhat comfortably.

A Notre Dame win could pave two different roads for BYU

BYU currently holds the 32nd ranked strength of schedule nationally with only two remaining ranked opponents. No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 12 Utah. Both of those games were circled on the calendar long before the season started.

Believing the Cougars want to or need to win against Utah in the Holy War should go without saying at this point. However, this could be the best Utah team in the last several years. Despite losing Kyle Whittingham to Michigan, Utah hasn’t changed much in how they operate. Similar brand of football, but the offense is more explosive and the defense is more stingy than it has been in recent years.

Notre Dame is the crossroads game. If BYU can beat the Irish, it will significantly improve the likelihood of two factors. Favorable position in the Big 12 and possibly within the College Football Playoff as well as everyone’s favorite individual award, the Heisman Trophy.

As has become the case most years, Notre Dame has not played anyone of significance yet as they don’t play a conference schedule. They have lopsided wins against Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State and Purdue. The only game they were tested in was North Carolina, who played them tight until the end of that game. North Carolina currently sits in the middle of the pack in the ACC.

The remainder of Notre Dame’s schedule and the current AP Top 25 should give Cougars fans some optimism heading into that game. After the BYU game, Notre Dame faces No. 4 Miami and No. 24 SMU. There has been nothing significant to suggest Miami can’t win their matchup against Notre Dame. SMU is a tough, scrappy team that could make things interesting.

If BYU pulls off that upset, there is a real world possibility that Notre Dame and BYU will essentially swap positions in the AP Top 25. If the rankings hold after this week, with a BYU win next week, BYU at or around No. 3 and Notre Dame at or around No. 8 is not unrealistic.

At that point in the season, with a favorable ranking, BYU would only need to win the games they were expected to win, in order to set themselves up for the postseason. Optimistically, Martin could return between the Utah game and the Baylor game for a last season playoff push.

Bear Bachmeier: Heisman dark horse

Bear could be a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate with highly productive games against Utah, but more importantly Notre Dame. If he can put together another 300 yards passing and 100 yards rushing game against a top five team, the voters will notice. Currently, the Heisman race is focused on Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and a logjam at quarterback that could include as many as six other quarterbacks.

A good win against Notre Dame could end up being a two-fold benefit for Bachmeier. It could put his name in the conversation with almost half the season remaining. It could also leap frog Bear over a top five favorite in CJ Carr. All things being even, CJ Carr is slightly ahead of Bachmeier by the numbers, if you don’t consider Bachmeier's big drive extending plays and rushing numbers.

CJ Carr is throwing with a slightly better completion percentage, a slight edge in passing yards, a 13:1 touchdown to interception ratio. However, nothing changes the conversation like a head-to-head matchup. If Bachmeier outperforms Carr, the team’s stock will rise, as will Bachmeier’s.

Bachmeier has a tough road ahead to be more than a ‘candidate’. Jeremiah Smith is on pace for a record-setting season (1900 yards and 19 touchdowns at the current average) and most of the country is still expecting a big push from Arch Manning and Julian Sayin. However, winning is the best path to a New York City invite. For every year that stats drive the winner, there is a year when the winner is the best player on the best team.

BYU welcomes Notre Dame to Provo, Utah on October 17. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on ABC.

More BYU Cougars News:

Former BYU star Taysom Hill wont return to Saints

BYU vs. Notre Dame football ticket prices hit Super Bowl levels

BYU's Bear Bachmeier tops $12.5 million QB in latest rankings for 2026 season

BYU football announces jersey patch deal with $4.3 billion tech company

Source: Yahoo Sports