I have 28 thoughts for BYU's 28 points against Notre Dame

1. Walker Lyons is every bit the player BYU hoped he would be. When he was coming out of high school and it became clear that BYU wasn't going to get him, an anonymous BYU coach said to me, "I've recruited that kid harder than any player I've ever recruited. He'd be one of the best in the country here."
   
   Walker took the scenic route, but that statement is proving true today.
2. Bott Mulitalo is the starting right tackle for the next four years. Today's depth chart confirms he's beaten out Siosiua Latu-Finau, but his game tape against Notre Dame confirms that Andrew Gentry ain't getting that job back even if he does come back this year.
3. Cade Uluave will go down as the best defensive portal addition in BYU history, even if he's only here for a single season. That dude is a difference maker in every sense of the word.
4. I keep coming back to the famous phrase that Nick Saban has said 1000 times: "Outcomes are a distraction." BYU beat Notre Dame and the outcome is exciting for all of the obvious reasons.
   
   But the message BYU sent to the country isn't because the final score was 28-24. If we pretend that 00:01 is added to the clock, Notre Dame scores on the next play, and BYU loses 30-28, I think the reaction from the country would be the same today. The Cougars proved they belonged throughout the football game. The final score isn't what proved BYU belonged.
5. Brian Santiago was super pumped about the football win. You could see it on the field and he even figured out how to login to his X account and post about it. That's pretty cool to see given the obvious issues between him and football. It doesn't mean anything and I think the separation of football from everything else is the right thing, but cool to see Santiago still publicly happy about football success.
6. I think we're going to celebrate Flipmas again at some point this year.
7. Bear getting upset and carrying a chip on his shoulder because Notre Dame did him dirty is exactly what I want to see from Bear. Find ways to stay motivated against everyone.
8. Notre Dame didn't do anything that every school in America does every recruiting class by manipulating one player to get to another. Recruiting is a dirty, shady game.
9. I was the leader of the Jernaro Gilford is the most important BYU coach not named Kalani train, and I feel good about everything I ever said. I did not think he could be easily replaced. I don't know how 'easy' anything was, but Lewis Walker deserves some real praise. What a job he has done through the first half.
10. Cannon DeVries' mistake was a killer, but what a dude for being able to bounce back and make a good return after that mistake. That's a mentally tough kid. Happy for him.
11. Bruce Mitchell finally looked like the best center in the conference this week. He dog walked Notre Dame DTs all night long.
12. Remember how long we talked about beating #1 Miami for? Those kinds of wins become historic for programs. Now that BYU is ranked #2, everyone is going to be looking for their own historic wins. It doesn't matter if it's UCF, Utah, or Kansas, BYU is going to get everyone's best shot the rest of the way. Buckle up.
13. A-Rod beat the hell out of Notre Dame DC Chris Ash. Out-schemed and out-coached in every way.
14. LaVell is a special place, man.
15. Because I've been asked 1000 times.... no, I don't expect any recruits to commit to BYU because of the BYU win over Notre Dame. I do think that BYU made up a ton of ground and BYU is in a great position because of that game. But I don't think I've ever heard of a player committing to a school because of a single game... especially in the NIL era.
16. I love everything about BYU's transfer portal class from last year, now that I think about it. They hit on almost everyone so far. Paki Finau, Jayven Williams, Uluave, Lyons, Roger Saleapaga, Kyler Kasper... elite portal scouting.
17. I've heard from a handful of boosters recently and I don't think money will be an issue ever again. Some of the things happening are long-term investments into the program.
18. I did not go to the game. (I could have, and shout out to those who reached out, you are amazing.) I watched the game with my 85-year old grandma and my sons after a day of hunting. I wish I was in that stadium but I somehow think I had more fun.
19. BYU gave up 12/23 conversion downs (and 13/24 if you count the muffed punt as a conversion). A lot of things went right for BYU on Saturday, but they struggled getting off the field when they had a chance.
20. We don't have to respond to every tweet from a Notre Dame fan. It is possible to just scroll on by.
21. I will be forever grateful that the best win of my life (that I can remember, shoutout to the rest of 1989 babies) will be re-lived while BYU wears the best uniform combination they have.
22. Preston Rex, man. What a dog. He isn't a natural running back and he's had his shares of struggles, but he stepped up big. This was a game that can catapult him into the rest of the season. If you can have success against Notre Dame, you can have success against anyone.
23. When Faletau Satuala committed to BYU, it felt like a new era of Cougar football. When he didn't transfer to Michigan, it felt like a REAL new era of Cougar football. In my brain, he represents the shift for BYU's success.
24. Speaking of Michigan... I hope Kalani is recognizing that when you have a good thing somewhere you like, it's not always wise to jump to a potential good thing somewhere else. Matt Campbell looks awful at Penn State. Kyle Whittingham looks awful at Michigan. Scott Frost got lucky to be back at UCF after being a disaster at Nebraska.
    
    The frustrations you know are oftentimes better than the potential you don't.
25. That last line should be on a poster, to be honest.
26. Keanu Tanuvasa is playing the best football of his college career. He's embraced being the interior guy in an odd-front and is showcasing his versatility. That's going to get him a spot in the NFL.
27. The maturity of Tiger Bachmeier is something I'm impressed with. He's seen his playing time basically disappear while his baby brother is the face of the program. He's not upset. He's not hostile. He's just filling whatever role he's asked and supporting his brother. It's a subtle thing, but it's an impressive thing.
28. Like many of you, I wondering if the resource stuff in the middle of fall camp would be a distraction. It hasn't been. Kalani has somehow kept this team focused on the main thing and they are locked in. It's some of the best leadership/coaching I've ever seen.

BONUS!

47. Bear Bachmeier, man. What a dog. I said I have concerns about his downfield passing abilities. I still have those concerns. Of all of the things that are required to be an elite quarterback, that is the one area he lacks the most. But his moxie, his accuracy in the short to intermediate stuff, his leadership, his rushing ability, and his attitude every single play are so damn fun to watch. What he showed against Notre Dame is something we haven't seen from him on tape yet. He threw with anticipation and he threw guys open. Even in his best passing games, he hasn't done that. This was next level Bear against a next level defense. When he dials in those deep balls down the sideline more, he's going to be elite.
    
    BYU better pay up, cuz those offers are about to get wild.