What this amazing, incredible, emotional moment really needs is perspective.

I can hear you all now.

“OK, Boomer. What a buzzkill. Can’t you just rush the field, drink your Sodalicious and celebrate like the rest of us?”

As someone who experienced BYU-Miami (1990) and BYU-Notre Dame (2004) in real time, I’ve got to say (as the kids do) that this one just hits different.

I was in college in 1990, the student sports director at KBYU but I conceded my field pass to one of our reporters because I wanted to experience the game as a fan.

You’re welcome, Gordon Treadway.

I was the Daily Herald football beat writer in 2004 when the Cougars took down the Irish, still trying to make sense of it all when two days later BYU brass fired ADs Val Hale and Elaine Michaelis in a huge restructuring.

What strikes me as I take in Saturday’s 28-24 victory against No. 2 Notre Dame is that after the Miami win and the first victory over the Irish, Cougar Nation woke up the next day and they were still on the outside of college football’s elite looking in.

Beat anybody you want, but you’re still in the WAC (1990) and the MWC (2004).

Access is extremely limited.

The best part of Saturday’s game is that it wasn’t mighty Notre Dame against upstart BYU. It was two really good power conference teams (one independent, one from the Big 12) duking it out, toe to toe, with the Cougars coming out on top in a barnburner. A well-earned victory against a top-notch opponent.

Let’s get into it.

Now it’s time for Perfectly Rational Overreactions (PROs):

PRO No. 1: This is BYU’s biggest football win EVER.

Apologies to the 1984 Holiday Bowl victory that clinched a national title, because I’m not ready to move past that one. But Saturday had more at stake than any previous game (aside from the Holiday Bowl) and that’s significant. In the build up to the game I never got the feeling that BYU would have to do something spectacular to beat Notre Dame. The Cougars just had to play to their abilities and that’s just what we saw.

As with every other big win in program history, what you do the rest of the season is hugely important. You can’t beat Notre Dame then falter and then fail to win the Big 12 championship or the college football playoffs.

PRO No. 2: Bear Bachmeier is the greatest quarterback in BYU history.

Boy, I must be high on sugary drinks or something, right? Remember, these are overreactions, after all. BYU’s quarterback lineage is long and distinguished. Former Cougar and NFL legend Steve Young went 10-0 as the guest picker on ESPN College GameDay, so the excellence continues.

As for Bachmeier, Bear is one of one. The only near comparison is probably Taysom Hill, though Hill runs a sub 4.5 40. The point is, both of those guys are just really good at football. Bachmeier impressed a lot of critics with his ability to throw the ball on Saturday, especially against what was being touted as the No. 1 defense in the country.

I define Bachmeier as a football player and a winner and there’s really no other apt description. He endeared himself to Cougar fans even more after the game when his passion spilled over into the post-game.

PRO No. 3: BYU’s win is tainted because the Big 12 admitted a mistake was made on the game’s final play.

It’s easy to take the high road when your team wins. Reverse the situation and BYU fans would be all over social media complaining that the Cougars were robbed. But for anyone to insinuate that BYU didn’t earn its victory on Saturday is not being honest with themselves.

You can dispute whether there was one second remaining on the clock for another Notre Dame play just like you can debate whether or not it was pass interference on the final pass. You can dispute a dozen other key plays in the game but you cannot not convince me that the player’s decided the outcome of this game, not the officials. This holds true in virtually every game that’s ever been played.

And finally, PRO No. 4: BYU deserves to be ranked No. 1.

You could argue that no one still undefeated has a win as good as the Cougars. Consider that Notre Dame was ranked No. 2 in the country, was a 10.5 road favorite and had won 16 straight games by double digits. AP votes and the national media wanted BYU to prove it belonged. The Cougars won the game 28-24. In what way can the Cougars be held back now?

Turns out the voters put BYU as No. 2, behind unbeaten Miami. The Hurricanes got 40 first-place votes and BYU 20, with total points going 1,697 for Miami and 1,675 for BYU.

That’ll do.

Who Carried the Boats and the Logs?

Surely, you say, it must be Bachmeier, who ran for two touchdowns, passed for one and caught a scoring pass as well. But I want to honor the whole experience so I’m giving it to BYU fans. Cougar Nation carried the day, from the early morning hours when ESPN College GameDay started through the game and well into the night.

The national media marveled at their stamina minus any alcoholic beverages, but we’ve all been doing it for years so it’s no big deal. Sugar, yes. More sugar than anyone has a right to consume. From the youngest, most impressionable BYU fans to the old-timers who suffered through so many disappointing moments, this one’s for you.

Complementary football

To be honest, BYU didn’t play great complementary football at all times on Saturday, especially in the third quarter. Special teams was a disaster with a muffed punt and a failed fake punt. The offense was stuck in neutral (15 plays, 37 yards), forcing the defense to keep the Cougars competing.

But when the game was on the line, complementary football took over. The defense got a huge stop and Cannon DeVries popped off a 23-yard punt return. The offense churned out a 10-play, 55-yard drive that took 3:56 off the clock. Bachmeier converted a third-and-goal with a the go-ahead TD pass to Walker Lyons.

That’s why BYU won the game.

Get off my lawn

Nothing to report this week. Aside from a few road hogs as I drove back and forth to Salt Lake City, nothing irritated me to the point of rising to a “Get off my lawn” contribution. What are the chances of that?

Clever

Some of the best signs at ESPN College GameDay include “Bear runs like he’s late for sacrament”, “Rudy was offsides” and “Cougars eat leprechauns for breakfast. They are magically delicious.”

We’re No. 2

About 40 minutes before kickoff, Auburn upset No. 1 Georgia on a walk-off field goal, opening all sorts of doors for both No. 2 Notre Dame AND BYU.

Eventually, five teams in front of BYU lost games (Georgia, Notre Dame, No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Alabama and No. 7 Texas) on a crazy Saturday.

For once, it was nice to see the Cougars take advantage of an opportunity.

That’s all for now, but for this: Vivid seats reported that the average cost of a ticket for the BYU-Notre Dame game was $663, the highest in the country.

I think you’d be hard pressed to find any Cougar fans who didn’t think it was totally worth it.

I heard an ESPN talking head say on Saturday that every team is “only one week from humility.”

Kalani Sitake stated he wanted to keep his team “Humble and hungry.” That will certainly be put to the test prepping for UCF.

Have a terrific week and enjoy your No. 2 ranking.