Game Day Primer / Sat, Oct 17

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#2 Notre Dame

6–0

at

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#8 BYU

5–0

11:30 PM UTC / LaVell Edwards Stadium · Provo, UT

Broadcast: ABC

Updated Oct 15, 5:36 PM UTCReviewed season evidence

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30 SEC

01 / Why this game matters

The short version

College GameDay is back in Provo for the first time since 2009, and LaVell Edwards Stadium is hosting its first matchup between two AP top-10 teams. No. 2 Notre Dame arrives 6–0; No. 8 BYU is 5–0. The setting is unusual, but the football question is clear: can BYU make Notre Dame build long drives instead of breaking the game open, while quarterback finds enough room to keep the Cougars moving? Both defenses just held an opponent near 200 total yards. One missed tackle or one stolen possession could matter more than the morning’s noise.

  • Bear Bachmeier · BYU

02 / Know these people

Keep an eye on them

Jonaz Walton / The freshman who turned a backed-up offense into a touchdown

Notre Dame · Running Back (RB)

His 97-yard touchdown against Stanford began near Notre Dame’s own goal line. He finished with a school true-freshman record 181 rushing yards, one week after gaining 120 at North Carolina. Watch the first BYU defender who gets a clean chance at him. A tackle that leaves a modest gain may be a good result; a missed angle can erase an entire field. His recent production also means BYU cannot devote every extra defender to the passing game.

Bear Bachmeier / The quarterback who creates a second play after the first one closes

BYU · Quarterback (QB)

He produced 329 passing yards and 109 rushing yards against Iowa State. Those two numbers force Notre Dame to keep defending after the receivers appear covered. Watch whether the defender nearest the sideline stays outside him or chases directly toward the backfield. If Bachmeier escapes, notice the next down too: one rescue run helps most when BYU follows it with another useful play instead of asking him to rescue the whole possession again.

03 / Watch for this

One thing you can actually see

When BYU quarterback starts moving out of the pocket—the space behind his blockers—watch the nearest Notre Dame defender. If he rushes straight at the quarterback, an outside lane may open. If he stays between and the sideline, he can buy time for help. The important question is not simply whether the quarterback runs. It is whether the defense makes him run into support or gives him open field. ’s 109 rushing yards last week explain why that small choice deserves attention.

04 / Sound smart

A natural observation

College GameDay runs 7–10 a.m. Mountain from the Heritage Halls lawn, with Steve Young as guest picker. Kickoff is 5:30 p.m. Mountain on ABC.

3 MIN

The central storyline

Why this game matters

College GameDay is back in Provo for the first time since 2009, and LaVell Edwards Stadium is hosting its first matchup between two AP top-10 teams. No. 2 Notre Dame arrives 6–0; No. 8 BYU is 5–0. The setting is unusual, but the football question is clear: can BYU make Notre Dame build long drives instead of breaking the game open, while quarterback finds enough room to keep the Cougars moving? Both defenses just held an opponent near 200 total yards. One missed tackle or one stolen possession could matter more than the morning’s noise.

  • Bear Bachmeier · BYU

A read on both sides

Team identity

Notre Dame

Team vibe

Notre Dame averages 44 points scored and 11 allowed. All six wins have come by at least 11 points, but the games have not asked the same question: Michigan State held the Irish to 27, while North Carolina scored 26 before Notre Dame won 37–26. The 58–7 Stanford result is the loudest recent score, not the only useful reference. Quarterback has protected the ball, and the offensive line has limited sacks. BYU needs to disrupt that comfort without assuming a giveaway will arrive. A competitive first half would ask Notre Dame to keep making sound choices in a setting where the crowd is waiting for one mistake.

BYU

Team vibe

BYU averages 34.6 points scored and 13.4 allowed. The 63-point opener against Utah Tech raises the offensive average; the last two wins required only 17 against TCU and 24 against Iowa State. The Cougars have held four of five opponents below 20, which has given the offense room to win without a huge total. The challenge now is preserving that margin for error against a Notre Dame team that has reached at least 27 every week. BYU is 3–0 in the Big 12, but this nonconference game will not change that record. It can change how much evidence the unbeaten start has behind it.

Current storylines

What to keep in your head

  • ESPN will broadcast College GameDay from the Heritage Halls lawn from 7 to 10 a.m. Mountain, with Steve Young as guest picker and BYU coach Kalani Sitake joining the show. Kickoff comes at 5:30 p.m. Mountain. The long gap separates two different occasions: a campus celebration and a game between unbeaten teams. The first is already assured. The second will depend on repeated tackles, protected possessions and successful responses after something goes wrong.
  • BYU held Iowa State to 94 rushing yards and 200 total yards. Notre Dame’s offensive line helped produce 361 rushing yards against Stanford and has allowed only two sacks all season. Irish running back supplies the highlight, but begin by watching the blockers. If BYU holds its ground near the original line, has to solve traffic. If the line moves backward together, the runner can reach the next layer of defenders with momentum.
  • BYU quarterback passed for 329 yards and rushed for 109 against Iowa State. Notre Dame defensive lineman just showed he can attack the passer or fall back into coverage. That creates a small game within the game: can the Irish change the picture without opening an escape route? Watch the space between the outside rusher and the nearest defender behind him. only needs one of them to lose the angle for a seemingly stopped play to continue.
  • The schools did not first play until 1992, but Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne visited Provo in 1923 to teach a coaching seminar for BYU’s young program. More recently, a six-game agreement announced in 2010 ran into conference realignment and scheduling changes. The last meeting was in Las Vegas in 2022; a return game in South Bend is scheduled for 2027. Saturday therefore belongs to a relationship with long gaps, rather than a familiar annual rivalry.

Teach Me What to Notice

On screen

Start with the line, then find the runner

Look for: The first collision between Notre Dame’s offensive line and BYU’s front as the handoff reaches the running back.

If you see it: BYU keeps the collision near the original line and a second defender closes the opening before the runner passes through.

Here's what it means: The defense is making the runner slow down or change direction. A short gain may look ordinary, but it denies the clean acceleration that turns a gap into a long touchdown.

On screen

Where does the deep defender finish?

Look for: Notre Dame’s deepest visible defender when BYU throws toward a receiver near the sideline.

If you see it: He stays beyond the receiver and closes toward the catch instead of arriving from behind after the receiver turns upfield.

Here's what it means: Notre Dame has a second chance to contain the play even if the first defender is beaten. The catch may gain yards without becoming an uncontested run toward the end zone.

5 MIN

The central storyline

Why this game matters

College GameDay is back in Provo for the first time since 2009, and LaVell Edwards Stadium is hosting its first matchup between two AP top-10 teams. No. 2 Notre Dame arrives 6–0; No. 8 BYU is 5–0. The setting is unusual, but the football question is clear: can BYU make Notre Dame build long drives instead of breaking the game open, while quarterback finds enough room to keep the Cougars moving? Both defenses just held an opponent near 200 total yards. One missed tackle or one stolen possession could matter more than the morning’s noise.

  • Bear Bachmeier · BYU

A read on both sides

Team identity

Notre Dame

Team vibe

Notre Dame averages 44 points scored and 11 allowed. All six wins have come by at least 11 points, but the games have not asked the same question: Michigan State held the Irish to 27, while North Carolina scored 26 before Notre Dame won 37–26. The 58–7 Stanford result is the loudest recent score, not the only useful reference. Quarterback has protected the ball, and the offensive line has limited sacks. BYU needs to disrupt that comfort without assuming a giveaway will arrive. A competitive first half would ask Notre Dame to keep making sound choices in a setting where the crowd is waiting for one mistake.

BYU

Team vibe

BYU averages 34.6 points scored and 13.4 allowed. The 63-point opener against Utah Tech raises the offensive average; the last two wins required only 17 against TCU and 24 against Iowa State. The Cougars have held four of five opponents below 20, which has given the offense room to win without a huge total. The challenge now is preserving that margin for error against a Notre Dame team that has reached at least 27 every week. BYU is 3–0 in the Big 12, but this nonconference game will not change that record. It can change how much evidence the unbeaten start has behind it.

Current storylines

What to keep in your head

  • ESPN will broadcast College GameDay from the Heritage Halls lawn from 7 to 10 a.m. Mountain, with Steve Young as guest picker and BYU coach Kalani Sitake joining the show. Kickoff comes at 5:30 p.m. Mountain. The long gap separates two different occasions: a campus celebration and a game between unbeaten teams. The first is already assured. The second will depend on repeated tackles, protected possessions and successful responses after something goes wrong.
  • BYU held Iowa State to 94 rushing yards and 200 total yards. Notre Dame’s offensive line helped produce 361 rushing yards against Stanford and has allowed only two sacks all season. Irish running back supplies the highlight, but begin by watching the blockers. If BYU holds its ground near the original line, has to solve traffic. If the line moves backward together, the runner can reach the next layer of defenders with momentum.
  • BYU quarterback passed for 329 yards and rushed for 109 against Iowa State. Notre Dame defensive lineman just showed he can attack the passer or fall back into coverage. That creates a small game within the game: can the Irish change the picture without opening an escape route? Watch the space between the outside rusher and the nearest defender behind him. only needs one of them to lose the angle for a seemingly stopped play to continue.
  • The schools did not first play until 1992, but Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne visited Provo in 1923 to teach a coaching seminar for BYU’s young program. More recently, a six-game agreement announced in 2010 ran into conference realignment and scheduling changes. The last meeting was in Las Vegas in 2022; a return game in South Bend is scheduled for 2027. Saturday therefore belongs to a relationship with long gaps, rather than a familiar annual rivalry.

Teach Me What to Notice

On screen

Start with the line, then find the runner

Look for: The first collision between Notre Dame’s offensive line and BYU’s front as the handoff reaches the running back.

If you see it: BYU keeps the collision near the original line and a second defender closes the opening before the runner passes through.

Here's what it means: The defense is making the runner slow down or change direction. A short gain may look ordinary, but it denies the clean acceleration that turns a gap into a long touchdown.

On screen

Where does the deep defender finish?

Look for: Notre Dame’s deepest visible defender when BYU throws toward a receiver near the sideline.

If you see it: He stays beyond the receiver and closes toward the catch instead of arriving from behind after the receiver turns upfield.

Here's what it means: Notre Dame has a second chance to contain the play even if the first defender is beaten. The catch may gain yards without becoming an uncontested run toward the end zone.

Players & Coaches

Players & Coaches

Jonaz Walton / The freshman who turned a backed-up offense into a touchdown

Notre Dame · Running Back (RB)

His 97-yard touchdown against Stanford began near Notre Dame’s own goal line. He finished with a school true-freshman record 181 rushing yards, one week after gaining 120 at North Carolina. Watch the first BYU defender who gets a clean chance at him. A tackle that leaves a modest gain may be a good result; a missed angle can erase an entire field. His recent production also means BYU cannot devote every extra defender to the passing game.

Players & Coaches

Bear Bachmeier / The quarterback who creates a second play after the first one closes

BYU · Quarterback (QB)

He produced 329 passing yards and 109 rushing yards against Iowa State. Those two numbers force Notre Dame to keep defending after the receivers appear covered. Watch whether the defender nearest the sideline stays outside him or chases directly toward the backfield. If Bachmeier escapes, notice the next down too: one rescue run helps most when BYU follows it with another useful play instead of asking him to rescue the whole possession again.

Players & Coaches

CJ Carr / The passer whose touchdowns have come with very few giveaways

Notre Dame · Quarterback (QB)

He has 16 touchdown passes against one interception through six games. BYU cannot plan on an unforced mistake. Watch whether it can make him release early or throw from an awkward position; a defended pass on third down can end a possession even when the quarterback never gives the ball away.

Players & Coaches

Faletau Satuala / The safety who can change both possession and field position

BYU · Safety (S)

His interception at TCU became a 59-yard return that set up BYU’s first touchdown. Find him deeper than the linebackers before the snap, then watch where he goes once the quarterback looks to throw. The key is whether he arrives as the pass does, without abandoning a receiver who can get behind him.

Players & Coaches

Boubacar Traore / The defender who disrupted Stanford in two different ways

Notre Dame · Defensive Lineman (DL)

He forced a fumble with a sack on Stanford’s first play and later intercepted a pass after dropping into coverage. Follow his first step rather than assuming he will always chase the quarterback. BYU must account for a player who can threaten the throw and also appear in its path.

Players & Coaches

Legend Glasker / The freshman receiver who can make one catch cover a lot of ground

BYU · Wide Receiver (WR)

He caught five passes for 99 yards against Iowa State, including a 75-yard reception. Watch whether Notre Dame keeps a defender between him and the end zone after the ball arrives. BYU does not need every completion to be spectacular, but an open running lane after one catch can alter a tight game.

The Stakes

One unbeaten team will add a top-10 victory; the other will take its first loss. That is a substantial October result, without being a promise about a future playoff field. BYU gets a rare chance to win this kind of game in its own stadium. Notre Dame gets its first Provo visit since 2004 and a nationally prominent road test. For both, the most convincing statement would be control that lasts beyond one explosive play: the ability to answer a score, recover from a failed drive and still execute late.

Why it matters

A stolen possession may be more valuable than a spectacular drive

BYU safety ’s long interception return at TCU put the offense just 16 yards from the end zone. Notre Dame’s defense created an immediate short field against Stanford. Against two defenses that have kept scoring low, starting close to the goal can matter enormously. Watch where a turnover happens and where the return ends; the change of possession is only the first part of its value.

Why it matters

A different western trip for the Irish

Notre Dame is playing its first non-pandemic season since 1995 without a regular-season game in California. Provo gives the western trip a different destination and a different atmosphere. That is useful context when the broadcast treats the visit as an event: this is not a routine stop on an annual circuit. The game is also the first top-10 meeting ever staged at BYU’s home stadium, which explains why the occasion feels larger than the usual October home date.

Why it matters

Can the passing game create a useful gain without a huge throw?

Notre Dame receiver Jordan Faison has 28 catches for 387 yards, including an eight-catch game at North Carolina. BYU tight end Walker Lyons caught five passes against Iowa State. Those players offer a reminder to watch the less dramatic completions too. A catch that turns third-and-six into a first down can matter more than a longer gain on a drive that ends empty. Track whether the receiver has space to turn forward or is immediately forced sideways.

Conversation Starters

Conversation Starters

Conversation starter 1

GameDay hasn’t been here since 2009, and this is the first top-10 matchup in the stadium. Provo has earned a big morning; now BYU has to earn the night.

Conversation Starters

Conversation starter 2

Notre Dame’s line and BYU’s front both had big weeks. I’m watching where that first collision happens before I follow the running back.

Conversation Starters

Conversation starter 3

Rockne taught a coaching seminar here in 1923, decades before these teams ever played. There’s more history between the programs than nine previous games suggest.

Conversation Starters

Conversation starter 4

can save a play with his legs. The question is whether BYU can follow that escape with another good down.