PROVO, Utah — No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 8 BYU are set to meet in Provo on Saturday in a top-10 matchup that offers both teams a significant opportunity to build their College Football Playoff resumes. The game, which is the first of a two-year home-and-home series, comes after both programs were denied at-large berths to the playoff field a season ago.
The matchup features the 6-0 Fighting Irish against the 5-0 Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium. According to oddsmakers, BYU is a 10.5-point home underdog. This contest represents the first time in the history of the series that both teams are ranked, and it will be the first top-10 matchup ever played at the stadium.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman stated that the team wants to play against the best and noted that the Cougars represent the best opponent they will face to date. BYU coach Kalani Sitake remarked that while the teams have changed since their 2022 meeting in Las Vegas, the opportunity to play a powerhouse like Notre Dame is significant. In that 2022 matchup, the Irish secured a 28-20 victory to take a 7-2 lead in the all-time series.
The game was born out of scheduling necessities for both programs. Notre Dame replaced USC on its schedule after failing to reach an agreement with the Trojans, while BYU replaced California after the Bears withdrew from a planned home-and-home series due to conference schedule changes.
Defensively, both teams lead in key metrics. Notre Dame leads the nation in total defense, allowing 214.2 yards per game and 11.0 points per game. BYU tops the Big 12 in total defense with 254.4 yards per game and 13.4 points per game. Notre Dame linebacker Drayk Bowen noted that the game may be decided by which team establishes control of the line of scrimmage, specifically regarding the run game.
The matchup carries historical weight for BYU, as Notre Dame is the highest-ranked opponent the Cougars have hosted at home since No. 1 USC visited in 2004. That 2004 meeting was also the last time the Irish traveled to Provo, when BYU won 20-17.
Due to the high altitude of LaVell Edwards Stadium, which sits at 4,649 feet above sea level, Notre Dame has been preparing for the conditions since the summer. Coach Freeman noted that the team has focused on hydration, fueling, and breathing techniques to manage the elevation.
The game will be played in Provo on Saturday. BYU's top rusher, LJ Martin, remains out until November with a lower-body injury, meaning sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier will likely carry the offensive load for the Cougars.
