ESPN's flagship pregame show, College GameDay, is returning to Provo for the first time in 17 years to broadcast from the BYU campus ahead of a high-stakes matchup between No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 8 BYU on Oct. 17.
GameDay Returns to Provo
The network announced Saturday night that the three-hour live broadcast will originate from BYU's campus from 7 to 10 a.m. MT next Saturday morning. The specific location on campus has not yet been disclosed, according to an announcement from BYU. The matchup is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. MT kickoff on ABC, placing the game in a prime-time window.
A Historic Visit
The visit marks the second time College GameDay has visited the BYU campus, the first having occurred on Oct. 24, 2009, during a game where TCU defeated the Cougars 38-7. The upcoming matchup between the Irish and the Cougars is the first meeting of two top-10 teams in the history of LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Unbeaten Contenders Meet
Both programs enter the contest with unbeaten records. Notre Dame moved to 6-0 following a 58-7 victory over Stanford in South Bend, Indiana, on Saturday afternoon. The Irish led 37-0 at halftime during that contest. BYU enters the game with a 5-0 record, including a 3-0 mark in Big 12 play, after a 24-10 win over Iowa State on Friday night.
BYU Performance and Injuries
BYU's recent victory over Iowa State was highlighted by sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who recorded a season-high 329 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with a career-high 109 rushing yards. The Cougars' defense, led by coach Kalani Sitake, held the Cyclones to 200 total yards and limited them to 2 of 13 on third-down attempts. However, BYU will play without reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin, who is reportedly sidelined for 4-6 weeks due to an ankle injury.
Series History and Rankings
The series between the two programs currently stands with Notre Dame holding a 7-2 all-time advantage. The most recent meeting occurred in 2022 during the Shamrock Series in Las Vegas, where Notre Dame won 28-20. The Irish's last visit to Provo was in 2004, a game the Cougars won 20-17. Notre Dame will be the highest-ranked opponent to visit LaVell Edwards Stadium since No. 1 USC visited in 2004.
Broadcast Details
The ESPN broadcast features host Rece Davis alongside analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban. Davis had previously suggested BYU was a likely destination for the show during a Sept. 28 episode of the College GameDay podcast, noting the matchup could be the best game of the weekend.
Program Background
College GameDay is currently in its 40th season and has won 17 Sports Emmys. The network's recent accolades include a 2026 Sports Emmy for the special "Not So Fast, My Friend: A Lee Corso Special".
