ESPN's College GameDay Built by The Home Depot is scheduled to broadcast live from the lawn at Heritage Halls on the BYU campus on Saturday, Oct. 17. The visit, according to an Oct. 15 statement, marks the first time the program has returned to Provo since 2009.
The broadcast will precede an AP Top-10 showdown between the BYU Cougars and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This matchup represents the second AP Top-10 game in BYU history and the first such matchup ever played at LaVell Edwards Stadium. BYU head coach Kalani Sitake is scheduled to join the show live on set. Pro Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion Steve Young will serve as the celebrity guest picker.
BYU enters the Saturday game with a 5-0 record. This marks the third consecutive season and the fifth time under head coach Kalani Sitake since 2016 that the Cougars have opened with five wins. Notre Dame enters the matchup on a 16-game winning streak, which is the second-longest active streak in the FBS behind Indiana. The Irish hold a 7-2 all-time series lead against BYU.
The College GameDay team will include host Rece Davis alongside analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban. On-site reporters include Jen Lada and Jess Sims, while college football insider Pete Thamel and analyst "Stanford Steve" Coughlin are also part of the 2026 season team. The program will also feature a segment titled "Opportunity Knocks" providing access to Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
Fans can participate in an ESPN College GameDay scavenger hunt via a digital microsite beginning Wednesday, Oct. 14. The first 50 fans in line for the Saturday broadcast will receive an exclusive prize pack containing items such as a windbreaker, disposable camera, sunglasses, and a Jimmy John’s gift card.
