Oct 12, 2026 · 51 min
BYU faces its biggest home test against No. 2 Notre Dame
BYU's Top-10 Showdown: Notre Dame and College GameDay Await
BYU’s 5-0 start now meets a top-10 opponent at home, with defensive strength, red-zone execution, and injuries shaping its upset chances.
- 1BYU’s defense controlled Iowa State, but red-zone struggles kept a dominant 24-10 win from looking complete.
- 2Bear Bachmeier’s dual-threat playmaking gives BYU more offensive upside for a major-game challenge than last season.
- 3Notre Dame’s visit brings College GameDay and the first top-10 home matchup in BYU football history at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
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Trevor Matich argues that Bear Bachmeier gives BYU a stronger foundation for a major-game challenge than last year’s team.
The brief
BYU’s 24-10 win over Iowa State extended its unbeaten start, but uneven offense and red-zone failures left the performance feeling unfinished.
The Cougars’ defense supplied the clearest advantage, pressuring up front, defending the run, and limiting Iowa State’s scoring before injuries complicated the Notre Dame outlook.
Notre Dame brings an elite statistical profile and C.J. Carr, while BYU must open its playbook, replace L.J. Martin, and convert more reliably near the goal line.
Trevor Matich explains why Bear Bachmeier and this BYU team are better equipped than last year’s group for the first top-10 home game in program history.
With College GameDay arriving in Provo, the show widens its lens to the Big 12 championship race and BYU’s other sports.