Sep 23, 2026 · 50 min
BYU’s playoff case gains weight before Notre Dame test
BYU Sports Nation: CFP Hopes, Notre Dame & Big 12 Power Rankings
BYU’s No. 9 ranking and undefeated start create a real playoff path, but the Notre Dame matchup could reshape its postseason standing.
- 1BYU’s early top-10 ranking gives the Cougars more playoff margin than they had entering the previous two seasons.
- 2Cam Mellor ranks BYU first in the Big 12, citing balanced offense, improved line play, and a stronger overall profile.
- 3The Notre Dame game presents a defining test, especially in the trenches, with résumé and playoff consequences attached.
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Cam Mellor explains why he ranks BYU first in the Big 12 and how its line play could shape the Notre Dame matchup.
The brief
BYU opens the discussion at No. 9 nationally, with an undefeated record and a stronger starting position than in either of the previous two seasons.
The hosts assess how much BYU can rise before Notre Dame, and whether a win, loss, or quality defeat would change its playoff trajectory.
Cam Mellor ranks BYU first in the Big 12, pointing to balanced offense and improved line play while identifying TCU as a revealing matchup.
Mellor frames Notre Dame as a trench battle and evaluates Bear Bachmeier, L.J. Martin, Evan Johnson, and BYU’s defense against last season’s team.
The episode closes with BYU’s broader sports headlines and Week Four Big 12 rankings, where BYU remains No. 1 and résumé-building results take center stage.