The No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-0) take on the No. 8 BYU Cougars (5-0) in one of the biggest games of the 2026 football season. There are major College Football Playoff implications for both teams. Making this more intriguing is that Notre Dame and BYU were the first two teams left out of last season's playoff.

Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium (Provo, Utah)
Date: Saturday - October 17
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Network: ABC
Line: Notre Dame -10.5; O/U - 46.5

The Irish Breakdown staff has made our predictions for this big matchup.

BRYAN DRISKELL

Prediction: Notre Dame 27, BYU 16

This game is going to tell us a lot about these two teams. Notre Dame has been outstanding on defense all season, but this will be the biggest test yet for the Irish. BYU has an experienced and talented offensive line that will tell us just how good the Notre Dame front is. BYU also has a unique combination of speed (Legend Glasker) and size (Kyler Kasper, JoJo Phillips) at wide receiver, and tight end Walker Lyons is a tough matchup. Even without star running back LJ Martin, the BYU ground game is dangerous thanks to the presence of quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who rushed for 11 touchdowns as a freshman in 2025 and is coming off his first career 100-yard rushing performance. Despite the experience and talent that BYU possesses, the Irish defense - led by Boubacar Traore, Leonard Moore and Drayk Bowen - has what it takes to shut the Cougars down. The front will have to be on top of its game and the Irish will need to limit big plays, but if they do BYU will have a tough time scoring.

BYU will also be the toughest test yet for the Irish offense, and we'll find out if what we saw from the offensive line the last two weeks is legit. That is the key for Notre Dame, getting the front to keep playing like it has the last two games. If it does the Irish should be good enough on the ground to stay on schedule, and if they give CJ Carr time to throw he should be able to find opportunities to rip up the BYU secondary. It's a talented group, but there are soft spots in their coverage structures that Notre Dame can exploit, but it will require a patient game plan that also includes Carr getting time to throw.

TREVOR TROWBRIDGE

Prediction: Notre Dame 28, BYU 13

This is the first Top 10 match up for both squads. Notre Dame is riding a 16-game win streak with all 16 of those wins coming by double digits. The Cougars are winners of six straight games dating back to last year’s win over Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. This is an improved BYU team from a skillset standpoint, but this Notre Dame roster is amongst the most talented in the country. This is going to be the biggest test of the season thus far for the Irish, but it’s one they’ll be prepared for.

This is going to be a close game throughout the first half with each team looking to find its footing against the other. Defense is going to be the name of the game through the first 30 minutes but I have Notre Dame pulling ahead in the second half like we saw against Wisconsin, Michigan State and North Carolina. They keep their double-digit win streak alive by scoring last to increase their margin of victory to 15 and advance to 7-0 on the season. This is a BYU team that deserves respect for how good they are this season, but when comparing them to one of the best in the country, they’ll fall a little short.

VINCE DEDARIO

Prediction: Notre Dame 31, BYU 17

Notre Dame has looked like a national championship contender through the first six games, and I expect the Fighting Irish to make another statement in Provo. CJ Carr has been outstanding, while the Irish running game has gained momentum behind Jonaz Walton and a productive three-man backfield. BYU has an excellent defense and a dangerous dual-threat quarterback in Bear Bachmeier, but the Cougars will be without star running back LJ Martin, putting additional pressure on Bachmeier to carry the offense. Notre Dame's defensive front should make life difficult for him, and the Irish have the offensive balance to wear down BYU over four quarters. I expect a competitive first half before Notre Dame creates separation late.

ANDREW MCDONOUGH

Prediction: Notre Dame 30, BYU 13

In one of the biggest games in Provo in decades, the Fighting Irish will need to weather a frenzied atmosphere and also the altitude. But, this team is perhaps better positioned to do so than any Notre Dame team since the early 1990s. Marcus Freeman has always been known as a great recruiter, but Freeman and GM Mike Martin have done a great job retaining talent, bringing in impact transfers, and building arguably the deepest roster in the country. The Irish legitimately go 12-deep along the defensive line and some early injuries have allowed them to further develop their depth at linebacker and in the secondary.

Notre Dame will be able to lean on the depth to ultimately grind down BYU and pull away in the second half in what should still be a competitive game. The Cougars are 7th in the nation in total defense and I think they can do some things to limit Notre Dame - especially early - but CJ Carr's ability to get the Irish in the correct play and make the defense "wrong" will make it hard for the Cougars to keep the Irish down for four quarters. On the other side of the ball, without standout RB LJ Martin, star QB Bear Bachmeier will make some plays, but I don't see BYU being able to consistently move the football relying so heavily on one player. In their first game without Martin last week against Iowa State, Bachmeier accounted for 87% of BYU's total yards.

BRYAN AULT

Prediction: Notre Dame 31, BYU 20

Following a blowout win over Stanford, Notre Dame faces their toughest test so far this season in No. 8 BYU. The Cougars have a perfect record, recently beating Big 12 opponents Iowa State and Texas Christian. Led by dual threat sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier and senior running back LJ Martin, this is an offense that can put points on the board. Still, if Notre Dame is efficient and doesn’t come out flat, I think the Irish have an edge. Freshman running back Jonaz Walton is making a very early impact, fresh off a big 181-yard, two-touchdown game against Stanford. Give me the Irish to win this one, but not by a massive margin.

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