The Stakes
It’s officially giving main character energy in Provo tonight. No. 2 Notre Dame is heading on the road to face No. 8 BYU in a top-10 battle that could shake up the entire playoff picture. Real talk: this is one of the biggest games of the season so far. Notre Dame is coming in hot after absolutely crushing Stanford 58-7, with Jonaz Walton putting up 181 rushing yards. Meanwhile, BYU is sitting pretty at 5-0. They’ve been dominant, including a statement win over Arizona, and their defensive metrics are straight-up impressive.
The Players to Watch
Notre Dame QB CJ Carr is out here playing like an absolute legend. In his second year as a starter, he’s hitting 71% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and only one pick. He’s got two absolute weapons in Jordan Faison and Micah Gilbert, who both have over 375 yards receiving.
On the flip side, BYU is taking an L before the game even starts. Star running back LJ Martin is out, which is a massive blow to their offensive game plan. Last week, QB Bear Bachmeier had to do the heavy lifting with 109 rushing yards, but their running back room struggled to clear 21 yards total. Against Notre Dame’s elite defensive front—which holds teams to just 2.1 yards per carry—that’s a huge concern.
The Matchup
This is a true "best on best" situation. Both teams are defensive juggernauts when it comes to stopping the run. Notre Dame is limiting opponents to 58.3 yards per game, while BYU is right there at 80.4 yards. While Notre Dame has the historical edge—winning four straight against the Cougars since 2005—this atmosphere in Provo is going to be electric.
Why it matters
With both teams ranked in the top 10, the winner secures a massive resume builder for the College Football Playoff committee. The computer models suggest a low-scoring defensive war, and while BYU might struggle without their star RB, they are expected to stay within that 10.5-point spread. Catch the action at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
