BYU is set to get two important defenders back for Saturday’s top 10 showdown with Notre Dame, with ESPN’s Pete Thamel reporting on College GameDay that linebacker Isaiah Glasker and strong safety Raider Damuni will both return.
Glasker went down on an interception return against TCU and never made it back into that game. Damuni’s situation looked even worse at first after he suffered a knee injury in the first half against Utah Tech, an injury that initially seemed like it could end his season. Instead, he has recovered enough to take the field against Notre Dame.
Damuni will not start, according to Thamel, but he is expected to play meaningful snaps on defense. Tommy Prassas will remain in the starting role after handling Damuni’s spot while he was sidelined.
That return matters especially because Damuni brings real value in run support, and that could come into play if Notre Dame gets traction on the ground. His presence also gives a safety group that was thin after his injury a much-needed lift.
Glasker is headed back into the starting lineup. Kansas State transfer Jake Clifton filled in for him last week against Iowa State and performed well, and he has likely earned a larger role even with Glasker back. Clifton should still be a major part of what BYU does on defense.
There are still a few other injury situations worth watching before kickoff. Running back Sione Moa was back at practice earlier this week after getting hurt in the first quarter of the season opener.
BYU offensive coordinator said Moa has been cleared to play, though his availability for Notre Dame is still uncertain. If he goes, he would be a welcome addition to a BYU backfield that has already dipped into its third and fourth-string options.
Moa could also help in short yardage. BYU had trouble there last week, and he might be asked to handle a few of those carries if he’s active.
Another question mark is nickel back and punt returner Cannon DeVries. His status has not been announced, and BYU felt his absence on both sides of that role, especially on special teams.
Tiger Bachmeier muffed two punts against Iowa State, so if DeVries is unavailable, BYU may have to turn elsewhere for returns. Preston Rex, Legend Glasker and Evan Johnson were all in the mix back in Fall Camp.
In Other News...
BYU Just Turned Notre Dame Into A Pride Statement
Fred Warner has become one of the more recognizable BYU alums in football, and now he is lending his voice to one of the biggest nonconference stages on the Cougars calendar. The former BYU linebacker narrated an official hype video ahead of the upcoming matchup with Notre Dame, a game the program is already casting as more than just another intersectional showdown. The clip leans into the schools shared faith-based backgrounds while also underscoring how far BYU has come since settling into the Big 12.
The matchup is set for October 17, 2026, with kickoff at 5:30 p.m. MDT on ABC, and it arrives with the kind of national visibility BYU has been chasing in its new conference home. Between Warners involvement and the messaging around the programs rise, the Cougars are clearly treating this one as a statement opportunity, even before the first snap is ever played. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Freshman Turned A Last-Second Opening Into An Unreal Payday
A late opening on College GameDay turned into a life-changing moment for BYU freshman Carter Smith, who stepped into Pat McAfees Kicking is easy competition and drilled a 33-yard field goal for a $1 million prize. The scene had the feel of one of those chaos-filled broadcast moments that only college football can produce, and Smith made the most of it after earning the chance when the original winner was disqualified for failing to provide identification.
The payday only got bigger from there, with Utah Jazz and Mammoth owner Ryan Smith and his partner doubling the prize to $2 million and adding another $1 million for charity. For BYU, it was a reminder that one unexpected opportunity can change everything in an instant, and for Carter Smith it turned a brief window on national television into something far beyond a routine kicking contest. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Spider-Man Turned A GameDay Stunt Into An Unreal Provo Payday
Week 7 of ESPNs College GameDay in Provo produced one of those campus moments that people will be talking about long after the stage gets packed up. A BYU student named Carter, dressed as Spider-Man, stepped into Pat McAfees Kicking is Easy contest and turned a novelty bit into the kind of scene that can define a Saturday around the program, with the prize pool boosted by Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith and his business partner Ryan Sweeney.
Carter missed on his first try, but the second attempt changed everything, sending BYU fans into a celebration that fit the energy of a GameDay stop in Provo. It was the rare college-football sideshow that felt bigger than the gimmick itself, and for one student in costume, it also became the kind of payday that will linger as part of BYU lore. [Read more 🡒]