The stage is set for one of the biggest dates on BYU’s football calendar.
BYU’s showdown with Notre Dame will kick off at 5:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, October 17, with ABC carrying the broadcast and KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM) handling the radio call.
It’s a matchup that already carries plenty of weight, and the rankings only sharpen the spotlight. BYU comes in at No. 8 with a 4-0 record, while Notre Dame sits at No. 3 after opening 5-0.
The game will open a two-game series between the programs. BYU is scheduled to head to South Bend in 2027.
Notre Dame’s trip to Provo will be its first since 2004, which also marks the last time BYU beat the Irish. This will be the 10th all-time meeting between the teams. Notre Dame owns a 7-2 edge, and the official NCAA record books list it as 5-2 because two Irish wins in 2012 and 2013 were vacated.
It’s also the second meeting between BYU coach Kalani Sitake and Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman. Their first came four years ago in Las Vegas, where Notre Dame topped BYU 28-20 in the Shamrock Series.
If both teams remain in the top 10 by the time they meet, the game would be the first at LaVell Edwards Stadium featuring two top-10 teams.
BYU’s 2026 schedule has already stacked up as a busy one, and the Irish game now joins a slate that includes wins over Utah Tech, Arizona, Colorado State and TCU, plus upcoming Big 12 matchups against Iowa State, UCF, Arizona State, Utah, Baylor, Kansas and Cincinnati.
September 5 - Utah Tech | Win, 63-7
September 12 - Arizona* | Win, 28-17
September 19 - at Colorado State | Win, 41-23
October 3 - at TCU* | Win, 17-10
October 9 - Iowa State* | 8:15 p.m. (MT), ESPN
October 17 - Notre Dame | 5:30 p.m. (MT), ABC
October 24 - at UCF*
October 31 - Arizona State*
November 7 - at Utah*
November 14 - Baylor*
November 21 - at Kansas*
November 28 - Cincinnati*
In Other News...
BYU Looks Even More Dangerous Heading Into A Major UCF Test
BYUs upcoming trip to UCF is getting more attention after the Cougars kept showing up in the kind of games that make a September schedule feel heavier by the week. TCU pushed BYU all the way in a close loss, a result that adds to the sense that the Cougars are already battle-tested before they head to Orlando, especially with the numbers pointing to a team that can move the ball and avoid the kinds of mistakes that swing tight games.
Around the league, the teams on UCFs 2026 slate have offered their own snapshots of what the Knights may be walking into. Pittsburgh beat Virginia Tech even after losing starting quarterback Mason Heintschel to a torn ACL, while Baylor rolled past Arizona State in a more convincing showing, but BYUs combination of recent results, rankings and discipline in the key areas is what now gives this matchup its most interesting edge. [Read more 🡒]
BYU's TCU Win Came With A Concern Fans Can't Ignore
BYUs 17-10 win over TCU kept the Cougars unbeaten and reinforced the early momentum around a team that has opened 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play. It was the kind of conference road result that can matter in October just as much as September, especially for a program trying to prove it can stack wins in its first stretch of league play.
Kalani Sitake had plenty to like in the aftermath, but the health of the roster lingered as the bigger concern. Several players came out of the game nicked up, including LJ Martin, Isaiah Glasker and Cannon DeVries, and BYU now turns its attention to a home game against Iowa State with the reality that the next step forward may depend as much on availability as on performance. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Undefeated Run Suddenly Carries One More Concern Against Iowa State
BYUs unbeaten start has put the Cougars in a familiar but tricky spot again this week, with No. 8 heading into a Big 12 matchup that comes with the usual ranked-team pressure and a little extra caution attached. Iowa State is in a transition year under coach Jimmy Rogers, but the Cyclones have still managed to win three of their first five games, which is enough to make this a game BYU cant simply assume it will control from the opening whistle.
The Cougars have plenty going for them, starting with quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who has accounted for 10 total scores in four games and given BYU a steady edge on offense. Still, the broader question around this trip is how cleanly the Cougars can handle a conference opponent that has already shown it can stay competitive, especially with betting odds suggesting the market expects a tighter test than a typical undefeated-team showcase. [Read more 🡒]