BYU’s showdown with Notre Dame on Saturday night is doing more than putting the Cougars in one of the biggest games in school history. It’s also turning LaVell Edwards Stadium into a major recruiting stage.
No. 8 BYU will take on No. 2 in a matchup that brings College GameDay to Provo and puts Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler on the call. The Cougars are right in the middle of a packed college football weekend, and the spotlight is massive.
That same spotlight is drawing a deep group of recruits, with several already announcing plans to be in attendance. Many of BYU’s commits are expected to show up as well, especially the ones from Utah.
Among the headliners is four-star wide receiver Blake Wong, one of the top prospects in BYU’s 2027 class. He picked the Cougars over Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, Utah and others, and will travel from California to watch the game in person.
BYU offensive tackle commit Kyle Nabrotzky is making the trip from Tennessee after choosing the Cougars over Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech, among others.
New Jersey defensive back Ryan Wooten Jr. committed to BYU earlier this year after building a strong relationship with the staff. He took an official visit in June, and Saturday will mark his first chance to experience a game at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Also on the way is Gaige Weddle, the son of former Utah star Eric Weddle. Weddle is a national recruit with offers from across the country, and he’ll be in Provo on Saturday night.
The local names are just as notable. Timpview High School wide receiver Dennis Tu'aone, a four-star and one of the more promising players in Utah’s 2028 class, is coming off a strong junior season and already holds offers from more than two dozen schools.
Another Utah standout, Eli Mortensen, will also be in attendance. The 2028 prospect could end up at wide receiver or defensive back and has offers from Arizona, Utah and UCLA, among others.
Westlake High School product Nusi Taumopeau already made his mark at BYU as a true freshman last season, and now he’s starting on a talented Cougar defense as a sophomore. BYU is trying to build on that Westlake connection with another 2028 name to know, defensive lineman Malakai Leilua. He has offers from Oregon, Miami, Stanford, UCLA, Utah, Texas Tech, Kansas State and Arizona State, along with others.
Another top target in the mix is Lincon Fa'alafi, who is ranked by 247Sports as the top tackle prospect in the 2028 class.
The younger group doesn’t stop there. American Fork sophomore quarterback Jake Matsen is tracking as a major name in the 2029 cycle.
He already has an offer from BYU and was playing well before breaking his collarbone. His other P4 offers include Iowa State, Utah, Kentucky, Arizona and Nebraska.
Freshman Kyran Majors is the youngest player listed, but he’s already on the board with offers from both BYU and Utah.
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It worked against Iowa State, when Bachmeier was the centerpiece of a 24-10 win and did damage both through the air and on the ground. But there is a difference between surviving that kind of workload for a night and asking it to hold up against a stronger opponent like Notre Dame, which is why BYU has to be careful about how much it puts on its quarterback from here. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Notre Dame Test Just Added More Holy War Intrigue
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BYU and Utah also remain tied together in a conference race that could end up shaping the league race and the rivalrys next chapter. If the Cougars handle Notre Dame, the ripple effects would reach well beyond one Saturday, giving the Big 12 a stronger talking point and adding even more weight to the eventual Utah-BYU meeting. With both teams still in the mix as serious contenders, the stakes around that rivalry keep climbing. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Heads Into Rivalry Week With One Big QB Question
Week 6 in the Big 12 offered another reminder of how much quarterback play is driving the leagues early-season race, and BYU was right in the middle of that conversation. Bear Bachmeier turned in a strong outing for the Cougars, giving them another reason to feel good about where the offense stands as the schedule tightens and the ranked-team matchups start stacking up across the conference.
The leagues Week 7 slate only raises the stakes, with several quarterback duels looming and the latest read on the Big 12 pecking order starting to take shape. Arizonas Noah Fifita also helped fuel the discussion with a 300-yard passing performance, and the weekly quarterback rankings reflect just how crowded the top tier has become as BYU tries to keep pace with the conferences best. [Read more 🡒]