BYU’s date with Notre Dame just got the kind of spotlight that turns a big game into a national event.
ESPN announced Monday that the Cougars and Fighting Irish will kick at 5:30 PM Mountain Time on ABC, landing in a broadcast window that’s usually reserved for the day’s biggest SEC matchup. Instead, it’s BYU and Notre Dame stepping into that stage, with the possibility that this turns into a top 10 showdown.
If both teams stay in the top 10, the matchup would be the first top 10 game in the history of Lavell Edwards Stadium.
The TV assignment also opens the door for ESPN’s top crew to be on the call. That slot has traditionally belonged to Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler, though there are exceptions. Herbstreit and Fowler, for example, handled BYU’s game against Texas Tech in the early morning window.
There’s another layer to this as well: College GameDay. Last week, Rece Davis suggested BYU could be the likely host that week, and the path is still there. BYU beat TCU over the weekend, Notre Dame took care of North Carolina, and both teams are tracking toward top-10 status by the time they meet on October 17.
Of course, the setup only holds if the teams keep winning. BYU has to get past Iowa State to stay in the conversation, and the Cougars also need that win to remain in the top 10. Notre Dame, meanwhile, faces Stanford this weekend and is a massive favorite - with a 100% (rounded) chance to beat Stanford, according to the source.
BYU has an 85% chance to beat Iowa State, which means there’s an 85% chance both teams arrive in Provo undefeated and ranked inside the top 10. If that happens, the game would rank among the biggest ever played at Lavell Edwards Stadium, and maybe the biggest, if the playoff implications end up matching the billing.
In Other News...
BYU-Notre Dame Just Became An Even Bigger Provo Event
BYUs October 17 showdown with Notre Dame already had the feel of a major moment, and the stage only got bigger with the latest details. The game is set for 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time at LaVell Edwards Stadium and will air on ABC, giving Provo a prime-time backdrop for a matchup between two undefeated teams both sitting inside the AP Top 10.
Its the first time the Irish and Cougars will meet in Provo with both programs ranked that high, which gives the night an added layer of weight beyond the usual nonconference intrigue. The meeting also fits into a two-game series, with BYU heading to Notre Dame in 2027, but for now the focus is on a rare ranked-on-ranked collision that should make October in Provo feel even bigger. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]