Two Programs, Two Mindsets: Notre Dame Sits Out While BYU Gears Up for Bowl Season
The contrast couldn’t be clearer.
While Notre Dame is packing it in for the holidays, BYU is gearing up for one more game. One program has shut down the engines, the other is revving them up. And it says a lot about how different schools are choosing to handle the sting of being left out of the College Football Playoff.
In South Bend, the lights are off. Notre Dame, sitting at 10-2, won’t be playing in a bowl game.
Not because they weren’t invited - but because they opted out. The team, citing expected opt-outs, transfers, injuries, and general roster attrition, decided not to take the field as a “diminished version” of itself.
Athletic director Pet Bevacqua said players and captains “couldn’t imagine” playing under those circumstances. No formal team vote was held - the decision was made.
So instead of game prep, there’s downtime. No whistles, no pads popping, no scout team reps.
Just a few weight room sessions and some cardio to keep the wheels turning. It’s a rare December in South Bend - quiet, still, and football-free.
Meanwhile, in Provo, it’s a different story entirely.
BYU is embracing the postseason. The Cougars are prepping for the Pop-Tarts Bowl, and the energy around the program is unmistakable.
Head coach Kalani Sitake has his team focused, motivated, and - yes - having a little fun. Receiver Parker Kingston even showed up to a media session dressed as a Pop-Tart, photobombing Sitake mid-interview.
The vibe is light, but the preparation is serious.
Sitake confirmed that while some players have entered the transfer portal - mostly in search of more playing time - no one has opted out of the bowl game. Even with starting quarterback Bear Bachmeier nursing an injury, the team is pressing forward. Backup QBs Treyson Bourguet and McCae Hillstead are taking extra reps in practice, and Sitake’s confident Bachmeier will be ready with some limitations.
For young players, this is golden territory. Offensive linemen like Joe Brown, Ethan Thomason, and Andrew Williams are getting valuable developmental reps.
Same goes for linebackers Ephraim Asiata and Naki Tuakoi, and receivers Tei Nacua and Reggie Freschknecht. Some of them may even see game action without burning a year of eligibility, thanks to NCAA redshirt rules.
And it’s not just about football. Families are involved, too.
Players’ wives are making plans to join the team in Orlando for the holidays - part bowl trip, part Christmas vacation, all paid for. It’s a bonding experience that goes beyond the field.
But make no mistake: this isn’t just a reward trip. BYU is preparing to face Georgia Tech, a Power Four opponent that will bring plenty of challenges.
Sitake knows it. He’s been here before - this is his eighth bowl game in ten seasons, and he holds a 5-2 record in those matchups.
Last year, BYU took on Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. This year, it’s the Yellow Jackets.
“These players love football,” Sitake said. “They’re excited to play the game, and they’re excited that we extended the season and we have a chance to do it with the seniors again.”
He’s not downplaying the disappointment of missing the CFP. But he’s also not letting it define the season.
“That goes real quick when you have an attitude of appreciation of what you get to do,” Sitake said. “These guys love the game. They love that they get to represent the right way and, more than anything, they are grateful they get to play this game again.”
And that’s the difference.
In one corner, there’s Notre Dame - disappointed, disbanded, and done for the year. In the other, BYU - energized, engaged, and ready to chase a 12th win for the first time in nearly a quarter-century.
It’s more than just a bowl game. It’s a statement.
It’s brand building. It’s development.
It’s experience. And yes, it’s a paycheck.
But above all, it’s football. And for BYU, that’s reason enough to keep going.