ESPN’s “College GameDay” is headed to one of the biggest showdowns on the Week 7 slate, and the guest picker will have plenty of personal stakes in the spotlight.
With No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 8 BYU set to meet in Provo, ESPN announced Thursday, Oct. 15 on “The Pat McAfee Show” that former BYU quarterback and San Francisco 49ers legend Steve Young will serve as the celebrity picker for the show.
It marks a big moment for BYU, because this will be the first time “College GameDay” has been in Provo for a Cougars game since 2009. That day didn’t end well for the home side, as TCU rolled to a 38-7 win over BYU on national television.
Young gives the Cougars a familiar face with serious football credentials. He played at BYU from 1980-1983 before going on to be the No. 1 pick in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft.
His No. 8 jersey is retired by the program, and his place in BYU history is secure. Young also put together a decorated NFL career, winning three Super Bowls, earning two NFL MVP awards and being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
The matchup itself is one of the standout games of Week 7, with several notable contests on the schedule, including Ohio State’s trip to Bloomington to face Indiana. But Notre Dame-BYU figures to sit near the top of the weekend’s attention.
“College GameDay” will air Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET from Provo, Utah, on ESPN. It will also be available to stream on Fubo.
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Notre Dame Just Got Fresh Bulletin Board Material Before BYU
With Notre Dame preparing for BYU, the Cougars have already started framing the matchup around the challenge of slowing down freshman quarterback CJ Carr. Linebacker Jake Clifton spoke ahead of the game and made it clear that BYU intends to bring heat, talking about a plan to make Carr uncomfortable and lean on a physical style that will put the Irish offensive line in focus.
Clifton also balanced that edge with respect for Notre Dames program and the players wearing the blue and gold, treating the game like another step on the schedule even as the rhetoric sharpened. For Notre Dame, though, comments like that are exactly the kind that can linger in a locker room and add a little extra energy to a game already carrying plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]
CJ Carr Is Forcing BYU To Rethink How It Defends Notre Dame
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Carrs rise has forced opponents to treat Notre Dames passing game with extra caution, especially when he can extend plays and find answers both from the pocket and outside of it. Through this season, he has completed 70% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and one interception, a line that helps explain why BYU is approaching him as more than just another young quarterback on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame's Rushing Surge Faces Its Biggest Test Yet
Notre Dames ground game has started to look like the kind of calling card that can travel, with the offensive line giving the Irish more push in recent weeks and right tackle Guerby Lambert emerging as a key part of that climb. The improvement has come from the kind of work coaches love to point to but fans only notice when it shows up on Saturdays - cleaner execution, better timing and a front that is beginning to work more as one unit.
BYU should provide a much sharper read on how real that progress is. The Cougars bring a defensive front that has been among the nations best at limiting rushing yards, which means the Irish line will have to carry its recent form into a far tougher setting. Lambert has stressed the need for practice, preparation and cohesion, and this matchup figures to reveal whether Notre Dames surge is a step forward or just a strong stretch against lesser resistance. [Read more 🡒]