No. 10 BYU is sitting on the edge of something bigger than a normal October home date. If the Cougars keep winning, their Nov. 17 matchup with Notre Dame could bring College GameDay to Provo, and Rece Davis made clear on the College GameDay podcast that he thinks the chance is real.
Davis said "there's a really good chance" that GameDay will head to BYU for the game, as long as both teams arrive unbeaten.
He framed it as a look at the schedule, not a report, but his point was plain: the matchup has the kind of pull GameDay can’t ignore.
"I don't know where else you would have gone the first four weeks if you really looked at the storylines, and then we're at Iowa this week," Davis said. "And, you know, who knows? I'm not trying to give away secrets because no decision has been made, but I think there's a really good chance we'll be at BYU."
He added that he was not revealing a decision and said the show has not settled on a location yet, but he still pointed to BYU-Notre Dame as the kind of game that stands out on the calendar.
"I'm not trying to give anything away. That may not happen...
I'm gonna get in trouble with PR and probably with management for even bringing that up. We haven't come close to making a decision on that yet.
I'm just looking at the schedule...it might be the best game of the weekend, you know, and both might still be undefeated...it certainly would be a contender."
Before any of that can become reality, BYU has to handle TCU and Iowa State. The Cougars are expected to be favored in both, though FPI gives them only a 59.6% chance to win both games and stay unbeaten. Notre Dame, meanwhile, has a 90% chance to beat North Carolina and Stanford and enter the BYU game undefeated.
BYU has hosted College GameDay only once before, back in 2008 against TCU. The Horned Frogs won that game convincingly, and it remains the Cougars’ first and only GameDay appearance in Provo.
The school has had more recent success with FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, hosting the show twice in the last two years for games against Arizona in 2024 and Utah in 2025. BYU won both of those games.
If both teams keep rolling, the stage in Provo could be enormous. A perfect BYU-Notre Dame showdown would make for one of the biggest games ever played at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
In Other News...
Notre Dames 2027 Schedule Just Got Tougher After One Opponent Bailed
Notre Dames 2027 football schedule picked up a new wrinkle this week when Virginia was added as the 12th opponent, filling a vacancy left after Georgia Tech backed out because of changes to ACC scheduling. The matchup gives the Irish another Power Four road test, and it keeps their future slate lined up as programs around the league adjust to the conferences new structure.
Virginia will host Notre Dame at Scott Stadium on an undisclosed date in 2027, giving the Irish a trip to one of the ACCs more recognizable road venues. The move comes as the conference prepares to require more league games beginning in 2027, a shift that has already forced nonconference schedules to be reshuffled and left Notre Dame with another opponent to replace. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Offense Faces Two Pressure Points Against North Carolina
Notre Dames offense is heading into a useful early test against a North Carolina defense that has been sturdy enough to force the Irish to win some individual battles. With Mike Denbrock coordinating the attack, the focus has sharpened on two spots in particular: the slot receiver and the offensive guard position. Those matchups matter because Notre Dame has shown it can move the ball efficiently, but this game will ask for cleaner execution in the areas where defenses are most likely to squeeze the field.
For an unbeaten team, the margin is getting thinner by the week, and the Irish know they cannot afford to let pressure points become real problems. The slot game has to keep the chains moving, and the guards will have plenty to do against a defense built to challenge the interior. If Notre Dame is going to keep its record intact, these are the kinds of details that tend to decide whether a promising offensive plan turns into a complete afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Could Be Facing A Playoff Shift Fans Can't Ignore
The College Football Playoff is once again in motion, and Notre Dame has a seat at a table that could reshape the postseason landscape. CFP leaders are reportedly pushing talks that would take the bracket from 12 teams to 24, a move that would send ripple effects through the sport and put every power-conference program, along with the Irish, on notice. What makes this round of discussions notable is the shift in posture from the Big Ten, SEC, ACC and Big 12, who are now lining up behind expansion if the money works.
For Notre Dame, the timing matters because the negotiating window with ESPN is open through October 9, and the questions go beyond simply making the field bigger. Scheduling, logistics and the overall structure of a larger playoff are all part of the conversation, which means this is not just a TV deal or a business story. It is a potential change to the path Notre Dame would have to navigate in future seasons, with the format itself still taking shape as the conference powers and the Irish weigh their next move. [Read more 🡒]