Someone’s perfect season is about to get put to the test in Week 7, and the spotlight is squarely on South Bend as No. 2 Notre Dame heads on the road to face No. 8 BYU.
It’s the first real proving ground on Notre Dame’s schedule. The Irish have two more AP top-25 games coming later, with No.
3 Miami set for November 7 and No. 24 SMU on Nov. 24, but this matchup is the one that can start shaping the national picture.
The winner of Saturday night’s game is going to be viewed differently after it.
CJ Carr has been a huge part of why Notre Dame is sitting where it is, and he’s already forced his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation. He’s third on the odds board at +1200, behind Jeremiah Smith (-210) and Darian Mensah (+1000).
Through the air, Carr has completed 70.8% of his passes for 1,378 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only one interception. Now he draws the toughest test of his season against a BYU defense that will need to hold up under pressure.
The advanced numbers only strengthen the case for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are No. 1 in the country in net adjusted EPA per play, while BYU sits 16th in that category. On paper, that’s a major edge for the visitors.
The bigger concern for the Cougars is on defense, where the warning signs are harder to ignore. BYU ranks 29th in opponent success rate and has had real trouble shutting down the run. That sets up poorly against a Notre Dame offense that has been efficient on the ground, and it’s backed up by the Irish defense as well, which ranks ninth in rush success rate and 15th in EPA per rush.
That’s why the expectation here is that BYU’s unbeaten run ends on Saturday night, both straight up and against the spread.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Got A Clear Warning About Indiana's Quarterback
As Ohio State turns its attention to Indiana, the Buckeyes are getting an early look at what makes the Hoosiers offense tricky to sort out. The scouting picture centers on quarterback Josh Hoover, with one source flagging his ability to threaten defenses as a runner while also pointing to Indianas willingness to hunt chunk plays through the air and keep opponents off balance with misdirection.
For a Buckeyes defense preparing for a Big Ten test, that mix matters because it can force constant discipline at every level of the field. The same analysis also pointed to tactics other teams have used against Indiana, giving Ohio State a few possible answers to study before kickoff, even if the real challenge will be carrying those ideas onto the field and finding out which ones actually hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Heads Into Indiana Showdown With Big Lineup Questions
Ohio State heads into its game against Indiana already navigating some early lineup uncertainty, with the Buckeyes set to be without offensive lineman Austin Siereveld and running back JaKobi Jackson. Siereveld is out because of a non-football illness, while Jackson is sidelined by an ankle injury, leaving the staff to adjust before a matchup that figures to test depth on both sides of the ball.
Several other Ohio State players are also listed as questionable, which adds another layer of uncertainty as kickoff approaches. Indiana has two players on its own injury report, but the bigger concern for the Buckeyes is how many pieces they can count on in what should be one of the more closely watched games on their schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State May Be Getting Key Help As One Problem Lingers
Ryan Day said Ohio State could get a much healthier look ahead of its game against Indiana, with several key players who missed the Maryland game expected back in the mix. The update matters for a team still trying to settle in after dealing with absences, and it gives the Buckeyes a chance to restore some stability on both sides of the ball as they move deeper into the stretch run.
Still, one familiar issue has not gone away. Day pointed to the red zone offense as a work in progress, and Ohio State has been adjusting personnel packages in search of better scoring efficiency once it gets close to the goal line. Some players remain questionable because of injuries or non-football illnesses, so even with reinforcements potentially on the way, the Buckeyes are still waiting to see how complete they can be when they line up against Indiana. [Read more 🡒]