Someone’s perfect season is about to get tested in a big way in Week 7, when No. 2 Notre Dame goes on the road to face No. 8 BYU in a matchup that should tell us plenty about both teams.
This is the first real measuring-stick game on Notre Dame’s schedule, and it comes in the middle of a slate that also includes ranked matchups against No. 3 Miami on November 7 and No.
24 SMU on Nov. 24.
Whoever comes out on top here is the one that should be viewed as a true National Championship contender.
The headline name for the Irish is CJ Carr, who has worked his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation. He sits third on the odds board at +1200, behind Jeremiah Smith (-210) and Darian Mensah (+1000), and he’s been sharp all season.
Carr has completed 70.8% of his passes for 1,378 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only one interception. Saturday will be his first major test against a BYU defense with something to prove.
On the analytics side, Notre Dame has the profile of a powerhouse. The Fighting Irish lead the nation in net adjusted EPA per play, and BYU checks in 16th in that category.
The concern for the Cougars is on defense. They rank 29th in opponent success rate and have had real trouble slowing the run. That’s a dangerous place to be against a Notre Dame defense that sits ninth in rush success rate and 15th in EPA per rush.
BYU’s undefeated record, both straight up and against the spread, is expected to end Saturday night.
In Other News...
Purdues Surging Defense Faces Its Biggest Test Yet At Nebraska
No. 13 Purdue heads into Friday night with a defense that has steadily tightened and now leads the Big Ten in digs per set, a promising sign for a team trying to prove it can hang with the leagues elite. The Boilermakers have leaned on that improved back line while building confidence through a tough stretch of conference play, and the matchup at Nebraska offers a clear chance to measure just how far that progress has carried.
Nebraska brings a much different challenge, pairing one of the conferences most efficient offenses with a defense that has been just as difficult to crack. For Purdue, the task is not only about absorbing pressure but also sustaining the kind of disciplined, point-by-point resistance that has defined its recent surge. The numbers and the rankings suggest a heavyweight meeting, and the Boilermakers will learn plenty about their ceiling once the first serve goes over the net. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Has A Chance To Keep Its Surprise Run Rolling Friday
Purdues unexpected surge gets another spotlight Friday night when Washington comes to Ross-Ade Stadium for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff on FOX. The Boilermakers have already put together back-to-back wins, and this one offers another chance to keep momentum building in Big Ten play while the home crowd gets a prime-time stage.
Washington arrives still looking for its first conference win, adding a little more intrigue to a game that already has plenty of it. The Huskies are also dealing with a change under center, with Elijah Williams expected to handle quarterback duties to start the night, so Purdue will see a familiar sort of test: a conference opponent with something to prove and just enough uncertainty to make Friday feel bigger than the record might suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Just Caught Washington At A Very Interesting Time
Purdue is getting Washington at a moment when the Huskies are trying to sort out their offense, and the biggest change comes under center. Demond Williams Jr. is sidelined with a rib injury, which pushes Elijah Brown into the starting role against the Boilermakers. Brown, who previously played at Stanford, has seen limited action this season at Washington, but this will be a much bigger test in the heart of Big Ten play.
Washington has been searching for answers offensively, especially on the ground, and Browns ability to steady the attack will matter plenty for a team trying to keep its conference season on track. The Huskies do not need a perfect performance so much as a workable one, because if the running game stays stalled, the pressure on Brown to carry the offense rises fast. [Read more 🡒]