Sixteen straight wins. Every one by double digits. Notre Dame heads to Provo with plenty of momentum—and the FIP staff brings a perfect record of its own: every staff member has picked the winner correctly through six games.
Now comes No. 8 BYU, a defense that can hit and a home crowd eager to see the second-ranked Irish stumble. College GameDay is in town. Can Notre Dame—and the FIP staff—stay perfect?
Phil Houk — Senior Editor
BYU will bring the crowd, the confidence and a defense that can hit. Notre Dame brings more ways to win. CJ Carr is in command, Jonaz Walton gives the ground game teeth, and the Irish defense keeps taking away what opponents want to do. Bear Bachmeier will make some plays, but without LJ Martin, he’s carrying a heavy load against a defense built to make him work for everything. The Cougars make it competitive. Irish balance, depth and physicality make it seventeen straight double-digit wins. After all that Pop-Tarts Bowl chirping about Notre Dame being scared, the Irish settle it in BYU’s backyard. No toaster required.
☘️ FIP Prediction: Notre Dame 31, BYU 17
Caleb Conrad — Senior Intern
CJ Carr and the offense have looked in sync so far, and that needs to continue against BYU. Jordan Faison will have a big game, giving Carr a dependable target when the Irish need to move the chains, while the running game will continue to improve.
Bear Bachmeier presents a challenge with his ability to make plays through the air and on the ground. But with LJ Martin sidelined, Notre Dame’s defense will limit BYU’s running game and force Bachmeier to do more himself. Marcus Freeman will have the Irish ready. They’ll control the game and leave Provo undefeated.
☘️ FIP Prediction: Notre Dame 31, BYU 10
Chad Ryan — Photojournalist and Multimedia Editor
Currently embedded with the World Series-bound Tampa Bay Rays, Chad filed this exhaustive breakdown from the baseball beat: “Notre Dame wins. That’s all I’ve got.”
☘️ FIP Prediction: Notre Dame wins.
Jesse Craig — Webmaster
I witnessed a biblical flood of tears from BYU fans on X after Notre Dame declined an invitation to play a lesser team in an irrelevant bowl game after the 2025 season. Social media was plastered with “ND is scared” memes and ad hominem attacks directed at the Irish and their fanbase. But in keeping with the biblical narrative for this edition of Catholics vs. Mormons, Galatians 6:4: “But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.”
It’s been YEARS since I’ve been even remotely impressed with the Big 12 conference when it comes to its football offerings, and nothing has changed. When I look at BYU, I see Wisconsin with a better X receiver and a slightly better defense. The outcome will be very similar to what Notre Dame delivered against the Badgers at Lambeau earlier this year. The biggest joy for me will be that it happens right in front of the BYU home crowd in Provo.
☘️ FIP Prediction: Notre Dame 34, BYU 13
Connor Fitzharris — Staff Writer
Here is the first massive test for the Irish: a trip to Provo to face a very good BYU team. Both programs missed the College Football Playoff last season, and Saturday gives each a chance to strengthen its case this time around.
BYU isn’t one-dimensional. Bear Bachmeier gives the Cougars a quarterback who can challenge Notre Dame through the air and on the ground. The Irish have to account for both, and doing that in Provo won’t be easy.
This feels like a four-quarter game. In the end, Carr and the Irish offense make a couple of crucial plays late, and Notre Dame survives its toughest road test of the season.
☘️ FIP Prediction: Notre Dame 31, BYU 27
Adam Schenkel — Producer and Audio Editor
I think Kalani Sitake is one of the best coaches in America, but I wouldn’t take him over Marcus Freeman. With Notre Dame favored by double digits on the road against the eighth-ranked team in the country, you have to wonder: Is BYU not quite as good as its ranking suggests, or are the Irish really that good?
As much as I think Notre Dame could benefit from a close, hard-fought game to prepare for a deep playoff run, I just don’t see this one being particularly scary. BYU will provide more resistance than anyone the Irish have faced in recent weeks, but Notre Dame is simply the better team. The Cougars hang around, but the Irish control the game and pull away for another convincing victory.
☘️ FIP Prediction: Notre Dame 31, BYU 20
AJ Houk — Photojournalist and Director of Brand Strategy
How many points is playing in Provo worth to BYU? On paper, that’s the only advantage I can find for the Cougars heading into this game. This will be the best defense Bear Bachmeier has ever faced, and we’ve already seen him struggle against elite defenses like Texas Tech. I just don’t see where the points come from for BYU, especially with both teams ranking in the bottom 10 in plays per game. I trust CJ Carr to put up enough points to win this one, especially with the running game finding its groove.
☘️ FIP Prediction: Notre Dame 31, BYU 7.
Final Byte
Seven picks, seven Irish wins. The six numerical predictions average Notre Dame 32, BYU 16, an average margin of 15.8 points. Connor has the closest game at 31–27; AJ has the widest margin at 31–7. Chad simply says Notre Dame wins.
Using the 10½-point spread and 47½-point total at FanDuel Friday morning, five numerical picks have the Irish covering; three take the over.
For Final Byte’s own analytics-based projection, BYU’s defense—allowing 80.4 rushing yards per game and 2.9 per carry—puts more responsibility on Carr. His sixteen touchdown passes against one interception suggest the Irish can handle that assignment.
Without LJ Martin, BYU leans heavily on Bachmeier, who accounted for 438 of 506 yards against Iowa State. The projection weighs that dependence against Notre Dame’s offensive balance, Carr’s efficiency and BYU’s home-field advantage. The Cougars stay competitive, but the Irish finish more drives.
☘️ Final Byte Prediction: Notre Dame 30, BYU 20.