(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire)
BYU isn’t waiting for Notre Dame to validate its season. The eighth-ranked Cougars are 5–0, have won 28 of their last 32 games and expect to defend their home field Saturday night. Notre Dame’s first visit to Provo since 2004 brings together two top-10 teams with national ambitions—and neither figures to give much ground.
Kalani Sitake, a former BYU fullback now in his 11th season as head coach, has built a team that plays with that position’s disposition. Physical. Persistent. Comfortable making the other guy work for everything. The Cougars went 11–2 in 2024 and 12–2 last season. This year’s wins include Arizona, TCU and, most recently, a 24–10 victory over Iowa State. Their schedule hasn’t matched Notre Dame’s, but their ability to make winning a habit deserves respect.
QUICK FACTS
Head coach: Kalani Sitake, 11th season
Record and ranking: 5–0, No. 8 AP
Last season: 12–2
Series: Notre Dame leads 7–2
Last meeting: Notre Dame 28, BYU 20—2022 Shamrock Series in Las Vegas
Kickoff: Saturday, October 17, 7:30 p.m. EDT on ABC
Best offensive weapon: Quarterback Bear Bachmeier
Defensive player to know: All-American safety Faletau Satuala
Key absences: Running back LJ Martin and right tackle Andrew Gentry
Biggest question: Can BYU generate offense beyond Bear Bachmeier?
OFFENSE: BEWARE OF BEAR
Bear Bachmeier reminds Irish fans a little of Riley Leonard when he runs. At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, he can move the chains and make tackling a quarterback a considerably less pleasant assignment. But treating him as simply a runner would be a mistake.
The sophomore is completing 66.4 percent of his passes, with eight touchdowns and one interception. Against Iowa State, he threw for 329 yards and two scores, then added 109 rushing yards. He accounted for 438 of BYU’s 506 yards of offense.
With star running back LJ Martin and starting right tackle Andrew Gentry ruled out, BYU needs even more from its quarterback. Bachmeier has 15 career rushing touchdowns, and his ability to extend plays gives the Cougars a chance when the blocking or coverage leaves them short of answers.
Notre Dame needs to pressure him without opening escape routes. Getting him out of the pocket doesn’t necessarily mean the defense has won the play.
RUNNING GAME: A BIG PIECE MISSING
LJ Martin’s absence changes the offense. The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year had rushed for 344 yards at 7.8 yards per carry before suffering a lower-body injury against TCU. He is out for the Notre Dame game.
Journee Tonga and Preston Rex are among the backs taking on larger roles. But Bachmeier supplied most of the ground production against Iowa State. BYU averages 223.8 rushing yards per game, ranking 17th nationally. Maintaining that production without Martin, against Notre Dame’s run defense, is a considerably tougher assignment.
PASSING GAME: A FRESHMAN NAMED LEGEND
Legend Glasker is giving BYU reasons to appreciate his first name. The freshman leads the Cougars with 19 catches for 378 yards and three touchdowns. Against Iowa State, he caught five passes for 99 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown.
Kyler Kasper provides another target, while tight ends Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga II give Bachmeier options underneath and downfield. Lyons caught five passes for 61 yards against Iowa State; Saleapaga supplied a 63-yard reception. Notre Dame’s defenders have to stay with their receivers when Bachmeier extends a play. His scrambling can buy time for a covered receiver to break open.
DEFENSE: THE YARDS WON’T COME CHEAP
BYU’s defense gives the Cougars a chance even when their offense struggles. They rank eighth nationally in total defense, tenth against the run and ninth in scoring, allowing just 13.4 points per game. Iowa State managed only 200 total yards last week, including 49 in the first half.
Kelly Poppinga took over as defensive coordinator after Jay Hill left for Michigan. He has proven players at every level: defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa, Cal transfer linebacker Cade Uluave and All-American safety Faletau Satuala. Linebacker Isaiah Glasker and nickel Cannon DeVries are working back from injuries; their availability remains a factor.
The run-defense numbers deserve particular attention: 80.4 yards allowed per game and just 2.9 per carry. Notre Dame has found its ground game over the last three weeks. BYU will make the Irish prove they can sustain it against a defense that seldom gives much away.
That doesn’t require Walton to break another 97-yarder. Four or five yards on first down would do plenty of good, keeping the entire playbook available to Carr. If BYU commits extra defenders to stop the run, Faison and Gilbert need to make those decisions expensive.
SPECIAL TEAMS: WATCH THE RETURN GAME
Cannon DeVries’ availability matters beyond the defense. He has returned a kickoff for a touchdown this season and averages more than 16 yards per punt return. An injury has kept him out of the last two games.
Tiger Bachmeier, Bear’s older brother, has handled punt returns in his absence. His muffed punt against Iowa State gave the Cyclones possession near midfield and led to their only touchdown.
BYU ranks seventh nationally in net punting and second in kickoff-return average. In a game featuring two strong defenses, field position could carry extra weight. Notre Dame needs sound coverage and clean execution—and cannot afford to hand BYU a short field.
THE GREAT UNKNOWN: FINISHING DRIVES
BYU’s 24–10 win over Iowa State could have been considerably more comfortable. The Cougars gained 506 yards but failed on all three fourth-down attempts, including two near the goal line. They haven’t converted a fourth down this season, and their red-zone scoring rate of 82.6 percent ranks tied for 89th nationally.
Against Notre Dame, those missed opportunities become harder to absorb. BYU needs to turn its best possessions into touchdowns. Long drives that end with nothing would waste valuable chances—and put more pressure on a defense facing the most productive offense on its schedule.
THE MATCHUP THAT MATTERS
Notre Dame’s ground game against BYU’s run defense. The Irish don’t need another rushing record. They need enough steady production to keep Carr out of obvious passing situations and make BYU defend the whole field.
Walton supplies the explosiveness, but James and Williams also have roles in making that happen. If Notre Dame can stay balanced, BYU has to account for too many threats to load up on any one of them. If the Cougars shut down the run, they can make Carr’s evening considerably more difficult.
THE FIP BOTTOM LINE
BYU has earned its ranking, and a loud, proud crowd in Provo will expect the Cougars to defend it. Bachmeier gives them a quarterback who can turn a broken play into a big one. Their defense gives them a chance to stay in this game.
Notre Dame has more ways to move the ball, and Martin’s absence puts a heavier burden on Bachmeier. The Irish need to tackle him well, finish their possessions and keep the crowd from becoming part of the problem.
The first six games established how convincingly Notre Dame can win. Saturday offers a chance to show how well the Irish handle a team capable of making them uncomfortable.
Line: Notre Dame favored by 10½ points
Over/under: 47½ points
☘️ FIP PREDICTION
BYU’s defense and home crowd keep this competitive, but Notre Dame’s offensive balance makes the difference. With Martin sidelined, the Cougars ask too much of Bachmeier against the Irish defense. Notre Dame earns its seventeenth straight double-digit win.
Notre Dame 31, BYU 17.