Lavell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah. (Photo Credit: Boyd Ivey/Icon Sportswire)
Notre Dame should enter October with an opportunity to do more than simply strengthen its College Football Playoff résumé.
September was about establishing consistency. October is where the Irish have to prove they belong among the nation’s best.
The month features two road trips, a potential look-ahead game at home and a Halloween matchup with an old rival. But one game stands above the rest: a trip to Provo to face BYU in what could looks to be one of the most important games on Notre Dame’s schedule.
North Carolina, Stanford and Navy will present different challenges, but the expectation remains the same. If Notre Dame wants to be viewed as a legitimate national championship contender, the Irish need to leave October undefeated.
North Carolina
Head Coach: Bill Belichick (2nd season)
2025 Record: 4-8
Key Returners: RB Demon June, WR Jordan Shipp, CB Jaiden Patterson, DE Melkart Abou Jaoude
Key Additions: QB Billy Edwards Jr. (Wisconsin), QB Miles O’Neill (Texas A&M), TE Jelani Thurman (Ohio State), LB Peyton Seelmann (Richmond)
Key Losses: QB Gio Lopez, LB Khmori House, LB Andrew Simpson
Bill Belichick enters his second season at North Carolina after the Tar Heels struggled to a 4-8 record in his first year in Chapel Hill.
There are some pieces to build around. Running back Demon June rushed for 464 yards last season, while Jordan Shipp caught 60 passes for 671 yards and six touchdowns.
The biggest question is at quarterback. Gio Lopez transferred to Wake Forest, leaving Belichick with a competition that includes Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr., Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill, redshirt freshman Au’Tori Newkirk and freshman Travis Burgess. Whoever emerges should have plenty of game experience by the time Notre Dame arrives in October.
Belichick also added help through the portal, including Ohio State tight end Jelani Thurman and Richmond linebacker Peyton Seelmann, a First Team All-Patriot League selection last season.
North Carolina should be better. The question is how much better.
Notre Dame travels to Chapel Hill on Oct. 3. If the Irish take care of business in September, they will arrive undefeated for their first test of October.
There is also an interesting Notre Dame connection with NFL legend Belichick. After the Irish lost to Alabama in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game, Brian Kelly asked Belichick to evaluate his program. Belichick studied Notre Dame’s film and spent time with Kelly and his staff discussing scheme, coaching methods and areas where the Irish could improve. Belichick also came to South Bend that spring as a featured speaker at Notre Dame’s Football Coaches Clinic.
That history adds another layer to an already intriguing matchup. More than a decade later, Belichick will be standing on the opposite sideline when the Irish arrive in Chapel Hill.
The Bottom Line:
Belichick may eventually get North Carolina headed in the right direction, but this still feels like a program in transition. For Notre Dame, this game is less about North Carolina and more about showing it can go on the road, take control and avoid giving an underdog reason to believe.
If the Irish are serious College Football Playoff contenders, this is a game they should win convincingly.
Stanford
Head Coach: Tavita Pritchard (1st season)
2025 Record: 4-8
Key Returners: RB Micah Ford, WR Caden High, LB Matt Rose
Key Additions: QB Davis Warren (Michigan), WR Carter Shaw (UCLA), WR Nico Brown (Yale), DB Leroy Bryant (Washington)
Key Losses: TE Sam Roush, WR CJ Williams, DL Clay Patterson
Stanford enters 2026 looking for a new identity under first-year head coach Tavita Pritchard.
The Cardinal finished 4-8 last season, but Pritchard inherits some experienced pieces, including running back Micah Ford and wide receiver Caden High. Ford rushed for 643 yards and four touchdowns last season, while High caught 37 passes for 414 yards.
Stanford also turned to the transfer portal to address a quarterback position that struggled last season, adding Michigan transfer Davis Warren. Warren missed last season while recovering from an ACL injury but brings Power Four experience after starting games at Michigan.
The Cardinal also added UCLA receiver Carter Shaw, Washington defensive back Leroy Bryant and Yale receiver Nico Brown, who is coming off a 1,085-yard, 11-touchdown season.
Pritchard has some pieces to work with, but Stanford still appears to be in rebuilding mode.
Notre Dame hosts the Cardinal on Oct. 10, one week before traveling to Provo.
And that may be the most interesting thing about this game.
The danger isn’t necessarily Stanford. It’s BYU.
Notre Dame should have a significant talent advantage, but championship teams don’t spend Saturday afternoon thinking about next Saturday night. The Irish will need to take care of the team standing across from them before worrying about the trip out West.
The Bottom Line:
This is a classic focus game.
Notre Dame should win and should win comfortably. The challenge will be playing that way with the biggest game of the month waiting one week later.
Handle Stanford, clean up any lingering issues and then start thinking about Provo.
BYU
Head Coach: Kalani Sitake (11th season)
2025 Record: 12-2
Key Returners: QB Bear Bachmeier, RB LJ Martin, WR Jojo Phillips, LB Isaiah Glasker, LB Siale Esera
Key Additions: WR Kyle Kasper (Oregon), TE Walker Lyons (USC), LB Jake Clifton (Kansas State), LB Cade Uluave (California)
Key Losses: WR Chase Roberts, TE Carsen Ryan, LB Jack Kelly
Now things get interesting.
BYU enters 2026 as one of the most talented teams Notre Dame will face all season. The Cougars are coming off a 12-2 campaign and return several key pieces from a team that established itself among the better programs in the country.
Kalani Sitake enters his 11th season at BYU with an 84-45 record and has built a program accustomed to winning.
The biggest reason for optimism is quarterback Bear Bachmeier.
Bachmeier threw for 3,033 yards and 15 touchdowns last season while adding another 527 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. His dual-threat ability could present one of the toughest challenges Notre Dame’s defense faces during the regular season.
He won’t be alone. Running back LJ Martin returns after rushing for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, and the Cougars bring back defensive standouts Isaiah Glasker and Siale Esera. BYU also strengthened its roster through the portal with Oregon receiver Kyle Kasper, USC tight end Walker Lyons and linebackers Jake Clifton and Cade Uluave.
This isn’t simply a talented team. It’s an experienced one.
Notre Dame travels to Provo on Oct. 17, and everything about this game feels big.
The opponent. The setting. The quarterback. The national attention. And potentially the College Football Playoff implications.
LaVell Edwards Stadium should provide the toughest environment Notre Dame has faced to this point in the season. If this ends up under the lights, the atmosphere will add to the challenge.
By this point, Notre Dame will have had six games to figure out what kind of team it is.
Provo is where we may find out.
The Bottom Line:
This is the measuring-stick game of October.
A win wouldn’t simply improve Notre Dame’s résumé. Winning on the road against an experienced BYU team would demonstrate that the Irish can go into a hostile environment and beat a quality opponent when the stakes are high.
Winning in Provo wouldn’t guarantee anything in January, but it would tell us a lot about whether Notre Dame is built to get there.
Navy
Head Coach: Brian Newberry (4th season)
2025 Record: 11-2
Key Returners: QB Braxton Woodson, LB MarcAnthony Parker, LB Coleman Cauley
Key Additions: 67 prospects from the 2026 recruiting class
Key Losses: RB Eli Heidenreich, DT Landon Robinson, CB Justin Ross
After a bye, Notre Dame will close October with a familiar opponent in an unfamiliar setting.
Navy is coming off an impressive 11-2 season and has now posted consecutive 10-win campaigns under Brian Newberry.
The biggest change comes at quarterback. Blake Horvath has graduated, opening the door for senior Braxton Woodson. Woodson saw limited action through the air last season but rushed for 414 yards and six touchdowns, giving Navy another athletic option to run its offense.
Of course and as usual, Navy won’t be rebuilding through the transfer portal. The Midshipmen added 67 prospects through their 2026 recruiting class and will rely on development and continuity.
And, as always, the option-style offense creates a challenge unlike anything else Notre Dame will see during the season.
This year’s setting makes the matchup even more interesting.
Notre Dame and Navy meet Oct. 31 at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. Navy on Halloween, in an NFL stadium, to close out October? That’s a little different.
But there is also a football challenge here.
Notre Dame will be coming off its biggest game of the month against BYU. Whether that trip ends with an emotional win or a disappointing loss, the Irish will have to reset quickly and deal with an offense that punishes a lack of discipline. Fortunately a strategically placed bye week should give the Irish time to recalibrate.
The Bottom Line:
Navy is Navy. The style is different, the possessions can be limited and mistakes can make the game uncomfortable in a hurry.
Notre Dame should have the talent advantage, but this is another test of maturity. Put the BYU game behind you, stay disciplined against the option and finish the month.
If Notre Dame does that, October could end exactly where the Irish want it to end.
October Outlook
September was about establishing consistency.
October is about proving it.
North Carolina offers a road test. Stanford tests Notre Dame’s focus. BYU provides the month’s measuring stick. Navy presents a completely different challenge to finish it.
Four games. Four different tests.
If Notre Dame leaves October undefeated, the Irish will enter November with a strong résumé, plenty of confidence and an opportunity to compete for something bigger than simply making the College Football Playoff.
By then, we shouldn’t have to wonder whether Notre Dame belongs in the championship conversation.
The Irish will have had the opportunity to prove it and….to leave no doubt.