Week 7 of the 2026 college football season is bringing us an absolute banger: No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 8 BYU are squaring off, and yeah, it feels like more than just a regular game after last year’s Pop-Tart Bowl snub. This is a matchup that’s been cooking since both teams missed the CFP playoffs last season, and now they finally get to settle some scores.
The Stakes Are Higher Than Just a Win For Both Teams
Notre Dame comes into this one at a clean 6-0, fresh off a dominating 58-7 win over Stanford last week. This is their first ranked opponent this season, so they’re about to get a real test. BYU is also looking phenomenal at 5-0, riding high after a huge conference win against Iowa State. The Cougars are showing up stronger this year on both sides of the ball, and you gotta talk about quarterback Bear Bachmeier. That dude punishes every defender in his path whenever he carries the ball; he’s a certified problem. Last year, these two were supposed to meet in the Pop-Tart Bowl, but the Irish declined the invitation. BYU finished 11-2 last season, with both losses coming from the Big 12 champions, Texas Tech. Notre Dame had a rough start in 2025, going 0-2, which included a loss to CFP national runner-up Miami. Even their 10-game win streak afterwards wasn’t enough to sway the committee for that final spot. You know there’s gotta be some lingering feelings from that.
A Potential National Championship Statement
This game isn’t just about Week 7 bragging rights. This is the ultimate test to see if either the Fighting Irish or BYU has a legitimate national championship team, or if the committee was spot on to leave them out of the equation last season. The stakes couldn’t be clearer. Notre Dame might be without a key piece, too, with cornerback Leonard Moore listed as questionable due to a concussion. That could be a huge factor against a BYU offense that’s clearly feeling it this year, especially with Bachmeier running the show. This whole thing is set up for pure drama.
BYU will host Notre Dame this Saturday, October 17, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Get ready, because this is a statement game that could redefine the early season for both of these top-10 teams. You absolutely don’t want to miss it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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