This Saturday, Notre Dame football faces its toughest challenge of the 2026 season so far, traveling to Provo, Utah, to take on the BYU Cougars. Both teams are sitting in the top-8 of the US LBM Coaches Poll, completely undefeated, with the Irish at 6-0 and BYU at 5-0. Everyone’s watching this one, with ESPN’s College GameDay even making the trip.
Irish Are Rolling, But BYU’s Got That Vibe
Coach Marcus Freeman met with the media, just like he does every Monday, and you could tell he was still buzzing from the Stanford win. He loved seeing the turnovers and how the Irish turned them directly into points. The defense, special teams, and offense were all in sync, and he was clearly happy with how it all played out. He also really liked that the young guys got a ton of game time, which is huge for building up the future of this program. But now, it’s all about BYU, and Freeman knows exactly what they’re bringing to the table. He said they have a great culture, and he should know, he’s been building one in South Bend himself. The Cougars have been incredibly consistent, rocking a 28-4 record since 2024, which is the third-best record in the league. Only Indiana and Notre Dame have a better win percentage. And let’s be real, playing them at home in Provo is always going to be tough.
Bachmeier and BYU’s D-Line Are No Joke
Freeman got right into it, noting that BYU’s offense kicks off with their quarterback, Bear Bachmeier, a guy the Irish even recruited. On defense, they rotate a ton of guys on the line, and that unit was just named Big 12 Defensive Line of the Week. Bachmeier himself is co-Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week with Houston TE Patrick Overmyer. Freeman knows the high ranking for both teams isn’t misleading here. The film definitely backs up how much of a test BYU will be. He’s making sure the team is prepped, especially since the routine is going to be a bit different, and not many players have experience playing in Provo. That’s a challenge all by itself. But for the Irish offense to succeed, the communication by their offensive line against that tough BYU defensive front will be key.
One bright spot for the Irish has been Jaden Greathouse, who Freeman highlighted for making plays whenever he gets the chance. Greathouse’s consistency in preparation has put him in positions to make those plays, and according to Coach, he’s “played extremely well all year long.” This Saturday is going to be a battle of two undefeated, top-8 teams. Can Notre Dame go to Provo, handle the unique atmosphere, and come out 7-0? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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