It’s what we’ve all been waiting for. Notre Dame handled their business and BYU did the same. It’s set up a matchup of undefeated programs who are both College Football Playoff contenders.
BYU isn’t viewed in the same light as Notre Dame is, but they easily could be. The Cougars have a tough, experienced roster just like the Irish. BYU came into the season third in returning snap percentage and brought back 13 players who started six or more games for them from a team that went 12-2 last season.
They are 5-0 this season and 28-4 over their last 32 games. They have a 34-6 record in their last 40 home games and have won 10 straight in Provo.
Head coach Kalani Sitake has built a legit program. Anyone who argues otherwise hasn’t been paying attention.
They are one of 11 FBS teams who have won over 70% of their games since 2020, but they are the only one who hasn’t made the College Football Playoff. They came close last season, but were dominated in their two matchups against Texas Tech (losing 29-7 and 34-7).
This game with Notre Dame is an opportunity for them to rectify that. They don’t need to win to make it as they still will have a chance to win the Big 12, but the result of this game will mean a lot for both programs.
BYU is ranked 11th in F+ (combined FEI and SP+ rating). They have wins against Arizona (21st) and TCU (43rd). Notre Dame fans know that BYU is a big step up from their first six opponents, but it’s the same on the other side with the Irish ranked second and having won 16 straight games by double digits.
This is what college football is supposed to be about. It will be a tough challenge on the road for the Irish.
Recruited and Projected Talent
People might be surprised to see BYU is 59th in college team talent, which measures their raw talent based on recruiting rankings. They have a dozen 4-stars on their roster.
That’s not a reflection of the true talent of their roster, though. They have identified and developed talent well.
They had six players ranked in Dane Brugler’s preseason NFL Draft rankings: RB LJ Martin, TE Walker Lyons, safety Faletau Satuala, OT Andrew Gentry, LB Cade Uluave, LB Isaiah Glasker.
Martin and Gentry are out for this game and Glasker status is questionable.
They also had six listed in the Senior Bowl 300: LB Cade Uluave, DT Keanu Tanuvasa, safety Faletau Satuala, RB LJ Martin, CB Evan Johnson, and LB Isaiah Glasker.
Offense
Aaron Roderick took over as BYU offensive coordinator when (current Wisconsin OC) Jeff Grimes left for Baylor. It was Roderick’s offense that the Irish faced during Marcus Freeman’s first season as head coach at Notre Dame back in 2022, so there’s at least a little familiarity on both sides.
The bones of the offense are still the same, but a lot more revolves around the quarterback run game. They want to control the line of scrimmage, control the clock, and utilize play-action to help create plays in the passing game. It’s traditionally been one of the slower tempo offenses in the country and it’s not different this season as they are 135th in seconds per play.
BYU finished 20th in OF+ in 2025 and they are 18th this season. They’re 25th in adjusted EPA per play and 29th in points per drive.
They have faced two top-30 defenses in DF+ in Arizona (29th) and TCU (20th). It was an ugly performance for them against TCU when they scored only 17 points, but some of that was weather related and they lost Martin early in that ball game.
Expected Strengths
They are sixth in EPA per rush and second in rushing success rate. It’s a bit skewed because of Martin not being available, but QB Bear Bachmeier is a true dual-threat who they use frequently on designed runs. He’s 230 and is the rare quarterback who is a physical runner.
Bachmeier is also a very hard player to sack. He can escape the rush and the scheme is designed for him to get the ball out quickly. BYU is 8th in sack rate and has the third lowest pressure rate in the country allowed (17.7%). A large part of that is scheme rather than pass protection.
They have been very good at staying on schedule as an offense and are 3rd in havoc allowed. They lean heavy on play-action and the screen game and run very few traditional dropbacks.
They have run play-action on 42.4% of Bachmeier’s dropbacks and that’s been a huge part of their production. He’s averaging 12.6 YPA and has thrown 6 TDs on play-action pass plays.
Potential Weaknesses
They looked explosive vs Iowa State, but every offense with a pulse has looked explosive against them. Utah, West Virginia, and BYU averaged 6.9, 8.2, and 8.3 YPP against the Cyclones.
Even with that game included, BYU has had a 43.8% success rate against their three Power 4 opponents. They’ve only had a 39% success rate passing those games.
The offense is limited by the scheme and what they do to protect the quarterback with the play-calling. Bachmeier also isn’t great as a traditional dropback passer. His YPA is cut in half to 6.3 when he throws on straight dropbacks and the O-line has only had to block for 22 true pass sets through five games.
BYU is 97th in passing down success rate. That’s why being in the top-25 in 3rd down conversion rate vs FBS opponents is a bit misleading.
On 3rd and 7+, Bachmeier is 4 of 9 passing with only two first down conversions. He’s 0 for 3 passing on 4th down. They have run the ball on 3rd and 7+ 12 times and converted only 3 times.
They throw more screens than anyone else in the country. Notre Dame has defended the screen game really well this season. On 20 screen attempts vs ND they’ve allowed 72 yards and only 3.6 YPA.
Freshman WR Legend Glasker has big play ability, but he’s been their only consistent threat there. They lost their top three receivers from last season and don’t have Martin either.
A large part of their identity was built around Martin in the backfield. He had 36 explosive runs last season, 4th amongst Power 4 RBs. He was eighth in explosive run rate out of all FBS backs last season. He had 9 runs of 10+ in 44 rushing attempts in 2026.
Bachmeier provides some explosive ability as a runner and he had 109 yards rushing against Iowa State. The rest of the team only had 58 yards. The backs who replaced Martin show good ability in space, but don’t provide the same kind of production running inside. That showed up in short yardage against Iowa State as well and they were 0 for 4 on 4th down.
With no Martin they had a 30.8% conversion rate on 3rd and 4th down vs Iowa State.
BYU has plenty of size at receiver and tight end. In theory that should be a big advantage for them, but they are only 5 of 17 (29.4%) catching contested targets this season. The receivers only caught 18 of 52 contested targets last season (34.6%).
A lot of that has to do with accuracy and ball placement from Bachmeier. He can zip the ball in with velocity, but his mechanics can be erratic and the ball can come out wobbly.
They had been really good in the red zone in prior games, but were only 2 of 5 at converting touchdowns in the red zone vs Iowa State. With this being the first full game without Martin, it’s definitely something worth monitoring.
Personnel notes
#47 QB Bear Bachmeier
- 6-2 230
- true soph
- 3,033 passing yards, 64.9% completions,15 touchdowns vs 7 INTs as a freshman
- struggled as a passer vs four top-20 defenses in ‘25
- 3 TD vs 5 INTs against Texas Tech, Arizona, and Utah, 9 turnover-worthy plays total last season
- 4.6 YPA vs Texas Tech in their two matchups
- 41.4% completions vs Arizona last year
- forced 12 missed tackles in those games
- good athlete who can improvise
- dual-threat
- 527 rushing, 11 TDs as a freshman
- 6.2 YPC, 4 TDs as a runner this season
- 66.7% success rate as a runner, 3rd in the country
- 3rd in EPA per rush
- 329 passing, 109 rushing vs Iowa St
- 13 missed tackles forced
- 4.33 yards after contact per attempt
- only 1 fumble this season, but 9 in ‘25
- 66.2% completions, 1,033 yards, 8.9 YPA, 8 TDs vs 1 INT in ‘26
- 2.6 YPA, 62 yards passing in not ideal conditions vs TCU
- 32nd in EPA per dropback, tied for 49th in passing success rate
- tough to sack
- only 3.1% sack rate vs the blitz in ‘25
- was in the top-20 success rate, completion %, and sack/INT rate vs pressure last season
- not a natural thrower, but plus arm
- 2.46 time to throw is tied for 4th fastest in FBS
- 28th in QBR this season, 20th in 2025
- 9 runs of 10+ yards this season, 3 runs of 20+
- 3 for 3 on 3rd and short running attempts this season
- 6 of 11 on 3rd and short last season, but 6 for 6 on 4th down rushing attempts
- only 2 first down conversions throwing on 3 and 7+ on 9 attempts
- 24.2% of pass attempts are screens, the highest rate in the country
#10 QB Treyson Bourguet
- 6-2 210
- previously at Western Mich
- 52.1% completions, 6.2 YPA, 6 TDs vs 3 INTs in his career
- last time he got real PT was ‘23
- 1 for 3 in garbage time this season, 1 INT vs Colorado St
#20 RB Journee Tonga
- 5-8 198
- true freshman
- 176 rushing, 6.5 YPC
- 3.1 YPC vs Iowa St and TCU
- -0.54 EPA per rush vs Iowa St
- -0.34 EPA per rush vs TCU
- 1 catch for 13 yards vs Iowa St
#12 RB Preston Rex
- 6-0 200
- got some juice in space, good lateral agility
- not a good inside runner
- 115 rushing, 4.8 YPC
- 3.0 YPC vs Iowa St and TCU
- -0.27 EPA per rush vs Iowa State
- -0.23 EPA per rush vs TCU
- 5 for 35 as a receiver in the last two games
#25 RB Devaughn Eka
- 5-11 195
- true freshman
- 101 rushing, 6.7 YPC
- 3 for 14 vs Iowa St
- -0.15 EPA per rush vs Iowa State
- 4.71 40, 29.4 vert, 9-6 broad jump in HS
#13 WR Jojo Phillips
- 6-5 205
- 14 for 161 last season
- 9 for 66 this season
- epitome of just a guy, but he’s a starter
- 2 of 10 on contested targets in his career
#3 WR Kyler Kasper
- 6-6 212
- Oregon transfer, only 72 snaps
- foot injuries for much of his time at Oregon, only 6 catches for 77 yards
- leads the team in targets with 30, caught less than 50%
- 2 TDs vs Arizona
- body catcher
- drop on a big play vs Iowa St, 12.5% drop rate
- 2 of 9 on contested targets
- thin, not strong
- 0 for 5 on deep targets this season
- long strider with some speed in space
#1 WR Legend Glasker
- 6-1 175
- true freshman
- 65% of the time in the slot
- big time speed, deep threat
- dangerous after the catch, 8 missed tackles forced
- 11.9 YAC per reception, 2nd best in P4 with 20+ targets
- caught 19 of 22 targets
- 378 receiving, 19.9 per reception is top-10
- 61 yard reception vs Arizona
- 5 for 131 vs Colorado St, 70 yard reception
- used on jet sweep and end arounds as a runner
- 11 for 83 rushing, 7.5 YPC as a runner, 2 TDs
- 75 yard TD vs Iowa State
- 3 receptions of 60+ this season, tied for 1st in the country
- 4.42 40, 32.5 vert, 9-10.9 broad jump in HS
#81 WR Reggie Frischknecht
- 6-4 207
- previously at Weber St and Snow College
- 14 TDs led all JC WRs in ‘23, 19.5 per reception
- 25 yard TD vs Arizona on RPO slant
- 2 for 45 this season
#19 WR Tiger Bachmeier
- 6-1 190
- previously at Stanford
- 36 for 409 as freshman in ‘23
- not much production since
- backup punt returner
- shows ability to get upfield, but poor awareness
- 11.27 100m in HS
#7 TE Walker Lyons
- 6-4 245
- USC transfer
- good athlete who can win jump balls
- 20 for 223 at USC in ‘25
- 3rd in country out of all returning TEs in EPA per target
- tied for 14th out of all receivers in success rate in ‘26
- 13 for 150 this season
- 4 of 8 on contested targets
- decent blocker
- 10th ranked underclassmen TE by Dane Brugler
#2 TE Roger Saleapaga II
- 6-4 235
- Oregon transfer
- 165 snaps there in ‘25, 3 for 26 and 1 TD
- missed the Colorado St game with injury
- 63 yard big play after the catch vs Iowa St, can really move
- 6 for 108 on the season
- very good run blocker
- huge numbers as a receiver in HS
#45 TE Keayen Nead
- 6-5 260
- previously at New Mexico and Weber St
- 918 career snaps
- primarily inline, 63 of 73 snaps as a blocker
- career high 9 catches in ‘24 at Weber St
#58 LT Paki Finau
- 6-5 310
- Washington transfer
- 4 starts at LG for Washington, 426 snaps
- played well in pass pro
- has been their best OL
- beat on a ghost move for a sack vs TCU
#59 LT/RT Siosiua Latu-Finau
- 6-5 310
- backup LT
- splitting RT in last two games, 41 total snaps
- 131 career snaps
- has looked shaky in pass pro
#52 RT Bott Mulitalo
- 6-5 310
- true freshman
- started TCU and Iowa St games with Andrew Gentry injured
- flagged 4 times in the last two games
- holds vs movement
- inconsistent, as expected
- previously an Oregon commit on the DL, moved to OL late in HS
- 34 inch arm length
- 5.22 40, 4.6 short shuttle, 8-9.8 broad jump at 293 pounds in HS
#51 LG Sonny Makasani
- 6-4 315
- split time at LG last season
- 1,011 career snaps
- has yet to allow a pressure this season
#64 RG Kyle Sfarcioc
- 6-4 305
- previously at Southern Utah
- returning starter
- missed the Colorado St game due to injury
- 2,250 career snaps
- didn’t play well vs the better DLs they faced last season
#74 RG Trevin Ostler
- 6-4 320
- started vs CSU
- have used him as an extra body inline in short yardage
- also lined him up at fullback
- 176 career snaps
#56 G Zak Yamauchi
- 6-4 315
- Stanford transfer
- 3 starts as a true freshman last season
- not good in ‘25
- 25 snaps this season in garbage time
#63 C Bruce Mitchell
- 6-4 305
-1st team All-Big 12 in ‘25
- 1,625 career snaps
- above average player, but overrated
- got whooped vs Texas Tech in Big 12 champ game
#67 C Trevor Pay
- 6-3 295
- backup center
- 80 career snaps
- all snaps in garbage time this season
Key for Notre Dame
Contain Bachmeier and force them into passing downs
It’s plainly obvious that they need to put an emphasis on containing Bachmeier as a runner. Whether it’s designed runs or scrambling, his legs are even more valuable to BYU now than before Martin was injured.
If Notre Dame can get some early down havoc and force them into passing downs, it’s going to be a big advantage for the Irish.
Defense
BYU’s defense has been good in the last few years and looks even better to start this season. They finished 20th in DF+ last season and were in the top-20 in 2024 as well.
BYU was the only defense other than Notre Dame to return at least 60% of their snaps across all three position groups. They returned nine of the 14 players who saw at least 300 snaps last year and added an All-ACC linebacker, so it’s not a surprise that they are 13th in DF+ despite having a new coordinator.
Kelly Poppinga was promoted from special teams coordinator after Jay Hill left for Michigan. They haven’t changed a ton from what they did under Hill, but Notre Dame can expect to see a lot of stemming up front on early downs and games/stunts with their pressure packages.
They are 28th in adjusted EPA per play, seventh in points per drive, and 12th in yards per play.
Arizona (17th) is the only offense they have faced that’s in the top-60 of OF+ so far this season.
Expected Strengths
They are 17th in havoc rate. They get a lot of ball production from an experienced secondary that is the best one Notre Dame has faced this season.
The defense has six interceptions in five games and 45 interceptions total since the start of the 2024 season. (Notre Dame has 47)
They have only allowed eight passes of 20+ yards this season. It’s a disciplined and smart group.
They are 15th in stuff rate and have been much better up front than the offensive lines they have faced so far this fall. I think they are pretty close to Wisconsin when it comes to their talent in the front six, but it’s really the totality of the defense as a whole that makes it work.
They have future Sunday players at all three levels of the defense.
Potential Weaknesses
They had 17 missed tackles vs Arizona and 14 missed tackles vs Iowa State. They have some big hitters who can be overaggressive and also some athletes on defense who aren’t great in space. Some players who have been stronger tacklers in the past haven’t tackled as well for whatever reason as well.
They are 77th in EPA per rush and those missed tackles play a part in that. They’ve had some injuries that have impacted this as well and starting linebacker Isaiah Glasker might not be available for this game.
It’s a Big 12 D-line in a lot of ways and though the pass rush has looked better so far this season, they are undersized on the edge with players who are more hybrid linebackers than true defensive ends.
Though they have only allowed teams to reach the red zone 10 times in five games, they’ve given up eight touchdowns on those trips. Part of this is they have to play more man coverage and they have some defenders who are far more comfortable playing zone.
The linebackers in particular can be attacked in man coverage situations and slot corner was an issue for them last season, but hasn’t been tested much this fall.
CB Therrian Alexander III is a player who is very grabby and has been beaten deep. He’s a player I would expect Notre Dame to target in this game.
Personnel notes
#5 Edge Nusi Taumoepeau
- 6-3 242
- missed the spring with offseason shoulder surgery
- 15 pressures in only 51 pass rush opportunities in ‘25
- 20% win rate vs true pass sets last season
- 6 pressures in Pop Tarts Bowl vs GT
- 1.5 TFLs
- 5 pressures in 1st 5 games
- athletic, good on stunts
- raw technically as a rusher
#13 Edge Tausili Akana
- 6-3 235
- previously at Texas
- 40th in 2023 ISD Fab 50
- 3.5 TFLs in limited snaps last season
- 19.1% win rate vs true pass sets in ‘25
- 20% win rate this season
- tied for team lead in pressures with 6
- leads team in TFLs with 6.5, 3.5 sacks
- sub-package impact
- mismatch vs a RB in pass pro
#90 Edge Hunter Clegg
- 6-4 250
- 340 career snaps
- INT vs Colorado St
- 2.5 havoc plays
- good first step, tied for team lead in pressures with 6
- high motor kid, good on stunts
- will move him inside to rush in sub-packages
- 11.81 100m in HS
#30 Edge Braxton Lindsey
- 6-3 240
- freshman
- sack vs TCU, 3 pressures
- 5 pressures this season
- not a good run defender
- 77.5 wing, 8-11.6 broad jump in HS
- all-conference basketball player
#46 Edge Kendal Wall
- 6-5 240
- 88 snaps, rotation edge
- long, better suited to rush the passer
#57 DT Keanu Tanuvasa
- 6-4 300
- previously at Utah, 19 starts there
- leader up front
- 7.5 havoc plays, blocked kick last season
- 5.5 havoc plays so far this season
- 17th ranked Senior DT by Dane Brugler
- knack for knocking down passes, 9 in his career
#48 DT Bodie Schoonover
- 6-3 275
- 686 career snaps
- 9.5 havoc plays in ‘25
- 2 TFLs this season
- solid twitch, good run defender
- 5 pressures
- day 3 NFL prospect
#45 DT Viliami Po'uha
- 6-3 278
- 530 career snaps
- 17 pressures in ‘25
- 1.5 TFLs last season
- versatile, comfortable playing multiple alignments
- Father is BYU’s DL coach
#94 DT Anisi Purcell
- 6-3 305
- over 1,300 career snaps
- previously at Southern Utah
- 3 TFLs last season
- shoot gaps
#96 DT Justin Kirkland
- 6-3 310
- previously at Okie St, 7 starts there
- rotation body, two-down player
- used to be too heavy, dropped close to 40 pounds
#4 LB Cade Uluave
- 6-1 230
- Cal transfer
- Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in ‘23
- 1st team All-ACC in ‘25
- 100 tackles, 12 TFLs, 18 total havoc plays in ‘25
- 3.5 havoc plays this season, leads the team in tackles
- physical, instinctive player
- smart in coverage
- six passes defended in ‘25
- plus pass rusher, 19 pressures and 11 combined QB sacks/hits last season
- great on Green Dog blitzes
- INT vs Arizona
- 9 missed tackles this season
- missed tackle rate at career high 25%, bottom 5 for P4 LBs
- 3rd ranked Senior LB by Dane Brugler
#16 LB Isaiah Glasker
- 6-5 240
- over 1,600 career snaps
- 3rd team All-Big 12 in ‘25
- 8.5 TFLs and 12.5 havoc plays last season
- 20 pressures last, play the edge on passing downs
- missed week 1 + Iowa St game, injured vs TCU
- no havoc yet this season
- if he plays, he won’t be close to 100%. Attack him
- Arizona went after him in coverage gave up 6 catches fo 85 yards
- 6th ranked Senior LB by Dane Brugler
#31 LB Jake Clifton
- 6-2 230
- 458 career snaps
- K State transfer
- took two year mission and then transferred
- stepped in with Glasker out, played well
- rush him off the edge, brings it as a blitzer
- beat in man coverage for a touchdown against TCU TE Kari Ashley
- 3.5 havoc plays in the last two games
- 6-0 high jump in HS
#54 LB Siale Esera
- 6-3 250
- 650 career snaps
- injured in Arizona game, returned as sub vs Iowa St
- 48 tackles, 4.5 havoc plays in ‘25
- solid vs inside run, liability in space
#21 LB Miles Hall
- 6-1 230
- 2.5 havoc plays this season
- 330 career snaps
- solid reserve
#11 S Faletau Satuala
- 6-4 215
- 3rd team All-Big 12 in ‘25
- physical, playmaker
- led BYU in tackles last season
- 3 INTs and 16.5 havoc plays
- 4 havocs plays in 5 games this season
- 2nd on the team in tackles
- INT and 59 yard return vs TCU
- good blitzer
- 7 missed tackles in 1st 5 games matches his entire ‘25 season total
- 7th ranked underclassmen safety by Dane Brugler
- 12 INTs in his last 2 seasons of HS
#3 S Raider Damuni
- 6-1 210
- 827 career snaps
- returning starter
- 3.5 havoc plays last season
- injured in week 1, hasn’t played since
- practiced in lead up to Iowa St, expected back vs ND
- over 800 career snaps, 5 starts last season
#22 S Tommy Prassas
- 6-2 200
- struggled as a slot defender last season
- 3.5 havoc plays
- 4 missed tackles vs Arizona
- 26.9% missed tackle rate this season
- average athlete for the position
- often the deep safety, put him in conflict
- beat deep vs Arizona, but ball was off
#7 S Kennan Pula
- 6-3 200
- freshman
- 1 PBU
- 85 snaps
- missed some tackles in extended opportunities
#0 CB Evan Johnson
- 6-0 185
- 1,317 career snaps
- great ball skills, 5 INTs last season
- 15 havoc plays in ‘25
- beat deep for 66 yard play in bowl game on 4th down
- 44.6% completions, 43.8 NFL passer rating when targeted last season
- 12th ranked Senior CB by Dane Brugler
- 1 INT, 3 havoc plays this season
- played more Nickel in the last two games
- 10.84 100m in HS
#1 CB Therrian Alexander III
- 6-1 175
- 808 career snaps
- 9 havoc plays in ‘25
- 67.2 NFL passer rating when targeted
- 3 havoc plays this season
- skinny, but will come up and tackle
- beat for 39 yard deep TD vs Texas Tech last season
- very grabby, flagged 3 times vs Iowa State
- part of state record for 4X200 and 4X400 teams
- 21.97 200m in HS
#15 CB Jayven Williams
- 6-2 175
- 1,250 career snaps
- Miss St transfer, previously at Kennesaw State
- 344 snaps last season, 4 havoc plays, 2 forced fumbles
- 4 havoc plays this season
- got some pop as a tackler
#32 Nickel Cannon Devries
- 6-2 184
- 109 snaps this season
- 3 TFLs vs Colorado St
- aggressive vs perimeter screen game
- dynamic returner
- KR TD vs Utah Tech
- averaging 16.6 per return on punts, long of 46
- 9th in the country in PR average
- out with an injury vs Iowa St, back vs ND
- 10.81 100m, 22.52 200m in HS
- 3 ST return TDs in HS
Key for Notre Dame
Mix up tempo and stay efficient running the ball
Much like Michigan State, they love to adjust late in the play clock and present different looks up front to mess with blocking schemes. Although Carr is great at getting Notre Dame into the right play, it would be smart to mix up the tempo to force them to play more vanilla at times.
The Irish running game has hit its stride in recent weeks and is now in the top-10 in the country in success rate. If they continue that in this game, they’ll be in great shape.
Special Teams
Devries is a dangerous returner and he’s back after missing the Iowa State game. Notre Dame has to be on high alert every time they kick to him.
Their punter has been great this season and they haven’t had to worry about too much kick or punt coverage.
#97 K Matthias Dunn
- 6-0 205
- 4 of 5 on field goals
- 49-yarder vs TCU
- long of 48 in high school
- kicked off in the last two games
#99 K Brody Laga
- 5-11 170
- 22 of 23 kickoffs have gone for touchbacks
- missed TCU and Iowa St games
#19 P Fuller Shurtz
- 5-11 195
- 15 punts, only 1 returned this season
- 45.1 net is sixth in the country
- 4.41 hang time is second in the country
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Mini Rubber Football
