The experts agree: BYU’s game against Notre Dame is its most important game on the schedule — and it’s not even close

The experts concur that the game between BYU and Notre Dame in 2026 is the most crucial regular-season matchup for BYU football. This assertion is unanimous among a panel of national and Big 12 college football analysts, including ESPN's Trevor Matich, Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports, John Kurtz of the "Open for Business" podcast, and Jon Wilner of the Bay Area News Group.

Matich, a two-time all-conference lineman for BYU and a member of the 1984 national championship team, emphasized that a victory over Notre Dame would significantly enhance BYU's national profile. He pointed out that the Irish are expected to be in the top five, with Heisman Trophy contender CJ Carr at quarterback, when they visit Provo.

Furthermore, Matich noted that BYU's win over Miami in 1990, which jump-started Ty Detmer's Heisman Trophy campaign, serves as a strong precedent. He added that if junior quarterback Bear Bachmeier performs well in the Notre Dame game, he could join the Heisman conversation.

The article also highlights the significance of the game compared to other high-stakes matchups in BYU's recent history, such as the victories over Miami in 1990, Texas A&M in 1996, and Utah in 2024. The Deseret News reported in May that the upcoming contest represents not only the most important game for BYU this year but also the most crucial in program history.