BYU Outperforms Its Budget as Notre Dame Showdown Arrives

In December, Utah State University (BYU) seized an opportunity to face off against Notre Dame, a team it had previously lost to by a score of 28-20 in 2022. This match-up, scheduled for a Saturday night in Provo, Utah, will mark the first top 10-ranked matchup in the history of LaVell Edwards Stadium. Notre Dame is currently ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25, while BYU is ranked No. 8.

ESPN's College GameDay is set to visit BYU's campus for the first time since 2009. BYU's head coach, Kalani Sitake, expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating it would be "crazy" to turn down the game. The matchup presents a chance for BYU to notch a top-five win and strengthen its College Football Playoff résumé, as well as showcase itself nationally after receiving a significant investment from PV3 Enterprises, which includes naming rights to the football surface and an NIL initiative for select football players.

BYU is currently around the 40th-most expensive roster in college football, estimated at $20-25 million, but the school aims to close the gap with its peers. Sitake has been vocal about the need for more resources, expressing his desire for an even playing field with his opponents. BYU will enter the game as a 10.5-11.5-point underdog, without running back LJ Martin, while Notre Dame has been dominant through its first six games, winning by an average of 33 points.