Notre Dame-BYU clash carries College Football Playoff implications, Big 12 dreams

Provo, Utah - The upcoming Notre Dame vs. Brigham Young football game carries significant implications beyond just college football, potentially marking a pivotal moment for the Big 12 Conference's aspirations to join the Power-Four conferences in the 12-team era. The matchup pits the No. 2 ranked Notre Dame against the No. 8 seeded BYU, a clash that transcends the sheer spectacle of undefeated football teams.

Coach Kalani Sitake of BYU has expressed admiration for Notre Dame, praising their program, head coach Marcus Freeman, and the strong connection they have with fans and players. Freeman echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the quality of competition and the significance of a contest between these two high-performing programs.

The Big 12 Conference currently holds three undefeated teams among the top 11 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. However, to secure bids from the additional Power-Four conferences, the Big 12 needs a significant win out of its conference. This highly anticipated game provides BYU with the platform to assert its dominance as the conference's top contender. Sitake himself acknowledges the team-led approach of the program, emphasizing that success stems from the collective efforts of the team rather than just the coach.

Both teams remain undefeated this season, with no encounters against ranked opponents to date. BYU faces the additional challenge of confronting Notre Dame and arch-rival Utah in subsequent matchups. Notre Dame starts their 2026 regular season with this game against BYU, followed by a visit to Miami and a home game against SMU. To maintain their chance at a top-four seed in the CFP era and potentially secure a bye in the opening round, Notre Dame must emerge victorious in these crucial games, while also performing strongly against their unranked opponents.

Notre Dame has been particularly strong away from home this season, achieving a 17-2 record with notable wins against Georgia, Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, and North Carolina. Coach Freeman attributes their success to careful preparation and executing strategies without being distracted by crowd noise. Despite a strong away record, BYU remains impressive at home, sitting at 14-1 in its last 15 home games and undefeated over the last three seasons, a first in school history.

A win over Notre Dame would mark a significant milestone in Sitake's tenure, highlighting the significance of this upcoming clash.