deseret
The upcoming nonconference game against No. 2 Notre Dame is not just another matchup for No. 8 BYU. Head coach Kalani Sitake and players Keanu Tanuvasa, Bear Bachmeier, and Viliami Pouha openly admitted the significance during Monday's press briefing, refusing to downplay the excitement.
"This week is a different beast, obviously, and we know we're facing a great Notre Dame team, ranked No. 2 for a reason," Sitake said. "They could easily be No. 1. So I think these games get the sense of urgency up a little bit quicker."
The 5:30 p.m. MDT kickoff at LaVell Edwards Stadium marks the most important game in stadium history and the first top-10 matchup there. It presents a massive opportunity for the Cougars, the Big 12, and fans who want the conference to gain national respect.
"I'm really excited for the opportunities and the things that we can accomplish this week, because it's such a talented and prestigious program we are facing," Sitake said. "Looking forward to playing them next year when we go to South Bend, too."
Sitake noted that Notre Dame initiated the scheduling of this game last December when its series with USC was paused, as reported by the Deseret News in May. "It would be crazy for us to turn it down, so I want to thank them for doing that," Sitake said. BYU also benefited because it needed a nonconference Power Four opponent in 2026 after Cal backed out due to ACC scheduling limitations.
Notre Dame (6-0) enters as the hottest team in the country, having won 16 straight games by at least 10 points. The Irish are 10-point favorites and have won the last four meetings with BYU, including a 49-23 victory in 2005 and a 28-20 win in Las Vegas during coach Marcus Freeman's first season. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 7-2.
"I've been really impressed with their program, really impressed with the way Marcus Freeman is leading that team," Sitake said. "He's one of the best coaches in college football and football altogether. So just really been impressed with his career and what he's been able to do and how he represents himself. I think he's a great example to all coaches and how you should do it. Does things the right way, has a great connection with his fan base and even better connection with his players. You can see the camaraderie and the connection that they have together. They have a lot of fun. I think we have a lot of fun. I think it's going to be a fun game. It's going to be a great competition, and for us, we need to be at our best."
Sitake expressed openness to playing Notre Dame annually, a sentiment likely shared by many programs. As the Deseret News reported in August, a win over the Irish would elevate BYU's program further. "We know that they're very talented, and so the sense of urgency ramps up a little bit more," Sitake said. "I am not saying that it doesn't happen naturally with the other games. Our businesslike approach will be the same, but there's going to be a little bit more attention to detail, and there's a lot more riding on it."
Key Analysis
BYU players emphasized focusing on their culture of staying humble and hungry, avoiding distractions as the national spotlight intensifies. "At the end of the day, we just want to win, and whatever team is out there, we just want to keep the same process, play our game, and at the end of the day, we want to win," said Bachmeier, who earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. "It starts from the top down. Kalani kind of harps on staying humble and hungry, and staying with the same process."
Defensive tackle Tanuvasa, whose wife is expecting a baby boy in about three weeks, said the Cougars view the game as a chance to showcase their best for the entire nation. ESPN's College GameDay will broadcast from Provo Saturday morning, adding to the exposure. Tanuvasa experienced a similar atmosphere when he played for Utah. "This is a top-10 matchup, right? There's a lot of hype around it, so we're extremely excited to represent what we have, what's been built by Kalani and what's been built by LaVell Edwards prior to Kalani," Tanuvasa said. "We get the opportunity to represent all of Cougar Nation going against another great team with great tradition. And what this means to us is everything because we represent something bigger than us."
Fellow defensive tackle Pouha added that the Cougars respect Notre Dame but won't be intimidated. "I just feel like the preparation that we've put into our football team doesn't allow us to have that kind of fear," Pouha said. "I feel like the preparation and the culture that we've built doesn't allow things like that to affect us in any way."
BYU is healing but still without star running back LJ Martin, who watched last Friday's 24-10 win over Iowa State with his right foot in a protective cast and from a knee scooter. Sitake said Martin could be week-to-week soon and is not out for the season. Every player except Martin and offensive lineman Andrew Gentry (ankle surgery) will have a chance to play this weekend. That includes running back Sione Moa, who sustained a lower leg injury in the opener against Utah Tech and hasn't played since. Sitake said the redshirt sophomore is back practicing and could provide a boost if available. After Friday's game, Sitake told the BYU Sports Radio Network that linebacker Isaiah Glasker could be available after a knee injury early in the 17-10 win over TCU. "Don't count out Glasker," he said.
Notre Dame was shorthanded in its 58-7 rout of Stanford on Saturday but could get linebacker Kyngstonn Vilamu-Asa back for BYU. Standout cornerback Leonard Moore (concussion) and defensive lineman Jason Onye (ankle) were both listed as questionable on Notre Dame's availability report released Monday.
Originally reported by deseret.