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The upcoming Saturday night clash between No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 8 BYU, as ranked in the US LBM Coaches Poll, has generated considerable buzz throughout the week, particularly with ESPN's College GameDay broadcasting from the site. According to BetMGM, the Fighting Irish enter the game as 10-point favorites over the Cougars.
ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy offered his take on the possible outcomes during an appearance on the Always College Football show. He suggested that a Notre Dame victory would not only keep the team undefeated at 7-0 but also silence critics who have questioned the strength of their schedule.
Conversely, if BYU were to lose, the Cougars would fall to 5-1, with a road trip to face the Utah Utes on Nov. 7 still ahead. McElroy noted that a win over an unbeaten top-10 team on the road would set up a pivotal matchup against Miami on Nov. 7, which could ultimately determine playoff seeding. He added that a Notre Dame win would essentially lock up a College Football Playoff berth for the Irish.
Should BYU emerge victorious, McElroy pointed out that the Cougars would improve to 6-0 and open up a wide range of possibilities. He stated that a win over the No. 2 team in the Associated Press poll would immediately thrust BYU into the top-five conversation. Furthermore, the Big 12 conference would stand to gain the most from such a result, as it would finally have an undefeated team with a win over a top-two opponent, making Provo, Utah, the epicenter of the Big 12's playoff hopes.
On the other hand, McElroy cautioned that a Notre Dame loss would complicate its path to the CFP. Without a conference championship to fall back on, the Irish would have to grapple with mounting questions about the strength of their schedule and overall résumé.
For ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions, follow @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like the Facebook page. Follow Kevin on X: @KevLSmittie. This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: ESPN's Greg McElroy breaks down scenarios for Notre Dame-BYU outcome.
Originally reported by yahoo.