College Sports
Notre Dame at BYU: unbeaten teams meet in a top-ten test in Provo
No. 2 Notre Dame visits No. 8 BYU on Saturday. The Cougars’ rushing plan and CJ Carr’s accuracy put both defenses under pressure.
Two unbeaten teams reach a clear checkpoint on Saturday when No. 2 Notre Dame visits No. 8 BYU. The Irish are 6–0, the Cougars 5–0, and neither side needs a hypothetical playoff argument to explain the value of this game.
Kickoff at LaVell Edwards Stadium is 5:30 p.m. Mountain, 7:30 p.m. Eastern, on ABC, according to BYU’s official game-week page. ESPN’s College GameDay is also coming to campus.
The central matchup is between offenses that have been productive and defenses equipped to take away easy possessions. How each quarterback handles a stalled running game could determine which team leaves Provo unbeaten.
BYU must balance Bachmeier’s workload
The Daily Universe’s Thursday reporting describes a Cougars offense still working without running back LJ Martin. Bear Bachmeier ran for 109 yards against Iowa State, while offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick emphasized choosing the quarterback’s runs carefully.
Notre Dame has allowed just 2.1 yards per rush, according to that report. Repeatedly sending Bachmeier into a set defense would place a heavy burden on the quarterback. The Cougars need the threat of his legs to help create passing opportunities, rather than treating every difficult down as another running assignment.
Tight ends Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga II combined for 133 receiving yards against Iowa State. Their involvement offers a way to attack space around the linebackers. Whether BYU can reach those throws without falling behind the chains is a useful early indicator.
Carr brings a narrow margin for mistakes
Notre Dame’s Thursday release lists CJ Carr at 70.8 percent completions, 1,378 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and one interception through six games. Jordan Faison leads the Irish with 28 catches for 387 yards and four touchdowns.
Those numbers put a different demand on BYU’s defense. Simply waiting for Carr to make a poor decision may not produce enough stops. The Cougars need pressure that changes the timing of the play while keeping receivers covered behind it.
BYU has allowed 80.4 rushing yards and 13.4 points per game, the Daily Universe reports. Winning early downs would make Notre Dame’s passing situations more predictable. Giving Carr comfortable second downs would have the opposite effect.
What to watch first
Notre Dame says its defense leads the country at 214.2 yards allowed per game. BYU will need patience if its opening drives do not produce explosive gains. A punt from manageable field position can be preferable to giving a disciplined opponent a short field.
For the Irish, the test is sustaining their offensive efficiency in a loud road setting. For BYU, it is finding enough variety to move a defense that has controlled opponents so far. Third-down distance will help show which team is imposing its plan before the scoreboard settles the bigger question.
Sources and notes
- Kickoff and records: BYU Athletics. Notre Dame statistics: Fighting Irish Athletics. BYU’s game plan and recent player usage: the Daily Universe’s game-week reporting.
