No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 8 BYU 2026 Preview: Prediction, Betting Odds & 4 Prop Bets

Two undefeated College Football Playoff contenders collide Saturday night in Provo when No. 2 Notre Dame visits No. 8 BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Notre Dame enters 6-0 after destroying Stanford 58-7, while BYU improved to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in Big 12 play with a 24-10 victory over Iowa State. The Cougars are also 3-0 at home.

Notre Dame is favored by 10.5 points, but winning comfortably in Provo against an undefeated BYU team with an elite defense and dangerous dual-threat quarterback will be one of the Irish’s toughest assignments of the season.

Game Information

Matchup: No. 2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at No. 8 BYU Cougars Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026 Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET TV: ABC Venue: LaVell Edwards Stadium — Provo, Utah Tickets: As low as $452 Point Spread: Notre Dame -10.5 Over/Under: 47.5

The matchup will be the first top-10 meeting hosted in Provo in BYU program history if the rankings hold. ESPN College GameDay will also originate from BYU’s campus Saturday morning.

Notre Dame: Irish Running Game Becoming Dominant

Notre Dame enters Provo looking like one of the country’s most complete teams.

The Irish overwhelmed Stanford 58-7, producing more than 300 rushing yards while holding the Cardinal to just 202 total yards and 58 rushing yards.

Freshman running back Jonaz Walton delivered a breakout performance, rushing for a Notre Dame freshman-record 181 yards on only 13 carries. Walton scored on spectacular runs of 97 and 40 yards.

That followed a 120-yard rushing performance against North Carolina, making Walton one of the most dangerous young backs in college football.

Quarterback CJ Carr gives Notre Dame another major advantage.

Through his first five games, Carr had thrown for 1,197 yards, 13 touchdowns and only one interception while completing 71 percent of his passes. He also had three rushing touchdowns.

Against Stanford, Notre Dame didn’t need Carr to carry the offense. He still produced touchdown passes of 70 yards to Aneyas Williams and 30 yards to Elijah Burress.

The Irish defense may be even more impressive. Boubacar Traore forced a fumble on Stanford’s first offensive play and later added an interception as Notre Dame controlled the game from beginning to end.

BYU: Bachmeier Gives Cougars Upset Potential

BYU’s record is no fluke.

The Cougars have opened 5-0 for the third consecutive season, with victories over Arizona, Colorado State, TCU and Iowa State following their opening rout of Utah Tech.

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier is the primary reason BYU can threaten Notre Dame.

Against Iowa State, Bachmeier completed 22 of 30 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns while adding an incredible 109 rushing yards. He became the first BYU quarterback since Taysom Hill to record 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in the same game.

Freshman receiver Legend Glasker also emerged as a dangerous weapon, catching five passes for 99 yards and a touchdown, including a 75-yard scoring reception.

BYU’s defense was equally impressive.

The Cougars held Iowa State to only 200 total yards, including just 49 yards in the first half, while recording three sacks.

That defense has now held TCU and Iowa State to 10 points each in consecutive games.

Four Prop Bets to Consider

College player-prop availability varies by sportsbook, so these are target numbers to consider if offered near these ranges.

Prop Bet #1: Jonaz Walton Over 64.5 Rushing Yards

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Walton Over 64.5 Rushing Yards

• 181 Yards vs Stanford
• 120 vs North Carolina
• 13.9 Yards Per Carry Last Week

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Walton has exploded onto the national scene with consecutive 100-yard performances.

Notre Dame should lean heavily on its rushing attack to keep Bachmeier off the field and avoid allowing BYU’s pass rush to dictate the game.

Prediction: Jonaz Walton — 89 rushing yards

Prop Bet #2: Bear Bachmeier Over 49.5 Rushing Yards

FanDuel

4.6/5

Tip: Bachmeier Over 49.5 Rushing Yards

• 109 Yards vs Iowa State
• Career-Long 39-Yard Run
• Elite Dual-Threat Ability

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Bachmeier rushed for 109 yards against Iowa State and has always been dangerous outside the pocket.

Notre Dame’s defense is considerably better, but pressure could actually create additional scrambling opportunities.

Prediction: Bear Bachmeier — 63 rushing yards

Prop Bet #3: Legend Glasker Over 49.5 Receiving Yards

Caesars

4.4/5

Tip: Glasker Over 49.5 Receiving Yards

• 99 Yards Last Week
• 75-Yard TD vs Iowa State
• Bachmeier’s Explosive Target

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Glasker showed against Iowa State that one reception can completely change his statistical line.

BYU will need explosive passing plays to challenge Notre Dame, and Glasker’s size and speed make him an obvious candidate.

Prediction: Legend Glasker — 67 receiving yards

Prop Bet #4: CJ Carr Under 249.5 Passing Yards

BetMGM

4.5/5

Tip: Carr Under 249.5 Passing Yards

• Notre Dame Run Game Surging
• BYU Held Iowa State to 200 Total Yards
• Irish Favored by 10.5

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Carr is capable of clearing this number, but Notre Dame may not need a 35-attempt passing game.

Walton and the Irish rushing attack are becoming dominant, while BYU’s defense just suffocated Iowa State.

Prediction: CJ Carr — 226 passing yards

Players to Watch

CJ Carr — Notre Dame

Carr’s efficiency has been exceptional. His ability to avoid turnovers will be especially important in one of the loudest road environments Notre Dame will face.

Jonaz Walton — Notre Dame

Walton’s explosiveness changes Notre Dame’s offense. After 301 rushing yards over his last two games, BYU must prevent him from reaching the second level.

Bear Bachmeier — BYU

Bachmeier is the player most capable of producing the upset. His ability to extend plays with his legs could neutralize portions of Notre Dame’s pass rush.

Legend Glasker — BYU

Glasker’s 75-yard touchdown against Iowa State demonstrated the explosive-play ability BYU will need against Notre Dame.

Keys to the Game

Notre Dame must contain Bachmeier without allowing him to turn broken plays into first downs. The Irish defensive line dominated Stanford but faces a completely different challenge against a mobile quarterback.

Offensively, Notre Dame should continue attacking on the ground with Walton and its deep running-back rotation.

BYU needs its defense to keep the score manageable. Allowing Notre Dame to build a two-touchdown first-half lead would force Bachmeier into obvious passing situations.

The Cougars also need to turn red-zone possessions into touchdowns. BYU went 0-for-3 on fourth down against Iowa State, leaving points available in a game it still won comfortably.

Betting Prediction

Notre Dame is the better team on paper, but 10.5 points is a large number against an undefeated top-10 opponent playing at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

BYU has allowed only 20 combined points over its last two games, while Bachmeier gives the Cougars the quarterback play necessary to extend drives against an elite defense.

Notre Dame should still control the line of scrimmage and ultimately win, but BYU’s defense and home-field advantage make the underdog attractive against the spread.

The 47.5 total also looks slightly high considering both defenses.

The Verdict

BYU makes Notre Dame work harder than any opponent has recently.

Bachmeier creates several big plays with his legs, but Notre Dame’s defense prevents the Cougars from consistently finishing drives.

Walton helps the Irish control possession, Carr makes the critical throws in the second half and Notre Dame escapes Provo undefeated.

Final Score Prediction

Notre Dame 27, BYU 20

Betting Category Pick Best Bet BYU +10.5 Against the Spread BYU +10.5 Moneyline Notre Dame Over/Under Under 47.5 Top Prop Jonaz Walton Over 64.5 Rushing Yards

Final Prediction: Notre Dame 27, BYU 20

Notre Dame improves to 7-0 and strengthens its College Football Playoff position, but BYU covers the 10.5-point spread in a competitive top-10 showdown in Provo.