Head coach Marcus Freeman and the undefeated Notre Dame Fighting Irish travel to Provo, Utah, on Saturday night to take on the BYU Cougars. Notre Dame enters at 6-0 and ranked No. 2 in the latest AP poll, while head coach Kalani Sitake and the Cougars sit at No. 8.

It is a hectic week of college football, with a ton of top-25 matchups on the slate. Still, the Irish get a primetime opportunity in front of the nation to prove they are a legitimate national title contender. They can also show they deserve all the preseason and early-season hype they have received.

Notre Dame is a heavy betting favorite. You can be sure that Freeman, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, and defensive coordinator Chris Ash are not taking BYU lightly, though. This is a talented football team that can beat the Irish if they aren’t on their A-game or if they let the Cougars dictate the flow and momentum of the game.

Here’s what you need to know about Sitake’s team, including the top players, some numbers to consider, and the biggest challenges for the Fighting Irish.

BYU’s offense

The player Notre Dame fans will want to watch most is starting quarterback Bear Bachmeier, a strong quarterback in the 225- to 230-pound range. With LJ Martin sidelined by injury against Notre Dame, there will be a lot on Bachmeier’s shoulders as both a runner and a passer.

Losing Martin stings. He is one of the top running backs in college football, rushing for 344 yards and three touchdowns in four games while averaging 7.8 yards per carry. BYU has run the ball well overall, averaging 223.8 rushing yards per game with 14 touchdowns and 6.5 yards per carry.

Bachmeier saw a huge increase in volume as a runner this past weekend. He is now the team’s second-leading rusher with 239 yards and four touchdowns on 6.6 yards per carry. With Bachmeier and company, the Cougars can still run the football at a good clip.

Bachmeier is a pass-first quarterback, however, and he has shown big improvements. Through five games, the California native has completed 77 of 116 passes (66.4%) for 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns, with just one interception.

That brings Notre Dame’s secondary into focus. It is among the best in college football and arguably the best overall. I anticipate All-American cornerback Leonard Moore will most likely be back from his concussion this week, barring a setback. The Irish will need him alongside DJ McKinney, Christian Gray, and safeties Adon Shuler and Luke Talich.

The top wide receiver to know is true freshman Legend Glasker. He leads the team with 19 receptions for 378 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 19.9 yards per reception. Glasker is an explosive, vertically oriented pass catcher who moves around a good bit. If BYU hits a big play through the air, it’s probably coming from him.

Kyler Kasper is the other pass catcher to watch. He was once a high four-star recruit who originally signed with Oregon in the 2022 recruiting class. The 6-5 receiver wins with size on contested catches and back-shoulder throws. He ranks second on the team with 14 receptions for 178 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 12.7 yards per reception. Kasper isn’t a dynamic threat after the catch, but he makes a good possession option opposite Glasgow.

At tight end, BYU has another former top recruit in Walker Lyons. He originally signed with USC in the 2023 recruiting class and served an LDS mission for a year. After two seasons with the Trojans, Lyons transferred to BYU, where he has 13 receptions for 150 yards in five games. He is the older brother of 2026 BYU quarterback signee Ryder Lyons, a name Notre Dame recruiting followers should know.

The Cougars’ offensive line is a good overall unit, but it lacks a true star. How that group handles the Fighting Irish defensive line will go a long way toward determining whether BYU can hang around and pull off the upset.

BYU’s defense

The BYU defense is a tremendous group with a ton of future NFL players. The Cougars allow just 80.4 rushing yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry. They are also giving up only 174 passing yards per game.

Their best player is Cal transfer linebacker Cade Uluave. A former All-ACC defender with the Golden Bears, Uluave leads the team with 26 total tackles, along with 2.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, and an interception. He is a bit undersized, but he is fast, explosive, and incredibly rangy. Uluave has a knack for always being around the football and is one of the best linebackers in the country.

Isaiah Glasker is a versatile 6-5, 240-pound linebacker who will be worth tracking. You will see him on the edge, on the second level, and out in space. He isn’t a dynamic athlete, but he understands how to use his length.

In the secondary, safety Faletau Satuala is a 6-4, 210-pound chess piece with 23 total tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception, and a pass breakup. He won’t make a ton of plays from deep zone, but he is very good at robbing shorter zones and handling mid-hole responsibilities. His size also lets him match up with tight ends and bigger receivers.

Cornerback Evan Johnson might be the best player in the secondary. His box score (seven tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups in five games) won’t jump off the page. That’s because teams try to avoid the competitive cover man quite a bit.

Up front, BYU isn’t spectacular, but it has quality players. Utah transfer Keanu Tanuvasa has 10 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, and two pass breakups. He has a quality first step and a premier motor.

Tausili Akana, a former top recruit who signed with Texas, is putting together a breakout 2026 season. He leads the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. If there’s edge pressure on Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr this week, it’s probably coming from No. 13.