Notre Dame vs BYU Picks and Predictions for Saturday October 17 2026
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish visit the BYU Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET, with national coverage on ABC. Both teams enter undefeated following convincing victories, setting up one of the most anticipated nonconference matchups of the season. Notre Dame defeated Stanford 58-7 on Saturday, while BYU earned a 24-10 victory over Iowa State on Friday. The Fighting Irish are favored by 12.5 points in an available DraftKings listing, with the total at 48.5 points, although other sportsbooks have posted slightly different numbers. Be sure to check out our free college football picksβ for more predictions throughout the season.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Have Been Dominant on Both Sides of the Football
Notre Dame enters Saturday at 6-0 following another convincing performance against Stanford. The Fighting Irish have won every game by double digits, including victories over Michigan State, Purdue, North Carolina, and Stanford during their recent stretch. Their latest victory was particularly impressive because Notre Dame established control immediately and never allowed Stanford to make the contest competitive. The Fighting Irish scored 37 unanswered points during the first half before completing the 58-7 victory.
The offensive numbers have been exceptional throughout Notre Dameβs opening six games. The Fighting Irish are averaging 44.0 points while allowing only 11.0, giving them a remarkable average scoring margin of 33 points. Against Stanford, Notre Dame generated 361 rushing yards and scored on five consecutive first-half possessions. The offense demonstrated its ability to produce explosive plays without abandoning the ground game, an important advantage against opponents that struggle to defend multiple offensive approaches. Notre Dame also limited Stanford to just 202 total yards, reinforcing how effectively its defense has complemented the offense.
Saturday presents a considerably different challenge because BYU has also demonstrated impressive defensive consistency. The Cougars have allowed only 13.4 points per game and have been particularly difficult to score against at home. Notre Dame should have opportunities to establish its rushing attack, but expecting another 50-point performance against an undefeated opponent would be unrealistic. The Fighting Irish need to avoid costly turnovers and maintain the offensive balance that has contributed to their successful opening stretch. Playing in Provo also presents an emotional challenge, particularly with BYU hosting one of its most significant games in recent memory.
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BYU Cougars Have Established an Impressive Defensive Identity
BYU enters Saturday at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in Big 12 play following consecutive victories over TCU and Iowa State. The Cougars defeated TCU 17-10 before earning a 24-10 victory against Iowa State on Friday. Those performances demonstrated that BYU can win through disciplined defense even when its offense struggles to generate consistent scoring opportunities. The Cougars have now held consecutive conference opponents to ten points, providing a strong foundation entering their most demanding matchup of the season.
BYU has averaged 34.6 points while allowing only 13.4 through five games. The Cougars have demonstrated offensive potential, particularly through a balanced passing and rushing attack, but Fridayβs victory against Iowa State exposed some concerns. BYU generated 506 total yards yet managed only 24 points because of mistakes in scoring situations and special teams. Those missed opportunities prevented the Cougars from establishing a more comfortable advantage despite controlling much of the statistical battle. Against Notre Dame, failing to convert promising possessions into points could become particularly costly.
The biggest advantage for BYU is playing at LaVell Edwards Stadium, where the Cougars have won all three home games. The atmosphere should be considerable for a matchup featuring two undefeated programs, and BYU has demonstrated that it can remain competitive in difficult defensive contests. However, Notre Dame presents a considerably stronger offensive challenge than TCU or Iowa State. The Cougars must maintain their defensive discipline while generating enough offense to prevent the Fighting Irish from controlling possession. BYU has enough defensive ability to keep this contest competitive, but its offensive execution needs to improve in important situations.
Notre Dame vs BYU Picks and Predictions
Pick: BYU Cougars +12.5
Iβm taking BYU with the 12.5 points. Notre Dame has been outstanding throughout its undefeated start, but the Fighting Irish face a considerably more difficult defensive opponent than Stanford. BYU has allowed only 13.4 points per game and enters with consecutive victories in which it surrendered just ten points. The Cougars also benefit from playing at home, where their defensive structure and ability to control the pace could make a substantial difference. Notre Dame deserves to be favored, particularly given its offensive balance and impressive defensive numbers, but covering nearly two touchdowns against another undefeated team is a demanding assignment. BYU has demonstrated enough defensive discipline to prevent opponents from establishing comfortable advantages. The Cougars are the preferred side with the points.
Pick: Under 48.5 Points
The Under 48.5 is the total pick. Notre Dame and BYU have both demonstrated impressive defensive consistency, allowing 11.0 and 13.4 points per game, respectively. The Cougars have held their last two opponents to ten points, while Notre Dame limited Stanford to seven and Michigan State to ten during its recent schedule. Notre Dame possesses the stronger offensive attack, but BYU should be capable of preventing the same explosive production that contributed to Saturdayβs 58-point performance against Stanford. The Cougars also have reasons to emphasize possession and limit the number of opportunities available to the Fighting Irish. A 27-17 or 28-17 Notre Dame victory is a reasonable possibility, making the Under the preferred total at 48.5.
Final Picks: BYU Cougars +12.5 and Under 48.5 Points
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