Notre Dame Football 2026: Live Updates on Schedule, Roster Moves & Playoff Odds

Notre Dame football is surging into the national spotlight after a perfect 6–0 start to the 2026 season, setting the stage for Saturday night’s top-ten showdown with No. 8 BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Quarterback CJ Carr has been the catalyst of the No. 3 Fighting Irish attack, piling up 1,622 passing yards and 18 touchdowns through six games—the program’s most prolific opening stretch since Everett Golson in 2014. Carr’s breakout was on full display two weeks ago when he tossed four touchdown passes and added a rushing score to power a 37-26 road win over North Carolina. While the offense is humming at 45.3 points per game, Al Golden’s defense has clamped opponents to just 12.1, thanks in part to All-America candidates Xavier Moore and Omar Traore, both named to the AP Midseason first team this week. Moore also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Lott IMPACT Trophy, underscoring Notre Dame’s renewed edge in the trenches. Saturday’s clash with BYU carries major College Football Playoff ramifications. The Cougars boast the nation’s No. 5 scoring defense and an experienced dual-threat quarterback in Kody Keaton, making this the stiffest test yet for Marcus Freeman’s young roster. A win in Provo would give the Irish a second top-10 victory and a clear path toward their first playoff berth since 2020. Looking ahead, Notre Dame’s remaining slate features home tilts with Stanford and USC before a November trip to Texas A&M, leaving little margin for error in the playoff chase. Recruiting momentum continues to build as well; the latest 247Sports composite ranks the Irish at No. 4 nationally for the 2027 cycle, headlined by five-star edge rusher Malik Harper. Kickoff in Provo is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. If the Irish can extend the winning streak, expect the “Play Like a Champion Today” sign to feel a little heavier—and the playoff buzz a lot louder—when the team returns to South Bend.