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BYU's upcoming matchup vs. Notre Dame has an unexpected bowl game connection

The highly anticipated showdown between No. 2 Notre Dame and No.

8 BYU on October 17 carries added intrigue after a canceled bowl game connection last season. The two teams were originally scheduled to face off in the 2025 Pop-Tart Bowl but parted ways when Notre Dame declined the invitation.

Both programs missed the College Football Playoff last year, with BYU finishing 11-2—despite losses to Texas Tech—and Notre Dame starting 0-2 before embarking on a 10-game winning streak that still fell short of playoff consideration. BYU’s offense, led by dynamic quarterback Bear Bachmeier, has been a force this year, while Notre Dame, coming off a 58-7 rout of Stanford, seeks its first ranked opponent test.

The matchup, set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, also looms as a potential statement game for both teams’ national title aspirations, especially with Notre Dame’s cornerback Leonard Moore listed as questionable due to a concussion.

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