PROVO, Utah (AP) — Both Notre Dame and BYU were denied at-large berths to the College Football Playoff a season ago.
asserted
Dame → deny → Playoff
Now the two teams face one another in a top-10 matchup with a huge opportunity to build a case for a CFP bid this season.
asserted
teams → face → bid
The No. 2 Fighting Irish (6-0) and the No. 8 Cougars (5-0) meet in Provo on Saturday in the first game of a home-and-home series, with next year’s game in South Bend.
asserted
Irish → meet → Bend
Both teams have emerged as regular contenders for CFP bids since the playoff field expanded to 12 teams.
asserted
field → emerge → teams
With each team facing criticism for weak early schedules, this game represents a chance for both to make a statement that they’re not paper tigers.
asserted
they → face → statement
This is the first time in series history where both teams are ranked and it will be the first top-10 matchup ever played at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
asserted
it → rank → Stadium
“You want to play against the best and you know this is going to be, on paper, the best opponent we’re going to see, to date,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said.
asserted
Freeman → want → date
“I love it.
asserted
I → love → it
They love it because they’re competitors.
asserted
they → love → it
So let’s go do it.”
asserted
’s → let → it
Notre Dame and BYU last played one another in 2022 in Las Vegas.
asserted
Dame → play → Vegas
The Irish held off a second-half rally in a 28-20 victory to take a 7-2 lead in the all-time series.
asserted
Irish → hold → series
“We ended up losing that game, but I thought it was a really good experience for our players,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said.
asserted
Sitake → end → players
“I’d like to think that we’re different as a program and a team now than we were in that game, but so is Notre Dame.”
asserted
Dame → like → game
For BYU, Notre Dame is the highest-ranked opponent the Cougars have faced at home since hosting No. 1 USC in 2004.
asserted
Cougars → rank → 2004
Ironically, that’s also the last time the Irish traveled to Provo, falling 20-17 to BYU in the season opener for both teams.
asserted
Irish → ’ → teams
Having a chance to play a team of Notre Dame’s caliber is a meaningful milestone to the BYU players and coaches.
asserted
Having → have → players
“I feel like everybody growing up just knows Notre Dame to be a powerhouse,” BYU defensive tackle Viliami Po’uha said.
asserted
Po’uha → feel → ?
“They’re a name that has been in every household for every kid that wants to play football.”
asserted
that → ’re → football
Replacement series
A series between Notre Dame and BYU was born out of necessity after both teams needed to fill sudden holes in their respective schedules.
asserted
teams → bear → schedules
The Cougars replaced USC on the Irish’s schedule after Notre Dame could not reach an agreement with the Trojans on a date for a game this season.
uncertain
Dame → replace → game
It led to a temporary pause in the longtime rivalry, which will resume in 2030.
asserted
which → lead → 2030
BYU had to replace California when the Bears pulled out of a home-and-home series after the ACC moved to a nine-game conference schedule.
asserted
ACC → have → schedule
“Notre Dame – they’re the ones that reached out and wanted this game, and so it’d be crazy for us to turn it down,” Sitake said.
asserted
Sitake → ’re → it
“When they reached out and wanted this series and wanted this game, I thought that was a huge opportunity for us to play them.”
asserted
us → reach → them
The two teams had a chance to meet last season when the Pop Tarts Bowl invited both Notre Dame and BYU to play in its bowl game.
asserted
Bowl → have → game
The Irish ultimately declined the invitation after their CFB snub.
asserted
Irish → decline → snub
Notre Dame leads the nation in total defense, allowing 214.2 yards per game.
asserted
Dame → lead → game
BYU tops the Big 12 in the same category, yielding 254.4 yards per contest.
asserted
BYU → top → contest
Opponents are scoring 11.0 points per game against the Irish and 13.4 against the Cougars.
asserted
Opponents → score → Cougars
Notre Dame linebacker Drayk Bowen expects the run game to decide which defense prevails.
asserted
defense → expect → ?
“They’re a run-heavy team,” Bowen said.
asserted
Bowen → ’re → ?
“We’re a stop-the-run team.
asserted
We → ’re → run
It’s going to be who can establish the line of scrimmage first, and who can set the other one back behind the sticks.
asserted
who → go → sticks
If we can do that, you know we’re going to have a pretty good night.”
asserted
we → do → night
Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier will likely shoulder much of the load for BYU in the run game.
asserted
Bachmeier → shoulder → game
Martin led the Big 12 with 1,305 rushing yards last season.
asserted
Martin → lead → yards
Elevating their game
Notre Dame has been preparing for the altitude of LaVell Edwards Stadium since the summer.
asserted
Dame → elevate → summer
Freeman said he consulted his assistant coaches who have coached in high-altitude venues as well as D.J. McKinney, a defensive back who played at Colorado before transferring to Notre Dame.
asserted
who → say → Dame
“The biggest thing is reemphasizing the things we’ve already educated them on, and how you hydrate and how you fuel your body is even more crucial earlier, right?” Freeman said.
asserted
Freeman → reemphasize → body
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
