Update, Oct. 26, 2026: A week after Provo, McAfee took GameDay to the University of Utah and came away with a very different story: Pat McAfee called Provo 'a heavenly place.' Utah, not so much.
Update, Oct. 19: GameDay came and went, BYU freshman Carter Smith won $3 million with one kick during the show, and that night BYU beat Notre Dame 28-24 and rose to No. 2 in the AP poll. Our game recap has the story. The preview below is kept as it ran.
ESPN's College GameDay came to Provo. The show broadcast live from BYU's campus on Saturday, October 17, before No. 8 BYU hosts No. 2 Notre Dame at LaVell Edwards Stadium. ESPN confirmed it on October 10, after Notre Dame beat Stanford. It is GameDay's first visit to Provo since 2009, and the game is the first matchup of two top-10 teams ever played in the city.
The essentials
| GameDay | Saturday, Oct. 17, 7 to 10 a.m. MT |
| Where to watch it | ESPN, ESPNU, the ESPN App, Disney+ |
| Set location | The lawn at Heritage Halls on BYU's campus |
| Crew | Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban |
| The game | No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 8 BYU, 5:30 p.m. MT, ABC |
| Records | BYU 5-0, Notre Dame 6-0 |
Where the set was
The show broadcast from the lawn at Heritage Halls on BYU's campus. When GameDay came in 2009, the set was in the west parking lot of LaVell Edwards Stadium.
GameDay is a free broadcast. You do not need a game ticket to stand behind the set, but you do need to be early: the crowd behind the desk fills before the 7 a.m. start. Bring a sign if you like, keep it clean, and dress for a cold October morning.
Why this one is a big deal
- Two unbeaten top-10 teams. BYU is 5-0 after beating Iowa State 24-10 on October 9. Notre Dame is 6-0 after a 58-7 win over Stanford. Since the start of 2024, BYU is 28-4 and Notre Dame is 30-4.
- A first for Provo. BYU says it is the first game between two top-10 teams ever played in Provo, and Notre Dame is the highest-ranked team to visit LaVell Edwards Stadium since No. 1 USC in 2004.
- A rare visit. Notre Dame leads the series 7-2. The Irish last played in Provo in 2004, when BYU won the season opener 20-17, the last time BYU beat Notre Dame.
GameDay and BYU, so far
This is GameDay's second visit to Provo. The first was October 24, 2009, for BYU's game against TCU. BYU has also been the road team on GameDay three times: at Utah in 2004, against Coastal Carolina in 2020, and at Texas Tech in 2025. BYU is 0-4 in games featured on the show. Herbstreit and Howard both worked the 2009 broadcast from Provo.
Planning the day
A 7 a.m. show and a 5:30 p.m. kickoff make this the longest game day of the year. Our BYU vs. Notre Dame game-week guide covers tickets, parking, tailgating and the timeline for a 5:30 kickoff, and the Notre Dame weekend hotel guide covers where visitors are staying. Without a ticket, our list of the best places to watch sports in Provo has the screens. Visiting Irish fans can start with the visiting fan's guide to Provo.
For BYU's whole season, see the BYU football 2026 season guide.
Update, Oct. 17: The show broadcast from the lawn at Heritage Halls. During Pat McAfee's kicking contest, BYU freshman Carter Smith made a 33-yard kick on his second try to win $3 million. Read the full story. For the game, see our BYU vs. Notre Dame recap.
Who is the man behind the kicking contest? Read who Pat McAfee is, and GameDay's history in Provo.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is College GameDay in Provo?
Where was College GameDay on BYU's campus?
What time is the BYU vs. Notre Dame game?
Has College GameDay been to Provo before?
Who is on the College GameDay crew?
How big is the BYU vs. Notre Dame game?
What is the BYU vs. Notre Dame series record?
Can I go to College GameDay without a ticket to the game?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- ESPN College GameDay coming to BYU for Top-10 clash with Notre Dame, BYU Athletics. Checked October 13, 2026.
- BYU Football 2026 Schedule, BYU Athletics. Checked October 13, 2026.
- ESPN College GameDay returning to Provo for BYU-Notre Dame game, KSL Sports. Checked October 13, 2026.
- BYU will host ESPN 'College GameDay' for matchup with Notre Dame, Deseret News. Checked October 13, 2026.