ESPN College GameDay 2026 TV Schedule, Predictions and Location for Week 7
Last week, ESPN's College GameDay returned to SEC action to preview a marquee game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide. The atmosphere in Tuscaloosa was electric, and the game itself was equally exciting.
Georgia pulled out the 20-17 road victory, following some questionable calls and even more questionable composure by the Tide.
While last week's headline game could prove to be one of the most pivotal of the 2026 season, this week's could be just as impactful. College GameDay will take another break from the SEC, as it heads to Utah ahead of Saturday's battle between No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 8 BYU.
College GameDay Week 7
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Date: Saturday, October 17
Venue: BYU campus in Provo, Utah
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET
Crew: Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Nick Saban
TV: ESPN, ESPNU
Live Stream: Disney+ and the ESPN app
No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 8 BYU
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Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV and Live Stream: ABC, ESPN+ and ESPN app
Line: Notre Dame -10.5
Over/Under: 46.5 Points
*Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook
Game Preview and Prediction
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Georgia's Week 6 win may have cemented the Bulldogs as the most complete squad in the country. However, Notre Dame isn't far behind. Led by star quarterback C.J. Carr, cornerback Leonard Moore, and a host of future NFL standouts, the Irish simply don't have many weaknesses.
Notre Dame enters Week 7 ranked fourth in scoring and fourth in points allowed. The Irish haven't played a particularly close game during their 6-0 start.
Of course, it's worth noting that Notre Dame hasn't exactly played a tough schedule to this point either. Its closest game was a 17-point victory against North Carolina, and Brigham Young will easily represent the toughest test to date.
While the Cougars don't have a quarterback with as much star power as Carr, Bear Bachmeier has the skills and the intangibles needed to test the Irish defense early and often.
"Bachmeier can play some quarterback, man," Mike Golic Jr. said on The Echoes (h/t Matthew Anaya of WSBT).
While Bachmeier leads an offense ranked just 46th in scoring, the Cougars' eighth-ranked defense could be what gives Notre Dame trouble. Led by stars like Faletau Satuala and Cade Uluave, BYU can make things difficult for Carr and Co.
This is the first game for Notre Dame that could serve as a potential College Football Playoff (CFP) preview. How the Irish handle it could determine whether they're truly one of the top contenders in the countryโand we've seen Marcus Freeman's squad fall well short of expectations before.
A rocky start to the season left Notre Dame out of the CFP last season.
Of course, this would be a stiffer test for the Irish if BYU had star running back LJ Martin. Unfortunately, he'll miss another game with a leg injury.
The prediction here is that Bachmeier carries the BYU offense enough to keep the game close, while the Cougars' defense and the home crowd do their part. However, Notre Dame is a double-digit favorite for a reason.
Prediction: Notre Dame 27: BYU 19
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