Notre Dame entered its matchup against BYU with a 6-0 record and the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25. By the end of Saturday’s game, the Fighting Irish had suffered a 28-24 defeat that raised fresh questions about their championship credentials.
The narrow loss in Provo, Utah, did not erase Notre Dame’s impressive start under coach Marcus Freeman. However, it exposed weaknesses that could become more costly against elite opponents, particularly when offensive execution and defensive adjustments matter most.
Notre Dame remains a national contender, but its latest performance has created a difficult question for the program. Is Freeman building another team capable of reaching the College Football Playoff championship game, or has Notre Dame benefited from a schedule that did not fully test its limits?
Notre Dame’s first loss exposed questions about its ceiling
The Fighting Irish narrowly outgained BYU, finishing with 376 total yards compared with the Cougars’ 360. Yet the advantage did not translate into a victory, illustrating how missed opportunities can outweigh overall production in a closely contested game.
Quarterback CJ Carr completed 27 of 49 passes for 261 yards without a touchdown or interception. Notre Dame moved the ball effectively at times, but the offense struggled to convert enough possessions into points against a disciplined BYU defense.
The defeat also ended Notre Dame’s undefeated start and dropped the team from No. 2 to No. 4 in the AP poll. Although the ranking still reflects national respect, the loss gives critics a stronger reason to question whether the Irish belong among college football’s leading championship contenders.
Marcus Freeman has already established a strong foundation
Freeman became Notre Dame’s head coach in December 2021, succeeding Brian Kelly. His early seasons included growing pains, but the program gradually developed into a consistent national contender, with stronger recruiting and an increasingly competitive roster.
The 2024 season represented a major breakthrough. Notre Dame finished 14-2, won three College Football Playoff games and reached the national championship game before losing 34-23 to Ohio State. That postseason run established Freeman as a coach capable of guiding the program through high-pressure matchups.
Notre Dame followed that achievement with a 10-2 record in 2025, although it missed the expanded College Football Playoff. The contrast between its championship appearance and subsequent disappointment demonstrates the challenge Freeman faces: maintaining elite standards while replacing experienced players and adapting to new opponents.
The schedule remains central to the debate
Notre Dame’s opening stretch in 2026 featured several convincing victories. The Irish defeated Wisconsin 41-13, shut out Rice 52-0, beat Michigan State 27-10 and defeated Purdue 49-10 before overcoming North Carolina 37-26.
Those results demonstrated the team’s ability to score consistently and control opponents. However, convincing victories do not automatically establish championship quality, particularly when opponents vary in talent, experience and defensive strength.
The Stanford game produced another dominant performance, with Notre Dame winning 58-7 before traveling to BYU. That road matchup offered a more demanding test, and the result showed why evaluating a team’s strength requires more than counting victories or examining final scores.
Notre Dame’s defense remains a major strength
Before the BYU game, Notre Dame’s defense had delivered outstanding statistical results. Through six games, the Fighting Irish ranked first nationally in total defense, allowing just 214.2 yards per game, according to NCAA statistics.
That production helped Freeman’s team establish a defensive identity built around limiting explosive plays and forcing opponents into difficult situations. Strong defensive performances also gave the offense room to develop without requiring the Irish to win every game through high-scoring shootouts.
The BYU matchup nevertheless offered a reminder that season-long statistics cannot tell the entire story. The Cougars generated 360 yards and scored 28 points, showing that Notre Dame could be challenged by an opponent capable of mixing passing, rushing and creative offensive execution.
CJ Carr and the offense must deliver against elite teams
Carr’s performance against BYU illustrates one of Notre Dame’s biggest questions entering the remainder of the season. Although he threw for 261 yards, completing 27 of 49 attempts, he did not record a passing touchdown and could not lead the Irish to a winning finish.
The offensive line and running game also remain important parts of the evaluation. Notre Dame recorded 115 rushing yards against BYU, while Nolan James Jr. led the team with 77 yards on 16 carries. Establishing a more consistent ground attack could help Carr operate with greater balance.
Freeman’s offense does not necessarily need to produce spectacular numbers every week. It needs to execute reliably in critical situations, protect possession and finish scoring opportunities. Against highly ranked opponents, those details often separate teams that remain competitive from teams that advance deep into the postseason.
Notre Dame’s close BYU loss keeps playoff hopes alive
Losing to BYU carries consequences, but the circumstances matter. Notre Dame lost by 4 points on the road against a team that subsequently climbed to No. 2 in the AP poll, demonstrating that the defeat came against a legitimate national contender rather than an unranked opponent.
The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format also gives teams more opportunities to recover from a regular-season setback. Notre Dame’s remaining schedule includes Navy, Miami, Boston College, SMU and Syracuse, creating several opportunities to improve its record and strengthen its postseason résumé.
However, the margin for error has narrowed. A second loss could complicate Notre Dame’s playoff positioning, especially if other contenders finish with stronger records or more impressive victories. Freeman must ensure the BYU game becomes a learning experience rather than the beginning of a disappointing stretch.
Freeman’s coaching decisions will face greater scrutiny
The BYU loss places additional attention on Freeman’s preparation, in-game adjustments and management of critical situations. Notre Dame generated more total yards than the Cougars but failed to produce enough offense to secure the win, making execution a central concern.
That does not automatically mean Freeman’s approach was fundamentally flawed. Close games often depend on a small number of possessions, and Notre Dame’s ability to compete on the road against a top-ranked opponent remains evidence of its underlying quality.
The more revealing test will be how the coaching staff responds. Better situational execution, improved offensive consistency and continued defensive discipline would strengthen the argument that Notre Dame remains a championship-caliber team. Another disappointing performance against a major opponent would make the criticism harder to dismiss.
Notre Dame still has time to answer its critics
Notre Dame’s 6-1 record leaves the program in a strong position, even after losing its No. 2 ranking. The Fighting Irish have demonstrated impressive defensive ability, productive stretches on offense and the capacity to defeat several opponents comfortably.
Still, Freeman’s team must prove that those strengths translate into victories against the toughest competition. The BYU defeat exposed enough offensive limitations to justify questions about Notre Dame’s ceiling, but one close loss cannot determine the quality of an entire season.
The coming games will provide a clearer picture of Notre Dame’s progress under Freeman. If the Irish respond with stronger offensive execution and maintain their defensive consistency, they can rebuild momentum and strengthen their case as a serious College Football Playoff contender.
Fun fact: Notre Dame’s 2024 playoff run included victories over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State before the Fighting Irish reached the national championship game against Ohio State. It was the program’s first appearance in the title game since the 2012 season.
TL;DR
- Notre Dame fell 28-24 to BYU, ending its undefeated start and raising questions about its championship potential.
- Marcus Freeman guided the Fighting Irish to a 14-2 record and a national championship appearance in 2024.
- Notre Dame’s defense ranked first nationally in total defense before the BYU matchup.
- Quarterback CJ Carr and the offense must improve their execution against highly ranked opponents.
- Notre Dame remains a playoff contender, but its remaining schedule will help determine whether it can challenge for another deep postseason run.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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