Notre Dame football stumbled on the big stage with a loss at BYU on Saturday night. Now both teams are in the AP’s top 5 — No. 2 BYU and No. 4 Notre Dame — but the pressure on the Irish will be greater with a smaller margin for error.

As ND begins its off week, Blue & Gold’s Eric Hansen and Tyler James dive into the issues BYU exposed and what the Irish can do to correct them to make a College Football Playoff run.

On this week's Football Never Sleeps:
• The most troubling parts of Notre Dame’s loss to BYU
• What the Irish must improve before meeting No. 1 Miami
• The difficulty of balancing Navy preparation while addressing season-long development
• Our confidence level in ND’s CFP outlook

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Order BGI's new book — The Gold Standard: The Best of Notre Dame Football, 1976–2025 — here: https://bluegoldonline.com/store/The-Gold-Standard-The-Best-of-Notre-Dame-Football-1976-2025-p838457929

Next week's "Football Never Sleeps" will air Monday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Want to watch "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube? Catch it on Blue & Gold's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@notredamefightingirish

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Tom Lemming, legendary recruiting analyst for Prep Football Report, discusses Notre Dame's 2026 season, how BYU has built its program, if Notre Dame made a mistake in the 2025 quarterback recruiting cycle with Bear Bachmeier and Deuce Knight, concern of ND QB commit Champ Monds' lack of experience, who has the higher ceiling between freshman QBs Noah Grubbs and Teddy Jarrard, Notre Dame's recruiting targets in Chicago, Marcus Freeman's recruiting efforts and much more.

Then Eric Hansen and Tyler James answer questions from X/Twitter and The Lou Somogyi Board (28:22).

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📗Order BGI's new book — The Gold Standard: The Best of Notre Dame Football, 1976–2025 — here: https://bluegoldonline.com/store/The-Gold-Standard-The-Best-of-Notre-Dame-Football-1976-2025-p838457929

👀 Tune in Monday at 7 p.m. EDT for the next edition of Football Never Sleeps on the Blue & Gold YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NotreDameFightingIrish

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No. 2 Notre Dame football enters the second half of the 2026 season unbeaten, but how close are the Irish to becoming a national championship-caliber team?

With a top-10 showdown against No. 8 BYU looming Saturday night in Provo, Utah, Blue & Gold's Eric Hansen and Tyler James take a deep dive into Notre Dame's College Football Playoff outlook, the team's biggest strengths and remaining concerns, and the players who could help elevate the Irish over their final six regular-season games.

Topics include:
• National championship measuring stick: How does Notre Dame stack up statistically against the nation's other top contenders?
• Midseason report card: Where have the Irish improved the most, and which areas still need attention?
• Notre Dame vs. BYU preview: Key storylines, matchup challenges and the latest from Marcus Freeman as the Irish prepare for a pivotal road test.

Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code ON3 for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.

Subscribe to BlueandGold.com: https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/?utm_source=publisher&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=subscriber_referral&ref=1041164

Order BGI's new book — The Gold Standard: The Best of Notre Dame Football, 1976–2025 — here: https://bluegoldonline.com/store/The-Gold-Standard-The-Best-of-Notre-Dame-Football-1976-2025-p838457929

Next week's "Football Never Sleeps" will air Monday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Want to watch "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube? Catch it on Blue & Gold's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@notredamefightingirish

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Dalton Wasserman, a college football and NFL Draft analyst, discusses Notre Dame matching expectations so far this season, how CJ Carr stacks up against the top quarterback prospects for next year's NFL Draft, Leonard Moore's lock on CB1 status, who else is standing out in ND's secondary, how WR Jordan Faison is making an NFL case for himself, the talent on ND's offensive and defensive lines, if a lack of starts will hurt LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, how the Irish talent matches the elite across the sport and more.

Then Eric Hansen and Tyler James answer questions from X/Twitter and The Lou Somogyi Board (27:25).

Check out Wasserman on Preferred Walk-On: A College Football Show:
https://www.youtube.com/@Preferred-Walk-On

📌 Subscribe for weekly Notre Dame football analysis, interviews and updates — all year long.

💸New BlueandGold.com subscribers: Get your first year for 60% off (just $48)!
https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/?utm_source=publisher&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=subscriber_referral&ref=1041164

📗Order BGI's new book — The Gold Standard: The Best of Notre Dame Football, 1976–2025 — here: https://bluegoldonline.com/store/The-Gold-Standard-The-Best-of-Notre-Dame-Football-1976-2025-p838457929

👀 Tune in Monday at 7 p.m. EDT for the next edition of Football Never Sleeps on the Blue & Gold YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NotreDameFightingIrish

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Blue & Gold’s Eric Hansen and Tyler James break down what Notre Dame accomplished at North Carolina, how it can avoid a letdown against Stanford and what the Irish need to establish before the big trip to BYU.

Topics include:
• Injury updates on multiple Notre Dame starters
• More takeaways from head coach Marcus Freeman’s press conference
• What the Irish running game should look like moving forward
• Why ND should handle Stanford with ease
• Necessary Irish improvements with BYU in mind
• A submission for Eric Hansen’s new favorite recruit

Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code ON3 for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.

Subscribe to BlueandGold.com: https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/?utm_source=publisher&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=subscriber_referral&ref=1041164

Order BGI's new book — The Gold Standard: The Best of Notre Dame Football, 1976–2025 — here: https://bluegoldonline.com/store/The-Gold-Standard-The-Best-of-Notre-Dame-Football-1976-2025-p838457929

Next week's "Football Never Sleeps" will air Monday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Want to watch "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube? Catch it on Blue & Gold's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@notredamefightingirish

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Former Notre Dame cornerback Troy Pride Jr. (2016-19) discusses returning to campus for the Michigan State game, his thoughts on ND's current defensive backs, the difficulty of playing nickelback, watching the rise of DB play at ND that started during his Irish career, his experience playing as a freshman in 2016, memorable moments in the 2017 season, watching Julian Love win a Super Bowl, his relationship with Brian Kelly, getting to know Marcus Freeman, his ongoing pursuit to return to the NFL, what he learned about himself through injuries and more.

Then Eric Hansen and Tyler James answer questions from X/Twitter and The Lou Somogyi Board (27:33).

📌 Subscribe for weekly Notre Dame football analysis, interviews and updates — all year long.

💸New BlueandGold.com subscribers: Get your first year for 60% off (just $48)!
https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/?utm_source=publisher&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=subscriber_referral&ref=1041164

📗Order BGI's new book — The Gold Standard: The Best of Notre Dame Football, 1976–2025 — here: https://bluegoldonline.com/store/The-Gold-Standard-The-Best-of-Notre-Dame-Football-1976-2025-p838457929

👀 Tune in Monday at 7 p.m. EDT for the next edition of Football Never Sleeps on the Blue & Gold YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NotreDameFightingIrish

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No. 3 Notre Dame football completed its first unbeaten September of the Marcus Freeman era. Now the Fighting Irish roll into October looking to raise their ceiling for bigger tests ahead — and ultimately a College Football Playoff and national championship chase in the postseason.

Blue & Gold’s Eric Hansen and Tyler James break down what Notre Dame still needs to tweak, where the Irish are continuing to build and improve, and which new faces could emerge during a road-heavy October and beyond.

Topics include:
• Who are some potential “Mr. Octobers” who could emerge from Notre Dame’s reserve ranks and injured list?
• What statistical trends still need to be addressed as the Irish move deeper into the 2026 season?
• The latest from Marcus Freeman’s press conference as Notre Dame prepares for its road matchup with North Carolina
• What Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff path would look like if the regular season ended today
• The latest Notre Dame football recruiting buzz and what’s next for the Irish

Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code ON3 for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.

Subscribe to BlueandGold.com: https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/?utm_source=publisher&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=subscriber_referral&ref=1041164

Order BGI's new book — The Gold Standard: The Best of Notre Dame Football, 1976–2025 — here: https://bluegoldonline.com/store/The-Gold-Standard-The-Best-of-Notre-Dame-Football-1976-2025-p838457929

Next week's "Football Never Sleeps" will air Monday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Want to watch "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube? Catch it on Blue & Gold's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@notredamefightingirish

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike Singer, Notre Dame football recruiting insider for Blue & Gold, discusses how fans are reacting to ND's 3-0 start, how the "Leave No Doubt" mantra is being interpreted, the early season recruiting visitors for the Irish, how QB commit Champ Monds is dealing with a season-ending shoulder injury and more.

Then Eric Hansen and Tyler James answer questions from X/Twitter and The Lou Somogyi Board (23:05).

📌 Subscribe for weekly Notre Dame football analysis, interviews and updates — all year long.

💸New BlueandGold.com subscribers: Get your first year for 60% off (just $48)!
https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/?utm_source=publisher&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=subscriber_referral&ref=1041164

📗Order BGI's new book — The Gold Standard: The Best of Notre Dame Football, 1976–2025 — here: https://bluegoldonline.com/store/The-Gold-Standard-The-Best-of-Notre-Dame-Football-1976-2025-p838457929

👀 Tune in Monday at 7 p.m. EDT for the next edition of Football Never Sleeps on the Blue & Gold YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NotreDameFightingIrish

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.