ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy provided some scenarios depending on which team wins and loses.
On the “Always College Football” show, McElroy said that if Notre Dame wins, not only will the team be 7-0 but they will have the “who have they beaten” question finally answered.
If BYU loses, McElroy said the team will be 5-1 with a trip to the Utah Utes on Nov. 7 still on the schedule.
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Notre Dame defensive lineman Boubacar Traore (5) intercepts a pass during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame defensive lineman Boubacar Traore (5) intercepts a pass during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) looks to throw a pass against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, center, celebrates with his team after winning a NCAA football game 58-7 against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
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The Notre Dame leprechaun celebrates during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame quarterback Noah Grubbs throws the ball during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr scrambles with the ball during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame quarterback Noah Grubbs throws the ball during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame wide receiver Jaden Greathouse catches a pass during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman walks the field before a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame running back Nolan James Jr. scores a touchdown during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame running back Jonaz Walton rushes the ball for a touchdown during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame wide receiver Jordan Faison (6) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame tight end Jack Larsen (85) gets tackled during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame wide receiver Jaden Greathouse, left, rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame running back Nolan James Jr. (2) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Davis Warren #8 of the Stanford Cardinal is pressured by Armel Mukam #88 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on October 10, 2026 in South Bend, Indiana.
(Justin Casterline, Getty Images)
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Notre Dame cornerback Dallas Golden (1) celebrates after a turn over during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame linebacker Kahanu Kia (43) celebrates after a turn over during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame defensive lineman Boubacar Traore celebrates after forcing a fumble during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame wide receiver Jaden Greathouse falls into the end zone for a touchdown during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame linebacker Jaiden Ausberry (4) celebrates after picking up a Stanford fumble during a NCAA football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame running back Javian Osborne, right, falls into the end zone for a touchdown during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame running back Jonaz Walton (20) cerebrates after scoring a touchdown during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams (22) catches a pass and scores a touchdown during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Notre Dame defensive lineman Loghan Thomas (10) celebrates after getting a stop during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
“You have a road win over an unbeaten top 10 team, then it’s onto Miami on Nov. 7…and that’s the one that turns into the playoff seeding game,” McElroy said. “If Notre Dame wins this game, they’re in the College Football Playoff, so you can go ahead and punch your ticket.”
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McElroy added that if BYU wins, they would improve to 6-0 and open a world of possibilities for the Cougars.
“A win over the No. 2 team in the Associated Press poll puts BYU immediately into the top-five conversation,” McElroy said. “And the Big 12, more than anybody, would benefit from this result because they’d finally have a team that’s unbeaten with a win over a top-two team in the country, and the Big 12 playoff conversation starts and ends in Provo (Utah).”
McElroy noted that if the Irish lose, the road to the CFP becomes more challenging.
“They’ll take their first loss with no conference title to fix it, so the schedule question starts to become a little bit of a problem as it relates to the resume,” McElroy said.
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