Highlights from ‘College GameDay’ in Provo before BYU-Notre Dame – Deseret News

October 18, 2026 9 Min Read

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It was probably the most electric morning ever in Provo.

ESPN’s “College GameDay” visited BYU’s campus Saturday morning for the first time in 17 years, resulting in what analyst Rece Davis called “an elite crowd” ahead of the Cougars’ game against No. 2 Notre Dame.

Videos inside ‘College GameDay’

Signs of the times

Pat McAfee in Provo

Pat McAfee just mentioned D. Todd Christofferson’s general conference speech on the game, drawing loud cheers from the BYU crowd 😂😂😂
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) October 17, 2026

The BYU crowd chants “baptize Pat!” »
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) October 17, 2026

Pat McAfee just pulled out the Book of Mormon and read 1 Nephi 17:36
“Behold, the LORD has created the earth to be inhabited; and he created his children to possess it. » pic.twitter.com/xwoz50Noa3
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) October 17, 2026

McAfee’s scripture study continues with 2 Nephi 32:4
“Therefore now, having spoken these words, if you cannot understand them, it will be because you ask not and knock not; therefore you are not brought into the light, but must perish in darkness” https://t.co/LUyoRx7wRP
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) October 17, 2026

GameDay Picks for BYU-Notre Dame:
Desmond Howard: Notre Dame
Nick Saban: Notre Dame
Steve Young: BYU
Pat McAfee: BYU (“maybe it’s the Book of Mormon I read earlier…Brother Pat rolls with the Mormons”) pic.twitter.com/ZCHMbWbeWh
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) October 17, 2026