Four things we learned from Kalani Sitake as No. 8 BYU prepares for No. 2 Notre Dame
Oct 12, 2026, 11:42 PM
PROVO — BYU head coach Kalani Sitake kicked off Notre Dame Week with his weekly press conference.
The 11-year head coach spoke with the media on Zoom for 15 minutes.
Many topics centered on the big picture for Sitake’s program: facing Notre Dame, the highest-ranked team to roll into Provo since 2004; USC; and avoiding potential distractions from College GameDay rolling into town.
Here were four things that caught our attention as BYU prepares to take on the Irish this Saturday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium
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Kalani Sitake wants BYU to keep playing Notre Dame “as much as possible”
Sitake’s first question of the Zoom press conference was what he remembered from that previous meeting against Notre Dame in 2022 in Las Vegas. BYU lost that game 28-20.
“The one in Vegas was a good game. I think Jaren (Hall) was a little banged up going into that game, but the competition was good. I think it was a hard-fought game, and you know, we ended up losing that game. But I thought it was a really good experience for our players.”
Sitake later added, “For me, it’s exciting to see how we match up. I know a lot of people are wondering how the matchup is going to go, and I feel good about our chances. We’re a different program than we were back then, and so are they. So now we can kind of match up and play this game. And if they want to keep playing this game, I would love to keep doing it as much as possible.”
Has BYU conducted talks with Notre Dame to make this a long-term series?
Right now, BYU and Notre Dame are scheduled for a home-and-home series, with game one locked in for Saturday, then a return visit to South Bend in 2027. After that, the two programs have no games scheduled.
With Sitake’s desire to play as much as possible, he was asked whether he has talked with Notre Dame about continuing the series beyond 2027. At the end of his commentary, he pulled a line from Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark.
“I don’t have anything to report on that. I’m just really thankful that Notre Dame reached out and wanted this game. I think it was a really cool opportunity for us to take it, and so I’m looking forward to not just this game this year, but also returning to South Bend and playing that game, too. So, yeah. If any of those teams out there want to play a game, let us know, man. We’re open for business.”
The timeline coaches are operating under for a potential LJ Martin return
BYU running back LJ Martin continues to deal with a lower-body injury he suffered in the TCU game. The reported timeline is four to six weeks. He’s already missed one week; this weekend against Notre Dame will be a second, and October 24 at UCF will be a third.
Don’t expect any potential Martin return earlier than that.
“There’s no chance of him playing this week, and then next week, the chances will go up and up after the UCF week; we’ll see. It’s also nice that Sione Moa is back on the field and practicing. So, whether those guys can perform and get ready this weekend is one thing.”
During last Friday’s win over Iowa State, Martin was seen on the BYU sideline inside LaVell Edwards Stadium on a scooter.
On Bear Bachmeier: ‘Haven’t met anyone that grows that quickly and matures that quickly’
Sitake was asked about Bear Bachmeier’s play, which earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the win over Iowa State. BYU’s head coach then highlighted how impressed he’s been with Bachmeier’s growth since becoming the starting quarterback.
“I can tell you, Bear has a great work ethic. He cares a lot about his teammates, and he cares about what he does. He cares about the fans. I haven’t met anyone that grows that quickly and matures that quickly, even within the scheme. I mean, last year, you guys saw him as a true freshman, be a starter here, and even throughout the season, progressed and got better. That’s because he works hard, and it’s because he was raised the right way.
“I wish me and A-Rod (Aaron Roderick) could take credit for all of his success, but he has an amazing family that established some really cool principles in his life that he adheres to, and it works perfectly and aligns perfectly with the mission of our football team, the mission of our university, and our Church.”
No. 8 BYU vs. No. 2 Notre Dame
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (MDT)
TV/Stream: ABC
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM) — Extended pregame begins at Noon
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
