‘It’s Notre Dame’: Everything BYU players said about Fighting Irish football

If you were wondering if college football players of this generation still view Notre Dame in the same light as they did decades ago, wonder no more. They do. At least, that’s what they’ll tell you publicly.

Notre Dame (2-2) takes on No. 16 BYU (4-1) at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Cougars are 25-5 in their last 30 games. They won 11 games in 2020 and 10 in 2021. In other words, they won the exact same number of games (21) in those two seasons as Notre Dame did.

But even though they’re technically equals of late, BYU players aren’t oblivious to the brand power of Notre Dame football and everything it has stood for over the years. Here’s what they had to say about it.

Defensive back Kaleb Hayes

On the mystique of Notre Dame football

“It’s Notre Dame, you know? In other words, BYU and Notre Dame, this is the Holy War. There is a lot of emotion toward it. I know I’m very hyped up. I know the boys are very hyped up. The fans are very hype for this game. The scene is set at Allegiant Stadium. It’s going to be a great one, man. We all know what it is. It’s going to be good.”

Offensive lineman Clark Barrington

On the mystique of Notre Dame football

“Growing up, you’ve seen them be a top team and be really good throughout all of growing up. I think we are all super excited to play this game. I think it will be a good game.”

Linebacker Payton Wilgar

On preparing for the Notre Dame offense

“The last couple weeks, it’s been unacceptable as a defense to do what we’ve been doing. So it’s important for the leaders and everyone, really, to step up and make sure we get a fast start from here on out no matter what the opponent is. We’ll definitely need to be on our A-game for Notre Dame. They’re a great football team. There is no room for coming out soft. We’ll definitely need to step up as leaders and get everybody fired up from play one until the end of the game.”

On the mystique of Notre Dame football

“It’s very historic. Notre Dame has been around forever. They’ve always been an elite program. This is why we all came to BYU; to play in games like this, to play Notre Dame — an elite, historic program. And we are playing them in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. I don’t know if it gets much better than this, so we’re all going to be excited to go out there and see what we can do.”

Defensive back Gabe Jeudy-Lally

On the Notre Dame offense with quarterback Drew Pyne

“They definitely run the ball more and get the ball to their tight end. He’s a good football player. It’s relatively the same offense, but they’re just finding themselves right now if I had to be honest with you. I think it’s good for them. It’s going to be nice to play them in Vegas. They’re going to get our best shot and we’re going to get theirs. They’re going to see that once we stop the run, it’s going to be hard to even score on us.”

On Pyne’s completion percentage (69.8%)

“He’s getting the ball out quick. Whatever we draw up out there is hopefully to stop that. If he can’t get the ball out quick, he’s going to take some sacks. I’m excited to see that happen, for sure.”

On playing against a program like Notre Dame

“Of course it matters for the excitement surrounding the program. But BYU has played big games dating way before I was born. Way before all of us were born. So at the end of the day, it’s just another resume booster. We want an opportunity to play in the New Year’s Six. Maybe in the national championship game. So games like this, to go out there and dominant are things we need to show. Of course I’m excited to play Notre Dame. Anybody would be. But at the end of the day it’s about playing our game. It doesn’t matter who’s on the other sideline.”

Linebacker Max Tooley

On Notre Dame’s offense with Drew Pyne

“If you watch, it seems like their offense is clicking a lot more. He’s been getting the guys that weren’t involved before a lot more involved. He looks like a solid playmaker. He’ll make something out of nothing. He’ll scramble out of the pocket, get the yards on his own. A lot like Jaren (Hall) in that way. He’s a solid quarterback.”

On Pyne’s completion percentage (69.8%)

“It’s a matter of staying to what we know. We’ve done a decent job defending the pass all year. I think if we can just stick to our technique and our assignments, I feel like we’ll have no problem. Something we’ve been good at over the years is getting takeaways and getting in throwing windows of quarterbacks who like the throw.”

On the magnitude of this game

“It’s big-time. My whole career at BYU, we’ve had different games each year where you could definitely feel the environment, feel the crowd. Big name teams coming together and playing. I think we are expecting that again this weekend. Notre Dame is going to have a great outcome with their fans down in Vegas. I think we will as well. It will be big-time, for sure.”