Episode Details

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.

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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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