BYU is set to host Notre Dame on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in a game that could well be considered the biggest single game ever hosted at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The Irish arrive with a No. 2 ranking and their unique wealth of tradition and recognition while the Cougars hope to validate their No. 8 ranking while proving and ability to hang with the big boys if not outright defeat them.

“I think it’s going to be a fun game. It’s going to be a great competition and, and for us, we need to be at our best,” said BYU coach Kalani Sitake. ” … I think these games get the sense of urgency up a little bit quicker, so I’m really excited for the opportunities and the things that we can accomplish this week.”

Accomplishing a win over the Irish will be a monumental task given just how formidable they’ve proved so far this season. Defensively Notre Dame holds the No. ranking nationally in yards allowed per game, placing the onus on BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick to come up with something productive with the prospect of not having star running back LJ Martin available for a second straight week.

“Buckle your chinstrap because these guys are good,” Roderick observed regarding what his offense will be up against come Saturday. “Nobody’s been able to run the ball on them at all, and they’re really good. I think they’ve given up the fewest yards of any defense in college football this year–first or second in just about everything. They’re very good, so, yeah, it’s (going to take) all 11 guys, man. We got to have our minds right, and it’s going to be a physical game. These guys are tough.”

Of course the spotlight will be on BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier and his ability to beat Notre Dame’s top-ranked defense with both his arm and his legs in what will likely be the most-viewed game of his young career.

“I think he’s going to handle it fine. Bear is a really mature guy, and he’s played in a lot of big games,” Roderick said. “I mean, this one’s big, but they’re all big, and I expect Bear to play with a lot of poise. We’re playing against a very good defense, so I’m not saying it’s going to be easy at all. It’s going to be tough to move the ball on these guys, but I think Bear’s handled any adversity that’s been thrown at him in the past very well, and I expect him to play well.”

As far as the running backs go, Roderick will again rely on converted safety Preston Rex along with freshmen Journee Tonga and DeVaughn Eka to get things done and perhaps improve upon the collective play they showed last week against the Cyclones.

“It’s going to be by committee,” Roderick confirmed. “Those guys are doing a good job. They’re young, and they’re getting better every game. Preston’s doing a good job, and we trust those guys, but none of them are like ready to play the whole 60 snaps like LJ might. So we just mix them in there as we see fit.”

The task doesn’t look to be much easier for BYU defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga as he prepares his players to take on Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr and company.

“I think he’s the best quarterback in the country,” Poppinga said of Carr. “I think he sees things really well. He’s very good in the pocket, and I think he’s a rhythmic quarterback where he can get the ball out on time and he knows exactly where to throw the ball if you show him what coverage you’re in … So we’ve got to do a good job of making sure pre-snap-wise we’re doing some things to hopefully confuse him, and have him throw him into something that he’s not expecting.”

Aiding the defense will be the return of sophomore cornerback Cannon DeVries, who was held out due to injury last week versus Iowa State. Not only will DeVries add to the play and depth of the Cougar defensive secondary, but he’s also set to return both the punts and kicks in place of Tiger Bachmeier, who struggled to do as much against the Cyclones.

From Poppinga’s perspective, he’s observed perhaps a bit more motivation this week compared with others, and for good reason when considering both the challenge and the national limelight that is set to be cast on LaVell Edwards Stadium come Saturday night.

“I would say yesterday there was a little bit more juice than there usually was on a Tuesday,” Poppinga said when addressing the media on Wednesday. “Tuesdays are usually the day where there’s a lot of install, (and) typically a little bit more thinking than most days, but I felt like the guys came out and practiced really, really well yesterday and a little bit different than most Tuesdays … and I thought that carried on to (Wednesday) as well. I thought it was back-to-back two really good practices in a row.”

Teams often practice as they play, so BYU fans can take encouragement from Poppinga’s statements while understanding that the task at hand is truly monumental and unlike any game they’ll attend at LaVell Edwards given everything that’s at stake.