Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman told reporters Monday that Saturday's game against No. 8 BYU is "exactly why we're at Notre Dame" — a marquee matchup between top-10 programs with national championship implications.

Freeman praised BYU's undefeated record and said the Cougars have earned their ranking with disciplined play and strong quarterback performance. He acknowledged the challenge of playing in a hostile road environment at LaVell Edwards Stadium, where BYU will host a top-10 opponent as a top-10 team for the first time in program history.

The game kicks off Saturday afternoon and will be broadcast nationally. Notre Dame is 6-0 and ranked No. 2; BYU is 6-0 and ranked No. 8.