It was probably the most electric morning ever before seen in Provo.
ESPN’s “College GameDay” visited BYU’s campus Saturday morning for the first time in 17 years, resulting in what analyst Rece Davis called “an elite crowd” ahead of the Cougars’ matchup with No. 2 Notre Dame.
Videos inside ‘College GameDay’Signs of the timesPat McAfee in Provo
Pat McAfee just mentioned D. Todd Christofferson’s general conference talk on gambling, prompting loud cheers from the BYU crowd 😂😂😂
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) October 17, 2026
The BYU crowd is chanting “baptize Pat!”
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) October 17, 2026
Pat McAfee just pulled out the Book of Mormon and read 1 Nephi 17:36
“Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it” pic.twitter.com/xwoz50Noa3
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) October 17, 2026
McAfee’s scripture study continues with 2 Nephi 32:4
“Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark” https://t.co/LUyoRx7wRP
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) October 17, 2026
GameDay picks for BYU-Notre Dame:
Desmond Howard: Notre Dame
Nick Saban: Notre Dame
Steve Young: BYU
Pat McAfee: BYU (“maybe it’s the Book of Mormon I read earlier … Brother Pat is riding with the Mormons”) pic.twitter.com/ZCHMbWbeWh
— Jackson Payne (@jackson5payne) October 17, 2026
Photo Gallery: 1 of 29
Desmond Howard, Rece Davis, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, and Kirk Herbstreit speak to one another during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 2 of 29
Students take a nap during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 3 of 29
A sign depicts the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Dallin Harris Oaks catching a pass over Pope Leo XIV during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 4 of 29
Young BYU fans wear Cougars jerseys and watch the live broadcast during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 5 of 29
Fans hold up their homemade signs during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 6 of 29
BYU mascot Cosmo bows down to Nick Saban while shaking his hand during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 7 of 29
Former college football coach Nick Saban glances over at fans screaming for his attention during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 8 of 29
BYU colored popcorn is left out for ESPN staff during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 9 of 29
Pat McAfee holds up a “Y” during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 10 of 29
A young BYU fan sits on the shoulders of a family member during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 11 of 29
BYU freshman Austin Hall, left, and Devin Christiansen, right, pose for a photo with blue face paint during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 12 of 29
Heisman Trophy recipient and Super Bowl champion Desmond Howard laughs at a joke during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 13 of 29
A fan displays their sign during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 14 of 29
A young fan yawns in the early hours of the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 15 of 29
Fans hold up their homemade signs during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 16 of 29
A father and son watch as a hot air balloon passes by during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 17 of 29
Thousands gather for the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 18 of 29
Hall of Fame NFL quarterback and former BYU player Steve Young walks between sets during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 19 of 29
A young BYU fan eagerly holds up his sign during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 20 of 29
Fans walk towards the entrance of the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 21 of 29
BYU student Carter Smith looks in disbelief as he watches his field goal miss the uprights during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 22 of 29
BYU student Carter Smith, dressed as Spiderman, is hoisted up into the air after making a field goal for three million dollars during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. He made the kick on his second attempt. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 23 of 29
BYU student Carter Smith watches as his kick makes it through the uprights during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. He made the kick on his second attempt. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 24 of 29
Steve Young reveals his BYU jersey under his letterman jacket during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 25 of 29
Pat McAfee celebrates alongside Steve Young after picking BYU to win against Notre Dame during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 26 of 29
Thousands gather for the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 27 of 29
BYU student Carter Smith kicks a field goalduring the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 28 of 29
Hall of Fame NFL quarterback and former BYU player Steve Young shows off his BYU-colored cleats, revealing his pick for the BYU vs Notre Dame game, during the ESPN College Gameday show near the Helaman Halls on BYU campus in Provo Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News 
Photo Gallery: 29 of 29
Carter Smith celebrates with BYU fans after winning $3 million from a made field goal at “College GameDay” in Provo on Oct. 17, 2026. | BYU Photo