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Photos: ‘College GameDay’ takes over Provo ahead of BYU-Notre Dame

Here are the sights as BYU welcomed ESPN’s “College GameDay” to Provo ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Notre Dame.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Steve Young and Pat McAfee during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Steve Young and Pat McAfee during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

 | Oct. 17, 2026, 12:48 p.m.
| Updated: 12:49 p.m.

Provo • BYU fans got up early on Saturday. Actually, they likely never went to sleep.

BYU welcomed ESPN’s “College GameDay” to Provo ahead of the top-10 matchup between the Cougars and Notre Dame.

Former Cougars Steve Young, Austin Collie and Taysom Hill all made appearances. There were also plenty of religious puns, Book of Mormon references and the usual football analysis.

Oh, and one BYU freshman walked away $3 million richer after making a field goal — on his second try.

Here are the best photos from “College GameDay.”

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Steve Young and Pat McAfee during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Pat McAfee at ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Fans cheer during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Fans cheer during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) . Pat McAfee and Steve Young during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) BYU freshman Carter Smith celebrates winning $3 million for making a field goal during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) . Pat McAfee and Nick Saban with Cosmo during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Fans cheer during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) ESPN host Pat McAfee during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) ESPN's Rece Davis and Nick Saban during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Steve Young and Kirk Herbstreit during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Steve Young and Pat McAfee during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Nick Saban and Kirk Herbstreit during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Pat McAfee and Nick Saban during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) . Cosmo points to the crowd during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) . Pat McAfee and Nick Saban during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Pat McAfee, Nick Saban and Kirk Herbstreit talk during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Fans cheer during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Pat McAfee and Nick Saban during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Pat McAfee and NIck Saban during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Pat McAfee takes a ball from Cosmo during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) ESPN's Rece Davis during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Steve Young and Kirk Herbstreit during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) BYU freshman Carter Smith and Pat McAfee during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) . Rece Davis and Pat McAfee during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) . Pat McAfee, Steve Young and Kirk Herbsteit during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) ESPN host Pat McAfee during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Fans cheer during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Fans cheer during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) ESPN analyst Desmond Howard on ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) BYU freshman Carter Smith won $3 million for making a field goal during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Fans cheer during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

(Donovan Kelly | Special to The Tribune) Cosmo parachutes in during ESPN's "College GameDay" at BYU, Oct. 17, 2026.

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