Plus: Iowa might have the best guard in college football.
Welcome to Between the Numbers — where we look at what the Hudl IQ data tells us about what to expect in the unexpected world of college football.
Week 7 is here, and this week’s slate presents plenty of opportunities for teams to make a big-time statement. We’re going to dive into three matchups — and the data behind their most intriguing players — to get you ready.
This week: Is BYU’s QB the key to the Cougars upsetting Notre Dame? Is the best guard in America playing for Iowa? Plus, Boise State has another superstar running back.
The Matchup
Notre Dame vs. BYU
Statement Saturday features a LOADED slate of college football games. Amidst all the potential chaos, the Notre Dame-BYU game is significant for so many reasons.
For Notre Dame, this game is a rare regular-season chance to make a statement against a big-time opponent. Going on the road will be a real test. Quarterback CJ Carr will face a fearsome defense. It’s a big game in a monster spot for the Fighting Irish.
Across the field, Saturday’s game allows BYU to put the rest of the country on notice. The Cougars have dismantled every team on their schedule, and now get a chance to push the Big 12 into rarefied air if they can knock off one of the sport’s premier programs.
BYU’s hopes of pulling off the upset hinge on how well quarterback Bear Bachmeier plays.
Bachmeier enters this game as one of the most improved passers in college football. He’s completing 65.5% of his passes and creating chunk pass plays 20.4% of the time.
A season ago, Bachmeier wasn’t always an excellent passer, but almost halfway through the 2026 season, he’s made great strides in that department.
He’s morphed into a dual-threat weapon and will likely be the deciding factor in whether BYU can upset Notre Dame on Saturday.
The Radar
Iowa OL Kade Pieper
ICYMI, Iowa dominated Washington last Friday night in Seattle. The Hawkeyes rushed for 263 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Running back Kamari Moulton had a great game, but I’d argue that Iowa guard Kade Pieper is the Player of the Season for the Iowa offense.
Pieper’s significance for the Iowa offense cannot be overstated. The Hawkeyes are running behind Pieper a whopping 32% of the time.
The Hawkeyes are notching chunk run plays 10.7% of the time and are successful on 42.4% of all runs when running behind Pieper.
Pieper is a classic road-grader guard and is quickly rising up NFL Draft big boards.
The Player to Watch
Boise State RB Dylan Riley
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Boise State has a dynamite running back.
Two seasons ago, Ashton Jeanty was the best running back in college football and a first-round draft pick. Now, the Broncos appear to have another superstar in the backfield in Dylan Riley.
Riley is creating rush chunk plays on 7.8% of his rushes and is breaking tackles 36.2% of the time.
He’s also a weapon in the passing game, averaging 11 yards per reception and 8.1 Yards Per Target.
Keep an eye on Riley moving forward. If he keeps up his strong play and the Broncos keep winning, Boise State might quickly find itself in the College Football Playoff at year’s end.
