BYU HC Kalani Sitake's comments show why Notre Dame's visit matters

BYU Cougars head football coach Kalani Sitake appeared on David Pollack's "See Ball Get Ball" podcast recently and said:

"I'm really proud and happy that we get to be in this position, but also thankful that Notre Dame gave us an opportunity to play them. And that they're willing to come out here; they're the ones that reached out and make this happen."

Kalani Sitake's comments remind fans why the brands matter in college football 

Sitake's comments reveal something that often gets lost in college football's endless realignment chatter: brands still matter. BYU has earned its place on the national stage, but a home-and-home with Notre Dame is the kind of opportunity that can elevate a program's visibility, recruiting profile and national perception in ways few opponents can. That's why Sitake sounded genuinely appreciative when he noted that "they're the ones that reached out and made this happen."

Notre Dame is one of the sport's few truly national brands, capable of turning any matchup into a major event. For BYU, getting Notre Dame to travel to Provo isn't just another game filling out a future schedule. It's validation. It's proof that the Cougars have built a program worthy of attracting one of college football's blue-blood powers. 

In an era where scheduling has become increasingly cautious, and playoff positioning drives every decision, Notre Dame seeking out BYU says far more about the respect the Cougars have earned than any ranking ever could.