NBC Sports kicks off 28th season of Notre Dame Football on NBC
NBC Sports kicks off its 28th season of Notre Dame Football on NBC this weekend with a clash of two of the most storied programs in college football history, as the No. 12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish host the No. 14 Michigan Wolverines at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, on Saturday, Sept. 1 (7:30 p.m. ET), on NBC. Coverage begins with "Countdown to Kickoff" at 7 p.m. on NBCSN.
The Fighting Irish enter the 2018 campaign looking to build off a 10-win season in 2017, which was capped by a victory over LSU in the Citrus Bowl. Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush, who combined for 30 touchdowns (16 pass/14 rush) in his first season at the helm for the Fighting Irish, is expected to start on Saturday. Brian Kelly returns for his ninth season as head coach, making him the longest tenured Irish coach since Lou Holtz. He has won at least eight games in seven of his eight seasons. Notre Dame is 107-17-5 all-time in season openers.
For the first time since 2005, the Irish open the season against a ranked opponent, welcoming the Wolverines and head coach Jim Harbaugh to South Bend for the first time since Notre Dame's 31-0 blowout win over Michigan in 2014. The rivalry dates back over a century as Michigan played Notre Dame in the Irish's first-ever game in 1887. The Wolverines have won 24 of 42 all-time meetings, and Michigan holds the most wins all-time (943), while Notre Dame ranks sixth (885).
After consecutive 10-3 seasons in Harbaugh's first two campaigns helming his alma mater, Michigan went 8-5 a year ago, dropping its final two games of the regular season before falling to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson is expected to start at quarterback against the Irish this Saturday.
NBC Sports' Notre Dame football commentary team is led by Mike Tirico, who begins his second full season as the voice of Notre Dame Football on NBC. He'll be joined in the booth by Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie, who serves as lead analyst for Notre Dame Football on NBC, and sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen. Former NFL referee Terry McAulay, who recently joined NBC Sports following his recent retirement after 20 years as an on-field NFL game official, begins his first season as an on-air rules analyst.
Liam McHugh hosts studio coverage of Notre Dame Football on NBC, alongside former college and NFL quarterback Chris Simms, who returns for his second season as a studio analyst. McHugh and Simms will anchor pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage on-site at Notre Dame Stadium this season.
