Two Primetime Matchups: “Greatest Intersectional Rivalry” vs. USC (7:30 p.m. ET, Oct. 23) and Against North Carolina (Oct. 30)
Schedule Includes Matchups Hosting Purdue (Sept. 18), 2020 AAC Champions Cincinnati (Oct. 2) and Navy (Nov. 6)
Mike Tirico, Drew Brees and Kathryn Tappen to Call Notre Dame Football on NBC This Season
Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game Streamed Exclusively on Peacock this Saturday, May 1 at 12:30 p.m. ET
STAMFORD, Conn. – Apr. 29, 2021 – NBC Sports today announced the coverage schedule for its unprecedented 31st season broadcasting Notre Dame Football, highlighted by a pair of primetime games versus two programs who finished last season ranked in the top 25: USC and North Carolina. After competing as part of the ACC in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fighting Irish return to an independent schedule this season.
On Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, Notre Dame and USC renew the “greatest intersectional rivalry” in college football as the Fighting Irish host the Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame has won the past three matchups vs. USC, including a 30-27 victory during the Trojans’ last trip to South Bend in 2019.
The following week, on Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, North Carolina visits South Bend to face Notre Dame for the second-consecutive season, following Notre Dame’s 31-17 win in Chapel Hill on Nov. 27, 2020.
The Notre Dame on NBC season kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sep. 11, when the Fighting Irish host Toledo, marking the first-ever meeting between the schools. On Sept. 18, Notre Dame faces Purdue at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. NBC Sports’ Drew Brees, who will serve as a game analyst for Notre Dame football this season and played for the Boilermakers from 1997-2000, placing third in the 2000 Heisman Trophy race, will be in the booth as his alma mater takes the field against the Irish. Brees will be joined by NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Kathryn Tappen (sideline) throughout the 2021 season.
Last year’s American Athletic Conference champion Cincinnati, who finished the season 9-1, visit South Bend on Oct. 2. Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly was the head coach at Cincinnati from 2007-09, compiling a 34-6 record over three season. On Nov. 6, Notre Dame hosts Navy in a rivalry that dates back to 1927. The Fighting Irish, who hold a 79-13-1 advantage in the all-time series, have faced Navy 93 times, more than any other matchup in school history.
The Notre Dame on NBC season concludes on Nov. 20 when the Fighting Irish host Georgia Tech.
NBC Sports’ presentation of the 2020 Notre Dame Football season, its 30th season of Notre Dame Football coverage, posted the network’s most-watched season in 15 years as the Fighting Irish compiled a 10-2 overall record, which included a double-overtime victory against then-No. 1 Clemson in college football’s most-watched game of the 2020 regular season. The Fighting Irish ultimately finished the season No. 5 in the final rankings after earning a berth in the College Football Semifinal at the Rose Bowl.
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs – will stream coverage of all 2021 Notre Dame home games.
| 2021 NBC NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL SCHEDULE | |||
| DATE | TIME (ET) | OPPONENT | NETWORK |
| Sat., Sept. 11 | 2:30 p.m. | Toledo | NBC |
| Sat., Sept. 18 | 2:30 p.m. | Purdue | NBC |
| Sat., Oct. 2 | 2:30 p.m. | Cincinnati | NBC |
| Sat., Oct. 23 | 7:30 p.m. | USC | NBC |
| Sat., Oct. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | North Carolina | NBC |
| Sat., Nov. 6 | 3:30 p.m. | Navy | NBC |
| Sat., Nov. 20 | 2:30 p.m. | Georgia Tech | NBC |
NOTRE DAME BLUE-GOLD GAME TO BE STREAMED EXCLUSIVELY ON PEACOCK THIS SATURDAY, MAY 1 AT 12:30 P.M. ET
This Saturday, May 1, the University of Notre Dame will host its 2021 Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium, marking the final spring practice for the Fighting Irish football’s spring practice schedule. The 2021 Blue-Gold game will stream exclusively on Peacock at 12:30 p.m. ET and fans will be able to enjoy the game for free.
Peacock is currently available on the Roku platform; Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; Google platforms and devices, including Android™, Android TV™ devices, Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft’s Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation4, PlayStation 4 Pro, and PlayStation5; and VIZIO SmartCast™ TVs and LG Smart TVs. Peacock Premium is included at no additional cost for Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers and Cox Contour customers.
This year, NBC Sports Group and Notre Dame will kick off their 31st season. NBC Sports Group and the University of Notre Dame began their landmark Notre Dame Football relationship in 1991 and have renewed the partnership numerous times. The current agreement runs through the 2025 season.
--NBC SPORTS--
