Despite head-to-head competition from four other major networks, the soon-to-be-halted Michigan/Notre Dame rivalry attracted the largest college football audience of the weekend.
Saturday’s Michigan/Notre Dame college football game drew a 4.0 final rating and 6.384 million viewers on NBC, up 54% in ratings and 67% in viewership from Michigan State/Notre Dame last year (2.6, 3.831M), but down 11% and 8%, respectively, from Michigan/Notre Dame in 2010 (4.5, 6.973M).
The game earned the largest college football audience of the weekend, easily topping second place finisher Clemson/Florida State on ABC (2.9, 4.774M). The Clemson/Florida State game aired directly opposite Notre Dame/Michigan and was the site of ESPN’s “College Gameday” show.
Not surprisingly, the telecast also ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed primetime Notre Dame game ever on NBC. The previous high was a 2.2 and 3.531 million for Army/Notre Dame from Yankee Stadium in 2010.
Keep in mind that NBC has only aired five primetime Notre Dame games, and most have been against low profile opponents (Washington State, Army, and Maryland, for example).
Despite the strong numbers, Saturday’s game ranks as the lowest rated and least-viewed matchup between Notre Dame and Michigan since 2008 (3.5, 5.322M). Last year’s game between the rivals drew a 4.5 and 7.541 million on ESPN. The five-year ratings trend for the Notre Dame/Michigan rivalry can be found at the bottom of this post.
Through two games, NBC has averaged 4.5 million viewers for Notre Dame coverage, up 28% from last year (3.5M).
Ratings/Viewership For Primetime Notre Dame Games on NBC
|
#
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Site
|
Net
|
Rating
|
Viewers (000)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Sat., 9/22/12 | Michigan | Notre Dame Stadium | NBC |
4.0
|
6,384
|
| 2011 | Sat., 11/12/11 | Maryland | FedEx Field | NBC |
1.3
|
2,077
|
| Sat., 10/23/11 | USC | Notre Dame Stadium | NBC |
2.1
|
3,225
|
|
| 2010 | Sat., 11/21/10 | Army | Yankee Stadium | NBC |
2.2
|
3,531
|
| 2009 | Sat., 10/28/09 | Wash. St. | Alamodome | NBC |
1.4
|
2,339
|
Ratings/Viewership For Michigan/Notre Dame
Past five seasons
|
#
|
Date
|
Away
|
Home
|
Net
|
Rating
|
Viewers (000)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2012
|
Sat., 9/22/12 | Michigan | Notre Dame | NBC |
4.0
|
6,384
|
|
2011
|
Sat., 9/10/11 | Notre Dame | Michigan | ESPN |
4.5
|
7,541
|
|
2010
|
Sat., 9/11/10 | Michigan | Notre Dame | NBC |
4.5
|
6,973
|
|
2009
|
Sat., 9/12/09 | Notre Dame | Michigan | ABC |
5.2
|
8,391
|
|
2008
|
Sat., 9/13/08 | Michigan | Notre Dame | NBC |
3.5
|
5,322
|
(Saturday’s numbers from NBC Universal Media Village and Media Life Magazine)
