NBC got off to its strongest start for Notre Dame football in nearly a decade.
Saturday’s Texas/Notre Dame college football game earned a 2.4 rating and 4.1 million viewers on NBC, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — up 85% in ratings and 95% in viewership from last year’s opener against Rice (1.3, 2.1M) and up 50% and 64%, respectively, from the 2013 opener against Temple (1.6, 2.5M).
The telecast ranks as the most-watched Notre Dame home opener since the 2006 game against Penn State (6.9M) and is tied as the highest rated over that span — matching 2007 against Georgia Tech.
Compared to previous primetime games, Notre Dame’s win ranks third out of the 11 televised by NBC (dating back to 2009) — trailing only games against Michigan last year (2.7, 4.6M) and in 2012 (4.0, 6.4M).
Saturday’s nine-year high marked a reversal of fortune for Notre Dame home openers. Ratings declined each year from 2011-14, with the caveat that each of those games were afternoon contests against low-profile opponents.
(Sat. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box)
