Notre Dame may be struggling on the field, but that has not yet reflected in the ratings.
Duke/Notre Dame scored a 1.7 final rating and 2.6 million viewers on NBC Saturday afternoon, up 31% in ratings and 34% in viewership from UMass/Notre Dame last year (1.3, 2.0M) but down 11% and 16%, respectively, from a primetime Purdue/Notre Dame game in 2014 (1.9, 3.1M).
Despite Notre Dame’s middling 1-3 record, three of the team’s first four games have posted increases in ratings and viewership. That includes two primetime matchups against high-profile opponents (Texas, Michigan State).
Head-to-head, Saturday’s game trailed both Florida/Tennessee on CBS (3.35, 5.5M) and Penn State/Michigan on ABC (2.4, 3.8M).
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 9/27)
