NO. 15 NOTRE DAME HOSTS MICHIGAN SATURDAY IN PRIMETIME ON NBC AS HISTORIC RIVALS CLASH ONE FINAL TIME

Dan Hicks, Mike Mayock and Kathryn Tappen to Call Notre Dame-Michigan from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend

"Notre Dame-Michigan never disappoints." - Dan Hicks

Notre Dame Pre-Game Show Countdown To Kickoff Begins at 6:30 p.m. ET Live on NBCSN with Liam McHugh, Doug Flutie and Hines Ward

STAMFORD, Conn. - Sept. 3, 2014 - Two of college football's most storied programs meet one final time this Saturday in primetime on NBC, as the No. 15 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the University of Michigan Wolverines close the book on another chapter of their iconic rivalry. Coverage starts Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with Countdown To Kickoff on-site from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., prior to live game coverage at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Saturday's primetime showdown featuring Notre Dame (1-0) and Michigan (1-0) is the final scheduled matchup between the two college football powerhouses, which boast the best winning percentages in college football history. The Fighting Irish and Wolverines will square off in their 42nd all-time meeting, with Michigan holding a 24-16-1 advantage in the series. The Fighting Irish won the last meeting in South Bend between the two teams in 2012, when the Notre Dame defense forced six turnovers in a 13-6 victory. Last season, Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner totaled five touchdowns in a 41-30 win over Notre Dame in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Both teams are coming off decisive victories to open the 2014 campaign last weekend. Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson threw for three touchdowns, and ran for two more in his first game since the 2012 season, as the Fighting Irish defeated Rice University 48-17 in South Bend. Michigan avenged its 2007 upset loss to Appalachian State with a 52-14 win over the Mountaineers last weekend.

Dan Hicks (@DanHicksNBC), NBC Sports Group's longtime and critically-acclaimed golf and Olympic commentator, calls Saturday's game alongside Emmy Award-nominated analyst Mike Mayock and sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen (@KathrynTappen), who joined NBC Sports Group this year as a reporter and studio host.

Following are quotes from Hicks, Mayock and Tappen on Saturday's Notre Dame-Michigan game:

Hicks on unique feel of Notre Dame-Michigan rivalry: "One more time with feeling! Sometimes when two teams get together, stuff just happens...that's what happens with Michigan and Notre Dame, moments that crystalize in your memory. I'm expecting the next chapter to be as dramatic as the last."

Mayock on Everett Golson: "He had a breakout game against Rice, and people are really buzzing about his performance. If you're Michigan, you have to be aware that he's a dual threat."

Tappen on Golson and Gardner: "I'm excited to see this quarterback matchup on the biggest stage in college football - Saturday night in primetime."

Liam McHugh (@liam_mchugh) will host Countdown To Kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, on-site at Notre Dame Stadium. He will be joined by 1984 Heisman Trophy Winner Doug Flutie (@DougFlutie) and two-time Super Bowl champion Hines Ward (@MVP86HinesWard). McHugh, Flutie and Ward will also manage half-time and post-game coverage for the broadcast.

In addition to his studio duties, Flutie will also provide analysis from the sidelines during the game, analyzing specific matchups and key plays from his unique perspective.

NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA ONLINE & APP: NBC Sports Live Extra - the NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets - will stream all Notre Dame Football home games.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

NBC Sports Live Extra online will feature a simulcast of the broadcast feed in full HD quality plus one additional online-only bonus camera. The video player will include picture-in-picture capability and full DVR functionality, allowing the user to pause the live video and even review plays in "slo-mo."

Sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen will provide live in-game tweets from the sideline from @NDonNBC on Twitter. Additionally, fans can watch in-game highlights, live coverage of the Notre Dame and visiting teams' bands at halftime, as well as live postgame footage that will include head coach Brian Kelly's press conference.

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL ON NBC

Following this Saturday's game against Michigan, NBC Sports Group's coverage of Notre Dame football continues Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, when the Fighting Irish host the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., in the 2014 iteration of the Shamrock Series.

The following is the NBC Sports Group 2014 Notre Dame Football schedule (all times ET)

Date Opponent Pre-Game Network Game Time Network
Saturday, Sept. 6 Michigan 6:30 p.m. NBCSN 7:30 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Sept. 13 Purdue* 6:30 p.m. NBCSN 7:30 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Oct. 4 Stanford 3 p.m. NBC 3:30 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Oct. 11 North Carolina 3 p.m. NBC 3:30 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Nov 15 Northwestern 3 p.m. NBC 3:30 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Nov 22 Louisville 3 p.m. NBC 3:30 p.m. NBC

*2014 Shamrock Series at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.

NBCSPORTS.com

NBCSports.com will again continue its Notre Dame Football coverage though its Notre Dame Central section. Notre Dame will also be featured within NBC Sports Talk with its popular Inside The Irish blog written by Notre Dame Football insider Keith Arnold.

COMCAST SPORTSNET CHICAGO

For the second-straight year, Comcast SportsNet Chicago will continue its expanded coverage of Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football via its partnership with NBC Sports by providing additional content to help power NBCSports.com's popular Notre Dame Central section (http://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/notre-dame-central). Comcast SportsNet Chicago's Notre Dame Football "Insider" JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) from CSNChicago.com, will serve as the primary beat reporter in providing up-to-the-minute Fighting Irish news and analysis, columns, game previews/recaps, interviews and much more.

SAME DAY HOME GAME REPLAYS - Beginning with the team's home/season opener on Saturday, August 30 vs. Rice, Comcast SportsNet Chicago will provide a same day replay of every Notre Dame home game produced by NBC Sports with the Aug. 30 replay scheduled to air at 11 p.m. CT. Additional home game replays airing on Comcast SportsNet this season include games against Michigan (Sept. 6 at 1 a.m.), Purdue (Sept. 13 at 1 a.m.), Stanford (Oct. 4), North Carolina (Oct. 11), Northwestern (Nov. 15) and Louisville (Nov. 22). (NOTE: Replay airings to regularly take place on these Saturdays at 11 p.m.; fans are urged to consult CSNChicago.com for exact air times).

HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY's WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE - CSNChicago.com will provide a live stream of Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly's weekly press conference, as he will address the prior weekend's game, along with detailing his game plan against the team's upcoming opponent. Coach Kelly's weekly press conference, which will take place from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., will be live streamed every Tuesday throughout the season at 11 a.m.

"INSIDE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL" w/BRIAN KELLY - Once again, Comcast SportsNet will be the local TV home for "Inside Notre Dame Football" with Head Coach Brian Kelly this season. The weekly, half-hour show will feature key highlights, along with detailed discussion & analysis regarding the team's previous game and an X's and O's preview of their upcoming opponent. "Inside ND Football" will make its 2014 season premiere on Tuesday, September 2 in its regular 5 p.m. CT time slot. (NOTE: This Tuesday afternoon program may air on occasion at 4:30 p.m. CT should there be live pro event airing at 6 p.m. that evening). Fans can follow Comcast SportsNet Chicago's @CSNIrish Twitter handle for the very latest Fighting Irish news and updates 24/7.