Notre Dame Football on NBC Scores Most-Watched Season Since 2005

7 Games Averaged 4.4 Million Viewers

Michigan-Notre Dame Primetime Game Was Most-Watched of 2012 Season

NEW YORK - November 20, 2012 - NBC Sports' coverage of Notre Dame Football concluded this past Saturday, culminating with the network scoring its most-watched season in seven years and the university ranking No. 1 in the nation.

The Fighting Irish, who rank No. 1 in the BCS, and are one win away (at USC this weekend) from competing in the BCS Championship Game, averaged 4.4 million viewers and a 2.8 household rating for its seven games on NBC, up 69% and 67%, respectively, versus last year (2.6 million viewers and a 1.7 household rating). The 4.4 million average viewers this year is the best for Notre Dame Football on NBC since 2005 (5.2 million), while the 2.8 rating is the best since 2006 (3.0).

Notre Dame's Sept. 22 primetime win, 13-6, against rival Michigan was the most-watched and highest-rated game of the year on NBC (6.4 million viewers and a 4.0 household rating), followed closely by Notre Dame's triple-overtime, 29-26, victory over Pittsburgh on Nov. 3 (6.1 million viewers and a 3.8 household rating).

The 2012 season is the first since 2005 in which three Notre Dame home games averaged at least 5.0 million viewers (Michigan - 6.4 million; Pittsburgh - 6.1 million; Stanford - 5.1 million). Last season there were zero such games.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL THIS WEEKEND ON NBC AND NBC SPORTS NETWORK

BAYOU CLASSIC ON NBC: The NBC Sports Group concludes its 2012 college football coverage this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC with Southern University and Grambling State facing off in the annual Bayou Classic from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La. Paul Burmeister will serve as the play-by-play announcer, joined in the booth by NFL Hall-of-Fame defensive back Rod Woodson. Lewis Johnson will report from the sidelines. Additionally, the halftime show for the Bayou Classic features the marching bands of both teams putting on an exciting display of talent for the fans which includes a drum line battle between the bands. This marks the 22nd year NBC will present the Bayou Classic.

AIR FORCE-FRESNO ST. ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK: Fresno State hosts Air Force in a Mountain West Conference regular-season finale at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Fresno State is currently in a three-way tie at the top of the conference, with Air Force just sitting one game back. Todd Harris will call the Air Force-Fresno St. game alongside analyst Anthony Herron from Jim Sweeney Field at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, Calif.