Notre Dame's TV Ratings Don't Match Its Reputation: A Deep Dive
The Core Issue: Notre Dame's once-unmatched reputation as a college football powerhouse is fading, and its TV ratings reflect a growing disconnect from the sport's mainstream audience.
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The Data:
- Notre Dame's average viewership of 3,925,000 viewers ranked them 15th among college football teams this year, behind Florida, Ole Miss, and South Carolina.
- SEC teams dominated the top 5 and top 10 most-watched games, with Alabama averaging over double Notre Dame's viewers.
- Notre Dame's season-opening win over Miami drew a respectable 10.8 million viewers, but their loss to the Hurricanes was used as a reason for their playoff snub.
- Last season's national championship game, featuring Notre Dame, had the third-lowest audience among all 11 CFP title games.
The Business Angle:
- ESPN, as the TV partner of the CFP, ACC, and SEC, has a vested interest in promoting high-rated games. Notre Dame's complaints about camera time might be seen as self-serving.
- Notre Dame's athletic director, Pete Bevacqua, has been accused of being out of bounds in his reactions, with Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark calling his behavior 'egregious'.
The Bottom Line:
While Notre Dame's on-field success remains undeniable, its TV ratings tell a story of a once-dominant program struggling to maintain its relevance in the ever-evolving landscape of college football.
