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Newsstand: Notre Dame at Miami is ABC's second-best Sunday season opener on record

IMG_9992by: Tyler Horka09/04/25tbhorka
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(Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

When the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are playing, people are watching. Simple as that.

ABC released television numbers for Week 1, and the Irish’s game at Miami came in as the second-most watched Sunday season opener on record with an average of 10.8 million viewers. The only Sunday season opener with more people tuned in was Notre Dame’s game at Texas in 2016.

The Irish fronted the best ABC Kickoff Weekend of all time. An average of 8.6 million viewers watched ABC’s four games in Week 1. Alabama at Florida State closely trailed the Irish and the Canes with 10.7 millions viewers. LSU at Clemson on Saturday night clocked in with 10.4 million people watching on average.

Still, the Irish and Canes couldn’t come close to matching up with the figure of No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State. The Longhorns and Buckeyes clocked in with an average of 16.6 millions viewers in the noon slot on Saturday. The game was televised on FOX.

As far as Sunday openers on ABC, however, the numbers are the numbers. The network has been televising games in that slot for a while now, and the two with the most viewers were games that had Notre Dame in them. That is no coincidence.

Again — if the Fighting Irish are playing, people are watching.

Notre Dame posts of the day

Here’s a closer look at the television numbers from Week 1, ABC and ESPN only.

And here’s a look at the number for Texas at Ohio State. Monstrous mark.

Irish Jam is going to be a huge success just across from Notre Dame’s campus in a month.

Fighting Irish quote of the day

“Yeah, to be honest, I’m just looking forward to this season with my guys. This is the last time, because after this, it becomes a job for real. This is just really the last time I’m having fun with my guys. So I just got to get that state chip. That’s all I’m really worried about right now.”

— Notre Dame defensive back commit Joey O’Brien on his senior season outlook

Blue & Gold headlines of the day

• Notre Dame basketball to host ‘Irish Jam’ on Eddy Street on Friday before Boise State game
• Five more thoughts: Wrapping up Notre Dame’s season-opening loss to Miami
• Louisville or Irish? Tyler Fryman keeping options open in baseball and football

• Four observations on Fighting Irish defense after rewatching Notre Dame loss vs. Miami
• Why analyst Joel Klatt is not worried about Notre Dame after disappointing loss to Miami
• Lucky Charms: Twin brothers scheduled to visit Notre Dame