NBC backtracks on Notre Dame decision after hearing it from fans
NBC was forced to make a U-turn after sparking backlash for its college football coverage on Saturday evening, with fans fuming at the broadcaster's decision
College football enthusiasts were left seething at NBC after Notre Dame's game against Purdue was prioritized in the schedule, as the Fighting Irish aimed to bounce back from a rocky start.
Entering the year, Notre Dame was touted as one of the top contenders for a deep run in the College Football Playoff. However, the Fighting Irish faltered at the starting line, losing their first two games to Miami and Texas A&M by a mere four points combined.
Facing the Boilermakers, the Fighting Irish seemed poised for their first win, maintaining a double-digit lead as the second quarter neared its end. But Mother Nature had a different game plan, adding even more pressure on the players.
With 1:31 left in the second quarter, the game was paused due to weather and thunderstorms in the vicinity. The university posted on X that at one point, there were 59 lightning strikes within a 10-mile radius of where the Fighting Irish were playing.
In total, the weather delay stretched nearly two hours before it was deemed safe to resume play. Once both teams were back on the field, it was decided that the weather delay would serve as the halftime break, and when the final 1:31 of the second quarter ran out, the two teams would take a break akin to those between quarters.
Eventually, the remainder of the contest proceeded without additional weather-related disruptions. However, Notre Dame's matchup against Purdue experienced significant delays, forcing NBC to adjust its programming lineup.
"PROGRAMMING NOTE: Coverage of tonight's Illinois/Indiana game will begin on Peacock. NBC will join in progress at the conclusion of Notre Dame football," the network announced via social media. Fans expressed frustration that Notre Dame's contest, where the Fighting Irish maintained a commanding multi-score advantage, was being prioritized over the Illinois-Indiana showdown.
"AWFUL DECISION. ND and Purdue are both random bowl game bound. Let's let America watch CFB level football on this Saturday night," one supporter posted on X. Another chimed in: "F---ing joke. An 0 and 2 s--- team vs another s--- team being aired over a top 25 match up. F---ing idiots."
Approximately 15 minutes afterward, NBC reversed course, announcing on X: "PROGRAMMING UPDATE: Coverage of Illinois/Indiana will begin on NBC on most stations at 7:50 ET. Notre Dame coverage will continue on Peacock."
Ultimately, Notre Dame demolished the Boilermakers 56-30, powered by CJ Carr's 223-yard, touchdown performance. Jeremiyah Love found the end zone twice while accumulating 157 yards on 19 attempts, and Jadarian Price contributed three touchdowns while collecting 74 yards on nine rushes.
Following the victory, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman addressed media members regarding his message to the squad during the weather postponement. "I think it was different for each group," he started, addressing the reporters.
"For the offense, I think first four times they had the ball, they scored and right before the delay, we turn over the ball and I said, 'We can't have the detrimental mistakes, errors, no matter whose fault it is. We got to make sure we take care of the football because when we do and we're executing, we went four for four on touchdown drives and then defensively, you got to do your job.'".
"That's what I kept reminding them. You can't do somebody else's job. You can't try to make a play. You just got to trust your technique and do your job and win that play. I think sometimes they're getting frustrated about the last play that it affects the current play. You're trying to do something that isn't your job to do.
"And then special teams, we got to the punt fake on us, isn't something that anybody was happy about. We've got to be better. We have, they got us, they got us, man, it was a good call, and so that was my message for each group. But for everybody, we got to go attack. That's what we got to do."