Notre Dame announces 2023 NBC kickoff times, led by Ohio State and USC in prime-time

24.05.2023 - 19:33 nbcsports.com

Notre Dame will host two preseason top-25 teams, possibly both top-10 teams, in back-to-back home games in prime time in 2023, the Irish and NBC announced Wednesday afternoon.

Ohio State’s Sept. 23 visit and USC’s Oct. 14 arrival will both kick off at 7:30 ET. Coming off a College Football Playoff appearance and third in the last four years, the Buckeyes look poised to again contend for the Big Ten title and a possible Playoff bid.

Not to be too blunt, but the trip to Notre Dame will be Ohio State’s first genuine challenge of 2023, opening the season at Indiana before welcoming FCS-level Youngstown State and then Western Kentucky.

Notre Dame will have already played four games, including a trip abroad and a trip to North Carolina State. That season-opening venture to Dublin will feature a later kickoff than may have been anticipated.

Football athletics cycling times Ireland Kentucky state Indiana state Tennessee state North Carolina Dublin state Ohio

Listed measurements: 6-foot-7, 312 pounds 2023-24 year, eligibility: An incoming freshman, Jagusah has all four seasons of eligibility remaining. Depth Chart: Notre Dame knows who its starting tackles are, and it is rather flush in backup options led by senior Tosh Baker, so Jagusah will begin his Irish career with the scout team in 2023. Recruiting: An All-American and the No. 13 offensive tackle in the class of 2023, per rivals.com, Jagusah turned down Michigan, Arkansas and Missouri when he chose Notre Dame. To hear the Illinois product — from right on the Iowa border — tell it, the choice came down to the Wolverines and the Irish.

Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 72 Sam Pendleton, early-enrolled freshman offensive lineman

Listed measurements: 6-foot-4 ⅛, 300 pounds 2023-24 year, eligibility: An early-enrolled freshman, Pendleton has all four seasons of eligibility remaining. Depth Chart: Zeke Correll has had a long-term stranglehold on the center position at Notre Dame since he arrived in 2019. He had to wait behind and then work around Jarrett Patterson, but that aside, no one arriving in South Bend has had a genuine chance at playing center since Correll’s first days on campus. Hence, junior Pat Coogan dabbled at guard this spring. All that said, Pendleton is far enough behind Correll in years that he could have reason to genuinely focus on working at center, regardless of if he is on the second string or the third string this season.

Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 73 Andrew Kristofic, fifth-year right guard, likely starter

Listed measurements: 6-foot-5 ¼, 305 pounds. 2023-24 year, eligibility: A fifth-year, Kristofic has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Depth Chart: Kristofic had the edge of experience in the right guard position competition this spring, and that paid off with him emerging as the starter. Recruiting: Notre Dame initially noticed Kristofic as he protected his high-school quarterback, a passer by the name of Phil Jurkovec. The former Irish quarterback will return to face his old team and his longtime teammate in late October when Pittsburgh visits South Bend.

Friday at 4: Jack Swarbrick’s time at Notre Dame marked by retained Irish independence, not by hires or construction

When Jack Swarbrick walks out of his Notre Dame offices for the last time at some point early in 2024, after nearly 16 years as the director of athletics, one thing will be beyond debate: Swarbrick will have left his mark at Notre Dame.

Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 74 Billy Schrauth, sophomore left guard, likely starter

Listed measurements: 6-foot-4 ½, 304 pounds. 2023-24 year, eligibility: A sophomore, Schrauth has all four seasons of eligibility remaining. Depth Chart: Schrauth pushed through a crowded field this spring, a position competition including senior Michael Carmody and junior Rocco Spindler, to emerge as the leader at left guard when preseason practices begin. Recruiting: The No. 3 offensive guard and No. 68 overall recruit in the class, Schrauth’s recruitment will be best remembered for being the first task for Marcus Freeman after he was named Notre Dame’s head coach. Freeman quite literally went from his introductory press conference straight to Fond du Lac, Wis. Less than a week later, the consensus four-star had joined the Irish class rather than heading to his homestate power.

Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick to step down in 2024, to be succeeded by NBC’s Pete Bevacqua

Notre Dame director of athletics Jack Swarbrick will step down in early 2024 after more than 15 years in the role, the University announced Thursday morning. NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua will succeed Swarbrick, first joining Notre Dame this July as a special assistant to University President Fr. John Jenkins, focusing on athletics.