Bret Bielema takes on Fat Chuck and the Irish

The nine most-watched regular-season games in 2006:

1. Michigan-Ohio State
2. Notre Dame-USC
3. Ohio State-Texas
4. California-USC
5. Florida State-Miami (Fla.)
6. Notre Dame-Michigan State
7. Notre Dame-Georgia Tech
8. Ohio State-Iowa
9. Penn State-Notre Dame

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2006-11-28-college-football-sat-night_x.htm

 

2006 Fiesta Bowl (Ohio State vs. Notre Dame) - 12.9 rating
2005 Fiesta Bowl (Utah vs. Pittsburgh) - 7.4 rating
2004 Fiesta Bowl (Ohio State vs. Kansas State) - 8.7 rating
2003 Fiesta Bowl (Ohio State vs. Miami - NC game) - 17.2 rating
2002 Fiesta Bowl (Oregon vs. Colorado) - 11.3 rating
2001 Fiesta Bowl (Oregon State vs. Notre Dame) - 10.7 rating

2006 Gator Bowl (VT vs. Louisville) - 3.93 rating
2005 Gator Bowl (Florida State vs. West Virginia) - 4.0 rating
2004 Gator Bowl (Maryland vs. West Virginia) - 4.2 rating
2003 Gator Bowl (NC State vs. Notre Dame) - <b>6.2 rating</b>

http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/tvratings

 

I'm not too sure about that. Notre Dame has played other Big Televen teams in the past (Indiana, Northwestern, Ohio State). Purdue and Michigan State are always on the schedule... Michigan comes and goes and Penn State was recently added again.

To Wisconsin's credit, I think that Oregon State backed out of a home-and-home either this year or last year.

Still, did the Big Ten really deserve three BCS teams last year? Sure the conference was good at the top but it had no depth at all.

 

The first game was just as much Ohio State as it was Notre Dame.
The last game was just tuning in to watch Chuck.

 

In other words, if Wisconsin had played Notre Dame's schedule (at USC/LSU in New Orleans/at GT/UCLA/Mich) it would have done better than 10-3?

Heh.

Sure.

 

Good point. Can't see them beating USC or LSU, and they proved they couldn't beat Michigan (maybe if they had them at the Camp, but sadly...)

 

Uh, no. I tuned in to watch Notre Dame get its a_s kicked.

I enjoyed every moment.

 

Screw Fatty McFatt

 

Apparently Jesus Jimmy Clausen had a bad spring game. You know ND was getting ready to hype the crap out of this guy.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?id=2845169

 

Bad spring game? Guess he's a bust. Let's begin all the Ron Powlus comparisons.

Good lord, I'm not sure which group pays more attention to Notre Dame — the fans or the people that just like seeing it lose.

 

Notre Dame football didn't create their loyal fan base. 25% of America as being Catholic did. Gives 'em a head start, wouldn't you say?

 

Exactly, God created Notre Dames' fan base (I think it was on the 6th day). He saw the fan base and it was good.