Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1509682
8 OCT. 28, 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME 1st Appearance for the FOX Sports Big Noon Kickoff Show on the Notre Dame campus, in advance of the matchup between the Fighting Irish and USC Trojans. Former Irish quarterback Brady Quinn ('06) is part of the broadcast crew that previewed the game in the Library Quad, just north of Notre Dame Stadium. 4 Prime-time games in a row — versus Ohio State Sept. 23, at Duke Sept. 30, at Louisville Oct. 7 and versus USC Oct. 14 — for the Fighting Irish, the first time in school history that has happened. Notre Dame had played three night games in a row four times previously, most recently in 2021 (won 32-29 at Virginia Tech, and defeated USC 31-16 and North Carolina 44-34 at home). Until the 1997 season, Notre Dame Stadium did not feature permanent light structures and any home game played at night before that year required portable light stands to be brought in for the games. 5 Fighting Irish players earned a spot on the Pro Football Focus Midseason All-America Team. Junior running back Audric Estimé, junior left tackle Joe Alt and graduate student defensive tackle Howard Cross III all earned first-team recognition, while junior tight end Mitchell Evans and senior de- fensive tackle Rylie Mills received a second-team nod. The Irish were tied with Ohio State for the second-most players honored, behind only Alabama (six). 5 Quarterbacks in FBS history have compiled at least 125 touchdown passes and 14,500 yards passing during their careers, a list that now includes Notre Dame's Sam Hartman: Player, School (Years) GP TD Yards Case Keenum, Houston (2007-11) 57 155 19,217 Kellen Moore, Boise State (2008-11) 52 142 14,667 Graham Harrell, Texas Tech (2005-08) 45 134 15,793 Baker Mayfield, Texas Tech/Oklahoma (2013, 2015-17) 48 131 14,607 Sam Hartman, Wake Forest/Notre Dame (2018-22, '23) 53 126 14,679* * Through Week 6 7 Goals allowed by the Notre Dame men's soccer team in their first 12 matches this season. The Irish's average of 0.58 goals allowed per game ranked first in the ACC and seventh in the country as of Oct. 12. 10 Opponent venues that Notre Dame now owns attendance re- cords for, with the crowd of 59,081 at Louisville setting a new standard Oct. 7. Per Notre Dame media relations, Florida State and Miami are the next closest in that category with four each. 17 Sets of brothers have now suited up for the Notre Dame hockey team, including current players Trevor and Justin Janicke, Landon and Carter Slaggert (brother Graham played 2018-22), Henry and Danny Nelson, and Brady Bjork (brother Anders played 2014-17). 42 Tackles for Notre Dame gradu- ate student HOWARD CROSS III through Week 6 of the 2023 season, which led all FBS defensive linemen. In fact, he was the only lineman — end or tackle — to have 40 or more stops. Cross' 13-tackle effort at Duke Sept. 30 made him the only Power Five defensive lineman to record double-digit tackles in a game through the midway point of this season. Cross was named a Senior Bowl Midseason All-American and was tabbed as one of 16 quarterfinalists for the 2023 Lott IMPACT Trophy, which is awarded annually to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of athletics and recognizes college football's Defensive Player of the Year who best exemplifies the IMPACT acronym: Integrity, Ma- turity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. 28.47 Million Total television viewers for Notre Dame football through Week 6, per Notre Dame media relations. The Irish were among the top 15 most-viewed games in each of the six weeks they have been on a linear (cable and satellite television) broadcast — the lone exception being the Central Michigan game that was streamed exclusively on Peacock — this season and were among the top six most watched games in five of those six weeks. Notre Dame's viewership in Weeks 4-6 ranked second (Ohio State), third (Duke) and third (Louisville). Here are the leaders in overall college football viewers in 2023 through Week 6: Rk. Team Total (Millions) 1. Colorado 42.56 2. Alabama 28.79 3. Notre Dame 28.47 4. Texas 25.79 5. Ohio State 23.18 6. LSU 20.47 ✦ BY THE NUMBERS PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER