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Notre Dame Football: Which games should be in prime time in 2021?

By Sonny Martinez

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 12: Notre Dame Fighting Irish players face off at the line of scrimmage against the USC Trojans during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 12: Notre Dame Fighting Irish players face off at the line of scrimmage against the USC Trojans during a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame Football. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame Football: Which games should be in prime time in 2021?

Big Game Territory

The season opener at Florida State is on a Sunday, meaning they’ll likely get the 7:30 ABC slot like Notre Dame had when they faced Texas in 2016. You can pretty much Sharpie that one in.

The mid-season showdown with arch-rival USC, and season finale out West against Stanford, are usually prime-time games, and USC could very well be 6-0 heading into South Bend. An undefeated Trojan team coming cross country almost guarantees a 7:30 NBC kick.

As for Stanford, they may be the weakest of this group, but they’re a bit of an unknown. They have plenty of talent, but a lot of it is young. Being the last game of the season is a big boost for the Cardinal. As with most trips to California, especially with the time difference, expect a night game here as well.

October 30, Notre Dame hosts Sam Howell and UNC

Howell and North Carolina. The Tar Heels already have plenty of hype again and this year could be College Football Playoff crashers. North Carolina could very well be 7-0, in the top 5, and have a Heisman candidate at quarterback.

Not only will this be a prime-time game, but this is by far the best game of Week 9, and College Gameday should be in South Bend.

That leaves us with one game left to look at, and it is the game that above every other game should be under the lights. It’s a game we had taken from us last year: a neutral site showdown with Wisconsin.

Jack Coan Revenge Game

This year, the two are scheduled to compete at Soldier Field in Chicago. Of course, it’s possible this game gets moved, but seeing as it’s only about 100 miles from South Bend, and 150 miles from Madison, there really is no reason to relocate.

This is a game worthy of hype anywhere it’s played, but at a legendary NFL stadium, it gets even more. There’s an argument to be made that neutral site games aren’t as good as true home games, and it’s actually a good argument.

But Wisconsin is a premier team and this is a game we haven’t seen in a long time: September 26, 1964, to be exact. If Wisconsin defeats Notre Dame, there’s a chance they go undefeated in 2021. Oh yeah, there is also the Jack Coan storyline here, as he led the Wisconsin Badgers to a Big Ten title game a few years ago, and will likely be the starter for the Irish when this game takes place.

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When looking at 2021, eight games qualify as night possibilities. But only Wisconsin, North Carolina, Florida State, USC, and Virginia Tech are the games that deserve a prime spot on Saturday nights.

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