Jerome Bettis Jr kicks off ESPN's coverage of high school football

The Notre Dame football season is still several weeks away. However, Irish fans who are absolutely jonesing for meaningful football are getting a reprieve in just one week. 

Jerome Bettis Jr. and his high school team will kick off ESPN’s coverage of high school football this season as his College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy team will be hosting Carrollton (Ga.) High on Friday, Aug. 16 at 8pm. 

Bettis Jr a wide receiver that could be switching positions when he officially becomes a part of the Notre Dame football program, will get to show off what he can do on offense against a heck of an opponent.

Notre Dame football legacy commit kicks off ESPN’s high school coverage

Carrollton's team has some serious talent, starting with No. 1 overall QB Julian Lewis, a USC commit (who might eventually be an Indiana Hoosiers’ pledge. More importantly for Bettis, he'll be tested by some serious talent at defensive back: 2025 USC commit Shamar Arnoux, 2026 four-star safety Zelus Hicks and 2025 Alabama commit Darian Barney.

While there is just the one game for Notre Dame fans to watch next Friday, it does open a bit of a floodgate of games that viewers will be able to watch as they count down to the start of the regular college football season:

Friday, August 16

Carrollton (Ga.) at Woodward Academy (Ga.)

8 pm on ESPN2 from Woodward Academy in College Park, Ga.

Thursday, August 22

Grayson (Ga.) at Thompson (Ala.)

8 pm on ESPN2 from Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala.

Friday, August 23

Milton (Ga.) vs. American Heritage (Fla.)

7 pm ESPN from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Saturday, August 24

Bishop Gorman (Nev.) at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.)

4 pm ESPN from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

St. John Bosco (Calif.) vs. Chaminade-Madonna (Fla.)

8 pm on ESPN2 from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Sunday, August 25

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, (Ga.) at Baylor School (Tenn.)

1 pm on ESPN from Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn.

You might notice another game that will feature a wide receiver target that Notre Dame football could not reel in. Derek Meadows’ Bishop Gorman will face off against St. Thomas Aquinas on August 24.