ESPN's No. 2 broadcast team will call Notre Dame's season-opening matchup on ABC. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 at Miami.
ESPN’s No. 2 broadcast team of Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Molly McGrath (sideline reporter) will call No. 6 Notre Dame’s season opener at No. 10 Miami on ABC, according to multiple reports.
Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson was first with the news, and Inside Zone founder Matt Fortuna confirmed it Sunday evening.
McDonough, McElroy and McGrath are no stranger to the Fighting Irish. They called Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff victories over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State, as well as its regular-season win over Navy at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
McGrath also reported from the Notre Dame sideline during the national championship game against Ohio State, and she interviewed head coach Marcus Freeman after the Irish lost.
Notre Dame and Miami will kick off their Week 1 matchup at 7:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. It will be a standalone game on ABC with McDonough, McElroy and McGrath on the call.
More on Notre Dame football: McElroy calls decision to name CJ Carr starting quarterback ‘a great sign’
From Blue & Gold‘s Tyler Horka
ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy followed the Notre Dame quarterback competition closely. So when it came to a conclusion Tuesday, he probably reacted like anyone else who had redshirt freshman CJ Carr winning it from the beginning.
With a wide grin and a lot to say.
“This is great news for Notre Dame fans,” McElroy said. “This is great because last year, if you look at what Riley Leonard was, he was terrific. He did everything you could have asked for from the quarterback spot. But, essentially, he was a game manager. Now you have a quarterback in CJ Carr who can quite literally take the game over with his arm. He is really, really talented.”
Many reports indicated redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey was actually leading the battle as recently as last weekend. Carr threw three interceptions on the first day of Notre Dame fall camp.
More followed that trio in subsequent practices.
“With that talent comes inexperience,” McElroy said. “And there was some buzz throughout camp that he was making some poor decisions that led to some interceptions. And Marcus Freeman, being a defensive head coach, knows that’s not the way you’re going to win games. Not at the highest level of the sport.”
To get to the highest level of the sport, you’ve generally got to have a top-tier quarterback. That’s what Carr would come to be if he reached his ceiling. The climb toward it begins in earnest Aug. 31 at Miami.
McElroy can’t wait. He’s not alone.
“It sounds like he’s cleaned those things up enough to the point that he can be named the starter,” McElroy said. “This is a great sign for what could come for an improved passing offense this year for the Irish.”
Category: General Sports
