For over three decades, watching Notre Dame Fighting Irish home games on NBC has developed into a tradition that began with the original $30 million, five-year deal. That exclusive media marriage, first agreed upon in February 1990, began on Sept. 7, 1991, with a season-opening 49-27 win over an in-state opponent, the Indiana Hoosiers.
The two schools hadn’t met since 1958, with the return of the long-dormant matchup presenting the seventh-ranked Irish as nearly 20-point favorites in the contest. Notre Dame again had designs on challenging for a national title, in contrast to the unranked Hoosiers, who were coming off a 6-5-1 season in 1990.