Notre Dame opens its 2025 season on Saturday, September 12, hosting Rice at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. The Irish have struggled with home openers in recent years, posting a 1‑3 record since 2022 after defeats to Marshall, Northern Illinois and Texas A&M, while their 2023 home opener against Tennessee State ended in a 56‑3 victory.
Rice, a member of the American Athletic Conference, arrives with a 1‑0 mark after a 31‑3 win over Houston Baptist on September 5, but the Owls have not posted a winning season since 2014 despite three bowl appearances in the past four years.
Broadcast and Odds
The game is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and the matchup will be televised nationally on NBC with a streaming feed on Peacock, while local listeners can tune to 960 WSBT‑AM and 101.5 WNSN‑FM for radio coverage.
In the broadcast booth, veteran analysts Dan Hicks and Jason Garrett will join play‑by‑play man Tony Simeone, with Caroline Pineda reporting from the sidelines and Mike Golic Sr. providing color commentary.
Betting markets reflect Notre Dame’s heavy favoritism, with BetMGM listing a point spread of minus 44.5 and an over/under of 54.5, while Rice’s moneyline sits at +8000 and Notre Dame’s moneyline is not offered.
Injury Impact
Injuries could shape the contest, as Notre Dame will be without running back Brauntae Johnson and defensive end Jason Onye, both sidelined by their respective ailments, while linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu‑Asa missed the game after undergoing ACL surgery.
Reporter Mike Berardino has been providing the latest injury updates and analysis, adding context to the storylines surrounding the Irish’s inconsistent home‑opener performance and Rice’s quest for a breakthrough.