NBC Sports adds Jason Benetti and Dave Flemming to its 2026 college football booth. Both broadcasters will call select Big Ten games as the season opens in 10 days.
What We Know: NBC Sports named Benetti and Flemming to its Big Ten football team for select games this fall. In addition, Paul Burmeister returns as the network’s veteran play-by-play voice, and Yogi Roth joins as an analyst for a full slate. Matt Cassel, a 14-year NFL quarterback, joins as an analyst for select games too. Also, Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge, and Kathryn Tappen return to Big Ten Saturday Night and will call all Saturday primetime games this season. Dan Hicks and Jason Garrett are also back in NBC’s Notre Dame Football booth, now in the network’s 36th season of Fighting Irish coverage.
What Remains Unclear: Full game by game and which broadcaster pairing have not been fully announced yet. How Benetti’s role with NBA and MLB on NBC Sports is impacted is also unknown.
What It Means: Adding Benetti and Flemming signals NBC Sports is deepening its Big Ten bench ahead of a packed slate of 25-plus games. Consequently, the network gains flexibility to staff simultaneous matchups without leaning solely on Burmeister. Meanwhile, returning voices like Roth and rising names like Ashley ShahAhmadi round out a roster built for volume. Ultimately, the moves suggest NBC is investing further in Big Ten coverage as its media rights deal matures.
CUREENT NBC SPORTS / PEACOCK COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Platform(s) |
| Sat., Aug. 29 | 3 p.m. | San Jose State at USC | NBC, Peacock |
| Thurs., Sept. 3 | 8 p.m. | Eastern Illinois at Minnesota | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Western Michigan at Michigan | NBC, Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 6 | 4 p.m. | Washington State at Washington | NBC, Peacock |
| Sun., Sept. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Wisconsin at Notre Dame (Lambeau Field) | NBC, Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 3:30 p.m. | Rice at Notre Dame | NBC, Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Iowa State at Iowa | NBC, Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 12:30 p.m. | Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 2 p.m. | Southern Illinois at Illinois | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 4 p.m. | Western Kentucky at Indiana | Peacock |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Michigan State at Notre Dame | NBC, Peacock |
| Sat., Oct. 10 | 3:30 p.m. | Stanford at Notre Dame | NBC, Peacock |
| Sat., Nov. 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Miami at Notre Dame | NBC, Peacock |
| Sat., Nov. 14 | 3:30 p.m. | Boston College at Notre Dame | NBC, Peacock |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | SMU at Notre Dame | NBC, Peacock |
| Fri. Nov. 27 | 7:30 p.m. | Minnesota at Wisconsin | NBC, Peacock |
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.