NBC Sports Names Notre Dame Graduate Caroline Pineda to 2026 Broadcast Team
South Bend, Saturday, 22 August 2026.
NBC Sports appointed Notre Dame alumna Caroline Pineda as sideline reporter for the 2026 season, strengthening its broadcast lineup to drive viewership across NBC and Peacock streaming platforms.
Broadcast Team Finalized for 2026 Season
NBC Sports, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) [GPT], officially announced its 2026 college football broadcast roster on August 19, 2026, confirming the lineup for over 25 Big Ten and Notre Dame games [3]. The media team update highlights a strategic commitment to leveraging premium live college sports properties to drive viewership across linear television and the Peacock streaming platform [1]. Central to this announcement is the appointment of Caroline Pineda as the sideline reporter for Notre Dame home football games, marking her first season in this specific role [2]. Pineda joins returning veterans Dan Hicks, who handles play-by-play duties, and Jason Garrett, who serves as the analyst [4]. This trio is scheduled to call the season-opening matchup against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET [1].
The selection of Pineda represents a continuation of NBC’s strategy to integrate alumni into their broadcast coverage, aiming to deepen the connection with the fanbase [2]. Pineda, who graduated from Notre Dame in 2022, has been with NBC Sports since 2022, covering various sports including college football and basketball [1]. Her appointment replaces Zora Stephenson, who previously held the sideline reporter position [1]. The announcement confirms that all home games, including the Shamrock Series matchup, will be simulcast on NBC and Peacock, ensuring broad accessibility for viewers regardless of their preferred platform [3].
Experienced Leadership and Talent Background
The broadcast booth features significant continuity with Dan Hicks returning for his third consecutive season calling Notre Dame home games [3]. Jason Garrett enters his fifth consecutive season covering the Fighting Irish, bringing extensive professional experience from his 16 years as an NFL coach and 12 years as a professional quarterback [1]. Combined, Hicks and Garrett bring 8 seasons of experience in their current roles within this specific broadcast partnership [3][4]. Hicks previously called Irish home games from 2013 to 2016 and has hosted NBC’s golf coverage since 1992 [1]. Garrett’s background includes nine years as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, adding substantial analytical depth to the commentary team [1].
Pineda’s rise in sports broadcasting has been rapid since her graduation 4 years ago [1][4]. She won the Jim Nantz Award in 2022, given to the most outstanding student broadcaster in the country [1]. During her time as a student, she studied television and journalism, wrote for NBC Sports, and worked as a sideline intern at football games [1]. Since graduating, she has worked for NBC covering major league baseball and the WNBA, in addition to college sports [1]. Her familiarity with the institution and previous work on Sunday Night Football’s production crew position her as a knowledgeable voice for the audience [1].
Schedule and Streaming Strategy
The 2026 college football coverage begins on August 29, 2026, with USC hosting San Jose State at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock [3]. For Notre Dame, the Hicks-Garrett-Pineda trio will call kickoffs against Rice on September 12, Stanford on October 10, and Boston College on November 14 [4]. Prime-time home games, including matchups against Michigan State on September 19, Miami on November 7, and SMU on November 21, will feature NBC’s No. 1 college football team of Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge, and Kathryn Tappen [1][4]. This distribution of talent ensures that marquee matchups receive premium coverage while maintaining consistent quality across the schedule.
This season marks the 36th consecutive year NBC has televised Notre Dame football, underscoring a long-term partnership between the network and the university [5]. The schedule includes seven Notre Dame home games broadcast on NBC and Peacock this fall [4]. Key future matchups include No. 4 Notre Dame hosting No. 7 Miami on November 7, 2026, and No. 19 SMU at Notre Dame on November 21, 2026 [3]. The strategic allocation of broadcast teams aims to maximize engagement during high-profile windows while utilizing the core team for standard home game coverage [3].