Notre Dame Football Gets Showtime Reality Show, Victor Cruz to Star in NFL Doc

Showtime is embedding itself with one of the most popular franchises in college football. The network announced Tuesday that it will air a weekly series this fall following the University of Notre Dame’s 2015 season.

A Season With Notre Dame will air each Tuesday at 10 p.m. as the NCAA team vies for a spot in the College Football Playoff after falling short in 2014. “We’re honored and thrilled to be granted access to profile a college football program with a legacy as storied and as fascinating as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish,” said Showtime Sports exec vp and GM Stephen Espinoza. “The passion of the players and head coach Brian Kelly will make for a compelling television series that will appeal beyond hardcore college football fans to all viewers who appreciate great storytelling.”

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Notre Dame has a long history of big TV deals. The conference-free team has aired home games exclusively on NBC since 1991 — most recently inking a rich 10-year extension in 2013.

The series kicks off Sept. 8 following a home opener against the University of Texas. Episodes will feature preparation for the previous Saturday’s games, sidelines and game day footage and glimpses into the athletes’ personal lives.

And it’s not the only big football project Showtime has planned for fall. The network also announced a doc about New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. I Am Giant: Victor Cruz, created in conjunction with LeBron James‘ and Maverick Carter‘s SpringHill Entertainment, will follow his attempt to comeback from his devastating 2014 knee injury. Kobe Bryant’s Muse‘s Gotham Chopra will direct.

“Victor’s story is one of tragedy and triumph, fear and courage, patience and persistence,” said Espinoza. “NFL fans around the world cheered for New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz as he made his improbable journey from undrafted free agent to NFL superstar. This film will reveal the man inside the uniform as he faces the biggest challenge of his life. It is real-world, high-stakes drama, captured in real time in its most authentic form.”

WME-IMG negotiated the deal on behalf of Chopra, Cruz, James and Carter. Chopra is also repped by Myman Greenspan; James and Carter by Ziffren Brittenham.