As the sports media world continues to mourn the devastating and sudden loss of Dan Hicks, who passed away from an “acute illness” on Wednesday, NBC has decided on its plan to replace Hicks this Saturday, when he was scheduled to call the game between Notre Dame and Boston College.
According to a report by Tony Maglio in The Hollywood Reporter, Jason Benetti will take the place of Dan Hicks this Saturday and serve as play-by-play for the Fighting Irish’s game against the Eagles. He’ll call the telecast alongside Jason Garrett, who serves as the game analyst for Notre Dame broadcasts on NBC. Caroline Pineda will serve as sideline reporter.
Saturday’s game is one of two left on NBC’s Notre Dame football schedule. The last Notre Dame broadcast on NBC is scheduled for the following Saturday, Nov. 21, when the Fighting Irish play SMU. It is unclear if Benetti will also call that game. Of course, no decision has been made on long-term replacements for any of Hicks’ high-profile assignments.
Hicks returned to call Notre Dame football for NBC in 2024, replacing Jac Collinsworth. He first began calling Notre Dame football for the network in 2013, when he replaced Tom Hammond. Mike Tirico replaced Hicks ahead of the 2017 season, beginning his seven-year hiatus from the Fighting Irish.
In addition to his Notre Dame assignment, Hicks was best known for his over two decades as NBC Sports’ lead PGA Tour voice, also calling major golf tournaments like the U.S. Open, Open Championship, and Ryder Cups. He was also the voice of Olympic swimming and skiing, calling every single gold medal throughout Michael Phelps’ storied career, and chronicling Lindsey Vonn’s amazing career all the way up to her devastating injury at Milan-Cortina in February.
After his passing was announced on Thursday morning, people from all corners of sports media offered an outpouring of support for Hicks’ family, which includes his wife, longtime ESPN anchor Hannah Storm, and their three daughters.