Jason Benetti Will Replace Dan Hicks on Notre Dame Play-by-Play Saturday Following Sudden Passing (Exclusive)

Following the sudden passing of Dan Hicks, Jason Benetti will take the reins this weekend as play-by-play guy for NBC Sports’ Notre Dame vs. Boston College game.

Just yesterday, Hicks was announced as the game’s play-by-play voice. Jason Garrett is the booth’s analyst and Caroline Pineda has sideline-reporting duties. Reggie Smith is rules analyst.

BC will visit South Bend, Indiana at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 14; the game will air on NBC and stream live on Peacock. Live coverage begins with College Countdown at 3 p.m. ET on the same platforms.

Boston College is unranked, Notre Dame is the number five team in the country. The Fighting Irish have not lost a game at home this season (4-0) and are 8-1 overall. Last week, Notre Dame defeated the number one team in the nation, the Miami Hurricanes, 31-24. Boston College lost to Florida State by the same score.

Hicks died on Wednesday, and no cause of death is available. He was 64. Hicks’ wife, Hannah Storm, in an X tweet on Thursday wrote: “Our family is heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of Dan following an acute illness. He was a devoted husband of over 30 years, loving father to our three daughters, and cherished friend to so many. His loss is immeasurable.”

In addition to Notre Dame games, Hicks worked 16 Olympics and called lots of golf.

NBC Sports confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter the passing of Hicks, and Versant CEO Mark Lazarus added in a statement: “I am heartbroken by the sudden loss of our friend Dan Hicks. For decades, I had the privilege of working alongside Dan, but our friendship extended far beyond NBC Sports. Dan was one of the very best at what he did, but what I will remember most is the person he was: a loyal friend and a devoted husband and father. My family and I are thinking of Hannah, their children and the entire Hicks family. We will miss him.”