Illinois and Notre Dame announce football series for 2027 and 2028

Illinois and Notre Dame announced Tuesday that the two football programs will play a two-year home-and-home series in 2027 and 2028, the first meeting between the teams in 59 years.

The teams will meet in South Bend, Indiana, on Sept. 4, 2027, and in Champaign on Sept. 2, 2028. The Fighting Illini and Fighting Irish last played each other in 1968 at Notre Dame Stadium as part of a two-year home-and-home series.

Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said in a news release posted to the Illinois athletics website: "This is a series I have wanted to get on the football schedule since I arrived in 2016." He added: "It has been too long since these two tradition-rich programs have met, given our proximity, common values, and deep roots in Chicago and throughout the Midwest."

Whitman also said: "We expect to see a lot of orange and blue next year in South Bend and believe the 2028 matchup in Champaign will be one of our most anticipated home games in decades."

Illinois and Notre Dame have met 12 previous times in football, with nine of those matchups coming during a 10-year period from 1937-46. The teams first played in 1898.

The Notre Dame series will replace Missouri on Illinois' schedule in 2027 and 2028. Additionally, the Illini have added Florida International to the schedule on Aug. 28, 2027, and will no longer play Eastern Illinois in 2027.

Game times will be announced at a later date. Illini fans can join the I FUND for access to request away-game tickets, including next year's game in South Bend. In order to guarantee 2028 season tickets, which will include the Notre Dame game in Champaign, fans have to purchase 2027 season tickets.

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