Notre Dame and Illinois football to play 2-game series in 2027-28
Notre Dame and Illinois will meet on the football field for the first time since 1968 when they open a two-game series next season.
The Irish and Illini programs announced the home-and-home series Tuesday, with a game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., on Sept. 4, 2027, and a game at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Sept. 2, 2028.
The series replaces the Purdue series for Notre Dame and the Missouri series for Illinois.
Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement that he has wanted to schedule a game against Notre Dame since he was hired in 2016.
“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 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.”
Notre Dame and Illinois have met 12 times, including seven straight seasons from 1940-46, and the Irish hold an 11-0-1 record. They first met in 1898 and last met in 1968 at Notre Dame Stadium to close a two-year, home-and-home series.
Notre Dame’s strength of schedule has come under scrutiny the last two seasons as the Irish have tried to make a case for College Football Playoff berths. The game against Purdue, which is 6-26 over the last three seasons, hasn’t added much to their resume.
The Irish — currently ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press poll with a 7-1 record entering Saturday’s home showdown with No. 1 Miami — handily won the last three meetings with the Boilermakers.
Illinois, meanwhile, is trying to raise its football profile after winning a combined 19 games in 2024 and 2025 under coach Bret Bielema. The Illini are 5-3 entering Friday’s home game against Nebraska.
“We are disappointed by Illinois’ decision to withdraw from multiple future football games, including a home game for Mizzou in 2027,” Missouri athletic director Laird Veatch said in a statement to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “We are exploring all available options to address this matter.”
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti said during the conference’s basketball media days last month that he expected Big Ten football teams to step up their nonconference scheduling with the expectation that the CFP will double in size to 24 teams.
In addition to Purdue, Notre Dame also played Big Ten teams Wisconsin and Michigan State this season, both Irish victories. They are 10-3 against Big Ten opponents under coach Marcus Freeman.