The University of Notre Dame football program has officially locked in a two-game series against the University of Illinois for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. This future pairing reshapes the upcoming schedule for Irish fans.
Under the newly announced schedule details, Notre Dame will host the Fighting Illini on September 4, 2027, inside Notre Dame Stadium. The return leg will see the Irish travel to Champaign for a September 2, 2028 contest. To make room for these dates, Illinois will replace Purdue on the Notre Dame football schedule for both the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Game times and broadcast networks will be determined and released at a later date. For Fighting Irish supporters looking ahead to the 2027 and 2028 home slate, season ticket membership deposits are currently open through the official athletics website.
A Historic Rivalry Renewed
When the two programs take the field in 2027, it will mark the first meeting between Notre Dame and Illinois since 1968. In that matchup, the No. 6 Irish claimed a 58-8 victory. Historically, Notre Dame holds an 11-0-1 all-time record against the Fighting Illini.
The series dates back to 1898, when Notre Dame secured a 5-0 win in the first meeting. The two teams played each other for seven consecutive seasons from 1940 to 1946. Across their 12 total meetings, both teams have been ranked twice.
Notre Dame maintains a 5-0 home record against Illinois in South Bend and a 6-0-1 advantage on the road. The modern Irish program enters future Big Ten matchups with solid footing under Dick Corbett Head Coach Marcus Freeman, boasting a 10-3 record against Big Ten opponents during his tenure.
