A Louisiana high school football program is set to hit the road for their Week 1 game in 2027.
Turns out, it's a really long road that will come with a need for a passport.
The Episcopal Knights football program out of Baton Rouge will be spending some time in Dublin, Ireland, taking on another high school to be determined during the Global Ireland Football Tournament on Aug. 27, 2027. This is the first time a high school from Louisiana will play in Ireland.
Episcopal will play in a 6,000-seat Irish rugby stadium the night before Wisconsin and Pitt are slated to play as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
"After 30 years of coaching, opportunities to do something out of the norm are exciting," Episcopal head coach Travis Bourgeois said
in a press release from the school. "This will give our kids the chance to do something no other Episcopal team has ever done before. Our athletes will be ambassadors for the sport, our state and our school."
It's not just the football team that's bound for Ireland. Dance team members, drum corps members and spirit groups will all be traveling across the pond.
The Knights went 5-6 last season and reached the first round of the Division III select playoffs. Bourgeois is in his 27th season as the head coach of Episcopal, leading them to a 191-99 record as the school's winningest coach. The Knights have gone to two state semifinals (2002, 2013) during his tenure, and was named the Class AA Coach of the Year in 2002.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Louisiana high school football team to play 2027 season opener in Ireland
