While one Big Ten team has opted out of its scheduling agreement with Notre Dame, another one has stepped up and taken its place.
The Fighting Irish and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini will renew a rivalry that has been dormant since 1968. The Fighting Illini will be visiting South Bend on Sept. 4, 2027 and then Notre Dame will travel out to Champaign and play the Illini on Sept. 2, 2028.
Both teams with the announcement, replace previous teams that were scheduled. Illinois replaces Purdue for Notre Dame, and the Irish replace the previously scheduled Missouri for Illinois.
The Irish hold a 11-0-1 record against Illinois including a 5-0 mark at Notre Dame Stadium and 6-0-1 record on the road. Their most recent meeting ended with a 58-8
Irish victory in 1968.
Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said renewing the matchup had been a priority since he arrived at the university. “This is a series I have wanted to get on the football schedule since I arrived in 2016,” Whitman said in Illinois’ announcement. “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.”
Updating our schedule 📆
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 3, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame announces home-home football series another Big Ten team
