Illinois, Notre Dame Agree to Two-Game Series
The Fighting Illini and Fighting Irish will meet in South Bend in 2027 and Champaign in 2028, their first matchups since 1968.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Football
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Illinois football agreed to a two-year series with Notre Dame, with the teams playing at Notre Dame on Sept. 4, 2027, and at Illinois on Sept. 2, 2028. Both programs announced the series on Tuesday, and the two schools have met 12 times previously.
Why it matters
The series revives a rivalry dormant for 59 years and gives Illinois a marquee nonconference opponent in its home state's sports landscape. Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman had sought the matchup since 2016, citing shared Midwest and Chicago roots.
Illinois and Notre Dame have met 12 times, with the most recent meeting occurring in 1968, 59 years before this series. The two games are set for Sept. 4, 2027, in South Bend and Sept. 2, 2028, in Champaign, but the stub does not report opponent records or stat projections.
The players
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The University of Illinois football program, a member of the Big Ten Conference, based in Champaign, Illinois.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
The University of Notre Dame football program, an independent program based in South Bend, Indiana, known for its national championship history and storied rivalries.
Josh Whitman
Illinois athletic director who has pursued the series with Notre Dame since 2016 and cited the schools' shared Midwest and Chicago roots.
The details
Both programs announced the two-year agreement Tuesday, with Illinois traveling to Notre Dame in 2027 and hosting the Fighting Irish in 2028. Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman expects many Orange and Blue fans to make the trip to South Bend next year and believes the 2028 Champaign game will be among the most anticipated home contests in decades.
Timeline
1968 — Illinois and Notre Dame last played each other.
2016 — Whitman first pursued this series after arriving at Illinois.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 — Both programs announced the two-year series.
Sept. 4, 2027 — Illinois plays at Notre Dame in South Bend.
Sept. 2, 2028 — Notre Dame plays at Illinois in Champaign.
Season Trajectory
The series restores a historic Midwest matchup that last took place in 1968, when the two programs met for the 13th time. Its return reflects the growing practice of scheduling high-profile nonconference games to build regional rivalries.
Illinois fans have two future road and home dates against Notre Dame to plan for, with the 2027 trip to South Bend the first opportunity to travel. The series adds a marquee nonconference opponent to the Illini schedule for both seasons.
The takeaway
The series ends a 59-year gap between two Midwest programs with deep ties to Chicago. Readers following Illinois football can track both 2027 and 2028 dates as the rivalry resumes.
What happens next
Illinois plays at Notre Dame on Sept. 4, 2027, and Notre Dame plays at Illinois on Sept. 2, 2028.
Further reading
For more on the Illini's schedule and program news, see Football coverage on Wisevoter.
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