A historic slate ahead for the Fighting Irish
The University of Notre Dame has released its future football schedule for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, confirming a continuation of the Legends Trophy rivalry with Stanford and a first‑time meeting with Kent State. The announcements were made amid a broader effort to highlight the program’s deep connections to the sport’s early pioneers.
In 2027 the Irish will travel to Stanford Stadium on November 27, while the following year they will host the Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on October 14. Both games will be part of a series that dates back to 1924, when the first meeting between the two schools took place. Notre Dame currently leads the all‑time series 25‑14‑0 and has won three straight encounters, the most recent a 42‑20 victory in 2025.
The Legends Trophy, named after coaching legends Knute Rockne and Pop Warner, serves as a symbolic bridge between past and present. Rockne, a Notre Dame alumnus and longtime coach, and Warner, who also guided the Irish in the early 20th century, are honored each time the teams clash. The trophy’s legacy adds a narrative layer to what is already a competitive series.
A notable subplot involves Kent State, the alma mater of the late coach Lou Holtz, who guided Notre Dame from 1986 to 1996. The Irish will host the Golden Flashes in 2027, marking the first meeting between the programs. Holtz, a charismatic figure in college football history, graduated from Kent State in 1959 and later returned to the university as a speaker and benefactor. His connection underscores the intertwined histories of the two schools.
Marcus Freeman, the current head coach of the Fighting Irish, previously served as an assistant at Kent State from 2011 to 2012, a detail that adds another personal thread to the upcoming matchup. Three former Notre Dame assistant coaches have gone on to lead Kent State, reflecting a coaching pipeline that enriches the rivalry’s story.
Beyond the Stanford and Kent State games, Notre Dame’s schedule includes contests against a variety of opponents, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most traveled programs in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Irish have faced the fourth‑most FBS teams in history and are 11‑1 against current Mid‑American Conference members, including a 28‑3 win over Miami University on September 21, 2024.
The upcoming slate will see Notre Dame play nine of the twelve current Mid‑American Conference schools, highlighting the program’s extensive reach across college football’s diverse landscape. As the Irish prepare for these high‑profile matchups, the legacy of past legends continues to shape the narrative of future battles on the gridiron.