The University of Notre Dame has unveiled a slate of future football contests that will stretch into the latter half of the decade, cementing its schedule with traditional powerhouses and a poignant nod to its recent past.
A Renewed Rivalry
Starting in 2027, the Fighting Irish will travel to Stanford for a showdown on November 27, and will host the Cardinal a year later on October 14, 2028. The series, dubbed the Legends Trophy Rivalry, adds two more chapters to a competition that currently favors Notre Dame 25‑14‑0, with the Irish having won three straight meetings.
In the same announcement, Notre Dame confirmed a home game against Kent State in 2027, a matchup that carries special resonance because it pits the Irish against the alma mater of the late, legendary coach Lou Holtz. The game will mark the first time the program meets the university where Holtz honed his early football instincts as a linebacker in 1957 and graduated with a history degree in 1959.
Holtz, who guided Notre Dame to a national championship in 1988, remains a revered figure in college football lore. His connection to Kent State adds a layer of nostalgia, linking the Irish’s present schedule to a coach whose early career was rooted in the Midwestern program.
Current head coach Marcus Freeman, who served as Kent State’s linebackers coach from 2011 to 2012, will lead the Irish into a game that could stir memories of his own formative years on the Mid‑American Conference sidelines. The upcoming contests thus blend competitive ambition with personal history.
Fans can look forward to a series of high‑stakes games that promise drama on the field and storytelling off it, as Notre Dame continues to weave its storied past into the fabric of its future schedule.