Illinois football schedules home-and-home series with Notre Dame, drops two Mizzou games

Key Points:

• Illinois football will host a home-and-home series with Notre Dame in 2027-2028, replacing Missouri on their schedule, with games set for Sept. 4, 2027, in South Bend and Sept. 2, 2028, in Champaign.
• This will be the first matchup between Illinois and Notre Dame since 1968, with Illinois historically winless against Notre Dame (0-11-1), and Notre Dame canceled its series with Purdue to accommodate Illinois.
• Illinois also added FIU to the 2027 schedule, dropping Eastern Illinois, and has three future games scheduled with Missouri between 2029 and 2035, though those beyond 2028 are uncertain.
• The scheduling move aligns with the proposed College Football Playoff expansion requiring Power Four teams to play at least 10 games against other Power Four teams or Notre Dame, presenting both a challenge and opportunity for Illinois.
• Illinois AD Josh Whitman emphasized the significance of renewing this rivalry, highlighting the programs' shared values and regional ties, while noting the potential for these games to elevate Illinois' football profile despite the competitive risk.