The 2020 Notre Dame football schedule will look markedly different from previous seasons. Following an announcement from the ACC, the Fighting Irish will play 10 ACC opponents this season.
Due to the ongoing novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Fighting Irish lost three games from their original schedule — Wisconsin (in Green Bay, Wisc.), vs. Stanford, and at USC. Those contests were canceled when both the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced they would play a conference-only schedule this season.
That left the Fighting Irish with six contests against ACC foes plus Navy, Arkansas, and Western Michigan. The Arkansas contest could be scrapped after the SEC makes their decision later this week or next.
As a result, Notre Dame agreed to play as a full ACC member this season in football and is eligible to compete in the ACC Championship Game on December 12 or December 19, which will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. The game will feature the two teams with the highest winning percentage in conference action (divisions were scrapped for this season).
Notre Dame will now host Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, and Syracuse this season at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. Road ACC opponents for the Fighting Irish include Boston College, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Pitt, and Wake Forest.
The Fighting Irish can only play one non-ACC opponent in 2020 and the game has to be played in South Bend, per the ACC’s mandate that was announced on Wednesday.
Notre Dame probably desires to play Navy the most as the two schools have met in 93 consecutive seasons. The two schools were supposed to meet this season in Dublin, Ireland, but the game was later moved to Annapolis, Md. If the two schools hook up in 2020, it will have to be in South Bend.
That would leave Notre Dame with having to cancel or postpone the contests with Arkansas and Western Michigan to future seasons.
Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick released a statement on the schedule Wednesday evening.