The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will open the 2027 season at home against the Kent State Golden Flashes, FBSchedules.com has learned.
Notre Dame was originally scheduled to host Kent State on October 2, 2027, a date first announced in May. However, according to a contract amendment obtained from Kent State University through a state open records request, the game has been moved to August 28, 2027, and will be played at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
The schedule change aligns with the NCAA’s June decision to adopt a uniform 14-week regular season beginning in 2027. Under the new format, most FBS programs will be permitted to begin their seasons during what is currently known as Week Zero, the weekend before Labor Day weekend, which will become the sport’s standard Week 1.
According to the original game contract, Notre Dame will pay Kent State a $1.3 million guarantee to play the contest. The matchup will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Following the season opener against Kent State, Notre Dame is currently scheduled to host Purdue on September 4. Other home opponents in 2027 include Auburn (Sept. 25), Virginia Tech (Nov. 6), Navy (Nov. 20), and BYU, with the date for that contest yet to be announced.
The Fighting Irish are also slated to travel to Michigan State (Sept. 18), Wake Forest (Oct. 9 in Charlotte, N.C.), Clemson (Oct. 30), and Stanford (Nov. 27). Road games against Duke and Virginia remain scheduled, though dates for those contests have not yet been announced.
Kent State, meanwhile, currently has only the Notre Dame game on its 2027 schedule. The Golden Flashes still have three non-conference openings to fill in addition to their eight Mid-American Conference opponents.
Unless NBC would be satisfied with PU@ND as their Labor Day Sunday night game, I’ve got to think that they’ll try to make BYU@ND be on that night instead.
NBC could take a Big 10 game if they want a game on that night
Bill:
1. Only if there’s a 4th decent B10-owned game that weekend. Given how weak B10 OOC slates have been recently, I find that to be very doubtful.
2. Only if a B10 team is willing to move their game that weekend to Sunday. The B10 powers that have to fill gigantic stadiums (OSU, Michigan, PSU, and probably USC) almost definitely would say “NO WAY IN H*LL”.
Oh shoot: I forgot: the Mormons don’t play on Sundays.
So unless NBC can somehow convince all parties to move Auburn@ND to Labor Day Sunday night, they’re stuck with PU@ND at best.
Richard, Purdue would be very good for the Sunday evening game on Labor Day weekend for Notre Dame.
There are several issues with this idea:
1. BYU doesn’t play on Sundays.
2. Why would Purdue agree to the move the game they already have scheduled for that weekend?
3. NBC doesn’t televise a Labor Day Sunday game every year. In fact, this year is the only year they have done that.
Given the Big Ten schedule for Labor Day weekend next season, I think it’s highly unlikely that NBC (or CBS or FOX) will televise a Labor Day Sunday game next year.
NBC already stated several years ago that they wanted to show a CFB game Sunday night of Labor Day weekend. This was just the first year they were able to do so.
another pathetic schedule for Notre Dame in 2027….BYU is likely to be the only ranked team they play all season
Auburn just beat UGA in Athens. But sure, go ahead and tell us how awful they are.
You’re damn right, Bill. Notre Dame’s schedule this year is so pathetic that they’re playing the teams currently ranked #1 and #2 in the country. Keep shit-bagging the Irish, irrespective of any actual details.
Blame it on superconferences.
Pathetic would be your team
I am a fan of Notre Dame home games under the lights & If I have one Notre Dame away game to be played at night, it would be 9/18/27 at Michigan State to benefit NBC.
Oh good, another MAC team… that helps.
MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE NO DOUBT..LMAO
Can’t wait to get BYU will see how bad they are when it is in South Bend pay back will be so sweet 💯
Just a reminder that next season’s game (2027) between BYU and Notre Dame in South Bend will be between two different squads than the ones that met last Saturday. Unless this season’s squad are to be scheduled to meet in the upcoming playoffs these two squads (2026) will NEVER meet again. Whatever was lost by Notre Dame, from this season’s BYU defeat, will not be requitted from a victory net season.
Irish Illustrated podcast suggested the Sunday night Labor Day weekend game is going to be against Oregon at SoFi Stadium next season in another schedule change to come.
That would be
1. Wild
2. Pretty exciting (assuming the Ducks right their ship)
But both ND and UO would have to drop/move games for 2027. I guess I’ll believe it when I see it.
Can anything be done to dignify this pitiful 2027 schedule?
Notre Dame 2027
Sept. 4: Purdue
Sept. 18: at Michigan State
Sept. 25: Auburn
Oct. 2: Kent State
Oct. 9: Wake Forest
Nov. 6: Virginia Tech
Nov. 13: at Clemson
Nov. 20: Navy
Nov. 27: at Stanford
TBA: BYU
TBA: Virginia
TBA: at Duke
All ACC teams could double their NIL money before the the early signing period/portal opens. Other than that, no.
So Notre Dame plays 10 power4 teams and two G6 teams. That’s 2 BIG10 teams, 1 SEC team, 1 BIG12 team, and 6 ACC teams. How many other teams can say that they played a team in every power4 conference???? Notre Dame plays teams in 2027 that are currently 5-2, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, and an Auburn team that just beat Georgia and is 4-3. Those teams are only gonna get better next year. Also, unlike the rest of all the power4 teams, Notre Dame NEVER plays junior high school teams like The Citadel, Bucknell, Eastern Illinois, Florida A&M, Mercer. Wofford, Furman, and Chattanooga every single freaking season.