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Texas Retains Notre Dame Football Series

The Longhorns are set to face the Fighting Irish in 2028 and 2029 following expected national playoff expansions.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Football

Dynamic illustration of a college football tackle between players in Texas Longhorns and Notre Dame Fighting Irish team uniforms.
The University of Texas has confirmed its home-and-home football series against Notre Dame will proceed as scheduled in 2028 and 2029. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Longhorns fans can officially mark their calendars for a rematch against Notre Dame, as the University of Texas has confirmed its home-and-home series remains on the books for 2028 and 2029. The series continuation follows anticipated shifts in national college football structure that make high-profile non-conference scheduling more viable.

Why it matters

The return of a blue-blood opponent like Notre Dame to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium highlights the shifting landscape of college football scheduling. With a 24-team playoff expected to arrive in 2027, the university is doubling down on high-stakes matchups that were previously considered too risky for a team's postseason resume.

Notre Dame currently holds a 9-3 all-time record against the Longhorns. The last time the two teams faced off in Austin, Texas secured a 50-47 victory in 2016.

The players

University of Texas

The Austin-based public research university that manages the Longhorns football program.

Notre Dame

The Indiana-based university with a historically prominent college football program.

The details

The series retention is tied to the expected implementation of a 24-team College Football Playoff in 2027, which expands the margin for error for programs playing difficult schedules. Texas will travel to South Bend on September 9, 2028, before hosting the Fighting Irish back in Austin on September 22, 2029. These games preserve one of the most anticipated non-conference rivalries in college athletics.

Timeline

  1. Texas defeated Notre Dame in Austin in 2016.

  2. The 24-team College Football Playoff is expected to begin in 2027.

  3. Texas plays Notre Dame in South Bend on September 9, 2028.

  4. Texas plays Notre Dame in Austin on September 22, 2029.

The Texas Context

The return of the Notre Dame series aligns with the industry-wide move toward a 24-team College Football Playoff starting in 2027. This shift eases the pressure on programs to maintain perfect non-conference records, allowing Texas to prioritize high-profile games against traditional rivals.

Longhorns fans should prepare for a major influx of visitors when the Fighting Irish arrive in Austin for the September 2029 game. Expect increased demand for downtown lodging and stadium parking as the date approaches.

The takeaway

The return of this historic series signals a new era of aggressive scheduling for the Longhorns. Fans should monitor upcoming announcements regarding the 2027 playoff structure to understand how these non-conference games will influence post-season positioning.

Further reading

Find more coverage of the Longhorns on our Football page.

Source note: This article includes information reported by 247Sports.

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Should college football teams prioritize playing high-profile non-conference opponents despite the risk to playoff qualification?