Notre Dame announced that it has replaced Purdue on its future football schedules with a home-and-home series against Illinois for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
"This is a series I have wanted to get on the football schedule since I arrived in 2016," Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement. "It has been too long since these two tradition-rich programs have met, given our proximity, common values, and deep roots in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. We expect to see a lot of Orange and Blue next year in South Bend and believe the 2028 matchup in Champaign will be one of our most anticipated home games in decades."
The move comes after Purdue said it would Purdue announced it would pause the Boilermakers' rivalry series against Notre Dame and adding a 2027 road game against West Virginia.
Notre Dame was set to host the Boilers next year but instead will welcome Illinois on Sept. 4, 2027. The Irish will visit Illinois on Sept. 2, 2028.
According to ABC 7, part of the reason for the change is the aniticipation of a 24-team playoff and the Big Ten requiring its teams to face at least one Power 4 opponent in nonleague play.
