Notre Dame football to play Auburn Tigers in home-and-home in 2027, 2028

Notre Dame has played two opponents it had never previously appeared on the football field against this season in Arkansas and Boise State. The Fighting Irish get to check another box on the never played ’em before list in 2027.

And it’s a big box at that.

According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, confirmed by On3’s Brett McMurphy, Notre Dame and Auburn have agreed to a home-and-home series for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. The Tigers trek to South Bend to play at Notre Dame Stadium in 2027, and the Irish will return the favor and play at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2028.

Notre Dame later announced actual dates for the games in an official release. The game in South Bend will be on Sept. 25, 2027, and the game in Auburn takes place on Oct. 28, 2028.

Auburn is the eighth team to be added to Notre Dame’s 2027 schedule, joining Purdue, Michigan State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Navy.

As for 2028, Notre Dame is now set to play Auburn in addition to Texas, Arkansas, Purdue, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Navy, Boston College, Miami and Pitt. That’s 10 teams, meaning the Irish only need two more to round out that season’s regular season schedule.

Notre Dame also has 10 teams on the schedule for 2026 so far; Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State, Purdue, North Carolina, Navy, Florida State, Miami, SMU and Syracuse.

Notre Dame hasn’t had any issues scheduling big-time opponents for future seasons even in the name, image and likeness (NIL) and super conference era. The Irish have long been a major non-conference draw for programs from premier conferences, and that has not changed.

The Texas game mentioned above, for instance, is a part of a home-and-home. The 2028 game is set to be played in South Bend. The Irish will then travel to Texas to face the Longhorns in Austin in 2029.

Also in 2029, Notre Dame is scheduled to host Alabama. A return trip to Tuscaloosa to play at the home venue of the Crimson Tide is in order for 2030.

Also of note, Notre Dame is scheduled to play Florida in “The Swamp” in 2032 to repay the Gators for coming ti South Bend in 2031. In 2033, the Irish head to The Big House to face Michigan. The Wolverines head down to South Bend the following year.

All of those schedule tidbits serve to hammer home the point, Notre Dame is not at any risk of not having marquee matchups on future schedules. Athletics director Pete Bevacqua is making them happen, even if a lot in the landscape of the sport can change between now and then.