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SOUTH BEND — Southern Methodist University and Notre Dame haven’t met on the football field in 35 years.
That drought ends in 2026, thanks to Wednesday’s scheduling announcement from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Mustangs, ranked 13th in this week’s College Football Playoff Top 25, have agreed to visit South Bend on an unspecified date at Notre Dame Stadium in 2026. SMU replaces Virginia on the schedule, as the Cavaliers wished to complete a two-game non-league series with neighboring West Virginia.
Virginia (4-4) plays at 10th-ranked Notre Dame on Nov. 16.
SMU (8-1) is in its first season since joining the ACC under conference realignment. Notre Dame holds a 10-3 all-time edge in the series, including wins of 59-6 in 1989 and 61-29 in 1986.
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Those blowouts bracketed SMU’s so-called “death penalty” for recruiting violations that resulted in the cancelation of its 1987 football season.
SMU’s last win over Notre Dame came in the 1984 Aloha Bowl by a 27-20 score. Before that, a series that began in 1930 with an Irish home win hadn’t been contested since a 10-game run from 1949-58.
Under its annual scheduling partnership with the ACC, Notre Dame’s 2026 schedule also includes home games against league members Miami, Louisville and Syracuse along with a trip to Florida State. Dates for those games have yet to be announced.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football swaps Virginia for SMU on 2026 home slate
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/smu-added-notre-dame-footballs-203658280.html
Author : South Bend Tribune
Publish date : 2024-11-06 20:36:58
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