Clemson, Notre Dame finalize 12-year football scheduling deal

Clemson and Notre Dame have finalized a 12-year football scheduling agreement to play each other annually from 2027 through 2038, marking Notre Dame’s first new long-term series since 2002. This independent arrangement, which counts toward Notre Dame’s five ACC games per season, strengthens both programs’ schedules with a marquee matchup and aims to boost television ratings as the ACC shifts to a revenue model partly based on viewership. The two teams have a history of high-profile, competitive games, including memorable postseason meetings and regular-season contests where both were nationally ranked. Notre Dame’s athletic director emphasized the importance of these games for playoff positioning, while Clemson’s leadership highlighted the rivalry’s appeal to fans and TV audiences. The agreement also reflects a broader ACC strategy to pit its premier brands against each other more frequently and offers both schools flexibility amid evolving conference scheduling landscapes. This move counters concerns that expanded playoffs might lead to fewer marquee regular-season matchups, instead ensuring high-profile games remain central to college football.