After more than a decade of waiting, BYU is finally getting its long-anticipated shot at Notre Dame. The two storied programs announced a home-and-home football series on Monday, with the Irish set to visit Provo in 2026 and the Cougars making the return trip to South Bend in 2027.
And make no mistake-this isn’t just another pair of non-conference matchups. This is a long-overdue meeting between two teams with unfinished business.
Let’s rewind for a second. BYU and Notre Dame were supposed to square off this postseason in the Pop-Tarts Bowl down in Orlando.
That was the plan. That was the matchup.
But then Notre Dame opted out. No bowl game.
No explanation that satisfied fans. Just a quiet exit from the postseason picture.
It left BYU hanging, and it left a bad taste in a lot of mouths.
So yeah, when news broke that the Cougars and Irish were finally locking in a home-and-home, it felt like more than just a scheduling update. It felt like some long-awaited accountability.
The last time these two met on the field was back in 2013-at Notre Dame. That followed a 2012 game, also in South Bend.
The original agreement between the schools included a return trip to Provo, but that game never materialized. Notre Dame never made the trip west, and the series quietly faded into the background.
Until now.
In 2026, Notre Dame will finally play at LaVell Edwards Stadium, and that game is already shaping up to be one of the biggest home matchups in BYU history. The Irish don’t travel west often, and when they do, it’s usually for marquee matchups.
This one fits the bill. A national brand coming to face a rising Big 12 program on its home turf?
That’s the kind of game that defines a season-and maybe even a new era.
The 2027 return trip to South Bend will be special, too. There’s always something iconic about playing in Notre Dame Stadium.
But let’s be honest: the real headline here is the Irish coming to Utah. That’s the date BYU fans will have circled in red ink.
This is the kind of series that signals where BYU is headed. Since joining the Power Four ranks, the Cougars have been looking for opportunities to prove they belong among college football’s elite.
This is one of those chances. A national spotlight.
A blue-blood opponent. A chance to show they can go toe-to-toe with the game’s most tradition-rich programs-and maybe even push Notre Dame a little closer to the conference conversation.
Notre Dame may have opted out of this year’s bowl game, but there’s no opting out of this home-and-home. This time, the Irish have to show up-and BYU will be waiting.