Notre Dame’s 2027 schedule got a new wrinkle this week, and it came with a tougher opponent than the one that slipped away.
Virginia has been added as the Fighting Irish’s 12th game in 2027, replacing Georgia Tech after the Yellow Jackets backed out of their trip to South Bend. The Cavaliers will host Notre Dame at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va., on a date that has not yet been announced.
The change came after Georgia Tech said earlier this month it would no longer play at Notre Dame in 2027 because of ACC scheduling adjustments. Starting in 2027, 16 of the league’s 17 teams will play nine conference games, and every ACC program will be required to face 10 Power 4 opponents.
Notre Dame already had 12 games on the books for that season before the switch, and a few pieces still remain unsettled. The Irish still do not know the exact date for their home game against BYU, and the road dates against Virginia and Duke have not been finalized. As things stand, Notre Dame is scheduled for six home games, five road games and one neutral-site game in Charlotte, N.C., against Wake Forest.
The Irish and Cavaliers have not met often despite Notre Dame’s long-standing scheduling arrangement with the ACC. The schools have played five times, and Notre Dame has won every meeting.
That run started with the 1989 Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, N.J., and continued with trips to Charlottesville in 2015 and 2021, plus home games in 2019 and 2024. Notre Dame won the most recent matchup, 35-14, last season.
From a schedule standpoint, the swap works in Notre Dame’s favor. Virginia finished 11-3 and led the ACC standings in the regular season last year, and it is 3-1 and 1-0 in the conference this season. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, has taken a step back after losing dual-threat quarterback Haynes King.
In Other News...
Aneyas Williams May Have Just Seized Back Notre Dames Backfield
Aneyas Williams has worked his way back into the middle of Notre Dames backfield picture after an early-season sideline flare-up that briefly overshadowed his role. Williams started the year as the Fighting Irishs primary running back, then found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons after a flagged touchdown celebration led to a tense exchange with head coach Marcus Freeman. Freeman later apologized for his reaction, and Williams took responsibility for the mistake while making clear the relationship remained intact.
Since then, the backfield has shifted again, and Williams has reclaimed the starting job after the previous starter struggled. For Notre Dame, it is a reminder that the rotation is still very much in flux, but also that Williams has the kind of resilience to turn an awkward moment into an opportunity. The situation never seemed likely to define the season, and now it looks more like a detour than a turning point. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Offense Faces Two Pressure Points Against North Carolina
Notre Dames offense is heading into a matchup with a North Carolina defense that figures to ask plenty of questions, and Mike Denbrocks unit has a couple of pressure points to sort out before kickoff. The Irish have been effective in stretches, but this feels like the kind of game where the details at a few key spots will matter just as much as the overall game plan.
The slot receiver work and the play at offensive guard stand out as the areas worth watching, especially against a defense with enough strength to test both. If Notre Dame wants to keep its unbeaten run intact, those matchups could go a long way toward determining whether the offense looks smooth or spends the night fighting for every advantage. [Read more 🡒]
Xavier Watts Is Making Teams Regret Letting Him Slide
Xavier Watts has wasted no time reminding the league why he was such a prized playmaker at Notre Dame. Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round, the former Fighting Irish safety has carried over the same ball-hawking instincts that made him a two-time consensus All-American, and he has quickly become one of the NFLs most productive defensive backs since arriving.
Through three games this season, Watts already has 16 tackles and an interception, a steady continuation of the rookie year he put together with 96 tackles and five picks. He has led all NFL defensive backs in interceptions since entering the league, which is the kind of early return that makes teams revisit draft-day decisions and wonder how he kept slipping past them. [Read more 🡒]