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Writer's pictureLuciano Antonini

Notre Dame Will Host SMU in 2026 in Place of Virginia

Updated: Nov 22

Notre Dame Football will replace Virginia with SMU for a 2026 regular season game according to the Atlantic Coast Conference

Photo by SMU Athletics


The ACC announced Wednesday afternoon that Notre Dame will host SMU at Notre Dame Stadium in 2026. The game has been scheduled in place of Notre Dame playing the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. This was done to allow Virginia to schedule a series with neighboring West Virginia. The Irish currently lead the series 10-3 all time against Southern Methodist (SMU), with the last matchup in 1989 being in Notre Dame’s favor.


The Mustangs are currently playing their first football season as a member of the ACC. SMU, Notre Dame rival Stanford, and Cal were added to the group for the 2024 and onward. Notre Dame currently has a agreement in place for all non-football and hockey athletic teams to be full-time members of the conference, while Hockey remains a member of th Big Ten, and Football has a agreement with the conference to play a set number of ACC teams every season, but prohibits Notre Dame from the possibility of being conference champions in football. The only time Notre Dame has ever been a full-time conference member for football was back in 2020 during the pandemic. Notre Dame went on to finish the regular season undefeated, ACC conference champion runner-ups, and participated in the College Football Playoff, which was the last time Notre Dame was apart of the CFP. The Irish are eyeing a bid to the newly expanded College Football Playoff this season.

Are you excited for this matchup? Let us know!


 

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