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Future Schedules

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3FW

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Love looking at the future schedules. Nice next 3 Labor Day weekend games. At South Carolina in 2026 and in Vegas v Utah in 2027. 2026 is tough. @Gamecocks, @Clemson, @Notre Dame. Auburn on the scheduled end of Decade and some big announcements coming I would guess.
 
I'm still bummed the BYU home and home got nixed. My buddies and I were looking forward to showing the Mormons in Provost how we tailgate, even with their alcohol restrictions.
 
wdk3618 said:
I'm still bummed the BYU home and home got nixed. My buddies and I were looking forward to showing the Mormons in Provost how we tailgate, even with their alcohol restrictions.
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Make sure to order an appetizer first, **** Utah
 
man, put a game in Spain. I'm sick of flying back to MIA to watch the big games.

I'll settle for the ****** Dolphins here in the Bernabeu in Madrid this year :sneaky:
 
How does ND manage to always get 2x the home games against us?

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ssvir said:
How does ND manage to always get 2x the home games against us?

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Replied to you elsewhere but just reiterating for anybody else wondering: our ‘26 road game @ ND was supposed to be played in ‘24 which is why they get three straight road games on us. We had 5 out of conference games scheduled for 2024.

In July 2010, our athletic department for the first of two instances let ND take advantage of them while we were at a low point. Led by current AD of Texas Tech, Kirby Hochutt, Miami announced a three game series with Notre Dame—who they would go on to lose to in a 2010 bowl game w/ interim Jeff Stoutland leading the way against 1st year HC Brian Kelly.

The three game series worked like this: a 2012 Soldier Field matchup, and a 2016 + 2017 home & home. Obviously, things have changed so much with schedule optimization, that ND x Wisconsin’s Aug 2017 deal was a 2021 matchup at Soldier Field and a 2026 opener at Lambeau Stadium. Miami would get manhandled in 2012 after a series of Dorsett drops killed their momentum, yet not Dorsett’s who would greatly improve after the fact. The 2016 matchup was a one possession game, close loss, while the 2017 home game was an immaculate conception — even louder than the 2013 victory against UF — that Hard Rock was a hardcore home for the hurricanes.

In October 2014, with Blake James at the helm, Miami held their own. As ND’s partnership with the ACC grew, the three parties jointly announced a home and home agreement for 2024 & 2025. In December 2016, Catholics v Convicts is released on the heels of successful ‘The U’ 30 for 30s circa dec 2009 and part 2 in dec 2014.


The timing of the second abuse is critical. Before Miami beat ND and people fell in love with the turnover chain, ND announced a two decade long partnership with the ACC in May of 2017. ND wanted it ironed out that they would dictate who they get to play, and in return, UNC alum John Swofford, made sure to include many UNC-ND matchups in the agreement. The agreement wasn’t completely one-sided, as the ACC benefits from having ND as a member + half-member in football (5 or 6 matchups annually).

The agreement screwed FSU and Miami. ND wanted to play the 3 best programs — Miami, Clemson, and FSU — as well as historical opponents in Boston College and Pittsburgh. Same goes for Stanford once they were added. Swofford agreed to ND’s demands because he didn’t give af about us. ND added 5 games against FSU and Miami—two actual, factual ACC members, with 3 home games and 2 road games for ND in each agreement. Blake James was still our AD and he let them do it; not sure wtf was going on at FSU while this happened.

As stated earlier, we had already scheduled a home and home for ‘24 + ‘25 before this 5-game pact was added on (@ ND for 2028, 2031, 2037; @ home for 2032 & 2034). Clemson being the reigning champions at the time, were able to get a package that included 4 home games for Clemson and four away games at ND. ND wanted tougher matchups, but despite the rivalry with UM, no previous matchups w/ Clemson, and being 6-6 against FSU at the time, FSU and UM were the ones who got the short end of the stick. Ofc, ND and the ACC announced it as 30 home games and 30 away for ND; not showing their slight of hand in damaging UM + FSU.

Pittsburgh and ND each got 4 home games apiece. ND threw the ACC a bone by giving Boston College three home games and ND two home games, because ND doesn’t fear road games at BC. North Carolina and ND each got three home games as apart of their series.

The state of Florida is so important to ND’s recruiting efforts and alumni base that they scheduled home and homes w/ both UF and USF for the near-future.
 
As the national hatathon continues surrounding The U, it is important to remember these facts about our 2026 schedule.



First Fact: Miami and BYU scheduled a home & home in the summer of 2021 set to be played in 2026 and 2028. Miami would’ve been the away team in 2026. BYU canceled the matchup early 2023 because they were preparing to rearrange things as they moved into the Big XII Monster Energy™️ League. Nearly three years later, they scheduled a home and home with Notre Dame; after ND and USC couldn’t agree to terms surrounding their 2026 matchup; even though it was a home game for USC! Catholics vs Mormons in 2026 is really just about their playoff snubs in 2025. Anyways….



Second Fact: In December of 2019, USCe and Miami scheduled a home and home series for 2026 and 2027. Miami would’ve been the road team in 2026. This agreement and the BYU agreement were prior to the rearrangement of Miami’s away game at ND in 2024 going to 2026.

That series was mutually agreed to be cancelled early October of 2025. South Carolina was on a bye week. They were 3-2; beating South Carolina state, VT (Pry fired), and Kentucky most recently; yet lost to Vanderbilt and Missouri. USCe finished 4-8 and Beamer is coaching for his job in 2026. Miami was also on their bye week. They were undefeated, and ranked #2 in the country. The ACC announced they were moving to a 9-game schedule a few weeks prior; while the SEC did so first in June of 2025. That additionally, heavily, contributed to the cancellation, i imagine.
 
Is the enemy of our enemy our friend? No, not really, but there is an opportunity for us to schedule two blockbuster matchups.

After ND finessed John Swofford to 💩 on FSU and UM by giving them only two home games against ND while ND got 3 against both, Miami could do the funniest thing to **** them off & swap opponents w/ them.

USC is one of the few p4 programs with an open slot in 2027 and 2028; like us. They are also amongst a smaller group of schools without a p4 opponent in 2027 and 2028. And, each of the p4 schools will be required to play 10 p4 teams starting next year.

We play Troy at home and Utah in Vegas in 2027, and ND away (again) + USF at home in 2028. Seems like the perfect opportunity to go to LA in 2027 and then setup a marquee home matchup in 2028 for us.
 
2027 ACC-Home Games: GT, Louisville, Cal, UVA

2027 ACC-Away Games: Duke, Pitt, NC State, VT, and FSU


Still would be dope to schedule a home and home with USC for the open slots. Given we only have four ACC home games in 2027, and thus meaning we will have five ACC home games in 2028, we’d have to host USC in ‘27 and go there in ‘28. Not sure we’d do that w/ ND being an away game in ‘28, but I hope we consider it. Not expecting a premier matchup yet you never know. . . Texas Tech is another program w/ an Open date that’d be a cool matchup for a home & home in ‘27 and ‘28.

Mario hates these non-Saturday games, however, I feel like the ACC did right by us in 2026. No away conference matchups in November is big. California trip outta the way early, and three home games to end the season w/ the easiest one being the post-Thanksgiving finale.

The weekday games also give us extra spotlight early on, having our highlights being shown all day at other networks on Saturday morning as well as during the Friday post-FAMU (I’m unsure who controls scheduling dates for non-conference games; since the ACC didn’t pick Thursday for FAMU, I have to imagine someone at UM — maybe Dan before he left — preferred that setup).

Doubt we have multiple weekday games next year bcuz as Mario says goes but i don’t mind it.
 
cookies said:
2027 ACC-Home Games: GT, Louisville, Cal, UVA

2027 ACC-Away Games: Duke, Pitt, NC State, VT, and FSU


Still would be dope to schedule a home and home with USC for the open slots. Given we only have four ACC home games in 2027, and thus meaning we will have five ACC home games in 2028, we’d have to host USC in ‘27 and go there in ‘28. Not sure we’d do that w/ ND being an away game in ‘28, but I hope we consider it. Not expecting a premier matchup yet you never know. . . Texas Tech is another program w/ an Open date that’d be a cool matchup for a home & home in ‘27 and ‘28.

Mario hates these non-Saturday games, however, I feel like the ACC did right by us in 2026. No away conference matchups in November is big. California trip outta the way early, and three home games to end the season w/ the easiest one being the post-Thanksgiving finale.

The weekday games also give us extra spotlight early on, having our highlights being shown all day at other networks on Saturday morning as well as during the Friday post-FAMU (I’m unsure who controls scheduling dates for non-conference games; since the ACC didn’t pick Thursday for FAMU, I have to imagine someone at UM — maybe Dan before he left — preferred that setup).

Doubt we have multiple weekday games next year bcuz as Mario says goes but i don’t mind it.
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my guess we put in FAMu for 27 or Bethune in the open slot. we have troy scheduled and neutral site against Utah for 27
 
hoops156 said:
my guess we put in FAMu for 27 or Bethune in the open slot. we have troy scheduled and neutral site against Utah for 27
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It’s def possible we go FCS again. Not a guarantee though.

We already had USCe scheduled for a home game in 2027 when we added that neutral-site Utah matchup on the schedule. We also were willing to play both USCe and BYU both on the road in 2026; then afterwards, both USCe and ND when we had to push our ND road game from ‘24 to ‘26.

So we could schedule a 2027 home and 2028 away matchup with a p4 team if we want to; knowing that we already have an away matchup w/ ND in ‘28.

We didn’t know we’d go to a 9-game conference schedule when we scheduled the USCe home and home, and we also didn’t know that week 0 would become the new start of the season in 2027. Unsure if they’ll move that Vegas date up to week 0 or not; or if Miami will even start the season that week.
 
cookies said:
It’s def possible we go FCS again. Not a guarantee though.

We already had USCe scheduled for a home game in 2027 when we added that neutral-site Utah matchup on the schedule. We also were willing to play both USCe and BYU both on the road in 2026; then afterwards, both USCe and ND when we had to push our ND road game from ‘24 to ‘26.

So we could schedule a 2027 home and 2028 away matchup with a p4 team if we want to; knowing that we already have an away matchup w/ ND in ‘28.

We didn’t know we’d go to a 9-game conference schedule when we scheduled the USCe home and home, and we also didn’t know that week 0 would become the new start of the season in 2027. Unsure if they’ll move that Vegas date up to week 0 or not; or if Miami will even start the season that week.
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theyre not scheduling a game before the Utah game. its a Labor Day weekend kick off bowl so doubt its being moved up (tourism dollars for the city).

I dont think we see another sec or b10 team bc both are cancelling future games against p4 teams.
 
hoops156 said:
theyre not scheduling a game before the Utah game. its a Labor Day weekend kick off bowl so doubt its being moved up (tourism dollars for the city).

I dont think we see another sec or b10 team bc both are cancelling future games against p4 teams.
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A lotta schools prob don’t wanna play us however i hope we test out an 11 p4 schedule. All the schools below need another power opponent. Nebraska, West Virginia, Washington, USC, Ole Miss, and Texas Tech would all be interesting potential home & home partners with us..

Not quite sure the AD wants the possibility of going three straight years (‘26, ‘27, ‘28) without a marquee ooc home matchup; especially after how invigorating ND + UF were. Louisville will be good, Cal has the star quarterback, VT is bringing in the necessary talent, GT is more up in the air but usually are talented still. However, none of those matchups against us are box-office. ‘26 and ‘28 have FSU at home, but who knows if FSU will even be good in ‘28 and we know they won’t be this year. We’re on the road again against ND for 2028, and even with five ACC home games in ‘28 it’s no guarantee of a marquee matchup.

My reference point is 2021 when we started the year with Alabama at Mercedes Benz Stadium in ATL to start, had FSU as a road game, then still had Michigan State at home. Nebraska would be a good home & home to schedule imo. They recruit a lot in this area, and they still need a p4 opponent for 2027.

Good call on the Utah game not being moved.

cookies said:
Not really. It def could end up being FCS tho, which would be a bummer.

The full list of P4 Programs w/ at least one ‘27 and ‘28 slot open and 6+ home games already scheduled include: Texas Tech, UVA, ND, USC, and Ole Miss.

All those schools except ND + UVA still need a tenth power conference opponent for both years as well. ND and UVA need a tenth power conference opponent solely for ‘27; they have 10 already for ‘28. Texas Tech has 6 home games lined up for 2027; USC has 7. USC has 5 home slots in ‘28, and two open schedule slots. TT has one open slot in ‘2028, and 7 game home games lined up.

Texas Tech is still looking for a power conference opponent for 2027, which will now be required after CFP confirms they are expanding to 24 (currently in an 30-day exclusive negotiating window with ESPN), and their AD used to be our own.

Separately; Indiana, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia, TCU, Kansas, and Arizona will need to cancel (a) future ‘27 & beyond matchup(s) to fulfill that new tenth power opponents requirement. That means this list of schools could schedule matches with the 5 listed above for 2027.

We’re unique in that we already have our future tenth matchups scheduled (Utah/@ND/AU/@AU), the ‘27 one is a neutral site game, and we have one slot available every year for the next four years.

Everyone else within the p4+ND not mentioned is good to go atm. G6+UCONN schools will obviously not have this requirement to get into the playoffs.
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