July 6, 2017
NOTRE DAME, Indiana – The University of Notre Dame and the University of Arkansas, two historically prominent names on the college football landscape, will meet for the first time on the football field in 2020 when the Razorbacks come to Notre Dame Stadium.
The Irish return the game in 2025 when Notre Dame travels to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville to play Arkansas.
Dates of the games are Sept. 12, 2020, at Notre Dame and Oct. 4, 2025, at Arkansas.
“This two-game series will provide our program with another opportunity to play a top-caliber foe from the Southeastern Conference,” said Dick Corbett Head Football Coach at the University of Notre Dame Brian Kelly. “Coach (Bret) Bielema is a tremendous coach and his teams have always played a physical style of football. I know our team and fans will be excited to play the Razorbacks.”
Arkansas is one of four Southeastern Conference programs that has never faced the Irish in football (also Auburn, Kentucky and Mississippi State). Among 45 previous meetings between Notre Dame and SEC teams, the most prominent opponents for the Irish have been LSU (11 games), Tennessee (eight) and Alabama (seven). Notre Dame 11 times has faced a current SEC member in a postseason bowl game-three times each versus Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M (the A&M games came when the Aggies played in the Southwest Conference) and one each against Georgia and Florida.
“Whenever we have an opponent come to Notre Dame Stadium for the first time, there’s another layer of interest in the game. The same is true for our program and fans when we play away from home at a first-time venue,” says Notre Dame vice president and James E. Rohr athletics director Jack Swarbrick. “That is especially likely to be true of these games given the quality and tradition of the two programs.”
Arkansas becomes the third SEC opponent added recently to future Irish schedules: –Notre Dame plays Georgia in 2017 (at Notre Dame) and 2019 (at Athens). –The Irish meet Texas A&M in 2024 (at College Station) and 2025 (at Notre Dame).
— ND —