In a seismic shift in college football’s scheduling landscape, the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have agreed to a historic home-and-home series, a matchup that will pit two of the sport’s most tradition-rich programs against each other on their respective campuses for the first time in decades.
The “Clash of Champions,” as it has been dubbed, is set for the 2029 and 2030 seasons, a revival of a storied rivalry long dormant in the regular season.
The announcement came with the blessing and public support of Alabama’s new head coach, Kalen DeBoer, who in a surprise move, was instrumental in finalizing the deal.
DeBoer, known for his calm demeanor and strategic approach, has already made a significant mark on the program, and this move is seen as a statement of intent for his tenure. “The history between these two programs is undeniable,” DeBoer said in a joint statement. “We are committed to giving our players and our fans the best possible experience, and that means playing the best competition in the most iconic venues.
Notre Dame is a cornerstone of college football history, and this series is an incredible opportunity for both programs.”
This series marks a departure from the recent trend of neutral-site matchups between college football’s bluebloods and is a return to the roots of the game, celebrating the pageantry and on-campus atmosphere that makes the sport so beloved.
Notre Dame will host the first game at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2029. The following year, on September 14, 2030, the Irish will travel to Tuscaloosa to play at Bryant-Denny Stadium, a venue the Fighting Irish have never visited. The last time the teams played a home-and-home series was in 1986 and 1987.
The rivalry itself is steeped in lore, defined by a handful of legendary games that have shaped the course of college football history. The most famous, of course, is the 1973 Sugar Bowl, a true “Game of the Century” between Bear Bryant’s undefeated, top-ranked Crimson Tide and Ara Parseghian’s third-ranked Fighting Irish. Notre Dame’s dramatic 24-23 victory, sealed by a last-second field goal, cemented a national championship for the Irish and remains one of the most celebrated upsets in the sport.
While Notre Dame holds a 5-3 lead in the all-time series, the most recent matchups have been decidedly in Alabama’s favor. The Crimson Tide dominated the 2013 BCS National Championship Game and the 2021 Rose Bowl (a College Football Playoff semifinal), both neutral-site contests.
The home-and-home series promises to inject a new level of passion and intensity into the rivalry, with fans from both sides getting a chance to experience the legendary traditions of their opponent’s campus.
Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame’s Vice President and Director of Athletics, echoed the enthusiasm. “This is a win for college football fans everywhere,” Swarbrick stated. “These are two programs with incredible legacies, and playing a series on campus is the right thing to do.
It’s an honor to host Alabama in South Bend, and our trip to Tuscaloosa will be an unforgettable experience for our student-athletes and our fans.”
With the new College Football Playoff format and the ongoing conference realignments, the future of college football is in a state of flux. However, this announcement serves as a beacon of stability, proving that some of the sport’s most cherished traditions can still endure. The “Clash of Champions” is more than just a football series; it is a statement that the heart and soul of college football the rivalry, the history, and the on-campus experience will always be a priority.
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