Report: Details emerge regarding Notre Dame payout to Tennessee State

When Notre Dame takes on Tennessee State in 2023, it’ll come at a cost for the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame is paying the Tennessee State a guaranteed $1 million for the matchup, according to The Tennesseean’s Mike Organ. It’s the largest payout the Tigers will receive for a buy game in program history, Organ reported. The game will take place at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 2, 2023.

It’ll mark the first time Notre Dame ever plays an HBCU program, in addition to the Fighting Irish’s first-ever matchup with an FCS team. The game will also be nationally televised on NBC as part of Notre Dame’s agreement with the network.

More on Notre Dame vs. Tennessee State in 2023

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick released a statement after the initial announcement regarding the historic matchup, expressing his excitement for the historic occasion.

“I’m thrilled we’re able to bring the Tigers and the Irish together for a weekend that will feature programs with over 20 combined national titles, the Aristocrat of Bands and the Band of the Fighting Irish,” Swarbrick said.

Tennessee State coach Eddie George also spoke about the magnitude of coaching at Notre Dame Stadium — a place he knows well. His son played for Vanderbilt, and he was at the Commodores’ game against the Fighting Irish in 2018.

“I had the opportunity to come here as a fan, my son played for Vanderbilt, I think about four or five years ago, they came up and played Notre Dame and it was an awesome experience as a fan and as a father,” George said. “Now, as a head coach, bringing my kids up here a year from now, September 2023, is going to be great.

“So I feel honored and I feel blessed to have this opportunity to play a storied program like Notre Dame. For them to make this happen — never played an HBCU or an FCS team in the school’s history — it’s just remarkable that they would choose us to try to make this happen. It’s history.”