Notre Dame football reveals ‘Irish Wear Green’ game date
Fighting Irish football fans will have to break out their green gear on Sept. 28. On Thursday, the Irish revealed their Week 5 matchup against Louisville would be the “Irish Wear Green” game.
In the Marcus Freeman era, Notre Dame wore green jerseys during both previous “Irish Wear Green” games. The first was a 24-17 victory over California on Sept. 17, 2022, which marked Freeman’s first win as head coach. Last year, they wore all-green uniforms in primetime against Ohio State on Sept. 23, 2023. The Irish fell in that game, 17-14.
Before Freeman took over, the last time Notre Dame wore green jerseys was when it faced Florida State at home in 2018. The Irish beat the Seminoles 42-13.
In this year’s edition, Notre Dame will look to avenge last season’s loss to Louisville. Last year, the then-No. 19 Cardinals took down Freeman’s squad, ranked No. 14 at the time, 33-20. Peacock will have exclusive television coverage of this year’s game.
History of Notre Dame football’s green jerseys
The Irish most famously wore green jerseys during ‘The Green Jersey Game’ against No. 5 Southern Cal at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 22, 1977. Notre Dame — ranked No. 11 at the time — ended up beating the Trojans 49-19 in front of 59,075 fans. After that game, the Irish went on to win their 10th national championship.
Notre Dame is 35-12-1 when wearing green jerseys since 1977.
Many historians suggest the first time the Irish wore “green shirts” was in 1921 when Notre Dame faced Iowa on the road. At the time, Coach Knute Rockne theorized that the green jerseys would help his passers better locate their receivers so a wardrobe change became routine when playing teams of similar color schemes.
Until ‘The Green Jersey Game’ in 1977, the Irish sporadically wore the green uniforms over the previous 56 years. A complete historical report of those games can be found in a piece written by Blue & Gold writer Todd Burlage here.
How Notre Dame announced the 2024 ‘Irish Wear Green’ game
On Thursday, Notre Dame announced the 2024 ‘Irish Wear Green’ game with a promotional video on its X account. In the video, Freeman Facetime called WWE wrestler “Sheamus — an Ireland native — to reveal the news and invite him to the game.
“On Sept. 28, we’re playing Louisville, which is going to be a crazy game — sold out,” Freeman said.
Sheamus told Freeman he would attend the game if he does not have a wrestling event.
“I am so pumped for this team,” Sheamus said. “I am so pumped that you’re leading them — we have a great leader in you. So, I am just excited. We are a few weeks away from the season, and there hasn’t been this much excitement in a long time.
“It’s going to be a banger — banger, after banger, after banger, after banger.”
