Tim Hyde analyzes what Notre Dame vs. Clemson series means for Irish football
On May 6, news broke that Notre Dame and Clemson had agreed to a 12-game home-and-home series from 2027 to 2038. The powerhouse programs were already set for matchups in 2027–28, 2031, 2034, and 2037 as part of the ACC scheduling agreement, but now the two schools have their own deal in place.
In a YouTube live show the day after the news came out, Blue & Gold analyst Tim Hyde reacted.
“It’s great football,” Hyde said. “It came out a few months ago that Notre Dame would be playing those three iconic ACC brands (Florida State, Miami and Clemson) more often, and now this Clemson series news breaks.
“Even if Dabo [Swinney] leaves, Clemson is entrenched. He’s built that program. It’s like Bobby Bowden [from FSU]. Even though FSU has had some bad years, they won a national championship since he retired. Clemson can still be that when Dabo leaves.”
There’s no shortage of speculation that the Fighting Irish’s annual series with USC could be ending in the coming years. Notre Dame doesn’t play Michigan and Michigan State as much as it used to. And then rivalries with programs such as Navy, Army, Purdue, Boston College and Pittsburgh don’t have a ton of allure nationally.
However, a rivalry between Notre Dame and Clemson for the next dozen years could be intriguing, especially considering the programs have history together.
“Damn good football,” Hyde continued. “You have the legendary Joe Montana game in the ’70s. Notre Dame has only won one game at Clemson. They’ve lost a handful of games since then.”
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The Tigers and Fighting Irish have played eight times, with two games occurring in the 1970s. Hyde mentioned the 1977 game, in which the Dan Devine-led Irish went into Memorial Stadium and knocked off Clemson. Two years later, Clemson went into South Bend and bested Notre Dame.
The programs didn’t meet again until 2015, when Dabo Swinney’s squad narrowly beat the Irish 24-22 in Clemson. The Tigers thrashed Notre Dame in the College Football Playoffs in 2018, and the teams split victories in the 2020 series. Notre Dame beat Clemson in overtime but fell to the Tigers in the ACC Championship during the COVID-19 season.
Notre Dame knocked off Clemson 35-14 under Marcus Freeman in 2022, but the Tigers beat Sam Hartman and the Irish the following year in Memorial Stadium.
“We strive to consistently create a football schedule that positions us for success in the College Football Playoff, and that goal requires us to form historic partnerships like this one with Clemson,” said Notre Dame Vice President and James E. Rohr Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua in a statement. “This rivalry has already produced some of the most memorable moments in recent college football history, and our fans deserve these matchups to continue to make those indelible memories.”
Hyde doesn’t want to see this rivalry become part of the Shamrock Series.
“They both have great stadiums,” he said. “Clemson and Notre Dame are among the top 10 in the country. I don’t see these games being played at the Colts’ or Panthers’ stadiums.”
