Indiana football series with Notre Dame, scheduled for 2030-31, canceled

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana’s scheduled nonconference series with Notre Dame, which would’ve seen the two football programs trade games on their respective campuses in 2030 and 2031, has been canceled.

A source confirmed the move to IndyStar on Monday afternoon. What IU intends to do with its now-open nonconference dates remains to be seen.

Nonconference scheduling philosophy has been a point of contention surrounding Indiana football, as the Hoosiers rose to national prominence under coach Curt Cignetti. Initially designed to make the path to bowl eligibility more straightforward, it has been criticized as too soft, as IU transformed into a championship-contending program.

Cignetti inherited that philosophy, which saw IU shorten or cancel series with programs including Louisville, UConn and Virginia, and he’s supported it since his hiring. Athletic director Scott Dolson has consistently said his department will remain flexible in nonconference scheduling while the future size and format of the College Football Playoff remains in flux.

Still, there was a sense in Bloomington that the Hoosiers wanted to keep Notre Dame — a more prestigious, if also more challenging, opponent — on its future schedules. Monday’s move says otherwise.

Notre Dame restored its longstanding series with Southern Cal on Monday, with the first two games scheduled for Week 1 in 2030 and 2031, the same years the Fighting Irish were scheduled to play Indiana.

IU opens its 2026 season with North Texas at home Sept. 5.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana football series with Notre Dame, scheduled for 2030-31, canceled