What We Think: Indiana vs. Notre Dame Series

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Image: Indiana University Athletics

Image: Indiana University Athletics

The big IU football news this week centered around the Hoosiers and Irish setting a home-and-home date in 2030 and 2031. The Hoosier Huddle writers all had different opinions on the series that is still nine seasons away. Here are their takes:

T.J. Inman

At first glance, Indiana University playing a home and home series against Notre Dame is very exciting. Notre Dame is a national brand and definitely one of the "blue bloods" of the sport. I just find it incredibly difficult to get excited about something that won't occur until 2030 and 2031! It's tough to gauge where I'll be in life, let alone what state the Indiana or Notre Dame football programs will be in. Schools should not need to schedule out a decade in advance, something the adjustments made during the pandemic proved.

That being said, I am happy that IU is going to get the opportunity to play a blue blood program with a ton of cache in the state. Beating Notre Dame would resonate with people, no matter how good or bad the Fighting Irish are by that time. I am also happy that it is a home and home. That means a guaranteed hot ticket in Bloomington plus a memorable trip to South Bend. There are things that I don't love about this series though. Mainly, if Indiana is going to play a blue blood, why not play someone in an area of the country where it could really benefit recruiting? Maybe take on the Florida Gators or Florida State Seminoles or Miami Hurricanes? Perhaps play the Georgia Bulldogs as you try to get more involved in that hot bed of talent? Scheduling is difficult and I'm not going to be critical of something that has a lot of merits and will be very exciting come 2030. It's hard to muster much of an opinion at all about anything not occurring until all three of my kids will be either in high school or approaching it...I don't want to feel that old quite yet!

Andrew Walker

I’ve got some thoughts on the upcoming 2030 IU vs. ND football series. Parity in college football will allow, eventually, for some teams who aren’t Alabama, Clemson, *Notre Dame*, Ohio State, and a few others, to become the top dog. Will Indiana ever draw the right numbers in the CFB lottery to ever take over the mantle as a championship contender year in and year out? Perhaps, perhaps not. Only time will tell. 

Time brings me to my next point though. This series is literally nine years away from right now. More can happen in nine years than we like to admit. Maybe the class of 2028 or 2029 will be better than today’s NFL players and Indiana will just so happen to get a majority of the phenoms. Maybe a current fourth grader will light up ND on their home turf and score four rushing touchdowns in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus. 

The only thing for sure that anyone from either school can be excited for are the schools playing the series. There’s absolutely no way to tell how well either of the teams will be playing nine years from now. Am I still excited? Yes.

Zach Green

  • It shows how Tom Allen is building a reputation at IU and getting respect from across the country.

  • Impossible to know how both teams will do in 10 years, but the game will generate a buzz

  • It could be the first of many non-conference games scheduled if the program keeps trending in the right direction

  • So many things could change in between now and the game

  • IT Shows IU athletic department is expecting the team to be outstanding in 10 + years

Amanda Pavelka

I’d much rather a non-conference game pose a challenge than be looked at as a cupcake and there are few games I love watching more than rivalry games.

The IU-ND game is nearly a decade away, but I truly believe the program’s success will continue, especially with the current staff— guys like Scott Dolson who are fully invested in the mission to make IU football great again.

Sammy Jacobs

It’s a long way off and I have been outspoken about IU’s non-conference scheduling strategy in the past. I don’t share the same enthusiasm as most fans. A lot will depend on what the Big Ten does with conference games. The nine-game schedule has handcuffed many teams’ schedule flexibility. I always say schedule three wins, the Big Ten is strong enough, but I can see the upside of this game. Who knows what the IU program will look like in 2030 and 2031. The fans want it, so give it to them. It’s a much better series than Navy, Missouri or a 2-for-1 with Bowling Green or Akron.