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BYU football: Notre Dame-Wisconsin series likely ends hope for return game

By Ron Jensen

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 15: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is seen during the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on October 15, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Stanford defeated Notre Dame 17-10. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 15: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is seen during the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on October 15, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Stanford defeated Notre Dame 17-10. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Athletic Director Tom Holmoe and BYU football fans have been holding out for four years to find out when Notre Dame would come to Provo.

That hope may have just died.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish typically like to have seven home games and five away games each season. The 2021 season had just four away contests scheduled until Sunday, when it was revealed the Irish and the Wisconsin Badgers would play at Soldier Field.

The announcement all but ends the agreement that Notre Dame made with BYU football back in 2010.

The next season in which the Irish have fewer than five away games scheduled is 2025. That makes a return game to Provo very unlikely.

Notre Dame does currently have six away games in 2020, so having more than five isn’t totally unheard of. But looking at their past schedules, it’s clear the Irish do this very rarely.

Originally, the Irish and BYU football agreed on a six-game series. Once the ACC reached a scheduling deal with Notre Dame, the series was cut down to three games.

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Now, it seems all but certain that three games is being cut down to two. Though it isn’t a huge surprise, it is a sad day for BYU football fans around the nation.

Part of the appeal of going Independent was to schedule games with top teams like Notre Dame. The scheduling announcement had Provo buzzing, so it really is too bad it never worked out.

Still, BYU football won’t be left empty handed.

In 2015, Holmoe told local Utah media that the two schools were “going to work it out one way or another.” He added that there would be a settlement if the Irish didn’t play the return game and that BYU football and Notre Dame would “part as friends.”

In 2016, Holmoe also addressed the Notre Dame series. While he said BYU football would remain patient with the Irish, he believed Notre Dame “needs to clear up the first contract” by playing a return game.

With that seemingly off the table, expect the Cougars to get a pretty penny in a contract buyout.

There’s still no official word from either school regarding the series, so there’s always a small chance it happens. However, there are rumors that the game may be moved from LaVell Edwards Stadium to the Las Vegas Raiders’ new home.

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