Notre Dame To Have An ACC Rematch In Latest SI Bowl Projections
The latest bowl projections from Sports Illustrated still have Notre Dame playing in the Orange Bowl, but the opponent is a familiar one.
Michael Shapiro projects Notre Dame to face Virginia in a rematch of the Sept. 28 contest at Notre Dame Stadium. The Fighting Irish won that game by a 35-20 score, although the Cavaliers held a 17-14 halftime advantage.
Not since the 1997 season has Notre Dame faced an opponent twice in the same season. That year the Irish earned a 24-6 road victory over LSU, only to have to travel back down to Louisiana for a rematch in the Independence Bowl, which was played in Shreveport. The Tigers won the rematch by a 27-9 score.
Notre Dame's September matchup against Virginia was just the third meeting between the two schools. The Irish beat Virginia 36-13 to open the 1989 season and beat the Cavaliers 34-27 in Charlottesville back in 2015.
Notre Dame has not played in the Orange Bowl since Jan. 1, 1996 when it lost to Florida State by a 31-26 score. In fact, the Irish have not won a major bowl game since they beat Texas A&M 24-21 on Jan. 1, 1994 in the Cotton Bowl.
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