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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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