Notre Dame Football: 10 Upcoming Road Trips for Irish Fans

Notre Dame is one of the few remaining independent programs in college football. Yes, they are obligated to five ACC opponents each year, but that still leaves seven open games each fall. This allows new athletic director Pete Bevacqua more flexibility to play teams nationwide and at unique locations.

For the die-hard college football fans, it is often not enough to visit South Bend each fall but to hit the road to support their team. Whether it is a neutral site or an on-campus venue, backing the Irish on the road and discovering new traditions is what makes this sport special.

I compiled a list of the top 10 venues over the remainder of the decade (until 2030) that I believe Notre Dame fans should try to visit.

Navy (Dublin, Ireland 2023)

The first destination on the list is Notre Dame’s first game this fall when the Irish play Navy at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. It has been a little over a decade since the program traveled to Ireland to take on the Midshipmen in 2012, and the fact that they are heading back this soon should tell you all that you need to know about the destination.

For anyone wanting to visit Europe and get to watch Notre Dame Football, this is a must-see matchup.

Clemson (2023)

It has been eight years since the Fighting Irish traveled to South Carolina to take on the Clemson Tigers in 2015, and Dabo Swinney has won two national championships since then. Although the program has not had as much success the past several seasons, its players and fans will undoubtedly be amped up to avenge the 35 to 14 beatdown in South Bend last year.

Tiger Stadium is known as “Death Valley” for a reason. Clemson almost never loses at home, and it is one of the loudest venues in sports. They have perhaps the best entrance in college football as the team touches “Howard’s Rock” and runs down the hill into a sea of orange shirts.

If Notre Dame wants to take the next step to win a national title, they must win road matchups like this one.

Texas A&M (2024)

Kyle Field is a deafening environment and home to some of the best traditions in college football. The Aggies are “Home of the 12th Man” story and have legendary cheering practices at the stadium on Friday nights known as “Midnight Yell.”

Marcus Freeman leads the Irish into College Station for their first road matchup in SEC country since the classic with Georgia in 2019.

Purdue (2024)

Notre Dame travels back to Ross-Ade Stadium next year. The Irish used to square off with the Boilermakers annually until Notre Dame joined the ACC. Although Purdue may not have the pageantry like others on the list, I highly recommend the road trip.

West Lafayette may be the shortest drive for many fans wanting to experience a road atmosphere, and it means a lot to fans in Indiana. When Notre Dame travels to play ACC schools, there is often no history between the programs, and it is hard to travel out to the East Coast, so I truly enjoy this rivalry and a short drive.

Arkansas (2025)

The Irish will travel back to SEC country in 2025. These programs were supposed to matchup in South Bend back in 2020, but the meeting was postponed until 2028. Notre Dame will fly to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for the first time in program history, and the fans typically do a “stripe-out” for primetime matchups.

Miami (2025)

For the first time since 2017, the program will travel back to Miami to take on the Hurricanes. Unfortunately, the Irish have had bad memories the last few times they visited South Beach.

Now known as Hard Rock Stadium, the Hurricanes have called this venue home since the old Orange Bowl was torn down. The environment has never been the same since the program left the old site. But, for rare meetings with the Fighting Irish, the Hurricane fans bring back the intensity and luster of the glory days.

Wisconsin at Lambeau Field (2026)

This matchup was originally set for 2020 but was pushed back like many games that season. Lambeau Field will be one of the best neutral site showdowns in the history of Notre Dame Football. After all, the stadium is named after former Notre Dame Football player and Green Bay Packer Curly Lambeau.

Lambeau Field is iconic for the NFL as Notre Dame Stadium is for college football. The last time a major college football game was hosted at Lambeau was in 2016, when Wisconsin faced LSU. Fans are in for a real treat if the atmosphere is anything like that fall Saturday.

Florida State (2026)

Florida State has some of the best traditions in college football. The Seminole War Chant is one of the most iconic chants in sports. Osceola riding his horse “Renegade” to the 50-yard line and planting his spear before the game may be the best tradition in college football.

I highly recommend this road trip and you can almost always count on the weather being great in Florida no matter when this matchup shows up on the calendar.

University of South Florida (2029)

The meeting with South Florida is more of a destination location rather than for fans seeking out traditions. Notre Dame last faced the Bulls back in 2020 during the shortened COVID season.

South Florida plays their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida. However, the University is trying to build a smaller on-campus stadium in the next few years but nothing has officially been announced. Regardless, this matchup may need to take place at Raymond James Stadium if the crowd is expected to be larger than an on-campus location could hold.

Alabama (2030)

A trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama should be at the top of every Notre Dame fan’s bucket list. Certainly, the Fighting Irish have had two lopsided losses against the Crimson Tide in their last few meetings, but to miss out on a trip like this because you are afraid the Irish might lose again would be absurd.

Alabama has some of the best traditions, fans (when things go their way), facilities, and tailgating in the sport. Perhaps the most notable tradition is when the entire crowd sings “Dixieland Delight” during the matchup.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of other road games in the next decade that may be more suitable geographically to put on your list. Even looking past the 2030 season, the Irish will play at Florida in 2032 and Michigan in 2033, so there will always be places to visit as an Irish fan.

I highly recommend going to more road games each Fall. Not only for the contest itself but to experience local food, traditions, and, most importantly, support Notre Dame Football.

Singing the alma mater at Notre Dame Stadium is wonderful, but there is just something distinct about congregating with a group of Notre Dame fans in the corner of the endzone after a road victory and the team walking over to sing the alma mater before they go celebrate in the opposing team’s locker room.