Notre Dame football is in an interesting situation regarding its future schedules. On the one hand, the Fighting Irish usually have a couple of very good teams on the slate every year. However, because the team isn’t in a conference, there are always a few holes. There are even more holes on the schedule these days because USC decided to back out of an annual rivalry game. The good news here is that one team analyst believes the Iowa Hawkeyes could help out in that regard.
Earlier this month, Hawk Fanatic writer Pat Harty made his case for the Hawkeyes and the Irish to restart a rivalry that hasn’t seen action for decades. In fact, the “rivalry” hasn’t seen any action since 1968. Oh, and that rivalry game was quite one-sided. Still, Harty would love to see this version of Iowa start taking on Notre Dame again, and if Irish AD Pete Bevacqua is smart, he’d listen.
“As somebody who grew up in Des Moines cheering for both teams as odd as that might seem, it’s time to look into renewing this once-proud rivalry,” Harty wrote. “… The skeptics will say that as long as Iowa has to play Iowa State every year, there isn’t enough scheduling flexibility to fit in another Power Four opponent such as Notre Dame.”
“However, that also seems to be another way of saying that facing two Power Four nonconference opponents in the same season is just to risky, especially with the Big Ten now having 18 teams that stretch from coast to coast.”
Iowa analyst says Notre Dame football should restart Hawkeyes rivalry
Those advocating for Iowa to stay out of Notre Dame’s way on the schedule would point out that it’s a practice most of the Big Ten has adopted. The conference’s non-conference slate this season is awful. Cupcakes as far as the eye can see. This policy is why USC backed out of the rivalry game with the Irish. The Trojans felt they already had too many Power 4 opponents.
Harty also pointed out that there is some doubt Iowa will continue its rivalry series against Iowa State. The current contract runs out in 2027. How ironic would it be if the Hawkeyes dropped the Cyclones to add the Irish to their schedule?
It’s not a rivalry that gets much mention these days, but there was a time when Notre Dame and Iowa played every year. From 1951-1964, the two teams played each other late in the season; for Iowa, it was usually the season finale.
It was also a pitched rivalry. Notre Dame went 6-5-2 in that 13-game stretch.
These days, a renewed rivalry between the two schools would be interesting for several reasons. First and foremost, Kirk Ferentz has had Iowa playing at a high level of College Football Playoff Contention for quite a while. Beating the Irish would certainly give them a boost, especially if the field eventually increases to 24 teams.
Even when the Hawkeyes don’t have a stellar record, they tend to be a pain in the side of the better Big Ten programs out there. Notre Dame would be able to fight off some of the complaints about their schedule.
As Harty said, “It just seems kind of silly that Iowa and Notre Dame haven’t played for over a half century.” He’s not wrong, and both schools should work to fix that ASAP.
Add us as a preferred source on Google