The University of Notre Dame’s 2016 season-opening football game against Texas at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, has been moved to an exclusive, primetime window on Sunday, Sept. 4.
Originally slated for Saturday, Sept. 3, the game now will be played at night. The exact kickoff time and television details will be announced in weeks to come.
“A game of the magnitude of Notre Dame-Texas, played on the opening weekend of the college football season, deserves a special place on the Labor Day sports calendar. With this move we have secured that place and by doing so are providing a greater opportunity for fans of college football to enjoy what is sure to be another great game in a classic rivalry that dates back to 1913,” said Notre Dame vice president and James E. Rohr director of athletics Jack Swarbrick.
This will mark the 12th all-time meeting between the Irish and Longhorns (Notre Dame leads the series 9-2), including the 2015 season opener for both teams in Notre Dame Stadium — won 38-7 by Notre Dame.
In the last meeting in Austin in 1996 the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired in a 27-24 victory over the sixth-rated Longhorns. Current Texas head coach Charlie Strong served as a Notre Dame assistant coach at that time.
The Irish boast two victories over top-rated Texas teams in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas following the 1970 and 1977 regular seasons. The 1970 Notre Dame triumph ended a 30-game win streak for the Longhorns, while the Irish win at the end of the 1977 campaign boosted Notre Dame to the top spot in the final polls and cemented a 10th consensus national title.
Notre Dame also defeated Texas in Austin in 1913, 1915 and 1952.