Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti voiced his displeasure regarding the recently canceled home-and-home series with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, scheduled for 2030-31. Cignetti suggested Notre Dame should play more games at Indiana's home venue, referencing the Fighting Irish's status as an independent program.
"I'd like to play Notre Dame. They ought to come to our place twice, and we'll go up there once, since they're not in a conference," Cignetti stated in an interview with the Big Ten Network. He characterized the potential matchup as a "great in-state game."
Indiana is coming off its first-ever College Football Playoff national championship under Cignetti, who has guided the Hoosiers to a 27-2 overall record and 17-1 in Big Ten play across his two seasons (2024-25). The team has made the College Football Playoff in both of those seasons.
Notre Dame finished the previous season with a 10-2 record but did not qualify for the College Football Playoff. As Cignetti pointed out, the Fighting Irish compete as an independent team and are not affiliated with a conference.
The two teams met for the first time since 1991 in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff, with Notre Dame defeating Indiana 27-17 in South Bend. Indiana's last victory against Notre Dame occurred in 1950, which was also the last time they played in Bloomington.
Indiana is set to begin its 2026 season at home against the North Texas Mean Green on September 5. Their Big Ten opener is scheduled for September 25 at home against the Northwestern Wildcats. Notre Dame's 2026 season will commence at home against the Wisconsin Badgers on September 6.