Notre Dame football to host Tennessee State, first-ever HBCU opponent, in 2023
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish already knew they were facing the Navy Midshipmen in Dublin, Ireland, to begin the 2023 college football season. Notre Dame will then make history on Sept. 2 of that year when the program welcomes the Tennessee State Tigers to town.
Per Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, Tennessee State will be Notre Dame's first-ever Historically Black College and University opponent and also its first-ever FCS foe. The Tigers are currently coached by Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL running back Eddie George.
"TSU and Notre Dame are two iconic programs that have helped shape today's college athletics landscape," Tennessee State director of athletics Dr. Mikki Allen said for a prepared statement. "We are setting the foundation for long-term success under Coach George's leadership. The goal is that TSU will be a destination program for the next generation of student-athletes to come."
Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick added:
"We're excited to bring a pair of great academic institutions that are steeped in tradition together in 2023. None of this would be possible without Dr. (Mikki) Allen and Coach (Eddie) George's vision for what this game can represent to our Universities. I'm thrilled we're able to bring the Tigers and the Irish together for a weekend that will feature programs with over 20 combined national titles, the Aristocrat of Bands and the Band of the Fighting Irish."
According to Rittenberg, the USC Trojans are now the only FBS program that has never faced an FCS opponent and has no set plans to do so as of this spring.
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