Florida Football Series with Notre Dame Canceled

Florida canceled its 2031 and 2032 home-and-home football series with Notre Dame, according to On3’s Brett McMurphy.

The university used a clause that allowed it to cancel both games without financial repercussions. 

The decision came just one day after the new 24-team College Football Playoff format was approved Monday. Under the new format, Power 4 schools must play at least 10 games against Power 4 opponents, a requirement Florida can still meet without the series.

Florida has previously canceled nonconference series with Arizona State, California and N.C. State. Florida’s nonconference schedule will primarily consist of its matchup against rival Florida State, but the Gators still are scheduled to face Colorado in 2028 and 2029, and UCF in 2030 and 2033.

With the 24-team playoff slated to begin next season, colleges are exploring different ways to give their teams the best chance at success. The cancellation comes as schools adjust their future schedules to account for the expanded playoff format and the SEC’s nine-game conference schedule.

Starting this season, the SEC adopted a nine-game conference schedule. Because of this change, Florida coach Jon Sumrall supports the 24-team playoff and sees similarities with the NFL.

“With a nine-game SEC schedule, I’m for it,” Sumrall said Monday. “This is NFL-ish now. The world we have created, you look across our league. Georgia loses to Auburn, we go on the road and beat Texas, and we’re not fully ready for prime time to be like a top-four team in the country right now.”

Category: College Football, Football, Gainesville, Gator Sports, Gators Football, NCAA, SEC