Notre Dame's opening game against Texas for the 2016 football season has been moved to Sunday, Sept. 4, according to a press release from the University on Friday. The official start time has not yet been announced, but according to the release it will be a night game. The game will still take place at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.
The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 3.
“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," Notre Dame Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick said in the release. "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.”
Last year, Notre Dame defeated Texas, 38-3, at Notre Dame Stadium, and the Sept. 4 matchup is the second of a home-and-home series with the Longhorns. It will be the 12th meeting between the two programs: Notre Dame leads the all-time series 9-2, including victories over Texas in the 1970 and 1977 Cotton Bowl.
The last time the two teams played in Austin was in 1996 when the Irish came away with a 27-24 victory on a last second field goal by freshman kicker Jim Sanson. Current Texas head coach Charlie Strong was a defensive line coach for Notre Dame at the time.
