June 1, 2018
ESPN, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big Ten Conference have announced the matchups for the 2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Notre Dame will play host to Illinois on November 27, 2018, in Purcell Pavilion (game time to be decided at a later date) in a rematch of the 84-79 victory in the dedication game of the State Farm Center on December 2, 2015.
The ACC has won the conference versus conference event the past two seasons (including an 11-3 mark in 2017) and 12 of the 19 years the event has been held. Notre Dame is 3-2 in the event since joining the ACC for the 2013-14 season, with Michigan State ending a three-game win streak for the Irish in East Lansing last year.
Notre Dame – Illinois Series Notes
- Notre Dame and Illinois have met 41 times, with the Illini leading the all-time series 27-14.
- The Irish have claimed victories in the two most recent games, a 68-60 win over No. 11 Illinois in the second round of the NCAA tournament on March 22, 2003, in Indianapolis, Indiana and the aforementioned victory in the 2015 challenge game at the State Farm Center.
- This season’s meeting will mark the first visit to Purcell Pavilion for the Illini, who have not played at Notre Dame since the 1955 season when the Irish were still playing their home games in the Fieldhouse.
- The series dates back to 1922, when the teams played back-to-back games in Kenney Gym on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3, 1922 (both Illinois victories).
- Illinois’ first trip to play at Notre Dame ended up at the South Bend YMCA, a 29-18 Irish victory.
- Notre Dame and Illinois had a yearly match up at Chicago Stadium that ran from 1957 through 1973 (the 1964 season was the only year the teams did not meet). The Illini posted a 13-6 record against the Irish in those Chicago Stadium meetings.
- Also among those Chicago Stadium meetings was a 90-88 upset by the Irish of No. 4 Illinois on Dec. 31, 1963 and an 86-83 win over No. 10 Illinois in 1970.
Notre Dame ACC/Big Ten Challenge History
12/3/2013 |
at Iowa |
Iowa City, IA |
93-98 |
L |
12/3/2014 |
Michigan State |
Notre Dame, IN |
79-78 OT |
W |
12/2/2015 |
at Illinois |
Champaign, IL |
84-79 |
W |
11/29/2016 11/30/2017 |
Iowa At Michigan State |
Notre Dame, IN East Lansing, MI |
92-78 63-81 |
W L |
2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Schedule
Monday, November 26
- Minnesota at Boston College
- Nebraska at No. 20 Clemson
Tuesday, November 27
- Indiana at No. 2 Duke
- No. 9 Michigan State at Louisville
- NC State at Wisconsin
- Illinois at Notre Dame
- Pitt at Iowa
- No. 14 Virginia Tech at Penn State
Wednesday, November 28
- No. 25 Purdue at No. 18 Florida State
- Georgia Tech at Northwestern
- Rutgers at Miami (Fla.)
- No. 8 North Carolina at No. 17 Michigan
- No. 16 Syracuse at Ohio State
- No. 7 Virginia at Maryland
Times and dates will be finalized by ESPN in the coming weeks.