Notre Dame’s history in college football is as strong as any programs and their brand carries arguably the most weight of any.
Sure, being a Catholic school that many rallied around in the early part of the 1900’s played a significant role in that, but it took a powerhouse football schedule to make that happen.
Had Notre Dame gained entry to the Big Ten like they wanted to over a century ago, the entire history of the sport of college football would look significantly different. Instead, Notre Dame remains independent to this day and continues to have their sweetheart deal with NBC because of the schedule they’ve played for decades.
We know the common rivals that show up each year like USC and Navy, but what other non-traditional rivals has Notre Dame played the most?
Here are the 25 teams Notre Dame has played the most times and the record of the Fighting Irish in each of those games.
Notre Dame vs. Syracuse
11 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 8-3 all-time
Last meeting: 41-24 Notre Dame win at Syracuse in 2022
Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma
11 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 9-2 all-time
Last meeting: 35-21 Oklahoma win at Notre Dame in 2013
Notre Dame vs. Illinois
11 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 10-0-1 all-time
Last meeting: 58-8 Notre Dame win at home in 1968
Notre Dame vs. Florida State
11 all-time meetings
Florida State leads 6-5 all-time
Last meeting: 41-38 Notre Dame win at Florida State in 2021
Notre Dame vs. Texas
12 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 9-3 all-time
Last meeting: 50-47 Texas win at Texas in 2016
Notre Dame vs. LSU
12 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 7-5 all-time
Last meeting: 21-17 Notre Dame win in 2018 Capital One Citrus Bowl
Notre Dame vs. SMU
13 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 10-3 all-time
Last meeting: 59-6 Notre Dame win in 1989 at Notre Dame
Notre Dame vs. Nebraska
16 all-time meetings
Nebraska leads 8-7-1 all-time
Last meeting: 27-10 Nebraska win in 2001 at Nebraska
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin
17 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 9-6-2 all-time
Last meeting: 41-13 Notre Dame win at Soldier Field (Chicago) in 2021
Notre Dame vs. Carnegie Mellon
18 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 14-4 all-time
Last meeting: 61-0 Notre Dame win at Notre Dame in 1940
Notre Dame vs. Penn State
19 all-time meetings
Series tied 9-9-1
Last meeting: 31-10 Penn State win in 2007 at Penn State
Notre Dame vs. North Carolina
23 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 21-2 all-time
Last meeting: 45-32 Notre Dame win at North Carolina in 2022
Notre Dame vs. Iowa
26 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 13-8-3 all-time
Last meeting: 51-28 Notre Dame win at Iowa in 1968
Notre Dame vs. Indiana
25 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 22-3 all-time
Last meeting: 49-27 Notre Dame win at Notre Dame in 1991
Notre Dame vs. Miami (FL)
27 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 18-8-1 all-time
Last meeting: 41-8 Miami win at Miami in 2017
Notre Dame vs. Boston College
27 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 18-9 all-time
Last meeting: 44-0 Notre Dame win at Notre Dame in 2022
Notre Dame vs. Air Force
30 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 24-6 all-time
Last meeting: 45-10 Notre Dame win at Air Force in 2013
Notre Dame vs. Stanford
37 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 23-14 all-time
Last meeting: 56-23 Notre Dame win at Stanford in 2023
Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech
37 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 8-3 all-time
Last meeting: 55-0 Notre Dame win at Notre Dame in 2021
Notre Dame vs. Michigan
38 all-time meetings
Michigan leads 20-17-1 all-time
Last meeting: 45-14 Michigan win at Michigan in 2019
Notre Dame vs. Northwestern
47 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 37-9-1 all-time
Last meeting: 31-21 Notre Dame win at Northwestern in 2018
Notre Dame vs. Army
49 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 37-8-4 all-time
Last meeting: 44-6 Notre Dame win in San Antonio in 2016
Notre Dame vs. Michigan State
65 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 36-28-1 all-time
Last meeting: 38-18 Notre Dame win at Michigan State in 2017
Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh
70 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 49-21 all-time
Last meeting: 28-7 Notre Dame win at Notre Dame in 2023
Notre Dame vs. Purdue
84 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 57-25-2 all-time
Last meeting: 27-13 Notre Dame win Notre Dame in 2021
Notre Dame vs. USC
94 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 51-38-5 all-time
Last meeting: 48-20 Notre Dame win at Notre Dame in 2023
Notre Dame vs. Navy
96 all-time meetings
Notre Dame leads 82-13-1 all-time
Last meeting: 42-3 Notre Dame win in Dublin in 2023