Clemson football has loaded future non-conference schedule after adding Notre Dame

A big deal hit college football on Tuesday afternoon as Notre Dame and Clemson football announced that they had agreed on a 12-year series starting in 2027.

That means that this rivalry will finally be renewed and it's had some fun moments over the years.

Clemson has had the most success in this series and between the two teams over the past decade, or so, but the Irish are fresh off a national title game appearance and it feels like they're heading in the right direction under Marcus Freeman.

Dabo Swinney and Co., too, are trending in the right direction after a playoff berth in 2024 and returning the most production of any team in the Power Four ahead of 2025.

But with this addition of Notre Dame for 12 years starting in 2027, that makes the future non-conference slate arguably the toughest in college football.

Don't believe me? Just look at these future non-conference schedules.

Obviously South Carolina is going to be scheduled every year as a rivalry game, but coupled with a rising Gamecock program is LSU for two years, just Notre Dame for the two years after, and then in 2029-2030 and 2032-2033, Clemson will get Georgia, South Carolina, and Notre Dame in non-conference play. That means there will be no breaks or layups during the non-league schedule.

A couple of years after that second stint of the three contending programs on the schedule, Clemson adds Oklahoma instead of Georgia. Not much easier.

The fans are really the biggest winners here because they'll get to witness Clemson on the national stage against some of the best teams in college football for the next 14 years.

To be the best, you have to beat the best.