2017 Home Game vs. Notre Dame Set For September 16 at Alumni Stadium

Notre Dame released its 2017 football schedule this week, over a year in advance of playing their first game. While normally this isn't of total interest for most college football fans, Boston College fans can perk up at a date in September. On September 16, 2017, Notre Dame will come to Alumni Stadium to renew the Holy War with the Eagles.

The '17 season will mark the third straight BC-ND game held in Massachusetts. In 2012, in the midst of BC's 2-10 season, Notre Dame defeated Boston College, 21-6, at Alumni Stadium. Down the stretch of that game, Chase Rettig threw an interception to Manti Te'o with just under six minutes remaining, sealing the Eagles' fate.

Notre Dame would not play BC again until last season, taking a two-year break during the first seasons under Steve Addazio. It was last year, however, where the Irish scheduled their annual Shamrock Series game at Fenway Park. Despite five Notre Dame turnovers, including three inside the Boston College five yard line, BC's much-maligned offense couldn't capitalize, and the Irish escaped Yawkey Way with a three point victory, 19-16.

The win was the fifth straight in the Holy War series for the Fighting Irish, who now lead the relatively young series, 14-9. It was also the third straight game where Notre Dame was ranked in the top 25.

The Eagles have not defeated Notre Dame since 2008 when they pitched a 17-0 shutout over the Irish in Chestnut Hill. It was the sixth straight victory in the series for Boston College, who didn't lose between 2001-2008, although the series went dormant in 2005 and 2006 with the Eagles' transition and adjustment to the ACC.

The series has been played off and on with commitment from both schools since 1992. They played at Foxboro Stadium in 1975, then met in the 1983 Liberty Bowl. After playing at Notre Dame in 1987, the teams began playing each other annually starting with the '92 season. But the Eagles didn't pick up their first win over the Irish until the next season in '93, beating then-#1 Notre Dame, 41-39, thanks to the left leg of David Gordon.

The rivalry has seen hot and cold spells for both teams since, with Notre Dame winning four straight twice before their presently-active five straight wins.

The Notre Dame game stands as BC's Power-5 requirement for non-conference games in 2017. The Eagles will not play an FCS team in that season, as they're set to play three Group of Five programs. At present, BC will open the season on September 2nd at Northern Illinois and hosts Central Michigan at the end of the month. Later in the season, BC will play at Connecticut in a return match from this year's game in Chestnut Hill.

BC will make its first trip to South Bend since 2011 two years later. The Eagles are set to play at Notre Dame on November 23rd, 2019. The teams will not play in 2018 or 2020, though the Eagles have an open slot for both. BC's P5 requirement is already filled with a home-and-home against Purdue.