Notre Dame To Face Villanova In 2016-17

Notre Dame will face defending national champion Villanova this upcoming season, the school announced Wednesday afternoon.

The Irish will play the Wildcats Dec. 10 at noon ET in Newark, N.J., at the Prudential Center. It will be televised live on CBS, prior to the annual Army-Navy football game scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

Also featured as a doubleheader is Pittsburgh and Penn State, which follows Notre Dame-Villanova and will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

The two games are part of the inaugural Never Forget Tribute Classic, with the proceeds benefitting the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. The fund provides financial assistance for postsecondary education to needy dependents of those killed or permanently disabled in the terrorist attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001.

“Taking on the defending national champion and a program of Villanova’s caliber will be a great thrill and challenge for us early in the season,” Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey said in a statement released by the school. “We also are honored to participate in an event that will benefit the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund.”

Seniors Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu exhausted their eligibility on this past season’s 35-5 squad, which defeated North Carolina 77-74 in the national title game.

Also already announced on Notre Dame’s schedule is the Legends Classic Nov. 21-22 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. That field features Texas, Colorado, Northwestern, Eastern Washington, Bryant, Louisiana Monroe and Seattle.

In ACC play, the Irish will face Clemson, Duke, Syracuse, Virginia and Wake Forest at home, and travel to Miami, North Carolina State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech. They’ll play Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Louisville both at home and on the road.