Florida cancels home-and-home series with Notre Dame after SEC's move to 9-game league slates

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida has canceled a home-and-home series with Notre Dame scheduled for the 2031-32 seasons.

The Gators used a clause in the contract to get out without financial penalty. The decision led to the Fighting Irish announcing Tuesday a home-and-home series with Washington to be played in 2031 and '34.

Florida signed the deal with Notre Dame in 2021 while the Southeastern Conference was playing eight league games. The Gators had been slated to play in South Bend, Indiana, on Nov. 15, 2031. Notre Dame would have traveled to Gainesville the following year.

But with the SEC moving to nine-game conference slates beginning this season, Florida had a difficult time justifying playing nine league games, a rivalry game against Florida State and a perennial powerhouse like Notre Dame in back-to-back years — even with the College Football Playoff expanding to 24 teams.

The Florida-Notre Dame contract included a clause that allowed the Gators to get out if SEC schedules expanded to nine games.

Florida and Notre Dame have met only once, with the Irish rallying to beat the Gators 39-28 in the 1992 Sugar Bowl.

Notre Dame was one of several additions Florida previously made to beef up non-conference schedules. But the Gators have since canceled home-and-home series with Arizona State, California and N.C. State.

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