The annual game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be played at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium in 2018. Navy made the announcement in a press release earlier today, which was reported by John Taylor of NBC Sports’ College Football Talk.
“We are excited about the opportunity to play a regular-season game against Notre Dame in San Diego, which is a city filled with Navy and Marine Corps service men and women.” said Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk in a statement. “The partnership the Naval Academy has had with the bowl administration in San Diego has been extraordinary for well over a decade. This special matchup with Notre Dame will mirror in many ways the highly successful event format that has brought great success to the economy, city, and community over the years.
“We are so very pleased to bring the Navy family together again in this wonderful environment for what is always a highly competitive match up against two institutions with unparalleled national respect and tradition. We are all looking forward to 2018.”
Navy is always the home team in even-numbered years, often having the game played at a neutral location since Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium only seats 34,000. Last year’s game was played at FedEx Field, home of the NFL’s Washington Redskins, with the 2012 matchup taking place in Ireland. The 2016 game will be played in Jacksonville. By having the game played in San Diego in 2018, Notre Dame will take its first-ever trip to the city.
Needless to say, it’s a great way to keep the rivalry exciting.
Notre Dame opens the season at home against Texas on September 5, while Navy begins its first AAC season on the same day against the Patriot League’s Colgate Raiders.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
