Utes get 2010 date in South Bend

The University of Utah football team has received confirmation that it will play a road game against Notre Dame on Nov. 13, 2010. It will mark Utah's first visit to 80,795-seat Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Ind., and the first football game ever between the Utes and the Fighting Irish.

To make room for the game, Utah and Utah State agreed to suspend their annual series for two years — in 2010 and 2011. The Utes and Aggies plan to resume play in 2012 with a game in Logan.

Utah typically schedules non-conference opponents on a home-and-away basis, but has made an exception for Michigan twice in recent years (road games in 2002 and in 2008).

Of the decision to play a single game against Notre Dame, U. Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill said, "Our preference is always to play teams home and away, but when something like this presents itself, we want to take advantage of it. What a great opportunity this offers for not only our team, but for our fans. We are appreciative that Utah State has agreed to temporarily suspend our annual series so that we could make room in our 2010 schedule for another road game."

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham likes the game against Notre Dame for several reasons. "Notre Dame is one of the most storied programs in all of college football and a team with a great fan base. When you play the Fighting Irish you are assured of a huge national audience, which is always welcome for recruiting purposes. In addition, playing in Notre Dame Stadium will be an experience our players will never forget."