Wake Forest takes on Notre Dame in the 2027 Duke's Mayo Classic in Charlotte
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Notre Dame will take on Wake Forest in the 2027 Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Uptown.
Why it matters: It will be one of two Duke's Mayo Classic games at the stadium in 2027 — college football matchups that draw thousands of people to Uptown and pump millions into the local tourism economy.
- As one of the country's most storied football programs, Notre Dame draws national TV audiences and has a huge fan base known for traveling to games. Wake Forest, about an hour and a half from Charlotte, is a smaller but respected program with a devoted, national fan base.
Between the lines: This will be the second time Charlotte has hosted two Duke's Mayo Classic games in a season. However, it won't be a double-header like it was in 2021 when Appalachian State played East Carolina and Georgia played Clemson within a matter of days in Uptown, Charlotte Sports Foundation CEO Will Pitts tells Axios (CSF oversees the Duke's Mayo Classic and several other sporting events in Charlotte).
- Instead, the games will be spread out. North Carolina A&T will take on North Carolina Central on Aug. 28, 2027, in the Duke's Mayo Classic. The historic rivalry is known as the Aggie-Eagle Classic.
- Notre Dame and Wake Forest will meet in Charlotte further into the season. The date and time are TBD. Tickets will go on sale closer to the game, but fans can register for presale details at DukesMayoClassic.com.
Flashback: Notre Dame and Wake Forest had been scheduled to play each other in September 2020 at Bank of America Stadium, but the game was rescheduled because of COVID, then ultimately canceled.
- Notre Dame later lost to Clemson that year in the ACC Championship in Charlotte.
What they're saying: "Welcoming programs like Wake Forest and Notre Dame not only energizes our local economy but also deepens the city's reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events," Pitts said in a statement.
What's next: Future Duke's Mayo Classic matchups include:
- Aug. 29, 2025: Charlotte 49ers vs. Appalachian State
- Sept. 29, 2026: West Virginia vs. Virginia
- Aug. 28, 2027: North Carolina A&T vs. North Carolina Central
- 2027: Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame
- 2028: Tennessee vs. West Virginia
- Sept. 4, 2032: West Virginia vs. Virginia