Notre Dame to don green jerseys vs. Ohio State

Ohio State's visit to Notre Dame this September will be a big deal. If one didn't already know that or couldn't surmise it by taking in the atmosphere inside Notre Dame Stadium come Sept. 23, all they'll have to do is look to the field. Notre Dame will be wearing their Big Deal uniforms.

The Fighting Irish announced Friday -- St. Patrick's Day -- they will break out their green jerseys for the Buckeyes' visit.

The tradition of donning green jerseys for special occasions was created by Knute Rockne for a 1927 game against Navy, and the most famous example came in a 1977 game against USC, when the Irish warmed up in their traditional navy before changing into green before kickoff. Eleventh-ranked Notre Dame then trounced the fifth-ranked Trojans, 49-19. 

The most famous modern example came in 2005, when No. 9 Notre Dame wore green against No. 1 and 2-time defending national champion USC. Though Notre Dame lost the game, the green jerseys inspired what was, in my opinion, the best regular season game of the decade.

Notre Dame tried the same gimmick again for USC's next visit in 2007; No. 14 USC shutout Notre Dame, 38-0, and the Irish finished that season 3-9. The last time Notre Dame wore green at home came in 2018, when the No. 3 Irish hammered Florida State, 42-13.

Despite their 250 mile proximity and their status as major programs for more than a century now, Notre Dame and Ohio State rarely play. Ohio State leads the all-time series 5-2, taking the last five. The Buckeyes have visited South Bend just twice: a 7-2 Irish win on Halloween back in 1936, and a 29-16 Ohio State victory on Sept. 28, 1996. Ohio State defeated the Irish 21-10 in Columbus last year.

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