July 29--The Notre Dame football team will have its first practice Aug. 7 at Culver Academies in Culver, Ind., the first of five straight two-hour sessions there before the Irish return to campus in South Bend, Ind., to finish the remainder of camp.
Notre Dame will hold its Media Day on Aug. 18 and opens the season at home Sept. 5 against Texas before traveling to Virginia on Sept. 12.
Several coaches recently have said Notre Dame and other independents should be required to be in a conference in order to be eligible for the College Football Playoff. With the exception of hockey and football, the school's sports teams are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. There are six ACC teams on the Irish's football schedule this season.
The Irish finished 8-5 last season, including 4-2 at home, 4-0 at neutral sites and 0-3 on the road. They defeated LSU 31-28 in the Music City Bowl and began the season with six consecutive victories before losing five of their last seven.
