Bob Davie's return? New Mexico to visit Notre Dame in '19

Bob Davie just might get the opportunity to again coach at Notre Dame, as his New Mexico Lobos will travel to face the Fighting Irish in 2019, it was announced Thursday.

The game will take place at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 14, 2015. Notre Dame is paying New Mexico $1.1 million for the game, with $50,000 of that payable this year, the Lobos announced.

"It's exciting for our entire program to have this opportunity to play at the University of Notre Dame on national television in front of a sold out stadium," Davie said in a release. "I know our fans will also be thrilled to see this addition to our 2019 schedule."

Davie, who is entering his fourth season at New Mexico,went 35-25 as the head coach at Notre Dame from 1997 through 2001, after serving as defensive coordinator from 1994 through '96.

Notre Dame has a recent history of scheduling non-power programs with connections to the school. The Irish will play Sept. 26 against UMass, which at the time of the game's announcement was coached by former Irish offensive coordinator Charley Molnar.

In 2016, the Irish will host Nevada, which is coached by former Irish special teams coach Brian Polian, who had been the main recruiter of Manti Te'o upon his signing with the Irish in 2009.

In 2017, Notre Dame hosts Miami (Ohio), which is coached by former Irish offensive coordinator Chuck Martin. In 2018, Notre Dame hosts Ball State, whose most recent athletic director was former Irish deputy AD Bill Scholl, who is now the AD at Marquette.

Notre Dame now has eight scheduled opponents for the 2019 season: at Louisville (Sept. 2), New Mexico (Sept. 14), at Georgia (Sept. 21), Virginia (Sept. 28), at Georgia Tech (Oct. 19), Virginia Tech (Nov. 2), at Duke (Nov. 9) and Boston College (Nov. 23).

Additionally, Notre Dame is expected to host Navy and USC, and travel to Stanford.