Why is Nebraska vs. Northwestern in Dublin? Game is first edition of delayed Aer Lingus College Football Classic

The Week 0 matchup between Big Ten schools Nebraska and Northwestern will have an international flair.

That’s because their game will take place in Dublin — just one of just a handful of games that college football has ever played not only in Ireland, but also in Europe.

The game, expected to draw as many as 18,000 U.S. tourists and another 5,000 European fans, will be the first college football game played in Dublin since 2016. Whether the fans in attendance will enjoy — or even understand — Big Ten football remains to be seen.

The Sporting News looks at why Nebraska-Northwestern is being played in Dublin, and the history of college football in Ireland:

MORE: Top 25 QBs for 2022 | Preseason All-Americans

Where is Nebraska vs. Northwestern?

The game between Nebraska and Northwestern will be played at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The stadium, built in 2010, has a listed capacity of roughly 51,000. It generally hosts rugby and soccer competitions.

It has hosted two other college football games, in 2012 and 2016. The Northwestern-Nebraska game will be both teams’ first visit to Dublin.

Why is Nebraska-Northwestern in Dublin?

The Nebraska-Northwestern game is the first in a series of five college football games to be played in Dublin, dubbed the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The two schools announced the game on May 20, 2021.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our entire university community, from student-athletes to coaches, alumni and fans,” Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said in a statement. “We are thrilled that our program will get to experience the beautiful Irish culture, while we continue to help grow the game of college football on a global stage.

“It’s an honor to be included in this once-in-a-lifetime event, and we can’t wait to have the Northwestern faithful join us in one of the world’s most amazing settings.”

Said Nebraska coach Scott Frost in a separate statement:

“The trip to Ireland provides great exposure for the Nebraska football program and a unique experience for our players and Husker fans. Our primary focus for the trip will be to play a football game against an outstanding opponent in Northwestern.

“At the same time, this will be great cultural opportunity for our young men to visit a part of the world that most of them have not seen.”

Aer Lingus also commented on the game when it was announced:

This is the first time that either team has ever traveled to play in Ireland and so, were thrilled to accept the invitation to take to the field and open the 2022 college football season at the world-famous Aviva Stadium. Nebraska was set to travel to Dublin later this summer for their game against Illinois, however, it was postponed because of COVID-19.

As Nebraska is one of the most successful American college football teams in history, and with such strong Irish ties to the city of Chicago where the Wildcats are based, the game is sure to be a huge draw to sports fans here in Ireland as well as across the U.S. and Europe. It is expected that it will also generate a massive €63 million for the Irish economy next year, providing a much-needed boost for the country’s tourism and hospitality sectors.

Watch select NCAA football games live with fuboTV (free trial)

History of college football games in Ireland

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic series was supposed to start in 2020, with Notre Dame taking on Navy. That season, however, was widely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to restrictions on international travel and further logistical difficulties, the game was moved to Navy’s stadium in Annapolis, Md.; the contest ultimately was canceled after the Fighting Irish agreed to play an all-ACC schedule.

The next game in the series, Nebraska vs. Illinois in 2021, was canceled because of similar difficulties regarding COVID-19.

Here’s the full rundown of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic:

Nebraska-Northwestern isn’t the only college football game to have been played in Ireland. The idea of American colleges playing football in Ireland began in 1988 as part of the Dublin millennium celebrations and the game was dubbed as the Emerald Isle Classic.

The games have taken on different names over the years, including the Shamrock Classic and Croke Park Classic. The game traditionally has involved colleges with heavy Irish or Catholic affiliations.

Here is a rundown of all the college football games played in Dublin: