Bishop Gorman will travel to Santa Ana, California, on Sept. 18, 2026, to face Mater Dei, the powerhouse program the Gaels have never beaten. The game was announced via Mater Dei’s social media account; Gorman has not yet released its full 2026 schedule.

The Gaels are 0-5 all-time against the Monarchs. Their most recent meeting came on Sept. 19, 2025, when then-No. 1 Gorman lost 27-24 at home, dashing its hopes for a fifth mythical national championship.

Gorman finished the 2025 season 11-1 and ranked No. 2 in USA Today’s Super 25, while Mater Dei ended at No. 11. The 2026 contest is the second California power on Gorman’s slate; St. John Bosco will visit Las Vegas on Aug. 21, 2026, for the first meeting between those schools since 2016.

A kickoff time for the Mater Dei game has not been announced.