Rochdale will face Sunderland, Hartlepool United and Notts County in the group stages of this year's EFL Trophy.
Dale have been drawn in Northern Group F and will play each of the teams in the group once.
In the newly-formatted competition, the EFL invited 16 Category 1 Academy teams to join, including Sunderland.
The group games will take place during the weeks commencing August 29, October 3 and November 7. Match details and venues will be confirmed in due course.