The 2026 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football schedule opens with a Shamrock Series game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on September 6 before a 12-game slate featuring six ACC opponents, three Big Ten programs, and classic matchups against BYU and Navy. Head coach Marcus Freeman enters his fifth season looking to lead Notre Dame back to the College Football Playoff.
2026 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Schedule
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 6 | vs Wisconsin Badgers Neutral site | 7:30 PM | NBC |
| 2 | Sat, Sep 12 | vs Rice Owls | 3:30 PM | NBC |
| 3 | Sat, Sep 19 | vs Michigan State Spartans | 7:30 PM | NBC |
| 4 | Sat, Sep 26 | @ Purdue Boilermakers | TBD | TBD |
| 5 | Sat, Oct 3 | @ North Carolina Tar Heels | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Sat, Oct 10 | vs Stanford Cardinal | 3:30 PM | NBC |
| 7 | Sat, Oct 17 | @ BYU Cougars | TBD | TBD |
| Open Date – Bye Week (Sat, Oct 24) | ||||
| 9 | Sat, Oct 31 | @ Navy Midshipmen Neutral site | 12:00 PM | ABC or ESPN |
| 10 | Sat, Nov 7 | vs Miami Hurricanes | 7:30 PM | NBC |
| 11 | Sat, Nov 14 | vs Boston College Eagles | 3:30 PM | NBC |
| 12 | Sat, Nov 21 | vs SMU Mustangs | 7:30 PM | NBC |
| 13 | Sat, Nov 28 | @ Syracuse Orange | TBD | TBD |
All times Eastern. TBD = kickoff/TV not yet announced. Updated May 27, 2026.
* Played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI (Shamrock Series). ** Played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.
Notre Dame plays back-to-back home games against Rice and Michigan State after the Lambeau opener before consecutive road tests at Purdue and North Carolina heading into October. The schedule features a road trip to BYU in Provo on October 17 followed by a bye before the Navy rivalry at Gillette Stadium on Halloween. The November home stretch against Miami, Boston College, and SMU gives the Irish a strong finish at Notre Dame Stadium before the regular-season finale at Syracuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Notre Dame play the 2026 Shamrock Series game?
Notre Dame opens the 2026 season at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, against the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday September 6. The game is the latest installment of the Shamrock Series, Notre Dame’s tradition of playing a regular-season game at a notable off-campus neutral-site venue. Lambeau Field is the home of the NFL Green Bay Packers and seats over 81,000 fans.
Who is the Notre Dame head coach in 2026?
Marcus Freeman enters his fifth season as head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2026. Freeman took over from Brian Kelly after the 2021 season and has built the program into a consistent College Football Playoff contender. He is known for his defensive expertise and elite recruiting connections across the Midwest and Southeast.
When does Notre Dame play the Navy rivalry game in 2026?
Notre Dame and Navy meet at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on October 31, 2026. It marks the 99th meeting between the programs and the 60th played at a neutral site. The Notre Dame-Navy series is one of the most enduring rivalries in college football, dating back over a century.
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Resource Hub
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Everything you need for the 2026 college football season.
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| → 2026 College Football Schedule Full FBS slate with kickoff times and TV networks. |
| → 2026-27 College Football Playoff Bracket The 12-team bracket, dates, and projected matchups. |
| → 2026-27 Bowl Game Schedule Every bowl game, date, and matchup in one place. |
