Virginia Defeats Notre Dame 81-70

The Cavaliers hand the Fighting Irish their 9th loss of the season.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The University of Virginia men's basketball team defeated the University of Notre Dame 81-70 in a game played on February 9, 2026. This was the 15th win of the season for Virginia, while Notre Dame suffered their 9th loss.

Why it matters

This was an important ACC conference matchup between two prominent college basketball programs. The win helps solidify Virginia's position in the conference standings, while the loss is a setback for Notre Dame's postseason aspirations.

The details

Virginia was led by a strong offensive performance, scoring 81 points on the night. The Cavaliers shot 52% from the field and connected on 10 three-pointers. Notre Dame struggled to keep pace, shooting just 42% from the floor.

  • The game was played on February 9, 2026.

The players

University of Virginia

The men's basketball team from the University of Virginia, a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia.

University of Notre Dame

The men's basketball team from the University of Notre Dame, a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

This victory keeps Virginia in contention for a high seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament, while Notre Dame will need to regroup and try to finish the regular season strong to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.