Notre Dame Unveils 2026 Football Schedule

A Blend of Tradition and Innovation

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:15am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Notre Dame football game, with players and the field reduced to abstract shapes and colors in shades of green, gold, and blue.Notre Dame's 2026 football schedule promises a season of tradition and innovation, with a mix of familiar foes and new challenges that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.Green Bay Today

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have unveiled their 2026 football schedule, a carefully crafted lineup that promises a blend of tradition and innovation. The season opens with a road trip to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, followed by a series of home games against Rice and Michigan State. The schedule then shifts to a road stretch that includes games at Purdue, North Carolina, and BYU, before a neutral-site matchup against Navy in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The regular season concludes with home games against Miami (FL), Boston College, and SMU, and a road trip to Syracuse.

Why it matters

This schedule is a testament to Notre Dame's commitment to both tradition and innovation, offering a mix of high-profile road games and home matches that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. With a blend of familiar opponents and new challenges, the 2026 season promises to be an exciting one for the Fighting Irish.

The details

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have unveiled their 2026 football schedule, which features a mix of traditional rivalries and new challenges. The season opens with a road trip to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, marking the program's latest appearance at an NFL venue. This is followed by a series of home games, including back-to-back matches against Rice and Michigan State, both of which are part of long-standing series with the respective programs. The schedule then shifts to a road stretch that begins at Purdue on September 26th, followed by a trip to North Carolina on October 3rd. Notre Dame then hosts Stanford on October 10th before traveling to BYU on October 17th, a game that extends the schools' intermittent series. The team gets a week off on October 24th before a neutral-site game against Navy in Foxborough, Massachusetts on October 31st. November sees the Irish hosting Miami (FL) on November 7th, Boston College on November 14th, and SMU on November 21st. The regular season concludes with a road trip to Syracuse on November 28th.

  • The season opens with a road trip to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
  • Notre Dame hosts Rice and Michigan State in back-to-back home games.
  • The team travels to Purdue on September 26th and North Carolina on October 3rd.
  • Notre Dame hosts Stanford on October 10th and travels to BYU on October 17th.
  • The team plays a neutral-site game against Navy in Foxborough, Massachusetts on October 31st.

The players

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The football team of the University of Notre Dame, a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Rice University

A private research university in Houston, Texas, with a long-standing football series against Notre Dame.

Michigan State University

A public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, with a long-standing football series against Notre Dame.

Purdue University

A public research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, which Notre Dame will face on the road.

University of North Carolina

A public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, which Notre Dame will visit.

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What they’re saying

“This schedule is a testament to Notre Dame's commitment to both tradition and innovation, offering a mix of high-profile road games and home matches that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.”

— Arline Emard IV, Author

The takeaway

The 2026 Notre Dame football schedule showcases the program's ability to balance long-standing rivalries with new challenges, creating an exciting season that will appeal to both traditional and forward-thinking fans. The blend of home and away games, as well as the inclusion of an NFL venue and a neutral-site matchup, demonstrates Notre Dame's commitment to providing a diverse and engaging experience for its loyal supporters.