Notre Dame Unleashes 2026 Football Schedule, Kicking Off at Lambeau Field

The Fighting Irish have laid out their path for the 2026 college football season, with Notre Dame athletics officials formally releasing a schedule that promises a blend of iconic venues, renewed rivalries, and challenging matchups. Announced on January 23, 2026, the 12-game slate is highlighted by an electrifying Shamrock Series opener at a legendary NFL stadium, according to the official Notre Dame Athletics website and corroborated by outlets like FBSchedules.com and NBC Sports.

The 2026 campaign kicks off on Sunday, September 6, with Notre Dame facing Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This marquee contest, set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC and Peacock, marks a rescheduled event from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It's the second leg of a two-game series, with Notre Dame having previously beaten Wisconsin 41-13 at Soldier Field in 2021. For the Irish, it’s a historic first appearance at Lambeau Field, which has hosted only two previous college football games, adding another layer of intrigue to an already compelling matchup.

What are the marquee matchups for Notre Dame in 2026?

The 2026 schedule features a diverse array of opponents, including three Big Ten foes, six ACC members, Navy, Rice, and BYU from the Big 12, as reported by 247 Sports. Beyond the Lambeau opener, the Irish will battle for five significant rivalry trophies throughout the season: Michigan State, Purdue, Navy, Boston College, and Stanford. These games often bring added intensity and historical significance, forming the bedrock of Notre Dame's independent schedule.

Home games at Notre Dame Stadium include matchups against Rice and Michigan State in September, followed by Stanford in October. The schedule also sees the Irish travel to face Big Ten rival Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium and ACC opponents North Carolina and Syracuse. A notable neutral-site game will be against Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, continuing a storied tradition.

When and where will Notre Dame play its games?

The full 2026 Notre Dame football regular season schedule, with broadcast information where available, is as follows:

• September 6 (Sunday): vs. Wisconsin (Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI) - 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
• September 12 (Saturday): vs. Rice (Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN) - 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
• September 19 (Saturday): vs. Michigan State (Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN) - 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
• September 26 (Saturday): at Purdue (Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN) - Time TBA, TV TBA
• October 3 (Saturday): at North Carolina (Chapel Hill, NC) - Time TBA, TV TBA
• October 10 (Saturday): vs. Stanford (Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN) - 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
• October 17 (Saturday): at BYU (LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT) - Time TBA, TV TBA
• October 31 (Saturday): vs. Navy (Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA) - 12:00 p.m. ET, TV TBA
• November 7 (Saturday): vs. Boston College (Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN) - 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
• November 14 (Saturday): vs. Miami (OH) (Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN) - 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
• November 21 (Saturday): at Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA) - Time TBA, TV TBA
• November 28 (Saturday): at Syracuse (Syracuse, NY) - Time TBA, TV TBA

The season finale will be an away game against Syracuse on November 28, 2026, wrapping up what promises to be a challenging and memorable slate for the Fighting Irish. This comprehensive schedule, confirmed by Notre Dame Athletics, sets the stage for a highly anticipated year of college football.