Irish face tough road: Lambeau opener, NFL stadiums, and a playoff-bound SMU highlight their path to glory.
Notre Dame has finalized its 2026 football schedule with the 12th opponent being finalized and dates being set. The Fighting Irish now know what the schedule that it must dominate on its way to the College Football Playoff looks like.
There was some question about who would be the 12th opponent, but it has been finalized that Stanford will remain on the schedule for the 2026 season. Notre Dame will play Stanford at home on October 10th. The Irish will end the regular season on the East Coast as they will head to Syracuse on November 28th to wrap up the regular season. Notre Dame has finished its regular season in California every season since 1997.
Notre Dame also finalized its date for SMU, which will be played at home on November 21st. That will be Senior Day for Notre Dame, who plays SMU for the first time since 1989.
Notre Dame will play six ACC teams next season. Notre Dame will play four straight ACC opponents to end the season, including two - Miami and SMU - who made it to the College Football Playoff the last two seasons. SMU made it in 2024 and Miami advanced to the title game in 2025.
Notre Dame will play three Big Ten opponents, with long time rivals Michigan State (Home) and Purdue (Road) being on the schedule this season. It's Notre Dame's first meeting with the Spartans since 2017 and first home game against the Spartans since 2016. Notre Dame will kick the season off against Wisconsin, with the game being played at Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers. Notre Dame last played Wisconsin in 2021, another game played on an NFL Stadium, that time being Soldier Field. The Irish won that game 41-13.
Notre Dame will play a second game inside of a NFL stadium, as the Irish will play Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. That is the home of the New England Patriots.
Notre Dame will also travel to Provo, Utah to take on the BYU Cougars in a matchup against the reigning Big 12 runners up. Notre Dame has not traveled to Provo since 2004, a game the Irish lost 20-17. The last meeting was 2022 in Las Vegas, a game Notre Dame won 28-20.
NOTRE DAME 2026 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sep. 6 - vs Wisconsin (Lambeau Field - Green Bay, Wis.)
Sep. 12 - Rice
Sep. 19 - Michigan State
Sep. 26 - at Purdue
Oct. 3 - at North Carolina
Oct. 10 - Stanford
Oct. 17 - at BYU
Oct. 24 - Bye Week
Oct. 31 - vs Navy (Gillette Stadium - Foxborough, Mass.)
Nov. 7 - Miami
Nov. 14 - Boston College
Nov. 21 - SMU
Nov. 28 - at Syracuse
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