Notre Dame Football: 2016 Kickoff Times And Night Game Mania
The kickoff times for Notre Dame football are what we expected.
Notre Dame released the kickoff times for the 2016 football season:
| September, 4 | @ Texas | TBD | TBD |
| September, 10 | Nevada | 3:30 | NBC |
| September, 17 | Michigan State | 7:30 | NBC |
| September, 24 | Duke | 3:30 | NBC |
| October, 1 | Syracuse (Metlife Stadium) | TBD | TBD |
| October, 8 | @ NC State | TBD | TBD |
| October, 15 | Stanford | 7:30 | TBD |
| October, 29 | Miami | 3:30 | NBC |
| November, 5 | @ Navy (Jacksonville) | 11:30 AM | CBS |
| November, 12 | Army (San Antonio) | 2:30 | NBC |
| November, 19 | Virginia Tech | 3:30 | NBC |
| November, 26 | @ USC | TBD | TBD |
There are several key things that stick out when you look at this 2016 schedule for Notre Dame.
First, there are two home night games. Many people had speculated this and suggested it would be Michigan State and Miami. Instead, Notre Dame gave a prime time kickoff to what could arguably be the two toughest home games of the season in Michigan State and Stanford.
It would appear that Notre Dame is ready to hype up the nostalgia of the Miami game by keeping it an afternoon kickoff. Strategically, they may have been better off if it had been Miami at night given the Canes weakness in cold weather.
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Second, the Shamrock Series game against Army in San Antonio, Texas will NOT be a night game. Perhaps this is a compromise between Brian Kelly and Jack Swarbrick, so Notre Dame will not be playing two different games in Texas at night.
Because you know… third, the Texas game has been moved to a Sunday (and most likely will be a night game).
Fourth, eat some seafood for breakfast. Notre Dame and Navy kickoff in the morning. This is advantage CBS as they can get Notre Dame and a full slate of SEC games that day.
Fifth, Notre Dame only has three true road games thanks to Syracuse and Navy opting for a neutral site. So, only Texas, NC State, and USC are true road games.
Sixth, (should have used bulletpoints) There is a possibility of six total night games- which given the recent history of Notre Dame football schedules; that’s not too bad.
Finally, the schedule looks more than manageable this year, and even… easy (forgive me). It sets up well for a playoff run for a team that won’t be as talented as last year from top to bottom, but to do so, the Irish will have to leave little doubt in mot of these games.