The Notre Dame football team is still focusing in on the 2025 season, but it’s never too early to start thinking about what their schedules in the future will look like. Specifically, there are some real questions about what the Fighting Irish will be doing during the 2026 campaign.
For now, most of the 2026 schedule is laid out with two very big question marks to complete the 12-game slate. There are a few “non-conference” opponents already on the schedule as well as games vs the ACC as part of the school’s deal with the conference.
The Notre Dame football has those two openings that could be filled by big rivalry programs, or it could be tilts against unknown opponents that are going to be a bit easier. And it’s hard not to see a chance that there will be some expansion talk filling in those last two slots in the 2026 schedule.
Notre Dame 2026 football schedule: Known and confirmed opponents
Thanks to not being a part of a conference, the Irish tend to have a few biggies on the schedule. In this day and age it’s all about making sure the playoff resume looks good. So outside of the games that have been assigned to the Irish, they have these games on the 2026 schedule.
- at Wisconsin (Lambeau Field in Green Bay) on September 5
- Vs Michigan State on September 19
- At Purdue on September 26
- Vs Navy on October 31
- At USC on November 28
Of those games, the one that is in real danger, it’s the game against the Trojans. USC has been talking about ending the yearly rivalry, and they may do that sooner than later.
Notre Dame football 2026 ACC opponents
- At North Carolina on October 3
- At Florida State (TBA)
- Vs Miami Hurricanes (TBA)
- Vs Syracuse (TBA)
- Vs SMU (TBA)
Many of the official dates for the ACC games haven’t been set yet but one thing is sure, the Notre Dame football schedule against the conference is going to be one of the tougher ones its seen in a while, based on where these programs are right now.