Finding the nd football tv schedule isn't as simple as just turning on NBC anymore. Honestly, being a Notre Dame fan in 2026 requires a bit of a roadmap and maybe three different streaming passwords. You’ve probably been there—scrambling five minutes before kickoff because the game isn't on the local affiliate you expected.
The Irish are coming off a wild 2025 season where they went 10-2, ending on a massive ten-game win streak. That late-season surge has everyone looking ahead. If you're trying to figure out where to watch the next set of games, you have to navigate a mix of NBC, Peacock, and the occasional ABC or ESPN road trip. It’s a lot.
The NBC and Peacock Balancing Act
For decades, the deal was easy: if they were at home, they were on NBC. Now? It's a "simulstream" world. NBC Sports still holds the keys to South Bend, but they are leaning harder into Peacock than ever before.
Basically, every single home game that airs on NBC is also on Peacock. But—and this is the part that trips people up—not every home game is on NBC. In 2025, the NC State game was a "Peacock Exclusive." If you didn't have the app, you were staring at a blank screen while the Irish were putting up points. Expect that trend to continue. NBC uses these exclusive windows to drive subscriptions, and as the 2026 season approaches, you should probably count on at least one home game being locked behind that digital paywall.
How the Home Games Usually Shake Out
The home slate is where Marcus Freeman’s squad does the most damage. For the 2025 season, we saw a heavy dose of 3:30 p.m. ET and 7:30 p.m. ET kicks.
📖 Related: Cleveland Guardians vs Atlanta Braves Matches: Why This Interleague Rivalry Hits Different
- Texas A&M: A massive primetime 7:30 p.m. slot on NBC/Peacock.
- Purdue: The classic 3:30 p.m. afternoon window.
- USC: Always a primetime affair, usually 7:30 p.m. under the lights.
- Navy: Surprisingly, this was a night game in 2025, which caught some traditionalists off guard.
Why the Away Schedule Is a Different Beast
When Notre Dame travels, NBC stays home. This is where your nd football tv schedule search gets messy. Because the Irish are independent, their road games are governed by the host team's conference TV deals.
When they played at Miami or at Arkansas recently, those games ended up on ABC and ESPN because of the ACC and SEC contracts. If the Irish head to a Big Ten stadium, you might find them on FOX or even CBS. You’ve got to check the host team’s conference affiliation to guess the channel before the official times are released. Usually, these kickoff times are "six-day options," meaning we don't know the exact time or channel until the Sunday before the game.
It’s annoying. We all hate it. But that's the price of independence.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Matchups
While the specific times for the 2026 season haven't all been set in stone yet, we know who is coming to the Stadium and where the Irish have to travel. The schedule includes some heavy hitters that will almost certainly demand primetime slots.
👉 See also: Cincinnati vs Oklahoma State Basketball: What Most People Get Wrong About This Big 12 Grind
| Opponent | Location | Likely Network |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | Neutral (Lambeau Field) | NBC or FOX |
| Michigan State | Home | NBC/Peacock |
| Navy | Away | ABC/ESPN or CBS |
| Florida State | Home | NBC/Peacock |
The Wisconsin game at Lambeau is the one everyone has circled. Since it's a "neutral" site but technically a Notre Dame home game in terms of media rights, expect NBC to go all out with drones and HDR coverage.
The Streaming Reality for 2026
If you're a cord-cutter, your best bets remain YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV. These services carry all the "Big Four" local stations (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX) plus ESPN. If you're trying to save money, a digital antenna will get you the NBC and ABC games for free, but you'll still be left in the dark for those Peacock exclusives or the occasional ESPN road game.
One thing sort of worth mentioning is the "Fighting Irish TV" app. It’s great for international fans—actually, it’s often free for people outside the US—but if you're in the States, it’s mostly just for press conferences and highlights. Don't expect to live stream the games there if you're sitting in South Bend or Chicago.
Common Mistakes Fans Make
The biggest mistake? Assuming the kickoff time stays the same. Networks love to move things around for the "Big Ten Saturday Night" window. Always double-check the Saturday morning listings.
✨ Don't miss: Chase Center: What Most People Get Wrong About the New Arena in San Francisco
Another one is the "Peacock lag." If you’re watching on the app while texting a friend who has the game on cable, they are going to spoil the touchdown 30 seconds before you see it. Turn off your notifications.
Actionable Steps for the Season
To make sure you never miss a snap, you should set up a few things now.
- Download the NBC Sports and ESPN Apps: Even if you don't watch there, the notifications for kickoff times are usually the fastest.
- Verify your Peacock Login: Don't wait until the exclusive game kicks off to find out your subscription expired.
- Check Conference Affiliations: If the Irish are away, look up if the host is ACC (ABC/ESPN), Big Ten (FOX/CBS/NBC), or SEC (ABC/ESPN). That tells you where to look.
- Sync your Calendar: Use a service like Stanza or the official Fighting Irish site to sync the schedule to your phone; it updates automatically when times are announced.
Staying on top of the nd football tv schedule is basically a part-time job, but seeing the gold helmets under the lights makes it worth the hassle. Keep an eye on the official announcements usually released in May for the home games and the weekly updates for the road trips.