If you’re refreshing your phone looking for a Notre Dame football game today score, I’ve got some news that might be a bit of a letdown.
There isn't one.
Today is Wednesday, January 14, 2026. The college football season basically wrapped up with the National Championship game a couple of nights ago. Unless you’re looking for the basketball score—where the Irish men just took a tough 81-69 loss to Miami last night—the football pads are officially in storage.
It’s that weird, quiet part of the year. The "Transfer Portal and Recruiting" season. Honestly, for some fans, this part of the calendar is almost as stressful as a fourth-quarter drive against USC.
The Last Time We Saw the Irish
The 2025 season was a rollercoaster that ended with a bit of a "what if" vibe. Notre Dame finished with a strong 10-2 record. They closed out the regular season on a massive ten-game winning streak, absolutely dismantling Stanford 49-20 in the finale back on November 29.
But here’s the kicker: they didn’t play a bowl game.
It was a pretty shocking move at the time. On December 7, the program announced they were withdrawing from bowl consideration, specifically the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Why? A mix of injuries, coaching staff shifts, and a roster being gutted by the early transfer portal window. It felt weird not seeing the gold helmets in December, but Coach Marcus Freeman made the call to focus on 2026.
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Breaking Down the 2025 Results
If you’re looking at the Notre Dame football game today score because you missed the end of the year, here is how that final stretch looked:
- Nov 29: ND 49, Stanford 20 (The Jeremiyah Love show)
- Nov 22: ND 70, Syracuse 7 (Total blowout)
- Nov 15: ND 37, Pitt 15
- Nov 8: ND 49, Navy 10
The only blemishes on the record? Two heartbreaking losses in the first three weeks of the season against Miami and Texas A&M. Both were by three points or less. If either of those kicks go the other way, we're probably talking about a Playoff run instead of a quiet January.
What’s Actually Happening in South Bend Today?
Just because there’s no game doesn’t mean the building is empty. Far from it.
Right now, the "score" is being settled in the transfer portal. Yesterday, January 13, was a massive day for the Irish. They landed Francis Brewu, a powerhouse defensive tackle transfer from Pitt. If you follow recruiting, you know the interior defensive line was a massive hole for this team. Landing Brewu—while beating out Ohio State for him—is a huge "W" for the 2026 season.
Also, we’ve finally got clarity on the coaching staff. Charlie Partridge is officially in as the defensive line coach, and Al Washington has moved to linebackers.
There was a lot of chatter about Marcus Freeman maybe looking at the NFL. Adam Schefter reported just yesterday that despite interest from pro teams, Freeman is staying put in South Bend. That’s probably the biggest win of the week for Irish fans. Stability is everything in the current NIL era.
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Looking Ahead: The 2026 Schedule
Since you can't get a Notre Dame football game today score, let's look at when you actually can. The 2026 schedule is starting to look like a gauntlet.
The Irish open the season on Sunday, September 6, 2026, against Wisconsin. But it’s not at Camp Randall or South Bend. It’s a Shamrock Series game at Lambeau Field. If you've ever wanted to see the Irish play in the "frozen tundra," that's your chance.
Here is the path for next fall as we know it:
- Sept 6: vs. Wisconsin (Lambeau Field)
- Sept 12: Rice
- Sept 19: Michigan State
- Sept 26: at Purdue
- Oct 3: at North Carolina
- Oct 31: vs. Navy (at Gillette Stadium)
- Nov 7: Miami (FL)
There’s also a newly announced home-and-home with BYU that starts in 2026. This has caused a bit of a stir because it might mean the end of the annual USC series for a year or two. The math just doesn't work with the ACC requirements and these new deals. It's a bummer, honestly. The "Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh" is a staple, but conference expansion is messy.
Why People Are Searching for the Score Today
Sometimes Google gets a bit confused, or fans see "Notre Dame" in the headlines and assume a game is on. Usually, on a Wednesday in mid-January, people are actually looking for Notre Dame Basketball.
The men’s team is struggling a bit at 10-7, but the women’s team is a legit juggernaut. Tomorrow, January 15, the #23 ranked Irish women take on #9 Louisville at the Purcell Pavilion. If you need a Notre Dame fix, that’s where you’ll find it. Hannah Hidalgo has been playing out of her mind lately, averaging over 23 points against ranked teams.
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Your Offseason Game Plan
Since the football team is in hibernation, here is how you stay in the loop.
First, keep an eye on February 15. That’s when four-star defensive lineman Joseph Buchanan makes his commitment. Notre Dame is in his top three along with Ohio State and Indiana. Getting him would be the cherry on top of this recruiting cycle.
Second, check the status of the 2026 season tickets. With games at Lambeau and Gillette Stadium, the "home" schedule is a bit fractured, meaning tickets for the actual games at Notre Dame Stadium—like Michigan State and Miami—are going to be harder to snag than usual.
Basically, the 2025 season is in the books. It was a 10-win year that felt like it could have been 12. Now, it's all about whether Freeman can turn these portal wins into a playoff seed nine months from now.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the final 2025 player stats to see who is returning for the 2026 Lambeau opener.
- Follow the women's basketball game tomorrow night for your immediate Notre Dame sports fix.
- Keep tabs on the 2027 recruiting class, specifically the commitment of Joseph Buchanan next month.