If you walked into Purcell Pavilion recently for a Notre Dame Louisville basketball matchup, you might have been confused by the colors in the stands. It’s been happening more often. Red jerseys—lots of them—dotting the seats in South Bend. It’s the kind of thing that makes a head coach like Micah Shrewsberry go off in a post-game presser, which he famously did after a frustrating 15-point home loss to the Cardinals.
He called it "embarrassing." He wasn't wrong.
But that’s where we are with this rivalry. It’s a mix of high-stakes ACC maneuvering, legendary coaches trying to rebuild broken foundations, and two fanbases that honestly just want to feel like they matter on the national stage again.
The Current State of the Series
Right now, the vibe is lopsided. As of January 2026, Louisville has been the aggressor. They recently walked into South Bend and handed the Irish a 75-60 defeat that felt even wider than the score suggested. Pat Kelsey has that Louisville program humming with a brand of "Revuville" energy that relies on relentless physicality and a deep bench.
The numbers tell a story of two programs moving in opposite directions. Louisville currently sits comfortably in the top half of the ACC standings, while Notre Dame is scrappy but struggling to find consistency. The Irish have talent—don't get me wrong. Markus Burton is a legitimate star who can create his own shot against anyone. But basketball is a game of depth, and right now, the Cardinals simply have more bodies to throw at you.
Take the latest clash for example. Louisville’s bench outscored Notre Dame’s reserves by a staggering 13-2 margin. You can’t win at this level when your starters are gassed by the ten-minute mark of the second half.
Recent Head-to-Head Results
- February 2025: Louisville 75, Notre Dame 60 (at Notre Dame)
- January 2024: Louisville 50, Notre Dame 72 (at Louisville)
- January 2023: Notre Dame 76, Louisville 62 (at Notre Dame)
It’s been a back-and-forth affair over the last few years, but the 2025-26 season has seen a shift. Louisville under Kelsey looks like a team that expects to win every time they step on the floor. Notre Dame is still in that "learning how to win" phase under Shrewsberry.
Why Micah Shrewsberry is Fed Up
You’ve probably seen the clip. Shrewsberry, voice cracking with a mix of anger and desperate loyalty to his players, told the media not to come back when they’re winning if they’ve already given up on the team. He was reacting to a crowd that felt more like a Louisville home game than an Irish sanctuary.
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It’s a tough spot. Notre Dame fans are used to winning. They remember the Mike Brey years where the Irish were a constant threat to make a deep tournament run. Transitioning to a new era is painful.
The Irish are relying heavily on:
- Markus Burton: The engine. Everything goes through him.
- Braeden Shrewsberry: A deadeye shooter who needs just a sliver of space.
- Kebba Njie: The muscle inside who has to battle elite ACC bigs every night.
The problem isn't the heart. It's the execution. Against Louisville’s ball pressure, the Irish frequently find themselves over-dribbling. They’re looking for the perfect play instead of making the simple one. In their last meeting, the Irish managed only seven assists. Seven! That is not Notre Dame basketball.
The Pat Kelsey Factor at Louisville
On the other side, Louisville is playing with a chip on its shoulder. After the Kenny Payne era, which was—to put it mildly—a disaster, the fan base was starving for a winner. Pat Kelsey brought a brand of basketball that is basically organized chaos.
They play fast. They play hard. And they aren’t afraid to get into your jersey.
Guys like Chucky Hepburn have transformed the Cardinals' backcourt. Hepburn, a transfer who knows what it takes to win at the highest level, controlled the tempo in the most recent Notre Dame Louisville basketball game, finishing with 16 points and 6 assists. He’s the kind of floor general the Irish are currently lacking—someone who can calm things down when the opposing crowd (or what's left of it) starts getting loud.
Women’s Basketball: A Different Beast
We can't talk about these two schools without mentioning the women’s side. If the men’s rivalry is about rebuilding, the women’s rivalry is about elite-level dominance.
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On January 15, 2026, the No. 9 Louisville women took down No. 23 Notre Dame 79-66. It was a masterclass in bench production. Reyna Scott came off the pine and dropped 20 points. Think about that. A bench player outscoring almost everyone on the court.
Hannah Hidalgo is still doing Hannah Hidalgo things for the Irish—she put up 24 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds in that loss—but she’s one person. Louisville’s depth under Jeff Walz is terrifying. They outscored Notre Dame's bench 31-2. It’s hard to beat a Top 10 team when your rotation is that thin.
Key Players to Watch Moving Forward
If you're tracking this matchup for the rest of the 2026 season, keep an eye on these specific individuals. They are the ones who decide whether the game is a blowout or a classic.
For Notre Dame:
Markus Burton is the obvious choice, but keep an eye on freshman Jalen Haralson. He’s a 6'7" guard with NBA potential. If he starts to figure out the speed of the ACC game, the Irish become a much more dangerous out in the conference tournament.
For Louisville:
Terrence Edwards Jr. is the heart of this team. He’s a versatile wing who can guard multiple positions. Also, watch out for the freshman big man, Khani Rooths. He has a way of finding the ball on the offensive glass that demoralizes opponents.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
There’s a common misconception that this is "just another conference game." It’s not. These two schools have a history that goes back to the Big East days. There is genuine friction here.
The geography helps. Louisville and South Bend aren't that far apart, which is why the "Red Out" in Purcell Pavilion happened. Louisville fans travel. They take pride in it.
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People also assume Notre Dame is "down" for the count. That’s a mistake. Shrewsberry is a tactical genius who just needs his recruiting classes to mature. The 2025 class for the Irish was ranked in the top 15 nationally. The talent is coming. It just isn't all there yet.
How to Follow the Next Chapter
The next time these two meet, expect a war. Louisville will try to use their depth to wear the Irish down. Notre Dame will try to shorten the game, rely on Burton’s heroics, and hope the home crowd actually shows up in blue and gold this time.
If you want to understand where the ACC is headed, look at this rivalry. It’s the perfect microcosm of the "new" ACC—a mix of traditional powers trying to regain their footing and new-look rosters built through the transfer portal.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Check the Bench: If you're betting on or analyzing the next game, look at the bench points. If Louisville’s reserves are outscoring Notre Dame’s by 10+, the Irish have almost zero chance of winning.
- Watch the Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: Notre Dame loses when they stop passing. If they have fewer than 12 assists, they are likely in trouble.
- Keep an Eye on the Standings: Louisville is currently fighting for a double-bye in the ACC Tournament. Every win against a "middle-of-the-pack" team like Notre Dame is essential for their seeding.
- Hidalgo Watch: On the women’s side, Hannah Hidalgo is a generational talent. Even if the Irish lose, watching her defensive intensity is worth the price of admission alone.
The 2026 season has plenty of basketball left. Whether you're a Cardinal or an Irish fan, this matchup remains one of the more intense, gritty, and unpredictable dates on the calendar. Just don't expect it to be pretty.
Go to the next game. Wear your colors. And if you're an Irish fan, don't let the red jerseys take over your stadium again. It clearly bothers the coach.
To stay ahead of the curve, monitor the official ACC injury reports 24 hours before tip-off, as both teams have been dealing with nagging rotation injuries that could swing the defensive matchups in the paint. Additionally, keep a close watch on the "NET Rankings" released every Monday; a win for Notre Dame here would be a "Quadrant 1" or "Quadrant 2" victory that could drastically change their post-season trajectory.