If you’re hunting for the notre dame score today on tv, you probably already know the vibe around South Bend has been... tense. It is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the Fighting Irish just tipped off against Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum. This isn't just another January road trip. It’s a survival mission for Micah Shrewsberry’s squad.
They’re coming off a brutal three-game skid. The most recent sting? An 81-69 loss to Miami that felt like it was tied at halftime (39-39) before the floor basically fell out from under them. Now, they're in Blacksburg. It's loud. It's hostile. And the Irish are 5.5-point underdogs.
The Score Right Now and Where to Watch
Look, I'll be straight with you. The game started at 12:00 PM ET. If you’re checking the notre dame score today on tv right now, you should flip your dial over to the ACC Network.
Anish Shroff and Scott Williams are on the call. If you don't have cable, you're basically looking at Fubo or YouTube TV to catch the stream.
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Historically, Cassell Coliseum is a house of horrors for teams that can't handle pressure. Notre Dame has struggled with "aggressive mistakes"—coach Shrewsberry’s words, not mine—and they’ve been coughing up the ball at the worst possible times. They had 18 turnovers against Miami. You can’t do that against the Hokies and expect to leave with a win.
Why the Irish are Fighting an Uphill Battle
Honestly, the stats are kinda worrying. Notre Dame (10-7, 1-3 ACC) is trying to find its identity without a consistent second scoring option. Jalen Haralson has been a beast, though. The kid has put up double digits in 15 straight games. He had 18 against Miami, but he needs help.
- Jalen Haralson: The undisputed leader. He’s averaging about 15.1 points and doing his best to keep the ship upright.
- Carson Towt: He’s been a monster on the boards, leading the team with over 10 rebounds a game.
- The Problem: The Irish are shooting about 47% from the field, which isn't terrible, but their free-throw shooting (66.7% recently) is a literal nightmare in close games.
Virginia Tech (13-5) is no joke either. They’re coming off a narrow one-point loss to SMU, so they’re hungry. Amani Hansberry is back for them, and when he’s healthy, the Hokies play with a different level of physicality.
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The Drama Behind the Season
It's not just about today's score. It's about the trajectory. Everyone expected the Irish to take a massive leap this year. Instead, they've been hovering around .500 in the conference.
The defense has been "sorta" okay, allowing about 67-68 points per game, but the offense goes through these dry spells that last five or six minutes. In the Miami game, they went on a 13-1 deficit to start the second half. You just can't dig holes like that on the road in the ACC.
Key Factors for Today’s Outcome:
- The Turnover Bug: If Notre Dame keeps the turnovers under 12, they have a shot. If it’s 15+, it’s over.
- Braeden Shrewsberry’s Range: He’s hitting nearly three triples a game. They need him to get hot early to quiet the Blacksburg crowd.
- Bench Depth: Who steps up? Sir Mohammed showed flashes with 15 points recently. They need that version of him today.
What's Next for Notre Dame?
If you miss the notre dame score today on tv, the schedule doesn't get any easier. They head to Chapel Hill to play North Carolina on Wednesday, January 21. That’s a 7:00 PM tip on ESPN2.
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Following that, they finally return home to Purcell Pavilion to face Boston College on Saturday the 24th. The home crowd might be exactly what this young team needs to regain some confidence, but they have to prove they can win a "dogfight" on the road first.
To keep track of the live box score as it happens, your best bet is the official Fighting Irish athletics site or the ESPN app, as the numbers are fluctuating by the minute in this ACC showdown.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the ACC Network: Ensure your subscription is active, or use a 7-day free trial on a streaming service like Fubo to catch the second half.
- Monitor the Spread: If the Irish are within 5 points at the under-8 timeout, the "Over" on 141.5 total points becomes a very interesting look based on recent scoring trends.
- Follow Live Stats: Use the StatBroadcast link usually provided on the Notre Dame Men's Basketball Twitter (X) account for real-time play-by-play that's faster than the TV broadcast.
The Irish are at a crossroads. Today's result in Blacksburg will likely dictate whether they're fighting for a tournament bubble spot or just playing for pride in March.