If you're frantically scrolling through your channel guide or refreshing your streaming apps to figure out what station is the notre dame game on today, you’ve probably noticed the Fighting Irish are busy across a few different time slots this Saturday, January 17, 2026.
It's one of those classic January sports days. The football pads are put away—though we'll talk about that 2026 schedule in a bit—and the action has shifted entirely to the hardwoods and the ice. Whether you’re looking for Micah Shrewsberry’s squad trying to navigate the ACC or the hockey team battling in the Big Ten, the "where to watch" answer depends entirely on which Irish team you’re hunting for.
The Men's Basketball Game: ACC Network
The main event for many Irish fans today was the matinee matchup against Virginia Tech. If you were looking for this one live, it aired on the ACC Network (ACCN).
The game tipped off at noon ET. For those who missed the live broadcast or are checking in for the result, it was a tough road trip to Blacksburg. Notre Dame fell to the Hokies 89-76. It was a high-scoring affair where Virginia Tech's offense simply proved too much for the Irish defense to contain over forty minutes.
If you have a cable subscription, you likely found it on your standard sports tier. For the cord-cutters, the ACC Network is usually bundled into packages on:
🔗 Read more: New Zealand Breakers vs Illawarra Hawks: What Most People Get Wrong
- FuboTV
- Hulu + Live TV
- YouTube TV
- Sling TV (usually via the Sports Extra add-on)
Notre Dame Hockey: The Big Ten Battle
If you missed the hoops game, don't worry. The nightcap features the Notre Dame hockey team. They are out East taking on No. 8 Penn State at Pegula Ice Arena. This is the second game of a back-to-back series, and honestly, the Nittany Lions have been a handful this year.
What station is the hockey game on? This one is a bit more "old school" in terms of accessibility. While many Big Ten games land on the Big Ten Network or Peacock, tonight’s rematch is primarily a radio and streaming affair.
You can catch the live audio via the Notre Dame Radio Network or the Penn State Sports Network. For a visual, you’ll typically need a subscription to B1G+, the Big Ten’s dedicated streaming service. Unlike the football games that almost always land on NBC or Peacock, hockey often requires that extra subscription step unless it gets flexed to the main Big Ten Network (BTN).
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Football Schedule
Since it's 2026, we’re already getting questions about the upcoming football season. While the "today" aspect is all about basketball and hockey, the broadcast rights for the fall are already locked in.
💡 You might also like: New Jersey Giants Football Explained: Why Most People Still Get the "Home Team" Wrong
Basically, if it’s a home game in South Bend, you know the drill: NBC and Peacock are your go-to stations. The 2026 season opener is a massive one—Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on September 6. Because that's technically a neutral site (but effectively a Big Ten environment), expect that to be a premier national broadcast, likely on NBC.
Other highlights on the 2026 slate include:
- Michigan State (Home)
- Miami FL (Home)
- At North Carolina (Road)
- Navy (In Foxborough)
For those road games at ACC schools (like UNC or Syracuse), those won't be on NBC. Those typically land on ESPN, ABC, or the ACC Network.
How to Stream if You Don’t Have Cable
Look, cable is expensive. Most people are watching the Irish through streaming services these days. If you’re trying to catch future games on the ACC Network or NBC, here’s the breakdown of how to stay connected:
📖 Related: Nebraska Cornhuskers Women's Basketball: What Really Happened This Season
- Peacock: This is non-negotiable for Irish fans now. A lot of the exclusive content, including some basketball and the bulk of the "extra" football coverage, lives here.
- The ESPN App: If the game is on ACCN or an ESPN channel, you can stream it here, but you’ll still need to "authenticate" with a provider (like a friend's cable login or your own YouTube TV account).
- Fighting Irish TV: Notre Dame has its own app for smart TVs (Roku, Apple TV, etc.). It’s great for press conferences, highlights, and smaller Olympic sports, though it rarely carries the major live football or basketball games due to broadcast contracts.
Actionable Next Steps
If you missed the noon basketball game, your best bet now is to head over to the official Notre Dame Athletics website (fightingirish.com) to catch the condensed highlights or the box score.
For the hockey game tonight at 8:00 PM ET, make sure your B1G+ subscription is active or find a local radio affiliate. If you’re planning for the rest of the month, mark your calendar for January 21, when the men's basketball team takes on Syracuse. That one is slated for ESPN2, which is much easier to find on a basic cable or streaming package than the specialized conference networks.
Check your local listings about an hour before tip-off or puck drop, as "flex" scheduling can sometimes move a game from a digital stream to a linear TV channel at the last minute.