If you’re checking your watch and wondering what time is the Notre Dame game today, you aren't alone. South Bend is buzzing right now. There’s a massive ACC showdown happening at Purcell Pavilion that’s going to have major implications for the conference standings.
The Notre Dame women’s basketball team is hosting the No. 9 Louisville Cardinals. This isn’t just another mid-January game; it’s a collision of two top-tier programs trying to assert dominance in a brutal ACC.
The Tip-Off: What Time Is The Notre Dame Game Today?
The game is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. ET today, Thursday, January 15, 2026.
If you are on the West Coast, you’re looking at a 3:00 p.m. start, so maybe "forget" to close that extra tab at work. For the local fans heading to the Joyce Center, doors usually open about an hour to 90 minutes early. Given the rivalry here, expect the stands to fill up fast.
Louisville (16-3) comes into this one on a serious heater. They’ve won nine games in a row. Meanwhile, Notre Dame (12-4) is looking to protect their home court after a dominant 73-50 win over North Carolina last Sunday.
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How to Watch and Listen
You've got options. If you aren't lucky enough to have a ticket in the building, the game is being broadcast on the ACC Network (ACCN).
If you’re a "listen while I cook" kind of person, you can catch the radio broadcast via ACCN Radio or the official Notre Dame Fighting Irish app. Live stats are also being updated in real-time on the official athletics site if you're stuck in a meeting and need to "discreetly" check the score.
Key Game Details
- Matchup: No. 9 Louisville Cardinals vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Date: Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026
- Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Purcell Pavilion, Notre Dame, IN
- TV: ACC Network
Why This Game Is Actually a Big Deal
Honestly, the ACC is a meat grinder this year. Louisville is currently sitting pretty with that winning streak, but the Irish have shown they can dismantle top-tier defenses when their transition game is clicking.
We saw it against UNC. The Irish defense held the Tar Heels to just 50 points. If they can bring that same suffocating energy to the perimeter today, Louisville’s shooters are going to have a long night.
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It's also about momentum. January is when the "pretenders" start to fade and the "contenders" start to separate themselves. A win today for Notre Dame wouldn't just be another tally in the win column; it would be a statement to the rest of the country that South Bend is a "no-fly zone" for top-ten teams.
What About Other Irish Sports?
Maybe you were actually looking for hockey or men's basketball? It happens. The sports calendar is packed.
The Notre Dame Men's Hockey team is currently preparing for a road trip. They play at Penn State tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 16, at 7:00 p.m. ET. So, nothing on the ice today.
As for the Men's Basketball team, they are coming off a tough loss to Miami (81-69) where Jalen Haralson dropped 18 points. They don't play again until Saturday, Jan. 17, when they head to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech at noon.
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Your Gameday Checklist
If you’re watching the women's game tonight, here is the move:
- Check your cable login: Ensure your provider carries ACC Network. If you use YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV, you should be good to go.
- Monitor the injury report: Keep an eye on the starting lineups released about 30 minutes before tip-off. In games this close, one missing rotational player changes the entire geometry of the floor.
- Sync the audio: If you prefer the local radio announcers over the TV crew, use the Varsity Network app, but be prepared to pause your TV for a few seconds to get the sync right.
The Irish are currently 12-4 and a win tonight moves them into a much stronger position for tournament seeding later this spring. Whether you're a die-hard alum or just someone who loves high-level basketball, 6:00 p.m. is the time to tune in.
Keep an eye on the defensive rotations in the first quarter. If Notre Dame can force Louisville into early turnovers, the Purcell Pavilion crowd will get loud, and we know how hard it is to play in that building once the momentum shifts.
Enjoy the game. Go Irish.