So, you’re looking for the Notre Dame football score from yesterday, Saturday, January 17, 2026.
Here’s the thing. There wasn't one.
I know, it's kinda a bummer when you're craving that South Bend Saturday energy, but the Fighting Irish football team is deep in the winter off-season right now. If you saw a "Notre Dame" score flashing across your phone or on the bottom of a TV ticker yesterday, you were actually looking at the men’s basketball team.
They played a tough road game against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. It didn't go great for the Irish. They lost 89-76.
But I get why people are searching for football scores. With the way the college football calendar has shifted over the last few years—especially with the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff—January football is the new normal. Fans are still buzzing from the recent postseason drama, even if the pads aren't popping this weekend.
Why There Was No Notre Dame Football Game Yesterday
The college football season is basically in a deep freeze. Most teams wrapped up their schedules weeks ago. Specifically for Notre Dame, the 2025-2026 season ended earlier this month.
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Marcus Freeman’s squad had a hell of a run this year. They actually made history. On New Year’s Day, Notre Dame finally broke that decades-long "major bowl game" curse. They took down No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl with a 23-10 victory. It was a massive statement win that sent them into the CFP semifinals.
But that’s where the road ended.
They faced a powerhouse in the next round, and since the National Championship game—which saw Indiana beat Miami—took place earlier this week, the football stadium in South Bend is currently covered in snow rather than yard markers.
The January Confusion: Basketball vs. Football
It happens every year. People see "Notre Dame" and "score" and their brains go straight to the gridiron.
If you were following the Irish yesterday, you saw Micah Shrewsberry’s basketball team struggling to find their rhythm at Cassell Coliseum. Virginia Tech just had their number. The Hokies were lights-out from the free-throw line, hitting 28 of 32 attempts.
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Notre Dame’s Sir Mohammed had a decent start with 12 points, and freshman Brady Koehler actually put up a career-high 17 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Hokies' dominance in the paint. Tobi Lawal and Amani Hansberry basically lived at the rim, combining for 43 points.
That’s the score people are talking about today. 76-89. Not exactly the defensive battle you'd expect on a football field, but a high-scoring affair on the hardwood.
Looking Ahead: When Does Notre Dame Football Play Again?
If you're already counting down the days until you can hear "Victory Clog" again, you’ve got a bit of a wait.
The 2026 schedule is already looking spicy. The Irish are set to open their season in a massive way. They’ll be heading to Green Bay to face the Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
Honestly, that’s going to be one of the biggest games of the year. Playing at Lambeau as a "Shamrock Series" game? That’s bucket-list stuff for fans.
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After that, they head back to South Bend for a home opener against Rice on September 12, followed by a rivalry matchup with Michigan State on September 19. The schedule is pretty balanced, with road trips to Purdue and North Carolina mixed in before the annual Navy game in late October.
Key Dates for the 2026 Irish Season:
- Sept 6: vs. Wisconsin (Lambeau Field)
- Sept 12: vs. Rice (Home Opener)
- Sept 19: vs. Michigan State
- Oct 31: vs. Navy (Foxborough, MA)
- Nov 7: vs. Miami (FL)
- Nov 21: vs. Boston College
What Happens Now? (The Actionable Part)
Since there’s no football to watch today, what should a die-hard Irish fan do?
First, keep an eye on the Transfer Portal. This is the "roster construction" season. Coach Freeman and his staff are currently scouring the portal to fill gaps left by NFL departures. We've already seen some movement with defensive tackle transfers like Francis Brewu and others looking to bolster the line for 2026.
Second, check out the basketball team. Even though they dropped the game yesterday to Virginia Tech, Shrewsberry is building something with young talents like Koehler and Mohammed. They play in a brutal ACC, so every game is a dogfight.
Lastly, mark your calendars for the Blue-Gold Game this April. That’ll be your first real look at the 2026 squad, the new quarterback competition, and how the defense is reloading.
So, no. There was no football score yesterday. But the machine never stops moving in South Bend. Take a breath, watch some hoops, and start planning that trip to Green Bay for September.
To stay ahead of the game, you should set up a Google Alert for "Notre Dame Football Transfer Portal" to see who the next big addition to the roster will be. You can also start looking into tickets for the Shamrock Series at Lambeau now, as those are going to disappear the second they hit the secondary market.