If you're frantically refreshing your phone to find out what's the score of the Penn State Notre Dame game, you've gotta be careful about which sport you're actually looking for. These two massive schools don't play each other on the football field every year—though when they do, it’s usually chaos. But right now, in early 2026, the real action is happening on the ice.
The latest score: Penn State vs. Notre Dame (January 17, 2026)
Basically, if you’re looking for the most recent result between these two, it happened just yesterday at Pegula Ice Arena. Penn State beat Notre Dame with a final score of 6–3.
It was a wild one. Honestly, the Nittany Lions started like they were shot out of a cannon. JJ Wiebusch scored only 17 seconds into the game. 17 seconds! You can barely get settled into your seat in that time. Notre Dame kept it interesting, though. They managed to tie it up 2–2 by the end of the first period, but Penn State's offense was just too much. Gavin McKenna had a career night with two goals, and Aiden Fink—who is becoming a bit of a legend in State College—racked up four assists.
This win was actually part of a weekend sweep for the Nittany Lions. The night before, on Friday, January 16, Penn State handled Notre Dame 4–1. Matt DiMarsico was the story there, bagging a hat trick. If you’re a Notre Dame fan, this weekend was... let's just say it was a tough trip to Pennsylvania.
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What about the football score?
Okay, maybe you aren't a hockey fan. Maybe you’re thinking about the gridiron. If you’re asking about the last time these two played football, you’re likely thinking of that absolute heartbreaker in the College Football Playoff.
On January 9, 2025, Notre Dame and Penn State met in the Orange Bowl for a CFP Semifinal. That score? Notre Dame 27, Penn State 24. It was an instant classic. Penn State actually led 24–17 with under eight minutes left after Nick Singleton found the end zone for the third time. But the Irish wouldn't go away. Riley Leonard led a massive drive to tie it up, and then Mitch Jeter—Notre Dame's kicker—nailed a 41-yard field goal with only seven seconds on the clock.
That game was a big deal for a few reasons:
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- It broke a long-standing 9-9-1 tie in the all-time series.
- It was the first time they’d played since 2007.
- It sent Notre Dame to the National Championship.
All-time football series history
A lot of people forget how back-and-forth this rivalry is. It’s not a "protected" rivalry like Michigan-Ohio State, but when they meet, it's usually high stakes.
| Date | Winner | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 9, 2025 | Notre Dame | 27-24 | CFP Semifinal (Orange Bowl) |
| Sept 8, 2007 | Penn State | 31-10 | First full-stadium White Out |
| Sept 9, 2006 | Notre Dame | 41-17 | Brady Quinn was unstoppable |
| Nov 14, 1992 | Notre Dame | 17-16 | The famous "Snow Bowl" |
| Nov 16, 1991 | Penn State | 35-13 | Massive blowout in Happy Valley |
The "Snow Bowl" in '92 is still the one older fans talk about most. Lou Holtz went for two at the end to win it, and he got it. It basically defined the gritty, slightly miserable (weather-wise) nature of this matchup.
Why aren't they playing more often?
It's a common frustration. You've got two of the biggest brands in the sport located only a few hundred miles apart. Why don't we see this score on the ticker every November?
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It mostly comes down to scheduling logistics and conference tie-ins. Penn State is locked into a grueling Big Ten schedule that now includes teams like USC and Oregon. Notre Dame, as an independent, has their own weird balancing act with five ACC games a year plus their traditional rivals like Navy, USC, and Stanford.
There’s no scheduled regular-season game for 2026. Penn State’s non-conference slate for this year features Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo. Notre Dame has Wisconsin and Michigan State on the schedule, but no Nittany Lions. Unless they meet in the expanded 12-team playoff again—which, let's be real, is totally possible given how both programs are recruiting—we won't see a football score for a while.
What to watch for next
If you're following the scores today, keep an eye on the Big Ten hockey standings. Penn State's sweep of the Irish has moved them up to #8 in the country. For the Irish, they’re in a bit of a tailspin, winless in their last several conference games.
On the football side, recruiting is the only place they're currently "scoring." Both teams are currently fighting over several five-star prospects in the 2026 and 2027 classes. Sometimes a "win" on the recruiting trail in February is just as important as the one on the scoreboard in January.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the official Big Ten Network schedule if you want to catch the replay of the 6–3 hockey game. If you are looking for future football tickets, keep an eye on the CFP bracket projections for the 2026 season, as that remains the most likely place these two giants will clash again on the grass.