So, you’re looking for the channel or the stadium for the Irish today? It’s Friday, January 16, 2026, and if you’ve got your jersey on and the snacks ready, I have some news that might be a bit of a gut punch.
There is no Notre Dame football game today.
Honestly, it’s a weird vibe. Usually, a 10-2 Notre Dame team is right in the thick of the January madness. But if you’re asking where is the Notre Dame football game today, the answer is actually "nowhere." The pads are in the lockers. The stadium in South Bend is quiet. And the reason why has sparked one of the biggest debates in recent college football history.
Why aren't the Irish playing?
Basically, the 2025-2026 postseason turned into a massive controversy for Marcus Freeman’s squad. Despite finishing the regular season with a stellar 10-2 record and riding a massive 10-game winning streak, the Selection Committee dropped a bombshell back in December. They ranked Notre Dame at No. 11.
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That sounds high, right? In a 12-team playoff, you’d think they’d be safe.
But here’s the kicker: because of how the conference champion auto-bids shook out, the Irish ended up being the "first team out" of the College Football Playoff bracket. The last at-large spot went to Miami—a team that actually beat Notre Dame way back in August.
Instead of taking a bid to a secondary bowl game, the university made a move that stunned the sports world. They opted out. Completely.
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Pete Bevacqua, the Notre Dame Athletic Director, didn't hold back. He called the playoff snub "a joke" and "a waste of time." The team decided that if they weren't playing for a National Championship, they weren't playing at all. So, while you might see Indiana and Miami getting ready for the title game this coming Monday, the Irish are already looking toward the 2026 opener.
The 2026 schedule: Where they're headed next
Since there's no kickoff today, your best bet is to start marking your calendar for the fall. The 2026 schedule is already looking like a gauntlet. It’s not just the usual suspects; there are some unique locations on the map for this coming season.
- September 6, 2026: They open the season against Wisconsin. This isn't happening in South Bend or Madison, though. They’re heading to Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
- October 31, 2026: The annual Navy game is taking a road trip. It’s being held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
- Late 2026: One of the most talked-about games is a rare trip to Provo to face BYU. After the drama of this year's "bowl opt-out," that game is already being circled by every critic in the country.
What's actually happening on campus today?
If you’re a die-hard Notre Dame fan and you absolutely need your fix of the Blue and Gold today, you’ve got to switch sports. While the football team is off, the rest of the athletic department is in full swing.
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Actually, the Notre Dame hockey team is playing Penn State tonight. That game is happening at the Pegula Ice Arena at 7:00 PM EST. If you prefer hoops, the men's basketball team is traveling to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech tomorrow.
It’s definitely a strange feeling for Irish fans to be "done" with football in mid-January, especially when they were so close to a playoff run. But that’s the reality of the new playoff era. Sometimes 10-2 and a 10-game winning streak just isn't enough to satisfy the committee.
Actionable steps for Irish fans
Since you won't be watching a game today, here is how you can prep for the 2026 cycle:
- Check your ticket eligibility: With games at Lambeau and Gillette Stadium on the 2026 docket, ticket demand is going to be absurd. If you aren't already on the lottery list, now is the time to check your status through the Murnane Family Ticket Office.
- Download the updated schedule: The 2026 dates are finalized. Get them into your Google Calendar now because the season opener is a Sunday night game (Sept 6) rather than the usual Saturday afternoon.
- Review the Shamrock Series details: The Foxborough game against Navy is officially part of the Shamrock Series, which means there will be specific jersey reveals and fan events in Boston that require early registration.
The "opt-out" of 2025 will be talked about for years, but the focus in South Bend has already shifted. The wait for Lambeau Field starts now.