Looking at Notre Dame Football’s Most Anticipated Games of 2026

📸 Credit: https://www.wruf.com/headlines/2025/10/29/reports-notre-dames-marcus-freeman-turns-down-florida-offer/

The 2026 college football season is shaping up to be a pivotal one for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football under head coach Marcus Freeman. Coming off a 2025 campaign that saw the Irish finish strong but controversially left out of the expanded College Football Playoff, Notre Dame enters 2026 as a national title contender with high expectations. The schedule, recently announced, features a mix of high-profile non-conference clashes, ACC "friends with benefits" matchups, and a unique opener in an iconic NFL venue.

While the full slate includes a blend of Power Four opponents and intriguing venues, several games stand out as the most anticipated—whether due to revenge narratives, historic settings, playoff implications, or sheer star power. Here's a look at Notre Dame's top marquee matchups for 2026 that fans, analysts, and recruits will circle on their calendars.

1. Notre Dame vs. Miami (November 7)

This is hands-down the most anticipated game on the Irish's docket. The Hurricanes, fresh off a national runner-up finish in 2025, handed Notre Dame a heartbreaking 27-24 season-opening loss last year in Miami—a result that played a major role in both teams' CFP fates (Miami made the bracket; Notre Dame did not). The rematch in South Bend promises fireworks, with Miami's high-powered offense clashing against Notre Dame's stout defense. Expect a top-10 showdown that could have massive playoff seeding implications. The Irish will look to flip the script and send a statement to the committee.

2. Notre Dame at Wisconsin (September 6)

Kicking off the season in historic Lambeau Field is a bucket-list event for any Notre Dame fan. This long-delayed Shamrock Series game (originally slated for 2020 but postponed due to COVID) moves to a Sunday slot on NBC/Peacock, marking the first college football game at the "Frozen Tundra" in over a decade. While Wisconsin has struggled in recent years, the venue alone elevates this to must-see status. Notre Dame's previous win over the Badgers at Soldier Field in 2021 (41-13) adds context, but playing in Green Bay brings a unique atmosphere and early-season buzz.

3. Notre Dame at BYU (October 17)

The newest high-profile addition to the schedule, this matchup against Big 12's BYU carries extra weight after both teams were notable CFP snubs in 2025 (Notre Dame No. 11, BYU No. 12). Filling the final slot on Notre Dame's slate, this home-and-home series opener (with the return game in South Bend in 2027) pits two independent-minded programs against each other. BYU's strong recent seasons and playoff-caliber talent make this a potential top-25 clash with national implications.

4. Notre Dame vs. SMU (November 21)

SMU has emerged as a rising ACC power, posting multiple 9+ win seasons recently and even knocking off playoff-bound Miami in 2025. Hosting the Mustangs in South Bend adds another layer of intrigue to Notre Dame's ACC-adjacent slate. If SMU continues its upward trajectory, this could be a sneaky-good game with implications for conference bragging rights and CFP at-large bids.

5. Notre Dame at Navy (October 31)

While not always a top-tier opponent, this rivalry in an NFL stadium (home of the Patriots) brings tradition and spectacle. Notre Dame's recent dominance over Navy makes this more about the venue and the military-service academy atmosphere than a competitive threat, but it's another NFL-site game in a season full of them—marking the third straight year with multiple such contests.

Other Considerations

Other notable games include road trips to ACC foes like North Carolina and Purdue (a close-in-state rivalry), plus a return to Syracuse (Nov. 28) for the season finale against the Orange. The schedule avoids brutal early tests (no immediate Miami/Texas A&M-style openers like in 2025), giving Notre Dame a chance to build momentum toward a potential 12-0 run and top CFP seed.

With QB CJ Carr leading an offense expected to be elite and a defense hungry to prove doubters wrong, these matchups could define Notre Dame's quest for redemption and a national championship in 2026. The Fighting Irish faithful have plenty to look forward to—Lambeau Leap dreams, revenge in South Bend, and playoff positioning all in play.

Go Irish!