Upcoming Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Notre Dame football in brief: an independent with a national schedule
Notre Dame plays home games at 77,622-seat Notre Dame Stadium on its campus in Notre Dame, Indiana, just north of South Bend, with a home season that runs from early September through November. The program began in 1887 and is one of college football's most decorated: the school claims 11 national championships, seven players have won the Heisman Trophy, and the College Football Hall of Fame counts more Notre Dame players and coaches than any other university's.
Notre Dame is one of only two FBS programs that compete as an independent, outside any conference. That lets it build a national schedule each year, with long-running series against USC, Navy, Stanford, Boston College and others, and NBC has televised every regular-season home game since 1991. In most seasons since 2009, the Shamrock Series has also moved one Notre Dame home game to a major city away from campus. After the 2024 season the Irish reached the national championship game. Coaches and rosters change, so check the team's official site for the current staff.
Where to sit at Notre Dame Stadium
The stadium opened in 1930 as "the House that Rockne Built," and Rockne insisted on keeping the stands close to the field. A 1997 expansion wrapped an upper bowl around the original brick structure, and the Campus Crossroads project, completed in 2018, attached three eight-story buildings: the Duncan Student Center on the west side, O'Neill Hall on the south and Corbett Family Hall on the east. Those buildings hold the premium seating, club spaces and press areas. The field runs north to south, and the Word of Life mural on Hesburgh Library, known as Touchdown Jesus, rises beyond the north end.
Lower bowl vs. upper bowl
The lower bowl is the original 1930 stadium: low and close to the field. Sideline seats between the 30-yard lines are the best views in the building, and mid-level rows usually beat the very front rows, which sit nearly level with the bench areas. The 1997 upper bowl gives a full, high view of play and is often the better choice for watching formations develop, at the cost of distance and stairs.
Sun, weather and comfort
With a north–south field, the afternoon sun moves into the western sky, so the east sideline faces it during day games and the west sideline has it behind. Late-season games in northern Indiana can be cold and windy. Many fans bring a cushion: as of the 2026 season, cushions under 16 inches wide are allowed and sold at the gates, while chairbacks are not permitted without medical documentation.
Students
The student section stands for the whole game, and at the end of every home game the team turns to salute it with helmets raised, win or lose. Seats nearby are loud; choose a section farther away if you want to sit.
USC, Navy and the Notre Dame home games in highest demand
Because Notre Dame has no conference schedule, demand depends on who comes to campus in a given year.
- USC: the primary rivalry, played for the Jeweled Shillelagh and contested most years since 1926. The series goes on hiatus after the 2025 season and is scheduled to resume with a home-and-home set from 2030 to 2033.
- Navy: played without interruption from 1927 to 2019, with Notre Dame once winning 43 straight. Navy games carry tradition more than tension.
- Michigan, Michigan State and Miami: historic series that return in cycles; Michigan State is scheduled for 2026, and a November 2026 meeting with Miami follows Miami's 2025 win over the Irish.
- Ranked visitors and night games: top-10 opponents and prime-time kickoffs push demand highest.
Games against lesser-known opponents in September are the most accessible way to see the stadium.
A football weekend at Notre Dame
A home game at Notre Dame is a weekend event that starts on Friday, and the campus itself is part of the draw.
- Trumpets under the Dome: on game day the band's trumpet section plays inside the Main Building's rotunda beneath the Golden Dome.
- Play Like a Champion Today: players slap the sign in the stairwell to the tunnel, a tradition dating to Lou Holtz's tenure in 1986.
- The 1812 Overture: between the third and fourth quarters, the band plays its finale while the crowd waves arms in time.
- The alma mater: after the game, the band plays "Notre Dame, Our Mother" while fans who stay link arms and sing.
As of the 2026 season, gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, the stadium is cashless, and there is no re-entry. University pay lots open at 8 a.m., shuttles run from the Gold, Blue and Bulla lots, and South Bend's Transpo runs a free Game Day Express between downtown and campus. Check Notre Dame's getting-around page for current lots, rideshare zones and times.
How Notre Dame football tickets work
Notre Dame Stadium has sold out regularly since 1964. Season tickets, allocations for alumni, donors, faculty and staff, and the student allotment take up most seats long before the public can buy, which leaves a limited general sale.
As a result, the resale market is how most fans get into Notre Dame home games, especially for USC, Michigan, ranked opponents and night games. Prices for marquee games tend to climb from the time the schedule is released and stay firm; September games against smaller programs are the main exception. Every GoodSeats order includes guaranteed entry.
As of the 2026 season, Notre Dame enforces a clear-bag policy: clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, plus a clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Camera bags are not allowed. Check the university's stadium information before you go.
Notable moments in Notre Dame history
- 1913: a win at Army helped popularize the forward pass.
- 1924: the Four Horsemen backfield led Rockne's first national title team.
- 1930: Notre Dame Stadium opened with a 20–14 win over SMU.
- 1957: Notre Dame ended Oklahoma's record 47-game winning streak.
- 1988: the Irish beat West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl to win their most recent national title.
- 2024: the stadium hosted the first College Football Playoff game played on a campus, a 27–17 win over Indiana.
Frequently asked questions
How many people does Notre Dame Stadium hold?
Official capacity is 77,622, set after the Campus Crossroads renovation. The stadium held more than 80,000 after its 1997 expansion.
Is Notre Dame in a conference for football?
No. Notre Dame is one of two FBS programs that play football as an independent, which lets it schedule national opponents such as USC, Navy and Stanford.
Which side of Notre Dame Stadium gets the sun?
The field runs north to south, so during afternoon games the east sideline faces the sun and the west sideline has it behind. Late-season games can be cold, so dress in layers.
Can I bring a seat cushion to Notre Dame Stadium?
As of the 2026 season, cushions under 16 inches wide are allowed and are also sold at the gates. Chairbacks are not permitted without medical documentation.
What time do gates open at Notre Dame Stadium?
As of the 2026 season, the main gates open 90 minutes before kickoff and premium entrances open two hours before. There is no re-entry once you leave.
What is Notre Dame's clear-bag policy?
As of 2026, bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, plus a small clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Check the university's current policy before you go.