The 2025 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football schedule will be the 136th season for the program and its 10th season under head coach Marcus Freeman. The Fighting Irish will play their home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.
The schedule will consist of 12 regular season games, including six home games and six away games. The Fighting Irish will open the season on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Louisville Cardinals at Notre Dame Stadium. The following week, they will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. Notre Dame will then return home to face the Purdue Boilermakers on September 13, 2025.
The Fighting Irish will play their first road game of the season on September 20, 2025, when they travel to East Lansing, Michigan, to face the Michigan State Spartans. The following week, they will return home to face the Stanford Cardinal on September 27, 2025. Notre Dame will then travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to face the Michigan Wolverines on October 4, 2025.
1. Home games
The home games are an important part of the Notre Dame football 2025 schedule. They give the Fighting Irish a chance to play in front of their home crowd and build momentum for the season. The home games also provide an economic boost to the local community, as fans travel to Notre Dame to attend the games.
The Fighting Irish have a strong home-field advantage, and they have been very successful at Notre Dame Stadium in recent years. In 2022, the Fighting Irish went 8-0 at home, and they have not lost a home game since 2017. The home crowd can be a major factor in the outcome of the game, and the Fighting Irish will be looking to use their home-field advantage to their advantage in 2025.
The home games are also an important part of the Notre Dame football tradition. The Fighting Irish have a long and storied history, and the home games are a chance for fans to connect with that history. The home games are also a chance for fans to come together and celebrate their love of Notre Dame football.
2. Road games
The road games are an important part of the Notre Dame football 2025 schedule. They give the Fighting Irish a chance to test themselves against some of the best teams in the country. The road games also provide an opportunity for the Fighting Irish to build character and learn how to win in hostile environments.
The Fighting Irish have a tough road schedule in 2025, but they also have a lot of talent. If they can stay healthy and play together as a team, they could be one of the best teams in the country. The road games will be a challenge, but they will also be an opportunity for the Fighting Irish to prove themselves.
The road games are also an important part of the Notre Dame football tradition. The Fighting Irish have a long and storied history, and the road games are a chance for them to add to that history. The road games are also a chance for the Fighting Irish to connect with their fans all over the country.
3. Rivalry games
The rivalry games are an important part of the Notre Dame football 2025 schedule. They give the Fighting Irish a chance to play against two of their most hated rivals, and they also provide an opportunity for the Fighting Irish to build momentum for the season. The rivalry games are also a chance for the Fighting Irish to connect with their fans all over the country.
The USC game is one of the most storied rivalries in college football. The two schools have met 94 times, with Notre Dame holding a 49-43-5 record. The game is always played in front of a sold-out crowd at Notre Dame Stadium, and it is one of the most anticipated games of the year. The Fighting Irish have won the last two meetings, and they will be looking to extend their winning streak in 2025.
The Navy game is another important rivalry for Notre Dame. The two schools have met 93 times, with Notre Dame holding a 78-13-1 record. The game is always played on the weekend of Thanksgiving, and it is a tradition that dates back to 1927. The Fighting Irish have won the last six meetings, and they will be looking to continue their winning streak in 2025.
The rivalry games are an important part of the Notre Dame football tradition. They give the Fighting Irish a chance to play against two of their most hated rivals, and they also provide an opportunity for the Fighting Irish to build momentum for the season. The rivalry games are also a chance for the Fighting Irish to connect with their fans all over the country.
4. Tough opponents
The 2025 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football schedule features several tough opponents, including Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and USC. These games will be a challenge for the Fighting Irish, but they will also be an opportunity for them to prove themselves against some of the best teams in the country.
- Ohio State: The Buckeyes are one of the top teams in the country, and they will be a tough test for the Fighting Irish. Ohio State has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, and they will be looking to avenge their loss to Notre Dame in 2022.
- Michigan: The Wolverines are another top team in the country, and they will be looking to defeat Notre Dame for the first time since 2011. Michigan has a lot of experience on both sides of the ball, and they will be a tough opponent for the Fighting Irish.
- Michigan State: The Spartans are a rising team in the Big Ten, and they will be looking to upset the Fighting Irish in 2025. Michigan State has a lot of young talent on both sides of the ball, and they will be a tough opponent for the Fighting Irish.
- USC: The Trojans are a traditional rival of the Fighting Irish, and they will be looking to defeat Notre Dame for the first time since 2013. USC has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, and they will be a tough opponent for the Fighting Irish.
The Fighting Irish will need to be at their best to win these games. They will need to play with great effort and intensity, and they will need to execute their game plan perfectly. If they can do those things, they will have a chance to win these games and finish the 2025 season with a successful record.
5. National championship contenders
The Fighting Irish have a talented roster and a favorable schedule in 2025. If they can stay healthy and play to their potential, they could be a national championship contender. A national championship would be a major accomplishment for Notre Dame, and it would be the first since 1988.
There are several reasons why the Fighting Irish could be a national championship contender in 2025. First, they have a talented roster. The Fighting Irish have a number of experienced players on both offense and defense, and they also have a number of highly-touted recruits coming in. Second, the Fighting Irish have a favorable schedule in 2025. They play only two ranked opponents at home, and they have a bye week before their game against Ohio State. Third, the Fighting Irish have a lot of experience in big games. They have played in a number of close games in recent years, and they know how to win in pressure situations.
Of course, there are also some challenges that the Fighting Irish will need to overcome in order to be a national championship contender. They need to stay healthy, they need to play to their potential, and they need to have some luck. But if they can do those things, they have a good chance of winning a national championship in 2025.
FAQs about Notre Dame Football 2025 Schedule
The 2025 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football schedule is highly anticipated by fans and analysts alike. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the schedule:
Question 1: When is the Notre Dame Football 2025 schedule released?
The Notre Dame Football 2025 schedule is typically released in January or February of 2025.
Question 2: Where can I find the Notre Dame Football 2025 schedule?
The Notre Dame Football 2025 schedule can be found on the Notre Dame Athletics website, as well as on various sports news websites.
Question 3: Who are the Fighting Irish’s toughest opponents in 2025?
The Fighting Irish have a tough schedule in 2025, with games against Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and USC. These teams are all ranked among the top 25 teams in the country.
Question 4: How many home games do the Fighting Irish have in 2025?
The Fighting Irish have six home games in 2025: Louisville, Purdue, Stanford, UNLV, Navy and Boston College.
Question 5: How many road games do the Fighting Irish have in 2025?
The Fighting Irish have six road games in 2025: Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Duke, Pitt and USC.
Question 6: What are the Fighting Irish’s chances of making the College Football Playoff in 2025?
The Fighting Irish’s chances of making the College Football Playoff in 2025 will depend on their performance during the regular season. If they can finish the regular season with a record of 11-1 or 12-0, they will have a good chance of making the Playoff.
Tips for the Notre Dame Football 2025 Schedule
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team will have a challenging schedule in 2025, with games against some of the top teams in the country. Here are five tips for the Fighting Irish to have a successful season in 2025:
Tip 1: Stay healthy. The Fighting Irish have a talented roster, but they need to stay healthy in order to be successful. Injuries can derail a season, so the Fighting Irish need to do everything they can to stay healthy in 2025.
Tip 2: Play to their potential. The Fighting Irish have a lot of talent, but they need to play to their potential in order to be successful. They need to execute their game plan and play with great effort and intensity. If they can do that, they have the potential to be one of the best teams in the country.
Tip 3: Win the turnover battle. The Fighting Irish need to win the turnover battle in order to be successful. They need to force turnovers on defense and protect the ball on offense. If they can do that, they will have a good chance of winning games.
Tip 4: Get off to a good start. The Fighting Irish need to get off to a good start in 2025. They have a tough schedule, so they need to start the season with a few wins. If they can do that, they will have a lot of momentum going into the rest of the season.
Tip 5: Finish strong. The Fighting Irish need to finish strong in 2025. They have a tough schedule, so they need to be able to finish the season with a few wins. If they can do that, they will have a good chance of reaching their goals.
The Fighting Irish have a talented roster and a favorable schedule in 2025. If they can stay healthy and play to their potential, they have a good chance of having a successful season.
The Fighting Irish will open the 2025 season on Saturday, August 30, 2025, against the Louisville Cardinals at Notre Dame Stadium. The following week, they will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. Notre Dame will then return home to face the Purdue Boilermakers on September 13, 2025.
Notre Dame Football 2025 Schedule
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team has a challenging schedule in 2025, but they also have a talented roster and a favorable schedule. If they can stay healthy and play to their potential, they have a good chance of having a successful season.
The Fighting Irish will need to win the turnover battle, get off to a good start, and finish strong in order to reach their goals. They also need to play with great effort and intensity, and execute their game plan perfectly. If they can do all of these things, they have the potential to be one of the best teams in the country in 2025.
Notre Dame has a long and storied football tradition, and the 2025 season will be an important one for the program. The Fighting Irish have a chance to build on their success from recent years and make a run at a national championship. The 2025 schedule will be a challenge, but it is also an opportunity for the Fighting Irish to prove themselves against some of the best teams in the country.