Notre Dame Home Games 2026 Game Day Guide From Midway
Notre Dame home games 2026 still have three big Saturdays left in South Bend: Miami, Boston College and SMU. This guide covers the dates, kickoff times, stadium rules and the easiest ways to get from Chicago Midway to Notre Dame Stadium.
Quick answer: Notre Dame has three home games left in 2026: Miami on Saturday, Nov 7 (7:30 p.m. Eastern), Boston College on Saturday, Nov 14 (3:30 p.m. Eastern) and SMU on Saturday, Nov 21 (7:30 p.m. Eastern). All three air on NBC and Peacock. South Bend is about 100 miles from Midway, and it is one hour ahead of Chicago. Midway Limo Service drives you from Midway to campus for a flat $199, door to door. Book online now.
Notre Dame home games 2026: dates and kickoff times
Here are the home games still to come at Notre Dame Stadium. Kickoff times are set, and we show them in both time zones so you can plan from Chicago.
| Date | Opponent | Kickoff (South Bend) | Kickoff (Chicago) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Nov 7 | Miami | 7:30 p.m. Eastern | 6:30 p.m. Central | NBC, Peacock |
| Saturday, Nov 14 | Boston College | 3:30 p.m. Eastern | 2:30 p.m. Central | NBC, Peacock |
| Saturday, Nov 21 | SMU | 7:30 p.m. Eastern | 6:30 p.m. Central | NBC, Peacock |
The Miami and SMU games are night games. The SMU game is the last regular season home game of the year.
Notre Dame already played Rice, Michigan State and Stanford at home this season. The Navy game on Saturday, Oct 31 is not in South Bend. It is at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
One more date to watch: the College Football Playoff first round is played at campus sites on Dec 18 and 19. The sites are announced on Dec 6. If Notre Dame hosts a playoff game, it will be on one of those two days.
Plan your day around kickoff
Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, and game day traffic starts building 3 to 4 hours before. Here is when to leave Midway.
Miami and SMU
- Kickoff 7:30 p.m. Eastern
- Gates open at 6 p.m. Eastern
- Leave Midway by about 2 p.m. Central
- Fly in the same day? Land by about 1 p.m.
Boston College
- Kickoff 3:30 p.m. Eastern
- Gates open at 2 p.m. Eastern
- Leave Midway by about 10 a.m. Central
- Fly in the same day? Land by about 9 a.m.
South Bend Is an Hour Ahead
- South Bend is on Eastern time
- You lose an hour on the drive there
- A 7:30 p.m. kickoff is 6:30 p.m. in Chicago
- You gain the hour back on the way home
How to get from Midway to Notre Dame
Midway has no flights to South Bend, so most fans who land at Midway go the rest of the way by road or rail. Here is how the options compare on a game day.
| Option | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Private car service | Your chauffeur meets you at Midway and drives you about 100 miles to campus. A flat $199, door to door. | Book early. Home game weekends are busy. |
| South Shore Line train | Take the CTA Orange Line from Midway to the Loop, walk to Millennium Station, then ride the South Shore Line to the South Bend Airport station. The train ride is about 2 hours. On game days a free shuttle runs from the station to campus. | Three legs with your bags. Game day trains leave at set times, and the train home after a night game leaves 90 minutes after the final whistle. |
| Rental car | Rent at Midway and drive yourself. Take the Dan Ryan to the Chicago Skyway, then the Indiana Toll Road to Exit 77 and head north on SR 933 to campus. | Toll road fees, game day traffic and official parking that costs $40 to $150 per car. Lots are cashless and use ParkMobile. |
| Fly into South Bend | South Bend International Airport has flights from O'Hare, Detroit, Atlanta and other hubs. | No flights from Midway. You would need to fly into O'Hare or another hub instead. |
The drive is about 1 hour 45 minutes in normal traffic. On game days, plan for more. The heaviest traffic is on the eastbound Toll Road and on Douglas Road near campus in the hours before kickoff.
Notre Dame Stadium game day rules
Notre Dame Stadium has a clear bag policy and a long list of items you cannot bring in. Check these before you pack.
- Clear plastic bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a one gallon clear zip bag
- A small clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches is also allowed
- No outside food or drink, no water bottles and no strollers
- No stadium seats with backs, large umbrellas, signs, drones or vapes
- Gates A to E open 90 minutes before kickoff, with bag checks and metal detectors
- There is no re-entry once you leave the stadium
Tailgating? Lots open at 8 a.m. Eastern on game day. You cannot set up before the lots open or tailgate during the game. No charcoal grills or kegs are allowed, and cars must leave the lots within 3 hours after the game.
Where to get dropped off and picked up on game day
Notre Dame sets drop-off and pickup spots for rideshare cars on game days. Your chauffeur follows the same game day traffic plan and gets you as close as it allows.
- Before the game, drop-off spots are the Compton Family Ice Arena, the Rugby Lot off Wilson Drive and the Lake Lot on Dorr Road
- After the game, pickup spots are the Dorr Road lot, the Ivy Road and Bulla Road area and Vaness Street
- Pick your meeting spot with your chauffeur before kickoff, and keep your phone charged
- Expect slow traffic for the first hour after the game. Some roads near campus switch to one way
Staying at a hotel downtown? The free Transpo Game Day Express bus runs from downtown South Bend hotels to campus, starting 3 hours before kickoff and running for 2 hours after the game.
Our Midway to Notre Dame ride
Flying into Midway for a home game? Our Midway to Notre Dame ride is a flat $199, door to door. Here is what you get:
- A private SUV and a professional chauffeur
- We track your flight and adjust if you land early or late
- Meet and greet at baggage claim, or a quick curbside pickup
- Drop-off near the stadium or at your hotel
- Book your ride back to Midway at the same time
Coming with a bigger group? The Mercedes Sprinter van seats up to 14 with bags. You see the price when you book. Prices are before taxes and gratuity, which are added when you book.
Notre Dame Game Day Questions
When are the Notre Dame home games in 2026?
What time is kickoff in Chicago time?
How far is Notre Dame from Midway Airport?
How early should I leave Midway for a Notre Dame game?
Can I take the train from Midway to Notre Dame?
What bags can I bring into Notre Dame Stadium?
Where can a car drop me off on game day?
How much is a ride from Midway to Notre Dame?
Is the Navy game in South Bend this year?
More pages to help you plan
Everything you need for your Notre Dame weekend.
Book your Notre Dame ride
Flying into Midway for a home game? Ride to campus for $199 flat, door to door.