Notre Dame Football Weekends

2021 Home Games: Sept. 11, 18; Oct. 2, 23, 30; Nov. 6, 20

You know it’s a Fighting Irish weekend long before you arrive in South Bend. It seems every highway into town, including the Indiana Toll Road, is filled with vehicles, Notre Dame flags flying high, on their way to the big game. Naturally, football brings fans from all over the country, and the leadup to kickoff is filled with activity from Friday through what (hopefully) is the winning touchdown. But even if football is your pleasure, a visit to the University of Notre Dame campus and South Bend can be filled with a host of other things to do. Discover some game-related surprises and a whole lot more.

The Notre Dame campus is known for its stunning architecture, and nearly everyone who visits loves to stroll its grounds. You can tour, either by yourself or with a student guide. A special Notre Dame Stadium Tunnel Tour on every Friday before game days gives you a chance to walk through the tunnel leading to the field as so many legendary players have done. Then take a selfie with the field in the background (Tours from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.). Another pre-game tradition brings chills to fans who stay up for the Midnight Drummer’s Circle. Members of the Notre Dame Drumline arrive in front of the famous Golden Dome and play cadences, the Fight Song and more. Some fans can’t help breaking into an impromptu dance or two.

Game day arrives, and tailgating consumes many fans. But there’s also plenty of fun going on from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Joyce Fieldhouse at the Joyce Center, with games, food, and giveaways, plus autographs from Notre Dame legends. After the game, take advantage of South Bend’s lively restaurant and club scene.

When you’re not watching football, wining, dining and celebrating the Irish, discover museums that detail South Bend’s fascinating past. The Center for History and nearby Studebaker National Museum are must-sees. The Center includes tours of a 38-room Victorian mansion and a 1930s worker’s cottage, while the Studebaker Museum features everything from a covered wagon to flashy roadsters. They’re great add-ons to an already fantastic game weekend! Read more here and here.  See the latest information about game day from Notre Dame here.

Game schedule for 2021:

FLORIDASTATE TALLAHASSEE, FL  7:30PM (Away)

TOLEDO @ NOTRE DAME STADIUM  2:30PM (Home)

PURDUE @  NOTRE DAME STADIUM  2:30PM (Home)

WISCONSIN CHICAGO, IL (SOLDIER FIELD)  12:00PM (Away)

CINCINNATI  @ NOTRE DAME STADIUM  2:30PM (Home)

VIRGINIATECH BLACKSBURG, VA  TBA (Away)

USC  @ NOTRE DAME STADIUM  7:30PM (Home)

NORTHCAROLINA  @ NOTRE DAME STADIUM  7:30PM (Home)

NAVY @  NOTRE DAME STADIUM  3:30PM (Home)

VIRGINIA CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA  TBA (Away)

GEORGIATECH @  NOTRE DAME STADIUM  2:30PM (Home)