The 2026 Louisville Football Schedule opens in Nashville against #9 Ole Miss on September 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Louisville Cardinals football schedule 2026 features 13 regular-season games plus a potential ACC Championship berth, with a mid-October bye and the Governor’s Cup against Kentucky at the end.
L&N Stadium hosts six home dates on the Louisville football schedule 2026. The toughest stretch lands in November with consecutive road games at Georgia Tech and North Carolina before the rivalry finale.
2026 Louisville Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff | ||||
| Sunday | vs 9 Ole Miss RebelsNissan Stadium, Nashville, TN | 7:30pm ETABC | ||
| Friday | Villanova WildcatsL&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | 7:00pm ETACCN | ||
| Saturday | 19 SMU MustangsL&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | 3:30pm ETESPN or ESPN2 | ||
| Saturday | Wake Forest Demon DeaconsL&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at NC State WolfpackCarter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | Florida State SeminolesL&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | 7:00pm ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | at Syracuse OrangeJMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | Stanford CardinalL&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsBobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at North Carolina Tar HeelsKenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | Pitt PanthersL&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Governor’s Cup | ||||
| Saturday | at Kentucky WildcatsKroger Field, Lexington, KY | 12:00-1:00pm ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs ACC ChampionshipBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | 12:00pm ETABC | ||
How the Louisville Football Schedule 2026 Sets Up
September starts with a high-profile neutral-site opener on the Louisville football schedule 2026. The Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff against #9 Ole Miss on ABC, then Villanova at home, #19 SMU at home, and Wake Forest at home. That early stretch mixes a ranked neutral-site test with three home games.
October brings a road trip to NC State, a home date against Florida State on ESPN, a road game at Syracuse, and the bye week. The Florida State game is the clearest early ACC measuring stick inside L&N Stadium.
November features Stanford at home, consecutive road games at Georgia Tech and North Carolina, Pitt at home, and the Governor’s Cup at Kentucky. That final month will decide seeding for a possible ACC Championship appearance.
Home Games at L&N Stadium
Six home dates appear on the Louisville football schedule 2026:
- September 11 vs. Villanova
- September 19 vs. #19 SMU
- September 26 vs. Wake Forest
- October 9 vs. Florida State
- October 31 vs. Stanford
- November 21 vs. Pitt
The SMU and Florida State games will generate the loudest crowds in Louisville.
The Games That Decide the Season
Three contests stand out on the Louisville Cardinals Football Schedule 2026.
The September 6 neutral-site opener against #9 Ole Miss sets the tone immediately. The October 9 home game against Florida State is a key ACC test. The November 28 Governor’s Cup at Kentucky always carries extra weight, regardless of records.
Win two of those three and the Cardinals stay in control of their path toward a possible December 5 ACC Championship appearance in Charlotte.
Where to Watch Louisville Cardinals Football: TV and Streaming
Confirmed networks on the Louisville TV schedule 2026:
- ABC (Sept. 6 vs. Ole Miss and Dec. 5 ACC Championship)
- ACCN (Sept. 11 vs. Villanova)
- ESPN or ESPN2 (Sept. 19 vs. SMU)
- ESPN (Oct. 9 vs. Florida State)
Most remaining ACC games still list TV as TBA. Expect the usual mix of ESPN networks and ACC Network once the final assignments drop.
Key Dates at a Glance
- Sept. 6 — Season opener vs. #9 Ole Miss (Music City Kickoff), 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Oct. 9 — Florida State at home, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Oct. 24 — Bye week
- Nov. 28 — Governor’s Cup at Kentucky
- Dec. 5 — Potential ACC Championship in Charlotte, noon, ABC
The Louisville football schedule 2026 opens with a ranked neutral-site test and closes with the Governor’s Cup. November will decide everything.
FAQ
When does Louisville open the 2026 season? Louisville opens the 2026 season against #9 Ole Miss in the Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff on Sunday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
How many home games do the Louisville Cardinals have in 2026? The Cardinals have six home games at L&N Stadium on the Louisville football schedule 2026: Villanova, #19 SMU, Wake Forest, Florida State, Stanford, and Pitt.
Who do the Louisville Cardinals play in the Governor’s Cup? On November 28 the Cardinals travel to Kroger Field to face Kentucky in the Governor’s Cup. The window is listed as 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET with TV still TBA.
What channel are Louisville games on in 2026? Confirmed networks include ABC, ACCN, ESPN or ESPN2, and ESPN. Most ACC games remain TBA and will be assigned later in the year.
