A Friday night home game against Miami in Week 2. A road trip to Notre Dame under the lights in October. And three separate late-night ESPN kickoffs at home before Thanksgiving. The 2026 Stanford Football Schedule front-loads national attention and never really lets up on the late-kickoff pattern.
Stanford Cardinal football opens with a pair of high-profile home games, then faces a demanding mix of cross-country travel and late-night ACC contests. Here is the complete 2026 Stanford Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.
2026 Stanford Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Hawaii Rainbow WarriorsStanford Stadium, Stanford, CA | 7:00 PM ETACCN | ||
| Friday | Miami (FL) HurricanesStanford Stadium, Stanford, CA | 9:00 PM ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | at Duke Blue DevilsWallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC | 4:00 PM ETThe CW | ||
| Saturday | Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsStanford Stadium, Stanford, CA | 10:30 PM ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | at Wake Forest Demon DeaconsAllegacy Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Notre Dame Fighting IrishNotre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN | 3:30 PM ETNBC/Peacock | ||
| Homecoming | ||||
| Saturday | Elon PhoenixStanford Stadium, Stanford, CA | 7:30 PM ETACCNX | ||
| Friday | NC State WolfpackStanford Stadium, Stanford, CA | 10:30 PM ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | at Louisville CardinalsL&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | at Virginia Tech HokiesLane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at California Golden BearsCalifornia Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | SMU MustangsStanford Stadium, Stanford, CA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs ACC ChampionshipBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | 12:00 PM ETABC | ||
Miami Visits Early, Then a Bye
Stanford opens the 2026 Stanford Cardinal football schedule against Hawaii before Miami visits for a Friday night showdown on September 4 — as significant a Week 2 test as the ACC offers. A bye week on September 12 gives the Cardinal a chance to reset before the schedule turns cross-country again.
That early home stand against Miami sets a high bar for the rest of the season.
Duke on the Road, Then Late Nights at Home
A trip to Duke opens the second half of September, followed by Georgia Tech visiting Stanford Stadium for a 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff — the first of several late-night home dates that define this Stanford ACC schedule 2026. A road trip to Wake Forest follows before the marquee date of the season arrives.
Stanford vs Notre Dame 2026 and a Homecoming Bounce-Back
Stanford heads to South Bend on October 10 for a nationally televised matchup with Notre Dame, then returns home for Elon and Homecoming a week later. NC State visits for another Friday night, 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff on October 23 before a road trip to Louisville closes out the month.
Those back-to-back late-night home games against Georgia Tech and NC State will test depth and focus under unusual conditions.
A Bye, Then a Road-Heavy Close
A bye week on November 7 sets up the final stretch — road trips to Virginia Tech and California in back-to-back weeks before the regular season closes at home against SMU on November 28. If Stanford is still playing December 5, the Cardinal will be in Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game.
Stanford Football Home Games 2026
Stanford has six home games at Stanford Stadium in 2026: Hawaii, Miami, Georgia Tech, Elon, NC State and SMU. The early date against Miami and the late-night contests against Georgia Tech and NC State stand out as the highest-profile opportunities at home.
The 2026 Stanford Football Schedule mixes early national exposure with repeated late-night kickoffs and a heavy late-season travel load. How the Cardinal handle the Friday night Miami game, the road trip to Notre Dame, and the closing stretch through Louisville, Virginia Tech and California will shape the entire year.
FAQ
When does Stanford football play its first game in 2026?
Stanford opens the 2026 Stanford Football Schedule at home against Hawaii on Saturday, August 29, at Stanford Stadium.
When is Stanford vs Notre Dame 2026?
Stanford vs Notre Dame 2026 is set for Saturday, October 10, on the road at Notre Dame Stadium, kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock.
How many home games does Stanford play in 2026?
Stanford has six Stanford football home games in 2026 at Stanford Stadium: Hawaii, Miami, Georgia Tech, Elon, NC State and SMU.
What is Stanford’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
The closing run from Louisville (road) through Virginia Tech (road) and California (road) — October 31 through November 21 — ranks as the toughest travel stretch on the Stanford ACC schedule 2026, alongside the October 10 road trip to Notre Dame.
