A Sunday night kickoff in Nashville against Ole Miss. Back-to-back home games under the Friday lights. And the Governor’s Cup closing out the year in Lexington. The 2026 Louisville football schedule opens with a genuine measuring-stick game and doesn’t slow down much after that.
2026 Louisville Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 6 | vs Ole Miss Rebels (Music City Kickoff) | Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN | 7:30 PM | ABC |
| Fri, Sep 11 | Villanova Wildcats | L&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | 7:00 PM | ACCN |
| Sat, Sep 19 | SMU Mustangs | L&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | 3:30 PM | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | L&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | at NC State Wolfpack | Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Oct 9 | Florida State Seminoles | L&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| Sat, Oct 17 | at Syracuse Orange | JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 24 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Stanford Cardinal | L&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | at North Carolina Tar Heels | Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Pitt Panthers | L&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | at Kentucky Wildcats | Kroger Field, Lexington, KY | 12:00–1:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Dec 5 | ACC Championship | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | 12:00 PM | ABC |
A Nashville Opener, Then Back-to-Back Home Friday Nights
Louisville opens the 2026 Louisville football schedule against Ole Miss in the Music City Kickoff at Nissan Stadium, a Sunday night showcase before conference play even starts. A Friday night home game against Villanova follows, then SMU visits L&N Stadium on September 19 for the toughest early home test on the board. Wake Forest closes out the month in Louisville.
A Road Trip to Raleigh, Then Florida State Comes Home
October opens with a trip to NC State before Florida State visits for another Friday night kickoff on October 9. The Louisville ACC schedule 2026 then sends the Cardinals to Syracuse before a bye week on October 24 offers a chance to reset heading into the season’s second half.
Stanford, Then a Road-Heavy November
Stanford visits Louisville on Halloween before the schedule turns travel-heavy. Georgia Tech and North Carolina both come on the road in consecutive weeks, a stretch that will test depth more than talent. Pitt returns the Cardinals home on November 21 before the regular season wraps with the rivalry trip.
The Governor’s Cup Closes It Out
Louisville vs Kentucky 2026 caps the regular season on November 28 at Kroger Field in Lexington, the Governor’s Cup rivalry that always carries local bragging rights regardless of either team’s record. If Louisville is still playing December 5, it’s in Charlotte for the ACC Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between Ole Miss, SMU, and Florida State, Louisville’s toughest tests come early and at home — a real opportunity to build a signature win before the calendar turns to a road-heavy November. The Louisville football home games in 2026 set the tone; how the Cardinals travel down the stretch will decide how the season ends.
FAQ
Q: When does Louisville football play its first game in 2026?
A: Louisville opens the 2026 Louisville football schedule against Ole Miss in the Music City Kickoff at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sunday, September 6.
Q: When is Louisville vs Kentucky 2026?
A: Louisville vs Kentucky 2026, the Governor’s Cup, is set for Saturday, November 28, on the road at Kroger Field in Lexington.
Q: How many home games does Louisville play in 2026?
A: Louisville has seven Louisville football home games in 2026 at L&N Stadium: Villanova, SMU, Wake Forest, Florida State, Stanford, and Pitt.
Q: What is Louisville’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The road-heavy run from Georgia Tech through North Carolina in mid-November is the toughest travel stretch on the Louisville ACC schedule 2026, alongside the Ole Miss and SMU games in September.
