The 2026 Louisville Football Schedule opens with a genuine measuring-stick game and does not slow down much after that.
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. For Louisville Cardinals football, the early high-profile tests and the late rivalry closer against Kentucky will define the season.
Here is the complete 2026 Louisville Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.
2026 Louisville Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music City Kickoff | ||||
| Sunday | vs Ole Miss RebelsNissan Stadium, Nashville, TN | 7:30 PM ETABC | ||
| Friday | Villanova WildcatsL&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | 7:00 PM ETACCN | ||
| Saturday | SMU MustangsL&N Stadium, Louisville, KY | 3:30 PM 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 | 7:00 PM 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 | 12:00–1:00 PM ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs ACC ChampionshipBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | 12:00 PM ETABC | ||
A Nashville Opener, Then Back-to-Back Home Friday Nights
Louisville opens the 2026 Louisville Cardinals 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. For Louisville Cardinals football, those early high-profile opportunities set an aggressive tone.
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. Surviving that stretch intact would put Louisville in strong position.
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. This portion of the Louisville Football Schedule will reveal consistency across multiple environments.
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 is in Charlotte for the ACC Championship.
The 2026 Louisville Football Schedule challenges Louisville Cardinals football from the opening night in Nashville through the final regular-season rivalry game. Seven home games at L&N Stadium provide a solid base, while the early Ole Miss test, the Florida State home date, and the late stretch against Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Kentucky will determine the ceiling. How the Cardinals respond to those high-stakes windows will shape the entire season narrative.
FAQ
When does Louisville football play its first game in 2026?
Louisville opens the 2026 Louisville Football Schedule against Ole Miss in the Music City Kickoff at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sunday, September 6.
When is Louisville vs Kentucky 2026?
Louisville vs Kentucky 2026, the Governor’s Cup, is set for Saturday, November 28, on the road at Kroger Field in Lexington.
How many home games does Louisville play in 2026?
Louisville has seven Louisville football home games in 2026 at L&N Stadium: Villanova, SMU, Wake Forest, Florida State, Stanford, and Pitt.
What is Louisville’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
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.
