So, if you're looking for the football score, I've gotta break it to you: the pads are packed away for the season. The Notre Dame football squad finished their 2025 run with a 10-2 regular season record and a solid climb into the top ten, but today, January 16, 2026, the real action wasn't on the gridiron. It was on the ice and the hardwood.
The big story for Irish fans right now is actually a bit of a "morning after" situation from a heartbreaker in South Bend and an ongoing battle in State College.
The Score Everyone is Checking
If you are asking about the most recent high-stakes matchup, the Notre Dame women's basketball team just hosted No. 9 Louisville last night at Purcell Pavilion. It was rough. The final score was Louisville 79, Notre Dame 66.
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Honestly, it was a tale of two halves. The Irish actually led 17-16 after the first quarter, and Hannah Hidalgo was doing Hannah Hidalgo things, finishing with 24 points. But the fourth quarter was a disaster for the home crowd. Notre Dame only managed 10 points in that final frame while the Cardinals pulled away. Seeing the Irish drop their first home game of the season hurts, especially against a conference rival that’s now 7-0 in the ACC.
What’s Happening Right Now?
If you’re looking for a score literally happening today, Friday, Jan. 16, you’re looking at Notre Dame Hockey.
The Irish are currently out East taking on Penn State at Pegula Ice Arena. Puck drop was scheduled for 7:00 PM ET. This is a massive Big Ten series for Jeff Jackson’s crew. They’ve had a bumpy January so far—dropping a pair to Michigan last week—so they desperately need to steal some points on the road.
Today's Schedule (Friday, Jan. 16, 2026)
- Hockey: Notre Dame at Penn State (7:00 PM ET)
- Men's Tennis: Notre Dame vs. Yale (5:00 PM ET)
For the hockey game, the score is often in flux if you’re checking mid-broadcast, but the early betting markets had Penn State as a heavy 72% favorite. The Irish are fighting an uphill battle in the Pegula environment, which, if you’ve ever seen a game there, is basically a loud tin can designed to make visiting goalies miserable.
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Men's Basketball: The Blacksburg Trip
If you were hoping to see the men's hoops team today, you've gotta wait about 24 hours. Micah Shrewsberry has the guys traveling to Virginia Tech for a Saturday noon tip-off on the ACC Network.
The Men's team is sitting at 10-7 (1-3 ACC), and they’re struggling to find a rhythm. Jalen Haralson has been the bright spot, averaging about 15 points a game, but they’re coming off a frustrating loss to Miami. They aren't playing today, but they are likely landing in Blacksburg right about now to get their shootaround in.
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Why the Confusion Happens
People usually search for "the score" assuming it's football season. It makes sense. Notre Dame is a football school first in the eyes of the national media. But in mid-January, the university becomes a multi-sport circus.
Between the Fencing team (who are basically the Alabama of fencing) heading to the St. John’s Super Cup and the track and field teams prepping for the Simmons-Harvey Invite in Ann Arbor tomorrow, there is a lot to keep track of.
Actionable Insights for Irish Fans
If you want to keep up with the live scores for the hockey game against Penn State tonight or the basketball games this weekend, here is exactly what you should do:
- Listen Live: If you’re driving, the Notre Dame Radio Network carries the hockey game. Use the Varsity Network app; it’s free and doesn't cut out like some of the local affiliates.
- Watch Tomorrow: The Men’s Basketball game against Virginia Tech is a Saturday 12:00 PM ET start on ACC Network.
- Support the Women: They have a massive bounce-back opportunity against No. 1 UConn on Monday, Jan. 19. That one is on FOX at 5:00 PM ET.
The 79-66 loss to Louisville is in the books, and the hockey score is currently being decided in a cold arena in Pennsylvania. Keep an eye on the live trackers for that Penn State game—it’s going to be a physical one.