Two historic NCAA football programs are cancelling their meeting for the 2026 season. Notre Dame and Florida State won't play.

All the Irish need to do is rise two spots in the ranking, and they will host a first round playoff game. Just two spots, and yet… most Notre Dame fans surveyed don’t think that to be the case. Only 39% believe the Irish get there.

The Navy Midshipmen and Notre Dame Fighting Irish meet Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Florida State running back Samuel Singleton Jr. (28) is brought down by Notre Dame's defense during a NCAA college football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend. / MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Here's a closer look at Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman's record against service academies heading into the Irish's Week 11 game vs. Navy

In series history, Notre Dame holds a commanding edge. The Fighting Irish lead 83-13-1 and have won 12 of the last 13 meetings dating back to 2011. With 98 matchups, it's the most-played rivalry in Notre Dame history, including an unbroken run from 1927 to 2019.

An old college football rivalry kicks off this weekend, as Notre Dame looks to extend its win streak against Navy in this Week 11 matchup on Saturday. Notre Dam

McCormick arrived at Notre Dame in the fall of 2002 to begin his master’s of Divinity program, a basketball guy from Grand Rapids, Mich., who grew up around Wolverines. He knew about Notre Dame, mainly because it played Michigan. And that was about it.