Notre Dame vs Vanderbilt Showdown Tonight: Live Stream, Start Time & Betting Odds

Friday’s Sweet 16 showdown between the No. 6 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish and No. 2 seed Vanderbilt Commodores has all the ingredients of a March Madness classic. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, with ESPN carrying the national broadcast and the ESPN app providing the live stream. Why this Sweet 16 clash matters • Winner advances to the Elite 8 of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Tournament, keeping national-title hopes alive. • Notre Dame is eyeing its first regional final since 2023, while Vanderbilt is chasing its first Final Four berth since 1993. • The matchup features two of the sport’s most electric guards, Hannah Hidalgo and Mikayla Blakes, who rank top-10 nationally in scoring. How Notre Dame reached Fort Worth The ACC power rolled past Fairfield and upset Ohio State behind Hidalgo’s 54 combined points and 15 steals. The Irish average 77.9 points and force 18 turnovers per game, numbers that have climbed during the tournament thanks to Hidalgo’s full-court pressure and Cassandre Prosper’s dominance on the glass. Why Vanderbilt is the SEC’s last hope Coach Shea Ralph’s Commodores raced past High Point and Illinois by a combined 59 points. Blakes (27.0 PPG) is flanked by 6-foot-4 Sacha Washington, whose rim protection (0.9 BPG) anchors a defense holding opponents to 60.3 PPG since February. Key matchup: Hannah Hidalgo vs. Mikayla Blakes • Hidalgo’s lightning-quick first step produces 5.4 steals per contest, but Blakes commits just 1.8 turnovers. • Blakes shoots 41 percent from deep; expect the Irish to hedge hard on staggered screens to force mid-range pull-ups. • Whoever wins the turnover battle should dictate tempo in a game where both squads average 70+ possessions. Injury and roster notes • Notre Dame announced guard Olivia Miles (knee) remains out for the season. • Vanderbilt lists forward Iyana Mitchell (ankle) as probable after practicing fully on Wednesday. Betting odds and prediction Sportsbooks opened Vanderbilt as a 5.5-point favorite, with the total at 146.5. Notre Dame is 8-2 ATS as an underdog this year, but Vanderbilt is 9-1 in neutral-site games. Expect a back-and-forth duel decided in the final minute. Prediction: Vanderbilt 78, Notre Dame 74. How to watch Notre Dame vs Vanderbilt live • TV: ESPN • Live stream: ESPN app / ESPN+ • Radio: Westwood One affiliates • Time: 6:30 p.m. ET, Friday, March 27, 2026 SEO quick hits for fans searching today Notre Dame vs Vanderbilt live stream free • Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s basketball score • Vanderbilt Commodores women’s basketball Sweet 16 2026 • Hannah Hidalgo highlights • Mikayla Blakes SEC Player of the Year • How to watch Notre Dame vs Vanderbilt online • NCAA Women’s Tournament Fort Worth tickets.