Preview: Florida State Seminoles at Notre Dame Fighting Irish

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum for a late-season push will meet Saturday when the Florida State Seminoles visit the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball matchup.

The game at the Joyce Athletic Center pits teams with nearly identical records. Florida State enters at 10-12 overall, while Notre Dame sits at 11-12. Both are looking to climb above .500 in conference play and improve their positioning ahead of next month’s ACC tournament.

The Seminoles arrive with some confidence after an 88-80 home victory over Stanford last Saturday. Guard Robert McCray has been a catalyst, averaging 16.7 points and 5.1 assists over his last seven games. In the win against Stanford, McCray posted 19 points and seven assists, while Chauncey Wiggins scored a team-high 23 points and Lajae Jones added 18.

Notre Dame looks to snap a three-game skid, most recently a 76-65 loss at Louisville on Wednesday. The Fighting Irish have shown fight, however, including a double-overtime 100-97 loss to Virginia on Jan. 27. Forward Brady Koehler, who had 11 points and two blocks against Louisville, is a key interior presence for Notre Dame. Guard Cole Certa leads the team in scoring, coming off an 18-point performance in the Louisville game.

Recent history suggests a close contest. Florida State has won three of its last five, with two of those victories coming by just two points. Notre Dame’s recent outings have also been tight, with four of its last six losses decided by 10 points or fewer.

The matchup features contrasting styles. Florida State, led by McCray’s playmaking, looks to push tempo and score in transition. Notre Dame will aim to control pace and leverage its defense, which will be tested by a Seminoles offense that has topped 80 points in two of its last three outings.

Saturday’s result could provide a critical swing in the ACC standings as the regular season enters its final month. Following this game, Florida State hosts Virginia on Tuesday, while Notre Dame travels to face SMU.

Tip-off is set for Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Joyce Athletic Center in Notre Dame, Indiana.