Notre Dame football has long been synonymous with tradition, pride, and a sense of identity that transcends the sport. From the golden helmets glinting under the lights of Notre Dame Stadium to the “Play Like a Champion Today” sign that players slap before running onto the field, the Fighting Irish have carved out a unique place in college football lore. Now, that legacy is getting a new layer of recognition in the digital age, as reports confirm that EA Sports College Football 26 will include Notre Dame’s iconic kickoff song, “I’m Shipping up to Boston,” by Dropkick Murphys.
For Irish fans, this isn’t just a musical cue—it’s a goosebump-inducing moment that signals the beginning of something bigger than just a football game. Since the team adopted the high-octane punk anthem as its kickoff song, it has become a heartbeat of sorts in South Bend. The tune has helped electrify Saturday afternoons and ignite the crowd into a frenzy as the ball sails through the air. The decision to include it in EA’s highly anticipated return to college football video games represents more than just an audio feature. It’s a digital nod to a real-world ritual that encapsulates passion, spirit, and intensity.
“I’m Shipping up to Boston” has become part of Notre Dame’s identity, and its inclusion in EA College Football 26 isn’t simply about musical licensing or filling out a soundtrack. It’s about honoring tradition. Few college programs have rituals that resonate as deeply or immediately with their fanbases. For Notre Dame, the song has evolved into a battle cry, one that turns the stadium into a cathedral of energy right before the opening kickoff. To recreate that atmosphere virtually is to attempt to bottle up and deliver what it means to be part of Notre Dame football.
The song, originally released in 2005 and popularized in the sports world thanks to its gritty, Irish-infused punk rock sound, has become an anthem not just for Boston teams but also for programs that want to embody a fighting spirit. Notre Dame’s adoption of the track aligns perfectly with its image—fierce, unyielding, deeply rooted in Irish tradition. Whether you’re in the stands in South Bend or watching at home, the opening notes of “I’m Shipping up to Boston” hit like a shot of adrenaline.
That’s why the news of the song’s inclusion in EA College Football 26 has gone viral among college football fans, gamers, and Notre Dame supporters alike. In a world increasingly driven by digital experiences, authenticity matters. EA Sports has been under pressure to deliver more than just a football simulation—it has to evoke the emotion, the pageantry, and the soul of college football. By capturing details like team traditions, entrance songs, chants, and crowd behavior, the developers aim to recreate what makes Saturdays in the fall so sacred across the country. Notre Dame’s kickoff ritual is a core component of that effort.
The timing of this reveal couldn’t be better. EA College Football 26 marks the franchise’s return after an 11-year hiatus, following the release of NCAA Football 14. Since then, fans have clamored for a revival—especially in the age of NIL deals, the transfer portal, and the growing commercialization of college sports. The new era demands a new game, one that not only keeps up with modern mechanics and graphics but also honors the things that made the original series so beloved. Realism, tradition, and immersion are at the heart of that mission.
Notre Dame’s presence in the game itself has been a topic of interest for years. The university initially expressed hesitancy about participating in a rebooted EA college football game, especially as NIL rules and player compensation mechanisms evolved. However, those concerns have been addressed, and Notre Dame was confirmed as a participating school in early development cycles of the game. With that barrier cleared, fans began speculating what elements would be included—would the stadium be accurate, would the team’s traditions be respected, would game day in South Bend feel like the real thing?
Now, with “I’m Shipping up to Boston” reportedly featured as part of the Notre Dame home experience, that speculation has turned into celebration. It’s a signal that EA Sports understands the weight of what they’re working with. This isn’t just a game—it’s a time capsule, a love letter to college football.
Of course, it’s not the first time a team’s musical traditions have made waves in the video game world. Programs like Virginia Tech with “Enter Sandman” and Wisconsin’s “Jump Around” have long been associated with iconic songs that elevate the game day experience. But Notre Dame’s use of the Dropkick Murphys track brings a uniquely cinematic and visceral energy. There’s a rawness to it, a sense that something epic is about to unfold.
For players, that authenticity will be critical. When you load into Notre Dame Stadium in EA College Football 26, the hope is that the crowd will roar, the camera will shake slightly, the anticipation will build—and then, just as the ball is teed up for the kickoff, those unmistakable bagpipes and pounding drums will hit. It’s a sound that has been woven into the fabric of Irish football culture, and it will now have a digital legacy to match its real-world impact.
Fans have already taken to social media to celebrate the news, flooding Twitter, Reddit, and message boards with excitement. Memes, highlight clips, and reaction videos are surfacing in real-time as the Notre Dame community processes the update. For many, this is validation—that the Notre Dame experience is too iconic to be left out. That the traditions matter. That the energy of the sport can, and should, be preserved even in digital form.
This also raises questions about what other traditions will be included in the game. Will other teams get similar treatment with their music and stadium rituals? Will pre-game walks, band performances, and rivalry trophies make the cut? EA has promised a commitment to authenticity, but the bar is being set high. Notre Dame’s inclusion of “I’m Shipping up to Boston” may just be the beginning of a broader movement to make this the most immersive college football game of all time.
Beyond the mechanics and visual fidelity, it’s the emotional weight of these traditions that will define the game. Nostalgia plays a powerful role in sports fandom, and few schools elicit that same kind of reverence as Notre Dame. By honoring the song that kicks off home games in South Bend, EA Sports is effectively telling fans: “We get it.” They understand what makes college football different. It’s not just about stats and scores—it’s about pageantry, emotion, and identity.
In the end, “I’m Shipping up to Boston” isn’t just a song choice—it’s a symbol. A symbol of how a modern video game can serve as both entertainment and tribute. It speaks to the evolving relationship between sports, media, and technology. And it proves that even in a digital landscape, tradition still reigns supreme.
So, when EA College Football 26 drops later this summer, fans across the country will get to experience Notre Dame’s iconic kickoff moment in stunning detail. For some, it will be a new experience. For others, it will be a homecoming. Either way, when that opening note hits and the Fighting Irish take the field, the message will be loud and clear: Notre Dame football is back—and this time, it’s bringing the Dropkick Murphys with it.
