Notre Dame and Wisconsin set for Lambeau Field opener
Notre Dame enters as a national championship contender, while Wisconsin seeks progress under Luke Fickell in a high-profile Week 1 meeting.
Notre Dame and Wisconsin are scheduled to open their 2026 college football campaigns at Lambeau Field on Sunday, 6 September, in a matchup that places contrasting expectations on the two programmes.
CBS Sports describes Notre Dame, coached by Marcus Freeman, as a national championship contender. The Fighting Irish are 7–3 against Big Ten opponents under Freeman, with all three defeats coming against Ohio State.
Wisconsin, coached by Luke Fickell, enters the game seeking evidence that its rebuild is progressing. Quarterback Colton Joseph is set to make his high-profile debut after transferring from Old Dominion.
The CBS Sports preview identifies Notre Dame’s defence, led by Leonard Moore and a veteran secondary, as a potential strength. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 9–6–2, according to the preview, although many of the meetings took place before the end of the Second World War.
The game is scheduled for a 7.30 p.m. ET start, with NBC coverage and streaming through Fubo. CBS Sports predicts Notre Dame to win comfortably but recommends Wisconsin +21.5 against the spread. The material is a pre-match preview and does not report a result.
