Notre Dame entered the 2025 season with College Football Playoff aspirations. Instead, the Fighting Irish were left on the outside looking in, finishing without a postseason berth afterdeclining a bid
to the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Now, with one of the nation's most talented rosters and legitimate championship expectations
, Marcus Freeman's team has a chance to turn the page and reestablish itself among college football's elite.That pursuit begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 6, when CJ Carr and the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish kick off their 2026 season against Wisconsin in the Shamrock Series at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Stream Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin football on Peacock
Carr enters his second season as Notre Dame's starting quarterback and opens the year as the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite on BetMGM, with +750 odds. The 6-foot-2 signal-caller completed 195 of 293 passes for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns last season while leading the Fighting Irish to a 10-2 record.
Notre Dame is a perfect 12-0 in the Shamrock Series, its biennial neutral-site game series, which includes a win against Wisconsin at Soldier Field in 2021.
Coming off back-to-back losing seasons, Wisconsin enters a highly pivotal season of the Luke Fickell era. The Badgers have yet another new starting quarterback in Colton Joseph, who threw for nearly 2,700 yards and 21 touchdowns at Old Dominion last season.
USA TODAY Sports is providing live coverage of Sunday's Week 1 contest between Notre Dame and Wisconsin. Follow below for live updates, scores and highlights:
Notre Dame vs Wisconsin live score
This section will be updated throughout the game
Notre Dame vs Wisconsin live updates
Notre Dame-Wisconsin delayed
07:39 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziDue to the ongoing Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State, Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin will be slightly delayed at Lambeau Field. Both teams were set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff in Green Bay, but there remains just under two minutes in Seattle between the Huskies and Cougars to be played.
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa injury update: Notre Dame LB ruled OUT vs Wisconsin
07:18 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziNotre Dame will be without linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa in Sunday's season opener against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. He had been considered questionable for Sunday's game.
Viliamu-Asa is coming off the second ACL tear of his career in his left knee, which he sustained against Syracuse on Nov. 22 last season.
Why is Shane Gillis at Notre Dame-Wisconsin football game at Lambeau?
07:11 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziShane Gillis is in attendance at Lambeau Field for Sunday's Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin football game to root for his Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The 38-year-old comedian, who briefly played football at Army in 2006 before leaving the Black Knights during his freshman year and eventually transferring to Elon, has long been one of Notre Dame's more well-known and visible celebrity fans.
His ties to the program were on display in 2024 when he served as the celebrity guest picker on ESPN's "College GameDay" ahead of Notre Dame's College Football Playoff first-round matchup against Indiana in South Bend.
Welcome to the party, @Shanemgillis! 😎#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/19TvXtwl9M
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) September 6, 2026
Notre Dame Shamrock Series Uniform, explained
06:50 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziNotre Dame has one of the most recognizable and traditional uniforms in college football, headlined by the gold helmet. But for Sunday's Shamrock Series vs. Wisconsin, the Irish will rock a special, alternative uniform for the neutral-site event.
The Irish are returning to a dark blue look in both the jersey and pants with gold numbers, gold trim and the iconic gold helmets. In a video released and narrated by Marcus Freeman back in July, the jersey serves as a homage to the original Green Bay Packers uniforms.
According to the South Bend Tribune — part of the USA TODAY Network — some of the smaller details of the uniform include 11 shamrocks around the collar, representing Notre Dame's 11 national titles. The numbers are block-shaped and are said to be inspired by Paul Hornung, who won the Heisman Trophy at Notre Dame before going on to play in the NFL for the Packers.
Learn more about the meaning behind the threads 🧵#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/FGzw53TjoH
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) July 8, 2026
Why is Notre Dame vs Wisconsin football at Lambeau Field?
06:30 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziSunday night's primetime meeting between the Fighting Irish and the Badgers at Lambeau Field is part of Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series, a tradition that Notre Dame started in 2009 and has been played at neutral-site venues across the country.
It's the first rendition of the Shamrock Series at Lambeau Field, and the third-ever college football game played in the stadium's history (the other two being St. Norbert vs. Fordham in 1983 and Wisconsin vs. LSU in 2016).
Notre Dame and Wisconsin were originally scheduled to meet in 2020, but the game was postponed to the 2026 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is CJ Carr related to Lloyd Carr?
06:20 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziYes, the Notre Dame quarterback is the grandson of the legendary Michigan football coach.
Ranked as a four-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class according to 247Sports Composite, the Saline, Michigan QB did look at Michigan during the 2023 recruiting cycle, but ultimately chose Notre Dame over the Wolverines, a program his grandfather coached and one that his dad, Jason Carr, played for.
"I never wanted to go to school close to my hometown," CJ Carr told The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, in 2022 when he committed to Notre Dame. "I kind of wanted to branch out a little bit. Notre Dame was just the perfect place."
Wisconsin arrives at Lambeau Field vs Notre Dame
06:01 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziWisconsin has arrived at Lambeau Field for Sunday's season opener against Notre Dame. The Badgers are looking to avenge their loss to the Fighting Irish in the 2021 edition of the Shamrock Series game in Chicago at Soldier Field.
Notre Dame is 319-170-22 all-time against Big Ten opponents.
The @BadgerFootball team has arrived at Lambeau Field ahead of their season opener against Notre Dame pic.twitter.com/oOEVAJMRDw
— Cameron Ezeir (@camezeir) September 6, 2026
Luke Fickell record against top-25 opponents at Wisconsin
05:50 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziThere's no sugarcoating it: Luke Fickell's tenure at Wisconsin has fallen well short of the expectations that accompanied his arrival from Cincinnati in 2023. The Badgers have posted just one winning season under Fickell and enter 2026 on the heels of back-to-back losing campaigns.
The struggles have been especially pronounced against top competition. Wisconsin is just 1-11 against ranked opponents during Fickell's tenure and has a 17-21 overall record under Fickell, including a 10-17 mark in Big Ten play.
NFL scouts in attendance for Notre Dame-Wisconsin
05:49 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziOne of two college football games on Sunday night, Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin, will have quite a handful of NFL scouts in attendance. According to John Steppe of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, the list of NFL teams includes:
NFL scouts expected for the #Badgers' season opener against Notre Dame in Green Bay:
— John Steppe (@JSteppe1) September 6, 2026
Cardinals, Falcons, Ravens, Bears, Texans, Jaguars, Chargers, Dolphins, Vikings, Patriots, Jets, Giants, Commanders and... yes, of course... the Packers.
Emerson Mandell injury update: Wisconsin offensive lineman OUT vs Notre Dame
05:37 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziESPN's Pete Thamel reported on Sunday that Wisconsin offensive lineman Emerson Mandell is expected to miss the Badgers' season opener on Sunday against Notre Dame. Thamel reported that Blake Cherry is expected to start in his place.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported that Division II transfer Stylz Blackmon would have been one of the other options, but he is listed on the unofficial depth chart as the backup left guard.
Notre Dame-Wisconsin series record
05:20 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziSunday's meeting between Notre Dame and Wisconsin is the 18th all-time meeting between the two programs. Notre Dame leads the series with a 9-6-2 record.
Notre Dame vs Wisconsin predictions, picks
04:50 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziHere's a compilation of predictions for Sunday's Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin football matchup from those within the USA TODAY Network:
- John Steppe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Notre Dame 41, Wisconsin 17 ... "A Wisconsin team with 34 transfers is getting thrown into the deep end of the pool against an experienced Notre Dame team that is taking the field for the first time since its 2025 College Football Playoff snub. Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr and cornerback Leonard Moore might be two of the best players that UW faces all season. A few well-timed turnovers could help the Badgers stay competitive for a while, but Notre Dame has the talent on both sides of the ball to potentially leap ahead in little time at Lambeau."
- Mike Berardino, South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame 44, Wisconsin 10 ... "No doubt that the Irish will leave Lambeau with a win."
- Tom Noie, South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame 45, Wisconsin 10 ... "The Irish have sat and stewed and waited and worked for the chance to play a football game for the last 10 months. They deliver a 10 out of 10 effort in this one up in Northern Wisconsin."
- John Brice, USA TODAY: Notre Dame
- Matt Hayes, USA TODAY: Notre Dame
- Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: Notre Dame
- Paul Myerberg USA TODAY: Notre Dame
- Erick Smith, USA TODAY: Notre Dame
- Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY: Notre Dame
- Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY: Notre Dame
Wisconsin football schedule 2026
04:20 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziBelow is a look at Wisconsin's full 2026 schedule, including available start times and TV channel information:
All times Eastern
- Sunday, Sept. 6: vs. No. 5 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. on NBC (Fubo and Peacock)
- Saturday, Sept. 12: vs. Western Illinois | 7:15 p.m. on Big Ten Network (Fubo)
- Saturday, Sept. 19: vs. Eastern Michigan | 12:30 p.m. on (Peacock)
- Saturday, Sept. 26: at No. 17 Penn State | TBD *
- Saturday, Oct. 3: vs. Michigan State | TBD *
- Saturday, Oct. 10: BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 17: at UCLA | TBD
- Saturday, Oct. 24: vs. No. 14 USC | TBD *
- Saturday, Oct. 31: at No. 22 Iowa | TBD *
- Saturday, Nov. 7: vs. Rutgers | TBD *
- Saturday, Nov. 14: at Maryland | TBD *
- Saturday, Nov. 21: at Purdue | TBD *
- Friday, Nov. 27: vs. Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. on NBC (Fubo and Peacock)
* Denotes Big Ten game
Notre Dame football schedule 2026
04:20 PM ET, September 6 2026, John LeuzziBelow is a look at Notre Dame's full 2026 schedule, including available start times and TV channel information:
All times Eastern
- Sunday, Sept. 6: vs. Wisconsin | 7:30 p.m. on NBC (Fubo and Peacock)
- Saturday, Sept. 12: vs. Rice | 3:30 p.m. on NBC (Fubo and Peacock)
- Saturday, Sept. 19: vs. Michigan State | 7:30 p.m. on NBC (Fubo and Peacock)
- Saturday, Sept. 26: at Purdue | TBD
- Saturday, Oct. 3: at North Carolina | TBD
- Saturday, Oct. 10: vs. Stanford | 3:30 p.m. on NBC (Fubo and Peacock)
- Saturday, Oct. 17: at No. 15 BYU | TBD
- Saturday, Oct. 24: BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 31: vs. Navy | Noon on ABC or ESPN (Fubo)
- Saturday, Nov. 7: vs. No. 7 Miami | 7:30 p.m. on NBC (Fubo and Peacock)
- Saturday, Nov. 14: vs. Boston College | 3:30 p.m. on NBC (Fubo and Peacock)
- Saturday, Nov. 21: vs. No. 20 SMU | 7:30 p.m. on NBC (Fubo and Peacock)
- Saturday, Nov. 28: at Syracuse | TBD
What TV channel is Notre Dame vs Wisconsin football on today?
03:45 PM ET, September 6 2026, John Leuzzi- TV channel: NBC
- Streaming options: Fubo (free trial) | Peacock
NBC will broadcast Sunday night's primetime showdown between Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. Streaming options include Fubo, which carries NBC and offers a free trial to new subscribers, and Peacock, NBC's subscription streaming service.
Stream Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin football live with Fubo (free trial)
Notre Dame vs Wisconsin football start time today
03:45 PM ET, September 6 2026, John Leuzzi- Date: Sunday, Sept. 6
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, Wis.)
Notre Dame and Wisconsin are set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday, Sept. 6 from Lambeau Field, home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Notre Dame vs Wisconsin live updates: Score, highlights for Shamrock Series
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