Our 2026 Journey Begins

Notre Dame opens its highly anticipated 2026 season on Sunday night on the hallowed ground of Lambeau Field. The Fighting Irish take on the Wisconsin Badgers in a Shamrock Series game originally scheduled in 2020. COVID interrupted those plans before Notre Dame beat the Badgers in 2021 at Soldier Field in Chicago. The subsequent changes within these programs and throughout all of college football were unimaginable back then. That aside, each team needs to make a statement in this game. NBC and Peacock will provide national television coverage from Green Bay starting at 7:30 PM Eastern Time.

Irish head coach Marcus Freeman and Wisconsin's Luke Fickell were working together at Cincinnati six short years ago. Freeman was the Defensive Coordinator (DC) under Fickell until leaving for South Bend in January 2021. After one season as Notre Dame's DC, Freeman ascended to the top job when Brian Kelly cut and ran. One year later, Fickell departed Cincinnati to take over in Madison. Their respective fortunes have diverged significantly since then. Freeman is 43-12 and beloved at Notre Dame while Fickell is a disappointing 17-21 for the Badgers. His seat is widely characterized in the media as very warm.