Wisconsin vs Notre Dame 2026: Preview & Who to Watch (Lambeau Field)
One of Week 1's most striking settings: Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. The Irish take their annual Shamrock Series game to the home of the Green Bay Packers — Notre Dame's first-ever game at the historic stadium — as the "home" team on a neutral field, in prime time on NBC.
A one-off at Lambeau Field
This is Notre Dame's 2026 Shamrock Series game, its traveling showcase, and the venue is the draw: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, which has hosted only a couple of college football games in its entire history. Notre Dame is designated the home team even though it's a neutral site, and the Irish will wear special Packers-homage uniforms for the occasion. Kickoff is 7:30 ET on NBC, the network home of Notre Dame football.
The series
These programs have met recently: their 2021 game at Soldier Field ended 41–13 for Notre Dame. This is the second leg of that two-game series, again on a marquee neutral stage — a made-for-television event as much as a football game, and a genuine Week 1 measuring stick for both.
Ones to Watch
Our picks below are informed opinion based on the form above — not a crystal ball.
The Irish are the featured, "home" side at their own Shamrock Series showcase and handled Wisconsin comfortably the last time these two met. A national-brand program in prime time on NBC is the natural favorite.
The Badgers are the underdog on the marquee, but a physical, run-first program can make a neutral-site opener ugly for a favorite. If Wisconsin controls the line and the clock, this becomes the exact kind of Week 1 trap game that produces early-season chaos.
How to watch: the game airs on NBC and streams on Peacock. For where Notre Dame, the Big Ten and the rest of college football live in 2026, see our How to Watch College Football in 2026 guide.
Form and expectations verified as of publication (Thursday, July 23, 2026). "Ones to watch" are our opinion — see our Editorial Policy. Kickoff shown in US Eastern; on the schedule it converts to your local zone.
