Fighting Irish Wire staff previews Notre Dame versus Wisconsin season opener

Notre Dame prepares to open its 2026 football season at Lambeau Field against Wisconsin in the Shamrock Series. While the game has yet to be played, members of the Fighting Irish Wire staff have provided their predictions for the matchup and other key Week 1 contests. The staff anticipates a competitive opening for the Irish, with contributors Tim Healey, Sunny Verma, Kevin Smith, and Michael Chen analyzing both the Notre Dame game and broader college football slate. The schedule also features high-profile games including Boise State at Oregon, Clemson at LSU, Louisville at Ole Miss, and SMU at Florida State. These matchups are set to take place between Saturday, September 5 and Monday, September 7, 2026. Coaches and teams look to establish momentum early in the season as they compete for conference and College Football Playoff positioning.

• 11:02 AMYahoo Sports — FIW staff picks Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin and top Week 1 games