Notre Dame football begins its 2026 season tonight against Wisconsin

Notre Dame opens its 2026 campaign at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, tonight with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff scheduled on NBC. The team enters the season with aspirations of competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Head coach Marcus Freeman has emphasized a game-by-game approach, despite a schedule that features preseason top-25 opponents in Miami, BYU, and SMU. The program faces Wisconsin in the opener before continuing a non-conference and conference slate that includes games against Rice, Michigan State, and Purdue. The team maintains depth and coaching advantages, though personnel changes are expected as the roster gains cohesion early in the year. Notre Dame concludes its October schedule with matchups against Stanford, BYU, and Navy.

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