Notre Dame prepares for Shamrock Series opener against Wisconsin

Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish open their 2026 season against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Shamrock Series at Green Bay. Head coach Marcus Freeman focused on the development of the offensive and defensive lines during his Monday press conference. Center Ashton Craig returns from an ACL injury, solidifying the offensive line unit. A position battle remains at right guard, where Sullivan Absher and Styles Prescod are listed as an "or" on the depth chart. On the defensive side, Armel Mukam has secured the starting defensive tackle job following significant offseason progress. The program continues to prioritize building depth in the trenches as a foundational element of its competitive strategy.

• 11:30 AMYahoo Sports — Everything comes down to what’s happening in the trenches for Notre Dame