CJ Carr, No. 4 Notre Dame Open 2026 Season Against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field

No. 4 Notre Dame will kick off the 2026 college football season against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET, with NBC carrying the broadcast nationally. Dan Hicks and Jason Garrett will call the game from the booth, with Caroline Pineda reporting from the sidelines. As part of the Shamrock Series, Notre Dame is designated the home team despite playing in Wisconsin's home state.

Quarterback CJ Carr takes the reins for the Fighting Irish in what amounts to his first major test at the collegiate level, directing a revamped Irish backfield against a Badgers defense that figures to present an immediate challenge. Notre Dame enters the game coming off a playoff snub in 2025, giving the program added motivation in a high-profile opener. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is seeking a signature upset that would reshape early-season expectations for Luke Fickell's program.

Fickell Vows Not to Shy Away From Moore

Central to the tactical battle will be Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, a 2024 unanimous All-American whose stock has continued to rise heading into the new season. Moore, who recorded 31 tackles, five interceptions, seven pass breakups and 12 passes defended last season, is considered among the top two or three prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft. Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph, a transfer from Old Dominion, will have no choice but to confront that matchup.

We've got to not think that we can't go that direction. I'm not saying he's not the best in the country. I'm not saying he's not a top-2, 3 [NFL draft] pick in the country. But the idea is you've still got to be able to run your offense. The thing that I love about what it is that we do is, we make people do everything, so he'll have a chance to prove that he's the best in the country.

— Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell, in an ESPN report by Adam Rittenberg

The game also carries a notable personal dimension for Fickell. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman served as Fickell's defensive coordinator at Cincinnati from 2017 through 2021 before departing for the same role with the Irish and eventually ascending to head coach after Brian Kelly left for LSU. Freeman has posted a 43-12 record at Notre Dame, including a 2024 CFP Championship appearance. Fickell is 17-21 since taking over the Badgers program and acknowledged Friday that he is not surprised by how far his former assistant has risen. An upset victory would represent a meaningful inflection point for Wisconsin's rebuild under Fickell.