Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Preview

Notre Dame football is finally back, and the 2026 season begins at Lambeau Field against Wisconsin with massive expectations, intriguing matchups and 273 days of anticipation leading into kickoff. Locked On Irish host Tyler Wojciak starts with what’s at stake for Marcus Freeman and the Irish after the longest offseason in recent memory, the history surrounding the Shamrock Series matchup and why fans should embrace the excitement without treating Week 1 as a referendum on the entire season. Then, he breaks down Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph, the Badgers’ rushing attack, their vulnerable offensive line and the keys for the Notre Dame defense before examining Wisconsin’s defense and how CJ Carr, Jordan Faison, Jaden Greathouse and the Irish offense can attack it. Finally, Tyler looks at the special teams matchup, reveals his Notre Dame-Wisconsin score prediction and makes several player predictions for the season opener.