Green Bay — No. 5 Notre Dame and the Wisconsin Badgers will open Week 1 in a nationally televised primetime game Sunday at Lambeau Field, a rare college-football appearance at the home of the Green Bay Packers.
Game essentials: time, broadcast and streaming
The game starts at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on NBC. Streaming options cited for the matchup include Peacock and Fubo, which carries NBC in its lineup.
Sunday's matchup is part of Notre Dame's Shamrock Series, which stages the Fighting Irish at neutral or special venues. For Wisconsin, the game is a high-profile, early test under coach Luke Fickell as the Badgers aim to show improvement after recent seasons.
Where each program stands entering the game
Notre Dame arrives off a 10-2 season and is ranked among the nation's elite. The Fighting Irish, coached by Marcus Freeman, were prominent enough in the offseason to decline a bowl-game invitation after missing the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame's roster includes Heisman Trophy candidate C.J. Carr, a player widely cited as central to the Irish's offensive hopes this fall.
Wisconsin is entering the season under the leadership of Luke Fickell and is looking to rebound. The Badgers have added transfers to their roster, most notably Colton Joseph from Old Dominion, who figures to be a key part of Wisconsin's plans to move the program forward in the Big Ten.
Odds and predictions
As of the latest publicly available odds, Notre Dame is a substantial favorite. Bookmaker lines cited from BetMGM list:
- Spread: Notre Dame -20.5
- Over/Under: 47.5 points
- Moneyline: Notre Dame -1400 | Wisconsin +950
| Market | Line |
|---|---|
| Spread | Notre Dame -20.5 |
| Over/Under | 47.5 |
| Moneyline | Notre Dame -1400 / Wisconsin +950 |
Local and national analysts reflected a consensus that Notre Dame is heavily favored. Those projections make Sunday a challenging environment for Wisconsin to pull an upset, though early-season games can produce surprises.
Key storylines to watch
Several themes will determine how the game unfolds:
- Notre Dame's offensive ceiling: With a roster built to compete at the highest level and a top offensive weapon in C.J. Carr, the Irish will try to impose tempo and force Wisconsin into mistakes.
- Wisconsin's transition under Fickell: The Badgers have work to do to demonstrate progress in the Luke Fickell era. How quickly new additions, including Colton Joseph, integrate will matter.
- Venue and atmosphere: Lambeau Field is an NFL stadium and a unique setting for college football. The neutral-site environment changes some home-field dynamics but still keeps the game local for Wisconsin supporters.
Broadcast and viewing tips for fans
Fans planning to watch on television should tune to NBC. Those who prefer streaming may access the game via Peacock or Fubo, which offers a trial for new subscribers and includes NBC in its channel bundle.
For in-person attendees, Lambeau Field seating and traffic patterns differ from college venues; arriving early and confirming parking and entry details through official Packers channels is advisable.
The matchup represents a major early-season measuring stick for both programs. Notre Dame seeks to validate its preseason ranking and national expectations, while Wisconsin aims to display tangible progress and momentum entering Big Ten play.
The kickoff at Lambeau will not only open the Badgers' 2026 campaign in front of a national audience but will also offer Wisconsin fans a concentrated look at where the program stands against one of the country's top teams.
— Peter Vandenberg, State Correspondent
