No. 4 Notre Dame begins another run at the College Football Playoff when it faces Wisconsin Sunday at 7:30 PM ET at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Notre Dame’s 2026/27 “Leave No Doubt” campaign begins in earnest when it travels to venerated Lambeau Field in Green Bay to face Wisconsin tonight at 7:30 PM ET.
The Fighting Irish enter as one of the nation's top-ranked teams after a 10-2 season that resulted in a College Football Playoff snub. Wisconsin begins its fourth full season under Luke Fickell, looking to re-establish itself as a contender in the Big Ten.
This is the first meeting between the schools since 2021, when Notre Dame pulled away for a 41-13 victory at Soldier Field. The Fighting Irish lead the all-time series 9-6-2.
Wisconsin does have some encouraging history at Lambeau. The Badgers' last appearance there came in their 2016 season opener, when they upset No. 5 LSU 16-14.
Pulling off another upset would be considerably more difficult.
Notre Dame enters the season ranked fourth in the country and is a 20.5-point favourite. Wisconsin, meanwhile, faces plenty of uncertainty offensively after reshaping its attack during the offseason.
Quarterback Colton Joseph will make his Wisconsin debut after transferring from Old Dominion, where he threw for a combined 4,251 yards and 32 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
Joseph brings a significant rushing element to the position after totalling 1,007 yards and 13 touchdowns on just 158 carries last season. He is joined in the backfield by Iowa State transfer Abu Sama III. He had 1,933 yards and 13 touchdowns in three seasons with the Cyclones.
Can that revamped attack keep Wisconsin close against one of the country's most talented teams?
Read below to find out our experts’ picks and predictions.
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame betting picks and predictions
Wisconsin +20.5 (-105)
Notre Dame is clearly the better team, but asking the Fighting Irish to win by three touchdowns in their season opener at a neutral site is a different proposition.
The Fighting Irish return a litany of All-America hopefuls, especially on the defensive side, where cornerback Leonard Moore (5 interceptions last year) and safeties Brauntae Johnson and Adon Shuler lead what should be the nation’s best secondary.
On offense, quarterback C.J. Carr returns for his second season as the starting signal caller after starting all 12 games and throwing for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns last year. He guided Notre Dame to 41.8 points per game, second nationally.
But, first-round running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are now in the NFL, leaving talented but untested replacements, while the wide receiver room is still full of questions.
Wisconsin's best chance of staying close is to run the football, shorten the game and avoid giving Notre Dame easy scoring opportunities. Joseph, one of just two FBS quarterbacks to throw for 2,000-plus yards and rush for 1,000-plus last season, gives the Badgers that ability.
Wisconsin could be short-handed up front, with tackle Kevin Heywood questionable and guard Emerson Mandell a game-time decision. Wide receiver Jaylon Domingeaux is also questionable.
Notre Dame has its own absences. Ohio State transfer Quincy Porter has been ruled out, while linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is questionable with a knee injury.
Wisconsin may struggle to sustain long drives against Notre Dame's defense, particularly if its offensive line is not at full strength.
But the circumstances favor taking the points. This is the opener for both teams; Wisconsin should have a strong crowd presence in Green Bay, and a 20.5-point spread gives the Badgers considerable room even if Notre Dame controls the game.
Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman is an impressive 43-12 overall, but his Notre Dame teams are just 13-6 in August and September, including bad early-season losses to Marshall and Northern Illinois.
Look for the Irish to win comfortably without quite reaching the three-touchdown margin.
Under 46.5 (-110)
Wisconsin's best path to an upset also supports the Under. The Badgers need to control possession, run the football, and keep Notre Dame's offense off the field.
Joseph is operating an offense that could take time to develop against elite competition.
Notre Dame may not need to be especially aggressive, either. If the Irish establish an early lead, they can lean on their ground game and defense.
The injuries on both offenses provide another reason to expect a relatively low-scoring contest.
Wisconsin should struggle to reach 20 points against the Irish defense. That leaves Notre Dame needing to approach 30 for the game to clear the total.
Look for something closer to a 27-13 Notre Dame victory.
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame odds
Wisconsin | +1000 |
Notre Dame | -2500 |
Spread | Notre Dame -20.5 |
Total Points | O/U 46.5 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
