Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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44 PRESEASON 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: WISCONSIN he's also made some significant mistakes, such as failing to embrace paying players and trying to install the Air Raid at Wisconsin, a school that for decades has thrived on ground-and-pound football. The Athletic wrote that Fickell's Badgers suffered from "a glaring lack of identity," which is the most damning phrase of all. It is also something no one can say about Free- man's Irish. Since he took over, Notre Dame has gotten faster, tougher and more physical in all facets of the game. It has managed to modernize itself without abandoning what made it a national power in the first place. Fickell still has a chance to turn things around, and his 57-18 tenure at Cincinnati still allows Wis- consin fans to hang onto hope. But 2022 is a long time ago, and there's no question who holds the coaching edge since then. Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES Poor Wisconsin. The new-look roster is some- what promising, and its schedule gets much easier from here, but Notre Dame is just about the worst Week 1 matchup the Badgers could have drawn. In addition to the reasons you've already read, the Irish will be looking to make a point. This is their first game since the College Football Playoff Selection Committee dropped them out of the 12-team field at the last second. In the ensuing weeks, they adopted "leave no doubt" as their semi-official slogan. This is their first chance to prove they intend to do that on a national stage. In other words, it is in Notre Dame's best interest to absolutely clobber Wisconsin. And Freeman, despite admiring Fickell as a friend and mentor, might also have some added motivation to show up his former boss. There is also the continuity advantage. Notre Dame is first in the country in ESPN's returning production rankings at 72 percent. The formula factors transfer additions, but the vast majority of that comes from stars who have played together for years. Wisconsin is 35th at 59 percent, but its roster is heavily reliant on transfers who will need time to jell. In this writer's opinion, the Badgers are a better team than this game will make them look. Unfor- tunately for them, the Irish have waited all year for Sunday night. Advantage: Notre Dame Todd D. Burlage: Notre Dame 35, Wisconsin 6 Wisconsin didn't gain much preseason respect entering its fifth season under Luke Fickell, the Badgers head coach who's widely considered on the hottest of hot seats in Madison. The Badgers went 4-8 last season, a poor record that included a six-game losing streak. The Wisconsin defense was solid, finishing 24th nationally in fewest yards allowed per game (323.5). Its offense was horrible, finishing 133rd out of 134 teams in scoring at 12.8 points a game. Every matchup in this game favors Notre Dame, and the final score will show why. Steve Downey: Notre Dame 30, Wisconsin 3 If the Fighting Irish are to "leave no doubt" in 2026, it begins by being ready to go out of the gates. In head coach Marcus Freeman's first four seasons, Notre Dame was just 3-5 in Games 1 and 2 of each season. Yes, three of those losses came against ranked foes Ohio State, Miami and Texas A&M, but they also dropped eminently winnable home games against inferior opponents Marshall and Northern Illinois. The Badgers should be much improved after offseason roster churn re- sulted in 23 outgoing and 33 incoming transfers, but their talent level is no match for the Irish's. Notre Dame may have some kinks to work out with its offensive line and running game, but should still win this one without break- ing much of a sweat. Eric Hansen: Notre Dame 30, Wisconsin 10 The Badgers' better-than-average defense, aggressive transfer portal shop- ping to boost the offense, and the heavy familiarity between coaching staffs should all help Wisconsin (4-8 in 2025) keep things close for a half. But Notre Dame's "Leave No Doubt" mantra comes to life after intermis- sion, and the Irish improve to 13-0 all time in Shamrock Series matchups. In a game shuffled six years into the future because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Green Bay native James Flanigan, a redshirt freshman tight end, scores his first career TD on his first career reception, with family and friends taking it all in at iconic Lambeau Field. Tyler James: Notre Dame 38, Wisconsin 13 All the talk about Notre Dame leaving no doubt ends when the Irish enter Lambeau Field. The talk will be replaced by actions, and the Wisconsin Bad- gers have the unfortunate position of being first on Notre Dame's to-do list. It might be a do-or-die season for head coach Luke Fickell at Wisconsin, but Notre Dame is even more desperate to prove it was slighted by the College Football Playoff committee last season. Notre Dame should come out firing on all cylinders even with an offense featuring a lot of new faces at the skill positions. The weapons around junior quarterback CJ Carr will prove to be ready for the big stage. Meanwhile, Notre Dame's defense will create a rough debut for Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph, who transferred in from Old Dominion. Wisconsin doesn't have the kind of offensive line it typically had when the program was a Big Ten contender, and Notre Dame will take advantage of it. Kyle Kelly: Notre Dame 42, Wisconsin 10 The Notre Dame and Wisconsin football programs are on two completely dif- ferent paths. The Irish, who oddsmakers have awarded the best or second-best odds to win the national championship, are determined to make it back to the title game after finishing runner-up in 2024. On the other hand, the Badgers are looking to make a bowl game for just the second time under Luke Fickell. Notre Dame arguably has the best roster in college football, while Wiscon- sin is in full rebuild mode. I look for the state of both programs to be reflected on the scoreboard. Irish by 32. Mike Singer: Notre Dame 38, Wisconsin 10 The Badgers should be a better squad than their abysmal 2025 season, but Notre Dame still should be able to handle Luke Fickell's squad in a neutral-site matchup. Wisconsin had a nice offseason with portal additions; Notre Dame will be just too much for the Badgers, though. Jack Soble: Notre Dame 41, Wisconsin 7 With its friendly Big Ten schedule and remade roster, Wisconsin could engineer the turnaround that saves Luke Fickell's job. That turnaround will have to start in Week 2, because a pissed-off Notre Dame team is not mess- ing around. Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph is a fun but highly volatile quarter- back. My bold prediction is multiple takeaways and at least one defensive touchdown for the Irish, whose secondary should smother any big-play op- portunities the Badgers try to create. Redshirt senior safety Matthew Jung started eight of the Badgers' 12 games last season and ranked fifth on the team with 50 tackles. PHOTO COURTESY WISCONSIN ATHLETICS Staff Predictions