Early-Season Test: Notre Dame Seeks Strong Start Against Wisconsin

Notre Dame opens its season against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field as a three-touchdown favorite, but the game carries significance beyond the spread. The Irish have lost early-season games in each of the past two years under coach Marcus Freeman, and a sluggish start could hurt their playoff chances. A dominant performance would build confidence before facing ranked opponents later in the schedule.

Notre Dame's early-season track record under Marcus Freeman has been a persistent concern, with the Irish posting a 3-5 mark across the first two games of each season in his tenure. Losses to Marshall and Northern Illinois have fueled criticism that the program is overrated in September. Last year, a slow defensive start proved costly despite eventual improvement.

Wisconsin enters with modest expectations after a 2-7 Big Ten campaign in which they averaged just nine points per conference game. The Badgers hope Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph can spark the offense. Notre Dame returns quarterback CJ Carr, an experienced offensive line, and a defense with standouts at every level under coordinator Chris Ash.