As the college football season edges closer, all eyes seem locked on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. ESPN’s preseason top 25 has them at No. 4, and expectations are sky-high.
There’s been some noise about their schedule being too soft, but honestly, a quick scan shows plenty of tough matchups. Marcus Freeman’s squad is about to get tested in a big way.
With title hopes, Heisman buzz, and several elite playmakers headed for the NFL, 2026 could be a defining year for the Irish.
The Season Opener: Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin
Notre Dame starts things off at Lambeau Field on September 6. That’s Packers territory, so it’s a pretty cool venue for a college opener.
The Irish will take on Wisconsin, who limped to a 4-8 finish last year. The Badgers have been busy in the transfer portal—22 out, 31 in, including quarterback Colton Joseph from Old Dominion and running back Abu Sama from Iowa State.
Luke Fickell’s trying to turn things around, and Vegas has their win total at 6.5. Bowl eligibility is probably the goal for Wisconsin right now.
Key Players to Watch
Colton Joseph: He’s the new guy under center, coming in from Old Dominion.
Abu Sama: This Iowa State transfer brings some juice to the backfield.
Notre Dame Stadium Opener: Rice
Week 2 brings Notre Dame back home to face Rice. The Owls finished 5-8 last season and are hoping for better in Scott Abell’s second year.
Rice picked up quarterback Jacurri Brown from UCF and linebacker Jesus Machado from Houston. This one gives the Irish a chance to iron out any early wrinkles before things get tougher.
Rice’s New Additions
- Jacurri Brown: A run-first QB from UCF who could shake things up.
- Jesus Machado: Linebacker, formerly with Houston.
Early Season Challenges: Michigan State and Purdue
Week 3 is when things get interesting. Michigan State comes to town, fresh off a 4-8 campaign and now led by Pat Fitzgerald, who’s back coaching after four years away.
The Spartans lost some big names—Nick Marsh and Darius Snow have moved on—but they could come in at 2-0. It’s not a gimme for the Irish.
After that, Notre Dame heads to Purdue on September 26. The Boilermakers went 2-10 last year and are now under Barry Odom, who’s trying to rebuild fast.
Purdue’s been active in the portal too, bringing in Justin Denson from Michigan State and John Slaughter from Colorado.
Notable Departures and Additions
- Michigan State Departures: Nick Marsh (Indiana), Darius Snow (Texas).
- Purdue Additions: Justin Denson (Michigan State), John Slaughter (Colorado).
Road Test: North Carolina
Notre Dame’s first out-of-state trip is to North Carolina on October 3. The Tar Heels, with Bill Belichick at the helm, are trying to bounce back from a rough 4-8 season.
By the time they meet the Irish, UNC will have faced Clemson and TCU and had a bye week. They might be 3-0, but don’t expect them to be ranked.
Mid-Season Showdowns: Stanford, BYU, and Navy
The USC rivalry isn’t what it used to be, but Notre Dame still has Stanford on the slate. The Cardinal were 4-8 and face a brutal ACC schedule this year.
But the real mid-season test? That’s BYU in Provo. The Cougars are preseason No. 12 and have a stacked offense with quarterback Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin.
After that, Notre Dame heads to Gillette Stadium for Navy. Navy went 11-2 last season, and projections have them at 8.5 wins this year. That’s a step up from Rice, for sure.
Key Mid-Season Opponents
- BYU Stars: Bear Bachmeier (QB), LJ Martin (RB).
- Navy’s Record: 11-2 last season, projected 8.5 wins.
Home Stretch: Miami, Boston College, and SMU
The toughest game on the schedule? That’s probably Miami. The Hurricanes are preseason No. 7, added quarterback Darian Mensah from Duke, and just lost the National Championship to Indiana.
Some folks are already circling this one as a College GameDay possibility.
Then it’s Boston College and SMU at home. Boston College, led by Bill O’Brien, is trying to bounce back from a rough ACC season.
SMU, just two years removed from a Playoff run, is no pushover either. Kevin Jennings is back at quarterback, and they’ve got a bunch of 600-yard receivers. That’s a dangerous bunch.
Players to Watch
- Miami: Darian Mensah (QB), Kadarius Toney (key player).
- SMU: Kevin Jennings (QB), multiple 600-yard receivers.
Season Finale: Syracuse
The last game of the season lands Notre Dame on the road at Syracuse, right around Thanksgiving. Fran Brown’s Orange want to stay healthy and push for the top of the ACC.
Steve Angeli, a Notre Dame transfer, will be at quarterback for Syracuse. He’s just hoping to avoid the injury trouble that’s haunted him before.
Their conference schedule isn’t too rough, so Syracuse might come into this one with a pretty solid record. That could make things interesting, honestly.
For a more detailed look at Notre Dame’s schedule, visit this article.
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