Opponent Vibe Check: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Checking the temperature in South Bend as the Fighting Irish prepare for a defining marquee test.

Welcome to the inaugural edition of The Opponent Vibe Check, a new summer series on The Badger Backer where I look past the generic preseason stat packs and depth chart clones to figure out exactly what’s happening in the minds of Wisconsin’s 2026 opponents.

We aren’t here to count returning starters or obsess over recruiting stars; we are here to read the room, audit the message boards, and gauge the collective sanity of the fan bases standing in the Badgers’ way.

And what better way to kick things off than with a marquee matchup for the Badgers at legendary Lambeau Field in Week 1 of the season?

On September 6, the eyes of the college football world will descend upon the hallowed grounds of Lambeau Field as Wisconsin welcomes the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It is a massive litmus test for Wisconsin, which is in its second year under Jeff Grimes’ offense and the first to feature new dual-threat quarterback Colton Joseph.

But before the opening game at Lambeau Field kicks off, we need to understand exactly who we are dealing with across the sideline.

Let’s break down the vibe in South Bend.

The good stuff is just on the other side.

To read the rest of the Notre Dame Vibe Check—and get access to our entire summer opponent preview series and more—upgrade to a paid subscription today. Your support keeps The Badger Backer 100% independent and proudly biased toward the Cardinal and White.