Notre Dame and Wisconsin meet in one of the most intriguing games of Week 1 of the 2026 college football season, but the matchup will not be played at either school’s traditional home stadium.
Instead, the Fighting Irish and Badgers will face each other at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
So, why are Notre Dame and Wisconsin playing at Lambeau Field?
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin is being played at Lambeau Field as part of Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series. The game is the rescheduled version of a Notre Dame-Wisconsin matchup that was originally supposed to take place at Lambeau Field in 2020 before being canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The matchup finally gives the two programs an opportunity to complete the neutral-site series they originally planned several years ago.
Here is everything to know about why Notre Dame and Wisconsin are playing at Lambeau Field in Week 1 of the 2026 college football season.
Why Is Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field?
Notre Dame and Wisconsin are playing at Lambeau Field because the matchup is part of Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series.
The Fighting Irish periodically move designated home games away from Notre Dame Stadium and play them at prominent venues around the country.
Notre Dame is considered the home team for the 2026 matchup even though Lambeau Field is located in Wisconsin.
The game also completes a two-game neutral-site agreement between Notre Dame and Wisconsin that dates back several years.
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Was Originally Scheduled for Lambeau Field in 2020
The story behind the 2026 game actually begins six years earlier.
Notre Dame and Wisconsin originally agreed to play a two-game neutral-site series featuring games at two famous NFL stadiums.
The first was scheduled for October 3, 2020, at Lambeau Field.
The other was scheduled for Soldier Field in Chicago.
However, the 2020 college football season was dramatically altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the scheduled Lambeau Field matchup was canceled.
That left the Lambeau portion of the agreement unfinished.
Notre Dame and Wisconsin eventually agreed to bring the matchup back, resulting in the September 6, 2026 game in Green Bay.
Notre Dame and Wisconsin Played at Soldier Field in 2021
Although the 2020 Lambeau Field game did not happen, Notre Dame and Wisconsin were able to play the other game in their neutral-site series.
The programs met at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 25, 2021.
Notre Dame won that matchup 41-13.
The 2026 meeting at Lambeau Field therefore serves as the long-awaited completion of the original two-game arrangement.
What Is Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series?
The Shamrock Series is Notre Dame’s tradition of taking selected home football games to major stadiums and cities outside South Bend, Indiana.
Notre Dame began the Shamrock Series in 2009.
The concept allows the Fighting Irish to showcase their football program in different parts of the country while playing at prominent venues.
Previous Shamrock Series games have been held at stadiums including Yankee Stadium, Soldier Field, Allegiant Stadium and the Alamodome.
Lambeau Field now joins that list for Notre Dame’s 2026 matchup against Wisconsin.
Is Notre Dame or Wisconsin the Home Team at Lambeau Field?
Notre Dame is the designated home team against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field.
That is because the matchup is officially part of Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series.
Geographically, however, Wisconsin has the obvious proximity advantage.
Lambeau Field is located in Green Bay, making the game significantly closer to Wisconsin’s campus in Madison than Notre Dame’s campus in South Bend.
The unusual setup gives the game many of the characteristics of both a neutral-site matchup and a major in-state event for Wisconsin fans.
Why Is Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Being Played on Sunday?
Another unusual aspect of the matchup is the date.
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin is being played Sunday, September 6, 2026, during Labor Day weekend.
College football games are normally concentrated on Saturdays, but opening weekend frequently includes games spread across several days.
The Sunday night scheduling also gives Notre Dame-Wisconsin a prominent standalone national window before the NFL regular season begins.
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin 2026 Game Information
| Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, September 6, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| Stadium | Lambeau Field |
| Location | Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Designated Home Team | Notre Dame |
| Event | Notre Dame Shamrock Series |
| Original Lambeau Game | October 3, 2020 |
Has Wisconsin Played at Lambeau Field Before?
Yes. Wisconsin has previously played college football games at Lambeau Field.
One of the most memorable came on September 3, 2016, when Wisconsin faced No. 5 LSU in Green Bay.
The Badgers pulled off a 16-14 upset of the Tigers.
That game was particularly significant because it marked the first major college football game played at Lambeau Field in decades.
The Notre Dame-Wisconsin matchup brings college football back to the iconic home of the Green Bay Packers in 2026.
Notre Dame Has a Historical Connection to Lambeau Field
There is also an interesting connection between Notre Dame and the stadium’s namesake.
Curly Lambeau played football at Notre Dame in 1918 before returning to Green Bay.
Lambeau later helped found the Green Bay Packers and became one of the most important figures in the history of professional football.
Lambeau Field was eventually named in his honor.
That connection adds another historical element to Notre Dame playing a Shamrock Series game at the stadium.
Why Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field Is Significant
The 2026 matchup combines several unusual elements.
It features two prominent college football programs, takes place at one of the NFL’s most recognizable stadiums and completes a series that was disrupted six years earlier.
Most importantly, the game finally delivers the Lambeau Field matchup Notre Dame and Wisconsin originally planned for 2020.
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field is therefore not simply a random neutral-site game. It is a rescheduled Shamrock Series matchup and the completion of a two-game agreement that began years earlier.
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field FAQ
Why are Notre Dame and Wisconsin playing at Lambeau Field?
Notre Dame and Wisconsin are playing at Lambeau Field as part of Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series. The matchup replaces the Lambeau game originally scheduled for 2020 that was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
When is Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field?
The game is scheduled for Sunday, September 6, 2026.
What time does Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin start?
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Who is the home team for Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin?
Notre Dame is the designated home team because the matchup is part of the Fighting Irish’s Shamrock Series.
Was Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin supposed to play at Lambeau Field before?
Yes. Notre Dame and Wisconsin were originally scheduled to play at Lambeau Field on October 3, 2020, but the game was canceled amid changes to the college football season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
When did Notre Dame last play Wisconsin?
Notre Dame and Wisconsin previously met at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 25, 2021. Notre Dame won 41-13.