Notre Dame opens the official home portion of its 2026 schedule on Saturday when it welcomes Rice to Notre Dame Stadium. It's the first meeting between programs since the 2014 opener that saw Notre Dame rout the Owls, 48-17.

Sept. 12 at 3:30 p.m. EDT. Opening Line: Notre Dame by 44.5. Against the spread: Notre Dame 1-0, Rice 1-0. How to watch: NBC/Peacock Key stats Notre Dame Offense Overall: 350 yards per game (97th in FBS) Passing: 239 yards per game (65th) Rushing: 111 yards per game (106th) Scoring: 41 points per game (44th)

Notre Dame safety Brauntae Johnson and defensive lineman Jason Onye have been ruled out of Saturday’s home opener against Rice.

No. 4 Notre Dame arrives at Lambeau Field on Sunday carrying national championship expectations. Wisconsin shows up shouldering something heavier: pressure to improve under Luke Fickell. This season-opening matchup offers an immediate measuring stick for an Irish team ranked inside the preseason top five and expected to contend deep into December.

This year's Irish often won't be judged by the opponent right in front of them but by what their performance might mean for January.

CJ Carr's began his second season as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback with a solid showing in a 41-13 win over the Wisconsin Badgers.

With the Notre Dame football team earning a win over the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, 41-13, head coach Marcus Freeman would highlight one player whom he feels resembles a star NFL offensive lineman.

Opening night against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday will be as much an emotional release for Notre Dame as it is a season debut.