The No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish kick off their season with a fire burning from a College Football Playoff snub last year, and they are bringing that heat directly to Wisconsin in Week 1. This isn’t just about starting strong; it’s about a deep-seated anger from a playoff berth that Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua outright said felt “stolen” from them.
Still Fuming From the Snub
Last season, it was a gut punch that nobody in the league saw coming. Notre Dame was controversially bumped out of a College Football Playoff spot, dropping two places behind Miami in the final weekend rankings. The crazy part? Both teams were idle! The school reacted swiftly, deciding against playing in any bowl game whatsoever, a clear sign of their frustration. Coach Marcus Freeman, while acknowledging the sting, has since put a different spin on it. He’s owning it, stating bluntly, “We didn’t earn the right to play more than 12 games last year,” acknowledging the team knows they “have aspirations to play beyond the regular season.” He calls it “the reminder of what is the work that must be done to give your program a chance to play past Game 12.” The hard truth, an “autopsy” revealed, was that early season losses to Miami and Texas A&M really hurt their chances. They finished 10-2, ending the year on an impressive 10-game winning streak, but it wasn’t enough.
No. 5 With a Chip on Their Shoulder
Fast forward a year, and the Fighting Irish are back, ranked No. 5 in the USA Today US LBM coaches poll, making them a trendy pick to actually *make* the playoff this time. Freeman’s message to his squad? It’s all about staying in the moment, focusing on what they have right now. He’s preaching “Leave no doubt with what you’re guaranteed and that’s this meeting, that’s this moment, because that’s how you grow. … that’s when you don’t create bad habits.” And honestly, they’ve got plenty to work with. They’re returning their starting quarterback, 11 of their top-12 tacklers, and their leading receiver from the 2025 season. Plus, they brought in a transfer-portal class that’s legit, ranked eighth in the country by On3 and eleventh by 247sports. This team is loaded and ready.
Wisconsin Gets First Crack
The Badgers get the unenviable task of being the first opponent to face this highly motivated Notre Dame squad. It’s a marquee matchup set for Sunday, September 6, under the lights at historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay, kicking off at 6:30 p.m. This game is part of the Shamrock Series. A 2020 Lambeau game was canceled due to COVID-19, and the teams met at Soldier Field a year later. This will be the first college game played at Lambeau Field since Wisconsin played LSU in 2016. What a place to start the season, right?
This is more than just a season opener for Notre Dame. It’s their first chance to put last year’s playoff heartbreak behind them by leaving no doubt on the field. The stakes are clear: avoid those early season stumbles that cost them before, and show everyone why they’re a legitimate playoff contender. Wisconsin has its hands full, big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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