A season opener at Lambeau Field against Notre Dame. A road trip to Penn State two weeks later. And USC visiting Madison in late October. The Wisconsin Football Schedule 2026 opens with one of the most unique settings in college football and never really settles down after that.
Wisconsin Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 6 | vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Shamrock Series) | Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI | 7:30 PM | NBC/Peacock |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Western Illinois Leathernecks | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | 7:15 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Eastern Michigan Eagles | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | 12:30 PM | Peacock |
| Sat, Sep 26 | at Penn State Nittany Lions | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | Michigan State Spartans (Homecoming) | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 17 | at UCLA Bruins | Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 24 | USC Trojans | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 31 | at Iowa Hawkeyes | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | at Maryland Terrapins | SECU Stadium, College Park, MD | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | at Purdue Boilermakers | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Minnesota Golden Gophers | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | 7:30 PM | NBC/Peacock |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Big Ten Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN | 8:00 PM | FOX |
The Shamrock Series Opens the Year at Lambeau Field
Wisconsin Football Schedule 2026 opens on a Sunday night against Notre Dame in the Shamrock Series at Lambeau Field in Green Bay — a genuinely unique venue for a season opener and one of the toughest tests any team will face in Week 1. Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan both visit Camp Randall Stadium before the schedule turns to its next real challenge.
Penn State on the Road, Then Michigan State for Homecoming
A road trip to Penn State closes out September before Michigan State visits Madison for Homecoming on October 3. A bye week on October 10 gives Wisconsin time to recover before the toughest stretch of the season begins.
A Trip to UCLA, Then USC Comes to Madison
The Wisconsin Big Ten schedule 2026 sends the Badgers to UCLA before USC visits Camp Randall Stadium on October 24 — one of the marquee home dates of the year. A road trip to Iowa closes out October.
Rutgers at Home, Then a Closing Road Swing
Rutgers visits Madison before back-to-back true road trips — first Maryland, then Purdue — test depth heading into the final stretch of the season.
The Regular Season Closes With a Friday Night Rivalry
The regular season wraps with a Friday night rivalry game against Minnesota on November 27, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET. If Wisconsin is still playing December 5, it’s in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between Notre Dame, Penn State, USC, and Iowa, Wisconsin faces four ranked opponents scattered across a schedule that opens with one of the most memorable settings in the sport. The Wisconsin football home games in 2026 include a signature matchup against USC, but how the Badgers handle the Notre Dame opener and closing road swing through Maryland and Purdue will decide how the season is remembered.
FAQ
Q: When does Wisconsin play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: Wisconsin Football Schedule 2026 opens against Notre Dame in the Shamrock Series at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Sunday, September 6.
Q: When is Wisconsin vs Notre Dame 2026?
A: Wisconsin vs Notre Dame 2026 is the Shamrock Series season opener, set for Sunday, September 6, at Lambeau Field, kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Q: How many home games does Wisconsin play in 2026?
A: Wisconsin has seven Wisconsin football home games in 2026 at Camp Randall Stadium: Western Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Michigan State, USC, Rutgers, and Minnesota.
Q: What is Wisconsin’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The run from UCLA (road) through USC (home) and Iowa (road) — October 17 through October 31 — is the toughest stretch on the Wisconsin Big Ten schedule 2026, alongside the season-opening test against Notre Dame.
