⚡ CFB Dashboard

- Pick/market: Bad snap on the goal line gives Aquinas some breathing room, but Columbus works their way into the endzone on the next play anyway.

- Pick/market: Since that opening drive TD, Valor has one first down offensively, compliments of Coleman

- Notre Dame's run game faces a strong Wisconsin run defense, but the Irish have less proven explosiveness after losing Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price and may be affected by an unsettled right guard spot. - Wisconsin transfer quarterback Colton Joseph is the central Irish defensive assignment because he ran for 1,007 yards and passed for 2,624 yards at Old Dominion, though his accuracy was described as inconsistent in August. - Notre Dame's path on defense is to keep Joseph in front, use a spy situationally, force pocket throws under pressure, and lean on a secondary advantage against Wisconsin's receivers. - Notre Dame is expected to start Styles Prescod at right guard with Ashton Craig returning from an ACL injury at center, while Sullivan Absher is the fallback if Prescod struggles. - The article lists Notre Dame -20.5 and a 46.5 total and predicts Notre Dame 31, Wisconsin 13 in a physical opener at Lambeau Field.

- Notre Dame opens the season at a neutral site against Wisconsin in the first Shamrock Series game ever used as an Irish season opener. - Notre Dame's staff has extensive Wisconsin and Luke Fickell connections, including Marcus Freeman, Mike Denbrock, Gino Guidugli, Mike Brown, Chris Ash, Charlie Partridge, Joe Rudolph, and Aaron Henry. - Marcus Freeman is 2-0 in Shamrock Series games as Notre Dame head coach, with prior neutral-site wins over BYU and Army.

- Pick/market: Just went out for coin toss in NC.

- QB/WR: Irish Illustrated's Tim Prister, Tim O'Malley, and Drew Mentock gather outside Lambeau Field to preview Notre Dame's season opener against Wisconsin.

- QB: all-time studious ND QB Can make all the throws, layering against zones to the field and boundary alike.

- Pick/market: If Aquinas has a legitimate weakness this year, it is the passing game, and that is not an indictment of Jones and the pass catchers...QB is spraying the ball all over the place tonight

- Pick/market: 7-0 on the QB keeper, Igwebuike and Co.

- Pick/market: Darieon Prescott just destroyed the QB but he got a pass off, somehow.

- Our conversation covers a variety of topics. - That includes why he's picking Notre Dame to win the title, the season opener against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, other future Irish betting lines and why quarterback CJ Carr may not be the best preseason bet to win the Heisman Trophy.

- Notre Dame's right-guard competition remains unresolved between Sullivan Absher and Styles Prescod, and Marcus Freeman expects both could play against Wisconsin. - Ashton Craig is healthy enough for more than 70 snaps after his second ACL tear and will start at center ahead of Joe Otting. - Freshmen Noah Grubbs and Teddy Jarrard remain co-listed behind CJ Carr at quarterback, while Blake Hebert has moved to the scout team. - Armel Mukam earned a spot ahead of Francis Brewu on the defensive line after returning from the transfer portal and making a major developmental jump under Charlie Partridge. - Fully recovered freshman Joey O'Brien is the second safety behind Adon Shuler, while DJ McKinney and versatile Michigan transfer Jayden Sanders are expected to rotate at field corner.

- Two-time captain Adon Shuler remains the emotional and communication hub of Notre Dame's defense, serving as the back-end quarterback alongside linebacker Drayk Bowen. - Shuler produced 53 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two interceptions in 2025; his return from a suspension coincided with a major defensive turnaround after early-season lapses. - Notre Dame returns most starters from a unit that ranked ninth in total defense, 11th in scoring defense and fourth with 21 interceptions. Shuler identifies open-field tackling and continued ball production as his own improvement priorities.

- Irish Illustrated's Tim Prister and Drew Mentock stood outside Notre Dame Stadium on Wednesday after speaking with seven members of the team's leadership: coordinators Mike Denbrock, Chris Ash and Marty Biagi and all four captains. - The conversation took place four days before the Fighting Irish open the season on Sunday against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. - The crew discussed how CJ Carr has grown as a leader and student...

- Irish Illustrated Insider delves into Notre Dame's recently released depth chart, including offensive ramifications, potential breakout players defensively, and who might make the biggest move from Game #1 to mid-season. - We also take an initial look at the Wisconsin Badgers and Notre Dame's season opener Sunday Night at Lambeau Field.

- WR: WR-JORDAN FAISON ON BEING NAMED A CAPTAIN "I was a little surprised to be named captain.

- LB: With kickoff set for 7:30 EDT tonight, the Irish Illustrated game thread will be back, posted/pinned one hour before kickoff.

- Intel: Notre Dame veterans Tim Prister and Phil Houk have a combined 75 years of experience covering Notre Dame football — and Fighting Irish Preview was a podcast before there were podcasts!

- KICKER: It's the reality of the great unknown; a source of angst for coaches and fan bases alike when it comes to college football's season opening contest.