MarShawn Lloyd isn’t hiding where he stands ahead of Sunday’s Notre Dame-Wisconsin matchup at Lambeau Field.
The Packers running back, who spent his lone season at USC in 2023, still has the sting of that loss to Notre Dame on his mind. When asked about the Fighting Irish meeting Wisconsin in Green Bay, Lloyd made his preference clear: he’ll be pulling for the Badgers.
“Yeah, I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all.
I hate Notre Dame. I went to USC.
So, you know, it’s definitely [there’s] hate there. They beat us when I was there,” Lloyd remarked via Fox 11 News’ Vince Lovergine.
Lloyd’s dislike comes with a little extra fuel, too. Packers guard Aaron Banks played his college ball at Notre Dame, and Lloyd said the two have already started talking about a wager tied to the game.
“So my teammate, you know, Banks, he went to Notre Dame. So I have to figure something out, maybe like some push-ups or something, if they lose, when they lose, against Wisconsin, so we’ll see.”
The 25-year-old’s college path started at South Carolina, where he spent two seasons before transferring to USC for his junior year. That 2023 season was productive overall, as he ran for 820 yards and nine touchdowns on 116 carries in 11 games.
Against Notre Dame, though, the numbers weren’t nearly as satisfying. Lloyd managed 46 rushing yards on eight carries and scored once in USC’s 48-20 loss at Notre Dame Stadium, a game that apparently hasn’t faded from memory.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Has 3 Freshmen Who Could Matter Right Away Against Notre Dame
For most of the offseason chatter around Wisconsins 2026 recruiting class, the attention naturally landed on quarterback Ryan Hopkins. But as fall camp has unfolded, a few other true freshmen have started to push their way into the conversation, and that matters with Notre Dame on the horizon. Wide receiver Brock, tight end Sievers and defensive player Dunmore have each shown enough promise to put themselves in position for early snaps, even if their first impact is more likely to come on special teams or in limited rotational work.
That kind of contribution may not make headlines in September, but it can still shape a season, especially against a matchup that will demand clean execution and depth from the Badgers. Coaches have liked what theyve seen from the trios work ethic and intelligence, and those traits often translate fastest when young players are asked to do the little things well. Wisconsin is still early in the process of finding out exactly how much it can trust them, but the fact they are already in the mix says plenty about the opportunity in front of them. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Freeman Just Sent Wisconsin Fans A Needed Reminder At Lambeau
An intriguing subplot is already building around the upcoming game at Lambeau Field, where Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman and Wisconsin's Luke Fickell will meet as head coaches for the first time. Their connection runs deeper than a one-off matchup, with Freeman having played for Fickell and later coached under him, which gives this game a familiar edge even before the teams take the field. Freeman made sure to reinforce that point during his Week 1 press conference, offering clear respect for Wisconsin and the roster Fickell has put together.
From a Badgers perspective, the praise landed as a useful reminder that this is not a program being overlooked by those who know the sport best. Freeman singled out quarterback Colton Joseph along with linebackers Mason Posa and Sebastian Cheeks, which says plenty about where the attention is heading as the game approaches. With both coaches now leading their own programs, the matchup carries the feel of a reunion and a measuring-stick moment at the same time, and Wisconsin fans have reason to believe their team is being taken seriously. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Is Quietly Building Something Important Before The 2026 Season
Wisconsins offseason staffing move may not have generated much noise outside the program, but it is the kind of hire that can matter a lot when a football staff is trying to get organized for the long haul. The Badgers brought in Marcus Berry as Senior Director of Personnel Strategy, adding a veteran front-office voice with more than 25 years of experience in college and NFL personnel work. Berry arrives from Temple, where he served as Chief of Staff and Director of Player Personnel, and his background suggests Wisconsin is putting real emphasis on the machinery behind roster building.
It is also notable timing for a program entering a new administrative era, since Berry is one of the first football hires under Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst. For Wisconsin, the move points to a broader effort to sharpen how the Badgers evaluate and manage personnel before the 2026 season arrives, with the kind of behind-the-scenes infrastructure that can shape recruiting, retention and roster planning. The hire does not answer every question about where the program is headed, but it does show Wisconsin is taking a deliberate step toward building something more organized beneath the surface. [Read more 🡒]