Wisconsin’s 2026 schedule looked friendlier on paper than the grind the Badgers faced last season, but Week 1 across the future slate still offered a little bit of everything: blowouts, close calls, and a few teams that already flashed real punch.
The Badgers themselves are one of the last teams to get going in Week 1, with Sunday evening’s matchup against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field set for 6:30 p.m. That makes the early returns from Wisconsin’s future opponents worth watching, and there’s already plenty to sort through.
Western Illinois, Wisconsin’s Week 2 opponent, has already logged two games. The Leathernecks opened with a 65-14 win over NAIA Northwestern in Week 0, then came back to earth in Week 1 with a 41-10 home loss to Illinois State.
They were gashed for nearly 500 total yards, including 239 on the ground. Even with that setback, Wisconsin should still be a heavy favorite when that one comes around.
Eastern Michigan heads into Week 3 at 1-1 after falling 27-21 to San Jose State in Week 1. The Eagles beat Sacramento State 28-17 in Week 0, but former Michigan State quarterback Noah Kim and the Spartans were too much to handle this time.
Eastern Michigan allowed 453 yards and produced just 281 of its own. The Eagles now head to Michigan State before making the trip to Wisconsin.
No. 18 Penn State opened with the kind of statement win that gets attention fast, rolling Marshall 45-0.
Rocco Becht completed 13 of 18 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns, and Penn State added 163 rushing yards on 45 carries. The defense held Marshall to 147 total yards, while picking up two sacks and an interception.
Temple is next for the Nittany Lions.
Michigan State did not cruise, even if the final score said 30-20 over Toledo. The Spartans led 19-7 at halftime, then watched Toledo surge ahead 20-19 in the fourth quarter before Michigan State answered with 11 points in the final period.
The Spartans outgained Toledo 397 to 293, rushed for 150 yards on 49 attempts and held the ball for 43:16, but it was a much tighter game than they probably wanted. Eastern Michigan visits East Lansing next before heading to Wisconsin in Week 3.
UCLA got a second-half push in coach Bob Chesney’s debut and turned it into a 45-24 win over Cal. The Bruins were tied to a competitive game through 30 minutes, then exploded for 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
UCLA finished with 461 total yards, including 277 on the ground, and did it despite 12 penalties. The Bruins now turn to San Diego State at home.
No. 14 USC has been relentless to start the season.
After beating San Jose State 42-26 in a game that was more lopsided than the score suggested, the Trojans followed it with a 39-0 shutout of Fresno State. Lincoln Riley’s team outgained Fresno State 552 to 116 and 412 to 77 through the air, while Jayden Maiava went 23 of 25 for 349 yards and three touchdowns.
USC wraps up its non-conference start with Louisiana coming to town.
No. 22 Iowa also delivered a one-sided result, blanking Northern Illinois 40-0 in its home opener.
Kamari Moulton ran for a career-high 183 yards and two touchdowns as the Hawkeyes piled up 507 yards of offense and held Northern Illinois to 120. Iowa’s ground game was especially sharp, producing 289 yards and 7.6 yards per carry.
The quarterback competition continued too, with Jeremy Hecklinski starting and throwing for 76 yards, one touchdown and one interception before Hank Brown came in and completed 12 of 20 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. Iowa State is up next in a major rivalry game.
Rutgers had the roughest Week 1 of the bunch, dropping a 37-21 home game to UMass in a result that landed hard. The Scarlet Knights were behind 24-7 at halftime, starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan threw three interceptions before leaving because of injury, and the team turned it over four times overall.
Rutgers also gave up 200 rushing yards. Boston College is waiting in Week 2.
Maryland opened with a clean 62-0 win over Hampton and did just about everything it wanted. The Terrapins outgained Hampton 646 to 85 and ran for 365 yards, averaging 9.1 yards per carry while scoring six times on the ground. Their next test comes on the road against UConn, which hired Jason Candle this offseason.
Purdue handled Indiana State 44-19 behind a career day from Ryan Browne, who threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns. The Boilermakers finished with a 523-284 edge in total offense, though they were tagged with nine penalties. Wake Forest is next, and Purdue will have to do it on the road.
Minnesota rounded out the group with a 59-7 win over Eastern Illinois, and the Gophers were dominant in every phase. Drake Lindsey passed for 264 yards and a touchdown, Darius Taylor scored three times, the defense allowed only 110 total yards, and Javon Tracy returned two punts for touchdowns. Eastern Illinois started former Badger Cole LaCrue at quarterback, and he finished with 51 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Just Got An O-Line Reality Check Before Notre Dame
Wisconsins offensive line is already dealing with an early test before the season even kicks off, with starting right guard Emerson Mandell expected to miss the opener because of a foot injury. The good news for the Badgers is that starting right tackle Kevin Heywood is expected to play despite a lower-body injury, leaving the front five close to intact as the team prepares for a difficult start to the schedule.
Even so, the situation is a reminder that the Badgers may need to lean on some early flexibility up front, with the possibility of rotation at guard and right tackle if needed. Official injury reports do not come until conference play begins, so the full picture will stay a little cloudy for now, but Wisconsin already knows it may have to shuffle pieces before it can find its best five. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Gets An Early Reality Check Against Notre Dame
Wisconsins 2026 season opener already carries the feel of a measuring stick, and not a forgiving one. The Badgers will kick off Sunday night at Lambeau Field against fourth-ranked Notre Dame, a marquee stage that arrives before Luke Fickells team has even settled into its new identity. Fickell has spent camp talking about the progress Wisconsin has made while folding in 34 transfer players and introducing a new quarterback who has yet to take a game snap.
The betting line says plenty about the size of the task, with Wisconsin listed as a 20.5-point underdog. For a program trying to sort out chemistry, roles and leadership in a hurry, opening against a playoff-caliber opponent leaves little room to ease in. It also gives the Badgers an immediate chance to see how far the offseason work has really carried them, and how much more there is to do once the lights come on. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Opens With A Lambeau Test That Could Set The Tone
Wisconsin will get an early measuring stick in 2026, and it will come in one of the most recognizable venues in the sport. The Badgers are set to open the season against Notre Dame on Sept. 6 at Lambeau Field, a marquee nonconference matchup that immediately gives Luke Fickells team a chance to show whether the roster overhaul is moving the program back in the right direction after a 4-8 finish in 2025.
There is plenty of curiosity around how that new-look group will come together, especially with quarterback Colton Joseph now in the mix. A season opener of this magnitude does more than draw attention nationally on NBC - it also puts Wisconsin under a spotlight usually reserved for November pressure games, and the way the Badgers handle it could say a lot about how far they have come since last fall. [Read more 🡒]