Notre Dame football officially unveiled its 2026 Shamrock Series uniform Wednesday, July 8, which will be worn during the season opener on Sept. 6 against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
The Irish are returning to a dark blue look in both the jersey and pants with gold numbers, gold trim and the iconic gold helmets (no 2018 Yankee Stadium mistakes this time around). It’s a different type of blue and gold than the standard Notre Dame colors.
In a video released by the school narrated by coach Marcus Freeman, the jersey serves as a homage to the original Green Bay Packers uniforms, which were blue with brown pants before they changed to their now-iconic green and yellow look. Green Bay has worn the blue/brown as a throwback uniform once a season in recent years.
Some of the smaller details of the uniform include 11 shamrocks around the collar, representing the 11 national titles won by Notre Dame in its program history. The numbers are a block shape and said to be inspired by Paul Hornung, who won the Heisman Trophy at Notre Dame before an NFL career with the Packers.
“For a century, our stories have been stitched together,” said Freeman in the video. “From the golden boy Paul Hornung winning titles in both colors, to the Notre Dame box formation that defined the early days of Green Bay. We are the outliers. The small-town legends. The independent spirit who believe tradition isn’t something you just remember — it’s something you wear.”
Notre Dame is coming off a 10-2 season in 2025, narrowly missing the College Football Playoff in somewhat controversial fashion. The Irish started 0-2 before winning their final 10 games, entering the final week of the rankings in playoff position before being ousted in the final poll by Miami. Notre Dame is hoping 2026-27 is finally the year they win its first national title since 1988.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin struggled to a 4-8 mark last year. It’s been tough sledding for head coach Luke Fickell, who’s gone 7-6, 5-7 and 4-8 now in three years in Madison. It feels like a make-or-break season upcoming for Fickell and co.
The season opener between the Irish and Badgers will kick off that Sunday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT.
Austin Hough is a sports editor within the Center for Community Journalism at USA Today Co., overseeing high school sports and Notre Dame athletics coverage for five Indiana newspapers. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @AustinRHough. Hough can be emailed at ahough@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football unveils its 2026 Shamrock Series uniform. See it here
Reporting by Austin Hough, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By Austin Hough, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
