Notre Dame got the kind of complete contribution it was looking for in its victory over Wisconsin, and the biggest winners at Lambeau Field were a pair of running backs, a pair of captains on defense, and a kicker who looked completely at ease.
The Irish offense took a while to find its footing, but once it settled in, the backfield took over. Nolan James Jr. and Aneyas Williams were the clear headliners on that side of the ball, with Jordan Faison and Anthonie Knapp also earning runner-up recognition.
The first half was uneven. Williams and James managed just 27 rushing yards on 11 carries over the opening two quarters, and James added one catch for seven yards. The offensive line had its issues, but the backs also weren’t patient enough getting downhill and were rushing their footwork.
That changed after halftime. The line looked better in the final two quarters once Sullivan Absher entered at right guard, and the backs matched that improvement with a calmer approach and more chances to make something happen.
Williams and James combined for 82 rushing yards on 16 carries in the second half, and they added four catches for 71 yards. Williams handled most of the work on the ground, while James did his damage in the passing game.
The payoff was huge. The duo accounted for three touchdowns, with Williams scoring twice on the ground and James finishing the scoring with a 28-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
On defense, Notre Dame was steadier from start to finish and held Wisconsin to 13 points and 284 yards. Of that total, 47 yards came on the final drive after the game was already decided. Drayk Bowen and Adon Shuler were the top standouts, with Leonard Moore, Francis Brewu and Bryce Young among the runners up.
Bowen turned in a physical, all-over-the-field performance. He finished with nine tackles and a tackle for loss, and he repeatedly made Wisconsin feel him near the line of scrimmage.
Even when he wasn’t the one finishing the play, he was forcing runners to bounce into help. One sequence captured it well: first he shot through a gap and dropped a ball carrier for a 2-yard loss, then on the next snap he diagnosed an Angle route and tackled the back in space for a 3-yard gain.
Shuler added seven tackles and brought an aggressive downhill presence of his own. After an early miss on a read zone, he settled in and found the football consistently. The performance came with a heavy personal burden as he played after losing his father earlier in the week, and he still showed up for his teammates in a season-opening win.
Moore was also strong in coverage and had one of the best run-stopping games of his career. Francis Brewu, Tionne Gray, Jaiden Ausberry, Bryce Young and Boubacar Traore all drew praise as well.
Special teams offered another encouraging sign. Spencer Porath, the former Purdue standout, handled kicking duties cleanly and gave Notre Dame a lift. He made both field goals, connecting from 52 and 26 yards, and added four extra points for a 10-point day.
Notre Dame has been searching for stability in that spot, and Porath gave them exactly that against Wisconsin. The Indiana native got the scoring started in the first quarter with the long kick, then stayed perfect the rest of the way. The Irish made just five field goals last season and ranked 130th and 128th in field goal percentage over the previous two seasons, so this was a welcome sight.
In Other News...
Notre Dame May Be Catching A Huge Break Before Miami Showdown
Miamis defensive picture just got a little murkier heading into its meeting with Notre Dame, with coach Mario Cristobal saying cornerback OJ Frederique will be sidelined for an extended stretch after suffering a significant left shoulder injury against Stanford. Frederique had been a key piece for the Hurricanes, and junior Damari Brown has already stepped in and is expected to keep handling that role over the next few weeks.
For Notre Dame, the timing could hardly be better with the matchup looming. Any absence in the secondary matters when a game against a ranked opponent is on the horizon, and Miami now has to sort through that adjustment while trying to keep its coverage intact. The Fighting Irish still have work to do on their end, but this is the kind of break that can change the feel of a big early-season showdown. [Read more 🡒]
Leonard Moore Made Wisconsin Back Down From Its Pregame Talk
Leonard Moore came into Notre Dames game against Wisconsin with a lot of attention on his side of the field, and the Badgers seemed to take the hint. After pregame chatter from Luke Fickell that Wisconsin should not shy away from Moore, the game plan still leaned the other way, with the Badgers targeting the star defensive back only four times and finding limited success when they did.
Colton Joseph finished 19 of 30 for 217 yards with a touchdown, but Notre Dames defense still came away with the more memorable plays, including an interception returned for a score. Even with the passing numbers on the board, Wisconsins reluctance to test Moore said plenty about how the Irish cornerback is being viewed right now, and it left Fickells earlier challenge hanging in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Answered One Big Question While Another Suddenly Looms
Notre Dame left Lambeau Field with a convincing 41-13 win over Wisconsin, and the biggest takeaway was how the Irish took over after a tighter-than-expected first half. Notre Dame led 13-10 at halftime before rolling through the final two quarters, with CJ Carr throwing two touchdown passes and Aneyas Williams powering the ground game with 90 yards and two scores.
The defense also helped turn the game in Notre Dames favor, as Wisconsins two turnovers opened the door for Irish points. Even so, the broader mood coming out of the victory was not entirely celebratory, because Notre Dame lost two defensive players to injuries during the game, including preseason AP All-America second-team safety Brauntae Johnson and defensive lineman Jason Onye. [Read more 🡒]