Notre Dame spent the first half of Sunday night looking out of sync, but by the end of a 41-13 win over Wisconsin, the Irish had answered a few important questions in emphatic fashion.
The opening stretch was messy enough to make some fans uneasy. Notre Dame didn’t look sharp on either side of the ball, and Wisconsin had no reason to back down with the pressure squarely on the Golden Domers to show they deserve their hype.
But once the second half began, the Irish came out looking far more like the team people expected from the start. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the kind of game that can pay off later.
The biggest takeaway came from the defense. Even with a shaky start and one especially costly blown coverage when Jayden Sanders bit hard on the double move, the Irish looked every bit like a top-tier unit. Sanders still managed two pass breakups before that 28-yard touchdown catch against him, and Notre Dame tightened the screws after halftime.
That’s when the defense really took over. Wisconsin was held to 3 points in the second half, and Colton Joseph was picked off and returned for a touchdown.
Joseph, who is known for his mobility, was kept in check all night. He finished with just 3 yards on 12 carries and was sacked twice.
Notre Dame still managed to outscore Wisconsin 28-3 after halftime even with Brauntae Johnson and Jason Onye out for the entire half because of injuries.
The backfield also gave Notre Dame something to build on, even without Jeremiyah Love. The running game had its rough patches and didn’t consistently move the ball early, but it improved in the second half. Aneyas Williams ended up with 90 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns.
Just as important, the Irish leaned on their backs as pass-catchers when they needed a key conversion or a spark. Williams added 1 catch for 11 yards, while Nolan James turned 4 receptions into 67 yards and a 28-yard touchdown. Notre Dame would clearly like a cleaner night on the ground going forward, but finding ways to produce through the backs against Wisconsin’s defensive front is no small thing.
There was also a sign that Notre Dame may already have a receiver who can be the answer when the offense needs one. Jordan Faison didn’t put up a huge line - 4 catches for 81 yards - but his production kept showing up in the moments that mattered. He led the team last year with 49 receptions, and he picked up right where he left off.
In Other News...
Kenny Minchey Just Changed How Notre Dame Fans See That QB Battle
Kenny Mincheys first start at Kentucky was the kind of debut that gets remembered, especially for Notre Dame fans who watched him leave with unfinished business. Against Youngstown State, the former Irish quarterback threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover, flashing the arm talent that made him a highly rated recruit in the first place. It also put him in rare company by matching a statistical benchmark not seen at Kentucky since Tim Couch nearly 30 years ago.
For Notre Dame, the performance inevitably reopens the conversation about what might have been, and what the quarterback picture looked like while Minchey was still in South Bend. He had limited playing time with the Irish before transferring, but now he has a start that gives his new program a clear jolt and gives his old one another reminder that quarterback evaluations rarely feel settled in the moment. Even one game can change the way a fan base remembers a battle, and this one certainly did. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Fans Have A Strong New CFP Argument Against Critics
Notre Dames path to the College Football Playoff is getting judged through the same old lens, but the broader scheduling picture around the sport suggests the criticism is not as simple as it sounds. The Irish are once again being framed by some as a team that cannot afford a loss because of its schedule, yet the comparison with Miami shows how selective that argument can be when other contenders also go through stretches with relatively few highly ranked opponents on the slate.
A closer look at Power 4 schedules only reinforces the point: plenty of conference teams line up against few preseason AP Top 25 opponents, and that is often the reality of playing inside a league schedule. For Notre Dame fans, it creates a stronger response to the familiar skepticism, because the issue is not whether the Irish are alone in avoiding elite matchups so much as whether their schedule is being held to a standard other contenders are not forced to meet. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Finally Has A Plan For Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa's Return
Notre Dame is finally moving toward getting Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa back on the field, with the linebacker expected to see limited snaps in the upcoming game against Rice. He has been out since last season because of an ACL tear, and Marcus Freeman said his practice volume has risen enough that he is trending toward being ready to play.
For a defense that has been waiting on his return, the key now is not just getting him back, but managing how quickly he is asked to do too much. The Irish plan is clearly cautious, with the staff aiming to bring him along gradually and let his role grow as he settles back in after a long absence. [Read more 🡒]