Luke Fickell may not be trying to help Notre Dame, but he’s doing it anyway.
What looked like a routine season-opening win over a struggling Wisconsin team has turned into something much more useful for the Fighting Irish. As the Badgers keep stacking results, Notre Dame’s 41-13 victory at Lambeau Field is starting to look like a far better résumé piece than anyone expected when the schedule was first circled.
That matters because strength of schedule can loom large in the College Football Playoff conversation. Wisconsin entered the year with a 2025 record of 4-8 and a coach whose seat was described as blazing hot, which made Notre Dame’s opener seem like a matchup against a soft target. Instead, Marcus Freeman’s team absorbed some early punches, then took over in the second half, outscoring Wisconsin 28-3 over the final two quarters.
Since then, the Badgers have kept winning. Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan were expected wins, but the real shift came when Wisconsin rallied from a 20-7 deficit to beat then-No.
13 Penn State 24-20 in Happy Valley. That result changed the perception of the Irish’s first opponent in a hurry.
Now Wisconsin looks far less like a tune-up and far more like a legitimate Big Ten team. ESPN analytics even give the Badgers a 67% chance to beat Michigan State this weekend, and if they do that, they could be ranked in two weeks when they meet No.
23 UCLA. Another win there would only make Notre Dame’s opener look better.
For the Irish, that kind of boost could matter later. Notre Dame still has BYU, Miami and SMU ahead, and the article notes that if the Irish slip in all three, they would have no chance at the CFP. But if they stumble against one of those teams and handle the rest, a stronger Wisconsin profile could help keep them in the race.
What started as a game against a supposed cupcake has turned into a win that keeps gaining value. If Fickell has truly turned Wisconsin around, Notre Dame will keep cashing in on the side effect.
In Other News...
Aneyas Williams May Have Just Seized Back Notre Dames Backfield
Aneyas Williams has worked his way back into the middle of Notre Dames backfield picture after an early-season sideline flare-up that briefly overshadowed his role. Williams started the year as the Fighting Irishs primary running back, then found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons after a flagged touchdown celebration led to a tense exchange with head coach Marcus Freeman. Freeman later apologized for his reaction, and Williams took responsibility for the mistake while making clear the relationship remained intact.
Since then, the backfield has shifted again, and Williams has reclaimed the starting job after the previous starter struggled. For Notre Dame, it is a reminder that the rotation is still very much in flux, but also that Williams has the kind of resilience to turn an awkward moment into an opportunity. The situation never seemed likely to define the season, and now it looks more like a detour than a turning point. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Offense Faces Two Pressure Points Against North Carolina
Notre Dames offense is heading into a matchup with a North Carolina defense that figures to ask plenty of questions, and Mike Denbrocks unit has a couple of pressure points to sort out before kickoff. The Irish have been effective in stretches, but this feels like the kind of game where the details at a few key spots will matter just as much as the overall game plan.
The slot receiver work and the play at offensive guard stand out as the areas worth watching, especially against a defense with enough strength to test both. If Notre Dame wants to keep its unbeaten run intact, those matchups could go a long way toward determining whether the offense looks smooth or spends the night fighting for every advantage. [Read more 🡒]
Xavier Watts Is Making Teams Regret Letting Him Slide
Xavier Watts has wasted no time reminding the league why he was such a prized playmaker at Notre Dame. Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round, the former Fighting Irish safety has carried over the same ball-hawking instincts that made him a two-time consensus All-American, and he has quickly become one of the NFLs most productive defensive backs since arriving.
Through three games this season, Watts already has 16 tackles and an interception, a steady continuation of the rookie year he put together with 96 tackles and five picks. He has led all NFL defensive backs in interceptions since entering the league, which is the kind of early return that makes teams revisit draft-day decisions and wonder how he kept slipping past them. [Read more 🡒]