GREEN BAY, Wis. - Wisconsin got the kind of opening test it needed on Sunday, only for Notre Dame to take over after halftime and leave Lambeau Field with a season-opening win.
The Badgers were right there for a half against the fourth-ranked Fighting Irish. Their defense set an early tone, the special teams made a splash, and Wisconsin even grabbed the first lead of the day. But once the Irish settled in, they leaned on methodical drives, a costly turnover and a pick-six to separate from the Badgers in the second half.
Early on, Wisconsin’s defense came out with some juice. The Badgers forced a three-and-out, then got a lightly blocked punt when D3 transfer Liam Danitz tipped the kick. That gave Wisconsin excellent field position, and the offense turned it into points when veteran kicker Gavin Lahm drilled a 27-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Notre Dame answered with a drive that featured two fourth-down moments. The Irish converted the first fourth-and-short, then on a later fourth down at Wisconsin’s 35, they settled for a deep field goal from Spencer Forath, who connected from 52 yards to tie the game at 3-3.
Then the game tilted on a mistake. Harrison Bortolotti fumbled the kickoff return, and Notre Dame took over inside the red zone. The Irish cashed in quickly, with CJ Carr finding former NDA standout James Flanigan for a touchdown pass.
Wisconsin responded with one of its better offensive snaps of the day. After another stop by the defense, the Badgers went to the big-name quarterback transfer Colton Joseph, and he delivered exactly what the staff wanted.
Joseph dropped back and hit a wide-open Malachi Coleman in the corner of the end zone for a score. It was a sharp call from offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, and Wisconsin made it count.
Notre Dame carried a three-point lead into halftime, then came out of the break and extended it right away. The Irish marched 70 yards in nine plays after a solid kick return, with Carr and company stacking chunk gains before Aneyas Williams Jr. finished the drive with a short touchdown run.
From there, Notre Dame’s defense took over. Joseph was picked off near the far sideline, and the Irish returned it for a touchdown. In a flash, the lead had grown to 17, and Wisconsin was suddenly chasing the game.
The Badgers did piece together one more decent response, leaning again on Coleman and the run game to move the ball. Notre Dame tightened up in the red zone, though, and Lahm salvaged three more points with a 36-yard field goal to keep Wisconsin within two possessions.
That was as close as it got. Notre Dame kept leaning on chunk plays early in the fourth quarter, and Wisconsin missed a couple of tackles as Williams and the Irish added another score to put the game firmly out of reach.
Wisconsin now turns to Western Illinois.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Fans Are Still Trying To Process This Absurd Punt
A punt at Lambeau Field usually blends into the background, but Sean West made sure this one did anything but. The Wisconsin junior from Mequon sent a 69-yard boot that dropped inside the 5-yard line, and the combination of distance, hang time and placement had broadcasters and fans scrambling to process what they had just watched.
West has already built a strong reputation as a reliable leg, entering the game with a 47.7-yard average, but this one turned into the kind of special-teams moment that lingers long after the whistle. Social media lit up with praise for the kick, and for Wisconsin, it was another reminder that even a single punt can become its own storyline when it is struck that cleanly. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins Opener Exposed An Offensive Depth Chart Question For Week 2
Wisconsin left Lambeau Field with an opening loss to Notre Dame, but the bigger takeaway for the offense might have been how the first depth chart actually held up once the game started. The snap counts told the story of a group still sorting itself out, from quarterback Joseph working behind a line that had to absorb early pressure to a rotation at running back and receiver that showed both the staffs trust and its uncertainty.
Abu Sama and Darrion Dupree shared work in the backfield, while Malachi Coleman and Chris Brooks Jr. were part of a receiver mix that offered some clues about who the Badgers want involved as the season goes on. Tight ends Grant Stec and Emmett Bork, along with linemen such as Kevin Heywood and Colin Cubberly, also factored into the evaluation as Wisconsin turns its attention to Western Illinois and tries to settle on the right combinations while dealing with injuries and other lineup adjustments. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins New Offensive Rotation May Have Changed Two Key Battles
Wisconsins offense looked a lot different against Notre Dame, and not just because of the opponent. The Badgers used nine new starters on that side of the ball, with Colton Joseph getting the nod at quarterback and handling every offensive snap, while the snap counts and Pro Football Focus grades offered a first look at how the reshuffled unit was deployed. It was the kind of opening-game rotation that can tell you a lot about where roles are headed, especially when it comes to the backfield, the receiver group and the tight end spots.
Abu Sama III and Darrion Dupree split the running back work, while Chris Brooks Jr., Tyrell Henry and Malachi Coleman all factored into the passing game plans at wide receiver. Grant Stec and Emmett Bork each had a part in the tight end rotation, and the offensive line mix brought its own questions, with right guard standing out as a spot that still needs sorting out. For Wisconsin, the numbers from that first test may have already nudged a couple of battles in one direction, even if the larger picture is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]