Marcus Freeman isn’t taking Wisconsin lightly, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
With Notre Dame set to open its season against the Badgers on Sunday at Lambeau Field, the Fighting Irish coach made it clear he expects Wisconsin to show up with a defense built to challenge them. Freeman praised both the Badgers and Luke Fickell, pointing to the years he has known the Wisconsin head coach and the way his teams tend to play on that side of the ball.
Freeman and Fickell’s connection goes back a long way. Freeman played linebacker at Ohio State when Fickell was on the staff, then later worked for him at Cincinnati from 2017-20. During that stretch, Freeman served as Cincinnati’s linebackers coach and later as defensive coordinator under Fickell.
“Defensively, they're going to be sound,” Freeman said. They're going to do everything in their power to stop the run, they're going to be aggressive."
He also singled out a pair of Wisconsin linebackers, including one he believes can stack up with anyone Notre Dame sees all year.
“I think they got two linebackers that are really good. 8 might be as good as anyone we see this season. He's a really good player and then we obviously recruited Sebastian Cheeks years ago. He's gone on to continue to do some really, really good things and he's shown to be a problem off the edge."
That kind of praise stands out for a Wisconsin team trying to reset after a disappointing 2025 season. The Badgers have overhauled both the roster and the coaching staff, but the defense could end up being the group that gives them the best chance to make noise early.
They’ll get that chance right away against a Notre Dame team that enters the opener ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll and No. 5 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. For Wisconsin, it’s a chance to make a statement in one of the biggest games on the Week 1 slate.
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 🡒]