Wisconsin is walking into its opener with Notre Dame knowing the margin for error is thin. The Irish have talent everywhere, and the Badgers are staring at a Sunday matchup at Lambeau Field against a group that can punish mistakes in multiple ways.
At the top of that list is CJ Carr, the quarterback who has become the face of Notre Dame’s 2026 hopes. As a redshirt freshman in 2025, he completed 66.6% of his passes for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions, while also running for three scores. He found the end zone through the air in all 12 games, the longest such streak by a Notre Dame quarterback since 2014.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Carr looks like a future pro because he combines clean mechanics with the kind of arm talent and football IQ that let him attack every level of the field. He’s at his best when the offense is on schedule and he can work from the pocket.
Off-script, he’s not nearly as dangerous as a runner or improviser. That means Wisconsin’s pass rush has to be sharp if it wants to rattle him, especially with Carr entering the season as one of the Heisman Trophy favorites and trying to open that campaign with a statement performance.
Notre Dame also has a new lead back to sort through after Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price left for the NFL as first-round picks. The first shot goes to Aneyas Williams, last year’s third-string option who is now lined up to be the top ballcarrier.
He played in all 12 games on offense and special teams, piling up 24 carries for 224 yards, a 9.3-yard average, and five touchdowns. His biggest workload came against Stanford in the regular-season finale, when he handled 10 carries for 83 yards, scored twice, and added two catches for 40 yards.
Williams doesn’t bring the same burst or explosion as the backs Notre Dame just lost, but at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds he runs with enough force to move the chains and handle short-yardage work. He also has a chance to matter in the passing game after building chemistry with Carr during the offseason. Nolan James Jr., Kedren Young and others should see touches too, but Williams is the likeliest player to get the first carry of the season.
On defense, Jaylen Sneed’s status is something to watch, but Drayk Bowen is going to be central to Notre Dame’s plan either way. He led the Irish with 67 tackles, including 33 solo stops, despite playing through a hip injury last season.
He also added 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four passes defended. A team captain in 2025, he’ll wear that same label again as a senior in 2026.
Bowen brings relentless energy and plenty of pop against the run, even if his tackling technique can drift at times. At 6-foot-2 and 234 pounds, he moves well and has the experience to show for it, with 28 career starts already on his résumé. For Wisconsin, he’s the kind of linebacker who can show up around the ball on play after play.
Then there’s Leonard Moore, who looks like the best defensive player on the field. The Thorpe Award hopeful is coming off a 2025 season in which he had 31 tackles, five interceptions, including one pick-six, and seven passes defended in 10 games. He was also a First-Team All-American, and opposing quarterbacks posted only a 45.9 passer rating when targeting him.
Moore checks every box at corner. He’s 6-foot-2 and 197 pounds, has the speed to stay with receivers, and uses his technique to control routes whether he’s in man or zone. Wisconsin is going to have to test him at some point, but Colton Joseph will need to be careful and selective whenever he decides to challenge Moore on Sunday.
In Other News...
Badgers Get Their First Real Shot To Prove Theyve Changed
With Wisconsins season opener drawing near, Matt Jung, Joseph, Cooper Catalano and Abu Sama spent part of their media availability Tuesday talking up the chance to begin the year at Lambeau Field. The setting alone gives the Badgers a different kind of stage, and the players sounded eager to make the most of it while also reflecting the respect they have for Notre Dame and the challenge its defense presents.
What stood out was the tone around the room, which leaned more toward confidence and readiness than nervous anticipation. The Badgers players praised teammates and opponents alike while describing their preparation for the opener, a good early glimpse of how they want to carry themselves when the lights come on. For a team trying to show it has turned a corner, the first real test is arriving fast, and it will say plenty about where Wisconsin stands. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Heads Into Week 1 With One Serious QB Concern
As Wisconsin gets ready for its Week 1 matchup with Notre Dame, one of the bigger unanswered questions in fall camp still sits behind Colton Joseph. The Badgers have spent the month sorting through the No. 2 quarterback spot, with Louisville transfer Deuce Adams and true freshman Ryan Hopkins both getting a look as the backup battle has continued into game week.
Luke Fickell has left the door open to keeping that competition unresolved a little longer, saying the staff may not even formally name a backup before kickoff. For a team opening against a high-profile opponent, it adds a layer of uncertainty to a position that often matters most when things start going sideways. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins Quarterback Gamble Gets Tested Right Away Against Notre Dame
Colton Joseph has become the latest and most intriguing piece of Wisconsins quarterback conversation, and the timing could not be much bigger. The Old Dominion transfer is expected to play for the Badgers, and Luke Fickell has gone as far as calling him the most talented quarterback he has had during his tenure, a strong statement for a program that has spent plenty of time trying to settle the position. Josephs dual-threat profile also fits the kind of offense Jeff Grimes wants to build, giving Wisconsin a different look as it tries to keep moving forward at the most important spot on the field.
The challenge comes immediately, with Notre Dame waiting in the first major test of this new setup. Wisconsin has lived through quarterback injuries before, so there is no shortage of awareness about how fragile this plan can be if protection or execution slips. Josephs presence gives the Badgers a real chance to change the way their offense operates, but the first answer will have to come against a demanding opponent, and soon. [Read more 🡒]