Wisconsin heads into Sunday evening with a lot of eyes on the same basic question: can the Badgers’ defense and a few key reinforcements keep them competitive against Notre Dame?
That defense is the part of Wisconsin’s roster that has people believing. There’s real confidence that the group can be good this season, maybe good enough to hold the line early and keep the Badgers hanging around for stretches against one of the top quarterbacks in the country.
The bigger point, though, is what that unit can become if the top stars stay healthy. Wisconsin may need to lean on that side of the ball often, and the belief is that the talent and depth are there on the back end to support the rest of the season.
Inside, Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano are expected to be the drivers. The two inside linebackers were dominant through fall camp and kept flashing in the biggest moments of their young careers. Notre Dame is expected to try to get its new-look backfield established on the ground, but Wisconsin should be stout in the middle if Posa and Catalano carry that camp form into game action.
There is also intrigue up front on offense. Wisconsin’s offensive line could get a boost if Kevin Heywood or Emerson Mandell is back in the mix, and there’s been no sign to suggest that won’t happen.
Both worked in practice this week, per Luke Fickell, and the feeling is that getting even one true starter and leader back would help a group that has already shown progress in camp. Heywood has sounded like the likelier return, and that would be especially useful with guard play already holding up reasonably well despite Mandell missing much of camp.
Still, the offensive line situation remains a concern because of the matchup waiting on the other side. Notre Dame’s front is described as explosive and multiple both on the edge and inside, and that’s a tough draw for any line, especially one that might still be short two key starters or have them working back into form.
The other major challenge for Wisconsin is figuring out how to attack Leonard Moore’s side of the field without giving the game away. Luke Fickell praised Moore, Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame earlier this week while making the case that Wisconsin still has to run its offense.
That balance is the issue. The Badgers can’t simply ignore nearly half the field, but they also can’t afford to force throws into danger.
If Wisconsin plays clean football and wins the turnover battle, it can give itself a real chance in a game like this.
The secondary is another area worth watching. In practice, the group has been active, with different players making plays on the ball and landing physical hits.
The question is whether that practice energy shows up when the game starts. The secondary needs to take a step this season after a slow opening to 2025, and it will be tested early as Wisconsin tries to disrupt CJ Carr’s rhythm.
Even with all that, there’s a sense that Sunday night is not the real measuring-stick game for the Badgers. Most people expect a loss against one of the nation’s best rosters.
The games that matter more for judging Wisconsin’s progress, at least in that view, come later in the Big Ten schedule, including Penn State, Michigan State and UCLA. If there’s one matchup that truly says something about improvement, Iowa is the one that stands out after the way it has handled Wisconsin over the past two seasons.
That broader view still leaves one uncomfortable reality: the talent gap. Notre Dame is expected to have double-digit players projected to go in the 2027 NFL Draft, with several possible first-round picks in the mix.
Wisconsin, for all its promising young talent, may not have even one clear lock for that same draft. That difference looms large as the teams meet inside Lambeau Field.
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Wisconsin True Freshmen Are Already Forcing Their Way Into Week 1
With a 2026 freshmen class that checks in at just 13 players and an offseason plan built more around transfers, Wisconsin still appears to have a couple of true freshmen carving out real roles before the season even settles in. Luke Fickell singled out cornerback Donovan Dunmore and tight end Jack Sievers as players who could help right away on special teams, which is often the quickest path for young Badgers to get on the field and into the weekly conversation.
Ryan Hopkins and Kash Brock have also drawn attention in practice, giving Wisconsin a little more intrigue at two positions where every promising young rep matters. Their immediate playing time is less certain, but the fact that both have already stood out in camp says something about the way this freshman group is pushing for relevance despite its small size and the roster churn around it. [Read more 🡒]
MarShawn Lloyd Brings Unexpected Notre Dame Heat To Lambeau Week
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Lloyd also added a little locker-room spice to the occasion by talking up a friendly wager with Aaron Banks, who played at Notre Dame. It is a small subplot compared with the game itself, but it gives Lambeau Week a bit of extra edge for Wisconsin fans, especially with a former USC back in the Packers' orbit taking their side for once. [Read more 🡒]
Badgers Hockey Is Getting A Rare Lambeau Field Spotlight
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Tickets are slated to go on pre-sale Sept. 9, with general sales opening Sept. 11, giving Badgers fans an early chance to circle one of the more unusual dates on the winter calendar. The matchup itself has the kind of built-in appeal that fits the setting, and the broader event gives Wisconsin a rare opportunity to showcase both programs in front of a marquee crowd before the real weather of hockey season even settles in. [Read more 🡒]