Notre Dame’s secondary is built to make life miserable, and Wisconsin is walking straight into that problem Sunday night.
The Irish bring back a cornerback duo that can lock things down on the outside, led by Leonard Moore, the consensus All-American who posted five interceptions, seven pass-breakups and a forced fumble last fall. He’s viewed as a potential top-10 NFL Draft pick in April, and he’s not operating alone.
On the other side is Colorado transfer DJ McKinney, who has more than 2,000 career snaps at the Power Four level. Last season, both corners held opponents to a reception percentage below 60%.
That’s only part of the headache. Notre Dame’s secondary as a whole, with its boundary and field safeties also back from last season, averaged 1.8 interceptions per game last fall, which tied Southern Mississippi for the best mark in the country.
For Wisconsin, that’s a brutal matchup on paper. The Badgers’ receiver room still hasn’t produced a clear go-to target or the deep threat Jeff Grimes said he wanted to see, even though there are a few players with intriguing individual ability.
And against this defense, simply hoping the wideouts win their one-on-ones feels like a bad bet. Notre Dame likes man coverage, and it plays it with real force. If Wisconsin’s receivers can’t create separation, the Irish can keep loading up the coverage and make the passing game even tighter.
That’s why the Badgers may need production from somewhere else if Colton Joseph is going to get the offense rolling through the air. A breakout from Eugene Hilton Jr. or a quick rise from transfer Shamar Rigby would obviously help, but if that doesn’t happen, Wisconsin will have to manufacture answers.
One obvious place to start is tight end Jacob Harris. At 6-6 and 265 pounds, he brings size that can create real problems, and he’s got soft hands plus enough fluidity after the catch to turn simple throws into something more. If Wisconsin can line him up tight to the formation, he could get free releases against linebackers or safeties and create easy matchup wins underneath.
Darrion Dupree is another weapon who can help change the picture. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, and Grimes has the flexibility to move him around and hunt for the matchup he wants.
That’s the challenge for Wisconsin: don’t let Notre Dame’s corners erase the receivers and call it a night. The Badgers need to make linebackers and safeties cover, spread the ball around, and find ways to attack the defense from different angles.
In Other News...
Wisconsin May Need An Unexpected Answer Against Notre Dame Up Front
The first big question for Wisconsin this week is what the line will look like when it matters most against Notre Dame. The Badgers are already dealing with uncertainty around starting right guard Emerson Mandell and tackle Kevin Heywood, which puts extra attention on the next wave of players up front. In a game where the matchup in the trenches figures to shape everything, that kind of late-week uncertainty can quickly turn a familiar depth chart into a test of flexibility.
That is where a few less obvious names suddenly become worth watching. Blackmon, Cai Bates and Brock have been mentioned as players who could factor in if Wisconsin needs help on the offensive front, and the staffs view of them during fall camp has been consistently positive. Coaches have praised not just the way those players work, but the kind of character they bring, which matters even more when a game plan may need a quick adjustment before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin's Week 1 Prep Just Got More Complicated With Notre Dame
Notre Dames first injury report for its Week 1 matchup with Wisconsin immediately added another layer to an already interesting opener. Linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is listed as questionable while he continues recovering from an ACL injury, leaving the Badgers to prepare without knowing whether one of the Irishs most important front-seven pieces will be available.
The report also ruled out several other players, including wide receiver Quincy Porter and offensive linemen Matty Augustine and Charles Jagusah, which only adds to the uncertainty on Notre Dames side. For Wisconsin, that means the opening-game prep now comes with a little more guesswork than usual, especially with both teams still sorting out exactly who will be ready when kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Heads Into Notre Dame With Key Lineup Questions Up Front
The lead-up to Wisconsins Week 1 trip to Notre Dame has been marked by a familiar sort of preseason uncertainty up front, with the Badgers still sorting through their offensive line health as game week closes in. Kevin Heywood and Emerson Mandell are both questionable, and Mandell appears headed for a game-time decision, leaving the staff to weigh how much continuity it can count on when the matchup gets real.
Jaylon Domingeaux is also listed as questionable, adding another layer to an offense that could already be leaning on some early-season adjustments. For a Wisconsin team trying to get settled against a high-profile opponent right out of the gate, the availability of a few key pieces may end up shaping not just the starting lineup, but the way the Badgers manage their entire receiver rotation. [Read more 🡒]