Wisconsin’s trip to face Notre Dame on Sunday night is set up to draw plenty of attention, even if the spread says this one shouldn’t be close. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Lambeau Field on NBC, and the Badgers enter the game as 20.5-point underdogs at FanDuel.
Still, the numbers haven’t scared off the idea that this could be one of the best games of Week 1. In a weekly Reacts poll, Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame landed as the No. 2 game on the board nationally, a sign that plenty of people think the Badgers can at least hang around behind their defense.
The top spot in that poll went to Clemson vs. LSU, though that game didn’t deliver much drama once LSU rolled to a 51-10 win. Lane Kiffin’s debut in Baton Rouge went better than advertised.
The rest of the list had its own mix of results and timing. Louisville and Ole Miss are set to play Sunday evening. Boise State gave Oregon a fight before falling 34-27 in the opener, staying in it for most of the day before a late Dante Moore touchdown pass stretched things out.
SMU and Florida State won’t play until Monday night, giving both teams extra time to get ready and pushing the Week 2 clock forward. Washington vs. Washington State drew just two percent of the vote and is set for tomorrow afternoon, offering the Huskies another chance to keep moving ahead.
Wisconsin could absolutely get run out of the building. But after what Week 1 has already produced, there’s still room for an upset-sized swing, and the Badgers’ defense gives them a real shot to make Sunday night interesting.
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 🡒]