Sunday night gives Wisconsin exactly the kind of early test that reveals more than a box score ever could. The Badgers are staring down Notre Dame at Lambeau Field, and while nobody should be penciling in a Wisconsin win, there’s still plenty to learn about this team before the night is over.
The first place to start is up front, where the status of Kevin Heywood and Emerson Mandell hangs over everything. That remains the biggest question entering the game, and the staff hasn’t offered much to clear it up. It feels like the Badgers may be keeping Notre Dame guessing right up until kickoff, because the truth might not come until Wisconsin runs out of the tunnel.
Even beyond those two, the offensive line is under the microscope. Eric Mateos is the highest-profile addition on Luke Fickell’s staff, and the expectation is that he helps push that unit back toward dominance.
That won’t happen overnight, and it gets tougher if Heywood or Mandell can’t go, but the group has to show real progress. Notre Dame’s front seven is the best Wisconsin will see all season, and probably the best defense in the country.
Nobody is asking for Abu Sama to run wild for 200 yards, but the Irish can’t simply walk through the line untouched for four quarters either. If that happens, there’s a problem.
The spotlight also falls on Wisconsin’s sophomore linebacker duo, which has already become a point of conversation for the wrong reasons. In recent days, those two have been on the receiving end of bulletin board material from a former Notre Dame player and fans, including this jab: “Watched the tape.Expect downhill runs. 44 is “light in the ass”.”
That’s a strange place to aim criticism, especially with Wisconsin’s two best defenders in the crosshairs. The extra noise only adds to the opportunity in front of them.
As has been the case all offseason, there’s still room for growth from the pair. Both are sophomores, both started less than half a season, and both finished 2025 playing at a high level against the eventual national champions, a College Football Playoff semifinalist and two more ranked opponents.
They earned respect around the Big Ten, but clearly not from everyone nationally. For players who care about winning more than anything else, this is a chance to answer that skepticism under the brightest lights possible.
And then there’s Notre Dame quarterback Carr, who could make the whole night miserable if Wisconsin doesn’t find a way to bother him. He’s near the top of preseason Heisman lists for a reason, and he has the kind of talent that can rip through a defense even with a solid game plan.
The Irish also have to replace Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, both first round picks, so there may be some early growing pains in the run game. That likely means more of the offense flows through Carr to start the season.
That creates the clearest path for Wisconsin’s defense to make a statement. The Badgers won’t draw an FCS warmup in week one; they get one of the best players in the country.
To have any real shot, they need to get after Carr, force hurried throws and create turnovers. That’s a tough assignment, but it’s also exactly the kind of stage where Posa and Catalano can show they belong on the national radar.
Nobody is pretending Wisconsin is about to shut Carr down and derail his Heisman push in the opener. But the game should tell us a lot about the Badgers’ defense, and about how much of a problem they can be for an elite quarterback. Even in defeat, making Carr work would count as a real sign of life.
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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 🡒]
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Wisconsin Faces An Early Lambeau Test Against Notre Dames Biggest Threats
Wisconsins season opener at Lambeau Field brings an immediate look at the parts of Notre Dame that could cause the most trouble, and the matchup starts with quarterback CJ Carr. The Irish are also leaning on running back Williams, whose role points to a ground game the Badgers will have to account for early, while linebacker Bowen and defensive back Moore give Notre Dame impact pieces on defense in the kind of spotlight game that can swing quickly.
For Wisconsin, the challenge is less about a single matchup and more about handling four different pressure points at once. Carrs arm, Williams presence on the ground, Bowens range in the middle and Moores work on the back end all shape a season opener that already feels like a test of discipline and depth, even before either side has settled into a September rhythm. [Read more 🡒]