Wisconsin showed fight early against No. 4 Notre Dame but faded badly in the second half, falling 41-13. Using offensive and defensive snap counts, Pro Football Focus grades illuminate who stood out — and who struggled — in the Badgers’ season opener.
OFFENSE
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Top performer: wide receiver Malachi Coleman earned the team’s best offensive grade at 75.4. On the opposite end, right tackle Kevin Heywood posted the lowest mark, a 45.1.
Offensive line play was a mixed bag. Guard Colin Cubberly and center Austin Kawecki registered the only line grades above 36, while OL Blake Cherry recorded a very low 12.8 pass-blocking score and was charged with the lone sack allowed by the unit.
Quarterback Colton Joseph generated no “big-time throws” in PFF’s charting and had one turnover-worthy play, the interception returned for a touchdown. Coleman emerged as Wisconsin’s deep target, leading the team with a 15.4 average depth of target. Tyrell Henry had the only drop.
On the ground, Wisconsin struggled to break long runs. Running back Abu Sama gained 49 yards, 35 of them after contact, and forced five missed tackles overall; Darrion Dupree forced three. The Badgers did not produce any rush of 10 yards or more.
DEFENSE
Standout: outside linebacker Sebastian Cheeks paced the defense with an 85.5 overall grade. Defensive lineman Dillan Johnson had the lowest defensive grade at 31.7.
Cheeks’ impact was especially evident as a pass rusher, where PFF credited him with an 89.5 pass-rush grade and team-leading pressures. In coverage, cornerback Javan Robinson posted the best mark at 73.2. A missed tackle by Jon Jon Kamara on Notre Dame’s final touchdown left him with a low tackling grade despite little other statistical production.
- Wisconsin generated eight total pressures on 30 Notre Dame drop‑backs; Cheeks had three and Justus Boone two.
- The Badgers missed 11 tackles; CB Jai’mier Scott and LB Cooper Catalano missed two each.
- LB Mason Posa recorded 15 tackles and led the team with five “stops” — tackles classified by PFF as ending a successful offensive play.
- Nickel CB Bryce West allowed two completions on four targets, the best completion percentage in the secondary.
- Safety Marvin Burks Jr. played the most snaps in the slot, totaling 10.
