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Wisconsin competed with No. 4 Notre Dame through the first half but collapsed after intermission, leaving more questions than answers. The Badgers showed offensive sparks yet committed costly errors and defensive lapses that turned a close contest into a one-sided loss.
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Against a defense loaded with NFL prospects, Wisconsin managed some progress on offense. Quarterback Colton Joseph passed for more than 200 yards — a notable contrast to last season, when the Badgers only once cleared that mark (Danny O’Neil’s 283 yards against Middle Tennessee State).
Joseph made mistakes, including a hurried throw that became a pick-six. Still, the passing game looked markedly improved compared with recent Wisconsin quarterbacks. Even a middling performance from Joseph felt like a step forward for the offense.
Malachi Coleman emerged as a genuine threat
Junior receiver Malachi Coleman delivered a breakout showing. The 6-foot-5 playmaker finished with four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, repeatedly getting the better of Notre Dame defenders.
Coleman’s combination of size and speed, plus polished route-running against one of the nation’s top secondaries, suggests he could be the Badgers’ most dangerous pass-catcher in years. His performance offered one of the clearest reasons for optimism on Sunday night.
Costly mistakes swung momentum away
Mistakes have been a recurring theme under coach Luke Fickell, and several miscues mattered Sunday. A muffed kickoff by running back Harrison Bortolotti gave Notre Dame a short field and an easy touchdown. Later, an unsportsmanlike-conduct flag on linebacker Mason Posa — for tossing an opponent after the whistle — erased a potential defensive stop.
Joseph’s interception, thrown under pressure, compounded problems; left tackle PJ Wilkins struggled at times in protection. Those errors helped widen a score that had been competitive at halftime.
Zone coverage repeatedly failed to contain Notre Dame
Defensive coordinator Mike Tressel‘s unit spent much of the game in zone, and Notre Dame repeatedly found openings. Quarterback CJ Carr settled in after a slow start, converting short throws and exploiting seams over the middle as the Badgers sat back.
Wisconsin spent last offseason upgrading its secondary with an eye toward more man coverage, but Sunday the team rarely challenged receivers one-on-one. The result was a largely ineffective pass defense, despite the personnel to do better.
