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Wisconsin’s season opened under the lights at Lambeau Field and ended with a stark contrast: a promising first half gave way to a second-half collapse in a 41-13 loss to No. 4 Notre Dame. The game raised encouraging signs in spots, but also exposed persistent problems that matter for games to come.
Offense: C-
The Badgers showed more life on offense than they have in recent openers. The running game produced some positive plays, and **Colton Joseph** connected on a few throws that suggested he can be a playmaker in this offense.
College kickers have taken home $2.2 million from Pat McAfee’s kicking contest this season
Wisconsin loses 41-13 to No. 4 Notre Dame at Lambeau Field
Still, a turnover that resulted in a pick-six swung momentum decisively toward Notre Dame, and scoring just 13 points was never going to be enough. Wisconsin frequently stalled after reaching midfield, leaving too many opportunities on the field.
There are reasons for guarded optimism — enough to think this unit can improve — but right now the offense is a work in progress and not yet consistently productive enough to support the team against top opponents.
Defense: B
For one half, Mike Tressel’s unit looked like the team’s best asset. Wisconsin held Notre Dame out of the end zone in the opening 30 minutes, forced trips that ended in field goals and generated pressure on **C.J. Carr**.
Linebacker **Sebastian Cheeks** stood out early, helping contain the run and creating disruption at the point of attack. Those sequences showed the ceiling for this defense.
But the second half told a different story. Notre Dame adjusted and began to move the ball more effectively, physically wearing down the Wisconsin front and exploiting coverage. The defense’s strong opening performance couldn’t be sustained, which is why the unit earns a grade that recognizes the first-half excellence but also the late breakdowns.
Special Teams: B-
Special teams produced both a momentum boost and a costly mistake. Early in the game **Liam Danitz**, a Division III transfer, got a hand on a punt — a play that set up an early field goal and an initial lead for Wisconsin.
Moments later, a misplayed kickoff by **Harrison Bortolotti** gave Notre Dame an immediate advantage. While some of the sequence drew debate over the call, the miscue itself was avoidable and shifted the game’s flow.
Punter **Sean West** was a bright spot, delivering two precise punts that pinned the opponent deep — one in particular that flipped field position dramatically. After a difficult finish to 2025, West’s night was a clear positive.
Overall grade: C-
Ultimately, the contest reinforced familiar frustrations. Wisconsin flashed improvement in phases, but the final margin was one-sided and the team was outplayed over the full 60 minutes. In Year Four of Luke Fickell’s tenure, moral victories have diminishing returns.
I’m cautiously more encouraged about this roster than a year ago: there were tangible offensive sparks and the defense showed what it can be for stretches. Still, unless those promising stretches become the norm, the program will need more than incremental gains to change the narrative — and that pressure lands squarely on performances in the games that follow.
With the schedule moving on to Western Illinois, the immediate test is simple: a dominant, run-first response that builds confidence and reduces mistakes. If Wisconsin can’t convert those expectations into consistent results, broader questions about direction will persist.
