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Wisconsin entered halftime looking in control, but a brief, decisive swing early in the second half allowed No. 4 Notre Dame to seize momentum and cruise to a 41-13 season-opening win at Lambeau Field. The loss exposed lingering questions for the Badgers while underscoring Notre Dame’s depth and experience.
Rapid second-half turnaround
After the Irish opened the half with a patient touchdown drive, momentum flipped in an instant. A hurried pass from transfer quarterback Colton Joseph was returned 55 yards for a pick-six, and Notre Dame turned those two quick scores into separation against a stunned Wisconsin side. The Fighting Irish finished the night in front of 75,939 fans.
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Notre Dame’s control after halftime
Once the game shifted, Notre Dame dominated the final 30 minutes. The Irish outscored Wisconsin 28-3 and outgained them 215-141 after intermission. They averaged 7.4 yards per play in the second half, repeatedly breaking through on both run and pass.
Quarterback C.J. Carr completed 19 of 29 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Tailback Aneyas Williams chipped in with 90 yards and two rushing scores on 20 carries. Those plays steadily wore down Wisconsin’s defense as the game progressed.
Wisconsin’s bright spots — and warning signs
There were encouraging stretches. In the first half the Badgers limited Notre Dame to 4.2 yards per play, just 1.8 yards per rush and held the Irish to 0-for-6 on third down. Special teams also produced early points after a partially blocked punt by former Division III edge Liam Diantz set up a 27-yard field goal.
But mistakes were costly. A muffed kickoff by sophomore Harrison Bortolotti gifted Notre Dame a short-field touchdown late in the first quarter. On offense, Iowa State transfer Abu Sama led UW with 49 yards on 15 carries, while the team averaged just 2.7 yards per rush on 29 attempts.
Standouts and statistics
Punter Sean West was one of the few home bright spots, averaging 45 yards on five punts, including a 70-yard boomer that drew attention online. Kicker Gavin Halm connected on a 36-yard field goal to cap a 14-play drive, Wisconsin’s only second-half points.
Context for the program
Under head coach Luke Fickell, Wisconsin entered the season with a 16-21 record across his first three full seasons and has now dropped eight straight games away from home or at neutral sites. The roster carries heavy turnover: the program added more than 30 transfers in the offseason, many with Power Four experience, but cohesion remains a work in progress.
Offensive newcomers will need time to adjust. Joseph, the transfer signal-caller from the Sun Belt, struggled to find a consistent rhythm against a veteran Notre Dame front and failed to produce a touchdown while turning the ball over at critical moments.
Historical echoes and what’s next
The 41-13 scoreline echoed a 2021 meeting in which Wisconsin also fell by the same margin after late-game turnovers. It also contrasted with the program’s memorable 2016 season-opening upset at Lambeau, a campaign that led to a top-10 final ranking.
Wisconsin returns to Madison to open its home slate against Western Illinois at Camp Randall on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. CT and the game will air on the Big Ten Network. The Leathernecks have already played two FCS games this season, including a 41-10 loss to Illinois State; Wisconsin holds a 3-0 series edge over Western Illinois by a combined 102-26.
