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Wisconsin heads into Sunday night’s showdown at Lambeau Field as a clear underdog on paper, even though the Badgers show notable improvements at quarterback, running back and in the secondary. To pull off an upset of No. 4 Notre Dame, Luke Fickell and his staff must get several high-stakes personnel and schematic calls right.
Should Wisconsin play banged-up offensive linemen?
One of the most consequential decisions for Fickell is whether to start the team’s injured right-side blockers. Right guard Emerson Mandell and right tackle Kevin Heywood are reportedly practicing this week, but neither appears fully healthy.
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The coaching staff has to weigh short-term gain against long-term availability. Wisconsin needs its line intact for the season, not just for Week 1. Expect coaches to monitor how those two look during pregame warmups before making a final call.
How much man-to-man will the secondary play?
Defensive coordinator Mike Tressel still leans heavily on zone concepts, but the staff spent the offseason trying to get more comfortable in one-on-one coverage. A nearly rebuilt cornerback room has produced signs of progress in press and man techniques.
That development matters because Notre Dame arrives with one of the most dangerous passing games in the country, led by Heisman-contending quarterback CJ Carr and weapons such as Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse. Wisconsin will likely mix looks to confuse a cerebral passer, but the frequency of pure man-to-man will reveal how much faith the staff has in its corners.
How can the Badgers generate pressure on CJ Carr?
Ideally, Wisconsin would pressure Carr without overcommitting — dropping seven into coverage while sending four rushers to force quick decisions. That approach would let the defense try to close passing windows and collapse the pocket with a compact rush.
There are real doubts about whether Wisconsin’s edge rushers can consistently win against Notre Dame’s tackles. That uncertainty raises several tactical questions: Do inside linebackers like Mason Posa and Jon Jon Kamara get sent on blitzes? Will the revamped secondary be used to stunt or disguise pressure? Could Tressel unveil any unfamiliar packages to create disruption?
Which Badgers receivers will see the most targets?
The wide receiver room remains unsettled, with no obvious top target emerging in camp. How offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes distributes targets will be a key indicator of which players the coaching staff trusts in the passing game.
Complicating matters is Notre Dame’s deep defensive backfield, anchored by an elite cover man in Leonard Moore. Watching who gets the early targets and how those matchups play out should provide quick answers to a question this team has been asking all offseason. Week 1 should offer significant clarity.
