Passed The Test: Grading Notre Dame's Win Against Wisconsin
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Notre Dame opened the 2026 season with a commanding victory over Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, outscoring the Badgers 28-3 in the second half after a slow 13-10 first-half performance.
Very few teams have received as much preseason hype and acclaim as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Quarterback CJ Carr is the current Heisman favorite, along with a host of preseason All-American selections in Leonard Moore, Drayk Bowen, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, and more. However, Coach Marcus Freeman has been very prone to starting the season rather slowly, which showed in the first half of the season opener against Wisconsin. There are a plethora of both good and bad things each personnel group showcased in the first 60 minutes of the 2026 Notre Dame Football season.
CJ Carr - B+
Heisman favorite C.J Carr didn't see much success from the array of screen pass play selections. However, he picked apart the Wisconsin secondary when he was allowed to. Carr did have a few plays where he either made the incorrect read or just barely missed the intended target. Carr needs to put more velocity behind his ball in certain areas. With that being said, Carr had a great second half, where he finished the game with 239 passing yards and two passing touchdowns on 19-29 attempts. Carr will improve as the playbook opens, and already has the ability to strike fear into opposing secondary units.
Running Backs - A
No Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price? No problem. Notre Dame continued to prove they develop running backs unlike anyone else, as three different running backs showed significant skill on both the run and the pass. Aneyas Williams proved the hype was real, as he ran in two touchdowns and picked up 90 yards on the ground. Williams showed promising speed coming off the edge, which he used to bypass the next level of defenders. Nolan James Jr. and Kedren Young also saw time on the gridiron, with James logging 67 receiving yards, including a touchdown reception. I would like to see more breakaway runs from this terrific trio of backs, but I'm almost certain they will come as the season progresses.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends - A-
The opening drive until the half featured multiple screen passes, which the Irish WRs struggled to block against. However, after CJ Carr was allowed to open the field up, his receivers showed they had no trouble finding open space. Jordan Faison showed excellent route running paired with a great breakaway speed that allocated plenty of yards after the catch. Jaden Greathouse struggled to catch the ball in the Badgers' sea of coverage, but will look to improve as the Irish prepare for the remaining eleven games. Micah Gilbert also showed improvement from his Sophomore season, as he brought in three receptions for 34 yards. The receiving corps should show out as OC Mike Denbrock opens up the playbooks in the subsequent weeks. The Flanigan and Flanagan duo showed flashes of Eli Raridon from last season, as the slender figures slipped past linebackers in coverage. The TEs showed struggles on the blocking aspect of the run game, which should improve with time.
Offensive Line - B
Notre Dame has an excellent reputation for producing some of the most talented offensive linemen in football. However, that reputation didn't show in the Wisconsin game. Fifth-year senior Ashton Craig false-started on the very first play. Guerby Lambert and Will Black got beat on plenty of plays, with CJ Carr even fumbling (which the Irish recovered). The off-ball run blockers often hit the second wave of defenders before blocking the closest man. The run game was lackluster before halftime, when night seemingly turned into day, and the Irish started to get correct fits on blocks. The problem with the Irish offensive line was not the physicality aspect of the game, as there was little doubt about the effort of the players. From my understanding, the mishaps occurred from poor technique, fatigue, and miscommunication. However, the second half showed an astounding amount of potential residing within the front five, and I look forward to seeing how much they improve week-by-week.
Mike Denbrock - B
Notre Dame's offensive coordinator seemed to stick to the same script as last season's opener against Miami. Denbrock called many screen passes and inside zone runs, which didn't see plenty of success. However, when the coach decided to open up the passing playbook, the success followed not only with Carr's air attack, but the ground game also established itself. It is difficult to judge Denbrock for his play calling in the opener, as he's notoriously careful about not revealing the playbook too early. Everything is a process, and Denbrock will adapt as the season progresses.
Defensive Line - B+
The defensive line showed promise, but also displayed signs of incompetence throughout the game. The defense struggled to properly distinguish play-action passes and often failed to bring adequate pressure to Wisconsin QB Colton Joseph. However, the defensive front showed no lack of physicality, with Bryce Young showing great technique as he continued to pressure Joseph in the second half.
Linebackers - B+
The linebacker corps also showed a lackluster ability to read on play-action passes. Linebackers often show inside prematurely on outside zone reads, and the Irish linebackers showed struggle in reading the basic option run (although Joseph did an excellent job selling the handoff). However, Drayk Bowen showed why he's on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Bowen had a string of excellent and dominant plays in the second half, as if he read the offensive line like a diary. It's evident that this group had plenty to work on, but it's also true to claim this is one of the most talented linebacker rooms in the entire sport.
Leonard Moore - A
Leonard Moore proved he could get even better during the offseason with his performance against Wisconsin. Despite the Badger offense rarely targeting him, Moore still finished with five total tackles by the final whistle. Moore's footwork was quick and precise as he kept his receiver in close proximity. Moore is without a doubt one of the most talented cornerbacks in college football, and he showed he only improved since last season.
Secondary - A-
The secondary corps proved the immense offseason hype was no fluke. Adon Shuler, who tragically lost his father earlier this week, played some of the most physical football he's ever played, as his violent hits shook fear into the Badger receivers. The secondary had impressive reads against the Badger play-actions and dominated against the screen pass. How could we even discuss the Irish secondary without mentioning DJ McKinney's 55-yard pick-six touchdown? Although Notre Dame defensive backs showed plenty of talent, mishaps and misreads also occurred. Most notably, the 28-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Coleman, which caught the Irish defense without a safety after miscommunication ensued.
Special Teams - B
One of the largest improvements from last season resides with the Irish's new kicker, Spencer Porath, who nailed two field goals, including a 52-yard missile. Porath transferred from Purdue this offseason and made the first field goal for the Irish since October 11th of last season. The punt team struggled with blocking assignments, as punter Jasper Scaife struggled to get the ball off in time. As the game progressed, the blocks got better and more precise, and Scaife rattled off a few 40-plus-yard punts.
There are a thousand different things revealed over the course of the game to judge. However, the basic conclusion drawn from the game remains. The Irish started slow before showing why they are indeed the third-best team in the country according to the AP Poll. I definitely saw plays where Notre Dame didn't perform, but I saw even more plays that gave a glimpse of the true potential of the blue and gold. My verdict after the first game: Trust in Freeman and his men. Notre Dame is a very good team and will only continue to improve.
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