Strong Second Half Boosts Notre Dame over Wisconsin
Art by The Irish Tribune
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Notre Dame started off slow in their highly-anticipated season opener at Lambeau Field, but ultimately, the Irish fended off the Wisconsin Badgers 41-13.
Notre Dame benefitted from strong performances from the captains and leaders of the team. CJ Carr finished 19/29 with 239 yards, and two touchdowns. Carr was effective in the second half once offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock opened up the offense for his second-year starter.
Carr's most popular target was Jordan Faison who ended with four catches, 81 yards, including 39 yards after the catch. Faison was targeted eight times, and it's clear the rapport between Carr and Faison is more developed than other younger receivers.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
While Notre Dame is dealt with the impossible task of replacing two NFL first-round draft picks, the Irish run game struggled in the first half. Not all of that can be attributed to the performances of Aneyas Williams, Nolan James Jr. and Kedren Young, but more so on the play from the offensive line.
In the second half, Notre Dame made a switch at right guard, replacing Styles Prescod with Sullivan Absher and saw better results. The Irish outscored the Badgers 28-3 in the second half, with a balanced attack showcasing Carr's arm, while blocking up front for Williams and James Jr.
Williams finished with 20 carries, 90 yards, and two touchdowns, while James Jr made his impact catching the ball out of the backfield, finishing with four catches and 67 yards, which included a 28-yard touchdown.
Defensively, the Notre Dame defense was anchored by captains Drayk Bowen and Adon Shuler. Bowen finished the game with nine tackles, which led the Irish, while Shuler added seven tackles of his own.
Entering the game, Notre Dame was met with a question on who would be the cornerback opposite to Leonard Moore in a battle between transfers DJ McKinney and Jayden Sanders. By the end of it, the Irish have a clear answer in Colorado transfer McKinney who had a 55-yard interception return that strengthened the Irish's hold on the Badgers.
Spencer Porath provided the Fighting Irish with a newfound sense of stability as well, going 2/2 on field goals. His 52-yard field goal was the first 50+ yard field goal made by a Notre Dame kicker since Spencer Shrader (at Louisville on October 7, 2023).
The Irish left this game a bit banged up, losing S Brauntae Johnson and DT Jason Onye to injury in the first half. They didn't return for the second half and their injury status has yet to be announced.
In the end, it wasn't the picture perfect game that Notre Dame fans had waited more than nine months for, but it was a 28-point victory to start the 2026 season on the right note.
Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism.
Follow The Irish Tribune on social media:
Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox.
Check out our Irish partners:
TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here!
Comments