3 predictions for Wisconsin in Week 1 vs. Notre Dame: Can the Badgers score more than 1 touchdown?
· Yahoo Sports
The Wisconsin Badgers are ready to take the football field for the first time in the 2026 season, facing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Week 1 at Lambeau Field.
It’s a rematch of their 2021 matchup, when Notre Dame beat Wisconsin 41-13 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Now, they’re finally facing off five years later at Lambeau, at a point where the two programs are looking very different.
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Notre Dame, the No. 4 team in the nation, is a National Championship contender, as they return Heisman candidate C.J. Carr at quarterback. Wisconsin is a rebuilding program coming off their worst year since 1990, as they hope to turn things around in Luke Fickell’s fourth year at the helm.
As such, Notre Dame enters Sunday as a heavy favorite over Wisconsin. Still, we saw how teams could shock the world in Week 1 on Saturday, as Boise State and Western Michigan overcame 20+ point spreads to play competitive games against Oregon and Michigan, respectively.
So, ahead of an exciting Week 1, here are three predictions for the Badgers against Notre Dame.
Badgers get limited to one touchdown at most
Week 1 can always bring uncertainty, but Notre Dame is returning one of the most experienced defenses in the country. They’ve got a ton of returning talent, including safety Adon Shuler, linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asu, and cornerback Leonard Moore. They added strong transfer depth up front with the defensive line as well.
Wisconsin’s offensive unit is still putting things together. They haven’t had much practice time fully healthy, are incorporating a ton of new pieces, and still have a lot of questions, specifically with the passing game. I think the Badgers will generate momentum on a few drives if the run game starts to get going, but it’s going to be very hard to be consistent if Wisconsin can’t create chunk plays.
We’ve also yet to see the red zone efficiency from Wisconsin. That’s why I don’t see Wisconsin getting to two touchdowns, which is currently where their line sits.
Colton Joseph gets sacked a couple of times
Notre Dame averaged three sacks a game last year, and I’m not sure that trend stops in Week 1. The Badgers will be getting Kevin Heywood back at right tackle, but there are questions at left tackle and right guard with new starters there.
Wisconsin will definitely be looking to establish the run with Colton Joseph and Abu Sama, but they’re going to be in some long passing situations. And Joseph does have a tendency to hold on to the ball too long. He’ll probably get himself out of some sacks, but I do think the Badgers will be dealing with pressure a lot on Sunday.
That leads to Joseph on the ground a couple of times, probably derailing a few Badger drives.
We’ve also yet to see the red zone efficiency from Wisconsin.
Badgers corners will make some plays
Wisconsin’s cornerback room is going to get tested on Sunday. And they’re probably going to get beat a few times. But that room does have talent, and they’re going against a Notre Dame wide receiver room that is still figuring things out at receiver behind Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse.
The run game will be the focus on both sides, and I’m worried if Wisconsin can hold Aneyas Williams in check. But I’m expecting the cornerbacks to make a few plays, keeping things competitive for the Badgers and helping them on some third downs.