(Photo: Clutchpoints)
Campus Clash
Wisconsin Badgers at (4) Notre Dame Fighting IrishÂ
Wisconsin (2025 Record: 4-8)
At one time, this was one of the model programs in college football, reaching 22 consecutive bowl games from 2002 through 2023. That’s an incredibly impressive run, and you could almost always count on the Badgers to finish near the top of the Big Ten standings. In college football, you can often identify a program’s identity simply by hearing its name. When Wisconsin was winning consistently, three things defined the Badgers: a dominant offensive line, a consistent and bruising running game, and a defense that routinely ranked among the nation’s best. They finished last season with a loss to Minnesota, ending the year 4-8, their worst record in 30 years. The Luke Fickell era hasn’t gone as planned. When athletic director Chris McIntosh hired him, I remember how much excitement surrounded the move. At the time, it felt like one of the biggest hires in program history. Since taking over in 2022, however, Fickell has compiled a 17-21 record. This program has dealt with significant roster turnover, an up-and-down offense, and an inconsistent defense. Those have become Wisconsin’s biggest problems. I will give them credit for taking advantage of the transfer portal by landing Colton Joseph from Old Dominion, who could provide a spark at quarterback. This is college football nowadays—taking full advantage of the transfer portal while investing heavily in roster building. On Sunday night, Wisconsin will essentially have a de facto home game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Notre Dame (2025 Record: 10-2)
I believe they have what it takes to be a top-five to top-seven team in the nation. They’re such a well-coached team, and Marcus Freeman is a top-five coach. They have all the right pieces in place, and defensively, they’ve been one of the best teams in the sport. The only thing that’s held them back has been consistent quarterback play. With quarterback being the most important position on the field, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have certainly had its share of question marks over the years. We can go down memory lane if you’d like. Ian Book was good, but he never got them over the hump and to the promised land. Jack Coan was just okay in my eyes, and they really just needed him to manage the game and avoid turnovers. When they landed Sam Hartman through the transfer portal, I thought he’d be the guy to lead this iconic program back to the top of the sport, and he put together a quality season by throwing 24 touchdown passes. I’m not saying this program will never get back to a national championship game. They certainly have what it takes and went on a run two seasons ago to reach the big game. I remember telling Israel Rivera last season that this team was just four points away from an undefeated season and another College Football Playoff appearance. I said four points because they lost by three to Miami in Week 1 and by one to Texas A&M in Week 2. After those losses, they ran the table and won the rest of their games, but those early defeats ultimately hurt them in the eyes of the selection committee. It’s a new season and a new opportunity to showcase what they’re capable of. On Sunday night, they’ll battle the Wisconsin Badgers at legendary Lambeau Field.
Wisconsin X-Factor: Justus Boone
I can’t wait to see how Justus performs in Madison this season. Wisconsin needed an impact defender, and he has the potential to be exactly that. He’s the type of player who can change a game without stuffing the stat sheet. Whether it’s a strip sack, a forced fumble, a key tackle for loss, or simply generating consistent pressure on the quarterback, Justus can swing momentum even if Wisconsin’s offense isn’t playing well. If he’s dominating up front, Notre Dame may have to dedicate extra blockers to slow him down. He can also set the tone early with a sack or another momentum-changing play that prevents the Irish from getting into an offensive rhythm.
Notre Dame X-Factor: Leonard Moore
The Irish have produced their share of stars on the defensive side of the ball, and Leonard Moore is the next one in line. He was a key contributor last season, leading the team with five interceptions, and he’ll be one of the players I’ll be watching most closely on Sunday night. He’s a turnover machine and enters the 2026 season as one of the nation’s elite defensive backs. Leonard has the ability to erase an opponent’s No. 1 receiving option, and if he can lock down one side of the field, Wisconsin’s passing game becomes much more predictable. I also like how his presence allows Notre Dame’s defense to stay aggressive. Defensive coordinators can dial up blitzes or stack the box against the run because they trust Leonard to hold up in man coverage.
Final Thoughts:
I remember the last time these two teams met. It was in Chicago in September 2021, and it was the game in which Brian Kelly became the winningest coach in Notre Dame’s illustrious history. This time, they’ll meet again under the lights at legendary Lambeau Field, and there’s nothing quite like a night game at one of football’s most iconic stadiums. This will be the second season with C.J. Carr as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback. On the other side, I believe this could be a make-or-break year for Luke Fickell and the Badgers. I’ll be curious to see Notre Dame’s offensive approach without Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, who were key pieces of the offense. Establishing the run early will be critical. Wisconsin traditionally wants to control the line of scrimmage, and if the Irish can win on first down and consistently create running lanes, it’ll help settle the offense. Defensively, Notre Dame needs to pressure Wisconsin and force the Badgers into obvious passing situations. Just as importantly, the Irish must protect the football, as neutral-site games can often be decided by one or two takeaways. For Wisconsin, the formula is straightforward: stay ahead of the chains, limit explosive plays, win the turnover battle, control the line of scrimmage, and, most importantly, finish red-zone opportunities with touchdowns instead of field goals.
