No. 4 Notre Dame might’ve looked sluggish through the first half against Wisconsin, but don’t let that 13-10 halftime score fool you. They flipped a switch in the second half, outscoring the Badgers 28-3 to pull away for a dominant 41-13 win at Lambeau Field on Sunday night. This was the first college game at the home of the Green Bay Packers since 2016, and while Wisconsin, a three-touchdown underdog, hung around for a bit, Notre Dame made sure there was no upset this time.
First Half Woes and Special Teams Spark
Seriously, that first half had to have Notre Dame fans sweating, especially after the team came into the season pledging to leave absolutely no doubt about their College Football Playoff worthiness. Remember, they got left out last year despite winning their last 10 regular-season games by double-digit margins. Early on, the Irish run game looked suspect, racking up a measly 29 yards on 16 carries through the first two periods. That’s a huge concern when you’re without Heisman Trophy finalist Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, the only two running backs picked in the first round of this year’s NFL draft. Most of the noteworthy plays came on special teams, like the Irish recovering a muffed kickoff at Wisconsin’s 23, setting up a 3-yard touchdown reception by Green Bay’s own James Flanigan. But hey, credit where it’s due: Purdue transfer Spencer Porath was money, nailing field goals of 52 and 26 yards. Given Notre Dame didn’t make a single field goal after Oct. 11 last season, that’s a seriously encouraging performance.
Second Half Explosion and Defensive Concerns
Whatever Coach said at halftime, it worked. Aneyas Williams immediately capped a 70-yard drive to open the second half with a 3-yard touchdown run, and it was game on. Then, Colorado transfer DJ McKinney picked off Colton Joseph’s pass and ran it back 55 yards untouched for a touchdown, making it 27-10. What a play! Wisconsin’s Gavin Lahm did cut the lead to 27-13 with his second field goal, but Williams was not done, adding another 5-yard touchdown run. CJ Carr, who went 19 of 29 for 239 yards, tossed two touchdown passes, his second a 28-yarder to Nolan James Jr. late in the game. For Wisconsin, despite adding 34 transfers and looking better than past years, two turnovers that led to Notre Dame touchdowns crushed any upset hopes. They needed mistake-free football, and they just didn’t get it. On the flip side, Notre Dame’s defense might be facing some early adversity, having lost preseason AP All-America second-team safety Brauntae Johnson and defensive lineman Jason Onye to injuries.
So, while Notre Dame showed they can absolutely explode in a half and get clutch special teams play, the early struggles in the run game and those defensive injuries are definitely something to watch. They definitely want to leave no doubt this season, and that second half showed they’ve got the firepower when it counts.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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