Notre Dame turns Lambeau scare into loud College Football Playoff message

Notre Dame turns Lambeau scare into loud College Football Playoff message

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Notre Dame turns Lambeau scare into loud College Football Playoff message

Notre Dame turns Lambeau scare into loud College Football Playoff message originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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For 30 minutes, Notre Dame looked vulnerable. Wisconsin disrupted the Fighting Irish’s offense, created problems on special teams and went into halftime trailing by only three points. The Badgers were one good possession away from putting serious pressure on the nation’s No. 4 team.

Notre Dame responded by completely taking over Lambeau Field.

The Fighting Irish outscored Wisconsin 28-3 in the second half and pulled away for a 41-13 victory Sunday night. What began as an uncomfortable season opener ended with Notre Dame delivering the kind of emphatic finish expected from a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.

Quarterback CJ Carr completed 19 of 29 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Aneyas Williams rushed for 90 yards and two scores, while DJ McKinney changed the game with a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown. Notre Dame did not dominate from the opening kick. That may ultimately make the performance more valuable.

The Fighting Irish were forced to adjust, handle adversity and prove they could win without former first-round running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price carrying the offense. By the fourth quarter, there was little doubt about which team had the deeper roster.

Notre Dame finds another gear after halftime

Wisconsin struck first after partially blocking a Notre Dame punt and taking possession in Irish territory. The Badgers settled for a field goal, and Notre Dame answered with a 52-yard kick from Spencer Porath.

A Wisconsin fumble on the ensuing kickoff handed Notre Dame a short field. Carr capitalized by finding Green Bay native James Flanigan for a 3-yard touchdown. The moment carried additional significance for Flanigan. His father and grandfather both played for the Green Bay Packers, making his first career touchdown at Lambeau Field one of the best personal stories of the opening weekend.

Wisconsin refused to disappear. Colton Joseph connected with Malachi Coleman for a 28-yard touchdown, helping the Badgers tie the game at 10. Notre Dame added another field goal before halftime, but its running game had produced only 29 yards on 16 attempts.

Then the Irish began to look like the team ranked fourth in the country.

Notre Dame opened the second half with a nine-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. Williams finished it with a 3-yard run, giving the Irish their first two-score lead.

Three plays later, McKinney intercepted an overthrown pass and raced untouched down the sideline for a touchdown. In a matter of minutes, a tense 13-10 game had become a 27-10 Notre Dame advantage.

Williams added his second touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Carr then connected with Nolan James Jr. for a 28-yard score to finish the scoring. Notre Dame scored touchdowns on all three of its second-half possessions and held Wisconsin to 1.4 yards per rushing attempt after halftime.

MORE: Notre Dame’s next opponent just won with only 28 passing yards

Notre Dame’s response matters more than its slow start

The final score will make this look like an easy win. It was not. Wisconsin entered as a significant underdog after consecutive losing seasons, but Luke Fickell’s rebuilt roster made Notre Dame uncomfortable. The Badgers forced the Irish to play through mistakes and prove they could create offense with a different group of playmakers.

Carr’s composure should be particularly encouraging. He spread the ball among nine receivers and avoided the costly mistake that could have allowed Wisconsin to take control. When the Irish finally established the run, Carr used play-action and intermediate throws to punish the Badgers.

There are still concerns for Marcus Freeman. Safety Brauntae Johnson and defensive lineman Jason Onye left the game with injuries, and Freeman did not have an immediate update on either player afterward.

The larger takeaway, however, was positive.

Notre Dame spent the offseason hearing about its controversial exclusion from last season’s playoff. Its 2026 team opened with a clear mission to leave less room for debate.

The Irish did not look unstoppable for the entire night at Lambeau Field. When challenged, though, they turned a three-point game into a 28-point victory.

That was a powerful opening statement.

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