On September 6, the Wisconsin Badgers suffered a 41‑13 defeat at the hands of No. 5 Notre Dame in a high‑profile matchup at Lambeau Field, entering the game as a 20.5‑point underdog and trailing 13‑10 at halftime.
Game Overview
The second half told a different story; Wisconsin surged to outscore the Irish 28‑3, amassing 215 total yards while limiting Notre Dame to 141, yet the margin was eroded by a 7.4‑yard-per‑play average and a series of costly turnovers that plagued the Badgers' defense.
Among the bright spots, senior Malachi Coleman made four receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown, while punter Sean West posted a 45‑yard average and a 70‑yard boot that flipped field position, and cornerback DJ McKinney turned an interception into a touchdown, a pivotal swing in the third quarter.
Defensively, nickel corner Bryce West logged two tackles and two pass breakups in the first half, and Kevin Heywood, who returned from a foot injury that sidelined him during fall camp, saw action on all 61 offensive snaps, highlighting the team's resilience amid adversity.
The game also exposed lingering problems, such as a muffed kickoff return by Harrison Bortolotti that directly led to Notre Dame’s first touchdown and a near‑sack, forced fumble by Sebastian Cheeks, underscoring the need for improved tackling and ball security as Wisconsin prepares to host Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan.