Sluggishness rides shotgun with Notre Dame football in opener vs Wisconsin
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman prepares to take the field with his team before a NCAA football game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman prepares to take the field with his team before a NCAA football game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Helicopters fly over Lambeau Field before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame linebacker Kahanu Kia (43) celebrates after gaining possession of the ball after a botched Wisconsin return during the first half of a NCAA football game at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame safety Adon Shuler (8) tackles Wisconsin wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. (13) during the first half of a NCAA football game at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame wide receiver Jordan Faison (6) rushes the ball during the first half of a NCAA football game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame tight end James Flanigan (88) celebrate after scoring a touchdown during the first half of a NCAA football game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Wisconsin fans react to an official’s call during the first half of a NCAA football game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame linebacker Madden Faraimo hypes up the crowd during the first half of a NCAA football game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Wisconsin fans cheer during the first half of a NCAA football game against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, top, tackles Wisconsin running back Abu Sama (3) during the first half of a NCAA football game at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman looks on during the first half of a NCAA football game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame wide receiver Jordan Faison (6) celebrates getting a first down during the first half of a NCAA football game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams (22) rushes the ball during the first half of a NCAA football game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame kicker Spencer Porath (35) prepares to kick a field goal during the first half of a NCAA football game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame linebacker Kahanu Kia falls down on the ball after a botched Wisconsin return during the first half of a NCAA football game at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame linebacker Kahanu Kia (43) celebrates after gaining possession of the ball after a botched Wisconsin return during the first half of a NCAA football game at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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Our best game photos of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr (13) looks for an open receiver during the first half of a NCAA football game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
GREEN BAY, WI — Up the Lambeau Field tunnel No. 5 Notre Dame trudged, followed halfway through the season opener Sunday against seemingly overmatched Wisconsin by an unwelcome companion.
A partner that wasn’t supposed to be part of the plan at any point this season, certainly not the first game. Not 30 minutes into a campaign that many believe will have Notre Dame chasing its first national championship since 1988.
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That companion that rode shotgun back to the Irish locker room? Doubt.
At least for one half, Notre Dame left too much of it. The Irish did not follow the mantra of head coach Marcus Freeman. Remember? Leave No Doubt, the fifth-year head coach, preached in spring.
Don’t leave it during summer conditioning. Don’t leave it in fall camp. And certainly don’t leave it anywhere during the 2026 season. Not for a drive. Not for a quarter. Certainly not for a whole half.
Doubt was left, even in a 41-13 victory Sunday, Sept. 6.
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Don’t be fooled by Notre Dame’s best drive of the night to date — nine plays, 70 yards, in 4:31 to start the second half and extend to a 20-10 lead. Or by DJ McKinney’s pick six on the ensuing possession to all but end this one. Or the 8-play, 75-yar scoring drive that followed the pick-six.
The Irish really needed something to swing their way in the second half. That was a different team than we saw the first 15 minutes.
Until that point, doubt was scattered all over this football shrine. Plays that weren’t made on all sides of the ball. Drives that stalled. Focus that fizzled. Penalties. Missed opportunities. Everything the Irish must do to leave no doubt they didn’t do.
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
Braden Sparks, left, and James Taylor, both from Kokomo, IN, pose for a photo before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
Braden Sparks, left, and James Taylor, both from Kokomo, IN, pose for a photo before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
Left to right: Dane Salazar, Ildefonso Chavez, Gerardo Rivera and James Lopez pose for a photo together outside Lambeau Field before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
Ryan Schreiber, 11, from Chicago, gets Irish face painting done before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
Aidan Cassel, left, 10-years-old from Madison, WI, poses for a photo with the Notre Dame leprechaun before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
Fans run down a hill outside Lambeau Field before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
Fans pose for photos before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
Jeffery Martin, 11, from Grand Rapids, MI, runs a 40-yard-dash outside Lambeau Field before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
The video board at Lambeau Field advertises the NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
Andy Warnement, left, throws bags with his 12-year-old son Ben before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
Left to right: Brittany Marchetti, Trudy Marchetti, Danny Marchetti, Belle Marchetti and Briana Marchetti, from Chesterton, IN, pose for a photo with their drinks before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
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See the scenes around Lambeau Field ahead of Notre Dame football vs Wisconsin
Favre Donnelly, left, and Jay Donnelly, pose for a photo before a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Green Bay, WI.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
That didn’t look like a national title kind of team. That didn’t look like a sure playoff team. Notre Dame would look like something for a play here or a drive there, but nothing sustained when sustained was needed. Demanded, even.
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When your most valuable player in the first half of the first game is the kicker playing his first game, that’s not great. This wasn’t great. Maybe not Oregon not great or Michigan not great or Clemson not great, but much of what we expected to see from this Irish team on this college football Sunday night, we didn’t see. At least, not right away.
That’s a takeaway. A key one. Notre Dame is supposed to be too good, too driven, too determined to dance with an inferior opponent the way it danced Sunday.
Playing football for the first time in 281 days, Notre Dame was going to start fast. It was going to start focused. It was going to drop the hammer and keep it dropped for the better part of four quarters.
Instead, we instead got that.
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Somewhere along the way this season, Notre Dame was going to be smacked in the face, maybe even trail early in a contest. The Irish would be tested by something that happened out there, and maybe by something that didn’t. It was bound to happen, right?
Sure, but nobody expected that first big dose of cold-water reality to be tossed on the Irish sideline a mere eight minutes and change into a season in which many around college football believe that Notre Dame will be among the last two teams standing when this long haul of a season ends in the Nevada desert.
There the Irish were, needing a good start, needing a fast start, stumbling all over themselves with an opening three-and-out series to forget. An incomplete pass, a false start by the senior center back from a left knee injury that cost him the second half of 2025. A sack allowed by starting left tackle Will Black, making his first career start.
If three plays and (-5) yards wasn’t insult enough, punter Jasper Scaife had his first career punt partially blocked to set up Wisconsin’s second drive, a field goal and a 3-0 lead. A special teams gaffe three plays in? Blasphemy.
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We didn’t know what we might see in this one, but few in the stands or home on the couch in front of their televisions thought they would see that.
Long game? Lotta of swings of emotion and momentum and all that other football-speak jazz? Absolutely, but a team with such a high standard and expectations, slow and sluggish won’t cut it. Not this season.
Never did a Spencer Porath 52-yard field goal feel like such a pressure release – and exhale – to tie it three late in the first quarter. Turns out it was the kick in the backside Notre Dame needed. Kahanu Kia recovered a fumble on the kickoff before tight end – and Green Bay native – James Flanigan caught his first career touchdown pass.
That was more like it. Same for the second half. That’s the Irish we expected to see.
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Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact Noie at tnoie@sbtinfo.com
