Notre Dame Overwhelms Wisconsin 41-13 After Explosive Second Half at Lambeau Field
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish opened the 2026 season with a statement victory Sunday night, defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 41-13 at historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
The final score made the game look like a comfortable Notre Dame victory from start to finish. It wasn’t.
For much of the first half, Wisconsin gave the fourth-ranked Irish everything they could handle. Notre Dame’s offense struggled to find consistency, the Badgers controlled stretches of the game and Wisconsin went into halftime believing it had a legitimate chance to pull off a major upset.
Then the second half arrived.
Notre Dame completely changed the complexion of the game, outscoring Wisconsin 28-3 after halftime and turning what had been a competitive contest into a convincing Irish victory.
Notre Dame Struggles to Find Its Rhythm Early
The first half was hardly the dominant performance Notre Dame fans were expecting.
Wisconsin’s defense did a good job limiting the Irish running game and keeping quarterback C.J. Carr from getting into a comfortable rhythm. Notre Dame managed only 1.8 yards per rush in the first half, while the Irish were held without a third-down conversion during the opening two quarters.
Wisconsin also made several plays that gave the Badgers momentum.
Notre Dame did manage to strike first with a touchdown from Carr to James Flanigan, but Wisconsin answered with a touchdown of its own when Malachi Coleman hauled in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Colton Joseph.
The Badgers entered halftime trailing just 13-10.
Considering Notre Dame was a three-touchdown favorite entering the game, Wisconsin had to be feeling pretty good about its position.
The Irish, however, were about to put together a completely different performance.
The Second-Half Notre Dame Team Finally Appears
Whatever Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff said in the locker room at halftime appeared to work.
The Irish came out of the locker room with considerably more energy and execution on both sides of the football.
Notre Dame immediately began finding openings in the Wisconsin defense, while the Irish defense became increasingly disruptive against the Badgers’ offense.
The difference was striking: Notre Dame averaged 7.4 yards per play after halftime and Wisconsin managed only 1.4 yards per rushing attempt during the second half.
The Irish took control with a long third-quarter drive that ended with Aneyas Williams punching the ball into the end zone.
Then came the play that effectively broke the game open.
Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph attempted to make a play downfield, but Notre Dame cornerback DJ McKinney intercepted the pass and raced 55 yards for a touchdown.
Just like that, a 20-10 Notre Dame lead became 27-10.
Wisconsin never truly recovered.
Aneyas Williams Provides the Spark on the Ground
One of the biggest positives for Notre Dame was the performance of running back Aneyas Williams.
Williams carried the ball 20 times for 90 yards and scored two touchdowns, providing the Irish with a dependable presence in the running game as the night progressed.
His biggest impact came in the second half, when Notre Dame’s offensive line began creating more room and Williams took advantage.
After struggling to consistently run the football early, the Irish finally began generating chunk plays on the ground. Williams’ ability to keep the Wisconsin defense honest helped open up opportunities for Carr and the passing game.
His two touchdowns were exactly what Notre Dame needed to turn its second-half momentum into points.
C.J. Carr Delivers a Strong Opening Performance
Carr’s night was another encouraging sign for the Irish.
The junior quarterback completed 19 of 29 passes for 239 yards, throwing two touchdowns without an interception. Even though the offense wasn’t particularly sharp in the first half, Carr remained composed and eventually began finding more opportunities downfield.
He connected with nine different Notre Dame receivers, showing just how many weapons the Irish can utilize in the passing game.
Carr’s final numbers were solid, but the most encouraging aspect may have been the way he responded after a relatively quiet first half.
As Notre Dame’s offense began clicking after halftime, Carr became more aggressive and efficient.
Jordan Faison Leads the Irish Receiving Attack
Jordan Faison was one of Carr’s most important targets throughout the night.
Faison finished with four receptions for 81 yards, including a 30-yard reception that helped demonstrate the big-play potential of Notre Dame’s receiving corps.
His ability to stretch the field gave Wisconsin another problem to deal with once the Irish running game started getting going.
Notre Dame’s passing attack ultimately became much more balanced as the game progressed, with multiple receivers making meaningful contributions.
James Flanigan Has a Special Night at Lambeau
Few players had a more memorable night than James Flanigan.
The Green Bay native caught Notre Dame’s first touchdown of the night on a three-yard reception from Carr, giving the Irish an early 10-3 advantage.
Flanigan’s touchdown was particularly meaningful because his father and grandfather, both named Jim Flanigan, played for the Green Bay Packers. Scoring a touchdown at Lambeau Field in front of his hometown crowd made the moment even more special.
It was a perfect storyline for a game being played at one of the most iconic venues in American football.
Nolan James Jr. Adds the Finishing Touch
With the outcome essentially decided, Notre Dame wasn’t finished.
Carr connected with Nolan James Jr. for a 28-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, pushing the Irish lead to 40-13 before the extra point.
James Jr. also contributed on the ground, finishing with seven carries for 19 yards while adding four receptions for 67 yards.
His late touchdown provided the final offensive highlight of an impressive second-half performance.
DJ McKinney’s Pick-Six Changes Everything
While Notre Dame’s offense deserves plenty of credit, DJ McKinney may have delivered the game’s biggest individual defensive play.
His 55-yard interception return for a touchdown came early in the third quarter and completely changed the momentum.
Wisconsin had already seen Notre Dame begin to pull away, but the pick-six turned a competitive game into a potential blowout.
From there, the Irish defense continued to make life difficult for the Badgers.
Notre Dame finished the game with two takeaways while Wisconsin turned the ball over twice.
Notre Dame’s Defense Takes Over After Halftime
The defensive performance was particularly impressive considering Wisconsin had success moving the ball early.
Once the Irish adjusted, however, Wisconsin struggled to sustain drives.
The Badgers finished with 284 total yards, while Notre Dame’s defense held them to just 1.4 yards per rushing attempt during the second half.
The Irish also received important contributions from the defensive front, including a sack from Boubacar Traore and another from Femi Brewu late in the contest.
The secondary also made the biggest play of the game with McKinney’s interception return.
Notre Dame’s defense wasn’t perfect, but it became significantly more physical and disruptive as the night progressed.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The final statistics illustrate just how dramatically the game changed.
Notre Dame finished with 350 total yards compared with Wisconsin’s 284, but the most important number was the scoring margin after halftime.
Notre Dame 28, Wisconsin 3.
That second-half explosion turned a three-point halftime lead into a 28-point victory.
The Irish also finished with 20 first downs compared with Wisconsin’s 16 and averaged 5.7 yards per play for the game. Most importantly, Notre Dame protected the football and finished with zero turnovers.
A Promising Start to the 2026 Season
Notre Dame didn’t play a perfect game at Lambeau Field.
In fact, the first half exposed some areas the Irish will need to clean up.
The running game was inconsistent early. The offense struggled on third down. Wisconsin’s defense was able to disrupt Notre Dame’s rhythm and keep the game within one possession for most of the first half.
But the response was exactly what Notre Dame needed.
The Irish came out of halftime and looked like a completely different football team.
Carr settled in. Williams found running room. Faison made big plays. James contributed a late touchdown. McKinney delivered a momentum-changing pick-six. And the Notre Dame defense gradually took control of the game.
That’s what made the 41-13 victory so encouraging.
Notre Dame didn’t simply beat Wisconsin. The Irish weathered a difficult first half, made adjustments and then dominated the final 30 minutes.
The victory gives Notre Dame a 1-0 start to the 2026 season and provides plenty of momentum heading into next week’s matchup with Rice.
If the Irish can build on the football they played in the second half at Lambeau Field, Notre Dame could be in for a very interesting season.
Check out the game highlights:
Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin 2026 FAQ
What was the final score of Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin?
Notre Dame defeated Wisconsin 41-13 on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Did Notre Dame struggle against Wisconsin in the first half?
Yes. Notre Dame had a relatively slow start offensively and led Wisconsin only 13-10 at halftime. The Badgers were able to keep the Irish offense from finding much consistency during the opening two quarters.
How did Notre Dame pull away from Wisconsin?
The Irish made significant adjustments at halftime and dominated the second half. Notre Dame outscored Wisconsin 28-3 after halftime, with the offense becoming more effective while the defense created turnovers and consistently pressured the Badgers.
Who was Notre Dame’s leading rusher against Wisconsin?
Aneyas Williams led Notre Dame’s rushing attack with 90 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns. His production became particularly important as the Irish established more of a running game in the second half.
How did C.J. Carr play against Wisconsin?
C.J. Carr had a strong overall performance, completing 19 of 29 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Carr became more effective as the game progressed and helped Notre Dame’s offense explode in the second half.
Who led Notre Dame in receiving?
Jordan Faison led the Irish with four receptions for 81 yards. He also had Notre Dame’s longest reception of the night, a 30-yard catch.
Which Notre Dame defensive player had the biggest play?
DJ McKinney provided one of the biggest plays of the game when he intercepted Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph and returned the interception 55 yards for a touchdown. The pick-six helped Notre Dame seize control of the game in the third quarter.
Who scored Notre Dame’s first touchdown?
James Flanigan caught a three-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Carr in the first quarter for Notre Dame’s opening touchdown. The touchdown was especially memorable because Flanigan is from Green Bay and his family has strong ties to the Green Bay Packers.
What was the biggest difference between the first and second halves?
Notre Dame’s execution improved dramatically after halftime. The Irish became more effective running the football, Carr and the passing game found more opportunities, and the defense became increasingly disruptive. The result was a 28-3 advantage for Notre Dame in the second half.
What is Notre Dame’s record after beating Wisconsin?
The victory moved Notre Dame to 1-0 to begin the 2026 college football season. The Irish will next face the Rice Owls on September 12.
