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Notre Dame football: Team effort moves Brian Kelly past Knute Rockne

By Daniel Morrison

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 25: Graham Mertz #5 of the Wisconsin Badgers tries to get off a pass as he's hit by Blake Fisher #54 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Soldier Field on September 25, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 25: Graham Mertz #5 of the Wisconsin Badgers tries to get off a pass as he's hit by Blake Fisher #54 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Soldier Field on September 25, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Sep 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Notre Dame Football running back Kyren Williams (23) gains yardage during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Notre Dame Football running back Kyren Williams (23) gains yardage during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Notre Dame football team moved their record to 4-0 on the young season, while helping their head coach move past Knute Rockne.

Through one quarter against Wisconsin, it was more of the ‘same old same old on the nothing new’ for Notre Dame football. The offensive line was dominated, giving up three sacks in as many drives. The running game couldn’t get going, again largely due to those offensive line struggles, and Jack Coan continued to be great when he was on and terrible when he was off. It would be nice if he kept things going well.

At least on the defensive side of the ball, the Irish were swarming, having only given up a field goal off a short field from a bad punt. Otherwise, the defense looked great early.

Early in the second, Brian Kelly showed some aggression, going for it on fourth down, which ultimately lead to a long field goal kick. The defense responded by continuing to dominate, harassing a Wisconsin team that didn’t have any business throwing the ball, and forcing a bad ball by Graham Mertz that was picked by Cam Hart for a short field.

Jack Coan responded by throwing his own interception, though a pass interference call took it back. Ultimately, that drive ended with a bomb to Kevin Austin for six.

Graham Mertz fumbled a snap with thirty seconds left in the half from the Wisconsin 15, but the Badgers got back on top of it. Notre Dame football used their timeouts to force a punt but ultimately knelt on the ball after a good punt.

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