When Notre Dame opens the season against Wisconsin, the Irish will be expected to roll to victory. Marcus Freeman’s squad has talked all offseason about focus and execution. The Badgers have had to talk all offseason about why Luke Fickell still has a job.
The Golden Domers also have the opportunity to open their season with a win over a Power 4 team. Even if Wisconsin isn’t where it was a few years ago, it’s still something the Irish can point to at the end of the year when SEC, Big 12 and ACC fans start complaining about rankings.
Having said all that, Notre Dame also can’t take the Badgers too lightly. By most accounts, Fickell has taken steps to improve his roster in the right way. There’s quite a bit of optimism that at least his squad can go back to respectability. And some analysts have even pegged the Badgers as a possible trap game for Freeman’s squad.
There is also a CBS Sports prediction that Wisconsin could be one of those teams that were very bad in 2025 but are bound for a bounce-back season in 2026. Arkansas, Kansas State, Florida, Penn State, Oklahoma State, UCLA, Virginia Tech, South Carolina and the Badgers were the teams predicted to have a bit of a turnaround.
Notre Dame cannot overlook Wisconsin despite Luke Fickell’s recent struggles
Some of those teams, like UCLA and Oklahoma State, have had more than one bad season. The Cowboys have, in fact, been one of the worst teams in college football. And yet, with a new coach and lots of Transfer Portal additions, the Big 12 squad is expected to be much better than it’s been in the last few years.
Wisconsin is in a different boat because mediocrity has been its curse more than being downright bad. That’s also why they’re a candidate for a turnaround season.
“The Badgers better find a way to turn things around, or it could mean the end for Luke Fickell in Madison. Wisconsin hasn't shown any improvement since he arrived, posting fewer wins in each of the past two seasons -- from 7-6 in 2023 to 5-7 in 2024 to 4-8 last fall. Fickell needs to get back on track, and even seven wins would only return the Badgers to where they stood in his first season,” Cody Nagel wrote.
That’s hardly a glowing recommendation. Nagel went on to say that an easier schedule will help Wisconsin get back to respectability. It’s clear he’s not convinced Fickell has the juice for a legitimately successful season.
A win over Notre Dame to start the season would certainly kick off their march back to the level they were at just five years ago. It’s a safe bet Fickell and his coaches have been talking about taking one from the Irish and what that would mean to the team all offseason.
Marcus Freeman and his group cannot allow themselves to let up for just those reasons. Notre Dame has to do its best to derail any bounce-back hopes the Badgers might hold as early as possible.
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