(UW ATHLETICS) GREEN BAY – The Wisconsin football team opened the 2026 season under the lights at Lambeau Field on Sunday night, falling 41-13 to the No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The Badgers (0-1) kept Notre Dame’s (1-0) offense in check early on, but Notre Dame outscored the Badgers 28-3 in the second stanza to put the game out of reach.
Badgers coach Luke Fickell said that the season really begins now.
Fickell said that his team prepared and that this is a journey.
Badgers quarterback Colton Joseph said that it’s not a 1 game season.
He has a lot of confidence in the offense and defense.
Early on, Wisconsin’s defense stifled the Fighting Irish offensive attack. Sebastian Cheeks forced a fumble on a third down strip-sack. The next play, OLB Liam Danitz blocked the Irish punt, setting up the Badgers with good field position at the Notre Dame 37-yard line.
K Gavin Lahm capped the ensuing Wisconsin drive to give the Badgers a 3-0 lead, converting a 27-yard field goal, the first of his career.
Notre Dame responded with a 10-point swing, converting a field goal and recovering a Badger fumble on a Wisconsin kick return. The Irish led 10-3 at the end of the first quarter.
P Sean West created some momentum for the Badgers with a perfectly-placed 70-yard punt from the set up for the Wisconsin 20-yard line. West’s booming punt trickled inside the Notre Dame five yard line and rolled out of bounds inside the one. After UW’s defense forced a quick three-and-out, the Badgers were set up with an advantageous field position, starting their drive at the Notre Dame 48-yard line.
Wisconsin evened the score moments later when Colton Joseph linked with WR Malachi Coleman for a 28-yard touchdown strike. Playing in their first games as Badgers, the duo connected on a double-move route down the sideline. With 12:41 to play in the first half, the score was knotted at 10.
Notre Dame knocked in a 26-yard field goal on the next Irish drive and held a 13-10 advantage at the break. Wisconsin’s defense held stout against the Irish rushing attack, holding Notre Dame to only 29 rushing yards in the first half.
Notre Dame’s offense took control early in the second half, posting a rushing score on their opening second-half drive to pull ahead by 10. On the next Wisconsin drive, the Irish picked off Joseph and returned the ball for a score, giving Notre Dame a 27-10 advantage.
Wisconsin continued to fight back, and kicked another field goal with 14 seconds remaining in the quarter, shrinking the gap to 27-13.
However, Notre Dame scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
LB Mason Posa’s standout defensive performance, marked by 15 tackles, broke his previous single game career record. This was two more than the 13 he logged last season vs. No. 6 Oregon.
Joseph finished his Wisconsin debut 19 of 30 for a total of 217 yards. RB Abu Sama III, also playing for the first time in a Badger uniform, led the rushing game with 49 total yards.
UP NEXT: Wisconsin will welcome Western Illinois to Camp Randall Stadium for its home 2026 home opener on Saturday, Sept. 12. Kickoff is slated for 6:15 p.m., with the game airing on Big Ten Network.
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