The University of Notre Dame football team, powered by a dominant second half, defeated Wisconsin, 41-13, in the 13th edition of the Shamrock Series in Lambeau Field.
The Irish outscored the Badgers 28-3 in the second half while holding them to 1.4 yards per rush over the game’s final 30 minutes.
CJ Carr finished the game 19-for-29 passing for 239 yards, completing passes to nine different receivers. Aneyas Williams scored two rushing touchdowns on 90 yards rushing.
It was a ragged start for both teams. The offenses started with three-and-outs and Notre Dame avoided disaster deep in its own territory when CJ Carr was hit from behind and fumbled looking downfield. Styles Prescod, making his first career start tonight, jumped on the ball and Notre Dame lined up to punt.
That punt was partially blocked and Wisconsin took possession at the Notre Dame 37-yard line. The Badgers took advantage of the short field to get a 27-yard field goal in nine plays, getting two first downs before stops by Drayk Bowen and Leonard Moore forced the kick attempt.
Notre Dame evened the game with a field goal scoring drive of its own that included a fourth-down conversion from Aneyas Williams and 37 passing yards from CJ Carr. Two incomplete passes just over midfield forced a third and long which was followed by a middle screen to Jayden Greathouse to inch into field goal range.
Spencer Porath then drilled a 52-yard field goal to mark his first attempt and conversion in a Notre Dame uniform.
Another special teams error, this time from Wisconsin, gave the Irish a chance to take the lead. Badger kick returner Harrison Bortolotti muffed the catch on the return and Kahanu Kia jumped on the ball after it bounced off Bortolotti’s pads. The recovery at the Wisconsin 13-yard line provided an instant red zone opportunity for the Irish.
A Wisconsin unnecessary roughness penalty gave Notre Dame first and goal at the six and one play later, Green Bay, Wisconsin native James Flanigan caught his first career touchdown pass on a well-executed play-action pass.
The Irish defense earned a quick three and out which was keyed by back-to-back passes broken up from Jayden Sanders. Wisconsin’s punter then uncorked a picture-perfect 69-yard punt that dribbled out of bounds at the one-yard line. Notre Dame earned just five yards before punting it away and the Badgers successfully flipped field position by getting the drive started at the Notre Dame 48-yard line.
Two plays later the game was tied. Wisconsin got 20 yards on a five-yard rush and tacked on 15 yards on illegal hands to the face by the Irish defense. The Badgers then pulled off a great hitch-and-go route for a 28-yard touchdown pass to knot the game at 10-10.
Kedren Young came into the game on the ensuing Irish drive and on the first play, collected his first career reception for 11 yards. Carr then hit Micah Gilbert for 18 yards and Faison for a 30-yard catch and run to the Wisconsin 13-yard line. The drive stalled there and Porath connected from 26 yards to put the Irish back in front 13-10 with 8:53 left in the second quarter.
The Badgers compiled a short drive, keyed by a 20-yard catch on third down to move into Notre Dame territory. Bowen then stepped up with a tackle-for-loss on a quarterback run followed by dropping the tight end for a two-yard catch. A Moore PBU forced a fourth-and-10 and Wisconsin punted into the end zone.
Both teams had one more possession each before halftime but neither team could put points on the board and the Irish maintained a three-point lead at halftime.
Notre Dame’s offense came out of the locker room and put together its best drive of the game. Two check-down throws to Irish running backs, 11 yards to Williams and 28 yards to Nolan James Jr. placed the ball at the Wisconsin six-yard line. An illegal substitution penalty on the Badgers moved the ball to the three where one play later, Williams jumped through a hole on the left side of the Irish line to score his first touchdown of the season. The drive covered 70 yards in nine plays.
The Irish defense then pushed the Irish lead even further. On the third play of the next drive DJ McKinney nabbed an overthrown pass and returned it 55 yards down the right sidelines for a touchdown. The interception was the first for McKinney at Notre Dame, the fifth of his career, his second pick six of his career and the third for the Irish against Wisconsin in the past two Shamrock Series games against the Badgers.
Wisconsin methodically drove down the field into the red zone but the Irish made them earn every yard. Adon Shuler came up to put a big hit on the quarterback during a designed run to force third and five at the Irish 19. Moore then tracked down the back on a run bounced outside for just a two-yard gain and a field goal attempt. The kick was good and the Irish lead fell to 27-13.
The Irish then scored on their second consecutive drive of the half. Faison started it out with a 29-yard catch across midfield then it became Aneyas Williams’ time. He rushed five consecutive times for three, 12, two, 16 yards before a one-yard score for his second touchdown of the game. The Irish were up 34-13 with 10:48 remaining in the game.
The Badgers earned one first down on their next drive but the Irish defense flexed its muscles again. The stop was keyed by a Tionne Gray run stuff to push the Badgers to second and long before a short run and complete pass forced Wisconsin’s fifth punt of the game.
Notre Dame was not done scoring. Cooper Flanagan started the drive with a first down catch and Williams pushed his rushing total in the game to 90 yards with a 13-yard run. Moving into Badger territory on third down, Carr calmly sat in the pocket then threw a frozen rope across the field to an open James Jr., who then made his defender miss and scampered 28 yards for his first career touchdown with 1:51 remaining.
