The Wisconsin Badgers opened the 2026 season with a 41-13 loss to Notre Dame on Sunday night at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI.
Wisconsin hung around for the first half, trailing just 13-10 at halftime, but the game quickly got away from the Badgers once the second half came around.
Here are three takeaways from the season opener.
1. The second half was a completely different game
Wisconsin looked competitive through the first 30 minutes, but Notre Dame dominated after halftime. The Fighting Irish scored 28 unanswered points in the second half, including a pick-six that pushed the lead to 27-10. Wisconsin simply couldn't sustain the momentum it had built early.
2. Colton Joseph showed positive flashes
The debut wasn't perfect, but Joseph gave Wisconsin some reasons for optimism. He completed 19 of 30 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown.
His best moment came on a 28-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Coleman, who could quickly become one of the Badgers' most important offensive weapons.
3. Turnovers and the run game remain concerns
Wisconsin finished with just 121 rushing yards, while Joseph's third-quarter interception was returned for a touchdown. Against a team as talented as Notre Dame, those mistakes are difficult to overcome.
The Badgers have plenty to clean up before Week 2, particularly on special teams, as seen with the muffed kickoff return that arguably flipped this game upside down.
The Badgers have a short turnaround as their next game is on Saturday, Sept. 12, against the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Camp Randall Stadium.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Three takeaways from Wisconsin's 41-13 loss vs. Notre Dame
