On one side of Sunday’s Wisconsin Badgers vs. Notre Dame, you have the Badgers looking to build themselves up after a desolate 2025.
On the other, you have the Irish, under head coach Marcus Freeman. While Freeman has carved himself a role as one of the nation’s best coaches, that doesn’t mean he is without his faults, the biggest being the Irish's struggle to string early-season wins together.
In 2025, Notre Dame fell to the Miami Hurricanes in a thrilling 27-24 loss, and then they lost again one week later against Texas A&M in a 41-40 shootout.
In the 2024 campaign, one of the most historic upsets in recent history occurred as the Northern Illinois Huskies took down the Irish 16-14 in a mesmerizing Week 2 matchup.
Back in 2022, the Irish lost
in both weeks one and two to the Ohio State Buckeyes and Marshall Thundering Herd with 21-10 and 26-21 losses, respectively.
Can Wisconsin capitalize on Notre Dame's early struggles?
"Blocked at the line of scrimmage. And the Huskies are celebrating the biggest upset in the school's history."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 7, 2024
Dan Hicks on the call as Northern Illinois blocks a FG to seal an upset win over No. 5 Notre Dame. pic.twitter.com/bWV8uphoQe
2023 is the only season in Freeman’s tenure when the Irish haven’t lost at least one of their first two games, but they finished just 9-3 that year and made an appearance in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.
While these are promising stats that will inevitably bolster beliefs for the Badgers, it is also key to remember that each team that played the Irish close was strong enough to do so.
For a Wisconsin team that is coming off a season of just four wins, and with pressure building on current head coach Luke Fickell, there is no guarantee that they will put themselves in the position like the others have.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: How Notre Dame's past could come back to haunt them vs. Wisconsin
