While the first half went exactly to plan, as theBadgerswere keeping the game a rock fight at a13-10 deficit, everything fell to shreds in the second half.
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Today's task is to go over Wisconsin's three biggest losers from thatterrible loss.
No. 1 Harrison Bortolotti
The sophomore running back was thrown into the biggest game of his life against the Irish, and the former unranked prospect gave away one of Wisconsin's two turnovers that helped suck the life out of the eventual 41-13 loss.
No. 2 Luke Fickell
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell leads his team to the field before their game against Notre Dame Sunday, September 6, 2026 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal S, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell reacts at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. (2) rushes teh ball past Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Mason Posa (8) at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers punter Sean West (91) reacts after a punt in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Abu Sama III (3) rushes the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Abu Sama III (3) rushes the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Wisconsin linebacker Sebastian Cheeks (15) forces a fumble by Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr (13) during the first quarter of their game Sunday, September 6, 2026 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Notre Dame recovered the ball.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal S, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers place kicker Gavin Lahm (97) kicks a field goal against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Darrion Dupree (6) rushes the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Colton Joseph (1) drops back to pass in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Malachi Coleman (4) reacts after making a catch for a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Malachi Coleman (4) reacts after making a catch for a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Colton Joseph (1) drops back to pass in the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. (13) makes a catch against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Colton Joseph (1) rushes the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Adon Shuler (8) in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell leads his team to the field before their game against Notre Dame Sunday, September 6, 2026 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal S, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell leads his team to the field before their game against Notre Dame Sunday, September 6, 2026 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal S, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
2/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell reacts at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
3/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. (2) rushes teh ball past Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Mason Posa (8) at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
4/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers punter Sean West (91) reacts after a punt in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
5/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Abu Sama III (3) rushes the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
6/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Abu Sama III (3) rushes the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
7/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Wisconsin linebacker Sebastian Cheeks (15) forces a fumble by Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr (13) during the first quarter of their game Sunday, September 6, 2026 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Notre Dame recovered the ball.
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal S, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
8/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers place kicker Gavin Lahm (97) kicks a field goal against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
9/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Darrion Dupree (6) rushes the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
10/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Colton Joseph (1) drops back to pass in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
11/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Malachi Coleman (4) reacts after making a catch for a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
12/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Malachi Coleman (4) reacts after making a catch for a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
13/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Colton Joseph (1) drops back to pass in the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
14/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. (13) makes a catch against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
15/15
The best photos from Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame Shamrock Series
Sep 6, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Colton Joseph (1) rushes the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Adon Shuler (8) in the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Let's be realistic: no one was super confident, but at this point you would have almost preferred a complete blowout instead of getting the rug pulled from under them into the third quarter, almost leaving a sourer taste in fans' mouths. Fickell deserved an A for that first half that quickly dropped to an F.
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No. 3 Colton Joseph (rushing)
Joseph won't go up against many harder defenses in his collegiate career. What madeJosephsuch a tantalizing prospect was his ability to pick up the hard yards on the ground; instead, his Badgers debut ended with 3 yards across 12 carries, though it's worth noting that his offensive line wasn't at 100%. Either way, fans haven't forgotten about his 75-yard rushing touchdown against Indiana in Week 1 last season, and that's something UW didn't get out of him in this 28-point loss.
