Notre Dame opened the 2026-27 college football season with a 41-13 victory over Wisconsin, according to game statistics reported by Yahoo Sports. The Fighting Irish secured a decisive win after overcoming a traditional early-game emotional hurdle, establishing a 350-to-284 yardage advantage over the Badgers.
C.J. Carr Leads Notre Dame Offense in Week 1 Win
Quarterback C.J. Carr opened the season under center for Notre Dame, building on his freshman campaign by completing 19 of 29 pass attempts for 239 yards and two touchdowns, according to Yahoo Sports. Carr posted a 66% completion rate, distributing the ball effectively through offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s system. Senior wide receiver Jordan Faison paced the receiving corps with four catches for 81 yards. Sophomore running back Nolan James Jr. contributed significantly as a dual threat, recording seven carries for 19 yards alongside four receptions for 67 yards and a receiving touchdown. Junior running back Aneyas Williams anchored the ground game with 20 carries for 90 yards and two rushing touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per carry as part of a three-back committee.
Defensive Stops and Defensive Scores Seal the Game
Notre Dame’s defense weathered a slow start before shutting down the Wisconsin attack in the second half, according to Yahoo Sports data. Senior cornerback DJ McKinney contributed a pivotal defensive score by returning an interception 55 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter. Senior linebacker Kahanu Kia added a special teams fumble recovery to stall Wisconsin momentum. Up front, senior defensive lineman Boubacar Traore and junior defensive lineman Francis Brewu each tallied three tackles and one sack, helping the Irish defense finish the matchup with two sacks, six tackles for loss, and five pass deflections.
Comparing Yardage and Scoring Momentum
The final score reflected a game that tilted heavily toward Notre Dame after halftime, as reported by Yahoo Sports. The Irish outscored Wisconsin 10-3 in the first quarter before the Badgers claimed a narrow 7-3 edge in the second frame. Notre Dame dominated the second half, putting up 14 points in each of the final two quarters while limiting Wisconsin to three points in the third. In total yardage, the Irish finished +66 over the Badgers, edging them 239-217 in passing yards and 111-67 in rushing yards.
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