Freeman reflected on the first half, noting that Wisconsin did well on certain man-beat concepts, while Notre Dame’s players suffered from poor eyes and inconsistent execution. “We have to continue to work on our eyes and our execution. You think of the first half — some sloppy first-half execution, including a blocked punt. We had a miscommunication with the coach call, and the punter heard certain things… we can’t allow that to happen. Then you look at the drives we didn’t sustain,” he said.
Penalties also disrupted drives, with pre-snap and holding calls on offensive linemen Sullivan Absher and Anthonie Knapp halting early possessions. Wisconsin’s plan exploited lapses in eye discipline, underscoring the need for tighter focus.
The coaching staff responded at halftime by ironing out communication issues and adjusting blocking schemes. Freeman emphasized a mental shift: let go of pre-game expectations and the idea of “leave no doubt,” and instead focus on execution and reducing self-inflicted penalties.
The turnaround was immediate. The Irish’ ground game came alive after the break, converting limited rushing production into momentum. Running backs found their aiming points with more precision, and Aneyas Williams powered touchdowns on three consecutive drives, finishing with 90 rushing yards and two scores. Quarterback C.J. Carr threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, while DJ McKinney, a transfer from Colorado, delivered a pivotal moment with a pick-six that extended the lead.
Wisconsin’s Colton Joseph completed 217 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception, but the Badgers couldn’t keep pace after Notre Dame cleaned up its errors. The Irish pulled away to win 41–13 and begin the season at 1–0.
Freeman’s takeaway after the game was unambiguous: blocked punts, miscommunications, and penalties nearly swung momentum in the first half. Such blunders cannot be tolerated if Notre Dame is to maintain championship aspirations. With the win, Notre Dame moves to 1–0 and will host Rice in the next game.
