2026 Week 1 Prediction Poll: (4) ND vs. Wisconsin

Predict the Margin of Victory: (4) ND vs. Wiscy

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IRISHDODGER

IRISHDODGER

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Wisconsin has a few good early drives until the defense gets locked in. I think Grimes has CoJo mix in a short passing game to keep Irish honest. He’s going to keep a ton. They didn’t name him the starter to be treated with kid gloves. Fickell wants this win more than he’s letting on. He’s taking the B1G company line that they may keep some guys out who are banged up since it’s a non-conference game. BS, they’re tired of hearing ND’s battle cry of Leave No Doubt.

ND‘s offense could start the game w/ a few empty drives and score will be tight at halftime leading to a meltdown in ND msg boards everywhere. If NDs OL gels early and shows they may be better than just ‘good’, they pull away and win easily. If not, they win but don’t cover.
 
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arrowryan

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I’m struggling to understand some people’s reasoning as to why Wisconsin will score early because “the defense will need a couple drives to figure them out, but then also say Notre Dame might have a few empty possessions in the first half.

While that is certainly possible, does the Wisconsin defense not need to figure out the Irish offense? Is Notre Dame not the team returning a BUNCH of returning production (especially on defense), returning starting QB, returning HC/OC/DC, and isn’t banking on 40 portal players to have gelled?

It’s just confusing to me.
 
Some Irish Bloke

Some Irish Bloke

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arrowryan said:
I’m struggling to understand some people’s reasoning as to why Wisconsin will score early because “the defense will need a couple drives to figure them out, but then also say Notre Dame might have a few empty possessions in the first half.

While that is certainly possible, does the Wisconsin defense not need to figure out the Irish offense? Is Notre Dame not the team returning a BUNCH of returning production (especially on defense), returning starting QB, returning HC/OC/DC, and isn’t banking on 40 portal players to have gelled?

It’s just confusing to me.
Click to expand...
Bed wetters
 
IRISHDODGER

IRISHDODGER

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arrowryan said:
I’m struggling to understand some people’s reasoning as to why Wisconsin will score early because “the defense will need a couple drives to figure them out, but then also say Notre Dame might have a few empty possessions in the first half.

While that is certainly possible, does the Wisconsin defense not need to figure out the Irish offense? Is Notre Dame not the team returning a BUNCH of returning production (especially on defense), returning starting QB, returning HC/OC/DC, and isn’t banking on 40 portal players to have gelled?

It’s just confusing to me.
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Well since you seem to be passively referring to my post (which is fine), my guess (and that’s all it is b/c I don’t have any insights & have yet To see either team play) is that even a bad running QB can break a few early runs whereas ND’s QB doesn’t have that ability as a wild card. The Wiscy D is reportedly excellent at stopping the run but you’re right about all the transfers so who knows how the backend looks? The CB from ASU will be interesting to watch. Wiscy has no burners at WR but they have the size advantage. Doesn’t mean they’ll win the matchup w/ ND’s secondary but if they get in the RZ, they’ll have the height advantage. That’s why I don’t mind a few empty drives vs going for it deep in Irish territory where a TO on downs or INT/fumble sets Wiscy up for a short field. I’m sure I’ll be 100% wrong. But I’m still picking ND to win & that’s all I care about. Not picking them to dominate the entire game from start to finish doesn’t mean a fan doesn’t think ND will still win.
 
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arrowryan

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IRISHDODGER said:
Well since you seem to be passively referring to my post (which is fine), my guess (and that’s all it is b/c I don’t have any insights & have yet To see either team play) is that even a bad running QB can break a few early runs whereas ND’s QB doesn’t have that ability as a wild card. The Wiscy D is reportedly excellent at stopping the run but you’re right about all the transfers so who knows how the backend looks? The CB from ASU will be interesting to watch. Wiscy has no burners at WR but they have the size advantage. Doesn’t mean they’ll win the matchup w/ ND’s secondary but if they get in the RZ, they’ll have the height advantage. That’s why I don’t mind a few empty drives vs going for it deep in Irish territory where a TO on downs or INT/fumble sets Wiscy up for a short field. I’m sure I’ll be 100% wrong. But I’m still picking ND to win & that’s all I care about. Not picking them to dominate the entire game from start to finish doesn’t mean a fan doesn’t think ND will still win.
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I’m not picking your post individually. Seems like I’ve read predictions from several places that Notre Dame will have to adjust to Wisconsin’s offense. And that is true. But Wisconsin will have to do the same. Trying to adjust to/defend a QB that can make every throw in the book is much more difficult.
 
IRISHDODGER

IRISHDODGER

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arrowryan said:
I’m not picking your post individually. Seems like I’ve read predictions from several places that Notre Dame will have to adjust to Wisconsin’s offense. And that is true. But Wisconsin will have to do the same. Trying to adjust to/defend a QB that can make every throw in the book is much more difficult.
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I don’t disagree. Every year, I go into game one expecting anything b/c the press don’t know shit & when it comes to openers, I suspect even Vegas struggles more than usual. I go the contrarian route b/c sometimes “Murphy‘s Law” (a good Irish guy I’m sure) kicks in.
 
SWirishfan

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arrowryan said:
I’m not picking your post individually. Seems like I’ve read predictions from several places that Notre Dame will have to adjust to Wisconsin’s offense. And that is true. But Wisconsin will have to do the same. Trying to adjust to/defend a QB that can make every throw in the book is much more difficult.
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I think the adjustment argument goes like this
- Wisconsin has a new portal QB starting,
- 5 new WRs with 3 in the likely rotation,
- 3 portal RBs including the projected starter and 1 of 2 off the bench,
- Portal starter at TE,
- 2 OL portal starters, 3 if Heywood cannot play
This could go horrible for them (no one clicks) or great

ND replaces 2 NFL 1st rounders at RB, 1 replacement has a good amount of tape out there from his FR year
ND needs to replace 1 NFL 3rd rounder boundary WR
Not as much has changed with the likely net effect of degradation in RB play.

The ND Defense has more unknown variables to contend with than the Wisconsin Defense
I admit this is a lazy argument since it does not account for the talent of ND's defense, but it seems to be the argument. Wisconsin has more known unknowns that ND will need to deal with in the initial quarter
 
Dale

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SWirishfan said:
The ND Defense has more unknown variables to contend with than the Wisconsin Defense
I admit this is a lazy argument since it does not account for the talent of ND's defense, but it seems to be the argument. Wisconsin has more known unknowns that ND will need to deal with in the initial quarter
Click to expand...

I think the counter to that would be Wisconsin has more unknowns for Wisconsin to deal with, independent of ND. Besides the LB duo, essentially none of these players have played with each other and while that brings uncertainty I guess to ND, I think it brings uncertainty to Wisconsin themselves at a far greater impact. Just spot the ball if you’re ND against an “unknown” inferior opponent. A challenge like Miami was different because the unknowns of their secondary, Beck, Toney etc were just way more talented.
 
SWirishfan

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Dale said:
I think the counter to that would be Wisconsin has more unknowns for Wisconsin to deal with, independent of ND. Besides the LB duo, essentially none of these players have played with each other and while that brings uncertainty I guess to ND, I think it brings uncertainty to Wisconsin themselves at a far greater impact. Just spot the ball if you’re ND against an “unknown” inferior opponent. A challenge like Miami was different because the unknowns of their secondary, Beck, Toney etc were just way more talented.
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I agree. I was trying to quantify the variabilities of the Offenses since the question was ND's D necessary adjustments.

O vs. D is a system that reacts dynamically. You really cannot assess either side in isolation.
 
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arrowryan

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SWirishfan said:
I think the adjustment argument goes like this
- Wisconsin has a new portal QB starting,
- 5 new WRs with 3 in the likely rotation,
- 3 portal RBs including the projected starter and 1 of 2 off the bench,
- Portal starter at TE,
- 2 OL portal starters, 3 if Heywood cannot play
This could go horrible for them (no one clicks) or great

ND replaces 2 NFL 1st rounders at RB, 1 replacement has a good amount of tape out there from his FR year
ND needs to replace 1 NFL 3rd rounder boundary WR
Not as much has changed with the likely net effect of degradation in RB play.

The ND Defense has more unknown variables to contend with than the Wisconsin Defense
I admit this is a lazy argument since it does not account for the talent of ND's defense, but it seems to be the argument. Wisconsin has more known unknowns that ND will need to deal with in the initial quarter
Click to expand...

Unless philosophies and schemes changed, I don’t see the argument. Personnel changes shouldn’t be too difficult.
 
jerseyborn1971

jerseyborn1971

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Only one team has turned over their roster that much with transfers and been successful at high degree. And Luke Fickell isn't Kurt "The Tough Guy" Cignetti.
 
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