Notre Dame Football: Wisconsin Badgers Q&A with Dillon Graff of Badgernotes
· Yahoo Sports
IT’S FINALLY HERE!!!
Visit extonnews.click for more information.
It was nice to get a tiny taste of college football last weekend with Week 0 action, but nothing quite hits like Week 1 and its full slate of games occurring over the long holiday weekend, with the action finally quieting (or wildly amplifying) all of the message board and Twitter nonsense we consumed and discussed over the summer.
Your Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, opening the season as #4 in the AP poll, will finally give fans the Lambeau Field matchup with the Wisconsin Badgers that we all thought was coming in 2020 before COVID happened. Wisconsin as a program is a little more down-on-its-luck than they were back when this was supposed to happen, but they’ve still got some interesting talent, lots of transfers, and a familiar face at the helm in Luke Fickell.
So, to understand what the Irish should expect out of a Wisconsin team with a lot on the line in terms of the future of their program, I reached out to Dillon Graff over at Badgernotes, an excellent site he runs that covers Wisconsin football and men’s basketball. I asked Dillon what Fickell needs to do to keep his job, what to expect from the Badgers’ transfer QB, how Wisconsin is looking in the trenches and on defense, and also a few really serious questions, like who wins in a cage match between Kalahari and Great Wolf Lodge. He provided some fantastic insight and well-thought-out responses that will be sure to make you feel more knowledgeable and revved-up for this Sunday night tilt in one of the most historic sports venues in America.
With all that said, let’s jump right into it and prepare ourselves for the season opener of the 2026 season, y’all!
***
1. What are the vibes for Badger fans right now, considering the 9-15 combined record the last two seasons and 17-21 overall record since Luke Fickell took the helm? Is this a do-or-die season for Fickell, and if so what kind of season does Wisconsin need to have in order for him to hold on to his job? If that doesn’t happen, could we see Bret Bielema Round 2 in Madison???
Dillon Graff, Badgernotes: I think the vibes in Madison are pretty simple: people are no longer willing to giveLuke Fickell the benefit of the doubt.
He came in with huge expectations, and instead Wisconsin has steadily gone backward over the past three seasons to the point where the program has looked borderline unrecognizable at times. There was a significant amount of financial investment in the roster this offseason, and I do think the staff feels considerably better about the depth, competition, and number of playable options it has. But after three years of declining results, it’s hard to assume that means the program is suddenly headed in the right direction.
Wisconsin also has a new athletic director inShawn Eichorst, and Fickell still carries a pretty significant buyout figure, so I don’t think the situation is quite as simple as saying he has to win X number of games or he’s automatically gone. But Fickell’s seat is plenty hot.
With a more manageable schedule this season, I think seven wins should be the absolute minimum expectation. Anything less than that would feel unacceptable given the resources poured into this roster. At the same time, I’m not willing to assume Wisconsin will suddenly start beating the same teams that have had their way with the Badgers the last couple of years. Their place in the Big Ten pecking order is a pretty far cry from where it used to be, and Fickell has to prove that gap is actually closing.
As for Bret Bielema Round 2 in Madison, I think you can probably take that one off the bingo card.
2. What does Old Dominion transfer QB Colton Joseph bring to the position that the Badgers haven’t had recently, and what about his abilities or experience concerns you as he takes the leap from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten? Also, what other weapons will he have to work with on the offensive side of the ball? What skill position names should ND fans know heading into this matchup?
Dillon Graff, Badgernotes: The simplest answer is thatColton Joseph gives Wisconsin a competent quarterback who also has the ability to be a legitimate difference-maker with his legs. Considering Fickell has had his preferred starting quarterback available for only 11 of the 37 games he’s coached at Wisconsin, and just two of the last 24, that would be a welcome change.
Joseph also fits much better with the direction Fickell and Jeff Grimes want this offense to go. His mobility is what makes him particularly intriguing. He was one of only two FBS quarterbacks last season to throw for more than 2,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000, and while I don’t expect him to approach those rushing totals in the Big Ten, his legs will absolutely be a major part of Wisconsin’s offense. Defenses have to account for him, and his ability to extend plays or create something when the structure breaks down should help raise the floor of an offense that desperately needs it.
As a passer, I think he’s capable, but that’s where the questions come in.
His average depth of target at Old Dominion suggests he’s comfortable pushing the ball downfield, but I’m skeptical Wisconsin will ask him to do that nearly as often. I think they want Joseph to take what’s there, protect the football, and let his athleticism create opportunities rather than asking him to carry the offense through the air. I’m also not ready to assume a quarterback making the jump from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten will immediately become a star. Joseph has to prove he can consistently make those throws against a much different level of competition.
As for the weapons around him, the backfield is probably where Wisconsin feels best. Iowa State transferAbu Sama III should be the 1A running back, with Darrion Dupree also expected to get plenty of work. I think Wisconsin feels very good about that combination, and both should get the football a lot.
Wide receiver is a much bigger question. Eugene Hilton Jr., son of former NFL wideout T.Y. Hilton, is probably the name Notre Dame fans should know first and has a chance to make a notable jump as a sophomore. Chris Brooks Jr. gives Wisconsin a bigger-bodied receiver who blocks well and should have a meaningful role, while Oklahoma State transfer Shamar Rigby brings great size at 6-foot-4 and is someone the staff believes could emerge as a playmaker. But I don’t think there’s an established No. 1 option that Notre Dame needs to be terrified of entering Week 1.
Grant Stec and Bowling Green transfer Jacob Harris give Wisconsin a couple of useful options at tight end as well, and I expect Grimes to involve that position quite a bit.
Ultimately, this offense will lean heavily on the running game. I don’t expect Notre Dame fans to lose much sleep over Wisconsin’s passing attack. This feels more like a group that will need to spread the ball around to several capable options rather than force-feed any one receiver, because I’m not convinced there’s a true star in the room. But if Joseph and those pass catchers can do enough to keep the Irish honest and prevent them from loading the box every snap, that would give the Badgers a much better chance to play the kind of game they want.
3. Wisconsin has often felt spiritually similar to ND over the years in terms of being a program that prides itself on strength in the trenches – how do the Badgers o-line and d-line look this year, and how do you think they match up with a team like the Irish?
Dillon Graff, Badgernotes: For all the ways Wisconsin and Notre Dame have historically felt similar in terms of priding themselves on winning in the trenches, the Badgers have experienced a pretty significant fall from grace there, particularly on the offensive line.
Wisconsin’s O-line has looked like anything but the traditional standard the last few years. Injuries have certainly contributed to that, but this is still a group trying to work its way back toward what people expect when they think aboutWisconsin football. I think this year’s unit, if healthy, has a chance to be solid. I’m certainly not ready to assume it’ll be anything more than that.
The biggest concern entering Notre Dame is health.
Projected right guard Emerson Mandell and right tackle Kevin Heywood, who I’d argue is Wisconsin’s most talented offensive lineman, missed most of fall camp with injuries. Both have returned in some capacity, but their statuses remain very much up in the air. That forced Wisconsin to spend camp developing some depth behind them. Regardless, there’s obviously a difference between having options and asking those options to hold up against a Notre Dame defensive front that will very likely be the most talented group Wisconsin sees all season.
If Heywood and Mandell are healthy, this is probably the best opportunity Wisconsin could ask for to find out how much progress it has actually made. Without them, I think the Badgers could have a hell of a time holding their own up front.
I feel considerably better about Wisconsin’s defensive line.
That’s one area where I think Mike Tressel and his staff have much more clearly figured out what they want to be schematically. They’ve prioritized size, experience and, perhaps most importantly, having enough playable bodies to rotate heavily and keep everyone fresh. Charles Perkins, West Virginia transfer Hammond Russell IV, and 331-pound Buffalo transfer Junior Poyser headline a room with several different options Wisconsin feels comfortable putting on the field. Nobody will play 50-60 snaps.
The Badgers were already pretty stout against the run last season, finishing as a top 15 unit, and despite how different the personnel looks, I expect that to remain one of the strengths of this defense. They should have enough size and depth to make Notre Dame work for things on the ground rather than simply getting pushed around.
Of course, Notre Dame is the most talented team Wisconsin will see all season, so projecting exactly how either group holds up with so many new pieces is difficult. But entering this matchup, I feel much better about Wisconsin’s defensive line holding its own against Notre Dame than I do about the offensive line.
4. Who/what are the strengths of this Wiscy defense, and where do you think there are weaknesses/vulnerabilities that ND could exploit?
Dillon Graff, Badgernotes: I think the biggest strength of Wisconsin’s defense is that there are viable options almost everywhere, which is something that they haven’t had the past few seasons.
This staff has accumulated and developed considerably more playable depth than in years past, which should allow the staff to keep guys fresh and, more importantly, match personnel to what an offense is trying to do.
They’ve got different body types and skill sets along the defensive front, at linebacker and on the edge, so I think Wisconsin finally has the pieces to play the way Mike Tressel wants rather than constantly trying to work around what it doesn’t have.
The two players Notre Dame fans should probably know are inside linebackersMason PosaandCooper Catalano. They emerged as true freshmen last season and are already the heartbeat of this defense. If Wisconsin has legitimate stars on that side of the ball, those are probably the first two names that come to mind.
Where I’m still skeptical is the secondary.
Wisconsin was excellent against the run last season, but the secondary simply couldn’t hold up consistently in man coverage. The Badgers struggled mightily when they needed corners to survive on an island, and that limited what Tressel could comfortably call defensively.
They essentially rebuilt the cornerback room from top to bottom this offseason, except for Jai’Mier Scott, and I do think there’s considerably more talent and depth there now. There are enough new pieces that I can absolutely see a world where the secondary becomes significantly better. But after watching Wisconsin get picked apart through the air whenever teams wanted last season, I need to see it before I completely buy in.
So if I’m Notre Dame, that’s probably the area I’m testing. Wisconsin should be difficult to run against, and I like Posa and Catalano in the middle. But can the new-look secondary consistently hold up when C.J. Carr starts challenging those corners downfield and forcing them to cover one-on-one? That’s one of the biggest questions I have about this defense entering Week 1.
5. FAN QUESTION ABOUT FIGHTING:
Who wins in a 4-way free for all bar fight? The Notre Dame Fighting Leprechaun, Lucky the Leprechaun, Bucky the Badger, or Bucky the Winter Soldier?
— poz (@push_to_poz) August 28, 2026
Dillon Graff, Badgernotes: Bucky the Badger, and respectfully, I don’t think it’s particularly close. This isn’t about being pretty. It’s about being gritty, and Badgers are basically built for a no-holds-barred bar fight. I’m not sure either leprechaun belongs at the table here.
Bucky gets the job done and returns to his rightful place in the red corner without breaking a sweat.
6. FAN QUESTION ABOUT FIGHTING PT. 2:
Kalahari vs. Great Wolf Lodge in a cage match to the death.
— Philip G OFD (@Philip__G) August 28, 2026
Dillon Graff, Badgernotes: Kalahari. Great Wolf Lodge has its strengths, but it’s basically the Roundy’s version of Kalahari. This is a blue blood taking on a mid-tier MAC program in terms of resources.
Kalahari has more rooms, a bigger waterpark and attraction footprint, more dining options, and a convention operation that draws people in that Great Wolf can’t match. There are levels to this. Kalahari has too much in the arsenal. This one ends early.
7. In honor of this game being played at Lambeau, gimme your top 5 cheeses and your top 5 beers, Wisconsin boy.
Dillon Graff, Badgernotes:
Cheese:
- Fried cheese curds — I’m not sure if this technically counts as a cheese, but I’m from Wisconsin, so fried is the correct answer.
- Aged cheddar — No explanation needed. Reliable. Does its job Monday-Sunday.
- Pepper jack — Sometimes you need a little heat.
- Colby — Born in Wisconsin. It would be disrespectful to leave it off the depth chart.
- Smoked gouda — This is where we pretend to be sophisticated.
Muenster is the first one out. Tough cuts have to be made when you recruit at this level.
Beer:
- Budweiser — An American classic. I will not be taking questions at this time.
- Coors Banquet — Yellow jackets for when you’re reminiscing with the boys and talking ball.
- Varsity Golden Ale — Brewed by Potosi, and 20% of sales revenue goes to The Varsity Collective to support Wisconsin athletes. This allows you to drink for a cause, which feels responsible enough to me.
- Spotted Cow — A Wisconsin staple and, depending on how long you’ve been tailgating, a perfectly acceptable meal replacement.
- Miller High Life — The Champagne of Beers. Says it right there on the bottle. Who am I to argue?
This is an experienced beer room. High floor, veteran leadership, very few projection-based takes. You won’t catch me anywhere near an IPA.
8. Alright, let’s get down to it: who wins, what’s the final score, and what’s your reasoning?
Dillon Graff, Badgernotes:
I think Notre Dame wins convincingly. I’ll go 31-13, and honestly, I could see the margin being considerably larger than that for the Irish.
I’d love to see Wisconsin hang around for three quarters and make Notre Dame work for it. At this point, even that would feel like tangible progress against a team of this caliber. But after the way the last three seasons have gone under Luke Fickell, I just don’t think the Badgers have earned the assumption that they can line up against one of the best teams in the country and suddenly go punch-for-punch with them, let alone win.
Maybe the offseason investment and roster overhaul have closed the gap more than I expect. I’d love to be wrong. Until Wisconsin shows me that on Saturdays, though, I’m taking Notre Dame pretty comfortably.
***
Alright folks, I want to give a MASSIVE shout-out and thank you to Dillon for giving some really great detail and a great breakdown on what to expect from the Badgers on Sunday, not to mention his willingness to play ball with our goofy questions and his inclusion of High Life in his beers list, which aside from Hamm’s is the most perfect beer he could have chosen, in my humble beer-loving opinion.
PLEASE head over to Badgernotes and check out an absolute embarrassment of riches in terms of analysis, info, predictions, and coverage Dillon has going on over there when it comes to Wisconsin football (and basketball), and feel free to subscribe if you wanna keep tabs on the Badgers this season. I also highly recommend you toss Dillon and Badgernotes some follows on the good ole Twitter machine, as they will be great sources of information and entertainment this weekend and the rest of the season.
And with that, we’re all set for this week — per usual, GO IRISH, BEAT BADGERS my friends!!! See ya next week.