Badgernotes

Badgernotes

Football

Column: Which half against Notre Dame will define Wisconsin football in 2026?

Wisconsin looked like two different teams in two different halves at Lambeau Field.

Seamus Rohrer's avatar
Seamus Rohrer
Sep 07, 2026
∙ Paid
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell and center Austin Kawecki.
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell and center Austin Kawecki. Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect.

Sunday night, Wisconsin football looked different against No. 4 Notre Dame… until it didn’t.

So did head coach Luke Fickell, who trotted out onto Lambeau Field wearing an all-black outfit and a slick Wisconsin hoodie… until I caught a glimpse of that damn T.E.A.M. acronym adorned on his right sleeve.

Fickell’s attire was a perfect representation of how the Badgers played against the Irish on Sunday night: rejuvenated and frisky at first, but ultimately still displaying the same warts that’ve haunted Wisconsin in the Fickell era.

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Dillon Graff.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 BadgerNotes Media Group · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture