In a game where Wisconsin led in the fourth quarter, the tide turned rapidly as Notre Dame dominated the final 14 minutes en route to a 41-13 blowout win over the Badgers.
The first half saw a Badger offense once again struggling for any rhythm, as Graham Mertz and the passing attack failed to get in sync. It was Jim Leonhard and Wisconsin’s defense that yet again kept the Badgers alive throughout the first half, holding Jack Coan and Notre Dame to a lone touchdown on a 36-yard strike to Kevin Austin.
After yet another defensive stop to open the half with the Badgers trailing 10-3, Wisconsin’s offense found consistency through Kendric Pryor and quick, underneath slant routes. Mertz delivered to Pryor for 8 yards to tie the game at 10 just five minutes into the third quarter.
With Notre Dame forced to go to their freshman QB Drew Pyne after a Jack Coan injury, Wisconsin backup DE Rodas Johnson made the first major play of his Badger career on a strip sack of the third-string QB to set up UW. The Badgers then took a 13-10 fourth-quarter lead on a Collin Larsh 27-yard field goal.
From there, Notre Dame immediately shifted momentum with a 96-yard kickoff return TD by Chris Tyree that gave the Fighting Irish a 17-13 lead that they would never give up.
Mertz struggled throughout the day, but those struggles turned into nightmares late in the fourth quarter. Wisconsin’s QB threw back-to-back interceptions, both of which Notre Dame returned for scores. Mertz finished with four interceptions and a lone touchdown pass on 18-41 passing for 240 yards.
Coan had a decent day up until his injury, as Pyne filled in admirably for the Irish. The freshman third-string QB went 6-8 in limited action, finishing with 81 yards and a game-sealing 16-yard touchdown pass to Austin.
Wisconsin falls to 1-2 on the year as Notre Dame stays undefeated at 4-0.
