CJ Carr throws for 239 yards, Aneyas Williams scores twice, and DJ McKinney delivers a 55-yard pick-six as the Fighting Irish overwhelm the Badgers in the Shamrock Series
The Fighting Irish erupted for 28 second-half points and smothered Wisconsin’s rushing attack after halftime to pull away for a 41-13 victory in the 13th edition of Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series.
Quarterback CJ Carr completed 19 of 29 passes for 239 yards, distributing the ball to nine receivers, while Aneyas Williams rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns. The Irish defense supplied one of the game’s defining moments when DJ McKinney intercepted an overthrow and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown.
After taking a 13-10 lead into halftime, Notre Dame outscored Wisconsin 28-3 over the final 30 minutes and held the Badgers to just 1.4 yards per rushing attempt in the second half.
What began as a mistake-filled, tightly contested Shamrock Series matchup ended as an emphatic showcase of Notre Dame’s balance, depth and defensive strength.
Notre Dame Survives Shaky Start
The Irish had to navigate early trouble.
Notre Dame and Wisconsin opened with three-and-outs before Carr was hit from behind and fumbled deep in Irish territory. Styles Prescod, making his first career start, recovered the ball and prevented a potentially costly turnover.
The ensuing punt was partially blocked, however, giving Wisconsin possession at the Notre Dame 37.
The Irish defense prevented the Badgers from reaching the end zone, forcing Wisconsin to settle for a 27-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.
Notre Dame responded with a scoring drive of its own.
Williams converted a fourth down, Carr threw for 37 yards on the possession, and Spencer Porath drilled a 52-yard field goal on his first attempt in a Notre Dame uniform to tie the game.
Special Teams Turnover Gives Irish First Touchdown
Wisconsin then committed a special teams mistake of its own.
Badgers returner Harrison Bortolotti muffed a kickoff, and Kahanu Kia recovered at the Wisconsin 13.
An unnecessary roughness penalty moved Notre Dame even closer before Green Bay native James Flanigan caught his first career touchdown pass on play action.
The score gave Notre Dame a 10-3 lead and provided Flanigan with a memorable homecoming moment at Lambeau Field.
Wisconsin responded after flipping field position with a 69-yard punt that pinned Notre Dame at its own 1.
The Badgers later capitalized on a defensive penalty before striking for a 28-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 10.
Notre Dame answered once more.
Carr connected with Kedren Young for 11 yards, Micah Gilbert for 18, and Jaden Greathouse? Wait—no. The provided sequence identifies Faison as the receiver on the 30-yard catch-and-run that moved the Irish to Wisconsin’s 13.
The drive stalled there, but Porath converted from 26 yards to restore Notre Dame’s advantage at 13-10.
Neither team scored again before halftime.
Aneyas Williams Ignites Second-Half Surge
Notre Dame emerged from the locker room looking like a different offense.
Carr used his running backs effectively in the passing game, finding Williams for 11 yards and Nolan James Jr. for 28 as the Irish drove 70 yards in nine plays.
After a Wisconsin substitution penalty moved the football to the 3, Williams burst through the left side for his first touchdown.
Notre Dame suddenly led 20-10.
Then the defense delivered the knockout blow.
DJ McKinney’s Pick-Six Changes the Game
On Wisconsin’s third play of the ensuing possession, McKinney intercepted an overthrown pass and sprinted 55 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown.
The pick-six extended Notre Dame’s lead to 27-10 and dramatically shifted the complexion of the game.
It was McKinney’s first interception at Notre Dame, the fifth of his college career and his second career interception return for a touchdown.
Wisconsin answered with a methodical drive into the red zone, but Notre Dame refused to surrender a touchdown.
Adon Shuler delivered a hard hit on the quarterback during a designed run, and Leonard Moore chased down a runner on the outside to help force a field goal.
The kick trimmed Notre Dame’s lead to 27-13.
It would be Wisconsin’s final score.
Williams Takes Over as Irish Pull Away
Notre Dame responded with another touchdown drive.
Faison opened the possession with a 29-yard reception across midfield. From there, the Irish placed the game in Williams’ hands.
The running back carried on five consecutive plays, gaining 3, 12, 2, and 16 yards before finishing the drive with a 1-yard touchdown.
His second score gave Notre Dame a commanding 34-13 advantage with 10:48 remaining.
Williams finished with 90 rushing yards and two touchdowns, becoming the centerpiece of an Irish ground game that grew stronger as the night progressed.
Notre Dame Defense Shuts Down Badgers
Wisconsin found little room to operate against the Irish defense after halftime.
Notre Dame’s front repeatedly won at the line of scrimmage, while its linebackers and secondary limited explosive opportunities.
Drayk Bowen was instrumental throughout the game, while Moore repeatedly made plays in space. Jayden Sanders contributed consecutive pass breakups during an early three-and-out, and Tionne Gray helped stuff Wisconsin’s running game late.
The numbers told the story.
Wisconsin managed only 1.4 yards per rush in the second half and scored three points after intermission.
The Irish defense also supplied seven points of its own through McKinney’s interception return.
CJ Carr Spreads the Ball Around
Carr’s performance was not defined by gaudy touchdown numbers. Instead, the Notre Dame quarterback displayed efficiency and command.
He completed 65.5% of his passes, finishing 19 of 29 for 239 yards while connecting with nine different receivers.
His ability to spread the football prevented Wisconsin from locking in on a single primary target.
That balance was evident again on Notre Dame’s final scoring possession.
After Cooper Flanagan made a first-down reception and Williams added a 13-yard run, Carr remained composed on third down and fired across the field to James.
James made a defender miss and raced 28 yards for his first career touchdown, pushing the score to 41-13 with 1:51 remaining.
It was an emphatic finish to a second half controlled almost entirely by Notre Dame.
Fighting Irish Make Statement at Lambeau Field
The final score obscures just how competitive the game was early.
Wisconsin tied the game at 10 and entered halftime trailing by only three.
Then Notre Dame took over.
The Irish scored touchdowns on their opening two possessions of the second half — one offensively and another defensively — before Williams’ second rushing touchdown created a three-score advantage.
Notre Dame ultimately produced 28 second-half points while surrendering only three.
Carr distributed the football. Williams controlled the ground game. McKinney provided the defensive touchdown. And the Irish defense progressively squeezed the life out of Wisconsin’s offense.
At one of football’s most iconic venues, Notre Dame transformed a 13-10 halftime battle into a 28-point Shamrock Series victory.
For the Fighting Irish, Lambeau Field became their stage — and the second half became their statement.
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-- By James Wright and Lakisha Brown
© Copyright 2026 JWT Communications. All rights reserved. This article cannot be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or distributed in any form without written permission.
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