Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Trends After Sean West’s Viral Punt Flips Momentum in Shamrock Series Opener at Lambeau Field

No. 4 Notre Dame opened its 2026 season Sunday night in a Shamrock Series showcase against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, and the neutral-site opener quickly turned into one of the more compelling storylines of college football’s first weekend. The Fighting Irish, installed as more than three-touchdown favorites over the Badgers, jumped out to an early lead before Wisconsin fought back behind a game-changing special teams play that shifted momentum in front of a national NBC audience.

Marcus Freeman’s Fighting Irish came into the matchup carrying heavy expectations after a run of success under center from returning quarterback CJ Carr, whose offense averaged nearly 42 points per game a season ago. Wisconsin, by contrast, entered as a heavy underdog looking to open a rebuilding campaign with a signature statement against a marquee non-conference opponent on a stage the Badgers rarely get: the home of the Green Bay Packers.

Notre Dame Strikes First, Wisconsin Answers

Notre Dame wasted little time asserting itself. After Wisconsin muffed a kickoff, the Irish defense forced a quick turnover that set up Carr’s offense with a short field. Carr capitalized four plays later, finding wide receiver James Flanigan — a Green Bay native playing in front of his hometown crowd — for a touchdown that put Notre Dame up 10-3 in the first quarter.

That’s when Wisconsin punter Sean West became the unlikely centerpiece of the broadcast. With the Badgers pinned deep and needing a lift, West uncorked a booming, perfectly placed punt that flipped field position and energized Wisconsin’s sideline. The sequence — punctuated by an animated celebration from West himself — became an instant talking point on social media and helped swing momentum squarely in the Badgers’ favor heading into the second quarter.

Wisconsin’s defense and special teams carried that spark into a response drive, and the Badgers answered with a touchdown of their own to even the score at 10-10 by the second quarter, turning what looked like a laugher on paper into a legitimate battle at Lambeau.

Notable Debuts and Storylines at Lambeau

Beyond the field position battle, Sunday’s game carried personal significance for at least one Notre Dame family. Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald was on hand to watch his son, freshman wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald, make his collegiate debut for the Irish. Comedian and prominent Notre Dame fan Shane Gillis was also spotted on the field before kickoff, adding to the event-atmosphere feel of a Shamrock Series game staged at an NFL venue rather than either team’s campus stadium.

Notre Dame entered the season ranked in the top five nationally and viewed by oddsmakers as a heavy favorite, with the point spread sitting north of 20 points and the moneyline reflecting a lopsided expected outcome. Wisconsin’s ability to trade scores with the Irish through the first quarter and into the second — punctuated by West’s punt — offered an early sign that the Badgers were not interested in a blowout script, even against a nationally ranked opponent breaking in one of the sport’s most productive returning quarterbacks.

For Notre Dame, the response will be closely watched. Programs with College Football Playoff aspirations are expected to handle exactly these kinds of measuring-stick moments — build a lead, absorb a counterpunch, and pull away in the second half. Carr and the Irish offense, given their track record of high-scoring production last season, entered as the unit best equipped to eventually separate from a Wisconsin squad still finding its footing on the opening weekend.

Bettors tracking the game saw the total climb into the high 40s at several sportsbooks, with a number of handicapping models favoring the over given both offenses’ ability to move the ball early. Fans looking to follow the action or get in on Notre Dame’s season-long outlook can check the latest DraftKings promo code offers, while those interested in a wider market view can compare lines through the FanDuel promo code page.

What Comes Next

Whatever the final result at Lambeau Field, Sunday’s Shamrock Series opener already delivered the kind of early-season drama that tends to linger into the following week’s national conversation — a marquee matchup, a viral special-teams moment, and a ranked contender forced to prove its readiness earlier than expected. Notre Dame’s response down the stretch, and how convincingly the Irish ultimately pull away (or don’t), will shape how the program is viewed heading into a season with legitimate Playoff ambitions.

For fans wanting to explore more ways to follow college football’s opening weekend, BettorsInsider’s sportsbooks hub offers a full rundown of legal betting options, and those looking for state-specific legal status can check the Online Sportsbooks in Wisconsin guide. Bettors comparing markets can also use the Odds and Probability Calculator to weigh value across the shifting live lines as the Notre Dame-Wisconsin score continued to develop Sunday night.