A look back at the battles between Wisconsin football and Notre Dame

The Wisconsin Badgers are 6-9-2 against Notre Dame in their storied history, with a loss most recently in 2021 at Soldier Field in Chicago. But that was the first game between the two teams since 1964, when the Irish snapped a two-game losing streak against the Badgers with a 31-7 victory in Madison.

It also bears mentioning that four of Wisconsin’s wins in the series came in 1917 or earlier, when football was a markedly different concept than it is today.

The programs will meet again in 2026, and now we know that date will be a Sunday instead of a Saturday. Here’s a look at past meetings.

Sept. 25, 2021: Notre Dame 41, Wisconsin 13

Wisconsin actually took a lead early in the fourth quarter, 13-10, but Notre Dame returned a kickoff for a touchdown and turned the game at Soldier Field in Chicago into a laugher.

The game was particularly fascinating because it pitted UW quarterback Graham Mertz against the man he essentially replaced as starting quarterback, Jack Coan, who had been injured in 2020 and transferred to Notre Dame for his final season in 2021. And Coan outplayed Mertz, who fumbled after getting sacked on the ensuing series, allowing Notre Dame to quickly go up by two scores. He was intercepted three times thereafter, with two of the picks returned for touchdowns.

Coan finished 15 for 29, good for 158 yards and a touchdown. Mertz finished 18 for 41 for 240 yards and a TD but also four interceptions.

Sept. 26, 1964: Notre Dame 31, Wisconsin 7

It was Notre Dame’s first game with legendary head coach Ara Parseghian at the helm, played in brutal weather conditions in Madison. The Irish were able to pass the ball anyway for 270 yards and scored three times in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Jack Snow caught nine passes for 217 of those yards to lead the Irish, while the Badgers were credited with negative-51 yards rushing (with sacks) and didn’t have any player rush for more than 8 yards.

Sept. 28, 1963: Wisconsin 14, Notre Dame 9

Fullback Ralph Kurek scored from 1 yard away to cap an 80-yard drive with 1:07 to go, giving the Badgers the win in Indiana. Jimmy Jones caught six passes for 100 yards with temperatures in the 80s. Wisconsin went on to win their next two games and got ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation before losing four of their final five.

Oct. 13, 1962: Wisconsin 17, Notre Dame 8

The Badgers played a sloppy game at home but still handled the Irish. Quarterback Ron Vander Kelen threw for a touchdown to Pat Richter and ran for another. The Badgers committed a staggering eight turnovers but still prevailed (taking the ball away five times themselves).

Oct. 21, 1944: Notre Dame 28, Wisconsin 13

Notre Dame came into the game having not allowed a point all season, and though Wisconsin broke that spell, the Irish prevailed in South Bend, scoring all their points in the opening minutes of the first and second halves. Badgers great Jug Girard, who later won two championships with the Green Bay Packers, engineered two scoring drives.

Oct. 16, 1943: Notre Dame 50, Wisconsin 0

The No. 1 team in the country looked the part in obliterating the Badgers, scoring four plays into the game and never looking back. Wisconsin tabulated just three first downs, five net rushing yards and 39 yards passing. The Irish intercepted seven passes.

Sept. 26, 1942: Notre Dame 7, Wisconsin 7

UW fans left satisfied with a draw after Notre Dame had shut out the Badgers in each of the previous four meetings. Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch scored from 35 yards out in the third quarter, though Notre Dame answered immediately to knot the score. But Notre Dame couldn’t re-take the lead after that, fumbling on the 3-yard line, again on the 13 and twice getting intercepted inside the 20.

Oct. 17, 1936: Notre Dame 27, Wisconsin 0

It was a clash between two of Notre Dame’s famous “Four Horsemen,” with now-Wisconsin coach Harry Stuhldreher taking on his former Notre Dame teammate, now head coach Elmer Layden, in South Bend. The Badgers only trailed at half, 6-0, but fell apart after the break.

Oct. 12, 1935: Notre Dame 27, Wisconsin 0

Despite a decent game from Eddie Jankowski — a future Packers Hall of Famer — the Badgers were quiet against the Irish in Madison.

Oct. 27, 1934: Notre Dame 19, Wisconsin 0

Wisconsin recorded only six first downs in a showing that was chronicled as a particularly miserable Badgers performance.

Oct. 19, 1929: Notre Dame 19, Wisconsin 0

At a game played in Chicago, the Irish avenged a loss the previous season with nearly 400 yards of rushing offense.

Oct. 6, 1928: Wisconsin 22, Notre Dame 6

The Badgers staged a crazy win, recording just one first down aside from plays that resulted in touchdowns but still coming away victorious at Camp Randall. The Irish gave up five fumbles and simply whiffed on a punt that gave UW the ball at the 2-yard line.

Nov. 8, 1924: Notre Dame 38, Wisconsin 3

The Four Horsemen ran all over Wisconsin.

1917 and before: The four shutouts

• Oct. 13, 1917: Wisconsin 0, Notre Dame 0. A placekick in the final quarter banged off the post and finished off a fourth consecutive Badgers shutout, albeit in a scoreless tie. These were the rest:
• Oct. 14, 1905: Wisconsin 21, Notre Dame 0
• Oct. 15, 1904: Wisconsin 58, Notre Dame 0
• Nov. 11, 1900: Wisconsin 54, Notre Dame 0

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