(Notre Dame) — Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman knows Wisconsin will have a different look Sunday when his Irish face Wisconsin at Lambeau Field.  He also knows Badgers’ head coach Luke Fickell won’t change.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Luke Fickell,” noted Freeman in his Monday press conference. “He was my coach in college (at Ohio State) and I coached with him at Cincinnati. This is my first time as a head coach. It will be good to see him pregame.  wouldn’t be in this position without him.”

Freeman was asked what he took from his experience of playing for and coaching with Fickell and replied “There’s a little of every coach I’ve had in me. At the end of the day, you have to be yourself. When I think of Luke Fickell, I think of a tireless worker, and the demands he has for his players, coaches and the mindset he installs. Those are traits I try to install in our guys.”

Both Fickell and Freeman are men of faith with six kids. The relationship between the two was so close that Fickell is the godfather for Freeman’s son, Rocco.

That didn’t stop Fickell from taking it to his protege when Freeman was the Irish defensive coordinator in 2021. Fickell’s Cincinnati team marched into Notre Dame Stadium and downed the Irish, 24-13, ending Notre Dame’s 26-game home win streak.

But Fickell’s team will have a different look this season, as the Badgers have 30 transfers on their roster. Wisconsin is trying to change things from a 4-8 season in 2025 when they only averaged 12.8 points per game.

They’ll be tested by an Irish defense that should be one of the best in the nation, even with linebacker Kyngston Villiamu-Asa questionable as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.  The depth chart released today featured Jason Onye and Armel Mukam starting at the tackle slots, Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry as the starting linebacker tandem, Christian Gray at nickel and DJ McKinney starting at corner opposite All-American Leonard Moore,

There’s still a position battle on offense at right guard, where the Irish list Sullivan Absher or Styles Prescod as the starter. Freeman noted Prescod has taken advantage of  injuries to teammates during fall camp and impressed in his opportunities at the position.  5th-year player Ashton Craig has recovered from a second knee injury to get the starting nod at center.

Freeman would not tip his hand with regards to the backup quarterback to CJ Carr, listing Noah Grubbs or Teddy Jarrard. “In an ideal situation, we’d have a chance to play both of them,” remarked the 5th-year Irish head coach.

The Irish are a three-touchdown favorite for Sunday night’s game, which will kickoff shortly after 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock. You can hear more about the Irish Monday night  as Sports Michiana’s Chuck Freeby and Angelo Di Carlo serve as hosts on Notre Dame Federal Credit Union’s “Irish Football Fix”. The show airs on Pulse FM (92.1, 96.9 and 103.1) at 7 p.m.