He knew his team was emerging from a physical game with the Badgers — “some of the guys looked like they were in a boxing match,” he opined — and they have a short week to prepare for the home opener with Rice.  So how to handle practice this week?

“I thought about it a lot,” said the fifth-year Irish head coach. “We got data feedback of course, and then I saw them this morning for meetings and I knew we were ready for practice. We have to practice in pads Tuesdays. How we structure practice may be different, but we’ve got to have a Bloody Tuesday.”

The Irish got a little beat up in Green Bay Sunday night. Defensive tackle Jason Onye and safety Brauntae Johnson will both be “out a couple weeks”, according to Freeman, but are expected to play again this season. Notre Dame should get linebacker Kyngston Villiamu-Asa back for some duty against Rice.

“He’s trending that we expect them out there Saturday,” stated Freeman. “How much he plays is to be determined. As of today, we expect him to get out there a little.”

Rice (1-0) presents challenges with an offense and defense that Freeman calls “non-traditional”, including a triple-option attack that is run from the shotgun.  However, the Irish head coach — who saw his team go up to #3 in this week’s Associated Press poll — is more concerned about his own team.

“In 2024, we didn’t improve week two,” recalls Freeman of his team’s home-opening loss to Northern Illinois. “We have to improve eye discipline. We had a punt blocked. We had a kickoff return stopped inside the 20. We let a kickoff out. We can’t let our standards slip because of the outcome of a game.”

Freeman was not ready to anoint Sullivan Absher as the starting left guard, despite appearances that Absher outplayed Styles Prescod at the position Sunday night.

“I thought both played extremely well,” reflected Freeman. “The plan going in was to get 30 reps for each guy. We were intentional about that. This week could present something different. The biggest thing is you’re going to reach a point where this guy isn’t going to come off the field because of consistency. They’re playing most consistent right now with 30 reps.”

Two of the last three times Notre Dame has played Rice the Irish have gone on to win the national championship (1973, 1988). The Irish and Owls meet for the sixth time ever at the Stadium Saturday afternoon with kickoff just after 3:30 p.m. on NBC/Peacock.

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The series began in 1967 and Saint Joseph leads 37-28, including a 31-0 shutout last year.  Prior to that game, though, Marian had won nine of the previous eleven matchups between the two schools.

The game always brings an incredible atmosphere and is the showcase of week of competition between the two schools, both on and off the athletic field. The two schools hold a Hunger Bowl to raise money and supplies for food pantries. The boys and girls soccer teams hold their annual rivalry games during the week.  There’s a total buy-in from both schools and their fan bases.

Sports Michiana will have live coverage, beginning with the pregame show at 6:45 and kickoff at 7. You can watch on this website, as well as the Sports Michiana Facebook and YouTube pages, the WSBT Facebook and YouTube pages and the IHSAA Champions Network.

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(Green Bay) — It was a tale of two halves at Lambeau Field, and Notre Dame football fans are glad the second verse was not the same as the first.

After struggling with Wisconsin for a half, #4 Notre Dame used a combined three touchdowns from running backs Aneyas Williams and Nolan James, Jr. and a pick-six from transfer cornerback DJ McKinney in the second half to beat the Badgers, 41-13.

“I think that first half we were pressing a little bit, I was pressing,” admitted Irish head coach Marcus Freeman, who is just 4-5 in the first two weeks of a season during his tenure. “We just needed to relax and go focus on doing our job. It’s as simple as that.”

Notre Dame’s offense seemed in a slog in the first half, going 0-for-6 on third down conversions. The Irish scored their only touchdown of the first half after Kahuna Kia recovered a fumble on a kickoff at the Badger 13.  CJ Carr hit Green Bay native James Flanigan with a three-yard touchdown pass as Notre Dame grabbed a 10-3 lead late in the first.

After Wisconsin tied it with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Colton Joseph to Marcus Coleman, the Irish responded with a 26-yard field goal from Spencer Porath to make it 13-10 at halftime.

The second half was a much different story, as the Irish involved both running backs in the passing game on the opening drive of the third quarter. Williams capped a nine-play, 70-yard march with a three-yard run off the left side and Notre Dame had a 20-10 cushion.

The defense then took Wisconsin out of the game on the next drive. Bryce Young applied pressure on Joseph, who threw wildly right into the arms of McKinney. The Colorado transfer raced 55 yards for the score to make it 27-10.

Wisconsin put together an eight-minute drive after that, but had to settle for Gavin Lahm’s 36-yard field goal that closed the gap to 27-13.

Then the Notre Dame running game took over, with Williams sprinting the last five yards of a 75-yard drive, upping the ante to 34-13. Carr hit James out of the backfield for a 28-yard touchdown on Notre Dame’s final drive to account for the final score.

“Obviously being a able to run the ball helped tremendously,” noted Freeman. “The offense stayed on track because we were able to have some successful runs. Now it gives CJ a chance to really dissect what he wants to do in the passing game.”

Williams finished with 90 yards on 20 carries. Carr completed 19-of-29 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.

Notre Dame did have two starters leave the game with injuries. Both defensive lineman Jason Onye and safety Brauntae Johnson had their left legs in walking boots during the second half. Freeman offered no word on their condition after the game.

The Irish now have a short week to prepare for a visit from Rice (1-0) at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday.

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Our “Sports Michiana Game of the Week” featured Lakeshore downing Niles, 21-16. Jonah Chavez returned a punt 84 yards to paydirt with nine seconds left in the first half to give the Lancers the lead they would never relinquish. It’s Niles’ first regular-season home loss at Viking Field since 2022.

In other games:

Warsaw goes to 3-0: Michael Schenck’s 2-yard run with 27 seconds left gives Warsaw a 27-22 win over NorthWood. The Tigers have won their three games by a combined nine points.

Mishawaka bounces back: Just like last year’s sectional, Plymouth gave Mishawaka all it wanted, before the Cavemen prevailed, 20-13. Keith Kinder’s team is now 2-1.

NIC blowouts: Penn, Elkhart, Adams and St. Joe won their conference openers by a combined score of 198-0

Here is the McKinnies Realty “Around the Area” scoreboard for Friday in the Sports Michiana coverage area

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The post Watch Replay: Lakeshore beats Niles 21-16 to move to 2-0 appeared first on Sports Michiana.

On honoring Lou Holtz with “Lou” stickers on the back of the helmets for the 2026 season, Freeman says it’s something he strongly supported.

“He was magnificent. He gave his all to this place. He loved this place.”
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Freeman was asked about the Notre Dame offense red zone improvements in camp and Mike Denbrock saying the defense never could stop them. Freeman smiles and says he’s not sure that’s entirely true and that DC Chris Ash would probably disagree. Freeman says they have been intentional about improving in that area.
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Freeman says Christian Gray has the skill set to move from field corner to nickel but they knew it would take time but he’s very proud of the way Christian has grown. Says they knew he could play man and now he’s picked up zone well too.
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Freeman asked about new Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph, who is a dual-threat and transferred from Old Dominion, bring a new look to the Wisconsin offense. Freeman said adjusts will need to be made and says they’ve looked at film but that it’s a fine line between over-researching and making sure you’re prepared.
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He’s asked about ‘leave no doubt’ and he says its a challenge every day. He said it’s important to stay present to the task in front of you and not allow yourself to be distracted.
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Freeman on passing of Adon Shuler’s father Don: “He was a terrific man, father & husband.”

Says when they found out Don’s health was declining, he made sure he was there for Adon on what he needs.

“He’s such a strong young man.”

Says Adon focused on helping his mom & brothers.

Adon made it very clear he was playing Sunday. Freeman says he has no doubt that Adon will play well Sunday.
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Notre Dame continues to list linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa as questionable.

The post Freeman provides final updates ahead of Notre Dame’s opener vs Wisconsin appeared first on Sports Michiana.

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Flanigan was a starter on the 1993 Irish team and even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated the week after Notre Dame defeated #1 Florida State. He went on to a 10-year career in the NFL playing for both the Bears and Packers.

His dad also played for the Packers and this Sunday his son James, a Notre Dame tight end, will make it three generations of Flanigans to have played football at Lambeau Field on Sunday. It’s believed the Flanigans may be the first family ever to have 3 different generations play in a football game at Lambeau.

The Flanigans will have more than 60 members of their family in attendance for the game. They also have strong ties to the University of Wisconsin, adding to the craziness of the game.

It’s an incredible story of faith, family, football and Flanigans.

Our Focus on Faith interviews are presented by Vince and Pat Turner.

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Season 4 of Notre Dame Federal Credit Union’s Irish Football Fix is here!

On the August 31st, 2026 edition hosts Chuck Freeby and Angelo Di Carlo preview the upcoming season and the season opener vs Wisconsin at Lambeau Field.

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The post Podcast: Previewing Wisconsin & the 2026 season on Irish Football Fix appeared first on Sports Michiana.

“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.

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