Madison, Wisc—The Wisconsin Badgers may still be working their way through preseason camp, but their season-opening challenge has been on the minds of some players for weeks.
Head coach Luke Fickell revealed in July that his staff had already spent considerable time studying Notre Dame, with the Fighting Irish firmly in focus as Wisconsin prepares for the highly anticipated opener at Lambeau Field.
Fickell understands that the magnitude of the matchup can create distractions, but he also wants his players to recognize that an opponent of Notre Dame’s caliber requires an elevated level of preparation.
Wisconsin’s defensive backs, in particular, will have little room for error against a Notre Dame offense led by quarterback CJ Carr.
Carr Presents Immediate Challenge
Carr enters his third season in South Bend with significant expectations after an impressive 2025 campaign.
The quarterback threw for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions, completing 66.6% of his passes. He also added three rushing touchdowns.
That production has placed Carr among the early names being discussed in the Heisman Trophy conversation, making him one of the most important players Wisconsin will have to contain when the two teams meet.
Arizona State transfer Javan Robinson, Wisconsin’s experienced cornerback, knows the importance of being prepared for that matchup.
Robinson said his film study of Notre Dame began in mid-July, giving him several weeks to familiarize himself with Carr and the Fighting Irish offense before the teams meet.
“I’ve already started watching film,” Robinson said. “I’ve got a little idea already about how to approach that game.”
For a Wisconsin defense hoping to make a major improvement from last season, Robinson’s preparation could prove especially valuable.
Robinson Learned the Game Early
Robinson’s dedication to film study isn’t something he developed after arriving at Wisconsin. He says it has been part of his football life since childhood.
His father was a coach, and Robinson grew up around football strategy and game preparation.
“Growing up, my dad was a coach,” Robinson said. “So I’ve been studying and watching film and understanding stuff when I was five years old.”
That early exposure gave Robinson an unusual introduction to the mental side of the game.
He regularly watched film with his father, learning how formations, receiver alignments and route concepts could provide clues about what an offense was attempting to accomplish.
“he would just go over the basic stuff,” Robinson explained.
“Receivers, this split, he’s not gonna be able to run this type of route. He just taught me a lot about the game at a very young age.”
Those lessons have followed Robinson throughout his career.
Experience Could Be Critical Against Notre Dame
Wisconsin’s secondary enters the 2026 season with renewed optimism, and Robinson’s experience is one of the reasons for that confidence.
The Badgers will face a major early test against a Notre Dame passing attack that can stretch the field and force defensive backs to make quick decisions.
For Robinson, preparation isn’t simply about knowing individual players. It’s about recognizing formations, understanding tendencies and anticipating what an offense is trying to create before the ball is snapped.
That type of preparation will be especially important against Carr.
Wisconsin cannot afford to spend the first few quarters figuring out Notre Dame’s offense. The Badgers will need to be prepared from the opening snap, particularly with the national spotlight shining on the matchup.
And Robinson appears to understand exactly what’s at stake.
After years of learning football through film sessions with his father, the veteran cornerback is now applying those lessons to one of the biggest games of his college career.
The stage will be enormous at Lambeau Field. Robinson’s preparation will need to be just as impressive.
