A controversial replay call late in the first quarter quickly became a major talking point in No. 4 Notre Dame’s matchup against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, sparking criticism from fans and analysts, including former Wisconsin star J.J. Watt.
J.J. Watt Questions Notre Dame Call in Week 1
The game was tied 3-3 late in the first quarter when Notre Dame kicker Spencer Porath sent a kickoff toward Harrison Bortolotti.
The returner appeared to have a chance at securing the ball, but it sailed through his hands, bounced several times, and eventually landed in the arms of Notre Dame’s Kahanu Kia.
Kia recovered the ball at the Wisconsin 13-yard line, but officials initiated a replay review to determine whether he had established possession before going out of bounds.
The controversies keep piling on!
Is this one of the worst calls we’ve seen in College Football? Was this really a FUMBLE RECOVERY and not to be called OUT OF BOUNDS?
Looking at it from all angles, can we say for sure that the final decision was gift for Notre Dame? pic.twitter.com/tpWJsPCjag
— EssentiallySports (@ES_sportsnews) September 7, 2026
After reviewing the play, officials upheld the ruling on the field and gave Notre Dame possession deep inside Wisconsin territory.
The Fighting Irish quickly took advantage of the opportunity, as quarterback CJ Carr found tight end James Flanigan for a 3-yard touchdown four plays later to give Notre Dame a 10-3 lead.
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What had been a 3-3 score earlier suddenly turned into a seven-point Notre Dame advantage, with the controversial recovery playing a major role.
Watt was clearly unhappy with the decision and questioned how officials could uphold the ruling. “Instant Replay off to a ROUGH start in the college football world… How could you possibly uphold that?!”
Instant Replay off to a ROUGH start in the college football world…
How could you possibly uphold that?!
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) September 7, 2026
Barstool Sports’ Dan Katz also voiced his frustration with the officiating, writing: “What the [expletive] are these refs doing? It’s not enough that Notre Dame is a 21-point favorite and loaded? Pieces of [expletive].”
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Analyst Ryan Paganetti also disagreed with the ruling, saying: “Notre Dame didn’t recover that cleanly in the field of play.”
Notre Dame Pulls Away After Halftime
While the controversial call gave Notre Dame an early boost, the Fighting Irish eventually took control of the game on their own.
After a relatively close first half, Notre Dame dominated the final two quarters, outscoring Wisconsin 28-3 in the second half. The Fighting Irish finished the night with a convincing 41-13 victory, turning a competitive opening half into a one-sided finish.
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For Wisconsin, the loss was another frustrating result under Luke Fickell, while Notre Dame used a strong second-half performance to pull away.
Still, the disputed replay decision ensured that the officiating remained one of the biggest storylines from the matchup.
