Notre Dame Football: 3 players who earned game balls in Wisconsin win

1. The whole Notre Dame defense

The Notre Dame defense was exceptional. There is no other way to say it. Coming into Saturday a lot of the media was saying that Notre Dame could not stop the run and gave up way too many big plays.

Notre Dame limited the Badgers rushing attack to only 78 days on the afternoon and kept the big plays in check for most of the game.

The Irish sure made Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz uncomfortable all game with pressure and rushing him into throws he wishes that he did not attempt. Mertz finished the day with four interceptions and a fumble.

Cam Hart led the defense with two interceptions on the day. A couple of his teammates got in on the fun as Jack Kiser and Drew White had interceptions too. Kiser and White both returned their interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Isaiah Foskey recovered the Mertz fumble, too.

JD Bertrand once again led the Irish defense in tackles with eight on the day. Bertrand snapped his streak of double-digit tackles which he accomplished in the first three weeks of the 2021 season.

These players mentioned had big moments, but it really was a team effort on the defensive side of the ball. It only seems right to give the game ball to the full defensive unit including the coaches for what they accomplished against Wisconsin.