Fumble Recovery on Kickoff Hands Notre Dame Short Field in Early Test Against Wisconsin

A fourth-quarter special-teams miscue proved costly for Wisconsin on Saturday, as a botched kickoff return flipped field position and set up the first touchdown of the game in Notre Dame’s matchup with the Badgers.

After Notre Dame kicker Spencer Porath connected from 52 yards to even the score at three apiece, the Fighting Irish kicked off to Wisconsin. Returner Harrison Bortolotti lost the ball on the play, and Irish linebacker Kahanu Kia came away with the recovery near the Wisconsin 13-yard line.

The call survived a replay review. Officials examined whether Kia maintained control as he slid toward the sideline, but the ruling on the field stood, handing Notre Dame possession deep in Badgers territory. The sequence proved decisive, as the Irish converted the short field into the game’s opening touchdown shortly afterward.

The game was broadcast nationally on NBC, the longtime home of Notre Dame football. NBC’s parent company, Comcast (CMCSA), whose media division holds rights to the Irish’s home schedule, traded at $26.49 in recent action, down 0.64% from its previous close of $26.66, with a market capitalization of roughly $94.4 billion.

Notre Dame’s social team leaned into the moment after the game, posting a clip of the recovery with Kia quoted as saying the Irish would “take that.” The play capped a rollercoaster stretch for both sides, with a long Porath field goal followed immediately by the turnover.

The review was one of several officiating decisions to draw scrutiny across college football this weekend, though the call ultimately stood in Notre Dame’s favor and shaped the scoring early in the contest.

Wisconsin will look to clean up ball security on special teams, while Notre Dame’s defense continued its opportunistic play, taking advantage of a mistake in a low-scoring affair.

What to watch

• Whether the Big Ten issues any officiating assessments regarding the upheld fumble recovery call.
• Wisconsin’s handling of kickoff returns in upcoming conference play following the turnover.
• Notre Dame’s next NBC-televised home game as the Irish continue their 2026 season.

Source: original release