Notre Dame is 3-0 but has hardly looked the part of a College Football Playoff threat as they narrowly escaped Florida State and Toledo and took their time in ultimately pulling away from Purdue.

Wisconsin enters 1-1 with their loss coming against a Penn State team they dominated in every category besides turnovers and the final score.  But who are these Badgers that Notre Dame will have to get by on Saturday?

A big thanks goes out to Ben Kenney of Badgers Wire who took the time to answer a lot more than a handful of my questions:

1 of 12: What do Notre Dame fans need to know about the Wisconsin football program that they probably don’t?

Sep 11, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Chez Mellusi (6) rushes with the football during the first quarter against the Eastern Michigan Eagles at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 4, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers mascot Bucky Badger waves the Wisconsin flag prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz (5) recovers his own fumble in the red zone during the fourth quarter of their game Saturday, September 4, 2021 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Penn State beat Wisconsin 16-10.MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
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Dec 7, 2019; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Faion Hicks (1) and cornerback Semar Melvin (20) react to a play against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half in the 2019 Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 4, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Jack Sanborn (57) celebrates following a sack during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Ben: While Wisconsin has been known forever as a program that can bring in a 3-star on the offensive line, at running back or at linebacker and turn him into a pro, this is actually a program that has elevated its recruiting profile. Its class of 2021 finished ranked No. 16 in the nation, that after finishing No. 26 in 2020 and No. 29 in 2019. It’s still a program built on development, good coaching and its classic style of football. Moving into the next few years, though, we may see the same thing just with some better players.

2 of 12: How is an out of conference game with Notre Dame being viewed by Wisconsin?

Ben:  Well for this Badger team, Saturday is viewed by everyone here in Madison as a “is this team actually good” kind of game. Yes, the outcome doesn’t directly affect the team’s shot at the Big Ten West and trip to Indy. But after the group thoroughly outplayed No. 6 Penn State Week 1 and handed the game away (literally), this game could go far towards constructing the narrative surrounding whether this team is actually good.

3 of 12: Does Wisconsin's defensive front have any weakness?

Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Ben: They really don’t. The question entering the season was what the defensive end group would look like after losing last year’s starters Isaiah Loudermilk and Garrett Rand. But Matt Henningsen and Isaiah Mullens have performed admirably in that spot. So add that with a deep and talented outside linebacker core, an underratedly-dominant nose tackle in Keeanu Benton and the Big Ten’s best inside linebacker core of Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal, and you have one of the best front sevens in the country.

4 of 12: Penn State’s only offense came on what seemed like breakdowns in the Wisconsin secondary. How is that unit viewed?

Dec 7, 2019; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Faion Hicks (1) and cornerback Semar Melvin (20) react to a play against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half in the 2019 Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Ben: With cautious optimism. They have two upperclassmen corners in Faion Hicks and Caesar Williams that actually played really well against Penn State’s talented receivers. Those two guys won’t be the question, it’ll more so be if safeties Scott Nelson and Collin Wilder can eliminate coverage busts in the back end and keep up with Notre Dame’s really good receivers. The unit has all it needs to be really good, it just needs to put together a full 60-minute performance without any big coverage gaffes.

5 of 12: What needs to be known about Wisconsin’s defense that we haven’t covered?

Ben: Not much. It’s a damn good unit that has the chance to be one of the best in the country. It isn’t close to the reason this team sits at 1-1 and ranked down at No. 18.

6 of 12: How is Jack Coan viewed overall by the Badger faithful and does he put any fear into Wisconsin’s defense?

Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Ben: I may not be the best person to answer this question as I always viewed Coan higher than the rest of the fanbase. But especially with how Graham Mertz has played this year and last, a lot of Badger fans wish Coan was still under center. There wasn’t any chance of that happening when he broke his foot last season. But nevertheless, he’s loved by nearly everyone.

7 of 12: What about Notre Dame’s offense is the most problematic in Wisconsin’s eyes?

Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Ben: Playmakers. This game reminds me of Week 1 vs. Penn State in so many ways. There’s a home run threat at RB in Kyren Williams, home run threats on the outside and one of the best tight ends in the country in Michael Mayer. It’s the group’s ability to strike instantly that has me the most concerned.

8 of 12: Over the last seven games Graham Mertz has thrown two touchdown passes and seven picks. What am I missing here?

Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Ben: Well you aren’t really missing much. The biggest concern surrounding Mertz’s game is his inability up to this point to perform well against good defenses and finish drives in the red zone. All the tools are there for him to develop into a really good quarterback, we just haven’t seen much progression in the areas that really matter.

9 of 12: Wisconsin likes to control the clock, run the ball, and beat you up physically. How capable of that is this offense against an improving Notre Dame defense?

Ben: If the offensive line plays well, this is an offense that will be able to move the ball on Saturday. Can they finish drives in the red zone? I have no idea. But the unit has a stable of talented running backs led by Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi that can give any defense fits if the line plays well. I think they can do well against Notre Dame’s front, it’ll just come down to what Mertz and his pass-catchers can do in the red zone.

10 of 12: What would you do to account for Kyle Hamilton?

Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Ben: Pass away from him, run away from him and do whatever I can to limit his impact on the game. If he’s matched up with Jake Ferguson, I’m avoiding taking chances there unless Ferguson has real separation. If he’s lined up in the box, I’m assigning more help to that side and doing whatever I can to eliminate his lanes to the football. It’s all easier said than done, though, because we’ve seen him come out of nowhere to make plays.

11 of 12: What does Notre Dame absolutely have to do defensively to be in position to pull the upset?

Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz (5) recovers his own fumble in the red zone during the fourth quarter of their game Saturday, September 4, 2021 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Penn State beat Wisconsin 16-10.MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
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Ben: Turn Graham Mertz over. Wisconsin is 0-4 in games Mertz throws an INT and 5-0 in games he does not. If Hamilton or anyone can make a timely interception or force an issue in the backfield, that’s when Notre Dame can find game-winning plays.

12 of 12: Less stressful to end it. Next time I'm in Madison on game day what do I have to do?

Sep 4, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers mascot Bucky Badger waves the Wisconsin flag prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Ben: Honestly the list is endless. Go down to the Terrace the night before for the sunset, find a brat, beer and some cheese curds, enjoy Spotted Cow or any New Glarus beverage and get down to Camp Randall. City-wide, there truly isn’t a better environment to spend a college football Saturday.