{
  "id": 4720930,
  "title": "Coaching connections add intrigue to No. 4 Notre Dame's season opener with Wisconsin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/coaching-connections-add-intrigue-to-no-4-notre-dames-season-opener",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-31T21:41:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/coaching-connections-add-intrigue-no-214114459.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and his opponent, Wisconsin, share a strong coaching connection that adds intrigue to the upcoming season opener. The two coaches played together at Ohio State and Cincinnati, and both worked under former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. Fickell, now Wisconsin's head coach, believes Freeman's success stems from his ability to create an identity for himself and his program, not just by maintaining his past associations. Despite Notre Dame's strong record and high expectations, Freeman admits he isn't taking this game for granted, especially since Wisconsin has made several changes to its roster this season by adding 27 transfers from other Bowl Subdivision programs.",
  "summary": "Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman played for Luke Fickell at Ohio State and coached on his staff at Cincinnati. Fickell, whose Wisconsin team faces No. 4 Notre Dame on Sunday night, says he isn’t surprised at the way Freeman has developed into one of college football’s top head coaches in the years since they worked together. “The ones who have the most success like Marcus has are ones who…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Luke Fickell, Wisconsin faces all-or-nothing season as hot seat talks loom nationally",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/luke-fickell-wisconsin-faces-all-or-nothing-season-as-hot-seat-talks",
        "published": "2026-08-31T20:20:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Coaching connections add intrigue to No. 4 Notre Dame’s season opener with Wisconsin",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/coaching-connections-add-intrigue-to-no-4-notre-dames-season-opener-4724145",
        "published": "2026-08-31T21:42:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}