Look at Wisconsin's schedules over the past decade, I've provided their non conference and B1G East games because the West is a usually pretty bad. Look at Wisconsin's recruiting class ranks. Neither are terribly impressive and neither come close to ND's best.
Wisconsin rarely plays more than two ranked teams per year. And those games are usually surrounded by very easy B1G West games. They've won one game against a ranked non-conference opponent (LSU) in the last decade in non bowl games.
Wisconsin fans talk up games against Northwestern and Iowa like they're facing a ranked SEC team...every single year. People here (rightfully) get pissed after winning a close game on the road against a ranked Northwestern team last year. ND's win against Michigan would be a top 5 win for Wisconsin in the last ten years...for ND, it was almost discredited because it was "early in the year" when making their case for the playoff.
Yes, Wisconsin does a good job of beating the teams they should in the cotton-soft B1G West. And then they circle their two big games of the season and do a good job making those games tough for their opponents.
Yes, I wish Notre Dame did a better job of crushing bad teams like Wisconsin. Yes, I wish ND was more consistent. But Wisconsin's ceiling is much lower and ND is simply better.
Wisconsin will never make the playoff, they will never make a National Championship game. They'd never be able to beat the good Michigan/OSU teams they'd need to in the B1G Championship to make the case to go to the playoff. Aside from beating Miami in the Orange Bowl two years ago, their ceiling is losing in a New Years 6 bowl game.
Wisconsin would likely view ND's 2012, 2015 and 2018 each as their best seasons in the last decade. And I'd much rather lose in the CFP, the NCG or endure 2015's gut-wrenching losses as an ND fan than pat ourselves on the back for an Orange Bowl win and two B1G Championships in the last decade.
Quit this loser talk. ND is better than this. Period.
2018 (8-5):
BYU
Western Kentucky
New Mexico
Played UM and PSU from B1G East, lost both
2017 (13-1):
Utah State
Florida Atlantic
BYU
Only played UM from B1G East (won), lost to OSU in Big 10 Championship, beat Miami in Orange Bowl.
2016 (11-3):
LSU (W)
Akron
Georgia State
played MSU, OSU and UM from B1G, only beat MSU. Lost to PSU in Big 10 Championship
2015 (10-3):
Alabama (L)
Miami OH
Troy
Hawaii
didn't play anyone from B1G East.
2014 (11-3):
LSU (L)
Western Illinois
South Florida
didn't play anyone from B1G East, pounded by OSU in Big 10 Championship
2013 (9-4):
UMass
Tennessee Tech
Arizona State
Played OSU and PSU from B1G East, lost both
2012 (8-6):
Northern Iowa
Oregon State
Utah State
UTEP
MSU, PSU and OSU, lost all three. Beat Nebraska in Big 10 Championship because undefeated OSU was disqualified.
2011 (11-3):
UNLV
Oregon State
Northern Illinois
South Dakota
MSU, OSU and PSU, only beat PSU. Beat MSU in Big 10 Championship, lost Rose Bowl
2010 (11-2):
UNLV
San Jose State
Arizona State
Austin Peay
MSU, OSU and UM, only lost to MSU. Lost Rose Bowl.
2009 (10-3):
Northern Illinois
Fresno State
Wofford
MSU, OSU and UM, only lost to OSU