The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

Matt & Pete are joined by Ari Wasserman of On3 for their first look at Notre Dame vs. Ohio State for the National Championship. Get early impressions of the matchup, what areas of the game Notre Dame will have the advantage against the Buckeyes and Ari's thoughts on if this is a team of destiny for the Irish? Plus, who wins the coaching matchup between Marcus Freeman and Ryan Day and which College Football coach would actually be good to hang out with at Chili's?Future Fans: helping little kids become BIG fans, find out more at FutureFans.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame came back from a 10-point deficit to upset Penn State, 27-24, and punch its ticket to Atlanta for the Jan. 20 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. There, the Fighting Irish will face Ohio State or Texas.Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break it all down. Orange Bowl Defensive MVP Christian Gray came up with the timely interception to set up Mitch Jeter's game-winning field goal. Riley Leonard won Offensive MVP honors, but not without some help from backup QB Steve Angeli and WR Jaden Greathouse.Now, Marcus Freeman will looks to become the fifth Notre Dame head coach to win a national title in his third year with the school.Future Fans: helping little kids become BIG fans, find out more at FutureFans.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt & Pete share the latest on the Fighting Irish heading into their semifinal matchup with Penn State on Thursday night. Tune in for injury updates on Jeremiyah Love and Abdul Carter, what Marcus Freeman shared with press this week as well as predictions for the matchup in South Florida. Can Riley Leonard take this game on his back like he did against Georgia? Will the defense get pressure on Drew Allar? Can Jadarian Price take over the workload if Love is not 100%.Future Fans: helping little kids become BIG fans, find out more at FutureFans.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get ready for the 2025 Orange Bowl as Notre Dame faces Penn State for the chance to move on to the National Championship. Matt Fortuna & Pete Sampson join from The Independent and Audrey Snyder and Jon Sauber from The Nittany Dispatch to give a preview of the upcoming semifinal. Find out what both sets of reporters think of the opposing team and how Riley Leonard, Drew Allar, Jeremiyah Love, Nick Singleton, Jadarian Price, Kaytron Allen, Abdul Carter and Xavier Watt will play in this massive game for both teams. Also, which coach has the edge between Marcus Freeman and James Franklin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff semifinal with an emphatic win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Marcus Freeman out-coached Kirby Smart throughout the entire game and the Irish made enough plays to hold the margin over the Bulldogs to earn the win. The Notre Dame defense stifled Georgia and Gunner Stockton all game long and Riley Leonard used his legs and his arm to give the Irish the lead. The 98-yard kick return by Jayden Harrison helped create the separation they needed to earn the win. Next, the Irish head to the Orange Bowl to face James Franklin and Penn State.Future Fans: helping little kids become BIG fans, find out more at FutureFans.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Fighting Irish head to New Orleans to take on Georgia for the right to move on to the semfinal of the College Football Playoff. Tune in for thoughts from Matt, Pete and a host of fans who share their perspective before one of the biggest games for Notre Dame in the last decade. What has Marcus Freeman said in the lead up to the matchup and how will he match wits with Kirby Smart? Is Riley Leonard ready for the Bulldogs defense and Jeremiyah Love continue to break big runs against this vaunted defense? Is Gunner Stockton ready for the Irish defense and how will Al Golden look to disrupt the first time starter?Future Fans: helping little kids become BIG fans, find out more at FutureFans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame is on to the Sugar Bowl, as the Fighting Irish made quick work of Indiana in front of a raucous crowd in South Bend. Marcus Freeman's squad is now on an 11-game winning streak as it readies for Georgia on New Year's Day. Riley Leonard commanded the offense, Jeremiyah Love had a 98-yard TD run and Jordan Faison had an Irish season-high of 89 receiving yards as the defense made life miserable for the Hoosiers. Tune in to hear Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson recap it all.Future Fans: helping little kids become BIG fans, find out more at FutureFans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The long awaited opening round home playoff game in South Bend is almost here and Pete, Matt, and Tim Murray are back to preview the matchup for the Irish with Indiana. Who will shine on the biggest stage for Notre Dame? It’s Riley Leonard opposite Kurtis Rourke, Marcus Freeman vs Curt Cignetti and Jeremiyah Love vs. the Hoosier defense. Plus Marcus Freeman’s contract news out of South Bend, the atmosphere fans can expect in Notre Dame Stadium and predictions for the first round matchup. Future Fans: helping little kids become BIG fans, find out more at FutureFans.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pete shares his first reaction to the College Football Playoff draw for the Irish as they will match up against Indiana in South Bend on Dec. 20th. What should Notre Dame fans expect from the Hoosiers and “Google Me” Curt Cignetti? Is Kurtis Rourke going to move the ball against the Irish defense? Will Riley Leonard have success against the Hoosier defense or is it Jeremiyah Love who will hurdle Indiana defenders on the way to victory. Plus, Pete shares what Marcus Freeman has been saying in the build up to the matchup. Future Fans: helping little kids become BIG fans, find out more at FutureFans.com and get a 15% off discount with the code IRISH.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pete is joined by Tim Murray to discuss the latest College Football Playoff ranking and where they think the Irish will end up when the season is all said and done. Will Marcus Freeman’s team earn the coveted five seed setting them up for a favorable road to the semifinals or will they host an SEC powerhouse in an opening winter game in South Bend. Would Alabama coming to South Bend be a good matchup for Notre Dame and set them up for a memorable playoff run and what can the Irish expect from Riley Leonard and Jeremiyah Love when the games matter the most.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.