

The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast
The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast
The Independent is the essential listen for fans of Fighting Irish football. Pete Sampson of the Athletic and Matt Fortuna of The Inside Zone are back to take you inside the Notre Dame program. With a combined 35 years + of experience on the ND beat, this twice weekly podcast has you covered for everything blue and gold.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 30, 2025 • 1h 5min
The Independent After Dark: Notre Dame wins 10th straight game, stomps Stanford, 49-20
Notre Dame ended this regular season the same way the Fighting Irish ended last year's regular season: on a 10-game winning streak. Marcus Freeman's squad made its final College Football Playoff statement by dominating Stanford on the road to finish 10-2. CJ Carr led the offense to a 524-yard performance, Jeremiyah Love flashed and Aeneas Williams showed out, posting 123 yards from scrimmage and 2 TDs. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are up late and expect you to join them to break down the game, the season and Notre Dame's Playoff case. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 25, 2025 • 1h 6min
Notre Dame-Stanford Preview and more with ESPN's Bill Connelly
Bill Connelly, renowned ESPN analyst and author of 'Forward Progress', joins to dissect college football dynamics. He reveals how his S&P+ metrics rate Notre Dame highly due to their efficiency and consistency against teams like Miami. Connelly shares insights on playoff evaluations, emphasizing success rate as a key metric. He critiques committee rankings and discusses how factors like scheduling and luck impact team evaluations. The conversation also highlights Notre Dame's recent dominance and Jeremiyah Love's Heisman prospects.

Nov 23, 2025 • 57min
Notre Dame beats Syracuse 70-7 (seriously)
No. 9 Notre Dame made an emphatic statement to the College Football Playoff selection committee on Saturday, routing Syracuse 70-7 on Senior Day. Marcus Freeman's squad has now won nine straight games, and Chris Ash's defense has made quite the turnaround since the start of the season. Jeremiyah Love added to his Heisman case with 171 yards and 3 TDs on just eight carries. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson talk about all this and more as the Irish ready for their regular-season finale next Saturday at Stanford. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 19, 2025 • 1h 13min
Notre Dame-Syracuse Preview, plus CFP reaction and ND-Miami talk with Eric Mac Lain
Notre Dame remains at No. 9 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, four spots ahead of No. 13 Miami. Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish ready for their Senior Day in South Bend against reeling Syracuse of the ACC. How can CJ Carr, Jeremiyah Love and Chris Ash's defense further strengthen their CFP case? Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to chat that and much more, plus take your questions. Plus, the ACC Network's Eric Mac Lain joins the guys to talk about Notre Dame, the ACC and much more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 16, 2025 • 51min
Notre Dame beats Pitt, 37-15
No. 9 Notre Dame passed its last big regular-season test with flying colors, beating No. 22 Pitt, 37-15. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break down how Marcus Freeman's squad was able to improve to 8-2 with a convincing win in the Steel City. There was a lot of Jeremiyah Love, big plays from CJ Carr to Malachi Fields and, perhaps most importantly, a dominant performance from Chris Ash's defense. Where do the Fighting Irish go from here with games left vs. Syracuse and at Stanford? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 12, 2025 • 1h 22min
Notre Dame at Pitt Preview, plus special guest Stanford Steve
No. 9 Notre Dame travels to No. 22 Pitt on Saturday for a ranked matchup. Both ESPN's "College GameDay" and ACC Network's "The Huddle" will be on-site in the Steel City as Marcus Freeman's squad looks to make another statement to the College Football Playoff selection committee. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to preview that matchup and much more. Plus, special guest Stanford Steve joins the show to help preview the game and talk about the festivities surrounding "College GameDay." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 9, 2025 • 50min
Notre Dame beats Navy, 49-10
CJ Carr was nearly perfect, Jeremiyah Love was usual dominant self, six different players scored touchdowns and Notre Dame beat rival Navy in primetime, 49-10. Oh, and Chris Ash's defense passed the triple-option test with flying colors. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break down the game and turn the page forward to Pitt, where Marcus Freeman's squad will face what should be its last real test of the regular season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 5, 2025 • 1h 12min
CFP Rankings Reaction, Notre Dame-Navy Preview plus special guest Stormy Buonantony
Notre Dame is No. 10 in the first College Football Playoff selection committee rankings. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to react to those rankings and chart the Fighting Irish's path forward to a CFP spot. Plus, the guys break down Notre Dame's matchup against Navy on Saturday night. And they are joined by ESPN's and VSIN's Stormy Buonantony, who was the sideline reporter for Marcus Freeman and the Irish's win at Boston College. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nov 2, 2025 • 46min
Notre Dame beats Boston College, 25-10
It wasn't pretty, but it counts all the same. Notre Dame won its sixth straight game, winning the Holy War against Boston College, 25-10. CJ Carr finished just shy of 300 yards passing, Jeremiyah Love clinched the game (and went over 100 yards) with a long TD run and Adon Shuler, Tae Johnson and the Fighting Irish defense made big plays when it mattered most. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to talk about what it all means for Marcus Freeman's program as it gets ready for a primetime home showdown against rival Navy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 30, 2025 • 1h 21min
Boston College Preview, Brian Kelly fired and more. Plus: Special guest David Teel
Notre Dame comes out of its open date and readies for a trip to Boston College for the Holy War, where the Catholic schools will play for the Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to preview that game, plus to talk about the fallout of former Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly getting fired at LSU. And special guest David Teel of the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press joins the show to talk all things ACC as Marcus Freeman's squad gears up for four games against ACC opponents across these final five weeks of the regular season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


