The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Oct 23, 2025 • 1h 1min

Bye Week with Clark Lea & Tim Murray

Notre Dame has an open date, but that doesn't mean that the news slows down for Marcus Freeman's squad. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to catch you up on all things Fighting Irish. First, they welcome in VSIN's Tim Murray, who talks Jeremiyah Love's Heisman Trophy chances and much more. Then, former Irish DC Clark Lea, now the head coach at Vanderbilt, joins the show to talk about the Commodores' rise as they host "College GameDay" behind Heisman candidate QB Diego Pavia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Oct 19, 2025 • 57min

Postgame Reaction: Notre Dame beats USC, 34-24

Notre Dame won a memorable — and potentially final — contest against arch rival USC, 34-24. The Jeweled Shillelagh stays with Marcus Freeman and company in South Bend. The Fighting Irish head into the bye week with a ton of momentum, behind a monumental performance from star RB Jeremiyah Love and gutsy play from a secondary led by Christian Gray and Adon Shuler. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break it all down live from Notre Dame Stadium! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Oct 15, 2025 • 1h 30min

Notre Dame vs. USC Preview, plus special guest Bruce Feldman

No. 13 Notre Dame readies for its annual rivalry game against No. 20 USC on Saturday night, perhaps for the final time. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break down the Marcus Freeman vs. Lincoln Riley matchup, and to discuss the future of the series. Plus, FOX Sports' and The Athletic's Bruce Feldman joins the show to talk more about the series, and what he sees out of Fighting Irish QB CJ Carr. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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