The Lead

Four years ago, Notre Dame was 4-8. Two years ago, when they squared off against Clemson in the Cotton Bowl, they got scorched 30-3. But even as the Fighting Irish have struggled lately, head coach Brian Kelly and his staff have quietly been putting the pieces in place to compete with the country's top programs -- and on Saturday, they did just that, defeating #1 ranked Clemson 47-40 in double OT. The Athletic's Pete Sampson joins us to break down what went right for Notre Dame in the game, what to expect in a likely December rematch, and what the team's first victory over a #1 ranked team in 27 years signals for the program.Follow Pete Sampson's Notre Dame coverage:https://theathletic.com/author/pete-sampson/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. government did something that it later apologized for and called a grave error: it rounded up and forcibly relocated tens of thousands of Japanese Americans, moving them to internment camps, where they lived in extremely harsh conditions for years. Inside one of those camps, near Topaz, Utah, a high school football team was formed and surprised many of the local teams it played against. Christopher Kamrani has the story of Topaz High, and how a group of high school kids used America's most beloved sport to show that they, too, were Americans.Read Chris Kamrani's story about Topaz High:https://theathletic.com/2162093/2020/10/30/topaz-internment-camp-football-team/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

So far in 2020, one of the most exciting players in college football has been Kansas State’s 5-foot-5, 168-pound running back, Deuce Vaughn. Today, The Athletic’s Max Olson on what makes the freshman phenom so difficult to stop, how he ended up at Kansas State, and whether he — like former Wildcats star Darren Sproles — has the potential to land in the NFL. Read Max Olson’s story about Deuce Vaughn: https://theathletic.com/2164884/2020/10/28/deuce-vaughn-kansas-state/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mookie Betts is known to be one of the most competitive people in sports, and that drive helped him lead the Dodgers to their first World Series title since 1988. So, how did the star outfielder end up that way? And what makes him tick? The Athletic's Pedro Moura takes us inside the mind of Mookie Betts, and explains his unusual approach to baseball and his obsession with bowling. This episode first aired on July 27, 2020.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After yer another loss, the New England Patriots are now 2-5 and all but out of the playoffs. And that means the question that people love to ask is being asked yet again, and with even more fervor -- is the Patriots dynasty officially over? The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, who has covered the Pats for more than a decade, joins us to discuss what has gone wrong in New England, if there’s any chance the Pats can get things back on track this season, and why we shouldn't be so quick to declare dynasty done.More from Jeff Howe:https://theathletic.com/author/jeff-howe/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Sunday, Tua Tagovailoa got his first start for the Dolphins and picked up a win over the Rams, almost one year after the hip injury that ended his career at Alabama. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Josh Tolentino to discuss why Miami turned to Tagovailoa now, how he played in his debut, and the bond that has formed between the rookie and the player he replaced — veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Follow Josh Tolentino’s coverage of the Dolphins: https://theathletic.com/author/josh-tolentino/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Legendary hockey broadcaster Mike 'Doc' Emrick announced his retirement last week. Known for his meticulous preparation, his incredible voice, and his unparalleled vocabulary, Doc has called many of the biggest moments in NHL history. The Athletic's Craig Custance, who has known Doc for many years and recently interviewed him about his retirement, joins us to talk about what the iconic play-by-play man meant to American hockey fans and how he’ll be remembered.More from Craig Custance:https://theathletic.com/author/craig-custance/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been a 32-year wait for the Dodgers and their fans, but L.A. can finally celebrate a World Series victory once again. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Pedro Moura to look at the strange night in Texas when the Dodgers won the title, with the stunning decision to remove Blake Snell early, some late fireworks from Mookie Betts, and the surreal scene that unfolded after Justin Turner’s positive Covid test. Follow Pedro Moura’s coverage of the Dodgers: https://theathletic.com/author/pedro-moura/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson picked up yet another injury on Sunday in his team's overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The fourth-year player has had to overcome an incredible number of injuries in his relatively short NFL career, but that has allowed him to move closer toward a goal that he has been pursuing for many years. The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar has the story of the promise Carson made to his mother after a family tragedy years ago, and why he is determined to keep it.Read Michael-Shawn Dugar's profile on Chris Carson:https://theathletic.com/2141924/2020/10/23/seahawks-chris-carson-contract-year-free-agency/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been a rough start to the season for the Philadelphia Eagles, but they’re still in first place in the NFC East, thanks in part to some impressive play from their new left tackle, Jordan Mailata. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Bo Wulf to discuss Mailata’s amazing journey from rugby player in Australia to starting NFL offensive lineman, and all the challenges he has faced — including multiple heart surgeries — along the way. Read Bo Wulf’s story about Jordan Mailata: https://theathletic.com/2151369/2020/10/22/jordan-mailata-rugby-eagles/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.