Advertise on podcast: The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

The 2026 offseason is finally, officially upon us and Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to catch you on all things Notre Dame football. Where does Marcus Freeman turn to replace DBs coach Mike Mickens? Could more Fighting Irish assistants be on the move? Plus, the full Notre Dame schedule has been released for this fall. The guys will preview that and talk much more as they turn the page to Year 5 of the Freeman Era. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's already been a long offseason, no? Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to debrief after Marcus Freeman's first press conference since Notre Dame's season ended, as the Fighting Irish coach talked portal additions, staff changes, NFL interest (or lack thereof) 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.

The offseason already seems long, doesn't it? Marcus Freeman made it seem a little shorter on Monday, tweeting his indication that he is staying at Notre Dame for a fifth season, with sources telling The Independent that the coach has indeed agreed to a contract extension to stay in South Bend. The Fighting Irish figure to be a national title contender in 2026, and Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to talk about that and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The long offseason has already begun. Notre Dame has had several NFL Draft declarations, linebackers coach Max Bullough is off to Michigan State and there has yet to be definitive clarity on Marcus Freeman’s future with the Fighting Irish. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to talk through it all, to break down future ND schedules 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.

Pete Bevacqua has gone on a media blitz since Sunday, when Notre Dame was left out of the College Football Playoff. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to react to the Fighting Irish AD's Tuesday news conference, talk about the decision of Marcus Freeman's squad to opt out of a bowl, discuss Jeremiyah Love making it to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist 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.

Well, that was a whimper of a Sunday, wasn't it? Notre Dame is out of the College Football Playoff, getting leaped by rival Miami during the final selection show. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to talk you all through a shocking development that ends the Fighting Irish's national title hopes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame's regular season may be over, but Marcus Freeman's squad will be scoreboard watching this weekend. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to answer your questions, talk about the Fighting Irish's College Football Playoff prospects, discuss Jeremiyah Love's Heisman Trophy candidacy 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.

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.

No. 9 Notre Dame enters its regular-season finale at rival Stanford looking like a College Football Playoff team. Can Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish squad continue to dominate the way it has these past three weeks? The Irish look for a second 10-game winning streak in two years, and Jeremiyah Love looks to make his Heisman Trophy case as well. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break it all down. Plus, they are joined by ESPN's Bill Connelly, author of "Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football." The guys talk CFP possibilities, the Miami debate and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.