Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast

Lucy Rohden (CFBLucy on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok) joins to discuss why so many people running and covering college football seem to hate it. Also a look into how Wisconsin, Sparty and other programs fell off plus things to be excited for this coming season. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport  

Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyama joins to discuss his recent visit to campus for Irish Invasion and how recruiting has continued to improve under Marcus Freeman. Then a look at how the 2026 Notre Dame team looks to compare to previous playoff-era title winners as well as this season's other top contenders. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:  https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to break down the latest arguments for and against expansion to a 24-team college football playoff, including some Mike Elko appreciation. Then (28:00) The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant joins to weigh in on the state of Niele Ivey's program, the greatness (and awards snubbing) of Hannah Hidalgo, checking in on some transfers, Irish in the WNBA and much more. Sign up for the ne...

Mega Memorial Day Weekend Episode. Jessica Smetana and the Spreadsheets & Tailgates newsletter's Michael Bryan join to take a look at what preseason win totals might mean for a long list of college football teams. Topics include but are not limited to: A new era in Happy Valley, Arizona State's international gauntlet, a potential nightmare November in Lincoln, SEC playoff teams adjusting to life w...

Sam Werner joins to discuss/vent about/analyze the growing support for a 24-team college football playoff field, including — in a twist — from Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:  https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to discuss some lessons learned and questions still pending after Blue-Gold weekend and the draft. Then (34:45) the Report Medical Team joins to discusss the second season of "The Pitt."   Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:  https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Alex Herrmann of Notre Dame, Our Blogger joins to discuss Notre Dame football's spring game and where the team stands after this set of practices plus news and notes from the NFL Draft (congrats to Love, Price and all the other draftees and signees). Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:  https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Blue and Gold's Eric Hansen joins to discuss what he saw at the Fighting Irish's jersey scrimmage over the weekend, including the new-look offensive line, depth and potential at wide receiver, freshmen impressing, Christian Gray's move to nickel, how the new coaches are fitting in and C.J. Carr taking things to another level. Then (44:30) we close talking about Notre Dame women's basketball's move...

A Very Brief Survey on Notre Dame Athletics: https://forms.gle/FE21DzPdV1dw4m5A9 Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyma joins to break down what we've learned from Marcus Freeman and the rest of the staff as the Blue-Gold Game approaches. Topics discussed include a new-look offensive line, Nolan James, Jr., Micah Gilbert, Mylan Graham, C.J. Carr, Rodney Dunham, Elijah Hughes and a whole lot more. Then...

Jessica Smetana joins to discuss how a Hannah Hidalgo all-time masterclass performance powered Niele Ivey's Fighting Irish into the Elite Eight. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:   https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana and Paul Coletti of the  Irish Alert newsletter join to break down the Fighting Irish going into Columbus and coming out with a ticket to the Sweet Sixteen. Niele Ivey's steady hand, the greatness of Hannah Hidalgo, a complete team effort and the challenges posed by Vanderbilt, plus a little bit of Conference Brain. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:   https:/...

Happy basketball! Paul Coletti of the Irish Alert newsletter joins to preview Notre Dame's first-round matchup against Fairfield, peek ahead to what a potential game against Ohio State would look like and give his general thoughts on the tournament. Then (35:40) Sam Werner of the Three-Point Jesus podcast joins for a brief check-in on where the Micah Shrewsberry Era stands before previewing the me...

Jessica Smetana joins to take an updated look at where Notre Dame players could go in next month's NFL Draft following the start of free agency and to do some light bracketology. Then (25:00) our friend Priya Desai joins for a draft of all ten Best Picture nominees.   Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:   https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyama joins to discuss some questions that could be at least partially answered by the end of spring practice. Included: How does C.J. Carr perform when there's no competition and also no Jeremiyah Love? Who steps in at the skill position slots? What's the only position with potential depth concerns? Do any freshmen force their way onto the field? Then we close (46:45)...

Jessica Smetana joins for a supersized episode. First, we run through the news on Aaron Henry and Brian Jean-Mary reportedly being added to the Fighting Irish staff, Notre Dame's relationship with the ACC and a College Football Playoff schedule that has somehow gotten worse. Then (25:45) a pivot to discussing every single new head coaching hire in FBS, starting with the Big Ten and ending with UCo...

The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant joins to discuss what is hopefully a blip season for the Fighting Irish women's team, including praise for Hannah Hidalgo, questions about roster construction, Niele Ivey's performance and whether women's basketball generally is in a bit of a rut. Then (42:30) Sam Werner (Three-Point Jesus podcast) and Joe Schueller (18 Stripes) discuss what has gone awry in Micah...

Jessica Smetana joins to lay out our list analyzing, projecting and recommending the trends for the new year now that the national championship game is officially behind us. Topics include: What to make of Indiana winning the title, Notre Dame's different approach the portal, the playoff snub, being a hater, Don Draper Days, algorithms, beans and much more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse...

Jessica Smetana joins to break down all the topics Marcus Freeman hit at his Jan. 14 press conference, including the fradulent accusations against him, the NFL's interest in him, transfer portal additions, the USC rivalry and much more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:   https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Marcus Freeman and company hit a home run at defensive tackle, add another Ohio State wide receiver and pick their kicker. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport  

The Fighting Irish finally got some commits on Monday. A quick run through how those players fit into the 2026 roster, some departures and lingering issues that still need resolved. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:  https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to kick off 2026 by looking at some of the best, worst and most confusing takes regarding the playoff and bowls from the past month-plus, including Notre Dame's conference affiliation, the G5 autobid, bye week curses, reorganizing the playoff calendar, whether the non-playoff bowls should exist and much more. Then (1:15:00) we are contractually obligated to talk about a Catho...

The  Spreadsheets & Tailgates newsletter's Michael Bryan joins to run through some news: Marcus Freeman is officially staying at Notre Dame despite NFL interest, Southern Cal is officially taking the coward's path, updates on the roster and transfer portal guesswork. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:  https://linktr.ee/rakesreport Donate here to the Center for the Homeless:...

We were going to do this Friday afternoon as a recap of Everything but decided to let things settle a bit first, so: Jessica Smetana joins to talk Jeremiyah Love awards circuit, All-American tracking, Remembering Some Guys via trivia, the USC series, strength of schedule debates, which reports from last week matter and which don't, basketball injury updates and much more. Donate here to the Center...

Closing the week with a few complaints to cleanse the soul, starting with an SEC TikToker's foray into Notre Dame country. Also: Merch availability, bowl discourse and much, much more. Donate here to the Center for the Homeless: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rakes-report-christmas-giving-2025 Holiday shirts (with all proceeds going to the CFH) available here: https://rakesreport.dashery.com/ Grievanc...

Blue and Gold's Eric Hansen joins to talk about what steps Pete Bevacqua and Marcus Freeman should take next, the ACC and SEC relationships, how the decision to skip a bowl came about, key players the Irish will try to sway to return and much more. Donate here to the Center for the Homeless:   https://www.gofundme.com/f/rakes-report-christmas-giving-2025 Holiday shirts (with all proceeds going to...