The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

Matt & Pete talk more about Notre Dame's opening win at Texas A&M and what this means for the rest of the Irish season. What did Riley Leonard show in his debut in the blue & gold and how did Marcus Freeman's enthusiasm drive the team. Plus, Stanford Steve joins the show to share his thoughts on Notre Dame as well as what it has been like this year on College Gameday with the addition...

Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson go live from College Station, Texas to talk about Notre Dame's thrilling 23-13 win over Texas A&M to open Year 3 of the Marcus Freeman era. New QB Riley Leonard made clutch plays in the fourth quarter, Xavier Watts and the defense dominated, and Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love found the end zone in Saturday's thriller in SEC country. Learn more about your ad cho...

The season is finally ready to kickoff and Matt & Pete return for the first preview episode of the season, Notre Dame at Texas A&M.  Tune in for a live Q&A with Notre Dame fans at ESQ Clothing in Chicago where all topics of Irish football are brought up. Who is going to stand out from the group of young linebackers, can the offensive line hold up and are the receivers up to task. Plus...

It's game week and Matt & Pete are back to get you ready for the start of a the Irish 2024 campaign. This week they're joined by Tony Simeone, the new radio play-by-play voice of Notre Dame, as he helps them breakdown all aspects of the season. Tune in for thoughts on the offensive line, Marcus Freeman's composure going into the Fall, Riley Leonard, as well as thoughts on the scale of this ope...

Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson react to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the midway point of fall camp, take your questions on Marcus Freeman's squad, and dive into some player predictions surrounding Riley Leonard, Jeremiyah Love, Kris Mitchell, Beaux Collins, Anthonie Knapp and more ahead of the 2024 season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast...

Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson break down Notre Dame's first week of fall camp, including a look at the offensive line, which is turning to Tosh Baker at left tackle after starter Charles Jagusah suffered a season-ending injury. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and...

Football is back! Notre Dame just wrapped up its first camp practice, with Riley Leonard, Benjamin Morrison and the rest of the Fighting Irish holding a full open practice to the media in South Bend. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson share their takeaways, plus react to Marcus Freeman's post-practice press conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simpl...

The season is just around the corner and Matt & Pete return to discuss the expectations for the Irish in 2024. Find out the latest from South Bend and the predictions for year three under Marcus Freeman. What is everyone looking for in Fall Camp and how much of a difference will there be between the offense and the defense at this stage of the preseason. Plus, when will Riley Leonard get his f...

Each week we get closer to Notre Dame Football and as we begin July, Matt & Pete dive into Pete’s annual Irish Fan survey to answer all your questions about Marcus Freeman’s team. How does the schedule look for the foreseeable future, does this team have a College Football Playoff run in them and who is going to breakthrough this Fall?  Plus, how optimistic is the fan base about this Fall and...

Join Matt & Pete as they share the latest from Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman as the offseason continues on. Hear their thoughts on if this is a Playoff or Bust season for Freeman, how important week one at A&M is as well as what the kick times coming out this early means to fans.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....

The kickoff times are rolling in and Matt & Pete are back to discuss what to expect from Notre Dame's schedule as well as how the kick times could impact the team. Plus, thoughts on the salary details shared about Marcus Freeman and staff as well as details on Pete's story on Matt Jansen, Irish head of scouting, that you can find in The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast...

Matt and Pete recap Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold spring game and look ahead to the Irish’s summer priorities. Why has QB depth been so important with Riley Leonard, Steve Angeli, Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr? Plus, why Marcus Freeman thinks this is his most talented team in South Bend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads...

Matt & Pete return to discuss the Blue Gold game and what they expect to see from Marcus Freeman’s team on Saturday. How will the Transfer Portal impact the Irish and what can we learn from the offense without the expected starting quarterback in Riley Leonard playing on Saturday. Plus, learn more about upcoming new football facilities for Notre Dame and how it will benefit the team.  Learn mo...

As we head deeper into March the hoops talk continues on the Independent as Matt & Pete are joined by Irish head Women’s Basketball Coach Niele Ivey. Coach Ivey talks about the ACC tournament win as well as what to expect from Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament as the team hosts the first two rounds. Plus, Spring Practice rolls onward as Marcus Freeman and company continue to put in work with t...

The Irish were back on the field for the first time ahead of the 2024 season as Spring Practice as begun in South Bend. Tune in for thoughts from Matt & Pete on the new faces for Marcus Freeman’s team, where players were lining up while practicing out of pads and find out their first impression of the 2024 squad. Plus, thoughts on if the wide out group looks to have been elevated in the offsea...

This week, Matt & Pete get ready for Notre Dame Spring Football as the first open practice of the year is on the horizon plus they are joined by first year Notre Dame Head Basketball Coach Micah Shrewsberry. The conversation also turns to the ever changing College Football landscape and how the playoff changes impact Notre Dame and what all this will do to the sport of College Football. Will M...

Matt & Pete return to share their takeaways from their conversations with Notre Dame players prior to winter conditioning beginning. Find out their takeaways from their first conversations with Riley Leonard as well as CJ Carr plus what new Director of Football Performance Loren Landow. Also, thoughts on the college football coaching era in NIL and what makes an coordinator job in the NFL more...

Matt & Pete return to look back at the season that was for the Irish as well as discuss some of the sport altering news around Nick Saban retiring and the ensuing coach and player shuffle. Kalen DeBoer taking the Alabama job created the domino effect that spared Notre Dame but will other coaching moves impact the team. Plus, tune in for thoughts on where Marcus Freeman ranks among the top coac...

The Irish closed out a 10-3 season with a 40-8 victory over Oregon State to take home the Sun Bowl title and earn Marcus Freeman a Frosted Flakes bath. Steve Angeli threw for three touchdowns in his Notre Dame debut and the defense remained stout in the win. Jordan Faison earn MVP honors with 115 yards receiving and a score. The 10-3 season sets up Notre Dame with momentum heading into 2024 as the...

Matt & Pete preview the Irish bowl game against Oregon State from El Paso where Pete has the latest from Notre Dame before tomorrow’s matchup. Tune in for thoughts on how the bowl will go and how it will setup Marcus Freeman’s team for the 2024 campaign.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for infor...

Join Matt & Pete as they discuss the hiring of Mike Denbrock as Notre Dame's offensive coordinator to replace Gerad Parker. How does this impact the Irish for next season and what will this mean for Marcus Freeman's staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and u...

For the third consecutive year the Irish will have a new offensive coordinator under Marcus Freeman. Join Matt & Pete as they discuss the departure of Gerad Parker and what it means for the staff and Notre Dame’s prospects in 2024. Plus, updates from the transfer portal and thoughts on how the bowl game will be impacted by this turnover on the staff.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit po...

For the second straight year the Irish bring in a highly sought after transfer portal QB in Riley Leonard from Duke. Matt & Pete discuss Leonard joining Marcus Freeman’s team and how he will fit in with this offense as well as how he compares to Sam Hartman. Plus, more news out of the portal as well as Sun Bowl opt outs and what other offseason news to expect for the Irish.  Learn more about y...

The Irish found out their bowl destination on Sunday night as they will be headed to El Paso, Texas to face Oregon State in the Sun Bowl. Join Matt & Pete for first thoughts on the bowl selection as well as reactions to the matchup with the Beavers. Plus, news from the transfer portal who is on the move and who could the Irish pickup for the 2024 season.  Marcus Freeman addressed the matchup a...

On this week’s episode of the Independent, Matt & Pete talk about the news that Notre Dame has parted ways with wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey. Plus, thoughts on transfer portal options for the Irish as well as who has decided to depart the roster for the portal and will Riley Leonard be the new man under center for Marcus Freeman?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c...