The Irish won their 16th straight game – by double digits – as Marcus Freeman led a demolition of Stanford, setting Notre Dame up for its first big test of the season when it heads to BYU next weekend.

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Notre Dame is about to reach the halfway point of its season as the Fighting Irish ready to host rival Stanford. Will Marcus Freeman’s squad dominate, or is this a bit of a lookahead spot with BYU looming?
Plus, what does ND have at QB behind CJ Carr? Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to offer their predictions and much more.

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As Notre Dame turns the page from North Carolina to Stanford, ESPN’s Dusty Dvoracek joins Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson after calling Saturday’s Fighting Irish game in Chapel Hill. Plus, Marcus Freeman’s squad is approaching school history with its continued stretch of dominance, and it was announced this week that the Irish’s next big test, at BYU, will kick in primetime on ABC on Oct. 17.

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Pete Sampson and Matt Fortuna break down Notre Dame's performance in a 37-26 victory over North Carolina.

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 No. 3 Notre Dame readies for a trip to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina and the ACC. As Marcus Freeman’s squad looks to get to 5-0, Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson look at the strengths of the Fighting Irish and put the Tar Heels series — and Bill Belichick’s tenure — into context. Is this a rivalry?

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No. 3 Notre Dame is turning the page to October after dominating Purdue to complete a perfect opening month. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to talk about that win and about the news that WR Quincy Porter will not play this season. Plus, NBC analyst Yogi Roth joins the show after calling the Fighting Irish game for Peacock. Roth talks CJ Carr, Marcus Freeman and more as he goes down memory lane.

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Notre Dame completed the Big Ten portion of its schedule in dominating fashion Saturday, winning at Purdue, 49-10, at Ross Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. CJ Carr threw for 237 yards, Aneyas Williams ran for 80 and the defense dominated, recording six sacks. Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish finish the season's opening month undefeated for the first time in his five-year tenure, and Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to talk about it on the latest episode of The Independent.

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No. 3 Notre Dame travels to West Lafayette, Ind., on Saturday to take on in-state rival Purdue. Former Irish radio play-by-play man Paul Burmeister will be on the call for Peacock, and he joins Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson to preview the contest and much more. Plus, Matt and Pete offer their predictions for Marcus Freeman’s squad as they look to close out the month of September on a positive note.

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No. 3 Notre Dame is 3-0 entering Saturday’s game at in-state rival Purdue. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to look at what the Fighting Irish did well and what they can improve on after beating Michigan State. Plus, Marcus Freeman had a funny revelation this week about his college job.

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CJ Carr threw for 234 yards, Nolan James ran for 121, Micah Gilbert caught 8 passes for 170 yards and No. 3 Notre Dame took care of Michigan State, 27-10, on Saturday night in South Bend. 

The Fighting Irish defense was its reliable self, and Marcus Freeman's squad got the breakout receiver game it had needed.

Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to talk about the win and much more on the latest episode of The Independent.

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Notre Dame readies for its third game of the season, and its second in South Bend, Ind., as Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish take on Pat Fitzgerald and the Michigan State Spartans under the lights on NBC. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to preview that game and much more on the latest episode of The Independent.

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Notre Dame's home opener went according to plan, as Marcus Freeman's squad shut out Rice, 52-0. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to take one final look back at the win and to turn the page ahead toward rival Michigan State, as the Fighting Irish look to beat the Spartans in primetime.

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Notre Dame dominated Rice, 52-0, to record its second shutout win of the Marcus Freeman era. CJ Carr and the Fighting Irish offense looked smooth, while Chris Ash's defense dominated with four takeaways. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to recap the home opener and much more!

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Notre Dame has a quick turnaround after putting away Wisconsin on Sunday night in Green Bay. While this Saturday’s home opener vs. Rice figures to be an easier test, the Fighting Irish, crazy enough, are 0-3 vs. FBS teams in Week 2 under Marcus Freeman. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson break down the matchup with the Owls and much more during a special live episode at ESQ Clothing in downtown Chicago!

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Notre Dame is 1-0 after beating Wisconsin on Sunday at Lambeau Field. With Marcus Freeman addressing reporters on Tuesday, Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson dive in to the Fighting Irish  head coach's comments and look at the roster, and the challenges, moving forward as ND gears up for its home opener vs. Rice.

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Notre Dame answered the bell in the second half Sunday to take care of Wisconsin, 41-13, at Green Bay's Lambeau Field. CJ Carr led the offense while the defense stifled the Badgers in the second half, shutting Luke Fickell's squad out. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to discuss the win, as Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish begin his fifth season 1-0.

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Finally, football! Notre Dame kicks off its 2026 revenge tour this Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin against the Badgers. The Fighting Irish are undefeated in Shamrock Series games. Marcus Freeman, meanwhile, takes on his mentor, Luke Fickell. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break down this much-anticipated opener and to see if CJ Carr and Co. can live up to the hype.

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It's Week 1! And it's time for Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson to put their money where their mouths are. They are joined by friend of the pod Tim Murray for the 2026 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Season Preview Show, as the gang makes its predictions for Marcus Freeman's squad, which chases its first national championship in 38 years.

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It is almost Notre Dame game week, as Week 1 is right around the corner. How does Marcus Freeman's squad look as fall camp draws to a close? Who will back up QB CJ Carr? Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to address all of those Fighting Irish questions and more on the latest episode of The Independent.

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NBC has a new sideline reporter for Notre Dame football, and it’s a familiar name to Fighting Irish fans. Caroline Pineda joins Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson to talk about her career path, the lessons she learned as a Notre Dame student, stories from the road and much more.

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It's been a minute since we did this, and there is a ton to talk about. Join Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson LIVE on The Independent to talk all things Notre Dame football, Marcus Freeman, CJ Carr and more. The Fighting Irish are three weeks away from kicking off the 2026 season at Lambeau Field vs. Wisconsin.

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Notre Dame is two practices in, and the Fighting Irish are showing off their depth. Pete Sampson and Matt Fortuna are here to break down position battles and more, as Marcus Freeman's squad begins camp as the No. 5 team in the country, according to the coaches' poll.

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You hear that sound? It's the smashing of the pads as fall camp gets underway this week at Notre Dame. Marcus Freeman addressed reporters about what to expect as he gears up for his fifth season leading the Fighting Irish. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to talk about that and much more. Plus, the USC rivalry is back!

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Fall camp is less than a week away, and the Notre Dame hype train rolls on. Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman sat with reporters last week to check in on where things stand as he readies for Year 5 in South Bend. Plus, some jersey news has fans talking, both good and bad. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to discuss all of that and much more.

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Former Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly joins The Independent for this extended exclusive interview. Matt and Pete talk to the Irish’s all-time winningest coach about his Irish exit, the affection he still has for Notre Dame, why things didn’t work out at LSU, what could have been and much more. Kelly praises Marcus Freeman and the current staff for all that they have accomplished, and he talks about what life has been like these past few months without a team to coach after 35 years of running programs. Plus, will he get back into coaching? Kelly talks all that and more on the latest episode of The Independent!

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It's Fan Survey Time! Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to discuss the feedback Pete received from his annual Notre Dame Fan Survey on The Athletic. You are all incredibly high on the Fighting Irish in 2026, and rightfully so. With Marcus Freeman entering Year 5 and CJ Carr listed as a preseason Heisman contender, what's not to like about this squad? The fellas discuss that and more on the latest episode of The Independent.

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It’s been a good offseason for Notre Dame, and the vibes continue to be high as the Fighting Irish are ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s future power rankings. Adam Rittenberg, the author of the rankings, joins Matt and Pete to discuss why he loves the Irish, and what Marcus Freeman has done to position the program for so much success.

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We're less than 100 days from the start of the Notre Dame football season, and Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to catch you up on all of the Fighting Irish's offseason moves. How much does Marcus Freeman's 2026 roster cost? What did you make of Pete Bevacqua's testimony on Capitol Hill? Plus, Leonard Moore lands on the cover of EA Sports' College Football 27.

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Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are back to talk all things Notre Dame. Pete has been in Amelia Island, Fla., all week for ACC spring meetings, where he met with Fighting Irish AD Pete Bevacqua to talk about potential College Football Playoff expansion and more. Where do things stand with the Irish and the ACC? Plus, NBC announced kick times for all of Marcus Freeman's squad's home games this fall. The guys will talk about all of that on the latest episode of The Independent.

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The Notre Dame spring game was a thriller, with Irish kicker Spencer Porath hitting a field goal on the last play to give the Blue team a 41-40 win over the Gold team. Of course, the takeaways came far beyond the kicking game for Marcus Freeman's fifth Fighting Irish squad, and Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to recap the spring season. How close is this team to being a national title contender? (It already is.) How close is CJ Carr to being a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate? (Very close.) More than 45,000 folks packed the stadium for a beautiful South Bend Saturday, as excitement is high around this year's team.

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Notre Dame held its annual spring jersey scrimmage this past Saturday, and CJ Carr stole the show. Just how good can Marcus Freeman's squad be in 2025? We'll find out more in this Saturday's Blue-Gold spring game in South Bend, which Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson preview as well. Plus, how high will Jeremiyah Love and other Fighting Irish players go in this week's NFL Draft?

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Notre Dame's Blue-Gold spring game is just two weeks away. So, too, is the NFL Draft. There is lots to talk about with Marcus Freeman's squad as Fighting Irish players past and present look to make statements this month. Join Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson for another spirited discussion about all things Irish, on the latest episode of The Independent. 
 

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Notre Dame is halfway home during spring football, culminating in the April 25 Blue-Gold spring game. Marcus Freeman updated the media Wednesday on where things stand with his program, from CJ Carr's leadership to the new additions to Chris Ash's defensive staff. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to talk all that and much more on the latest episode of The Independent.

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Football is back (kind of). Notre Dame is amid its first week of spring football, as Marcus Freeman's fifth Fighting Irish squad heads into 2026 with a chip on its shoulder. Jeremiyah Love and other former Irish stars showed their stuff at Pro Day this week as well. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to talk about all of that and much more on another exciting episode of The Independent. 

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Former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz passed away on March 4 at the age of 89. In this special edition of The Independent, former Holtz players Jeff Kilburg, Chris Zorich, Steve Roddy and Cornelius Southall share their favorite memories of their coach, from winning the national championship to random acts of kindness that reverberate with his former players till this day.

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March is here and that means NBC’s Jordan Cornette, Notre Dame’s all-time leader in blocks, joins The Independent to preview conference tournament week, look at where things have gone wrong for Fighting Irish men’s basketball and much more. Plus, Brian Kelly is in the news again, and Jeremiyah Love’s draft fate may have taken a turn after Week 1 of NFL free agency.

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Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are back for more Notre Dame news, nuggets and conversation. Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love showed out at the NFL Scouting Combine. 

Where will he and fellow Fighting Irish backfield mate Jadarian Price get drafted? Plus, what does the projected first round tell us about Marcus Freeman's squad's opponents, both past and future? The fellas talk all that and more as we are officially in spring ball month in South Bend. 

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Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are back for another episode of The Independent. The guys talk the latest on Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame squad, look at the QB situation beyond CJ Carr and wonder if Wisconsin's football team is offering a template for how the Fighting Irish men's basketball team can get back on track? 
 

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Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are back for another episode of The Independent. The guys talk about the Big Ten's proposed 24-team College Football Playoff format and how that would have affected Notre Dame this past season (and in seasons to come). They also evaluate the assistant coaching hires that Marcus Freeman and Chris Ash made for this year's Fighting Irish assistants: Charlie Partridge, Brian Jean-Mary and Aaron Henry. Plus, it's never too early to look ahead to the 2026 schedule and break down the makeup of future Irish opponents.

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Football never sleeps and neither do Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson. Join them on the latest episode The Independent, where the fellas talk about Notre Dame's NFL Draft prospects, look back at the Fighting Irish players who starred in the Super Bowl and have some fun talking scheduling hypotheticals for Marcus Freeman's squad.

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The offseason is in full swing and Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to chop it up about the latest happenings around Notre Dame. Marcus Freeman and Chris Ash have rounded out their defensive staff by hiring Aaron Henry from Illinois and Brian Jean-Mary from Georgia Tech. National signing day featured the addition of re-classified QB Teddy Jarrard. Mock drafts look favorable on some Fighting Irish skill players. And the future odds from our friends in the desert have a very positive outlook for Notre Dame in 2026.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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