The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. 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 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! 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 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. 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 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.