The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

Notre Dame-Navy preview. Can Marcus Freeman’s Irish get back to their winning ways?

4.4K views · 1d ago · 34:37

No. 5 Notre Dame exits its open date and heads to Gillette Stadium on Saturday in Foxborough, Mass., to face rival Navy. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to preview the contest between the Fighting Irish and Midshipmen, and to talk much more as Miami awaits the following week. Plus, basketball season is here. Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s teams open their seasons Sunday against Villanova in Rome for the Eternal City Tip-Off, not far from Pope Leo XIV.

Notre Dame post-bye check-in, Marcus Freeman reflects on BYU loss

8.6K views · 3d ago · 41:17

It’s game week once again for Notre Dame, and it can’t come any sooner for the Fighting Irish. Marcus Freeman addressed the BYU game on Monday, and his Irish are now ready to turn the page to Navy. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break it all down on another episode of The Independent.

More Notre Dame-BYU thoughts and fallout with ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg

9.2K views · 1w ago · 42:17

Guest: ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg

Notre Dame may have an open date, but the Fighting Irish gave everyone plenty to talk about to fill the void of a non-game week. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg joins Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson to talk about the fallout of the BYU loss for Marcus Freeman, Chris Ash and CJ Carr. Where does ND go from here?

Notre Dame falls short at BYU

22K views · 1w ago · 57:46

Notre Dame's shot at an undefeated season went incomplete on Saturday night as CJ Carr couldn't connect with Jaden Greathouse on the game's final play. Do the Irish have a problem heading toward Miami?

Notre Dame-BYU preview: A top-10 clash in Provo

8.7K views · 2w ago · 38:05

No. 2 Notre Dame receives its first major test of the season, traveling to Provo, Utah to take on an undefeated, top-10 BYU squad. ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be on-site for the primetime showdown as Marcus Freeman, CJ Carr and Co. look to prove their championship mettle. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break it all down.

ESPN’s Roddy Jones joins the show to preview top-10 Notre Dame-BYU matchup

11K views · 2w ago · 41:48

The meat of the schedule is finally here. It’s Notre Dame-BYU week, and ESPN’s Roddy Jones joins Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson to talk about Kalani Sitake’s Cougars, whose win over TCU Jones called two weeks ago. Jones also has the call for Miami-Florida State, so the guys talk a little Hurricanes with that matchup against Marcus Freeman’s Fighting Irish just three weeks away.

Notre Dame blasts Stanford to cap the season's first half

12K views · 2w ago · 38:33

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.

Notre Dame-Stanford preview: Can the Fighting Irish name their score against The Cardinal?

4.6K views · 3w ago · 30:48

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.

Dusty Dvoracek joins the show to talk Notre Dame ground game and more

9.2K views · 3w ago · 50:28

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.

Notre Dame's run game comes to life versus UNC

13K views · 3w ago · 46:51

Notre Dame-North Carolina preview: Can Marcus Freeman’s squad get the best of Bill Belichick’s?

6.7K views · 4w ago · 33:01

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?

Notre Dame starts 4-0 & Yogi Roth joins the show! Plus, Quincy Porter is out for the year and more.

8.2K views · 1mo ago · 41:04

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.

No. 3 Notre Dame dominates Purdue, 49-10, to complete perfect September

12K views · 1mo ago · 51:02

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.

Notre Dame-Purdue Preview with NBC’s Paul Burmeister

8.7K views · 1mo ago · 49:59

Guest: NBC’s Paul Burmeister

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.

Final Thoughts on Notre Dame-Michigan State. Plus, Marcus Freeman worked at Texas Roadhouse?

6.9K views · 1mo ago · 39:06

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.