The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

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

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

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

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

No. 9 Notre Dame made an emphatic statement to the College Football Playoff selection committee on Saturday, routing Syracuse 70-7 on Senior Day. Marcus Freeman's squad has now won nine straight games, and Chris Ash's defense has made quite the turnaround since the start of the season. Jeremiyah Love added to his Heisman case with 171 yards and 3 TDs on just eight carries. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson talk about all this and more as the Irish ready for their regular-season finale next Saturday at Stanford. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame remains at No. 9 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, four spots ahead of No. 13 Miami. Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish ready for their Senior Day in South Bend against reeling Syracuse of the ACC. How can CJ Carr, Jeremiyah Love and Chris Ash's defense further strengthen their CFP case? Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to chat that and much more, plus take your questions. Plus, the ACC Network's Eric Mac Lain joins the guys to talk about Notre Dame, the ACC 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.

No. 9 Notre Dame passed its last big regular-season test with flying colors, beating No. 22 Pitt, 37-15. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break down how Marcus Freeman's squad was able to improve to 8-2 with a convincing win in the Steel City. There was a lot of Jeremiyah Love, big plays from CJ Carr to Malachi Fields and, perhaps most importantly, a dominant performance from Chris Ash's defense. Where do the Fighting Irish go from here with games left vs. Syracuse and at Stanford? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

No. 9 Notre Dame travels to No. 22 Pitt on Saturday for a ranked matchup. Both ESPN's "College GameDay" and ACC Network's "The Huddle" will be on-site in the Steel City as Marcus Freeman's squad looks to make another statement to the College Football Playoff selection committee. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to preview that matchup and much more. Plus, special guest Stanford Steve joins the show to help preview the game and talk about the festivities surrounding "College GameDay." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CJ Carr was nearly perfect, Jeremiyah Love was usual dominant self, six different players scored touchdowns and Notre Dame beat rival Navy in primetime, 49-10. Oh, and Chris Ash's defense passed the triple-option test with flying colors. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break down the game and turn the page forward to Pitt, where Marcus Freeman's squad will face what should be its last real test of the regular season. 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 No. 10 in the first College Football Playoff selection committee rankings. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to react to those rankings and chart the Fighting Irish's path forward to a CFP spot. Plus, the guys break down Notre Dame's matchup against Navy on Saturday night. And they are joined by ESPN's and VSIN's Stormy Buonantony, who was the sideline reporter for Marcus Freeman and the Irish's win at Boston College. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It wasn't pretty, but it counts all the same. Notre Dame won its sixth straight game, winning the Holy War against Boston College, 25-10. CJ Carr finished just shy of 300 yards passing, Jeremiyah Love clinched the game (and went over 100 yards) with a long TD run and Adon Shuler, Tae Johnson and the Fighting Irish defense made big plays when it mattered most. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to talk about what it all means for Marcus Freeman's program as it gets ready for a primetime home showdown against rival Navy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame comes out of its open date and readies for a trip to Boston College for the Holy War, where the Catholic schools will play for the Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to preview that game, plus to talk about the fallout of former Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly getting fired at LSU. And special guest David Teel of the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press joins the show to talk all things ACC as Marcus Freeman's squad gears up for four games against ACC opponents across these final five weeks of the regular season. 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 an open date, but that doesn't mean that the news slows down for Marcus Freeman's squad. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to catch you up on all things Fighting Irish. First, they welcome in VSIN's Tim Murray, who talks Jeremiyah Love's Heisman Trophy chances and much more. Then, former Irish DC Clark Lea, now the head coach at Vanderbilt, joins the show to talk about the Commodores' rise as they host "College GameDay" behind Heisman candidate QB Diego Pavia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame won a memorable — and potentially final — contest against arch rival USC, 34-24. The Jeweled Shillelagh stays with Marcus Freeman and company in South Bend. The Fighting Irish head into the bye week with a ton of momentum, behind a monumental performance from star RB Jeremiyah Love and gutsy play from a secondary led by Christian Gray and Adon Shuler. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break it all down live from Notre Dame Stadium! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

No. 13 Notre Dame readies for its annual rivalry game against No. 20 USC on Saturday night, perhaps for the final time. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break down the Marcus Freeman vs. Lincoln Riley matchup, and to discuss the future of the series. Plus, FOX Sports' and The Athletic's Bruce Feldman joins the show to talk more about the series, and what he sees out of Fighting Irish QB CJ Carr. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame improved to 4-2 with a 36-7 win over NC State. Marcus Freeman's squad continued its trend of dominating second halves, with Chris Ash's defense playing a leading role. CJ Carr eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark once again, this time with two 100-yard receivers in tight end Eli Raridon and captain Will Pauling. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break down the action and look ahead to next week's rivalry game against USC. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame reaches the halfway point of its regular season this week when it takes on NC State. Can Marcus Freeman's squad improve to 4-2? Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break it all down. Plus, former Fighting Irish captain Joe Schmidt joins the show to break down the Irish's defense so far this season. Bring your questions and let's talk some ball. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame improved to 3-2 this season with a workmanlike 28-7 victory over the visitors from Boise State. Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish have some momentum as they ready for next week's game against NC State, while Chris Ash's defense looks like it may have turned the corner. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break it all down after another strong outing from CJ Carr, Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price and Co. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brady Quinn joins The Independent to talk about Notre Dame's season and his appreciation of QB CJ Carr. Plus, Matt and Pete preview Notre Dame's matchup with Boise State on Saturday, a battle of two teams from last year's College Football Playoff. How can Marcus Freeman's team build off its 56-13 win at Arkansas? Can Chris Ash's defense continue to improve? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame notched a huge win in SEC country, dominating Arkansas from start to finish in a 56-13 triumph to get to 2-2. Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish appear to be headed in the right direction, and Chris Ash's defense took a big step forward. CJ Carr, Jeremiyah Love and the Irish offense, meanwhile, look unstoppable. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break down what it al means. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Notre Dame looks to get back to .500 this week as it travels to SEC country to face Arkansas in a game with big-time stakes for both programs. How will Marcus Freeman's program handle the environment? How will Chris Ash's defense step up to the challenge? Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to discuss that and more. Plus, NBC Sports' Joshua Perry joins the show to share his insights from playing for Chris Ash at Ohio State, 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 got its first win of the season, beating Purdue, 56-30. What does this mean for Marcus Freeman's squad moving forward? How will Chris Ash's defense fare next week at Arkansas? Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break down 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.

Notre Dame goes for its first win of the season Saturday as it hosts in-state rival Purdue. Can Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish take out their frustrations against the Boilermakers again, like they did last season? Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to preview that game and much more. Plus, special guest Ivan Maisel joins the show to talk about his new book: "American Coach: The Triumph and Tragedy of Notre Dame Legend Frank Leahy." 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 0-2 after losing a heartbearker to Texas A&M, 41-40. How will Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish respond? What's up with Chris Ash's defense? Can CJ Carr dig the offense out of this hole? Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break it all down with a live episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.