JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Dec. 17, 2025

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Dec. 17, 2025

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Eric Hansen

3:29

OK that's it for today. THANKS FOR all the great questions. If I missed saying Merry Christmas back, please accept this one now. I was flying through the questions today trying to empty the queue. WE WILL have a chat next week, but we'll do it TUESDAY Dec. 23 at noon ET instead of our normal Wednesday. Thanks again for asking, lurking, and especially the compliments!

3:27

A quick one? OK Matt LOL, here's a quick one for you. What is the meaning of life? I am out of time. Why don't you email me and I'll share the trove of articles I did last spring on that topic.

Matt from Austin

3:26

Eric, A quick one if you have time. Why the heck did Olivia Miles transfer???? Thank you.

Eric Hansen

3:26

Mark, if Marcus Freeman is reading the chat and he asks to pass a message along., I'll be sure to relay it. My opinion is that he'll stay.

Guest

3:25

Mark Sanata, sorry, my question is for Coach Freeman, like many of Notre Dame Fans and Alumni we are worried about you leaving . You are a fantastic coach and recruiter. Are you staying at Notre Dame?

Eric Hansen

3:25

I don't think a rotational TV deal will happen in the next iteration of the CFP, which runs through 2031. Maybe after that?

Dave

3:24

Hey Eric. It seems to me Notre Dame got played by the ESPN/SEC's cozy relationship with the CFP committee. What power does ND have in the CFP Administration, LLC, which runs the playoff and negotiates tv deals, and do you see a future where uses a rotational tv deal like the NFL does with the Super Bowl?

Eric Hansen

3:24

If the reclassification happens as expected, yes they will pursue a 2027 QB if I heard Mike Singer correctly.

Dave from Columbus

3:23

With the reclassification of Teddy Jarrard to the 2026 class, do you know whether the Irish coaching staff will look to add a QB in the 2027 class?

Eric Hansen

3:23

Hi Tom. You might be. Marcus is involved in so many parts of practice and the roster, and with each passing year he's getting better at that. But he doesn't like to micromanage. He has a strong voice with the coordinators, but he trusts them. Now at times, he has to fix or inject himself into a facet of the team, but he can't be everywhere, so he hires great assistants he trusts. But again, I do think big picture there was a blind spot in having an accurate read on certain aspects of the team going into 2025. I thinkthat WILL be addressed this year.

Tom in Evanston

3:20

Hi Eric. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Building some on the question from Jeff from Phoenix and your response, isn't it Marcus' job to really evaluate what his coordinators put forth? That is what puzzles me, as good a coach as he is and as open to questioning everything, I haven't gotten the sense that the ND teams at the beginning of the seasons really have his stamp on them. Am I misreading this?

Eric Hansen

3:20

Biggest surprise transfers, I'd have to think on that awhile.

3:19

Ryan this is a great set of questions and one I wish I had more time for. But let me get you something here. I think Marcus Freeman is way more in tune with his team in terms of transparency on both sides than say Brian Kelly was. Not a knock on BK, but not his thing. But I think it helps Marcus in having fewer surprises to almost no surprises each year. it certainly mitigates it. As far as Aneyas Williams, he's going to have opportunity. I think people speculate that maybe his frustration of not playing much this year will shake his trust in believing he'll get a fair shake next fall. I think he will stay. But again, not just playing time is in play for kids these days. There are finances. Even then, I like his chances of staying. (more)

Ryan, Berkeley

3:16

Eric, coming in hot to the chat! Alas, I had to do some math this morning for work (and I'm a humanities guy), but I don't ever like to miss these Wednesday gatherings of joy. Thank you for hosting. I've been reading here and there qualifications like, "If Aneyas Williams returns..." Is there any rumor he won't!? That would be a loss... Every year, how many surprise transfers are there? Which, from the past, have really surprised/disappointed you? I was always bummed Lorenzo Styles (now a safety at Ohio) left, but I understand...

Eric Hansen

3:15

Happy Holidays to you too. Plenty of content coming the next two weeks. The illusion that the CFP snub created vacation time is indeed an illusion LOL.

3:14

Hi Bo. I love your curiosity of all this. I think we're doing this in bits and pieces, and I think that's the most plausible way to do it. Especially with all the moving parts. So retention is one piece. Portal exits and NFL declarations are another. Portal additions another. We just finished recruiting for the 2026 cycle. Hopefully, we've covered the bases for you and let you know what the priorities are. Maybe there is someone specific you're curious about. If so, I'd hit us up in the message board or go buy me a coffee and we'll discuss it.

Bo from Michiana

Happy holidays!!!! Have a safe couple of weeks.

3:10

Good afternoon ERIC!!! I heard that Notre Dame and Coach Freeman is working on shoring up his contract and should have an announcement in a couple of days Along with shoring up the coaching staff through retention and hires. All this, in addition with the staff trying to plan the roster by making sure everything fits with current roster who stays. Man, I's love to know the working of all this, anyone at B&G going to dig in and write about the inner workings of Mike Martins game plan in accomplishing all the roster retention/portal moves?

Eric Hansen

3:10

Rui. I'm going to be totally honest with you. I was an accounting major in college for two quarters. This is why after two quarters I questioned why I was in that major. Great questions, but really hard to answer these in a chat without lots of phone calls and with enough detail to satisfy you without giving everyone else headaches. So let me answer these generally so you don't send me coal in the mail. Yes Marcus has a buyout. Not sure what it is at the moment and it's likely to change. As far as player buyouts and that kind of stuff, I don't think we're far enough along in the financial evolution of the sport. That sounds like to me (a non-accounting major who has a healthy aversion to that kind of math) it would need to be something done in collective bargaining. And that doesn't yet exist. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Rui, Ossining NY

....hit enter by mistake...quick one after my original question:

Would it ever be realistic for schools to include buyout clauses in players deals, so that should they transfer from one school to another, the school losing the player be financially compensated...using example of Ole Miss QB whom left a small school for Ole Miss...that small school spent time/money/resources in development but now that he is transferred out, has nothing to show for it...thoughts?

3:04

Good day Eric and Happy Holidays...im a huge follower or european soccer and when coaches move from one team to another, they have these huge " buyout clauses " so the team losing the coach gets compensated financially.

My question...should Coach Freeman move to another college, does his contract have a buyout clause where ND will get compensated financially? If so, any idea what that is, and where that money would go within the university and/or athletic program?

Eric Hansen

3:03

Marry Christmas Adam. Let's get your question list filled. 1) I think what he was trying to say if far simpler than what you're reading into. Translation. ND can play in the big boys' sandbox. They will be competitive. Another school may offer more money, but ND can offer great money and a lot more ... was his message. 2) Adam, I would have to pause the chat and give those numbers more study, and I don't have time to do that. But it does sound like a great story idea for the future, so thanks for that. But once you get past the early schedule, beyond USC and Pitt, there wasn't a lot of must-see TV for the casual or non-ND fan. 3) The November question is one I'd like to get with Pete Bevacqua the next time we talk. I think that's a legit concern, but he is doing a great job of scheduling big series. Just how many of those can balance out the schedule? That's the intrigue and ethe challenge.

Adam (Dayton, OH)

2:56

Eric, Thanks for all you do and wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! A few questions: 1.) After an amazing recruiting class, Mike Martin was talking about it and NIL...saying something like "we may never be the highest bidder/highest paid roster, but we are competitive". I understand not wanting to get into bidding wars, but why would he say this? Is it optics because ND wants to be seen in a certain light, or is there really an institutional affront to having the highest paid player/roster at times? 2.) Shocked at ND's television ratings. Not like Bama/SEC/OSU (according to Neilsen ratings). Have years of ACC scheduling hurt interest, or is this just a natural progression that ND is no longer the team that can catch the most eyeballs? 3.) What is ND going to do about scheduling? With SOS being such an important factor to the committee, does ND have a chance to schedule needle-moving games in Oct./Nov.? Hard to see them do so as an Independent going forward.

Eric Hansen

2:56

I wish I knew. I think the USC negotiation for a short-term extension and the finalization of that is what's holding it up.

Jeremy from Goshen

2:55

When will the 2026 schedule be released?

Eric Hansen

2:55

Hi Rick. Wishing you one too. Notre Dame just signed one of the better WR classes in the nation, with five outstanding prospects and two of whom were ranked ahead of Trent Mosley. who is going to USC. Sometimes players don't want to follow in the path of their parents. The top receiver in the class, Kaydon Finley, is a good example of that. His dad played at Texas. He liked Notre Dame better. So, just the way it works out sometimes.

Rick in SoCal

2:52

Wishing everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. What ever happened to the recruiting of Mosley the WR from Rancho Santa Margarita HS? Both parents were Domers and RSM just won the California state championship and this young man was phenomenal. I think he scored 3 or 4 touchdowns. Heard he is going to USC...

Eric Hansen

2:48

We don't have the entire 2026 schedule yet, but I would not drop Rice early. I'd be more concerned about what November looks like, and at least it appears Miami will be coming to ND that month, so that's a good thing.

2:47

Hi Mike. Let's start with your CJ Carr question. I do not think him staying just one more year is an absolute, nor do I him staying two years. I think he'll play next season and see where he is and then make a decision. But I think he will be GOOD ENOUGH and coveted enough to leave after the 2026 season. With the economics the way they are, it's no longer a foregone conclusion that a guy like that leaves. To predict that now is beyond my level of clairvoyance and my pay grade! (more)

Mike, Phoenix

2:43

Eric, Do you think that CJ Carr is now guaranteed to stay for at least 2 more years due to the committee snub of ND? I still believe that the only team standing in the way of an Ohio State 3 peat is ND. Would you like to see ND improve next years schedule by dropping Rice and adding a more marquee game to open the season, say BYU? Hope all is well. Stay warm. Cheers! 🍻 Go Irish!☘️

Eric Hansen

2:43

Hi Ryan. I think Eli helped the team a lot and helped himself as well as far as having an NFL future. I would be shocked if Ty Washington were the TE starter next year. He has a lot of work ahead of him to be a complete tight end. My hunch is James Flanigan, but I could see Cooper being right there.

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

2:41

Good afternoon Eric what do you think about the Season Eli Raridon Had i think he had a Good Season who will be the starting Tight end Next year James Flanagan or Ty Washington GO IRISH ☘️☘️🏈🏈

Eric Hansen

2:41

Hey Franz. The FBS schools are in a dead period until Jan. 1 and that started Dec. 1. There are things certainly you can do behind the scenes both on the 2027 high school front and the portal front to be ready for the quiet period Jan. 1-4 and the contact period coming in January. I think they would address the CFP snub by letting them know that they expect it not to be close to being left out next year.

Franz, niles MI

2:39

Can you review the recruiting calendar and how you think the ND coaches can take advantage of this time as a premier program without having to do any bowl prep. I would like to think that more time for Freeman, Mickens and company to form relationships with less competition could be an advantage. I wonder how they address the cfo snub.

Eric Hansen

2:37

Hi Marie. There are way more than two, and I don't think any of them are thinking along those lines, but on offense CJ Carr and Charles Jagusah. On defense, Leonard Moore and Boubacar Traore. That was an easy one, unless I misunderstood it, which I might have.

Marie from atlanta

2:35

Hey Eric, with portal season about to be in full swing, who are the two players on offense and two players on defense that if you were Notre Dame, you would want to be sure not to lose to the transfer portal?

Eric Hansen

2:35

Hi Matt. As you know by now, long after you submitted your question, Price is gone. The three players who have announced their intentions of entering the transfer portal are Kenny Minchey, walk-on QB Anthony Rezac, and backup CB Chance Tucker. Happy Holidays Matt!!

Matt from Austin

2:33

Hi Eric. Happy holidays to you and your family. With J. Love declaring, I would think that it might give J. Price pause to consider coming back next year. He would certainly have the opportunity to improve his draft status. Have you gained any insight on that? Also, any thoughts on other players who may declare? Lastly, except for KM, I haven't heard or read about any players who intend to transfer. Can you provide an update? To digress, I am still disgusted at the lack of honesty and integrity of the hoax of a CFP committee. Sorry Eric, just a quick vent! Matt

Eric Hansen

2:33

Hi Paul. I scanned the web and my memory for a single quote from either of those guys advocating for the return of natural grass at Notre Dame Stadium. So if you could share your sourcing on that, I'd be happy to address it. But I don't think there's any momentum for that.

Paul from Arlington VA

2:31

Any news on ND stadium going back to natural grass? I've heard both Freeman and Pete B favor it. I understand grass is hard to grow and remember what the stadium was like late in the season (i.e., mud), but Green Bay can do it. I know that means money but isn't it worth it? Has there ever been a survey on the players about this?

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