JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Dec. 23, 2025

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Dec. 23, 2025

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Eric Hansen

2:29

Hi Ced, when you say playing as freshmen, I'm going to put it in terms of playing enough to burn a redshirt year. And there were only four such freshmen in this class. So for me, Joey O-Brien, Khary Adams, Ayden Pouncey, Ian Premer, at least one of the running backs, Kaydon Finley. So six for sure and maybe others depending on injuries and spring surprises. ... Not sure about the timing of Syracuse game, but the Irish do have a road trip there next year, and Steve Angeli is expected to be back and healthy for it. Merry Christmas, Ced!!

ced

2:25

ced walker Saginaw michigan aka sagnasty Saginaw pride merry Christmas happy holidays how many freshmen do you see playing from the 2026 will Notre Dame go to Syracuse Thanksgiving weekend in 2026 God Bless This Football Team here come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us

Eric Hansen

2:25

Hi John, I hit part one of your question already, but let's get to the other parts, because they're worth diving into. ... I like the way Notre Dame responded to all of it, and there's still work to be done. And that's with being a leader in coming up with a selection process that not only looks like it has integrity, it actually has it and is transparent enough to show that. And it's not just about adding teams. It's learning from two years or trial and error and meaningfully evolving the process.

John, Chagrin Falls, ohio

2:21

Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful day with your family. It is a sad day with the news of a pause in the ND v USC series. Most are sighting USC not wanting to play in November and risk a late loss. Is that accurate as far as you can tell? And is there hope for a renewal in the future? Separate question, now that a couple weeks have passed and round 1 of the CFP is complete, how do you assess ND’s handling of not being selected and then not playing a bowl game? Anything you think we should have done differently? Thanks as always for your insights! It’s an emotional time for all ND alums/fans…we are still processing!

Eric Hansen

2:21

Oh Gosh. A one part-question with no math? It's a Christmas miracle!!!!! Ed if you want my last "Dump Davie" bumper sticker it's yours! Love this question. Now the pressure is on to match it with my answer. I would say Knute Rockne. Not only was he the winningest coach, he was such an innovator. Just a fascinating guy. And no, I was not born yet when he coached, so don't go there LOL.

Ed from Sayville

2:16

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and all associated with bringing this chat to us Eric! Same to all that bring excellent questions to the table every week! How about a fun lob in your direction? If you could have a beer with anyone in Irish football history, who would you choose and why? Peace on earth everyone!!

Eric Hansen

2:15

Ron, you are reading WAY too much into it. Ben Minich has moved to nickel, but even then, the ease of transferring without sitting out and the allure of money from another school willing to play more is going to attract some kids. Great kid, hard worker, but he wasn't going to play. So he had a decision. If you have 28 recruits and you're adding through he portal and only have 13 players with expiring eligibility and only a handful of NFL Draft early entries, the math works out that you're going to have some roster churn. No revolt. The sky isn't falling. Enjoy your holiday.

Ron , dover

2:11

Hi Eric just saw Ben Minch wants to transfer. This looks a revolt by bench players as that is three safeties looking to leave . Seems the safety room is getting smaller and maybe not a strength. Your thoughts?

Eric Hansen

2:11

With the addition of Cal, Stanford and SMU as new members recently, it mucked up the rhythm of the original plan. Then ND scheduled the standalone series with Clemson, which was needed. I think going forward, there will be a push by Notre Dame to play some of the traditionally stronger teams more regularly and the traditionally weaker teams less often. That doesn't always work out that way. Who figured Virginia would be near the top of the standings this season? Tom, I appreciated your email and am backlogged by 264 (really). But I plan to get to yours tonight.

2:08

Tom, Merry Christmas and sorry we won't have a chance to get together for dinner like last year with Tyler and Marie as well. You've got two really good questions in the hopper, and I hope I have time to double back and get the other. But let's hit this one now. Yes, yes and more yes on diluting the conferences. You have teams within a conference playing league schedules that vary dramatically in strength and certainly in many cases don't lend a whole lot to a true pecking order within a conference. Now to the ACC question, the schedule was set up through 2036 so that all ACC schools would play Notre Dame the same amount of times. So there was no conspiracy there. (more)

Tom F, Kennesaw, GA

2:03

Eric, do you think that the increase in teams in the Big 20 and the SEC has actually diluted these conferences?? It seems some teams play a much easier schedule than others. Also, is it possible that the ACC could have ND play the weaker teams in their conference to weaken our strength of schedule and possibly impact our chance to make the Top 12 and get into the playoffs???

Eric Hansen

2:01

Hi Marie. I don't think getting loud on Notre Dame's part is the way to handle the sixth-year appeals. And I guess I'm not recalling them having a bunch of those turned down, if you can remind me. Jason Onye has a pretty good case, but it's not a slam dunk. Thanks for being such a great part of the chats, consistently. Merry Christmas to you and your daughter!

1:58

Hi Marie. And thanks for your note the other day. And everything in that sounds good. I'll be in touch. Now to your cleverly-disguised 17-part question. OK, less than 17 (barely LOL). Let's unpack. I don't have a good feel if there's good faith on USC's part to want to restart it. I think it's fair for them to assess how life in the Big Ten is treating them and who their head coach is at the time and their AD for that matter. My initial hunch is that it won't be renewed by 2030 or maybe longer. ... I think JaDon Blair would end up being a really good player at his next stop with a new mindset. I don't think it's a huge loss for Notre Dame because Ethan Long is better. Joey O'Brien is better. And Tae Johnson is going to be an All-American sooner than later. (more)

Marie from atlanta

Aggressive with their approach? I would love to see some of these players getting an additional year, it just doesn’t seem to happen that much Notre Dame. Thanks for hosting the chat so close to Christmas, hoping Santa brings you everything on your list. Looking forward to another great year of chats in 2026.

1:48

Hi Eric, wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas and happy new year. Thanks for hosting the chat so close to the big day. It’s difficult to watch another great part of college football erode away in the loss of the USC Notre Dame rivalry. I have read that the plan is to restart the rivalry in 2030, do you really believe that will happen or do you think they are just kicking the can down the road and that the game will never really get going again on a consistent basis? I Was disappointed to read about Jadon Blair entering the transfer portal, I know ND is pretty loaded at safety but how big of a loss is this?, Do you have any insight into why the transfer occurred? Finally, do you think Notre Dame needs to become more aggressive when players are applying for a sixth year of eligibility? It seems when legal action is threatened. The outcome is more favorable for the extra year. Notre Dame typically stays pretty quiet during this process. Do you think the university should start getting a little

Eric Hansen

1:48

Happy Holidays, Ron!! Let me talk about freshman expectations in more general terms. Sometimes those expectations are driven by the people around a player, not so much the player himself. And Marcus Freeman preaches delayed gratification, so the early on-ramp isn't a thought that's coming from him. In fact, only four of the 25 freshmen played enough to burn through a redshirt year -- CBs Dallas Golden and Mark Zackery IV, linebacker Madden Faraimo and K Erik Schmidt. There's sometimes panic if it feels like a potential NFL career is going off the rails, even though neither safety starter, Tae Johnson or Adon Shuler, played enough as a freshman to burn a redshirt year themselves. And both of those guys will play in the League someday soon.

Ron , dover

1:31

Eric , Happy Holidays to you and your family! I am sure there will be a lot of chat on Marcus going to the Giants which I would hate to see happen. He is a college coach and I don’t see his strengths translating to the Pro’s. He should look at Saban and Meyers who did not succeed in the NFL. My question why do kids like J. Blair think they should be playing right away despite the difference from High School to college? Everyone wants to play but you need to earn it. Makes me admire Xavier Watts even more when I see this.

Eric Hansen

1:31

Tony, my first words to you would be: Mangia. Mangia!!! I have Italian ancestry as well, so I'm with you brother. Now let's work on getting you in a good mood to enjoy your holiday. Normally, that's way above my pay grade and expertise, but for a paisano on Christmas? Let's do this. If everything falls right with the portal additions and the expected retentions, Notre Dame will have its best chance to win a national title in 2026 since the Holtz Era. And I'm dead serious. The roster has a chance to be THAT good.

Tony, Lake Mary, FL

1:28

Hi Eric. Happy Mother Cabrini's feast day. Served the poor Italian immigrants in New York and Chicago. Big time for those of us with Italian ancestry. On to football, the ending of the ND USC rivalry is just about the straw that broke the camels back in terms of caring about college football for me. Being an ND alum and football being so much part of the identity of the University is about all I have left to hold onto. Tell me something that I can feel good about to make want to still care about it. Other than wanting to take my son to a day game because I don't think he can stay awake for a night game, I want to stay engaged. Do you have any words to help me get out of this?

Eric Hansen

1:27

Hi Isaac. Thanks for the compliments and for jumping into the chat today instead of Christmas shopping. I've got a series of intel pieces coming out this week that is going to address some of these things , starting with some offensive line nuggets tomorrow morning. Ultimately, I do not think Notre Dame will pursue a portal running back. That could change, but I think you've got a good read on that. Cam Williams I am going to feature in a future piece this week. I don't think he's done enough to start, but I do think he has enough talent and a willingness to work through his hurdles, that giving up on him would make no sense. So keep an eye out for that piece, because I think you will enjoy the dynamic of his journey. As far as Mike Mickens, heck yeah cut him a nice check and give him a title bump if that's all it takes to keep him. He's as good as combination of recruiter/developer as there is at those positions in the nation. God Bless, Isaac.

Isaac from South Bend, IN

1:22

Hi Eric!! Thank you for holding these chats. As a hardcore Irish fan, they are easily one of my favorite resources. Keep up the amazing work! Now to my questions: I have heard ND is pursuing a portal running back. Given our incredibly talented one two of Williams and James, plus Young and the freshmen, this feels like a waste of resources, and could cause talent to leave. Do you agree? Secondly, (I know you are probably tired of Cam Williams questions) do you agree with me that we should just start him? We begin the season with some puffball teams and his ceiling is enormous. There are only a handful of dudes that big who can run like that. Third and finally, do you think we should promote Mickens to co-defensive coordinator AND slide him another check? Thank you, Merry Christmas, and God bless.

Eric Hansen

1:22

Hi Joe. JaDon Blair is a talented freshman who walked into an extremely competitive situation at safety with so much depth and more on the way, including five-star prospect Joey O'Brien. In another era at Notre Dame -- like pre-Mike Mickens -- it would have been easier for Blair to play early. But with that elite talent, you have to have an elite motor. Wherever Blair ends up, that drive to be great has to be every bit as apparent as his physical tools, or he will end up being disappointed with his opportunities. Among the freshman safeties, Ethan Long was clearly better and more driven.

Joe from Baltimore

1:18

It's sad to see Jadon leave. I get it, but how realistic is it for a freshman to come in and play a ton for a championship runner up? Did ND over promise or does the player just think they deserved more? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

1:15

Mike/Mo !^! I see what you did there. So, YOU are the eggnog drinker. Happy Holidays! For me it's a combination or the plays and the personnel. And I think a healthy Kedren Young will solve some of those issues. But let's have some fun and play left-handed. Who would I line up as an unconventional blocking back and or ball carrier? Drayk Bown was actually a prolific running back in high school and has the size. I'd give that a spin. And then lets go with 6-2, 340-pound nose guard Sean Sevillano, because he's huge and pretty nimble on his feet.

Mike AKA Mo from Maumee OH

1:10

Hi Eric !^! Holly Happidays!! Imagine you are suddenly OC Denbrock and are tasked by HC Freeman to FIX the third and short/fourth and one dilemma. Carr is your QB, but ANY reasonable personnel solution is on the table for that one play. What might be two plays you have been mulling over that would offer better chances of success than suddenly running Carr up under center & snapping the ball? You've already read my thoughts about lining up one of those agile 300+ pound backup O-linemen as the blocking or ball-carrying "halfback" or "fullback". Thanks!!

Eric Hansen

1:09

Bowen's tackle numbers are also suppressed by playing in a five-man linebacker rotation, essentially spread over two spots, with Notre Dame playing so much nickel. The Pro Football Focus film grades aren't an end-all, be-all, but it helps lend some perspective to a player's production. Bowen struggled early with the new scheme, but finished very strong with a 72.4 season score, which is much better than it sounds. (It's not like a grade in school, where that would be a C). Sometimes what a player does shows up in the opponents stats. The ball that isn't thrown his way because he's covered. Or the bad pass a QB throws because Bowen was blitzing. I hope that make sense.

1:05

Barry. Happiest of holidays to you, there in in the heart of wine country. I prefer wine to whine. Context is everything when it comes to numbers, so let's go down that road with Drayk Bowen. Let's start with comparing Bowen's numbers to Manti's. First of all, Manti was a Heisman runner-up and his numbers were legit, but he also played in a different era where offenses were less spread out. Even more so is it different when ND single-season tackles record-holder Bob Crable played. No one will ever touch his records of 187 tackles in the 1979 season or 26 in a game that he did twice and shares with Bob Golic. (more)

Barry from Napa CA

12:55

Eric, happiest of Holidays to you and your fam-uh-lee! Seriously hope you enjoy all the season has to offer. I saw where Drayk Bowen was the ND 2025 tackles leader with 67. I thought that seemed a bit low, recalling a year or two where Manti had 100+. Turns out Bowen was ranked 281st! The NCAA had 48 players with triple digit tackles, the leader in at 151, more than double Bowen. That just really surprised me given ND’s defensive prowess. Do you think it’s because of scheme and style of play? Depth of the roster with multiple players subbing in? Or more an indication of players who aren’t proficient individually but play well inside the scheme such that individual stats get more distributed? May Santa bring you lots of red (wine, that is)!

Eric Hansen

I told you. I still need work, but it's an improvement.

12:54

Hi Ryan. Merry Christmas to the guy who is helping my emoji game immensely, because mine does need work. I think Notre Dame is loaded at safety, even with JaDon Blair hitting the portal, and Luke Talich is a big reason why.

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

12:51

Good afternoon Eric what do you think about the season Luke Talich had i think he had a good season Go Irish merry Christmas Eric 🏈🏈☘️☘️💪💪👍👍

Eric Hansen

12:51

Grinch, I mean George. I am kidding. You bring up some very good points. And I would say if you spoke to conference commissioners and athletic directors off the record, they don't believe it's sustainable either. I had a great chat off the record with a college insider yesterday and learned a lot about the present state of affairs and what they hope could happen in the future. And this will requite Congressional help. But there are some really good ideas floating around that could make this sustainable. I'll share some of those in a future article. And actually the rev-share model is more stable than the unregulated NIL world. So there is hope, but I don't know how fast those solutions are going to get here. Merry Christmas to you, George. I appreciate your thoughtful emails I've received from you over the years.

George from El Segundo

12:47

While watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” recently, it occurred to me that college football has become “Potterville.” The current situation is non-sustainable: players on one year contracts with no salary cap, schools on the hook for massive payouts to past and current coaches, and a playoff system that brings to mind an old adage: a camel is a racehorse designed by committee! I suspect the situation will deteriorate with the passage of time. Any thoughts you’d like to share on how this mess can be salvaged? Oh, and by the way, Merry Christmas to all!!!

Eric Hansen

12:47

I'll probably do a few women's hoops chats this season as we get deeper into it if there's a demand. Last season, there certainly was. I watched the 110-38 thriller in person on Sunday night against Bellarmine. I don't think they've hit their ceiling. Malays Cowles and Iyana Moore, two players who missed the on-ramp to the season and the first two games, could help this team improve in the ACC season. When KK Bransford comes back, that'll help too. Keep an eye on that mid-January stretch of games -- Louisville, UNC, UConn. That will tell us a lot.

12:43

I think adding ND next year was problematic for two more reasons. USC draws the three CFP participants from its conference — Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon next year. They play three games in the Eastern or Central time zones, where they're 2-12 in their last 14 crossing the Rocky Mountains. Now the 2026 game would have been out west, but they would have had to come East in 2027, and that year they have road trips East to Iowa, Ohio State and Maryland. So that would make four cross-country trips. ... to women's hoops. (more)

12:39

Buon Natale, Paul!!! I'll actually get to eat an Italian meal on Christmas Day this year. Pretty fired up about that. ... I think you're correct to giggle, although there's a thread of truth in it. The committee probably would knock USC out of the playoff field with a late-November loss if it were on the bubble. But Notre Dame plays with the same risk. If the Trojans had been more competitive in the series in the past 15 or so years, I don't think this is as big of an issue for them. The Irish are 11-4 in the last 15 games after USC put together an 8-game win streak before that.

Paul from Knoxville

12:29

Ciao Eric: Buon Natale!!! Thank you for hosting a chat during Christmas week. I read that ND and USC have not reached agreement on continuing the series, with at least one sticking point being that USC does not want to play ND in Nov allegedly due to how the playoff committee views late losses. To me this reason doesn't pass the giggle test, so I'd like to ask whether you have insight into what's going on. Switching gears, now that ND WBB is roughly one-third through the season, I'd like to get your assessment of whether this team has more or less reached its ceiling or if there's still potential, and probability, for improvement especially for post play. Tanti auguri!!!

Eric Hansen

12:28

Len it is indeed that!!!!!! Going to get to see 6 of the 8 tomorrow night. AND I don't have to cook! Best wishes to you and your family!! To your recruiting question, we had Steve Wiltfong from On3|Rivals on our last podcast. Steve has a really long title, but it's basically the recruiting/transfer portal guru as a functional title. He thinks it will have some effect, not that recruits will think ND is on the decline, but the Irish and Marcus Freeman won't be getting the exposure they got last year during their four-game run. My opinion is the effect with be minimal, because as we get closer to the summer, the consensus will start to build nationally that the 2026 Irish have a chance to win it all. Not a layup, but not a half-court shot either.

Len from the Jersey Shore

12:24

Hello Eric!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's grandchildren time. My best wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and your family. Will missing the CFP hurt recruiting? Will Notre Dame derangement syndrome hurt scheduling?

Eric Hansen

12:23

As for Marcus Freeman and what he wants Santa to bring him, I really don't think it would be football-related. I think it would be that his wife, Joanna, and six kids were happy and healthy.

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