JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Jan. 2, 2026

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Jan. 2, 2026

Eric Hansen

3:42

OK, I did 45 minutes of overtime and I need to type and think faster. Too many great questions still in the question portal. But I have a staff meeting coming soon. So ... thanks for all the great questions. Thanks for no making me regret rescinding the No Drinking rule. We'll be back to do it all over again next Wednesday at noon!

3:40

I think he knows where he's going to land, and I won't be back to Notre Dame and it might even be someone ND sees next season.

Raburgard

3:40

Happy New Year - is there any chance Burnham ends up at Notre Dame after exploring options? Or is this a done deal and he is already set at his next stop.

Eric Hansen

3:40

Hey Tom, the resistance training/strength training is more "body salvaging" than "body building" LOL. If that. It appears Kenny Minchey will end up at Nebraska. Happy New Year!

Tom from Toronto

3:38

Hi Eric, late to the party. with regard to your body building, my recommendation is to start slowly and then taper off. A what if question. If Ken Minchy isn't happy with his offers, and if ND is agreeable, can he return, even though he will be a backup QB? Have a Happy and healthy New Year.

Eric Hansen

3:38

Hi Ryan. Jason Onye really came on strong late in the season and I think he deserves that extra year. Happy New Year!

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

3:37

Good afternoon Eric what do you think about the season Jason Onye had i think he had a good season and i think if he gets his extra year he should come back especially since Hinish is done with football due to his injury GO IRISH ☘️☘️☘️🏈🏈🏈 Happy New Year 🎉🎉🎊🎊

Eric Hansen

3:37

Best offseason stories, there's been a ton of them. My first-ever first place in a national contest came from spending the day with former DC Corwin Brown in Chicago back in 2007. That was very memorable, including the drug deal that went down 10 feet behind me when we were looking at the house he grew up in. But maybe my favorite of all time was the story I did on Peter Schivarelli this spring. He's really one of the most incredible, unique people I've ever met. His story moved so many people and changed my life in some ways. It changed so many things in such a positive way beyond me. It is stuck in digital escrow with the move from Rivals to On3, but it's posted on the Chicago The Band website, so I will link that version in the transcript.

3:32

Happy New Year Matt!!!! I did have a great Christmas. Michael Floyd shared this the other day, and I love it, so I'll share it with you all ... it's not what's under the tree. It's who's around it. Very true for me. ... I hit the Al Washington question, so let me dive into these others. If Notre Dame was the 10 seed, I think they're in the semis. If they were the 9, that IU/ND game would have been epic. I couldn't tell you and I don't want to take away from what Indiana has done, because I think the Hoosiers are going to win it all. (more)

Matt from Muscatine

3:29

Hi Eric!!! Happy New Year to you and yours! Thank you for doing this chat with us, and I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Here are my questions: (1) what do you think will happen with the defensive line, with so many transfers and Coach Washington moving to linebackers? Who will replace him, or who would you like to see replace him? And who now needs to be ready to play? (2) How about the CFP? Where do you think ND would be sitting now if we had gotten in (and how would you have seeded us)? Have you been surprised by any of the results and why? (3) Lastly, off the top of your head, what has been your favorite off-season reporting assignment over the years? Thank you!!!

Eric Hansen

3:29

Happy New Year, Michael! Mike Singer did a great hotboard piece on candidates and the one I asked sources about was Charlie Partridge who goes way back with Chris Ash and would be outstanding if he's interested. I don't think the LB job was offered to someone else first. It's my understanding Coach Washington wanted to become a stronger DC candidate in the future. And adding more LB coaching experience (he's done it before), would be helpful in his view, as I understand it. Yeah, it it tough for portal recruiting and yet they know the coordinator and the scheme and the success and who's coaching and playing at the other positions, so it should be an easier sell.

Michael from Chicago

3:25

Happy New Year! Any word on if ND offered the LB job to any other candidates before Al Washington was promoted? Who are your top picks for the new DL coach and how do you grade the transition overall? How do you think this will impact DL transfer portal recruiting, seems like odd timing to convince a kid to come without knowing who his coach will be (unless they've already made the choice?)

Eric Hansen

3:25

Happy New Year Mark!!!!!!!!!!

1) Great question, but no. Neither development is a surprise. 2) Let's wait until we get a final tally once the portal closes on Jan. 16, and I will get you that percentage/number. Deal?

Mark - Memphis, TN

3:23

Happy New Year, Eric!!!!!!🎉🎉🎉. Two questions: 1) Is there a correlation between all the player movement on the defensive line and Al Washington’s move from coaching DL’s to LB’s; and 2) Of the players entering the portal, how many are leaving with degrees? You can’t fault a player who has an ND degree and wants to try to better themselves. All the best to you for a successful 2026!

Eric Hansen

3:22

Len!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy New Year. You out-Manny-ed Manny. This is an easy one Len. Of the position groups you mentioned (and even the ones you didn't), defensive line is No. 1 and it's not close. Now, as I mentioned, there's numbers, but very few absolutes. 2. On your list is running backs. It's going to be hard to get a cost-effective RB in the portal when there are biggest needs elsewhere and so much promising young talent coming up. The fewest questions for me involves the O-line. And I do not expect these issues to sully the start of the 2026 season.

Len from the Jersey Shore

3:18

Hello Eric!!!!!!!!!!! Happy New Year. Coogan played well against Bama. I had asked a few chats ago (maybe a podcast) about upper classman depth that can fill in if needed or be a rotational piece. It appears ND will again be new on the O line and, this year, the D line. And with RB's leaving there will be a lot of reloading needed. Question, how big of a challenge is this? Can you rank collectively before the portal additions the the Offensive and Defensive units that have the biggest questions. Curious to see if O line or D line is first. Thanks again for hosting.

Eric Hansen

3:18

Ciao Paul. Buon anno!!!! Did you see your buddy last week dissing you in Italian? I stuck up for you! ... No, I forced myself to do that math and come up privately who were the most likely players I thought ND might lose, and so far, I'm on point. I am sure there will be some surprises. Otherwise, Matt from Austin is going to ask me to do more tricks involving clairvoyance.

I do think Notre Dame will pursue a kicker. Yes. And thanks for the vote for WBB. I am going to do a Q-and-A in a week or so with men's and women's basketball GM Pat Garrity, so after that, we'll schedule one! And in the mean time. Mangia!

Paul from Knoxville

3:13

Ciao Eric: Buon anno!!! I hope you're enjoying a beautiful Christmas season. Considering the additional players who recently announced they are entering the portal or not returning, has your assessment about positions of need changed at all, and if so how? Also, is there any indication whether ND may pursue a kicker via the portal as we've done in the recent past? Regarding your mentioning last week the possibility of doing a WBB chat, please put me down as in favor. Auguri delle benedizione e la pace in quest' anno nuovo!

Eric Hansen

3:13

Here's some breaking news:

3:10

Hey Ken. The down side of writing a lot of intel/behind-the-scenes content around the holidays is a lot of people missed it. And Happy Holidays before I forget. Let me out your mind in a better place with it, though. No, I don't think there's been a deterioration in the relationship between Marcus Freeman a AD Pete Bevacqua ... it's very strong. 2) I think next time we have Marcus in front of us, he'll give you a very thoughtful, genuine answer about his future are Notre Dame that won't leave so much to parse from a short tweet,

Ken from Steel City

3:06

Hi Eric, it’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to join the chat and post a question. Hope all is well and that you had a happy New Year! Thank you for all you do. I am curious to your thoughts about Freeman coming back. His tweet felt somewhat criptic and in my opinion more like coming back for one last hoorah rather than someone in it for the long haul. He’s done such an awesome job for ND and I hoped we’d keep him for many more years. Can you shed any light on things maybe behind the scenes in the last 4 weeks since the CFP fiasco and skipping the bowl game? Has something happened with the relationship with Bevacqua after Pete made the rounds post CFP snub?

Eric Hansen

3:02

Notre Dame will be safety in the CFP field without having to convert a fourth-down against a 5-7 team to impress the committee AND Notre Dame will contend for the national title. How's that?

3:01

Happy New Year, Matt to you and your family as well! As far as offensive tweaks, I know they're already in the works and were actually worked on during allowable on-field practices during finals week. In very general terms, and these are my thoughts, not gathered from sources necessarily. I think you'll see more of an emphasis on physical O-line play, more gears and personnel groups to the offense that can be opponent-specific, more of what CJ Carr already is quite good at, and that's playing chess at the line of scrimmage. I've been sharing some of the names that are public through the chat, but that info is moving so fast, it's best to check out blueandgold.com to stay up to the minute. ... Crystal ball is right LOL. You want next year's record with a roster that's still being put together, not knowing the entire coaching staff, not having seen a practice and not having next year's schedule fully in place? I feel like Miss Cleo! Here's what I am willing to predict. (more)

Matt from Austin

2:50

Hi Eric. Happy New Year to you and your family. Now that Coach Freeman's status has be resolved, at least for next year, what changes in the manner in which ND plays do you think we will see in 2026? It seems that our offense may be more Carr centric, with more down field passing, depending on our WR depth and A. Williams ability to keep opposing safeties from crowding the line. That leads to my next thought. With the portal opening, are you hearing any names that we should follow regarding incoming transfers? RB, WR, and DL seem to be potential priorities, as well as kicker. Lastly, gaze into your crystal ball and give next year's final record so we can start assessing how Yurifraud will try to keep ND out of the CFP. Thank you for a great year of chats in 2025 and we look forward to many more in 2026. You're the best Eric. Be safe and warm. Matt

Eric Hansen

And Scott, I'd eat a turkey leg with you in a heartbeat, a platonic heartbeat, but a heartbeat nonetheless! And not the same leg of course. Matching ones.

2:50

SCOTT!!!!! All caps and exclamation points, well played! I do think expansion is part of the solution, but as you suggested, not the totality of the solution. Here's why expansion helps .. because the pool of teams that can actually win the title is much deeper than it was when the four-team format started in 2014. Think about it, of the eight teams that have comprised the final four the past two years that the 12- team format has been in play, 7 of the 8 would not have made the four-team fields. That being No. 1 seed Indiana this year. The four seeds last year in the semis were 5, 6, 7 and 8 -- with 7 and 8 playing for the title. This year it's 1, 5, 6 and 10. So getting those lower at-large teams matter. I do like your suggestion of no conference-affiliated people on the committee, but not if that's entirely possible, But great thought. And yes, the bowl attendance seems to be a problem, but as long as there's TV right? (more)

Scott, Greenville SC

2:41

ERIC!!! Its 2026 and we made it to another year! And another kerfuffle by the CFP committee and their selection process. Alabama gets selected after being embarrassed by UGA and then get further embarrassed by Indiana. There have been some really bad decisions by the committee and I'm not sure how they can move forward. There has to be a more objective process because its broken, especially after the last selection decision a few weeks ago. How would you go about making the decisions going forward? I do like the idea of expanding the number of teams and the higher seed hosting them at their home stadium. But there has to be a a committee that does not owe any allegiance to a conference. One last question, is there anyone attending bowl games that are not part of the CFP? Some of them look very sparse and I have to believe lost revenue is high this year. It reminded me of a Spin Doctors concert at the Iowa State Fair. But I digress. In the spirit of the new year, please save me a turkey leg for next season!

Eric Hansen

2:41

Happy New Year, Denny. Legit interest, I think you nailed it as a 1 or 2 at this time. Legit curiosity, much higher. But that's who Marcus Freeman is. He processes things differently than other coaches, other people. He's not playing games, not trying to leverage anything. But he may be very interested someday. It was good for him to go through this process in a year when he wasn't trying to multitask it with prepping a team for a playoff game, which ND very likely will be playing in next year at this time.

denny from beaverton or

2:34

New Year's Greetings Eric; There seemed to be many stories of the possibility of MF leaving ND for other opportunities. On a scale of 1-10 (no interest 1, very intense interest 10) Where do you rate the interest of Coach Freeman and HIS FAMILY to seriously consider potential offers? I may be naive but I would think he would be a 1 or maybe 2 at this time.

Eric Hansen

2:34

Jaden Greathouse is healthy and expected to be a big part of the plan for 2026 at wide receiver after missing most of 2025 with a hamstring injury. And yes, I think bringing in a boundary receiver to replace Malachi Fields is a big priority.

Jhaider_ofallon@yahoo.com

2:30

What is the status of Jayden Greathouse and how likely is it that ND will seek a top WR from the portal to replace Malachi Fields?

Eric Hansen

2:29

If it would keep in the mail, I'd send you a giant turkey leg! I'm not smart enough to figure out the whole dry ice thing. A virtual pat on the back it is!

Miked from Rochester NY

2:29

Hi, Eric, I’ll gladly accept the virtual pat on the back! I’m never in South Bend sadly and no one in Rochester would understand the significance of the Dump Davie sticker. Thanks so much for doing these chats!!!

Eric Hansen

2:28

Thanks Michael! And it was the one and only Tyler James who came up with the show title Football Never Sleeps, and Piano Man Steve Lungrin who reached out to do the theme music for it!

Michael from Atlanta

2:27

No question. Just wanted to thank you for these chats. Whoever came up with the tagline Football Never Sleeps nailed it!

Eric Hansen

2:27

Drew, I still feel that is his intention as of Jan. 2, 2026, knowing things can change.

Drewbrennan77

2:26

Eric, in your earlier article you talked about how you felt Marcus Freeman was setting his contract up so that he would be at Notre Dame through the Class of 2027 recruits finishing their time at Notre Dame. Do you still feel that same way?

Eric Hansen

2:26

have benefitted from coming back, but I understand why they did not. ... I do not expect any other players to enter the draft. The deadline is Jan. 14, I believe. I would expect Marcus Freeman to be ND's head coach in 2027 and in 2031, and after 2031 it gets fuzzy. But again, things can change. Thanks for all your great questions in 2025 and helping us start off 2026 in style.

2:24

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Marie. I want to frame the Marcus Freeman/NFL situation properly. It was not Marcus flirting. It was the other way around. Marcus, in the true spirit if "question everything" gathered information to understand what he was turning down. His intent is not to make this an annual thing by doing his due diligence now. I think to an extent he does want to leave at least some wiggle room to change his mind if situations change. These are unlikely, but what if Notre Dame said no more transfers. Or Pete Bevacqua left to be a sports writer and Tony Petitti from the Big Ten took his place. Or ND backed off its current commitments to paying assistants well? And what if college football can't bring sanity to the NIL/Rev-share/Transfer portal madness eventually? I actually think it might work in Marcus' favor in recruiting that other schools and NFL teams are interested and that he CHOSE to stay at ND. .. to your other questions, I think both Wagner and Schrauth could (more)

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