JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | June 11, 2025

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | June 11, 2025

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Eric Hansen

3:22

OK, that's going to do it for today. Next time I chat with you I'll have some great news to share about my own career path and that of our website, so stay tuned. We'll do another one of these later in June so keep an eye on insideNDsports.com and my social media for the exact date. Thanks again for all the great questions, compliments, quips, emojis and exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3:20

Dan, this is a great question and one that's really difficult to distill in a chat format. I try to point out these instances when I see them. And the best one I can think of recently involves defensive lineman Jason Onye and how Notre Dame stood by him when he took an extended leave of absence during the season last year to address his mental health. And how the the coaches and players stood by and supported him. So it's not just words about how ND is family, they live it. And then what happens, Onye comes back in the spring better than he's ever been and in May gets his degree and this fall could be a breakout star. That's what culture looks like.

Dan, Vernon Hills IL

3:17

Eric,
There has been much made of the Notre Dame culture and how it has helped them improve the team. Exactly what goes into a good culture? What does it look like and how do recruits sense it when they come for visits? Thanks for doing these chats. They are interesting and informative.

Eric Hansen

3:17

I'm going to clean out the question portal today, so that's why we're into overtime. ... Mike thanks for the hype. The quick math on scholarship limits. Scholarship limits and roster limits are now one and the same, but how close they sync up is up to each school. So Notre Dame could go from 85 to 105 but will likely settle at 95. There are a few reasons for that, but I think that's where ND lands. And they can still compensate the other 10 in other ways. Remember, existing walk-ons and those promised a spot for the coming year are grandfathered in for the span of their careers, so many places, including ND, will be over 105 this year.

Mike from Rockville, MD

3:14

Hi, Eric! Thanks for these chats! Just joining so thought i might sneak under the wire for a quick question. When, how, and who will determine the scholarship limit this year? I thought that was going to be decided along with the NIL question. I could be wrong...I've been silently and secretly waiting for you to answer this question, so I haven't been paying much attention to all the confusion! You're the best!

Eric Hansen

3:14

Ok Kevin, thanks for capping it at 4 parts! 1) Still good enough for ND to make the playoff. 2) Not without an injury or two involved in my opinion. 3) If so? So you're asking if the third-stringer emerges as the No. 1? That math makes my head hurt. Not sure how to calculate that. 4) I do not think Tyler Buchner is given a shot to be the No. 1 QB. I do think he will be given a shot to be a valuable member of the team.

Kevin - Boston

3:10

17-pointer coming in hot: What's the floor like for our QB room collectively if they stay healthy but are individually near their floor? Is there a scenario where the winner of the job loses it to the backup, who also struggles? And if so: What's our win/loss record in this scenario? And does Buchner get a shot?

Eric Hansen

3:09

Back to Tony's Arkansas game question ... this just in, that game will have a noon ET kickoff on ABC.

3:07

Hey Ray. If this is the same Ray Hamilton I met on a cold, rainy Sunday last month, really good to meet you. And if not, I'll still answer your question. I believe Notre Dame has prioritized the Chicago talent in those cycles, and my expectation is that will show up in both commitments (eventually) and new offers.

Ray Hamilton

3:05

Will ND realize some gains in Chicago football recruiting with the new offers out to 2027 and ‘28 guys?

Eric Hansen

3:05

MJ somewhat related to an earlier question, fit has to come along with the star power. But let's even lower the bar a little bit and say consistently get elite four-star wide receivers. It needs to start happening in the next two cycles and there's momentum that it can. But again, fit, retention and now salary cap all play into this.

MJ Buffalo Ny

3:03

Appreciate your chats!!!!!!!!! When do you think ND will break through with elite 5* recruits at skill positions? We talk about being close every year particularly at WR, but have yet to land one of these top 25 prospects.

Eric Hansen

3:02

Jim!!!! You get extra points for punctuation combined with an emoji!! So, with regard to strength of schedule, I do think it will matter whether there are conference automatic qualifiers beyond the champs or it's a straight five best conference champs and 11 at-larges beginning in 2026. Now can that formula get gummed up by the insistence of, say, four automatic Big Ten qualifiers for instance? It could, but it shouldn't. ... With the whole NIL question, if everyone played nice, it wouldn't be a problem. But not everyone will play nice. If Congress gets involved and codifies the House v. NCAA settlement, then the legal challenges to NIL become much tougher to win for those challenging it. My best answer is, let's see. The conference commissioners are all expressing faith in the new system. The national media is kind of snickering by and large. My answer then is, let's see.

Jim from Oakwood

2:54

Hello Eric!!!😊 Do you believe that SOS will be Important for the CFP selection rankings for this year … and next year when expansion occurs, or will there be “external factors” that allow the Power 4, or 2, to strongly influence the rankings structure? Second, it seems like Bryan Seeley is an excellent selection to chair the enforcement committee after developing the criteria details for NIL payments over $600 BUT it seems like a futile task given the vulnerability/shifting legality of the effort to control amounts paid to players. My thought is that the threshold is too low and that enforcement efforts will swamp Seeley’s program and that the legal challenges to any restriction of NIL will be ruled illegal by the courts (years from now). Your thoughts please. Thanks for chatting. Take good care and be well.

Eric Hansen

2:54

Jim, thanks for the question, each challenging in its own way. Let me frame question 1 this way, I think because of the way last season ended, there is more optimism than at any time since the Holtz Era that the Irish could actually win a national title. So that influences how people feel about going into this season. If not this season, then they're optimistic it will happen sooner than later. 2) Three must haves ... I'll go with the same three you suggested. If I were to add a fourth it would be another wide receiver, and now that they have some momentum with Jayden Warren, I'd go with him.

Jim from Wheaton, IL

Second question…(hit send prematurely); Eric, who do you think are the three “must have” 2026 recruits still in play? A lot can change, but I will throw out Joey O’Brien, Kaydon Finley, and Elijah Golden. Thoughts?

2:46

Eric!!! Thanks for continuing the chats into the summer. Two questions- how would you compare the level of excitement/optimism heading to the 2025 season with all other seasons since you’ve been covering ND? I think it might be the highest since the Holtz era.

Eric Hansen

2:45

Hi Tom. It's been great Little League weather, and I have gotten to a few games of Maurizio the Magnificent Hansen so far (seriously, they announce him that way when he comes up to bat and he expected me to do the same). To your questions, I believe we will have that opportunity next week to interview the summer newcomers ... that's in pencil, not in stone, but my expectation. 2) I think the top 50 thing in the 2026 class is an anomaly. ND has been doing pretty well in recent cycles with top 50 prospects and has a really good start in 2027. And keep in mind some of those 2026 commitments could rise in the rankings over time, like Will Black did in the last class. And thanks for being a part of the chat this week and most weeks!!!

Tom F, Kennesaw, GA

2:37

Hey Eric, hope that you are having a great summer thus far. Pretty wet here in Atlanta thus far. A couple of quick questions: 1) when will you get a chance to see and/or meet the freshmen and transfers who are just now joining the Irish?? 2) I am not blaming any coaches or recruiting department, but I am very puzzled that ND does not get more interest from players in the Top 50, especially as ranked by Rivals. For 2026 class Tyler Merrill is #80 and Javian Osborne is #90. For 247 Sports, Rodney Dunham is #15 but in Rivals he is only #107. With the success that ND has had over the past couple of seasons, Coach Freeman's recruiting ability and a couple of the best Coordinators in college football you would think we would get more interest from the best, even if they wind up somewhere else. Your thoughts please. Very Anxious to see how we play in the first 3-4 games of the season. Thanks for adding this Chat into your schedule. We all appreciate it. Go Irish!!!!!

Eric Hansen

2:37

Hi Ed, the least complicated way of explaining this is the power structure of college sports is changing, and the NCAA will have a role in that but not the one you've lived most of your life knowing and perhaps scrutinizing. As far as the SEC/Big Ten power play, as long as those two conferences control most of the money and command it, they will also have the potential to translate that into keeping that power and influencing the game, sometimes to the benefit of themselves over the broad good of the game.

Ed from Sayville

2:33

Hi Eric, and hope all is well. Now that the house settlement has been approved, what might we expect in terms of governance from the NCAA? Do you sense any ability to hold off the power play that the SEC and Big Ten appear intent on making?

Eric Hansen

2:32

Howdy back Tony! I would love to go to Arkansas. It's a venue I've never been to. I would love to have some Coronas with lime with you and Loretta. The last time was a blast and it doesn't have to be in Arkansas! They do have limes there, don't they?

2581

2:31

Tony from Lexington, KY -- Howdy, Eric ! Loretta and I are going to the game at Arkansas on September 27th (our first time there). Last year the Razorbacks upset #4-ranked Tennessee at home, so I don;t think any ND fan should take this game for granted. What do you think? Will you be going to the game? If so, let's get together for some Coronas with lime !!

Eric Hansen

2:31

When you look at that list, you see being a five-star prospect does not necessarily translate into automatic stardom. And yet if you can find a five-star who's a fit, they can be transformative-type players. So for me, it's always a blend of finding talent, finding fit, having a great developmental model, recruiting players you can retain and who can add to your culture, not take away from it. I hope I answered your question. If not, I'll let you have the exclamation point back and waive the no spitting rule too.

2:28

2:26

Scott!! I'll double down on your single exclamation point. Thank you for the effort. Let's take a look at the 22 five-star players Notre Dame has signed since Rivals minted its first five-star player in the 2002 recruiting cycle. This list is going to partially answer your question.

Scott, Greenville, SC

2:23

Eric! I can only do one exclamation point, my poor heart! But you're worth it. I have a recruiting question that I hope you will enjoy. With the experience and level of coaching the ND currently has - the ability to coach up 3 Star players - is it critical that ND get 5 Star players? Alt, Morrison, Watts, Evans, and the list goes on. I worry less about recruiting ranking and trust MF's judgements on players. It's nice to see a 5 Star, but between the depth Marcus is building plus the ability to grow the players, I think his strategy is working. I truly appreciate your insight into all things ND football. I hope you can get at least another mini vacation this summer. Be safe and all the best.

Eric Hansen

2:22

then I think there's hope for longtime fans to find something about the new product on the field that they can get behind. 2) The window for summer employment is really that short break between spring semester and summer term, when players can travel abroad, do internships, etc. There are NIL opportunities, which is kind of like a summer job, but not over sustained stretches.

2:20

James, thanks for the good wishes. Much appreciated and for the NIL plug for Tyler James and me. The only one I think that might make sense is a company that makes giant turkey legs, but hopefully others would come to mind. .... You asked your questions with such detail, depth and creativity, I want to make sure I answer them in a way that honors what you want to get to the bottom of. 1) The tug-of-war will be marrying college football's culture with pro football economics. The good news is I think Notre Dame is as ready for this as anyone in college football, in large part because of head coach Marcus Freeman and his skill set, GM Mike Martin and AD Pete Bevacqua and the backing they all have from the administration. Not having to do this going into a headwind isn't a historical given at this school and is a tremendous asset. There is going to be a transactional aspect to this that perhaps was minimized or not present previously, but if your program can carry forward the values along with that (more)

James

Part 2: One special memory of Notre Dame basketball in the seventies is being in front of the post game Huddle snack bar and over hearing three Notre Dame basketball players behind me - Gil Salinas, Kelly Tripucka and Stan Wilcox - trying to put enough pocket money together to split one meal amongst them. It seemed so absurdly unfair, and as the pendulum swings in the opposite direction, will post game visits to the Huddle be replaced by Zoom conferences w their brokers and cryptocurrency advisors? 2.) Does any male/female athlete have a window for summer employment; (3.) Do you foresee either you or Tyler James ever receiving some NIL for your tireless coverage, care and compassion ? Best to the grandkids, your beloved wives and to my ND chat mates

2:11

Placitas, New Mexico Eric, i am wondering if you could speak as a generational journalist for Notre Dame men’s and women’s programs about the House Settlement - 1.) What does NIL replace at Notre Dame ? As a student, i knew the athletes to be among the students least likely to have spending money, though they seemed to have the “choicest “ Summer jobs

Eric Hansen

2:10

If they struggle in those first two games, it's likely to be tied into turnovers. That's where a new QB could have growing pains, but that's not automatically going to happen. That and run defense are the two fault lines that could turn into strengths.

2:09

Well, Joe, thanks. Really appreciate that. ... I project Notre Dame to be a playoff team, because I think they're better than the other teams on their schedule. Now the question is, will they be THAT team in August/September or have to grow into it. My expectation is ND will start 2-0, and I don't expect it to be easy, but I think the defense will be that good. Even with a new QB, I think the offense will be more camera-ready early than it was last year. There are some really good pieces around the QB and the biggest difference is the offensive line. (more)

Joe from KC

2:03

One of my favorite things to get me through a long week! With how ND has performed in big games, is it fair to expect two wins to start the season? What are your concerns that would lead to a loss? More than QB play? I have quite a bit of optimism they’ll get the job done and start 2-0.

Eric Hansen

2:03

Hi Shaun. We're coming up to the four-year anniversary of the inception of NIL on July 1. And how recruits react to it, use it and the proliferation of agents have all evolved. But I think Notre Dame has had a very healthy learning curve as it has evolved. And head coach Marcus Freeman talked recently with some of us in the media about being more deliberate with commitments and not trying to get so many early in the cycle to guard against what you just described. And so yes, there certainly is an element of that in recruiting, and that's why fit matters and it's not just about how many stars someone has. I think Marcus' message — choose hard — and his authenticity helps Notre Dame immensely in finding the right fit. And thank you for pointing out that I am older than dirt.

Shaun, Prosper TX

1:57

Eric: In this era of NIL and agents, what is your sense of the sincerity of recruits’ true interest in Notre Dame vs. just getting ND on their list of offers so they can leverage more dollars from their school of choice? Obviously it’s case-by-case per kid, but in the 100 years you’ve been doing this 😉 what is your overall sense of the sincerity of recruits today vs. in the past?

Eric Hansen

1:57

Hi Ryan. He started to look like the Eli Raridon a lot of us thought would emerge before he tore his ACL twice early in his career -- actually the first one came playing basketball his senior year in high school. Now that he's fully healthy, there's a growing confidence from the coaching staff that he is going to look every bit the part of a No. 1 tight end this season. I'm pushing my chips into the middle of the table on this one. I'm on board.

Ryan

1:54

Good afternoon Eric with camp starting soon how did Eli Rardon look during the practices leading up to the blue and gold game it will be interesting how he looks even though he played last year GO IRISH ☘️☘️☘️🏈🏈🏈

Eric Hansen

1:48

D-line coach Al Washington is in his own category. There's a lot of depth and texture to his thinking and how he experiences the game and coaching it. ... So, bottom line if there was someone I needed to talk to after a game is Marcus lost his voice and it would help me tell the story the best, I'd roll with Denbrock, Rudolph and Washington but am happy to talk to any of them.

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