JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Oct. 29, 2025 | 10/29/2025

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Oct. 29, 2025

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Eric Hansen

3:22

OK, that's going to have to be it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back to do it all over again next Wednesday at noon ET.

3:21

Adam. Thanks! I am running late for my next assignment, so I have to make this short. Let's worry about Jagusah and have this debate when he actually comes back. In my mind, he is ND's best lineman. But is the best after a long layoff? If/when he does return, I expect him to be a starter.

Adam (Dayton, OH)

3:19

Hi Eric, Thanks for being one of the GOATs in covering ND football. You are greatly appreciated by us crazies! Offensive line question. I believe I heard/read that even if Charles Jagusah came back this year (well understood that ship has likely sailed), he would be plugged in at guard. Meaning Knapp would stay at tackle. It seems like there are elite tackle prospects (Jags if healthy, Guerby Lambert, Will Black) that Joe Rudolph is playing/practicing at guard, while keeping a guy projected to be a guard (Knapp), and keeping him at tackle. Wondering if you have any insights to his philosophy/what he is looking for in each position? I understand he wants to play the best 5, I just have a hard time understanding how that answer seems to be playing multiple guys in spots out of their best (projected) position. Hope that makes sense and thanks again!

Eric Hansen

James, got your message on the email. I will catch up with you on Friday. Thanks for sending it.

3:18

Hi Denny. It would probably be more fair to compare at the end of the season, as Al's defenses got better as the year went on. And I only have end-of-the-season numbers of Al Golden. I'm into overtime or I'd try to dig some more up. But the one thing this defense does very well is run defense, suddenly. No. 17 nationally. That's a big deal.

Denny from Beaverton

3:16

Hi Eric; There was great skepticism of Chris Ash early in the season. Just past the midway part of this season how does his defensive stats compare with Al Golden's in his first season generally?

Eric Hansen

3:16

Hi Jim. Jadarian Price might come back, but I think that's unlikely. But you'll have Aneyas Williams, Kedren Young, Nolan James Jr., Gi'Bran Payne if he wants to return, plus two really good incoming freshman, so no to the portal for running backs.

Jim from Shelburne, Vermont

3:15

Eric, thanks for all the great information that you put out in your articles and podcasts . What is your assessment of the running back needs for next year considering that both Love and Pride will likely be going to the NFL? Will Notre Dame stay with the backs it has or will it go to the portal?

Eric Hansen

3:14

Jack, I heard a great explanation for this on a podcast this other day, and do not think I can replicate it. But I do think it has something to do with getting the search started, getting the best pick of the candidates and having someone in place to save both the recruiting cycle and the portal cycle as well. There is only one of those this offseason, and that is in January. Thanks for the compliments and the great question.

Jack, Strongsville, Oh

3:12

Hi Eric. I know you don't cover Penn State, Florida and LSU but why do you think them and several other schools have decided to fire coaches before the end of the season? What is the advantage to do that? It would seem to me a total surrender. Thanks as always for all your great work.

Eric Hansen

3:12

Oops sorry James. The parts of your question came in with several takes and there were some questions separating those takes. Now I think I got all the parts.

James, UNM Championship Course Albuquerque, NM

3:11

Perhaps, everyone deserves a moment in the sun,
If there is such a principal, was it learned in journalism school, or is it something that you’ve adapted over the course of your time in South Bend and Indiana university,

Eric Hansen

3:11

Hi James. I am flattered you celebrated my birthday and flattered by the impression of me that you have that I may or may not deserve. But I'd be happy to answer this in an email if you can send me your address. Really appreciate it.

James, UNM Championship Course Albuquerque, NM

If there is such a principle, did you internalize it in journalism school, or is it something that you’ve adapted over the course of your time in South Bend, Indiana and Indiana University? Finally, Would you ever consider hosting a colloquium on being a decent human being while also being an upright Sports fan? I would enjoy sharing in person to lay eyes on all these characters We could do it over a few days and in addition to a modest fee, each of us would have to bring our favorite local dish ?

or say “I try to hold all public sports figures accountable,”

I wondered if you could comment on your measured response to each of us and your balance in seeing both sides of many issues. I’m sure you will be challenged in the coming week by everybody’s comments about another human being who used to be a human being at Notre Dame, but I just wondered if opening yourself up as you do every week to questions from all sorts of different perspectives and knowledge levels if you invoke some steadfast rule of thumb
Say, treating everyone the way you would want to be treated, and treating public figures in an accountable manner, because you seem like the antithesis of anyone on network media

3:09

Dear Eric Hansen~

We celebrated - in grand style your birthday last week here in New Mexico!

Eric Hansen

3:09

Hi Kevin. At some point, if your ego doesn't need massaged, how many tens of millions do you need to be happy? I don't want to speak for Marcus, but I think being somewhere that you believe in and believes in you makes chasing the extra zeroes in the paycheck less appealing. Not everyone thinks that way, but I think Marcus Freeman does. As far as playoff perception goes, every part of your résumé matters. And when the committee start splitting hairs, you don't want to give the CFP committee reason to knock you down a spot or two, either for inclusion or for seeding. I doubt the BC game will be the overriding impression of ND's season, but you want to appear to be a team that's improving. And playing say a 24-21 team would not make that kind of impression.

Kevin from Calgary

3:01

Eric, hope you had a (somewhat) relaxing bye week. I’m guessing a slow week for you during the season is a 50-60 hour work week. There’s been a lot of chatter from many pundits suggesting Marcus Freeman is on his way to Penn State or, most recently, LSU. Short of that mythical fairy godmother showing up with that $250-million check, do you see any way Coach Freeman flies the coup? Also, if ND doesn’t crush Boston College on Saturday, is it possible the committee punishes the Irish for their soft second half schedule and leaves them one, or two crucial spots out of a playoff spot? As always, thanks for the great chats!!!

Eric Hansen

3:01

Mike, TV has a lot to do with it, but last year, ND really wanted to have it on Friday night, and I suspect they'd ask for that again. They'd like to keep the student on campus after exams. I noticed the won't class the residence halls until noon on Dec, 21, so they'd be ready to host either date if it came to that.

Mike, Phoenix

2:57

Eric, I know ND needs to be seeded 5-8 to host a playoff game but what determines if this date is the 19th or 20th? Thank you! Cheers and Go IRISH ☘️

Eric Hansen

2:57

Charlie and I go along until we didn't and then we did again his last two years. Still in touch with him. There's a real good side to him that people didn't get to see. I get why he rubbed some people the wrong way, but there is that positive side to him. BK. After 2011, we got along very well. I enjoyed working with him, couldn't stand the way he left. Hope to talk to him sooner than later, even if it's all off the record. Marcus Freeman is someone I'm lucky to get to know and spend time with. What you see is really who he is.

2:53

Hi Matt. Thanks for the birthday wishes. The dinner turned out to be a very well-crafted plan that shocked the heck out of me. I'm not sure I can give your question justice in this forum. And they were not constant throughout their time here. I'll try to do a unreasonably short synopsis that won't do any of them justice. Davie: I covered Bob Knight early in my career, and that was a more comfortable working relationship if that puts it in perspective at all. Willingham: Very, very guarded. When the cameras and tape recorders were off. Fascinating guy with great life stories. (more)

Matt from Austin

2:44

Hi Eric, hope you are well and ready for the stretch run (which I'm sure you are!). If memory serves, you first started covering ND football heavily during the Davie regime. Given the recent BK situation, I was wondering if you had any overriding recollections of your dealings with 1. Davie, 2. Willingham, 3. Weis, 4. Kelly, and 5. Coach Freeman. Not looking for negativity, just your thoughts. I trust the birthday dinner this past weekend was excellent. Irish 45-10. Thank you as always Eric for your insight. Matt

Eric Hansen

2:44

Hi Bo!!!!!! Always thought that was a cool name. I haven't talked to Marcus recently about what the kids beyond Vinny are into. So I'll have to do a little research. Sorry I don't have a better answer. My six grandkids (of eight) that live nearby and are siblings are almost the exact same ages as Marcus' kids, so I am challenged just to remember all of their activities. Thanks for the compliments. I'll get to work on my research.

Bo from Michiana

2:40

Eric, Good afternoon to you on this sunny Michiana day!!!! IMO in my heart that Marcus Freeman truly loves this Notre Dame campus and community. I know Gino attend Penn High School and plays football. I also know Vinny played football at Penn but was an All-State Wrestler(?) which is his sport of choice. Do you know if Gino has any other sports interest at Penn? Is football his sport of choice? Will he attend Notre Dame. I appreciate the chats and all the time you spent on the S.Bend Tribune, it's been a pleasure to follow your sports writing on Notre Dame Football! GO IRISH BEAT BC! (sorry for the yelling)

four_leaf_clover

Eric Hansen

2:40

Mark, Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think Chris Terek would plug in at either guard spot if needed. Will Black and Matty Augustine were/are both surging and both questionable while going through concussion protocol this week. With wanting to set a physical tone for the USC game, which did indeed happen, ND took the calculated risk of getting more physical in practice that week. The supporting rationale is that they'd have a bye week to heal. I'm sure they will re-evaluate that, as they would if there had been no concussions. It's a constant thing with their commitment to sports science. But down the road, Blake and Augustine are positioning themselves will for the future.

Mark - Memphis, TN

2:32

Hi Eric!!!!!!!!!! Since Sullivan Absher is getting the start in Schrauth’s place at LG and Otting has settled in for Craig at center, does that make Chris Terek the next man up? Are either Will Black or Marty Augustine ready to contribute once they’ve cleared concussion protocol? Finally, given that both Black and Augustine got concussions apparently sustained in practice, does/should the way OL’s practice and are prepared be looked at for possible adjustments?

Eric Hansen

2:31

Don, thanks for joining in and thanks for chiming in!

Don in Scottsdale

2:30

Eric, I am late to the chat...I'll blame it on the bye week. I know Kelly is a topic of conversation. My 2 cents are Kelly was the right guy at the right time when he came. He also left at the right time. Is departure from LSU and all the negative makes me think of something my mother always told me. You reap what you sow. Nothing else. Keep up the great work.

Eric Hansen

2:30

Thanks (Mr.) Sean. Much appreciated. If your score prediction is correct and they're healthy enough to play, I'd love to see Will Blake and Matty Augustine on the O-line especially with them back in New England, where they played their high school ball. Elijah Burress, Cam Williams, Nolan James Jr., Christopher Burgess -- some of these guys are way beyond 2s. Ethan Long. James Flanigan.

Sean, Schaumburg, IL

2:27

And, happy belated birthday.

2:26

Mr. Hansen, I got our Irish putting up 50+ on BC. It'd be great to see Minchey get a whole quarter of PT. Who else would you like to see from the 2nd/3rd/4th stringers play?

Eric Hansen

2:26

Well if you're going to tell me who you are NOT, you also in the future need to let me know where you are NOT from. But that was a great compliment, so keep 'em coming and keep watching. Thank you. I had a blast doing it.

Not Mike Singer

2:24

Eric, I really enjoyed your show on Tuesday night with Mike Singer and Robby Toma. The Notre Dame football show has quickly become my favorite YouTube show to watch!

Eric Hansen

2:24

Len!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Indiana was the first team I covered out of college and I covered them for over a decade, so I am familiar with that program. I don't necessarily think you have to force teams into a scheduling philosophy behind their conference commitment. And keep in mind the level of difficulty in the conference varies from year to year, based on the rotations. The other thing is Tulane. USF, Boise, Memphis are better than a lot of Power 4 programs. So who would you rather play: Oklahoma State, Purdue or a really good Group of 6 teams. I do think if you go overly soft, you should run the risk of consequences on Selection Sunday. I think that's one of the reasons Ole Miss got left out last year. The Rebels, with three losses, won their four non-conference games by a combined score of 220-22. But they played Furman, Middle Tennessee, Ga. Southern and Wake Forest.

Len from the Jersey Shore

2:13

Hello Eric!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Indiana has looked good. They pass the eye test. However they did not play a power 4 team out of conference playing ODU, Kennesaw St. and Indiana St. And their Big 10 schedule was considered one of the easiest. Also Rutgers, Penn St. Maryland, and Northwestern did not play a power 4 team out of conference. All power 4 team outside of the Big 10 played power 4 team out of conference. Do you think the Big 10 teams should get in line with the other power 4 conferences and play a power 4 team out of conference each year? Note-I included Oregon St, Washington St as a power 4 equivalent, at least for this year. And of course I had ND at that level also. Thanks for hosting Eric.

Eric Hansen

2:13

As far as BK, his plan changed a lot from some of the private conversations we had when he was at ND. There was very little chance in his mind he was going to be coaching anywhere in 2025, but he always wanted to be connected to the game somehow. I think he'd be really good on TV. I hear his initial reaction is that he wants to coach and I think he'll get an opportunity if that's truly what he wants. If he asked my opinion, and I really doubt he would, I would sit out a year and kind of reassess and recalibrate. Do a little TV and gauge whether he really wants to make that kind of commitment to go back into coaching.

2:09

It's hard to be under the radar at Notre Dame and this late in the season, so I might be cheating a bit here. The two Flanigan/Flanagans on offense. Jaden Greathouse when he's healthy, maybe see a little more Nolan James Jr. On defense, Jason Onye if that's not cheating. If it is, maybe a little Ethan Long. I don't anticipate major surprises without an injury triggering an opportunity that doesn't exist without that happening. (more)

2:06

Hi Marie. I think one thing that got accomplished during the bye that would help on both sides of the ball is figuring out which freshmen can help in November. Most of them haven't played a single snap, so they can play in up to four of the five November games. And I think tight end James Flanigan, who can play in three of the five, is one to watch. They did some self-scouting on both sides of the ball, and I think at this point in the season it's more about tweaks, evolutions and polish than it is overhauls and wholesale changes. (More)

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