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

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Oct. 29, 2025

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Marie from Atlanta

One final question, do you think BK will ever coach again or do you think he’s just headed for TV and commentary? If he does coach again, do you think he’d want to go to a place where they are legitimate or do you think he would consider something like UCLA we’re just getting six or seven wins a year is enough? Thanks Eric

2:02

Hi Eric, I hope you enjoyed your birthday week and had a great time with family. I know Boston College is having a rough year, but is there anything that their team does that could give Notre Dame trouble this weekend? What do you think the offense and defense worked the most on during the bye, and what new wrinkles do you think we might see in this last part of the season? Can you predict one player on offense and one player on defense who’s been under the radar but you think might break through in this last part of the season? As always, thanks so much roasting the chat and all your great insights.

Eric Hansen

2:01

As far as the Navy practice players, I have not heard Marcus mention it, so I would have to ask about that next week. But I do know they work on Navy intermittently ... in training camp, during the last bye week, for example, so that it's not a one-week crash course. As far as Chris Ash, I looked back over his career as a head coach or defensive coordinator only, not as a position coach. And in those circumstances, he's faced Navy once. It was Ohio State's 2014 opener. And that Buckeye team opened the season in Baltimore against Navy, winning 34-17, in a season that ended with an 8-5 mark for the Mids and a national title for the Buckeyes.

1:56

Ciao, Paul. È stato fantastico. Grazie per avermelo chiesto. Sono stata la beneficiaria/vittima di una festa a sorpresa ed ero sotto shock. ...Louisville coughed up three turnovers, and a multiple-turnover deficit by the Irish, in my opinion, is the only way this game stays close. Louisville ran all over BC, for more than 300 yards and their pass defense is worse. (more)

Paul from Knoxville, TN

1:46

Ciao Eric: Buon compleanno in ritardo! Spero che avete fato una bella celebrazione!!! I hope you get the gist, as my writing in Italian is not as good as my speaking, which is not that great either. I saw BC played competitively against Louisville last Sat, particularly in the first half. What do you see as the key points for ND to avoid a similarly close game? Looking forward to Navy, I recall that during Brian Kelly era ND had a group of scout teamers that ran only Navy's offense in order to better prepare our D. If so, is this continuing under Coach Freeman, and has Chris Ash previously coached against Navy? Thanks again for hosting the chat -- much appreciated!

Eric Hansen

1:44

Hi Ryan. I was really impressed with Jason Onye in the USC game and so was Pro Football Focus, which does film grades on all the college football games. Onye had the highest score, offense or defense, of any player who played for either team in that game. So good eye by you. I had a chance to interview Jason on Tuesday night and posted a story this morning if you're interested: Jason Onye savoring his second chance at Notre Dame and in life

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

1:41

Good afternoon Eric what do you think about the play of Jason Onye i think he is having a good Season after missing some time last year GO IRISH beat Boston college My score prediction is going to 42-21 Irish ☘️☘️☘️🏈🏈🏈 Happy Halloween

Eric Hansen

1:41

Hi Jeremy! Thanks for the birthday shout and for the thoughtful punctuation! I have several reasons for believing he'll be more consistent in the second half, but the biggest reason is his coaches see that in him. I did an intel piece Tuesday where I used some quotes from Marcus Freeman's press conference and married that with sourced info that I think will shed some light on his challenges and what his next steps should look like: Inside Notre Dame’s QB room: CJ Carr’s surge and Kenny Minchey’s impact
As far as what the five November opponents might do? All five are statistically better at defending the run than the pass ... two stink at both (BC and Syracuse). I would expect the other three to lean into their strength, though USC did just the opposite, leaned into defending the pass and took their chances vs. the run. But I do think he will break the school record for pass efficiency, a trajectory he's already on.

Jeremy from Goshen

1:32

HI Eric! Happy belated Birthday! Hope you had a good time with your family. Did you get anything fun for your birthday?!?! My question surrounds CJ Carr. What makes you believe he will be more consistent in the second half? After the USC game, do you think other teams will load up the box and pray CJ has an off game? If so, he could put up some HUGE numbers!

Eric Hansen

1:32

Surprised me about his exit? That he built a "forever home" near campus a year before he left. Just never added up to me. Surprised me about his time at ND? That he didn't finish his career there. He invested so much in that post-2016 reboot. This is just thoughts off the top of my head. Will have more to say later this week.

1:27

Brian K but not Brian Kelly!!!! I've still got a Brian Kelly column of my own coming this week, but let me answer your questions and skip your preamble, which actually was well done. Surprised the most about LSU? I did not think he was going to be a fit there. I really had my reservations about that. That does not mean he's not a good coach, but fit is so important and Brian kind of learned that at ND and then disregarded it in making that move. So my surprise regarding LSU is that he didn't prove me wrong. I figured he had a better plan. (more)

Brian K, South Bend (NOT Brian Kelly)

1:17

Hello Easy E!!!! A couple thoughts and a question. Before everyone slams you with Chat celebrations about BK getting fired at LSU, let's not forget the impact he had at ND. When hired he was exactly what ND needed, to re-build a broken program from the bottom up. Let's give credit where it was due, he did that well with 2 CFP appearances and 1 National Champ appearance in the old format. Why most fans have an unfavorable opinion of him (myself included) is due to how he left for LSU which should have been done in a more professional and respectful way. In your experiences with him on and off the record what surprised you most about his exit or time at ND? Also what surprised you most about his short tenure at LSU? Go Irish

Eric Hansen

1:16

Hi Rui. I feel like a dummy. I didn't know that was a real place. Thanks for enlightening me! As far as the smoke you're seeing and smelling, it is fictitious was far as MUTAL interest.

Rui, Ossining NY

1:12

Grew up in Sleepy Hollow( NY ) just about 25 miles north of NYC...home of the Headless Horsemen, which is appropriate now since its Halloween season...try and find video on social media of the Headless Horsemen bringing the football team onto the field...best mascot in all the land...recommend a visit if time ever allows it

My question: we always here the term, " where there is smoke, there is fire "...is there any smoke to Freeman with any of these job openings where we as fans should be concerned?

Eric Hansen

1:12

Hi Ced, what the marching band does and doesn't do is way out of my purview, but I can certainly ask around and find out in the future. As to Cam Williams, Logan Saldate and Elijah Burress playing, it really depends on whether this becomes a lopsided game early in ND's favor and how lopsided. I don't see them getting high-leverage snaps.

ced

1:10

ced walker Saginaw Michigan aka sagnasty Saginaw pride do u think we see Elijah burgess , cam Williams and Logan saldate this weekend why the Notre Dame marching band don't do road game they used to do 2 game God Bless This Football 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

1:10

Hi Shane. You are spot on. Authenticity of Marcus Freeman's superpower.

Shane from White Deer, Texas

1:07

Hey Eric, I hope all is well up North. My question isn’t so much about Xs and Os, more about our coach. I never really listened to coaches press conferences that much, I always thought there was a lot of “coach speak” during them. But, the more I listen to Coach Freeman’s, the more I’m drawn in. There seems to be a genuine dialogue going on between you guys and him. You’ve probably done a bunch of these with different coaches. Are Freeman’s answers the real deal, or have I just softened in my old age? I really enjoy listening to him, and really believe in what he is saying. Not just the football part, but the life lessons as well. I believe him to be a good person, and hope you say it is so. Go Irish!! No 93 hiccup.

Eric Hansen

1:06

We actually had Jim Tressel on our old Inside ND Sports Podcast (now Third & Gold Podcast) back in 2022 when Marcus Freeman was a first-year head coach. If I can find the link after the chat is over, I'll post it in the transcript. I'm not sure I'd call Marcus a disciple of anyone. He learns from observing and asking questions to a multitude of coaches and others. But those two definitely talk regularly. And I think more philosophically than strategy-wise Tressel has shaped who Marcus Freeman is as a head coach. Huge influence, yes.

Denis from Niagara Falls, Canada

1:00

Hi Eric. Do you have any knowledge regarding the relationship of Marcus Freeman and Jim Tressel? Would it be accurate to call Freeman a disciple of Tressel? Do you know of any specific similarities in philosophy, methods, beliefs, etc.? Do they keep in touch at all? Sorry. I know this is alot but i am very interested in their relationship. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Eric Hansen

12:58

Notre Dame scouts and prepares for every, and I mean every, scenario. So they will have transfer candidates scouted and vetted of that is needed or wanted. My sense is that if they see enough in practice over the balance of the season from especially Cam Williams but also Jerome Bettis Jr., they might lean away from a portal boundary receiver. Gilbert, they already like at that spot.

12:56

Now do the bigger WR picture. Let's do the math. ND has 11 scholarship WRs this season, six of whom are true freshmen or redshirt freshmen. You lose only two to expired eligibility -- Malachi Field and Will Pauling. That knocks it down to nine, and then you add four freshmen for 2026. That's 13. The higher scholarship limit allows you to carry a higher number at every position conceivably. But if you have 13, do you want to add more through the portal? (more)

12:53

Hi Jim!!! Let's start with Jaden Greathouse and work our way back to the bigger picture. There are some folks who are convinced his injury is a ruse to hide the fact he wants to redshirt and transfer. Look, if he wanted to redshirt and transfer, he'd just tell the coaches and do it, like Jaden Mickey did last year. The lingering injury is legit, and the expectation is -- barring setback -- is he'll be back soon. And when he does, he's an important part of the offensive plan in November, including improving in the red zone. (more)

Jim from Wheaton, IL

12:48

Greetings, Eric!! Lots of excitement about the Irish heading into the final five games, hopefully kicked off with a dominating performance against our "little Catholic brothers" in Chestnut Hill. I have a comment and two questions about our wide receivers. I don't recall ever seeing better blocking (and a commitment to excelling at it) from a group of wide receivers than we've seen this year. So many of Love's/Price's TD runs have been facilitated by exceptional downfield/edge blocking. I've been especially impressed by Malachi Fields. My question: do you think the Irish look to the portal again in the offseason for a big-bodied and experienced boundary receiver like Fields, or will Williams, Burress, Gilbert or someone else be able to replace Fields' production as an outstanding receiver and blocker? Next, do you think Jaden Greathouse will look to transfer, given his lack of involvement this year (even before he was injured) and others emerging/arriving? I'd love to see him bounce back next year at ND. Thx

Eric Hansen

12:47

Hi Chris. I think you have a pretty good read on this. When I did my recent freshmen intel pieces, one for offense and one for defense, I only asked about and wrote about the true freshmen. When I get another chance, I'll likely focus on redshirt freshmen and/or some of the guys people ask me about the most. Cam Williams tops that list, with Brenan Vernon No. 2 but fading. But when Malachi Fields is gone this spring, Micah Gilbert and Cam have a great chance to prove to the coaching staff that they can be strong rotational guys. Gilbert, who is injury, probably already has proven it. Cam is actually the No. 2 boundary receiver this week. There is a lot of talent and a work ethic and a willingness to be coached. So those all align with a guy who's going to give himself a good chance to impress in the spring, But we'll see.

Chris from San Diego

12:41

Hi Eric-- Happy to see you here with B&G and see the chats here now, too! With the off week, I've been thinking about next season. I wonder if you have heard anything since the season started regarding how/whether Cam Williams might be progressing as hoped. Sounds like he has till end of spring to either emerge or be essentially left behind. I hope for his and our sake he does, but know it doesn't happen for everyone.

Eric Hansen

12:41

The Irish coaches would love to use Flanigan and preserve a redshirt year. He's already played in one game. So he can only play in three of the five November games and still pull that off. He could play in every postseason game and it would not affect a redshirt season. I do like your idea, but I think another reason for not doing it is all the injured O-lineman right now and getting people ready to play actual O-line roles is at a premium.

12:39

Hey Mike/Mo. Thanks for your emails, by the way. As long as Cooper Flanagan doesn't go backward in his recovery from his Achilles injury, I think you're going to start to see both him and freshman James Flanigan more in November in multiple-tight end sets. That not only puts two of the better blockers on the field with Eli Raridon, but also give you some legit receiving options you wouldn't necessarily have with an athletic tackle playing tight end. I think the Flanagan/Jeffery formation is a precursor to the Flanagan/Flanigan package. I mentioned this in my recent offensive freshman intel piece last week. (more)

Mike AKA Mo from Maumee OH

12:32

Hi Eric !^! I was watching a bit of the Steelers game, and their "jumbo package" reminded me of former ND walk-on/then scholarship TE #38 Davis Sherwood, who sometimes blocked for short yardage situations. With O-line coach Rudolph proclaiming he's looking for high school players who play multiple sports, I was wondering why ND doesn't think outside the box & use a light-footed reserve O lineman or D lineman as a 300+ pound blocking "TE" for short yardage situations? The brain trust seems to have tried almost everything else, including using a light 195 pound ("... 5 foot nothin', 100 and nothin...", to quote a great movie) WR Matt Jeffery as a lead blocker. Thanks!

laughing

1

Eric Hansen

12:31

The questions I have when people pose that question is: Who are you taking off the field to go two-back? A tight end? A wide receiver? And then what do you hope that alignment will do for you? Cause confusion for the defense? Provide different kind of blocking? Create a mismatch with the defense? If it's create a mismatch for the defense, I'm all for that.

12:30

Hi Rocky. A form of that question has been asked to Marcus Freeman and OC Mike Denbrock earlier this season, but not red-zone specific as you have. In general, I expected to see a little bit more of two-back formations, in part because Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love are such good receivers, you could check out of a play where both are in the backfield and leak one of them into the slot or go empty and have both line up at receiver. And maybe we'll eventually see more of that in November and/or the postseason. Not a steady diet or it ever, but more. (more)

Guest

12:26

Rocky-Waterloo, In. Sorry if this question has already been asked. So here we go. Has anyone asked the HC or the OC about playing both J. Love & J. Price in the red zone? Just seems like there would be a lot of formations & plays they could run with them both in there to maybe give a spark in the red zone. Go Irish!!! BSG75

Eric Hansen

12:25

No. 2, situations can change over time, especially if there's a change in ADs and/or presidents down the road again, but right now I couldn't see Marcus Freeman considering any other job at this point in time. Now, maybe down the road Ohio State appeals to him or the NFL, You nailed that. But right now, he loves and appreciates what he has at Notre Dame.

12:23

Manny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can definitely relax when it comes to Marcus Freeman and LSU. So no heart pills needed. Or yoga or Halloween candy or whatever your favorite remedy is. But I understand why fans get confused by this. There are legitimate articles where Freeman' s name is mentioned for a specific job opening, because that school has an ambitious wish list and they're willing to take a shot in the dark. But the good ones will also preface whether the interest has any chance of gaining traction. Then there's what you call clickbait. I can think of less-flattering terms, where someone will put up a very misleading headline, followed by very misleading content. This happens in articles and on YouTube. It's pure garbage. So two things, when people mention your coach for other openings, it's a compliment. Means you have a really good one. So, you'll have to get used that part of it. (more)

cool

1

Manny from San Pedro

12:18

Eric!!!! This season has been a lot of fun but now all I hear are Freeman leaving rumors. Is this just click bait or is there something to these rumors. I feel like NFL or OSU I would understand. But lsu!?!? My heart can’t take this!!!!!!

yawn

1

Eric Hansen

12:18

Rich, thank you. We had NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler, from The Athletic, on our Third & Gold Podcast last Friday. And I think it will surprise some Irish fans that Christian Gray is very much on the NFL's radar. He has NFL traits, really good length, a great work ethic, resilience, speed. What he hasn't had is consistency. He's had two really tough games that have dragged down his score. And playing on the same field was Leonard Moore, the best CB in the nation, maybe makes Gray's deficiencies stand out more. He does have a penchant for big plays, as you mentioned, and the coaching staff hasn't lost faith in him. The freshman CBs are really coming along. And there's more help coming next year at the position. So, eventually, there's going to be an inflection point. But this coaching staff is quite confident Gray will be ready and meet that challenge when it comes.

cool

1

Rich, Phoenixville PA

12:09

Hello Eric, and as always, thanks for doing these chats. If I recall correctly, Christian Gray has one of the lowest, if not the lowest PFF grades on ND's defense. However he's first in defensive snaps, missing only about two dozen defensive snaps. What gives? Is the CB cubard that bare, or does his redemptive big plays often late in the game, give the coaches the confidence to stay with him? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

OK, let's get started.

12:07

You all have been amazing, so none of those are in play this week, but I do ask ... no 17-part questions or manifestos.

12:06

Here are the usual rules:

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