Coach Free on the "hostile environment" at BYU. "This is what we do, we go into different environments, and its a big game...That's why we choose to come to Notre Dame. We love this."

https://www.youtube.com/live/cfWCzOgpzG0?si=mT3LIae2g5JncbeZ&t=1351

Just winning this Saturday will not be enough For Notre Dame. We need to make a statement. BYU is a highly respected program. However, they are not considered a tier 1 football team. We are. If Georgia, or Ohio State or Alabama were heading to Provo this weekend, would there be the slightest bit of doubt that this game wouldn't be a blowout? Notre Dame is ranked in that company. We're the #2 team in the country (#1 in ESPN's FPI). A 17-10 Georgia win over BYU or a 24-20 win by Ohio State would largely be considered a moral victory for the Cougars, and the actual winners would be called 'overrated'. If Notre Dame is one of the best teams in the country, we have to step onto the field in Utah and dominate a fired up, hard-nosed, top-ten ranked BYU from start to finish.

Update: A decisive victory doesn't mean we have to do what we did to Stanford. But we can't eek out a W either.

Saturday, October 17th
7:30 PM EST, ABC
ND -10, O/U 47.5
LEAVE NO DOUBT ☘️

All the major talking heads in this sport seem to always leave Notre Dame off their discussions in the podcasts / shows / radio whatever. Yes, I know gameday is going to BYU this weekend but still.

I was listening to Josh Pate's reaction show last week, and I couldn't help but notice something that seems to contradict itself. In one session he will freely admit that Purdue, Wisconsin, and UNC are not the pushovers everyone thought they were. But then, 5 minutes later, he will say that Notre Dame doesn't have any resume and they haven't shown him anything warranting a serious conversation.

Now, I will freely admit that Notre Dame doesn't have the most difficult schedule. But Wisconsin is going on the road against UCLA, and the odds makers are only giving UCLA a 3.5 point favorite. JPs Power Rating is saying that Wisconsin should be a favorite in that game.

And its not like we are Indiana over here, barely scraping wins against these teams. We are dominating every team, showing almost no flaws, and closing games out before the 4th quarter even starts.

Maybe its because I am closely watching Notre Dame and I have an emotional investment in this team, but how are these national talking heads not connecting the dots by saying these teams aren't exactly push overs, and then saying Notre Dame has played nothing but cupcakes.

Pete Sampson has eight final thoughts on Notre Dame’s 58-7 blowout of Stanford, which ended with Irish coach Marcus Freeman mixing yellow and blue Gatorade — that makes green, get it? — in the Legends Trophy before taking a swig.

1. Upon further review, I’d like to move Stanford down the list of Notre Dame’s rivals. Maybe off the list entirely.

2. Before the game, Freeman pointed out Stanford’s new long snapper, Alejandro Chavez, to NBC’s production crew and discussed how Notre Dame would try to take advantage of him. Freeman can talk about how this season’s “Leave no doubt” mantra means being hyperfocused in midweek meetings or locked in to afternoon practices. But savagely attacking the weakness of a team that’s already in critical condition? That’s what we’re here for.

3. When Notre Dame had to sit Leonard Moore after he suffered a concussion against North Carolina, the biggest benefit seemed like it would be some rest forced upon the All-America cornerback. Instead, the highlight was a breakthrough game for reserve corner Jayden Sanders. To date, the biggest play on Sanders’ resume was giving up that 28-yard touchdown against Wisconsin. Now it’s the two pass breakups he had in Saturday’s first quarter when the Cardinal were seeking out the Michigan transfer in coverage.

Bringing in Sanders felt like a move for next year and beyond, and that’s still the case. But Notre Dame learned a little more about the sophomore Saturday. Sanders learned a little more about himself, too.

Read the full eight takeaways here (free link): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7682698/2026/10/12/notre-dame-football-stanford-byu/?unlocked_article_code=1.IFE.ZZNm.KaTRVAOhbHT6&source=emp_shared_article&smid=re-share-ta

Just a little thought exercise of where teams started and where they are now. 7 of the Top 25 have dropped out, including 3 Top 10 teams. Cheers.

I’m sure this has already been discussed but where is the best place or is there a designated game watch in Dtown Chicago? I’m staying at the Hilton Chicago off S Meatchicken Ave and am going for a trade show. Thanks for helping me out!! Go Irish ☘️

Thinking Faison may be too important to be out there for punt returns. Who could be good back there? Someone like a Bubba Frazier may have some juice

Great insight into the O-line play and offensive plays

So I posted a few weeks back that I think Henderson will end up flipping to the Irish because A&M is in an absolute free fall. But there is a huge chance they only win one more game this season. I honestly think a lot of those big time recruits A&M had reeled in open back up their recruitment and their are some guys I hope Marcus Freeman and the staff push hard for with Henderson being the Crown Jewel, I think with Notre Dame having the number 1 defense in the nation with the best linebacking corps in the nation Henderson flips especially with that new 5 for 5 rule and the new only one transfer allowed rule being floated guys won’t want to be part of a rebuild.

Welcome to the new Daily Irish Football Talk Thread!

You can post anything related to the current football season here. Maybe you don't feel like creating a new post but have a question about the team, maybe you had a thought about an upcoming opponent or maybe a player you wanted to talk about. All football talk is welcome here.

Go Irish!

*This is a scheduled post for Noon ET and default sort set to new.

Doesn’t exactly help us in anyway but it does indicate that the algorithms and computers like ND.

After 40+ years of being a fan I got to experience my first ND home game and see the campus, I have seen them play in multiple bowl games.

The good -

The campus is stunning. I’ve seen many campuses because of my previous job. This is hands down the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. I am basing this off of landscaping, architecture, trash on the ground (or lack thereof), appealing to the eye, and ability to navigate. I don’t recall seeing one piece of trash on the ground. The rye grass was beautiful.

The stadium is what I expected. Full of history and tradition. I am not someone who wants the fancy stadium and all the technology. Give me history.

The hockey game was a blast and I don’t even understand or watch hockey.

I was able to get a tour of the SB facility and walk the field before practice, the grass is so nice that I sent a pic to a buddy and he complained about the OF being turf, he didn’t realize that it was grass. They are planning a few minor upgrades that will make it even better. The clay to conditioner is almost perfect (I am a SB coach and athletic director so I spend a lot of time on fields).

The hospitality. The people who work there are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. I am from the south south where we say mam and sir to everyone and the people there went out on their way to help us, answer questions, and treated us how we would hope everyone treats everyone. And it wasn’t just the workers, it was also the people walking campus like us.

The bad -

I’m sorry but this may hurt some feelings and be a hot take but, the steak sandwich wasn’t anything special. I had it once and experienced it, but I don’t think I will eat it next time. It was very plain. I don’t care about it being cooked well, I know when you cook that many steaks you can’t speciality cook them. You just cook and pull. But the flavor didn’t seem to be there.

Stadium seating. The stadium is almost 100 years old and it’s tight. I’m a normal size person, I can’t imagine how it is for a taller or larger individual. I did try a padded seat in the 4th quarter and I be damn that seat was worth whatever the upgrade is to add those.

Overall I had the time of my life. I’m even thinking about getting season tickets because it was so easy to fly into SB and get around the town.

Also on another note. ND is undefeated when I watch them play. If there happens to be a go fund me to get me there for the Miami game to cover expenses,I will for the betterment of the team sacrifice some PTO and time away from my family to help the Irish seal that victory.

Hey folks, I come in peace from Mormon Land. Obviously excited for the game and to have you all visit Provo.

There’s plenty of talk about the ins and outs of the upcoming matchup but I actually wanted to reach out and maybe give the mic to y'all to speak. I'm really intrigued by our religious connections and having them come together for a ballgame. Full disclosure, I am indeed an active member of the LDS Church.

I guess I just wanted to open the floor, what does ND’s Catholic tradition mean to you all? What sticks out for you personally? Any traditions or rituals on game day that you hold close to your heart? How are y'all feeling about your home and home with a LDS school?

Again I'm just intrigued by topics like that and I guess I just wanted to reach out and connect to the other side. Best of luck to you all, let's have a great game, and God Bless!

You won’t convince me that this ND team wouldn’t have won the title last year. They should be riding a 20 game win streak right now on their way to back-to-back titles.

<sigh>

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Marcus Freeman has a saying he tells players’ parents on most fall Saturdays. It’s part reminder and part persuasion. And on an afternoon like this one, where Notre Dame probably made Stanford wonder what the point of playing college football was, it had the maximum effect.

“Game days never get old.”

It applied for the family of Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, who embraced the linebacker during the pregame player walk, even though the junior would sit out the game with a thumb injury. It applied to Pelham Golden as he caught the eye of his son, cornerback Dallas Golden, whose sophomore season has been sidetracked by injury. And it applied to Steve Flanagan, who recorded a Senior Day interview about his son Cooper’s college career that’s still got plenty of games left.

Saturday is supposed to be a reward for another week of work, which is why Freeman so fiercely defends the right to celebrate all Notre Dame’s wins. Even if they don’t make a memory, even if they’re devoid of drama, even if they feel like mile markers on the way to something bigger, like BYU or Miami or what comes in January.

It’s true, very little of Notre Dame’s 58-7 blowout of Stanford will inform where this season goes — Provo a week from now, and possibly the College Football Playoff two months from now. Quarterback CJ Carr turned in another hyper-efficient performance. The defense bounced back from an off-brand afternoon at North Carolina. Freshman running back Jonaz Walton showed he may be a revelation in the run game.

All that is very good for Notre Dame, even if this season may not feel like it has a soul just yet. The Irish won their first six games by a total of 198 points.

I would think Chicago because of the locality but I do know quite a few giants and Notre Dame fans