Jessica Smetana and the Split Zone Duo podcast's Alex Kirshner join to discuss the preseason signs teams might live up to their expectations or fall flat when the games arrive. Also: How national title contenders are constructed, where Notre Dame fits in among them, the Fighting Irish wide receiver situation and the blamemeter on the USC game not being played.

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Lucy Rohden (CFBLucy on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok) joins to discuss why so many people running and covering college football seem to hate it. Also a look into how Wisconsin, Sparty and other programs fell off plus things to be excited for this coming season.

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Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyama joins to discuss his recent visit to campus for Irish Invasion and how recruiting has continued to improve under Marcus Freeman. Then a look at how the 2026 Notre Dame team looks to compare to previous playoff-era title winners as well as this season's other top contenders.

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Jessica Smetana joins to break down the latest arguments for and against expansion to a 24-team college football playoff, including some Mike Elko appreciation. Then (28:00) The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant joins to weigh in on the state of Niele Ivey's program, the greatness (and awards snubbing) of Hannah Hidalgo, checking in on some transfers, Irish in the WNBA and much more.

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Mega Memorial Day Weekend Episode. Jessica Smetana and the Spreadsheets & Tailgates newsletter's Michael Bryan join to take a look at what preseason win totals might mean for a long list of college football teams. Topics include but are not limited to: A new era in Happy Valley, Arizona State's international gauntlet, a potential nightmare November in Lincoln, SEC playoff teams adjusting to life with nine conference games, Dabo and Belichick, a fun team in the new Pac-12, old Notre Dame faces in new places and a whole lot more.

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Sam Werner joins to discuss/vent about/analyze the growing support for a 24-team college football playoff field, including — in a twist — from Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua.

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Jessica Smetana joins to discuss some lessons learned and questions still pending after Blue-Gold weekend and the draft. Then (34:45) the Report Medical Team joins to discusss the second season of "The Pitt."

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Alex Herrmann of Notre Dame, Our Blogger joins to discuss Notre Dame football's spring game and where the team stands after this set of practices plus news and notes from the NFL Draft (congrats to Love, Price and all the other draftees and signees).

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Blue and Gold's Eric Hansen joins to discuss what he saw at the Fighting Irish's jersey scrimmage over the weekend, including the new-look offensive line, depth and potential at wide receiver, freshmen impressing, Christian Gray's move to nickel, how the new coaches are fitting in and C.J. Carr taking things to another level. Then (44:30) we close talking about Notre Dame women's basketball's moves in the portal and how Hannah Hidalgo is driving the program going into her final year.

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A Very Brief Survey on Notre Dame Athletics: https://forms.gle/FE21DzPdV1dw4m5A9

Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyma joins to break down what we've learned from Marcus Freeman and the rest of the staff as the Blue-Gold Game approaches. Topics discussed include a new-look offensive line, Nolan James, Jr., Micah Gilbert, Mylan Graham, C.J. Carr, Rodney Dunham, Elijah Hughes and a whole lot more.

Then (1:07:30), the Three-Point Jesus podcast's Sam Werner swings by to talk about how things currently are not going so great for the men's basketball team.

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