The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

Notre Dame's home opener went according to plan, as Marcus Freeman's squad shut out Rice, 52-0. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to take one final look back at the win and to turn the page ahead toward rival Michigan State, as the Fighting Irish look to beat the Spartans in primetime.

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Notre Dame dominated Rice, 52-0, to record its second shutout win of the Marcus Freeman era. CJ Carr and the Fighting Irish offense looked smooth, while Chris Ash's defense dominated with four takeaways. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to recap the home opener and much more!

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Notre Dame has a quick turnaround after putting away Wisconsin on Sunday night in Green Bay. While this Saturday’s home opener vs. Rice figures to be an easier test, the Fighting Irish, crazy enough, are 0-3 vs. FBS teams in Week 2 under Marcus Freeman. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson break down the matchup with the Owls and much more during a special live episode at ESQ Clothing in downtown Chicago!

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Notre Dame is 1-0 after beating Wisconsin on Sunday at Lambeau Field. With Marcus Freeman addressing reporters on Tuesday, Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson dive in to the Fighting Irish  head coach's comments and look at the roster, and the challenges, moving forward as ND gears up for its home opener vs. Rice.

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Notre Dame answered the bell in the second half Sunday to take care of Wisconsin, 41-13, at Green Bay's Lambeau Field. CJ Carr led the offense while the defense stifled the Badgers in the second half, shutting Luke Fickell's squad out. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to discuss the win, as Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish begin his fifth season 1-0.

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Finally, football! Notre Dame kicks off its 2026 revenge tour this Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin against the Badgers. The Fighting Irish are undefeated in Shamrock Series games. Marcus Freeman, meanwhile, takes on his mentor, Luke Fickell. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to break down this much-anticipated opener and to see if CJ Carr and Co. can live up to the hype.

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It's Week 1! And it's time for Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson to put their money where their mouths are. They are joined by friend of the pod Tim Murray for the 2026 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Season Preview Show, as the gang makes its predictions for Marcus Freeman's squad, which chases its first national championship in 38 years.

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It is almost Notre Dame game week, as Week 1 is right around the corner. How does Marcus Freeman's squad look as fall camp draws to a close? Who will back up QB CJ Carr? Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to address all of those Fighting Irish questions and more on the latest episode of The Independent.

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NBC has a new sideline reporter for Notre Dame football, and it’s a familiar name to Fighting Irish fans. Caroline Pineda joins Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson to talk about her career path, the lessons she learned as a Notre Dame student, stories from the road and much more.

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It's been a minute since we did this, and there is a ton to talk about. Join Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson LIVE on The Independent to talk all things Notre Dame football, Marcus Freeman, CJ Carr and more. The Fighting Irish are three weeks away from kicking off the 2026 season at Lambeau Field vs. Wisconsin.

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