Notre Dame Fighting Irish - A to Z Sports

Notre Dame Fighting Irish - A to Z Sports

Audio podcast feed from Notre Dame Fighting Irish - A to Z Sports

  1. 22h ago

    Former Notre Dame Great Explains Why Miami Week Is DIFFERENT...

    Notre Dame football and Miami have a rivalry unlike almost any other in college football, and former Fighting Irish great Marc Edwards joins Ryan Roberts to explain what the matchup actually means from a player's perspective. Edwards played at Notre Dame in the 1990s and remembers the era of the Catholics vs. Convicts rivalry, even though he never personally played against Miami during his Notre Dame career. He was recruited by Notre Dame after initially rooting against the Irish during the historic 1989 matchup with Miami, and he eventually chose Notre Dame after seeing everything the school could offer him. Now, decades later, Edwards is returning to South Bend for Notre Dame vs. Miami — this time with his son, Xander, who is currently going through the recruiting process. Edwards explains what makes this matchup so different from a normal college football game and why he expects Notre Dame Stadium to have a completely different atmosphere when No. 1 Miami comes to town. The stakes are enormous. Notre Dame is coming off its loss to BYU and needs to beat Miami to strengthen its College Football Playoff chances. Miami also beat Notre Dame in last year's season opener, adding another layer to the matchup. Edwards believes this could be one of the biggest games Notre Dame has hosted in decades. Ryan Roberts and Marc Edwards discuss all of that and much more ahead of one of the biggest games of the 2026 college football season. Subscribe to A to Z Sports for more Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, analysis, recruiting coverage, interviews with former players, transfer portal updates and College Football Playoff discussion throughout the 2026 season. Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: 00:00 Marc Edwards Joins A to Z Sports 00:46 The Catholics vs. Convicts Rivalry 01:23 Marc Edwards' Notre Dame Recruitment 03:15 Returning To South Bend For Miami 04:42 Experiencing Notre Dame As A Recruit's Dad 06:16 What The Notre Dame Crowd Will Be Like 07:27 Why Notre Dame-Miami Is So Important 08:14 How Xander's Season Is Going 10:07 What Notre Dame Players Think About Miami 12:28 Notre Dame's Rivalries From A Player's Perspective 13:23 Lou Holtz And Rivalry Week 15:28 How Players Approach Rivalry Games 17:31 How The Transfer Portal Changed College Football 18:38 Why College Football Is Wide Open 19:48 The Importance Of Player Leadership #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  2. 4d ago

    Notre Dame MUST Do This To Stop Miami's Star WR...

    Download the Kalshi app and use code ATOZ to get $20 when you trade $20. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Sign up today: Sponsor Disclosure: Kalshi: 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see kalshi.com/regulatory. Notre Dame football has a massive matchup against No. 1 Miami coming up on November 7, and Ryan Roberts believes the Fighting Irish may need to completely rethink their defensive plan if cornerback D.J. McKinney cannot return from his ankle injury. McKinney is currently out indefinitely, and that creates a major question for Notre Dame's secondary heading into the Miami game. Miami has one of the most dangerous passing attacks in college football, led by quarterback Darian Mensah and star wide receiver Malachi Toney. Ryan Roberts breaks down the potential impact of D.J. McKinney's absence and explains why Notre Dame needs a specific plan for Malachi Toney. Toney is one of the most dynamic wide receivers in college football and already has a history against Notre Dame after making several huge plays in Miami's victory over the Fighting Irish last season. Miami also has Cooper Barkate, who Ryan believes is a very good No. 2 wide receiver and a player capable of making plays after the catch. That means Notre Dame cannot simply focus on one player and expect the rest of the secondary to take care of the job. The good news for Notre Dame is that the Fighting Irish have one of the best cornerbacks in college football in Leonard Moore. Ryan believes Leonard Moore should be Notre Dame's answer to Malachi Toney. Rather than leaving Toney in one-on-one matchups against Jaden Sanders or Christian Gray for an entire game, Ryan believes Notre Dame should allow Moore to follow Toney around the field, particularly in high-leverage situations. Notre Dame still has to get through Navy first, but the Miami game is clearly the bigger concern. The Fighting Irish will need to find a way to slow down Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney and Miami's passing game if they want to beat the No. 1 Hurricanes in South Bend. Ryan also gives his thoughts on the Notre Dame-Navy matchup and why he likes the under in the game, with a previous prediction of Notre Dame winning 45-10. Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: 00:00 Notre Dame Has A Miami Problem 00:39 Notre Dame vs Navy Preview 01:24 D.J. McKinney's Injury 02:12 Miami's Dangerous Passing Attack 04:15 What D.J. McKinney's Injury Means 05:16 Malachi Toney Is The Problem 06:22 Notre Dame Needs A Malachi Toney Plan 07:08 Leonard Moore Should Shadow Toney 08:09 Leonard Moore Is The Answer 09:00 Notre Dame's Miami Defensive Plan #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  3. 5d ago

    Notre Dame's Road Back To The Playoff Starts With Navy...

    Download the Kalshi app and use code ATOZ to get $20 when you trade $20. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Sign up today: Sponsor Disclosure: Kalshi: 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see kalshi.com/regulatory. Notre Dame football has five games remaining in the 2026 season, and Ryan Roberts believes the Fighting Irish have a three-step recovery plan to get the fan base believing in their College Football Playoff and national championship hopes again. The first step starts this weekend against Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Ryan predicts Notre Dame will defeat Navy 45-10, but the final score isn't the most important part of this game. After Notre Dame's disappointing 28-24 loss to BYU, Ryan believes the Fighting Irish need to look dominant, focused and angry against Navy before turning their attention toward No. 1 Miami. Notre Dame remains ranked No. 5 in the latest AP Poll, and the Fighting Irish still have a path to the College Football Playoff. But the BYU loss damaged some of the confidence surrounding Marcus Freeman, CJ Carr and this Notre Dame team. That's why Ryan sees the Navy game as step one in a three-step recovery process. STEP ONE: DOMINATE NAVY. Ryan believes Notre Dame should control this game from start to finish. Navy runs a triple-option offense and averages more than 300 rushing yards per game, which can shorten the game and limit the number of possessions for Notre Dame. However, Ryan believes Notre Dame's talent advantage should be overwhelming. Navy's pass defense is vulnerable, and Ryan expects CJ Carr to have a big game through the air. He also expects Notre Dame to expand its wide receiver rotation and get more players involved, including Micah Gilbert, Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison, Mylan Graham, Elijah Burris and Jerome Bettis Jr. Ryan also expects Notre Dame to establish its rushing attack as the game progresses, with Nolan James Jr., Jonas Walton and other running backs potentially playing bigger roles. The prediction: Notre Dame 45, Navy 10. But step one isn't about making a national statement. Nobody is going to suddenly believe Notre Dame is a championship team because the Irish beat Navy. The goal is to dominate a team Notre Dame should dominate and show that the BYU loss is behind them. STEP TWO: BEAT NO. 1 MIAMI. This is the game that actually matters. Notre Dame hosts Miami on November 7, and Ryan believes the Fighting Irish need to prove they can beat one of the best teams in the country. Notre Dame has faced questions about its ability to win big games since the 2024 College Football Playoff run, and Miami represents another massive opportunity. Ryan is picking Notre Dame to beat Miami. He believes the Irish have the talent, the home-field advantage and the opportunity to make a major statement. But beating Miami isn't enough by itself. STEP THREE: BEAT BOSTON COLLEGE WITH NO DOUBT. After the Miami game, Notre Dame hosts Boston College. Ryan believes this is the final part of the recovery process because Notre Dame needs to prove it can handle success. The Fighting Irish have had problems following big wins in the past, and Ryan points back to the 2024 season as an example of how quickly momentum can disappear after a major victory. Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: 00:00 Notre Dame's 3-Step Recovery Plan 00:27 Notre Dame vs Navy Prediction 01:27 Notre Dame vs Navy Betting Preview 02:32 Ryan's 45-10 Prediction 02:52 Why Notre Dame Will Dominate Navy 03:35 Notre Dame's Running Game 04:14 Why Navy Can Shorten The Game 04:55 Step One Of The Recovery Plan 06:22 Step Two Is Beating Miami 07:21 Why Notre Dame Needs To Beat Miami 08:13 Step Three Is Boston College 08:54 Can Notre Dame Fans Believe Again? #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  4. 6d ago

    Ghost's of Notre Dame's Past Could Resurface for Vacant Head Coaching Job

    The NC State Wolfpack are looking for a new head coach, and three former Notre Dame coaches are already being mentioned as potential candidates for the job. BTA Sports, Better for Bettors:​​ Ryan Roberts breaks down the NC State coaching search and evaluates the fit for former Notre Dame coaches Brian Kelly, Lance Taylor and Tommy Rees. Which former Notre Dame coach makes the most sense for NC State? Ryan has a clear opinion. Brian Kelly is the most accomplished of the three candidates and has 297 career college coaching wins. After his disappointing tenure at LSU and his controversial departure from Notre Dame, Ryan believes the NC State job could actually be a very logical next opportunity for Kelly if he wants to return to the Power Four level. The NC State job does not come with the same expectations as some of the biggest programs in college football. Ryan believes the Wolfpack's realistic goals are to compete for the ACC, win around 10 games in a strong season and occasionally make the College Football Playoff. Ryan believes Brian Kelly could raise the floor of the program and consistently put NC State in position to win eight, nine or 10 games once he establishes himself in Raleigh. The second former Notre Dame coach Ryan likes for the NC State job is Lance Taylor. Taylor is currently the head coach at Western Michigan after previously serving as Notre Dame's running backs coach. He led Western Michigan to a 10-4 record and a MAC championship in 2025, and Ryan believes Taylor is an up-and-coming college head coach who could eventually earn a bigger job. Ryan believes the NC State job could make sense because Taylor has college recruiting experience, connections throughout the East Coast and experience building a program at the Group of Five level. The third candidate is Tommy Rees. Rees is currently the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons after previously working with Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland and serving as Alabama's offensive coordinator. Rees also has deep Notre Dame ties after playing quarterback for the Fighting Irish and later becoming Notre Dame's offensive coordinator. Ryan believes Rees is a smart offensive mind but questions whether the NC State job would actually appeal to him. Rees has spent much of his recent career in the NFL, and Ryan believes the NFL may ultimately be where Rees wants to remain. So which former Notre Dame coach makes the most sense for NC State? Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  5. Oct 26

    Marcus Freeman's Defining Stretch as Notre Dame's Head Coach Is HERE...

    Notre Dame football has reached a defining stretch of the 2026 college football season, and the Fighting Irish have no more excuses if they want to compete for a national championship. Notre Dame controls its own destiny in the College Football Playoff race, but after the disappointing 28-24 loss to BYU, the pressure is building on Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish. With five games remaining in the regular season, Notre Dame has an opportunity to make a major statement — but that opportunity starts now. Ryan Roberts breaks down why the next two weeks could define Notre Dame's season and potentially become one of the most important stretches of Marcus Freeman's tenure. Notre Dame begins this stretch with a trip to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough to face Navy. The Fighting Irish are significantly more talented than the Midshipmen, and Notre Dame should be expected to win the game even if it doesn't play its best football. But Navy isn't the real story. The real test comes November 7 when No. 1 Miami travels to Notre Dame Stadium. Miami is currently undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, while Notre Dame is coming off the BYU loss and has virtually no margin for error if it wants to make the College Football Playoff. The matchup also carries major rivalry implications with the return of Catholics vs. Convicts, a massive home-field opportunity and a huge recruiting weekend for Notre Dame. Notre Dame has everything it needs to win the game. The Fighting Irish have a second-year starting quarterback in CJ Carr, one of the best defenses in college football, NFL-caliber talent throughout the defense, a talented offensive line and a kicker who has shown he can make big kicks. Now Notre Dame has to prove it. The Fighting Irish also need to show signs of the changes they've talked about making. Offensively, Notre Dame needs more creativity, more pre-snap motion and more play action. Defensively, the Irish need to remain aggressive, play man coverage and utilize second-level pressure. Those changes can begin against Navy before Notre Dame faces its biggest test of the season against Miami. The larger opportunity is that college football appears to be wide open in 2026. Georgia has lost, BYU has lost, LSU has multiple losses, Alabama has lost and Texas has two losses. There does not appear to be one dominant team separating itself from the rest of the country. Can Notre Dame finish the regular season strong and make a run at the College Football Playoff? And does Notre Dame have what it takes to compete for a national championship? The next two weeks could answer all of those questions. Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: 00:00 Notre Dame Has No More Excuses 01:05 Notre Dame's Playoff Opportunity 03:05 What The BYU Loss Really Means 04:32 Notre Dame's Defining Stretch 05:24 Four Top-25 Opponents 05:49 Notre Dame vs Navy Preview 06:27 Why Miami Is So Important 06:54 The Changes Notre Dame Needs To Make 07:23 Marcus Freeman's Defining Game 07:48 College Football Is Wide Open 08:53 Notre Dame Has Everything It Needs 09:32 Time To Prove It #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  6. Oct 23

    Notre Dame Has NO ROOM For Error In These Final 5 Games...

    Download the Kalshi app and use code ATOZ to get $20 when you trade $20. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Sign up today: Sponsor Disclosure: Kalshi: 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see kalshi.com/regulatory. Notre Dame football has five games remaining in the 2026 regular season, and Ryan Roberts believes the Fighting Irish need to win all five if they want to make the College Football Playoff. With Notre Dame coming off its 28-24 loss to BYU, the margin for error is extremely small. Ryan Roberts breaks down Notre Dame's final five games, explains which matchup will ultimately determine the Irish's playoff fate, and makes his prediction for how the rest of the season will play out. Notre Dame's final five games begin with Navy at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The Navy game presents a unique challenge because of the triple-option offense, and Notre Dame will have to prepare for that system coming off its bye week. The bigger issue, however, is the schedule placement. Miami comes to South Bend the following week. Ryan believes it will be difficult for Notre Dame players and coaches not to have the Miami game in the back of their minds while preparing for Navy. Even so, Ryan expects the Fighting Irish to take care of business against Navy. Then comes the biggest game of the season. Notre Dame hosts Miami on November 7, and the stakes could not be higher. Miami is ranked No. 1 in the latest AP poll, Notre Dame is coming off the BYU loss, and the Fighting Irish have virtually no margin for error if they want to remain in the College Football Playoff conversation. Ryan believes Notre Dame can win the game. The Miami matchup also has major significance beyond the field. Notre Dame is expected to have a huge recruiting weekend, giving Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish an opportunity to make an impact both on the field and on the recruiting trail. Ryan's prediction is simple: Notre Dame needs to win. It doesn't matter whether the Irish win by three points or 40 points. If Notre Dame beats Miami, Ryan believes the remaining schedule becomes much more manageable. After Miami, Notre Dame hosts Boston College. Ryan expects the Fighting Irish to handle Boston College comfortably and believes Notre Dame's talent advantage should be significant. Then comes SMU. Ryan doesn't believe Notre Dame can overlook the Mustangs because quarterback Kevin Jennings is talented and SMU has a coaching staff capable of making the game competitive. However, Ryan believes Notre Dame has the clear talent advantage and should win the game. Finally, Notre Dame travels to Syracuse. Ryan believes the Fighting Irish should win that game as well, meaning the biggest challenge of the final five is Miami. So what will Notre Dame's final record be? Ryan Roberts predicts the Fighting Irish will go 5-0 over their final five games, finish the regular season 11-1 and make the College Football Playoff. Subscribe to A to Z Sports for more Notre Dame Fighting Irish football news, analysis, recruiting coverage, transfer portal updates, game predictions and College Football Playoff discussion throughout the 2026 season. 00:00 Notre Dame's Final 5 Games 00:43 What Is Notre Dame's Playoff Path? 03:18 Notre Dame vs Navy Prediction 04:52 Why Miami Is The Real Test 05:19 Notre Dame vs Miami Prediction 06:52 Boston College Prediction 07:13 Notre Dame vs SMU Prediction 07:35 Notre Dame vs Syracuse Prediction 07:58 Ryan's Final 5-0 Prediction 08:42 Why Notre Dame Makes The Playoff #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #GoIrish Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  7. Oct 22

    Notre Dame NEEDS To UNLEASH These 3 Freshmen...

    Download the Kalshi app and use code ATOZ to get $20 when you trade $20. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Sign up today: Sponsor Disclosure: Kalshi: 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see kalshi.com/regulatory. Notre Dame football has played seven games in the 2026 season, and with only five games remaining to make its College Football Playoff case, Ryan Roberts believes the Fighting Irish need to unleash some of their most talented freshmen. Ryan breaks down the three Notre Dame freshmen who need to play bigger roles down the stretch: Jonas Walton, Ian Primer and Rodney Dunham. Notre Dame is coming off a 28-24 loss to BYU, and the Fighting Irish now have a much smaller margin for error as they prepare for the final five games of the season. Ryan believes Notre Dame needs to find ways to get its young talent onto the field and maximize the team's overall talent if it wants to compete for a national championship. First up is true freshman running back Jonaz Walton. Walton is already Notre Dame's leading rusher despite having the third-most carries on the team. Ryan believes he is the most explosive running back on the roster and needs to become one of Notre Dame's top two running backs in terms of touches. Walton has shown an ability to create explosive plays, and Ryan believes his speed and big-play ability can add another dimension to the Notre Dame offense alongside Nolan James Jr. With five games remaining, Ryan believes the Fighting Irish need to figure out the best way to utilize Walton immediately. Next is five-star freshman tight end Ian Premer. Notre Dame's tight end production has been a major concern, with the position producing just 20 receptions for 140 yards through seven games. Ryan believes Primer gives Notre Dame its best opportunity to create a legitimate threat in the passing game from the tight end position. Ryan isn't calling for Premer to suddenly become Notre Dame's starting tight end or play 50 snaps every game. Instead, he wants the Irish to design five to 10 opportunities per game specifically for Primer, including plays where he is the primary target in the progression. At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, Premer has the size and athleticism to create matchup problems, and Ryan believes Notre Dame needs to find a way to get him involved. The third freshman is defensive end Rodney Dunham. Dunham could be especially important after Notre Dame struggled to consistently generate pressure against BYU. Ryan believes Dunham is talented enough to become a designated pass-rushing weapon, particularly in obvious passing situations. Dunham is a 6-foot-4, 242-pound true freshman who has already shown flashes of his potential. Through seven games, he has one sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and nine total tackles. Ryan believes Notre Dame needs to get Dunham on the field more alongside Boubacar Traore and give the defense another young pass rusher capable of affecting opposing quarterbacks. Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

  8. Oct 21

    Notre Dame's Offense Has A BIG Problem It Needs To Fix

    Notre Dame football is entering its bye week at 6-1, and after the Fighting Irish suffered a 28-24 loss to BYU, Ryan Roberts believes this is the perfect time for Notre Dame to make some important changes before the final stretch of the 2026 college football season. Ryan Roberts breaks down six changes he believes Notre Dame needs to make during the bye week to give Marcus Freeman's team a better chance of becoming the best version of itself down the stretch. The biggest issue is Notre Dame's offensive creativity. Ryan believes the Fighting Irish offense has become too static and predictable, with too little pre-snap motion, play action and RPO usage. He explains why Notre Dame needs to create more deception and force opposing defenses to hesitate. Ryan also explains why true freshman running back Jonaz Walton needs a much bigger role. Walton had only 10 snaps against BYU despite coming off an 181-yard, two-touchdown performance against Stanford and averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Ryan believes Walton needs to become one of Notre Dame's top two running backs. The tight end position is another major concern. Notre Dame's tight ends have produced only 20 receptions for 140 yards through seven games, and Ryan believes five-star freshman Ian Primer needs to receive legitimate opportunities in the passing game. Ryan also wants Notre Dame to expand its wide receiver rotation and get more opportunities for young receivers including Mylan Graham, Jerome Bettis Jr. and Elijah Burris. On defense, Ryan believes Notre Dame needs to find a more consistent way to pressure opposing quarterbacks. The Fighting Irish need to create pressure with their defensive line and linebackers, particularly as they prepare for upcoming quarterbacks such as Miami's Darian Mensah and SMU's Kevin Jennings. Notre Dame has a smaller margin for error after the BYU loss, and the bye week gives the Fighting Irish an opportunity to make the adjustments necessary before the final stretch of the season. What changes do YOU want to see Notre Dame make during the bye week? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to A to Z Sports for more Notre Dame football news, analysis, recruiting, transfer portal coverage, game predictions and College Football Playoff discussion throughout the 2026 season. #NotreDame #NotreDameFootball #FightingIrish #CollegeFootball #GoIrish Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: For More Notre Dame coverage follow us here: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: #notredame #notredamefightingirish #notredamefootball

See All (187)

About

Audio podcast feed from Notre Dame Fighting Irish - A to Z Sports

Information

You Might Also Like