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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

Sugar Bowl Final Thoughts: What it looked like when Notre Dame pulled back to curtain on a victorious locker room Should we start tracking TFL margin? How Mike Denbrock called the game the Irish needed, even if it wasn't exactly the game he wanted. www.nytimes.com/athletic/603...

nytimes.com

No doubt Notre Dame is meeting Marcus Freeman’s goals now: Sugar Bowl final thoughts

Eleven final thoughts on Notre Dame’s historic 23-10 victory over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, a win the Irish had long been waiting for.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Marcus Freeman spent this season building belief. Not by talking about it. But by calling it. How Notre Dame's head coach wired the Irish to (potentially) win on Wednesday night. www.nytimes.com/athletic/602...

nytimes.com

Notre Dame hasn't won a major bowl in a generation. Is it finally ready?

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

🚨🎙️The Independent🎙️🚨 Our Sugar Bowl preview will record at 8:30 p.m. eastern on Monday from New Orleans. And you can join @Matt_Fortuna and myself on the show. All you need is a webcam and a free ticket via ShowUs. Click. Sign up. See you tomorrow. bit.ly/42cRzZ9

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Worth noting from Notre Dame's Saturday morning practice. Rocco Spindler was back taking reps at right guard with the 1st-team offensive line. The senior missed the second half of the Indiana game with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by red-shirt freshman Sam Pendleton.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Xavier Watts has officially been named a consensus All-American, making him Notre Dame's first two-time consensus All-American since Aaron Taylor in 1992-93.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

With Notre Dame's big moment finally here, where do the Irish need to win on Friday night to take the first step in a potential College Football Playoff run? Three keys, one prediction. www.nytimes.com/athletic/600...

nytimes.com

Will Notre Dame handle Indiana? Three keys to a game the Irish are built for

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

🚨🎙️The Independent🎙️🚨 RETURN OF THE TUNA: The pod welcomes back Matt Fortuna as Tim Murray joins to preview Notre Dame-Indiana, talk Marcus Freeman's extension and recap Pete Bevacqua's bold push for a title. Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0Dlx...

open.spotify.com

PREVIEW: Notre Dame vs. Indiana | College Football Playoff

The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast · Episode

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Pete Bevacqua says both he and coach Marcus Freeman are "maniacally obsessed" with winning a national championship. Notes he wanted to get the extension done before the CFP. Adds Notre Dame is committed to maintaining its investment in assistant coach pay.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Pete Bevacqua said his expectations for the atmosphere for Notre Dame vs. Indiana are similar to the atmosphere for Notre Dame vs. Florida State in 1993, which he attended the fall after his graduation.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Pete Bevacqua asked about Marcus Freeman's contract extension, specifically if there's language pertaining to Ohio State or the NFL. "There are no carve outs"

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Pete Bevacqua said the House Settlement is on Notre Dame's mind "constantly" Asked if ND will participate fully and how much will go to football. "We will absolutely meet the cap." Believes the cap will be $20.5 million. "A large portion of that will be dedicated to football."

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Kicker Mitch Jeter hit 4-of-6 field goals, with both misses beyond 40 yards. One hit the upright. Also difficult to get a great read on his status, although Notre Dame insists he’s fine to kick versus Indiana.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Watched some of Jeremiyah Love, who took reps behind Jadarian Price (usually that’s the other way around). Hard to get a read on how healthy he is (or isn’t) in light work.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Media got a glimpse of Notre Dame practice on Monday. Of note, Charles Jagusah returned and took some light reps at left guard. CJ Carr remains limited. Didn’t participate in throwing beyond short toss in warmups. When the other three QBs threw outs and posts, Carr stood aside.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Every football season has an arc. But few of those arcs rise, fall and rise quite like Notre Dame's did. How Marcus Freeman put the pieces back together after the season's worst lost, a rebuilding job headed for the College Football Playoff. www.nytimes.com/athletic/599...

nytimes.com

How Notre Dame saved its Playoff expectations after the season's worst loss

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame have agreed to a new six-year contract that will make Freeman among the highest paid coaches in college football yet to win a national title. www.nytimes.com/athletic/599...

nytimes.com

Notre Dame agrees to new long-term deal with Marcus Freeman

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

Marcus Freeman says "this is as close as he's been to where he was before he got hurt." on Mitch Jeter. Confident the Irish kicker is on the mend after a difficult November. Jeter has struggled since the hip/groin injury suffered against Stanford.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

Marcus Freeman lists Howard Cross, Jeremiyah Love and Devyn Ford as "available" for Indiana.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is a Broyles Award finalist alongside ASU OC Marcus Arroyo, Tennessee DC Tim Banks, Indiana DC Bryant Haines and Texas DC Pete Kwiatkowski.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Marcus Freeman was named one of nine finalists for Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year. Other finalists: Shane Beamer Curt Cignetti Spencer Danielson Kenny Dillingham Dan Lanning Rhett Lashlee Jeff Monken Kirby Smart

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Notre Dame will open the College Football Playoff at home against Indiana, with the winner to face Georgia in the quarterfinals (likely the Sugar Bowl).

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Calling my shot. Indiana at Notre Dame on Dec. 21. Winner faces Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

There’s no way the CFP committee can take Alabama over SMU after tonight. Come on, people.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Penn State giving a solid account of itself. Texas lost in overtime. That’s feels like enough where Notre Dame will be the No. 7 seed on Sunday … which probably means Indiana heading up US 31?

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

The winners of The Echoes from Notre Dame’s season-ending awards banquet.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Boise State is in. What does that mean for Notre Dame’s first round outlook? Glad you asked. Here’s a choose-your-own-adventure approach to figuring out who the Irish will host in the College Football Playoff based on championship weekend. www.nytimes.com/athletic/597...

nytimes.com

Who will Notre Dame host in the Playoff? Conference championship game scenarios to watch

Who Notre Dame will welcome to South Bend in the College Football Playoff depends on these conference championship results.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Imagine me telling you in August that Notre Dame’s best win of the year would be Army, but that the Irish also went 11-1 with wins at Texas A&M, at USC and a 49-point win over Florida State.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Can you hear Marcus Freeman now? How Notre Dame’s head coach led the Irish to 10 straight wins and perhaps did something bigger than just make the College Football Playoff. www.nytimes.com/athletic/595...

nytimes.com

Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame celebrated a statement season at USC. The Playoff is next

Freeman, once in danger of failing, is starting to look more like former Notre Dame head coaches who made moves in their third year.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Touchdown stands. What a moment for Christian Gray. The guy has had a season this afternoon against USC. Notre Dame 42 USC 28

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Mitchell Evans from the Ohio State and Duke games last year has entered the Coliseum. Not a moment too soon. Touchdown, Notre Dame. Notre Dame 35 USC 21

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Notre Dame answers USC's answer to Notre Dame. Six plays, five runs, one facemask penalty, 75 yards. Notre Dame 28 USC 21

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Big-time answer by Notre Dame to start the second half. Irish right down the field with a Jadarian Price 36-yard touchdown to cap the 6-play, 75-yard drive. Just one third down conversion required. And no fourth down trickery. Notre Dame 21 USC 14

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

HALFTIME: Notre Dame 14 USC 14 Trojans enter the half with momentum and look like a team that's been in every game they've played. Irish look like a team that's blown away a lot of inferior competition and they're getting a real test today.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

That might be as bad as Notre Dame's defense has looked on a possession all year. USC goes right down the field, capped by a Jayden Maiava touchdown pass in the final seconds of the second quarter. Christian Gray on the business end of it. Notre Dame 14 USC 14

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Touchdown, Notre Dame. Great ball from Riley Leonard to Eli Raridon. The Middle 8 strikes again. Notre Dame now leading 118-0 on the season in the final four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half. Irish get the ball in 3rd. Notre Dame 14 USC 7

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

I've covered 20+ Notre Dame-USC games. I've seen some version of Jeremiyah Love playing for the Trojans a dozen times. Now Notre Dame has its own. Box office running back. Notre Dame 7 USC 0

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Christian Gray is having a heck of a first quarter. What was Al Golden saying about how your defensive backs tackle is a window into your soul?

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Watching pregame warmups, defensive tackle Howard Cross is participating. Hard to put a % on his health, but he’s at least getting some work.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Notre Dame men's hoops falls 85-84 to Rutgers at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Princeton transfer Matt Allocco had an epic performance: 24 points, 10 rebounds (6-of-9 from 3). Markus Burton's apparent knee injury critical to whatever comes next for the Irish. Status TBD.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Mike Denbrock makes the list, although he’d be an outside the box hire in Chapel Hill.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is one of 65 nominees for the Broyles Award (top assistant coach). One would expect Golden to be one of the finalists next month. Mike Denbrock was a finalist last year before being hired back to Notre Dame.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

I asked Mike Denbrock about the inspiration behind this play… “I was paying respect to the Four Horsemen … because of Yankee Stadium, the historic matchup, I wanted to have something down there that was a little different.” Said Notre Dame didn’t block it very well.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

The Notre Dame Mailbag returns later this week for a Thanksgiving edition. Also, it's a Notre Dame-could-clinch-a-CFP-bid edition. Got a question? Hit the link. Post it. Talk soon... www.nytimes.com/athletic/594...

nytimes.com

Submit your questions for Pete Sampson’s Notre Dame football mailbag

Notre Dame is in strong position to make the Playoff — and host a first-round game if it beats USC. What's on your mind about the Irish?

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

If you judged Marcus Freeman’s postgame press conference on demeanor, this was about as a matter-of-fact as possible. He’s spent as much time on stalling in the red zone (once), defensive penalties and field goal miscues as any success tonight.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

FINAL Notre Dame 49 Army 14 A mismatch in every sense of the word as the Irish stage a defensive clinic against the option and let their game-breaking speed loose on the perimeter. Bottom line: Notre Dame will host a College Football Playoff game if it wins at USC next week.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Per my previous emails: Jeremiyah Love

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

HALF: Notre Dame 28 Army 7 Irish out-gaining the Black Knight 258-85. Notre Dame has 12 plays of 10+ yards. Army has none. No fuss tonight.

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Hmmm, perimeter runs by the goal line when all your running backs are faster than all the defenders on the field. Makes too much sense not to try it. Jadarian Price in for a 2-yard score. Notre Dame 28 Army 7

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Pete Sampson @petesampson.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

This is a reminder that Notre Dame always, always, always has a massive talent advantage against the military academies. And if that doesn't show up, it's on the Notre Dame coaching staff. Irish staff doing just fine tonight.

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