Pod of Gold: Notre Dame Football

SOUTH BEND — There's plenty of Notre Dame football news to unpack on this week's Pod of Gold podcast. South Bend Tribune and NDinsider.com beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino size up the Irish transfer portal finds, their 2024 early signees and of course what to expect from the Dec. 29 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl matchup with No. 21 Oregon State in El Paso, Texas. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. It's the 90th Sun Bowl contest and marks the third post-season battle with the Beavers who won both the 2001 Fiesta Bowl and 2004 Insight Bowl by a combined average score of 39.5-15.

SOUTH BEND — How did this happen? How did No. 15 Notre Dame football land in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl opposite No. 21 Oregon State? How do Irish fans get excited about this? South Bend Tribune and NDinsider.com beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino chat with equally surprised Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas to scratch at those answers on this week's Pod of Gold podcast. Kickoff on Friday, Dec. 29 is set for 2 p.m. It's the 90th Sun Bowl contest and second for the Irish, who topped Miami (Fla.) 33-17 on New Year's Eve 2010. The game also marks the third post-season matchup between Notre Dame and Oregon State, with the Beavers winning both the 2001 Fiesta Bowl and 2004 Insight Bowl — both in Phoenix — by a combined average score of 39.5-15.

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football didn't have the benefit of an opponent last week to help eradicate the taste of its flop at Clemson Nov. 4. Senior Day against Wake Forest Saturday can't seem to get here fast enough. Kickoff at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday is 3:30 p.m. with a ceremony honoring 31 Irish seniors shortly beforehand. Notre Dame (7-3) still has a 10-win season in its sights even though a New Year's Six Bowl is off the table. On this week's Pod of Gold Notre Dame football podcast, hosts Tom Noie and Mike Berardino unpack the Irish disappointment in South Carolina, assess how the ND can get its offense back on track and monitor transfer portal percolations. They also breakdown the Wake Forest game with Learfield sideline reporter Dave Goren.

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football landed at No. 15 in the first College Football Playoff rankings unveiled Tuesday night. The Irish need to win their final three games starting Saturday against a struggling, but still very dangerous Clemson team in Death Valley, in order to have any chance at a New Year's Six Bowl invitation. As are South Bend Tribune Pod of Gold hosts Tom Noie and Mike Berardino unpack Notre Dame's impressive win over Pitt last Saturday and breakdown what it needs to do against the Tigers this Saturday. They are joined this week by Eric Mac Lain, a former Clemson football captain and current analyst for the ACC Network. Kickoff Saturday at Memorial Stadium is noon ET.

SOUTH BEND — Even with Louisville's convincing upset of Notre Dame football last Saturday zapping some "Big Game" energy this week, the annual Irish rivalry game with USC still packs a punch. Just ask former Notre Dame defensive end and two-time Super Bowl champion Justin Tuck (2001-04) who accumulated 19 tackles — including four for a loss and a sack — in three games against the Pete Carroll-led Trojans at their prime. Or ask former running back Eric Penick, whose 85-yard touchdown run help propel Notre Dame past the sixth-ranked Trojans and onward to the 1973 national championship. South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie are joined on this week's Pod of Gold podcast at the WNDU Studios by both Tuck and Penick who offer perspective to just how special this series — now in its 94th installment — is to the two programs.

SOUTH BEND — Another week, another undefeated opponent, another night game. And another episode of Pod of Gold as we breakdown Notre Dame football vs. Louisville. Kickoff Saturday at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium is 7:30 p.m. on ABC South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie take us through the final moments at Duke from the sidelines, talk the emergence of tight end Mitchell Evans and "freakin" Rico Flores Jr. And when will QB Sam Hartman throw his first interception since the Gasparilla Bowl? He's had his struggles against the Cardinals Tom and Mike are joined by former Major League manager and Notre Dame enthusiast Dave Trembley on how Marcus Freeman has adapted to the spotlight under the Golden Dome.

SOUTH BEND — It's time to move on. We all know what happened down the stretch in Notre Dame football's last-second 17-14 loss to Ohio State last Saturday. Now it's time to look ahead to an Irish schedule that suddenly appears more challenging than at the beginning of the season with road games at undefeated No. 17 Duke (4-0) and Louisville (4-0), and at home against No. 8 USC (4-0). South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie wrap-up the Buckeye debacle and turn to what the Blue Devils bring to the table for Saturday's 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C.

SOUTH BEND — This was suppose to be Notre Dame football's proclamation to the college football world. And in many ways it was, except for the painful finish. South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie unpack what went wrong in Notre Dame's deflating 17-14 home loss to Ohio State Saturday night. And to nobody's surprise, it starts with arithmetic. This special edition of Pod of Gold was recorded live at the WNDU Studios in South Bend, home of the Countdown to Kickoff pregame show before each Notre Dame football game.

SOUTH BEND — There's a special energy on and around Notre Dame's campus the week of a big game. This week is no exception as the ninth-ranked Irish prepare to host No. 6 Ohio State at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday. Kickoff on NBC is set 7:30 p.m. But before the game, and before ESPN's College GameDay crew sets up residency with Touchdown Jesus as its backdrop, South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie break down the Irish chances at a signature victory that would propel them into the College Football Playoff conversation. They are joined this week by former Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire, who says this is a "can't miss" opportunity and a chance to "change the narrative" moving forward.

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football has a huge game coming up. And it's not this weekend. As the ninth-ranked Irish (3-0) prepare to take care of its housekeeping at home Saturday against Central Michigan (1-1), it's the Sept. 23 matchup with No. 6 Ohio State at Notre Dame Stadium that casts a shadow over the Chippewa's trip to South Bend. South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie are joined on this week's Pod of Gold podcast by Columbus Dispatch sports columnist Rob Oller, to NOT talk about Central Michigan. Instead Oller helps breaks down the Irish vs. Buckeyes matchup that is expected to have College Football Playoff implications. This week's Pod of Gold was recorded live at the WNDU Studios in South Bend, home of the Countdown to Kickoff pregame show before each Notre Dame football game. Kickoff Saturday against the Chippewas is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

SOUTH BEND — After impressive and appropriate blowout wins against Navy and Tennessee State, Notre Dame football (2-0) gets its first true road test of the 2023 season when it visits N.C. State at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C. Saturday. The Irish are 0-1 in Raleigh, losing to the Wolfpack in 2016. South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie are joined on this week's Pod of Gold podcast by Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer to breakdown an Irish defense yet to give up a touchdown, how Notre Dame is perceived in the ACC and what the Wolfpack brings to the table Saturday. Kickoff Saturday on ABC is scheduled for noon EDT.

SOUTH BEND — We brush off the jet lag following Notre Dame Football's season-opening 42-3 "Irish invasion" victory over Navy in Dublin, Ireland with another edition of Pod of Gold. South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie break down how good this Notre Dame team is (best since 2012?), discuss Irish quarterback Sam Hartman's ceiling after tossing four touchdown passes and look ahead to Tennessee State in Saturday's home opener. Kickoff for the first ever Notre Dame matchup with an Historically Black College or University is 3:30 p.m.

SOUTH BEND — The 2023 Notre Dame Football season is upon as thousands of passport-holding Irish fans make the trek across the Atlantic for a Week Zero matchup with Navy Saturday at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. ET. On this edition of Pod of Gold, Notre Dame football beat writers Mike Berardino, and Tom Noie set the stage for Game Week and talk depth chart surprises, sight seeing on the Emerald Isle and throw out a prediction of two. They are joined by special guest — direct from Ireland — Column Cronin, co-host of the Irish NFL Show, "Ireland's Premier American Football Outlet.. This week's Pod of Gold was recorded at the WNDU-TV studios in South Bend, home of the "Countdown to Kickoff" Notre Dame football pregame show on NBC. Cheers!

SOUTH BEND — As Notre Dame football prepares to fly across The Pond next week for its season opener against Navy in Dublin, Ireland, this week's Pod of Gold podcast implores the expertise of Len Clarke for getting around and enjoying The Big Smoke ahead of the Big Game. Clark assembled a 100-page guide to Dublin for Irish Illustrated ahead of the Saturday, Aug. 26 game vs. the Midshipmen at Aviva Stadium. The two teams last played at The Pale for 2012's season opener, a season that ended with the Irish losing to Alabama in the BCS National Championship game. Beyond Clark's guide to Ireland, Notre Dame football beat writers Mike Berardino, and Austin Hough talk through South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com staff predictions regarding Notre Dame's upcoming 2023 season, as well as this year's choices for team captains. This week's Pod of Gold was recorded at the WNDU-TV studios in South Bend, home of the "Countdown to Kickoff" Notre Dame football pregame show. Cheers!

SOUTH BEND — Could a Notre Dame win over Ohio State on Sept. 23 come to be known as "The Green Pants Game?" In this week's South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com Pod of Gold podcast, Notre Dame football beat writers Mike Berardino, and Tom Noie talk Irish fashion, Jerry Maguire and what's to be gleaned so far from Irish fall camp. They are also joined in the WNDU-TV studios by special guest John Brice of Footballscoop.com, who provides insight on Notre Dame's place in conference realignment, the reported Under Armour apparel extension and narrowing the speed gap.

Notre Dame football officially begins its 2023 campaign with the opening of fall camp Wednesday, July 26, 2023. ND Insider's "Pod of Gold" podcast previews what to look for in head coach Marcus Freeman's second season. South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com Irish beat writers Mike Berardino and Tom Noie, along with WNDU-TV sports director Matt Loch, delve into grad transfer QB Sam Hartman's impact, who's going to catch his passes and how the defensive front is going to bring the pressure. Plus the South Bend Tribune's Austin Hough points out the trap games on Notre Dame's schedule.

ND Insider's "Pod of Gold" podcast is back. South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com Irish beat writers Mike Berardino and Tom Noie, along with WNDU-TV sports director Matt Loch, unpack Saturday's soggy Blue-Gold Game, address QB's Tyler Buchner's defection to the Alabama Crimson Tide, break down Notre Dame players in the NFL Draft and even chat a little Irish basketball and baseball. 0:25 - Former Notre Dame QB Tyler Buchner headed to Alabama and what are ND's options to backup Sam Hartman 6:20 - Other Notre Dame players in the transfer portal 12:55 - How is the portal changing college football 17:50 - Blue-Gold Game recap 21:40 - How many Notre Dame players will be picked in the 2023 NFL Draft 28:15 - How is Micah Shrewsberry's ND men's basketball staff and roster shaping up? 33:10 - Florida State baseball coach Link Jarrett returns to South Bend to face his former Irish squad

Much has changed since Bob Chmiel was Notre Dame football's recruiting coordinator in the 1990s under former head coach Lou Holtz. Chmiel joined South Bend Tribune and ND Insider “Pod of Gold” hosts Mike Berardino and Fernando Ramirez this week to discuss the current Irish recruiting push, his reverence for the University growing up as a Catholic kid from Chicago, and the direction of the program under first-year coach Marcus Freeman.

Disregard that football in the Pod of Gold logo today. Imagine instead a baseball. Because that's what ND Insider and South Bend Tribune columnist Tom Noie is talking about on this episode as the Irish are set to play in their first College World Series since 2002. That's two decades for those scoring at home. Joining Tom is Footballscoop.com's John Brice, a college football and baseball expert who used to cover University of Tennessee athletics. Notre Dame punched its ticket to Omaha with a three-game Super Regional upset of the No. 1 Volunteers in Knoxville. The Irish open CWS play Friday at 7 p.m. (ET) against Texas.

Former Notre Dame graduate transfer and linebacker Adam Shibley joined South Bend Tribune and ND Insider “Pod of Gold” host Mike Berardino and Fernando Ramirez this week to speak on his business that helps put on football camps. His company, TUFF, only charges a donation of at least $1 for young athletes to attend. This helps kids learn from some of the best players in the nation and the camp isn’t charging ridiculous prices.