Chat Transcript: Turning the page to Notre Dame football’s transfer portal priorities

Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, the CFP Madness/Anticipation Edition.

First, some quick programming notes:

► On July 1, Tyler James and I made the move to the On3 network and blueandgold.com and joined some amazing teammates. It’s proven to be a great move for us and, I believe, for our subscribers as well. And if you’re a potential first-time subscriber, you can take a short test drive for $1. With that, you get all of our premium content, plus all the value you get from a national team of writers and content creators, as well as access to every team site in the On3 network. Check it out at: https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/.

► If you missed the last episode of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, what are you doing with your life? Seriously, the show keeps its shelf life long after the live presentation, so you can catch up now or later on our YouTube channel.  We’ll be back next week and every week, Monday at 7 p.m. ET, for another presentation of Football Never Sleeps with Tyler James co-hosting with me. And check out some great shows on the Blue & Gold YouTube channel as well, including the Notre Dame Football Show, live on Tuesday nights and our live reaction show Sunday at around 12;15 p.m. ET or so when the College Football Playoff Bracket is revealed.

► The Inside ND Sports Podcast has been rebranded as the Third & Gold Podcast. Going forward the pod will be available on all the podcast places you found us before as well as our YouTube Channel. On our most recent episode, Thursday, we caught up with OG recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of the Prep Football Report to talk about Notre Dame’s just-signed No. 2 recruiting class, a look at the 2027 class being built and much more.

Finally, thanks for putting up with having the chat moved to Friday this week. We had National Signing Day on Wednesday, and I think our coverage was epic. We’ll be back in our regular Wednesday noon ET time slot next week.

As far as this chat today …

PLEASE include your name and hometown along with your question(s).

I’ll tolerate some whining today, but if you do decide to whine, make it concise and/or creative.

Eric Hansen: All the normal rules otherwise are suspended for good behavior. Now off we go …

Jeremy from Goshen, Ind.: Thank you for doing these Chats even on days whhere you know the crowd may be extra whiny. I like what Mike Singer said, “if you have two losses, you leave it in someone else’s hands. I personally think ND can win it all if it gets in. But we will see. On to my question, what positions do you believe Notre Dame will target in the portal when it opens in January?

Eric Hansen: Hi Jeremy, thanks for a strong leadoff question AND for quoting Mike Singer. I like your observations. The portal shopping is going to be interesting for a couple of reasons … the timing is different. It’s later than last year and a shorter time line … 15 days from Jan. 2 to 16. Teams involved in the national title game will have their own five-day window after that game. There is NO spring portal window for the first time. Just this one in January. The other variable is that 105-man roster limit. ND i(and others) is no longer bound by the 85-scholarship limit. So, they can have 105 guys on scholarship, but they’re aiming for 95.

With such a strong 27-man class signed on Wednesday and so much balance in it, the portal needs are not as obvious/urgent. I would say a kicker and a punter to complement/supplement Erik Schmidt at both positions. I think an interior D-lineman or two might make sense. ND has been consistent with chasing a nickel in the portal, but with so much DB talent, they might stand pat with Dallas Golden, etc. Maybe a linebacker if Jaylen Sneed were to go to the NFL and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa’s recovery timeline goes deep into 2026. On offense, maybe an FCS or D2 QB if Kenny Minchey leaves and the Teddy Jarrard reclassification hits a snag. I’d look at a boundary receiver if there’s someone like Malachi Fields available.

Manny from San Pedro: hi Eric! Somber mood with the feeling that Miami will help us if BYU doesn’t. This wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for the weekly TV show telling us that we’re gonna be in. Any chance ESPN eliminates this since they don’t do it for college basketball?

Eric Hansen: Manny!!!!!!! That’s the fewest exclamation points I’ve ever gotten from you, and you are the exclamation point OG!! Irrespective of how it unfolds for Notre Dame, there is some sentiment for just having one selection show and not doing the weekly updates. I’m OK with keeping the weekly shows. What was alarming to me was the explanations this week. No matter who you’re rooting for the inconsistencies and the logic was troubling.

Mike from Rockville, MD: Hi, Eric! Thanks for these chats! I assume you’ll get a lot of questions about the poll. So, I’ll ask about injuries. Will our injured players return!

Eric Hansen: Hi Mike! We will likely get something official on Sunday or next week. Here’s how I see it. These are the players in play to come back: For sure, WR Jaden Greathouse, K Noah Burnette, S Tae Johnson. I feel very good about OG Billy Schrauth, TE Cooper Flanagan and DT Gabe Rubio. Coin flip on OG Charles Jagusah. But those are some powerful reinforcements.

Mike McFadden from Williamsport, Pa.: Please consider this Eric. Wouldn’t it make sense for Texas Tech to throw their game vs. BYU? I mean legally. They could bench all their skill players for this game, QB, RB, etc.

Eric Hansen: Hi Mike. I think it makes zero sense to do that in any way shape or form. There is a misconception that teams that lose in the conference championship games won’t drop in the rankings. The Athletic did a really good piece this year about last year’s decision. And when SMU was getting blown out in the ACC title game, they were out of the field. Only their second-half rally saved them. Think about what’s at stake for Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are sitting at No. 4 with a first-round playoff bye if they stay there. There may be a very thin margin between them and the teams just behind them in the rankings. If they drop to 5, they have to play an extra game. If they droop to 7, instead of playing a Group of 6 champ or a weak ACC champ, they’d get someone like Alabama or Notre Dame. So, tank at your own peril.

John from Chagrin Falls, Ohio: Hope you had a nice thanksgiving! Wonderful season for the Irish finishing strong, though playoffs are still in doubt. My question is how do you see the seemingly intensified negative commentary on the program impacting ND’s ability to retain the HC, staff, players and recruiting going forward. MF does a great job of blocking out the noise, but it is intense, even to the point of “don’t schedule ND!”

Eric Hansen: John, thanks I did have a great one. Now that drive home is another story LOL, but made it in one piece. John, that kind of commentary has been going on since well before you and I were born. It’s kind of baked into what Notre Dame stands for — overcoming the odds. And you’ve got a head coach who says things like: Everything worth having in life is on the other side of hard AND the struggle is necessary. So, he and the program embrace it. Now you may notice it more now, because social media is so in-your-face these days. And the people saying “don’t schedule Notre Dame” are not in charge of scheduling.

ced walker from Saginaw Michigan aka sagnasty Saginaw pride: how many players will be back for 5th year at Notre Dame God Bless This Football Team here come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us

Eric Hansen: Hey Ced. Great question. Let’s break this down. Notre Dame has 13 players with expiring eligibility who can’t come back, but one of them — DT Jason Onye — is pondering petitioning for a sixth year. By my count there are 10 redshirt juniors, and one of them — P James Rendell — is in his own category and has petitioned for an extra year, and I am not optimistic that one will be successful. More optimistic about Onye. So of the nine others, I think that could range anywhere from 3 to 9. My guess would be 7. Jadarian Price is the most intriguing, because his draft stock is soaring.

Jack from Strongsville, Ohio: Hi Eric. Your piece on Mike Martin yesterday was most informative and interesting. One of the best of the season. My question today is how did the group of five come to get a seat at the CFP? It seems to me that ND, Miami, Texas, Vanderbilt have more of an issue with Tulane, North Texas, or JMU getting a spot in the playoffs than each other. Thanks for continual great work.

Eric Hansen: Jack, are you sure we’re not related? I was born in Cleveland after all and don’t look like any of my relatives. … Thank you. The Mike Martin piece was fun to write. Super interesting guy and lots of good info, especially on the NIL/rev share stuff. To your question about the Group of 6 team. Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua was just on live on the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN, and Kirk Herbstreit advocated for exactly what you are in the next iteration of the playoff. Now why were they included originally?

I think there are a couple of reasons: Avoiding potential lawsuits is 1. No. 2, if you think about the four-team playoff, the thought that teams beyond the top six would even be competitive seemed like a reach, so why not invite the Group of 6 (then the Group of 5) to the party. Think about it, from 2014 to 2021, the AVERAGE margin of victory in the semis was 27 points. In the last three years, including the 12-team version in 2024, the average margin of victory in the semis was 5.5 points. And the two teams that played for the title last year would not have made the four-team playoff. They were ranked 5 and 6 and seeded 7 and 8.

Bevacqua is advocating for a 16-team playoff moving forward. Herbstreit advocated for five conference champs and 11 at-large bids regardless of conference (or independent). So, if a Group of 6 team is on the top 16, they can earn their way in. Last thought: I think any team in the top 10 of Tuesday’s rankings would have a shot to win it, some more than others, but I think that’s realistic.

Chuck from THE LAND (Cleveland): Hi ” Great One”. Been a roller coaster year for you and we fans. My sense is that partisan politics have overtaken the Committee and the ND haters are now pushing the agenda to punish the Irish for not being in a Conference. IF BYU loses, IRISH have to be in. IF Bama loses, IRISH go to #9 and are in. What could possibly go wrong here other than the acquiescing to the Miami propaganda? Last thing, over 800 decommitments this year and IRISH had NONE – BRAVO! Here’s hoping that we can benefit from your insight as ND marches to a NATTY!

Eric Hansen: Hey Chuck. I don’t buy that ND’s drop was a conspiracy to get them to join a conference. But after hearing CFP commish Hunter Yurachek’s explanation, I can understand why you jumped to that assumption. It almost makes more sense than what was offered. I do think Miami is a really good team. But I think ND has the better resume if only one gets in, and I’ve stated my reasoning in my Behind The Ballot column.

Matt from Austin: Hello Eric. I hope your post Thanksgiving week is going well. A couple of quick ones. 1. Where was all this fervor and angst over the head to head match ups in 1993????? Feels like anti ND bias. 2. Do you have an opinion on the CFP committee and their seeming desire to guarantee Alabama a spot in the playoffs? 3. If BYU loses, and Miami is next to ND, is it your sense that the committee chair’s intimation that such a scenario would allow the committee to have head to head become a factor and have Miami jump ND? As Tom Petty said, ” the waiting is the hardest part.” As always Eric, thank you for your time and thoughts.

Eric Hansen: Hi Matt. Other than my body still digesting the giant turkey leg I devoured on our Staff Roundtable show on YouTube Sunday, I am loving life this week. Here’s what I’ll say about head-to-heads. It IS important. Absolutely should be. But they’re not all created equal. It’s not the end-all, be-all. It’s part of the resume. So what does the rest of the résumé look like? Miami would be the first team to make the field as an at-large with losses to TWO unranked teams. When the head-to-head occurs matters, the site matters, the score matters, how the teams evolved afterwards matters, total records matter. 2. I’m not sure Alabama is guaranteed a spot. It would be interesting to see what they committee does if Georgia wins and it’s not a competitive game. I don’t expect a blowout, but that would put the committee in a difficult place. 3. I didn’t think that Miami would overtake ND with neither of them playing, but the explanation of that scenario was so weird, I am not confident of anything where this committee is concerned.

I know the committee doesn’t want to box themselves in, but if they’re going to throw a word salad at us, at least make it sound like you haven’t been hitting the bourbon hard instead of looking at metrics.

Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric, thanks so much for hosting the chat during such a busy week. With a lot of what the CFP committee did this week not making sense, and considering some of the ridiculous answers the chair gave, do you think we will see changes in the process, particularly with regards to transparency?  I have really enjoyed behind the ballot this year, should each committee member have to make something similar public each week? Do you think Virginia winning is important for ND’s chances to get in? If Duke wins then there would be no ACC team in, do you think the committee would then cave to pressure from the ACC and let Miami in over ND?  Unbelievable job recruiting this year by the staff, who are your offensive and defensive crushes in the 2026 class?  Fingers crossed we will be discussing ND’s playoff opponent and not the flavor of the edible mascot of the Pop tarts bowl next week. Thanks for all the great insights.

Eric Hansen: Great stuff Marie, and thanks. I think with regard to transparency, what would that look like. If we knew how each committee member voted for let’s say last team in and first team out, how would that improve the process? I think what the transparency of the AP poll does is show that of the 66 people who vote, none of them have identical ballots. Very seldom does everyone agree on a singular team. And would transparency put more pressure on say an SEC guy to vote for an SEC team in a splitting-hairs situation? Or does anonymity allow him to speak his mind?

I vote how I feel, not what will make anybody happy. I have Notre Dame higher than the CFP committee does, because that’s genuinely how I feel. I’ve had them lower than their actual spot in the polls. And I am OK with having to defend my position, especially this late in the season. Now people whining about preseason poll positions are just silly, because there are no data points. .. I do not think Virginia winning is important. … I haven’t had a chance to watch film of all the recruits yet, but based on what I do know, defensive crush is a tie between S Joey O’Brien and CB Khary Adams, and offense, I’ll go with TE Ian Premer and WR Kaydon Finley.

Pete from Erie, Pa.A: Hellooo Eric! Happy Holidays to you & yours! It’s going to be unhappy holidays in ND-land if they get screwed out of the playoff when they’re clearly amongst the best teams in the country. Few can say they steamrolled 10 in-a-row without a doubt. Relying on Texas Tech & Georgia to get in is risky, they have little to play for. Seeding isn’t the best motivator. My $$ on desperate BYU & Alabama. If it comes to that, do you think the Irish choose to skip a traditional bowl? I mean, they’re meaningless and it would be kind of insulting. Are a few extra practices better than relief from the grind to refresh and focus on health, recruiting, the portal and next year? Will Jordan Faison leave early for the NFL? Thoughts of Wilfredo Aybar’s knee to the ribs ending Jeremiyah Love’s Heisman hopes and possibly his ND career? Intentional? The way he genuflected looks bad but I can’t tell for sure. Either way, it’s a shame he gets away with it. This should be treated like targeting. Thanks Eric! Cheers and Go Irish!

Eric Hansen: Hi Pete!! Happy Holidays to you and yours. If ND gets left out of the playoff, I DO NOT think they would skip a traditional bowl game. There is value in that from a program standpoint, though not likely much interest from fans. What might happen is NFL Draft hopefuls opt out. … I do not think Jordan Faison leaves early for the draft. But he does have a decision to make as to whether he wants to continue to play lacrosse. … As far as intentionality, I have no idea. I didn’t think it was, but I don’t know what was in that young man’s mind.

Ron from Dover, Del.: Happy Friday Eric. Let’s hope the selection committee does a careful evaluation of the team’s ranking for the CFP. Question: If ND loses out, what bowl is most likely to be where they might play? Would the team decide not to go to a bowl? Lastly, what are your thoughts about Teddy Jarrad reclassifying? Do you think it is good for ND football!!!! Thank you.

Eric Hansen: If ND gets left out and it’s because BYU is in the field, they likely would end up at the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando vs. another Big 12 team, likely Utah. If BYU and ND both don’t make the field for some reason, then ND likely would play BYU. … And no, I can’t see the team skipping a bowl game, nor should they. … Off the top of my head on the Teddy Jarrard thing, it solves the problem of having a fourth scholarship QB on the roster should Kenny Minchey transfer. It  would also be great for Jarrard to be around CJ Carr in 2026, especially if 2026 is Carr’s final college season.

Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric! The state of the CFP and the reasons given for ND’s drop only deserve one !, if that. I saw Vandy drop a spot in the eyes of the committee with a  close win on the road to the same Auburn team that Bama got a bump from in the eyes of the committee.  Senseless.  Vandy staying between Miami and ND was important.  That one Auburn SEC win all year must carry some weight. Two questions.  What is the biggest issue with the CFP and college football?  Conferences too big?  No divisions? Reducing the number of common opponents? Too much power in the hands of big two, SEC and BIG10, in CFP decisions. Unspoken and maybe even subconscious bias by CFP members that predominantly are affiliated with conferences before, or now, that conferences matter more than they maybe they should.  Hell, conferences are more TV conglomerates than conferences now.   Question-What does Eric Hansen say is the biggest issue facing the CFP’s future?

Second question, how many points does Georgia need to beat Bama by for Bama to drop below ND?

Eric Hansen: Hi Len! Thanks for giving me a multiple-choice format. This question is great. The functionality of being able to answer it in a chat setting is difficult. The list is pretty long, but so is the list about what’s right with college football. Let me narrow this down. I think a BIG problem is the size of the conferences. Teams within their conferences have wildly different degrees of difficulty with their schedules and a lot of times very few common data points. A 16-team format would let more teams in, but you’d still have the same problem of differentiating the last few teams on the cut line. I think if the Georgia-Bama score was similar to the Georgia-Texas score (35-10), it would be hard for the committee to justify Bama staying at 9.

Tom F from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric. Thanks for hosting a Chat on what is a very busy week.  Congrats to the entire staff on the 2026 Recruiting class!! Job well done!! It appears the closer Miami gets to ND in Playoff poll the more the Miami loss comes into play. I see little hope for ND. If BYU wins, they jump ND. If BYU loses, they fall behind Miami and then we are out.  My question is how much do you think the late TDs by Pitt and Stanford impacted the comparative scores data point for the Committee??!!This should make all those “Conference” people happy if ND is knocked out. We are still one of the Top 10 teams in the country. Good luck Irish!!!!

Eric, to add to my previous question, it will be interesting to see the reaction of media if ND is left out and Duke is in as a 5-loss ACC Champ. Now most people feel the process needs to be changed so that if a Conf Champ or the Power 5 team is not in the Top 15 they should not be in the Playoffs. BUT if it is ND on the outside and the format is changed they will cry that the Committee is just trying to please ND. Also, why all the hate suggesting conf teams not schedule ND??? That makes NO sense.  I need a lot of talking to get off this ledge…..

Eric Hansen: Hi Tom, thanks for being here. I’m not sure if I can help or hurt the ledge situation, but here’s what I think in answer to the questions you asked. No, I don’t think the late TDs affected the committee in the games that you referenced, but I can understand why you’d have doubts given Tuesday’s debacle of logic. As far as the hate and non-scheduling stuff, this is kind of the world we live in. But what you see on social media and on YouTube isn’t always consistent with reality. I don’t see a lot of what you’re referencing, because I don’t seek it. That doesn’t mean I’m not open to people who vehemently disagree with me, but I know who I respect already and if someone I don’t know presents themselves in a mature, reasoned way, I give it a good listen. And if they act like a toddler who hasn’t had their nap, they lose me. Unless it is an actual toddler and it’s one of mine.

Jonathan from Addison, Texas: Fascinated by your 1:05 pm answer opining that any of the top 10 in last Tuesday’s rankings would have a shot to win it. That doesn’t seem consistent with your years-old take on the 5 key statistics of championship teams. Do you have time yet to elaborate? At last count, I don’t recall anywhere close to 10 teams hitting the top 25 in 3 of your 5 stats. And maybe 4 teams (IU, Ore, TT, ND I think) were top 25 in all 5 of em, no?

Eric Hansen: Hi Jonathan. I think with the right draw, the teams that don’t hit those marks might be able to limp through. Oklahoma is the most flawed, so maybe I should have said most of the teams in the top 10 instead of all. I don’t think Alabama can win it either. I actually think Miami would do better in the playoff than either of those two.

Rick from Sunny SoCal: Greetings from sunny Southern California. There’s a LOT wrong about this state, but the weather is not one of them! Two questions, when do you think the ND vs USC issue will be resolved? Second, being the grumpy old man, WHY does ND let some of their players wear a white tee-shirt outside of their jersey? ND’s uniforms are soooo classy, and that make them look like some puddle-dump school. Thanks Eric!

Eric Hansen: Hi Rick. Our weather is just fine, thank you, If you’re a penguin or a frozen entree. The ND-USC situation is close, I hear, for at least getting two more years tacked on, which would buy time for a longer extension. As far as what other people wear, that’s WAY out of my purview in terms of commenting on it or mandating my standards. I just am happy on the days I dress myself and people don’t point and laugh.

Tom from Evanston, Ill.: Hi Eric. I am interested in the PFF grades. I now look at them when you guys post them. I can’t always reconcile what I see on the field with the grades. I certainly am not knowledgeable and tend to defer to others who have the expertise. I think you mentioned that ND does not use PFF. Do other schools use them? Do you find them useful or helpful?

Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. ND has its own analytics, and they might look at PFF. I am not sure, but they hired an analyst, Anthony Treash, straight out of Pro Football Focus, so I think they see them as having some value. I also sometimes can’t match up the film grades with what I saw on the field, but I still think they’re a useful tool, especially for nuanced parts of the game like offensive line play, where there aren’t stats necessarily to help you qualify how an individual is playing. I do think other schools look at them too, not as the end-all, be-all, but as just one useful tool.

Jordan, from Seattle: Eric!!!!! I hope youre doing well and staying warm in the frigid midwest.  GM Mike Martin commented that for NIL they will sometimes tier individual players within a position group. Now that we are several years along in the NIL world (but not the $21M payout world) it seems possible that a 5 ⭐️ recruit could underperform his “tier” and a 3 ⭐️ recruit could overperform his tier. Do you have any insight into   (a) if ND or the players are able to renegotiate NIL contracts or (b) if ND allows for the annual NIL money (or budget) to be shifted based on player performance and not predictions?  If ND misses the playoffs as a 11 or 12 ranked team – what is the bowl we most likely end up in?  Thank you for your humorous delivery of excellent objective ND coverage.

Eric Hansen: Jordan thank you! I hope to chat with Mike Martin down the road and get you some of those answers. In talking to a couple of agents, in general most player contracts are one-year deals, with a few being two years. And I think there’s an expectation that those are based on performance as you go from one year to the next. So I am answering this way more generally than Notre Dame-specific — for now, but hope to get more info down the road. … Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Terry from Huron, S.D.: Hi Eric. My question deals with the SEC bias of Alabama moving ahead of ND. The committee chairman’s explanation was WEAK!!!!!!! Alabama struggled to beat a BAD Auburn team and ND blew out a bad Stanford, although they played better at home, unlike Auburn. What are your thoughts? This looks like the committee is protecting Alabama so when they lose to Georgia, they won’t drop them out of the playoffs. Everyone can bitch about Miami and Alabama all they want, but don’t lose to BAD teams and you would not be in this predicament!!!!!  I may be bias for ND but they should be ranked 8 and looking to host in the first round but that obviously is not happening. Nobody is taking about the SEC crew swallowing their whistle/flag on the last play when Hinisch was tackled by an A&M lineman. I am just sick this committee and officials will find a way to keep ND out of ..,

Eric Hansen: Hi Terry, you make some good points, but I’ll challenge the one in the Texas A&M game, and that is, if A&M got called for holding, they still would have gotten to replay the down. The game was not over. But more importantly, if you want the committee to calculate bad officiating into their formula, then in fairness, you’d have to go over every call in that game and see where the discrepancies were. So, for me, you live with the results on the field. And even then, I think ND is a playoff team. The funny thing is I expected the CFP commish to say Texas A&M’s loss to Texas affected their thinking in dropping ND, but they didn’t say that at all.

Mike AKA Mo from Maumee OH: Hi Eric !^!   What an incredible 2026 signing class! I was wondering- on average, how many scholarship offers does Notre Dame hand out to each year’s class? Assume it’s significantly more than the 27 who signed on the dotted line. And then what is the process that the ND staff goes through to determine mutual interest, and after that to weed out those who only look at ND as their “safety scholarship school” until a better offer comes along? Thanks!

Eric Hansen: Mo/Mike !^! I go through this in greater detail on a day where the queue is not so full and my brain/finger coordination isn’t so challenged. But Notre Dame extended 192 scholarship offers in the just-signed 2026 class, and so far have extended 154 in the 2027 cycle — with more to come. Now, not all offers are created equal. Some are convertible offers, meaning the prospect has the green light at any time to commit. Most have some conditions. And there’s an art and science to prioritizing and synching that up with the official visit schedule for instance.

Notre Dame did an incredible job of inviting 28 players for official visits and signing 27 of them. So the prioritization not only worked, but reading the room as far as genuine interest did as well.

Ray F from Wenatchee, Wash.: Thank you for doing these chats and all the great information about the Irish! Do you think that Texas Tech will be fully motivated for the game against BYU?  Knowing that TT is likely in the CFP, will they rest their starters / limit their reps to avoid injuries? There is no doubt in my mind the Irish would prevail in a head to head match up with BYU.

Eric Hansen: I think Texas Tech is very motivated to win that game. I don’t think they are motivated to play their starters in the fourth quarter if they’re up by 20.

Irishdowski from The Burgh or Pittsburgh: I always feel great when former Irish players sons join the Irish program but even more when former NFL players sons choose the Irish as well because I feel it shows the great respect for what the the Irish are currently doing. Lately I feel we have done a great job of capturing those types of recruits. Would you agree?

Eric Hansen: Absolutely, they’ve done a great job on both fronts. And more to come in 2027, I believe.

Scott from Bloomington, Ind.: Eric, who would have thought that this would be such a good year for football in the great state of Indiana. Norte Dame is dominant again, IU is a nationally relevant program, and Purdue stinks. However, this great achievement can all come crashing down if ND is pushed out of the playoffs. You often give great metrics that the CFP committee evaluates outside of the head-to-head, matchup but it is seems Miami is poised to leapfrog ND. If ND does get pushed out of the playoffs do you feel that ND needs to rethink scheduling?  Should they play a softer schedule to start the season and is that even possible with the constraints of being an independent and the mandatory ACC slate? Thanks for always doing this. You are the best on the beat. Hope you aren’t pulling for tOSU this weekend. I figure IU has suffered for so long. Could be first outright BIG10 football title since 1945.

Eric Hansen: Hi Scott, and thanks for the compliment! I actually think scheduling tough teams on the front end isn’t the bad idea that it might seem. Had ND lost those two games in November, no way are they in the field. And there are years where ND’s team is composed differently — more experienced at key positions like QB —  and it might be an advantage to play a national power that needs to evolve into its personnel in September, because they’d be a handful later on.

On that pragmatic side, the only P4 conference whose teams are going to be eager to play ND in November is the ACC, so there’s much more of a demand for those teams to schedule in August/September than late October of any time in November.

Paul from Knoxville: Ciao Eric:  Buon Avvento!  Last week I recall your comparing the 2025 and 2024 Irish teams in the 5 key championship metrics, so I’d like to ask whether you could also share a comparison of both squads on 3rd and 4th down success rates and red zone efficiency.  My perception is that this year’s team has not been quite as good in these areas, but I would be curious to know whether this perception is accurate or not.  I’d also like to ask for your thoughts on the playoff committee’s moving AL above ND in the most recent ranking.  Personally I don’t think the committee chairman’s explanation passes the giggle test, but maybe I’m being overly skeptical.  Since you may have gotten a number of questions about this, please disregard if you have already answered.

Eric Hansen: OK, for those of you who don’t follow Paul’s and my Italian thing going on here, that is not Italian for Happy Cyber Week. … Buon Avvento to Paul and everyone else! I did answer the Alabama part, but let me get to the metrics:

3rd down offense: 18th in 2025, 61st in 2024
3rd down defense: 38/12
4th down offense: 67/8
4th down defense: 30/9
RZ offense: 119/88
RZ defense: 69/18

So they are worse off in five of the six, but much much improved in third-down conversions. However, this team is better in some more pivotal categories like pass efficiency and run defense. Those matter more, but the ones you asked about are not irrelevant.

Kevin from Calgary: Happy Friday, Eric!!! Well, just like the Grinch it looks like the committee has heard the NOISE, NOISE, NOISE. Dropping ND a spot and potentially putting them perilously close to Miami is either and indication they may make that first game of the season the deciding factor, or they’re just assuring Alabama gets into the playoffs (or both). What’s your take on the logic behind the Irish snub?

Eric Hansen: Someone spiked the punch bowl? … And happy Friday, Kevin!!!

Jeremy from Goshen: Which of these newly signed HS recruits have the best shot at playing time in 2026?

Eric Hansen: TE Ian Premer, almost all of the DBs, maybe one of the linebackers depending on KVA’s timeline, both edge players on defense, Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewatade. I think Kaydon Finley and at least one of the other WRs will get into the mix and one of the running backs, likely Jonaz Walton.

Ed from Sayville, N.Y.: Greetings and salutations Eric. Deciphering the CFP is beyond me. I just want more opportunities to watch number 4 in an ND uniform. What a pleasure that has been to date. Do you think the committee takes name recognition into account, either on purpose or otherwise? I bet tv executives would like them to, and we sure know they have juice. J. Love sure got the playoffs off to a great start last year! Go ☘️

Eric Hansen: Hi Ed. I think name recognition plays a part, but maybe not intentionally, as you suggested. Navy is a better team than either of the ones Miami lost to, but Louisville and SMU play stronger in people’s minds because of the brand name. I really like South Florida, for instance, for how they played on the field, but there will be folks that are more impressed by a 5-7 Auburn team, because of the name. It’s not intentional. It’s just how people tend to think of those teams.

Berk from Memphis: Hey Eric, Berk coming to you from Mempho again!!!!! I am preparing myself for us to be left out of the playoffs. NO fault but our own. If D-rock and the offense would have just leaned on J-LOVE #4 in Miami we probably wouldn’t be in this situation! Anyways on to my questions. Judging by our numbers, who we could lose and who returns, and on top of the great class we just signed……Where do we open in the polls to start the ’26 season and with the crap schedule we have next year, will we have to go undefeated to make sure we are IN? GO IRISH FOREVER!!!!!

Eric Hansen: Hi Berk, love you style!!! I know the 2026 “crap” schedule hasn’t been released in its entirety, but here’s a good rule of thumb if you’re Notre Dame. Go 12-0 or 11-1 and you’re in the field. Go 10-2, and you’ve put your destiny in someone else’s hands.

Lorne from Reno, Nev.. Thank you for the chats, and I hope it doesn’t get too whiny today. It’s time to have the “serenity to accept the things [we] cannot change.” My question has to do with Love going back in against Stanford: do you think there was an element of Jordan Travis/FSU in the decision? That is, let’s not give the committee an argument to downgrade us because our star is hurt?

Eric Hansen: Hey Lorne, happy early Festivus. And thank you for not exercising that holiday’s tradition of airing of grievances! Great question, but I do not think that was the rationale.

Ryan from Frankfort, Ill.: Good afternoon Eric what do you think about the play of Aneyas Williams vs Stanford He looked good GO IRISH ☘️☘️☘️🏈🏈🏈

Eric Hansen: I think if he comes back next year, Ryan, he’ll be in the mix for a lot of playing time, especially if Jadarian Price goes to the NFL.

Scott from Louisiana: Good Day Eric, I have a few questions that have been eating away at me for a few weeks now and hope you can maybe shed some light on all or some of them. 1. What recourse does ND have for the ACC publicly politicking against them as a partial member with the CFP? Are there any outs or escape clauses that can/would benefit ND in that area? Also we have seen in back to back years ACC teams drop our games for whatever reason. Miami/FSU. Are we allowed to do the same? and if so why haven’t we taken the opportunity when we get loaded with bottom feeders that affect our SOS. Always look forward to these chats although usually only ever get to read after the fact. Thanks for these Eric!!!

Eric Hansen: Hi Scott. I think it’s important not to throw the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to the ACC. Remember if ND did bail in football, then all of its other sports teams except for hickey get stuck playing an independent’s schedule. No bueno. The Miami drop wasn’t a drop. It was a move into another year, which Notre Dame was happy to accommodate. The Florida State game was also off the books for years, and also fine with ND. And when ND needed to play in a conference in 2020, remember the ACC welcomed the Irish with open arms. So let’s be fair. The ACC schedule was made to be equitable to all ACC teams and yet the ACC is open to ND scheduling more games against its top-tier teams.

As far as the ACC campaigning against Notre Dame, that was bush league. But it’s annoying, not divorce worthy. Kind of like when we forget to throw our dirty sweats in the hamper.

Ed from Sayville, N.Y.: Thanks Eric, actually l could have been clearer. I was thinking about Love’s star standing, but perhaps the answer would be the same.

Eric Hansen: I think if Marcus Freeman had said in the press conference that Love was done for the year, the committee would have considered that, but they’ve also seen Jadarian Price play, and he’s elite too.

Andy from Wilmette, Ill.: Hello Eric. If FSU got pushed out of the playoffs because they lost their QB, how can Ole Miss still be in the playoff picture without a head coach?  If ND gets left out this year, next year they will kick butt.  Lastly, do you think CJ (“Jet”) Carr will be in the running for an award next year.  Thanks for your work this football season…It has been awesome.

Eric Hansen: Andy, thank you! I am actually glad Ole Miss stayed in the playoff picture, because the kids that worked their butts off deserve it. I do think CJ Carr will be the face of the program next year and will play at a level, and ND as a team, that will have him in those conversations. Yes.

Roger from Peoria: Eric. 11/30/24-Irish 7, USC 7, Irish fake punt from their own 25. My reaction – OMG what is Marcus doing! Then, wow!!  What a great call!!!  11/29/25  Irish 14,Stanford 0, Irish fake punt from their own 16!!!!!!! My reaction was not OMG but WTF (pardon the language but . . . ) is Marcus doing?  Then, WOW!!!!! WHAT A GREAT CALL!!!!! Had you ever seen a fake punt in a team’s own Red Zone before?  Second, there are many reasons I want to see the Irish in the CFP, but most of all I want to see Love again in an Irish uniform so his Irish career can end “with a bang not a whimper” which will only happen if the Irish are in. I believe we need one or possibly both of Georgia and Texas Tech to win.  How do you rate the likelihood of that to occur?  And, if both win, is ND in or will the Hurricane win over the Irish blow the Irish out? Thanks as always and currently, stay warm!! GO IRISH!!

Eric Hansen: Roger, yes I have seen teams fake punt from their own territory, but not very often. … You are correct about which teams to root for if you want ND in the field. We had a staff prediction exercise that I got pulled into, and I picked ND to make the field as the 10 seed. Spoiler alert: It was not unanimous. And I promise to stay warm!

Eric Hansen: OK, that’s going to do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. And make sure you tune into our live reaction show Sunday on the Blue & Gold YouTube channel. The next chat will be back in our normal Wednesday noon ET time slot. See you then!