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Artwork for The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast
Notre Dame
Notre Dame Football
Marcus Freeman
College Football Playoff
Riley Leonard
College Football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football
USC
CJ Carr
Miami
Texas A&M
ACC
Jeremiyah Love
Ohio State
Chris Ash
NIL
Sam Hartman
Transfer Portal
BYU Cougars Football
Mike Denbrock

The Independent is the essential listen for fans of Fighting Irish football. Pete Sampson of the Athletic and Matt Fortuna of The Inside Zone are back to take you inside the Notre Dame program. With a combined 35 years + of experience on the ND beat, this twice weekly podcast has you covered for everything blue and gold.

PublishesDailyEpisodes187Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FootballSports

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Artwork for The Independent: A Notre Dame Football Podcast

Latest Episodes

It's almost game day! Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here for a special LIVE episode of The Independent, where they will take reader questions. In 48 hours, Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame will host rival Miami, ranked No. 1 in both the AP and CFP p... more

The biggest game week of the season is finally here. It’s No. 4 Notre Dame vs. No. 1 Miami. Catholics vs. Convicts. Marcus Freeman vs. Mario Cristobal. CJ Carr vs. Darian Mensah. There’s no overhyping this game, which has huge CFP implications. NBC’s... more

Notre Dame overcame a slow start and an early deficit to beat rival Navy, 35-13, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The Fighting Irish now turn their attention to No. 1 Miami, and ESPN has already announced that “College GameDay” will be in Sou... more

No. 5 Notre Dame exits its open date and heads to Gillette Stadium on Saturday in Foxborough, Mass., to face rival Navy. Matt Fortuna and Pete Sampson are here to preview the contest between the Fighting Irish and Midshipmen, and to talk much more as... more

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Recent Guests

Adam Rittenberg
ESPN college football reporter
ESPN
Episode: More Notre Dame-BYU thoughts and fallout with ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg
Roddy Jones
ESPN college football analyst and game commentator
ESPN
Episode: ESPN’s Roddy Jones joins the show to preview top-10 Notre Dame-BYU matchup
Dusty Dvoracek
ESPN college football analyst and former Oklahoma defensive lineman
ESPN
Episode: Dusty Dvoracek joins the show to talk Notre Dame ground game and more
Yogi Roth
NBC analyst, former college football coach, and author
NBC
Episode: Notre Dame starts 4-0 & Yogi Roth joins the show! Plus, Quincy Porter is out for the year and more.
Tim Murray
Vegas odds analyst and guest expert on betting perspectives
Previously of gambling/media circles (Vegas odds insights)
Episode: Notre Dame 2026 Season Preview with Tim Murray: Will Marcus Freeman's Fighting Irish Win it All?
Caroline Pineda
NBC sideline reporter for Notre Dame football
NBC Sports
Episode: New Notre Dame on NBC sideline reporter Caroline Pineda joins the show
Brian Kelly
Former Notre Dame head coach, former LSU head coach
Notre Dame, LSU
Episode: Brian Kelly joins the show to talk Notre Dame exit, Irish legacy, Marcus Freeman and more!
Steve Smith
Former NFL wide receiver, host of the 89 show on YouTube
Self/BetterHelp sponsor
Episode: Notre Dame players in THE BEAST + more NFL Draft talk, spring ball updates and more
Jeff Kilburg
Notre Dame Offensive Lineman, Class of 1997
Notre Dame Football
Episode: A Tribute to Lou Holtz: Notre Dame Coach’s Former Players Share Their Favorite Memories

Hosts

Pete Sampson
Host of The Independent; ND beat writer with The Athletic
Matt Fortuna
Co-host; Notre Dame football insider and analyst

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 661 ratings
  • Great insights. Excellent analysis. Non-biased approach.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    jgkw
    24 days ago
  • Gambling and Drama

    The podcast spends too much time on gambling and gossiping about the off the field actions/personalities of the players. The Michigan state preview was a low mark. Barely covered the michigan state team and what their game plan might be, but found of time too talk about the maturity levels ND running backs. They seem unwilling to criticize Mike Denbrock. Will go after Chris Ash, Players and even Freeman, but not Denbrock.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Cliffypods
    United Statesa month ago
  • Go Irish

    Consistent in depth ND news. A must listen for weekly updates.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sssh4621679
    United States9 months ago
  • New Host Please!

    Love Pete…please get rid of Fortuna

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    DPC1919
    United States10 months ago
  • The Independent

    Less Fortuna please

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    AddictingTunes
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate candid, educated takes and the mix of on-field talk with business/sponsorship context.
Some feedback requests better audio levels and less over-talking between hosts.
Listeners praise in-depth ND coverage, balanced analysis, and strong guest selections.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#38
United States/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#101
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#72
Canada/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#9
South Korea/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#24
Colombia/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#32
Brazil/Sports/Football

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Notre Dame starts 4-0 & Yogi Roth joins the show! Plus, Quincy Porter is out for the year and more.
Q: Why do you think Marcus Freeman has been as successful as he has been as a head coach?
Roth attributes Freeman's success to consistency, independent thinking, strong communication, humility, and a focus on building genuine connections with players.
Notre Dame starts 4-0 & Yogi Roth joins the show! Plus, Quincy Porter is out for the year and more.
Q: So give us an expert take on CJ Carr based on what you saw on Saturday.
Roth says Carr showed exceptional command of Notre Dame's offense, changing plays effectively and making confident decisions at the line of scrimmage. He also describes Carr as a curious, competitive player who seeks knowledge.
Notre Dame's run game comes to life versus UNC
Q: The defense was kind of bored by the game or the offensive coordinator for North Carolina, the great Bobby Petrino, exposed the potential weakness in the Notre Dame defense. What say you, Matt Fortuna?
The hosts think North Carolina found some opportunities against Notre Dame's linebackers in coverage, particularly in matchups involving Jelani Thurman, but do not view the performance as a reason for alarm. They credit North Carolina's offense and expect Notre Dame to use the game as a teaching moment.
Notre Dame's run game comes to life versus UNC
Q: Williamson and Walton have each led the team in rushing twice, Dolan James once. Is the plan to keep featuring multiple backs or is this an audition to see who carries the load in November and beyond?
The hosts say the running-back auditions are not necessarily over, but Walton's 100-yard performance makes him difficult to leave out of the lead role. They favor giving him a larger share while continuing to use the other backs.
Dusty Dvoracek joins the show to talk Notre Dame ground game and more
Q: How does Notre Dame fit into that mix?
Dvoracek says Notre Dame is among the best teams he has seen, comparing its quarterback, defense, physicality, and emerging rushing attack with Georgia and Alabama. He stands by his preseason prediction that Notre Dame will win the national title.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two longtime Notre Dame football insiders deliver in-depth analysis, roster battles, and program context with a steady mix of on-field breakdown, recruiting and transfer news, and broader college football dynamics. Highlights across recent episodes include quarterback competition updates, fall camp observations, depth chart projections, and the evolving landscape around NIL, branding, scheduling, and rivalries, often interwoven with sponsor reads and light storytelling. A standout aspect is the hosts' balanced approach: they combine rigorous reporting with accessible commentary and strong guest perspectives from prominent college football voices, making it well-suited for listeners who want informed, unabashed Notre Dame coverage and inside... more

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this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 187 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Adam Rittenberg
2. Roddy Jones
3. Dusty Dvoracek
4. Yogi Roth
5. Tim Murray
6. Caroline Pineda
7. Brian Kelly
8. Steve Smith

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