JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Feb. 26, 2026 | 2/26/2026

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Feb. 26, 2026

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Eric Hansen

OK, that's going to do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back to do it all over again next Thursday at noon ET.

2:44

Pete!!!!! To your questions, I don't think there's anyway without a good lawyer. This is Tout's seventh year in college. So while he hasn't used any of those for football, I think his NCAA clock is out. You are correct on the nation's two longest winning streaks.

Pete from Erie, PA

2:40

Eric!!!!!!!! Yeah but then they should be going for 2 in a row! I also hope they keep their heads right. Too much hype. Too many handing it to them before they do anything. I got a couple for ya. Does Towt have any football eligibility? I would think no but he's big, strong, fast, can jump, he might be unstoppable in the right spots and he'll be committed. He has little future in hoops. I could see him great jumping to block kicks, getting position to catch passes and anywhere you need a battering ram on either side of the ball! Also, ND has the 2nd longest winning streak in the country at 10? Correct? Of course Indiana 16-0 (should've been 15-1). Am I missing something?

Eric Hansen

2:40

Jeremy, since I don't watch the home games on TV, that kind of moves to the back burner for me, but I will ask around for the future.

Jeremy from Goshen, IN

2:40

Any idea who the notre dame NBC broadcast team will be in 2026? My favorite year was when we had Mike Tirico and Tony Dungy. but that likely won't be happening ever again.

Eric Hansen

2:39

Hi Jeremy. I haven't made it through all of them yet. Or even half of them, but I will. The two guys I spent my time with were Devin Fitzgerald and Preston Fryzel. Very impressed with the maturity of both of them. I'm not sure significant playing time is in the cards for either one of them this year, but I expect both of them to be factors at some point. Fitzgerald is a happy guy with a great attitude and a very mature way of approaching the game and making himself better.

Jeremy from Goshen, IN

2:37

What were your takeaways from the freshman interiviews this week?

Eric Hansen

2:37

I'm least confident in how Leahy would answer this. He had to deal with World War II and all that entailed, including serving himself. Rockne was an innovator and kind of a rebel by nature. Ara could coach his butt off in any era, but would he have wanted to in this environment. So, I don't think those legends would answer the question the same, but I also think they'd all think Marcus Freeman is pretty special.

2:35

Ed. You guys are getting me with these deep philosophical questions that are really fun but hard to condense. The only one we could actually ask without a Ouija board is Lou. And we had him on the podcast in the fall, and I feel comfortable enough with projecting his answer that the challenges are significantly greater. And yet the one thing Marcus Freeman had that the others might not have had consistently is backing from the ND administration, which Marcus had to work hard for. (more)

Ed from Sayville

2:31

Hey Eric. Thanks for Chilling and chatting with us once again. How do you think the most successful of the many legendary coaches in Irish football history (Ara, Lou, Leahy, Rockne) would respond to this question? Q- Are the challenges that Marcus Freeman faces in today’s college football environment significantly greater, somewhat greater or better able to be managed given the resources available? Thanks.

Eric Hansen

2:31

Thanks for chiming in, Tom.

Tom F, Kennesaw, GA

2:31

Eric, it might be too late to respond, but ND's commitment to attending classes goes hand in hand with the overall culture of the University. Lifelong friendships are made in the classroom as well as in the locker room. Not having Athletic Dorms is another factor to build friendships among the entire student body. This overall social development for students attending ND cannot be overlooked. I have experienced it and it is probably one of the biggest reasons that ND is often labeled as a "special place". In your interaction with student athletes do you see that same experience in the way they conduct themselves???? See, there was a question hidden in there somewhere. Go Irish!!!!

Eric Hansen

2:31

Stephen. I think those are reasonable requests. The falloff in hockey is staggering. I wish Pete B were more accessible at more times of the year to talk about this stuff. It's really good good for thought. I appreciate your volley back.

Stephen from New Orleans

Obviously, you can’t wave a magic wand but I think those things have to be priorities/goals for Pete B to do.

2:29

I’d say my changes would be ensuring those programs have sufficient analysts to help supplement the assistant and head coaches for all of them; maybe get hockey sufficient NIL to use in the portal; for baseball/softball probably get them a dedicated practice facility to work on hitting in the cold seasons.

Eric Hansen

2:28

If Brian Kelly comes back to college coaching, he needs to do what he did after the 2016 season and question everything and make changes. That was one of the more remarkable things I've covered in the four decades plus I've covered college football. He is a good coach. But he needs to be a better version of himself than what he was at LSU.

2:27

1) I think Marcus Freeman is more adaptable to and embraces the seismic changes in college football better than Brian Kelly did at LSU and would have done at ND. 2) Freeman is better at attracting elite QB talent and having the coaches to develop that talent. 3) Freeman is more consistent in his assistant coaching hires. Kelly did have some really godo ones ... and some real duds too. 4) Freeman is present every day in the program. he knows everyone's name. His office door is open. He shows he care consistently about them beyond football. His authenticity goes a long way. (more)

2:23

Damian. I love the question. I think it's a tough fit for this live chat program, because the answer is so expansive and layered. So let me give you the shallow, incomplete version. In fairness to Brian Kelly, he took over a Notre Dame program that needed more repair work than the one Marcus Freeman took over. But here are some things Marcus is getting right that have the Irish closer to winning a title than say if BK had stayed: (more)

Damian Becker, Lynbrook, NY

2:16

Did it again. Anyway, ND football was highly successful under Brian Kelly's leadership. Yet, for the duration of his tenure it seemed so much further away from winning a national championship than it is now under Marcus Freeman. And for the most part, recruiting the elite talent needed to be a championship contender is just as challenging now as it was then.Aside from the character traits of both head coaches, what are the main factors that make the ND football program of today much better than the ND football program of the Kelly years?

Eric Hansen

2:14

Hi Mike. This is harder than a college essay test, because I have to guess at the last part of the question, but I'm game. If you're asking if an alignment with the ACC in its current form is the right move, it is. Contractually and pragmatically, and yet I think Notre Dame owes it to itself to see if there's another partial affiliation that might work better if it can jump through all the legal hoops to get there. The ACC ND joined in 2014 is not the ACC of 2026. And yet for the time being, it is a Power conference that will schedule games with ND in October and November, where so many others seem hesitant to do so.

Guest

2:11

Mike from Alexandria Old Town, Virginia. Thank you Eric for your always highly interesting, informative and insightful chats. If a top priority of ND is to be a perennial candidate for the CFP, is an alignment with the ACC is

Eric Hansen

2:10

In talking to those who followed his recruitment way more closely than I did, I think he was listening to the wrong people and shifted his priorities. I like the fact that he owned everything in his interview recently and didn't come off as guarded. He was very open. He's grown up a lot and learned a lot.

Patrick, Fort Wayne, IN

2:09

Good afternoon Eric, I have read a couple of stories about Keon Keeley's love of Notre Dame that goes back to his recruit visits while in high school. He says he feels at home at ND. Why did he flip his commitment and go to Alabama? I smell money as the real love of choice of college institutions and take his fawning patter with a grain of salt.

Eric Hansen

2:09

Hi Stephen. I don't think Pete Bevacqua doesn't care about them. Sometimes the fixes aren't just about changing coaches. I would say of the programs you mentioned men's basketball is the one I'm most curious in hearing his thoughts about. Beyond coaching changes, what would your fixes be for the programs you named?

Stephen from New Orleans

2:05

Why does it seem to be that Pete Bevacqua is incapable of walking and chewing gum? The football program is in good shape, but he can’t seem to care at all about the basketball, hockey, or baseball/softball teams.

Eric Hansen

2:04

Hi Matt. Intermittent thawing here! An NIL deal with Keurig would be amazing, but I'm so smitten with that product anyway, they know I won't bail on them. ... I don't think that response necessarily caught them off guard, online classes vs. in-person classes. I think they know the value of that and sold it, and yet not everyone is going to buy into that ... and that's where fit comes into the recruiting process. But my thought is that it's an important part of the culture at Notre Dame that still makes this feel like college football and less like NFL Lite. .. and thanks for the compliment!

Matt from Austin

1:52

Hi Eric. I hope you are starting to thaw out! I'm still waiting on a response from Keurig regarding the unexplained delay in your NIL payments and will update when I hear from them! I thought the comments from incoming OSU transfer Mylan Graham were very interesting. I wonder how much discussion they raised around the program regarding in person class attendance and whether the coaching staff and the administration actually use this requirement as a positive when talking to prospective student athletes? It would seem that the recruits who value education would see this as a way to immerse themselves into the university experience as a whole. Can you share your insights and thoughts on the matter? Thank you Eric for all of your hard work!!! Matt

Eric Hansen

1:52

JJ glad you could take a break from hanging out on the Flying Wasp to join us! If ND can find a strong option or two at nickel, I think this will be the best defensive backfield in the nation.

JJ - Bushwood CC (New Jersey)

1:50

Ahoy Eric! I was intrigued by Aaron Henry's comments on the defensive backfield he inherited for 2026, and how they combine athleticism, intelligence, and maturity. Coaches usually aren't that complimentary, although it's well deserved praise for those guys. How good can they be this year?

Eric Hansen

1:48

3 I'm going to stick with the lineup I've been predicting for a while from RT to LT -- Lambert, Knapp, Craig, Black, Jagusah. As far as Jagusah, we're going to get a health update on him and everyone else from head trainer Tob Hunt on March 18. 4.) Wide receiver room evolution, pass rush evolution, stretching drills. Just kidding about the stretching drills of course, but we will see that the most.

1:46

Adam, thank you! to your questions ... 1) Expectations in my camp is yes 4.3s. My guess is 4.37. It would be cool to see what his time is in the 100 meters these days. His best in high school was 10.54 seconds and I am confident he is faster now. 2) Rocket Ismail, Period. I have only archived 40 times in combines/pro days since 2010. The three fastest in that time period are: Will Fuller 4.32, Nick McCloud 4.37 and Darrin Walls 4.39. (more)

Adam (Dayton, OH)

1:39

Eric, Thank you as always for the awesome chats, you are more appreciated than you know! 1.) Very surprised to see Jeremiyah Love is running the 40 with his 1st round status cemented. Are expectations from his camp to run somewhere in the 4.3s? 2.) If you had a 40 yard dash race between the all-time ND speedsters, who ya got winning? I think I have Allen Rossum edging Rocket. Will Fuller right behind them. 3.) What do you think we will see with the offensive line (lineup) and is what are the Jagusah expectations. 4.) What are you most interested in seeing/hearing about during spring ball?

Eric Hansen

1:37

Manny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This ties in a big with Marie's question. It felt like in 2024, there was more emphasis on schedule strength across the board than there was in 2025. Not only is overall strength of schedule key in how teams are perceived but November strength, and that Miami game being in November, win or lose, is going to help the Irish. The other problem Manny is that even conference schedules aren't uniform anymore because how big the conferences are. So you really have to look at all the opponents before judging a schedule of a Power 4 team.

Manny from San Pedro

1:34

Eric!!!!!!!! With USC opting to play San Jose State. Is the committee going to finally penalize teams who don’t schedule power for teams in a nonconference Notre Dame gets made fun of but they played 10 powerful teams

Eric Hansen

1:34

Hi Dave. Not ready to predict that yet for Notre Dame or any other team. I need to see some spring practices first. So then it can be an educated guess, rather than just throwing a dart with a blindfold on.

Dave Porter Toms River NJ

1:33

Hi Eric does the NC drought end for the Irish this year?

Eric Hansen

1:32

Pete!!!!!! Hello. That was so perfectly peppered with compliments that it kept you from venturing into the dreaded and forbidden manifesto territory. And I think there's something I can offer. First, thanks for the hype. Second, I think you might be able to console yourself that this team is going to be really fun to watch and probably has the best chance at winning a title -- if everyone stays healthy at the key spots -- since the Holtz Era.

Pete from Erie, PA

1:29

Hellooo Eric! I don't really have a question, pretty much "we'll see" covers things, just wanted to say hell-O. Still read everything of course. Love the Chats! Y'all are the best! I'm still not over '93 and now add 2025. When people ask me I've been saying "ND hasn't won a title since '93" with a grin. Just claim it right? Just tell them, they'll believe you. If I live long enough it'll become "since 2025". I guess I could ask you how you got over it but nothing works for me. I'm inconsolable. They got screwed and I'm sure they would've won. Love AND Price will never come again. Heck just Love was generational. My focus these coming months will be on the O-line/RB. The line has been just OK recently and it's not good enough. Aneyas et al will hopefully take the baton but I doubt you see another Love let alone w/Price helping him. No matter how great Carr is, they still have to run the damn ball and dominate the trenches. Need a little luck for health and hope we get the line right this time. Go Irish!

Eric Hansen

1:29

3) I don't think I'm going to be able to give you a definitive enough answer here to earn the Coronas. As soon as Brandon Logan is healthy enough, he was expected to rotate in. The hope was that he could do that during the first couple of weeks of the season. If they could get that home game in next Tuesday, that would be my guess. But I don't think the weather will cooperate. So either the Duke series the first full weekend on March or the March 10 date against Queens in Charlotte, N,C.

1:23

Tony! What is the concept of "rest" of which you speak?

I will accept your non-football questions, because a) I had hoped to do a WBB chat, but the football interest hasn't ebbed enough for me to fit that in. b) There appears to be a tempting bribe involved. ... 1) If Hannah Hidalgo comes back, I think it swings Cass' odds of returning to maybe just a tad better than 50-50. I think she could really help herself and a pro career with another year, an option she gleaned with a medical redshirt. She is going to go through the senior day stuff tonight, but that is not a clear indicator of intention.2) I think the odds are good that he signs, not so good that he sticks, at least not on an active roster. He would be a good gamble as a practice squad player perhaps. Can't find any record that he played football in high school, when he was 6-6 and 185. (more)

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