JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Sept. 2, 2026

Notre Dame Football Live Chat | Sept. 2, 2026

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Eric Hansen

3:02

OK, I am really tight today and have a hard out, because we have coaches and players on a Wednesday, which only happens when there's a Sunday game. So sorry if I didn't get to your questions. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back to do it all again next Wednesday at noon ET.

3:01

Hi Pogo. I think offensive tackle is pretty thin until ND starts getting some bodies back. Can't wait to take in your state.

Pogo from Madison

3:00

Having trouble containing my excitement waiting to see the Irish in action this weekend,. Wondering where you feel we have the least depth outside of QB if Carr goes down? In other words, where do you see the biggest drop off once injuries start hitting? One of my hopes is that we have enough depth that we can rotate a good amount without drop off (d tackle in particular is far deeper than anytime since the Holtz years) which will keep the top players fresher and less prone to injury. Am I dreaming when I think that? Thanks as always and appreciate the time!

Eric Hansen

2:59

Graham and I think Faison can too. Williams ... Jonaz Walton at some point, Porter had big-play potential and Frazier eventually will have plays like that.

Jon C - Bellaire, OH

2:58

Hi Eric - I have to work during the game this weekend, next weekend, and have a wedding the following weekend. Talk about an unfortunate start to the season (from a fan perspective). Switching to the team, we had 2 legitimate home run hitters last year (Love/Price). Who are going to be the guys on our offense that strike fear and can take the top off of a defense? I feel like Faison/Greathouse are great possession options and can run after catch, but who can make the defense respect the entire field? Is it Graham? Could Porter eventually get there?

Eric Hansen

2:58

I don't think you will be able to draw conclusions for the season from this game. But a good sign would be to simply handle their business, to play like they mean business and to perfectly execute the Lambeau Leaps!

dbhenders

2:57

When the Irish take the field on Sunday, what will be your first "clue" that the "Leave No Doubt" mindset has the staying power we all hope for?

Eric Hansen

2:56

Patrick!!!!! just one? I think it will be the running backs, led by Aneyas, just because people outside of the ND fanbase don't know who he is.

Patrick in Boulder, CO

2:55

Eric!!!!! Thanks as always for these chats. Who is your best guess as to which ND player we'll all be talking about on Monday and why? Go Irish!

Eric Hansen

2:54

Much appreciated JJ. Now have yourself a Fresca!

JJ - Bushwood CC (New Jersey)

2:54

Ahoy Eric!!! No question this week, as I'm enjoying the lead-up to Sunday evening, and I'll instead rely on Marie and others to ask excellent questions, as always. Thanks for all that you do. Your writing and reporting are unmatched, and these chats offer better insight into what's truly going within the world of ND football than any other news source. Thank you!!!

Eric Hansen

2:53

Play action fake to Williams and a long pass down the field to Mylan Graham in a four-wide set.

Skip / Houston

2:53

Please describe what you see as our first offensive play and its result. Thank you.

Eric Hansen

2:53

They worked a lot on that in the offseason, so I think we will see Notre Dame/Carr dabble in that, Dan.

Dan from Tampa

2:52

Hey Eric, Might we see instances where Carr will be under center?

Eric Hansen

2:52

Hi Steve. I have enjoyed Albuquerque three different times in my life. Thanks for jumping in with a question. I am going quick off the top of my head ... so Denbrock/Kelly Era ... OC Denbrock, DC yeesh -- got to give it to Al Golden for winning the Broyles award, we'll go with Marcus as LBs coach (he was that and DC), Partridge D-line, Mickens DBs, Harry O-Line, Denbrock WRs (in tour of duty 2), Seider for RBs, Gino for QNs, Biagi for STs, though Brian Mason was amazing in his short run at ND. I guess Denbrock again at TEs. I am fired up too. I am sure I forgot somebody but we are in the lightning round portion of the chat.

Guest

2:47

Steve - Albuquerque NM. Hi Eric, First ever question, but been enjoying chats for years. It seems like you are higher on Coach Partridge than any coach in a long time. Can you build your ideal staff starting with BK assistant coaches through the current staff. Are you taking Partridge over Elston for example. Mickens seems like a lock. Fired up for the season and thanks for keeping the chats rolling.

Eric Hansen

2:46

Hi Lorne, not sure I understand the QB thing unless you are accusing it of being a word salad, then it kind of was. ... Man. I don't expect Gray to struggle and not against this team. But if it happens, I think Dallas Golden probably comes in in this game.

Lorne

2:45

Lorne from Reno. Thank you for getting us through the excruciatingly long offseason. So happy for Onye and Mukam, the comeback kids -- "Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" (google the rest of the excellent Coolidge quote). I was not happy to see CMF talk about playing three QBs, even just as an "it would be nice" comment. He's usually more disciplined than that in his comments. Yes, I'm getting to a question. If Gray struggles at nickel, do you bring in Golden or Sanders (and move McKinney to corner if Sanders starts)?

Eric Hansen

2:43

OK August, I answered one of these already, but the compliment made me take the question anyway, so let me answer the second part ... I am going to go with safety Joey O'Brien for the freshman question ... and THANKS.

August from St, Louis ND80

2:41

I've enjoyed your work for many years Eric, your ability to tell an engaging story in a few paragraphs and enlighten us readers is top notch. So here are today's questions: Who scores the first TD of the year for Notre Dame? And which freshman makes the first interception, fumble recovery or TD? Many thanks! Enjoy the day!

Eric Hansen

2:39

Very good question Jim, and a lot of media people get this wrong. Tackles for loss applies to any position being tackled behind the line, including QBs. So a sack is a TFL and is counted as such. What some people do is say Boubacar had 10 tackles for loss last season and 6.5 sacks, when he actually had 10 TFLs, including 6.5 sacks. And tackles for loss are included in the total tackles column. They are not separate. So KVA might have 8 tackles, including 3 TFLs, not 3 TFLs in additiion to the 8 tackles.

Jim from Wheaton

2:36

Eric!!! We are FINALLY here! Great to hear the team will be honoring Lou this season. My question relates to the (TFL) tackle for loss statistic. Is this only applicable for non-QBs tackled behind the line of scrimmage? Does a QB sack also get counted as a TFL?

Eric Hansen

I may lose my professor status for not having the trivia answer.

2:35

Hi Michael. I am going to be good om the first question and really muddle the last ones. I have not had a chance to blow my nose this week, and so cool trivia like that will have to wait until late in the week, but I will try to find out. As far as the first one, pretty much every school does, because it's fun for their fans and it also cuts down questions about it in the press conferences. Obviously, they don't see it as a competitive disadvantage to do so. I've always thought it was silly not to release one.

Michael from Chicago

2:30

Professor Hansen, if this hasn't already been addressed can you please comment on Depth Chart etiquette. Do you know why ND releases a weekly DC and can you recall a time that ND didn't? Bonus inquiry if you'll allow it; when was the last time a ND football legacy played on the same field as their NFL father before this weekend (fingers crossed Kaydon catches a garbage time TD, extra extra credit if that would be a first for a father/son in ND history?!?)

Eric Hansen

2:30

Roger, thank you ... and make sure you stretch before you hit the enter key with your questions after the long layoff! I think Colton Joseph is a definite QB upgrade. But does he have Riley Leonard talent around him? I don't think so. I never bet so the point spreads only mean something to me in terms of having to pick games for fun and that margin sounds about right.

Roger from Peoria

2:24

Eric: Been a while since I sent you a question. I guess this "Chatter" also had an off-season, but preparation is now over and its time to kickoff or punt. To read about the Badgers transfer QB, Colton Joseph, from Old Dominion, he is the second coming of Riley Leonard!! Both pass and then can really run. What say you? When Kelly departed, I thought Fickell would be a good replacement. I think the "powers that be" knew a lot more than me, and am I glad they did!!! But, the Badgers showed up in their last five games in the 2025 season. How do you feel about the 20.5 point spread? And having said "or punt", is the new Aussie import the "real deal"? Hope you enjoy the trip to Lambeau! And, thank you for doing these chats. You indeed are the BEST. And, of course, GO IRISH!!!!

Eric Hansen

2:23

Hi Shane. I think the best news I can give you is Notre Dame continues to lean into sports science when it comes to injury prevention and mitigation. And the resources that the new Shields Hall gives the Irish will only enhance those efforts.

Shane from White Deer, Tx

2:22

Hey Eric. Kind off the wall. I hear and see a lot of “he’s got to stay healthy” or or “if he can stay healthy “. I don’t think any of the guys want to be hurt or injured. (Maybe stay off ATVs). Is there anything that can keep a player injury free? There are players that seem to be hurt a lot of the season, but is it not a little unfair to say he’s got to stay healthy when it’s not entirely up to said player? Heck, I hope we all stay healthy. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

2:21

We are supposed to talk to players and coaches tonight, and he was one of the players schedule. Not sure yet if he is coming. We should have some word, but I expect him to play for his father, who recently passed away.

Ray From Burke VA

2:20

Any news on whether Adon Shuler will try to play?

Eric Hansen

2:20

Hi Marc. Great to see you and thanks for the stuff you've done behind the scenes for me. Which has nothing to do with Aneyas LOL. Because of the depth of the RB room, I think it's more of a RB room coming out party than just Aneyas, but I do think he will start to get national attention after Sunday night.

marcwithglasses

2:19

what kind of coming out party do we get with Aneyas Williams on sunday? I anticipate he looks great and with this offense his value can’t be understated particularly catching passes. I think it’s a breakout performance sunday night!

Eric Hansen

2:18

Hi Ryan, I picked Aneyas Williams earlier and Brauntae Johnson is my first pick guy. But I really like your picks too. I think your score prediction is really good. I might steal it.

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

2:17

Good afternoon Eric who scores the first touchdown on Saturday and who gets the first interception I’m thinking Fasion for touchdown and Leonard Moore for interception I’m thinking Irish win 35-10 or something like that GO IRISH ☘️☘️🏈🏈

Eric Hansen

2:17

Ciao Paul! Now, I should point out that Styleds Prescod is listed as an OR designation, meaning the coaching staff either hadn't made up its mind about him and Sullivan Absher or they weren't willing to reveal it. But in either case, it's about a culture that Marcus Freeman has instilled in which hard work an perseverance matter and two young men taking that to heart. That's at the core of both rises. As far as you well wishes, I say Crepi il lupo! A little bit of an idiom, but I think you'll get the gist.

Paul from Knoxville

2:14

Ciao Eric: I really appreciated the article with the 2+ deep list of players at each position and would like to ask for your thoughts on 2 surprises -- at least to me -- identified as starters: Armel Mukam and Styles Prescod. Good for both of them! I've read about their improving during camp, but I am curious to which factors you would attribute their respective ascents to first team. Buona prima partita!!!

Eric Hansen

2:12

Don. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A little twist on an earlier question. Based on a lot of what I am hearing from my fellow media members, including co-workers, it's wide receivers. But I am far more optimistic about that group. And then the surprise is running backs for me.

Don in Scottsdale, AZ

2:10

By the way, thank you and the rest of the team for keeping the content relevant and top notch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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