Rakes Report: A Notre Dame Podcast

A primetime C-USA clash, a check-in on our old friend Gerad Parker and a couple of Florida teams try to stay on the playoff path. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

The focus is still on football (please defeat Pitt) but both basketball teams also have big games this weekend so we're taking some time to project what that might look like on the hardwood. First, Paul Coletti of The Irish Alert newsletter joins to break down the new and old faces who'll be surrounding Hannah Hidalgo for the women's team. Then (35:00), Sam Werner of the Three-Point Jesus podcast projects the rotation around Markus Burton on the men's side. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport  

Jessica Smetana and the Spreadsheets & Tailgates newsletter's Michael Bryan gather after the Fighting Irish's comfortable win over the Midshipmen to discuss highlights of the seventh straight victory, including more Jeremiyah Love absurdity, C.J. Carr bombing away and a great effort from Chris Ash's defense. Also: How the rest of the day affected Notre Dame's playoff chances and the big upcoming clash at Pitt. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

The races to clinch everything from bowl eligibility to conference title game berths heat up in the season's final month. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport  

Jessica Smetana joins to talk Notre Dame's sixth straight win, where Navy slots in among the remaining opponents, Brian Kelly's firing, the first set of playoff rankings and much more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

The battle for the Old Oil Can, a key American clash and the Big 12 race stays hot. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Sam Werner of the Three-Point Jesus podcast joins to spend some more time discussing Notre Dame's 34-24 victory over USC and where the team stands after seven games. Then the discussion turns to the future of the Fighting Irish-Trojans rivalry, some conventional wisdom about the series that isn't so wise, stress-testing our playoff beliefs and a lot more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to discuss the Fighting Irish's soggy and satisfying victory over the Trojans to retain the Jeweled Shillelagh. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

A big Saturday in the Sun Belt, a monster Friday night and SEC title elimination games. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Our USC Insider Nick Tresnowski joins to break down Saturday night's monster clash as we reach Round Four of Lincoln Riley vs. Marcus Freeman with playoff and contractual drama swirling. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to discuss the Fighting Irish notching their fourth straight win via another great performance from the defense. Then we had to discuss James Franklin being let go by Penn State following the Nittany Lions' third straight loss. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Big games on Thursday and Friday night, the Big 12 race stays tight and a rare but needed Rutgers appreciation. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana and Lucy Rohden join to discuss Lucy's first visit to Notre Dame, what the campus and game day experience were like around Boise State's visit and how that compares to other schools. Also discussed: The Big Ten, James Franklin and when preseason projections go wrong. Off Rohding report from Notre Dame Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Michael Bryan (Spreadsheets & Tailgates newsletter) and Andrew Smith (Notre Dame, Our Blogger) join to break down the Irish taking care of business in a flag-filled game against the Broncos. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Some sad #goacc, some promising young quarterbacks and a whole lot more highlight the weekend. The SI story on the 1982 Aloha Bowl. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to discuss the Fighting Irish rolling into Fayetteville for the blowout win, including another nearly perfect day from the offense. We also hit on a fun weekend of college football and then just as we were wrapping up

A monster weekend awaits, with ranked teams in danger, American teams trying to keep rolling and a whole lot more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to break down the Fighting Irish getting their first win of the season against the Boilermakers, including an incredible offense and still so many questions about the defense. Then (50:50) a look at the Paige Bueckers-Sonia Citron WNBA Rookie of the Year and some light schadenfreude. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

A stacked noon slate kicks off what looks to be another fun Saturday that ends in Boulder and with some more potential Golden Bear magic. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Sam Werner of the Three-Point Jesus podcast joins to file a report from the Irish's second loss of the 2025 season. Chris Ash, C.J. Carr, what the next ten games might look like and much more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport