Rakes Report: A Notre Dame Podcast

Start your Saturday in the City of Brotherly Love and end it at the Golden Bowl in Berkeley. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

The Spreadsheet and Tailgate newsletter's Michael Bryan joins to judge the severity of concerns about the Fighting Irish after their opening loss with another big game ahead of them on Saturday night. We also take a look at lessons learned from the first two weeks of the college football season. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

GigEm247's Carter Karels returns to preview the Aggies' upcoming trip to South Bend. Topics include the improvement of Texas A&M's passing attack, optimism about a run game that started slowly and a whole lot of questions about Mike Elko's defense. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

There isn't a lot of sizzle this weekend but if you dig there's plenty of steak. Dave Campbell's Texas Football on Scott Abell Lawrence Journal-World on Bert Coan Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to discuss the Fighting Irish losing their season opener to the Hurricanes. A real loopy one trying to work through this so apologies for that. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to close out the offseason with our annual discussion of things to be excited about for the upcoming Fighting Irish campaign.  Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Recommending some of the most interesting games of the opening weekend, from an important G6 clash to Top Ten tilts. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Alex Herrmann and Andrew Smith of Notre Dame, Our Blogger join to preview all 12 opponents on this fall's Fighting Irish schedule. A spicy start, the murky middle and some sad scenes. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyama joins to run through every scholarship freshman on the Fighting Irish offense. A tight end and running back who could make an instant impact, a crop of promising linemen, three receivers trying to work their way into the mix and a quarterback who needs to be ready for action as soon as next season. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyama joins to run through every scholarship freshman on the Fighting Irish defense. Corners set to carry on the Mike Mickens tradition, an elite lineman and options alongside him, promising safeties and a trio of intriguing linebackers. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

The Spreadsheet and Tailgate newsletter's Michael Bryan and Irish Sports Daily's Greg Flammang join to rank the top units on this year's Fighting Irish roster. Why it's nice to have the best players in the country, a debate about which line is better, safety life post-Xavier Watts, can wide receiver finally deliver and the continuing quarterback race. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Blue and Gold's Eric Hansen joins to run through the transfer additions that could have a major impact for the Irish this fall, from Malachi Fields and Will Pauling juicing the passing attack to DeVonta Smith stepping in at nickel and Jared Dawson helping to hold things down along the line. Also included general camp thoughts, including a starting quarterback prediction, Eli Raridon hype and much more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyama joins to talk about a big weekend of news, both good (recruiting successes) and bad (Charles Jagusah's injury), as well as a look at how Notre Dame is using NIL and how to best go about handling the wide receiver position. Then Jamie explains his schedule tiers for this fall's dozen Irish opponents. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to file a report on her visit to campus over the weekend. Then: Recruiting successes, how new jersey numbers could affect the season, a long look at the House settlement/what the future of NIL might look like and best movies of the 21st century. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to rank the best coaches in college football, including where we place Marcus Freeman among his peers. (The Top 25 coaches newsletter referenced during the discussion.) Then (42:20) The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant joins to discuss the state of the Notre Dame women's basketball program, how there's a star void to be filled for the 2025-26 season and how Irish alumnae are thriving in the WNBA this season. 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 join to take a look at what preseason win totals might mean for a long list of college football teams. Topics include but are not limited to: Freedom from the Big Ten West, Cignetti Year Two in Bloomington, Clemson hype vs. reality, the cowardice of the USC Trojans, a big year for LSU, sad times in Palo Alto and Stillwater, interesting times in Miami, expectations for Deion, Narduzzi purgatory, the circus in Chapel Hill and potentially tough years for both Clark Lea and Steve Angeli. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

We're dusting off a few of our old conversations with Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyama to remember what we thought about C.J. Carr and Kenny Minchey before their freshman seasons at Notre Dame began. Also including a bonus Steve Angeli Frosh O report out of respect. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Irish Sports Daily's Greg Flammang and the Spreadsheets & Tailgates newsletter's Michael Bryan join to review our depth chart power rankings from last season and to look ahead to who might stand out on this fall's roster. Plus, a review of Reacher Season 3 (56:45). MB's wildly specific prediction newsletter. The August 2024 depth chart power rankings. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to talk about big news for the Notre Dame quarterback room and to appreciate Steve Angeli, plus the WNBA and NFL Drafts. Then (32:40) the Report Medical Team joins for a lengthy discussion of the excellent television series "The Pitt," focusing on our favorite characters from the deep ensemble. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to talk about where Notre Dame football stands as spring practice winds down. Updates on the quarterback race and a how the projected 2025 depth chart compares to last year's team as well as a look at The Shirt and what a couple major transfers mean for for college sports. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport