SOUTH BEND — There's plenty of Notre Dame football news to unpack on this week's Pod of Gold podcast. South Bend Tribune and NDinsider.com beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino size up the Irish transfer portal finds, their 2024 early signees and of course what to expect from the Dec. 29 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl matchup with No. 21 Oregon State in El Paso, Texas. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. It's the 90th Sun Bowl contest and marks the third post-season battle with the Beavers who won both the 2001 Fiesta Bowl and 2004 Insight Bowl by a combined average score of 39.5-15.

SOUTH BEND — How did this happen? How did No. 15 Notre Dame football land in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl opposite No. 21 Oregon State? How do Irish fans get excited about this? South Bend Tribune and NDinsider.com beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino chat with equally surprised Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas to scratch at those answers on this week's Pod of Gold podcast. Kickoff on Friday, Dec. 29 is set for 2 p.m. It's the 90th Sun Bowl contest and second for the Irish, who topped Miami (Fla.) 33-17 on New Year's Eve 2010. The game also marks the third post-season matchup between Notre Dame and Oregon State, with the Beavers winning both the 2001 Fiesta Bowl and 2004 Insight Bowl — both in Phoenix — by a combined average score of 39.5-15.

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football didn't have the benefit of an opponent last week to help eradicate the taste of its flop at Clemson Nov. 4. Senior Day against Wake Forest Saturday can't seem to get here fast enough. Kickoff at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday is 3:30 p.m. with a ceremony honoring 31 Irish seniors shortly beforehand. Notre Dame (7-3) still has a 10-win season in its sights even though a New Year's Six Bowl is off the table. On this week's Pod of Gold Notre Dame football podcast, hosts Tom Noie and Mike Berardino unpack the Irish disappointment in South Carolina, assess how the ND can get its offense back on track and monitor transfer portal percolations. They also breakdown the Wake Forest game with Learfield sideline reporter Dave Goren.

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football landed at No. 15 in the first College Football Playoff rankings unveiled Tuesday night. The Irish need to win their final three games starting Saturday against a struggling, but still very dangerous Clemson team in Death Valley, in order to have any chance at a New Year's Six Bowl invitation. As are South Bend Tribune Pod of Gold hosts Tom Noie and Mike Berardino unpack Notre Dame's impressive win over Pitt last Saturday and breakdown what it needs to do against the Tigers this Saturday. They are joined this week by Eric Mac Lain, a former Clemson football captain and current analyst for the ACC Network. Kickoff Saturday at Memorial Stadium is noon ET.

South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie are joined on this week's Pod of Gold by former players Justin Tuck and Eric Penick

SOUTH BEND — Another week, another undefeated opponent, another night game. And another episode of Pod of Gold as we breakdown Notre Dame football vs. Louisville. Kickoff Saturday at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium is 7:30 p.m. on ABC South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie take us through the final moments at Duke from the sidelines, talk the emergence of tight end Mitchell Evans and "freakin" Rico Flores Jr. And when will QB Sam Hartman throw his first interception since the Gasparilla Bowl? He's had his struggles against the Cardinals Tom and Mike are joined by former Major League manager and Notre Dame enthusiast Dave Trembley on how Marcus Freeman has adapted to the spotlight under the Golden Dome.

SOUTH BEND — It's time to move on. We all know what happened down the stretch in Notre Dame football's last-second 17-14 loss to Ohio State last Saturday. Now it's time to look ahead to an Irish schedule that suddenly appears more challenging than at the beginning of the season with road games at undefeated No. 17 Duke (4-0) and Louisville (4-0), and at home against No. 8 USC (4-0). South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie wrap-up the Buckeye debacle and turn to what the Blue Devils bring to the table for Saturday's 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C.

SOUTH BEND — This was suppose to be Notre Dame football's proclamation to the college football world. And in many ways it was, except for the painful finish. South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie unpack what went wrong in Notre Dame's deflating 17-14 home loss to Ohio State Saturday night. And to nobody's surprise, it starts with arithmetic. This special edition of Pod of Gold was recorded live at the WNDU Studios in South Bend, home of the Countdown to Kickoff pregame show before each Notre Dame football game.

  SOUTH BEND — There's a special energy on and around Notre Dame's campus the week of a big game. This week is no exception as the ninth-ranked Irish prepare to host No. 6 Ohio State at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday. Kickoff on NBC is set 7:30 p.m. But before the game, and before ESPN's College GameDay crew sets up residency with Touchdown Jesus as its backdrop, South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie break down the Irish chances at a signature victory that would propel them into the College Football Playoff conversation. They are joined this week by former Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire, who says this is a "can't miss" opportunity and a chance to "change the narrative" moving forward.  

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football has a huge game coming up. And it's not this weekend. As the ninth-ranked Irish (3-0) prepare to take care of its housekeeping at home Saturday against Central Michigan (1-1), it's the Sept. 23 matchup with No. 6 Ohio State at Notre Dame Stadium that casts a shadow over the Chippewa's trip to South Bend. South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie are joined on this week's Pod of Gold podcast by Columbus Dispatch sports columnist Rob Oller, to NOT talk about Central Michigan. Instead Oller helps breaks down the Irish vs. Buckeyes matchup that is expected to have College Football Playoff implications. This week's Pod of Gold was recorded live at the WNDU Studios in South Bend, home of the Countdown to Kickoff pregame show before each Notre Dame football game. Kickoff Saturday against the Chippewas is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.