Pod of Gold: Notre Dame Football

In this episode, Tom Noie, Mike Berardino and Jackon Neill set the stage for Notre Dame's home game against Miami (Ohio) - can the Irish handle success two weeks in a row. They look back on the wipeout of Purdue and rewind to this week's Pod of Old - Notre Dame's road win in 1996 at Texas in the final seconds thanks to the right leg of Jim Sanson. Author Mark O. Hubbard joins them to discuss his authorized biography on Notre Dame legend Ara Parseghian. They close with the question of the week before hot takes and predictions for the Miami (Ohio) game.

SOUTH BEND — How does Notre Dame football pick itself up from the canvas after a stunning blow from Northern Illinois last Saturday. Well, it starts with taking out that frustration from its unthinkable 16-14 loss to the Huskies on Purdue Saturday. Kickoff on CBS is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette. South Bend Tribune Notre Dame football beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino, along with WNDU sports director Jackson Neill, unpack the stunning loss to NIU and breakdown Saturday's game against the Boilermakers (1-0) on this week's Pod of Gold Notre Dame football podcast. Special guest this week is Sam King, Purdue football beat writer for the Lafayette Journal & Courier. This week's show was recorded in the studios of news gathering partner WNDU. 

SOUTH BEND — Coming off the biggest win in Marcus Freeman's three years as head coach, Notre Dame football is favorably positioned for a run at the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Yes, there's still 11 more regular-season games to play, but Saturday's 23-13 win over No. 20 Texas A&M in front of 107,000-plus at Kyle Field, stands as a benchmark for what this Irish team is capable. So, what's at stake this week when the seventh-ranked Irish (US LBM Coaches Poll) host Northern Illinois of the Mid-American Conference? Pretty simple: Avoid a Marshall repeat (home-opening upset loss in 2022), avoid injuries and keep on improving, especially along the offensive line. South Bend Tribune Notre Dame football beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino, along with WNDU sports director Jackson Neill, unpack the win in College Station and breakdown Saturday's game against the Huskies on this week's Pod of Gold Notre Dame football podcast. Special guest this week is college football recruiting guru Tom Lemming. This week's show was recorded in the studios of news gathering partner WNDU.

South Bend Tribune ND beat writer Mike Berardino and columnist Tom Noie tee up Notre Dame football's 2024 season opener at Texas A&M

SOUTH BEND — Will Notre Dame football's defense be dominant enough to pave the way to and through the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024? Can the Irish offense under the presumed direction of transfer quarterback Riley Leonard look like "polished glass?" Will the special teams be, well, special? South Bend Tribune Notre Dame football beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino, along with WNDU sports director Jackson Neill, breakdown those questions and many more in this season's first Pod of Gold podcast of the 2024 season This week's show was recorded in the studios of news gathering partner WNDU.

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