Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, Florida State week.
Some quick programming notes:
► If you missed the last episode of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, it keeps its shelf life long after the live presentation. We remain in our normal Monday at 7 ET time slot. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube. Coming up in the wee hours of Sunday morning on our YouTube channel we’ll have our Postgame Takeaways show posted. So, grab some coffee and make us part of your Sunday morning.
► The Inside ND Sports Podcast will drop Thursday. Last week, Tyler James and I reached out to Pro Football Focus college football analyst Dalton Wasserman to share some knowledge. Wasserman discussed Notre Dame's season to date, what PFF's grades say about quarterback Riley Leonard's pro potential, how good running back Jeremiyah Love has been for ND, how PFF ensures for consistency in grading, what Anthony Treash can provide for Notre Dame's staff, why defensive tackles Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III have lower grades this season, safety Xavier Watts' NFL Draft stock, how to understanding PFF grades better, if Notre Dame is a College Football Playoff team, the biggest misconception about PFF and more. The podcast can be listened to via SoundCloud or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podbean and Pocket Casts.
Related Content
► Transcript: Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman opens FSU week
► Notre Dame football lands at No. 10 in initial CFP rankings
► Expected recruiting visitors list for Notre Dame vs. Florida State
► Notebook: Tae Johnson is the latest Notre Dame freshman poised to rise
► Notre Dame football depth chart projection for matchup with Florida State
► Finally, we’re rolling out of the bye week at WSBT Sports Radio 96.1 and into ND’s matchup with Florida State on Saturday night. Darin Pritchett and I are together this week on Wednesday and Thursday on Weekday SportsBeat (96.1 FM, 960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com). The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. I’m also part of the Gameday SportsBeat crew, and the pregame show that runs on Saturdays before every game. This week we’ll be live from 4-6:30 p.m. ET. You can download all episodes, including the pregame shows, as podcasts.
As far as this week's chat …
PLEASE include your NAME and HOMETOWN along with your question(s).
No 17-part questions. No manifestos. Minimal whining, especially coming out of a bye week.
Here are the rules:
Eric Hansen: The "no drinking" rule remains rescinded until further notice ... please don't make me regret it.
OK off we go. ...
Patrick from Los Angeles: Based upon USC's loss to Washington and Navy's loss to Rice, do you think there is any scenario in which an 11-1 Notre Dame team gets shut out of the CFP? Conversely, in your opinion what needs to happen for ND to secure a first round CFP home game? Thank you.
Eric Hansen: Hi Patrick. This will probably be the first of several CFP questions we get to, but I think this is a good place to start. Having participated in a teleconference Tuesday night with CFP selection committee chair Warde Manual, I heard enough about how the committee is evaluating teams, including ND, that I think an 11-1 ND team is in. They could tempt fate by winning unimpressively in November and looking like a team on the decline, but even then a lot would have to align to knock ND out of contention.
How would they get a home game? Well, they're two seeds away now from that, with the committee splitting hairs. The thing they can control is win, and win impressively. Texas A&M winning out and Louisville winning out would also help their case. And if Army's only loss is to ND, that would be another nice data point. Teams ahead of ND losing games helps, provided they're not in the conference title game in some cases. That might invite a team outside the top 12 to take a top 4 spot and squeeze the number of available at-large spots. The USC score could matter if you're comparing ND and Penn State, as that would be a common opponent.
Jeff from Phoenix: Hey Eric! I have a question about the 2025 TE recruiting. They took Flanigan a long time ago, and seemed good with just the 1 for this cycle. Now they have made a push to flip Olesh from Michigan. Any insight as to why they decided to add a second TE? Thanks-
Eric Hansen: Hi Jeff. This is more conjecture than me poking around and trying to get confirmation. Let's do the math. You have six tight ends on the roster now, and two of them can't come back — Mitch Evans and Davis Sherwood are out of eligibility after this season. That leaves you with Kevin Bauman, Eli Raridon, Cooper Flanagan and Jack Larsen as potential returnees. Bauman has a COVID exemption year, but he may not exercise it. And even if he does, is he too physically compromised over the years to be a front-line, every-week contributor? Might one of the others transfer? As those questions played out, the thought of adding a second tight end recruit became more appealing. And it's something ND considered early in the cycle and then backed off.
Matt from Salem, Ore.: Is there a chance the playoffs for football ever have a formula for selection like other playoffs? Like hockey with pairwise (though I don't think it is formal). They use head to head and common opponents , then ties are broken by voter poll. Just having that published with other polls gives a more data driven look to fans and others comparing teams. Thanks for your insight.
Eric Hansen: Matt, thanks for your question. And I understand the intent here, but I don't think it works for football. Here's why. With hockey, you have far fewer teams (60 vs. 134 FBS football teams). Those teams also play a lot more games, so there are more data points and more common data points as well. Last year ND played 36 games ahead of the NCAA Selection time (and the Irish were not selected). The football team plays 12. So the eye test in football is really, really a big factor and increasingly so. Because of the size of these mega-conferences, even teams in the same league don't play similar schedules.
Saturday night, when I was putting together my AP poll ballot, I was trying to compare Indiana (9-0) and Penn State (7-1), both Big Ten teams. This deep into the season, they have ONE common opponent -- UCLA. Now there will be more common data points among more teams when the final rankings are issued on Dec. 8, but the eye test is still going to have to factor in significantly.
Joe from Massapequa, N.Y.: Hello Eric, my good man. My question has to do with the playoffs. I am expecting ND to be ranked ninth tonite . Maybe eighth depending if Louisvillle cracks the top 25. It appears to be 11-1 or bust for the Irish. I think with the future schedules it may be very difficult to get in with 2 losses w/o a conference affiliation. At what point does this program bite the bullet and join a conference? What would it take? I have been a fan for 50 years and i am ready to join lol. I will be disgusted if I see Penn State and Indiana in with 11-1 records. What are your thoughts? Enjoy the week.
Eric Hansen: Hi Joe. Thanks for the question. Let me break this down in parts. I think in most years 10-2 will be enough to get ND into the playoff. And remember, a 14-team format may be coming down the road in a couple of years. This year, the rhythm of the schedule did not set up that way, not to the overall strength of schedule. Who would have thought the two highest-ranked teams going in -- Florida State and USC would be a combined 5-13 at this point of the season? But next year's schedule looks formidable now, with what we know of it. And adding Texas in 2028 and 2029, which should be official sooner than later, is another step toward keeping that schedule competitive. Even joining a mega-conference doesn't ensure schedule strength. If Ohio State blows out Indiana, the Hoosiers may be out of the playoff at 11-1, for instance, with zero Top 25 wins.
So, what could drive ND to join a conference full time in football? It's the same three things ... if their path to compete for a national title is blocked. If their media rights deal isn't putting them in position to be competitive with the best teams. Or if the ACC blew up and there would not be a conference that would take them without full-time football. Right now none of those boxes are checked. So football independence lives on.
Mark Czar from Grand Rapids, Mich.: Ideally, what does the next step in Riley Leonard as a passer evolution look like? Max Hurleman and his journey to ND would be a story I would love to read. Is he still taking practice reps at CB? Do you expect to see Tae Johnson get game reps on Saturday? Thanks Eric -you are the best!
Eric Hansen: Hi Mark and thank you! All the things that go into the pass-efficiency formula from a statistical standpoint. More TD passes, better completion percentage (although he has the third-highest for a single season in ND history currently), the ability to extend plays when that's called for. Highest yards per attempt/completion. What might that look like on the field? Better decisions. More Mitch Evans. Getting the field receivers involved. That would be Jordan Faison, now that he's healthy, and Kris Mitchell. That's the concise version. Just a comfort in running the offense, seeing the game through Mike Denbrock's eyes and vice versa.
We did get Max for one of the Tuesday night interview sessions recently, and I did include a lot of the quotes from his interview in my weekly greatest hits piece I do every Wednesday morning. So I will link to that in the transcript. ... I think the coaching staff will work hard to get Tae Johnson in on special teams this week and ideally at least a handful of reps at corner if the game situation dictates.
Rui from Westchester, NY: ND and strength of schedule is something that ppl look "down" on because its weak schedule, yet Indiana is way worse but nothing is truly said … thoughts?
Eric Hansen: Rui, in listening to the committee chair, Warde Manuel, Tuesday night and others ... I think there's a higher bar for strength of schedule for teams with one loss or more than there is for an undefeated team with some games still left to go. Is that fair? I can see both sides. I have ND ranked ahead of Indiana, but IU has taken care of its business and has been dominant in those games. But what Manuel couldn't answer is why wouldn't BYU, with two Top 25 wins and undefeated, rank higher than Indiana. In general, all of these things seem to work themselves out over the course of the entire season.
Johngipp from Lititz, Pa.: Hey Eric, I was at the 2000 ND Nebraska game when the red invasion occurred. The first ranking had ND away at Penn State for a first round game. If you saw any crowd shots of the PSU-OSU game, it was a sea of white save for a small splotch of red in the upper boondocks. (still in PA I believe) I wonder if an invasion of white could still occur if the home field of the playoff game were flipped. I remember JS stating efforts were underway to eliminate this occurrence in the future. Do you have any knowledge of the mechanics and status of these efforts?
Eric Hansen: New athletic director Pete Bevacqua and I had this discussion last spring and I published our conversation in a three-part series. It's pretty in-depth, even that little part of it that you asked about, so I'm including the link at the end of this answer. But here's a quick quote ... and Pete was at the Nebraska game too as a fan. ...
“We owe it to our fans. We owe it to Notre Dame to make sure we’re out in front of that,” Bevacqua said of tamping down visiting fans’ presence to a manageable level at Irish home games. “And I think you’ve seen those results. They're demonstrable.”
Digging into the front-burner issues that greet Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua
Doug from Sunny Florida: Eric, did you ever think ND would be in a position to look beyond FSU to prepare for Army? Of course they aren't looking beyond FSU but what needs to happen for ND to win this weekend so I can retain bragging rights amongst all of these FSU fans here? Go Irish!
Eric Hansen: I think Notre Dame needs to play with the precision and the passion that they've done so for the past month or so, with the memory of the Northern Illinois game brought up to them by Marcus Freeman every Thursday. Look, Florida State is 96th in total defense among the 133 teams the NCAA charts (the 134th is considered provisional). And that's their better side of the ball. Offensively out of 133, 132 in rush offense, 132 in total offense, 132 in scoring offense, 131 in pass efficiency, 126 in sacks allowed, 132 in third-down efficiency, 130 in turnover margin. So, as Freeman says, play to your standard.
J Buckley from San Diego: Let's start with the obvious, now that the votes are in, ND lands at 10 ;) ..I think that is a fair spot, and like that there are a few BIG 10 teams ahead of us who will cannibalize themselves. What's the latest in the world of recruiting? Did we make any progress with this year's class? Also, I'm really hoping the team is up for this week’s game and the rest because they're all going to try and play spoiler..Thoughts, and thanks as always for all your insight.
Eric Hansen: Hi JB. Thanks. Tyler James put together an extensive visitors list earlier this week, with lots of big names coming in from both the 2025 and 2026 classes. And the early signing period is even earlier than it has been this cycle -- Dec. 4. So ND can put itself in position this weekend to finish strong. ... My expectation is that this team will not take its opponents for granted down the stretch, but we'll have to find out together if that's the case.
Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric, I hope you’re having a fantastic week. What are your thoughts on Notre Dame‘s No. 10 in the first CFP rankings? Based on the current ranking, what do you think the highest ranking they can achieve is? Can you please explain to me how Penn State is number six? I know they only have one loss, but they have no top 25 wins. And although Ohio State only beat them by seven Ohio State gave them a pick six and then when they were going into score fumbled into the end zone costing Ohio State another seven. The game was not that close. Which teams in the current top 10 do you think are the worst matchups for Notre Dame? Finally onto the game, is there any position group on Florida State that might be able to give Notre Dame some trouble this weekend? A lot of rapid fire questions but still under 17.Thanks for hosting the chat and all your great insights.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. ... I am having a pretty good week here. Two of my grandkids have birthdays this week! I have Notre Dame ranked higher than the committee does, but I can see the justification for having them at 10. Again, that's not necessarily where they will end up. But given limited common data points, I don't think 10 was unreasonable. I think 7, maybe 6 at this point is probably as high as ND could get and that would take more than a few things to align perfectly. I think 8 and a home game is very realistic. But let's see what the weekend brings.
I did hear Warde Manuel talk about Penn State's resume, and this version of the committee seems more intent to weigh in "good losses" than some of the previous ones. But I have Penn State lower than ND in my rankings, and I could be wrong about them. The USC game will be a point of comparison at season's end. Unless Penn State gets into the Big Ten title game, all they have left are Washington, Purdue, Minnesota and Maryland, so unless Illinois re-enters the Top 25, they may not have a ranked win. Purdue is another common opponent with ND.
Florida State still can rush the passer well, so they'll challenge ND's offensive line and take some chances there. They are very very good at one thing -- punting, though they've had a lot of practice. But they are the No. 1 team in the nation in net punting.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric. Thanks for hosting. Finally this season the SEC went on the road to play power 4 schools. Texas went to Michigan and Alabama went to Wisconsin and won convincingly. The conference went 8-5 against the power 4 & ND. That conference earned the nod they got from the CFP committee. The BIG 10 did not. They are 6-8 against the power 4 conferences with no signature wins. 3-1 against the Big 12, 2-3 against the ACC, 1-3 against the SEC and 0-1 against ND. Conference best win was USC over LSU. Indiana's best win is against a 5-4 (4-4 in conference) Washington team. The 3 non power 5 teams they have played are all 3-6. Penn St. best win is against a middling Illinois. How are these teams ahead of ND? The NIU game is far back in the mirror. Is the CFP committee biased towards majors conferences?
Eric Hansen: Hi Len! You forgot your exclamation point his week. The committee says it does not take into account conference strength overall or even consider conferences. They look at each team individually. And that should be how they do it, because in the era of megaconferences, even two teams from the same league may play league schedules that have very little resemblance to each other. So why you build a great case for conferences' relative strength with some good research, the committee says it's not using that as a criterion.
Ed from Sayville, N.Y.: Hello on this important day to you Eric. It’s nice to see the compliments coming to Cooper Flanagan for how his blocking skills help the offense. Do you have a sense for how he’s viewed as a receiver? How do you see the utilization of Evans, Raridon and Flanagan playing out as the season continues, and perhaps the weather becomes more of a factor?
Eric Hansen: The one thing I know that really impressed offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Mike Denbrock about Cooper Flanagan when they first had a chance to work together was how hard Cooper hit the playbook in trying to learn it quickly and thoroughly. I do think blocking is his stronger suit both now and in the future. He's an able pass-catcher, but not a mismatch waiting to happen, in my opinion. Having Mitchell Evans, Eli Raridon and Cooper Flanagan all 100 percent at the same time gives Mike Denbrock more options with them. As I look at the last four regular-season opponents, it feels like Army and USC set up more for the tight ends to be more involved in the pass game than FSU and Virginia, but we'll see.
Phillip from Bonita Springs, Fla.: Long-time reader, first-time write. Blessings Eric!!!! Do you know anyone else that was offered back over the bye besides Jordan Botelho?
Eric Hansen: Hi Phillip. Blessings to you too. That process is sort of ongoing. If there are specific players you're wondering about the chances of them coming back or having the chance to come back, I can weigh in on those. Wish I had a better answer for you.
Mike from Phoenix: Eric, Happy chat day!! Can you give us an update on where ND stands on the 5 important metrics after 8 games? Regarding next year, who is going to be harder to replace, Watts or Cross? Thank you. Cheers!
Eric Hansen: Hi Mike. Here you go. The five metrics are rush offense, pass efficiency, rush defense, total defense and turnover margin. ND is 13-71-44-8-7. That's not a bad place to be eight weeks in having just played Navy and with the pass efficiency number ascending weekly it seems. If there were no such things as the transfer portal, Cross would be the harder replacement. I think Watts is the more consistent player, but we're splitting hairs between two really good players. With the transfer portal, ND can get a starter or someone to rotate in at the interior line spots with them hopeful both Gabe Rubio and Jason Onye return. There's some really good young safeties on the roster and some good freshmen coming in. Cheers!
Kevin from Sleepy Eye, Minn.: Eric:):):):) Simple question: Can we strike gold with any major WR recruits this weekend? Meadows is my hope.
Eric Hansen: Kevin !! If they're on campus with a month to go, ND has a realistic shot at them. And that would include Meadows. Not a slam dunk by any means, but getting him to visit is huge.
Ryan from Frankfort, Ill.: Good Afternoon, Eric. What do you think about the play of Adon Shuler he looked Good against Navy i think we win like 49-3 or something like that or we score some more points what do you think GO IRISH ☘️☘️☘️🏈🏈🏈
Eric Hansen: Ryan, I should just let you pick my scores. You do a pretty good job of it. I haven't formulated my pick yet, but I'll publish it on Friday morning. Yes, Adon Shuler looked very good back in his home state of New Jersey. He was a summer surger who never faded in the fall, or at least not yet.
Tim from St. Louis: Happy Wednesday. Have seen you on TV, your keen fashion sense. … Know this question may have already been asked but have not seen an answer! What was the deal with ND wearing its home Blue jersey for the Georgia Tech game? And have fans seen the last of the white pants this year? It is past Labor Day, you know.
Eric Hansen: Hi Tim, way to butter me up for the white pants question LOL. It didn't work. I figure if the team won and looked good doing it on the scoreboard, then the threads are acceptable. Again, it's a low bar for me, if there's not a spaghetti sauce stain on it, that's dressing for success -- before, after or during Labor Day.
Jim from Wheaton, Ill.: Hi Eric! I am hoping that the Irish come out of this bye hitting on all cylinders, and put FSU away early, removing any drama, and giving some freshmen who haven’t seen any action yet a chance to get some experience. My question is about Jaylen Sneed- I know that he had his best game in three years against Navy, however, he strikes me as not having a true linebacker physique, and he doesn’t appear to welcome taking on blockers, especially when rushing the quarterback. He is a dynamic player, but is being surpassed by the other linebackers in that rotation. Would the coaching staff consider shifting him to safety in 2025, to take advantage of his athleticism, especially with the pending departure of Xavier Watts? I wonder if that’s where any future at the next level would be. Thoughts?
Eric Hansen: Hi Jim, the body types and skill sets of linebackers have changed so much in the past 10-15 years because of how spread out the offenses are. So 6-1 224 for Sneed and 8-2 216 for Ausberry are right in line for being right-sized for an outside linebacker. Even inside at the weakside spot. ND's heaviest safety is 211. But Luke Talich has that on a 6-4 frame. Watts is 203. The other thing there is, coverage is where Sneed would have to make the biggest gains, especially with matchup he might get at safety. So, I would leave him at linebacker, especially with Kiser leaving after the season. I like the question, though.
Denny from Beaverton, Ore.: Hi Eric; Hope you and the team are rested and ready for the final push. Having watched ND football since the days of Ara, I remember on more than a few occasions that the team seemed to have run out of gas as the season wound down. This year the two bye weeks seem to have been well placed to rest the team. I would imagine that Coach Freeman and director of football performance Loren Landow, being so involved in analytics, have taken precautions to guard against a late season decline. Are you aware of anything special that is done differently as the season draws to a close? Does the grind of the season ever get to you and how do you cope if it does? You seem to work very hard but I know you really have a passion for what you do.
Eric Hansen: Denny. Thanks for the compliment in that last line. And yes, I am lucky, very lucky, to do something I love for a living. One thing that's very different from Ara's era and even as recently as the Weis Era is how much more nutrition and training table and sports science and body recovery are leaned into. As far as what the next four weeks will look like, I can certainly ask for specifics, but I know they look at the players' GPS tracking devices and other data and determine whether there needs to be an adjustment in the length or the physicality of practice sessions.
Shane from White Deer, Texas: Hey Eric. If the season ends the way we all hope it does, is there any scenario where a loss to NIU penalizes ND more than two losses experienced by any other team in consideration for the 12 team playoff? (Excluding any conf champion that may have 2 losses). As always thanks for chats. Go Irish.
Eric Hansen: I didn't get that sense from committee chair Warde Manuel. He did call the loss "troubling", but here's the context:
WARDE MANUEL: "Well, the logic was they opened the season with a great win at Texas A&M, also against No. 22 Louisville. Their performance against a Navy team that was ranked at the time -- didn't have a loss and going to Navy and winning in a dominant fashion we felt overcame what was a troubling loss to Northern Illinois.
"But they've won six straight games since that loss, and Riley Leonard is really coming on into this offense, not only passing but actually running. A very good runner. Their defense is in the top 10. They're a very solid team.
"I'd say troubling because we all thought it was not the Notre Dame team that we've seen when we looked at what happened against Northern Illinois."
Tom F from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric. Happy Day After Election!! Don't know how it was in SB but ATL was loaded with awful political ads that are now over!!! In MF's efforts to get the team focused on the rest of the season, do you think he will stress there are only 4-5 games left? You may only get to wear an ND uniform a few more times to get the most out of the Seniors?? Glad to see Mitchell Evans is a semi-finalist for the Mackey. What does he need to do in the next 4 games to have a shot? Yards, TD's??? My guess is Taylor from LSU as the winner. Finally, where would you rank ND if they had held on and beat NIU??? Thanks for everything and Go Irish!!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. Usually, I can skip through commercials, because I DVR anything I watch on TV except for live sports. So I am happy to watch even TP commercials now. I don't think the messaging about valuing each opportunity left is new for Marcus Freeman. That's one of his season-long talking points. I don't think Evans will have the numbers to get into the serious mix to win the Mackey. He just didn't have a long enough runway to be fully healthy for an entire season, but he gets big points in my book for what he's done ... I think there's a difference in where I might rank ND had they just eked by Northern Illinois on a 61-yard field goal or if they handled Northern Illinois like they handled Navy. With a blowout, I'd probably have them 2. In a close NIU game, maybe 4 at the lowest, maybe 3 if everything else stayed the same. But remember, the highest the Irish can be seeded is 5, because the top four goes to conference champs.
Roger from Peoria, Ill.: Eric: While it may be fun (or perhaps overly frustrating) to speculate where an 8-0 Irish team would have been ranked in the first Football Playoff Rankings, that reality does not exist. So, it is a 7-1 record with the loss to the Huskies being the albatross. My take is getting to #8 and hosting a first-round game will be a challenge as it will require (a) the Irish to win out and (b) for at least two teams ahead of the Irish to fall and none behind the Irish to pass us. Assuming (a) occurs, do you see (b) being a realistic possibility? As to the speculation in the absence of the loss to the Huskies, a #5 or #6 initial ranking might have occurred, but . . . . ! Argh!! Go Irish!!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Roger. You and Tom were on the same wavelength, but I can answer your other question. I do think it's a realistic possibility to host --- not a given, but realistic.
Patrick from Boulder, Colo.: Eric!!!!!!!!! Thanks as always for hosting these chats. Two questions today for you today - what can you tell us about Tae Johnson and his being listed on the 2-deep for CB (have you seen/heard anything that you can share beyond what Freeman said in the press conference that we should know about his ability to contribute now after his injury)? Also, what are you looking for in terms of development of individuals or the team in the last 4 regular season games? Thanks and GO IRISH!
Eric Hansen: Patrick !!!!!!!! You win the exclamation point prize this week, which means you get to ignore all the rules next week except "no spitting." To your question. ... I did a big story earlier in the week on Tae Johnson, so perhaps what I don't include in my answer, you can find there? Tae Johnson doesn't have much experience at corner or even safety, but he is at an elite level when it comes to speed and athleticism. And he's a quick learner, so the coaches are excited to see what he can contribute down the stretch. As far as how this team gets better in its last third of the season, better O-line play, a passing game that is starting to move from liability to adequate to perhaps somewhat dynamic. More Mitch Evans. On defense, the run defense has got to continue to take strides and the pass rush needs to keep coming. And no injuries in the secondary. Special teams, they need Jeter back for Army and USC at least.
Tom from Evanston, Ill.: Hi Eric. I watched some of tOSU/PSU and have seen a few other marquee games this season. I haven't seen a team that could establish a running attack with any consistency against a good opponent. ND actually seems like the most run-oriented team in the top 10. Am I getting the eye test right? As Leonard improves, ND could be quite formidable on offense. Oddly, the defense worries me more with the injuries.
Eric Hansen: Tom, here are the national rush offense rankings of the 12 teams in the playoff field. So above ND's No 13 ranking in rush offense are Boise State 4th and Tennessee 7th. Below the Irish are Oregon 61st, Ohio State 34, Georgia 97, Miami 35, Texas 65, Penn State 33, BYU 59 and Alabama 47. As far as injuries on defense, ND is fragile at a couple of positions, given the numbers. But so far the players who have filled those roles have stepped in big time.
Sean from Schaumburg, Ill.: "While I nod like I know what I'm doing." Too funny, Eric. FNS has been top notch. Great point by you on Al Golden being selective IF he's offered an HC gig at the college level. How much does his salary and comfort at ND play a role in staying/leaving? The D has been great since his arrival. Is going back to the NFL a goal of his? I, also, liked how you put into perspective the coaching goals of Golden/Denbrock and how they've evolved. My angst level is near zero now with FSU. They look to have packed it in. Also, it's Damocles and spector from my questions/observations from last week. Autocorrect got it wrong last week. I'll be in South Bend for the game. ND 37 FSU 0. Go Irish!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Sean, thanks for the compliments, the autocorrect story, the prediction and the question. Al's comfort level and compensation at ND makes the bar pretty high for someone to make a better offer. Not impossible, but really limits what would be an attractive option.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Enjoy those grandkids birthdays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric Hansen: Thank you. I have to cram in my shopping on Friday.
Kagan From Angola: Hi Eric, as i look at the top teams in the CFB Playoff specifically Ohio State Georgia with the way they struggled with Gabriel and Milroe tucking and running and also the designed qb run; do you see this as an equalizer for the Irish if we were to play these two teams? Or even others and do you expect Denbrock to lean into it a little more once the playoffs start?
Eric Hansen: Kagan, I'd love to get into more specifics if I had a little more time to study how those teams matched up, but I'm telling you Riley Leonard's running ability -- paired with improved passing -- is a headache for any defensive coordinator. I'd like that skill set if I'm an offensive coordinator.
Matt: Hey Eric. Hope you are well. A little bit of a different question. Which is more fun for you, covering the ND football team or covering the women's basketball team? And why? Thank you and best wishes.
Eric Hansen: Hi Matt. They're both a lot of fun for different reasons, but college football has always been my No. 1 passion. Both have some great stories, great people.
Eric Hansen: OK, I have a commitment coming up at 3, so I'll end it there. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll be back to do it all over again next Wednesday at noon ET.
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