Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, Virginia 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 late Saturday night on our YouTube channel we’ll have our Postgame Takeaways show posted. If you miss it Saturday night, grab a cup of 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 Dennis Dodd, national college football writer for CBS Sports. Dodd discussed Notre Dame's seeding, how each CFP committee evolves, what we learn with the weekly updates, what has happened to Florida State and USC this season, if steep declines are more likely to happen in the transfer portal era, if Penn State is any good, which team may be a sleeper in the CFP, what major news may be next for college football 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
► Notre Dame football climbs two spots to No. 8 in latest CFP rankings
► Notre Dame football depth chart projection for matchup with Virginia
► Heat Index: How the big recruiting weekend impacts 2025 class outlook
► Coordinator Transcripts | Offense: Mike Denbrock | Defense: Al Golden
► Finally, at WSBT Sports Radio 96.1, we’re rolling into ND’s Senior Day matchup with Virginia on Saturday. 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 earlier than normal because of an ND men’s basketball game — 10:30 a.m.-12:30 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). Please.
Here are the rules ... typically:
Eric Hansen: I say typically, because I'm rescinding all of those, except for the "no spitting" rule this week and just politely asking for no 17-part questions, no manifestos and no whining.
OK, off we go ...
Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric, I hope you’re having a great week. The college football playoff rankings are starting to get pretty complicated, it looks like there may be some good two loss SEC teams that get left out. I’m sure Greg Sankey won’t like that. Do you think this will lead to eventually getting rid of the automatic bids and just taking the top 12 teams across-the-board, or do you think they won’t do this because the conference championships make so much money and in order to keep them around they have to have some type of meaning? If they were to get rid of automatic bids, what do you think the timeframe would be? I feel like it’s wide-open this year, I’ve heard several people say Notre Dame is playoff worthy, but not a contender for the championship, if the improvement continues at the rated it has been going for the remaining three games, Do you think that that would make them a contender? Great that the O line made the Joe Moore semi finals, however, while watching Florida State it’s very hard to tell how much they have really improved. Is their level of improvement at this point in the season about what you expected, more or less than you expected? One final question, I know the defense usually has a rough first drive and that settles down and normally that’s fine, are you at all concerned that this could be a problem at USC ? They are avery talented team and they would have some motivation with ND being their rival, and the possibility to spoil ND’s playoff chances. It just feels like they could get some momentum going if the defense has a bad first drive, thoughts? As always, thanks for hosting the chat and all the great insights.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. Having a great week here and thanks for asking. Let's unpack your questions. The first one about possibly changing the playoff format in the future, that's on the table for the 2026 season. The grand poohbahs of college football wanted to give it two years in this format to see how things played out. Then the new contract starts in 2026. And a lot could be on the table, including the aborted move to go to 14 teams. I don't think two-loss SEC teams would necessarily drive that or any changes. And there might be none. But I do think awarded a bye and a top four seed to four conference champs might be worth revisiting. Why? Even in the Big Ten and SEC, the paths to getting into the title games are so varied and inequitable, how much does a conference title really mean? Wouldn't it be better to just take what's perceived to be the conference's best team and give them the bye? And if they go to a 14-team format, there's only two byes in that configuration.
As far as whether Notre Dame is perceived as a national title contender, I think parity this season has made the pool of contenders deeper than in a lot of years. I think to be skeptical of ND's chances isn't off-base, but it is a team that has room to improve, and some of its viability will depend on playoff matchups. They match up against Oregon better, for instance, than Ohio State, even though Oregon is the better team. ... As far as being a Joe Moore Award semifinalist, when you look at who's judging that, including Harry Hiestand, those guys know a heck of a lot more about offensive line play than the rest of us. If that's a top 10 O-Line, then the improvement has been way ahead of schedule --- not because of a lack of talent, but because of the injuries and inexperience.
Yes, USC should be a formidable opponent. The Trojans have been competitive in every game, losing to Penn State by 3 and their biggest loss being seven points. Al Golden's defense has adjusted well in every game but Northern Illinois, so I would imagine they'll adjust against USC. If USC had an elite defense, maybe that opening drive thing would be a problem, because they could leverage that early lead. They do not have an elite defense. But again, tough game. ND will have to play well. I have long felt football is not about being perfect, but about being able to adjust on the fly and overcome during a game.
Dan from Vernon Hills, Ill.: Eric, do you think Notre Dame can make the playoffs and win a playoff game with the current state of their passing game?
Eric Hansen: Hi Dan. I think the expectation is the passing game, which has been steadily improving, will continue to do so. In his past two games, Riley Leonard has had one of the top five performances by a QB each of his past two games. Now that does include his running ability. But who has a Power 4QB averaging more than 6.3 yards a carry and almost 70 yards a game rushing? No one but Notre Dame. So when you put those two elements together, I can answer yes to your question about getting to the playoff. And to the second part, tell me who the opponent is, because that matters.
Shane from White Deer, Texas: Hey Eric. What kind of gesture were you making at Coach Freeman’s press conference? Something about being tired? Moving on, without too much math, how much better would the defense's stats be if they could magically erase the first drive each game? I bet points allowed would be in single digits. Also, where does our punting rank nationally? There has to be a reason why the booming punts aren’t there. Going to be important down the road. Thanks for keeping us informed. Go Irish!!
Eric Hansen: So, for those who don't watch or follow the press conferences, Marcus Freeman was talking about the possible reasons why night game atmospheres at ND were superior to day games. And while he was trying to add to the list, I made a motion that indicated partaking in beverages, and he agreed. As in a longer period of time to fill up on antifreeze, so to speak. ... To your defense question, how much better would they be in scoring defense. Well, considering they're third and less than a point from leading the nation, I guess that's your answer. Two spots. But I'd MUCH MUCH MUCH rather have a DC who responds well to schematic surprises and had an answer and continues to have counterpunches throughout the game than one who anticipates the exact schematic surprise but then can’t counterpunch when the opposing offensive coordinator adjusts.
As far as punting, James Rendell is averaging 40.4 yards a punt, but doesn't have enough attempts to qualify for the national individual rankings. As a team ND is 85th in net punting after being 83rd last season. They're at 38.43, which is a few 10ths of a yard better. Yes, given James Rendell's talent, it should be better and it has been improving. And here's some important context. Of the 30 punts he's had, 12 have been inside the 20, with ZERO touchbacks. So there has been some good there amongst the meh. Thanks for your questions.
Sean from Westwood, N.J.: Hi Eric! What's the latest on Jason Onye: do you expect he will return to the field this season? Also, is Josh Burnham more likely to succeed and contribute as a drop end or strongside end? Love the chats, keep up the good work!
Eric Hansen: Hi Sean and thank you. I asked Marcus Freeman about Jason Onye heading into the Florida State game and his response was the team’s priority is being there to support him and that he'd be welcomed back if and when he decided to come back from missing games for "personal reasons." So whether he comes back is anybody's guess, but he's missed considerable time, so getting back up to speed quickly might be a challenge. ... As far as Josh Burnham. I believe he is the best healthy option on the team at either of the end positions, but he's needed more on the Vyper side and Bryce Young is ascending at the field end spot, so Vyper it is this year, with a return to the other side likely in the cards for next season.
Denny from Beaverton, Ore.: Hi Eric; When you answered my question in the Chat last week that I asked , you mentioned that the players were tracked by GPS. That surprised me since I had never been aware of that. Can you expand on that as to how and to what extent they are monitored. We appreciate you and the wealth of knowledge you share with us each week.
Eric Hansen: Hi Denny, and thank you. Notre Dame has used Catapult's tracking system for roughly a decade, but there are several others. I'll provide you a LINK so you can read up on it if you'd like more depth on the topic.
Rick from Pasadena, Calif.: Forgive the dumb question but how is ND ranked 8 in the cfp rankings but 9 in the bracket? Please explain. If ND wins out and things fall their way, how far do you think they can rise in the final bracket?
Eric Hansen: Rick, you are forgiven. Every CFP rankings story I do, I explain the concept, including the one I did last night. Here's the link to that. It has the explanation, the rankings, the bracket, the seedings and the remaining schedules for all the playoff contenders all in one place. So a quick summary. Seven at-large teams and the top five rated conference champs are invited to the 12-team playoff. The TOP FOUR conference champs, getting a first-round bye and are seeded 1-4. So this week that is No. 1 Oregon as the top seed, No. 3 Texas as the No. 2 seed, No. 6 BYU as the No. 3 seed and No. 9 Miami as the No. 4 seed. No. 2 Ohio State is the top-ranked at-large team and is seeded 5th. Notre Dame is seeded ninth and not No. 8, where it is ranked, because Miami's seeding knocks ND back a spot since the Hurricanes are ranked behind the Irish.
Ced Walker from Saginaw, Mich. aka sagnasty Saginaw pride who do u see returning back and for a 5th year we already know Jordan botelho coming back god bless this football team here come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us
Eric Hansen: Hey Ced, given there are only 14 players with expiring eligibility and a recruiting class likely to exceed 25, the math doesn't work out to bring back a lot of them ... and there would be attrition in other classes as well via the transfer portal. The increase in scholarships beyond the 85 limit hasn't been formalized, so you can't assume and yet ND has some wiggle room with NIL money. So let's look at the list of who is eligible to return among fifth- and sixth-years.
There are four potential sixth-years: DE Jordan Botelho, TE Kevin Bauman. OT Tosh Baker, S Xavier Watts. Botelho, who is coming back, is the only one of those that makes sense to return to ND unless Bauman is willing to be a depth piece. The fifth-year candidates are DLs Gabe Rubio and Jason Onye, CB Chance Tucker, WRs Deion Colzie and Jayden Thomas and O-lineman Rocco Spindler and Pat Coogan. I think the Irish would love to have both Rubio and Onye back. Tucker would have to accept a deep reserve role to come back. I'd imagine Colzie would like to play more elsewhere, but maybe Thomas would be willing to return. If Spindler isn't guaranteed to be a starter next year, it would make sense for him to go to the NFL or be a starter somewhere else. Ashton Craig's ACL recovery timeline may linger into the season. If I'm Marcus Freeman, I'd want Coogan back no matter what.
Jack from Strongsville, Ohio: Hi Eric. Can you give us your thoughts on Gerry Faust. Did you have much contact with him? It is ironic that he and John Robinson passed away on the same day. Thanks as always for your great work.
Eric Hansen: Hi Jack. My very first time ever setting foot in Notre Dame Stadium was a day after I turned 23 years old and was a rookie reporter at the Columbus (Ind.) Republic. It was 1983 and Gerry Faust was the coach. I was sent up to do a feature on ND's starting quarterback, Blair Kiel, who was from Columbus, Ind. He got benched that day for freshman Steve Beuerlein. The Irish beat a bad USC team that day, in green jerseys no less, 27-6 despite Beuerlein going like 5-of-16 for 44 yards, something like that. I'll look it up later. Anyway, Kiel RIPPED Faust up and down. I had an impression of Faust before that, and it wasn't a good one as a coach. And to this day, I have to say, that's still my impression.
BUT I did get to know Gerry Faust the man, and there were some very admirable qualities about who he was as a person that impressed the heck out of me. And he did make a difference in people's lives, which is awesome. And there was an authenticity about him and a humility that I really liked. He would come to ND games on Saturdays after his coaching days were done, and he'd always come say hello in the pressbox, even though when I landed at the South Bend Tribune in 1988, he was already gone and at Akron. So, I do feel fortunate that I got to know that side of him.
Tom F from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric, I really enjoy your PC questions with MF. Good questions that require good answers with insight as to what is happening with the Irish. Are the PC's like church in that everyone always sits in the same seats?? I notice you are always off to his right. Was Love under the weather Saturday? He just seemed to have a low number of snaps?? ND has had long TD runs in almost every game. Scheme? Talent? Good WR blocking? Your thoughts. Finally, you have said that Louis Nix was always one of your favorite players/interviews because of his personality. Have you been able to get any in-depth interviews with any players on this year's team to put anyone in that personality category?? Thanks for keep reaching that standard of excellence! Go Irish!!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. Thanks for the compliments. I would say most people sit in similar spots each week. For me, there's always a little strategy involved. I feel like it's easier to get the attention in that spot for the people who are handing out the mikes. I also am on an extremely tight schedule following the PC for hours afterward, so I want to be out the door and not caught in a conversation (because those guys are fun to talk to and I have no self control). I don't know that Love was, because he was not particularly effective, but while he didn't have a ton of carries, he did have 31 snaps, which is almost as much as the other five RBs who played combined (34).
As far as the running back home runs, there's layers and not always the same combination of factors. You named some of them. I'd add to the list play calls ... and the strength and elite speed in Love's case. You are right about Louis Nix III. I miss him. There are a lot of really fun personalities on this team, including some who may surprise you. Ben Morrison is one who's easy to connect to, but for different reasons that Louis. Ben is more serious. Riley Leonard would be a hoot to spend a day with. The long snapper Rino Monteforte is hilarious. Just trying to think off the top of my head. Aamil Wagner is super impressive. A very incomplete list. I'd have to give it more thought. Thanks for asking and for the kudos.
Myliah from El Cerrito, Calif.: Hi Eric, it's been a while! (though I often take furtive glances at the chats during work). In recent years, it's seemed as if ND has always had a clutch player for high-pressure situations that could make game altering plays--Avery Davis and Michael Mayer come to mind. I guess Leonard is kind of clutch in his own way, but does ND have any clutch position players that can make the play when it's 4th and long and the game is on the line? Maybe Faison? Whom would you want the ball going to in a situation like that? I feel like we're going to need that special somebody if/when ND makes the championship rounds.
Eric Hansen: Hi Myliah, welcome back! ND actually tracks 3rd- and 4th-down conversions as well as 3rd- and 4th-down stops. So, let me start with those numbers and then I'll add my thoughts. The leaders in 3rd-down conversions are Leonard (9), Greathouse (6), Evans (4), Love (4) and Jayden Harrison (3). 4th down it's Leonard (5), Faison (2) and Love (2). On defense, 3rd-down stops -- surprise it's Sneed (8) followed by Bowen (7), Mills (7), Clark (6), Watts (6), Shuler (5) and freshman Leonard Moore (5). 4th down it's Watts (4), Moore (2), Christian Gray (2). I think offensively the numbers line up to the eye test. I'd probably boost Evans higher, because he wasn't healthy early in the year. On defense, it's Watts no question. But it's interesting how much Moore has been involved as a freshman since taking over from Ben Morrison.
The Beave from Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eric: I believe my telepathic rooting powers can affect the outcome of the games. Please tell me who to root for in the only CFB ranked vs ranked game left on the schedule? My first thought was to root against any team ahead of ND in the CFB Rankings in hopes of moving up for a better seed and a home game. However, could an upset like Georgia over Tennessee actually work against ND’s seeding by elevating the underdog? Do any of the 2-loss SEC Teams have a path to the SEC Championship Game a shot at the automatic bid for a conference Championship? Any other teams outside the current 12 have a shot at an automatic bid and the ability to bump those in the current ranking down? Help me oh wise one.
Eric Hansen: The Beave, thank you for overinflating my powers. I'll take it all day long. So let's start with some other teams you didn't mention. Root for Texas A&M and Louisville in every game if you want to help ND's perception, and for Army when the Cadets aren't playing the Irish. Root for Alabama and Ole Miss to NOT get into a crazy SEC tiebreaker and make it to the title game. They don't have the schedule strength remaining to jump ND in the coming weeks as long as the Irish take care of business. I think Ohio State beating Indiana helps ND more than the other way around. I think I'd root for Tennessee to eliminate Georgia, because the Vols still could lose the final weekend to Vanderbilt. And root for Minnesota to upset Penn State. As far as two-loss teams and the SEC title game, yes that possibility exists. And the person whose story I read about that admitted getting a headache just trying to explain it. So who am I to spread that kind of pain?
Frank from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Eric, do you know how the top 4 seeds will be assigned to the 4 quarter final sites? Is that predetermined (i.e. the 1 seed goes to Rose, the 2 seed to Orange etc) or will that only be established once it is known who the top 4 seeds are and then determined based on historical conference ties, or possibly on geography?
Eric Hansen: Because of existing bowl contracts and geography, that has been recently determined. Big Ten champ goes to the Rose Bowl. SEC to the Sugar Bowl, Big 12 to the Fiesta and ACC to the Peach Bowl. The Orange and Cotton are the semifinals sites this postseason and the finals are in Atlanta.
Ryan from Frankfort, Ill.: Good afternoon Eric what do you think about the play of Donavan Hinish and Mitchell Evans they both looked good vs Florida state my prediction is Irish 52 Virginia 21 GO IRISH ☘️☘️☘️🏈🏈🏈
Eric Hansen: Hi Ryan. Donovan Hinish had to step up with Howard Cross III getting injured against FSU (sprained ankle, not long term), and will be asked to play a lot Saturday against Virginia. He probably played his best game at ND. We had a chance to have him in the interview sessions last night and he feels confident that he'll rise to the occasion on Saturday. Yes, Mitchell Evans looks more and more like his old self each week. Thanks for your prediction.
Mike from Phoenix: Eric, I took a look at the top 15 highest paid coaches. Only 2 with a title are Kirby and Dabo. My question is who would you take over Marcus Freeman as of today? I feel he was dealt a bad hand at the beginning of his coaching career due to the QB situation. Handcuffed if you will. He has improved the roster tremendously. The freshman and sophomore class has some big time players and we haven’t seen them all just yet. I’m gonna say it…If he signs another great class next month…I feel this team is about to go on a run similar to 87-93. Is my kool-aid spiked or do you feel they are trending in that direction? Cheers! Go IRISH!☘️
Eric Hansen: Hi Mike. If there's one thing I would change about Marcus Freeman if I could, it'd be his experience level, but I think he continues to grow in the areas he needs to and is ahead of the curve in a lot of other areas. Fit is so important at any school and even more so than most at Notre Dame, and Freeman fits this place. I used this word earlier in the chat, but Freeman's authenticity should not be underestimated in today's college football and how that plays in recruiting and with other areas of roster management. I like where Marcus Freeman is heading.
Ed from Sayville, N.Y.: Hello Eric. What do you hear? What do you say? It feels like the staff has significant confidence in Aneyas Williams and not just as a blocker. I’m not sure if he was an early enrollee, but he has certainly come on quick. What are your thoughts on his future potential and might his role as a pass catcher catch present an opportunity down the stretch? Thank you additionally for your writing on Coach Faust who was truly a terrific human being.
Eric Hansen: HI Ed, thank you. Aneyas Williams was an early enrollee as was fellow freshman RB Kedren Young, the latter of whom missed most of spring with a chronic hamstring injury. I really like the future for both of them. It kind of reminds me of Logan Diggs and Audric Estimé coming in as freshmen together in the same class a few years ago. Yes, Williams has such a wide skill set for a freshman, including pass protection. He is earning trust for more critical situational roles. Again, really impressed with both of those guys. You'll see more of Young in 2025 than you are this season.
Rui from Westchester, N.Y.: Concerned about the possible happening( using this as an example ) of Colorado beating BYU in Big 12 game...and now an underdog( team that wouldn't make 12-team playoff ) has stolen a slot to the dance from a bubble team( a la NCAA mens bball when conf tourney is won by a team that wouldn’t make dance )...do we see this happening in the future and your thoughts on if it does and how it affects those "bubble teams"? Hope my question makes sense.
Eric Hansen: Hi Rui. I get your question. Let's look at it as it pertains to both ND and the field in general. If BYU were to lose to Colorado and that was their only loss, they certainly would drop behind ND and may drop out of the playoff field all together. If they do not, yes, the Big 12 being a two-bid league is a problem this year for someone, just not Notre Dame. Not quite parallel in the ACC, where SMU is pretty good and beating Miami would knock the Hurricanes completely out of the field. But it's something the conference commissioners and ND AD Pete Bevacqua will want to monitor as they consider possible CFP format changes starting in 2026.
Mark Czar from Grand Rapids, Mich.: I hope the sun is shining on you in South Bend. Avery Davis was always a favorite. What do you think his strongest motivation to portal was? As you look at Anthony Knapp what would improvement look like at this stage? Do you think NOB cooling on ND has anything to do with Rivals Five-Star clips showing Kevin Brown dominating him in pass pro drills continuously running for the last +4 months?
Eric Hansen: Hi Mark. I feel like the sun is always shining on me, even when I can't see it. ... You did throw me a curve with your first question, in that I'm guessing autocorrect got the best of it? Strongest motivation "to portal" might be "to persevere" I'm guessing? Let me go to No. 2. Anthonie Knapp improvement is happening, and he's settling down, playing more confidently and consistently. Learning from each game situation and applying it in the next game. His technique is solid and he's tough. More physicality is needed, but he'll get that in the offseason not in November. ... And no, I don't think a clip of a drill has one iota to do with any recruit's decision. Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng has the potential to be a special linebacker at the college level, but the way ND is recruiting the position in the past few cycles and the current one, there's not a clear and certain path to early playing time for him. ND loses only Kiser. Ausberry and Bowen are sophs, KVA a freshman, Sneed a junior.
Kahanu Kia is coming back next year and Ko'o Kia is joining him as is Anthony Sacca and likely Madden Faraimo. And ND just got a commitment from one of the top LBs in the 2026 class and is a strong contender for the No. 1 LB in that class. So lots and lots of competition.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CFP week 2 rankings are out. And I still think the rest of the country press is catching up to where I am at. I am not saying that the BIG top 4 are not elite. But based upon the balance of the conference getting zero votes in either the AP or Coaches poll, we can see that past number 4 there is no team standing out. Plus as I pointed out last week the BIG has a losing record against other power 4 schools. I know you mentioned that each school on a team's schedule is looked at separately, and not as a conference as a whole, it looks like the committee chair has pulled a fast one on the committee if that is the case. If 9 of 12 teams’ games are in the conference, then relative conference strength is important. IU, as things sit now, will play only one team over 500 in their conference. Is the committee using one game to verify or debunk their "eye test" thoughts?
Eric Hansen: Len!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I understood your question more. I think I am confused. I am sorry. Let me go refill my coffee cup and see if that helps.
OK I am back and I think that will help, but bourbon might have been the more effective option, so here goes ...I'm not sure if you're asking me to explain the committee's position or defend it. I guess, I'll try to do a hybrid of that. Let's look at blanket conference strength like you insist upon over looking at these teams and their opponents individually. But let's do it with the SEC. Team one plays in conference: Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, Texas, Florida, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Team 2 plays Alabama , Auburn and Miss. St. in common, but plays Vandy, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Arkansas. So team one plays three top 10 teams among the five teams not shared and team 2 plays 0. Team 1 is Georgia. Team 2 is Missouri. Not that out-of-conference records aren't important, they are. They are connectors for common data points, but they're not everything. I hope that makes sense.
Lorne from Reno, Nev.: Love the chats (thank you), love the site. Those who grumble about superteams being created through the portal should see Saturday’s game as a cautionary tale. If you rely on the portal and miss, you can end up like FSU. Our reliance on recruiting (with the portal for patches) means we have so much talent among our underclassmen that we will lose excellent players to the portal because you can only play 11 at a time (I suspect we’ll lose J. Price and his 7.3 ypc). Even if we falter, CMF has built the foundation for sustained success … through an emphasis on recruiting. RIP Gerry Faust. In way over his head as a coach (Pinkett, Pinkett, pass, punt), but you will be lucky if you ever meet a better person. No question, just thanks and comments.
Eric Hansen: Thank you, Lorne. I could answer that one without caffeine.
J Buck from San Diego: Hello, it’s a brisk 75 here in SD;), there is your weather report for the day, anyways how do you see the teams in front of us in the rankings by the end of the season? There are 4 BIG 10 teams ahead of us, and at least three of those are going to take another loss? After watching BYU and UTAH I don't see how they are ranked higher than ND. Point being, I know, I know its about time I got to the point, I think if ND wins out they should be in the top 5 by the EOY. Yaa Naa? Thanks for these chats. ohh and what's the deal with the tickets if ND gets a home playoff game?
Eric Hansen: Ha. It's a tropical 51 in South Bend, but it's 70 in my home office thanks to a furnace that works! So there's a difference between ranking and seed because of the conference auto-bids and seeding. So ND's peak seed would be 5 even though it could be ranked higher. Let's talk about realistic seeding. I think the ceiling is probably 6. I think either the SEC runner-up or the Big Ten runner-up will be sitting at 5. What we don't know is how the committee will view conference title game losers. They're hinted that the penalty for losing this cycle will be minimal. But what about scoring margin or an upset or many other factors. Given all of that, if ND wins and wins without struggling over the next three games, I'd put them as the No. 7 seed with maybe a 6 seed/ Once we get closer to a probability of a home playoff game, I'll dig into the details about tickets.
Steve from Findlay, Ohio: Hi Eric, should Riley be getting more Heisman attention with his play this year? His rushing yardage looks like a misprint.
Eric Hansen: Hi Steve. I think his rushing numbers are underappreciated, but I think being an afterthought in the Heisman race at this point isn't a slap in the face. There are players on contending teams with bigger, better overall numbers.
Manny from San Pedro: Eric!!!! What a fun great season!!! I am looking forward to the final three games. My question is why does one year the committee says style points matter. Other years it’s who you beat. This year seems to be who you lost to and it’s hurting ND in the rankings. It seems like any 1 loss big ten or sec will be ahead of us. No matter their schedule. ( I’m writing this before the new poll comes out) but the eye test says ND should be 6. Shocked seeing them so low last week.
Eric Hansen: Manny!!!!! Your question was a little outdated, but the punctuation made up for it, and I think I can answer it in general terms. I think Notre Dame should be at No. 6 as well, but I think 8 was a fair ranking and a good place for the Irish to be. The schedule they have left is actually more robust than a lot of the teams they're competing against for seeding, including the two SEC teams at 10 and 11, Alabama and Ole Miss.
Kevin-Sleepy Eye,MN: Eric:):):):):) Do you like our chances of Landing Meadows? We need to hit some home runs with WR recruits.
Eric Hansen: Kevin &&&&$$)@! Getting the four-star WR recruit back on campus was a big first step. I think the Irish have a fighting chance, but it'll be a fight to the finish. They did gain significant momentum with him during the weekend.
Mike aka Mo from Maumee, Ohio: Hi Eric- question about Tosh Baker. Coming out of high school, he was highly rated as anywhere from the #4-6 offensive lineman. I think he became a starter during the season when a young Joe Alt was thrust into the left tackle position after a slew of injuries there. My question is: what has kept him as a second team tackle? He certainly has the size and reach. In general, what are the traits that elevates an offensive lineman to a starter, given that they all are 300 pounds plus. Knapp isn't quite 300 pounds, so he must have that combination of traits that Baker doesn't. Thanks!
Eric Hansen: Hi Mike/Mo. Those traits differ from interior offensive linemen to tackles and circumstances differ from year to year with individual players. But I take it you want to get to the bottom of why hasn't it happened for Baker, given his recruiting pedigree and at times a clear path to locking down a starting position. He actually had to come in for a few plays early in Saturday night's game when Knapp got dinged, and his size makes him look like a ringer. And he did play well on Saturday, but he has not had the consistency over his career, especially when he has had an opportunity. So what separated Knapp from Baker, Knapp's ability to process mistakes and lessons and apply them quickly and consistently. He played with more physicality, even though he's smaller. His technique is better. Baker is a guy I like for his perseverance, for his team-first mentality, for not giving up on himself.
Kevin from Calgary: Eric (I will refrain from trying to outdo Manny on exclamation marks), I always thought one of the major faults of Brian Kelly as a coach was he tried not to lose big games (resulting in the team laying an egg). During the Navy loss to ND I thought the Midshipmen suffered that same fate. Kelly seemed to come up with the most vanilla approaches to supposed superior opponents and it ended in disaster. Do you think Freeman can overcome that tendency and convince the team they are actually as good as their opponents?
Eric Hansen: Hi Kevin! It's an intriguing question that deserves a better answer than what I can provide for you today. The difficulty is you're dealing with guys at different stages in their careers and at different stages of the program, and I do think there's value in what BK provided during his time at ND. But let me at least touch on your ultimate question which is, can Marcus Freeman be an effective head coach in games on the big stage? I think the answer is yes now and more so in the future. I think he's got two of the best coordinators in college football and their chemistry is outstanding with each other. I think also ND has a quarterback now and in the future that can get them to the big games and possibly win some of those ... at least not get pushed off the big stage.
Sean from Schaumburg, Ill.: Took in my first game this past weekend. Atmosphere was ok. I've experienced better in previous years. I agree the interviews during timeouts don't add anything and tamp down the atmosphere. DJ Kool was alright. His mention of Washington DC was odd. I thought it was the most unimpressive 52-3 game I've seen. Leonard missed too many deep balls. Toafili had a decent day running. 21-3 at halftime. Meh. I sat next to some recent ND grads that made the game fun and memorable. One of 'em has a Dad that played on the 1988 Title team. I keep going back to being disappointed by Leonard's lack of accuracy. Can Denbrock/Guidugli do anything at this point of the season to improve it? It'll be the Achilles heel of the offense if they make the playoffs. The ability by FSU to run the ball has me nervous for Army. Tyler is correct in being nervous jumping from Army to USC. Hopefully, Cross can be healthy enough to face Army. Angst remains. And, yes, Eric you did have a "Get off my lawn" vibe in you on FNS. Great insight on FNS. Humor as well. ND 45 UVA 10. Go Irish!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Sean. Thanks for your observations and score prediction. I'll leave those alone and answer your question. Yes they can help him improve and he has and there more improvement to make. Sometimes I think a narrative gets so ingrained, people can't see the improvement. But I do think it's a good sign that when we ask Mike Denbrock and Riley Leonard about what improvement should look like, they don't get defensive and they both can tell you what it should look like and are confident it will happen. And Sean, you are welcome on my lawn anytime. … Just make sure to bring a rake!
Robert, Dunedin FL: Eric- Just for fun, please put on your prediction hat and answer (yes/no) on whether the following will occur during the next 5 years: 1. ND wins a National Championship. 2. ND joins a conference for football. 3. ND player wins the Heisman.
Eric Hansen: OK, on the condition that you understand I'm not a licensed clairvoyant? 1. Yes. 2. No way. 3. Maybe, and if it is, it'll be CJ Carr.
Matt from Austin: Hi Eric, great to see so many guys get meaningful reps versus FSU. That scenario can only help ND as the season moves forward. I read with a smile that the committee not looking at AP or Coaches rankings might be met with a "smidge of embellishment." I can't believe that the committee wouldn't at least take interest in how others view the teams in the rankings. Your AP vote notwithstanding, looking at how other coaches (or their staff voter) rank the competition seems to be very important. Do you really feel that the committee formulates their rankings in a total vacuum with no outside influence or research? Thank you as always. We truly appreciate your time and enjoyable comments. 38-10. Matt
Eric Hansen: Thanks Matt, and I do not believe it's possible they could or would do that.
John from Villa Park, Calef.: Thanks for all your great ND coverage. You are a must read for me. A couple of playoff related questions. Once the committee seeds the teams, do they decide which first round games play at which times or is that decided by the networks? Second question. Will home teams be required to allocate a certain number / percentage of the tickets to the visiting team?
Eric Hansen: John, I don't have the answer to either of those questions off the top of my head, but give me a week and I will answer those, because I'm sure there are others who want to know. I just don't have time to do a “phone a friend” as we're into overtime here.
Jonathan from Hideaway, Texas: 38.3 points per game (#8 in nation), 11.1 opponents ppg (#3 behind Ohio State and Army). Average scoring margin 27.2 (#2 behind Ohio State). Don’t believe ND has posted numbers like this since Ara’s 1966 team. Are we perhaps misunderestimating what these Irish lads are in the midst of accomplishing?
Eric Hansen: Hi Jonathan. I like for the whole season to play out before I give it a grade and spin into the future too far, or else we would have given last rights on Sept. 8, right? But I do think this is a team that is showing improvement at the right time with still some formidable tests to pass.
Eric Hansen: OK, there's some great question still in the queue and I am out of time. Maybe Tyler James and I can get to them in the podcast. I'll try to get them added to that question queue. Thanks for asking, for lurking, for not spitting and for coming back each week. We'll do it all over again next week at noon ET.
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