Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman will speak with reporters at 12 p.m. EDT today via Zoom for his weekly Thursday press conference.

I'll use this thread to provide updates from it.

Check out this story from our partners at WSBT.

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Diving deep on Ohio State with some quotes from Doug Lesmerises on this week's Inside ND Sports podcast, more coverage from our Ohio State site, stats and Pro Football Focus grades.

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Notre Dame 2025 four-star defensive tackle Davion Dixon posted this on X (Twitter) on Wednesday night.

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The 6-foot-2, 306-pound defensive tackle out of Miami (Fla.) Palmetto has confirmed to Inside ND Sports that he’ll be on campus for Saturday’s game against Ohio State.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden met with the media after Tuesday's Irish football practice. Here's everything he had to say. Answers are largely verbatim. Questions are sometimes edited for brevity and/or clarity.

How's Gabe Rubio looking in practice this week?

“We're trying to manage his workload. So, like this was really his first day back. He looked fine, but not, not the workload of some of the other guys. We’ve got to bring him along. He is a competitor. He's tough and, hopefully, he doesn't have any setbacks here this week, But really good start today.”

I would imagine — not just with their play, but their communication — that having JD Bertrand and DJ Brown back changes a lot of things, in being so instrumental to what you're doing?

“Very calming. Obviously, it's going to be a juiced-up atmosphere. It's really important that we just stay in the moment and keep it small, keep our communication small. Do a great job of articulating it to each other. Be demonstrative if we're changing a call, and that's where those guys come in. They are really, really intelligent, can think on their feet, can solve problems. So, it's a blessing that they're back.”

Did your career ever crisscross with Marvin Harrison Sr., maybe when he was at Syracuse?

“I can't remember, to be honest. Syracuse had a lot of good receivers during the time I was at BC. But [Harrison Sr.] is just a world-class talent. And his son is the same. The son has made a name for himself. He's done a phenomenal job.”

What makes that group — Harrison, Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming — so difficult?

“They're all talented. The length, the catch radius, the ability to adjust to the ball in flight. Competitive nature of them. Lateral quickness at the top. There's a lot of elements there that make them really good. And each has his own individual strengths. In terms of Marvin, you're dealing with speed, length, catch radius, the ability to win a one-on-one. So, those are all challenging on game day.”

It's not like you can just focus on Harrison. Fleming's a very good player. Cade Stover’s a very productive at tight end?

“That’s a really, really potent offense. You saw the numbers last year. You've seen the numbers again now, this year. So, it is who they are. We’ve got to find a way to limit their explosive plays. That's always a challenge when you're playing a team like this.”

How would you size up the battle up front?

“First of all, we're really confident in our guys. We can't have anybody being selfish. You're [not] jumping back door. You know, jumping out of a gap, front side. We can't do that. We’ve got to play collectively. We’ve got to tackle well. They're big, strong backs. The O-line is really big. They have gap schemes. They have pin and pull, and they're really great at zone. So, those are all challenges for us on game day.”

This was your first game here last year. How much better of a feel do you have for this year's defense?

“I think we have a good idea of who needs to do what, what roles need to be executed and what we're playing versus 11 personnel, what we're going to play versus 12. We have a new look in a lot of different areas. We're not built the same as we were. Game 1? I don't even think we were the same game 8, game 9 as we were in game 1 a year ago. So, the things that we needed we evolved to during the year, and many of them have been built upon in the offseason. So, I think we're in a better position in terms of who we are and what we need to do.”

What does Thomas Harper add to this team?

“Moxie, you know, like, I don't know how to describe it. It's one of those things, either you have it or you don't. He's got moxie. He can figure things out. He’s a competitor. They put a big blocker on the perimeter, he slips in and makes the tackle last week on a bubble flare screen. Some guys just get engaged and get locked down, and the ball circles the defense. He just figures it out, and without being disruptive to what we need to get done as a unit. And I think that's really, really unique. Some of it is natural, obviously, but a lot of it comes with experience over time. He knows when to take a chance and when not to.”

Did Rubio practice today?

“Yeah, he did. We’ve managed his workload. So, we'll see where that goes. We just don't want any setbacks with any of those guys. And they obviously will make us stronger if we can get all three of those guys to the game.”

We talked to coach Freeman about Jason Onye and the conversations he’s had about trying to get him more snaps ...

“He's earning more snaps. That's the biggest thing. How do you earn reps? You earn reps by mastering your current role. So, whatever reps we gave him, did he execute the defense? When the play availed itself, did he make the play? He did, and he's been doing that. He's been getting better, and he could have been a guy that pouted about rep counts a couple of weeks ago, but he didn’t. He just kept getting better, and I thought he played his best game [against Central Michigan]. I thought he had his best week of practice last week. So, he's a great looking young man. He holds 285, 290 pounds. He's long, and he shed blocks. So, I'm really excited about him.”

You say he has a knack for getting off blocks?

“He can get off blocks. That's the thing about reach. Like everybody says, ‘Why is reach at the combine such a big deal? Why is it such a big deal?’ Because that's the guy you're going against — Joe Alt. You know what I mean? So, he can get off [blocks], though.”

What kind of week is Javontae Jean-Baptiste having so far?

“First of all, he's been a blessing for us. Everything that we've asked him to do, he's done. And we've asked him to do a lot of tough things. In addition to playing some 9-technique, we’ve asked him to go and play some 6-technique, and he's done that. We've asked him to change some techniques in terms of taking on blocks, and he's done that. He's pursuing to the ball really well. Everything we've asked him to do, he's done, and I think we're benefiting from it and I think his individual performance is benefiting from it.

“He's getting five tackles a week or whatever. He's impacting the game. He's hustling to the ball., and I couldn't be more happy for him. But he's just doing his thing. He's not worried about anything right now. He's just trying to get better today.”

When you have a player like JD Bertrand, and then you play a game without JD Betrand, just how difficult and different is that?

“It's challenging, because we didn't have a lot of time. But if you're going to lose JD, you want to replace him with a [Jack] Kiser. But again, it was challenging for Jack, playing a little bit more outside and — all a sudden — now he's inside running the show. Jack did a great job. I thought Marist [Liufau] stepped up too. I thought those guys really stepped up and got us a line for the most part and whatever, but I'm glad we have full strength this week.”

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Let me start this by saying that the majority of Ohio State fans that I've seen are giving us proper respect. For example:

All I can say is the ND team the Buckeyes are facing on Saturday is vastly superior to the one that came into the Shoe last September.

Buckeyes will need to be at their best to win this one.

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And now, on to the fun:

Just hurt someone

Screw the Irish.

The Buckeyes have to be dialed in, and violent.

We need the Chips and Chops and Steeles and Tommys and the Proctors and Igbinosen's and the Joshs and Joshs to go in there with BAD INTENTIONS and beat them senseless.

Then the Treyveon's and the Kyles and the Emekas and the Marvins and the Gees can slice and dice their sorry butts.

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Not a fan of Freeman. Really hope OSU takes it to em on Saturday.

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Suck it Domer!

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We're just a better class of people here in Columbus

Just want to add, no one needs to bother taking the high road with Freeman. I think by and large we all really did a nice job and gave him his flowers going into the season and always gave him his due as a former Buckeye, and then he threw all the shade he could and kept putting his foot in his mouth regarding his time at OSU, OSU fans, the program and etc.

Lest we forget come Saturday, he may have been a buckeye, but he has to get his ass beat like the rest of them.

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Domers are going down along with those players not capable of finding a starting spot on the Ohio State roster, or transfer in from Podunk U to try and bail the flighty Freemans out.

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Hartman a six year college QB...didn't know great QB's stayed in college for SIX years.

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hehehehe transfers a DE that couldn't start here, a QB who played in the ACC?

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I'm already sick of 'Hartman is an experience QB' So effing what. He's won 2 games against ranked opponents in his career. Is that going to help him on Saturday? No. We've faced experience QBs before. This is not a new thing for our defense. We will be ready.

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Gonna be a walk in the park, folks

Not ready to make a prediction beyond the Buckeyes are going to roll. All the National doubters are going to have to come up with a new patch phrase to somehow weave a new narrative for why the Buckeyes aren't ranked higher.

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If the Silver Bullets can limit ND's run game, the Buckeyes should roll. Hartman is an excellent QB, but ND's receiver corps is just okay. You could argue that Hartman had better WRs at Wake Forest (A.T. Perry was drafted in 6th round in 2023 by New Orleans and made their roster). I see ND's receivers having a hard time getting open against Ohio State's DBs and that includes their TE Staes going against Sonny Styles.

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This is nothing but hype, hype, hype...Bucks will win this game comfortably.

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ND will have to blitz to get pressure... watch for Day to unveil the RB screens this week. It's a bad week to be a Leprachaun.

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I expect a Buckeye win! We will get more pressure on their QB than anyone else this season, despite the lack of sacks so far.

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I wouldn't call [Hartman] an advantage, but their QB play was so bad last year, I'd say it was an upgrade. IMO, however, it won't be enough of one--Buckeyes by double digits.

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Irish say all the right things.
Irish wear the mystical green jerseys.
Irish come out fired up and play the game of their life.

Bucks by 20.

[I responded to this one, as follows]

Hey man, this is almost a haiku. Let's see:

Say all the right things.
Wear mystical green jerseys.
Irish by 20.

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I think Freeman's mindset plays right into Ohio State's hands. Rather than IU and YSU's mentality, which was to minimize the carnage and run the clock at all costs. I'm expecting a game similar to WKU, except not quite as high scoring, because the Fig Things have players with more talent and athletic ability. Still won't be close.

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Smells like a leprechaun is going to get his ass whipped to me.

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I hate to be the wet blanket, but this win over ND this weekend is not going to give us the bump we need. It’s hard to believe that ND is sitting at #9 after going 4-0 thus far. After we beat them, they’ll probably drop down to #20 or something. ... If they’re not dropping Georgia, FSU, TTUN, or TX after their games, and they’re not bumping us after ours, we could be in for a long season. At WORST we’re the #4. But #6? That’s disgraceful.

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Living in the past

Knute Rockne called he wants you to win one for the Gipper...the last time they were relevant (sorry Lou Holtz)

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1.) Lizzie Seeberg
2.) Declan Sullivan
3.) Lives in the past more than any other program on Earth
4.) Just like us, ain't played nobody Pawwwl
5.) Aren't they still cutting checks to Charlie Weiss?

While I have some nerves for this game, history dictates that ND once again falls on their face when the lights shine. GO BUCKS!

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ND has some talented players. However, this is ND. They haven’t beaten the world famous Buckeyes since 1936. After Saturday, it will still be since 1936.

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The battle up front that we can win: our interior DL against their guards. Happened last year and can happen again.

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The religious angle

**** this "independent" school and their overinflated importance. I will never understand why my Irish Catholic friend roots for them outside of Ohio State. It'd be like me cheering on Yeshiva University would they have fielded a once great football just because I grew up Jewish, and not even Orthodox? I don't get it. He didn't go there; he went to Ohio State and witnessed greatness. His wife isn't even a Notre Dame alumna. Makes no sense.

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I'll be praying for a down right slaughtering of Touchdown Jesus and his followers. I know that sounds bad after typing and rereading my statement, but screw it. We know they're not all that religious over there anyhow

[I had to respond to this one]
Jesus doesn't mind. If available accounts are to be believed, someone tried to slaughter him 2000 years ago and it didn't work out too well.

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Per Circa Sports

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Gerad Parker spoke with local beat writers Tuesday night ahead of Saturday's home game against Ohio State. Here is a transcript of that conversation. Questions may be paraphrased.

GERAD PARKER

Biggest difference in the ND offense getting ready to play Ohio State compared to last year?

"You have to go through some tough stuff to play a team like Ohio State...
I think so. Well we know so, right? And heck, there’s a lot of tough headed our way. You know what I mean? The thing for us is I think we really truly believe as a staff, these players, you grow in maturity. I think growth helps with success, for sure. It sure does, and then being in those fires and understanding the hard and going through what we did as a unit and group last year — all that stuff, I think — builds you to prepare you for games like this but also understanding that we’re gonna have to play in big games the rest of the year. So, I think it prepares you for these moments. And then you’ll take this one, learn from it and be ready for the next one. And that’s not just an answer. It’s just the facts. We’ve got of big games coming up. This is the most important one because it’s this week."

We saw new stuff from you last week. How much is incremental and how much is because of Sam Hartman and his experience?

"I think that it’s both. Our guys, as an offensive unit, they study so much, so you've got to be careful. You can give them a lot. So, they are committed to learning. Of course, it all starts with our quarterback. So, if he can handle it you’re able to build off of things, too. If you look at offenses and look at things as seasons grow, you hope you put on tape, for our group and our players put on tape, the ability to develop strong tendencies. Like, if we don’t have strong tendencies, that probably is not good. So, you want to keep building strong tendencies and then of course grow because of our tendencies and still make it hard enough for people to fit us properly, cover us properly and all those things it takes to get through a year successfully."

What do you see from the Ohio State defensive line?

"It’s very active. I mean, they’re a base four-down front and coached, of course, by a longtime veteran and great football coach that’s well known in coach [Larry] Johnson. So, they’re active. They love to generate a rush. They do a great job attacking you. They’ve got enough movement gains and internal movements and twists that give you trouble in picking it up, and they’re gifted and talented everywhere across the board — first level, second level and third level. So, it all shows up."

What kind of ball player is JT Tuimoloau?

"Well, he’s elite. You know, he’s elite. He can generate an elite pass rush."

Is he a first-round draft kind of guy?

"Yep. He’s elite. He’s elite. When he gets out, gets wide, puts both hands down and starts on his rush from a wide look, it’s a handful, and our guys know it. It’s a compliment to him what they’ve put on tape."

Will he move to both sides? Face both Alt and Fisher?

"Sure, sure, I think so. Yeah, those will be great matchups on both sides (with ND’s tackles)."

How well did you get to know Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles at Duke, and what are the tenets of his defense?

"Personally, I didn’t get to know him as well as you would want to in a year. It was a fast year when he was there and left, but at the same time you were certainly around him and his personality. The defensive staff, they had great camaraderie. He’s a great guy. Players love playing for him. He was physical. Lined up and committed to who he was. He was aggressive at Duke when he was there. Tip of the hat to him when he was at Oklahoma State. When he made his move, too, he kind of changed who he was in philosophy based off the league he was in and the players he had and became great there and then went over there [to Ohio State]. So, he’s, again, a storied career, phenomenal football coach, aggressive and lets his guys play, empowers them. You know, all the things that make him great. That’s what I remember of him."

With your offense and the way Hartman throws it deep, can you pass to set up the run?

"Yeah, I think that, of course, as the season grows you sure hope that you have the ability to have success both ways. I think that’s what you’re asking, and I would say that you hope you have the ability to do that. There’s going to be times certainly through a long year, you're going to have to be able to do it with pass first and then on the flip run. But certainly the personality of this place and our players and who our backs are lends us to making sure that we develop the line of scrimmage and find ways to make people fit us and win in the run game and then set up everything else."

Coach Golden mentioned a couple weeks ago that sometimes you can overanalyze too much at halftime in terms of what you want to change, because the defense is showing you something and maybe you take the bait. Is that a challenge when you have a veteran coordinator opposite you?

"Absolutely. Yeah, they’re going to do stuff they haven’t put on film, and that’s the cat-and-mouse game, certainly. And I think that it’s the thing, sometimes we try to coach too much. And those are the worst feelings, I think, throughout your career when you come off the field. You know this even over there in the youth stuff, right (laughs)? You’re held accountable, right? The times when it’s gone, where you remember, where you walk off and you’re like, ‘If we’d of just ran our base whatever this is, it would of went better’. And those are bad feelings. In a way, we got too smart. So, I think it’s enough of a blend to attack what you believe they’re gonna do and enough of having, hey guys...like one of our pillars of our offense is details. Make our plays work. That means that we’re going to have to call our base plays and figure out what they’re doing and just make ‘em go. ‘Cause you’re not always gonna be right. They’re not always gonna be the look that we try to give ‘em in practice. You've got tp make it go and figure it out and make plays."

The two linebackers, Eichenberg and Chambers, are veterans and reminiscent of what you face here. How could you describe their growth from last year to now?

"Those two guys play 80-some percent of their snaps. They have seen a lot of things. They’ve been attacked different ways. They’ve played in huge games and what more can you want from that? That's what you want out of a veteran defense or a veteran offense, whatever it is. Those guys have seen a lot of things at ‘em. They’ve seen how different guys have tried to attack ‘em different ways, schematically and physically. So, it shows up on tape. They’ve seen a lot. They know how to defend it, they know how to fit it, they know how to fix it. And it’s the reason it makes ‘em hard. "

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Per usual, you can submit your questions early or live ... but submit them for this chat in the question queue >>> https://live.jotcast.com/chat/notre-dame-football-live-chat-sept-20-2023-16512.html

Easton Ware, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound junior at Lynchburg (Va.) Liberty Christian Academy, reported a Notre Dame offer Wednesday night.

Ware, a three-star recruit, camped at Notre Dame in June. I highlighted him as a standout that day.


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Still no respect for this guy by the national biased media. After Saturday, he will be on lists. Lets take it OSU, finish strong, and get this guy the support he needs!

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Head coach Micah Shrewsberry and his coaching staff are currently on the road attending high school open gyms to check in on targets and prospects in the 2025 recruiting class.

Shrewsberry watched 2025 shooting guard target Braylon Mullins on Wednesday evening. Mullins, a 6-foot-5, 185-pound shooting guard, picked up an offer from the Irish in August and has 15 total offers including Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa and Virginia Tech. He visited Indiana earlier this month.

Mullins isn't currently rated or ranked by Rivals. He plans to visit campus on Saturday for the Ohio State game.

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I'm also told Shrewsberry was at Indianapolis (Ind.) Lawrence North on Wednesday morning to watch 2025 point guard target Azavier Robinson.

Robinson, a 6-1, 180-pound point guard, is rated as a three-star recruit. Robinson has visited campus twice including for the Irish football game against Tennessee State earlier this month. He reports 12 total offers including Notre Dame, Butler, Illinois, Ohio State, Oklahoma State and TCU. Robinson visited Butler and Ohio State earlier this month.

Associate head coach Kyle Getter watched 2025 small forward prospect EJ Walker, who visited for the Tennessee State game, on Tuesday at Erlanger (Ky.) Lloyd Memorial.

Shrewsberry is expected at Santa Claus (Ind.) Heritage Hills on Thursday to check in on 2025 power forward target Trent Sisley, a four-star recruit who plans to visit on Oct. 28 for the football game against Pittsburgh.

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Notre Dame is expected to host many recruits this weekend for its game against Ohio State and Inside ND Sports has confirmed 2025 safety target Jayce Cora plans to make his first visit to campus. I caught up with him on Tuesday to learn more about his interest level in Notre Dame and more.

The Irish offered Cora in August. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound recruit attends Naples (Fla.) Lely and is listed as an athlete by Rivals, a designation for a multi-positional player. The Irish are recruiting Cora at safety.

"I’m very excited for the Notre Dame visit," Cora said. "It’s going to be my first ever and know it’s going to be a memorable experience. I’m most looking forward to meeting with the coaches person to person as well as watching the game and experiencing what Notre Dame football truly is."

Cora told me he's been in contact with head coach Marcus Freeman and defensive coordinator Al Golden the most through phone calls and texts. He said he's grown to respect them quickly because of how much they check in on him.

"I want to learn more about the football program and everything it has to offer," Cora said. "Also, establish a much better relationship with coaches and staff I meet. Along with officially being on campus and learning some of the surrounding area."

Cora is not currently rated or ranked by Rivals. He holds five total offers including Notre Dame, Illinois, Massachusetts, Temple and West Virginia. If the visit goes well, Cora said it could be a deciding factor in how seriously he considers the Irish. He didn't mention Notre Dame's distance from Florida as an important factor in his recruitment.
Link to full story:

InsideNDSports - 2025 S target Jayce Cora pumped for first Notre Dame experience

Notre Dame is expected to host 2025 safety Jayce Cora on Saturday. The Irish extended an offer in August.

notredame.rivals.com

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I haven't had a chance to listen, but sharing if someone wants to check it out.

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It's time for round 4 of Place Your Bets for the 2023 season with Saturday's home game vs. Central Michigan (2:30 p.m. EDT on Peacock).

I detailed the results of the NC State prop bets here and updated the standings for the season.

@Scottclarisey has an early lead with 11. @CURTVI95 is right behind him at 10 alongside @Eric Hansen. I'm a bit back with 8.

Eric and I will share our predictions for the Central Michigan game Friday on YouTube, but you can start submitting your predictions through the Google Form now.


Here are the five prop bets for Notre Dame-Central Michigan:

• Over/Under 215.5 rushing yards for Notre Dame
• Who will lead Notre Dame in tackles?
• Over/Under 253.5 passing yards for ND QB Sam Hartman
• Who will catch more passes for ND: RBs or TEs? (More yards breaks a tie)
• Over/Under 162.5 total yards of offense for CMU QB Bert Emanuel Jr.

Remember the top two subscribers in the Place Your Bets standings at the end of the 2023 season will get one year (first place) and six months (second place) of a free subscription.

Get your picks in before voting closes prior to kickoff on Saturday. Make sure you include the same email address with your submission as you did last week. And if you haven't shared the username associated with your entry, please email it to insidendsports@gmail.com.

It's Ohio State week, but it's easier to get All-America left tackle Joe Alt to talk about what he can improve than get him to go into detail about the Buckeyes.

shortcut to the question queue: https://live.jotcast.com/chat/notre-dame-football-live-chat-sept-20-2023-16512.html

From this tweet which hasn't been deleted yet:

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Kyren Williams has now scored twice in each of the first two games this season.

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Huge commitment for ND. One they just could not miss on. More here:

Rather than review Central Michigan film this week, I decided to look ahead at Ohio State.

Here's what the Irish are up against with Ohio State's passing attack.

I'm not sure if I like Gino Guidugli saying "See ya!" or Chansi Stuckey laughing better.

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Inside ND Sports breaks down the four most impressive performances from Notre Dame's 2024 commits on the field last week.

Commits highlighted include:

Four-star QB CJ Carr

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Four-star WR Cam Williams

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Four-star LB Bodie Kahoun

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Three-star CB Karson Hobbs

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Link to full story;