Christmas Giving 2025: The Airing of Grievances
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Release Date: 12/12/2025
2026 College Football Offseason Respect Index
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Mega Memorial Day Weekend Episode. Jessica Smetana and the Michael Bryan join to take a look at what preseason win totals might mean for a long list of college football teams. Topics include but are not limited to: A new era in Happy Valley, Arizona State’s international gauntlet, a potential nightmare November in Lincoln, SEC playoff teams adjusting to life with nine conference games, Dabo and Belichick, a fun team in the new Pac-12, old Notre Dame faces in new places and a whole lot more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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Attempting to Understand Notre Dame's Pivot to Supporting a 24-Team College Football Playoff
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Sam Werner joins to discuss/vent about/analyze the growing support for a 24-team college football playoff field, including — in a twist — from Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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Putting a Bow on Notre Dame Spring Football Practice + TV Club: The Pitt Season 2
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Jessica Smetana joins to discuss some lessons learned and questions still pending after Blue-Gold weekend and the draft. Then (34:45) the Report Medical Team joins to discusss the second season of "The Pitt." Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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2026 Blue-Gold Game Review + NFL Draft
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Alex Herrmann of Notre Dame, Our Blogger joins to discuss Notre Dame football's spring game and where the team stands after this set of practices plus news and notes from the NFL Draft (congrats to Love, Price and all the other draftees and signees). Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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Takeaways from Notre Dame Football's Most Important Spring Practice + Loading Up for Hannah Hidalgo's Last Ride
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Blue and Gold's Eric Hansen joins to discuss what he saw at the Fighting Irish's jersey scrimmage over the weekend, including the new-look offensive line, depth and potential at wide receiver, freshmen impressing, Christian Gray's move to nickel, how the new coaches are fitting in and C.J. Carr taking things to another level. Then (44:30) we close talking about Notre Dame women's basketball's moves in the portal and how Hannah Hidalgo is driving the program going into her final year. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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What We've Learned About the 2026 Notre Dame Football Team So Far This Spring + Shrewsberry Era on Fumes
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
A Very Brief Survey on Notre Dame Athletics: Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyma joins to break down what we've learned from Marcus Freeman and the rest of the staff as the Blue-Gold Game approaches. Topics discussed include a new-look offensive line, Nolan James, Jr., Micah Gilbert, Mylan Graham, C.J. Carr, Rodney Dunham, Elijah Hughes and a whole lot more. Then (1:07:30), the Three-Point Jesus podcast's Sam Werner swings by to talk about how things currently are not going so great for the men's basketball team. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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Instant Reaction: Notre Dame 67 Vanderbilt 64
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Jessica Smetana joins to discuss how a Hannah Hidalgo all-time masterclass performance powered Niele Ivey's Fighting Irish into the Elite Eight. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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Instant Reaction: Notre Dame 83 Ohio State 73
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Jessica Smetana and Paul Coletti of the join to break down the Fighting Irish going into Columbus and coming out with a ticket to the Sweet Sixteen. Niele Ivey's steady hand, the greatness of Hannah Hidalgo, a complete team effort and the challenges posed by Vanderbilt, plus a little bit of Conference Brain. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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2026 March Madness Preview
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Happy basketball! Paul Coletti of the joins to preview Notre Dame's first-round matchup against Fairfield, peek ahead to what a potential game against Ohio State would look like and give his general thoughts on the tournament. Then (35:40) Sam Werner of the joins for a brief check-in on where the Micah Shrewsberry Era stands before previewing the men's bracket. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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Where is Jeremiyah Love Getting Drafted? + Movie Club: 2026 Oscar Preview
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Jessica Smetana joins to take an updated look at where Notre Dame players could go in next month's NFL Draft following the start of free agency and to do some light bracketology. Then (25:00) our friend Priya Desai joins for a draft of all ten Best Picture nominees. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
info_outlineClosing the week with a few complaints to cleanse the soul, starting with an SEC TikToker’s foray into Notre Dame country. Also: Merch availability, bowl discourse and much, much more.
Donate here to the Center for the Homeless: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rakes-report-christmas-giving-2025
Holiday shirts (with all proceeds going to the CFH) available here: https://rakesreport.dashery.com/
Grievance airers:
Paul Coletti
Jesse Dang
Alex Herrmann
Bridget Reynolds
Jessica Smetana
Andrew Smith
Nina Steigerwald
Sam Werner