What’s Powering Notre Dame’s Recruiting Surge + How the Fighting Irish Stack Up to Other Title Contenders
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Release Date: 06/10/2026
Ultimate Notre Dame Football Weekend Guide
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Jessica Smetana joins to lay out tips and tricks on how to approach a Notre Dame football weekend. How to get there, where to stay, campus sites to see, bookstore strategy, restaurants, bars, restrooms, breakfast, caffeine and so much more. If you have additional recommendations, email or use . Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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The 2026 Notre Dame Football All-American Draft
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Jessica Smetana and Sam Werner join to discuss which players on the 2026 Fighting Irish roster have the best chance of earning All-American status at the end of the season. Topics include: The greatness of Leonard Moore, depth at safety and linebacker, how hard it is to earn quarterback honors, who's catching passes, plenty of options at offensive linemen, potential high-impact freshman, and much more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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Green Flags and Red Flags for College Football Contenders + Notre Dame/USC Rivalry Blamemeter
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Jessica Smetana and the Split Zone Duo podcast's Alex Kirshner join to discuss the preseason signs teams might live up to their expectations or fall flat when the games arrive. Also: How national title contenders are constructed, where Notre Dame fits in among them, the Fighting Irish wide receiver situation and the blamemeter on the USC game not being played. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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Why So Many People Involved with College Football Seem to Hate College Football + How a Program Breaks Bad
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Lucy Rohden (CFBLucy on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok) joins to discuss why so many people running and covering college football seem to hate it. Also a look into how Wisconsin, Sparty and other programs fell off plus things to be excited for this coming season. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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What’s Powering Notre Dame’s Recruiting Surge + How the Fighting Irish Stack Up to Other Title Contenders
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyama joins to discuss his recent visit to campus for Irish Invasion and how recruiting has continued to improve under Marcus Freeman. Then a look at how the 2026 Notre Dame team looks to compare to previous playoff-era title winners as well as this season's other top contenders. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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The Arguments for College Football Playoff Expansion Aren't Getting Better + The Greatness of Hannah Hidalgo & Irish in the WNBA Check-in
Rakes Report: A Notre Dame podcast
Jessica Smetana joins to break down the latest arguments for and against expansion to a 24-team college football playoff, including some Mike Elko appreciation. Then (28:00) The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant joins to weigh in on the state of Niele Ivey's program, the greatness (and awards snubbing) of Hannah Hidalgo, checking in on some transfers, Irish in the WNBA and much more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here:
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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:
info_outlineIrish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyama joins to discuss his recent visit to campus for Irish Invasion and how recruiting has continued to improve under Marcus Freeman. Then a look at how the 2026 Notre Dame team looks to compare to previous playoff-era title winners as well as this season's other top contenders.
Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport