First and Gold: Notre Dame Podcast
NOTRE DAME-USC BACK! After INDIANA CANCELS | Jonaz Walton & Bubba Frazier MAKING NOISE?! | Fall Camp
The Notre Dame-USC rivalry is officially making its return to the schedule, with the Trojans and Fighting Irish set to meet again in 2030 and 2031 after Indiana backed out of its previously scheduled series with Notre Dame. But the bigger question is becoming increasingly relevant in college football: Are coaches and programs trying to avoid tough non-conference games? With Lincoln Riley ultimately playing a part in helping to get the Notre Dame-USC series temporarily cancelled initially, and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledging that their own non-conference scheduling philosophy may need to be reevaluated in reference to a future series with Notre Dame that “tentatively” on the books, we take a look at the growing trend of programs reconsidering marquee matchups before they ever happen. What does this mean for Notre Dame’s scheduling ability moving forward? But the majority of this episode takes us inside Notre Dame fall camp. Following the only practice media is permitted to attend during camp, we break down everything we’ve heard and learned from the Irish as the team prepares for the 2026 season. Running back coach Ja'Juan Seider made headlines by mentioning that Jonaz Walton is going to be hard to keep off the field, giving us plenty to discuss about the freshman running back and the rest of Notre Dame's talented backfield. We also dive into the wide receiver room, including what we expect from Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse, while taking a closer look at true freshman Bubba Fraizer. Fraizer's combination of speed, athleticism, and football IQ could give him a legitimate opportunity to make an impact sooner rather than later in a wide receiver room loaded with competition. What did the media actually learn from Notre Dame's lone open practice? Which players stood out? And what could these early camp observations tell us about the Irish heading into the season? Subscribe, share, like, leave a review, and join us all season long as we bring you beyond the goal line with independent Notre Dame Football coverage.
