Notre Dame's summer sessions are underway as preseason expectations for the Irish continue to build. Blue & Gold's Eric Hansen and Tyler James break down the last time the expectations were this high for the Irish and why that's the case.

Topics include:
• Context for ND's 2026 expectations
• ND's improving blue-chip ratio
• If the 2027 recruiting class could be better than 2026
• The latest recruiting buzz

Plus, they answered a lot of questions live from viewers.

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Preorder Blue & Gold Illustrated's 2026 Notre Dame Football Preview magazine here: https://bluegoldonline.com/

Next week's "Football Never Sleeps" will air Monday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Want to watch "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube?

Visit here: https://www.youtube.com/@HansenAndJames

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Notre Dame's summer program is officially underway, making it the perfect time to look ahead and make some way-too-early predictions for the 2026 season.

Blue & Gold's Eric Hansen and Tyler James break down the Irish's outlook, the evolving QB2 competition, Pete Bevacqua's comments on the Protect College Sports Act and the latest recruiting developments coming out of Irish Invasion weekend on this week's live edition of Football Never Sleeps.

Topics include:
• Notre Dame's regular-season record and postseason outlook
• Team MVP, breakout player and upset alert
• What the Protect College Sports Act could mean for Notre Dame and college football
• How the three-man QB2 battle could play out behind CJ Carr
• Recruiting updates, Irish Invasion takeaways and program buzz

Plus, they answered questions live from viewers.

Subscribe to BlueandGold.com: https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/

Preorder Blue & Gold Illustrated's 2026 Notre Dame Football Preview magazine here: https://bluegoldonline.com/

Next week's "Football Never Sleeps" will air Monday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Want to watch "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube?

Visit here: https://www.youtube.com/@HansenAndJames

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Notre Dame football players are arriving back on campus this week, and that includes the new additions from high school and the transfer portal.

Blue & Gold's Eric Hansen and Tyler James break down the present and future outlooks for the five incoming freshmen and the one transfer portal addition who will officially join the program this week on Monday's live edition of Football Never Sleeps.

Topics include:
• The current fit for Notre Dame's summer additions
• The long-term potential for the five freshmen
• More summer odds and ends
• Setting up a big June for Notre Dame recruiting
• The latest Irish recruiting buzz

Plus, they answered questions live from viewers.

Subscribe to BlueandGold.com: https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/

Preorder Blue & Gold Illustrated's 2026 Notre Dame Football Preview magazine here: https://bluegoldonline.com/

Next week's "Football Never Sleeps" will air Monday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Want to watch "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube?

Visit here: https://www.youtube.com/@HansenAndJames

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The FBS recruiting calendar shifted into a dead period on Sunday, and the Notre Dame football coaching staff can catch their breath over the next several days. A busy June awaits with camps, official visits for the 2027 class and summer workouts for the 2026 team.

In this week's edition of "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube, Blue & Gold’s Eric Hansen and Tyler James break down what each Notre Dame coordinator and position coach should be focused on heading into the fall, and how head coach Marcus Freeman has set them up for success.

Topics include:
• Top priorities for ND's coordinators
• Top priorities for Irish position coaches
• Potential growth that shouldn't be overlooked
• How the Irish can highlight their strengths in 2026
• The latest recruiting buzz for Notre Dame

Plus, they answered questions live from viewers.

Subscribe to BlueandGold.com: https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/

Preorder Blue & Gold Illustrated's 2026 Notre Dame Football Preview magazine here: https://bluegoldonline.com/

Next week's "Football Never Sleeps" will air Monday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Want to watch "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube?

Visit here: https://www.youtube.com/@HansenAndJames

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Notre Dame celebrated graduation weekend Sunday, but for the Irish players and coaches still chasing a 2026 national championship, the next phase is already approaching fast.

Summer workouts begin in just a couple of weeks, followed shortly by the arrival of Notre Dame’s final June enrollees — and with them, another important step toward shaping one of the most anticipated Notre Dame football seasons in decades.

In this week's edition of "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube, Blue & Gold’s Eric Hansen and Tyler James break down the biggest summer storylines inside the program and around college football, from roster development and freshman impact potential to playoff expansion and Notre Dame’s evolving place in the sport’s shifting landscape.

Topics include:
• The five biggest storylines that could shape Notre Dame’s summer
• Which June-enrolling freshmen could make an immediate impact in 2026
• What June really looks like inside the football facility, classroom and recruiting trail
• The pros and cons of a potential 24-team College Football Playoff for Notre Dame
• Revisiting the Notre Dame-ACC relationship and the latest anonymous complaints
• The latest Notre Dame recruitin g news, intel and program buzz

Plus, they answered questions live from viewers.

Subscribe to BlueandGold.com: https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/

Preorder Blue & Gold Illustrated's 2026 Notre Dame Football Preview magazine here: https://bluegoldonline.com/

Next week's "Football Never Sleeps" will air at a date/time TBD.

Want to watch "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube?

Visit here: https://www.youtube.com/@HansenAndJames

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Blue & Gold's Eric Hansen spent time catching up with notable attendees with Notre Dame interest at Tom Lemming's Chicago photoshoot for the Prep Football Report.

On this special edition of the Third & Gold Podcast, Hansen spoke with:

• Chicago St. Patrick head coach and former Irish safety Tom Zbikowski (1:15)
• Former ND walk-on and football program supporter Peter Schivarelli (16:12)
• 2027 DT target Brayden Parks of Brother Rice (31:03)
• 2027 DT commit David Folorunsho of St. Patrick (36:19)
• 2028 OL target Ben Coleman of Providence Catholic (43:01)
• 2028 TE target Grant Bowen of Immaculate Conception (45:45)
• 2028 TE target Jack McNamara of Brother Rice (48:40)
• 2028 WR target Marshaun Thornton of Mount Carmel (50:58)
• 2028 DE target Kameron McGee of Brother Rice (53:40)
• 2028 DE target Darieon Prescott of Bolingbrook (56:25)
• 2028 DT target Caleb Tucker of Mount Carmel (58:23)
• 2028 OL target Wyatt VanBoening of Carmel Catholic (1:01:48)
• 2029 OL prospect Piotr Nakonieczny of Mount Carmel (1:04:09)

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In this week's edition of "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube, Blue & Gold's Eric Hansen and Tyler James return from vacation to break down the latest developments on the recruiting front.

Topics include:
• Notre Dame's latest commitments
• Upcoming announcements scheduled for Notre Dame targets
• Top remaining targets at each position
• Kickoff times for Notre Dame's 2026 home games
• The latest offseason buzz for the Irish

Plus, they answered questions live from viewers.

Subscribe to BlueandGold.com: https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/

Next week's "Football Never Sleeps" will be live on Monday at 7 p.m. EDT.

Want to watch "Football Never Sleeps" on YouTube?

Visit here: https://www.youtube.com/@HansenAndJames

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Al McKellar, president of The Michael & Dianne Denbrock 2nd Chance Foundation 4 Life, discusses the creation of a charitable foundation with the Denbrocks, who it's working to support, his connection to childhood cancer, why football provides such a great platform, his personal football background, his impression of QB CJ Carr, what stood out about seeing the Irish this spring, what makes Mike Denbrock a good offensive coordinator and more.

Then Eric Hansen and Tyler James answer questions from X/Twitter and The Lou Somogyi Board (31:08).

Learn more about the 2nd Chance Foundation 4 Life here: https://2cf4l.org/

New BlueandGold.com subscribers can sign up for just $1: https://www.on3.com/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish/join/

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