DiscoverCover 3 College FootballIs Notre Dame A LOCK For The CFP?!? | Cover 3 College Football Summer School
Is Notre Dame A LOCK For The CFP?!? | Cover 3 College Football Summer School

Is Notre Dame A LOCK For The CFP?!? | Cover 3 College Football Summer School

Update: 2024-06-03
Share

Digest

Bud Elliott and Tim O'Malley delve into the upcoming Notre Dame football season, focusing on the team's strengths and areas of concern. They express optimism about the wide receiver unit, which has been significantly bolstered by the addition of three graduate transfers. The defense is also expected to be a strong point, with a veteran-laden secondary and a promising pass rush. The quarterback room is considered the best it has been in recent years, with Riley Leonard leading a talented group that includes CJ Carr, Kenny Minchey, and Steve Angeli. However, the offensive line remains a question mark, with the departure of key players leaving a void that will need to be filled by a group of highly-touted but unproven players. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the offensive line, Elliott and O'Malley believe Notre Dame has the potential to make a playoff run, particularly with the expanded 12-team format. They discuss the team's schedule, highlighting key matchups against A&M, Florida State, USC, and Louisville, and analyze the potential impact of these games on Notre Dame's playoff aspirations.

Outlines

00:00:00
Notre Dame Football Preview

This Chapter discusses the upcoming Notre Dame football season, focusing on the team's strengths and areas of concern. The hosts, Bud Elliott and Tim O'Malley, express optimism about the wide receiver unit, which has been significantly bolstered by the addition of three graduate transfers. The defense is also expected to be a strong point, with a veteran-laden secondary and a promising pass rush. The quarterback room is considered the best it has been in recent years, with Riley Leonard leading a talented group that includes CJ Carr, Kenny Minchey, and Steve Angeli. However, the offensive line remains a question mark, with the departure of key players leaving a void that will need to be filled by a group of highly-touted but unproven players.

00:02:07
Offensive Line Concerns

This Chapter focuses on the uncertainty surrounding Notre Dame's offensive line. The hosts discuss the departure of key players and the need for unproven players to step up. They analyze the potential for position battles and the impact of the offensive line's performance on the team's overall success.

Keywords

Notre Dame


Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana. It is known for its academic excellence, particularly in the fields of business, engineering, and law. Notre Dame is also renowned for its athletic programs, especially its football team, which has won eleven national championships and is a perennial powerhouse in college football.

Riley Leonard


Riley Leonard is a quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. He is known for his athleticism and ability to make plays both with his arm and his legs. Leonard transferred to Notre Dame from Duke University, where he was a standout player. He is expected to be a key player for the Fighting Irish in the upcoming season.

Marcus Freeman


Marcus Freeman is the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. He is a former linebacker who played in the NFL. Freeman was hired as the head coach of Notre Dame in 2021 after serving as the defensive coordinator for the team. He is known for his aggressive defensive schemes and his ability to motivate his players.

Transfer Portal


The transfer portal is a system that allows college athletes to enter their names into a database so that other schools can contact them about potential transfers. The transfer portal has become increasingly popular in recent years, as athletes seek to find new opportunities and improve their playing time. The transfer portal has had a significant impact on college football, as teams have been able to add experienced players to their rosters.

Offensive Line


The offensive line is a group of five players who protect the quarterback and create running lanes for the running backs. The offensive line is a crucial part of any football team, as it is responsible for the success of the offense. A strong offensive line can make the difference between a winning and losing season.

Playoff


The College Football Playoff (CFP) is a postseason tournament that determines the national champion of college football. The CFP consists of four teams, which are selected by a committee based on their performance during the regular season. The four teams compete in two semifinal games, with the winners advancing to the national championship game.

Blue-Gold Game


The Blue-Gold Game is Notre Dame's annual spring football game. It is a scrimmage between the Blue team and the Gold team, which are made up of players from the Notre Dame football team. The Blue-Gold Game is a chance for fans to get a glimpse of the team's progress during the spring and to see the new players in action.

Mike Elco


Mike Elco is the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies football team. He is a former offensive coordinator who has a reputation for developing quarterbacks. Elco was hired as the head coach of Texas A&M in 2023 after serving as the offensive coordinator for the University of Alabama. He is expected to bring a high-powered offense to the Aggies.

Florida State


Florida State University is a public research university located in Tallahassee, Florida. It is known for its academic excellence, particularly in the fields of business, engineering, and law. Florida State is also renowned for its athletic programs, especially its football team, which has won three national championships and is a perennial powerhouse in college football.

USC


The University of Southern California (USC) is a private research university located in Los Angeles, California. It is known for its academic excellence, particularly in the fields of business, engineering, and law. USC is also renowned for its athletic programs, especially its football team, which has won eleven national championships and is a perennial powerhouse in college football.

Q&A

  • What are some of the key strengths of the Notre Dame football team heading into the upcoming season?

    Notre Dame's strengths include a significantly improved wide receiver unit, a strong defense with a veteran-laden secondary and a promising pass rush, and a deep quarterback room led by Riley Leonard.

  • What is the biggest area of concern for Notre Dame heading into the season?

    The biggest area of concern is the offensive line, which lost key players and will need to rely on unproven players to fill the void.

  • How does the expanded 12-team playoff format impact Notre Dame's playoff aspirations?

    The expanded playoff format increases Notre Dame's chances of making the playoffs, as they will have more opportunities to earn a spot with a strong record.

  • What are some of the key matchups on Notre Dame's schedule that could determine their playoff fate?

    Key matchups include games against A&M, Florida State, USC, and Louisville.

  • What is the current state of the quarterback room at Notre Dame?

    The quarterback room is considered the best it has been in recent years, with Riley Leonard leading a talented group that includes CJ Carr, Kenny Minchey, and Steve Angeli.

  • What are some of the key position battles to watch during spring practice?

    Key position battles include the battle at right tackle between Tosh Baker and Meal Wagner, the battle at guard between Pat Cougan and Rocco Spindler, and the battle at corner opposite Benjamin Morrison between Christian Gray and Jayden Mickey.

Show Notes

Bud Elliott sits down with Irish Illustrated's Tim O'Malley to preview Notre Dame's 2024 season.


Cover 3 is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts. 

Get 20% off Cover 3 merch in the CBS Sports Store: 

https://store.cbssports.com/collections/cover-3?utm_source=podcast-apple-com&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=buy-our-merch&utm_content=cover-3-collection

Watch Cover 3 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cover3

Follow our hosts on Twitter: @Chip_Patterson@TomFornelli@DannyKanell, @BudElliott3

For more college football coverage from CBS Sports, visit https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/

To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comments 
In Channel
loading

Table of contents

00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Is Notre Dame A LOCK For The CFP?!? | Cover 3 College Football Summer School

Is Notre Dame A LOCK For The CFP?!? | Cover 3 College Football Summer School

CBS Sports, College Football, Football, CFB, College Football Picks