The national narrative has already decided that Notre Dame has one of the easier schedules in college football. But is that really the full story?

In this episode, we take a deep dive into Notre Dame’s 2026 football schedule, looking beyond preseason rankings and the names on the schedule to examine when the Irish play each opponent and where those teams could realistically be positioned by the time they meet Notre Dame.

Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, a Michigan State team coming to South Bend early to renew a rivalry game, a difficult trip to BYU, heavy hitter Miami, and SMU of note.

Is Notre Dame really getting a collection of “cupcakes” like the national narrative suggests? Or could several of these games become much more difficult than they appear right now based on momentum, what the opponents' records and rankings may actually be, and coaching situations?

We break down the schedule, identify the potential trap games, examine where the schedule could actually work in Notre Dame’s favor, and ask the biggest question:

Is Notre Dame’s 2026 schedule actually easy or are we looking at it the wrong way?

Because sometimes the most important part of a schedule isn't who you play… it's when you play them and deeper narratives.

On this episode, we sit down with former Notre Dame defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio for an inside look at his journey from South Bend to the NFL.

Rubio takes us behind the scenes of his Notre Dame career, sharing stories and insights from his time playing for coaches Marcus Freeman, Al Washington, and Al Golden, while reflecting on the experiences, challenges, and relationships that shaped him along the way.

Now, Rubio is taking the next step in his football journey after being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft. He discusses the transition from college football to the NFL, what he's learned through the process, and what it means to begin his professional career in Pittsburgh.

From his development at Notre Dame to hearing his name called on draft night, this is a conversation that gives Irish fans a closer look at Gabriel Rubio — the player, the person, and the journey that brought him to the NFL.

Wisconsin may have a wildcard waiting for Notre Dame... and his name is Colton Joseph.

The Badgers brought in the dual-threat quarterback from Old Dominion after a 2025 season in which Joseph rushed for more than 1,000 yards. Now, he enters a Wisconsin offense led by offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, a coach with a long history of offensive line play and a reputation for building physical, run-oriented attacks.

That combination could present a unique challenge for Notre Dame.

Can Joseph’s ability to create with his legs, paired with Grimes’ commitment to running the football, put pressure on the Irish defense? How does Notre Dame account for a quarterback who can turn a broken play into a huge gain? And could Wisconsin’s rushing attack become one of the biggest problems on the Irish schedule?

In this episode of First & Gold, we break down Wisconsin’s offensive wildcard, what Colton Joseph brings to the Badgers, and why the pairing of Joseph and Jeff Grimes could give Notre Dame plenty to think about.

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.

The hype surrounding Notre Dame's 2026 season is impossible to ignore, but are we getting ahead of ourselves?

This week, we take a step back and examine the one trend Marcus Freeman must finally put behind him, September losses. Despite leading the Irish to incredible highs, Freeman owns a 9-5 record in games played during the opening month of the season, including several disappointing losses to teams Notre Dame was expected to beat badly. We also revisit last year's 0-2 start against the toughest opponents on the schedule and discuss why proving this team can win the early-season games consistently remains the final hurdle before fans can fully buy into the championship expectations.

We also break down Notre Dame's stunning new football facility, what it means for the future of the program, and discuss the University's landmark $20 million partnership with SoFi that will place a sponsor patch on the Fighting Irish uniforms for the first time in program history.

Is this finally the year Notre Dame puts its September struggles behind it, or is cautious optimism still the right approach? We dive into all of it on this episode of First & Gold.

This week on First & Gold, we break down the biggest storylines we'll be watching as Notre Dame begins preparations for the 2026 season. We dive into the enormous expectations surrounding CJ Carr as he takes the reins of the Irish offense in year two.

On the defensive side, we debate what could become one of the most intriguing position battles of camp: Christian Gray vs. Dallas Golden for the starting nickel spot.

We also take a closer look at the running back room, discussing how the carries could be distributed, who is primed for a breakout, and whether the Irish should lean on a true committee approach or establish a featured back.

Plus, we highlight the recruiting momentum on the defensive line, where Charlie Partridge and Marcus Freeman continue to stack elite talent and build one of the nation's premier defensive fronts for years to come.

Fall camp has arrived, expectations are soaring, and we cover everything you need to know before the Irish take the practice field.

🍀 Subscribe, leave a review, and join us all season long as we bring you beyond the goal line with independent Notre Dame Football coverage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.