SOUTH BEND — Will Notre Dame football's defense be dominant enough to pave the way to and through the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024?



Can the Irish offense under the presumed direction of transfer quarterback Riley Leonard look like "polished glass?"



Will the special teams be, well, special?



South Bend Tribune Notre Dame football beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino, along with WNDU sports director Jackson Neill, breakdown those questions and many more in this season's first Pod of Gold podcast of the 2024 season



This week's show was recorded in the studios of news gathering partner WNDU.

SOUTH BEND — Will Notre Dame football's defense be dominant enough to pave the way to and through the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024?
 
Can the Irish offense under the presumed direction of transfer quarterback Riley Leonard look like "polished glass?"
 
Will the special teams be, well, special?
 
South Bend Tribune Notre Dame football beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino, along with WNDU sports director Jackson Neill, breakdown those questions and many more in this season's first Pod of Gold podcast of the 2024 season
 
This week's show was recorded in the studios of news gathering partner WNDU.

NDInsider.com's "Pod of Gold" podcast is powered by The South Bend Tribune and recorded at the studios of WNDU-TV, South Bend Indiana's NBC affiliate. Notre Dame football beat writers Mike Berardino, Tom Noie and Austin Hough talk Irish sports, pop culture and the latest athletic news swirling around the Golden Dome with special guests. 

NDInsider.com's "Pod of Gold" podcast is powered by The South Bend Tribune and recorded at the studios of WNDU-TV, South Bend Indiana's NBC affiliate. Notre Dame football beat writers Mike Berardino, Tom Noie and Austin Hough talk Irish sports, pop culture and the latest athletic news swirling around the Golden Dome with special guests.

Pod of Gold: Notre Dame Football

Notre Dame Insider's Tyler James and Eric Hansen offer their takes on Notre Dame football, discuss the latest news and bring on guests with expert knowledge.

Is this the year? Breaking down Notre Dame football's preseason camp and expectations for a special 2024 season

SOUTH BEND — There's plenty of Notre Dame football news to unpack on this week's Pod of Gold podcast.



South Bend Tribune and NDinsider.com beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino size up the Irish transfer portal finds, their 2024 early signees and of course what to expect from the Dec. 29 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl matchup with No. 21 Oregon State in El Paso, Texas.



Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. It's the 90th Sun Bowl contest and marks the third post-season battle with the Beavers who won both the 2001 Fiesta Bowl and 2004 Insight Bowl by a combined average score of 39.5-15.

SOUTH BEND — There's plenty of <a href="https://www.ndinsider.com/story/sports/football/2023/12/06/notre-dame-football-players-opt-out-tracker-whos-skipping-sun-bowl-oregon-state-el-paso-texas/71815022007/">Notre Dame football news</a> to unpack on this week's Pod of Gold podcast.
 
South Bend Tribune and NDinsider.com beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino size up the Irish transfer portal finds, <a href="https://www.ndinsider.com/story/sports/football/2023/12/20/analysis-how-notre-dame-football-held-onto-top-10-recruiting-class-for-2024-breakdown-marcus-freeman/71930020007/">their 2024 early signees</a> and of course what to expect from the Dec. 29 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl matchup with No. 21 Oregon State in El Paso, Texas.
 
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. It's the 90th Sun Bowl contest and marks the third post-season battle with the Beavers who won both the 2001 Fiesta Bowl and 2004 Insight Bowl by a combined average score of 39.5-15.

Notre Dame football podcast: Talking Sun Bowl, early signees and Irish OC search

SOUTH BEND — How did this happen? How did No. 15 Notre Dame football land in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl opposite No. 21 Oregon State? How do Irish fans get excited about this?



South Bend Tribune and NDinsider.com beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino chat with equally surprised Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas to scratch at those answers on this week's Pod of Gold podcast.



Kickoff on Friday, Dec. 29 is set for 2 p.m. It's the 90th Sun Bowl contest and second for the Irish, who topped Miami (Fla.) 33-17 on New Year's Eve 2010. The game also marks the third post-season matchup between Notre Dame and Oregon State, with the Beavers winning both the 2001 Fiesta Bowl and 2004 Insight Bowl — both in Phoenix — by a combined average score of 39.5-15.

SOUTH BEND — How did this happen? How did No. 15 <a href="https://www.ndinsider.com/story/sports/college/football/2023/12/03/notre-dame-football-learns-its-bowl-destination-marcus-freeman-sam-hartman-sun-bowl-oregon-state/71766389007/">Notre Dame football</a> land in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl opposite <a href="https://www.ndinsider.com/story/sports/football/2023/12/03/three-things-to-know-notre-dame-oregon-state-sun-bowl-football-ncaa-irish-beavers/71791318007/">No. 21 Oregon State?</a> How do Irish fans get excited about this?
 
South Bend Tribune and NDinsider.com beat writers Tom Noie and Mike Berardino chat with equally surprised Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas to scratch at those answers on this week's Pod of Gold podcast.
 
Kickoff on Friday, Dec. 29 is set for 2 p.m. It's the 90th Sun Bowl contest and second for the Irish, who topped Miami (Fla.) 33-17 on New Year's Eve 2010. The game also marks the third post-season matchup between Notre Dame and Oregon State, with the Beavers winning both the 2001 Fiesta Bowl and 2004 Insight Bowl — both in Phoenix — by a combined average score of 39.5-15.

Talking Notre Dame's surprise matchup vs. Oregon State with Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football didn't have the benefit of an opponent last week to help eradicate the taste of its flop at Clemson Nov. 4. Senior Day against Wake Forest Saturday can't seem to get here fast enough.



Kickoff at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday is 3:30 p.m. with a ceremony honoring 31 Irish seniors shortly beforehand. Notre Dame (7-3) still has a 10-win season in its sights even though a New Year's Six Bowl is off the table.



On this week's Pod of Gold Notre Dame football podcast, hosts Tom Noie and Mike Berardino unpack the Irish disappointment in South Carolina, assess how the ND can get its offense back on track and monitor transfer portal percolations. They also breakdown the Wake Forest game with Learfield sideline reporter Dave Goren.

SOUTH BEND — <a href="https://www.ndinsider.com/story/sports/football/2021/08/26/notre-dame-football-depth-chart-starters-lineup-roster-2021/8247986002/">Notre Dame football</a> didn't have the benefit of an opponent last week to help eradicate the taste of its flop at Clemson Nov. 4. Senior Day against <a href="https://www.ndinsider.com/story/sports/college/football/2023/11/15/notre-dame-football-vs-wake-forest-top-players-to-watch-tv-kickoff-joe-alt-xavier-watts/71472219007/">Wake Forest Saturday</a> can't seem to get here fast enough.
 
Kickoff at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday is 3:30 p.m. with a ceremony honoring 31 Irish seniors shortly beforehand. Notre Dame (7-3) still has a 10-win season in its sights even though a New Year's Six Bowl is off the table.
 
On this week's Pod of Gold Notre Dame football podcast, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/tnoieNDI">Tom Noie</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeBerardino">Mike Berardino</a> unpack the Irish disappointment in South Carolina, assess how the ND can get its offense back on track and monitor transfer portal percolations. They also breakdown the Wake Forest game with <a href="https://twitter.com/Dave_Goren">Learfield sideline reporter Dave Goren</a>.

Is this the year? Breaking down Notre Dame football's preseason camp and expectations for a special 2024 season

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