Jason Sudeikis is bringing a very Notre Dame-friendly presence to ESPN’s “College GameDay” on Saturday morning.
The “Ted Lasso” star is set to be the celebrity guest picker as the show builds toward a Week 9 matchup that features No. 1 Miami against No.
11 Notre Dame. Sudeikis may be a Kansas native, but his tie to the Fighting Irish runs deeper than a casual fan connection.
His college path starts at Fort Scott Community College, at least on paper. Sudeikis earned a basketball scholarship there, but he was ruled ineligible to play. He later told ESPN in 2013 that he went to summer school in hopes of making the roster, only for the team to redshirt him.
That setback pushed him toward theater, a move he still credits with changing everything.
"At that point, it's like having someone you've dated all those years break up with you, but you're in love with someone else," Sudeikis said. "You don't know if they love you back, but at least there's that opportunity.
"I would say the discontent within my athletic life led to a powerful appreciation of what was ahead of me in this artistic [career] I fell into."
Notre Dame has been part of Sudeikis’ life for much longer than his college years. He has admitted to having an affinity for the program, and the family link runs through his grandfather, George Wendt, who attended Notre Dame before dropping out as a junior. Sudeikis also went to a basketball camp at the school in sixth grade.
He was even in the stands for the 1988 “Catholics vs. Convicts” game against Miami, a detail that says plenty about how long this connection has been there.
So while Sudeikis never actually attended Notre Dame, Saturday’s showdown is still likely to feel a little like a homecoming.
In Other News...
Tyler Carr Just Got The Kind Of Miami Praise Notre Dame Fans Notice
Mario Cristobal did Notre Dame a small favor this week by putting Tyler Carrs progress in plain view. The Miami coach singled out the quarterbacks development as both a passer and a runner since last seasons opener, and he also pointed to Carrs command of the offense and his accuracy when the play-calling puts the ball in his hands. For a Notre Dame team that has leaned on Carrs growth to steady the attack, praise from an opponent of Miamis caliber carries a little extra weight.
It also sharpens the spotlight on what comes next. This matchup gives Carr a chance to show that the traits Cristobal mentioned are real against a strong opponent, not just flattering offseason talk. Notre Dame fans have seen the quarterback take steps forward, but a game like this is where those gains become harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
CJ Carr Faces The Notre Dame Moment That Could Change Everything
CJ Carr has already put his name in the Notre Dame record book, but the one thing still missing is the kind of win that changes how a quarterback is remembered. He has played well in big spots, yet the Irish have come up short in all three of his starts against Top 10 opponents, a stretch shaped in part by defensive breakdowns that left little margin for error. Now comes No. 1 Miami, the sort of stage that can turn a promising run into something much bigger.
For Carr, the matchup also arrives with a familiar wrinkle: Notre Dames offense has been asked to stay cautious this season, and that approach has kept his passing numbers from fully taking off. Still, this is the kind of game where the conversation can shift quickly, especially if the Irish can finally pair his individual production with a result that matches it. A defining victory is sitting right there, and the pressure around it is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Defense Faces Its Biggest Test Yet Against Miami
Notre Dames defense is heading into its toughest assignment of the season with more questions than answers. Injuries and uneven play have left the unit searching for stability, and the timing could hardly be worse with Miami bringing the top-ranked scoring offense into the matchup. For a group that has already had trouble generating consistent pressure and finishing drives, this is the kind of game that quickly exposes every soft spot.
The challenge now falls to the coaching staff to piece together a plan that can slow down a high-powered attack while working around key players who are hurt or limited. Notre Dame will need a better pass rush and a sharper ability to get off the field in key moments, because against Miami, long defensive lapses can turn into points in a hurry. The Irish do not need perfection, but they do need a cleaner, more urgent version of the defense they have been trying to find. [Read more 🡒]