Shane Gillis Talks Notre Dame, CJ Carr and His College Football Schedule for 2026

Shane Gillis is a college football sicko.

You have to be to enjoy this program, to stumble upon this dumbass (me) on the YouTube algorithm and think, I like this dude. I like the way he does his content.

Shane Gillis joined me to talk college football, Notre Dame, CJ Carr, and plenty more ahead of the 2026 season.

There’s Only One Loyalty

Brooks Austin: Of all the cool things that your celebrity has opened the doors to, your access to college football has to be up there pretty high. You get to do really, really cool stuff.

In the world of college football nowadays, where does that rank among all the cool shit you’ve done because you’re a world-famous comedian? Where does sitting on College GameDay, rubbing elbows with Nick Saban, sit for you?

Shane Gillis: I mean, number one. If you could have asked me when I was a kid, “If I had money, what would I do?” It’s like, I’m going to college football games. That’s it.

The GameDay guys are awesome. They’re literally all great dudes. It’s fun hanging out with them.

Brooks: You obviously get the sideline access that everybody else does, but it’s not like you just like going to games. You like going to practices. You like being in the weeds. You were texting me the other day about being my Texas Longhorns insider.

Shane: Turns out I’ve got no info. But no, I’m just ready for college football. I live in Austin, so I’ve got to check out some Texas football.

Brooks: I was getting some photos from my graphic designer to make YouTube thumbnails for this, and I saw a photo of you and Steve Sarkisian on the 50-yard line throwing up the Hook ’em.

Shane: I mean, you’re not going to not throw up the Hook ’em? You know what I mean? You’re with Coach Sark and they’re like, “Hey, throw up the hook.” You’re like, “Yeah, hell yeah.” – But no, there’s only one loyalty, dude. It’s the Irish.

On Notre Dame and CJ Carr

Brooks: At the end of the year, where will CJ Carr sit on this Mount Rushmore of Notre Dame quarterbacks? Because during our lifetime, it’s Brady Quinn, Ian Book, Jimmy Clausen…

Shane: Jimmy Clausen was nasty. People forget. Go look at the stats. Watch the film, dude. Jimmy was nasty.

Brooks: You know me, big stats guy.

Shane: I don’t know. It all depends on what happens. This is the first time since I’ve been a fan that going into the season it’s like, we could win a national championship. Realistically. But we’ll see. I texted you. I was like, “Yo, chill on the CJ Carr hype.”

People need to chill. It’s too much hype.

Brooks: You don’t like the hype and anticipation on your team. You’re like, “Don’t talk about us at all.”

Shane: I just don’t understand the difference: if you look up Arch Manning and CJ Carr’s stats, why are people shitting on Arch?… Why?

Brooks: I think it’s fun to be the guy that craps on Arch Manning and the Manning name, especially on the internet. I think it’s fun for people to be like, “Oh, he’s only considered good because of his last name.”

But when I watch the tape, I think he’s an NFL quarterback who has to refine some things as a thrower.

My hype around CJ, Shane, is just how effortless he plays the position. He never seems baffled.

His first start was against Miami, and we came to find out how great that defense was last year. That’s a tough way to roll into college football, man. But I just love the way he operates.

Shane: Yeah, he made some really incredible plays in that Miami game.

Why Does Everyone Criticize Notre Dame’s Schedule?

Shane: Here’s a question for you. Why is Notre Dame’s schedule worse than Miami’s? I haven’t heard one person talk about Miami’s strength of schedule. Everyone brings up Notre Dame’s schedule. What is that about?

Brooks: Just like it’s fun to crap on Arch Manning because he’s a Manning, it’s fun to shit on Notre Dame because you’re not in a conference. That’s what that is.

Conference pride…

Shane: You guys would be independent if you could. Just remember that. Every single one of these teams would.

By the way, conference pride – do you know how embarrassing that is?

To be like, “Oh, the team we lost to is good. I’m going to cheer for them the rest of the way.” Disgusting. I would never have conference pride.

Brooks: I mean, y’all are basically in the ACC, though. They allow y’all to play like half of the league’s members every year.

Shane: It’s not our fault the ACC fell off entirely. This year we’ve got what? Wisconsin, Michigan State. Those were usually solid teams.

It’s not our fault. It’s not our fault USC ducked us.

Did USC Duck Notre Dame?

Brooks: I was going to ask you about that. USC fans claim they didn’t duck y’all. Y’all just didn’t meet them at their demands. You were the ones ducking them in Week 0.

That’s what USC fans claim.

Shane: I mean, that’s saying, “We’re not scheduling you.” — They’re deciding it’s Week 0 now?

Brooks: Yeah, but they claim that, and I somewhat agree, especially when you look at their schedule this year… they have Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon on their slate. I believe they play Penn State in a whiteout.

Like, I’m supposed to slide Notre Dame in here when?

Shane: I thought we were here to compete, man. I thought college football was about competition, dude.

Brooks: I do love that you’re not just an “I wear the logo” fan. You’re a guy who can get in here and throw barbs with anybody, and you’re as defensive about Notre Dame as the cracked-out Irish fan in my mentions on a Saturday night.I love that about you.

Curt Cignetti and Indiana

Brooks: Speaking of teams ducking you on the schedule, what did you think of Curt Cignetti’s comments? He was basically like, “We’ll play Notre Dame, but they’ve got to come here twice and then we’ll go there once.”

What did you think about that?

Shane: I mean, he’s funny. He’s just being funny. He seems like a wild man.

Brooks: It’s funny. The Indiana guys are great college football players, but none of them had any NFL interest. The defensive end he brought back, I don’t even think he got invited to a camp. Part of that was because he blew his knee out during the Big Ten Championship Game.

The defensive end that led the Big Ten in TFLs last year, I don’t think he even got an invitation to fall camp or OTAs or anything like that. It’s weird, man. As great as they are, and as well coached as they are, the NFL hasn’t really been infatuated with their player personnel.

Shane: Cignetti is a great coach. Me and him both have deep ties to the Elon football program down there.

We’re both Phoenix. I can’t trash my man. We were both there for one year, I think.

Brooks: Yeah, I don’t think you made it a full year. You made it a semester.

Shane: Don’t worry about my career.

College Football Fan Bases

Brooks: My producer has one question: What fan base has the highest concentration of “Tier 2 Red Power Gods?”

Shane: Damn, that’s tough. If you’re in Pennsylvania and you’re a diehard Pitt football fan, you’re a beast. I love you.

Where I’m from, the worst fans are Penn State by far.

Brooks: Really?

Shane: Yeah. I’m from Harrisburg, Central PA, so it was always Penn State.

I like the Dawgs fans. I like the Georgia fans. They’re funny.

I’ve never been to LSU.

Brooks: I’m going there this weekend and the general consensus was: good luck, leave early, lock your car.

And then LSU fans are like, “Get ready to get hammered.”

Shane: That’s wonderful.

Can Notre Dame Go Undefeated?

Brooks: Last question I’ve got for you: Does Notre Dame go undefeated?

Shane: I mean, that Miami game is going to be fun. There are some traps. Obviously at BYU, you never know.

I’d love to say they should go undefeated. Yea. Notre Dame SHOULD go undefeated.

Brooks: The SMU game looks like a little trap game a couple weeks after the Miami showdown. We’re going to find out obviously far more about SMU over the next two or three months before they even play Notre Dame.

Shane: That’s every year. Week 1 and Week 2 of college football are usually the easiest betting.

But back to your 12-0 question, we’re just taking it one week at a time, dude. I’m focused on Wisconsin. We’re just worried about getting to Lambeau, having a good time.

Brooks: Attaboy. One day at a time. The only guy I’ve got to beat is the guy I was yesterday. Horse blinders on. Got to attack the day. Got to get better today.

You’ve got that coach speak down.

On the Georgia Bulldogs

Shane: How are those Bulldogs looking this year?

Brooks: They’re going to be all right. Their schedule is really manageable.

It’s three football games you’ve got to worry about if you’re a Georgia fan: Oklahoma coming to town, at Alabama and at Oxford.

That game against Florida this year, I think, is going to be relatively difficult, but it’s in Mercedes-Benz right down the road. So it’s a pseudo-home game for them.

I think they only play about four traditional road games this year. It’s almost like a Notre Dame schedule.

Shane: So you’re going 12-0, is what you’re saying?

Brooks: 11-1 is what I picked them. 11-1, SEC champs.

If it is Texas and Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, they’re going to stuff your boy Sark in a locker another time, I would imagine.

The College Football Games Shane Gillis Wants to Attend in ’26

Brooks: I’m hopeful to see you next week in Austin for the Ohio State game.

Shane: Oh yea, I’ll be at the Ohio State game. Neutral observer.

Brooks: What are you most excited for travel-wise? College football games this year – I’m sure you’re going to pick four or five big ones. Do you already have them on your schedule?

Shane: I’m going to Texas at Tennessee. That’ll be fun. Peyton Manning invited me to that. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that, but whatever. So yeah, I’m definitely going to that.

Brooks: Nice little name drop.

Shane: Yeah, that was a big one. He was like, “Do you want to sit with me for that?” I was like, “Yeah, more than anything. I’ll be there.”- I’ve never seen a game in Knoxville, so that’ll be awesome.

Obviously Miami-Notre Dame.

Texas-Ohio State looks incredible. That’ll be fun.

And then, for real, Week 1 this Sunday, Lambeau. I’ve never seen a game there. I know it’s not the Packers, but we’ve got that going for us.

I’d love to catch an LSU game.

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin Prediction

Brooks: All right. Let’s get your prediction this weekend. I think they’re almost 28-point favorites or something like that.

How bad does Notre Dame beat Wisconsin this weekend?

Shane: Twenty-eight scares me. It’s up there.

Brooks: Yeah. It’s a lot.

Shane: I’d say Notre Dame by hopefully three scores. Really hopefully. But we’ll see. It’s Week 1. It’s Week 1.

Brooks: Anything else, Shane? You got any other takes you want to get off right quick?

Shane: Just everyone out there: your team would be independent if they could. That’s it. Don’t worry about us.