Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast

BOXOFFICE is the code for the Homefield sale mentioned in this show (linked down below). Week 7 is full of blockbusters on the college football schedule. Alex and Richard pick apart what they're looking for in six huge games, then take some questions, make some picks, and run through a tasting menu for the rest of the weekend. This episode also includes a selection from Godfrey's Q&A this week for Patreon subscribers. If you like it, you can get something like that just about every week by subscribing at splitzoneduo.com, in addition to lots of other bonus podcasts, including our scripted history series "Dead Letters." Production: Anthony Vito. Homefield sale: https://www.homefieldapparel.com/collections/szd-special-sale?page=1See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner take you on a 35-ish-minute journey through the college football weekend, with observations, minutiae, and numbers on dozens of games. Get bonus episodes and more on our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard and Alex start the show by talking about the recent coach firings at Colorado and Wisconsin. Justin Ferguson, publisher of the Auburn Observer, joins the program to talk about the bizarre last year (even by Auburn standards) on the Plains, how the fanbase is feeling heading into what might be a dramatic weekend, and the state of the Auburn psyche. We take a range of Patreon questions, pick the Red River Shootout, and then get into the Week 6 tasting menu. Subscribe to our Patreon podcasts at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson shuttle you through a packed weekend in college football in a roughly 40-minute debrief. Subscribe to our Patreon for more episodes, including a potential Auburn coach firing show, at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex start this episode with an extended discussion of Georgia Tech, a job that says a lot (but also leaves a lot unsaid!) about both Atlanta and college football. After that: LSU and FSU might actually both just be pretty solid. The Pac-12 might be having its best year in a long time. And is 2022 a bad year or a great year for the Group of 5? Plus a history lesson on why the service academies don't score on each other, then a tasting menu for the weekend. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com for bonus episodes and more. Production: Anthony Vito. For the SZD x Homefield NC State Shirts of the Week, go here: https://www.homefieldapparel.com/collections/nc-state-x-szdSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner debrief you on the week that was in college football. Adrian Martinez gave Oklahoma a world of hurt. Clemson looked like Clemson. Gene Chizik is still UNC's defensive coordinator. Miami has problems, but FSU might not? Mizzou-Auburn was a science experiment. Minnesota dropped a piano on Michigan State. JMU put the largest comeback of the year on App State. Iowa and Rutgers hit the over. Washington might just be good. Cal scored 49 points. Someone lost a game 98-0. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

It's a big show this week to commemorate SZD's second birthday. This show starts with some talk about the Arizona State coach search to come, then continues with "College Football Show-and-Tell" on Washington, Stanford, and various teams that are rapidly changing their on-field identities. Then we take a lot of questions from listeners, make picks on what might be the lowest over/under in modern history, and go through the tasting menu for the weekend. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner take you on a roughly 40-minute sprint through another packed weekend in college football, with observations and analysis on dozens of games. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The college football season is, somehow, one-sixth going on a quarter complete. After talking about Nebraska for a few minutes to open the show, Godfrey, Richard, and Alex try to separate fact from fiction among some early-season narratives that people could choose to believe in (feat. some Bama, some Clemson, some USC, some Air Force, and more). We draft winless teams who might still turn their seasons around, and WVU and Notre Dame are not among the teams picked. Alex makes the boldest stand of his life and explains why he's picking Auburn to beat Penn State. We offer a big tasting menu for the weekend, too. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner take you on a 44-minute, detail-packed trip through a loaded Week 2 in college football. This show starts with some blockbusters in the Sun Belt and ripples out from there. Marshall is not a regular Group of 5 program. App State dominated A&M, but situationally. Georgia Southern just learned the forward pass, and Nebraska still couldn't stop it. Texas showed something. Kanas State obliterated Mizzou in every phase of the game. Iowa State did something that happens about once a year. Kansas and Illinois are competent. USC is going to score about a billion points this season. Utah State is bad. All of that and a lot more. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

College football is a small sample size sport, so let's take stock of how our impressions of a handful of teams did (and did not) change in Week 1. This episode also has some discussion of the disjointed way Playoff expansion actually came about, some vested interests, and a detailed tasting menu to get you ready for the weekend to come. Subscribe to our Patreon for bonus episodes at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard and Alex take you on a lean but detailed journey through Week 1 in college football. Ohio State does business the old way. Anthony Richardson might be the man. Houston/UTSA and Pitt/WVU play regional bangers. Georgia just has better players. Kirk Ferentz makes a decision. Penn State has a QB with a rocket arm, and it's not the starter. Virginia Tech does something it should never do ... again. App State and ECU come face to face with pain. Oklahoma State is back to itself. SMU still owns North Texas. Akron has a long way to go. And Coastal out-troops the troops. Subscribe to our Patreon for more episodes at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Before getting into a substantial preview of Week 1, Godfrey, Richard, and Alex talk about a few stories away from the field. The episode starts with a discussion of the sexual assault story at San Diego State that broke last week and how we in the college football media cover people we don't really know, and that goes until approximately the 10:05 mark of the show. Then we pick through Auburn's ousting of its athletic director (yeah, it's what it looks like) and give some Week 0 perspectives before getting into business with a bunch of Week 1 games. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com for more episodes. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

We think this might be the longest episode in SZD history. Conference preview season concludes with college football's Midwestern and "Midwestern" conferences, making an effort to get into detail on every single team in the Big Ten and MAC. Which Big Ten East mega-extension is most likely to look regrettable in four months? What kind of Ohio State season will this be? Is it finally time for a Toledo breakthrough? Does *Maryland* have the Big Ten's second best passing offense? Can NIU maintain its bounce? Is Scott Frost going to do enough? Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Alex and Richard take you on an almost entirely realignment-free journey through the Pac-12 and then the Mountain West. Has Utah changed, or has the Pac-12 changed around it? What's fair to ask of USC in Lincoln Riley's first year, and does fairness even matter? Is Utah State primed for another step back after a big year, or not? Is this the year to make judgments about the current state of Boise State? Is Stanford in Trouble with a capital T? Might Arizona overtake ASU even in a bad year? There's a lot more in here, too. Subscribe to our Patreon for more Pac-12 and Mountain West talk this week at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Defending FCS Upset Draft champion and Shutdown Fullcast host Jason Kirk joins the podcast to pick FCS winners over FBS opponents for 2022. Then the whole group spends a few minutes running through each of the FBS independents, contemplating questions such as, "Why is Notre Dame interesting and perhaps slightly less villainous these days?" and "How long is Jerry Kill going to hang out at New Mexico State?" Subscribe to our Patreon to participate in the FCS Upset Draft and get lots of bonus shows, at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex preview FBS' two Southeastern conferences, one after the other. Topics include whether either Georgia or Alabama will take a gap year, if the Texas A&M narrative will change one way or the other, whether there's any team that *can't* finish second in the SEC East, who could finish last in the West, the QBs at Kentucky and Florida, the Sun Belt's new additions, what we will learn about Old Dominion this year, if Louisiana can stay atop the SBC West after Billy Napier and a bunch of key players left, what's going on at Arkansas State, and why some Sun Belt schools in the Gulf may pose an existential threat to each other. And more! Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Alex is out of office so Godfrey immediately hijacked the conference season preview format to talk about cigarettes and media parties. Let's explore the ever-changing world of the American and calm down – or warn – a group of ACC hopefuls about their 2022 season and beyond. Production: Anthony VitoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Tulane University built one of the most powerful football programs in the American South. The Green Wave had a spot in the SEC and a history of winning a lot of big games, including against their rivals from Baton Rouge. Then something changed. Alex Kirshner and Steven Godfrey tell the story of Tulane's journey from the upper echelons of the sport to a program scrapping for respectability in the Group of 5. Alex interviews Lenny Vangilder, a Tulane historian, to go deeper into the Wave's story. Production: Anthony Vito. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Damn, it's great to be talking about actual college football again. Welcome to Split Zone Duo Relaunch Week! We're officially turning toward the 2022 season, and this week's show is a hefty preview of two conferences: the Big 12 and Conference USA. We're also releasing four Patreon episodes this week at splitzoneduo.com, and we spend the first 26 minutes or so of this episode talking to you about some of what's on tap. Then we move to the Big 12, and then to C-USA. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Hugh Freeze steps in it yet again, and Godfrey, Alex, and Richard explain how it fits into both Liberty's shtick and a years-long personal pattern for the head coach. Then the group talks about the current state of play in realignment, what we're hoping happens next, and a little flap at Minnesota that recently got buried in the news. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex take your questions on a long list of topics. Which program is the hardest one to get information about? Is Oklahoma State maybe on the verge of something really good? Why doesn't Spurrier have much of a coaching tree, and why are Florida fans already getting impatient with a new coach who was quite explicit about needing time? (Note: We recorded this before he wrote an open letter.) Would it be good for the MWC if Boise had a few down years? Is Bowling Green in win-or-get-fired mode? Why can't a mid-tier P5 like Arizona State take advantage of demography the way a blue-blood like Georgia can? What do we make of a recent booster revolt at Louisville? (The state of Kentucky rocks for college sports mess.) Thanks for listening, and please check out our Patreon for bonus episodes and more at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Alex and Richard spend 30-some minutes closing up last week's realignment conversation and then diving into summer recruiting in an SZD way. We don't cover the ins and outs of everyday recruiting on this show, but there are several things we wanted to bring to your attention as storylines to keep track of over the next six months. And after that, we've decided to share a Patreon episode that we published in March: a conversation with Nate Tice and Diante Lee (both now of The Athletic) about the coaching industry, being on a staff with your father, and a lot more. We hope you enjoy it and check out more at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Godfrey and Alex pick through some recent college football news. Godfrey explains the incentives at work that will get UCF, Houston, and Cincinnati to the Big 12 a year earlier than expected, and why their 2023 move could lead to an absolute blast of a conference for exactly one season. Then it's time for a round of the hot new game "Good Schedule, Bad Schedule," where Alex and Godfrey pick out three teams whose 2022 schedules are perfect fits for what those programs need right now—and three teams that put themselves in the opposite situation. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Conventional wisdom says a coach's second year is when we start to get an idea of how he'll do at a school in the long run. Godfrey, Richard, and Alex go through every second-year FBS head coach and sort out how we're feeling about his tenure and future, on a scale from "good" to "holding" to "uh oh." This show also features a quick news roundup at the beginning, including programs launching their own streaming services and Miami's billionaire donor not *actually* losing a bunch of cash. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

College football is in a quiet period, but Split Zone Duo continues apace. Richard and Alex talk about a notable Deion Sanders hire, why Bryan Harsin is starting a podcast to compete with ours, the last embers of SabanFisherGate, how the SEC meetings are now covered like a papal conclave, a 30-year history (at least) of the coaching industry being in crisis over the future of the sport, how much longer Kyle Whittingham will coach at Utah, and how many games D.J. Uiagalelei starts at Clemson in 2022. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex start this episode by picking through the aftermath of the May coaching kerfuffle of the century between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher. After that: The lifting of a 25-man limit on initial scholarship counters is going to be a big deal for programs at the top of the sport, and we'll see how it affects everyone else. Then, to finish up, let's go FBS league by FBS league and establish what they should do about their divisional formats, now that most of them seem on the verge of changing them. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex are tired of talking about NIL all the time, but fortunately, this mid-May stretch has brought a kernel of 2022 football business to discuss. ABC’s primetime schedule is partially out, and the inner workings of how it was built are interesting. Let’s also talk about the XFL establishing itself as the new alternative pro league and some coach news around Dan Mullen, Chad Morris, and the similarly situated Nick Saban. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard is back from college football's big offseason conference meetings and Fiesta Bowl confab. He explains to Alex what his industry contacts are talking about and wondering about at those meetings, including a breakdown by conference. The NCAA teases a crackdown on name, image, and likeness collectives, but it is fighting with one hand tied behind its back. And Ohio State's athletic director floats an idea that is probably worth all of our attention. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Godfrey and Alex talk about some of the most CFB-centric storylines from the NFL Draft, including how the NFL gave an icy reception (in different ways) to college football heroes like Nakobe Dean, Matt Araiza, and Matt Corral. Then, an extended discussion about the ongoing transfer process of Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison. There are good reasons and bad reasons to be mad about it, and sometimes, they blend. But there's only one clear idea about what should happen next. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex discuss Mark Emmert's run as the president of the NCAA. In some areas, his failures were systemic and probably inevitable. In others, he made a mess all by himself. It is also NFL Draft week, and the crew talks about some specific college football angles to the NFL's marquee spring event: What do evaluations of the 2022 QBs say about how the NFL sees college offense today? Have people forgotten how to figure out edge rushers? Is the draft now in a permanent feedback loop with the top tier of recruiting? Plus, Boston College simply cannot hang onto an athletic director. Subscribe to our Patreon for many bonus episodes at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony VitoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Big Ten and Fox are poised to deepen their TV partnership. What’s that mean for you, the viewer? The adults in the room are doing a lot of hand-wringing about college football economics. Texas Tech is trying a recruiting gimmick that isn’t exactly a gimmick, and it might work! Plus, let’s classify a whole bunch of 2022’s new QBs. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony VitoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Ed Orgeron visited Notre Dame and told the Irish they’d win a national title. Godfrey explains the long game at play here, which is — we swear — more interesting than you’d think. Steve Sarkisian knocks back a Texas player who commits the grave crime of honesty in public, for reasons that don’t seem to serve Sark at all. Plus, welcome to a new spring football league, which has more “name that guy” value in the coaching ranks than the players. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Notre Dame scheduled a game with Tennessee State, which it very much wants you to think of as purely an HBCU rather than also an FCS team. Alex and Richard play a round of “Fantasy Big 12 Commissioner” and pick out this year’s spring ball optimism teams. During this episode, we mention an audience survey that we would appreciate you filling out, with an eye toward giving you the episodes you want and making our podcast stronger. The link is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HB3GR8F. Production: Anthony Vito.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Godfrey and Alex answer listener questions on a handful of topics: Why Matt Campbell and Nebraska make sense for each other, who the Big Ten would seriously consider for expansion and why, the issue with Navy's conference affiliation compared to Air Force's, if it's possible to have long-term coach stability at the elite blue-bloods these days, and why various states' high school landscapes. Plus! Further info on why Florida is playing Eastern Washington. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

This show covers three topics in detail. The first (6:23) is about the rush in sports media streaming deals, and how it'll come around to college football in the near, near future. The second (35:30) is about Billy Napier, the first-year Florida coach who is mastering the art of "not saying that much before you have a lot to say." And the third (58:10) is Godfrey, unleashing a new theory on the world about the future of vacated wins as an NCAA punishment. Our Patreon is at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

A content note: Our discussion of LSU, running from about the 21:25 to 36:48 mark of this episode, includes discussion of allegations of sexual misconduct. In this episode, Richard talks about the evolving experience of the NFL Combine, which we consider to be a joint college football/NFL venture. Godfrey explains how LSU's disjointed coaching search and a new allegation against an assistant amount to a series of related errors. Alex posits a theory about ageism in coaching hires, in response to a rousing round of, "Is this FBS head coach older than Steven Godfrey?" Our Patreon is at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Hue Jackson and Grambling's attempt to hire Art Briles was a series of unforced errors that revealed a lot about what coaches and administrators think they can get away with. That segment, which begins the episode and runs until 30:25 on your timer (though it may vary slightly by podcast app), includes a brief discussion Briles' oversight of Baylor during its sexual violence scandal in the 2010s. Alex and Godfrey also go through the very public fight between the Sun Belt and Conference USA, and why college football's attendance crisis is not really an attendance crisis. Our Patreon is at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The College Football Playoff says it won't expand during its current TV deal. Alex and Richard talk about why that is, what it is that different conferences might be trying to gain, and where we're going from here. Then it's time to wrap up the conference review season with the Big 12 and Conference USA. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex discuss the end — or maybe more of a pause — of hostilities at Auburn. What was surprising about it, and what wasn't? Plus a quick Sun Belt realignment talk before we get into detailed conference reviews for the ACC and AAC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Pac-12 and Mountain West conference review episode starts with a discussion of how Bryan Harsin's tenure at Auburn went wrong, and why it's likely about to be over. Subscribe to our Patreon to hear the full Auburn bonus episode and more at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Welcome to the conference review episode for the 2021 Big Ten and MAC. That covers most of the show, but Godfrey, Richard, and Alex spend the first 25 minutes talking about Jim Harbaugh and the NFL, what Caleb Williams signifies about USC's return to business as it used to done, and a lovely change to the Week 1 schedule. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex go through in-depth conference review exercises for both the SEC and the Sun Belt, after 15 minutes running through this week's big stories of coaches (Todd Graham, Kirk Ferentz, Nick Saban) getting involved in various political issues and hot waters. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard, Alex, and Godfrey talk through Georgia's national championship win, Stetson Bennett's triumph, and the Dawgs using a roadmap that's both familiar and different. Then, we run through 2021 season takes that worked out well, poorly, and medium. And finally, a preview of 2022 Week 1, because there are no rules. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

After Godfrey shares what he knows about Jim Harbaugh and the Raiders, he, Richard, and Alex get into Alabama-Georgia Round II (or whatever this is) and consider what shape the national title game will take. Godfrey then tries to explain his reservations about SEC Playoff dominance in a non-alarmist way, Richard tries to explain the benefits of best-on-best, and Alex attempts to make them both feel bad. Plus a discussion of the Todd Graham mess at Hawaii, and why this weekend's FCS championship is a more varied matchup than your typical North Dakota State game. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Alex, Richard, and Godfrey start the show with a chat about how college football's structure made the current raft of bowl cancelations inevitable, and why it's rich when the bowl rep industry gets upset about it. Richard reports from Miami on what this Playoff game week actually looks like, and the group discusses the narratives that might attach themselves to involved teams depending on results this weekend. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com, and happy new year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex get together a few days before Christmas to talk about these topics in detail: 1) last weekend's brief YouTube TV/Disney carriage fight and how it connects to the future of watching college football games, 2) if bowl season has actually gotten less important or if it just feels that way (and what to do about it if so), and 3) the actual games happening this week. Have a great holiday week, and our Patreon is at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Godfrey and Alex talk through Jackson State's stunning commitment from the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2022, while cautioning against leaps to conclusion. Oregon is having an identity crisis but shouldn't be. Clemson isn't but maybe should. And a detailed look at this weekend's bowl season and lower-level playoff slates. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Marcus Freeman's elevation at Notre Dame was smooth, well received, and kind of quiet, so Alex and Richard went back over it amid a week of carousel chaos. Then: breaking out every new FBS coach hire into tiers of, "What is the school trying to accomplish here?" Plus an Army-Navy version of Vested Interests, a non-FBS tasting menu for the weekend, and answers to three questions from Patreon subscribers. Join us at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex talk through the Playoff slotting, the committee's performance in 2021, why Cincinnati doesn't disprove anything about the event's treatment of the G5, and the matchups themselves. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe