The Solid Verbal College Football

Today, we're taking a rare break from college football and dropping a long, off-topic episode to the feed. It's been nine years after the original Secret Garbage Bracket debuted, and we're bringing it back with an expanded 18-item field, two play-in games, and a fresh batch of submissions from the Verballerhood. The premise is the same as it was in 2017: take things that everyone seems to like, things that carry a high approval rating and rarely get questioned, and make the case that they're actually, secretly, kind of garbage. This year's bracket covers a wide range of things from modern life, from everyday conveniences and travel staples to entire cultural institutions and lifestyle choices. There are heated debates, a few philosophical tangents, and at least one matchup that spiraled into something neither of us expected. Fill out your own picks at https://garbage.solidverbal.com! Timestamps:0:00 - Intro to the 2026 Secret Garbage Bracket8:58 - Skinny Cans vs. Luxury Watches14:33 - Haircut Industrial Complex vs. Podcasts on YouTube22:11 - Cars30:02 - Grocery Stores vs. Food Delivery Services42:20 - Streaming Services vs. Carry-on Luggage54:30 - ChatGPT vs. Greeting Cards1:04:14 - The Future vs. Dog Parks1:16:28 - Beach Vacations vs. Wireless Charging1:25:20 - Miami Metro Area vs. Thought Leadership1:34:40 - Short-form Content1:38:05 - Elite Eight Matchups1:43:33 - The Final Four1:48:19 - The Championship1:56:43 - Also Receiving VotesSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for our annual college football business update, and we couldn't think of anyone better than our friend Matt Brown from Extra Points (ExtraPointsMB.com) to walk us through everything happening behind the scenes. From the revenue arms race to jersey patches to the SCORE Act, Matt breaks down the big-picture forces shaping every athletic department in the country. We talk about whether spending more money is actually worth it, what Congress can realistically do about college sports reform, which revenue streams matter more than fans think, and why the stadium experience still has a long way to go. Plus, a seedy video game pitch, a rining endorsement for Milwaukee, and Dan discovers Summerfest 2026.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the one thing your college football team just can't figure out? In this episode, we work through listener submissions on the recurring issues that haunt fan bases year after year. From Arkansas's defensive drought to Mizzou's glass ceiling under Eli Drinkwitz, from Florida's institutional lag, to Oregon's quest to close out the biggest games. Plus, what gnaws at Texas, Michigan, Georgia, and USC fans despite all the talent those programs have stockpiled. We also riff on Iowa, Wisconsin, Alabama, and whether some coaches are simply hardwired to win one specific way. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro8:18 - Arkansas16:43 - Georgia Tech22:42 - Missouri30:02 - Florida40:08 - Oregon48:07 - Texas53:46 - Michigan58:45 - Georgia1:03:12 - USC1:07:44 - Wisconsin1:09:33 - Rapid Fire (Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Iowa, Alabama)Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March Madness has a way of bringing old feelings back to the surface, and for college football fans, there's plenty of unresolved heartbreak left over from the 2025 season. In this college football episode, we introduce the Wiggum Scale, a Ralph Wiggum-inspired framework for rating the most devastating losses and collapses of the year. From Penn State's season-breaking double overtime loss to Oregon at a packed Beaver Stadium, to a South Carolina team that watched a 30-3 halftime lead against Texas A&M completely evaporate, to a botched extra point hold that may have cost Notre Dame a playoff berth, we make peace with more than a dozen moments that some fans may never want to feel again. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro7:43 - Omar Cooper Jr.'s catch13:14 - Oregon derails Penn State's season18:55 - West Virginia wins the Backyard Brawl23:28 - Tyler Buchner's botched hold30:54 - South Carolina gives away a 27-point lead37:57 - Ole Miss falls just short against Miami46:09 - Utah breaks Chris Klieman51:27 - The 4th quarter of UNLV vs Air Force53:40 - Georgia comes back on Tennessee59:56 - Cal upsets SMU1:04:13 - Rapid Fire: New Mexico beats SDSU, Montana State's wild FCS title, the Iron Bowl & the CFP National ChampionshipSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we each picked eight transfers — four on offense, four on defense, one quarterback max — that we find most interesting heading into the 2026 season. Why these guys? It comes down to situation, scheme fit, prior production, and in some cases, just a gut feeling that something's about to click at the next stop. We get into the players following their coaches to new destinations, the quarterback pickups nobody saw coming, the edge rushers changing conferences, and the linebackers ready to take over defenses. The big themes keep coming up: how much does coaching familiarity actually matter, can G5 numbers translate to a Power 4 schedule, and what happens when a proven producer lands in a more stable situation? Timecodes:0:00 - Intro5:33 - Caleb Hawkins (Oklahoma State)11:48 - Adam Mohammed (Cal)19:06 - Ian Strong (Cal)22:05 - Omarion Miller (Arizona State)26:45 - Cutter Boley (Arizona State)31:19 - Aaron Philo (Florida)36:39 - JJ Buchanan (Michigan)43:29 - Ben Brahmer (Penn State)46:52 - Damon Wilson (Miami)50:29 - Chaz Coleman (Tennessee)53:44 - Devan Thompkins (Alabama)56:39 - Austin Romaine (Texas Tech)59:44 - Sammy Omosigho (UCLA)1:03:53 - Cade Uluave (BYU)1:05:49 - Jontez Williams (USC)1:08:32 - DJ McKinney (Notre Dame)1:10:26 - Kenny Minchey, DJ Lagway, Anthony Colandrea, Darian Mensah & Colton JosephSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, win totals dropped for every Power 4 team. We did the responsible thing and polled the Verballerhood for it's initial response. In this episode, and hundreds of votes later, we broke down the totals that the community found most interesting and picked the side of the bet that we'd back now... in mid-March. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro4:02 - Let's Play Over/Under6:47 - Alabama15:22 - Ohio State23:30 - Texas Tech29:32 - Clemson35:02 - Florida State36:36 - Ole Miss44:11 - Penn State51:30 - BYU57:56 - LSUSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second part of our Mega March Q&A is here, and we're going deep on the questions that (apparently) matter most to the Verballerhood ahead of the 2026 season. Which teams could make a surprising playoff run? Where will college football's inertia be broken next season? Has the rapid pace of change in the sport diminished our love for it? When will the NCAA stop begging for help from Congress? Plus, the greatest "big back" of all time, college football figure skating pairings, football power plays and more. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro2:53 - Surprise Playoff Draft15:03 - Breaking CFB Inertia25:05 - Still Love CFB?31:39 - Players As Employees?38:33 - Favorite Big Back?43:41 - CFB Docs?49:03 - CFB Figure Skating Pairings51:33 - Power Plays?52:55 - G5 Contenders?55:04 - QB Development?Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Verballerhood's questions were so good that we had to split our Mega March Q&A episode into two parts. In Part 1, we look at Kalen DeBoer's future with Alabama, the value of playing time as a recruiting tool for non-blue bloods, and the college football moments over the last 25 years that we'd most like to change. Plus, we discuss whether TV networks can force teams to stop canceling marquee matchups, how the Big 12 can become a two-bid league in the CFP era, the conditions for optimal tailgating, and much more. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro2:10 - Kalen DeBoer's Future at Alabama14:17 - The Value of Playing Time23:47 - Altering CFB History35:04 - Canceling Marquee Matchups44:54 - A Two-Bid Big 1256:54 - Optimal TailgatingSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for the annual college football checkup. In this episode, we put college football on the exam table and rate every major element of the sport from one to five. From conference structure and scheduling to the College Football Playoff, the TV product, on-field play, NIL, and the transfer portal, nothing escapes our stethoscope. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro3:42 - Key Themes for CFB in 202613:28 - Conference Structure24:50 - Scheduling33:42 - College Football Playoff45:18 - The TV Product53:02 - The On-Field Product1:02:24 - NIL1:11:43 - The Transfer Portal Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 college football offseason has brought a fascinating wave of coordinator changes at some of the sport's most prominent programs. In this college football podcast episode, we take a look at some of the most intriguing new coordinator hires and evaluate what each new coach has to fix. From defensive overhauls at USC and Texas to offensive shifts at Ohio State and Penn State, we dig into what each new coordinator is walking into and what kind of renovation is required. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro5:14 - Gary Patterson at USC13:30 - Will Muschamp at Texas20:58 - Drew Mehringer & Chris Hampton at Oregon29:02 - Ron Roberts at Arkansas36:53 - Jason Beck at Michigan44:48 - Bobby Hauck at Illinois50:10 - Arthur Smith at Ohio State57:59 - Chad Morris at Clemson1:05:41 - Taylor Mouser at Penn StateSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With inspiration from a popular post on the /r/CFB subreddit, we take a look at the 14 worst (statistical) teams in the Power 4 and conduct a hypothetical coach draft, reshuffling the coaching deck and putting big names in new places based on fit, prestige, track record, and everything in between. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro3:05 - Explaining the Coach Draft7:47 - Oklahoma State14:34 - Syracuse20:54 - Purdue27:21 - Virgina Tech33:00 - UCLA38:12 - West Virginia43:01 - Boston College47:21 - Wisconsin50:01 - Stanford52:34 - Rutgers56:23 - Colorado58:14 - North Carolina1:00:43 - Florida1:04:29 - Michigan StateSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Klosterman has written about music, pop culture, and the nature of reality... but football is a different level of obsession. In today's episode, Chuck details his new book, Football, and digs into what makes the sport so culturally singular, why college football's pageantry and regionalism feel increasingly fragile, and why the blue bloods still need to matter for any of this to work. In our wide-ranging conversation, we also touch on the television presentation of college football, the impact of NIL and the transfer portal on fandom, the insanity of Indiana winning a national championship, and the cautionary tale of horse racing. Pick up Chuck's book, Football, right here: https://www.amazon.com/Football-Chuck-Klosterman/dp/0593490649 0:00 - Intro4:10 - Chuck Klosterman InterviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Dan returns from his travels as we dive into Sacramento State's curious move to the MAC and the newest SEC scheduling controvery. Plus, we take a look at some of the most prominent new coaches from 2025 and decide whether they're more likely to be a problem for opponents or for their current schools. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro4:34 - Sacramento State joins the MAC13:47 - SEC Scheduling Controversy28:44 - Scott Frost & UCF38:34 - Bill Belichick & North Carolina46:50 - Jake Dickert & Wake Forest51:28 - Rich Rodriguez & West Virginia58:44 - Barry Odom & Purdue1:05:27 - Frank Reich & Stanford1:10:28 - Other Coach GradesSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're joined by John Kurtz of the Open For Business podcast and newsletter to talk about the state of the Big 12 conferenced heading into the 2026 college football season. We discuss whether Oregon's playoff shutout of Texas Tech will leave a lasting mark on the Big 12's reputation, the importance of BYU's upcoming game against Notre Dame in Week 7, the scoop on what happened at Kansas State last season, and a hypothetical future state with North Dakota State in the conference.  Sign up for John's newsletter (https://www.ofbnews.com/) and check out his show (https://www.youtube.com/@JohnKurtzShow).Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, we break down North Dakota State's historic move to FBS and the Mountain West, including the financial details, the NCAA's probationary period challenge, and why the Fargodome is a must-visit destination. We also unpack former Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos' new book, Crab Creek Chronicles, and what it reveals about the Scott Frost hire, Chip Kelly almost landing in Lincoln, and a secret meeting about Nebraska potentially returning to the Big 12 Most importantly, we play "Trend or Not a Trend" with six teams heading into 2026. Is Miami's high-level winning sustainable? Can Oklahoma's defense carry a middling offense deep into the SEC? Is Arizona's defensive leap here to stay? Where does Virginia go from here at quarterback? Is Texas A&M a playoff contender with that gauntlet schedule? Can USC get back to double-digit wins under Lincoln Riley? Timecodes:0:00 - Intro4:13 - North Dakota State goes FBS17:33 - The Bill Moos Nebraska Book29:16 - Six Teams on Trend Watch30:48 - Miami's high-level winning36:20 - Oklahoma as a 2026 SEC contender42:12 - Arizona's reborn defense47:11 - Virginia as a 2026 ACC contender52:05 - Texas A&M as a 2026 CFP team58:03 - USC as a 10-win teamSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Valentine's Day around the corner, we take a look at the 2025 storylines we secretly loved. Whether scrappy teams held things together with gum and chicken wire, coaches who turned programs around overnight, or the moments that didn't make national headlines, we talk through the things that got our hearts pumping. Think Wisconsin winning games with their punter as the leading passer, Houston quietly going 10-3, Arch Manning actually getting better when pundits left him for dead, and much more. In this episode, we share our own picks before opening it up to the Verballerhood, whose submissions cover everything from Kenny Dillingham staying at Arizona State to the absurdity of Lane Kiffin's move to LSU, Arkansas fans learning to love heartbreak, Indiana fans debating whether to protect their hearts or go all in on Curt Cignetti, and much more. Plus, a brief Super Bowl debrief, a Timothée Chalamet conversation, and the debut of Dan's bucket of wrenches. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro / Super Bowl recap6:27 - What we're doing today8:51 - Dan's "winning despite" teams (Duke, Mizzou, Minnesota, Wake Forest)10:58 - Steve Angeli and Syracuse's collapse without him13:34 - Wisconsin as a bucket of wrenches17:08 - Northwestern's what-could-have-been season19:21 - Jason Eck and New Mexico's nine-win season22:16 - Penn State's leaked Pat Kraft audio25:08 - Ty's Quick Hits: Mason Heinschel, Houston's quiet 10-3 season, Arch Manning actually got better29:29 - Dan's Quick Hits: Arizona's nasty defense, SMU's post-playoff rebuild, Double transfers31:51 - Kenny Dillingham staying at Arizona State35:15 - Arkansas tried37:20 - Indiana, Curt Cignetti, and protecting your heart44:19 - Fernando Mendoza's F-bomb and industry plant theory45:34 - Cal, the Wilcox era, and the Mendoza that got away46:56 - Lane Kiffin-LSU drama49:23 - Georgia ripping rivals' hearts out50:17 - North Texas's record-setting season51:38 - Player shoutouts: Jeremiyah Love, Ahmad Hardy, Jacob Rodriguez, Jayden Maiava53:40 - Quick fan hits: Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Oregon, Purdue57:34 - Ball State tried to be the worst57:47 - Florida State's first month58:26 - Rutgers' top-50 offense / Arizona retaining Seth Doege and Noah Fifita59:54 - ESPN cinematography and best broadcast productionSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, you've asked us to do a Super Bowl preview. We finally did it, but with the only spin that makes sense for a college football podcast: looking at Super Bowl LX entirely through the stories, moments, and legacies these players built in college. When the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots kick off Sunday night, it won't just be two NFL teams battling for a championship. It will be Sam Darnold's redemption story that started at USC, Jaxon Smith-Njigba's effortless brilliance that lifted Ohio State, Kenneth Walker dragging Michigan State to glory, and Drake Maye carrying on North Carolina's royal lineage. Join us as we break down both rosters, revisit the moments that made these players who they are, and enjoy Super Bowl 60 as one big college reunion.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The year ended with an absolute whirlwind for Michigan and Utah football. First, the Wolverines fired Sherrone Moore for an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Within the next 48 hours, he was arrested and arraigned at a local courthouse, marking an unexpected twist as the story took a dark turn. Just two weeks later, the longtime coach of Utah, Kyle Whittingham, was introduced as Michigan's next head coach after succession plans led to an uneasy exit from Salt Lake City. In this episode, we talk with Dan Wetzel from ESPN and Sean O'Connell from ESPN 700 to go inside the ropes and understand what happened during a wild two weeks in December, what it was like to track the Moore news, how Whittingham ended up in Ann Arbor, and more. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro6:03 - Dan Wetzel on Sherrone Moore & Michigan Football41:01 - Sean O'Connell on Kyle Whittinham & Utah FootballSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After covering seven major items in Part 1, we're back with 10 more things that defined the 2025 college football season. In this episode, we run the gamut, from Miami's return to national prominence after two decades away to Notre Dame's reaction to being left out. We also talk through Texas Tech's spending spree, the magic of Diego Pavia, the roller coaster of UCLA football and much more. What defined the 2025 college football season for you? Let us know what we missed! Timestamps:0:00 - Intro4:49 - Miami is back!12:45 - Notre Dame controversy21:06 - Shirtlessness25:26 - Dan Lanning is nuts29:36 - Texas Tech's spending spree35:08 - Everything Diego Pavia40:38 - Drew Mestemaker43:07 - The UCLA Roller Coaster47:51 - John Mateer51:57 - Tiebreakers56:57 - Others Receiving VotesSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 college football season is in the books, and it was... a lot. Join us as we attempt to catalog the moments, storylines, and characters that made this year impossible to forget, starting with seven of the most defining elements of the season. In this episode: Why the Lane Kiffin-to-LSU saga touched every corner of college football culture. Indiana's national championship and the refreshing "plainness" of how they won it. The Penn State coaching search trilogy (expectations to collapse to Crumbl cookies). Bill Belichick's first year at North Carolina... both the 4-win disappointment and, well, everything else. Alabama's bizarre tumble into (and out of) the playoff. Two Group of Five teams crashing the party. And Lee Corso's farewell to College GameDay. Comment below with what we need to cover in Part 2! Timestamps:0:00 - Intro3:02 - The Most 2025 College Football Things6:54 - Lane Kiffin17:19 - Indiana26:34 - Penn State, Clemson & Texas36:20 - Bill Belichick43:52 - Alabama55:04 - Tulane & James Madison1:03:03 - Lee CorsoSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the national championship in the rearview mirror, we turn our focus to 2026 with our first official podcast of the preseason. In this episode, we unveil our way-too-early top 12s and take a closer look and which teams have the most continuity and best schedules, and which crushed the transfer portal. Who's too high, who's too low? Let us know! Plus, a quick roundup of the latest news, from portal signings to early NFL Draft declarations and the brewing legal fight between Duke University and Darian Mensah.Timecodes: 0:00 - Intro4:44 - News Update21:17 - Way-Too-Early Top 12sSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indiana did it. Not only did the Hoosiers win their first ever CFP National Championship, they also became the first college football team in history to finish with a mark of 16-0. In this episode, we react to Indiana's 27-21 victory and break down how the Hoosiers won on the margins to knock of a Miami Hurricanes team playing for a title in its home stadium. Plus, a conversation about what the result means for both teams moving forward as well as a quick attempt at putting Curt Cignetti's rise in historical context. Support us this offseason at https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal!Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the most improbable CFP National Championship game of our lifetime. Can Indiana become one of the greatest sports stories of our lifetime, or will Mario Cristobal win it all at home? In this episode, we dive deep into the 2026 CFP National Championship between the #1 Indiana Hoosiers and the #10 Miami Hurricanes. From the record-breaking ticket prices and weird factoids to seven big picture questions and the most important keys that will decide the game, this is your officially national championship primer episode. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro11:03 - 7 Big Questions38:02 - The Case for the Miami Hurricanes54:43 - The Case for the Indiana Hoosiers1:05:05 - Our official predictionsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 transfer portal had a few more dominoes fall. In this episode, we break down the massive news of Dylan Raiola transferring to Oregon and what it means for a room that, at time of recording, could still bring back Dante Moore. We also dive into Sam Leavitt’s move to LSU, a possible $6.5 million tug-of-war for Ty Simpson, and other transfers around the sport. Plus, we answer Verballer questions on the right time to start hating on Indiana, the best G5 coaching hires, teams that exceeded our expectations, and more. Timecodes:00:00 – Intro04:13 – Dylan Raiola to Oregon19:02 – Sam Leavitt to LSU23:31 – Ty Simpson... back to college?30:56 – Q&A: Matt Campbell vs. James Franklin38:38 – Q&A: Time to Hate Indiana?44:02 – Q&A: Curt Cignetti's "Magic"51:57 – Q&A: 2025 Hits & Misses57:28 – Q&A: Underreported Hires1:01:06 – Q&A: Local Sports Cultures1:11:58 – Q&A: The Texas A&M RealitySupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The college football transfer portal is a year-round engine of anxiety. ESPN’s Max Olson joins the show to unpack a wild portal season, from $6 million quarterback price tags to the legal mess surrounding Demond Williams at Washington. Why are some schools like Indiana and Texas Tech winning the arms race while others remain quiet? We go deep on the mechanics, the money, and the "fire hose" of news currently reshaping the sport.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday night, Indiana destroyed Oregon by a 56-22 score, leaving no doubt why the Hoosiers were the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. It was a dominant effort by Curt Cignetti, Fernando Mendoza, and a Hoosier defense that forced three first half turnovers. So dominant, in fact, that we're struggling to put it in historical context. In this episode, we walk back through the game, peek a bit ahead to the national championship game and, of course, give Dan a chance to sound off on a disappointing ending to Oregon's season.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a game. In a true nailbiter in the Fiesta Bowl, the Miami Hurricanes outlasted the Ole Miss Rebels by a 31-27 score to advance to the CFP National Championship Game, which will be played in their home stadium. In this episode, we react in the immediate aftermath of the game and talk through Miami's strategy to play slow, Ole Miss's ability to counter the Canes ferocious pass rush, Carson Beck's big game, and another heroic effort from Trinidad Chambliss, with this one coming up just a few points short.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And then there were four. In this episode, we take a closer look at this week's two CFP semifinal games as Miami and Ole Miss square off in the Fiesta Bowl and Oregon and Indiana play a rematch in the Peach Bowl. What must Miami do to slow down Trinidad Chambliss, and is there any way for Ole Miss to slow down a ferocious Miami pass rush? What must Oregon change to get revenge on Indiana? And does Indiana need to change anything with its game plan to down the Ducks for the second time this season? Timecodes:0:00 - Intro5:04 - Miami vs. Ole Miss Preview & Predictions31:50 - Oregon vs. Indiana Preview & PredictionsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The CFP Quarterfinals are officially in the books! In this episode, we react to Miami's upset of Ohio State, Indiana's obliteration of Alabama, Oregon's shutout of Texas Tech and a wild finish as Ole Miss got revenge on Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Relive the madness as we go through and react to each game. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro9:07 - Miami upsets Ohio State27:09 - Oregon shuts out Texas Tech45:34 - Indiana clobbers Alabama1:10:40 - Ole Miss gets revenge on Georgia1:29:41 - Closing ThoughtsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The CFP Quarterfinals are upon us! In this episode, Dan returns from vacation and Ty bounces back from a Christmas illness to discuss the next four games of the College Football Playoff. We've got four bangers in store for us as Miami plays Ohio State in Cotton Bowl, Oregon battles Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl, Alabama takes on Indiana in the Rose Bowl and Ole Miss plays a rematch with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. We talk through our biggest questions, keys to victory, and random observations that will make or break the next round of the CFP. Plus, we start off by recapping the news that former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham was tabbed by Michigan as its next head football coach. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro5:26 - 3 CFP Quarterfinal Questions25:28 - Miami vs Ohio State CFP Preview40:46 - Oregon vs Texas Tech CFPPreview57:28 - Alabama vs Indiana CFPPreview1:16:26 - Ole Miss vs Georgia CFP PreviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Dan on vacation and the regular season officially in the books, Ty invited ESPN's Bill Connelly back to the pod to help us put the 2025 campaign in perspective. In this episode, we discuss the biggest risers, most head-scratching fallers, and how Indiana and Texas Tech are the best stories of the year. Plus, a conversation about how the Group of Five should fit into the CFP discussion, what to watch for in non-playoff bowls, what it felt like for Bill to be part of the Mountain West's tiebreaker, and how Bill's new book, Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football, can be instructive as college football forges ahead into uncertain territory.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first round of the College Football Playoff is officially in the books. In this episode, we recap the highlights, lowlights and big storylines from an eventful slate of games, as Alabama erased a 17-0 deficit to beat Oklahoma, Miami outlasted Texas A&M (and the wind) for a 10-3 victory, and Oregon and Ole Miss dominated G5 opponents in their home stadiums. Plus, some thoughts on the Group of Five's place in the College Football Playoff. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro2:56 - Alabama defeats Oklahoma19:37 - Miami beats Texas A&M34:10 - Oregon & Ole Miss roll48:20 - The Great G5 Playoff DebateSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Early Signing Period in the rearview mirror, we touch base with our good friend Brandon Huffman of 247sports.com to recap the biggest storylines in the wake of college football's first milestone of the current recruiting cycle. In this episode, we talk through the challenging aspects of the college football calendar, the role of agents in the process, and the death of the National Letter of Intent (NLI). We also take a look at how recruiting philosophies have changed in the era of NIL and revenue sharing, whether the transfer portal has created more parity, Brandon's favorite players in the 2026 recruiting class, and the state of talent acquisition in the Power Four and Group of Six, and much more. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro3:33 - Interview with Brandon Huffman1:20:08 - Closing ThoughtsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The College Football Playoff is here. In this episode, we pop the hood on the four first round matchups and break down our biggest questions. Is Oklahoma more lucky than good? Can Alabama's offense get out of its rut? How will Miami's offensive line hold up against Texas A&M's front four and a loud Kyle Field? Are the Aggies trustworthy? To what degree will Ole Miss feel the absence of Lane Kiffin? Can Oregon run against James Madison? And do both Tulane and JMU belong in the College Football Playoff? Plus, breaking news with both DJ Lagway and Dylan Raiola reportedly jumping in the transfer portal, the latest names in the Michigan coaching search, and Fernando Mendoza's Heisman victory. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro3:47 - Latest News30:14 - Alabama vs Oklahoma CFP Predictions44:32 - Miami vs Texas A&M CFP Predictions56:13 - Tulane vs Ole Miss CFP Predictions1:16:52 - James Madison vs Oregon CFP PredictionsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, Ty catches up with Matt Fortuna of The Inside Zone newsletter and The Independent podcast to go through the finer details of Penn State's tumultuous coaching search, his reactions to the sad situation unfolding in Ann Arbor, and his thoughts on Notre Dame's media blitz after being left out of the College Football Playoff. Subscribe to Matt's newsletter at https://www.insidezonemf.com. Join our Bowl Bingo game by signing up at https://www.playbowlbingo.com.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we react to the breaking news of Sherrone Moore's dismissal from Michigan. What does it mean for the Wolverines, who are the initial candidates, and how might it impact the rest of the coaching carousel? Then, we take a step back and evaluate the coaching carousel moves with our good friend Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports, The Athletic and The Audible podcast. We chat with Bruce around the drama surrounding Lane Kiffin's move to LSU, his biggest surprises during an active cycle, Lincoln Riley rumors, and much more. Plus, a discussion about Notre Dame's beef with the ACC and CFP.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that the CFP field is set, we have a pile of news to discuss. In this episode, we talk through Matt Campbell's move to Penn State, including our early impressions from his introductory presser and why we both think it's a terrific fit. Plus, we take a spin around the coaching carousel and talk about other moves around the sport at the head coach, coordinator, and position coach levels. Then we kick around some of our early leans and points of intrigue in the four first-round CFP matchups and take a look at a handful of interesting non-playoff bowl matchups. And last but not least, a conversation about Notre Dame's apparent beef with the ACC. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro3:52 - Coaching Carousel News35:42 - Early CFP Thoughts55:44 - Interesting Bowl Matchups58:42 - Notre Dame's ACC BeefSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The College Football Playoff field is officially set! In this special episode, we react to this year's playoff field, pick out the easiest pathways to the national championship, and debate the CFP Committee's logic for not penalizing Alabama and moving Miami ahead of Notre DameSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a finish! After 14 weeks of an incredible season, college football may have saved the best for last. In this episode, we walk back through the biggest storylines for all nine conference championship games in Week 15, starting with Indiana defying expectations and closing out a thin win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. Not to be outdone, Georgia layed the smack down on Alabama, winning the SEC for the second straight year and potentially throwing the CFP bubble into a state of disarray. Does the Tide still deserve a playoff bid? Speaking of chaos, the unranked Duke Blue Devils upset Virginia to take the ACC, opening up the possibility that the conference will be left out entirely with two Group of Five teams sneaking in the side door. And finally, Texas Tech took care of business and beat BYU for the second time this season by a 20+ point margin. Listen to our recap and join us live on Sunday at 5pm ET on our YouTube channel for our Selection Special live stream. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro2:06 - Indiana edges out Ohio State, wins the Big Ten12:14 - Georgia dominates Alabama, wins SEC27:46 - Texas Tech beats BYU again, wins Big 1235:10 - Duke wins ACC, becomes CFP's agent of chaos42:07 - Tulane wins American, likely headed for CFP45:30 - James Madison wins Sun Belt, likely headed for CFP50:20 - Other G5 Results53:02 - Projecting the final CFP RankingsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.