Did Notre Dame clinch a playoff spot, and did Georgia eliminate Texas? The Aggies win, they extend Elko — but is their schedule deceptive? Ole Miss survives an upset bid by Florida in the Lane Kiffin bowl. The Sooners are in the CFP mix, USC win sets up a huge Big 10 matchup next week, and Georgia Tech nearly chokes against BC. Plus, a two-bid Big 12 is within reach, but there are too many 10-2 teams to fit in the playoff.

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Josh Pate, the host of Josh Pate’s College Football Show, joins Bruce and Stew to share his unconventional path from manual laborer to hosting one of college football's most popular shows. Pate reveals how he practiced sports talk in his truck for years before getting his break, and his "GPS approach" to making points. And he shares what he'd fix first if he became college football commissioner.

Bruce and Stew also dive into LSU's messy attempt to avoid paying Brian Kelly's $53 million buyout, and debate whether Lane Kiffin will stay at Ole Miss despite openings at Florida and LSU. The mailbag tackles what you should actually DO with your $12 Trader Joe’s gift card, which NFL coordinators might be a good fit for open college head coaching gigs, and whether the Big Ten has become the villain of college football.

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The second College Football Playoff rankings drop soon, and the guys dive into where things are heading down the stretch. How high could Texas Tech end up after dominating wins over BYU and other ranked opponents? Does Ole Miss deserve their lofty ranking, or is their resume thin?

The guys lock horns on how these teams should be evaluated: Should the committee rely on computer rankings and strength of record metrics, or focus on head-to-head results and quality wins? Bruce gets frustrated with power rankings that have 3-6 Penn State in the top 25, Ralph defends using analytics as a starting point, and Stew tries to find middle ground.

They also make their picks for the week's biggest games: Notre Dame at Pitt, Texas at Georgia, Oklahoma at Alabama, and Iowa at USC.

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Indiana and Oregon survive close matchups as Texas Tech convincingly hands BYU its first loss. What's going on in the ACC? What's the SEC's path to five — or even six — teams getting into the playoff? And Stew gives the breakdown of the USC fake punt from his perspective as an in-person spectator from LA Memorial Coliseum.

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The first College Football Playoff rankings sparked immediate controversy, so who better to bring on to discuss it than Ari Wasserman from On3?  

Is the committee leaning too heavily on both vibes and advanced metrics, over actual results? And if the rankings are out of whack, will they correct themselves by the end of the season?

They also look at the best available coaching jobs, debate Auburn's ceiling, discuss why Florida has been a graveyard for coaches, and dive into Ari's biggest pet peeve.

Plus, mailbag tackles Ralph’s playoff prediction formula, whether Florida State's win over Alabama actually hurt Mike Norvell's expectations, and why Kurt Cignetti didn't get a power conference job until his 60s.

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The first College Football Playoff rankings are out, and Ralph has a gripe: every head-to-head matchup mattered except Notre Dame-Miami. Ralph and Stew debate whether the Hurricanes got disrespected at #18 while the Irish sit at #10, and break down why the committee might be valuing progression over early-season results.

There are blueprints for getting two Big 12 teams in the playoff, with BYU and Texas Tech both ranked in the top eight. They discuss Oregon's surprisingly low ranking at #9 despite being undefeated, Texas's position as the first team out, and whether the SEC could realistically get six or even seven teams into the playoff.

Bruce joins to talk about who might replace Hugh Freeze, from James Franklin and Jimbo Fisher to rising stars like John Sumrall and Kenny Dillingham. Plus, the crew makes their picks for the week's biggest games: BYU at Texas Tech, Texas A&M at Missouri, Oregon at Iowa, and LSU at Alabama.

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The playoff picture is becoming clearer. The seas have parted in the Big 12 to prepare for a huge BYU-Texas Tech matchup. Can the ACC get two teams in the playoff? Is Texas still alive, and does Arch deserve some grace? Hugh Freeze might be out at Auburn by the time you're hearing this. The guys debate whether Julian Sayin is really this good, or if any decent QB would look great throwing to these receivers. And the Big 10 has a great November unfolding, with Iowa, Oregon, and USC all playing each other. Plus, NC State, New Mexico, and Kennesaw State mentioned on shoutouts.

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Robert Clay and Josh Snead, the masterminds behind the SEC Shorts YouTube channel, join Stew and Ralph to discuss the evolution of their viral college football comedy videos over 11 seasons. They reveal the behind-the-scenes process of filming all day Sunday and editing until 4 a.m. to hit Monday morning deadlines, and explain why they'll never expand beyond SEC content despite the money. Plus, they share stories about their most popular character — Josh's “Vanderbilt Pimp” costume that landed him on College GameDay.

The guys also react to breaking LSU news: Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced at a press conference that LSU’s Board of Supervisors, not AD Scott Woodward, will hire LSU's next football coach. Stew and Ralph discuss how state politics and college football intersect in Baton Rouge unlike anywhere else in the country, and what this power struggle means for the coaching search.

Plus, mailbag questions on Georgia Tech's trajectory, whether coaches will bail on playoff teams for better jobs, and a debate about whether a freshman All-American team could compete for a national title.

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Brian Kelly is out at LSU after just four seasons, with the Tigers set to pay out up to $54 million. Bruce breaks down the Sunday drama that led to Kelly's firing after the blowout loss to Texas A&M, including the power struggle with AD Scott Woodward over staff changes. Ralph explains how the awkward mix of "Kelly's guys" and "Woodward's guys" created underlying dysfunction, and why the cultural fit was doomed from the start. Plus, the crew debates Kelly's next move: what are the odds he’s coaching again next year? 

So many schools are looking for a new coach to turn it around, but there are no "sure thing" hires available. Lane Kiffin, Jon Sumrall, Willie Fritz, and Bob Chesney all have their pros and cons. Plus, the guys discuss the impossible expectations at these blue blood programs and make their picks for Vandy at Texas, Cincinnati at Utah, Oklahoma at Tennessee, and USC at Nebraska.

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Texas A&M took down LSU 49-25 at Tiger Stadium, and the guys debate whether Kelly's job is safe heading into a bye week before Alabama. They break down how Mike Elko has turned around Texas A&M in year one, with Marcel Reed emerging as a dynamic dual-threat QB and strength coach Tommy Moffitt getting revenge against his former employer.

The crew discusses whether A&M is now the class of the SEC, debates if five SEC teams could make the playoff, and analyzes Steve Sarkisian's explosive postgame rant about Diana Russini’s NFL job report. Plus, BYU stays undefeated with a comeback win at Iowa State behind true freshman Jake Retzlaff, the Big 12 race gets even crazier, and Colorado gets embarrassed 53-7 by Utah as Deion's season spirals. Ralph defends Vanderbilt as a legitimate top-10 team after their defensive performance against Missouri, and the guys discuss Bill Belichick's overtime loss to Virginia and whether UNC will win another ACC game this season.

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Ralph challenges Bruce and Stew on the way the media talks about coaching hires, arguing that the constant chase for the "hot name" creates unrealistic expectations. Using Jeff Brohm and Jedd Fisch as examples, Ralph makes the case that we go all-in on coaches after one big win — which leads to disappointment when ADs inevitably can't land everyone's top choice.

In mailbag, can Florida, Florida State, and Miami all succeed simultaneously in the NIL era? The guys break down how the Sunshine State has changed since the '90s when all three won national titles. Plus, a deep dive into quarterback spending vs. offensive line investment. Is Diego Pavia proof you don't need to break the bank at QB? 

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Billy Napier is out at Florida after a 3-4 start, and Bruce and Stew break down who’s next in Gainesville. Is Lane Kiffin tempted to leave his Ole Miss setup for the Gators’ national championship history and elite recruiting base? They debate whether the Florida job is still a blue blood destination in the NIL era, or if programs like Ole Miss have closed the gap.

Jedd Fisch emerges as an intriguing candidate with deep Spurrier connections and Florida ties, while Jeff Brohm's elite play-calling and upset wins over top-5 teams make him a target — but would he leave his Louisville alma mater? 

Bruce and Stew also discuss Eli Drinkwitz and whether James Franklin could make the jump from one fired situation to another. Plus, the guys analyze contrasting statements from Florida State AD Michael Alford and Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh about their embattled coaches, and make their picks against the spread for the week’s biggest games, including Texas A&M at LSU, Ole Miss at Oklahoma, and BYU at Iowa State.

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Miami's undefeated season ends with Carson Beck’s four interceptions at Louisville, but the guys debate whether the ’Canes can still make the playoff at 10-2. Texas Tech loses to Arizona State, throwing the Big 12 race wide open — and raising questions about their quarterback situation.

Georgia survives Ole Miss in a defensive slugfest, LSU falls at Vanderbilt (yes, Vandy is legitimately good), and the crew discusses which SEC team they trust most in a conference where nobody looks dominant.

Brian Kelly and Mike Norvell’s hot seats are heating up after disappointing losses, Notre Dame's explosive offense is rolling with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price forming an elite backfield duo, and Stew shares his in-person experience watching UNC football and getting the classic "It is what it is" from Bill Belichick in the postgame presser.

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As we get deeper into the buyout season, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne joins Bruce, Stew, and Ralph to pull back the curtain on college football's economics. Byrne addresses whether schools, as Stew wrote in a recent column, are “wildly irresponsible spenders,” or facing genuine financial constraints. He also explains what it's like sitting across the table from powerful agents.

In mailbag, the crew debates whether Arch Manning deserves the criticism after a rough start to his Texas career, and Bruce and Stew disagree on what makes a coach "great" versus just "good." Plus, breakout players to watch this weekend.

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Penn State has fired James Franklin after a shocking loss to Northwestern at home, ending his tenure after years of struggling to win big games. Despite the fractures beneath the surface that led to this moment, does it make sense to fire a coach who consistently wins 10 games?

The crew breaks down the two frontrunners to replace Franklin: Curt Cignetti, who just pulled off the biggest win of the year by beating Oregon at home, and Matt Rhule, who has a close relationship with AD Pat Kraft but has his own problems against strong opponents. They debate whether Penn State should swing for the home run hire or play it safe, and which other candidates like Matt Campbell and John Sumrall could be in play.

Ralph defends his controversial AP ballot that has Indiana at #5 despite their road win over Oregon, sparking a heated debate about resume versus the eye test. Plus, the guys make their picks for USC at Notre Dame, Georgia vs. Ole Miss, Alabama vs. Tennessee, and LSU at Vanderbilt, and give their upset specials for the week.

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Indiana defeated Oregon, leaving no doubt that they're legit contenders. Penn State lost again, this time to unranked Northwestern. Texas soundly defeated Oklahoma, and Arch looked strong. And, an officiating fiasco in Auburn, USC upsets Michigan, players who impressed, and shoutouts.

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Bill Belichick's North Carolina experiment is spiraling at 2-3, with on-field blowouts, staff suspensions, and a roster that might not be good enough to stabilize. Ralph, Bruce, and Stew debate whether the Tar Heels are stuck with him due to the $20M guaranteed contract — and whether powerful boosters who hijacked the coaching search will ever admit they were wrong.

ESPN’s Kris Budden delivered a fiery rant about Big Ten coaches blaming losses on travel, sparking a debate: Is it a legitimate factor backed by the numbers, or just an excuse from highly-paid professionals? The crew digs into cross-country travel data, home field advantage, and whether 19-year-olds should be held to the same standard as NFL veterans.

Plus, the guys debate CFP expansion scenarios, including whether 13-0 Group of Five teams could steal at-large bids.

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The guys debate whether Steve Sarkisian has a big game  problem after Texas’s loss to Florida. With a 2-8 record against top 10 opponents, is the criticism fair — or is Texas still the team to beat in the SEC? They break down the Red Zone struggles, offensive line issues, and what to expect when the Longhorns face Oklahoma’s elite defense.

Ralph, Bruce, and Stew make their picks for that game and the weekend’s other biggest matchups, including Oregon-Indiana, USC-Michigan, and Alabama-Missouri. And in upset picks, can North Texas pull off the stunner against USF? The guys also discuss Texas Tech's rise as a legitimate Big 12 contender and debate whether the Red Raiders might actually be the best team in Texas right now.

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Texas and Penn State were the number 1 and 2 teams before the season. After another week of bad losses, where do they go from here? UNC loses badly to Clemson, and Miami holds off a gritty comeback from Florida State. 

Plus, in shoutouts and players who impressed, the guys touch on Navy, UNLV, Old Dominion, and Pitt. 

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The 2025 QB class was supposed to be special, but Bruce’s recent story reveals major concerns about Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, and Drew Allar. The guys break down why Manning is pressing at Texas, Klubnik's alarming regression at Clemson, and whether Allar is the next Christian Hackenberg.

On the flip side, Dante Moore is blossoming at Oregon after leaving USC, and Garrett Nussmeier still has NFL believers despite LSU’s struggles. Plus, Ralph and Bruce debate Heisman contenders: Can Diego Pavia actually win it if Vanderbilt stays ranked? Is Fernando Mendoza the real deal at Indiana? And why Rueben Bain Jr.’s defensive dominance at Miami might not be enough to get to New York.

Timestamps approximate:

0:00 Intro

1:00 Transfer RBs who haven’t lived up to expectations, and why transfers sometimes struggle

6:33 The Disappointing QB Class

19:25 Heisman Race: Moore, Mendoza, Pavia, Bain 

32:38 Breakout Players of the Week: BYU, Michigan mentioned 

39:07 Mailbag: Coaching Fit, Authenticity vs. Credentials

43:10 Mailbag: Will All College Football Show Replay Conversations Like the ACC?

45:56 Mailbag: Why has the JUCO pipeline declined?

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