The Solid Verbal

In this college football podcast episode, we react to the first AP Top 25 of the 2026 season and our first preseason poll as official AP voters. We run through the top of the rankings, compare the national poll with our own ballot and talk about what it feels like to put actual votes behind all the opinions we’ve spent the offseason developing. Which teams already look a little too high or too low, and how much should anyone really trust a preseason poll before the games begin? Then it’s time for some Zagriculture. We take a bank of familiar college football narratives and draft the ones we’re most willing to push back against. Is Notre Dame really just a product of its schedule? Is Dabo Swinney actually cooked at Clemson? Can USC finally build a respectable defense under Lincoln Riley? What should we expect from Oregon when the biggest games arrive in January, and how much faith should anyone have in Lane Kiffin eventually delivering a championship at LSU? Along the way, we also wander into Ole Miss, Iowa and several other preseason assumptions that may look very different a few months from now. Plus, Ty gets talked into an alarmingly specific Iowa offensive prediction, Dan dabbles with weird phrasing, and we continue preparing for Week 0. Sign up to support the show at Verballers.com.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we take one final deep breath after our marathon run of 2026 conference previews and turn the show over to the Verballerhood for our August Q&A. With the season finally within reach, we dig into the teams we find most interesting, the best dark horse candidates around the country, and one of the questions that could define the expanded College Football Playoff era: What would a convincing 9-3 playoff resume actually look like? We also zoom out on the changing power structure of college football. Was Lane Kiffin right to bet that a job like LSU still offers advantages that programs further down the traditional hierarchy simply cannot match? Has the transfer portal, money and increased player movement truly leveled the field, or have the old powers merely lost some of their margin for error? Plus, we compare a handful of the biggest coaching moves from the offseason, wonder what issue could become college football’s next great existential fight, and ask whether all that player movement could eventually take some heat out of the sport’s biggest rivalries. And because it’s a Q&A, things inevitably get weird. We debate the ideal school for a punter, investigate sports conspiracies, build a college football soundtrack out of movie scores, evaluate SEC stadium bucket lists and learn that Dan has apparently developed a neighborhood reputation as an illicit dealer of highly coveted pizza cheese.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we close out our three-part 2026 SEC preview with LSU, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama and Auburn. The biggest mystery may be LSU, where Lane Kiffin has assembled a loaded transfer class around Sam Leavitt but still has to make a huge collection of new pieces work together immediately. How quickly can the offense come together, and is Blake Baker’s defense good enough to give the Tigers a real College Football Playoff ceiling while everything else settles in? We also dig into Alabama’s attempt to build a more complete offense around a young quarterback, with plenty of excitement around Keelon Russell and plenty of questions about whether the offensive line can finally create a reliable running game. Texas A&M brings back Marcel Reed and a strong collection of skill talent, but a rebuilt line and a brutal closing stretch create more hesitation than expected. We also wonder whether Missouri’s recent consistency is a reason to believe, or if new QB Austin Simmons, Ahmad Hardy’s recovery, a rebuilt defense and a difficult schedule are enough to make the Tigers one of the SEC’s biggest regression candidates? Elsewhere, we reconsider Ole Miss after taking a deeper look at a roster led by Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy, wonder how much fun Kamario Taylor can make Mississippi State, and size up Alex Golesh’s first Auburn team with Byron Brown running a familiar offense. Plus: offensive line anxiety, Mizzou hopium, Pete Golding interview bias, and one last round of preseason roster-induced delirium as we finally finish the conference previews. Help support the show by signing up at Verballers.com.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we continue our three-part 2026 SEC preview with deep dives on Georgia, Vanderbilt, Texas, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida. Georgia enters the season with perhaps the cleanest case of any contender in the conference, while Texas has all the talent to make a run at the SEC title but also enough lingering questions, plus a brutal schedule, to make us hesitate. How much separates the league’s best teams, and which concerns are worth taking seriously? We also dig into the growing Oklahoma hype and whether even marginal offensive improvement could make the Sooners significantly more dangerous, the latest attempt to build a functional offense around LaNorris Sellers at South Carolina, and a new era at Kentucky with Will Stein taking over for Mark Stoops. Vanderbilt begins life after Diego Pavia, while Tennessee forces us to reconsider whether we’ve been overlooking a roster that may be much closer to contention than we initially thought. And then there’s Florida. Ty goes all in on Jon Sumrall, a loaded Gators defense and a roster he believes is capable of making real noise in the SEC. Plus: Gunner Stockton’s continued toughness, buff John Mateer, Forrest Gump back in the SEC, Dan's Tennessee marriage, Simone Biles playing linebacker, and Jon Sumrall’s potential for postgame hijinks. Support the show at Verballers.com.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we kick off our three-part 2026 SEC preview by zooming out on a conference entering the season with plenty to prove. The SEC hasn't won the national championship in three years, six programs have new head coaches, and the league's move to a nine-game conference schedule promises to make an already difficult path to the College Football Playoff even more complicated. So, has the balance of power actually shifted to the Big Ten, or is the SEC positioned to take it back? We sort all 16 teams into tiers and work through a thick group of contenders. Georgia and Texas look like the safest bets near the top, but how much separates them from LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Ole Miss? We debate Lane Kiffin's chances of putting LSU together immediately, Oklahoma's offensive ceiling, Alabama's unanswered questions, and whether teams like Tennessee and Florida are being overlooked. We also dig into South Carolina, Missouri, Auburn and Vanderbilt before trying to make sense of the conference's biggest rebuilds. Plus: dubious beef becomes beef curiosities, what the SEC has in common with Detroit-style pizza, John Mateer apparently discovers Squatober, Will Stein gets plucky in Kentucky, and more. Learn more about supporting the show and playing our community games at Verballers.com.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we close out our three-part 2026 Big Ten preview with nine more teams and some of the conference's most difficult projections. USC has the offense, talent and expectations of a College Football Playoff contender, but can Lincoln Riley's team survive a relentless schedule while Gary Patterson rebuilds the defense? The conversation gets especially spirited when we turn to the new eras at Penn State and Michigan. How quickly can Matt Campbell blend his Iowa State imports with the roster he inherited? Does Kyle Whittingham give Michigan an immediate coaching upgrade, and what will his staff unlock in Bryce Underwood? Along the way, we debate the talent level at Penn State, the offensive identities taking shape in Ann Arbor and State College, and whether either team can navigate a season filled with major swing games and playoff-level pressure. We also dig into Bob Chesney's ambitious UCLA rebuild, the possibility of Illinois being overlooked, Minnesota's search for offensive pop, Maryland's attempt to give Malik Washington more help, and the upside and limitations of the new coaching staffs at Michigan State and Northwestern. Plus: Dan's Penn State slander, a save-the-date for the Minnesota Support Zoom, the return of Charles Chip Kelly, and a troubling sign from College Football 27.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we continue our three-part 2026 Big Ten preview with a closer look at nine teams, beginning with the three programs most likely to determine the conference championship. Oregon has assembled another loaded roster, but is this finally the year Dan Lanning’s program gets over the hump? Can Ohio State maintain its defensive standard while building a new offensive identity under Arthur Smith? And how successfully can defending national champion Indiana reload around Josh Hoover and a wave of transfer portal additions? We make our Big Ten championship predictions and examine the questions that could separate Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana once the College Football Playoff race begins. Then we turn toward the conference’s crowded middle. Is Iowa’s favorable schedule enough to overcome another uncertain quarterback situation? Can Washington’s promising but unproven roster deliver against better competition? And what happens when Nebraska pairs the unpredictable Anthony Colandrea with Dana Holgorsen? We also discuss the stakes surrounding Luke Fickell at Wisconsin, Greg Schiano’s attempt to rebuild the Rutgers defense and Purdue’s difficult path toward meaningful progress. Plus: a spirited disagreement over Iowa, a possible resurgences for the RVO offense, suspicious Rutgers sandwich spots, the official installation of Ty as Chief Colandrea Officer, and more.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we open our three-part 2026 Big Ten preview by zooming out before diving into the individual team breakdowns. The conference has produced the last three national champions, enters the season with another wave of major coaching and coordinator changes, and features a surprising number of familiar quarterbacks. We sort all 18 Big Ten teams into contender tiers and ask whether Ohio State, Oregon and defending national champion Indiana have separated from the field. Is USC talented enough to overcome its schedule and lingering defensive questions? Could Penn State, Michigan, Washington or Iowa emerge as the conference’s fourth College Football Playoff team? And how much faith should we place in new systems, new play callers and transfer quarterbacks across the league? We also work through the crowded middle of the conference, where favorable schedules, volatile quarterbacks and major rebuilds make almost every projection feel negotiable. Plus: Sweet Lady Schedule, the Big Ten’s overarching theme of faith, Bob Chesney’s elite hairline, a renewed commitment to the Minnesota Support Zoom, and a fun announcement about the show's place in the college football media sphere. Timestamps:00:00 — Intro & Show News07:35 — The Big Ten’s three-year heater10:15 — New head coaches, coordinators and familiar quarterbacks15:46 — The Big Ten’s Big Three21:33 — The quest for a fourth playoff team25:54 — Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana and... USC?40:16 — Who's Next?41:12 — The potential for a 10-2 Iowa48:15 — The Illinois contender debate52:56 — Penn State’s reset with Matt Campbell58:57 — Michigan begins the Kyle Whittingham era1:02:04 — Washington’s next step under Jedd Fisch1:07:34 — Minnesota and Nebraska1:15:45 — UCLA’s Bob Chesney rebuild1:22:03 — Wisconsin, Luke Fickell and a friendlier schedule1:27:02 — Maryland’s upside and unresolved questions1:30:48 — Northwestern, Rutgers, Michigan State and PurdueSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we briefly step out of preview mode for a college football news reset. While we were working through the ACC and Big 12, the rest of the sport kept moving, beginning with another strange development at North Carolina. We discuss Mike Lombardi’s reported leave of absence, what it adds to the growing collection of Bill Belichick-era drama in Chapel Hill, and why Tar Heels fans did not exactly greet the news with despair. Then we dig through the most memorable moments from SEC, ACC and Big 12 Media Days. Lane Kiffin contemplates mortality, Jon Sumrall brings an unmistakable level of intensity to Florida, Pat Narduzzi makes another bold conference comparison, and several SEC coaches begin building the case for nine-win College Football Playoff teams. We also consider Greg Sankey’s acknowledgment that conversations about an SEC and Big Ten breakaway are real, even if nobody is quite ready to explain where those conversations might lead. Finally, with fall camps opening around the country, we look at the quarterback competitions worth tracking. What could a freshman starter mean for Tennessee? Is Alabama’s apparent favorite ready to take control? Which uncertain situations at Arkansas, Iowa and elsewhere could reshape an entire season? We also ask how many of these competitions are truly open and how many are exercises in keeping quarterbacks engaged during the transfer portal era. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro3:55 - Mike Lombardi on leave at UNC9:40 - Favorite Quotes from Media Days31:29 - QB Battles of InterestSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we finish our Big 12 preview with the conference’s final eight teams: Utah, Houston, TCU, Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, UCF and Cincinnati. This preview features plenty of teams on the cusp of a breakthrough or a frustrating step backward. We start with Utah’s transition from Kyle Whittingham to Morgan Scalley and ask how much of the program’s familiar identity can survive a major staff and roster reset. From there, we dig into Houston’s contender case, TCU’s new quarterback and offensive coordinator, Arizona’s attempt to build on last year’s rebound, and Arizona State’s high-variance setup around a talented but unsettled offense. Then, Ty makes the full-throated case for an Oklahoma State revival under Eric Morris and Drew Mestemaker, while Dan tries to keep expectations somewhere near Earth. We also break down whether UCF can make the Year 2 jump under Scott Frost and whether Cincinnati can survive massive turnover by leaning on one of the Big 12’s best offensive lines. Plus: Wile E. Coyote branches, short quarterbacks, soufflé assembly and an impromptu summer tennis preview. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro7:12 - Utah Preview25:21 - TCU Preview35:26 - Arizona Preview44:25 - Arizona State Preview52:27 - Oklahoma State Preview1:03:58 - UCF Preview1:10:33 - Cincinnati PreviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we continue our 2026 Big 12 preview with the first full batch of team-by-team breakdowns. Texas Tech enters as the reigning conference champion and apparent favorite, but the strange offseason surrounding Brendan Sorsby and Will Hammond has made its path back to the College Football Playoff more complicated than it first appeared. We examine whether the Red Raiders can turn one dominant season into a repeatable model, and whether BYU has enough offensive growth and defensive muscle to finally close the gap. From there, we move into the conference’s crowded and unpredictable middle. What will Kansas State look like with Collin Klein returning to lead the program? Can Dave Aranda and new defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman bring order to the chaos at Baylor before time runs out? We also consider whether Andy Kotelnicki can revive the Kansas offense, whether Brennan Marion’s Go-Go system is the answer for Colorado, and how quickly new regimes at West Virginia and Iowa State can start showing meaningful progress. Plus, we discuss the booming transfer market for competent offensive linemen, the college football equivalent of a veteran left-handed relief pitcher, several dangerous schedule sandwiches, and much more. Timestamps:00:00 - Intro05:30 - Texas Tech Preview20:26 - BYU Preview27:41 - Kansas State Preview36:50 - Baylor Preview47:00 - Kansas Preview52:41 - Colorado Preview59:13 - West Virginia Preview1:02:59 - Iowa State PreviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we begin our three-part Big 12 preview by taking a conference-wide look at the contenders, challengers and mystery teams shaping the 2026 season. Texas Tech enters as the defending champion and the clear center of attention, but does the conference’s best roster still have enough at quarterback and on defense to remain on top? We also examine why BYU feels like the safest alternative and whether Houston is ready to turn last year’s breakthrough into something even bigger. From there, we sort all 16 teams into tiers and work through a crowded middle class that may be deeper than either of us expected. How much should Utah’s infrastructure matter after major changes on the sideline and along both lines of scrimmage? Can Arizona, TCU or Kansas State stay in the championship race? Are we falling too hard for Oklahoma State’s potential, and how much faith should we place in Kenny Dillingham as Arizona State faces the conference’s most difficult schedule? We also identify the players we are most interested in watching, debate several new quarterback situations and make our early Big 12 Championship Game predictions. Plus, the Monster Energy sponsorship inspires a shady monetization strategy, Willie Fritz becomes the world’s most dependable roofing contractor, and one verbal stumble launches a questionable new Cincinnati business venture. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro3:01 - The Monster Energy Big 12?6:25 - The Basics & Big Themes17:05 - Surprise Observations20:09 - Contender TiersSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we finish our three-part preview of the ACC by turning our attention to the defending conference champions and several of the league’s most difficult teams to project. Can Duke keep finding ways to win after another major quarterback change? Does Clemson have a real plan for getting back into the College Football Playoff conversation? And can Louisville once again rebuild its offense around a new transfer quarterback without losing ground near the top of the conference? We also dig into James Franklin’s full-scale reboot at Virginia Tech, Ty’s increasingly dangerous belief in NC State, and a pivotal season for Brent Key at Georgia Tech. With new quarterbacks, rebuilt offensive lines, coordinator changes and transfer portal additions everywhere, how much confidence should we place in recognizable coaches and favorable schedules? Plus, we examine why Cal could become one of the most entertaining teams in college football, whether Syracuse can recover with Steve Angeli back under center, and what Bill O’Brien can realistically build at Boston College. Elsewhere, Dan experiments with performance-enhancing inhalers, Ty launches Bros for Brohm, the Calgorithm gains strength, and we issue another annual warning about hiring Ted Roof. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro4:01 - Duke Blue Devils Preview14:26 - Clemson Tigers Preview25:00 - NC State Wolfpack Preview32:29 - Louisville Cardinals Preview40:22 - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Preview50:36 - Virginia Tech Hokies Preview1:06:02 - Cal Golden Bears Preview1:12:53 - Syracuse Orange Preview1:18:03 - Boston College Eagles Preview1:22:33 - Parting ShotsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we continue our 2026 ACC preview with conversations about eight conference teams and Notre Dame. Is this finally the year Miami turns its loaded roster into its first conference championship? How high is the ceiling for an Irish squad with College Football Playoff expectations, a Heisman candidate at quarterback, and more talent than ever? We also examine whether SMU is ready to take another step under Rhett Lashlee, whether Virginia can build on last season’s breakthrough with defense and small ball, and whether Pitt can turn another fast start into something more sustainable. Florida State enters a defining seventh season under Mike Norvell, while North Carolina begins Year 2 of the Bill Belichick experiment with Bobby Petrino running the offense. Wake Forest remains dangerous, strange and difficult to play, while Stanford begins a patient rebuild under Tavita Pritchard. Plus: The Davis Warren Commission, Mid-Atlantic Hawkeyes, quarterback passport stamps, an unexpected amount of Train trivia, HGTV renovation metaphors, and an important reminder to wash your produce. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro5:11 - Virginia Cavaliers Preview17:30 - Miami Hurricanes Preview29:13 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish Preview41:14 - SMU Mustangs Preview47:04 - Pitt Panthers Preview53:29 - Florida State Seminoles Preview1:03:32 - North Carolina Tar Heels Preview1:08:08 - Wake Forest Demon Deacons Preview1:14:03 - Stanford Cardinal PreviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we begin our three-part 2026 ACC preview by zooming out and attempting to make sense of the conference as a whole. Miami enters the season as the clear favorite, with Darian Mensah taking over at quarterback and another roster built to reach the College Football Playoff. But can the Hurricanes finally win their first ACC championship? From there, we sort the rest of the ACC into contender tiers and confront the question that defines the league this season: Who comes after Miami? We debate how much to trust Kevin Jennings and SMU, Jeff Brohm’s latest rebuild at Louisville, Clemson’s return to Chad Morris and the long list of possible challengers lurking in the conference’s crowded middle. We also examine the unusually unsettled quarterback landscape, widespread offensive line turnover, the arrival of James Franklin at Virginia Tech and the pressure facing Mike Norvell at Florida State. Plus, we identify our ACC pet teams, search for surprise storylines and hold an entirely unnecessary conference nickname draft.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we continue our 2026 Group of Six conference previews by breaking down the resurrected Pac-12, the new-look Mountain West and a wide-open Conference USA. We start with Boise State’s move into the Pac-12 and discuss whether the Broncos are truly a College Football Playoff threat or simply the best team in their new neighborhood. From there, we examine the cases for Fresno State, San Diego State, Texas State and Washington State, along with the conference’s unusual plan to flex matchups during the final week of the regular season. The Mountain West has undergone an even more dramatic transformation, with North Dakota State making the jump to FBS and Northern Illinois and UTEP entering the league. Can NDSU immediately contend with UNLV and New Mexico? Does Hawaii have enough around Micah Alejado to make a run? And can Air Force, Wyoming or one of the conference’s rebuilding programs force its way into the race? We also venture into Conference USA, where Western Kentucky may be the preseason favorite, but Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty and several recent FBS arrivals give us plenty of reasons to question the established order. Finally, we bolt independent UConn onto the end of the preview and explore Jason Candle’s attempt to rebuild a roster that lost nearly everything from last season. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro5:05 - Pac-12 Conference Preview38:44 - Mountain West Conference Preview1:09:55 - CUSA Conference Preview1:27:24 - UConn Football PreviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we kick off our 2026 conference preview series with Part 1 of our Group of Six rundown, covering the American, Sun Belt and MAC. With coaching changes, transfer portal churn, new coordinators and a whole lot of roster turnover, we try to figure out which teams are actually built to contend and which ones are more mystery box than finished product. We start in the American, where UTSA, Navy, Memphis, Army, FAU, USF and ECU all have some version of a case, even if nearly every team comes with one glaring question. Then we move to the Sun Belt, where James Madison enters a new era with Billy Napier, Old Dominion has real intrigue, Louisiana and Troy headline the West, and nobody feels quite as loaded as last year. Finally, we close with the MAC, where Miami (Ohio) and Western Michigan appear to be the class of the conference, while Toledo, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Bowling Green, Ohio and Eastern Michigan crowd into a very meaty middle. Plus: Dan’s questionable subtitle, a punny new vehicle at Coastal Carolina, Lunch Winfield, Goose Crowder, Sacramento State’s strange MAC arrival, Keldric Luster, and the looming joy of the Ball-Sac rivalry. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro6:37 - American Conference Preview46:40 - Sun Belt Conference Preview1:11:00 - MAC PreviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we officially welcome ourselves back to college football with a full 2026 season primer. Before preview season begins in earnest, we reset the board with the biggest changes you need to know, from conference realignment, new teams, and bowl games to rule tweaks, the coaching carousel and a longer road to the national championship in Las Vegas. Consider this your intro course for the upcoming season. We also run through the biggest names and roster moves shaping the season, including a huge crop of new head coaches, notable broadcast changes, the biggest transfer portal targets, and the quarterback storylines that could define the year. Plus, we look at early national title odds, conference favorites, Group of Six playoff contenders, and the broader themes we’ll be tracking all summer as our full preview series gets underway. Also: the Ball-Sac rivalry, North Dakota State’s FBS arrival, the triumph of bike shorts, the return of the Poinsettia Bowl, and a joyous march in the Fleck Parade. Timestamps:0:00 - Welcome back3:35 - What is this episode?6:26 - The Basics10:20 - Notable Changes30:16 - New Coaches35:49 - Announcer Changes39:52 - Notable Transfers56:16 - Big Storylines1:01:34 - The Odds1:06:21 - Common Themes1:15:57 - Parting ThoughtsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this July Q&A episode, we open up the mailbag and tackle a wide-ranging batch of offseason questions. Which teams could become this year’s surprise contenders? Is Utah still a threat after major coaching and roster turnover? Can Texas Tech buy its way out of an old perception? And what do the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rules mean for the future of roster building? Plus, we talk portal spending, quarterback development, new coaching leashes at Michigan State, Penn State and Virginia Tech, college football’s value as a live-event experience compared to the World Cup, EA Sports dynasty strategy, social media guardrails, and sundae bars.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we welcome Chris Fallica of Fox Sports, Big Noon Kickoff and Bear Bets to talk through college football from the perspective of a researcher, bettor, traveler and longtime media fixture. We get into how he studies the sport this time of year, what numbers actually matter, how the transfer portal has changed preseason projections, and why college football remains so difficult to evaluate in an era of super conferences, roster churn and wildly uneven schedules. We also dig into the art of finding weird stats, the value of schedule spots, the eternal appeal of the letdown lookahead sandwich, and whether elevation deserves a bigger place in how we talk about home-field advantage. Plus, Chris shares a few early thoughts on teams he trusts and teams he is more skeptical of heading into 2026, with Indiana, Miami, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Florida State and Arkansas all coming up along the way. Before the interview, we also react to the latest twist in the Brendan Sorsby saga after the NFL declined to hold a supplemental draft. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro4:13 - Brendan Sorsby denied NFL Supplemental Draft8:29 - Chris Fallica joinsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we react to the latest and likely final twist in the Brendan Sorsby saga, as the now-former Texas Tech quarterback backs off his NCAA lawsuit and turns his attention toward the NFL Supplemental Draft. After weeks of legal maneuvering, Big 12 pushback, public statements and fan frustration, we try to make sense of how the situation became untenable, what it means for Texas Tech, and where the Red Raiders go from here with Will Hammond now back in the spotlight. Then, with preview season still a few weeks away, we open the window into the weirdest corners of college football fandom with help from the Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) social feed. We dig through offseason fan brain at Texas Tech, Florida State, LSU, Washington, Oregon and beyond, touching on conference realignment fantasies, private investigator hypotheticals, Lane Kiffin’s housing situation, recruiting angst, national title expectations and one Auburn thread that probably should not have made it onto a college football podcast. Plus: a new logo is on the way, Ty’s voice is still recovering, Dan pitches an “immersive college football experience,” and things end with an unfortunate discussion of fermented Japanese green plums. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro2:05 - Brendan Sorsby to enter NFL Supplemental Draft27:22 - Message Board GemsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we examine the most interesting college football teams hovering around the bowl eligibility line in 2026. With win totals sitting at 5.5 or 6.5, these are the teams that could just as easily surge to 8-4 as stumble into 5-7, and we try to figure out which direction they’re headed before preview season officially begins. We start with Florida and the Jon Sumrall reboot, then dig into Arizona State’s questions, Kentucky’s brutal SEC schedule, Minnesota’s surprisingly low win total, and Virginia Tech’s fascinating reset under James Franklin. Plus, we debate whether TCU has enough runway and whether Wisconsin is finally ready to clear the bar under Luke Fickell. Also: Dan searches for a new lease, Ty searches for a Seattle soccer ticket, third-quarter sing-along traditions, the dangers of too many stadium sound effects, and how fuzzy June math led us directly to the today's concept. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro7:25 - Explaining Teeter Teams9:32 - Florida Gators16:47 - Arizona State Sun Devils23:29 - Kentucky Wildcats30:10 - Minnesota Golden Gophers37:52 - Virginia Tech Hokies44:18 - TCU Horned Frogs49:59 - Wisconsin BadgersSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we return to the board room for Sark Tank 3.0, our annual exercise in college football emotional investing. Ty brings the pitches, while Dan and special guest Andy Staples play the investors, and decide which 2026 storylines are worth buying and selling. On the board: Brendan Sorsby's prospects at Texas Tech, the SEC's return to glory, the return of Gary Patterson, and a new Group of Six team crashing the playoff party. Plus, the Sarks debate whether anyone other than Miami is worth backing in the ACC, whether Notre Dame is being set up as the sport’s most polished strength-of-schedule mirage, and which long-shot ideas still deserve emotional capital before the season begins. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro to Sark Tank 3.04:55 - Brendan Sorsby & Texas Tech14:13 - The SEC's Return To Glory22:24 - Gary Patterson's Return29:26 - New G6 Playoff Teams38:34 - Miami vs. The ACC Field46:02 - Notre DameSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we welcome back our friend Richard Johnson from CBS Sports and Split Zone Duo for a conversation about the college football topics we talk about too much, and the ones we probably do not talk about enough. As preview season creeps closer, we zoom out on the sport’s offseason discourse and ask which arguments are useful, which ones are exhausted, and where the weird, fun, meaningful parts of college football might be hiding. We dig into College Football Playoff format fatigue, the role of TV money and conference power, the constant hope that Congress can somehow “fix” college sports, the growing presence of gambling in broadcasts, and whether the Arch Manning conversation has swung too far in the other direction. Plus, we get into teams and coaches who deserve more attention, including Florida, UCLA, Michigan, and the broader world outside the SEC and Big Ten. We also wander into West Coast scheduling thoughts, the need for more strange bowl game energy, Sacramento sports sadness, college football media golf rankings, and the inevitability of major news breaking whenever Richard goes to Europe. And, right in the middle of our recording, news broke of Brendan Sorsby's reinstatement. (We react as best we can!) Timecodes:0:00 - Intro4:29 - Richard Johnson joins the show7:30 - CFP format12:31 - TV network influence19:22 - The government and CFB22:18 - Arch Manning28:48 - Brendan Sorsby news33:05 - Gambling as part of studio shows40:25 - ACC Thursdays44:10 - West Coast scheduling45:53 - Jon Sumrall50:22 - Big Ten & SEC vs. the World56:54 - Kyle Whittingham1:03:35 - Rapid FireSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we step slightly outside our usual college football lane for a 2026 World Cup preview with ESPN’s Bill Connelly. With the tournament kicking off next week in North America, we put the tournament in terms that college football fans can understand and discuss the potential chaos of an expanded field, the "Indiana" of world soccer, and the constant tension between off-field disasters and on-field brilliance. We dig into the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT), their upside, their flaws, their best college football comp, and what casual American fans should actually watch for when the games begin. Bill also walks us through the broader field, from favorites like France, Spain and England to possible sleepers like Norway, Turkey, and Mexico. Plus, we get into expectations for Canada, the randomness of the new knockout format, why this tournament could produce some truly strange outcomes, and much more. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro3:19 - World Cup Basics7:55 - USMNT's CFB Comp?11:33 - USMNT Built for Speed?17:12 - USMNT's Most Interesting Players20:31 - USMNT's Intent23:23 - USMNT In Possession25:23 - Effects of More Time Between Games26:58 - What Pochettino Brings to USMNT30:18 - Tactical Levers at the World Cup33:44 - Crazy Loaded Position Groups37:24 - England Roster & Defensive Mindset40:48 - Realistic Picks for Winners & Sleepers48:29 - Interesting Managers & Playstyles52:14 - Expectations for Canada54:15 - Rapid Fire Predictions & CompsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this June Q&A episode, we open up the Verballer mailbag and start looking ahead to preview season with some early college football summer loves. Which teams are we already talking ourselves into before the magazines arrive? Which programs are interesting, dangerous, confusing or just fun enough to pique our interest as the 2026 season gets closer? We also dig into first-time College Football Playoff possibilities, the rising risk of major transfer portal investments, and whether Curt Cignetti’s championship run at Indiana was more impressive than anything Nick Saban or Kirby Smart ever did in a single season. Plus, we talk through what fans of rebuilding teams should actually look for in Year 1, why playoff expansion arguments still feel slippery, and which players or teams are perfect for showing off at a June cookout. And, naturally, the episode eventually drifts into Brendan Fraser playing Dwight Eisenhower in a D-Day weather drama, bad old predictions, Drake Lindsey discourse, Arkansas despair, and Dan’s ongoing effort to make Ty regret his phrasing. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro3:00 - Summer Loves?16:08 - First-time CFP Candidates?18:36 - Vetting Transfers?30:00 - Cignetti vs Saban/Smart?38:46 - Cookout Players/Teams?41:50 - Fox's CFP Motivation?47:55 - Hope for Arkansas?55:37 - Rapid Fire QuestionsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we take a break from the usual offseason doom loop and focus on the things that still make college football worth getting excited about. With the 2026 season now inside the 100-day window, we lean into the joy, weirdness and ritual of the sport, from team entrances and tailgate footballs to bowl games as holiday escape hatches, overseas openers in Dublin and Rio, and the simple feeling of leaning forward on the couch right before kickoff. We also get into the more specific quirks that make college football feel like college football: pylon cams, visor coaches, turnover props, weird eye black, old-school announcers, preview magazines, 68-degree noon kickoffs, coaches losing their minds on the sideline, late-night windows and the constant possibility that a huge favorite might get dragged into a game it has no business losing. Plus, we look ahead to some of the real football reasons to be excited for 2026, including a loaded crop of star players, a monster Week 10 schedule, the evolving Group of Five playoff race and the SEC’s move to a nine-game conference schedule. Consider this a little kickoff yearning for the summer months, a reminder that, for all the sport’s problems, there’s still nothing quite like it.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we introduce a new game called “Bed or Built,” where we take some of college football’s most repeated narratives and decide whether it’s time to put them to bed or if they’re still built to last. With the 2026 season creeping closer, we sort through the stories that have followed programs, coaches and fan bases for years, and ask which ones still make sense in the current version of the sport. We dig into Mario Cristobal and Miami, Matt Rhule’s turnaround reputation, Lane Kiffin’s chaos factor, Ryan Day’s “born on third base” label, Texas A&M’s hard ceiling, Oregon’s late-season hurdle, Clemson’s attempts to adapt, James Franklin’s big-game baggage and the difficulty of following Nick Saban at Alabama. Along the way, we get into the transfer portal, coaching hires, College Football Playoff expectations, roster-building, fan perception and how quickly old narratives can become outdated. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro5:46 - Mario Cristobal & Miami will trip up13:45 - Matt Rhule is a turnaround genius20:38 - Lane Kiffin is misunderstood26:25 - Ryan Dan was born on third base32:35 - Texas A&M has a hard ceiling38:56 - Oregon will fall flat late45:33 - Clemson can't adapt54:08 - Big Game James Franklin56:09 - Being the guy after Nick SabanSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we react to Tony Petitti’s public push for a 24-team College Football Playoff and try to sort through what it actually means for the sport. Is expansion really about access, regular-season stakes, and rewarding more teams, or is it mostly about television inventory, conference leverage, and the ongoing ESPN vs. Fox tug-of-war? We also talk through why the SEC’s preference for 16 teams suddenly puts some fans in the strange position of... rooting for Greg Sankey. Then it’s time for an ACC vibe check, as we take a look at the conference before full preview season kicks into gear. Miami looks like the league’s clearest headliner, but after that, things get messy fast. We work through the conference’s biggest connective tissues, including offensive line questions, thin receiver rooms, quarterback uncertainty, Cal’s wide range of outcomes, Louisville’s favorable path, Georgia Tech’s possible regression, and whether Virginia Tech or NC State could turn into a surprise playoff-adjacent story. Also included: Slices 'N Steps in NYC, illegal-streaming hypotheticals, Chili’s corn nostalgia, and the beginning of what may become a fully realized ACC-as-abandoned-mall taxonomy. Subscribe to the newsletter for free: https://www.solidverbal.com/newsletter Timecodes:0:00 - Intro & Slices 'N Steps in NYC6:38 - Tony Petitti's 24-Team CFP Plan31:07 - The Vibrant ACC Mall38:00 - The Cal Factor45:20 - The Case for Syracuse52:07 - The Case Against Georgia Tech59:48 - Miami's Heisman Elimination Game1:07:49 - Virginia Tech's CFP Chances1:12:41 - The Surprise Orange Julius1:17:05 - Mapping Out The ACC MallSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re midway through May, which means it’s time to start talking ourselves into, and out of, what the 2026 college football season could become. In this episode, we turn the month itself into a game with a Big Ten “Mayyyyybe” vibe check, asking which scenarios feel realistic, which ones feel like offseason nonsense, and which ones might look strangely prescient by November. Could Ohio State’s schedule create a real College Football Playoff problem? Is Maryland quietly positioned to take a step forward? Can Wisconsin stabilize things for Luke Fickell, Iowa mess around with a playoff run, or UCLA become one of the more interesting teams in the conference under Bob Chesney? We also dig into Oregon’s internal coordinator hires, Michigan’s tricky first year under Kyle Whittingham, and USC’s unlucky, unforgiving schedule. Along the way, there are schedule sandwiches, quarterback questions, offensive line concerns, coaching crush rankings, a surprising amount of hernia talk, and more. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro5:01 - Ohio State misses the CFP14:22 - Maryland wins a game after September20:42 - Wisconsin saves Luke Fickell's job27:23 - Oregon regrets new coordinators34:19 - Iowa makes the CFP39:27 - UCLA wins 8 games47:22 - Michigan becomes a mess55:52 - USC's unlucky scheduleSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re taking an early look at the 2026 college football schedule and doing a public service for the Verballerhood: figuring out which Saturdays deserve to be protected on the family calendar. From Week 0 appetizers to monster November slates, we rank the season week by week, identify the biggest projected matchups, and decide when it is safe to go outside and when it is absolutely not. Along the way, we dig into the weeks that look especially dangerous for teams stuck between emotional rivalry games, cross-country trips, short weeks, and potential letdown spots. Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State, Oregon, USC, LSU, Ole Miss, BYU, Texas Tech and others all pop up as we sort through the best weekends, the sneaky ones, and the obvious trap-ortunities. Plus, we discuss shared calendars, zhoug sauce, Trappy Valley, the revered Ball-Sac Game, how much of November should be blocked off, and several increasingly questionable strategies for preserving couch time during the best stretch of the season. Timestamps0:00 - Intro7:36 - Week 09:33 - Week 112:11 - Week 217:49 - Week 323:20 - Week 425:17 - Week 530:28 - Week 637:38 - Week 740:04 - Week 844:40 - Week 947:09 - Week 1053:09 - Week 1157:47 - Week 121:03:51 - Week 13Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re back for Part 2 of our May Q&A, which means the offseason conversation gets both bigger and weirder. We start off with College Football Playoff expansion anxiety, including the possibility of a 24-team field, the future of conference championship games, and the growing gap between the people running the sport and the fans who love it. We discuss the new marriage between Michigan State and Pat Fitzgerald, which leads us into a broader conversation about safe hires, risky hires, Transfer Portal recruiting, and what it actually means to rebuild in the modern Big Ten. We also touch on Texas, Arch Manning, Steve Sarkisian, Florida State, Mike Norvell, and the kinds of expectations that can turn a normal season into a referendum. We also spend some time on the quarterback and offensive coordinator pairings we’re most curious to watch, with stops at places like Georgia Tech, UCLA, Florida, Kentucky, and a few others. Which combinations are actually exciting? Which ones feel volatile? Which ones have the widest range of possible outcomes? And because it’s an offseason Q&A, we find room for the important stuff: wearing your team’s gear when things are bleak, whether video podcasts have raised the appearance bar, and Dan’s surprisingly spicy take on wearing sneakers with suits. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro3:09 - Mass CFB Exodus?25:04 - Why Pat Fitzgerald?38:39 - New QB-Coach Pairings?f47:50 - Loser Sports Apparel?53:00 - Texas Expectations?59:46 - Norvell's Future?1:06:03 - Old School Showbiz?Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Part 1 of our big May Q&A, we dig into some of the biggest questions hanging over college football right now, starting with Brendan Sorsby’s uncertain status at Texas Tech and what it could mean for the Big 12 race. We also get into the new single-window transfer portal calendar, the changing value of internal player development, and how roster construction is evolving in a sport where continuity, money, scouting, and plain old luck all seem to matter at once. From there, we zoom out to the SEC’s national championship drought, Texas’s non-conference schedule, the future structure of college football, and what a more stable version of the sport might look like by 2035. And naturally, we also find time for foot massagers, suspicious domain names, street-naming philosophies, and a little competitive geography talk. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro2:16 - Brendan Sorsby & Portal Buyers' Remorse22:16 - Homegrown Talent36:18 - Non-con Schedule Smoke44:12 - SEC vs The Field51:24 - CFB in 20351:07:45 - Street Naming StrategiesSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Connelly from ESPN.com stops by to walk us through the post-spring college football landscape, fresh off turning in 7,000 words on the MAC and kicking off his annual conference preview series. We get into how the portal era has transformed his prep work, why the SEC has become a "horizontal" conference of strong middles, and which conferences are hardest to make sense of right now. Bill evaluates the Big 12 after the Brendan Sorsby news, talks up a few mid-major teams to watch, and explains why he still doesn't fully trust Texas the way the rest of the country does. We also dig into the Bob Chesney's roster build at UCLA, Oklahoma State's full offensive transfusion, Lane Kiffin's quarterback insurance policy, and what to make of the pairing of Bryce Underwood and Kyle Whittingham in Ann Arbor. Bill also shares his Alabama skepticism, his read on Indiana's encore, and why he's increasingly intrigued by Texas A&M. And, to close things out, a little World Cup talk in advance of this summer's tournament. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro4:05 - Bill Connelly joins the showSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just as we hit record, news broke that Texas Tech's Brendan Sorsby, one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the transfer portal this cycle, is checking into a treatment program for a gambling addiction, and is under NCAA investigation dating back to his time at Indiana. In this episode, we lead off with what it means for Texas Tech, and why this story is bigger than just one player in an era where sports betting has never been more accessible. Then, we're joined by fantasy football extraordinaire, Jason Moore of The Fantasy Footballers, for a crossover segment years in the making. Jason gives his advice for how our favorite college stars translate to fantasy football, talks through a uniquely thin fantasy class, and picks out his favorite landing spots among the biggest rookie names. Plus, he helps Ty through his issue of drafting too many rookies. When in doubt, just bet against the bad teams. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro4:19 - Brendan Sorsby seeks treatment for gambling problem10:47 - Jason Moore of The Fantasy Footballers joins the showSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're joined by Cole Cubelic (SEC Network, McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, The Cube Show) for an SEC vibe check. It's not a preview, just the temperature of the conference in late April. Cole pulls no punches on the reality facing SEC fan bases: Nick Saban's standards aren't coming back, sub-goals like winning the conference have been devalued, and we've collectively forgotten what a genuinely successful season looks like. Plus, we dive in the strange Kalen DeBoer hot seat chatter, Shane Beamer's underrated portal wizardry at South Carolina, why the Alex Golesh hire at Auburn matters more than who left in the portal, Texas's need for hard-hat glue guys to pair with its sports cars, and whether Lane Kiffin's LSU rebuild can actually cohere in year one.We also discuss the loss of program continuity in the transfer portal era, the new nine-game SEC schedule as a gauntlet-within-a-gauntlet, and a big wave of defensive coordinator turnover that could make September interesting.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for one of our favorite traditions: Our annual NFL Draft preview with Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports. Nate walks us through why the 2026 class should be defined by the word "useful" rather than "generational," how color-coded chips on his big board separate the truly elite from scheme-dependent prospects, and why the lack of consensus near the top could produce a first round full of surprises and trades. We talked through the most accurate comps and comparisons for Fernando Mendoza, the incredible Ohio State defensive factory, the Ty Simpson versus Garrett Nussmeier conversation, Jeremiyah Love's place among recently drafted running backs, Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq and Dillon Thieneman, a loaded class of offensive linemen and much more.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for an offseason thought experiment! In this episode, we run through eight "Ty-potheticals" — plausible scenarios for the 2026 season — and debate how they would go over within the Clemson, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Baylor, South Carolina, Colorado, Nebraska, and Michigan State fan bases. Chapters:0:00 - Intro4:25 - Clemson15:55 - Virginia Tech24:57 - Alabama36:22 - Baylor46:20 - South Carolina53:48 - Colorado1:00:59 - Nebraska1:11:12 - Michigan StateSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring football is ongoing, and the quarterback battles are starting to tell us what 2026 might look like. In this episode, we work through a few of the most unsettled QB rooms in the country, from a four-way competition out West to a pair of SEC jobs where the depth chart has been rewritten since December. We also dig into the teams we can't stop thinking about heading into the summer, including Notre Dame, Oregon, Miami, TCU, and Oklahoma State's intriguing first-year project. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro8:13 - Florida State's QB Race16:49 - Arizona State's QB Race22:44 - Florida's QB Race 27:18 - Alabama's QB Race 30:45 - Notre Dame's RB, WR, OL 37:55 - Oregon's Coordinators 41:43 - Miami's Line 49:02 - Rapid FireSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the golf world turns its gaze to The Masters, we take a look at the truly elite in college football. In this episode, we debate the top quarterbacks and coaches in the sport. Which programs deserve "elite loser" status? Which 2026 schedules feature the most ridiculous gauntlets? And why does Dan still cringe about the time CNBC put him on the spot about Augusta National? Timestamps:0:00 - Intro7:04 - Elite Losers33:33 - Schedule Gauntlets57:56 - Elite QBs1:06:49 - Elite CoachesSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coach Jerry Mack led the Kennesaw State Owls from a 2-10 season in 2024 to a Conference USA championship in his first year in 2025, flipping the roster and the entire offensive scheme in the process. In this episode, he talks about what drew him to Kennesaw State, how he approaches roster construction in the transfer portal era, what he brought back from his time coaching in the NFL, what it takes to maintain stability through college football's most unstable era ever, and much more.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.