The Solid Verbal College Football

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 - Intro 2:53 - Surprise Playoff Draft 15:03 - Breaking CFB Inertia 25:05 - Still Love CFB? 31:39 - Players As Employees? 38:33 - Favorite Big Back? 43:41 - CFB Docs? 49:03 - CFB Figure Skating Pairings 51:33 - Power Plays? 52:55 - G5 Contenders? 55:04 - QB Development? Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 2:10 - Kalen DeBoer's Future at Alabama 14:17 - The Value of Playing Time 23:47 - Altering CFB History 35:04 - Canceling Marquee Matchups 44:54 - A Two-Bid Big 12 56:54 - Optimal Tailgating Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 3:42 - Key Themes for CFB in 2026 13:28 - Conference Structure 24:50 - Scheduling 33:42 - College Football Playoff 45:18 - The TV Product 53:02 - The On-Field Product 1:02:24 - NIL 1:11:43 - The Transfer Portal Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 5:14 - Gary Patterson at USC 13:30 - Will Muschamp at Texas 20:58 - Drew Mehringer & Chris Hampton at Oregon 29:02 - Ron Roberts at Arkansas 36:53 - Jason Beck at Michigan 44:48 - Bobby Hauck at Illinois 50:10 - Arthur Smith at Ohio State 57:59 - Chad Morris at Clemson 1:05:41 - Taylor Mouser at Penn State Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 3:05 - Explaining the Coach Draft 7:47 - Oklahoma State 14:34 - Syracuse 20:54 - Purdue 27:21 - Virgina Tech 33:00 - UCLA 38:12 - West Virginia 43:01 - Boston College 47:21 - Wisconsin 50:01 - Stanford 52:34 - Rutgers 56:23 - Colorado 58:14 - North Carolina 1:00:43 - Florida 1:04:29 - Michigan State Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 4:10 - Chuck Klosterman Interview Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 4:34 - Sacramento State joins the MAC 13:47 - SEC Scheduling Controversy 28:44 - Scott Frost & UCF 38:34 - Bill Belichick & North Carolina 46:50 - Jake Dickert & Wake Forest 51:28 - Rich Rodriguez & West Virginia 58:44 - Barry Odom & Purdue 1:05:27 - Frank Reich & Stanford 1:10:28 - Other Coach Grades Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 4:13 - North Dakota State goes FBS 17:33 - The Bill Moos Nebraska Book 29:16 - Six Teams on Trend Watch 30:48 - Miami's high-level winning 36:20 - Oklahoma as a 2026 SEC contender 42:12 - Arizona's reborn defense 47:11 - Virginia as a 2026 ACC contender 52:05 - Texas A&M as a 2026 CFP team 58:03 - USC as a 10-win team Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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 recap 6:27 - What we're doing today 8:51 - Dan's "winning despite" teams (Duke, Mizzou, Minnesota, Wake Forest) 10:58 - Steve Angeli and Syracuse's collapse without him 13:34 - Wisconsin as a bucket of wrenches 17:08 - Northwestern's what-could-have-been season 19:21 - Jason Eck and New Mexico's nine-win season 22:16 - Penn State's leaked Pat Kraft audio 25:08 - Ty's Quick Hits: Mason Heinschel, Houston's quiet 10-3 season, Arch Manning actually got better 29:29 - Dan's Quick Hits: Arizona's nasty defense, SMU's post-playoff rebuild, Double transfers 31:51 - Kenny Dillingham staying at Arizona State 35:15 - Arkansas tried 37:20 - Indiana, Curt Cignetti, and protecting your heart 44:19 - Fernando Mendoza's F-bomb and industry plant theory 45:34 - Cal, the Wilcox era, and the Mendoza that got away 46:56 - Lane Kiffin-LSU drama 49:23 - Georgia ripping rivals' hearts out 50:17 - North Texas's record-setting season 51:38 - Player shoutouts: Jeremiyah Love, Ahmad Hardy, Jacob Rodriguez, Jayden Maiava 53:40 - Quick fan hits: Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Oregon, Purdue 57:34 - Ball State tried to be the worst 57:47 - Florida State's first month 58:26 - Rutgers' top-50 offense / Arizona retaining Seth Doege and Noah Fifita 59:54 - ESPN cinematography and best broadcast production Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 6:03 - Dan Wetzel on Sherrone Moore & Michigan Football 41:01 - Sean O'Connell on Kyle Whittinham & Utah Football Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 4:49 - Miami is back! 12:45 - Notre Dame controversy 21:06 - Shirtlessness 25:26 - Dan Lanning is nuts 29:36 - Texas Tech's spending spree 35:08 - Everything Diego Pavia 40:38 - Drew Mestemaker 43:07 - The UCLA Roller Coaster 47:51 - John Mateer 51:57 - Tiebreakers 56:57 - Others Receiving Votes Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 3:02 - The Most 2025 College Football Things 6:54 - Lane Kiffin 17:19 - Indiana 26:34 - Penn State, Clemson & Texas 36:20 - Bill Belichick 43:52 - Alabama 55:04 - Tulane & James Madison 1:03:03 - Lee Corso Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 4:44 - News Update 21:17 - Way-Too-Early Top 12s Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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/solidverbal See 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 - Intro 11:03 - 7 Big Questions 38:02 - The Case for the Miami Hurricanes 54:43 - The Case for the Indiana Hoosiers 1:05:05 - Our official predictions Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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 – Intro 04:13 – Dylan Raiola to Oregon 19:02 – Sam Leavitt to LSU 23:31 – Ty Simpson... back to college? 30:56 – Q&A: Matt Campbell vs. James Franklin 38:38 – Q&A: Time to Hate Indiana? 44:02 – Q&A: Curt Cignetti's "Magic" 51:57 – Q&A: 2025 Hits & Misses 57:28 – Q&A: Underreported Hires 1:01:06 – Q&A: Local Sports Cultures 1:11:58 – Q&A: The Texas A&M Reality Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See 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/solidverbal See 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/solidverbal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.