Thu, 28 December 2017
Mitch and Braden make their final officially official College Football Playoff predictions complete with in-depth analysis of each game. What is at stake in both games besides getting to the national title game? What can Kirby Smart do to stop Baker Mayfield? Can Jalen Hurts find success on third down? Which quarterback do you trust the most (not named Baker)? Can Georgia pound the OU front seven? And what are our New Year's Eve plans/playoff viewing menus? |
Thu, 21 December 2017
The guys take a look at the first early National Signing Day and its impact on college football. Did college football fans simply care less? And is that a good or bad thing? Did anyone have a better day than Georgia? Is the Big 12 back? Did programs with new coaches suffer the most? The results are in... we are happy to report that Athlon Sports is awesome once again! And, a holiday debate to end all holiday debates. |
Tue, 19 December 2017
The guys look back at the first year head coaches in 2017 and evaluate each hire after their first year of action. Some names (Coach O, Lincoln Riley, Lane Kiffin) look even better while others (PJ Fleck, Matt Rhule, Randy Edsall) have raised some questions. Still others are hard to pinpoint like Willie Taggart and Tom Herman. We take a quick look at some headlines and Braden recaps his first Garth Brooks experience. |
Thu, 14 December 2017
After two weeks, Braden has changed his National Championship pick and Mitch totally understands why. Is this year's crop of first time head coaches a trend that fans should expect to continue? Or is head coaching experience still vital to success? (or both?) The Psychology of the Early Signing Period is very interesting from multiple angles. What happens if a player wants to sign but can't? Who should sign and who should wait it out? Does it help the schools or the recruits or both? And Trevor Lawrence vs. Justin Fields? |
Mon, 11 December 2017
Mitch and Braden go in-depth on each coaching hire in major college football this season. How badly did Tennessee actually screw up its hire? Did UCLA win the carousel? Dan Mullen vs. Willie Taggart in the state of Florida? Was Scott Frost a gift from the college football gods? Can Jimbo Fisher do something no else has ever done? And what the hell is going on in the Pac-12? |
Fri, 8 December 2017
Bowl season is here the guys offer a few holiday reminders about bowl games and what they mean (or not mean). There is an important warning, one hot button issue has faded away and we have a way to reduce the number of bowls (if that's your thing). Which small bowl games would you want to go to? And do we expect legitimate games in the New Year's Six bowls? |
Sun, 3 December 2017
A special edition of the POD, the guys support the Committee's decision to put Alabama in over Ohio State. It was the right thing to do and they explain why. Clemson, Oklahoma and Georgia (as Braden predicted) easily earned their way in as well. And will the events of this season lead to expansion? Oh, and the guys make their picks for the national championship tournament, breaking down both the Rose and Sugar Bowls. |
Wed, 29 November 2017
The guys recap Tuesday's rankings and what it might mean for the Playoff. Is Alabama poised to get in or does Ohio State have a better path? Are USC and TCU underrated? Is Miami being overvalued? Then each of us makes predictions on each of the conference championship games and what the Playoff would look like. Mitch is picking one big upset and a boring ranking on Sunday while Braden is also picking one big upset and a wild shake up on Sunday. And do Alabama's playoff hopes hinge on the Mountain West title game? |
Mon, 27 November 2017
The coaching carousel took a wild turn this weekend as multiple programs - Arizona St, Arkansas, Texas A&M and Nebraska - joined the search for a new head coach, while another was simply a train wreck. What the hell has happened at Tennessee? Meanwhile, UCLA and Florida make home run hires as well and it appears the Huskers are on their way to one as well. Alabama and Miami both lost but can both still get into the playoff? How good can Auburn be? TCU and Stanford also clinch championship game berths but can either compete? And Dilly Dilly has been retired. |
Wed, 22 November 2017
The guys recap the rankings and discuss why Miami moved up one spot - Mitch is angry about it. Oklahoma, Miami, Wisconsin and Georgia are all heavy favorites but should they be concerned about their rivalry matchups? How does the Pac-12 play out this weekend as the Apple Cup will decide who goes to the conference championship game. We've discovered the most SEC thing ever and are now rooting for it to happen. But the first chapter would have to be Auburn winning the Iron Bowl. We break down the game and explain this potentially bizarre scenario. Ohio St-Michigan and South Carolina-Clemson also carry huge significance this weekend as well. And cold turkey sandwiches - how do you like yours? |
Mon, 20 November 2017
Braden Gall must apologize to Wisconsin fans everywhere. And is ir smart for Michigan fans right to be critical of Jim Harbaugh? Rosen vs. Darnold lived up to the hype but UCLA fired Jim Mora on Sunday anyway. Who is next in Westwood and how does Chip Kelly fit into the mix? Baker Mayfield acted silly this weekend but should it impact his Heisman candidacy? If not Baker, then who else belongs in the mix? And the guys break down all of the conference championship situations. |
Wed, 15 November 2017
The guys debate the latest college football playoff rankings. Should Miami be higher? Does Wisconsin belong in the top four or are they overrated? Where do all the two-loss teams fit in? Wisconsin has its chance to prove itself against Michigan is what is easily the biggest game of the weekend. The guys totally disagree about what will happen. TCU, Miami, Ok-State and Georgia are all still in conference races but have tricky tests in Week 12. Who should be concerned? Lastly, on a weekend with a lot of meaningless games, why are Tennessee, Nebraska and UCLA completely irrelevant? |
Mon, 13 November 2017
Another power program has fired its coach as Tennessee moved on from Butch Jones. Who are the top candidates and how good of a job are the Vols anyway? Blowout Saturday left us with a massive shake-up in the rankings and lots of chaos. But who are the great teams and what impact do the lopsided losses have on rankings? How good is Auburn? Can Miami run the table? Will Oklahoma roll into the Playoff? Where does Wisconsin fit into this? Is the Pac-12 finished? Two names need to be added to the Heisman conversation as well. |
Wed, 8 November 2017
We break down the latest college football playoff rankings. We make the case for Oklahoma to be in the top 4. Is Miami underrated and Wisconsin overrated? Can any of the two loss teams still get into the Playoff? And why aren't we talking about two ACC teams getting into the bracket if two SEC teams might make it? Notre Dame visits Miami in what should be an epic showdown and a football nerd's delight. Linebackers vs. Running Game! The Sooners host the Frogs in what has been a close game lately. One of us doesn't see it being close this weekend. In the SEC, Georgia has to prove its QB can win on the road in a spotlight game against an elite defense while Alabama will probably choke the life out of another ranked foe. In the Big Ten, should fans in Madison be nervous? (Yes) And should fans in East Lansing be excited? (No). And what will happen with Mike Riley? And Pac-12 After Dark on back-to-back nights! |
Mon, 6 November 2017
A dumpster fire broke out in the Big Ten this weekend and Wisconsin might be the only one that put it out. What happened to Ohio State and Penn State? It appears we may be headed for a lot of two-loss champions, is this good for college football? Baker Mayfield may have won the Heisman Trophy this weekend but will his defense win him anything in the postseason? Braden must apologize to Miami and TCU. Both won big games in critical situations and set themselves up for a title run. And don't talk to us about UCF. |
Wed, 1 November 2017
The first playoff rankings are out and the Committee got it wrong at No. 1, right? How much should head-to-head matter and did a couple of unbeaten teams get the shaft? Which teams are underrated and could make a run up the standings? Week 10 is freaking HUGE! The Bedlam Series headlines action in the Big 12 but should TCU be on upset alert and can Iowa State keep it rolling? The ACC has two monster showdowns in which both divisions may be hanging in the balance. LSU visits Bama and Auburn travels to Texas A&M but will either game be close in the SEC? In a huge weekend, does the Big Ten have a chance to make any headlines? Khalil Tate takes the national TV stage for the first time against USC in Los Angeles. And does Washington need style points (yes, duh)? |
Mon, 30 October 2017
After a huge weekend, three more teams have been eliminated from the Playoff and one head coach has been removed from power in the SEC East. What do we make of the Florida job opening? Did JT Barrett prove himself with the win over Penn St? Can the Nittany Lions still make the Playoff? The Big 12 and the ACC are a complete jumbled mess. Why is Miami overrated? Does Iowa St belong in the contenders category in the Big 12? Why is no one talking about Virginia Tech? OU or the Pokes? The Pac-12 continues to hide one of its best players while Washington and USC roll. Georgia is really, really good but nothing that took place in the SEC really mattered, right? |
Wed, 25 October 2017
Penn State visits Ohio State and NC State travels to Notre Dame in two monster Playoff matchups. But are both elimination games? Oklahoma, Oklahoma St and TCU all face quality tests in Big 12 play this weekend. Is now the time we see separation in the conference or should the big three be nervous? Is Georgia finally prepared to do the right thing against Florida? The SEC is loaded with very interesting but very unimportant football games. Mitch Light calls for multiple upsets - including the entire state of Arizona and two monster upsets in the ACC. Also, watch Tulane vs Memphis. |
Tue, 24 October 2017
Two teams have officially been eliminated from the College Football Playoff and Braden has two apologies to make about both of the games in question. So who is left in the race? The guys also react to the feedback you the listeners gave us all week about how to cover the sport and how the Playoff race has changed the way the sport is covered. You guys were amazing! What do we make of the state of Oklahoma? Good wins over tough teams or should we be concerned about the Sooners and Cowboys? Is the Group of 5 now a two horse race? A glass is raised and toast made for Iowa State, the state of Arizona, Georgia Tech, Mississippi St and UCLA. Braden’s trip to Camp Randall on Saturday and Lambeau Field on Sunday raises a question about the difference between SEC fans and everyone else. Who is doing it right? And, lastly, a question about sending food back at dinner. |
Wed, 18 October 2017
We begin by discussing the Playoff system and how it has impacted fan interest in college football. What do fans want: Focus on the playoff contenders or do people still pay attention to the middle of the pack? How should the committee be evaluating teams? What are the most important aspects of the “body of work?” Also, Mitch gives his Heisman ballot and has a Group of 5 coaching question for Braden. The guys obviously preview the big games from Week 8 as well. Penn State hosts Michigan, Notre Dame and USC meet in South Bend, the Pokes travel to Texas and every other game of note. |
Mon, 16 October 2017
All hell has officially broken loose in college football. How concerned should Clemson be? Did Auburn take the biggest drop? And what the hell happen in the state of Washington? On the positive side, who is better: TCU or Wisconsin? How did LSU and Miami come away with wins? What do we make of the Big 12 after a good old-fashioned Red River Shootout? Notre Dame, Michigan St, NC State and Stanford continue to improve - even without playing a game. And one special tribute is back. |
Wed, 11 October 2017
It's midseason stock report time and Mitch wants to know if Braden is buying or selling. What happened in Corvallis with Oregon State? Week 7 doesn't have huge ranked matchups but has lots of intrigue on the undercard. The Red River Shootout takes center stage in the Big 12 while Miami, Stanford, Tennessee and LSU host big games around the country. |
Mon, 9 October 2017
Oklahoma and Michigan both fall out of the top 10... or do they? How should they rank and what are expectation. How good is Wisconsin, Penn St and Ohio St? NC State and Miami look super competitive in the ACC but can they top Clemson? Georgia, Auburn and Alabama continue to separate themselves in the SEC. However, Braden has a huge bone to pick with the Tigers. Out West, are we concerned about start times in the Pac-12? How good is Wazzu? And is Notre Dame overrated. |
Wed, 4 October 2017
TCU and NC State host huge ranked matchups this weekend with both having a chance to make big statements. Should ranked teams in the Big Ten be worried or are we inventing fake intrigue this weekend? LSU visits Florida for some more karmic payback but will any other game in the SEC be close? Wazzu must prove itself on the road while Clemson and Va Tech should stay the course. Mitch also gives his picks against the spread - he is 15-10 on the season thus far. |
Mon, 2 October 2017
Friday night featured two huge wins by Washington State and Miami. On Saturday, two teams proved to be head-and-shoulders above the rest of college football, but would a rubber match between Bama and Clemson be a good thing for the sport? The Hot Seat conversation has begun in Knoxville, Baton Rouge and Lincoln but how will the new recruiting rules impact coaching changes? And everything else on the Week 5 recap. |
Wed, 27 September 2017
Week 5 features a lot of undercard games with teams that could be good but no one is sure yet. Virginia Tech hosts Clemson, Texas Tech hosts Oklahoma State, Duke hosts Miami and Wisconsin hosts Northwestern. USC also travels to face unbeaten Wazzu on Friday night. Meanwhile, in the SEC, Auburn and Alabama look to make the West a two horse race against the state of Mississippi while Tennessee and Vandy try to rebound against Georgia and Florida. |
Mon, 25 September 2017
TCU and Georgia made the biggest statements of Week 4 but so did Alabama and Washington. What is the level of concern with the rest of the top 10? What do we make of the SEC East race after an awful weekend? Is the Coastal more wide open than we previously thought? Could Notre Dame be really good? |
Wed, 20 September 2017
Six of the top eight teams in college football will go on the road this weekend and most will face pesky challenges. But which will fall and could this be a shake-up weekend? TCU visits Oklahoma State and Mississippi State travels to Georgia in the only two ranked match-ups of the weekend. Conference games in the SEC, Pac-12 and ACC kickoff as well. We also have our five top picks against the spread. |
Mon, 18 September 2017
Is there such a thing as a "statement loss?" The SEC East was wild with three huge wins and four big losses. And could Mississippi State be the second-best team in the SEC West? Meanwhile, really out West the Pac-12 had by far the most interesting week in the nation. USC goes to OT, Stanford and UCLA lose to Group of 5 teams and Oregon and Cal continue to impress. What the hell is happening in Nebraska? |
Wed, 13 September 2017
The undercard in Week 3 is loaded with intriguing games but the nation will be focused on the big three: Clemson at Louisville, Tennessee at Florida and LSU at Mississippi St. Otherwise, can Texas upset USC? Will Kansas St prove itself? Can Pitt hang with Ok-State? Will Oregon and UCLA survive tricky road trips? How will The Grove mix with Tight Wad Hill? And will South Carolina move to 2-0 in the SEC? |
Mon, 11 September 2017
Is Baker Mayfield the best player in college football? Are you worried about Auburn or is Clemson that good? What do we make of the Big Ten East after both Ohio State and Michigan struggled while Penn State rolled? Is the Big 12 back? Where does USC's offensive performance rank the Trojans? And what the hell happened to the bottom of the Power 5? |
Wed, 6 September 2017
Four monster games highlight Week 2. Can Auburn go into Death Valley and win? Will Baker Mayfield dance his way out of The Shoe? Will USC reverse some negative trends against Stanford? Is Notre Dame back (against a freshman QB)? The Holy War, a sneaky good SEC game and lots of Big Ten non-conference action also dot the landscape this weekend. |
Tue, 5 September 2017
Alabama and Michigan were big winners in Week 1 but what do we make of Florida State and Florida in the aftermath? What in the hell happened to the state of Texas? Are we concerned about the ACC? Were the SEC and Big Ten the biggest winners? And how will a bunch of major QB injuries impact the direction of the season? Oh, by the way, the Pac-12 went 11-0. |
Tue, 29 August 2017
College Football is back! What is the most meaningful game in Week 1? What impact does Bama-FSU have on the Playoff? Is this the best opening weekend... ever? The guys break down every big (and some small) games of the weekend, project upsets and pick games against the spread for Week 1. |
Thu, 24 August 2017
Official College Football Playoff predictions are here. And official! Steven Lassan joins the guys to officially predict each Power 5 division and conference champ. Who are the guys picking to make the playoff and win the national title in 2017? And who are the outsider teams to watch that could sneak their way into the Playoff? Hot Takes ensue! |
Thu, 17 August 2017
QB battles are starting to take shape around the country and the guys break down each one with predictions. Braden and Mitch also look at the biggest potential upsets from the Group of 5 ranks. One very difficult QB trivia question gets things kicked off as well as rapid fire news from Florida, Ole Miss and Last Chance U. |
Thu, 10 August 2017
We take a deep look at college football scheduling. Should Power 5 teams only play Power 5 teams? What does a perfect college football schedule look like? Crossover play, home-road splits and tough/easy stretches all impact how the 2017 season will play out, so what do you need to know about this year's schedules? And, of course, 10 minutes of Josh Rosen. |
Tue, 1 August 2017
Braden and Mitch plot their dream road trip through college football for 2017. With a twist: You can only see each team one time. So the guys break down how they would spend the year traveling around the country if you had to watch two different teams every single weekend. It's much harder than you think! |
Wed, 26 July 2017
Braden and Mitch break down the Hugh Freeze coaching saga. What's next for the Rebels, how good of a job is Ole Miss and where does this soap opera rank in the history of SEC silliness? While many believe the mid-major coaching ranks have thinned, Mitch totally disagrees and provides a long list of rising star coaching candidates for anyone looking for a coach at season's end to consider. |
Thu, 20 July 2017
We invite Steven Lassan aboard to discuss rosters and depth charts before camp opens up. What are the biggest positions of concern for the national title contenders? How do top 25 quarterback battles look heading into camp? Which teams have the best defenses? And some rapid fire depth chart questions as well on our summer roster preview. |
Fri, 14 July 2017
The guys are joined by AllState's Matt Stinchcomb to talk SEC football and the Good Works Team. The ballots have been cast in the SEC and Big 12 Media events while the ACC bragged for a few days about all that it has accomplished in the last year. Does the ACC have the best coaches? What is the ideal format of power for a conference? Did the voters get it right in the Big 12? The SEC? We get talking season started right! |
Thu, 6 July 2017
Mitch and Braden preview the SEC Media Days event by asking questions we want answered... and then pretending to give honest answers as the SEC coaches themselves. What will we actually learn in Hoover, Ala? What is national championship DNA? Which programs have it, which do not, which ones are close and which ones have changed the most over time? Lastly, the guys ask: What is middle aged? |
Fri, 30 June 2017
Mitch and Braden have five questions about each of the Power 5 leagues and the Group of 5. What is the storyline in each division they are most looking forward to? Who are the players they are most excited to see? Who is Johnny Overachiever and who will win the Golden Dumpster Fire Trophy? And what is the number one game you'd go to in each league? |
Thu, 22 June 2017
The guys dive deep into the rankings meetings and predictions for the 2017 Minority Report. Which teams were most hotly debated and which teams do we think we pegged incorrectly? Which picks could we take back? And what a difference a play makes: How the history of college football can be shaped by one play. |
Wed, 14 June 2017
Bob Stoops retired and Lincoln Riley has been hired. Is Oklahoma still the favorite in the Big 12 and how much does the change cost the Sooners? Do preseason polls influence the college football national championship? We are here to ease your concerns. And should we do away with divisions in college football all together? |
Thu, 1 June 2017
The 2017 preview magazines are out - buy one at AthlonSports.com/Store - and the guys are breaking down the official Playoff predictions. Who are the top four teams in college football this year, who wins it all and how many legit contenders are there for the 'Ship in 2017? |
Thu, 25 May 2017
The guys bounce all over the college football map asking critical questions about the offseason. Which Top 10 team is the most overrated? Which team outside of the Top 25 could make a run? What are some programs on the rise and on the decline? Who are some Heisman Trophy darkhorses? Who was the best head coaching and assistant hire? Which hire was the most puzzling? Which QB battles are the most interesting? |
Thu, 11 May 2017
The guys take a look back at the evolution of college football. How has the game changed over time and what does that mean for the future of the sport? Rules changes, media distribution models and playoff structure all play into how the game has morphed into what it is today and what it will be in the future. We break down the 50 biggest innovations in college football over the last 50 years. |
Fri, 5 May 2017
The guys dive into Nick Saban and his new $11 million salary. Are college coaches overpaid? Jim Harbaugh is dominating the news cycle again and you better get used to it. We also preview the 2017 magazines by discussing the Top 50 players of the last 50 years in college football. Plus, Kentucky Derby and Bar Mitzvah analysis. |
Fri, 21 April 2017
Did the ACC takes major strides forward in the college football hierarchy last fall and what is the next step for this league? Are Miami and Virginia Tech the top candidates to win the Coastal Division or could Pitt, Georgia Tech or North Carolina sneak into contention? Does Louisville belong alongside national powers Clemson and Florida State? What does Lamar Jackson do as an encore? Is NC State a sleeper to watch? |
Thu, 6 April 2017
The balance of power in the Big Ten is squarely in the East but who should be the favorite in 2017? Can Michigan rebuild quickly enough to knock off Ohio State or Penn State? What does the future of Michigan State football look like? Wisconsin appears to be the favorite on paper in the West but there is a large group of quality teams chasing the Badgers. And Minnesota and Purdue have new coaches. |
Mon, 20 March 2017
The guys dive deep into the South to break down the SEC. What is the biggest issue for the SEC and it's perceived drop-off? Who is on the top contender tier in the East and which team could be a Wild Card? What else can be said about Bama and who are the two clear challengers to the Tide in the West? What do we make of the state of Mississippi football? |
Thu, 9 March 2017
Is the Pac-12 the easiest league to pinpoint the favorites in 2017? Why is this the year to trust USC? Can Washington repeat? But who are the contenders next in line? Utah has an identity, Colorado returns everyone on offense and UCLA has the best quarterback. In the North, Oregon could bounce back quickly, Wazzu has its QB back and Stanford will once again be a tough out. |
Thu, 2 March 2017
Athlon Sports is back doing what it does best: previewing college football. Braden and Mitch are previewing the Big 12 this week. Who are the teams that can challenge Oklahoma? How far does Baylor fall? Is Texas the surprise to watch for in '17? What do we make of quarterback situations at West Virginia and Texas Tech? Can TCU bounce back? Will the Big 12 miss the Playoff again? |
Fri, 17 February 2017
The guys start with Jim Harbaugh and why people are obsessed with him? Which leads into a bigger discussion about why fans and the media glorify college coaches. Finally, the guys break down the Power 5 rosters heading into spring practice. Who are the most talented teams in the nation? |
Tue, 7 February 2017
Alabama is looking for another offensive coordinator... again. What does it mean for the Tide that Coach Sark left? What did National Signing Day teach us about the future of college football? Braden Gall and Mitch Light break down the national team recruiting rankings and what it all means for coaches as well as the 2017 season. The guys also explore the Death Penalty and how involved the NCAA should be criminal investigations. |
Wed, 25 January 2017
What is the most important aspect of National Signing Day? Do the guys agree with the new recruiting rules that could change recruiting forever? We also graded all of the first year coaches and tried to identify the rising stars of the mid-major ranks. |
Thu, 12 January 2017
Braden Gall and Mitch Light are joined by Steven Lassan to take an early look at the preseason 2017 Top 25. Is Bama going anywhere? Florida State or Clemson in the ACC? Can Penn State challenge in the Big Ten East again? Is it a two team race in the Pac-12? How good can Texas be in the Big 12? |
Thu, 5 January 2017
Braden Gall and Mitch Light break down every angle of the Clemson-Alabama rematch. Is this a Texas-USC type of game or does Bama continue to roll? How big of a factor is Lane Kiffin "leaving" the program? And does conference supremacy really matter? |