The Audible with Stew, Bruce & Ralph: A show about college football

The high-stakes legal standoff between Lane Kiffin and the SEC has come to a sudden halt. Facing intense pushback and the threat of severe league discipline from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, the LSU Tigers have officially finalized their 105-man roster. By completing the roster with undergraduate talent, LSU balked and ended its quest to add former NFL players to the active squad, putting an end to a wild experiment in conference self-governance. We break down the explosive legal showdown, the "Lack of Institutional Control" warnings, and what this capitulation means for Kiffin’s program moving forward. Beyond the drama in Baton Rouge, we dive straight into the wild "Clock Gate" controversy out of Michigan. The MAC has officially filed an appeal following Western Michigan’s bizarre loss, claiming a massive replay protocol error handed the Wolverines an illegal extra second. We look at the fallout of this timing failure, including why Jeff Sagarin is officially tracking this as a WMU victory, and how the College Football Playoff committee should factor the "human element" of this officiating disaster into their rankings. Finally, we open up the mailbag to tackle your best questions from across the country. We address the rampant Week 1 overreactions and look at historical precedents to prove why national championship contenders always take time to develop. Plus, we look at the absolute misery currently surrounding Florida State football as they sit tied with UConn for ACC wins over the last two seasons, and examine how a potential 24-team CFP expansion will completely rewrite the future of scheduling for upper-tier G6 schools. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:09 - LSU backs down, does not sign former NFL players 16:01 - MAC, Western Michigan to appeal replay error 33:44 - Mailbag! 59:44 - Breaking News with LSU Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH 🔹The Audible: @audible.show #CollegeFootball #LaneKiffin #LSUTigers #SECFootball #GregSankey #MichiganFootball #WMUFootball #ClockGate #FSUFootball #CFBPlayoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Big Ten replay center is under fire after a wild, second-chance Hail Mary finish in the Michigan vs. Western Michigan game. In this episode of The Audible, presented by Trader Joe’s, Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph D. Russo break down exactly what happened with the game clock, what should have happened, and why there isn’t actually a "secret second clock" hidden in the replay booth. Plus, the guys recap an action-packed Week 1—including Ole Miss outlasting Louisville in a Nashville thriller and Notre Dame dominating Wisconsin to open the 2026 season. Finally, we look ahead to massive Week 2 matchups, making picks for No. 1 Ohio State at No. 5 Texas, No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 16 Michigan, and our favorite underdogs of the week! Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:28 - Explaining Michigan vs Western Michigan clock controversy 12:45 - Bryce Underwood’s job security 15:07 - Ole Miss outlasts Louisville 20:23 - Notre Dame dominates Wisconsin 30:08 - Ohio State at Texas 34:33 - Oklahoma at Michigan 37:32 - Iowa State at Iowa 39:18 - Alabama at Kentucky 42:50 - Week 2 Upsets Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH 🔹The Audible: @audible.show #CollegeFootball #MichiganFootball #TheAudible #BigTen #Week2Picks #NotreDameFootball #OleMiss Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 1 of the college football season delivered absolute chaos! Today on The Audible, Stew, Bruce, and Ralph break down the wildest opening weekend storylines, massive scares, and officiating drama. ⏱️ Michigan’s Clock Controversy Explained: Michigan survived a massive scare against Western Michigan, but the real story is the chaotic ending. We go behind the scenes of the Big Ten's replay protocol, the Hawk-Eye camera discrepancy, and exactly what the broadcast crew missed. Plus, the guys discuss why Michigan needs to throw in the towel on Bryce Underwood. 🦆 Oregon Dodges Disaster: Oregon survives a fierce battle against Boise State. We break down how Maddux Madsen and the Broncos pushed the Ducks to the absolute brink. 🐅 LSU Dominates Clemson: LSU made Clemson look like an FCS school. Is LSU a legitimate National Championship contender, or is Dabo Swinney officially entering his final season after getting outpaced by the modern transfer portal? Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH 🔹The Audible: @audible.show #CollegeFootball #CFBRecap #MichiganControversy #OregonScare #LSUvsClemson #TheAudible Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do college football coaches actually think behind closed doors? In this episode of The Audible, Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo break down Bruce's anonymous coach survey. The guys dive straight into the takes, revealing which hyped contenders coaches are calling the biggest frauds before flipping to their ultimate national title favorites. Moving beyond the survey, the crew examines the mounting pressure on coaching hot seats across the country. They debate whether Lincoln Riley faces a Brian Kelly-style crisis at USC and evaluate the market appeal of major coaching retreads like Brian Kelly and Jimbo Fisher looking to get back on the sidelines. Finally, the guys close out the show with a packed listener mailbag. They tackle predictions for the Border War, share their all-time favorite college football books, and run a fascinating thought experiment on what this season would look like under the old four-team playoff format. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 1:23 - Coaches Confidential Survey 1:55 - CFB coaches pick the biggest frauds 12:30 - CFB coaches pick the ’26 nat’l champs 15:39 - CFB coaches pick the biggest sleeper 18:38 - Coaching Carousel 18:56 - Jimbo Fisher & Brian Kelly 30:27 - Dave Clawson 32:20 - Coaches to watch on the Hot Spot 46:29 - Mailbag Time! 59:10- Mailbag Winner Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH 🔹The Audible: @audible.show #TheAudible #CollegeFootball #CFB #CoachesPoll #LincolnRiley #USC #CFP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The legal war between LSU and the SEC is escalating right before kickoff, forcing Commissioner Greg Sankey and the league into a high-stakes standoff over controversial roster rules. In this episode of The Audible , presented by Trader Joe’s, we break down the massive legal risks the Tigers face if they choose to suit up players under a temporary state court injunction. Our panel analyzes whether this legal loophole provides actual protection or if LSU is cruising toward unprecedented conference penalties, fines, and forfeits. Plus, the college football season is officially here, and the guys dive into a massive slate of Week 1 game picks, point spreads, and predictions. We break down the betting angles for Boise State at Oregon (-24.5), a highly-anticipated Clemson at No. 11 LSU (-10.5) showdown in Death Valley, and a historic Sunday matchup between Wisconsin and No. 4 Notre Dame (-20.5) at Lambeau Field. The crew also locks in their best bets for Louisville vs. Ole Miss (-7) in Nashville before revealing their favorite Week 1 upset picks—including a bold 30.5-point underdog shocker—and debating the most interesting under-the-radar storylines of the weekend, from Oklahoma State at Tulsa to SMU at Florida State. 📺 Watch us on YouTube: @AudibleShow 🎧 Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:23 - Lane Kiffin, LSU vs SEC 10:53 - Boise vs. Oregon 13:57 - Clemson vs. LSU 17:38 - Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame 23:52 - Louisville vs. Ole Miss 28:13 - Potential upset picks Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH #CollegeFootball #LSU #SEC #Week1Predictions #TheAudible #CollegeFootballPicks #TraderJoes #Clemson #NotreDame #OleMiss #Oregon #CFBNews Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week 0 of the College Football season did not disappoint! Stew, Ralph, and Bruce break down a wild opening slate, starting across the pond in Ireland where Bill Belichick and UNC pulled off a stunning 15-10 victory over TCU. Is TCU already in disaster mode? Plus, the guys head to Charlottesville where Virginia completely dominated NC State, easily covering the spread. Is UVA a legitimate College Football Playoff sleeper, or is NC State just doing typical NC State things? Finally, we look at USC’s season opener against San Jose State. The Trojans got the win but failed to cover—what did we learn about Lincoln Riley's squad? Plus, don’t miss shoutouts! 📺 Watch us on YouTube: @AudibleShow 🎧 Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 3:15 - UNC stuns TCU 14:03 - UVA hammers NC State 20:39 - Can NC State bounce Back? 23:55 - USC beats San Jose State 29:46 - Memphis downs UNLV 34:28 - Shoutouts Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH #CollegeFootball #Week0 #CFBRecap #UNCvsTCU #USCTrojans #NCState #TheAudible Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2026 college football season is officially here! Today we break down the massive emergency eligibility guardrails passed by the Big Ten and SEC, Arch Manning's surprising drop in the Top 100 rankings, and hand out our official Week 0 picks. Welcome back to The Audible with Stew & Ralph! With the final Week 0 games kicking off this week, football is finally back. Stew and Ralph pull back the curtain on their ultimate game-day viewing habits, detailing the micro player details and macro team schemes they focus on when tape is rolling. The guys dive into the biggest news of the week: the Big Ten and SEC passing historic roster guardrails to prevent players on professional sports contracts from returning to the college ranks. Plus, we react to The Athletic's Top 100 list seeing Texas quarterback Arch Manning slide to No. 32, predict which Top 25 powerhouse will end up completely unranked, and drop our official Week 0 game picks. 📺 Watch us on YouTube: @AudibleShow 🎧 Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 1:45 - SEC and Big Ten take a stand 11:55 - Top 100 College Football players talk 18:00 - Week 0 preview 23:45 - North Carolina vs. TCU 26:52 - San Jose State at USC 31:45 - NC State at Virginia 35:31 - Memphis at UNLV 39:08 - Mailbag Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH #TheAudible #CollegeFootball #ArchManning #BigTen #SEC #Week0 #TexasLonghorns #CFBPicks #CFB2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who wins the 2026 College Football Playoff? Could we see a repeat champion with the Indiana Hoosiers? Will Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns capture the title? Stew and Ralph give their picks for the 2026 CFP. Welcome back to The Audible presented by The Athletic! In today's episode, Stew and Ralph go head-to-head with their preseason playoff projections. Ralph is backing the Texas Longhorns to take down the Oregon Ducks for the national title. Meanwhile, Stew drops a bombshell prediction, picking the Indiana Hoosiers to defeat Notre Dame and secure back-to-back national championships! Plus, we break down a historic college football transfer market anomaly. Former Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright has been waived by the Cleveland Browns and is headed to LSU to rejoin his former coach Lane Kiffin. This would make him the first player to ever go from the pros back to the college ranks. What does this mean for the future of player eligibility? Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 1:47 - Dea’Quan Wright expected to return to NCAA from NFL 10:05 - How did we get to this point? 23:22 - Ralph’s CFP bracket 38:20 - Stewart’s CFP bracket 49:09 - Bruce’s CFP bracket 50:35 - Heisman predictions #CollegeFootball #TheAudible #CFBPlayoff #LSUFootball #IndianaHoosiers #TexasLonghorns #Bracketology #CollegeFootballPlayoff Ralph's Bracket: First Round 12 Navy at 5 Miami 11 TCU at 6 Notre Dame 10 Louisville vs 7 Florida 9 Washington vs 8 Texas Tech Bye 1 Texas 2 Ohio State 3 Oregon 4 LSU Quarterfinals Texas vs Texas Tech LSU vs Miami Notre Dame vs Oregon Ohio State vs Florida Semifinal Miami vs Texas Oregon vs Ohio State Final Texas-Oregon Champion Texas Stew’s Bracket: First Round 8 Oklahoma vs 9 Georgia 5 Texas vs 12 Boise State 7 Ohio State vs 10 LSU 6 BYU vs 11 USC Bye 1 Indiana 2 Notre Dame 3 Oregon 4 Miami Quarterfinals Indiana vs Georgia Miami vs Texas Notre Dame vs Ohio State Oregon vs BYU Semifinal Indiana vs Miami Notre Dame vs Oregon Final Indiana vs Notre Dame Champion Indiana Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Dan Lanning finally take the Oregon Ducks all the way to the top? Will Jeremiah Smith follow up a historic season by leading the Ohio State superteam back to a championship? And can Curt Cignetti replicate the unfathomable standard he set at Indiana? Welcome back to The Audible! In this episode, Stew and Ralph break down everything you need to know about the powerhouse Big Ten ahead of the upcoming season. The guys dive deep into a complete 18-team preview, separating the true College Football Playoff heavyweights from the programs facing massive pressure. 📺 Watch us on YouTube: @AudibleShow 🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode! Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 2:05 - Ohio State 3:49 - Oregon 6:25 - Indiana 8:30 - Does their non-conference schedule catch up with them? 10:58 - Challengers 11:09 - USC 13:59 - Michigan 17:30 - Penn State 20:35 - Washington 23:30 - Iowa 26:08 - Nebraska/Interesting coaching situations 29:23 - Wisconsin 32:27 - Maryland 34:38 - Northwestern 38:32 - Rutgers 41:40 - UCLA 43:02 - Michigan State 45:00 - Wildcards/Minnesota 46:45 - Purdue 48:06 - Illinois 50:00 - Mailbag #BigTenPreview #TheAudible #CollegeFootball #OhioStateFootball #OregonDucks #IndianaFootball #JeremiahSmith #DanLanning #CurtCignetti Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The road to the 2026 College Football Playoff starts right here. Today, Stewart Mandel and Ralph Russo are breaking down every angle of the newly released 2026 AP Preseason Top 25 Poll. Big Ten heavyweights Ohio State and Oregon headline the poll at No. 1 and No. 2. But does this mean the Buckeyes or Ducks can actually make the National Championship game? We deep dive into whether Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame Fighting Irish truly belong at No. 4, or if they are sitting in a preseason trap. Then, we flip the script to the Group of 6 (G6) preview. Stew and Ralph focus on the newly rebuilt Pac-12 conference and look at how Boise State is leading the pack after receiving the most votes outside the Top 25. We rank our top 3 CFP contenders from the G6 and close things out with a coaching special: which coaches could be on the move after the 2026 season wraps up? 🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Audible App or your favorite audio platform. 👉 Subscribe to our channel for weekly college football game previews, recruiting updates, and bracketology breakdowns. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:53 - AP Top 25 Preseason Poll 14:20 - Jayden Daniels 21:21 - Notre Dame 29:49 - G6 conversation 43:08 - Drafting G6 contenders for playoff 53:21 - Coaches Convo #APTop25 #NotreDame #GroupOf6 #CFBPlayoff #BoiseState Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Mario Cristobal finally deliver a championship season in Miami? Is Dabo Swinney ready to evolve and get Clemson out of their recent slump? And can Bill Belichick salvage his high-stakes experiment at North Carolina after a disastrous 4-8 year? Welcome back to The Audible! In this episode, Stew, Bruce, and Ralph break down everything you need to know about the ACC ahead of the 2026 season. The guess dive deep into the ultimate 17-team ACC preview, sorting the true College Football Playoff contenders from the teams sitting firmly on the coaching hot seat. 🏈 TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Intro 1:17 - Miami 5:00 - Challengers/Clemson 9:43 - Louisville 12:32 - SMU 14:48 - Miami vs the Field 17:25 - Dark Horses/Virginia 21:36 - NC State 24:26 - Virginia Tech 26:58 - Cal 29:42 - Stanford 31:51 - Hot Seat coaches 32:00 - Florida State 38:16 - Syracuse 40:48 - Boston College 43:24 - North Carolina 48:46 - End of the Belichick era? 50:56 - Wildcards/Georgia Tech 53:16 - Duke 55:00 - Wake Forest 56:32 - Pitt 59:14 - Mailbag #ACCPreview #TheAudible #BillBelichick #DaboSwinney #MarioCristobal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Carolina's Nyck Harbor has officially reclaimed the No. 1 spot on Bruce Feldman's 2026 College Football Freaks List, beating out Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith! Check out the full breakdown on The Athletic: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7501158/2026/08/10/college-football-freaks-list-south-carolina-nyck-harbor-2026/ In this exclusive bonus clip, we dive into the craziest athletes in college football. While Jeremiah Smith is putting up historic numbers and turning heads, Nyck Harbor's rare combination of size and Olympic track speed keeps him at the absolute top of the football world. Who do you think is the biggest freak in the country? Let us know in the comments! #CollegeFootball #FreaksList #NyckHarbor #JeremiahSmith #OhioStateFootball #GamecocksFootball #CFB2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Big 12 is potentially the most wide-open and chaotic conference in college football, and we are breaking down every single contender, dark horse, and spoiler. Stew, Bruce, and Ralph look at Colorado's overhauled roster to see if Deion Sanders has the lines of scrimmage fixed enough to spark a massive rebound season after last year's frustrating 3-9 collapse. Then, they head to Lubbock to debate if Joey McGuire is finally ready to push Texas Tech to the very top of college football. Plus, the guys dissect Kenny Dillingham's developmental blueprint at Arizona State and see if the Sun Devils can shock the oddsmakers. But the chaos doesn’t stop there. We run through over/under win totals and major storylines for all 16 teams navigating massive coaching changes across the country. Can the Utah Utes maintain their standard in a new era, or will Avery Johnson and Kansas State steal the crown? We check in on Lance Leipold’s Kansas squad, and discuss how Iowa State retools after a major offseason shift. Finally, we analyze the schematic changes for programs like Brent Brennan's Arizona Wildcats, Scott Frost's second year at UCF, and Scott Satterfield's high-stakes pivotal year with the Cincinnati Bearcats. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 1:45 - Texas Tech 5:42 - BYU 10:37 - Utah 13:05 - Kansas State 15:52 - Houston 19:58 - Texas Tech versus the field 23:11 - Arizona 25:14 - TCU 27:34 - Arizona State 29:26 - Kenny Dillingham’s future? 33:17 - Colorado 36:08 - Will Deion will be the coach in 2027? 38:04 - Baylor 40:27 - Kansas 43:41 - Cincinnati 45:54 - Wildcards 46:03 - Oklahoma State 49:22 - West Virginia 50:50 - Iowa State 52:28 - UCF 55:09 - Mailbag 🎧 Subscribe to The Audible Podcast for weekly college football deep dives! #CollegeFootball #Big12 #ColoradoFootball #TexasTech #ArizonaState #UtahFootball #KStateFB #GoPokes #KUFootball #UCFKnights #BearDown #Cyclones Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The SEC is officially wide open, and we are breaking down every single team in the conference to find out who has what it takes to make a run at the National Championship! From Lane Kiffin taking over a $45 million roster at LSU to Arch Manning's explosive new weapons at Texas, year one of Jon Sumrall at Florida, and Kalen DeBoer's fascinating quarterback battle at Alabama—we cover it all. We dive into the big-name transfer portal additions, the major coaching staff overhauls, playoff contenders like Oklahoma and Ole Miss, and the teams just fighting for competence. Timestamps: Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 2:10 - Texas 5:21 - Georgia 9:51 - LSU 12:48 - Florida 16:41 - Auburn 19:12 - Kentucky 23:08 - Arkansas 26:52 - Alabama 32:09 - Tennessee 35:40 - South Carolina 39:50 - Oklahoma 43:54 - Ole Miss 47:38 - Texas A&M 50:43 - Mizzou 52:58 - Vanderbilt 56:26 - Mississippi State 58:52 - Mailbag 🎧 Subscribe to The Audible Podcast for weekly college football deep dives! #SEC #CollegeFootball #SECPreview #LSUFootball #TexasFootball #AlabamaFootball #GeorgiaBulldogs #CFB2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's program, Bruce, Stew, and Ralph dive deep into a massive week for college football, spanning from historic rivalry renewals to major legal decisions shaping the future of the sport. First, Bruce shares his inner-circle experiences from the FOX Sports Football retreat, including a fascinating breakfast breakdown with Chris Petersen and Gerry DiNardo about 1970s play-signaling restrictions. Plus, we dive into two crucial new rule changes explained by Mike Pereira and a quick recap of golfing with Tom Rinaldi. Next, a classic rivalry is renewed! USC and Notre Dame have officially agreed to a four-game series beginning in 2030. The guys debate the formatting, exploring why USC fans are split, why Stew loves the early-season timing, and Ralph’s concerns about burning a historic matchup in Week 1. We also break down the historic alignment between the Big Ten and the SEC, who have finally green-lit the college sports bill to head to the Senate floor. We examine if this seven-year journey will clear the House, what a potential 19-school conference realignment looks like, and if this bill could actually lead to kicking underperforming schools out of top conferences. The crew also reacts to a judge granting an injunction that gives Class of 2022 athletes a fifth year of NCAA eligibility. Bruce explains why this may not be as exciting for teams as it looks on paper, while Stew and Ralph look at which favorite teams could suddenly get key stars back on the roster. Finally, we track the latest developments out of Chapel Hill, where North Carolina’s Michael Lombardi has retained an attorney and is ready to clear his name. Catch Us Everywhere Watch on YouTube: Search "@AudibleShow" to see the full video episodes! Subscribe: Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating wherever you get your podcasts. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 0:47 - Bruce reveiews the start of the FOX offsites 6:00 - USC vs Notre Dame discussion 15:13 - Ralph discusses latest on potential Senate involvement 22:43 - Ralph explains the latest eligibility ruling in Colorado 34:15 - Latest on UNC GM Mike Lombardi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel are live in Chicago for Big Ten Media Days! On today's program, the guys break down their biggest takeaways from the podium and ask a massive question: Are Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana the undisputed new "Big Three" and the class of the conference? Plus, Stew shares details from his exclusive sit-down interview with the Big Ten Commissioner, and the guys look ahead to crucial Thursday storylines for Lincoln Riley and Penn State. Later, the crew reacts to the historic news of Ohio State and Notre Dame adding sponsorship patches to their iconic jerseys. The mailbag is packed this week. Ralph Russo answers your questions Most Dominant Seasons Ever: The guys tackle a heavy question from Jason in Columbia, SC, ranking four legendary individual seasons since 2000: Tim Tebow (2007), Cam Newton (2010), Joe Burrow (2019), and Travis Hunter (2024). Is Hunter's dual-award season actually crazier than Shohei Ohtani? Blue Blood Urgency: Which historic program needs a successful campaign the most to avoid sliding into complete irrelevance in this new era of player compensation? Coordinators Under Pressure: Bryan from Atlanta asks which coordinators across the country are facing the absolute most heat, whether they are stepping into championship expectations or trying to fix struggling units. Timestamps 0:52 - Bret Bielema’s comments 4:49 - Stew on his convo with Tony Petitti 13:26 - Bruce’s takeaways from day 1 of media day 15:09 - Matt Campbell & Penn State 16:18 - USC & Lincoln Riley 23:15 - Stew is concerned about Michigan 24:50 - Dante Moore & Oregon discussion 25:49 - Stew on Oregon 27:45 - Jersey Patches 31:23 - Audible Mailbag 31:56 - Question 1: Blue Blood schools 35:57 - Question 2: Most impressive individual seasons 39:33 - Question 3: Coordinators under pressure 44:02 - Gift card for Mailbag winner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo break down a chaotic week in college football, starting with breaking news out of Chapel Hill, a massive Big Ten Media Day preview, and the sport’s latest labor shifts. First, the guys dive into North Carolina placing general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave. What does this mean for the Tar Heels' 2026 season, the program's structural future, and the long-term relationship between UNC and Bill Belichick? Bruce and Ralph evaluate Lombardi’s brief tenure as a CFB general manager and project what expectations look like for UNC moving forward. Next, with Big Ten Media Days kicking off and USC head coach Lincoln Riley taking the stage tomorrow, the guys preview the biggest storylines, teams, and coaches they are chasing down. Plus, they break down the 2026 Preseason Big Ten Poll, discussing why predicting an order of finish is harder than the SEC this year and why Bruce is underwhelmed by the conference's running back rooms. Finally, they tackle the latest massive labor news as Stanford football players move toward creating a collective bargaining unit. Does this bring college football closer to a CBA? To wrap up, Bruce and Ralph highlight college football’s 2026 "All-Geezer Team," spotlighting the 7th- and 8th-year players still dotting rosters, including names like Avery Johnson and Bear Alexander. 📺 Watch us on YouTube: @AudibleShow 🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode! TIMESTAMPS: 1:10 UNC places GM Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave due to HR complaint 6:13 - Another distraction for UNC 7:28 - What happens going forward? 16:36 - What is high on Bruce’s list for Big Ten media day? 20:36 - Oregon Ducks title contention? 23:31 - Last time Ohio State won the Big Ten 25:36 - Pressure on Lincoln Riley and USC 31:46 - The Big Ten RBs 34:35 - Stanford players and a CBA? 40:25 - The All-Geezer team Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo dive deep into the latest college football headlines, rank the nation's quarterbacks, and answer your burning questions in the mailbag. First, we react to Florida head coach Jon Sumrall embracing the grueling 9-game SEC schedule and his thoughts on the rivalry with Georgia. Then, things get spicy in Lexington as Kentucky offensive coordinator Will Stein drops a bold, Curt Cignetti-style claim about why the Wildcats will win. Next, we break down The Athletic’s 2026 college football quarterback tiers, ranking every projected starter from 1 to 138. The guys reveal their picks for: Which tier-2 (or lower) QBs will jump into Tier 1 (LaNorris Sellers, Marcel Reed, Jaden Craig) Which big-name signal-callers they are highly skeptical of (Josh Hoover, Julian Sayin, Noah Fifita) Their favorite under-the-radar tier 4-7 sleepers to ride with this season (Tyler Hughes, Alberto Mendoza, Lincoln Kienholz) Finally, we open up the mailbag to tackle your questions: Is Indiana's Curt Cignetti destined to regress like Chip Kelly now that the rest of college football has copied his transfer portal blueprint? How would the summer hype surrounding Miami be different if Notre Dame had made the College Football Playoff over them last winter? •Why has the recruitment of elite Junior College (JUCO) players dropped off so drastically over the last 15 years compared to the 1990s? 0:00 - Intro 0:48 - Will Jon Sumrall help reignite the Florida-Georgia rivalry? 11:15 - Has Kentucky found their Curt Cignetti in Will Stein? 16:43 - Start of the QB tier discussion 17:50 - Which QB not in tier 1 will finish the season in tier 1? 22:50 - Which QB are you skeptical of? 31:03 - Pick a QB ranked in tiers 4-7 to ride with this season. 40:19 - Mailbag questions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would the SEC do the unthinkable and leave college football? Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo discuss SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey’s press conference. The Southeastern Conference head spoke today at the annual media day. The Audible team reacts to his latest comments. Plus, it’s the end of an era for the Michigan Wolverines. Athletic Director Warde Manuel will be stepping down at the end of the calendar year. His tenure is marked by controversy and championships. The guys ask Michigan fans if it was all worth it. Drop a comment below and let us know if you think it was or wasn’t. Is Indiana the new wide receiver U? Curt Cignetti landed a 5-star recruit. Monshun Sales has committed to the Hoosiers. Does the Big Ten recruiting trail now run through Bloomington, Indiana? Finally, the guys discuss the ACC Media Days. Ralph was onsite for the availability and reacts to several interesting storylines. First, Dabo Swinney was fired up about his legacy and the state of the Clemson Tigers football program. Plus, what happened between Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi and Miami? And, are there ACC schools we should view differently? 📺 Watch us on YouTube: @AudibleShow 🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode! #CollegeFootball #Michigan #SEC 0:00 - Intro 0:57 - Warde Manuel to leave Michigan 11:05 - Would the SEC actually break away from College Football? 17:00 - What should we make of Mizzou’s Eliah Drinkwitz’s comments? 22:47 - Is Indiana the new wide receiver U? 30:35 - Why did Dabo Swinney fired up at ACC Media Day? 38:10 - What happened between Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi and Miami? 43:15 - Are there ACC schools we should view differently? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Kelly is back in the college football conversation, and Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman break down his recent revealing interview. Kelly addressed his Notre Dame exit, his relationship with Notre Dame fans, and whether his coaching future could eventually lead him back to the ACC or another major college football job. The Michigan investigation remains one of the biggest stories in college athletics, and Bruce shares the latest reporting after new details emerged surrounding the Wolverines football program. Stewart and Bruce discuss what the leaks suggest about the athletic department, why the report may not be released publicly, and what it could mean for Manuel’s future in Ann Arbor. Then, it’s time for an ACC preview coming out of ACC Media Days. Is Miami the clear favorite to win the conference after adding major transfer portal pieces and continuing to recruit at an elite level under Mario Cristobal? The guys discuss why the Hurricanes may be the strongest Power Four conference favorite entering the season and whether the ACC needs Miami to become a true national contender. Bruce also makes the case for NC State as a possible ACC sleeper, while Stewart questions whether the program can finally break through against the league’s best teams. Plus, the mailbag covers whether NIL would have changed previous eras of college football, what happened to Dabo Swinney and Clemson, why Cody Campbell has become such a polarizing figure at Texas Tech, and how the modern college football GM role is evolving in the age of NIL, revenue sharing and the transfer portal. Like and Subscribe for the best conversations about College Football and send your mailbag questions to theaudiblepod@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.