Bunch Formation: A College Football Show

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are reunited in person to talk about an eventful Big 12 media days. Why does Deion Sanders dislike Ubben? How did Scott Satterfield explain potential tampering around Brendan Sorsby? What is this Monster Energy Big 12 Football sponsorship? The guys explain what it's like at Big 12 media days and what really happened.  Deion Sanders' comments to David David's story on...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are joined by Ralph Russo to talk about college football in the 1990s. Was it better? Or was it the last time college football was what it used to be? Is there anything from the 90s we should bring back? New realignment moves Ralph's story on ties David's story on giant shoulder pads Chris' story on weird jerseys Matt Baker's story on watching games in the 1990s 0:00...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back to draft the top 10 coaches in college football. They also talk about the latest Brendan Sorsby news, some important NCAA eligibility changes and adopting World Cup cheers for college football. David's story on the disappearance of giant shoulder pads Chris' story with Japan fans New NCAA 5-year eligibility story New NCAA rule on bowl transition 0:00 Intro 4:...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back to draft each of their top five quarterbacks in college football. They also explain the state of the college sports bill in the senate, and they share more World Cup experiences and thoughts.  0:00 Intro 8:41 Will the Big Ten and SEC sink the Senate bill? 26:21 David and Chris draft their top five QBs 1:05:49 Chris' World Cup foreign media experience 1:19:58...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben react to Brendan Sorsby's announcement that he will leave Texas Tech and enter the NFL supplemental draft, after a Big 12 lawsuit on Monday sought to let the league sanction Texas Tech if he played. How did this happen? Was it all worth it for Texas Tech? What's next for Sorsby and Texas Tech? The guys share what they've heard from sources.  Then they talk about the W...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back to discuss more Brendan Sorsby fallout. Teams are threatening not to play Texas Tech, and Cody Campbell is threatening lawsuits. What could the Big 12 or anyone else do? The guys share what they're hearing from sources and talk about what could happen next. Then they remember some guys who are relevant to the conversation.  Story on the Big 12 AD meeting Stor...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben jump on for an emergency pod after a Texas judge on Monday ruled that Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby must be allowed to play, despite several NCAA gambling violations, including betting on his own team at Indiana. Why did the judge make this ruling? What comes next, and will the fury from the rest of college sports make Texas Tech a pariah? The guys discuss it all.  ***...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben take you through all the new changes to EA Sports College Football 27 and what they think about what's coming. The guys got a sneak peak earlier this week. Then they talk with game production director Christian McLeod about building the game and why certain changes were made (or not).  0:00 Intro 2:43 PC, Joel Klatt, NDSU/Sac State, Heisman Ceremony 4:09 Dynasty Bluep...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back for a loaded episode after a crazy week in college sports. They take you behind the scenes of what happened at SEC and Big 12 meetings, what it means for the playoff, an SEC breakaway and more. Oh, and Joey McGuire challenged Texas to a game after Chris asked about it. 0:00 Intro 2:49 What it's like at conference meetings 6:26 SEC pumps brakes on a 24-team pl...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are joined by Kennesaw State head coach Jerry Mack, who talks about his path from the bottom of the coaching ladder, to becoming a college head coach at 33 years old, to taking Kennesaw State from 2-10 to CUSA champions in one year and more.  **************************** Follow Bunch Formation: PLEASE LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW!  It helps a lot.  Email: BunchForm...

It's the one-year anniversary of Bunch Formation! Chris Vannini and David Ubben reflect on the first year of the show, then have a deep conversation about the 24-team playoff, coming off the Big Ten's big push from spring meetings. Story on the Big Ten behind a 24-team CFP David's story on which teams would've made a 24-team CFP in the past Bill Connelly's ESPN story on the 24-team CFP problems St...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back for a short episode on Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby, who has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in an attempt to play despite admitting to various gambling violations.  Justin Williams' story on Sorsby's gambling details David's story on the North Carolina track race controversy **************************** Follow Bunch Formation: PLEASE LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW!&...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back to react to a strange week of news in college football. Then the guys discuss the 10 teams that had the best offseasons.  Vanity Fair story on Lane Kiffin Steve Sarkisian comments on Ole Miss Bunch Formation Bowl VI 0:00 Intro 2:35: Lane Kiffin's comments about Ole Miss 17:42 CSC wins arbitration case vs. Nebraska 21:22 Ahmad Hardy shot, but being released fr...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back to answer your mailbag questions. The guys get into the coaching hot seat, the state of the G6, the situations at Maryland and Kentucky, plus a lot more. But first, some news around Nebraska, Boise State and what the coaches want from the playoff. Story: Nebraska vs. CSC Story: Someone spent $25,000 for old Boise blue turf 0:00 Intro 5:46 Nebraska vs. CSC cou...

It's our 100th episode! To celebrate, Chris Vannini and David Ubben are joined by Ari Wasserman. The guys discuss the bombshell news on Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby's gambling and the coming NCAA Tournament expansion. Then they get off track into David's food and app takes.  The latest on Brendan Sorsby The Atlantic story on sports betting David's top-25 games of the 2000s from last year 0:00 Intr...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back for a deep conversation about the state of college football playoff expansion. Chris was at the meeting. They also get into some more spring game takeaways, NFL draft thoughts and more. 0:00 Intro 6:40 Inside the 24-team playoff discussions 36:30 The CFP ranking show might change 40:18 Spring game reactions: Indiana, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Iowa, Iowa...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are joined by Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield to discuss his first few months on the Razorback and how to bring the Hogs back to glory.  Topics include: His unique journey as someone who didn't play CFB due to injury Becoming a high school head coach at 23 Getting to the NFL and working with Brett Favre in Minnesota The loaded Memphis staff and why he stuck with...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back for a spring game reaction episode, along with some other news, like Indiana's defensive coordinator tweeting upset Alabama fans.  Watch Bunch Formation Bowl V 0:00 Intro and Bunch Formation Bowl V results 3:36 Week 0 might be the new Week 1 5:45 Indiana DC Bryant Haines is mad online 10:31 Sherrone Moore sentenced 12:00 Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke given an ext...

WWE superstar Trick Williams joins Chris Vannini to recount his journey from South Carolina football player to his first appearance on the WrestleMania stage this weekend.  Story in The Athletic 0:00 Trick's quick rise in WWE 2:48 Getting into football and going to Hampton 4:26 Transferring to South Carolina to walk on 8:17 Playing for Steve Spurrier 11:50 The end of his football career 19:22 Tran...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back to talk spring practice and what we're seeing and hearing across the country.  0:00 Intro 4:45 Spring practice will probably change next year 8:34 Alabama's QB battle gets interesting 12:41 New head coaches moving up to the SEC 16:03 The Lane Kiffin honeymoon 18:57 Is Indiana going to start a dynasty? 23:23 Is SMU the biggest threat to Miami? 27:03 Who is the...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back, and David's on edge after a strange neighborhood situation. The guys get into the future of conference championship games, the Big Ten overlords, Big 12 infighting and more.  0:00 Intro 8:38 The end of the SEC championship game? 22:15 Why the Big Ten is REALLY so dominant now 29:15 Final Fours in football stadiums 37:04 Cody Campbell vs. Brett Yormark 45:34...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are joined by New Mexico coach Jason Eck to talk about his unbelievable turnaround at New Mexico, playing at Wisconsin, the legend of the Kibbie Dome and more.  0:00 Intro 1:45 Eck's dance move 2:48 Being forced to move from football coach to golf course assistant 5:17 Pushing through the low points 9:30 Walking on at Wisconsin 12:34 Playing in a Rose Bowl 14:12 Barry...

Chris Vannini is back from vacation, so he joins David Ubben to dive back into a slew of college football topics, from Pete Golding's response to tampering allegations, new transfer rules, new targeting rules, new CFP committee members and more.  Chris' story on Duke becoming less hateable New spring transfer penalties New on-field rules for 2026 0:00 Intro, vacation and bar TVs 7:15 Pete Golding...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are joined by Nicole Auerbach to discuss our favorite parts of the NCAA Tournament so far and preview the second weekend Nicole's NBC story on Cinderellas 0:00 Intro 2:10 Favorite moments from the first weekend 9:35 Bracket check-in 12:35 Why there are fewer Cinderellas and why it's not just NIL/portal 23:07 Sweet 16 and Elite 8 picks 34:35 Remember Some Guys ********...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are joined by The Athletic's Brendan Marks to preview everything in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, from the best teams to upsets and trends to keep an eye on. What to know about all 68 teams Are Cinderellas doomed? 0:00 Intro 4:03 Final Four picks 8:05 Should we be concerned about Duke/Michigan injuries? 11:32 Are Cinderellas going away? 16:25 The Miami (Ohio)...