Bunch Formation: A College Football Show

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are joined by longtime friend and former colleague Ari Wasserman of On3. The guys talk about Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith's guarantee that he won't lose to Michigan again. Good decision? Or has the rivalry lost something? Then they discuss Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti defending his auto-bid model to change the College Football Playoff. Does the regular...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are back, just like the college basketball video game. The guys talk about Chris' reporting around the game's return, plus Texas State to the Pac-12, and BYU might lose its quarterback. Then, Oregon's rising star assistant coach Ra'Shaad Samples joins the show to talk about Oregon's talent, his career and how recruiting has changed in the NIL era.  Chris' story on EA...

Chris Vannini and David Ubben are joined by officiating coordinator Mike Defee, who reveals what it's really like to be a referee, what he wishes fans understood, and his reaction to the "Beef Ref" nickname. The guys also discuss news around the Pac-12, Sacramento State, Thomas Castellanos' trash talk and a lawsuit to watch.  Chris' story in The Athletic on the state of officiating 0:00 Intro and...

Chris and Dave are back for a quick show about EA Sports College Football 26 and Dynasty Mode. They both played it in beta and share their experience and reaction to the EA Deep Dive.  Chris and David's Athletic story on Dynasty EA's Deep Dive Timestamps: 0:00 Intro  1:55 Early impressions 2:45 Real coaches, new gear and carousel 9:40 Trophy Room 12:10 Scheduling  14:55 Recruiting 23:00 Leftover t...

Chris and Dave are back for Part 2, talking about their gameplay experience with College Football 26. They also go through the EA Sports deep dive blog and talk about new features in gameplay, what they like and what they still need to test more. Is EA getting it right?  EA Sports Gameplay Deep Dive Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:58 Early impressions 4:15 Home field advantage 6:18 Playbooks 13:17 Quarter...

In Part 1 of a two-episode day,  David is back from Asheville and another College Football Playoff meeting. The Big Ten and SEC are far apart on what they want. What happened and what's next? And how good was the pancake? Then Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia talks trash about everyone in the Big Ten and also Tennessee. Out of line or all in good fun? The guys also Remember Some Guys and discuss Elite 11...

Chris and David share their most impactful transfers for the 2025 season, touching on Oklahoma, Oregon, Auburn, Louisville, Miami, Colorado and more. They also discuss what's on the docket for the CFP commissioners meeting this week, where David will be.  Timestamps 0:00 Intro, Love Island, David's law school dreams 9:15 CFP meeting preview 20:09 Top impact transfers 56:55 Remember Some Guys 1:02:...

Chris and David are audio-only this week. They discuss the concerning health situation around Deion Sanders, the potential move to a single transfer portal window and then answer your questions. Is Kentucky doomed without Vince Marrow? Who will be the Pac-12's 8th football team?  David's story on Deion Sanders Chris' story on the portal change Antonio Morales' story on the role of GMs Timestamps:...

Chris and David explain what the House settlement really means for college football fans and their teams. Then Antonio Morales joins the guys to talk about which teams we want to play with in EA Sports College Football 26.  Justin Williams' story on the House settlement Teams we want to play in CFB26 Timestamps 0:00 Intro 6:14 What the House settlement means  36:25 Teams we want to play in CFB26 1...

Chris and David react to anonymous coach gossip about Arch Manning, SEC QBs, Texas Tech's money, Deion Sanders' future, Bill Belichick's time and Michigan's talent. They also talk about new seating at Ohio State that has upset fans and what it says about the sport, plus a New Balance deal for Boston College. They wrap the show by discussing how you put significant others in your phone, and whether...

Chris and David answer your questions about CFB26 and interview game designer Ben Haumiller. Then they dive deep into a question from a new college football fan from Scotland: Which team should he adopt and root for? Plus talk about Michigan State's new athletic director and the Tennessee-UCLA softball controversy.  Read Chris' story on his experience playing CFB26 Show timestamps 4:30 CFB26 Mailb...

Chris went down to EA Sports to test out College Football 26, and he's got a LOT to talk about. He also went to Big 12 meetings, where a lot of College Football Playoff drama is spilling out into the public. What do the Big Ten and SEC really want from the next CFP format, and can anybody stop them? And the guys shout out the College Football Hall of Fame for changing the rules to let Mike Leach i...

Chris and David break down the College Football Playoff seeding change for 2025 and discuss what a 16-team CFP could look like in 2026. They also react to each other's Top 25 lists on the best coaches and games of the 2000s, and they answer your mailbag questions on the Group of 5, CFP sleepers, the national title game date and more.  In the show: Chris' Top 25 Coaches of the 2000s David's Top 25...

We're back! In the first episode of Bunch Formation, David Ubben and Chris Vannini discuss the potential end of the USC-Notre Dame rivalry, what's really going on at North Carolina and The Athletic's ranking of the Top 25 teams and players of the 2000s.  Ubben's story on North Carolina Stewart Mandel's Top 25 Teams of the 2000s Bruce Feldman's Top 25 Players of the 2000s ***************** Follow B...

The Athletic senior college football writers Chris Vannini and David Ubben take you inside the biggest stories in the game in a fun and engaging show. With exclusive insight, interviews and banter, you'll learn to appreciate the most important and the dumbest parts of America's second-biggest sport. **************************** Follow Bunch Formation: PLEASE LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW!  It helps a lot....