The Solid Verbal College Football

Let's dive deep into the ACC's contenders and rebuilding projects in part two of our three-part conference preview. From Clemson's championship steam to Stanford's complete rebuild, we break down the teams at the top and bottom of the conference hierarchy. In this college football podcast episode, we debate whether Clemson is the clear conference favorite and discuss whether Cade Klubnik can take...

We dive into the ACC with the first of our three-part conference preview and talk through our contender tiers, the biggest questions and storylines driving the narrative, and use ice cream and video games as a metaphor for the way the league sets up. From Clemson's title hopes to Miami's untapped Playoff hopes, we unpack what makes this conference so damn fascinating. In this college football podc...

Our 2025 college football conference previews roll on, this time with the Mountain West and Conference USA, with a quick glance at the Pac-2. Armed with our trusty “Lorenzo Lamas Flaw Finder”, we unpack the top teams, key players, and storylines for the remainder of the Group of Five conferences as the season looms. Is Boise State the odds-on favorite to win the Mountain West and make...

We kick off our college football conference preview series with a look at the Sun Belt, MAC, and AAC. Which G5 conferences and teams have the most heat heading into 2025? In this college football podcast episode, we dive deep and break down James Madison's path to a potential playoff berth, Tulane's high floor, Louisiana potential step back, coaching continuity as a secret weapon in the MAC, and h...

We kick off our 2025 college football preview season with everything you need to know before the action begins on August 23rd. From revenue sharing to playoff seeding changes, new coaching hires to massive quarterback transfers, we break down all the major storylines heading into the season. In this college football podcast episode, we discuss the sport's new revenue sharing structure, playoff for...

In this college football podcast episode, we're joined by VSiN's Tim Murray for a deep dive into the college football betting landscape ahead of the 2025 season. From Clemson's movement in the futures market to the wide-open nature of this year's championship race, Tim breaks down the key themes, betting strategies, and situational angles that matter most. We explore everything from sandwich spots...

In this college football podcast episode, Ralph Russo from The Athletic joins us to break down the complex College Football Playoff negotiations happening behind closed doors between the Big Ten, SEC and other conferences. Our conversation centers on how the number of SEC conference games is driving the debate, explores the Big Ten's push for automatic qualifiers, and examines why these meetings k...

Before we can move forward with our 2025 season previews, we need to heal. In this episode, we hold our annual fan therapy session, helping the Verballerhood work through the most traumatic moments from last season. From Notre Dame's shocking loss to NIU (on a first-time visitor's birthday, no less) to the eight-overtime Georgia-Georgia Tech nailbiter, we're confronting the pain head-on. Our liste...

In this college football podcast episode, we dive deep into the weird world of college football message boards, courtesy of our friends at Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses). From Clemson fans proposing eminent domain to control TV broadcasts, to Vanderbilt wondering if its players are too smart for football, to Florida State fans suggesting they'd recruit better without a head coach at all....

In this college football podcast episode, we dive deep into Florida Gators football with David Waters from Gators Breakdown . What are the vibes among Florida diehards around Billy Napier going into Year 4? Is DJ Lagway fully healthy and how has his emergence impacted the program? Did the Gators take the right approach when balancing the transfer portal with high school recruiting? What clicked fo...

In this college football podcast episode, we chat with The Athletic's Scott Dochterman about the little-known, high-stakes draft process by which Fox, CBS and NBC pick the Big Ten games that each will air this season. Learn about the insane preparation, strategy, negotiations, and decisions that shape our TV experience every fall. Plus, some insight into the Big Ten's playoff positioning strategy,...

It's time for the June Q&A. In this college football podcast episode, we explore an unholy dilemma posed by a college football wizard, debate whether the Big Ten's middle tier is really superior to the Big 12, and predict which coaches might be on the hot seat in 2025. Plus, we discuss a popular Nick Saban hypothetical, brainstorm creative revenue solutions for schools facing new player compen...

Once again, there is drama as the SEC and Big Ten. In this college football podcast episode, we recap the drama surrounding the SEC, Big Ten and the shape of the College Football Playoff moving forward into 2026 and beyond. As SEC officials meet in Florida this week, a debate rages on: Does the league push through a CFP format that benefits the sport's two most powerful conferences, or does it end...

In this episode, we touch base with Ben Jones to make sense of the lofty expectations for Penn State football ahead of the 2025 season. Could this really be the top team in the country? Are fans being fair to Drew Allar? Who's to blame for the late of WR production? How will the addition of Jim Knowles impact the Nittany Lion defense? Did James Franklin get the monkey off his back by winning two C...

In this college football podcast episode, we touch base with Manny Navarro of The Athletic to discuss the trajectory of the Miami Hurricanes after three years under Mario Cristobal. What are expectations in 2025? Can the defense be fixed? What's the overall vision for the program? How will the offense look with Carson Beck instead of Cam Ward? And how close is the "U" to fully recapturing its old...

After a two-year hiatus, we’re reviving one of our favorite concepts. In this episode, we pitch the future prospects of teams and players to our pool of sharks -- err, “Sarks” -- and make the case for why each is worth an emotional investment. Featuring special guest Sark: Andy Staples from On3, we pop the hood on North Carolina, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Auburn and Florida State in addition to Carso...

It's time for our monthly Q&A. In today's episode, we field questions from the Verballerhood about Nick Saban's role in saving college football from itself, the effect of NIL on "elite" teams, the prospect of a 9-game SEC schedule and a Group of Five playoff, how college football compares to international soccer, and the potential of birthing a good luck charm for your favorite team. 00:00 - I...

In this college football podcast episode, we're joined by Eddie Radosevich from SoonerScoop.com to get a sense for the vibes at Oklahoma ahead of the 2025 college football season. Is this the offseason when Brent Venables harnessed his inner cutthroat? What's to blame for the Sooners' lousy offense last season and how big an impact will John Mateer, Jaydn Ott and Ben Arbuckle have? And, after one...

In this college football podcast episode, Dan is joined by ESPN’s Bill Connelly to dive into the mysterious world of college football luck—turnovers, close games, and injuries—that shaped 2024 and could define 2025. From Clemson’s run to Auburn’s bad breaks, Bill talks through the numbers and what they mean for teams ranging from Alabama to UCF. Plus, a deep dive into Clemson’s top-five poten...

In this college football podcast episode, Michael Felder (Bleacher Report, Stadium, Substack, et al) joins the show to give his perspective of Bill Belichick's first few months as head coach at North Carolina. Felder, given his proximity to the UNC community as a former player and alum has thoughts on the hire itself, the current distractions involving the head coach's girlfriend Jordon Hudson, hi...

Let's give knee-jerk reactions to Andy Staples' way-too-early, post-spring top 25. In this episode, we examine Andy's rankings and debate the case for Texas as the preseason No. 1 team, get a little to excited for Clemson, discuss the downside for Notre Dame and Penn State, try to make sense of Alabama and Georgia, and pick out some unranked sleepers. Who's too high, who's too low? Plus, some fina...

Let's close out the week on a fun note with a game of college football trivia, henceforth known as JeoparDedeWestbrook. In this college football podcast episode, Dan realizes his eventual fate and plays an affable game show host asking Ty a series of increasingly esoteric questions about college football and, eventually, the lore of the podcast itself. Then, Ty flips the script and tests Dan's acu...

Let's dive into the wild world of college football’s transfer portal with Pete Nakos, On3’s transfer portal reporter extraordinaire. In this college football podcast episode, Pete pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes drama of the Nico Iamaleava saga, the constant bartering behind the scenes, and the evolving landscape of NIL and roster management. From coaches reclaiming power to the stress o...

It's time for our annual NFL Draft preview! In this college football podcast episode, we welcome back Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports for an in-depth look at this year's class. Can Cam Ward's "jazz player" style translate to the pros? Where do Shedeur Sanders and Riley Leonard fit in this QB class? What trends are emerging while evaluating college tape? Who are Nate's pet players, and who are the "Purpl...

In this episode, we tackle the breaking news of Nico Iamaleava transferring from Tennessee after an (alleged) failed NIL renegotiation. Now, Nico’s looking for a new home, and the Vols are suddenly in the market for a quarterback ahead of the 2025 season. We break down what went wrong, where he might land, and whether Tennessee could turn its sights toward a Big 12 starter. Later, John Kurtz from...