Until Saturday: A show about college football

Ari welcomes on Doug Lesmerises, host of The Kings of the North podcast, to take a deep dive into the Big Ten. Are the Buckeyes all in this season, or does their overhaul wreak of desperation (4:00)? Is Ryan Day's approach to the portal a philosophical shift in the program (12:30)? What does 2024 hold in store for new AD Ross Bjork and Day, himself (20:15)? Ari and Doug evaluate the Northern regio...

The Athletic's Alabama and Georgia beat writers Kenny Smith and Seth Emerson, respectively, join Ari in discuss Caleb Downs, Kayden Proctor, and others entering the transfer portal, adding to 'Tuscaloo-xit' (2:30). Can Kalen DeBoer make up ground in the Spring cycle of the transfer portal, and what's Kenny's message to fans as they go through this? Kenny fills you in on the deets about Bama's late...

The Stars Matter team makes a thorough examination of Alabama from a recruiting perspective. Is the "Nick Saban Way", an accumulation of the best talent in the sport, the only option for Kalen DeBoer in Tuscaloosa, or can the Tide's new head coach do what he did in Washington (3:00)? LSU's made some huge strides (33:00). Will Nick Saban let Alabama slide (38:00)? There are no more excuses for Miam...

Ari, Chris, and Kenny react to Washington hiring Jedd Fisch as its newest head coach (3:00). Fans are justifiably angry when suckerpunch coaching hires like DeBoer and Fisch happen, but is there a way to mitigate the devestation felt by those programs that those coaches just left? Ari has a proposition (6:00). Plus, Arizona head coaching candidates (17:30). Later, Kenny gives us the low-down on De...

Nicole, Sam, and The Athletic's Chris Kamrani react to Alabama hiring Kalen DeBoer as its next head coach. As the guy replacing the guy (Nick Saban), what does the 49-year-old ex-Washington coach bring to the Tide (1:00)? The gang takes a listen to Nick Saban's reasoning for retiring via ESPN (5:00), which explains why DeBoer was brough on now. What is DeBoer inheriting at Alabama, and what concer...

Nicole and Chris react to the seven...SEVEN-time national championship-winning coach Nick Saban retiring. How will we look back on Saban's legacy? Who will fill the shoes of, arguably, the greatest coach ever? A look at the Crimson Tide job and candidates. Subscribe to the Until Saturday newletter: https://theathletic.com/newsletters/until-saturday Call/text the Until Saturday phone and leave us...

Ryan Day has made a series of moves to set up an exciting, and possibly defining, season at Ohio State. Ari and David discuss the additions of RB Quinshon Judkins, QB Will Howard, and more (3:00). Is OSU starting to look a little like Michigan? Can Day help Howard reach another level? Miami lands an FCS QB, and Georgia...wait...USC welcomes MWC Freshman of the Year Jayden Maiava (17:30). The guys...

HAIL TO THE VICTOR! Michigan went full Predator-mode and muzzled the Huskies for its first national championship since 1997. Ari and David react to the game, including how Michigan's D-line manhandled Washington (3:00), how Jim Harbaugh and this team rose above the noise (8:30), J.J. McCarthy stuck to the stript (16:15), Harbaugh's future and Michigan's outlook in 2024, and will they make the play...

It's hard to believe another college football season is nearly wrapped up. However, college football's creme de la creme will take to the field to decide who's the national champion before we reach the off-season. Ari and David share their final thoughts ahead of Monday's game, including Jim Harbaugh's future at Michigan and his legacy (3:30), how Courtney Morgan helped build both Michigan and Was...

It's that time. The national championship is on Monday, and Ari and David are now ready to share their game picks with you all. The guys look at key matchups, the reasons why both Michigan and Washington will win and lose, and X-Factors. David and Bruce Feldman asked coaches who played both championship contenders, what they think about the game on the promise of anonymity. Plus, Will Howard trans...

The Ari Shame Tour 2024 continues following Michigan and Washington's wins over the freaks in the semifinals. The Stars Matter team digs into how two teams outside of the op-10 in the talent composite punched their ticket to the national championship. Is this a trend, or an anomoly? Plus, anonymous high schools stars open up about NIL, coaches, and teams, and who are the coaches on the hot seat as...

Nicole, who covered the Rose Bowl, and Chris share five observations from the CFP semifinals in the Power 5 (2:00). One thought they agree on is that this was the best semifinal EVER. Plus, Harbaugh gets over the hump, and the SEC isn't represented in the natty. Nicole and Chris then ask and try to answer a few questions that they have about Michigan-Washington (28:00). Will Washington's offensive...

Michigan and Washington punched their ticket to the National Championship on New Years Day! Ari and Chris share their takeaways from both the Sugar and Rose Bowls. Michael Penix Jr. was near-infallible, and even though Texas stormed back, their defense held up better than expected (3:30). Michigan demostrated that experience can top world-class talent (19:00). Alabama's miscues with snaps, the las...

Ari, David, Max, Sam, and Kenny Smith share their final thoughts for the Sugar and Rose Bowls ahead of the New Year's Day games. David, Max, and Sam, who are reporting from the Sugar Bowl in Louisiana, discuss Quinn Ewers' moment, Arch Manning, the battle in the trenches, and more (1:30). Kenny then join the podcast from Pasadena to talk about iPadGate, Michigan's defense and running game as well...

Ari and David pick the winners of the College Football Playoff games as well as the remainder of the NY6 bowls! Alabama isn't allowing its players to view film at their leisure like they would normally because of the cloud of controversy surrounding Michigan this season. Is this paranoia driven? An extra measure against a tough opponent? Or, is it just a way for Nick Saban to antagnoize and play m...

Manny, Grace, and Ari take shots at Mitch while he's away on today's edition of Stars Matter. The crew also take shots at dissecting each CFP semifinal matchup from a recruiting and roster construction angle. How does Michigan's team composition compare to Alabama, who has the highest average player rating of all time? Washington has killed it in the portal, but will it be enough to overcome Texas...

In a special Power Auer x Max & Sam crossover episode, the quartet of Nicole, Chris, Sam, and Max preview the College Football Playoff semifinal games! The crew first previews the Sugar Bowl (3:30). In Quinn Ewers-Michael Penix Jr., who will deliver the best deep throws? Which team has the better WR room (12:00)? Can Washington's Joe Moore Award-winning O-line keep Texas' defense off Penix's b...

Is college football "better" than what it was, say, five years ago? Ari and David try to answer that question on today's show. Before then, the guys discuss the FSU situation and determine if this fracas will amount to anything (1:30). Is there parity in the sport? Is Signing Day inconsequential because of the portal, and is the sport in a healthy spot (8:30)? Plus buying and selling program stock...

It's a special National Signing Day edition of Stars Matter! The crew discusses Jeremiah Smith to OSU and other Buckeye recruiting news (1:00). Miami had a humongous day (10:30). Shane Beamer joins the podcast to talk about the pair of 5-stars his Gamecocks signed (17:00). Georgia earns the Recruiting Crown (21:30). Syracuse's dubs (26:00) and Florida's lumps (28:30). Jedd Fisch then joins the sho...

Nicole and Chris hit on a load of news from the last week, including: Oregon State, Washington State and the Pac-12's outgoing teams (2:00); the future of Florida State (7:15); Gerad Parker to Troy (14:00) and more! Did we witness the greatest Famous Toastery Bowl of all time (34:30)? Plus, an ex-lumberjack will be the head coach at NDSU (41:30). Chip Kelly spoke openly about the current state of...

We're just two weeks and change into the transfer period and already hundreds of players have found new homes. Max and Sam take a close look at which programs are in the running to be Portal King, such as Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss (5:30). Which transfer could wind up being impact players (17:30), and who are some of the best available transfers still in the portal (20:00)? TCU director of player pe...

The great Scott Dochterman joins Ari and David in this edition of the Sunday Sound-Off. The trio touch on Kyle McCord to Syracuse, and Fran Brown's promising start as the Orange's head coach (3:00). Scott recently did a thought exercise placing this year's teams in a 24-team field (19:30). Is another expansion bound to happen? Why hasn't Iowa hired a new OC yet (40:00)? A listener leaves us a voic...

Realignment has presented us with some new incredible conference games in the SEC and Big Ten. Ari, David and Sam rank which fresh SEC/Big Ten conference bout they can't wait to watch, like Texas-Georgia, Michigan-Oregon and more (3:00). Notre Dame has landed some marquee names in the transfer portal, but will it be enough for Marcus Freeman in year 3 (23:15)? Plus, bowl picks (40:15), renaming bo...

Matt Rhule and Nebraska have an opportunity to land one of the crown jewels of the 2024 recruitng class. What would it mean for the Cornhuskers if they flipped QB Dylan Raiola? Mitch Sherman, The Athletic's Nebraska beat writer, joins Manny, Ari, and Grace to discuss this what-if. Later, the trio dig into Colorado's o-line additions, headlines ahead of National Signing Day, and they explain the co...

This week has been filled a lot of off-the-field action; however, that's going to change this weekend! Nicole and Chris first cover Riley Leonard's commitment to Notre Dame and Tyler Van Dyke's pledge to Wisconsin. They then discuss new defensive coaches at P5 schools, proposed NCAA legislation, and more politicians trying to curry favor. Later, the duo answer two fan-submitted questions: 1) How c...