The Solid Verbal

We're just a few weeks into the college football season and the picture is just starting to come into focus. In this college football podcast episode, we react to the latest AP Poll and our own Verballer Top 12 rankings, questioning whether voters are being bold enough with early-season movement. Should teams like USF be ranked higher after their impressive wins? And are teams like Penn State and Georgia too high? We also bring back our beloved "Dunzo or Not Dunzo" segment to evaluate teams -- Arizona State, Kansas State, Virginia Tech and others -- that might already be cooked relative to preseason expectations. Finally, we dive deep into three massive Week 3 matchups: Georgia at Tennessee in a battle of undefeateds, Florida trying to bounce back at LSU in Death Valley, and Texas A&M visiting Notre Dame in what could be a statement game for both programs. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro4:27 - AP Poll Reactions & Verballer Top 12 Reveal16:11 - Dunzo or Not Dunzo44:16 - Early Lookaheads45:36 - Georgia vs Tenne

In this college football podcast episode, we dive deep into a wild Week 2 that left fan bases across the country questioning everything they thought they knew about their teams. Oklahoma's Jon Mateer looked like a folk hero in Norman, leading the Sooners to a convincing 24-13 victory over Michigan that showcased his incredible elusiveness and game management skills. Meanwhile, we break down what this win means for Brent Venables' program as they prepare for a murderous SEC schedule ahead. But the upset of the day belonged to USF, who stunned Florida 18-16 in The Swamp with a last-second field goal. We take a look at what this loss means for Billy Napier's future in Gainesville and whether the Gators can recover from such a devastating home defeat. Plus, we cover the wild shootout between Baylor and SMU that went to double overtime, Army's shocking upset of Kansas State, and how teams like Penn State and Georgia looked surprisingly sluggish despite comfortable wins. From Missouri's Border War victory to Illino

Week 2 has big 2011 energy with lots of emotion, some heartbreak, and plenty of unfinished business. This weekend is loaded with tension and storylines, with Michigan's trip to Oklahoma, another installment of the Cy-Hawk game, a quiet monster between Illinois and Duke, a stinky line between Arizona State and Mississippi State, and a revenge spot for Ole Miss at Kentucky. In this college football podcast episode, we dive into the biggest matchups of the week, discuss a handful of under-the-radar games, suggest your most ideal quad box setup and much more. Plus, a plea to Virginia Tech, a debate over Ty's yellow shirt, realistic expectations for Oklahoma State vs. Oregon and more! Timestamps:0:00 - Intro & Saturday Naming5:07 - "Prove It" Teams12:17 - Week 2 Predictions15:05 - Michigan vs Oklahoma19:17 - Iowa vs Iowa State23:36 - Illinois vs Duke29:13 - Kansas vs Missouri33:30 - Arizona State vs Mississippi State38:00 - Vandy vs Virginia Tech42:04 - Baylor vs SMU45:13 - James Madison vs Louisville51:56 - O

We're back to break down the remaining drama from college football's opening weekend, as Miami delivered when the stakes were highest, knocking off Notre Dame 27-24 in a game that felt like a must-win for Mario Cristobal. In this college football podcast episode, we dive deep into how the Hurricanes won the line of scrimmage and why Notre Dame's offensive game plan was so confusing. Also, a recap of South Carolina's slugfest with Virginia Tech, the return of "Beamer Ball" as a winning strategy for Shane Beamer, the frustration of watching Kyron Drones, and new steam on the "LaNorris The Creator" movement in popular media. Plus, a look back at our leftover observations from Week 1, a twin pack of early bird specials looking ahead to the CyHawk rivalry and Michigan's big road trip to Oklahoma, and a lookahead at a meaty Week 2 slate of games. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro2:52 - Miami beats Notre Dame, 27-2415:32 - South Carolina holds off Virginia Tech, 24-1121:57 - Leftover Week 1 Observations30:33 - Iowa vs Iowa St

We're back after months away from a full slate of college football games, and Week 1 delivered exactly the kind of chaos we needed. In this college football podcast episode, we dive deep into the biggest storylines, starting with Ohio State's defensive masterclass against Texas in a 14-7 slugfest that left more questions than answers about Arch Manning's readiness for the spotlight. Meanwhile, Florida State pulled off the upset of the day, dismantling Alabama 31-17 behind Tommy Castellanos and a Gus Malzahn offense that looked nothing like last year's disaster. We also break down LSU's statement road win at Clemson, Auburn's ground-and-pound victory over Baylor, and all the smaller storylines that are reshaping our preseason expectations. From quarterback controversies to defensive surprises, we cover the games that mattered most and react to your tweets and voice messages. Plus, we share the weirdest moments from a beautifully bizarre opening weekend, including Joe Tessitore's top buttons and the Oregon Duck

We've been waiting all offseason for this moment, and Week 1 in finally here! In this college football podcast episode, we take a look at the biggest games that Stakeout Saturday has to offer, from the big Texas-Ohio State and LSU-Clemson games, to Notre Dame's trip to Miami, Alabama's opener at Florida State, the Beamer Bowl between Virginia Tech and South Carolina, Bill Belichick's debut with North Carolina against TCU and more. Plus, we discuss which teams have the most to prove in Week 1, from with Nebraska's offense to Miami's defense, Florida State's latest transfer haul, and and beyond. We also highlight a handful of the under-the-radar games worth watching, from Mississippi State's portal gamble to Cal starting a true freshman quarterback on the road. And, of course, a full breakdown of your Saturday Window of Opportunity, the most ideal quad for your vieweing pleasure, and a Patriot League Lightning Round with a special plea on behalf of the Mountain Hawks. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro & Saturday Nick

IT'S. GAME. WEEK! Join us as we power rank the most interesting matchups on Thursday and Friday of an extended holiday weekend of Week 1 games and take an advanced preview of two of the biggest contests as Texas heads to Ohio State and Clemson hosts LSU in the Death Valley Invitational. After reviewing some extra takeaways from Week 0 – including why we shouldn't overreact to early season rust – we break down the news that Bryce Underwood has officially been named Michigan's starting quarterback. How should this affect our read on the Wolverines in 2025? Then, we rank the five most intriguing of the 28 games being played on Thursday and Friday, from Auburn-Baylor as a potential Friday night thriller to the sneaky-good matchup between Boise State and USF. We close out by tackling two monster games: Texas traveling to Columbus as slight road favorites in a College Football Playoff semifinal rematch, and Clemson hosting LSU as a four-point favorite. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro2:22 - Week 0 Takeaways10:36

College football is officially underway! We break down Iowa State's 24-21 victory over Kansas State in Dublin, including the sloppy conditions, key fourth-down decisions, and what the Clones' win means for the Big 12 race. Plus, we're joined by Jenny Dell, the lead college football reporter for CBS Sports, who gives us incredible behind-the-scenes insights from the sidelines. From her 20-second storytelling challenges to Brad Nessler's shocking pre-game eating habits, Jenny discusses the difference between covering the SEC and Big Ten, sneaky injury tent investigations, what it's like to catch players and coaches in their most vulnerable moments, and much more. We also unveil the most important email to ever grace our inbox, potentially with long-term ramifications for the Solid Verbal family. Timestamps:4:50 - Iowa State beats Kansas State19:26 - Interview with Jenny Dell58:07 - Important news from the Solid Verbal familySupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for pr

College football is back! The season officially starts this weekend with Week 0, and we're here to break down all five games, including the big Farmageddon matchup between Iowa State and Kansas State in Ireland. But first, we talk through some of the biggest quarterback battles across the country, with news of CJ Carr winning the job at Notre Dame, Julian Sayin taking the reins at Ohio State, Ty Simpson getting the nod at Alabama, and Bear Bachmeier becoming the first true freshman to start at BYU. Then, a quick chat about the College Football Playoff committee's decision to use "enhanced metrics" to put more weight on strength of schedule, the potential short- and long-term impacts of the move, and whether the new numbers will be personally sponsored by Greg Sankey. We also circle back to Michigan's punishment by the NCAA, which was handed down at the end of last week, and unveil our preseason Verballer Top 12. Finally, we give our predictions for all five Week 0 games, with special focus on the showdown bet

It’s that time again—the season is on the doorstep, and we brought in ESPN’s Bill Connelly to help us make sense of the chaos ahead. From his new SP+ rankings with a dozen teams clumped near the top to the Arch Manning hype train and a logjam of unproven quarterbacks, we dive headfirst into why 2025 might be the most unpredictable season in years. We cover the teams with the widest range of outcomes (hello, Tennessee), the portal-fueled rebuilds at Purdue and West Virginia, and which traditional powers might quietly be underrated. Bill also opens up about his new book Forward Progress, why realignment and money distribution could shape the sport’s future, and what “canaries in the coal mine” fans should keep an eye on. Plus, why offensive lines could make or break this year’s contenders, whether Texas Tech is ready to crash the playoff party, and what keeps college football so beautifully chaotic despite all the off-field drama. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro7:01 - Interview

It's receipts time! We put our college football credibility on the line with our official 12-team playoff brackets, complete with seeding, matchups, and championship predictions. The time has come to go all-in on our bold calls that will either age like fine wine or haunt us all season long. We break down our top-4 seeds (spoiler: we disagree wildly on Clemson), debate the SEC vs. Big 12 representation, and explain why Notre Dame might be the key to everything. Plus, we reveal our Heisman winners, Coach of the Year picks, and other awards predictions. The Verballerhood also chimes in with their own bold predictions via the Reverb line, including some spicy takes on Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, and whether all three service academies can make bowl games. But that's not all – it wouldn't be the college football season without some Fantasy Things to keep us entertained. Join in on the fun as we draft the quirky college football storylines and media moments we're most excited to track this season. Think espionag

It's the feeling every college football (and sports) fan knows too well: Doubting your own takes. In this episode, we're joined by Brett Ciancia from Pick Six Previews to talk through the opinions we're second-guessing the most after several weeks of conference previews. From Ty's thoughts on Miami and USC to Dan's comments on Missouri, we lean on the most accurate college football predictor over the past decade to set us straight. Brett even has some doubts of his own in the SEC. We also dig into Brett's "Game Grader" formula and how it spots teams that were way better (or worse) than their records showed. Plus, an honest conversation around how the transfer portal is making projections more complicated, how the Big 12 remains unpredictable, and a brief look ahead at the marquee matchups in Week 1. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro7:27 - Brett Ciancia of Pick Six Previews57:29 - Closing Thoughts Support the show and get perks like ad-free episodes, early releases, bonus content, Discord access and much more: https://w

New AP Poll just dropped! In this college football podcast episode, we react to the newly-released poll by discussing which teams are too high and which are too low. Plus, we talk through key injury news around the sport, including LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and others. And last but not least, we make our case for the College Football Red Zone channel, and why we think we should be hosts. Finally, we close out our 136-team preview marathon by breaking down Notre Dame and UConn. How close is the quarterback derby between CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey, and how do the Irish stack up this season as compared to last? Then, we examine UConn's fascinating rise under Jim Mora. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro5:53 - AP Top 25 Poll Reactions24:26 - Injury Updates29:37 - CFB Red Zone Channel38:31 - Notre Dame Football Preview1:00:30 - UConn Football Preview Support the show and get perks like ad-free episodes, early releases, bonus content, Discord access and much more: https://www.verballers.com _____ A fan of our college footbal

We close out our three-part SEC preview by taking a closer look at Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Arkansas, South Carolina, Auburn, and Vanderbilt. In this college football preview episode, we ask burning questions about eight SEC teams that could swing wildly in either direction this season. Is Florida poised for a big jump with a (finally) healthy DJ Lagway navigating one of the most brutal schedules in the country? Will the addition of quarterback John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle lead Oklahoma back to prominence, or is their monster schedule too much to overcome? Is 2025 a stepback year for Josh Heupel and Tennessee after losing key offensive pieces, or can their elite defense carry them? We examine Texas A&M as a legitimate playoff contender behind Marcel Reed's dual-threat ability and a physical rushing attack that could punish teams late in games. We discuss whether Sam Pittman can do enough to keep his job at Arkansas with Taylen Green leading a completely revamped r

We dive deep into the SEC's upper crust with our first of two comprehensive preview episodes, breaking down eight of the conference's most talented and high-expectation teams. From Texas's national championship aspirations and the beginning of the Arch Manning era to Alabama's loaded roster under Kalen DeBoer and a revamped offense for Georgia under Kirby Smart, we explore the teams most likely to compete for SEC titles and playoff spots. In this college football podcast episode, we analyze Texas as the preseason No. 1 team and whether Arch Manning can navigate one of the toughest road schedules in the country, including trips to Ohio State, Florida, and Georgia. We examine Alabama's quarterback battle between Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell, plus the reunion of Kalen DeBoer with longtime coordinator Ryan Grubb. We discuss Georgia's search for offensive star power with Gunner Stockton at the helm and their favorable SEC schedule. We also break down Ole Miss's "nothing to lose" mentality with Austi

Preview season rolls on as we dive into the SEC, figure out the contenders and pretenders, making some irresponsible predictions, and chew on the conference's biggest storylines going into the 2025 college football season. In this SEC preview episode, we discuss the impact Arch Manning could have on the Texas Longhorns, provided the offensive line can get sorted in time. Plus, a conversation around whether this year's Alabama squad will feel more "DeBoerian" than in 2024, and how Georgia stacks up with Gunner Stockton at the helm. We also debate the meaty middle of the conference and wonder if Brian Kelly can turn talent into big wins, if Mike Elko can bully the conference with his rushing attack, if DJ Lagway can handle a murderer's row of a schedule, and if Missouri is the ultimate wildcard. And of course, a conversation about a new-look Ole Miss, the fearsome trio of LaNorris Sellers, Dylan Stewart and Nyck Harbor at South Carolina, Oklahoma's new quarterback / coordinator tandem, Tennessee's transfer trad

Stand back as Take-a-Toa, our volcano of molten college football takes, erupts for the first time in over a year! In this college football podcast episode, we're welcoming Josh Pate from Josh Pate's College Football Show for a scorching session of hot takes that will have you questioning everything you think you know about the 2025 season. Josh delivers a stunning ACC prediction that involves "hateful three-stars" and a program most people are sleeping on, while Dan forecasts a looming coaching exodus that could reshape the sport. Meanwhile, Ty makes a bold LSU comparison that will make SEC fans nervous and goes all-in on another FCS transfer quarterback. (What else is new?) We explore why one SEC powerhouse might have a "fantastic" season despite disappointing records, which Big Ten offense could see a surprise jump, and how Missouri's dream schedule could lead to CFP chaos. Plus, the Verballerhood chimes in with a Lincoln Riley take so wild it breaks our brains. This is your guide to the wildest possibiliti

We wrap up our Big Ten preview series with the third and final installment, breaking down the remaining nine teams that represent the conference's fascinating middle tier and intriguing sleepers. From Iowa's FCS quarterback gamble to Rutgers' weird look-ahead potential, we explore the teams that could shake up the Big Ten landscape. In this college football podcast episode, we dive into Ty's affinity for new Iowa QB Mark Gronowski and why the Hawkeyes could surprise people. We analyze Nebraska's year-three Matt Rhule expectations with Dylan Raiola's development and a better offensive line, debate USC's ability to finally finish games with Jayden Maiava, and explore Washington's white-knuckle potential with Demond Williams. We also break down Wisconsin's aggressive portal additions despite a brutal schedule, examine Minnesota as the "But Also" team of the Big Ten with rookie quarterback Drake Lindsey, and wonder how spicy Michigan State can be with the tandem of Aiden Chiles and Nick Marsh. Plus, we discuss Ni

We dive into the Big Ten with the second part of our three-part conference preview series, breaking down nine teams with detailed previews of the conference's contenders and most compelling storylines. From the Penn State hype train to Purdue's "Pastrami of the Big Ten," we give you enough to be dangerous around the water cooler. In this college football podcast episode, we examine Ohio State's championship odds with new coordinators Brian Hartline and Matt Patricia, debate whether Julian Sayin can handle the pressure in Week One against Texas, and wonder if the Buckeyes can overcome so many new variables. We break down James Franklin's "Phil Collins" moment with a loaded roster of veterans, a splash hire of Jim Knowles to run the defense, and a schedule working in their favor. We analyze Oregon's talent-heavy retooling under Dan Lanning, questioning whether Dante Moore and a loaded-but-unproven roster can match last year's success. Plus, we debate Michigan's ceiling with true freshman Bryce Underwood potenti

We tackle the Big Ten with the first of our three-part conference preview and break all 18 teams into tiers, discuss the biggest storylines and use protein metaphors to capture just how overwhelming this massive conference has become. From Ohio State's run at another national championship to Penn State's lofty expectations and the intriguing battle for fourth place, we unpack what makes this conference both excellent and exhausting. In this college football podcast episode, we debate our contender tier with Penn State, Ohio State, Oregon and... Michigan (?), analyze the fascinating second tier among six quality teams, wonder which "weird little stinkers" might surprise us. Plus, we examine why this might be the most difficult conference to rank from top to bottom. We explore Ty's bold Nebraska optimism versus Dan's skepticism, debate whether USC can finally finish games in the fourth quarter, wonder if Iowa's Mark Gronowski will bring his FCS magic to Iowa City, and talk through what the transfer of Nico Iama