The Solid Verbal

After covering seven major items in Part 1, we're back with 10 more things that defined the 2025 college football season. In this episode, we run the gamut, from Miami's return to national prominence after two decades away to Notre Dame's reaction to being left out. We also talk through Texas Tech's spending spree, the magic of Diego Pavia, the roller coaster of UCLA football and much more. What defined the 2025 college football season for you? Let us know what we missed! Timestamps:0:00 - Intro4:49 - Miami is back!12:45 - Notre Dame controversy21:06 - Shirtlessness25:26 - Dan Lanning is nuts29:36 - Texas Tech's spending spree35:08 - Everything Diego Pavia40:38 - Drew Mestemaker43:07 - The UCLA Roller Coaster47:51 - John Mateer51:57 - Tiebreakers56:57 - Others Receiving VotesSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025 college football season is in the books, and it was... a lot. Join us as we attempt to catalog the moments, storylines, and characters that made this year impossible to forget, starting with seven of the most defining elements of the season. In this episode: Why the Lane Kiffin-to-LSU saga touched every corner of college football culture. Indiana's national championship and the refreshing "plainness" of how they won it. The Penn State coaching search trilogy (expectations to collapse to Crumbl cookies). Bill Belichick's first year at North Carolina... both the 4-win disappointment and, well, everything else. Alabama's bizarre tumble into (and out of) the playoff. Two Group of Five teams crashing the party. And Lee Corso's farewell to College GameDay. Comment below with what we need to cover in Part 2! Timestamps:0:00 - Intro3:02 - The Most 2025 College Football Things6:54 - Lane Kiffin17:19 - Indiana26:34 - Penn State, Clemson & Texas36:20 - Bill Belichick43:52 - Alabama55:04 - Tulane & James

With the national championship in the rearview mirror, we turn our focus to 2026 with our first official podcast of the preseason. In this episode, we unveil our way-too-early top 12s and take a closer look and which teams have the most continuity and best schedules, and which crushed the transfer portal. Who's too high, who's too low? Let us know! Plus, a quick roundup of the latest news, from portal signings to early NFL Draft declarations and the brewing legal fight between Duke University and Darian Mensah.Timecodes: 0:00 - Intro4:44 - News Update21:17 - Way-Too-Early Top 12sSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indiana did it. Not only did the Hoosiers win their first ever CFP National Championship, they also became the first college football team in history to finish with a mark of 16-0. In this episode, we react to Indiana's 27-21 victory and break down how the Hoosiers won on the margins to knock of a Miami Hurricanes team playing for a title in its home stadium. Plus, a conversation about what the result means for both teams moving forward as well as a quick attempt at putting Curt Cignetti's rise in historical context. Support us this offseason at https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal!Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the most improbable CFP National Championship game of our lifetime. Can Indiana become one of the greatest sports stories of our lifetime, or will Mario Cristobal win it all at home? In this episode, we dive deep into the 2026 CFP National Championship between the #1 Indiana Hoosiers and the #10 Miami Hurricanes. From the record-breaking ticket prices and weird factoids to seven big picture questions and the most important keys that will decide the game, this is your officially national championship primer episode. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro11:03 - 7 Big Questions38:02 - The Case for the Miami Hurricanes54:43 - The Case for the Indiana Hoosiers1:05:05 - Our official predictionsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 transfer portal had a few more dominoes fall. In this episode, we break down the massive news of Dylan Raiola transferring to Oregon and what it means for a room that, at time of recording, could still bring back Dante Moore. We also dive into Sam Leavitt’s move to LSU, a possible $6.5 million tug-of-war for Ty Simpson, and other transfers around the sport. Plus, we answer Verballer questions on the right time to start hating on Indiana, the best G5 coaching hires, teams that exceeded our expectations, and more. Timecodes:00:00 – Intro04:13 – Dylan Raiola to Oregon19:02 – Sam Leavitt to LSU23:31 – Ty Simpson... back to college?30:56 – Q&A: Matt Campbell vs. James Franklin38:38 – Q&A: Time to Hate Indiana?44:02 – Q&A: Curt Cignetti's "Magic"51:57 – Q&A: 2025 Hits & Misses57:28 – Q&A: Underreported Hires1:01:06 – Q&A: Local Sports Cultures1:11:58 – Q&A: The Texas A&M RealitySupport the show!: htt

The college football transfer portal is a year-round engine of anxiety. ESPN’s Max Olson joins the show to unpack a wild portal season, from $6 million quarterback price tags to the legal mess surrounding Demond Williams at Washington. Why are some schools like Indiana and Texas Tech winning the arms race while others remain quiet? We go deep on the mechanics, the money, and the "fire hose" of news currently reshaping the sport.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday night, Indiana destroyed Oregon by a 56-22 score, leaving no doubt why the Hoosiers were the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. It was a dominant effort by Curt Cignetti, Fernando Mendoza, and a Hoosier defense that forced three first half turnovers. So dominant, in fact, that we're struggling to put it in historical context. In this episode, we walk back through the game, peek a bit ahead to the national championship game and, of course, give Dan a chance to sound off on a disappointing ending to Oregon's season.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a game. In a true nailbiter in the Fiesta Bowl, the Miami Hurricanes outlasted the Ole Miss Rebels by a 31-27 score to advance to the CFP National Championship Game, which will be played in their home stadium. In this episode, we react in the immediate aftermath of the game and talk through Miami's strategy to play slow, Ole Miss's ability to counter the Canes ferocious pass rush, Carson Beck's big game, and another heroic effort from Trinidad Chambliss, with this one coming up just a few points short.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And then there were four. In this episode, we take a closer look at this week's two CFP semifinal games as Miami and Ole Miss square off in the Fiesta Bowl and Oregon and Indiana play a rematch in the Peach Bowl. What must Miami do to slow down Trinidad Chambliss, and is there any way for Ole Miss to slow down a ferocious Miami pass rush? What must Oregon change to get revenge on Indiana? And does Indiana need to change anything with its game plan to down the Ducks for the second time this season? Timecodes:0:00 - Intro5:04 - Miami vs. Ole Miss Preview & Predictions31:50 - Oregon vs. Indiana Preview & PredictionsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The CFP Quarterfinals are officially in the books! In this episode, we react to Miami's upset of Ohio State, Indiana's obliteration of Alabama, Oregon's shutout of Texas Tech and a wild finish as Ole Miss got revenge on Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Relive the madness as we go through and react to each game. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro9:07 - Miami upsets Ohio State27:09 - Oregon shuts out Texas Tech45:34 - Indiana clobbers Alabama1:10:40 - Ole Miss gets revenge on Georgia1:29:41 - Closing ThoughtsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The CFP Quarterfinals are upon us! In this episode, Dan returns from vacation and Ty bounces back from a Christmas illness to discuss the next four games of the College Football Playoff. We've got four bangers in store for us as Miami plays Ohio State in Cotton Bowl, Oregon battles Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl, Alabama takes on Indiana in the Rose Bowl and Ole Miss plays a rematch with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. We talk through our biggest questions, keys to victory, and random observations that will make or break the next round of the CFP. Plus, we start off by recapping the news that former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham was tabbed by Michigan as its next head football coach. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro5:26 - 3 CFP Quarterfinal Questions25:28 - Miami vs Ohio State CFP Preview40:46 - Oregon vs Texas Tech CFPPreview57:28 - Alabama vs Indiana CFPPreview1:16:26 - Ole Miss vs Georgia CFP PreviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Dan on vacation and the regular season officially in the books, Ty invited ESPN's Bill Connelly back to the pod to help us put the 2025 campaign in perspective. In this episode, we discuss the biggest risers, most head-scratching fallers, and how Indiana and Texas Tech are the best stories of the year. Plus, a conversation about how the Group of Five should fit into the CFP discussion, what to watch for in non-playoff bowls, what it felt like for Bill to be part of the Mountain West's tiebreaker, and how Bill's new book, Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football, can be instructive as college football forges ahead into uncertain territory.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first round of the College Football Playoff is officially in the books. In this episode, we recap the highlights, lowlights and big storylines from an eventful slate of games, as Alabama erased a 17-0 deficit to beat Oklahoma, Miami outlasted Texas A&M (and the wind) for a 10-3 victory, and Oregon and Ole Miss dominated G5 opponents in their home stadiums. Plus, some thoughts on the Group of Five's place in the College Football Playoff. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro2:56 - Alabama defeats Oklahoma19:37 - Miami beats Texas A&M34:10 - Oregon & Ole Miss roll48:20 - The Great G5 Playoff DebateSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Early Signing Period in the rearview mirror, we touch base with our good friend Brandon Huffman of 247sports.com to recap the biggest storylines in the wake of college football's first milestone of the current recruiting cycle. In this episode, we talk through the challenging aspects of the college football calendar, the role of agents in the process, and the death of the National Letter of Intent (NLI). We also take a look at how recruiting philosophies have changed in the era of NIL and revenue sharing, whether the transfer portal has created more parity, Brandon's favorite players in the 2026 recruiting class, and the state of talent acquisition in the Power Four and Group of Six, and much more. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro3:33 - Interview with Brandon Huffman1:20:08 - Closing ThoughtsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The College Football Playoff is here. In this episode, we pop the hood on the four first round matchups and break down our biggest questions. Is Oklahoma more lucky than good? Can Alabama's offense get out of its rut? How will Miami's offensive line hold up against Texas A&M's front four and a loud Kyle Field? Are the Aggies trustworthy? To what degree will Ole Miss feel the absence of Lane Kiffin? Can Oregon run against James Madison? And do both Tulane and JMU belong in the College Football Playoff? Plus, breaking news with both DJ Lagway and Dylan Raiola reportedly jumping in the transfer portal, the latest names in the Michigan coaching search, and Fernando Mendoza's Heisman victory. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro3:47 - Latest News30:14 - Alabama vs Oklahoma CFP Predictions44:32 - Miami vs Texas A&M CFP Predictions56:13 - Tulane vs Ole Miss CFP Predictions1:16:52 - James Madison vs Oregon CFP PredictionsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati

In this college football podcast episode, Ty catches up with Matt Fortuna of The Inside Zone newsletter and The Independent podcast to go through the finer details of Penn State's tumultuous coaching search, his reactions to the sad situation unfolding in Ann Arbor, and his thoughts on Notre Dame's media blitz after being left out of the College Football Playoff. Subscribe to Matt's newsletter at https://www.insidezonemf.com. Join our Bowl Bingo game by signing up at https://www.playbowlbingo.com.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we react to the breaking news of Sherrone Moore's dismissal from Michigan. What does it mean for the Wolverines, who are the initial candidates, and how might it impact the rest of the coaching carousel? Then, we take a step back and evaluate the coaching carousel moves with our good friend Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports, The Athletic and The Audible podcast. We chat with Bruce around the drama surrounding Lane Kiffin's move to LSU, his biggest surprises during an active cycle, Lincoln Riley rumors, and much more. Plus, a discussion about Notre Dame's beef with the ACC and CFP.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that the CFP field is set, we have a pile of news to discuss. In this episode, we talk through Matt Campbell's move to Penn State, including our early impressions from his introductory presser and why we both think it's a terrific fit. Plus, we take a spin around the coaching carousel and talk about other moves around the sport at the head coach, coordinator, and position coach levels. Then we kick around some of our early leans and points of intrigue in the four first-round CFP matchups and take a look at a handful of interesting non-playoff bowl matchups. And last but not least, a conversation about Notre Dame's apparent beef with the ACC. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro3:52 - Coaching Carousel News35:42 - Early CFP Thoughts55:44 - Interesting Bowl Matchups58:42 - Notre Dame's ACC BeefSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The College Football Playoff field is officially set! In this special episode, we react to this year's playoff field, pick out the easiest pathways to the national championship, and debate the CFP Committee's logic for not penalizing Alabama and moving Miami ahead of Notre DameSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.