The Audible with Stew, Bruce & Ralph: A show about college football

Jon Sumrall is building something real in Gainesville, with a loaded receiver corps and a legitimate QB battle. Matt Campbell's Iowa State imports are quietly reshaping Penn State. Avery Johnson gets a fresh start under Collin Klein at K-State. Jaden Craig arrives from Harvard to replace Josh Hoover at TCU. And Memphis may have the most compelling quarterback competition in the country. Plus, Dabo vents about Notre Dame's money machine. Is he just relitigating the past? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stew's new piece on Curt Cignetti reveals how 15 seasons (14 losing) as an assistant shaped his chip-on-the-shoulder identity. Then, some recruiting departments are using AI to provide a boost to their productivity. The Athletic’s Antonio Morales joins the show to explain the promise and skepticism. Plus, American commissioner Tim Pernetti floats an intriguing Group of Six playoff.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dust on the Brendan Sorsby gambling scandal isn't going to settle any time soon, even if Texas Tech realistically needs to start planning for a 2026 season without it's greatest get in the transfer portal. On this episode of The Audible, senior writer Justin Williams joins Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo to bring us up-to-the-minute on where things stand with Sorsby. Then, Bruce and Ralph consider how Sorsby and Texas Tech might turn the page. After that, the guys discuss the latest on the 5-in-5 proposal and open up the mailbag. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Texas Tech's quarterback situation just went from promising to potentially devastating. Brendan Sorsby's gambling admission, which includes alleged bets on Indiana games while he was there, could end his college career entirely. Then: what the NFL Draft reveals about college football. Clemson had nine players picked, but struggled to get over .500. Miami had six players taken in the first 98 selections. Indiana set a program record for players taken. And Diego Pavia's Heisman run couldn't buy him a draft slot. Plus, Kalen DeBoer gets a big new seven-year deal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CFP commissioners are meeting in Dallas, and Ralph gives a 50/50 chance that college football has a 24-team playoff by 2028. Stew isn’t happy. What’s really at stake here? We have presumed or official QB1s at Florida State, Stanford, and Georgia Tech. It’s not all pretty. Plus, mailbag questions on UNC vs. Colorado, and whether players still go to class. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stew visited Indiana's spring practice and came away impressed. Cignetti's defense is loaded, and Josh Hoover is the only real question mark on a team that should easily make the playoff. Bruce drops the latest NFL draft intel: this QB class falls off a cliff after Mendoza, the DT class is historically bad (blame the portal), and Jeremiyah Love is a can't-miss. Then, Ralph reports that CFP commissioners are quietly looking to trim the maligned Tuesday night rankings show, but ESPN's contract makes a clean exit complicated. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce and Ralph pick between buzzy teams against sneaky-good alternatives for 2026. Michigan's stability under Whittingham, or Matt Campbell's Iowa State imports at Penn State? Oklahoma's defensive upside or Kiffin–less Ole Miss? Houston's momentum or TCU's depth in the Big 12? UCLA's Chesney era or Washington's returning talent? Plus, mailbag on “wins above bubble,” which past coaches would look different in a 12-team playoff, and whether UNC's Michael Malone hire echoes the Belichick experiment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do spring games belong on TV, or are they just empty calories? Bruce reports from Miami, where Darian Mensah is flashing and the Hurricanes are rebuilding their trenches after losing most of last year's title game roster. Alabama's quarterback competition between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack heats up, but can DeBoer's offense finally run the ball? The NCAA is fast-tracking a five-for-five eligibility rule that could eliminate this whole waiver mess. And Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh's departure to the Big Ten office puts more pressure on Luke Fickell's make-or-break season in Madison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Big Ten swept national championships in football, men's basketball, and women's basketball this year. Coaching hires and the transfer portal matter more than raw spending, but is that a trend or a coincidence? TCU extends Sunny Dykes after back-to-back nine-win seasons, and Virginia locks in Tony Elliott after one breakout year. Plus, mailbag tackles Brian Kelly's disappearing act, Nebraska's looming NIL arbitration case, coaching records against ranked teams, and some bonus music documentary talk.Parker Fleming's conference depth according to SP+: https://x.com/statsowar/status/2037976630132678760?s=20 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump's second executive order on college sports aims to nudge Congress, but will it actually move the needle? Cody Campbell and Brett Yormark get into a dustup over a Friday night Texas Tech–Houston game, reigniting the debate over high school football's sacred turf vs. TV eyeballs. Meanwhile, Alabama AD Greg Byrne calls for nuking SEC Championship games. Then, Bruce and Ralph each pick three intriguing non-playoff, non-new-coach teams for 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce breaks down his mock draft process and why coaches he surveyed think this is a weak class, with only one QB going in the first round. Pete Golding finally responds to Dabo Swinney’s tampering accusations, but does he actually deny anything? Meanwhile, the Big Ten wants the NCAA to stop enforcing tampering rules altogether. Then, it’s mailbag on the double standard between coaches and players, where the hosts would send a hypothetical four-star QB son, and favorite non-football college venues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lane Kiffin tries to temper expectations at LSU despite a reported $40 million roster. Bruce isn't buying it. Rising roster costs across college football trigger a transparency debate, and the Nebraska NIL arbitration case could set the rules for everyone. Ralph caught March Madness history in person, Irish rugby player Neff Giwa is heading to South Carolina, and could Tommy Tuberville's transfer and eligibility bill actually work? Plus, Ralph psychoanalyzes his cohosts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Athletic's Cameron Teague Robinson previews Ohio State’s season: who steps up after losing four likely first-round picks on defense, what Arthur Smith brings to a loaded offense, and why Ryan Day keeps hiring NFL coaches. Then, in mailbag: which pre-portal era players would have benefited most from transferring? Would a 24-team playoff water down the regular season? And have college football schemes really lost their variety?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FOIA details behind Kyle Whittingham's Utah exit are out, and both sides look bad. Bruce introduces Neff Giwa, a 6'8" rugby player from Ireland who's never played a down of football but has coaches in a bidding war after a three-second video. President Trump's executive order on the Army-Navy game sparks a surprisingly lively debate about where and when the rivalry should be played. And Tom Brady, Joe Burrow, and other NFL stars got schooled by pro flag football players in LA. What does it mean for the Olympics? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manny Navarro joins Bruce and Stew to break down his Power 4 portal grades. Why did Alabama get a C, Florida State D, and Miami an A? Plus, how the 2023 recruiting class is holding up heading into draft season and the five-star QB hit rate. Then it’s a debate over the magic of 2007, which coaches Bruce and Stew would hire for the next 10 years, and a tip of the cap to David Cutcliffe on his retirement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Curt Cignetti secured for himself a whole bunch of massive achievements during the 2025 season. Is he also now the top coach in the country? Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel and Ralph Russo run through Bruce's and Stew's respective top-25 lists on this episode of The Audible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The College Sports Commission is already overwhelmed, and Nebraska is the first school to challenge rejected NIL deals in arbitration. What’s it mean for enforcement, and can the system survive? Then, Bruce and Antonio Morales surveyed nearly 30 coaches anonymously on the latest coaching hires. Will Lane Kiffin win a title at LSU? Kyle Whittingham is the most respected hire, and Alex Golesh raised eyebrows at Auburn. Then, mailbag on West Coast schools in the Big Ten, which Power 4 coach will last longest, and coaching conviction scores. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports (and formerly of The Athletic) joins Bruce and Stew to break down the White House roundtable on saving college sports and whether the SCORE Act has any path forward. She shares stories from covering cross-country skiing and ski jumping at the Winter Olympics in Italy and why improv classes were a great career move.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Luck opens up about life as Stanford's GM, hiring former teammate Tavita Pritchard, how quarterbacks today develop like golfers, and why he'll never come out of retirement. Ralph breaks down the “secret” Smash Sports meeting in Dallas pushing to pool college football's TV rights — and why the SEC and Big Ten aren't on board. Plus, Mississippi's NIL tax carve-out, and your mailbag questions.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ralph Russo took on the impossible: predicting every Power Four head coach in 2030.  The guys unpack the logic (and chaos) behind the projections. Could Lane Kiffin actually stay put? And what does it say about today’s pressure cooker that even blue bloods feel unstable five years out? And the guys open with a lively discussion about President Trump’s planned “Save College Sports” roundtable, including who is — and isn’t —on the guest list.Check out Ralph's story in The Athletic here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7067868/2026/02/27/college-football-power-4-coach-predictions-2030/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NCAA proposes harsh penalties for schools that welcome transfers outside the portal: half-season coaching suspensions, massive fines, and lost roster spots. Cincinnati sues quarterback Brendan Sorsby, and Chandler Morris wants a seventh year of eligibility with a familiar legal playbook. Then, Stew defends his annual coaching hire grades while Ralph pushes back on fit questions at UCLA, Oklahoma State, and more. Finally, mailbag tackles SEC scheduling hypocrisy, the timing of eligibility hearings, and the biggest realignment disappointments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joey Aguilar's bid for an eighth college year is denied by a Tennessee judge — a rare NCAA court win. Curt Cignetti becomes college football's highest-paid coach at $13.2 million per year. UCLA weighs leaving the Rose Bowl for SoFi Stadium amid financial pressures. Then, The Athletic's Chris Vannini joins to discuss the NCAA rules committee's targeting proposals, the short shorts epidemic, and lessons from a record-breaking coaching carousel — including the Cignetti Effect, and why massive buyouts are here to stay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler joins to preview combine week: why the event matters more than people think, Fernando Mendoza's rise to projected No. 1 pick, Indiana's loaded draft class, Diego Pavia's limited NFL ceiling, and the historically thin QB and RB classes. Also, Dane's table-pounding pick and next year's quarterback outlook. Plus the coaching carousel strikes again as Northern Illinois's Thomas Hammock leaves for the Seahawks, highlighting the growing G6-to-NFL pipeline. And do fans who taunt players during court stormings deserve what's coming? Ralph thinks so.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Mississippi judge grants Trinidad Chambliss a preliminary injunction, clearing the way for a sixth season to be played at Ole Miss — but is this another dangerous chip away at eligibility rules? And how will the next couple quarterback draft classes look?. Plus, the guys aren’t sold on the Big Ten's 24-team playoff proposal, Sacramento State buys its way into the MAC, and a key BYU offensive weapon is expelled following serious allegations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Texas Tech's spending spree paid off with a conference title, while BYU defied expectations after losing Jake Retzlaff. Can other programs keep pace with the oil money and private equity backing the Big 12's new elite? And what defines the Big 12's identity in the revenue sharing era? Plus, Notre Dame's playoff snub revisited, Colorado's downfall, and Bill Moos's book excerpts about Nebraska and Scott Frost. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

North Dakota State is moving up to the Mountain West, ending years of FCS dominance. Did the Pac-12 miss an opportunity? What does this mean for the G5 landscape? Then, The Athletic's Sam Khan Jr. breaks down the first rev share portal cycle, LSU's spending spree, and why retention is cheaper than recruiting. Plus, Indiana's continued success, Penn State's Iowa State transplants, and Oklahoma State's roster overhaul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ralph grades Bruce and Stew's preseason ACC predictions. Miami's national title run validates both their picks — Clemson, not so much. Is Mario Cristobal a top-tier coach? Why can’t Pitt break through despite good talent? What’s up with Florida State? James Franklin's move to Virginia Tech gets high marks as a potential power shift in the conference. Plus, North Carolina's Belichick disaster revisited, and basketball vs. football in the ACC.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s tough business making preseason predictions. Revisit Bruce and Stew’s SEC Buy, Sell, Hold picks and look ahead to next season. The crew digs into what went wrong at LSU (and why they both missed it), Tennessee's identity crisis under Heupel, Alabama's frustrating (but technically better) season under DeBoer, and whether Vanderbilt can survive life after Diego Pavia. Plus, your questions on the SEC's fading physicality and how to define success at Ole Miss moving forward. Then, Bruce's conversation with Cooper Manning on Arch's growth, the media circus, and what surprised him most. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ralph puts Bruce and Stew on trial for their preseason Big Ten Buy, Sell, Hold rankings. The guys debate how they fared over the course of 2025, and look ahead to 2026: Arthur Smith's unconventional hire at Ohio State, Gary Patterson working with (or for?) Lincoln Riley at USC, Matt Rhule's Groundhog Day at Nebraska, whether P.J. Fleck has taken Minnesota to their ceiling, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce, Stew, and Ralph revisit their hottest and coldest takes of the 2025 season. Dabo Swinney calls out Pete Golding and Ole Miss for tampering. What does the NCAA do now? Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako returns to college after going pro, begging the question: what does this mean for football? Plus, Lane Kiffin's massive portal haul, and the Darian Mensah contract saga continues.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duke takes Darian Mensah to court over his two-year NIL contract after he entered the portal. You need a law degree to break down this stuff! CFP expansion talks hit a deadline Friday. Who’s pushing for expansion, and will we see it happen? The guys critique Stew's way-too-early top 25 for 2026, sparking a debate over Texas, Indiana's sustainability, and Penn State's makeover. Plus, what does Indiana’s perfect run mean for schools trying to replicate that success? Stew’s Early Top 25 story: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6983984/2026/01/20/college-football-top-25-rankings-2026-predictions/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first time, the Indiana Hoosiers are national champions, beating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21. Bruce and Ralph from Hard Rock Stadium join Stew to break down this game and this historic moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce and Ralph are in Miami for the championship. Speaking of trips to Miami: Duke QB Darian Mensah announces he's leaving in spite of his two-year contract, with Miami reportedly the destination. Can he do that? Can Miami? What exactly are these contracts for? And will this distract from Monday's national championship game? Plus, Ralph flips his championship pick back to Miami, invoking the 1984 Nebraska upset, and they choose their X-factor players for the title game.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dante Moore announces he's returning to Oregon for 2026, pushing Dylan Raiola's starting opportunity back another year. Was this the right decision? And what does it mean for the thin 2026 NFL quarterback class? Then, the guys make their final predictions for Monday's national championship game between Indiana and Miami. Can the Hoosiers complete a perfect 16-0 season, or will the Hurricanes pull off the upset? Plus, in mailbag, where would an undefeated Indiana would rank among the greatest teams ever? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Leavitt has committed to LSU, and Dylan Raiola to Oregon. Does anyone want to develop quarterbacks anymore? Ralph argues Trinidad Chambliss shouldn't get a sixth year despite his appeal. Texas raids the portal, landing a dream haul including Cam Coleman, Hollywood Smothers, Raleek Brown, and Rasheem Biles. Plus, who’s your favorite announcing team? Bruce, Ralph, and Stew weigh in with their opinions — and a controversial take about Kirk Herbstreit's dog.Chris Vannini’s story on how Athletic readers watch college football: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6946307/2026/01/12/college-football-broadcast-tv-announcers-survey-results/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Hurricanes vs. Hoosiers in the championship game. Indiana shows why they're the No. 1 seed, dropping 56 points on Oregon to advance to the final. Miami, a team that barely squeaked into the playoff, took down Ole Miss in an instant classic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. enters the transfer portal just four days after signing a $4M+ revenue-sharing contract with the Huskies. Bruce and Ralph break down potential legal ramifications — and potential suitors. Do contracts mean anything in college football's lawless NIL landscape? Plus, does the regular season mean anything anymore?Bruce's story on Pete Golding: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/818567/2019/02/16/alabama-football-pete-golding-defensive-coordinator/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce’s story on the SEC's struggles sparks debate: is the conference's dominance over? NIL has leveled the playing field, and SEC teams no longer have overwhelming talent advantages. The portal heats up with Brandon Sorsby landing at Texas Tech for a reported $5 million and Trinidad Chambliss is staying at Ole Miss (pending eligibility). Then the guys make their picks for the CFP semifinals: Miami-Ole Miss and Indiana-Oregon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce and Ralph went live after an incredible Ole Miss win over Georgia. Can anyone stop this Ole Miss team? They’ll move on to Miami, who came to play and toppled their own giant in a 24-14 defeat of Ohio State. And with bye week teams falling to 1-7 in the 12-team CFP era, does anyone get to use the bye as an excuse? Indiana didn’t disappoint, steamrolling the Tide 38-3 (don’t they know they’re supposed to be a Cinderella story?). And Oregon convincingly shut out Texas Tech 23-0. Will the Texas Tech boosters spend all that money differently next time?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guys break down the quarterfinal matchups and make their picks. Kyle Whittingham takes the Michigan head coaching job after stepping down at Utah, bringing 21 years of experience to stabilize a program in crisis. The guys debate whether the 66-year-old is the right fit and discuss his five-year timeline. Lincoln Riley blames the Irish for the cancellation of the annual USC-Notre Dame matchup, while Marcus Freeman signs an extension. Plus, while transfer portal money reaches new heights, have new rules curtailed spending at all? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce, Katie Strang, and Austin Meek's bombshell investigation reveals disturbing details about Sherrone Moore's behavior leading up to his firing at Michigan. Bruce breaks down some of the epic dysfunction inside the program. USC and Notre Dame's historic rivalry goes on indefinite hiatus after playing (almost) every year since 1926. Who's to blame for ending a century-old tradition?Bobby Petrino joins Bill Belichick's circus at North Carolina as offensive coordinator. Will the volatile mix of personalities lead to Petrino as interim head coach by November? Then: the guys preview their favorite bowl games, and answer some mailbag questions.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce, Stew, and Ralph recap the first round and look ahead to the quarterfinals. Plus, Ralph argues that college football has always been a league of systems and conditions, rather than one based on merit alone. So, do we want a system that gives teams like JMU and Tulane a path to flourish, or do we want to shut them out?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce surveyed two dozen college coaches about the playoff field, and the results are surprising: not one coach voted for Ryan Day as the best coach. Only one picked Indiana to win it all, and a majority believe Miami will upset Texas A&M on the road.The guys pick all the first round games against the spread. Can the Group of Five teams avoid embarrassment and preserve future playoff access? Ralph argues these blowout-prone matchups hurt the entertainment product, while Stew defends Cinderella stories.Plus mailbag questions on Indiana's success, Jedd Fisch's coaching credentials, and Diego Pavia's Heisman night behavior. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Michigan situation has taken a darker turn than anyone expected. Bruce, Ralph, and Stew break down how Sherrone Moore's firing has evolved into a potential crisis in the athletic department, why AD Warde Manuel's job may be in jeopardy, and what this means for the coaching search. They debate whether Kellen DeBoer could realistically leave Alabama and discuss candidates like Jedd Fisch.Meanwhile, the transfer portal is exploding with quarterback talent. Dylan Raiola, DJ Lagway, and Sam Leavitt headline a loaded QB class. The crew ranks the top available signal-callers and discusses how NIL money is changing the draft-or-stay calculation.Plus, Ferndando Mendoza wins the Heisman in a relative landslide over Diego Pavia. The guys divulge how they voted this year, and why Pavia's competitive fire led to his controversial social media posts. And: should Notre Dame join a conference after their playoff snub? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was fired yesterday for having an "inappropriate relationship with a staff member." As of last night, he was being held in Washtenaw County Jail. Bruce and Ralph react to this news and what it means for Michigan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ralph and Stew break down Notre Dame’s escalating feud with the ACC, Brett Yormark’s unusually sharp public criticism, and what the fallout means for next year’s CFP format. Plus: early Heisman thoughts and your mailbag questions.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was Notre Dame right to skip the Pop Tarts Bowl, and/or could it undermine the whole Bowl system? Why are we doing this bizarre Tuesday rankings show? And how did Alabama make it in? Notre Dame's shocking exclusion from the College Football Playoff has sent shockwaves through the sport. The Athletic’s Notre Dame beat writer Pete Sampson breaks down how the team felt about being left out after sitting at #10 all season and AD Pete Bevacqua's comments about "permanent damage" to Notre Dame’s relationship with the ACC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce, Stew, and Ralph are live in Los Angeles to react to the final CFP ranking announcement. They'll debate who will make the final cut ahead of the full reveal. Then, they'll pick the first round against the spread, and talk through their predictions for how the Playoff will unfold. Don't miss it!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Multiple Ole Miss players publicly dispute Lane Kiffin’s claim that the team asked him to stay for the playoffs. Does it matter? Chris Klieman steps down at Kansas State after a solid run, and former Heisman finalist Colin Klein is expected to return home from Texas A&M to take over the Wildcats. What might Klein’s experience in a well-funded program like A&M bring to Manhattan?Brian Hartline lands the head coaching job at USF, who might have the highest ceiling among open jobs in the American. And Neal Brown lands at North Texas.Plus, the guys answer your mailbag questions! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Notre Dame is at No. 10, while Miami is on the outside looking in at No. 12. Texas moved up to No. 13, and Alabama sits at No. 9. Who’s in danger of missing the playoff, who’s still on the bubble, and how much motion is possible with just a few days left before the bracket is finalized?Plus, somehow there’s more coaching news. With Kalani Sitake now locked in at BYU, Penn State remains standing at the altar — and Cal looks like it will be hiring Tosh Lupoi.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.