New Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea played for the Commodores and grew up in Nashville. If there is a man who understands the challenges and potential for the football program of the Southeastern Conference’s lone private school, it’s Lea, the former Notre Dame defensive coordinator. Then Steven Godfrey of Banner Society joins AP’s Ralph Russo for an in-depth discussion on a topic suggested by a listener: Which programs have recently been the biggest underachievers in each of the 10 FBS conference...

The 2021 season is about seven months away, but it’s never to early to start projecting how teams will do. ESPN’s Bill Connelly, the mastermind behind SP+ power rankings, joins AP’s Ralph Russo to discuss the first 2021 projections. They’ll compare SP+ to the composite of way-too-early rankings done by four notable news organizations that cover college football. SP+ is more optimistic about Miami, Michigan and the Pac-12 in general than the humans. On the flip side, SP+ is more skeptical abou...

Five and half year ago, Steve Sarkisian was fired by Southern California, a promising career derailed by alcoholism. The road back for Sark went thrown Alabama and the NFL and now he is a head coach again, taking at Texas. Sarkisian joins AP’s Ralph D. Russo to talk about his comeback and how recovery has made him a different, and he hopes better, coach. Then Richard Johnson of the Split Zone Duo podcast joins the show to breakdown what made Sark’s offense so good at Alabama and how the top c...

The 2020 coaching carousel in college football was more active than expected. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg joins AP Ralph Russo to talk takeaways on changes made from Texas to Marshall. For some schools it’s never a and time to fire a coach, even though the chances of landing an established and proven replacement have never been less likely. Meanwhile, opportunities for Black coaches are still lagging as the leadership in major college football fails to match the makeup of the rosters. Plus, the tr...

The early signing period in college football has become the main signing period for the sport. So the traditional signing period in February is mostly about tying up loose ends. Most teams have already moved on to 2022, and we will, too. Bud Elliott, recruiting director for 247 Sports joins AP’s Ralph Russo to take a look at the class of 2022 and how limitations caused by the pandemic, plus the hopeful return to normal late this year, impacts the next 10 months before the next December signin...

College football’s offseason has already included a coaching change at Tennessee and a Power Five commissioner announcing he will step down. The news never really stops. To kickoff the offseason mode at the AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, Andy Staples from The Athletic joins AP’s Ralph Russo. The Volunteers might have a replacement for Jeremy Pruitt by the time you hear this, but what kind of a hole will the next regime need to climb out of?Why did Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott go ...

College football’s season in a pandemic has ended with a most familiar champion. Nick Saban’s Alabama dynasty won its sixth title by beating Ohio State in the College Football Playoff national championship game.To put a wrap on the season and the championship game, Paul Myerberg and Dan Wolken from USA Today join AP’s Ralph Russo. They discuss if there is anyway to tap the brakes on college football’s offensive revolution. Is it even necessary? There appears to be no end in sight for Saban an...

Alabama against Ohio State for the national championship. After a long, strange season there is one game left to be played. The College Football Playoff title game will feature the two most talented rosters in the country and put to bed a season that has been a grind for everyone involved. To preview Crimson Tide-Buckeyes and review what it took to get here, ESPN’s Chris Fowler joins AP’s Ralph Russo. Chris discusses why this season lacked the usual joy, and why he was still thankful to be pa...

The College Football Playoff features four of the bluest of blue bloods. No. 1 Alabama takes on No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 2 Clemson faces No. 3 Ohio State. Cole Cubelic of the SEC Network and ESPN joins AP’s Ralph Russo to breakdown each matchup. For Notre Dame to stay within striking distance of the might Crimson Tide, the Irish need to play perfectly complementary football. Meanwhile, the other semifinal could come down to which is more efficient: Trevor Lawrence and Clemson’s passing game o...

Bowl season is here in college football. It is not as long as usual, which is sad. But there are plenty of games to enjoy. To preview them all _ even the ones that might have already been played by the time you listen _ Matt Brown, college football editor at The Athletic and an AP poll voter, joins Ralph Russo, AP college football writer. Matt and Ralph provide a tidbit or two on every game, make a few picks, and tell you what to watch for. The bowl are more unpredictable than ever, which is ...