Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss Notre Dame's resiliency, the path to outlasting Ohio State, and how a national title will affect each coach in the eyes of their programs and fans. Then, Indiana Coach Curt Cignetti joins! He breaks down what he's seen from both Notre Dame and Indiana when he played them this past season. He also talks about how quarterback Kurtis Rourke played an entire season on a torn ACL, how he's rebuilding Indiana, and what to expect from their new quarterback!

0:00 - How Notre Dame has found ways to win

5:00 - The lore around Notre Dame

9:00 - How to deal with Ohio State's offensive line

12:37 - Ohio State fans fully embracing Coach Ryan Day?

18:11 - Notre Dame vs. Ohio State: Previous matchups

23:29 - National Championship game predictions

30:23 - Indiana coach Curt Cignetti joins!

31:00 - Cignetti on this year's transfer portal

32:44 - Kurtis Rourke played an entire season on a torn ACL?

34:00 - Cignetti on signing ex-Cal QB Fernando Mendoza

35:53 - Cignetti breaks down how the title game will go down

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Rece Davis and Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network, discuss the moment when Texas could've turned the tide of the game, Texas' future with Arch Manning, Jack Sawyer's unyielding loyalty and impeccable leadership with the Buckeyes, and If Notre Dame can keep the national title game close against Ohio State.

0:00 - Ohio State's soul killing plays

4:57 - Ohio State vs Texas: Who had the better regular season?

6:30 - Ohio State Jack Sawyer's scoop-and-score

9:09 - The person that bleeds buckeyes from their veins and their soul

11:16 - Is Texas close to eventually winning a national title?

15:20 - Notre Dame to put up a fight against Ohio State in national title game?

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the 54 seconds of football that changed Notre Dame's program, the eyebrow raising injuries for both Notre Dame and Penn State, the gauntlet Ohio State is in to get to the national title game and their next mammoth matchup against Texas, the transfer portal moves that caught Pete's eye, and more!

0:00 - A day dedicated to a notable Notre Dame coach

1:00 - The semifinals matchups everyone wanted?

4:26 - Notre Dame's crucial 54 seconds against Georgia

8:48 - Can Notre Dame run their punt team off the field before a play?

12:22 - The Big Ten's dominant season + a note about the top conference debate

22:19 - Penn State & Notre Dame key injury updates

27:02 - Penn State & Notre Dame storylines you may not know

30:23 - The team to take down Ohio State

34:57 - Texas' major execution issues

41:29 - The most interesting transfer portal moves

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss Ohio State's bludgeoning of Oregon, the person they caught wearing a Cheshire Cat grin at the end of the game, the rivalry between two coaches that they've picked up on, the mess of the Texas - Arizona State game, what Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman's said to his team following the Sugar Bowl's postponement, and more.

0:00 - Unbelievable Ohio State stat of the night

5:00 - Which Ohio State Buckeye stunned Oregon?

5:47 - Ohio State mindset that pushed them to a win

9:00 - Texas was playing with their food?

11:42 - Why Arizona State deserves their flowers

16:52 - The trend for Big 12 teams after they reach the top

18:46 - What Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said about the truck attack

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Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Bill Connelly, creator of the SP+ college football ranking system, discuss the adjustments teams need to make to push through to the semifinals. In between, they talk about the obnoxious team they can't wait to watch, the section of the bracket they view as a dogged cage match, the unfair assessment of Ohio State's quarterback, how risky Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman will be, the biggest threat to the Sugar Bowl winner and more!

1:58 The toughest section of the playoff bracket

5:33 How teams are prepping for the Rose Bowl

12:02 Fair to criticize Ohio State's Will Howard?

18:20 Did Oregon previously overachieve against Ohio State?

21:52 What NFL scouts expect from the Sugar Bowl

26:39 Gunner Stockton auditions for Georgia starting QB role

32:21 The stakes for Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman

35:18 Will Georgia's title-winning character pull them through?

38:46 Who is the Peach Bowl underdog yapper?

40:42 The best non-Indiana story goes to…

47:50 Can Penn State continue their undefeated streak in the Fiesta Bowl?

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Pete Thamel, Harry Lyles, host of "Countdown to GameDay" on the ESPN College Football YouTube channel, and Heather Dinich, ESPN College Football Playoff insider, discuss how Notre Dame made history, the deep issues behind the underwhelming playoff games, what you can't bring from the NFL to college, and the job security of coaches James Franklin and Ryan Day.

0:00 - The difference between the Notre Dame & Ohio State playoff home games

3:15 - What led to the first round blowout games

11:35 - The under-the-radar playoff issue: Neutral sites

17:02 - How Penn State's James Franklin & Ohio State's Ryan Day silenced critics

32:18 - Why Ohio State Jeremiah Smith had the best weekend

34:10 - Quarterfinal games: Things to look forward to

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Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network discuss the teams that have it the worst in the first round of the College Football Playoff, whether Indiana can continue their historic win streak, SMU going into a Penn State home game, Clemson's uneven matchup against Texas, Ohio State's redemption game and so much more!

0:00 - How will teams handle frigid first round playoff games?

4:02 - Notre Dame has an opportunity to beat Indiana and make a run to the title

12:35 - SMU beware of a Penn State home "white out" game

20:06 - Does Clemson stand a chance against a mighty Texas team?

26:35 - Ohio State finally gets a home night game, takes on Tennessee

39:22 - Best in game: 2024 Heisman winner Travis Hunter

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Marty Smith & Ryan McGee of "Marty & McGee" take over the pod! They're joined by Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst, to discuss Bill Belichick potentially going to North Carolina and his glaring college football weakness. They also get into the possibility of college players being coached at the NFL level and Belichick's ability to focus more on the player-coach relationship.

0:00 - College football is morphing into the NFL

2:27 - Belichick to handle rosters & black tie events?

4:06 - Belichick's weakness: Drafting players

9:08 - Belichick to deal with college free agency?

12:25 - College players ready to be coached at NFL level?

16:32 - College players need mentorship

22:25 - UNC to let Stephen Belichick coach in the future?

25:26 - UNC to give total control to Belichick?

32:47 - Early NFL draft look

36:44 - Who will win the Heisman trophy?

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Pete Thamel, Ryan McGee, host of "Marty & McGee" on SEC Network, and Heather Dinich, national college football insider, discuss the teams that got screwed out of the College Football Playoff and why they don't have sympathy for them. They also get into Ohio State's gauntlet of a pathway to the title, Clemson's direct pathway to the CFP through the ACC, neutral sites and player injuries preventing teams from making long CFP runs, and the intensified pressure for teams to grow competitively fast!

0:00 - Heather Dinich joins from outside the CFP Selection Committee room

1:43 - Clemson and Arizona State rewarded for title wins

3:56 - CFP discussions to change format begin on January 20

9:58 - Which teams got screwed this year?

14:18 - Indiana and Notre Dame meet in the first round

16:43 - How will Ohio State respond in first round after Michigan loss?

20:08 - Clemson keeps winning ACC, why not stay?

26:32 - Pressure on teams to grow competitively fast

28:35 - Best in game: Georgia backup QB Gunner Stockton

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Rece Davis and Pete Thamel discuss the Georgia vs. Texas rematch, the Big 12 team that will fall out of the College Football Playoff, the irony SMU is more likely to make the CFP over Alabama, and more! In this episode, they look at all the conference title matchups, give their thoughts on what they think is important to know going into those games, then pick the teams they think will come out on top.

2:47 - Georgia vs Texas rematch!

10:07 - Penn State faces Oregon, the singular undefeated team

13:05 - Iowa State vs Arizona State, loser won't make the playoff

16:02 - ACC title game to determine number of ACC teams in CFP?

20:37 - Could UNLV upset Boise State and nab the 12th playoff bid?

23:41 - Potentially a fun snowy American Athletic title game

26:19 - Is it Ohio's year to take the Mid-American title?

27:24 - High drama in Sun Belt title over Marshall's coach

28:41 - After C-USA title game, will Western Kentucky's coach leave for Purdue?

33:39 - If Penn State loses to Oregon, does their final ranking put them behind Ohio State?

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