Open For Business: College Football w/ John Kurtz

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College football has a massive Saturday ahead, and the pressure is on Texas, Michigan, BYU and the Big 12. Steve Sarkisian and Texas get another shot at Ohio State after spending the offseason arguing they were punished for scheduling the Buckeyes. Michigan faces Oklahoma after the controversial ending against Western Michigan, with Bryce Underwood already under pressure at quarterback.

Plus, it may be the biggest nonconference weekend of the year for the Big 12. Kansas hosts Missouri in the Border War, Arizona State travels to Texas A&M, Iowa State visits Iowa, Oklahoma State tries to bounce back against Oregon, and Utah hosts Arkansas. We also break down the huge Big 12 title implications of Arizona-BYU and debut the weekly OFB Premier League promotion and relegation race.

Topics include Texas vs. Ohio State, Oklahoma vs. Michigan, Steve Sarkisian, Bryce Underwood, John Mateer, BYU vs. Arizona, Noah Fifita, Bear Bachmeier, Kansas vs. Missouri, Arizona State vs. Texas A&M, Iowa State vs. Iowa, Oregon vs. Oklahoma State, Utah vs. Arkansas, Big 12 football, College Football Playoff and the OFB Premier League.

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Lane Kiffin and LSU embarrassed Clemson 51-10 in the worst loss of the Dabo Swinney era. Was this the moment college football officially passed Dabo by? We break down why Kiffin’s aggressive roster-building model is built for the modern sport, what LSU’s dominant debut means for its national championship hopes and whether Clemson can ever return to the elite tier without radically changing its approach.

Plus, is Texas Tech still the Big 12 favorite after an underwhelming opener, or has BYU pulled even with the Red Raiders? We also examine whether Utah can win its divorce with Kyle Whittingham, what Auburn’s narrow victory revealed about Baylor and whether Oregon is more vulnerable than expected after surviving Boise State.

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#CollegeFootball #LSUFootball #Big12Football

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Instant reaction to a WILD day of college football, including the controversial finish to Michigan-Western Michigan.

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The SEC is suing LSU and Lane Kiffin in federal court as the fight over former NFL players returning to college football reaches a breaking point. We break down what the SEC wants, what LSU is arguing, the potential punishment facing Lane Kiffin, and how this could turn into an even bigger legal mess heading into the weekend.

Plus, Cincinnati has officially been cleared by the NCAA in the Brendan Sorsby gambling investigation. We revisit what Cincinnati knew, why Texas Tech fans questioned the Bearcats’ role, Cody Campbell’s mysterious “receipts” comment, and why Cincinnati fans finally get their vindication.

Then, speaking of Cody Campbell, the Texas Tech mega-booster is talking more smack in the new Paramount+ documentary, warning the rest of the Big 12 that the Red Raiders won’t forget how they were treated during the Sorsby controversy. Could Texas Tech really run up the score on Big 12 opponents this season?

Topics include LSU vs. the SEC, Lane Kiffin, former NFL players returning to college football, Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati football, Texas Tech football, Cody Campbell, Big 12 football, NCAA gambling rules, college football lawsuits and the latest college football news.

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Colorado football just delivered an incredible finish against Georgia Tech, and Julian Lewis may have given the Buffaloes their first signature moment of the season.

With Colorado needing a touchdown in the final minutes, Lewis led an epic late drive and made several huge throws, including a spectacular go-ahead touchdown with just 37 seconds remaining. It was a massive response after an uneven night for the Colorado offense and a performance that could completely change the conversation around the Buffs.

In this Colorado vs. Georgia Tech postgame reaction, we break down Julian Lewis’ clutch performance, Colorado’s dramatic improvement in the trenches, a dominant defensive effort, the Buffs’ revitalized rushing attack and the mistakes that nearly cost Deion Sanders’ team the game.

Is Julian Lewis emerging as the answer at quarterback? Has Colorado finally fixed its biggest problems from the last few seasons? And after a statement performance on the road, are the Buffs ready to become a real factor in the Big 12?

We break down everything from Colorado vs. Georgia Tech and what it means for Deion Sanders, Julian Lewis and the Buffaloes moving forward.

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Can Arizona State football become a Big 12 power again under Kenny Dillingham?

John Kurtz is joined by Hod Rabino of Devil’s Digest to break down an Arizona State team that may be more talented than many people realize entering the 2026 college football season. After losing stars like Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson, the Sun Devils have reloaded through the transfer portal while Dillingham continues to build the resources and infrastructure around the program.

They discuss the ugly end to Sam Leavitt’s time at ASU, why Cutter Boley is expected to win the starting quarterback job, Arizona State’s loaded group of wide receivers, the strength of the Sun Devils defense and whether ASU has enough talent to challenge Texas A&M on the road.

They also examine Arizona State’s brutal Big 12 schedule, the program’s increased financial commitment under Dillingham and why 2026 could be another important step toward ASU becoming a consistent contender at the top of the Big 12 — with an even bigger opportunity potentially waiting in 2027.

Can Arizona State get back on top of the Big 12 and turn its recent success into something sustainable?

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LSU and the SEC are heading toward a massive showdown over college football eligibility rules, and Lane Kiffin appears willing to push the conference as far as possible.

A Louisiana judge has temporarily blocked the SEC from enforcing its new rule banning former professional players from returning to college. With another major court hearing coming Thursday and LSU’s roster deadline immediately after, the Tigers could soon have to decide whether they are really willing to risk massive SEC penalties to play Dae’Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris and potentially other former NFL players.

Could Greg Sankey actually suspend Lane Kiffin for half the season and fine LSU up to 50% of its football operating budget? Or is LSU exposing the limits of the SEC’s ability to govern its own members? We break down the growing LSU-SEC game of chicken and what it could mean for the future of college sports.

Plus, USC has an attendance problem that continues to raise questions about the state of Trojans football.

And the ACC may have been the biggest winner of Week Zero. Bill Belichick and North Carolina knocked off TCU, Virginia destroyed NC State 34-8 and Stanford picked up a win over Hawaii. We discuss why UNC and Virginia could be especially important for an ACC trying to develop more nationally relevant football programs beyond its traditional powers.

Topics include:
LSU vs. SEC eligibility battle
Lane Kiffin and Greg Sankey
Former NFL players returning to college football
Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris
Jack Pyburn and LSU
SEC self-governance
USC football attendance
Bill Belichick and North Carolina
UNC vs. TCU
Virginia football and Tony Elliott
Beau Pribula
ACC football Week Zero
Florida State struggles
College football news and realignment

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TCU had every opportunity to beat North Carolina, but the Horned Frogs let it slip away in an ugly loss that raises even more questions about the start of the 2026 season.

UNC struggled to generate much offense after halftime, yet TCU could not take advantage. Jaden Craig had a rough night at quarterback, the Horned Frogs stalled in key situations, and a missed late field goal helped North Carolina escape with the win.

In this immediate reaction, we break down what went wrong for TCU, Craig’s performance, the encouraging signs from Jeremy Payne and the new-look offense, North Carolina’s defensive adjustments, and why the early returns on TCU’s season are becoming concerning.

We also discuss the bigger Big 12 picture and whether playing season-opening games overseas is worth the sloppy conditions and potential damage to the conference’s national perception.

#TCU #TCUFootball #NorthCarolina #UNC #CollegeFootball #Big12 #Big12Football

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A major BYU football shakeup headlines tonight’s show. Brett McMurphy reports that BYU may eventually have to choose between head coach Kalani Sitake and athletic director Brian Santiago. We break down that reported tension, why Sitake no longer reports directly to Santiago, the roles of Keith Vorkink and former Kentucky administrator Marc Hill, and why BYU cannot risk losing its football coach.

We also cover the growing SEC eligibility battle involving LSU, Lane Kiffin, Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. Could the players’ legal team take the SEC to court, and can the Big 12 avoid a similar fight involving Texas Tech and Houston?

Plus, TCU revoked the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s football credentials following its reporting on the altercation involving Jacob Fields and Dozie Ezukanma. Was TCU’s response justified, or did the school create another unnecessary distraction before facing North Carolina in Ireland?

Topics include BYU football, Kalani Sitake, Brian Santiago, Big 12 football, LSU football, Lane Kiffin, SEC football, Texas Tech, Houston, TCU football and the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

#BYUFootball #Big12Football #CollegeFootball

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Can BYU actually beat Notre Dame in one of the biggest games of the 2026 college football season? Ty Hildenbrandt from The Solid Verbal joins Open For Business to break down the matchup.

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Ty believes this could be the best Notre Dame football team of his lifetime, with CJ Carr ready to take a major step forward and one of the deepest rosters Marcus Freeman has built in South Bend. But what does that mean for Kalani Sitake, Bear Bachmeier and BYU?

We break down where BYU can challenge Notre Dame, why Bachmeier’s development as a passer could determine whether the Cougars can pull the upset, and why this game could have major College Football Playoff implications for both programs.

Topics include:

* BYU vs. Notre Dame preview
* Notre Dame’s 2026 national championship potential
* CJ Carr and the Notre Dame offense
* Bear Bachmeier’s development
* BYU’s path to upsetting Notre Dame
* Marcus Freeman’s best Notre Dame roster
* BYU and Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff chances

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