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

The Big 12 is potentially the most wide-open and chaotic conference in college football, and we are breaking down every single contender, dark horse, and spoiler. Stew, Bruce, and Ralph look at Colorado's overhauled roster to see if Deion Sanders has the lines of scrimmage fixed enough to spark a massive rebound season after last year's frustrating 3-9 collapse. Then, they head to Lubbock to debate if Joey McGuire is finally ready to push Texas Tech to the very top of college football. Plus, the guys dissect Kenny Dillingham's developmental blueprint at Arizona State and see if the Sun Devils can shock the oddsmakers.

But the chaos doesn’t stop there. We run through over/under win totals and major storylines for all 16 teams navigating massive coaching changes across the country. Can the Utah Utes maintain their standard in a new era, or will Avery Johnson and Kansas State steal the crown? We check in on Lance Leipold’s Kansas squad, and discuss how Iowa State retools after a major offseason shift. Finally, we analyze the schematic changes for programs like Brent Brennan's Arizona Wildcats, Scott Frost's second year at UCF, and Scott Satterfield's high-stakes pivotal year with the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro

1:45 - Texas Tech

5:42 - BYU

10:37 - Utah

13:05 - Kansas State

15:52 - Houston

19:58 - Texas Tech versus the field

23:11 - Arizona

25:14 - TCU

27:34 - Arizona State

29:26 - Kenny Dillingham’s future?

33:17 - Colorado

36:08 - Will Deion will be the coach in 2027?

38:04 - Baylor

40:27 - Kansas

43:41 - Cincinnati

45:54 - Wildcards

46:03 - Oklahoma State

49:22 - West Virginia

50:50 - Iowa State

52:28 - UCF

55:09 - Mailbag

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#CollegeFootball #Big12 #ColoradoFootball #TexasTech #ArizonaState #UtahFootball #KStateFB #GoPokes #KUFootball #UCFKnights #BearDown #Cyclones

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The SEC is officially wide open, and we are breaking down every single team in the conference to find out who has what it takes to make a run at the National Championship!

From Lane Kiffin taking over a $45 million roster at LSU to Arch Manning's explosive new weapons at Texas, year one of Jon Sumrall at Florida, and Kalen DeBoer's fascinating quarterback battle at Alabama—we cover it all. We dive into the big-name transfer portal additions, the major coaching staff overhauls, playoff contenders like Oklahoma and Ole Miss, and the teams just fighting for competence.

Timestamps:

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

2:10 - Texas

5:21 - Georgia

9:51 - LSU

12:48 - Florida

16:41 - Auburn

19:12 - Kentucky

23:08 - Arkansas

26:52 - Alabama

32:09 - Tennessee

35:40 - South Carolina

39:50 - Oklahoma

43:54 - Ole Miss

47:38 - Texas A&M

50:43 - Mizzou

52:58 - Vanderbilt

56:26 - Mississippi State

58:52 - Mailbag

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#SEC #CollegeFootball #SECPreview #LSUFootball #TexasFootball #AlabamaFootball #GeorgiaBulldogs #CFB2026

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On today's program, Bruce, Stew, and Ralph dive deep into a massive week for college football, spanning from historic rivalry renewals to major legal decisions shaping the future of the sport.

First, Bruce shares his inner-circle experiences from the FOX Sports Football retreat, including a fascinating breakfast breakdown with Chris Petersen and Gerry DiNardo about 1970s play-signaling restrictions. Plus, we dive into two crucial new rule changes explained by Mike Pereira and a quick recap of golfing with Tom Rinaldi.

Next, a classic rivalry is renewed! USC and Notre Dame have officially agreed to a four-game series beginning in 2030. The guys debate the formatting, exploring why USC fans are split, why Stew loves the early-season timing, and Ralph’s concerns about burning a historic matchup in Week 1.

We also break down the historic alignment between the Big Ten and the SEC, who have finally green-lit the college sports bill to head to the Senate floor. We examine if this seven-year journey will clear the House, what a potential 19-school conference realignment looks like, and if this bill could actually lead to kicking underperforming schools out of top conferences.

The crew also reacts to a judge granting an injunction that gives Class of 2022 athletes a fifth year of NCAA eligibility. Bruce explains why this may not be as exciting for teams as it looks on paper, while Stew and Ralph look at which favorite teams could suddenly get key stars back on the roster. 

Finally, we track the latest developments out of Chapel Hill, where North Carolina’s Michael Lombardi has retained an attorney and is ready to clear his name.

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Timestamps

0:00 - Intro

0:47 - Bruce reveiews the start of the FOX offsites

6:00 - USC vs Notre Dame discussion

15:13 - Ralph discusses latest on potential Senate involvement

22:43 - Ralph explains the latest eligibility ruling in Colorado

34:15 - Latest on UNC GM Mike Lombardi

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Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel are live in Chicago for Big Ten Media Days! On today's program, the guys break down their biggest takeaways from the podium and ask a massive question: Are Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana the undisputed new "Big Three" and the class of the conference?

Plus, Stew shares details from his exclusive sit-down interview with the Big Ten Commissioner, and the guys look ahead to crucial Thursday storylines for Lincoln Riley and Penn State.

Later, the crew reacts to the historic news of Ohio State and Notre Dame adding sponsorship patches to their iconic jerseys.

The mailbag is packed this week. Ralph Russo answers your questions

• Most Dominant Seasons Ever: The guys tackle a heavy question from Jason in Columbia, SC, ranking four legendary individual seasons since 2000: Tim Tebow (2007), Cam Newton (2010), Joe Burrow (2019), and Travis Hunter (2024). Is Hunter's dual-award season actually crazier than Shohei Ohtani?
• Blue Blood Urgency: Which historic program needs a successful campaign the most to avoid sliding into complete irrelevance in this new era of player compensation?
• Coordinators Under Pressure: Bryan from Atlanta asks which coordinators across the country are facing the absolute most heat, whether they are stepping into championship expectations or trying to fix struggling units.

Timestamps

0:52 - Bret Bielema’s comments

4:49 - Stew on his convo with Tony Petitti

13:26 - Bruce’s takeaways from day 1 of media day

15:09 - Matt Campbell & Penn State

16:18 - USC & Lincoln Riley

23:15 - Stew is concerned about Michigan

24:50 - Dante Moore & Oregon discussion

25:49 - Stew on Oregon

27:45 - Jersey Patches

31:23 - Audible Mailbag

31:56 - Question 1: Blue Blood schools

35:57 - Question 2: Most impressive individual seasons

39:33 - Question 3: Coordinators under pressure

44:02 - Gift card for Mailbag winner

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In today’s episode, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo break down a chaotic week in college football, starting with breaking news out of Chapel Hill, a massive Big Ten Media Day preview, and the sport’s latest labor shifts. 

First, the guys dive into North Carolina placing general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave. What does this mean for the Tar Heels' 2026 season, the program's structural future, and the long-term relationship between UNC and Bill Belichick? Bruce and Ralph evaluate Lombardi’s brief tenure as a CFB general manager and project what expectations look like for UNC moving forward. 

Next, with Big Ten Media Days kicking off and USC head coach Lincoln Riley taking the stage tomorrow, the guys preview the biggest storylines, teams, and coaches they are chasing down. Plus, they break down the 2026 Preseason Big Ten Poll, discussing why predicting an order of finish is harder than the SEC this year and why Bruce is underwhelmed by the conference's running back rooms. 

Finally, they tackle the latest massive labor news as Stanford football players move toward creating a collective bargaining unit. Does this bring college football closer to a CBA? To wrap up, Bruce and Ralph highlight college football’s 2026 "All-Geezer Team," spotlighting the 7th- and 8th-year players still dotting rosters, including names like Avery Johnson and Bear Alexander.

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TIMESTAMPS:

1:10 UNC places GM Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave due to HR complaint

6:13 - Another distraction for UNC

7:28 - What happens going forward?

16:36 - What is high on Bruce’s list for Big Ten media day?

20:36 - Oregon Ducks title contention?

23:31 - Last time Ohio State won the Big Ten

25:36 - Pressure on Lincoln Riley and USC

31:46 - The Big Ten RBs

34:35 - Stanford players and a CBA?

40:25 - The All-Geezer team

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In this episode, Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo dive deep into the latest college football headlines, rank the nation's quarterbacks, and answer your burning questions in the mailbag.

First, we react to Florida head coach Jon Sumrall embracing the grueling 9-game SEC schedule and his thoughts on the rivalry with Georgia. Then, things get spicy in Lexington as Kentucky offensive coordinator Will Stein drops a bold, Curt Cignetti-style claim about why the Wildcats will win.

Next, we break down The Athletic’s 2026 college football quarterback tiers, ranking every projected starter from 1 to 138. The guys reveal their picks for:

• Which tier-2 (or lower) QBs will jump into Tier 1 (LaNorris Sellers, Marcel Reed, Jaden Craig)
• Which big-name signal-callers they are highly skeptical of (Josh Hoover, Julian Sayin, Noah Fifita)
• Their favorite under-the-radar tier 4-7 sleepers to ride with this season (Tyler Hughes, Alberto Mendoza, Lincoln Kienholz)

Finally, we open up the mailbag to tackle your questions:

• Is Indiana's Curt Cignetti destined to regress like Chip Kelly now that the rest of college football has copied his transfer portal blueprint?
• How would the summer hype surrounding Miami be different if Notre Dame had made the College Football Playoff over them last winter?

•Why has the recruitment of elite Junior College (JUCO) players dropped off so drastically over the last 15 years compared to the 1990s?

0:00 - Intro

0:48 - Will Jon Sumrall help reignite the Florida-Georgia rivalry?

11:15 - Has Kentucky found their Curt Cignetti in Will Stein?

16:43 - Start of the QB tier discussion

17:50 - Which QB not in tier 1 will finish the season in tier 1?

22:50 - Which QB are you skeptical of?

31:03 - Pick a QB ranked in tiers 4-7 to ride with this season.

40:19 - Mailbag questions

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Would the SEC do the unthinkable and leave college football? Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo discuss SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey’s press conference. The Southeastern Conference head spoke today at the annual media day. The Audible team reacts to his latest comments.

Plus, it’s the end of an era for the Michigan Wolverines. Athletic Director Warde Manuel will be stepping down at the end of the calendar year. His tenure is marked by controversy and championships. The guys ask Michigan fans if it was all worth it. Drop a comment below and let us know if you think it was or wasn’t.

Is Indiana the new wide receiver U? Curt Cignetti landed a 5-star recruit. Monshun Sales has committed to the Hoosiers. Does the Big Ten recruiting trail now run through Bloomington, Indiana? 

Finally, the guys discuss the ACC Media Days. Ralph was onsite for the availability and reacts to several interesting storylines. First, Dabo Swinney was fired up about his legacy and the state of the Clemson Tigers football program. Plus, what happened between Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi and Miami? And, are there ACC schools we should view differently?

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#CollegeFootball #Michigan #SEC 

0:00 - Intro

0:57 - Warde Manuel to leave Michigan

11:05 - Would the SEC actually break away from College Football?

17:00 - What should we make of Mizzou’s Eliah Drinkwitz’s comments?

22:47 - Is Indiana the new wide receiver U?

30:35 - Why did Dabo Swinney fired up at ACC Media Day?

38:10 - What happened between Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi and Miami?

43:15 - Are there ACC schools we should view differently?

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Brian Kelly is back in the college football conversation, and Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman break down his recent revealing interview. Kelly addressed his Notre Dame exit, his relationship with Notre Dame fans, and whether his coaching future could eventually lead him back to the ACC or another major college football job.

The Michigan investigation remains one of the biggest stories in college athletics, and Bruce shares the latest reporting after new details emerged surrounding the Wolverines football program. Stewart and Bruce discuss what the leaks suggest about the athletic department, why the report may not be released publicly, and what it could mean for Manuel’s future in Ann Arbor.

Then, it’s time for an ACC preview coming out of ACC Media Days. Is Miami the clear favorite to win the conference after adding major transfer portal pieces and continuing to recruit at an elite level under Mario Cristobal? The guys discuss why the Hurricanes may be the strongest Power Four conference favorite entering the season and whether the ACC needs Miami to become a true national contender.

Bruce also makes the case for NC State as a possible ACC sleeper, while Stewart questions whether the program can finally break through against the league’s best teams.

Plus, the mailbag covers whether NIL would have changed previous eras of college football, what happened to Dabo Swinney and Clemson, why Cody Campbell has become such a polarizing figure at Texas Tech, and how the modern college football GM role is evolving in the age of NIL, revenue sharing and the transfer portal.

Like and Subscribe for the best conversations about College Football and send your mailbag questions to [email protected]

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It's time for the biggest storylines entering the 2026 season. Can Curt Cignetti keep Indiana among the College Football Playoff contenders? How will the SEC's new nine-game conference schedule impact the playoff race? Will Lane Kiffin deliver immediately at LSU? Is Arch Manning ready to lead Texas into national championship contention? Stewart Mandel, Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo debate the programs, coaches and quarterbacks that will define the 2026 college football season.

The Michigan investigation appears to be reaching its conclusion, and The Audible crew breaks down what could be one of the biggest administrative stories in recent college football history. With reports that Michigan commissioned an extensive outside investigation into the culture of its athletic department, the crew discusses what it could mean for athletic director Ward Manuel, the fallout surrounding Sherrone Moore, and why this report could reshape the future of one of college football's premier programs.

Next, the conversation turns toward the field as The Audible begins its official preview of the 2026 college football season. Bruce shares his biggest takeaways from Big 12 Media Days, including a healthier Deion Sanders, Colorado's revamped roster, Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway's development, and what to expect from one of the most intriguing conferences in the country this fall.

The crew also gets into a spirited Arch Manning debate as Texas enters the season with massive expectations. Bruce and Ralph are buying the leap, pointing to Arch's late-season growth, improved playmaking and a loaded Longhorns roster that should have Texas thinking national championship. Stewart pushes back, questioning whether the Manning name is still inflating the hype and arguing that Arch can be a very good quarterback without needing to be treated like the next superstar before he has fully proven it.

Finally, Stewart, Bruce and Ralph examine the coaches facing the most pressure this year. From Bill Belichick's uncertain future at North Carolina to Mike Norvell's mounting expectations at Florida State, Luke Fickell at Wisconsin and several other hot-seat candidates, the guys discuss which programs are approaching pivotal moments and which coaches could be coaching for their jobs this fall.

Whether you're following Michigan football, Texas, LSU, Colorado, Indiana, the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC or the College Football Playoff race, this episode delivers in-depth reporting, insider analysis and informed discussion to get you ready for the 2026 college football season.

Will Arch Manning live up to the hype in 2026? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Plus don't forget to send in your mailbag questions to [email protected]

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Welcome to The Audible presented by Trader Joe’s! 

In this action-packed episode, Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo break down the biggest storylines in the college football world. We kick things off with a wild recap of Big 12 Media Day, highlighting Deion Sanders’ incredibly unusual and tense media session that has everyone talking.

From there, we dive straight into the unfolding Brendan Sorsby saga. We break down David Ubben’s latest article and analyze the explosive accusations made by Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield, who claims Texas Tech illegally recruited and tampered with Sorsby during the 2025 season. What does this mean for the future of roster retention and the wild west of the transfer portal?

Plus, Bruce sits down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Mike Golic Jr. They discuss Golic Jr.’s massive upcoming move back to ESPN, what his new role will look like, and his expert insights on the rapidly evolving state of the Big 12 conference. 

Finally, we crack open the mailbag to answer your burning questions about 90s postseason nostalgia, potential World Cup-style electronic tracking technology in footballs, and whether middle-tier programs like the Minnesota Gophers should aggressively "swing for the fences" in the modern NIL era or play it safe.

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