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

In this packed episode, Bruce and Ralph sit down with The Athletic’s David Ubben to unpack his mind-blowing feature story on Ron Weaver (aka Ron McKelvey). In 1995, a 30-year-old former community college coach stole a social security number, completely recreated his identity, and lined up as a defensive back for the Texas Longhorns—nearly getting away with it all until a sudden unraveling 12 hours before the Sugar Bowl. We dive into the psychology, the close calls, and how a grown man managed to hide in plain sight from coaching legends and future NFL draft picks.

But that’s not all. We are also tackling the massive officiating philosophical divide triggered by the recent Folarin Balogun incident: is it better to preserve the integrity of the game by fixing an official's error, or do we destroy sports by ignoring consistent protocol? Stew, Bruce and Ralph discuss how this topic relates to today’s college football environment.

Finally, we hit the gridiron to check the pulse of the Big 12. Five years after the seismic departures of Texas and Oklahoma, we evaluate the financial and competitive health of the conference. Can Texas Tech pull off a historic back-to-back championship run, or is another dark horse ready to claim the crown?

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It’s conference realignment day on The Audible. Stewart Mandel and Ralph Russo are back to break down a massive day of shifts and hiring across the college football landscape!

First up, it’s officially Conference Realignment Day! The guys dive into the brand-new look of the Mountain West and welcome the Pac-12 back to the table. What do these changes mean for the future of the sport?

Then, a major administrative shift in Madison: Wisconsin has officially hired Shawn Eichorst as their next Athletic Director. Stewart and Ralph discuss what this homecoming hire means for the future of the Badgers' football program and head coach Luke Fickell.

Plus, special guest Lucy Rohden joins the show! The college football content creator talks about her rise on The Dan Le Batard Show, her deep-rooted love for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and what is next as she ventures out on her own as a solo creator.

We wrap up the show by opening up the listener mailbag to answer your burning college football questions!

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Texas Tech's wild offseason isn't over, the College Football Playoff could be expanding again, and the NCAA's latest eligibility overhaul is already facing legal challenges. Ralph Russo and Stew Mandel revisit the biggest Brendan Sorsby developments, debate whether ties should return to college football, discuss The Athletic's 1990s series, and break down why the College Sports Commission's NIL enforcement may already be changing.

Stew returns from Europe just in time to weigh in on the Brendan Sorsby saga, questioning whether the former Texas Tech quarterback received the right legal advice after his NCAA suspension ultimately shut the door on both the NFL Supplemental Draft and the CFL. Ralph and Stew also examine the NCAA's newly approved age-based eligibility model, why traditional redshirts are disappearing, and why another lawsuit is already challenging the system.

The conversation shifts to The Athletic's College Football in the 1990s series, with a nostalgic look at the era's broadcasts, legendary teams, split national championships, and the evolution of the sport. Ralph and Stew also engage in one of the show's most entertaining debates yet: should ties return to college football? Ralph argues they create meaningful competitive outcomes, while Stew believes they'd create complete Playoff chaos.

Finally, Ralph and Stew dive into the latest College Football Playoff expansion discussions, including scheduling challenges surrounding a potential 16-team field, Army-Navy weekend, championship timing, and the growing logistical battle between college football and the NFL calendar. They close by examining the latest changes to NIL Go, the College Sports Commission, revenue-sharing limits, and why both the SEC and Big Ten are already pushing to reshape college athletics' new financial model.

If you love College Football Playoff news, NCAA governance, transfer portal coverage, conference realignment, recruiting, NIL, and the biggest offseason storylines shaping the 2026 season, be sure to subscribe, like the video, and leave your thoughts in the comments.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Audible is back with a loaded episode. Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo break down the Big 12's escalating legal battle with Texas Tech, discuss what comes next for Brendan Sorsby, and examine the ripple effects across college football. Then, Stewart Mandel joins the show as the crew makes their favorite SEC over/under picks, debates conference contenders, and discusses whether Arch Manning and Texas are ready to take the next step.

The episode opens with the latest fallout from the Brendan Sorsby case as the Big 12 pushes back against Texas Tech's plans surrounding the star quarterback. Bruce and Ralph discuss the conference's legal response, the possibility of sanctions, how the College Football Playoff could view the situation, and whether Sorsby's future could ultimately lie in the NFL rather than college football.

The Audible crew continues their conference win-totals draft with a deep dive into the SEC. Stew, Bruce and Ralph identify the teams they believe are poised to exceed expectations and those facing difficult paths ahead.

Can Arch Manning lead Texas to an SEC Championship? Is Georgia's favorable schedule the biggest advantage in the conference? The panel debates the outlook for the SEC's top contenders while breaking down the impact of quarterback play, coaching changes, roster turnover, and schedule strength on the race to reach the College Football Playoff.

Plus, the guys explain the logic behind their strongest SEC projections, discuss why South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Alabama could outperform expectations, and examine whether programs like Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Mississippi State can surprise this season.

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Which team is your pick to win the SEC?

Let us know in the comments.

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The fallout from the Brendan Sorsby ruling continues to send shockwaves across college football. On this episode of The Audible, Stewart Mandel, Bruce Feldman, and Ralph Russo discuss the growing backlash to the Texas Tech quarterback's injunction, why Big 12 administrators are furious, and what it could mean for the future of NCAA eligibility, conference governance, and the College Football Playoff. Is this simply a Texas Tech issue, or a defining moment for college sports?

The crew dives into reporting from Big 12 athletic directors and administrators following the ruling, including questions about Texas Tech's relationship with the conference, potential responses from the Big 12, and whether Commissioner Brett Yormark faces the biggest challenge of his tenure.

Then it's time for Big 12 win totals. With Texas Tech viewed by many as the conference favorite, how much does the uncertainty surrounding Brendan Sorsby impact the Red Raiders' outlook? The guys debate whether Texas Tech can still win the Big 12, whether the controversy becomes a distraction, and if the program's loaded roster is enough to overcome the noise surrounding the quarterback situation.

Stew, Bruce and Ralph also make their favorite over/under picks across the conference. Which teams are being overlooked, which programs are primed to surprise, and who has the clearest path to Arlington and the Big 12 Championship Game?

Plus, listener mailbag questions spark discussions about the most valuable assets in college football, whether Ohio State's program model is the gold standard in the sport, and which historic rivalries deserve to be revived.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of The Audible.

Do you think Texas Tech should play Brendan Sorsby if he remains eligible, and which team will ultimately win the Big 12 championship this season?

Let us know in the comments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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