We kick off our 2025 college football preview season with everything you need to know before the action begins on August 23rd. From revenue sharing to playoff seeding changes, new coaching hires to massive quarterback transfers, we break down all the major storylines heading into the season.

In this college football podcast episode, we discuss the sport's new revenue sharing structure, playoff format adjustments, and rule changes (goodbye, Lanning loophole). We dive into the biggest coaching moves—from Bill Belichick at UNC to coordinator shuffles at Ohio State, Florida State, and beyond. Plus, we analyze the most impactful quarterback transfers including John Mateer to Oklahoma, Carson Beck to Miami, and Fernando Mendoza to Indiana.

We also cover the media landscape changes with Lee Corso's retirement and preview what promises to be a season where familiar faces in new places could reshape the college football hierarchy. Is this the year for Clemson's resurgence? Can Penn State finally break through? And who will emerge from the crowded Group of Five race?

Consider this your intro guide to the 2025 season.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
5:07 - Season start date and the strange familiarity of 2025
9:47 - "Old names in new places"
11:55 - New questions for blue bloods
16:22 - Revenue sharing
19:37 - Straight seeding in the CFP
20:30 - New FBS teams and conference realignment
23:11 - New rules
27:30 - Head coaching changes
33:21 - Key coordinator changes
40:58 - Notable transfers
46:49 - Impact freshmen
49:15 - Media news & random factoids
51:32 - Consensus top 10

_____

A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes:

Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts

Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify

Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music

Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast

Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts

Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict

CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox

Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal

Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about

Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal, @tyhildenbrandt, @danrubenstein, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads. Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe.

College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we're joined by VSiN's Tim Murray for a deep dive into the college football betting landscape ahead of the 2025 season. From Clemson's movement in the futures market to the wide-open nature of this year's championship race, Tim breaks down the key themes, betting strategies, and situational angles that matter most. We explore everything from sandwich spots and letdown games to the art of line shopping and why you should never bet teasers in college football. Tim also shares insights on which teams the pro bettors are targeting, discusses the impact of the transfer portal on betting markets, and reveals his favorite long-shot Heisman bets. Plus, how we'll be incorporating Lorenzo Lamas into our upcoming preview episodes.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

6:43 - Interview with Tim Murray of VSiN

1:12:25 - Outtro

_____

A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes:

Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts

Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify

Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music

Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast

Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts

Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict

CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox

Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal

Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about

Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal, @tyhildenbrandt, @danrubenstein, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads. Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe.

College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, Ralph Russo from The Athletic joins us to break down the complex College Football Playoff negotiations happening behind closed doors between the Big Ten, SEC and other conferences. Our conversation centers on how the number of SEC conference games is driving the debate, explores the Big Ten's push for automatic qualifiers, and examines why these meetings keep happening without real progress.

Ralph explains the power dynamics between Tony Petitti and Greg Sankey, why ESPN might not want playoff expansion, and how Brett Yormark is trying to wedge the SEC away from the Big Ten. Plus, the "reimagined" conference championship weekend, whether a breakaway league is possible, and why this feels like college football's most charged moment since the BCS era.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

05:02 - The SEC Decision Tree

16:19 - Power dynamics: Who's really running these meetings?

27:26 - The Unpopularity of SEC & Big Ten Power

36:35 - Reporting challenges and ESPN's actual role vs. perception

42:08 - The future of playoff expansion and what's next

51:19 - Outro and preview season setup

_____

A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes:

Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts

Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify

Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music

Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast

Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts

Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict

CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox

Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal

Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about

Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal, @tyhildenbrandt, @danrubenstein, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads. Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe.

College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before we can move forward with our 2025 season previews, we need to heal. In this episode, we hold our annual fan therapy session, helping the Verballerhood work through the most traumatic moments from last season. From Notre Dame's shocking loss to NIU (on a first-time visitor's birthday, no less) to the eight-overtime Georgia-Georgia Tech nailbiter, we're confronting the pain head-on.

Our listeners shared their deepest college football wounds: Penn State's crushing Orange Bowl interception, Oregon's Rose Bowl shellacking, Oklahoma's punter being its best quarterback, Texas's clutch 4th-and-13 conversion, and so much more. Plus: relationship drama intersecting with Texas State and Michigan State fandom.

Let's process the beautiful agony of this sport before preview season begins. Consider this your exposure therapy in advance of 2025.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

1:49 - Upcoming previews & explaining Fan Therapy

7:25 - Notre Dame's loss to NIU

13:25 - Florida State and Oklahoma State bottoming out

14:17 - Arkansas trauma

18:28 - Georgia vs Georgia Tech 8-overtime game

21:53 - The Backyard Brawl (Pitt vs West Virginia)

27:08 - The Calgorithm and the Cal vs Miami game

30:30 - Miami football being trauma adjacent

39:50 - Penn State trauma moments

42:28 - Michigan State fan (and relationship) trauma

44:32 - Oregon's Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State

48:08 - Oklahoma's offensive trauma

52:31 - Arizona State gives up a 4th & 13 in the Peach Bowl

58:25 - Texas trauma via Jack Sawyer

1:01:12 - Texas A&M trauma

1:03:46 - Texas State losing to Sam Houston in a restarted rivalry

1:06:10 - BYU's wild loss to Kansas

1:06:36 - Minnesota vs North Carolina opening game trauma

1:07:47 - Rutgers' schedule and struggles

1:08:12 - Tulane's lost playoff opportunity

1:09:04 - Quick rundown of other team traumas (LSU, Washington, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Louisville)

1:12:14 - Purdue fan trauma from Notre Dame game

1:13:40 - Wrap up and preview of upcoming episodes

_____

A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes:

Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts

Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify

Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music

Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast

Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts

Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict

CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox

Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal

Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about

Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal, @tyhildenbrandt, @danrubenstein, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads. Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe.

College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we dive deep into the weird world of college football message boards, courtesy of our friends at Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses). From Clemson fans proposing eminent domain to control TV broadcasts, to Vanderbilt wondering if its players are too smart for football, to Florida State fans suggesting they'd recruit better without a head coach at all. Plus: Are Georgia's out-of-state intellectuals ruining the fan experience? What's the emergency coaching protocol when things go sideways in March? And we wrap up with the latest Connor Stallons developments that still have Michigan and Ohio State message boards at each other's throats.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

09:27 - Clemson fan claims eminent domain

16:12 - Baylor fan is ready for more conference realignment

22:54 - Oregon fan wants more recruiting accountability

30:59 - Vandy fan wonders if players are too smart

34:30 - Georgia fan is tired of New Jersey braniacs

34:13 - Florida State fans are ready to fire Mike Norvell

50:50 - Michigan-Ohio State tensions over Connor Stalions investigation

01:01:05 - Closing thoughts

_____

A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes:

Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts

Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify

Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music

Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast

Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts

Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict

CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox

Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal

Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about

Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal, @tyhildenbrandt, @danrubenstein, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads. Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe.

College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we dive deep into Florida Gators football with David Waters from Gators Breakdown. What are the vibes among Florida diehards around Billy Napier going into Year 4? Is DJ Lagway fully healthy and how has his emergence impacted the program? Did the Gators take the right approach when balancing the transfer portal with high school recruiting? What clicked for the Florida defense down the stretch? And realistically, what are expectations given a brutal schedule?

00:00 - Introduction

03:24 - David Waters from Gators Breakdown

04:00 - Spring vibe check for Florida fans

05:00 - DJ Lagway's health status and shoulder situation

08:00 - Breaking down Florida's 8-5 season and late momentum

10:14 - What clicked for the defense down the stretch?

12:25 - Ron Roberts' impact on the defense

13:51 - Player development vs. transfer portal

21:03 - Offensive line development

25:03 - Will Billy Napier open up the offense?

30:53 - DJ Lagway's off-field impact on recruiting and retention

34:32 - Scott Stricklin's desire for stability

38:49 - Florida's player personnel formula

42:46 - Schedule breakdown and realistic expectations

51:36 - Closing Thoughts

_____

A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes:

Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts

Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify

Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music

Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast

Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts

Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict

CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox

Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal

Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about

Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal, @tyhildenbrandt, @danrubenstein, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads. Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe.

College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this college football podcast episode, we chat with The Athletic's Scott Dochterman about the little-known, high-stakes draft process by which Fox, CBS and NBC pick the Big Ten games that each will air this season. Learn about the insane preparation, strategy, negotiations, and decisions that shape our TV experience every fall. Plus, some insight into the Big Ten's playoff positioning strategy, why the conference is pushing for four automatic CFP bids, and more.

Check out Scott's reporting on the TV draft (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6389813/2025/05/29/big-ten-football-tv-schedule-draft-fox-nbc-cbs/) and the Big Ten's push for automatic bids (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6398844/2025/06/03/big-ten-cfp-automatic-bids/)

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

04:20 - Scott Dochterman from The Athletic explains the TV game draft

11:30 - Network strategies: Fox vs CBS vs NBC

18:00 - Surprising discoveries while reporting the story

23:51 - The "Big Noon Saturday" product

27:12 - Lessons learned from previous scheduling mistakes

31:42 - Buyer's remorse over bad matchups

36:15 - TV draft crushes

38:25 - The sophisticated preparation process

42:13 - Is there corporate espionage?

44:45 - Big Ten's push for automatic CFP bids

52:05 - Closing thoughts

_____

A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes:

Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts

Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify

Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music

Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast

Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts

Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict

CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox

Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal

Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about

Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal, @tyhildenbrandt, @danrubenstein, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads. Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe.

College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for the June Q&A. In this college football podcast episode, we explore an unholy dilemma posed by a college football wizard, debate whether the Big Ten's middle tier is really superior to the Big 12, and predict which coaches might be on the hot seat in 2025. Plus, we discuss a popular Nick Saban hypothetical, brainstorm creative revenue solutions for schools facing new player compensation costs, and rank college football programs as early 2000s pop punk bands.

Timecodes:

0:00 - Intro

03:00 - The CFB Memory Wizard

10:00 - Big 12 vs the World

24:00 - Nick Saban's Coaching Ceiling

31:00 - Teams as early 2000s Pop Punk Bands

36:00 - The Coaching Hot Seat

42:00 - Late Game Viewing Struggles

49:00 - Creative CFB Revenue Generators

1:01:00 - West Coast Travel Tips

A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes:

Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts

Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify

Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music

Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast

Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts

Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict

CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox

Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal

Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about

Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal, @tyhildenbrandt, @danrubenstein, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads. Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe.

College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once again, there is drama as the SEC and Big Ten. In this college football podcast episode, we recap the drama surrounding the SEC, Big Ten and the shape of the College Football Playoff moving forward into 2026 and beyond. As SEC officials meet in Florida this week, a debate rages on: Does the league push through a CFP format that benefits the sport's two most powerful conferences, or does it endorse a model that simply expands upon the current setup? We summarize the events of the last week and offer some thoughts on what might happen next.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

2:39 - Summary of the last week of Big Ten and SEC moves

36:34 - Our thoughts on the future of the CFP

A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes:

Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts

Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify

Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music

Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast

Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts

Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict

CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox

Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal

Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about

Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal, @tyhildenbrandt, @danrubenstein, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads. Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe.

College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we touch base with Ben Jones to make sense of the lofty expectations for Penn State football ahead of the 2025 season. Could this really be the top team in the country? Are fans being fair to Drew Allar? Who's to blame for the late of WR production? How will the addition of Jim Knowles impact the Nittany Lion defense? Did James Franklin get the monkey off his back by winning two CFP games? And will the construction at Beaver Stadium effect the home field environment in Happy Valley?

A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes:

Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts

Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify

Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music

Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast

Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts

Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict

CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox

Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal

Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about

Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal, @tyhildenbrandt, @danrubenstein, on Instagram, or on Facebook. You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads. Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe.

College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.