Orange Bowl Boys: A Miami Hurricanes Podcast

Five hundred episodes. Four guys, one podcast, and a first episode that almost never came out because the audio was cooked. And the night we hit 500 just happens to be Florida State week. Couldn't have drawn it up any better.We start by tooting our own horns for once: how this thing started on a Vox Pro with maybe four people waiting for it, what 500 episodes has meant to each of us, and why this show only works with four. Then it's the new AP Top 25, with Miami at No. 3 and Alabama somehow not moving after a loss, a Gator fan begging FSU for help, Billy Napier living his best life at JMU, and SMU's recruiting class sitting dead last in the ACC.Then our friend Rudy Fernandez, UM's Executive Vice President for University Operations and Senior Advisor to the President, comes back for his third appearance on the show. Rudy talks about the move from Adidas to Nike, why Miami's next athletic director will look more like a CEO of athletics, the piece of the federal college sports bill Miami wants changed (and why it only helps two schools), the new 30-year campus agreement with Coral Gables, NIL budgets, and what Mario Cristobal has done to build a player-led team. He also shares a great story about his son and a travel-ball coach, admits Dalvin Cook still gives him nightmares, and has a few thoughts on the national media and Notre Dame. And yes, somebody calls Jai Lucas "Jay Clark." We love Jay Clark.IP Daily checks in with a 500th-episode tribute only IP Daily could write. Then it's on to Saturday: keys to the game against a Florida State team limping in at 3-3, over/unders for Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney, Mark Fletcher Jr. and Damon Wilson, our weekly picks (Ohio State-Indiana, Florida-Texas, Alabama-Tennessee, Mizzou-Ole Miss and Notre Dame-BYU), and final score predictions for Miami-FSU.To everybody who's listened along the way, from the first four people to now: thank you. Go Canes.00:00 Welcome to Episode 500 + the FSU Parody Song02:35 How It Started: Vox Pro and Four People Waiting08:47 Why This Show Needs Four11:49 AP Top 25: Miami No. 3, Alabama Doesn't Budge14:52 A Gator Fan's Plea, FSU's Slide & SMU's Slump21:09 Rudy Fernandez Joins for Episode 50027:03 President Joe Echevarria & Competing at the Highest Level31:33 Leaving Adidas for Nike33:14 The AD Search and a "CEO of Athletics"40:04 The Federal College Sports Bill & Conference Options44:15 Coral Gables Campus Deal & Canes Fans on the Road48:03 IP Daily's 500th Episode Tribute50:58 Hate Week: FSU in Disarray, Dalvin Cook & Notre Dame55:16 NIL Budgets, Canes Connection & Rudy's Non-Answer1:03:11 Mario Cristobal's Culture & a Lesson from Rudy's Son1:06:30 We Love Jay Clark (and Rudy's Score Pick)1:15:02 Keys to the Game vs. Florida State1:20:39 Over/Unders & Pick 'Em: OSU-Indiana, ND-BYU and More1:27:12 Final Score Predictions & Naming Episode 500 Follow OBB:Website: orangebowlboys.comTwitter/X: @OrangeBowlBoysInstagram: @OrangeBowlBoys Roofing issues? From repairs to replacements, residential to commercial, just give Paul a call! Whether It's 561,954 or 305 -just call 981-ROOF. Or visit paulbangeroofing.com! Car shopping? Call Drew at Rapid Auto Lease: 954-931-6912. From new leases to purchases, they will negotiate to get you the best price available - and cars are delivered right to your front door! It's hassle-free car shopping without having to step in a dealership. Start shopping at rapidautolease.com.Orange Bowl Boys are owned by OBB Media Inc. and produced by Jenners Multimedia. You can visit us online at www.orangebowlboys.com. Copyright 2026.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Miami is 5-0, sitting at No. 4 in the AP poll, and finally getting a week off. With the bye here and Hate Week up next, the boys hand out mid-season grades for every position group on the roster.First, Dabo. According to Dabo Swinney, if you take away the pick six and the field goal off a turnover, Clemson was right there. Ro, Jenners, Scoop and Toast have some thoughts on that. They also get into Brian Kelly lecturing Shannon Dawson about how to be a coordinator, Greg McElroy calling Miami the best team in the ACC by a mile, and why Nick Saban keeps going all in on Mario's team. Plus the right guard's selfie from the surgery table, the latest on Lightfoot and Buchanan, and whether a 5-0 start means anything after what happened last October.Then it's report card time. Darian Mensah is completing 84% of his passes with zero picks. The defensive line is leading the country against the run. And the linebacker room, the group this show has complained about for eight straight years, might be the best surprise of the season. Not everybody is handing out A's, though. Toast brought the red pen for the secondary.We close with a Gainesville radio host calling the cops on a caller after Jadan Baugh's rough night against Missouri, then picks for FSU at Louisville, UNC at Pitt, the Red River Shootout, UCLA at Oregon, LSU at Kentucky, and Georgia at Alabama, if that one gets played at all. Episode 500 drops next Thursday with the FSU preview. Don't miss it.Go Canes.00:00 Welcome to Episode 49900:44 Dabo Swinney and the backhanded excuses06:18 The right guard's surgery selfie07:45 Still No. 4 in the AP poll + the USC announcer11:55 Brian Kelly lectures Shannon Dawson13:44 Greg McElroy, Nick Saban and a complete Miami team17:29 Injury update: Lightfoot and Buchanan19:39 5-0 at the bye: did Miami hold serve?24:07 Sponsor break29:31 Jadan Baugh and the WRUF caller33:44 Mid-season grades: quarterbacks36:54 Grades: running backs41:10 Grades: wide receivers and tight ends43:57 Grades: offensive line49:41 Grades: defensive line53:02 Grades: linebackers56:51 Grades: DBs, special teams and overall1:02:40 Last week's picks + FSU-Louisville and UNC-Pitt1:08:27 Picks: Texas-OU, UCLA-Oregon, LSU-UK, UGA-Bama1:13:31 Naming the episode and the Episode 500 teaseFollow OBB:Website: orangebowlboys.comTwitter/X: @OrangeBowlBoysInstagram: @OrangeBowlBoys Roofing issues? From repairs to replacements, residential to commercial, just give Paul a call! Whether It's 561,954 or 305 -just call 981-ROOF. Or visit paulbangeroofing.com! Car shopping? Call Drew at Rapid Auto Lease: 954-931-6912. From new leases to purchases, they will negotiate to get you the best price available - and cars are delivered right to your front door! It's hassle-free car shopping without having to step in a dealership. Start shopping at rapidautolease.com. Go to IM8HEALTH.com/OBB RIGHT NOW or click on the link in thedescription and use code OBB for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus tenpercent off your order. That’s code orangebowl at IM8HEALTH.com/OBB .Code OBB at IM8HEALTH.com/OBB.Orange Bowl Boys are owned by OBB Media Inc. and produced by Jenners Multimedia. You can visit us online at www.orangebowlboys.com. Copyright 2026.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Your Miami Hurricanes went into Death Valley on a Saturday night and came home with a 41-13 win, a 5-0 record and sole possession of first place in the ACC. Ro, Scoop and Toast are back to break down a game that checked every box.It opened with a three-and-out and a Cooper Barkate touchdown on the second offensive snap. It closed with the offensive line bullying Clemson for nine straight runs and 83 yards right when Miami needed a drive. The guys get into the two response drives, Chase Smith's heads-up play on the snap, why Clemson basically stopped trying to run the ball, and how Miami won big on the road on a night when Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney weren't at their best. Ro also collects on an O-line take he never backed off of. Turns out the line heard all the criticism and took it personally.The injury list keeps getting longer, so the crew asks if that's bad luck or something Mario Cristobal has to answer for with how Greentree practices are run. Either way, the bye week could not have come at a better time before FSU.Then it's around the country. Florida got bamboozled by Mizzou, Pitt lost its quarterback, Virginia Tech looks legit under James Franklin, and Wake Forest and Duke are hanging around. Canes Research has a 5-0 stat every Miami fan wants to hear. We settle up the over/unders, relive the late pick-six that got Mario more fired up than we've seen him in years, and look ahead to a possible top-five showdown at Notre Dame on November 7.Ro's Student of the Game vs Clemson is LIVE on the channel - go check it out now! Plus, nid-season position group grades drop Wednesday during the bye week. Subscribe so you don't miss it, and as always, Go Canes.#MiamiHurricanes #Canes #OrangeBowlBoys #Clemson #CollegeFootball #ACC00:00 Cold Open: 5-0 After Clemson01:16 Two Response Drives & Chase Smith's Big Night02:51 Business Trip or Statement Win?04:06 Is This Rush Defense Historic?06:51 Penalties & the Malachi Toney TD Call07:57 Winning Without Mensah and Toney09:32 The Offensive Line Grows Up11:21 The True Freshman Changing the Line13:55 Ro Never Wavered on the O-Line15:16 Death Valley at Night & Clemson's Game Plan16:25 Damon Wilson Shows Up & an Injury Scare17:07 Mounting Injuries: Fair to Blame Greentree?21:57 Perfect Timing for the Bye & FSU22:31 Florida Gets Bamboozled by Mizzou24:46 ACC Check-In: Pitt, VaTech, Wake & Duke27:47 The 5-0 Stat & Billy Napier at JMU29:22 Over/Under Results30:37 The Pick-Six & Mario's Reaction31:53 AP Voters & the Notre Dame Showdown34:20 Wrap-Up & Mid-Season Grades TeaseFollow OBB:Website: orangebowlboys.comTwitter/X: @OrangeBowlBoysInstagram: @OrangeBowlBoys Roofing issues? From repairs to replacements, residential to commercial, just give Paul a call! Whether It's 561,954 or 305 -just call 981-ROOF. Or visit paulbangeroofing.com! Car shopping? Call Drew at Rapid Auto Lease: 954-931-6912. From new leases to purchases, they will negotiate to get you the best price available - and cars are delivered right to your front door! It's hassle-free car shopping without having to step in a dealership. Start shopping at rapidautolease.com. Go to IM8HEALTH.com/orangebowl RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code orangebowl for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order. That’s code orangebowl at IM8HEALTH.com/orangebowl .Code orangebowl at IM8HEALTH.com/orangebowl.Orange Bowl Boys are owned by OBB Media Inc. and produced by Jenners Multimedia. You can visit us online at www.orangebowlboys.com. Copyright 2026.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Miami is 4-0, ranked No. 4, and heading into Death Valley as a 16.5-point favorite. That makes this the biggest underdog Dabo Swinney has been in his entire run at Clemson. Oh, and the forecast says it's going to pour.Former Clemson offensive lineman and ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain is back on the show, sitting in front of a "worst loss in school history" backdrop that we noticed immediately. Emac tells us why the line feels off to him, who wins the ground game if the weather turns this into a slugfest, and what Clemson has to do to get Darian Mensah off his spot. He makes the case for Mensah as the best quarterback in the country, talks through who on Clemson's roster can even try to stay with Malachi Toney, and gives an honest answer on how Dabo has handled NIL and the portal. Then he makes his pick. Canes fans won't love it.Once Emac leaves, Ro, Scoop and Toast go back and forth on whether the rain actually helps Clemson. Ro thinks it does the opposite and takes the crowd right out of the game, which is how the Polo Pals were born. We also get into the injury report, player prop over/unders for Mensah, Toney, Fletcher and Damon Wilson, everybody's keys to the game, and a few honest feelings about Dabo.Week 5 picks include Pitt at Virginia Tech, Notre Dame at North Carolina, Alabama at Mississippi State, Ohio State at Iowa, Florida at Missouri, UVA at Florida State, and of course Miami at Clemson with final scores. We wrap with that USC radio booth call on the Dante Moore hit and a little something that's probably headed for Benched.Catch us live Saturday night for the Miami vs. Clemson watch-along stream. GO CANES!!00:00 Cold Open: "Worst Loss in School History"01:46 Miami Rolls Central Michigan, Eric Mac Lain Joins02:53 The 16.5-Point Line and Dabo as a Big Underdog05:50 Who Wins the Ground Game in the Rain?09:23 Darian Mensah: Best QB in the Country?14:59 Can Anyone Slow Down Malachi Toney?19:15 Dabo, NIL and the Transfer Portal24:24 The ACC Respect Problem (and Missouri)28:17 Emac's Prediction30:40 Does the Rain Really Help Clemson?32:31 Sponsor Break37:53 Can Clemson Run on Miami's Defense?40:47 Rain, Death Valley and the Polo Pals42:20 Injury Updates and 25 Years of PTSD46:36 Player Prop Over/Unders48:50 Keys to the Game52:45 Why We Can't Stand Dabo55:08 Week 5 College Football Picks1:03:53 Miami vs. Clemson Score Predictions1:04:49 USC Booth Audio and a Benched PreviewFollow OBB:Website: orangebowlboys.comTwitter/X: @OrangeBowlBoysInstagram: @OrangeBowlBoys Roofing issues? From repairs to replacements, residential to commercial, just give Paul a call! Whether It's 561,954 or 305 -just call 981-ROOF. Or visit paulbangeroofing.com! Car shopping? Call Drew at Rapid Auto Lease: 954-931-6912. From new leases to purchases, they will negotiate to get you the best price available - and cars are delivered right to your front door! It's hassle-free car shopping without having to step in a dealership. Start shopping at rapidautolease.com. MyBookie - Sign up with our promo code OBB, and claim your risk-free bet UP TO $500. + 50 Free Spins on Golden Dragon Inferno. Cash in on the season with MyBookie. Bet on Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. Go to IM8HEALTH.com/orangebowl RIGHT NOW or click on the link in thedescription and use code orangebowl for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus tenpercent off your order. That’s code orangebowl at IM8HEALTH.com/orangebowl .Code orangebowl at IM8HEALTH.com/orangebowl.Orange Bowl Boys are owned by OBB Media Inc. and produced by Jenners Multimedia. You can visit us online at www.orangebowlboys.com. Copyright 2026.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Miami beat Central Michigan 52-3, and for a good chunk of the night the refs were somehow the bigger story. Ro, Toast and Jenners (filling in for Scoop) get into a game with roughly 30 penalties, 12 of them in the fourth quarter alone, and why all those false starts and holds have them a little nervous about a prime time trip to Death Valley.The good stuff still won out. Miami ran for 201 yards to CMU's 21, outgained them 572 to 158 and went 7 for 7 in the red zone. Four games in, the Canes have the No. 1 run defense in the country at 39.5 yards a game, and that's without Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor. We also get into Damon Wilson II getting robbed of a sack and a scoop-and-score, Malachi Toney's run of 100-yard games, Cooper Barkate's scramble-drill touchdown, and Darian Mensah becoming the first player in FBS history with more touchdown passes (14) than incompletions (12) through four games.Then Vegas posted the Clemson line and the room lost it. Miami opened as a 17.5-point road favorite, it ticked up to 18.5 on DraftKings while we were recording, and nobody at the table knows what to do with that.Also on the show: the ACC scoreboard, Wake Forest knocking off Louisville, PJ Fleck's postgame moment at Washington, the hit on Dante Moore, whether the Big Ten is top-heavy this year, the SEC's push for conference-adjusted playoff selection, our ugly picks record, and a little MLB Wild Card talk before we sign off.Go check out Ro's Student of the Game breakdowns, and catch us live on the stream. The Clemson preview drops later this week ahead of Saturday night in Death Valley, 7:30 on ABC. Go Canes.00:00 Miami 52, CMU 3 and a Wild Night for the Refs01:45 Penalties and O-Line Worries Before Death Valley04:04 Malachi Toney, Cooper Barkate and the Pass Game05:10 By the Numbers: Canes Outgain CMU 572-15805:45 Damon Wilson II Can't Catch a Break06:29 Miami's No. 1 Run Defense in the Country08:00 Second-Half Offense and Over/Under Results10:10 Freshmen Getting Real Snaps11:36 ACC Scoreboard13:08 Miami a 17.5-Point Favorite at Clemson?15:23 PJ Fleck's Postgame Moment16:44 Around College Football: Georgia, Texas, LSU, Oregon17:37 The Dante Moore Hit and Lincoln Riley's Seat19:58 Is the Big Ten Down This Year?21:53 SEC Playoff Push, NIL and Preseason Rankings24:46 Mensah Makes FBS History, Toney's 100-Yard Streak27:14 Line Hits 18.5 and Our Terrible Picks Record30:05 MLB Wild Card Talk and Sign-OffFollow OBB:Website: orangebowlboys.comTwitter/X: @OrangeBowlBoysInstagram: @OrangeBowlBoys Roofing issues? From repairs to replacements, residential to commercial, just give Paul a call! Whether It's 561,954 or 305 -just call 981-ROOF. Or visit paulbangeroofing.com! Car shopping? Call Drew at Rapid Auto Lease: 954-931-6912. From new leases to purchases, they will negotiate to get you the best price available - and cars are delivered right to your front door! It's hassle-free car shopping without having to step in a dealership. Start shopping at rapidautolease.com. MyBookie - Sign up with our promo code OBB, and get this week's LOCK of the Season totally free. Cash in on the season with MyBookie. Bet on Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. orangebowlboys.com | GET YOUR OBB MERCH at aboutthefans.com/collections/orange-bowl-boys! We've got shirts, hats and tons more to rep your favorite Miami podcast!Orange Bowl Boys are owned by OBB Media Inc. and produced by Jenners Multimedia. You can visit us online at www.orangebowlboys.com. Copyright 2026.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy