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

The playoff picture is becoming clearer. The seas have parted in the Big 12 to prepare for a huge BYU-Texas Tech matchup. Can the ACC get two teams in the playoff? Is Texas still alive, and does Arch deserve some grace? Hugh Freeze might be out at Auburn by the time you're hearing this. The guys debate whether Julian Sayin is really this good, or if any decent QB would look great throwing to these receivers. And the Big 10 has a great November unfolding, with Iowa, Oregon, and USC all playing each other. Plus, NC State, New Mexico, and Kennesaw State mentioned on shoutouts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Clay and Josh Snead, the masterminds behind the SEC Shorts YouTube channel, join Stew and Ralph to discuss the evolution of their viral college football comedy videos over 11 seasons. They reveal the behind-the-scenes process of filming all day Sunday and editing until 4 a.m. to hit Monday morning deadlines, and explain why they'll never expand beyond SEC content despite the money. Plus, they share stories about their most popular character — Josh's “Vanderbilt Pimp” costume that landed him on College GameDay.The guys also react to breaking LSU news: Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced at a press conference that LSU’s Board of Supervisors, not AD Scott Woodward, will hire LSU's next football coach. Stew and Ralph discuss how state politics and college football intersect in Baton Rouge unlike anywhere else in the country, and what this power struggle means for the coaching search.Plus, mailbag questions on Georgia Tech's trajectory, whether coaches will bail on playoff teams for better jobs, and a debate about whether a freshman All-American team could compete for a national title. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Kelly is out at LSU after just four seasons, with the Tigers set to pay out up to $54 million. Bruce breaks down the Sunday drama that led to Kelly's firing after the blowout loss to Texas A&M, including the power struggle with AD Scott Woodward over staff changes. Ralph explains how the awkward mix of "Kelly's guys" and "Woodward's guys" created underlying dysfunction, and why the cultural fit was doomed from the start. Plus, the crew debates Kelly's next move: what are the odds he’s coaching again next year? So many schools are looking for a new coach to turn it around, but there are no "sure thing" hires available. Lane Kiffin, Jon Sumrall, Willie Fritz, and Bob Chesney all have their pros and cons. Plus, the guys discuss the impossible expectations at these blue blood programs and make their picks for Vandy at Texas, Cincinnati at Utah, Oklahoma at Tennessee, and USC at Nebraska. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Texas A&M took down LSU 49-25 at Tiger Stadium, and the guys debate whether Kelly's job is safe heading into a bye week before Alabama. They break down how Mike Elko has turned around Texas A&M in year one, with Marcel Reed emerging as a dynamic dual-threat QB and strength coach Tommy Moffitt getting revenge against his former employer.The crew discusses whether A&M is now the class of the SEC, debates if five SEC teams could make the playoff, and analyzes Steve Sarkisian's explosive postgame rant about Diana Russini’s NFL job report. Plus, BYU stays undefeated with a comeback win at Iowa State behind true freshman Jake Retzlaff, the Big 12 race gets even crazier, and Colorado gets embarrassed 53-7 by Utah as Deion's season spirals. Ralph defends Vanderbilt as a legitimate top-10 team after their defensive performance against Missouri, and the guys discuss Bill Belichick's overtime loss to Virginia and whether UNC will win another ACC game this season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ralph challenges Bruce and Stew on the way the media talks about coaching hires, arguing that the constant chase for the "hot name" creates unrealistic expectations. Using Jeff Brohm and Jedd Fisch as examples, Ralph makes the case that we go all-in on coaches after one big win — which leads to disappointment when ADs inevitably can't land everyone's top choice.In mailbag, can Florida, Florida State, and Miami all succeed simultaneously in the NIL era? The guys break down how the Sunshine State has changed since the '90s when all three won national titles. Plus, a deep dive into quarterback spending vs. offensive line investment. Is Diego Pavia proof you don't need to break the bank at QB?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Billy Napier is out at Florida after a 3-4 start, and Bruce and Stew break down who’s next in Gainesville. Is Lane Kiffin tempted to leave his Ole Miss setup for the Gators’ national championship history and elite recruiting base? They debate whether the Florida job is still a blue blood destination in the NIL era, or if programs like Ole Miss have closed the gap.Jedd Fisch emerges as an intriguing candidate with deep Spurrier connections and Florida ties, while Jeff Brohm's elite play-calling and upset wins over top-5 teams make him a target — but would he leave his Louisville alma mater? Bruce and Stew also discuss Eli Drinkwitz and whether James Franklin could make the jump from one fired situation to another. Plus, the guys analyze contrasting statements from Florida State AD Michael Alford and Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh about their embattled coaches, and make their picks against the spread for the week’s biggest games, including Texas A&M at LSU, Ole Miss at Oklahoma, and BYU at Iowa State. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Miami's undefeated season ends with Carson Beck’s four interceptions at Louisville, but the guys debate whether the ’Canes can still make the playoff at 10-2. Texas Tech loses to Arizona State, throwing the Big 12 race wide open — and raising questions about their quarterback situation.Georgia survives Ole Miss in a defensive slugfest, LSU falls at Vanderbilt (yes, Vandy is legitimately good), and the crew discusses which SEC team they trust most in a conference where nobody looks dominant.Brian Kelly and Mike Norvell’s hot seats are heating up after disappointing losses, Notre Dame's explosive offense is rolling with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price forming an elite backfield duo, and Stew shares his in-person experience watching UNC football and getting the classic "It is what it is" from Bill Belichick in the postgame presser. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we get deeper into the buyout season, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne joins Bruce, Stew, and Ralph to pull back the curtain on college football's economics. Byrne addresses whether schools, as Stew wrote in a recent column, are “wildly irresponsible spenders,” or facing genuine financial constraints. He also explains what it's like sitting across the table from powerful agents.In mailbag, the crew debates whether Arch Manning deserves the criticism after a rough start to his Texas career, and Bruce and Stew disagree on what makes a coach "great" versus just "good." Plus, breakout players to watch this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Penn State has fired James Franklin after a shocking loss to Northwestern at home, ending his tenure after years of struggling to win big games. Despite the fractures beneath the surface that led to this moment, does it make sense to fire a coach who consistently wins 10 games?The crew breaks down the two frontrunners to replace Franklin: Curt Cignetti, who just pulled off the biggest win of the year by beating Oregon at home, and Matt Rhule, who has a close relationship with AD Pat Kraft but has his own problems against strong opponents. They debate whether Penn State should swing for the home run hire or play it safe, and which other candidates like Matt Campbell and John Sumrall could be in play.Ralph defends his controversial AP ballot that has Indiana at #5 despite their road win over Oregon, sparking a heated debate about resume versus the eye test. Plus, the guys make their picks for USC at Notre Dame, Georgia vs. Ole Miss, Alabama vs. Tennessee, and LSU at Vanderbilt, and give their upset specials for the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Indiana defeated Oregon, leaving no doubt that they're legit contenders. Penn State lost again, this time to unranked Northwestern. Texas soundly defeated Oklahoma, and Arch looked strong. And, an officiating fiasco in Auburn, USC upsets Michigan, players who impressed, and shoutouts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Belichick's North Carolina experiment is spiraling at 2-3, with on-field blowouts, staff suspensions, and a roster that might not be good enough to stabilize. Ralph, Bruce, and Stew debate whether the Tar Heels are stuck with him due to the $20M guaranteed contract — and whether powerful boosters who hijacked the coaching search will ever admit they were wrong.ESPN’s Kris Budden delivered a fiery rant about Big Ten coaches blaming losses on travel, sparking a debate: Is it a legitimate factor backed by the numbers, or just an excuse from highly-paid professionals? The crew digs into cross-country travel data, home field advantage, and whether 19-year-olds should be held to the same standard as NFL veterans.Plus, the guys debate CFP expansion scenarios, including whether 13-0 Group of Five teams could steal at-large bids. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guys debate whether Steve Sarkisian has a big game  problem after Texas’s loss to Florida. With a 2-8 record against top 10 opponents, is the criticism fair — or is Texas still the team to beat in the SEC? They break down the Red Zone struggles, offensive line issues, and what to expect when the Longhorns face Oklahoma’s elite defense.Ralph, Bruce, and Stew make their picks for that game and the weekend’s other biggest matchups, including Oregon-Indiana, USC-Michigan, and Alabama-Missouri. And in upset picks, can North Texas pull off the stunner against USF? The guys also discuss Texas Tech's rise as a legitimate Big 12 contender and debate whether the Red Raiders might actually be the best team in Texas right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Texas and Penn State were the number 1 and 2 teams before the season. After another week of bad losses, where do they go from here? UNC loses badly to Clemson, and Miami holds off a gritty comeback from Florida State. Plus, in shoutouts and players who impressed, the guys touch on Navy, UNLV, Old Dominion, and Pitt.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2025 QB class was supposed to be special, but Bruce’s recent story reveals major concerns about Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, and Drew Allar. The guys break down why Manning is pressing at Texas, Klubnik's alarming regression at Clemson, and whether Allar is the next Christian Hackenberg.On the flip side, Dante Moore is blossoming at Oregon after leaving USC, and Garrett Nussmeier still has NFL believers despite LSU’s struggles. Plus, Ralph and Bruce debate Heisman contenders: Can Diego Pavia actually win it if Vanderbilt stays ranked? Is Fernando Mendoza the real deal at Indiana? And why Rueben Bain Jr.’s defensive dominance at Miami might not be enough to get to New York.Timestamps approximate:0:00 Intro1:00 Transfer RBs who haven’t lived up to expectations, and why transfers sometimes struggle6:33 The Disappointing QB Class19:25 Heisman Race: Moore, Mendoza, Pavia, Bain 32:38 Breakout Players of the Week: BYU, Michigan mentioned 39:07 Mailbag: Coaching Fit, Authenticity vs. Credentials43:10 Mailbag: Will All College Football Show Replay Conversations Like the ACC?45:56 Mailbag: Why has the JUCO pipeline declined? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bobby Petrino is back at Arkansas as interim coach, but Bruce says he’s not winning any popularity contests. Despite the baggage, Arkansas ranks second in the SEC in yards per play. Can Petrino navigate a brutal seven-game schedule, featuring five ranked opponents, to save his reputation — or even earn the permanent job?Ralph defends his AP ballot which has Penn State nine spots lower than the actual poll, sparking a heated debate with Bruce about Texas versus the Nittany Lions. Plus, the crew discusses Paul Finebaum's potential move into politics, and picks the week’s biggest matchups. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Penn State lost in double OT to Oregon. Drew Allar doesn't look like a 5-star recruit, and once again, James Franklin can't win the big game. Ole Miss beats LSU, and is Texas A&M the best team in the SEC? Plus, the guys touch on Iowa State, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, San Diego State, and North Texas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Gundy's shocking Tuesday firing ends a 21-year era that transformed Oklahoma State from perpetual losers into Big 12 contenders. Ralph, Stew, and Bruce break down how Gundy single-handedly flipped the Cowboys' all-time record from sub-.500 to winning, and debate who might replace him.John Mateer's hand surgery could derail Oklahoma's Heisman frontrunner and SEC title hopes, but Bruce wonders if the playoff committee might actually give the Sooners credit for games missed without their star QB. Plus, in mailbag, a listener apologizes to Stew for doubting his Belichick skepticism, another asks whether Wisconsin should spend Luke Fickell's $20+ million buyout on players instead of firing him, and Bruce gets asked if we should buy the hype around USC's Jayden Maiava.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oklahoma tried to hide a receiver. The refs said it was fine. So what exactly happened in Norman? The guys debate whether smart coaching or bad officiating decided Auburn-Oklahoma.Plus, Vegas doesn't trust the voters: LSU's ranked 4th, but getting points at Ole Miss. The crew picks the big games and Ralph takes four straight road teams because he's learned nothing. Bruce buys Indiana stock, Stew questions Miami's title chances, and everyone wonders if James Franklin can finally beat a good team in the White Out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ralph joins the Sunday livestream to help break down which coaches are already on the hotseat, including Mike Gundy, Billy Napier, and Luke Fickell. Dabo Swinney’s job is seemingly safe, but Clemson is 1-3 for the first time in 17 years of Dabo — and things aren’t looking up. Plus, a non-call seals a Sooner victory over Auburn, and the guys analyze upsets in Salt Lake City, Madison, and Memphis.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The legendary Gary Danielson retires at the end of this season. He joins for a conversation reflecting on 36 years of broadcasting, the greatest players he's ever seen, and his favorite Verne Lundquist story. Then in mailbag, the guys debate whether highly-ranked teams like Penn State and LSU are fool's gold.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.