AP Top 25 College Football Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Who Should Make the College Football Hall of Fame? Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

So many good choices but you can only pick 13. AP college football poll voter Matt Brown from The Athletic and AP’s Ralph Russo pour through the dozens of former college football greats on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot. The goal: select a class of 13 players and two coaches to be inducted into the Hall next year. Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer seems like an obvious choice, but what about former Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch? Or Indiana’s sensational dual threat Antwan Randle El? Brown and Russo do their best at an impossible task.

College Football Takes Tentative Steps to Safely Squeeze in a Season Jun 09, 2020

Show notes

Plans are being made to give college football teams a little extra time in the summer to get ready for the season. What will practices look like during a pandemic? And what types of standards will have to be set when it’s time for teams to start playing one another? Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger joins AP's Ralph Russo to talk about the latest steps being taken to play a football season while protecting players and coaches from COVID-19. Plus, what’s the significance of a statement? With their players watching and listening, coaches have been forced from their comfort zones to speak out against racial injustice.

How to Bring Athletes Back to Campus Jun 02, 2020

Show notes

The first steps toward having a college football season are being taken on campuses all over the country. Athletes are being allowed to return to their teams’ facilities for voluntary workouts throughout June. That means schools and specifically athletic departments are trying to execute detailed plans for testing, monitoring and educating athletes on how to get some prep work in for the season while staying safe during a pandemic. Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades joins AP’s Ralph Russo to discuss the Bears’ plans to “on-board” football players, starting June 15. It covers a lot of ground and if it doesn’t go well, it could setback efforts to play ball come Labor Day weekend.

Looking for this Season's Baylor or Burrow May 27, 2020

Show notes

The prospects for a college football season that starts on time are looking good. Paul Myerberg of USA Today joins AP’s Ralph Russo to discuss the latest positive developments as college football prepares for playing amidst a pandemic. There is still much uncertainty. Plenty of reasons for hope and plenty of reasons to think the 2020 season will be far from normal. Plus, some offseason talk: Myerberg gives at least one team in each Power Five conference that could be a surprise contender this season the way Baylor and Minnesota rose to prominence last season. Also, take away Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, and pick three Heisman Trophy contenders. Remember, nobody thought Joe Burrow was a Heisman candidate going into 2019 and we all saw how that played out.

Game on? Sorting Through Uncertain Times in College Football May 13, 2020

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The scheduled start of the college football season is four months away. With so much uncertainty, how can a fan and a reporter sift through all the noise and speculation to find relevant information and insight? It’s difficult. Max Olson, national college football writer from The Athletic, join AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about trying to make sense of it all. And they talk football. TCU has signed a five-star tailback who had some trouble in his senior year. Rutgers landed a quarterback transfer from Nebraska. Tennessee is cleaning up in recruiting. Jim Harbaugh has some big ideas.

The Story of Miami 31, Nebraska 30 May 06, 2020

Show notes

The 1984 Orange Bowl was maybe the greatest college football game ever played. No. 1 Nebraska came in undefeated and trying to stamp itself as one the best teams of all time, but Miami pulled the upset in a thriller that launched the Hurricanes dynasty. AP’s Ralph Russo is joined by three guests to talk about what led up to that memorable night in South Florida and its aftermath. Former Miami Herald sportswriter Jim Martz provides the Hurricanes' side of the story. Former Omaha World-Herald sports writer Lee Barfknecht gives the Huskers' perspective. And ESPN’s Ivan Maisel provides some context to a game that signaled a shift in the balance of power in college football for years to come.

The Recruiting Stars Shine at NFL Draft Apr 29, 2020

Show notes

The first night of the NFL draft went really well for the college football recruiting analysts. Most of the players selected in the first round were either four- or five-star recruits. Bud Elliott, recruiting analyst for 247 Sports, joins AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about how the inexact science of evaluating high school football players is improving. Plus, Miami continues to have a good number of players drafted and its recruiting rankings are pretty consistently better than the rest of their ACC Coastal Division rivals. Then why hasn’t the U. been able to turn that talent into consistent success on the field? Also, how will the extra-long recruiting dead period because of the coronavirus outbreak affect teams and players?

NFL Draft Preview: Part 2 Apr 22, 2020

Show notes

Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet, UCLA running back Josh Kelley and Ole Miss defensive back Myles Hartsfield join AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi to discuss the NFL draft and how they've handled an unusual pre-draft process with virtual pro days and video visits with teams. Super agent Leigh Steinberg also joins the show to chat about one of his clients, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted draft prospects.

NFL Draft Preview & Lane Train Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

The NFL Draft is approaching and Dane Brugler of The Athletic joins AP’s Ralph Russo to break down the prospects. Who is rising? Who is falling? Where will Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa land? How about Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert? Will a half dozen receivers be selected in the first round? Will any running back go on the first day? Then new Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin joins the show. He talks about recruiting Tagovailoa and his time at Florida Atlantic. What drew him to Ole Miss and his unusual path back to being an SEC head coach.

Shaw on Football: From faking injuries to preparing during a pandemic Apr 15, 2020

Show notes

Stanford football coach David Shaw makes his yearly offseason appearance on the podcast to discuss a wide range of issues in college football, starting with how he is managing his team through the pandemic. Shaw, who is also the chairman of the NCAA rules committee, talks about why it was time to crackdown on coaches instructing defensive players to fake injuries to slow down fast-paced offenses. The longtime Cardinal coach gives his views on the push for more lenient NCAA transfer rules and opening up opportunities for athletes to make money off their names, images and likenesses. Plus, why he is hopeful the worst season of his head coaching career can be a springboard for Stanford to return to its winning ways.

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