College Football Enquirer

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James Franklin goes to Virginia Tech + decision time for Lane Kiffin & previewing the latest CFP rankings Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

Virginia Tech has found their man. James Franklin is set to become Virginia Tech's next head football coach. It was a short break for Franklin after being fired from Penn State just a few weeks ago. Can he bring the Hokies back to the top of the ACC? Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey discuss Franklin's decision. Is Virginia Tech the right fit for Franklin and why did he make this choice now? How successful can he be in Blacksburg?

Then, the guys look into another important bit of coaching news as we move from the ACC to the SEC. The Lane Kiffin saga continues to get more complicated by the day. Kiffin's family was spotted checking out both Baton Rouge and Gainsville as Florida and LSU continue to try to lure Kiffin away from Ole Miss. Now, Ole Miss has given Kiffin a deadline to make a decision. Andy, Ross and Godfrey take a look at the situation from the sides of both Kiffin and Ole Miss. Then, they chat about what they think Kiffin will do and how this whole process will play out.

Later, the guys preview Tuesday night's College Football Playoff rankings. With the CFP chair, Baylor AD Mack Rhoades, stepping down, Utah AD Mark Harlan steps in to fill the Big 12's spot on the committee and Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek is set to become the new CFP chair. How will this change affect the committee? Plus, how might Oklahoma beating Alabama shake up the rankings and could a team like Oregon suffer as a result? Also, the Big Ten's deal with UC Investments presses pause. Ross has the latest update on the ever-evolving situation.

Get caught up on all things college football with College Football Enquirer.

(0:59) - James Franklin to Virginia Tech

(26:29) - Lane Kiffin given decision deadline by Ole Miss

(47:18) - CFP committee shake-up

(50:07) - Will Bama be ranked over Oregon in the latest CFP rankings?

(54:39) - Big Ten's investment deal hits a pause

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Can Texas still make the CFP & who will win the SEC? + Upcoming games with huge CFP implications Nov 16, 2025

Show notes

A thrilling Week 12 has wrapped up, putting us two weeks away from the end of the regular season. The race in the SEC just got a little more interesting as #4 Alabama fell to #11 Oklahoma. How much did this game hurt the Crimson Tide's push for the playoff and help the Sooners' hope for a postseason berth? Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey discuss. They also take a look at #5 Georgia's dominant fourth quarter performance in which they scored 21 unanswered points to defeat #10 Texas. Is this Georgia team rounding into National Championship form? Can Texas still make the playoff with three losses?

Then, the guys take a look at a historic comeback as #3 Texas A&M came back from a 27-point halftime deficit to defeat South Carolina. Does this game provide any concern for the Aggies going into the postseason? Plus, both #17 USC and #18 Michigan squeaked out close wins on Saturday. This sets up huge upcoming matchups for both teams. The Trojans travel to Eugene to meet up with the Ducks on Saturday and the Wolverines host the top team in the country in two weeks when the Buckeyes come to town. Andy, Ross and Godfrey talk about USC and Michigan's chances in these matchups and to make the College Football Playoff.

Later, the crew also takes a look at #7 Ole Miss surviving against Florida and discusses what impact the Lane Kiffin saga had on the game. Then, they look to the rest of the season. They dive into what big upcoming matchups have the biggest impact on the CFP rankings. How will the American conference shake out? How have the ACC's chances for a CFP team changed? Where will Oregon, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Alabama all land in the rankings this week? They discuss all of this and more.

Wrap up Week 12 with College Football Enquirer.

(0:42) - #5 Georgia dominates #10 Texas

(12:32) - Is Texas out of the CFP race?

(15:51) - #11 Oklahoma upsets #4 Alabama

(26:02) - #3 Texas A&M survive scare from South Carolina

(31:43) - #18 Michigan survives scare at Northwestern

(38:03) - #17 USC gets by #21 Iowa

(45:08) - #7 Ole Miss gets by Florida amid Lane Kiffin drama

(51:33) - How the CFP rankings will be affected by Week 12

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Is making the CFP with three losses possible? + Brian Kelly suing LSU Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

Week 12 is here. Three weeks remain in the regular season as races for both conference championships and the College Football Playoff continue to grow tighter. Currently, there are a host of teams in playoff position with one or two losses, but how many losses can certain teams afford? A couple of those teams have big matchups this weekend as #11 Oklahoma visits #4 Alabama and #10 Texas visits #5 Georgia. Texas and Oklahoma already have two losses. Can they make it into the playoff if they drop another game? The same goes for #14 Vanderbilt and #23 Tennessee. Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey discuss if any of these SEC teams would have a chance at making the playoff with three losses. They also take a look at another big matchup as #9 Notre Dame visits #22 Pittsburgh. Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said this week that the game against Notre Dame doesn't matter because they are not in the ACC. The guys discuss what they think of these comments and if it sends the wrong message. Also, is the CFP killing conference championship games?

Then, the guys chat about some news off of the field down in Louisiana. The drama continues as Brian Kelly is now suing LSU over his buyout. LSU is trying to avoid paying the full buyout and Kelly is not going down without a fight. Ross fills us in on the latest details that seem to be pointing towards this battle going to court. He also fills the crew in about the latest news out of Ole Miss. The rumors continue to swirl about Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for Florida, and that drama could provide a distraction. Especially as the Gators come to town this weekend. The guys chat about how this situation is being handled and how it could affect other coaching hires around the country.

Later, the guys make their picks for this week's I've Got A Feeling. Duke, Minnesota and Notre Dame are the choices among the crew. Get ready for another crazy weekend of college football with College Football Enquirer.

(1:38) - Can a three-loss SEC team make the playoff?

(8:15) - Should Georgia avoid the SEC title game?

(11:39) - Has the CFP killed conference championship games?

(20:07) - #9 Notre Dame @ #22 Pittsburgh

(25:27) - Brian Kelly suing LSU

(38:38) - Is Lane Kiffin causing a distraction for Ole Miss as Florida comes to town?

(55:25) - I've Got A Feeling

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Should Texas A&M be ranked above Indiana? + Big Ten private equity drama gets worse Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

The second College Football Playoff ranking releases tonight. How dramatic will a shift in the rankings be? There is sure to be some near the bottom of the Top 10 after #8 Texas Tech's dominant win over #7 BYU, but how about the top? After #3 Texas A&M's convincing win at #22 Missouri and #2 Indiana's struggle at Penn State, will the committee jump the Aggies over the Hoosiers? Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey discuss how they think the rankings will play out going forward. Plus, what impact could #16 Vanderbilt have on the rankings this season? What has to fall their way in order to make it into this year's CFP, and how can they make sure they can keep their coach after such success this season?

Then, the guys take a look at a new tactic for the coaching carousel: Don't get involved. This is the tactic Wisconsin is taking as they announced that head coach Luke Fickell will remain at the helm next season. The immediate result was an upset of #23 Washington. The guys discuss this decision for Wisconsin and their vow to put more funds into the football program. Will this be enough to boost the future of the team and turn the program towards a winning path? What took them so long to get to this point? The guys also talk about why some schools were able to adapt quickly and other schools struggled to respond to NIL. Hint: Some were prepared, some weren't prepared and some were already well versed in the art of paying players.

Later, the drama in the Big Ten continues to heat up amongst discussions about private equity. Board members of various schools are speaking out about their lack of involvement with this decision and their opposition to it being voted through. The American Council of Trustees & Alumni, ACTA, is also now involved. A vote seems to still be upcoming, with the current expectation being that only Michigan and USC's presidents are against the decision. How will this all play out?

All of this and more on today's College Football Enquirer

(2:51) - CFP ranking expectations: Will #3 Texas A&M jump #2 Indiana?

(12:18) - What are #16 Vanderbilt's CFP chances?

(25:36) - How Wisconsin and other schools can increase their NIL funding

(50:48) - Big Ten private equity drama continues to get worse

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Week 11 recap: Indiana and Oregon avoid upsets & Michigan separating from Big Ten's decision?! Nov 09, 2025

Show notes

Week 11 has wrapped up and it provided some thrilling finishes for a couple of Top 10 teams. Penn State brought #2 Indiana down to the wire. The undefeated Hoosiers may have suffered their first loss if not for a heroic final drive from Fernando Mendoza. The drive culminated in an unbelievable catch by Omar Cooper Jr., who barely kept his foot in, to score the eventual game winning touchdown with 36 seconds left. Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey discuss if such a close game to a struggling Penn State team should create any room for concern with this Indiana team. Then they dive into the other matchup that came down to the final seconds. This one was a Top 20 matchup in the pouring rain between #9 Oregon and #20 Iowa. The home-team Hawkeyes took the lead late. That set the stage for an impressive final drive by Dante Moore and Oregon to kick a game-winning field goal with three seconds remaining. The guys discuss how they feel about Oregon coming off of this win. They also discuss #8 Texas Tech's dominant win over #7 BYU. How do they feel about the Red Raiders going forward? Plus, is there a legitimate chance the ACC could end up with no teams in the College Football Playoff?

Later, Ross reports big news coming out of the Big Ten as their discussion about private equity appears to be nearing a decision. Michigan and USC remain steadfast in their opposition to any deal, but a vote is scheduled for November 21st. If Michigan or USC decide not to sign, the rest of the schools in the Big Ten will move along on the deal without them. What could this mean for the future of not only Michigan, but the entirety of the college football landscape? The guys discuss how this could all potentially play out.

Then, they look to Week 12. The final few weeks of the regular season are inching closer, which means each game begins to add a little more pressure. The guys look at games that have huge impacts on both conference and playoff races. #11 Texas visits #5 Georgia, #12 Oklahoma plays #4 Alabama and #10 Notre Dame faces off with #24 Pittsburgh. How could we see the playoff race change after Week 12?

The guys discuss all of this and more on today's College Football Enquirer.

(1:13) - #2 Indiana survives at Penn State

(8:24) - Could the ACC miss the playoff?

(15:41) - #9 Oregon survives in Iowa

(21:50) - Wisconsin upsets #23 Washington

(25:26) - #8 Texas Tech dominates #7 BYU

(32:16) - Big Ten moving forward with private equity?

(52:47) - Week 12 games with Playoff implications

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Week 11 preview: Can Iowa upset Oregon? Texas Tech & BYU battle for Big 12 Supremacy Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

Week 11 is here and the marquee matchups of the weekend may not be what you expected when the season started. #9 Oregon heads to Iowa City to face #20 Iowa. When Iowa is at home they tend to make life very difficult for the opposing team. The Ducks have seen some struggles since their loss to #2 Indiana and Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey aren't so sure they can come away from Iowa with a win. Iowa's struggles in the past have been on the offensive side, but this year the Hawkeyes have a much improved offensive attack. Are the Ducks on upset alert, or will this be another notch in their belt as they look to make another CFP appearance.

Then, we get an update from Ross' Congressional Minute as he shares the most recent news about the SAFE and Score Acts and explains where this process is trending. Could a resolution be coming sooner than expected? Cody Campbell is a huge player in these discussions. He is also a huge player in the funding of Texas Tech's NIL. #8 Texas Tech hosts #7 BYU on Saturday with the winner taking the lead in the race to the Big 12 Championship Game. Texas Tech has already stumbled once and may not be able to afford another misstep. BYU has looked like the dominant force in the Big 12 this season, but this will be their toughest test yet. Add this pressure on top of the pressure to succeed for the Red Raiders after a highly publicized offseason of NIL spending. The guys discuss this matchup and its impact. Plus, they also chat about the continued messy situation in Baton Rouge with LSU kind of naming a new AD.

Later, the guys share their picks for I've Got A Feeling. Iowa, Clemson and Tulane are who the crew is feeling confident in this week.

Get ready for Week 11 with College Football Enquirer.

(1:00) - Can #20 Iowa upset #9 Oregon?

(23:24) - Ross' Congressional Minute

(34:20) - #8 Texas Tech hosts #7 BYU

(47:16) - LSU kind of names an Athletic Director?

(57:08) - I've Got A Feeling

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Ohio State remains #1! The College Football Playoff reveals initial ranking of 2025 Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

It is that time of year again! The time when attention shifts away from the AP Poll and moves over to the College Football Playoff rankings. Tuesday, the College Football Playoff committee released the initial rankings for 2025. Ohio State remained at the top followed by Indiana, Texas A&M and Alabama to round out the top four. One of the most notable rankings was that of two teams who played earlier in the year. Miami, who has been struggling as of recently, came in at 18. That fell well behind a team they beat in Notre Dame who is sitting at 10. Also, the Big 12 appears to be in position to get two teams into the playoff, while the ACC looks like it will be a one-team league. Andy Staples, Steven Godfrey and Ross Dellenger discuss all of the drama and voice their thoughts on all of the attention surrounding this first rendition of the rankings. Plus, the guys take a look at what the bracket would look like if the playoff started today!

Later, the guys discuss the top team in the country. The Ohio State Buckeyes. Such a dominant season has not created much drama to talk about for this team, however Andy, Ross and Godfrey look at just how dominant they have been. Is this success due to a lackluster schedule, or is this team on a path to another national title? On the flip side, could the lack of competition hinder Ohio State in the long run as they go on to face far more difficult competition in the College Football Playoff? And, what about their hated rivals, the Michigan Wolverines? Is this the year Ohio State can snap the four-game losing streak, or will Michigan prevail once again?

Then, the guys take a look at a team who had similar expectations as Ohio State in the preseason, but their season has gone far differently. The Clemson Tigers. Dabo Swinney’s team has struggled tremendously this season and it appears that Swinney’s method of coaching may not be holding up in the new era of college football. Is this the beginning of the end for Swinney at Clemson? Should Dabo move on from coaching or just move on from Clemson? Are there similarities between his situation and Nick Saban’s before Saban retired?

All of this and more on today’s College Football Enquirer.

(0:49) - Reactions to the initial CFP rankings for 2025

(24:59) - Is Ohio State too dominant?

(32:18) - Will Ohio State beat Michigan this season?

(42:47) - Julian Sayin's Heisman campaign

(48:47) - Is Dabo Swinney ready to move on from Clemson?

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How Week 10 upsets will impact first CFP rankings + Auburn fires Hugh Freeze Nov 02, 2025

Show notes

Week 10 is in the books and there were plenty of upsets to help create drama for Tuesday's first CFP rankings release. Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey discuss all of the drama that unfolded and the impact it may have this week. #18 Oklahoma kept their playoff hopes alive after knocking off #14 Tennessee. Will they be able to pull off a few more wins and make the playoff? Arch Manning is starting to round into form as he led #20 Texas to a win over #9 Vanderbilt. Does Vandy still have a path to the CFP and is Texas surging after a rough start to the season? #23 USC went into Lincoln and came out with a win over Nebraska. What does their path to the playoff look like? Plus, #8 Georgia Tech and #10 Miami were upset by unranked teams on Saturday. How does this affect the battle for the ACC's playoff spot? Also, how does Miami's loss hurt #12 Notre Dame?

Then, the coaching carousel continues to spin as yet another big program has decided to move on from their head coach. Auburn has fired Hugh Freeze in his third season. The guys discuss where everything went wrong for Auburn and why Freeze wasn't the right guy for the job. They also talk about who they think is the perfect hire to take over the role. We recorded this before the firing was official, but the crew expected it to happen soon. Since it had not happened yet, they talk knowing that Freeze was still the head coach of Auburn during the time of recording

Later, they dive back into previewing the upcoming CFP rankings. How many teams might the Big Ten have in the playoff? Who do the guys think will be the Group of Five representative? They have felt confident about the American conference, but is there another team that is making a push? Plus, will the ACC or the Big 12 have multiple teams make the CFP? Also, Ross shares the most recent update on the CFP expansion talk.

All of this and more to wrap up Week 10 with College Football Enquirer.

(1:47) - #18 Oklahoma keep playoff hopes

(4:56) - Arch Manning and #20 Texas playoff bound?

(10:17) - Can #23 USC make the playoff?

(12:10) - Impact of #10 Miami's upset

(16:33) - Who are the Big 12 and ACC favorites for the playoff?

(27:28) - Hugh Freeze and Auburn

(42:35) - College Football Playoff rankings preview

(52:21) - CFP expansion update

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College Football Playoff elimination games & Louisiana governor goes off on LSU's AD Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

Drama continues to unfold in Louisiana as LSU's search for a new head coach is underway. Wednesday, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry spoke to the media about his disapproval of LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward. He spoke about the money now owed to former head football coach Brian Kelly and who will be hiring LSU's next head coach. He emphatically stated that AD Scott Woodward will not be the one to hire the next head coach Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey discuss Governor Landry's comments and where Woodward goes from here. Did Landry scare off potential candidates? Who do they think fits what he is looking for? Is Woodward on his way out of LSU? The guys answer all of these questions and more about the mess in Baton Rouge.

Then, they shift over to what will be happening on the field on Saturday. We are in Week 10, but some teams are already facing College Football Playoff elimination games. A pair of 6-2 teams face-off as #18 Oklahoma visits #14 Tennessee. Which one of these schools has the advantage and a better path to keep hope alive to make the CFP? After a crazy season so far, is the losing coach in trouble? Next, the guys chat about #23 USC visiting Nebraska. While both of these schools appear to be on the outside looking in, a loss on Saturday seals the deal. Which school has the advantage for the weekend, and do they have enough to make a late season push for the CFP? Plus, it seems that both coaches will be firmly intact for the future at both schools, but can anything change that?

Later, Andy, Ross and Godfrey give their I've Got A Feeling picks. SMU, South Carolina and Cal are who they feel good about this week.

Get ready for another packed weekend of college football with College Football Enquirer.

(1:00) - Louisiana Governor sounds off on LSU Athletic Director.

(32:13) - #18 Oklahoma @ #14 Tennessee for a CFP elimination game

(42:31) - #23 USC @ Nebraska for a CFP elimination game

(54:02) - I've Got A Feeling

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Coaching carousel continues: Who are top schools and candidates? Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

The coaching carousel appears to turn faster by the day with more and more jobs opening. There are currently 12 jobs open and that is just the tip of the iceberg. How high could that number go? Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey discuss this ever-evolving coaching cycle. They talk about how high college coaches' salaries have gotten, if there will be a shift coming and how they think the LSU coaching search is going to be handled.

Then, they break down the importance of having a premiere head coach in the world of NIL. Is it more important to invest your money in your coach or your players? The guys follow this conversation up by ranking what the top open coaching jobs are right now. More will open up, but there are already some premiere schools looking for a new leader. Who is at the top of the list?

Later, with all these jobs opening up, who are some coaches that people may not know but should keep their eye on? The list spans from the city of San Diego to the state of Virginia, with plenty of stops in-between.

Come watch the carousel spin with College Football Enquirer.

(2:15) - What are the current head coach openings and how many more may be coming?

( 11:14) - Will coaching contracts change?

(18:33) - How the LSU job search will be handled

(26:51) - How important is a head coach in the NIL era?

(34:42) - Ranking the top job openings

(50:29) - Coaches you should watch for

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