Open For Business: College Football w/ John Kurtz

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The SEC Sues LSU and Lane Kiffin; Cody Campbell Has a Warning for the Big 12; Cincy Exonerated Sep 04, 2026

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The SEC is suing LSU and Lane Kiffin in federal court as the fight over former NFL players returning to college football reaches a breaking point. We break down what the SEC wants, what LSU is arguing, the potential punishment facing Lane Kiffin, and how this could turn into an even bigger legal mess heading into the weekend.
Plus, Cincinnati has officially been cleared by the NCAA in the Brendan Sorsby gambling investigation. We revisit what Cincinnati knew, why Texas Tech fans questioned the Bearcats’ role, Cody Campbell’s mysterious “receipts” comment, and why Cincinnati fans finally get their vindication.
Then, speaking of Cody Campbell, the Texas Tech mega-booster is talking more smack in the new Paramount+ documentary, warning the rest of the Big 12 that the Red Raiders won’t forget how they were treated during the Sorsby controversy. Could Texas Tech really run up the score on Big 12 opponents this season?
Topics include LSU vs. the SEC, Lane Kiffin, former NFL players returning to college football, Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati football, Texas Tech football, Cody Campbell, Big 12 football, NCAA gambling rules, college football lawsuits and the latest college football news.

Colorado STUNS Georgia Tech! Julian Lewis Delivers an Epic Game-Winning Drive Sep 04, 2026

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Colorado football just delivered an incredible finish against Georgia Tech, and Julian Lewis may have given the Buffaloes their first signature moment of the season.
With Colorado needing a touchdown in the final minutes, Lewis led an epic late drive and made several huge throws, including a spectacular go-ahead touchdown with just 37 seconds remaining. It was a massive response after an uneven night for the Colorado offense and a performance that could completely change the conversation around the Buffs.
In this Colorado vs. Georgia Tech postgame reaction, we break down Julian Lewis’ clutch performance, Colorado’s dramatic improvement in the trenches, a dominant defensive effort, the Buffs’ revitalized rushing attack and the mistakes that nearly cost Deion Sanders’ team the game.
Is Julian Lewis emerging as the answer at quarterback? Has Colorado finally fixed its biggest problems from the last few seasons? And after a statement performance on the road, are the Buffs ready to become a real factor in the Big 12?
We break down everything from Colorado vs. Georgia Tech and what it means for Deion Sanders, Julian Lewis and the Buffaloes moving forward.
Subscribe for college football news, Big 12 analysis, instant reactions and live shows throughout the 2026 season.
#ColoradoFootball #JulianLewis #DeionSanders

Is Arizona State Ready to Take Over the Big 12 Again? Aug 31, 2026

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Plan your trip to Provo today with Explore Utah Valley: https://www.utahvalley.com/
Can Arizona State football become a Big 12 power again under Kenny Dillingham?
John Kurtz is joined by Hod Rabino of Devil’s Digest to break down an Arizona State team that may be more talented than many people realize entering the 2026 college football season. After losing stars like Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson, the Sun Devils have reloaded through the transfer portal while Dillingham continues to build the resources and infrastructure around the program.
They discuss the ugly end to Sam Leavitt’s time at ASU, why Cutter Boley is expected to win the starting quarterback job, Arizona State’s loaded group of wide receivers, the strength of the Sun Devils defense and whether ASU has enough talent to challenge Texas A&M on the road.
They also examine Arizona State’s brutal Big 12 schedule, the program’s increased financial commitment under Dillingham and why 2026 could be another important step toward ASU becoming a consistent contender at the top of the Big 12 — with an even bigger opportunity potentially waiting in 2027.
Can Arizona State get back on top of the Big 12 and turn its recent success into something sustainable?
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LSU Dares the SEC to Punish Them; Does Greg Sankey Have the Guts To Do It? + ACC Wins Week Zero Aug 30, 2026

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LSU and the SEC are heading toward a massive showdown over college football eligibility rules, and Lane Kiffin appears willing to push the conference as far as possible.
A Louisiana judge has temporarily blocked the SEC from enforcing its new rule banning former professional players from returning to college. With another major court hearing coming Thursday and LSU’s roster deadline immediately after, the Tigers could soon have to decide whether they are really willing to risk massive SEC penalties to play Dae’Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris and potentially other former NFL players.
Could Greg Sankey actually suspend Lane Kiffin for half the season and fine LSU up to 50% of its football operating budget? Or is LSU exposing the limits of the SEC’s ability to govern its own members? We break down the growing LSU-SEC game of chicken and what it could mean for the future of college sports.
Plus, USC has an attendance problem that continues to raise questions about the state of Trojans football.
And the ACC may have been the biggest winner of Week Zero. Bill Belichick and North Carolina knocked off TCU, Virginia destroyed NC State 34-8 and Stanford picked up a win over Hawaii. We discuss why UNC and Virginia could be especially important for an ACC trying to develop more nationally relevant football programs beyond its traditional powers.
Topics include:
LSU vs. SEC eligibility battle
Lane Kiffin and Greg Sankey
Former NFL players returning to college football
Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris
Jack Pyburn and LSU
SEC self-governance
USC football attendance
Bill Belichick and North Carolina
UNC vs. TCU
Virginia football and Tony Elliott
Beau Pribula
ACC football Week Zero
Florida State struggles
College football news and realignment

TCU’s Offense COLLAPSES Against Belichick; Frogs Nightmare Continues; Does Belichick Have it Now? Aug 29, 2026

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TCU had every opportunity to beat North Carolina, but the Horned Frogs let it slip away in an ugly loss that raises even more questions about the start of the 2026 season.
UNC struggled to generate much offense after halftime, yet TCU could not take advantage. Jaden Craig had a rough night at quarterback, the Horned Frogs stalled in key situations, and a missed late field goal helped North Carolina escape with the win.
In this immediate reaction, we break down what went wrong for TCU, Craig’s performance, the encouraging signs from Jeremy Payne and the new-look offense, North Carolina’s defensive adjustments, and why the early returns on TCU’s season are becoming concerning.
We also discuss the bigger Big 12 picture and whether playing season-opening games overseas is worth the sloppy conditions and potential damage to the conference’s national perception.
#TCU #TCUFootball #NorthCarolina #UNC #CollegeFootball #Big12 #Big12Football

MAJOR BYU Football Shakeup Confirms Kalani Sitake Issues; AD Santiago No Longer His Boss Aug 27, 2026

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A major BYU football shakeup headlines tonight’s show. Brett McMurphy reports that BYU may eventually have to choose between head coach Kalani Sitake and athletic director Brian Santiago. We break down that reported tension, why Sitake no longer reports directly to Santiago, the roles of Keith Vorkink and former Kentucky administrator Marc Hill, and why BYU cannot risk losing its football coach.
We also cover the growing SEC eligibility battle involving LSU, Lane Kiffin, Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. Could the players’ legal team take the SEC to court, and can the Big 12 avoid a similar fight involving Texas Tech and Houston?
Plus, TCU revoked the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s football credentials following its reporting on the altercation involving Jacob Fields and Dozie Ezukanma. Was TCU’s response justified, or did the school create another unnecessary distraction before facing North Carolina in Ireland?
Topics include BYU football, Kalani Sitake, Brian Santiago, Big 12 football, LSU football, Lane Kiffin, SEC football, Texas Tech, Houston, TCU football and the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
#BYUFootball #Big12Football #CollegeFootball

Can BYU Actually Beat Notre Dame? Irish Expert Says It Comes Down to This Aug 24, 2026

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Plan your trip to Provo for the BYU-Notre Dame game with my friends at Explore Utah Valley: https://www.utahvalley.com/
Can BYU actually beat Notre Dame in one of the biggest games of the 2026 college football season? Ty Hildenbrandt from The Solid Verbal joins Open For Business to break down the matchup.
Listen to Ty on @solidverbal : https://www.solidverbal.com/
Ty believes this could be the best Notre Dame football team of his lifetime, with CJ Carr ready to take a major step forward and one of the deepest rosters Marcus Freeman has built in South Bend. But what does that mean for Kalani Sitake, Bear Bachmeier and BYU?
We break down where BYU can challenge Notre Dame, why Bachmeier’s development as a passer could determine whether the Cougars can pull the upset, and why this game could have major College Football Playoff implications for both programs.
Topics include:
* BYU vs. Notre Dame preview
* Notre Dame’s 2026 national championship potential
* CJ Carr and the Notre Dame offense
* Bear Bachmeier’s development
* BYU’s path to upsetting Notre Dame
* Marcus Freeman’s best Notre Dame roster
* BYU and Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff chances
Subscribe to Open For Business for college football coverage from every angle, on and off the field.

Texas Tech Is Adding ANOTHER QB?; College Football's Relegation & Promotion Experiment Aug 23, 2026

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Texas Tech is reportedly expected to add former Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos, giving the Red Raiders yet another experienced option in a quarterback room already featuring Will Hammond. Is this creating unnecessary drama, or is it another example of how Texas Tech’s resources and Joey McGuire’s culture give the Red Raiders an advantage few programs can match?
We break down why Castellanos could be a major floor-raiser for Texas Tech, what the move says about Hammond, and why Tech continues to go all-in on building a College Football Playoff contender.
Plus, what if college football actually adopted promotion and relegation? With Super League conversations continuing around the sport, I’m launching a season-long experiment using 22 of college football’s most valuable programs. Three teams get relegated. Three teams play their way in. We introduce the founding league, the preseason promotion contenders and the major programs already in danger of getting bounced.
Also on the show:
• Alabama names Keelon Russell its starting quarterback. Why the Crimson Tide could be one of the most volatile teams in the country and why Alabama missing the CFP could open the door for someone else.
• Missouri star running back Ahmad Hardy is expected to miss Week 1. What that could mean for Mizzou and the September matchup with Kansas.
• ESPN is showing the Big 12 some serious respect. Both of its latest College Football Playoff projections include Texas Tech AND BYU, with each projection also featuring a Big 12 win over an SEC opponent.
• Why the national perception of Texas Tech and BYU could be changing and why having legitimate teams at the top matters so much for the Big 12.
College football is almost here. We’re covering the biggest stories across the Big 12 and the entire sport, from the playoff race and quarterback battles to realignment, the transfer portal and the forces reshaping college football on and off the field.
Subscribe to Open For Business for college football analysis all season long.

ACC Realignment Alarm Bells Ringing Again; Does the Media Hate Texas Tech?; UNHINGED Big 12 Week Aug 20, 2026

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The ACC could be staring down another round of realignment trouble.
New reporting on the Protect College Sports Act suggests one of the provisions designed to discourage schools from switching conferences could be weakened or eliminated. That could eventually reopen the door for programs like Florida State, Clemson and Miami to leave the ACC.
So what would the absolute best-case scenario look like for the ACC in 2026? We break down the conference’s dream season, its nightmare scenario and what it all could mean for the future of college football realignment.
Plus, Texas Tech is collecting receipts after another week of national skepticism. Is the media actually disrespecting the Red Raiders, or are reasonable concerns about Tech being labeled as hate?
And somehow, the Big 12 had an even more unhinged week. Doctors are pushing back against the conference’s Monster Energy sponsorship, TCU dismissed safety Jacob Fields following a locker-room altercation, and Utah is suing former assistant Freddie Whittingham after he followed Kyle Whittingham to Michigan.
We’ll also dig into the mounting offensive-line injuries at Kansas State and answer the big question: is K-State’s season already in serious trouble?
Topics include:
* ACC realignment and the Protect College Sports Act
* Florida State, Clemson and Miami’s ACC future
* ACC best-case and worst-case scenarios
* AP Poll reaction
* Texas Tech disrespect and national media criticism
* Big 12 Monster Energy controversy
* TCU and Jacob Fields
* Utah’s lawsuit against Freddie Whittingham
* Kansas State offensive-line injuries
* Avery Johnson and K-State’s 2026 outlook

Ty From The Solid Verbal’s Ultimate Big 12 Preview: Is Everyone Wrong About the Big 12? Aug 20, 2026

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Is everyone wrong about the Big 12 heading into the 2026 college football season? Ty Hildenbrandt from The Solid Verbal joins Open For Business for an ultimate Big 12 football preview.
Catch Ty on @solidverbal : https://www.solidverbal.com/
We break down just how deep the Big 12 could be this season, whether Texas Tech, BYU and Houston deserve to be considered the league’s top tier, and which teams could emerge from a wide-open middle of the conference. Ty also explains why he wasn’t completely sold on Texas Tech even before the Brendan Sorsby situation and why Oklahoma State could be one of the Big 12’s biggest surprise teams.
We also get into Kansas State under Colin Klein, Utah under Morgan Scalley, Avery Johnson’s upside, the Big 12’s national perception and whether the conference can finally break through with a major non-conference or College Football Playoff win.
Topics include:
* 2026 Big 12 football predictions
* Texas Tech, BYU and Houston
* Big 12 championship contenders
* Oklahoma State as a sleeper
* Kansas State and Avery Johnson
* Colin Klein vs. Morgan Scalley
* The depth of the Big 12
* Big 12 College Football Playoff chances
* Whether the Big 12 is being underrated nationally
Subscribe to Open For Business for Big 12 and national college football coverage from every angle, on and off the field.

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