Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast

Offseason Vibe Checks 2025: The MAC Apr 23, 2025

Alex and Richard break down offseason happenings in the Mid-American Conference, which saw lots of coach carousel turnover.

* Ohio: Tim Albin to Charlotte, OC Brian Smith replacing him

* Ball State: An off-the-beaten-path coach hire, bringing on a guy who most recently coached non-scholarship football in the Pioneer League

* Miami: It’s a Return to the MAC for QB Dequan Finn

* Buffalo: Pete Lembo tries to follow up a surprisingly good opening act

* Bowling Green: Has an offseason loss of a coach ever looked better than the Falcons winding up with Eddie George?

* Western Michigan: Major staff turnover as Lance Taylor tries to fix it

* Toledo: Jason Candle has a good roster (as usual) and spicy spring game commentary

* NIU: Losing basically everything from last year’s team that beat Notre Dame, and also preparing for a conference switch

* Akron: A portal exodus

* EMU: Ditto, but Chris Creighton is a hard man to count out

* Central Michigan: Trying something different with Army’s Matt Drinkall as head coach. We applaud the spirit of the hire

* Kent State: Well, it’s really, really bad

The MAC also has some realignment coming for this season, with UMass joining back up. They’re not officially Midwesterners again until July, though, so we’ll discuss the Minutemen when we check in with the independents.

(Ed. note! We recorded most of this episode shortly before the spring transfer portal window opened, but we made a few updates before publication on 4/23, mostly to cover the late-spring firing of Kent State’s head coach.)

Elsewhere in Offseason Vibe Checks

* Big Ten

* SEC

* ACC

* Big 12

* Sun Belt

* Conference USA

* AAC

Subscriber exclusives all offseason long

Two of them just this week!

* What on Earth is going on at Cal?

* The NFL Draft QB Tiers Special, with Ben Solak and Derrik Klassen

And much more from SZD

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2025 NFL Draft QB Tiers Special Apr 21, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Renewing our annual NFL Draft week tradition, Richard is joined by ESPN’s Ben Solak and The Athletic Football Show’s Derrik Klassen for a rollicking good time discussing the 2025 QB class. You'll be surprised at a QB the gang surprisingly can tolerate in a class that is a down year overall.

Producer: Anthony Vito

CFB Lunch Break: What Does an Ohio State "Down Year" Even Mean? Apr 17, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Alex and Richard take a bunch of questions from Split Zone Duo subscribers, recorded at lunch on April 15. The topics covered here include:

* Is this the most wide-open track to the national title that CFB has seen in a long time? And what does it even mean for Ohio State to be “down”?

* The Group of 5 schools with the biggest NIL war chests

* Could Notre Dame be better than last year? (We’re skeptical.)

* How does Cal replace an entire portaled running back room?

* Would Texas reset the market for Dan Lanning?

* UAB has a new wordmark

* Is Mike Norvell’s hire of Gus Malzahn a last stand?

* Why is institutional malpractice in the MAC not a bigger story?

* Thoughts on Colorado retiring Shedeur Sanders’ number?

* City schools’ difficulty getting people to care about CFB

* Story time: Richard’s trip to Augusta National Golf Club

* Alex’s running gear recommendation

Producer: Anthony Vito

Also this week for SZD subscribers

Our subscriber episode on Nico Iamaleava leaving Tennessee:

What We Think (And Don't) About Nico Iamaleava Apr 16, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Alex and Richard react to Nico Iamaleava’s split from Tennessee. We’re less interested in where he plays next (UNC? UCLA? Elsewhere?) and more interested in talking through his last few months as a Volunteer:

* The job done by Tennessee’s football staff

* The way Iamaleava is doing business

* How the state of Tennessee helped bring about this moment

* Freedom to move around and live with the consequences

* The idea of Iamaleava’s representatives driving the boat

* How much you can blame “the NCAA” for the state of things

* Do star quarterbacks really have so much power?

* Why we think Tennessee is likely to come out ahead of its old QB

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson

Production: Anthony Vito

Offseason Vibe Checks 2025: The AAC Apr 14, 2025

Rodger Sherman returns for our offseason check in with the American Athletic Conference, along with Alex and Richard. The group discusses how things have been going since the end of the 2024 season for each team in the AAC:

* UTSA finds reason for optimism

* Rice gets a bit creative in the coach carousel

* FAU makes a hire that Alex is pretty happy about

* Tulsa hires a millennial from the FCS ranks

* North Texas attempts to finally play a bit of defense, and also returns to the Cam Ward Quarterback Tree

* Temple lands a proper ball coach to try a rebuild

* ECU sticks with the interim coach after a solid finish

* Charlotte also has a new head coach, but success at Charlotte might not hinge on who the 49ers hire

* Tulane 2.0 under Jon Sumrall

* UAB tries to patch a major wound with small bandages

* Army loses its entire offense

* Navy doesn’t

* USF may actually, finally, at long last, be building a new stadium

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Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Unpacking College Sports Business Turmoil with Matt Brown Apr 10, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Matt Brown, publisher of the Extra Points college sports business newsletter, joins Alex to discuss a handful of big business stories that are all coming to a head around the same time. In this show:

* The status of the not-quite-finished House settlement

* Do we believe in the NCAA’s attempt to make sure that future “NIL” deals are really about the use of a player’s name, image, or likeness?

* How power conference schools might divide up the $20 million per year that they will share directly with their athletes

* Why Group of 5 and FCS payments will not be what they seem

* Is the settlement going to provide a big leg up for basketball schools?

* Nebraska’s AD will have the most interesting job in college sports

* How might tariffs and a bad stock market affect athletic departments?

* What about federal attacks on higher education?

* Sacramento State is trying to move to FBS. It’s questionable.

Also, here’s a cool offer for Split Zone Duo subscribers: 25 percent off a monthly or annual subscription to Extra Points by clicking this link. Matt’s newsletter is an essential read for keeping up with the off-field developments that shape college football, and we’re excited to have him stopping by.

Host: Alex Kirshner

Guest: Matt Brown

Producer: Anthony Vito

Interview: App State Coach Dowell Loggains on a Unique CFB Job Apr 07, 2025

Alex interviews Dowell Loggains, the recently hired Appalachian State head coach who was most recently at South Carolina after a long run as an NFL assistant and coordinator. After Alex and Richard talk a bit about App State’s last 20 years, Loggains joins (17:10) to discuss:

* Why he moved from the NFL to college football at a time when coaches are getting a lot of attention for doing the opposite

* Why he isn’t worried about spring games turning into roster poaching showcases for rival schools

* The concept of “fit” at a distinct school like App State

* Recruiting as a Group of 5 program in a crowded region

* Recruiting to a Sun Belt school vs. recruiting in the SEC

* The specific type of prospect who comes to Boone

* If he’s thinking about the House settlement and whether he’ll need to fight for resources with other sports

* The time management element of becoming a head coach

* How much he would delegate to a general manager

* Coaching Chris Johnson during his 2,000-yard season and whether that has value in the eyes of 2020s college football players

App State Flutie Effect study mentioned on the show: https://econ.appstate.edu/RePEc/pdf/wp1905.pdf

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Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

CFB Lunch Break: The Big East is a Window Into the Future Apr 02, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

This episode is for paid subscribers, but everyone can hear a preview. If you’re not a paid subscriber, you can get a weeklong free trial.

Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson take a bunch of live questions from Split Zone Duo subscribers and discuss college football offseason news:

* Maryland losing a basketball coach to the Big East is a sign of what’s coming in college sports’ new economy

* Is the SEC the next flashpoint for intra-athletic department funding over House settlement revenue share dollars?

* How about the blue-blood men’s basketball schools like Kentucky and Duke?

* How will this new era affect the service academies?

* Do we believe that NIL has ruined the NCAA hoops tournaments?

* Does Richard believe in Florida’s offensive play-calling apparatus?

* What is Alex’s problem with Wisconsin?

* Let’s talk about Georgia Tech’s defensive line

* Frank Reich to Stanford

* Pac-12 realignment musical chairs

* The Athletics’ horrible treatment of Sacramento, and thoughts on torpedo bats

Producer: Anthony Vito

Also this week from Split Zone Duo

Offseason Vibe Checks 2025: The Big Ten Mar 31, 2025

Rodger Sherman joins Alex and Richard for a checkup on all 18 teams in the beefy Big Ten, as our Offseason Vibe Check series rolls on:

* Ohio State won the national championship. That’s pretty good! Both the team and coaching staff are about to look a lot different.

* Penn State faces its "national championship or go away” season

* Washington is very hard to figure out

* Michigan might have had the best non-OSU run of any team in the country from Thanksgiving through Signing Day

* Purdue welcomes Barry Odom to a difficult gig

* Nebraska has a notably quiet offseason as Dana Holgorsen, a late-season hire from 2024, tries to fix the offense

* UCLA starts more or less from scratch, again

* Iowa makes a portal addition to be very excited about

* Wisconsin makes portal additions to be less excited about

* Indiana has a chance to avoid a massive decline (?)

* Minnesota needs to replace wideout production but has an intriguing QB

* Oregon just keeps on chugging on the trail

* Maryland is lining up a major recruiting win but needs to keep it together, not just through Signing Day but well beyond

* Michigan State’s talent acquisition is going in the wrong direction

* Rutgers shows encouraging signs

* USC faces a truly make-or-break year

* Illinois and Bret Bielema are change agents for CFB’s rules

* Northwestern gets the full Rodger explanation

Producer: Anthony Vito

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson

Guest: Rodger Sherman

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Stanford Is a Bad Job Now Mar 26, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Andrew Luck fired Stanford coach Troy Taylor after off-field investigations of his conduct came to light. In this episode for SZD subscribers, Alex and Richard discuss the circumstances of Taylor’s firing and Stanford’s challenges:

* An investigation timeline going back more than a year

* Stanford’s decision to stand by Taylor until there was public heat

* How this mirrors Northwestern’s firing of Pat Fitzgerald

* Andrew Luck’s role as the key decision-maker for Stanford

* Alex wonders if Stanford is even a good job anymore

* Richard is very confident that it is NOT

* Stanford’s unique challenges in a post-House settlement world

* Recruits’ fading or nonexistent memories of the days when Stanford was one of the best programs in the country

* Why the college sports industry will be watching Luck as GM

This episode is for paid subscribers, but everyone can hear a free preview. You can sign up for a weeklong free trial at https://www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

When The Supreme Court Imploded College Football Mar 24, 2025

The NCAA had complete control of college football TV. The association decided which games the public could watch, and where, and when, and how much money every school would earn as a result. Then came a new group called the College Football Association, an outside TV deal, and a lawsuit from two schools, Georgia and Oklahoma. What happened next, at the United States Supreme Court, created the fundamentals of how all of us watch college football today.

Jay Willis is the editor-in-chief of Balls and Strikes, an independent outlet that covers the Supreme Court. (He’s also a big Cal football fan.) Jay joins host Alex Kirshner to dive deep into NCAA v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, the case that destroyed the old world of college football TV and created a huge mess in its place. As we’ll learn, that took a while to clean up.

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Did Oregon Just Make Itself Poach-Proof? Mar 19, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Dan Lanning signed an extension with Oregon that makes it impossible for all but a few teams to hire him away, and most of them aren’t college. Steven Godfrey, Richard Johnson, and Alex Kirshner discuss what his contract says about the evolved pecking order in the coach carousel. After losing both Willie Taggart and Mario Cristobal to Florida schools, has Oregon now ascended to be poaching-proof from everyone except the NFL, Ohio State, and Georgia? We run down some hypotheticals about LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, FSU, and Clemson.

Hosts: Steven Godfrey, Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

This episode is for SZD subscribers

You can get a free trial of our paid episodes to get lots more shows like this.

Meanwhile, everyone can hear a short preview of this show.

Offseason Vibe Checks 2025: CUSA Mar 17, 2025

Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football senior writer Mike Craven discuss the state of the offseason in Conference USA, a league that was spicier than most of us expected in 2024:

* Jacksonville State loses the braintrust behind a conference championship and will now be completely different

* WKU’s run as the cradle of coordinators continues

* FIU tries an ultra-Floridian approach

* Sam Houston restarts with Phil Longo, who has school ties

* Kennesaw State is just trying to be in less disarray

* Liberty overhauls in the portal as it looks to bounce back

* UTEP is quietly building something intriguing under Scotty Walden

* Middle Tennessee emerges from a Year Zero

* New Mexico State deals with broader athletic department turmoil

* Louisiana Tech continues to ride it out

* And the league soon adds a couple of new members, Delaware and Missouri State. We’ll get to them in season previews. It’s not time yet.

Meet the Offseason Vibe Check: It's not a 2024 recap, and it's not a 2025 preview. It's a check-in with every team in every FBS conference about what's been happening since Thanksgiving. How was the postseason? How was the coach carousel? How was signing day? How was the transfer portal window? And is anything else going on around your program?

Producer: Anthony Vito

Elsewhere in Offseason Vibe Checks

* SEC

* Sun Belt

* ACC

* Big 12

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

CFB Lunch Break: ACC Settlement, Eddie George, and More Mar 12, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Alex and Richard take subscribers’ college football questions in this live recording, conducted on the Substack app on Tuesday. We call it CFB Lunch Break, because we’re taking CFB questions at lunchtime:

* How we feel about player wearing #0 and single-digits

* The winner and loser from the ACC’s settlement with Clemson and FSU, which keeps the ACC together for at least a bit

* What’s the real reason that spring games are on the decline?

* Talking through Eddie George’s move to Bowling Green

* Whether George is now in the Ohio State long-term candidates pipeline

* San Diego State’s stagnancy as it heads to the new Pac-12

* Does Dan Lanning warrant “f—ing football coach” status?

* Why Lanning’s extension with Oregon is the realest extension ever

* Fanbases with the MOST REALISTIC expectations

* How long Indiana fans will (or won’t) tolerate a return to the old days

* If we think about college football in the middle of the night

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson

Producer: Anthony Vito

Offseason Vibe Checks 2025: The Big 12 Mar 10, 2025

Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football senior writer Mike Craven discuss how the offseason is going for every team in the Big 12 Conference:

* Arizona State keeps a playoff core almost totally intact

* Arizona is in the danger zone after Brent Brennan’s first year

* Baylor is once again ready to contend for the league

* Oklahoma State is in uncharted waters

* WVU and UCF both do some fan service

* Kansas swaps out coordinators and has a QB injury to monitor

* Why Houston coach Willie Fritz is nicknamed “novocain”

* Iowa State needs to win in the portal at wide receiver

* Colorado is still acting very much like Colorado

* How much should we buy into the hype of Texas Tech’s NIL-driven offseason renaissance? Mike tells us

* Kansas State has its best recruit in program history

* Cincinnati is relying a lot on Scott Satterfield’s evaluations

* TCU has the best recruiting class in the Big 12 and could be rising again

* Utah’s coach-in-waiting situation could get a bit weird, no?

* BYU has an offseason of turnover and near-turnover at the top

Meet the Offseason Vibe Check: It's not a 2024 recap, and it's not a 2025 preview. It's a check-in with every team in every FBS conference about what's been happening since Thanksgiving. How was the postseason? How was the coach carousel? How was signing day? How was the transfer portal window? And is anything else going on around your program?

Elsewhere in Offseason Vibe Checks

* SEC

* Sun Belt

* ACC

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Offseason Vibe Checks 2025: The ACC Mar 05, 2025

The Offseason Vibe Check series continues with the ACC, as Rodger Sherman joins Alex and Richard to talk about the state of the league. It's not a 2024 recap, and it's not a 2025 preview. It's a check-in with every team in every FBS conference about what's been happening since Thanksgiving. How was the postseason? How was the coach carousel? How was signing day? How was the transfer portal window? And is anything else going on around your program?

* Pitt finished on an 0-6 run but has continuity in some important spots

* Florida State makes wholesale changes after going 2-10 with one FBS win over Cal by five points

* Jake Dickert takes over at Wake Forest after Dave Clawson stepped away without making it all about him

* Virginia Tech’s make-or-break year approaches

* Cal adds some funny culture fits

* Belichick’s UNC is talking funny about operating like an NFL program

* SMU appears to be building on its playoff season

* Duke might be in the best shape of its football life

* Syracuse recruits a massive class as Fran Brown tries to build

* “We’re all on in Georgia Tech, right?”

* Clemson steps into the transfer portal at last

* NC State’s party might be over, but give Dave Doeren a chance

* Miami gets itself involved (of course) in a major legal matter

* BC and UVA make quarterback swaps

* Is Louisville about to have a highly drafted NFL QB to recruit off of?

* Palace intrigue at Stanford involving Andrew Luck (!)

In case you missed any of these:

* Our special on why Kent State’s football program is always bad, and what can be done about it if anything. Featuring Rodger Sherman!

* Anatomy of a coaching carousel: 2001. Diving deep into the ramifications of one coach hiring cycle with our co-host emeritus Steven Godfrey

* Offseason Vibe Checks: The state of the SEC

* Offseason Vibe Checks: The state of the Sun Belt

Stay tuned for more this week

Offseason Vibe Checks will roll on with the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Not a subscriber but want to try it out?

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Subscribers: Any thoughts on this format?

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Why Kent State Is Always Bad Feb 26, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

The history of the Kent State Golden Flashes is full of missed opportunities, real-life tragedies, and lots of losing—never more than in 2024, when Kent State had one of the worst teams in college football history. Why is the program perennially so bad? To answer that question, Rodger Sherman joins Alex and Richard for a deep dive into the Flashes.

* A long history of great, memorable players on bad teams

* Separating the challenges that come with being a MAC school from the ones that are specific to this MAC school

* A string of tragedies that affected the football program, led by the fallout from the killings of four students by national guardsmen in 1970

* More than one missed chance to hire alum Nick Saban

* The program’s best case-scenario over the next 10 years

* Should Kent State stay the course, drop to FCS, or do something else?

Read Rodger’s recent newsletter on Kent State’s miserable 2024, and join the thousands on his mailing list to get more of his one-of-a-kind writing.

This is a premium episode of Split Zone Duo for our paid subscribers. If you’re not a subscriber yet, you can try us out on a seven-day free trial.

Also, let us know if you liked this episode concept and if there are any other troubled programs you’d like to see us explore in the future.

Offseason Vibe Checks 2025: The Sun Belt Feb 25, 2025

Split Zone Duo’s “Offseason Vibe Check” series rolls on with the Sun Belt. It's not a 2024 recap, and it's not a 2025 preview. It's a check-in with every team in every FBS conference about what's been happening since Thanksgiving. How was the postseason? How was the coach carousel? How was signing day? How was the transfer portal window? And is anything else going on around your program? In this week’s Sun Belt episode, Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson discuss:

* Louisiana’s sour ending after being the most low-key playoff contender until the final days of the season

* Marshall’s tumultuous end of the season and coaching change

* App State’s Dowell Loggains era starts with winning hearts and minds

* Coastal Carolina cleans house … except for the head coach

* Butch Jones and Arkansas State are in it for the long haul

* Charles Huff finds his life raft at a downtrodden Southern Miss

* Texas State hangs onto GJ Kinne after it didn’t look likely

* Georgia Southern gives Clay Helton a contract extension that isn’t outrageous but doesn’t make a lot of sense

* James Madison tries a bespoke approach in the portal, and it should lead to the Dukes being favorites in the league

* Georgia State’s recruiting blitz under Dell McGee picks up

* A snippet from friend of the program Justin Ferguson of the Auburn Observer, talking about the situations at Troy and South Alabama

Offseason Vibe Checks so far

* The SEC

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Offseason Vibe Checks 2025: The SEC Feb 20, 2025

Welcome to Split Zone Duo’s “Offseason Vibe Check” series. It's not a 2024 recap, and it's not a 2025 preview. It's a check-in with every team in every FBS conference about what's been happening since Thanksgiving. How was the postseason? How was the coach carousel? How was signing day? How was the transfer portal window? And is anything else going on around your program? We start with the Southeastern Conference and will work our way from here.

* Tennessee has had a quiet few months since Columbus

* Vanderbilt will have Diego Pavia back, we think

* Alabama’s bowl loss was bad enough to make you question some things, but the new offensive coordinator might be great

* Did everyone realize that Mike Bobo is still UGA’s offensive coordinator?

* Impressively, so is Bobby Petrino at Arkansas

* Brent Venables stakes his Oklahoma tenure on some newcomers

* Ole Miss has reasons to be both concerned and excited

* South Carolina aims for a portal sequel

* Texas is trying to do it yet again on the defensive line

* LSU might be The Definitive Portal Team of 2025

* Florida continues to tell a positive story

* Kentucky’s path back to being prickly is not clear

* Mississippi State gets some needed upgrades

* A&M overhauls its wide receiver room

* Missouri gets the chance to prove it can be durable

* Auburn faces a “put up or shut up” kind of season

Stay tuned for more in this recurring series over the coming months.

Producer: Anthony Vito

Split Zone Duo paid subscribers got a whole other big episode this week

SZD host emeritus Steven Godfrey joins Alex and Richard to break down one of the most fascinating coaching cycles in recent memory: the one before the 2001 season. Find that episode below or in your podcast feed.

If you’re not yet an SZD subscriber, try us out with a seven-day free trial. If you like CFB history, we think you will really enjoy the episode.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Anatomy of a Coaching Carousel: 2001 Feb 18, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

The coaching carousel before the 2001 season transformed college football. Some programs set themselves up for national championship (or even dynastic) runs. Some screwed themselves. Some set the stage for the next several decades of the top tiers of the SEC and Big Ten. In this episode, Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Steven Godfrey take a fine-toothed comb through the consequential coaching cycle at the end of 2000:

* The hires that worked really well (Gary Patterson to TCU, Pete Carroll to USC, Jim Tressel to Ohio State, Rich Rodriguez to WVU, and many more)

* The hires that fell flat (hello, UNC and Arizona)

* The hires that shaped college football to this day

* The what-if scenarios that nearly made it all different

* Ohio State and Georgia shopping for upgrades

* A reevaluation of Larry Coker?

* Class superlatives, including the Ellis Johnson Southern Miss Award for missed opportunities, the Coaching Carousel Global Impact Award for the most profound ripple effects, and Hire of the Year

And more. We enjoyed making this episode for our paying subscribers at www.splitzoneduo.com, but everyone can hear a free preview. Join us on a weeklong free trial if you aren’t a subscriber and would like to try us out.

Producer: Anthony Vito

An NIL Agent Explains How The Sausage Gets Made Feb 12, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Split Zone Duo subscribers have some questions for an NIL agent about how the business of paying college football players actually works. Justin J. Giangrande is the CEO and founder of NETWORK, a sports marketing agency that handles both collective negotiations and sponsorship agreements for players like. We wanted to know:

* How does someone even become an NIL agent?

* How sophisticated are collectives and college football front offices in their handling of player negotiations?

* Will an NCAA clearinghouse to vet deals be a disaster?

* How does the lack of public transparency about dollar amounts affect his job as an agent? Does this favor the players or the schools?

* How do deals for name-brand stars differ from the boilerplate contracts you’d imagine for a backup offensive lineman?

* What happens when someone wants to break a multi-year contract?

* How has the impending but uncertain arrival of revenue-sharing affected negotiations with players of late?

* Will revenue-sharing simplify negotiations?

* How do agents educate players on their tax obligations?

* Why should anyone trust an NIL agent, given that there’s no players’ union to certify their qualifications like in the NFLPA?

* Do we all think there will be a players’ union in the near future?

Thanks to everyone for your great questions. Paying subscribers get the ability to ask questions of us and certain guests, and they can also listen to this entire episode. Start with a free trial!

Week 1 Helmet Games and the Future of Non-Con (B1G Scared?) Feb 11, 2025

In one of Steven Godfrey’s favorite early-offseason traditions, the SZD crew glances ahead at the Week 1 schedule many months from now. Not just so there’s something to look forward to as the long offseason gets going, but because the story of Week 1 matchups is increasingly the story of how athletic directors are approaching scheduling. Let’s dive into:

* Why 2025’s season-opening schedule will give you more to look forward to than the equivalent slate in 2024

* The most obvious Anxiety Bowl in the history of Week 1

* Sonny Dykes’ latest season opener against a celebrity head coach

* Is USC a canary in the coal mine for the Big Ten’s retreat from marquee non-con spots? And if so …

* Could an SEC/Big Ten scheduling partnership reverse that tide?

* News analysis: Georgia Southern extends Clay Helton, for some reason

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner, Steven Godfrey

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Gump Report: Angst and Opportunity in Alabama Feb 06, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

2024 was a weird (read: bad) year for a lot of college football teams in the state Alabama. Justin Ferguson, publisher of the Auburn Observer and all-purpose ball-knower in the state, joins Alex and Richard to discuss:

* How everyone’s feeling after the two Iron Bowl teams went a combined 7-9 in the SEC, tied for their worst joint record of the century

* Why this will be an offseason of hope for Auburn, and why Hugh Freeze will have to deliver a lot early in the 2025 season

* Alabama’s pivot away from in-state recruiting and Alex’s theory that the revenue-sharing era should be good to the Tide

* UAB still has Trent Dilfer, and the Blazers coach is attempting the most blatant '“portal to save his job” maneuver that we’ve ever seen

* South Alabama is at least a little interesting, if not quite “good”

* Troy, however, is none of the above at the moment

* Scott Cochran’s new Division II job makes waves

* Jacksonville State nailed its FBS transition, won Conference USA, and has a new coach who can recruit

Thanks to Ferg, whose work is at www.auburnobserver.com

Hosts: Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner

Guest: Justin Ferguson

LIVE in Atlanta with the Shutdown Fullcast and Homefield Feb 04, 2025

On January 18, SZD and our old friends at the Shutdown Fullcast combined for a live show in Atlanta, presented by Homefield. We now present the recording, featuring a whole bunch of FOOTBALL DISASTERS and a round of CFB family feud featuring friends of the program like Homefield founder Connor Hitchcock, Matt Brown, Jessica Smetana, Amanda Mull, and Joel Anderson.

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Your Guide to the 2025 CFB Offseason Jan 29, 2025

Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Steven Godfrey discuss the stories they are most interested to watch unfold between now and September. In this show:

* Podcast update: Godfrey is becoming host emeritus and will take a lighter load as he works on other things, but you’ll still hear him on SZD regularly.

* Richard is tracking a series of potential changes to the postseason and end-of-season schedule, not just (more) playoff expansion but also all the SEC/Big Ten saber-rattling that will accompany it. Plus potential changes to the transfer portal schedule and a resolution of the ACC’s drama.

* Godfrey will follow the SEC’s attempts to keep internal order now that it’s ballooned to a huge size, some teams have missed the first 12-team playoff narrowly, and the “eight vs. nine conference games” debate remains open.

* Alex has his eye on the House settlement, which most people in college sports believe will get final approval and go into effect this year. For the first time ever, after years of toothless hearings, the federal government will have no choice but to get actively involved in college sports reforms.

* Arch Madness prepares to take full hold at Texas

* Penn State, preseason No. 1?

* USC’s crucial summer of getting its house in order

For Split Zone Duo subscribers this week

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Accountability Episode: What We Learned In 2024 Jan 29, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex made a lot of preseason predictions back in August. Some of them worked out well. (Everyone had Ohio State winning the national title.) Some of them worked out terribly. (Florida State and Michigan in the playoff: Nice job, fellas!) Let’s see how everyone did, and then let’s try to learn some lessons from the ways reality matched and deviated from what we expected. Also, we dig into questions like:

* Is the key to good national awards races just to have no elite quarterbacks on the best teams?

* Why didn’t any young G5 coaches land power conference jobs?

* What can the rest of of the sport glean from FSU’s collapse?

* Did we get Conference USA’s parity all wrong?

Producer: Anthony Vito

Championship Hurry-Up: A Good Day Jan 21, 2025

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner put a bow on the national championship game, a 34-23 win for Ohio State over Notre Dame:

* How the Buckeyes did it

* Notre Dame’s attempt to stop them, including that late third down

* Ryan Day’s unique legacy

* And more odds and ends from the title game

Thanks so much for listening this season, our fifth as a podcast. We’ll be back next week with Steven Godfrey to dig up our pre-2024 time capsule and turn our attention toward the offseason. Much more soon!

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Xs and Os of Ohio State-Notre Dame Jan 17, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

In this subscriber episode, Ross Fulton, Ohio State analyst for Buckeye Huddle, joins Richard to talk about the schematic chess match of OSU vs. Notre Dame for the national championship. Let’s go in depth on how these teams will approach the other and the schematic battles that will determine the champ.

Also this week from Split Zone Duo!

* A longer national championship preview with Shehan Jeyarajah

* SZD subscribers can listen now to our coach carousel wrap show, with conclusions and reporting on a quiet but telling few months hires and fires.

* Everyone can hear our 2024 season awards special, which we do our own way. Let us know what you think of our picks for awards like Team of the Year and the Bryan Harsin Award for Forestalling the Inevitable.

Producer: Anthony Vito

National Championship Preview Show Feat. Shehan Jeyarajah Jan 16, 2025

CBS Sports national college football reporter Shehan Jeyarajah joins Alex and Richard for a preview of Ohio State vs. Notre Dame. Shehan and Richard were at the two semifinals, and now everyone gathers to frame up the title game:

* When Ohio State has the ball

* When Notre Dame has the ball

* Why a lot of our analysis of Notre Dame’s chances keeps coming back to “what if this was a completely different team?”

* Assessing the first go-around for the 12-team playoff

* Picks

We’re excited to see many of you this weekend for our sold-out live show in Atlanta, a combo event with the Shutdown Fullcast. Thanks to Homefield for presenting that show. Use code SZD20 on your first order at Homefield and get 20% off.

Also this week from Split Zone Duo!

* SZD subscribers can listen now to our coach carousel wrap show, with conclusions and reporting on a quiet but telling few months hires and fires.

* Everyone can hear our 2024 season awards special, which we do our own way. Let us know what you think of our picks for awards like Team of the Year and the Bryan Harsin Award for Forestalling the Inevitable.

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson

Guest: Shehan Jeyarajah

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 Split Zone Duo CFB Awards Special Jan 15, 2025

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex name their winners in the 2024 Split Zone Duo college football awards, aka “The Zonies” aka “The Splitty Ds.”

* Team of the Year (not the best team, but the one that we most enjoyed watching or became most interested in going forward)

* Moment of the Year

* Proof of Concept of the Year, for coaches showing good signs

* Minority Coach of the Week of the Year

* Portaling of the Year

* Bad Situation of the Year, aka “the Bryan Harsin Award for Forestalling the Inevitable,” an honor with many nominees

Stay tuned this week for national championship game preview content. Meanwhile, www.splitzoneduo.com subscribers will get our 2024-25 coaching carousel wrap show, and we’ll have more to come.

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner, Steven Godfrey

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Single Wing: Who Let Saban Loose In Heritage Hall? Jan 13, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Godfrey's back from a variety platter of holiday family illnesses to play some hypothetical coaching games, like Fran Brown to LSU (?!) and why USC needs to clean its house like 2000s-era LSU. Also, let's talk about spoons. A lot.

Producer: Anthony Vito

Also in the past few days from SZD

* The post-Playoff semifinals Hurry-Up from Alex and Richard

Semifinal Hurry-Up: 83 Yards Through the Heart of Texas Jan 11, 2025

The College Football Playoff semifinals are in the books. Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson share notes on Ohio State over Texas and Notre Dame over Penn State, plus pay tribute to North Dakota State’s win over Montana State in the FCS Championship. Producer: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

So, What Is Up With Penn State? Jan 07, 2025

Daniel Gallen covers Penn State for 247Sports. He joins Alex to talk about the Nittany Lions’ long road to the doorstep of the national title game, including:

* How the university responded to James Franklin’s request for more investment in the football program

* The relationship between the coach and the fanbase

* An athletic director swap in the middle of Franklin’s tenure

* What’s been different about this year’s team

* Whether Franklin is on his way to being a Penn State lifer

* The impact of this year’s coordinator hires

* Fiesta Bowl hospitality

And more. With Penn State on the verge of something big, we thought it was time to talk more in depth about how they got here. Penn State plays Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl semifinal this week.

Find Daniel’s work: https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/

Read Audrey Snyder’s story about Penn State’s resources: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3738241/2022/10/28/penn-state-james-franklin-facilities-football/

Host: Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 Playoff Semifinal Preview Show Jan 06, 2025

Richard and Alex preview the CFP semifinals:

* Notre Dame-Penn State at the Orange Bowl

* Ohio State-Texas at the Cotton Bowl

The matchups we’re looking at. The keys to the game. The one post-Rose Bowl thing Alex wants to walk back. And much more!

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Your Repeat Coach Hire Probably Won't Work Jan 06, 2025

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Scott Frost is back at UCF, and Rich Rodriguez is back at West Virginia. Hundreds of college football teams, at all levels, have hired head coaches back to their old jobs. There’s a whole Wikipedia list and everything, dating to the 1800s. But most of these situations are many decades old and didn't happen in FBS. What can we make, however, of 19 coaches who came around after World War II and got two head coaching opportunities at the same school? The list ranges from big successes like Bill Snyder to extreme failures like Randy Edsall, and there are lots of lessons to learn.

See the data at www.splitzoneduo.com

Producer: Anthony Vito

Hosts: Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, Alex Kirshner

CFP Quarterfinal Hurry-Up: Ohio State Is a War Machine Jan 03, 2025

Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson share their thoughts on the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, in reverse chronological order:

* Notre Dame scores the first technical upset of the playoff vs. Georgia

* Ohio State runs Oregon out of Pasadena

* Texas escapes Arizona State by a whisker

* Penn State handles a prickly Boise State

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Playoff Quarterfinal Preview 2024, Plus Bowls Dec 29, 2024

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner preview the College Football Playoff quarterfinal games in order:

* Penn State vs. Boise State, where everyone is skeptical of an upset

* Texas vs. Arizona State, where the Sun Devils have a path but it’s narrow against a dominant Texas defense

* Ohio State vs. Oregon, which looks like CFB’s game of the year

* Notre Dame vs. Georgia, where SZD picks a narrow upset

Plus: Washington State hires a coach, and we’ve got notes on a big collection of December bowl games, from TCU optimism to Pat Narduzzi’s utterly ridiculous field goal decision in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. (Note: That field goal came at the end of the second overtime, making it even worse than Alex said.)

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The SZD 2024 Holiday Subscriber Mailbag Dec 23, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex answer questions from SZD’s paid subscribers on a long range of football (and then non-football) topics. After discussing the first weekend of the playoff and the week’s CFB news, the Q&A covers:

* Potential expectation-beating teams for 2025

* Positional value in the transfer portal

* The downstream effects of HBCU celebrity hires

* New Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion

* New ETSU head coach Will Healy

* New Wisconsin offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

* ESPN’s preference for on-campus games vs. bowl sites

* Holiday movie and dinner preferences

* Squatting

* Recommendations for the District of Columbia, a city that one-third of SZD LLC adores

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

Playoff Hurry-Up: CFB Is a Blowout Sport Dec 22, 2024

Alex and Richard discuss the first-round College Football Playoff games, which followed the playoff tradition of being very lopsided:

* Ohio State crushes Tennessee in Knoxville, Ohio

* Clemson is feisty but loses at Texas

* Penn State obliterates SMU (something that was going to happen whether Kevin Jennings threw those pick sixes or did not)

* Notre Dame is in a different weight class than Indiana, but just don’t forget: Alabama would have met the same fate

Plus, NDSU gets a history-altering win over South Dakota State, Montana State also punches its FCS Championship berth, and updates on the lower levels.

Producer: Anthony Vito

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Playoff First-Round Preview Show + Weekend Tasting Menu Dec 18, 2024

Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, and Alex Kirshner discuss the first-round College Football Playoff games and more on this week’s show:

* Indiana at Notre Dame, where the Hoosiers have the chance to do the funniest possible thing

* SMU at Penn State, where the sport’s chaotic December calendar is really coming into focus with a Penn State transfer

* Clemson at Texas, where the Tigers will try to play Cinderella

* Tennessee at Ohio State, where Richard and Alex disagree on how feasible a Vols upset of the Buckeyes really is

Then a Tasting Menu of the rest of the college football weekend, featuring a check in with the FCS and lower-level playoffs.

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Single Wing: Sumrall and the SEC in '26? Dec 14, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

In this solo Q&A show, Steven Godfrey answers SZD subscriber questions about some of the latest coach doings, some scheduling gripes, the potential '25 Sumrall Sweepstakes, Mike Gundy's expiration date, changing holiday patterns and what "Emeritus" actually looks like.

Producer: Anthony Vito

Belichick to Carolina, Explained by UNC Football Alum Michael Felder Dec 12, 2024

Michael Felder, college football media wizard and a former cornerback at North Carolina, joins Richard to expand on Bill Belichick’s hiring:

* The hiring as a marker of UNC’s football legitimacy

* The difference between coaching pros and college players, and the challenges of “do your job” culture at this level

* The gap in perception between media and UNC fans

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Emergency Episode: Belichick to UNC Dec 12, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner discuss Bill Belichick’s hiring at North Carolina:

* How the search evolved over a week and a half

* A messy, messy process leads to an incredible risk … and incredible result

* The case for success (including different ways of measuring it): Could Belichick change football in Chapel Hill forever even if he doesn’t win?

* The case for failure: Yeah, there are tons of ways this could go badly

Stay tuned for much more from SZD on this hire in the next few days.

Producer: Anthony Vito

Observations on 6 CFB Hires: Stay Frosty Dec 11, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

In this subscriber episode, Richard and Alex trade observations about a handful of recent hires in the college football coach carousel, including:

* Scott Frost to UCF, where prior success doesn’t tell us a lot about how the Knights will operate going forward

* Matt Entz to Fresno State, Bronco Mendenhall to Utah State, and what their contracts tell us about Pac-12 realignment

* Barry Odom to Purdue, where he might be fighting gravity

* Matt Drinkall to Central Michigan, which follows the rule: “You’re a MAC school. Be different.”

* Bryan Harsin to Cal, a funny culture fit with good football rationale behind it but a big transfer portal problem already

* Two new coordinators to Nebraska, which needs to get things together on offense without letting the strength of the team fall apart

More Split Zone Duo

Free for all: We interviewed Nick Carparelli, the executive director of Bowl Season, the umbrella group that advocates for bowl game operators. We wanted to get his thoughts on the state of the bowl system, how the bowls interact with the playoff, and where he thinks bowl games are going. We hope you find this one to be an informative back-and-forth on the CFB postseason.

Also, for subscribers, Richard and Steven Godfrey shared their reporting and analysis on a handful of hirings and coach searches.

Thanks for listening! If you aren’t yet a paid subscriber, you can hear a free preview of this episode, but now is a great time to join us.

Producer: Anthony Vito

The State of the Bowls, Feat. Bowl Season's Nick Carparelli Dec 10, 2024

Nick Carparelli is the executive director of Bowl Season, the group that represents the interests of CFB’s many bowl games. Alex and Richard interview him about:

* What if anything worries him right now about the state of bowls

* Bowls’ efforts to thrive in a world of opt outs, and how bowls might fit into the next economic iteration of the sport

* The payout landscape for different kinds of bowl games

* Bowls in baseball stadiums. Bowls in the Bahamas. What’s next?

* The differences between representing big bowls and small

* What Nick is thinking about the first-round playoff games that will exist outside the bowls

* How to make more bowl games matter to casual fans

* Also: Bill Belichick as a prospective college coach

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson

Producer: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Eyes List: Resolution Sunday Dec 09, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Richard and Godfrey update you on the state of the coach carousel with reporting and analysis on a bunch of movements, including:

* Purdue gets Barry Odom to replace Ryan Walters

* Jon Sumrall’s good situation at Tulane and association with North Carolina

* How Bill Belichick factors into that story

* Charlotte hires Tim Albin, the MAC champion coach

* The end of the Charles Huff-Marshall marriage

* Neal Brown and some G5 jobs

* Scott Frost in 2024 is not Scott Frost in 2017

* A clarifying timeline for Utah and Kyle Whittingham

* The UNC thing really is messy

* West Virginia’s still on the board

Producer: Anthony Vito.

The CFB Playoff Bracket Reaction Show Dec 09, 2024

The College Football Playoff bracket is set. Richard, Alex, and Godfrey discuss:

* The committee getting it right this time

* First-round matchups and who got a favorable draw

* Any quibbles with the seedings

* The weakened state of championship games

* The Richard Johnson Transfer Portal Minute

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Ryan Day Decision Point Dec 05, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Thanks to the 12-team playoff, Ryan Day’s current situation at Ohio State is unlike any hot-seat drama in college football history. Godfrey, Richard, and Alex talk about the weird dynamics facing the Buckeyes right now, like:

* How many playoff games does Day have to win? Is it one? Two? Four?

* Does the $30 million-plus buyout matter to Ohio State?

* If Day has lost the fanbase—and it sure looks like he has, for now—how much does that bind the OSU brass to get rid of him? And how does the coming revenue-sharing/collective era influence that calculus, if it all?

* Who makes the call? Remember that Ohio State has had quite a bit of backroom turmoil over the past few years, and powerful athletic director Gene Smith is no longer in his job.

* If you’re extremely online (like Alex), you have one impression of the fanbase’s temperature on Day. Is that representative?

* Should Day get any grace given Ohio State’s line injuries?

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey

Producer: Anthony Vito

Week 15 Tasting Menu: Champs Are Here Dec 04, 2024

Alex, Richard, and Steven preview Championship Weekend, in order:

* WKU at Jacksonville State

* Tulane at Army

* UNLV at Boise for a playoff spot

* Miami vs. Ohio

* Iowa State vs. Arizona State

* Georgia vs. Texas

* Marshall at Louisiana

* Penn State vs. Oregon

* Clemson vs. SMU

Plus, updates on the lower-level postseasons and the debut of THE RICHARD JOHNSON PORTAL MINUTE, a one-minute (or so) update on interesting names going into the transfer portal.

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF:

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Eyes List: Black Sunday SitRep Dec 01, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Black Sunday arrived. Steven Godfrey goes through his reporting notebook on the coach movements at the end of the regular season, including:

* Why North Carolina is “messy, messy, messy”

* What was behind the Arthur Smith/UNC thing

* Jon Sumrall in control of a limited board

* Uncertainty around Virginia Tech

* KC Keeler to Temple (recorded shortly before that was announced, as you’ll understand as you listen)

* Purdue’s firing of Ryan Walters

* Tulsa undoing the Kevin Wilson mistake

* The late stage of Neal Brown before WVU fired him

* Louisiana Tech not firing Sonny Cumbie

And more!

This episode was recorded Sunday afternoon. One note: West Virginia did indeed fire Neal Brown in the time between recording and publication, which was just about two hours. You’ll hear brief discussion of that possibility on this show.

Stay tuned for more this week from SZD on the state of the carousel.

Week 14 Hurry-Up: You Had A Bad Day Dec 01, 2024

A detailed but brisk recap of Week 14 in college football, including:

* Ohio State’s inexplicable collapse

* Texas’ dominant return to College Station

* A Palmetto Bowl that meant everything and nothing

* UGA’s survival in a classic

* Mario Cristobal’s latest epic blunder

* Two Indiana schools punch their tickets

* What to make of Playoff-bound Tennessee

* The Mountain West reserves its spot

* Postgame beefing all over the Big Ten

* Lots of bowls clinched and missed

* One of the worst FBS teams ever

And more.

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson

Producer: Anthony Vito

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Single Wing: Dad Drive Survival Edition, Part 2 Nov 26, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Still on the road? Yeah, us too. Let's explore the college athlete earning potential of the WWE, why living in Nashville makes you like hardcore, the best YouTube channels to prevent panic attacks, working out in a crew neck sweatshirt and why holidays aren't meant to be perfect and not every relationship is mandatory.

Host: Steven Godfrey

Producer: Anthony Vito

The Single Wing: Dad Drive Survival Edition, Part 1 Nov 26, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Congrats on making it to America's best and only holiday: Thanksgiving! Let's talk about the football of it all, including the Michigan roster-building method vs. the Indiana method, which Nick Saban love letter is right for you, the possibility of the SEC/B1G-only playoff, and a spirited holiday defense of commuter schools and their well-loved parking lots.

Host: Steven Godfrey

Producer: Anthony Vito

Week 14 Feasting Menu: Rivalry Week Nov 25, 2024

Our preview of Week 14, the final week of the regular season, including:

* Hook ‘em or gig ‘em?

* Can you imagine if Michigan-Ohio State did not go as planned?

* Will Mark Stoops ever stop putting Louisville in a blender?

* Why is North Carolina allowing this Mack Brown situation to fester?

* Do hot-seated coaches get friskier on fourth down?

* Could Tulane beat Boise to the line for the G5 playoff spot?

* Is Kansas-Baylor the Shadow Big 12 Championship?

* Which team is less excited for the Commonwealth Cup?

* Can we just pretend we didn’t accidentally skip the Territorial Cup, a major game that we will discuss in detail on the Sunday Hurry-Up?

* Is there any reason this Egg Bowl could get weird?

And more!

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson

Producer: Anthony Vito

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 13 Hurry-Up: OK, Sooners Nov 24, 2024

A packed but brisk recap of Week 13, including:

* Indiana wasn’t up to it, but saw its Playoff chances go UP

* Alabama melts down in Norman

* Notre Dame sits on Army

* The wonderful, messy race for the Mackey Award

* The Big 12 descends into madness

* A finish in Tempe unlike anything you’ve ever seen

* And another one in Piscataway, actually

* Boise State is teetering

* A blowout in the Brawl of the Wild

(Correction from this show: Louisiana hasn’t yet clinched the Sun Belt West. There’s still a clinching scenario in play for South Alabama as we head into Week 14.)

Hosts: Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson.

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF:

* Enter your pick for the Nokian Tyres Road Trip of the Week and be automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win tires at www.nokiantyres.com/szd

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

When Notre Dame-Army Ruled The World Nov 20, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Notre Dame and Army meet at Yankee Stadium in a game with national championship implications. Is the year 2024 or 1946? Why did a rivalry that produced one of college football’s Games of the Century stop being played on a frequent basis? In a modified edition of SZD’s “Dead Letters” series, let’s learn about a rivalry that briefly defined college football in a unique era.

Hosted by Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Steven Godfrey.

Produced by Anthony Vito.

Week 13 Tasting Menu: Welcome to the Arena Nov 20, 2024

Split Zone Duo previews Week 13 of the college football season, including:

* Can Indiana actually do this? We’re skeptical, but here’s how.

* Army gets the ultimate prove-it matchup with Notre Dame

* What’s up with Monday coach firings?

* The Ole Miss vs. Florida SZD Alumni Bowl

* Can Big 12 Tiebreaker Armageddon be avoided?

* Nebraska: Please figure this out

* The Pac-12’s Game of 2024 arrives

* The Mountain West and SWAC get a little spicy

* Could Auburn get messy with A&M?

* Can Oklahoma score on Alabama? (No.)

And more!

Hosted by Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner, and Steven Godfrey. Produced by Anthony Vito.

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF:

* Enter your pick for the Nokian Tyres Road Trip of the Week and be automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win tires at www.nokiantyres.com/szd

* Use code SZD20 for 20% off your first order from Homefield, at www.homefieldapparel.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 12 Hurry-Up: Cocked and Loaded Nov 18, 2024

Recapping Week 12 of the college football season, including:

* South Carolina is a whole lot of fun

* Georgia lives to fight another day

* Oregon is the first team to wrap a Playoff spot

* Colorado might join them

* Or the Big 12 might miss out altogether

* SMU continues to rock

* Tulane and Army are on a collision course

* Brian Kelly plays the Billy Napier role

* Watch out for Baylor … in 2025

* A worrying sign for Notre Dame?

And much, much more.

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson

Producer: Anthony Vito

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF:

* Enter your pick for the Nokian Tyres Road Trip of the Week and be automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win tires at www.nokiantyres.com/szd

* Use code SZD20 for 20% off your first order from Homefield, at www.homefieldapparel.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Big Mess at Kennesaw State Nov 13, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Kennesaw State fired coach Brian Bohannon, who turned it from an FCS startup team into a playoff team and then into an FBS program. We discuss:

* How Kennesaw trapped itself

* The shambolic handling of the announcement

* The history of FBS transition programs firing coaches

* Why Bohannon’s firing was bound to get messy

* What happens when a program jumps before it’s ready

* Whether the firing was actually a bad idea

Hosts: Steven Godfrey, Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

Week 12 Tasting Menu: Offensive Line Depth Is Hard Nov 13, 2024

Split Zone Duo previews Week 12 of the college football season, including:

* The problems facing the Georgia Bulldogs

* Kansas takes a crack at another Big 12 contender

* Texas and Arkansas take us back to the SWC, even though Texas really does not want to consider Arkansas a rival

* Tulane’s emergence as a maybe-Playoff contender

* Could Utah derail Colorado?

* A darkhorse Colorado State rides in the Mountain West

* A pair of enormous FCS games

* Baylor and West Virginia in a medicated Anxiety Bowl

* Wisconsin’s latest chance to restore a fading reputation

And more!

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF:

* Enter your pick for the Nokian Tyres Road Trip of the Week and be automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win tires at www.nokiantyres.com/szd

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Hosts: Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, Alex Kirshner

Producer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 11 Hurry-Up: Divine Intervention Nov 10, 2024

A packed but breezy recap of Week 11 of the college football season, with hosts Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner, includes:

* How Alabama dominated in Death Valley

* The fake tiger thing, explained

* Why Ole Miss spent all that money

* Oklahoma’s latest calamity

* Indiana’s reality check in a W

* Miami’s faceplant in Atlanta

* Pitt’s continued fall from grace

* BYU’s fortunate finish in Salt Lake

* The Utah AD’s postgame crying

* Colorado’s impressive run

* A sea change in the Big Sky

* The troops continue marching

* A bananas ending in CUSA

* The wide-open state of the MAC

And more.

Producer: Anthony Vito.

SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF:

* Enter your pick for the Nokian Tyres Road Trip of the Week and be automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win tires at www.nokiantyres.com/szd

* Use code SZD20 for 20% off your first order from Homefield, at www.homefieldapparel.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Eyes List: Post-Napier State of Play Nov 08, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

In this episode for paid subscriber: Florida isn’t firing Billy Napier. Godfrey made several phone calls Thursday night and opens up his notebook here with notes on the Gators, Auburn, Purdue, Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, ECU, Central Michigan, UAB, and more.

Host: Steven Godfrey

Producer: Anthony Vito

The Dawn of the 12-Team Playoff Rankings Nov 06, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

The College Football Playoff selection committee ranked teams for the first time in the era of an expanded field. We discuss:

* The possibility of a Big 12 doomsday scenario

* Whether the Group of 5 might have an actual breakthrough this year

* How the committee’s philosophy appears to have shifted (and not shifted) now that it’s gone from ranking for a four-team field to a 12-team field

* The weirdest outcomes that remain on the table

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, Steven GodfreyProducer: Anthony Vito

Week 11 Tasting Menu: Saturday Night in Death Valley Nov 06, 2024

Our Week 11 college football preview arrives, including:

* The keys to Alabama-LSU

* Florida’s chances at a Texas upset

* Colorado’s road to the Big 12 goes through Lubbock

* Army and Boise continue marching

* An injury-laden Clemson-Virginia Tech meeting

* The Big 12 middle class sorting itself out

* The Holy War gets a twist

And a lot more!

* 20% off sitewide at homefieldapparel.com through November 9

* Enter your pick for the Nokian Tyres Road Trip of the Week and be automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win tires at www.nokiantyres.com/szd

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, Steven GodfreyProducer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 10 Hurry-Up: Static State Nov 03, 2024

An information-packed rundown of Week 10 in college football, including:

* Ohio State-Penn State goes how it always goes

* Indiana is still Indiana (that’s a compliment now)

* South Carolina shows up big against A&M

* SMU has its biggest night in 40 years

* Army stays on course, but Navy doesn’t

* Memphis falls apart in a key spot

* Virginia Tech can’t win close games

* The Big 12 contenders converge on each other

* Tahj Brooks, Ashton Jeanty, and more great running

* Baylor might be back

* A Florida recruiting fight gets testy

* The Libs get owned against Jacksonville State

And a lot more!

* Get 20% off your first order at Homefield using code SZD20 at homefieldapparel.com

* Enter your pick for the Nokian Tyres Road Trip of the Week and be automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win tires at www.nokiantyres.com/szd

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard JohnsonProducer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

UAB's Dilfer Disaster and The Worst Coach Hires of the Past 15 Years Oct 31, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Since UAB hired Trent Dilfer before the 2023 season, a once-solid program has become one of college football’s worst teams. Rodger Sherman, who wrote an excellent feature about the flawed ideology behind the hire, joins Richard, Godfrey, and Alex to discuss how UAB set itself up to fail with a hire that made no strategic or cultural sense. Then, Rodger and the SZD hosts hold a three-round draft of the worst coaching hires of the past 15 years. It’s a walk down memory lane not just of hires who didn’t win, but of hires that were unwise at the time they were made. Let’s see what lessons we can learn.

Read Rodger's Dilfer story and more at Read Rodge: https://rodgersherman.substack.com/p/the-dilfer-debacle-or-a-case-study

Producer: Anthony Vito

The Single Wing: Playoff Chaos Math Isn't Hard To Find Oct 30, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Listen to the Week 10 Tasting Menu and pair it with Godfrey’s Q&A for subscribers. He’s on one this week. We start our journey with a repeat format of Question Randomization, but this time around we end up smack dab in the middle of a big mess with the coming 12-team bracket weekly rankings and a series of inconvenient results clogging the at-large field. Could all of this magically work itself out? Maybe, but that hasn't been the vibe in this sport the last few years.

Host: Steven GodfreyProducer: Anthony Vito

Week 10 Tasting Menu: Penn State's Latest Prove-It Spot Oct 30, 2024

A preview of the Week 10 college football season, including:

* Penn State’s latest chance to level up in the sport, this one against Ohio State in Happy Valley in what should be one of 2024’s best games

* Marquee QB matchups have been duds. Why?

* Army’s latest offensive evolution, and why this season has been such a bleak one for Air Force

* What kind of Florida-Georgia will this one be?

* Indiana keeps chugging and may get its QB back

* A&M and the potential for a two-QB system

* A marquee matchup (that’s right) between Pitt and SMU

* Late life in the TCU-Baylor Revivalry

And more.

HOMEFIELD’S SWEATER PROJECT: A 48-hour reservation window for a one-of-a-kind product, the Indiana Football 1979 Tri-Stripe Crewneck. Use code SZD20 for 20 percent off your first order at www.homefieldapparel.com

NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: This week, it’s State College, PA. Enter your pick and be automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win tires, and congrats to listener Noble on winning this month’s drawing. Enter at www.nokiantyres.com/szd

Hosts: Alex Kirshner, Richard JohnsonProducer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 9 Hurry-Up: The Gig'em Economy Oct 27, 2024

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner recap Week 9 in college football, including:

* Texas A&M beats LSU, and Mike Elko makes a point

* Texas survives an odd game against Vanderbilt

* Miami gets a breakthrough, and FSU flirts with history

* BYU, Pitt, and Indiana all remain unbeaten

* Kansas still can’t beat Kansas State

* A classic MSU-UM game

* UNLV misses an opportunity

* The MAC and Sun Belt races are WIDE open

* UTSA’s nightmare year

* How to lose a game with a 6-0 turnover margin

And much more.

Hosts: Richard Johnson, Alex KirshnerProducer: Anthony Vito

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Single Wing: FSU in '25, Cal's Life After Twitter, and the Ironic Roll Tide Oct 25, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

A Week 9 subscriber Q&A with Steven Godfrey. He takes questions about James Madison, Florida State, BYU, Cincinnati, Georgia and a buncha other schools and things in the fun and never-sane world of CFB. Also, yes, the smoker is assembled. Finally.

Host: Steven GodfreyProducer: Anthony Vito

The Eyes List: A Soft Launch Oct 23, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Welcome back to another year of "The Eyes List,” where Split Zone Duo discusses coaching situations that we’ve got our eyes on. Richard, Godfrey, and Alex discuss the first two in-season head coach firings of 2024: ECU’s Mike Houston and Southern Miss’ Will Hall. Plus, Oklahoma fires Seth Littrell and puts the first blue-blood coordinator opening on the board.

In this episode for paid subscribers, SZD discusses:

* The specific challenges faced by ECU and Southern Miss

* Why it’s not really time yet for candidate lists, and why the firing cycle has not heated up in earnest as November approaches

* Why one hot ECU name seems like a long shot

* How ECU is still cleaning up an AD’s mess from 10 years ago

* Whether Southern Miss is a better situation than it was in 2021

* The critical nature of Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator search after firing Seth Littrell

Producer: Anthony VitoHosts: Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, Alex Kirshner

Week 9 Tasting Menu: Throw Out The Records Oct 23, 2024

Richard, Alex, and Godfrey preview Week 9 of the college football season, with looks ahead at two dozen of the weekend’s games. Including:

* Notre Dame-Navy

* A&M-LSU

* Mizzou-Alabama

* Boise State-UNLV

* Tulane-North Texas

* Illinois-Oregon

* Washington-Indiana

* Syracuse-Pitt

* Oklahoma-Ole Miss

* FSU-Miami

* Wazzu-San Diego State

And a lot more.

SPLIT ZONE DUO GOES TO NASHVILLE WITH NOKIAN TYRES: On Friday, 10/25 and Saturday, 10/26, we’ll join our friends for two events: a 5 p.m. Friday meetup at Bearded Iris Brewing in Sylvan Supply and a tailgate starting at 11 a.m. Saturday in Lot 4 on Vanderbilt’s campus. RSVP for the Friday event by going to www.nokiantyres.com/szd and entering Vanderbilt vs. Texas as your desired college football road trip. On Saturday, just show up. We’ll have pizza.

HOMEFIELD: CODE SZD20 FOR 20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER: Meanwhile, all Split Zone Duo shirts this season are for a good cause. Our shirt collection, in partnership with Homefield, is at homefieldapparel.com/szd.This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help a close friend of our show and his family as they deal with a medical crisis. Further information is here: https://tinyurl.com/wesboling

Producer: Anthony VitoHosts: Steven Godfrey, Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 8 Hurry-Up: Hoosier Daddy? Oct 20, 2024

A 30-ish-minute recap of Week 8 in college football, including:

* Georgia asserts itself against Texas, but exactly how big is the gap between these teams if they meet again? We still don’t know

* Tennessee wins a slog against a Bama offense that has one thing

* NDSU finally takes back the Dakota Marker

* Indiana is Good with a capital G

* Mario Cristobal makes a good game management move

* BYU continues a magical season

* ECU opens up coach firing season

* At least the weather is nice in Morgantown

* Maryland fans rush the field

And a lot more contained within the episode.

Producer: Anthony Vito.

SPLIT ZONE DUO GOES TO NASHVILLE WITH NOKIAN TYRES: On Friday, 10/25 and Saturday, 10/26, we’ll join our friends for two events: a 5 p.m. Friday meetup at Bearded Iris Brewing in Sylvan Supply and a tailgate starting at 11 a.m. Saturday in Lot 4 on Vanderbilt’s campus. RSVP for the Friday event now by going to www.nokiantyres.com/szd and entering Vanderbilt vs. Texas as your desired college football road trip. On Saturday, just show up. We’ll have drinks.

HOMEFIELD: CODE SZD20 FOR 20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER: Meanwhile, all Split Zone Duo shirts this season are for a good cause. Our shirt collection, in partnership with Homefield, is at homefieldapparel.com/szd.This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help a close friend of our show and his family as they deal with a medical crisis. Further information is here: https://tinyurl.com/wesboling

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

How to Stop CFB's Scariest Players (Or Die Trying) Oct 17, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Cody Alexander of Match Quarters is a defensive coordinator by trade. He joins Richard and Alex for a discussion of five of the best players and offenses in college football right now. What can a defense do to stop them? Sometimes the answer is nothing, but here are some ideas, as well as explanations of why these guys have been so effective:

* Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty

* The Army and Navy flexbone

* Penn State TE Tyler Warren

* Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

* Texas QB Quinn Ewers (and friends)

If you liked this show, you’ll like Match Quarters.

Also this week at Split Zone Duo …

Producer: Anthony Vito.

Week 8 Tasting Menu: Horn Dawg Oct 16, 2024

Our Week 8 preview. CBS Sports national college football writer Shehan Jeyarajah joins Alex and Richard to break down a huge pile of games, including (but not only):

* A UGA-Texas blockbuster

* A Bama-Tennessee matchup that has lost some luster

* The FCS Game of the Century

* Duke’s chance to finally beat FSU

* A Nebraska-Indiana game with playoff stakes

* Missouri’s lack of explosive plays

* Miami’s time to prove what it’s got

* The potential for truly gross Michigan-Illinois and South Carolina-Oklahoma games

* Time to get serious about Arizona State or Cincinnati?

And much more.

Producer: Anthony Vito.

SPLIT ZONE DUO GOES TO NASHVILLE WITH NOKIAN TYRES: On Friday, 10/25 and Saturday, 10/26, we’ll join our friends for two events: a 5 p.m. Friday meetup at Bearded Iris Brewing in Sylvan Supply and a tailgate starting four hours before Texas vs. Vandy on Saturday. Tailgate details are TBA, but RSVP for the Friday event now by going to www.nokiantyres.com/szd and entering Vanderbilt vs. Texas as your desired college football road trip.

HOMEFIELD: CODE SZD20 FOR 20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER: Meanwhile, all Split Zone Duo shirts this season are for a good cause. Our shirt collection, in partnership with Homefield, is at homefieldapparel.com/szd.This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help a close friend of our show and his family as they deal with a medical crisis. Further information is here: https://tinyurl.com/wesboling

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 7 Hurry-Up: The Polish Goal Line Oct 13, 2024

Our 30(ish)-minute recap of a wild weekend in college football, including:

* Oregon beats Ohio State in a classic. Did the Ducks intentionally deploy an old Buddy Ryan trick to seal the game?

* LSU keeps firing until it finally hits Ole Miss

* Billy Napier almost pulls it off in Knoxville, then doesn’t

* Pitt and BYU are 6-0

* Iowa State, Kansas State, and a juicy Big 12 race that doesn’t even include preseason favorite Utah

* Army keeps sluggin’; Trent Dilfer keeps strugglin’

* Georgia Southern pulls off the comeback of 2024

Producer: Anthony Vito.

SPLIT ZONE DUO GOES TO NASHVILLE WITH NOKIAN TYRES: On Friday, 10/25 and Saturday, 10/26, we’ll join our friends for two events: a 5 p.m. Friday meetup at Bearded Iris Brewing in Sylvan Supply and a tailgate starting four hours before Texas vs. Vandy on Saturday. Tailgate details are TBA, but RSVP for the Friday event now by going to www.nokiantyres.com/szd and entering Vanderbilt vs. Texas as your desired college football road trip.

HOMEFIELD: CODE SZD20 FOR 20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER: Meanwhile, all Split Zone Duo shirts this season are for a good cause. Our shirt collection, in partnership with Homefield, is at homefieldapparel.com/szd.This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help a close friend of our show and his family as they deal with a medical crisis. Further information is here: https://tinyurl.com/wesboling

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Single Wing: The Kansas Reset, the USC Longview, and the Oregon Moment Oct 11, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

In a Week 7 mailbag: Godfrey helps reset expectations for Lance Leipold at Kansas, talks about his first ever CFB game (hint: it's a match-up this weekend), debates himself on the state of play with Lincoln Riley and USC, and then just talks about Halloween spooky movies.

Overtime: The most cooked teams in FBS Oct 09, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

A midseason, pre-coach carousel review of the programs in each FBS conference that are falling flat on their faces in 2024. Why have things gone so badly? What is the definition of “cooked,” and which Carolinas ACC school meets it the most? Are things as grim as they appear at Purdue? Was Jeff Lebby’s Mississippi State supposed to be this bad off the bat? What do you make of the brutal first half of the season for Mike Gundy’s Oklahoma State? And, finally, we attempt to pick a winner (sort of) in the race to be the worst team in FBS in 2024.

Producer: Anthony Vito

Week 7 Tasting Menu: O my goodness Oct 09, 2024

Our preview of Week 7. Ohio State-Oregon is the blockbuster in a loaded week that also features USC-Penn State, Ole Miss-LSU, Colorado-Kansas State, and a bunch of solid matchups all around the country. Let’s get into it.

Production: Anthony Vito.

SPLIT ZONE DUO GOES TO NASHVILLE WITH NOKIAN TYRES: On Friday, 10/25 and Saturday, 10/26, we’ll join our friends for two events: a 5 p.m. Friday meetup at Bearded Iris Brewing in Sylvan Supply and a tailgate starting four hours before Texas vs. Vandy on Saturday. Tailgate details are TBA, but RSVP for the Friday event now by going to www.nokiantyres.com/szd and entering Vanderbilt vs. Texas as your desired college football road trip.

HOMEFIELD: CODE SZD20 FOR 20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER: Meanwhile, all Split Zone Duo shirts this season are for a good cause. Our shirt collection, in partnership with Homefield, is at homefieldapparel.com/szd.This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help a close friend of our show and his family as they deal with a medical crisis. Further information is here: https://tinyurl.com/wesboling

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 6 Hurry-Up: Down the Commode Oct 06, 2024

The Week 6 Hurry-Up is our recap of everything we found interesting in the college football weekend, delivered in 30(ish) minutes:

* Vanderbilt flushes Alabama

* The call Cal should really be mad about

* Michigan does not have the pieces

* Army and Navy continue to bulldoze

* Iowa State continues to rise

* TCU sullies itself against Houston

* Tulane shows no mercy

* CHARLOTTE??

And much more!

Producer: Anthony Vito.

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS, COMFY AND FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Our code for 20% off your first order at Homefield is SZD20. Our shirt collection, in partnership with Homefield, is at homefieldapparel.com/szd.This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help a close friend of our show and his family as they deal with a medical crisis. Further information is here: https://tinyurl.com/wesboling

WANT TO WIN FREE TIRES AND SUPPORT SZD? Head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and nominate a Road Trip of the Week for next week. When you do, you’ll be entered in a monthly tire drawing. Thanks to Nokian Tyres for the support!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Single Wing: Wisconsin's big oops, Louisville's value and the Sac State come-up Oct 03, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

It’s the latest Split Zone Duo audience Q&A with Steven Godfrey, who got a LOT of Phil Longo- and Sconnie-related angst in the inbox, so let's do that. Also, are we set up for more and better non-con games in this weird reality? Also, Godfrey is ON BOARD for Friday Night Green Lantern Lights. Producer: Anthony Vito.

Overtime: How the SEC and Big Ten could *actually* wreck the regular season Oct 03, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Godfrey wrote for the Washington Post about the SEC and Big Ten’s effort to monopolize more of the College Football Playoff. In this episode, he and Richard discuss the Power 2’s latest leverage play, which may not even help those two leagues at all but could hurt a lot of teams (including their TV partners).

Producer: Anthony Vito

Week 6 Tasting Menu: Stay woke Oct 02, 2024

Our previews of dozens of games in Week 6. Highlights include:

* Things getting bleak at several ACC schools

* Navy’s chance to dunk Air Force

* A sneaky great SMU-Louisville matchup

* Indiana is still happening

* Go get ‘em, App State

* Could Auburn-UGA not be a blowout?

* OKST’s impending turnaround

* The G5 Hipster Game of the Week

* Clemson has FSU on a tee

* Ashton Jeanty Heisman Watch

* “The worst 5-0 team in college football”

* Michigan: Run it back

* Cal: the center of the CFB universe, at least until game time

* Texas Tech is a mid-2010s Big 12 time machine

Production: Anthony Vito

WANT TO WIN FREE TIRES AND SUPPORT SZD? Head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and nominate a Road Trip of the Week for next week. When you do, you’ll be entered in a monthly tire drawing. This week’s featured nominee is Miami at Cal, which will be a great football day in the Bay. Thanks to Nokian Tyres!

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS, COMFY AND FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Our code for 20% off your first order at Homefield is SZD20. Our shirt collection, in partnership with Homefield, is at homefieldapparel.com/szd.This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help a close friend of our show and his family as they deal with a medical crisis. Further information is here: https://tinyurl.com/wesboling

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 5 Hurry-Up: Dawg Days Sep 29, 2024

Richard and Godfrey lead a 30-minute (ish) recap of the weekend in college football. Alabama beats Georgia in an instant classic. Oklahoma comes back on Auburn. Kansas State establishes itself as the Big 12 favorite. Tulane crushes USF. Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter keep making Heisman arguments. And much, much more from a busy Week 5.

Programming note: We will be conducting a comprehensive investigation into who could have left Texas Tech-Cincinnati off of the rundown.

Producer: Anthony Vito.

THE NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Every week all season, head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and enter your pick for the most enticing CFB road trip of that week. When you do, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for free tires. This week’s Trip of the Week was Washington State at Boise State.

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS FOR A CAUSE NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS: One of our great friends is Wes Boling, the man responsible for our Nokian partnership. This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help Wes and his family deal with an extremely difficult and expensive medical situation. More details are here, and our collection of shirts is at homefieldapparel.com/szd. And if you’ve never ordered from Homefield before and are shopping around the whole catalog, use our code SZD20 for 20 percent off your first order.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

OT: The truth about TV timeouts, plus the state of CFB TV with Bob Thompson Sep 26, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Are TV timeouts really longer this year? The answer has two parts. SZD obtained years of documents outlining how media timeouts work in SEC games on ESPN. There’s been no short-term change. (That LSU-South Carolina game was just a weird one, our analysis shows.) But the long-term trend tells its own story about viewers losing more and more of their time to in-game advertising.

Then, to help us parse what we’ve learned, we welcome a guest: Bob Thompson, a sports media consultant and the former president of the Fox Sports Networks. Bob talks with Richard and Alex about the forces shaping our viewing experience, whether there’s any way to lighten the commercial load in a world of ever-growing rights fees, and if the Pac-12’s fight with the Mountain West will wind up worthwhile for Washington State, Oregon State, and their friends.

Producer: Anthony Vito

ALSO THIS WEEK AT SPLIT ZONE DUO

* The Week 5 Tasting Menu: Representations Were Made

Week 5 Tasting Menu: Representations were made Sep 25, 2024

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex preview Week 5, a schedule led by Georgia-Alabama but with dozens of other interesting games beyond. Plus: What should we make of undefeated UNLV’s QB leaving the program amid a payment dispute? There hasn’t been anything quite like this in the history of the sport. Let’s also talk more about Mack Brown’s bizarre week at UNC heading into a rivalry game.

Producer: Anthony Vito

THE NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Every week all season, head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and enter your pick for the most enticing CFB road trip of that week. When you do, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for free tires. This week’s Trip of the Week? Heck yeah, it’s unbeaten Wazzu at Boise State.

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS FOR A CAUSE NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS: One of our great friends is Wes Boling, the man responsible for our Nokian partnership. This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help Wes and his family deal with an extremely difficult and expensive medical situation. More details are here, and our collection of shirts is at homefieldapparel.com/szd. And if you’ve never ordered from Homefield before and are shopping around the whole catalog, use our code SZD20 for 20 percent off your first order.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 4 Hurry-Up: UNCredible Sep 22, 2024

The Week 4 Sunday Hurry-Up! Tennessee handled business against an Oklahoma team with a QB problem. North Carolina’s defense did not defend. BYU put a dominant showing on Kansas State. Miami and Clemson flexed their muscles in the ACC. Colorado delivered a psychic blow to Dave Aranda. Appalachian State and the MAC are both in a world of pain, while Southern Miss looks like a matter of time. Plus an incredible Friday night slate when teams made a bunch of weird decisions. We cover it all in 30 minutes—or more.

Producer: Anthony Vito

THE NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Every week all season, head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and enter your pick for the most enticing CFB road trip of that week. When you do, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for free tires. This weekend’s Road Trip, as voted on by the people, was UCLA-LSU.

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS FOR A CAUSE NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS: One of our great friends is Wes Boling, the man responsible for our Nokian partnership. This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help Wes and his family deal with an extremely difficult and expensive medical situation. More details are here, and our collection of shirts is at homefieldapparel.com/szd. And if you’ve never ordered from Homefield before and are shopping around the whole catalog, use our code SZD20 for 20 percent off your first order.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Single Wing: FSU's actual temperature and UF's actual list Sep 19, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Godfrey's dipping a bit into coach gossip, mainly because Florida State is winless and Florida's even worse. But let's poke around on a few other places, including Arkansas, of course, before stress-testing the narrative on bowl sites for playoff rounds and extolling the virtues of physical media.

Producer: Anthony Vito.

Overtime: The Pac-12, MWC, and AAC situations Sep 18, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Oregon State and Washington State lopped off the top of the Mountain West to create the beginnings of a new conference. The move has marginal benefits, but we’re skeptical it will change much about the pecking order outside the power conferences. Meanwhile, the Mountain West has limited options, and the American Athletic could find itself doing some WEIRD things. We play fantasy conference commissioner and chart some paths forward.

Production: Anthony Vito

This episode is for paid subscribers, but everyone can hear a free preview. Free subscribers can still hear the Week 4 Tasting Menu, our preview of the games ahead. Paid subscribers get another show this week, and everyone gets the Sunday Hurry-Up recap after games have been played.

Week 4 Tasting Menu: Get Heuped Sep 18, 2024

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex preview Week 4. Meet some freshman running backs at Baylor and South Alabama. Prepare for the return of Josh Heupel to Oklahoma. Consider USC beating Michigan by multiple scores. Marvel at how ridiculous a Friday night Stanford-Syracuse conference game is. And try to figure out a big question: What happened to Oklahoma State’s running game? The Pokes need to figure it out quickly with Utah coming to town.

Producer: Anthony Vito

THE NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Every week all season, head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and enter your pick for the most enticing CFB road trip of that week. When you do, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for free tires. This week’s Trip of the Week? It’s UCLA’s visit to the LSU tailgate scene.

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS FOR A CAUSE NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS: One of our great friends is Wes Boling, the man responsible for our Nokian partnership. This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help Wes and his family deal with an extremely difficult and expensive medical situation. More details are here, and our collection of shirts is at homefieldapparel.com/szd. And if you’ve never ordered from Homefield before and are shopping around the whole catalog, use our code SZD20 for 20 percent off your first order.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 3 Hurry-Up: Bottomless Pitt Sep 15, 2024

Richard and Alex give you a loaded but brief recap of everything interesting in college football’s Week 3. West Virginia blows another road Backyard Brawl, Washington State delivers some justice, FSU’s misery continues, LSU and South Carolina play a wild (and long) one, South Alabama scores 87 points, and notes from dozens more games over the weekend.

Producer: Anthony Vito.

THE NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Every week all season, head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and enter your pick for the most enticing CFB road trip of that week. When you do, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for free tires. This weekend’s Road Trip, as voted on by the people, was the Apple Cup.

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS FOR A CAUSE NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS: One of our great friends is Wes Boling, the man responsible for our Nokian partnership. This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help Wes and his family deal with an extremely difficult and expensive medical situation. More details are here, and our collection of shirts is at homefieldapparel.com/szd. And if you’ve never ordered from Homefield before and are shopping around the whole catalog, use our code SZD20 for 20 percent off your first order.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Single Wing: How coaches gossip, Bad Auburn, Better Bowls, and SMOKERS Sep 12, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Godfrey's talking about Hugh Freeze because YOU made him, and we'll check in on messy situations at Kentucky, Cincinnati and elsewhere. Also, what's the ACC Network worth, really? And why are so many good games on weeknights this week? This episode is for paid subscribers, but everyone can hear a preview.

Production: Anthony Vito

ALSO THIS WEEK FROM SPLIT ZONE DUO

* The Week 3 Tasting Menu, previewing the weekend

* Overtime: What a surprising AD firing says about the job

* Sunday: The Sunday Hurry-Up, recapping the games

Week 3 Tasting Menu: Apple Cup dance Sep 11, 2024

Week 3 is light on blockbusters but heavy on rivalry games, including the newly relocated Apple Cup, the game formerly known as the Civil War, and the Backyard Brawl. The weeknight slate has a couple of great games, starting with Arizona State’s visit to Texas State. In this show, Alex, Richard, and Steven take you through dozens of games they think will be interesting.

Producer: Anthony Vito.

THE NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Every week all season, head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and enter your pick for the most compelling CFB road trip of that week. When you do, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for free tires. This week’s Road Trip of the Week: the Apple Cup in Seattle.

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS FOR THE BOLING FAMILY: One of our great friends is Wes Boling, the man responsible for our Nokian partnership. This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help Wes and his family deal with an extremely difficult and expensive medical situation. More details are here, and our collection of shirts is at homefieldapparel.com/szd. And if you’ve never ordered from Homefield before and are shopping around the whole catalog, use our code SZD20 for 20 percent off your first order.

MORE EPISODES COMING THIS WEEK:

* Overtime, a weekly bonus show for paid subscribers, where the SZD crew goes deeper on a topic we think you’ll be interested in

* The Single Wing Q&A with Steven Godfrey for paid subscribers

* The Sunday Hurry-Up for everyone, recapping the weekend’s action in the longest 30 minutes you’ve ever heard in your life

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 2 Hurry-Up: The suck of the Irish Sep 08, 2024

Alex and Richard take you through Week 2 of the college football season. NIU wrecks a promising Notre Dame season, Texas State crushes rival UTSA, Iowa State deals a major blow to Iowa, and much, much more.

Production: Anthony Vito.

THE NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Every week all season, head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and enter your pick for the most enticing CFB road trip of that week. When you do, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for free tires. This week’s Road Trip of the Week: Arkansas at Oklahoma State.

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS FOR A CAUSE NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS: One of our great friends is Wes Boling, the man responsible for our Nokian partnership. This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help Wes and his family deal with an extremely difficult and expensive medical situation. More details are here, and our collection of shirts is at homefieldapparel.com/szd. And if you’ve never ordered from Homefield before and are shopping around the whole catalog, use our code SZD20 for 20 percent off your first order.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Single Wing: One-Week Data, Miami's Window, Noticing Nevada, and Learning Grace Sep 05, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Godfrey's going rapid fire over y'all's week one reactions, most of which need to simmer and absorb some more info. We talk about Miami, Clemson, Nevada, Georgia Southern, Boise, Memphis, Virginia Tech, UNLV, A&M and a bunch more.

Producer: Anthony Vito.

Overtime: Week 1 overreactions and a history of the art form Sep 04, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

The modern Week 1 schedule means that one Sunday night game and one Monday night game get the whole sport’s attention. That also means they’re liable to produce overreactions. What did we really learn about USC, LSU, Florida State, and Boston College? What are the greatest Week 1 overreactions of our era? And which team’s early showing is likeliest to be a trick this time around?

This episode is for paid subscribers, but everyone can hear a free preview.

Producer: Anthony Vito.

THE NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Every week all season, head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and enter your pick for the most enticing CFB road trip of that week. When you do, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for free tires. This week’s Road Trip of the Week: Arkansas at Oklahoma State.

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS FOR A CAUSE: One of our great friends is Wes Boling, the man responsible for our Nokian partnership. This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help Wes and his family deal with an extremely difficult and expensive medical situation. More details are here, and our collection is at homefieldapparel.com/szd. And if you’ve never ordered from Homefield before and are shopping around the whole catalog, use our code SZD20 for 20 percent off your first order.

LATELY FROM SPLIT ZONE DUO

* The Week 2 Tasting Menu, covering dozens of games

* The Sunday Hurry-Up recap of Week 1

Week 2 Tasting Menu: Go big (red or orange) or go home Sep 04, 2024

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex preview Week 2 of the 2024 college football season (14:10) after discussing one of Week 1’s hot topics: the state of College GameDay and Kirk Herbstreit’s dog in the broadcast booth. In Week 2: Texas and Michigan play a blockbuster that may not live up to it on the field, K-State and Tulane might have the game of the day, UTSA and Texas State have legit Playoff implications, Iowa and Iowa State might play a slightly more offensive game than usual, NC State needs to remember that Tennessee can also run the ball, and Colorado and Nebraska play a game with lots of storylines. Plus, why the week’s testiest game might be ULM against UAB.

Producer: Anthony Vito.

THE NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Every week all season, head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and enter your pick for the most enticing CFB road trip of that week. When you do, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for free tires. This week’s Road Trip of the Week: Arkansas at Oklahoma State.

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS FOR A CAUSE NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS: One of our great friends is Wes Boling, the man responsible for our Nokian partnership. This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help Wes and his family deal with an extremely difficult and expensive medical situation. More details are here, and our collection of shirts is at homefieldapparel.com/szd. And if you’ve never ordered from Homefield before and are shopping around the whole catalog, use our code SZD20 for 20 percent off your first order.

MORE EPISODES COMING THIS WEEK:

* Overtime, a weekly bonus show for paid subscribers, where the SZD crew goes deeper on a topic we think you’ll be interested in

* The Single Wing Q&A with Steven Godfrey for paid subscribers

* The Sunday Hurry-Up for everyone, recapping the weekend’s action in the longest 30 minutes you’ve ever heard in your life

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 1 Hurry-Up: The pluck of the Irish Sep 01, 2024

The Split Zone Duo Sunday Hurry-Up returns! Alex and Richard take you on a 30-ish-minute jaunt through everything that was interesting in the first week of the 2024 college football season. Miami demoralized Florida, Notre Dame’s offensive line came through when Texas A&M’s QB did not, Georgia reiterated that it’s in a different class than Clemson, Penn State and Tennessee got exciting QB showings, Vanderbilt did something fun, Arizona might have the best QB-WR tandem anywhere, Boise State got an all-time running back performance, Sam Houston had a breakthrough, and much, much more.

NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Enter your pick for Week 2 and be entered in a monthly drawing at nokiantyres.com/szd.

Production by Anthony Vito.

We’ll see you on Wednesday for the Week 2 Tasting Menu and bonus show.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Single Wing: Bridge Coaches, Billy Napier and Refining Spite Aug 29, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

In this show, Godfrey answers questions from SplitZoneDuo.com subscribers. Godfrey is neither 1) good at predicting things nor 2) claiming to be, but the results are decent-ish, at least when it comes to K-State. Maybe Florida? Let's talk about how to better hate your rival, when to DVR a CFB weekend and go do something else, and how to find a job you don't hate.

Producer: Anthony Vito.

Also this week!

* The Week 1 Tasting Menu

* Overtime, Week 1: Bonus show on CFB roster subterfuge

* 2024 kickoff with Ty Hildenbrandt of The Solid Verbal

Overtime: CFB depth chart subterfuge Aug 28, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Auburn lists 37 defensive starters. Georgia won’t release a depth chart, so Clemson won’t. Several teams with obvious starting quarterbacks will not acknowledge reality. CFB lineup secrecy has gotten ridiculous, but there’s a more troubling piece of it in 2024: the lack of uniform injury reporting. Why is it such a problem? Not exactly for the most commonly stated reason.

Producer: Anthony Vito

THE NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Every week all season, head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and enter your pick for the most enticing CFB road trip of that week. When you do, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for free tires. (We all use them and have found them to be great wheels.)

SPLIT ZONE DUO SHIRTS FOR A CAUSE NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS: One of our great friends is Wes Boling, the man responsible for our Nokian partnership. This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help Wes and his family deal with an extremely difficult and expensive medical situation. More details are here, and our collection of shirts is at homefieldapparel.com/szd.

LATELY FROM SPLIT ZONE DUO

* The Week 1 Tasting Menu

* 2024 kickoff with Ty Hildenbrandt of The Solid Verbal

Week 1 Tasting Menu: We're so back Aug 28, 2024

Alex, Richard, and Godfrey take a long, detailed trip through the Week 1 schedule, from NDSU-Colorado to Clemson-UGA to JMU-Charlotte to USC-LSU and beyond. Congrats on making it through the offseason. Let’s talk ball.

Producer: Anthony Vito

THE NOKIAN TYRES ROAD TRIP OF THE WEEK: Every week all season, head to NokianTyres.com/SZD and enter your pick for the most enticing CFB road trip of that week. When you do, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for free tires. (We all use them and have found them to be great wheels.)

SZD SHIRTS FOR A GOOD CAUSE: One of our great friends is Wes Boling, the man responsible for our Nokian partnership. This season, 100 percent of the profits from SZD shirt sales at Homefield will go toward a fund to help Wes and his family deal with an extremely difficult and expensive medical situation. More details are here, and our collection of shirts is at homefieldapparel.com/szd

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

2024 kickoff with Ty Hildenbrandt of The Solid Verbal Aug 27, 2024

Richard links up with the godfather of CFB podcasters, Ty Hildenbrandt of The Solid Verbal. Ty has just about seen it all in CFB podcasting, so let’s ask him: How has the game changed behind the mic? After that, considering the interesting nexus of Ty’s fandoms, we talk Notre Dame/Penn State, and considering where we both live, we have RUTGERS TAKES.

Production by Anthony Vito. Thanks to Ty and co-host Dan Rubenstein for their years of friendship. You can find The Solid Verbal wherever you get podcasts.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 SZD predictions extravaganza Aug 22, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

After previewing all 134 FBS teams for the 2024 season, it’s predictions time. Split Zone Duo picks Heisman Trophy finalists, players and games of the year, coaches to be fired and hired, conference champions, and the 12 teams in the expanded College Football Playoff. What will happen this season? Now there’s no reason to even play the games, because we’ve already figured it out. At the end of the season, we’ll dig up this time capsule and see how we did. Production: Anthony Vito.

SZD shirts to support the Boling family: https://homefieldapparel.com/szd

Fund to support the family: https://tinyurl.com/wesboling

The 2024 Pac-12 preview show Aug 21, 2024

Oregon State and Washington State face unprecedented situations, but not exactly the same one on the field in 2024. Richard, Godfrey, and Alex break down the Pac-12 that’s now a Pac-2. Oregon State is rebuilding almost from scratch, while Washington State has a little bit more left in the tank from the old world. In a brutal moment for both of them, the Beavs and Cougs will hunt for silver linings. Production by Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 independents preview + Notre Dame with Jessica Smetana Aug 20, 2024

The ranks of the FBS independent schools are down to three (and still getting smaller). Richard, Godfrey, and Alex talk about UConn and UMass to start, and then Jessica Smetana (18:44) joins for a state of the union talk about Notre Dame: What’s the belief level right now in Marcus Freeman? Has Notre Dame secured its independence forever? How is the fanbase’s relationship with Peacock? Will the Irish be able to block anyone on the edges this year? And will this program ever again have a game-breaking wideout? We discuss all of it. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 FCS preview and UPSET DRAFT Aug 19, 2024

Join our FCS Upset Draft at www.splitzoneduo.com, and try to pick the correct FCS wins over FBS teams. Craig Haley is the FCS senior editor for Stats Perform. He’s one of the longest tenured and most respected reporters covering FCS football, and he joins Alex to provide an overview of the 2024 season. Who’s a serious national title contender? Where are big steps back expected? Is this the year another FCS QB from the Dakotas makes a huge national name for himself? And which FCS teams have the best chance to pull off major upsets in FBS stadiums?

Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 MAC preview show Aug 15, 2024

The return of the MAC on Split Zone Duo! We preview the 2024 season, as Miami tries to defend its title and establish itself as something like what Toledo has been. Bowling Green tries to remain solid, NIU aims to run over you while playing good defense, Ohio wants to at least tote the rock well, and EMU becomes one of Godfrey’s favorite teams. You won’t believe who now coordinates the WMU offense. Things are going quite poorly at CMU, in more ways than one. Ball State looks to recapture lightning in a bottle. Buffalo tries to get a coach to hang around for a while. Akron and Kent State want … anything. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 Sun Belt preview show Aug 14, 2024

SZD previews the Sun Belt: Appalachian State is the favorite in the East, but Coastal Carolina had a more promising first year under Tim Beck than you realized. James Madison resets, Georgia Southern really needs to start winning, Marshall is in the danger zone, ODU is the site of a scandal, and Georgia State is worth checking back in on in a few months. Meanwhile, Texas State (!) is the favorite in the West. Troy underwent a million changes, Louisiana has a serious defense, Arkansas State should make a bowl, and South Alabama made a coaching hire that’s worth debating. Southern Miss has an opportunity in front of it, and, hey, ULM has some competence right now. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Single Wing Interview: Doug Lesmerises of 'Kings of the North' Aug 09, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Godfrey sits down with longtime Big Ten and Ohio State writer Doug Lesmerises of "Kings of the North" in a traditional north/south idealogical spar that's anything but. We talk about the origins of Doug trying to redefine the northern and midwestern identities of college football and the lopsided decades of Southern dominance that got the sport to this point. Production: Anthony Vito.

The 2024 CUSA preview show Aug 08, 2024

Liberty is a heavy favorite after dominating Conference USA in its first season in the league. So let’s start at the bottom of CUSA and work our way up. Will Kennesaw State (4:06) be glad it moved to FBS? Sam Houston (9:56) had a miserable first year and looks to build something in its sophomore FBS season. UTEP and New Mexico State (13:18) have raced in opposite directions lately, but gravity might pull them back together. Is Louisiana Tech (19:39) the “bad situation” of the year? Derek Mason represents a new day at Middle Tennessee (22:43), but it may be best to check back in later. FIU (26:35) needs to not have any trouble with FCS opponents. The top of the conference (28:37) belongs to Liberty until further notice, but WKU and Jacksonville State look like plausible challengers—or, at least, the closest thing to it. Production by Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 AAC preview show Aug 07, 2024

Richard, Alex, and Godfrey break down the American Athletic Conference ahead of the 2024 season. Memphis (3:00) looks like it’s primed for a run, but UTSA and Tulane (10:12) are strong in their own ways. USF (19:21) was a minor breakout team in 2023. Is another step forward in store? Which bad to mediocre team from the ECU, Rice, UAB, and North Texas crop (22:37) could make a leap? Why is Army in the AAC now, and how does it stack up with Navy? (27:45) Is it possible to find optimism at Charlotte, USF, or, gasp, Temple? (32:57) Can Tom Herman at FAU move toward a sequel of his old AAC success? (37:27) Then, let’s run through the SZD preseason superlatives for what might be the best Group of 5 league. Production by Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Michigan, the NCAA, and how everyone wins Aug 06, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

The NCAA and Michigan have moved to the “leak wars” portion of their fight over sign-stealing. Godfrey, Richard, and Alex discuss the art of NCAA investigation crisis comms, why elevating Sherrone Moore was a good hiring decision that would inevitably hasten this confrontation, where Michigan has a point and where it doesn’t, and how just about everyone in this ridiculous saga will get to claim a victory (except Central Michigan). Production: Anthony Vito.

The 2024 Mountain West preview show Aug 01, 2024

It’s a Mountain West preview from Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, and Alex Kirshner. To start, let’s talk about Utah State firing Blake Anderson right before the season (3:02) and Fresno State also needing a preseason coach replacement for Jeff Tedford (13:16). Is Boise State as overwhelming a favorite over Fresno and UNLV as media voters seem to think? (14:16) Can either Colorado State or Air Force break their typical mold? (29:35) What should we expect from new coaches at San Jose State, San Diego State, and Wyoming? (37:11) What is with Alex’s anti-Craig Bohl agenda at Wyoming? Will Ken Niumatalolo run the option at San Jose State? Would you rather be handling the rebuild at New Mexico or Nevada? (51:44) How should we assess Hawaii’s long rebuild under Timmy Chang? (57:27) Then let’s close with preseason MWC superlatives. Production by Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 Big Ten preview show Jul 31, 2024

The 18-team Big Ten gets the SZD preseason preview treatment. What are reasonable expectations for last year’s title game teams, Michigan and Washington? (5:59) Is there any way things could go very badly for Ohio State and Oregon? (21:24) Will Penn State figure out a way to move the ball through the air? (34:54) Do we see a dark horse between the stylistically clashing Iowa, USC, and even Wisconsin? (39:02) How will life be for the Big Ten East non-contenders who have now seen that division go away? Is Indiana about to do something big?? (58:34) Will Nebraska break its bowl skid? We think so (73:49). Is UCLA closer to its 2023 record or everything that’s happened since? (78:31) David Braun’s debut at Northwestern was sizzling, but it might get harder now, while Minnesota, Purdue, and Illinois all face their own post-West challenges. (86:57). Then it’s time for SZD’s preseason Big Ten superlatives. Production by Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

We asked Substack’s best finance expert to explain this private equity thing Jul 30, 2024

Doomberg runs the biggest financial newsletter on Substack, explaining money and markets to a quarter-million subscribers every week. Alex Kirshner, a skeptic of private equity money in college sports, asks Doomberg a bunch of questions about why institutional money is poised to come to college football, what it will mean, and who it will benefit. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Single Wing: The 2024 Eyes List Begins Jul 26, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Godfrey opens the notebook for an all-coaching carousel mailbag to set the agenda for 2024. Two Mountain West jobs are already open, and there's a healthy retirement watch list before we even get to the Hot Seat Proper. Let's figure out who's gettin' that sweet buyout money and when. Production: Anthony Vito.

The state of Florida preview, part 2: South Jul 25, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

There’s always lots happening in college football in South Florida. Richard interviews a pair of experts on the state of the FBS teams in the region: Kevin Fielder of Rivals breaks down FAU and FIU, who are perpetually jockeying for South Florida G5 supremacy. And then Adam Lichtenstein, the Miami beat writer for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, tells us what to make of the The U heading into a pivotal season for Mario Cristobal. This is Part 2 in a series, after Richard and the Tampa Bay Times’ Matt Baker got into North Florida business.

Production: Anthony Vito.

It’s SZD Relaunch Week!

And it’s an excellent time to become a paid subscriber ahead of the season. Here’s what we’ve had to offer over these few days:

* Monday: The EA Sports video game field guide and review

* Tuesday: The 2024 SEC preview show

* Wednesday: Steven Godfrey makes nice with Michigan at long last

* Thursday: This “State of the State” item on South Florida

* Friday: Coach Gossip returns with a special Godfrey Single Wing. He answers subscriber questions about the state of the coaching carousel entering the season. There’s a lot to go over.

Schedule is subject to change at the whims of the podcast gods.

Watch Dead Letters Nebraska, The Video!

Subscribe on YouTube if you’d like us to do more of these, or just let us know in the comments. We had fun making this one!

All Bets Paid: Godfrey's Ode To Michigan & The Rose Bowl Jul 24, 2024

Oil and water. The Capulets and the Montagues. Michigan fans and Steven Godfrey. After years of often contentious relations, Godfrey threw down the gauntlet for Michigan fans to donate a bunch of money to charity, and they smashed giving goals like always. So here it is: Godfrey—egged on by Michigan diehard and New York Times writer Jane Coaston—acknowledges the good in both the Wolverines and the famous bowl game that they won last year. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 SEC preview show Jul 23, 2024

The 2024 SEC season preview from Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Steven Godfrey. How could the party be ruined for Georgia, Texas, and Alabama? Is Ole Miss or Mizzou better set up for a dream season? Which first-year starting QB at Tennessee, LSU, and Oklahoma is best set up for a breakout? Do Mark Stoops, Billy Napier, or Shane Beamer have any tricks up their sleeves? Can Auburn position itself for a 2025 breakout? What about A&M? Is what Arkansas is doing with Sam Pittman and Bobby Petrino a little bit too obvious? Plus, let’s find some near-term hope at Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The CFB video game field guide and review Jul 22, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

After a long week of playing the EA Sports College Football 25 video game, our verdict is in. Alex and Richard review the game, discuss whe…

The 2024 Big 12 preview show Jul 17, 2024

It’s the 2024 Big 12 season preview from Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner, and Steven Godfrey. Utah enters the league as the favorite, but the gap to Kansas State and Oklahoma State looks small (5:03). It’s been a long time since any of Iowa State, Arizona, Kansas, or West Virginia won a conference, but they all have riser (and some decline) potential (26:15). Baylor, TCU, and Texas Tech all seem to have an opening with Texas out of the league (47:20), but is anyone poised to seize the moment? None of last year’s new Big 12 schools (58:32) distinguished themselves. Will that change in Year 2? Is Arizona State … in a bad, bad way? (65:58) And let’s just be quick about Colorado? (78:12)

Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The death and life of EA Sports' college football video game Jul 11, 2024

Ben Haumiller is EA Sports’ principal game designer for college football. He’s here with Godfrey to discuss the long road back for a previously defunct CFB gaming franchise, and to answer questions from Godfrey and our subscribers about how College Football 25 will play and feel. Plus, Godfrey has details on his involvement with the game. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 ACC preview show Jul 10, 2024

It’s the 2024 ACC season preview from Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner, and Steven Godfrey. Following a discussion of the start of TALKIN’ SEASON (0:43), the group starts the ACC rundown with FSU and Clemson (20:06) and then goes through the entire Atlantic (and now, uh, Pacific) Coast Conference. How big a step back is reasonable at FSU? Does Dabo Swinney have a revival in him? Who from the Miami/Virginia Tech/NC State/Louisville has the best chance of a surprise? Could someone show proper respect to the nice little rebuild being carried out at Georgia Tech? Will Pitt, Wake Forest, or UNC start moving in a positive direction again? What do we make of new coaches at Boston College, Syracuse, and Duke? And how about new entrants SMU, Cal, and Stanford? Is there a path forward for Tony Elliott’s UVA? Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The state of Florida preview, part 1: North Jul 03, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

The Tampa Bay Times' Matt Baker joins Richard to talk all things Florida, Florida State, UCF, and USF ahead of the 2024 season. Now that the Bulls have been left behind in realignment, what’s next? The offense is gonna be good, but you'll never guess who their DC is. UCF has tasted life in the Power 4, so how will Act 2 go? Yes, there's a moment of Billy Napier kvetching, and a whole lotta wondering about just how and when FSU is gonna tear apart the legal fabric of the sport. Production: Anthony Vito.

Scheme School: The evolution of Ryan Day’s Ohio State Jul 01, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

It’s a big year for Ryan Day. He might have the preseason No. 1 team, and the pressure couldn’t be higher given three straight losses to Michigan, the Wolverines’ potential step-back year, and a 12-team Playoff format that all but ensures Ohio State will compete for a national title. What is the state of Day’s offensive identity, and how has he evolved? How will he work with his famous new offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly? Ross Fulton of Buckeye Huddle joins Richard for an episode of Scheme School about the coming Ohio State offense.

Note: We had some connection problems during the recording, which you might notice in a few spots, but our ace producer Anthony Vito has worked his magic to provide audio clarity. Thanks to Anthony and Ross!

The Single Wing: Summer Road Trip Edition Jun 28, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

In this solo show, Steven Godfrey’s got two hours’ worth of football and life to keep you occupied as you sojourn in this hot valley of news for college football. Let’s talk about Lane Kiffin’s altar-dodging with Auburn, Marshall’s ceiling in the Sun Belt, Jimbo Fisher’s failings, Michigan’s scheduling, and the death of regional identities (for now). Production: Anthony Vito.

Summer Grab Bag: The toughest stadium is *what*? Jun 25, 2024

Alex and Richard take subscriber questions heading into a holiday week. Which Florida school does Billy Napier least want to let beat him? Did UCLA set up DeShaun Foster to fail? Who can be 2024’s quiet “hang in the Playoff race right to the end” decent team? Is the Big 12 really due for an era of parity, or are media making that up? Who will suffer most in the Big Ten and SEC from the current realignment wave? What do we make of Curt Cignetti and Indiana? Who drives CFB TV ratings? And let’s compare and contrast Nick Saban and his most obvious current contemporary in the other football.

Bonus episodes and Q&A: www.splitzoneduo.com

Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Why (Some of) the Big 12’s Weirdness Works Jun 19, 2024

Weeks before the Big 12 expands to 16 teams, Godfrey and Alex dive into the unique place the conference currently occupies. It’s not rich like the Big Ten and SEC, but it’s not teetering like the ACC or dead like the old Pac-12. Things are more precarious than they were four years ago but way better than they were three years ago. Commissioner Brett Yormark is trying ideas that seem at turns silly, destructive, innovative, and extremely smart. So, what do we make of the Big 12’s present and future? Let’s talk about it.

Production: Anthony Vito.

Bonus episodes: www.splitzoneduo.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The FCS lessons for the 12-team Playoff Jun 13, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

A college football playoff with more than four teams? What will they think of next? Alex, Richard, and Steven talk through what we can learn about the upcoming Playoff expansion by looking back at decades of the FCS (and Division II and III) postseason. What really drives expansion? Will the selection committee draw even more ire with a bigger field, or less? How much of a holy grail will first-round home games be? And what about finally getting a chance to see strange bedfellows in frigid weather in December? Production: Anthony Vito.

What happens when a college football coach is PRE-fired? Jun 12, 2024

The rumor mill demands that several coaches be on the hot seat at all times. But what about when the seat gets so hot that a new description—”pre-fired”—becomes appropriate? With Billy Napier and Sam Pittman headlining the 2024 class of pre-firing candidates, Richard, Steven, and Alex go down memory lane. Sometimes a pre-fired coach goes the way of Bryan Harsin or Ed Orgeron, but sometimes he goes the way of Tommy Tuberville or even Jim Harbaugh. And when the seat gets hottest, what percentage of coaches actually stick around for a while? Does anyone beat the pre-fired rap forever? Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 Texas college football extravaganza Jun 06, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Shehan Jeyarajah is national reporter for CBS Sports, host of the College Football Survivor Show, and knower of the Texas college football scene. He chats with Alex about every FBS program in the state and a big handful of FCS teams, too. The conversation covers everything from, yes, how many games Arch Manning might start this year to how a newly esteablished program at UTRGV might do once it starts playing competitive games. Plus: How will Mike Elko be different from Jimbo Fisher? What should we make of Texas Tech’s five-star freshman receiver? How has SMU’s move to the AAC changed the DFW recruiting scene? Can UTSA remain a big deal in the AAC without Frank Harris at QB? Is Prairie View A&M in line for a run in the SWAC? If it’s a Texas college football topic, there’s a good chance we get into it here. Production: Anthony Vito.

9 CFB Players to Tell Your Friends About for 2024 Jun 04, 2024

Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner, and Steven Godfrey start to look ahead to the 2024 college football season. The episode opens with some consideration of New York Knicks fans (it just happened) and then moves (15:45) into a discussion of nine players we’re paying close attention to for 2024. Some are just really good, and some are pivotal to programs on the ropes. This episodes takes a trip through Arkansas, Arkansas State, Kentucky, Tennessee, Minnesota, Colorado, Clemson, Kansas State, and Boston College.

Production: Anthony Vito.

Bonus episodes: www.splitzoneduo.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Scheme School: How good is Shedeur Sanders, actually? May 31, 2024

Welcome to a new episode of Scheme School. Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice returns to the show to have a completely on-field-focused (we promise) conversation about Colorado's already-polarizing QB1. What does he struggle with? And what does he excel at? What was the Buffs’ offense last year, what will it be this year, and what should it be to maximize Sanders as a player? Read Nate's in depth breakdown of Sanders here. (Now Richard can just point at this episode as Shedeur’s draft stock goes up and down.) Production: Anthony Vito.

Like this show? Here’s more Scheme School

* The evolution of Chip Kelly, schemer

* How defense evolved in CFB in 2023

* All these different safety positions: What happened?

This episode is for paying subscribers of Split Zone Duo, but everyone can hear a free preview.

Not a subscriber yet? Now’s a great time to become one, as we begin our ramp-up into the college football season, which quickly gives way to the coach carousel and then back to the big postseason games. By subscribing, you get frequent bonus episodes, the ability to ask questions that might appear on the show, and a place in a growing college football community. We’d love to have you. The cost is $10 a month, and you can get a month free with an annual subscription.

You can listen to bonus episodes in the same feed where you listen to free episodes, whether that’s on the Substack app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, YouTube Music, or any other platform. It’s easy!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Impending Arrival of College Football 3.0 (3.1?) May 28, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

College football is about to get a lot different. Alex and Richard talk through how changes to player compensation come 2025 will reshape the sport. We think it’s ultimately a winner for both players and fans, but there are big questions left to answer: What will become of collectives? Which type of program will get the most benefit from the House v. NCAA settlement? Which type will be hurt? Will this settlement be the line of demarcation between an eventual superleague and everyone else? And is this an ideal economic system? Production: Anthony Vito.

Single Wing: New Conference Expectations for Everyone from Texas to Army May 24, 2024

Godfrey's insisting that everyone pick a Sun Belt team to ride and/or die with in '24. Plus, did the NFL kill USC's L.A. vibes? And let's set an expectation for every single FBS team changing conferences this season. The Big 12 is a Las Vegas buffet, and it's 3 a.m., baby. Production by Anthony Vito.

Throughout May, The Single Wing is free for everyone thanks to Magic Mind. If you’d like to hear The Single Wing all year and ask the questions that help Godfrey build the show, become a paying subscriber to SZD today.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Single Wing: Week 1's High (Big) Noon Showdown and the G5 Playoff Proposal Debunked May 23, 2024

For more episodes like The Single Wing, subscribe at splitzoneduo.com. Godfrey's circling back on TV scheduling tactics for Week 1, explaining San Jose State’s triple-free offense, answering a desperately sad question about Group of 5 feeder programs, waxing emotional about EA NCAA, and teaching you why stupid ass-ideas like the G5 playoff get floated. Production by Anthony Vito.

Throughout May, The Single Wing is free for everyone thanks to Magic Mind. If you’d like to hear The Single Wing all year and ask the questions that help Godfrey build the show, become a paying subscriber to SZD today.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

College Football's Unwinnable But Righteous TV War With the NFL May 21, 2024

College football (including its TV partners) usually gets out of the NFL’s way. But when the 12-team Playoff arrives this December, the two levels of the sport will be head-to-head in a way they almost never are, especially since college’s powers that be made a tactical retreat from Thursday night. Is it surprising that the Playoff and ESPN would counterprogram the NFL? Was it avoidable? Should we, as fans of the sport, care? And why is CFB finally so comfortable existing on its own, even on the same day as the NFL? Production: Anthony Vito.

Bonus episodes: https://www.splitzoneduo.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Single Wing: Clemson's bottom line, UCF's shopping aisle, and a battle with impostor syndrome May 17, 2024

In this solo show, Steven Godfrey's trying to figure out why Clemson's O-line can't match its D-line, why BYU was (is?) dirty, if Army/Navy has a Rose Bowl mentality, and how NFL markets affect local college teams. Production: Anthony Vito.

Magic Mind: https://magicmind.com/splitzone20

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

How golf is college football May 15, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

As a postscript to last week’s newsletter about college football coaches’ golf handicaps, Alex and Richard discuss several football-adjacent golf topics. Has golf supplanted college football as the sport that’s most being harmed by its executive leadership? Is Hugh Freeze really that good? (Trent Dilfer definitely is.) Why is this the preferred offseason hobby of two-thirds of Split Zone Duo? And what, exactly, will happen at this week’s PGA Championship?

Handicaps: https://www.splitzoneduo.com/p/college-football-coaches-golf

Production: Anthony Vito.

The politics behind Ohio State's ridiculous commencement speech May 14, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Ohio State played host to one of the most bizarre commencement speeches of all time this month, when alumnus Chris Pan pitched graduates on Bitcoin and attempted to lead the Buckeye crowd in multiple singalongs. D.J. Byrnes writes The Rooster, a newsetter covering Ohio and its politics. Last week, Byrnes’ publication broke the news that Ohio State’s president, Ted “Slapshot” Carter, broke with recommendations from an advisory committee to select Pan. What was happening there, and what does it reveal about the leadership structure bewteen one of the most powerful institutions not just in higher education, but college sports and the entire Midwest? D.J. joins Alex to talk about it.

Read Byrnes' story: https://www.rooster.info/p/ohio-states-drug-fueled-bitcoin-shame

The Single Wing: UCLA's optimism and Kent State math May 10, 2024

Welcome to a FREE episode of The Single Wing thanks to our friends at Magic Mind (https://magicmind.com/SPLITZONE20 for 20 percent off). May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so let's talk about anxiety, parenting, and the Jimmy Sexton era of agenting. Plus: UCLA, Kent State, Wyoming, and Pearl Jam.

Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The other Iowa betting scandal May 08, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

It was huge college sports news in 2023 when dozens of athletes at Iowa and Iowa State became the targets of a state investigation into underage sports betting and wagers originating from the two campuses. It was less big news when enormous problems with that investigation came to light and the case started to fall apart. On this episode, Iowa writer and attorney Patrick Vint of Hawkeye State joins Alex to discuss how (and why) Iowa law enforcement made itself into an NCAA investigatory arm, how the NCAA handled the information brought to it, and how we can think about a hugely problematic investigative process that still revealed legitimate issues. Production: Anthony Vito.

Read Patrick's feature on the case: https://hawkeyestate.substack.com/p/heads-will-roll

The Good, The Bad, The Auburn: Rating 11 Teams Post-Spring May 07, 2024

The end of the spring transfer portal window means the beginning of looking ahead in earnest to the 2024 season. With rosters mostly locked, Alex and Richard share the teams they’re optimistic, pessimistic, and in between about at the halfway point of the offseason. Richard thinks Ohio State will win the national championship, and Alex thinks Clemson is due for more pain. We’ve also got impressions of Virginia Tech, Kansas State, USF, Michigan, Auburn, Oregon State, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Plus, Richard tells the world definitively what he believes will happen to Billy Napier this year. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The only NFL Draft postmortem that matters Apr 30, 2024

The Split Zone Duo crew discusses the results of the NFL Draft through both a college football and “being mean to Steven Godfrey” lens. Georgia’s player development, Washington’s offensive line, Oregon’s way of helping Bo Nix, whether Nick Saban actually admitted to a tampering violation on live TV, and much more. But yes, it all leads to a therapy session in which Godfrey comes to grips with the Falcons’ selection of Michael Penix Jr. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Emergency show: So, your school just hired Brian Ferentz Apr 26, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Maryland is hiring Brian Ferentz as an analyst, per Bruce Feldman. Alex went to Maryland, so Richard forced him to record an emergency show about the whole thing. We start with Alex fearing the worst, then discuss how Mike Locksley is building a Saban school, why this move actually makes quite a bit of sense, and where exactly Brian now stands in Maryland’s line of succession.

Why *everyone* in the Alabama search got to be a winner Apr 25, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

A coaching search where nobody got spurned, everyone got paid, and all parties wound up exactly where they wanted to be all along? How nice. That’s the semi-official account—from ESPN and many of the people most closely involved—of what happened at Alabama. Alex, Richard, and Godfrey discuss how media, agents, and administrators collaborated to pitch a sunny description of one of the biggest college football coaching hunts in years—and how it fits into the usual way of doing business in this industry.

Production: Anthony Vito.

Why talking about Colorado is unlike anything else in college football Apr 24, 2024

It’s time for an offseason check-in with the most watched, most controversial 4-8 team in college football history. Richard, Godfrey, and Alex weigh in on the four different conversations that happen at any given second about Deion Sanders and Colorado: the one about the actual football team (5:30), the one about Deion as a leader of men (21:54), the one about race (52:20), and the one about disruption (1:09:00). Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

How we drink from the college football firehose Apr 19, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

We get a lot of questions about how we keep up with the wide world of college football to bring you this podcast. How do we try to figure out where the interesting stories are? How do we keep eyeballs on a sport with so many teams at so many different levels? In the spirit of transparency and it being April, let’s talk about how to process a sport with a million things happening at once. These are our tips from years of covering the sport professionally, but they aren’t just for media members. We hope they can help anyone get more out of CFB.

Production: Anthony Vito.

2024 NFL Draft QB Tiers Special, with Benjamin Solak and Derrik Klassen Apr 18, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

For SZD’s annual NFL Draft QB special, Richard is joined by Ben Solak of The Ringer and Derrik Klassen of Bleacher Report. We start with the compulsory review of the greatest QB prospect of this century (Jacksonville Jaguar Trevor Lawrence) and review last year’s college-turned-pro QBs. Then, from Joe Milton to Austin Reed to Drake Maye to Caleb Williams, we break down this year’s. Production: Anthony Vito.

USC’s Cautionary NIL Tale + Spring Portal Window Breakdown Apr 16, 2024

USC reporter Luca Evans of the Orange County Register joins Alex to talk about the many challenges facing the Trojans in the NIL and collective space (4:19). How does a rich school with a blue-blood football history run into difficulty in this new world? USC is the best window into that question. Then Richard and Alex talk about the unusual buildup to the April transfer portal window (33:32) and break down interesting position groups to watch over the coming weeks: Michigan’s QBs, Penn State’s WRs, and more at Miami (x2), UNC, USC, and Washington. To close, they discuss the different ways that football institutions decided to remember (or not) O.J. Simpson (1:04:02). Production: Anthony Vito.

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Hosts: Steven Godfrey, Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Single Wing: Certifying the Tennessee gangster Apr 15, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Welcome to The Single Wing, where Steven Godfrey takes subscriber questions on a wide range of college football topics. This week, Godfrey's officially issuing a Gangster AD badge (Go Vawls), and we're also discussing the come-up at Virginia Tech, the veteran plains-ish states head coach most likely to sneak into a title game (Go Utes), and the delightful mash-up of the Nick Saban and Bill Snyder eras. Plus, let's talk about an X-Men cartoon. Why not?

Support the EDSBS Charity Bowl at www.edsbscharitybowl.com

Production: Anthony Vito.

How a pro football personnel director sees college football Apr 11, 2024

Richard has a conversation with Eric Galko, the director of football operations and player personnel for the East-West Shrine Bowl. It’s wide-ranging: Eric shares his 2024 NFL Draft hot takes and QB rankings, then talks about how the NFL views college players—and how well their programs are developing them. Eric tells us whether NIL actually ruined the third day of the draft. And having developed the XFL kickoff plan that is now part of the NFL, Eric shares whether college football is ready to implement the same thing.

Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Eyes List: Spring sitrep on 2024's most fireable coaches Apr 09, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

In 2023, Neal Brown was the industry's most fireable head coach. Then he had a good enough year to get a small contract extension. Who is 2024’s most fireable coach? Well, there are a few contenders. Godfrey, Richard, and Alex take the temperature on a handful of coaches who look troubled as spring ball gives way to what could be their final offseasons in their current jobs. Who has the best chance to resurrect his tenure, and who is in trouble? And in the case of Billy Napier, are all 7-5 records created equal?

Production: Anthony Vito.

This episode is for paid subscribers, but free subscribers can hear a short preview.

Week 1 of 2024 is ... surprisingly bare. Why? Apr 08, 2024

Week 1 has always had tons of warmup games, but the schedule usually has a big handful of bangers. In 2024, that’s not the case. There are barely any games pitting Power 4 teams against each other and as a trickle-down, not many all-Group of 5 matchups of note either. Yes, there are a few blockbusters (LSU-USC, Georgia-Clemson), but look beyond that, and you’ll see the issue.

Is this just a scheduling coincidence, or are recent changes in the college football ecosystem taking a toll on Labor Day Weekend over multiple years? Godfrey leads an investigation and discussion about what’s up with Week 1.

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AUDIO

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OUR TEAM

Hosts: Steven Godfrey, Richard Johnson, Alex Kirshner

Production: Anthony Vito

Social: Hector Diaz

HOSTS ON X:

https://twitter.com/38godfrey

https://twitter.com/RJ_CFB

https://twitter.com/@alex_kirshner

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

How we fix the rules in college football Apr 02, 2024

Richard has ideas for how to make college football’s on-field rules a little bit better. Alex and Godfrey like some of them and don’t like others. Let’s discuss the optimal width for the hashmarks, whether it’s time to shift the rules around RPOs and linemen downfield, the NFL’s new take on the kickoff, and then some more chaotic ideas that we’ve been kicking around. Production: Anthony Vito.

Spotify:

Apple Podcasts:

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Single Wing: Lane Kiffin speculation never ends. That's the point Mar 28, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Godfrey's answering your questions about Lane Kiffin's short- and long-term plans now that Bama has hired a Nick Saban replacement who isn't him.

Let's also discuss the vital signs of Year Zero as a concept, plus Florida's DEI mess and any effect recruiting, Mel Tucker career rehab, Dabo narratives in Clemson's post-title era, pro wrestling “journalists,” and anxiety treatments.

Production: Anthony Vito.

What in 2024 spring practice is worth your attention? Mar 26, 2024

Spring practice is a lot of hype and not a lot of substance, but sometimes we can learn a lot. Alex, Richard, and Godfrey talk about what to pay serious attention to right now and the five most interesting teams of spring 2024: Alabama, Michigan, Army, Ohio State, and Texas A&M.

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The Single Wing: Never mind the league network promoting the league Mar 21, 2024

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Godfrey's answering your questions about SEC Network bias (lol), the Big 12's inadvertent but noticeable "be good at basketball" strategy, how effective Ohio State's new AD will be, Colorado rumors (no), CFB programs hiring media (also no), and Nick Saban eating his microphone. Also, "Dungeons and Dragons."

Production: …

Why the 12-team playoff is great for college football Mar 20, 2024

Godfrey looked a bit deeper into how a 12-team playoff system will work in practice, and he ended up feeling ... surprisingly optimistic about the future of the sport? We're just as surprised as you are. He, Alex, and Richard talk through the types of teams this new system will benefit, the tradeoffs that Cinderellas will make, and why all in all, it's a good deal. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Clemson's absurd yet potentially effective case against the ACC Mar 19, 2024

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Clemson filed a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference on Tuesday in South Carolina, seeking to free itself from the conference’s grant of rights and set up an exit from the league. Alex and Steven react to that complaint, which comes off as an absurd attempt to rewrite universally understood rules. But this is college sports; being ridiculous doesn’t exactly mean Clemson is “wrong.”

Read Clemson’s complaint here, featuring heavy redactions.

Production: Anthony Vito.

This episode is for paying subscribers, but free subscribers can hear a preview.

The NFL-ification of college recruiting Mar 13, 2024

College football teams now have "general managers." How did the sport get here? How are they similar to GMs for pro teams, and how are they different? And will a college GM ever be able to fire a coach? Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

News: SEC/B1G power play, Fox Fridays, and what the Dartmouth vote means Mar 12, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex talk out three big news developments over the past week. The Big Ten and SEC continue (3:01) to fight for extra spots and extra money in a new College Football Playoff system, so let’s address why the arguments in their favor are so hollow. Friday nights (16:55) have become a bigger part of the college football schedule of late, but 2024 is poised to see that go to a new level. And Dartmouth basketball players voted for a union (23:49). What does it mean for college football? Maybe a lot, maybe nothing, and we won’t know for a while. But nobody should deny what a huge deal it is.

Also, Alex explains how to deal with Ted Cruz’s PR people when they get angry about something you write about college sports.

This episode is for premium subscribers. Free subscribers can hear a preview.

Production: Anthony Vito.

SZD Book Club: Dan Wetzel talks "Death to the BCS" Mar 08, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

The first installment of the Split Zone Duo Book Club: What's it like to write a book-length jeremiad aimed directly at the ruling class of an entire sport? Author and reporter Dan Wetzel joins Godfrey in Michigan to talk about Death to the BCS, a seminal work examining the graft and idiocy that once ruled college football but that we've completely shed in the 14 years since its publication ... ah shit, that's not right at all. Oh well. Production: Anthony Vito.

You can follow Dan on X, read him at Yahoo, and listen to him on the College Football Enquirer.

This episode is for paid subscribers, but everyone can listen to a free preview.

Mailbag: WVU's extension, Arizona's order of operations, private equity in CFB, and more Mar 06, 2024

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Richard and Alex take your questions on a long list of topics, in order: Neal Brown’s extension at West Virginia, the literal risks of private equity coming to college football, if Arizona messed up by hiring a coach before replacing the AD, if Emmitt Smith’s comments will affect Florida recruiting, a new pipeline of AD hiring, why G5 conferences like big cities, how you can(‘t) resist the SEC and Big Ten, what the deal is with Central Michigan and the Connor Stalions thing, why journalists get sideline acces at bowls, the two of us playing rounds of golf, and wedding speech advice. Production: Anthony Vito.

This episode is for paying subscribers, but everyone can listen to a 10-minute preview.

JJ McCarthy and the art of being a polarizing QB Mar 05, 2024

Michigan’s quarterback is the latest national championship winner and draft prospect to kick off a very specific kind of national debate about QB play. Alex and Richard interrogate why players like JJ McCarthy become debate catnip (and then personally make JJ McCarthy into debate catnip, because Alex cannot resist). Production: Anthony Vito.

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Does a new head coach’s first staff matter? Feb 28, 2024

After 2023, Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh left, and Alabama and Michigan fans worried a lot about assistant coach hires made by their successors. It got Alex thinking: Do national championship head coaches ace their assistant hires out of the gate? What happens when they mess up the important work of filling out a coaching staff? SZD goes through 25 years of history in a quest to figure out if a coach can win a national championship without acing his first test. Production: Anthony Vito.

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News: Atlanta coaches, EA video game, and The Return of the Mass Feb 27, 2024

In a roundup of college football news, Godfrey, Richard, and Alex talk about Georgia State’s interesting new head coach hire (1:30), Paul Johnson excoriating Geoff Collins (10:35), the upcoming EA Sports College Football game and the payment to players for appearing (25:45), and the reunion of the Mid-American Conference and UMass (30:44). Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Single Wing: It's time for Oregon State to go Full Boise Feb 22, 2024

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Godfrey's trying to keep the Beavers relevant nationally as the P12-to-P2 era "dawns." We also got questions galore about G5 playoff chances, post-playoff bracket bowls, Mark Stoops' mentality after the A&M mess, why Godfrey was Big Wrong about UCF and Gus Malzhan, and an effort to create joy for a member of our community needing it now. Production: Anthony Vito.

This episode is for paid subscribers of Split Zone Duo, but everyone else can listen to a free preview. Join now to get frequent bonus episodes, newsletters, and Q&A opportunities while becoming part of a great CFB community.

Did Alabama kill the MAC? Feb 20, 2024

Godfrey presents Richard and Alex with four decades' worth of MAC head coach firings and hirings to try to figure out if G5 football jobs are on the decline. The answer is messy, but one thing's for sure – coaches have been running to coordinator gigs for a long, long time. Ask Nick Saban. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The SZD Super Bowl 58 preview show Feb 08, 2024

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Sometimes, the haters call Split Zone Duo “an NFL podcast.”

Today we prove them right by previewing the Super Bowl in our own way. Joining Alex and Richard is special guest Arif Hasan, publisher of Wide Left, a great newsletter that covers three of the biggest beats shaping our society: the NFL, current affairs, and the Minnesota Vikings. See Arif’s publication below, and follow him @ArifHasanNFL.

Our conversation is wide-ranging and covers the following topics:

* The state of the Vikings (Richard could not resist)

* Whether wide receiver drops are now cool, as evidenced by the Chiefs having a good offense with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and a bunch of receivers who have cinderblocks attached to their hands

* “The Shanahan offense.” At this point, what is it?

* The nation’s Brock Purdy affair: Is he good? And why has he become the touchstone of an American culture war over whether he’s good or not?

* Taylor Swift should be the end of “distraction” discourse in football. But.

* Game picks

One publication note: Alex mentioned in the recording that Swift is suing a college student over a plane tracker. To clarify and be more accurate, as of press time, her lawyers hadn’t filed suit but were threatening that they would.

This episode is for premium subscribers of SZD and Wide Left. Subscribe to SZD’s paid offerings here on Substack and you’ll get lots of podcasts, newsletters, and Q&A opportunities, including these ones just in the past few weeks

* Alex’s essay on DJ Durkin, Maryland, and Jordan McNair. Listener feedback comes from this kind subscriber, who says: “i have been obsessed with cfb for a long time. didn’t know about @SplitZoneDuo. then i did. twas @38Godfrey’s Herbstreit episode that brought me in. since then, i wait. and it always exceeds. however, what @alex_kirshner does in the Durkin episode is SUBSCRIBE-TO-THIS level great.” Here’s that Herbstreit episode.

* “Is Alabama fucked?” An extensive discussion of the challenges facing a post-Nick Saban Alabama and how the Tide can deal with them.

* Godfrey and Ryan Nanni’s “Blind Side” commentary track.

If you haven’t subscribed yet, we’d love to have you. It helps us make the show, but more importantly, we think you are missing out!

Going into labor Feb 06, 2024

Alex, Richard, and Godfrey discuss a new NLRB ruling that might (might!) result in employee status and union organizing for college athletes. Then the group talks about recent worries about college football losing coaches to the NFL. Is this new? Yes and no. Is everything good at UCLA? Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

What Auburn is getting in new coordinator DJ Durkin Feb 02, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

DJ Durkin continues to get SEC coordinator jobs. In the past few seasons, he’s bounced from Ole Miss to Texas A&M to Auburn as some of the most famous head coaches in college football have hired him to lead their defenses.

An older stop on Durkin’s journey now tends to get limited attention when he arrives at a new place. So let’s talk in detail about what happened after Durkin took over at Maryland ahead of 2016, the kind of program he sought to build, and what exactlyhappened in Maryland’s building leading up to the death of one of Durkin’s players, Jordan McNair, after a workout in 2018.

Reducing the story to a few words does not help people understand what happened in College Park. The whole history is important, and so is the unwillingness of powerful people to address it with transparency.

Further resources:

* Maryland investigative commission report on the program’s culture

* An athletic training consultant’s review of Maryland’s procedures

Production: Anthony Vito.

The Single Wing: How Louisiana Tech's AD explains the future of college football Feb 01, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Godfrey's here to help make TCU better (Why is Kendal Briles still there?), talk about how bad D.C.’s NFL stadium is, reflect on Tennessee's lost decades, raise money for Georgia Tech, and improve Indiana's nickname game. Also there's a big examination of the chasm between G5 and P5 in hiring and how fragile the success of a place like Louisiana Tech can be. Production: Anthony Vito.

The 2023 time capsule reveal, plus key coach news Jan 30, 2024

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex start the show with a discussion of Sherrone Moore’s elevation to Michigan head coach and Iowa’s maybe-good but definitely-weird hire of Tim Lester as offensive coordinator. Then it’s time to revisit 2023 predictions, talk about what we learned, and forecast what this long offseason in CFB will be all about. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

"The Blind Side" commentary track with Steven Godfrey and Ryan Nanni Jan 25, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Split Zone Duo is proud to present a long-sought-after project: The feature-length commentary track for The Blind Side (2009). This movie got a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, and Sandra Bullock won Best Actress. Steven Godfrey, who covered Ole Miss around the time of the events depicted in the film, saw things differently than how the movie showed them. Please enjoy this extensive commentary on the whole thing.

You do not necessarily need to pull up the movie to enjoy and follow along with this track, but you may want to! It’s available for rental and purchase at both Apple and Amazon, and we believe the movie files on those platforms are the same. As of publication time, The Blind Side does not stream with a subscription on any major platforms. Renting it costs $3.99 on Apple and $3.79 on Amazon as of publication time. Or maybe you’ve got it on DVD!

Some notes on getting the podcast file lined up properly with the movie itself: At the 21:23 mark of the podcast, Godfrey begins the instructions for lining up the movie and the commentary track. The movie file should be about 2 hours and 8 minutes. You’ll see the Warner Bros. logo from the mid-aughts, and then you’ll notice a graphic for production company Alcon Entertainment. When you see the little ® trademark symbol come on the screen at 0:25 of the movie file, hit pause on the movie. Then, at 23:19 of the podcast track and 0:25 of the film track, press play on both. You’ll then have synced tracks as the movie goes forward. (Free subscribers can listen up until this point.)

Thanks to our audio producer, Anthony Vito, for his work in bringing you this track. Thanks, we guess (?), to Michael Lewis for writing the book that allowed us to do this commentary in the first place. Roll tape!

Is Alabama f****d? Jan 22, 2024

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

When Nick Saban retired, Alex wrote a column for the Ringer under the headline “Nick Saban Made Alabama Too Big to Fail.” The same day, Godfrey argued in the Washington Post that the “theory that a post-Saban Alabama is too big to fail … ultimately misunderstands the how and why of Saban’s singular success.”

Can these two arguments be squared? Somewhat yes, and somewhat no. We talk in this episode about Alabama’s rough first two weeks without Saban, the Crimson Tide’s challenges going forward, and how Saban did (and did not) protect them from a cold, unforgiving life without him. Production: Anthony Vito.

Free subscribers can listen to a short preview of this episode. Paying subscribers can listen to the whole thing and also get access to all of our other premium content, including regular podcasts, newsletters, and Q&A opportunities.

Split Zone Duo is not publishing a free episode this week, but will have another episode for paid subscribers in the next few days: The Blind Side commentary track featuring Godfrey and Ryan Nanni. It’s not to be missed!

The SZD Interview: Rodger Sherman's trip 'round the CFB world Jan 15, 2024

Former SB Nation coworker/SZD co-conspirator Rodger Sherman quit his day job before the 2023 season and drove to over 60 (!) college football games across the country. Enjoy the tale of Road Rodge, with a weird bonus moment at the end. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Hurry-Up: Michigan reaches the pinnacle Jan 09, 2024

Alex and Richard spend a half-hour talking about the national championship, the 2023 Michigan team's place in history, Jim Harbaugh cementing his legacy, and what might be next for Washington. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Split Zone Duo LIVE in Houston! Jan 08, 2024

Please enjoy this recording of Split Zone Duo Live in Houston, taped the night of 1/6/24 and presented by our friends at Homefield Apparel. We had an amazing crowd and loved doing a show about the season that was and the national championship between Michigan and Washington. But really, what got into Godfrey at the beginning of this show? Thanks to Rockefeller's in Houston for hosting us and recording the show, and to Anthony Vito for the audio engineering to get it onto your podcast feed.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The national championships arrive. Let’s dig in. Jan 04, 2024

Alex and Richard start the show with discussion of LSU cleaning house on the defensive coaching staff, UNC wasting Drake Maye on bad defenses and splitting with Gene Chizik, and Frank Harris’ legendary run at UTSA. Then it’s time to preview the FCS title game between Montana and South Dakota State (13:31) and the Playoff National Championship between Michigan and Washington (22:40). Production: Anthony Vito.

For tickets to Split Zone Duo LIVE in Houston: splitzoneduolive.com

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The post-semis Hurry-Up and a brief natty lookahead Jan 02, 2024

Alex and Richard break down the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl semifinals, with brief previewing of Michigan-Washington baked in throughout. Then some reflections on a trip to Pasadena. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Smell some roses and eat some sugar Dec 28, 2023

Richard reports on this year’s big international incident at Playoff semifinal media availabilities. (There’s always one.) Then Richard, Alex, and Godfrey share a few thoughts on bowl season to date before getting into the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. Both semifinals get on-field previews, and Alex and Godfrey explain why they see the institution of the Rose Bowl in completely different ways. Production: Anthony Vito.

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NIL danger zones, Signing Day 2024, and national champs Dec 20, 2023

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex go through some high-level recruiting storylines on National Signing Day: Who’s in the NIL danger zone, and who is clearly splashing the cash? Is Florida OK? What is the significance of Dylan Raiola to Nebraska? What do we make of some big developments in the FCS, Division II, and Division III playoffs? Plus a tasting menu for the bowls over the next week. Production: Anthony Vito.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Eyes List: 2023 finale (?) Dec 14, 2023

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

Richard and Godfrey spin through the highlights of a mostly wrapped-up coach hiring and firing cycle. Some highlights of the discussion:

* What the Jon Sumrall hire says about how Tulane does business

* Syracuse’s swing on Georgia assistant Fran Brown

* Why new Houston coach Willie Fritz is the Ball Coach Blueprint

* A noteworthy angle to Derek Mason taking the Middle Tennessee job

* Deion Sanders’ evolving (or maybe just clarifying) approach at Colorado

* Why winners win

* Why special teams coaches make for interesting hires

Premium subscribers get regular episodes like this one and so much more. In addition to live chats and the opportunity to ask questions that the hosts might answer, subscribers have recently gotten:

* Frequent updates to “The Eyes List,” this coach carousel reporting and analysis series.

* Dissecting the dance that almost made Mark Stoops Texas A&M’s coach, but instead paved the way for Mike Elko

* Premium newsletters from Alex Kirshner. The latest: The SEC doesn’t own the Playoff, but it does own something else that helped Alabama jump FSU

* Single Wing episodes from Steven Godfrey: The playing-time conspiracy theory coaches are talking about after a Playoff controversy

* Scheme School episodes led by Richard Johnson: The big trends in 2023 defense, explained with Cody Alexander of MatchQuarters

* Emergency episodes when big news breaks, like A&M paying the biggest buyout in history or the Big Ten suspending a head coach in the middle of the title race

And there’s more where all of that came from. You can get a free month of premium SZD access by subscribing annually. You can also gift a subscription and set it to be delivered on any date you choose.

An unprecedented moment of CFB roster confusion Dec 13, 2023

The transfer portal is packed. Signing Day is approaching. Colorado might actually portal an offensive line? Nebraska might get the No. 1 QB? And college football sits in a weird in-between. Why is this all happening? A few reasons. Plus what to watch for in the Celebration Bowl, the FCS playoffs, D2 and D3, and some bowls this weekend. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2023 Split Zone Duo awards special Dec 06, 2023

Alex, Richard, and Godfrey submit awards picks for a very SZD-specific set of honors: Power 5/Group of 5 Team of the Year, Game of the Year, Play of the Year, Coach Proof of Concept of the Year, Best Take/Worst Take, and the Ndamukong Suh Award (Best Player Ineligible To Win The Heisman). Alex also shares his process and conclusion in voting on the Biletnikoff Award, because we believe in taking awards voting seriously. Plus a tasting menu of the FCS, D2, and D3 playoffs, followed by thoughts on this weekend’s big Army-Navy game. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Tickets to SZD Live in Houston at splitzoneduolive.com

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The FSU travesty: Playoff reaction show Dec 03, 2023

In a special edition of the SZD Hurry-Up, Alex and Richard discuss the Playoff committee's spurning of unbeaten Florida State and then break down the matchups for the New Year's Six.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

2023 championship weekend preview (and the end of the SEC on CBS) Nov 29, 2023

Alex, Richard, and Godfrey go game-by-game on the most interesting angles surrounding conference championship weekend. Is this the best slate of power conference title games ever? It might be. SMU-Tulane is a stylistic clash. Miami (Ohio) had the best Miami season in the country. Liberty goes for 13-0. The computers pit UNLV against Boise. And Appalachian State tries to beat Troy for one of the odder conference championships ever. Production: Anthony Vito.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Dissecting the dance between Mark Stoops and Texas A&M Nov 26, 2023

Texas A&M was on the verge of hiring Mark Stoops away from Kentucky, but the parties came apart. Godfrey walks all of us through A&M’s process and the emerging, competing narratives about why a deal didn’t happen. Is this another Tennessee-Greg Schiano situation? Yes, but in its own way. Let’s talk about those angles and other ones surrounding this telling carousel moment.

Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 13 Hurry-Up: What a Saturday Nov 26, 2023

Rivalry Weekend! Standings implications! Hot seats and poachings! There’s a lot going on. Alex and Richard recap the final week of the regular season with an eye toward big games and bizarre coaching decisions. Stay tuned at splitzoneduo.com for bonus episodes on the state of the coaching carousel. Production: Anthony Vito.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Game is the game: Rivalry Weekend arrives Nov 21, 2023

Alex, Richard, and Godfrey break down Ohio State-Michigan and then get into a long list of other juicy games on Rivalry Weekend. It’s that time of year. Production: Anthony Vito.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 12 Hurry-Up: Purple rains Nov 19, 2023

Richard and Alex recap the 12th week of the college football season. Washington and Texas win in businesslike fashion, Georgia looks primed for a threepeat, Michigan gets away with one, Ohio State revs it up, James Madison’s dream season has a hiccup, and UNLV continues to astonish. Production: Anthony Vito.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Why CFB’s second-to-last week is like this (plus Pac-12 drama) Nov 15, 2023

Alex, Richard, and Godfrey talk through the high-stakes, bizarre legal fight unfolding between Oregon State, Washington State, and the rest of the Pac-12. And then we’ve got a Week 12 preview with a different flavor: College football is the rare sport that intentionally waters down the penultimate week of the season. The reason might seem obvious, but it isn’t. The Tasting Menu for the week is interwoven. Production: Anthony Vito.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Week 11 Hurry-Up: The heavyweights separate Nov 12, 2023

Richard and Alex take you on a quick but detailed voyage through Week 11 in college football. Michigan clarifies what it is and what Penn State is. Oklahoma State continues to shock the world. Georgia treats Ole Miss badly. And the race for the Group of 5's New Year's bowl slot has never looked this wide open. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Michigan and the Big Ten fight an information war Nov 09, 2023

Richard, who broke the news about other Big Ten schools passing around Michigan’s signs, talks with Alex and Godfrey about how the university and fanbase have reacted to his reporting. Plus some college football news from on the ground at the White House, deeper discussion of Michigan vs. the Big Ten, and a detailed preview of the best games of Week 11. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Week 10 Hurry-Up: Anything happened in Bedlam Nov 06, 2023

Alex and Richard had a great weekend on the ground at college football stadiums, and they’re back after reviewing the rest of Week 10. Alabama-LSU, Bedlam, UGA-Mizzou, Ole Miss-A&M, Troy-South Alabama, and USC-Washington headline a really fun week. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Iowa fires a Ferentz + the state of the Playoff + a big Week 10 Nov 01, 2023

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex start this week’s show by discussing the savvy maneuvering of Iowa’s new athletic director, Beth Goetz, in announcing the end of Brian Ferentz’s tenure as offensive coordinator. Then let’s group the remaining Playoff possibilities by how their work is cut out for them, and let’s preview a Week 10 slate led by Alabama and LSU. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Week 9 Hurry-Up: Told yOU to be careful Oct 29, 2023

Richard and Alex lead you on a detailed sprint through the ninth week of the 2023 college football season, headlined by Kansas’ upset of unbeaten Oklahoma. Plus notes on dozens of other games: USC’s defense remains unserious, UGA remains Florida’s boss, and Oregon makes it clear case as a national title contender. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Michigan circus: Reporting, reaction, and what’s next Oct 25, 2023

Richard breaks news in Sports Illustrated about the staffer at the center of the Michigan sign-stealing saga, and he talks about the story with Alex and Steven. The group assesses what we know about Michigan’s operation and what might come next. Production: Anthony Vito.

Story link: https://www.si.com/college/2023/10/25/michigan-connor-stalions-texts-stolen-signals

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9 teams’ best- and worst-case scenarios Oct 25, 2023

Richard, Alex, and Godfrey take stock of nine teams whose seasons could still go all kinds of different ways, from pretty well (or even very well) to very, very badly: USC, Utah, South Carolina, App State, Mizzou, Tennessee, Memphis, Georgia State, and Air Force. Plus a detailed preview of Week 9 in the form of the SZD Tasting Menu. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Week 8 Hurry-Up: Who’s not serious? Oct 22, 2023

A fast, detailed sprint through all of the interesting things in college football’s Week 8, with Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson. Penn State and USC weren’t ready for primetime. Marvin Harrison Jr. certainly was. Let’s dissect the ending of that Minnesota-Iowa game. And much more. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The B1G Show finally arrives Oct 18, 2023

Penn State plays Ohio State this week, so it’s time to finally assess the many strengths and relative weaknesses of those two teams and the current (slight) conference favorite: Michigan. Then it’s a detailed Week 8 preview from Richard, Godfrey, and Alex. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Week 7 Hurry-Up: Go for it Oct 15, 2023

Richard and Alex take you on a fast but detailed journey through Week 7 in college football. Let’s be specific about which Dan Lanning decision cost Oregon. USC falls apart in South Bend. Deion Sanders does not distinguish himself. UNC looks the part of a major contender. Pitt puts Louisville in a hole. Iowa continues to be a science experiment. Air Force puts on a show, and Boise State might have real trouble. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Midseason panic buttons and Week 7 blockbusters Oct 11, 2023

Alex and Richard go over the situations at several programs that are having a rough time. HOW bad is it at TCU, Baylor, Southern Miss, Indiana, Arkansas, and Minnesota? Then it’s time to go over some marquee Week 7 games and a tasting menu for the week. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Week 6 Hurry-Up: Kneel before Pod Oct 09, 2023

The college football season Week 6 recap, fast and detailed from Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson. Oklahoma looks great, Texas still looks fine, and the rest of the Big 12 does not. Maryland might, eventually, win one of these games. The Mountain West looks poised to claim a New Year’s bowl slot. And Mario Cristobal does something for which there’s just no excuse, ever, for any reason. Production: Anthony Vito.

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What it just means in the SEC Oct 04, 2023

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex have noted the narrative that the SEC is “down” or “wide open” this year. And maybe! But to figure that out, we’ve got to heat-check a bunch of different good or maybe-good teams and see where they are five weeks into the season. Plus an argument about whether Oklahoma is good again and a detailed Tasting Menu for Week 6. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Week 5 Hurry-Up: Make the tackle Oct 01, 2023

A detailed but rapid recap of Week 5 in college football from Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson. Duke gets its heart broken, LSU gets its defense broken, UGA survives a scare, Pitt and Indiana reach new lows, and Coastal Carolina raises questions. Plus more! Production: Anthony Vito.

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Single Wing: Hugh Freeze might be right (maybe, this one time, but probably not) Sep 30, 2023

Godfrey’s enjoying Hugh Freeze’s fact checking session during his weekly presser as much as the next sane CFB fan, but does the Righteous Rev. sorta have a point about expectations?

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How the Pac-12 got its groove back Sep 27, 2023

Alex and Richard discuss the common threads in the Pac-12's ironic return to being maybe the best conference in college football, then offer one big thing to watch for each of the league’s many contenders. Then a detailed Tasting Menu to preview the Week 5 schedule. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Week 4 Hurry-Up: Podcasting for clicks Sep 24, 2023

Richard and Alex take you through a packed Week 4 in college football. Ohio State and Notre Dame played a great game with some perplexing coaching decisions. FSU dealt Clemson a blow. Oregon dealt Colorado something else entirely. Dante Moore went into an impossible situation. Wazzu showed out. Iowa’s offense had only a few more yards than you did against Penn State. And much more! Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Deion phenomenon and a massive Week 4 Sep 20, 2023

Deion Sanders and Colorado have become the biggest story in college football. We want to unpack why that happened, because we think it goes much deeper than "he's a celebrity and he's 3-0." After spending about 56 minutes on that discussion, we've got another hour of previewing a great Week 4 schedule including FSU-Clemson, Ohio State-Notre Dame, and Arizona State-USC in the Media Restriction Bowl. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Single Wing: Don’t look for 2007; make the best 2023 possible Sep 19, 2023

Steven Godfrey’s back with a solo show to hopefully help y’all receive the wonderful uncertainty of this early CFB year the best way possible- in the wonderful, fleeting now. Also he’s furious about being on camera. Find the companion Q&A at patreon.com/szd. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Week 3 Hurry-Up: Sunglasses on Sep 17, 2023

Richard and Alex talk about a surprisingly wild third week of the college football season. Jay Norvell writes a check and doesn’t cash it against Colorado. Missouri and Kansas State play an absolute banger. WVU beats Pitt in the Backyard Brawl. Florida takes apart Tennessee. And much more in a 30(ish)-minute sprint through everything interesting that happened this weekend. Production: Anthony Vito.

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What’s next for Texas, Bama, and (differently) Oklahoma Sep 13, 2023

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex dive into how good things might get for Texas and how bad they might get for Alabama. Oklahoma had an embarrassing weekend because Jeff Lebby couldn’t follow basic rules, and now the group is wondering what can be learned from the episode. Then it’s the tasting menu for Week 3, where WKU-Ohio State might be one of the most interesting games of the week? Production: Anthony Vito.

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Single Wing: Here's An Easy Trick To Remember How Mel Tucker Ruined His Career Sep 12, 2023

If you're confused about the unfolding details surrounding Mel Tucker's Title IX investigation, Godfrey's here with a quick and easy way to parse the many conflicting accounts and media narratives: The person masturbating is at fault. That's it! College football! Production: Anthony Vito.

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Week 2 Hurry-Up: They’re baaaaaaack Sep 10, 2023

Richard shares observations from on the ground at Texas’ win over Alabama, and then he and Alex run through dozens of other notes from college football’s Week 2. Miami shows one thing, and A&M shows another. Notre Dame might be serious. Baylor and Texas Tech are 0-2, and they probably didn’t even have the worst days in Texas. (Hello, Houston.) Plus a bunch more! Production: Anthony Vito.

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Which Week 1 impressions will actually stick? Sep 06, 2023

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex pick through eight interesting cases from Week 1 of the college football season. What do we believe, and what might look like a lie from Duke, Clemson, FSU, LSU, Colorado, Ohio State, Texas Tech, and Texas State. Plus a detailed preview of Week 2, including Bama-Texas. Production: Anthony Vito

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Week 1 Hurry-Up: Primed for the season Sep 03, 2023

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner take you on a details-packed sprint through Week 1 of the college football season. Colorado pulls off a stunner. (So does Texas State!) Florida falters. Washington beats down Boise’s door, Penn State’s new QB impresses, and Virginia State and Norfolk State combine for one of the most farcical endings you will ever see in your life. Plus a whole lot more. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Single Wing: When you're rooting for "it was just a weird few years" Aug 31, 2023

Godfrey's exploration of this year's paucity of good kickoff games yielded predictable results – it's yet another weird TV money problem – but maybe we need those billionaires this time? There's certainly some shine missing from the slate, but it's COLLEGE FOOTBALL, FULL STOP. Still, Week 1 might look way different in the near future. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Week 1 tasting menu: A mega-preview Aug 28, 2023

After offering some quick Week 0 impressions, Alex, Godfrey, and Richard preview Week 1 of the 2023 season, highlighting dozens of games from Kent State-UCF to Boise State-Washington to LSU-FSU. Congratulations, you made it. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The big 2023 prediction show (plus the Florida doc and modern sports TV) Aug 23, 2023

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex start the show with an extended talk about Netflix’s Florida doc series, which has come under scrutiny not for what it includes but for what it leaves out. Then it’s time to set caution to the side and pick big storylines for the 2023 season: The Heisman contenders, the best G5 and defensive players, the games of the year, the coaches who will get fired and hired, conference winners, and the Playoff. Production: Anthony Vito.

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FCS Upset Draft, Notre Dame, and Army’s big change Aug 16, 2023

Jason Kirk joins Alex and Richard to draft FCS teams that will beat FBS teams this season. Then the group talks about this season’s FBS independent programs (38:17). Army is really going away from the flexbone option, and Richard reports on why. Plus, are you still feeling good about Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame? Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Sun Belt 2023 preview show Aug 11, 2023

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex preview the entire Sun Belt and then talk about why this league is such a breath of fresh air in a moment of non-geographic realignment. Starting at Troy and South Alabama, continuing through an East fight between JMU, App State, and Coastal Carolina on down, there's something here for everyone. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The SEC 2023 preview show Aug 09, 2023

Richard, Alex, and Godfrey preview the Southeastern Conference for 2023. Let’s try to figure out a way for Georgia to not make the Playoff again. (It’s hard.) Tennessee will still score points, but will that be enough? Is the West an Alabama-LSU hunt, or can A&M disrupt things? Then let’s go through questions and rebuilds in various stages at Auburn, Florida, and Vanderbilt. How will Mississippi State move forward after Mike Leach? Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Ole Miss are fine but stuck in the middle of the league. How long does that list? And is Eli Drinkwitz the most fireable coach in the SEC? Production: Anthony Vito.

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The MAC 2023 preview show Aug 03, 2023

Alex, Godfrey, and Richard preview the MAC for 2023. Toledo looks like it’s on firm footing again, but this is an unpredictable league, and Ohio has a serious QB in Kurtis Rourke. Could EMU, Ball State, Miami, or Buffalo breach the top tier? Is Akron, NIU, or Central Michigan a serious candidate for a big bounce? (Plus, why Joe Moorhead might be worth watching in Akron.) Kent State and Western Michigan have potentially brutal rebuilds in front of them, and Bowling Green is staring regression right in the face. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Big Ten 2023 preview show Aug 02, 2023

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex preview the Big Ten for 2023. It’s an Ohio State-Michigan-Penn State race at the top. Is Maryland or Michigan State capable of making any noise in the East? Which big ’23 storyline is most compelling between West contenders Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Could Illinois make another run? What should you make of Purdue in a new coach’s first year? And how long will it take Matt Rhule at Nebraska? Plus, is there any reason for optimism at Indiana, Rutgers, or Northwestern? Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Big 12 2023 preview show Jul 27, 2023

Alex and Richard set up the season for a 14-team Big 12. Texas should finally do it on its way out the door. Oklahoma might have the next-highest ceiling, but also a low floor. Who has more staying power: Kansas State or TCU? Who ends the year feeling best between Kansas, Texas Tech, and Baylor? Is Oklahoma State or Iowa State closer to getting back to Big 12 contention? Are the new entrants in shape to compete immediately? Is Neal Brown right to be mad about the media picking WVU last? And who gets fired from his current job first: Neal Brown or the man he replaced? Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Conference USA 2023 preview show Jul 25, 2023

Richard and Alex preview the dramatically reshaped CUSA for 2023. Is this league Liberty’s right away, or can WKU (or someone else) keep it in the control of the holdover schools? Is Middle Tennessee or Louisiana Tech better positioned to contend? Are UTEP and New Mexico State poised to rise together? Which new FBS entrant, Sam Houston or Jacksonville State, is best positioned? And how much hope is possible at FIU? Production: Anthony Vito.

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DEAD LETTERS: The SoCon story Jul 21, 2023

The Southern Conference birthed both the SEC and the ACC. Then the league died in everything but name. What happened, and what is still happening?

Welcome to the finale of Season 2 of Dead Letters, a Split Zone Duo series about what happens when bad things happen to good college football teams (or conferences).

Writing: Alex Kirshner
Production: Anthony Vito
Interviewee: Matt Brown

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The AAC 2023 preview show Jul 20, 2023

Steven Godfrey and Richard Johnson are here to disrespect the Tide... of Tulane! The American welcomes a bunch of new schools, and one of them (MEEP MEEP) looks like a more complete program right now than the school that upset USC in the Cotton Bowl eight months ago. Just sayin'. There's also a lot of new head coaches at these new AAC programs, and we'll figure out which one was the dumbest move long-term. That's not true. We already know. It's UAB. You idiots made Tulsa look good. Production: Anthony Vito

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The ACC 2023 preview show Jul 19, 2023

Steven Godfrey and Richard Johnson take you on a magical and not-at-all predictable journey through the sport's most predictable conference. Visit the lovely cul-de-sac of .500 clubs! Determine which HOMEGROWN HERO has the most impossible set of expectations (Spoiler: Richard thinks it ISN'T Miami)! And let's debate which narrative is dumber: Clemson DONE or Florida State BACK? Also Alex isn't here so there's not much Pitt discussion. You're welcome. Production: Anthony Vito

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The Mountain West 2023 preview show Jul 14, 2023

Alex Kirshner and Steven Godfrey have some Mountain West conversations, touching on every team in the league heading into 2023. Has Boise State averted the worst? Are the Broncos in a two-team race with Fresno State? Will Air Force butt in? Let’s check in with Craig Bohl, Brady Hoke, and Troy Calhoun. What is the deal with Blake Anderson’s Utah State? And let’s see which of the conference’s most moribund teams (Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada) can show a sign of progress first. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Pac-12 2023 preview show Jul 13, 2023

Steven Godfrey and Alex Kirshner preview the Pac-12's 2023 season by touching every team in the conference. Which quarterbacks in this league could join Caleb Williams in the highest tier of CFB passers? What could get in Utah’s way? Which Bay Area school ends the year feeling most hopeful? Which Arizona school? And, yes or no: Do you believe in the 2023 Colorado Buffaloes? Production: Anthony Vito.

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DEAD LETTERS: Kentucky, the Baron, and the Bear Jul 12, 2023

Football wasn't much at Kentucky until Bear Bryant came along. That, it would soon become clear, was exactly how Adolph Rupp liked it.

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 5 of Dead Letters, a Split Zone Duo series about bad things happening to great college football programs.

Writing: Alex Kirshner
Production: Anthony Vito
Interviewee: Derrick White, University of Kentucky

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Dilfer's threats, Florida's progress, and the video game's lawsuit Jun 28, 2023

Richard and Alex go through some college football news of the week, starting with some thoughts on a couple of tragic CFB losses this week in Ryan Mallett and Terry Price. Then the show covers why recent NCAA enforcement actions do not have any cultural juice, the overcomplicating of what will soon become a legal fight between San Diego State and the Mountain West, the Florida Gators' rebuild under Billy Napier starting to bear visible fruit, and why the recent news about the EA Sports college football game seems like it's being misinterpreted. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The spontaneous season preview, live from DC! Jun 21, 2023

Welcome to our first live show, recorded June 15 in D.C. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. After talking a little bit about D.C.’s merits as a college football town, Godfrey, Richard, and Alex preview the 2023 season in an interactive fashion. Tickets to our next live show, in Minneapolis on September 1, are on sale now at splitzoneduolive.com. Production: Anthony Vito and Tony Fowler.

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Coach contract facts and a CFB mailbag Jun 14, 2023

Richard shares insights from his extensive dive into the quirkiest clauses in the contracts for 2023's new head coaches. Some of them could be a big deal and seem to be getting more common in the industry. Then, he and Alex run through a big June mailbag that touches on a bunch of topics, including the significance of Notre Dame's new AD hire, DJ Uiagalelei at Oregon State, what's going on at Georgia State, the Pat Narduzzi-Deion Sanders beef, the Big Ten not protecting any Penn State rivalry games, Cal's place in the Bay Area, and what surprised Richard about a visit to Lincoln. Production: Anthony Vito.

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College (sports) heads toward a cliff Jun 07, 2023

American higher education is about to have a big numbers problem on its hands, and it could affect college football in significant ways (albeit probably not for the Ohio States and Alabamas of the world). Alex interviews Dr. Nathan Grawe, an expert on the "enrollment cliff" that's rapidly approaching for U.S. colleges. Before that, Alex, Richard, and Godfrey talk about CFB news of the week and what a big outside investment might look like if CFB had its own version of the current PGA Tour story. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Dead Letters: A Nebraska Football Story May 31, 2023

This week marks the launch of season 2 of "Dead Letters," an SZD Patreon series (patreon.com/szd) about the rises and falls of great college football programs and what happened next. This episode traces the ascent of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the many, many things that came together to unwind the most dominant team of much of the 20th century. We've changed the format of these shows a little bit for 2023, but we hope you enjoy this sample of the series before diving into the new season. Patreon subscribers: Thank you for making this work possible, and listen now to the first episode of Dead Letters Season 2: Florida A&M. Production: Anthony Vito.

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DEAD LETTERS: The Florida A&M Dynasty May 30, 2023

Jake Gaither built a college football powerhouse at FAMU in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s. The Rattlers towered over their HBCU competition and struck fear in everyone they played. Then the world changed.

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 1 of Dead Letters, a Split Zone Duo series about what happens when great programs hit the rocks.

Writing: Alex Kirshner
Production: Anthony Vito
Interviewee: Dr. Derrick White, author of "Blood, Sweat, and Tears: Jake Gaither, Florida A&M, and the History of Black College Football"
Audio courtesy: HBCUGameday.com

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Big Ten, Big Mad May 24, 2023

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex talk about college football news of the week: USC and Michigan both let guys resign who shouldn't have had their jobs in the first place. Georgia makes a pivot toward an even scarier future by leveling up its QB recruiting to the tippy top of the sport. USF may actually, at long last, build a stadium. And the Big Ten has trouble in paradise over its very lucrative TV deal: What's fair, and where should the B1G just pipe down and cash the checks? Production: Anthony Vito. Subscribe to our Patreon for bonus episodes at patreon.com/szd.

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Half of the ACC has heat May 17, 2023

Steven Godfrey and Alex Kirshner start this episode with reminders about some SZD events and a hearty endorsement of your participation in the EDSBS Charity Bowl. Then (16:03) we talk about some college football stories this week: Peacock streaming is pushing deeper into the NFL and, very shortly, into CFB. Also, (30:28), half of the ACC is fighting with the other half and could lose despite theoretically having more clout. For now, can everyone save face? For the long term, the ACC has an issue that even the Pac-12 might not. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Gambling, FSU hype, and a big May mailbag May 10, 2023

Richard and Alex start this week's show by talking about the very different gambling stories in Alabama and Iowa, and to what extent college sports could be acting differently. Then we take lots of listener questions, including ones about the Big 12 commissioner, the 2023 FSU hype train, surprisingly good NIL operations, how much it costs to keep a team together, who could be this year's G5 New Year's Six rep, the importance of hashmark width, why reporters sit on unflattering stories about coaches, what counts as realignment currency in 2023, if the SEC might ever go west, and why you should not stop being an Auburn fan. Production: Anthony Vito. Live show tickets: splitzoneduolive.com

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The Year 2 coach check-in + ND game theory May 02, 2023

After Godfrey unloads some college-centric draft notes, Alex wants to talk about Notre Dame's upcoming TV negotiation with NBC and how the Big Ten's new entanglement with the Peacock is a relevant dynamic to keep an eye on. Then, let's do the year-two vibes check on every head coach hired before the 2022 season. Who's doing great? Who's just holding tight? And who has already entered the "better win some games or it could get ugly fast" zone? Production: Anthony Vito.

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Deion drama and the draft through a CFB lens Apr 26, 2023

After a quick chat about clock rules changes that are now official, Alex, Richard, and Steven talk about Deion Sanders' roster purge at Colorado. It's intentional, but not all of it, and we have questions about what will happen in Boulder once the Buffs start losing. Then let's talk about the NFL Draft, which seems extra high in supply of really fun college football players. Does the league care about our narrative-laden stars? We will soon find out. This show, produced by Anthony Vito, also features an announcement about our first live show and an urge to please subscribe to our new social channels. Please check them out at the links below. It helps us!

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Nebraska's different now (plus Jimbo, Canada, and Kliff) Apr 19, 2023

The big stories on this week's episode, though not necessarily in order: Nebraska has already changed (46:48) some significant things under Matt Rhule. Richard lets us know about them. Alex explains why the loss of the only NCAA football team in Canada (34:36) says something troubling about the state of the sport in the U.S. Godfrey thinks Kliff Kingsbury is living the ideal coach life (27:40) by returning to USC instead of going to Saban School. The Big Ten has a new commissioner, Jimbo Fisher has jokes, and the WAC-ASUN football thingy has an official name. Production: Anthony Vito. Subscribe to the Split Zone Duo Patreon at patreon.com/szd.

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Hugh Freeze might be right? Apr 11, 2023

Steven Godfrey, Alex Kirshner, and Richard Johnson debate Hugh Freeze's idea of staging inter-squad spring games between in-state schools. Is it condescending, a great idea, or both? The Pac-12's efforts to secure a media-rights agreement roll on, and they've reached "mess" territory, we agree. But how much does that change the medium-term outlook for the conference? Do we give conference offices too much credit without giving them enough blame? And why would Big Ten presidents and the Big Ten commissioner want such different things? Production: Anthony Vito. Get bonus episodes and more at splitzoneduo.com.

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Do the Northwestern NIMBYs have a point? Apr 05, 2023

After a quick check-in on the state of April recruiting, Alex, Richard, and Godfrey tackle six stories from around college football. 1. Why Frank Solich coming home is good business for Matt Rhule and Nebraska. 2. Trent Dilfer's explanation of his move to UAB is, you know, maybe a little off. 3. Kansas hires Bill Snyder's son. 4. Ken Niumatalolo goes West, and it says something interesting about Chip Kelly. 5. Mike Gundy has an idea. 6. An explosive stadium battle spills into public view between Northwestern and residents of Evanston. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Michigan and SDSU: Doing good! The NCAA: Doing bad! Mar 28, 2023

Richard and Alex talk about San Diego State's increasing momentum as a Pac-12 expansion candidate and go over what it means, or doesn't mean, that Michigan is making unusual recruiting inroads in Ohio. Then, a catch-up on the latest set of existential-ish crises facing the NCAA, featuring the magazine reporter who's covered a lot of them and the writer who's now made the big time of congressional subcommittee footnotes. (It's us, haha!) Subscribe to our Patreon for bonus episodes and more at splitzoneduo.com.

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We accidentally did basketball Mar 15, 2023

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex tackle a few topics this week that deal with how college football is playing with other sports: The NFL plans to encroach further on Black Friday, but has CFB already encroached on college basketball to an extent that can't be unwound? Did Jim Boeheim's exit from Syracuse finally give us a new gold standard in "pushing out" a head coach after FSU/Bobby Bowden? Alex wants to know if SEC athletic departments just don't worry about communications in basketball because they don't think people are paying attention. Godfrey wants to pay more attention to UCLA under Chip Kelly, and Richard wants teams to be more chill about coach firings. Everyone wants the Pac-12 to wrap up a media-rights agreement, except for maybe the Big 12's media consultants. Production: Anthony Vito.

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SZD did not take public money to record this podcast Mar 08, 2023

Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, and Alex Kirshner go through some news of the week in college football. The Pac-12 closes in, probably, on a TV deal. UNC adds fuel to the fire of an ACC fight. Is it possible that Texas might pull off the Ewers-Manning thing without drama, or not? Why did a state auditor try to get Iowa's AD fired in exchange for using public money in the latest settlement related to Hawkeye athletics? And what do we make of Nick Saban getting publicly angry about the SEC's impending schedule decision? Production: Anthony Vito. Subscribe to our Patreon for more at splitzoneduo.com.

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An offseason six-pack: Texas coaching game theory Mar 01, 2023

Godfrey and Alex have six short stories to tell you this week about college football-related stories that have caught their eye over the last week or two. 1) The significance of Rice hiring a big-time high school coach, 2) The college-to-NFL coaching trend that isn't, 3) The limits of football consumption, 4) Is the MAC being crowded out on weeknights? 5) Mike London is now the cradle of offensive innovation, and 6) Some conference squabbling in the Pac-12 and ACC. Production: Anthony Vito. Subscribe to our Patreon for bonus episodes at splitzoneduo.com.

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Rules changes and CFB west of the Rockies Feb 22, 2023

Richard, Alex, and Godfrey start this week's show by egging on (most) of the ideas about changing the rules to make games a bit quicker. Then it's time to close out the 2022 conference review season with the Pac-12 and the Mountain West, in detail. Subscribe for bonus episodes on these very topics at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Big 12 and C-USA reviews, plus an all-time lie Feb 15, 2023

This episode contains the 2022 conference review episodes, with roses, buds, thorns, and all, for the Big 12 and Conference USA. It also features Godfrey, Richard, and Alex being gobsmacked at one of the most outrageous claims in recruiting history: that Tommy Tuberville had anything to do with Patrick Mahomes getting to Texas Tech. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Big Ten reviewed, Bama coordinators, and the MAC Feb 07, 2023

Richard, Alex, and Godfrey start this week's show with some discussion of Alabama's wholesale coordinator changeover, Texas and Oklahoma being stuck in a Big 12 that doesn't want them, and the end of the Jaden Rashada recruitment saga. Then it's conference review time with the Big Ten and MAC's 2022 seasons put under a microscope. Subscribe for bonus episodes at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Schedule fun + ACC and AAC conference reviews Feb 01, 2023

Richard and Alex talk through some notable nuggets from recent conference schedule drops for 2023, before going back in time and reviewing the 2022 seasons in both the Atlantic Coast and American Athletic Conferences. Subscribe to our Patreon for more at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The celebrity HBCU coach and SEC 2022 review Jan 25, 2023

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex talk through Ed Reed becoming, then un-becoming, the head coach at Bethune-Cookman, and how the entire situation fits with a Deion Sanders-led mini-trend of big-name, inexperienced coaches taking jobs at historically Black universities. Then it's time for the SEC season review, with roses, buds, and thorns for the season abounding. Subscribe to our Patreon for bonus episodes at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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UF's collective mess, B1G commish, and Sun Belt review Jan 18, 2023

Yes, we reserve the first 7:19 for Richard to talk about the Jags (but also about the beauty of football fandom). Then, to humble him, Alex and Godfrey make Richard discuss the NIL collective mess currently unfolding in public view around Florida's recruitment of a five-star quarterback. Next, a talk about the quick, disruptive, and check-cashing Big Ten commissioner tenure of Kevin Warren. Then, conference review season begins with one of our favorite leagues: the Sun Belt. Production: Anthony Vito. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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How do you put a bow on 65-7? Jan 10, 2023

Richard and Alex try their best to sum up what Georgia did to TCU on Monday night. The Dawgs had a great plan, and they also had an otherworldly ability to find a chip on their shoulder. But Alex doesn't even think Georgia fans are the happiest fans of the weekend, because South Dakota State fans also exist. Plus some housekeeping to end our third season as a podcast. Subscribe to our Patreon for much more this offseason at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The natty preview and New Year's Six referenda Jan 04, 2023

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex talk about the coming matchup between TCU and Georgia: Do the Frogs have enough skill weapons to cause gameplan problems for the Dawgs? Can the underdogs thump enough? Is there an exhaust port somewhere for TCU to exploit? Plus, some takeaways from every other team to appear in a New Year's Six bowl, some vested interests, and a Godfrey-led chat about Playoff TV ratings. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com for special episodes this week on TCU and Jim Harbaugh. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Dead Letters: A Tulane Football Story Dec 29, 2022

Please enjoy this Split Zone Duo Patreon special from our miniseries "Dead Letters." Initially released in July 2022, the three-episode series is a scripted-ish look at college football programs that had enormous success or potential and then ran into problems of either their environment or their own making. The first episode is about the Tulane Green Wave, who were once a contemporary of (and a threat to) LSU in Louisiana college football. Then one university president set about changing that. Here is the story of what happened before and after, along with an interview with Tulane historian Lenny Vangilder.

If you enjoy this episode, you might enjoy more of what we do at splitzoneduo.com. Links to episodes 2 and 3 on Nebraska and Arkansas follow. Production: Anthony Vito.

Nebraska: https://www.patreon.com/posts/szd-presents-2-70074913

Arkansas: https://www.patreon.com/posts/szd-presents-3-71339968

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The Playoff and 13 more bowls, previewed Dec 27, 2022

Alex, Godfrey, and Richard preview the Playoff semifinals with some scheme and narrative flavor, then move onto the rest of the New Year's six and all the other bowls in the coming week. Find an expanded Playoff Schemecast on Patreon later this week at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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2023 coaching concepts and more bowls Dec 21, 2022

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex run through the 24 coaching changes in FBS so far and sort out what they say about the hiring schools' strategies. Plus some thoughts on National Signing Day, tying up loose ends at Navy, and the week of bowls ahead. Production: Anthony Vito.

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How we'll remember Mike Leach Dec 14, 2022

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex talk about the towering, complicated, far-reaching legacy Mike Leach left in college football. After that, a run through this week's bowl games and the non-FBS playoffs, with a tasting menu and vested interests included. Production: Anthony Vito.

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SZD's 2022 awards extravaganza Dec 07, 2022

Welcome to Split Zone Duo's 2022 awards presentation. Let's call them The Zonies? Alex, Richard, and Godfrey pick the best P5 teams, G5 teams, plays, games, and coaches of 2022. Plus some thoughts on Army-Navy and a tasting menu packed with non-FBS playoff games. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Champs Weekend reaction and quick-take bowl previews Dec 04, 2022

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex react to conference championship games, led by the Big 12 and Pac-12. Then let's take a first glance at Georgia-Ohio State and Michigan-TCU while marveling at a Troy-UTSA matchup and pondering if Kansas State might ruin Alabama's day in the Sugar Bowl.

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The Freeze image machine and Champs Weekend Nov 30, 2022

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex dive into the rehabilitation of Hugh Freeze's public image, and how Freeze's camp, Liberty, Auburn, and helpful media helped land him the big chair at Auburn. Then, let's talk about every conference championship game. Does an injured Utah have the firepower for USC? Are you aware of what UNT QB Austin Aune is doing? How much more can Toledo fans (or Ohio fans, for that matter) take? Is K-State going to run it well against TCU? Can LSU's freshman tackles hold up against UGA? What is there to be excited about in the MWC? How would we handicap UCF vs. Tulane? What is the deal with UNC's offense? Could Purdue possibly do it again? (We're not banking on it.) Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Week 13 Hurry-Up beats all rivals Nov 27, 2022

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner take you through the longest 30 minutes of your week: A debriefing on college football's Rivalry Week, including news and notes on the biggest games (Michigan-Ohio State, hello), the weirdest ones (NMSU-Liberty, what's up), and the ones that set up conference championship games. Subscribe to the SZD Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Thanksgiving tasting menu for Rivalry Week Nov 22, 2022

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex give you a detailed preview of the best week on the college football calendar. Let's go game-by-game through dozens of games, starting with Michigan-Ohio State and moving on through. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Week 12 Hurry-Up survives an upset bid Nov 20, 2022

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner lead you on a 30-ish-minute debriefing from college football Week 12, which featured one big upset, a bunch of almost-big-upsets, and plenty of moving and shaking in conference races. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The state of the conferences Nov 16, 2022

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex start this week's show by addressing the devastating shooting at the University of Virginia for about eight minutes. The group then gets into college football's business of the week, including personnel moves at West Virginia and Charlotte. Then: The big thing we're watching over the last few weeks of the season in every FBS conference, plus a tasting menu for Week 12. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Week 11 Hurry-Up fights through adversity Nov 13, 2022

Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson debrief you on a packed college football weekend, from the Washington-Oregon and TCU-Texas blockbusters to UConn beating Liberty and Jim Mora Jr. somehow being a coach of the year candidate. Production: Anthony Vito

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LSU and Notre Dame revisited, Bama woes, and Roll Wave Nov 09, 2022

The Brian Kelly-Marcus Freeman coaching musical chairs game in late 2021 was one of the biggest carousel stories ever. After some shakiness for LSU and some worse-than-shakiness for Notre Dame, both are looking great. How much can we take away from what we've seen from the two of them in the new jobs to date? Plus: Alabama is clearly not Alabama. Let's argue about why. Tulane hosts UCF in what could be one of the games of the year. The Week 11 Tasting Menu is a big one, too. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Week 10 Hurry-Up wins in the trenches Nov 06, 2022

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner take you on a 40-ish-minute debrief of one of the best weekends of the college football season so far. Georgia stuffed Tennessee into a locker. LSU re-arrived ahead of schedule. Notre Dame annihilated Clemson. And there was plenty more to enjoy in Week 10. Subscribe to our Patreon for more at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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A November megapack of good college football games Nov 02, 2022

Richard, Alex, and Godfrey bounce around on a number of topics (a Utah TV dustup, Michigan/Michigan State, and the Big 12's TV deal) before talking about the Tennessee-Georgia Game of the Year and then launching into an expanded tasting menu, with thoughts on about two dozen of this weekend's games. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Week 9 Hurry Up Had An Incredible Defensive Stat Line Oct 30, 2022

Godfrey subs in to spell Alex and we go from Ohio State to Toledo running through the Week 9 games (that's longer than you'd think): Tennessee's defense, Wake Forest's turnover implosions, the Michigan / MSU tunnel fight and Okie State's total disappearance. Production: Anthony Vito

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A&M, Miami, and the price of perception Oct 26, 2022

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex aim for a levelheaded discussion about what's wrong with Texas A&M on the field, and whether there's any way to fix it off the field after signing over the university to Jimbo Fisher. Miami is also having a brutal year, and something Mario Cristobal said this week brings up an interesting point about what's possible when you're coaching Miami. Oregon, on the other hand, is having a great time. Kirk Ferentz's media relations are wild. The Week 9 Tasting Menu is here. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Week 8 Hurry-Up keeps a low turnover margin Oct 23, 2022

A 30ish-minute debriefing on the college football weekend with Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson. Clemson and TCU continue to get away with it. LSU has the juice. Oregon's offense does what it wants. It's time to make peace with Texas. Ohio State is America's scariest team. Nick Saban owns Mike Leach. Miami should not be this bad. Alex shares coach firing reports with Richard live on the podcast. Cincinnati backs into one. South Alabama decides it wants to be a hurry-up air raid team. Buffalo punks Toledo. And more! Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Running the "5-5-2" on good and bad surprises Oct 19, 2022

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex pick out some teams doing really well, then some teams doing poorly, and talk about them through a short-term, medium-term, and long-term lens. What do their next five weeks look like? What about the next five months? And what about the next two years? Who's in danger of buying high, who has it good, and who is arriving at a weird tension point? (Teams: TCU, Syracuse, Ole Miss, Tennessee, UCLA, Arkansas State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Boston College, and Indiana.) Plus a tasting menu for the weekend and vested interests. Production: Anthony Vito.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Week 7 Hurry-Up covers the day of the year Oct 16, 2022

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner take you on a 30-ish-minute debrief of one of the best college football Saturdays in memory. Subscribe for bonus episodes and more on Patreon. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The CFB season's biggest week so far, Rhule, and Q&A Oct 12, 2022

BOXOFFICE is the code for the Homefield sale mentioned in this show (linked down below). Week 7 is full of blockbusters on the college football schedule. Alex and Richard pick apart what they're looking for in six huge games, then take some questions, make some picks, and run through a tasting menu for the rest of the weekend. This episode also includes a selection from Godfrey's Q&A this week for Patreon subscribers. If you like it, you can get something like that just about every week by subscribing at splitzoneduo.com, in addition to lots of other bonus podcasts, including our scripted history series "Dead Letters." Production: Anthony Vito. Homefield sale: https://www.homefieldapparel.com/collections/szd-special-sale?page=1

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The Week 6 Hurry-Up would've just thrown a fade Oct 09, 2022

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner take you on a 35-ish-minute journey through the college football weekend, with observations, minutiae, and numbers on dozens of games. Get bonus episodes and more on our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Let's frame up what's happening at Auburn Oct 05, 2022

Richard and Alex start the show by talking about the recent coach firings at Colorado and Wisconsin. Justin Ferguson, publisher of the Auburn Observer, joins the program to talk about the bizarre last year (even by Auburn standards) on the Plains, how the fanbase is feeling heading into what might be a dramatic weekend, and the state of the Auburn psyche. We take a range of Patreon questions, pick the Red River Shootout, and then get into the Week 6 tasting menu. Subscribe to our Patreon podcasts at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Week 5 Hurry-Up plays up to its recruiting ranking Oct 02, 2022

Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson shuttle you through a packed weekend in college football in a roughly 40-minute debrief. Subscribe to our Patreon for more episodes, including a potential Auburn coach firing show, at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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What Georgia Tech says (or doesn't say) about Atlanta Sep 28, 2022

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex start this episode with an extended discussion of Georgia Tech, a job that says a lot (but also leaves a lot unsaid!) about both Atlanta and college football. After that: LSU and FSU might actually both just be pretty solid. The Pac-12 might be having its best year in a long time. And is 2022 a bad year or a great year for the Group of 5? Plus a history lesson on why the service academies don't score on each other, then a tasting menu for the weekend. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com for bonus episodes and more. Production: Anthony Vito. For the SZD x Homefield NC State Shirts of the Week, go here: https://www.homefieldapparel.com/collections/nc-state-x-szd

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The Week 4 Hurry-Up moves at a deliberate pace Sep 25, 2022

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner debrief you on the week that was in college football. Adrian Martinez gave Oklahoma a world of hurt. Clemson looked like Clemson. Gene Chizik is still UNC's defensive coordinator. Miami has problems, but FSU might not? Mizzou-Auburn was a science experiment. Minnesota dropped a piano on Michigan State. JMU put the largest comeback of the year on App State. Iowa and Rutgers hit the over. Washington might just be good. Cal scored 49 points. Someone lost a game 98-0. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com Production: Anthony Vito.

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College Football Show-and-Tell Sep 21, 2022

It's a big show this week to commemorate SZD's second birthday. This show starts with some talk about the Arizona State coach search to come, then continues with "College Football Show-and-Tell" on Washington, Stanford, and various teams that are rapidly changing their on-field identities. Then we take a lot of questions from listeners, make picks on what might be the lowest over/under in modern history, and go through the tasting menu for the weekend. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Week 3 Hurry-Up finishes before 3 a.m. Sep 18, 2022

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner take you on a roughly 40-minute sprint through another packed weekend in college football, with observations and analysis on dozens of games. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Early narratives: Buyer beware Sep 14, 2022

The college football season is, somehow, one-sixth going on a quarter complete. After talking about Nebraska for a few minutes to open the show, Godfrey, Richard, and Alex try to separate fact from fiction among some early-season narratives that people could choose to believe in (feat. some Bama, some Clemson, some USC, some Air Force, and more). We draft winless teams who might still turn their seasons around, and WVU and Notre Dame are not among the teams picked. Alex makes the boldest stand of his life and explains why he's picking Auburn to beat Penn State. We offer a big tasting menu for the weekend, too. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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The Week 2 Hurry-Up wears a fashionable Belt Sep 11, 2022

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner take you on a 44-minute, detail-packed trip through a loaded Week 2 in college football. This show starts with some blockbusters in the Sun Belt and ripples out from there. Marshall is not a regular Group of 5 program. App State dominated A&M, but situationally. Georgia Southern just learned the forward pass, and Nebraska still couldn't stop it. Texas showed something. Kanas State obliterated Mizzou in every phase of the game. Iowa State did something that happens about once a year. Kansas and Illinois are competent. USC is going to score about a billion points this season. Utah State is bad. All of that and a lot more. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

A post-Week 1 tone reset on a bunch of teams Sep 07, 2022

College football is a small sample size sport, so let's take stock of how our impressions of a handful of teams did (and did not) change in Week 1. This episode also has some discussion of the disjointed way Playoff expansion actually came about, some vested interests, and a detailed tasting menu to get you ready for the weekend to come. Subscribe to our Patreon for bonus episodes at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Week 1 Hurry-Up, from Ohio State to St. Francis Sep 04, 2022

Richard and Alex take you on a lean but detailed journey through Week 1 in college football. Ohio State does business the old way. Anthony Richardson might be the man. Houston/UTSA and Pitt/WVU play regional bangers. Georgia just has better players. Kirk Ferentz makes a decision. Penn State has a QB with a rocket arm, and it's not the starter. Virginia Tech does something it should never do ... again. App State and ECU come face to face with pain. Oklahoma State is back to itself. SMU still owns North Texas. Akron has a long way to go. And Coastal out-troops the troops. Subscribe to our Patreon for more episodes at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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A beefy Week 1 preview and some reactions to the last week Aug 31, 2022

Before getting into a substantial preview of Week 1, Godfrey, Richard, and Alex talk about a few stories away from the field. The episode starts with a discussion of the sexual assault story at San Diego State that broke last week and how we in the college football media cover people we don't really know, and that goes until approximately the 10:05 mark of the show. Then we pick through Auburn's ousting of its athletic director (yeah, it's what it looks like) and give some Week 0 perspectives before getting into business with a bunch of Week 1 games. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com for more episodes. Production: Anthony Vito.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Big Ten and MAC 2022 preview episode Aug 23, 2022

We think this might be the longest episode in SZD history. Conference preview season concludes with college football's Midwestern and "Midwestern" conferences, making an effort to get into detail on every single team in the Big Ten and MAC. Which Big Ten East mega-extension is most likely to look regrettable in four months? What kind of Ohio State season will this be? Is it finally time for a Toledo breakthrough? Does *Maryland* have the Big Ten's second best passing offense? Can NIU maintain its bounce? Is Scott Frost going to do enough? Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The 2022 Pac-12 and Mountain West preview show Aug 15, 2022

Alex and Richard take you on an almost entirely realignment-free journey through the Pac-12 and then the Mountain West. Has Utah changed, or has the Pac-12 changed around it? What's fair to ask of USC in Lincoln Riley's first year, and does fairness even matter? Is Utah State primed for another step back after a big year, or not? Is this the year to make judgments about the current state of Boise State? Is Stanford in Trouble with a capital T? Might Arizona overtake ASU even in a bad year? There's a lot more in here, too. Subscribe to our Patreon for more Pac-12 and Mountain West talk this week at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2022 FCS Upset Draft and FBS independents preview Aug 10, 2022

Defending FCS Upset Draft champion and Shutdown Fullcast host Jason Kirk joins the podcast to pick FCS winners over FBS opponents for 2022. Then the whole group spends a few minutes running through each of the FBS independents, contemplating questions such as, "Why is Notre Dame interesting and perhaps slightly less villainous these days?" and "How long is Jerry Kill going to hang out at New Mexico State?" Subscribe to our Patreon to participate in the FCS Upset Draft and get lots of bonus shows, at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The SEC and Sun Belt 2022 preview show Aug 03, 2022

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex preview FBS' two Southeastern conferences, one after the other. Topics include whether either Georgia or Alabama will take a gap year, if the Texas A&M narrative will change one way or the other, whether there's any team that *can't* finish second in the SEC East, who could finish last in the West, the QBs at Kentucky and Florida, the Sun Belt's new additions, what we will learn about Old Dominion this year, if Louisiana can stay atop the SBC West after Billy Napier and a bunch of key players left, what's going on at Arkansas State, and why some Sun Belt schools in the Gulf may pose an existential threat to each other. And more! Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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American indifference and ACC anxieties: Smoke 'em if you got 'em Jul 25, 2022

Alex is out of office so Godfrey immediately hijacked the conference season preview format to talk about cigarettes and media parties. Let's explore the ever-changing world of the American and calm down – or warn – a group of ACC hopefuls about their 2022 season and beyond. Production: Anthony Vito

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SZD presents Dead Letters, Episode 1: Tulane Jul 19, 2022

Tulane University built one of the most powerful football programs in the American South. The Green Wave had a spot in the SEC and a history of winning a lot of big games, including against their rivals from Baton Rouge. Then something changed. Alex Kirshner and Steven Godfrey tell the story of Tulane's journey from the upper echelons of the sport to a program scrapping for respectability in the Group of 5. Alex interviews Lenny Vangilder, a Tulane historian, to go deeper into the Wave's story. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Big 12 & C-USA 2022 preview show Jul 18, 2022

Damn, it's great to be talking about actual college football again. Welcome to Split Zone Duo Relaunch Week! We're officially turning toward the 2022 season, and this week's show is a hefty preview of two conferences: the Big 12 and Conference USA. We're also releasing four Patreon episodes this week at splitzoneduo.com, and we spend the first 26 minutes or so of this episode talking to you about some of what's on tap. Then we move to the Big 12, and then to C-USA. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Hugh Freeze and Liberty remain perfect for each other Jul 13, 2022

Hugh Freeze steps in it yet again, and Godfrey, Alex, and Richard explain how it fits into both Liberty's shtick and a years-long personal pattern for the head coach. Then the group talks about the current state of play in realignment, what we're hoping happens next, and a little flap at Minnesota that recently got buried in the news. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The big SZD midsummer mailbag episode Jun 29, 2022

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex take your questions on a long list of topics. Which program is the hardest one to get information about? Is Oklahoma State maybe on the verge of something really good? Why doesn't Spurrier have much of a coaching tree, and why are Florida fans already getting impatient with a new coach who was quite explicit about needing time? (Note: We recorded this before he wrote an open letter.) Would it be good for the MWC if Boise had a few down years? Is Bowling Green in win-or-get-fired mode? Why can't a mid-tier P5 like Arizona State take advantage of demography the way a blue-blood like Georgia can? What do we make of a recent booster revolt at Louisville? (The state of Kentucky rocks for college sports mess.) Thanks for listening, and please check out our Patreon for bonus episodes and more at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The stuff that's interesting in summer recruiting Jun 22, 2022

Alex and Richard spend 30-some minutes closing up last week's realignment conversation and then diving into summer recruiting in an SZD way. We don't cover the ins and outs of everyday recruiting on this show, but there are several things we wanted to bring to your attention as storylines to keep track of over the next six months. And after that, we've decided to share a Patreon episode that we published in March: a conversation with Nate Tice and Diante Lee (both now of The Athletic) about the coaching industry, being on a staff with your father, and a lot more. We hope you enjoy it and check out more at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The wonderfully weird 2023 Big 12, good schedules, and bad Jun 15, 2022

Godfrey and Alex pick through some recent college football news. Godfrey explains the incentives at work that will get UCF, Houston, and Cincinnati to the Big 12 a year earlier than expected, and why their 2023 move could lead to an absolute blast of a conference for exactly one season. Then it's time for a round of the hot new game "Good Schedule, Bad Schedule," where Alex and Godfrey pick out three teams whose 2022 schedules are perfect fits for what those programs need right now—and three teams that put themselves in the opposite situation. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Year 2 vibe check on a bunch of head coaches Jun 08, 2022

Conventional wisdom says a coach's second year is when we start to get an idea of how he'll do at a school in the long run. Godfrey, Richard, and Alex go through every second-year FBS head coach and sort out how we're feeling about his tenure and future, on a scale from "good" to "holding" to "uh oh." This show also features a quick news roundup at the beginning, including programs launching their own streaming services and Miami's billionaire donor not *actually* losing a bunch of cash. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

SEC office politics, history rhymes, Utah, and Clemson Jun 01, 2022

College football is in a quiet period, but Split Zone Duo continues apace. Richard and Alex talk about a notable Deion Sanders hire, why Bryan Harsin is starting a podcast to compete with ours, the last embers of SabanFisherGate, how the SEC meetings are now covered like a papal conclave, a 30-year history (at least) of the coaching industry being in crisis over the future of the sport, how much longer Kyle Whittingham will coach at Utah, and how many games D.J. Uiagalelei starts at Clemson in 2022. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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What every conference should do about divisions (plus Jimbo and Saban) May 25, 2022

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex start this episode by picking through the aftermath of the May coaching kerfuffle of the century between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher. After that: The lifting of a 25-man limit on initial scholarship counters is going to be a big deal for programs at the top of the sport, and we'll see how it affects everyone else. Then, to finish up, let's go FBS league by FBS league and establish what they should do about their divisional formats, now that most of them seem on the verge of changing them. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The 2022 primetime schedule takes shape May 18, 2022

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex are tired of talking about NIL all the time, but fortunately, this mid-May stretch has brought a kernel of 2022 football business to discuss. ABC’s primetime schedule is partially out, and the inner workings of how it was built are interesting. Let’s also talk about the XFL establishing itself as the new alternative pro league and some coach news around Dan Mullen, Chad Morris, and the similarly situated Nick Saban. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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CFB's big, fancy meetings and existential crises May 11, 2022

Richard is back from college football's big offseason conference meetings and Fiesta Bowl confab. He explains to Alex what his industry contacts are talking about and wondering about at those meetings, including a breakdown by conference. The NCAA teases a crackdown on name, image, and likeness collectives, but it is fighting with one hand tied behind its back. And Ohio State's athletic director floats an idea that is probably worth all of our attention. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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The Jordan Addison saga + a CFB lens on the draft May 03, 2022

Godfrey and Alex talk about some of the most CFB-centric storylines from the NFL Draft, including how the NFL gave an icy reception (in different ways) to college football heroes like Nakobe Dean, Matt Araiza, and Matt Corral. Then, an extended discussion about the ongoing transfer process of Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison. There are good reasons and bad reasons to be mad about it, and sometimes, they blend. But there's only one clear idea about what should happen next. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Mark Emmert is out, and the draft is a CFB event Apr 27, 2022

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex discuss Mark Emmert's run as the president of the NCAA. In some areas, his failures were systemic and probably inevitable. In others, he made a mess all by himself. It is also NFL Draft week, and the crew talks about some specific college football angles to the NFL's marquee spring event: What do evaluations of the 2022 QBs say about how the NFL sees college offense today? Have people forgotten how to figure out edge rushers? Is the draft now in a permanent feedback loop with the top tier of recruiting? Plus, Boston College simply cannot hang onto an athletic director. Subscribe to our Patreon for many bonus episodes at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The Big Ten, pay-for-play, Texas Tech, and a lot of QBs Apr 20, 2022

The Big Ten and Fox are poised to deepen their TV partnership. What’s that mean for you, the viewer? The adults in the room are doing a lot of hand-wringing about college football economics. Texas Tech is trying a recruiting gimmick that isn’t exactly a gimmick, and it might work! Plus, let’s classify a whole bunch of 2022’s new QBs. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Sark gets mad, O plays a long game, and the USFL plays football? Apr 13, 2022

Ed Orgeron visited Notre Dame and told the Irish they’d win a national title. Godfrey explains the long game at play here, which is — we swear — more interesting than you’d think. Steve Sarkisian knocks back a Texas player who commits the grave crime of honesty in public, for reasons that don’t seem to serve Sark at all. Plus, welcome to a new spring football league, which has more “name that guy” value in the coaching ranks than the players. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Notre Dame is playing WHOMST? In WHAT? Apr 06, 2022

Notre Dame scheduled a game with Tennessee State, which it very much wants you to think of as purely an HBCU rather than also an FCS team. Alex and Richard play a round of “Fantasy Big 12 Commissioner” and pick out this year’s spring ball optimism teams. During this episode, we mention an audience survey that we would appreciate you filling out, with an eye toward giving you the episodes you want and making our podcast stronger. The link is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HB3GR8F. Production: Anthony Vito.

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Campbell, Nebraska, and Navy's conference affiliation: The March mega-mailbag Mar 24, 2022

Godfrey and Alex answer listener questions on a handful of topics: Why Matt Campbell and Nebraska make sense for each other, who the Big Ten would seriously consider for expansion and why, the issue with Navy's conference affiliation compared to Air Force's, if it's possible to have long-term coach stability at the elite blue-bloods these days, and why various states' high school landscapes. Plus! Further info on why Florida is playing Eastern Washington. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Billy Napier and the art of the expectation game Mar 16, 2022

This show covers three topics in detail. The first (6:23) is about the rush in sports media streaming deals, and how it'll come around to college football in the near, near future. The second (35:30) is about Billy Napier, the first-year Florida coach who is mastering the art of "not saying that much before you have a lot to say." And the third (58:10) is Godfrey, unleashing a new theory on the world about the future of vacated wins as an NCAA punishment. Our Patreon is at splitzoneduo.com.

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The Combine, LSU, and a new way to talk about ageism in coaching Mar 09, 2022

A content note: Our discussion of LSU, running from about the 21:25 to 36:48 mark of this episode, includes discussion of allegations of sexual misconduct. In this episode, Richard talks about the evolving experience of the NFL Combine, which we consider to be a joint college football/NFL venture. Godfrey explains how LSU's disjointed coaching search and a new allegation against an assistant amount to a series of related errors. Alex posits a theory about ageism in coaching hires, in response to a rousing round of, "Is this FBS head coach older than Steven Godfrey?" Our Patreon is at splitzoneduo.com.

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College football's bad mess and good mess Mar 02, 2022

Hue Jackson and Grambling's attempt to hire Art Briles was a series of unforced errors that revealed a lot about what coaches and administrators think they can get away with. That segment, which begins the episode and runs until 30:25 on your timer (though it may vary slightly by podcast app), includes a brief discussion Briles' oversight of Baylor during its sexual violence scandal in the 2010s. Alex and Godfrey also go through the very public fight between the Sun Belt and Conference USA, and why college football's attendance crisis is not really an attendance crisis. Our Patreon is at splitzoneduo.com.

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SZD is not expanding at this time (plus Big 12/C-USA) Feb 22, 2022

The College Football Playoff says it won't expand during its current TV deal. Alex and Richard talk about why that is, what it is that different conferences might be trying to gain, and where we're going from here. Then it's time to wrap up the conference review season with the Big 12 and Conference USA. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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The Auburn saga concludes (for now) plus ACC and AAC reviews Feb 14, 2022

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex discuss the end — or maybe more of a pause — of hostilities at Auburn. What was surprising about it, and what wasn't? Plus a quick Sun Belt realignment talk before we get into detailed conference reviews for the ACC and AAC.

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Auburn goes south, and we go west Feb 08, 2022

The Pac-12 and Mountain West conference review episode starts with a discussion of how Bryan Harsin's tenure at Auburn went wrong, and why it's likely about to be over. Subscribe to our Patreon to hear the full Auburn bonus episode and more at splitzoneduo.com.

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Caleb, Harbaugh, and Big Ten/MAC 2021 reviews Feb 01, 2022

Welcome to the conference review episode for the 2021 Big Ten and MAC. That covers most of the show, but Godfrey, Richard, and Alex spend the first 25 minutes talking about Jim Harbaugh and the NFL, what Caleb Williams signifies about USC's return to business as it used to done, and a lovely change to the Week 1 schedule. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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The 2021 SEC and Sun Belt, reviewed Jan 18, 2022

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex go through in-depth conference review exercises for both the SEC and the Sun Belt, after 15 minutes running through this week's big stories of coaches (Todd Graham, Kirk Ferentz, Nick Saban) getting involved in various political issues and hot waters. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Stetson Bennett, a 2021 review, and a 2022 preview Jan 12, 2022

Richard, Alex, and Godfrey talk through Georgia's national championship win, Stetson Bennett's triumph, and the Dawgs using a roadmap that's both familiar and different. Then, we run through 2021 season takes that worked out well, poorly, and medium. And finally, a preview of 2022 Week 1, because there are no rules. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Previewing the National Championship and the associated existential crisis Jan 05, 2022

After Godfrey shares what he knows about Jim Harbaugh and the Raiders, he, Richard, and Alex get into Alabama-Georgia Round II (or whatever this is) and consider what shape the national title game will take. Godfrey then tries to explain his reservations about SEC Playoff dominance in a non-alarmist way, Richard tries to explain the benefits of best-on-best, and Alex attempts to make them both feel bad. Plus a discussion of the Todd Graham mess at Hawaii, and why this weekend's FCS championship is a more varied matchup than your typical North Dakota State game. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Build your Playoff narrative Dec 28, 2021

Alex, Richard, and Godfrey start the show with a chat about how college football's structure made the current raft of bowl cancelations inevitable, and why it's rich when the bowl rep industry gets upset about it. Richard reports from Miami on what this Playoff game week actually looks like, and the group discusses the narratives that might attach themselves to involved teams depending on results this weekend. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com, and happy new year.

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Bowling for cord-cutters and CFB's future Dec 21, 2021

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex get together a few days before Christmas to talk about these topics in detail: 1) last weekend's brief YouTube TV/Disney carriage fight and how it connects to the future of watching college football games, 2) if bowl season has actually gotten less important or if it just feels that way (and what to do about it if so), and 3) the actual games happening this week. Have a great holiday week, and our Patreon is at splitzoneduo.com.

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JSU's coup, Oregon, Clemson, and BOWLS Dec 15, 2021

Godfrey and Alex talk through Jackson State's stunning commitment from the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2022, while cautioning against leaps to conclusion. Oregon is having an identity crisis but shouldn't be. Clemson isn't but maybe should. And a detailed look at this weekend's bowl season and lower-level playoff slates. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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What's The Idea behind each new coach hire? Dec 08, 2021

Marcus Freeman's elevation at Notre Dame was smooth, well received, and kind of quiet, so Alex and Richard went back over it amid a week of carousel chaos. Then: breaking out every new FBS coach hire into tiers of, "What is the school trying to accomplish here?" Plus an Army-Navy version of Vested Interests, a non-FBS tasting menu for the weekend, and answers to three questions from Patreon subscribers. Join us at splitzoneduo.com.

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Setting the table for the 2021 Playoff Dec 05, 2021

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex talk through the Playoff slotting, the committee's performance in 2021, why Cincinnati doesn't disprove anything about the event's treatment of the G5, and the matchups themselves. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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The big coaching carousel mess of 2021 Dec 01, 2021

Richard, Alex, and Godfrey preview conference championship weekend and the potential Playoff drama to come, then discuss the historically messy week that unfolded in the college football coaching industry. (Carousel talk specifically starts at the 56-minute mark.) Oklahoma has a weird recruiting saga on its hands, LSU made a hire that appeased a specific set of stakeholders, and Richard reports on how people in the sport feel about this chaotic moment. It might not be good! Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Week 13: We picked our hill, and Oklahoma State killed us on it Nov 28, 2021

Alex and Richard take a slightly longer-than-usual trip through the weekend in college football. Michigan vindicated a podcast opinion, but Oklahoma State very much did not. Plus thoughts on a whole bunch of other Rivalry Weekend action. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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The undercurrents of Florida's coach search Nov 23, 2021

Florida man Richard Johnson talks with Alex about the underlying factors that might inform Florida's sudden search for Dan Mullen's successor. (The University of Florida has a lot going on.) Plus, a discussion of WKU's instant-pot transfer portal offense, sizing up some of Rivalry Week's big games, and live reactions to James Franklin's new contract at Penn State.

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Week 12: A great week for UT (SA/ah) Nov 21, 2021

Alex and Richard take you on a 30-minute journey through Week 12, and this time, they don't even go over time. Utah dominated, UTSA had one of the finishes of the year, Ohio State-Michigan is for it all, NIU's magic carpet ride rolls on, the top of the Sun Belt looks fierce, and Cincinnati rebuilds some equity. Also, a certain Florida coach's buyout figures are included. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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LSU, UW, VT, and 2021's spinning carousel Nov 18, 2021

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex talk about the rapidly speeding-up coaching carousel, hopping from Washington to Virginia Tech to LSU and even down to North Texas. Then a discussion of the inexplicable mess that's unfolded at FIU, which is now a case study in how to mismanage a football program, plus a tasting menu and vested interests. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Week 11: O no, OU Nov 14, 2021

Richard and Godfrey take a 30ish minute journey through Week 11 including OU’s loss to Baylor, Tennessee scripted the first drive of the game, but not the rest of it, Arkansas won?, Florida “won”, Ohio State WON, one of us begins to think some things about Oklahoma State that are truly terrifying, Cincinnati was fine compared to the last few weeks, our punting king hit a game winner, and UConn covered.

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The Texas high school football coach is a proud breed Nov 10, 2021

Texas Tech’s hire of Joey McGuire signals something, because as they say: Everything’s bigger in Texas. Midseason coaching changes, Washington weirdness, and MACTION.

Also: Exactly four minutes and sixteen seconds on the Playoff

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Week 10: Oops I Purdid it again Nov 07, 2021

Godfrey and Richard take a 30ish-minute journey through the college football weekend. The Purdue Boilermakers, destroyer of worlds (but only if you’re the No. 2 or No. 3 team in the polls), Ohio elites played with their food to varying degrees, The Old Man Yells At A Cloud, Arizona won!, Washington very much didn’t on the field or off!, why did Army and Air Force play in a gas grill?, and a Dakota Marker we’ll always remember.

Finally, a sincere thank you because this show will push across 1 million downloads all-time!

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Cincinnati, Gary Patterson, and the Texas coaching carousel Nov 03, 2021

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex disagree over what Cincinnati's initial No. 6 ranking really says about the Playoff committee's view of the Bearcats. Then, we talk about Gary Patterson's impact on TCU and how his time at TCU barreled toward an acrimonious end, and compare and contrast various Texas head coaching jobs heading into what's likely to be a hectic carousel in the Lone Star State. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Also, Godfrey's excited about baseball.

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Week 9: Sparty party Oct 31, 2021

Alex and Richard take a 30ish-minute journey through the college football weekend: Michigan State showed its mettle, Michigan did too and somehow lost anyway, Houston and SMU played the game of the year, Ohio State had better players, Pitt found an innovative way to lose, and Bowling Green put together an absolute tapestry. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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What makes 7 good teams good Oct 27, 2021

Richard, Godfrey, and Alex run through the methods of attack, both in program-building and on the field, for seven surprisingly great teams: UTSA, SMU, Pitt, Wake Forest, Ole Miss, Michigan State, and San Diego State i.e. G5 Iowa. Then, discussions on James Franklin and Justin Fuente, vested interests, and a tasting menu for the weekend. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Week 8: Alex is sorry, Pat Narduzzi Oct 24, 2021

Richard and Alex take you on a 30ish-minute jaunt through the college football weekend. Alex is forced to issue a mea culpa to Pitt's not-currently-embattled head coach, but retracts a retraction of criticism of Texas Tech's. Justin Fuente does not seem to be in a good situation, Colorado State does something you must see to believe, Caleb Williams is the one that was promised, Iowa State does a public service, and Northern Illinois is bowl-eligible. Plus, meep meep. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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College football and the NLRB Oct 22, 2021

Alex and Richard interview Jennifer Abruzzo, the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, who wrote the September memo that says college football players in certain situations are employees who should have federal labor protections. They talked about why this piece of paper matters, how it could change college sports, and what would need to happen for this ball to really get rolling. We do lots of these kinds of interviews on our Patreon, which we'd be excited to have you subscribe to at splitzoneduo.com.

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Orgeron saga, Mullen, and the new AAC Oct 21, 2021

Steven Godfrey (@38Godfrey), Richard Johnson (@RJ_Writes), and Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) talk through three things in detail: How the LSU-Ed Orgeron relationship collapsed so quickly after such a high, why he wasn’t the only coach in Baton Rouge last Saturday who should soon be out, and what the latest realignment ripple means for both the AAC and the remainders of C-USA. Plus a tasting menu and vested interests. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Week 7: Bye-owa Oct 17, 2021

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner take you on a 30-ish-minute trip through the interesting goings-on from college football’s Week 7. Iowa’s loss to Purdue could’ve been worse. Caleb Williams and Oklahoma have it figured out. The Tennessee trash discourse is already exhausting. TCU is done as a defense, a label, and a crew. Florida’s and Texas’s defenses are in shambles. UConn won! Liberty did not! Wisconsin-Army was like a science project. Pitt needs to beat Clemson. Arizona is a bottomless pit of sadness. Rank UTSA, and hey, why not UTEP, and subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Iowa, Kentucky, and proof of concept Oct 12, 2021

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex spend the first stretch of this episode talking not just about Iowa and Kentucky, but about how we *talk* about Iowa and Kentucky. Then, 10 schools whose coaches either are or aren't demonstrating proof of concept, including: Georgia Tech, NIU, Houston, Temple, Syracuse, Louisville, FAU, UNLV, Troy, and Mississippi State. And finally, vested interests and a Week 7 tasting menu. Subscribe to SZD's Patreon for bonus episodes and more at splitzoneduo.com.

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Week 6: The Thrilla in Red Riva Oct 10, 2021

Alex and Richard take a 30-ish-minute sprint through the interesting happenings in college football this weekend. A&M picked a weird script to take down Bama. Red River was outstanding and heralds a new era of Oklahoma quarterback play. Penn State shoud've just gone to the Wildcat, Georgia's defense gave up a whole 10 points, Coastal is just pummeling teams, the lights are about to go out on Coach O's LSU, don't be fooled by Texas Tech's record, and UTSA: MEEP MEEP. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Urbanism and college football Oct 06, 2021

For about the first 47 minutes of this episode, Alex, Richard, and Godfrey talk about the Urban Meyer mess in Jacksonville, what it says about the differences between NFL and college coaching, and why certain types of coaches aren't built for modern CFB or the NFL. Then the group haggles over one team in every FBS conference they can't quite figure out, before hitting up vested interests and a tasting menu for Week 6. Subscribe to SZD's Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Week 5: Eat the whole Skyline Chili bowl Oct 03, 2021

Alex and Richard take you on a 30-minute journey through Week 5, which winds up being more like 40 minutes this week. There are no rules. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Who's your ACC bae? Sep 29, 2021

After a few minutes talking about Wednesday's big college athlete news at the NLRB, Alex, Richard, and Godfrey take turns evaluating potential candidates to be the best team in the ACC now that Clemson is no longer the slam-dunk choice. Then, a conversation about Arkansas, including how people should react if and when Georgia sits on them on Saturday, and what lessons ADs *should* but won't take from the success of the Sam Pittman hire. Plus, why UTSA should be ranked, and what it says about the AP Poll that the Roadrunners are not. Then, a tasting menu and some vested interests for the week ahead. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Week 4: We told you to short Clemson and Oklahoma Sep 26, 2021

Alex and Richard take you on a 30-ish-minute journey around the interesting things from the college football weekend. Clemson and Oklahoma looked faulty before, and they look worse now –– Clemson in particular. Arkansas is worth celebrating, Boston College might have an offense, Dave Aranda is out of the dog house, Arizona showed a flicker of life, TCU is backwards, and Charlotte might be a chaos agent. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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How to short Oklahoma and Ohio State (and Clemson too!) Sep 22, 2021

Godfrey, Richard, and Alex discuss the apparent vulnerability of some of CFB's most elite programs, and the good signs shown by others. Plus, who's rising to the top of the G5 and who isn't, followed by vested interests and a weekend tasting menu. This show has somewhat detailed talks about Clemson, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa, Oregon, Utah, BYU, Fresno State, UAB, ECU (eek), Nevada, Marshall, and Georgia Southern. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com, and thanks for supporting this show during its first year.

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Week 3: Penn State's back, Florida's solid, and Fresno rules Sep 19, 2021

Godfrey and Alex take you on a 30-ish-minute trip through Week 3. (OK, this week went a little long.) The group is impressed with Penn State, liked Auburn and Florida in losing efforts, sees mild progress at Nebraska, and thinks Michigan State might be back to its old tricks. Plus, Fresno State is straight-up good (no worries, UCLA), Seth Littrell enters the Mark Hudspeth Zone, and Pitt is eventually going to have to fire Pat Narduzzi. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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What 2 weeks say about 8 teams Sep 16, 2021

College football is a small-sample size sport, so let’s make it even smaller. Which teams have changed how we see them through two weeks, and which require reserving judgment? Plus, let’s talk about the bizarre, public mess happening right now at Navy, as well as the entirely foreseeable mess at Colorado State. This episode also includes a beefy testing menu and some vested interests. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Week 2: OSU and Iowa State *didn't* have the worst losses Sep 12, 2021

Alex and Richard take you on a 30-minute journey through Week 2. Listen to a dejected FSU radio call, and then hear Richard (with much regret) discuss the Noles' failure. We talk about how Oregon dissected Ohio State's defense with RPOs, why ISU never had a chance, why Washington didn't either, how Toledo's coach messed everything up, how Arkansas beat down Texas, why these are very bad times at Navy, and a whole lot more. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Week 2 is so good we talked realignment (and UConn) Sep 08, 2021

Alex, Richard, and Godfrey start out with a discussion of Randy Edsall's UConn departure and which kind of coach might theoretically still want that job. The coaching carousel is (technically) now in motion. Plus, what makes a good expansion candidate in 2021, and how did that inform both the Texas/Oklahoma move and the Big 12's decisions in replacing them? Then some Q&A, including why Army made Georgia State madder than any team in all of Week 1. Subscribe to this podcast's Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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Week 1: Georgia’s beef, Richard eats crow, and the Big Sky reigns Sep 05, 2021

Alex and Richard run through a whole lot of Week 1 games, from the top of the country to the bottom. We cover everything we found interesting this weekend, except we forgot about Oklahoma and Tulane. Our thoughts on that game are that Oklahoma should have won by more points. This podcast is presented by PrizePicks, and you can subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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The whole-hog Week 1 preview, from Charlotte to Berkeley Sep 02, 2021

Our Week 1 preview show runs through the games that are likely to cause angst no matter who loses, the games that *shouldn’t* cause angst to whoever losses, and the games we just think are plain interesting. Split Zone Duo is brought to you this season by PrizePicks, and our Patreon page is at splitzoneduo.com.

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Fine, let's talk about this absurd "alliance" Aug 25, 2021

Your co-hosts Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, and Alex Kirshner talk about the Big Ten/ACC/Pac-12 "alliance" plan. We're skeptical about it and think it's a lot heavier on brandspeak than actual solutions for anything, and we explain why. Then, let's talk about the Week 0 games, the future of "Week 0" as an entity, and Bryan Harsin and Nick Rolovich's recent failures. This show's Patreon page is at splitzoneduo.com, and we'd love to have you there.

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The 2021 indy preview and FCS Upset Draft show Aug 18, 2021

We've got a packed house this week, as the Shutdown Fullcast's Jason Kirk joins for a special episode with Godfrey, Richard, and Alex. The group discusses the FBS independents who didn't get their own conference previews, and then moves to the second edition of the FCS UPSET DRAFT, an interactive game in which we (and you, if you want) pick FCS teams to beat FBS opponents this fall. Each game has a point value, and we'll track results throughout the season. We'll have a contest for subscribers to our Patreon (splitzoneduo.com), featuring Homefield shirts for the people with the five highest scores at the end of the season, and we'll post the point values publicly so anyone who wants to can play along. Please get your picks in by the kickoff to Week 0. Thanks for listening.

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The 2021 ACC and AAC preview show Aug 10, 2021

Richard and Alex are joined by their new co-host to finish the preview series with two of the more unwieldly geographic footprints in college sports. They talk about Bobby Bowden’s legacy, Clemson’s incessant staying power and way more Virginia Tech than you can shake a stick at. They also talk about a lack of obvious AAC coaching movement, what happened to Houston and how much Gus Malzahn might enjoy his time at UCF.

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The 2021 SEC, Big 12, and C-USA preview show Aug 03, 2021

Justin Ferguson, Southern college football luminary and publisher of the Auburn Observer, joins Alex and Richard for a variety pack of 2021 season previews of the SEC, Big 12, and Conference USA. In addition to talking a whole lot of ball, we discussed realignment, Playoff expansion, and why everybody hates Conference USA's television deal so much. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com, and find the Observer at auburnobserver.com.

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The SEC realignment and 2021 Sun Belt preview show Jul 27, 2021

Steven Godfrey joins Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson for a two-part show this week. We were going to preview the 2021 season in the SEC and Sun Belt, but … uh … some news came up, so we talked for 40 or so minutes about Oklahoma, Texas, and the forthcoming wave of SEC-driven realignment. Then we previewed the Sun Belt’s upcoming season, deciding to punt (Big Ten term) the SEC preview to an episode in the near future. Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com.

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The 2021 Pac 12 and MWC preview show Jul 20, 2021

Steven Godfrey joins an Alex-less show to In-n-Out or Salt and Straw the most pressing questions for our friends on the West Coast including: Is this a Washington hype year, can Arizona State make an off-field circus not matter? What is UCLA? Is Colorado gonna pull off the Wisconsin of the West? Is it UNLV’s West to win? And more including an askSZD that dives into just what on earth is going on at Auburn. (And yes, Richard tries to talk you into USC yet again.)

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The 2021 Big Ten and MAC preview show Jul 14, 2021

Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Steven Godfrey talk through a series of questions about FBS’ two Midwestern conferences, then take a big list of questions. Preview season is upon us, which means football season is about to be upon us, too. If you’re interested in subscribing to our Patreon, you can do so at splitzoneduo.com.

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What futures tell you about the CFB season Jul 08, 2021

Yes, the season is approaching way faster than you think. With 7ish weeks left, Alex, Richard, and Steven Godfrey take a look at some of the most intriguing team over/under bets on the board and do a little bit of Baby’s First Gambling talk (if you’re into that). Plus, answers to a lot of questions. This show’s Patreon is at splitzoneduo.com.

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Gameday homes, Dak, and Starkville real estate Jun 30, 2021

This episode is an example of the bonus episodes we regularly publish on our Patreon, which you can subscribe to at splitzoneduo.com. Patrons will see another episode going up on their feeds just as they see this one. Maybe you know someone who's spent a weekend at a gameday home –– a property they or a friend bought exclusively for use on college football game weekends. This episode is about the growth of those properties in the SEC –– and in Starkville, Mississippi, in particular –– and how Mississippi State's mid-2010s success has had a tangible impact on the housing supply in the Bulldogs' city. Taylor Shelton is a Georgia State geographer who recently conducted a first-of-its-kind study into the proliferation of gameday homes, how they've boomed in recent years, what they've done to housing markets in cities like Starkville, and what they've changed about how SEC cities use their space. In other words, this is an interview about what football can mean to real estate markets and college towns in the American South. You can find Taylor's study at www.taylorshelton.info, and his Twitter handle is @kyjts. Or you can enroll at Georgia State and get the paid version of all he has to offer.

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How the Supreme Court shut out the NCAA Jun 23, 2021

Mr. Emmert went to Washington and came back with a big fat L. Amateurism isn’t dead, but it is most certainly in poor health after a unanimous decision put a chink in the NCAA’s largest amateurism armor. Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey joins the show to discuss what exactly it means for players being paid, and takes your questions via #ASKSZD.

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Michigan, and how we talk about football coaches Jun 16, 2021

Steven Godfrey, Richard Johnson, and Alex Kirshner discuss the story surrounding sexual abuse at Michigan and how Bo Schembechler factors into the conversation. (Content warning: The opening segment of the show includes discussion of sexual abuse and its handling by college administrators and sports fans. It ends at the 31:14 mark of the show.) Much of that segment is about how we, as a college sports industry, build up coaches and then have trouble walking away from their legacies. Then the group discusses the soon-to-expand College Football Playoff, Richard defends the notion of Alabama losing multiple games, and we answer some good questions from listeners.

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The longest dead period is over. Now what? Jun 08, 2021

Old friend and 247Sports expert Bud Elliott joins Richard and Alex for a discussion of how the pandemic interrupted recruiting (hint: severely), what it will mean for the sport over the next few years, and how things are operating now that the longest dead period in recruiting history has ended. Plus, answers to audience questions on dormant rivalries, run blocking, "the Baylor offense," the Memphis Tigers, and the CFB road trip everyone should take. To subscribe to this show's Patreon and get bonus episodes and more, visit splitzoneduo.com.

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All the hot Power 5 gossip fit to print May 26, 2021

Alex and guest Steven Godfrey go into detail on why a permanent spring FCS season is a bad idea. Then, Godfrey shares anonymous coach gossip on a bunch of unnamed Power 5 schools, and Alex attempts to match the gossip to a school based on the description. Then, answers to questions on how college football treats LGBTQ people, whether Colorado regrets leaving the Big 12 for the Pac-12, how the industry sees HBCU coaching jobs, and what Jim Harbaugh does all day.

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The incredible demise of South Carolina’s president May 19, 2021

Steven Godfrey joins the program this week for detailed discussions of three topics: 1) Week 1’s suite of big TV games, 2) the challenges facing new Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff, and 3) the almost literally unbelievable story, featuring previously unreported info, of the downfall of the University of South Carolina’s president.

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What happens in CFB while nothing is happening May 12, 2021

May is the most boring month on the college football calendar. Why is it so quiet, and what's happening during this period of relative calm? Steven Godfrey joins the program to explain. Additionally, Alex and Godfrey talk about Presbyterian's hire of famed "never punt/always onside kick" high school coach Kevin Kelley, what it suggests about where the sport is moving, and whether the industry will overreact if non-philosophical factors lead Kelley to struggle in that job. Then a discussion of the two similar yet very different programs in the FCS Championship, plus answers to questions on NIL and Congress, what Mike Gundy's eventual exit might look like, Pat Fitzgerald, public vs. private football programs, and Buffalo's hire of Maurice Linguist.

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The Grapes of CFB's Wrath May 05, 2021

Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Steven Godfrey discuss the 2020 census and how certain population shifts might affect college football in the long run, as has happened several times before. Plus a segment about Kansas' pick of Lance Leipold over Jeff Monken, why it happened, and what Buffalo should do next. Then answers to audience questions on TV deals, Maryland, Scot Loeffler, and what happens to Bama's booster culture whenever Nick Saban leaves.

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An NFL Draft preview for the college football fan Apr 27, 2021

Our friend Charles McDonald of USA TODAY and For The Win joins the show this week. If you haven’t followed the NFL Draft news cycle closely, or if you have, we hope you’ll like a college-oriented look at the players making up this year’s class. Plus answers to questions on the future of the draft, what Josh Allen’s pro success says about player evaluation, and how NFL facilities differ from college ones.

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The college football Super League Apr 21, 2021

Richard and Alex explain how the same undercurrents that fueled a few European soccer clubs’ breakaway gambit might show up in college football realignment in the next few years. (There are a lot of similarities, and we’re not just speculating.) The FCS playoffs are starting, and for a change, North Dakota State is probably going to lose. Plus answers to audience questions on Kirk Ferentz, Georgia State, potential rules changes, and the true cost of a football scholarship.

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It’s April. Let’s talk Week 1 and THE NOLES Apr 13, 2021

Alex and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey talk in detail about Mike Norvell’s project at Florida State, how the Noles are currently perceived in the coaching industry, and what needs to change for the program to get back to its mid-2010s stature. Then, a game where we match up vulnerable P5 teams against punchy G5 teams and pick some Week 1 results way ahead of time. Then: some of your questions, answered. Split Zone Duo’s Patreon is at splitzoneduo.com.

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Barry Alvarez and the end of the AD-coach Apr 07, 2021

Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey joins Alex and Richard for a chat about the career of retiring Wisconsin AD (and former coach) Barry Alvarez: His impact on Wisconsin and why there won’t be many more administrators or coaches like him. Then, the group assesses how much #sources are willing to forgive about the 2020 seasons of Baylor, USF, Michigan State, New Mexico, Wazzu, Penn State, LSU, Houston, Rice, and FAU. Finally, answers to Patron questions on Baylor’s 2021 offense, USC’s outlook, and the jostling between the Sun Belt and Conference USA. This podcast’s new Patreon, with bonus episodes and more, is at splitzoneduo.com.

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The state of the HBCUs, with Steven Gaither Mar 30, 2021

This is a special episode to mark the launch of our Patreon page (splitzoneduo.com) where we'll place bonus episodes at least twice a month, as well as offer other perks related to the show. HBCU Gameday founder and reporter Steven Gaither joins Richard for a talk about Deion Sanders, Jackson State, and the Black college football landscape more broadly.

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TEXAS TRIVIA with SZD, Fullcast, and Bomani Jones Mar 29, 2021

Listeners of the Shutdown Fullcast and Split Zone Duo raised more than $15,000 for Texas mutual aid organizations charities during February's ice storms. To celebrate, here's a crossover episode in which a Texas expert of great repute quizzes the two shows' hosts and featured guests on important Texan facts.

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Vanderbilt: the Fresno of the South? Mar 23, 2021

Banner Society reporter Steven Godfrey joins Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner for in-depth check-ins on the Kansas AD and coach searches (they're different things), Vanderbilt's new administration under Clark Lea, Fresno State's chances at a big jump in 2021, and how the transfer market and conversations about "experience" will look different going forward.

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How the American explains America Mar 17, 2021

The Nebraska-Oklahoma kerfuffle is the perfect offseason CFB story, but does it also say anything about how business is done in the sport today? Plus, Nebraska, USC, Miami, Mississippi State, Maryland, and Syracuse all make scheduling mistakes. And to finish, an extended discussion of Mike Aresco’s comments about the Group of 5 and what *really* has to happen for the AAC to get a fair shake in the Playoff landscape. Our promo code for 20% off your first order at Homefield Apparel is SZD.

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The mess at LSU and Kansas Mar 09, 2021

Alex, Richard, and Banner Society's Steven Godfrey talk about the disgraceful mismanagement of Les Miles at two universities, LSU and Kansas. Then, a discussion of what Kansas does next and Texas's mental gymnastics in hanging onto "The Eyes of Texas."

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The ides of Texas Mar 03, 2021

Wait until you find out which extremely dislikable coach has to play North Dakota State one week after the Bison lost their 39-game winning streak. Plus, an extended conversation about Longhorns boosters' racist backing of "The Eyes of Texas," how long it might take UT to get out of this self-made mess, and some answers to listener questions.

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Gus to Disney + the big FCS spring preview Feb 17, 2021

Richard, Alex, and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey talk through UCF’s hire of Gus Malzahn: Why UCF might’ve done it, how the fit looks, and why 2021 might be a reset year. Then, a big-picture preview of the FCS season. What’s good, what’s weird, and what won’t matter about the spring season? And by how many points will North Dakota State win the national title game? Then we answer some questions.

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How players get paid Feb 10, 2021

Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey joins the show to talk recruiting nuts and bolts, from McDonald’s bags to poker chips. Why the transition away from signing high school recruits toward taking more transfers? How do players actually get paid? Plus other detailed discussions on coaches hopping between the NFL and CFB, what makes a “good recruiter,” and which Texan FCS school could win an FBS conference championship first.

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It’s in the game Feb 02, 2021

Yes, college football video games are coming back. Here’s how it’ll work, what still needs to happen, and what an eventual EA Sports College Football game might look like. Plus, we answer a bunch of your #AskSZD questions with guest Steven Godfrey. Topics include: the best job in college football, impending FBS/FCS realignment, why the Saints hate LSU, what a Kirby Smart hot seat looks like, and what the next Pac-12 commissioner needs to do to get the house in order.

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Tennessee settles on the Heupe train, and 5 more conference REviews Jan 28, 2021

Alex and Richard are joined by Banner Society's Steven Godfrey to talk about the Vols hiring a coach. While Josh Heupel got the gig, it's not for lack of trying on Danny White's part to get other guys. Also, we finish conference reviews including: the Big 12's soft center, and what the hell the Sun Belt can do to overtake the AAC.

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Tennessee and 5 FBS conferences, reviewed Jan 20, 2021

Richard and Alex go in depth on Tennessee’s expedient dismissal of Jeremy Pruitt, which feels like a deeply cynical move. Then, season reviews for five FBS conferences: the ACC, Conference USA, the Pac-12, the Mountain West, and the MAC.

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Contextualizing Saban’s Alabama Jan 12, 2021

A dive into how Bama took Ohio State to the woodshed, a discussion of the 2020 Tide’s place in history, how the program’s 2017 recruiting class helped change college football, and how Nick Saban has set himself even further apart. (Sorry, Bear.)

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Championship preview! Coach carousel reboot! Jan 08, 2021

Alex, Richard, and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey preview the Playoff National Championship between Ohio State and Alabama, and plot out what Ohio State needs to do to pull an upset. Then: What is Marshall doing? (It’s incredibly West Virginia.) Dan Mullen to the Jets? Bad idea. Urban Meyer to the Jaguars. Also a bad idea. Plus, let’s read some anonymous DMs from coaches.

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Texas's Tom Herman-Steve Sarkisian swap Jan 03, 2021

Alex, Richard, and Banner Society's Steven Godfrey go over Texas's decision to fire Tom Herman and immediately replace him with Steve Sarkisian. Why now? (Spoiler: There's still a lot we don't know.) Why Sarkisian? And why might he do better at Texas than he did at USC? Plus a quick discussion of Alabama-Notre Dame and a longer talk about how Ohio State mashed Clemson to punch a ticket to the title game.

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The Playoff preview, Notre Dame, and coach carousel Dec 29, 2020

Steven Godfrey, Richard Johnson, and Alex Kirshner preview the College Football Playoff semifinals and have an extended discussion about Notre Dame's place in the sport in 2020. Then, a dive into Auburn's hire of Bryan Harsin and the strong power move made by athletic director Allen Greene, trying (and failing) to figure out a good reason for Arizona's Jedd Fisch hire, and evaluating whether ULM should continue trying to play FBS football after hiring Terry Bowden. Finally: Answering some audience questions on defensive scheming, Pitt's future, the effect of coming transfer rules, and why expanded conference schedules aren't here to stay.

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More Auburn search + plus blind bowl watchability Dec 22, 2020

Banner Society's Steven Godfrey joins the show to talk about the wild coaching search that's unfolded at Auburn, and what it says about how business is done in college football today. Which "warring factions" make these decisions, and where will Auburn end up? Let's go behind the curtain, and then rank bowl games on a scale from "watchable" to "not watchable."

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The Playoff committee's crime against the G5 Dec 20, 2020

The 2020 Playoff might be the starkest example yet of the selection committee's outright dismissal of teams from outside the Power 5. This is a reaction show to the unveiling of the New Year's Six, including quick thoughts on the games, who got screwed worst, and who has the most to gain and lose over the next three weeks.

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Auburn speeds up the 2020 coach carousel Dec 15, 2020

Banner Society reporter Steven Godfrey joins Alex and Richard for a long talk about coaching situations at: Auburn, Auburn, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Arizona, Illinois, Vanderbilt, Troy, ULM, Tennessee, Michigan, and Auburn. Plus: Is coaching a meritocracy? And quick breakdowns of the conference championship games.

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Swamp: Drained Dec 13, 2020

A 30-ish-minute run through the weekend in CFB. Florida had a lot of chances not to lose to LSU because a guy threw a shoe. College football in LA might be back. You don’t have to pretend this Army-Navy Game was good. Georgia’s offense might have it figured out at long last. UNC’s definitely has. Western Michigan almost produced the wildest ending in decades. Kevin Sumlin left Arizona no choice, and now keep an eye on San Jose State’s and Nevada’s coaches. Butch Jones makes sense at Arkansas State. Georgia Tech is really taking a while, and 2021 will be a #FireGus year at Auburn.

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How every Playoff contender can lose Dec 10, 2020

Pro Football Focus’s Seth Galina joins the show and talks in depth about the strengths and weaknesses of every team left in the Playoff discussion (plus Cincinnati, which should be). Why Texas is only Texas because they say they’re Texas, and a deeper dive into Coastal Carolina’s unique spin on the triple option.

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College football runs through Myrtle Beach Dec 06, 2020

Alex, Richard, and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey go in depth on that awesome BYU-Coastal game, then go through the rest of the weekend in college football. Discussions include Texas A&M, Bo Nix, Florida’s run game, Mizzou, LSU’s epic fall from grace, DeVonta Smith, Justin Fuente, Clemson’s defense, Scott Satterfield’s incredible botching of his situation, Wisconsin’s brutal offense, Texas Tech’s brutal everything, Colorado, the South Alabama coaching job that should open soon, FAU’s misery, and how Bowling Green might really be FBS’ worst team.

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Let’s talk pools, pipelines, and minority coaches Dec 03, 2020

Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey joins Richard and Alex to talk about the coaching industry: the reported new hire at Southern Miss, the new opening at Vanderbilt, and a long discussion about how preconceptions about the hiring pool systemically harm coaches of color. Then, an exploration of UTSA’s exciting turnaround and why the Roadrunners are a model for other programs to emulate. Plus a testing menu for the weekend.

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Notre Dame passes a test (and more!) Nov 29, 2020

Richard and Alex chat with Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey about college football’s Diet Rivalry Week. Why Notre Dame isn’t just winning games, and how the Irish flexed their muscles against UNC. How Alabama outclassed Auburn. Why the Egg Bowl won’t change much. What’s different about 2020 Iowa State. Sarah Fuller made history *and* did her job. Oregon State is building the right way. Buffalo is a blast. Bowling Green and UMass very much are not. And *it* finally happened to Northwestern.

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College football's utterly hateful week Nov 25, 2020

Banner Society's Steven Godfrey joins Alex and Richard for a discussion about the Egg Bowl and its many political implications. The group discusses the Iron Bowl and can't land on whether Alabama will destroy Auburn or the Tigers will make it messy. (Could be both!) Then: detailed breakdowns of a week of media sniping between BYU/Washington and Clemson/FSU, some Q&A, and a tasting menu for the weekend. Happy Thanksgiving.

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BONUS: Behind our book, ‘The Sinful Seven’ Nov 24, 2020

Alex, Richard, and their three co-creators of “The Sinful Seven: Sci-Fi Western Legends of the NCAA” (Spencer Hall, Jason Kirk, and Tyson Whiting) take questions from readers and talk about self-publishing a college football book in three months, as well as what they learned about CFB history. (Bear Bryant comes up a lot.) You can buy the ebook at sinfulseven.com for $1 or whatever you want to pay, with 20% of the profits going to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund through the end of the year. Available for any e-reader.

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What is the opposite of Bedlam? Nov 22, 2020

It's about time for Oklahoma State to fire Mike Gundy, per Alex Kirshner. From here on out, teams have to play their way into this podcast. In this 30ish-minute sprint through the weekend, SZD covers Indiana, Ohio State, Northwestern, Cincinnati, Auburn, Rutgers, Georgia, Mississippi State, the FSU/Clemson cancelation debacle, "Bedlam," USC, Nevada, Kent State, and uh what is Virginia Tech doing?

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The coaching carousel starts to spin Nov 19, 2020

Richard, Alex, and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey assess the South Carolina coaching search: why Will Muschamp got fired now, whether this is a good job, who might be next, and who SHOULD be next. Which job is better: Nevada or San Jose State? Is Tom Allen an Indiana lifer? Plus, a sneaky tasting menu for the weekend.

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Fire Jim Harbaugh, not James Franklin Nov 15, 2020

A 30-minute-ish sprint through the weekend in college football. Alex, Richard, and Banner Society's Steven Godfrey talk through the (big) differences between free-falling Michigan and Penn State. Plus Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina, the Big 12's coaches, Miami, Virginia Tech, UNC's problematic clash of styles, if USC will ever get to fire Clay Helton. Also: in praise of Cincinnati and Iowa for "running up the score."

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Will offense ever not rule CFB? (#AskSZD) Nov 12, 2020

Alex and Richard take reader questions ahead of a dry week on the schedule. Topics include BYU and Cincinnati’s Playoff paths, Ohio State’s potential problem, Coastal Carolina’s innovative offense, the endless rise in scoring across CFB, the funniest coaching carousel fanfic we can dream up, the possibility of a Northwestern-Indiana Big Ten Championship, and why DJ Durkin is not a victim.

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No luck, all Irish Nov 08, 2020

A 30-minute-ish sprint through one of college football’s most exciting weekends of the year. Notre Dame’s win over Clemson was entirely legit. Florida put it on Georgia. The Big Ten is a mess, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Justin Fuente ruined Virginia Tech with horrible game management. BYU vs. Cincinnati is the game America needs right now. Believe in Arizona State even after they blew a game to USC.

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The World’s Largest Outdoor Pac-12 Preview Nov 05, 2020

Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey joins Richard and Alex for 90 minutes on something less stressful than the state of the world. This episode includes a Pac-12 preview, with lots of talk about Oregon, the Arizonas, USC, Larry Scott, and 9 a.m. local kickoffs. It also includes detailed looks at Florida-Georgia and Clemson-Notre Dame. Then: a discussion about how to talk about Liberty football.

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Why Michigan is now both USCs Nov 01, 2020

Alex, Richard, and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey sprint through the weekend in college football. Here’s what Michigan, fresh off another bad loss, has in common with both Southern Cal and South Carolina. Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, and A&M all answer questions about themselves. Cincinnati and BYU keep building their cases, and get ready for a weeklong Notre Dame hype train.

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The only MAC football preview podcast Oct 29, 2020

Alex, Richard, and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey start with a 30-minute preview of the MAC, which returns before our next show. Then: Let’s size up the race to be the second best team in the SEC West, which enters a new phase in Week 9. Plus: the Coastal Carolina-Georgia State showdown and what it means for the future of Southern G5 football, what on Earth is happening at Southern Miss, why the AAC might have long-term problems, and what to make of Joe Milton’s breakout.

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God’s favorite team in Indiana Oct 25, 2020

Alex, Richard, and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey sprint through the busiest weekend of college football yet in 2020. Including: Indiana’s win over Penn State means so much, why Michigan is worth some optimism, Nebraska can’t touch Ohio State, Auburn maybe should be 1-4, LSU’s offense still rules, Oklahoma State is the Big 12’s last best hope, TCU has zero identity, Justin Fuente might not be long for Blacksburg, BYU and Cincinnati will not be forced out of our conversation, the Houston/D’Eriq King split might have been best for everyone, and Middle Tennessee beat Rice on a QUADRUPLE-DOINKED field goal. Also, no, the Bama-Tennessee gap is not getting smaller.

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The only Big Ten preview podcast Oct 22, 2020

Alex, Richard, and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey preview both the Big Ten and Mountain West, with rousing rounds of “Sbarro or Culver’s” and “Patagonia or REI.” Also: Which SEC coach most needs a win this weekend (probably Gus Malzahn), and which current FCS coaches might make strong FBS candidates? Plus a Texas-sized discussion of Texas college football’s many anxieties right now.

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Alabama is just better Oct 18, 2020

Alex, Richard, and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey run through the week in college football. Bama squeezes the life out of Georgia, plus detailed thoughts on Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State (it’s bad), Clemson, FSU, UNC, Pitt, #RankCoastal, UCF, Memphis, BYU, and – of course – UMass. This is a whip-around of Week 7.

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Rank Coastal Carolina Oct 15, 2020

Alex, Richard, and Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey report on how the NCAA’s impending rules changes on name, image, and likeness might affect the future of EA Sports’ college football video games. (It’s about ethics in video game journalism.) Plus: the ramifications of the LSU/Florida COVID postponement, Georgia’s (possibly narrow) path to beating Alabama, what the hell happened to the USF Bulls, and a discussion about hot coaching candidate Billy Napier. And importantly: a discussion of why the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers should've been ranked *even before* they upset Napier's Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in Week 7.

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Week 6 Whip-around: The Total Mike Leach Experience Oct 11, 2020

Banner Society’s Steven Godfrey joins Alex and Richard to talk about the week that was: Oklahoma’s survival against Texas, Clemson’s destruction of Miami, UTSA’s promising turn, Houston’s authoritative arrival, what’s wrong with Florida, what’s good about Georgia, why LSU’s defense is a disaster, how the SEC screwed Arkansas, and how the entire Mike Leach timeline has already played out in less than a month of Mississippi State games.

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Is Tennessee actually gonna do it this time? Oct 08, 2020

Alex thinks Navy might be capsized. Richard disagrees and is ready to eat the pancakes Tennessee is serving up against Georgia. He’s also less concerned about Florida State’s academics. Plus, let’s talk about the teams that ruined the Red River Whatever: Iowa State and TCU, why it’s not panic time yet for UCF or Louisville, and what athletic directors can learn from Chris Klieman’s early success at K-State.

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Week 5 CFB Whip-around: Muschamped Oct 04, 2020

Time is a social construct for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Plus, figuring out what's wrong with Oklahoma and Texas (hint: tackling), how Georgia manhandled Auburn, what Arkansas did to Mike Leach, why SMU is in a great but scary spot, whether there's reason to worry about Cincinnati, a plug for Coastal Carolina, a recap of North Dakota State's one-game season, and an assessment that Pitt is no longer it.

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BYU is going undefeated. Will it matter? Oct 01, 2020

Alex, Richard, and a special guest talk about new impressions of the SEC (Ole Miss, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia in particular), whether BYU is going undefeated (spoiler: yes), how the Playoff will respond to an undefeated BYU (spoiler: poorly), and whether Army and Baylor are actually good. Plus, audience questions and some business updates.

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Week 4 CFB Whip-around: Air Raided Sep 27, 2020

In a 30-minute sprint, Alex and Richard run through Mississippi State’s Air Raiding success at LSU, a messy Saturday in the SEC East, why Pitt is it, why Cincinnati *might* be it, and the best 1-3 team in college football. Welcome to Split Zone Duo, a Moon Crew podcast that covers all of college football.

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SZD - Pilot Sep 24, 2020

Hosts Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner bounce around college football with Banner Society's Steven Godfrey. What's behind Jackson State's Deion Sanders move? Is Troy back? Is Miami? Plus audience questions, a trip through Massachusetts FBS football, and a tasting menu for Week 4. This is Split Zone Duo.

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Welcome to Split Zone Duo Sep 21, 2020

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