Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast

Alex and Richard preview Week 10 of the college football season, with notes, observations, and predictions spanning lots of games. Just a few include: * Tulane at UTSA: The Green Wave are playoff contenders and their coach is one of the hottest candidates of the cycle. Are they actually good? * UNC at Syracuse: Are the Tar Heels about to experience just a little bit of joy, finally? * Navy at North Texas: Is this just one of those years when Navy has a special QB and thus a special season? Or can UNT put a stop to it? * Penn State at Ohio State: The Nittany Lions aren’t a threat this year, but Ohio State has several offensive red flags to sort out * WVU at Houston: That’s “Big 12 contender Houston” to you * Florida vs. Georgia: What does a post-Billy Napier Florida offense look like, and why can’t Georgia get off the field on third downs? * Texas Tech at Kansas State: Are the Wildcats just good, despite having four losses? We think they’re a real challenge for Tech* Mississippi State at Arkansas: Someone’s gotta win * Kentucky at Auburn: Someone’s gotta lose * USC at Nebraska: Can Matt Rhule finally win a big one? * Cincinnati at Utah: Are the Bearcats physical enough to compete in this one? And is Kyle Whittingham being honest about his QB’s medical situation? * For THE MAIN COURSE, presented by Modelo: Through the Keyhole podcaster and writer Allen Kenney joins us to talk about Oklahoma vs. Tennessee, a true playoff elimination game, as well as the state of the Sooners under Brent Venables and Jim NagyProducer: Anthony VitoThanks to our subscribers and partnersSubscribers get roughly twice as many SZD podcasts during the season. Now, during the coach carousel, is a great time to join. Thanks to everyone who’s hopped onboard over the past few weeks! Thanks to Nokian Tyres: https://www.nokiantyres.com/szdThanks to Homefield Apparel: https://www.homefieldapparel.comThanks Dad Water. Code SZD for 20% off, or just click https://drinkdadwater.com/discount/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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comBrian Kelly is out at LSU after three and a half of the odder seasons in recent memory. Alex and Richard discuss his ouster and LSU’s future options:* The $54 million buyout is probably not a $54 million buyout* Kelly was an awkward cultural fit for LSU. Did that affect his ability to do his job, or did it just speed up his downfall once he was flailing?* Speaking of that: Why couldn’t the winningest coach in Notre Dame history get things revved up in a job where he thought he had more upside?* Congratulations to LSU AD Scott Woodward, whose ability to spend other people’s money on blockbuster coaching flops is without parallel* The coaching carousel, shaping up to be the wildest ever, is on its way to a major mismatch between supply and demand* Why it’s time for Woodward to eat his vegetablesProducer: Anthony Vito

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comShortly before Texas kicked off at Mississippi State, The Athletic reported that Steve Sarkisian’s reps had “let NFL decision-makers know” that Sark would be interested in NFL jobs. Sarkisian and his agents were mad enough about the report that Jimmy Sexton and Ed Marynowitz issued a denial on official letterhead. Richard wants to talk about everything that’s happening here.This is an episode of Split Zone Duo OVERTIME, an occasional add-on to our Sunday recap in which we go deeper on one weird topic from the weekend. It’s a subscriber special, and you can subscribe if you haven’t at this button: The Week 9 Hurry-Up presented by Dad Water is out now for everyone: Producer: Anthony Vito

Week 9 was light on upsets but big on close games that had a big effect on the national race. In the Sunday Hurry-Up presented by Dad Water, Richard and Alex discuss approximately 43 college football games, from Memphis' comeback over USF to Utah's destruction of Colorado. Producer: Anthony Vito Thanks to our partners and subscribers20% off Dad Water: https://drinkdadwater.com/discount/SZDVisit Homefield at https://www.homefieldapparel.com/Enter to win airfare and lodging for a trip to New York City on conference championship weekend at https://www.nokiantyres.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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comIn the latest episode of “The Job,” our subscriber series about open FBS head coaching jobs, we head to Fort Collins, Colorado. The Rams fired Jay Norvell and are (again) looking for a head coach who can fulfill what many people in college football believe is a lot of potential. We discuss:* Why some people are enamored with this job* The Rams’ NIL situation* A (probably) helpful move to the new Pac-12* How long a program gets to be a sleeping giant before people should stop believing that better days are comingProducer: Anthony Vito

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comSUBSCRIBER SPECIAL: Godfrey stops by to talk with Richard and Alex about a big list of coaches whose uncertain futures will shape the coach carousel over the next few months. Broken down into groups, we’ve got:* The Fired Guys (James Franklin, Billy Napier, etc.)* The Out-of-Work Guys (Ed Orgeron, Jimbo Fisher, Pat Fitzgerald, etc.)* The Power Four Poach Candidates (Lane Kiffin, Matt Rhule, Eli Drinkwitz, etc.)* The Group of 5 and FCS Risers (Jon Sumrall, Ryan Silverfield, Brent Vigen, Alex Golesh, Dan Mullen?, etc.)* The Big Buyout Club (Luke Fickell, Mike Norvell, Brian Kelly, Mark Stoops)* The “Not That Hard If You Want to Fire Him” Crew (Hugh Freeze, Mike Locksley, Dave Aranda, etc.)* The Weird Circumstance Cases (Shane Beamer, Kyle Whittingham, Bobby Petrino)Producer: Anthony Vito

Alex and Richard preview Week 9 of the college football season. Among the many games previewed on this episode are: * Not one but TWO major FCS games: No. 1 NDSU at No. 2 SDSU, plus Montana at Sacramento State in a game that’s become narratively dramatic * Kansas State at Kansas: Is this finally the Jayhawks’ time? * Ole Miss at Oklahoma: Why are we so worried for Ole Miss? * USF at Memphis: Someone from this game will probably play for the American conference championship. Who? * Auburn at Arkansas: You can sort of feel how this is going to go, right? * BYU at Iowa State: A good chance for another unbeaten to fall * Minnesota at Iowa: Somehow, this has playoff stakes on both sides* Illinois at Washington: Uh, same * Texas at Mississippi State: An appealing Dad Water Home Dog of the Week spot for the Bulldogs against a decaying Longhorn team * Wisconsin at Oregon: A look at the three different genres of “votes of confidence” that embattled head coaches got this week * THE MAIN COURSE, presented by Modelo: Host emeritus Steven Godfrey joins us to talk about Vanderbilt’s rise to GameDay-hosting prominence ahead of a major home game against Missouri That is but a sampling of what is on this Tasting Menu. Producer: Anthony Vito.Thank you to our subscribers and partnersThanks to Nokian Tyres: https://www.nokiantyres.com/szd Thanks to Homefield Apparel: https://www.homefieldapparel.com Thanks Dad Water. Code SZD for 20% off, or just click https://drinkdadwater.com/discount/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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comSUBSCRIBER SPECIAL: More than a year after he first looked doomed to be fired, Billy Napier finally got the axe in Gainesville. After a day of making phone calls on this, Richard talks with Alex about the Gators’ big move:* Napier had a solid plan for this job. Why didn’t it work?* DJ Lagway’s 2025 season is a tale of how a head coach can get himself into REAL trouble with this one simple trick* Florida AD Scott Stricklin has now missed on two head coach hires. Most SEC athletic directors don’t get a third attempt and would now be marginalized. But that might not happen here, for reasons Richard explains* The Gators have had four disappointing (or just bad) head coaches in a row. Is this job still as good as it used to be? Yes, actually* Jimmy Sexton’s manipulation of the national spotlight this weekend was a sight to behold. Sometimes you have to tip your caps to the greats* An early trip through some names that you’ll see connected to the GatorsThis is a subscriber episode. You can join for $10 a month at www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe, or get a month free by signing up for the full year. If you subscribe, you’ll get lots more episodes from us (in season, subscribers often get four podcasts per week, rather than two) as well as Q&A opportunities and all of our coaching carousel shows.Producer: Anthony Vito

Welcome to the Week 8 Sunday Hurry-Up, presented by Dad Water! Rodger Sherman joins Richard to share notes and observations on all the games that caught our eye this weekend, from Louisville’s upset of Miami on Friday (which Richard covered live) through the end of Saturday’s action. Producer: Anthony Vito. Thanks to our partners and subscribers20% off Dad Water: https://drinkdadwater.com/discount/SZDVisit Homefield at https://www.homefieldapparel.com/Enter to win airfare and lodging for a trip to New York City on conference championship weekend at https://www.nokiantyres.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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comThe latest episode of THE JOB, our subscriber series about the ins and outs of open college football coaching jobs, features four schools. * Stanford: A once-great Pac-12 program has fallen like a rock as it’s transitioned to the ACC. But the Cardinal are amid a serious fundraising push, and this bad job could become a good job once again. * Oregon State: No program in college football has had a harder past two years than the Beavers. What will be left for a new coach to take over, and is the athletic department’s financial house in order? * UAB: This program had some good years after coming back from the dead, but the Blazers’ problems go a lot deeper than Trent Dilfer being a bad hire. What kind of coach makes sense? We have an idea. * Kent State: Arguably the hardest job in FBS, full stop.More podcasts for subscribers * Why Kent State Is Always Bad, featuring guest Rodger Sherman * All of our previous episodes of The Job, right here. With this episode, we’ve covered all nine current FBS openings. There are more to come. * As mentioned in the show, here’s that Sportico report on Oregon State’s NIL setup. Get all of this by becoming a paid subscriber today for $10 a month or $110 a year. Producer: Anthony Vito

The Week 8 college football schedule features tests for a handful of coaches who sure look like they need a win to keep their jobs for the long term. In addition to those angsty situations, we’ve got a few big helmet games and potential conference race deciders in the Sun Belt and Mountain West. A few of the games covered in this episode include: * Louisville at Miami: A possible trap for the Canes, but if they’re what we think they are, they’ll be fine * Washington at Michigan: Can the Huskies keep scoring with an overmatched offensive line? Maybe! * LSU at Vanderbilt: No reason Vandy can’t do this at home * Georgia Tech at Duke: Major ACC championship race implications * Baylor at TCU: Better figure this out, Frogs * UNLV at Boise State: Winner is the best team in the MWC, for now * Ole Miss at Georgia: How worried should you be about Trinidad Chambliss? * Ohio State at Wisconsin: It’s getting late for Luke Fickell* Mississippi State at Florida: Ditto for Billy Napier * Missouri at Auburn: Same for Hugh Freeze * Texas Tech at Arizona State: Can anyone in the Big 12 hang with the Red Raiders physically? * USC at Notre Dame: No, you can’t just put this game on Netflix* Utah at BYU: If Kyle Whittingham really still has it, the Utes are going to crunch BYU’s freshman QB in this game * Old Dominion at James Madison: THE MAIN COURSE, presented by Modelo, featuring Bennett Conlin of JMU Sports NewsAnd many more games discussed within! Producer: Anthony VitoThank you to our subscribers and partnersBecome a paid subscriber today to get a lot more SZD, and check out www.nokiantyres.com/szd and www.homefieldapparel.comAlso, welcome our new partner, Dad Water. Code SZD for 20% off, or just click https://drinkdadwater.com/discount/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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comSUBSCRIBER EPISODE: The first proper emergency show of the 2025 coach carousel arrives. Penn State fired James Franklin after an unthinkable weeks saw the Nittany Lions go from national championship contenders to one of the biggest disasters in recent college football history. Alex and Richard discuss how this got out of hand so quickly, how the Franklin era changed Penn State for the better, and where the program and Franklin can each go from here. Producer: Anthony Vito

Welcome to the Week 7 Sunday Hurry-Up, presented by Dad Water! This week, Alex and Richard start with Indiana’s statement win at Oregon and move from there, covering dozens of games from the midpoint week of the season:* Indiana 30, Oregon 20* Ohio State 34, Illinois 16* USC 31, Michigan 13* Iowa 37, Wisconsin 0* UCLA 38, Michigan State 13* Washington 38, Rutgers 19* Nebraska 34, Maryland 31* Northwestern 22, Penn State 21* Texas 23, Oklahoma 6* Tennessee 34, Arkansas 31* Georgia 20, Auburn 10* LSU 20, South Carolina 10* Texas A&M 34, Florida 17* Alabama 27, Missouri 24* Ole Miss 24, Washington State 21* Texas Tech 42, Kansas 17* Utah 42, Arizona State 10* Colorado 24, Iowa State 17* BYU 33, Arizona 27 (2OT)* Cincinnati 20, UCF 11* Kansas State 41, TCU 28* Pitt 34, Florida State 31* Notre Dame 36, NC State 7* Georgia Tech 35, Virginia Tech 10* SMU 34, Stanford 10* Wake Forest 30, Oregon State 14* USF 63, North Texas 36* Navy 32, Temple 31* Tulane 26, East Carolina 19* FAU 53, UAB 33* James Madison 24, Louisiana 14* Marshall 48, Old Dominion 24* Southern Miss 38, Georgia Southern 35* Kennesaw State 35, Louisiana Tech 7* Colorado State 49, Fresno State 21* UNLV 51, Air Force 48* Wyoming 35, Hawaii 28* Bowling Green 28, Toledo 23* Western Michigan 42, Ball State 0* Kent State 42, UMass 6Producer: Anthony Vito.Thanks to our partners and subscribers* 20% off Dad Water: https://drinkdadwater.com/discount/SZD* Visit Homefield at https://www.homefieldapparel.com/* Enter to win airfare and lodging for a trip to New York City on conference championship weekend at https://www.nokiantyres.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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comSUBSCRIBER EPISODE: Richard spent a lot of this week making calls about the North Carolina situation for a CBS Sports report on the situation. In this show, he talks with Alex about how Belichick’s tenure got this toxic this quickly:* What he’s gotten wrong in his first foray into college football* How the business of Bill and the business of UNC have diverged, repeatedly, and why that will make his eventual exit ugly* Why Belichick will not go quietly into the nightThis episode isn’t just about UNC. It’s also midseason news roundup full of topics that we wouldn’t always get a chance to discuss on the weekly Tasting Menu or Hurry-Up shows. After talking about the Heels, we also get into:* Auburn moving a game against Baylor to Atlanta, which infuriated a lot of people in Auburn: Do the Tigers have the business case they say they have?* There’s now a tipline (snitch line, some would say) for NIL rules violations. So I guess enforcement isn’t going that well, huh?* A new transfer portal window tweak is pro-coach and anti-player.Producer: Anthony VitoThis episode is for paid subscribersEveryone can hear the first 13 minutes of North Carolina talk, as a free preview. To get the whole episode and many, many more, consider becoming a paid subscriber. We’d love to have you. It costs $10 a month: www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Our college football Week 7 preview, with notes on a bunch of games as the season hits its halfway point. Just a few of the games in here:* USF at North Texas, a potential Game of the Year in the American with playoff implications on both sides* Ohio State at Illinois, a potential test for the Buckeyes but probably just another chance to flex how good they are* Alabama at Missouri, where at least one of us thinks the Tigers can do it* Texas vs. Oklahoma: Will Texas be able to block for Arch Manning? It’s an open question, as is John Mateer’s availability* Iowa State at Colorado, where it looks like Deion Sanders is winding it down* Arkansas at Tennessee, a showcase spot for Bobby Petrino* Georgia at Auburn, a chance for Auburn to show what it’s got up front* South Carolina at LSU, which looks less enticing than it once did* Arizona State at Utah, with Big 12 title ramifications* THE MAIN COURSE, PRESENTED BY MODELO: The great Dan Rubenstein of The Solid Verbal podcast joins us to talk about Indiana-Oregon and the Ducks’ continued rise under Dan LanningThank you to our subscribers and partnersBecome a paid subscriber today to get a lot more SZD, and check out www.nokiantyres.com/szd and www.homefieldapparel.com20% off Dad Water: https://drinkdadwater.com/discount/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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comPenn State just took one of the worst losses any team has taken in years. The preseason No. 2 team may already be out of the playoff race by early October, and we’re questioning everything we thought we knew about them. What do you do now, though? Alex and Richard discuss Penn State’s options, which boil down to: 1) Win out, 2) Pay a $50 million buyout, 3) Hope James Franklin takes another job, or 4) Just move forward with a toxic, compromised relationship between the coach and the fanbase. This is a subscriber episodeEveryone can hear a free preview, and you can get the whole thing—and dozens more bonus episodes every year—by becoming a paid subscriber for $10 a month.

In the Week 6 Sunday Hurry-Up presented by Dad Water, Richard and Alex break down a college football weekend that turned out to have a bit of everything: * UCLA 42, Penn State 37* Washington 24, Maryland 20* Michigan 24, Wisconsin 10* Nebraska 38, Michigan State 27* Illinois 43, Purdue 27* Ohio State 42, Minnesota 3* Alabama 30, Vanderbilt 14* Florida 29, Texas 21* Georgia 35, Kentucky 14* Texas A&M 31, Mississippi State 9* Miami 28, Florida State 22* Clemson 38, North Carolina 10* Virginia 30, Louisville 27* Pitt 48, Boston College 7* Duke 45, California 21* Cincinnati 38, Iowa State 30* BYU 38, West Virginia 24* Texas Tech 35, Houston 11 * TCU 35, Colorado 21* Baylor 35, Kansas State 34* Arizona 41, Oklahoma State 13* Navy 34, Air Force 31* Army 31, UAB 13* USF 54, Charlotte 26* Temple 27, UTSA 21* Notre Dame 28, Boise State 7* San Diego State 45, Colorado State 24* UNLV 31, Wyoming 17* Arkansas State 31, Texas State 30* Old Dominion 47, Coastal Carolina 7* App State 27, Oregon State 23* WKU 27, Delaware 24* New Mexico State 37, Sam Houston 10* Buffalo 31, Eastern Michigan 30 * Akron 28, Central Michigan 22* Western Carolina 23, Wofford 21Producer: Anthony Vito. Want much more? Become a paid subscriberWe’re planning our usual two-subscriber-show load for you this week.Thanks to our partners and subscribers* 20% off Dad Water: https://drinkdadwater.com/discount/SZD* Visit Homefield at https://www.homefieldapparel.com/* Enter to win airfare and lodging for a trip to New York City on conference championship weekend at https://www.nokiantyres.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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comOur subscriber series on open FBS coaching jobs visits Fayetteville. Arkansas fired Sam Pittman and then admitted outright that the school did not put him in the financial position to succeed. The school has unique challenges stemming from its commitment to being good in basketball and baseball. Arkansas has a handful of rich, famous boosters, who own things like Walmart and the Dallas Cowboys. But how much money is earmarked for football is always a point of uncertainty. Let’s also talk about the Bobby Petrino in the room. Episodes of “The Job” are for paid subscribersEveryone can hear a free preview, and you can catch up on other episodes here:* Oklahoma State * Virginia Tech* UCLAProducer: Anthony Vito

The Week 6 college football schedule is light on blockbusters, but that only makes the Split Zone Duo Tasting Menu’s job more important. Lets’ talk about what’s interesting to us this week, jumping from game to game, starting with the lone Thursday nighter and continuing through last call on Saturday:* WKU at Delaware, providing real intrigue in CUSA* Army at UAB, where Trent Dilfer continues to fight for his job* Kansas State at Baylor, where someone will remain a Big 12 contender* Wisconsin at Michigan, which could get very ugly for the Badgers* Kentucky at Georgia, which should take things from bad to worse for the Wildcats as their season risks getting out of hand* Iowa State at Cincinnati, maybe the game of the early window* Virginia at Louisville, a meeting of stealth ACC contenders* Vanderbilt at Alabama, which wouldn’t be that big of an upset* Boise State at Notre Dame, which would be* Washington at Maryland, which has Alex feeling … hope?* Texas Tech at Houston, as the Red Raiders keep marching* The Main Course, presented by Modelo: Ahead of a game at Florida State, Omaha Productions ball-knower and general Miami historian/superfan Kevin Clark joins the program to talk about the Canes’ apparent breakthrough. But is he worried about a Mario Cristobal Game Management Moment? We will discuss it.Thank you to our subscribers and partnersBecome a paid subscriber today to get a lot more SZD, and check out www.nokiantyres.com/szd and www.homefieldapparel.comAlso, welcome our new partner, Dad Water. Code SZD for 20% off.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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comDespite a busy few weeks in 2025, college football teams fire fewer coaches at midseason than you might expect. But when they do, there are usually some through lines: The firing after the death knell loss, or the guy who gets canned in September instead of on “Black Sunday” after Thanksgiving. Richard and host emeritus Steven Godfrey roll through the past five years of coach carousels to find out just what went into each case when a coach got fired extremely early.Producer: Anthony Vito