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Big CatBig Cat

Indiana winning the National Championship is the greatest story in college football history

The Indiana Hoosiers are national champions of the college football world... it is the craziest story... the greatest story in college football. That is a fact.

Indiana did win the 2026 title in this transcript, and their turnaround from historically bad to champions is objectively one of the greatest statistically.
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Big CatBig Cat

Carson Beck is an 'okay' quarterback but his lack of NFL potential is unclear

Carson Beck, I think he's an okay quarterback, but not, you know, he's been in these... he's an okay quarterback. [The three losses for Miami this year], four of them came on an interception when they had a chance to win the game.

Beck's NFL career performance will eventually determine if he was just 'okay' or better.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Indiana will beat Miami by double digits in the National Championship

I think Indiana, I think they're gonna do it. I too, and I think they're going to win by double digits.

Indiana won 27-21, a 6-point margin - not double digits as predicted. The winner was correct but the margin was not.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Marcus Freeman is essentially a young Mike Tomlin

I told [Jersey Jerry] like Marcus Freeman is pretty much young Mike Tomlin. He's defensive coach run the football leader of men. I think he'd be like in that same mold.

This is a subjective comparison of coaching styles and archetypes.
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Big CatBig Cat

The Miami Hurricanes are officially back

The U, it's all about the U back. Miami Hurricanes are back. Instant classic in the desert. It was what a game.

Miami reached the national championship, lending weight to the claim, though 'back' is subjective.
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Big CatBig Cat

The 12-team playoff was a success because it allowed Miami to reach the championship

Miami was very close not making these playoffs. So when we say oh, 12 is too much. Yeah, maybe some years 12 would be too much. But this year we needed it because Miami's in the national championship.

The success of a playoff format is a matter of opinion.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Miami would win the National Championship if they simply ran the ball every single play

I think that Miami could win this game if they ran the ball every single play. Their offensive line was dominant. And even when a guy would get wrapped up for a two yard gain, then you get the five huge big giant dogs on their offensive line pushing them downhill like an avalanche. You end up with a five, six yard gain on it.

While Miami did win the semi-final, they have not played the championship game yet. The effectiveness of running every play is subjective.
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Andy StaplesAndy Staples

Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq is a unique weapon with no equal in college football

Kenyon Sadiq, their tight end. There's nobody like Kenyon Sadiq in the whole country. He's, you know, 240 pounds, but runs like a, a really fast corner.

This is a subjective evaluation of a player's physical uniqueness and talent compared to his peers.
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Andy StaplesAndy Staples

The winner of Oregon vs. Indiana will be the favorite to win the national championship

Whoever wins this game is gonna be favored in the national championship. I think it's, yeah, it's fair to point out that while Indiana looks super impressive... Oregon appears to be a much more formidable opponent.

Andy Staples predicted the winner of Oregon vs. Indiana in the CFP semifinal would be favored in the national championship. Indiana routed Oregon 56-22 and then entered the national championship as the #1 seed and favorite against #10 Miami, which they won 27-21.
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Big CatBig Cat

The U is officially back and Miami can win the national title

The U is back. The U is so back. Absolutely win the title. So yeah, that was, that was New Year's Eve, which it wasn't like the most exciting game, but it was exciting to see a team dominate Ohio State the way they did.

Miami lost to Indiana 21-27 in the CFP National Championship game. The U did not win the title.
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Big CatBig Cat

Michigan got a major head coaching upgrade with Kyle Whittingham

It's bullshit that Michigan just like backed into one of the best coaches in college... Kyle Whittingham, that was, he's such a good coach. Michigan got a major upgraded head coaching... he's always had good teams at Utah. I think he's going to, with Michigan's money and recruiting, he's gonna win.

Whittingham has not been hired by Michigan; he remains at Utah as of 2024. This reflects a fictionalized coaching change in the transcript's 2025 timeline.
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Big CatBig Cat

Michigan State fans should troll Michigan over Sherrone Moore's Instagram activity

Michigan State deserves and is allowed to just go after Michigan right now. I actually think you should fire back... you go Sherrone Moore. Mel Tucker. 'cause that looks like you can hang. And also do not do the Larry Nassar [jokes].

This is a matter of fan etiquette and rivalry protocol.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Indiana is a wagon in college football

I still like Indiana. I might even like them with the points. Indiana is a fucking wagon in Alabama's issues this year.

Indiana was indeed a wagon in 2025 college football. They went 15-0, won the Heisman (Fernando Mendoza), and won the national championship, beating Miami in the title game.
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Big CatBig Cat

College football coaches will always try to jump to the NFL because it's easier

I do think that college coaches will always try to go to the NFL because it's easier. But Marcus Freeman does feel like he's got a really good thing going on at Notre Dame.

This is a subjective take on workplace difficulty.
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Big CatBig Cat

The College Football Playoff should expand to a 16-team format

We do love Cinderellas in the first couple of rounds. And this is why they should go to a 16 team playoff and we should give the Cinderellas a chance. I'm excited to see JMU play. Fuck it.

This is a structural opinion on how the sport should be governed.
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Big CatBig Cat

Fernando Mendoza is a legitimate NFL quarterback prospect

I'm buying stock in Fernando Mendoza as a pro. ... I think he's got it. The way he nerds out about football... reading defenses. We're gonna lose Philip Rivers, but we're gonna gain a Mendoza.

Mendoza's NFL career is in the future.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Notre Dame's relationship with the ACC is irreparably harmed after the CFP snub

Notre Dame is now going scorched earth on the college football playoff and more specifically the ACC. The athletic director, Bevacqua... saying that the ACC absolutely fucked them over, that they did irreparable harm to the relationship with Notre Dame. This business relationship might be done.

The long-term status of Notre Dame's alignment with the ACC is an ongoing situation, but the immediate friction was a matter of public record.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

JMU making the CFP will force a rule change to ensure it never happens again

JMU getting into this playoff, they will rewrite the rules for the playoffs. So this never happens again. And you'll be fine... But they're very upset that the ACC did not advocate strongly for Notre Dame.

Rule changes for the 12 or 14-team playoff often follow controversial seedings.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

JMU is not one of the best 12 teams in the country

I'm not saying JMU is one of the best 12 teams in the country. I think that that would be an insane take to have. I'm just pumped that we're in it.

Ranking 'best' teams is subjective, but PFT is admitting they aren't Top 12 quality.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Caleb Downs is the best defensive player in college football

I love Caleb Downs. Caleb Downs has been, I think, the best defensive player in college football for at least the last two years.

Subjective opinion on player ranking.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

JMU will cover the +21.5 spread against Oregon

JMU's in the playoffs. We were playing against Oregon... I bet on JMU to cover at 21 and a half when the line came out. I think that there's a good chance that JMU can cover that.

Oregon defeated JMU 45-20, so JMU did not cover the 21.5 spread.
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Big CatBig Cat

Notre Dame is a top 10 team despite being left out of the playoff

I do think Notre Dame is unquestionably one of the top 10 teams in the country. And to not have them in a College Football Playoff to decide a champion is stupid.

Subjective ranking opinion.
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Stanford SteveStanford Steve

Miami should be ranked ahead of Notre Dame because they won the head-to-head matchup

I look at what matters on the field. They... actually played. Miami led the whole game. They won. I don't understand [them being ranked lower]. Miami should be ahead of Notre Dame.

This is an opinion on committee logic and ranking principles.
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Big CatBig Cat

Group of Five teams like James Madison, Tulane, and North Texas have zero chance of winning the national title

If you said to me right now, does James Madison, Tulane or North Texas have a chance of winning it all? I'd say no. Does Texas or Vanderbilt? I'd say maybe.

While subjective, historical precedent strongly supports the idea that G5 teams cannot win a national title in the modern era.
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Brandon WalkerBrandon Walker

Alabama, Ole Miss, and Miami are not good enough to win the National Championship

I don't think Alabama is... Ole Miss is not good enough to win at all... Miami not good enough to win at all.

Brandon Walker said Alabama, Ole Miss, and Miami were not good enough to win the National Championship. None of them won it: Alabama was eliminated in the quarterfinals, Ole Miss's coach (Kiffin) left for LSU before the playoff, and Miami made the championship game but lost to Indiana 27-21.
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Big CatBig Cat

Julian Sayin is a much better quarterback than Will Howard

Julian Sayin is way better than Will Howard... The second Michigan took out their gun... that game was over.

Subjective comparison of two players' talent and performance.
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Big CatBig Cat

Ole Miss fans have every right to be furious at Lane Kiffin for leaving during the playoffs

Ole Miss fans have every right to be upset... I think Ole Miss AD did the right thing and being like, no way are you going to coach this team in the playoffs like that. Lane was lane to the most lane he's ever been... I do stand with Ole Miss fans though. You have every right to be pissed off.

The validity of a fan base's anger is subjective.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Lane Kiffin is the perfect guy for college football because he delivers results despite the chaos

Lane Kiffin is the monorail salesman from The Simpsons, if the monorail salesman delivered results. Yeah. You're gonna get some results from Lane Kiffin... He's the perfect guy for college football.

The characterization of a coach as 'perfect' is an opinion.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

James Madison will be snubbed from the College Football Playoff despite what the computer models say.

I'm assuming that we're gonna get fucked according to like ESPN FPI, all that stuff. Every computer has JMU in the playoff... but the committee has made it pretty clear that they just have a hard on for the American. So whoever wins the American, I'm just assuming, is going to get into the playoff.

The JMU Dukes were indeed excluded from the 2025 College Football Playoff field.
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Big CatBig Cat

Wisconsin is the hottest team in college football right now

Wisconsin's hottest team in the country. Two back. They've won two home games against ranked opponents in November. Pretty cool.

Purely subjective based on momentum and personal bias.
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Big CatBig Cat

Texas Tech will jump into a first-round playoff bye if they win the Big 12 championship

The other big winner to me is Texas Tech. Because if Indiana and Ohio State, when they play in the Big 10 championship game, if Texas Tech can win the Big 12 championship game, I would imagine Indiana, the loser of the Indiana, Ohio State game might drop out to the five seed and Texas Tech... would slip up into the buy.

Texas Tech won the Big 12 championship 34-7 over BYU and earned the No. 4 seed in the CFP, which came with a first-round bye. Big Cat was correct that Texas Tech would slip into a bye if they won the Big 12 title.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Oregon could be in serious playoff trouble if they lose to USC this weekend

What happens if Oregon loses this weekend? ... They could be in trouble because the one win that they have on their schedule that's really doing a lot of work is the Penn State win... the committee is still valuing that Penn State win as being a quality win because it's back when Penn State was good. ... but if you're looking for an argument against Oregon, if they lose this weekend, that's where you go.

Depends on the result of the Oregon-USC game and the subsequent CFP rankings.
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Big CatBig Cat

Duke is a bad football team and I am done considering them in any ACC or playoff scenarios

Duke is not gonna win out. I'm done with Duke. ... Duke is bad. I'm done with Duke. I'm done with Duke in any scenarios. ... They're five and five. They're, they're not a good team.

Duke's quality is subjective, but their record (5-5) supports the claim that they aren't a top-tier team.
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Big CatBig Cat

James Franklin is leaving a $50 million buyout because he has a competitive drive to coach, not just for the money

I feel like you don't get to a point where you are successful enough to get a $50 million buyout unless you have that like killer instinct, competitive drive. ... James Franklin's going after being an awesome coach, coaching, he needs football to live.

The move to Virginia Tech is stated as fact in this pod's timeline.
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Booger McFarlandBooger McFarland

College football coaches should never play more than 20 rounds of golf per year

You should not golf during the season whatsoever at all. August to January, no golf. Once the season is over... if your coach is playing more than 20 rounds a year, then you got the wrong coach.

This is a subjective management philosophy.
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Booger McFarlandBooger McFarland

Oklahoma is limited offensively because they cannot run the ball and rely too heavily on John Mateer

When you go against the best teams, your flaws show. And the defense was outstanding [against Alabama]... but if you look at the offense, Alabama outgained them two to one. ... They're limited offensively and so much is put on the quarterback [John Mateer]. ... I don't know who they would play where I would favor them because they're limited offensively.

Will be tested in Oklahoma's remaining regular season games and potential playoff matchups.
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Booger McFarlandBooger McFarland

Ohio State, Georgia, Indiana, Notre Dame, and Alabama are the only teams that can win the national title

Ohio State. Georgia. Indiana, Notre Dame. Alabama. ... Alabama beat [Georgia], so how can you say they are not a believer? ... You just wanna get in and then it becomes matchups.

Indiana won the title (correctly included). Miami made the championship game. However, Alabama and Georgia did not advance as far as predicted.
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Booger McFarlandBooger McFarland

James Madison will eventually secure a spot in the College Football Playoff

I think James Madison is gonna wind up getting in. I think the schedule with the, they got what, one game left. I think it's pretty favorable. We'll see.

James Madison made the College Football Playoff in 2025 as the 12th seed after going undefeated in Sun Belt play. They lost 51-34 to Oregon in the first round but Booger McFarland was correct that they would get in.
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Joel KlattJoel Klatt

Brian Hartline is a future head coach who will be successful because of his recruiting and CEO mindset

Brian Hartline will be a head coach at some point somewhere... and he's gonna succeed. 'Cause he recruits incredibly well, he's very detail oriented... he's always built himself and tried to ready himself to be a head coach, because now more than ever, I don't really care if you can call plays... can you hire a great staff and then manage all of those things within your organization.

Whether Brian Hartline becomes a successful head coach is a future event.
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Joel KlattJoel Klatt

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is a 'war daddy' who is going to win a national championship

Dan Lanning is a war daddy... he's gonna win a national championship. I know that same [logic], you could say like, Hey, their toughest opponent they lost to Indiana... but I'm just, Dan Lanning is dude that, that guy is a war daddy. He's gonna win a national championship.

Joel Klatt predicted Dan Lanning would win a national championship. Oregon went 13-0 in the regular season but was routed by Indiana 56-22 in the CFP semifinal. Lanning has not yet won a national championship as of March 2026.
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Big CatBig Cat

If South Florida wins out, they absolutely deserve to be in the College Football Playoff.

If South Florida runs the table... I also understand that South Florida is deserved to go in. Because they went and they beat Florida, you know, in the swamp. So that, you know, that's a, that's a big, big time win.

Whether a G5 champion with a signature P4 win 'deserves' a spot is a matter of opinion, though USF did beat Florida in 2025.
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Big CatBig Cat

Ohio State is significantly better than every other team in college football

I still think Ohio State is that much better than everyone else. And we'll find out though, Indiana and Ohio State feel like they're on a collision course.

This is subjective until the playoffs, though they are currently ranked highly.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

LSU's legal strategy of firing their AD for 'cause' to void Brian Kelly's contract is ironclad in Louisiana.

I think they're also gonna go with the, we fired Scott Woodward for cause therefore, anything that he did at the end of his tenure was also not an official act of LSU and their athletic department... Listen, I think in Louisiana it plays. I think that's ironclad.

The legality and success of this specific strategy in Louisiana courts is a legal opinion that hasn't been tested at the time of the podcast.
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Big CatBig Cat

I am betting everything on Notre Dame because of Pat Narduzzi's weird press conference comments.

Pat Narduzzi, the coach of Pitt... had one of the weirdest answers to a press conference question I think I've ever seen... I wanna just bet everything on Notre Dame. They are not going to cover the spread against Notre Dame.

Notre Dame demolished Pitt 37-15 on November 15, 2025. Big Cat bet everything on Notre Dame and they won by 22 points, covering easily.
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Big CatBig Cat

Notre Dame should not be ranked ahead of Texas or Oklahoma in the CFP rankings

I do think that the Oklahoma and Notre Dame Texas rankings makes no sense... Notre Dame's best win is against USC and their losses are Texas A&M and Miami... Texas's best win is Oklahoma and Vanderbilt... Oklahoma has also two ranked wins Michigan and Tennessee. Their losses against Ole Miss and Texas... it just doesn't make sense to me why Notre Dame is ahead of those two teams.

This is a subjective evaluation of team resumes at a specific point in time.
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John FantaJohn Fanta

Curt Cignetti has permanently changed the timeline for college football program rebuilds

To me, coach Cignetti has totally changed the sport of college football. He's put everybody on notice saying, don't give me 2, 3, 4 years that it takes you to figure it out with a program. There's a real national championship contender in Bloomington and that's really cool.

Subjective claim about the impact on coaching culture.
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John FantaJohn Fanta

Ohio State's defense is one of the best in the last 25 years

Ohio State has absolutely just dominated their way through this thing because they play smart football and they got the best defense. They got one of the best defenses we've seen in the last 25 years in college football.

Ohio State did finish the regular season with an elite defense, though their ultimate playoff success determines the 'all-time' legacy.
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Andy StaplesAndy Staples

Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline would be a home run hire for a Big 10 head coaching job

What about Brian Hartline, the offensive coordinator at Ohio State? Best receivers coach in the world. I will say that like the, I'm not being hyperbolic. He's, he's better than anybody else in college and probably better than anybody in the NFL. He's one of the best recruiters ever. Heartline because of who he can recruit to your program probably commands a little bit higher first step.

Hartline has not yet taken a head coaching job as of mid-2024, but his 'home run' status is subjective.
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Andy StaplesAndy Staples

LSU is the premier coaching job opening in college football

I had LSU number one and I had Florida number two. And the reason I had LSU number one, three of the last four coaches have won national titles... every kid who lives in the state grows up in the state, wants a, wants to grow up and be a Tiger. LSU has an advantage that only Ohio State really has anywhere else.

Expert opinion on job desirability.
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Andy StaplesAndy Staples

Willie Fritz at Houston is the blueprint for the next 'Curt Cignetti' hire

If you're looking for the Curt Cignetti profile—guy in his sixties who's coached at all these different levels and won—it's actually Willie Fritz at Houston. He is 65 and has won at Sam Houston State and Georgia Southern and Tulane. That he's the model for that.

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