Skip to content
PMTPMT DB

Takes

Win
Brandon WalkerBrandon Walker

Michigan is a poorly coached team and Sherrone Moore is a mistake

They are a poorly coached football team in for 2025... they just, they, they're going to a gunfight with a, with a knife. They just can't do it. And Sherrone Moore is, they're wasting their time with Sherrone Moore as the head coach.

Michigan's performance in the 2024 season (and looking toward 2025 in the transcript) has seen a noticeable drop-off in offensive production and discipline.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Michigan players saying they were 'protecting the logo' after getting crushed is pathetic

If you're a Michigan fan, you have to be completely embarrassed that that was actually said afterwards... to come a to afterwards be like Yeah, we were making sure that they couldn't do anything with the m we're gonna protect the m... That's so pathetic.

This is a subjective opinion on the optics of the rivalry aftermath.
Void
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.
Void
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.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Michigan's obsession with 'protecting the logo' after a blowout loss is pathetic

If you're a Michigan fan, you have to be completely embarrassed that that was actually said afterwards... to come afterwards be like Yeah, we were making sure that they couldn't do anything with the m we're gonna protect the m... That's so pathetic.

Whether an action is 'pathetic' is subjective.
Win
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.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

JMU is the number one destination for any up-and-coming head coach

I think that that would cement JMU as being the number one destination for any up and coming coach. Yep. If they want to get paid, which is a good spot to be in.

This is a subjective claim about the attractiveness of a coaching job, though JMU's recent track record of coaches moving to P5 jobs supports the trend.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Texas A&M is going to slaughter Texas in their rivalry game.

I know that I said that I thought Texas A&M was gonna demolish Texas on Friday. I had a lot of people very upset with me for that... I'm getting bullied out of my 'A&M will Slaughter Texas' take.

Texas beat Texas A&M 27-17 on November 28, 2025. PFT's take that A&M would 'slaughter' Texas was wrong; Texas dominated the second half with Arch Manning's 35-yard rushing TD sealing the game.
Loss
Big CatBig Cat

Jeremiah Love should win the Heisman Trophy

Let me hear hear have your Alexa hear me say Jeremiah Love should win the Heisman and then get it in the algorithm.

Jeremiah Love did not win the 2024 Heisman Trophy; Travis Hunter won it.
Void
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.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Lane Kiffin will leave Ole Miss to coach LSU

I feel like it's gotten the point where you, if I had to guess I would say LSU. [Lane Kiffin] is probably gonna leave. I'm changing my, I know I said like two weeks ago I didn't think he was gonna leave.

Lane Kiffin did leave Ole Miss to become the head coach at LSU in late November 2025, exactly as PFT predicted.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

James Franklin is leaving Penn State to become the head coach at Virginia Tech

James Franklin is using the Penn State private jet to move to Blacksburg... I am so pumped that of course. That's the other reason why a jet would go there... I do think that [James Franklin] is gonna be the next coach... somewhere else next year.

James Franklin was fired from Penn State in October 2025 and was subsequently hired as head coach at Virginia Tech.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The CFP committee is intentionally suppressing JMU in favor of the AAC winner

I think that what is happening right now is they had their heart set on the American [AAC], on that conference. Whoever wins that conference is going to get just pigeonholed in. Doesn't matter what else happens.

Subjective allegation of committee bias.
Loss
Big CatBig Cat

Georgia is in the best possible position because they can get a playoff bye without playing the SEC championship game

The winner number one is Georgia, because Georgia obviously beats Texas. They get to four. Georgia's in that perfect spot where they could potentially not go to the SEC championship game and have a buy. Which that's gotta be the greatest spot you could ever be in.

Georgia did play in the SEC championship game (losing 28-7 to... wait, Georgia beat Texas and then lost the SEC championship). Georgia was the #3 seed in the CFP and lost to Ole Miss 39-34 in the quarterfinals. They did not get a bye.
Win
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.
Open
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.
Void
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.
Win
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.
Loss
Booger McFarlandBooger McFarland

Pat Fitzgerald is the absolute best fit to be the next head coach at Penn State

Pat Fitzgerald. One blank. Agree. If the Penn State people can get past allegedly what happened at Northwestern... doesn't it make a lot of sense? ... I was ready to go outside and head to the Northeast and just get cold and frozen and play for Pat Fitzgerald.

Pat Fitzgerald was NOT hired by Penn State. He was hired by Michigan State. Penn State hired Matt Campbell.
Void
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.
Open
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.
Push
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.
Win
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.
Open
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.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Mike Elco is an unbelievable coach and a perfect fit for the Texas A&M job

Texas A&M [is one of the best teams]... they won the press conference with Jimbo Fisher, and then they got a guy, Mike Elco, whoever's like, oh, what dude? Yeah. Okay. He's an unbelievable coach. Not only that, he's a great fit at Texas A&M and understands it.

This is a subjective assessment of a coach's quality and fit.
Void
Joel KlattJoel Klatt

LSU is a top-three job in college football and is better than the Alabama job

I caught a bunch of flack for saying I think LSU is a top three job in college football... I think it's a better job than Alabama... They've got more resources at LSU than there are at Alabama... Alabama doesn't have [boosters like Todd Graves] guys. They don't.

The ranking of jobs is inherently subjective but based on verifiable resource allocation.
Void
Joel KlattJoel Klatt

Ohio State vs. Indiana is the toughest matchup in the country for the Buckeyes

If I were to say of any team in the country, like what's the toughest matchup for Ohio State? It's Indiana... because they can run the football... Mendoza is also very good... That's gonna make life difficult on what I think is the best defense in college football.

Subjective tactical analysis of a specific matchup.
Win
Joel KlattJoel Klatt

Indiana can win the National Championship this year

I think Indiana is as—I think they can win a national championship. I really do. The, the, my question for them... is health and injury... If they're healthy, they're really good.

Indiana won the national championship 27-21 over Miami, completing a perfect 16-0 season. Klatt correctly identified they could win it all.
Win
Joel KlattJoel Klatt

Alabama will not win the National Championship because they are too one-dimensional

Ba—Bama fans already hate me... Bama's not winning that game [against Ohio State]. The thing with Bama, I love what Alabama does throwing the football. They are not good enough elsewhere. So they're going to run into a matchup that is not favorable for them and they will lose.

Alabama did not win the national championship. Indiana beat Miami 27-21. Klatt was right that Bama was too one-dimensional.
Loss
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.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The College Football Playoff committee is intentionally keeping JMU out because they don't want any 'presidents' in the bracket

I think it's a anti-PFT thing. I think maybe the college football playoff committee has gone woke and they don't want any presidents in their bracket. Makes sense. It's sad. I mean, just fast forward 20 years, Trump University probably will be blacklisted too.

Hot TakeCFBHotSarcastic
The committee rankings are based on performance and strength of schedule, not a political aversion to 'presidents'.
Void
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.
Void
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

James Madison deserves a playoff spot because they are undefeated on Saturdays.

One school [James Madison] has not lost on a single Saturday... Undefeated on Saturdays. The other school [South Florida] has lost twice on Saturdays... You better hope to God that it's on a Friday if you don't put the undefeated on Saturday team in.

The merit of a team's record based on the day of the week is inherently subjective and satirical.
Void
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.
Void
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.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

You can be critical of a coach and still root for them to succeed once it's decided they are staying.

I feel like people just need to fan how you want to fan... being critical of things not working is what you should do... now that they're [Luke Fickell] not [gone], I am like, I'm going to root my ass off for both guys to succeed. I do not want them to fail.

This is a philosophy of sports fandom and cannot be proven right or wrong.
Win
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.
Void
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.
Void
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.
Void
John FantaJohn Fanta

Dabo Swinney leaving Clemson for a new job would be exactly like John Calipari leaving Kentucky for Arkansas

I think that he is John Calipari going to Arkansas waiting to happen. Because I think things have run their course. You wanna end things in a place where like it wouldn't end pretty... Once you've tasted the top, it's so much harder to stay there. Especially in this climate. So for Dabo, your story's written at Clemson, I think it's probably best for both parties for him to be elsewhere.

Subjective comparison of coaching career paths.
Win
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.
Void
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.
Void
Big CatBig Cat

Ohio State is currently a super team that is so good it's almost boring

Ohio State... they're so good. They're boring. Yeah. And their schedule's not helping. 'cause the teams that were supposed to be good on their schedule have kind of stunk... they're just loaded top to bottom.

Subjective opinion on team quality.
Void
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.
Void
Andy StaplesAndy Staples

Arkansas is a top-4 coaching job because of corporate NIL funding

My number four is, is gonna piss off some people... Arkansas. I looked at the John Calipari hire in basketball. Tyson Foods obviously putting a lot of the money toward that. They have massive corporate support there. Walmart's all over their field and all over their stadium. If they get their corporate money excited, you can be funded very well at Arkansas.

Opinion on job ranking based on NIL potential.
Void
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.

Win
Big CatBig Cat

Marcus Freeman has already signed a secret contract extension with Notre Dame

I think Marcus Freeman already signed his new contract. I'm saying it right now. I think Marcus Freeman will have his new contract announced at the end of the season, but he's already signed it.

Big Cat predicted in October 2025 that Marcus Freeman had already signed a secret contract extension with Notre Dame. Freeman's enhanced/restructured deal was announced in December 2025, extending through 2031 at $54M. Reports indicated ongoing negotiations well before the announcement, supporting the idea the deal was effectively done earlier.
Void
Andy StaplesAndy Staples

Schools should offer Nick Saban $30 million a year to return to coaching

For Saban, I would offer 30 million. When he was at Alabama, I tried to calculate what he's actually worth... and 30 million was still a bargain. Offer Nick Saban 30 million and see if he'll leave college game day. I don't think he will.

Void
Andy StaplesAndy Staples

Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs are the two best defensive players in the country

Ohio State is the one that feels different from the others. I think I can confidently say Ohio State has the best two defensive players in the country in Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs.

Loss
Andy StaplesAndy Staples

Iowa is a playoff contender if they run the table and beat Oregon and USC

I'll give you a one that I think is really interesting and they're not even ranked yet... Iowa. Iowa's gotta run the table. But they're if they can [beat Oregon and USC], they're in. Given the way Iowa's played... they get Oregon at home. If you can beat both those two teams, you can win out and you will make the playoff at 10-2.

Iowa finished 9-4 (6-3 Big Ten) in 2025, losing key games to top-20 opponents. They did not run the table or make the College Football Playoff. Andy Staples' conditional prediction did not come to fruition as Iowa could not beat the teams they needed to.

Search

Search takes, episodes, and speakers