The Audible with Stew, Bruce & Ralph: A show about college football

On today’s episode of The Audible, Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo break down how the Pat McAfee era is changing college football media. The guys debate the evolution of the College GameDay experience, analyzing how a new style of broadcasting has brought massive ratings surges alongside a polarizing, brand-new edge to the sport's weekly coverage.Plus, the crew previews a crucial Week 9 ACC showdown as Florida State and Clemson meet in a true pressure-cooker matchup. Stewart, Bruce, and Ralph dissect which program needs this win more to stabilize their trajectory, how their contrasting roster management philosophies are handling the heat, and which coaching staff is facing the most critical choices heading into the home stretch.Finally, the guys crack open the Mailbag to answer your burning questions. They look at historical hot-seat turnarounds to see if coaches can truly extricate themselves from peril and leave on their own terms, reevaluate the purpose and value of the AP Top 25 ranking system in a brand-new playoff world, and discuss whether brand bias gives blue-blood schools an artificial safety net.Timestamps:0:00 - Welcome to The Audible!1:14 - The McAfee Era: Higher Ratings vs Increased Edge19:03 - FSU vs Clemson: Weighing The Pressure On Both ACC Programs30:12 - Can Coaches Survive The Hot Seat?34:11 - What Does The AP Top 25 Look Like In The World Of A 24-Team Playoff?37:57 - Is Brand Bias Real In College Football?#TheAudible #CollegeFootball #PatMcAfee #CollegeGameDay #FSUFootball #ClemsonFootball #ACC #APTop25 #CFBPlayoff #CoachingHotSeat #BlueBloods #ArchManning #SportsPodcasts #CFBWeek9 #FootballNews

Oregon has fired offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer following a devastating loss to Illinois, leaving the Ducks searching for answers at a critical crossroad in their season. On this episode of The Audible, Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman break down Dan Lanning's biggest staff mistake, what went wrong in Eugene, and whether the Ducks can salvage their season as former head coach Chip Kelly rolls into town with No. 20 Northwestern. The crew also discusses the most disappointing programs in college football right now, the teams that are quietly staying on track, and delivers their official Week 9 Top 25 predictions against the spread!Timestamps:0:00 - Welcome to The Audible!1:22 - A Lost Season For Oregon, Ducks Fire OC Following Loss To Illinois11:23 - Other Disappointing Teams So Far This Season21:06 - No 17 Florida vs No 3 Georgia22:06 - No 22 Arizona at No 13 Texas Tech23:42 - No 2 Ohio State at USC26:34 - No 6 Utah at Cincinnati31:13 - The Audible Picks Week 9 UpsetsFollow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audibleshowSubscribe to the show, leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and drop your Week 9 upset predictions in the comments below! #OregonFootball #DanLanning #CollegeFootball #TheAudible #GoDucks #Northwestern #OhioState #USC #GeorgiaFootball #CFBWeek9 #CollegeFootballPlayoff

Week 8 in College Football is in the books, and we are breaking down the biggest matchups of the weekend! On this episode, we react to the massive Big 12 shocker between UCF and BYU, review the intense Big Ten battle between Michigan and Indiana, and analyze how Arch Manning and the Texas defense survived a massive second-half scare against Ole Miss.We are diving deep into the playoff implications, key player matchups, and postgame fallout for every major game. If you love the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and subscribe to The Audible for weekly CFB breakdowns!Follow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audibleshow#CFB #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFBWeek8 #AudibleShow #BYUvsUCF #GoCougs #GKNT #MichiganVsIndiana #GoBlue #IUFB #TexasVsOleMiss #HookEm #HottyToddy

Welcome back to The Audible, presented by Trader Joe's. This week, Bruce and Ralph break down a devastating blow to the Big Ten and the College Football Playoff landscape following Ryan Day’s announcement that Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is out indefinitely. The crew dives into what this massive injury means for the Buckeyes' championship aspirations, who stands to benefit if the Big Ten falls apart, and the latest updates surrounding Oregon signal-caller Dante Moore as both powerhouses navigate sudden quarterback conundrums.The injury bug takes a backseat to a burning coaching carousel as the college football season crosses the midway point. The guys react to breaking news out of College Park, where Maryland has officially dismissed head coach Mike Locksley following a disappointing loss to Rutgers. With Locksley out after a 39-54 tenure, Bruce and Ralph evaluate the fallout for the Terrapins before shifting gears to examine the rest of the country, identifying which coaches are officially sitting on the hottest seats entering the second half of the season.To wrap up the show, the guys open up the listener mailbag to tackle some of your biggest burning questions. The panel debates whether Texas quarterback Arch Manning is tracking to become this generation's version of Chris Simms—a player surrounded by immense family hype who might ultimately be outshined by a gritty fan favorite. Plus, the crew analyzes Wake Forest’s potential postseason path as a one-loss team, before closing the episode with a fun hypothetical challenge: building the ultimate 2026 playoff roster using only pieces from the Group of 6.Follow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audibleshow#TheAudible #CollegeFootball #CFB #OhioState #Buckeyes #OregonDucks #JulianSayin #DanteMoore #BigTen #MarylandFootball #MikeLocksley #ArchManning #TexasLongh

Welcome back to The Audible, presented by Trader Joe's. This week, Stew, Bruce, and Ralph dive headfirst into a massive structural shift sitting right on the one-yard line: the nearly green-lit, 24-team expanded playoff format. While the crew breaks down what this transformative change means for the future of the sport, they address a bizarre public apathy surrounding the news, along with the existential realization that we may already be longing for a version of college football that is permanently gone.The structural changes take a backseat to the immediate blue-chip quarterback crises unfolding at two of the sport's biggest powerhouses. We break down the tape on Arch Manning's continued processing struggles and decision-making errors following Texas' latest disappointing performance. Meanwhile, we unpack the explosive quarterback controversy in Ann Arbor after Michigan pulled the plug on Bryce Underwood at halftime against Penn State. With both generationally hyped signal-callers hitting a performance wall, the crew debates how much blame falls on the young quarterbacks versus their coaches' rigid offensive schemes.To wrap up the show, the guys deliver their official Week 8 betting breakdowns and against-the-spread predictions. The panel weighs in on a crucial Big Ten test as No. 5 Indiana travels to Michigan, before diving into high-stakes SEC and Big 12 matchups, including No. 8 Texas Tech and Cincinnati, and a critical battle in Austin between No. 7 Ole Miss and No. 19 Texas. Finally, the crew closes out the episode by locking in their individual Upset Picks of the Week.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:04 - 24-Team Playoff Moves Closer To Reality17:23 - Texas’ Arch Manning and Michigan’s Bryce Underwood Continue To Struggle30:27 - No 5 Indiana at Michigan32:02 - No 18 LSU at Auburn34:38 - No 8 Texas Tech at Cincinnati37:35 - No 7 Ole Miss at No 19 Texas40:27 - No 14 Houston at No 10 Utah41:55 - The Audible Picks Week 8 UpsetsFollow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audible.show#TheAudible #CollegeFootball #CFB #ArchManning #BryceUnderwood #TexasLonghorns #MichiganWolverines #GoBlue #HookEm #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFBPicks #QBControversy #Week8

College football Week 7 completely shattered the national landscape, and we are breaking down all the massive post-game fallout! Join Stewart Mandel, Bruce Feldman, and Ralph Russo as they react to No. 8 BYU's thrilling 28-24 upset over No. 2 Notre Dame in Provo, Auburn's stunning walk-off field goal to take down No. 1 Georgia in Athens, and Florida handing No. 7 Texas its second-straight loss to expose serious flaws in the Longhorns' offense. We dive deep into the absolute meat grinder that is the SEC after No. 14 Tennessee suffocated Alabama 26-10 in Knoxville to light up the traditional third Saturday in October cigars. Plus, the crew analyzes No. 5 Ohio State surviving a brutal road test against No. 4 Indiana—snapping the Hoosiers' historic 22-0 win streak—while facing massive playoff questions moving forward following the devastating injury to quarterback Julian Sayin.Finally, we debate who deserves the undisputed No. 1 spot in the new AP Top 25 poll, break down Miami's wild overtime survival against Florida State, and hand out our weekend player shoutouts. From Connor Weigman's 5-TD explosion to Tommy Carr sparking a historic legacy comeback for Michigan, we cover every major headline from the craziest Saturday of the season!Follow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audibleshow#CFB #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFBWeek7 #AudibleShow #NotreDameVsBYU #OhioStateVsIndiana #BamaVsVols #GoCougs #CFBUpsets

On today’s episode of The Audible, Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo break down why the 24-team playoff proposal is facing a massive backlash from college football fans. Following the lopsided results of The Audible’s CFP Expansion Poll, the guys debate whether playoff expansion has finally pushed fans past their breaking point and why the audience is overwhelmingly rejecting the idea of a broader postseason format.Plus, the crew reveals the fascinating results of their Coaches Survey. If you had exactly one game to win, which coach are you taking? While Kirby Smart and Curt Cignetti dominate the voting, the real story is the high-profile coaches who didn't receive a single vote.Finally, the guys crack open the Mailbag to answer your burning questions. They tackle the roster management dilemma facing eliminated teams like Texas A&M, debating when it is time to bench underperforming veterans to scout the transfer portal. They also break down whether college football's new professionalized era will lead to NFL-style, one-and-done coaching fires, before trying to give some hope to a panicked Penn State fan base frustrated with Matt Campbell's identity crisis.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:28 - The Audible’s CFP Expansion Survey Reveals29:32 - Coaches Survey: One Game To Coach, Who Are You Going With?46:05 - When Should Teams Start To Look To Next Season?47:57 - Will CFB Have One-And-Done Coaches In New NIL Era?51:17 - Why Should Penn State Fans Have Hope Under Matt Campbell?Follow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audible.show#TheAudible #CollegeFootball #CFBPlayoff #CoachesSurvey #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFBExpansion #KirbySmart #CurtCignetti #PennStateFootball #MattCampbell #TexasAMFootball #TransferPortal #NIL #CFB #FootballPodcasts #SportsNews

Welcome back to another episode of The Audible presented by Trader Joe’s! Today, we lead off with devastating breaking news shaking up college football as star quarterback Nico Iamaleava is announced out for the year. We break down the immediate fallout of this brutal injury blow and what it means for the UCLA BruinsWe then dive into a massive conference realignment move as James Madison officially joins the American Athletic Conference. Stew asks if the ACC is the next logical stop for the Dukes, Bruce highlights why leaving the Sun Belt makes sense given JMU's massive budget advantage, and Ralph breaks down how the AAC's strict spending minimums could drastically alter the rest of the conference landscape. Plus, the guys take a quick detour for a hilarious "Saban or Sagan" mixup in their group chat.Finally, it is the moment you have been waiting for: our official Week 7 Picks and Predictions. After reviewing our updated records following a chaotic Week 6, we deliver our locks and logic for the biggest games on the slate. We start with the absolute blockbuster matchup: No. 4 Ohio State (-3.5) at No. 5 Indiana, analyzing how the Buckeyes' star freshman Jeremiah Smith and TCU standout Josh Hoover factor into this top-5 collision. We also lock in our predictions for No. 2 Notre Dame (-10) at No. 8 BYU, No. 16 Mississippi State at No. 22 LSU (-12.5), No. 6 Alabama (-8.5) at No. 14 Tennessee, No. 13 Missouri at No. 9 Ole Miss (-6), and No. 18 Oklahoma State at No. 20 Houston (-4.5). Stick around until the very end to get our official Upset Picks of the Week as the guys back Arkansas, UNLV, and Cincinnati to shock the world.Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro1:16 - UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava Out For Season4:31 - James Madison To Join American Athletic Conference7:00 - Thoughts on Nick Saban documentary13:15 - No 4 Ohio State (-3.5) at No 5 Indiana18:16 - No 2 Notre Dame (-10) at No 8 BYU25:24 - No 16 Mississippi State at No 22 LSU (12.5)29:38 - No 6 Alabama (-8.5) at No 14 Tennessee31:35 - No 13 Missouri at No 9 Ole Miss (-6)33:45 - No 18 Oklahoma State at No 20 Houston (-4.5)38:55 - The Audible Picks Week 7 UpsetsFollow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audible.show#CollegeFootball #CFBWeek7 #OhioStateFootball #IndianaHoosiers #NicoIamaleava #JamesMadisonFootball #AACFootball #BigTenFootball #SECFootball #TheAudible #CFBPicks

Welcome to the post-game reaction edition of The Audible! Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo deliver their full breakdown after a chaotic, history-making Week 6 weekend of college football that completely flipped the College Football Playoff picture upside down.The guys dive straight into the fallout of the week's biggest blockbusters, starting with Oklahoma's stunning 27-24 walk-off upset over No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry, and Georgia’s gritty 20-17 victory in Tuscaloosa to snap their Alabama curse.The crew also reacts to the rest of a wild slate:🔹 Kentucky vs. LSU – Will Stein does it again! Big Blue Nation knocks off the No. 10 Tigers 35-34 with another gutsy overtime 2-point conversion.🔹 Indiana vs. Nebraska – Josh Hoover sparks a thrilling 4th-quarter comeback to secure a 20-17 victory and extend the nation's longest winning streak to 22 games.🔹 UCLA vs. Oregon – Bob Chesney makes program history as the Bruins force 7 turnovers to shock the Ducks 17-15 at Autzen Stadium.Follow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audible.show#CollegeFootball #GeorgiaVsAlabama #CFBWeek6 #TheAudible #RedRiverRivalry #TexasVsOklahoma #IndianaVsNebraska #CFBPlayoff #SECfootball #BigTenFootball #APTop25