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

The Week 2 College Football Playoff rankings are officially out, and the shakeup at the top has sparked debate across the sport. Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs have claimed the new #1 spot, while Notre Dame surges up the board by jumping six spots and Miami takes a steep tumble, falling six spots to #7. Stewart Mandel, Bruce Feldman, and Ralph Russo react to the committee’s latest decisions, examine how Alabama and Tennessee are actually being evaluated in the committee room without head-to-head comparisons, and take you inside the winding 15-month journey that took the 24-team Playoff expansion plan from unpopular to unanimous.Meanwhile, the coaching carousel and hot-seat pressure are heating up across the Big Ten. Following a brutal four-game losing streak, Nebraska has fired offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, leaving serious questions about the direction of the Huskers and just how hot Matt Rhule’s seat is in Lincoln. In Piscataway, Rutgers has decided to bring back head coach Greg Schiano, though the Athletic Director is promising major changes after calling the program's recent results unacceptable.Finally, the crew opens up the Mailbag to tackle the biggest questions from listeners around the country. We examine the unprecedented, self-inflicted five-year chaos at Michigan—comparing it to past turmoil at Tennessee, USC, and the Mike Price era at Alabama—and break down what has gone completely wrong for Texas A&M in 2026 after their 11-0 start last season, plus whether the Aggies can rebound against a brutal closing stretch featuring Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas.Make sure to smash the like button, drop your reactions to the new CFP rankings in the comments, and let us know if you think Matt Rhule can turn things around in Lincoln!Timestamps:0:00 - Welcome to The Audible!1:10 - CFP Rankings: Georgia New #1, Notre Dame Jumps Six Spots10:07 - Inside The Process Of Expanding To The 24-Team Playoff19:56 - Nebraska Fire OC Dana Holgorsen26:06 - Report: Rutgers Will Bring Back HC Greg Schiano29:13 - Examining Program Chaos At Michigan, Tennessee, And USC35:45 - How Is The Committee Examining Alabama And Tennessee?38:30 - What Has Gone Wrong For Texas A&M In 2026?Follow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audibleshowSubscribe to @audibleshow on YouTube and turn on notifications so you never miss a live stream or college football podcast recap!#TheAudible #CollegeFootball #CFPPlayoff #CFPRankings #GeorgiaFootball #KirbySmart #AlabamaFootball #NotreDameFootball #MiamiHurricanes #NebraskaFootball #MattRhule #DanaHolgorsen #MichiganFootball #TexasAMFootball #24TeamPlayoff #CoachingCarousel

The panic in Ann Arbor is officially in overdrive. Michigan has fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck following a brutal rivalry loss to Michigan State, leaving head coach Kyle Whittingham searching for answers. With the Wolverines set to travel to Eugene to face Oregon as underdogs, followed by matchups against UCLA and Ohio State, is this sudden staff change too little, too late? We break down the freefall of the Michigan offense, the schematic failures that led to Beck's dismissal, and what this coordinator search means for the long-term future of the program under Whittingham. Meanwhile, the administrative and coordinator shakeups are spreading across the college football landscape. Ryan Day and Ohio State have parted ways with special teams coordinator Robby Discher after dropping to 6-3, signaling sheer desperation in Columbus as the Buckeyes try to salvage their season. In Tallahassee, Florida State looks to stabilize its struggling program by hiring alum Jeff Purinton as their next Athletic Director. Plus, we dive into the massive breaking news surrounding the future of the postseason, detailing the agreement between ESPN and the College Football Playoff to expand the bracket to a 24-team playoff field.After checking the updated host record standings, the crew dives into a massive Week 11 slate with full betting lines, predictions, and locks against the spread. We deliver our expert picks for massive matchups including Wake Forest vs. SMU, Duke at Miami, USC at Indiana, Utah traveling to Arizona, and a heavyweight SEC clash between Texas and LSU. Finally, we close out the show by locking in our official Upset Picks of the Week, putting Arkansas, UAB, and USF on high alert.Make sure to smash the like button, drop your score predictions in the live chat, and let us know your updated College Football Playoff bracket predictions!Timestamps:0:00 - Welcome to The Audible! 1:02 - ESPN, CFP Agree To 24-Team Playoff Expansion3:04 - Michigan Fires Jason Beck After Loss To Michigan State17:29 - Florida State Set To Hire Jeff Purinton As Next Athletic Director21:57 - Wake Forest (-1.5) vs SMU23:33 - Duke at Miami (-13.5)25:38 - USC at Indiana (-7.5)30:44 - Utah (-2.5) at Arizona32:37 - Texas at LSU (-3.5)35:45 - The Audible Picks Week 11 UpsetsFollow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audibleshowSubscribe to @audibleshow on YouTube and turn on notifications so you never miss a live stream or college football podcast recap!#TheAudible #CollegeFootball #MichiganFootball #KyleWhittingham #OregonDucks #OhioStateFootball #RyanDay #LSUFootball #TexasLonghorns #MiamiHurricanes #IndianaFootball #CFBPlayoff #24TeamPlayoff #CFBWeek11 #FootballPicks #CoachingCarousel

The College Football Playoff race just encountered pure chaos! No. 11 Notre Dame pulls off a monumental 31-24 upset over No. 1 Miami in South Bend, completely shattering the top of the AP Poll rankings. With Malachi Toney sidelined due to sudden ankle surgery, Darian Mensah and the Hurricanes offense sputtered against a ferocious Fighting Irish defense. Is this signature win the defining moment that locks Notre Dame into the CFP bracket? Meanwhile, No. 2 Georgia sent a brutal message to the rest of the nation by demolishing No. 10 Ole Miss 42-7 in Oxford, asserting their case as the undisputed best team in college football. Down in Baton Rouge, No. 5 Alabama handled No. 14 LSU 31-13, silencing any doubts about Kalen DeBoer's squad while dealing a fatal blow to the Tigers' postseason aspirations. Plus, we have breaking news in the coaching carousel: NC State and program legend Philip Rivers are reportedly finalizing a deal to make him the next head coach of the Wolfpack! After Dave Doeren was fired, Raleigh boosters are going all-in on Rivers to revitalize the program alongside his son, four-star quarterback Gunner Rivers. Can the former NFL star bring national prominence back to his alma mater?We are breaking down every major headline, injury report, coaching search update, and postgame fallout from a wild Week 10 college football slate on The Audible Live! 🏈 ON TODAY’S RUNDOWN:• BREAKING NEWS: Philip Rivers to NC State? Finalizing a deal to make the Wolfpack legend the next head coach• #11 Notre Dame Shocks No. 1 Miami: How Darian Mensah looked without Malachi Toney• Dawgs Dominance: #2 Georgia suffocates Ole Miss 42-7—are they the clear No. 1 team?• Bama Handles LSU: Kalen DeBoer handles Lane Kiffin in Baton Rouge 31-13• Holy War Survival: No. 3 Utah outlasts No. 9 BYU 28-20 in a wild, classic finish• Horseshoe Meltdown: No. 23 Oregon hammers No. 12 Ohio State 41-28• Statement in Neyland: No. 13 Tennessee throttles No. 6 Kentucky 34-6• SEC Battle: No. 7 Texas outlasts No. 18 Missouri 34-20 after intense video reviews• Nebraska Coaching Panic: Matt Rhule fires Dana Holgorsen after 4th straight lossMake sure to smash the like button, drop your score reactions in the live chat, and let us know your updated College Football Playoff bracket predictions!Follow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audibleshowSubscribe to @audibleshow on YouTube and turn on notifications so you never miss a live stream or college football podcast recap!#TheAudible #CollegeFootball #PhilipRivers #NCState #NotreDameFootball #MiamiHurricanes #GeorgiaFootball #AlabamaFootball #LSUFootball #OhioStateFootball #OregonDucks #UtahFootball #BYUFootball #TexasLonghorns #CFBWeek10 #SportsPodcasts #CoachingCarousel #FootballNews

On today’s episode of The Audible, Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo break down the fallout from the selection committee's debut Top 25 rankings. The guys debate the benefit of the doubt given to the SEC and why the Big Ten might be feeling the squeeze, while analyzing why Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish are officially walking into must-win territory this weekend to protect their playoff trajectories.Plus, the crew dives into the latest data surrounding college football TV ratings to dissect whether the sport's viewership numbers are finally hitting a wall or simply calibrating to a new normal. The guys also look at the legislative side of the sport, reacting to how the results of the presidential election and the potential push for the Protect College Sports Act will shape the future landscape of the NCAA.Finally, the guys crack open the Mailbag to answer your burning questions. They discuss the latest rumors surrounding the next wave of college football conference realignment, analyze how the potential push for the Protect College Sports Act will shape the future legislative landscape of the NCAA, and unpack the immense, compounding pressure of elite coaching jobs to decide if coaches like Lincoln Riley eventually change under the stress.Timestamps:0:00 - Welcome to The Audible!1:04 - Reacting To First CFP Rankings19:05 - Examining TV ratings for College Football in 202629:38 - Are We Headed For More Realignment In CFB?37:53 - Does Pressure Change College Football Coaches?#TheAudible #CollegeFootball #CFPRankings #CFBPlayoff #OhioStateFootball #NotreDameFootball #BigTen #SEC #JeremiahSmith #HeismanTrophy #ConferenceRealignment #LincolnRiley #NCAA #SportsPodcasts #FootballNews

The first official College Football Playoff rankings of the 2026 season have officially dropped, and the selection committee just shook up the entire sport! Join Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel LIVE on The Audible for instant reaction and breakdown of the debut CFP Top 25 rankings.💬 Follow the Crew on X:Stewart Mandel: @slmandelBruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFBRalph Russo: @ralphDrussoATHThe Audible: @audibleshow

It is officially Miami vs. Notre Dame week! 🏈💥Undefeated No. 1 Miami heads to South Bend to face No. 4 Notre Dame in a massive, highly anticipated Old School Showdown. Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo lock in their Week 10 picks and breakdown a line that has jumped all the way to Irish (-6). Can the Hurricanes' high-flying offense mask a defensive unit that Ralph calls a flashing red alarm, or will Marcus Freeman's squad control the game at home?The crew also reacts to breaking news across the college football landscape:Florida State Fires Mike Norvell: The guys react to the massive news out of Tallahassee. What is the state of the FSU football program, how desirable is this job in the modern landscape, and would a sitting SEC head coach actually leave for Florida State?NC State Coaching Search: Philip Rivers is emerging as a serious candidate for the Wolfpack. Ralph weighs in on the crapshoot nature of hiring a legend to unlock booster money, while Stew questions the wisdom of duplicating rival UNC’s strategy.Week 10 Picks & Marquee Matchups:No. 7 BYU at No. 3 Utah (-5.5): The Holy War features major Big 12 title implications.No. 2 Georgia (-3.5) at No. 12 Ole Miss: Can Lane Kiffin spring the upset, or will UGA's high floor carry them on the road?No. 8 Kentucky at No. 16 Tennessee (-6.5): A massive SEC top-20 showdown.No. 9 Alabama at No. 15 LSU (-5.5): Death Valley hosts an elimination game where Ralph sees an elite LSU team emerging.No. 10 Texas (-3) at No. 19 Mizzou: Bruce explains why Texas' stagnant run game has him leaning toward Missouri.Oregon at No. 11 Ohio State (-7): After the Buckeyes' defensive meltdown against USC, the guys pick a matchup that Ralph expects to cause pure Big Ten chaos.Plus, the guys close out the show by locking in their official Upset Picks of the Week, targeting vulnerable lines for Nebraska, UCLA, and SMU!Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome to The Audible1:10 - Florida State Fires Head Coach Mike Norvell14:09 - Philip Rivers NC State Head Coach Position22:07 - No 1 Miami vs No 4 Notre Dame26:09 - No 7 BYU at No 3 Utah 29:48 - No 2 Georgia at No 12 Ole Miss32:02 - No. 8 Kentucky at No. 16 Tennessee33:37 - No. 9 Alabama at No. 15 LSU 36:26 - No. 10 Texas at No. 19 Missouri38:44 - Oregon at No 11 Ohio State46:36 - The Audible Picks Week 10 Upsets💬 Follow the Crew on X:Stewart Mandel: @slmandelBruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFBRalph Russo: @ralphDrussoATHThe Audible: @audibleshow#TheAudible #CollegeFootball #MiamiHurricanes #NotreDameFootball #FSUFootball #MikeNorvell #Week10Picks #GeorgiaFootball #OleMiss #AlabamaFootball #LSUTigers #OhioState #OregonDuckFootball #BYUFootball #UtahFootball #SportsPodcasts #FootballNews

Saturday shook up the college football landscape! No. 2 Ohio State falls to USC at the L.A. Coliseum, leaving the Buckeyes on thin ice ahead of Tuesday’s first official College Football Playoff rankings. Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo break down Ryan Day's quarterback dilemma, Lincoln Riley's signature win, and what to make of USC's defensive turnaround.Plus, the crew dissects No. 4 Indiana outlasting Minnesota in a wild 23-16 overtime thriller featuring dueling 60-yard field goals, backup quarterback drama, and baffling late-game clock management.The guys also dive deep into:No. 3 Georgia's 27-8 smothering of No. 17 Florida: Is the Bulldogs' defense officially back to a national championship standard despite offensive concerns?No. 1 Miami surviving a 38-35 scare against Bill Belichick's Tar Heels: Can the Hurricanes' secondary fix its glaring issues before next week's massive Top-5 showdown against No. 5 Notre Dame?No. 13 Texas Tech downing No. 22 Arizona 34-26: Did Thomas Castellanos and J'Koby Williams secure a season-saving moment for Joey McGuire?No. 6 Utah dominant 49-25 win over Cincinnati: The Utes remain undefeated, prompting a major debate: Is the top of the Big 12 now better than the top of the injury-riddled Big Ten?Clemson taking down Florida State 36-24: Mike Norvell drops to 4-17 in the ACC since 2024 as the hot seat temperature hits a boiling point.Finally, the crew wraps up Week 9 with their weekly "Players that Impressed" and "Shoutouts," highlighting standouts like Georgia's Chris Cole, Boise State's Max Cutforth, Washington's Chris Lawson, Syracuse's Steve Angelli, Dylan Raiola, and Neal Brown's surging North Texas squad.Follow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹 The Audible: @audibleshow#TheAudible #CollegeFootball #GeorgiaFootball #IndianaFootball #GeorgiaBulldogs #IndianaHoosiers #OhioStateFootball #USCFootball #MiamiHurricanes #NotreDameFootball #BYUFootball #UtahFootball #TexasLonghorns #OleMiss #TexasTech #CFBWeek9 #SportsPodcasts #FootballNews

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