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

It's time for the biggest storylines entering the 2026 season. Can Curt Cignetti keep Indiana among the College Football Playoff contenders? How will the SEC's new nine-game conference schedule impact the playoff race? Will Lane Kiffin deliver immediately at LSU? Is Arch Manning ready to lead Texas into national championship contention? Stewart Mandel, Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo debate the programs, coaches and quarterbacks that will define the 2026 college football season.The Michigan investigation appears to be reaching its conclusion, and The Audible crew breaks down what could be one of the biggest administrative stories in recent college football history. With reports that Michigan commissioned an extensive outside investigation into the culture of its athletic department, the crew discusses what it could mean for athletic director Ward Manuel, the fallout surrounding Sherrone Moore, and why this report could reshape the future of one of college football's premier programs.Next, the conversation turns toward the field as The Audible begins its official preview of the 2026 college football season. Bruce shares his biggest takeaways from Big 12 Media Days, including a healthier Deion Sanders, Colorado's revamped roster, Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway's development, and what to expect from one of the most intriguing conferences in the country this fall.The crew also gets into a spirited Arch Manning debate as Texas enters the season with massive expectations. Bruce and Ralph are buying the leap, pointing to Arch's late-season growth, improved playmaking and a loaded Longhorns roster that should have Texas thinking national championship. Stewart pushes back, questioning whether the Manning name is still inflating the hype and arguing that Arch can be a very good quarterback without needing to be treated like the next superstar before he has fully proven it.Finally, Stewart, Bruce and Ralph examine the coaches facing the most pressure this year. From Bill Belichick's uncertain future at North Carolina to Mike Norvell's mounting expectations at Florida State, Luke Fickell at Wisconsin and several other hot-seat candidates, the guys discuss which programs are approaching pivotal moments and which coaches could be coaching for their jobs this fall.Whether you're following Michigan football, Texas, LSU, Colorado, Indiana, the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC or the College Football Playoff race, this episode delivers in-depth reporting, insider analysis and informed discussion to get you ready for the 2026 college football season.Will Arch Manning live up to the hype in 2026? Drop your thoughts in the comments.Plus don't forget to send in your mailbag questions to theaudiblepod@gmail.com

Welcome to The Audible presented by Trader Joe’s! In this action-packed episode, Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo break down the biggest storylines in the college football world. We kick things off with a wild recap of Big 12 Media Day, highlighting Deion Sanders’ incredibly unusual and tense media session that has everyone talking.From there, we dive straight into the unfolding Brendan Sorsby saga. We break down David Ubben’s latest article and analyze the explosive accusations made by Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield, who claims Texas Tech illegally recruited and tampered with Sorsby during the 2025 season. What does this mean for the future of roster retention and the wild west of the transfer portal?Plus, Bruce sits down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Mike Golic Jr. They discuss Golic Jr.’s massive upcoming move back to ESPN, what his new role will look like, and his expert insights on the rapidly evolving state of the Big 12 conference. Finally, we crack open the mailbag to answer your burning questions about 90s postseason nostalgia, potential World Cup-style electronic tracking technology in footballs, and whether middle-tier programs like the Minnesota Gophers should aggressively "swing for the fences" in the modern NIL era or play it safe.

In this packed episode, Bruce and Ralph sit down with The Athletic’s David Ubben to unpack his mind-blowing feature story on Ron Weaver (aka Ron McKelvey). In 1995, a 30-year-old former community college coach stole a social security number, completely recreated his identity, and lined up as a defensive back for the Texas Longhorns—nearly getting away with it all until a sudden unraveling 12 hours before the Sugar Bowl. We dive into the psychology, the close calls, and how a grown man managed to hide in plain sight from coaching legends and future NFL draft picks.But that’s not all. We are also tackling the massive officiating philosophical divide triggered by the recent Folarin Balogun incident: is it better to preserve the integrity of the game by fixing an official's error, or do we destroy sports by ignoring consistent protocol? Stew, Bruce and Ralph discuss how this topic relates to today’s college football environment.Finally, we hit the gridiron to check the pulse of the Big 12. Five years after the seismic departures of Texas and Oklahoma, we evaluate the financial and competitive health of the conference. Can Texas Tech pull off a historic back-to-back championship run, or is another dark horse ready to claim the crown?

It’s conference realignment day on The Audible. Stewart Mandel and Ralph Russo are back to break down a massive day of shifts and hiring across the college football landscape!First up, it’s officially Conference Realignment Day! The guys dive into the brand-new look of the Mountain West and welcome the Pac-12 back to the table. What do these changes mean for the future of the sport?Then, a major administrative shift in Madison: Wisconsin has officially hired Shawn Eichorst as their next Athletic Director. Stewart and Ralph discuss what this homecoming hire means for the future of the Badgers' football program and head coach Luke Fickell.Plus, special guest Lucy Rohden joins the show! The college football content creator talks about her rise on The Dan Le Batard Show, her deep-rooted love for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and what is next as she ventures out on her own as a solo creator.We wrap up the show by opening up the listener mailbag to answer your burning college football questions!

Texas Tech's wild offseason isn't over, the College Football Playoff could be expanding again, and the NCAA's latest eligibility overhaul is already facing legal challenges. Ralph Russo and Stew Mandel revisit the biggest Brendan Sorsby developments, debate whether ties should return to college football, discuss The Athletic's 1990s series, and break down why the College Sports Commission's NIL enforcement may already be changing.Stew returns from Europe just in time to weigh in on the Brendan Sorsby saga, questioning whether the former Texas Tech quarterback received the right legal advice after his NCAA suspension ultimately shut the door on both the NFL Supplemental Draft and the CFL. Ralph and Stew also examine the NCAA's newly approved age-based eligibility model, why traditional redshirts are disappearing, and why another lawsuit is already challenging the system.The conversation shifts to The Athletic's College Football in the 1990s series, with a nostalgic look at the era's broadcasts, legendary teams, split national championships, and the evolution of the sport. Ralph and Stew also engage in one of the show's most entertaining debates yet: should ties return to college football? Ralph argues they create meaningful competitive outcomes, while Stew believes they'd create complete Playoff chaos.Finally, Ralph and Stew dive into the latest College Football Playoff expansion discussions, including scheduling challenges surrounding a potential 16-team field, Army-Navy weekend, championship timing, and the growing logistical battle between college football and the NFL calendar. They close by examining the latest changes to NIL Go, the College Sports Commission, revenue-sharing limits, and why both the SEC and Big Ten are already pushing to reshape college athletics' new financial model.If you love College Football Playoff news, NCAA governance, transfer portal coverage, conference realignment, recruiting, NIL, and the biggest offseason storylines shaping the 2026 season, be sure to subscribe, like the video, and leave your thoughts in the comments.

Dusty May just won an NCAA title at Michigan and has been in the Final Four in two of the last four seasons. He was on a trajectory to be one of the all-time coaches at the college level. And then, deep into June and on the eve the NBA Draft, he left Michigan to become the new head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Is this a sign of things to come in not only college basketball, but also college football? Ralph Russo and Justin Williams discuss that—plus Brendan Sorsby and the mailbag—on this episode of The Audible.

The Protect College Sports Act has achieved a feat that eluded the SCORE Act for its entire existence—make it out of committee. It still has powerful opponents—namely the Big Ten and SEC—but it's time to take treat this legislation as though it could help shape what's to come in college football. That's exactly what Ralph Russo and Bruce Feldman do on this episode of The Audible. Then, the guys turn their focus to the G6, making four win total over/under picks apiece.

When is Oklahoma State the key to the college football season? Allow Ralph Russo and Bruce Feldman to explain on this episode of The Audible. The guys find inspiration in a question from an emailer, indulging in a game in which, yes, Drew Mestemaker's and Eric Morris's move from North Texas to Oklahoma State is the most important thing. After that, the guys dig further into the mailbag to look both backward and forward across the college football landscape.

The Audible is back with a loaded episode. Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo break down the Big 12's escalating legal battle with Texas Tech, discuss what comes next for Brendan Sorsby, and examine the ripple effects across college football. Then, Stewart Mandel joins the show as the crew makes their favorite SEC over/under picks, debates conference contenders, and discusses whether Arch Manning and Texas are ready to take the next step.The episode opens with the latest fallout from the Brendan Sorsby case as the Big 12 pushes back against Texas Tech's plans surrounding the star quarterback. Bruce and Ralph discuss the conference's legal response, the possibility of sanctions, how the College Football Playoff could view the situation, and whether Sorsby's future could ultimately lie in the NFL rather than college football.The Audible crew continues their conference win-totals draft with a deep dive into the SEC. Stew, Bruce and Ralph identify the teams they believe are poised to exceed expectations and those facing difficult paths ahead.Can Arch Manning lead Texas to an SEC Championship? Is Georgia's favorable schedule the biggest advantage in the conference? The panel debates the outlook for the SEC's top contenders while breaking down the impact of quarterback play, coaching changes, roster turnover, and schedule strength on the race to reach the College Football Playoff.Plus, the guys explain the logic behind their strongest SEC projections, discuss why South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Alabama could outperform expectations, and examine whether programs like Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Mississippi State can surprise this season. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of The Audible. Which team is your pick to win the SEC? Let us know in the comments.