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The Audible with Stew, Bruce & Ralph: A show about college football
Is Arch Manning the real deal — or are we overhyping the name?
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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
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Ole Miss, Trinidad Chambliss spoil Lane Kiffin's return + Unbelievable finish at Vanderbilt
57:14|Week 3 of the College Football season is in the books! Today on The Audible, Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo are breaking down all the wild post-game action from Week 3, leading off with the absolute circus in Oxford as No. 8 Ole Miss spoils Lane Kiffin’s highly anticipated return, taking down No. 7 LSU in a thrilling 32-24 shootout behind a magical performance from Trinidad Chambliss.Did the Rebels get the ultimate revenge on their former coach? We dive deep into Pete Golding’s gutsy two-point conversion call, Will Echols' dominant defensive night, and the incredible post-game fallout.But that’s just the beginning. We shift over to the ACC to recap Clemson's massive comeback over UNC following a wild 2.5-hour rain delay, evaluating true freshman Tait Reynolds' first start and Bill Belichick’s biggest blown lead in a decade. That is followed by the explosive Top-25 battle between SMU and Louisville where Keyjuan Brown's second-half explosion secured a 41-31 track meet for the Cardinals.Plus, we recap the jaw-dropping walk-off finish between NC State and Vandy, Kentucky's massive upset of No. 9 Texas A&M at Kyle Field, and Texas Tech holding off Houston by a matter of inches. Wrapping things up, the crew highlights the players who impressed them the most this weekend, hands out their latest team shoutouts, and takes your questions live!📌 TODAY'S WEEK 3 TOPICS:• Ole Miss Spoil's Lane Kiffin's Return: LSU vs Ole Miss Recap• ACC Comeback: Clemson Survives Post-Delay Battle vs UNC• Top 25 Track Meet: No. 23 Louisville Outlasts No. 16 SMU• Improbable Finish: Vandy Stuns NC State on Walk-Off Fumble• Kyle Field Shocker: Kentucky Upsets No. 9 Texas A&M• Big 12 Hold 'Em: No. 13 Texas Tech Edges No. 22 Houston• Weekly Awards: Players That Impressed & Weekend Shoutouts!👇 Drop your thoughts in the live chat: Who is the biggest winner of Week 3?Support the show by subscribing and hitting the notification bell so you never miss a live stream!#CollegeFootball #TheAudible #LaneKiffin #LSUvsOleMiss #TrinidadChambliss #ClemsonFootball #UNCvsClemson #SMUvsLouisville #VandyFootball #NCState #KentuckyFootball #TexasAM #TexasTech #HoustonCougars #SEC #ACC #Big12 #CFBRecapLSU vs Ole Miss Preview: Is Lane Kiffin the Ultimate Villain? + CFB Payroll Reveal
01:01:45|This week on The Audible, Stew, Bruce, and Ralph break down The Athletic’s landmark investigative piece detailing the massive $50M vs. $8M roster spending gap across college football. Stew pulls back the curtain on how this massive report was executed, while Bruce and Ralph debate the realities of finding transparency in a murky financial system and what it actually costs to build a competitive roster in the modern era.Plus, the guys dive deep into the ultimate SEC drama as Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford this Saturday. Is this the most villainous return in college football history? The crew previews the hostile LSU vs. Ole Miss matchup, before pivoting to a massive ACC showdown as North Carolina visits Clemson in a battle of two programs stuck at a historic crossroads. The guys debate where Dabo Swinney's program has gone wrong, and how his staffing choices and portal aversion have torpedoed the Tigers' elite development.To wrap up the show, the guys discuss the Protect College Sports Act hitting the Senate floor, hand out their early two-week "prediction mulligans" on teams like Georgia, Oklahoma, and Oregon, and answer your mailbag questions! Is P.J. Fleck officially on the hot seat at Minnesota? And how has social media completely changed the way modern college football reporters vet their information? Dive in to find out!Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:24 - The Athletic Report: The Real Cost Of A CFB Roster Revealed20:53 - Is Lane Kiffin’s Return To Ole Miss The Most Villainous Return in CFB History?27:21 - The Protect College Sports Act Hits Senate Floor29:52 - At A Crossroads: What Should Clemson & UNC Do With Legendary Coaches?43:42 - Mailbag! What Is Your Preseason Mulligan?47:18 - Mailbag! Should P.J. Fleck Be On The Hotseat?54:08 - Mailbag! Does Social Media Make Reporting More Difficult?Follow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹The Audible: @audible.show#CollegeFootball #TheAudible #LaneKiffin #OleMiss #LSU #LSUvsOleMiss #Clemson #DaboSwinney #NIL #CollegeFootballPlayoff #OklahomaFootball #OregonFootball #PJFleck #SportsJournalismThe Oregon Panic Meter: Why You Should Believe in Dan Lanning & Dante Moore
38:23|The Oregon Ducks face heavy scrutiny following a shocking 39-31 loss against Oklahoma State, prompting national media comparisons to recent underachieving Penn State teams. Stewart Mandel and Bruce Feldman dive deep into whether Dan Lanning's squad is heading for a total free fall or if star quarterback Dante Moore has what it takes to right the ship. The guys also address the brewing controversy surrounding ESPN's College GameDay after the network granted Senator Ted Cruz extensive airtime to lobby for his Protect College Sports Act.Turning their attention to the upcoming slate, the crew breaks down their official predictions for Week 3. They debate the tight margins of LSU at Ole Miss, analyze a tricky matchup as SMU visits Louisville, and preview Houston heading into a hostile environment at Texas Tech. Finally, the guys lock in their selections for Florida at Auburn before closing out the show with their signature long-shot underdog and upset picks of the week.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:22 - Is Oregon this year’s Penn State?11:54 - Ted Cruz on College GameDay24:47 - Week 3 Picks | LSU (-3) at Ole Miss27:08 - Week 3 Picks | SMU at Louisville (-2)30:02 - Week 3 Picks | Houston at Texas Tech (-8)31:53 - Week 3 Picks | Florida (-2) at Auburn33:25 - The Audible Picks Week 3 UpsetsFollow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹The Audible: @audible.show#OregonDucks #DanLanning #CollegeFootball #TheAudible #CFBChaos #Week3Picks #TedCruz #LSUvsOleMiss #TexasTech #WreckEm #AuburnFootball #FloridaGators #CollegeGameDay #APTop25Texas' Statement Win vs Ohio State & Michigan Prevails Over Oklahoma | Week 2 Recap
53:01|The Audible reacts to a massive, chaotic Week 2 of the college football season! Join Stewart Mandel, Bruce Feldman, and Ralph Russo as they break down all the fallout, major statements, and shocking results from the biggest weekend of the month.The guys go deep into the historic marquee showdown between Texas and Ohio State, dissecting Arch Manning's epic 4th-quarter comeback to knock off the No. 1 Buckeyes. Then, they evaluate the state of the Wolverines after Michigan flexed its defensive muscles to shut down Oklahoma.We also separate early-season overreaction from true reality after No. 6 Oregon’s stunning upset loss to Oklahoma State, and look at the rest of the Big 12 after No. 13 Texas Tech narrowly fended off a massive upset scare in a 35-24 road win over Oregon State.Follow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹The Audible: @audible.show#TexasFootball #OhioState #MichiganFootball #OklahomaSooners #CollegeFootball #CFB #ArchManning #BryceUnderwood #DrewMestemaker #CFBChaos #TexasTech #WreckEm #AlabamaFootball #RollTide #TheAudible #AudibleShowLane Kiffin vs SEC Ends: Why LSU Balked on NFL Roster Quest
01:02:06|The high-stakes legal standoff between Lane Kiffin and the SEC has come to a sudden halt. Facing intense pushback and the threat of severe league discipline from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, the LSU Tigers have officially finalized their 105-man roster. By completing the roster with undergraduate talent, LSU balked and ended its quest to add former NFL players to the active squad, putting an end to a wild experiment in conference self-governance. We break down the explosive legal showdown, the "Lack of Institutional Control" warnings, and what this capitulation means for Kiffin’s program moving forward.Beyond the drama in Baton Rouge, we dive straight into the wild "Clock Gate" controversy out of Michigan. The MAC has officially filed an appeal following Western Michigan’s bizarre loss, claiming a massive replay protocol error handed the Wolverines an illegal extra second. We look at the fallout of this timing failure, including why Jeff Sagarin is officially tracking this as a WMU victory, and how the College Football Playoff committee should factor the "human element" of this officiating disaster into their rankings.Finally, we open up the mailbag to tackle your best questions from across the country. We address the rampant Week 1 overreactions and look at historical precedents to prove why national championship contenders always take time to develop. Plus, we look at the absolute misery currently surrounding Florida State football as they sit tied with UConn for ACC wins over the last two seasons, and examine how a potential 24-team CFP expansion will completely rewrite the future of scheduling for upper-tier G6 schools.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:09 - LSU backs down, does not sign former NFL players16:01 - MAC, Western Michigan to appeal replay error33:44 - Mailbag!59:44 - Breaking News with LSUFollow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹The Audible: @audible.show#CollegeFootball #LaneKiffin #LSUTigers #SECFootball #GregSankey #MichiganFootball #WMUFootball #ClockGate #FSUFootball #CFBPlayoffMichigan Clock Controversy Explained: Did The Big Ten Get It Right?
47:37|The Big Ten replay center is under fire after a wild, second-chance Hail Mary finish in the Michigan vs. Western Michigan game. In this episode of The Audible, presented by Trader Joe’s, Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph D. Russo break down exactly what happened with the game clock, what should have happened, and why there isn’t actually a "secret second clock" hidden in the replay booth.Plus, the guys recap an action-packed Week 1—including Ole Miss outlasting Louisville in a Nashville thriller and Notre Dame dominating Wisconsin to open the 2026 season. Finally, we look ahead to massive Week 2 matchups, making picks for No. 1 Ohio State at No. 5 Texas, No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 16 Michigan, and our favorite underdogs of the week!Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:28 - Explaining Michigan vs Western Michigan clock controversy12:45 - Bryce Underwood’s job security15:07 - Ole Miss outlasts Louisville 20:23 - Notre Dame dominates Wisconsin30:08 - Ohio State at Texas34:33 - Oklahoma at Michigan37:32 - Iowa State at Iowa39:18 - Alabama at Kentucky42:50 - Week 2 UpsetsFollow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹The Audible: @audible.show#CollegeFootball #MichiganFootball #TheAudible #BigTen #Week2Picks #NotreDameFootball #OleMissCFB Week 1 Recap: Explaining the Michigan Clock Drama + Oregon’s Close Call
49:20|Week 1 of the college football season delivered absolute chaos! Today on The Audible, Stew, Bruce, and Ralph break down the wildest opening weekend storylines, massive scares, and officiating drama.⏱️ Michigan’s Clock Controversy Explained: Michigan survived a massive scare against Western Michigan, but the real story is the chaotic ending. We go behind the scenes of the Big Ten's replay protocol, the Hawk-Eye camera discrepancy, and exactly what the broadcast crew missed. Plus, the guys discuss why Michigan needs to throw in the towel on Bryce Underwood.🦆 Oregon Dodges Disaster: Oregon survives a fierce battle against Boise State. We break down how Maddux Madsen and the Broncos pushed the Ducks to the absolute brink.🐅 LSU Dominates Clemson: LSU made Clemson look like an FCS school. Is LSU a legitimate National Championship contender, or is Dabo Swinney officially entering his final season after getting outpaced by the modern transfer portal?Follow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹The Audible: @audible.show#CollegeFootball #CFBRecap #MichiganControversy #OregonScare #LSUvsClemson #TheAudibleWhat Coaches *Really* Think: Title Favorites & Biggest Frauds + Mailbag
01:00:47|What do college football coaches actually think behind closed doors? In this episode of The Audible, Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo break down Bruce's anonymous coach survey. The guys dive straight into the takes, revealing which hyped contenders coaches are calling the biggest frauds before flipping to their ultimate national title favorites.Moving beyond the survey, the crew examines the mounting pressure on coaching hot seats across the country. They debate whether Lincoln Riley faces a Brian Kelly-style crisis at USC and evaluate the market appeal of major coaching retreads like Brian Kelly and Jimbo Fisher looking to get back on the sidelines.Finally, the guys close out the show with a packed listener mailbag. They tackle predictions for the Border War, share their all-time favorite college football books, and run a fascinating thought experiment on what this season would look like under the old four-team playoff format.Timestamps0:00 - Intro1:23 - Coaches Confidential Survey1:55 - CFB coaches pick the biggest frauds12:30 - CFB coaches pick the ’26 nat’l champs15:39 - CFB coaches pick the biggest sleeper18:38 - Coaching Carousel18:56 - Jimbo Fisher & Brian Kelly30:27 - Dave Clawson32:20 - Coaches to watch on the Hot Spot46:29 - Mailbag Time!59:10- Mailbag WinnerFollow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH🔹The Audible: @audible.show#TheAudible #CollegeFootball #CFB #CoachesPoll #LincolnRiley #USC #CFPLSU vs SEC: Lawsuits, Loopholes, and Lingering Questions + Week 1 Predictions
38:16|The legal war between LSU and the SEC is escalating right before kickoff, forcing Commissioner Greg Sankey and the league into a high-stakes standoff over controversial roster rules. In this episode of The Audible, presented by Trader Joe’s, we break down the massive legal risks the Tigers face if they choose to suit up players under a temporary state court injunction. Our panel analyzes whether this legal loophole provides actual protection or if LSU is cruising toward unprecedented conference penalties, fines, and forfeits.Plus, the college football season is officially here, and the guys dive into a massive slate of Week 1 game picks, point spreads, and predictions. We break down the betting angles for Boise State at Oregon (-24.5), a highly-anticipated Clemson at No. 11 LSU (-10.5) showdown in Death Valley, and a historic Sunday matchup between Wisconsin and No. 4 Notre Dame (-20.5) at Lambeau Field. The crew also locks in their best bets for Louisville vs. Ole Miss (-7) in Nashville before revealing their favorite Week 1 upset picks—including a bold 30.5-point underdog shocker—and debating the most interesting under-the-radar storylines of the weekend, from Oklahoma State at Tulsa to SMU at Florida State.📺 Watch us on YouTube: @AudibleShow🎧 Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:23 - Lane Kiffin, LSU vs SEC10:53 - Boise vs. Oregon13:57 - Clemson vs. LSU17:38 - Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame23:52 - Louisville vs. Ole Miss28:13 - Potential upset picksFollow the Crew on X:🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH#CollegeFootball #LSU #SEC #Week1Predictions #TheAudible #CollegeFootballPicks #TraderJoes #Clemson #NotreDame #OleMiss #Oregon #CFBNews