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The Audible with Stew, Bruce & Ralph: A show about college football
QB Disappointments + Heisman Dark Horses
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The 2025 QB class was supposed to be special, but Bruce’s recent story reveals major concerns about Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, and Drew Allar. The guys break down why Manning is pressing at Texas, Klubnik's alarming regression at Clemson, and whether Allar is the next Christian Hackenberg.
On the flip side, Dante Moore is blossoming at Oregon after leaving USC, and Garrett Nussmeier still has NFL believers despite LSU’s struggles. Plus, Ralph and Bruce debate Heisman contenders: Can Diego Pavia actually win it if Vanderbilt stays ranked? Is Fernando Mendoza the real deal at Indiana? And why Rueben Bain Jr.’s defensive dominance at Miami might not be enough to get to New York.
Timestamps approximate:
0:00 Intro
1:00 Transfer RBs who haven’t lived up to expectations, and why transfers sometimes struggle
6:33 The Disappointing QB Class
19:25 Heisman Race: Moore, Mendoza, Pavia, Bain
32:38 Breakout Players of the Week: BYU, Michigan mentioned
39:07 Mailbag: Coaching Fit, Authenticity vs. Credentials
43:10 Mailbag: Will All College Football Show Replay Conversations Like the ACC?
45:56 Mailbag: Why has the JUCO pipeline declined?
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Indiana Goes 16-0
21:43|For the first time, the Indiana Hoosiers are national champions, beating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21. Bruce and Ralph from Hard Rock Stadium join Stew to break down this game and this historic moment.Darian Mensah's Contract Drama + Championship X-Factors
39:36|Bruce and Ralph are in Miami for the championship. Speaking of trips to Miami: Duke QB Darian Mensah announces he's leaving in spite of his two-year contract, with Miami reportedly the destination. Can he do that? Can Miami? What exactly are these contracts for? And will this distract from Monday's national championship game? Plus, Ralph flips his championship pick back to Miami, invoking the 1984 Nebraska upset, and they choose their X-factor players for the title game.Championship Preview, Dante Moore to Return to Oregon
35:29|Dante Moore announces he's returning to Oregon for 2026, pushing Dylan Raiola's starting opportunity back another year. Was this the right decision? And what does it mean for the thin 2026 NFL quarterback class? Then, the guys make their final predictions for Monday's national championship game between Indiana and Miami. Can the Hoosiers complete a perfect 16-0 season, or will the Hurricanes pull off the upset? Plus, in mailbag, where would an undefeated Indiana would rank among the greatest teams ever?QB Portal Madness, Texas Stocks Up, Favorite Announcers
44:24|Sam Leavitt has committed to LSU, and Dylan Raiola to Oregon. Does anyone want to develop quarterbacks anymore? Ralph argues Trinidad Chambliss shouldn't get a sixth year despite his appeal. Texas raids the portal, landing a dream haul including Cam Coleman, Hollywood Smothers, Raleek Brown, and Rasheem Biles. Plus, who’s your favorite announcing team? Bruce, Ralph, and Stew weigh in with their opinions — and a controversial take about Kirk Herbstreit's dog.Chris Vannini’s story on how Athletic readers watch college football: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6946307/2026/01/12/college-football-broadcast-tv-announcers-survey-results/CFP Semifinal Live Reaction
42:07|It's Hurricanes vs. Hoosiers in the championship game. Indiana shows why they're the No. 1 seed, dropping 56 points on Oregon to advance to the final. Miami, a team that barely squeaked into the playoff, took down Ole Miss in an instant classic.Demond Williams Jr. Breaks Contract + Mailbag
46:59|Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. enters the transfer portal just four days after signing a $4M+ revenue-sharing contract with the Huskies. Bruce and Ralph break down potential legal ramifications — and potential suitors. Do contracts mean anything in college football's lawless NIL landscape? Plus, does the regular season mean anything anymore?Bruce's story on Pete Golding: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/818567/2019/02/16/alabama-football-pete-golding-defensive-coordinator/The SEC’s Decline, Final Four Picks, and Transfer Portal QB Market
44:16|Bruce’s story on the SEC's struggles sparks debate: is the conference's dominance over? NIL has leveled the playing field, and SEC teams no longer have overwhelming talent advantages. The portal heats up with Brandon Sorsby landing at Texas Tech for a reported $5 million and Trinidad Chambliss is staying at Ole Miss (pending eligibility). Then the guys make their picks for the CFP semifinals: Miami-Ole Miss and Indiana-Oregon.Round 2 Reactions: Huge Upsets and a Shutout
45:33|Bruce and Ralph went live after an incredible Ole Miss win over Georgia. Can anyone stop this Ole Miss team? They’ll move on to Miami, who came to play and toppled their own giant in a 24-14 defeat of Ohio State. And with bye week teams falling to 1-7 in the 12-team CFP era, does anyone get to use the bye as an excuse? Indiana didn’t disappoint, steamrolling the Tide 38-3 (don’t they know they’re supposed to be a Cinderella story?). And Oregon convincingly shut out Texas Tech 23-0. Will the Texas Tech boosters spend all that money differently next time?Kyle Whittingham to Michigan + Round 2 Preview
51:26|The guys break down the quarterfinal matchups and make their picks. Kyle Whittingham takes the Michigan head coaching job after stepping down at Utah, bringing 21 years of experience to stabilize a program in crisis. The guys debate whether the 66-year-old is the right fit and discuss his five-year timeline. Lincoln Riley blames the Irish for the cancellation of the annual USC-Notre Dame matchup, while Marcus Freeman signs an extension. Plus, while transfer portal money reaches new heights, have new rules curtailed spending at all?