Bussin’ With The Boys | College Football Locker Room, Episode 1:

"Josh Pate Rides Texas OVER Ohio State, Taylor Lewan Backs LSU & Will Compton RIDES Nebraska”
Date: August 27, 2025

Episode Overview

The Boys are back on the bus for the kickoff episode of their 2025 college football season “Locker Room” series. Hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan welcome college football analyst Josh Pate (Late Kick podcast), and dive headfirst into the energy and anxiety of Week 1. The episode blends enthusiastic, sometimes raucous, fan banter with detailed breakdowns of the biggest games, personal team allegiances, and sharp betting insights.

Key topics include:

Game picks and in-depth matchup analysis for marquee Week 1 games (Ohio State vs Texas, Nebraska vs Cincinnati, LSU vs Clemson, Notre Dame vs Miami, etc.)
The Dave Portnoy–Ohio State–Fox broadcast controversy
Betting lines, upsets, and must-win narratives
Hyped players and coaching storylines (Arch Manning, Matt Rule, Nick Saban, Sark, Brian Kelly, and more)
Notable moments of trash talk, comedy, and fan pain

Opening & College Football Vibes
Media Mayhem - Dave Portnoy and Ohio State
Game Breakdowns and Picks
Underdog/Dog of the Week Picks
Weekly Parlay
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
Timestamps

1. Opening & College Football Vibes

[00:00]
Taylor Lewan opens by celebrating the arrival of college football, capturing every fan’s pent-up anticipation:

“You've waited, you've done the farmer's markets... now is your time. Thursday we got games. Friday we got games. Saturdays we got games. And Sunday we got games." (Taylor, 00:00)

The Boys make it clear – this week feels interminable, the weekend will fly, so enjoy it.
Josh Pate joins, and the chat quickly turns to preseason media saturation and “no one really knowing anything” once games begin.

“No one knows anything.” (Josh Pate, 04:38)

2. Media Mayhem & The Dave Portnoy–Ohio State–Fox Saga

[06:59]
The crew discusses Dave Portnoy (Barstool) being banned from Ohio State and Big Ten stadiums, the ongoing Fox–YouTube TV negotiations impacting viewers, and how the entertainment aspect frequently collides with football tradition.

Josh empathizes with Ryan Day protecting his program, despite accusations of being “soft” ("I think I may be that small. I think I would actually go that route.” – Josh, 08:54).
Taylor and Will joke about ways coaches and media could troll each other and embrace the entertainment angle rather than fighting it (funny suggestions about making Portnoy take a photo at midfield, etc.).
They note how this drama is overshadowing Lee Corso’s supposed farewell and has become "guerrilla warfare" for attention.

3. Game Breakdowns and Picks

<a name="nebraska"></a>A. Nebraska vs Cincinnati

[13:04]

Will Compton: ALL IN on his Huskers. Emphasizes Year 3 Matt Rhule magic (“Matt Rule in year three is when it starts to shake.” – Will, 15:01). Cites Dylan Raiola’s leadership and young weapons.
Josh Pate & Taylor Lewan: Nebraska should win and cover (-6.5), but both express minor anxiety about the line being “fishy”—Cincy has a dangerous dual-threat QB (Sorsby) and possible backdoor cover potential.
Will's must-win call:

“It's a must win. It's a must win game for the Huskers. If we're going to set the tone...” (Taylor, 18:39)

—

<a name="lsu"></a>B. LSU vs Clemson

[24:01]

Taylor argues LSU finally gets over the opening-game curse and picks them to win, gushing over QB Garrett Nussmeier and transfer upgrades, but flags the O-line as the biggest question.
Both Josh & Will go Clemson (-3.5):
- “What does LSU require Garrett Nussmeier to do?” (Josh, 27:17) — He worries LSU's O-line will get exposed early in Death Valley, puts faith in Clemson’s vet defense, and notes LSU was turnover-prone in these spots last year.
- Will calls Dabo’s team more “grown and complete," built entirely through development rather than portal madness.

—

<a name="notredame"></a>C. Notre Dame vs Miami

[31:33]

Josh: Leans Miami (outright upset) based on their monstrous O-line, ground game potential (Mark Fletcher), and worries about Notre Dame’s rookie QB CJ Carr on the road.
Taylor & Will: Strongly pick Notre Dame, touting their physical O-line, run game, experienced defense (“pack a defense, pack a run game, those are the two things you gotta put in your lunchbox.” – Will, 39:24) and the steady leadership Marcus Freeman has built.
Disagreement centers on whether Miami’s transfer-heavy secondary can handle a real test, and if Notre Dame’s ground game can dominate as usual.

—

<a name="alabama"></a>D. Alabama vs Florida State

[43:18]

Consensus pick: Alabama -13.5
The guys agree Florida State's 23 transfers and QB changes make them a wild card, with Malzahn possibly cooking up “backyard football” and chaos. But Bama’s talent and anger after last year’s finish = a rout.
Josh credits Florida State with a puncher’s chance, but quickly dismisses any serious threat.

—

<a name="socarolina"></a>E. Virginia Tech vs South Carolina

[50:58]

All on South Carolina (-7.5):
- JP is hyped for LenNorris Sellers (his Heisman pick), recognizes Shane Beamer’s chance to finally “step on their throat” versus a weakened Hokies squad gutted by the portal.
- Will and Josh both point out the recruiting and development differences, expressing zero faith in Virginia Tech’s ability to hang.

<a name="auburnbaylor"></a>F. Auburn vs Baylor

[60:12]

- Initial Analysis: Auburn has more raw athlete talent (wow WR room) but huge concerns about QB Jackson Arnold’s confidence, and coach Hugh Freeze’s job security.
- Auburn’s O-line can take over, says Josh, but their penchant for turnovers, and Freeze’s coddling of the QB’s mentals, gives all three pause.
Pivotal Moment: Taylor and Will start flipping to Baylor after discussing the impact of an early turnover and home atmosphere. Comic relief: a wild "Nacho Man Randy Savage" impression (71:58) "the cream always rises to the top" in favor of Baylor.

—

<a name="osu-texas"></a>G. Ohio State vs Texas

[74:11] Game of the Week

Texas is the consensus pick to upset Ohio State in Columbus.
- Concerns over Ohio State’s new DC Matt Patricia, massive defensive turnover, inexperienced QB (Julian Sayin), and Texas’s motivation after last year’s loss.
- “I just trust Texas’s answers a whole lot more, I guess, than Ohio State’s answers.” (Josh, 80:53)
Big Picture: All three say the pressure is more on Sark than Ryan Day, and note that if Texas loses, serious "big game" narrative danger could swirl around him.

4. Underdog/Dog of the Week Picks

[83:44]
To celebrate the underdog spirit, the Boys pick their favorite against-the-spread teams:

Taylor: Syracuse +13.5 vs Tennessee — Likes new coach Fran Brown and how the Orange have quietly rebuilt.
Josh: South Florida +5.5 vs Boise State — Loves Coach Alex Golesh and believes Boise is overrated early.
Will: Colorado +4.5 vs Georgia Tech — Entirely vibes-based, less analysis, tons of belief in "Primetime" Deion's focus.

5. Weekly Parlay

[89:17]
The Boys’ three-leg parlay:

Ball State +18.5 vs Purdue (favorite pick of the week for Josh)
Montana State +27.5 vs Oregon (Taylor: the slow Oregon starts, Montana State is scrappy)
Nebraska -6.5 vs Cincinnati

Pays +568 on FanDuel.

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"No one knows anything." — Josh, 04:38 (on all preseason predictions)
"It's a must win. It's a must win game for the Huskers." — Taylor, 18:39
"You get paid eight figures per year because you're in the entertainment business. ...A little bit of the trade off is, yeah, you're all about X's and O's. You kind of have to deal with stuff in that bubble." — Josh, 09:18 (discussing media/coach tension)
"If I'm Fox, I'm putting Dave just outside the building, literally one foot away from the distance he's not allowed to walk into." — Taylor, 11:38
"This is why you're great, Josh! You could have easily sold me on why Florida State would cover and potentially win this game...I'm not going to. But, tip of the cap!" — Will, 49:41
"I hope we seem right. I feel really good about the weekend." — Taylor, (closing enthusiasm for their picks)

Comic highlight:

Nacho Man Randy Savage (Sherman Young) delivers a wild, over-the-top pro-Baylor promo, referencing Dave Aranda’s "body count" of head coaches and claiming, “the cream rises to the top!” (71:58–72:31)

7. Key Timestamps

[00:00–04:44] - Season intro, vibes, “nobody knows anything”
[06:59–12:45] - Dave Portnoy/Fox/Ohio State drama, coach-media dynamics
[13:04–23:43] - Nebraska vs Cincinnati: Deep-dive, must-win status, Huskers optimism
[24:01–31:33] - LSU vs Clemson: O-line questions, development vs transfer strategies
[31:33–42:56] - Notre Dame vs Miami: O-line wars, Miami’s transfer DBs, ND’s “lunchbox” essentials
[43:18–50:57] - Alabama vs Florida State: Bama as a buzzsaw, FSU as chaos agent
[50:58–59:34] - Virginia Tech vs South Carolina: Beamer legacy, Hokies' struggles and South Carolina’s “throat-stepping” moment
[60:12–69:55] - Auburn vs Baylor: Mental games, QB confidence, surprise Baylor picks & Nacho Man
[74:11–83:44] - Ohio State vs Texas: Pressure narratives, staff edges, why Texas is the safer bet
[83:44–88:48] - Dog (Underdog) of the Week picks
[89:17–91:22] - Parlay construction, Ball State and Montana State value
[91:36–end] - Closing thoughts, grateful hype, housekeeping

Overall Tone & Flow

Lively, irreverent, deeply knowledgeable, and self-aware (“We’re not pretending to be insiders… No one knows anything!”)
Full of Midwest/South football tradition talk, jokes, callouts of long-suffering fan bases
Constantly mixing sharp betting edge with passionate (sometimes deluded) fan perspective
Exuberant banter and smack talk, but undergirded by expert knowledge (esp. with Josh Pate’s analysis)

For New Listeners

This episode embodies the spirit of Bussin’ With The Boys: equal parts locker room humor, sports betting banter, and hard-earned football insight. Even if you haven’t listened, you’ll get every crucial pick, storyline, and meme-worthy moment from this week’s college football landscape.

Bussin’ With The Boys | College Football Locker Room, Episode 1:

"Josh Pate Rides Texas OVER Ohio State, Taylor Lewan Backs LSU & Will Compton RIDES Nebraska”
Date: August 27, 2025

Episode Overview

Key topics include:

Game picks and in-depth matchup analysis for marquee Week 1 games (Ohio State vs Texas, Nebraska vs Cincinnati, LSU vs Clemson, Notre Dame vs Miami, etc.)
The Dave Portnoy–Ohio State–Fox broadcast controversy
Betting lines, upsets, and must-win narratives
Hyped players and coaching storylines (Arch Manning, Matt Rule, Nick Saban, Sark, Brian Kelly, and more)
Notable moments of trash talk, comedy, and fan pain

Opening & College Football Vibes
Media Mayhem - Dave Portnoy and Ohio State
Game Breakdowns and Picks
Underdog/Dog of the Week Picks
Weekly Parlay
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
Timestamps

1. Opening & College Football Vibes

[00:00]
Taylor Lewan opens by celebrating the arrival of college football, capturing every fan’s pent-up anticipation:

“You've waited, you've done the farmer's markets... now is your time. Thursday we got games. Friday we got games. Saturdays we got games. And Sunday we got games." (Taylor, 00:00)

“No one knows anything.” (Josh Pate, 04:38)

2. Media Mayhem & The Dave Portnoy–Ohio State–Fox Saga

Josh empathizes with Ryan Day protecting his program, despite accusations of being “soft” ("I think I may be that small. I think I would actually go that route.” – Josh, 08:54).
Taylor and Will joke about ways coaches and media could troll each other and embrace the entertainment angle rather than fighting it (funny suggestions about making Portnoy take a photo at midfield, etc.).
They note how this drama is overshadowing Lee Corso’s supposed farewell and has become "guerrilla warfare" for attention.

3. Game Breakdowns and Picks

<a name="nebraska"></a>A. Nebraska vs Cincinnati

[13:04]

Will Compton: ALL IN on his Huskers. Emphasizes Year 3 Matt Rhule magic (“Matt Rule in year three is when it starts to shake.” – Will, 15:01). Cites Dylan Raiola’s leadership and young weapons.
Josh Pate & Taylor Lewan: Nebraska should win and cover (-6.5), but both express minor anxiety about the line being “fishy”—Cincy has a dangerous dual-threat QB (Sorsby) and possible backdoor cover potential.
Will's must-win call:

“It's a must win. It's a must win game for the Huskers. If we're going to set the tone...” (Taylor, 18:39)

—

<a name="lsu"></a>B. LSU vs Clemson

[24:01]

Taylor argues LSU finally gets over the opening-game curse and picks them to win, gushing over QB Garrett Nussmeier and transfer upgrades, but flags the O-line as the biggest question.
Both Josh & Will go Clemson (-3.5):
- “What does LSU require Garrett Nussmeier to do?” (Josh, 27:17) — He worries LSU's O-line will get exposed early in Death Valley, puts faith in Clemson’s vet defense, and notes LSU was turnover-prone in these spots last year.
- Will calls Dabo’s team more “grown and complete," built entirely through development rather than portal madness.

—

<a name="notredame"></a>C. Notre Dame vs Miami

[31:33]

Josh: Leans Miami (outright upset) based on their monstrous O-line, ground game potential (Mark Fletcher), and worries about Notre Dame’s rookie QB CJ Carr on the road.
Taylor & Will: Strongly pick Notre Dame, touting their physical O-line, run game, experienced defense (“pack a defense, pack a run game, those are the two things you gotta put in your lunchbox.” – Will, 39:24) and the steady leadership Marcus Freeman has built.
Disagreement centers on whether Miami’s transfer-heavy secondary can handle a real test, and if Notre Dame’s ground game can dominate as usual.

—

<a name="alabama"></a>D. Alabama vs Florida State

[43:18]

Consensus pick: Alabama -13.5
The guys agree Florida State's 23 transfers and QB changes make them a wild card, with Malzahn possibly cooking up “backyard football” and chaos. But Bama’s talent and anger after last year’s finish = a rout.
Josh credits Florida State with a puncher’s chance, but quickly dismisses any serious threat.

—

<a name="socarolina"></a>E. Virginia Tech vs South Carolina

[50:58]

All on South Carolina (-7.5):
- JP is hyped for LenNorris Sellers (his Heisman pick), recognizes Shane Beamer’s chance to finally “step on their throat” versus a weakened Hokies squad gutted by the portal.
- Will and Josh both point out the recruiting and development differences, expressing zero faith in Virginia Tech’s ability to hang.

<a name="auburnbaylor"></a>F. Auburn vs Baylor

[60:12]

- Initial Analysis: Auburn has more raw athlete talent (wow WR room) but huge concerns about QB Jackson Arnold’s confidence, and coach Hugh Freeze’s job security.
- Auburn’s O-line can take over, says Josh, but their penchant for turnovers, and Freeze’s coddling of the QB’s mentals, gives all three pause.
Pivotal Moment: Taylor and Will start flipping to Baylor after discussing the impact of an early turnover and home atmosphere. Comic relief: a wild "Nacho Man Randy Savage" impression (71:58) "the cream always rises to the top" in favor of Baylor.

—

<a name="osu-texas"></a>G. Ohio State vs Texas

[74:11] Game of the Week

Texas is the consensus pick to upset Ohio State in Columbus.
- Concerns over Ohio State’s new DC Matt Patricia, massive defensive turnover, inexperienced QB (Julian Sayin), and Texas’s motivation after last year’s loss.
- “I just trust Texas’s answers a whole lot more, I guess, than Ohio State’s answers.” (Josh, 80:53)
Big Picture: All three say the pressure is more on Sark than Ryan Day, and note that if Texas loses, serious "big game" narrative danger could swirl around him.

4. Underdog/Dog of the Week Picks

[83:44]
To celebrate the underdog spirit, the Boys pick their favorite against-the-spread teams:

Taylor: Syracuse +13.5 vs Tennessee — Likes new coach Fran Brown and how the Orange have quietly rebuilt.
Josh: South Florida +5.5 vs Boise State — Loves Coach Alex Golesh and believes Boise is overrated early.
Will: Colorado +4.5 vs Georgia Tech — Entirely vibes-based, less analysis, tons of belief in "Primetime" Deion's focus.

5. Weekly Parlay

[89:17]
The Boys’ three-leg parlay:

Ball State +18.5 vs Purdue (favorite pick of the week for Josh)
Montana State +27.5 vs Oregon (Taylor: the slow Oregon starts, Montana State is scrappy)
Nebraska -6.5 vs Cincinnati

Pays +568 on FanDuel.

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"No one knows anything." — Josh, 04:38 (on all preseason predictions)
"It's a must win. It's a must win game for the Huskers." — Taylor, 18:39
"You get paid eight figures per year because you're in the entertainment business. ...A little bit of the trade off is, yeah, you're all about X's and O's. You kind of have to deal with stuff in that bubble." — Josh, 09:18 (discussing media/coach tension)
"If I'm Fox, I'm putting Dave just outside the building, literally one foot away from the distance he's not allowed to walk into." — Taylor, 11:38
"This is why you're great, Josh! You could have easily sold me on why Florida State would cover and potentially win this game...I'm not going to. But, tip of the cap!" — Will, 49:41
"I hope we seem right. I feel really good about the weekend." — Taylor, (closing enthusiasm for their picks)

Comic highlight:

Nacho Man Randy Savage (Sherman Young) delivers a wild, over-the-top pro-Baylor promo, referencing Dave Aranda’s "body count" of head coaches and claiming, “the cream rises to the top!” (71:58–72:31)

7. Key Timestamps

[00:00–04:44] - Season intro, vibes, “nobody knows anything”
[06:59–12:45] - Dave Portnoy/Fox/Ohio State drama, coach-media dynamics
[13:04–23:43] - Nebraska vs Cincinnati: Deep-dive, must-win status, Huskers optimism
[24:01–31:33] - LSU vs Clemson: O-line questions, development vs transfer strategies
[31:33–42:56] - Notre Dame vs Miami: O-line wars, Miami’s transfer DBs, ND’s “lunchbox” essentials
[43:18–50:57] - Alabama vs Florida State: Bama as a buzzsaw, FSU as chaos agent
[50:58–59:34] - Virginia Tech vs South Carolina: Beamer legacy, Hokies' struggles and South Carolina’s “throat-stepping” moment
[60:12–69:55] - Auburn vs Baylor: Mental games, QB confidence, surprise Baylor picks & Nacho Man
[74:11–83:44] - Ohio State vs Texas: Pressure narratives, staff edges, why Texas is the safer bet
[83:44–88:48] - Dog (Underdog) of the Week picks
[89:17–91:22] - Parlay construction, Ball State and Montana State value
[91:36–end] - Closing thoughts, grateful hype, housekeeping

Overall Tone & Flow

Lively, irreverent, deeply knowledgeable, and self-aware (“We’re not pretending to be insiders… No one knows anything!”)
Full of Midwest/South football tradition talk, jokes, callouts of long-suffering fan bases
Constantly mixing sharp betting edge with passionate (sometimes deluded) fan perspective
Exuberant banter and smack talk, but undergirded by expert knowledge (esp. with Josh Pate’s analysis)

Josh Pate Rides Texas OVER Ohio State, Taylor Lewan Backs LSU & Will Compton RIDES Nebraska

Powered by Wave AI

Summary

Bussin’ With The Boys | College Football Locker Room, Episode 1:

Episode Overview

Table of Contents

1. Opening & College Football Vibes

2. Media Mayhem & The Dave Portnoy–Ohio State–Fox Saga

3. Game Breakdowns and Picks

<a name="nebraska"></a>A. Nebraska vs Cincinnati

<a name="lsu"></a>B. LSU vs Clemson

<a name="notredame"></a>C. Notre Dame vs Miami

<a name="alabama"></a>D. Alabama vs Florida State

<a name="socarolina"></a>E. Virginia Tech vs South Carolina

<a name="auburnbaylor"></a>F. Auburn vs Baylor

<a name="osu-texas"></a>G. Ohio State vs Texas

4. Underdog/Dog of the Week Picks

5. Weekly Parlay

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

7. Key Timestamps

Overall Tone & Flow

For New Listeners

Summary

Bussin’ With The Boys | College Football Locker Room, Episode 1:

Episode Overview

Table of Contents

1. Opening & College Football Vibes

2. Media Mayhem & The Dave Portnoy–Ohio State–Fox Saga

3. Game Breakdowns and Picks

<a name="nebraska"></a>A. Nebraska vs Cincinnati

<a name="lsu"></a>B. LSU vs Clemson

<a name="notredame"></a>C. Notre Dame vs Miami

<a name="alabama"></a>D. Alabama vs Florida State

<a name="socarolina"></a>E. Virginia Tech vs South Carolina

<a name="auburnbaylor"></a>F. Auburn vs Baylor

<a name="osu-texas"></a>G. Ohio State vs Texas

4. Underdog/Dog of the Week Picks

5. Weekly Parlay

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

7. Key Timestamps

Overall Tone & Flow

For New Listeners