Bussin’ With The Boys – Rivalry Week: Michigan–Ohio State Showdown, Lane Kiffin Drama, and Will’s Vandy Upset Call
Date: November 25, 2025
Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan
Guest: Josh Pate (CBS Sports/college football analyst)
Episode Main Theme:
Rivalry Week, deep dives into the biggest games of the season—especially Michigan vs. Ohio State—plus major predictions, legendary storytelling, and plenty of banter about college football culture, upsets, and the wild world of head coaching rumors.
Overview
This episode is dedicated to breaking down the biggest rivalry week in college football—the epic Michigan–Ohio State clash, SEC showdowns, and off-beat insights about coaching drama and playoff implications. Will, Taylor, and Josh bring the locker-room energy, plenty of inside anecdotes, and strong opinions (with a side of affectionately cut-throat roasting).
Key Segments & Discussion Points
1. Rivalry Week Fever & Setting the Stakes
Time: [00:00–04:00]
- Will introduces “Rivalry Week” as the ultimate “throw out the record books” moment for fans everywhere.
- "16 games, we are breaking down today. ... This is all about pride." — Will Compton [00:41]
- The table is set: SEC, ACC, Big Ten clashes—the weekend is loaded.
2. Locker Room Vibes, Last-Week Recap, and Betting Banter
Time: [04:27–07:40]
- Josh Pate recaps his model going 3-2, shifting to ‘Moneyball’ mode for picks.
- Group recounts last week’s Georgia Tech pick regret.
- Funny side convo on “deciding picks by committee” and the chaos that leads to.
3. Personal Grudges & College Football Influence
Time: [07:40–18:15]
- Will tells a story about being “body bagged” by George Kittle on TV re: Nebraska vs. Iowa (“Iowa hate week”).
- Taylor and Will both describe the uniquely boring but ferocious Midwestern grind of Iowa–Nebraska ("If whoever scores three first, ... this Friday’s for the sickos." — Will Compton [10:16])
- Banter about Josh Pate’s social media trolling of Lane Kiffin (“When people tell you Lane Kiffin is the world’s best troll, always remember, there’s at least one better.” — Josh Pate [12:17])
- The group teases Josh for his clickbait and his “above the fray/journalist integrity” schtick.
4. Michigan–Ohio State: The Game
Time: [26:31–93:44 (main preview 72:29–93:44)]
- Deep, passionate breakdown: Michigan’s resurgence, Ryan Day’s legacy, the playoff stakes, history of the rivalry.
- Fun flashback: "Ten-Year War," Bo Schembechler, Woody Hayes, and legendary pettiness (“Why go for two?—Because I couldn’t go for three.” — recounted by Taylor Lewan [74:31])
- Emotional reflection on what this rivalry means:
- "If you can't beat them, that's part of it. I gotta say I gotta wear that. ... It fundamentally impacts my view of a team when they lose this game, no matter what they achieve the rest of the way." — Josh Pate [91:02]
- “There’s not a player on our roster that’s ever lost to Ohio State, and Ohio State—they don’t have a player who’s ever beaten Michigan.” — Will Compton [83:13]
- Group consensus: All pick Michigan to win and cover, with varying levels of passion but agreement on the moment’s magnitude.
- Historic context and statistical trivia throughout.
- Nod to legacy coaches, program standards, and the possibility of Ryan Day’s job being at stake.
5. The Lane Kiffin–Ole Miss Drama
Time: [31:19–38:14]
- Episode’s running subplot: What will Lane Kiffin do?
- "There’s an easy story right here for him to just be this hero. ... Hero, villain, right here." — Will Compton [35:49]
- Panel agrees Lane's been masterfully milking the attention between LSU and Florida for leverage.
- Consensus pick: Ole Miss covers vs. Mississippi State (Egg Bowl).
6. SEC: Iron Bowl (Alabama–Auburn) & Texas A&M–Texas
Time: [38:15–53:39]
- Auburn-Alabama: Historic moments revisited ("they have had some iconic moments... it's going to be a fun game to watch." — Will Compton [40:49])
- Group leans strong for Alabama to cover (-5.5) at Auburn.
- Texas A&M–Texas: Debate over A&M's “fraud” factor.
- Taylor slams their weak schedule — “I just have a little question mark about Texas A&M, and I think it starts to get exposed against Texas this weekend.” [48:28]
- Josh provides counterpoint: “They've won different ways ... this kind of game is where I think that pays off.” [51:11]
- Split picks: Taylor takes Texas, Will and Josh go with A&M.
7. Vanderbilt–Tennessee & Will’s Upset
Time: [60:01–69:22]
- Fun, underdog pick: Will calls Vanderbilt (plus points, maybe outright) for the upset at Tennessee.
- Discussion of Diego Pavia’s Heisman hype and Clark Lea’s coaching future; desire for the perfect “Wrestlemania” football storyline: "I'm rooting for the story of Vanderbilt football, the city of Nashville and Diego Pavia to win the Heisman..." — Will Compton [67:50]
8. Rapid Fire Rivalry Game Picks:
Time: [93:44–109:00]
- Georgia–Georgia Tech (Clean Old Fashioned Hate): Georgia to win and cover.
- Miami–Pitt: Mixed picks, Miami favored, but Josh is cautious.
- Arizona–Arizona State (Duel in the Desert): Josh and Will like Arizona State, Taylor on Arizona.
- Clemson–South Carolina (Palmetto Bowl): All on South Carolina and a nod to the tradition of “tiger burn” (and its casualties) [99:07]
- Florida State–Florida: Taylor and Josh pick FSU, Will rides with Florida.
- UCLA–USC / UNC–NC State / Oregon–Washington / LSU–Oklahoma / VaTech–UVA / Iowa–Nebraska: Analysts provide quick, often banter-filled picks, always with a trivia nugget.
Notable Quotes & Standout Moments
- "This Friday’s for the sickos. Like, just wants to sit there. They want to watch punts. They want to watch defense." — Will Compton on Iowa–Nebraska [10:16]
- “If you can't beat [Michigan], that's part of it. ... It fundamentally impacts my view of a team when they lose this game.” — Josh Pate, on coaching at Ohio State [91:02]
- “I fell for it. ... When people tell you Lane Kiffin is the world's best troll, always remember there's at least one better.” — Will recounting Josh’s Lane Kiffin tweet [12:17]
- "You want a WrestleMania ending instead of an Olympic ending." — Josh Pate, on rooting for storybook finishes [69:03]
- "There's an easy story right here for him to just be this hero. ... Hero, villain, right here." — Will on Lane Kiffin [35:49]
- “If you're an Ohio State fan and you've run up four in a row on them, ... you'd be the first ones to say, couldn't beat us though, man. I mean, what does it really mean if you can't win your biggest game?" — Josh Pate [92:34]
Tone & Interpersonal Energy
- The show is vibrant, brash, and heartfelt; the banter oscillates between trash-talking and genuine, nostalgic football storytelling.
- The hosts are not shy about teasing each other, referencing social media moments, and “calling their shot” with picks.
- The episode feels like hanging in a locker room with passionate, knowledgeable former players and a plugged-in analyst.
Timestamps for Major Segments
| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Intro / Stakes of Rivalry Week | 00:00–04:00 | | Last-Week Recap (GT pick & process) | 04:27–07:40 | | Will vs. Kittle (Iowa–Nebraska Story) | 07:40–10:35 | | Josh Pate's Lane Kiffin Twitter Troll | 10:45–16:00 | | Michigan–Ohio State Deep Dive | 72:29–93:44 | | Lane Kiffin/Ole Miss Drama & Predicting His Move | 31:19–38:14 | | Iron Bowl Segment | 38:15–45:23 | | Texas A&M–Texas Debate | 45:23–53:39 | | Vanderbilt–Tennessee & Diego Pavia Glass Ceiling | 60:01–69:22 | | Rapid Fire Rivalry Picks | 93:44–109:00 |
Conclusion
This is the definitive rivalry week pod: loaded with expert analysis, juicy context, old head football wisdom, and unfiltered camaraderie. The Michigan–Ohio State game is treated with the gravitas, awe, and intensity it deserves. Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin’s future, the Iron Bowl’s magic, Texas A&M’s “fraudulence,” and Will’s Vandy upset are all given edge and color.
No matter your fandom, this episode is a master class in the energy, emotion, and unpredictability that make college football’s rivalry week the best in sports.
Big hugs, tiny kisses. Leave your comments and roll the dice on your side of the bet slip next Saturday.