Cover 3 College Football Podcast

Episode: Big Ten Show: Penn State Coaching Search | USC-Notre Dame | Washington-Michigan

Date: October 14, 2025
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, Bud Elliott

Overview

This week, the Cover 3 crew dives into a pivotal stretch for the Big Ten, hot on the heels of Penn State's headline-making coaching change. The episode features in-depth analysis of the Penn State search and coaching carousel implications, followed by previews and insights for major Week 8 matchups: USC at Notre Dame, Washington at Michigan, and Ohio State at Wisconsin. The group also spotlights key players to watch entering this critical phase of the college football season.

Table of Contents

1. Penn State Coaching Search After James Franklin
2. USC vs. Notre Dame: Quarterback Duel and Matchups
3. Washington at Michigan: Reactions and X-Factors
4. Ohio State at Wisconsin: Buckeye Dominance and Mentality
5. Players to Watch in Big Ten Week 8

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1. Penn State Coaching Search After Firing James Franklin

Discussion starts: [00:29]
Key Segment: [03:53]–[11:43]

Main Theme

• Penn State's decision to fire James Franklin after a 3-3 start and a decade-long era filled with highs and shortcomings prompts a deep-dive into the next head coach candidates and program trajectory.

Key Insights & Discussion Points

• Pat Kraft, Penn State AD Soundbite

  • "When you've made the decision, you have to make the decision with a whole heart and with conviction… I'm here to win national championship and I believe our fans deserve that." – Pat Kraft [03:53-04:27]

• Coaching Candidates: Each host pitches a name

  • Tom Fornelli: Matt Campbell (Iowa State)
    • "If you look at the footprint of the Big Ten and a coach with experience in the area who understands the area, I think Matt Campbell is a perfect fit." [05:14]
    • Lauded for development and culture building, especially at tough programs.
  • Bud Elliott: Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri)
    • “He scores a lot of points... He's been pretty progressive on the NIL front, embraces recruiting, and replaces coordinators well. I think there's some chance he could actually level up James Franklin, which is hard to do." [06:27]
  • Danny Kanell: Kirk Cignetti (Indiana)
    • “He's got somebody who’s won at every level. He’s a culture builder… brings swag in there... the obvious choice if Matt Rhule says no.” [07:09]
  • Chip Patterson: Matt Rhule (Nebraska)
    • “Those are emotions and an emotional hire right now—that’s gonna be Matt Rhule. So I will submit Matt Rhule as the name right here.” [08:46]
    • Notes Rhule's non-denial at his presser; emphasizes the Penn State connection and immediate fit.

• Potential “already done”?

  • Danny: “I think it’s so obvious that you might already have it in place… maybe the only two people that know—maybe not even agents—are Pat Kraft and Matt Rhule…” [10:13]
  • Speculates on a possible coach-QB combo if Dylan Raiola follows Rhule.

Notable Quote

"You're going to drop $50 million to send James Franklin packing without having a plan in place, at least some assurance? …That's the type of thing that I think you have to see unfolding here."
— Danny Kanell [10:13]

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2. USC vs. Notre Dame: QB Duel and Matchups

Discussion starts: [14:42]
Key Segment: [15:22]–[23:56]

Main Theme

• The storied rivalry gets renewed with major playoff implications and one of the season’s best quarterback matchups: Jaden Maiava (USC) vs. CJ Carr (Notre Dame).

Key Insights & Discussion Points

• Quarterback Comparison

  • Danny Kanell: “Both have over-exceeded expectations… I think CJ Carr has probably been one of the best surprises of the true first-year starting quarterbacks.” [15:22]
  • Bud Elliott: “Guys, he [CJ Carr] has looked elite… He's actually aggressively pushing the ball down the field.” [16:20]
  • Tom Fornelli: “If you’re asking me which one I take for the future, I’m taking CJ Carr. If you’re asking me which one I want right now, I’m taking Maiava.” [17:09]

• Defense Talk

  • Notre Dame’s D has allowed ZERO second-half points in three straight games, but opponents (Arkansas, Boise State, NC State) are a factor.
  • Bud Elliott: “They have plugged the leak. The boat is no longer sinking… They had the unfortunate luck of playing the two best offensive lines in the country in Miami and Texas A&M in Weeks 1 and 2.” [19:23]

• Key Matchups & Vegas Line

  • Notre Dame is a significant favorite at home.
  • Tom Fornelli: “USC on the road has been a very different team than USC at home… they're giving up over 34 points per game on the road.” [20:56]
  • Danny Kanell: “This is the best running back tandem in the country, potentially…Jeremiah Love and Jadarian Price." [22:11]
  • Bud Elliott: "Notre Dame's defense is better coached than Michigan's defense… if you’re USC, the key is getting Makai Lemon on the slot defender for the Irish. That has repeatedly been a pain point for Notre Dame this year. Makai Lemon is basically uncoverable.” [23:11]

Notable Quote

"C.J. Carr is playing better than almost all of these returning guys we thought maybe had a chance to level up and get high in the NFL Draft.”
— Bud Elliott [16:20]

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3. Washington at Michigan: Reactions and X-Factors

Discussion starts: [24:42]
Key Segment: [25:21]–[31:54]

Main Theme

• Michigan faces a bounce-back challenge after getting beat physically by USC. Washington looks to prove itself with its QB and offense against a traditionally dominant Wolverines line.

Key Insights & Discussion Points

• Michigan’s Struggles vs. USC

  • Tom Fornelli: “They got beat up on the lines of scrimmage by the old soft USC Trojans… Bryce Underwood just did not play well… they blitzed the hell out of Bryce Underwood and he did not look comfortable dealing with it." [25:21]
  • Bud Elliott: “Michigan just is getting whipped this year at times on the offensive line… I am surprised how much they've fallen off there.” [26:44]
  • Danny Kanell: “They gave up 200 yards rushing to USC. Like, that's something you cannot allow to happen against Washington.” [27:26]

• Can Washington Land a Punch?

  • Danny Kanell: "Demon Williams is a problem for a lot of teams… and you've got the weapons to work with like Jonah Coleman and Boston on the outside. Absolutely." [29:15]
  • Bud Elliott: “I think if Justice Haynes is banged up then certainly Washington is better at running back. So yeah, I'm absolutely buying [Washington].” [30:02]
  • Tom Fornelli (skeptical): “Watching Washington this year… I need to see them do it. I need to see them get off to a much better start in the first half than they have been.” [30:35]

• Michigan’s Mentality

  • The hosts joke about Michigan's “blue collar” imagery as a rallying cry, but Chip notes, “I think Sherron Moore probably feels some pressure… this is a big game for Moore.” [28:26]

Notable Quote

“All you gotta do is put on a jacket with your name on it, look like the gas station worker going back to work. But it is sort of alarming to see them not as physically dominant as they've been in years past.”
— Danny Kanell [28:11]

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4. Ohio State at Wisconsin: Buckeye Dominance and Mentality

Discussion starts: [33:47]
Key Segment: [35:26]–[42:39]

Main Theme

• The Buckeyes roll into Madison as 24.5-point favorites, looking every bit the best team in the country, but the main threat may be their own complacency.

Key Insights & Discussion Points

• Avoiding Letdowns and Complacency

  • Tom Fornelli: “Are we letdown proof? …Can you keep your eyes on the prize? Because if you start looking into the numbers, Ohio State won comfortably. But offensively, that was their worst performance of the season since that opener against Texas.” [35:26]
  • Bud Elliott: “Come out, beat them early... Get the young guys into the game early because your starters got in and took care of business on the road.” [36:59]
  • Danny Kanell: “I kind of want to see them get uncomfortable. Like, I want to see them tested. And I don't think you see it here.” [37:43]
  • Chip Patterson: “This is a mentality thing. …Now you're starting to get some flowers, now you're starting to look around… you are hoping to go in and...make the corrections from what happened during that game against Illinois.” [39:14-40:50]

• Biggest Weakness?

  • Tom Fornelli: “Boredom. Like, they're extremely bored… the next time this team will be truly tested is in the Big Ten championship game.” [40:50]
  • Danny Kanell: “You look at weaknesses, I don't know if they have them. I think that's why they're Tom's pick, why they're the odds makers pick.” [41:28]
  • Bud Elliott: “I think Ohio State has done a really good job of replacing what it had last year on the lines of scrimmage. But I don't think they're better along the lines of scrimmage this year than they were last year.” [42:00]
  • Chip Patterson: "If I am picking nits, where the whole spreadsheet is dark green... if they are forced to run the football in a situation, that would be the one spot where they can improve." [42:39]

Notable Quote

“Their biggest weakness is boredom.”
— Tom Fornelli [40:50]

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5. Players to Watch in Big Ten Week 8

Discussion starts: [44:45]

• Tom Fornelli: Emmett Johnson (Nebraska RB)
  “He is currently second in the Big Ten in rushing yards with 650. He has seven rushing touchdowns and he's also proven to be a useful option out of the backfield in the passing game… not getting nearly enough attention.” [44:45]

• Bud Elliott: Makai Lemon (USC WR)
  “If USC is going to win this game, they probably need to score… Makai Lemon is just one of the best receivers in all of college football.” [45:29]

• Danny Kanell: King Miller (USC RB)
  "Waymond Jordan out. Eli Sanders out. For USC steps King Miller, freshman walk-on. Who went off for over 150 yards against Michigan... their run game has to be serviceable to at least keep them honest. So I'm all eyes on the freshman." [45:51]

• Chip Patterson: Ethan Gronkermeyer (Penn State QB)
  “[Gronkermeyer] was a four-star prospect coming out of high school…they were really hoping that he wasn't going to step in until 2026 and beyond.” [46:16]

  • Bud Elliott adds: “He can move around a little bit, he can get the ball around. He's certainly one of the higher rated guys in that class… It's hard to project. Some of them will hit, some of them will not.” [46:59]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Danny Kanell on the coaching carousel:
  “The dominoes that could fall could be massive. And some more hot seat situations to monitor in the coming weeks mean that, yes, we are setting up for a wild coaching carousel.” [11:43]

• Tom Fornelli's future lean:
  “If you're asking me which one I take for the future, I'm taking CJ Carr. If you're asking me which one I want right now, I'm taking Maiava.” [17:09]

• Bud Elliott on Notre Dame's defense:
  "They have plugged the leak. The boat is no longer sinking. I don't know if it's ready to sail around the globe yet." [19:23]

• On Michigan's blue-collar messaging:
  “All you gotta do is put on a jacket with your name on it, look like the gas station worker going back to work. But it does…seeing them not as physically dominant as they’ve been in years past.”
  — Danny Kanell [28:11]

• On Ohio State:
  “This is a mentality thing… you are hoping to go in and you're trying to make the corrections from what happened during that game against Illinois.”
  — Chip Patterson [39:14]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Penn State Coaching Search: [03:53]–[11:43]
• USC vs. Notre Dame Preview (QBs & matchups): [15:22]–[23:56]
• Washington at Michigan: [25:21]–[31:54]
• Ohio State at Wisconsin: [35:26]–[42:39]
• Players to Watch: [44:45]–[47:22]

Tone and Style

The episode balances wisecracking camaraderie with sharp, evidence-backed analysis. The hosts offer honest assessments, frequent debates, and a focus on both tactical X's-and-O's and the higher-level storylines & program direction that matter most to Big Ten and college football fans.

For full, real-time analysis and ongoing updates, follow Cover 3's schedule on YouTube and the CBS Sports Network.