Cover 3 College Football Podcast

Episode: Is It Possible To Police NIL? Ohio State Finalizes Arthur Smith Hire & MORE
Date: February 2, 2026
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, Bud Elliott

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Cover 3 crew tackles some of the biggest headlines and debates in college football, including breaking news about Gus Malzahn's sudden retirement at Florida State, the realities and potential enforceability of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) regulations after the College Sports Commission's (CSC) initial investigations, Ohio State’s official hire of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, and perennial topics such as National Signing Day, the future of the targeting rule, and motivational tactics at Florida.

The conversation is lively and candid, featuring behind-the-scenes insights, tongue-in-cheek moments, and some pointed skepticism about the future of NIL policing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gus Malzahn Retires from FSU ([02:26]-[10:30])

• Surprise Announcement: Florida State OC Gus Malzahn retires after only one season; promoted Tim Harris to OC.
  • Danny Kanell: "I'm surprised... Everything was great until it wasn’t. I actually thought the offense put up some pretty good numbers." ([04:43])
  • Bud Elliott suggests friction between Malzahn and Mike Norvell: "I really question how he and Norvell got along and worked together this year. Just from, from stuff I had heard... I don't think that relationship was great." ([05:27])
• Personnel Discussion: FSU recruited for a Malzahn-style offense and will likely have to stick with those schemes for now.
  • Bud Elliott: “You kind of have Malzan style personnel here. So I think you kind of need to run something close to that offense.” ([08:03])
• Malzahn’s Legacy: Remembered for innovative offenses, the “hurry-up, no-huddle,” and an indelible impact on the college game.
  • Chip Patterson: “Very much, very much. Something I will always remember because of the hurry up, no huddle and the offensive explosion of that decade.” ([10:12])

2. Can Anyone Actually Police NIL? College Sports Commission’s Authority Questioned ([10:30]-[19:51])

• CSC Investigation into LSU: Reports CSC is investigating unreported NIL deals at LSU, but clarified not football related.
• Hosts Question Enforcement Power:
  • Bud Elliott: “Like, what's their actual enforcement mechanism here?” ([14:05])
  • Chip Patterson: “The CSC is not run by the NCAA... what motivation do the Power 4 conferences have to levy any kind of penalties?” ([14:05])
  • Danny Kanell: “If LSU didn't opt in and sign this agreement ... what can they do? ... Can they make a player ineligible? It's not their field. Like, no one knows.” ([14:44])
• General Skepticism:
  • The CSC may just be posturing; real enforcement, eligibility issues remain NCAA territory.
  • Tom Fornelli: “So it's the NCAA all over again.” ([18:18])
  • Chip Patterson: “The old playbook was somebody at the NCAA leaks it to a reporter that we're investigating somebody... then by the time the process plays out, it doesn't end up being that much of a punishment.” ([18:57])

3. Does NIL Money Lead to Complacency or Less NFL Talent? ([19:54]-[25:30])

• Fan Mailbag Question: Will pro-caliber players become complacent after getting paid in college?
  • Danny Kanell: “Yeah, I think you'll see that. ... But there'll always be elite talent that'll come to the forefront because it gives other opportunities for other guys.” ([20:38])
  • Tom Fornelli: “I think it's already always happened. Some guys show up to college... they think they've got it made, and then they just flame out.” ([21:15])
  • Bud Elliott: “Do I think it will happen? Yeah, but like, how are we gonna see it? ... I don't think we're gonna see it in a number that will matter.” ([21:32])
• Counterpoint: NIL actually keeps more borderline draftees in college, making CFB better and the NFL’s draft pool more mature and less of a “mystery box.”
  • Bud Elliott: “It's probably going to be offset by the guys not jumping pro early because they were usually jumping out of desperation financially or because they failed out of school.” ([24:12])
  • Tom Fornelli on NFL scouting: “There's not less talent in the draft, there's just less mystery box talent.” ([25:13])

4. Ohio State Officially Hires Arthur Smith as Offensive Coordinator ([29:29]-[33:43])

• The Hire: Arthur Smith, formerly of the NFL, joins OSU as OC; seen as a big win, especially since he was also fielding NFL attention.
• System Expectations & Fit:
  • Tom Fornelli: “Everything's kind of built... around the run. But it's not what I would call smash mouth, kind of old school. It just, it looks like a modern NFL offense...” ([30:30])
  • Bud Elliott: “I'd be a lot more worried about hiring Arthur Smith if I didn't have Ryan Day as the head coach...his offenses in the NFL were not very good.” ([32:05])
  • Danny Kanell: “It's amazing how good you can be as a coach when you have elite talent on the field.” ([32:27])
• Recruiting Calendar Note: Little expectation of major movement ahead of National Signing Day; the recruiting calendar shifts due to early enrollees are mostly here to stay.

5. National Signing Day Shifts & Calendar Debates ([33:45]-[43:42])

• Early Enrollee Dynamic: Early high school graduation and enrollment has permanently shifted the recruiting landscape.
  • Bud Elliott: “You can't unring the bell of setting up high schools to allow players to graduate early...” ([35:23])
  • Danny Kanell: “Coaches like them coming in in January, too.” ([36:18])
• Calendar Quirks: Next year, only nine days between the national title game (Jan. 25) and Signing Day due to playoff/calendar alignment; debate over whether the longer postseason is good for the sport’s visibility.
  • Tom Fornelli: “The sport is going to get absolutely lost in the NFL playoff ... There will be no this year.” ([44:45])
  • Chip Patterson: “The long layoffs are not good for maintaining the excitement of the event.” ([47:38])

6. Targeting Rule: Potential Changes and Lingering Issues ([50:34]-[55:14])

• Reviewing Targeting: NCAA’s Steve Shaw indicates another review of the targeting rule to make it “less punitive.”
• Flags vs. Ejections:
  • Danny Kanell: “Having a player sit out the half of the next game is ridiculous...maybe even eject the player if it's bad...But an automatic half if you miss. You know, if you're kicked out in the second half of a game because of targeting. That's the one that's too harsh.” ([51:44])
  • Bud Elliott: “What they really need to do is look at, like, initial intended path and if the ball carrier ducks into it, there's no foul. ...going like flagrant one, flagrant two and not having a disqualification is at least a small step in the right direction.” ([52:32])
  • Tom Fornelli: “You know when a football play happens and you know when somebody's being an asshole.” ([54:11])
  • Banter about yellow/red card system and the inherent dangers of football.

7. Old School Motivational Tactics: ‘Earn the Logo’ at Florida ([56:14]-[62:45])

• Gators’ New Policy: New Florida coach John Summerall removes the Gator logo until players "earn" the right to wear it—echoes Urban Meyer’s early tenure.
• Viability in Modern Era:
  • Bud Elliott: “I don't know how well Urban Meyer would do coaching guys who get paid. Oh, not well, right?” ([57:30])
  • Danny Kanell: “I do think it still can work at the college level. I think it's a good mindset to have to make them earn it to show that nobody's above anybody else...” ([58:00])
  • Tom Fornelli: “It would work on me. If I'm a football player and I see my teammates or get logos on their helmet, and I don't have one, guess what? I'm gonna work a little harder...” ([59:48])
• Roster Outlook: If Gators hit on QB, they could threaten in the SEC due to favorable scheduling.

Notable Quotes

• Bud Elliott on NIL Enforcement Power ([14:05]):
  “What's their actual enforcement mechanism here?”
• Tom Fornelli on Arthur Smith ([30:30]):
  “Everything's kind of built... around the run. But it's not what I would call smash mouth...it looks like a modern NFL offense...”
• Danny Kanell on NIL & Motivation ([20:38]):
  “There'll always be elite talent that'll come to the forefront because it gives other opportunities for other guys...But I think, yeah, I think you would see potentially some guys throwing the towel.”
• Tom Fornelli on Targeting ([54:11]):
  “You know when a football play happens and you know when somebody's being an asshole.”
• Bud Elliott on College Calendar ([35:23]):
  “You can't unring the bell of setting up high schools to allow players to graduate early...”
• Tom Fornelli on College Football Playoff Layoffs ([44:45]):
  “The sport is going to get absolutely lost in the NFL playoff ... There will be no this year.”
• Chip Patterson's Farewell ([63:05]):
  “Listen, if you want to be able to have this Cover 3 sticker on your helmet, tell me what I got to do.”

Important Timestamps

• [02:26] – Malzahn retires from FSU; implications for staff and offense
• [10:30] – CSC probes LSU NIL deals; enforcement skepticism
• [19:54] – Do early NIL payments impact pro readiness?
• [29:29] – Ohio State finalizes Arthur Smith as OC; system fit
• [33:45] – National Signing Day mechanics, early enrollees influence
• [50:34] – NCAA to review targeting rule again; is the penalty too harsh?
• [56:14] – Florida’s “Earn the Logo” motivational ploy and generational coaching tactics

Episode Tone

Spirited, irreverent, and unsparing—combining deep knowledge of college football culture with relentless skepticism of bureaucracy and embrace of the messy, money-driven realities of the sport.

This summary reflects all crucial content and argumentation of the episode and allows a non-listener to understand the major stories, themes, and perspectives discussed.