Cover 3 College Football Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Latest on Coaching Carousel, NFL Draft & Transfer Portal, Bowl Game Previews & More!
Date: December 17, 2025
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, Bud Elliott
Podcast: Cover 3, CBS Sports

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a spirited roundtable on the major storylines of the 2025 college football offseason. The hosts dive deep into the latest transfer portal activity, early NFL draft decisions, the ever-turbulent coaching carousel (with a focus on Michigan), and preview the upcoming winter bowl games. The show is full of inside nuggets, playful ribbing, and practical wisdom for college football die-hards looking to stay ahead of breaking developments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Transfer Portal Frenzy (09:45–21:57)

• The portal is bustling with quarterbacks and high-profile talent, even before its official reopening date (Jan 2).

• Notable quarterback entries:

  • Dylan Raiola: Entry was expected, speculation about landing spots includes Louisville rather than Oregon.
  • Brendan Sorsby: Seen as a desirable transfer, likely headed to Texas Tech due to his girlfriend’s connection to Texas Tech volleyball.
  • DJ Lagway: Concerns about inconsistency, injuries, and work ethic cited as reasons for his move.
  • Drew Messamaker: Hot property for Oklahoma State (Eric Morris) but also shopping for best opportunity and contract.
  • Kenny Minchey (Notre Dame): Potential “market inefficiency” QB with upside, likened to the Joe Burrow career arc.
  • Dante Moore: Expected to land at Oregon.

• Industry realities:

  • Best QBs stay put due to lucrative NIL deals or go pro; portal is now a marketplace for “post-hype” 5-stars and late-blooming G5 prospects.
  • Programs like Cincinnati are struggling to retain talent due to financial limitations.
  • Pipeline dynamics: Coaches/offensive coordinators often bring their QBs with them but there are “no sure things.”

• Memorable moment:
  Chip Patterson (20:26): “I think Kenny Minchey could be the next Joe Burrow. Kenny Minchey, Joe Burrow. Kenny Minchey, Joe Burrow.”

2. NFL Draft Decisions and Returning Stars (21:57–34:03)

• Arch Manning: “Officially” skips the NFL draft to...continue playing college football.
  • Quote: “Arch Manning skipping the NFL draft. That is a hell of a way to announce college football player is going to continue playing college football. I was like, what?” – Chip Patterson (22:13)
  • Hosts joke about the clickbait-y nature of such headlines.
• Jaden Maiva (USC): Returns for 2026, sparking debate if USC is a fringe playoff team or falling into perennial hype.
  • Tom Fornelli (28:41): “He'll be a Heisman candidate. He's going to lead USC to a national title. USA is back.”
• Draft Watch:
  • Dante Moore: Could be a top QB draft pick but unclear if he’ll return.
  • Ty Simpson (Alabama): Back injury rumors impact draft decision, could return for another year with Alabama’s QB pipeline strong.
  • Jeremiah Love (Notre Dame): Considered a first-round, possibly top 10 NFL running back prospect.

3. Coaching Carousel & Michigan Drama (36:17–45:23)

• Michigan's direction murky:
  • Biff Poggi positioned as interim or “caretaker” if full-time hire stalls due to institutional uncertainty.
  • School is relying on a search firm (Turnkey ZRG) amid administrative limbo, making for a leaky and chaotic process.
  • Some believe Kaylin DeBoer (Alabama) is still in play, but hosts doubt the rumors after his affirmations of staying.
• Challenges:
  • Timing is terrible, with president and athletic director situations unresolved.
  • Bryce Underwood, a prized recruit, may bolt if uncertainty continues.
• Humorous take:
  • “We would gladly undercut them [the search firm]. We'll do it for much, much cheaper. But we will provide you none of the liability coverage.” – Chip Patterson (41:00)

4. Staff Changes & Portal Moves in the SEC (45:36–48:47)

• Frank Wilson moves from LSU to Ole Miss, marking the 17th staffer exchanged between the two programs.
• Expect player transfers to mirror coaching moves; fluidity in “swapping cousins” is a hallmark in the current SEC landscape.
• Transfer portal impacts even CFP teams, with potential announcements looming pre-January 2.

5. Bowl Game Previews – Wednesday Slate (52:24–54:51)

• Cure Bowl: Old Dominion vs. South Florida – both teams with backup QBs and South Florida’s Byron Brown making coaching debut.

• 68 Ventures Bowl: Louisiana vs. Delaware – little feel for the FCS-to-FBS transition. Hosts side with the more stable Louisiana program.

• Handicapping note:
  Tom Fornelli (53:03): “There’s a reason the Twitter tip is that first half under—two backup quarterbacks making first career starts. One of them’s coaching.”

6. ACC Schedule Silliness (55:17–60:05)

• The new ACC schedule is called out for its absurdity: 5 teams will play 8 league games, 12 teams will play 9, with no clear tiebreaker protocol yet released.
• Hosts lampoon the league’s approach and suggest alternative, even more chaotic, scheduling mechanisms.
• Tom Fornelli (56:29): “Are you not ashamed of this league? … This is a stupid league doing stupid things.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Transfer Portal Realism:
  “The best quarterbacks in the country aren’t entering the transfer portal because they’re being paid a significant amount of money to stay at their current school or they’re going to the NFL.” – Tom Fornelli (12:42)
• Clickbait Culture:
  “Arch Manning skipping the NFL draft…that is a hell of a way to announce college football player is going to continue playing college football.” – Chip Patterson (22:13)
• SEC Coaching Carousel:
  “There have been 17 staffers swapped between Ole Miss and LSU in total… awfully incestual there in that neck of the SEC.” – Chip Patterson (45:40)
• On the Michigan Mess:
  “I think this is kind of a display of confused leadership…” – Bud Elliott (38:12)
• ACC Satire:
  “Just make a sloppy mess…honest question for you two, are you not ashamed of this league?” – Tom Fornelli (55:29)
• Panel Chemistry:
  Repeated ribbing about USC’s perennial “offseason hype” and poking fun at PR-savvy headline writing.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [09:45] – Portal QB action and market trends
• [20:26] – “Kenny Minchey could be the next Joe Burrow”
• [21:57] – Arch Manning’s (non-)draft decision
• [28:41] – USC/Jaden Maiva playoff hype
• [36:17] – Michigan coaching search breakdown
• [45:36] – SEC staff swaps and player movement
• [52:24] – Bowl game previews: Wednesday schedule
• [55:17] – ACC schedule critique & league future

Tone & Language

• Energetic, irreverent, highly knowledgeable: The roundtable showcases deep insight mixed with sharp wit and running inside jokes.
• Speakers attribute strong opinions: Each host brings both factual analysis and personality, occasionally challenging one another and poking fun at the absurdities of modern college football.

Suggested Listen For...

• Fans interested in the realpolitik of transfers and coaching searches
• Those seeking early insight on 2026 rosters and projection
• Listeners wanting to understand bowl season matchups from a betting or fanview perspective
• Anyone who enjoys candid commentary on college football’s inherent chaos

Next episode: College Football Playoff first round locks and more — Thursday, 11am ET.