Cover 3 College Football Podcast

Episode: Mailbag: Why There Might Not Be A “Next Indiana,” Re-Seeding in the CFP & More!

Date: January 29, 2026

Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, Bud Elliott

Overview

This episode of the Cover 3 College Football Podcast features a lively mailbag session where hosts Chip Patterson, Danny Kanell, and Bud Elliott tackle listeners' questions about the state of various college programs, the new realities of college football’s landscape, playoff logistics, and "sleeping giant" programs. The hosts engage in spirited debate, sprinkle in fun hypotheticals, and provide candid insights into hot topics like Florida State’s future, the myth of the “next Indiana," playoff seeding, and which faltering teams might bounce back.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Senior Bowl Report & QB Class Woes

Timestamp: 02:01–08:09

• The hosts open with updates from the Senior Bowl via colleagues Ryan Wilson and JP Acosta. General consensus is defenses are dominating, and quarterback play is underwhelming.
• Bud Elliott: "This quarterback class is a hot mess. It is garbage…possibly one of the worst years we've had."
• Standout prospects mentioned: Luke Altmyer (positive), disappointing showings from others like Cole Payton.
• Defensive names earning praise: Daryl Jackson Jr., Lee Hunter, Jacob Rodriguez, and Bud Clark.
• Danny Kanell notes the contrast: “We’ve been saying this since IMG. …There are so many [QBs] out there in college football, but this NFL class is bleak.”
• Hosts explain advantages for defenses in the all-star showcase format and the difficulty for QBs adjusting quickly to new playbooks.

Mailbag: Florida State’s Path Forward

Timestamp: 11:30–18:09

• Listener (Laura, FSU alum) asks Bud for an optimistic future outlook for FSU post-controversy.
• Danny Kanell: “No, I think they're largely just playing out the string, waiting for that buyout number to come down...I think they'll be bad again.” [12:36]
• The crew runs through issues: donor fatigue, lack of administrative vision, and problems with the transfer portal class.
• Bud Elliott: "You're hoping to max out Mike Norvell's coaching potential...but it's a rough sell. It's a hard sell. ...Hope is not a great strategy.” [15:38]
• Discussion extends to macro-level hurdles: lack of a Phil Knight-style megadonor; questions of whether FSU's boosters trust current leadership.
• Core message: without significant behind-the-scenes change, improvement will be slow and uncertain.

Mailbag: The “Next Indiana” Debate — Is There One?

Timestamp: 18:12–27:58

• Listener “Five Slice Rick” asks about another “sleeping giant” like Indiana surging to relevancy.
• Bud Elliott: Cites Vanderbilt’s 2025 surge as comparable: “They just had their first 10 win season...they were in the playoff discussion. ...This is a big justification year for Vanderbilt." [19:54]
• Danny Kanell: Notes the new “Rev Share era” increases volatility, spreading talent and giving more programs a chance: “You don't have to be as good as prior national championship teams to do it.”
• Chip Patterson: The key isn’t just resources: “When I'm looking for anything in that sleeping giant type category, I'm looking for somebody that can cast a little bit of a wider net.” [23:47]
• Other suggested candidates: Virginia, Texas Tech, Michigan State. All agree alignment—between university, donors, and athletic staff—is crucial.
• Quote, Bud Elliott: “I think Indiana kind of set an example that this is not impossible, ...but they did have the perfect pairing of finding the coach and a generational type quarterback.” [27:58]

Hypothetical: Which NFL Alumni Would Improve Their Old Program the Most?

Timestamp: 29:53–41:49

• Listener “Nick” asks which current NFL player, returned to their alma mater, would most improve their former college team.
• The crew has fun with combos:
  • Patrick Mahomes to Texas Tech
  • Matthew Stafford to Georgia
  • Miles Garrett to Texas A&M: “He could be the type of player that could make them a national championship contender.” [31:32]
  • Trevor Lawrence to Clemson, Drake Maye to UNC, Saquon Barkley to Penn State
  • Discussion leads to conclusion that QBs or edge rushers would cause the biggest jump.
  • Danny Kanell: “Is there any team that would not take a quarterback who has an NFL starting quarterback?”
  • Defensive returnees also considered: Micah Parsons to Penn State, T.J. Watt to Wisconsin
  • Fun take: Joe Burrow back to LSU or Brock Purdy to Iowa State
  • Even “non-QB” upgrades like Derrick Henry to Alabama get brief mention.

Should the College Football Playoff Be Re-Seeded?

Timestamp: 41:49–45:15

• Listener asks why play isn’t re-seeded each round.
• Bud Elliott: “For whatever reason, that is my least concern when it comes to the college football playoffs. It doesn’t bother me at all.” [42:25]
• Danny Kanell: Advocates for re-seeding if the bracket expands to sixteen teams, to maintain the importance of seeding and regular season value.
• Chip Patterson: Prefers bracket chaos and the existing system: “I like the chaos that we get without receding in college sports.”

Where Does the New Pac-12 Fit in the Group-of-Six?

Timestamp: 45:45–50:23

• With conference realignment, listener Zach asks where the new Pac-12 (now with Boise, Fresno, etc.) fits among the G6.
• Danny Kanell: “I think it is slightly below the American, but I do think it’s better than the Mountain West.” [47:02]
• Panel discusses how cord-cutting has hurt the MAC’s visibility, and how Sun Belt programs are being “picked apart” for talent.
• Chip Patterson: “The [American’s] top tier, you would take over the Pac 12’s top tier, correct?” [50:04]

Championship or Bust: Unrealistic Standard Now?

Timestamp: 50:23–56:52

• Listener asks if “championship or bust” is a fair expectation in the 12-team playoff era.
• Danny Kanell: On Oregon fans expecting a title: “No, it's ridiculous for this Oregon team…but I can't rule out it [being] a real expectation for maybe a certain team.”
• Bud Elliott: Nuanced: “Their goal should be to win the national championship…but if you make it to the College Football Playoff again and you get a win…but then you come up short… I don't think it’s a failure.” [51:44]
• Consensus: CFP expansion means the bar for a “successful season” should be at least making the semifinals (final four), not necessarily winning it all.
• Chip Patterson: “If you have national championship expectations and you make it to the semifinal, to me that feels like you’ve at least met the expectation of being in the mix for it at the very end.” [54:20]

Bounceback Teams Candidates for 2026

Timestamp: 57:00–59:37

• Inspired by NFL “worst-to-first” talk, hosts quickly brainstorm programs that could rebound from a losing season to bowl eligibility or better:
  • Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, Florida, South Carolina, Stanford, West Virginia, Syracuse, Purdue
• Chip Patterson: "Wisconsin was 4 and 8 and their schedule’s about to get a lot more manageable." [58:11]
• Bud Elliott: “Florida count, four and eight to seven or eight wins. I think that's a pretty reasonable expectation.” [58:22]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Bud Elliott [04:14]: “This quarterback class is a hot mess. It is garbage…possibly one of the worst years we've had.”
• Danny Kanell [12:36]: “No, I think they're largely just playing out the string, waiting for that buyout number to come down...I think they'll be bad again.”
• Bud Elliott [15:38]: “It's a rough sell. I've talked to a lot of Florida State fans…Hope is not a great strategy.”
• Bud Elliott [19:54] (on Vanderbilt): “They just had their first 10 win season…they have never been relevant in college football.”
• Chip Patterson [23:47]: “When I'm looking for anything in that sleeping giant type category, I'm looking for somebody that can cast a little bit of a wider net.”
• Danny Kanell [47:02]: “I think it is slightly below the American, but I do think it's better than a Mountain West.”
• Bud Elliott [51:44]: “If you make it to the College Football Playoff again and you get a win…then you come up short…I don't think it's a failure.”

Episode Flow & Tone

The conversation is energetic, honest, and occasionally irreverent, with the hosts riffing off each other's takes and listener questions. The podcast blends serious evaluation with offseason speculation and football nerdery, making it accessible and entertaining for devoted fans and casuals alike.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Senior Bowl Report / QB Discussion – 02:01–08:09
• Florida State's Future – 11:30–18:09
• "Next Indiana" / Sleeping Giants – 18:12–27:58
• NFL Alumni Hypotheticals – 29:53–41:49
• Re-Seeding in the CFP – 41:49–45:15
• New Pac-12 Ranking – 45:45–50:23
• Championship or Bust – 50:23–56:52
• Bounceback Teams – 57:00–59:37

This episode is a must-listen for college football fans interested in in-depth off-season analysis, deep dives into program dynamics, and an entertaining spin on pressing questions and hypotheticals.