Cover 3 College Football Podcast: 2025 CFP Rankings Reaction

Episode Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell

Overview

The Cover 3 team reacts live to the latest College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings for 2025, breaking down notable moves, the fate of teams on the bubble, and the implications for conference championships and playoff scenarios. The hosts scrutinize committee decisions, debate bubble team prospects like Notre Dame, BYU, Miami, and James Madison, and weigh in on the likely future of CFP expansion. Coaching carousel drama—especially at Penn State—adds intrigue to the discussion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The CFP Rankings Reveal: BYU, Notre Dame, and Bubble Debate

• The rankings are revealed and the hosts react in real time, focusing on surprising moves and their playoff consequences.
• Miami and Notre Dame Bubble Watch: The biggest early question centers on whether Miami or Notre Dame will make the cut, with BYU unexpectedly in the mix and James Madison entering the rankings.

Ranking Movements and First Impressions

• James Madison is ranked at 25, North Texas at 24, and Georgia Tech at 22—prompting surprise.
  • “James Madison is ranked.” – Tom Fornelli (04:47)
• Miami only moves up to 12, not quite the statement they needed.
  • “Miami's done.” – Chip Patterson (07:33)
• Notre Dame checks in at 10, BYU at 11: both are ahead of Miami, confirming Miami fans' worst fears.
  • “Notre Dame’s at 10...so they want both Notre Dame and Miami out to avoid the whole situation.” – Danny Kanell (08:46)

2. Committee Politics and 'Campaigning'

• Discussion on how coaches and programs launch PR campaigns to make their playoff case.
  • “There has been a massive PR campaign for Texas… The coaches are making their cases and I hate it, but I totally understand it.” – Danny Kanell (03:25)
• Joking about the performative nature of such lobbying.
  • “Do love a format where campaigning is the thing that you have to do. Nothing says we’ve earned our place than stumping on the campaign trail.” – Tom Fornelli (04:07)

3. Playoff Pathways and Home Game Stakes

• Ole Miss moves up to 6, likely securing a home game—a big financial boon.
  • “The ability to host a home game is massive… that's a multi-million dollar decision for Oxford.” – Chip Patterson (10:49)
• Top four seeds for playoff byes are likely set, with debate over whether Alabama could sneak in if they win the SEC.
  • “If Alabama wins the SEC, it will get a bye…The fourth spot will be Texas Tech if Alabama loses to Georgia or Alabama if Alabama beats Georgia.” – Tom Fornelli (12:59)
  • “I think Texas Tech’s getting a home game at worst. And a buy at best.” – Tom Fornelli (14:14)

4. Potential CFP Expansion and Systemic Issues

• The hot topic shifts to whether playoff expansion is inevitable, especially with the current 12-team system causing debate.
  • “I think they're going to go to 5 and 11 eventually… but is there anything significant enough where we see… do they go to 16 sooner and just say let’s go to 16 next year?” – Tom Fornelli & Danny Kanell (22:32–22:49)
• Fundamental flaws—large conferences, difficult tiebreakers, and uneven schedules—are highlighted.
  • “There’s no fixing it unless you just… Super league thing. So how important is the playoff to you? Are you willing to go to a super league so the playoff is fixed?” – Tom Fornelli (23:56)

5. ACC Tiebreaker Chaos

• Chip breaks down how arcane tiebreakers and a handful of results between non-contenders locked the ACC out of the playoff.
  • “That is truly how dumb this ACC tiebreaker scenario has gotten… North Carolina over Stanford, Wake Forest over Virginia Tech, and Clemson over Louisville could send no teams to the College Football Playoff…” – Chip Patterson (24:27)
• Speculation that conferences should change tiebreaker rules to protect top teams.
  • “I would expect the rules to be rewritten where the tiebreaker is the highest ranked from the committee.” – Danny Kanell (26:29)

6. Coaching Carousel Drama: Penn State’s Search

• The hosts react to reports that Penn State targeted BYU’s Kalani Sitake, who reportedly turned them down. Rumors swirl about boosters, agent machinations, and recruiting concerns at Penn State.
  • “It is remarkable that we have gotten to this point where Penn State targets Kalani Sataki, BYU’s coach, and BYU’s coach says no.” – Chip Patterson (33:10)
  • “They are dead last in the Big Ten in recruiting rankings. Signing day's tomorrow. Penn State is dead last in the Big Ten.” – Tom Fornelli (32:41)
• Debate over whether agents could be sabotaging Penn State in the wake of James Franklin’s firing.
  • “If Jimmy Sexton had been doing this, and you were a Jimmy Sexton client, how would you feel about your agent keeping you from taking a job like Penn State just because he’s mad at him for firing one of his other clients?” – Tom Fornelli (35:15)

7. Miami’s Faint Hope and Explanations for Their Plight

• Miami fans hope for a way in if BYU loses; the hosts are dismissive.
  • “That is not what the socials are saying. I got some Miami fans in my comments saying with Notre Dame dropping, if BYU loses, Miami bumps up…” – Danny Kanell (36:01)
  • “Miami fans, just listen to me… They think Notre Dame is better than you. They have thought Notre Dame is better than you the entire time… A bye week will not be enough for you to pass Notre Dame.” – Tom Fornelli (37:40)
• Ongoing frustration with the ACC, Miami’s close losses, and tiebreaker madness.
  • “But also, don’t lose to Louisville, like don’t lose to SMU… Miami should not have lost either one of the games that lost.” – Chip Patterson (39:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Miami’s Hopes:
  “Miami fans, just listen to me for a second here. They think Notre Dame is better than you… you are not in the College Football Playoff this year.” — Tom Fornelli (37:40)
• Ranking Frustration:
  “You're supposed to use last week's rankings to make the new rankings… Cowards.” — Chip Patterson & Danny Kanell (07:25, 07:33)
• The System's Flaws:
  “There’s no fixing it unless you just… Super league thing. So how important is the playoff to you?” — Tom Fornelli (23:56)
• ACC Tiebreaker Madness:
  “That is truly how dumb this ACC tiebreaker scenario has gotten…” — Chip Patterson (24:27)
• On Coaching Jobs:
  “It is remarkable that we have gotten to this point where Penn State targets Kalani Sataki, BYU’s coach, and BYU’s coach says no. Now, it’s not just crumble…” — Chip Patterson (33:10)
• Joking about PR:
  “Do love a format where campaigning is the thing that you have to do. Nothing says we’ve earned our place than stumping on the campaign trail.” — Tom Fornelli (04:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:47 — James Madison enters the rankings; Miami’s fate sealed
• 07:17–08:52 — Rankings for Miami, Notre Dame, BYU revealed, Miami’s playoff hopes dashed
• 10:44–11:24 — Ole Miss secures home game implications
• 12:50–14:29 — Byes and home game paths, Alabama/Georgia/Texas Tech scenarios
• 22:32–23:52 — Debate over CFP expansion (12 to 16 teams)
• 24:27–26:13 — ACC tiebreaker issues, how strange results affected the playoff race
• 32:41–33:56 — Penn State’s coaching search, recruiting concerns, agent drama
• 36:01–38:23 — Debate over Miami’s slim chances and why idle teams likely won't move up

Overall Tone

The hosts combine passionate, sometimes sarcastic analysis with insider knowledge and lively banter. They mock the more absurd elements of the CFP process, show empathy for fanbase frustrations, and mix in humor—even as they tackle the serious financial and program implications of the new system.

Conclusion

This episode is a deep-dive into how the 2025 CFP rankings shake up season-end scenarios. Clear winners (Ole Miss, BYU, James Madison) and losers (Miami, Texas, the ACC) emerge, while playoff expansion and tiebreaker controversy remain front-and-center. Off-field coaching drama adds intrigue, especially at Penn State. For listeners, it’s a sharp, entertaining look at the high-stakes, high-drama world of college football postseason chaos.