Cover 3 College Football Podcast

Episode: Upon Further Review: AP Poll Reactions, Look Ahead To LOADED Week 5 Schedule

Date: September 22, 2025
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, Bud Elliott

Overview

In this episode, the Cover 3 crew reacts to the latest AP Top 25 poll, dissects major storylines from a packed college football weekend, and previews an absolutely loaded Week 5 slate. They offer up keen insights into notable team and player performances, discuss the growing influence of Danny Kanell’s personal rankings on the national conversation, address injury and coaching updates, and shine a light on the rapidly shifting quarterback landscape. The tone is lively, banter-filled, and at times humorously irreverent, making for an episode both informative and entertaining for any serious college football fan.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bud Elliott’s Experience in Lincoln, Nebraska

• Atmosphere & Hospitality: Bud raves about the Nebraska trip, emphasizing the welcoming fans and unique football culture.
• Game Insight: "The only thing that was missing was a win...pregame was awesome, flyovers, but on the field, it was evident who the better team was." (Bud Elliott, 02:29)
• Dylan Raiola Analysis: Despite decent stats, Raiola’s performance was inflated by a few big plays in a game controlled by Michigan’s superior lines.
• Nebraska Traditions: Shoutouts to Nebraska legends and traditions, highlighting the overall college football atmosphere.

2. AP Poll Reaction & the Rise of Miami

• Influence of Danny Kanell’s Rankings: Hosts joke that AP voters are now “watching the DK top 12 very closely” as Miami earns seven first-place votes and jumps to #2.
• Miami’s Resume: The group agrees Miami’s “resume” is among the best, with notable wins and domination in the trenches:

  "It is becoming evident that Miami's offensive and defensive lines might be among the elite...able to get a back over 140 yards, able to get after the quarterback all day." (Bud Elliott, 07:43)

• Heisman Buzz: Reuben Bain’s name surfaces, with the crew discussing the improbability of a defender breaking through—unless Miami dominates primetime games.
• Scheduling Concerns:

  “Miami is not going to have the remaining primetime games for him to sniff the Heisman...I just don't think they're going to be in the national consciousness enough.” (Danny Kanell, 09:02)

3. AP Poll: Noteworthy Gaps, Quandaries & Variances

• LSU Drops, Miami Moves Up: Approval for LSU’s descent given their lackluster resume; Miami lauded for upward movement.
• Ballot Variance: Tom notes the wild discrepancies in team rankings:

  “Mizzou was as high as ninth on one ballot and it was unranked on others... Notre Dame as high as tenth, but unranked on 24 ballots.” (Tom Fornelli, 12:01)

• Outlier Impact: Debate on how single outlier ballots can distort a team’s ranking.

4. Debating Team Resumes

• Florida State vs LSU: Florida State’s wins over Florida and Clemson seen as more valuable than LSU’s, though some question the quality of those opponents.
• Indiana’s Jump: Mixed feelings about Indiana’s leap after a blowout win, with skepticism about their true top-10 status.
• Revenge Motivation:

  "Indiana is one [team] that feels offended because not only did they almost get left out, but after losing to Notre Dame, everybody was like, see? They don't belong." (Bud Elliott, 17:30)

5. Brilliantly Boring Wins of the Week (24:08)

• Michigan’s Rushing Identity:

  "This team very clearly has an identity... they're a team that wants to be physical. They want to run the football." (Bud Elliott, 24:08)

• Bryce Underwood’s Development: Noted as poised but hampered by receiver drops—Michigan’s offense may hit another level if the passing game comes along.

6. Virginia Tech’s Budget News & Coaching Context

• Budget Increase: VT is upping their athletics budget by $47 million, aiming to catch up with ACC rivals.

  "Our expectations don't match our spending. And so if we want to have high expectations, we need to have some spending." (Danny Kanell, 26:48)

• Narrative Across CFB: Many programs outside the Big Ten and SEC are experiencing similar “soul searching,” recognizing the escalating financial arms race.

7. Injury & Status Updates (30:01)

• Syracuse’s Angelli Out: Officially sidelined for the year.
• Tommy Castellanis: His improved play and sideline dancing become a humorous talking point:

  "He was the worst rated downfield passer in the FBS to the number one... so dance away." (Danny Kanell, 30:37)

• Other Notables: Missouri OL Kaden Green undergoes procedure; Virginia center Brady Wilson’s calf injury; Arizona State’s Jacoby Lane remains a key watch.

8. Quarterback Landscape: Upon Further Review (34:10)

• Improved Play from C.J. Carr, Ty Simpson: Carr rebounds from a rough Miami game; Simpson showing improved timing and decisiveness.
• Breakout: Athan Kaliakmanis at Rutgers:

  "Despite a lot of drops, despite... ten sacks, seven scrambles, the offensive line is just a total mass unit... he's finally playing like the guy that Wisconsin thought they had." (Danny Kanell, 35:12)

• Maryland’s Malik Washington: Overcoming receiver drops, making plays, and potentially saving Mike Locksley’s job.

  "Malik Washington is balling... eight touchdowns, one pick, making good decisions... he’s going to save Mike Loxley’s job." (Danny Kanell, 37:31)

9. Under-the-Radar Quick Hits & Trends

• San Diego State’s Dominance Over Cal: Pressure exposes QB JKS’s flaws—Cal’s coach Wilcox says it’s a “wake-up call” for his team (41:33 – 43:03).
• QB Controversy at Ole Miss: Trinadad Chambliss has “been absolutely outstanding”; Austin Simmons’ NIL investment may complicate things, but play on the field should decide who starts (43:03 – 44:56).
• Texas Social Media Goof: Criticism for hyping up Arch Manning’s celebration against an overmatched opponent—seen as adding unnecessary pressure (52:12 – 53:35).
• MAC & G5 Miscellany: Praise for a fiercely fought Sun Belt vs CUSA “challenge,” and a yearly Jason Candle (Toledo) meltdown (50:48 – 51:58).

10. The Bill Belichick–North Carolina Bit (55:50+)

• The crew launches into a bit imagining Bill Belichick as UNC’s coach. It’s purposely comedic, poking fun at media over-coverage and search rumor cycles:

  "Bill Belichick’s football team is going to generate lots of rumors about coaching searches and futures and contract buyouts..." (Chip Patterson, 57:34)

11. Running Back Rankings Debate (59:38 – 60:59)

• The hosts discuss the top running backs in the country, debating the sixth-best, with names like Nick Singleton, Jonah Coleman, Wayman Jordan, and “Hollywood” Smothers surfacing.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Miami’s Rise:

  "Clearly [the voters] are watching the DK top 12 very closely and probably adjusting in the process." – Bud Elliott (07:43)

• On Drops Impacting Bryce Underwood:

  "Those receivers suck. If he had...an average P4 receiving core, like...Nebraska’s, they win that game by 40." – Danny Kanell (25:15)

• On Athletic Budgets & CFB’s New Reality:

  "I don't know if when we get to 2029, this [budget increase] is as eye-popping as it is internally...sometimes in college sports I’ve learned that the message...is the most important thing because money’s not real." – Chip Patterson (29:55)

• On Rutgers’ New QB:

  "Athan Kaliakmanis is finally playing like the guy Wisconsin thought they had...the Greek rifle." – Danny Kanell (35:12)

• On Social Media & Pressure:

  "The Texas Longhorns social media manager should be fired...for bringing attention to something that I don't think was a huge deal." – Bud Elliott (52:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Nebraska Experience, Trip Recap: 02:29 – 05:00
• AP Poll, Miami Discussion: 07:06 – 10:50
• Ballot Variance & Team Debates: 11:19 – 15:30
• Indiana’s Big Jump: 15:47 – 18:09
• Brilliantly Boring Wins (Michigan, Underwood): 24:08 – 25:32
• Virginia Tech Budget Discussion: 26:12 – 29:55
• Injury Rundown & Player Status: 30:01 – 33:36
• Quarterback Analysis & Trends: 34:10 – 39:24
• Cal-San Diego State Analysis: 41:05 – 43:03
• Ole Miss QB Controversy: 43:03 – 44:56
• G5 and MAC Notes, Jason Candle: 50:48 – 51:58
• Texas Social Media Segment: 52:12 – 53:54
• Bill Belichick at UNC Comedy Bit: 55:50 – 58:44
• RB Rankings Debate: 59:38 – 60:59

Episode Flow & Tone

The episode is packed with witty banter, informed hot takes, detailed analysis, and inside-joke style humor fitting for longtime listeners. The hosts jump naturally between major headlines and deep-cut details, always keeping the discussion relevant for fans deeply invested in current college football storylines.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Miami is officially in the national title conversation—both on the field and in national votes.
• AP poll results this week demonstrate the volatility and subjectivity of college football rankings.
• The ever-shifting quarterback landscape is as chaotic as ever, with new names emerging each week and others struggling or facing controversy.
• Behind the scenes, program budgets and administrative moves are setting the stage for future moves and battles.
• Humor, perspective, and detailed analysis combine to make this a can’t-miss episode for any serious CFB fan.