Cover 3 College Football: Upon Further Review – More LSU-Brian Kelly Fallout, Rankings Reaction, and Updated CFP Bracket Projection

Episode Date: October 27, 2025
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, Bud Elliott

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Cover 3 crew dives deep into the stunning firing of LSU’s Brian Kelly, the fallout for his staff, and what it means for the coaching carousel in 2025. They debate current CFB rankings, SEC bias accusations, and share Bud Elliott’s latest College Football Playoff bracket projections. The crew also breaks down unpredictable scenarios for playoff bubble teams, notable performances around the country, and overtime strategy trends. The tone is classic Cover 3: energetic, highly opinionated, and peppered with inside jokes and friendly debate.

Key Topics & Highlights

1. Brian Kelly’s Firing at LSU: Fallout and Implications

(02:35–18:31)

• LSU Fires Brian Kelly & Joe Sloan:
  The firing sends shockwaves, especially considering the program’s championship-caliber expectations just weeks earlier. Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan is also dismissed.

• Ego & Emotions at LSU
  Chip highlights the emotional tone in LSU’s official communications, attributing the move to more than just on-field results:
  "Stern words from athletic director Scott Woodward, who put his name on the firing with long paragraphs about. As an alum, this is not the standard that we strive to meet." (07:20 – Chip Patterson)

• Pressures of Modern Expectations:
  Danny Kanell argues that playoff expansion and the transactional nature of college football are leading to quicker trigger fingers on firings:
  "My argument the last few years was one of the side effects of playoff expansion was going to be we were going to see more coaches fired because of the playoff." (10:42 – Danny Kanell)

• LSU’s Status as a Top Job:
  The group unanimously considers LSU one of the nation’s top destinations, but worry the evolving landscape narrows the coaching pool and inflates buyouts.

• Mega-Contracts & Hiring Cycles:
  Tom Fornelli:
  "Hiring coaches is flipping coins, man. The weighted coin—if you have a really good program—but it’s still a coin flip." (09:13)

• Fan Standards vs. Reality:
  Bud Elliott notes that increased parity means even bluebloods struggle to consistently win 10+ games:
  "There will be years where you get eight wins and it’s a pretty good season, but it’s not going to appear good because of your historical standard." (15:00)

Notable Quote:

• "Stop trying to win press conferences, start trying to win games." (10:42 – Danny Kanell)

2. Are There Enough Qualified Coaches?

(17:10–18:31)

• Debunking the “Shortage” Narrative:
  Chip pushes back against the idea there aren’t enough qualified candidates for the looming wave of top job openings:
  "I am out on the idea that there are not qualified candidates for these jobs, because there are plenty of coaches qualified to win football games when given the resources." (17:11)

• Mega-Contracts and Market Inflation:
  The consensus: programs are locked in an arms race, with LSU likely giving their next coach a mega-contract simply to 'keep up'.

3. Rankings Reaction: AP Top 25 and SEC Bias Debate

(21:11–29:03)

• Poll Movement Recap:
  Notable changes: Texas A&M receives a 1st place vote after beating LSU, minor shuffling in spots 6–20, and debates on teams ranked on the cusp (Washington, Iowa, USC re-entering).

• SEC Bias Claims:
  Danny Kanell questions why Tennessee is so much higher than other two-loss teams given their resume:
  "Why is Tennessee 6–2 so much better than everybody else’s 6–2 and 5–2...?" (23:43 – Danny Kanell)

• Resume-Driven Ranking vs. Poll Tradition:
  The hosts debate if power ratings or on-field results should matter more, especially comparing SEC teams like Ole Miss and non-SEC contenders like Miami.

• Voter Accountability:
  The group lampoons some voters who continue to rank LSU despite recent debacles:
  "We need to do an audit over who has votes and who doesn’t and who should lose them." (28:31 – Bud Elliott)

4. Bud Elliott’s Updated College Football Playoff (CFP) Bracket Projection

(29:03–41:13)

• New Playoff Model Results:
  Bud’s projection shakes up the bracket:

  • Texas A&M over Alabama in the SEC
  • Ohio State over Indiana in the Big Ten
  • Miami winning ACC
  • Cincinnati surprising in the Big 12
  • Multiple teams for limited at-large spots, creating a “bubble”

• “Sharpie Teams” Discussion:
  Who is a playoff lock barring disaster? The contenders: Bama, Texas A&M, Indiana, possible Ole Miss and Miami—disagreement ensues.

  "I don’t think Miami should be sharp yet. I don’t think, I don’t agree that Ole Miss should be sharp... look at the results we’ve seen this year." (33:33 – Tom Fornelli)

• Playoff Parity:
  Tom highlights the fun of so many teams still in contention:
  "How many teams we’re talking about in this segment, right? ... It’s more fun." (42:04)

5. Playoff Bubble Chaos & Conference Scenarios

(34:10–42:18)

• Parody and Possible Carnage:
  The crew dissects what would happen if “bubble” teams in the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC win out, calling out wild card teams and spoiler-watch programs (like Pitt).

• G5 Playoff Hopefuls:
  Slight nod to AAC teams boasting better resumes over Mountain West hopefuls.

6. Under the Hood: Week 9 Rapid Fire & Upon Further Review

(45:41–62:41)

• Kansas State the Big 12 Spoiler:
  Kansas State’s improved play could upend remaining contenders.

• Arch Manning’s Breakout:
  The hosts praise Arch Manning following a strong performance and debate its potential as a career turning point:
  "That game for Arch Manning could be a pivot point for his entire career... I think it does go a long way to a lot of the critics, naysayers... within his own locker room." (49:47–50:32 – Bud Elliott)

• Overtime Strategy Trends:
  Tom, celebrating Tulsa and UNC for going for two on their overtime second possessions:
  "If a team is taking you to overtime, you're an even team to them. If you have a two-point play, you like—go for it." (52:36–53:47)

7. Quick Hits: Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Buying Out Coaches – The Money Arms Race:
  Referencing LSU’s $50M buyout despite the state’s prior funding threats:
  "Here we are less than a decade later and they’re just cutting checks for $50 million for somebody not to coach." (13:01 – Bud Elliott)

• Lane Kiffin Rumor Mill & SEC Human Drama:
  The gang shares Lane Kiffin’s personal factors (family, happiness in Oxford) influencing his job choices: "His daughter wanted him to stay at Ole Miss. Landry, right now, is dating aforementioned Whit Weeks, who plays in Baton Rouge..." (59:38 – Bud Elliott)

• Colorado & Deion – Second-Year Struggles:
  The panel agrees:
  "If you’re Colorado, you sign up for the Deion experience again... but I don’t know that you want that experience going forward." (58:55 – Tom Fornelli)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Brian Kelly Fallout & Carousel Start: 02:35–18:31
• Qualified Coaches Debate: 17:10–18:31
• AP Top 25 Reaction, SEC Bias: 21:11–29:03
• CFP Bracket Projections: 29:03–41:13
• Playoff Bubble/Scenarios: 34:10–42:18
• Houston’s Big Win & Coaching Job: 43:52–44:16
• Week 9 Recap & Overtime Strategy: 45:41–53:47
• Arch Manning Discussion: 48:47–51:03
• Michigan Concerns, Coaching Openings: 55:46–57:14
• Lane Kiffin Rumors, Human Factor: 59:38–62:49

Notable Quotes

• "Ego is driving a lot of this on both sides." (07:20 – Chip Patterson)
• "Hiring coaches is flipping coins, man." (09:13 – Tom Fornelli)
• "Stop trying to win press conferences, start trying to win games." (10:42 – Danny Kanell)
• "There are plenty of coaches…maybe not qualified to win the Q score battle, but there are coaches who are qualified to win football games." (17:14 – Chip Patterson)
• "If you have a two-point play you like, your chance to score there is greater than 50%. Don’t give them the chance to run theirs. Go for it." (52:36–53:47 – Tom Fornelli)
• "That game for Arch Manning could be a pivot point for his entire career." (49:47–50:32 – Bud Elliott)
• "Our segment’s not titled how many teams can win the national title." (42:11 – Danny Kanell)

Final Thoughts

This episode perfectly encapsulates the chaos, drama, and constant churn of college football. Whether you’re tracking firings, rooting for playoff bubble teams, or just enjoying the banter, the Cover 3 team brings clarity, humor, and plenty of strong takes. For college football diehards, it’s essential listening.