Game Over with Max Kellerman & Rich Paul

Episode: CFP Review, NFL Preview, and a Sports Business Master Class

Date: January 2, 2026
Podcast: The Ringer

Overview: Main Theme and Purpose

In this engaging episode, Max Kellerman and Rich Paul blend sports debate with business insight, tackling the College Football Playoff (CFP) upsets, previewing critical NFL matchups, and diving deep into the economics of athlete branding. They mix sharp analysis, humor, and real industry expertise, offering listeners both insider football commentary and a genuine "sports business master class."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter: New Year's, Golf Simulators & Baldness in Pop Culture

• Rich pokes fun at Max’s New York hat and both share New Year stories, blending personal anecdotes with their familiar banter. (00:38–06:06)
• The conversation veers into a humorous critique of hair loss commercials and the media's portrayal of baldness—interwoven with references to Montel Williams and Tupac as cultural icons who embraced the look.
  • “Is hair really that important? When I was a kid, Montel Williams was the man. He had a bald head. Michael Jordan, bald head.”—Rich Paul [05:00]

2. CFP Deep Dive: Emotions, Analysis, & Upsets

Rich's Pain as an Ohio State Fan

• Max expresses sympathy for Rich’s Buckeyes, who failed to defend their championship. (06:53)
• Rich candidly discusses how team losses affect his mood and daily life.
  • “When the Buckeyes or the Browns lose, I'm really not a nice guy the next day. It really bothers me.”—Rich Paul [07:09]

Playoff Analysis and Miami’s Big Win

• Detailed breakdown of Miami’s surprising win over Ohio State and what set the Hurricanes apart:
  • Miami played with hunger while Ohio State looked “a little bit full”—lacking the necessary urgency.
  • Rich credits Miami’s defense, efficient quarterback play, and Cristobal’s coaching culture. (10:53)
  • The 23-day layoff after the regular season is cited as hurting Ohio State’s momentum.
    • “The 23 days off really hurt us. I don’t like the 23 days off.”—Rich Paul [11:57]

NFL Prospects on Display

• Both hosts survey NFL-caliber talent in the CFP, especially on defense.
  • “McDonald is the new Vince Wilfork. Arvel Reese… he might go 1 overall…”—Rich Paul [13:12]

Should Elite College Players Enter the NFL Draft Earlier?

• Rich floats the idea of flexibility in eligibility, proposing a two-years-plus-one rule for extraordinary talents.
  • “For guys like Jeremiah Smith, we got to have a two-plus-one (years) rule.”—Rich Paul [16:21]
• Max adds that such a system could become a televised event—another moneymaker for college football.

Is Parity Good for College Football?

• Debate on whether upsets and non-traditional powers (like Indiana) winning is healthy for the sport.
  • Max prefers a world where traditional programs maintain their dominance, but concedes parity is here—and it’s shaped by factors like NIL and coaching carousel effects. (17:59–18:46)

3. Cultural Shifts: Coaching Trees, NIL, and the Saban Effect

• Max and Rich note how Nick Saban’s coaching tree now populates the upper echelons of college football.
  • “Nick Saban, the Greg Popovich of college football.”—Rich Paul [18:46]
• Rich pinpoints how the arrival of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has shifted the game, incentivizing players and programs differently.
  • “When you can’t distinguish good from great, the business is in trouble.”—Rich Paul [19:03]

4. NFL Weekend Preview

Game of the Week: Ravens vs. Steelers

• Both hosts agree this is the matchup of the weekend, with high stakes for coaches John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin. (25:42)
• Discussion extends to their Sunday routines juxtaposed with NFL viewing habits, and balancing NBA and NFL as sports fans. (26:20–28:23)

Coaching Job Security: Harbaugh & Tomlin

• Both agree it would be folly for either franchise to fire their proven head coaches.
  • “If you fire Mike Tomlin and or Harbaugh, who are you hiring?”—Rich Paul [29:27]
• The discussion draws on the coaches' ability to foster cultures and adapt: offense, defense, or both.

Steelers vs. Ravens Tactical Preview

• Rich and Max weigh the importance of defense for Pittsburgh and Derrick Henry’s expected workload for Baltimore.
  • “How many touches should Derrick Henry get in this game?”—Rich Paul [37:54]
  • Max: “Infinity.” (37:54)
• Max on Aaron Rodgers: He’s saving his best for a playoff run, likening it to LeBron saving defense for high-leverage moments. (39:05)
• Final picks: Max chooses the Steelers; Rich leans Ravens. (39:44–44:24)

Seahawks vs. Niners & Other Notes

• Conversation covers QB Sam Darnold’s “boom or bust” potential for the Seahawks, 49ers’ defensive issues, and the reality that only a handful of teams are true contenders. (41:00–44:24)
• Picks recap: Max takes Steelers and Niners; Rich picks Ravens and Seahawks.

5. Sports Business Master Class: Building an Athlete Brand

Difference Between a Brand & a Business

• Rich Paul provides a step-by-step breakdown (62:11–66:00) of the athlete shoe business, from rookie deal to signature sneaker and the importance of equity, regional markets, and royalty structures.
  • “Most athletes… don’t have a business off the court. What they perceive as a brand is not a business.”—Rich Paul [61:39]

Cultural Relatability & Lifestyle

• To transcend as a brand, athletes must connect to culture (e.g., Allen Iverson, Kyrie Irving) and understand pricing.
  • “When I think about that… who can I build a business with? The other one I have to add is Penny Hardaway, because Penny Hardaway had the opportunity to build, I do believe, a billion-dollar business.”—Rich Paul [58:22]
• Max raises how market demand, influencers, and product story contribute to the sneaker’s success.

Signature Shoe Hierarchy

• Not everyone can get a signature shoe; traffic jams and generational talent matter. (67:23)
• Rich credits Kyrie Irving with “one of the best shoes” and a strong comeback with a new partnership.

The Role of Pricing and Lifestyle

• On setting the right price point:
  • “Once you start outpricing families, it’s going to hurt your business.”—Rich Paul [75:18]
• Lifestyle shoes in the '90s vs. now and how athletic footwear has shifted in cultural relevance.

On Colorways, Marketing, and Storytelling

• Rich breaks down the significance of colorways—red, black, and white in footwear compared to restaurant branding (81:03).
  • “Marketing is storytelling… You tell a great story that people can buy into and believe.”—Rich Paul [79:14]

On Athlete Partners, Business Expansion & Royalties

• The path from PE (Player Edition) to a true signature athlete and global expansion, especially into Asia Pacific markets.
• Why it’s important for athletes to switch up their support team once they reach true business status.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Max on College Football Playoff’s Upset Theme:
  “Miami played like they needed it.”—Max Kellerman [10:31]
• Rich on NCAA Eligibility Rules:
  “For guys like Jeremiah Smith, we got to have a two-plus-one rule.”—Rich Paul [16:21]
• Rich on Business Fundamentals:
  “Most representation cannot add value in multifaceted ways in those rooms. If your agent has never bought sneakers, how can he add value?”—Rich Paul [68:15]
• On Building Athlete Brands:
  “When you have a business, here’s how it works…your play, your market, your character, your willingness to cooperate. Now, your partner does matter—because the product matters.”—Rich Paul [62:11]
• Culture as a Competitive Advantage: “It can’t be an advertisement. It has to actually be a seed planted in the foundation of…an organization.”—Rich Paul [46:10]
• On Signature Sneakers Price Point: “Once you out price families, it’s going to hurt your business.”—Rich Paul [75:18]

Important Timestamps

• New Year Banter & Baldness Commentary: 00:38–06:06
• OSU/Miami CFP Analysis & NFL Draft Talk: 06:53–18:46
• Saban’s Coaching Tree & NIL Impact: 18:46–19:33
• NFL Preview (Ravens–Steelers/Coaching Futures): 25:42–44:24
• Business of Athletic Branding: 61:39–76:48
• Industry Insights: Colorways, Culture, Storytelling: 79:14–82:46

Flow & Tone

The episode is a lively, free-flowing blend of sports debate, humor, and straight-up game on how deals really work. Max provides the passionate sports journalist perspective, while Rich delivers the agent’s business wisdom, often with street-level credibility and real-world advice for athletes.

For New Listeners

If you missed this episode, you’ll come away with:

• An understanding of recent seismic shifts in college and pro football.
• Insight into why certain teams and athletes succeed—or falter—on and off the field.
• A rare, behind-the-scenes guide to the economics and strategy behind athlete branding and the signature sneaker business.
• Culture talk: how winning teams (and brands) build cultures that last.

Reminder: Picks for NFC/AFC matchups set in stone.
Catch their next episode recap for who was right!

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