Macrodosing: Was The Heisman Award Uninspiring This Year?

Podcast: Macrodosing with Arian Foster & PFT Commenter
Episode Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Barstool Sports

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the controversy and discourse surrounding the recent awarding of the Heisman Trophy to Fernando Mendoza. The hosts, joined by guests and characters from the Macrodosing universe, debate whether the award was “uninspiring,” examine shifting college football narratives, and share their takes on evolving football rules, NFL playoff predictions, and more. The conversation blends sports analysis, humor, cultural observation, and typical Macrodosing banter, maintaining the podcast’s signature irreverent but thoughtful tone.

Heisman Trophy Controversy: Was This Year’s Award Uninspiring?

[03:40–23:44]

Main Discussion

• Big T’s Take on the Heisman:
  • Big T wrote a blog claiming Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman was the “most uninspiring” in recent memory.
  • He clarifies: “The only opinion in it was when I said I love Fernando Mendoza and think he's a great player. The rest of it was barely opinion.” [04:13]
  • Stats Compared: Last four QBs to win the Heisman: 4,700+ passing yards, 47 TDs—Mendoza finished with sub-3,000 yards, 33 TDs, 6 INTs. "Under 3,000 yards. Does that inspire you, Arian, or would you describe it as uninspiring?" [05:56]
• Shift in College Football Attention:
  • “Nobody talked about the Heisman, really, throughout the whole season because all the focus now is on the playoff.” [04:34]
  • Several strong candidates throughout the season, but no clear favorite due to injuries and inconsistent performances.
• What is the Heisman About Now?
  • Big T: “The award for the best player in the country is the Maxwell Award... The Heisman is supposed to go to the most outstanding player who also exhibits outstanding character.” [06:19]
  • His personal vote: Diego Pavia, then Mendoza, then Jacob Rodriguez. “I hate him. I genuinely hate him. I despise him. That shows you that he probably should have won the award.” [07:06]
• Does It Cheapen the Award?
  • “I think the Heisman’s lost a lot of its luster just generally.” [07:52]
  • Suggests the idea: if no one is worthy in a particular year, don’t give it out—“like the National Baseball Hall of Fame.”
• Comparison to Previous Winners:
  • Aryan: “When you are a Heisman winner, you're compared to other Heisman winners... In a pool of not-very-good Heisman class, you get compared to other Heisman winners, which is just not very fair.” [08:22]
• Indiana Fans Respond:
  • The backlash from Indiana fans; accusations that Big T’s take was disparaging.
  • "Listen, your guy won the Heisman... Let Big T rent free." [09:23]

Debate with "White Boy Rick" (Indiana Fan)

[11:04]

• Entrenched fan perspective: "How do you not find this to be an inspiring story?” [11:41]
• White Boy Rick argues Mendoza’s lack of huge stats is because he sat out several fourth quarters and games.
• Big T: “How many Indiana games do you think the average college football fan watched this year?” [12:42]
• Rick lists Mendoza’s big-game “Heisman moments,” but Big T maintains: “You’re making my point, Rick. The whole field wasn’t very good.” [13:17]
• Disagreement over the interpretation of “uninspiring.”
  • Big T: “Uninspiring means someone or something that does not make you feel excited, interested, or motivated.” [18:41]
• Closure and playful jabs—White Boy Rick: “Surely Tennessee has a Heisman by now, right?” [23:24]
  • Big T retorts on internet culture and grown adults “trying to own” each other online.

Memorable exchange:

• Rick: “You came away from that night watching this kid take 13-0 Indiana to the number one ranking... and you come away from that thinking uninspiring?” [14:17]
• Big T: “Whoever won it, it would have been uninspiring... I might just become the uninspiring guy.” [41:37]

College Football & NFL Playoff Discussion

[25:07–44:55], [38:14–44:32]

• Rules Innovation: Forward Progress
  • Arian Foster questions the fairness of the “forward progress” rule, suggesting it unfairly helps the offense.
    “Wherever you end up at the end of the play is where you should end up.” [26:37]
  • Big T challenges with possible unintended effects, like defenders dragging runners backward.
  • Lively debate about safety, fumble touchbacks, and the infamous “tush push” play.
  • “We don’t ever make rules to help the defense out.” [28:03]
• NFL Playoff Field: Who Do We Trust?
  • Arian places a big bet on the 49ers: “I just put a thousand dollars US currency on the San Francisco 49ers to win the Super Bowl.” [36:16]
  • Big T: “Rather uninspiring crop of NFL playoff teams this year.” [41:37]
  • Teams discussed: Rams, Panthers, Buccaneers, Bears, Lions, Texans.
  • Packers’ injury woes, Ben Johnson as Coach of the Year contender, and skepticism over teams like the Eagles or Panthers.

Notable quote:

• “I might just say everything's uninspiring.” – Big T [41:54]

Sports Banter & Off-Field Football Talk

[44:58–58:19]

• Running Back Usage & Fantasy Football:
  • Jacoby Brissette’s fantasy impact and strategy talk.
• 49ers’ Injuries and Postseason Prospects:
  • Brock Purdy’s health, McCaffrey’s performance, Niners’ constant injuries, playoff scenarios.
• Coaching Careers:
  • D’Meco Ryans as a rare great player who became a great coach; Arian Foster’s own coaching ambitions.

Sports Media, Cultural Commentary & Social Media

[58:59–75:50]

• Uniform Aesthetics:
  • Praises for NFL throwback uniforms—Falcons, Buccaneers, nostalgia for classic looks. [76:02–77:46]
  • Trivia about the Falcons’ gold stripe (“both UGA and Georgia Tech colors” [78:07])
• Team Fandom and Pain:
  • Reflecting on the pain and fleeting joy of sports fandom—peak years, NFC championship let-downs.
• Airport Preferences:
  • Tangent about Midway vs. O’Hare; travel tips and quirks.

News & Current Events – Quick Hits

[62:33–68:23]

• Brown University Shooting Coverage:
  • Frustration over suspect not being apprehended despite surveillance.
  • Critiques of the FBI’s Twitter communications: “The way that he posts about it seems like he is a CEO that's like bragging about their company's capabilities…” [66:48]
• CIA vs. FBI, “Draining the Swamp,” Cajun Navy:
  • Satirical takes on how government agencies would arrest each other and the trustworthiness of “the Cajun Navy.” [69:45–70:33]

Additional Segments & Humor

[90:10–115:01]

• Charlie Kirk/Candace Owens/Erica Kirk Drama:
  • Dissection of conservative internet drama, grieving in public, Candace Owens’ conspiracy takes, diverging narratives in right-wing media.
  • “She's raking in the views.”
• America Fest Conservative Conference:
  • Analysis of the TPUSA/AMFest lineup and speaker drama; jokes about covering it as if it’s “Republican Woodstock.”
  • “We should do a bingo shot card.”
• LeBron Golf Swing, Music Collab:
  • LeBron working on his golf swing courtside; connects to Arian’s similar compulsion.
  • Hosts joke about making a country song together, play Arian’s “I Like Unicorns” track with debate about whether unicorns can fly. [110:27–112:34]
• Planning a Macrodosing Field Trip to America Fest:
  • Discussing sneaking into/snagging tickets for the sold-out conservative event.

Memorable Quotes

• “If you're offended by that, like, your brain is tiny.” – Big T [05:31]
• “When you are a Heisman winner, you're compared to other Heisman winners… in a pool of not-very-good Heisman class, you get compared to other Heisman winners, which is just not very fair.” – Aryan [08:22]
• “It's not the best football. But it's good. We love it, don't we?” – Trump at Army-Navy, quoted by Big T [74:00]
• “I might just become the uninspiring guy.” – Big T [41:50]
• “There's no correct way [to grieve]... If what would piss me off is people talking about my loved one.” – Aryan [90:47]
• “Unicorns can have wings.” – Arian Foster [112:18]
• “Libertarians are so funny to me… like, if you’re an actual libertarian… it's my army versus your army.” – Aryan [102:17]

Key Timestamps

• 03:40 — Did Mendoza win the most uninspiring Heisman?
• 11:04 — White Boy Rick debates Big T over “uninspiring” claim.
• 25:07 — Arian Foster questions the “forward progress” rule.
• 36:16 — Arian’s $1,000 Super Bowl bet on the 49ers.
• 41:37 — NFL playoff “uninspiring” discussion.
• 58:59 — College football playoff odds predictions.
• 76:02 — Uniform nostalgia: Falcons, Buccaneers.
• 83:39 — Chicago river and “is the eastern US an island?”
• 90:10 — Candace Owens, Erica Kirk, and right-wing media drama.
• 100:04 — America Fest speaker list and coverage ideas.
• 110:27 — “I Like Unicorns” — Arian’s daughter’s song and debate about unicorns’ abilities.

Tone, Language, and Style

• Language is conversational, irreverent, often humorous but occasionally biting, consistent with the Barstool/Macrodosing house style.
• The podcast weaves in playful jabs, side tangents, and pop culture references.
• There’s openness to calling out fandom hypocrisy, poking fun at each other's teams, and self-deprecation.
• Even in debates, there is an air of mutual respect and camaraderie.

Summary Takeaway

The hosts and guests agree: this year’s Heisman Trophy does feel less significant, but not for a lack of player quality—rather due to a shifting landscape in college football where playoffs overshadow individual accolades. The show offers thoughtful, sometimes provocative, always entertaining takes on both the sport and the culture surrounding it. And, as always, Macrodosing delivers plenty of laughs and offbeat commentary along with its football analysis.