Pardon My Take – College Football Mega Preview

Date: August 29, 2025
Hosts: Big Cat & PFT Commenter (Barstool Sports)
Guests: Brandon Walker, Tom Fornelli, CJ Kirst
Main Segments Covered:

• College Football Mega Preview (w/ Brandon Walker & Tom Fornelli)
• Waterdog CJ Kirst (PLL Lacrosse)
• Mt. Rushmore: Worst Favors to Be Asked
• Micah Parsons Traded During Fyre Fest

Episode Overview

This "CFB Mega Preview" episode brings the energy as Pardon My Take kicks off the college football season. Big Cat and PFT Commenter are joined by Barstool’s CFB expert Brandon Walker and CBS’s Tom Fornelli for an extended, passionate, and very opinionated preview of the upcoming season. They dive into hot takes, playoff predictions, conference breakdowns, and bicker over last year’s expert title. The show also welcomes lacrosse phenom CJ Kirst ahead of the Waterdogs’ playoff run, debates the worst social favors to be asked on the annual Mt. Rushmore draft, and reacts live to a blockbuster NFL trade.

Main Themes & Purposes

• Full-blown college football preview: predictions, coaching tiers, playoff picks, and wild cards.
• Entertaining, hard-won segment on the most annoying social favors.
• Exclusive player interview from up-and-coming PLL star.
• The signature PMT blend of humor, ball knowledge, tangents, and listener engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Highlights

1. Football Is ALL the Way Back

• (03:04) Joyful football banter as PMT declares, “Football is back!”
• The hosts recount years when football’s return hit different – pandemic years, crowd comebacks, and this season’s anticipation.

2. Quick NFL & Ball Banter

• LeBron's NFL players to watch list ridiculed for being obvious.
• The crew picks their own "six players to watch," lampooning vague media tropes.
  “My NFL players to watch are all of them.” – Big Cat (13:06)
• Uniform hot takes: Hosts complain about the NBA-ification of NFL jerseys and changing color schemes.
  “The Dolphins shouldn’t wear black!” – Big Cat (19:49)
• Shoutouts and confusion about soccer fandoms, fantasy drafts, and the boys’ weekend plans.

3. Mount Rushmore: Worst Favors to Be Asked

• (34:56) A PMT classic: four teams, snake draft of the worst social favors.
• Top picks include:
  • Picking someone up at the airport (39:23)
  • Helping someone move (40:22)
  • Babysitting kids (42:18)
  • Covering someone’s shift (48:56)
  • Writing letters of recommendation, being asked to hide a gun/body (“war stories” ensue)
• Hilarious, heated digressions:
  • Hank admits he once had to hide a gun for a neighbor fresh out of jail.
  • Debates over whether being asked to be a designated driver is a “bad” thing.
  • The absurdity of being asked to mulch, provide Wi-Fi passwords, or hold someone’s spot in a crowd.

Notable Quote:
"Helping someone move, that’s asking me to work out for seven hours for a six pack of Bud and pizza." – Big Cat (41:07)

4. Mega College Football Preview (w/ Brandon Walker & Tom Fornelli)

Opening Spat

• Brandon is salty about not getting permanent “Expert” recognition; Tom claims responsibility for bringing him on PMT.
  “I thought I would be referred to as the reigning PMT expert... not just this once.” – Brandon Walker (64:44)
• They bicker over who “got who the job” given last season’s pick-off results.

Big Ten

• Brandon’s Hot Take: Penn State wins the title – “Most complete team, fantastic QB. Franklin can break through.” (66:42)
• Tom: Not a James Franklin believer, worries about Penn State’s big-game history and the need for more “dudes.”
  “If Penn State wins the national title, I don’t think it’s a shock – but losing key pieces is overlooked.” – Tom (69:02)
• Ohio State: New QB Julian Sayin, loaded WR core led by Jeremiah Smith. Tom expects a big step forward, but depth is a question.

SEC

• Bama doubts: “Caleb DeBoer isn’t built for Alabama. If you lose to Vandy, maybe you’re not the guy.” – Brandon (87:50)
• Grubb Factor: “Ryan Grubb could be the ‘secret sauce’” – Tom (87:58)
• Georgia: Kirby has more question marks than ever; Gunner Stockton doesn’t excite the crew.

ACC & Beyond

• Miami as a rising power, thanks to an upgraded defense and new OC.
• Clemson’s QB Cade Klubnik called good “but not elite enough for the big games” (113:01+).
• Louisville and SMU debated as darkhorses.

Big 12 Chaos

• “No idea who wins this league. It’s a dart-board.” (119:00)
• Kansas, Baylor, Utah, West Virginia: All possibilities mentioned.
• Notre Dame: Both love Jeremiah Love as a Heisman dark horse.

Notable Quotes:

• “Crimes don’t matter in the SEC if you’re winning.” – Brandon Walker (95:27)
• “There are eight or ten teams you can make a logical argument for the national title. Don’t bet the favorites.” – Tom Fornelli (89:12)

College Football Playoff Snake Draft

• Each expert picks 12 teams likely to make the playoff; scoring system based on playoff advancement.
• Picks include: Ohio State, Penn State, Texas, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, LSU, Miami, Alabama, Oregon, Boise State, Baylor, Missouri, Utah, A&M, Nebraska, Arizona State, Illinois, Washington, USC, Kansas State, Tulane, Texas Tech.

5. CJ Kirst – Waterdogs Lacrosse Star

• (143:23) PLL rookie, national champion, and Tewaaraton winner interviewed about the pro transition.
• Talks team chemistry, playoff prep, and sibling rivalries (four brothers currently in the league).
• Shares: Fastest shot near “triple digits,” best lacrosse goal, team bug juice pregame rituals.
• PMT promises to pick up the team’s tab if they win.

Quote:
"If we win, I’d get a tattoo. Maybe shave my head." – CJ Kirst (155:43)

6. Micah Parsons Trade – Live Fyre Fest Reaction

• (177:09+) The crew’s live reaction to news of Micah Parsons being traded from the Cowboys to the Packers.
• Big Cat, a Bears fan, spirals: “Why would you trade him in the NFC? He’s 26!”
• PFT takes joy as a Commanders fan, Hank and memes pile on, and group cope tweets are composed in real time.
• Segue into ridiculousness: K-pop Demon Hunters, Fire Fest toe injuries, Zach’s disastrous mini golf date, PFT’s run of losing three laptops in two days.

Quote:
"Why wasn’t it three first-rounders? You don’t trade Micah Parsons to the Packers!" – Big Cat (180:16)

Notable Quotes & Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• “Football is back.” (03:55 – Big Cat)
• “My NFL players to watch are all of them.” (13:06 – Big Cat)
• “The Dolphins shouldn’t wear black!” (19:49 – Big Cat)
• “Helping someone move is… working out for 7 hours for a 6 pack of Bud and pizza.” (41:07 – Big Cat)
• “Crimes don’t matter as long as you’re winning in the SEC.” (95:27 – Brandon Walker)
• “Don’t bet the favorites, when there are so many... you can make a logical argument for.” (89:12 – Tom Fornelli)
• “If we win, I’d get a tattoo. Maybe shave my head.” (155:43 – CJ Kirst)
• “Why would you trade him in the NFC? He’s 26!” (180:16 – Big Cat)

Important Timestamps

• 03:04–07:39 Opening football-and-vibes celebration
• 34:56–62:11 Mt. Rushmore: Worst Favors
• 63:38–140:31 CFB Mega Preview (Brandon Walker & Tom Fornelli)
• 143:23–170:32 Interview: CJ Kirst (Waterdogs)
• 177:09–190:56 Live Micah Parsons trade reaction; Fyre Fest

Episode Tone & Style

• Signature PMT blend of sarcasm, sports adoration, inside jokes, and some off-the-rails tangents.
• Ball "guys" energy; surprised expertise spliced with humor and just the right level of sports pettiness.
• No-holds-barred commentary. Friendly arguments and ribbing abound, especially between the expert guests.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode captures everything that’s made Pardon My Take a podcast giant: massive CFB preview content, laugh-out-loud storytime, in-studio athlete perspective, and somehow even a huge NFL news event experienced live on air. If you need hot takes on playoff picks, fresh NFL and CFB snark, or to know whether you should ever help a friend move again, this one’s a must.