PTI Podcast Summary: "Did the CFB Committee Get The Rankings Right?"

Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Date: November 6, 2025
Episode Focus:
Tony and Mike break down the first College Football Playoff committee rankings of the season, debate NFL trade deadline moves, discuss a controversial NHL goal, and sit down for “Five Good Minutes” with Hall of Famer Steve Young for insight on QB situations and more.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers around the controversial release of the first official College Football Playoff (CFP) committee rankings, asking whether the committee got it right at the top and examining what the rankings say about conference strength. Tony and Mike also tackle big NFL trade deadline stories and scrutinize a wild overtime NHL ruling, before a rich “Five Good Minutes” segment with Steve Young on quarterback psyche, injuries, and wide receiver management.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College Football Playoff Rankings: Who Got Snubbed?

[01:04–04:22; 32:47–35:11]

• Initial Rankings:
  • Ohio State (1), Indiana (2), Texas A&M (3), Alabama (4), Georgia (5), Ole Miss (6)
  • Three SEC teams in a row; Big Ten has three in top 10; BYU and Texas Tech (Big 12) at 7 & 8; two-loss Notre Dame at 10.
• Wilbon’s Take:
  “I certainly don't have any objections to it… SEC can have 40 teams in a row. We got the top two.” (01:40)
• Mike's skepticism about "running the table":
  • “No one runs the damn table. So let's stop with the running the table." (01:51)
  • Indiana has a soft remaining schedule; Ohio State still faces Michigan.
  • Even if Indiana loses Big Ten championship, they're likely still in.
• Tony’s Take:
  • “What stood out to me: the total lack of regard for the ACC, which is what happens when Clemson and Florida State stink.” (03:15)
  • ACC’s highest team: Virginia at #14. Louisville at 15, Georgia Tech 17, Miami 18, Pitt 24.
  • “The committee is saying right now, today, not any good. Not any of them are good enough to be in a 12 team playoff.” (03:44)
• Expanded Playoff Dynamics:
  • Tony: “It's not a 12 team playoff… You're going for 10 slots.” (04:03)
  • Wilbon: “Maybe. If they win the championship.” (04:16)
• PTI Bonus Segment Recap:
  • Wilbon: “Everybody’s gonna lose…12 of the top 15 teams will lose at least a game.” (32:52)
  • Both question the durability of “run the table” logic.
  • Tony: “The obvious lack of respect for the ACC...now Clemson was a threat like a week and a half ago. Now it’s back to being a basketball league only.” (34:49)
  • Wilbon: “8 was a better [playoff] number, and 12 is stupid.” (34:45)
• Notable Quote:
  • Wilbon: “The only takeaway that matters at this point, ‘cause it’s too early, is wow, how the ACC is meaningless.” (33:37)
• External Perspective:
  • Booger McFarland (SportsCenter):
    • “I would have put Texas A&M [at No. 1]... That’s the single best win in the sport right now.” (30:46)
    • “Looking at resumes... Miami being ranked 8 spots lower than Notre Dame has to make the people in South Beach feel some kind of way.” (31:49)

2. NFL Trade Deadline Moves: Who Won?

[04:22–06:55]

• Jets Trade Away Defensive Pillars:
  • Sauce Gardner → Colts (for two 1st-rounders & a receiver)
  • Quinnen Williams → Cowboys (for 1st, 2nd, DT Mazi Smith)
• Tony:
  • “The New York Jets should feel best... They stink. And they are finally understanding. Stop with this delusional thinking. This group... is not going to help us win.” (04:54)
  • “If you have a good general manager... that can turn your team back.” (05:27)
• Wilbon:
  • Questions if “hope” is enough, “But it has to work... that speaks to either coaching or development.” (05:44)
  • "I'm fascinated by the Jets…I think that actually is No." [But says Seattle did better.]
• Seattle Seahawks Get Rasheed Shaheed; Jaguars Get Jacoby Myers:
  • Mike: Excited about Seattle’s weapons with Darnold playing well: “Seattle just scored 38... and then they add a receiver who's a deep threat.” (06:07)
• Tony:
  • “Buffalo should have done that... Seattle just did a better job."
  • “I think Indianapolis comes out great because Sauce Gardner is really good… you have to fine-tune.” (06:34)
• Wilbon’s Caution:
  • “That's a lot to give up for a corner...I'm not giving up that much for any corner...” (06:41)
• Memorable Dig:
  • “Nnamdi Asomugha was supposed to be the greatest corner since Mel Blunt.” (06:41)

3. NHL Controversy: Overtime "Phantom" Goal

[06:55–09:19]

• Situation:
  • Wild’s Marcus Johansson scored game-winning OT goal. But net was off moorings—Nashville goalie dislodged it.
  • Officials ruled the puck would have gone in, so awarded the goal.
• Wilbon:
  • “The goaltender moved the net. He dislodged it... The damn goal counts. Everybody get off the ice.” (07:21)
  • “If I hear from one person from Nashville... I'll send you to an NBA poker game.” (07:21)
• Tony (philosophical):
  • “If you don’t [allow ref discretion], every goalie will knock the net…” (08:03)
  • But also: “If it doesn’t actually go in the net, it’s not a real goal.” (08:27)
• Wilbon:
  • Joking: “We should reward the instigator who took the net off.” (08:38)
• Tony:
  • “I’m sort of stuck in the middle here... It probably won’t mean something down the road because they don’t look like playoff teams now.” (08:42)

4. Five Good Minutes with Steve Young

[11:39–19:10]

a) Kyler Murray Benched for Jacoby Brissette

• Tony’s Question: How would Murray feel hearing the coach prefers Brissette “even if healthy”?
• Steve Young (quotable, [12:22]):
  • “That's a death crawl, right?... That is the thing that you cannot hear as a quarterback.”
  • “Kyler Murray's agent runs to see what the contract says about guaranteed money... we're not going to get any more.”
  • “If I’m Kyler Murray… respond not as a victim... own it... How have I let this organization down? What do I need to do better?... Otherwise... you become a journeyman looking for a backup job. It happens pretty quick.”

b) Quarterbacks Blaming Their Defense

• Mike: Flacco’s numbers look great but defense stinks—how angry can he get?
• Steve Young ([14:17]):
  • “Everyone has to go get the inspiration, go ram into each other... Half of [the QB’s] job is psychology.”
  • “What you can't do is shame them... you gotta be super careful... Joe can't do that. He's got to be super careful.”
  • “[Privately] to his wife, he’s like ‘that defense sucks’... but you can’t say it in public.”

c) Effect of Non-Throwing Arm Injury for QBs

• Mike: On Jayden Daniels’ dislocated non-throwing elbow
• Steve Young ([15:38]):
  • “You think not that much... but we’re talking about 99th percentile stuff.”
  • “If somehow [your arm] is not counterbalancing the right way and you gotta be perfect with the football, it makes it super tough.”

d) Should Commanders Shut Down J. Daniels for Season?

• Mike: At 3-6, should they sit Jayden to get healthy?
• Steve Young ([16:34]):
  • “It's not necessarily tanking... You want him to be that guy for 15, 20 years.”
  • “If I were Jayden, I would get healthy and demand to get on the field. Just love playing.”

e) Managing Disgruntled WRs (A.J. Brown situation in Philly)

• Tony: How far do you go to keep a WR happy?

• Steve Young (with a Jerry Rice anecdote, [17:59]):

  • “We used to have a part of the game sheet–Jerry Rice section... sometimes you can take the great [player]... make an AJ section. Let him know that you care.”
  • “It's not easy... But we as a coaching staff... we're going to make it AJ section [on the play sheet].”

• Memorable exchange:

  • Tony: “Very rarely do we get someone use the phrases nolo contendere and bilateral. Only a lawyer.”
  • Steve: “Only a lawyer.” (19:08)

5. Around the Sports World ("Happy Time," "Big Finish," [21:32–25:27])

• Jason Kelce’s Hall of Fame candidacy:
  • “I think Jason [Kelce]... I would think [he makes it].” – Wilbon (22:16)
• Greg Maddux and Gold Gloves legacy
• LIV Tour adopting a 72-hole format:
  • Tony: “The name Liv is just 54 in Roman numerals. Maybe they'll change the name to LXXII. Or Lexi.” (23:57)
• Legal news in NASCAR, WNBA expansion, NBA excitement over "Wemby vs. Luka"
• **Wilbon on college basketball’s hot freshmen: "Wow, that's dunks!" (24:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the playoff committee:
  • “It just would change the… that’s all I’m saying.” – Tony on Indiana losing Big Ten championship (02:53)
  • “If they run the table…” “No one runs the damn table!” – Wilbon (01:51)
  • “The only takeaway that matters… is wow, how the ACC is meaningless.” – Wilbon (33:37)
• On the Jets:
  • “They are opting for a better future, which may or may not include Aaron Glenn.” – Tony (04:56)
• On the NHL goal controversy:
  • “Everybody get off the ice. And if I hear from one person from Nashville, I'll get all of you suspended or send you to an NBA poker game.” – Wilbon (07:21)
• Steve Young, on coaches’ lack of confidence in a QB:
  • “That's a death crawl, right?... That is the thing that you cannot hear as a quarterback.” (12:22)
• On management of star WRs:
  • “Make an AJ section [on the play sheet]. Let him know that you care.” – Steve Young (17:59)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• CFB Rankings Discussion: 01:04–04:22, 32:47–35:11
• NFL Trade Deadline Reactions: 04:22–06:55
• NHL Goal Controversy: 06:55–09:19
• Five Good Minutes (Steve Young): 11:39–19:10
• Bonus CFB Segment (w/Booger McFarland): 30:46–32:47
• Sports Roundup/Happy Time/Big Finish: 21:32–25:27

Takeaway for Listeners

This episode is a classic PTI mix of sharp banter and real insight. You’ll walk away understanding not just who’s on top in college football, but why the rankings matter (or don’t), what makes a trade deadline winner, why rules in sports get more philosophical every year, and how pro quarterbacks handle both praise and adversity. Steve Young’s appearance is especially rich for anyone interested in leadership, accountability, and team psychology.

[End of summary]