Ringer Tailgate – CFB Week 12: Live Reactions

Host: The Ringer
Date: November 16, 2025
Panel: Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, Tate Frazier (+ Billy, occasional guest and chat interaction)

Main Theme & Purpose

This live episode delivers real-time reactions and deep discussion on a monumental Week 12 in College Football, with a focus on wild SEC comebacks, the evolving hierarchy between the SEC and Big 12, rapid playoff calculus, coaching controversies, and the unique blend of fun, banter, and cultural tangents that define the Ringer Tailgate atmosphere. The squad gives smart, irreverent takes while the chat weighs in, creating a true CFB “hangout” mode.

Key Topics and Takeaways

1. Texas A&M’s Historic Comeback vs. South Carolina

[06:44] Joel leads off with the stat that SEC teams were 0-286 when trailing by 27+ points… until today, when Texas A&M stormed back.
Van: “I did not know what was going on. Texas A&M put together one of the worst halves of football I’ve ever seen any elite team play…The entire college football watching public was like, are they throwing this football game? This looks terrible.”—[07:30]
Joe: “I was about as impressed as I’ve been with Texas A&M in a damn near generation… They looked really crisp and efficient and confident in a way that I just—I can’t remember seeing an Aggies team like this in a long time.”—[10:25]
Big narrative: Aggies’ win is less signature, more proof-of-resilience; a real barometer of their transformed culture under pressure.

2. South Carolina Meltdown & Coach Shane Beamer’s Future

[13:19] The panel notes South Carolina blew their “shot at joy.”
Van: “They fucked it. It was embarrassing in the second half.”
Joe: “This was a disappointing year for a team…like, there’s no way they would fire Shane Beamer, right? But it seems to me… that (the fans) are fed up with that man.”—[14:47]
Van: "They want to wed and be married to the excellence of Shane Beamer, but they are in a perpetual talking stage because he won't take the next step.” —[20:33]
Joel: Adds that Beamer is “too emotional in games,” frustrates fans with his sidelines poker face.

3. Big 12 Invading the SEC & Conference Realignment Fallout

[30:59] Joe’s big reaction: "The old Big 12 has made the SEC even bigger, even better."
Points out that Texas, A&M, and Oklahoma are now among the SEC’s toughest, vindicating critics wondering if “they’d get tougher fast enough.”
Van’s Context: “What people did not see during the time that this happened is how much college football had changed… Dominance in college football is pretty much out the window.”—[36:31]
Joel: “When we look at today, Oklahoma goes into Bama and beats them for the second year in a row. And they won in a way people never thought — defense first, made them one-dimensional.”—[32:43]

4. Alabama's Loss, Fanbase Expectations, and the “New Normal”

[24:39] Van makes Alabama the centerpiece: “My big reaction... I want to see how the Alabama fan base react, responds to this loss. Kaylin DeBoer in many ways has shored up his position as Alabama head coach... But I think Alabama fans kind of knew that the days of the Nick Saban dominance were gone.”
“If you're used to elite, can you live with good? If you're used to perfect, can you live with we're damn good?” —[27:08]

5. Playoff Scenarios: Texas, Notre Dame & Chaos Math

[39:30] Debate on Texas’ path with a potential 9-3 record. Would a late win over A&M offset questionable losses?
Van: “They have a win that is better than any other win Notre Dame has. But they also have losses because they play in a competitive conference.”—[44:17]
Joe: “I would probably take Notre Dame over Texas, but you know, I'm willing to hear the argument for Texas at nine and three.”
The group agrees resume is everything — quality wins v. suspect losses.

6. Around the Country: Georgia Tech Survival, Conference Strength

Georgia Tech survives Boston College: Panel puts it in the box with other ugly wins, sees Tech as “plucky” but not scary playoff material.
Discussion of the ACC’s relative weakness this year, needing Georgia Tech/Notre Dame to anchor them.

7. Michigan: Gritty, Flawed, Still Alive

[87:07] Michigan survives Northwestern on a last-second field goal.
Joe: “Still don’t think Michigan’s that good…but that’s one of those wins that even though it was just Northwestern, it’s like, all right, you can build on that.”
Van: “I think Michigan is a very flawed team, but maybe they're a little more solid than we think...The best is still yet to come for them.”—[90:15]

8. Wider College Football Culture: Banter, Tangents & Notable Quotes

Gentle Parenting: Opens with Joel discussing “gentle parenting,” Van countering with his own “devil’s hoofprint” story.
- Van: “That’s not an iron print. That’s the devil’s hoof print… You’ve opened the gates of hell.”—[04:15]
Hat Discourse: Joel’s hat gets roasted by the chat; group debates cultural divides in cap style—[29:05].
Old Sports Documentaries: (“Gang Wars: Banging in Little Rock,” “Pimps Up, Hoes Down”) and their impact—[49:25].
Chat's Role: Chat actively shapes show, even getting Joel to adjust his hat—[29:29], goading about prior comments, etc.
Billy’s role: Occasional drop-ins, both as fact-checker and mischief-stirrer/mediator.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Van Lathan [07:30]:
"Texas A&M put together one of the worst halves of football I've ever seen any elite team play. ... The entire college football watching public was like, are they throwing this football game?"
Joe [10:25]:
"About as impressed as I've been with Texas A&M in a damn near generation ... looked really crisp and efficient and confident."
Van Lathan [20:33]:
"They want to wed and be married to the excellence of Shane Beamer, but they are in a perpetual talking stage because he won't take the next step."
Joel Anderson [32:43]:
"Oklahoma goes into Bama and beats them for the second year in a row... in a Venables way—defense first, made them one dimensional."
Van Lathan [27:08]:
"If you're used to elite, can you live with good? If you're used to perfect, can you live with we're damn good? And we're gonna see that with the Alabama fanbase."
Van Lathan [44:17]:
"They have a win that is better than any other win that Notre Dame could possibly have. ... But they also have losses because they play in a competitive conference."
Van Lathan [90:15]: "I think Michigan's a very flawed team. You can make some of the same arguments ... But there's some there there with them."
Van Lathan [04:15]:
[On his “devil’s hoof print” story] “He said, that’s not an iron print. That’s the devil’s hoof print … You’ve opened the gates of hell.”

Quick Hitters & Fun Segment Timestamps

[41:33] Georgia Tech’s “plucky” struggle, ACC’s fragility.
[56:38] Should college football have flex scheduling? Van floats the chaos idea.
[71:04] Why play CFB in baseball stadiums? The panel agrees: it's mostly marketing, doesn't add much.
[78:43] Billy/Simmons podcast cross-polinating; Billy eschews Bill for Tailgate, professes loyalty.
[87:07] Michigan's margin-of-error win, Bryce Underwood’s “gotta give him his props.”
[89:46] Joel asks for “quick hitters”; group does lightning round on late games, Houston trips, HBCU shoutouts.

Running Gags & Tailgate DNA

Gentle Parenting vs. Old School: Stories of upbringing—Joel (gentle parent), Van (fire and brimstone).
Chat and Hat Warfare: Joel’s hat is the night’s meme; cultural divides between flat/curved brims dissected.
Playoff ‘Eye Test’: Panel agrees current rankings are as much about “feel” as résumé.
Random Tangents: From Chris Collinsworth’s infamous quote, to Mr. Whitefolks, to Arcane Internet Memes.
Joel’s R. Kelly Defense: Numerous call-backs to questionable statements, always (barely) sidestepped for comedy.
Billy as Sleepy Agent of Chaos: Billy stirs things up, then fades.

Final Word

This episode is classic Ringer Tailgate: deeply knowledgeable CFB commentary paired with relentless, warm chaos. In Week 12, the big story is transformation—programs, conferences, coaching ceilings, fan expectations—and how the fate of college football is far more unpredictable, and fun, than any preseason narrative could suggest.

Timestamps for Reference

Texas A&M Comeback & Reaction: 06:44–13:19
South Carolina/Shane Beamer: 13:19–23:20
Big 12 vs. SEC/Conference Realignment: 24:39–38:59
Alabama's Fanbase After Shock: 24:39–27:53
Playoff Paths (Texas, ND, etc.): 39:30–47:36
Hat/Chat Banter: 29:05–30:32
Michigan Gritty Win, Future: 87:07–91:14
Georgia Tech, ACC Survival: 41:33–43:05

Ringer Tailgate – CFB Week 12: Live Reactions

Host: The Ringer
Date: November 16, 2025
Panel: Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, Tate Frazier (+ Billy, occasional guest and chat interaction)

Main Theme & Purpose

Key Topics and Takeaways

1. Texas A&M’s Historic Comeback vs. South Carolina

[06:44] Joel leads off with the stat that SEC teams were 0-286 when trailing by 27+ points… until today, when Texas A&M stormed back.
Van: “I did not know what was going on. Texas A&M put together one of the worst halves of football I’ve ever seen any elite team play…The entire college football watching public was like, are they throwing this football game? This looks terrible.”—[07:30]
Joe: “I was about as impressed as I’ve been with Texas A&M in a damn near generation… They looked really crisp and efficient and confident in a way that I just—I can’t remember seeing an Aggies team like this in a long time.”—[10:25]
Big narrative: Aggies’ win is less signature, more proof-of-resilience; a real barometer of their transformed culture under pressure.

2. South Carolina Meltdown & Coach Shane Beamer’s Future

[13:19] The panel notes South Carolina blew their “shot at joy.”
Van: “They fucked it. It was embarrassing in the second half.”
Joe: “This was a disappointing year for a team…like, there’s no way they would fire Shane Beamer, right? But it seems to me… that (the fans) are fed up with that man.”—[14:47]
Van: "They want to wed and be married to the excellence of Shane Beamer, but they are in a perpetual talking stage because he won't take the next step.” —[20:33]
Joel: Adds that Beamer is “too emotional in games,” frustrates fans with his sidelines poker face.

3. Big 12 Invading the SEC & Conference Realignment Fallout

[30:59] Joe’s big reaction: "The old Big 12 has made the SEC even bigger, even better."
Points out that Texas, A&M, and Oklahoma are now among the SEC’s toughest, vindicating critics wondering if “they’d get tougher fast enough.”
Van’s Context: “What people did not see during the time that this happened is how much college football had changed… Dominance in college football is pretty much out the window.”—[36:31]
Joel: “When we look at today, Oklahoma goes into Bama and beats them for the second year in a row. And they won in a way people never thought — defense first, made them one-dimensional.”—[32:43]

4. Alabama's Loss, Fanbase Expectations, and the “New Normal”

[24:39] Van makes Alabama the centerpiece: “My big reaction... I want to see how the Alabama fan base react, responds to this loss. Kaylin DeBoer in many ways has shored up his position as Alabama head coach... But I think Alabama fans kind of knew that the days of the Nick Saban dominance were gone.”
“If you're used to elite, can you live with good? If you're used to perfect, can you live with we're damn good?” —[27:08]

5. Playoff Scenarios: Texas, Notre Dame & Chaos Math

[39:30] Debate on Texas’ path with a potential 9-3 record. Would a late win over A&M offset questionable losses?
Van: “They have a win that is better than any other win Notre Dame has. But they also have losses because they play in a competitive conference.”—[44:17]
Joe: “I would probably take Notre Dame over Texas, but you know, I'm willing to hear the argument for Texas at nine and three.”
The group agrees resume is everything — quality wins v. suspect losses.

6. Around the Country: Georgia Tech Survival, Conference Strength

Georgia Tech survives Boston College: Panel puts it in the box with other ugly wins, sees Tech as “plucky” but not scary playoff material.
Discussion of the ACC’s relative weakness this year, needing Georgia Tech/Notre Dame to anchor them.

7. Michigan: Gritty, Flawed, Still Alive

[87:07] Michigan survives Northwestern on a last-second field goal.
Joe: “Still don’t think Michigan’s that good…but that’s one of those wins that even though it was just Northwestern, it’s like, all right, you can build on that.”
Van: “I think Michigan is a very flawed team, but maybe they're a little more solid than we think...The best is still yet to come for them.”—[90:15]

8. Wider College Football Culture: Banter, Tangents & Notable Quotes

Gentle Parenting: Opens with Joel discussing “gentle parenting,” Van countering with his own “devil’s hoofprint” story.
- Van: “That’s not an iron print. That’s the devil’s hoof print… You’ve opened the gates of hell.”—[04:15]
Hat Discourse: Joel’s hat gets roasted by the chat; group debates cultural divides in cap style—[29:05].
Old Sports Documentaries: (“Gang Wars: Banging in Little Rock,” “Pimps Up, Hoes Down”) and their impact—[49:25].
Chat's Role: Chat actively shapes show, even getting Joel to adjust his hat—[29:29], goading about prior comments, etc.
Billy’s role: Occasional drop-ins, both as fact-checker and mischief-stirrer/mediator.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Van Lathan [07:30]:
"Texas A&M put together one of the worst halves of football I've ever seen any elite team play. ... The entire college football watching public was like, are they throwing this football game?"
Joe [10:25]:
"About as impressed as I've been with Texas A&M in a damn near generation ... looked really crisp and efficient and confident."
Van Lathan [20:33]:
"They want to wed and be married to the excellence of Shane Beamer, but they are in a perpetual talking stage because he won't take the next step."
Joel Anderson [32:43]:
"Oklahoma goes into Bama and beats them for the second year in a row... in a Venables way—defense first, made them one dimensional."
Van Lathan [27:08]:
"If you're used to elite, can you live with good? If you're used to perfect, can you live with we're damn good? And we're gonna see that with the Alabama fanbase."
Van Lathan [44:17]:
"They have a win that is better than any other win that Notre Dame could possibly have. ... But they also have losses because they play in a competitive conference."
Van Lathan [90:15]: "I think Michigan's a very flawed team. You can make some of the same arguments ... But there's some there there with them."
Van Lathan [04:15]:
[On his “devil’s hoof print” story] “He said, that’s not an iron print. That’s the devil’s hoof print … You’ve opened the gates of hell.”

Quick Hitters & Fun Segment Timestamps

[41:33] Georgia Tech’s “plucky” struggle, ACC’s fragility.
[56:38] Should college football have flex scheduling? Van floats the chaos idea.
[71:04] Why play CFB in baseball stadiums? The panel agrees: it's mostly marketing, doesn't add much.
[78:43] Billy/Simmons podcast cross-polinating; Billy eschews Bill for Tailgate, professes loyalty.
[87:07] Michigan's margin-of-error win, Bryce Underwood’s “gotta give him his props.”
[89:46] Joel asks for “quick hitters”; group does lightning round on late games, Houston trips, HBCU shoutouts.

Running Gags & Tailgate DNA

Gentle Parenting vs. Old School: Stories of upbringing—Joel (gentle parent), Van (fire and brimstone).
Chat and Hat Warfare: Joel’s hat is the night’s meme; cultural divides between flat/curved brims dissected.
Playoff ‘Eye Test’: Panel agrees current rankings are as much about “feel” as résumé.
Random Tangents: From Chris Collinsworth’s infamous quote, to Mr. Whitefolks, to Arcane Internet Memes.
Joel’s R. Kelly Defense: Numerous call-backs to questionable statements, always (barely) sidestepped for comedy.
Billy as Sleepy Agent of Chaos: Billy stirs things up, then fades.

Final Word

Timestamps for Reference

Texas A&M Comeback & Reaction: 06:44–13:19
South Carolina/Shane Beamer: 13:19–23:20
Big 12 vs. SEC/Conference Realignment: 24:39–38:59
Alabama's Fanbase After Shock: 24:39–27:53
Playoff Paths (Texas, ND, etc.): 39:30–47:36
Hat/Chat Banter: 29:05–30:32
Michigan Gritty Win, Future: 87:07–91:14
Georgia Tech, ACC Survival: 41:33–43:05

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CFB Week 12 LIVE Reactions: Alabama, USC, Texas-Georgia and More!

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Summary

Ringer Tailgate – CFB Week 12: Live Reactions

Main Theme & Purpose

Key Topics and Takeaways

1. Texas A&M’s Historic Comeback vs. South Carolina

2. South Carolina Meltdown & Coach Shane Beamer’s Future

3. Big 12 Invading the SEC & Conference Realignment Fallout

4. Alabama's Loss, Fanbase Expectations, and the “New Normal”

5. Playoff Scenarios: Texas, Notre Dame & Chaos Math

6. Around the Country: Georgia Tech Survival, Conference Strength

7. Michigan: Gritty, Flawed, Still Alive

8. Wider College Football Culture: Banter, Tangents & Notable Quotes

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Quick Hitters & Fun Segment Timestamps

Running Gags & Tailgate DNA

Final Word

Timestamps for Reference

Summary

Ringer Tailgate – CFB Week 12: Live Reactions

Main Theme & Purpose

Key Topics and Takeaways

1. Texas A&M’s Historic Comeback vs. South Carolina

2. South Carolina Meltdown & Coach Shane Beamer’s Future

3. Big 12 Invading the SEC & Conference Realignment Fallout

4. Alabama's Loss, Fanbase Expectations, and the “New Normal”

5. Playoff Scenarios: Texas, Notre Dame & Chaos Math

6. Around the Country: Georgia Tech Survival, Conference Strength

7. Michigan: Gritty, Flawed, Still Alive

8. Wider College Football Culture: Banter, Tangents & Notable Quotes

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Quick Hitters & Fun Segment Timestamps

Running Gags & Tailgate DNA

Final Word

Timestamps for Reference