Ringer Tailgate — CFB Week 14 Live Reactions: Ohio State-Michigan, Playoff Chaos & What's Next for Lane Kiffin?

Podcast: Ringer Tailgate
Date: November 30, 2025
Hosts: Tate Frazier, Van Lathan, Joel Anderson (with Billy Gill joining)
Theme: The crew gathers live to break down College Football’s wildest rivalry games, deep-dive the Ohio State–Michigan thriller, dissect Playoff controversies, and react to the latest Lane Kiffin drama, all with their signature mix of sharp analysis and playful banter.

Episode Overview

This Week 14 live episode centers on instant reactions to the colossal rivalry games, especially the seismic Ohio State–Michigan showdown. The hosts grapple with what the results mean for Playoff contenders like Miami, Texas, and Notre Dame, and tackle the drama swirling around Lane Kiffin’s next move. As always, the conversation is high-energy, unfiltered, and full of laugh-out-loud moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ohio State Beats Michigan: Turning the Rivalry Tide

• OSU’s Dominant Defense:
  • Tate drops a stat: Ohio State is first team since the 1975 Gators to hold its first 12 opponents under 17 pts (03:00).
  • Van Lathan: “Ryan Day in this game called one hell of a game... shook the monkey off his back and got over the hump against Michigan, man.” (03:18)
  • Joel Anderson: Credits Matt Patricia for turning around the defense: “He was everything the Buckeyes fans could have wanted... they held Michigan to zero yards rushing in the second half, bro.” (04:58, 05:34)
• Michigan’s Offensive Struggles:
  • Van: “If [Michigan] thought they were going to win the game like they wanted last year... they were wrong and they were proven wrong. I was shocked at how conservative the game plan was.” (06:01)
  • Joel: Critical of freshman QB Underwood’s (63 yards) performance and lack of offensive growth. “How you feel about Sherrone Moore, bro?” (07:33)
• Rivalry Soul-Searching:
  • Tate/Joel/Van riff on the Big Ten vs. SEC ‘soul-selling’ discourse, mocking the idea of OSU being ‘too southern’ for Michigan.
    • Van: “You sold your soul to the SEC. You got playmakers... what is all these Julio Jones there?” (10:06)

Notable Moment

“If you have the same amount of losses, the fact that I beat you matters more than the fact that I have a bad loss.”
—Van Lathan (46:17)

2. Playoff Controversy & Committee Gripes

• Miami, Notre Dame, Texas... and the 'Power 2':
  • Joel: “It just reaffirms: it is a Power 2. It's the SEC and Big Ten and everybody else.” (39:03)
  • Van: Rants about Notre Dame having an easier path, “They beat nobody all year long and they most likely will make the playoff over Miami.” (40:13)
  • Joel: Skewers Texas's case: “No national champion of recent vintage has a loss like [Texas’s].” (49:09)
• Committee’s Subjectivity:
  • Arguments about ‘quality losses’ vs. wins and SEC bias.
  • Van: “A quality loss is better than a win these days.” (44:50)
  • Tate: “If [Texas] is not in, the whole system is broken... Every single one of them has said that: disservice to the sport.” (49:09)
• Start/Bench/Cut:
  The crew argues which fans will lose their minds most if their team is left out: Alabama, Miami, or Notre Dame. (50:43)

Notable Quote

“The playoff committee…that’s what gets on my nerves: all the conversations about head-to-head and common opponents.”
—Tate Frazier (38:09)

3. Around the Country: Rivalry Reactions & Heisman Talk

• Bayou Classic—Southern vs. Grambling:
  • Van, Southern alum, dishes: “This is my Ohio State–Michigan. ... Grambling went out like a bunch of [bleep] today... The Bayou Classic is a one-game Super Bowl for the Black college reality of Louisiana.” (28:00)
• Heisman Race:
  • Joel: Stands for Diego Pavia as a narrative choice. “His six-year football career is a testament to belief and commitment and the grind.” (33:02)
  • Van: “Great player, great story. He is annoying and I don’t want him to win the Heisman.” (36:07)
• Quick Hitters:
  • Miami’s defense of ‘eye test’ vs. committee politics (38:22).
  • Indiana destroys Purdue, but little Heisman impact (89:02).
  • Oregon surge, upset watches, and playoff chaos watch-ins.

4. Lane Kiffin Coaching Circus

• Kiffin’s Dilemma:
  • Will Lane Kiffin stay at Ole Miss for the playoff, or jump to LSU?
  • Major drama: Kiffin wants to coach Ole Miss in the playoff, LSU wants him now; Ole Miss won’t allow both.
  • Joel: “Ole Miss...you need to let Lane Kiffin coach that team. Don’t get in your feelings...Let that man coach that team.” (55:41)
  • Van: “With Lane, eight wins is the floor, nine wins is the floor... his ceiling has never been determined, but fanbases love a known floor.” (59:00)

Notable Moment

“A lot of programs... don’t know what their floor is. Lane Kiffin seems to establish a floor that is competitive... The floor is very, very solid for what he can do.”
—Van Lathan (59:01)

5. The “Hoe-Gate” Saga: Lane vs. Local Reporter

• Recap: Ole Miss writer Ben Garrett called Kiffin “a hoe” (in reference to coaching loyalty) on a podcast. Lane confronts him postgame.
• Hosts debate if Lane should have reacted and if Ben should have repeated the comment to his face.
  • Van: “That’s hoeing somebody. That is exactly what you call that. Going up to someone, being like, ‘Oh, what’s that shit you was talking? I’m right here. Say it now.’” (76:41)
  • Joel: “If you call someone a hoe—own it. If you're not, the whole thing is over, bro.” (73:03)
• Extended, hilarious analysis of ‘hoe’ as sports discourse, masculinity, and locker room language.

Memorable Exchanges

• “Lane is used to hearing ‘You ain’t gonna hoe me’ in his locker room.” —Van Lathan (70:41)
• “If you’re not gonna call him a hoe to his face, the whole thing is over, bro.” —Van Lathan (73:56)
• “What Lane did to Ben... that’s hoeing somebody!” —Van Lathan (76:41)
• Joel claims he'd beat Lane in a fight if challenged—becomes a running bit (multiple segments, 83:05, 87:32 etc.)

6. Light-hearted Banter & Romantic Wrestling Stories

• Segues into personal stories of house rules, in-laws, and growing up in the South.
• Joel shares tales of wrestling teammates in his college days, tying back into the running Lane Kiffin “fight challenge.”

Timestamps (Highlights)

• 03:00 — Ohio State defense dominates; Patricia’s redemption
• 06:01 — Michigan’s conservative offense analyzed
• 11:06 — Jeremiah Smith touchdown controversy
• 27:49 — Van’s passionate Bayou Classic rant
• 33:02 — Diego Pavia’s Heisman narrative
• 39:03 — Joel on Power 2 and Playoff committee
• 55:41 — Lane Kiffin coaching drama at Ole Miss/LSU
• 66:11 — Hoe-Gate: Ben Garrett, Lane Kiffin, and locker room language
• 83:05, 87:32+ — Joel Anderson “Lane Kiffin challenge” bit & wrestling stories

Notable Quotes

“The playoff committee…that’s what gets on my nerves.”
—Tate Frazier (38:09)

“Lane Kiffin seems to establish a floor that is competitive... The floor is very, very solid for what he can do.”
—Van Lathan (59:01)

“If you're not gonna call him a hoe to his face, the whole thing is over, bro.”
—Van Lathan (73:56)

“No national champion of recent vintage has a loss like [Texas’s].”
—Joel Anderson (49:09)

“With Michigan...if this is Illinois you would feel real good about where your program was at. Right. But this is Michigan.”
—Joel Anderson (13:29)

Episode Tone

• Energetic and irreverent: Banter, call-outs, and playful jabs especially re: Lane Kiffin, “hoe-gate,” and the Playoff committee.
• Analytical: Robust football talk on game plans, defense, and Playoff resumes.
• Inclusive and unfiltered: The crew keeps the language and references true to both fan and locker-room culture, making for a podcast that feels like a rowdy group text of veteran CFB fans.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode is a must-catch for fans who missed the week’s games and want both the Xs & Os and the off-field drama. The hosts break down why Ohio State finally bested Michigan in Ann Arbor, what Playoff drama is brewing (with Miami, Texas, and Notre Dame in the crosshairs), and why Lane Kiffin’s next job is dominating Southern football. Plus, the infamous “hoe-gate” incident leads to a laugh-filled debate about sports, masculinity, fanship, and fighting Lane Kiffin. It’s equal parts smart analysis and locker room chaos — quintessential Ringer Tailgate.

Want more?

• Don’t miss the extended aftershow: “Would Joel win a fight against Lane Kiffin?” and “Wrestling in the dorms of Moncrief Hall.”
• Watch for a possible emergency pod if Lane Kiffin finally makes a decision! (105:32)

[End Summary]