Ringer Tailgate: CFB Week 5 LIVE Reactions

Episode Date: September 28, 2025
Hosts: Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, Tate Frazier

Overview

The “Ringer Tailgate” crew—Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, and Tate Frazier—gathered live as monumental upsets and brutal losses reshaped the landscape of Week 5 in college football. With the LSU defeat, Notre Dame’s dominance, and unpredictable results across the Power Five, this episode is charged with passionate rants, sharp analysis, trademark banter, and an undercurrent of controlled chaos. The crew dissects key storylines, calls out coaching decisions, and questions the relevance of former powerhouse wins in today’s wild, parity-driven season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. LSU’s Loss to Ole Miss: Emotions & Explanations

• Van Lathan’s Frustration: Van, a die-hard LSU fan, opens in “hell” over LSU’s regression. The inability to move the ball and poor quarterback play lead to a passionate and critical account of where LSU stands.
  • Quote:
    “LSU football is back to the days of not being able to throw the forward pass. And it is not a fun Saturday for anyone that loves Baton Rouge.” — Van, [00:33]
• Nussmeier’s Struggles: Garrett Nussmeier’s regression or possible injury called out: “He doesn’t have any velocity on his throws … The D ball is underthrown at all times. He doesn’t seem to be very confident right now.” — Van, [04:30]
• Coaching Critique: Brian Kelly’s demeanor and decisions come under fire.
  • Quote:
    “Men win national championships at LSU. Men! Coaches who are able to get the best out of their team by having them play vicious, focused, and relentless football. That is the LSU way … Not getting pushed around—I'm not blaming the kids, I'm blaming the mentality.” — Van, [08:17]
• Flawed Mentality & ID Loss: LSU’s famous running game is gone; the lack of physicality and O-line confusion infuriate Van.
• Future Prognosis: Van is pessimistic about LSU’s schedule:
  • “There are more games to be played… but the team is so flawed you can’t see them getting right.” — Van, [07:44]

2. Ole Miss’s Statement & Lane Kiffin’s Redemption

• Kiffin’s Strategy: Hosts note that Lane Kiffin anticipated LSU was “gettable,” took a confident approach, and the Kiffin “E60 special” set the tone.
  • Quote:
    “This is Ole Miss’s entire identity—picking off teams like this, getting the win.” — Van, [06:02]
• QB Trinidad Chambliss’s Rise: Division II transfer Chambliss praised for his poise and adaptability: “They brought some plays that they ran for him at his former school…ways to use him. That’s coaching.” — Van, [36:00]

3. Re-evaluating Significance of Clemson Wins

• Clemson Fatigue: Joel calls for the end of inflating programs after beating Clemson, as Syracuse and others have shown:
  • Quote:
    “We can just all agree as a college football community that beating Clemson doesn’t mean [anything] anymore.” — Joel, [12:29]
• Parity over Transitive Logic: Van points out, “If we’re thinking transitively, I don’t think that works anymore…these rosters are so weirdly constructed.”

4. Parity in the ACC: FSU, Virginia, Miami

• FSU Escapes but Looks Vulnerable: Instant classic FSU vs. Virginia; FSU can't impose its will, exposed by improved Virginia and schemes.
  • Quote:
    “If I was a Florida State fan, I’d be concerned that they really couldn’t dominate them…they could not impose their will.” — Van, [19:53]
• Miami Emerging?: Miami labeled the “best team in the league, but… who knows?”
• Conference Realignment Quirk: Virginia’s loss to NC State (non-conference) leaves them alive in ACC race; shows the chaos of realignment.

5. One-Loss Teams: Most Dangerous Contenders

• Texas or Notre Dame (or Neither)?
  • Joel sees Texas as the best-positioned one-loss team; Van fiercely touts Notre Dame’s “sheer talent,” despite two losses:
    “The most dangerous one-loss team in the country has two losses—Notre Dame. … If they play correctly, they can be dynamic, change-makers on the field.” — Van, [27:19]
• Classic in-the-moment debate as hosts hold each other to previous opinions and joke about “everyone being on the take.”

6. Quarterback Play & Defensive Dominance

• Defenses Take Over: Joel and Van note the unexpected resurgence of defense; QB play lacks obvious dominance (“Mendoza is the barometer now…”).
  • “Defenses are still ahead of these quarterbacks…just look at the scores across the board.” — Van, [43:38]
• QBs in Crisis: Castellanos, Mendoza, Pavia, and Aguiar discussed as situationally trustworthy—none are transcendent stars.

7. Coaching and NIL Era: Hiring Philosophies Examined

• A&M and Elko’s Seriousness Pay Off: A&M’s seriousness and identity shift under Mike Elko praised, while Jimbo Fisher and Brian Kelly-type hires critiqued for mismatched visions:
  • “You have to hire coaches who have a vision for your program…not just splashy hires.” — Van, [76:52]

8. Lighter Moments & Notable Outtakes

• Legendary Ball Boy: Louisville ball boy who snagged his own team’s intercepted ball from a Pitt player is called “the man”:
  • “He saw the opportunity to be a legend and he took it. Shout out to him!” — Van, [69:45]
• Running Jokes: Us Weekly debate, “payola” jokes, Ball Boy lore, Red Lightning references, and banter about “booster” culture keep mood irreverent.
• Whiteout Satire: Penn State’s “whites only” fake graphic sparks a race and sports culture riff among hosts, highlighting their rapport and willingness to satirize the sport’s traditions.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On LSU’s Identity Loss:
  “Men win national championships at LSU. Not just coaches. … Not tipping around, getting blowed off the goddamn line.” — Van, [08:17]
• On Clemson no longer being a ‘quality win’:
  “We can just all agree as a college football community that beating Clemson doesn’t mean [anything] anymore.” — Joel, [12:29]
• On Notre Dame’s Dangerous Potential:
  “The most dangerous one-loss team in the country has two losses—Notre Dame.” — Van, [27:23]
• On Defensive Resurgence:
  “Defenses are still ahead of these quarterbacks. … There’s not one guy I’m comfortable with [in college football].” — Van, [43:38]
• On Coaching Hires in the NIL Era:
  “It’s not just can he coach ball, but can he take your specific program from where it was to elite?” — Van, [76:52]
• Legend Ball Boy:
  “He saw the opportunity to be a legend, and they take it. Shout out to him!” — Van, [69:45]

Important Timestamps

• [00:33] Van’s “in hell” opener, LSU letdown
• [03:50] Nussmeier and LSU’s offensive woes
• [06:45] Van on how LSU’s “myths” have been dispelled; Brian Kelly’s media relations
• [12:29] Joel calls out “Clemson win” as irrelevant
• [19:53] FSU-Virginia analysis, ACC parity
• [27:19] Debate: Most dangerous one-loss team (Notre Dame vs Texas)
• [36:00] Praise for Trinidad Chambliss and Kiffin’s staff for talent maximization
• [43:38] Defenses ruling the day, QB struggles
• [62:49] Joel on the “cost” of conference realignment and cross-country scheduling
• [69:45] Louisville ball boy’s legendary moment
• [76:52] A&M, Elko, and the need for program-specific coaching hires

Final Thoughts and Closing Banter

• Van, solemn but hopeful, calls on LSU fans to “keep your voices loud” and push for higher standards from the coaching staff, while acknowledging this is just the first loss.
• Joel teases the Arkansas coaching job as the next domino to fall: “Who’s going to take that Arkansas job?”
• Lighthearted jabs persist regarding message board meltdowns, NIL booster drama, and “payola” accusations among the hosts.
• The crew wraps up by reaffirming their love for the chaos and quirks of college football:
  “What a lovely, lovely sport we’re a part of." — Van, [80:14]

Summary

This episode captures the beautiful mess of college football’s 2025 season—lofty expectations dashed, defensive slugfests prevailing, coaching intrigue in the NIL era, and the ongoing reevaluation of what constitutes a “good win” in modern parity. The Ringer Tailgate squad brings their trademark blend of wit, strong opinions, and camaraderie, making this a must-listen (or read!) for fans trying to make sense of the most unpredictable season in years.