Ringer Tailgate – "CFP Bracket Is Set, But Did the Committee Get It Right?"

Date: December 8, 2025
Hosts: Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, Tate Frazier

Overview

On this "CFP rankings finale" episode, the Ringer Tailgate crew—Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, and Tate Frazier—react to the unveiling of the first 12-team College Football Playoff bracket. The main theme is spirited debate over the CFP selection committee’s choices, particularly focusing on Notre Dame being left out, the true meaning of conference championships, persistent structural quirks, and the culture (and chaos) of college football in the playoff era. The show is filled with sharp analysis, wild banter, memes, and pointed critique of the sport’s most enduring institutions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Initial Reactions to the 12-Team Playoff & The Alabama Spot

Timestamps: 00:42–03:43

• The crew opens by acknowledging historical CFP controversy and excitement.
• Van Lathan’s take on Alabama at #9:
  • Committee actions show desire to “protect the conference championship games” ([02:31]).
  • He argues Bama has been shaky (“looked bad for an extended period of time, about a month”), but the committee put them in to avoid larger structural questions.

  “They did not want to have that conversation about Alabama, so they just said, hey, they earned it in the regular season and they just put him in.” – Van Lathan [03:42]

2. Do Conference Championships Even Matter Anymore?

Timestamps: 03:43–05:48

• Joel Anderson critiques the relevance of conference title games:
  • “If you can lose in the championship game by three touchdowns and not drop, then the game didn’t matter.”
  • Only the SEC (and sometimes Big Ten) championship "matters" anymore. The rest are just stumbling blocks.
• Both predict the format may not last ("maybe even two years from now...they’re just going to do away with them" – Joel Anderson [04:25]).

3. "Cuck of the Week": Virginia’s Blown Opportunity and Playoff Chaos

Timestamps: 05:48–09:26

• Van introduces a new tongue-in-cheek segment, “Cuck of the Week,” highlighting Virginia for failing to capitalize on ACC chaos.
• They riff on “cucking” as a metaphor for missed opportunities and potential embarrassment.

  “Virginia had a golden opportunity to be a part of this playoff, and they threw Ragu all over it.” – Van [09:26]

4. Debate Over 10-seed Miami vs. Snubbed Notre Dame

Timestamps: 09:26–11:30

• The panel discusses Miami’s surprise leap over Notre Dame for the 10th seed.
• Joel: Any of Miami, BYU, Notre Dame “had a real argument”—someone deserving was bound to be snubbed.

  “The committee had the guts to go ahead and move Miami knowing...what the critique was going to be.” – Joel [11:24]

5. “Grow Up, Daddy”: Notre Dame’s Opt-Out Protest & The Culture of Taking L’s

Timestamps: 11:30–23:40

• Joel introduces “Grow Up, Daddy”—a satirical segment urging fans and schools to accept disappointment.

  “Can we really not handle a weekly Made for TV show?...Some of y’all, man...grow the fuck up. We’re grownups.” – Joel [13:39]

• Extended critique of Notre Dame opting out of its bowl game as a protest:
  • Seen as elitist (Van): “They want all of this type of individuality [without] the requisite winning or disappointment.”
  • Panels say refusing to play is a worse message for players and the sport.

  “Disappointment is enough of an excuse for you to quit. That is the last message that a locker room full of young men needs to hear.” – Van [20:09]

6. Comps to Florida State – Contrasting Locker Room Cultures

Timestamps: 19:11–21:12

• Van and Joel compare Notre Dame’s protest to Florida State’s resilience in a previous snub.
  • FSU “showed up and they played football...They did not let disappointment” be an excuse [19:44].

7. Media Critique: The Role of TV Rankings and Manufactured Outrage

Timestamps: 23:40–27:04

• Tate notes the Tuesday rankings show may have stoked expectations for Notre Dame; without it, the backlash may be less.
• Joel: Changing rules, weekly drama, and a desire for attention are “part of the sport.”

8. Notre Dame’s Attempt to Contractually Enshrine CFP Inclusion

Timestamps: 27:04–30:48

• Report that Notre Dame seeks guaranteed CFP access if in the top 12, terming them “the Drake of college football” (Van).

  “Notre Dame coming out and...getting contracts...It is the same thing as a lawsuit being waged in the middle of...a rap battle.” – Van [28:32]

9. Bracket Analysis: Is the 1-Seed Getting Screwed?

Timestamps: 38:01–43:38

• The structure advantages mid-seeds; #1 and #2 get tough draws, often facing blueblood at-larges rather than easier Group of Five opponents.

  “I think the 1 and 2 seed got a tough draw.” – Tate [38:06]

• Re-seeding after each round floated as a possible fix.

10. Matchup & Team Deep Dives

Timestamps: 43:38–46:25

• Georgia seen as “the most interesting and wild card team”:

  “Georgia is, to me, the wild card team. This could be a national championship team.” – Van [45:28]

• Panel reviews dangerous draws and strengths, critique of Alabama and Oklahoma:

  “I don’t think Alabama and OU are very good. But...you’re gonna be in a street fight all game long.” – Joel [39:09-39:27]

11. Parting Shots: “This Is College Football” & Lessons in Losing

Timestamps: 46:44–49:48

• Van: "Your disappointment is part of the sport. Your elation is part of the sport. The dysfunction...is a part of the sport."
• Joel shares a Nick Saban clip about the importance of learning from losses ([47:47]):

  “Sometimes the best lessons you learn are when you do have failings...You can always learn more when you don’t do something exactly right.” – Nick Saban, as played by Tate [47:40]

• Final reminder to Notre Dame and all fans: “A loss can be a lesson”—and “grow up, daddy.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Alabama’s Inclusion:

  “The easiest thing to do is just put Bama in—even though Bama didn’t just look bad in that game, they’ve looked bad...about a month.” – Van Lathan [02:31]

• On Conference Championships:

  “Conference championships at this point are just tripping people up, man, and they’re just going to do away with them.” – Joel Anderson [04:24]

• On Notre Dame’s Protest:

  “Fuck Notre Dame like that...What does your protest mean? What is the outcome...that not playing [brings]?” – Van Lathan [16:45–17:25]

• On Taking Disappointment:

  “We didn’t lose. We quit.” – Van & Joel [20:19]

• On Notre Dame Trying to Contract Playoff Access:

  “Notre Dame has done with that move...is made themself the Drake of college football.” – Van [28:32]

• On the Bracket Structure:

  “The No. 1 seed gets screwed every year.” – Tate Frazier [39:41]

• Saban Wisdom:

  “Sometimes the best lessons you learn are when you do have failings...You can always learn more when you don’t do something exactly right.” – Nick Saban [47:40] (as played by Tate)

Key Timestamps for Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:42 | Initial reactions, Alabama at #9 | | 02:31 | Van’s take: committee protecting conference titles | | 03:43 | Conference championships: still meaningful? | | 05:48 | "Cuck of the Week": Virginia’s blown playoff shot | | 09:26 | Miami at #10, Notre Dame snub analyzed | | 11:30 | Joel’s "Grow Up, Daddy" segment and Notre Dame’s protest | | 17:18 | Contrasting with Florida State’s approach | | 27:04 | Notre Dame’s push for contractually guaranteed CFP access | | 38:01 | Bracket breakdown—tough draws for #1 and #2 seeds | | 43:38 | Matchup talk, Georgia as wild card | | 46:44 | Final thoughts—embracing chaos, learning from losses | | 47:40 | Nick Saban on lessons from losing | | 49:40 | Closing banter and big show preview for Wednesday |

Tone & Language

The pod maintains its trademark irreverence—honest, brash, and laced with memes (“grow up, daddy”), gallows humor, and direct audience engagement. The hosts don’t mince words, especially when lampooning Notre Dame or lamenting college football’s institutional chaos.

For Those Who Haven’t Listened

Ringer Tailgate’s finale captures the contradictions and commotion at the heart of college football. If you want deep context on why Notre Dame fans are furious, why the bracket always feels unfair, how conference championships have lost meaning, and what real sportsmanship looks like, this conversation is rich, fast-moving, and filled with both analysis and laughs. The episode’s core message: chaos, disappointment, elation and controversy aren’t bugs, they’re features. And if that frustrates you? Like Joel said: “Grow up, daddy.”