Ringer Tailgate: CFP Quarterfinals Live Reactions

Date: January 2, 2026
Hosts: Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, Tate Frazier

Episode Overview

This live edition of Ringer Tailgate recaps an action-packed day of College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals—a historic slate marked by upsets, blowouts, and shifting narratives for some of the sport’s biggest brands. Van, Joel, and Tate bring their trademark blend of sharp analysis and irreverent banter, diving into the shocking demise of Alabama, Miami’s revitalization, coaching legacies, the fate of blue bloods, and the chaos of live reactions as the games unfold.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Vibes and Banter ([00:43]–[07:53])

• The crew kicks off with festive energy—Tate notes the return from holidays and a stacked lineup of games.
• Joel enters with a TCU cheer: “Riff. Ram Wazoo. Give them hell, TCU.” Confusion about the meaning/composition of the cheer ensues, setting a fun, chaotic tone ([01:25]–[02:49]).
• Banter threads in TCU’s Alamo Bowl win over USC as a “signature” for the program, with Joel defending TCU’s historical wins and the importance of bowl games for school pride ([03:27]–[06:29]).

2. Breaking Down the Schools and Bowl Culture ([06:34]–[07:53])

• Tangent into Missouri City (Mo City), Houston—for its cultural contributions (Travis Scott, Beyoncé) and college sports alumni.

3. One Big Reaction: Quarterfinals Recap ([07:54]–[12:25])

Miami vs. Ohio State: Miami's Toughness, Ohio State’s "Softness"

• Van’s Take: Miami “cut Ohio State’s nuts.” Highlights Miami’s dominance in the trenches, their physical run game, and Ohio State’s inability to match physicality—“I kept waiting when the toughness for Ohio State was going to show in the game... never came.” ([08:31]–[10:57])
• Joel echoes: Miami’s D-line (Mesidor, Reuben Bain) dominated, while Ohio State got outmuscled yet again when facing elite fronts ([10:57]–[12:25]).

Notable Quote – Van Lathan ([09:18])

“They just got into a situation where they can’t block and tackle as well as the other guys ... their will kind of got taken from them.”

Ryan Day’s Playcalling:

• Tate and Joel question why Day kept playcalling duties over Brian Hartline, noting the historical rarity of a play-calling head coach winning a national title and critiquing Day’s “conservative” approach ([12:25]–[15:17]).
• Detailed play breakdowns, e.g., the game-altering pick-six Miami recorded, displaying how Miami's film prep and aggression paid dividends ([15:55]–[16:19]).

Miami’s Swagger & The U Nostalgia

• Props for Carson Beck’s gritty game management even amid Miami turnovers and chaos—contrasts Beck’s “veteran” poise with Ohio State’s redshirt freshman QB’s tentativeness.
• Tate and Joel relive Miami’s cultural moment: Michael Irvin, Ray Lewis on the sideline, Jimmy Johnson postgame. Miami’s old-school bravado and “the U is here” messaging, but Cristobal refuses to say “The U is back.” ([21:22]–[21:57])

Memorable Moment – Michael Irvin Antics ([21:57]–[24:41])

“Michael Irvin put an Ohio State jersey on a Gatorade cooler, and then he whipped it with a belt. ... Since we pointed that out, Michael Irvin has become unhinged to a level that I don’t think I’ve ever seen an alumni fan ever.”

4. “The King is Dead”: Alabama’s Humiliation by Indiana ([25:24]–[41:30])

Dramatic rhetorical reading from Joel ([25:24]–[26:15])

• References classic Alabama bravado and how it was historically realized under Saban, contrasting it with this new era.

“Changing of the Guard”

• Indiana physically bullied Alabama: “That’s Ali vs. Liston is what you just saw on the football field.” ([30:45]–[31:10])
• Historic context—Alabama’s “worst bowl loss since 1991,” Indiana’s first bowl win since the same year ([28:46]–[28:59]).
• Massive stat disparities: Indiana 400+ yards, Bama only 193, 17 rushes for 23 yards; a total reversal of Bama’s legacy as the physical enforcer.

Notable Quote – Van Lathan ([31:43])

“What you saw on that field was the new era of college football showing itself to the entire world. And man, did it show itself. ... At times I felt bad for them. I was like, they are getting their [expletive] destroyed.”

• The Hoosiers’ sideline shows “no tears, no shock” — total expectancy of this victory; Indiana’s program DNA now transformed ([32:07]–[32:43]).
• Discussion about whether this is the greatest coaching turnaround in CFB (hat-tip to Albert Breer’s viral tweet): “One of the worst teams in the history of major college football being number one, in back-to-back games, dominating two of the three biggest brands [Bama, Ohio State].” ([33:33]–[34:01])
• Dissection of Bama’s failed fourth-and-one "cute" play—Van calls it grounds for firing Kalen DeBoer due to cowardly, non-physical decision-making ([35:15]–[36:05]).

Bama Era Over

• A nuanced eulogy for the Bama dynasty—explaining the dynasty was already done post-2020, but now even the “intimidation factor, the entire thing of who you are” is gone ([38:58]–[41:30]).

5. Conference Image & First-Round Byes Debate ([41:30]–[48:22])

• Addressing narrative that “the bye is a curse”—Tate and Joel debunk small-sample takes; examples from past CFP games and why Indiana’s win isn’t explained by “bye rust.”
• Oregon’s defensive dominance in shutting out Texas Tech prompts debate: Was Tech rusty or just outclassed? Oregon’s growing reputation as a strong defensive team; critique of the Big 12’s struggles ([43:47]–[48:22]).

6. Live Game Reactions & Off-the-Cuff Riffs ([48:22]–[51:27])

• Crew gives live commentary (with timestamps throughout) as Sugar Bowl drama unfolds.
• Irreverent social banter: Ole Miss’s uniform and “Confederate” vibes, college football and campus culture, race, historical references ([49:01]–[50:55]).

7. Social Media, “Quote Tweeting” & Community Support ([53:09]–[63:00])

• Interlude on social media etiquette: Joel rails against being quote-tweeted by Reddit CFB, feeling targeted for punchlines. Discussion becomes meta, engaging the live chat to “support Joel” and the etiquette of punch-up vs punch-down quote tweeting ([53:09]–[63:00]).

Notable Quote – Joel Anderson ([55:56])

“That’s some whole ass [expletive] bro, quote-tweeting somebody. ... Don’t talk to me. Just don’t talk. Don’t follow me. We don’t have to do that.”

• Hosts, live chat, and audience join in supporting Joel, with much friendly roasting and inside jokes.

8. Down the Stretch: Sugar Bowl Chaos, Live Drama ([65:37]–[115:47])

• They provide running play-by-play on the wild finish to Georgia vs. Ole Miss, including missed field goals, timeouts, injuries, and last-second dramatics.
• Reflection on bowl game atmospheres and personal histories attending historic games (Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl, Fiesta).
• Commentary on Lane Kiffin’s transition from Ole Miss to LSU: Kiffin’s public persona, rumors, and his refusal to wear LSU gear until Ole Miss's season is “done”; Van employs an A+ stripper metaphor ([68:30]–[71:11]).
• Banter about personal injuries on the field and postgame disrespect, including “belt-whipping” celebration by Michael Irvin.

9. The Final Four Is Set: Legacy & Blue Bloods Debates ([116:02]–[124:54])

• The CFP Final Four: Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon, Indiana
  • The hosts reflect on how “motley” this semifinal group is, noting the absence of traditional blue bloods and what that says about the new landscape.
• Debates over who now constitutes a “blue blood”—Miami’s claim to fame (five national titles, but two decades since top 10 finish), Oregon’s steady rise but lack of titles, Indiana and Ole Miss as “new money.”
• Comparing “tiers” of elite programs and how conference brands/identities are in flux.

Notable Quote – Van Lathan ([119:03])

“So you can’t be a blue blood, right? If you don’t have any national championships. Impossible. ... This is the first time in these final fours that there’s not a blue blood.”

• Van, Tate, and Joel agree this is “the most interesting Final Four you could have,” highlighting its cross-country regional diversity and underdog stories ([124:33]–[125:10]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “They just got into a situation where they can’t block and tackle as well as the other guys … their will kind of got taken from them.”
  Van Lathan – reflecting on Ohio State’s loss to Miami ([09:18])

• “Michael Irvin put an Ohio State jersey on a Gatorade cooler, and then he whipped it with a belt.”
  Van Lathan – describing Irvin’s wild Miami fandom ([23:49])

• “That’s Ali vs. Liston is what you just saw on the football field. … I felt bad for them. I was like, they are getting their [expletive] destroyed.”
  Van Lathan – after Indiana’s thrashing of Alabama ([31:43])

• “That’s the type of shit that would make me fire Kaylin DeBoer.”
  Van Lathan – on Alabama’s “cute” fourth-down play ([35:19])

• “The Alabama dynasty was already over. ... This is their reputation being over. And that’s a different thing.”
  Van Lathan ([38:58]–[41:30])

• “That’s some whole ass [expletive] bro, quote-tweeting somebody. ... Don’t talk to me. Just don’t talk. Don’t follow me. We don’t have to do that.”
  Joel Anderson – on social media “infractions” ([55:56])

Game-Specific Segment Timestamps

Opening banter, cheer dispute:
[01:25]–[02:49]

TCU/Alamo Bowl win banter:
[03:27]–[06:29]

Miami vs. Ohio State rundown and analysis:
[08:31]–[21:57]

Alabama vs. Indiana dramatic breakdown:
[25:24]–[41:30]

Oregon–Texas Tech, Big 12 struggles:
[42:41]–[48:22]

Live Sugar Bowl reactions:
[65:37]–[116:02]

Final Four scenario & blue bloods debate:
[116:02]–[124:54]

Tone & Style

As ever, the show is fast, loose, and unapologetically honest, mixing high-level football IQ with irreverent humor, real-time roasts, and the chaos of live reactions. Listeners are as likely to hear deep Xs and Os as they are to get a spirited rundown of college football Twitter etiquette, veteran fan storytelling, and debate over conference pride or “blue blood” legitimacy.

Takeaways for Non-listeners

• Miami and Indiana’s upsets signal a new CFB order—physical football, not just recruiting stars, is back.
• Alabama’s reputation and intimidation factor are officially dead; Indiana established a new, gritty DNA.
• Ohio State lost their edge physically and mentally to Miami—same old “soft in the trenches” narrative persists.
• The Big 12’s struggles continue, Oregon’s defense looks elite, but blue bloods are MIA in the semifinals.
• The Final Four is a “motley crew”: Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon, Indiana—no dominant brand, just great stories.
• Show’s best: Real-time reactions, playful fights over tradition, banter about Michael Irvin’s antics, and passionate debates about what truly makes a “blue blood.”

For next week: The Tailgate crew will be live, previewing the wackiest Final Four in CFP history. Get ready for more chaos, more analysis, and plenty more “raising the roof” on college football’s new normal.