Ringer Tailgate Podcast: CFP Quarterfinals Preview Episode Date: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Ringer Tailgate, hosted by Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, and Tate Frazier (Joe), dives into the College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals with a signature blend of sharp analysis and playful banter. The crew debates whether Indiana can prove its ranking, breaks down Texas Tech's underdog shot against Oregon, and explores cultural shifts in the sport. They also touch on the pressures around playoff upsets, Michigan’s coaching changes, the end of the USC–Notre Dame rivalry, and some college basketball crossover drama.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Drama: College Football On-Field vs Off-Field (03:00–05:00)

• Off-field chaos rivals bowl game excitement: Coaches making headlines (Lane Kiffin’s “leather jacket” look, Lincoln Riley’s hot seat), recruiting sagas, and administrative shakeups create as much intrigue as the games themselves.
• Van Lathan jokes that college football has become the “Real Housewives of Sports,” where “everyone likes the drama more so than the games themselves.”

One Big Prediction: CFP Quarterfinals (05:00–24:10)

Texas Tech vs Oregon: The Popular Upset Pick

• Van Lathan’s Prediction (05:15): “Texas Tech is going to beat Oregon… I feel like Texas Tech is going to be able to really compete with them physically and maybe impose themselves a little bit more…I think Texas Tech is gonna be there. I think they're gonna win the game.”
• Joel Anderson Expands (06:27–08:54): Points out Oregon’s tendency to struggle against physically elite defenses. Tech’s defensive line could disrupt Oregon’s rhythm, referencing historic Super Bowl analogies (Buccaneers vs Chiefs, Eagles in the Super Bowl).
  • “[A] disruptive defensive line can totally take over a game...that's the kind of defensive line that Texas Tech has” (07:47).
• Assessment: Both agree Oregon is well-coached but unproven against top-tier opponents, especially those that are physical up front.
• Odds perspective: Betting line is close (Oregon favored by 2.5). Joe notes the “soundness” of Texas Tech’s construction.

Indiana vs Alabama: Who’s for Real?

• Joel’s Prediction (11:15): “Indiana is going to remind everybody why they're number one, man...They’ve handled everybody physically, have the Heisman Trophy winner, one of the best defenses in the country…Why would I think Alabama is going to...beat Indiana? …If this was Ole Miss, it wouldn’t even be a question.”

• Van’s Take on Indiana’s sustainability (13:23): “There’s a difference between gifted and good…you’re only as good as how you play...Indiana has been to me, not dominating, but so incredibly consistent in what they do.”

• Joe pushes back (17:18): Notes that Alabama’s offense found new energy in recent games and isn't to be counted out.

• Importance of the Game (18:08–19:46):

  • Van: “If Alabama wins this game, Indiana’s season was a complete failure...Everything is on the line...If they lose to that [current] Bama, Bama reestablishes the college football status quo. Indiana needs to win this game.”
  • Joel: Pushes back, says the playoff can be “overly determinative of a one-game sample,” and Indiana’s season remains remarkable regardless.

Upset Watch

• Joe’s Prediction (23:14): Multiple upsets are “staring me dead in my face”—names Miami over Ohio State, Alabama over Indiana, Ole Miss over Georgia, Texas Tech over Oregon as potential shockers.
• Van’s response: Agrees many games are “close to 50/50,” with most favorites vulnerable.

Fanbase Meltdown Scenarios (26:12–30:00)

• Which fanbase will have the biggest meltdown after a loss?
  • Joel: Miami fans, especially if they lose in “a particularly funny way,” will be the maddest. “If Mario Cristobal screws up game management, Miami Twitter will explode.”
  • Van: Argues Ohio State fans will also melt down if they flame out right after a national title last year.
  • Quote: “Miami fans have been fighting playoff arguments for eight weeks now… They're borderline insane at this point” (28:31, Joe).

CFP Selection & SEC Criticism (32:09–41:31)

• Conference Bowl Records Check-in: Big 12 and Big Ten undefeated, ACC and independents struggling, SEC underperforming (2–4).
• Van: Era of SEC dominance “is over… now, [the SEC] is just a conference like any other conference.”
• Joel: Warns that postseason, people recognize SEC’s bowl woes, but once playoff berths are at stake “the perception inflation starts all over.”
• Debate over Playoff Selection: Would Notre Dame, TCU, or BYU have been better picks than SEC runners-up?
  • Joel: “I don’t think Alabama should have been in [the playoff]. I would rather have seen Notre Dame.”
  • TCU’s “golden era” and whether missing the playoff preserved mystique.

Michigan’s New Coach: Is Kyle Whittingham the Answer? (43:04–54:47)

• Controversial Hire: Utah seemed ready to “move on” from Whittingham for internal candidate Morgan Scally, despite Scally’s admitted use of a racial slur (in-depth chat at 44:05–47:37).
• Joel’s Skepticism: Utah coaches don’t often succeed elsewhere (“Utah guys are kind of Utah guys”), with references to Bronco Mendenhall and Lavell Edwards.
• Van’s Take:
  • “Kyle Whittingham as coach of Michigan is exactly the coach they need to steady the program, set a floor… But is he the guy to beat Ohio State? ...That’s an open question.” (50:13–51:30)
• Consistent Theme: Michigan sought an “adult in the room” post-Harbaugh but may lack the recruiting punch to compete with Ohio State in the long term.
• Five-year contract debate: Seen as necessary for recruiting, but perhaps unusual for a coach nearing retirement.

USC–Notre Dame Rivalry Ends: Fanbase in Revolt (55:36–61:56)

• Riley Blames Notre Dame (56:31): Lincoln Riley claims “if Notre Dame had lived up to their word and played us anytime, anywhere…”
• Van: “For some reason, that rivalry… is much more important to the USC fan base than I could have ever imagined…the loss of that game is pissing people the fuck off because they think [Riley] doesn’t get the culture of SC football” (57:27).
• Joel: Points out that, post-Pac-12, these heritage games are even more central to USC’s identity.

Wild Card: TCU Self-Image & Bowl Game Stakes (63:00–69:46)

• Joel’s Perspective: TCU as the “greatest promotion story in college football history,” but not a blue blood—they straddle underdog and perennial power status (“They're not a blue blood, but they're not ‘directional school’ either”).
• Van calls out Joel: Asks why he minimizes TCU when it suits, then boasts about them other times.
• **Discussion of recruiting limitations, expectations, and whether beating USC actually “means something.”

CFP Quarterfinals: Favorite Matchups (74:06–77:21)

• Van: “Alabama–Indiana is the most interesting game—old vs new, blue blood vs new blood.”
• Joel: “Oregon–Texas Tech is the most interesting… I don't really have any clue about either team… it will be a discovery.”
• Joe: “I think Georgia's going to beat their [Ole Miss’s] ass”—less intrigue in that matchup.

Other Bowl Matchups & Quarterback Battles (77:21–80:00)

• Anticipation for Michigan vs Texas (Citrus Bowl)—especially the QB matchup Arch Manning (Texas) vs Bryce Underwood (Michigan), possibly future #1 picks.

College Basketball Tangent: G-League Returnees & NIL Chaos (80:05–87:46)

• Argument: Should players who’ve played professionally (e.g., in the G League or overseas) be allowed back into NCAA hoops?
• Van: Against it—“[it] is wrong… you’re crowding out 17, 18 year olds who need the development.”
• Joel: For it—“I want to see good basketball players… The market will decide”—and takes a labor-friendly, anti-establishment view.

Notable Quotes

• Van Lathan (05:15, on Texas Tech-Oregon): “I have a feeling Texas Tech is going to beat Oregon...I don't know why but just Oregon's a good football team. Texas Tech is a really well constituted team. Plays very hard, very sound. I don't think they're gonna make very many mistakes that allow Oregon to run away with the game.”
• Joel Anderson (11:15, on Indiana-Alabama): “Indiana is going to remind everybody why they're number one, man…they have the Heisman trophy winner and he's thrived in really clutch moments this year…defensively, they're one of the best defenses in the country. They don't have any weak spots.”
• Van Lathan (18:08): “If Alabama wins this game, Indiana’s season was a complete failure. Indiana has got to win this football game, guys.”
• Joe (28:31): “Miami fans have been fighting like playoff arguments for about eight weeks now. So, like, they're borderline insane at this point, right?”
• Van Lathan (32:14): “[The SEC]...now just makes [it] a conference like any other conference.”
• Joel Anderson (75:34): “Oregon may not have either, so, like, either. This is perfect for Dan Lanning, and he can whip them into a frenzy. And he's like, see what happens when you go out there and you lit up? You might get your ass embarrassed and he'll have their attention. Or maybe Oregon just isn't as good as we've tended to think all season.”
• Van Lathan (57:27, on USC–Notre Dame): “What they're not willing to do is reset their expectations of the team culturally. They expect to play Notre Dame. And…that rivalry and playing that game is much more important to the USC fan base than I could have ever imagined.”
• Joel Anderson (80:07): “James–college basketball be so much more watchable with good basketball players. I can't wait. I hope they continue to add more good college basketball players to college basketball.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Off-field drama vs. bowl action: 03:00–05:00
• CFP Quarterfinals predictions: 05:00–24:10
• Fanbase meltdown debate: 26:12–30:00
• SEC scrutiny and playoff selection debate: 32:09–41:31
• Michigan coaching change, Whittingham discussion: 43:04–54:47
• USC–Notre Dame rivalry fallout: 55:36–61:56
• CFP matchups / favorite games: 74:06–77:21
• Basketball/NIL crossover: 80:05–87:46

Memorable Moments

• ** Van and Joel’s riff over “Big 12” code-switching** (10:22–10:58) cracks up the group.
• Deep dive on how SEC teams get playoff consideration even as the league falters in bowl season (32:09–41:31).
• USC alumni outrage over losing the Notre Dame rivalry game (57:27–59:51)
• Joel’s TCU self-deprecation/boasting double bind, called out by Van (63:00–66:20).
• Heated, hilarious debate over older pros returning to NCAA basketball (80:05–87:46).

Summary Takeaways

• The hosts are skeptical about Oregon’s playoff credentials, bullish on Texas Tech’s underdog shot, and believe Indiana can—and must—validate its place at the top against Alabama.
• Upsets are in the air, and the fanbase emotions will be running extremely high, especially in Miami and Columbus.
• The broader landscape is shifting: SEC’s dominance is doubted, bowl games matter less for perception, and college football’s cultural ground is moving underfoot.
• Off the field, coaching drama (especially at Michigan and USC) and institutional change threaten traditions and stability, even as on-field talent depth and parity increases.
• The hosts blend sharp, analytical football insight with wide-ranging, humorous takes—making this a lively, essential episode for anyone following college football’s rapidly evolving landscape.