Ringer Tailgate – National Championship Preview: Which Team Winning Is Best for the Sport?

Date: January 14, 2026
Hosts: Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, Tate Frazier, Billy Gill

Episode Overview

This episode of Ringer Tailgate brings together Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, Tate Frazier, and Billy Gill to preview the College Football Playoff National Championship between Indiana and Miami. The hosts engage in sharp analysis, wild banter, and some spirited debate, focusing on what each team’s victory would mean for the sport, how each squad matches up on the field, and the narratives surrounding both programs. The conversation ranges from deep X’s-and-O’s to hot takes on player evaluation, perceived cheating scandals, and even a detour into Great Lakes geography.

Key Discussion Points

1. Setting the Stage: Indiana vs. Miami (08:27)

• Indiana is in its first-ever national championship, seeking to finish an undefeated season (16-0), a feat only matched by Yale in 1894.
• Miami returns to the spotlight for the first time since 2003, looking to prove “The U” isn’t just back—it's moving forward.
• Both teams present unique storylines: Indiana’s rise-from-nothing miracle and Miami’s resurrection under pressure.
• "Miami trying to recreate a new history. They said that the U is not back. The U is moving forward and they're here now." – Tate (08:49)

2. Big Game Predictions & Key Factors

Miami's Defensive Strength (09:20)

• Van expects Miami to end Indiana’s string of dominant wins, citing the Hurricanes’ tough style and trenches play as the key to keeping the game close.
  • "Miami is a team it's difficult to dominate because of the style of football that they play…they're going to get after your quarterback." – Van (09:20)
• Joel flags Miami’s depleted secondary due to a targeting penalty (Xavier Lucas out for the first half), emphasizing how this could be a critical issue against Indiana’s Heisman-winning QB Mendoza.
  • "Having a hurt, injured, penalized defensive backfield against a Heisman Trophy winner…that is a really bad time to have that issue." – Joel (12:21)

Indiana's Physical Dominance & the Mendoza Revenge Game

• Indiana’s offensive identity is highlighted (“crushers along the lines”) and their run game underpins everything—when they're over 4.5 yards per carry, they're unstoppable (15:14).
• Mendoza’s “homecoming” angle: He’s from Miami but wasn’t recruited by the Hurricanes (“told he could walk on by Manny Diaz”), adding a personal revenge subplot (15:14).

Who's Proven Themselves More? (17:55)

• Van sparks debate: has undefeated Indiana or battle-tested Miami shown more during the playoff run?
  • "Indiana came in as the undefeated number one…but I don't think that we believed in them…Miami came in an incredibly flawed football team… but they've played at a level…I don't know that many people thought they could play at." – Van (18:20)
• Joel: Miami has a killer playoff résumé—winning at Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss—though they skate a fine line due to inconsistency.
  • "Miami is so good on the lines that it'll have them in every game and they'll give every team a little bit of hell, but they're just unreliable enough that they could also lose to any of these guys." – Joel (18:55)

3. Quarterback Draft Debate: Is Carson Beck Overrated? (22:03)

• Joel, prodded by Van and Tate, gives a rundown of his top college QB prospects (Fernando Mendoza tops his board, Beck does not make his top five).
• Heated discussion on Carson Beck’s draft stock, with Joel arguing Beck’s perceived value is inflated by his race and appearance:
  • "If Carson Beck didn't look like Carson Beck…people would be like, oh, that guy's actually not good at football." – Joel (28:34)
  • "Are you talking about him being white?" – Van (29:01)
  • The group debates Beck’s leadership, performance under pressure, and team reliance, especially his struggles and resilience in recent big games.
• Exchange addresses structural issues in scouting (“white savior” trope, as Van teases Joel about the implications).

4. What Would an Indiana or Miami Win Mean for College Football? (32:07)

Indiana's Miracle Run

• All agree Indiana’s victory would be historic and cinematic—comparable to sports’ greatest underdog stories (e.g., Buster Douglas, Texas Western, NC State 1983).
  • "Indiana wouldn't just be a great college football story. Indiana would be a fantastic pop culture story…It just doesn't happen." – Van (32:38)
  • "It's already one of the greatest stories in sports history. But for them to finish that off would be such a sign of so many different things." – Van (33:40)
  • Joel: "You want a team with a great story…somebody, or a bunch of somebodies, are looking at Indiana and thinking, 'Oh, we could do that.' That's good for the sport." (37:26)

Miami's Resurrection

• A Miami win revives a blue-blood, but doesn’t capture the same “impossible” spirit as Indiana (34:03).

5. “Are They Cheating?”: Indiana’s Success Sparks Conspiracy Theories (39:45)

• Hostile media and rival fans insinuate Indiana is “cheating” (stealing signals, hacking clouds) because of their tactical superiority.
  • “I hate this type of shit…If you're going to accuse someone of this, you have to have ironclad proof. Other than that, you sound like a straight up whiny bitch.” – Van (39:45)
• Aiden Fisher (Indiana LB) quote: “It’s ridiculous to me. We watch film, we study, we prepare.”
• Joel notes rampant paranoia and the prevalence of cheating in football’s past—but says people should accept the story and move on: “Assume everybody’s cheating, man. In football.” (46:47)
• Age criticism: Indiana’s roster is older (5th/6th year players) but hosts dismiss this as a hollow complaint—“If they have eligibility, they can play” (Tate, 47:49).

6. Final Preview: What to Watch For in the Game

Opening Possession: Who Wants the Ball First? (58:13)

• Tate is watching to see if Indiana takes the ball to control tempo and test Miami’s defense immediately.

Miami’s Running Game & Offensive Line (59:44)

• Van and Joel both identify Mark Fletcher (Miami RB) as an X-factor; he’s been Miami’s playoff workhorse and could set the tone (59:44, 60:28).
  • “Fletcher, to me…is going to be the guy that determines the outcome of this game.” – Van (59:44)
• Both teams' running games are key—who controls the trenches controls the game.

Coaching Edge: Mario Cristobal vs. Curt Signetti (62:21)

• Mario Cristobal’s emotional in-game decision-making is identified as a potential liability (“You do worry about timeout usage…he is an emotional guy…and the emotion sometimes overwhelms him.” – Van (62:21))
• Joel brings up Miami’s penchant for self-sabotage while crediting their resilience (64:32).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Indiana’s rise:
  "If they were able to finish it off, it's already one of the greatest stories in sports history. But for them to finish that off would be such a sign of so many different things." – Van (33:40)

• On Miami's underdog status:
  "Those guys in Miami right now, they believe. They don't think they're the second-best team. They keep telling us…that they're the best team." – Van (62:40)

• Joel’s hot take on Carson Beck’s draft reputation:
  "If Carson Beck was Black, people would all of a sudden be like, oh, yeah, he's not athletic…his team is terrified to depend on him." – Joel (28:34)

• On the cheating conspiracies:
  “If someone has legitimate evidence that Indiana in some way is doing this, not above board, by all means, made that evidence plain. It wouldn't be the first time we've seen it…But if you ain't got no evidence of it, you just sound like a fucking broad. Shut up.” – Van (41:36)

• On blue-blood entitlement:
  "If you are a blue-blood...you always get to the point to where you realize your blood is not quite as blue as you thought it was.” – Van (55:14)

Light-Hearted Segments & Offbeat Tangents

• Great Lakes Geography (79:39–86:05)
  • The hosts take a wild tangent quizzing each other on all the Great Lakes and cities, reminiscing about cross-country road trips and regional trivia.
• Player Proof Crew and Pimping Analogy (51:28)
  • Van compares college football's obsession with Indiana’s success to a friend who can't let go of his ex dating someone new: "She like him, dog. Yeah, it don't matter. Stop worrying about it and worry about what you gotta do. Compete." (54:17)
• Transfer Portal Mania / Big Man on Campus (67:22)
  • Van proclaims the transfer portal "the most fun thing in sports," marveling at the constant player movement, NIL money, and roster drama.
  • "The transfer portal is a movie…It's more fun than NBA free agency, more fun than anything." (70:30)
• TJ Finley’s Never-Ending College Career (71:57)
  • The hosts shout out transfer QB TJ Finley, who landed at Incarnate Word for more “tape” before another move. “If you're trying to put together tape and get another nil bag, you don't end your journey at Incarnate Word." – Van (72:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Indiana & Miami Storylines: 08:27–16:24
• Miami’s Defensive Issues / Targeting Fallout: 11:21–13:28
• Indiana’s Run Game & Mendoza Narrative: 15:14–18:20
• Quarterback Debate / Big Board: 22:03–32:07
• Which Team Winning is Best for the Sport?: 32:07–39:45
• Indiana Cheating Rumors Discussion: 39:45–47:48
• Final Game Preview / Key Things to Watch: 58:13–64:32
• Transfer Portal Chaos & Fun: 67:22–75:31
• Great Lakes Tangent: 79:39–86:05

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is quintessential Ringer Tailgate—intelligent analysis delivered in a conversational, often comedic style, with hosts unafraid to challenge mainstream narratives or each other's hot takes. There’s a hearty dose of college football "fam" energy, making breakdowns both sharp and fun.

Conclusion

The Ringer Tailgate crew delivers an engaging and thorough preview of the national championship, exploring not only the X’s and O’s but the stories, legends, and oddities that define college football. Whether Indiana’s fairy tale ends with a title or Miami reclaims its place atop the sport, the game promises history—and plenty of post-game debate.