Ringer Tailgate – Episode Summary

Episode: The B1G’s Dominance, Ladies for Mendoza, and Duke Sues Mensah
Date: January 22, 2026
Hosts: Van Lathan, Joel Anderson, Tate Frazier

Episode Overview

This episode is the season wrap-up for the 2025 college football year, delivering sharp analysis and lively banter as the crew dives into the major storylines shaping the end of the season—and possibly the next era of college football. Main topics include the Big Ten's new football supremacy, Indiana’s unprecedented title run, Kurt Signetti’s coaching impact, the evolving nature of program-building across the country, post-championship player drama, the Duke-Mensah NIL lawsuit, and a hilarious, extended matchmaking brainstorm for star QB Fernando Mendoza.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Big Ten’s Power Shift and Indiana’s Triumph

[04:50 – 07:15]

• Big Ten Dynasty: The crew cements the B1G as the new power conference: winning three straight titles with three different programs in distinct styles.
  • Joel: “The Big Ten is now officially not just like they have an edge on the SEC, they have a stranglehold over college football.”
• Variety is King: The B1G now mirrors what made the SEC previously untouchable—diversity of powerhouses and play styles.
• Penn State, Oregon, and the Peers: Discussion on which B1G programs are poised to step forward next (Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue)—and which won’t (“Sorry, Rutgers”).

2. Championship Aftershocks and the Signetti Blueprint

[09:32 – 15:56]

• Can Others Copy Indiana’s ‘Signetti Formula’?:
  • Joel: “If college football was going to change and adapt to the dominance of Kurt Signetti and Indiana, what would they become like?”
  • Discussions on who might be the next ‘Signetti’—Willie Fritz (Houston), Mike Shanahan (offensive coordinator), Haynes (defensive coordinator)—and whether programs can or should try to emulate Indiana’s underdog, developmental, process-driven style.
  • Joe: “Don’t chase the Indiana thing… You're probably not going to get Kurt Signetti.”
• Portal Reload:
  • Power programs (LSU, Texas, Miami) react to Indiana’s win by "loading up" the transfer portal—reminding listeners that blue-bloods won’t cede ground for long.

3. Veteran Players vs. Young Phenoms

[17:15 – 18:09]

• The hosts compare team-building with veteran transfers versus blue-chip freshmen, drawing analogies to NCAA Tournament upsets.
  • Joel: “One of the most fascinating things about the NCAA Tournament is sometimes you get phenoms versus veterans.”

4. Kurt Signetti’s Legacy and Future

[19:19 – 22:58]

• Signetti’s Mindset (audio clip at [19:33]):
  • After winning it all at age 64, Signetti isn’t content—“I don’t plan on changing very much…I wanted to be, like, a Bear Bryant kind of guy…But our story certainly is a great story. And we are the national champs.”
  • Van (on article) “[Signetti] just went 16-0 for the first time since 1894…[he] has a lot more left in the tank.”
• Inspiration for “second acts” in life and coaching, and the urgency that comes with late-career success.

5. The Indiana Outlier and Staff Poaching Fears

[23:31 – 24:57]

• Indiana’s blue-chip ratio was just 8%—a statistical outlier:
  • Joel: “Normally to sniff the playoffs you need a blue chip ratio of over 50%. It's 8%...That is really remarkable, man.”
• The impact of staff poaching, like Indiana’s S&C coach leaving for Tennessee, and speculation on whether Signetti can keep rebuilding the culture if key assistants leave.

6. Player Development in the Portal Era

[24:57 – 26:51]

• The difference between developing older transfer players versus traditional freshmen:
  • Joe: “There’s definitely a value in [developing third- or fourth-year transfers]. And clearly that’s some of what Signetti and his staff have been doing.”

7. Underdog Storylines & Postgame Drama

[28:41 – 35:46]

• Jamari Sharp’s Redemption ([29:41]): A player who survived losing seasons, makes the title-clinching interception—for the very school he’d once wanted to beat, tying together family and program history.
• Viral Postgame Feuds:
  • The “Fletcher punch” (RB Mark Fletcher punches an opponent after purported trash talk about his deceased father); hosts reflect on trash talk boundaries and weight-class mismatch in football fights.
  • Carson Beck not shaking Mendoza’s hand; debate about its NFL draft implications.
    • Van: “I’m telling you, it does [hurt your perception].”

8. College Football Love Lives: “Ladies for Mendoza”

[37:57 – 56:37]

• Lighthearted, Extended Segment: The guys brainstorm “candidate girlfriends” for IU QB Fernando Mendoza, drawing parallels to famous athlete-entertainer couples (Russell Wilson/Sierra), discussing why a Disney-type wholesome QB might need a more “grown-up” or “edgy” partner, and riffing on TikTok stars, student-athletes, and singer Sabrina Carpenter.
• Key realization: Mendoza’s career (and image) will shape his off-field options, likening him to the ‘Disney channel era’ guys who have to “break out” into adulthood.
• Notable quote:
  • Joel (on finding Mendoza a partner): “You go with somebody that’s a good person, but somebody that has that little [edge]…brings Russell up, and that’s what he needs to me.” ([56:12])

9. Duke Sues Darian Mensah: Legal NIL Battles

[57:36 – 69:10]

• Duke’s NIL Lawsuit Against Its Own QB:
  • Van: “Duke is actually suing their star quarterback…They claim he signed an NIL deal and must remain with the program.”
  • Joe (joking): “Duke is like, we paid for you, boy, you better not go nowhere.” ([59:40])
• Hosts debate the business realities of big-money CFB:
  • At what point is a “commitment” binding when money is involved?
  • How is this different from coaching buyouts? Should players have more freedom than coaches?
  • Consensus: Once big NIL money is in play, players and programs must expect businesslike, even aggressive, enforcement.
    • Joel: “When you make a commitment to a team, you must be ready…for them to go to the mattresses to hold you to your commitment.” ([65:33])

10. Lane Kiffin at LSU & The Saban Influence

[69:56 – 81:03]

• Kiffin’s Pressure Cooker:
  • LSU is not “a tent by the lake”—it’s a mountain to climb. Fans won’t accept ‘cute’ antics over real wins.
  • Joel (to Kiffin): “If you do not, if you cannot, if you fail, it will ruin your career. Lane Kiffin’s career will be either made or broken in Baton Rouge because the pressure that fan base can exude…the pressure that can expose.”
  • Saban’s hand in Kiffin’s move is debated—did Saban “set him up” by encouraging him to take an ultra-high-pressure job?
• Coaching Trees & Saban’s New Role:
  • Nick Saban as post-retirement “godfather/commissioner” of CFB; his shadow still looms everywhere.

11. Closing Thoughts & Show Future

[83:37 – end]

• The crew expresses gratitude for the audience, the show’s producers, and the chance to continue creating “the most fun” in their careers.
• Plans teased: off-season specials, top five lists, spring game adventures, and more banter.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Big Ten’s rise:

  • Joel: “When you had different cultures winning, but all coming from one conference…that’s what the Big Ten is right now.” ([05:50])

• On Signetti’s inspiration:

  • Joe: “He may have had the best professional year of his life when he was 64 years old…maybe there’s still a chance that like, there’s a bright future out there that I can’t even imagine.” ([21:17])

• On blue-chip reality:

  • Joel: “Normally to sniff the playoffs you need to have a blue chip ratio over 50%. It's 8%.” ([23:52])

• On the Duke-Mensah dispute:

  • Van: “Duke is actually suing their star quarterback…that is the reality we live in.” ([57:36])
  • Joe: “When you make a commitment to a team, you must be ready for them to go to the mattresses to hold you to your commitment.” ([65:33])

• On LSU fan expectations:

  • Joel to Lane Kiffin: “The cute shit is officially over… If you fail, it will ruin your career.” ([70:51])

• On Mendoza’s love life:

  • Joel: “He needs somebody that’s a good person…but has that little [edge] because that’s the thing about Sierra. Sierra is a really good person and a really woman…but she also has that little sexy. You know what I’m saying? That brings Russell up, and that’s what he needs.” ([56:12])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Big Ten Dynasty Talk: 04:50–07:15
• Signetti Effect & ‘Process’ Coaches: 09:32–15:56
• Veteran Players vs. Freshmen: 17:15–18:09
• Signetti Audio Clip & Mindset: 19:33–22:58
• Indiana’s Blue-Chip Ratio/Assistant Poaching: 23:31–24:57
• Player Development in Portal Era: 24:57–26:51
• Underdog Storylines: Jamari Sharp: 29:41–30:47
• Viral Postgame Fights: 31:09–35:46
• Mendoza Matchmaking Banter: 37:57–56:37
• Duke Sues Mensah – Legal NIL Battle: 57:36–69:10
• LSU/Kiffin Pressure & Saban’s Influence: 69:56–81:03
• Podcast Wrap & Future Plans: 83:37–end

Final Notes

• Throughout, the show maintains its signature style: irreverent, insightful, confident, and willing to blend serious debate with comic detours.
• College football’s changing landscape—especially the legal and business side of NIL and team-building—is always front and center.
• The dynamic between the hosts remains a draw, offering a wide lens of fandom, expertise, and humor.

[Tune in next week for the Ringer Tailgate Award Show and “tailgate classics” off-season content!]