Ringer Tailgate – Week 1 War With Three Top-10 Matchups, Plus Bold Predictions

Podcast: Ringer Tailgate
Date: August 28, 2025
Hosts: Tate Frazier, Joel Anderson, Van Lathan

Overview

In this packed episode of Ringer Tailgate, Tate Frazier, Joel Anderson, and Van Lathan gear up for a historic opening week of college football. It's arguably the most anticipated Week 1 of the new college football era, boasting three Top-10 matchups, the last ride for Lee Corso, and the debut of high-profile coaches. The hosts blend sharp analysis and playful banter while previewing the games, making bold predictions, and diving into the stories and stakes that will shape the season.

Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. Is This the Best Week 1 Ever?

• Context: With three Top-10 matchups on deck (a rarity), the hosts debate whether it's the best opening weekend in college football history.
• Van Lathan (01:14): "No, but it’s the best week one of this new era of college football... the nil transfer portal era... In the last three, four, five years, it’s definitely the best week one."
• Joel Anderson (01:52): Reminisces about 2017 but points out that nothing matches the current hype, especially in this reshaped landscape.
• Discussion acknowledges the unique context brought by the transfer portal, NIL, and televised events.

2. Lee Corso's Farewell

• Legacy: Corso's impending retirement from College GameDay adds gravity to the weekend.
• Van Lathan (03:18): "Lee Corso deserves every amount of this adulation… GameDay is an institution. It’s the beginning of the day… you waited and really wanted for him to pull your team’s headgear out of that mystery bag."
• Joel Anderson (05:12): Touches on Corso's unlikely rise, coaching at basketball-first schools and still becoming a TV icon.
• Van Lathan (06:26): Praises ESPN for letting Corso leave on his own terms after health setbacks, explaining how that reflects college football’s appreciation for tradition and rootedness.

3. Game Preview: #1 Ohio State vs. #5 Texas

• Historic Stat: A first-time starting QB hasn’t beaten a #1-ranked team in 20 years, last by Jim Harbaugh in 1984.
• Joel Anderson (08:55): "My theory is that record gotta end at some point… I think [Ohio State’s QB] has everything he needs to end that record on Saturday."
• Van Lathan (10:15 & 11:57): Spotlights Ohio State’s Caleb Downs as a defensive X-factor, compares his game-wrecking potential to Ed Reed and Eric Berry, urges Arch Manning to simply “operate the offense” instead of playing hero ball:
  • "He does not have to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday... actually just do less... I think Texas has a better shot."
• Coaching Angle: Skepticism about Matt Patricia as Ohio State DC.
  • Joel Anderson (14:24): "What is Matt Patricia done? ... If I’m Ohio State, I would much rather have Knowles than this cat."
  • Van Lathan (14:57): Outlines the game’s essence: which rookie-heavy staff will adapt quickest under pressure.

4. Game Preview: #9 LSU vs. #4 Clemson (The Battle for Death Valley)

• LSU Concerns: Can they run the ball and find O-line consistency?
• Van Lathan (18:49): Provides a passionate LSU fan's perspective, running through the Tigers’ transfer class, but flags the offensive line as a make-or-break group:
  • "If LSU is not able to run the football, if we are predictable and one-dimensional, we are not going to be a successful football team this year. It’s not going to happen."
• Joel Anderson (21:14): Runs the numbers on Clemson’s defensive vulnerabilities:
  • "In their four losses last year, Georgia got them for 170 [yards], Louisville for 210, South Carolina for 267, Texas for 292."
• Clemson View: New WR corps could revitalize Dabo’s title chase.
• LSU QB Nussmeier’s Symbolism: Van highlights Nussmeier wearing LSU’s iconic #18 jersey and what that means for team trust.

5. Game Preview: #6 Notre Dame at #10 Miami (Catholics vs. Convicts Redux)

• Racism & Rivalry: Joel jokes about the enduring, problematic nickname (27:52).
  • "If anything is popular in this country right now is racism. So. Fine, fine. Go ahead. It won’t hurt me."
• Notre Dame’s Status Check: Van (29:38) frames it as a “sneaky important game.” ND is trying to prove legacy-level consistency under Marcus Freeman.
• Roster Upgrades: Joel lauds ND’s improved talent, especially RB Jeremiah Love and what could be the best O-line in the nation.
• Position Battles: Both teams breaking in new skill talent; depth and offensive line play will decide the day.

6. Bill Belichick at UNC vs. TCU

• Storyline Overload: Belichick’s college debut and the media circus over his relationship with Jordan (“not Jordan”), described by Van (35:33) as the “true leader of UNC football.”
• Van Lathan (34:47): "I'm not gonna act like I give a fuck about UNC football… But this is as fascinating a thing as I think I've seen in the game in a while. It's every bit the fascination that Coach Prime was."
• Personal Stakes: Joel, a TCU alum, worries it’s set up as another “proof-of-concept” game for a celebrity coach’s launch.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Van Lathan on Lee Corso (03:18):
  "He was just a dude. One of those rare people in culture that when you see him, you know it's time to have a good time... Lee Corso, you know the games are about to start."

• Joel Anderson on College Football's Generational Shift (06:01):
  "There's a generation of guys that we grew up with that are leaving the airwaves, man. And it makes me a little bit sad."

• Van Lathan’s Defensive Focus (11:15):
  "If I am playing against a quarterback like Arch Manning... What I want is an Ed Reed, Eric Barry type of guy in the back of the defense that can confuse this player, make it hard on him."

• Van Lathan on Belichick-at-UNC Hype (35:30):
  "What if they're great? What if they're terrible? What does it mean?... I will be so interested in a team that I couldn't care less about in terms of North Carolina. They've done it. They've gotten me to watch."

• Van Lathan once more (44:48):
  "When I see the crimson, my skin crawls. It's irrational how much I hate Alabama."

• Big Van On Campus (61:15):
  Describes the viral postgame fight at Farmageddon and its hilarious racial reveal:
  "Avery Johnson made history. He joins Vin Diesel in the 'I did not realize he was Black' Hall of Fame."

Important Timestamps

• Opening – Is this the best Week 1 ever?: 00:38 – 02:36
• Lee Corso Farewell Tribute: 02:36 – 07:44
• Ohio State–Texas preview & Manning/Patricia discourse: 08:55 – 16:42
• LSU–Clemson preview (O-line worries & new weapons): 18:49 – 25:28
• Notre Dame–Miami preview/‘Catholics vs Convicts’ talk: 27:34 – 33:19
• Belichick at UNC’s debut vs. TCU (media & mayhem): 34:41 – 40:12
• One Big Prediction Segment: 41:42 – 47:04
• Prime vs. Belichick – Colorado/Georgia Tech talk: 50:05 – 54:16
• Big Van on Campus – Farmageddon Fights: 61:15 – 66:47

Segments & Sidebars

One Big Prediction (41:42–46:09)

• Joel: FSU’s woes will continue vs. Alabama; expects a blowout loss and more misery.
• Van: Week 1 is “Dog Day Afternoon”—underdogs (Texas, LSU, even FSU) will be feisty.
• Tate: Senses upsets brewing with USF over Boise and Toledo over Kentucky; warns about the end of the Stoops era at Kentucky.

Prime vs. Belichick Watch

• Explores the off-field storylines: Deion Sanders (now without son and Travis Hunter) embarks on Colorado’s new chapter, while Belichick (plus his girlfriend Jordan) brings unprecedented intrigue—and scrutiny—to UNC.

Week Zero Takeaways (56:53–60:46)

• Hosts praise “jamboree” football, revel in the quirks of Week Zero (like Iowa State vs. Kansas State farm brawls), and muse on how college traditions change.

Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks

• Joel Anderson (70:06): Fondly observes E.J. Warner (son of Kurt) and the random nature of college QB legacies.
• Van Lathan (70:22): Proclaims college football season his “time of year”—the season of “couch rot, football, food”—and expresses gratitude for sharing it with friends and listeners.
• Tate: Teases Saturday’s live show for instant reactions to the weekend’s action.

Vibe, Tone & Language

• Relentlessly casual, irreverent, and authentic—hosts admit fan allegiances and hatreds, trade inside jokes, and drop candid, unfiltered takes.
• Banter flies about anime references, pop culture, sideline antics, and even personal sporting backgrounds.
• The pod balances sharp analysis (“Can LSU’s O-line hang?”) with hilarious tangents (who’s really rooting for Notre Dame or Alabama, and why Avery Johnson is the Vin Diesel of college football).

For First-Time Listeners

• This episode is a fast-paced, insight-rich, and personality-laden prep for the most stacked Week 1 in years.
• The hosts deliver equal parts insider knowledge and fan energy, weaving together history, analysis, and cultural commentary—perfect for both college football diehards and anyone wanting to catch up before kickoff.

Key Takeaway:
It’s a historic Week 1, and Ringer Tailgate is embracing the chaos, saying farewell to legends, and daring to make bold predictions—while reminding you that above all, college football’s beauty is in its unpredictability, pageantry, and (sometimes) its humor.