See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Caleb Downs on Ohio State's Run | David Pollack's CFP 12 if it Started TODAY

Date: December 2, 2025
Host: David Pollack
Guests: Brent, Wesley, Caleb Downs (Ohio State DB)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the biggest coaching moves shaking up college football—especially Lane Kiffin’s abrupt exit from Ole Miss for LSU—and the unforeseen ripple effects for teams and players. David Pollack and his crew dissect these moves, criticize the NCAA’s handling of calendars and transfers, and roll out their own College Football Playoff “Top 12,” with fierce debate over resumes and hypothetical chaos scenarios. The show is highlighted by a feature interview with Ohio State star Caleb Downs, offering an insider’s perspective on the season, the Buckeyes’ culture, and how the Big Ten stacks up against the SEC.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lane Kiffin’s Exit from Ole Miss (02:09–13:04)

• Lane Kiffin Leaves Ole Miss for LSU:

  • The hosts unload on the fatigue and chaos caused by Kiffin’s sudden departure during a playoff run, reflecting on his tumultuous career path and its impact on players, fans, and the Ole Miss program.
  • Key staffers, including OC Charlie Weis Jr. and GM Billy, also leave, gutting the Rebels’ infrastructure right before the postseason.

• Pollack: Impact on Players and Fans

  • “There’s one group that’s losing the most, and it’s the players... their opportunity gets snatched away.” (05:29)
  • “I will walk away from college football and run across Georgia to California naked if the committee leaves Ole Miss out because of this.” (06:47)

• Brent: The Ethics of Coaching Exits

  • “You told those kids that they weren’t good enough to win a championship. Because I got to go elsewhere to win it.” (09:44)
  • “The calendar sucks. But he could have said, ‘Talk to me after the season.’ If they don't want to wait, that's on them.” (10:17)

• Structural Problems in College Football:

  • Both Pollack and Brent criticize unregulated coaching moves, buyouts, and the “business-first” approach over team loyalty and player commitment.

2. Coaching Carousel Updates & Analysis (18:08–29:38)

• New Hires and Firing Rundown:

  • Alex Golesh to Auburn (“One of the smartest coaches in all of college football”)
  • John Sumrall to Florida (“SEC experience, fiery, passionate... Billy Napier-esque”)
  • Mark Stoops fired at Kentucky (“Pre-NIL, one of the best at developing talent. Now? Not enough.”)
  • Will Stein hired as Kentucky's new OC from Oregon
  • Other movement: Kalani Satake in the mix at Penn State, Silverfield to Arkansas, etc.

• Challenges of Modern Coaching

  • The NIL era makes alignment (“President, AD, coach, funding”) essential. Even great football coaches can get left behind without it.

3. Pollack’s CFP Top 12 – “If it Started Today” (29:41–39:25)

• Pollack’s Playoff 12:

  • 1. Ohio State (clear favorite)
  • 2. Indiana
  • 3. Georgia (bumping up after A&M loss)
  • 4. Texas Tech
  • 5. Oregon
  • 6. Texas A&M
  • 7. Ole Miss (drops due to staff departures)
  • 8. Oklahoma
  • 9. Notre Dame
  • 10. Alabama
  • 11. Virginia
  • 12. JMU

• Why Ole Miss Drops:

  • “No Lane Kiffin and no Charlie Weis Jr. The best part of this team is their offense... when you take [them] off the team, they get worse.” (30:20)

• Potential Chaos and Committee Dilemmas:

  • Discussion of “what-if”s with Duke, JMU, Tulane, North Texas, and the uncomfortable possibility of a 5-loss team qualifying due to conference rules.
  • Wesley: “The committee has hemmed itself in based on its own rules... you can't put a five-loss team in.” (39:00)
  • Pollack on auto-bids and playoff structure: “The best 12 teams get in...Each league needs at least one team, but doesn’t have to be the champion.” (37:26)

4. College Football Eliminators & Winner of the Weekend (41:49–47:42)

• Eliminators:

  • Lane Kiffin & Ole Miss (Brent: “By his own choice, Lane Kiffin is eliminated from the College Football Playoff.” (42:05)
  • Michigan (“Good run, but Ohio State took the trophy back.” (42:26)
  • SMU

• Weekend Winners:

  • Clark Lea (Vanderbilt): “Took the belt off his pants... whomped that ace” (WWE-style celebration after a big win over Tennessee).
  • Kenzie Matsuzawa, Hawaii’s Kicker: “Self-taught on YouTube, tied an NCAA record, and did the post-game presser draped in leis up to his eyebrows.” (46:33)

5. Featured Interview: Caleb Downs (49:17–68:44)

On Trash Talk and Game Prep

• Downs describes his calm demeanor during Michigan-Ohio State rivalry:
  • “There’s no reason to trash talk. At the end of the day, if they lose the game, they got nothing to say.” (50:08)
• “Felt like a great opportunity to be out there, and I was just thankful to have a chance to play.” (50:22)

Team Dynamics and Leadership

• Pollack: “My favorite part about you is… you’re all business.” (49:21)
• On Ohio State’s “us against the world” mentality after losing so many players and coordinators this year.
• Praises new DC Matt Patricia: “We had a DC that’d been at the highest of high levels” and calls learning a new NFL-style defense “huge for my career.” (54:15)

Versatility & Role

• “The only position I haven’t lined up at is nose guard.” (55:23)
• “I’ll try to get that out the next few weeks and I’ll be able to say, I played all 11 positions this year.” (55:51)

On Ohio State Playmakers

• On Jeremiah Smith: “Coach Day and everybody, they were like, ‘Oh, he’s the dude’… and you can see people’s jaws drop on the sideline.” (56:44)
• “He gets a lot of reroutes and doubles in practice, but he’s been blessed with a lot of talent.” (57:15)
• On Julian Sayin (QB): “His legs have been used a lot more than I would’ve thought. If we played against him, we would not be expecting that.” (58:46)

SEC vs. Big Ten - The Candid Truth

• “SEC, you’re playing comp every week… Big Ten, you’ll have four or five games where you really gotta be at your highest point.” (60:02)
• “But then, the Big Ten teams ended up beating the SEC in bowl games, so maybe it negated what I said!” (60:52)

On Coach Ryan Day

• “The intensity’s turned up this year… every game and every practice, it’s great to see… he’s got that look in his eye.” (61:32)
• Tells a funny recruiting story: faked out Day twice before finally telling him he was coming to Ohio State.
  “He was mad about it...when I was in the portal, I did it again…it was good.” (63:04)

Aggressiveness Mindset

• Pollack: “Y’all went for the bomb on the first play against Michigan... is that a point of emphasis now?”
  Downs: “The assertiveness he’s attacking every game with, every play is a home run hit. It’s a pleasure to be around.” (64:01)

Teammate Praise

• On Arvell Reese & Sonny Styles: “The freakiest players I’ve seen… man-child type of strength. Watch Sonny’s film against Michigan.” (65:15, 66:36)

Previewing Indiana Game

• “Watched three or four games so far... Mendoza is able to see the field and run, he’s playing at an elite level.” (67:06)

Notable Quotes & Moments (By Timestamp)

• "There’s one group that’s losing the most, and it’s the players... their opportunity gets snatched away." — Pollack (05:29)
• "You told those kids that they weren’t good enough to win a championship... I can’t stomach that." — Brent (09:44)
• "If you have a job, you shouldn’t be able to take another job. You can’t do that in the NFL… we’ve got to do something about it. That’s bullcrap." — Pollack (10:43)
• "There’s no reason to trash talk... If they lose, they have nothing to say. Just go win the game." — Caleb Downs (50:08)
• "The only position I haven’t lined up at is nose guard." — Caleb Downs (55:23)
• "SEC, you’re playing comp every week... Big Ten, four or five games you gotta be at your highest. But then the Big Ten teams beat the SEC in bowls so maybe it negates what I said." — Caleb Downs (60:02)
• "He was mad about it...[when I was in the portal] I did the same thing, I was like 'Yeah, I'm not coming...' He said, 'Don't do this to me again.' Then I was like, 'I'm just playing.'” — Caleb Downs on Ryan Day (63:04)
• "Kenzie Matsuzawa...taught himself to kick on YouTube, tied an NCAA record, and did the press conference draped in leis up to his eyebrows." — Wesley (46:33)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Lane Kiffin Ole Miss drama: 02:09–13:04
• Coaching carousel rundowns & structure talk: 18:08–29:38
• Pollack’s Playoff 12 & committee chaos: 29:41–39:25
• Eliminators/Winners of the Weekend: 41:49–47:42
• Caleb Downs interview: 49:17–68:44
• Conference/SEC vs Big Ten discussion: 60:02–61:04

Summary & Tone

The show is fast-paced, conversational, and passionate; hosts don't shy from strong opinions or playful jabs at each other. They combine honest, sometimes blunt analysis (“run across Georgia to California naked,” “Ole Miss is gutted”) with moments of humor and affection, especially in the Caleb Downs interview. The episode hits every hot-button college football topic—coaching volatility, playoff dilemmas, the business of NIL, and the impressions of players themselves—offering a complete, inside-out view of the sport’s current state.

If you missed this episode, you’ll come away understanding not just the news, but the deeper debates animating college football’s most passionate voices. Caleb Downs’ insight on culture, coaching, and what truly separates the SEC and Big Ten is essential listening for fans.