See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode Summary: "Can USC Break Through the CFP Wall? | Notable Non-Conference Schedules in CFB"

Date: March 10, 2026
Host: David Pollack
Guests/Analysts: Brent Rollins (On3, PFF), Wesley, Co-host Analyst

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into two central themes:

1. USC’s Prospects in Breaking Through to the College Football Playoff (CFP):
   Detailed analysis of USC’s roster, coaching changes, schedule, and overall outlook for the 2026 season, with a focus on whether Lincoln Riley can get the Trojans over the CFP hump.

2. The Impact of Non-Conference Scheduling in College Football:
   Breakdown of notable non-conference matchups across various Power 4 conferences. The discussion covers scheduling strategies, playoff implications, and a countdown of the top non-conference games for the upcoming season.

The episode also features interviews, numbers segments, and quick hits on trending topics such as Florida’s new coach John Summerall, conference realignment, player empowerment, and standout performances from the sports weekend.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. USC’s 2026 Outlook: Can They Crash the Playoff?

(Begins ~00:52)

• Lincoln Riley’s Arrival & Impact:

  • Pollack emphasizes the magnitude of Riley's hiring:
    "When he went to USC, remember how big of a freaking deal that was?...His contract was insane. Fresh off of every quarterback he coached being a high draft pick...USC fans would take that now." (01:00)
  • Riley’s offensive continuity is a major advantage:
    "Head coach, OC, quarterback – all of those are check, check, check. Not a lot of places can say that." (01:44)

• Roster Strengths:

  • Offensive line returns intact, bolstered by transfers; top recruiting class in the nation, headlined by freshmen who could contribute immediately (02:10).

• Defensive Overhaul:

  • Loss of DC Ant Lynn to Penn State, addition of veteran coach Gary Patterson:
    "They bring in Gary Patterson…Great defensive coach. Football has obviously changed. But you want to start with some dudes in the trenches, and you got that." (03:29)
  • Notable defensive players: Jakeem Stewart, Cameron Crawford, Braylon Shel; high number of freshmen and sophomores poised for real roles (03:37).

• Facilities Upgrade:

  • Pollack notes significant investments in facilities to catch up with national powers (04:14).

• Offensive Weapons:

  • QB Jaden Maiava returns, with new WR1 Hines (transfer from TCU) and key recruits like Terrell Anderson (NC State):
    "Weapons Palooza out wide...Hines stepped up, he'll probably be the number one guy." (04:40–05:10)

• Tough Schedule:

  • Analysts highlight challenge:
    "Oregon, Washington and Ohio State at home…and then they have to go to Penn State and Indiana." (05:44)
  • Coast-to-coast travel and adverse weather are new hurdles in the Big Ten (05:53).

2. Gary Patterson’s Arrival: High Hopes, Big Questions

(06:11–08:30)

• Defensive Expectations:
  • Under Riley, 23 points allowed per game was USC’s best mark.
  • Patterson hasn’t coached in an on-field role since 2021 but known for building tough units:
    "I'm most interested…we’ve seen him make lemonade out of lemons…Now he'll have more guys with more ability day one…but football’s changed…that’s the biggest component." — Pollack (07:03)
  • Youth and talent are highlighted, especially in the secondary.

3. USC’s Identity Shift & Roster Development

(07:49–12:11)

• Offensive Line Depth:

  • Six returning linemen with 300+ snaps from last year.

• Potential Ground-and-Pound Identity:

  • Analysts note this could be a shift:
    "If you can play good defensively, you might be more of a ground and pound – a different identity than what we’re used to seeing." (08:27)

• QB Jaden Maiava’s Next Step:

  • Needs improvement under pressure:
    "Led the FBS last year with 13 turnover worthy plays, six picks under pressure…especially in bigger games." (10:19)
  • If defense improves, Maiava matures, and run game leads, "this is a playoff caliber team." (09:50)

• Rising Freshman to Watch:

  • Edge Luke Waffle (NJ) and TE Mark Bowman (CA):
    • Pollack on Bowman:
      "He’ll start as a true freshman and be an impact player…he'll already be a guy that you go, God dang, he's really, really, really, really good…that dude is an absolute baller." (12:11)

4. Interview Highlight: Florida’s John Summerall

(13:23–15:34)

• Family Drive & Winning Culture:

  • Summerall shares a personal moment:
    "My 7-year-old daughter goes, 'Dad, can we win at Florida?' I'm like, 'You damn right we can win at Florida.'" (13:42)
  • Pollack praises his intensity and straight-shooting style for Florida fans.

• Strength & Conditioning Emphasis:

  • Summerall’s candid comments on needing a tougher strength program.

5. Notable Non-Conference Schedules & Playoff Implications

(17:57–28:17)

• Scheduling Trends & Strategies:

  • Every ACC/SEC school has at least one Power 4 opponent non-conference; not so in the Big Ten (17:57–18:50).
  • USC, Indiana, Nebraska, Penn State: No Power 4 non-conference opponents, potentially boosting playoff chances (19:19–20:09).

• Strategic Non-Conference Scheduling:

  • Pollack:
    "Why would I challenge myself if I don't need to? If the name of the game is making the playoffs…That's smart economics..." (22:57)

• Dark Horse Playoff Candidates by Schedule:

  • USC called “a solid contender.”
  • Washington: Dangerous with returning QB Damond Williams (21:46).
  • Arizona & Houston as sneaky Big 12 threats.

6. Top 5 Non-Conference Power 4 Games for 2026

(23:46–28:17)

• (1) Ohio State at Texas (Week 2)
  • "Numero uno is pretty easy." (24:01)
• (2) Oklahoma at Michigan (Week 2)
• (3) Miami at Notre Dame (Week 10)
• (4) Notre Dame at BYU (Week 7)
  • "If BYU…sitting there at 10–2 with a win over Notre Dame, that's a massive feather." (24:59)
• (5) Clemson at LSU (Opening Weekend), with honorable mentions to Ole Miss-Louisville and Oregon-Oklahoma State
  • "Battle for Death Valley. Fun one to watch…Rematch from a year ago." (27:19)

7. Future of Scheduling & Conference Structure

(28:24–32:16)

• Potential for Uniform Scheduling:

  • Ideas floated about cross-division matchups, similar to NFL scheduling models.

• Bowl Game Innovations:

  • Suggestion to move bowl games to season openers to provide league-vs-league data.

• Sankey's Comments on SEC/Big Ten Power:

  • "There are two power players…money-wise it's just, it's a cut above." (31:46)

8. Pay-for-Play, NIL & Player Representation

(32:30–39:16)

• Leadership Adjustments:

  • Discussion on leadership and governance struggles between SEC’s Sankey and Big Ten’s Petitti.

• Expansion of Playoff:

  • Pollack: Strongly anti–24-team playoff (“16 max, love 12”).
    "I can't stand…I can't tell you how against 24 I am..." (35:39)

• Emphasis on Rules Uniformity:

  • "We need to all play by the same rules...let's get to that point. It's going to be Big Ten and SEC finally coming together...but we need players in that room, too." (38:06–39:16)

9. Rapid Fire: Winners of the Weekend

(40:07–46:50)

• South Carolina OL Coach Randy Clements:
  • Viral drill video met with receipts, showing practicality in games (41:22).
• High school pitcher Joseph Contreras:
  • Struck out Aaron Judge at the World Baseball Classic (41:48).
• Kendall Wells, Oklahoma Softball:
  • "Best swing you'll see…She's a North County Titan…absolutely a stud muffin." (42:59–43:34)
• NFL's Jordan Davis:
  • Massive contract extension, praised as "one of the best dudes you will ever meet." (43:58)
• Florida State skipping spring game:
  • Wesley calls it a win: "Just keep things under wraps. Go back to the lab and get better for 2026." (45:43)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Lincoln Riley’s challenge:
  "We ain't sniffed it since that point and we would love to get it now. So can they possibly get it?" — David Pollack (01:24)
• On Gary Patterson:
  "We've seen him make lemonade out of lemons…Now he'll have more guys with more ability day one." — Pollack (07:03)
• On scheduling and business logic:
  "Why would I challenge myself if I don't need to? If the name of the game is making the playoffs…That's smart economics." — Pollack (22:57)
• On future playoff size:
  "I can't tell you how against 24 I am…16 is my max…" — Pollack (35:39)
• On player involvement:
  "We need players in that room, too. It's awesome. Congratulations. Go do your little meetings. Get some players in there too, man...Someone has to represent the players." — Pollack (39:06)
• On FSU spring game:
  "A big win for everybody involved. The Knowles are kind of getting back to square one...Just keep things under wraps. Go back to the lab." — Wesley (45:43)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |------------------------------------------------|----------------------| | USC/Playoff Conversation Begins | 00:52 | | USC Defense & Gary Patterson | 06:11 | | Team Identity, Roster, QB Analysis | 07:49 – 12:11 | | John Summerall Interview | 13:23 | | Non-Conference Scheduling Discussion | 17:57 | | Top Non-Conf. Matchups Countdown | 23:46 | | Conference Structure & Scheduling Uniformity | 28:24 | | NIL, Rules, Representation, Playoff Talk | 32:16 – 39:16 | | Winners of the Weekend | 40:07 – 46:50 |

Closing Notes

This episode offers a comprehensive, candid look at the state of college football as playoff access expands, with sharp analysis of USC’s possible breakthrough, insightful takes on scheduling strategy, and an entertaining lens on coaching personalities and sports culture. Pollack and company mix insider knowledge with spirited debate, making this a must-listen for fans gearing up for the 2026 season.