See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: CFP First Round: BEST MATCHUPS | Notre Dame: Bowl Game Fallout | 2025 Review
Date: December 9, 2025
Host: David Pollack
Panel: Brent Venables, Brett Rollins, Wesley

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, David Pollack and his cast of analytical minds dive deep into the fallout from Notre Dame's opt-out of bowl season, dissect the impacts of playoff structure and bowl realignment, and preview the most compelling first-round College Football Playoff (CFP) matchups. In classic “See Ball Get Ball” fashion, the team blends hard-core X’s and O’s talk with candid opinions, inside stories, and plenty of banter. The show also explores which teams have a real shot at the national championship and looks back at their preseason predictions—celebrating hits and playfully roasting the misses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Notre Dame Bowl Game Fallout & The Changing Calendar

(02:03–07:35)

• Notre Dame’s Decision to Opt-Out:
  • Pollack acknowledges this is a watershed moment: not just players, but now teams are sitting out bowl games. He compares it to landmark player opt-outs like McCaffrey and Fournette in 2016–17.
    • “Notre Dame took its ball and said we’re going home… I don’t think that’s the first time this is going to happen.” (03:02, David Pollack)
  • Notre Dame’s captains and Coach Freeman reportedly led the decision.
• Ripple Effects and Expansion Need:
  • Pollack argues for playoff expansion, noting that with 67 Power 4 teams, only 10 get in, and current conference champion requirements can shut deserving teams out.
    • “If it’s going to be playoff or bust, we need more cracks at the apple.” (03:25, David Pollack)
• Frustration at Academic Influence:
  • Pollack rails against academic calendars dictating football schedules, calling for leadership from university presidents.
    • “Academics. Get out of here with that crap. This is semi-pro ball.” (06:56, David Pollack)

Bowl Games: Reimagining Their Place in the Calendar

(07:35–11:13)

• Alternative Proposals:
  • Discusses ideas floated by Hugh Freeze and others—moving “bowl games” to the front of the season (Week Zero), using them as money-makers and NIL incentives.
• Broadcast and Business Factors:
  • Brent Venables notes that Notre Dame’s AD (former NBC Sports chairman) might have a business motive in their decision, since ESPN/ABC host the bowl games.

CFP 1st Round Deep Dive: Best Matchups and Players to Watch

(11:13–22:50)

1. Texas A&M vs Miami

• Key Battle: Trey Zuhn (A&M OT) vs. Reuben Bane (Miami DE)
  • Zuhn has allowed only 1 sack, with the highest PFF pass-block grade ever.
  • Bane’s sack tally is contextually inflated; he’ll likely line up vs. A&M’s weaker RT.
  • “If you run that yapper to me, I want to line up on your side and I want to break you.” (17:01, David Pollack)

2. Tulane vs Ole Miss

• Tulane’s chance—a heavy dose of QB runs and ground game.
• Coaching changes (Pete Golding taking over) inject uncertainty for Ole Miss, especially with in-game decisions.

3. JMU: Wayne Knight (RB) vs Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher (LB)

• Wayne Knight’s top-10 FBS rushing yards spark the debate.
• Oregon’s second-level defense is athletic but could be tested, especially by Knight’s agility.

4. Alabama’s QB Ty Simpson vs. Oklahoma/Brent Venables' Blitzes

• Recap of Venables blitzing Simpson two-thirds of dropbacks in their last matchup.

• Alabama’s offensive line struggles and their need for more creative screen/game planning.

  • “They don’t knock people off the ball and have that just nasty physicality either.” (27:10, David Pollack)

• On Home Field Advantage:

  • All home teams won first-round games last year—panel expects this trend to mostly continue.

Teams With National Title Potential

(31:10–36:27)

• Pollack’s Contenders:
  • Indiana (Heisman-winning QB), Ohio State (superior WR/QB talent), Oregon (elite QB Dante Moore), Georgia (complete and physically dominant) are the only real title threats.
  • “There’s four teams and it’s… crazy. If you had a four team playoff, those four teams would be in it.” (33:48, David Pollack)
• Texas Tech and Alabama as Dark Horses:
  • Texas Tech’s defense and Alabama’s potential if healthy are discussed, but both have major offensive questions.
    • “A&M, when they play well offensively, all they gotta do is get up 14… and turn the blitz packages loose.” (35:35, David Pollack)
• Miami as a Possible Upset Machine:
  • Brent picks Miami for potential to string wins if things break right.

2025 Season in Review: Preseason Predictions & Banter

(41:32–47:47)

• Biggest Preseason Whiffs:
  • Both Pollack and panelist Brett Rollins were "all in" on Clemson; the team fell flat week one.
    • "Hey, at least it didn’t rip your heart out. ... Week one, they were out." (43:03, David Pollack)
• Hits to Celebrate:
  • Pollack was bullish on A&M’s offense, and they delivered.
• Playoff Eliminator Debates:
  • The panel revisits eliminator picks like predicting Bama as out (David) after FSU and Brent's choice of Vandy as a long-shot CFP chance.

Who Won the Weekend?

(49:45–54:49)

Panel’s Picks:

• David Pollack:
  • Indiana, Coach Curt Cignetti, and QB Mendoza for an undefeated season, Heisman, and #1 ranking.
    • “What a freaking season. ... Nobody in the world thought they could do it except them.” (49:45, David Pollack)
• Brent Venables:
  • Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire and Cody Campbell, for winning their first Big 12 title and “showing they can blend talent and coaching.”
• Wesley:
  • Georgia OC Mike Bobo, for creativity and redemption in the SEC Championship. Praises Georgia’s ability to scheme and adjust.
    • “Bobo, Ole Miss, Bobo, Tennessee, everybody wanted to fire Bobo... would be hard to find someone who did better than what he did this season.” (54:38, David Pollack)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Notre Dame opting out of a bowl
  • “Get out of here with that crap. This is semi-pro ball. Get the freak out of here with academia.”
    — David Pollack (06:56)
• On high-level matchups and competitive edge
  • “If you run that yapper to me, I want to line up on your side and I want to break you. …I want to absolutely rip your head off.”
    — David Pollack (17:01)
• On Alabama’s offense and fixes needed
  • “They don’t knock people off the ball and have that just nasty physicality either.”
    — David Pollack (27:10)
• On preseason picks gone bad
  • “At least it didn’t rip your heart out... They were out week one.”
    — David Pollack (43:03, on Clemson)
• On the committee's eliminator power
  • “Obviously the college football committee did the eliminating and if we were on there, it would have been Notre Dame.”
    — David Pollack (49:31)

Key Timestamps

• 02:03 — Notre Dame Bowl Fallout and Calendar Talk
• 07:11 — Academic Schedules vs. Football Realities
• 11:13 — First-Round Playoff Matchups Breakdown Begins
• 12:20 — Zuhn vs. Bane (Texas A&M vs Miami)
• 17:21 — Tulane’s Shot against Ole Miss, Coach Golding’s Role
• 20:16 — Segue: JMU’s Wayne Knight vs Oregon’s Defense
• 23:56 — On tackling, 2nd-level defense issues, matchup talk
• 25:56 — Alabama, Ty Simpson vs. Venables’ Blitz—What Must Change?
• 31:10 — Teams With a Shot to Win It All
• 41:05 — Oregon’s Travel Gauntlet in the Playoff
• 41:32 — 2025 Season Preseason Predictions: Hits and Misses
• 49:45 — Who Won the Weekend: Indiana Shines, Texas Tech Triumphs, Mike Bobo’s Redemption

Tone and Takeaways

True to David Pollack’s reputation, the show mixes fiery opinion, inside knowledge, and numbers-based analysis. Banter flies—especially on the fallout from opt-outs, beef with academic priorities, and the laughable turns in preseason picks. The hosts blend deep statistical insights with candid locker-room-style talk. The episode is a must-listen for fans wanting both granular scouting (down to individual player grades and scheme quirks) and big-picture ideas about the future of college football.

Show next airs live Monday and Wednesday at 8:30—expect more insider conversations, player and coach interviews, and all things playoff.