Podcast Summary: See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: College Football Week 3: GUT CHECK | Bullish on USF? | CFB's Biggest Winners
Date: September 9, 2025
Host: David Pollack (Cball)
Co-host: Brent Rollins (PFF analyst)
Special Contributor: Wesley

Episode Overview

This lively episode dives deep into the standout moments, emerging storylines, and eyebrow-raising results from College Football Week 3. David Pollack and Brent Rollins argue over controversial rules, analyze the SEC’s depth, debate USF's legitimacy, and break down pivotal upcoming matchups. The hosts also select the week’s biggest winners and eliminate three teams from CFP contention. Key insights blend humor, sharp analysis, and classic gridiron anecdotes throughout.

Rants & Rule Changes — What’s Grabbing Attention?

Controversy Over Punt Interference

David Pollack’s Rant:

• Pollack is exasperated with the “blocked into the punt returner” rule, comparing its ambiguity to the targeting rule:

  “It's your job to stay away from the punt returner ... there’s too much gray. Get the gray out."
  (02:16)

• Wants a black-and-white approach: Any contact in the returner’s halo is interference.

Brent Rollins’ Response:

• Agreeing, he notes players are already adjusting by avoiding big hits and just sliding off:

  "The person did the thing where they threw their hands up and just kind of slid right in between them ... That’s good learn."
  (03:56)

Defensive Shift Rule Frustrations

Brent’s Rant:

• Criticizes penalties on defenses who shift pre-snap, especially after James Madison vs. Louisville:

  "That should not be a penalty in any way, shape, or form ... It's your job [offense] to hold your water ... This is part of the chess match." (05:15)

• Pollack passionately agrees:

  "The offense has every single advantage ... If I can move and screw you up, that’s your fault." (05:54)

Tone:
Frustrated, passionate, and unapologetically pro-football "chess match."

Week 3 College Football Takeaways

The Stacked, Chaotic SEC

Brent notes:

• With Auburn, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Miss State, and others showing strength, up to 9 teams could finish 8-4 or 9-3—total parity.

  "Every team in the league can beat the other, and it's just going to be a complete coin flip."
  (08:01)

Pollack rebuts “SEC bias”—but brings receipts:

• SEC outperforms in non-conference Power 4 games:
  • SEC: 8-2
  • Big Ten: 5-3
  • Big 12: 5-6
  • ACC: 3-9
    (08:44)

Conference “One-Bid” Talk

• Big 12’s out-of-conference struggles (e.g., Kansas State losing to Army) mean it’s probably a “one-bid” league for the playoff.

  "Yeah, I think that makes the Big 12 get one bid." (14:08)

Why Are They So Bullish on USF?

Prompted by live chat (11:00):

• USF beat Boise State (still seen as very good) and won in Gainesville vs. Florida.
• Pollack:

  "Probably because they have the best resume ... they just went to Gainesville and beat a talented Florida team. ... Has there been a better, you know, resume so far than usf?"
  (10:11)

• Brent:

  “And their coach might be the next coach of Florida ... which is a better job?” (11:41–12:07)

• Both agree: USF’s recruiting budget/top-20 resources and easier conference path make it a rising power.

This Week’s Biggest Matchups: Early Preview & Analysis

Georgia at Tennessee

• Georgia’s Defense: Best unit in the matchup, deep & athletic.

  "Georgia’s defense is really, really good ... they've got some physicality up front..."
  (19:07)

  • Special shoutout to safety “Bones” and corner Ellis Robinson.

• Tennessee’s Offense:

  • Joey Aguilar shows promise but is prone to mistakes.
  • Still running a classic Josh Heupel offense.

• Georgia’s Offense:

  • Offensive line a concern, missing key starters.
  • RB Nate Frazier looks improved (less “dancing,” more downhill).

• QB Watch: Gunner Stockton (Georgia) not as decisive as in last year’s playoff; needs to “let it rip.”

  "There's nothing about him through two weeks that has been on time ... Maybe there's a fear factor there..."
  (24:28)

Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M

• ND struggled with Miami's pass rush; Cassius Howle (A&M) is a pass-rushing menace:

  "Three straight sacks on three straight plays ... If you’re a one-trick pony with speed, it’s not going to be there. But when you can win three different ways for three sacks..."
  (27:08)

• ND’s O-line graded terribly (25.6) against Miami per PFF; will need to go ground-and-pound and use weapons carefully.

Florida at LSU

• Is Billy Napier stretching himself too thin by calling plays?

  “Their offense against South Florida was not good ... Lagway’s got this cannon ... but it’s very compartmentalized.”
  (30:28)

• Penalties and mistakes plagued Florida; LSU at home should bounce back.

South Carolina Ranking Debate

• Vanderbilt beat Virginia Tech handily; South Carolina ranked 11th but struggled to move the ball.

  “With their first series was magical against Virginia Tech. Besides that, it was ... a spanking [by Vandy].”
  (32:29)

Clemson at Georgia Tech

• Must-win for Dabo Swinney’s “All-In” culture after close calls and early stumbles:

  “This is a get right game. ... Last week you messed around with Troy, almost found out ... but you took care of business. Georgia Tech ... [but] Clemson has to prove it.”
  (34:49)

Arkansas at Ole Miss

• Over/Under set high (63.5), but both hosts see a “run game, clock-moving” slugfest:

  “I’ll take the under. ... Arkansas can be this, you know, eye stopping this Ole Miss offense.”
  (36:53)

USC at Purdue

• Pollack: "The speed is real" (USC), but wants to see how Barry Odom (Purdue coach) schemes to limit them.
  (39:44)

Notable Quotes, Stats, and Memorable Moments

• On John Mateer (Oklahoma QB):

  "This Mateer guy, he’s never done that before, Brent. ... The dude’s an absolute freak show stud."
  (43:12)

  • Mateer: 6 big-time throws in two games; only 10 for all OK QBs last year.

• On confidence in SEC teams:

  “In the SEC, literally 16 teams can beat the other 15.”
  (09:40)

• On eliminating teams from the playoff hunt:

  • Oklahoma State (after 66-point loss to Oregon):

    "If it was a 10-bid league it would still not be Oklahoma State."
    (50:00)

  • Iowa:

    "You’re bringing this like sharpened rock and you’re not David from the Bible ... you’re bringing a rock to a gunfight."
    (51:33)

  • UCLA:

    "It’s over already ... zero and two ... officially out."

  • Florida:

    "I think Florida’s done. ... They’re not going to win enough in SEC to overcome that loss."
    (52:55)

Victory Formation: Who Won the Weekend? (53:25)

• Mississippi State (both hosts):

  Starkville, “Stark Vegas,” celebrated after two SEC wins following years of struggle.
  (54:03–54:29)

• Illinois: Big comeback win at Duke, didn’t play their best but took over the second half.
  (53:26)
• Special Mention: The Bryant Bulldogs (FCS) for their first FBS win, and Army collecting a payout and a win at Kansas State.
  (55:11)

Numbers Don’t Lie: Advanced Analytics Segment (42:06)

• Brent shares key PFF insights, like Oklahoma's increased downfield throws and efficiency.
• Gunner Stockton (Georgia) and Drew Aller (Penn State) are the only Power 4 QBs with no big-time throws OR turnover-worthy plays:

  "This is 100% by design. ... Gunner Stockton needs to be a little bit more aggressive, I’ll say that."
  (47:33)

• Discussion on Alabama possibly losing its best QB to Boston College (Dylan Lonergan):

  "Maybe Alabama let their best QB leave the building."
  (49:13)

Best of the Rest

• Coaching Carousel:

  • USF’s impressive start sparks speculation their head coach could be a top Power 4 target.
  • Debate on whether USF is now as good a job as perennial SEC giants.

• Upcoming Segments:

  • Tuesday "Something Brewing" team deep dive; Saturday "Prisoner of the Moment" instant college football reactions.

Summary Table of Key Segments & Timestamps

| Topic | Speaker(s) | Timestamp | |----------------------- |---------------------------|---------------| | "Punt returner" rant | Pollack, Rollins | 02:16–04:29 | | New rule: D shifts | Rollins, Pollack | 04:29–07:21 | | SEC parity discourse | Rollins, Pollack | 08:01–10:11 | | USF bullish case | Pollack, Rollins | 10:11–13:47 | | Big 12 “one-bid” drama | Rollins, Pollack | 13:47–15:50 | | Georgia-Tennessee | Both | 15:50–26:31 | | ND vs. A&M | Both | 26:31–29:49 | | Florida-LSU/Billy N | Both | 29:49–31:48 | | South Carolina critique| Both | 32:29–34:18 | | Clemson vs. GT | Both | 34:39–36:26 | | Arkansas-Ole Miss | Both | 36:26–37:52 | | USC-Purdue | Both | 39:21–40:50 | | Analytics segment | Rollins, Pollack | 42:06–45:25 | | Eliminators | Wesley, Rollins, Pollack | 49:43–53:07 | | Winners of Weekend | Wesley, Rollins, Pollack | 53:25–56:06 |

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers exactly what See Ball Get Ball promises—straight-shooting, intelligent college football insight spiced with big personalities, stats, and plenty of good-natured trash talk. Week 3’s surprises, emerging contenders (USF!), and upcoming monster matchups set the stage for a wild season.

Notable Quotes Recap:

• "Too much gray. Get the gray out." – David Pollack (02:16)
• "Every team in the league can beat the other ..." – Brent Rollins (08:01)
• "There’s a fat baby fart. Does a 100-pound flour make a big frickin’ biscuit? Yes. [Mateer’s] the truth, man." – Pollack (44:28)
• "You're bringing a rock to a gunfight." – Pollack on Iowa (51:33)
• "Victory formation me, bro." – Pollack on Miss State (53:26)

Listen for: Smart breakdowns, fun analytics, and the surest bull take on USF anywhere.