Podcast Summary: See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: David Pollack's CFP Top 12 if the Playoff Started NOW | James Franklin & Lane Kiffin Watch
Date: November 18, 2025

Overview

This episode dives into the most significant coaching moves and playoff scenarios in college football. David Pollack and his co-hosts passionately discuss James Franklin’s hiring at Virginia Tech, the Lane Kiffin coaching watch, the importance of adversity for teams aiming for championships, contentious playoff rankings, and engaging listener questions. The show also features data-driven breakdowns and a lively, candid tone true to Pollack's style.

Key Topics & Insights

1. James Franklin to Virginia Tech

[00:22–05:50]

• Historic Offseason Movement: College football has seen record buyouts and firings, setting the stage for high-profile coaching changes.
• Franklin’s Fit:
  • Track Record: Won 9 games in back-to-back seasons at Vanderbilt, improved Maryland, and elevated Penn State despite failing to crack the championship ceiling.
  • Recruiter & Familiarity: Well-connected recruiter in Virginia, former JMU coach; proven ability with NIL.
  • Expectations at Virginia Tech: “If I'm a Hokie, I'm pretty excited about that because...you haven't been able to celebrate eight wins in over six years.” (David Pollack, 04:55)
  • Realism: Franklin isn't expected to deliver national titles but should restore relevancy and consistent winning.

2. Lane Kiffin Watch: The Ultimate Domino

[05:50–10:31]

• Status Uncertain:
  • Reports of Lane visiting other schools and contract negotiations indicate he's torn about staying at Ole Miss.
  • "If Lane really was 100% sold on being at Ole Miss, it had been done already." (Pollack, 06:25)
  • Athletic reports: Ole Miss wants an answer before the Egg Bowl (Nov 28).
• Personal Growth: Lane is thriving personally and professionally at Ole Miss — “He’s kicked alcohol in the butt. He’s growing in his faith...his son’s there. They’re thriving.” (Pollack, 06:45)
• Speculation: Co-hosts agree Kiffin is likely to leave unless he explicitly commits, and his move will influence the entire coaching carousel.

3. Adversity and Team Growth

[10:31–16:57]

• Crucial “Forging” Moments:
  • Programs like Alabama (early loss), Indiana, and Georgia have turned adversity into strength; cited with detailed examples.
  • “There’s something to be said for your team really, really getting challenged, getting pushed.” (Pollack, 13:37)
  • Ohio State’s experience last year after losing to Michigan (“it was so toxic...But then what happened? They go on a string, they win the national championship.” (Pollack, 12:18)
• Player vs. Coach Perspective: Players can maintain confidence, but coaches grow by learning what works when plans fall apart: "It’s as much a coaching thing as it is for the player." (Co-host, 15:00)
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Confidence and cojones.” (16:53, Pollack, episode/segment title)

4. David Pollack’s CFP Top 12 Playoff Scenario

[16:57–28:01]

• Methodology: Ranks the top twelve as if the playoff began now, considering resume quality, signature wins, and “bad losses.”

Top 4:

1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Texas A&M
4. Georgia

Next Tier:

• 5. Texas Tech
  • “Texas Tech...slapped Utah and BYU. Defense takes a backseat to no one's...” (Pollack, 18:39)
• 6. Ole Miss
  • Narrow losses (UGA, Oklahoma) but took care of business elsewhere.
• 7–10 (The Cluttered Cluster): Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Oregon, Alabama
  • With in-depth stat breakdowns and Sagarin/computer rankings (see next section).
  • “I deem the horrible loss...more than the non-quality wins from Oregon.” (Pollack, 22:49)
• 11–12: Georgia Tech, James Madison
• Controversies: Placement of Alabama (bad loss to FSU) and Oregon (few quality wins)—much debate.
  • "There isn’t a right answer...you could make the argument for Bama over OU, but I value the bad loss." (Pollack, 23:00–33:52)

5. Statistical & Analytical Nuggets

[36:10–48:57]

• Turnover Extremes: Michigan’s minus-5 turnover margin win—first such instance ever found; “that’s absolutely asinine.” (Pollack, 37:40)
• Quarterback Efficiency: Dante Moore (Oregon) completed 90% (27/30) with deep throws (39:00).
• Coaching ‘What Ifs’: Louisville as college football’s biggest “what-if” team after several close/fumbling losses (44:44).
• BYU’s Poise: Freshman QB Bear Bachmeyer—highest passing grade among true freshmen; BYU still needs to ‘win out’ and get help to make playoffs.

6. Playoff Locks, Scenarios, and Eliminators

[28:01–34:37]

• Confirmed Locks: Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia, Notre Dame, Big 12 and ACC champions, a Group of 5 representative.
• Georgia’s Security: Even with a Georgia Tech loss, “how you lose is the only way you’re out.” (Pollack, 29:58)
• Teams Eliminated:
  • Texas (“you got Molly whopped. You got destroyed. Absolutely not. Texas is gone for me.” (Pollack, 30:28)
  • South Florida, Duke (dropped from the playoff race due to recent losses; 32:01–32:42).

7. Listener/Viewer Interaction and Quick Hits

[34:37–51:04]

• Bama’s Path: If they win the Iron Bowl but don’t go to the SEC title game, they are still in—but “mulligan’s gone.”
• Rivalry Week Anxieties: “You know what happens when you go to Jordan-Hare? That’s when the wackiness...Kick Sixes. Weird things happen.” (Pollack, 35:08)
• Fun Notes: North Texas ranked for the first time since 1959 (Mean Green shoutout, 50:33); Carlos Boozer’s twins making waves at Duke basketball (36:28–36:40).

Notable Quotes

• On James Franklin at Virginia Tech:
  “If I'm Virginia Tech, man, I'm excited. You know, Penn State wanted to take the next step and beat the great teams...But James Franklin can get you to nine wins, can get you to eight wins, can get you to ten wins.”
  — David Pollack, [04:10]

• On Lane Kiffin’s Decision:
  “He just signed the contract extension. He'd be there. I love Lane. I know he's happy. But I think Lane is absolutely torn between, do I go and chase the next step? Which he's been to a lot of steps.”
  — David Pollack, [06:25]

• On Alabama’s 2025 Playoff Chances:
  “The albatross of the Florida State loss...It becomes more of a factor now when now you have two losses.”
  — Pollack, [34:19]

• On Adversity in College Football:
  “There’s something to be said for your team really, really getting challenged, getting pushed.”
  — David Pollack, [13:37]

• On the CFP Crunch:
  “It could get insane...It typically works itself out, but this is the hardest week.”
  — Co-host, [27:10; 28:01]

• On Michigan’s Historic Win:
  “The percentages just keep skyrocketing to the other side. The fact that they overcame five (turnovers), that’s just absolutely asinine.”
  — David Pollack, [37:23]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:22] – Coaching carousel opens; James Franklin to Virginia Tech
• [05:50] – Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss future
• [10:31] – Learning through adversity, examples from current and past seasons
• [16:57] – Weekly CFP Top 12 breakdown and reasoning
• [22:00–28:00] – Deep-dive debate over 5–10 ranking, Sagarin rankings
• [28:01] – Playoff locks, elimination talk (Texas, USF, Duke)
• [34:37] – Bama’s playoff scenarios, Iron Bowl, SEC race quirks
• [36:10] – Statistical deep-dives (turnover records, QB efficiency, “what-ifs”)
• [48:57] – Group of Five (BYU) playoff possibility, host banter
• [50:33] – Winners of the weekend: Oklahoma, ACC, North Texas

Memorable Moments

• Co-host’s playful self-labeling as a “James Franklin unfan” and “hater.” [08:01]
• “Confidence and cojones...That was the title of my post-game article.” [16:53] (Running joke between hosts.)
• Celebration of North Texas’ first top-25 football ranking since 1959. [50:33]
• Outlandish “eliminator” rationale: “Texas, you got Molly whopped...you gone.” [30:28]

Final Takeaways

• Excitement and Uncertainty: The playoff picture remains as fluid as ever, with multiple ten-win teams, wild hypothetical scenarios, and contentious debates over “bad losses” vs. “quality wins.”
• Coaching Moves Matter: The fates of entire programs can swing on high-profile coaching changes — and Lane Kiffin’s domino may reshape the entire landscape.
• Statistical Depth + Personality: The show excels at mixing advanced analytics with raw, honest football talk and inside jokes, keeping the analysis both deep and entertaining.

For Next Episode

• Expect more playoff scenario breakdowns, coaching carousel updates, and instant reactions to the coming weekend’s games, with the same unique blend of data and storytelling.

For more honest, detailed college football talk, follow David Pollack’s analysis on social media and join the weekly live shows!