"Georgia-Tennessee, Clemson-Georgia Tech, Texas A&M-Notre Dame & MORE | College Football Week 3 Reactions"

See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack
Date: September 14, 2025
Host: David Pollack
Main Theme:
In this packed episode, David Pollack delivers sharp, authentic insights into a wild and revealing College Football Week 3. The discussion unfurls across pivotal games, shifting conference power dynamics, breakout performances, and major upsets. Through candid banter, in-depth analysis of X’s and O’s, and memorable moments, Pollack traces how week-to-week unpredictability is shaping college football’s hierarchy for the 2025 season.

Episode Overview

• Focus:
  • Dissection of Georgia-Tennessee, Clemson-Georgia Tech, Texas A&M-Notre Dame, and other key matchups.
  • Assessing quarterback play, coaching decisions, and conference races.
  • Big-picture takeaways: resume rankings, playoff prognosis, and overlooked programs.
  • Honest appraisals and lively banter, capturing the chaotic and competitive spirit of the season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. LSU Survives Florida in a Messy SEC Affair (01:31, 05:33)

• LSU hangs on in a sloppily played game despite missing both starting linebackers. Florida’s DJ Lagway impresses with flashes of brilliance but is undone by inconsistency, including five interceptions.
• Notable Quote:
  • “DJ Lagway, five interceptions, hit the nickel. Yes. And I wish I could say he throws some balls, Brent, that I, that I say, that's really good. Like, really good. But... he also throws three or four, you know, a game that I said, what the heck is he doing?” (02:57, David)
• Florida’s dominant yardage and time of possession were undone by turnovers and missed opportunities. Pollack ponders Napier’s play calling and Florida’s inability to finish games.
• Humor:
  • “Lagway stares down wide receivers more than... college guys still stare down sorority girls.” (03:41, Brent)

2. Vanderbilt’s “Death by a Thousand Cuts” Offense Shines (05:55 — 09:01)

• Pollack lauds Vanderbilt’s methodical offense and improved defense in their win over South Carolina. QB Pavia’s improvisational style and the addition of WR Richardson add explosiveness.
• “Pavia buying time and rolling and throwing... You just want to slap him. Like, from a defensive perspective, I’m like, bro, you’re annoying as piss. Like. And then they get another first down.” (06:21, David)
• On Vanderbilt's physicality and shifting reputation: They deserve to be ranked; their offensive wrinkles keep improving.
• Notable Stat: Time of possession disparity — almost 40 minutes to 20 (04:17).

3. Ole Miss’ QB Situation: Was Austin Simmons ‘Wally Pipped’? (11:20)

• Trinidad Shambliss, a D2 transfer, excels at Ole Miss: “21 of 29, 353 [yards], touchdown, and then two [touchdowns], 62 yards running.” (11:44, Brent)
• Arkansas’ defense called out as “fool’s gold,” unable to stop even average offenses. Lane Kiffin’s offensive adaptability lauded.
• “He can coach up whoever's there on the offensive side of the football. Like, he's just so good.” (12:07, David)

4. Notre Dame-Texas A&M: Statement Win, Quarterback Questions (14:09 — 15:57, 38:11–39:56)

• In a tense finish, Texas A&M stages a late comeback victory. Marcel Reed, settling in at QB, gets high praise for poise and ability to repeatedly answer Notre Dame’s scores. (38:11)
• Climax:
  • “Kept answering, kept answering, kept answering because Notre Dame consistently aggressive, stay aggressive all throughout the game. That was probably the most impressive thing watching the game.” (40:04, Brent)
• CJ Carr (Notre Dame) criticized for costly mistakes in high-leverage moments.
• A&M’s win boosts their playoff hopes in a muddled SEC.

5. Miami’s Case as College Football’s Best Resume (18:22 — 20:03)

• Miami, after dominant wins over USF and Notre Dame, are crowned as having the nation’s best resume to date.
• “The Canes looked extremely dominant in spurts against Notre Dame... They, today was another day, new receivers involved. It's okay. Like it didn't matter.” (19:04, David)
• Remaining skepticism about Cristobal’s history in big moments is countered by Carson Beck’s “risk-averse” leadership at QB.

6. Clemson’s Regression: Upset by Georgia Tech (22:00 — 27:26)

• Clemson’s decline, marked by disjointed play, turnovers, and missed opportunities, is dissected.

• “It’s been a regression. It’s been a backwards... he's been going down the escalator the wrong direction.” (23:08, David, on Cade Klubnik)

• Georgia Tech’s Haynes King is highlighted as a dynamic, underrated playmaker who can keep teams in games.

• Discussion on transparent officiating: The ACC audio feed of referee reviews is praised as a positive for fan engagement.

  • “The more transparency we have in the football game... I would love to hear some of that. What's that conversation sound like? That would be exactly. Really, really cool.” (28:27, David)

7. Georgia–Tennessee: Comeback Classic (31:42 — 37:34)

• Summary: Georgia overcomes an early 21–7 deficit at Tennessee behind Gunner Stockton’s poised QB play and a resurgent run game.
• Notable Moments:
  • “Gunner said, hold my beer. Like he absolutely was... on. He was incredible.” (33:16, David)
  • “13 of the 14 plays of an eight minute drive to start were runs. And I'm like, I remember that team. That's the team that won national championships. That's the team that said, I'm going to line up and punch you right between the eyeballs.” (34:35, David)
• Tennessee’s stunning start fizzles; special teams woes doom them in OT. Depth and resilience are key storylines.

8. SEC & Playoff Contenders: Uncertainty and Parity (40:36 — 43:15, 55:22—59:56)

• The “who is the SEC’s best team?” conversation is as open as ever.
  • “That's a million dollar question right now because I think. I don't know that it's— I couldn't point to anyone.” (40:59, Brent)
• Oklahoma, Missouri, LSU, A&M, and Georgia all thrown around as possible favorites — but nobody stands out.
• On Oklahoma:
  • “That's called a grown up win. That's an adult win and they've got an adult quarterback that I know exactly what I'm going to get every week from. And it's not good. It's fricking great. Like he is that dude.” (41:31, David)

9. Alabama, Texas, and Conference Landscape (44:06 – 49:49)

• Texas’ offense and Quinn Ewers’ health/fit continue to worry.
• Alabama, left for dead after week one, now show signs of improvement with Ty Simpson’s stabilized QB play and star freshmen emerging.
• “I'm not ready to bury Bama yet. Like, a lot of the people are. When they show you some hustle tapes, when I can show you that from every single team.” (48:46, David)

10. Big 12, Big Ten, and Surprises Across the Country (50:43 — 56:18)

• Oregon and freshman QB Dante Moore draw comparisons to CJ Stroud.
• Utah, Texas Tech, and Houston get shoutouts for turnaround stories.
• Big Ten expected to come down to Penn State, Michigan, Oregon; upcoming matchups will clarify pecking order.
• Arizona and Houston's surprise starts discussed.

Quick Hits & Memorable Quotes

• On the parity in the sport:
  • “The talent gap is not big with anybody anymore, bro. Like, it's just not.” (37:30, David)
• On transparency in officiating:
  • “The ACC is the first one to let you do it. So maybe... it leads itself to other, other folks allowing it to happen as well. But I thought it was pretty, I thought it was pretty cool. I don't want to hear for a whole game though.” (28:40, David)
• On Texas' offense:
  • “How can you not be? Just looks odd... Like, you know what I'm saying?” (44:06, David)
• On Haynes King (Georgia Tech):
  • “He's my favorite player in college football right now. I mean, I just love the way...” (25:04, David)

Playoff & Conference Predictions (55:22 — 57:18)

• Big 12: Still bullish on preseason picks (e.g., Arizona State, Baylor/UH), but open to adjustments.
• ACC: Miami and Florida State as projected title game participants.
• SEC: With no clear favorite, Oklahoma and Missouri/LSU deemed most likely for Atlanta.
• Big Ten: Three-headed race — Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon. Major games looming to settle order.

Closing Thoughts

• Winners of the week: Texas A&M and Georgia Tech, for resilient performances in hostile environments (58:05).
• Season outlook: Expect further chaos — ten teams could finish 8–4. Every week is a new opportunity and a new crisis.
• On Tennessee: “Impressed with Tennessee's defensive front seven... Aguilar showing you some stuff, man. He's showing you that they won the trade.” (60:32, David)

Useful Timestamps

• 01:31 — Opening SEC chaos: LSU-Florida breakdown
• 05:55 — Vanderbilt’s rise and South Carolina’s struggles
• 11:20 — Ole Miss QB shuffle and Arkansas’ defensive collapse
• 14:09 & 38:11 — Notre Dame-A&M: Reed’s heroics and Carr’s stumbles
• 18:22 — Miami’s case for No. 1
• 22:00 — Clemson upended by Georgia Tech; ACC officiating
• 31:42 — Georgia-Tennessee thriller dissected
• 40:36 — The murky SEC title chase
• 44:06 — Bama, Texas, and shifting elite tiers
• 50:43 — Big 12/Big Ten/turnarounds nationwide
• 55:22 — Championship predictions update

Tone & Style

• Full of candid, playful banter and deep football knowledge.
• Pollack’s delivery: Honest, passionate, sometimes irreverent — never sugarcoats mistakes but always gives credit when due.
• Constructive criticism of coaching and player performances with a player’s-eye view on X’s and O’s and locker room sentiment.

Summary Takeaway:
Week 3’s madness hasn’t clarified the national title picture but has made clear that college football’s power is distributed, up-for-grabs, and as unpredictable as ever. The only certainty — more chaos, wild comebacks, and unlikely contenders lie ahead in 2025.