Podcast Summary: See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode Title: If the CFP Started TODAY | SEC Schedule Reaction | Alabama-Georgia, Oregon-Penn State
Date: September 23, 2025
Host: David Pollack
Co-hosts/Contributors: Brent, Wesley B.

Overview

This episode dives deep into the ever-evolving college football landscape, focusing on the just-released SEC scheduling plans, a hypothetical look at the College Football Playoff (CFP) as if it started today, and in-depth analysis of the week’s marquee games: Alabama vs. Georgia and Oregon vs. Penn State. Pollack and the crew assess playoff contender status for dozens of teams, react with a mix of humor and substance to the latest headlines, and wrap up with their classic "Who Won the Weekend" segment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. SEC Permanent Opponents/Schedule Reaction

Timestamp: 03:29 – 13:05

• New SEC Permanent Rivalries:
  The crew reacts to Chris Lowe’s reported SEC crossover schedule for the next four years, emphasizing which rivalries were preserved and which fell by the wayside.
  • “Each team’s number one rival made the list. That’s my biggest takeaway. After that, somebody’s gonna get lucky. Tennessee dodges Georgia, but gets Kentucky and Vandy—winner, right there.” – Brent (07:16)
• Balance and Fairness (or Lack Thereof):
  There’s acknowledgement that not everyone will be happy given the league’s sheer size and the limits of scheduling.
  • “It’s impossible to keep everybody happy—zero percent chance.” – David Pollack (04:54)
• Notable Omissions:
  The panel laments the lack of LSU-Bama as a “permanent,” noting it’s one of the best rivalries.
  • “That hurts. Always a great game.” – Brent (07:59)
• Team Winners and Losers:
  Tennessee is considered the big scheduling winner; Auburn labeled “screwed” for having Georgia and Alabama locked in.
  • “We know this sucks because you’ve had two of the biggest teams… Alright, give ‘em Vandy.” – Pollack (09:00)
• SEC vs. Big Ten Power Shift:
  The growing power of the SEC and Big Ten is highlighted, hinting at future moves and possible further expansion (11:28).

2. Parity and Playoff Field: Who’s Alive?

Timestamp: 14:55 – 28:03

• Revisiting Preseason Playoff Picks:
  The group revisits preseason playoff projections, updating which teams are still realistic contenders one-third through the season.
  • “There are 37 teams with at least a 10% chance to make the playoff by PFF’s power ratings.” – Brent (17:47)
• Conference Breakdowns:
  • ACC:
    Clemson, Duke, Virginia Tech now eliminated. Miami, Louisville, Georgia Tech—still in, as is surprising Florida State (“We didn’t mention them as a playoff team, now they’re squarely in it.” - Pollack, 16:56).
  • Big 12:
    Kansas State, Utah crossed off. Kansas gains respect thanks to a more complete defense. BYU not yet on the panel’s list, consensus is they’ll lose before a key date (21:26).
  • Big Ten:
    Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska are considered borderline, with Nebraska the last “maybe.” The panel notes how tough it is to win out (22:36). Washington is added as a major threat.
• The SEC:
  Still “the best league” depthwise, but debate remains whether the top is as dominant as the Big Ten (25:28).
  • “At the top, is the SEC as good as the Big Ten? That’s what we’ll find out.” – Pollack (25:53)

3. If the CFP Started Today

Timestamp: 28:44 – 40:46

• Pollack’s Playoff Bracket Reveal:
  The host ranks the top 12 as-if the playoff began today, focusing on “resume”—scores, quality of wins, and who’s actually impressed.
  • “You start to realize how hard it is to do. Easy to critique, hard to rank.” – Pollack (28:46)
• Top 5 (Pollack’s Order):
  1. Miami – “Four and oh, an extra game, and took care of Florida and USF by 19+. That’s #1 for me.” (29:29)
  2. Ohio State – “Beat Texas, Grambling State was nothing, Ohio was actually competitive.” (29:51)
  3. Oklahoma – “Four and oh … wins at Michigan and Auburn, but both were at home.” (30:17)
  4. Florida State – “Slapped down Bama, 31-17, one of the best, most impressive wins in the country.” (33:08)
  5. Georgia – “The Tennessee win looks better now; the offense better than expected.” (33:53)
• Other Notables:
  LSU, Oregon, Penn State, and Indiana round out much of the rest. Memphis included as the required Group of Five team—though not as a true “top 12” on quality.
• The "12 Spot Drama":
  “People are gonna absolutely freaking love that … my favorite thing is who’s at 12 and who’s not.” – Pollack (03:10, 38:13)
• Brent’s Bracket Compares:
  Both he and Pollack have near-identical top 11 teams in different orders; debate over seeding focuses on resume versus talent (35:06).
• “This exercise is fun—we should do it again before the first playoff rankings drop.” – Brent (40:15)

4. Marquee Game Previews & X’s and O’s

a. LSU at Ole Miss

Timestamp: 41:14 – 47:44

• Off-Field Drama for On-Field Juice:
  Lane Kiffin’s daughter dating LSU’s Oconee County linebacker adds social media spice.
  • “You know there’s a million percent reason—did Lane tell her to do this so no one asks about his starting quarterback?” – Brent (42:23)
• Game Preview:
  Two coaches with over 100 FBS wins. LSU’s defense brought up as "kicking the crap out of everybody," but Lane Kiffin is as creative as ever.
• Ole Miss QB Debate:
  Trinidad vs. Austin Simmons
  • “Not debatable, it’s Trinidad. 307 yards passing, 112 rushing, moxie, savvy, not a big guy but calm and cool. Poise!” – Pollack (45:35)
  • Stats support Trinidad’s superiority in every metric “…except throwing interceptions—that goes to Simmons.” – Brent (47:20)
• Matchup Dynamics:
  LSU’s DB Monsoon Delane: “Don’t throw at him–four catches allowed on 18 targets!” (44:56)

b. Alabama vs. Georgia

Timestamp: 48:01 – 52:21

• Historic Trends:
  “Kirby Smart: 19 career losses, six are to Alabama. Four by seven points or less!” – Pollack (48:23)
  • Only two of those losses in the regular season (48:51).
• Matchup Focus:
  • Ty Simpson, Alabama QB, is “the hottest quarterback in college football right now.” – Brent (49:30)
  • Both teams' offensive weapons are highlighted, with a special question: "Which team can protect the QB best? Both have struggled there."
• Night Game Dynamic:
  Alabama’s road struggles vs. Georgia’s impeccable home record at night (“Haven’t lost a home night game since 2009!” – Brent, 50:14)
• Stat of the Week:
  “Last year, Alabama had 71% of their total yards vs. Georgia on first down—Georgia must fix that.” – Brent (51:13)

c. Oregon at Penn State (White Out)

Timestamp: 52:21 – 55:38

• Atmosphere:
  “You get one white out per year—this is it.”
• Oregon’s Regular Season Dominance Tested:
  • “The Ducks have owned this league in the regular season … going to Penn State with experience at all the right spots.” – Pollack (53:09)
  • If Oregon wins, “Are we gonna be saying, holy cow, look at what Dan Lanning just did?” – Pollack (53:56)
• Penn State’s Defensive Lineage:
  New star pass rusher discussed with historical comparison (“Penn State always finds these freaks: Carter, Chop Robinson, Micah Parsons…” – Pollack, 54:57)

5. Who Won the Weekend?

Timestamp: 55:38 – 58:47

• Miami “Wins the Locker Room”:
  The Canes celebrated their win by eating gator in the locker room after beating Florida.

  • “Y’all want some gator? Man eating gator… I love that.” – Wesley B. (56:35)

• Texas Tech/Cody Campbell “Return on Investment”:
  Pollack and Brent highlight Texas Tech’s D-line, almost entirely bought from the transfer portal, dominating a top O-line.

  • “You know you spent all that money and it comes through—that just makes it sweeter.” – Brent (57:51)

• Memphis “Walking in Memphis”:

  • Group of Five focus shifts to Memphis after Tulane’s stumble; UNLV also gets a mention for survivor status. (58:03)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On CFP Parity:
  “This is definitely a year where there’s a bunch of really good teams again and I don’t know who’s going to win it.” – Pollack (11:48)
• On Scheduling Pain:
  “Auburn screwed…so here’s what we’re gonna do—give them Vandy as a permanent to try to balance that out!” – Pollack (09:00)
• On Vandy's Playoff Odds:
  “Current playoff odds: Vanderbilt 27%. Oklahoma 24%. No—it’s not just math! In the end, it’s human beings voting, not computers—and thank goodness!” – Pollack (26:12)
• On Ranking the Playoff:
  “Easy to critique, hard to rank.” – Pollack (28:46)
• Ole Miss QB Debate:
  “Any stat you can think of, Simmons is better at only one — throwing to the other team.” – Brent (47:20)
• On Georgia’s Bama problem:
  “Georgia’s allowed a lot of points to Alabama ... Georgia has a Bama problem.” – Pollack (49:35)
• On Oregon at Penn State:
  “The Ducks, they’ve been walking around the league with their chin out ... If they go into Beaver Stadium and win, that’s as impressive as it gets.” – Pollack (53:09)

Important Timestamps

• SEC Crossover Schedule Reaction: 03:29 – 13:05
• Playoff Contender Updates (by Conference): 14:55 – 28:03
• CFP Bracket Reveal/Analysis: 28:44 – 40:46
• LSU at Ole Miss Preview: 41:14 – 47:44
• Bama-Georgia Preview: 48:01 – 52:21
• Oregon at Penn State Preview: 52:21 – 55:38
• Who Won the Weekend: 55:38 – 58:47

Tone & Style

Throughout the episode, the tone is conversational, good-humored, and occasionally irreverent, with Pollack’s deep football insight and competitive spirit front and center. The chemistry between the hosts invites spontaneous banter while still staying rooted in analysis, always prioritizing the football conversation over fluff.

Summary: This episode is a must-listen for college football fans seeking a blend of fan passion and analytical depth. Pollack and company offer engaging breakdowns of playoff math, scheduling politics, and “game within the game” strategy for Week 5’s most anticipated matchups, all while keeping it real with shout-outs, scoreboard humor, and a genuine love for the sport.