Podcast Summary: See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: Is Auburn a Bad CFB Job? David Pollack's CFP 12 if it Started TODAY

Date: November 4, 2025
Host: David Pollack
Guests: Brent (PFF Analyst), Wesley (Co-host)

Main Theme

In this episode, David Pollack and guests deliver a candid discussion on two major college football topics:

1. Is Auburn a bad college football job? The panel analyzes Auburn’s recent struggles, external expectations, the unique pressures of the job, and whether it’s still elite compared to its peers.
2. What would the College Football Playoff (CFP) 12 look like if it started today? Pollack and team build their own playoff bracket, break down debates on bubble teams, and forecast the chaos of conference finishes.

The episode is packed with data-driven commentary, behind-the-scenes insight, and energetic banter.

Auburn: Still a Top Job or Overrated?

Auburn’s Recent Turmoil and National Reputation

• Recent Results & Coaching Carousel

  • Auburn ranks 12th in SEC winning percentage since 2015 (including Texas/Oklahoma).
  • “They've had five coaches now since 2020…” (03:06)
  • Currently 1-5 in SEC play; four losses by one score this year.
  • Hugh Freeze’s offensive turnaround has fallen short.
  • Quote: “Auburn's not been a good program...actually have a worse winning percentage than Kentucky in football.” — David Pollack (02:12)

• Expectations vs Reality

  • Media Critique: Joel Klatt summarized Auburn as, “the sister of the beauty queen. You ain't your sister.” (04:17)
  • Pollack expands: “They aren't even the best job in their own state. …I just don't think Auburn is a team that you just say, hey, yes, they're second fiddle to Alabama. Everybody's second fiddle to Alabama.” (06:13)

• Bright Spots: Tradition, Fan Base, and Resources

  • Played for two national titles (2010, 2013) in the past 15 years—an exclusive list.
  • “The fans are crazy, insane. They have a ton of talent there…” (06:37)
  • Facilities and resources described as “elite”.

The Auburn “Problem”: Boosters, Instability, and Rushed Expectations

• Pollack asserts dysfunction is largely due to influential boosters and lack of patience:
  • “There's a tendency in that building for certain people to have a lot of say. And those certain people aren't necessarily the people that you want to listen to.” (11:30)
  • “If I'm going to a place where those people are making football decisions…That's not a good recipe for success.” (11:50)
  • “Just because you're a big time booster doesn't mean that I need your input on football.” (12:20)

Is Auburn Still a Good Job in Today’s CFB?

• The recruiting game is now about money and infrastructure:
  • “This isn't like that anymore. Like, money talks. Like, recruiting is a direct reflection of do you have a gm? Are you running this like a business?” — Pollack (09:20)
• Brent adds: “Not only do you have to play Alabama every year…you gotta play Georgia too, who are two perennial powers…But you can win at that level with that program.” (10:27)
  • “Getting in the playoff is not necessarily a victory [for Auburn]. They can win the whole thing if they have the right coach…” (11:08)

Notable Quotes

• “They operate…not in line with the program that they are.”
• “If you talk to people that have been there [Auburn], boosters making football decisions…that's not a good recipe for success.” — David Pollack (11:50)

Timestamps

• Auburn segment begins: [01:53]
• Joel Klatt's comments and debate: [04:17]
• Booster and coaching discussion: [11:30]

12-Team College Football Playoff: “If It Started Today”

Pollack’s Initial Bracket and “Locks”

• Top spots debated between Ohio State and Indiana

  • Argument for Indiana: Dominant win over Illinois, best win on resume.
  • Ohio State: Offensive growth under pressure, strong out-of-conference win vs. Texas, resume bolstered as Texas keeps winning. (15:11)
  • “I went Ohio State one, I went Indiana two…First of all, it means nothing to be at one. It means absolutely nothing.” — Pollack (15:45)

• Other Top Teams

  • Texas A&M, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, BYU, Notre Dame, Oregon.
  • Bubble teams: OU, Texas, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, NC State.

Bubble Team Headaches, Conference Chaos, and as-You-Go Criteria

• “Splitting hairs” exercise: Notre Dame vs. Oregon for resume strength (22:10)
  • “If you don't talk about splitting hairs, it's really hard. It's hard to discuss these…” — Pollack (22:34)
• OU and Texas: Injuries and future schedule play a major role in projections.
• Discussion on how the new format makes certain teams more “live,” even with two losses, if they’re hot late.

Debate: Big Ten vs. The Field

• Who would win the playoff: Big Ten teams or the field?
  • “Big Ten. Not even close.” — Pollack (32:32)
  • Brent: “Anything that gives me Ohio State, I feel like Ohio State this year feels very much like 2022 Georgia…” (33:25)
  • Michigan considered a major spoiler—“Michigan fans are like, hold my beer.” (33:50)

Notable Quotes

• “Could you imagine how pissed everybody would be if Texas was in, if Oklahoma was in, if A&M was in, if Georgia was in, if Alabama was like...all SEC teams?” — Pollack (26:00)

Timestamps

• CFP Rankings talk: [15:11]
• Rankings and bubble cut line debates: [21:32 – 29:19]
• Big Ten vs. Field: [32:19 – 33:56]

Who’s Eliminated from the Playoff Race?

• Goodbye to Houston: “Houston, we have a problem. Bye bye.” — Pollack (34:41)
• Tennessee: Home losses and costly mistakes.
• Vanderbilt: Zero chance per co-host Wesley, but Brent won’t totally give up (“Vandy still has a non-zero chance.” 38:53)

Timestamps

• Elimination discussion starts: [34:41]

Data & Analytics: PFF Nuggets

Arch Manning’s Development at Texas

• Key QB shift: Less rushing, more conservative after concussion.
  • “First five games…average time to throw, 3.23 seconds…last four games, 2.6 seconds…they just let their guys, Jimmy's and Joe's, go win that game.” — Brent (40:35)
  • “I think the concussion absolutely helped Arch Manning.” — Pollack (41:36)

Ohio State’s Julian Sayin: An All-time Accuracy Season?

• “80.7 completion percentage…would be the best ever in college football.” — Brent (43:16)
• “With those receivers, man, like that one-two punch... It's so easy to play, man.” — Pollack (45:36)

Texas Tech’s Defensive Standouts

• Jacob Rodriguez: 7 forced fumbles, #2 in pass rush, #1 in sacks (47:41)
  • “That dude comes in with a Cobra Kai punch…” — Pollack (47:45)

Timestamps

• PFF analytics discussion: [39:12 – 52:42]

Game Previews and Matchups to Watch

• Oregon at Iowa: NFL scout’s dream, elite OL vs. DL matchups (48:49)
  • Visiting teams face legendary psychological warfare in Iowa’s pink locker room.
• Texas A&M at Missouri: Missouri with a new QB, A&M pass-rush as an equalizer—A&M called the team most likely to jump tiers if they handle their schedule.

Timestamps

• Game previews: [48:49 – 51:36]

Victory Formation: Who Won the Weekend?

• West Virginia: Finally gets a ranked win and beats Pitt, celebrated with fans singing “Eat Pitt” to the tune of “Sweet Caroline.” (54:15)
• SMU: Big win after committing to coach Rhett Lashley—“SMU hires or extends their coach, pays him the money and he flipping delivers…” — Pollack (55:41)
• Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Love: 94-yard TD run, found his coach to settle a bet mid-run—“Imagine being that fast…the rest of the world around you is so slow you can just take the time and look…” — Wesley (56:06)

Other Noteworthy Moments & Quotes

• Locker room horror stories—Vanderbilt's is “ungood.” (55:47)
• Pollack learning Google Docs and loving it: “It's fricking life changing…” (53:03)

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Auburn's status: “Auburn is not Alabama. They are in the state. Their second Phil, their little brother... that's factual.” — Pollack (05:17)
• On Big Ten dominance: “That means I get the two teams that have been the most dominant, consistent. And I get Oregon…I'm absolutely taking the Big Ten…” — Pollack (32:32)
• On the boosters' influence at Auburn: “Just because you're a big time booster doesn't mean…I need your input on football...” — Pollack (12:20)
• On college football's new realities: “This isn't like that anymore. Like, money talks…if you’re not running this like a business, you’re not in this game anymore.” — Pollack (09:20)
• On Texas A&M’s dream scenario: “Nothing would be sweeter…than to knock Texas out of the playoff…” — Pollack (52:27)

Episode Structure and Timestamps

• [01:53] Auburn’s Job Status Debate
• [15:11] College Football Playoff 12 Breakdown
• [34:41] Eliminated Teams Discussion
• [39:12] PFF Data and Analytics of Key QBs & Defenses
• [48:49] Game Previews (Oregon-Iowa, A&M-Mizzou)
• [53:56] Victory Formation and Weekend Winners

Final Thoughts

• The episode blends energetic debate, sharp analysis, and a love for CFB’s history and quirks.
• The panel lands that Auburn remains a high-potential job, but is hamstrung by impatience and booster interference in a new business-first college football landscape.
• On the field—Ohio State, Indiana, and the Big Ten rule the hosts’ playoff projections, with SEC chaos (and angry fans) lurking.
• Watch for midweek CFP reaction, plus a player feature with Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Love on the next episode.

For more, follow David Pollack on social and catch the Wednesday episode with Jeremiah Love.