See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: Ole Miss-Georgia INSTANT REACTION | CFP Quarterfinals Recap | CFP Semifinals Look-Ahead

Date: January 2, 2026
Host: David Pollack (Brent), with Co-host/Analyst

Episode Overview

This episode delivers an immediate, passionate breakdown of the wild College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals, with a primary focus on the dramatic Ole Miss-Georgia showdown, as well as in-depth reaction to Alabama-Indiana and Oregon-Texas Tech. David Pollack and his co-host offer their signature blunt analysis, dissect the crucial in-game moments, and set up the storylines and matchups ahead for the semifinals. The tone is energetic, deeply knowledgeable, and loaded with football nuance—including X’s and O’s, program trajectory, and what defines elite coaching and quarterback play at this stage of the season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ole Miss vs Georgia: CFP Quarterfinal Epic

[00:48–20:58]

Game Tempo & Emotion

• Brent (Pollack) opens by calling the matchup a "roller coaster" and "absolutely stupid, nuts, insane," noting the shift from a high-octane first meeting to a second game full of defensive grit, upsets, and late-game drama.
• Early on, both teams traded punts and field goals, but the pace, physicality, and stakes quickly escalated.

"Holy freaking cow. What a roller coaster. Georgia Ole Miss round two. The first one was nuts ... This one started with some punts and some field goals ... But man, Ole Miss, what an unbelievable job of hanging in the football game." (Brent, [00:48])

Ole Miss Resilience & Coaching

• Major praise for Ole Miss DC-turned-head coach Pete Golding: held the team together post-Lane Kiffin, delivered a masterful defensive game plan.
• Ole Miss kept balance with just enough run game (Lacy) and created adversity for Georgia through tipped passes, deflections, and interior pressure.
• Teams and fans should be "jacked up" for the way Golding managed clock and situational football.

"Pete Golding, hottie Toddy, you should be jacked up because he looks like a coach that's ready for this. And he talked about he didn't want the job, he didn't want to be the head coach. But stepping in, pushing the right buttons, motivating the guys." (Brent, [15:18])

Trinidad Chambliss: Ascendance

• Chambliss (Ole Miss QB) called “the best player on the field” and compared to an NBA Jam player “on fire”—makes crucial plays, avoids sacks, and delivers a historic performance in clutch moments, including a 13-completion streak in the second half.
• His journey: last year’s D2 championship QB, now leading Ole Miss to the CFP Final Four after starting the season as a backup.

"The dude was the best player on the field ... last year he was playing for a national championship as well. But it was Division 2. Never ... an afterthought of being the, the starting quarterback for Ole Miss. And now Ole Miss is going to the Final Four because of that dude's unbelievable playmaking." (Brent, [01:58])

Critical Game Management

• Discussion of clock management, timeouts, and fourth-down decisions late—including Kirby Smart’s controversial moves and a crucial Georgia pass play that left too much time for Ole Miss.
• Brent and co-host both argue Georgia should have kept the clock running and the ball on the ground with no timeouts left for Ole Miss.

"At worst you run the clock down. You can't lose the game at work. You're going to overtime." (Brent, [08:14])

Standout Players & Adjustments

• Praise for Harrison Wallace (Ole Miss WR, 9 catches, 156 yards, TD) and Georgia’s Gunner Stockton, though Georgia ultimately struggled to adapt defensively in the second half.
• Ole Miss’ interior DL (Eccles & Harris) dominated and changed the game.

2. Alabama vs Indiana: A Program Statement

[21:02–32:40]

Indiana’s Physical Dominance

• Indiana is described as “the most well coached team in the country”; made Alabama look “foolish,” consistently keeping them off-schedule and dominating in the trenches.
• Bama, by contrast, appeared “soft” and completely lost their physically imposing identity.

"They made Alabama look foolish. They made it look foolish today." (Brent, [24:16])

• Indiana’s run game and schemes described as “death by a thousand paper cuts,” with playmakers like Becker and Cooper exceling.

Bama's Offensive Struggles

• Historic futility running the football (23 yards vs. Indiana, lowest since before 1980); repeated failures in short yardage summarized by the hosts: "Fourth down, in short. It's a gimmick. It's a trick for Alabama. That's what it is."
• The new backup QB showed promise, but the game was already out of hand.

Program & Coaching Turnarounds

• Indiana coach Kirk Signetti’s meteoric rise: took College Football’s “losingest program,” built a winner with largely JMU transfers, not a blue-chip roster.
• Both Indiana's coordinators deserve massive head coaching buzz.

"It's the most impressive thing I've ever seen in college football." (Brent, [30:09])

3. Oregon vs Texas Tech: Defense Wins

[36:33–46:16]

Defensive Showcase

• Oregon’s defense gets overlooked nationally but made a statement, led by freshman Brandon Finney Jr. (3 takeaways).
• Texas Tech’s defense also held up well despite being overworked due to the offense’s futility.

"It was almost like Oregon's defense was like, all right, y' all talked about A. And y' all talked about Texas Tech the whole time. Like, just don't forget we're over here. And they were pretty good." (Brent, [41:29])

Critique of Texas Tech’s Gameplan

• Both hosts frustrated by Tech's tempo play-calling, which gassed their own defense and failed to adjust against Oregon’s toughness.
• Jokes about "running the Bourbon Bowl offense"—just kneel and let your defense rest.

Oregon's Playcalling Aggressiveness

• Dan Lanning’s boldness on fourth down: Some calls were “reckless”, some “brilliant”—required reading the game flow, not just relying on analytics.

Key Moments

• A pivotal defensive score by Oregon (Pollack-esque INT return) shifted all momentum, breaking Tech’s last chance.

"That was the straw that broke the camel's back ... mathematically eliminated ... because of their lack of offense." (Brent, [42:28])

4. Looking Ahead: CFP Semifinals & Tournament Takeaways

[46:16–54:38]

Miami-Ole Miss Semifinal

• Contrasting styles: Ole Miss as "Mayweather" (elusive, tempo, perimeter passing) vs. Miami as "Mike Tyson" (power running, body blows).
• Trent Chambliss’ escapability vs. Miami’s aggressive defense a key matchup.

"But spitting the ball in the perimeter like that. And then Mike Tyson steps in the ring for Miami ... swinging with uppercuts ... Two totally different types of styles, both very, very successful." (Brent, [49:22])

Indiana-Oregon Rematch

• "Hard to beat a good team twice"—Oregon aims for revenge after Big Ten title loss to Indiana.
• Emphasis on coaching adjustments and understanding opponent tendencies in a high-stakes rematch.

Playoff Parity & Quarterback Talent

• For two years of the 12-team playoff, eight different semifinalists—hosts agree "maybe this is what they wanted."
• Both believe the final four features the “best quarterbacks in the tournament,” though debate ensues about who's best.

Program Trajectories

• Texas Tech, despite losing, has a bright future and is here to stay.
• Alabama's physical drop-off and the need for program soul-searching is not just a "blip."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trinidad Chambliss:

  "The dude was the best player on the field ... 13 for 13 at one stretch in the second half ... the story is amazing ... now Ole Miss is going to the Final Four because of that dude's unbelievable playmaking." (Brent, [01:58])

• On Indiana:

  "Indiana, they're the most well coached team in the country. Like, everything you see has purpose. Every offensive play has purpose." (Brent, [24:16])

• On Bama’s Struggles:

  "Bama hadn't had a rushing season this bad since before 1980." (Brent, [26:49])

• On Coaching Impact in Indiana:

  "That's a coach that's taught them what it looks like every single day ... that's why those players talk like the coaches." (Brent, [30:47])

• On Ole Miss’ Defensive Line:

  "Those two big boys on the inside, 52 and 51 ... man, if you didn’t watch them in this game, they can wreck." (Brent, [15:56])

• On Oregon’s Defensive Statement:

  "It was almost like Oregon's defense was like, alright, y’ all talked about A. And y’ all talked about Texas Tech the whole time. Like, just don't forget we're over here." (Brent, [41:29])

• On Miami vs Ole Miss:

  "Ole Miss wants to do body blows and they're Floyd Money Mayweather ... Miami ... Mike Tyson steps in the ring ... uppercuts and trying to hammer you." (Brent, [49:14])

Important Segment Timestamps

• Ole Miss-Georgia Game Start & Breakdown: [00:48–10:05]
• Chambliss Player Spotlight: [01:58], [03:00], [52:16]
• Clock Management & Decision-Making: [07:30–08:29]
• Critical Fourth Down Trickeration: [17:08–18:45]
• Indiana vs Alabama Recap: [21:02–32:40]
• Signetti & Indiana Coaching Discussion: [30:09–32:01]
• Oregon vs Texas Tech Defensive Dominance: [36:33–46:16]
• Looking Ahead: Semifinal Matchups: [46:16–54:38]

Flow, Energy & Tone

• The hosts are highly animated, weaving technical football analysis with personal anecdotes and banter.
• Takes are unfiltered, sometimes self-deprecating ("you're an idiot"), and always focused on what makes or breaks winning programs.
• Repeated emphasis on coaching, culture, and quarterback play as the differentiators in this season’s unique, parity-filled playoff environment.

Takeaways

• Ole Miss, Indiana, Oregon, and Miami have muscled past blue bloods through elite coaching, QB play, and game management.
• Resilience, second-chance stories (see: Chambliss), and strategic in-game moves proved definitive in the quarterfinal round.
• The semifinals are shaped as both stylistic clashes and deeply personal coaching chess matches—setting up a compelling conclusion to one of the most unpredictable College Football Playoff tournaments yet.

For fans seeking a comprehensive, inside-out look at the College Football Playoff’s wildest round yet—and a preview of what’s next—this episode exemplifies why See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack is essential CFB listening.