See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: Oregon-Indiana CFP INSTANT REACTION: Ducks vs. Hoosiers in CFB Playoff Semifinal

Date: January 10, 2026
Host: David Pollack
Guest Analyst: Brent Rollins

Episode Overview

This special live episode features immediate halftime and postgame reactions to the Oregon vs. Indiana College Football Playoff semifinal game (Peach Bowl). David Pollack and Brent Rollins analyze Indiana's resounding performance, Oregon's mistakes, and the implications for both the national title matchup and broader college football trends. The duo delivers forthright football analysis, breaks down standout player performances, debates program-building strategies, and dives into the future of targeting penalties.

Main Discussion Points & Key Insights

1. Indiana’s Domination: A Program-Defining Statement

Indiana’s Play Style & Execution

• Indiana entered as an underdog by brand, not by performance. Pollack stresses: “If you take the logo off...that team’s really good. That team’s physical. Indiana consistently doesn't make mistakes. Number one in the country in turnover margin.” (02:09)
• Indiana jumped on Oregon with an 11-second pick-six, immediately setting the tone.
• Praise for Indiana’s discipline: “Death by a thousand cuts...just pure great execution.” (04:16)

Mendoza’s Influence

• QB Fernando Mendoza called the "dude" and “culture setter”—his leadership and selflessness galvanize the team.
• SEC coaches had Mendoza as the transfer portal’s #1 QB.
• “It’s more about Mendoza than it is...Indiana took a leap because of Fernando Mendoza.” (06:50)
• At halftime: “He’s 12 of 13 for 138 yards and three touchdowns. And they are driving again.” (08:55)
• Mendoza’s red zone stats: “32 touchdowns, zero interceptions.” (15:29)

Receiving Corps Praise

• Surratt receives a “Mike Evans” comp for his size and hands on contested catches.
• Cooper and Becker round out a complete WR group. “That emergence, that three-headed monster receiver. That’s...one of the things that’s just so hard to deal with.” (13:01)

2. Oregon’s Collapse: Turnovers and Roster Turmoil

• Oregon’s Dante Moore threw a pick-six on the first play and had two critical fumbles—mistakes Indiana never made.
• Halftime stats “almost identical,” but Oregon's errors made the difference. “Oregon making mistakes time after time after time and Indiana not making mistakes.” (09:03)
• Roster attrition: Oregon missing several key running backs due to injury/transfer portal.
  • Pollack praises Jay Harris (#22), who played despite being in the portal. “I respect the piss out of that young man.” (12:09)
• Speculation that coaching staff departures and the transfer portal have damaged cohesion: “It just completely crumbled on him after the mistakes early.” (11:46)

3. Coaching, Transfer Portal, and the Indiana Blueprint

• Debate about Kurt Signetti: “He hasn’t rediscovered football...His DC is a dude.” (05:52)
• The portal and billionaire boosters (Mark Cuban mentioned) credited as accelerants, but Pollack insists “it’s more about Mendoza.”
• Transfer portal and older rosters (COVID eligibility hangover) are giving teams like Indiana a unique advantage. (24:20)
• “I think people always copy styles and copy success...You seem to find in the portal a lot of guys with high star efficiency...or a guy that’s played a ton of ball, a ton of experience...they outperform their athletic ability.” (25:01)

4. National Championship & Broader College Football Trends

• Next up: Indiana vs. Miami in Miami for the title. Both analysts project a huge Indiana fan advantage due to their massive alumni base. “Indiana has the biggest alumni in the history of...in the world. Their living alumni is literally the largest.” (22:50)
• Ticket prices are sky-high, sparking a brief tangent on ticket apps and market demand.
• On conference strength: The Big Ten’s recent diversity of national title contenders shifts the debate from just “SEC vs. Big Ten” to coaching quality across both leagues.
  • “A lot of this conference debate to me is more of a coach debate...where are the best coaches?” (27:10)

5. Quarterbacks: Moore vs. Mendoza

• NFL Draft angle: Both Mendoza and Moore are viewed as future 1-2 picks. After this game, Pollack: “Is there any way that scouts are looking at that and going, I think I’ll take Moore? The answer is no.” (18:56)
• Moore’s development arc discussed; suggestions he should return to Oregon for another year to refine his pocket awareness. (18:58)
• Mendoza’s underrated athleticism flagged as a trait to watch at the NFL Combine. (19:27)

6. Targeting Rule Rant & Fine System Proposal

• Pollack launches into a passionate criticism of NCAA’s targeting rule, suggesting financial fines rather than ejections.
• “If you don’t want to do the targeting 1, targeting 2, replay, fine the freaking kids. Take their money. You want to change things, you take people’s money. Like, that’s the fairest way to do it.” (31:03)
• Entertaining exchange about the subjectivity of targeting calls; “If it’s your team, it’s not targeting. If it’s the other team, it’s targeting.” (33:12)
• Desire for more NFL-style review and appeals, lighter on in-game penalties.

Memorable Quotes

• On Indiana’s Actual Identity:
  “If you take the logo off...that team’s really good. That team’s physical. Indiana consistently doesn't make mistakes.” — Pollack (02:09)
• On Mendoza being special:
  “It’s more about Mendoza than it is...Indiana took a leap because of Fernando Mendoza.” — Pollack (06:50) “He can do it all, man. And there’s a reason he’s going to be, obviously, you know, a top pick in the draft.” — Pollack (07:26)
• On Oregon’s collapse:
  “Oregon making mistakes time after time after time, and Indiana not making mistakes.” — Pollack (09:03)
• On Portal and Money in College Football:
  “Mark Cuban coming to the table and being a booster...when you’re a billionaire, Cody Campbell esque.” — Pollack (06:18)
• On Targeting Fines vs Ejections:
  “Fine the freaking kids. Take their money. You want to change things, you take people’s money...that’s the fairest way.” — Pollack (31:03)
• On Indiana’s Alumni:
  “Indiana has the biggest alumni in the history of...in the world. Their living alumni is literally the largest.” — Pollack (22:50)

Key Timestamps

• 01:53 – Halftime show begins, context set for Indiana’s fast start and Oregon’s errors.
• 03:15 – Dante Moore’s troubles and Indiana’s resilience analyzed.
• 04:16 – “Death by a thousand cuts,” Indiana’s low-mistake game explained.
• 05:41 – Surratt compared to Mike Evans.
• 06:43 – Portal, coaching, and team culture discussion.
• 08:55 – Live update: Mendoza’s impressive halftime stat line.
• 09:03 – Turnover breakdown, Oregon’s miscues detailed.
• 12:09 – Oregon’s thinned RB room and Jay Harris mention.
• 13:01 – Praise for Indiana’s emerging receiver group.
• 15:29 – Mendoza’s red zone stats highlighted.
• 17:08 – Indiana’s defensive depth and surprise contributors praised.
• 18:56 – Mendoza vs. Moore as NFL QB prospects debate.
• 27:10 – Conference strength reframed as a “coaching debate.”
• 31:03 – Pollack’s passionate targeting rule/fines solution.
• 34:28 – Final remarks; Indiana-Miami National Championship previewed.

Tone and Style

The episode is candid, energetic, and at times irreverent—Pollack combines deep technical football knowledge with his signature directness and humor. Both hosts maintain an informal, conversational atmosphere, mixing hard-nosed critique, praise, and the occasional rant.

Summary Takeaway

David Pollack and Brent Rollins deliver a fast-moving, insight-rich breakdown of Indiana’s unexpected but emphatic run to the national title game, emphasizing the synergy of coaching, leadership, roster construction, and mistake-free football. Oregon’s season unravels due to turnovers, transfer losses, and coaching changes. The conversation ranges widely—NFL draft implications, the transfer portal era, conference strength, and even policy proposals for targeting rules—anchored throughout by respect for Indiana’s culture and execution and skepticism about over-crediting brand names. The show closes with a lively, forward-looking tone as Indiana’s Cinderella story sets up a unique national championship clash.