The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk

Episode: "College Football Playoff brackets: Indiana dominance, SEC fears, 9-3 chaos, Big 12 uncertainty"
Date: September 23, 2025
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis

Brief Overview

This week, Doug and Bill dive into the ever-shifting College Football Playoff (CFP) picture: emerging chaos points in the SEC, the Big Ten’s round-robin gauntlet, the surprising dominance of Indiana, and the wild uncertainty running through the Big 12. The hosts share big-picture angst and analysis, blend in fan frustrations over Southern CFB bias, and openly debate how the new playoff format might reward (or punish) deserving teams. Throughout, Indiana’s improbable national prominence, SEC playoff math, and the shifting power structure in college football take center stage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Playoff Angst, SEC Overload & Algorithmic Woes

01:00 – 07:48

• Doug confesses to early worries about a chaotic playoff bracket, especially with many nine- and three-loss SEC teams projected to make it in (based on The Athletic's predictive metrics).
  • Quote: "I'm already starting to dread the 9-and-3 end-of-year logjam that's gonna wind up with seven SEC teams making the playoff field." — Doug, 01:24
• Bill tries to calm Doug, reminding him it’s still September, but notes the Big Ten’s playoff hopes hinge on the round robin between Penn State, Oregon, and Indiana.
• Doug rails against the algorithm-heavy approach: "I just don't want to live in the algorithm world where the algorithm thinks...seven SEC teams." (04:10)
• They agree the SEC’s reputation often sways perception, regardless of whether the on-field product matches the hype.

2. The Big Ten Round Robin: Perceptions, Problems & Indiana’s Rise

07:48 – 13:58

• The critical upcoming games: Oregon vs. Penn State and the start of Big Ten heavyweights facing off, set to re-shape playoff narratives.
• Bill raises flags about Indiana’s respect nationally, especially when compared to bluebloods like Georgia. Even at 10-2, would Indiana be given their due if their only losses were on the road to top contenders?
  • Quote: "Why should we fear the 10 and 2 Indiana being left out as opposed to, man, 10 and 2 Indiana...they're awesome." — Doug, 12:00
• Bill points to the still-shifting perception: "It takes a lot to flip the perception of the entire sport...it's going to take a lot more, including...you have to win at Iowa." (12:21)
• They muse on Indiana coach Kirk Signetti's approach and how the perception of Indiana is still catching up to their actual on-field growth.

3. Rethinking Pre-Season Narratives (Illinois, Indiana, & More)

13:58 – 17:29

• Doug reflects on why he picked Illinois over Indiana in the preseason, realizing postmortem that he clung too hard to potential rather than reality—especially as Indiana proved itself far more consistent and complete.
  • Memorable Self-Dig: "I'm not gonna believe in Texas Tech's ability to get through a 12-game season...until I see it. So I'm not gonna get on that bandwagon." — Doug, 33:00
• Bill admits they both ignored glaring weaknesses: "The offensive line thing for Illinois was staring us right in the face, and we just willingly ignored it..."
• They agree Indiana is not just maintaining, but improving—especially on the offensive line—making them more dangerous than their upstart label suggests.

4. Playoff Odds & Big Ten’s Second Tier

18:26 – 23:58

• Doug lists current DraftKings playoff odds:
  • Ohio State: -8800
  • Oregon: -425
  • Penn State: -300
• The next tier: Indiana (+170), USC (+225), Michigan (+370), Washington (+500).
• Bill is bullish the Big Ten will produce a strong fourth playoff contender, with enough separation between top and bottom to avoid too much cannibalism.
• They weigh Michigan’s schedule and wonder if a 10-2 Michigan team (with a loss only at Oklahoma) would be given more benefit of the doubt than Indiana…because of the helmet.
  • Quote: “Michigan will probably get more of a benefit of a doubt than Indiana would in that scenario just because of its helmet, even if their resumes were similar.” — Bill, 23:58

5. Playoff Bracket Picks & Big 12 Turmoil

26:46 – 41:23

• Bill’s top 4: Ohio State, Miami, Georgia, Oregon. Top 12 features Texas Tech, Penn State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Indiana, and South Florida as the G5 rep.
  • Shoutout: Bud Elliott’s playoff picks did not include any SEC team in the top 4. (27:08)
• Doug’s Playoff Bracket: The top six (OSU, Miami, Texas, Oregon, Penn State, Georgia), with TCU, A&M, Indiana, Georgia Tech, Missouri, and South Florida filling out the 12.
• Extended discussion of the American Athletic Conference race for the G5 playoff spot: Tulane, Memphis, North Texas, Navy, and South Florida.
• Big 12 Outlook:
  • Bill backs Texas Tech after their big win at Utah ("...to go to Rice-Eccles and out-physical Utah is among the more impressive things I think you can do in college football." — Bill, 34:01)
  • Doug, skeptical, picks TCU as Big 12 champ.
  • Uncertainty remains about Iowa State (“Did you think about making Iowa state your Big 12 team?” — Doug, 36:14)

6. Notable Quotes & Playful Moments

• [31:09 – 32:43] — Extended riff on Premier League “pick a random team” fandom, leading to “Westminster Chicken Coop FC” jokes, connecting to choosing your American Conference team for the playoff race.
• [37:02 – 37:18] — (“Would Arch Manning start in the Big Ten?”) as Doug and Bill muse on transfer portal and QB play.
• [46:32 – 47:53] — Doug on style points and why college football remains uniquely chaotic:
  • Quote: “College football is the only sport like this where style points actually do matter. ...The style points layer over everything that we do...adds a level of chaotic uncertainty...” — Doug, 46:32
• [49:28 – End] — On the chaos being an essential feature, not a bug:
  • Quote: “You pursue a good answer, but there's no right answer. There might not even be a best answer. There's today's answer and it's the best you can do. But the chaotic uncertainty for three months...What's better than that?” — Doug, 49:28

7. What To Watch This Weekend: “Moving Weekend” Preview

42:18 – 43:17

• Major games lined up that could clarify (or further muddy) the playoff picture:
  • Oregon vs. Penn State
  • Georgia vs. Alabama
  • Ohio State at Washington
  • Penn State at Iowa
  • Auburn at Texas A&M
  • Indiana at Iowa
  • LSU at Ole Miss

8. Indiana: From Afterthought to College Football's Pivot Point

43:17 – 44:30

• Doug marvels at Indiana’s unlikely national relevance: "The most interesting team in college football is the Indiana Hoosiers...they are the pivot point of college football discussion because they are that fourth team in the Big Ten." (43:17)
• Everything Indiana does is a referendum: on the Big Ten vs. SEC, strength of schedule, and power perceptions in CFB.

9. Embracing the Chaos — The Heart of College Football

46:15 – 49:48

• While the hosts express fatigue with some elements, they ultimately celebrate the uncertainty and energy that make college football so unique—even as playoff math, human perceptions, and style points drive everyone slightly crazy.
• Bill: "Nothing's better [than the chaos]." — (49:48)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "I'm already starting to dread the 9-and-3 end-of-year logjam that's gonna wind up with seven SEC teams making the playoff field."
  – Doug, 01:24

• “It takes a lot to flip the perception of the entire sport...it's going to take a lot more, including...you have to win at Iowa.”
  – Bill, 12:21

• "College football is the only sport like this where style points actually do matter...adds a level of chaotic uncertainty."
  – Doug, 46:32

• “The most interesting team in college football is the Indiana Hoosiers...they are the pivot point of college football discussion...”
  – Doug, 43:17

• "Nothing." (on what's better than the three months of playoff uncertainty and chaos)
  – Bill, 49:48

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 01:00 – Playoff bracket anxieties & too many SEC teams
• 07:48 – Big Ten round robin and playoff odds
• 13:58 – Illinois vs Indiana: what went wrong with preseason projections
• 18:26 – Big Ten playoff odds & analysis of second tier contenders
• 26:46 – Playoff picks (Bill's bracket), wild card Big 12
• 31:09 - 32:43 – “Premier League” style fandom, pick-your-American-team riff
• 34:01 – Texas Tech and Big 12 skepticism; TCU pick
• 42:18 – "Moving weekend" preview: key games ahead
• 43:17 – Indiana as the new center of CFB gravity
• 46:32 – Why style points make CFB uniquely chaotic
• 49:28 – Embracing the chaos: “There’s no right answer.”

Conclusion

This episode captures all that makes the 2025 college football season so captivating—unexpected shake-ups, traditional powers on the defensive, Big Ten and SEC supremacy under new scrutiny, and Indiana as college football’s most interesting bellwether. Doug and Bill blend angst, analysis, and comedy, reminding fans that while the playoff picture’s as muddy as ever, the journey (and its uncertainty) is what makes college football magic.