Podcast Summary

The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk

Episode Title: Fernando Mendoza, Julian Sayin, Dante Moore and drafting the best College Football Playoff QBs
Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis (Blue Wire)

Episode Overview

Main Theme:
Doug and Bill draft and debate the eight starting quarterbacks participating in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff, rating them by who they’d most want to lead their team this postseason. The discussion digs deep into stats, playmaking ability, clutch gene, and how each QB stacks up in current college football, with a dose of Buckeye-centric fun and context.

Segment Breakdown & Key Insights

1. Setting Up the Draft ([01:53]–[05:58])

• Doug and Bill introduce the idea: ranking the eight College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterbacks based not on team context, but on which player they’d most want running their offense for the playoff run.
• Some QB names:
  • Indiana: Fernando Mendoza (Heisman winner)
  • Ohio State: Julian Sayin
  • Georgia: Gunner Stockton
  • Texas Tech: Baron Morton
  • Oregon: Dante Moore
  • Ole Miss: Trinidad Chambliss
  • Miami: Carson Beck
  • Alabama: Ty Simpson
• “Is it fair to say there’s not a Deshaun Watson or a Joe Burrow in this field?” — Doug ([04:08])
• Bill agrees, suggesting star power isn’t what it has been but there’s still quality play:

  "There’s some decent quarterbacks here, but yeah, it’s probably lacking in star power compared to some other years." (Bill, [04:19])

2. The Quarterback Draft

A. First Overall: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (Bill’s pick) ([06:11]–[11:41])

• Mendoza praised for dual-threat ability, poise, and experience:

  “He’s kind of been through it a little bit and come out with a W, even if he hasn’t played perfect … so I’ll roll with him first.” — Bill ([06:22])

• Doug lauds his playmaking blend:

  “He’s a playmaker with his arms. He’s a playmaker with his legs.” ([07:17])
  “I think Fernando Mendoza is pretty good. I’m not afraid to say it just because the guy might win the triple crown: Heisman, national championship, number one pick.” ([07:17])

• High stats: Most TD passes, high yards per attempt, PFF metrics; elevated efficiency but still dynamic.

Memorable Quote:

“At the very least, Fernando Mendoza is, I think, built for this in a lot of ways. Mentally, emotionally, from an experience standpoint….” — Doug ([08:44])

B. Second Pick: Julian Sayin, Ohio State (Doug’s pick) ([12:11]–[15:26])

• Praised for unprecedented efficiency, low turnovers, and high composure:

  “He’s the most accurate passer in the playoff probably by a significant margin.” — Bill ([13:59])

• Noted for best deep ball percentage among the field; still developing as a ‘gamer’, but resilient in adversity:

  “I think he’s maybe a little bit more of a gamer than he might get credit for…” — Bill ([14:48])

Memorable Quote:

“His baseline’s pretty high.” — Doug ([13:48])

C. Third Pick: Dante Moore, Oregon ([20:10]–[25:31])

• Athleticism and high ceiling set Moore apart—dangerous arm, solid runner, big-play potential.

  “I think he might be the guy with the most room to elevate in the playoff of all these quarterbacks.” — Bill ([22:21])

• Turnovers and fumbles noted, but playmaking, especially on deep throws, is a big asset.
• Doug calls him, “a pretty good combination of playmaker and doesn’t just absolutely hand it to the other team.” ([22:21])

Memorable Quote:

“He probably has the most like arm juice of all these guys too.” — Bill ([25:31])

D. The “Next Tier” and Debate ([25:52]–[35:10])

• Where’s the cut-off? After the top 3, both agree there’s a line—but Bill argues there’s then a “next tier” still above the rest.

D1. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (Doug’s pick, 4th) ([26:12]–[28:41])

• Huge rushing threat, sparkplug for Ole Miss, but passing can be inconsistent, especially vs. good defenses.

  “He has 500 rushing yards… and has really fueled this in a huge way.” — Doug ([27:16])

• Story: D2 transfer, unexpected starter, high ceiling, can singlehandedly win a game.

  “He would scare me a little bit if you were game planning for him.” — Doug ([28:06])

D2. Gunner Stockton, Georgia (Bill’s pick, 5th) ([30:36]–[36:00])

• Clutch gene:

  “He is completing 87.5% of his passes in the fourth quarter with six touchdowns and no interceptions.” — Bill ([31:06])

• Not gaudy on stats, but best when it matters most; plus, sneaky good runner (492 yards, 8 TDs).

  “If you get into a tight game in the fourth quarter, it’s either him or Mendoza… the guys I might want most in this field.” — Bill ([32:03])

• Doug: “He gets Tebow-ish a little bit sometimes… using him as a battering ram.” ([32:40])

3. The Last Three ([36:30]–[46:20])

E. Ty Simpson, Alabama ([36:30]–[39:48])

• Started season strong, regressed in the second half.
• “He just has not been as good in the second half of the season as he was in the first. Watching him makes me nervous.” — Doug ([39:04])
• Fun to watch but unpredictable; possible high ceiling, but a wide range of outcomes.

  “The spectrum of possible outcomes every time he drops back to throw the ball is probably about as wide as it can be…” — Bill ([39:48])

F. Carson Beck, Miami ([40:46]–[44:57])

• Steady, accurate, but little big-play or run threat.

  “I like almost everything about Miami except their coach and their quarterback.” — Doug ([43:42])

• Minimal arm talent, minimal mobility.
• Beck and Baron Morton considered clear bottom-tier QBs in this CFP lineup.

G. Baron Morton, Texas Tech ([45:31]–[46:32])

• Little film or data; Texas Tech’s offense regarded as one of the weakest units in the playoff.
• “If Baron Morton walked into me on the street, I’m not sure I would know who he is.” — Doug ([46:20])
• System protects him from excessive mistakes, but he hasn’t been a reason for Tech’s run.

4. Draft Recap & Tiers ([46:32]–[48:27])

• Top Tier: Mendoza, Sayin, Moore—“Natties;” high confidence, can win three games.
• Second Tier: Chambliss, Stockton—“Give you a shot, could win a big game, more wild ride.”
• Bottom Tier(s): Simpson (alone or with Beck/Morton), then Beck & Morton lumped together as “don’t trust them for a playoff run.”

“We’re at the point… so you got to win three. I think Trinidad Chambliss and Gunner Stockton and Ty Simpson… could let one rip and win a game by themselves. But can they win three?” — Doug ([47:59])

“I just think they get a little loose down south, man. There’s just a little more looseness… with the northern guys, a little more structure.” — Doug ([47:45])

5. Notable Quotes/Memorable Moments

• On Mendoza:

  "At the very least, Fernando Mendoza is… built for this in a lot of ways. Mentally, emotionally, from an experience standpoint….” — Doug ([08:44])

• On Sayin:

  “He’s the most accurate passer in the playoff probably by a significant margin.” — Bill ([13:59])

• On Dante Moore:

  “He probably has the most like arm juice of all these guys too.” — Bill ([25:31])

• On Gunner Stockton’s Clutch:

  “He is completing 87.5% of his passes in the fourth quarter with 6 touchdowns and no interceptions.” — Bill ([31:06])

• On Ty Simpson’s volatility:

  “The spectrum of possible outcomes every time he drops back to throw the ball is probably about as wide as it can be…” — Bill ([39:48])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Draft setup & premise: [01:53]–[05:58]
• Mendoza as #1 QB: [06:11]–[11:41]
• Sayin as #2 QB: [12:11]–[15:26]
• Moore as #3 QB: [20:10]–[25:31]
• Chambliss debate: [26:12]–[28:41]
• Stockton and QB clutchness: [30:36]–[36:00]
• Simpson’s regression & nerves: [36:30]–[39:48]
• Tier breakdown and final ranking: [46:32]–[48:27]

Tone & Style

The conversation is lively and analytical, with Buckeye-centric but balanced attention. Doug and Bill combine advanced stat analysis with colorful, relatable language and inside jokes, maintaining a light, energetic tone. They pull from deep covering experience but keep things accessible and jargon-light for fans.

Final Thoughts

Doug and Bill offer a confident, stats-backed, and personality-driven hierarchy of playoff QBs—Mendoza, Sayin, Moore at the top, Chambliss/Stockton wildcard contenders, and real skepticism about the bottom three—while mixing in their signature humor and fan-first perspective. The episode is an engaging, insightful listening experience, whether you’re a Buckeye diehard or a college football playoff junkie.