The Bobby Bones Show – Episode: 25W (Nov 6, 2025)

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A football-centric episode blending NCAA playoff analysis, the power struggles of college football (CFB) boosters, real-world coaching pressures, and a deep-dive interview with NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson.

Episode Overview

This episode mixes current sports stories and gamesmanship, with a unique look into college football's modern landscape thanks to analyst Andy Staples, and features an in-depth interview with NASCAR’s Kyle Larson. The conversations revolve around CFB playoff predictions, the chaotic world of coach hiring/firing (and billionaire boosters' roles), and wrap with light personal anecdotes about parenting and youth sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NASCAR Recap & Kyle Larson Interview Setup

• Host Situation: Eddie interviews Kyle Larson in Bobby’s absence; Bobby teases wanting listener feedback on Eddie’s interviewing skills. (04:24–05:11)
• Kyle Larson's Win: Larson clinched his second NASCAR Cup Series title, utilizing a bold two-tire strategy during a wild race finish. Eddie and Mike provide context: “He took two tires instead of four. Denny Hamlin took four... that's why they think he won.” (62:32–62:49)

2. Quick Hits: Dallas Cowboys Player Passing and UFC Betting Scandal

• Cowboys News: Discussion of second-year defensive end Marshawn Nealon’s sudden death; causes are unknown. The somber tone highlights the unpredictability and human side of pro sports. (05:20–05:53)
  • “Cowboys second-year defensive end Marshawn Nealon dies at 24 years old.” – Brandon (05:27)
• UFC Betting Investigation: Unusual betting patterns before a key UFC fight have led to FBI involvement, with hosts sharing how quick odds shifts can indicate rigging. (06:53–08:41)
  • “Suspicious betting activity before a fight last weekend has led to an unlikely partnership. UFC and the FBI are now actively working together.” – Brandon (07:08)
  • “I bet on UFC every weekend. What is happening?” – Mike (07:04)

3. NCAA Football: Parlay Picks & Playoff Talk

• Parlay Segment: Rapid-fire betting picks—hosts debate Indiana -14.5 over Penn State, Alabama -10 over LSU, and Oregon -6.5 over Iowa.
  • “Indiana minus 14 and a half. Alabama minus 10. Oregon minus six and a half. Boom, your team hitting pay dirt pays out.” – Brandon (12:16)
• Playoff Expansion Joy: Hosts celebrate the expanded 12-team playoff, discuss fraud candidates and who might drop out, emphasizing the evolving landscape. (16:50–18:48)
  • “Who do you think...probably will not be there whenever it's time to actually have the tournament?” – Brandon
  • “Texas is number 11...I think they’re going to lose at Georgia or Texas A&M, maybe both.” – Andy Staples (17:47)

4. CFB Deep Dive with Andy Staples (“On3 Sports”)

Playoff Projections & Conference Puzzles

• ACC Oddities: The weirdness around conference schedules, possible ACC playoff teams, and tiebreakers.
  • “Virginia lives so dangerously all season...They also could lose any game on that schedule.” – Andy (19:02)
  • “Louisville...probably could wind up being the best team in the ACC and wind up in the playoff.” (19:38)
• Non-Power Conferences: Memphis, Tulane, James Madison, USF, North Texas, Navy discussed as potential American champ fill-ins. (21:21–22:22)

Money, Boosters, and the Billionaire Problem

• Virginia’s Roster Spend: The impact of using buyout funds to bolster a roster instead of firing a close-but-not-quite coach.
  • “We can fire Tony Elliott now and pay him buyout money, or use that money to better the roster...that works.” – Andy (22:50)
• Arkansas’ Unique Corporate Power: The influence of big donors (Tyson Foods, Walmart) and the sticky dynamics of billionaire booster control.
  • “It's hard to pull in billionaire money if the billionaire is not pulling all the strings.” – Brandon (28:29)
  • “That's the hardest problem...when you have two billionaires and they want opposite things, one of them is not going to get what they want, and then they freak out.” – Andy (29:07)

Coaching Carousel, Contracts & Retreads

• Search Firm Games: The outsized role of intermediaries in coaching searches, with search firms providing plausible deniability.
  • “You hire them so you have cover...Did your search firm contact them? Yes, they have, but you don't have to say that.” – Andy (25:49)
• Florida, LSU, and Lane Kiffin: Discussion about whether Lane Kiffin would realistically leave Ole Miss, and how coach buyouts are essentially just permission slips.
  • “It’s not like 15 years ago where...Florida or LSU wanted the Ole Miss coach, they just snap their fingers and get him.” – Andy (31:28)
  • “Instead of a contract contracting their services for a certain amount of time, it is a contract that says how much another school has to pay to hire your coach as a buyout.” – Brandon (53:12)

5. What Real-World Job Is Like Being a CFB Head Coach?

• Coaching Firings vs. Real Life: Playful banter about how getting fired as a CFB coach can resemble being a CEO or politician; the media just makes every firing seem massive. (55:04–57:56)
  • “The turnover rate is kind of comparable to CEOs or politicians.” – Mike (57:56)

6. Parenting, Youth Sports, and Behind the Scenes

• Youth Sports Tryout Anxiety: Eddie shares his 12-year-old facing a two-week "closed-door" basketball tryout—taped windows, strict no parents. They discuss how modern youth sports can feel high-stakes for families. (46:13–47:47)
  • “Today's the last tryout day, and then they find out next week if they made the team or not…” – Mike (47:18)
  • “The no parents [rule], I understand. I do. Two weeks does seem like a long time.” – Brandon (48:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the CFB Billionaire Problem:

  • “It's hard to pull in billionaire money if the billionaire is not pulling all the strings. And I'm thinking, that's what's happening right now…” – Brandon (28:29)
  • “When you have two billionaires and they want opposite things, one of them is not going to get what they want, and then they freak out.” – Andy Staples (29:07)

• Coaching as a Carousel:

  • “You hire [search firms] so you have cover...Did your search firm contact them? Yes, they have, but you don't have to say that.” – Andy Staples (25:49)
  • “Instead of a contract contracting their services for a certain amount of time, it is a contract that says how much another school has to pay to hire your coach as a buyout.” – Brandon (53:12)
  • “Is there another job where you get fired as much as coaches do?” – Mike (55:04)

• Parlay Recap:

  • “Indiana minus 14 and a half. Alabama minus 10. Oregon minus 6 and a half.” – Brandon (12:16)

Key Segment Timestamps

• 00:05–04:13: Skippable ad reads and show banter
• 04:24–05:20: Bobby explains the setup for Eddie’s interview with Kyle Larson
• 05:20–05:53: News: Death of Cowboys’ Marshawn Nealon
• 06:53–08:41: UFC betting scandal and FBI involvement
• 09:33–12:41: Hosts’ College Football betting picks (Indiana, Alabama, Oregon)
• 16:50–39:40: Andy Staples joins for deep CFB playoff and coaching analysis
• 44:58–46:12: Quick men’s basketball betting odds, Arkansas’ potential
• 46:13–47:47: Parenting and youth basketball tryouts
• 49:14–53:39: Coach firings, retreads, and contract/buyout discussion
• 62:16–76:54: Eddie’s full interview with 2x NASCAR Cup Series champ Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson Interview Highlights

(62:56–76:54)

• Race Recap: Larson details the crucial pit stop decision—code words, team coordination, and why two tires made the difference over rival Denny Hamlin's four.
  • “We were all kind of on the same page there...I think that's our only shot to win here.” – Kyle Larson (63:25)
  • “Every team kind of has code words because, yeah, you're trying to decoy a little bit.” – Kyle Larson (64:17)
• Big Team, Big Win: Larson emphasizes it’s a team victory, with around 500 people at Hendrick Motorsports involved. (65:38)
• Car Problems: Eddie admits he bets on NASCAR; Kyle explains “loose” vs. “tight” car handling and how even a bad-feeling car can win with the right timing and luck. (66:45–67:26)
• Winning Celebrations: Five hours of photos and interviews, then celebratory night out in Scottsdale. Kyle credits his team for perseverance. (68:13–68:59)
• Family & Humility: Talks about keeping his kids grounded—“I want them to think I’m not above anybody because I am just a normal person and I’m their dad.” (69:35)
• Replying to 400+ Texts: “I like my phone pretty clean, so...I respond to them too, but yeah, I just don't like the little red bubble.” (71:33–71:56)
• OCD Routines: Admits to putting on socks, then shoes (never sock-shoe, sock-shoe)—“That sounds very psychotic.” (73:03)
• Trophy Placement: Has to reorganize his trophy case after another big win—“Probably gonna have to pull a trophy out of there.” (76:13)

Tone and Style

• Conversational, Playful: Regular ribbing between hosts, especially around Eddie’s interviewing; audience-inviting (“DM us your feedback!”).
• Informed but Casual: Deep dives into CFB by Andy Staples, with clear explanations on tricky topics like ACC tiebreakers and NIL resource allocation.
• Human Touch: Both tragedy and celebration, from a young player’s untimely passing to family discussions and the glory (and mess) of winning big in sports.

For New Listeners

If you missed the episode, you’ll come away understanding:

• How chaotic and political the new CFB landscape is, especially behind closed doors with donor intrigue
• Why successful coaching is about much more than X’s and O’s
• How even in a glamorous sport, moments of humanity (parenting, team dynamics, OCD routines) shine through
• The inside story behind Kyle Larson’s championship win and what it really takes

Listener Challenge:
Bobby wants your unvarnished opinion on Eddie’s interview! DM on Instagram or comment on Spotify.

Full Interview with Kyle Larson starts: 62:56
Andy Staples interview starts: 16:50
Notable CFB booster/billionaire discussion: 28:29
Parlay picks segment: 12:16

End of summary.