Hour 1: Stewart Mandel, The Athletic

Summary

The Paul Finebaum Show | Hour 1: Interview with Stewart Mandel (The Athletic)

Date: August 11, 2026
Host: Paul Finebaum (ESPN, College Football)
Notable Guest: Stewart Mandel (The Athletic)
Main Theme: The stagnant college sports legislation in Congress, the evolving College Football Playoff (CFP) landscape, and the perennial Big Ten vs. SEC debate.

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Episode Overview

This episode features college football media authority Stewart Mandel joining host Paul Finebaum to discuss stalled Congressional efforts to regulate NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and college athletics, the shifting landscape of the College Football Playoff, and the power struggle between the SEC and Big Ten both on and off the field. Following the interview, callers weigh in on the topics, share opinions about teams, coaches, and give regional perspectives.

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Key Segments & Timestamp Highlights

1. Stalled Senate Bill & Congressional Gridlock on College Sports Legislation

[00:45–06:32]

• Finebaum sets the stage by reading Mandel’s latest column, noting the lack of progress on Capitol Hill for any meaningful reform in college sports.
• Mandel breaks down the Congressional stalemate:
  • The NIL debate began in early 2020; six and a half years later, no law is close to reality.
  • Ted Cruz has repeatedly predicted passage without success.
  • Political self-interest and midterm election calculations push sports legislation to the back burner.
  • Amendments and quirky political priorities (e.g., a Florida Senator’s attempt to help FSU/Miami leave a conference) keep derailing progress.
  • Quote:

    “At the end of the day, what do politicians care about the most? Getting reelected. And I don’t think any senator…is going to win or lose their next election based on their vote for the Protect College Sports Act. So because of that, it always seems to get pushed to the back of the line.”
    — Stewart Mandel [04:36]

2. Inside the Bill: The Rev Share Cap & Conference Alignment

[05:07–06:32]

• Finebaum queries Mandel about late shifts in the SEC and Big Ten’s legislative stance.
• Mandel details that a 171-page bill attempted to “cure everything,” but the last sticking point was the split between recruiting and retention funds. The hard cap on “rev share” (revenue sharing with players) became the main divisive issue.
• Once wording was tweaked to their satisfaction, the conferences gave tepid support.

3. College Football Playoff: SEC vs. Big Ten Showdown

[06:32–08:36]

• Finebaum pivots to the ongoing standoff over CFP expansion.
• Mandel’s analysis:
  • SEC wants a 16-team playoff; Big Ten wants 24, with ACC, Big 12, and Notre Dame siding with Big Ten.
  • The critical point: SEC, with more high-profile regular-season games and its revered championship game, has more to lose in a diluted playoff system.
  • Quote:

    “All these things involve these big playoff plans. Assume that the conferences would end their championship games so you would have time to do this. And obviously, the Big Ten seems fine with that…But that's a big decision. As you know, in the SEC, the SEC championship game is still a huge revered event.”
    — Stewart Mandel [08:16]

4. Big Ten vs. SEC: On-Field Strength and Perceptions

[08:36–10:41]

• With Big Ten teams ranked 1 (Ohio State) and 2 (Oregon), Finebaum invites Mandel’s take on the rivalry.
• Mandel argues the top of the Big Ten has surpassed the SEC, but the SEC remains deeper overall:
  • “The top of the Big Ten has passed the top of the SEC. They've won the past three national championships. … The SEC as a whole is still deeper than the Big Ten, but you don’t get banners for that.”
    — Stewart Mandel [09:36]
  • Predicts a compelling Big Ten season with elite teams (Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon, USC, Michigan) squaring off more often.

5. Mandel-Finebaum Banter: Allegiances and Media Role-Swapping

[09:13–10:54]

• Mandel jokes about being “disowned” by the Big Ten despite alma mater ties, leading to playful talk about swapping media roles.
  • “Can I take Peter Burns place?” — Mandel
  • “Done. Whatever you want.” — Finebaum [09:27–09:34]
  • “We can swap roles. He can pump up the Big Ten now.” — Mandel [09:34]

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6. Callers React: SEC Pride, Coaching Takes, and More Legislative Frustration

[13:44–18:36]

• [13:44] James from Miami: Argues the Big Ten’s recent success is minor compared to two decades of SEC dominance.
  • “Give them their flowers now…but when you do it for over two decades, talk to me then about a dynasty.” [14:36]
• [15:01] Michael from Alabama: Critiques Alabama’s modern coaching situation post-Saban, social media antics in fandom, and makes playful jabs at callers.
• [17:20] Dan from North Carolina: Frustration with Congressional inaction, echoing Mandel and Finebaum on the absence of a ‘Plan B’ and urging for compromise.
  • “There’s no winners and losers. We don't even know who the good guys and the bad guys are anymore in this deal.” [18:07]
• [18:36] Finebaum bluntly calls out Ted Cruz's lack of follow-through and political opportunism:
  • "Watching Ted Cruz and his behavior in this has really shown that he’s just an absolute liar...That’s not political, that’s just observing.” [18:36]

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7. Coaching Carousel, Team Culture, and Wednesday Wisdom

[19:09–21:21]

• Charles in Mississippi: Comments on Lane Kiffin’s coaching journey, predicting a short and bumpy ride for Kiffin at his next school and discussing SEC coaching standards.
• Finebaum’s retort:
  • “He built that program from a middling SEC school to a national power…not just some flash in the pan coach…baggage and all.” [20:00]

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8. Georgia Football Deep Dive with Jordan Hill

[23:10–29:29]

• Run Game & Health: Hill breaks down Georgia’s backfield depth amid injuries.
• Quarterback Play: Emphasis on Gunner Stockton’s need for consistency and self-care. “A lot of it goes on Gunner Stockton; how does he play?” [25:59]
• Schedule Analysis: A relatively favorable slate, but road games at Alabama and Ole Miss loom large.
  • “If you want to see one of these top teams go down, look on the road… I see 11-1.” — Jordan Hill [27:16]
• SEC Title Game Implications: Discusses the strategic advantage in possibly missing the SEC title game to rest up for the playoff.
  • “If you don’t go there, there are positives. And the biggest thing is getting healthy before what you hope is a really long playoff run.” — Jordan Hill [28:47]

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9. Callers on Rules, Rankings, Expectations, and Playoff Expansion

[31:11–41:35]

• Chris (Austin, TX): Frustration at the need for political intervention in college sports rules; local Texas pride about upcoming matchups.
• Terrence (CA): Discusses Alabama’s expectations in the post-Saban era, DeBoer transition, and changing standards for the program.
  • “The standard is the new standard now…Give the man grace.” [37:37]
• Zach (Tennessee): Asks about Tennessee’s defense and Jim Knowles’ impact.
• Les (Indianapolis): Regrets Indiana-Notre Dame series cancellation, asks about how a 24-team playoff might affect scheduling and if expansion is likely.
  • Finebaum: “I do think…eventually we will” get a 24-team playoff. [41:24]

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Notable Quotes (with Speaker Attribution & Timestamps)

• On Congressional gridlock:

  “At the end of the day, what do politicians care about the most? Getting reelected. And I don't think any senator…is going to win or lose their next election based on their vote for the Protect College Sports Act. So because of that, it always seems to get pushed to the back of the line.”
  — Stewart Mandel [04:36]

• On CFP expansion standoff:

  “The SEC championship game is still a huge revered event…That’s a big decision.”
  — Stuart Mandel [08:16]

• On Big Ten vs. SEC on the field:

  “The top of the Big Ten has passed the top of the SEC. They've won the past three national championships…The SEC as a whole is still deeper…but you don’t get banners for that.”
  — Stewart Mandel [09:36]

• On Georgia’s season:

  “A lot of it goes on Gunner Stockton; how does he play? And I think that this team goes as Gunner goes.”
  — Jordan Hill [25:59]

• On Alabama (post-Saban):

  “The standard is the new standard now…Give the man grace.”
  — Terrence (caller) [37:37]

• On playoff expansion and scheduling:

  “I still think we need to get rid of these directional games…It is really a shame that we get subjected to them. Will we get to a 24 team playoff? Eventually we will.”
  — Paul Finebaum [41:21]

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Tone & Style

• Paul Finebaum: Direct, candid, and often playful host who encourages both strong opinions and insider analysis.
• Stewart Mandel: Analytical, slightly sardonic, provides clear breakdowns of both politics and gridiron situations.
• Callers: Passionate, regional bias shines through, reflect the dedicated patchwork of the college football audience.

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Summary Takeaways

• Congress remains deadlocked on college sports reform, with no imminent ‘Plan B’ outside political theater.
• CFP expansion is locked in a battle of wills between the SEC and Big Ten, with a compromise far off and massive implications for the future.
• On the field, the Big Ten’s best are atop the preseason rankings, but regional pride and tradition run deep among SEC loyalists.
• Georgia’s prospects look strong, but the SEC’s new structure means a grueling schedule with little margin for error.
• Callers reflect on team legacies, coaching changes, and the shifting sands of power, while expressing exasperation at the slow pace of administrative change.

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For listeners new and old, this episode offered a rich mix of realpolitik, preseason hype, and the age-old debate between tradition and change in college football.

Transcript

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[Paul Feinbaum]

The pride, passion and pageantry of college football lives here. This is the Paul Feinbaum show, our 1 podcast.

This might be college football and we have somehow made it to Tuesday and we appreciate you being a part of the show. Good afternoon. Welcome in. Big show on tap. We have a lot to do today. You can tell, you can sense the season is coming. Yesterday, remember we had Mario Cristobal on. We have some great guests and we're going to get right to it this afternoon. Let's share with you the latest. This is by Stuart Mandel, one of the most influential people in the whole college football media landscape. If Congress can't save college sports, it's time for plan B. Except there is no plan B. That's KUD Cruise right there. He's a mastermind behind the college sports bill. That's Charlie Baker in the middle. He's the mastermind behind schmoozing. And Tommy Tuberville has the best bill of them all. I was talking to him Saturday morning. I mentioned that yesterday, but nobody's giving him the time of day in Washington, even though he's got a skinny bill, one that will solve problems. And I know our next guest agrees with me on that because I first saw him writing about it. Stuart, great to see you. Where are we with the seven year itch of the Senate bill that just can't seem to move off square one?

[Stuart Mandel]

Yeah, Paul, I was looking this up earlier. Do you know the first congressional hearing on nil was in February of 2020. So six and a half years later, they haven't even gotten a bill to the floor, much less passed it, much less turned it into law. And I know that this Senate bill could come back up again in September. That's what Ted Cruz is predicting. But the closer you get to the midterms, which are not that far away, the lower a chance they're going to do anything. And by the way, even if it passes in the Senate, right. From what I remember from civics class in high school. It then has to go to the House and they're going to have their own amendments they want to make and suggestions and everything. So it's starting to look pretty grim of them getting something passed this year.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Yeah, I'm sure you remember in seventh grade civics, I mean, there are certain things the Senate can confirm, presidential appointments, et cetera, but a bill in Congress needs both Houses. And I have to ask you about Ted Cruz. And I don't want to make, I don't want to replay the 2016 debate stage when the current president named him Lion Ted Cruz. But he hasn't exactly been telling the truth, or has he? I mean, he's been promising this thing is going to go through and 80 votes. College game day signing. So we're still stuck. It feels like college game day will begin in three weeks without the president sitting there ready to sign this bill. So what happens next, by the way,

[Stuart Mandel]

Ted, another research note for you. Ted Cruz first predicted they were going to pass a bill that year in 2023. So it's a bit of a recurring theme. Look, the column you kind of spotlighted earlier, this strategy is not working, right? The commissioners, the ncaa, they've been lost, spent millions and millions in lobbying and, you know, they, they negotiate. I mean, I was there at Big Ten media days a couple of weeks ago when Tony Petiti got the revised bill language like that day, the same day he was talking to the media and they were facing a really tight deadline to tell the Senate if they were going to approve it, which they eventually did. And then the thing that makes politics so unreliable and why I always thought this was a foolish strategy, is these things can get derailed by things that have nothing to do with the topic you're actually pursuing at the 11th hour. Last week, you had several groups stand up and voice concerns or propose amendments. My favorite was the Florida senator who wanted to make it easier for Florida State Miami to leave the accident. And this just keeps happening. And Paul, one thing I've heard said to me, and I say to others is the end of the day, what do politicians care about the most getting reelected? And I don't think any senator or House representative is going to win or lose their next election based on their vote for the Protect College Sports Act. So because of that, it always seems to get pushed to the back of the line.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Stuart, while you're at it talking about Patiti, it surprised some people. The Big Ten was first and then the SEC followed. Do you have any insight into what changed their decision at the last minute which seemed to seal the deal. Of course that was then because they seem to really be objecting to a number of things until the midnight hour.

[Stuart Mandel]

Yeah, I mean it's 171 page bill that tries to cure literally everything that bothers people in college sports. But at the end of the day it was really one item that held it up. And that was this idea that in addition to the rev share cap that we have now, the 21.3 million, there would be a another 20, 22 million for retention. Right. So you have one pool for going out recruiting and transport one another for retention, which raises the amount of money that these schools can spend, quote unquote legally by a lot. But even then there were details they were haggling over. They wanted to make sure it was a hard cap. So finally Ted Cruz, Marie Cantwell's people wrote, you know, I guess revised the language to the point where they, they felt they were satisfied with it. But that was it. It wasn't by the end of that period it wasn't about you can only have 19 teams in your conference or transfer portal this or consolidated TV rights.

[Paul Feinbaum]

It was the rev share cap talking to Stuart Mandel. Stuart speaking. There are other things going on other than the football season in the Senate. But let's talk a little bit about where the CFP is because even though the SEC and the Big Ten agreed at the last moment on that, nothing came of that. Where are we with them coming together on something a little more pressing to all of us and that's what the future of the CFP will look like.

[Stuart Mandel]

Nothing's changed, Paul. Nothing's changed. The Big Ten and SEC are still at a stalemate. There was a report reports yesterday about a 20 team model. I don't think that was ever taken seriously. It's the Big Ten wants 24 and they're not backing down and the SEC wants 16 with no AQs except for a group of six. So I know this. Once the ACC and Big 12 and Notre Dame all came out in favor of 24. The Big Ten has no incentive to budge at this point. Like they feel like they've got the, the overwhelming support and now we are going to see how much the SEC is willing to hold out. It it come to me, it comes down to this. You know anybody who's read or heard me, I'm very much against the 2014 playoff. And the biggest reason watering down the regular season, the Big Ten. I'm sorry, the SEC has way more games that are 10, 12, 15 million viewer games than the Big Ten. They have bigger stadiums that are sold out every week. So if my concerns, a lot of people's concerns were to prove. Right. And this had a negative effect on the regular season, it has a much bigger effect on the SEC than the Big Ten. Also, the SEC championship game. Right. All these things involve all of these, like big playoff plans. Assume that the conferences would end their championship games so that you would have time to do this. And obviously the Big Ten seems fine with that. They're the ones pushing for it. But that's a big decision. As you know, in the sec, the SEC championship game is still a huge revered event.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Stuart Mandel with us. Stuart, let me, let me get to this whole big 10 sec conversation. I realize you've got pretty strong Big Ten ties. We have SEC ties. And none of that matters because we're having an honest conversation about where we are. And it seems like a never ending question, especially now with at least in the first poll that we've seen. Ohio State and Oregon 1 and 2. I'm not sure what the apartment poll will, will offer, but just your thoughts on this whole conversation about Big Ten versus SEC on the field, not. Not in the boardrooms.

[Stuart Mandel]

Well, first of all, Paul, while I did go to a Big Ten school, the Big Ten is not very happy with me these days. So they, I think they've disowned me.

[Caller]

Come on over.

[Stuart Mandel]

Look, you will. You have me. Can I, can I take Peter Burns place?

[Paul Feinbaum]

No, I. Stuart, without even asking my boss. Done. You're. You're in. Whatever you want.

[Stuart Mandel]

We can swap roles. He can, he can pump up the Big Ten now. Yeah. So, look, I mean, it's not a secret, right? The top of the Big Ten has passed the top of the sec. They've won the past three national championships. Don't think that's anything controversial. I do agree that the SEC as a whole is still deeper than the Big Ten, but you don't get banners for that. And as you go into this season, Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon are all elite teams capable of winning the national championship. And, and there's a lot of games between them. Like last year, there were not a lot of Big Ten games between their top teams. This year there are. Throw USC into that mix. Michigan, like all these teams are playing each other this year. So I think the Big Ten regular season is going to be a lot more compelling. The SEC regular season is always compelling. But you know, you've got Texas, you got some people that believe in Georgia clearly the coaches do. They're number three in the coaches poll and weren't they picked to win the sec? But there's not a lot of teams after that that I consider to be on paper to be in the Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon Range.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Stuart Mandel, formerly of Sports Illustrated, formerly of the Athletic, the new host of SEC now right here.

[Stuart Mandel]

I hope I'm still with the Athletic. I hope I'm currently the Athletic.

[Paul Feinbaum]

You're going to do that and then we'll work off the air on you getting to the SEC Network studio every week and somebody will have to tell PB that he's heading to your former job. Hey, thank you very much, Stuart. Great stuff. Outstanding conversation with one of the top people in the field, Stuart Mandel, laying it on really interestingly here about the future of the CFP and of course what's happening in Washington. We'll take a break. Plenty to do here on the program. We have a number of guests that will be dropping by. We'll talk the Dogs with Jordan Hill a little bit later on. Reese Davis joins us, the host of College Game Day, and Phil Steele as well.

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[Paul Feinbaum]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum Show Podcast.

Welcome back. As we get to the calls here for the first time today, good conversation with Stuart Mandel. And let us begin with James in Miami. Hello, James.

[Caller]

Hi, Paul.

Good afternoon, sir.

How you doing?

[Paul Feinbaum]

We're doing great, thank you.

[Caller]

I'm just calling you.

Regards. I don't want to let a lot of this media attention go down, but hearing these big, the last Big Ten Conference, the last couple weeks, in regards to the media and stuff, you know,

they've won the national championship the last three years.

I'll give them their flowers. But it's funny that they want to brag about the last three years when the SEC's been dominant for two decades. And I'm like, you know, if you want to pat in the back, you know, and say, okay, buddy, you know, you've done good for the last three years, congratulations. But until you do it over and

over again, I mean, I'm sorry, the

Big Ten is always going to be under the sec as far as I'm concerned. I live in Miami. I'm just an SEC guy. And I'm like the big thing to just give them their flowers now. But I'm like, when you do it for over two decades, talk to me then when you want to be an overall dynasty. That's just my opinion, sir.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Thank you. Thank you, James. Appreciate it very, very much. Let me check in with Michael in Alabama. Hello, Michael.

[Caller]

Hey, Paul.

Hey.

Piggybacking off of your conversation last week about white barbecue sauce, do you know, do you happen to know where Mr. Gibson played his football at?

[Paul Feinbaum]

No.

[Caller]

I believe he played over there in Tuscaloosa. And speaking about that team over there in Tuscaloosa, Trey called in yesterday and talking about cracking open a cold one to watch the Little League World Series. And I kind of thought that was kind of weird. But my advice to Trey would be hold onto that beer for football season so that you can cry into it on Saturdays. The dynasty's over. You've got a great X's and O's guy, but philosophically, I just don't Think he's equipped to handle coaching a team of a bunch of young men getting paid hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars. And you know, bands just need to get used to look at how their

parents and grandparents lived.

Reminiscent on the good old days. They don't have that guy at the helm anymore. They've been spoiled into delusion based on comments like, if you want to hold power in the state of Alabama, you go to the University of Alabama. Well, our current governor, our next governor, and our two most successful businessmen in the state will kindly disagree with you. And then lastly, I didn't know there was a guy out there more cringe than Jeff from Columbus, but this guy Long is really getting under my skin. These comments regarding AJ are just cringe. They're not funny. And for him to take shots at a guy like Brian about his employment status after taking shots at another man about his employment status after losing a job, it's just a punk move. So there's nothing funny about what this guy does. He's a loser and so is Gamecocks.

Thanks for letting me share.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Thank you, Michael. Thank you very, very much for that contribution. Dan in North Carolina is up next.

[Caller]

Hi, Paul.

You know, I always like to cue your opening as to how you may wish to kick off your program. You are spot on. I mean, there just isn't any plan B. You know, like an idiot, last week I stayed up until the middle of these confirmation hearings that the Senate was happening. I felt so confident that something would break. And I mean, as it progressed and progressed, you could just see that something was not going to happen. But what you're opening today is just so perfectly correct in that there's no plan. I mean, you are right. We've been doing this. Well, for me, it's now three years with your program and your talking about having been doing it for six years, we're nowhere. And it is so tragic that Petiti and Sankey are in this position where they're bantering with each other. They can't sit down and finally have a decision. You know, there's no winners and losers. We don't even know who the good guys and the bad guys are anymore in this deal. I wish they would just sit down and say, look, we've both had enough of this. The general public's had enough of this. Settle this thing now. Compromise, if that's the proper word. Let's do it and get it over with. What do you think?

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, you know, you're right, Dan. And I think the easiest thing is to say is you can't trust politicians. But watching Ted Cruz and his behavior in this has really shown that he's just an absolute liar. He hasn't told the truth about anything. And that's not political, that's just observing. I don't really care one way or the other about his politics. I don't think he has any. All he wants to do is be the next president. He's not going to be, but that's okay. Thanks for the call. Really do, really do appreciate it.

[Caller]

Thanks, Paul.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Charles is up next in Mississippi. Hello, Charles.

[Caller]

Hey. Yeah, I was just calling. Everybody's crying about Lane Kiffin leaving. But I think it's the best thing for him. He's going to get over there, not win, which Brian Kelly couldn't win and they're going to fire him and they're going to have another 92 million dollar bill to pay.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And why, and why do you think

[Caller]

that was that he's not gonna win? Yeah, because he's been fired at other colleges too. And yeah, he's just not the material for it. You know, he, he's been lucky where he's gone. He made a winner out of Ole Miss, I'll admit that. But he was fired at Southern Cal and God knows where and he's not from this area. I mean, he's a middle age from the west and you know, tell him to go back out there if he's so comfortable with it. Blank, blank.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, I would disagree with you in this regard. He did a phenomenal job at Ole Miss. I mean, he built that program from a middling SEC school to a national power his last two years there. And I mean, I think he, he became one of the most coveted coaches in the country. So therefore, I mean, Florida wanted him, Auburn wanted him two years ago, LSU wanted him. And this is not, this is not just some flash in the pan coach. Yeah, he's got plenty of baggage. I mean, but that's who he is. And it's not as if Lane Kiffin has run away from that. There'll be more baggage coming out about him in the next few weeks. Will any of it stick? No, because he's been able to deflect it all. He has been able to deflect it all because he's a really good coach. And Brian Kelly was not that far from making it at lsu. The problem with Kelly was he just never fit the culture down there. Lane Kiffin understands that culture. He understands it extremely well. We'll take a short break. We are coming back with more. Jordan Hill will join us next. Covers the Dog.

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[Paul Feinbaum]

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That is the question and we're hoping Jordan D. Hill has the answer. Jordan, good afternoon. Thank you so much for for being a part of the show. What's so tell us what's happening in Dogland.

[Jordan D. Hill]

Well, let's start with that run game, Paul. I think that was a big question going into the start of fall camp last week. Mainly the guys behind Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens. They kind of look like the thunder and lightning, the 1, 2 combo for this run game. But Dante Dowdell gets hurt in the off season. He was a Kentucky transfer. I think they were really expecting to step up and be that third back, maybe be that third down back. Anticipate seeing him this season so some of the younger bags have to step up now. We're a week in the fall camp, but I really like what we've heard About Dwight Phillips Jr. Bo Walker freshman Jay Lamar. You know when you go through what Georgia is about to go through in the SEC and we're talking about a nine game conference Schedule, you're going to need backs behind Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens. You know, those guys will probably miss a few games along the way just because of the grind. I really like what Dwight Phillips Jr. Especially has shown so far, but some of the younger backs have shown that to this point in camp, hey, they are worthy of getting some work once we get into the season.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Okay, Jordan. So that's part of the equation. Let's talk about some other spots that need improvement. There were great, there were great games last year for Stockton. Everybody was praising Mike Bobo and then the season ended on a series of bad calls. How is that being dealt with? Assuming it is, I think the biggest

[Jordan D. Hill]

thing, and Kirby Smart talked about this before he took the main stage down in Tampa at SEC media days, that they're basically not totally overhauling everything because they've lost in the Sugar bowl, lost in the quarterfinals the last two years. And you know, as much as Georgia fans don't want to hear it, they were very close against that Ole Miss team last year. You know, they're driving down, trying to take the lead late. Nate Frazier gets hurt on that drive, they have to settle for a field goal and Ole Miss goes down and winds up kicking a game winning field goal and moving on. So I think the biggest thing that Georgia wants, especially when it comes to Gunner Stockton, is more consistency. And I think there's little things that Gunner can do that can help him get there. And really the biggest thing is taking care of his body. This is a guy that, I mean, they're playing Charlotte November and he's diving for first downs. And you could kind of tell the sideline was like, look, we appreciate how hard you're fighting for this team, but let's try to be smart. And I think if you look at some of those games late in the year, you know, Georgia Tech, Alabama in the SEC title game, Gunner wasn't as sharp. And I think that it was the wear and tear he had been through throughout the year. So seeing Gunner take better care of his body, creating more explosive plays, that's something that Kirby has talked about since spring practice, that they want to be more explosive, that they got to be more explosive to get where they want to go. You know, I think a lot of it falls on Gunner. They need receivers to step up. They got a tight end room they got to take advantage of. But Paul, I think they've made it easy for me. A lot of it goes on Gunner Stockton, how does he play? And I think that this team goes

[Paul Feinbaum]

as Gunner Goes, let's talk a little bit about that schedule that you mentioned, Jordan. And you know, everybody is dealing with the nine games. Now again, I know what Kirby Smart has said, but from a, from a distance, that schedule, maybe because Georgia is not one of the teams that Georgia has to play, doesn't seem as difficult. You got Texas off there. Georgia and Texas are presumed to be the best two teams in the sec. So what stands out to you as you work your way through that schedule?

[Jordan D. Hill]

I think you hit on the big one. But I would also mention no Texas A and M, no lsu, no Tennessee, which is crazy to see after all these years. And for a lot of folks, you know, that Georgia Tennessee rivalry means a lot. But I mean for me you got the Oklahoma game, which is the first home game. Oklahoma is a team that I kind of think folks are sleeping on that team. You know, with what they bring back, that could be a very dangerous game. And then it's two of the big road games at Alabama, at Ole Miss. You know, the last times that Georgia were in Tuscaloosa and in Oxford, they lost both of those games. So this is for me, when you look at this schedule, you know, I think a lot of the betting lines got Georgia like nine and a half wins, something like that. I think if you looked into a crystal ball and said Georgia dropped some games along the way, it's Oklahoma at Alabama at Ole Miss. And for me, Paul, when I look at this schedule, I see 11 and 1. I think that this is a team that is going to be able to navigate this. I think it's a defense that's got a whole lot of talent and it's one of those things with the SEC the way it is now, especially that nine game schedule, I've kind of called it the NFL ification of the sec. I'm not picking anybody to go undefeated anymore. So if Georgia were to go 11 and 1 and that'd be quite an accomplishment.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Okay, so 11 and 1 is a pretty strong prediction. Where do you see the stumble at Alabama?

[Jordan D. Hill]

I just think that playing in Tuscaloosa, this has been a thorn in Georgia side for the better part. You know, Kirby's entire tenure and you know, you can't discount what they did in Atlanta against Alabama last year. But I think with what Alabama has coming back, I think Keelan, Russell and again, I mean when you look at the top teams in this conference, if you want to find a loss, I think you look on the road and I think you even see that with some of the lesser teams. I think about Florida beating Texas last year. If you want to see one of these top teams go down, look on the road. You know, I think more than likely it's either at Alabama or at Ole Miss. I say Alabama beats Georgia, but Georgia runs the table the rest of the way.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I realize you try to win all the games, but, and it's a crazy question to even ask, but do you think deep down Kirby Smart wouldn't mind missing the SEC championship game this year?

[Jordan D. Hill]

Well, I think after you see how things played out last year, that there is a part of it, that there is an advantage and it's a health situation. And Georgia didn't have anybody get hurt during that SEC title game. But you look at the Sugar bowl, two big absences, Drew Bobo at center and then Gabe Harris at defensive end. I mean, just taking that one week off, giving those guys an extra chance to heal. You know, maybe if Georgia didn't play Alabama last year, we're talking about a different situation in the Sugar Bowl. So Kirby's always been one. He loves the SEC title game. He wants to be able to say, hey, we are the SEC champions. But I think at the same time, if you don't go there, there are positives. And the biggest thing is getting healthy before what you hope is a really long playoff run.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Jordan Hill, great report on the Dogs. The pick to win the sec, not by everyone, but by the media. Thank you, Jordan. We appreciate your time very, very much. We're heading to the break here. Plenty of time for you to get in. Reese Davis joining us a little bit later on. We started with Stuart Mandel. Phil Steele will also join us, and we're coming right back.

Shohei Ohtani's interpreter was fired today. Ippei Mitsuhara ran up gambling debts to a Southern California bookmaking operation.

The inside story of the biggest scandal in modern baseball.

[Caller]

He was absolutely bananas.

[Jordan D. Hill]

The amount of bets he was making.

[Caller]

I've never seen anything like it.

[Stuart Mandel]

From 30 for 30 podcasts, this is

[Paul Feinbaum]

the Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani.

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[Paul Feinbaum]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum Show Podcast.

And welcome back as we continue here. And Chris is up next in Austin, Texas. Hello, Chris.

[Caller]

Hey, Paul.

How you doing?

[Paul Feinbaum]

We're doing great. Thank you.

[Caller]

Fantastic. Me, too, man. I am ready for some college football. I was just kind of going to jump on the, not necessarily the political stance, but, you know, isn't there already some rules in place in college football? You know, nobody wants to follow the, the current rules that are in place. And the fact that we have to go get help, you know, politically for me is it's kind of, I don't know, you've got all the coaches and all these commissioners are coming out saying, well, we need rule changes. We need this, we need that.

[Paul Feinbaum]

The rules are in place.

[Caller]

Nobody's following the rules. You know.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Yeah, that is correct. The one thing that I think has united everybody is the fact that they claim that they can't follow their own rules because of litigation. There are some, there's some really important things that have been thrown into this bill. The problem is you need to be able to explain something in a simple fashion. And there's so much garbage in this bill now that it's impossible to explain and it's growing by the hour. And you heard Mandel a few minutes ago that everybody's now trying to throw their little thing in there. And the president is probably the best thing going for the bill right now. But he also may be the thing that undoes it because of the politics of the moment. That I don't need to explain this to anybody, but if one side pushes too hard, it's no longer bipartisan. And if the president, there are not many Democrats on the other side of the aisle who take kindly to the president calling. I mean, right now I just read an article where he's using Nick Saban and Randy Levine, the owner, the president of the New York Yankees, as his two front men. And that may sound good in principle, but the politics of it is not very good.

[Caller]

Yeah. And that's kind of what worries me and why we're on it, too. I mean, the Sorsby situation, that somehow the only, you know, city in the country, me being from Texas, I heard a lot about it. Somehow, Sorsby, I think that that tilted it a lot, too. As far as, you know, you got one team, literally, you know, a guy betting on the game and.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Right.

[Caller]

For some reason, all we got to do is, you know, go Go get a judge and we can have him play and everything's, you know, good. But hey, on the football side of things, Paul, I am super excited, man. I love your show. I do hate that y' all put some Florida gator kid from Austin on Yalls little, like, commercial run, talking about they're gonna, I'll be there and they're gonna kick our out. Dude, y' all lost 55 to 10 last time you're in Austin. You got us last year, a young arch. He wasn't playing well. And as, as the man just said, you know, there's going to be a lot of teams that go on the road this year and they run into a loss, maybe at Mississippi State, maybe here, maybe there's. But dude, Texas is going to beat the brakes off of Florida. I hate that y' all put that kid, you know, it's like you say dumb now. I'm sorry. You say stupid things and you end up, you know, on the radio and you end up getting likes. And that's. Every time I hear that kid speak on Yalls commercial, I'm just like, I don't even know who Florida's quarterback is, man, to be honest with you. But, man, I'm excited. Love the show. I'll let you get back to it.

Thanks, Paul.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Thank you very, very much, Chris. Appreciate it. So let me continue with Terrence in California. Hello, Terrence, Good afternoon.

[Caller]

Hey, Paul.

How you doing?

[Paul Feinbaum]

Very well.

[Caller]

I was just going to take on Alabama. I hear you guys don't have Alabama ranked in the top 25. I just want to hear your take about Alabama.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, first of all, I don't know where you heard Alabama is not ranked in the top 25. I believe they were 13th or 11th or 13th in the, in the coaches poll. And I would have them in the easily in the top 15 or 20. So I'm not really sure. I mean, there are some people who are dismissing Alabama, but we aren't.

[Caller]

Okay, well, why is that? You don't think they have a very good team? I think they have a decent team this year. I think Kayleen DeBoer has his players. He will have his quarterback. I think they'll be a very good team this year.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I think they'll be a good team, too, Terrence. But what is a good team? Somebody asked me yesterday, where would you go from a one loss standpoint? And right now I would land somewhere around 9 and 3, which is open to interpretation how good a season that is by Alabama standards. That's not very good, but it would be in keeping with the last couple of years.

[Caller]

So I would say, I would say with him court Kaylin DeBoer getting his own recruits in, hasn't having his own quarterback. I think they should have a better year this year. I mean I don't want to fault him for his first year because those wasn't his recruits. And then he lost a lot of players when Saban retired. So I think he, I think sometimes he gets like a rough, you know, a rough go back there when I think he's done awesome, awesome job with what he has to work with. And with nil. With nil, we know nil, you can build a team in a year. You can get 20 or 30 recruits in a year. And I don't think Alabama, are they, are they a portal heavy team?

[Paul Feinbaum]

No.

[Caller]

Yeah. So I think, I think Caleb boy, the board's done an awesome job with what he has to work with and we're not. It's not the old Alabama and it's not the old college football. So the standard is the new standard. Now the standard is the standard which is Kaylin DeBoer not a nick Saban standard anymore. So give the man grace.

[Paul Feinbaum]

That is true. That is 100% true. And you know, but it may be a new standard but Alabama fans are still the same as they've always been and they're a fan base that has been spoiled twice in history. Paul Bryan had a 25 year run, Saban had a 17 year run and nobody's ever had two runs like that. Now I realize there was 30 years between the runs but the success has been so great that it's hard for Alabama fans to accept anything other than that. Hey, thank you very much for the call. Really do appreciate it. Let me check in with Zach in Tennessee. Hey Zach. Go right ahead.

[Caller]

Hey Paul.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Hope you're doing good. But the question is, Paul, how good do you think the Tennessee defense under Jim Knowles is going to be this year? Well, I'm going to give you a cliche here. I think it will be really good by next year. I just don't know whether he can turn it around in a very short period of time.

[Caller]

Right.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And that's understandable.

[Caller]

But just judging how our defense was

like maybe in 2024, it was

just.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Yeah. Some reason. I think we may have lost you there. But let me go to less next in indianapol us. Hello Les.

[Caller]

Hi Paul. Good afternoon. How are you?

[Paul Feinbaum]

Very well, great.

[Caller]

I've got a comment and then two quick questions. As a longtime Indiana fan, for many many years and season ticket over. I was disappointed by the cancellation of the Notre Dame series last week. No, I really think that team should play the best in a loss to a quality team doesn't hurt you that much. And I also thought that the timing might be wrong on this, but I think they're going to expand the stadium and that would certainly have been a great inaugural game if that had worked out in terms of construction and that type of thing. My two questions are concerning scheduling fall of the 2014 playoff. One, do you think that just generally not focused on Indiana? Do you think that the propensity to schedule directional schools and non conference games would fade away if we went to a 2014 playoff that you know, be likelier to schedule better teams? And two, how likely do you think we'll we'll get to a 24 team playoff? Thanks.

A lot less.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Thank you. I think with a 2014 playoff there would be more likelihood of scheduling these type of games. There's less risk right now there. There's still a little bit of risk. I mean but I mean I still think we need to get rid of these directional games. I mean I am sorry. I know plenty of people who work at these schools and they live off of that million to two million dollar paycheck. But I don't know any college football fans that want to watch these type of garbage games. It is really a shame that we get subjected to them. Thanks so much for the call. Really do appreciate it. I do think back to your other question. Will we get to a 2014 playoff? Eventually we will. So it's trending in that direction. Why don't we take a break? We are up against that. It's been a busy first hour of the program. A number of really fantastic guests. Reese Davis joins us in the next hour. We have Phil Steele a little bit later on with his rapid fire prediction of the season. And we are coming right back.

Thank you for listening to the Best of the Paul Feinbaum Show. Paul Watch the Paul Feinbaum show weekdays from 3 to 7 Eastern on the SEC Network. Plus you can listen and watch on the ESPN app

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