The Ryen Russillo Podcast

Episode: Talkin’ Baseball! Plus, Oregon, Ohio State, and Miami or the Field? And the Top CFB Stadiums With Fox’s Chris Fallica.

Date: October 1, 2025
Host: Ryen Russillo (A), with guest Chris "Bear" Fallica (B)
Producer/Contributors: Kyle, Steve, Surudi

Main Theme

This episode blends sharp and funny takes on playoff baseball with a deep dive into the 2025 college football landscape, featuring expert analysis from Fox Sports’ Chris Fallica. The guys discuss top contenders, quarterback trust issues, the value of running the ball in today’s game, and debate the most intimidating stadiums in college football. The episode closes with the ever-popular “Life Advice” segment on spectacularly awkward personal dilemmas.

Episode Breakdown

I. Playoff Baseball as a “Fairweather” Fan

[00:00–16:38]

• Ryen’s playoff baseball confession:

  • Admits to being a “fairweather” baseball fan now—doesn’t watch all season, but tunes in for the playoffs.

  • Finds this new approach more efficient, likening it to overly passionate music fandoms in youth.

    "I’m a fair weather fan now and I gotta tell you, this is easy. This is way easier. Becoming the thing I always despised...I get it now." — Ryen Russillo [01:30]

• Observations on playoff strategy:

  • Tosses quick, “unearned” baseball opinions—finds it fun and acknowledges play-off pitch stress vs. regular season.
  • Comments on pitch counts and how old beliefs about workloads haven’t really “saved” pitchers.

• Yankees–Red Sox playoff drama:

  • Shares detailed reflections on the tension/dread of being a Red Sox fan pre-2004, with a detailed account of a Chapman bases-loaded escape against the Yankees.

    "Chapman got out of it. Bases loaded, no outs up 3-1 gets out of the whole thing. You know what I love about baseball? I love caring about the difference between what a pitcher’s going to do 1-2 versus 2-1." — Ryen Russillo [09:09]

• Why he loves playoff baseball:

  • Loves the micro-battles—pitch choice, count leverage, and the drama of October innings.

  • Specific admiration for pitchers like Crochet for their poise and mound demeanor.

    "My favorite moment from the night, Crochet walking off the mound...just a hoss of a dude...it was like Russell Crowe, Gladiator type shit..." [13:55]

• Baseball as a recurring passion—rekindled each fall.

• Jokes about hating 'Sweet Caroline' at Red Sox games now more than hating the Yankees.

II. 2025 College Football Contenders and Analysis (with Chris Fallica)

[16:38–55:06]

A. Miami, Texas, and the “Trenches” Talk

• Miami’s title credentials:

  • Fallica points to Miami’s revamped secondary and dominance in the offensive/defensive lines (the trenches).

  • Names two teams able to match up physically: Oregon and Ohio State.

    "You’ve got a great offensive line, a great defensive line, three legit running backs...nationwide, how many teams can really match up in the trenches with them? Oregon, probably. Ohio State, probably." — Fallica [17:37]

• Texas’ uncertainties:

  • Questions about Texas’ O-line and inconsistent skill players; big proving week for Arch Manning.
  • Warns against taking “cupcake” wins at face value; road games vs. Georgia and A&M make 9-3 record plausible.

B. Penn State and Big Ten Trust

• Penn State skepticism:

  • Fallica: “They are what I thought they are.” Calls out over-hype; quarterfinal run last year didn’t change the narrative.

  • Defensive strengths, but doubts they can run the playoff gauntlet and win versus multiple top-10 opponents.

    "There are 120 teams that would trade places with Penn State, but...they’re 4-21 against top-10 teams at Penn State. What leads you to believe they can beat three in a row?" — Fallica [34:38]

C. Roster Build and Quarterback Trust Issues

• National theme: widespread QB questions among top teams.

• Russillo: “If you looked at the preseason top 8, 6 had total question marks at quarterback.” [25:37]

• Both note top coaches across the country are trying to “win with defense” and not put trust in relatively untested QBs.

D. SEC and Playoff Dynamics

• Alabama vs. Georgia vs. the Field:

  • Fallica leans Alabama #1 in SEC, then Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, with plenty of unpredictability.
  • Both agree LSU is out of the top contenders’ circle due to offensive struggles.

• Oklahoma discussion:

  • Stats look like “video game” super-team, but schedule is brutal, and both show some skepticism.

• The expanded CFP format:

  • Additional games and fights through deep schedules mean undefeated “powerhouses” are rarer than ever.

    "The idea that we’re going to get a [team to] 16-0… yeah, man, it’s probably not happening a lot." — Russillo [37:58]

E. The Value of the Run Game in 2025 CFB

• Both lament the devaluation of running backs/running game.
  • Russillo: “There’s so little priority on running the football that I think I’m coming back around. Like, Georgia almost winning that game against Alabama being one-dimensional was fucking mind-blowing.” [40:43]
  • Fallica: Miami, Oregon, and Notre Dame all have multi-headed run games, making them dangerous in the playoff format.

III. State of the Big Ten and “Winning Ugly”

[45:46–55:32]

• Indiana:

  • Surprisingly improved defense and D-line, maybe benefiting from 2024’s transfer portal influx.
  • Schedules make for some “beauty pageant” resume debates if they finish 10-2.

• Wisconsin, UCLA, Michigan State, and Texas Tech:

  • Quick team-by-team observations; Big 12 contenders remain somewhat unpredictable.
  • Texas Tech’s defensive front gets praise—no longer “just an air raid team.”

IV. Weekly Picks & Sneaky Teams with Chris Fallica

[53:32–55:06]

• “Bear’s” Pick: Purdue (+9.5/+10) vs. Illinois as a tough spot for Illinois after a big win (“Purdue is improved”). [53:32]
• Also eyeing Florida as a value dog.
• Russillo: “Purdue a little sneaky if you haven’t been paying attention.” [54:23]

V. College Football Stadium Rankings: The Great Debate

[55:06–62:41]

• Fox’s “Top 10 CFB Stadiums” list is derided as “preposterous.”

  • Michigan listed #1 — “No one has ever said that, ever. Ever.” — Russillo [56:29]

  • Fallica: “The Big House is the quietest hundred and ten thousand people you’re ever...” [56:51]

  • OSU #2, Beaver Stadium #3 (Fallica’s actual #2), Notre Dame is unranked by Fallica (“not intimidating”), LSU #5 (“That’s my number one!”).

  • Debate about Bama: Russillo would pick Florida or Knoxville (Tennessee) ahead of Bryant-Denny; Fallica puts Tennessee #3: “Fans are nasty and rabid.” [58:35]

  • Both love Athens (Georgia), Jordan-Hare (Auburn), and give Husky Stadium (Washington) special mention.

    "Auburn football 2026: It just doesn’t make sense." — Fallica’s proposed media guide motto [59:52]

  • Texas (Austin) gets points for “loudness per capita.”

  • Russillo: “I just got sad for a second again” about West Coast Big Ten realignment [60:12]

• Honorable mention stadiums: Clemson, Texas A&M, Lane Stadium (Va Tech); brief nostalgia for epic Tallahassee/FSU environments.

VI. "Life Advice" Segment: Adventures in Adulting and Awkwardness

[69:24–92:41]

1. Pickup Basketball with Your Former... Swinger Teammate?

• Situation: Listener and his wife were “swinging” with another couple. It ended amicably. Now, he’s playing pickup basketball with the other husband. Wife thinks it’s weird; he loves the game and has great pickup chemistry with the guy.
  • Panel’s take: If you like the run, keep playing — “Of all the ways that swinging can go wrong, this is the least wrong.” (Russillo [77:01])
  • They debate relational etiquette, upper hand, and whether “straights” apply in this scenario—lots of jokes, classic RR banter.

2. Trash Bin Etiquette—Family Edition

• Situation: In-laws repeatedly throw loose trash in bins, violating town rules and forcing emailer to clean up (6-7 visits per year!).

  • Advice leans “just tell them directly” (per Steve) and possibly use a sign, though sign people “always lose.”

  • Russillo and the crew vent about garbage etiquette, city rules, and the misery of “bagless” trash cans.

  • They get sidetracked on “fatbergs,” harsh lessons from city sanitation, and the perils of poorly managed garbage.

    “I think there’s going to be...Hey, make sure you get all that stuff out. Well, when we pull in.” — Kyle [80:46]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There’s so much assumption... going on at the beginning of the [CFB] season.” — Russillo, on Vegas lines for Texas-Florida [19:36]
• “We were kicking around... In terms of trust factor at quarterback, it doesn’t feel like these teams really trust their quarterback.” — Fallica [24:34]
• “Almost all these teams feel like they’re trying to pass their way out of trouble. And if you have the guy, great. But a lot of teams, to me, feel like they don’t have the guy.” — Russillo [44:03]
• “Auburn football 2026: It just doesn’t make sense.” — Fallica [59:52]
• “If you don’t have LSU like in your top three [stadium atmospheres], like, what are you doing?” — Fallica [57:45]
• “If you like the run, yeah... of all the ways swinging can go wrong, this is the least wrong.” — Russillo [77:01]
• “The answer to almost all this stuff is just, why can’t you talk to them?” — Steve (life advice) [85:03]
• “Never let it out, bottle it up.” — Russillo (life advice) [75:54]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Baseball Opening: 00:00–16:38
• Miami, Texas, CFB Trenches: 16:38–20:45
• Penn State Real Talk: 20:45–23:34
• QB Trust Issues Nationwide: 24:00–32:00
• SEC Playoff Debate: 32:00–37:00
• Why the Run Game Still Matters: 38:06–44:30
• Big Ten/Indiana/Texas Tech: 45:46–52:00
• Weekly CFB Picks with Fallica: 53:32–54:23
• CFB Stadium Ranking Debate: 55:06–62:41
• Life Advice (Swinger Hoops): 69:24–77:10
• Life Advice (Garbage Etiquette): 77:10–92:41

Tone and Style

• Smart, irreverent, detail-laden: The conversation moves rapidly between high-level analysis and inside-joke banter.
• Frequent use of playful analogies (music fandom, RPG college football teams, gladiator movies).
• Grounded in both statistical analysis and real-life experience—especially on CFB, stadiums, and life “advice.”
• The “Life Advice” segment is jovially candid: a signature of the show’s personality.

Summary Takeaways

• Ryen is unapologetic about being a playoff “fairweather” baseball fan—enjoying October intensity without the grind.
• Chris Fallica sees Miami, Oregon, and Ohio State as the true national title trench monsters.
• 2025 CFB is defined by elite defensive lines and widespread skepticism about trusting quarterbacks (everywhere but maybe Oregon/Ohio St.).
• Playoff expansion and conference strength mean more parity, but also make perfection nearly unreachable.
• The panel hates the Fox stadium ranking, especially Michigan at #1, and makes a case for SEC/ACC (LSU, Tennessee, FSU) environments.
• “Life Advice” provides catharsis and comedy for the audience—on everything from ex-swinging sports partners to in-law garbage faux pas.

If you want to keep up with college football’s best debates and most awkward weekend basketball pairings, this is the episode for you.