The Ryen Russillo Show – "NBA Mailbag Questions & Another Ja Morant Self-Own, Plus CFB Rivalry Week w/ Stanford Steve"

Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Ryen Russillo (now at Barstool Sports)
Guests: Steve Ceruti, Kyle, Stanford Steve

Overview

In this episode, Ryen Russillo delivers a classic mix of NBA analysis, listener mailbag, college football breakdowns with Stanford Steve, and the ever-popular Life Advice segment. The show kicks off with an in-depth timeline and reflection on Ja Morant’s turbulent past year, pivots into NBA mailbag questions (touching on SGA, the Heat, and Sixers), then transitions into extensive CFB conference and playoff implications with Stanford Steve. The episode wraps up with personal advice, light banter, and life musings, all in Russillo’s signature, conversational tone.

Main Themes & Segments

1. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, and "The Self-Own"

Timestamps: 02:14 – 12:45

• Russillo explores the ongoing struggles and self-inflicted setbacks in Ja Morant’s career.
  • Details Memphis being in the 10th seed in the West, their hopeless start, and pick scenarios involving OKC and Utah.
  • Runs through recent and older Ja Morant incidents, including suspensions, public persona, and his baffling continued behavior despite significant brand and team losses.
• Reflects on "Memphis Curses", experimenting with dunk minutes and fresh roster rotations that aren’t working.
• Critiques the “victim” mentality Morant seems to be adopting and challenges whether fans (and himself) should expect maturity from public figures.

Notable Quotes:

• “The best moment in the Ja era is probably the ‘whoop that trick’ game... when he wasn’t playing because he got hurt.” – Ryen Russillo (06:00)
• “Why would you even want to go after Klay? Yeah, Klay’s not as good now. No shit, he’s old.” (12:05)

Memorable Moment:

• The “Ja broke the code” circular feud between Morant, Kerr, Brooks, and Payton, highlighting the layers of NBA drama.

2. NBA Mailbag: SGA, Heat Culture, and Sixers Rotations

Timestamps: 12:45 – 25:47
Mailbag led by Steve Ceruti

a. SGA’s Push-Offs & Harden Comparisons

• Listener frustration with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s “push off to create space”.
• Russillo recommends perspective: “Watch Harden, then go back, watch SGA—okay, so it could be worse.” (14:29)
• Insightful breakdown of how the league subtly permits offensive players to manufacture space, touching on officiating quirks over the years.

b. Heat Culture & Being Wrong About Miami

• Listener flags preseason skepticism about the Heat.
• Both concede Miami’s new high-paced, share-the-ball approach is genuinely fun and unexpected, especially given historical slowness.
• Russillo admits: “I didn’t know they’d have this system when they’ve never played fast... I did not expect this.” (21:21)
• Both hold back from picking the Heat for the East, still favoring more talented rosters in the playoffs.

c. Sixers Guard Rotation

• Listener asks about ideal Philly rotations with various players returning.
• Russillo analyzes sound backcourt combinations, suggests “closing with VJ and Maxey if healthy,” but acknowledges it’s a challenging mix due to guard depth and Embiid’s needs.
• Light mockery of passionate Sixers/Heat mailbag obsession: “What is this mailbag gonna be, just Heat and Sixers fans?” (23:08)

3. College Football Rivalry Week Deep-Dive

Timestamps: 27:53 – 62:13
With Stanford Steve

a. Big Ten, SEC, and Playoff Gaps

• Discuss the comparative strength of Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon vs. SEC teams at the top.
• Stanford Steve sees only a minimal gap: “I don’t think it’s large at all, Ryan. I think it’s minimal...I actually look at Oregon after seeing them in person...” (28:35)
• Praises Oregon’s physicality, depth at running back, and handling of adversity.

b. Program Cultures & Stadium Experiences

• Extended anecdotes about Eugene, Oregon – stadium upgrades, in-game traditions, and nostalgia for wild Halloween games.
• Discussion transitions to Georgia’s tactical resilience and the program’s ability to adjust during games: “Kirby’s not throwing a visor, he’s not throwing a headset... it’s this methodical, pro-like approach.” (39:28)

c. Other Team Assessments

• A&M’s defensive strengths and coaching tactics.
• Notre Dame, Tech, Bama, and their realistic paths to playoff relevance.
• Widens to a coaching/roster analysis and memorable/quirky road-trip stories.

d. CFB Committee Rankings Gripes

• Russillo and Steve scrutinize BYU, Utah, and Miami’s placement.
• Both find the committee’s affection for Utah odd, with Steve noting, “I don’t understand it” (58:37), and Russillo adding, “I just don’t like it [BYU/Utah] in front of the Hurricanes.” (57:57)

Notable Quotes:

• “Arvell Reese, he’s a different animal. They just line him up wherever they want.” – Stanford Steve (29:30)
• “Give me all of Kenyon Sadiq, dude—he wears a uniform like no other guy in college football.” – Stanford Steve (30:39)
• “It’s not really a 12-team playoff if we’re gonna have a group of five and Notre Dame is gonna be a part of it; it’s group 5+10.” – Stanford Steve (59:51)

4. NFL Picks & Thanksgiving Football Banter

Timestamps: 62:13 – 67:50

• Steve delivers his Philly “Black Friday” pick: “We’ll lay it with Philly.” (63:20)
• Russillo jokes about late-night London game routines and the “untapped opportunity” with Sky Sports for former NFLers.
• Amusing sidebar on TV streaming issues and the stress of missing games while traveling.

5. Life Advice: The “Rebuilding Year”, Social Hermitage, and Ethics of Reselling Gifts

Timestamps: 70:44 – 90:32

Segment Highlights:

• A listener asks about a friend’s extended “rebuilding year”—avoiding social life, postponing dating, focusing on physical and financial self-improvement.
• Russillo & crew toggle between empathy and light razzing, mostly advising patience unless the friend’s isolation persists too long:
  “You can have a three-year rebuilding plan, as plenty of fan bases know—doesn’t mean it’ll only take three years.” (80:36)
• Suggest picking a hard deadline for re-entering the world, possibly timed with NBA milestones as a motivational joke.

Ethics of Selling Gifted Tickets:

• Listener dilemma: is it wrong to sell high-value tickets received as a gift upon leaving a job?
• Consensus: It depends on whether the givers could find out; selling is tempting if anonymous, but doesn’t “feel right” if the gift was meant as a personal experience.

Notable Quotes & Banter

• “I love that Philly responding. National embarrassment... My adrenaline.” – Ryen Russillo (63:22)
• “Play them this... Just play them this last bit of the clip.” – Stanford Steve, encouraging the first listener to share the Life Advice segment with his isolated friend. (83:18)
• “If I were a talent agent... I would be calling Sky Sports. Get reps, NFL guys!” – Russillo on creative ways to break into TV sports. (63:35)

Episode Tone and Style

Lively, self-aware, a mix of playful ribbing and earnest analysis. Russillo and his regulars are unafraid of tangents—whether on gym etiquette, nostalgia for campus bar fights, or thorough explorations of team-building philosophy. The segment with Stanford Steve is full of mutual respect and CFB “inside baseball.” Life Advice oscillates between compassionate and comedic.

Timestamps for Key Sections

• Ja Morant Deep Dive — 02:14 to 12:45
• NBA Mailbag — 12:45 to 25:47
• CFB Rivalry Week with Stanford Steve — 27:53 to 62:13
• NFL Thanksgiving Picks — 62:13 to 67:50
• Life Advice & Listener Dilemmas — 70:44 to 90:32

Conclusion

This is an episode for dedicated hoops and football fans who love narrative as much as stats—delivering NBA insights, NCAA playoff conjectures, and authentic “locker room” wisdom about life, friendship, and the comedy of sports. Presented with wit, humility, and plenty of insider anecdotes.