Podcast
The Solid Verbal College Football
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College football in all its glory. Ditch the mainstream and break the huddle with The Solid Verbal. Since 2008, Ty Hildenbrandt and Dan Rubenstein have been shaking up the college football podcasting scene with their fun and unique blend of commentary. Whether you're a diehard or a casual observer, the show taps into your fandom with spirited debates, fresh perspectives, and segments you won't hear anywhere else. Recognized as trailblazers in the podcasting world, The Solid Verbal isn't just another college football show—it's America's College Football Podcast. Become a Verballer today and join thousands of others who don't just love college football, they live it!
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81episodes
Episodes
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SEC Preview: Part 2 - Georgia’s Path, Texas Questions & Psycho Sumrall | College Football
Yesterday01:21:15Summary readyIn this college football podcast episode, we continue our three-part 2026 SEC preview with deep dives on Georgia, Vanderbilt, Texas, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida. Georgia enters the season with perhaps the cleanest case of any contender in the conference, while Texas has all the talent to make a run at the SEC title but also enough lingering questions, plus a brutal schedule, to make us hesitate. How much separates the league’s best teams, and which concerns are worth taking seriously? We also dig into the growing Oklahoma hype and whether even marginal offensive improvement could make the Sooners significantly more dangerous, the latest attempt to build a functional offense around LaNorris Sellers at South Carolina, and a new era at Kentucky with Will Stein taking over for Mark Stoops. Vanderbilt begins life after Diego Pavia, while Tennessee forces us to reconsider whether we’ve been overlooking a roster that may be much closer to contention than we initially thought. And then there’s Florida. Ty goes all in on Jon Sumrall, a loaded Gators defense and a roster he believes is capable of making real noise in the SEC. Plus: Gunner Stockton’s continued toughness, buff John Mateer, Forrest Gump back in the SEC, Dan's Tennessee marriage, Simone Biles playing linebacker, and Jon Sumrall’s potential for postgame hijinks. Support the show at Verballers.com.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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SEC Preview: Part 1 - Contender Tiers, the 9-Game Gauntlet & a Thick Upper Crust | College Football
3d ago01:28:09Summary readyIn this episode, we kick off our three-part 2026 SEC preview by zooming out on a conference entering the season with plenty to prove. The SEC hasn't won the national championship in three years, six programs have new head coaches, and the league's move to a nine-game conference schedule promises to make an already difficult path to the College Football Playoff even more complicated. So, has the balance of power actually shifted to the Big Ten, or is the SEC positioned to take it back? We sort all 16 teams into tiers and work through a thick group of contenders. Georgia and Texas look like the safest bets near the top, but how much separates them from LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Ole Miss? We debate Lane Kiffin's chances of putting LSU together immediately, Oklahoma's offensive ceiling, Alabama's unanswered questions, and whether teams like Tennessee and Florida are being overlooked. We also dig into South Carolina, Missouri, Auburn and Vanderbilt before trying to make sense of the conference's biggest rebuilds. Plus: dubious beef becomes beef curiosities, what the SEC has in common with Detroit-style pizza, John Mateer apparently discovers Squatober, Will Stein gets plucky in Kentucky, and more. Learn more about supporting the show and playing our community games at Verballers.com.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Big Ten Preview: Part 3 - USC, Penn State, Michigan & Dubious Beef | College Football
6d ago01:38:49Summary readyIn this college football podcast episode, we close out our three-part 2026 Big Ten preview with nine more teams and some of the conference's most difficult projections. USC has the offense, talent and expectations of a College Football Playoff contender, but can Lincoln Riley's team survive a relentless schedule while Gary Patterson rebuilds the defense? The conversation gets especially spirited when we turn to the new eras at Penn State and Michigan. How quickly can Matt Campbell blend his Iowa State imports with the roster he inherited? Does Kyle Whittingham give Michigan an immediate coaching upgrade, and what will his staff unlock in Bryce Underwood? Along the way, we debate the talent level at Penn State, the offensive identities taking shape in Ann Arbor and State College, and whether either team can navigate a season filled with major swing games and playoff-level pressure. We also dig into Bob Chesney's ambitious UCLA rebuild, the possibility of Illinois being overlooked, Minnesota's search for offensive pop, Maryland's attempt to give Malik Washington more help, and the upside and limitations of the new coaching staffs at Michigan State and Northwestern. Plus: Dan's Penn State slander, a save-the-date for the Minnesota Support Zoom, the return of Charles Chip Kelly, and a troubling sign from College Football 27.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Big Ten Preview: Part 2 - Oregon’s Now-Or-Never Moment, Ohio State’s New Look and Indiana’s Encore | College Football
1w ago01:30:29Summary readyIn this college football podcast episode, we continue our three-part 2026 Big Ten preview with a closer look at nine teams, beginning with the three programs most likely to determine the conference championship. Oregon has assembled another loaded roster, but is this finally the year Dan Lanning’s program gets over the hump? Can Ohio State maintain its defensive standard while building a new offensive identity under Arthur Smith? And how successfully can defending national champion Indiana reload around Josh Hoover and a wave of transfer portal additions? We make our Big Ten championship predictions and examine the questions that could separate Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana once the College Football Playoff race begins. Then we turn toward the conference’s crowded middle. Is Iowa’s favorable schedule enough to overcome another uncertain quarterback situation? Can Washington’s promising but unproven roster deliver against better competition? And what happens when Nebraska pairs the unpredictable Anthony Colandrea with Dana Holgorsen? We also discuss the stakes surrounding Luke Fickell at Wisconsin, Greg Schiano’s attempt to rebuild the Rutgers defense and Purdue’s difficult path toward meaningful progress. Plus: a spirited disagreement over Iowa, a possible resurgences for the RVO offense, suspicious Rutgers sandwich spots, the official installation of Ty as Chief Colandrea Officer, and more.Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Big Ten Preview: Part 1 - Contender Tiers, The Big Three & Sweet Lady Schedule | College Football
1w ago01:43:11Summary readyIn this college football podcast episode, we open our three-part 2026 Big Ten preview by zooming out before diving into the individual team breakdowns. The conference has produced the last three national champions, enters the season with another wave of major coaching and coordinator changes, and features a surprising number of familiar quarterbacks. We sort all 18 Big Ten teams into contender tiers and ask whether Ohio State, Oregon and defending national champion Indiana have separated from the field. Is USC talented enough to overcome its schedule and lingering defensive questions? Could Penn State, Michigan, Washington or Iowa emerge as the conference’s fourth College Football Playoff team? And how much faith should we place in new systems, new play callers and transfer quarterbacks across the league? We also work through the crowded middle of the conference, where favorable schedules, volatile quarterbacks and major rebuilds make almost every projection feel negotiable. Plus: Sweet Lady Schedule, the Big Ten’s overarching theme of faith, Bob Chesney’s elite hairline, a renewed commitment to the Minnesota Support Zoom, and a fun announcement about the show's place in the college football media sphere. Timestamps:00:00 — Intro & Show News07:35 — The Big Ten’s three-year heater10:15 — New head coaches, coordinators and familiar quarterbacks15:46 — The Big Ten’s Big Three21:33 — The quest for a fourth playoff team25:54 — Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana and... USC?40:16 — Who's Next?41:12 — The potential for a 10-2 Iowa48:15 — The Illinois contender debate52:56 — Penn State’s reset with Matt Campbell58:57 — Michigan begins the Kyle Whittingham era1:02:04 — Washington’s next step under Jedd Fisch1:07:34 — Minnesota and Nebraska1:15:45 — UCLA’s Bob Chesney rebuild1:22:03 — Wisconsin, Luke Fickell and a friendlier schedule1:27:02 — Maryland’s upside and unresolved questions1:30:48 — Northwestern, Rutgers, Michigan State and PurdueSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Mike Lombardi’s Leave, Quotes from Media Days and the QB Battles to Watch | College Football
2w ago00:47:43Summary readyIn this college football podcast episode, we briefly step out of preview mode for a college football news reset. While we were working through the ACC and Big 12, the rest of the sport kept moving, beginning with another strange development at North Carolina. We discuss Mike Lombardi’s reported leave of absence, what it adds to the growing collection of Bill Belichick-era drama in Chapel Hill, and why Tar Heels fans did not exactly greet the news with despair. Then we dig through the most memorable moments from SEC, ACC and Big 12 Media Days. Lane Kiffin contemplates mortality, Jon Sumrall brings an unmistakable level of intensity to Florida, Pat Narduzzi makes another bold conference comparison, and several SEC coaches begin building the case for nine-win College Football Playoff teams. We also consider Greg Sankey’s acknowledgment that conversations about an SEC and Big Ten breakaway are real, even if nobody is quite ready to explain where those conversations might lead. Finally, with fall camps opening around the country, we look at the quarterback competitions worth tracking. What could a freshman starter mean for Tennessee? Is Alabama’s apparent favorite ready to take control? Which uncertain situations at Arkansas, Iowa and elsewhere could reshape an entire season? We also ask how many of these competitions are truly open and how many are exercises in keeping quarterbacks engaged during the transfer portal era. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro3:55 - Mike Lombardi on leave at UNC9:40 - Favorite Quotes from Media Days31:29 - QB Battles of InterestSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Big 12 Preview: Part 3 - Utah’s Identity Question, Houston’s Rise & Oklahoma State’s Reboot | College Football
2w ago01:20:40Summary readyIn this episode, we finish our Big 12 preview with the conference’s final eight teams: Utah, Houston, TCU, Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, UCF and Cincinnati. This preview features plenty of teams on the cusp of a breakthrough or a frustrating step backward. We start with Utah’s transition from Kyle Whittingham to Morgan Scalley and ask how much of the program’s familiar identity can survive a major staff and roster reset. From there, we dig into Houston’s contender case, TCU’s new quarterback and offensive coordinator, Arizona’s attempt to build on last year’s rebound, and Arizona State’s high-variance setup around a talented but unsettled offense. Then, Ty makes the full-throated case for an Oklahoma State revival under Eric Morris and Drew Mestemaker, while Dan tries to keep expectations somewhere near Earth. We also break down whether UCF can make the Year 2 jump under Scott Frost and whether Cincinnati can survive massive turnover by leaning on one of the Big 12’s best offensive lines. Plus: Wile E. Coyote branches, short quarterbacks, soufflé assembly and an impromptu summer tennis preview. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro7:12 - Utah Preview25:21 - TCU Preview35:26 - Arizona Preview44:25 - Arizona State Preview52:27 - Oklahoma State Preview1:03:58 - UCF Preview1:10:33 - Cincinnati PreviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Big 12 Preview: Part 2 - Texas Tech’s Encore, BYU’s Challenge & Kansas State's New Era | College Football
3w ago01:10:58Summary readyIn this episode, we continue our 2026 Big 12 preview with the first full batch of team-by-team breakdowns. Texas Tech enters as the reigning conference champion and apparent favorite, but the strange offseason surrounding Brendan Sorsby and Will Hammond has made its path back to the College Football Playoff more complicated than it first appeared. We examine whether the Red Raiders can turn one dominant season into a repeatable model, and whether BYU has enough offensive growth and defensive muscle to finally close the gap. From there, we move into the conference’s crowded and unpredictable middle. What will Kansas State look like with Collin Klein returning to lead the program? Can Dave Aranda and new defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman bring order to the chaos at Baylor before time runs out? We also consider whether Andy Kotelnicki can revive the Kansas offense, whether Brennan Marion’s Go-Go system is the answer for Colorado, and how quickly new regimes at West Virginia and Iowa State can start showing meaningful progress. Plus, we discuss the booming transfer market for competent offensive linemen, the college football equivalent of a veteran left-handed relief pitcher, several dangerous schedule sandwiches, and much more. Timestamps:00:00 - Intro05:30 - Texas Tech Preview20:26 - BYU Preview27:41 - Kansas State Preview36:50 - Baylor Preview47:00 - Kansas Preview52:41 - Colorado Preview59:13 - West Virginia Preview1:02:59 - Iowa State PreviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Big 12 Preview: Part 1 - Contender Tiers, Dark Horses & the Monster Middle Class | College Football
3w ago01:09:28Summary readyIn this episode, we begin our three-part Big 12 preview by taking a conference-wide look at the contenders, challengers and mystery teams shaping the 2026 season. Texas Tech enters as the defending champion and the clear center of attention, but does the conference’s best roster still have enough at quarterback and on defense to remain on top? We also examine why BYU feels like the safest alternative and whether Houston is ready to turn last year’s breakthrough into something even bigger. From there, we sort all 16 teams into tiers and work through a crowded middle class that may be deeper than either of us expected. How much should Utah’s infrastructure matter after major changes on the sideline and along both lines of scrimmage? Can Arizona, TCU or Kansas State stay in the championship race? Are we falling too hard for Oklahoma State’s potential, and how much faith should we place in Kenny Dillingham as Arizona State faces the conference’s most difficult schedule? We also identify the players we are most interested in watching, debate several new quarterback situations and make our early Big 12 Championship Game predictions. Plus, the Monster Energy sponsorship inspires a shady monetization strategy, Willie Fritz becomes the world’s most dependable roofing contractor, and one verbal stumble launches a questionable new Cincinnati business venture. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro3:01 - The Monster Energy Big 12?6:25 - The Basics & Big Themes17:05 - Surprise Observations20:09 - Contender TiersSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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ACC Preview: Part 3 - Clemson’s Crossroads, Virginia Tech’s Reboot & NC State Hope | College Football
3w ago01:25:51Summary readyIn this college football podcast episode, we finish our three-part preview of the ACC by turning our attention to the defending conference champions and several of the league’s most difficult teams to project. Can Duke keep finding ways to win after another major quarterback change? Does Clemson have a real plan for getting back into the College Football Playoff conversation? And can Louisville once again rebuild its offense around a new transfer quarterback without losing ground near the top of the conference? We also dig into James Franklin’s full-scale reboot at Virginia Tech, Ty’s increasingly dangerous belief in NC State, and a pivotal season for Brent Key at Georgia Tech. With new quarterbacks, rebuilt offensive lines, coordinator changes and transfer portal additions everywhere, how much confidence should we place in recognizable coaches and favorable schedules? Plus, we examine why Cal could become one of the most entertaining teams in college football, whether Syracuse can recover with Steve Angeli back under center, and what Bill O’Brien can realistically build at Boston College. Elsewhere, Dan experiments with performance-enhancing inhalers, Ty launches Bros for Brohm, the Calgorithm gains strength, and we issue another annual warning about hiring Ted Roof. Timecodes:0:00 - Intro4:01 - Duke Blue Devils Preview14:26 - Clemson Tigers Preview25:00 - NC State Wolfpack Preview32:29 - Louisville Cardinals Preview40:22 - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Preview50:36 - Virginia Tech Hokies Preview1:06:02 - Cal Golden Bears Preview1:12:53 - Syracuse Orange Preview1:18:03 - Boston College Eagles Preview1:22:33 - Parting ShotsSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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