Podcast Summary: Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara
Episode: Bruce Feldman Talks NCAA Football Coaching Madness, Plus Matt Loves Candy Corn and Annie Agar’s MVP Favorite
Date: October 30, 2025
Hosts: Matt Leinart, Jerry Ferrara
Guest: Bruce Feldman (Fox Sports, The Athletic)
Special Segment: Annie Agar (Twisted Tea Trivia)
Episode Overview
This lively Halloween-themed episode dives into the wild current state of NCAA football coaching changes with insider Bruce Feldman. Matt and Jerry also debate the contentious topic of Halloween candy, relive sports equinox memories, and welcome Annie Agar for a special NFL “trick or treat” segment and Twisted Tea Trivia. Full of debates, hot takes, and personal stories, it’s a perfect snapshot of college football’s chaos and the hosts’ distinct personalities.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Halloween, Sports Equinox, and Jersey Debates
- Matt and Jerry riff on the chaos of Halloween, both on and off the field, kicking off with observations on the sports "equinox": World Series, NFL, NBA tipping off, and college football's heated midseason.
- Jerry brings up a recurring bit: Matt's distaste for grown men wearing jerseys.
- Matt stands firm, even refusing for Halloween:
“Not even for Halloween am I wearing another person's jersey as an outfit.” (04:35, Matt)
- Matt stands firm, even refusing for Halloween:
- Shout-out to Cam Scadaboo after his injury at a Knicks game in a jersey, with both hosts wishing him a speedy recovery.
2. Best Job in Sports? And the Ultimate Sports Month
- Playful debate: Is being a “fired coach” the best job in sports?
- “Outside of being a backup quarterback? Absolutely.” (01:50, Matt)
- Both hosts make their cases for October as the premier month for sports fans.
3. Halloween Candy Throwdown
- Matt and Jerry rank their top three Halloween candies, revealing the depth of their friendship (and rivalry).
- Jerry’s Top 3 (07:06):
- Full-size KitKat (must be frozen)
- Reese’s Pieces (“That’s trash,” Matt interjects)
- 3 Musketeers (“Are those even…do they exist anymore?” – Matt)
- Matt’s Top 3 (08:11):
- Tootsie Rolls (only eaten at Halloween)
- Twizzlers
- Candy Corn, his undisputed #1
- Memorable moment: Matt literally shows off his nearly-empty jar of candy corn.
- “Candy corn is my favorite Halloween candy. I eat it once a year...my wife thinks I’m disgusting.” (09:02, Matt)
- Jerry: “Candy corn looks like an earplug!” (09:57)
- Jerry’s Top 3 (07:06):
4. Bruce Feldman on the Coaching Carousel (11:26–33:56)
A. Unprecedented Coaching Turnover
- Feldman paints a picture of chaos:
- Rapid changes: 12 college jobs open, $200M in buyouts
- “...it was just kind of all hell breaking loose on Brian Kelly getting the boot in Baton Rouge.” (11:56, Bruce)
- Feldman’s take on what’s fueling the fires:
- Lower patience among ADs and fans
- Transfer portal/increased pressure for instant success
- NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals giving new programs access to top talent
- “Now a lot of places... are throwing around money. Some programs that didn’t have money before are now legit players.” (14:19, Bruce)
- Agents like Jimmy Sexton drive up contracts; 10-year, $100 million deals may not last, but won’t go away easily due to entrenched agent power.
B. What’s Next for Big-Name Coaches?
- James Franklin: likely to return immediately (Virginia Tech is named as a possible landing spot)
- Brian Kelly: more likely to take time, maybe TV—"He plays more golf than Urban does...do you really want to jump back into it?” (21:08, Bruce)
- Lane Kiffin:
- Has leverage, family rooted at Ole Miss, may stay especially with playoff expansion.
- “The difference between the job at Ole Miss and LSU is as close as it’s ever been.” (24:24, Bruce)
C. Transfer Portal and Recruiting Dominoes
- One transfer portal window heightens urgency for programs
- If schools wait on their top candidate (like Kiffin), they risk losing out on recruiting classes.
- Candidates for open jobs: Eli Drinkwitz, Jeff Brohm, and Jed Fisch are named as real options.
D. Rumor Mill: Gruden and Coach Orgeron
- Jon Gruden: Unlikely to transition to college.
- “I’d be surprised if he ends up in college. I’m not saying I wouldn’t ever expect it, but I would be surprised.” (28:19, Bruce)
- Ed Orgeron: Could return as D-Line coach, especially at a place like USC if the fit is right.
- “My hunch is he will end up as somebody’s D-Line coach, assistant head coach, because he’s really good at that.” (28:25, Bruce)
E. College Football Playoff Rankings Anticipation
- Indiana’s rapid rise: potential for a #1 ranking despite being a non-blue blood
- “I think they should get some legit number one consideration.” (31:31, Bruce)
- Bruce leans Ohio State as ‘best’ by eye test, but Indiana or A&M by resume.
F. Balance of Power and Parity
- Matt and Bruce agree: more parity now than ever; 8–9 teams with legit title shots due to NIL and transfer portal.
G. Behind the Scenes: Road Stories
- Bruce tells golf tales from the Big Noon crew, including Mark Sanchez bombing a 406-yard drive (35:12+) and Urban Meyer as a “belly putter guy.”
5. Annie Agar Segment with Twisted Tea: Trick or Treat NFL (39:11–49:59)
A. Intro & Halloween Costume Traditions
- Annie previews her annual sports Halloween gag, reminisces about past costumes (e.g., the “Hamburglar” for Jim Harbaugh’s recruiting scandal).
- Midwest-vs-coast debate on the pronunciation of “Reese’s” (“Reese’s” vs “Reese’s Pieces”)—“I just walk out of the room, I can’t deal.” (42:23, Jerry)
B. NFL Trick or Treat – Burning Questions, Rapid Fire
- Drake May, MVP?
- “I think you can make a case that he’s the best QB in the league right now...This year, Drake May might be the best quarterback in the league, so it’s a treat.” (43:40, Matt)
- Jackson Dart, Offensive Rookie of the Year?
- Trick: Too many missed games, injuries (44:13+)
- “Tush Push”: Is this the last season?
- Hosts agree: Trick. It's probably on the way out because it's changing football's nature.
- Baltimore Ravens Playoff Hopes?
- Mixed responses: Annie says “treat,” Matt says “trick.”
- Andy Reid: Best Coach in the NFL?
- All: “Treat.”
- “Andy Reid, year in and year out, man.” (47:37, Matt)
6. Twisted Tea Trivia: Tight End Edition! (48:20–52:16)
- Annie quizzes Matt and Jerry on tight end stats and NFL Halloween costumes.
- Matt dominates the trivia:
- Correctly identifies Tyler Warren as the TE receiving yards leader (48:35).
- Snares quick victories with player ID photo challenges (51:05: “Aidan Hutchinson”).
- Jerry: “Can we please do entertainment next week? This is outrageous.” (51:47)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Matt on candy corn:
“Candy corn is my favorite Halloween candy. I eat it once a year. My wife thinks I'm disgusting.” (09:02)
- Jerry on candy corn:
“Candy corn looks like an earplug.” (09:57)
- Bruce Feldman on job chaos:
“It was just kind of all hell breaking loose on Brian Kelly getting the boot in Baton Rouge.” (11:56)
- Bruce on NIL changing the power dynamics:
“Now a lot of places... are throwing around money. Some programs that didn’t have money before are now legit players.” (14:19)
- Bruce on agents:
“There’s really like two or three agents who have almost the whole industry... why are you going to do that? Because you’re basically leaving a lot of money on the table.” (19:55)
- Annie on Midwest “Reese’s” pronunciation:
“If I just say it, Reese, I think just Reese’s, but you have to do Reese’s Pieces and then remember how to say it.” (42:15)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment/Topic | Time | |------------------------------------------------------------|----------| | Halloween/Sports Equinox & Jersey Debate | 00:45–05:00 | | Halloween Candy Debate & Matt’s Candy Corn Obsession | 06:43–11:10 | | Introduction of Bruce Feldman | 11:26 | | Coaching Carousel Deep Dive | 12:00–30:45 | | Parity, Playoff Rankings, Favorite Teams | 31:17–33:56 | | Behind-the-scenes Golf Stories | 34:03–37:47 | | Annie Agar Segment – Halloween & NFL “Trick or Treat” | 39:11–47:52 | | Twisted Tea Trivia – Tight End Edition | 48:20–52:16 |
Tone & Style
Conversational, irreverent, and friendly, with plenty of heartfelt sports analysis, behind-the-scenes camaraderie, and genuine affection (and teasing) among hosts and guests. They blend rapid-fire hot takes with in-depth industry insight, all in an easygoing, relatable manner.
For Listeners Who Missed It
This episode is a must-listen for fans who want to understand the current NCAA football coaching madness directly from a plugged-in insider, enjoy sports debates with a personal flavor, and appreciate the unpredictability of both college football and friendships (especially when it involves someone defending candy corn to the death). The episode balances real news and insider knowledge with pop culture and comic relief, thanks to segments on candy, NFL trivia, and Annie Agar’s lighthearted banter.
Skip the commercials, don’t skip the candy corn talk.