The Audible with Stew, Bruce & Ralph: A show about college football

Welcome back to another episode of The Audible! Today, we dive deep into the mounting pressure in Los Angeles as Lincoln Riley’s seat continues to warm up at USC. After a rough stretch for the Trojans, a compelling fan mailbag question from London asks the tough question: Will USC pull the trigger and move on from Riley, and who would Jennifer Cohen target as a replacement? From a prominent coach across town to big-name targets in the SEC, we break down what a potential coaching search could look like for the Trojans. We also tackle the massive Nick Saban backlash rocking college football media this week. The legendary coach is facing serious hypocrisy charges after claiming that coach and player compensation belong in "different markets," arguing player salaries must be capped while coaching contracts remain unchecked. We discuss the double standard of these comments and how the Protect College Sports Act—which just moved forward with a last-second 20-school realignment limit—could reshape the sport once it hits the House after the midterms. Finally, we hand out first-month grades for first-year head coaches across the country, highlighting who is succeeding (like Florida) and who is completely failing to get off the ground (like Cal). Plus, we rank the top 20 most impactful freshmen of the 2026 season so far, debate how Arkansas or Rutgers would fare against a full G6 schedule, and break down why losing or retaining your offensive coordinator can completely make or break a program's playoff hopes. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:03 - Senate Passes Protect College Sports Act, Still Needs House Approval 3:39 - Nick Saban Says Coach and Player Compensation Are ‘Different Markets’ 13:39 - Which Freshman Have Made The Greatest Impact Through First Month? 21:53 - First-Year Coaches: Who Is Succeeding? Who Is Failing? 31:41 - Mailbag! How Would Arkansas Or Rutgers Fair With A G6 Schedule? 37:30 - Mailbag! Who Could Replace Lincoln Riley At USC If Trojans Move On? 47:18 - Mailbag! How Important Is Retaining Your Offensive Coordinator? Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH 🔹The Audible: @audible.show #CollegeFootball #USCFootball #NickSaban #LincolnRiley #Trojans #FloridaGators #ArkansasRazorbacks #RutgersFootball #CalFootball #NIL #CollegeFootball2026 #TheAudible Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Audible, Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo break down a chaotic week in college football, starting with the massive news out of Columbia. Shane Beamer has suspended star defensive end Dylan Stewart indefinitely following his actions in South Carolina's loss to Alabama. The guys discuss the major fallout of this decision, what it means for Stewart's rising NFL Draft stock, and whether the temperature is officially rising on Beamer’s hot seat. Plus, we analyze the shifting landscape of coaching changes and take a hard look at how teams are faring in non-conference play against Power 4 competition. Then, it’s time to head to the betting window for our official Week 5 Picks. The crew looks to break a three-way tie in the standings as they lock in their predictions against the spread for the weekend's biggest marquee matchups. Can No. 16 Mississippi State stay within the number against No. 7 Alabama? Will Iowa's defense muck things up enough to cover +13.5 at No. 5 Ohio State? The guys also break down No. 8 Florida at No. 25 Missouri, No. 4 Miami's tough road trip to Clemson, and wrap things up by tossing out their favorite Upset Picks of the Week. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:16 - South Carolina Suspends Star DE Dylan Stewart 9:21 - Are More Coaches On The Hot Seat This Season? 18:27 - Non-Conference Records vs Power 4 Teams 35:57 - Week 5 Picks | No 7 Alabama (-5.5) at No 16 Mississippi State 40:30 - Week 5 Picks | No 5 Ohio State (-13.5) at No 14 Iowa 43:37 - Week 5 Picks | No 8 Florida (-4.5) at No 25 Missouri 46:00 - Week 5 Picks | No 4 Miami (-17.5) at Clemson 50:16 - The Audible Picks Week 5 Upsets Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH 🔹The Audible: @audible.show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Audible! Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo deliver their full postgame breakdown after a historic, record-breaking weekend of college football. Week 4 set the all-time record for the most ranked-versus-ranked games on any single day in AP poll history, and the guys are diving into the aftermath of all six blockbuster Top 25 matchups. We break down No. 20 Oregon's chaotic, emotional road victory over No. 12 USC at the Coliseum after backup quarterback Dylan Raiola stepped into the fire. Plus, we dissect No. 1 Texas grinding out a tight, penalty-filled victory at Neyland Stadium to survive No. 14 Tennessee behind Colin Simmons’ historic 5-sack defensive showcase. The crew also reacts to the rest of a slate that completely reshapes the College Football Playoff picture, including No. 21 Florida absolutely dismantling No. 4 Ole Miss, No. 17 Iowa's breathtaking 91-yard walk-off touchdown drive to stun Michigan at the Big House, and No. 10 LSU securing massive revenge against No. 23 Texas A&M in Death Valley. Finally, we look at Boise State's dominant road win over Western Michigan and track where the Group of 6 Playoff race stands heading into October. Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH 🔹The Audible: @audible.show #CollegeFootball #OregonVsUSC #TexasVsTennessee #CFBWeek4 #TheAudible #APTop25 #CollegeFootballPlayoff #SECfootball #BigTenFootball #USCTrojans #OregonDucks #TexasLonghorns #VolsFootball #GeorgiaFootball #LSUfootball #CFBLive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kamario Taylor: The Uncomfortable Conversation about Mississippi State’s Star Quarterback takes center stage on this episode of The Audible. Following an absurd start to the season, an anonymous Big Ten coach has dropped a massive bombshell quote, claiming Taylor’s freakish arm talent and accuracy make him the best college football QB in years—before dropping the ultimate kicker: “He’s gonna look awesome in a Miami Hurricanes uniform next year.” Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo dive deep into the modern NIL and transfer portal reality. Can Mississippi State pay up to retain their local star for a potential CFP run, or will the relentless pull of the portal lure him away to a program like Miami? The guys also track the massive Week 3 fallout across the country, starting with heated fan protests at Arkansas and Maryland. The crew debates whether the Razorbacks’ athletic department would actually be a better fit in the Big 12, where their basketball-first identity aligns with schools like Kansas and Arizona. Plus, Ralph takes us on the road to Kalamazoo for Boise State vs. Western Michigan, a high-stakes matchup with massive Group of 6 (G6) College Football Playoff implications. We also address the growing national backlash against ESPN’s College GameDay for choosing its fourth straight SEC venue instead of heading west to Los Angeles for Oregon vs. USC. Finally, the crew cracks open the Audible Mailbag to answer your burning college football questions. Are major programs falling into a "sunk cost fallacy" by refusing to bench highly paid, highly ranked quarterbacks like Bryce Underwood, John Mateer, and Marcel Reed? Bruce shares exclusive insider details on the true structure of Michigan's massive NIL deal with Underwood. We also break down whether undefeated, unranked teams like UCLA, Nebraska, Washington, and Northwestern are getting robbed by AP voters, and analyze why coaches like Lincoln Riley, Deion Sanders, and Dan Lanning treat local media radically differently than national outlets. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:24 - Fan Frustrations: Maryland and Arkansas Fans Protesting After Week 3 7:51 - The Curious Case of Kamario Taylor…Will the Miss State QB transfer? 16:31 - Boise State vs Western Michigan: Potential G6 CFP Implications In Kalamazoo 23:19 - Should ESPN’s College GameDay Be In Los Angeles For Oregon At USC? 32:11 - Mailbag! Are Coaches Falling Into A Sunk Cost Fallacy With QBs? 38:08 - Mailbag! Should UCLA, Northwestern, Nebraska, or Washington Be Ranked? 42:14 - Mailbag! Do Programs Treat Local Media Different From National Outlets? Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH 🔹The Audible: @audible.show #CollegeFootball #KamarioTaylor #TransferPortal #MississippiState #HailState #MiamiHurricanes #GoCanes #NIL #CollegeGameDay #OregonFootball #USCFootball #ArkansasRazorbacks #WoooPig #MarylandTerrapins #BoiseState #TheAudible Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The college football landscape is shifting rapidly, and today on The Audible, Bruce Feldman and Ralph Russo are breaking down the biggest crossroads in the sport. We lead off with the fallout from North Carolina’s devastating blown lead against Clemson and unpack the latest surrounding the brewing UNC investigation. With top assistants no longer around, the crew debates if the hole Bill Belichick dug himself into from year one is simply too deep to survive, and whether the Tar Heels are looking for a way out of his three-year contract before next season. From program turmoil to early-season shockers, we reveal our biggest surprises across the Power 4 and Group of 6, starring breakout players like Kamario Taylor, Jamal Rule, and Jesse Legree. Finally, it’s time to look ahead with our official, high-stakes Week 4 predictions against the spread! The crew locks in their locks and picks for a loaded slate, featuring No. 1 Texas at No. 14 Tennessee, No. 4 Ole Miss visiting No. 21 Florida, and a brutal Big Ten clash between No. 17 Iowa and No. 18 Michigan. We wrap things up by dissecting the highly anticipated matchup between No. 20 Oregon and No. 12 USC, before handing out our official Upset Picks of the Week! Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:37 - UNC Crossroads: Tar Heels Lose At Clemson, Program Investigation Still Pending 15:00 - What Are Your Early Season Surprises 27:37 - No 1 Texas (-4.5) at No 14 Tennessee 30:50 - No 4 Ole Miss at No 21 Florida (-3) 38:03 - No 17 Iowa at No 18 Michigan (-5.5) 41:38 - No 23 Texas A&M at No 10 LSU (-9.5) 46:17 - No 20 Oregon (-3) at No 12 USC 53:54 - The Audible Picks Week 4 Upsets Follow the Crew on X: 🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel 🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB 🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH 🔹The Audible: @audible.show #CollegeFootball #TheAudible #BillBelichick #UNCvsClemson #APPoll #Week4Picks #TexasFootball #Vols Football #OleMiss #GoGators #IowaHawkeyes #GoBlue #USCFootball #OregonDuck Football #CFBBetting #UpsetAlert Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.