3 and Out with John Middlekauff

The NFL is officially back, and on this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff dives into the biggest storylines heading into the new season, from player news and international games to the latest developments across college football.
John breaks down Aaron Donald and the latest surrounding one of the most dominant defensive players of his generation. He also looks at the NFL's continued push to expand its global footprint with more NFL International Games and what the league's international strategy means for the future of the sport.
The quarterback market is also in focus as Baker Mayfield gets paid. John discusses the significance of the deal and what it says about how NFL teams value quarterbacks who have established themselves as franchise-level players.
John then shifts to college football, discussing Lane Kiffin and Florida State and the latest storylines surrounding the Seminoles as the college football season gets underway.
Finally, John opens up the Middlekauff Mailbag, answering listener questions and tackling a wide range of NFL, college football, roster-building, coaching, and football-related topics.
From the return of the NFL and Aaron Donald to Baker Mayfield's new deal, international games, Lane Kiffin, Florida State, and the Middlekauff Mailbag, it’s all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.
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On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff dives into the latest NFL news before making his 2026 NFL predictions, including his picks for division winners and the teams he believes will make the playoffs.
John starts with Tua Tagovailoa starting for the Atlanta Falcons, discussing the quarterback situation and what expectations should be heading into the season. He also breaks down Deshaun Watson being named a captain by the Cleveland Browns and what that says about his standing within the organization.
The Patriots and Christian Gonzalez are also on the agenda, as John examines the latest surrounding New England and one of the team's most important players. Plus, John discusses Tony Romo and the latest NFL storylines around the league.
Then it’s prediction time. John gives his picks for the AFC and NFC division winners, before laying out his AFC Wild Card and NFC Wild Card selections. Which teams are positioned to make a run, and which playoff contenders could surprise?
From Tua and Watson to Christian Gonzalez, Tony Romo, and John's full NFL playoff predictions, it’s all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.
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Colin is joined by John Middlekauff, host of “3 and Out” on The Volume.
They start with Michigan’s rocky start in their first game under coach Kyle Whittingham and the regression shown by quarterback Bryce Underwood (2:30), they also discuss the crazy ending to their game against Western Michigan (7:30).
They pivot to Clemson being humiliated by LSU and Colin questions whether it’s time for head coach Dabo Swinney to go (12:15), and they make their predictions on how LSU will fare under Lane Kiffin (17:30).
Colin argues Miami’s Darian Mensah looks like the best quarterback in college football, and could have a special season now that he’s paired with dynamic wide receiver Malachi Toney (26:00). They also discuss the growing disparity between the power conferences and the mid-majors despite Boise State putting a scare into #2 Oregon (29:30).
They move to the mess at UNC under Bill Belichick and why hiring a “friends and family” staff has hamstrung the program (37:00).
They pivot to the NFL and make their Super Bowl predictions and preview Seahawks vs. Patriots to open the NFL season (49:00).
They preview the Rams vs. 49ers this Thursday on Netflix and Colin believes the Rams will become the target for everyone’s best shot since they’re the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl… and that it’s no guarantee the Rams even win their division (56:00).
Finally, they react to Tua Tagovailoa winning the starting quarterback job for the Falcons (1:07:00)
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.)
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On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff dives into another loaded week of college football, breaking down the biggest games, programs, and storylines making headlines around the sport.
John starts with Western Michigan vs. Michigan, examining the Wolverines' performance and what the game tells us about where Michigan stands as the season continues.
The conversation then turns to Clemson vs. LSU, one of the marquee matchups of the week. John breaks down the game, the pressure on both programs, and what the result could mean for their College Football Playoff hopes.
John also discusses Boise State vs. Oregon, looking at Oregon's continued rise and whether the Ducks are firmly in the conversation among the nation's elite programs.
Plus, John weighs in on Dabo Swinney, the changing landscape of college football, and how Indiana has become a major player in NIL. What are the Hoosiers doing differently, and can their approach continue to work?
The episode also covers Miami vs. Stanford and the latest surrounding Arch Manning, as the Texas quarterback continues to draw massive attention every time he steps on the field.
From Michigan and Oregon to Clemson, LSU, Indiana, and Arch Manning, John breaks down the biggest storylines across college football on this episode of 3 & Out.
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On this episode, John Middlekauff and Jackson Groff take a deep dive into the biggest storylines in college football, with plenty to debate as the season begins to take shape.
They kick things off with the ongoing Big Ten vs. SEC debate. Which conference is truly the best in college football, and which league has the strongest collection of teams capable of competing for a national championship?
The conversation then turns to Arch Manning and the enormous expectations surrounding the Texas quarterback. Is the hype justified, and what should we realistically expect from Manning as he steps into the spotlight?
John also breaks down Notre Dame, including the Fighting Irish's place among the nation's elite and whether they can compete with the Big Ten and SEC powerhouses.
Plus, Oregon and USC, two programs with massive expectations and even bigger recruiting footprints, before diving into Oklahoma and Indiana and what their seasons could look like.
The episode wraps with a look at Cal and the evolving college football landscape, where conference realignment continues to reshape the sport.
From conference supremacy and superstar quarterbacks to Notre Dame, Oregon, USC, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Cal, The Return of Kauff on Campus has you covered with John Middlekauff's perspective on the biggest stories in college football.
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