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 absolute chaos surrounding postseason expansion as the looming "Road to 24" gains massive traction behind closed doors. With the exclusive ESPN media rights negotiating window closing on October 9 and a final drop-dead deadline of December 1 to lock in changes for the 2027 season, a 24-team field is quickly looking like a foregone conclusion. We break down the massive layout pushing this change forward under Jim Phillips and Tony Petitti, why eliminating conference championship weekend is on the table, and why these multi-million dollar executive power grabs make Stew "sick to his stomach."

We also look at a prominent program in crisis as the wheels completely fall off for Michigan in Ann Arbor. Despite their quarterback and offensive coordinator costing a combined $6 million per year, a broken offensive scheme is actively costing them their season following a brutal loss to Minnesota. We analyze the structural disaster under Kyle Whittingham and Jason Beck, discussing why it is far easier for Michigan to bench Bryce Underwood than it is to move on from their coordinator, and why the current offense suddenly shares characteristics with the worst of the "Rich Rod" era.

Finally, we dive into a packed edition of the fan mailbag. We tackle an engaging question from Tyler in Philly asking if rising stars like Bob Chesney or Will Stein will follow the Curt Cignetti blueprint and stay at resource-rich schools, including a breakdown of the massive multi-million dollar buyout numbers on Chesney's contract if USC comes calling. Plus, we debate whether the path to a 12-team playoff at 9-3 is strictly an SEC luxury, look at how poll voters would rank ACC clusters like Pitt or Duke if Miami wasn't separating itself at the top, and take a nostalgic trip down memory lane to discuss how our very first in-person college football experiences led to our present professions.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
1:03 - CFP Expansion Talk Heats Up…Is It Closer Than We Think
17:29 - A Program In Crisis: An Inside Look At Michigan's Spiraling Season
36:12 - Will CFB Coaches Jump To Bigger Name Programs Or Stay At Current Schools?
38:40 - Is There A 9-3 School Outside The SEC That Could Make The CFP?
42:10 - How Would AP Voters View ACC Teams If Miami Were Not In The ACC?
44:48 - What Was Your First CFB Experience?

Follow the Crew on X:
🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel
🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB
🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH
🔹 The Audible: @audible.show

#CollegeFootball #CFBPlayoff #MichiganFootball #GoBlue #SECFootball #BigTenFootball #APTop25 #Bracketology #MiamiHurricanes #UCLAFootball #KentuckyFootball #TheAudible
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a packed prediction edition of The Audible! Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo deliver their official game breakdowns, betting lines, and against-the-spread predictions for an absolute blockbuster slate of Week 6 college football action.

The crew kicks off the show diving straight into a heated debate surrounding the controversy in the latest AP Top 25 rankings. Stew details why sticky preseason expectations are keeping teams like USC and Texas Tech overranked, while Bruce questions Utah's true standing on the ballot. Ralph takes you completely inside his official voter process to explain the absolute nightmare of trying to slot the middle tier from numbers 8 through 12. Ultimately, the guys break down why the current rankings are structured the way they are and who got left out entirely.

From there, the focus shifts to Lincoln for an in-depth look at undefeated Nebraska ahead of their massive Big Ten clash. Can Matt Rhule and the 5-0 Cornhuskers finally pick up a signature win over a ranked opponent, or will his grueling 20-game losing streak against ranked teams continue? This 5-0 start is Nebraska's best opening to a season since 2016, driven by a dominant defense and an offense that has outscored opponents by a massive 218-90 margin. Ralph breaks down why Nebraska fans aren't treating this as a do-or-die crisis for Rhule, contrasting it against the overwhelming, program-crushing pressure teams like Penn State endured in similar spots last season.

To wrap up the show, the guys drop their definitive straight-up and against-the-spread picks for the biggest matchups on the board:

🏈 No. 7 Indiana at Nebraska (-7.5)
Will the high-flying Hoosiers stay perfect in Lincoln, or can the Huskers' defense choke out Curt Cignetti's offense? The crew is completely split on whether the Huskers can cover the 7.5-point spread on their home turf.

🏈 No. 2 Georgia at No. 6 Alabama (-1.5)
For the ninth time since 2017, college football's premier heavyweight rivalry meets as a pair of Top 10 teams. Does Kalen DeBoer pick up his first signature SEC win in Tuscaloosa, or does Georgia defend its playoff standing on the road?

🏈 No. 1 Texas (-8.5) at Oklahoma
The Red River Rivalry takes center stage in the SEC. The top-ranked Longhorns are laying more than a touchdown against a dangerous Sooners squad in a hostile environment—find out who the guys expect to win the Golden Hat.

🏈 No. 21 UCLA at No. 13 Oregon (-11.5)
A massive Big Ten coastal clash under the lights. Can the Bruins keep it close and cover the large double-digit spread on the road, or will the Ducks roll comfortably inside Autzen Stadium?

🔥 Upset Picks of the Week
The crew uncovers the best betting value on the board and reveals their locks for the most likely outright underdogs to win in Week 6, featuring crucial spreads on Washington State, Houston, Purdue, and Florida State.

Follow the Crew on X:
🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel
🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB
🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH
🔹 The Audible: @audible.show

#CollegeFootball #Week6Picks #NebraskaFootball #IndianaFootball #AlabamaVsGeorgia #TexasLonghorns #OklahomaSooners #OregonDucks #APTop25 #TheAudible #CFBPlayoff #AgainstTheSpread #CollegeFootballPredictions
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a live post-game edition of The Audible! Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel, and Ralph Russo deliver their full post-game breakdown after a historic, record-breaking Week 5 weekend of college football.

The guys are diving straight into the aftermath of the week's biggest blockbusters. We break down No. 7 Alabama’s dominant 56-23 blowout victory over No. 16 Mississippi State in Starkville. We evaluate Keelon Russell’s massive 4-touchdown Heisman statement, and how Kamario Taylor’s costly turnovers and late-game walking boot impact the Bulldogs moving forward.

The crew also reacts to a wild slate that completely reshapes the College Football Playoff picture:
🔹 Ohio State vs. Iowa – Did the Hawkeyes bottleneck the Buckeyes? Not even close. We react to No. 5 Ohio State's 31-14 physical road win at Kinnick Stadium, highlighted by freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith’s legendary 11-catch, 206-yard masterpiece.
🔹 Florida vs. Missouri – No. 25 Mizzou absolutely dismantles No. 8 Florida in a stunning 45-17 Homecoming blowout, snapping their grueling 9-game losing streak against ranked opponents behind Jamal Roberts' 211 rushing yards.
🔹 B1G & ACC Shockers – Plus, the guys break down Minnesota’s historic 20-14 upset over No. 24 Michigan to take back the Little Brown Jug, USC’s gritty 25-21 second-half comeback over Washington, and No. 4 Miami’s absolute 41-13 throttling of Clemson in Death Valley.

Follow the Crew on X:
🔹 Stewart Mandel: @slmandel
🔹 Bruce Feldman: @BruceFeldmanCFB
🔹 Ralph Russo: @ralphDrussoATH
🔹 The Audible: @audible.show

#CollegeFootball #AlabamaVsMississippiState #CFBWeek5 #TheAudible #KeelonRussell #KamarioTaylor #OhioStateVsIowa #FloridaVsMissouri #JeremiahSmith #MizzouFootball #LittleBrownJug #CFBPlayoff #SECfootball #BigTenFootball #APTop25
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.