The Solid Verbal College Football

With the national championship in the rearview mirror, we turn our focus to 2026 with our first official podcast of the preseason. In this episode, we unveil our way-too-early top 12s and take a closer look and which teams have the most continuity and best schedules, and which crushed the transfer portal. Who's too high, who's too low? Let us know! Plus, a quick roundup of the latest news, from portal signings to early NFL Draft declarations and the brewing legal fight between Duke University and Darian Mensah.

Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
4:44 - News Update
21:17 - Way-Too-Early Top 12s
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Indiana did it. Not only did the Hoosiers win their first ever CFP National Championship, they also became the first college football team in history to finish with a mark of 16-0. In this episode, we react to Indiana's 27-21 victory and break down how the Hoosiers won on the margins to knock of a Miami Hurricanes team playing for a title in its home stadium. Plus, a conversation about what the result means for both teams moving forward as well as a quick attempt at putting Curt Cignetti's rise in historical context.
Support us this offseason at https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal!
Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the most improbable CFP National Championship game of our lifetime. Can Indiana become one of the greatest sports stories of our lifetime, or will Mario Cristobal win it all at home? In this episode, we dive deep into the 2026 CFP National Championship between the #1 Indiana Hoosiers and the #10 Miami Hurricanes. From the record-breaking ticket prices and weird factoids to seven big picture questions and the most important keys that will decide the game, this is your officially national championship primer episode.
Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
11:03 - 7 Big Questions
38:02 - The Case for the Miami Hurricanes
54:43 - The Case for the Indiana Hoosiers
1:05:05 - Our official predictions
Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 transfer portal had a few more dominoes fall. In this episode, we break down the massive news of Dylan Raiola transferring to Oregon and what it means for a room that, at time of recording, could still bring back Dante Moore. We also dive into Sam Leavitt’s move to LSU, a possible $6.5 million tug-of-war for Ty Simpson, and other transfers around the sport. Plus, we answer Verballer questions on the right time to start hating on Indiana, the best G5 coaching hires, teams that exceeded our expectations, and more.
Timecodes:
00:00 – Intro
04:13 – Dylan Raiola to Oregon
19:02 – Sam Leavitt to LSU
23:31 – Ty Simpson... back to college?
30:56 – Q&A: Matt Campbell vs. James Franklin
38:38 – Q&A: Time to Hate Indiana?
44:02 – Q&A: Curt Cignetti's "Magic"
51:57 – Q&A: 2025 Hits & Misses
57:28 – Q&A: Underreported Hires
1:01:06 – Q&A: Local Sports Cultures
1:11:58 – Q&A: The Texas A&M Reality
Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The college football transfer portal is a year-round engine of anxiety. ESPN’s Max Olson joins the show to unpack a wild portal season, from $6 million quarterback price tags to the legal mess surrounding Demond Williams at Washington. Why are some schools like Indiana and Texas Tech winning the arms race while others remain quiet? We go deep on the mechanics, the money, and the "fire hose" of news currently reshaping the sport.
Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.