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

How competitive is the Big 12 five years after losing Texas and Oklahoma?

In this packed episode, Bruce and Ralph sit down with The Athletic’s David Ubben to unpack his mind-blowing feature story on Ron Weaver (aka Ron McKelvey). In 1995, a 30-year-old former community college coach stole a social security number, completely recreated his identity, and lined up as a defensive back for the Texas Longhorns—nearly getting away with it all until a sudden unraveling 12 hours before the Sugar Bowl. We dive into the psychology, the close calls, and how a grown man managed to hide in plain sight from coaching legends and future NFL draft picks.But that’s not all. We are also tackling the massive officiating philosophical divide triggered by the recent Folarin Balogun incident: is it better to preserve the integrity of the game by fixing an official's error, or do we destroy sports by ignoring consistent protocol? Stew, Bruce and Ralph discuss how this topic relates to today’s college football environment.Finally, we hit the gridiron to check the pulse of the Big 12. Five years after the seismic departures of Texas and Oklahoma, we evaluate the financial and competitive health of the conference. Can Texas Tech pull off a historic back-to-back championship run, or is another dark horse ready to claim the crown? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Realignment Day! Examining the new-look Pac12 and Mountain West conferences

It’s conference realignment day on The Audible. Stewart Mandel and Ralph Russo are back to break down a massive day of shifts and hiring across the college football landscape!First up, it’s officially Conference Realignment Day! The guys dive into the brand-new look of the Mountain West and welcome the Pac-12 back to the table. What do these changes mean for the future of the sport?Then, a major administrative shift in Madison: Wisconsin has officially hired Shawn Eichorst as their next Athletic Director. Stewart and Ralph discuss what this homecoming hire means for the future of the Badgers' football program and head coach Luke Fickell.Plus, special guest Lucy Rohden joins the show! The college football content creator talks about her rise on The Dan Le Batard Show, her deep-rooted love for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and what is next as she ventures out on her own as a solo creator.We wrap up the show by opening up the listener mailbag to answer your burning college football questions! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Brendan Sorsby's Comeback Fell Apart

Texas Tech's wild offseason isn't over, the College Football Playoff could be expanding again, and the NCAA's latest eligibility overhaul is already facing legal challenges. Ralph Russo and Stew Mandel revisit the biggest Brendan Sorsby developments, debate whether ties should return to college football, discuss The Athletic's 1990s series, and break down why the College Sports Commission's NIL enforcement may already be changing.Stew returns from Europe just in time to weigh in on the Brendan Sorsby saga, questioning whether the former Texas Tech quarterback received the right legal advice after his NCAA suspension ultimately shut the door on both the NFL Supplemental Draft and the CFL. Ralph and Stew also examine the NCAA's newly approved age-based eligibility model, why traditional redshirts are disappearing, and why another lawsuit is already challenging the system.The conversation shifts to The Athletic's College Football in the 1990s series, with a nostalgic look at the era's broadcasts, legendary teams, split national championships, and the evolution of the sport. Ralph and Stew also engage in one of the show's most entertaining debates yet: should ties return to college football? Ralph argues they create meaningful competitive outcomes, while Stew believes they'd create complete Playoff chaos.Finally, Ralph and Stew dive into the latest College Football Playoff expansion discussions, including scheduling challenges surrounding a potential 16-team field, Army-Navy weekend, championship timing, and the growing logistical battle between college football and the NFL calendar. They close by examining the latest changes to NIL Go, the College Sports Commission, revenue-sharing limits, and why both the SEC and Big Ten are already pushing to reshape college athletics' new financial model.If you love College Football Playoff news, NCAA governance, transfer portal coverage, conference realignment, recruiting, NIL, and the biggest offseason storylines shaping the 2026 season, be sure to subscribe, like the video, and leave your thoughts in the comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does Dusty May's move to the NBA signal another new era in college sports?

Dusty May just won an NCAA title at Michigan and has been in the Final Four in two of the last four seasons. He was on a trajectory to be one of the all-time coaches at the college level. And then, deep into June and on the eve the NBA Draft, he left Michigan to become the new head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Is this a sign of things to come in not only college basketball, but also college football? Ralph Russo and Justin Williams discuss that—plus Brendan Sorsby and the mailbag—on this episode of The Audible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protect College Sports Act to the Senate floor, G6 to The Audible spotlight

The Protect College Sports Act has achieved a feat that eluded the SCORE Act for its entire existence—make it out of committee. It still has powerful opponents—namely the Big Ten and SEC—but it's time to take treat this legislation as though it could help shape what's to come in college football. That's exactly what Ralph Russo and Bruce Feldman do on this episode of The Audible. Then, the guys turn their focus to the G6, making four win total over/under picks apiece. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.