On this episode of "Tailgate on the Quad," Kevin and Ciarnan return with technical difficulties and dive headfirst into St. Patrick’s Day festivities with their Irish Bracket—crowning the most iconic Irish thing. The hosts debate everything from Michael D. Higgins’ famous Bernese Mountain Dogs to the international powerhouse Guinness, alongside Irish staples like Kerrygold butter, St. Patrick’s and St. Stephen’s Day, the Gaelic Athletic Association, and discuss some history including Michael Collins and the IRA.

0:00:00 – Welcome back, St. Patrick’s Day preview, and camera woes

0:06:00 – College football roster spending: LSU, Texas Tech, and NIL talk

0:12:00 – NCAA eligibility battles and transfer controversies: Trinidad Chambliss case

0:18:00 – South Carolina Gamecocks optimism vs. reality; Penn State parallels

0:24:00 – Ohio State president scandal, the evolution of college sport scandals, and Penn State sues MLB Draft League team

0:30:00 – Irish Bracket introduction: Michael D. Higgins’ Dogs vs. Fighting Irish, Guinness debate

0:36:00 – Kerrygold vs. Ciarnan, Irish holiday faceoff: St. Patrick’s Day vs. St. Stephen’s Day

0:42:00 – Potato chips vs. Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Michael Collins vs Irish language

0:48:00 – Wolf Tones vs Boston, Temple Bar vs Aer Lingus Classic, IRA vs Lucky Charms

0:54:00 – Jameson vs IRA, Guinness vs Kerrygold, St. Patrick’s Day vs GAA, deep bracket upsets

1:00:00 – Irish bracket semifinals: Michael Collins vs Jameson, Guinness vs GAA, championship matchup

1:06:00 – Guinness wins: Irish bracket recap, St. Patrick’s Day plans, Six Nations rugby & episode close

After a short break, hosts Kevin and Ciarnan return to tackle a wild mix of college football news and their signature shenanigans. The episode opens with reflections on Notre Dame legend Lou Holtz’s passing and his legacy, followed by reactions to recent FBS realignments: Sacramento State’s surprising move to the MAC and North Dakota State joining the Mountain West. NIL deals and corporate sponsorships on jerseys spark a passionate debate about the sanctity of college football. Finally, the duo dive into their March bracket: “Mascots You Wouldn’t Trust Around Your Kids.” From live animals to unsettling costumed characters, they break down which mascots are the most suspect, culminating in a showdown between two 2025 preseason Natty Picks!

0:00:00 – Welcome back, offseason recap, and Lou Holtz tribute

0:06:00 – Sacramento State’s move to FBS; MAC realignment opinions

0:12:00 – North Dakota State to Mountain West; FCS to FBS dynamics

0:18:00 – NFL Combine reactions, athletic freaks, and skeptic takes

0:24:00 – NIL sponsor patches: Arkansas/college corporatization rant

0:30:00 – Enron Y2K Bowl dreams and bracket segment intro

0:36:00 – Mascots you wouldn’t trust: bracket reveals and first round

0:42:00 – Mascot debates continue: Elite Eight and unsettling opinions

0:48:00 – Championship round

0:54:00 – Closing thoughts, upcoming bracket tease, and outro

On this special “Award Show” episode of Tailgate on the Quad, Kevin and Ciarnan close out the college football season with the inaugural Tailgate Awards! The hosts dive into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s surprising snub of Bill Belichick and debate the chaos of the transfer portal, NIL, and NCAA governance (or lack thereof). They break down the year’s “best” and “worst” across college football with listener-driven categories: Most Disappointing Team, the Notre Dame Award for Most Pretentious Fanbase, the Skip Bayless Award for Worst Media Personality, and more!

00:00 "Hall of Fame Voting Controversy"

05:43 "Patriots, Mahomes, and Legacy Bias"

09:12 "College Football Accountability Issues"

11:17 "Dabo Sweeney Stands Firm"

14:58 "Tackling Ejections and Momentum"

19:47 "Colorado's Decline Under Sanders"

22:12 "Debating College Football Inclusions"

24:54 Ohio State & Ole Miss Discussion

28:24 "Texas A&M Comeback Reaction"

32:37 Big Ten vs. SEC Debate

36:34 "Doink Award Worst Kicker Rant"

39:15 "DJ Dog Winner: Peter"

41:38 "Fernando's Selfless Team Spirit"

44:00 "Signing Off for Break"