Chaos reigns in college football! In this episode, Kevin and Ciarnan dive into Notre Dame’s controversial decision to opt out of a bowl game after missing the playoff, sparking debates on whether ND is the most coddled brand in the sport. Hear a passionate Notre Dame fan’s defense and plenty of pushback from the hosts, including takes on conference membership, bowl opt-outs, and the lost shot at Pop-Tarts Bowl glory. The crew runs through playoff rankings, surprising bracket matchups, and analyzes Heisman finalists. Additionally, they break down major coaching changes at Penn State, Iowa State, and Kentucky, and react to Utah’s private equity move threatening the soul of college football. The episode rounds out with betting picks, FCS playoff shoutouts, and weather predictions for Army-Navy.

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0:00:09 - Cold Open & Introduction 0:00:55 - Notre Dame Opts Out of Bowl Games 0:14:35 - Playoff Expansion Debate 0:17:00 - Playoff Bracket Breakdown 0:24:22 - Teams Ranked by Likeability 0:30:08 - Heisman Trophy Finalists 0:34:49 - Matt Campbell to Penn State 0:39:38 - Iowa State & Kentucky Coaching News 0:43:56 - Utah’s Private Equity Partnership 0:49:56 - Weekly Bets & Army/Navy Weather 0:57:14 - Other Bowl Opt-Outs & FCS Playoff Shout Outs 0:59:39 - Outro and Final Thoughts

It’s conference championship week and chaos reigns on Tailgate on the Quad! Ciarnan returns and joins Kev to break down explosive coaching changes, with Lane Kiffin’s dramatic LSU move front and center. The episode dives deep into the ripple effects at Ole Miss and Penn State, the fast-paced coaching carousel, and which schools came out as winners and losers. The hosts dissect playoff rankings, debate Texas, Alabama, and Notre Dame's chances, and offer bold playoff predictions.

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0:00:00 – Welcome, shoutouts, and conference championship week intro

0:06:00 – Lane Kiffin drama and NCAA chaos

0:12:00 – Ole Miss promotes Pete Golding; coaching stability talk

0:18:00 – Penn State’s coaching search struggles

0:24:00 – Coaching carousel: winners and losers

0:30:00 – Big-money contracts and Jimmy Sexton discussion

0:36:00 – Iron Bowl recap and Alabama’s issues

0:42:00 – College Football Playoff rankings breakdown

0:48:00 – Playoff predictions and bold takes

0:54:00 – Conference championship betting picks

1:00:00 – Mid team season wrap-ups and the “curse”

1:06:00 – Luke Fickell’s buyout list and episode close

This week, Kevin is joined by Kelcey from High Low Sports to break down James Franklin’s move to Virginia Tech, debate Lane Kiffin’s future at Ole Miss, and rank the best coaching jobs in the SEC. The Iron Bowl preview brings predictions and angst, while Alabama’s kicking struggles and Maryland’s commitment to Mike Locksley get their share of attention.

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0:00:10 Episode Introduction, Guest Introduction, James Franklin Coaching News Teased

0:06:45 James Franklin to Virginia Tech Discussion: Fit, Program Expectations, Recruiting Impact

0:13:08 Lane Kiffin & Ole Miss Coaching Drama, SEC Job Rankings, Lane’s Fit Speculation

0:19:10 Next Coaching Dominoes: Speculation on Brian Kelly, Ed Orgeron, and Jon Gruden

0:26:47 Auburn Coaching Scene: DJ Durkin Opinions, Auburn Booster Culture, Lane Kiffin at Auburn Hypothetical

0:29:54 Early Iron Bowl Preview & Alabama’s Recent Losses Breakdown (Oklahoma, Florida State)

0:38:15 Iron Bowl Emotional Fallout: Auburn Fan Perspective, Offensive Line Concerns, Auburn-Alabama Rivalry Realities

0:43:02 Maryland & Mike Locksley Segment: AD Endorsement, Program Culture, Recruiting, Coach Tier Reality

0:48:36 Week 12 Bets Recap and New Picks: Moneylines, Spreads, Miscellaneous, Weather Report, Luke Fickle Shopping List

0:57:40 Proof of Life from Ciarnan, His Take on Franklin Leaving, Closing Segment

1:00:22 Kelcey & Kevin Plugs, Show Outro, Socials, Final Thoughts