In this episode, we're joined by John Kurtz of the Open For Business podcast and newsletter to talk about the state of the Big 12 conferenced heading into the 2026 college football season. We discuss whether Oregon's playoff shutout of Texas Tech will leave a lasting mark on the Big 12's reputation, the importance of BYU's upcoming game against Notre Dame in Week 7, the scoop on what happened at Kansas State last season, and a hypothetical future state with North Dakota State in the conference. 

Sign up for John's newsletter (https://www.ofbnews.com/) and check out his show (https://www.youtube.com/@JohnKurtzShow).

In this episode, we're joined by John Kurtz of the Open For Business podcast and newsletter to talk about the state of the Big 12 conferenced heading into the 2026 college football season. We discuss whether Oregon's playoff shutout of Texas Tech will leave a lasting mark on the Big 12's reputation, the importance of BYU's upcoming game against Notre Dame in Week 7, the scoop on what happened at Kansas State last season, and a hypothetical future state with North Dakota State in the conference.&nbsp;
Sign up for John's newsletter (<a href="https://www.ofbnews.com/)">https://www.ofbnews.com/)</a> and check out his show (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@JohnKurtzShow">https://www.youtube.com/@JohnKurtzShow</a>).

College football in all its glory. Ditch the mainstream and break the huddle with The Solid Verbal. Since 2008, Ty Hildenbrandt and Dan Rubenstein have been shaking up the college football podcasting scene with their fun and unique blend of commentary. Whether you're a diehard or a casual observer, the show taps into your fandom with spirited debates, fresh perspectives, and segments you won't hear anywhere else. Recognized as trailblazers in the podcasting world, The Solid Verbal isn't just another college football show—it's America's College Football Podcast. Become a Verballer today and join thousands of others who don't just love college football, they live it!

Follow The Solid Verbal College Football podcast on your favorite app today and download everything you need to know this offseason.

College football in all its glory. Ditch the mainstream and break the huddle with The Solid Verbal. Since 2008, Ty Hildenbrandt and Dan Rubenstein have been shaking up the college football podcasting scene with their fun and unique blend of commentary. Whether you're a diehard or a casual observer, the show taps into your fandom with spirited debates, fresh perspectives, and segments you won't hear anywhere else. Recognized as trailblazers in the podcasting world, The Solid Verbal isn't just another college football show—it's America's College Football Podcast. Become a Verballer today and join thousands of others who don't just love college football, they live it!Follow The Solid Verbal College Football podcast on your favorite app today and download everything you need to know this offseason.

The Solid Verbal College Football

The State of the Big 12: From CFP Credibility to Kansas State's Reboot (with John Kurtz)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/67f7805b-9643-4d65-b213-b3f30144150b/transcript

Sacramento State joins the MAC

SEC Scheduling Controversies

Scott Frost

Bill Belichick

Jake Dickert

Rich Rodriguez

Barry Odom

Frank Reich

Other Grades

In today's episode, Dan returns from his travels as we dive into Sacramento State's curious move to the MAC and the newest SEC scheduling controvery. Plus, we take a look at some of the most prominent new coaches from 2025 and decide whether they're more likely to be a problem for opponents or for their current schools.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
4:34 - Sacramento State joins the MAC
13:47 - SEC Scheduling Controversy
28:44 - Scott Frost & UCF
38:34 - Bill Belichick & North Carolina
46:50 - Jake Dickert & Wake Forest
51:28 - Rich Rodriguez & West Virginia
58:44 - Barry Odom & Purdue
1:05:27 - Frank Reich & Stanford
1:10:28 - Other Coach Grades

In today's episode, Dan returns from his travels as we dive into Sacramento State's curious move to the MAC and the newest SEC scheduling controvery. Plus, we take a look at some of the most prominent new coaches from 2025 and decide whether they're more likely to be a problem for opponents or for their current schools.
Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 4:34 - Sacramento State joins the MAC 13:47 - SEC Scheduling Controversy 28:44 - Scott Frost &amp; UCF 38:34 - Bill Belichick &amp; North Carolina 46:50 - Jake Dickert &amp; Wake Forest 51:28 - Rich Rodriguez &amp; West Virginia 58:44 - Barry Odom &amp; Purdue 1:05:27 - Frank Reich &amp; Stanford 1:10:28 - Other Coach Grades

Sac State joins the MAC, SEC Scheduling Turmoil & First Year Coach Grades

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/bf86ec44-2a44-4618-8d70-b3f50143a77d/transcript

North Dakota State joins the Mountain West

Bill Moos' Nebraska Book

Trendlines for 2026

Miami's High-Level Winning

Oklahoma as a SEC/CFP Contender

Arizona's Defense

Virginia as a 2026 ACC Contender

Texas A&M as a Repeat CFP Team

USC as a 10-win team

In today's episode, we break down North Dakota State's historic move to FBS and the Mountain West, including the financial details, the NCAA's probationary period challenge, and why the Fargodome is a must-visit destination. We also unpack former Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos' new book, Crab Creek Chronicles, and what it reveals about the Scott Frost hire, Chip Kelly almost landing in Lincoln, and a secret meeting about Nebraska potentially returning to the Big 12

Most importantly, we play "Trend or Not a Trend" with six teams heading into 2026. Is Miami's high-level winning sustainable? Can Oklahoma's defense carry a middling offense deep into the SEC? Is Arizona's defensive leap here to stay? Where does Virginia go from here at quarterback? Is Texas A&M a playoff contender with that gauntlet schedule? Can USC get back to double-digit wins under Lincoln Riley?

Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
4:13 - North Dakota State goes FBS
17:33 - The Bill Moos Nebraska Book
29:16 - Six Teams on Trend Watch
30:48 - Miami's high-level winning
36:20 - Oklahoma as a 2026 SEC contender
42:12 - Arizona's reborn defense
47:11 - Virginia as a 2026 ACC contender
52:05 - Texas A&M as a 2026 CFP team
58:03 - USC as a 10-win team

In today's episode, we break down North Dakota State's historic move to FBS and the Mountain West, including the financial details, the NCAA's probationary period challenge, and why the Fargodome is a must-visit destination. We also unpack former Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos' new book, Crab Creek Chronicles, and what it reveals about the Scott Frost hire, Chip Kelly almost landing in Lincoln, and a secret meeting about Nebraska potentially returning to the Big 12
Most importantly, we play "Trend or Not a Trend" with six teams heading into 2026. Is Miami's high-level winning sustainable? Can Oklahoma's defense carry a middling offense deep into the SEC? Is Arizona's defensive leap here to stay? Where does Virginia go from here at quarterback? Is Texas A&amp;M a playoff contender with that gauntlet schedule? Can USC get back to double-digit wins under Lincoln Riley?
Timecodes: 0:00 - Intro 4:13 - North Dakota State goes FBS 17:33 - The Bill Moos Nebraska Book 29:16 - Six Teams on Trend Watch 30:48 - Miami's high-level winning 36:20 - Oklahoma as a 2026 SEC contender 42:12 - Arizona's reborn defense 47:11 - Virginia as a 2026 ACC contender 52:05 - Texas A&amp;M as a 2026 CFP team 58:03 - USC as a 10-win team

North Dakota State Goes FBS, Nebraska Palace Intrigue & Six Teams on Trend Watch

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/381c5fe1-5170-446c-9e44-b3ee0146d50f/transcript

With Valentine's Day around the corner, we take a look at the 2025 storylines we secretly loved. Whether scrappy teams held things together with gum and chicken wire, coaches who turned programs around overnight, or the moments that didn't make national headlines, we talk through the things that got our hearts pumping. Think Wisconsin winning games with their punter as the leading passer, Houston quietly going 10-3, Arch Manning actually getting better when pundits left him for dead, and much more.

In this episode, we share our own picks before opening it up to the Verballerhood, whose submissions cover everything from Kenny Dillingham staying at Arizona State to the absurdity of Lane Kiffin's move to LSU, Arkansas fans learning to love heartbreak, Indiana fans debating whether to protect their hearts or go all in on Curt Cignetti, and much more. Plus, a brief Super Bowl debrief, a Timothée Chalamet conversation, and the debut of Dan's bucket of wrenches.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro / Super Bowl recap
6:27 - What we're doing today
8:51 - Dan's "winning despite" teams (Duke, Mizzou, Minnesota, Wake Forest)
10:58 - Steve Angeli and Syracuse's collapse without him
13:34 - Wisconsin as a bucket of wrenches
17:08 - Northwestern's what-could-have-been season
19:21 - Jason Eck and New Mexico's nine-win season
22:16 - Penn State's leaked Pat Kraft audio
25:08 - Ty's Quick Hits: Mason Heinschel, Houston's quiet 10-3 season, Arch Manning actually got better
29:29 - Dan's Quick Hits: Arizona's nasty defense, SMU's post-playoff rebuild, Double transfers
31:51 - Kenny Dillingham staying at Arizona State
35:15 - Arkansas tried
37:20 - Indiana, Curt Cignetti, and protecting your heart
44:19 - Fernando Mendoza's F-bomb and industry plant theory
45:34 - Cal, the Wilcox era, and the Mendoza that got away
46:56 - Lane Kiffin-LSU drama
49:23 - Georgia ripping rivals' hearts out
50:17 - North Texas's record-setting season
51:38 - Player shoutouts: Jeremiyah Love, Ahmad Hardy, Jacob Rodriguez, Jayden Maiava
53:40 - Quick fan hits: Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Oregon, Purdue
57:34 - Ball State tried to be the worst
57:47 - Florida State's first month
58:26 - Rutgers' top-50 offense / Arizona retaining Seth Doege and Noah Fifita
59:54 - ESPN cinematography and best broadcast production

With Valentine's Day around the corner, we take a look at the 2025 storylines we secretly loved. Whether scrappy teams held things together with gum and chicken wire, coaches who turned programs around overnight, or the moments that didn't make national headlines, we talk through the things that got our hearts pumping. Think Wisconsin winning games with their punter as the leading passer, Houston quietly going 10-3, Arch Manning actually getting better when pundits left him for dead, and much more.
In this episode, we share our own picks before opening it up to the Verballerhood, whose submissions cover everything from Kenny Dillingham staying at Arizona State to the absurdity of Lane Kiffin's move to LSU, Arkansas fans learning to love heartbreak, Indiana fans debating whether to protect their hearts or go all in on Curt Cignetti, and much more. Plus, a brief Super Bowl debrief, a Timoth&eacute;e Chalamet conversation, and the debut of Dan's bucket of wrenches.
Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro / Super Bowl recap 6:27 - What we're doing today 8:51 - Dan's "winning despite" teams (Duke, Mizzou, Minnesota, Wake Forest) 10:58 - Steve Angeli and Syracuse's collapse without him 13:34 - Wisconsin as a bucket of wrenches 17:08 - Northwestern's what-could-have-been season 19:21 - Jason Eck and New Mexico's nine-win season 22:16 - Penn State's leaked Pat Kraft audio 25:08 - Ty's Quick Hits: Mason Heinschel, Houston's quiet 10-3 season, Arch Manning actually got better 29:29 - Dan's Quick Hits: Arizona's nasty defense, SMU's post-playoff rebuild, Double transfers 31:51 - Kenny Dillingham staying at Arizona State 35:15 - Arkansas tried 37:20 - Indiana, Curt Cignetti, and protecting your heart 44:19 - Fernando Mendoza's F-bomb and industry plant theory 45:34 - Cal, the Wilcox era, and the Mendoza that got away 46:56 - Lane Kiffin-LSU drama 49:23 - Georgia ripping rivals' hearts out 50:17 - North Texas's record-setting season 51:38 - Player shoutouts: Jeremiyah Love, Ahmad Hardy, Jacob Rodriguez, Jayden Maiava 53:40 - Quick fan hits: Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Oregon, Purdue 57:34 - Ball State tried to be the worst 57:47 - Florida State's first month 58:26 - Rutgers' top-50 offense / Arizona retaining Seth Doege and Noah Fifita 59:54 - ESPN cinematography and best broadcast production

Kenny Dillingham Stays Put, Wisconsin's Bucket of Wrenches & the 2025 College Football Stories You Loved

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/90bd027c-7381-49bb-996f-b3ec017fde64/transcript

The State of the Big 12: From CFP Credibility to Kansas State's Reboot (with John Kurtz)

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