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"

Kevin and Ciarnan break down Indiana's jaw-dropping national championship win, comparing its improbability to Leicester City's legendary run. They evaluate the impact of coach Curt Cignetti, debate media skepticism, and discuss what Indiana's success means for college football’s future. The hosts dissect the championship game, highlight pivotal moments for both Indiana and Miami, and consider whether either team can replicate their success next season. With hot takes on NIL, transfer portal drama, and the unusual case of Duke suing its own quarterback, the show dives deep into the evolving college football landscape.

00:00 Thrilling Game Sealed by Interception

10:19 Signetti's Impact and Future Uncertainty

12:34 "Competitive Futures for Teams"

18:30 "Short-Term Success Strategy in Sports"

26:22 "Indiana's Unlikely Football Peak"

29:40 "Frustration Over Missed Opportunity"

38:13 "Iowa Offense and Rankings Recap"

44:46 "Duke Sues Quarterback Darian Mensa"

45:36 "Honor Contracts in College Sports"

55:05 "2007-Era Drama and Surprises"

57:21 "Tailgate Awards and Top Teams"

It’s Natty Week on Tailgate on the Quad! Kevin and Ciarnan tackle a jam-packed episode, diving into the buzz of transfer portal chaos, controversial new redshirt rule proposals, and wild eligibility extensions. The hosts break down the latest quarterback carousel, including TJ Finley’s multi-school journey and Sam Leavitt’s move to LSU, plus high-profile WR transfers like Cam Coleman to Texas. They debate playoff expansion, weighing the absurdity of a possible 24-team field, and relive epic playoff action with Indiana’s Peach Bowl rout and Miami’s clutch win. Kevin and Ciarnan preview the upcoming national championship clash—Indiana vs. Miami—offering picks, championship X-factors, and a hilarious look at Miami’s “close-to-home” advantage.

0:00:00 – Welcome back, Indiana win recap, and Natty Week kickoff 0:06:00 – Redshirt rule changes, eligibility chaos, and the transfer era 0:12:00 – TJ Finley’s transfer saga and the student-athlete debate 0:18:00 – Portal overload, degree talk, and the impact of COVID years 0:24:00 – Transfer portal highlights: Levitt to LSU, Raiola to Oregon, and more 0:30:00 – Texas transfer carousel, Sorsby to Tech, and out-of-control portal news 0:36:00 – Ty Simpson’s loyalty, NIL tampering, and mounting portal fatigue 0:42:00 – Marcus Freeman “altercation” saga and reaction 0:48:00 – Playoff expansion talk: 16 vs. 24 teams and the state of CFB 0:54:00 – Semifinal recaps: Miami vs Ole Miss, Indiana’s blowout, National Championship preview, and episode sign-off

Kev and Ciarnan recap a chaotic stretch of college football, starting with an unrelated Kev question that somehow derails everything. The guys break down the FCS Championship and hit the College Football Playoff, reacting to what mattered and what didn’t. The Demond Williams Jr transfer mess and Kansas State forcing freshman Maguire Richman into the portal, raises the question: Is college football dead? Plus, Saban’s coaching tree in the Fiesta and Peach Bowls, early NFL Draft declarations from Carnell Tate and Ty Simpson, and a side debate on Euphoria and who the show is actually made for.

00:00:40 - Who is Euphoria even for?

00:04:53 - FCS National Championship: Game of the Decade?

00:12:30 - Cotton Bowl recap: Miami vs Ohio State

00:20:10 - Rose Bowl recap: Alabama vs Indiana

00:24:01 - Orange Bowl recap: Texas Tech vs Oregon

00:26:57 - Sugar Bowl recap: Georgia vs Ole Miss

00:31:20 - Demond Williams Jr and more portal drama

00:37:40 - College football is broken and

00:46:37 - CFP semifinal breakdown

00:54:04 - Ranking who we want to see win

Ciarnan and Kevin dive into the chaos of college football’s holiday bowl season. From the Pop Tarts Bowl crowned as the "People’s Championship" to the ongoing drama with Notre Dame and transfer portal shakeups. The hosts debate the merits of bowl games, dissect high-profile coaching changes—like Kyle Whittingham’s move to Michigan—and share bold playoff predictions for upcoming matchups including Alabama vs. Indiana and Georgia vs. Ole Miss. Plus, there’s plenty of banter around the NCAA’s struggles, conference power plays, and the evolution of college football. Don’t miss their rapid-fire betting picks, a hilarious plan to rank coaches by looks, and tips for surviving New Year’s festivities.

0:06:00 – College football bowl recap; Pop-Tarts Bowl chaos and “People’s Championship” debate

0:12:00 – Notre Dame controversy; transfer portal drama and postseason bans discussion

0:18:00 – Coaching carousel: Marcus Freeman, Auburn’s struggles, Michigan’s new hire

0:24:00 – Ted Cruz and NCAA politics; NIL, transfer portal chaos, and conference power shifts

0:30:00 – Conference autonomy and NCAA irrelevance; playoff format speculation

0:36:00 – College Football Playoff semifinals preview: Miami v. Ohio State, Oregon v. Texas Tech

0:42:00 – Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl predictions; Carson Beck analysis and betting lines

0:48:00 – Rose Bowl preview: Alabama vs. Indiana; bandwagon fan culture and SEC bowl performance

0:54:00 – Sugar Bowl preview: Ole Miss vs. Georgia; spread discussion and coaching impacts

1:00:00 – Bowl game betting recap and round two picks; SEC bowl struggles and closing advice

On this episode, Kev and Ciarnan debate the value of hypothetical wins, especially for Notre Dame, and weigh in on whether Group of Five teams belong in the playoffs after blowouts by Tulane and JMU. Kev lashes out about Kalen DeBoer rumors and poke fun at Petrino to UNC.

The Pop-Tarts Bowl and its sprinkle-themed helmets get a shout-out, with the duo arguing why Notre Dame doesn’t deserve the fun. Johnny Manziel’s “fake narrative” is roasted, and they discuss the FCS playoff Cinderella run by Illinois State. Plus, it’s all bets and Christmas wishes as Ciarnan and Kevin hope for less chaos (and better betting luck) in the new year.

0:00:00 – No-intro episode, post-Christmas schedule change & college football bowl chaos

0:06:00 – Playoff first round reactions: Alabama comeback, Notre Dame hypotheticals, and “should-have-been-in” arguments

0:12:00 – Group of Five in the Playoff: Debating Tulane and JMU’s performances, legitimacy of CFB playoffs

0:18:00 – Booster money mysteries, wildest donors, and LSU payouts

0:24:00 – Coaching carousel: Kalen DeBoer to Michigan rumors, UNC hiring Bobby Petrino conspiracy

0:30:00 – Johnny Manziel GameDay guest picker fiasco & social media damage control

0:36:00 – Pop-Tarts Bowl mania: Helmet designs, Notre Dame “too serious,” and bowl game brand talk

0:42:00 – FCS Playoff update: Illinois State Cinderella run, coaching legends, and small-school dreams

0:48:00 – Cotton Bowl preview, NIL valuations shock, and off-topic CFB talk (wrestling, basketball, and broke betting records)

0:54:00 – This week’s bets, Christmas wishes for college football, and closing banter

This week, the boys dive into the shocking downfall of Michigan’s Sherrone Moore and the HR missteps that followed, as well as Brian Smith's firing at Ohio University. The two also break down the Heisman Trophy, and relish in the fact Diego Pavia had a bad weekend.

Finally, they tackle broader issues like college football media’s lack of coverage for FCS teams, Joel Klatt’s anti-Cinderella takes, and the ACC’s convoluted scheduling.

0:00:10 – Opening & Sherrone Moore Scandal

0:06:04 – Ohio University Coach Firing & Misconduct

0:10:00 – Heisman & Awards Season Recap

0:13:02 – Diego Pavia Meltdown & Finalists’ Reputations

0:17:20 – Fun with Heisman Personalities

0:20:08 – CFB Award Rundown & Big Ten Punting Controversy

0:23:20 – College Gameday, FCS Coverage & Media Bias Rant

0:32:47 – Joel Klatt “No Cinderellas” Debate & Playoff Expansion

0:38:47 – ACC Schedule Shenanigans & Notre Dame’s Independence

0:44:04 – CFP First Round Picks & Matchup Preview

0:48:28 – Betting Recap, Weather Report & Hawaii Trivia

0:55:53 – Closing Thoughts & Sign-Off

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