Too Much CFP, Not Enough Weirdness with Richard Johnson | College Football

Too Much CFP, Not Enough Weirdness with Richard Johnson | College Football

Author: iHeartPodcasts June 9, 2026 Duration: 1:17:08

In this episode, we welcome back our friend Richard Johnson from CBS Sports and Split Zone Duo for a conversation about the college football topics we talk about too much, and the ones we probably do not talk about enough. As preview season creeps closer, we zoom out on the sport’s offseason discourse and ask which arguments are useful, which ones are exhausted, and where the weird, fun, meaningful parts of college football might be hiding.

We dig into College Football Playoff format fatigue, the role of TV money and conference power, the constant hope that Congress can somehow “fix” college sports, the growing presence of gambling in broadcasts, and whether the Arch Manning conversation has swung too far in the other direction. Plus, we get into teams and coaches who deserve more attention, including Florida, UCLA, Michigan, and the broader world outside the SEC and Big Ten.

We also wander into West Coast scheduling thoughts, the need for more strange bowl game energy, Sacramento sports sadness, college football media golf rankings, and the inevitability of major news breaking whenever Richard goes to Europe.

And, right in the middle of our recording, news broke of Brendan Sorsby's reinstatement. (We react as best we can!)

Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
4:29 - Richard Johnson joins the show
7:30 - CFP format
12:31 - TV network influence
19:22 - The government and CFB
22:18 - Arch Manning
28:48 - Brendan Sorsby news
33:05 - Gambling as part of studio shows
40:25 - ACC Thursdays
44:10 - West Coast scheduling
45:53 - Jon Sumrall
50:22 - Big Ten & SEC vs. the World
56:54 - Kyle Whittingham
1:03:35 - Rapid Fire

Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


For over fifteen years, The Solid Verbal College Football has offered a distinct and engaging alternative to standard sports talk. Hosts Ty Hildenbrandt and Dan Rubenstein built this podcast from the ground up, bringing a conversational and often humorous energy to their analysis that feels more like a passionate discussion between friends than a formal broadcast. They dive into the weekly chaos, triumphs, and endless debates that define the college football season, providing insights that go beyond the typical headlines. What you’ll hear is a genuine back-and-forth: spirited debates on rankings and rivalries, deep dives into strategic nuances, and a handful of recurring segments that have become beloved trademarks for their dedicated audience. This isn't about simply recapping scores; it's about capturing the culture and unpredictable narrative of the sport. Their long-running chemistry ensures every episode is both informative and entertaining, making the complexities of the game accessible whether you've followed it for decades or are just finding your way in. As part of the iHeartPodcasts network, The Solid Verbal remains a foundational voice in the space, consistently delivering that unique blend of commentary that first set it apart. It’s the kind of podcast that makes the vast landscape of college football feel a little more personal and a lot more fun.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Solid Verbal College Football Show
Podcast Episodes
The Week 1 Storylines That Could Shape the Season | College Football [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:15
College football Week 1 is finally here, but before we dive into our full preview and picks later this week, we're looking at the bigger questions that could start shaping the season as soon as the games kick off. Which…
What We Learned From College Football Week 0 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:21
College football is officially back, and Week 0 gave us plenty to chew on before the season really gets rolling. We start with North Carolina getting some revenge on TCU in Ireland, then turn to Virginia's emphatic win o…
QB Battles, Eligibility Chaos & Our Week 0 College Football Preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:23
College football is finally back! In this episode, we get ready for the first Saturday of the 2026 season with our full Week 0 preview and picks, starting with TCU and North Carolina in Ireland and working through all ei…
Our 2026 College Football Playoff Predictions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:16
College football is finally here, which means there’s only one piece of preseason business left: putting our predictions on the record. In this episode, we each build a complete 12-team College Football Playoff field, de…
Our 2026 College Football Fantasy Things Draft [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:04
Fantasy Things is back! In our annual celebration of everything strange, stupid and uniquely college football, we draft the moments, tropes, broadcast oddities and completely unforeseen bits of nonsense we want on our te…
AP Top 25 Reaction + College Football Zagriculture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:18
In this college football podcast episode, we react to the first AP Top 25 of the 2026 season and our first preseason poll as official AP voters. We run through the top of the rankings, compare the national poll with our…