Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast

Richard, Alex, and Godfrey break down the American Athletic Conference ahead of the 2024 season. Memphis (3:00) looks like it’s primed for a run, but UTSA and Tulane (10:12) are strong in their own ways. USF (19:21) was a minor breakout team in 2023. Is another step forward in store? Which bad to mediocre team from the ECU, Rice, UAB, and North Texas crop (22:37) could make a leap? Why is Army in the AAC now, and how does it stack up with Navy? (27:45) Is it possible to find optimism at Charlotte, USF, or, gasp, Temple? (32:57) Can Tom Herman at FAU move toward a sequel of his old AAC success? (37:27) Then, let’s run through the SZD preseason superlatives for what might be the best Group of 5 league. Production by Anthony Vito. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comThe NCAA and Michigan have moved to the “leak wars” portion of their fight over sign-stealing. Godfrey, Richard, and Alex discuss the art of NCAA investigation crisis comms, why elevating Sherrone Moore was a good hiring decision that would inevitably hasten this confrontation, where Michigan has a point and where it doesn’t, and how just about everyone in this ridiculous saga will get to claim a victory (except Central Michigan). Production: Anthony Vito.

It’s a Mountain West preview from Richard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, and Alex Kirshner. To start, let’s talk about Utah State firing Blake Anderson right before the season (3:02) and Fresno State also needing a preseason coach replacement for Jeff Tedford (13:16). Is Boise State as overwhelming a favorite over Fresno and UNLV as media voters seem to think? (14:16) Can either Colorado State or Air Force break their typical mold? (29:35) What should we expect from new coaches at San Jose State, San Diego State, and Wyoming? (37:11) What is with Alex’s anti-Craig Bohl agenda at Wyoming? Will Ken Niumatalolo run the option at San Jose State? Would you rather be handling the rebuild at New Mexico or Nevada? (51:44) How should we assess Hawaii’s long rebuild under Timmy Chang? (57:27) Then let’s close with preseason MWC superlatives. Production by Anthony Vito. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 18-team Big Ten gets the SZD preseason preview treatment. What are reasonable expectations for last year’s title game teams, Michigan and Washington? (5:59) Is there any way things could go very badly for Ohio State and Oregon? (21:24) Will Penn State figure out a way to move the ball through the air? (34:54) Do we see a dark horse between the stylistically clashing Iowa, USC, and even Wisconsin? (39:02) How will life be for the Big Ten East non-contenders who have now seen that division go away? Is Indiana about to do something big?? (58:34) Will Nebraska break its bowl skid? We think so (73:49). Is UCLA closer to its 2023 record or everything that’s happened since? (78:31) David Braun’s debut at Northwestern was sizzling, but it might get harder now, while Minnesota, Purdue, and Illinois all face their own post-West challenges. (86:57). Then it’s time for SZD’s preseason Big Ten superlatives. Production by Anthony Vito. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Doomberg runs the biggest financial newsletter on Substack, explaining money and markets to a quarter-million subscribers every week. Alex Kirshner, a skeptic of private equity money in college sports, asks Doomberg a bunch of questions about why institutional money is poised to come to college football, what it will mean, and who it will benefit. Production: Anthony Vito.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comGodfrey opens the notebook for an all-coaching carousel mailbag to set the agenda for 2024. Two Mountain West jobs are already open, and there's a healthy retirement watch list before we even get to the Hot Seat Proper. Let's figure out who's gettin' that sweet buyout money and when. Production: Anthony Vito.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comThere’s always lots happening in college football in South Florida. Richard interviews a pair of experts on the state of the FBS teams in the region: Kevin Fielder of Rivals breaks down FAU and FIU, who are perpetually jockeying for South Florida G5 supremacy. And then Adam Lichtenstein, the Miami beat writer for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, tells us what to make of the The U heading into a pivotal season for Mario Cristobal. This is Part 2 in a series, after Richard and the Tampa Bay Times’ Matt Baker got into North Florida business. Production: Anthony Vito. It’s SZD Relaunch Week! And it’s an excellent time to become a paid subscriber ahead of the season. Here’s what we’ve had to offer over these few days: * Monday: The EA Sports video game field guide and review* Tuesday: The 2024 SEC preview show * Wednesday: Steven Godfrey makes nice with Michigan at long last * Thursday: This “State of the State” item on South Florida * Friday: Coach Gossip returns with a special Godfrey Single Wing. He answers subscriber questions about the state of the coaching carousel entering the season. There’s a lot to go over. Schedule is subject to change at the whims of the podcast gods. Watch Dead Letters Nebraska, The Video! Subscribe on YouTube if you’d like us to do more of these, or just let us know in the comments. We had fun making this one!

Oil and water. The Capulets and the Montagues. Michigan fans and Steven Godfrey. After years of often contentious relations, Godfrey threw down the gauntlet for Michigan fans to donate a bunch of money to charity, and they smashed giving goals like always. So here it is: Godfrey—egged on by Michigan diehard and New York Times writer Jane Coaston—acknowledges the good in both the Wolverines and the famous bowl game that they won last year. Production: Anthony Vito. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

The 2024 SEC season preview from Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Steven Godfrey. How could the party be ruined for Georgia, Texas, and Alabama? Is Ole Miss or Mizzou better set up for a dream season? Which first-year starting QB at Tennessee, LSU, and Oklahoma is best set up for a breakout? Do Mark Stoops, Billy Napier, or Shane Beamer have any tricks up their sleeves? Can Auburn position itself for a 2025 breakout? What about A&M? Is what Arkansas is doing with Sam Pittman and Bobby Petrino a little bit too obvious? Plus, let’s find some near-term hope at Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.Production: Anthony Vito.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comAfter a long week of playing the EA Sports College Football 25 video game, our verdict is in. Alex and Richard review the game, discuss whe…