Nov 9, 2026 · 1h 42m
Listen from 10:40
Listen at 10:40
Ohio State collapse exposes college football’s new uncertainty
Ohio State Might Be DONE, Bears Survive & Joey Avery Joins | Mostly Sports EP 771 | 11.9.26
The episode connects Ohio State’s unraveling to a playoff system where imperfect teams can survive, regroup, and still contend for a championship.
- 1Ohio State’s loss renews questions about Ryan Day, defensive credibility, quarterback health, and whether the Buckeyes have enough elite talent.
- 2Georgia looks like the season’s highest-ceiling contender, while Utah, Notre Dame, and Miami illustrate how favorable playoff paths can reshape expectations.
- 3The sports detours become their own argument about fandom, from Lane Kiffin’s celebrity Tiger Walk to handshake anxiety and bizarre punishments.
Don't miss
Mark Titus attempts handshake-recovery drills, but an intentionally awkward office scenario makes his anxiety dramatically worse.
The brief
Ohio State’s loss puts Ryan Day, the Buckeyes’ defense, and the team’s quarterback situation under scrutiny, while raising a larger question: what does a collapse mean in an expanded playoff?
Georgia emerges as the hosts’ highest-ceiling championship candidate, but Utah, Notre Dame, and Miami show how a favorable bracket can make imperfect teams dangerous.
The NFL discussion finds the Bears surviving chaos, Drake Maye balancing spectacular talent with costly interceptions, and Denver leaning on a defense that keeps producing late sacks.
The episode’s strangest detour is Lane Kiffin’s celebrity Tiger Walk, featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Angel Reese, Paul Skenes, and Kevin Costner before the conversation spirals into sports spectacle.
Joey Avery joins the hosts for a wide-ranging run through Red Panda, Carlos Alcaraz, handshake drills, Connor Hellebuyck’s Devils decision, and a high-school team’s erased Hail Mary.
The standout comic thread is Mark Titus trying to solve handshake anxiety through staged practice, only to be rattled by an intentionally disastrous office greeting.
Weekly email
State of the Pod, every Monday
The week's most-discussed names and stories from podcasts, with the moments behind them. Free, five minutes, unsubscribe in one click.