Oct 16, 2026 · 2h 21m
Saban and Freeman weigh college football’s next playoff era
PMS 2.0 1647 - TNF Recap, NFL Week 6 Preview/Picks, Utah Jazz and Mammoth Owner Ryan Smith, Nick Saban, Ian Rapoport, Stanford Steve, & AJ Hawk
The episode connects a marquee Notre Dame–BYU matchup with the wider questions reshaping college football, from playoff access to NIL and player development.
- 1Nick Saban argues college football must balance expanded playoff access with competitive integrity and the character of the sport.
- 2Marcus Freeman details how Notre Dame prepares for BYU’s altitude, crowd noise, defense, and developing quarterback C.J. Carr.
- 3Ian Rapoport updates major quarterback and injury storylines involving Jalen Hurts, Caleb Williams, Lamar Jackson, and Michael Penix Jr.
Don't miss
Nick Saban’s reflection on retiring before age affected Alabama leads into a candid discussion of slowing down, staying hungry, and remaining useful through television.
The brief
Broadcasting from Provo before BYU–Notre Dame, Pat McAfee’s panel revisits Denver’s defensive win over Seattle and debates whether the Seahawks’ missing run game masked deeper limits.
Ryan Smith makes the case for BYU’s national identity while discussing Utah sports, recruiting, NIL, the Jazz, the Utah Mammoth, and Salt Lake City redevelopment.
Nick Saban explains why he retired, how NIL and the transfer portal changed coaching, and why a larger playoff must preserve access without hollowing out college football.
Marcus Freeman offers a practical preview of Notre Dame–BYU, emphasizing altitude, crowd noise, preparation, defensive identity, and C.J. Carr’s development.
Ian Rapoport supplies the NFL’s harder edge with updates on Jalen Hurts, Caleb Williams, Lamar Jackson, A.J. Brown, and Michael Penix Jr.
The show closes with Stanford Steve’s Week 6 picks and a comic return to Provo’s mountains before the crew unveils its fictional Shite Division.
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