College Football Live - CFB Live - Fiesta and Peach Bowl Previews + The Latest Transfer Portal News

Episode Date: January 6, 2026

On Today's episode of CFB Live, Zubin Mehenti, Sam Acho, and Tom Luginbill preview how Oregon and Ole Miss can pull off the upset. Also the guys breakdown the latest news from the Transfer Portal. All this and more on Today's Episode of CFB Live! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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He changed the culture. He changed sports. Stream Booja, presented by Modelo, right now on the ESPN app. Hey there. Welcome inside college football live with Sam Acho and Tom Luginville. I'm Zubin Mahente. We are two days away from the first of two national semifinals. That's going to get us set to crown college football's champion. And one of the semifinal games has a bit of a theme. And that would be our fourth playoff rematch. Let's run you through the first three. No real surprise that Ole Miss easily defeated Tulane in the regular season. And when they

met again in the playoff, it was another easy win for the reps. Now, Ole Miss was involved in another rematch. In fact, both of the games they've played this season in the playoff or against teams they've already seen. That's about to change. Remember, they lost to Georgia and Athens, But then the game that counted the most, Trinidad Chambliss was insane in the fourth quarter. And remember, Alabama and Oklahoma in T-Town, the first matchup was won by Oklahoma, thanks to plays like that. But in the rematch, Alabama's passing game came to life at the Palace on the Prairie, and Alabama was able to advance. So that sets us up for our fourth rematch. And this one is coming your way Friday in the Chick-fil-A heat bowl.

Let's flash back to the regular season game between them, Roman Hemby, to give, yeah, the wink, Kurt Signetti and Company, the lead after three. In the fourth, Mendoza is picked up by Brandon Finney Jr., who actually came up with three turnovers against Texas Tech over the weekend. And when this was returned, I think a lot of people were like, okay, I think Indiana is about to come back down to Earth. But that's not exactly what happened.

Mendoza just kept ascending. Look at this throat of Elijah Surratt, and the Hoosiers are suddenly up. And now, Dante Moore, who had all sorts of problems in this game, which we're going to get into a second, is picked off by Isaiah Jones. Indiana would end up winning it, but Mendoza knows the rematch ain't going to be easy. It spoke a testament to that point of the season that we could really do this, and we were destined to become a great team and be able to make the college full playoffs. I think throughout the entire season, we've been able to approve that point. However, beating a good team twice, not a good team, a great team twice, is extremely difficult. They're star-studded on both offense and defense, draft picks all across the board.

But having to play up twice is going to be tough. It's going to be a great challenge for us. I've been doing this for 25 years. I think I need to take some PR lessons from Mendoza. He always says the right thing at the right time all the time. And Tom, let's just start with you. I kind of mentioned there in the highlight, Dante Moore had so many problems against the Indiana front in the first matchup. And you're basically saying they have to figure out a way to flip the script and do it fast.

Well, absolutely. You know, we talked on Monday about how Indiana doesn't make mistakes. They don't screw it up. That means the onus is on Oregon to match that play for play. And I think it starts up front in the offensive line. And really the issues, particularly last week and not just the first time against Indiana where they gave up six sacks, has been on the right side with Alex Harky. Alex Harky really struggled with the edge pass rushers versus Texas Tech.

a week ago. And the challenge that you have if you're Oregon is your tight ends are so talented in Jamari Johnson and Kenyon Sadiq that you want to get them out in the routes. You want to get them out in the passing game. But you also maybe need them every now and then to stay in and help out those offensive

tackles because what they cannot do is have negative plays because of lost sack yardage and they can't have people in Dante Moore's faces. We just saw what's led him to an errant throw ended up being a turnover. So the offensive front for Oregon has their hands full. This coming contest.

And I don't know how much better they've gotten since that first matchup when they gave up six sacks. Go back to their last game versus Texas Tech. They were four for 19 on third down. Texas Oregon was. That's 21%. That's not going to get it done versus the team that has a Hosman trophy winner at quarterback. Going back to even not just the sacks, which were two versus that game versus Texas

tech, but the quarterback hits, the quarterback hurries, the quarterback pressures, not just from right tackle Alex Harkie, but from left tackle Isaiah World, from the interior, left guard, right guard it was all over as a meeting at the quarterback for the texas tech defenders so what oregon had to do in response is they went forward on fourth down eight different times and they were four for eight i think that i think that number one that's not going to be sustainable going for it on fourth down eight times and that indiana is going to be ready for those fourth down conversions remember there's a fake punt that organ converted in that game that helped open up the open up their win versus texas tech great going inside the numbers here you rarely see a team go for it that many

times on fourth down in a lot of ways that's a hint of desperation but they needed anything and everything you know the other day signetian landing we're both at the media day for this game and really talking about the impact the portal is going to have on them both we've got some portal news to get to here as well let's start with byron brown no surprise here he's going to follow his head coach alex golish from south florida to Auburn i think people saw this coming the thing with brown though and i know tom has seen him a bunch of times this year what's important to note is a lot of people inside college football think he could have been starting for many teams this season, he'll get an opportunity to do it on the plane.

Austin Simmons is really interesting. Remember, he was Ole Misses started when the season began. He got hurt. That opened the door for Trinidad, Chambliss, and of course, you know the rest. But Simmons is going to stay in the SEC, go to Missouri. Remember, they played three quarterbacks this season, tons of injuries, both per Bula transfer. So this might be a good opportunity here for Simmons. If you saw Parker Livingstone's comment the other day that it wasn't really his choice to leave Texas, you can interpret. that any way you want. I can't see Acho right now, but I'm sure he's gritting his teeth. This is the new world in which we're living in, but this is great because he's actually on his way

to the arch rival. There's some other transfers I want to make sure we get our eyes on here all over the place. I want to point you to Williams there for LSU to Tennessee because it is very rare to see offensive linemen in the portal. Quarterbacks everywhere, but no linemen are very rare because as the saying goes, Tom, and I want to get your thoughts on this, When you get a big time offensive lineman and they can block, you do whatever you can to keep them. So let's come back here and talk a little bit about some of these guys. You are the recruiting expert. You know this inside and out.

What do you sort of make of this second wave that we've seen here today? Well, listen, this is going to continue to go forward. And as we see more teams losing the playoff, we're going to see more players off of those teams jump in. But I think the one that stands out to me most is Byron Brown. And I know Sam has seen a lot of them. as well this past fall. I had him twice. I think he's an absolute dynamic playmaker. He brings something to Auburn in the quarterback run game. He's an absolute freight train of about 6'3, 235 pounds. He's just a handful, and they go so fast. You have to constantly

worry about his legs. And then when things break down, he's outstanding at creating and extending plays on his own. I think this was a huge pickup for Auburn. If Alex goal is Sam hadn't have gone to Auburn, I think that this guy still would have been one of the highest commodities in the transfer portal. Man, Luke's, I'm not going to lie to you. I didn't really hear much of what you said because when that Parker Livingstone News got mentioned, my heart just said, man, I got like, I played in Texas. How can you let Parker Livingstone is one of our leading receivers go to the arch rival?

I'm actually upset right now. Like, I'm a little bit mad. I'm probably not supposed to be. But come on, Sark. I need more than a hug, man. I need another horn. But shout out to Parker Livingstone. He was a dominant player.

Now he's at Oklahoma, man. I'm at a loss for words, unfortunately. Well, you know, here's the one thing. If you know Sam, Sam doesn't get too upset and a mad often. It just shows you the tentacles that this rivalry brings at Red River. You'll have all offseason to settle down. Settle down during the break. We'll give you a little bit of a break on the way.

You know, speaking of settling down, how about Ole Miss fans after Kiffin left? What's it been like since? We're going inside the facility. And we're going live to the Burbo Fiesta Bowl. Miami's got a ton of injuries to overcome before they see Ole Miss our Holly Row on what happened to practice today and the status for those guys that are walking wounded, that and more. Next. There will be a new champion. The college football playoff semifinals begin Thursday and continue Friday. The bracket simple.

Miami wins. They go home to Miami Gardens to play for the championship and they could play Fernando Mendoza who is from Miami. What a story that would be. The other great story, Ole Miss without Kiffin, still plug in. Here's Marty Smith. How do you describe the last month for Ole Miss? for Ole Miss football? I would say a little hectic.

Lane Kiffin. Lane Kiffin. The long-drawn-out Lane Kiffin saga is finally over for Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin will take the LSU head coaching job effective immediately. On his way out yesterday of Oxford, he was booed. Lane Kiffin leaves a trail of fury in his wake

as he jumps from one school to another. Kiffin will not coach Old Missing the college football playoffs. I wish that I was coaching, but they hope they play really well and go win the national championship. How did you react when Lane Kiffin decided he was going to go to LSU? I wish the best for my LSU. But yeah, my decision was okay. Now we just got to focus on our first playoff game and who we're going to face. It was surprising, you know, we were at a time where we didn't know what was going on.

So we were just trying to see who's going to be our head coach. Pete Golding is a no frills football lifer, a branch on the Nick Saban coaching tree, who was in his third season as Old Miss defensive coordinator. Maximum effort while I'm doing my job. At the moment of recognition, get my to the work. Get my to the ball. On the same day, Lane Kiffin left Oxford,

Golding got a surprise. We have someone that is a leader of men that can lead you guys, and that man is Pete Golding. I can promise you this. Nobody's going to work harder at this job than I will. And we're here, and we love it here because of you. What was it like to see those young men react the way they did? I think it validates, you know, what you've invested up to that point. I think that moment for me hit a little bit.

I was like, boys, y'all know I ain't going to where. And so I think that message was easy for me because it's the same message that's been for three years. I think it's a very unique group. It was a unique time, but, you know, I think I was ready to roll with it. And you play with better energy, better effort, and better body language, you win the game. It won't fucking matter.

PG's just a competitor. He's a player's only coach, and he'll do whatever it takes for this program to be successful. It all made us closer. I feel like it really locked everybody in. Again, this is the same team that's made the whole year. So just another chip on our shoulder, man. And I feel like coming into the season, the team was hungry, but just even hungry, you know.

It don't matter who leading us. It don't matter what we're playing at, who we're playing. Who we're playing. Spot the ball, we're going to go play. Welcome to the college football playoff first round. Amazing atmosphere here in Oxford. It's going to be intense. First playoff game with everything going on.

You know, the crowd, they feel like they got disrespect with coach kiffin leaving a lot of animosity in the stadium and it's going to be rocking touchdown just like that pete golden got the job done and old mess is going to advance there's going to be one team excited at the end of this boys so like me one team why not us you guys managed adversity through all of this what differences do you feel around here now not a lot is different we just want to win we control our destiny and as long we're just focus on football and the next game then we'll be all right all right you presented this opportunity for yourself I don't let this be the last one this

is the all-state sugar bowl between the number six-seat old miss and third seat at Georgia we're gonna make sure that routine that's been very successful is in place why I'm here that's for them players they coach them extremely hard and then hold them accountable and give us our best chance to win the game Lucas Carnero to stand up to the semifinal. It is good! The Ole Miss Revels have knocked off the Georgia Bulldogs, Arizona.

Here we come. Now, Rebel Day said, are you ready? Oh, yes! That's right! What great inside inside access. We're going to hear what with Chambon with Chambliss. What great inside access. Ole Miss has got a lot to deal with.

We're waiting to hear what's going to happen with Chambliss. It looks like Charlie Weiss Jr. and Kevin Smith will be there for the semifinal. They were hoping to have all six coaches go from Ole Miss to LSU be there. but at least their play caller, Weiss Jr. And Smith will be making the trip and staying with the Rebs. And Tom, that's where I want to go with you. This had been hanging over them since that game

that Trinidad Chambliss won in the fourth quarter last weekend. What do you make of the fact that they have a little clarity at the coaching position in maybe the biggest game they'll ever play? Well, it really goes back to the preparation of going into the first round game with Tulane. There's really no difference. I'm actually a bit surprised where we're all still having this discussion. This has been a resilient, mature football team that has been well prepared by

the coaching staff that is in play. They are a team that has not listened to the distractions. They have never flinched. This is a team right now that understands the bigger picture of the ultimate team game and they're playing like it. And this coaching staff has had contingency plans. They've known that they might be outmaned a little bit from a manpower standpoint, but they have found a way to keep things the way they need to be in terms of preparation, and then they've let the players do the rest. And these players deserve a ton of credit because they've only worried about what they can control. And I don't see them having any type of difference performance against Miami because they've done it already twice against Tulane and Georgia.

And not only that, Lug's, but this team, they have used the outside noise as fuel. That's what Ole Miss has done. Lane Kiffin leaving, they use that as fuel. Listen to Kiwan Lacey talk throughout the week. I got a chance to announce their game, first game versus too late on radio. Listen to him talk. He talks about, man, it's not about Lane Kiff, and it's about us. They want to prove a point. Listen to Trinidad Chambers. Got a chance to be at their game

last week when they played Georgia. This team is trying to prove that it's not about one man. It's about an entire team and a community. And so that's what, to me, is what's most impressive about what Ole Miss has been able to do. It's incredible. His guy's going to be coaching in his third career game. Think about

how much of a curve, a learning curve. that is. Last night, we learned that the FCS can play some balls. Sam was in the house for this. We're going to get his comments in a second. All-time title game between Illinois State and Montana State. We're tied. 103 to go.

And Montana State blocks the go-ahead field goal by Illinois State. And because of that, special team's play, we're headed to overtime. In the first OT, Tommy Rittenhouse, Dylan Lord. Illinois State takes the lead. But now here comes the extra point. Are you kidding? Montana State blocks the P.A.T. They block the field goal to force overtime. They blocked the PAT. Setting up the Bobcats, Justin Lampson, to Taco Dowler. Montana State ties it now a PAT to win the championship. Because Illinois State had theirs blocked. And you could hear John Dutton yelling on the Yellowstone Ranch. His bobcats have won the FCS championship. Sam, you were there. What was it like to witness that?

It was an electric environment. It felt like I was in Bozeman, Montana. That's how many fans traveled for the Montana State podcast. But more than that, just the back and forth was amazing. People talk about football at all levels. That FCS game was one of the most impressive games I've been able to watch in person and be a part of. We can only hope, Sam, we get the same amount of drama coming up this week at the Verbo Fiesta Bowl. When we return, our Holly Rose spent the day at Miami practice.

What went down? And how are some of their injured players faring two days away from kickoff? Holly will join us live when college football live returns. We're back on college football live to Glendale. And if they win, they're going back to Miami to play the championship game in Miami. And that would be a round trip for the ages. Our Holly Roe is tailing the canes all week long. They've had some serious injuries in that win over Ohio State.

What can you get us up to date on, Holly? Well, I just left the practice field for Miami and some really good news for hurricane fans. They have got several guys back that were injured against Ohio State that are crucial to their success on defense. And they were both at practice. I think that O.J. Frederick, their cornerback is essential. He was carted off the field against the Buckeyes, but he was moving well, cutting, backpedaling, doing everything he needed to as a cornerback today at practice.

Up front, the defensive tackle, who I think is maybe the most important guy up front on their best defensive line in America, is Amad Moutin Sr. He is really key to holding that down to let Ruben Bain and Akeem Mesidor on the ends do their thing. He was back at practice also after being injured against Ohio State.

So Miami's shaping up to be very healthy when they go into this Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss. You just referenced that you just got out of practice. What did your eyes see that really stood out to you? Well, a couple of really important things. Number one, Mario Cristobal brought his team out to Arizona a day early so they could get acclimated. And at practice today, they practiced on the exact same surface

that they will be using for the Fiesta Bowl. He said, I wanted our guys to get their cleats into the ground to feel what this surface was like, even with a little morning dew that they rolled off. so they would have the exact same field conditions that they will experience during the game. I think that's interesting by Mario to be that detail-oriented. The other thing I would say is it was an energetic, a fun, high-energy type of practice. Coaches were screaming detail, detail, detail, over and over.

But my favorite thing I saw at practice, Ruben Bain, Akeem Messador, if you don't know them, you will sue. Number three and number four, they are the two best defensive ends in the country. They wreaked havoc on the Buckeyes offensive line. And at practice today, those two guys were the most energetic. Ruben Bain, week 18 of this season, every time they would switch ends or change fields for practice, he was the first guy running. He is healthy and energetic.

And when your best player is setting the tone at practice, that really means something. And then at the end of practice, Mario Cristobal broke it down. The guys were kneeling in front of him, and he said, eliminate distractions. We are 48 hours out. I trust you with my life to prepare the way you need to prepare. and eliminate all distractions. We'll see if he's trust is well placed in his team. Wow.

Keep in mind they were the last at-large team in, and they're attempting to be the last team standing. Great insight there from our Holly Row. Holly, thanks. Let's bring the fellas back in here. Sam, I want to start with you. I mean, I just take me inside what it's like preparation, playing a huge bowl game,

because the minute level of the tension and detail that Holly just referenced that Cristobal is using, leaving no stone unturned. Well, the most specific part, about not only that reporter, but what Miami's going to have to do is have to focus on what's called a broken play. Miami's outstanding defensively on stopping the first play. But what Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss does in such a high level is they have a second

play. Trinidad Chambliss at the end of that last game where he played Georgia, he was moving and scrambling. I was there watching and Tim Tebow was like, dude, I want that guy to lead my team. We were watching it together. So that's going to be the mindset, the preparation. Talking about working at the high shoulder of a quarterback to make sure he doesn't escape. and then if he does escape, all the defensive backs have to stay tight in their coverage. I'll tell you what, too, Sam.

You know what I love about this Miami team is when Miami burst onto the scenes in the early 80s, they became the big bad wolf, right? They were the big bad guy, and they bullied people, they intimidated people. But they've been able to utilize the underdog role in this playoff run. And that's rare for a Miami program, right? Now all of a sudden, they're the hunter. And I think that's really benefited them because all the talk's been about, Notre Dame and should they have made the playoff

and not playing in the ACC championship game and all they've done has gone out and beat people up. Fair enough. Cristobal's gone from five wins to 7 to 10 to 12 plus we'll see tomorrow.