College Football Live - CFB LIVE - SEASON PREDICTIONS

Episode Date: September 2, 2026

Join our crew Zubin Mehenti, Dusty Dvoracek, and "Stanford" Steve Coughlin, and Joe Fortenbaugh on today's episode of College Football Live. Pete Thamel joins to give updates on the SEC's decisions to ban NFL players from returning to college. The crew gives there picks for National Champion and what new head coach to be watching this season. All this and more on today's episode of College Football Live! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two and five Canadians will hear the words, you have cancer. That's why every step and dollar raised matters. On September 19th, join thousands in Toronto for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation Walk. Challenge yourself, friends, and family to walk 21 kilometers in support of life-saving research. Together, we can carry the fire and help create a world free from the fear of cancer. Register today at pmcfwalk.ca. Out of the tunnel straight ahead on college football live. Our experts are here with their national title picks,

including a first-time national champion that's been oh so close to winning it before. Who is it? We'll tell you. There were four legendary programs in the Big Ten and the SEC that filled head coaching vacancies. But who's the head coach that's floating under the radar this week making a debut that no one's talking about? We'll have that answer. And the biggest showdown this week isn't on Saturday. It's on Thursday in a courtroom in Louisiana.

And that's where we're going to go right now. We are hours away from a preliminary injunction hearing. The plaintiffs, pros that want one more year of eligibility. The defendants, you might have heard of some of them, the NCAA, the SEC, and Greg Sankey. Nobody has more on the line on the decision than Lane Kiffin. But earlier today, moments ago, in fact, he only wanted to talk about Saturday's opener against Clemson. We're excited, excited for it to finally be here. And, you know, this has been eight months.

We've been here all leading up to this first performance. Our fans are really excited. The state, our university has put a lot into us and entrusted us with a big time job to turn around to LSU football to get it back to where they want it to be. Don't take that lightly and have great appreciation for that opportunity. So that's why we've worked the way that we have. That's why we've competed in every area to give our fans the best performance, starting with the first performance Saturday.

It's a performance, the whole thing. And we want a performance where we win and that people want to come back. People like to watch certain things, man. Showtime is real, man. It's a performance. You know, they always talk about Louisiana politics. That was a filibuster for the ages because he avoided that conference telecast

and basically said, I'm not talking about anything other than the game. That's why Pete Thammell is here. We're talking to him. Pete, I know you had an opportunity to speak with the SEC Executive Committee's president yesterday. What message is she looking to deliver to LSU hours away from what could be a watershed moment? Sure, Zupin, so spoke to Dondi Plowman, the Chancellor of Tennessee. She was speaking to me on behalf of the other 15 SEC presidents and chancellors, or I guess other 14,

i.e. everyone but LSU's Wade Rouse. And her message was very clear. She said, enough is enough. And she said that the SEC president's chancellors aren't going to budge on this rule. The rule she made very clear that's in question here is the rule of NFL players who signed contracts returning to college football. This wasn't necessarily about five for five in general, but rather specific cases, much like Dayquan Wrights, the tight end who has kind of become the face of this fair or not. Donnie Plowman, on behalf of the other SEC presidents and chancellors, made alarmingly clear that they will push forward for punishments for LSU if LSU rosters these players and breaks rules. Now, obviously, there's that small matter of that injunction hearing that you mentioned that I'll be attending tomorrow in Baton Rouge. If the players in question are granted a temporary injunction and they are rostered on Friday, it will be a fascinating showdown between the SEC, which made punishments last week specifically bolstered them, I guess I should say, to punish a school who does what is forbidden. So, LSU versus the SEC, pending the ruling tomorrow,

the stare down will continue to Friday, Zubin and Baton Rouge. Make no mistake, if some way somehow LSU ends up winning this, the Pandora's box of guys trying anything and everything moving forward is going to be explosive. We'll have Pete keep track on it. He'll join us tomorrow from Baton Rouge. Now for the portion of the show that you don't need an LSAT to follow. Louisville and Ole Miss, ready to go Sunday night, 730 Eastern on your local ABC station. We all know the magic carpet ride that Ole Miss was on last.

year. Louisville, though, is a brand new quarterback, and their head coach has always been known to work with quarterbacks. We'll get into that in just a second. But first, it's time for the best in the game, brought to you by Old Dominion Freight Line. Ole Miss has had some really good quarterbacks over the years, over the decades, but only one has gone for 3,500 in the air, and at least 500 on the ground, and it's the guy that's going to live forever and maybe change the speed limit down to six in Oxford if things get really good this year. It's going to be. It's Great to have the fellas here. Stanford, Steve is already in Baton Rouge in advance of college football live.

And of course, the game day appearance on Saturday, Dusty DeVorechak here alongside too. Great to have you here. Fellas, Dusty, I want to start with you. Last year at this time, nobody knew who Chamblis was. By the time the season ended, he was on everyone's lips. So what's the biggest challenge in making sure he can replicate it now that all of the pressure that wasn't on a year ago is squarely on his shoulders? Yes, Zubin.

he wasn't just on everybody's list. He was the best quarterback in college football down the stretch of the season last year. The ability to make plays off schedule, the accuracy from the pocket, the running ability, making everyone around him better. And he's still got Key Juan Lacey, who rushed for 24 touchdowns last year next to him. But who he's going to be distributing the football to, that's my question mark. He loses five of his top six pass catchers. He's got Deuce Alexander back. Now, they brought in a lot of transfers. Darrell Gill Jr. comes from Syracuse. Jonte Cook comes from Texas. We'll see how these guys work their way in, but there's going to be a lot of new faces he's distributing the ball to. Speaking of new faces, so is his offensive coordinator and the guy in

his ear. That's John David Baker. Charlie Wise Jr., obviously in Baton Rouge with Lane Kiffin, so a lot of newness for Trinidad Chamblis this year. And this will be a Louisville team that will be ready to go defensively, they're athletic and linebacker, and they've got one of the premier edge rushers in Cleve Lubin coming after Trinidad Chamblis all night long. If he can get these new pass catchers up to speed, Zubin, we're looking at arguably the best quarterback in all of college football.

Yeah, and I'm looking at the other side of the ball, Dusty, because we're finally going to get to see Mr. Keenholz. He's been like a South Dakota myth. You know, he's a second player ever from South Dakota to go to Columbus and then from everyone that I talked to in Columbus, it was neck and neck with him and Julianne saying for that quarterback job last year. He didn't get it.

He played sparingly in, you know, garbage time last year. But finally, we get to see him in a Jeff Brom offense, which is what everybody wants to see. Because with that offense, you've got screen game, you got attacking. They beat Miami last year with a quick game. Like, that's what I want to see. We finally get to see Keynes or what he has to bring to the table

in the Brom offense. I love that. South Dakota myth. Let me give you a factoid. I don't know if it's a fact. The last great quarterback to come out of the state of South Dakota prep-wise, his name was Josh Hyple. And he did some really good things in college and Oklahoma, of course,

now leading the Tennessee Volunteers. So that game, Louisville Ole Miss is Sunday night. Monday night. This is like the NFL guys. We're talking Sunday and Monday games. We got SMU. We got FSU. We got Dusty on the call. I mean, what more do you want to tune in on Labor Day Night? This is obviously

just a gigantic game for Florida State. And for SMU, as they continue their march as a program, as a force to be reckoned with in the ACC, it's a litmus test for them. Let's take a look at today's dependable player brought to you by Mavis Tire. Hard to be more dependable than Kevin Jennings, the kid from South Oak Cliff, who said his goal was to turn around college football in Dallas as a Dallas kid, and he has done his part. Dusty, speaking of turnarounds, let's start with you. Ever since being snubbed, 2023. college football playoff when Reese Davis said it's Alabama as the fourth team. FSU gets left out. The air went out of the balloon in Tallahassee and nobody has filled it in the last three years. Fair or not, what does this one game stand alone with the nation watching and a program floundering? What does this game mean for Florida State? I think it's as important a game as Mike Norville has had since he's been the head coach

in Tallahasse. There's not a team in college football guys that, needs a win more than Florida State because you set the stage perfectly, Zubin, all the country to see exactly who is this Florida State team going to be? Last two seasons, they're three and 13 in ACC play. And in comes SMU, who in that same time since they joined the league is 14 and two in conference play. And they bring in one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC and Kevin Jennings. And based off the third down defense that Florida State showed last week, it's going to be tough to deal with Kevin Jennings and the compliment of weaponry he brings into this game. So to me, Steve, I can't sell it enough how important this game is.

And SMU looks at this game also as a launching point, this stage, this opportunity, this first game of the year to show everybody, hey, we're SMU, we were in the ACC championship game in the playoff two years ago, and we're looking to go back here this season. Just look at bigger picture, Dusty, as the ACC as a whole. You know, you have Clemson coming here to Baton Rouge and a monster out of conference game. SMU and Florida State have to have a good showing because there's not much after that. You know, everybody talks about Miami, who Miami set in history this weekend. They're playing their first home game ever in Palo Alto against Stanford.

But when you look at these teams, these are the teams behind Miami. They need these teams to be better for the perception of the league. But what as you break this SMU game down with Florida State, And you have a tape to watch on Florida State. Is there any hope for Florida State fans that maybe Norville was holding something back from the offense? They didn't show everything last week. Is there something in a tank you think they could get to to help frustrate SMU? They need to get the ball to their stud, Deuce Robinson outside, six-foot-six-six-wide receiver,

who's got a chance to be a first-round pick. I didn't think they targeted him nearly enough. Look, Usman Kroa, the outstanding running back. He was very good. The problem was the blocking wasn't great. He was good. You know, they ran a couple of times, Steve. They ran a counter screen.

And that told me, Mike Norvelle wasn't holding back. He was throwing a lot of different things out there. That's me, you would have saved for SMU. So I don't know how much they were holding back, but I think they can look at that game plan and figure out better ways to utilize the weapons they have against SMU. And guys, I would just mention, remember last year, Florida State had to put out a statement halfway through the season saying Norvel would remember.

the coach the rest of the season. If that doesn't tell you the kind of pressure on this season, nothing else will. That will end your college football weekend Labor Day night on ESPN. We are getting set for an insane Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, football, everywhere you look, week one is almost here. On the way, why Steve says a week two game, the winner of a week two game, just one game, the winner is guaranteed to make the playoff?

He'll explain. Let's play. ESPN, home of the college football national championship and Super Bowl 61. Two and five Canadians will hear the words, you have cancer. That's why every step and dollar raised matters. On September 19th, join thousands in Toronto for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation walk. Challenge yourself, friends, and family to walk 21 kilometers in support of life-saving research. Together, we can carry the fire and help create a world free from the fear of cancer.

Register today at pmcf walk.ca.ca. A new podcast series from ABC Audio in 2020 goes inside a case that has captivated the nation. To many people, Luigi Mangione is a modern-day Robin Hood. People were cheering. The demise of this person they'd never met, who was a father of two and a husband, and had a life and was just doing a job. from the Manhunt, ending in a McDonald's in Al-Tuna, Pennsylvania, to what authorities are saying about a possible motive.

I'm ABC News legal analyst Brian Buckmire. Listen to Burnin-A-Proof, Luigi Mangione, wherever you get your podcasts. It's going to be special. Already got the weekend off to it. We'll help start it. I'm in all it is. College game day has arrived. Reese, Steve's already arrived in Baton Rouge.

He's beating you guys by a couple days. The 40th season of college game day begin Saturday morning at 9 p.m. Eastern. At some point, Georgia will probably be in the game day spotlight. Look at this stat from Kirby Smart, 015 and 1 against the spread when he's got a monster 38 point number in his favor here in the last 10 years. And we should mention gamblers care about that.

You know who doesn't? Kirby Smart, because they just tend to win those games. Joe Fortinbaugh, ESPN's gambling gurus here. Give me your thought on that because out of the gate, teams like that generally want to impress put the pedal to the medal, but they haven't been able to do it. Yeah, two words Zubin, challenge accepted. Yeah. I'll make that bet. No problem. Mostly it's two reasons. Number one, Tennessee State is not the 2007 App State team that went into the big house.

Number two, this is the best price you're going to find in the market. Most places deal in 47 and a half. There's a notable Vegas shop upwards of 48 and a half. So if Draft Kings is deal in 46 and a half, at least we're getting a good price there. There's no doubt about it. So we'll keep that in mind. One other thing to note here is this segment, we're calling it three for three. So if you love gambling, you love results, other than the final score,

this will be your favorite segment of the week. Make sure the guys that are on tomorrow didn't hear that. But three for three is fun to go. Three predictions from everybody. You are up. You're in studio. We're playing golf. You're away.

Let's go to the Midwest, Oklahoma. We like him to win over seven and a half games, at least eight. Now the schedule is going to be tough. That's the downside. But there's a ton of upside here. 14 starters back from last year's playoff team. Defense is absolutely stacked.

conservatively, top five in the country might be the absolute best. On offense, year two under Ben Arbuckle, the offensive coordinator, John Mateer's back at quarterback and healthy. These guys are loaded. I like him to get to at least eight wins and possibly the playoffs. Texas Tech to win the big 12. I don't think this is that much of a reach, but at minus 115, I'm surprised at the pricing. I thought it'd be somewhere around minus 150. Head and shoulders above the rest of everybody in the conference.

I got him as double-digit favorites in all 12 games. No BYU on the schedule. Utah on the schedule. Houston's a home game. 12 starters back from last year's playoff squad. And then finally, Georgia to reach the SEC championship game.

Operative word to reach. We don't need to win it. 12 starters back from last year's SEC championship team. And keep in mind, in 11 years in Athens, this is the most experienced team Kirby Smart has ever had.

I've got him as a favorite in all 12 games, Zubin. Like them to at least get to the championship game. Very interesting. They've won the SEC each of the last two seasons. But remember, that's not the arbiter anymore in college football.

It's about what you do in the playoff. Steve, you're up. Give me your three for three. Yeah, I'm going to touch on a team that I touched on earlier. Miami gets to play a home game in Palo Alto. They don't get to do that every year. So they start in Stanford. I love them to win the ACC.

If they don't win the ACC this year, there should be some kind of punishment, banishment, whatever. But this is their conference to lead. All these years, they have to win the ACC this year. Went off a little off the cuff for the next one. We'll be in Austin for Ohio State and Texas. But this game with Michigan and Oklahoma,

I just keep getting ready for. I think it's going to be one of the most physical football games there is all season long. And I'm going to say the winner of that game goes to the playoff. And then finally, again, down the pole a little bit, I'm going to go off the cuff and say Rich Rod wins, coach of the year in the Big 12. Joe touched on it.

Joey McGuire and Texas Tech are loaded. They're the favorite. He's not going to get coached a year again. And when I think about Rich Rod and a good story, I really like their schedule this year. And I love what he has on his roster. Give me Rich Rod to win Big 12 coach in the year. Steve calling for relegation in college football.

And the Miami Stanford joke was funnier the second time around if you didn't catch it in the first segment. Good stuff. Dusty, three for three for you. I'm right there with you, by the way, Steve, on Miami. They will win the 8th. Speaking of winning a conference, it's going to be Georgia. Joe just said they're getting to the SEC championship game. I'm telling you, they're going to win it a third straight season.

Kirby Smart has been to the SEC title game. Eight out of nine years, five straight, make it six, and they're going to win it a third straight time, only the third program in SEC history to do it. The O line is loaded. Gunner Stockton's underrated that defense. It's going to be really good. Penn State, they will win at least. 10 games here this season. Look, the schedule incredibly favorable. No Indiana, no Ohio State,

no Oregon. USC has to come to Happy Valley. They will go on the road to Michigan and to Washington, but this veteran team with a Rocco Beck who's won 26 games going to get it done for Matt Campbell. And listen, there's going to be a lot of conversation about the committee. How will they value strength of schedule, strength of record? I think they're going to place a value on it. And as we see all these conferences go to nine conference games, we're going to have our first three lost regular season team get in. Clemson did it as a conference champ. Alabama did it with a third loss in a conference championship game.

But this year, boys, a three lost regular season team is getting in. There's no doubt about it because you have to think about it from the perspective of if you go to a nine conference game schedule, it's said to be harder. There has to be some push pull on the other side to make it worth it for all these leagues. And maybe that means a little bit of an adjustment when it comes. to the win-loss total. Let's go brass tax. All right, boys, here we go.

National Championship. Who will end the longest season ever on top hoisting the trophy? Oregon over Georgia. I gave you all the reasons earlier why I liked Georgia. Oregon had one big problem last season. It was their defensive line. They couldn't stop the run, and that doomed them throughout the course of the year in some really big spots, especially at the end against Indiana.

So they went out and fixed it. You could argue they've got the deepest, most experienced defensive line in the country There'll be double-digit favorites in 10 of 12 games. Ohio State Road Games only dog spot. Love the Ducks this season. I'm going a different direction, Joseph. I'm going the Irish and the Cains in a rematch from November 7th, which we get this year. And obviously, the game that was so analyzed the year previous.

I love what Notre Dame brings to the table. I believe right now they have the best defense in the country. And I believe Miami will have a higher ceiling with Benson at quarterback, Irish, and over the can. Steve, my man, we're sharing a brain because I've got the Irish hoisted the trophy at the end of the year. The moniker is true. Leave no doubt. And Marcus Freeman won't. I love this Oregon team, as Joe mentioned too, the defensive line loaded.

Dante Moore, that offense will be tough. But give me the Irish over the ducks in the national championship, Z. Love it for purposes of context. Notre Dame's last national championship, 1988, Oregon's last national championship. 1988, Oregon's last national championship still waiting for their first. It could be an unbelievable pick for the ages here by Joe.

That's three for three. We're back with it this time next week. On the way, the coach you're not talking about that's primed to make a huge debut after an offseason of huge names moving all across the country. I'll give you a hint. He's up tomorrow.

That's next. Two and five Canadians will hear the words you have cancer. That's why every step and dollar raised matters. On September 19th, join thousands in Toronto for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation Walk. Challenge yourself, friends, and family to walk 21 kilometers in support of life-saving research. Together, we can carry the fire and help create a world free from the fear of cancer. Register today at pmcf walk.ca.

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Wayfair, every style, every home. I'm driven to make ordinary people want to do extraordinary things. Nick did a very good job of hiding the total human being. There was a method to that madness. We fight. We fight. We fight. Cannot wait to see that from the greatest coach of all time.

Notable head coaches this off season I mentioned four legendary programs. at the top, LSU, Florida, Penn State, Michigan, all with new leaders this year. Those guys have gotten plenty of ink. But there's some under the radar guys that are primed for a big breakout. Let's get a couple of names. Steve, let's start with you. Who's a name we're not talking about by this time next week?

We'll know who he is. The guy by the name of Morgan Scali at the University of Utah, Zubin. He was actually named a coached in waiting. Remember when everybody always had a coach in waiting and no one ever ended up hiring that guy. Utah is actually hiring this man. And he's a former U. he played on Urban Myers' undefeated team

in 04 with Alex Smith. He's been around campus ever since. I'm really fired up. No one is talking about Utah this year. I get it. They lost two first round tackles and Kyle Winningham is at Michigan. But, Gilling, I'm really excited to see what Scali

brings to the table. Steve, I love this hire of Morgan Scali. I'm with you. fun to see what he's able to do. I'm going to stay in the Big 12. Take me to Stillwater. Oklahoma State welcoming in Eric Morris. And they welcome in the new head coach with 92 new players, a staggering number and almost 20 of those coming from North Texas with the head coach, including the quarterback, Drew Mestamaker, who didn't even start a high school game and he led college football in passing yards. The running back, Caleb Hawkins, can really go. And they've got

an offensive system that can put up a bowl. bunch of numbers. We'll see what their defense does. They lost to Tulsa last year, Steve. They're going to beat them this weekend and start to prove to everybody that they are taking big steps in the right direction. Just be careful where things happen when you go to H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Be wary. Tulsa's got a darn good team, I believe, this year. So one thing we should keep in mind here, if you're wondering, wait a minute, 92 new players. Remember, now we're not going 85 scholarship. We're going one. 105 for the roster.

So the fact that 92 of the 105 guys essentially have flipped is unbelievable. We'll keep our eyes on that. Morgan Scali debuts against Idaho. That'll be tomorrow night at Rice Eccles Stadium tomorrow on college football live. Pete Thamble joins Steve in Baton Rouge for a decision that could change college football. We'll be all over it tomorrow. Two and five Canadians will hear the words you have cancer. That's why every step and dollar raised matters.

On September 19th, join thousands in Toronto for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation Walk. Challenge yourself, friends, and family to walk 21 kilometers in support of life-saving research. Together, we can carry the fire and help create a world free from the fear of cancer. Register today at pmcfwalk.ca.ca.