Cover 2 College Football pod
410 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★ - 506 ratingsThe Athlon Sports Cover 2 College Football Podcast previews and reviews every aspect of the greatest sport on the planet.
Join Athlon’s editorial team every week of the preseason, regular season, postseason and offseason for a breakdown of the entire circus that is college football.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Anonymous Coaches Scouting Reports
August 10, 2022 16:46 - 1 hour - 95.3 MBCORRECTED AUDIO: Steven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football as camps are opening up across the country. We've got some bad news from Wake Forest camp and some historic news in the Big Ten. Then we give you the best anonymous scouting reports from across the country.
How a 12-team playoff would look in 2022
August 03, 2022 15:39 - 1 hour - 85.4 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Recapping Pac-12 media day performance Who is making these alignment decisions? Why a 16-team playoff won't happen What would a 12-team look like in 2022 What is the correct format? Who gets the first round byes? (12) Cincinnati at (5) Texas A&M (9) USC at (8) Utah (10) Oregon at (7) Notre Dame (11) Baylor at (6) Michigan
Realingment Poker and Counter Programming
July 27, 2022 17:20 - 57 minutes - 79.6 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football Have we ever known less about these teams? Why we are so excited about the season Grading the Media Days performances Kevin Warren and Jim Philips What is actually happening in realignment? What are the Pac-12 schools going to do? Does the B1G want to get bigger? Why CBS and Big 12 are huge players Predictions about counter-programming New transfer rules are smart and good
Actual football debates with Ian Fitzsimmons
July 21, 2022 11:00 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MBBraden Gall catches up with ESPN's Ian Fitzsimmons to talk conference realignment, the time frame for action from the Big 12 or Pac-12 before they argue about actual football teams. Like, say, who is going to win the ACC, Big 12 or Pac-12? How to build a winning program? How to hire good coaches?
Catching up with Chris Childers
July 20, 2022 10:00 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MBBraden Gall and Chris Childers hang out from Atlanta at SEC Media Days to discuss the past, present and future of college football. What is happening to the game? Who can be the last team into the college football playoff? The ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 races are more interesting. The guys catch up in Atlanta.
Realignment Update with Brett McMurphy
July 19, 2022 16:58 - 18 minutes - 25.5 MBNo one is more connected on conference expansion and realignment than Action Network's Brett McMurphy. Braden Gall had a chance to talk with Brett at SEC Media Days in Atlanta about the Big 12 trying to absorb the Pac-12, what Notre Dame is going to do, what happens to the SEC, the Group of 5 and where college football will be in less than 10 years. He's scared, folks.
Upsets that will define the '22 season
July 13, 2022 15:55 - 1 hour - 84 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. What is the latest with expansion as the SEC appears to be standing firm, the Big 12 is "open for business" and one move the Pac-12 needs to make today. Then we roll through the Playoff contenders' biggest upset alerts. Which trap games will define the 2022 championship races? And two recruiting theories about former powerhouses and how we will hire coaches in the future.
How we're going to save the Pac-12, Big 12!
July 06, 2022 15:05 - 1 hour - 88.2 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football, expansion and drama. What are the options for the Big 12 and Pac-12? A full partnership or partial merger or hostile takeover? How ESPN will play a huge role in what happens to the ACC? Why the SEC and Big Ten will fight over Virginia and North Carolina. What's the latest with ND and why the SEC wants them to stay independent.
Emergency Family Meeting: USC, UCLA to the Big Ten
July 01, 2022 16:09 - 1 hour - 93.3 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall call an emergency family meeting after the news of USC and UCLA moving to the Big Ten on Thursday. Who is making these decisions and why? Is their calculus right about sacrificing charm for ratings? How ND holds the ACC's future in their palm. Should the Pac-12 and Big 12 join forces? Can these big market forces be stopped or, at least, slowed at all?
The Orginial 2022 Dream Road Trip
June 29, 2022 16:25 - 1 hour - 92.9 MBThe band is back together for our favorite episode of the year: Our 2022 Dream College Football Road Trip - the ORIGINAL college football dream road trip, we might add. Mitch Light of The Athletic returns to join Steven Lassan and Braden Gall on this season's journey across college football. The rules are simple: You are going to a football game every week of the year but can only see each team one time. Where are you going? Send us your trip on the socials or in a review. Let's ride!
The Original 2022 Dream Road Trip
June 29, 2022 16:25 - 1 hour - 92.9 MBThe band is back together for our favorite episode of the year: Our 2022 Dream College Football Road Trip - the ORIGINAL college football dream road trip, we might add. Mitch Light of The Athletic returns to join Steven Lassan and Braden Gall on this season's journey across college football. The rules are simple: You are going to a football game every week of the year but can only see each team one time. Where are you going? Send us your trip on the socials or in a review. Let's ride!
Very good and thorough Group of 5 preview
June 22, 2022 15:59 - 1 hour - 86 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. We preview every Group of 5 conference by explaining our official 2022 predictions. Can anyone replicate what the Bearcats did last year, like say, Houston? The Mountain West is BACK, baby! Championship battles in the Sun Belt, C-USA and MAC are dead even. Which coaches do we like to rise through the ranks this fall? How good are Notre Dame, BYU and the rest of the Independents?
2022 Power 5 Predictions: Pac-12
June 20, 2022 14:42 - 39 minutes - 54.3 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. We preview every Power 5 conference by explaining our official 2022 predictions. In the Pac-12, there are some strong favorites followed by tons of chaos that will make for a fantastic year of football. Can new coaches across the league build winners fast? Can established names bounce back? And who is the real favorite to win the Pac-12?
2022 Power 5 Predictions: ACC
June 17, 2022 09:00 - 46 minutes - 64.6 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. We preview every Power 5 conference by explaining our official 2022 predictions. In the ACC, the QB position is stronger than it's been in a long time and that will lead to lots of debates this summer. Can the ACC champ get into the Playoff? Who can establish their culture the quickest? And why is Tyler Van Dyke so underrated?
2022 Power 5 Predictions: Big 12
June 13, 2022 10:00 - 38 minutes - 52.5 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. We preview every Power 5 conference by explaining our official 2022 predictions. In the Big 12, the league is as wide open as ever as programs jostle for position before looming changes. It's one of the most balanced leagues in America.
2022 Power 5 Predictions: Big Ten
June 10, 2022 10:00 - 39 minutes - 54.3 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. We preview every Power 5 conference by explaining our official 2022 predictions. In the Big Ten, can the QB position develop and catch up to the defenses in this league?
2022 Power 5 Predictions: SEC
June 08, 2022 15:36 - 35 minutes - 48.4 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. We preview every Power 5 conference by explaining our official 2022 predictions. In the SEC, the middle class is healthier than maybe ever before and could lead to one of the most unpredictable seasons in league history.
Teams that will make us look stupid
June 01, 2022 18:27 - 1 hour - 91 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Who is this year's Michigan? Which teams outside of the preseason top 25 have the right recipe to make an unforseen playoff run? Which teams in the top 10 are sure to disappoint and make us look bad? And which scheduling model is best for college football? Should it be the same for all leagues? What's best for the fans and what's best for the sport? Also, FREE STUFF!
Preseason Top 25 2022 Megacast
May 25, 2022 17:07 - 1 hour - 112 MBIt's here! Magazines are here! Steven Lassan and Braden Gall explain the Athlon Sports preseason Top 25 for 2022. We touch on every single ranked team, every conference races and give away two free magazines!
Jimbo Fisher-Nick Saban fued explained
May 20, 2022 15:35 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher. Why are these two ego maniacs yelling at each other? What are the real reasons for this fued? And what does it actually mean for the future of college football.
Jimbo Fisher-Nick Saban feud explained
May 20, 2022 15:35 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher. Why are these two ego maniacs yelling at each other? What are the real reasons for this fued? And what does it actually mean for the future of college football.
The top 10 coaching jobs in college football
May 18, 2022 15:53 - 1 hour - 94.6 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Awesome magazine news! Free Stuff! Arch Manning recruitment Why it's unprecedented Who cares where he goes! His career will be studied Nick Saban complains about parity Have we ever had it? Is there a way to legislate it? The top 10 jobs in America The top 3 are EASY! National title DNA Access and resources How can teams change status?
NCAA's mind-numbing stupidity
May 11, 2022 16:06 - 59 minutes - 81.5 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Magazines are put to bed! Two big QB transfers NCAA's mind-numbing stupidity Ripple effect of NCAA's decision Is this trial balloon, scare tactics? Divisions are going away! Why there's no reason to keep them How would scheduling work? New roster rules are smart Mike Leach's silly expansion tweet Conference title odds Where we agree, disagree Value bets in 2022
All-Conference QBs and Villainous Tampering
May 04, 2022 15:57 - 1 hour - 90 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Jordan Addison enters portal How to stop tampering? Riley, USC becoming villian Big dominoes fall in AAC What is next for OU, Texas? NFL hated 2022 QB class NFL loves 2023 QB class How many first rounders are there? Power 5 all-conference debates
College Football's "Inevitable" Split
April 27, 2022 14:27 - 1 hour - 105 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. We begin with Steven's scorching, smoldering, smokin' spring football takes. Then we dive into Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick's comments about the "inevitable" split coming to college football. We talk transfer portal stats and the biggest underachievers in college football.
Future of college football TV (and Saban's threat)
April 20, 2022 18:03 - 1 hour - 91.5 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. JT Daniels heads to West Virginia Bama, UGa, Ohio St spring games Spring football is like parenting Nick Saban threatens college football NIL out of control or fair market? TV broadcast rights are up for grabs Big Ten-ESPN relationship What role will streamers play? Can CBS, NBC get back into CFB?
Reliving the debut of the BCS
April 13, 2022 14:43 - 1 hour - 88.1 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Dabo is probably right for once Spring game notes (sort of) Week 1 point spreads Nico Mania changes everything We relive the first year of the BCS Era: Did it work A sign of things to come? Who deserved to be there? Did KSU, Tulane get hosed? Records across the board Ohio State's choke Hurricane and Hurricanes One redshirt freshman
2022 Predictions Debate, Pt. 1
April 06, 2022 15:49 - 1 hour - 98.3 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Today, we take you behind the curtain and show you how we begin to make predictions for the magazine. How we tier teams in each conference before deciding on champions and playoff teams. Who will compete for division titles? Which teams are on the second tier in each league? We also have some news out of the Big 12, the Sun Belt and with Mark Emmert.
Grading the new coaches in 2022
March 30, 2022 17:05 - 1 hour - 91.7 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Today, we grade all 29 new head football coaches in 2022. Which four Power 5 schools got "As" and which four schools got "Cs." Which first-time head coaches should be successful and which ones are concerning? How about Group of 5 retreads and rising stars? We graded them all.
The most fascinating teams of 2022
March 23, 2022 16:27 - 1 hour - 101 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. A 5-star QB commits and shows us exactly how important a "collective" is for your school. The worst possible job in college football. Our promise to you: A renewal of our vows to college football and to our core mission. Why the mainstream, national media is way too focused on the Playoff (but why they have to be). The most interesting teams who could contend for the Playoff. The most interesting teams that will be good but have...
Most important QB battles of spring
March 16, 2022 15:27 - 1 hour - 99.3 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Big magazine news Some 100% prime pod beef We were dead wrong Lots of NIL details Spring QB Battles: Playoff Implications: Texas A&M, Cincinnati, Oregon, Notre Dame, Michigan, Clemson Hot Seat Implications: Auburn, Arizona St, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Colorado Conference, Division Implications: Baylor, Penn St, Iowa, Texas, Washington, North Carolina, Pitt, LSU, Florida, Ole Miss
We fix college football's attendance issue
March 09, 2022 15:21 - 1 hour - 83.7 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. A review review GLOAT status and a thank you! Some positive attendance news Big Ten's, Sun Belt's growth FBS expansion, home experience Pac-12 historic low, ACC drops again Solutions to the problem Game too long, WiFi, good games Potential new rules announced Targeting, faking injury, blocking Who has used portal well? Who is over-using the portal? Who could use more portal?
Most, Least Returning Starters in 2022
March 02, 2022 17:12 - 58 minutes - 80.9 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. How do we determine and define what a returning starter is for the magazine? Who is returning the most talent in the Power 5? Who is returning the least starting talent in the Power 5? And how does all of that impact our magazine predictions? Which coaches get the benefit of the doubt?
College Football pisses down leg
February 23, 2022 16:26 - 50 minutes - 69.1 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. What did we expect? Selfishness, greed dominates Total chaos of last few years Will never get equity Charm vs. profits When was CFB small business? News: UK, UGa, Michigan, ASU Top 10 games of Week 1 Notre Dame-Ohio St Oregon-Georgia LSU-Florida State Utah-Florida Cincinnati-Arkansas Backyard Brawl
Winners-Losers: Transfer QBs
February 16, 2022 16:36 - 1 hour - 95.8 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. News and Notes: Auburn retains Bryan Harsin... why? Baylor, Cincinnati extend coaches C-USA, Sun Belt scheduling conflict Transfer QB analysis and breakdown: Big 12's biggest brands using portal Big Ten's best teams are homegrown Pac-12 has the best transfer QBs SEC middle class propped up ACC is a total hodge podge G5: UCF, Mountain West, Fun Belt
College Football Life Lessons from Auburn
February 09, 2022 18:30 - 1 hour - 82.6 MBSteven Lassen and Braden Gall talk college football. ACC might be getting rid of divisions! (Why we still hate divisions) The real goal of playoff expansion What on earth is happening at Auburn? Importance of organizational alignment Which schools have it? Which don't? Texas, USC, Miami, OU, Ohio St? Josh Gattis leaves for Miami What does Michigan do? Braden was wrong about NFL carousel Super Bowl starting QB trivia
Signing Day Outliers
February 03, 2022 14:14 - 1 hour - 91.6 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Big Ten ditching divisions? Coaching drama: ASU, Auburn Jim Harbaugh coming back Caleb Williams, Jaxson Dart Recruiting Outliers: Biggest overachievers Biggest underachievers What's going on in the Pac-12? How does future Big 12 look? Big Ten West needs a boost ACC staying power?
Pass-Fail: 2021 first-year head coaches
January 26, 2022 17:38 - 1 hour - 83.3 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Some new rules, committee members Bama using portal in big way Hawaii update Grading the first-year P5 coaches: Jedd Fisch, Arizona Bryan Harsin, Auburn Bret Bielema, Illinois Lance Leipold, Kansas Shane Beamer, South Carolina Josh Heupel, Tennessee Steve Sarkisian, Texas Clark Lea, Vanderbilt Grading the first-year G5 coaches from Blake Anderson at Utah State to Butch Jones at Arkansas State.
Big 12 divisions, West Coast QBs, ACC on tilt
January 19, 2022 16:30 - 1 hour - 86.3 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. What are the risks of the expansion stalemate? Why wouldn't SEC, Big Ten expand? Big 12 proposed divisions: Good and bad JT Daniels, Jaxson Dart, Caleb Williams Todd Graham's shocking Hawaii tenure Where do NFL playoff QBs come from? All of the evidence points to the Pac-12 NFL Draft deadline: winners and losers QB play in 2022 will be MUCH better
2022 rankings, TV ratings and the future
January 14, 2022 10:00 - 56 minutes - 77.2 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. What is holding up playoff expansion? Public sentiment wants expansion Automatic qualifiers helps who? What the Big Ten, ACC, Pac-12 care about? TV ratings for the national title: Up and down How to regain national interest? Big programs have follow the Ohio State model Just Do It: Hire recruiting assassins Early Top 25 2022 Rankings Bama, Ohio St, Georgia on top tier Clemson, Texas A&M, Michigan? Who has staying pow...
Dawgs are champs (w/ Mitch Light)
January 11, 2022 16:08 - 37 minutes - 51 MBThe band is back together as Mitch Light from The Athletic joins Steven Lassan and Braden Gall to break down Georgia's national championship victory over Alabama. Drama, tension, talent leads to great game Injuries for Bama play big role Did Todd Monken, UGa evolve? Georgia defense got stops when it had to Kirby vs. Saban wasn't a factor How will this game be received nationally? Fighting the regionality of the sport Removing focus from the national title
Alabama-Georgia (and so much more)
January 06, 2022 10:00 - 53 minutes - 74.1 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. TV ratings for the semifinals were bad TV expectations for the national title? Why were numbers down in 2020? Fatigue about the top of the sport? Does expansion fix this? Georgia's defensive approach Bryce Young's ability to beat man coverage Stetson Bennett will change the narrative Georgia's weapons getting healthy HAS Georgia innovated? Final game scores, predictions NFL coaching moves to impact college Caleb Wi...
Playoff Fallout: Title game, legacies and expansion
January 02, 2022 17:26 - 1 hour - 87.9 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Best two all year will play for natty Bama handles Cincinnati Bearcats deserve tons of credit What's Luke Fickell's future? Georgia's utter domination North-South talent differential Jim Harbaugh's legacy Georgia's adjustments for Alabama? Why fans will watch (why they won't) Expansion: How will it help? New Year's bowls teach us about expansion People still think bowl records matter?
The Big Playoff Preview
December 29, 2021 17:06 - 1 hour - 85.4 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall preview the two national semifinal playoff games on New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve TV ratings Bowl game hijinks abound How a win for Cincy changes football The argument for the Bearcats defense Can Cincy stop Will Anderson? Georgia-Michigan similarities QB situations for both O-Line vs. D-Line Which offense evolves? New Year's college football resolutions
A holiday bowl preview
December 21, 2021 10:00 - 53 minutes - 74.1 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall preview every single bowl game. But before they do we play a fun holiday bowl game called: "Real, Old or Fake." Play along with the guys OR play the at-home game. Either way, have a wonderful holiday bowl season!
Getting used to college football's new norms
December 16, 2021 09:30 - 1 hour - 84.3 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. What does the Travis Hunter story mean? NIL, transfer portal, early signing, HBCU's Stay calm and get used to new norms Reevaluating the early signing period Team recruiting rankings and the playoff New coaches at Oregon, Virginia and Duke New hiring philosophy: hiring coordinators Transfer portal QB chaos all over the country Bryce Young wins Heisman, Braden's ballot Previewing the first round of bowl games
Round and round the carousel goes
December 08, 2021 16:37 - 1 hour - 86 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall talk college football. Army-Navy: Best football game all yeaer Miami doing things they've never done Why Mario Cristobal will crush at The U Upward mobility in the ACC, Pac-12 Asking Brent Venables to carry OU into SEC Clemson has to replace more big pieces Oregon is extremely attractive Marcus Freeman's upside, risk at Notre Dame Josh Gattis award, Jim Knowles moves New G5 names at Fresno, Akron, Colorado St Virginia, Duke openings Heisma...
Playoff committee makes history
December 05, 2021 17:10 - 55 minutes - 75.7 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall offer instant reaction to Championship Weekend and the College Football Playoff bracket. Instant predictions and analysis: (1) Bama vs. (4) Cincinnati (2) Michigan vs. (3) Georgia Who should've been No. 1? Who wins the national title? History is made by the committee Does the G5 actually want this? Rematch factor Critical games within the game Would Ok-State have gotten in? Historical context, stats, info
Championship Weekend (and some special stuff)
December 03, 2021 10:00 - 45 minutes - 63.1 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall preview championship weekend in college football. Western Kentucky-UTSA Oregon-Utah Baylor-Ok State Kent St-Northern Illinois Utah St-San Diego St App St-Louisiana Georgia-Alabama Houston-Cincinnati Iowa-Michigan Wake Forest-Pitt (UVa, what?) Special GLOAT announcement, listener feedback and season-ending show reviews.
BONUS SODE: Carousel after dark
December 01, 2021 10:00 - 55 minutes - 76.8 MBSteven Lassan and Braden Gall record a bonus episode of Cover 2 After Dark. We talk rankings and playoff implications, take a deep dive into the Brian Kelly to LSU news and what it means for Notre Dame. Hear from Dari Nowkhah about how Lincoln Riley left Norman. As well as some Virginia Tech and Washington talk.