Is the “tush push” actually football?

In this episode, Jason and Grant break down the play from both a rules and real‑world perspective — why it’s difficult to officiate, what it exposes about the rulebook, and whether it fits the spirit of the game.

They talk through the difference between strategy and execution, the practical challenges officials face on these plays, and why something that seems simple on the surface becomes complicated in real time.

The conversation also expands into the NIL landscape and how money, incentives, and structure are reshaping college football — often in ways that aren’t obvious at first glance.

A discussion about what football is — and what it’s becoming.

In this episode of Situational Football, Jason and Grant break down several of the biggest structural changes being discussed across college football — and why none of them can be evaluated in isolation.

The conversation starts with the proposed “5‑in‑5” eligibility framework, examining how it impacts current players, recent seniors, coaches, and high school prospects differently. From age‑based implications to unintended ripple effects, they talk through why a rule that feels fair in theory can still create real winners and losers in practice.

From there, the focus shifts to College Football Playoff expansion and the collateral damage that often gets overlooked — conference championship games, bye weeks, the transfer portal calendar, recruiting conflicts, and the academic realities that don’t pause just because the postseason gets bigger.

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Reporting from Jori Epstein about the Brown use of analytical tools (link): https://x.com/JoriEpstein/status/2049643796548239776

In this episode of Situational Football, Jason and Grant start with a situational review of the NFL Draft — focusing on prospect value, team fit, and why it’s reasonable to evaluate draft decisions immediately without waiting years for hindsight. The conversation breaks down the difference between a prospect and a player, why draft grades are really grades on process, and which teams they believe maximized value based on need, scheme, and timing.

From there, the discussion shifts to the broader college football landscape, examining how NIL, revenue sharing, eligibility rules, and calendar changes are reshaping the sport. Using real financial examples, they talk through why football and men’s basketball drive the system, how that reality impacts other sports, and what the NIL era is actually changing — and not changing — about college athletics.

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Penn State Athletics 2024–25 Fiscal Breakdown (graphic)

https://x.com/i/status/2042290313348166068

• "From the Arena, Not the Sidelines" – University of Louisville White Paper (PDF)

https://mail.uofl.me/t/r-e-tkujtiud-nttkjhijyl-y/

In this episode, we sit down and talk through Grant’s 1st round mock draft — what stood out, what felt obvious, and where things got interesting. We bounce around different teams, players, and situations, and spend time on the why behind the choices instead of just running through a list.

It’s a laid‑back conversation about the draft from two different perspectives: one from a guy who’s been around football for a long time, and one from someone who’s getting ready to play it at the next level. No hot takes, no shouting — just a real football conversation.

Episode 1 of Situational Football looks at the NFL through the lens of context and decision‑making. Jason and Grant discuss teams they believe handled free agency well, why certain moves make sense situationally, and how those choices shape draft strategy.

The episode also explores Fernando Mendoza’s case as a potential top pick, along with sleeper prospects who could benefit most from the right role and environment.

In this short introduction, Jason and Grant explain what the podcast is about, their why, and what listeners can expect from future episodes covering high school, college, and NFL football.