On this special “Award Show” episode of Tailgate on the Quad, Kevin and Ciarnan close out the college football season with the inaugural Tailgate Awards! The hosts dive into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s surprising snub of Bill Belichick and debate the chaos of the transfer portal, NIL, and NCAA governance (or lack thereof). They break down the year’s “best” and “worst” across college football with listener-driven categories: Most Disappointing Team, the Notre Dame Award for Most Pretentious Fanbase, the Skip Bayless Award for Worst Media Personality, and more!

00:00 "Hall of Fame Voting Controversy"

05:43 "Patriots, Mahomes, and Legacy Bias"

09:12 "College Football Accountability Issues"

11:17 "Dabo Sweeney Stands Firm"

14:58 "Tackling Ejections and Momentum"

19:47 "Colorado's Decline Under Sanders"

22:12 "Debating College Football Inclusions"

24:54 Ohio State & Ole Miss Discussion

28:24 "Texas A&M Comeback Reaction"

32:37 Big Ten vs. SEC Debate

36:34 "Doink Award Worst Kicker Rant"

39:15 "DJ Dog Winner: Peter"

41:38 "Fernando's Selfless Team Spirit"

44:00 "Signing Off for Break"

Kevin and Ciarnan break down Indiana's jaw-dropping national championship win, comparing its improbability to Leicester City's legendary run. They evaluate the impact of coach Curt Cignetti, debate media skepticism, and discuss what Indiana's success means for college football’s future. The hosts dissect the championship game, highlight pivotal moments for both Indiana and Miami, and consider whether either team can replicate their success next season. With hot takes on NIL, transfer portal drama, and the unusual case of Duke suing its own quarterback, the show dives deep into the evolving college football landscape.

00:00 Thrilling Game Sealed by Interception

10:19 Signetti's Impact and Future Uncertainty

12:34 "Competitive Futures for Teams"

18:30 "Short-Term Success Strategy in Sports"

26:22 "Indiana's Unlikely Football Peak"

29:40 "Frustration Over Missed Opportunity"

38:13 "Iowa Offense and Rankings Recap"

44:46 "Duke Sues Quarterback Darian Mensa"

45:36 "Honor Contracts in College Sports"

55:05 "2007-Era Drama and Surprises"

57:21 "Tailgate Awards and Top Teams"

It’s Natty Week on Tailgate on the Quad! Kevin and Ciarnan tackle a jam-packed episode, diving into the buzz of transfer portal chaos, controversial new redshirt rule proposals, and wild eligibility extensions. The hosts break down the latest quarterback carousel, including TJ Finley’s multi-school journey and Sam Leavitt’s move to LSU, plus high-profile WR transfers like Cam Coleman to Texas. They debate playoff expansion, weighing the absurdity of a possible 24-team field, and relive epic playoff action with Indiana’s Peach Bowl rout and Miami’s clutch win. Kevin and Ciarnan preview the upcoming national championship clash—Indiana vs. Miami—offering picks, championship X-factors, and a hilarious look at Miami’s “close-to-home” advantage.

0:00:00 – Welcome back, Indiana win recap, and Natty Week kickoff 0:06:00 – Redshirt rule changes, eligibility chaos, and the transfer era 0:12:00 – TJ Finley’s transfer saga and the student-athlete debate 0:18:00 – Portal overload, degree talk, and the impact of COVID years 0:24:00 – Transfer portal highlights: Levitt to LSU, Raiola to Oregon, and more 0:30:00 – Texas transfer carousel, Sorsby to Tech, and out-of-control portal news 0:36:00 – Ty Simpson’s loyalty, NIL tampering, and mounting portal fatigue 0:42:00 – Marcus Freeman “altercation” saga and reaction 0:48:00 – Playoff expansion talk: 16 vs. 24 teams and the state of CFB 0:54:00 – Semifinal recaps: Miami vs Ole Miss, Indiana’s blowout, National Championship preview, and episode sign-off