Live with RJ! No. 5 Indiana can win back the sport with a win against No. 4 Ohio State?
Summary
RJ Young analyzes Indiana’s rise to the top five, highlighting how Kurt Cignetti built a national championship team by recruiting productive players from losing programs. The episode covers the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 24 teams, with Young defending the move as a positive for the sport’s growth and relevance. He also discusses the "cradle of coaches" phenomenon at James Madison and shares his weekly game predictions, including picks for high-profile matchups like Ohio State at Indiana and Notre Dame at BYU.
Topics discussed
CalSheet sponsor segment and show introduction
Welcome, subscription info, and Beaumont Jones crossover
Ranking shifts: UMass, James Madison, and the 'Cradle of Coaches'
James Madison's coaching pipeline and Indiana's transfer portal strategy
Finding talent on bad teams: The Stephen Daly example
Indiana's first five-star recruit and the Georgia comparison
CFP expands to 24 teams: ESPN deal and board details
Why the expanded playoff is good for the sport
Playoff format: Auto-bids, home games, and G5 inclusion
Producer Ron's take: Month-long football and end of bowl games
FCS model, non-scholarship leagues, and coaching incubators
The '07-08 Giants' scenario and expectations for lower seeds
TV money, capitalism, and the value of playoff participation
Game picks intro and Florida at Texas analysis
Picks: Texas, LSU, and Alabama
Picks: Oklahoma State, Missouri, and Ohio State
Picks: Kentucky, Notre Dame, and closing remarks
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