Complete BS

Complete BS hosted by Brien Schmauch is the official podcast of Couch Coach Nation — a fast-growing community of passionate sports fans who bring big opinions, loud cheers, and deep loyalty to every game day.

Final Four Fallout — Blowouts, Brilliance & Miami–Ole Miss on Deck 01/07/2026

Turning the Page — Whittingham to Michigan, Quarterfinal Matchups & New Year’s Stakes 12/31/2025

Turning the Page — Whittingham to Michigan, Quarterfinal Matchups & New Year’s Stakes As college football closes the book on 2025 and charges into 2026, Complete BS breaks down a pivotal week across the sport. Brien and AV react to Michigan’s surprising head coaching hire of Kyle Whittingham, debate what it means long-term for the Wolverines, and dive into a full slate of bowl games and College Football Playoff quarterfinals. From bridge coaches and coordinator pipelines to opt-outs, matchups, and betting value, this episode sets the table for New Year’s football and the race to crown a national champion. What’s inside: Michigan Hires Kyle Whittingham: Why the move brings immediate stability, questions about age and longevity, and how Jason Beck and Jay Hill factor into a possible head-coach-in-waiting plan. Bowl Game Breakdown: ReliaQuest Bowl: Iowa vs. Vanderbilt Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Texas Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs. Utah Cotton Bowl Quarterfinal — Miami vs. Ohio State: Can Mark Fletcher get loose against the nation’s top defense, and what consistency means for Julian Sayin and the Buckeye offense. Rose Bowl Quarterfinal — Alabama vs. Indiana: Why résumé, balance, and belief favor the Hoosiers — and why Alabama’s past doesn’t matter anymore. Orange Bowl Quarterfinal — Oregon vs. Texas Tech: Good-on-good across the board, turnover margins, Dan Lanning’s edge, and why this might be the game of the round. Sugar Bowl Quarterfinal — Ole Miss vs. Georgia: No Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart’s prep advantage, and why Georgia’s steady climb may continue. AV’s Book Club: Georgia -6.5 and Indiana–Alabama over 47.5, plus how to find value late in the season. If you’re looking for straight talk, sharp matchups, and a clear read on where this playoff is headed — this is the episode that kicks off the new year. /episode/index/show/236748f3-89f5-4728-b6ce-e86f3b50a589/id/39575470

Opening Round Recap — Bama Survives, Miami Advances, Oregon Rolls & Bowl Season Begins 12/24/2025

Opening Round Recap — Bama Survives, Miami Advances, Oregon Rolls & Bowl Season Begins The opening round of the College Football Playoff is in the books, and Complete BS breaks down what mattered, what didn’t, and what comes next. Brien and AV recap Alabama’s comeback win over Oklahoma, Miami’s defensive grind against Texas A&M, Ole Miss handling Tulane again without Lane Kiffin, and Oregon’s first-half blitz that put James Madison away early. The guys hand out game balls, look ahead to the next playoff matchups, and pivot into bowl season with previews and picks across a loaded slate. From opt-outs and coaching changes to motivation gaps and betting value, this episode cuts through the noise and keeps the focus on the football. What’s inside: Alabama 34, Oklahoma 24: Early panic, a momentum-shifting pick-six, missed kicks, and how the Tide flipped the script to advance to the Rose Bowl. Miami 10, Texas A&M 3: A defensive slugfest, missed field goals, Mark Fletcher’s takeover drive, and why Miami’s formula can travel. Ole Miss 41, Tulane 10: Same matchup, same result — why finishing drives mattered more than coaching changes. Oregon 51, James Madison 34: First-half knockout, backdoor cover, and why the Ducks look built for a deep run. Game Balls: Bryce Fitzgerald (Miami) — two interceptions including the game-sealer Lotzeir Brooks (Alabama) — freshman breakout in a playoff moment Bowl Season Kickoff: Hawaii Bowl: Cal vs. Hawaii Rate Bowl: New Mexico vs. Minnesota First Responder Bowl: FIU vs. UTSA Military Bowl: Pitt vs. East Carolina Pop-Tarts Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. BYU New Mexico Bowl: North Texas vs. San Diego State Gator Bowl: Virginia vs. Missouri Texas Bowl: LSU vs. Houston Book Club Bets: Clemson -3, Pitt -10, and Cal moneyline — plus where the real value lives this week. Looking Ahead: Early thoughts on the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Orange Bowl as the playoff field tightens. /episode/index/show/236748f3-89f5-4728-b6ce-e86f3b50a589/id/39446695

Coaching Shockwaves & Trophy Fallout — Michigan Opens, Army–Navy Ends, Heisman Decided 12/15/2025

Hardware, Heroes & Rivalry — Heisman Picks, Trophy Night & Keenan Reynolds on Army–Navy 12/11/2025

Heisman Week, Husker Legend — Eric Crouch on 2001, 2025’s Race & Fixing CFB 12/10/2025

Season Over. Fireworks Begin. — Coaching Hires, Texas Tech’s Statement & CFP Committee Questions 12/08/2025

Season Over. Fireworks Begin. — Coaching Hires, Texas Tech’s Statement & CFP Committee Questions The regular season is done, conference titles are decided, and the College Football Playoff bracket is set—but the real drama is just getting started. Brien and AV rip through a fresh wave of coaching moves, break down dominant championship game performances from Texas Tech, Georgia, and Indiana, and take a hard look at how (and why) the CFP committee landed on its final 12. From Penn State’s messy search and Hartline’s boom-or-bust shot at USF to whether Bama deserved the benefit of the doubt over Miami and Notre Dame, this one is all about what the sport got right, what it botched, and how to fix the calendar going forward. What’s inside: Coaching Carousel Spin: Matt Campbell to Penn State, Jimmy Rogers to Iowa State, Charles Huff to Memphis, Tosh Lupoi to Cal, Billy Napier to JMU, Alex Mortenson at UAB, Brian Hartline to USF, Neal Brown to North Texas, Will Stein to Kentucky, Bob Chesney to UCLA, and Pete Golding elevated at Ole Miss. Penn State’s Search Problem: Why firing James Franklin early with no clear plan tanked recruiting and left Campbell starting from a hole. How To Do It Right: Iowa State’s two-hour turnaround for Jimmy Rogers and why that’s how a real search should look. G5 Launchpads: Why Memphis, JMU, North Texas, and USF are now boom-or-bust career accelerators for ambitious young coaches. Texas Tech’s Statement Win: Red Raiders suffocate BYU in the Big 12 title game and look every bit like a top-four team no one wants to see in the playoff. SEC Power Shift: Georgia smothers Alabama in Atlanta, dominates both lines of scrimmage, and raises real questions about where Bama goes from here. Big Ten Rock Fight: Indiana out-toughs Ohio State 13–10, wins the LOS, sacks Julian Sayin five times, and hands the “best defense in the country” its first real gut punch. Game Balls: Wayne Knight powers JMU into the playoff; Charlie Becker torches Ohio State over the top when it mattered most. CFP Bracket Questions: Why 1–4 and 5–7 mostly make sense, but the Miami vs. Notre Dame vs. Alabama shuffle exposes how arbitrary the process still feels. Time To Kill Conference Title Games?: Brien’s blueprint—start earlier, steal the FCS model, auto-bids for champions, more at-larges, and wrap the whole thing by New Year’s. What’s Next on Complete BS: Special Heisman episode with 2001 winner Eric Crouch and an Army–Navy deep-dive with Navy legend Keenan Reynolds. /episode/index/show/236748f3-89f5-4728-b6ce-e86f3b50a589/id/39316030

Playoff Politics? Count the Cost — Georgia–Bama, OSU–Indiana & BYU–Tech on the Line 12/04/2025

Playoff Politics? Count the Cost — Georgia–Bama, OSU–Indiana & BYU–Tech on the Line Championship Weekend is here, and the committee shenanigans are already in full swing. Brien and AV break down why Ole Miss holds firm while Florida State got bounced in 2023, how Alabama magically jumped Notre Dame, and what Miami–Notre Dame, BYU, and North Texas mean for the final playoff spots. Then they go game-by-game through Championship Weekend—from Kennesaw State–Jacksonville State and JMU’s playoff push to Texas Tech’s shot at a bye and a heavyweight Big Ten title clash between Ohio State and Indiana—before closing with Book Club picks and one last chance to make money before bowl season. What’s inside: Playoff Committee Games: Ole Miss protection, Alabama’s cushion, and why Notre Dame keeps getting squeezed. Miami vs Notre Dame Bubble Watch: Cristobal’s “common opponent” argument and how a BYU loss could reshuffle the last at-large bid. Couch Coach Nation Invite: Why CCN exists for real-name, real-respect football talk all year—plus Championship Saturday chat details. Group of Five Title Slate: C-USA: Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State – JSU rematch and why Brien still leans Gamecocks. Mountain West: Boise State vs UNLV – why Boise is still the safer side even with Mullen’s adjustments. MAC: Miami (OH) vs Western Michigan – revenge angle, neutral site in Detroit, and split picks on who lifts the trophy. Sun Belt: Troy at James Madison – JMU’s playoff resume, common-opponent flex vs Old Dominion, and a “JMU all day” verdict. AAC: North Texas at Tulane – explosive Mean Green offense, committee-rewarded home field for Tulane, and a 45–31 North Texas playoff call. ACC Championship: Duke vs Virginia: Mensa vs Jamari Taylor, UVA’s run-game control plan, refs conspiracy chatter, and why an ugly UVA win feels inevitable. Big 12 Championship: BYU vs Texas Tech: First matchup breakdown, sacks and run-game issues for BYU, Kalani bump factor, and why Tech still looks like a legit top-four team. SEC Championship: Georgia vs Alabama (Round 2): Early-start warning for Georgia, Stocktons’s passing concerns, Kirby’s blueprint in Atlanta, and how a third Bama loss affects their playoff case. Big Ten Championship: Indiana vs Ohio State: No. 1 vs No. 2 in both scoring and total defense, Mendoza vs Sayin for a Heisman swing, and why Ohio State still looks like the best team in the country. Book Club Bets: Georgia -2.5 vs Alabama Texas Tech–BYU over 49.5 Bonus: Troy–James Madison over 47.5 with JMU carrying most of the total. Final Push Before Bowls: Who’s in, who’s out, and why Championship Weekend might hurt as many résumés as it helps. /episode/index/show/236748f3-89f5-4728-b6ce-e86f3b50a589/id/39260080

Rivalry Week Ends: Ohio State Rolls, Texas Rises & Carousel Spins 12/01/2025

Rivalry Week Ends: Ohio State Rolls, Texas Rises & Carousel Spins Rivalry Weekend lived up to its reputation, delivering chaos, heartbreak, and a few season-defining statements as the playoff picture finally sharpens. Brien and AV break down every major rivalry matchup—from Clean Old Fashioned Hate to the Iron Bowl—before diving into a wild first wave of coaching moves and what it all means headed into Championship Week. What’s inside: Rivalry Weekend Rundown: Cal–SMU closes the night with a 35-point fourth quarter thriller, the Iron Bowl comes down to the final snap, and LSU–Oklahoma turns into a gritty, old-school rock fight. Coaching Carousel Opens Fire: Alex Golesh bolts for Auburn, Ryan Silverfield lands at Arkansas, Lane Kiffin finally arrives at LSU, Jon Sumrall takes the Florida job, Pete Golding steps up at Ole Miss, and Pat Fitzgerald to Michigan State might be the cleanest pairing of the entire cycle. Penn State Problems: They fired early, but with no marquee coach in sight, the Nittany Lions look far more like a tier-two job than leadership wants to admit. Clean Old Fashioned Hate: Georgia grinds out a 16–9 win, shutting down Tech’s high-powered offense and holding them to just 69 rushing yards, while Tech’s late-season collapse becomes impossible to ignore. Lone Star Showdown: Texas takes down A&M 27–17 behind a surprising run-game resurgence and an improving Arch Manning. Meanwhile, Brien questions whether A&M’s undefeated surge was built on the SEC’s soft middle. The Game — Ohio State at Michigan: Buckeyes dominate 27–9 behind the best defense in the nation and a poised Julian Sayin, while concerns mount over Bryce Underwood’s development and Michigan’s offensive ceiling. Game Balls: Caleb Hawkins (North Texas), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), and Jadan Baugh (Florida) headline the weekend’s standout performances. I’ve Got Questions: AV challenges Rhett Lashlee for SMU’s no-show with a title berth on the line. Brien takes aim at the sport itself—conference championship games that don’t matter, bloated leagues, meaningless matchups, injury risk, and a system more controlled by committees than the field. /episode/index/show/236748f3-89f5-4728-b6ce-e86f3b50a589/id/39219820

Rivalry Week Is Here: Grudges, Goals & Bacarri Rambo on Georgia’s Edge 11/27/2025

Rivalry Week Is Here: Grudges, Goals & Bacarri Rambo on Georgia’s Edge It’s the best weekend of the year in college football—rivalry week. Brien and AV run through a loaded slate with trophies, bragging rights, and playoff positioning all on the line. From ACC chaos and SEC grudge matches to The Game and the Lone Star Showdown, they make picks, question soft teams, and sort out who’s for real heading into championship week. Then Georgia All-American Bacarri Rambo joins to talk Dawgs, Clean Old Fashioned Hate, and what it takes to dominate between the hedges. What’s inside: Rivalry Rundown: Rapid-fire picks with stakes attached—Miami–Pitt, UNC–NC State, FSU–Florida, Virginia Tech–Virginia (Commonwealth Cup), Kentucky–Louisville (Governor’s Cup), Clemson–South Carolina (Palmetto Bowl), Arizona–Arizona State (Territorial Cup), Indiana–Purdue (Old Oaken Bucket), USC–UCLA (Victory Bell), Northwestern–Illinois (Land of Lincoln), Wisconsin–Minnesota (Paul Bunyan’s Axe), Ole Miss–Mississippi State (Egg Bowl), Vanderbilt–Tennessee, and the Iron Bowl. Lone Star Showdown: Deep dive on Texas A&M at Texas—Arch Manning’s growth, Marcel Reed’s dual-threat impact, whether A&M is physical enough up front, schedule skepticism, and dueling score predictions in a 27–21 vs 28–27 nail-biter debate. The Game: Ohio State–Michigan breakdown—why Vegas has OSU -9.5, Buckeyes’ suffocating defense, Michigan’s run-heavy identity, and why Brien and AV both lean Buckeyes as the most complete team in the country. Clean Old Fashioned Hate: Georgia vs Georgia Tech in Atlanta—Haynes King’s workload, Tech’s defensive issues, Georgia’s improving lines and run game, and why both see the Dawgs pulling away (38–17 / 42–17) despite an early scrap. AV’s Book Club – Rivalry Edition: AV’s rivalry card—UF -2.5 vs Florida State, Tennessee -2.5 vs Vanderbilt, Clemson +2.5 vs South Carolina, plus a bonus play: Oregon -6.5 at Washington in a spot he thinks the Ducks win by two scores. Between the Hedges with Bacarri Rambo: Georgia All-American safety Bacarri Rambo joins the show—recruiting stories, Coach Richt’s impact, that 2011 All-American season, what makes Sanford special, advice for KJ Bolden, and how he sees Dawgs–Jackets playing out this year. /episode/index/show/236748f3-89f5-4728-b6ce-e86f3b50a589/id/39193255

When Respect Meets Rivalry: Blowouts, Breakdowns & a Call for Better Conversations 11/24/2025

Cupcake Weekend? Think Again: USC-Oregon Shootout, SEC Landmines, & Joe Hamilton on Georgia Tech-Pitt 11/20/2025

Cupcake Weekend? Think Again: USC-Oregon Shootout, SEC Landmines, & Joe Hamilton on Georgia Tech-Pitt “Cupcake Weekend” usually brings a breather, but not this year. Brien and AV break down a deceptively loaded Week 13 slate—from USC–Oregon in Autzen to Tennessee–Florida in a rare November matchup, plus Friday night’s survival game between two 5–5 teams: FSU and NC State. They hit coaching smoke around James Franklin, why Maryland sticking with Mike Locksley actually makes sense, and how underperforming SEC teams might get exposed by hungry Group of Five opponents. They also celebrate the launch of CouchCoachNation.com, where fans packed the all-day Saturday chat, and then welcome Georgia Tech legend Joe Hamilton for one of the most insightful interviews of the season. What’s inside: Saturday Slate: – USC at Oregon: Strength vs. strength—elite passing attack vs. elite pass rush. AV calls a shootout upset. – Tennessee at Florida: Only the second November meeting since 1955, with Florida banged up everywhere. – Kansas State–Utah, TCU–Houston, Pitt–Georgia Tech, Nebraska–Penn State: Window-to-window watchability. – Coastal at South Carolina & WKU at LSU: Two G5 teams with real chances to make underperforming SEC teams sweat. – FCS Spotlight: Montana State–Montana in the Brawl of the Wild. Friday Night: – FSU at NC State: Two teams fighting for bowl eligibility, two coaches under scrutiny, one wild name in the rumor mill: Philip Rivers. Coaching Carousel Check-In: Locksley stays at Maryland, James Franklin’s name heats up elsewhere, and NC State may be approaching a crossroads. AV’s Book Club: Three picks he loves, the Penn State line he hates, and the USC–Oregon over he’s hammering. Joe Hamilton Joins the Show: The Georgia Tech great breaks down his recruitment, reflects on taking FSU to the wire in ’99, shares stories from Heisman Week, and explains how Brent Key has restored Tech Toughness. He also previews Pitt–Georgia Tech with ACC Championship implications. Week 13 has more stakes than the schedule suggests—and this episode brings all of it. Join the nation at CouchCoachNation.com. /episode/index/show/236748f3-89f5-4728-b6ce-e86f3b50a589/id/39102525