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Miami Hurricanes just sent Ohio State football home in the Cotton Bowl and flipped the College Football Playoff on its head. In this 1:38 reaction, George Wrighster breaks down how Miami turned a CFP quarterfinal into “Upset City,” stuffing the Buckeyes 24–14 with a brutally physical, Mario Cristobal–style performance. The Hurricanes’ defense, led by Reuben Bain, Akeem Mesidor and that front, held Ohio State under 50 rushing yards and choked out the Buckeyes’ ground game snap after snap. On offense, Miami leaned into its identity: 37 carries for 153 yards and a score, with Mark Fletcher setting the tone while the passing game stayed efficient and mistake-free. George points out that nobody believed in Miami as a 9.5-point underdog, and yet this Cotton Bowl proved exactly why the expanded College Football Playoff is so dangerous for favorites. A double-digit seed just beat an Ohio State team everyone penciled into the next round, and it happened because the margins between the ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten are smaller than ever in modern college football. This video isn’t just about one upset; it’s about how close the top tiers really are and why the sport feels like it’s at its peak right now. George even looks ahead to the dream scenario: Miami, coached by former Oregon Ducks leader Mario Cristobal, potentially meeting Dan Lanning and Oregon in a national championship showdown that would send the CFP storylines into overdrive. Chapters: 00:00 – Miami stuffs Ohio State 24–14 and dominates the Cotton Bowl 00:32 – Cristobal physicality: Miami run game, Mark Fletcher and OSU under 50 rushing yards 01:02 – Double-digit CFP seed chaos, shrinking conference gaps and dream Miami–Oregon title talk #MiamiHurricanes #OhioStateFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFP #CollegeFootball #CottonBowl #CFB #ACC #BigTen #OregonDucks #AlabamaFootball #TexasTech #IndianaFootball #GeorgiaFootball #UnafraidShow #GeorgeWrighster #LiveReaction
Ohio State went HOME to a 9.5-point underdog Miami #MiamiHurricanes
Ohio State football vs Miami Hurricanes football in the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal delivered exactly the kind of chaos that makes college football must-watch, and George Wrighster is here with a full, unfiltered live reaction. From the opening drives it felt like a clash of styles—Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State vs ACC challenger Miami Hurricanes Football—testing whether the Ohio State Buckeyes’ elite defense could smother Miami’s speed, or whether the Hurricanes could finally punch through on the biggest CFP stage. George breaks down the key moments that swung the Cotton Bowl and the the winner plays the Georgia Bulldogs or Ole Miss Rebels in the CFP semi-final. George also zooms out to what this Ohio State vs Miami result means for the rest of the College Football Playoff bracket. He talks about how the winner stacks up against other CFP contenders like Oregon Ducks, Alabama football, Texas Tech, Indiana Hoosiers and Georgia football, and what this game tells us about the balance of power between the Big Ten and ACC. Did Ohio State prove it’s still a national standard, or did Miami erase years of inconsistency in one night? How will the Cotton Bowl performance affect the next round’s matchups and the narrative around conference strength when the playoff moves forward? 00:00:10 – Miami Hurricanes football STUNS Ohio State football: instant reaction & score breakdown 00:01:08 – Stars shine: Jeremiah Smith, Reuben Bain Jr., Carson Beck and Julian Sayin 00:02:01 – How Miami Hurricanes football nearly missed the CFP and why George picked the Canes 00:02:58 – Miami’s run game vs Ohio State Buckeyes “72 rushing yards a game” defense 00:04:55 – Carson Beck “game manager” talk and why that’s actually a compliment 00:04:55 – Miami pass rush wrecks Julian Sayin & exposes Ohio State’s schedule 00:07:41 – Bye-week curse: 25-day layoff, 0–5 record for CFP teams with byes 00:12:07 – Jeremiah Smith was built in a lab: 7 catches, 153 yards and unstoppable 00:15:37 – Why winning a national title is harder than ever in the NIL/portal era 00:16:24 – Mario Cristobal’s identity: win on the offensive and defensive lines 00:21:11 – Emotional Miami moment: Cristobal, Jimmy Johnson and Canes family bonds 00:24:57 – Ryan Day’s play-calling, CEO duties and late-game timeout decisions 00:45:38 – New era math: blue-chip ratio, transfer portal and shrinking talent gaps 00:57:56 – SEC bowl failures, Texas A&M hype and shifting conference power 01:03:12 – Oregon–Indiana context, truth-teller sign-off and what comes next in the CFP #OhioStateFootball #miamihurricanesfootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CottonBowl #CFP #CollegeFootball #CFB #BigTen #ACC #OregonDucks #AlabamaFootball #TexasTech #IndianaFootball #GeorgiaFootball #CFBPlayoffs #UnafraidShow #GeorgeWrighster #LiveReaction Fair Use Disclaimer (NCAA Content): This video contains footage from NCAA football games used under the Fair Use doctrine (Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act). The clips are included strictly for the purposes of commentary, analysis, and education. We do not claim any ownership of the game footage. All rights to the original broadcasts and highlights belong to the NCAA and their respective media rights holders (e.g., ESPN, FOX, CBS, Big Ten Network, etc.). All footage is presented without original audio and includes transformative commentary, which is the primary focus of this content. This podcast is intended to inform, educate, and foster deeper understanding of the game.
Reaction: Miami Stuns Ohio State in the CFP Cotton Bowl
Preview and Prediction of the Alabama football vs Indiana Hoosiers College Football Playoff semifinal Rose Bowl. We have SEC blue blood vs newly crowned Big Ten powerhouse, Kalen DeBoer vs Kurt Cignetti, Ty Simpson vs Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. George Wrighster breaks down why Indiana football is a 13–0 No. 1 seed and Big Ten champion after beating Oregon football and Ohio State football, while Alabama football comes in 11–3 as SEC runner-up but still carries all the brand weight and expectations of the Saban era. This 6.5-point spread at the Rose Bowl stage, and how this Big Ten vs SEC showdown will fuel every “best conference in college football” argument for the next year. Chapters: 00:00 Alabama football vs Indiana football CFB Playoff 00:15 Rose Bowl X-Factor 00:45 Curt Cignetti vs Kalen DeBoer #AlabamaFootball #IndianaFootball #RoseBowl #CollegeFootballPlayoff #alabamacrimsontide #CFP #CollegeFootball #CFB #secfootball #BigTen #KalenDeBoer #FernandoMendoza #TySimpson #UnafraidShow #GeorgeWrighster #cfbprediction #cfbpredictions #unafraidshow
Why Alabama's 6.5 Point Spread Looks Completely Wrong
College football is in full chaos mode—bowl games are losing juice, the new College Football Playoff looms large, and bluebloods like Notre Dame, USC, Michigan football and the Utah Utes are right in the middle of it. In this College Football Apostles episode, George Wrighster breaks down the Notre Dame vs USC scheduling mess, Lincoln Riley’s “week zero” comments, and why Irish fans might actually be right this time even while everyone’s mad at them for backing out of the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Then the conversation shifts to CFP expansion, how opt-outs and the transfer portal helped kill traditional bowl season, and what a smarter calendar could look like if college football ever got real leadership. From there, the show dives into Michigan hiring Kyle Whittingham away from Utah, what that means for the Wolverines in the Big Ten arms race, and why Utah fans are nervous about life under new head coach Morgan Scalley. George and Ralph talk parity, how Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State and Michigan could turn the Big Ten into a weekly heavyweight fight, and why Utah’s depth and recruiting reality always capped their ceiling in the Pac-12 and Big 12. New-age rivalries like LSU–Ole Miss and BYU–Notre Dame pop up thanks to the portal and coaching moves, while Lane Kiffin’s online chaos, USC’s brand spin, and Notre Dame’s future schedules all get put under the microscope. The back half of the video zeroes in on the transfer portal and NIL: Steve Sarkisian’s rant about unqualified agents, why some player reps are wrecking deals, and how bad language in NIL contracts can haunt a kid long after he leaves campus. George also reacts to an Oklahoma State lineman “visiting” his own school out of the portal, and Clemson running back Keith Adams Jr. publicly saying he was misused in four years with the Tigers—raising real questions about loyalty, opportunity, and what it means to speak out once you’re finally outside the building. If you care about where college football is headed—CFP expansion, NIL, Big Ten vs SEC power, Notre Dame’s future, USC’s brand, Utah and Michigan’s next chapter—this episode is a must-watch. Chapters: 00:00:00 – Intro, bowl games losing juice and CFP era vibes 00:03:00 – USC vs Notre Dame fans and Lincoln Riley’s Week Zero comments 00:06:20 – Who’s really at fault in the USC–Notre Dame breakup 00:12:00 – Why Notre Dame’s 2026–27 schedules are tougher than critics think 00:16:20 – Is this mostly on USC? What it says about CFB leadership 00:18:15 – Has CFP expansion effectively killed bowl season hype? 00:21:15 – How to fix the calendar: bowls, portal windows, title games 00:24:20 – Parity talk: wanting Vandy and Rutgers to have a real shot 00:25:50 – Big Ten power map: Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan, USC 00:28:30 – First reaction to Michigan hiring Kyle Whittingham 00:31:00 – How Whittingham raises Michigan’s ceiling 00:33:00 – Utah fallout, Morgan Scalley era and Big 12 expectations 00:37:55 – How patient Utah fans should be with the new staff 00:43:20 – New rivalries from coaching moves and portal drama 00:45:05 – Lane Kiffin online, Ole Miss–LSU and fan insanity 00:48:05 – Steve Sarkisian’s NIL agent rant and unqualified reps 00:51:35 – Bad NIL contracts, percentages and protecting players 00:54:15 – Oklahoma State OL “visiting” his own school from the portal 00:57:05 – Clemson RB Keith Adams Jr. on being misused at Clemson 01:05:00 – Does college football need a commissioner? Big ideas 01:10:00 – Final thoughts on bowls, CFP expansion and the sport’s future #CollegeFootball #CFB #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFP #NotreDame #USCfootball #MichiganFootball #UtahUtes #BigTen #SEC #BowlSeason #TransferPortal #NIL #OregonDucks #OhioStateFootball #BYU #LSU #OleMiss #UnafraidShow #GeorgeWrighster #CollegeFootballPodcast
CFB Bowl Games Fail, USC Spin, Notre Dame Rage & Utah Fallout
USC football just suffered another brutal bowl game collapse, and this time it’s against TCU football in a finish that perfectly sums up the Lincoln Riley era at USC football. George Wrighster breaks down how the USC Trojans managed to blow a lead in overtime on 3rd-and-20, with the quarterback checking down instead of protecting the ball, leading to a walk-off TCU touchdown. He calls out the same issues that have haunted USC since Riley arrived: lack of physicality, lack of toughness, and a defense that’s never truly elite no matter how explosive the offense looks on paper. George explains why this isn’t just about one bad throw or one busted tackle—it’s baked into the way Lincoln Riley builds and practices his offense. All the motion, misdirection and “smoke and mirrors” that gas up the stat sheet don’t demand the kind of physical, full-contact work that wins in big-time college football, especially in the postseason. That’s why simply hiring a strong defensive coordinator like Pete Kwiatkowski won’t magically fix USC’s problems if the team identity stays finesse over force. If you’re a USC fan, TCU fan, or just tired of seeing soft defenses waste superstar talent, this video is a harsh but honest look at what has to change for the Trojans to matter in the playoff era. Chapters: 00:00 – USC’s overtime collapse vs TCU on 3rd-and-20 00:18 – Lincoln Riley’s “smoke and mirrors” offense vs real physicality 00:38 – Why USC’s toughness problem shows up every postseason 00:52 – Pete Kwiatkowski hire won’t fix everything without culture change #USCfootball #tcu #AlamoBowl #usctrojans #bigten #TCUFootball #CollegeFootball #CFB #BowlGame #LincolnRiley #Big12 #CFP #UnafraidShow #cfbplayoff #GeorgeWrighster #Shorts #bigtenfootball
USC Just Blew THIS Bowl Game in the Most USC Way Possible…
Michigan Wolverines football just pulled off what George Wrighster calls a Christmas miracle: landing Kyle Whittingham as the next Michigan head coach from the Utah Utes. George explains why Whittingham is a legendary college football coach who “has Michigan Man written all over him” and why this hire completely changes the tone around Michigan football after a rocky coaching search. He breaks down how Michigan swung from a failed pursuit of names like Kalen DeBoer, Kenny Dillingham, Clark Lea and others to securing a Hall of Fame–level program stabilizer who has done it the right way for two decades at Utah football. George also compares Michigan football’s situation to Penn State football’s past “we botched the search but landed the right guy anyway” moment, pointing out that Michigan still doesn’t even know who its athletic director will be long-term—yet somehow walked away with the best available coach on the market. The key, he says, is Kyle Whittingham’s self-awareness: he wasn’t willing to overstay his welcome at Utah and understood both the temperature in the room and what Michigan needs culturally. If you care about Michigan Wolverines, the Big Ten, and what a real “program CEO” looks like in the NIL and transfer portal era, this quick breakdown gives you the why behind the hire, not just the headline. Chapters: 00:00 – “Christmas miracle” hire: Kyle Whittingham to Michigan 00:20 – Michigan football “pulls a Penn State” after top coaching targets say no 00:42 – Why Whittingham is the best available coach and a true Michigan Wolverines fit 00:57 – Self-awareness, Utah exit and what this means for Wolverines stability #MichiganFootball #KyleWhittingham #UtahFootball #CollegeFootball #CFB #BigTen #big12 #CFP #NIL #TransferPortal #UnafraidShow #GeorgeWrighster #SherroneMoore #GoBlue #cfp #cfbplayoff #on3 #ohiostatefootball Sources
Michigan Didn't Deserve Kyle Whittingham...But They Got Him Anyway
Alabama football vs Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal is one of the wildest stylistic clashes we’ve seen in years: SEC blue blood vs newly crowned Big Ten powerhouse, Kalen DeBoer vs Kurt Cignetti, Ty Simpson vs Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. George Wrighster breaks down why Indiana football is a 13–0 No. 1 seed and Big Ten champion after beating Oregon football and Ohio State football, while Alabama football comes in 11–3 as SEC runner-up but still carries all the brand weight and expectations of the Saban era. He unpacks the 6.5-point spread, the Rose Bowl stage, and how this Big Ten vs SEC showdown will fuel every “best conference in college football” argument for the next year. The winner of the Alabama Crimson Tide vs Indiana football plays either the Oregon Ducks or Texas Tech. Chapters: 00:00:00 – Rose Bowl setup: No. 1 Indiana vs Alabama, why this matchup is wild 00:01:31 – Big Ten vs SEC stakes and what 13–0 Indiana vs 3-loss Bama means 00:02:15 – Rest vs rhythm: Indiana’s layoff, Bama’s OU war and bye-week curse 00:03:05 – Kurt Cignetti vs Kalen DeBoer 00:04:42 – Heisman QB Fernando Mendoza vs Ty Simpson 00:07:02 – Indiana offense vs Alabama football defense 00:10:12 – Alabama defense snapshot: Wommack’s unit, run/pass splits, risers 00:10:56 – Blue-chip front seven, Bray Hubbard, LT Overton and pressure on safeties 00:12:23 – Bama offense vs Indiana football defense 00:15:29 – Key stat: IU’s YPP dominance and 2.4 yards per carry allowed 00:16:53 – X-factors: Charlie Becker deep shots and Simpson’s upset path 00:17:42 – Final call: Indiana -6.5 and why this isn’t another Oklahoma scenario - Follow Unafraid Show on Twitter for more exclusive content: https://twitter.com/UnafraidShow - Subscribe to The Unafraid Show on YouTube for weekly episodes! - Join our Facebook community: https://facebook.com/UnafraidShow - Get a closer look on Instagram: https://instagram.com/unafraidshow #AlabamaFootball #IndianaFootball #RoseBowl #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFP #CollegeFootball #CFB #secfootball #BigTen #KalenDeBoer #FernandoMendoza #TySimpson #UnafraidShow #GeorgeWrighster #cfbprediction #cfbpredictions Lunareh_Good_Times_instrumental_full_3_52 - KSANWRXZSIVF2MAL Ghost_Beatz_Crown_Keeper_instrumental_3_38 - 8JTWLM1UQIOVECPV Lunareh_Adrenaline_Rush_background_vocals_3_33 - RNB1RGDSEFEYJE6J Ghost_Beatz_Pyromaniac_background_vocals_3_36 - E64AYUIPXZXBLRTM Ghost_Beatz_All_Out_instrumental_3_26 - RTJSPM2FMVTPXRNY Ghost_Beatz_Philadelphia_Bounce_background_vocals_2_48 - CRRYSOAHHE8BBO4R Lunareh_Hustle_Culture_background_vocals_3_09 - JDUDELXJIWV01JIX Ghost_Beatz_Barracuda_background_vocals_3_29 - BYESUNCVEMGWBDCT Ghost_Beatz_Open_Skies_background_vocals_2_02 - R0OYGPYL2CWW1ISM
Alabama vs Indiana in the CFP Rose Bowl: BLOWOUT Incoming
Penn State football just pulled a huge move, hiring USC football defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn to run the Nittany Lions defense, and George Wrighster breaks down why this might quietly be the best staff addition of the entire college football offseason. George explains why Lynn’s physical, complementary style of defense fits perfectly with new Penn State head coach Matt Campbell and the Big Ten, and why it never fully aligned with Lincoln Riley and USC football’s up-tempo, “score fast” offensive philosophy. Lynn gets to go back to his alma mater, slow the game down, and build the kind of top-15 defense that can bully people at the line of scrimmage instead of constantly being put back on the field. George points out how bad USC football’s defense was before Lynn arrived (“hot buns, hot garbage”) and why the improvements he made in one year should have Penn State fans fired up about what this unit could become by Year 2. At the same time, he explains why this doesn’t have to be pure bad news for USC Trojans fans either. With Texas Longhorns firing Pete Kwiatkowski after multiple CFP runs just to bring in Will Muschamp to “be the head coach of the defense,” USC suddenly has a shot at landing a proven SEC defensive coordinator to replace Lynn and stabilize things in the Big Ten era. It might end up a rare win-win: Penn State lands a rising star DC in D’Anton Lynn, while USC Trojans has a chance to reset with a Muschamp-level hire and finally field a defense that matches its brand.
D'Anton Lynn Went Back Home and Penn State Got Scary
Miami Hurricanes vs Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl is a true College Football Playoff litmus test, and George Wrighster breaks down whether Miami Hurricanes football is ready to crack the sport’s elite or if Ohio State football and that monstrous Buckeye defense are about to shut the door. George Wrighster sets the stage for this CFP quarterfinal with #10 Miami (11–2) rolling off a road win at Texas A&M and Mario Cristobal’s “physical first” identity, going up against the defending national champions from the Big Ten, #2 Ohio State (12–1) and Ryan Day’s rebuilt roster that still finished with the No. 1 scoring, pass and total defense in college football. George digs into Cristobal’s roster build, from a nasty offensive line anchored by Mauigoa to a top-30 offense powered by Mark Fletcher Jr. and electric freshman Malachi Toney, then flips to Ohio State’s side where Ryan Day replaced his OC, DC, quarterback and most of the starting defense, yet still cruised to 12–0 before the Big Ten title game. You’ll get a full Carson Beck vs Julian Sayin breakdown: Beck’s bizarre combination of leading the ACC in completion percentage and interceptions, Miami Hurricanes football being 11–0 when he throws 32 times or fewer and 0–2 when he’s forced over 33 attempts, versus Sayin’s Heisman-caliber efficiency, 78% completion rate and ability to torch blitz looks after carving up Michigan and everyone else not named Indiana. From there, the video turns into a true styles-make-fights clinic: Miami’s balanced but sometimes conservative attack (413 yards per game) versus an Ohio State defense allowing just 213 yards and eight points per game, with stars like Sonny Styles, Caden Curry, Caleb Downs and a loaded front that chokes out both the run and explosive passes. George lays out how Reuben Bain Jr., Akeem Mesidor, Keontae Scott and a turnover-hungry Miami defense with double-digit TFL monsters can still make this ugly for the Buckeyes, why neutral-site Cotton Bowl conditions might actually favor the Hurricanes’ stingy rush defense, and how OSU’s run-game splits (dominant in Columbus, average away from home) could keep this closer than the 9.5-point spread suggests. Finally, he gives his pick: Ohio State football to win but Miami Hurricanes to cover, with the path laid out for how Beck, Fletcher and that front seven can turn this into a four-quarter rock fight instead of a Buckeye blowout.The Unafraid Show is about US! Make sure to follow the Unafraid Show on all Social channels: - Follow Unafraid Show on Twitter for more exclusive content: https://twitter.com/UnafraidShow - Subscribe to The Unafraid Show on YouTube for weekly episodes! - Join our Facebook community: https://facebook.com/UnafraidShow - Get a closer look on Instagram: https://instagram.com/unafraidshow #ohiostatefootball #miamihurricanesfootball #cfp #collegefootball #cfbplayoff #CarsonBeck #JulianSayin #MarioCristobal #RyanDay #UnafraidShow #GeorgeWrighster #bigten #acc #oregonfootball #indianafootball #georgiabulldogs Lunareh_Good_Times_instrumental_full_3_52 - KSANWRXZSIVF2MAL Ghost_Beatz_Crown_Keeper_instrumental_3_38 - 8JTWLM1UQIOVECPV Lunareh_Adrenaline_Rush_background_vocals_3_33 - RNB1RGDSEFEYJE6J Ghost_Beatz_Pyromaniac_background_vocals_3_36 - E64AYUIPXZXBLRTM Ghost_Beatz_All_Out_instrumental_3_26 - RTJSPM2FMVTPXRNY Ghost_Beatz_Philadelphia_Bounce_background_vocals_2_48 - CRRYSOAHHE8BBO4R Lunareh_Hustle_Culture_background_vocals_3_09 - JDUDELXJIWV01JIX Ghost_Beatz_Barracuda_background_vocals_3_29 - BYESUNCVEMGWBDCT Ghost_Beatz_Open_Skies_background_vocals_2_02 - R0OYGPYL2CWW1ISM
Miami Hurricanes vs Ohio State | Full Preview + Prediction
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