Overview of The Audible — South Carolina Drama, Coaching Hot Seats, G6 Decline, and Week 5 Picks
In this episode of The Audible from The Athletic, Stuart Mandel, Ralph Russo, and Bruce Feldman break down the fallout from Dylan Stewart’s suspension at South Carolina, debate which coaches are actually on the hot seat, and dig into the widening talent gap between the Group of Six and the Power Four. They also react to the latest conference-vs-conference nonconference records and make their Week 5 picks for several marquee games, including Alabama-Mississippi State, Ohio State-Iowa, Florida-Missouri, and Miami-Clemson.
South Carolina, Dylan Stewart, and Shane Beamer’s Pressure Level
What happened with Dylan Stewart
- South Carolina’s top defensive star, Dylan Stewart, was suspended after what the hosts describe as a meltdown against Alabama.
- The discussion centered on:
- punching an opposing player,
- refusing to come off the field when substituted,
- and Shane Beamer’s visible frustration with him on the sideline.
- The hosts frame it as more than just a bad game, suggesting it may reflect deeper issues in the player-program relationship.
What it means for the Gamecocks
- South Carolina’s season has shifted quickly from optimism to concern:
- 2024: 9-3 regular season, just short of the playoff.
- 2025: off to an 0-2 start, with a blowout loss to Alabama.
- Bruce Feldman put Beamer’s hot-seat status at 6.8/10.
- The episode notes concern not just about performance, but about whether the team is still bought in as the season starts to go sideways.
Coaching Carousel Watch: Who’s Really in Trouble?
Coaches and programs mentioned as being under pressure
The hosts run through a long list of coaches and situations that may become more serious if results don’t improve:
- Lincoln Riley (USC) — clearly discussed as being on the hot seat.
- Mike Norvell (Florida State) — described as “raging” hot-seat territory.
- Mike Locksley (Maryland) — not imminent, but getting harder to defend after multiple 4-8 seasons.
- Bill O’Brien (Boston College) — another precarious situation.
- Fran Brown (Syracuse) — potentially heating up.
- Dave Aranda (Baylor) — still in the mix depending on how the season goes.
- Bill Belichick (North Carolina) — mentioned as part of the broader volatility.
- Sonny Dykes (TCU) — some frustration about not fully capitalizing on the program’s ceiling.
- Deion Sanders (Colorado) — could face a tough decision if another poor season follows.
- Luke Fickell (Wisconsin) — a job that seems to be cooling off rather than heating up.
Big-picture takeaway
- The hosts believe there are more possible openings than expected.
- Even if 2025 is not as chaotic as 2024, the environment feels primed for several program-altering decisions.
- They also note the practical issue for athletic directors: the more jobs open, the longer the hiring queue becomes, which affects timing and candidate availability.
The Group of Six Is Falling Further Behind
The numbers are brutal
The episode highlights Brett McMurphy’s conference records against Power Four opponents:
- SEC: 10-2
- Big 12: 5-7
- ACC: 6-9
- Big Ten: 4-10
And for the Group of Six:
- American: 1-11
- MAC: 1-16
- Mountain West: 0-7
- Conference USA: 0-8
- Pac-12 (new version): 0-12
- Sun Belt: 0-15
Total G6 record vs. Power Four: 2 wins
Why this is happening
The hosts point to two major forces:
- The transfer portal, which lets standout G6 players move up quickly.
- Realignment, which has both:
- moved successful G6 programs into Power Four-ish status, and
- diluted the bottom of the G6 with newer FBS call-ups.
Main takeaway
- The gap is not just about playoff access; it’s about basic competitiveness.
- Ralph argues the system is making it harder for G6 teams to keep enough talent to stay on equal footing.
- Stuart argues the portal rule changes likely won’t stop the talent drain, because a G6 player can still use the one-time transfer to move up and remain there.
Should Group of Six Teams Be Kept Out of the Playoff?
- The hosts briefly debate whether the playoff should exclude G6 champions because of the talent gap.
- The answer from the panel is no:
- the playoff access is part of the contractual structure,
- and excluding them would likely trigger legal issues.
- They argue the issue is not fairness in access, but whether the current system is sustainable for true competitiveness.
Big Ten vs. SEC: What the Records Mean
The narrative question
- The SEC’s nonconference record is strong, but the panel wonders whether that alone can sustain the “it just means more” storyline if the league does not win the national title.
- Ralph argues the bigger issue is postseason performance, not just September records.
Big Ten concerns
- The Big Ten’s weak showing against the other power leagues is seen as a missed opportunity.
- The hosts note that:
- some Big Ten teams didn’t schedule enough serious nonconference opponents,
- and that may cost the league playoff spots.
- The panel suggests the Big Ten may end up with fewer playoff bids than expected.
Week 5 Picks
Alabama at Mississippi State
- Bruce: Alabama
- Ralph: Alabama
- Stu: Mississippi State
- Key angle: Bruce trusts Alabama’s overall ceiling; Stuart leans into Mississippi State’s home-field energy and rising quarterback play.
Ohio State at Iowa
- Bruce: Ohio State
- Ralph: Iowa to cover
- Stu: Iowa to cover
- Key angle: Ohio State has more talent, but both Ralph and Stu think Kinnick Stadium and Iowa’s defense can keep it close.
Florida at Missouri
- Bruce: Florida
- Ralph: Florida
- Stu: Florida
- Key angle: All three are skeptical of Missouri’s ranking and think Florida’s toughness travels.
Miami at Clemson
- Bruce: Clemson to cover
- Ralph: Miami
- Stu: Clemson to cover
- Key angle: Miami is favored by a lot, but the hosts worry about injuries and the possibility of Clemson keeping it respectable at home.
Upset Picks of the Week
Bruce’s upset: Minnesota over Michigan
- He likes Minnesota’s defense and running game.
- He expects PJ Fleck’s team to pull the road upset.
Ralph’s upset: UConn over Syracuse
- He’s worried about Syracuse’s direction and possible quarterback changes.
- He sees UConn as live at home.
Stu’s upset: Northwestern over Penn State
- Northwestern’s new stadium, home energy, and improved offense make this a favorite upset pick.
- He also points out that Penn State’s recent fan reaction has been harsh and damaging optics-wise.
Final Thoughts
This episode blends three major themes:
- program instability at places like South Carolina and several other hot-seat schools,
- the widening talent gap between the Power Four and Group of Six,
- and early-season betting and matchup analysis for key Week 5 games.
The broader message: college football’s structure is changing fast, and the hosts see the consequences showing up everywhere — in coaching pressure, roster turnover, and a much more uneven national landscape.