December 9, 2025 • 13 mins
ESPN Radio college football analyst, Kelly Stouffer, joins the show, as Kelly explained why he knew Notre Dame was in trouble after Duke won the ACC, he talks about the job Curt Cignetti has done at Indiana, and the chances the Hoosiers win the national championship, & more
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
But we definitely need to spend some time with ESPN
Radio's top college football game analyst, Kelly Staffer, talking about
the bracket and some of the matchups too. Kelly Staffer
joins us here to talk CFP on the Mack and
Bone Show. Kelly, thank you for coming on, man. How
you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I'm doing well, and you guys are hilarious. We cannot
talk about college football without getting a little lane kipping
in there. That's for darned Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Oh, I figured you'd appreciate that. Hey, we hadn't heard that.
It's been like five hours since I heard something about
last You said that, nice and clear, good promo for
us to run. Now we can use it.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yes, saying we're funny, it's gonna run forever.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
We can use that. All right, So here's what we'll do.
I'll ask you one question about the fallout, but I
do want to get your thoughts on some of the
matchups down the road. But let's just start with the fallout, Like,
did you have a big problem with the committee leaving
Notre Dame leaving Notre Dame out? And if so, who
was the team that shouldn't have been in in your opinion?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, and you guys probably were doing something other than
listening to us Saturday night. In the ACC Championship game, however,
we absolutely nailed it in terms of what was going
to happen. In fact, my words were, I will make
(01:22):
it easy on the committee. They can go to bed,
not get up early, because this is what's going to happen.
And to me, you could see it coming from a
mile away that my last words before we went off
the air is Notre Dame is in trouble. And it
just seemed so simple to me that Duke had screwed
(01:46):
the entire thing up just by just by being there
and this convoluted tie breaking system, and someone may have
lost their job over that whole thing in the ACC office,
I'm not sure. And so to me it was very simple.
(02:09):
I don't if there was a way on God's green
Earth that an ACC team was going to be in
the CFP, it was going to happen. And so I
think there were some messages sent the last few weeks
in the CFP ranking show, which by the way, they
need to do away with. And I don't know that
by ESPN bosses will appreciate me saying that, but so
(02:36):
you know, they were kind of inching Miami closer to
Notre Dame, and there was this thought that, oh, and
they're next to each other. That's when it actually matters
that they did play on the field. And so I
think the first ranking Notre Dame was maybe ten and
Miami was like eighteen, and then all of a sudden
(03:01):
they started they started to close that gap and Miami
started to reel a man or whatever happened. And so
to me, that was that was pretty self explanatory. You
now were gonna have two G five schools in or
I think they call it G six now non power four.
However we say that these days. I mean, you're gonna
(03:23):
have two of those in and now BYU is going
to fall off the edge of the earth because they
got trucked by Texas Tech for the second time. So
you could see that coming. And the other lynchpin in
there was the SEC rules this thing, and their sidekick
(03:47):
is the Big ten. I mean, we don't really have
to argue with that anymore. That's the way it works.
So when you go to the SEC championship game like
Alabama did, you could throw out your junior varsity for
that game, and you're still not falling out of the CFP.
That would be a really bad look if the SEC
(04:10):
Championship game team participant did not get to the CFP
when they were in it before the game. So all
of those things together meant Notre Dame was in trouble
and so yes, come come the rankings. You could see
Notre Dame and Miami now were going to be theoretically
(04:31):
compared to one another. Why they weren't before? I don't
understand the process, even though I've gone through that. I've
gone through that process before the mock ranking committee, and
I you know, it's it's interesting how all that works.
But anyway, when they got compared, I mean, how can
(04:51):
you not say, well, this team beat that team, So
why do we have to discuss this any longer? And
that's where we ended up. So that's where we are,
and I had zero problem with that.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
To tell you the truth, Kelly, I can't believe this
is my next question. I want to ask you about
number one seed Indiana. I never thought I'd say that
outside of a Bob Knight NCAA tournament team back in
the day, But what do you think of the job
that Signetti's done? Are there even any words to really
put in I can even put into words the job
he's done to make Indiana at least a power right now.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah, it's Signetti is is really good for college football
because he's kind of the poster child for everything that's
going on in college football right now. So he can
take a head job after really paying his dues elsewhere,
(05:48):
he can take a P four head job and all
of what he's been working on behind closed doors and
all of that. And he was last job JMU, by
the way. But you not only can take the job,
but you can take your players with you these days,
(06:08):
which is exactly what he did. You know, the JMU
team that's in the college football playoffs are like the
other guys because the first round of JMU guys went
with Signetti to Indiana. So you know, you you kind
of prove your system in the laboratory and then you
(06:31):
get a shot and you have in many ways perfected
what works. He's he's old school kind of in every way,
although obviously he knows how to use the Google. We
know that, and and so you know, he he just
plays football the way that football is meant to be played.
(06:53):
But then you go out and get the right guys
you can. You can get free agents now, so you
get Mendoza and then you bring like eighty seven JMU
guys with you that already know your system. So in
every one of the position groups, you either have well
you have guys you know, the head of all those
(07:15):
position groups are guys that already know your system, so
they're teaching it to the you know, to the other
guys in the room. It's a beautiful way to build
a team, but you have to do it right. You know.
The NFL has the salary cap of free agency as well,
but some teams just don't do it well. But he
(07:36):
does it well and he coaches well. The thing that
I saw with this team that I didn't see last year.
We had Iowa earlier in the year. So I'm watching
Iowa's tape and I'm watching Iowa Indiana because I'm also
watching Oregon Indiana, and I'm like, Okay, this is different
(07:59):
than they were a year ago. We had Indiana go
to Ohio State a year ago and Indiana couldn't defend
you and I. But all of a sudden, these guys
are real on the defensive side, and they could they
could do it on the offensive side already, but they
couldn't stop you know, the the most talented teams and
(08:23):
that's different this year. And so that's that's what you're seeing.
That's the result big time.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
You saw it against the buck Eyes. What a defensive performance, Kelly.
We talked about the ACC getting one team getting squeezing
in Miami. They've got a fun matchup on that noon
noon a week from Saturday against Texas A and m
What's what's your kind of what's your thoughts on that matchup?
It feels like it feels like a game that feels
(08:51):
toss up y like Miami, feels like a game Miami
can go get that. You know, ACC playoff win. What
do you think?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Yeah, I think you're right, and that's our game. We'll
we'll be on that that game. So that's that's nice.
If you would have called me later this afternoon, I
had a better answer for you because I haven't really
had a chance to get into it. I had an
NFL game this weekend, but no, I mean I know
the teams Miami a little less because we didn't have
(09:18):
them because they've kind of fallen off the radar a
little bit. But we've had A and m A couple
of different times. We had their their comeback against South
Carolina of all things, down thirty what was a thirty
to nothing at halftime and they win thirty one zero thirty.
That was crazy. I think it's a really good matchup.
I think the line on that is maybe what is
(09:42):
it three and a half at home or something? And
and m. The thing about Miami and what you saw
when Miami played that Notre Dame team that you guys
brought up is Miami is really good on the line
of scrimmage. And Miami can bend the edges on defense
with both their defensive ends. And I think when you're
(10:04):
good on the line of scrimmage, you have a chance
if your skilled players, you know, stay out of harm's way.
We know Beck hadn't made a habit of doing that,
so I think that's really going to be the game.
You can get to Texas A and m a little bit.
But when you're good on the line of scrimmage, like
(10:25):
Miami is to me, you're a playoff team. And when
Beck is right, I think Beck can you know, Beck
can do his job as well, So I think that
line is probably good. You're on the Road. It's not
a night game at at Kyle Field. So that's that's
a win for Miami. All of those things are I
(10:47):
think are working in Miami's favor. But I having said
all of that, I would not be surprised if this
game goes down to the wire, and I would not
be surprised if Miami has has a chance to win
it in the end.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Be a fun one. Yeah, I wouldn't if Marcel Reid
did his thing and Concepcion went off. I wouldn't be
shocked either. That fee that feels like a fun game.
You you got lucky, Kelly. You didn't get one of
the games with a group of five teams. That's a
good do you talk about draws this time? That's a
good draw for you. Brother.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Yeah, that was got luck. That was that was intentional?
Thanks me? Ok?
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Good, that's good.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Yeah, Hey, Kelly, Philip Rivers is working out for the
Colts these couple of days. If the Panthers need a
QB down this rock your arm. You still get to
go here.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Well, I've been I've been kind of dropping that hint
a little bit lately, and a friend of mine texted
me last night and said, hey, Philip Rivers is being
worked out, and I'm like, you know, I might be
the first one to come back in my late fifties
with two artificial hips and see if I could give
it a go. Now, I would have to have some rules,
some parameters up front. A. I don't leave the pocket
(11:54):
at B. I don't get hit, but I can. I
could throw it. I'm telling you I could throw it,
and I could. I know more about the game now
than I did when I played it. So but no,
that's not going to happen. And I don't think it's
gonna happen. And that's not gonna happen with Philip either
very long. I don't think it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
You are a former Panther though, right in the off
season in ninety six. That's on your bio here.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Yeah it is. You know what happened in that is
that was my last stop ever in the league and
we were the first team to open that new stadium.
Oh wow. So so when I'm there in Charlotte to
the game, do the game like I did on Saturday night.
We you know, we walk in by those big Panthers
and I have a picture with my only child at
(12:38):
the time, my oldest daughter who you know, life goes
by and she just got married this past January, I
mean June. Yeah, we walk right by those panthers and
I have a picture with me holding her beside the
panther when we open the season there. So yeah, that's crazy,
but it was a good time.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
That's sweet, all right, brother, Hey, we had a good
time talking to you, man. Have fun with that. Miami
Texas A and M Game ESPN Radio noon a week
from Saturday. Thanks for joining us. Appreciate you, Kelly.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
All right, remember you guys are hilarious, so don't forget
that part.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Well, thank you that this is kind of affirmation we
need my heart. Man. I feel right.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Guys, have a good day. There you go.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
That is Kenny called funny in twenty years. Dude, what
an hour for our egos. He's a very very nice guy.
Such a nice dude, man,
But we definitely need to spend some time with ESPN
Radio's top college football game analyst, Kelly Staffer, talking about
the bracket and some of the matchups too. Kelly Staffer
joins us here to talk CFP on the Mack and
Bone Show. Kelly, thank you for coming on, man. How
you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
I'm doing well, and you guys are hilarious. We cannot
talk about college football without getting a little lane kipping
in there. That's for darned Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Oh, I figured you'd appreciate that. Hey, we hadn't heard that.
It's been like five hours since I heard something about
last You said that, nice and clear, good promo for
us to run. Now we can use it.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yes, saying we're funny, it's gonna run forever.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
We can use that. All right, So here's what we'll do.
I'll ask you one question about the fallout, but I
do want to get your thoughts on some of the
matchups down the road. But let's just start with the fallout, Like,
did you have a big problem with the committee leaving
Notre Dame leaving Notre Dame out? And if so, who
was the team that shouldn't have been in in your opinion?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, and you guys probably were doing something other than
listening to us Saturday night. In the ACC Championship game, however,
we absolutely nailed it in terms of what was going
to happen. In fact, my words were, I will make
(01:22):
it easy on the committee. They can go to bed,
not get up early, because this is what's going to happen.
And to me, you could see it coming from a
mile away that my last words before we went off
the air is Notre Dame is in trouble. And it
just seemed so simple to me that Duke had screwed
(01:46):
the entire thing up just by just by being there
and this convoluted tie breaking system, and someone may have
lost their job over that whole thing in the ACC office,
I'm not sure. And so to me it was very simple.
(02:09):
I don't if there was a way on God's green
Earth that an ACC team was going to be in
the CFP, it was going to happen. And so I
think there were some messages sent the last few weeks
in the CFP ranking show, which by the way, they
need to do away with. And I don't know that
by ESPN bosses will appreciate me saying that, but so
(02:36):
you know, they were kind of inching Miami closer to
Notre Dame, and there was this thought that, oh, and
they're next to each other. That's when it actually matters
that they did play on the field. And so I
think the first ranking Notre Dame was maybe ten and
Miami was like eighteen, and then all of a sudden
(03:01):
they started they started to close that gap and Miami
started to reel a man or whatever happened. And so
to me, that was that was pretty self explanatory. You
now were gonna have two G five schools in or
I think they call it G six now non power four.
However we say that these days. I mean, you're gonna
(03:23):
have two of those in and now BYU is going
to fall off the edge of the earth because they
got trucked by Texas Tech for the second time. So
you could see that coming. And the other lynchpin in
there was the SEC rules this thing, and their sidekick
(03:47):
is the Big ten. I mean, we don't really have
to argue with that anymore. That's the way it works.
So when you go to the SEC championship game like
Alabama did, you could throw out your junior varsity for
that game, and you're still not falling out of the CFP.
That would be a really bad look if the SEC
(04:10):
Championship game team participant did not get to the CFP
when they were in it before the game. So all
of those things together meant Notre Dame was in trouble
and so yes, come come the rankings. You could see
Notre Dame and Miami now were going to be theoretically
(04:31):
compared to one another. Why they weren't before? I don't
understand the process, even though I've gone through that. I've
gone through that process before the mock ranking committee, and
I you know, it's it's interesting how all that works.
But anyway, when they got compared, I mean, how can
(04:51):
you not say, well, this team beat that team, So
why do we have to discuss this any longer? And
that's where we ended up. So that's where we are,
and I had zero problem with that.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
To tell you the truth, Kelly, I can't believe this
is my next question. I want to ask you about
number one seed Indiana. I never thought I'd say that
outside of a Bob Knight NCAA tournament team back in
the day, But what do you think of the job
that Signetti's done? Are there even any words to really
put in I can even put into words the job
he's done to make Indiana at least a power right now.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah, it's Signetti is is really good for college football
because he's kind of the poster child for everything that's
going on in college football right now. So he can
take a head job after really paying his dues elsewhere,
(05:48):
he can take a P four head job and all
of what he's been working on behind closed doors and
all of that. And he was last job JMU, by
the way. But you not only can take the job,
but you can take your players with you these days,
(06:08):
which is exactly what he did. You know, the JMU
team that's in the college football playoffs are like the
other guys because the first round of JMU guys went
with Signetti to Indiana. So you know, you you kind
of prove your system in the laboratory and then you
(06:31):
get a shot and you have in many ways perfected
what works. He's he's old school kind of in every way,
although obviously he knows how to use the Google. We
know that, and and so you know, he he just
plays football the way that football is meant to be played.
(06:53):
But then you go out and get the right guys
you can. You can get free agents now, so you
get Mendoza and then you bring like eighty seven JMU
guys with you that already know your system. So in
every one of the position groups, you either have well
you have guys you know, the head of all those
(07:15):
position groups are guys that already know your system, so
they're teaching it to the you know, to the other
guys in the room. It's a beautiful way to build
a team, but you have to do it right. You know.
The NFL has the salary cap of free agency as well,
but some teams just don't do it well. But he
(07:36):
does it well and he coaches well. The thing that
I saw with this team that I didn't see last year.
We had Iowa earlier in the year. So I'm watching
Iowa's tape and I'm watching Iowa Indiana because I'm also
watching Oregon Indiana, and I'm like, Okay, this is different
(07:59):
than they were a year ago. We had Indiana go
to Ohio State a year ago and Indiana couldn't defend
you and I. But all of a sudden, these guys
are real on the defensive side, and they could they
could do it on the offensive side already, but they
couldn't stop you know, the the most talented teams and
(08:23):
that's different this year. And so that's that's what you're seeing.
That's the result big time.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
You saw it against the buck Eyes. What a defensive performance, Kelly.
We talked about the ACC getting one team getting squeezing
in Miami. They've got a fun matchup on that noon
noon a week from Saturday against Texas A and m
What's what's your kind of what's your thoughts on that matchup?
It feels like it feels like a game that feels
(08:51):
toss up y like Miami, feels like a game Miami
can go get that. You know, ACC playoff win. What
do you think?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Yeah, I think you're right, and that's our game. We'll
we'll be on that that game. So that's that's nice.
If you would have called me later this afternoon, I
had a better answer for you because I haven't really
had a chance to get into it. I had an
NFL game this weekend, but no, I mean I know
the teams Miami a little less because we didn't have
(09:18):
them because they've kind of fallen off the radar a
little bit. But we've had A and m A couple
of different times. We had their their comeback against South
Carolina of all things, down thirty what was a thirty
to nothing at halftime and they win thirty one zero thirty.
That was crazy. I think it's a really good matchup.
I think the line on that is maybe what is
(09:42):
it three and a half at home or something? And
and m. The thing about Miami and what you saw
when Miami played that Notre Dame team that you guys
brought up is Miami is really good on the line
of scrimmage. And Miami can bend the edges on defense
with both their defensive ends. And I think when you're
(10:04):
good on the line of scrimmage, you have a chance
if your skilled players, you know, stay out of harm's way.
We know Beck hadn't made a habit of doing that,
so I think that's really going to be the game.
You can get to Texas A and m a little bit.
But when you're good on the line of scrimmage, like
(10:25):
Miami is to me, you're a playoff team. And when
Beck is right, I think Beck can you know, Beck
can do his job as well, So I think that
line is probably good. You're on the Road. It's not
a night game at at Kyle Field. So that's that's
a win for Miami. All of those things are I
(10:47):
think are working in Miami's favor. But I having said
all of that, I would not be surprised if this
game goes down to the wire, and I would not
be surprised if Miami has has a chance to win
it in the end.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Be a fun one. Yeah, I wouldn't if Marcel Reid
did his thing and Concepcion went off. I wouldn't be
shocked either. That fee that feels like a fun game.
You you got lucky, Kelly. You didn't get one of
the games with a group of five teams. That's a
good do you talk about draws this time? That's a
good draw for you. Brother.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Yeah, that was got luck. That was that was intentional?
Thanks me? Ok?
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Good, that's good.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Yeah, Hey, Kelly, Philip Rivers is working out for the
Colts these couple of days. If the Panthers need a
QB down this rock your arm. You still get to
go here.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Well, I've been I've been kind of dropping that hint
a little bit lately, and a friend of mine texted
me last night and said, hey, Philip Rivers is being
worked out, and I'm like, you know, I might be
the first one to come back in my late fifties
with two artificial hips and see if I could give
it a go. Now, I would have to have some rules,
some parameters up front. A. I don't leave the pocket
(11:54):
at B. I don't get hit, but I can. I
could throw it. I'm telling you I could throw it,
and I could. I know more about the game now
than I did when I played it. So but no,
that's not going to happen. And I don't think it's
gonna happen. And that's not gonna happen with Philip either
very long. I don't think it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
You are a former Panther though, right in the off
season in ninety six. That's on your bio here.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Yeah it is. You know what happened in that is
that was my last stop ever in the league and
we were the first team to open that new stadium.
Oh wow. So so when I'm there in Charlotte to
the game, do the game like I did on Saturday night.
We you know, we walk in by those big Panthers
and I have a picture with my only child at
(12:38):
the time, my oldest daughter who you know, life goes
by and she just got married this past January, I
mean June. Yeah, we walk right by those panthers and
I have a picture with me holding her beside the
panther when we open the season there. So yeah, that's crazy,
but it was a good time.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
That's sweet, all right, brother, Hey, we had a good
time talking to you, man. Have fun with that. Miami
Texas A and M Game ESPN Radio noon a week
from Saturday. Thanks for joining us. Appreciate you, Kelly.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
All right, remember you guys are hilarious, so don't forget
that part.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Well, thank you that this is kind of affirmation we
need my heart. Man. I feel right.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Guys, have a good day. There you go.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
That is Kenny called funny in twenty years. Dude, what
an hour for our egos. He's a very very nice guy.
Such a nice dude, man,
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