In the latest episode of Season 15 of the Virtual Tailgate, hosts Andrew and David, along with their crew, delve into the thrilling realm of college football, particularly focusing on the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as the season unfolds. They kick off the episode with a playful jab at David, who admits to being "unprepared," setting a lighthearted tone for the discussion. A key segment features the "60-style Player of the Week," sponsored by Tacoma Work Boots, where Andrew lauds Tommy Castellanos of Florida State for leading his team to a stunning upset over No. 8 Alabama, despite some initial skepticism about his comments earlier in the season. Castellanos posted commendable stats with 152 yards passing and 78 yards rushing, earning not only a game ball but a t-shirt from the show's hosts as a nod to his bold statements.

The conversation shifts focus to Haynes King, the senior quarterback of Georgia Tech, who showcased a remarkable performance with 140 passing yards and a staggering 156 rushing yards against Colorado. His exceptional dual-threat capability puts him in good company, being the first quarterback since Jalen Hurts in 2019 to achieve such numbers in a season opener. Amid car jokes about Christmas gifts involving Castellanos' quote, the team also shines a spotlight on Cam Ross from UVA, who had a monster game with 224 all-purpose yards and stands out as a critical player for the Cavaliers this season.

As the hosts pivot to their Power Rankings, they engage in an entertaining debate about the positioning of teams following impactful Week 1 performances. Miami earns the coveted No. 1 spot after defeating Notre Dame, and they deliberate over whether Alabama is overrated this year. The rankings also reflect the ups and downs of various teams, including a drop for Clemson after a tough loss. They dive deep into the upcoming games, generating heated discussions, particularly about the Virginia Tech versus Vanderbilt matchup. Jared, a proud Hokie alumni, expresses skepticism about Tech’s offensive capabilities after their recent loss, igniting discussions about quarterback Kyron Drones' performance.

The team continues down the line, focusing on the notable game between Baylor and SMU, where they discuss the implications for both squads as they aim to solidify their positions in the new conference landscape. The hosts also analyze the tightly-contested game of Duke against Illinois, with Andrew and Jeff making a compelling case for Duke to pull off an upset, despite the odds being slightly against them.

Quick-fire bets wrap up the episode, where David advocates for a must-win scenario for UNC against Charlotte, while Jared makes a bold pick for BYU to easily handle Stanford, punctuating the show with their distinct blend of humor and football insight. As they wrap up, the team leaves listeners with memorable advice on life and football, ensuring that the laughter continues even off the field.

0:07 Welcome to the Virtual Tailgate

0:22 Player of the Week Highlights

4:10 Power Rankings Discussion

6:23 Season Standings Update

9:13 Hokies vs. Commodores Preview

14:29 Virginia Tech's Quarterback Debate

16:49 Baylor vs. SMU Matchup

20:56 Duke vs. Illinois Showdown

27:49 Quick-Fire Bets Roundup

31:22 Closing Thoughts

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The Virtual Tailgate crew kicks off Week 1 of the college football season by handing out their lone game ball to a Hawaii kicker who allegedly learned his craft from YouTube videos. Judge Jarred delivers a poignant ruling on proper bathroom trough etiquette , and the guys deliver their first ACC Power Rankings of the year, with a special message from The Rock for the cellar dwellers.

The hosts then dive into a slate of fantastic opening weekend games. Andrew and Jarred offer some very lukewarm picks for Virginia Tech in their "Beamer Bowl" matchup against South Carolina. The crew discusses the debut of "Chapel Bill" Belichick at North Carolina and the surrounding off-the-field drama. In a surprising turn, most of the hosts back a downtrodden Florida State to keep it close against Alabama. They follow that by predicting an early-season win for Miami over Notre Dame, with the caveat that "Miami will suck eventually". Finally, the boys are split on the marquee "Battle for Death Valley" between LSU and Clemson, debating whether Dabo Swinney's reluctance to embrace the transfer portal will cost the Tigers. The show wraps with a round of quickfire bets, including a very confident pick for Georgia Tech over Colorado and a truly terrible joke from Geoff.

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:12 - Game Balls: The YouTube Kicker

00:03:05 - Judge Jarred: Bathroom Bonding

00:04:33 - ACC Power Rankings

00:05:16 - Preview: Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina

00:12:07 - Preview: UNC vs. TCU

00:19:12 - Preview: Alabama vs. Florida State

00:28:20 - Preview: Notre Dame vs. Miami

00:34:54 - Preview: Clemson vs. LSU

00:45:31 - Quickfire Bets

00:49:23 - Outro

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The Virtual Tailgate crew is back for Season 15 with a full breakdown of the upcoming ACC football season. They kick things off by looking back at Jarred's infamous "Golden Panther" rant from their very first season before diving into their preseason predictions. The hosts debate their picks for Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, identify potential Dark Horse teams like Georgia Tech and Duke, and predict which hyped teams, including Miami, are destined to take a step back. After revealing their ACC Championship matchups, the conversation shifts to the most significant "transfer" of the offseason: Bill "Chapel Bill" Belichick's arrival at UNC. The episode concludes with a preview of the Week Zero game between Stanford and Hawaii, as the hosts question whether Stanford is there to play football or just enjoy a vacation.

0:07 Introduction to Season 15

0:30 A Look Back at Season One

2:14 Preseason Picks Begin

7:16 Defensive Player Predictions

10:55 Dark Horse Teams Emergence

11:52 Surprising Teams in 2025

24:00 Teams Expected to Decline

27:01 Championship Game Predictions

37:08 Top Transfers Overview

38:00 Belichick's Impact on UNC

43:17 Week Zero Matchup Preview

47:10 Closing Thoughts and Wrap-Up

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