Until Saturday: A show about college football · The Athletic

This was our hardest Heisman vote EVER + Ranking the best non-playoff bowl games

December 16, 2024·56 min·5 clips

David Ubben reveals the Heisman winner and teases their hardest vote ever between Travis Hunter and Ashton Gentry.

This episode of Until Saturday features hosts Chris Vannini and Damian Harris analyzing the Heisman Trophy results and major college football offseason moves. They discuss the award's outcome, where two-way star Travis Hunter won over Ashton Gentry, whom the hosts believe was overlooked. The conversation then shifts to ranking the most compelling non-playoff bowl games and assessing significant transfer portal entries. The hosts reveal their personal Heisman ballots and debate the selection of Travis Hunter as winner. They express that Ashton Gentry was "robbed" of the award after a season-long competition between the two players. The group ranks their top three non-playoff bowl games to watch, acknowledging the schedule feels like "slim pickings" with twelve teams now in the playoff. They note the unusual timing of a bowl game, South Alabama versus Western Michigan, occurring immediately after the Heisman ceremony. Chris Vannini admits he never watches the Heisman ceremony live, finding it "a little stale," and prefers to catch the winner's speech afterward. The hosts discuss the adjusted bowl season schedule, which has condensed the traditional slate of games. They plan to evaluate high-profile transfers, including quarterbacks Jackson Arnold and Miller Moss moving to new programs. Damian Harris will also share his perspective on his former coach, Bill Belichick, beginning his new coaching role at Chapel Hill. A surprising claim is the strong opinion that Ashton Gentry was unjustly denied the Heisman Trophy. The hosts find the current bowl game lineup challenging to rank due to the expanded playoff absorbing many top teams. They highlight the personal dilemma of the first Saturday of bowl season, which traditionally feels like an "I don't know what to do with my hands" situation for avid fans. The episode blends formal award analysis with informal discussion about the changing landscape of postseason football. The tone is conversational and opinionated, featuring casual debate among colleagues. The style is insider-focused, relying on the hosts' expertise and personal experiences in college football. Listeners who enjoy post-season award analysis and roster movement speculation would love this episode. Those preferring in-depth game previews or playoff coverage might find it less engaging.

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