This episode is about results, not reputation. I break down the college football playoff games, what actually happened on the field, and why some teams advanced while others got exposed. Conference bias, bad assumptions, and lazy narratives get tested against matchups, game flow, and coaching decisions—not brand names.

I start with the college playoffs, going game by game through Indiana, Oregon, Miami, Ole Miss, and the teams that didn’t live up to the hype. We look at why certain “power” programs fell short, how defensive lines and quarterback decisions decided games, and why some wins look a lot different once you strip away the final score.

From there, the focus shifts to the NFL. I break down the most important games from the final week, including playoff clinchers, rivalry matchups, and games that exposed real strengths and real flaws. Seattle’s surge, Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore, late-game execution, coaching decisions, and how defenses—not highlights—are shaping this postseason.

The episode ends with a full NFL playoff bracket done live. Every matchup, every pick, and the reasoning behind it—no edits, no walking it back. Some picks follow logic, some follow momentum, and some follow matchup problems that aren’t obvious on the surface.

If you want analysis that values context over noise and performance over reputation, this episode delivers exactly that.

BEST EPISODE YET!!!!!!!!!!

Approximate Time Stamps

00:00 Intro & Episode Focus

02:00 College Football Playoff Overview

05:30 Who Deserved to Make the CFP

10:30 SEC Bias, Alabama, and Reputation vs Results

16:30 Indiana, Oregon, Miami, and Playoff Reality 22:30 Ole Miss vs Georgia Breakdown

26:30 Live NFL Playoff Bracket Begins

30:40 NFC Bracket & Seeding

Logic 36:00 AFC Bracket Breakdown

41:40 Steelers vs Ravens Sunday Night Football

47:30 Seahawks, Defense, and Late-Season Momentum

53:30 Super Bowl Path Logic & Risk Picks

59:00 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

Questions that I answer in the podcast:

Who deserved to make the College Football Playoff this season?

Is the SEC still the best conference in college football?

Why Alabama didn’t belong in the playoff conversation

How Indiana became the most complete team left in the CFP

What Miami’s defensive line does better than everyone else

Why Ole Miss vs Georgia exposed bad offensive play-calling

Why final scores lie about how close games really were

Which coaching decisions mattered most in the CFP games

Are Big Ten teams overtaking the SEC in college football?

What separates elite playoff defenses from average ones

Who are the real contenders heading into the NFL playoffs?

Why Seattle looks like the most complete NFL team right now

How defense and game management win playoff games

Which NFL teams are overrated based on record alone

Why quarterback efficiency matters more than highlight plays

How matchup problems decide playoff games

What makes a smart playoff bracket versus a blind pick

Which teams are peaking at the right time in January

Big games. Bigger opinions. No filter. On this episode of the SPR Sports News Podcast, Sean Ryan breaks down the College Football Playoff, massive NFL Week 18 chaos, playoff predictions, and why Ohio State is still the team to beat. From Derrick Henry carrying the Ravens to free-agent madness in MLB, this is real sports talk—no hot takes for clicks, just honest breakdowns and bold calls. Stick around to the end for a question YOU get to answer.

“Hand Derrick Henry the ball until the defense breaks—or you deserve to lose.”

“Ohio State is the team to beat. I don’t like them—but I’m not lying to you.”

About the NFL: “This isn’t a playoff race. It’s survival.”

“If someone’s offering you $250 million, you don’t ‘wait’—you sign.”

🎙️ Podcast Questions That I Answer

College Football

1. Is Ohio State clearly the best team in college football, or is Vegas overvaluing them?
2. Which College Football Playoff game is most likely to produce an upset?
3. Does experience matter more than talent in the CFP, and which team benefits most from that?
4. Is Georgia vs Ole Miss closer to a coin flip than the odds suggest?
5. Would Texas Tech advancing actually be better for college football as a whole?

NFL – Playoff Chaos

1. Which NFC South team deserves to make the playoffs—even if the record is ugly?
2. Is Sam Darnold playing the biggest game of his career against San Francisco?
3. If Seattle wins the NFC, are they the clear Super Bowl favorite?
4. Is San Francisco’s defense being overrated due to injuries and reputation?
5. Who benefits most from getting the NFC’s No. 1 seed this year?

Ravens vs Steelers

1. Is Derrick Henry the single most important non-QB player in the NFL right now?
2. Can the Ravens win if they don’t give Henry 30+ carries?
3. Is this truly Aaron Rodgers’ last meaningful NFL game?
4. Do the Ravens overthink themselves in big moments?

AFC Picture

1. Are the Patriots legit Super Bowl contenders or schedule merchants?
2. Which AFC team is the biggest fraud heading into the playoffs?
3. Is Josh Allen being asked to do too much for the Bills?
4. If the Ravens sneak in, are they the most dangerous lower seed?

MLB & Sports Business

1. Why are Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker still unsigned?
2. Is MLB hurting itself with how slow and quiet free agency has become?
3. Are front offices more to blame than players for stalled signings?

Fan Question (End of Episode)

1. What are YOU looking forward to most in sports in 2026—and what do you want to see change?

#NFL #MLB #collegefootball #sports

This episode of the SPR Sports Podcast is pure sports chaos—in the best way possible. If you love hot takes, playoff drama, brutal honesty, and that feeling like you’re arguing sports with your friend at the bar at midnight, this is the episode you don’t skip.

Sean Ryan breaks down a massive weekend across college football, the NFL, and MLB, and nothing is off-limits. It starts with the college football playoff controversy—Alabama reminding everyone why they’re Alabama, storming back from 17 down and reigniting the debate about bias, rankings, and whether the playoff should be about the best teams or just participation trophies. Sean doesn’t hold back on JMU, Tulane, or the current system, arguing that if you want a seat at the table, you need to play real competition. Expect strong opinions, Notre Dame frustration, and a call for the playoff format to stop rewarding weak schedules.

From there, the podcast shifts into the NFL madness, highlighted by what Sean calls one of the games of the year: Seahawks vs. Rams. A wild overtime comeback, controversial calls, historic stat lines, and a punt return that flipped the entire game on its head—this breakdown alone is worth the listen. You’ll hear why Seattle suddenly controls the NFC, how the Rams fell from the one seed to the sixth in a single night, and why Matthew Stafford’s performance somehow still ended in a loss despite video-game numbers.

The episode also dives deep into Green Bay’s growing injury nightmare, Chicago’s rise, and just how brutal the NFC playoff picture has become. Every seed feels unstable, every matchup feels dangerous, and Sean walks through why the final weeks of the season are going to completely reshuffle everything.

On the AFC side, the chaos continues. Who’s actually the best team? Broncos? Patriots? Jaguars? Sean breaks down New England’s resilience, Jacksonville’s statement win, questionable coaching decisions (yes, Derrick Henry comes up), and why the AFC feels wide open despite the records. There’s praise, criticism, and plenty of “what are we doing?” moments for coaches across the league.

The episode wraps with MLB frustration, as the Yankees miss out on Japanese star Munetaka Murakami. Sean goes off on Brian Cashman, analytics ruining baseball, and why fundamentals and the human element still matter more than spreadsheets.

This podcast isn’t polished corporate sports talk—it’s raw, opinionated, and passionate. If you want honest reactions, bold takes, and real conversations about what just happened and what it actually means, this is the episode to listen to.

• Who actually controls the NFC playoff race right now?

• Did Alabama prove they belonged in the College Football Playoff despite being a three-loss team?
• Were teams like JMU and Tulane ever truly playoff-caliber, or is the current system rewarding participation trophies over the best teams?
• Was Seahawks vs. Rams the game of the year, and how did it completely reshape the NFC playoff picture?
• How did the Rams lose a game where Matthew Stafford threw for 457 yards and Puka Nacua went nuclear—and what does that say about football chaos?
• Are the Packers still a real playoff threat after injuries, turnovers, and losing control of the NFC North?
• Who is the best team in the AFC right now, and why is it so hard to trust any single contender?
• Why did the Yankees miss out on Munetaka Murakami, where is Brian Cashman, and are analytics ruining baseball’s human element?