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Artwork for Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast

Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast

Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner
College Football
College Football Playoff
Alabama
Ohio State
NCAA
Miami
Notre Dame
Ole Miss
Penn State
NIL
Oregon
Indiana
Florida State
Virginia Tech
Georgia
LSU
Transfer Portal
Michigan
UCLA
James Franklin

An independent college football podcast that covers the whole sport, led by Richard Johnson and Alex Kirshner. Free episodes each week (twice per week in season), plus frequent subscriber episodes. Featuring co-host emeritus Steven Godfrey and friends. www.splitzoneduo.com

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes595Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FootballNewsSportsSports News

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Artwork for Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast

Latest Episodes

Richard is joined by Joel Anderson, host of The Ringer Tailgate and The Press Box podcasts, for a conversation about the NAACP’s Out of Bounds campaign and the bigger question underneath it: What is fair to ask of Black college athletes and recruits ... more

Alex, Richard, and host emeritus Steven Godfrey turn a Memorial Day subscriber mailbag into a holiday-travel episode, starting with an either/or question about Steve Sarkisian and Lincoln Riley. From there, they get into G.J. Kinne’s future, Arkansas... more

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com

SUBSCRIBER EPISODE: Alex and Richard start with the surprise of UCLA becoming one of the offseason’s best recruiting stories, then Alex brings on Ira Gorawara fromThe... more

Alex and Richard use Richard’s trip to ACC meetings as a window into the big college sports fight of the hour: how many teams will be in the College Football Playoff going forward. Then they sort through the Big Ten/SEC split over 24 teams, Ole Miss’... more

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Recent Guests

Steven Godfrey
Co-host emeritus and co-founder guest on episode
Split Zone Duo
Episode: Revisiting "Is Bama Doomed?" Two Years Post-Nick Saban
Bill Barnwell
ESPN writer; host of The Bill Barnwell Show
ESPN
Episode: Bill Barnwell on the NFL's Lack of Improvement in Drafting College Football Players
Tim Thomas
Editor and founder of Tech Lunch Bail
Tech Lunch Bail
Episode: "The Most Interesting Program in CFB in 2026"
Joe Sheehan
Publisher of the Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter; founding father of Baseball Prospectus
Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter; Baseball Prospectus
Episode: Does Baseball Explain CFB's Future? Feat. Joe Sheehan
Lucy Rohden
Expert on college towns
CFB Lucy (Lucy Rohden)
Episode: What Makes a College Town? Lucy Rohden Has Figured It Out
Rodger Sherman
Sports writer and college football analyst
The Ringer
Episode: Our 2025 College Football Awards Special
Michael Felder
Football analyst and expert
Episode: Scheme School: Miami vs. Indiana, Feat. Michael Felder
Kevin Van Valkenburg
Former football player for the Montana Grizzlies and Director of Content at Fried Egg Golf
Fried Egg Golf
Episode: Inside the Brawl of the Wild with Kevin Van Valkenburg
Roger Sherman
Writer and expert on college football
The Ringer, formerly a contributor to SBNation
Episode: How CFB's Calendar Got Like This and How We'd Fix It

Hosts

Alex Kirshner
Co-host of Split Zone Duo; known for sharp, data-informed football commentary and governance/analytics insights
Richard Johnson
Host; college football journalist and co-host with a focus on analytics, governance, and industry dynamics

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Great show

    Outstanding!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GB__Lee
    United States6 months ago
  • Falling down hill fast

    This used to be a top notch college football podcast but in the last couple years the duo has really gone down hill. Their sec bias has become untenable and you can just hear the superiors at the athletic who they both work for coming through. Analysis and rhetoric have overtaken everything they used to do and it’s just become unlistenable at this point.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    n14t20k11
    United States6 months ago
  • The only CFB program for me

    While some pregame shows have gone the way of pro wrestling, this podcast contains good analysis and commentary. Does it need its own Lee Corso? Not so fast, my friend!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NirajOnTheGo
    United States8 months ago
  • Through every era

    I found PAPN as a sophomore in high school. 10 years later, I have a journalism degree and enter my second year working in sports media. This podcast I grew up with helped nudge me toward the career I now pursue. Every iteration continues to put out excellent content. Go Cougs.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bbeast55
    United States8 months ago
  • Fun, informative show!

    But I don’t love how much Richard loathes football that isn’t helmet games.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MAC to the future
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate the deep, data-driven football analysis and industry context.
Some listeners feel the show is highly snarky and heavy on opinions.
Listeners value the breadth of coverage, from postseason formats to NIL and media rights, but some critique tone at times.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#87
United States/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#76
United Kingdom/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#136
Canada/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#154
Australia/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#189
Italy/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#61
South Korea/Sports/Football

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"The Most Interesting Program in CFB in 2026"
Q: What was the environment Frank Beamer built, and how does that compare to the current power structure under Franklin?
Beamer built a program with strong staff retention and a football-first focus; the current environment under Franklin appears to centralize control around football leadership, potentially shifting budgeting and facility priorities to support that vision.
"The Most Interesting Program in CFB in 2026"
Q: You mentioned desperation as a feeling. Is James Franklin now just God King of Virginia Tech for the next four to five to 10 years?
Yes, the dynamic suggests Franklin has consolidated power and will likely drive major decisions in football operations, making his influence a defining feature of VT's trajectory for the foreseeable future.
The 2025 College Football Holiday Mega-Mailbag
Q: What's the play for Michigan in terms of realistic candidates?
There are a few possible candidates, but uncertainty remains due to various factors like the ongoing investigation and potential coaching options.
Inside the Brawl of the Wild with Kevin Van Valkenburg
Q: KVV, when you were playing against Montana State, who were those guys to you other than the football team you're trying to beat?
They were kind of like the little brother, the kids who were not quite good enough to play for the Griz, who had a chip on their shoulder.
How CFB's Calendar Got Like This and How We'd Fix It
Q: How should college football adapt its calendar to better serve players?
The discussion suggested moving the early signing date to mid-October, aligning it better with the college football season while also managing the coaching carousel timings.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast

What is Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two hosts cover college football with data-driven analysis, insider perspectives, and sharp commentary on governance, money, and strategy across the sport. Episodes consistently tackle postseason formats, conference realignment, NIL economics, media rights, and roster analytics, often featuring industry guests or contributors to unpack complex business and competitive dynamics. The show balances rigorous football discourse with candid banter and skepticism about influence from money and power within college athletics, making it a go-to for listeners who want deep context beyond box scores and highlights. A notable strength is the mix of serious analytics and insider storytelling, plus the willingness to push back on conventional narratives ... more

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How many listeners does Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast:

1. Phantom Island
2. Shutdown Fullcast
3. The Solid Verbal College Football
4. College Football Enquirer
5. The Audible with Stew, Bruce & Ralph: A show about college football

How many episodes of Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast are there?

Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 595 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast?

Recent guests on Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast include:

1. Steven Godfrey
2. Bill Barnwell
3. Tim Thomas
4. Joe Sheehan
5. Lucy Rohden
6. Rodger Sherman
7. Michael Felder
8. Kevin Van Valkenburg

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