The Yogi Roth Show

Draft week always carries a certain energy.You feel it in conversations, in locker rooms, in the quiet moments between reps. It’s the anticipation of what’s next. For some, it’s the culmination of a lifelong dream. For others, it’s a reminder that time keeps moving.When walking into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center with Todd Blackledge, that energy was there.Welcome to this weeks Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth podcast, fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.From Columbus, Todd and I talk about his Draft Day, as well as dive into the 2026 Ohio State Buckeyes.It’s expected that 4 players will be drafted in the top 10 this week from Ohio State but let’s make one thing clear — this program doesn’t reset — it reloads.And yet, by every modern measure, this years roster feels different.Over 50 new players have entered the program since the end of last season and in today’s game, that kind of turnover can challenge a teams identity.Not in the great state of O

Years ago my Dad and I walked the Camino de Santiago, one of the worlds most spiritual pilgrimages stretching across Portugal and Spain. Somewhere along that journey, he shared a line that has stayed with me ever since:“Humans are made to move…and we move through things.”I found myself coming back to that thought last week, driving along Midwest highways with Todd Blackledge. And after watching the reigning national champion Indiana Hoosiers in spring practice, it hit me even deeper.It’s time we move through the idea that Indiana is just a great story.They’re not.They’re a legitimate national title contender. Again.Welcome to today’s Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth podcast, fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.Todd and I spent time at Hoosiers spring practice, and one thing was undeniable — this program is taking its next natural step.What does that look like after an undefeated season?* Competitive depth across the roster* More imposing, developed

Talking to quarterbacks and those that help build them is one of my passions. And today’s conversation on Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a deep dive into that position with Seth Wickersham. Seth wrote the best-selling book, American Kings, A Biography of the Quarterback. In a sentence: it’s the best QB book I’ve ever read. He combined years of interviews, insights and experiences and takes his readers on a ride that had me taking notes, pondering the position and juiced up to talk to coaches this spring about my takeaways.After co-authoring 5-Star QB and then reading American Kings and sitting with Seth Wickersham, I kept coming back to this: the best quarterbacks aren’t defined by success, but by how they evolve when their identity gets challenged.As always, every conversation is fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.I walked away from this conversation with Seth Wickersham thinking less about quarterback play and more about what the position do

There are a handful of conversations each year that stay with me.Today’s conversation with Dr. Michael Gervais is one of them.I’m excited to share it with you while we’re on spring break in Japan as a family. And to those who sent recommendations on where to go and what to do, thank you. We’ve been loving it.Dr. Michael Gervais is one of the leading high-performance psychologists in the world, host of the Finding Mastery podcast, and fresh off a Super Bowl run with the Seattle Seahawks. He’s also a dear friend who makes time each year to join this show.As always, every conversation on Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat. And this one is worth slowing down for.Dr. Mike and I rarely stay in one lane. We start with football and quickly get to something deeper. This time it was about performance, pressure, parenting, and what it really takes to build people in today’s game.We talked about championship environments and

Last week a clip of USC practicing in 2008 went viral and a few friends sent it to me. Watching it brought me right back. Every rep felt like your position was on the line. Every drill had juice. And what stood out most was that everyone welcomed it. It was competitive, it was fun, and players thrived in it.Today’s Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth podcast, fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, focuses on this year’s Trojans.And I’ll admit this. Being around this freshman class at the Navy All-American Game, speaking to the team last month, and now watching spring ball, I finally sense that this roster has the type of competitive depth that can make it feel like that again. Daily.I’ve been around USC for a long time. As a camp counselor in 2002 and 2003 while playing at Pitt, on the coaching staff from 2005 to 2009, and now broadcasting their games for nearly two decades. I’ve seen a lot of cardinal and gold.One of the biggest takeaways from my time w

Spring football always tells you something if you’re willing to listen.I found myself in Lincoln, Nebraska for a quick trip to learn about this years team. I flew in at 5am, got a great cup of coffee at The Mill Coffee shop, walked to the stadium, spent a few hours around the program, and headed back home to hang with our sons. And the 24 hour down and back to a true blue-blood program was insightful on many levels.Upon landing back in LA I was able to reflect on my time in Lincoln and wanted share my thoughts around the 2026 Nebraska program, which is the focus of today’s Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth podcast, fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.When I go to a practice, I try to organize my mind first. I build out a depth chart, jot down what I’m most curious about and track position groups. Overall, I’m just trying to understand who’s who so I can focus on how they move, how they compete, and how they communicate. Because in mid-March, that’s w

Welcome back or welcome to THE PROCESS, a limited series within Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth, hosted by myself and Rhett Kleinschmidt. This series exists for one reason: to study how high performers actually live. Not what they post. Not what they say at a podium. What they do when nobody’s clapping. The first 5 conversations delivered in powerful ways: Mark Jackson, Peyton Manning, Chris Fowler, Jared Goff, Dan Lanning and today, the final episide airs within this limited run.This conversation, fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, takes us to Bloomington, Indiana. We go inside the head coaches office. Inside the mind of the man who built one of the most relentless, standards-driven programs in America.Curt Cignetti. Indiana and Coach Cignetti are coming off a season that ended with hardware and history. Awards. Trophies. Headlines. The whole thing.And the first thing he made clear was also the most revealing.Inside the building, it is already t

One of my college roommates is heading to Canton.That sentence still feels surreal.When I first met Larry Fitzgerald on his visit to the University of Pittsburgh, I had no idea I was meeting a future Hall of Famer. I just knew he had presence. Not hype. Not ego. Presence.When he arrived at training camp, the coaches quietly pulled me aside and asked me to help him learn the offense. What I didn’t fully grasp at the time was what they already knew: he wasn’t just there to compete. He was there to take over.And it took about two weeks.But here’s what most people miss about Larry’s story. Yes, he could high-point a football like nobody I’ve seen in 25 years around major college football. Yes, he tracked the deep ball with the instincts of a center fielder tracking a line drive into the gap. Yes, he could manipulate defensive backs, adjust stride length mid-route, and finish through contact with late, violent hands.But that’s not what made him an All American at Pitt.It was how he saw the game — and his life — fr

The offseason is when football gets quiet enough to actually see it.In my recent Substack collaboration with Cody Alexander of Match Quarters, we didn’t just talk trends — we talked about the hidden language of defense, and why it’s still the hardest side of the ball for most people to truly understand. Offense has a few common dialects. Defense is a thousand little ones. The same concept can be taught five different ways, named five different things, and argued over like it’s personal. That’s part of why Cody’s work matters: he’s built a space that translates complexity into clarity without dumbing it down.As always, every conversation here at Y-Option is fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.Cody’s story is also a reminder of how quickly the game can redirect a life and one I have deep regard for. A former college coach who left to chase his passion is a lane I can get down with on so many levels.Coaching gave Cody the foundation, but instability — and the d

There’s a certain kind of coach you can spot from a mile away.Not because of the headset or the scheme or the postgame soundbite. But because of the energy — the tone in the building, the way his players talk about the work, the way the staff carries itself on a Monday, the way the program feels when the season is done and the scoreboard is no longer speaking.Tim Plough is that kind of coach.Welcome to our Coaches Series, where this off season we will bring you in depth analysis, insight and conversations with coaches and GM’s in college football.Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To learn what Makes Coaches Great be sure to subscribe to our newsletter, podcast and YouTube channelRight now, leading UC Davis football, Tim Plough is building something that doesn’t fit neatly into the modern college football algorithm. It’s one that has almost nothing to do with chasing the next rung and everything to do with owning the one right in front of you. And for every head coach

College football doesn’t really end anymore.The clock hits :00. The trophy gets handed out. And almost immediately, the sport gets loud again. Portal moves, litigation, coaching changes, CFP debates and more. Oh, and by the way, we’ve also got a Super Bowl coming up with Seattle vs. New England. (Hello Elite 11 finalists Sam Darnold and Drake Maye)With everything seemingly happening all at once in football, there’s a race to be first instead of thoughtful.It’s the same in the content world. Instant reaction shows. Social posts fired off before the dust settles. Takes delivered as fast as possible.That’s not how we do it at Y-Option.Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.After the Hoosiers hoisted their hardware, we took a pause. And today, we took a detailed look back at the season that was in 2025.Today’s episode of Y-Option, fueled by our founding sponsor 76® — keeping you on the GO GO

The season may be over, but moments like the one in Miami linger because they tell us something deeper about the game.Fresh off the National Championship, I connected with the Big Ten Network’s Howard Griffith on the latest Y-Option podcast, presented by 76 - keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.Howard spent the week in Miami, inside the emotion of the instant classic of Miami vs Indiana. He shared what stood out from the Hoosiers, and it wasn’t just how physical the game was, it was how complete Indiana looked. This was football built from the inside out, defined by line play, mental conditioning, and a team prepared to absorb pressure without flinching.Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.As a 2-time Super Bowl Champion, Howard has lived championship moments at every level, and he recognized something familiar (see John Elway) when Indiana’s quarterback put everything

We just witnessed the greatest story in college football history as Indiana goes 16-0 and beats Miami to win the National Title.Welcome to a LIVE and instant reaction to the game and the conclusion of the season with Ryan McGrady of CBS Sports and 24/7 and the man who has helped shape Y-Option: Scouting. Ryan has worked in the NFL, College Football and MLB, let alone working at Pac-12 Network and currently at CBS Sports. Most importantly, he’s been a close friend and someone who has expertise in all things college football.Hope you enjoy our short conversation and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more insight and analysis within college football!Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.y-option.com/subscribe

College football moves fast right now, but real leadership still takes time. This week on Y-Option, we sit down with Oregon State head coach JaMarcus Shephard to talk about the long road, the responsibility that comes with the head coach’s chair, and what it means to build something real in a moment defined by change.Every episode of Y-Option is presented by our founding sponsor, 76®, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.This week’s conversation features Oregon State Beavers head coach JaMarcus Shephard and a leadership journey defined by patience, purpose, and earned opportunity.Coach Shephard’s path to Corvallis wasn’t fast or linear. It was built through years of service, curiosity, and taking on responsibility wherever it was available--inside and outside of football. That long-game perspective now shapes how he leads a program in an era dominated by speed, noise, and transaction.We dive into how a wide range of coaching influences helped him find an authentic voice, why consistency matter

One game remains and it’s a match up with one of college footballs most notable teams, the Miami Hurricanes, vs college football most beloved teams, the Indiana Hoosiers.It truly has everything a fan of the game could ask for and am sure Hollywood agents are lining up for the life rights to this years college football story. Thus, we welcome back Bruce Feldman, one of college football’s best storytellers, to Y-Option to dive into the National Championship game. As always, this podcast is fueled by our founding sponsor, 76® - keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.Bruce is an alum of Miami and an expert in college football with a detailed lens on the quarterback position. We dive into all of that in today’s conversation. Some of the details include:* Miami’s rise isn’t about re-creating the past but built in the trenches under Mario Cristobal.* Indian’s run is a brilliant story and if they win, they should be considered among the greatest teams of all time.* The Quarterback position: how should p

Whenever I think of the Oregon Ducks my mind often goes to Dan Rubenstein, host of The Solid Verbal podcast and dear friend. So in advance of the the semi-final game with the Ducks vs the Hoosiers we had to bring him back on the Y-Option podcast, fueled by our founding sponsor, 76® - keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.Dan and I dive into Oregon’s evolution over the course of the season, why this Ducks team feels different defensively, and how growth, resilience, and situational football have defined their path. We also zoom out on Indiana’s historic run—what makes it real, sustainable, and potentially one of the greatest stories college football has ever produced—before expanding the lens to Miami vs. Ole Miss, the chaos of January coaching calendars, and the CEO mindset required to navigate it all. We close with a candid look at the state of the game, quarterback development in the portal era, and why the 60 minutes on Saturdays have never been better—even as the sport itself continues to e

Rhett Lewis (The Big Red Carpet) and Matt Fortuna (The Inside Zone) join me live for a wide-ranging, real-time conversation centered on the College Football Playoff national semifinals — including a detailed breakdown of the Oregon–Indiana rematch and what has changed since their first meeting. We also explore the question: “If Indiana wins out and finish 16-0, are they they best college football team ever?”We dive into matchups, margins for error, and momentum while also expanding the lens to Ole Miss vs. Miami.In a wild week in the College Football transfer portal we also the changes across the nation and in the Big Ten. You get three perspectives in a LIVE episode designed to unpack not just what’s happening, but why it matters as the stakes rise.The semi’s are almost here!Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscr

It was an action packed Rose Bowl Media Day in downtown Los Angeles with Indiana and Alabama. Post Media availability Rhett Lewis and I sat down for a LIVE podcast collaboration with Y-Option and Big Red Carpet with our biggest takeaways after interviewing players and coaches from Indiana & Alabama.Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Each team will hit the practice field today as they put the finishing touches on their preparation for the Granddaddy of Them All. Rhett and I lay out what that prep could look like on game-day while assessing the biggest matchups and identifying the pathways to victory for both teams.Our collab also hit on major college football news, including Chip Kelly landing as the new Offensive Coordinator at Northwestern!Thanks for joining the LIVE and stay tuned to Y-Option for more insight and analysis in advance of the quarterfinals of the College Football

Kyle Whittingham was named the 22nd Head Coach at Michigan yesterday and all day I spent thinking about how college football continues to deliver storylines that none of us can predict.Here is a detail look at who I believe Kyle Whittingham to be based on covering his teams since the Fiesta Bowl 20 years ago.Hope you enjoy and looking forward to this week as we have a few things coming your way here at Y-Option.* Deep dive into a few quarterfinal games with Y-Option: SCOUTING* Full coverage from the Rose Bowl alongside Rhett Kleinschmidt The Big Red Carpet * And be sure to subscribe to our YouTube page for content as well.Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.y-option.com/subscribe

Happy holidays—and I hope you enjoyed the first round of the College Football Playoff.With Christmas approaching and another college football season sliding toward its next chapter, Jim Mora is beginning one of his own.The new head coach at Colorado State joined the Y-Option podcast, fueled by our founding sponsor, 76® - keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, to share the why behind his decision to lead CSU in the reborn Pac-12.What struck me most in our conversation wasn’t the résumé—NFL head coach, UCLA head coach, program rebuilder at Connecticut, mentor to generations—not even our long friendship.It was the choice.The decision to take on something unfinished. To step into uncertainty. To begin again—not because he had to, but because he wanted to.Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Jim Mora has lived inside football his entire life. Not as a job, but as an inheritan