B1G Lessons Learned from the Road

There’s something refreshing about watching a quarterback bet on loyalty in an era built on movement.That’s what stood out most to me after sitting down with Noah Fifita on the latest episode of Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth, fueled by our founding sponsor 76 — keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.Noah has become one of the defining faces of modern college football, not because he chased the spotlight, but because he stayed put long enough for the spotlight to find him.Join THE HONOR ROLL campaign. Free Newsletter + Fun Gifts.In today’s game, quarterbacks transfer. Rosters flip overnight. Coaches leave. Expectations shift weekly. Yet here sits Fifita entering his final season at Arizona as one of only 5 senior starting quarterbacks still playing for the same school they originally signed with.And the wild part?That loyalty isn’t performative. It’s personal.You can feel it when he talks about Tucson, his teammates, his family and especially his grandparents — whose sacrifices created the foundation for the life he’s now living. The humility is real. So is the conviction.That combination is what makes him fascinating.While Noah carries himself with gratitude, there’s also a very real edge underneath it all. He believes Arizona can do something the program has never done before. He believes this team can compete for a conference title. He believes they belong in the Rose Bowl conversation.And yes — he believes he belongs in the Heisman conversation too.Not in an ego-driven way. In a competitor’s way.That distinction matters.The best quarterbacks I’ve been around often carry two seemingly opposite traits at the same time: humility and unshakable belief. Noah lives in both spaces comfortably. He speaks like someone grounded by family, faith and service, while simultaneously preparing like someone who expects to walk onto the field as the best player every Saturday.That’s rare.And honestly, it’s part of why this upcoming season feels so compelling for Arizona football.Noah isn’t trying to become “the guy who stayed.”He’s trying to become the quarterback who won.That mindset changes everything.After talking with him, I walked away thinking less about statistics and more about legacy. About what it means for a player to choose development over escape routes. About what happens when belief inside a locker room becomes stronger than outside noise.Arizona enters this season with expectations, but also with a quarterback whose story feels bigger than wins and losses.He’s dynamic enough to put up massive numbers.Tough enough to carry a program.Grounded enough to lead it.And if Arizona takes the leap many believe they’re capable of making this fall, don’t be surprised if the rest of the country starts talking about Noah Fifita the way Tucson already does.Not simply as a great college quarterback.But as a legitimate Heisman contender.Much love and stay steady,YogiY-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.A note on The Honor RollFor the next few weeks, every Y-Option newsletter is free to read in full, no paywall, as a thank-you to this community. Subscribers are automatically entered into The Honor Roll, which includes a Pac-12 helmet from my collection, a Madden family football Sunday experience at Goal Line Studios, and more. Free subscription is open to anyone at y-option.com. 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

While no one is practicing this week in major college football Todd Blackledge and I sat down to reflect on our Road Trip this past spring in the Big Ten.In today’s Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth podcast we explore the conference that has crowned the last three National Champions and this past December, welcomed four new head coaches. And for the first time on this podcast we went LIVE on YouTube and X. If you haven’t subscribed, please do so you never miss a conversation around college football, Coast to Coast.Todd and I share our lessons learned and intel gathered from Penn State, UCLA, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern and Illinois.As always, every podcast is fueled by our founding sponsor, 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.As always, much love and stay steady,YogiY-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

I’ve known Jedd Fisch for a long time.So long that when I walked into his building this spring, I didn’t just see a head coach in year three — I saw the same guy from 2019 sitting outside his home in Hermosa Beach, pulling out notes and asking, what do you think of this?Back then, it wasn’t a job.It was a vision.I remember him walking me through it — how he’d structure a program, how he’d communicate, how he’d build it for players, his PRO mantra and more. It was detailed. Thoughtful. Almost like he was already living in a future that hadn’t arrived yet.Fast forward to today, and you can feel it the second you walk in the Washington facility.The building looks different. The roster looks different. The energy feels…settled.Not comfortable. Just clear. There is a steadiness to it.But every head coach has a starting point, and for Washington head coach Jedd Fisch, it all started with his curiosity to learn about the game of football.And that is where we started on 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.Not the buzzword version. The real kind.The kind that shows up when you’re five years old asking questions during the entire drive from New Jersey to Florida. The kind that never really turns off.That curiosity didn’t just make him a better coach.It made him a collector — of ideas, experiences and people.And when you sit with him now, you realize his program isn’t built off one philosophy. It’s built on years of filtering what fits, what lasts and what actually connects with players.Personally, this conversation was a fun one for me.Coach Fisch and I first crossed paths in 2009 when we were both interviewing with the Seattle Seahawks. He got the job. I transitioned into media. But we stayed connected, and over the years we’ve had countless conversations around football, leadership and quarterback play.Which is why this episode felt different, as I only asked questions I didn’t know the answers to.And honestly, those are usually the best conversations.Topics Covered* Demond Williams and why scars are unavoidable for quarterbacks* His relationship with QB1* A deep dive into Jedd Fisch’s mind as a play-caller* His kitchen table as a child — something we ask every Elite 11 quarterback* Why Year 3 feels different in Seattle* What discipline looks like with this Washington roster* The potential of the 2026 Huskies* Why joy isn’t a tactic — it’s a byproduct of trustHope you enjoy this week’s Y-Option conversation.And if you’re just joining us, thank you. Take a look back at some of our recent episodes and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where we pride ourselves on bringing thoughtful and insightful conversations around college football every week.Appreciate you being here and following along this spring.More coming soon.Much love and stay steady,YogiY-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

I’ve known Dan Lanning for 15 years.We’ve had a lot of conversations over that time. So going into this one, I didn’t want to hit the same notes, didn’t want to discuss the topics we’ve covered before and hoped to stick to my lone rule during interviews: "ask questions I don’t know the answers to.”That wasn’t easy, but it was a blast to prepare for and it started with something I was almost embarrassed I hadn’t asked:“Why do you coach?”And honestly, everything flowed from there.If you’ve read this newsletter you know how much I respect Dan Lanning’s DNA Traits: Connection, Growth, Toughness and Sacrifice. But not just because they offer clarity to anyone walking into their facility but because they offer a standard for those who join his program.Standards are easy to create but after completing my spring tour across the country, it is clear that they are not as easy to uphold. After talking with Coach Lanning on the latest 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, my mind was racing in route to my favorite cafe on the West Coast, Meraki, and onto my laptop while boarding a flight up north to Seattle to see UW.Many people think that the Ducks win and retain players because they have resources, and yes they do. But they also have a group of returning players who love to learn from and follow their head coach. They know if they are willing to, as he says, “take the medicine” they will find tremendous growth.From journaling post game to training this off-season, the entire 360 degree process in Eugene is a blueprint for success. And now, the Oregon football process is player-owned and that is a reason why I think the Ducks can take the next step this fall and win the whole thing.My Key Takeaways* Coaching at its highest level is when you impact someone in a profound way.* Standards matter more when players own them.* Accountability has to be modeled, not just demanded.* Growth comes from self-awareness and reflection.* Obsession with improvement > obsession with praise. (personal favorite)* Relationships still drive everything inside the Ducks program.Hope you enjoy and thanks for the support along the way this spring. Am excited to share with you feature conversation’s over the next month with head coaches and elite players across the nation. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter here at Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth and our YouTube page.Much love and stay steady,YogiY-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

In the summer of 1999 my Dad and I drove from Pennsylvania to Indiana, stopping at almost every college along the way. The goal we spoke of on those highways: find a place to play college football.The goal we never spoke of but was the underlying dream: earn a scholarship to Notre Dame.While that never happened, I did play and coach against the Irish. But the truth looking back was that driving with my Dad allowed both of us to listen, learn and discover. Me about him as a father and him about my passion for college football.Fast forward to the spring of 2026 and I found myself, along with Todd Blackledge, pulling into South Bend, walking the campus and reminiscing about our childhoods, drives with our fathers and both getting lost in the wonderment of the ND campus.I also got to hear what led Todd to Penn State and what it was like growing up as a premiere player in the midwest. The stories were endless, the laughter hearty and the connection meaningful. Reminiscent of that drive back in 1999 in many ways.When the sun rose the following morning Todd and I found ourselves in the 2026 Irish team meeting, analyzing practice, meeting with coaches, sitting down with a Heisman candidate and Elite 11 alum CJ Carr and learning from a powerful conversation with head coach Marcus Freeman.Afterwards, Todd and I reflected on lessons learned in South Bend and shared what we think about Notre Dame on the latest episode of Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth, fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.A few high level takeaways: * The nostalgia during a walk around Notre Dame’s Stadium as the sun rises will give you the chills.* CJ Carr is elite — full ownership of the offense, deep understanding beyond just the pass game.* Clarity at quarterback = growth everywhere else.* Receiver room feels upgraded — deeper, more competitive, more dynamic.* Defense remains the backbone — experienced, physical, with added interior presence via the portal. * Charlie Partridge is a huge addition to the coaching staff. And he was on the Pitt staff back in the day so it was a full circle moment on many levels for me.* Culture is intentional — last season’s CFP decision has been used as fuel.* A key to 2026: start fast — urgency around opening the season strong is realFinally, this leg of our Spring Tour also served as a reminder that life goes even faster than a college football season. Watching Irish wideout Devin Fitzgerald compete in practice put a smile on my face as his Dad, Larry, was one of my college roommates over 20 years ago.I can recall the day he was born and watching him run routes had Todd and I sharing stories about our kids and our childhoods. It served as a simple reminder that sports are a catalyst for conversation, change and inspiration. We hope today’s conversation allows you to learn about Notre Dame in 2026 and maybe, just maybe reflect on a car ride with a loved one.Thanks for the support on this Spring Coast to Coast Tour and if you’ve missed any of our past episodes at Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon and others be sure to subscribe to our YouTube page, as Todd and I are just warming up this off-season.Much love and stay steady,YogiY-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

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-H-I-O.If anything, it felt tighter.Many of the players who arrived didn’t need to be convinced of the standard. They already knew it. Some had relationships with coaches. Others had studied the program long before they stepped into the building.So instead of adapting to a culture they stepped into one they were ready for. Hope you enjoy this week’s podcast and if if you haven’t, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Quick Takeaways from Ohio State* Ohio State doesn’t rebuild — it evolves with intention* 50+ new players, yet zero drop in identity or expectation* The portal is being used to reinforce culture, not replace it* “Tough love” shows up in daily standards, not messaging* The best players are also the hardest workers — and it’s contagious* The receiver room sets a tone that elevates the entire roster* Year two at quarterback brings ownership, not just experienceY-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

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 bodies along the defensive line* Big portal additions at key spots* Staff continuity + a key familiar face returns* A standard that hasn’t flinched, even after reaching the mountaintopThat last part matters most. The standard hasn’t changed. And that’s why this isn’t a two-year flash.If you want to revisit it, tap back into my conversation with Curt Cignetti and Rhett Kleinschmidt earlier this offseason. The blueprint has been there.Today’s episode also marks the first installment of our new series:Y-Option: Coast to CoastA journey across the country with Todd and I, diving into spring football, sitting in meeting rooms, watching practice, and then stepping back to share what it all means.Because if you’re willing to move…you might start to see things a little differently.As always — much love and stay steady.YogiY-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

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 does to you. Not the throws, not the scheme, but the identity. The role asks you to become something bigger than yourself early, and then at some point in your journey, it asks you to let that version of yourself go. And that tension feels heavier today than ever. Quarterbacks are arriving with attention, expectations, and a version of themselves already defined before they’ve truly been developed. And even though every player knows their path won’t be perfect, there’s still a belief that it will be. What this conversation reinforced for me is that the ones who last aren’t the ones who avoid the hard moments — they’re the ones who can rebuild when everything they thought they were gets challenged.In this powerful and insightful conversation, Seth Wickersham discusses the complexities of the quarterback position, exploring the mental, emotional, and cultural aspects that define elite players. From leadership and humility to the pressures of fame and the journey of development, this conversation offers valuable lessons for aspiring and current quarterbacks, coaches, and fans.Some high level thoughts this book will force you to have:* The psychological traits of successful quarterbacks* The impact of fame and social media on players* The importance of humility and self-awareness* The transition from college to professional football* The influence of family and coaching on player developmentAlso, if you missed my conversation with Dr. Michael Gervais, this is a bookmark for you if you love QB play, leadership and development of the world’s best.As always, thank you for the time and community.I’m off to the mid-west for a spring tour with Todd Blackledge as we hit Illinois, Indiana, Notre Dame and others. Be sure to subscribe to Y-Option’s YouTube page as the content will continue to come all off-season long.Much love and stay steady,YogiY-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

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 the tension every team lives in. Every individual wants to feel like they matter while also being part of something bigger. The best teams don’t fight that tension, they coach it.That led us into college football right now. NIL, the portal, new rosters every season. It’s easy to chase what it used to be. The reminder was simple. Great coaches make contact with reality. They coach what is, not what they wish it was.And more importantly, they coach the human, not just the athlete.Because underneath performance is something deeper. Pressure. Identity. Fear. The need to belong. If you only coach the surface, pressure builds. If you understand the person, you give them a chance to play free.We also spent time on something that doesn’t get talked about enough. Emotions. Not as a weakness, but as a skill. If you want consistency in the biggest moments, you have to be able to name what you feel, understand it, and work through it. As a father, coach, husband, and teammate, that part landed for me.Since 2011, Dr. Mike has been a staple at Elite 11, so we had to talk quarterbacks. With a front row seat to Sam Darnold this past season, we explored a simple question that parents should explore. Is the biggest stage always the best place to grow?Then we went to something every parent and coach is navigating right now.Technology. AI. The future.It’s never been easier to remove struggle. But growth has always lived in it. The word that kept coming up was discernment. Knowing what actually matters.We closed on youth sports, and it hit home. Most coaches care deeply, but without the right tools, the experience can miss.One simple idea stuck with me. Give kids goals that are completely within their control, then let them reflect on them. It builds ownership. It builds confidence. It builds humans.That’s what this conversation was really about.Not just high performance, but how we show up for the people in front of us.If you’re a coach, a parent, or just someone chasing growth, this one is worth your time.Much love and stay steady,YogiY-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

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 with Pete Carroll, and from learning alongside him since, is his definition of competition.Most people think of it as striving against one another. He always went back to the Latin root. To strive together.That’s what the best teams do. They compete every day knowing their job is on the line, but their focus is on the present moment and getting better through it. That’s not easy anywhere, and in Los Angeles, it might be the hardest place in college football to truly live that out.What helps is talent. Real talent. At every position.And this year’s Trojans might have that.The freshman class has elevated every room. The portal additions have done the same. But the reason I’m leaning toward USC making a run at the CFP isn’t just the talent. It’s how the returners are responding to it. The offensive line, the quarterback room, the running backs, the defensive front, the linebackers. They’re welcoming the competition. They’re leaning into the idea of striving together, not against.After being at practice, I don’t think talent alone is driving this. It’s their disposition.This team feels blue collar.That might sound odd in Los Angeles, but if you’ve been around this program, you understand. There has always been a tension between internal reality and external expectations. The hype can get loud, and at times, it can get in the way.This group feels different.The young players aren’t arriving expecting anything. They’re arriving ready to work. And the veterans are responding to that, not resisting it. There’s a shared understanding that competition is the path.Up front, the offensive line looks like one of the better units in the country with real experience and depth. At quarterback, Jayden Maiava has a calm confidence that comes with ownership of the role at USC. Along the defensive line, there are multiple players who can impact a game and look like future pros.And maybe most importantly, when you watch this team walk onto the field, there’s no drop off. It looks like a complete roster. Head coach Lincoln Riley and GM Chad Bowden deserve a ton of credit for that. Now let’s be real. It’s March. Spring ball creates optimism everywhere. And USC’s path is not an easy one. Hosting Oregon, Washington, and Ohio State. Traveling to Rutgers, Penn State, Wisconsin, and defending national champion Indiana. That’s a B1G schedule.But this team feels like it knows exactly what it has. And more importantly, what it’s building toward.So yeah, I’m leaning into the hype.Because I’ve seen what it looks like when it gets rolling here. And once it does, it’s hard to stop.Thanks for all the support of Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth and our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe, share, and let me know what you’re seeing as our spring tour continues and if you’ve missed the last two episodes, be sure to run it back to learn from Curt Cignetti and my takeaways from Nebraska.Much love and stay steady,YogiY-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