Down and Distance

4.8 (271)
SPORTS
SERIES

ESPN Senior Writer Ivan Maisel tells eight stories from the history of college football that examine how the sport has contributed to and reflected American culture through its 150 years.

EPISODE 1

America Mourns Rockne

Notre Dame icon Knute Rockne died in a plane crash in 1931. Veteran sportswriter Ivan Maisel tells the story of how the beloved coach served as the vehicle for how we celebrate the lost lives of our national icons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

30 min
EPISODE 2

Jimmy Johnson And The House of Speed

ESPN's Ivan Maisel explains how Coach Jimmy Johnson's lifelong reverence for speed transformed not only the Miami Hurricanes - but all of college football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

31 min
EPISODE 3

Michael Vick: A Three-Play Guy

ESPN's Ivan Maisel explores how redshirt freshman Michael Vick took the world of college football by storm in 1999 and argues that his standout season changed the face of the game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

29 min
EPISODE 4

The Tie that Wasn't

Ivan Maisel tells the story of the most controversial game in one of college football's greatest rivalries - the 1973 tie between Bo Schembechler's Michigan and Woody Hayes's Ohio State University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

35 min
EPISODE 5

Standing at Armageddon

Ivan Maisel explores how Pitt's Bobby Grier found himself in an unexpected position in 1956 when he became the first college football player to break the color line in the Deep South. But his appearance in the Sugar Bowl wasn't without controversy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

36 min
EPISODE 6

The Fall Of Troy

Ivan Maisel explores how the USC Trojans came within 19 seconds of making college football history with three back to back championships - and then slowly receded from the top. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

32 min
EPISODE 7

Sooner Sabotage

Ivan Maisel describes how the greatest dynasty in the modern history of college football came apart one night in 1959. The culprit? Fruit salad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

33 min
EPISODE 8

We Interrupt This Season

Ivan Maisel tells the story of two college football teams who found themselves marooned on Oahu on December 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

32 min
08/15/2019

Down & Distance

ESPN Senior Writer Ivan Maisel tells eight stories from the history of college football that examine how the sport has contributed to and reflected American culture through its 150 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 min

TRAILER

Down & Distance

ESPN Senior Writer Ivan Maisel tells eight stories from the history of college football that examine how the sport has contributed to and reflected American culture through its 150 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

08/15/2019

•

1 min

Ivan Maisel

Host

4.8

out of 5

271 Ratings

Great show

06/06/2023

War Eagle Beagle

A really really great show that I once in a while check hopelessly & realize that there will never be new episodes. This is evergreen content though, give it a listen.
Excellent podcasts for college football fans

06/10/2022

T-Bone_Tarone_

I really enjoyed all of the 8 episodes, especially as many of them covered topics that were not likely big enough to get their own 30 for 30! There is so much material and potential of new episodes out there. Please make more episodes Ivan!! -Nick “T-Bone-Tarone”
Ivan Rocks

01/13/2020

Phansouth

Ivan is the best! Please give us more episodes!
CFB 150!

12/16/2019

JDP___Jr

Maisel proves himself to be a master story teller. Yes, it’s about CFB, but still so much more. It’s about life, death, racial tensions, controversy, heroes, villains, rising and falling. It’s stories about life, interconnected by that great sport we all love. May we have some more, please?!?

ESPN Senior Writer Ivan Maisel tells eight stories from the history of college football that examine how the sport has contributed to and reflected American culture through its 150 years.