Hour 3 - Stopping the Train

August 26, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Lane Kiffin Rule, Aaron Boone's Job Security, and the Art of Benching a Bonus Baby

The Southeastern Conference, college football's most powerful league, just added a new rule barring former professional athletes who appeared on an NFL roster from returning to play in the conference. The timing was telling: the ban came one day after Lane Kiffin and LSU landed commitments from two NFL rookies—Trey DeQuon Wright, who played for Kiffin at Ole Miss, and Xavian Harris, a defensive tackle who had been in an NFL training camp. The SEC's move, quickly followed by the Big Ten, effectively outlaws what had become known as "bounce back" players. Ben Maller calls it "the Lane Kiffin rule" and argues Kiffin should wear it as a badge of honor.

The Lane Train and the Lawyers

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What you'll learn

1 (00:02) **Show Open & Advertisements** - The episode begins with commercial breaks for a cancer treatment drug, State Farm, Optimum Fiber, and Granger.
2 (06:10) **SEC "Bounce-Back" Ban: The Lane Kiffin Rule** - Ben introduces the SEC's new rule barring former professional athletes from returning to the conference.
3 (11:29) **Yankees Manager Aaron Boone: Good, Lucky, or a Security Blanket?** - Ben pivots to the Yankees' struggles and the debate over manager Aaron Boone's future.
4 (16:14) **Pat Murphy Benches Cooper Pratt for Not Hustling** - Ben discusses Brewers manager Pat Murphy's decision to bench rookie star Cooper Pratt for not running hard on a pop-up.
5 (22:45) **Mallor Riddle of the Day** - Ben poses the riddle: "Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban said he's learned how to play blank in retirement."
6 (30:32) **Call from Legally Blind Christopher in London** - Ben takes a call from a regular listener who moved to London.
7 (33:46) **Game Show Time: "Too Much or Not Enough"** - Ben plays the trivia game with legendary caller Manuel Ingardina.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Ben Maller talks about the SEC banning pro players returning to college to play and if it's officially the Lane Kiffin Rule, if Yankees skipper Aaron Boone is a good manager or simply Brian Cashman's security blanket, Brewers prodigy Cooper Pratt getting benched for not running hard, Too Much Or Not Enough, #QueenOfHearts w/ LaReina, and more!

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