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- [00:01]
A
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- [01:02]
B
all batteries the same? That's like asking if all soccer players are the same. Take Messi, the most decorated player ever. Is there any other player who has achieved that? No, just him. Now take Duracell. Is there any other battery with power boost ingredients inside? No, just Duracell. Remember, goats only trust goats because they're built different and Messi only trusts Duracell.
- [01:34]
A
Welcome to the College football bros. I'm Michael Newman.
- [01:37]
B
I'm Ryan Newman. Oh wait, no. And I'm Ryan Newman.
- [01:40]
A
Yep, Trey is still still on vacation. But in today's episode, Ryan, you're going through the projected starting quarterbacks for every team in the Big 12, which you you now know there are 16. Maybe you already knew that, but it's a nice even number at least. Unlike the acc.
- [01:57]
B
Yep.
- [01:58]
A
And we'll start here with the worst quarterback. Well, you've got two listed here. I'm going to have you pick a starter. But number 16 at Kansas you got Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall.
- [02:09]
B
Yeah, this is a tough one to pick. I feel like of the entire conference this is truly the the main and only like true quarterback battle. Cole Ballard's been there like a year longer. I think he's going into his fourth year, Isaiah Marshall maybe into his third. Cole Bowers a little bit more. We've seen him a little bit. It has not looked great in the the opportunities that he's gotten. A little bit more of a game manager type. Isaiah Marshall's got some a little bit more of a kind of dual threat ability so he might provide a Little more pop, but it's hard to say what exactly they're looking for. I think Cole Ballard's got at least a slight lead. Maybe at this point, at least in my head, that's who I'm going to go with. But whoever it is, I mean, Jim Zambrowski, the office of coordinator, does kind of have their work cut out for him. It's not Jaden Daniels or Jalen Daniels back there anymore, so not. Not a good position for them.
- [03:02]
A
And I know Zabrowski is, I think, the. Yeah. The technical office coordinator, but I think Andy Kotelniki is going to be calling play, so got to give a little bump for that. The Magic at Kansas, so. But. All right, number 15, you have J.C. french at Cincinnati. J.C. french. Is it the fourth?
- [03:22]
B
You know, maybe. Maybe.
- [03:25]
A
I don't know. I think it says something.
- [03:27]
B
Go ahead and Google that.
- [03:28]
A
No, just. Oh, yeah. J.C. french, the fourth. Yeah.
- [03:31]
B
Okay. All right. There you go. Yeah. All right. Yeah. J.C. french. I mean, he. He put up decent numbers at Georgia Southern the last couple years. I mean, nothing to like, write home about. He went he. 38 touchdowns, 20 picks and just under 3,000 yards each each of those last two years. Seven and a half yards per attempt last year a little worse the year before. Can run a little bit, not too much, especially moving up in class here. I mean, he is kind of just who they could get at the last moment after Sorceby left. I mean, I know it wasn't the. The Sourcebee didn't leave immediate really late in the process, but JC French is not exactly somebody you're thinking, oh, yeah, this guy's an improvement or even near what Sourceby was. It's got to be. Feels like a ginormous downgrade, so it's a tough, tough one for Cincy.
- [04:20]
A
Okay. I think. I think working with Satterfield, like you said, we saw him do a pretty good job with Sourceby, so I don't know, but it's starting to make me think, though, that this is a better list than the acc because I'm like, njc French, not bad.
- [04:36]
B
Yeah, I do think it's overall better, but especially the.
- [04:40]
A
Yeah, that's where I agree.
- [04:42]
B
Yeah.
- [04:42]
A
Number 14, Jalen Rayner going to Iowa State.
- [04:46]
B
Yeah, I mean, Rayner's a solid college quarterback. He's played three years, all three years at Arkansas State. You know, he had not elite, but good years there. He threw a ton last year, over 500 attempts, so he had 3,361 yards. But I wasn't on the, the greatest yards per attempt considering all those, all those throws 19 touchdowns to 11 pick 28 picks in the last three years. So he does have a little bit of a problem throwing interceptions. I mean, he brings nice athleticism, so he's got a lot of experience. I like Jimmie Rodgers, the new coach there at Iowa State. I think it's a good hire coming from Wazoo and you know, I think Raynor will be solid, but with all the new, you know, pieces that are coming in from Wazoo and then just from all over and then all the pieces that Iowa State lost to Happy Valley at Penn State with Matt Campbell going with there, it's going to be hard for me to just think that Rayner is going to come on and put up big numbers and good numbers. So with, with some of these quarterbacks, you'll see it's going to be tough. Even though I think Ray Nora is a very solid college quarterback.
- [05:51]
A
Okay. Number 13, Jaden Craig at TCU.
- [05:55]
B
Yeah, this one's interesting. When you kind of boil. Look, look into him and the fact that he's. He's an Ivy League Harvard transfer and you just, it doesn't sound like that much of a big deal to begin with. But then you. I kind of, you go back and that just doesn't happen. Like Ivy League quarterbacks don't transfer and if they do, there's very few and they don't have success. Like there's just nobody that you can point to that's like, oh yeah, this Ivy League quarterback transferred up and killed it. Like it doesn't happen. Maybe a D2, but not Ivy League guy. Maybe a D2 but not Ivy League QBs.
- [06:26]
A
Yeah, I was trying to think. I've thought of, of course, the Ivy League quarterback that you think of as Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he didn't transfer. He just exactly like.
- [06:34]
B
I'm not saying some didn't make it to the NFL and have success. But as far as going interesting. Yeah, all these two D1, nobody. There's nobody that's ever been that's like that good.
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A
Really. I love to think of one off top.
- [06:48]
B
I know I asked Chat GPT too. I'm like, am I missing anybody?
- [06:51]
A
Like I was saying, yeah, just instant quarterback.
- [06:53]
B
I can't think there was never nil ERA where it served them a purpose to give up that degree. You know, Whereas now maybe, you know, okay, I can get 5 million for giving up something. Maybe that's something to do with it, maybe it doesn't. But I would imagine it's going to make an impact if like so. But anyway, so that's kind of my reasoning for having him a little low, even though I kind of like him. I mean, he had 48 touchdowns and 10 picks the last two years there at Harvard, so he had extremely good efficiency. But, you know, and I also kind of like Sonny Dice, obviously. He usually produces some pretty good offenses, so you would think Craig would be pretty good if that's who Sonny Dykes has decided to go in into the season with. But it's, I'm interested to follow because like I said, Ivy League quarterbacks just don't do this very often. So this is going to be intriguing.
- [07:42]
A
Yeah, I agree with that. I, I think, though, this is my biggest disagreement of the entire episode here because I think you are not giving nearly enough deference to Sonny Dykes, nearly enough belief in the way he develops quarterbacks and identifies quarterbacks. Like, yeah, I'd have him several spots higher, I just think. And I, I, I don't know, I get that it's, it's a huge jump, but at least he was crushing it down at the Ivy League, so.
- [08:08]
B
He was. And I, I do like his game. I just, I feel like it's, I need to see it. I, I don't know if this is gonna, you know, I'm not sure TCU's
- [08:16]
A
gonna, what have we seen from the couple guys ahead of him? Let's, let's get to them.
- [08:20]
B
Well, at least they've played some D1 ball.
- [08:24]
A
Number 12, we have Michael Hawkins Jr. West Virginia.
- [08:29]
B
All right. So, okay, I'm not like Michael Hawkins is some stud, but we saw a little bit of him at ou, and when he was there, it was not always the best situation for him to be playing quarterback. They didn't have a whole lot of chance to succeed there. And I, but I, I thought, like, he looked pretty solid in those moments. I know it was, seemed like an uphill battle, but I didn't feel like this kid was in over his head and wasn't going to be able to be a successful college quarterback one day. I think moving to a different school is going to help him. I think going to West Virginia under Rich Rod is going to help him. He does have a nice dual threat ability. Moving down a level to the Big 12, I think will fit. Like, I do feel like this is a good situation for him to be in and I think he is going to produce some decent numbers.
- [09:13]
A
And has he been named the starter yet?
- [09:16]
B
Because, yeah, Scotty, Scotty Fox is still in the race. It's not like it's a for sure thing. He's freshman last year played after Martial went down or went out but Fox was, I mean we saw him play a lot last year. For the back half of last year he was, he played okay. But yeah, he seemed pretty limited. It wasn't like a guy that seemingly could lead you to the promised land. But maybe, maybe.
- [09:39]
A
Okay, well here's the guy you're putting some faith in the the pedigree. Number 11 Julian Lewis Colorado.
- [09:46]
B
Yeah have him in front of a few guys that have played a little bit. Second year player here got his feet wet last year and he looked pretty good in those limited moments. I do think Colorado is going to have a bit of a spark with him on offense. They lost a couple of wide receivers to transfer, you know one to asu, one to tcu but they actually brought in a couple guys wide receivers to replace them that I'm not sure they'll be necessarily be better but maybe they brought in Danny Scudero, the guy we talked about in our ACC episode. He's going to Danny Scudero from San Jose State's coming to Colorado and he was a big time receiver there. Spartans that's he's going to be good in the Big 12. DeAndre Moore, speedster who had about combined thousand yards in his first two years at Texas. So give him him to Colorado. Those two guys are some dudes to throw to. I think for Julian Lewis now the office of Lions are definitely a concern. You lose Jordan Seaton to lsu but man they brought in a ton of transfers and guys that are from coming from big schools. Like these are the schools that their offensive line transfers are coming from. Ohio State, Georgia, Mizzou, Houston, Cal and Rutgers, plus a few others that are lower. But point is I think they can find a way to put together like at least a competent Big 12 offensive line with some of the talent they have because we've thought in years past their their lines might be a little suspect but they've been a little bit better than I maybe I thought so at least last year was a little better. But yeah, I like Lewis. I think he's going to be pretty darn good. But they just don't have a defense and it's going to be rough on
- [11:25]
A
that side of the ball. I don't know, I guess, I guess the fact that he was a big time recruit is nice and but I just, I worry we just haven't seen, we just haven't seen much. Like last year he came he took a bunch of sacks like I know he had.
- [11:39]
B
Wasn't terrible, but so did Sanders.
- [11:41]
A
We'll see. A lot depends on those. All those transfers on the O line.
- [11:45]
B
I know it does, but I. I'm trying not to make that my reason for, you know, dropping a guy, like, try to rate the quarterback here.
- [11:55]
A
No, you're right. Yeah. Okay. Number 10, we have Alonza Barnett III, which is we. Now we have. We've had the fourth, now we have the third. We had a junior and Michael Hawkins, so we got a bunch of seniors.
- [12:08]
B
I'm sure. So.
- [12:09]
A
I'm sure. Yeah, yeah.
- [12:10]
B
Is there a fifth? Do we have a fifth anywhere? Has there been a fifth? Will Henry V. Remember Will Henry?
- [12:17]
A
Yes, I do.
- [12:18]
B
He was the fifth, wasn't he? Was he? I swear to God he was. That would be amazing. A nice hit if he was, because there's not many fives out there. Can anybody, anybody in any sport think of a fifth? Like on a uniform? Put it in the comment or text us or whatever. Make it known.
- [12:36]
A
I'm not seeing the fifth. Are you just thinking of.
- [12:39]
B
I may have just made it up
- [12:40]
A
then a French King or something. I don't know. Maybe.
- [12:43]
B
Maybe. No, I thought Will Henry was a maybe.
- [12:47]
A
Maybe it doesn't always show up.
- [12:49]
B
Yeah, I don't know. He was from, like, El Paso. I want to say I think we stole him from utep. What a win. What a recruiting win that was.
- [12:57]
A
Well, if he is, I'm not seeing it. All right, well, maybe we can try
- [13:01]
B
another time, figure it out. But anyways, Alonza Barnett going from James Madison to Central Florida could get for Scott Frost. Barnett's a two year starter, won 21 games the past couple years. Solid passer, under 60% completion percentage, which is a bit of a red flag for me. He is a good runner, though. He had 15 touchdowns last year on the ground, along with almost 600 yards. So that's. That provides you a nice little floor. And I think he provides UCF a nice floor overall that you got an experienced quarterback that's been there and is going to be pretty good. They've had. They won a lot of games and James Madison was a good team. Now, UCF does bring back a pretty decent amount of talent around him, I think, particularly on defense. So I think Scott Frost may get a little bit of an improvement on UCF in year two here.
- [13:51]
A
Okay, number nine, you've got Cutter Bowley going to Arizona State.
- [13:56]
B
Yeah. You know, as a redshirt freshman last year at Kentucky, I mean, he played okay is what you can say. He had 15 touchdowns, 12 picks, 2100 passing yards, 66% completion percentage is solid now, but that's Kentucky, you know, and they. You don't really have a whole lot to work with and you're going up against pretty darn good defenses where you're out talented. So those numbers are not, not that bad for a freshman at Kentucky, to me. And now that you consider he's going to an easier conference in the Big 12 and he's going to get coached up by a coach who's usually produces very good offenses. And Kenny Dillingham. ASU did bring in a couple of good receivers to go along with him. Reed Harris from bc, who's great at deep balls, then a Marion Miller from Colorado was a very good get. So they have a couple playmakers. Bullies can throw the ball. I think they're going to have a pretty solid offense. I know we'll see about running back, but just between those three guys, a couple good receivers and Bowley, Dillingham, I think they. Well, we'll surprise some people at least.
- [15:00]
A
All right, I. I can appreciate putting faith in Dillingham, but I just wish you would have done the same with Dykes. Number eight. We have. Well, you have Will Hammond, Texas Tech.
- [15:13]
B
Yes, I do have Will Hammond at 8 at Texas Tech. You know, I mean, he'll. I know this isn't supposed to factor in and it's not actually really much for me, but he will have the best supporting cast out of everybody on this list, arguably, but I would probably put him as number one. Texas Tech's probably got the best talent in the league. When you combine offense and defense, you do.
- [15:34]
A
Well, certainly that. Certainly that.
- [15:35]
B
Yes, yes, that. I'll say go with that. All right. And, you know, the only, I mean, positive out of this whole Sorsby situation is, is that it happened early enough in the off season that you have plenty of time to do what you need to do to adjust the offense or prepare for another person to lead the reins for the season. And it's, it's kind of hard to do that if, like, if it's right up against the season, if you're already starting fall practices, like, then I would be like, yeah, that's a problem. That's going to stink. But it, you know, you kind of compared it to, or at least I kind of compared it to what happened last year with Jake Redzlaff and byu. I mean, he got, you know, that situation happened and it happened early enough where I Was like, okay, well you know, they, BYU still has a lot of time to prepare for the season with their next X guy, so they could still have a pretty darn good year.
- [16:23]
A
And they did.
- [16:24]
B
They had 12 wins. And I don't see why, you know, Hammond can't, you know, fill in and do this same type of thing, especially with all the talent that he has. They got a great duo running back behind him, Cameron Dickey, Jacoby Williams, good depth at receiver. They brought in a few transfers that are pretty good. Maybe not like the elite number one type guy on the roster right now, but a bunch of good, capable guys. And so I think Hammond's showed last year that he has some potential. He is pretty good and I think he's going to lead this offense well.
- [16:56]
A
Yeah, I like the athleticism that he brings. That's, that'll be a welcome change from when Baron Morton just when, at his. When just needed to bring a different element when they were up against the tough defenses, especially in the playoff. Okay, number seven. Well, actually, let me ask you this. Well, I'll get to that at the end. I'm going to ask you where Sorsby would have been on this list, but I'll wait till we get through the top guys. But number seven is Avery Johnson at Kansas State.
- [17:26]
B
Yeah, so Avery Johnson last year was, you know, he was going into a second full season as the starter and there was hope that like he would make a jump and his passing would improve and K State would be a true kind of playoff threat, you know, at least to make it and at least win the Big 12 and be right there. But it just didn't happen, man. He, he just did not improve his passing. It's at this point you kind of just have to assume like that is who he is. Like he's not going to be able to break down defenses like second, third looks and especially against those upper level, upper echelon defenses, he's going to struggle like yeah, he can, he can run, which is, is good. He's, you know, and he's a good enough passer to beat the kind of average, below average teams, but when they go up against the really good defense, you can just see it like he just doesn't have the passing ability consist to. To lead a team like K State to the promised land. So that's kind of a harsh representation of it because he is a pretty effective quarterback. But it's just at this point where like we want to see him take that elite step and I don't know if he has that in him. So I, I feel like he's a good, very good college quarterback that just, that's what he is, you know, and
- [18:34]
A
even very good might be a tad generous. But I, I agree with Colin Klein
- [18:38]
B
this year, maybe he can get a little more out of them.
- [18:40]
A
That's the hope. That's the hope. Which at the, the beginning of his career, they, well, after, after his freshman year. Right. They chose him over Will Howard basically. And there was just, the expectations were sky high and the athleticism is there and it's just been, yeah, just been disappointed.
- [18:57]
B
Expectations were high.
- [18:59]
A
Yeah. He's not terrible though. You're right. Like, he's, he's, he's fine. He's good.
- [19:03]
B
Yeah, he's won a lot of games and I mean doesn't make a ton of mistakes, but you just, when you need that crunch, third down and seven, pass like that, he, that's not him. So there is limits with his game. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block. Or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it, ready to make anything online make sense. There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required compatibility and availability. Various 18 this episode is brought to you by Google Health. Stop chasing someone else's definition of health. What matters is what's healthy for you. Google Health offers a new kind of coach built with Gemini for effortless tracking, sleep insights and holistic coaching tailored to you. Visit googlestore.com to learn more and start a new relationship with your health. Requires Google Account, Google Health app, Internet and Google Health premium subscription features. Availability and results vary. Not intended for medical purposes. Works independently of Gemini apps. Check responses for accuracy.
- [20:12]
A
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- [20:43]
B
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- [21:12]
A
Okay, I here's another one I disagree with here. You're going to have to make the case for why he's he's so high here. Number six, DJ Lagway at Baylor.
- [21:23]
B
Yeah, I'm that's fair. I do think that, you know, DJ Lagway is coming from a tough situation. I think a lot was placed on his shoulders at Florida, un maybe unfairly that it just had to because they just didn't have much else. Obviously things aren't working out there in Florida all that well. You know, you can maybe say, hey, quarterback's part of that, but you know as well as I do it's usually a greater symptom of other things that happen. So I think there's still a lot of potential for, for Lagway to get out of that situation and into a place with, you know, offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, who's got a track record of making sure, you know, good quarterback play the last few years. And Baylor was one of the best offenses in the, in the conference last year, number one passing offense, number third overall. They do lose a decent amount of talent from that team last year, but they do have a couple guys coming in that are at least, you know, proven big 12, you know, receivers. So I think, you know, Lagway is used to guys being a little underwhelming at times, but I don't think he'll have that big of a case. And I do think Baylor's defense will actually be pretty solid this year, so maybe they won't ask a ton of him. Now Dave Aranda's talked about it and Lagways kind of mentioned it, but especially Aranda. How just seemed like he talked about how Lagway was just dealt a really tough hand there and everything was on his shoulders in Florida and he just wants him to play free and loose and carefree and all that type of stuff at Baylor. I mean, it's nice chitchat. We'll see how it produces. But, you know, it is at least nice to hear that. So I think there will be some. He still has a load of potential. That's why I leave some room for lag. Yeah. And it's. It's a big 12. It's not the SEC.
- [23:00]
A
He.
- [23:01]
B
No, and he wasn't that awful. Like, you know, he threw more.
- [23:04]
A
No, you're right. It's just. He's very. He's a generous quarterback. He's very generous to opposing defenses and he needs to be a little more selfish. I think. So.
- [23:13]
B
Yeah. No, it's fair. But I do. I think the.
- [23:17]
A
No, that's. I like that. That. That's the kind of hope there is that he can corral that talent.
- [23:23]
B
If spavital says, hey, I can work with this guy and make him good. I mean, I know Spavital is not the best person ever, but like, he's done pretty well the last few years. So. Yeah.
- [23:33]
A
Okay, top five here are guys who all had very good seasons last year. We have Bear Bachmeyer, BYU coming in fifth.
- [23:43]
B
Yeah, just as a freshman last year. Just got thrust into. Into the spotlight with, you know, Red Slaff going out. But he was. He was good. He was pretty darn good there as a freshman. He led them to a 12 and 2 record, which is amazing. 12 wins there. I mean, they got smoked by Texas Tech twice, but 12, 0 against all the others, so that was good. But now he did throw for over 3,000 yards. So it wasn't like he was just totally managing the games. He had to make plays and make a lot of throws. And he did 15 touchdowns, seven picks. So not a horrible ratio there, especially as a freshman. But he's also a good runner. He had over 500 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns on the ground. But you kind of just. You just look at BYU overall coming in. I mean, they. They're looking pretty darn good. Their defense should be even better. They return a lot. Offense has got some skill position talent that they need. They need to replace. But I do think kind of BYU does have the, I don't know, history of producing some decent receivers when you least expect it. Jojo Phillips. It would be nice if he had a big year. I think he's going into his fourth year. There's at 14 catches last year, but he is like 65 and has a lot of potential. But I. Outside of receiver, I think you. BYU is looking really good. So if they could just get a couple of those guys, then to. To pan out.
- [24:58]
A
Got L.J. martin coming back at running back. So that's huge.
- [25:01]
B
Yeah, that is ginormous pair the. You know. But as far as passing, yeah, you can over Lead on that, so they'll. They'll be good. It's too bad that they have some issues, that receiver with Kingston and all that, but, you know, I'm looking. They have a game, a huge game this year. Notre Dame comes to BYU on, like, October.
- [25:18]
A
That's the replacement game for the canceled USC game.
- [25:22]
B
Yeah, that is. I'm looking forward to that one. Notre Dame at byu. That should be a fun one.
- [25:26]
A
Yeah. Bachmire, it's. So you talked about how, you know, Rhett Slaff, I guess, had that situation left early enough last year to where they could at least get the next guy ready, but at the same time, I don't know, I kind of thought they were dead in the water because Bachmire, he wasn't. He wasn't there for the spring, was he? I think he transferred, like, in the summer, if I remember right. So it's just kind of crazy.
- [25:46]
B
True.
- [25:47]
A
Fresh.
- [25:48]
B
Yeah.
- [25:48]
A
No, I know, but he was a true freshman. But he started. I think he was at. Was he at Stanford for, like, spring?
- [25:54]
B
Oh, let me look. Let me look.
- [25:55]
A
Okay. That's my recollection. But regardless, I just thought there was very little hope for him to be any good. So the fact that he was just such a tough runner and efficient enough as a passer like you do, you got to give him credit.
- [26:11]
B
Yeah, it was Stanford, so. But, no, I do. And I. Honestly, I didn't even expect Bachmire to be the. The guy after threats left. No, but I. Yeah, we thought I was going to be like Hildebrand, like the Utah State transfer guy who actually played a little at Utah State, and I was like, oh, yeah, okay. He seems like, all right. Like, you know, give him some time, and he could be. But now this. Yeah.
- [26:30]
A
Bachmeyer came in and, I mean, we'll see that Those. The Texas Tech games, though, were pretty incredibly awful to where, like.
- [26:38]
B
But they did go 12, 0 in the other ones. And I know all the other Big 12 teams, you know, so.
- [26:43]
A
And there were times when he didn't have it through the air where he would make up for it on the ground, so. But still, I just.
- [26:51]
B
I'm not.
- [26:52]
A
You have a fifth, which I think is. Is fine, but I'm not. I'm wondering what the upside is. Like, can he get better? He doesn't necessarily need to get better to be very effective, but we'll see.
- [27:04]
B
Yeah. And the talent, the skill position, like, the receivers, I don't know if they're gonna really, truly allow him to have, like, a huge statistical offensive Year, but they just do what he did last year, and. Yeah, their defense is probably even better. LJ Martin. Then they'll win 12 games again.
- [27:19]
A
Like, it's.
- [27:19]
B
Yeah. You know.
- [27:21]
A
Yeah, he's. He feels like a Cam Rising type.
- [27:24]
B
Mm. Okay.
- [27:25]
A
I don't know.
- [27:26]
B
I can see that comparison. Yeah, I can see that. Yeah.
- [27:28]
A
They're both white from the same top, so.
- [27:31]
B
Well, you know, they got that going for him, too. Yeah. Are they both Mormon? That would be well bet.
- [27:36]
A
Bachmeyer. I. Well, I would. I was gonna say. I have to imagine he is, though.
- [27:40]
B
He was, I would think. Yeah, with Trans. But I don't know about Rising.
- [27:44]
A
Anyways, I'm looking it up.
- [27:46]
B
Whatever they choose is fine.
- [27:48]
A
Bachmeyer is Catholic. Interesting. So they've had it. They went from a Jewish quarterback to a Catholic quarterback. What is going on at byu? They just.
- [27:58]
B
They needed one quarterback. Got in trouble for nefarious things.
- [28:02]
A
They needed a Mormon boy at quarterback. Just kidding. Who cares? Number four we have was Zach Wilson. Well, Zach Wilson was Mormon, Right?
- [28:12]
B
I don't know. Now that I'm doubting, like, I assume.
- [28:15]
A
Let's see. Yeah, he's Mormon.
- [28:17]
B
Okay.
- [28:19]
A
However, it says he's never been staunchly active or a devout churchgoer. So they're really Mormon then. He's a Jack Mormon.
- [28:27]
B
A Jack Mormon, yeah.
- [28:29]
A
It's like a fake Mormon who. Essentially. This is very respectful territory that we're in here. Just.
- [28:35]
B
Yeah, we're. Okay.
- [28:37]
A
This is why.
- [28:38]
B
Okay.
- [28:38]
A
Like, we're not on espn. We're just a couple, you know, we're
- [28:41]
B
not schmucks dissing it. No, we're not.
- [28:43]
A
We're not.
- [28:44]
B
Like your religious preference is your religious preference. I don't care.
- [28:47]
A
Conor Wigman at Houston. What's number three or no, number four? Yeah, well, Connor Wiggins, an atheist.
- [28:53]
B
I don't know.
- [28:55]
A
No, you can't be. It can't be in Texas and have that.
- [28:59]
B
True, true. All right, number four, Connor Wigman. Yeah. At Houston, you know, after a few.
- [29:05]
A
He's a devout Christian. Just to clear the air. Yes,
- [29:11]
B
that's funny. All right, so, yeah, a few. Few seasons there at Texas A and M, it didn't pan out, didn't go the way he wanted, so he transferred to Houston last year and then, bam, it led him to a 10 win season. He threw for 2700 yards, 25 touchdowns, nine picks. But I think his ground game is kind of what I think surprised me a little bit there in the Big 12. He threw. He rushed for 700 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. So when you combine that with what he did through the air, extremely good year for him. So pair that with a top 10 and returning offensive production for Houston. I mean him and that the group around him, he should have an even better year I think coming up this season. So things are looking good for Houston
- [29:55]
A
and Wakeman got to hold off the, the five star coming in, but yeah, he should.
- [30:00]
B
I think it's pretty safe at this point.
- [30:02]
A
Yeah, only if, if Wigman falters number three, we got Drew mester maker, Oklahoma State.
- [30:09]
B
Yeah, I'm going with the newbie in the top three here but man, we've seen it too many times. We've seen it too many times not to do it. So.
- [30:17]
A
Yeah.
- [30:18]
B
Drew Messemaker, the North Texas transfer going to be starting for Oklahoma State. I have him as the third best in the conference. Crazy. But didn't start in high school down there in Texas. Didn't start at all. He was behind a couple of studs. One guy ended up going to Louisville and then another ended up playing like D1 baseball or something. But like so he just, he never started there in high school. Walked on somehow got able to walk on at North Texas. I'm not sure how he got a walk on spot when you never play. That's. He must have had some talent that you could still see. But you know. Yeah. So guy walk on spot there at North Texas and came in as like the 5th string QB his first year. But then last year, you know, a couple guys, guys got hurt. He beat out a guy and then boom, he got his chance as a redshirt freshman and had an amazing season for the Mean Green. The American offensive player of the year took North Texas to the AAC title game. I mean that was an incredible achievement for, for North Texas. Remember how bad they were back in the day? So that was, that was awesome.
- [31:23]
A
That was the team I would always choose in the college football video game because they were terrible but they were in a talent rich area.
- [31:30]
B
I would choose them in the old, like the very first college football game we ever played like this. I think it would have been on PlayStation. I think it was a PlayStation game. Like it was way back. I know I'm, I'm. I may be mixing up the, the console but I, it was 90s material, like maybe early 2000s, but it was. Yeah, I remember that one. Anyways, moving on. Yeah, he. So his stats 69 completion percentage already a fantastic start there, right? 4,000 over 4,000 yards, 4,379. 39 total touchdowns to just nine picks, nine and a half yards per attempt, which is incredible. So, I mean, the numbers were awesome. And he goes to Oklahoma State with his head coach with his best running back, with some receivers, with 15 other guys that were on North Texas squad. So it's. It's a lot of an import there. So a team that won the AAC or not, sorry, didn't win it. They made it to the title game of the AAC and brings in some of its best players. They can have success in the Big 12. We've seen it too many times where FCS comes in and does great at the. The next level. This isn't even that. So this is still FPS to FBS and.
- [32:44]
A
Right.
- [32:44]
B
I think North Texas would have. I mean, North Texas was better than Oklahoma State last year. They would have whipped them up. So. Oh, for sure.
- [32:49]
A
Way better.
- [32:50]
B
Way better. So it's. It's a huge upgrade for Oklahoma State to get this kind of imported talent. You know, it's. They'll be much better. Hard not to be when they went 1 at 11, but, I mean, they have the most transfers in the country. They're bringing in everybody. I think they're gonna be pretty good. Their win total is like five and a half with the over favored. And I think they get there. I see six and six for them.
- [33:14]
A
Yeah, I would have Mesta Maker definitely no lower than 3. I think this is where I would. I would have him just because the production was so great and there's so much the same with the coaching around him and the players around him that I think there's. He's got a reasonably high floor for a guy that's making that jump.
- [33:36]
B
It's not even much of a jump.
- [33:37]
A
I know, but it's a little bit of a jump from the American. They like to be called the American now, Ryan, not the asc.
- [33:43]
B
But I said the American.
- [33:45]
A
You also said aac.
- [33:47]
B
It's not illegal to use that term.
- [33:50]
A
True. You're not going to jail.
- [33:53]
B
Get off my bed.
- [33:54]
A
But number two, we've got Noah Fafida, Arizona and I actually. Well, no, I'll let you talk. All right.
- [34:02]
B
All right. Yeah. So, okay. He had a bit of a sophomore slump a couple seasons ago. I mean, he wasn't terrible, but, you know, the stats certainly dipped. But yeah, he roared back last year in his third season. It was. Was very, very good. Finished third in passing yards with 3,228, second in touchdown passes with 29, and only had six interceptions and even added a little more on the Ground game this past year, a couple hundred ground yards on the ground there. So yeah, very good stats, of course. But I also, you know, I think I give him even more credit just because Arizona really relied on him. I mean they did not have a good running game to, to combine that with feeder. So it was up to him to come up with big plays and for the most part, like he really did. And I think that's maybe a little bit of what held him back as a sophomore. It's. They were asking him to make a lot of, you know, game winning and big time plays for them to win and I know if he was ready for it. But his junior year, now that this past year he did, he was awesome. So I would expect more of the same and I think he's got a little better supporting cast coming in this, this last final hurrah for Fufito. So number two, he's good. I want him, I'd take him.
- [35:09]
A
I want him.
- [35:10]
B
I want him back on him. Yeah, exactly. There you go. Phil Philip.
- [35:13]
A
Yep.
- [35:14]
B
Phil Fulmer. Yep.
- [35:15]
A
Blindside number one.
- [35:16]
B
Yep.
- [35:17]
A
Devin Dampier, Utah.
- [35:19]
B
Yeah, yeah. You know, the former New Mexico transfer, he exceeded my expectations last year and I was, I mean we were all pretty high on him going into last year, but I mean he was awesome. He had 34 total touchdowns to just five picks and he ran for over 800 yards. I think he upped his game there at Utah. I mean, statistically he did passing in particular. So I'd expect him to continue that trend and be, you know, even better, you know, this season. Well, better.
- [35:49]
A
Okay.
- [35:50]
B
Statistically, like just one of those things where I mentioned before, like, yeah, he's got an entirely new offensive line in front of, in front of him. So repeating the exact same numbers he did last year would mean he got a lot better. So that's kind of what I mean. I like his game, his numbers, regardless if they're a little worse or, you know, I think he's going to do well. But he's going to have to improve though, I guess a little with those, that new offensive line. But I do like Utah still as a team. They usually produce good offensive linemen.
- [36:18]
A
They do. And, but so this is a tough one to, to go number one with the acc. I thought it was pretty easy choosing Darian Mensah. I think pretty much everyone would have that. And with two or three guys. Yeah, this one is. Yeah. I mean if you're get, you're feeling feisty, you could put Master Maker. But I agree, I think it should be between Dampier and Noah Fafida? I think it's hard to say because Dampier's ceiling is the highest of anyone. He's just the athleticism that he has. Yeah. But with all the players that he lost, I know we're just ranking the quarterback but also losing his coordinator, Jason Beck. So that's my little, that's my little cheat code. It's like, well, he's losing the development of the quarterback which the developers, you know. So that.
- [37:02]
B
Does Fafita do better at Utah if he's there? I always try to ask myself that like
- [37:08]
A
last year, I don't think Fafita does better than Dampier did. But if we're just in a, in a vacuum, I think Fafita does better in more offenses. So I don't know, I just, I think I would feel safer with Fafita at 1. But I don't feel too strongly about it, I guess.
- [37:26]
B
Yeah, I mean I just think, you know, damn, Pierre was on a really good team this year and you know.
- [37:32]
A
No, they were awesome. That offense was really good last year
- [37:35]
B
and Dampier was kind of the catalyst for it all. I mean I know they've had some pretty good QB play but Dampier took them to another level. I felt like when he was was on so you could go for feed in number one and I wouldn't have any issue. But Dampier's kind of electric ability if
- [37:52]
A
I'm a Michigan fan. I know you're so committed to Bryce Underwood, of course and he still, he's the.
- [37:57]
B
I'd rather have Dampier.
- [37:58]
A
We're only in year two of of him and he was a five star all everything recruit so you kind of, I guess got to see it out. But yeah, it's. You're bringing in Jason Beck, you're bringing in even I think a couple of the weapons. What they brought in like J.J. buchanan. I don't know if they brought anybody else in from the offense but you kind of just hope wish that you could have if things were different. You just brought Dampier in and just let him loose.
- [38:21]
B
Yeah, I mean the only benefit for Underwood is he's a sophomore and Dan Pierre is going into his last year. But yeah, I mean damp here, if you're talking about this season, I give me damn Pierre 100.
- [38:33]
A
Yeah. If Underwood does what Dampier did last year, you'd be absolutely thrilled.
- [38:38]
B
Oh my God. Are you kidding me?
- [38:40]
A
Yeah.
- [38:41]
B
There's no way Thunder was going to be able to do that.
- [38:43]
A
All right, well, I know I don't know if you're going to be ranking the Big ten, but it sounds like you're not sky high on Bryce Onward at least but I'm not Anyway, any general thoughts on this Big 12 list?
- [38:57]
B
You know I was we obviously did the ACC before this and I just, when I compared it to that, I just feel like the Big 12 overall is trotting out like pretty competent quarterbacks one through set, one through 16. Maybe Kansas is the one that's like yeah, like give me so Jace, I put J.C. french, the Cincinnati transfer quarterback from from Georgia Southern as the second to worst quarterback in. I mean it's proven to be a couple years starter there at Georgia Southern and done pretty well now I don't think he's great but I mean if that's your 15th number 15 quarterback like that's Jalen Ray nor 14. I don't know. I just don't feel like there's oh God, look how bad this quarterback is on this list. Or oh it's the ACC had a few where I was like who? What are you kidding me? Like that guy is what you're gonna be doing.
- [39:44]
A
I don't know. I think, I think maybe I'd give the yeah the edge. I think the I'd give the depth edge to the Big 12 like you're saying there and I would also give that top five. Well I, I guess I would give the Big 12 a top five edge because at fifth you've got Bear Bachmeyer fourth Connor Wigman. Whereas four, five in the ACC is JKS who all the potential but hasn't done it necessarily. Mason Heintschel, you know, solid is a true freshman but still a bit more to learn on him actually. I don't know the more I look at this man, I think The ACC and Big 12 are closer than you than you think maybe because like you have in the Big 12 cutter Boli at ninth Julian Lewis, 11th like I don't know if those guys are going to be any good whereas 9th and 11th just to do apples to apples Virginia Beau prabula, solid fine 11th walker eget at Duke coming in from San Jose State. Like I don't know where we're kind of.
- [40:44]
B
That's fair. I think close it. I was trying to insinuate that as grand slam easily Big 12 is way better. Maybe if my fault if I did but you're putting a gun to my head. The Big 12 to me is a better overall QB list. Yeah, I think they have more depth. I even think that the top quarterbacks are a little better overall, but, you know, I mean, it's. It's. These two are much closer than either of these are to the next conference, as you know, these. As far as ability.
- [41:12]
A
So I. These two will be in a fight throughout the season because it just depends on the unknowns. Right. Does Jaden Craig, coming up from Harvard, does he just produce like Josh Hoover did last year and at TCU and shoot up this list or in the. The acc, does Christopher Vezina at Clemson. Like, we just. We've only seen him play one game. Does he play like he did against SMU and every game and have a really good season? It's. There's a lot of unknowns that'll kind of decide this, but. Yeah.
- [41:43]
B
Yeah, I just, you know, the acc, it just kind of ruins it when you got, like, a guy like Davis Warren in there.
- [41:49]
A
That's pretty rough.
- [41:52]
B
Sorry, Davis, but it's like, what. Like, that's pretty rough. And then, I don't know, like, you got Gio Lopez, like, five guys. He's in front of five guys who was. I know it was North Carolina, but he was terrible last year at North Carolina. Like, it was so bad.
- [42:07]
A
I get it. But the thing is, that's just. We're punishing Gio Lopez for having another year at The. The power four level where it's like, we just haven't seen J. J.C. french up there. We haven't seen Jalen Rayner up there. We haven't seen Alonzo Barnett there. Maybe once they get to the power four, it's. I have a feeling two of those guys are going to suck, but mostly.
- [42:28]
B
No, that's a good point. That's a good point. Yeah, I'll. I'll give you that. I don't know. I. It's. It's tough. I think the Big 12, like. I don't know. I like Raynor. I think he's going to be pretty good, but it's a tough gig. When he got. I mean, I was. I'm intrigued to see how Iowa State does this year because it's just been so long since they've had Matt Campbell. And you've kind of expected them to be good, and now it's okay. Are they just gonna suck all of a sudden because Campbell's gone? Or can Jimmy Rodgers, like, actually keep it. Keep it going? Like, maybe Iowa State can just stay pretty good. I mean, it's not like you have to face. It's not the big 12 of old. It's not like they're facing OU in Texas and even good Nebraska. Like, it's. They're able to compete better in this conference than they were back then, so.
- [43:11]
A
Yeah. And Jimmy Rogers, they were. Wazoo was a little better than we thought last year, so we'll see.
- [43:16]
B
They certainly bring in a lot of Wazoo players, which.
- [43:19]
A
Me. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know about that. But replacing guys that are now good enough to go to Penn State with Wazoo players.
- [43:28]
B
Six win Wazoo guys. Yeah. Fair. No, but I like.
- [43:31]
A
Okay.
- [43:32]
B
I think he's good.
- [43:33]
A
All right, well, that'll do it for this episode of the College Football Bros. We will be back soon with our Big Ten and then SEC rankings, so be sure you're subscribed. Leave us a five star review on Spotify and Apple podcasts, and we'll talk to you soon.