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- [00:01]
Roddy Jones
As soccer takes center stage this summer,
- [00:03]
Commercial Announcer
Comcast helps bring the experience home to America.
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Dusty Rhodes
As the exclusive Spanish language home of
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Roddy Jones
the tournament in the US Telemundo is
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Dusty Rhodes
set to present its most expansive coverage ever.
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Commercial Announcer
700 hours of programming, live on site
- [00:15]
Roddy Jones
presence at all 104 matches and with multi view and real time 4K Xfinity will deliver the most innovative and immersive sports viewing experience for fans watching on Telemundo, Peacock, Fox and FS1. Learn more at ComcastCorporation.com
- [00:32]
Zubin Mahanty
and media days roll on throughout college football. Last week the Big 12 took center stage in Frisco, Texas. This week it's the ACC's turn media day starting a couple days in Charlotte. Full coverage of course, on the ACC Network. And with that, we welcome you Inside College Football live. I'm Zubin Mahanty. There was a joke toward the end of last season that ACC actually stood for all chaos Conference. After that wild title game scenario and breakdown with Miami not even playing in the conference title game but making the national title game. Everybody remembers that, including our two analysts here today, Dusty and Roddy. It's a story that just kept on giving. And let's take you through the story of the Miami Hurricanes almost completing a miracle story. So they got that final at large bid even though it was Duke and Virginia in the ACC title game. They rattled off three straight playoff wins before falling to Indiana in the national title game. They have reloaded at quarterback as well as anybody and in the Mario Cristobal era they just go to the portal. Darian Mensah will be their third straight transfer following Cam Ward who ended up being the number one overall pick in the NFL draft. Carson Beck of course in the NFL now as well. Malachi Toney has been incredible. No drops over 1200 receiving yards, expectations high. As Mario Cristobal chronicled at ACC spring meetings in May,
- [01:48]
Roddy Jones
our team is more focused and more driven that it is
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Dusty Rhodes
player led, but also led by a staff that understands that just because we achieved some really great things last year,
- [01:58]
Roddy Jones
we're not going to automatically pick up
- [02:00]
Dusty Rhodes
in the same spot.
- [02:01]
Roddy Jones
We have to get back to work
- [02:02]
Zubin Mahanty
and work at a certain level to
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Roddy Jones
make it a reality.
- [02:04]
Dusty Rhodes
He had a great spring. He galvanized the offense. He, he understands what we have to
- [02:11]
Roddy Jones
do to get better and that's our entire focus right now.
- [02:14]
Zubin Mahanty
Secret of those spring meetings is to always have him in an incredible locale. And Amelia Isle in Florida certainly fits the the bill. All right, Dusty, let's start with you here. Your expectations for Miami switching Quarterbacks and of course this is now a year to year sport. So success year over year is never guaranteed. How do you see it?
- [02:34]
Dusty Rhodes
Yeah, Zubin, I expect them to do something they've never done and that's when the ACC look very prohibitive favorite win the conference and they should be. They have a lot to replace but they have a lot of talented players coming up and as they've done so well, they've done an excellent job in the transfer portal obviously with the quarterback Darian Menta, who I don't think is getting nearly enough love. He brings over Cooper Barate, his fabulous wide receiver with him to compliment Malachi Toney. Mark Fletcher in the backfield is an absolute beast. The real question will be can they retool that offensive line coach Cristobal has done a great job with offensive lines and everywhere he's been. I think that will continue. They might have to lean on some younger guys and some transfer players, but that'll be the question. But quarterback, wide receiver Shannon Dawson, he is absolutely loaded and he does a fabulous job. And then defensively they go get a Damon Wilson to come off the edge. They've got talented players coming back like Justin Scott up front. I really believe that Miami is just going to reload and be right back in position to make another playoff run next year. Ronnie,
- [03:45]
Roddy Jones
I agree with you Dusty and, and I do think it's worth noting again and driving the point home. They've never won the ACC as you said and so this is, this is the year to do it. You mentioned that offensive skill group with Cooper Barkate, Malachi Tony at receiver. They've also brought in a couple of other receivers that are really talented as well. It's the best receiving group in the acc. It's got an argument to be the best running group, running back group in the ACC led by Mark Fletcher. But Gerard Pringle showed a lot of promise last year. But the connection between Darion Mensa and this receiving core is what's really going to power this offense. They've got two guys in Malachi, Tony and Cooper Barate who were top 10 in the country in receiving yards a year ago. And it was like Cooper Barate was a birthday present that they got when they got Darian Mensah as well. So I expect the offense to be just as good. If that offensive line can come together, they're likely going to start a true freshman, Jackson Cantwell at one of those, one of the tackle spots. So there are questions, but I have, I have faith in Alex Mirabal and Mario Cristobal to get that offensive line in a place where that skill position group can be great.
- [04:46]
Zubin Mahanty
You guys make such great points in the sense that if you're old enough to remember when Miami did join the league, it was going to be Miami and Florida State running the whole thing. Nobody thought about Clemson. Despite where Florida State is right now, they've actually held up their end of the bargain. They've won a title as a member of the acc. Roddy, to you, Mike, Miami seems like it's got everything, but I think Mario Cristobal would tell you, look, slowly roll. We don't have everything. You have a special bent on the acc. What do you think they're missing? What are some of the lingering concerns the Kane fans are probably thinking about in the back of their head?
- [05:16]
Roddy Jones
Yeah, I think Cane's fans are going to be concerned about the offensive line, which we kind of talked about, and there will be some concerns about the defensive line. And while I do think those concerns are a little overstated, when you look at what Ruben Bane and Akeem Mezador did for them in terms of the share of snaps that they played, those guys did not come off the field very much. Now, Marquise Lightfoot and Armando Blunt, who are back and will be in the rotation at the defensive end positions, those guys came in a lot on third downs in packages, but they didn't play, you know, a seven or eight or nine play drive at a time because Bane and Mezador were doing that the lion's share of the time. So those guys and Damon Wilson being able to shoulder that load is a question. And then you lose at the nickel position. A guy like Keonte Scott, who was fantastic a year ago, I do think they've got talent. Bryce Fitzgerald played a lot for them. When Keonte Scott was hurt. He filled in admirably in that position. But Keonte Scott was such a playmaker. I mean, Dusty saw it in the cotton ball up close and personal when he took that pick six for a touchdown on the attempted screen pass. He was just such a playmaker and a great tackler in space. Those are the little nitpicky things that I think people will be concerned about and that Miami is going to have to answer questions about.
- [06:25]
Dusty Rhodes
They will have to answer those questions. But one question. I do not have boys. Darian Menza is a dog. Since this guy stepped up into Lane and what we saw last year, he's got a championship belt, he's got a ring. He led duke to an ACC championship 56 touchdown passes, just 12 interceptions, and it's two years as a starter and I, I really believe Ken Moore was the number one overall pick. Carson Beck was within a drive of leading them to a national championship. But call me crazy, I'm more excited about what Darion Mensah brings to the table. I don't think he's quite as mobile as Cam Ward, but I think he can throw the football as well or better than either one of these two guys. And we've talked about the complement of weaponry around him. I think a massive year for Darien Mensah and I really don't feel Zub that he's getting the love around the country that he should. We talk about the best quarterbacks in college football coming back this season.
- [07:19]
Zubin Mahanty
Totally agree. And I think part of the reason for that might have been the messy departure he had from Duke, and a lot of people didn't maybe want to give him the credit. Speaking of Messi, another team that's had a little bit of a mess on their hands the last couple of years relative to expectations has been the Clemson tigers. Coming off a 7 in 6 campaign, they were just.500 in the ACC. They went back to the future, which we're going to talk about here in just a second, which is sort of getting the band back together. But the one thing that Clemson has finally dipped their toe into, maybe into the entire pool instead of just sort of dipping in Joe and Cannonball in, is using the portal, adding 17 players for a guy that had been one of the last holdouts. But the context you need to know here about those 17 players is that in the previous eight years combined, Clemson took a grand total of 16. So a course correction was needed. Roddy, it's finally been done. Some said it would never be done. They said it would never happen, but it has. What do you make of Dabo forever doing things his way with, by the way, incredible results, now essentially saying it's time I joined the rest of the party.
- [08:28]
Roddy Jones
Well, Zubin, sometimes necessity actually can help you in a lot of ways. And also I think Dabo liked the results that he got from dipping his toe in the Portal last year. Will Helt he got over from Purdue, Will help was their best defensive lineman over the entirety of the season. So he's like, hey, look, if I can go and get more of that, I like that. But also they had massive departures on the defensive line, mostly through graduation, but a transfer as well. And in the secondary where they had two big transfers, a couple of guys go pro and so they kind of had to. They had to.
- [08:58]
Dusty Rhodes
To.
- [08:58]
Roddy Jones
To re. Bolster this roster through the portal. I think it'll bring a couple of things. One is competition. You get guys that come in that are hungry, that, that feel like they need to prove that they deserve to be at Clemson. But another is an appreciation for anybody who's been to Clemson. They have some of the most phenomenal facilities in all of the country. And if you grow up getting recruited by Clemson and then you go there your freshman, sophomore, junior year, those things you can start to take for granted. But then you get new blood in from a guy from, from either the, the group of six level or another FBS school. And he's like, man, this is amazing. You've got steak every day. We've got ribs, we've got chicken. This is the best thing ever. It kind of makes those guys appreciate and brings new life into the program. And so I think both of those things will help. Now those guys are going to have to play well for Clemson to be good, but I do really feel like that that boost of energy back into the program is certainly going to help the overall culture of this Clemson team.
- [09:55]
Dusty Rhodes
Yeah, what I would have given to have steak every day whenever I was in college, Roddy, it would have been fantastic. Look, this needed to happen and I think Clemson fans are saying thank you. Finally we get some transfer player players in. I think especially defensively they needed to several guys to the NFL. Several guys also transfer. I think three to four starters they're going to wind up bringing in and some much needed added depth. Tom Allen, defensive coordinator, kind of voiced that a season ago and his head coach, Dabo Sweeney, heard him. I think another intriguing aspect of Clemson this year is offensively going back in time, bringing Chad Morris back when this whole thing kind of got kickstarted at Clemson, or Dabo Sweeney, it was with Chad Morris in his offense. Kind of the roots of the Clemson offense is Chad Morris. He's been gone for a long time. Multiple head coaching stints, even in the high school ranks. Now he's back at Clemson and Adabo wants to get back to running the football effectively. They've got a more of a better offensive line. They need to run the football. But because here's the reality, guys, we got big question marks at the quarterback spot. Chris Pizzina has been there for quite a while now and it feels like he'll be the starter Week 1 against LSU, but it's his fourth year on campus and we don't really know exactly what he Is Tate Reynolds a very talented freshman that's going to compete for that spot and he's going to push him, I think through fall camp. But there's a lot of question marks and unknowns at the quarterback spot. Love the Transport Portal additions and I agree. And I think that Dabo is always at his best when nobody is has many expectations for him. And given how far they fell short of expectations a year ago, there's not a whole lot of people banging the drum for Clemson, which feels like a perfect spot for Dabo Swinney to be if they can get that quarterback position right. Who knows? Clemson could surprise a lot of people this season.
- [11:44]
Zubin Mahanty
And Roddy, that's where I want to go with you there because it's been a while. It was Trevor's job, it was Desean's job, it was DJ's job for a while. It was Klubnik's job. Dusty is indicating here we've got a full reel on competition for the first time in a while. How do you size it up the guys that Dusty just brought to the table?
- [12:03]
Roddy Jones
Yeah, we don't. We don't know much about Christopher Vezina because we've only seen him in spots. I threw for a ton of yards last year against SMU when he started for Cade Klubnick, but seeing it on a week in, week out basis, we just haven't yet. And then Tate Reynolds on the other side has gotten a lot of hype through the spring and into the summer. And so I agree with Dusty. I think it's going to be Christopher Vezina we see in Death Valley against lsu. But the talk around Tate Reynolds, it can't be great for a quarterback going in when everybody's sort of clamoring for the new shiny thing is the freshman and talking about how good a summer he's had, how good a spring he's had, and just feeling that pressure going into that game. I can't see it as a great situation. But. But Dabo Sweeney and Chad Morris have been through this before. Cole Stout in 2014 came in as a starter, but there was a freshman quarterback named DeSean Watson who in a game at Georgia made some throws where you were like, all right, that is going to be the guy of the future. And obviously DeSean Watson took over. Now the question is, is Tate Wields the Sean Watson? I don't necessarily think that that's the case. I think it's too much to put on on a young player. But they have been through this before and they should know how to handle it.
- [13:14]
Zubin Mahanty
Yeah. Last wrinkle I would say is Dabo's always asked guys to wait, wait, wait. It'll be your turn. Vizena has waited, waited, waited. We'll see how much of a turn he actually gets because the pressure is on. Speaking of the pressure being on, this is new on College Football Live. More issues at Michigan. The university's regents will weigh the findings from an internal investigation into the Wolverines culture with athletic director Ward Manual's future in quantum. The probe came after many high profile incidents. Remember the Connor Stallions scouting scandal where they were stealing plays, but especially Sharon Moore's firing for his inappropriate relationship with the staffer member. Manual promoted Moore to head coach after Harbaugh left for the NFL. He's now being questioned about what he knew about the relationship between Moore and the staffer and how it was handled on the way. Handling a rebuild is that guy's spirit specialty. But with the clock ticking faster than ever for those two guys who's primed to have a great breakout season in the ACC between Coach Belichick and Coach Franklin, the guys will weigh in on that when College Football Live returns.
- [14:24]
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- [16:07]
Roddy Jones
That's right.
- [16:08]
Zubin Mahanty
That's what I'm talking about. Game time, baby. Violent.
- [16:13]
Dusty Rhodes
I love it. I love it, I love it, I love it. You need some sun on them pasty ass legs. Beautiful.
- [16:21]
Zubin Mahanty
Very nice, very nice. I guess you could say anything on TV these days. So that's James Franklin getting ready for year one at Virginia Tech. I would just point you to Vanderbilt there. It is way harder to turn around the Commodores than it will be what he did at Penn State and what he's trying to line up to do at Virginia Tech. So you know, let's talk about this a little bit with regards to the expectations because it's never too soon. Dusty, let's start with you. One thing I want to quickly mention is that Virginia Tech has put in a couple of hundred million dollars into the infrastructure of the school. That was one big thing that Franklin really wanted to see. Whit Babcock, the AD was able to do it. So with the money in place, his boots on the ground, tell me what you expect in year one.
- [17:05]
Dusty Rhodes
I expect a lot. I expect one of the best turnarounds in the acc. I think they over double their win total of three from a year ago. And look, there's a buzz, there's an excitement with James Franklin and we see that with the athletic department getting this influx of cash. They've also had several big, large donations, bigger than they've had in the past. So from a resource standpoint, they're good to go. And what I also love is the fact that he brought 12 players with him from Penn State and start with the quarterback, Ethan Grundkemeyer. I think he's a dude. I think he can really play. There's a toughness and edginess to him. He took over at Penn State last year and I had a chance to call his his bowl game against Clemson. And when you watch his film, he's fearless with the football and can move around very well. He's going to insert very nicely into this offense. Luke Reynolds, another really quality tight end they're bringing over and I think those guys can help play the validation because look, James Franklin is about culture and that's what he's going to do. Since he got there, it's been attention to every single minute detail, whether it's the lighting within the facility, everything. There will be no stone unturned and look, this is one of the best, most passionate fan bases in the acc. You have true home field advantage there at Lane Stadium. The fan base is fired up, they're excited. And another key component is the head coach that's leaving is staying on as a defensive coordinator. Roddy, I love this decision by Brent Pry and I think it could wind up being a home run for that defensive side of the ball.
- [18:40]
Zubin Mahanty
No doubt. We'll talk about that in just a moment because there's another coach with the word culture that really has been defined by the term guys, and that's Bill Belichick. Whether it was with the Patriots, he tried to instill it in Chapel Hill. Didn't really work any year one. They're coming off a four and eight season. I should mention two of those wins were against Charlotte and Richmond. So sometimes it's even the quality of the competition. They did have a couple wins in the acc. So now the question becomes, as you kind of take a look at Bill Belichick and where they really rank near the bottom of the conference in all of these categories, their offense is obviously going to be fine tuned. They're going to have to do that. So the question here, Roddy, really becomes, are things going to be any different in year two for North Carolina than they were in sort of an underwhelming year? One,
- [19:30]
Roddy Jones
yes, Zubin, they are going to be different. This is, this team is going to be better. I say it in that tone, though, because the schedule is also a lot tougher than it was a year ago. But let's focus on the positives. One, I think this coaching staff and this organization knew a lot better how to operate in the transfer portal than they did a year ago. They, they, I think, were a little overwhelmed by the pace of the transfer portal last year and they in their own UNC kind of way, admitted that. But two, they bring in Bobby Petrino on offense. And you can say what you want about how Bobby Petrino fits with coaching staffs or what his personality is like. The guy can coach ball and he can call ball plays. That Arkansas offense was actually very dangerous through much of the season last year and were really bitten by turnovers for, for a large chunk of it. So the run game is going to challenge teams. I think you could see Billy Edwards, the incoming quarterback, have a, have, have a pretty nice season if he has a run game as well, because he's got talent. The question is, what is the overall talent on the roster and how do they deal with the schedule that is tougher this year, but I do think this is a team that's going to be better and I do think this is a team that should make a bowl game this season.
- [20:41]
Zubin Mahanty
Yes, I will just last say tongue planted firmly in cheek. If they want get rid of their off the field controversy, Petrino might be the last guy they want to bring into Chapel Hill. But yet again, they've done it on the way here on College Football Live, we talked about the acc, the all chaos conference. How could they avoid a chaos scenario and be at the table for good with the Big Ten in the sec? I've got some thoughts on that when College Football Live continues.
- [21:12]
Dusty Rhodes
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Roddy Jones
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- [21:55]
Zubin Mahanty
Wayfair Every style, every. Flag football, fastest growing sport among them in the country. ESPN Networks all over July 24 to 26. For more information nflflag.com you know, not too long after Miami lost a heartbreaker in the national title game to Indiana, head coach Mario Cristobal said, we're just getting started. But in an era of college football where the only constant is changed, you can't guarantee that the acc, they could certainly use it. Consider last postseason en route to the title game, they knocked off the Big Ten and the SEC back to back, the very two leagues who control the future of the playoffs. If the ACC wants a real seat at the big boy table, they need runs like that from Miami, Clemson and Florida State to be regular occurrences, not simply aberrations. For those skeptical, consider that that trio has won even 11 national titles. Then again, last season they went a meh 2516 with Clemson losing a bowl game in a baseball stadium and the Seminole striking out for the second year in a row. Bottom line, Miami supplied the proof of concept that the ACC belongs in this new era. But for how long is the question. And that will be center stage this week in Charlotte. That's where ACC media days will be. The percentages tell you Miami's an overwhelming chance to win the acc but has been mentioned a couple times in this program. They'll believe it when they see it because it's never been done. I want to talk about a couple underrated teams on the way out the door. After all, I don't think people had Virginia and Duke pegged last year in the ACC title game. So in that vein, Dusty, let's start with you. Give me a team that we're not talking about, since we're always talking about Miami, that we should be talking about.
- [23:46]
Dusty Rhodes
Well, based off that graphic, it's the number two team in there. I think SMU has got a chance to be very good. I think it might be the best team Rhett Lashley has had. That's saying something. He's hung an American championship banner. He's made it to an ACC championship game where they were a field goal away from winning against Clemson. That defense will be sound, but I look to the offense and Kevin Jennings again, another quarterback who's won a lot of games. He beat Miami on one leg. Roddy was there. He called the game. They've got talent. Rhett Lashley is one of the most underrated coaches in college football. SMU will be legitimate this season. And if you look at their schedule, they start the year on Labor Day at Florida State. And week three, they go to Louisville if they start two. And oh, Roddy and ACC play. Watch out for the ponies.
- [24:35]
Roddy Jones
Yeah, I love SMU and what Kevin Jennings has a chance to do this year, but I'm going to go with the team. We'll go a little bit of a deep cut. I'm going to go with the team who had the best quarterback by QBR in the ACC last year and. And he's coming back to play for him. That's C.J. bailey at NC State. And when you look at this NC State team, NC State fans are going to roll their eyes. Dave Thornton is due for a breakthrough at some point in time. At some point, the wolf pack will have things go their way. I think that this is a team led by CJ Bailey that could really take a step and they're helped by the schedule. No SMU on the schedule. No Miami on the schedule. No Georgia Tech on the schedule. So it's more friendly than a lot of other teams. So when you're looking for a dark horse, I think great quarterback play, good culture and a good schedule certainly helps.
- [25:20]
Zubin Mahanty
No doubt those NC State fans have been waiting to turn the corner with that blinking light on for a long time. Is this the year? We'll find out. We'll see you tomorrow for more college football Live.
- [25:34]
Roddy Jones
Close your eyes. Exhale. Feel your body relax, and let go of whatever you're carrying today.
- [25:41]
Zubin Mahanty
Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh my gosh, they're so fast.
- [25:49]
Dusty Rhodes
And breathe.
- [25:51]
Zubin Mahanty
Sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw
- [25:53]
Roddy Jones
the discount they gave me on my first order.
- [25:56]
Zubin Mahanty
Oh, sorry. Namaste.
- [25:58]
Dusty Rhodes
Visit 1-800contacts.com today to save on your first order.
- [26:02]
Zubin Mahanty
1-800-contacts.