CFP First-Round INSTANT REACTION: Miami Holds Off Texas A&M, Oregon & Ole Miss Dominate

Summary

Cover 3 Podcast Instant Reaction: CFP First-Round – Miami Survives, Oregon & Ole Miss Roll

Date: December 21, 2025
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Bud Elliott
Theme: Instant reactions, analysis, and spirited discourse following the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff first-round games: Miami edges Texas A&M; Oregon obliterates JMU; Ole Miss routs Tulane. The hosts break down what happened, preview the upcoming quarterfinals, and debate the merits and pitfalls of the expanded playoff.

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Episode Overview

The Cover 3 crew dives headfirst into the first-round College Football Playoff action. They give credit to Miami’s gritty defensive win over Texas A&M, discuss Oregon’s display of overwhelming speed against James Madison, and unpack what (if anything) can be extrapolated from Ole Miss’ rout of Tulane. Throughout, they debate coaching decisions, playoff structure, the blowout discourse, and look ahead to big-time quarterfinal matchups.

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I. Miami 24, Texas A&M 21: Defense, Playcalling, and First-Round Drama

[03:43–15:56] Miami’s Defensive Masterclass

• Miami’s D-Line Domination
  • “What Miami's defense did to Texas A&M… relentless pass rush from one of the best defensive lines in the country. Baited Marcel Reed into turnovers that upended Aggie drives.”
    — Chip Patterson [05:47]
  • “Reuben Bain and the boys just absolutely whooped their ass for a few hours. It was Miami dominating… in the trenches that really ended up deciding the game.”
    — Tom Fornelli [07:12]
• Impact of Environmental Factors
  • “That wind was impacting a lot of things… throws moving two or three feet, field goals, missed kicks. It made the defenses look a lot better than they were statistically.” — Tom Fornelli [07:36]
• Miami’s Defensive Adjustments
  • “First drive… our backers got shook by Marcel Reed, but after that, went more contain. Didn’t blitz, kept more eyes on him. His legs were the biggest concern, but ultimately they just weren’t enough.”
    — Bud Elliott [09:09]
  • Miami tackled screens “really well… only time they tackled poorly was on Reed’s runs in the first half.”
    — Bud Elliott [09:57]

[10:20–14:46] Miami’s Offensive Issues and Critique

• Conservative (or Predictable) Play Calling
  • “Thank God Miami didn't lose or we’d be jumping out of the game. Dawson would be in a lot of trouble right now.”
    — Chip Patterson & Tom Fornelli [10:20]
  • Miami “got cute” early, forcing the ball to Malachi Tony in obvious ways. “If Tony was that good at QB, you’d have recruited him to play QB.”
    — Tom Fornelli [13:20]
  • “If they’d done what they were doing in the 4th quarter from the start, Miami probably wins by 17.”
    — Tom Fornelli [14:46]
• Hat-tip to Miami’s Young Talent
  • “Freshman with the winning touchdown, freshman with the winning interception. For those keeping track at home, recruiting still matters.”
    — Chip Patterson [14:46]

[15:58–22:51] Quarterfinal Lookahead: Miami vs. Ohio State

• Initial Impressions
  • “Ohio State’s ability to cover is different. A&M’s secondary isn’t as bad as people thought, but Ohio State’s is extremely good. I don’t think they’ll be scared of Miami’s receivers.”
    — Bud Elliott [18:48]
  • “I don't know if Miami can run the ball on Ohio State like today… nobody really has.”
    — Tom Fornelli [20:11]
• Game Plan Adjustments
  • “If Miami doesn’t get pressure on Julian Sayin, I don’t think they can cover Ohio State receivers. But that’s the case for everybody.”
    — Tom Fornelli [22:51]
• Program Trajectory
  • Miami “telling the story that something changed after the SMU game… Cristobal was very comfortable with a bare-knuckle fight in the trenches.”
    — Chip Patterson [21:02]

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II. Ole Miss 41, Tulane 10: Routinized Domination, Little to Learn?

[28:40–34:05] Ole Miss’ Record-Breaking Night

• Speed Kills – Again
  • “Hard to take much new because they're just that much faster than Tulane. Angles get evaporated. Summerall basically said it: major speed difference.”
    — Bud Elliott [30:23]
• Defense: Good Enough or Sloppy?
  • “Tulane moved the ball—went into Ole Miss territory eight times—but only reached the red zone once. Offensively, it looked a lot better for Tulane than it really was; but as soon as the field tightened, Ole Miss just stopped them.”
    — Tom Fornelli [31:32]
  • “Ole Miss was kind of sloppy on defense… didn’t communicate super well on the back end, but still cruised.”
    — Bud Elliott [30:43]
• Context of the Victory
  • “12 wins for Ole Miss football. Never been done before. Their record-setting 12th win will get assigned to Pete Golding.”
    — Chip Patterson [28:40]

[34:45–36:09] Looking Ahead: Rematch with Georgia

• What’s Changed Since October?
  • “Georgia’s defense is better than it was. Offensively, they've looked like crap at times. If Ole Miss’s defense is just okay—and we're assuming Georgia puts up a boatload of points—what if we’re wrong? Then we might have a game.”
    — Bud Elliott [36:46]
  • “This might be where the Lane Kiffin absence is felt more—adjusting to what Georgia’s doing and figuring it out quicker.”
    — Tom Fornelli [37:45]

[39:26–42:34] Georgia Confidence; Ole Miss’s Path

• “I think Georgia is a much better team than they were on October 18th.”
  — Chip Patterson [39:26]
• “Every SEC team except Kentucky has made Georgia sweat. If Ole Miss can go down there and really make it uncomfortable... Everyone's made Georgia uncomfortable this year.”
  — Chip Patterson [42:34]

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III. Oregon 62, JMU 27: Ducks’ Supersonic Statement

[50:14–59:40] Oregon’s Speed on Display; JMU Outmatched

• Ducks Blitz the Dukes
  • “Very clearly one side of the ball most overmatched—JMU’s defense. It wasn’t the physicality… it was the speed.”
    — Chip Patterson [50:14]
  • “How bad are the offenses in the Sun Belt for this defense to be rated like this? There's like an ultimate Frisbee team out there against Oregon.”
    — Bud Elliott [52:01]
  • “JMU’s defense would get a couple punts [in the Sun Belt]. Not against this.”
    — Bud Elliott [53:11]
• Dante Moore’s Showcase
  • “Dante could be 1:1 after Iowa and that was even a bad game. But this tape, even against JMU just because of the stage, will make the NFL draft highlight reel.”
    — Chip Patterson [51:50]
• JMU’s Offense Showed Grit
  • “JMU’s offense moved the ball a little, which I didn’t expect… but Oregon was just so far ahead.”
    — Bud Elliott [52:02]
  • “Nothing was really free. Everything JMU got was hard-earned.”
    — Bud Elliott [57:18]

[59:58–62:23] “Should Non-Power Teams Be Here?” Playoff Structure Debate

• On G5 Teams in the CFP
  • “Do you think any team in this field wouldn’t do this to JMU?”
    — Bud Elliott [59:17]
  • “Tulane is fair — I don’t think Oklahoma would do this to JMU.”
    — Tom Fornelli [59:20]
• Level Setting
  • “The American is way better than the Sun Belt as a whole. JMU is way better than the rest of the Sun Belt, but there’s a lot of shell shock as far as step up in competition tonight.”
    — Bud Elliott [60:48]

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IV. The Playoff: Expansion, Blowout Discourse, and Systemic Sports Critique

[62:23–68:29] Is the Playoff Format Broken?

• Automatic Qualifiers & the Blowout Problem
  • “If you put it top 16, it's too tight. I think if you put it top 20, at least if you're really not top 20, why are we talking about you being in a 12-team playoff?”
    — Bud Elliott [62:04]
  • “We are die-hard CFB fans; this thing isn’t made for us. It’s for the people who watch five games a year and tune in for these. They’ll say, why am I watching Tulane get skull-caved in?”
    — Tom Fornelli [63:25]
  • “Blowouts have always existed. This year’s final scores in the title game…34-13, 65-7… If your thought is we have to change it to get rid of blowouts, you’re never getting rid of them.”
    — Tom Fornelli [65:39]
  • “What bothers me is a system letting you win a national playoff without a single top 50 win, which JMU didn’t have.”
    — Bud Elliott [66:58]

[68:29–72:17] Should Playoff Entry Be More Complicated?

• Proposals (and Satire)
  • “If we're overcomplicating the matter, we're just getting too lost in the sauce. This isn’t tax law!”
    — Chip Patterson [69:53]
  • “What if you can’t fix the playoff? Because the playoff isn’t broken. College football’s broken.”
    — Tom Fornelli [71:02]
  • “Hired a bunch of TV execs to run your leagues… and they turned them into TV programs, period.”
    — Tom Fornelli [72:44]

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V. Quarterfinal Matchups: Early Previews

[73:54–76:53] Oregon vs. Texas Tech – Orange Bowl Hype

• Style Clash
  • “Oregon is so well balanced… Texas Tech is elite on defense, but how much did they see a Dante Moore, a Decorian Moore, an (possibly) healthy Evan Stewart, a Kenyan Sadiq—all at once?”
    — Chip Patterson [76:53]
• Chess Match
  • “Curious to see how much Oregon’s offensive line can keep up in pass pro. If Tech can’t get home with four, what happens? And can Tech’s offense keep up? I don’t trust it yet.”
    — Bud Elliott [78:00]
• Projected Line
  • “It’s not going to be Oregon -5. I think Oregon -1.5 is closer to what it should be.”
    — Bud Elliott [79:57]

[See above for Miami-Ohio State, Georgia-Ole Miss discussions]

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VI. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You know recruiting still matters. Freshman with the winning touchdown, freshman with the winning interception. For those of you keeping track at home.”
  — Chip Patterson [14:46]
• “Dawson would be in a lot of trouble right now… The play calling was so cute early.”
  — Tom Fornelli & Chip Patterson [10:24, 13:20]
• “If you want to say the playoff is for die-hards, you’re lying to yourself. It’s for your aunt and uncle who watch three games a year. And then text, ‘Why am I watching Tulane get skull caved in?’”
  — Tom Fornelli [63:25]
• “We’re just creating extra hurdles for the teams that can actually win a national championship.”
  — Chip Patterson [67:01]
• “You can’t fix the playoff if it’s the sport that’s broken.”
  — Tom Fornelli [71:02]
• “I’m sitting here looking at this CFB playoff like it’s a Brazilian steakhouse. Green for yes, red for no. Can you win it all? Yes? You’re green. No? OK, you’re out.”
  — Chip Patterson [46:39]

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VII. Episode Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:43] — Podcast content begins, CFP reactions open.
• [05:47] — Miami’s defensive performance v Texas A&M.
• [10:20] — Miami’s offensive game management issues.
• [15:58] — Miami-Ohio State quarterfinal quick look.
• [28:40] — Ole Miss-Tulane reaction.
• [34:45] — Ole Miss-Georgia rematch preview.
• [50:14] — Oregon-JMU in-game instant reaction.
• [62:23] — G5/Playoff discourse & playoff format debate.
• [73:54] — Oregon-Texas Tech Orange Bowl preview.

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VIII. Final Thoughts

• The new 12-team playoff delivers spectacle—and plenty of blowouts. The Cover 3 hosts argue that’s nothing new, even in the four-team era.
• Miami’s win was about the defensive line imposing its will—and having star freshmen step up in the biggest moments.
• Oregon’s status as one of the absolute elite in speed/athleticism was proven against JMU—and now they face a legitimate test in Texas Tech.
• Ole Miss hits a program high watermark for wins, and gets another shot at mighty Georgia—though the hosts agree, the Bulldogs look primed to advance.
• The show closes with a candid, funny, and at times philosophical debate about what college football—and its playoff—should (and can) be for its fans.

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For detailed game talk, look for the timestamps above. “Upon Further Review” is coming soon for more breakdowns!

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Panel for This Episode:

• Chip Patterson – @Chip_Patterson
• Tom Fornelli – @TomFornelli
• Bud Elliott – @BudElliott3

Transcript

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[Bud Elliott]

Welcome back to the COVID.

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3 podcast with your hosts Chip Patterson.

[Chip Patterson]

Tom Fornelli, Danny Cannell and Bud Elliott.

[Tom Fornelli]

It's your call for the best college.

[Bud Elliott]

Football coverage from national signing day to.

[Toyota Sponsor]

The national championship and everything in between.

[Chip Patterson]

CBS SP, the COVID 3 podcast and welcome back to the COVID 3 podcast here on CBS Sports. That's Tom Fenelli, that's Bud Elliott. I'm Chip Patterson coming to you [e-mail] cover3 and everywhere you get your podcast on demand. Thanks for hanging out. Smash that, subscribe, smash that like and come and join us in the chat. AKA the COVID 3 tailgate. They're feisty. I'll tell you what, listen, here's the deal. We are coming to you and those of you who are joining us live. We very much appreciate it. We are coming to you. Third quarter just getting started. Oregon 34, JMU 6 if we have the most unlikely of comebacks, we will be covering it live here on the COVID 3 podcast and what would certainly be an all timer. But as it is, we do feel as though there is enough hay in the barn for us to be able to move ahead with our reaction of Saturday's first round action, which started with Miami's win at Texas A M. It continued with the first victory of the Pete Golding era and it sure does seem, as we mentioned, as though the Oregon Ducks are going to be well on their way to flying across the country to go play Texas Tech in the Orange bowl quarterfinal on New Year's Day. I mentioned that they're feisty because we are going to talk about these games. You know we are going to talk about them. We may get into the discourse. I don't know. The discourse is strong. There are very strong opinions. The discourse is lively anywhere, whether it's your group chat, whether it's who you're watching the games with or whether it is on social media where the discourse always is spicy. Also, as promised, just like we did on Friday night's reaction to the Alabama win against Oklahoma, we will be previewing those quarterfinal matchups. So begin. Well, I guess, I mean, Tom, do you want, do you want to just get discoursey right off the bat or do you want to take Go Go football on this?

[Tom Fornelli]

You, your call.

[Bud Elliott]

Let's talk football.

[Chip Patterson]

I'd like to get, I'd like to get the, the good work done first. I just feel like you can get lost in the sauce and you can get talking in circles. Everybody thinks they're right. No one's listening. So let's at least talk about the things that are indisputable, like what Miami's defense did to Texas A and M here in College Station on Saturday. Because whether it was the relentless pass rush from what we discussed as one of the best defensive lines in the entire country, whether it was baiting Marcel Reed into the turnovers that upended a lot of those Aggies drives, the one of the brightest stars of the day was this Hurricanes defense. You go and you get Corey Heatherman as your new defensive coordinator. You go and you pick up some transfer portal additions. I thought they did. Even though Marcel a little bit on those early drives, man, that was, that was about as, as, as little damage as you could allow. Like they were, they're like okay, fine, but some of the, some of the spies, some of the play from the safeties and the linebackers just to even, even make sure that he wasn't ripping off the really, really long runs. I just, just, just a huge hat tip and we'll get to the big picture stuff and what is a monumental game, one of the biggest wins for Miami in 20 plus years. So big picture stuff, small picture stuff, lots to get into. Tom, what'd you get, what'd you take away out of what you saw Miami do to Texas A and M?

[Tom Fornelli]

The defenses were outstanding. I thought that Miami's defensive line truly did dominate Texas up front and it, we talked about it a little bit in the big game breakdown for how good Texas A and M's offensive line had been but didn't look that great against Texas in their last game out and we wondered what's it going to look like against Miami and we got an emphatic answer from, from Reuben Bain and the boys who just absolutely whooped their ass for a few hours this morning and afternoon. I, I, I think that was really the most pressing or most Important thing from the game. But I also feel like the other part of this game too was like the wind. Like that wind was impacting a lot of things. Like if you were watching on the sky cast, Marcel Reed and Carson Beck are not what I would consider to be two of the most accurate quarterbacks in the country to begin with, but their throws were moving right, right, right. Like they would throw a ball and it would like kind of just move two or three feet to the left or the right, depending on the direction of the win. Like they were being impacted by it really strongly. And I think that had a huge impact game and it certainly made the defenses look a lot better than they were statistically. But that had a huge impact. That also obviously had an impact on the special teams and the field goals and the doinks and all the missed kicks. But I just felt. We talked about it. This game was going to be decided in the trenches. And although there were a lot of other factors at play, ultimately it was Miami dominating that game on defense in the trenches that really did end up deciding the game. And it just because like Miami should have won that game probably by about 17. I feel like just based on the overall flow of the game.

[Bud Elliott]

I agree. I, I thought they were, they were way more physical than Adam was. I, I thought they really like kind of shadow dominated that game. And. Is that, is that good or that is good.

[Tom Fornelli]

Duke's touchdown.

[Bud Elliott]

Oh, sorry. I, I got the Bears game on. So yeah, I, I thought Miami like was the clearly better team in this game. I thought they had a good defensive game plan. Like first drive. I think you come out of this, you say, okay, backs, shut them down. Screen game, shut it down. Didn't have to blitz. Now our backers got shook like crazy by Marcel Reed who was excellent as far as running the football. After that they kind of went to a little more like sugar rush at times from Bane and mess store. And those guys like, like they weren't really trying to. To rush where they really went more like contained look under the broadcast talked about that they were a little more stand up look as well. Like not as much 3 point. Keep more eyes on him really with the idea that like, hey, especially with the wind. His legs are by far the, the biggest concern that we would have in this game. And ultimately like those legs were just, were just not enough. Like Miami tackled the screen stuff really well. Like the only time they really tackled poorly was. Was the Reed stuff. And, and a lot of that was, you know, it was more in the first half. I Didn't love Miami's play calling for money.

[Chip Patterson]

Thank God Miami didn't lose this game or else we were jumping out the game.

[Tom Fornelli]

Dawson would be in a lot of trouble right now.

[Bud Elliott]

I mean, in what world does Miami get consistent movement at the point of attack, like, be able to run the ball at the middle. And then they got. It was almost if they were, like, anticipating the anticipatory move from a defense and try to, like, stay ahead of what they thought A M would do on second down. And A and M just didn't do a lot of that.

[Tom Fornelli]

Right.

[Bud Elliott]

Like, they. I think A and M was like, they were better, I think play calling wise defensively than Miami was offensively until pretty late. Right? And then eventually Miami realized, okay, Mark.

[Chip Patterson]

Fletcher, we're just going to stop. Like, quick game is the only thing we're doing. For passing, were just running downhill with Mark Fletcher. Like, it was so simple. And guess what? It was the most successful stuff they did all afternoon.

[Bud Elliott]

Like, the. The backers were extremely fast flow to the flats on any kind of perimeter stuff that they were vacating quickly. And you. You end up hitting a couple dice inside runs on those guys because you were getting movement on those A and MD tackles. Not every time, but. But pretty consistently. And. And so ultimately they. They popped a couple big ones, you know, down the stretch up the middle. And then I do think the play to Malachi was gorgeous because you had just gashed them up the middle a bunch of times over the final 10 minutes. And it looks like it might go up the middle all of a sudden.

[Tom Fornelli]

Boom.

[Bud Elliott]

Like that. So they've pinched. Get a nice little crack there. Tony gets the edge and.

[Tom Fornelli]

And it's.

[Bud Elliott]

It's good night. Although he probably should have gone down, I think, like, given the timeout situation. Freshman, like, look, this did not end up biting Miami in the butt, but it very well could have. I did not love the timeout usage in the first half. Like, third nine on your own 27. Take the delay, dude. Like, you might need that timeout, like, to finish the first half of drives. And they. In fact, they did, like, they got a situation where they burned a timeout instead of spiking on what first and 10 with 29 seconds left from what was like the 18 or like, somewhere around there. Like, first of all, that should be a spike. You ran 10 extra seconds off the clock in trying to get a play called. It's either spike it or time out there. But because you blew the timeout so early in the first half, there was some Stuff like that. I didn't really. I know the wind was high and Tom is right on this and situations matter and they should. And analytics are not ironclad. But like, I would probably not kick the field goal from the two.

[Tom Fornelli]

No.

[Bud Elliott]

You know, like how well your defense is playing. Go for the touchdown there.

[Chip Patterson]

But ultimately that was the 3, 0, right? That broke a 002.

[Tom Fornelli]

I tried to score a touchdown.

[Bud Elliott]

You know what you get with Mario, right? Like, his recruiting loads up that roster and allows you to have guys like Reuben Bain and Scott and all the guys that kick Texas A M's ass up front today. So, like, you're gonna deal with some of this game management stuff which didn't cost them the game, but could have. And it's certainly like regardless of result, if we're judging it. That was really sketch.

[Tom Fornelli]

It's funny because you, like when Tony did score the touchdown, you mentioned it because they'd been doing everything up the middle and the defense had to respect it. And the problem early in the game was, and I think sometimes you'll see this with coaches when there's like a long layoff leading up to a game, they just overthink. And it was clear. Shannon Dawson spent the last two, three weeks thinking, I gotta find ways to get Malachi Tony the ball. He's my best player. I gotta find ways. But like, everything they were doing early in that game pre snap was like signaling we're about to give Malachi Tony the ball. Like every single, like all the pre snap motion was, here comes Malachi Tony in motion. Here he comes. Well, I wonder who's getting the ball. And it was like, finally, after running Fletcher up the A gap for five straight plays, the defense paid less attention to Malachi Tony coming in motion and he was able to get around to the edge. So it's like doing that kind of stuff, the little pop pass sweeps, having him try to throw a pass, it's like, listen, I understand he's had success throwing some passes the last few weeks when you were playing dog crap teams. And it was fun to kind of switch things up in the red zone. But if Malachi Tony was that good at playing quarterback, you wouldn't have recruited him to play wide receiver. You would have recruited him to play quarterback. You spent a couple million in the portal to bring Carson back in to play quarterback. Let him be your qb. So it was so cute early. And that's why I was saying earlier, like, I felt like Miami should have won that game by 17 and if they had done what they were doing in the fourth quarter from the very start. They probably win that game by 17 there.

[Chip Patterson]

It's funny because you, Tom, you made a comment earlier, and it made me just think about Miami and just their path to get here, because two things are true. Number one, get doing all the. The funky trick stuff does work a lot better when you're not playing at Texas A M. But then sticking with it also is the kind of desperation that sometimes you see with the little guy who's playing against the big team, right, who's like, oh, gosh, our only chance to be able to overcome this device. Like, you're not Northwestern, right? I mean, you're, you're Miami. You're one of the best teams in the country along both lines of scrimmage. So I, I think that if I am a. If I'm a Miami fan, I am very, very happy that Bryce Fitzgerald was recruited to be on this team and had that interception in the end zone that Malachi Tony. So we got, by the way, freshman with the winning touchdown, freshman with the winning interception. For those of you who are keeping track at home, recruiting does still matter. And Mario Crystal ball, of course, does it? As well as about anybody in the country. So are you going to give Carson Beck. Oh, go ahead. Would you say?

[Tom Fornelli]

I was just responding to something I saw. Sorry.

[Chip Patterson]

Okay. Are you going to give Carson Beck a pass for this game? Because of the wind?

[Tom Fornelli]

Not a pass. No. I, I think Carson was inaccurate with throws, but I also don't think he did himself a whole hell of a lot of favors either. I don't think he looked very poised in the pocket. I don't think he looked comfortable. I don't think he enjoyed the environment. I think he was flustered from the start. I thought, like, it's a playoff game, there's a lot of pressure. You're in a stadium with a hundred thousand people who are screaming. I think he was showing it.

[Bud Elliott]

I, I agree. I. The one pass that really, like, kind of demonstrated the wind is when JoJo Trader beats whoever he beat down the sideline and that like, like smokes him. And watching it live on the sky cam, I was like, traders got to adjust to that ball. And like, you wind it back, it's like, oh, that thing floats like four yards to the right off where it looked like it was going off his hand. So I, I do think the wind impacted some on some of the deep stuff also, like on the ball that. That Tony fumbles. That's a great throw he makes. Like, it's oh, maybe it's, maybe it's a bad decision, but like, that's a crazy throw to fit that in there, you know, So I thought he made some good throws. Obviously, like, like 20 throws for 104 is not going to get it done right against a better team, which they're going to face next week or well, in about 10 days from now. But like, I thought he was.

[Chip Patterson]

I.

[Bud Elliott]

Thought he was more poised than Reed was in some ways.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, Reed had happy feet from the very start. Yeah, Just dancing.

[Chip Patterson]

Which again, like, I'm, I'm glad that as we're sitting here with, with a little. We're not firing off strays. These are very targeted, but at the same time, it's like if we're going to have our, our fair criticism for some of the play calling, if we're going to look at all these different things where we felt like there was a little bit more meat on the bone, I'm glad that we started with the point of Reuben Bain and Akeem Messador. And this Miami defensive front won this game like they were, they were, they were the best part of this team of this game on both sides. And now the Miami Hurricanes are advancing to the Cotton bowl quarterfinal to play against Ohio State. So what's that go look like? Ohio State and Miami in the Cotton bowl on New Year's Eve? Of course we are, we are bringing back all of the memories of all the time that passed before that back judge threw that flag, you know, and all of the Ohio State, Miami memories. But what's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about what lining these teams up against each other.

[Bud Elliott]

So I, I think you're right as far as, like the, a couple of the classic battles that they've had, especially at Fiesta Bowl. I would say Ohio State's ability to cover is different. I, I don't think A and M secondary is quite as bad as people thought it was, but Ohio State's is extremely good. So I don't think Ohio State is going to be scared of Miami's receivers. I don't think Miami's receivers, I don't think they stink, but I don't think they're one of like the top. Like they're not like top two or three left in the playoffs, you know. And so how does Miami run the ball when Ohio State is likely able to live comfortably with an extra guy in the box, whether that guy's Caleb Downs or whomever? I do think Ohio State can play plus one in the box and not be that scared of Miami's passing game. So can Miami's defense just turn in an unbelievable effort and make this a game that is played in the teens or low twenties?

[Chip Patterson]

I mean the Big Ten title game. Yeah. Like, I mean if, if you want to say can Miami do what Indiana's defense did.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Bud Elliott]

Better than Indiana's without what's his name. But obviously they, they had, they had daily for that game. So. And they, they gave Ohio State problems. I do think Indiana's backers are better than Miami's backers.

[Chip Patterson]

That's fair.

[Bud Elliott]

Like those guys just don't make any mistakes. They feel like they're in the right spots all the time.

[Tom Fornelli]

Not as athletic, but they just know where they are. Yeah, I, I just don't know if Miami will be able to run the ball against Ohio State the way they were able to run the ball today and should have been running the ball more because nobody's really been able to run the ball against Ohio State. Like there's been teams that put up yardage but they needed like 35 carries to 40 carries to get there. Yeah. So I just don't know if Miami is going to be able to do that. And then if they kind of force you to be Carson Beck one handed. I just, I don't know if I trust Carson Beck to solve Matt Patricia. Right.

[Bud Elliott]

I think that's fair. How does saying look if he's pressured?

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, huge. Because yeah, we saw against Indiana he got flustered and I do think Miami's defensive front will be able to get him like to pressure him.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, I would, I would say the, the game plan for Miami offensively of two yard run on first down, trick play leading to an incomplete pass on second down and then facing third and eight under pressure for a throwaway. Those, those are not going to be the ways to be able to put together a good and long successful, good and long successful effort. So this, it'll be another challenge against a very difficult defense. But man, I, I kind of liked obviously Mario Crystal Ball feeling himself. It seems very clear that in. They are deciding for the, the story that they are telling, which is their story that something changed after the SMU game, right? What he, he declared it. He said like 40 days ago. The room in there. They decided that they're going to change the narrative, you know and they decided that they were going to buy like that's the story they are telling is a big turning point. He said we were a team that's built from the trenches out. That's the way we Were going to win all throughout the game, you know, every single time that we got to hear from Mario Cristobal, he was very comfortable. I mean a shock. I'm sure that Mario Cristobal was extremely comfortable with the game. That was low scoring, hard scrabble, bare knuckle fighting in the trenches and he was a. Okay with everything that was going on. So I, I think that he'd be happy, he'd be happy to just be in the mix and play another game that is decided in the teens. Because I think that as both these offenses line up against each other, I do think that there's a, there's a higher ceiling for what Ohio State can do even against an elite Miami defensive front than what Miami I think could do against the Buckeyes defense.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. And this is something I could say about every single team in the country. So don't take this personally. Miami fans, if they don't get pressure on Julian saying I don't think Miami can cover Ohio State receivers, but that is the case for everybody.

[Chip Patterson]

Yes. Yeah, I would agree agree on that one. Anything. Anything else about. And again we will be this, that game will be December 31st in the Cotton Bowl. Jerry World will have plenty of time to give the full, you know, big game breakdown best bets treatment to that one. Anything else about Miami Ohio State, that's, that's got your mind.

[Bud Elliott]

I mean that's the best offensive line Ohio State scene, you know, like how much pressure is back going to be under?

[Tom Fornelli]

I think he'll be under a good bit.

[Chip Patterson]

Okay.

[Tom Fornelli]

Because I, I mean, I don't know, man.

[Chip Patterson]

Like, they made some mistakes today. It was a good. I mean, I don't know.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

It'S, it's tough. You just, you know, you. They were playing on the road. The environment was awesome. I mean, Kyle Field was rocking in that game. Got a little bit less rocking as the interceptions and missed field goals started to pile up. The dread, the dread of a program with a lot of emotional scars I think might have been coming to the surface a little bit. I don't have as much of an intimate relationship with Texas A M, so Aggie fans bear with me. But I'm just, I'm sensing like I'm picking up from all the football that I've studied and, and everything that I've seen and know about Texas A M. And it's long history of caring for a long time, very, very much and having resources for a long time and yet having the results that you have. So later in the game, it was a little bit of dread, a little bit of puckerish, I think along the way. Fair read on that.

[Bud Elliott]

I think so.

[Chip Patterson]

Coming up on the other side, Pete Golding has more College Football Playoff wins than Lane Kiffin. We'll get into how he got there and what's next for the Rebels and more next.

[Tom Fornelli]

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[Chip Patterson]

Back here on the COVID 3 podcast little bit earlier oh excuse me. A little bit later in the day second game we head to Oxford, Mississippi where and we got the full description of it. Joe, Tess and Jesse every every single time they showed Pete golden on the Jumbotron. The place was going nuts. The stripe out and vaught Hemingway Stadium and it was dominance from the start. I mean the especially early on like 140 real fast and then you know you I I do think that for Ole Miss we'll stick with the celebration but you had some scares so Trinidad Chambliss getting a little banged up. He comes back into the game, had a significant scare when your 1200 yard rusher Kewan Lacey gets knocked out. He came back into the game though didn't seem to be comfortable but he did come back into the game. But all in all a lot to celebrate. 12 wins for Ole Miss football. Never been done before. Never been done before. That record setting 12th win of course will be assigned to its new head coach Pete Golding. So the what what did we make it was. It was 45 to 10 last time. 41.

[Tom Fornelli]

Lane got better. Tulane got better.

[Chip Patterson]

They did. They did tomorrow. So what. What do we see out of Ole Miss that, you know, I think either answered concerns. I don't think I saw anything new. Correct me if you're wrong. Did you see anything new?

[Tom Fornelli]

No.

[Bud Elliott]

No.

[Tom Fornelli]

If you did.

[Bud Elliott]

It'S hard to take much new because they're just that much faster than two lane. Guys are kind of running like wide open. Like, angles get evaporated.

[Tom Fornelli]

It.

[Bud Elliott]

Summerall basically said it when interview. He's like, yeah, you know, like, it's a major speed difference here. So we had to get acclimated to it. And it's 14 0.

[Tom Fornelli]

Right. Like it.

[Bud Elliott]

I don't know what you take away from this. I. I guess in theory, like, Tulane's passing game has not been great this year, and they did throw the ball somewhat well on Ole Miss. So if you're Ole Miss, you're not like, oh, yeah, our defense is looking sharp right now. Like, they were kind of sloppy on defense and they did not seem to communicate super well on the back end, and yet they still cruised. But, like, offensively didn't look any different than when lane's.

[Tom Fornelli]

When.

[Bud Elliott]

When lane is there.

[Chip Patterson]

I think that was a concern. Not a concern, but I think that's a point that you had to carry into the game.

[Bud Elliott]

But would we have been able to. Like, we didn't get the opportunity to tell, though, because they ran their base stuff and they're that much faster in two lane. Like, we don't know. How does Weiss call it differently, like, if at all with a different head coach? Right. It's an unknowable. Because the game was not competitive.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean, the Tulane. I tweeted the stat. Lane had the ball 12 times. It got it. It went into Ole Miss territory on eight of its possessions. It just only reached the red zone once. So, I mean, they were able to move the ball. It's just then Ole Miss was like, okay. As soon as the field got smaller, they just stopped them. Like they were giving them. They were giving up yards and letting them move the ball down the field, but they just weren't letting them score. So offensively, it looked. I felt like a lot better than it really was for Tulane. Like, if you look at the box score and look at their final stats, you know, they had 421 yards. They averaged six yards per play. It's just they didn't put any points on the board. And that is kind of important to playing A football game, especially when you can't get any stops, which is what I harped on all week long about this matchup. It's like even if their offense plays better, that we saw nothing in the first game that suggested they were going to be able to get stops on defense against Ole Miss. And they actually got more stops today than I kind of anticipated them getting them. But that was also partially because Chambliss getting hurt and Quan Lacey being banged up, which brought in Austin Simmons, who then I think was he inside the 10 when he fumbled?

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, so it's like.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, it was it so.

[Chip Patterson]

All right, so there was the beginning onslaught where it was like, oh my God. And to your great, great call out on the, on the summerall comment there because it truly was a. Like had to. Had to get adjusted to the temperature of the water situation for too late because I do think. And I'm not gonna pat him on the head. But the middle stretch of the game was more competitive on a down to down basis. And then they poured it on again at the end. You know, like Tulane being in the position they were in, they had to take a lot more chances. They had to press. They weren't going out like some punks. Like they, yeah, they went. We're going for it on almost every fourth down as long as it wasn't an incredibly like horrible, horrible field position. Situation was like five for seven. If you take third and fourth down together, five for 17. You know, they were, they. They were fighting an uphill battle there, but moving the football effectively against this Ole Miss defense. Just, just not, not ever threatening on the scoreboard or in the. In like in the competition. Not ever really threatening to get into the game.

[Bud Elliott]

It. I guess the. What Ole Miss made them earn some of the stuff defensively, they didn't have a whole lot of guys that were like wide open like they. I thought it was, it was two, two lanes credit. They made a lot of high difficulty throws. Like a lot of it was like, you know, tap dancing on the sideline, like barely dragging the toe. Like a lot of contested catches.

[Chip Patterson]

Oh yeah. Like inside got defenders on my back. I'm. I'm gonna have to get this down here near my hip.

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah, they, they played well and lost by third. Like I think. I think Tulane played their A game and lost by 31. Yeah, right. Like, I don't think Tulane played poorly.

[Tom Fornelli]

There's no sky cast on the TNT broadcast. But I also don't think Ole Miss really did anything on defense that wasn't just Basic. Like, I think they were just dropping into coverages and it's like, all right, beat us. So like they were able to pick apart some zone and move the ball. But then it was like, okay, if you try to get, if you try to get open though, we can just cover you.

[Bud Elliott]

So that's what makes some of this like the, the carry forward. What do you take away from this to talk about next week?

[Tom Fornelli]

Difficult? Yeah, there's. I, I don't know that Ole Miss really showed us anything that's going to impact next week against Georgia.

[Chip Patterson]

All right, I will say, wouldn't you do that a little bit? I mean, again, I am the least like ball knower chalk chalkboard guy here. But wouldn't you do that a little bit against Red Slap, given his mobility anyway?

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah, I mean his legs have been such a big part of their attack. I think that's, that's, that's fair.

[Chip Patterson]

He ran 14. Excuse me. He ran 15 times against North Texas after, like we talked about. They sort of kept him on ice in bubble wrap for going up against FAU and Charlotte and everybody else. They were playing near the end of the season. I think that if you're ole misses defense, the last thing you were going to do is not make sure that you're the back of your defense or keeping eyes on the quarterback for sure.

[Tom Fornelli]

But I also think that if you were genuinely concerned, you might send a blitz once in a while.

[Chip Patterson]

Oh, yeah, sure.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Well then what about the rematch? Another rematch. I guess this will be our third in the College Football Playoff with a couple more potentials still on the horizon. First matchup was 43 to 35. Georgia scored the final 17 points of the game. They overcame two different second half deficits. 510 yards of offense from Georgia against Ole Miss. Four touchdowns, zero interceptions from Gunner Stockton. Good game from him. This was one of the worst performances for Ole Miss's defense all season long was in this game. Now that game was in Athens. This game is going to be in New Orleans in the Mercedes Benz Super Dome. Bud has. How do you see these two teams differently? Like what has changed besides the obvious? I mean, Lane Kiff is not there, but like what has changed? Because it was mid October, I think October 18th when they played their game. How do you see these two teams differently or the same since that matchup?

[Bud Elliott]

I, I think Georgia's defense is better than it was. Like, I think they have found the right combination of guys to play. They've been looking a lot better down the stretch offensively, if you heard the leak, like the leaked audio from practice. Kirby is just tearing into everybody that he could possibly like, get into. They can't complete a ball to receiver, which, honestly, it's kind of an issue against Bama. Like, they worked Bama, but like their passing game to receivers didn't look like anything.

[Chip Patterson]

Their run game also wasn't. I mean, the offense in general was not outstanding.

[Bud Elliott]

And against Georgia Tech when Bobo went down, they also look like crap. So I think in some ways, because Ole Miss's defense is just okay, like, we're assuming George is going to put up a boatload of points again. What if we're wrong in that assumption? Then we might have a game because Ole Miss, I think, can score some. I don't think you're gonna get held like. Like, you know, 10.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. I mean, I. I think it's probably going to be high scoring again. Honestly, I don't think it'll be that different from the first one. I just. I haven't been overly impressed by Ole Miss's defense all year. I. I think George's defense is good. But I also, I think this is where. Now that I'm speaking, I do think this is maybe where the Lane Kiffin absence is felt more in that just seeing what George is doing and maybe figuring things out quicker and maybe figuring out ways to counter it and take advantage of it. Maybe he is a little bit more adept at that than Weiss is. Or maybe Weiss is just as good. We don't know. We'll find out. But I do think that that will have a far bigger impact than it did in this game where they didn't really have to do anything.

[Bud Elliott]

I think that's fair. By the way, Touchdown. Packers.

[Tom Fornelli]

Getting beat up by Malik Willis.

[Bud Elliott]

What happened to Jordan?

[Tom Fornelli]

Love got knocked the hell out.

[Bud Elliott]

Damn.

[Chip Patterson]

I think that Georgia is a much better team than they were on October 18th. I think that the offensive line injuries and the way that the offense performed on sort of like a down to down basis against both Georgia Tech and Alabama should bring some concern. I love the leaked audio of Kirby ripping in to. I mean, like, that is. We worked on us. Like, like, whatever's. Like, what'd you do in the off week? It's like, yeah, we just worked on us. Yeah. You know what worked on us means? Means I'm lighting a fire under the ass of every single coach and every single player. I am finding like, we have.

[Tom Fornelli]

We.

[Chip Patterson]

We have nothing to do and we got nothing but time. We are going to do every pushing of buttons that I possibly can do so. I love that. I think that in this game, this is where you do need to see that Gunner Stockton, who did light up Ole Miss's defense, can get back into that zone and can be able to have that kind of success and be. Hit some explosive plays, push the ball down the field, which we know he's always had the confidence to do. Sometimes it doesn't always click kind of. I thought. Have y'. All. If y' all even thought. I. I will be. Nine and a half. Six and a half.

[Bud Elliott]

What's our, what's our spread for that one? Six and a half.

[Tom Fornelli]

Say nine and a half. Wow.

[Chip Patterson]

No, there was another one that was nine and a half that I think.

[Tom Fornelli]

I, I think that was Ohio State.

[Bud Elliott]

Miami.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. Interesting.

[Bud Elliott]

That opened, what, seven?

[Tom Fornelli]

I think so. It was. I. There was a moment. Congrats.

[Chip Patterson]

There was a moment at 11.

[Tom Fornelli]

There was a moment where one of the sites was at 8 and a half and the other was at 11 and a half.

[Bud Elliott]

All right.

[Chip Patterson]

Always. Always fun. Those early hours of trading.

[Bud Elliott]

Got a punt blocked. Oh, touchdown.

[Chip Patterson]

I. I heard the. I heard the stock market's going 24 hours, so everybody's gonna be using spank odds. No free hats. Are you excited for this game?

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, yeah. It's a playoff game. What's not to be excited about? We've seen it's a rematch. We're all thrilled.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Bud Elliott]

I mean, look, it was a. It was one of the games of the year.

[Tom Fornelli]

It was a very good game the.

[Bud Elliott]

First time it was played. Yeah. Like, I, I, Yes. I, I think the teams are so close now in the sport that, like, this. I mean, we're talking about, like, we all think Georgia wins it. The spread. Seven, not 17.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, I'm. I'm. I'm admitting that I'm sitting in a. I'm sitting in a position I don't like because I'm disrespecting Ole Miss. Like, I, I'm looking at this as, like, all right, good, great tune up. Great tune up for the doll. Like, I am so Georgia pilled right now that I'm just like, yeah, good. This. This will be a good way for them to be able to get. Get the juices flowing because, you know, you can't flip a switch and be ready for Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Like, this is what you need. I. If, If Ole Miss can go down there and really, like, make it for. By the way, every dagum team except Kentucky has made Georgia sweat. Right? I mean, I guess Alabama in the SEC championship game but they didn't do it in the first one. So every SEC team except for Kentucky, that Alabama has played this year, that Georgia's played this year has made Georgia a little bit uncomfortable. And Mississippi State, that ended up being what, a 20 point win? But at the same time, you know.

[Tom Fornelli]

Great comment by CM ZMZ0014 oh God.

[Chip Patterson]

I'm about to bark because I'm so Georgia pilled. No, I didn't go to Georgia. I, I, I thought about it. I applied to Georgia. I was accepted to Georgia. It was definitely on my list of places I wanted to go. I felt the call of Athens.

[Tom Fornelli]

But what's the acceptance rate in Athens?

[Chip Patterson]

I don't know. Out of state it's a little different. It's not like that in state, you know.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, it's only 37%.

[Bud Elliott]

Chip wouldn't get that Hope scholarship.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, I couldn't get the Hope scholarship unless I just used like an uncle or an aunt's address. They still have that application. You have a 3.0, you're just good to go. Something like that. Yeah. I did not go there long enough to be able, I was not there to be able to get that brain, that brain rot that just has adult humans barking at people on the sidewalk. I, I'm happy for Ole Miss ultimately, like that. I'm happy for Ole Miss. It was exactly the celebratory and the cathartic experience that Rebels fans wanted. So that at a minimum this season has like had their on campus honoring of the players on this team that won 12 games. Something that no one else has done in Ole Miss football history. It's not an SEC championship. They didn't play for it. But it is the first ever College Football playoff appearance and it is the first ever College Football Playoff win. And look, it's an eight point game in Athens. Last time you beat Georgia and you advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals, then this is going to be, this could be like an all time sort of story that we really start to build on with Pete Golding at the center of it, you know, picking up. Because that would be the full Steve Fisher.

[Bud Elliott]

Right.

[Chip Patterson]

Tom, help me out with this Big Ten basketball history. What was the. The coach had accepted the job.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. And Steve Fisher took over as like.

[Chip Patterson]

The intro right before Big Ten tournament or right before ncaa, I think.

[Tom Fornelli]

I don't know if the Big Ten tournament existed then.

[Chip Patterson]

Okay. Yeah. So it was like. Right.

[Tom Fornelli]

I mean it was definitely before the NCAA tournament, but I don't know if the conference tournament was even a Thing at that point, I was, I was, I was a small child here. Chip. I kind of feel upset with like, Tom, you were alive and aware of these things as an eight year old.

[Chip Patterson]

I said Big Ten basketball history. I'm expecting. I'm. I'm not calling you old.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, you're kind of calling me old.

[Chip Patterson]

You are texting me Big Ten basketball paragraphs, unsolicited. I appreciate it, but I'm getting unsolicited Big Ten basketball texts and I want.

[Tom Fornelli]

My Big Ten knowledge. Typically starts in the 90s. Mid to late.

[Chip Patterson]

ACC tournament's been going on a long time. I will, I will apologize for not having the Big Ten tournament start date on. On the, on the minutes, but. Yes. Steve Fisher with Michigan, 1989 National Championship Head coach takes the job somewhere else. They want. They. They're not going to let him coach the tournament. Just like the Lane Kiffin story, Fisher takes over, leads him all the way to the title. You know, just a truly unique story and, and something that we could start talking about more seriously, especially if the Rebels are able to get past the dogs.

[Tom Fornelli]

Do you think they do?

[Bud Elliott]

No.

[Tom Fornelli]

Start barking.

[Chip Patterson]

I think. I think Georgia can win the national championship.

[Tom Fornelli]

So do I. I do, too.

[Chip Patterson]

Do you think Ole Miss can win the national championship?

[Tom Fornelli]

Okay, I do not.

[Bud Elliott]

Kind of depends on who they get.

[Chip Patterson]

That's. That is a more forgiving approach than I'm taking right now.

[Tom Fornelli]

Well, they got Georgia, so, no, I don't think they can.

[Bud Elliott]

Like, could they beat Ohio State? No, no.

[Chip Patterson]

I. I mean, I'm. I'm sitting here looking at this college football playoff at this point, like it's a Brazilian steakhouse. I'm either on the green tab or the red tab, you know?

[Bud Elliott]

Right.

[Chip Patterson]

You either already. And like when two greens line up, I don't know. Now we're having a conversation, but it's like a green and a red. Do I think you can win at all? Yes. No. Okay. Georgia advances, but so it goes. All right. Coming up on the other side, an update from our action in Eugene, where Oregon has extended its lead to 48 to 13 in the third quarter.

[Tom Fornelli]

We.

[Chip Patterson]

We'll do an early look ahead to the Ducks in Texas Tech, as well as more of your questions, the conversation, and more nukest. You know how every January feels like a clean slate full of big ideas, big energy, and that spark that maybe, maybe this is the year you finally build the thing you've been dreaming about. We all have those ideas that we can't shake. But taking the first step is what turns a dream into your new future. And honestly, the most powerful move you can make to rewrite Your story in 2026 is to start your business with Shopify. Shopify gives you everything you need to sell online and in person. Millions of entrepreneurs have already taken this leap from household names to people launching side hustles for the very first time. And with Shopify, building your dream store is actually doable. Choose from hundreds of beautiful, customizable templates that fit your vibe. Setup is fast too, because Shopify's built in AI can help write your product descriptions and headlines, and even help polish your product photos. Marketing Already built in, you can create email and social campaigns that reach customers wherever they scroll. And as you grow, Shopify grows with you. Whether you're handling more orders or expanding into new markets, you can run it all from one dashboard. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com cover go to shopify.com cover that's shopify.com cover hear your first this new year with Shopify by your side.

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[Chip Patterson]

Back here on the COVID 3 podcast Oregon 48 James Madison 13 Mid to late third quarter as we're coming to you now. The the duck start was impeccable because the for all the conversations about like the way that these two teams would match up, there was very, very clearly, in my opinion one side of the ball that was the most overmatched and it was JMU's defense and sort of recalling John Summerall's comments in the earlier game, it wasn't even the physicality.

[Tom Fornelli]

They can't cover it was the speed.

[Chip Patterson]

They just weren't fast enough. And touchdown after touchdown after touchdown. Welcome back to Corey and Moore. Good to see you. Dante Moore. So fitting that we've got Louis Riddick on the call to just sit there. The, the familiar voice from the NFL to, to just you know, get. Remind you all something that Bud, you've been talking about for a while. Like you, you, you dialed in on the. Dante could be 1:1 after Iowa and that was even like a bad game. But he had stepped up with some pretty incredible like individual throws that when you look at him you're like okay, this, this might be a little bit different. He's this tape. Even against jmu just because of the stage. I think it, it's going to end up making that NFL draft highlight reel should he decide to go, which I'm guessing at this point he probably would.

[Bud Elliott]

There's a whole lot like.

[Chip Patterson]

In the background.

[Bud Elliott]

It's about to be 55:13 with 20 minutes left to go. Copyright strike.

[Tom Fornelli]

All right.

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah, I mean I, I was surprised. JMU's offense moved the ball a little bit which I did not expect. Now they still didn't cash their first half team total over but like in theory they could, they could have. Yeah, right. Like they, they moved it a little bit defensively. How bad are the offenses in the Sun Belt for this defense to be rated like this? Like I, I watch, I actually do watch like these games. We bet on these games. Like Jamie's defense has been nails all year and like they just. There's like an ultimate Frisbee team out there against Oregon. Like this is a joke.

[Tom Fornelli]

I don't think that there are any possible number one picks at QB in the Sun Belt. I also don't think there are some NFL receivers all over the Sunbelt. Like three on a team. Maybe there's three in the league. So I would probably say that is why JMU's defense performed better in those games than this one.

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah, but the Matt, the difference is you gotta admit, like.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh no.

[Chip Patterson]

Oh yeah.

[Bud Elliott]

JMU's defense would get a couple punts.

[Tom Fornelli]

No, they just, they, they have not been able to cover these boys. And also Oregon is. Oh, guess who just threw another pick. Mr. First number one pick in the draft. Got picked off in the red zone second time this. Oh yes he did.

[Bud Elliott]

Is he gonna take it all the way back?

[Tom Fornelli]

I guess it's going to be Fernando Mendoza after all. Because Dante, you know what?

[Bud Elliott]

We'll have to rocked his ass.

[Tom Fornelli]

But I'll say this. I Bet he was in the pocket when he threw the ball. No, just James Madison can't cover these boys. And I was kind of surprised by how aggressive Oregon has been and continues to be based on example, that throw that they just had Dante Moore, you know, throw in the red zone, where I feel like you could probably just hand off and score a touchdown right now if you want wanted to Oregon, but they are. They are trying to run it the hell up. I guess they just want to get some reps because all these dudes have been injured for months at this point. So they're getting everybody out there getting some reps. But no, I.

[Chip Patterson]

Do you know what I think this was? I mean, this is Georgia TCU protocols. When they called timeout with like 130 left in the first half. And because they still had like, oh yeah, we're gonna get another possession out of this. And it was 34 to 3. I was like, oh, God. Okay, where we want to be eating chicken out of the field level suites by the end of this game. The same way that the Georgia players were reaching over the edge of the barricades in the field level VIP suites. Just. Just eating chicken wings. Because. Because why would you wait for your boxed dinner that you have in the tunnel, you know, at the end of this when. When we can just go ahead and start this process right now? So, yeah, I. It very much looked like Georgia TCU protocols in terms of the overall aggressiveness that. That Oregon was taken. And I know that Dan was not on that staff anymore, but spiritually, I just. I think it was carried on here, here by the Ducks.

[Tom Fornelli]

I'm just. I know that I'm never going to base a bet or a lock on Dan Lanning taking it easy again because I think the one thing we should probably take away is Dan Lanning is probably never going to take it easy on anybody. It's got some signetti to him that way.

[Bud Elliott]

Oh, oh.

[Chip Patterson]

What bud? What you. What's your takeaway here?

[Bud Elliott]

I mean, in some ways I feel like this is harder to have takeaways than it was for. For Ole Miss.

[Tom Fornelli]

Too late.

[Bud Elliott]

Like, McClellan and Malik continue to improve. And like, how much did Decorian even play?

[Tom Fornelli]

He only caught one pass for five yards. Yeah, he hasn't really played a ton.

[Bud Elliott]

They. They just tried to sneak a wheel route to Sadiq for a touchdown and the defense didn't bite. I guess why they picked it off, right? Like the. The out. The outside receiver crossed. Crossed his face and he just stayed in his. Look like Oregon got those Guys, some reps like got a little exercise in. Nobody additionally got hurt. Cardio. Yeah, right. They, they got their steps in. I don't know man. I.

[Chip Patterson]

Did you enjoy the discourse?

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah, I saved some receipts.

[Tom Fornelli]

It was fine for a little bit.

[Bud Elliott]

And then I actually started watching Bears backers because oh, I didn't realize Malik Willis went out. I just thought Bear Steve was playing awesome. I don't watch FNFL like I, I.

[Tom Fornelli]

You know, I didn't think he made that field goal just now. I was about to scream it an expletive live on air.

[Chip Patterson]

Go Bears.

[Tom Fornelli]

Let's go Bears.

[Chip Patterson]

Let's go Bears.

[Tom Fornelli]

Let's try to get a stop boys. Bears.

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Willis.

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah, I was gonna say like I.

[Tom Fornelli]

Understand that sometimes you game plan for one quarterback and then you knock that quarterback out of the game and in comes the backup who plays a very different style and maybe it's difficult to adjust to what they're doing on offense now, but it's freaking Malik Willis, guys. Come on. Anyways, so James Madison, congratulations. You got the trip. Eugene.

[Bud Elliott]

They played hard. Like they earned everything that they got tonight. Like it wasn't a lot of freebies. You know I, I thought they, they schemed up some nice explosives with the run game a couple times. I feel like every first down they had passing was, was hard earned.

[Tom Fornelli]

Like it Alonso Barnett absolutely decleated a guy. Yo.

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah, that was.

[Chip Patterson]

I mean I thought, listen, there was a couple plays early the way night run when Barnett's running down downfield blocking. I did think I was going to get my touchdown. Like I had a couple times where I was like oh buddy. I thought I was going to get my touchdown. Obviously I finished at six. I take the lock. Fight, loss. It is what it is. But the, yeah, the, the com. For the purposes of like not our competition but the competition of the game. The complete inability to cover or get stops or get angles. I mean it's just. Is wildly different.

[Tom Fornelli]

That was a nice throw.

[Chip Patterson]

And, and I will say look, it.

[Bud Elliott]

Was a nice throw.

[Tom Fornelli]

Touchdown Dukes.

[Bud Elliott]

Did he bobble?

[Chip Patterson]

This comeback is beginning. Okay, okay. Are they gonna climb backdoor this thing?

[Tom Fornelli]

They might. It's 28.

[Chip Patterson]

They could, they could backdoor this thing.

[Bud Elliott]

I thought you were talking about gonna come back and win. Are they gonna get the ball four more times?

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, they're gonna go. They're gonna force a couple three and outs.

[Bud Elliott]

If Oregon stops scoring so fast. They might not.

[Chip Patterson]

I do think that you know, discourse related. I do think that Oregon is like the worst team to try to talk about this, like, we cannot use the Oregon Ducks as be. Like, that's power conference speed. Because not every power conference team has Oregon speed.

[Tom Fornelli]

No.

[Bud Elliott]

Is there any team in this field you don't think would do this to this JMU team?

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, I don't think Tulane would do this. I think Jamie would be okay.

[Bud Elliott]

Tulane is fair.

[Chip Patterson]

I don't think Oklahoma.

[Bud Elliott]

I think Tulane would beat JMU.

[Tom Fornelli]

I don't think Oklahoma would do this to JMU.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Bud Elliott]

I think Matier's a limiting factor, but like OU's defense is better than Oregon's, I think.

[Tom Fornelli]

I know, I agree. I think they definitely are, but I don't know. I just, I. I don't think they would beat him by 30, 40. I think they would beat them. Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

I'm just saying that if we were to talk about the, the, the most athletic, like, highest end speed teams of all the college football organs. In that conversation, it's one of the first names to mention, like, would Texas Tech do this to jmu?

[Bud Elliott]

JMU would never score, but JMU would not. Yeah, I, I think Oregon would shut them out before garbage time or. Sorry. I think Oklahoma would. I think Texas Tech would.

[Tom Fornelli]

I think Texas A and M would beat him too, because I don't think based on what we've seen, I don't know what JMU would do against Craver and Concepcion. It's just with Marcel Reed. Hit him.

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah, yeah. Could they tackle the screens, though? Like, some of these explosives for Oregon tonight were not bombs. They were just short passes. That organ just shooting fire too, and it's gone. Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Do a little dance.

[Chip Patterson]

Make a little love.

[Bud Elliott]

I will say I think this, the American is way better than the Sun.

[Tom Fornelli]

Belt as a, as a whole. Yes.

[Bud Elliott]

As a league, like, what you face week to week is, is much different. Like, clearly JMU is way better than the rest of the Sun Belt. But like, there's a lot of shell shock as far as step up a competition tonight.

[Tom Fornelli]

I think.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. Are you going to. Do you have any big picture takeaways?

[Bud Elliott]

No, I, I think like, look, you don't want to get hauled in front of Congress again. I think this playoff would be maybe not perfect, but fine if you allow one. One of these teams in. And I think you should make some kind of rule to wear like a Duke like this year or jmu. Neither of them are playoff quality teams. My opinion, like, we should not have two teams in that are clearly not playoff quality. So I think this is a fairly easy fix. Right. Just like last year to Tom's point. If you had left last year's rules in place, Ohio State would have got to play Tulane and JMU back to back. That would have been a travesty. Right. So I do think if you make something where, and I know it's possible, you can rig it. Tom's talked about this. I don't think we're going to agree. I agree that he is right. Like they, they could rig it. I don't think, I don't think they're going to rig like egregiously, but they could in theory, it's riggable.

[Tom Fornelli]

They rig it every week.

[Bud Elliott]

Like, I think if you put it like top 16, they do. If you put a top 16, it's probably like too tightly drawn. I think if you put it top 20, it's like, all right, if you're really not top 20, what are we doing talking about like you being in a 12 team playoff?

[Chip Patterson]

It's not a playoff. Right.

[Bud Elliott]

It's an invitation.

[Chip Patterson]

It's an invitational.

[Bud Elliott]

Why are we inviting teams out of the top 20 to the 12th?

[Chip Patterson]

Well, listen, that's for you to take.

[Tom Fornelli]

Because as Joe Tessitor told us on the broadcast, they don't want to go to court. Listen, Joe Test listens to the show.

[Chip Patterson]

If, if, if you, if, if you would like to discuss the terms of the invitational, then I will send you the mailing addresses for Greg Sankey, Southeastern Conference commissioner, Tony Patini, Big Ten Conference commissioner mostly and then maybe in like a partial sense, Brett, your mark, Big 12 Conference commissioner, and Jim Phillips, ACC Commerce commissioner. Because they all agreed agreed and set up this format.

[Bud Elliott]

Do you think that the changes that have already been reported by Dellinger, which is like the four powers automatically get a bid, right. And the ACC fixner fixing, they haven't announced how, but they seem to think they've got it fixed. Their tiebreaker. Do we think that that gives us a better result?

[Tom Fornelli]

I think that it leads to less. I mean I think in the short term it leads to more bitching about those leagues being guaranteed a spot no matter what because nobody seems to like automatic qualifiers. But I think that what it does is prevents this situation again because really the only thing that happened this year was that my. The ACC's tiebreakers allowed Duke to be the team that won its conference. Whereas if it had been Miami, then Notre Dame's in the field and it's only one G5 team and it really. Nobody's all that upset about it. But the playoff. And again like this is, this was a conversation in our, in Our college football slack. People talking about texts they're getting from their friends and their moms about the games today and how terrible they are. It is important to remember that us and the people that listen to our show, we are die hard college football fans. This thing isn't made for us. This thing is made for those people on those text messages who watch five college football games a year. And these happen to be them. So they turn on the TV on that Saturday, the big playoff Saturday, and they're like, what the f. Why am I watching Tulane get skull caved in? This is, this is, this is a playoff game. And I think we all get kind of lost in that. It's like, this is for your mom, this isn't for you. Yeah, yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

I mean, I'm not bothered by today.

[Tom Fornelli]

I'm not bothered by it at all. The title game we were just talking about three years ago was 65 to 7. I'm not going to sit here and act like a blowout sign something I've ever seen a thousand times.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, I mean it was what Joe Burrow had 12 touchdowns against Oklahoma and that was the four team playoff era. In the semifinals, it's like 62 to 28, you know, I mean, we had Alabama, Notre Dame, Alabama, Notre Dame. And it was never a game, you know, I mean those old sleeper hold Alabama WINS of like 27 to 33, it was just never ever competitive and not entertaining whatsoever. I just.

[Tom Fornelli]

These are the final scores of five of the last seven title games. 34 to 13, 65 to 7, 52 to 24, 42 to 25, 44 to 16. If your thought process is we have.

[Bud Elliott]

To change it to get rid of.

[Tom Fornelli]

Blowouts you're never going to get rid of.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Bud Elliott]

I think a lot of that is fair. But if we're going to talk about how the sport is compressed and how so many more teams are close to one another now it gets a little more egregious to put two teams in who are not in that group of so many more teams are close together. Right. I mean, we're saying, hey, like they're between 1 and 20 or 1 and 30 now, which I certainly don't think Jamie or Tulane are not. Not when everybody's like focused and really like, you know, trying to play up.

[Tom Fornelli]

That.

[Bud Elliott]

That to me, like I'm bothered by a system that'll let you win like in the national playoff if you don't have a single top 50 win, which Jamie did not. At least Tulane played some real teams and like they Beat Duke. Right.

[Tom Fornelli]

They.

[Bud Elliott]

They played some teams that have, like, some athletes, you know, like, for real. But Jamie's schedule was a joke. They had no good wins. None like that. That does bother me. Yeah. Like the two lane thing, I don't have a problem with.

[Chip Patterson]

It does not bother me.

[Bud Elliott]

You're gonna get sued if you don't put. Put one team in.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, it doesn't bother me at all. We've just added extra games to the college football schedule, and when it's time to declare a national championship, it's because we'll be just one or two games away from the national championship. We've just created extra hurdles for teams that can win a national championship. So I just. It. We. We saw some blowouts. We didn't have as many games today. We've just had. We've just added another work for me.

[Tom Fornelli]

You know, to, To. To talk about what you were just mentioning, though, bud, because the sport has flattened, right? But as we've talked about for years, like, it's flattening at the top. It's been flat past the top forever. And we've always discussed, like, when we talk about the rankings, it's like, well, once you get past 15, really, what the hell is the difference between teams 20 and 40?

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

So, like, if we're going to set it at, you have to be in the top 20, like Tulane was this year. By the way, what's the difference between the 20th team and the 35th? It's really not much. So why do we need to set it there? Like, I feel like if you want to go with that, if you want to actually serve the idea of putting better teams in, you would have to go even higher than 20. I feel like you'd probably have to go top 16.

[Bud Elliott]

If I just think, well, I think 20, you can get. You can get away, like, with just fine. Like, pragmatically, I, I would set it like, like 16 for sure. But I, I think you would have too much pushback there.

[Chip Patterson]

Do you know what? I. I think I'm going to settle into. This one is RIP Mike's live. I'm gonna settle in with the old. The. The OG Mike slide plan. Do you remember what it was?

[Tom Fornelli]

No.

[Chip Patterson]

It's called the plus one. You play every single bowl game, let everybody go out there, and then we just do plus one. So we. We just have regular postseason. And it would almost be a throwback to the decades upon decades upon decades. Because as I've said before, the reverence for the College Football Playoff as a format has amazed me because it literally was just created in, in the history of college football. This is a very small blip in college football history. Then, yeah, we play all the bowl games. Then we go through. We take the two best teams and we, we let them play one more game. That is your plus one. So then we could, in theory, have like, four different bowl games that all have real stakes and real meaning in terms of different teams that are trying to win their way. You'd have the same, like beauty pageants, you'd have the same debates, but it would get, it's just getting too wonky. Right. Like when we're. I. But I'm not pushing back on the impetus for your idea. I am pushing back on actually trying to be like, top 20 quality. This, like, it's just. That's too many layers to this thing, I think to, to, to be able to really sell. And we already have overcomplicated the process. Like, that's, that's my, that's what turns me off to the idea of trying to put in all these additional layers. Like, this isn't tax law. Like, we shouldn't have. Column C35 then carries over to page eight. And that's how you make the college football playoffs. So I'm, I, I, I just, I think that if we're over complicating the matter, then we're just getting too. We're smelling our own farts and getting too lost in the sauce.

[Bud Elliott]

What if you had to require a ranked win?

[Tom Fornelli]

Like, were they ranked at the time or. Right.

[Bud Elliott]

That's Ryan in the chat.

[Tom Fornelli]

Like, because if it's ranked at the end of the season, the G5 is never getting in, period. How many ranked wins are G5 teams gonna have at the end of the year? When you're just filling the rankings with a bunch of Big Ten and SEC teams?

[Bud Elliott]

That's probably easier to rig, honestly.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. Far easier to rig. What if you ready for this, guys?

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

What if you can't fix the playoff? Because the playoff's not broken. It's college football that's broken.

[Chip Patterson]

Column coming tomorrow. I don't.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, I'm saying I don't. The short. Whatever. I mean, I don't think it's broken, but we have completely torn this sport down to the studs, realigned everything, gotten rid of conferences, put together these giant super conferences, all for the express purpose of the College Football Playoff, all for chasing television contracts, all for. Which means we have to create more, to create more money, and. Which then leads to the College Football Playoff. And we need more teams in it. And then. Well, we want to get more teams in our league, so we need to expand our league to get these teams into it. So therefore, we could put more teams into the playoff and get more money. Like if you just, you know, if. If the PAC12 still existed, if all the conferences still existed, T5 wouldn't be in the playoff right now, guys. So we'd have too many conference champions. You just say the top five conference champions automatically get a birth, then you're being fair. There's no such thing as the power five. Just the best. Best champs. Bam. Done. Fixed.

[Bud Elliott]

Did Duke. Did Duke finish ranked?

[Tom Fornelli]

No.

[Chip Patterson]

No.

[Tom Fornelli]

But the Pac12 champ would have because it would have been Oregon.

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah, I. I do think the G5 teams from yesteryear would dog walk these teams.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. Like old CCU and Utah back in the day, Utah.

[Bud Elliott]

UCF would. They would smack these two.

[Tom Fornelli]

Lane and JMU teams. She hired a bunch of television executives to run your leagues, and they turned them into television programs, period. That's all they did with them.

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

48 to 20.

[Bud Elliott]

Come back.

[Tom Fornelli]

Dukes. Don't let him get hot.

[Bud Elliott]

Back door this thing.

[Tom Fornelli]

Oh, we're throwing deep, we're throwing corner routes and we are hitting them. Not in stride, but we're hitting them.

[Chip Patterson]

They are a complete pass.

[Bud Elliott]

Oh, man. You know that guy's getting clowned for letting 11 get open on him.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah.

[Bud Elliott]

And film on Monday.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. Oh, that corner route was not supposed to be a corner out the throne just turned it into a corner.

[Chip Patterson]

Oh, crap. You know, we haven't done. Hold on.

[Tom Fornelli]

Tomorrow's top 25.

[Bud Elliott]

Talk about the organ with the next game.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I suppose that I let. I guess. I guess internally I was like, all right, well, don't go ahead. Like, don't. But I run in the fourth quarter. Okay, so Oregon now will advance to go take on Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl. Two very, very, very good teams. And I can't help but, is it. Is it an. Is it a stylistic matchup that seems odd? Is it just. We don't have that much Oregon, Texas Tech to be able to recall from our brains as opposed to all these other straight up rematches from this season or somewhat familiar foes? Is it. I think it's really fun because of the overall quality. But am I off on this? It feels a little strange of a matchup, right?

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

By strange, like, Texas Tech has obviously an elite defense and I think that that is going to be your front foot. That is what you Lead with Oregon is a really, really good team on both sides of the ball. Oregon is going to go into this game with a noon eastern time kickoff on New Year's Day all the way across the country in Hard Rock Stadium. And that will be the setting for a massive, massive game for Dan Lanning. For a potentially like program changing game for Texas Tech. It just. A lot of it is super important in a vacuum and yet all of the factors put together just a. I've got. It's a hard one for me to pinpoint exactly how I think this one's going to play out.

[Tom Fornelli]

I, I definitely think that Oregon will have a more difficult time moving the ball against Texas Tech than they did James Madison.

[Bud Elliott]

Bold.

[Tom Fornelli]

I do think that more thought put.

[Chip Patterson]

Into that than your well nuanced take about the College Football Playoff.

[Tom Fornelli]

I do like I, I genuinely like. If you look at the numbers, Dante Moore is a lot better outside the pocket than he is in the pocket. And I do think that Texas Tech with their defensive pass rush now I think they could force him to stay in the pocket which could be a problem for them. I also have serious doubts even though Texas Tech's defense is better than Oregon's defense. I don't know if Texas Tech will be able to move the ball that effectively against this Oregon defense because like I think they will slow Oregon up but just Oregon is so well balanced balanced on offense that I don't think Texas Tech can stop them in the way we've seen them stop BYU and stop other teams that are far more one dimensional. Also Evan Stewart might be back next week or in 10 days which adds another element because that's a guy that's going to spread the field.

[Chip Patterson]

How many b. How many. Excuse me. How many Big 12 offenses have a Dante Moore and also none anymore.

[Tom Fornelli]

They all entered zero.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. And a Decorian Moore and potentially an Evan Stewart and a Kenyan Sadiq and like Johnson too who had that crazy one handed grab right at the beginning of the game and also played well when Sadiq was banged up for a.

[Bud Elliott]

Little bit or that old line or the offensive line. So touchdown Dukes. They just let, they let 15 score.

[Tom Fornelli]

Lakota debris. You can't take your eyes off him.

[Bud Elliott]

Oregon did, they did.

[Chip Patterson]

I mean 1026 left though. Yes.

[Tom Fornelli]

That that just means they could score again on you Chip. This might be a two touchdown game. Before you know it. Dante keeps throwing picks. Lanning loves this though.

[Bud Elliott]

Like his ability to light into a second and third teamers here. Like hey you know this game, this game didn't matter and you guys weren't ready. Like, what happens if somebody gets hurt? You gotta go in in a real game. Yeah, I. Look, I mean, Oregon's offensive line's been extremely good. Can they keep pass protecting to that level against Texas Tech? Because like, Dante was largely untouched tonight. If so, I do think you can throw in this Texas Tech secondary now. The linebackers are really, really good. I think Texas Tech's defense is extremely well coached. But we had not seen Tech have to blitz a lot this year. So if, if for some reason they're not able to get home with four, then what happens? You know, that's sort of like the interesting chess match here. Offensively, you know, I'm curious to see like, how buckle down can Oregon's defense be? Like, they've been, I think, like good but not great this year. You know, I think Tex got a shot because that defensive line. But I, I don't really trust Tech. I really trust Tech's offense, man. Maybe, maybe I should, but I just, I don't. Not yet.

[Chip Patterson]

I think that, I mean, we won't get official numbers till the game goes final, but it's gonna be real, real hard to not walk down both. An actual football analysis, not to mention narrative street. Gonna be hard not to love the under in this one.

[Bud Elliott]

The chat thinks text's gonna be favored.

[Tom Fornelli]

No.

[Bud Elliott]

I don't think they should. They could be like some of the power ratings. Love those guys.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Because they've got 12, I think Tex favored.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. They've got 12 wins by 20 plus points. Those are, those are. That's a great way to be able to, to get the models to like you.

[Bud Elliott]

It's not going to be Oregon -5, by the way. No, like, no, the, the. I think Andy Brown in the chat. Oregon minus one and a half. That's, I think closer to what it probably should be.

[Tom Fornelli]

No listed line that I could find yet.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, two and a half.

[Tom Fornelli]

You guys could probably put it up though. Like, I mean, I know we're, we're, we're joking, guys. James Madison's not going to come back.

[Bud Elliott]

To win at this point. Nobody in this game who gets hurt is going to impact the line in any way.

[Tom Fornelli]

Correct.

[Bud Elliott]

It's all the backups. Like, I don't know who these guys are.

[Tom Fornelli]

Do you think I do?

[Bud Elliott]

But like, they haven't played.

[Tom Fornelli]

Do you think the bookmakers are scared after what happened to Oklahoma last night?

[Bud Elliott]

They're like, oh, man, so many people got dunked on by old takes exposed.

[Tom Fornelli]

We better, better not do anything. By the way, if you tweeted something about that game being over and then deleted it, why everybody thought the game was over. Who cares? So you were wrong. We're wrong all the time. It's not a big deal. You know, tweets just don't understand it.

[Bud Elliott]

To his credit, Dan Wolkin still has, like, one of the worst ones ever up. And he leaves it up.

[Tom Fornelli]

Hell yeah. Wear it. Who cares?

[Bud Elliott]

It was the. It was forested. Auburn, the. The title game went when they got up, like, 13, nothing. And he was like, strength of schedule, sc. Speed, matter, something like that. Blah, blah. Like, this is what is. When we see, like, the real teams or whatever.

[Tom Fornelli]

And it was.

[Bud Elliott]

Guy just wears it and like. Like, proudly.

[Tom Fornelli]

Like, don't.

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah, I agree. Don't delete.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, I'm not deleting Twitter tips. And I'm wrong on those. Half the time I had. I took the over in Texas A and Miami. I didn't delete it. I just said, lol. Nice call, dumbass. And then tweeted a gif of getting hit in the nuts by a ball. That's what a man does. A woman, too. Damn it. Come on.

[Chip Patterson]

We'll probably talk about this more on upon further review. One last little note. Kenny Dillingham, new contract with Arizona State.

[Tom Fornelli]

Begging for money.

[Chip Patterson]

That's a. That's a shot at John Rom if.

[Bud Elliott]

I've ever heard one.

[Tom Fornelli]

Bill Mickelson, too.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Although I think. I don't know how much. I don't know how. I don't know how liquid Phil is right now. I know he's gotten a lot of money from live, but I don't know how liquid. I don't.

[Chip Patterson]

I don't know. I don't know if we want to be tied up with our finances. It was weird. We asked for his. The. The payment on his pledge, and he asked for our bank account number. How did that work? I mean, he's not wrong. He's. He was basically. Especially in the Big 12, he's basically. He. He did not use Cody Campbell's name, but when he said, listen, all we need is. We are in Phoenix, Arizona. One twenty million dollar check. One person strokes one twenty million dollar check, and we're to the moon. You're like, He. He said, I will make you famous. You know, like, he was like, if you do this, I will make you famous. He's like, cody Campbell's on all these commercials. I. You can. This can be you. I. I have been at these country clubs around here. I know some of Y' all can. Can strike that check. But that also means. It also means Dillingham's off the market.

[Tom Fornelli]

It does. But I will also say coaches begging for money in press conferences. Again, it's not the playoff that's broken. It's the sport.

[Bud Elliott]

It's a sport when coaches need to.

[Tom Fornelli]

Be begging for money.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah. Do you. Never mind. That's a discussion. We are definitely not a discussion in minute, like, 75 of this thing. Do you really think that the College Football Playoff is the sport's biggest stage?

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah, I think ratings will show that to be very true.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah.

[Tom Fornelli]

Tonight included. But yeah. Yeah, it is a huge. Like, it's. Your. Your aunts and your uncles are watching when you see them on Christmas. I'm gonna go out in a couple days here. I'll be at my sister's house on Christmas Eve surrounded by family, and they'll be asking me about college football because the three games they watched, they were like, what the hell? That was blowouts. You guys gotta fix that. I'll just be like, yep, we sure do.

[Chip Patterson]

Yeah, we sure do. Because, like, yeah, I mean, truthfully, as a fan, I don't. I don't think that it is the best that college football has to offer. Like, I don't.

[Bud Elliott]

Should it be.

[Tom Fornelli]

I think every Saturday is.

[Chip Patterson]

I think it's. I think it is a Saturday. Like, I think it is a college football Saturday. Like, that is the best that college football has to offer. And then at the end of the season, we're playing out the string where, I mean, every team is just limping and hard and broken down and doing whatever they can to. To finish the job. And there are great stories and occasionally great games. But I think that, like, the. What I would bottle. I've said. I've said this about the COVID 3 podcast. Like, I've said, like, some of the. Some of my favorite shows that we do is like a week seven instant reaction, you know, where we've just had wall to wall stuff. You know, maybe an upset, maybe not an upset, but just sort of like lots of different pieces to put together. So I don't know. Maybe. Maybe I'm the. Maybe I'm the one that's off. May. Maybe I need to have more love for this postseason format that we just created yesterday. But. Yes.

[Bud Elliott]

Would you have Dante more in this game still with eight minutes left?

[Tom Fornelli]

No.

[Bud Elliott]

You're up 22.

[Tom Fornelli]

This is what I was talking about. I don't know.

[Chip Patterson]

What are you.

[Tom Fornelli]

Like, you think of the injuries this team has dealt with. Why are you sending these guys out there right now? Dan, you're up 22.

[Bud Elliott]

No, I, I think his answer would be we're just handing the ball off.

[Tom Fornelli]

Which is so your backup can handle accurate.

[Bud Elliott]

I agree.

[Tom Fornelli]

Yeah. Did we get it? Did, did we get the ball? Did we get the ball?

[Chip Patterson]

All right.

[Bud Elliott]

Yeah.

[Chip Patterson]

Let's go.

[Bud Elliott]

Our Bears.

[Chip Patterson]

All right, listen, we.

[Tom Fornelli]

Tom, My wife screams.

[Chip Patterson]

I. That's. Is that, that's not Lynn's first appearance, but that's definitely Lynn appearance.

[Bud Elliott]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah, that's a clear recovery.

[Chip Patterson]

All right, we're gonna, we're gonna let Tom watch the end of this game unbothered. Unless.

[Tom Fornelli]

Bye.

[Chip Patterson]

We will be back on Monday, 11am Eastern Time with the pun, further review and more to get you set. And you can follow him on Twitter Tom Ford. You follow him@bud Elliott3. You can follow me at Chip underscore Patterson. Gentlemen, thank you very much.

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