Did the CFB Committee Get The Rankings Right?

Summary

PTI Podcast Summary: "Did the CFB Committee Get The Rankings Right?"

Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Date: November 6, 2025
Episode Focus:
Tony and Mike break down the first College Football Playoff committee rankings of the season, debate NFL trade deadline moves, discuss a controversial NHL goal, and sit down for “Five Good Minutes” with Hall of Famer Steve Young for insight on QB situations and more.

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers around the controversial release of the first official College Football Playoff (CFP) committee rankings, asking whether the committee got it right at the top and examining what the rankings say about conference strength. Tony and Mike also tackle big NFL trade deadline stories and scrutinize a wild overtime NHL ruling, before a rich “Five Good Minutes” segment with Steve Young on quarterback psyche, injuries, and wide receiver management.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College Football Playoff Rankings: Who Got Snubbed?

[01:04–04:22; 32:47–35:11]

• Initial Rankings:
  • Ohio State (1), Indiana (2), Texas A&M (3), Alabama (4), Georgia (5), Ole Miss (6)
  • Three SEC teams in a row; Big Ten has three in top 10; BYU and Texas Tech (Big 12) at 7 & 8; two-loss Notre Dame at 10.
• Wilbon’s Take:
  “I certainly don't have any objections to it… SEC can have 40 teams in a row. We got the top two.” (01:40)
• Mike's skepticism about "running the table":
  • “No one runs the damn table. So let's stop with the running the table." (01:51)
  • Indiana has a soft remaining schedule; Ohio State still faces Michigan.
  • Even if Indiana loses Big Ten championship, they're likely still in.
• Tony’s Take:
  • “What stood out to me: the total lack of regard for the ACC, which is what happens when Clemson and Florida State stink.” (03:15)
  • ACC’s highest team: Virginia at #14. Louisville at 15, Georgia Tech 17, Miami 18, Pitt 24.
  • “The committee is saying right now, today, not any good. Not any of them are good enough to be in a 12 team playoff.” (03:44)
• Expanded Playoff Dynamics:
  • Tony: “It's not a 12 team playoff… You're going for 10 slots.” (04:03)
  • Wilbon: “Maybe. If they win the championship.” (04:16)
• PTI Bonus Segment Recap:
  • Wilbon: “Everybody’s gonna lose…12 of the top 15 teams will lose at least a game.” (32:52)
  • Both question the durability of “run the table” logic.
  • Tony: “The obvious lack of respect for the ACC...now Clemson was a threat like a week and a half ago. Now it’s back to being a basketball league only.” (34:49)
  • Wilbon: “8 was a better [playoff] number, and 12 is stupid.” (34:45)
• Notable Quote:
  • Wilbon: “The only takeaway that matters at this point, ‘cause it’s too early, is wow, how the ACC is meaningless.” (33:37)
• External Perspective:
  • Booger McFarland (SportsCenter):
    • “I would have put Texas A&M [at No. 1]... That’s the single best win in the sport right now.” (30:46)
    • “Looking at resumes... Miami being ranked 8 spots lower than Notre Dame has to make the people in South Beach feel some kind of way.” (31:49)

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2. NFL Trade Deadline Moves: Who Won?

[04:22–06:55]

• Jets Trade Away Defensive Pillars:
  • Sauce Gardner → Colts (for two 1st-rounders & a receiver)
  • Quinnen Williams → Cowboys (for 1st, 2nd, DT Mazi Smith)
• Tony:
  • “The New York Jets should feel best... They stink. And they are finally understanding. Stop with this delusional thinking. This group... is not going to help us win.” (04:54)
  • “If you have a good general manager... that can turn your team back.” (05:27)
• Wilbon:
  • Questions if “hope” is enough, “But it has to work... that speaks to either coaching or development.” (05:44)
  • "I'm fascinated by the Jets…I think that actually is No." [But says Seattle did better.]
• Seattle Seahawks Get Rasheed Shaheed; Jaguars Get Jacoby Myers:
  • Mike: Excited about Seattle’s weapons with Darnold playing well: “Seattle just scored 38... and then they add a receiver who's a deep threat.” (06:07)
• Tony:
  • “Buffalo should have done that... Seattle just did a better job."
  • “I think Indianapolis comes out great because Sauce Gardner is really good… you have to fine-tune.” (06:34)
• Wilbon’s Caution:
  • “That's a lot to give up for a corner...I'm not giving up that much for any corner...” (06:41)
• Memorable Dig:
  • “Nnamdi Asomugha was supposed to be the greatest corner since Mel Blunt.” (06:41)

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3. NHL Controversy: Overtime "Phantom" Goal

[06:55–09:19]

• Situation:
  • Wild’s Marcus Johansson scored game-winning OT goal. But net was off moorings—Nashville goalie dislodged it.
  • Officials ruled the puck would have gone in, so awarded the goal.
• Wilbon:
  • “The goaltender moved the net. He dislodged it... The damn goal counts. Everybody get off the ice.” (07:21)
  • “If I hear from one person from Nashville... I'll send you to an NBA poker game.” (07:21)
• Tony (philosophical):
  • “If you don’t [allow ref discretion], every goalie will knock the net…” (08:03)
  • But also: “If it doesn’t actually go in the net, it’s not a real goal.” (08:27)
• Wilbon:
  • Joking: “We should reward the instigator who took the net off.” (08:38)
• Tony:
  • “I’m sort of stuck in the middle here... It probably won’t mean something down the road because they don’t look like playoff teams now.” (08:42)

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4. Five Good Minutes with Steve Young

[11:39–19:10]

a) Kyler Murray Benched for Jacoby Brissette

• Tony’s Question: How would Murray feel hearing the coach prefers Brissette “even if healthy”?
• Steve Young (quotable, [12:22]):
  • “That's a death crawl, right?... That is the thing that you cannot hear as a quarterback.”
  • “Kyler Murray's agent runs to see what the contract says about guaranteed money... we're not going to get any more.”
  • “If I’m Kyler Murray… respond not as a victim... own it... How have I let this organization down? What do I need to do better?... Otherwise... you become a journeyman looking for a backup job. It happens pretty quick.”

b) Quarterbacks Blaming Their Defense

• Mike: Flacco’s numbers look great but defense stinks—how angry can he get?
• Steve Young ([14:17]):
  • “Everyone has to go get the inspiration, go ram into each other... Half of [the QB’s] job is psychology.”
  • “What you can't do is shame them... you gotta be super careful... Joe can't do that. He's got to be super careful.”
  • “[Privately] to his wife, he’s like ‘that defense sucks’... but you can’t say it in public.”

c) Effect of Non-Throwing Arm Injury for QBs

• Mike: On Jayden Daniels’ dislocated non-throwing elbow
• Steve Young ([15:38]):
  • “You think not that much... but we’re talking about 99th percentile stuff.”
  • “If somehow [your arm] is not counterbalancing the right way and you gotta be perfect with the football, it makes it super tough.”

d) Should Commanders Shut Down J. Daniels for Season?

• Mike: At 3-6, should they sit Jayden to get healthy?
• Steve Young ([16:34]):
  • “It's not necessarily tanking... You want him to be that guy for 15, 20 years.”
  • “If I were Jayden, I would get healthy and demand to get on the field. Just love playing.”

e) Managing Disgruntled WRs (A.J. Brown situation in Philly)

• Tony: How far do you go to keep a WR happy?

• Steve Young (with a Jerry Rice anecdote, [17:59]):

  • “We used to have a part of the game sheet–Jerry Rice section... sometimes you can take the great [player]... make an AJ section. Let him know that you care.”
  • “It's not easy... But we as a coaching staff... we're going to make it AJ section [on the play sheet].”

• Memorable exchange:

  • Tony: “Very rarely do we get someone use the phrases nolo contendere and bilateral. Only a lawyer.”
  • Steve: “Only a lawyer.” (19:08)

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5. Around the Sports World ("Happy Time," "Big Finish," [21:32–25:27])

• Jason Kelce’s Hall of Fame candidacy:
  • “I think Jason [Kelce]... I would think [he makes it].” – Wilbon (22:16)
• Greg Maddux and Gold Gloves legacy
• LIV Tour adopting a 72-hole format:
  • Tony: “The name Liv is just 54 in Roman numerals. Maybe they'll change the name to LXXII. Or Lexi.” (23:57)
• Legal news in NASCAR, WNBA expansion, NBA excitement over "Wemby vs. Luka"
• **Wilbon on college basketball’s hot freshmen: "Wow, that's dunks!" (24:57)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the playoff committee:
  • “It just would change the… that’s all I’m saying.” – Tony on Indiana losing Big Ten championship (02:53)
  • “If they run the table…” “No one runs the damn table!” – Wilbon (01:51)
  • “The only takeaway that matters… is wow, how the ACC is meaningless.” – Wilbon (33:37)
• On the Jets:
  • “They are opting for a better future, which may or may not include Aaron Glenn.” – Tony (04:56)
• On the NHL goal controversy:
  • “Everybody get off the ice. And if I hear from one person from Nashville, I'll get all of you suspended or send you to an NBA poker game.” – Wilbon (07:21)
• Steve Young, on coaches’ lack of confidence in a QB:
  • “That's a death crawl, right?... That is the thing that you cannot hear as a quarterback.” (12:22)
• On management of star WRs:
  • “Make an AJ section [on the play sheet]. Let him know that you care.” – Steve Young (17:59)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• CFB Rankings Discussion: 01:04–04:22, 32:47–35:11
• NFL Trade Deadline Reactions: 04:22–06:55
• NHL Goal Controversy: 06:55–09:19
• Five Good Minutes (Steve Young): 11:39–19:10
• Bonus CFB Segment (w/Booger McFarland): 30:46–32:47
• Sports Roundup/Happy Time/Big Finish: 21:32–25:27

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Takeaway for Listeners

This episode is a classic PTI mix of sharp banter and real insight. You’ll walk away understanding not just who’s on top in college football, but why the rankings matter (or don’t), what makes a trade deadline winner, why rules in sports get more philosophical every year, and how pro quarterbacks handle both praise and adversity. Steve Young’s appearance is especially rich for anyone interested in leadership, accountability, and team psychology.

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[End of summary]

Transcript

[Steve Young]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

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[Mike Wilbon]

See mintmobile.com Pardon the mike Lobon. Tom Brady says he cloned his dog. Should we come clean to the viewers?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm Tony Kornheiser. We are clones. The original Mike and Tony have lived at a swingers resort in Antigua since 2016.

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't want to say exactly where he's gonna sit. Undisclosed location.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I said Antigua.

[Mike Wilbon]

I know, but people know where Antigua is.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Nobody can blame me. Cause I am a clone. No. Do you believe that story?

[Mike Wilbon]

There's a clone of the dog?

[Steve Young]

Not at all.

[Mike Wilbon]

Let me just say this. The Brady commercials, they're brilliant.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They are.

[Mike Wilbon]

They're brilliant.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the jets explain why they dealt their best two defensive players. The NHL approves a bizarre overtime goal. And Steve Young joins us for five good minutes. But we begin today with the first official College Football Playoff committee rankings. They have Ohio State 1, Indiana 2, Texas A&M 3, Alabama 4, Georgia 5, Ole misses 6. That's three SEC teams in a row. The Big Ten has a third team in the top ten, Oregon at nine. The Big 12 has BYU and Texas Tech at seven and eight and two loss. Notre Dame is ten. Wilbon, would you have ranked the top of the board the way the committee did?

[Mike Wilbon]

I think so. I certainly don't have any objections to it and I think I would have ranked them that way. Tony, the big. You know, the SEC can have 40 teams in a row. We got the top two.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Mike Wilbon]

We got Ohio State and Indiana. Ohio State has a losable game. As we look forward, we spin this forward to. Because everybody will come on television, every network, including this one, and say, well, if they run the table. And no one runs the damn table. So let's stop with the running the table.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, Michigan ran the table.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah, well, you know, then the other nine don't. Every year, every year there are upsets. There are people who lose to people that nobody anticipates. Cause they're all saying if they run the table, Ohio State may not even run the table. They're at Michigan. And we know what happens when they play Michigan.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

All right, so. But they're at Michigan. That's a losable game. Indiana does not have a losable game. And I'm going to say that Indiana is going to run the table. They got Purdue, Penn State and Wisconsin. Tell me what you think their record is. The three of them right now in Big Ten play. Give me an aggregate.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It doesn't matter. Because then aren't they going to have to play Ohio State in the Big Ten championship?

[Mike Wilbon]

Maybe it's 0, 16.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That stinks.

[Mike Wilbon]

But if they lose one game, they're still going to make it. So even if they lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, but it just, it would change the. That's all I'm saying.

[Mike Wilbon]

Which is nothing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It changes. Okay, so I watched the reveal show. I like the reveal show. There was a news. Well, I seem to recall Joey Galloway was out there, right. And Greg McAvoy. And they said that in terms of analytics, they thought that Texas A and M should be higher than Indiana and Ohio State. They weren't screaming, they weren't angry or anything like that. I guess it had to do maybe with strength of schedule or some subjective way to make it into objective as to who you. Here's what stood out to me. I agree with you that things are gonna change. Here's what stood out to me. The total lack of regard for the acc, which is what happens when Clemson and Florida State stink. Okay, Virginia, here's the acc. I'll be quick on this. They're the top ranked team at 14. Virginia, Louisville 15. Georgia Tech 17, Miami 18. Pitt at 24. So the committee is saying right now, today, not any good. Not any of them are good enough to be in a 12 team playoff.

[Mike Wilbon]

Now Virginia's gonna make it today.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Virginia.

[Mike Wilbon]

Somebody has. I know. Because they get an automatic qualifier.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Somebody has to.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm just saying Virginia may run the table.

[Commercial Announcer]

They.

[Mike Wilbon]

They got nothing left.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Mike. It's not a 12 team playoff. Cuz if you don't like the ACC and you. And you stuck with a group of five, which is now Memphis. It's really a 10 team playoff. You're going for 10 slots. Okay, but you're going, you're going for 10 slots.

[Mike Wilbon]

Going to make it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Maybe. If they win. If they win. They got to win the championship. Conference championship.

[Mike Wilbon]

Let's move to the biggest moves of yesterday's NFL trade deadline. Your one in seven Jets.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Team.

[Mike Wilbon]

Myers sent cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts for two first round picks and a receiver. And they traded defensive tackle Quinn and Williams at the Cowboys for a second a first. And defensive tackle Maisie Smith. The Seahawks picked up receiver Rasheed Shahid. I love that name. And the Jaguars got Jacoby Myers from the Raiders. Tony, which team or teams should feel best coming out of the deadline?

[Tony Kornheiser]

The New York jets should feel best. Wow. Because they stink. Wow. And they are finally understanding. Stop with this delusional thinking. This group of people is not going to help us win. It's not gonna help us win. They are opting for a better future which may or may not include Aaron Glenn. You know they traded away probably their two best guys right on defense. Oscar two time first team all pro at corner. Quinn and Williams one time first team.

[Mike Wilbon]

All hired a defensive ace to coach their team away from Detroit. And they get rid of their two best players.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Because what the jets get back is hope they get in the next two years three first round picks and a second round pick in addition to what they already have. And they get players. I mean if you have a good general manager and I don't know that they do that can't turn your team back.

[Mike Wilbon]

They get players already but it has to work. Okay, but that speaks to either coaching or development. It doesn't speak to the general.

[Tony Kornheiser]

The jets are 1 in 7 now. They ought to go for 1 in 16 and a complete Renault. A Renault as the kids say already. What do you think? Got it. Better. Indianapolis.

[Mike Wilbon]

Got it. I'm fascinated by the jets because I think that actually is. No. So Seattle.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh yeah, they got the receiver.

[Mike Wilbon]

Seattle's got Sam Darnold who's playing near MVP level again.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yes, yes. All right.

[Mike Wilbon]

And they're going to put Shaheed out there with Jackson Smith in Jigba. Come on now. Yeah, they've got everything. Seattle just scored 38 in the other Washington last week in your Washington. And then they add a receiver who's a deep threat.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Buffalo should have done that. Buffalo should have tried to add a wide receiver. Well they didn't.

[Mike Wilbon]

Seattle just did a better job.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think Indianapolis comes out great because Sauce Gardner is really good and if you're going to go to the playoffs you have to fine tune.

[Mike Wilbon]

He did a lot to give up for defense for a corner. I'm not giving up that much for any corner cuz it's always somebody. Nnamde Asomwa was supposed to be the greatest corner since Mel Blunt.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They only have to be great for two years.

[Mike Wilbon]

That's all they're ever great.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Maybe he'd be great for the next two. Let's move to hockey. And a controversial goal from last night. In overtime, Minnesota's Marcus Johansson was awarded a goal even though the actual netting was off its moorings. Because the Nashville goalie Knocked it off. Yeah, knocked it off. While attempting to get into defensive position. The officials ruled, as is their right, that it was a goal. That the puck would have gone into the net had the net not been moved. Wilbon, do you feel like the Wilds game winning goal should have counted?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes. The goaltender moved the net. He dislodged it. Eustace Anand, he. It didn't just like it just happened. No, it didn't just happen. He made it happen. The damn goal counts. Everybody get off the ice. And if I hear from one person from Nashville, I'll get all of you suspended or send you to an NBA poker game. That would be your punishment. Get the hell out.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, so let me go back.

[Mike Wilbon]

There's no other point of view.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let me not be crazy about this. I understand why they have this rule. I understand the latitude that you have to give the referees because if you don't, every goalie will knock the netting.

[Mike Wilbon]

Off as soon as he gets a breakaway coming in.

[Tony Kornheiser]

100% and that will happen. So I understand the philosophy of it. I understand. What was the word I wrote down, that the officials are allowed to interpret a goal because, Mike, it's magic, right? Cuz the puck did not go in the net. Now they looked at this in Toronto and they ruled it would have gone in the net had the net been where it is. But if you look at it, the first shot is off and the second shot, the goalie's sort of standing there not knowing what's going on. So I. There's a part of me that says if it doesn't actually go in the net, it's not a real goal.

[Mike Wilbon]

We should reward the instigator who took the net off.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And that's a fair point. That's a fair point. But I'm sort of stuck in the middle here and I wonder. Look, it's a big win for Minnesota. If I'm not mistaken, in the three tenths of a second left in regulation, the game was tied up by Nashville, right? And it probably won't mean something down the road because they don't look like playoff teams now. Minnesota's like 13th in the conference, Nashville's 11.

[Mike Wilbon]

So what if this game won the game otherwise. Do we need to talk about betting? Do we need to talk about that?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I don't understand hockey betting, but you may not. I bet you one goal is a big deal. I bet you it's a big deal. Let's take a break and it's a phantom goal.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Coming up, how should Kyler Murray feel about the Cardinals again going with Jacoby Brissette? We're going to ask Steve Young.

[Mike Wilbon]

We're also going to ask him how an injury to a quarterback's non throwing arm might affect his throwing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So you can't even imagine why Nashville is upset the puck didn't go in.

[Mike Wilbon]

The net cause your dude took the net away. Get out. Get out. Get out. Get out of the building. I'll call the police to throw everybody from Nashville out of the building. Get out. Don't want to hear it. Don't want to hear it.

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[Mike Wilbon]

Out here it's football season where nothing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Beats backyard grilling, gathering around the fire pit and cheering on your favorite team with friends. The yard is mowed, the lights are.

[Steve Young]

Strung and the grill is warming up.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Whether you need to fill up your.

[Steve Young]

Propane, get a new grill or even.

[Tony Kornheiser]

A generator out here.

[Mike Wilbon]

It's game day, and we're ready for it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tractor supply for life out here. We've got several NFL questions for our good friend, the man who would never sit still in the pocket when I blocked for him in Tampa Bay hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young. Let's start with something that's going to have an update in the middle of the question. Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon says he would start Jacoby Brissette over Kyler Murray even if Murray were totally healthy, because he likes what the offense is doing right now. Apparently, Murray is not totally healthy because they just put him on IR and he's going to have to miss at least four games. But if you were Murray before that happened, and you heard something like this from your coach, what would be your reaction?

[Steve Young]

That is. That's a death crawl, right? That's. That's a coach that doesn't. If the coach gets fired, he's not going to be fired because you're on the field. I mean, there's. There's nothing good there. That is the thing that you cannot hear as a quarterback, that. That makes the. Kyler Murray's agent runs to see what the contract says about guaranteed money. Like, how much are we going to get? Because we're not going to get any more. And it's just a really tough spot and no local tonde is in the courtroom or no confidence in Parliament. Like, that is a brutal thing for a coach to say in the middle of the season. And to me, it really reflects how he and really the whole coaching staff feel about Kyler Murray, because everyone knows quarterback is the job in the NFL. It's the most important thing. And so if you're. If you're basically putting your. Your quarterback aside, you're not playing, we don't want you to play. Even if you're healthy, we don't want you to play. If I'm Kyler Murray, I say to myself in a totally vulnerable state, what am I not doing? What do I need to do? Respond not as a victim, which most people do, respond in accountability and say, what have I. How have I let this organization down? What do I need to do better? Is it whatever we heard rumors about, studying, we heard about. There's all kinds of whispers about it, but just own it. Own that. The coach just put you on the, you know, just out the pasture, essentially, and just don't allow it, because otherwise, you know, how fast you become a starter in the league to a journeyman, you know, looking for A backup job. It happens pretty quick. You better hustle on this one and make sure it doesn't happen to you.

[Mike Wilbon]

Speaking of journeymen, let's move to Joe Flacco for a second. Steve, and the three games he's played, the most recent three ones with the Bengals. He's thrown for more than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, but is just one and two. As a quarterback, how angry are you allowed to get with your defense, particularly with what you saw Sunday against the Bears?

[Steve Young]

Well, Michael, we always talk about football is unique because everyone has to go get the inspiration, go ram into each other. And it takes inspiration. You have to want to do it. And how you get there and how do you gather guys and quarterbacks? Half of their job is really just psychology. How do I get my guys ready to go ram into people next week and to protect me or play defense? And what you can't do is shame them and make them less incented to go ran into people. So you gotta be super careful. Now, some teams are so mature that you can stand up and shame them and get them to go play harder and get them. But if you don't, you're new to a team and you don't. He can't, Joe can't do that. Right? He's definitely respected, but he's new to the locker room. He's got to be super careful. But I know when he goes home and complains to his wife, he's like that defense sucks. We got to get him together. But you know, you can't say it, you can't say it in public. You got to gather people. You can't be, you can't be divisive. You got to gather.

[Mike Wilbon]

You were certainly one of the people I thought of when watching Jayn Daniels dislocate his elbow. Non throwing arm. Not that you had that specific injury, Steve, but I just think of quarterbacks and the physical vulnerability. What does that arm. We're glad it's not his throwing arm, glad it's not his legs. But how important is the non throwing arm to a quarterback when he's been busted up like that?

[Steve Young]

So you think not that much, right? I mean, even if it's wrapped up and you can't move it, it's not that big of a deal. But we're talking about 99th percentile stuff, like 100th percentile. Like every little thing keeps you from being that perfect anticipatory thrower that can, can fit it into whole. Like your body needs to be whole. Now is your, if your Right hand and your left arm have to be completely whole. No, but you don't. You don't realize. Ask Brock Purdy about a big toe. You know, I mean, my gosh, he can. You know, it affects his throwing in a big way. But to me, your other arm, you think it's not that big a deal, but if somehow it's not counterbalancing the right way and you got to be perfect with the football, it makes it super tough.

[Mike Wilbon]

From what you've seen, would you just say at 3 and 6 record for the commanders. Okay, Jaden, it's been enough. It's been enough. Let's get you whole again. Am I going too far?

[Steve Young]

I think you have to in some ways, Michael. I don't think you. The problem is, is we started this idea that we're going to kind of tank the season, right, for draft picks. Started in basketball, and now it's infected football. And it starts a theme going. And the truth is it's not necessarily tanky. It's like, you got to be smart. James going to be around for 15, 20 years. You want him to be that guy. You got to make sure that you do everything you can to make sure that he's. Now you got to play him. It's football. But if he's not completely healthy, to me, honestly, I would not just say end the season, go get healthy. If it's week 15 and you're healthy and ready to go and you want to come inspire the troops, I'm up for that. I'm a quarterback that says I play. If I'm healthy, I play. Don't talk to me about management, you know, time clock management, time management, you know, load management. Like I don't in football. I guess leave that to people who are off the field that can try to be smart about it. If you're a player, get on the field. Bill Walsh always used to say, if you're not in the huddle, you're not in the huddle. That was not a good thing. So I think that, you know, if I were Jayden, I would get healthy and just a man to get on the field. Just love playing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We will get you out of here on this. The Eagles decided to keep a disgruntled A.J. brown at the trade deadline, saying it's hard to trade great players, which it is. So how far should a team go to try and get a great player more involved so that mentally and emotionally he's better?

[Steve Young]

So the regular season, for really good teams that know they're going to get to the playoffs. That's a preparation for the big games. You need AJ for the big games. You need him. So then use this time to figure out. You can't just feed him the ball. Look, the Eagles are a running team. He's watching, you know, all these receivers around the league just lighting it up and it bugs him, right? And he's letting it get to him. So it's bilateral. It's AJ Taking care of himself. Like, go hustle. Don't complain. Go. Go win another Super Bowl. Like. Like, make this happen. And then on the. On the other side, we used to have a part of the game sheet, play sheet was Jerry Rice section. Like, you know, and sometimes you can take the great. Well, that's the plays that get the ball to Jerry Rice, right? It's like we. Jerry needs the ball. Okay. Call these plays. I think in some ways, make an AJ section. Let him know that you care. Do you means to. You know, it's like, it's not easy. Doesn't mean this is going to happen by magic. But we as a coaching staff, we know, AJ that you're vital, and we're going to do what we need to do to make sure that you get the football as much as we possibly can. We're going to make it AJ section.

[Tony Kornheiser]

So great to hear you. Very rarely do we get someone use the phrases nolo contenderi and bilateral. Only a lawyer.

[Steve Young]

Only a lawyer.

[Mike Wilbon]

Love that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Thank you, Steve. Thank you.

[Mike Wilbon]

Thank you, Steve.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's take one last break. Still to come, the LIV tour adds.

[Mike Wilbon]

A fourth round, and Wemby and Luka face each other tonight. Tony, stay awake.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No.

[Mike Wilbon]

Come on.

[Steve Young]

No.

[Mike Wilbon]

Come on.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No.

[Mike Wilbon]

Quimby. Luca, what time is that?

[Tony Kornheiser]

It's like 11.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy time people. Happy 38th birthday, Jason Kelsey Jason is the football player playing Kelce. Not engaged to Taylor Swift. Jason doesn't actually play football anymore. Having retired from the Philadelphia Eagles a couple of years ago, Jason now has a podcast and works for ESPN just like me. I've never met him though. Mike, have you met him? Travis Kelce is going to the hall of Fame. The question before us is should Jason? He spent all of his 13 NFL seasons with the Eagles after being a sixth round draft pick out of Cincinnati in 2011. He was first team all pro six times as the Eagles center, went to seven Pro Bowls, was on the Eagles 2017 Super bowl champs plus he was the tip of the spear on the brotherly shove hall of Fame.

[Mike Wilbon]

They're both gone.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Travis is definitely gone.

[Mike Wilbon]

I think Jason, given what he did in those trenches with Thankful stuff, I would think, right?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think so. Happy Anniversary. Greg Maddox on this day 17 years ago, the future first ballot hall of Fame pitcher won his 18th and final gold Glove. Maddux won more Gold Gloves than any other player at any position. Maddux won 13 of his 18 consecutively from 1990 to 2002 and won four consecutive Cy Youngs during that stretch. In those four seasons, Maddux had a 7529 record with a 198 ERA. Jim Cott, second to Maddux in Gold Gloves as a pitcher, would say 16. Brooks Robinson 16 Gold Gloves at third the active pitcher with the most Gold Gloves is Max Freed, who won his fourth this year. Nobody has 14 or 15 Gold Gloves. Pudge Rodriguez and Ozzie Smith had 13. Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays had 12.

[Mike Wilbon]

I think Mike Hampton's the person who broke that streak on Gold Glove. Maddox Hager. Doesn't it dawn on you that the further we get away from Maddox's career, the greater he is? We knew he was great then. We now know he's even greater than that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I think if they had won more World Series, I think there would be a bandwagon for him. Happy trails to the LIV Tour. Playing 54 holes. The league announced yesterday that it will be moving to a standard 72 hole, four round format starting next season. The decision comes as a way to qualify tourney scores to the official World Golf Rankings. But the change is surprising given that a big selling point to players had been the shorter format. The name Liv is actually just 54 in Roman numerals. Maybe they'll change the name to LXXII or Lexi.

[Mike Wilbon]

I want them to keep the shorts.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You like the shorts? Yeah, I hate the shorts. I do. I can't tell you why.

[Mike Wilbon]

And the music. Glad they're getting rid of the 54 holes, but keep the shorts.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Look at you in a blatant attempt to suck up to young people. I think what's gonna happen down the road is what is. There's gonna be fluidity between both tours and people are gonna be able to see.

[Mike Wilbon]

You don't see a merger.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, that's what I'm saying. Fluidity. A merger of sorts. Let's go to the big finish.

[Mike Wilbon]

Let's do it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

A judge cited with Michael Jordan that NASCAR has control of its sport. Is that significant? Yeah.

[Mike Wilbon]

The judge is saying you've been operating under monopolistic practices. Kudos to 23:11 Jordan and Denny Hamill for changing the status quo in a sport that's been run by a singular family for forever. Kudos to them. Women's number one, Irina Sabalenka is going to play men's number six. 652, your boy Nick Kyrgios in an exhibition in Dubai. You intrigued?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I was intrigued by Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. I would probably watch a set of this to see how it worked. I probably wouldn't. Freshman cam Boozer had 15 and 13 in Duke's win over Texas. Is that a big deal?

[Mike Wilbon]

He came on in the second half and Arizona freshman co opied. Wow, that's dunks. The expansion Toronto tempo of the WNBA hired Sandy Brondello as his first head coach. I know you gotta like that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, she won a title with New York and then they can her. I really understand that. Last one. Spurs and Lakers tonight. You excited?

[Mike Wilbon]

Oh, yeah. Wimby and Doncic. Yeah, I presume Doncic is playing anytime. You haven't watched Wima yet this year, have you?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I got highlights like everybody else.

[Mike Wilbon]

What are you, 18 highlights? We're out of time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We'll try and do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheiser.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads. And now you know what's coming next. Wim Banyama.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Could you say hi to Jimmy Crilly in the audience?

[Mike Wilbon]

Jimmy Crilley's here. PTI.

[Jay Harris]

Welcome into SportsCenter Jay Harris, Kevin Nagand A year ahead, we'll break down which playoff contender helped themselves the most at the NFL trade deadline and what.

[Kevin Negandhi]

The committee missed in the season's initial CFP rankings. SportsCenter starts now.

[Mike Wilbon]

To get a bona.

[Jay Harris]

Fide number one corner in this league.

[Steve Young]

Like I said, it elevates everybody around us.

[Kevin Negandhi]

Breaking news this afternoon, the Cardinals putting quarterback Calamari on injured reserve with his lingering foot injury. This means he's going to miss a minimum of four games. And Jacoby Brissette will continue as Arizona's starting quarterback. And with more on injuries around the league, we welcome in our senior NFL insider Adam Schefter. Adam, what more can you tell us about Arizona putting Kyler Murray on ir?

[Adam Schefter]

Jay the Cardinals quarterback situation continues to get more and more interesting by the day. Today they place Kyler Murray on injured reserve, sidelining him for a minimum of four games while he continues to rehab and rest the injured foot that he suffered earlier this season. And now that means that Jacoby Brissett has an extended stay at the starting quarterback position. This will be key because there will be huge ramifications for how he plays for the short and long term and Kyler Murray's future there. Meanwhile, the Texans have ruled out CJ Stroud for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Suffered a concussion Sunday against the Dobbs Denver Broncos and this play with him out, Davis Mills will step in and start again against the Jaguars just as he replaced Stroud on Sunday. And on the first practice day of the work week, the Buccaneers were without two key players. Chris Godwin didn't practice. Bucky Irving didn't practice. That doesn't bode well for their availability Sunday in a game against the Patriots who didn't have K' Sha Booty or Ramond Ray Stevenson at practice today. We'll see if Godwin or Irving can make it back, but it's not encouraging. So far, the Buffalo Bills were without James Cook at practice on Wednesday due to a foot and ankle injury. Keep in mind he finished the game last week against the Chiefs, so this likely is a maintenance issue more than anything else. We'll see if Cook can come back and practice this week and play on Sunday. That seems to be the early sense of the things, but we'll see right now. And obviously he plays a vital role to the Buffalo Bills offense.

[Kevin Negandhi]

Cook, by the way, second in the NFL with 867 rushing yards. All right, Adam, you had a busy day yesterday with the trade deadline. Some teams active, others not so much. What can you tell us about why the Bills and the Chiefs didn't make any moves yesterday?

[Adam Schefter]

Well, Jay, they called around and they tried to make deals. It's just not that simple to make it happen. And keep in mind the Buffalo Bills paid Josh Allen during the offseason, gave him an awful lot of money. They resigned a lot of their key players. That does not give them a lot of financial flexibility. And so both teams were trying to make things happen, but it's difficult when you're paying the quarterbacks as much money as they did. The Chiefs really were aggressive at the deadline. Nothing was able to get done.

[Commercial Announcer]

In the end.

[Adam Schefter]

The Bills called around, tried to add a wide receiver, Rasheed Shahid wound up with the Seattle Seahawks. That's a player that would have interested Buffalo. They made some other calls as well, but nothing materialized for either AFC powerhouse.

[Kevin Negandhi]

Right now, the Chiefs and Bills have the shortest and second shortest odds to win the super bowl according to ESPN BET sportsbook + 550 and + 600. Adam Schefter with the very latest. Adam, thank you so much and more NFL ahead on SportsCenter we're going to evaluate what the addition of Quinn and Williams means for the Cowboys chances to make a push for the playoffs.

[Jay Harris]

Kevin Ngandi Jay the initial College Football Playoff rankings released last night on espn. Ohio State number one, third time they've been number one in the initial rankings, tie with Bama for most all time. The Buckeyes are 8 0, led by Heisman favorite Julian Sajan. Fellow Big Ten unbeaten Indiana is number two. The Hoosiers have one of the best wins in the country, beating Oregon on the road last month. It's the highest they've ever been ranked in the cfp. After that, four SEC teams round out the top Six. First time ever that the top six teams come from only two conferences. Texas A and M leads the pack at number three. Top five teams match the AP pole. Bama earning the last buy at number four. Final two at large spots went to Oregon and Notre Dame with Texas and Oklahoma the first two teams out. You see Virginia and Memphis in the bracket even though they aren't in the top 12. Because the highest rank from the ACC in the group of five, they get spots into the playoff. Booker McFarlane joins us now with much more. Booker, do you agree with the committee on Ohio State being number one right now?

[Booger McFarland]

Kev, I don't. I think if you're going to put Ohio State at number one, you're basically saying by the eye test we're going to put them number one. I would have put Texas A and M. I think they have the single best win in the sport so far going to South Bend, beating Notre Dame the way they did the physicality. That's the single best win in the sport right now. And I think if you look at all the metrics, the metrics will agree. I think based on what we've seen, based on the resume, I think that Texas A and M should be the number one team in the country. Understand, this is fluid. This is going to change, but if we're looking for the initial ranking, something to kind of poke a hole in, I thought A and M should have been number one based on what they've done so far because the only win Ohio State really has is against Texas. And I get it, they're number 10. But Texas has been really, really underwhelming so far this season.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah.

[Jay Harris]

Keep in mind that you can watch Texas A and M over on ABC with Booger doing the halftime that game at 3:30 Saturday as they take on Mizzou. Other than Texas A and M not being at the top spot, what other hole do you see in these rankings right now?

[Booger McFarland]

You know, Kev, I was looking to see how they honored the head to head. When you think about Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisville, Virginia, they ranked the team that won the head to head above the team that lost. Except for Miami and Notre Dame. There's eight spots difference between Miami and Notre Dame. And if you're a fan of the Miami Hurricanes, you got to have a problem with that. We both have two losses and I get it. Miami beat Notre Dame at the beginning of the season. But this is not a beauty pageant. This is a resume, okay? And our resumes look equal from a law standpoint and we beat them Miami being ranked eight spots lower than Notre Dame has to make the people in south beach feel some kind of way.

[Jay Harris]

Kev, by the way, Carson Beck, he's third in the FBS and completion percentage at 73%. But throwing that interception overtime, really costly in that loss to smu. Plenty more from Boog later in the show for much more on the cfp. Tony, Mike, PTI bonus topic right now.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, Wilbon, what was your biggest takeaway from the first College Football Playoff rankings?

[Mike Wilbon]

That everybody's gonna lose. You know, out of the top 15 teams, 12 of them are gonna lose a game. At least a game. Do I think Ohio State's gonna lose? I don't. I think Ohio State's gonna beat Michigan. Do I think Indiana's gonna lose? No. Cause Indiana plays. Indiana plays three teams. Tony left in Big Ten play. Whose combined record, Wisconsin, Purdue, and I'm forgetting somebody is 0 and 16. They're not gonna lose in Big Ten play. They're not gonna lose.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They're not gonna lose. Considering they go for 50 every season.

[Mike Wilbon]

One of them's gonna have to lose because they.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Mike Wilbon]

So even one of those two is gonna lose.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They'll both get in the play.

[Mike Wilbon]

And so you know people are going to lose. And that phrase, they're gonna run the table, it's just gonna look dumber and dumber and dumber each week. And the other, the only takeaway that matters to me at this point, cuz it's too early, is wow, how the ACC is meaningless.

[Tony Kornheiser]

This is my biggest takeaway. The obvious lack of respect for the acc. And I believe that happens because this year Florida State and Clemson are both bad. And we associate three teams. We associate Miami, which always loses, October, November, they always lose. And Florida State and Clemson. Okay, so now what? You've got the highest ranking ACC team. UVA is Virginia at 14.

[Mike Wilbon]

Yeah.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Louisville is at 15, Georgia Tech at 17, Miami 18 and Pitt at 24. This is a 12 team playoff. That committee comprised of people from all the conferences who allegedly know college football, that committee said today there's not a single ACC team good enough to be in a field of 12. Now you know you're going to have to get one and you're going to have to also get somebody from the group of five, which is right now Memphis. And that may change, but that means it's not really a 12 team playoff. It's really a 10 team playoff. 12 is too many.

[Mike Wilbon]

I've been saying this.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, if 12's too many, the ACC's never going again.

[Mike Wilbon]

Okay, fine. Eight was a better number. And 12 is stupid.

[Tony Kornheiser]

And so you have people in your home that have to care about Virginia. You have that.

[Mike Wilbon]

And I root for Virginia. But, Tony, you know, we covered. We sat through a lot of ACC football in our lives, and there was a time where those teams were threats to do something, and now Clemson was a threat like a week and a half ago. Now it's back to being in basketball league only.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.