← See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack
See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack
Big Ten PREDICTIONS for 2025 | FSU vs. Alabama Smack Talk
00:50:32
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- [00:00]
David Pollack
What's up, everybody? David Pollack here of C Ball Get Ball podcast. I hope you like it, man. Be sure to follow the show Wherever you subscribe, YouTube or any of your other platforms. All right, welcome back, everybody. To see Ball Get Ball closer and closer. Brent, we're creeping. I think I saw something the other day. I think we're about 10 Saturdays away from college football. Something in that avenue. NBA finals last night was, was really dope. I watch all of it. I, I, I love it. I, I think it's good. I know it wasn't big market teams, but there's nothing I hate worse than seeing injuries. Injuries are the worst part of sports, period. And watching Tyrese Halliburton, man, like, he put on the line for his team and you could see his Achilles. Like, you could see that. And by the way, I didn't want to see it over and over again. Like, stop showing it, man. Like every time they repeated it, every time they replayed, I'm like, stop. Like, I can watch this man's career, like, change in one play. And it's the worst part of sports. But the Thunder and, and the NBA and just what it is as a whole, it's just so different than the star driven league and the, the trios that we saw in the past. Like, the teams, like those are the two deepest teams, the most competitive teams that played on both sides of the floor. Like, it's, it's a new look. NBA, man, very much so.
- [01:20]
Brent Rollins
And it's young. Like with okc, I mean, which, though, when they had Durant, Harden and Westbrook and Ibaka, I thought, hey, we're going to see this team in the finals for three, four, five years straight. But that was quickly gone. But no, they've done it the right way. Big congrats to coach Don son Todd, who's a massive OKC Thunder fan and goes to a lot of games. So I know he was excited about, about that championship, but it's, I was dialed into the game and then like you said, the injury happened and then it was just, it was inevitable. It was, it was fun to watch him hang around. Like TJ McConnell doing his thing for a little bit. Made it interesting.
- [01:59]
David Pollack
Like, if you don't love, you don't love sports. TJ McConnell is the definition of everything that's great about sports. Like 6 foot, nothing, 100 and nothing, like, doesn't quote, unquote, I mean, doesn't deserve to play in the NBA. And I love his message, man. If you haven't heard T.J. mcConnell talk about, like, he's like, I had to do something different to stand out. All of us, man, whatever it is you're pursuing, like, you got to find a way to stand out. And he said, I started picking up people 94ft. Like, I just started making them work and. And I knew my motor had to be a part of it and playing hard. And then all of a sudden he's got to play some offense. And that dude had spurtability on another level in the series. Like, I think he had like 16 in game six in the third quarter. Like, he just took over offensively in spurs and he looked unguardable. I'm like, and he doesn't shoot the three ball. That's what's amazing. Like, he does his three ball looks like. Like an old YMCA player that's not very good or a kid that ain't been taught to shoot correctly and his dad's a coach. But, like, that dude gets downhill into the cup. We haven't seen the last of Indiana. And the way they're built, okc, you know, and the way they're built. But how about that for the NBA, man, seven years, seven different champions. That is absolutely. You talk about parody, like, that's nuts, man.
- [03:21]
Brent Rollins
That's unheard of and that, especially in that sport. And it is, but it. But it's the norm now. And with the way they've penalized teams with the, like, the aprons and the penalty taxes for paying all this, all the salaries, which. Which was interesting because the league and the collective bargaining and how they did that, and then it end up sort of debunking the whole Super Team thing and created all this parody that you see in the NBA now. But it was. I. I just. I wish we would have gotten, like, I think we were in for a great game, like a last second decided in the last minute kind of game. But hey, OKC wins it all. Sga. One of the best trades finally paying off, bro.
- [04:05]
David Pollack
That dude, you watch that guy and you watch him play. I'm just like, I'm not comparing anybody to anybody, but like, he's just got the Kobe vibe. Like, he's got the. The back to the basket. He's got the smooth. Like when. When they come to. To hedge on screens or blitz, he splits it, you know? Like, he can stop, he can fade. Like, he just look, he's got that game that looks just so special and unique. But nobody came here to listen to our NBA take, so I take. Take us somewhere else, brother.
- [04:34]
Brent Rollins
Speaking of fun takes, I I'm sure you saw this as it was plastered all over social media today. But Thomas Castellanos, the new Florida State quarterback, I told Pete Nacos of On3 that he's feels at home at Florida State, it's his dream school, and that he's ready to play against Alabama because, quote, they don't have Nick Saban to save them. I just don't see them stopping me. And there was a lot of other interesting things that he said. You know, I'm trying to save jobs and win. And some of the things that he said that semi through BC on Boston College under the bus wasn't the school for me. He said I wasn't able to be myself. And then he said later about all they need is one season, one year. I feel like I have the skill set to be one of the best. And these guys, I'm playing for coaches who are fathers, who have homes and families here. I'm trying to save jobs and win. And the talent, he talked about the talent that he has at Florida State. So is this an absolute massive fuel to the fire or just kind of like, yeah, whatever.
- [05:35]
David Pollack
I don't think Bama's like, we need this guy to get ready. But I do think Florida State coming off such a bad year, man, I don't think you want to add fuel to the fire. You kind of want to fly under the radar. You don't want to give people things to talk about. You don't want to piss people off. And I can promise you this quote's going to be all over the locker room and did you help 1% get better? Did you help 1% spark something in them and. And be a little reason to be pissed off then it's not a smart thing. Now, do I want a quarterback who's got a little swag to him? Yes. Do I want him to have borderline arrogance? Yes. Is Thomas Costello, does that dude an animal? Yes. Like Brent, I would argue this. I think Billy o', Brien, who's a really good coach, was trying to make him what he wants to be and that's a next level quarterback, like trying to help him stay in the pocket, make plays when that. When Tommy gets loose. Tommy's a beast. He's a freak, man. He can outrun anybody in college football. He's got some severe athletic ability. I'm interested to see how they merge that Florida State, they missed that a year ago, like their game went off a cliff. Offensively, Gus Malzahn thrives. He's the new oc. Remember, he Walked away from a head coaching gig at ucf. Like, he wanted to just call plays, be a part of offense. I like Chip Kelly for Ohio State, you know, a year ago, and I think his offense works at an elite level. When you have an elite playmaker at the position he has that. I wouldn't have said it. I like the swag this kid can play. Man. Don't get it twisted. Like, this dude's got some serious ability.
- [07:13]
Brent Rollins
Yeah, this coming from a dad. And I guess we could probably both fall in this category of having sons who don't have this outward brash, overtly confident demeanor and vibe about them. It's kind of cool to see some at exactly zero, those two, but it's cool to see that part of it. But yeah, especially when you had the season you had last year for Florida State. That's the part where it's like, okay, let's just. Let's be the silent killer and then game one and show up and do this sort of things versus putting this target really on his own back to be great. Which, hey, if you want to put that pressure yourself, also more power to you, go for it.
- [07:55]
David Pollack
Is there a team that you're more curious to find out what they are than Florida State? Like, I'm so. I'm so curious to Brent. I don't know what. I don't know. I know they're not going to return to what they were two years ago. I have. I have no desire. I know they're not going to be that. But they won two freaking games last year. Like, I know they're not going to be that. So in between there, how high do they go? Because, man, Florida State looked like a team. Like they were next. Like they were next on the list. Like a couple good seasons in a row starting to be a destination. Recruiting starting to tick up. And then, bro Coyote found his cliff. I mean, God dang, just fell off the cliff and it was ugly. Hey, they made sure there was rocks at the bottom because they didn't want to live through that crap, man. It was awful.
- [08:41]
Brent Rollins
No, no. And you gotta. And you got a fan base that, like, is one of the most passionate fan bases in all. All college football. That has been kind of just, I mean, apathetic in a way. Just. I don't know, just not with it in terms of how bad that was a season ago. But it, hey, it makes for fun. It makes for fun off season and make for a nice talking point. I'm a little more. I mean, I was already going to be dialed into the game itself. But hey, all right, let's see what you got Mr. Castellanos. In the opener. Another thing that from last week was an article and I sent this to you. It was, I, I saw it. I think it was Stuart Mandel, that from SI that shared it. But it was written by Eli hoff at the St. Louis Post dispatch and it was on columbiamissourian.com but it was basically he had done an open records request for some nil numbers through what Missouri with their every something Tiger. Every true tiger program paid and it actually had nil numbers in it and basically that they had spent Missouri last year $31.7 million on nil. And the amazing part of it was looking at it from a month to month basis and you saw that in May of 2025 and then of June of 2025. You're as of right now before the settlement, almost $14 million of that $31.7 million massively front loaded it. But it's just, it was fascinating to actually to see real tangible numbers.
- [10:18]
David Pollack
Well, I sat down with a, with a GM of, of a school and I got all these numbers and it was fascinating to me too. Like literally I asked like how much did you pay? X How much did you pay? Why? And they're like this, this, this, this. It wasn't near as high as the numbers that are being reported out there. I think it's, it's inflated. Just anything else, it's always inflated. Players want to get more and that, that's the way it works. But it's, it's, it's a business. A lot of people front loading contracts but again it's, it's playing a game right now. You've been playing a game where you don't know the rules and that is a hard game to play. But interesting that you get some, some you know, cold hard numbers. If they're spending that, you can guess that there's a lot of people that are spending that or more around the country. I mean you can go ahead and assume that and it's, it's, it's nuts. It's crazy. The, the you, you went from the collective world to the, to the nil world to, to all the different things that continue to change throughout college football until we get closer to a point where we're all on the same page playing the same game with the same rules.
- [11:27]
Brent Rollins
65 the football 23 to men's basketball is what they of that money.
- [11:32]
David Pollack
That's a high percentage. That's. But they're but they're also, they're one of those schools like Auburn to me, like they're going to be competitive in both. Like Florida, you know, an interesting school like Yukon basketball. Yeah, I know where the funds are going. Like Duke basketball. I know where the funds are going. Right. Like Kansas basketball will be interesting with football because football's on the up. But we know they're going to get the majority of the. Like Kansas basketball is going to be a priority. They're not going to let them fall off a cliff. Like you kind of have to decide, Brent, like in my athletic department, what do I want to thrive and what do I want to die? Which this is an unintended consequences of all this stuff with all this people, all these things that are going on, you have to make decisions about the future. And a lot of times that means the others, the other sports, I. E. Not football and not men's basketball, get screwed. Everybody else is kind of left.
- [12:24]
Brent Rollins
Yep. Especially those Olympic sports that are going to get left in the, in the dust or completely go away in some schools. All right, so one of the things that we're going to do over the kind of the remainder of the summer is during the week we're going to at least one week. So this week we're going to look at different conferences, talk, try to get pretty much every team in some way and look at some of the questions that are within the conference. And this week because just a little bit of a tease, we got coach Brett Bielma joining us for Wednesday. So we're going to look at the Big Ten. So last year the Big Ten, Oregon was the new, new guy and they did okay. They won the Big Ten in year one. But then Ohio State wins the national championship. So you know, Oregon being the number one team and then Ohio State winning the national championship, they kind of in back to back Big Ten championships or saying hey look, we are maybe you know, we're the, we're the, we're up there with the SEC and maybe even better in totality and things like that. Which looking back at it, I went back and looked since they've had a championship game. So since 2011, Ohio State and Michigan won eight of the 14 championships. Oregon won one last year, Penn State's one. Michigan State has won two and then Wisconsin too. So obviously this is a predominantly Michigan and Ohio State run conference. But the thing we're going to look at first is players that you are, I guess, want to watch, excited to watch from each team. We're going to Go through every team. And that's all 18 teams, by the way, in the Big Ten. Yeah.
- [14:07]
David Pollack
This keeps growing every year, by the way. We just keep. It's having growth and it's harder. Like, you go, I'm doing a Big Ten preview. It'll be one show. No big deal. Two years ago now, it's like, what? There's, there's 2017.
- [14:20]
Brent Rollins
Yes.
- [14:20]
David Pollack
How did that happen?
- [14:21]
Brent Rollins
It'll be big ten times two here soon, before we know it. So I'll kick off.
- [14:27]
David Pollack
I'll go first.
- [14:27]
Brent Rollins
And I'm, I just, I would put them in alphabetical order. I don't know if you went that route.
- [14:33]
David Pollack
I absolutely did not. You know better than that.
- [14:38]
Brent Rollins
So for me, Illinois comes first. So Illinois comes first. I player that I'm most excited to watch for them or that intrigues me most about them in their season is actually a transfer wide receiver. And that's Hudson Clement from West Virginia, the transfer wide receiver. Because as we're going to ask coach later in the week, no Pat Bryant, no Franklin on the outside. You've got to replace the receiver room when you have Luke old Myer back. So that's the one for me.
- [15:04]
David Pollack
And Elmire has proven what he is. Like, he's a stud. When I was texting Belam about coming on the show, Brent, I was like, I promise you, I want to talk about your qb, because he was one of those guys to me that was crazy because he never wows you. But in the big moments, he's always there and he comes through and he makes plays. All right, I got a different one for you. Cole Rusk, the big tight end, 6 foot 5, 250 pounds. He was at Murray State. Was expected to do things a year ago. Got hurt again. I'm in the same realm as you. They had two really good wide receivers last year. Two really good guys you'll see playing on Sundays and replacing that production. I think I know they're going to run the football. I know who they are. I know what their identity is. But their QB needs a big target and a guy to, to hit those intermediate routes to move the sticks. Give me, give me my boy. Cole Rusk from Illinois.
- [15:53]
Brent Rollins
It's going to be so much fun to talk to Coach because I, I, he's done a couple interviews recently, and it's been more about sort of him, his story and things there versus his team and what's going on in the outlook for his group this year. So I want to really get into that with him. Indiana next, you know, Good and well.
- [16:10]
David Pollack
Bro, I'm going to be asking stories. That's my favorite part of having guys on is I'll just. I love stories.
- [16:15]
Brent Rollins
Oh, we'll get some stories too. We got. We got some legitimate ball with him. I mean it is the name of the show, right? SEO Indiana. Who you got for Indiana? Let's go first in this one.
- [16:28]
David Pollack
Well, I write. I wrote down two almost at every spot because I wanted to make sure I had one. The easy one would be Fernando Mendoza. So you might be taking that one, but I'm going. Omar Cooper, wide receiver. Last year he had seven tuddies and he averaged 21 yards of reception. Was already good. Gonna get more playing time. I think gets an upgrade at the QB position now. Another year in the system. I think he's a guy that Omar Cooper Jr. That you're talking about. You already talk about Sarat. He's going to get that attention now. I think he's a guy that can explode onto the senior. Like who this guy. This guy just went for 12, 11 touchdowns. And where did he come from?
- [17:08]
Brent Rollins
D' Angelo Ponce @ corner cornerback.
- [17:10]
David Pollack
Good cornerback.
- [17:12]
Brent Rollins
And it's not a. Not a big guy, but elite at James Madison as a freshman. Elite last year and looking to be another elite. Have another elite season at corner for Indiana because I think their offense is going to be A. Okay. And potentially even better. How good is the defense? I think that's the question. Iowa, the Hawkeyes. This one's a fun one for me. I'm going first. So you got. You gotta. You gotta hear me out on this one. Just because it's gonna be fun. It's a proxy too. Gronikowski, the QB transfer from South Dakota State. And the proxy of that to me is that. That Warren Ruggerio, I think is. How you say his name.
- [17:59]
David Pollack
Yes.
- [18:00]
Brent Rollins
Is there as an analyst, former Wake Forest coach and O and offensive coordinator. Do they bring the sort of slow mesh and make Iowa's offense interesting? The combination of those two guys. Which him, by the way, who if Rich Rod, when he left Glenville to. To go on his way. R was the guy who took over him at Glenville State College in West Virginia. So I went to his quarterback camp in high school.
- [18:27]
David Pollack
Nice.
- [18:27]
Brent Rollins
Random. Fun fact. Yeah, random.
- [18:30]
David Pollack
Really random. That was like. That was 25, 30 years ago. That's how old we are. I'm going grave digger. You. You watch. You watch Iowa, you watch 95. Aaron Graves, he can impact the game. He'll be on watch list like he's a guy that a lot of people know about. I don't know that he's even fully developed yet. Like, he's just got some good. You watch him, he's causing sacks and fumbles and games and just has the ability to get off people. You can tell he's a wrestler. You can tell he's got good hands and he just sifts his way through things and stuff. He's. He's a guy that could dominate games and wreck your game plans and you could be watching these really good games against these elite competition in the, in this conference and you're like, how is that guy still getting to my quarterback? Like, how is he getting in the Backfield? Why is 95 not on my team? Like I, I could see a lot of people saying that. When you watch Iowa games this year, Maryland, this one was easy for me. Malik Washington, he's going to be their starting quarterback and he was recruited by everybody. Five star top five quarterback. Brent, in college or in high school football coming out and they got him at Maryland. Like, I mean there's a lot of people that are going, hey, we don't want to name our starter at quarterback because we don't want people to leave. They're like, we got this dude, we paid him money, he's here, he's going to go start. He's got this ability. He's going to be next level. So when you watch Maryland this year, I'm not saying it's going to be always be good because you're a freshman QB man. Like you're going to take, you're going to take lumps. But a guy that has a lot of talent and if they can bottle it up, they can get, find a way to get some dubs. Maryland, they can stay in games and score points sometimes. But like he's, he's the guy for me that could play. He could be on a lot of rosters. Brent, he could be on just about anybody's roster in the country, but he's.
- [20:20]
Brent Rollins
On Maryland's and it's been a struggle for them recently. I went Nolan Ray, running back who's had a sort of had an 80.1 rush grade a season ago. More opportunities. Now he's RB1 that him in the backfield helping the young quarterback. All right, Michigan, the Wolverines.
- [20:38]
David Pollack
Me first. I.
- [20:40]
Brent Rollins
This one was easy for me. I'll go quickly. This was, this is Underwood. This like I. You want to see if it's. The hype is real. Let's see it. Because I'm intrigued to see it is It. I. I don't know. I want to see.
- [20:58]
David Pollack
Yeah, I think it's fair to say that I told you, Brent, watching the spring game, watching all the passes that I didn't see elite of elite, but I did see like. And throw the ball like 6,000 yards. He threw it over a mountain like Uncle Rico. Yes, Michigan. I'm going with Rayshawn Benny, the defensive tackle. Here's what I know about Michigan. Their colors are maze in blue. They're one of the winningest programs in all of college football. And every year they got some gams, some grown ace mans. Like, they got guys at the defensive tackle spot year after year after year after year that they just. They live in the weight room, they pound weights, they eat human beings alive up front, like year after year. That's why they've been so good and so dominant. And Rayshawn Benny's the next guy. Like, he's that next guy in the lineage that can really dominate football games from the inside out. 6, 4, 300 pounds. I mean, just. He's a problem. I'll be interested to see Damon Payne from Clemson or from Bama. And Trey Williams from Clemson, too. Like to see that defensive line and how good it is.
- [22:04]
Brent Rollins
They always usually have one or two guys on Bruce Feldman's freaks list. I wonder if he makes. Yeah, so they're doing something right, right?
- [22:11]
David Pollack
I mean.
- [22:11]
Brent Rollins
Yep. Michigan State.
- [22:16]
David Pollack
All right, you go first.
- [22:17]
Brent Rollins
Nick Marsh, big time years. True freshman, 6 3, 200 pounds. There wasn't much to like about the Spartans offense a year ago. He was about it, by the way. He was the brightest.
- [22:29]
David Pollack
Exactly what I had in my head. Like when you watched Mars, he came on the scene quickly. Like last year, you were like, huh, that guy. Big, athletic, like. Marsh was one of the only guys that, when I turned on Michigan State tapes that was pretty, pretty consistent that you watch and you're like, yeah, that guy's pretty good. Obviously you're. I thought, I thought the QB was pretty decent in moments, but man, oh, man, could it go backwards in moments and be really, really bad? So I was with Marsh with you on that one.
- [22:58]
Brent Rollins
Minnesota.
- [23:00]
David Pollack
Minnesota, the Golden Gophers. I got, I got running back Darius Taylor. He's. You should know who he is. But Wisconsin running backs are always very similar. Like Minnesota, Minnesota. Sorry. Minnesota running backs are very similar. Like, they're just, they're, they're, they're rugged, they're tough. They don't get tackled very often. Like, they, they break tackles. There's just something about them. P.J. fleck is a, is an interesting bird. I like him a lot, man. Like spending time around PJ and his energy and I just love his system and how he talks to his guys. And they love the crap out of him, man. They love him. They fight for him. But their running back spot, you can always count on a man. Like, they're going to be tough. They're going to break tackles. And last year, watching Darius Taylor consistently did it, like, consistently made plays. They'll have another new QB because they have a new QB every year. That's what Minnesota is like. But what you can count on is the physicality in the run game.
- [23:55]
Brent Rollins
Would it shock you that I wrote the exact same thing and that I have the number of missed tackles that he's forced in the last two years?
- [24:01]
David Pollack
How many?
- [24:01]
Brent Rollins
81, 83 plus rush grade each of the last two years from him. He's. He's the primary cat now. So that's exactly who I wrote down.
- [24:09]
David Pollack
So good, man. So good.
- [24:11]
Brent Rollins
Nebraska Raiola, year two. I want to see it.
- [24:17]
David Pollack
Are you expecting, are you expecting a big leap?
- [24:24]
Brent Rollins
No, I don't know that I'm expecting a big one.
- [24:26]
David Pollack
No, you don't have to say it like you.
- [24:28]
Brent Rollins
I'm expecting improvement, but not a big leap.
- [24:31]
David Pollack
I think is probably what's missing when you watch because this is what makes, this is what makes us different. Like this, this is what will make us different on the show is like actually watching and actually telling people like, what, what the guy is missing that, that he needs not just, you know, oh, he was 22 of 28 in a game or 30 of a game.
- [24:51]
Brent Rollins
Athleticism is one for me with him. I just think, I mean, I think he know he maneuvers well in the pocket, but sometimes he's just not a good enough athlete to avoid things and with who he plays for that you got to have some level of that.
- [25:05]
David Pollack
I think the, to me watching him a year ago, the negative plays like gots to get those out of the equation. I think about OT versus Illinois and just continuing to go backwards and trying to make plays. And just year two, Dana Holgerson, by the way, I think helps like another year with him now because he came in last year through the system. Like, Dana's always been very simplistic. Like, he's always loved Red Bulls and He drinks like 30 a day and his call sheets like this big. Brent, like, yes, I can relate to that big. It's. That's, that's how big it is. It's not very big. It's not Very. He's not going to go trick you. He's going to master a couple things and, and do them really, really well. But Brent, how do you not talk about Dane Key coming into that equation?
- [25:50]
Brent Rollins
Like, yeah, that's big.
- [25:51]
David Pollack
That joker can roll. They, they're losing a couple of targets. I think they get better at the wide receiver position. I think you get more explosive. I think he's one of the more explosive guys in the country. Like he's, he transfers from Kentucky.
- [26:04]
Brent Rollins
Hands. Very consistent hands for Keith.
- [26:06]
David Pollack
Yeah, I mean, listen, I just need you to catch some big plays. Like make some. Hey, Nebraska's had plenty of drops. Like they've, they've struggled with those. I think Dane Key can be electric, can be a big time playmaker.
- [26:17]
Brent Rollins
Dynamic the Wildcats, Northwestern Coach Braun, former C ball. Get ball Guest.
- [26:22]
David Pollack
Yes sir. I'm going. Preston Stone, the guy that you saw last year at smu, Kevin Jennings, takes a spot late in the season last year. He's, he's already knows he's leaving. He's. He, he's. He's had some inconsistencies. He's had some ups and downs, but he's got good athletic ability. He can throw the football. Like can they come in and be competent? Because here's the thing, Northwestern always struggles with the quarterback spot. Like it's, it's not been, it's not been a good spot. It's not been anything that they've highlighted over the years. They put guys in the league and you'll see guys sporadically jump up at offensive line and you know, pretty, those big strong guys. But man, getting the quarterback, the trigger man that makes everything go. Can he be that guy that can run pass by time? Because he's going to need to be that guy. He's going to need to scramble around and make plays if they're going to have any chance of being successful.
- [27:14]
Brent Rollins
It's exactly what I wrote down. Ohio State, I got, I actually went two guys on this one because of where they play. That's Philip Daniels from Minnesota and then Ethan O. Onion. I. I'll butchering that from Rice. The transfer offensive tackles for them like you got a brand new qb. If you got weapons galore, you got to be able to protect them, get the ball out.
- [27:41]
David Pollack
That is not what I expected. I expected maybe some possible like big names and some, some people that we've met might have heard of. But you went offensive line. That's, that's great. If you watched Ohio State last year, you saw a lot of jtt. You saw A lot of Jack Sawyer, like those guys are gone. And I, and I think who's going to be the edge player? And doing some, a little bit of research, there's an Idaho State transfer, Logan George that I'm interested to watch. Like he's played a lot, but coach, Coach Days, strong hands, physicality, like tough to block. Can he dominate the line of scrimmage? If he can dominate the line of scrimmage? Because that's what Sawyer was to me, that's what JTT was. They were strong at the point of attack. They weren't a minus in pass rush, but they weren't a plus every time. And so if you can get that and if, if Logan can start to develop as a pass rusher as the year goes along with the physicality, with the experience, I want defensive line, man. I'm tired of these pre boys. I had to do a little something. You went big, ugliest.
- [28:41]
Brent Rollins
The Atkinson kid from North Carolina as well. Adds to that, that room. All right, Oregon. I'm the name. I've already mentioned this name when we did our awards stuff or when we did our fantasy draft. Take that back.
- [28:54]
David Pollack
That means, that means we're on the same page.
- [28:56]
Brent Rollins
Fantasy tight end. Kenyan, Kenyan Sadiq. That's my working guy. Well, the dude's a freak athlete. Like he is a crazy 6, 3, 2, 50 runs like crazy. Just insanely good athlete. Give it to him on jet sweeps.
- [29:15]
David Pollack
Well, and if you, and if you look at. I got Sadiq too. And if you look at Sadiq, here's the thing. Insane jets. Like a guy that's going to hit 23 miles an hour on the GPS. Like that kind of speed at the tight end spot. Jake Ferguson was a really good player and a big part of the, the Oregon offense. He's gone like those reps have to go somewhere. Evan Stewart just gets banged up. Like that's, that's an important part. I think Sadiq is going to be a guy that takes over and goes absolutely bananas this year.
- [29:47]
Brent Rollins
I think you may have gotten some names mixed up right there.
- [29:50]
David Pollack
Ferguson, the tight end.
- [29:51]
Brent Rollins
I think you messed up his first name. We got, we got to correct you.
- [29:55]
David Pollack
Did I, did I go Jake? Did I go?
- [29:58]
Brent Rollins
Yes, that's why. Yeah, it's Terrence Ferguson, but yes.
- [30:02]
David Pollack
My bad.
- [30:02]
Brent Rollins
Oh, number three. Yeah, you're a numbers guy. Nothing. Not the name guy. Penn State Pena transfer receiver from Syracuse. Can he be a big play guy for them? They also got a couple other transfers receiver. That's to me where their season lies. What do they get from that position.
- [30:24]
David Pollack
Devonte Ross would be the transfer receiver that I wrote down. Number five all Sunbelt over a thousand yards, 11 touchdowns and guess what? No wide receiver period. Caught a ball against Notre Dame in the semifinal game. Not a single one. I'm not talking about in the first quarter. I'm not talking about in the first half. Penn State didn't have a receiver catch a football in the playoffs. Game in the. In the. In the game that mattered most to go to a Natty not one. So that gives you an idea how they felt about the receiver core and how they got locked down. So they've got to get some great play. Devonte Ross could be that guy on the outside with some experience.
- [31:08]
Brent Rollins
Purdue. I went a little bit of different route. I said Barry Odom because their entire team is new. Like they're the entirety of their team. I think if you look at the projected too deep. It's 80% transfer guys. So I was one. I would. I'm curious to watch Nitro Toggle who was a Georgia receiver and got yeah. Kind of asked or dismissed without being dismissed and ended up at Purdue. So that's one.
- [31:38]
David Pollack
But outside of that name team Nitro Toggles on your team like Nitro Toggles gonna be there. But how about this? I'm going Braden Joyner. You don't even know who he is. He's an O lineman. He was SEC all freshman left guard for Auburn last year. Transfer.
- [31:55]
Brent Rollins
Okay. Yes.
- [31:56]
David Pollack
Purdue was perdaunt at offensive line. It was really, really bad giving up sacks, giving up pressures. Do they get better along the offensive line that they. They invested in an offensive lineman that has a. Probably a pretty bright future. Big old boy. Not super tall but I mean did pretty good playing half the season last year from Auburn. It's got to get their offensive line better. It can't get too much worse.
- [32:20]
Brent Rollins
I'll say. Can they win a game? They lost 11 in a row after. After beating. I think it was Indiana State maybe in the opener. Rutgers. You're going to like this one by the way. Eric o' Neal Edge James Madison transfer. Started his career at Long Island University FCS school last season at JMU 90.2 grade 59 quarterback pressures. That's my guy. Eric O' Neill from New York, which.
- [32:50]
David Pollack
Is obviously close to New Jersey. Same guy Edge guy is. Is. I'll be interested. Listen, here's what I learned and here Brent, here's why I'm on board with that. If I watched what our board camara did at Indiana who coming from jmu, like, and went and tow it up, like, was really, really good with production. And now you say, like, Rutgers. Absolutely. Like, they just. I just saw the track record, and I saw what Signetti did with some of those guys, and then to put out numbers like that. So I'm on board. I love the call. I'm absolutely with you.
- [33:24]
Brent Rollins
Can you name. Can you not butcher the name of Rutgers quarterback, returning quarterback?
- [33:31]
David Pollack
Oh, it's the. It's the. I mean, first of all, no, I can't not name it, but it's like, Kim Alanus, something like that. Is that it?
- [33:43]
Brent Rollins
Manus, I think, is what. Is what it is.
- [33:45]
David Pollack
Okay.
- [33:45]
Brent Rollins
Yeah, he's good. He's returning.
- [33:49]
David Pollack
All right.
- [33:49]
Brent Rollins
Ucla. I'm from West Virginia. I'm. I'm allowed to butcher all that stuff.
- [33:55]
David Pollack
Go ahead. Go Bruins.
- [33:57]
Brent Rollins
Oh, that's easy, Nico. I'm sorry. And I want to see it. That one's too easy.
- [34:02]
David Pollack
That was way too easy. I mean, what do you. Honestly, though, what do you expect from Nico? Like, what is your expect. Do. Do you expect to see the same type of numbers like he had at Tennessee?
- [34:16]
Brent Rollins
I'd say about the same, because here's the thing. Maybe a little more because they're behind and you're chucking it more.
- [34:22]
David Pollack
I mean, his team is not getting better. Like, that's what's unfortunate. His system. Is it. Is it more friendly? And do you get better? And, like, the experience is there. The running. By the way, we saw a lot with Nico and. And he showed us late in the season, he was tough. He took hits. He got. He got dinged several times, man, that. You kind of worried about his noggin, but new system going out west. A lot. A lot. A lot of criticism. A lot of criticism and a lot of talk. And I'm just. I'm very curious to see how all this goes down. And I'm cheering for the kid. I really am. I mean, I'm cheering for the kid to do well because I don't feel like this was his fault. I feel like he was kind of. He was kind of the. He kind of got used in this situation and kind of got. He kind of got. He kind of got the bad end of this. Like, he's the one who has to go strap on the pads and move across the country now that his dad was trying to get. Make more money. And. And listen, it's a capitalist society. If you want to go try to make more money. This is also the other side of the coin. And I just. I feel bad for the kid that he has to go start over because it's not easy. So it was the easy, easy choice.
- [35:30]
Brent Rollins
USD Crosstown do what across town.
- [35:36]
David Pollack
That's yours across the town. Oh across. Yeah. I'm going. Jacobi Lane. Numero ocho is if you watched him last year. Listen, Lincoln Riley didn't forget how to coach offense. I think another year with a quarterback that by the way I, I saw plenty of flashes of really, really good. I need less mistakes but, but a year in the system I think helps. But Jacoby Lane, dude, he only had 500 yards receiving a year ago but he had 12 ties and he was the big play threat. He is 6, 4. You know he can, he can make those big plays. And more, more importantly, if you're usc, you saw this, you saw a guy that when the receivers all ducked and left in the transfer portal and they dipped in the Las Vegas bowl, dude went off. He had seven for 127 and three touchdowns. So I think you saw your future number one wide receiver link you, you need that if you're Lincoln Riley you got to have that guy and he's that guy.
- [36:35]
Brent Rollins
Since you said Lincoln Riley didn't forget how to coach offense, I agreed with that. So I went to the other side of the ball and Jakeem Stewart, the freshman top 20 recruit, I think his nickname is Thanos maybe or he got self proclaimed. I'm not sure but it's. He's 66, 250 edge guy. Can he make an immediate impact for them defensively? Because they obviously did not, they didn't get him on the cheat.
- [37:03]
David Pollack
So quite well self proclaimed. And it's Thanos. I bet you're a bad mother. Shut your mouth. I mean God dang, I'm Thanos. Like welcome like get you some.
- [37:19]
Brent Rollins
The Huskies Washington.
- [37:22]
David Pollack
I already knew who you were going to do so this was very easy to me because every time we mentioned Washington you mentioned the quarterback. So you didn't go quarterback?
- [37:30]
Brent Rollins
No, I did because it's, that's who I'm excited to see.
- [37:35]
David Pollack
Okay, well I want the guy he's going to be throwing to Denzel Boston. He, he really came on last year last four games he had 24 catches and most importantly the last seven last year down the stretch he had nine tuddies, nine touchdowns in seven games. Like clearly became the go to guy with the size of on the outside you got your quarterback, he's going to spin it around. By the way, Jonah Coleman at running back is an animal. That is a gam. Another dude Breaking tackles. That's a grown up, that's an adult. Like tackling a tree stump, by the way. Five foot eight, like 220. Not fun, like, not fun at all. To go with your qb, to go now with the other guy on the outside. I think Boston has a huge year.
- [38:19]
Brent Rollins
Last but not least, the 18th Big Ten team, Wisconsin, who might come up in our discussion here shortly.
- [38:27]
David Pollack
I got Billy Edwards Jr. I got transfer quarterback. I got transfer QB. Because if you've watched Wisconsin, first of all, if you watched last year, it was very ungood. It was not fun. And I think when you've watched Luke Fickles reign so far they haven't had a quarterback with a 60 plus. They've been under 60 completion percentage. Under, like that's not crazy nowadays. That used to be like a really, really high number. But Billy Edwards Jr. He was over 65% at Maryland. Like, can he come in and give them some balance? And they want to run the football. They got a new oc. It's a different. It's a change of times for Wisconsin. Can they get this thing rocking and rolling? But it's got to start with the.
- [39:11]
Brent Rollins
QB position, man, somebody to get after the passer. Because last in the FBS and tackles for loss, second worst in the Big Ten for sacks. They got a like six or seven new defensive front slash edge guys and somebody out of that group, thugs, Peterson, Walker, Perkins, Garner, Rager, who I think missed last year. Can somebody do something for them? Because I think for me, that's one of the things I think about when I think of Wisconsin over the years. Chanel, the Watts, like all these guys that just consistently get after the quarterback per big like, and the guys that are doing it in the league right now.
- [39:52]
David Pollack
So did you, did you just pick their whole team?
- [39:57]
Brent Rollins
No, I just. Just the group position. Just a position.
- [40:01]
David Pollack
Who's the guy? Who's the guy that's gonna make a splash? One of the 75 transfers on the defensive line. Somebody's got to get some say somebody's got to do it.
- [40:11]
Brent Rollins
All right, so finishing up and then from a prediction standpoint. We'll get to that on Wednesday. But just some other questions as we look at the Big Ten. Which of these. Which of the traditional powers you think returns to kind of somewhat glory or takes a step back? Would you go USC or Michigan?
- [40:34]
David Pollack
I think both of those teams return more so than they were a year ago and they'll be more consistent. I. I like USC. I think USC's. First of all, I love what I Saw from Dan Lynn last, that Lynn last year at the D.C. spot for them, I thought their defense was better than it's been in years. I thought their offense kind of let them down. Honestly, Brent, like I, you watch them, you saw, you saw the offense, you know, shoot Notre Dame, two pick sixes. Like, not only are you giving away the ball, you're also giving up touchdowns on the other side. And just, I, I think, I think both of those teams are going to be much better this year. I got, I got USC making a leap this year. I think they won four games in the Big Ten a year ago. I could see them winning at least six this year in the Big Ten, which, that's a, that's a really good leap. Like, that's a couple games. That's a couple games. And by the way, if you're not paying attention to usc, their recruiting right now is stupid. Like, it's elite. It's like the best of the best right now in the country. They're, they're inking guys left and right now. Listen, it doesn't mean anything until they sign on the dotted line. But like Lincoln Riley is building momentum again, which is good. If they can have a good year this year, they can build it again and, and continue to go maybe to that next level and be even better the next year.
- [41:51]
Brent Rollins
So you think, sir, are they your biggest leap candidate?
- [41:54]
David Pollack
Yeah, I think they're the team that makes the biggest leap this year.
- [41:57]
Brent Rollins
Okay. I went Washington just because I'm, I'm, I'm a husk. I'm, I'm a Husky this year. I'm all in on the mon. Williams Jr.
- [42:04]
David Pollack
I like that.
- [42:05]
Brent Rollins
Toughest schedule.
- [42:07]
David Pollack
Oh my God, this is easy. This, this is murders Row. Like, this is the worst schedule in all of college football. I'm not going to tell you the team and you could just listen to the schedule and go, oh, I'm not winning very many games. Miami of Ohio, you. Yes. Love you. Middle Tennessee, love you. Now let's get real, let's get dirty. Listen to this schedule. At Bama, host Maryland, not too bad. At Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State at Oregon, Washington at Indiana, Illinois at Minnesota when it's 3 degrees outside, which will be really, really fun. Like, that is absolutely ridiculous. You got two guaranteed wins, you got a couple toss ups with Maryland, with Washington, with Minnesota, but they're, you know, it's only one at least is at Minnesota, but you talking about at Oregon, at Bama, at Michigan playing Ohio State. Golly, bro, I don't not want to be Wisconsin, the over under, I think for them is like five and a half. I think that was their over under that I read Ain't no way. Like if that's the case, if it's five and a half, I don't gamble. But I'm. I'm gladly taking the under. Like I will dive in that pool in a heartbeat and stay underwater like that ain't happening. I think you'll coast. You're. You're going to give up two and oh, and you're going to be like, God, they only got to find three more. Well, good luck. Go find them. They're going to start like this and they're going to start happy and then it's going to be like, man, oh man, I got to find some dubs.
- [43:50]
Brent Rollins
And what's. When you think about the toughest schedule, it's like, okay, who has a great like non conference game? Well, Michigan plays at Oklahoma, but they don't have Oregon. They don't have Penn State on their schedule. UCLA or ucla, but USC plays Notre Dame. They don't have Ohio State. They don't have Penn State. So like all these double digit win teams in the Big Ten last year they got four of the five. Their schedule for Wisconsin. All right. Yeah, no, not good at all. So we would did leave. All right, who comes down to earth in the conference?
- [44:18]
David Pollack
This to me, but I might be looking at this a different way than you, but like Oregon, Oregon goes into the conference, they go undefeated. They look like the best team in the country. They have zero losses in the Big Ten. Zero. Count them, zero. Like took care of business, won the league, walked in the league and was like, I thought this was supposed to be difficult. This was pretty easy. Like this Big Ten thing really ain't that big of a deal. Like we've been playing good football apparently for a while. Y' all just didn't know about it. But I think they lose at least two games this year, which means that's a huge step down. Like, that's obviously a big step backwards. Now are they still going to be great? Yes, they're still going to be a really good football team and be in the mix, but they're going to go backwards big time.
- [45:07]
Brent Rollins
That's. I didn't think of it that way, but that is a great way of looking at it. Mine was Minnesota, no Max Brosmer. Offensive lines basically new. And they've kind of been yo yoing for a little bit with, hey, I'm good one year and then I'm down the next year. This to me feels like a. They were eight and five a year ago. Five and four in the, in the Big Ten. I think they take two, three, four steps backs possibly.
- [45:35]
David Pollack
Yeah, about Fleck, man. They, they find it. They somehow develop it. Find it. And, and they're going to gut out games and they're going to lose games that are close because they're not good enough to separate. But they'll always be disciplined, they'll always be tough. They've got some good pieces. You know, I think Minnesota is going to be Minnesota. They're going to, they're going to beat a couple teams they should. And they're going to lose to a couple teams they shouldn't. But they'll be in just about every game.
- [46:01]
Brent Rollins
Lastly, who pulls off a big upset in the conference this year? I've got three possibilities that I wrote down.
- [46:10]
David Pollack
Spit it go.
- [46:13]
Brent Rollins
Rutgers at home against Oregon on October 18th. So that's a cross country trip after three weeks of playing Oregon State, Penn State and Indiana. Before that for Oregon. Oregon.
- [46:25]
David Pollack
What time's the game gonna be?
- [46:27]
Brent Rollins
That. That's, I mean, I can tell you.
- [46:30]
David Pollack
It'S gonna be a noon kick, which makes it even harder, bro. Like. And here's the thing here, here's what Brent understands and what a lot of people don't understand. When you go on a two, three week schedule that's really, really tough with 18, 19, 21 year old kid, 2021 year old kids, man, like, they lose a little bit of focus. They see Rutgers, they see that R, they're like, yeah, they're fine. Rutgers is tough. Rutgers is not going to beat themselves very often. Like, they can get hot, they can have moments. They're not, you know, overly talented. But, but they're a team that is, is a real, is a good football team, Is a solid football team. With Shiano. Shiano does a great job at understanding what you do well, minimizing it, not letting you beat him with his strong hand. So I love that call.
- [47:16]
Brent Rollins
Next one. I had Iowa at home versus either Penn State or Oregon. I think they might get one of them if they can get some level of offensive play. That's a game to me that they get at home.
- [47:28]
David Pollack
I agree.
- [47:29]
Brent Rollins
October, the other November, I think, by.
- [47:32]
David Pollack
The way, visitor locker rooms at Iowa. You go, you walk in the visitor locker room, Brent, and everything's pink. It's painted pink. It's fantastic. Like, absolutely exquisite. I love it. I mean, I told you, I'll tell all y' all all the time. I'm here for the Petty, I love that kind of a stuff, but I'm with you on Iowa, too. I think that they, I think their offense showed flashes. Listen, it wasn't. They scored over 40 a couple times. Okay. So that's like, that's, that's the equivalent of some teams scoring a hundred. Like, that is elite of elite. So that's good. And I think they take the next step offensively, so I can get down with that. All right, last one. We'll get out of here.
- [48:12]
Brent Rollins
Ohio State at Washington September 27th.
- [48:16]
David Pollack
You love the Huskies, man. You are riding the Huskies.
- [48:19]
Brent Rollins
And it's also, you got the big game against Texas and then they go Grambling and then Ohio. So two kind of just show up games for Ohio State and then you got to go and you got your new quarterback. First road game like that. That's. And that is a great time to recipe.
- [48:34]
David Pollack
Yeah. Right. I can tell you this, like, Oregon and Washington on the west coast were two of the probably the most impressive atmospheres that I've been. Because I was like, you know, because it is different out west. It's different. Like it's, it's a different vibe. Like, you go to, you go to the Coliseum and you're like, is there a game going on? Like, oh, okay, we're. We're playing. Like, we're not even interested at all. Like, it's not loud. But you go to Oregon, you're like, this is only 40 or 50 something thousand people, but they're into it. And Washington, they love their dogs now. Like, they love their dogs. So it's a tough place to play. I'm not ready to get, get on that train yet. Especially when you're talking about the teams they're playing before. I love what you were before that, but.
- [49:16]
Brent Rollins
Abrupt crash off the cliff there.
- [49:19]
David Pollack
Hey, solid show. Hey, you know, listen, we'll actually make.
- [49:24]
Brent Rollins
Some predictions on Wednesday, like who's going to be in the playoff, who's going to win the conference, that sort of stuff. So.
- [49:29]
David Pollack
Well, and I think one of the things I can tell you after traveling the country with all these coaches, man, very few will shoot you street straight like Brett B. Like be Lima will you ask him a question? He's going to shoot you straight. He don't care. He's been around some great coaches, man. Spent some time with the Patriots and Bill Belichick, which kind of changed his thought on defense, which I'll be interested to talk to him about, like recruiting. He's always been a good recruiter. He's always found a way to find guys that just. That don't necessarily get the love around the country, but he finds them, and we'll talk to him about that. So that'll be a good show. Make some predictions. We appreciate y' all continuing to. To follow C Ball. Get Ball, man. We're still growing. We're. We're top five of Apple podcasts, which is. Which is kind of crazy because it's just a big, dumb animal and a bald guy that's a nerd. Like, it's fantastic like that. We love Ball, and Brent Rollins always joins us. I appreciate the takes, Brent, appreciate the studying, the direction. We appreciate you guys listening. And we will see you Wednesday with Brett Biel.