← See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack
See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack
Notre Dame 2025 Preview | Boise State | Tulane | G5 CFP Contenders?
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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 on in. The countdown continues. We are currently right now at 26 days and there's actually a, there's a college football counter, by the way, Brent, that I, that I really love. Brent Rollins joins me, David Pollock with you as always. It's at 26 hours or excuse me, 26 days. So it actually gives you the hours and the minutes if you want to go to college football select.com. it's pretty cool. I do, I do look at it every day and I love the fact that it counts down the minutes and the seconds. But camp starting all across the country. And as a football player, just telling you about the past, this means your life's over now for like, for the next like six to eight months. Like, you know, man, last time I played golf was this past weekend. Last time I did X was this past weekend. Like everybody buckling down, man. And it's, it's coming down now to the, to the point where it gets serious and you start getting to camp and you, you're about to get some reps and about to start competing and hit your own guys for the next 20 something days and be tired of hitting your own guys and be ready to hit someone else. But it's go time. Brent.
- [01:16]
Brent Rollins
I, that's one of the things that's unique about college compared to the NFL because the NFL obviously has the preseason games. We get to see him a little bit in August and obviously it's not the main guys, but like colleges, you got to be snap one. You got to be ready to go. There is no preseason. It's. Well, that's not true.
- [01:32]
David Pollack
There are some teams that have preseason games. There are plenty of teams that, that, that address their preseason schedule differently. And then there's, there are those that went Ohio State and Texas and LSU and Clemson or Clemson. Yeah, and lsu. Like, there's, listen, there's some teams that, that do handle the, the preseason very nicely.
- [01:54]
Brent Rollins
Yeah, that's, that's a, that's a very valid point. A very valid point. And, and speaking of valid points, we had some, some listeners who made some valid points to, to check on us a little bit over the past week, one of which was Texas Tech fans with very passionate fan base studs. It wasn't $55 million on football. They pointed out it was or that was 55 million or whatever the number was 50 something million on all sports.
- [02:20]
David Pollack
God, isn't that amazing, by the way? Hey, it wasn't, it wasn't just football. Like we did spend 55 million. It was everything but like what a nice spot in life to, to, to be at. But Texas Tech fans, are they. Brent, like I'm telling you, when you go to a game there, it looks a very much like Halloween. Like it's, it's crazy. It's nuts. Like they are, they are psychotic. And that's one thing that I've always appreciated about this sport and the people that, that don't follow it and don't love it. Like these fans will call you out in a heartbeat. Like they'll call you to the car and you should so and listen at Sea Ball. Get ball. Call us out please. With all those things. We're not going to be perfect. We're going to mess things up and we'll take it. We're going to, we're going to have some predictions that suck, I promise.
- [03:11]
Brent Rollins
And one other thing we missed which by the way, I was mad at myself for missing this one. So we had talked about Baylor and Devin Turner transferring over from Northwestern. I completely missed the. And I think Aranda announced it at Big 12 media days. He tore his ACL in like the last play of the spring of, of camp or something like that. Spring ball. So he will be out for the season. So that was one that kind of hurts Baylor a little bit. So missed that too.
- [03:36]
David Pollack
But still on the Baylor, still on the Baylor Bears.
- [03:40]
Brent Rollins
I agree. But there was some news over the past week. President Trump, as he said he would in a way injected himself into college sports which by the way I saw it was his 176th executive order in seven months. So that's a lot. And then it was titled Saves College Sports.
- [04:04]
David Pollack
Yeah, well.
- [04:05]
Brent Rollins
And I think see what comes of this.
- [04:07]
David Pollack
Well, these conversations obviously have been going on and sitting down with Saban and then Saban goes on and talks about it a little bit I think which you know, and Saban said a couple of things. Here's what you need to know. Like here's what Saban said about the Trump thing because he had conversations with him, Sanki had conversations with him. It's, he said male and female made that very clear off the bat. Education revenue and non revenue sports, like it's pretty much very simple. Like just protecting the integrity of the game and what we have. We can still bring money in, we can still do all these good things. The kids can still get compensated. But let's protect the integrity of all sports, male and female, and protect the integrity of education. So I don't think there's anybody in the country that goes, that's stupid. Like, and here's why. And again. And here's why. Here's why Trump or the government has to get involved. The government has to get involved, Brent. Because think, just take the sec look at all the states that you go across with all the different, different rules, different laws. Like, if you don't have a framework for everyone, then everyone gets to dictate their own framework. And some of them are like, to you, the NCAA and like, makes their own rules. So I do think there has to be, you know, a framework and the government stepping in. It shows you how important this is, not just because it's a money maker for everybody, but it's because also there is an education component of this that sometimes gets a little bit lost. So I don't think this is a bad thing. Get in, get out, and go get the other stuff in the country because there's plenty of other crap that's going on that needs to be, that needs to be fixed.
- [05:45]
Brent Rollins
It was one thing that was interesting to me thinking about, which this is an aside from the, from, from the executive order itself, but a random question that I thought about as it relates to this. Do you think college football trumped the NFL this off season? Because I tend to think that they did. Like, in terms of just because normally the NFL owns the offseason, all this.
- [06:09]
David Pollack
They stay in your conscience with free agency and all of the things that they do.
- [06:14]
Brent Rollins
But I think college football this off season, because of all the things that surrounded college football, because of Nico and the, in essence, a trade and, and that all the things with it and then this, you know, the executive part, the, the, the government part of it too, because the NFL feels like it's gotten to the point where the old NBA, what the old NBA used to be, where it's four or five teams and everybody else is just kind of trying to get better. But college football now feels like that true parody where everybody's got a chance and we'll see. I don't know, but I just thought the off season part of it, the topic of conversation, the off season, it felt like college football actually maybe won that battle this year over the NFL.
- [06:53]
David Pollack
I mean, I, it's, it's definitely a debate which shows you usually the, the hot takeoff season of, of NFL is, is very much in the mix. All right, so we've previewed, you know, the conferences. And now I think you got, you got to finish her up. You know, you can't just can't leave everyone else hanging. And that starts with Notre Dame, whether you like it or not. I know there's a lot of people that, you know, Notre Dame should be in a conference. They're not like a lot of people that aren't in a conference with, with conference realignment now and the money purposes. Shoot. You saw the Memphis and we talked about that here they, you know, supposedly tried to pay $200 million to jump into a conference and you saw, you know, SMU paid $200 million to get in the ACC and you know what that's worth. But Notre Dame is one of the few that doesn't have to do it. And it's pretty impressive that they can do that and keep the revenue. But listen, I don't know where you're at. I do remember this and, and we'll like. I remember saying this on this show last year, towards the end of the season, I'm like, I think Notre Dame is legit. I think they can win it. And I remember you bringing up Notre Dame's ghost past. Listen, same thing with McShay. I went on McShay show and he was like, you're really buying Notre Dame. And I was like, yeah, like, I think they have the components. They have the dude at the, at the, at the helm, the qb. That to me, I just. You watch that kid compete. And you were like. And I knew he wasn't going to play on Sundays or not going to be a big part of playing on Sundays. But you had watched Riley Leonard and he was good and he was tough and he was competitive and he was athletic as a freak. So, Brett, the question is the staying power. Do you think Notre Dame is going to be in this spot, you know, again in the College Football Playoff or. And in the mix or are you saying that they've cleared those hurdles and they're in new air?
- [08:38]
Brent Rollins
I do think it's funny that the first note that I wrote was you were a believer early. I was more of a Believe it when I see it. That was the first thing that I wrote as it. When I gets to that. But it does start. It starts with Marcus Freeman and what he's done and what he's brought and the recruiting that he's brought. They are big time sort of element uptick with recruiting. And I've looked at this to the point where as long as their quarterback doesn't pee down his absolute leg in the first game or two. They're 11. They're 11. One floor team. I think they're that talented across the board and like 11, 1, 4, 12, 0 stealing like, as long as he is something complete.
- [09:23]
David Pollack
What changed from last? Just watching last year and watching them compete and go through what they went through. And is that. Is that what changed your opinion?
- [09:32]
Brent Rollins
Well, it's just. It's the elite talent that they now have. I think that, you know, they always had, you know, an occasional, like a Joe Alt, a Quentin Nelson, you know, very solid offensive line play. Now it's that way across the board, even with the Jackassaw industry injury.
- [09:47]
David Pollack
And he was so glad you said his name. Thank you.
- [09:49]
Brent Rollins
Yeah.
- [09:49]
David Pollack
Jackass all.
- [09:51]
Brent Rollins
Even with that.
- [09:52]
David Pollack
All right. You know what's fun about situation db.
- [09:56]
Brent Rollins
Like, all of it. Like, just players everywhere like that.
- [10:00]
David Pollack
That's what's fun to me about starting with Notre Dame is. And talking about Notre Dame, like, we can talk about the big boys up front. Last year, they had no experience, and they were still fine. Like, still tough guys. Like, you could tell they get the right guys. They develop. This year coming in, they have more guys. They have so many guys up front with starting experience. They're athletic, they're big, they're tough, they're strong. I think you. You love that about them. But Notre Dame has the best running back room in the country. And it's not close. Like, there's not a 1A. It is. Or there's not a 1B and a 1A and a 1C and like, oh, I'm debating, like, actually, you know what? Penn State has a gripe, but here's what I'll say. Penn State definitely has a gripe. Like, that's that fair. I jumped the gun a little bit on that. I apologize, Penn State fans. But here's the thing. Love's the best to me. He's the best running back in the country because he's got the wiggle, he's got. He's got the juice, he's got moves. He doesn't get the touches of everybody else, but he's the best back. And then when you got Jadarian Price, who comes in, who's totally different and so freaking physical, like, so physical, like, just, he's going to break tackles, he's going to be north, south, he's going to get positive yards, and then love comes back in. You're like, gosh dang it. Like, really, I got to tackle both of these guys. And then Aeneas Williams, like, you talk about a guy That's a receiving threat. He was a freshman a year ago and he's back. He's a great third down back. So that's why Notre Dame has the best backfield in America. Like I think they have multiple pieces that do different things, but all of them do something at an elite level. Whether it's break tackles, whether it's hit home runs, whether it's catch the football out in space, they have all of it in that room. And that's why they got, they got the best running back room in the country.
- [11:55]
Brent Rollins
And when you're breaking in a new quarterback who has all of four career snaps and zero attempts, like that's a great thing to have to lean on, especially early. Malachi Fields, I think was a big transfer get for them the receiver from Virginia as a big target. 6, 4, 2, 20, 50 plus receptions, 800 plus yards, five touchdowns each of the last two seasons for Virginia because you know, you had great house and Faison, that was really the only two guys coming back that caught passes for them. Now you bring in fields like you actually have weapons there that this is not just about, hey, can we get to the playoff and win a game or two. It's adding to make a run. And by the way, which all this still matters on how C.J. carr plays and how he does. And that's the biggest question. We know that. But yes, all the things around him.
- [12:49]
David Pollack
Here's what we saw last year. Brent from, from, from Notre Dame. We did not see great receiver play and guys on the outside that you were like, oh my gosh, they're, they're, they're gonna win. Like they, they've been fantastic. But Jaden Greathouse in the playoff, like that dude, he br. He showed me he's legit man. Like that. That's, that's where Faison showed more during the regular season then great house. You're like, where did, where was this at? Because all of a sudden he became, you know, really dynamic. In the last, you know, two games he was, he was over 100 yards in the semifinal, in the, in the championship game. So he was definitely three touchdowns. He was a big part of it. And that's why I feel even better because last year we were like, who's the guy out wide who's winning? Offense is good, but not elite because the passing game and that's. I don't know how much they're going to that. That's why I would feel good about Notre Dame. If I'm a Notre Dame fan. I, I didn't have a great passing attack a year ago, like I didn't. But I still was a really good team because I understand exactly who I am. I understand what I am. I understand how to maximize that. I understand how to be aggressive and fake punts and whatever I need to do. I just, I think that that that's where you go back to Marcus Freeman and I think their staff last year OCDC combination one of the best in the country. But now let's talk about this because this is important to me. Al golden being gone, going to the Bengals like this is a big deal. Like I love Al golden. Knew, knew his guys played his system really, really well. Well obviously the best team in man coverage a year ago it didn't matter who they played. They manned them up, they played physical and they. And they won. And a lot of people aren't willing to do that because you know, I got to mix it up. I'm not. I need to show that I can do all of these different things and I thought they were really good. Very simple. And I'm sure, I'm sure you got numbers with all that stuff too. I'm sure you did you come to bear with numbers with those man coverage?
- [14:43]
Brent Rollins
Well, I mean I just remember they played man more than in Cover 1 more than any team in the country.
- [14:48]
David Pollack
It was like 80% man. Like it was crazy number.
- [14:51]
Brent Rollins
It was the majority of the things that they did and it helps when even when you lost. They lost the Morrison kid of the year ago and then Leonard Moore is a true freshman steps up and is now returning as one of the best cornerbacks in the country. And the other part, I mean they did lose talent there. You know Mills and Cross on the defensive line. Yeah. Xavier Watts on the, on the safety. Right. The Clark kid as a safety like defensive back. But what they return and what they return from injury, as long as those guys kind of pick up to pre injury form like Trey or and Botello I think is how you say it. Those two guys on the edge like they were playing very, very well early in the season and then a couple like back to back weeks and it was that they, that they lost those guys.
- [15:40]
David Pollack
I'm not sure anybody got hit harder last year that stayed in the mix when it came to an injury standpoint because you kept pointing to guys over and over and over again. But. And you mentioned some of those guys that are gone. But how about the guys that are back more? Wasn't that highly recruited but is. Is probably the best returning corner in the country. Like so that, that's a good starting block for sure. And then you go get devonte Smith from Alabama who was a really good player in the slot. That covers, you know, the slot which is good. But also you talked about losing the safety, but Schuler's back, who was a really good safety and then Drake Bowman's back at linebacker. So like as much as some of those guys I point to that I lost, they, they've got a bunch of guys that are really good that are also very proven and they've recruited well and they've. And what they've shown me, man, what Marcus Freeman and company have shown me the most is they're developing guys. Like not everywhere does that man. I just, they don't do Leonard Moore being a three star guy and he's all of a sudden the best corner in the country. I mean it doesn't, it doesn't always have to be five star guy. Jordan Davis at Georgia was a, was a three star recruit that they beat like North Carolina for. You know, like you can't, it's, it doesn't always have to be these five star guys and I like the guys that they have and, and how competitive they are. Chris Ash is going to call the defense and you know, he, Brent, his resume looks so dagum familiar to Al Golden. I mean both went to be head coaches, you know, one at Rutgers not good 8 and 32. You know, Al golden went to and struggled obviously at Miami and gets fired. Like it's, it's, it's very similar. Both real good experience. He's been in a lot of conferences with Wisconsin and Ohio State and Arkansas and he spent time in Iowa State. Like he's been around a lot of ball, been in the NFL. Chris Ash and so I think it is a learning curve a little bit with the defense, but I expect with the type of guys they have, they're going to be just fine. And I think then you get to the, the schedule and what you think about their schedule.
- [17:44]
Brent Rollins
So, so like is game one to me, is there if they get game one which by the way at Miami who now has Carson Beck at quarterback. So Carson Beck actually gets to play against Notre Dame. He didn't when he was at Georgia last year. If they get that game, I think 11, like I said 11 one is the floor to me.
- [18:06]
David Pollack
They still got A M, they still got Boise, they still got usc. So their sketch, their schedules not near as bad as teams that are in a lot of. Most of the teams that are in the, in the big Power 4 conferences, they're not like they've now. This is more, you know, this is more of an ACC schedule probably. Like, this is, you know, a couple of games that are competitive. You don't have to be at your best the whole time. And with their talent. I'm right there with you at Miami, though, breaking in a new qb, breaking in some new players. I think Miami's going to be really good. I, I do. I think, listen, Miami's still a team that me and you. You still, just like last year with Notre Dame, you're like, do I trust? Do I trust? Do I trust? I haven't seen enough from Crystal Ball to trust him. Like, I get that to break through. But the talent is there. The defensive line can be really good. And breaking in a new QB with a defense that's going to be much improved, an offense that's going to have weapons and, and some speed and you want to, you want to play, man. And you're figuring out your guys as a D.C. i'm with you on that one. That first one's. One's scary, but because there's a world.
- [19:16]
Brent Rollins
Where Car just throws the ball to the other team three times and completely, yes, it happens and, but on the road, first game, big game, all that kind of stuff. But barring that, like, I think he's, to me, the confidence. And by the way, Marcus Freeman kind of talked about it when you interviewed him earlier in the off season, there was a very like, quiet confidence, almost just like, hey, we feel like we kind of got our guy here and we're going to be. Be just fine. So I'll, I'll lean to him.
- [19:46]
David Pollack
We're not going to tell you our guy because that's not what we do because people will transfer.
- [19:50]
Brent Rollins
But, but when you have one, did.
- [19:52]
David Pollack
The, the only problem with, the only thing with Notre Dame that's going to be that could be difficult is just those games early because you got A M Week 2 as well. Like you, you're not breaking. They might be playing their best football at the end of the season because they're. Because the guys have gotten the quarterback. I mean, honestly, the quarterback. The quarterback's gotten in and now you're looking at Notre Dame. And here's the narrative, the narrative around the country is going to be, well, yeah, they won the last whatever games because they played NC State, Boston College and Navy and Pitt and Syracuse and Stanford down the stretch. Like, of course everyone's going to win with that schedule. So, you know, that will be interesting. And what others do around them obviously always matters. But if we've learned anything, I think the past couple years, I don't think the parody is going away in college football. Like, I think it's very much here to stay. So Notre Dame going to be very much in the playoff race. That might tick some of y' all off. It might make some of y' all happy. And that's the beautifulness about college football. Next, let's go to Boise, who they play. They play Boise.
- [20:50]
Brent Rollins
Yep. That's still a thing. They are, they're guaranteed the top five conference champion. Highest ranked conference champions will be in the playoff. Now, Boise last year got the, the benefit of the, the little quirk in the system and they got the buy. I don't think that one's happening this year because it's going to be straight seating this year. I don't think you're going to see.
- [21:12]
David Pollack
It's not happening.
- [21:13]
Brent Rollins
You can say definitively not happening. Yeah, that's not happening this year. But you know, think about their season a year ago, 12 and 2. And their only two losses were to Oregon and Penn State. And they had a really good year and absolutely could have beat Oregon.
- [21:29]
David Pollack
Absolutely could have beat Oregon.
- [21:32]
Brent Rollins
Return a lot. And basically outside of Ashton Genti and maybe one or two receivers, which, by the way, that's a pretty big, that's.
- [21:41]
David Pollack
A ginormous basically outside of, you know, an all time great talent, first round draft pick, one of the best running backs to ever do it. I mean, yeah, sure, like, you know, a guy that had more rush yards than 19 total teams and more explosive plays than on the ground than almost every team in the country. I mean, that's where it starts and finishes. I don't think, you know, another coach has been on the program, Spencer Danielson, like another, another program that's building. He's a young guy. You can tell, like Dillingham's got some juice. 35 of 39 first place votes in the, in the Mountain west to win it again. So it's not, it's not a surprise, but I think the biggest thing, Mad Dog at quarterback. Mad Dog Maddox, he is Maddox Madison. He beat out some of these big names that ended up transferring and going elsewhere, like Taylor Green, like Malachi, right, the kid who came from USC there. He beat out some really, really good players to run that job. That job a year ago was an easy job to do, Brent. And I don't mean that disrespectfully, but when it's third and short and when you're winning the time of possession consistently, the O line was developing. Now, like, I think we'll have to see more from him. But here's what I'll say about him. I trust that kid. Like, I trust. I trust what's in here. I trust what's in here. I trust how he, how he plays and how he balls and how he games. Like, Mad Dog's a really good quarterback. I just don't know with losing that and now at the running back spot, like it's sire Gaines and, and it's, you know, that's, that's a new guy. And how good can he be? How easy can he make it? Because this, this is an offense that's, that's going to be solid. And Matt Lauder, we talked about him last year before they got to the playoffs. He's a really good tight end man, like really good playmaker. They designed things for him. But I, I expect Boise State to be really, really good, like they always are. I don't know if it's as magical of a season as it was a year ago.
- [23:44]
Brent Rollins
No. And the interesting part, you talked about trusting Maddox Madsen. I thought they should have trusted him more against Penn State early in the game. I think they leaned a little too heavily on Genti early in that game. But it's going to be bad running back by committee because you got Riley, the. Dylan Riley, the Sherrod kid from Fresno that transferred.
- [24:03]
David Pollack
Yeah.
- [24:06]
Brent Rollins
That was like a more one of the higher recruits that for them. So. But the key with that, almost the entire two deep on their offensive line is back and Cage Casey is already like, Dane Brugal's already put him in like his top 50 preseason, so he's a potential kind of round one guy at tackle. So offensive line being a big strength. I think they're going to be there the sort of sneaky game for me with them, it was like, obviously they got to go to Notre Dame, but at South Florida, start of the season on, on August 28th in Tampa, like that, that's a, that's not, that's not sneaky.
- [24:45]
David Pollack
Brett. Do you know what those kids are going to do from Boise when they get down in that South Florida heat? They're gonna be like, why, why, why is my lungs not working? Like, I'll never forget when I got drafted by the Bengals and I went to camp and it was, it was in Northern Kentucky and I was like, oh my God, this is July. Like, this is amazing. Like, I, I can breathe. Like, this is not, it's not like My lungs aren't thick. I was, I was like, this is. And somebody said something about the heat. I'm like, nah, bro, like, don't even talk to me about the heat. So at South Florida, you know, with some speed, you're right. Like that. That's a tough one to start at Air Force, but there's a lot of, there's a lot of winning winnable on this, man. There's not a home. Yes, huh?
- [25:31]
Brent Rollins
And they get UNLV at home.
- [25:32]
David Pollack
Yeah, but, but, but at South Florida, at Air Force, which Air Force is okay, but they'll be, they'll be tricky. But at Notre Dame, like those are. And then they've got the usual. Yeah, you got unlv and then a lot of the others that they're going to be more talented than everybody they play on their schedule. Except for Notre Dame.
- [25:51]
Brent Rollins
Yep.
- [25:52]
David Pollack
I mean, now they might. I'm as much as speed as South Florida, but I think they'll be more talented across the board. Big year for Boise. And I think people expect, just like I told you, 35 of 39 first place votes. And that's because of what they've done and what they continue to do. And they got Virginia Morgan back, who has 10, 10 sacks on defense. Defense is going to be pretty salty again. They always play, you know, with it, with the chip on the shoulder. Schedule's pretty good. Next one, Tulane, the Green Wave, Interesting team to me. And I tell you what, the non power 4 are getting more difficult to me to break down because there's so many pieces now that are in flux and leaving and then now they go, okay, well, just like, you know, if we go up to Boise, just what we just talked about, and you got A and M and Ole Miss receivers that are coming down, so you got this balance, you know, you've got this balancing act of going up and going down. But their roster are, are turned over big time. But Tulane, it starts with replacing their running back too. I mean, he was, he was a bad mother. Shut your mouth. Who had almost 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns the last two years replacing Makai Hughes. That's, that's a big deal for them and others, by the way.
- [27:05]
Brent Rollins
So Dari Mensa, who, by the way, they get to play. That's, that's a. The irony and beauty of the schedule this year for Tulane is that they get to play their former quarterback. And there are eight starters, by the way, that went up to the power four and three other backups for two Lane. And then like you said, this Is that's kind of what's happening with all this is good players go up and then guys who don't get to play as much in the power four level go and go down a little. A level to, to see where they can play and see how much they can do. But Jake Retzloff now there added to the quarterback room, which already had the Samantha kid from Ball State and Brendan Sullivan from Iowa. So I'm sorry, but I had to laugh.
- [27:46]
David Pollack
Like just writing stuff down and you know, you write down transfers and you write down like especially these impact quarterbacks all over the place and you're like, dang, man, it sucks to be too lame that the guys are just, you know, you talk about Menstot going to Duke and Horton goes to Washington. Like you, you lose two guys from your QB room, right? Like that stinks, man. Like I'm developing these guys, I'm finding these guys. And you're like, well, Ratzlaf comes down and Kaden, you got Caden to stay actually, which. Who was in the transfer portal as well. Wasn't he like. No, Caden was from Ball State. Cadence from Ball State who went as a freshman and balled out. So you get a guy from Ball State and then Sullivan from, from Iowa. Like you're like, okay, so they, they lost a couple of guys and then all of a sudden, you know, they, they, they grab, you know, several. But I think the biggest thing for Tulane is obviously that quarterback spot. Like it's going to be. And it's crazy that there's so many options and I'm sure they'll figure it out. But last year, remember they played OU and K State out of, out of the league. They're happy they're not doing that this year. Like that's a lot more fun for Tulane in that schedule. But it'll be, you know, who is that dagum qb? Because they've got plenty of options. It's been like a, a Ferris wheel. No, it's like musical chairs. The music stops. Who's in my room? Like, who am I coaching this year? And that's what the two lane quarterback spot looks like.
- [29:08]
Brent Rollins
Yeah. And what I saw a number that of the transfers that they got, 20 guys had at least one start at the FBS level last year. So it's not like they're getting completely inexperienced guys. And it's one where you actually believe in John John Sumrall and what he's done and what he's continuously done. Even at Troy before Tulane, I, one of the things I Like about this group, though, is the opportunities they have on the schedule. Because when you think about, we just talked about Boise, Boise's got to go to Notre Dame, they got to go to South Florida, you know, be at home after that. Like, they're. If they're a 10 and 2, 11 and one team, 12 and one kind of champion, you got to maybe be right there and have better victories to get and be higher ranked at this point. And having Northwestern at home to open up, Duke at home and then at Ole Miss, that's at least. And then they got to go to Memphis, you know, so they're going to have some opportunities to get, like, key victories. I think that might put them to where you see a voting and a room of people say, hey, this is a better team, even though their record might not be what Boise States is kind of thing. So that, that's. That. I think that's where they get to.
- [30:21]
David Pollack
It's fun when you see them play at least a couple of good teams, but it's also nice to have those teams at home. Like you said, nobody's expecting them to beat Ole Miss. Like, that's not a game. But can they go in like, like, they scared the piss out of Oklahoma, though? Like, they scared Oklahoma a year ago. Can you, can you scare them? Can you hang with them and prove you're, you know, you're a good football team? Because going on the road in Oxford is tough regardless. Like, that's hard for every team in the country. Ask Georgia from a year ago, right? Like, it's just not an easy spot to win. They'll be super, super interesting to watch, even with a lot of the new faces and all that stuff.
- [30:55]
Brent Rollins
Where you want to go next, Memphis, by the way, who was 11 and 2 last year with a win at Florida State, like, you would think that.
- [31:03]
David Pollack
Would have been like, everybody, everybody, everybody beat Florida State. Brent.
- [31:07]
Brent Rollins
Well, but just in the grand scheme of things, that's a phenomenal year for him for a Memphis program. But yet they didn't win the conference championship, didn't make the play. It was kind of the most empty 11 and 2 you can think about when it comes to that. But by the way, they had some mass exodus via the portal. They're much and much like all of these teams outside of one that we'll get to in a little bit. Navy, they, they've had to replace a lot of guys. And you got Brendan Lewis now at quarterback from Nevada, and they get Arkansas at home. I think that's an opportunity for them to do something, you know, at least get a victory over an SEC opponent potentially that says hey look, we're better. And when you look at two, you know, maybe they go beat two lane because now it's about. With this. I think because Boise of what they did a year ago, you're, you're. It's. And what they potentially can do this season, it's about being higher ranked and you got to have a better victory than maybe they do and you know, or your records maybe not quite the same, but they lose, lose the running back, but they got the Whitlow kid back on defense. But it's a lot of changeover in Memphis. Not a lot of change at the service academies. It's not, they, they aren't, they aren't portal heavy. Army, Navy, Air Force and a team that had a really good season to go Navy and brings back to me potentially the best player in the, in the G5. And that's Blake Horvath.
- [32:39]
David Pollack
Horvath, What a name. Blake Horvath. Like such a good name. This Navy offense, it's, it's different than, it's different than you think. I think you think this offense like ran all over everybody and that's just what they do because that's usually, you know, the service academies. The service academies run those offenses for a reason. Like they've got to win with discipline. They don't win with talent. So they can't, they can't go do a system that is the same system as spread and try to get athletes in space because obviously they're limited in that department. So offense in the country, but third in yards per yards per completion. And that's where they evolved. And that's where Horbath, he, he was over 1200 rushing but had 13 TDs. And when you find a passing game at a service academy with the ability to run and make me play discipline, you lull me to sleep over and over and make me stare at my keys. And it's more like basketball where you're playing on the edge like you're, you're guarding your guy. Like there's not as much team defense when you play against the option because it's so principle led. You can't leave your dudes. And so the passing game and being good at that like really made them unique and where they were able. They beat arm Air Force, they beat army, they beat usf, they beat, they beat Memphis, who you just talked about and they beat Oklahoma. Like they won a lot of close games and they took care of business through the air. This is the best stat, Brent, in the world. Like this is the best returning stat you'll ever hear. And it would never happen in every any place except for a service academy last year when Horvath completed over 50% of his passes. Is 50% a great number, Brent? No, it's not an elite number by any stretch of the imagination. What do you think their record was?
- [34:33]
Brent Rollins
I would assume undefeated nine and oh yeah, over 50%.
- [34:39]
David Pollack
So having an experienced trigger man back at the helm. They won 10 games last year. A lot of them obviously close. I like their schedule but I think they're going to be in the mix to, to win close to 10 games again because of, because they have him, because they have play. Listen, they got Kent back at wide receiver who was, you know, 22 yards a catch, like a big play, explosive guy. But I think having this QB component back like you said, all the guys kind of back that are, that are used to playing together with the schedule, they're going to be very much in the mix to win a lot of football games.
- [35:16]
Brent Rollins
And when you think about all of this, it's. And these teams, all of these teams fighting for one spot because they're, it's not get, they're not getting two unless, unless two lane goes on or you know, beats Ole Miss and go, you know, unless you have a couple undefeateds and they somehow you said it right.
- [35:32]
David Pollack
They'Re not getting two.
- [35:33]
Brent Rollins
Right. They're not getting two. So it's, it's, it's as much a I guess beauty pageant and who you beat and, and as much as anything. But some other interesting teams I think that could potentially find themselves in the playoff is UTSA I think is one that with, with their schedule and with what they have returning is, is one another interesting team for me that I'm actually very curious to watch because of what transpired is Southern Miss because you go from being one of the absolute worst teams to taking basically Marshall's football team because Marshall's coach is now at Southern Miss and he basically took most of his team with him to Southern Miss. So that's another one unlv the Fighting Dan Mullins, who happened to be a C ball get ball guest earlier in the off season talked about, you know, by the way they got ample transfers. Their entire team is, is basically new and it's mostly all sort of Power4Guys and it's mostly all experienced guys that are, that are going to be at UNLV for one year likely max. And you know, Calandry and then the Alex orgy from Michigan at qb. Can he get something out of there? Can Dan Mullen coach?
- [36:48]
David Pollack
Yes, he can. You know that if you can run and play the quarterback spot, like you know he'll develop package. Yeah, but. And UNLV looks like a team that, oh my gosh, they're reloading everything. Don't bet on them. And you're like, well, they're reloaded with a lot of more talent than they had probably. I mean, so that's. You're right. Then you, you see UTSA you said I think is good because they, they got, they're one of the few teams that get so much back. Like they're one of the few teams that you actually can look at their roster and go, oh, I know him, I've seen him, I've seen him, I've seen him. And they were better than they finished last year. A bunch of close games could have been better. I also think JMU is another one that, that I would have on my list. Like Sunbelt, they're, they're pretty dang good. A ton of experience back, I think jmu, you people, people forget it's the highest ranked team.
- [37:33]
Brent Rollins
You know, they finished the year highest ranked champion.
- [37:36]
David Pollack
Yeah, they went to a, they. JMU went to a bowl game. Remember, don't forget like JMU was, was a good season. And Signetti, obviously people talked more about JMU because of Signetti coming from there to, to Indiana. Did you talk about Liberty? Because I think Liberty's in this mix.
- [37:52]
Brent Rollins
Too and they're there. I mean you might.
- [37:54]
David Pollack
Oh, you don't like Liberty? You don't like the Flames?
- [37:57]
Brent Rollins
I, I did, but it's kind of falling off a little bit now. He gets Jamie Chadwell, who's the coach there, used to be at Coastal Carolina, gets a transfer from Coastal Carolina to come be his quarterback. The Vasco kid I think is going to be his qb. So maybe you get some. It's a guy he recruited I think too Coastal. So you get some of that and you start working in a positive. I, I don't know if they get to these other teams level that a double digit victory champion, a Boise level, potentially even a Memphis two lane level. I don't know.
- [38:30]
David Pollack
I get you, Brett. I understand you. I'm with you. But, but will you please pull up their schedule right now? Just go ahead and click on your little buttons right there. Look up Liberty schedule. And I just, I would just love for you to tell me where the losses are because I'm not sure there's a better schedule in the country to. To run it and go undefeated. JMU and at FIU is all I could find. Like, look at that. Like, tell me, tell me where the losses are coming from. Listen, they've got some new guy. I think their defense, their secondary is back. Like they're. Jamie's a great coach. The QB position. Am I worried about it? Yes. Because, you know, you mentioned Ethan. I don't know if you mentioned Ethan Vasco, his name. He had five picks, the first or five picks the last three games. A year ago he had nine or he had four in the first nine games. So kind of didn't. Didn't finish well regardless with the Shanta clears in Coastal Carolina. But. But I know Jamie Chadwell and they'll find out he's a good athlete and can run. And it's kind of what you did, you know, a year ago. But Salter obviously leaves to go to Colorado, which was one of their most productive guys in the history of their school, so. But did you find it? Did you find those losses for me?
- [39:44]
Brent Rollins
Well, they played James Madison.
- [39:45]
David Pollack
Correct. They host them.
- [39:47]
Brent Rollins
Yep. At Old Dominion.
- [39:50]
David Pollack
At Old Dominion is one you can put on there. At fiu.
- [39:53]
Brent Rollins
At fiu.
- [39:54]
David Pollack
And then where's the other one that's even remotely in that mix?
- [39:58]
Brent Rollins
And that. That's one of those. At Jack State, maybe. But I don't know that, like, Rich Rod took a lot of those guys. I.
- [40:04]
David Pollack
You know what's amazing? I get it. You know, it's amazing. They've been in the FBS for seven seasons. Seven seasons. Just seven. Which is crazy. And you go look at their facilities. They're unbelievable. They're amazing. Their campus is amazing. Not a single losing season. Like, that's. It's pretty good. They've also had some pretty good names at the quarterback or at the quarterback, too, but at the. At the head coaching spot. Some guys that obviously some people are pretty familiar with. But I, I look at Liberty's schedule and I'm like, man, I, I look at their team and I know a lot of guys left, but talent, a good league, a lot of chances for a lot of dubs, they're going to be in the mix. Probably.
- [40:43]
Brent Rollins
The other fun one, G5 scheduled to me, South Florida, first three weeks of the season. Boise at Florida at Miami. Can they get one of them? That's. That's one. Can you get one of those games? If you're South Florida and Alex Gillesh, formerly of Tennessee, that. That's. If they can, that'd be Fun. That'd be making things interesting.
- [41:09]
David Pollack
They finished the year, last year on a heater, like scoring points. I mean, I remember it was like they were scoring over 50 every game almost. Man, it was crazy that they lost the rice, which was. Which was bad, but they scored like 40 plus almost every single week. And so can they continue that? You know, they'll have speed, but those are not fun teams to. To play to open.
- [41:31]
Brent Rollins
And only one of them had to go.
- [41:33]
David Pollack
They got too far. When you go Florida and Miami, if.
- [41:36]
Brent Rollins
You had to go with one, because if you had to pick one, are you just riding the Boise train until you're not?
- [41:46]
David Pollack
I would say the only one that. The only one that I'm going to give him a chance at is. Is Boise because it's an opener. Boise has to come down to that heat.
- [41:54]
Brent Rollins
No, I'm talking about one team out of the group of five. If you had to sort of pick for the playoff type scenario.
- [42:00]
David Pollack
Oh, gotcha. Are you going.
- [42:01]
Brent Rollins
Are you going Boise until you don't see Boise as. As the playoff team, or do you. Or you look at somebody else and say, all right, this is going to be the playoff team this year?
- [42:13]
David Pollack
I think. Yeah, I mean, I think I would go with Boise and just trust the. Trust the coach, the talent there. And we didn't talk about cables at receiver and. But Lauder and QB and an O line combination and kind of winning mentality and winning attitude. Yeah, I'd probably go with them. I mean, I. The other ones are. The other ones are. Are really good prospects and good teams, but I feel like everything has to go right for them to get to like nine wins, you know, 10 wins. And with Boise, I don't feel that way for their schedule. I think their. Their schedule sets up well and they're going to be outmanning everybody they play and. And their culture and who they are and their toughness and what they're built on. Yeah, I'd have to go Boise.
- [43:01]
Brent Rollins
And they're not playing the revolving door of the portal like a lot of these other guys and other teams have to. At where they are and they've actually done a good job with nil. Things like that. You read about it. I agree. I think it's Boise until it's not, at least in terms of picking. Wow.
- [43:17]
David Pollack
What else? What else we got. That's it. We got them all covered.
- [43:22]
Brent Rollins
A whole lot of other teams that we did not preview. But. Sorry, we.
- [43:26]
David Pollack
But we got them all. We got. We get the. We got the whole shebang. Previewed if you want to go back and listen. Thank you all for continuing to help us grow. And then Wednesday, we're gonna start talking more about the future, right? Like, we're gonna. We're gonna get. We're gonna have Dilfer on. Trent Dilfer, who's a. Who's a. Not a power five guy. Obviously. He's with UAB and the Fire Breathers only that's. That's their slogan. But he's. He's always so much fun to talk to. I. I love talking to him just because of his mindset and his brain. And I was with him for so many years that ESPN and I remember dinners with him and stuff and just listen to him talk and he's just. He's. He's loved ball for so long and follows it and is so passionate about it. And so talk some. We'll talk some UAB and talk some college football all around. And then, you know, we're getting to the time now, Brett, just make a few more predictions and talk more about, you know, some playoff teams and some players entering the season. And then, oh, yeah, we got real football to talk about. Real, real football.
- [44:20]
Brent Rollins
That's way better. So much better.
- [44:23]
David Pollack
Nothing worse than what these kids are about to go through for camp. Hitting each other for 20 something days. Man, like, you get so bored, you're so jacked up, you're foaming at the mouth to hit someone else. And we're foaming at the mouth for some football. So appreciate you all. We'll see you all on Wednesday.