Hour 2: Will They or Won't They

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Podcast: Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron
Hosts: Myron Medcalf (ESPN), Braden Gall (filling in for Matt Jones)
Episode: Hour 2: Will They or Won't They
Date: December 7, 2025

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Overview

This episode centers on the looming College Football Playoff (CFP) selection and the controversies surrounding bubble teams, especially Alabama, Notre Dame, and Miami. The show features a deep-dive interview with ESPN CFB analyst Greg McElroy, a robust debate on the Heisman Trophy race, and "Take Your Pick" NFL predictions, all delivered with the banter and humor typical of Matt and Myron.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Alabama’s Playoff Case and the CFP’s Precarious Precedent

(Starts ~01:21)

Interview with Greg McElroy (ESPN CFB Analyst)

• Context: Alabama is a three-loss team that just beat Georgia in the SEC title game. The committee faces an unprecedented choice.
• Committee Dynamics: McElroy illustrates the challenge for the committee – do they inadvertently punish teams for making their conference title games?
• "Slippery Slope" Warning:

  “You should not necessarily be penalized if you lose because the teams you’re being measured against aren’t being asked to play. … That, I think, is a real dangerous precedent to set.” (Greg McElroy, 02:34)

• Resume Discussion: Alabama's strength of schedule jumped to 6th after the Georgia win, while Notre Dame’s and Miami’s are 44th and 45th.
• What Counts?: The "eye test" may look better for Notre Dame/Miami, but Alabama’s resume is more robust per committee guidelines.

Why a Three-Loss Alabama Would Be Different

• McElroy points out Alabama entered the SEC Championship with only two losses, similar to peers.
• Parity at the Top:

  “All three of those teams could hypothetically win the national championship, like they are that good.” (Greg McElroy, 07:21)

• Predicted Order:

  “Notre Dame sitting as the 9 seed, Alabama sitting as the 10 seed, and Miami as the first team out at 11.” (Greg McElroy, 07:54)

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2. Heisman Trophy Debate: What Defines "Most Outstanding"?

(Starts ~08:00)

Braden & Greg McElroy Weigh Criteria

• Versatile Standards: There's no uniform metric: sometimes it’s about value to team, sometimes pure stats or clutch moments.
• Candidates Discussed: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana QB), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Jeremiah Love (Notre Dame RB), and Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech LB).
• McElroy’s Philosophy:

  “It was mostly about who’s the guy that has completely transcended, who’s changed the outcome and the fortunes of his program.” (Greg McElroy, 08:40)

• Mendoza gets major credit for leading Indiana to first outright Big Ten title since 1945.
• Heisman Transparency:

  “If you can read between the lines, you probably can [guess my vote].” (Greg McElroy, 10:26)

Braden’s Take on Voter Philosophy

• Does the “best quarterback” bias leave out exceptional non-QBs?
• Jeremiah Love is praised as a transformative running back, but his Heisman odds may be dinged by two subpar performances in big losses:

  “You kind of have to nitpick… if you’re nitpicking Love, the anti-case... is that, in the two biggest games... he didn’t really do a whole lot.” (Braden Gall, 20:43)

• Historical Impact: Both Mendoza (Indiana) and Pavia (Vanderbilt) are recognized for historic season turnarounds.

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3. "Take Your Pick" – NFL Week 14 Picks & Quick Analyses

(Starts ~24:55)

Rapid-fire segment where Myron and Braden forecast key NFL games, mixing quick analysis and friendly ribbing.

Notable matchups:

• Seahawks @ Falcons: Both pick Seahawks.
• Bengals @ Bills: Both go with Bills, expecting a “serious” Buffalo effort.
• Titans @ Browns: Both take Browns, with Myron highlighting Myles Garrett’s sack chase.
• Packers @ Bears: Both pick Green Bay but note it’ll be a low-scoring "slugfest."
• Texans @ Chiefs: Myron calls it for the Chiefs citing cold weather; Braden predicts a Texans upset.

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4. Final CFP Predictions and Selection Rules Explained

(Starts ~36:12)

• Committee Process: Top 5 conference champions auto-bid, but no longer guarantees top four a bye. Tulane and James Madison could slide in over major-conference teams.
• Hosts' Final Top-12 CFP Rankings:
  • Both agree Indiana should be #1 for its perfect season, defensive prowess, and historic context.
  • Georgia, Ohio State, Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Miami, Alabama, and Vanderbilt slug it out in subsequent slots.
  • Debate over brand-name bias, head-to-head wins, and strength of schedule.

Notable Quotes:

• On Indiana:

  “Indiana has a perfect season. They beat Ohio State to clinch the first Big Ten championship for that school outright since 1945.” (Myron, 37:56)

• On the gauntlet at the top:

  “No matter what decision you make… they all deserve to win it.” (Braden Gall, 20:43)

• On the playoff snubs:

  “There’s a team that will be told they’re not playing… that could literally win the whole thing.” (Greg McElroy, 07:04)

• On the flawed system:

  “If you’re the committee, it’s an easy out… Bump Alabama out. That it’s not the committee’s problem.” (Myron, 44:50)

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Memorable Moments

• Greg McElroy’s “over/under” text joke:

  “[Alabama fans ask] ‘We in?’… 71, 71 and a half [texts]. Smart money’s on the over.” (Greg McElroy, 02:04)

• Concert banter: Myron & Braden joke about going to a Nelly & Ja Rule show and the need to be confident surrounded by “guys who are still in the gym.” (15:04–15:35)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• Playoff selection debate and McElroy interview: 01:21–11:47
• Heisman Trophy race debate: 14:55–22:46
• NFL picks – Take Your Pick: 24:51–34:46
• Hosts build their own CFP Top 12: 36:12–45:30

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Tone and Style

Conversational, humorous, and occasionally irreverent. Myron and Braden balance passionate sports debate with moments of pop culture levity and inside-joke energy (“man pots and pans” sign-off). In all, the episode excels at conveying the chaos and excitement of one of college football’s most unpredictable selection Sundays.

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For listeners or readers seeking a pulse on CFP drama, the Heisman debate, and Week 14 NFL action, this episode offers sharp analysis, strong opinions, and loads of personality.

Transcript

[Commercial Narrator]

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[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

This is Matt and Myron, the podcast.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Matt myron here on ESPN radio, the ESPN app. Sir sex of channel 80. Braden Dahl filling in for Matt Jones, who is out with a personal matter. He's always trying to teach me songs, Braden. He's always shocked that, like I don't have his playlist, you know, like the mad things. I'm just like playing his playlist every week to try to know what he listens to. And he would never listen to mine. Like he wants me to listen to his, but he would never listen to my playlist. And that's kind of how the show goes.

[Braden Gall]

I hear you. And I really don't understand, excuse me, I don't understand why people don't just appreciate all of it, right? Like I can go jagged edge from 1998 and I can go Tyler Childer, Sturgill Simpson from deep in the coal mine in Kentucky landscape where he's from too, where, where Matt's from. So you got to be able to appreciate all of it.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

You should have a conversation with Matt about that. But we're going to have a conversation now with the great Greg McElroy, ESPN college football analyst, who will be on the call of the College Football Playoff national championship game on ESPN Radio with Sean McDonough. Greg, I'm sure people have been texting you, calling you, asking you about this three loss Alabama team that the committee has to make a really crucial decision on. Maybe the most difficult decision in the history of the playoff. How do you see this all shaken out for an Alabama team with three losses, a win over Georgia, but that lost to Florida State. How do you think they'll end up in these final playoff rankings?

[Greg McElroy]

Well, as a former Alabama quarterback and as a guy that lives currently in Birmingham, Alabama, you guys want to set the over under on the amount of text I've received asking the question, quote, we in end quote, 71, 71 and a half, I think is probably about right. Yeah, I think smart money's on the over. Look, I'll, I'll tell you this. I, I think it's very difficult right now for the committee to justify leaving out a team that was forced to play a 13th game and all for the same reasons that transpired last year when talking about SMU's candidacy. The committee is comprised of former coaches and players, but mostly by administrators. And I don't think anyone on that committee floor wants to deincentivize participation in conference championship games. The conference championship games are a part of our culture. It's massive, obviously, for these conferences to crown a champion. And in the event in which you make it, it should be a reward to play, but you should not necessarily be penalized if you lose because the teams you're being measured against aren't being asked to play. They didn't earn the right to play in that game. So I think Alabama and a lot of people have kind of talked about this and what did they play? Did they pass the itest? Did they have this? Did they have that? Alabama still has a win, arguably. And if Georgia is number two today, then Alabama has the best win in college football because Georgia is the number one or the top ranked one loss team potentially. And I think that will ultimately keep Alabama in. But it's mostly because they don't want that slippery slope created where teams make their conference championship and say, nope, we're not playing, we're in the field, we're good. That I think is a real dangerous precedent to set.

[Braden Gall]

So, Mack, this is more about process almost than it is the merits of Alabama versus Notre Dame versus Miami or byu. It's about, you told us over the course of an entire regular season the committee that Oklahoma is better than Bama, that Bama is better than Notre Dame, that Notre Dame is better than byu, and BYU is better than Miami and the. And the point of the committee is to tell us who the 12 best teams are, mostly based on the regular season. So this is more a question of process than it is about the actual merits of Alabama's resume, is it not?

[Greg McElroy]

No, I think that's totally fair. And I think if you're going off eye test with the convincing margin of victory that we've seen from Notre Dame and Miami in the month of November, one would assume that maybe on the eye test they look a little better than Alabama right now. I think that's a perfectly fair conclusion to come to. The problem is, is that Alabama, believe it or not, their resume from a metric standpoint, actually strengthened yesterday by playing against Georgia. They improved their strength of schedule by five points. They went from 11 to six. And the two teams are being measured against in Notre Dame and Miami, their strength of schedules at 44 and 45. So yes, while they have one less loss, I still think that the committee has already said at the beginning of this process and throughout the off season. There would be an extra weight on the strength of schedule argument this year. And I just can't imagine a team with a top six strength of schedule, a top 10 strength of record and one of the best wins in college football with a road win at Georgia and a win against Vanderbilt who's ranked in the top 14. I just can't imagine them dropping them out. And if you look at that game yesterday, a lot of people are pointing to the margin. I mean Georgia had a 21 yard touchdown drive after a block field goal or a block punt. Georgia had a 12 yard touchdown drive after Alabama opted to go for it on 4th and 2 from their own 12. So I think when you look at it, was the game sideways completely? Did Bama's offense look completely out of sorts? Absolutely. But I don't feel like it was as if Bama didn't show up because their defense played their tails off. Their offense just couldn't manufacture anything against an excellent Georgia defense.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

He's Greg McElroy, ESPN college football analyst who will be on the call for the college football playoff national championship game on ESPN radio with Sean mcdonough. Greg, in that scenario where Alabama gets in, it would be the first time that a three loss team made the college football playoff. How would you respond to people who will say well why now? Why this three loss team when that is not something that the committee has ever done before?

[Greg McElroy]

Well, I think it's because at Alabama, when measuring against the two teams are being compared. Against.

Alabama was a two loss team in the regular season and through the first 12 data points. When you're evaluating the teams, Alabama has just two losses, just like Notre Dame, just like Miami. So I think that's why and Clemson made it in last year as a conference champion. So your point is, is right. As a three loss team it's highly unlikely to make the field. Never seen anyone really come close last year. Of course Bama, South Carolina and Ole Miss all had three losses and were close but they couldn't quite open the door. And the thing that's disturbing about this year's season, like last year, it's like, all right, well you're leaving out some teams that are all super flawed. I mean this year, depending on which direction the committee takes, whether it's Bama and Notre Dame in, whether it's Bama, Miami in, whether it's Miami, Notre Dame in, Bama out, all three of those teams could hypothetically win the national Championship, like they are that good. There's a team that will be told they're not playing in the College Football Playoff that could literally win the whole thing. They're that talented and they have that type of skill and potential. So it's going to be an impossibly difficult conversation to have. I would imagine that committee comprised of 12 people. Everyone probably feels a little differently about it, but ultimately I think it's going to be Notre Dame sitting as the 9 seed, Alabama sitting as the 10 seed, and Miami as the first team out as the 11 seed.

[Braden Gall]

Honestly, there's probably four teams or five teams that think that they could make a deep run in this playoff all the way down even to Van Vanderbilt and Utah. Looking last night at Fernando Mendoza's performance. Jeremiah Love has been extraordinary. Julian Saying has been very, very good. Diego Pavia has captured our attention for years now at Vanderbilt. What do you value if you are voting for the. The most prestigious award in college football? Like what. What are the right things to value? Is it value to team? Is it statistical production? Is it outstanding play? How do you prioritize the. Those things when you look at the Heisman Trophy?

[Greg McElroy]

Well, it's, it's. It kind of depends on the year, first and foremost. And when I submitted my vote this morning, it was mostly about who's the guy that, that has completely transcended, who's the guy that has changed the outcome and the fortunes of his program. And I think many would say it's Fernando Mendoza. This year is a. A team in Indiana that is undefeated number one, made some incredibly clutch throws down the stretch last night to kind of put that game on ice. I thought he played great in the final quarter of that game and did a lot of things to secure the victory. But I continued to go back and assess what Indiana was prior to his arrival. And they were still pretty dang good last year under Nathan Rohrt or Curtis Rourke. They were really solid. They were 11 and one football team and had some good moments and bowed out early against Notre Dame. But it was a good football team. And I look at the other side and the other guy that was really in contention for me was Diego Pavia at Vanderbilt. And that Vanderbilt team was a 2 & 10 football team when he showed up. He made him very competitive last year and he took it to the next level this year. So without giving my vote away, I think you probably know which direction I went, but it was a very difficult decision to make. And then if we're really looking at the, quote, most outstanding player the highlight reel moments that he delivered throughout the season. Jeremiah Love was also getting an awful lot of consideration for me along with the Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who time after time was always around the football and made game changing plays. The guy for seven fumbles this year and was just always making plays for that Texas Tech defense. So those are the four guys in consideration and like I said, won't tell you exactly where I went, but if you can read between the lines, you probably can.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Guess. He's the great Greg McElroy, ESPN college football analyst who will be on the call for the College Football Playoff national championship game on ESPN Radio with Sean McDonough. We got about 30 seconds, Greg, and we'll get you out of here with this. Notre Dame, Miami, Alabama, I'm putting you on the committee. Of those three teams, who is in, who is.

[Greg McElroy]

Out. I think Notre Dame will be at 9, Bama will be at 10 and Miami will be the first team out at 11, which is going to be a really hard thing to justify because Miami did win that game head to head against Notre Dame. But the level of dominance that Notre Dame's displayed and how they've evolved since that week one loss I think will probably give them favor. But I'm telling you, I could see it going three different ways. I really is the first time in a long time where I genuinely have no idea which way it's going to.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Go. Somebody's going to be upset and you're probably get a lot more text messages one way or the other. Greg McElroy, thank you for joining us. Best Free to Matt Myron is presented by Progressive Insurance. Keep your career moving forward. Visit Careers Progressive. Coming up, did Fernando Mendoza lock up the Heisman Trophy last night? We're gonna talk about.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

It.

Matt and Myron, the.

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Podcast.

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[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

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Myron on ESPN radio, the ESPN app, SiriusXM channel 80 shout out to Nelly Matt Myers presented by Progressive Insurance, joined by the great Braden Gall filling in for Matt Jones. You ever seen Nelly in concert?

[Braden Gall]

Braden? My wife actually went like a month ago or two months ago here in Nashville to a show with some of her friends and yeah, I can't. I'm trying to blank on who.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Was Ashanti maybe okay yeah, him and.

[Braden Gall]

Ashanti are who was with back.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Together. Ja Rule maybe was it was Ja was.

[Braden Gall]

There. Ja was there and she was like, she was in her. She was in her fields, man. She had a great.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Time. Yes. I went with my girlfriend. You got to realize, like, so, like, Nelly and Ja Rule still work out. So you just got to be pretty secure when you go to a Nelly and gyro show because, like, they're in the.

[Braden Gall]

Gym. Like, they're still in the.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Gym. Yeah, they're working out. Like, so they're like, in the gym. So, like. And they both, at some point in the show, like, take their shirts.

[Braden Gall]

Off. Oh.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Yeah. And you just got to be confident in yourself. I heard about you in that.

[Braden Gall]

Moment. I heard.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

About. Yeah, they put it. They put up, put out a great show. Shout out to both of them. I think the Heisman Trophy presentation could be a great show. I think it depends on kind of where you stand in the entire conversation. Listen, there are four guys in the real running for the Heisman Trophy. There's from Fernando Mendoza, who just led his team to an undefeated season, Indiana's first outright Big Ten title since 1945, their first championship since 1967, when they shared it with two other teams. This has been a magical season, clearly for them. Julian saying the Ohio State quarterback has been effective, efficient. Jeremiah Love to. To me, in terms of carrying the load, he's the definition of that for Notre Dame. The running back in Diego Pavia. The numbers say if you just put everyone on the same board, Pavia might stand out. I know you have to be careful, Braden, about disclosing kind of where you stand because you're an actual Heisman Trophy voter, but what's the criteria you're looking at as a voter when you try to figure out of those names, which one's going to end up at the top of your.

[Braden Gall]

Battle? I think it's really hard honestly, to kind of decide what you value the most in a given year. And I think McElroy said it last segment where he said, look, it depends on year to year. Sometimes you get a player that kind of checks every box, right? That is just an extraordinarily talented who does outstanding things, which is the definition of the word. Highlight reels, huge, plays in critical games and carries his team to a victory and they're competing for a national championship. And sort of, you know, program defining player, like that player is easy to pick out, right? This I think we actually have. Like, I would go even further. I. Haynes King, for example, a quarterback at Georgia Tech. He's not going to get a lot of love in this conversation, but he has done things for Georgia Tech that literally only like two other quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson and Johnny Menzel, did. From a production standpoint, statistical production, Haynes King did things for Joy and oh, by the way, got him to a 10 win season the first time in years. Almost got got him into the playoff. So I think that's a player who is of value and statistically productive. And oh, by the way, unbelievably fun to watch. Jeremiah love. I think McElroy said it best. If you are talking about the true pure God gifts on a football field where you just go, that dude is different. That dude is built differently, does different things. 226 total touches this year. Third in the nation in yards from scrimmage, 21 total touchdowns, which is second in the nation. Like he is their offense, right? Carried a freshman quarterback. If you're talking about big moments in big games that sort of are historically important, it's hard not to look at Diego Pavia and Fernando Mendoza and say what they did for their teams, Indiana and Vanderbilt, respectively, has never been done in the history of those programs. And to value that, I think is. Okay, so it's all about what you think. Where do you fall on the history of it all? Because I think that's a tiff. It's a difficult thing to.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Value.

I resent the idea that the Heisman Trophy race has become about the best quarterback and sort of rivaling what we've seen in the NFL. And that's just hard for anyone who is in the quarterback to win the award. I think that's unfortunate. I think to me, college football has always been different from the NFL because you can design an entire offense around a top running back like Jeremiah Love because you can get an elite wide receiver who changes the game because you can get a great defensive player who has an impact. And I feel like we're leaning into this world where it's like, all right, just give me the best quarterback. If it's just about what you just described, if it's just about give me the most important player in America, right? It's Jeremiah Love. You're talking about a Notre Dame team that lost two games by four points combined at the start of the season to Texas A and M and to Miami, two teams that could be in the playoff when the final rankings are announced and then just destroyed everybody in front of them. Jeremiah Love didn't have a great finish. Got kind of banged up. But if you watch the games, which that's my problem, Braden, is how many people are looking at the box scores versus how many voters are actually watching the games. If you watch the games, you know that Marcus Freeman's team has no chance to be in this conversation without Jeremiah Love. And I get you can say the same thing, similar things about those quarterbacks, but this is a guy who had to be great every game to give his team a chance and that has to count for something. And I'm just worried that he finishes four. And what does that mean for future Heisman Trophy races? It feels like it's going to mean that if you're not a quarterback, it's not going to.

[Braden Gall]

Matter. That's a good point. I'm curious too. Like, does he get knocked because their only two losses are his two worst games of the.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Year?

[Braden Gall]

Yes. Now some of that's on the coaching staff for only giving him 13 carries in the Miami or 10, which.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

He admitted, by the way, which Marcus Freeman admitted that he should have carried more.

[Braden Gall]

Loads. My issue with Love, and again, this is, I think you have to nitpick no matter what decision you make. Like, so I want to be clear, I'll clear my throat on this. They all deserve to win it. Jacob Rodriguez, linebacker for Texas Tech, totally should be in the conversation of being in the conversation. But you kind of have to nitpick one of these guys, right. If you're nitpicking, Love. The anti case for Love, because I think he's an unbelievable player, is that in the two biggest games of the year that cost Notre Dame their perfect season or their one loss season, he didn't really do a whole lot. And that his statistical production historically is not all that special. He's third in the nation in rushing. He only had 226 touches. You know, there's 30 players that got the ball, the football more than he did this year in terms of being more of a workhorse. But again, to your point, watch the games and you're like, holy cow, that dude is different. Like, he's just an unbelievable player. I struggle with like. And part of what I was asking is what Fernando Mendoza has done at Indiana. There also has to be value placed on it because no one's ever been able to do it. Antoine Randall is the only player I can think of that's ever been like that important and dynamic to Indiana. Diego Pavia. Jake Cutler didn't even come close, didn't even have a winning season at Vanderbilt. And he's the most talented player Vanderbilt's ever had at that position. So the historical context of doing something that's never been done before I think matters. Is it enough to win you the award? I don't know. I don't.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Know. And I think that'll be the conversation, right? I mean, the committee obviously has a lot to talk about with Notre Dame, Miami and Alabama. I think to me, those four names we mentioned, I don't think there's a bad pick. At the same time, I think Mendoza making history makes it easier for the voters to pick them. I think Diego Pavia's numbers are clearly a big part of what we've seen with Vandy. Julian Saenz being efficient. Jeremiah Love has been really great as well. It's a fun race. I feel like Fernando Mendoza, though, maybe sealed the deal with the way his team finished. Take your pick for week 14 in the NFL. That's next on Matt Myron, Matt and Myron the.

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[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

By.

This is Matt and Myron on ESPN radio. The ESPN app Sir Sexim channel 80 Braden Golf filling in for Matt Jones. Hit us up on the Dr. Pepper. Call in line. If you miss anything on today's show, listen to the Matt and Myron podcast available where you get your podcast 888 say ESPN 888-729-3776 because we're going into the college football selection show on ESPN Radio at noon today, Matt Chick and Trevor Matich hosting. They'll be joined by CFP committee chairman Hunter Jurek. Braden and I are going to do take your pick now so that we can end the show talking college football. So there's this synergy with the show coming after us. I like doing those company priority things, you know what I mean? Especially the contract year. Braden. I got to look good this year, man. I gotta. I'm George. I'm the George Pickens of ESPN Radio right now. So I'm just trying to, trying to get a deal. What's our first.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Game?

Seahawks and.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Falcons.

All right. I feel like the Falcons. Braden give us one weird finish, one weird game once a month. The Seahawks are playing a team that, you know, is the passwords going to matter? Sam.

[Braden Gall]

Donald.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Terrible. Against the Vikings. I don't know if this game is going to shake out. I feel like on the road I'm still picking Seattle to win straight up. Who you.

[Braden Gall]

Got? I'll take Seattle to win. That team is finding all different types of ways to win. They completely dominated last week without even using Jackson, Smith and Jigba, really the entire game. And now the thing I'm watching here is A.J. terrell versus Jackson, Smith and Jigba. That is, yeah, maybe the best receiver, maybe the best corner in the entire NFL going head to head. Sign me up for that. But I'll take the.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Seahawks. I like that pick. What's.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Next? Bengals at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Bills.

I mean, we all, we almost have to like analyze the Bengals with Joe Burrow's return. Obviously they're better team. What their record shows as a result. The Bills can't stop turning the ball over. They got Keon Coleman dancing and people putting up these cookies memes with him. They just seem like a really unserious organization right now overall. But I think they write the ship. Today they get a big win against Cincinnati. What say.

[Braden Gall]

You? Yeah, look, they're a six point favorite, roughly speaking, at home. That's a team that they are toying with being in the wild card race for. For reasons that they don't want to be there. And I agree. I think Buffalo needs to. It's a good word to put. Like they need to be serious today. Like, let's be more serious about this. The Bengals, you know, Withborough, they can do a lot of damage on offense in particular, so the defense is going to have to be right. I'll take Buffalo at home. Vegas agrees with.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Me. Love that pick. What's.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Next?

Titans at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Browns. Wolf, I'm only doing this game because you're on the show and you, you're in Nashville and You cover the Titans. One thing I'll say about this game. Miles Garrett, 19 sacks. The NFL single season record for sacks, 22 and a half. He could get that today against Cam Ward. Give me the Browns to.

[Braden Gall]

Win. Yeah. Titans offensive line not doing great work. Came Ward, 48 sacks this season. Two really good run defenses, honestly. So it'll be interesting to see Shador versus Cam, who actually has time to throw the football. Nasty weather up there in Cleveland. Loser gets the first pick. Maybe. So we'll see. I'm with you. Miles Garrett chasing the sack record is the thing to watch. I'll take Cleveland at home. Miles Garrett, three sacks. Doesn't get the record.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Though. Like that pick. What's.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Next?

Commanders at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Vikings. Jaden Daniels is back. That's good news for the commanders. J.J. mcCarthy. McCarthy is back. That might be bad news for the Minnesota Vikings. I think Justin Jefferson may ask for a trade this off season if they don't figure things out. Give me the Commanders to.

[Braden Gall]

Win. I'm with you. Commanders with to win if they're healthy. What's really interesting though is like Minnesota is going to have some real serious decisions to make about J.J. mcCarthy moving forward. And so you need to see as much information about him as possible, like after the snap. Like he's got to figure out what to do with the football. So if you're Kevin o', Connell, you are studying your quarterback today for.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Sure. Like that pick. What's.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Next?

Dolphins at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Jets. All right, these next two, Just give me the team because we got to run through this and I don't think we need a big discussion. Dolphins at Jets. I will pick the jets here. Who you.

[Braden Gall]

Got? I'm with you. I'll take the upset at home. Give me the Jets. I'm with you on.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

That. What's.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Next? Saints at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Buccaneers.

I think we're both picking the bucks. Braden, is that safe to.

[Braden Gall]

Say? No discussion needed. Saints want that first.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Pick.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Next. Colts at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Jaguars. All right, now, this is like maybe the premier game today. You know, this is maybe not as sexy as Texans, Chiefs, Eagles, Chargers, some of the other big games, but Colts, Jags is for the division lead. And the Colts have been terrible in Jacksonville historically. I think that Jaguars front line is going to get after Danny Dimes. I think they're going to bottle up Jonathan Taylor. The game is on ESPN Radio. Give me the Jags for the win and first place in the AFC South. What you got.

[Braden Gall]

Braden? I'm. I'm with you. They're at home. They're an underdog, but Their offense with Myers and Thomas and some of the pieces getting healthy around Trevor Lawrence as as long as you can slow down Jonathan Taylor, which is harder to do, obviously. Easier said than done. Jacksonville's defensive front, though, has been out outstanding. They've kept teams under 60 yards rushing like three times in the last month. I like the Jags to win at home and that's an upset to some degree and outright first place division lead in the AFC.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

South. Steelers at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Ravens.

I mean, is this the Mike Tomlin game? Is this where he saves his job or loses his job? It feels possible. Ravens great run game. Steelers haven't been good against the run lately, but they're number two in takeaways. The Ravens keep turning the ball over. I'm going to pick the Ravens here to win at home in a key game for both.

[Braden Gall]

Teams. I'm with you. Huge playoff leverage moment here. The loser has a very small chance of making the playoffs. The winner has a very good chance of winning the division. Huge statistical stakes in the game today. I'm with you on the turnovers. If the Ravens don't fumble the football and they lean on their rushing attack, they will win the game at home. If they fumble the football, which they have been prone to do, and Pittsburgh is good at taking, taking away, then I think we, we're in for something in the fourth quarter. Don't give Rogers a shot in the fourth quarter, but I'll take Baltimore Broncos at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Raiders.

This game's on ESPN Radio. Don't think we need a big discussion. I think we're both picking the Broncos. Is that fair?

[Braden Gall]

Braden? Well, this is one of the, you, you know, Carolina pulled the upset on the Rams last week. You know, every now and then you said Seattle does weird things and weird team underdogs at home pull up sets. This is a rivalry. Watch out. If Denver's looking ahead to Green Bay next week with a huge I.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Don'T need to watch out. I need a winner. Don't give me a watch.

[Braden Gall]

Out. Give me the Raiders, baby. Give me the.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Raiders. The Geno Smith bandwagon. You're the only one on.

[Braden Gall]

It. Somebody's gonna win some of these. One of these teams is gonna pull an upset.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Somebody.

Bears at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Packers.

So, so to me, this is obviously a huge rivalry game. Somebody gets exposed in this game and I don't know who it is. Like to me it's going to be Jordan Love or Caleb Williams between those two guys. Jayla. Obviously Caleb Williams. Can he be more accurate than he was a week ago? Yes. The Bears Won against the Eagles, big run game, 281 yards of production. But he wasn't very accurate. You look at Jordan Love and the Green Bay packers, can he finally be consistent? I'm taking Green Bay in this game. I think it's a big game for both teams in the entire playoff picture. Braden, what do you.

[Braden Gall]

Think? Honestly, they're going to play twice in three weeks? I think the home team's going to win both games. I think Chicago wins in two weeks. I think Green Bay wins today. That's oversimplifying it, but this is. Honestly, I think this could be like a 1310 Indiana, Ohio State game from last night. Like, the defenses are both like, Green Bay's defense is so good and Chicago wants to run the football. Both quarterbacks have major questions at times when they are asked to do the thing to carry the team. So I think they're going to lean on the running game, lean on their defense, try not to make mistakes. I think it's low scoring, but I'll take the packers at.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Home.

Rams at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Cardinals.

Yeah, Sean McVeigh was telling us that the Cardinals are dangerous. They've been in all these games, but they're not that dangerous. Give me the Rams to win this.

[Braden Gall]

One. This is the same kind of thing about the upset, right, with Atlanta and Seattle and Vegas and the in Denver. But because the Rams lost that game last week to Carolina, kind of an upset there. I. I don't. I think they're refocused. Give me the.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Rams.

Texans at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Chiefs.

Another huge matchup. The Texans look like a team that could really have an incredible second half of the season if they can get to the playoffs. Kansas City has had their struggles. I think the defense for Kansas City is the real storyline. Patrick Mahomes has been good. They don't have a sack in the last 11 quarters. This Texas team has a really tough defense that's going to do everything to try to rattle Patrick Mahomes. The winner of this game is probably in the playoffs based on the the odds the loser potentially could be eliminated. So huge game. Give me Kansas City because the Texans don't win in cold.

[Braden Gall]

Weather. No, they don't. But I'll take the Texans to pull the upset.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Here. I like.

[Braden Gall]

It. No team has only one time have they given up more than 19 points. In the last six weeks. They've won four straight. They're not turning the ball over on offense, they're creating turnovers on defense, they're getting after the quarterback. Kansas City's offensive line is banged up. There's sort of a we have a chance to do something on national TV vibe to this game for Houston. I think they're going to play really well. Give me the Texans to outright win on the.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Road.

Eagles at Chargers Last but certainly not least, you got Justin Herbert coming off a surgery on his non throwing hand. They haven't said officially a field play, but it sounds like that's what we're trending toward. And you have an Eagles team that looks like they've just kind of fallen apart. I believe they've given up 898 total yards in the last two games. That includes 281 yards on the ground they gave up against Chicago last week. A.J. brown is getting his touches, but the Eagles aren't winning. I think locker room I think you said something like locker room psychology or something earlier in the show. One of those school words or phrases you use on the show. I think their locker room psychology is all messed up. Give me the charges to win this.

[Braden Gall]

Game. That's a really interesting take. I'm kind of with you on this. Jim Harbaugh has been studying that that defensive front and what Chicago did to them last week. And you know, look, they Chargers had 192 yards rushing last week. They know they have to not put it all on Justin Herbert's shoulders today or left hand or right hand or they can't ask him to do too much. They cannot. The other thing is, is they can't protect Justin Herbert, which is part of the problem. Go. That all screams run the football, run the football, run the football. So can the Eagles front seven hold up? We'll see. It's a great matchup. Eagles are favored. I'll take, I'll take the Chargers, but I don't like that. That's a. I'm going to sit back and just enjoy my Monday.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Night. I hope it's a fun game. Those are our Pixies. Braden galleymyron Metcalf. Coming up, we're going to look ahead to the final CFP.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Rankings.

Matt and Myron the.

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[Commercial Narrator]

Taste. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast Smart move. Being financially savvy. Smart move. Another smart move Having State Farm help you create a competitive price when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with a personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

State.

Matt Myron Sorry Ms. Jackson. Sorry Alabama fans. Sorry Miami fans. Sorry Notre Dame fans. We're going to find out who the committee has to apologize to potentially when the official College Football Playoff rankings are announced here just minutes ahead. The CFP Selection show on ESPN Radio today at noon Eastern. Matt Schick and Trevor Matic hosting. CFP Committee Chairman Hunter, your check will join Kevin Clark, Drew Butler and Mike Tannenbaum on game day at 4pm Eastern. Braden and I have been going on and on about these rankings literally since last night when we were texting in the group chat about where we stand. Who should be the 12 teams announced. Now here's something to consider if you're a listener. The CFP committee has to give a bid to the top five conference champions. Unlike last year, the top four champions do not get an automatic buy. I'm glad they changed that. But the top five conference champions will get in. What does that mean? That means Tulane representing the American. That means James Madison, also a conference champion. There's a chance they get in ahead of a Duke team that just won the ACC championship with an upset over Virginia. However, we're going to rate the 12 teams we think will be the 12 teams in our committee rankings. But 11 and 12 very vulnerable, likely out in the current committee criteria. So we're going to start with number one for me. Braden, I think it's pretty obvious. Indiana has a perfect season. They beat Ohio State to clinch the first Big Ten championship for that school outright since 1945. Indiana is your number one team when the rankings are.

[Braden Gall]

Announced. Yeah, hard to argue with that. Number one for me. Indiana Hoosiers perfect season. But more importantly, the way the defense played against Ohio State. Not because I don't think that means that they are an elite team or that they're ranked, but it means they have a chance to win the whole thing. The way that team played. A road win against Oregon. Total domination in the regular season. Fernanda Mendoza has been good in critical situations, but it's the defense for Indiana that is so interesting in a national championship race Give me the Hoosiers at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

One. I like that. I like that. Now we got to move on to number two. I think a lot of people are going to have the same team at number two and that would be the Georgia Bulldogs for me. And here's why. I have Georgia moving up to number two. I think if you look at this resume for Ohio State, their best win is a victory over a three loss Texas team. I think Georgia has more quality wins. I think you're talking about a Georgia team whose only loss is to a Bama team that could be in the final college football playoff. I've got Georgia moving up to number two with their resume. What say.

[Braden Gall]

You? So this is just what we would do.

We are, we are going to.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Happen. Braden Myron Committee of the CFP.

[Braden Gall]

Ohio State at number two. For me I don't think you can fault them for having played a basically even football game where if a field goal kicker just does his job from like the 12 yard line we are taught or the quarterback doesn't fall down on the five yard line in Ohio State could easily be number one. So that outcome to me the actual score of that game means a lot less than the fact that those look like two evenly matched teams. After two perfect seasons, I've got Ohio State at two. I don't think you can move them down too far because of a basically even awesome football game in Indianapolis last.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Night. I think that's fair. Number three for me is going to be the Ohio State Buckeyes who fell short against Indiana but clearly a great season and they're going to get a buy in this.

[Braden Gall]

Playoff. I would put Georgia at 3 again. I do not do much with the conference championship game. Incredible performance. Maybe it changes the way I think of them as a national championship team. But I don't think you should move up a lot for a championship win. I don't think you should move down a lot at all. So I'm going with Georgia at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Three.

Number four. I think most people have Texas Tech loan loss was to Arizona but that's also an Arizona game where Baron Morton wasn't playing. I believe it's hurt that game. Texas Tex your number.

[Braden Gall]

14. I totally agree. I've got tech at four. The defensive front seven is what makes them a fascinating and worthy team of being here because the offense is kind of just like good. It's not elite. It's really good. To your point they lost the game without their quarterback. If you want to debate the rest of these teams to be ahead of them, we Can. Every time I do that though, I go, you know what? I'll take that Texas Tech front seven. They've earned it. Conference champs. I'm putting them at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Four. I like that number five to me. Ole Miss. Give me Ole Miss in that number five spot. I thought the committee might knock him with Lane Kiffin disappearing like a thief in the night. Going over to lsu didn't seem to care. I like Ole Miss and sort of the wins that they have obviously lost to Georgia, but they beat Oklahoma. That's a big win for them. A lot of dominant victories this season. They beat LSU when they people thought they were a good team. I've got Ole Miss in my number five.

[Braden Gall]

Spot. Number five for me is Oregon. Their resume is not the best, but that does not. You are not the contents of your resume just like you are not the contents of your khakis. I, I. You are a collection of coaches and players and they have NFL players at every position. They have won almost every time they've played this year. They have won in hostile environments. They've played low scoring games. They've played high scoring games. They are extremely well coached. They have a rock star quarterback. I have the Oregon Ducks at number.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Five.

I like it. Number six to me. I'm putting Texas A and M obviously that season. Any loss to Texas, drop them in the rankings. But they got a big one over Notre Dame. A Notre Dame team that I think a lot of people assume will be in these final rankings. I think that has to count for something for one loss. Texas A and M team number.

[Braden Gall]

Six for me is Texas A and M. I agree with you. They got a great win over Notre Dame. They had some defensive questions, but one loss got the job done. Give me the Aggies. It's.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Six.

Number seven. That's where I've got Oregon. I mean, listen, if we just do blind resumes, I think people would have a lot of questions about what makes Oregon the number five team in America got destroyed in a dominant fashion against Indiana at home. It's a 10 point loss, but it was much more than that. If you watch the actual game and then from there their best win is a home win against usc. Beyond that, I don't think there's a lot holding up that Oregon roster outside of the brand name. That's why they're at seven for.

[Braden Gall]

Me. Number seven for me is Notre Dame. I, I think Notre Dame is, I think Notre Dame is a really, really good football team. They have been completely dominant since week three and the things that happened before that are so overblown. They were one play from having a win over Miami and one play from having a win over Texas A and M. And I don't think that two plays in the fourth quarter in the final possession of two games in the first two weeks makes you some, like, illegitimate playoff team every most of the season. Notre Dame has been a great, dominant football team. I think the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are underrated and should be at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

7. This is where Matt would be really. Matt would get really mad at me because I'm not going fast enough. So I think we got to speed it up. So I think I'm pretty slow here. Oklahoma, number eight for me. Who you.

[Braden Gall]

Got? I'm going ole miss at 8. And that's not because of Lane Kiffin. I. I just think that they don't. They don't have any one thing that they do elite. There's not the one thing. Quarterback's nice. The running game's nice. The system is nice. They're a really good football team, but they don't have an elite unit in any of these matchups with these other teams. Good, solid resume, but not an elite one. Give me the Rebels at.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Eight. I like that. Number nine for me. Give me Miami. They did play Notre Dame. All right. There's a lot of criteria. I get it. They played Notre Dame. They beat Notre Dame. Has to count for something. Give me Miami at number.

[Braden Gall]

Nine. I understand. I think that's a fair argument. I got Oklahoma at nine. Their strength of schedule is just absurd. And they won some games that most teams have not been able to win. But I don't think they're an elite team. I don't think they're as elite as their record or their resume.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Is. I like that. Number 10. This is where it gets interesting. Give me Notre dame in that 10 spot. Won every game they played. After losing the Texas A and M and Miami at the start of the season, I think they weren't a spot in this.

[Braden Gall]

Field. I had this team ranked in this spot before yesterday, and I'm going to have this team ranked in this spot after yesterday because they were too good that they got to play in a championship game. Alabama at 10.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Who. We've been debating about that all show 11 to me. That's where I'll put Alabama. And if you're the committee, it's an easy out. You put them at 11. The system says we got to take the top five champions. James Madison, Tulane. Bump Alabama out. That it's not the committee's problem. Alabama at.

[Braden Gall]

11. I'm gonna roll this grenade in here. I've Texas and Vanderbilt at 11 and 12 because I think they are both better than BYU. They are better than Miami and they're better than Utah. They're not going to get in, but I think they're the 11th and 12th best.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Teams. Yeah. At 12 for me, I've got Vandy. I think BYU had a chance to beat Texas Tech, to compete with Texas Tech, to prove they belong in the same conversation with Texas Tech. That did not happen. I can't wait to see what's happening in the College Football Playoff selection show. Next ESPN Radio Noon Easter match. Trevor Madden. Check it out. Braden Gall, man pots and pans. Myron Metcalf. College Football Playoff show with Matt Shit. And Trevor Madich is.

[Podcast Host 1 (Matt)]

Next. Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10am Eastern on ESPN radio, the ESPN app, and on Sirius XM channel 80.

Matt and M. Myron, the.

[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

Podcast.

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[Podcast Host 2 (Myron)]

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