Who should be in the CFP?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron Episode: Who Should Be in the CFP Release Date: December 8, 2024

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Introduction to Selection Sunday and the 12-Team Playoff

In this episode of Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron, hosts Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf delve into the intricacies of the College Football Playoff (CFP) selections. With the introduction of a 12-team playoff system, the hosts explore the potential implications, controversies, and standout teams vying for a coveted spot.

"Myron Metcalf: It really feels like the real thing. Is Alabama actually going to be left out?" (04:30)

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Key Contenders and Performance Analysis

The discussion begins with an analysis of top-performing teams such as Georgia, Oregon, and SMU. The hosts examine Oregon's undefeated regular season and Georgia's overtime victory, highlighting their strengths and the challenges they may face in the playoff.

"Myron Metcalf: If you pick SMU, there are going to be haters who say you don't have to schedule a strong slate to get into the playoff." (02:15)

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The SMU vs. Alabama Debate

A significant portion of the episode centers on the contentious debate over whether SMU or Alabama deserves a playoff berth. Despite SMU's narrow loss in the ACC championship game, questions arise about their overall strength and the impact of their defeat on the CFP standings. Conversely, Alabama's brand recognition and consistent performance are scrutinized, especially after their surprising losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma.

"Marc Kesterscher: When I say Alabama, I have a hard time imagining Alabama actually being left out." (03:00)

"Myron Metcalf: It feels a little bit like almost like the Grammys, Gabe. It's like Bama's Taylor Swift versus SMU's Shabuzy." (03:15)

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Committee Standards and Future Implications

The hosts debate the CFP committee's criteria, questioning whether the current standards adequately reflect team performances or if they are swayed by brand prestige. They express concerns about the potential long-term effects of this decision on future playoff selections and the overall integrity of the CFP system.

"Marc Kesterscher: This is really the only one that matters. Is Alabama actually going to be left out?" (03:30)

"Myron Metcalf: If you choose to penalize conference championship losses, it sends a dangerous message to teams going forward." (05:27)

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Insights from SMU's Head Coach Rhett Lashley

Rhett Lashley, SMU's head coach, is featured discussing his team's exclusion. He passionately asserts that SMU deserves a spot in the CFP despite their loss, emphasizing the team's performance and the significance of their participation in the championship game.

"Rhett Lashley: It'd be criminal if we're not in. It'd be wrong on so many levels." (05:43)

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Caller Perspectives and Community Opinions

Throughout the episode, callers share their viewpoints, adding depth to the conversation. One caller, Peyton from Arizona, argues against Alabama's inclusion due to their recent losses and questions the consistency of the CFP committee's decisions.

"Peyton: If Alabama gets in, that is kind of crazy, just due to the fact that they have three losses." (16:05)

Another caller, Rob from South Carolina, highlights the inconsistent application of criteria, pointing out that Florida State was excluded even after injury setbacks.

"Rob: They pick and choose whether it's eye test for some teams or it's resume for some teams. It's not consistent." (18:32)

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Future of the CFP and Potential Expansion

The hosts speculate on the future of the CFP, considering the possibility of expanding to 16 teams if controversies like excluding Alabama persist. They discuss how such changes could alter the landscape of college football, ensuring that all major conferences remain competitive and relevant.

"Myron Metcalf: If Alabama's out, we're going to 16 like tonight. You know what I mean?" (31:10)

"Jordan: Let's just put Alabama and have a 16 team playoff next year because you know how the SEC is." (31:06)

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Concluding Thoughts and Final Predictions

As the episode wraps up, Matt and Myron offer their final predictions on the CFP selections. They express skepticism about certain teams' qualifications and reaffirm their belief in the committee's ability to make informed decisions, while also remaining open to potential upsets and surprises in the playoff rankings.

"Marc Kesterscher: How do we deal with this? And the one thing they have to balance is keeping conference championships relevant." (08:05)

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Notable Quotes

• Myron Metcalf (02:03): "If you pick SMU, they're gonna be a whole bunch of haters who say you don't have to schedule a strong slate to get into the playoff."

• Marc Kesterscher (03:30): "The committee, whatever they do this year will affect, I think, teams in the future as well."

• Rhett Lashley (05:43): "It'd be criminal if we're not in. It'd be wrong on so many levels."

• Peyton (16:05): "If Alabama gets in, that is kind of crazy, just due to the fact that they have three losses."

• Jordan (31:06): "Let's just put Alabama and have a 16 team playoff next year because you know how the SEC is."

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Conclusion

This episode of Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron offers a comprehensive examination of the CFP selection process, highlighting the complexities and debates surrounding team inclusions. Through expert analysis, passionate opinions, and engaging discussions, Matt and Myron provide listeners with a thorough understanding of the factors influencing the College Football Playoff and its future trajectory.

Transcript

[Myron Metcalf]

Craven the hunter who uses all the methods of the animals.

[Gabe Neitzel]

This Thursday, Once you're on his list.

[Rhett Lashley]

There'S only one way off.

[Myron Metcalf]

Are you like your father?

[Marc Kesterscher]

He puts evil into the world and get rid of people like him. Who's next?

[Gabe Neitzel]

Witness the making of a new Marvel villain.

[Rhett Lashley]

You think you have some kind of honor?

[Gabe Neitzel]

You're a criminal just like our father. Aaron Taylor Johnson is Kraven the Hunter. Rated R under 17, 90 minute without parent. In theaters Thursday. This is Matt and Myron, the podcast.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Sunday morning countdown to kickoff. Call us whatever you want here on ESPN Radio and the ESPN app. Yeah, we're going to be hanging out here no matter what you call us. Sirius XM channel 80. Along with Myron Metcalf. I am Gabe Neitzel, ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance. It is selection Sunday, Championship Saturday in the books. And we're kind of wondering what this is all going to look like. First time ever we have a 12 team playoff that is going to be selected today. And make sure you're keep it right here on ESPN Radio because College Football Playoff selection day is here on ESPN Radio from noon to 2pm Eastern with Marc Kesterscher and Ian Fitzsimmons. So make sure you stick around for that. And really, after all the things that happened yesterday, whether it's Georgia winning in overtime, Oregon completing an undefeated regular season, the big question today, Myron, has nothing to do with those teams. It has to do with one team that lost a very tight one in the ACC championship game. Clemson, we know is in as a conference champion. But is SMU in after their loss 34, 31 yesterday, are they going to is that win by Clemson, does that knock out Alabama? Where does this all end up falling is the biggest question heading into today. And how is the committee after last week saying, oh, conference championship games can't really punish a lot of those teams. But does the possibility exist that SMU does indeed get punished and they're left out?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean, I think that's gonna be a question, right, like at the end of the day, Gabe, we're gonna find out like what the committee standard is, you know, whether they stay at 12 or move on to 16 or beyond. We'll find out with these rankings what they believe it takes to get into the field. Because I think, you know, if you pick smu, they're gonna be a whole bunch of haters who say, okay, well, you don't have to schedule a strong schedule. Right? You don't, you don't have to, you know, face an imposing Slate in order to get into the playoff. And if you pick Alabama, there are going to be a whole lot of people who say, well, then what's the point of conference championships? Because you would have Alabama, Indiana, Ohio State, a number of teams that didn't make the title game who are still going to be in the playoffs. So, you know, I think the committee will tell you who it is and what it is. And I don't know, it feels a little bit like almost like the Grammys, Gabe. Right. Like, it's like Bama's Taylor Swift. And, you know, SMU is like, what's that dude's name? Shaboozy. What's his name? The guy. The guy with the black country name is a Shabuzi, right?

[Marc Kesterscher]

I think it's Shabuzi. Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's like Taylor Swift versus Shaboozy, you know?

[Marc Kesterscher]

Right.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, who's gonna win the award is how it feels a little bit. And I think, again, the committee, whatever they do this year will affect, I think, teams in the future as well.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Yeah, it's. It's going to be a standard that is set whether or not they follow that standard. Because it seems like week to week, the standards certainly changed at times on our road to this, but this is really the only one that matters. Everything else that happened in terms of the College Football Playoff ranking that happened before today is for entertainment purposes only. This is the real thing. Is Alabama actually going to be left out? And when I say that sentence out loud, Myron, I have a hard time imagining Alabama actually being left out. The way that they got back into it after a lot of the upsets that happened in the last week of the regular season. And it's Alabama, man. Like, do I think Alabama deserved to be there? No. You can't lose to Oklahoma that bad. You can't. You can't score three points against a team that is barely bowl eligible and expect, yeah, we're going to be in the College Football Playoff. But they are a brand. They are synonymous with college football at this point. And it almost seems like because of that, I'll believe that they'll leave Alabama out when I actually see it, if they actually do it coming up later today.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean, it's a big question, you know, it's a huge question. Because, listen, like, if you're in that room, you have justification for both. Because now if there are people leaning towards Alabama, they can say, well, that Georgia team that just won the acc, sec, Alabama has a win over them, right? That now their Schedule's even stronger. Or you can look at SMU and say, are we really going to penalize teams for losing by a field goal on a last second kick in the conference championship camp? Because if you choose to do that, then I think what you're saying ultimately is conference championship games. Making the conference championship game is actually something that can hurt your resume. And I think if that's the message, man, that's a really, really dangerous message to send to teams going forward in the playoff.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Well, and there are a couple of things that Rhett Lashley, SMU's head coach, had to say after his team lost on that last second field goal in the ACC championship game last night. First and foremost campaigning for his team thinking it would be criminal if the Mustangs were not in the cfp.

[Rhett Lashley]

They don't care what I say. I don't have a message. It'd be criminal if we're not in. So it would be. It would. It would be wrong. It'd be wrong on so many levels, not just our team. It'd be wrong to what college football stands for. To the. To what it is. I mean, we just played a playoff game basically out there and played pretty dang good.

[Marc Kesterscher]

This is the point though, here, Myron. I think that that really drives this home for Rhett Lashley and smu. Like, what would have happened if they just decided, hey, no, we declined the invitation to the ACC championship game.

[Rhett Lashley]

We were in. We could have not showed up. And according to the what we were told Tuesday night we'd be in. So we showed up and we competed our butts off. And I don't know. I don't know what to say. They don't care what I say, but we should be in. They know we should be in. So we'll see what happens.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, this is like Shabuzi at the Country Music Awards, right? Like, he was there. He don't know if he's gonna get on stage. They invited the brother. They said, hey, man, we gonna nomin. But you sit there in your seat, man, we don't know if we're gonna actually put you on stage. But I mean, the challenge is with SMU is if that was the standard winning, you're in, they didn't win. And now you're at the mercy of whatever the committee decides. And I'll make another point about what SMU did against Clemson. If you actually watch that game, I don't think it was as close as the final score. I mean, Clemson had a big lead over SMU and then kind of collapsed late. But it didn't feel like, well, a one field goal game, a one score game. It felt like Clemson was beyond that against them. I think the other thing we got to start doing. Gabe, can we stop saying things are criminal in sports? Like, unless. Unless you got proof that there's a Ponzi scheme behind the college football. Yeah. Playoff committee or this is like, I don't know, Goodfellas or something and there's a group of guys who are running things behind the scenes. Stop saying things are criminal. Right. It's just sports, so we gotta retire that phrase as well.

[Marc Kesterscher]

So unless somebody on that. On that committee that we all saw watching the games yesterday, sitting back in the recliners, all watching the games together, which, by the way, knows a guy.

[Myron Metcalf]

Who knows a guy, that kind of thing, you know.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Yeah. Which by the way, I mean, I saw some of those chairs. I mean, that's a long day at college football. Like, you're telling me they watched all those games? No, somebody, somebody.

[Myron Metcalf]

Somebody fell asleep.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Yeah, somebody fell asleep.

[Myron Metcalf]

Somebody, Somebody went to the other room and fell asleep. That would have been me, Gabe. Like I'm. I'm the guy that's going to leave the room and say, hey, I'm running to the restroom and I'm finding a place to nap. You know what I mean? Like that good 17 minute nap and then you come back. I would be doing that, but I think. And again, we do this in college basketball, which I covered, I've covered for a long time. We do this every year. And what you always hear on the college basketball side, Gabe, is that things are essentially set going into selection Sunday. Right. If you don't have a resume when these conference championship games are being played, this probably isn't going to determine your fate. So I think that committee knew what was going to happen with their bracket and something dramatic would have to have played out yesterday to change that. Yeah, because that's SMU or Alabama. They had that already planned, regardless of what was going to happen yesterday, I think.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Yeah, because I mean, they probably had contingency brackets for everything yesterday. But I mean, the Big Ten championship game, yes, it mattered for seating, but both those teams were in the SEC championship game. Both teams were in. Yes, it matters for seating and who gets the buy and whatnot. You knew that the Big 12 was okay, winning in because they were so far down and the ACC was really the only wrench that could be thrown of okay if Clemson wins. And then all of a sudden they're in because they're A conference champion. How do we deal with this? And the one thing they have to balance, because I was wrong, I was very skeptical of this playoff. I thought it would diminish the regular season more before we got here. I was wrong. I was 100% wrong about that until yesterday. And yesterday kind of felt it didn't. It didn't have the same weight that conference championship Saturday had in the past. And from. Look, we're doing the College Football Playoff pretty much for money. Like those SEC, those SEC, Big 10, 8, those are all pretty big money revenue generators for the conferences. They have to find a way to keep those things relevant. So I think that's something that they're discussing as well. What decision that we make today is going to continue to make conference championship games relevant, that people have to tune in and watch, and they're significant to the fabric of what college football is.

[Myron Metcalf]

I think a ladder match, you know, at the end of the game or something. Spice it up if you want to make it interesting for me. But no, I think you, I think you got to change the stakes, man. Like, I don't. I was thinking yesterday, Gabe, maybe it's, you have to win that game to get a buy, and if you lose, you don't get a home game. Like, I mean, maybe that, maybe it's that you got to travel if you lose that game, because if you don't do that, it's going to be hard to keep people, I think, as invested as they normally would be in those games.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Yeah, because a lot of those would have been truly playoff elimination games. The way that it's been with the four in the past certainly was not the case yesterday. Be a part of Countdown to Kickoff Nation on the Dr. Pepper call in line. Give us a call. Triple eight. Say ESPN 888-729377. ESPN Nation is presented by Dr. Pepper. It's not college football season without the delicious taste advice called Dr. Pepper College Football. It's a Pepper thing. Give us a call on that Dr. Pepper call in line. Tell us how you think the final college football playoff rankings will shake out. We'll take your calls next here on Countdown to Kickoff. ESPN Radio. In the ESPN app.

[Gabe Neitzel]

Matt and Myron.

[Myron Metcalf]

The podcast.

[Gabe Neitzel]

Oregon stays undefeated, beating Penn State.

[Rhett Lashley]

I don't think there's any secret what.

[Marc Kesterscher]

This team wants to accomplish, but you.

[Rhett Lashley]

Don'T get there by just looking at it.

[Marc Kesterscher]

It takes work.

[Rhett Lashley]

I'm thinking right now, how can we improve?

[Marc Kesterscher]

I'm fairly confident that we're going to.

[Myron Metcalf]

Be in the playoffs. I know These guys will be excited about the opportunity.

[Marc Kesterscher]

I think the field is mostly set, but how far are some of these teams going to fall in the College Football Playoff? It's Countdown to Kickoff, ESPN Radio, ESPN App, SiriusXM Channel 80, along with Myron Metcalf. I'm Gabe Neitzel. And Countdown to Kickoff is presented by Progressive Insurance. Progressive helping to drive veterans lives forward through their Keys to Progress program. And the big question I have outside of, okay, who's the last team in? Is it going to be SMU or is it going to be Alabama? Is how far do some of these teams fall? Because Penn State and Texas were inside the top four, they ultimately lose their conference championship game. So they can't get one of those top four seeds and get a buy. And yet you have Penn State, who lost to Ohio State, now has the same number of losses as the Buckeyes. Can they still be that fifth seed? Do they drop down to the six? How that shakes out. Where does Texas fall in this whole thing? Who's going to be getting those home games? Is that Next question after. Okay, who's the last team in? Who's going to be hosting the first ever college football playoff games?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean, it's going to matter a lot, right? I mean, we see it in the NFL. You know, when you have to travel in the playoff, it dramatically diminishes your opportunity to advance. And I think that's why winning the conference championship is so significant. To not only host or to not only have a game in the top seed, but to get the buy. We know what that means in the NFL. I think it's just going to have a dramatic impact on who has a real chance to win. I mean, that's why I think a lot of people see Georgia and Oregon, they're probably putting them high on their list to win this thing because they get that extra week of rest. But the rest of the field, to me, it all feels like we could see upsets across the board, because how much faith do you have in Ohio State right now after what they did to Michigan? How much faith in Penn State? Penn State led by James Franklin, the king of mediocrity, you know what I mean? Like. Like he's always doing like these TED Talk, press conference kind of things, and I'm like, what? What have you done? Like. Like, how many times we gonna talk about him being in a position to be great and he just isn't, at the end of the day, a bunch.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Of money to coach at Penn State? That's what he's doing.

[Myron Metcalf]

But, but he play, he plays this whole. Like everyone's against this thing. No, people just want you to win at a level that you're supposed to. So I don't have any Penn State faith in that team at all. And there's no faith for me and what they can do. So then you start going, gabe, all right, you know, some of these other teams aren't getting the field. Do you like Indiana as a double digit seed that probably is going to have to travel. Does anybody want to play Clemson after what they did? I don't know. But I think we could get some upsets in those. In that first round.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Who do you think could actually win the national championship? Like who is. Because honestly through most of the four team playoff era, you could. Yeah, by about mid season kind of narrow it down to one or two teams, maybe three. And those two teams are going to end up playing for the national championship more often than not. I feel this is pretty wide open and a pretty good year to have a 12 team playoff because I mean I don't. Especially after watching Oregon give up all those points to Penn State who struggled mightily offense offensively when they played Ohio State earlier this year. I don't know how much I trust Oregon to win a national championship.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean, you know, but I think they're maybe the best among the flawed teams. Right. The thing about Oregon is you got to keep up in that track meet. Correct. And Oregon can put up 45 points on you and there just aren't many teams that can keep up. So they're on that list. I think, George, after what they did. My question, Gabe, is going to be this when it comes to Texas because I think Texas is still in that conversation when they play at their best. Tennessee I think also has a real chance. Is Texas willing to go to Arch Manning if they have to? Because I think that has to be the real question with Texas. Like do you go into this playoff and say Quinn Ures is our guy? However, if there are moments much like Alabama had when Jalen Hurts, you know, was swapped out for tua, they got to be willing to do that because I think Arch Manning in the way he plays might give them an advantage depending on the matchup. So. So we'll see how they move forward.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Yeah, it is certainly wide open, but you can hit us up on that Dr. Pepper call in line. Triple H, say ESPN 888-7293776. How do you think the College Football Playoff is going to shake out? Let's go out to Peyton in Arizona. You're up first on Countdown to kickoff.

[Peyton]

Hey, how's it going, guys?

[Myron Metcalf]

What's up, Peyton?

[Peyton]

So I just want to first off say that I think if Alabama gets in, that is kind of crazy, just due to the fact that they have three losses and two of those losses have came to Vanderbilt in Oklahoma. If you started off the season and told Alabama fans that they were going to lose to Vanderbilt in Oklahoma on the road, they would have been like, oh, yeah, we're not going to get a playoff. But now there's this. There's this thing around them that says, we are Alabama. We're this national brand. Well, they're not. They're not the same Alabama they used to be. Nick Saban's no longer their head coach. Sure, they still have some of Nick Saban's players, but it's not the same Alabama team that used to be underneath big savings leadership.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean, that's fair game. I think that's fair. I mean, but the brand is still the brand. And no matter what anybody says, the committee can say whatever they want to say publicly. The Big Ten and the SEC have the power to do whatever they want in this thing. And if they go to 16 teams and the Big Ten and the SEC say, you know what, not only do we want expansion, we want four automatic bids per conference, they're gonna have to do that. So. So I do think no matter what anyone says publicly, making the SEC happy is something that people are thinking about on that committee.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Alabama is Alabama and a national brand when it comes to. Yes, and they were built back up to that because of Nick Saban. The Cowboys haven't won a championship in the NFL in 30 years. They're still the Cowboys. They're still a national brand in the NFL like Bama. It doesn't matter who that coach is right now because of all the goodwill that Nick Saban has put into that program over the last Triple H. Say, ESPN 888-729-3776. Rob in South Carolina, you're up next on the Dr. Pepper Colon Line. Gabe Knights on Myron Metcalf on Countdown to Kickoff.

[Rob]

Hey, good morning. How y'all doing?

[Marc Kesterscher]

Doing well, man.

[Myron Metcalf]

How you doing, Rob?

[Rob]

All right. So, well, happy Thanksgiving to you all.

[Marc Kesterscher]

I just wanted to.

[Myron Metcalf]

Thanksgiving was. Was a week ago, man. It was about.

[Rob]

Well, that's all right.

[Myron Metcalf]

Ten days ago. Are you still eating leftover food? I hope you're not eating leftovers, man.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Time out. Time out. Rob, what's. What's the Statute of limitations on Happy Thanksgiving. Like we.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. Are you still eating leftovers? Because if you are, man, you need, you need to go to a doctor tomorrow. Really? Tonight. Go to the.

[Rob]

Anyway. Yeah, the reason I wanted to, the reason I wanted to call is what do y'all think? Georgia should be seated. And there's a reason why I'm asking.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Well, they're, they're going to have a top. Yeah. They're going to have a top four seed and my guess is it's going to be number two. Oregon's going to be one, Georgia is going to be two.

[Rob]

So that's interesting to me because. That's interesting because last year the committee already set a precedent that if you lose your starting quarterback, you're a completely different team when they left Florida State out. So I mean if they want to, you know, I guess and that's the thing that's, that's crazy to a lot of people is they pick and choose whether it's eye test for some teams or it's resume for some teams. It's not consistent. So I mean to me when you leave Florida State out because Jordan Travis breaks his leg, when to be honest, they were there the whole, the whole time. I don't know how Georgia isn't the four considering.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean it's a different thing. I hear a lot of Florida State people, Florida State was playing to be a four team player. Right. Like the 12 team playoff changes a lot of that in terms of like what the committee would do in this scenario. Florida State would have been in a 12 team playoff last year. You know what I mean? But I also do think if you're Georgia, that MRI that's playing for Carson Beck, my guess is that's going to happen at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon. It ain't, it ain't happening at 9am I'll tell you that. It's going to happen a little later in the day just to be safe.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Yeah. Because again, it's completely different situation. We knew Travis had the injury going into his conference championship game and he did not play. So we got to see what that team looked like with a different quarterback and went, okay, this isn't the same. Like you could, you could do that judging them over a half without, without Beck, it's a tougher task to do. But also just to be safe and to make sure you get that number two seed, whatever injury information you have on Carson back, it's, it's staying in the back pocket until the committee has officially released that Bracket.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. Now that MRI is scheduled for 2:30 in the afternoon with a two hour wait just to be sure.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Just, you know, you don't, you don't want to take any chances going into today again. You can always hit us up on that Dr. Pepper call in triple H, say ESPN 888-729-3776. How do you think the College Football Playoff is going to shake out with that announcement coming later today? We'll continue to take your calls as we continue on countdown for kickoff. ESPN Radio, the ESPN app and Sirius XM channel 80.

[Gabe Neitzel]

Matt and Myron the PO.

[Myron Metcalf]

Clemson got a second chance at the College Football Playoff and they have earned their way in.

[Rhett Lashley]

I don't have a message. It'd be criminal if we're not in.

[Myron Metcalf]

I think Lloyd Christmas said it best.

[Gabe Neitzel]

So you're saying there's a chance. So let's go.

[Marc Kesterscher]

College football coaches quoting dumb and dumber 30 years after the movie. Not something that I thought personally would be happening. But here we are. It's the countdown to kick off. ESPN Radio, ESPN App, SiriusXM Channel 80, ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance along with Myron Metcalf. I'm Gabe Neitzel and you can hit us up on that Dr. Pepper call online. Triple H, say ESPN 888-7293776. We want to get to some NFL talk but we also want to hear from you like Scott in Baltimore. Scott, you're up next on Countdown to Kickoff.

[Scott]

Gentlemen, good morning. Good morning.

[Marc Kesterscher]

What's happening?

[Scott]

Hey, I really want to see the committee, I know it sounds Pollyanna. I really want to see the committee focus much more on the losses that you shouldn't have versus the wins that you do have or the wins that you, that you should have. These are all good teams. So and they're all ostensibly they're the favorite on virtually every given Saturday. But the inexcusable losses to me are the ones that should, should be focused on and really cancel teams out.

[Myron Metcalf]

I like that, that that's important, you know what I mean? Because I think that's going to be an important part of how Alabama's assessed. Gabe, because do you look at, okay, that's the team that beat Georgia, the SEC champion or do you go, you lost to Vandy in Oklahoma. Like what are you focusing more on if you're the committee?

[Marc Kesterscher]

The Oklahoma one is even more inexplicable to me because Vandy, you know, okay, they got hot, they pulled off the ups. At least it was a tight game. Like to go on the Road at Oklahoma, which isn't a tough place to play anymore. They're beat up more than any other team in power conference football and it put up three points. Three. That's the part that confuses me. And we'll see what the committee believes not just with the Alabama situation, but with how do you rank Penn State and Ohio State? Because Ohio State's got the head to head win. With Penn State they now have the same number of losses, but both Penn State of losses you can go. Well, they lost to two, you know, top 10 teams. The two teams they lost to are going to be in the playoff, whereas Ohio State has the inexplicable loss to Michigan. And that's the last time we saw Ohio State. So I think however that shakes out where those two teams are ranked will also tell you how the committee feels about those losses that you shouldn't have.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, it's going to be fun to see Gabe. Yeah, somebody's going to be upset.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Oh, somebody's going to be very upset. And if it's Alabama, I mean if it ends up being Alabama, we're all going to know about it. We're all going to hear for the next decade. Long time. But the NFL is kicking off in full week 14. And even though we probably had the best game of the slates on Thursday night with the packers and Lions, there are still some, certainly some games worth paying attention to. For example, the Minnesota Vikings can need to continue if they want to have a shot at winning the NFC north just a game behind Detroit, who just keeps winning and winning and winning. And that's an interesting game because while Kirk Cousins is returning to Minnesota and the Falcons need to continue to win just to have, you know, try to stay ahead in their division in the NFC south, which has been so bad.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm up here in Minnesota, you know, so I saw the Kirk Cousins there up close. I mean this is, you know, with Sam Darnold doing what he's doing. This is like your high maintenance ex coming to Christmas. Right. But you're happy with your new person. You know what I mean? It's a little bit like that because no one thought Sam Darnold would work out. And you know, $10 million, I think people thought, okay, bridge quarterback, you're going to be here until J.J. mcCarthy emerges as the starter. Not big expectations. Now here you are. Would a chance if you keep winning to maybe have a one seed. I mean the Lions look great, the Eagles look great. But, but you're in that position With Sam Darnold. Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins has done what he usually does. And this is why a lot of people thought he's overpaid some great stretches of football. And then you look at the last three games. Six interceptions, no passing touchdowns. When it gets bad with Kirk Cousins, when it rains, Gabe, it's a monsoon with him. And that's the danger of Kirk Cousins leading any team. Yeah.

[Marc Kesterscher]

And the interception total just continues to climb and climb and climb. He is now at 134 last week.

[Myron Metcalf]

4.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Yeah, that was tough in a very winnable game. But this is again what Kirk Cousins does. But if he continues to do this, will he continue to Play? Harry Douglas, Mr. Falcon himself on his show Freddie and Harry this week had this to say about Kirk Cousins and the Falcons quarterback situation.

[Harry Douglas]

I don't think the Falcons can continue to allow Kirk Cousins to play like this, especially versus Minnesota.

[Jordan]

Right.

[Harry Douglas]

And then say that he's going to still be your starting quarterback moving forward. Now you still start him in the Minnesota game because they're in first place in their division. Still, Kirk Cousins is going back to Minnesota, a place that he knows and understands through and through. But if you see those early mishaps and Kirk Cousins not on his P's and Q's, then you might have to have a situation where you bring Michael Penix into the game and then the following week, well, Michael Penix has to be your starter.

[Marc Kesterscher]

I can't believe we're having this conversation, Myron. Why is he having this conversation? And it's legitimate conversation about, wait, we all made fun of him when they drafted Penx, but is he actually going to be starting by the end of the season? That's, that is insanity to me.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean the challenge with it is they gave Kirk Cousins a lot of guaranteed 100 million guaranteed. Right. So it's hard to not to commit to him going forward. Especially because before this stretch he was playing great football and it looked like the Falcons were certainly going to win the NFC south and might be an underdog. That can make some noise in the playoffs. As for today, Gabe, Kirk Cousins going back to Minnesota to play the Vikings, you would have to physically pull him off the field in order for anybody to replace him. I don't think that's going to happen today because there's too much on the line. I don't care what anyone says. He's thinking about outplaying Sam Darnold who by the way has had the best three game stretch of his entire career. 811 yards, seven touchdowns, no interceptions. He is Playing remarkable football right now at a fraction of the price that it took to get Kirk Cousins to Atlanta. Those two ain't coming out of the game unless you pull them out of the game and say there's no way they can go back.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Well, and what's incredible to me, you mentioned the last three games for Sam Darnold. There were some games in there, I think, of that Jacksonville game. That was like a 12 to 10 game, right? Just ugly. And you're starting to see some of the old Sam Darnold. Ah, all right. We all knew he was going to show up here. Sam Darnold, this is the guy that was in New York. This is the guy that struggled, and then he righted the ship. And now all of a sudden, he's playing, like you said, some of the best football. And I have been waiting, especially as a Packers fan, as a proud packers fan who is trying to chase down the teams above them in that division. I have been waiting for the Sam Darnold, like, fall apart for over a month now. Okay. He's not actually this good. He's going to. And then he just keeps on putting up great numbers after great numbers. And I have no doubt that they're walking away with a win today, especially with the way that the Falcons have been playing.

[Myron Metcalf]

$10 million too. Right. I mean, to me, this is one of those. This is one of those organizational wins, right? Because Kirk Cousins said, give me my money, and the Vikings said, no, we can replace you at a fraction of the price. People thought that was crazy. They went out, got a young quarterback in the draft. They get a veteran in Sam Darnold. And they said, Kevin O'Connell is the quarterback guru. When you're under Kevin O'Connell, you're a good quarterback. I don't care who you are. Like, that guy is able to turn. Gabe, you and I could be good quarterbacks under Kevin O'Connell, I think, just based on his track record. Right. But I mean, this is an organizational victory today where if Sam Donald can outplay Kirk Cousins and you decided not to play Kirk Cousins, that's even bigger than this game. This is about how you shaped your organization and franchise moving forward, and it would validate that you made the right decision.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Yeah. And look, the Falcons need to try to keep it together. It seems like these two teams are organizations, at least throughout the course of this year, going in opposite directions. Now, Minnesota is going to continue to climb, and Atlanta is just trying to hold on for dear triple H, say ESPN 888-729-3, 7, 7, 6. Want to hear from you and your thoughts on how you think the College Football Playoff is going to shake out again. Don't forget, hit us. Stick it here. Keep it here on ESPN Radio. College Football Playoff selection starting at noon until 2pm Eastern. Mark Kestershire, Ian Fitzsimmons right here on ESPN Radio. But we hear from you right now on Countdown to Kickoff. We go to Jordan in Texas. Jordan, you're on ESPN Radio.

[Jordan]

Hey, Myron, it's the Tulsa King. How are you doing today?

[Myron Metcalf]

Oh, what's up man? How you doing?

[Jordan]

I'm starting to think we ain't boys no more because I had to wait on hope 22 minutes.

[Myron Metcalf]

That wasn't me. Hey, had I been in the studio, man, I would have let you get in first, man.

[Jordan]

Oh, I know it. My man. Hey man, I think SM you should get in. My opinion is what the hell, let's piss Alabama fans off. SMU had the death penalty. Alabama got beat by Vanderbilt and blown out by Oklahoma. SMU got beat by BYU who was a top eight team at the time by three points. Yeah, then you lose to the last second field goal. I think we should just change. This is going to change the whole football playoff. Let's just put Alabama and have a 16 team playoff next year because you know how the SEC is. They rule the college football. They're going to do whatever they want. The hell with it. Put SMU in.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean, I love it.

[Marc Kesterscher]

That would fast track a college football playoff to 16 teams. Right. By leaving Alabama out.

[Myron Metcalf]

If Alabama's out, we're going to 16 like tonight. You know what I mean? Like we might expand, we might add four teams this year. Right. Because he's right. I mean that's what you're setting up, Gabe. If Alabama's left out, I guarantee we will have a 16 team playoff announced in the weeks ahead. Right. Because the SEC and the Big Ten aren't going to stand for that situation. But I think he made a great point. If you watched smu, you go, you know what, they lost some games. Nobody beat them up, nobody bullied them. If you watch Alabama, you go, that team lost to Vandy and then didn't show up against Oklahoma. Like does that cancel out what they did against Georgia? You can make the case that it does.

[Marc Kesterscher]

But I mean that Georgia game at the same time was. It just feels like it was ages ago for this Alabama team.

[Myron Metcalf]

It feels like last year almost.

[Marc Kesterscher]

I would argue that that first half they played against Georgia was the best half of football anybody has played in college football all year and it almost seems like it's gone downhill dramatically. They allowed the comeback in the second half and just have not been able to come anywhere close to replicating that level of play.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, and I, and I feel like, Gabe, I think we all know if you put Alabama on the field today with that Georgia team we saw last night, that that could be a 10 point win for Georgia, right? It feels that way. So it's just different stages from what we saw in that first game between those two teams.

[Marc Kesterscher]

We are going to continue to hear from you on that Dr. Pepper colon line. 888-729-3776. Triple H say ESPN, how do you think the College Football Playoff is going to shake out as that announcement is made in just a couple of hours? We continue on Countdown to Kickoff here on ESPN Radio and espn, Matt and Myron, the podcast. I'm Gabe Neitzel along with Myron Metcalf. It's Countdown to kickoff, ESPN radio, ESPN app, Sirius XM channel 80. We will get to your calls momentarily. We certainly want to hear from you your thoughts on how that College Football Playoff is going to shake out with that announcement coming and coming quickly here today on Selection Sunday. But right now we got to go a little no huddle. So we've got a handful of games Myron is going to try to pitch us on why exactly these games, which, let's be honest, are not desirable today in the NFL, are worth paying attention to. Myron, the floor is yours.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, I mean, so what Matt usually does. He, you know, he'll give us, he'll call for the game and then he says that I can't sell. He thinks I'm a bad salesman. So you can feel free to judge me, Gabe.

[Marc Kesterscher]

All right, man. I don't want to judge the great Miami Metcalf, but if I'm told I have to know about Graham, I will do that. Let's start with game number one, Saints of Giants, right?

[Myron Metcalf]

30 seconds here. All right. You probably don't want to watch the Saints. I mean, everybody's heard Taysom Hill things on injury reserve. Not a whole lot to see there. But if you're interested in maybe the next big job opening, Brian D. Ball is on thin ice. His seat is getting warmer and warmer and warmer. Drew Lock is the quarterback. I think that's one of those jobs where Bill Belichick, Deion Sanders, all those candidates out there could be looking at this game today and saying, is that my next job? That's why you're Watching this because Brian Dabel is trying to save his job.

[Marc Kesterscher]

All right? I mean, the fact that you brought up Taysom Hill is like, oh, man, there's a big reason why the Saints stink.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. That didn't help, did it? It didn't help, no. Didn't help.

[Marc Kesterscher]

No. Doesn't certainly help.

[Myron Metcalf]

I shouldn't have brought up Taste of. See, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. I should have focused on day ball.

[Jordan]

Yeah.

[Marc Kesterscher]

I think they ball the whole way.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Marc Kesterscher]

You didn't need to mention anybody from the Saints if you're gonna go straight Giants. It just needed to be used to be. Yeah. Hey, this team's a dumpster fire. Maybe they have a player or two the next coach wants to keep.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yes. Okay. You're right. You're right. Okay. I'm ready. I'm learning.

[Gabe Neitzel]

Raiders and Buccaneers.

[Myron Metcalf]

You're watching the Raiders because, believe it or not, as bad as they've been, Brock Bowers might be the next great NFL tight end. And if you haven't had a chance to watch him, you definitely want to see him. But you're really watching this because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a chance to get into the playoffs and be the most dangerous team that nobody wants to face. They win today, and Atlanta loses to the Vikings, their first place in the NFC South. And that Buccaneers team, which rushed for 300 yards against the Panthers last weekend, is shaping up to be a really interesting underdog in the playoff race.

[Marc Kesterscher]

That is a much better pitch job also, because, like, I don't know what the Buccaneers are. Well, I think they. I think they. I think they can be good, but I don't know if they're actually good.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. And I don't know if they rushed for 300 yards. I think it was like, 250. Like, Bucky Irving had, like, 197.

[Marc Kesterscher]

But I mean, again, this is a sales pitch. I mean, every once in a while, you gotta take. You know, you stretch the truth a little bit. You know, you gotta stretch the truth.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. Yeah. I don't know if I'm gonna be a used car salesman after this game. I mean, based on the feedback I got from Matt and others and you, like, I don't know. I gotta stay in media somehow, because I don't think I have a career in sales.

[Marc Kesterscher]

This next one might be the toughest pitch job you've got the entire day. Let's see what he's got for game number three.

[Gabe Neitzel]

Jaguars at Titans.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't know how you sell this. Take a nap. I don't know, like, you better off just going to bed. Like, go to the store, you know, I mean, you got groceries to pick up. Go pick them up. Then you want to go with your family, have it. Seen everybody in a while. Go get a good meal. Because I don't really know what to tell you about Jags versus Titans. Matt Jones against Will Levis. I don't know that there's a whole lot to see here, if I'm being honest. So not much of a sales pitch. Gabe, go enjoy your family, your friends, your life. Have fun. No need to watch this.

[Marc Kesterscher]

No, look, I, I appreciate, I appreciate you being honesty there.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't know what I'm supposed to say.

[Marc Kesterscher]

I like the honesty there. Like, look, look, this, this is a lemon. I can show you other cars on the lot, but you don't. You do not want this car. That's basically what you just told me, which is. I mean, again, maybe your bosses, maybe your bosses don't appreciate that, but I, as the consumer, certainly appreciate the honesty.

[Myron Metcalf]

I should have. I should have sold. I don't know how to sell that one. There's nothing there. There's nothing there.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Let's try out the last game.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay.

[Gabe Neitzel]

Jets at Dolphins.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, you want to see one of the most ridiculous streaks in football continue? Well, you're going to see it today because Aaron Rodgers, as great as he has been throughout his career, could have his 35th consecutive game without hitting 300 yards. That is an NFL record. That's how bad, Subpar, if you will, Aaron Rodgers has been. And that could continue against the Dolphins in Miami. You're watching this on the Dolphins side of things, because this is a must win for the Dolphins. Every game is a must win. Their playoff hopes are slim, but if they lose, they are completely out of it. They have to win to have any shot at staying in the AFC playoff picture.

[Marc Kesterscher]

All right. Hey, you like that one, Mikey? Mikey was a fan, I thought. I mean, tune in for that. We gave you Aaron Rodgers. You know, Aaron Rogers is always, you know, he's got some interesting things going on. And that Netflix documentary that's coming out in just a few days, that's. That's, that's going to be very.

[Myron Metcalf]

Surprises, though.

[Marc Kesterscher]

No surprises. But I got to imagine Netflix is kind of upset because I think that they were assuming that this was going to be some sort of big, like, hey, look at this story about this great comeback from Aaron Rodgers. And now the team has three wins and he hasn't thrown for 300 yards. And as you mentioned, 35 straight games.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. Now he's just like mediocre and weird. Like, that's, that's, you know, we accept quirky people when they're great usually. But this is just, you know, it's an odd finish to a Hall of Fame career, Gabe, isn't it?

[Marc Kesterscher]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. No, because when he's like this and he's great, he's, you know, the press will call you colorful. To go back to the old Durham saying, hey, if you, if you have fungus on your shower shoes, you're a sloth. Unless you win 20 in the show, then the press calls you colorful. That's basically where we're at with, with Aaron Rodgers, Triple H, say, ESPN 888-729-3776. Let back out to the phone lines. How do you think the College Football Playoff is going to shake out later today? We go to Denny in Niagara Falls. Denny, you're up next on Countdown to Kickoff.

[Denny]

How you doing, Gabe? How you doing, Myron? Good morning to both of you guys.

[Myron Metcalf]

Happy holidays.

[Denny]

Thank you. Thank you guys are fantastic. I appreciate. I'm actually, ironically, I'm drinking the diet Dr. Pepper right now, so I'm giving you.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, nice plug. Try that. Zero sugar one, man. That's good too.

[Denny]

Yeah, zero sugar for me, man. But that being said, a couple things. First of all, James Franklin, one in 14 against top five teams. Awful. Steve Sarkasian, overrated. Texas, Ohio State. You know, teams like that, they all think that they're like, you know, Bama, that they should be anointed like free spots. No, they got to earn it. The only my. I have two things. The only thing that I love, the College Football Playoff, it was way overdue. But the bad part about it is all the other bowl games now almost feel like the NIT compared to like the NCAA 64 team field. But one suggestion, that would be kind of cool. You got all this hype over SMU in Alabama now, obviously. Army, Navy, next week, to believe it or not, probably the best season in their history. It's going to be an interesting game, but wouldn't it be nice to parlay that into a later game between SMU and Alabama? Having to play a game to play in, to get in kind of like the 65 through 68 first 4am I like that.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm with that. I could see that game. I'd be down. I'd be down for that game. You know, kind of like a winning year in elimination game between SMU and Alabama. I'm with that.

[Marc Kesterscher]

I would be. I would love it. I don't know. I mean, it's barely been brought up as we've gone through this process of extending the season.

[Myron Metcalf]

No one's brought it up.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Yeah, no, Nobody's really talked about, hey, I mean, is this too many games to be playing? No, they haven't really cared. So. So I don't know if they would want to do that. Would it be highly rated? Of course it would be. Would it make everybody a bunch of money? It would, which is why it becomes such an intriguing idea. I mean, I wouldn't miss it. I don't know about you. I'd be locked in.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Smu Bama.

[Myron Metcalf]

Let's.

[Marc Kesterscher]

Let's play it off. Let's play it off to get in. Why not? We're going to continue to take your phone calls on the college football playoff. Plus talk a little Bills and Rams. Coming up next. Countdown to kickoff on ESPN radio and the espn.

[Gabe Neitzel]

We interrupt with an important announcement. The Simpsons Fun day football is coming to Springfield on December 9th. Bart and the Bengals face off against Homer and the Cowboys in prime time. Football fans and Simpsons nerds finally come together to watch the game live From Springfield, Monday, December 9th at 8:00pm Eastern on Disney, ESPN and NFL. Sponsored by the NFL.