Tye Richardson Why Utah Game Defines Arkansas' Season - That SEC Football Podcast

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[00:00]
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[00:58]
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[01:33]
Ty Richardson
This might be the best one we do.
[01:35]
Shane
This is the only one I actually record.
[01:39]
Mike
You know, there's levels of bars. This is the floor and everyone else yelled is
[01:47]
Shane
no. You know what I like about it is, you know, sometimes you get some guys over here and it's just boring. I could read it in the paper, you know what I'm saying? At least here it's kind of an unfiltered Arkansas version. And I love that. That's why I like having you on. Yeah.
[02:02]
Ty Richardson
Ty Richardson, ESPN Arkansas Radio. Hit that line, right? Is, are the Razorbacks going to hit that? It seems like we have the same conversation every year.
[02:15]
Mike
Yeah. What's up, guys? Good to, good to be with you again. I think Arkansas this season, I mean, you got the toughest schedule according to ESPN's Football Power Index. You get Tennessee at home. Who, by the way, Arkansas won, I think four or five, five or six again. So maybe you can pull it off an upset like he did in 24. Just you got to be all, you got to be honest about this season. And I think the expectation is they're going to hover right around that four and a half win total. Four or five wins. Anything more than that would be a jumping for joy moment. Like if this team somehow got to a bowl game, I think a lot of people would be pumped. And you should be. Because when you go from two wins last year, 63 new players, I think, which is the most in the sec, there's just a lot of turnover. And for Arkansas to find its footing in this league with the new coach and another transition year, and what I mean by that is a nine game SEC schedule. You didn't have the right coach in 92 when you came in the league. You didn't have the right coach in John L. Smith when Missouri and A and M came to the league in 12. You didn't have the right situation when Texas and Oklahoma came in the league. Now you've got another big transition with a first year head coach, which is not always a recipe for success.
[03:21]
Shane
But you know, I think we do this with all of our teams, right? We set what we think should be the ceiling, what we think could be the floor. And I would like to talk best case scenario for a little bit. Like when you're looking at this Arkansas team saying, hey, you know what, maybe this isn't our season, right? But if we can do this, this and this, I feel like by next year, when he gets some more of his guys in, we'll be in a good spot. So is there some, maybe some hurdles that you're looking at taking over at some point?
[03:50]
Mike
I would think if you can win one of the bigger rivalry games. When you think about lsu, so you close out this season on the road against Texas and then against lsu, if you can pull out one of those, you at least have like some positivity heading the offseason, assuming you won't go bowling, which I think is a fair assumption. Those hurdles you talk about, the close losses, the turnover battle, Shane, that they continue to lose year after year after year after year. Arkansas is always going to be out talented on the field. So you got to find these little crevices, these little ways you can win football games. What Arkansas football has done for the past decade and a half is found ways to lose football games because it's been right there. They've snatched defeat in the jaws of victory time after time again. And hopefully this season will be different at least kind of if you can win some of those close games, give people a little hope.
[04:35]
Ty Richardson
In this year when coach Ryan Silverfield was hired, I feel like Arkansas fans were a little like, oh no, this is the guy. But now I'm seeing a lot of feedback from them where they're pretty fired up and they think they can, you know exceed expectations. Has he done anything to, to warrant that? Like what have you, what are you hearing within the fan base? Or is it just they're just fired up for football like we always are?
[04:57]
Mike
Yeah, I think it's a combination of that. I will say, Mike, when the hire was initially put out there, it was a little underwhelming. The idea you thought was you're going to get Alex Golish. Then Kiffin decided to go to lsu, which opened summer all to Florida, and then Golish to Auburn and then he falls into Arkansas's lap. But then he flipped four in state kids within a week or so and you're like, okay, this is pretty good. There's been some things like they got Community America on the field, they've got a big deal incoming with the media rights. There's been a few other things that are positive for the football program that I don't know how you pointed out as a negative, but honestly it's going to start when they go to Salt Lake City, Utah, week two. If you don't get your doors blown off and heck, if you even somehow win the football game, then it's like, hey, we might have something here. Then you oh, by the way, you got to welcome in the Georgia Bulldogs, the best team in the SEC at least last five or so years to your, to your facility at 11.
[05:52]
Ty Richardson
A short notice.
[05:53]
Mike
On short notice. Yeah. As you. So I think there's been more positives and negatives in the offseason and people just like when you get a chance to meet a head coach, like I want to like this guy. I want to watch him win football games. I hope I'm wrong about them being 4 and 8 this fall. But you also have to be realistic. And we've been hurt. It's kind of like that that ex girlfriend that continuously cheated on you or just continuously hurt you in a variety of ways. You don't, you're like, you let her back into the life. It's like, okay, maybe this year, maybe she changed. That's Arkansas football in a nutshell. At times, unfortunately, I just, I go
[06:27]
Shane
back to the transfer, what was it, 42 in, 39 out, something like that. I mean this is a new. This is to compare because that's what we do. We compare to last year. This isn't Sam Pittman's team. This is a brand new roster. Is there a couple of those portal guys that may be shining a little bit early that you're hearing?
[06:46]
Mike
Yeah, there's a few like the souls kid that you got A couple SEC transfers, which you like. Then there's some, there's not a ton of holdovers like you said from last year. But I think the deal with that, Shane, it's like, do you really want to 40 plus guys coming back from a 2 and 10 football team? And that's like you were asking for a positive earlier. It's like, well, they've got a completely revamped team, so maybe the combination of a new coach fire, maybe things getting off to an earlier, quicker start could be that. And you're just like, you're trying to grasp at something. It's not like, you know when you get a, like a nice steak and there might be a little gristle that's like Georgia, Texas, lsu, like they might have a little crap that happens to them this year and then you get like a, a western sizzling T bone or something like that. That's just. There's not a lot of good meat there. But you're trying to find the positives. You're trying to look around. It's like, okay, this is really good. This is, I don't mean to bash on Western sizzling, but this, that's what you're, that's what you're trying to, to look for this football season. Hopefully you find a.
[07:44]
Shane
The metaphor game has stepped up this season.
[07:47]
Commercial Narrator
I like it.
[07:48]
Ty Richardson
I don't know what it is about Ty, but he always get depressed. Talking to him.
[07:51]
Shane
No, no, no. He's bringing, he's talking about State.
[07:53]
Mike
He's like, he's like, oh, we're going home. This conversation makes me want to go back to Nashville.
[07:59]
Shane
Well, scheduling, I mean, that's, that's what everybody's going to talk about. You, you mentioned Utah. Coach talked about that being such a late game and then, you know, kind of getting back. But this is such a daunting sketch. I mean, they didn't make it easy, right? You got them and then you got Georgia right behind. Do you see a chance with Utah? I mean, I haven't really. We haven't really got to deep dive Utah here. But is there something that you're seeing in that, that early week matchup that's
[08:28]
Mike
they've got a new retooled offensive line, I think because they weren't that good. Dan Pierce back, which is a problem. And we're going to see a lot of good quarterbacks walk up and down these corridors here, that kick it play and the fact that you have to face him week two with a new defensive coordinator, a lot of new guys. Well, Defense has more than the offense does coming back, but you still got a lot of new pieces there, so they better be on point. That atmosphere, by the way, Utah, like, when you think about Power 4 programs that have been consistent, I know Whitney Ham's now in Ann Arbor, but they've been one of the more consistent teams for the most part, I feel like, in the last 10 or so years. So that's going to be a hostile environment. Arkansas went and played their rival BYU and won that game a few years ago, and now you're going to have to do it against one of the teams that I feel like has a chance at least to, to win the Big 12 this year.
[09:13]
Ty Richardson
Arkansas fans already talking about the elevation. We are, we're. We're hearing, oh, it's. You guys don't know about the elevation up here.
[09:19]
Mike
You know, I would say that's going to play a factor. I don't know what, what Coach Silverfield can do to get those guys ready, but it definitely, it definitely is a home field advantage. There's no question about that. Salt Lake's beautiful. I hadn't been in a while.
[09:32]
Ty Richardson
Instead of looking at it as a negative, if they win that game, doesn't that spin the whole season?
[09:36]
Mike
100%. That's what I said. Like last year, the Ole Miss game, which I watched my brother just melt down. There's a picture, my brother's getting married this next year, which I know I've talked to you, how much he loves you guys. There's a picture of Joey just like this after the game that his fiance took. And I just remember thinking to myself at that point, at that juncture, after we lost, thinking, this is how the season's going to go. And of course, Memphis, too, or the following week went very similar. And that was the whole thing around Ole Miss last year. It's like if you go in and beat them. By the way, we didn't know Trinidad Chambliss was Trinidad Chambliss until that game. You played a backup quarterback and he ate you alive. And then again, he ate a lot of other teams alive the rest of the year. But you felt like, man, we got a chance at this. I mean, you. You're driving, and then unfortunately, Jalen Brown fumbles and the game, the game ends. But if they somehow, some way, as you say, Mike, win that Utah game, you come back and play a top five team at home, and you can't get fired up about just beating Utah on the road. I would think that's going to be a raucous 11am crowd when Georgia comes back here, if they win that game against Utah.
[10:42]
Shane
Speaking of fumbles, if, if Memphis, if, if y' all would have beat Memphis, would he be your coach right now?
[10:51]
Mike
I think that one this season goes a little differently. They might pick off one, maybe another SEC team. And I think there's a lot more of a likelihood of that happening. But really, the, the end all be all for last year for Sam Pittman was The Notre Dame 52 to 10 game, 56 to 10, whatever it was. I went to that game with my dad, who we hadn't gotten to a game in a decade plus together. He's a Baylor guy, but we used to go to the games in Little Rock and we left at half. I can't tell you the last time I've left an Arkansas football game at halftime outside of like playing a FCS school. And so it was just like you knew then. I remember driving home, I didn't do the post game that day, but I was like, all right, they're going to make a change today or tomorrow. And they essentially did. That was really the nail in the coffin shape. But I do agree, if they had won that game, I feel like the rest of the season might have gone a little differently. And y' all would be talking to Sam Pittman at some point this week.
[11:45]
Ty Richardson
Which game would the fans most want to win out of these four? A&M? Texas, LSU. Let's just stick with those three. And I think, you know, Texas and LSU, you can like laugh it off. There's no shot if those teams stumble and, and they're out of the playoff mix and Arkansas is ascending a little bit. I think those are two sneaky opponents there.
[12:05]
Mike
Well, I think that the deal with Texas, it's sandwiched between at LSU and at A and M and then again Arkansas at home, which they, I guarantee you, every single kid in that locker room thinks they're going to blow the doors off them, which is fine. I mean, after Arch did what he did last year, I don't blame them for thinking that, but that always plays a role. And like you said, if they're, if their season going the other way, those kids aren't going to care. They're getting paid and they're like, ah, we're not going to the playoff. Who cares? Arkansas kids will, though, because it's still Texas, lsu. I would be very surprised if they're not in playoff contention at that point of the year, but it'd be nice to ruin or at least lessen Their chances to make it in Fayetteville in the last game of the year, where that game belongs. So it's still Texas 1. I would say LSU 2. Now for me, going to College Station, I mentioned my brother's fiance. She's a, she's an Aggie. And I'm just thinking about in the years to come of their marriage, how when she's gonna be in the group text and the text that we're gonna receive after A and M wins every year. And I'm just kinda like, oh my gosh, I can't, I can't deal with this.
[13:04]
Shane
Is it a fall wedding?
[13:05]
Mike
It is a, it's a winter wedding. It's in next December, Shane. Next December.
[13:09]
Ty Richardson
He's a real fan.
[13:10]
Mike
Yeah, he's a real fan. He was a, I think he was pretty, pretty poignant on wanting to make it outside of football season. Not that Arkansas is gonna be playing.
[13:20]
Shane
And yeah, my brother, his cousin, he chose a fall wedding. And I'm like, what are you doing? What are we doing here?
[13:27]
Mike
You say you know better than that.
[13:30]
Shane
I did, I did want to ask just because there's a lot of people, there's so much newness in Arkansas and what this offense will look like, what this defense will look like, we, we truly don't know. But if you were telling other listeners, comparing it maybe to a team we saw last year, what style offense would we be seeing here with, with Silverfield?
[13:53]
Mike
I don't think you're going to see as much. I mean you'll see a little rpo, but KJ is going to try and stay in the pocket more And I think K.J. jackson is ultimately going to be the starter. You're going to, it's going to be a combo backfield. Sudden Smith's going to be here on Thursday, played for Silverfield at Memphis. Braylon Russell's reshaped his body, he's lost a lot of weight. So I think it's going to be a really, a combination backfield. I think one of the questions you have, like you've got four offensive line starters decided right tackle, right guard, center, left guard, don't know who your left tackle is, which is a little scary, but no one really knows about this wide receiver group. Two years ago you had Tesla and Armstrong and it was ended up being pretty solid. I mean Andrew was the, one of the best wide receivers in the sec, probably second or third depending on where you had Ryan Williams and the kid from Ole Miss. Tesla ended up being a third round draft pick who had a Few touchdowns for the Lions this year. But that group, man, like, if you can't beat a corner one on one in this league, when teams are going to blitz you and put you in those situations, you're in trouble. And I just don't know who that guy's going to be. It's Marshall or C.J. brown or I really don't know, Crutchfield. Which guy? Like, I was pretty confident two years ago. All right, Armstrong's going to be the best receiver on this team. Last year I was like, okay, Omega, Blake's the best receiver on this team this year. I have no clue. And I really don't. The coaches do. But I don't think there's a lot of indication on who's going to be the alpha of this room this year.
[15:17]
Ty Richardson
Who's the best player on the team. Do you have a good indication on that?
[15:20]
Mike
It's quincy Rhodes at eight and a half sacks last year, I think 13
[15:25]
Ty Richardson
and a half tackles for loss.
[15:26]
Mike
Yeah. Which is a. Was an Arkansas tied for a record for quite some time. Most since this. This time maybe Jake Beckett. But yeah, he's the kid that's most NFL ready, the ones that scouts are most interested in on this team. He needs some help though. You know how it is. You've got one guy that's they'll just chip him, double team him and other guys got to get to the quarterback. And when you think about, luckily Arkansas doesn't have to play Chambliss this year. So you rule that out. You don't have to play battir, but you're still. I mean, you got damn Pier week two, you've got Gunner in week three. You'll play some Arch.
[16:00]
Ty Richardson
Arch.
[16:00]
Mike
You've got Marcel. Marcel Reed. Yeah, there's. There's some good quarterbacks you play this year. And I just don't think there's many coaches that are worried about K.J. jackson. Hopefully by the end of the season, like, dude, we got gameplay for this kid. We're in trouble. But right now, the Arkansas at least on paper, has a quarterback differential that doesn't favor them in most games this year. And in some cases they're like, okay, you at least have the quarterback advantage. Well, at least on paper it doesn't look like you have that this year. And I hope I'm wrong. I hope that kid is a gunslinger and he plays out of his mind. I can't remember the last time they've had a southpaw lefty, but it's probably in the 2000s. But I'm, I'm excited to see what he can do because I think he's going to be the starter.
[16:37]
Shane
Not saying you're going to. All right, not saying you put money on this, but you had to pick an upset that Arkansas and it can't be Tennessee because that's not fair. But is there one team that you got circle say, dude, we kind of got this guy's number and you can include.
[16:51]
Mike
Okay, gross. I legitimately, and I've said this on our airwaves so you can document, you can look at this and think, I'm not just on with you two and just saying this to be, you know, an ass. But I legitimately think that Tennessee game, because I think they're going to flex it to a night. I think that Arkansas is going to come off the College Station. They're not. I don't think they're going to win in College Station, but I really do think that that's the most important game on the schedule because then you have a setup and a combination of like there's a bye week involved Missouri, Vanderbilt, Auburn and South Carolina all sandwiched. Two on the road, two at home. I forget the order. But that stretch is not awful. It's not. And so if you somehow some way beat Tennessee and I think you're three and three at that point when Tulsa, North Alabama and then maybe Tennessee, you're going to lose to A and M, Georgia and probably Utah. 3 and 3 is not a. Not a bad, not a bad scenario for Arkansas, I would think, heading into the back half of their schedule.
[17:47]
Ty Richardson
Could we see Arkansas and Auburn? I know there's. There's been some good games, but could there be a little rivalry with the goal ish situation with them both coming up from what, the Sun Belt at the same time? Like it feels like whenever these, these hires are made, these guys are always compared to one another.
[18:00]
Mike
Oh, no question. Think about this. So Drinkowicz came in the same time as Sam Pittman, the late Mike Leach and now Kiffin, who's in lsu. But he's the last. He lasted them all. Who. If you would have Bet that in 2020, it's like who's going to last the longest. He would have been either at the bottom of the list or middle not. But he's still there in Columbia. So I think, yeah, there's judgment. I mean, it's kind of different for Kiffin. Obviously he's a sitting head coach in this league, but you think about Stein, you think about Goelish, you think about Summerall all those American coaches. I think the deal with Goal is this. If I had to pick one road game for them to win, I would actually say it's Auburn because let's say you're up for a certain job and the guy ahead of you passes and goes to another one and fans are mad that he didn't take the job that you just accepted. And it's pretty apparent, it's pretty open. People know that. How bad do you want to beat that guy in your current job? He was I think three and over three and one against him in the the American. So it's not like he hasn't had success against him before. He's never, he'll never say this publicly, but I think in from a personal standpoint, if there's any game that he wants to win that's on the road, it's. And I know, listen, you're playing A and M and you're playing Texas. If you could win those games, fantastic. But let's be more reasonable here. I think it's that Auburn game. I really do.
[19:18]
Ty Richardson
Maybe you haven't heard. Ty. Nine times out of ten Auburn beats Arkansas.
[19:23]
Mike
Yeah, road games are weird in that series. It's whatever, whatever reason it's just happened. And I've been to two of the last two I've been to on the road in Deer and Hare Stadium. They've won. And depending on how the season's going, I might have to make the trek back to Auburn for. That's a brutal try. It's like nine and a half hours. That is a brutal drive.
[19:41]
Shane
But I'm telling you, GO has got that. That wild hair, you know, and there's going to be a coach or two that he rubs wrong and I feel like Arkansas could be a one of those just classic handshakes. Can't wait to see what it looks like.
[19:54]
Mike
I think about some of the games that Arkansas's lost in June Hare Stadium 2010, the CAM. The Cam Newton game. There was a fumble and there was another play that went against the Razorbacks. The bonix missed spike. That's just two. There's probably another game or two. There was a home game against Auburn. There's two phantom holding calls that cost us an 03. So while Auburn doesn't rank up in the likes of Texas and LSU and Ole Miss, it's still a team that you desperately want to beat. And yeah, goal is like the people love playing that interaction with him and Tom Herman over and over. I think that could happen this year. And you know what I'm all for it. Why do coaches have to like each other? Like that's good. Like I would love for one of these guys to get and it's not going to happen. One of these guys, like I really want to beat him. Like I really want to beat him. And that would just be. That would just add a flair and something because we, we want these guys to be honest but when they're honest and they lose, then we, then we rip them for it.
[20:51]
Ty Richardson
Well and I think the last going back to like maybe the COVID year, I think Arkansas has had a better record than Auburn. So I don't think that people I think just assume Auburn is better than Arkansas. Of course Auburn's been down, but hell, Arkansas has been down too.
[21:05]
Mike
Yeah, I think about see you lost him in 20 and 21 and you beat them in 22 and then you beat them in 24. But they got you in 23 against the road games for whatever reason those Road Games since 21, the road team has won every game. I think that's right. Yeah. That the road team's won every game. So knock on wood, that stays the trend this year.
[21:24]
Ty Richardson
Well, our visit to media days this year sponsored by Tennessee legend.
[21:28]
Mike
Let's go.
[21:29]
Ty Richardson
The best Tennessee whiskey you can buy. So we're asking everybody for their Tennessee legend boldest take in the sec. Could be Arkansas. Could be anything SEC related. What's your boldest take heading into the year?
[21:42]
Mike
For a fourth consecutive year the SEC has not won the national championship. I think that your credential just gave turn this off. I like Oregon's been the kind of that team and I know Moore's back that that team that's been there with under landing. I don't know if Indiana has the firepower. Repeat, you still got San and Smith out there in Columbus and they'll have a good defense like they always do. So yeah, I think for a fourth consecutive year the sec what we saw when Oklahoma and Texas came in the league, it kind of cannibalized itself a little bit. Like Alabama for example, goes into Norman and they're thinking okay, they'll win touchdown, maybe 10 points. They could be like 30 to three. And that's what, that's what happened in this league now. And that's what Greg Sankey was saying and so adamantly this morning it's like really our scheduling is just. It's different. And if you're the College Football Playoff selection committee, are you going to account for that? For the first time ever they're playing non Conference games against whatever. Listen, The Big Ten's 13 straight. But if we're comparing the bottom. And I know that coaches have said this, and the Big Ten coaches make fun of them for saying it, but, like, I'm not 100% sec homer, but I will say the bottom of the SEC is better than the bottom of the Big Ten. So I think that's my. That's my bold prediction. I don't know if I get any free whiskey now, but that's my.
[22:57]
Ty Richardson
You asked for.
[22:58]
Shane
It's a classic. If I can't have it, no one can, Right?
[23:05]
Ty Richardson
Last question, Shane.
[23:06]
Shane
Oh, man, that was tough to beat right there. Mike, I appreciate you coming over. I would like to. I. I noticed you've been improving the golf game, so I'm looking forward to let's go going out. Now, when we do go, I'm probably going to have to go from the. The ladies tees and you can go from the test.
[23:22]
Mike
Okay.
[23:23]
Shane
I would.
[23:24]
Mike
Listen, man, we've been talking about it for a while. I would love to golf you too. You gotta join too. If anything, you could just drink with us for the whole time, which I'm not.
[23:33]
Ty Richardson
Horrible. I can golf a little.
[23:35]
Mike
Let's go, let's go. Let's make it happen. You guys come to the Tennessee Arkansas game on October. Let's. Let's golf on Thursday or Friday and then hopefully watch an Arkansas win. But I.
[23:43]
Shane
Hey. Oh, hey. All right.
[23:45]
Ty Richardson
Before you go, Ty, tell our audience how to follow you, how to find the show.
[23:48]
Mike
Yeah. ESPN Arkansas, the Born in Rush will be 20 years of the show this. This Friday, which is pretty wild. I've only been a part of it for, I think eight, but. Yeah, hit that line dot com. Hit that line now. Appreciate it. And that's. You want to listen to me sound deranged throughout football season after a football team loses seven or eight games. And that's the word, that's the place to go.
[24:09]
Ty Richardson
Eight years. How many of those have been winning seasons for the football program?
[24:12]
Mike
Oh, geez. All right, so 21. Do we count six and six in the regular season? 21, 22, 24. Yeah, 21, 22 and 24. So what is that?
[24:26]
Ty Richardson
You're due.
[24:27]
Mike
Yeah. You do not.
[24:28]
Commercial Narrator
Great.
[24:29]
Mike
Thanks, boys.
[24:30]
DSW Commercial Narrator
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Summary6 min read

Episode Overview

Podcast: That SEC Football Podcast
Episode Title: Tye Richardson: Why Utah Game Defines Arkansas' Season
Date: August 1, 2026
Hosts: SEC Mike Bratton, Cousin Shane
Guest: Ty Richardson (ESPN Arkansas Radio, "Hit That Line")

This episode dives deep into the upcoming Arkansas Razorbacks football season, zeroing in on why the early matchup against Utah is pivotal. The hosts and Ty Richardson discuss the tumultuous turnover within Arkansas football, fan expectations, the daunting schedule, and what a win against Utah could mean for the trajectory of the program under new head coach Ryan Silverfield.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Arkansas' Season Outlook and Expectations

Overhaul and Transition:
Arkansas comes into 2026 with the toughest schedule (via ESPN’s FPI) and 63 new players—the most in the SEC. The team is coming off a 2-win campaign, with a new head coach, and has significant roster and staff turnover.
- “When you go from two wins last year, 63 new players... For Arkansas to find its footing in this league with a new coach and another transition year... it's not always a recipe for success.” — Mike [02:19]
Win Total & Bowl Game Hopes:
The group discusses that a realistic win total is around 4–5, with anything beyond that being cause for celebration.
- “If this team somehow got to a bowl game, I think a lot of people would be pumped. And you should be.” — Mike [02:38]
Fan Optimism:
Initial skepticism about Silverfield’s hiring has shifted as he quickly flipped in-state recruits and made positive moves, though fans are wary after years of disappointment.
- “It's kind of like that ex-girlfriend that continuously cheated on you... You let her back... Maybe she changed. That's Arkansas football in a nutshell at times, unfortunately.” — Mike [05:38]

The Defining Utah Game

Early Road Test:
The Utah game (Week 2, on the road at elevation) is seen as a clear litmus test that could fundamentally shape the season.
- “It's going to start when they go to Salt Lake City, Utah, week two. If you don't get your doors blown off and, heck, if you even somehow win... then it's like, hey, we might have something here.” — Mike [05:16]
- “If they win that game, doesn't that spin the whole season?” — Ty [09:32]
- “100%... You come back and play a top 5 team at home, and you can't get fired up about just beating Utah on the road. That’s a raucous 11am crowd when Georgia comes.” — Mike [09:35]
Atmosphere and Challenges:
Utah’s home field advantage, deep consistency as a program, and the challenge of playing at altitude are all discussed.
- “That atmosphere, by the way, Utah... one of the most consistent teams for the most part in the last 10 or so years... that's going to be a hostile environment.” — Mike [08:27]
- “Arkansas fans already talking about the elevation.” — Ty [09:12]
- “It definitely is a home field advantage. There’s no question about that.” — Mike [09:18]

Roster Turnover, Transfers, and Key Players

Mass Exodus and New Faces:
The roster has shifted dramatically via the portal—42 in, 39 out, leaving only a few holdovers.
- “Do you really want 40-plus guys coming back from a 2-10 football team? ...They've got a completely revamped team.” — Mike [06:47]
Promising Transfers:
Several SEC transfers and portal additions could contribute immediately, though the group cautions that unknowns abound.
- The “Souls kid” specifically mentioned as an early standout. [06:46]
Current Strengths & Questions:
- Best player identified: Defensive lineman Quincy Rhodes (8.5 sacks, 13.5 TFL).
  - “He’s the kid that’s most NFL ready, the ones that scouts are most interested in on this team. He needs some help though...” — Mike [15:19]
- The quarterback (K.J. Jackson) and WR corps are big question marks.
  - “If you can't beat a corner one on one in this league... you're in trouble. And I just don't know who that guy's going to be.” — Mike [14:07]

Rivalries & Must-Win Games

Most Desired Wins:
Texas is highlighted as the game Arkansas fans most want to win, followed by LSU and Texas A&M.
- “It's still Texas 1. I would say LSU 2.” — Mike [12:27]
Auburn as Rival & Benchmark:
The crew discuss the “Goalish” storyline and Arkansas’ odd road-game trend against Auburn.
- “Nine times out of ten Auburn beats Arkansas.” — Ty [19:18]
- “For whatever reason those Road Games since 21, the road team has won every game. So knock on wood, that stays the trend this year.” — Mike [21:04]

Offensive and Defensive Identity Under Silverfield

Offense:
Likely to see some RPO, but K.J. Jackson is expected to stay in the pocket more. Question marks remain about who will step up at receiver and on the O-line.
- “I think K.J. Jackson is ultimately going to be the starter... It's going to be a combo backfield.” — Mike [13:53]
Defense:
Slightly more continuity than offense, but with lots of new pieces, especially in the secondary and defensive line.

Bold Takes and SEC Predictions

Boldest SEC Take:
- “For a fourth consecutive year the SEC has not won the national championship... It kind of cannibalized itself a little bit... The bottom of the SEC is better than the bottom of the Big Ten, but I think that's my bold prediction.” — Mike [21:42]
Fun, Engaging Sidebars:
- Joking about wedding seasons interfering with football.
- Shane and Mike planning a golf outing, inviting Ty.
- Reflections on heartbreak and historic games between Arkansas and Auburn.

Memorable Quotes

“It's kind of like that ex-girlfriend that continuously cheated on you... That's Arkansas football in a nutshell at times.”
— Mike [05:38]
“If you somehow, some way, as you say, Mike, win that Utah game... that's going to be a raucous 11am crowd when Georgia comes back here.”
— Mike [09:35]
“I legitimately think that Tennessee game... is the most important game on the schedule.”
— Mike [16:53]
“For a fourth consecutive year the SEC has not won the national championship.”
— Mike [21:42]
“You want to listen to me sound deranged throughout football season after a football team loses seven or eight games, that's the place to go.”
— Mike [23:48]

Timestamps for Important Segments

01:32 – Introduction of Ty Richardson and framing of the Arkansas season discussion
02:14 – Arkansas’ schedule, roster overhaul, and expectations
05:16 – Early season positives and the Utah game as a pivotal moment
06:27 – Transfer portal talk and completely revamped roster
08:27 – Deep dive: What makes the Utah road matchup so tough
09:32 – How a win at Utah could flip the narrative for the season
12:05 – Fan-favorite matchups: Texas, LSU, A&M; which game means most
13:53 – Projected offensive and defensive style under Silverfield
15:16 – Best player on the team; Quincy Rhodes’ breakout year
16:37 – Circling a possible upset; identifying a midseason opportunity
18:00 – The budding rivalry/benchmark with Auburn and the "Goalish" storyline
21:42 – SEC bold prediction: Another year without a national title
23:43 – Outro, Ty’s plugs, and off-field banter

Tone & Atmosphere

Conversational, candid, and tinged with classic SEC fandom. The hosts and guest mix deep analysis with personal stories and metaphors, oscillating between hopeful optimism and hard-earned skepticism.

Closing Notes

This episode provides a highly engaged, unfiltered Arkansas perspective on 2026's college football landscape, centering on why the Utah game is a true early barometer. Longtime fans will especially relate to the metaphors about hope and heartbreak, the breakdown of rivalry importance, and the honest assessment of yet another season of transition.

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Transcript78 lines

[00:00]
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[00:58]
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[01:33]
Ty Richardson
This might be the best one we do.
[01:35]
Shane
This is the only one I actually record.
[01:39]
Mike
You know, there's levels of bars. This is the floor and everyone else yelled is
[01:47]
Shane
no. You know what I like about it is, you know, sometimes you get some guys over here and it's just boring. I could read it in the paper, you know what I'm saying? At least here it's kind of an unfiltered Arkansas version. And I love that. That's why I like having you on. Yeah.
[02:02]
Ty Richardson
Ty Richardson, ESPN Arkansas Radio. Hit that line, right? Is, are the Razorbacks going to hit that? It seems like we have the same conversation every year.
[02:15]
Mike
Yeah. What's up, guys? Good to, good to be with you again. I think Arkansas this season, I mean, you got the toughest schedule according to ESPN's Football Power Index. You get Tennessee at home. Who, by the way, Arkansas won, I think four or five, five or six again. So maybe you can pull it off an upset like he did in 24. Just you got to be all, you got to be honest about this season. And I think the expectation is they're going to hover right around that four and a half win total. Four or five wins. Anything more than that would be a jumping for joy moment. Like if this team somehow got to a bowl game, I think a lot of people would be pumped. And you should be. Because when you go from two wins last year, 63 new players, I think, which is the most in the sec, there's just a lot of turnover. And for Arkansas to find its footing in this league with the new coach and another transition year, and what I mean by that is a nine game SEC schedule. You didn't have the right coach in 92 when you came in the league. You didn't have the right coach in John L. Smith when Missouri and A and M came to the league in 12. You didn't have the right situation when Texas and Oklahoma came in the league. Now you've got another big transition with a first year head coach, which is not always a recipe for success.
[03:21]
Shane
But you know, I think we do this with all of our teams, right? We set what we think should be the ceiling, what we think could be the floor. And I would like to talk best case scenario for a little bit. Like when you're looking at this Arkansas team saying, hey, you know what, maybe this isn't our season, right? But if we can do this, this and this, I feel like by next year, when he gets some more of his guys in, we'll be in a good spot. So is there some, maybe some hurdles that you're looking at taking over at some point?
[03:50]
Mike
I would think if you can win one of the bigger rivalry games. When you think about lsu, so you close out this season on the road against Texas and then against lsu, if you can pull out one of those, you at least have like some positivity heading the offseason, assuming you won't go bowling, which I think is a fair assumption. Those hurdles you talk about, the close losses, the turnover battle, Shane, that they continue to lose year after year after year after year. Arkansas is always going to be out talented on the field. So you got to find these little crevices, these little ways you can win football games. What Arkansas football has done for the past decade and a half is found ways to lose football games because it's been right there. They've snatched defeat in the jaws of victory time after time again. And hopefully this season will be different at least kind of if you can win some of those close games, give people a little hope.
[04:35]
Ty Richardson
In this year when coach Ryan Silverfield was hired, I feel like Arkansas fans were a little like, oh no, this is the guy. But now I'm seeing a lot of feedback from them where they're pretty fired up and they think they can, you know exceed expectations. Has he done anything to, to warrant that? Like what have you, what are you hearing within the fan base? Or is it just they're just fired up for football like we always are?
[04:57]
Mike
Yeah, I think it's a combination of that. I will say, Mike, when the hire was initially put out there, it was a little underwhelming. The idea you thought was you're going to get Alex Golish. Then Kiffin decided to go to lsu, which opened summer all to Florida, and then Golish to Auburn and then he falls into Arkansas's lap. But then he flipped four in state kids within a week or so and you're like, okay, this is pretty good. There's been some things like they got Community America on the field, they've got a big deal incoming with the media rights. There's been a few other things that are positive for the football program that I don't know how you pointed out as a negative, but honestly it's going to start when they go to Salt Lake City, Utah, week two. If you don't get your doors blown off and heck, if you even somehow win the football game, then it's like, hey, we might have something here. Then you oh, by the way, you got to welcome in the Georgia Bulldogs, the best team in the SEC at least last five or so years to your, to your facility at 11.
[05:52]
Ty Richardson
A short notice.
[05:53]
Mike
On short notice. Yeah. As you. So I think there's been more positives and negatives in the offseason and people just like when you get a chance to meet a head coach, like I want to like this guy. I want to watch him win football games. I hope I'm wrong about them being 4 and 8 this fall. But you also have to be realistic. And we've been hurt. It's kind of like that that ex girlfriend that continuously cheated on you or just continuously hurt you in a variety of ways. You don't, you're like, you let her back into the life. It's like, okay, maybe this year, maybe she changed. That's Arkansas football in a nutshell. At times, unfortunately, I just, I go
[06:27]
Shane
back to the transfer, what was it, 42 in, 39 out, something like that. I mean this is a new. This is to compare because that's what we do. We compare to last year. This isn't Sam Pittman's team. This is a brand new roster. Is there a couple of those portal guys that may be shining a little bit early that you're hearing?
[06:46]
Mike
Yeah, there's a few like the souls kid that you got A couple SEC transfers, which you like. Then there's some, there's not a ton of holdovers like you said from last year. But I think the deal with that, Shane, it's like, do you really want to 40 plus guys coming back from a 2 and 10 football team? And that's like you were asking for a positive earlier. It's like, well, they've got a completely revamped team, so maybe the combination of a new coach fire, maybe things getting off to an earlier, quicker start could be that. And you're just like, you're trying to grasp at something. It's not like, you know when you get a, like a nice steak and there might be a little gristle that's like Georgia, Texas, lsu, like they might have a little crap that happens to them this year and then you get like a, a western sizzling T bone or something like that. That's just. There's not a lot of good meat there. But you're trying to find the positives. You're trying to look around. It's like, okay, this is really good. This is, I don't mean to bash on Western sizzling, but this, that's what you're, that's what you're trying to, to look for this football season. Hopefully you find a.
[07:44]
Shane
The metaphor game has stepped up this season.
[07:47]
Commercial Narrator
I like it.
[07:48]
Ty Richardson
I don't know what it is about Ty, but he always get depressed. Talking to him.
[07:51]
Shane
No, no, no. He's bringing, he's talking about State.
[07:53]
Mike
He's like, he's like, oh, we're going home. This conversation makes me want to go back to Nashville.
[07:59]
Shane
Well, scheduling, I mean, that's, that's what everybody's going to talk about. You, you mentioned Utah. Coach talked about that being such a late game and then, you know, kind of getting back. But this is such a daunting sketch. I mean, they didn't make it easy, right? You got them and then you got Georgia right behind. Do you see a chance with Utah? I mean, I haven't really. We haven't really got to deep dive Utah here. But is there something that you're seeing in that, that early week matchup that's
[08:28]
Mike
they've got a new retooled offensive line, I think because they weren't that good. Dan Pierce back, which is a problem. And we're going to see a lot of good quarterbacks walk up and down these corridors here, that kick it play and the fact that you have to face him week two with a new defensive coordinator, a lot of new guys. Well, Defense has more than the offense does coming back, but you still got a lot of new pieces there, so they better be on point. That atmosphere, by the way, Utah, like, when you think about Power 4 programs that have been consistent, I know Whitney Ham's now in Ann Arbor, but they've been one of the more consistent teams for the most part, I feel like, in the last 10 or so years. So that's going to be a hostile environment. Arkansas went and played their rival BYU and won that game a few years ago, and now you're going to have to do it against one of the teams that I feel like has a chance at least to, to win the Big 12 this year.
[09:13]
Ty Richardson
Arkansas fans already talking about the elevation. We are, we're. We're hearing, oh, it's. You guys don't know about the elevation up here.
[09:19]
Mike
You know, I would say that's going to play a factor. I don't know what, what Coach Silverfield can do to get those guys ready, but it definitely, it definitely is a home field advantage. There's no question about that. Salt Lake's beautiful. I hadn't been in a while.
[09:32]
Ty Richardson
Instead of looking at it as a negative, if they win that game, doesn't that spin the whole season?
[09:36]
Mike
100%. That's what I said. Like last year, the Ole Miss game, which I watched my brother just melt down. There's a picture, my brother's getting married this next year, which I know I've talked to you, how much he loves you guys. There's a picture of Joey just like this after the game that his fiance took. And I just remember thinking to myself at that point, at that juncture, after we lost, thinking, this is how the season's going to go. And of course, Memphis, too, or the following week went very similar. And that was the whole thing around Ole Miss last year. It's like if you go in and beat them. By the way, we didn't know Trinidad Chambliss was Trinidad Chambliss until that game. You played a backup quarterback and he ate you alive. And then again, he ate a lot of other teams alive the rest of the year. But you felt like, man, we got a chance at this. I mean, you. You're driving, and then unfortunately, Jalen Brown fumbles and the game, the game ends. But if they somehow, some way, as you say, Mike, win that Utah game, you come back and play a top five team at home, and you can't get fired up about just beating Utah on the road. I would think that's going to be a raucous 11am crowd when Georgia comes back here, if they win that game against Utah.
[10:42]
Shane
Speaking of fumbles, if, if Memphis, if, if y' all would have beat Memphis, would he be your coach right now?
[10:51]
Mike
I think that one this season goes a little differently. They might pick off one, maybe another SEC team. And I think there's a lot more of a likelihood of that happening. But really, the, the end all be all for last year for Sam Pittman was The Notre Dame 52 to 10 game, 56 to 10, whatever it was. I went to that game with my dad, who we hadn't gotten to a game in a decade plus together. He's a Baylor guy, but we used to go to the games in Little Rock and we left at half. I can't tell you the last time I've left an Arkansas football game at halftime outside of like playing a FCS school. And so it was just like you knew then. I remember driving home, I didn't do the post game that day, but I was like, all right, they're going to make a change today or tomorrow. And they essentially did. That was really the nail in the coffin shape. But I do agree, if they had won that game, I feel like the rest of the season might have gone a little differently. And y' all would be talking to Sam Pittman at some point this week.
[11:45]
Ty Richardson
Which game would the fans most want to win out of these four? A&M? Texas, LSU. Let's just stick with those three. And I think, you know, Texas and LSU, you can like laugh it off. There's no shot if those teams stumble and, and they're out of the playoff mix and Arkansas is ascending a little bit. I think those are two sneaky opponents there.
[12:05]
Mike
Well, I think that the deal with Texas, it's sandwiched between at LSU and at A and M and then again Arkansas at home, which they, I guarantee you, every single kid in that locker room thinks they're going to blow the doors off them, which is fine. I mean, after Arch did what he did last year, I don't blame them for thinking that, but that always plays a role. And like you said, if they're, if their season going the other way, those kids aren't going to care. They're getting paid and they're like, ah, we're not going to the playoff. Who cares? Arkansas kids will, though, because it's still Texas, lsu. I would be very surprised if they're not in playoff contention at that point of the year, but it'd be nice to ruin or at least lessen Their chances to make it in Fayetteville in the last game of the year, where that game belongs. So it's still Texas 1. I would say LSU 2. Now for me, going to College Station, I mentioned my brother's fiance. She's a, she's an Aggie. And I'm just thinking about in the years to come of their marriage, how when she's gonna be in the group text and the text that we're gonna receive after A and M wins every year. And I'm just kinda like, oh my gosh, I can't, I can't deal with this.
[13:04]
Shane
Is it a fall wedding?
[13:05]
Mike
It is a, it's a winter wedding. It's in next December, Shane. Next December.
[13:09]
Ty Richardson
He's a real fan.
[13:10]
Mike
Yeah, he's a real fan. He was a, I think he was pretty, pretty poignant on wanting to make it outside of football season. Not that Arkansas is gonna be playing.
[13:20]
Shane
And yeah, my brother, his cousin, he chose a fall wedding. And I'm like, what are you doing? What are we doing here?
[13:27]
Mike
You say you know better than that.
[13:30]
Shane
I did, I did want to ask just because there's a lot of people, there's so much newness in Arkansas and what this offense will look like, what this defense will look like, we, we truly don't know. But if you were telling other listeners, comparing it maybe to a team we saw last year, what style offense would we be seeing here with, with Silverfield?
[13:53]
Mike
I don't think you're going to see as much. I mean you'll see a little rpo, but KJ is going to try and stay in the pocket more And I think K.J. jackson is ultimately going to be the starter. You're going to, it's going to be a combo backfield. Sudden Smith's going to be here on Thursday, played for Silverfield at Memphis. Braylon Russell's reshaped his body, he's lost a lot of weight. So I think it's going to be a really, a combination backfield. I think one of the questions you have, like you've got four offensive line starters decided right tackle, right guard, center, left guard, don't know who your left tackle is, which is a little scary, but no one really knows about this wide receiver group. Two years ago you had Tesla and Armstrong and it was ended up being pretty solid. I mean Andrew was the, one of the best wide receivers in the sec, probably second or third depending on where you had Ryan Williams and the kid from Ole Miss. Tesla ended up being a third round draft pick who had a Few touchdowns for the Lions this year. But that group, man, like, if you can't beat a corner one on one in this league, when teams are going to blitz you and put you in those situations, you're in trouble. And I just don't know who that guy's going to be. It's Marshall or C.J. brown or I really don't know, Crutchfield. Which guy? Like, I was pretty confident two years ago. All right, Armstrong's going to be the best receiver on this team. Last year I was like, okay, Omega, Blake's the best receiver on this team this year. I have no clue. And I really don't. The coaches do. But I don't think there's a lot of indication on who's going to be the alpha of this room this year.
[15:17]
Ty Richardson
Who's the best player on the team. Do you have a good indication on that?
[15:20]
Mike
It's quincy Rhodes at eight and a half sacks last year, I think 13
[15:25]
Ty Richardson
and a half tackles for loss.
[15:26]
Mike
Yeah. Which is a. Was an Arkansas tied for a record for quite some time. Most since this. This time maybe Jake Beckett. But yeah, he's the kid that's most NFL ready, the ones that scouts are most interested in on this team. He needs some help though. You know how it is. You've got one guy that's they'll just chip him, double team him and other guys got to get to the quarterback. And when you think about, luckily Arkansas doesn't have to play Chambliss this year. So you rule that out. You don't have to play battir, but you're still. I mean, you got damn Pier week two, you've got Gunner in week three. You'll play some Arch.
[16:00]
Ty Richardson
Arch.
[16:00]
Mike
You've got Marcel. Marcel Reed. Yeah, there's. There's some good quarterbacks you play this year. And I just don't think there's many coaches that are worried about K.J. jackson. Hopefully by the end of the season, like, dude, we got gameplay for this kid. We're in trouble. But right now, the Arkansas at least on paper, has a quarterback differential that doesn't favor them in most games this year. And in some cases they're like, okay, you at least have the quarterback advantage. Well, at least on paper it doesn't look like you have that this year. And I hope I'm wrong. I hope that kid is a gunslinger and he plays out of his mind. I can't remember the last time they've had a southpaw lefty, but it's probably in the 2000s. But I'm, I'm excited to see what he can do because I think he's going to be the starter.
[16:37]
Shane
Not saying you're going to. All right, not saying you put money on this, but you had to pick an upset that Arkansas and it can't be Tennessee because that's not fair. But is there one team that you got circle say, dude, we kind of got this guy's number and you can include.
[16:51]
Mike
Okay, gross. I legitimately, and I've said this on our airwaves so you can document, you can look at this and think, I'm not just on with you two and just saying this to be, you know, an ass. But I legitimately think that Tennessee game, because I think they're going to flex it to a night. I think that Arkansas is going to come off the College Station. They're not. I don't think they're going to win in College Station, but I really do think that that's the most important game on the schedule because then you have a setup and a combination of like there's a bye week involved Missouri, Vanderbilt, Auburn and South Carolina all sandwiched. Two on the road, two at home. I forget the order. But that stretch is not awful. It's not. And so if you somehow some way beat Tennessee and I think you're three and three at that point when Tulsa, North Alabama and then maybe Tennessee, you're going to lose to A and M, Georgia and probably Utah. 3 and 3 is not a. Not a bad, not a bad scenario for Arkansas, I would think, heading into the back half of their schedule.
[17:47]
Ty Richardson
Could we see Arkansas and Auburn? I know there's. There's been some good games, but could there be a little rivalry with the goal ish situation with them both coming up from what, the Sun Belt at the same time? Like it feels like whenever these, these hires are made, these guys are always compared to one another.
[18:00]
Mike
Oh, no question. Think about this. So Drinkowicz came in the same time as Sam Pittman, the late Mike Leach and now Kiffin, who's in lsu. But he's the last. He lasted them all. Who. If you would have Bet that in 2020, it's like who's going to last the longest. He would have been either at the bottom of the list or middle not. But he's still there in Columbia. So I think, yeah, there's judgment. I mean, it's kind of different for Kiffin. Obviously he's a sitting head coach in this league, but you think about Stein, you think about Goelish, you think about Summerall all those American coaches. I think the deal with Goal is this. If I had to pick one road game for them to win, I would actually say it's Auburn because let's say you're up for a certain job and the guy ahead of you passes and goes to another one and fans are mad that he didn't take the job that you just accepted. And it's pretty apparent, it's pretty open. People know that. How bad do you want to beat that guy in your current job? He was I think three and over three and one against him in the the American. So it's not like he hasn't had success against him before. He's never, he'll never say this publicly, but I think in from a personal standpoint, if there's any game that he wants to win that's on the road, it's. And I know, listen, you're playing A and M and you're playing Texas. If you could win those games, fantastic. But let's be more reasonable here. I think it's that Auburn game. I really do.
[19:18]
Ty Richardson
Maybe you haven't heard. Ty. Nine times out of ten Auburn beats Arkansas.
[19:23]
Mike
Yeah, road games are weird in that series. It's whatever, whatever reason it's just happened. And I've been to two of the last two I've been to on the road in Deer and Hare Stadium. They've won. And depending on how the season's going, I might have to make the trek back to Auburn for. That's a brutal try. It's like nine and a half hours. That is a brutal drive.
[19:41]
Shane
But I'm telling you, GO has got that. That wild hair, you know, and there's going to be a coach or two that he rubs wrong and I feel like Arkansas could be a one of those just classic handshakes. Can't wait to see what it looks like.
[19:54]
Mike
I think about some of the games that Arkansas's lost in June Hare Stadium 2010, the CAM. The Cam Newton game. There was a fumble and there was another play that went against the Razorbacks. The bonix missed spike. That's just two. There's probably another game or two. There was a home game against Auburn. There's two phantom holding calls that cost us an 03. So while Auburn doesn't rank up in the likes of Texas and LSU and Ole Miss, it's still a team that you desperately want to beat. And yeah, goal is like the people love playing that interaction with him and Tom Herman over and over. I think that could happen this year. And you know what I'm all for it. Why do coaches have to like each other? Like that's good. Like I would love for one of these guys to get and it's not going to happen. One of these guys, like I really want to beat him. Like I really want to beat him. And that would just be. That would just add a flair and something because we, we want these guys to be honest but when they're honest and they lose, then we, then we rip them for it.
[20:51]
Ty Richardson
Well and I think the last going back to like maybe the COVID year, I think Arkansas has had a better record than Auburn. So I don't think that people I think just assume Auburn is better than Arkansas. Of course Auburn's been down, but hell, Arkansas has been down too.
[21:05]
Mike
Yeah, I think about see you lost him in 20 and 21 and you beat them in 22 and then you beat them in 24. But they got you in 23 against the road games for whatever reason those Road Games since 21, the road team has won every game. I think that's right. Yeah. That the road team's won every game. So knock on wood, that stays the trend this year.
[21:24]
Ty Richardson
Well, our visit to media days this year sponsored by Tennessee legend.
[21:28]
Mike
Let's go.
[21:29]
Ty Richardson
The best Tennessee whiskey you can buy. So we're asking everybody for their Tennessee legend boldest take in the sec. Could be Arkansas. Could be anything SEC related. What's your boldest take heading into the year?
[21:42]
Mike
For a fourth consecutive year the SEC has not won the national championship. I think that your credential just gave turn this off. I like Oregon's been the kind of that team and I know Moore's back that that team that's been there with under landing. I don't know if Indiana has the firepower. Repeat, you still got San and Smith out there in Columbus and they'll have a good defense like they always do. So yeah, I think for a fourth consecutive year the sec what we saw when Oklahoma and Texas came in the league, it kind of cannibalized itself a little bit. Like Alabama for example, goes into Norman and they're thinking okay, they'll win touchdown, maybe 10 points. They could be like 30 to three. And that's what, that's what happened in this league now. And that's what Greg Sankey was saying and so adamantly this morning it's like really our scheduling is just. It's different. And if you're the College Football Playoff selection committee, are you going to account for that? For the first time ever they're playing non Conference games against whatever. Listen, The Big Ten's 13 straight. But if we're comparing the bottom. And I know that coaches have said this, and the Big Ten coaches make fun of them for saying it, but, like, I'm not 100% sec homer, but I will say the bottom of the SEC is better than the bottom of the Big Ten. So I think that's my. That's my bold prediction. I don't know if I get any free whiskey now, but that's my.
[22:57]
Ty Richardson
You asked for.
[22:58]
Shane
It's a classic. If I can't have it, no one can, Right?
[23:05]
Ty Richardson
Last question, Shane.
[23:06]
Shane
Oh, man, that was tough to beat right there. Mike, I appreciate you coming over. I would like to. I. I noticed you've been improving the golf game, so I'm looking forward to let's go going out. Now, when we do go, I'm probably going to have to go from the. The ladies tees and you can go from the test.
[23:22]
Mike
Okay.
[23:23]
Shane
I would.
[23:24]
Mike
Listen, man, we've been talking about it for a while. I would love to golf you too. You gotta join too. If anything, you could just drink with us for the whole time, which I'm not.
[23:33]
Ty Richardson
Horrible. I can golf a little.
[23:35]
Mike
Let's go, let's go. Let's make it happen. You guys come to the Tennessee Arkansas game on October. Let's. Let's golf on Thursday or Friday and then hopefully watch an Arkansas win. But I.
[23:43]
Shane
Hey. Oh, hey. All right.
[23:45]
Ty Richardson
Before you go, Ty, tell our audience how to follow you, how to find the show.
[23:48]
Mike
Yeah. ESPN Arkansas, the Born in Rush will be 20 years of the show this. This Friday, which is pretty wild. I've only been a part of it for, I think eight, but. Yeah, hit that line dot com. Hit that line now. Appreciate it. And that's. You want to listen to me sound deranged throughout football season after a football team loses seven or eight games. And that's the word, that's the place to go.
[24:09]
Ty Richardson
Eight years. How many of those have been winning seasons for the football program?
[24:12]
Mike
Oh, geez. All right, so 21. Do we count six and six in the regular season? 21, 22, 24. Yeah, 21, 22 and 24. So what is that?
[24:26]
Ty Richardson
You're due.
[24:27]
Mike
Yeah. You do not.
[24:28]
Commercial Narrator
Great.
[24:29]
Mike
Thanks, boys.
[24:30]
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