← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
3 & Out - Sherrone Moore OUT at Michigan, CFP Playoff Debate, Zoned In
01:52:58
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- [00:00]
John Middelkopf
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
- [00:05]
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This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
- [00:34]
Jackson
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- [00:38]
John Middelkopf
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Jackson
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John Middelkopf
Knows how to support everyday wellness goals.
- [00:59]
Jackson
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- [01:06]
So you're telling me that the AI that's meant to make everyone's job easier to manage just adds more to manage? On top of the thousands of apps the IT department already manages? Funny how that works. Any business can add AI.
- [01:21]
John Middelkopf
IBM helps you scale and manage AI.
- [01:23]
Jackson
To change how you do business. Lets create smile to business IBM.
- [01:33]
Hi, it's Colin from the Colin Coward podcast. I've been around long enough to know quality when I see it.
- [01:37]
John Middelkopf
Or in this case, when I taste it. Tito's Handmade Vodka. Good stuff.
- [01:41]
Jackson
No flash, no gimmick. Smooth, clean tasting. Made the right way. Tito's made in Austin, Texas.
- [01:48]
John Middelkopf
Real attention to detail.
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Jackson
I like to keep it simple.
- [01:51]
John Middelkopf
Tito's soda, one lime, lot of ice. Refreshing, easy summer, winter, spring. Totally versatile.
- [01:58]
Jackson
Always works. Listen, baseball season's here. The perfect time to kick back with some Tito's. It's what I pour. You should too. Distilled and bottled by Fifth Generation Inc. Austin, Texas.
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John Middelkopf
40% alcohol by volume. Savor responsibly. Yo, it's DJ Wells here. This Tuesday at 8:30 Eastern it's the Emirates NBA Cup Championship Game on Prague. This year's quest for the cup has been building to this. The championship game live from Las Vegas. Not a prime member. Sign up for a 30 day free trial to get started today. Emirates NBA Cup Championship Game Coverage starts at 8:30pm Eastern only on prom restrictions apply. See Amazon.com amazonprime for details.
- [02:37]
The Volume.
- [02:51]
What is going on everybody? John Middelkopf three and Out Podcast. How is everybody doing? Brought to you by my friends at Zone Pouches. Today we're going to throw a little curveball. We are going to talk a little college football. My guy, he used to be intern Jackson. Now he's full time podcast producer, behind the scenes college football extraordinaire Jackson. He's going to join me, we're going to talk a lot of college football. We actually recorded something and then the news broke at about 2:30 in the afternoon, Arizona time. And Michigan has fired their coach, Sharon Moore. I just saw a tweet that there was a relationship with a staff member that they uncovered, AKA we were looking for a reason and we got one is what it feels like. So we're going to dive into that off the top, then talk a lot of college football after that. But that will be the game plan today. Appreciate everyone listening. Make sure you subscribe to the podcast. If you listen on Collins feed, we got a YouTube channel. We're there all the time. Subscribe to that as well. But first, you know, I need to tell you about my friends. You know, I need to tell you about my partners. The official ticketing app of this podcast, Game Time. Best ticketing app in America. Do you want to go to a game? Do you want to go to an NFL game? They got tickets as low as $100. Very easy to search. You can type in the team, you can type in the venue. NBA games, NHL games, concerts, comedy shows, you name it, they have you covered. So here's the thing, guys. Take the guesswork out of buying tickets with Game time. Download the Game Time app, create an account and use the code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase Terms apply again, create an account, redeem the code John for $20 off. Download the game Time app today. Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. Okay, we had recorded the podcast and then not long after it goes immediately viral. It's probably going nuts right now. Massive, massive news that Michigan has fired Sharon Moore. And the part that's crazy is because I had saw a clip of him talking about the bowl game. So I, when I just first saw the news, I'm like, God, that's kind of weird. They would never have rolled him out to talk about the bowl game. Turns out he's getting fired for cause, for having a relationship with a staff member. I, I don't want to guess. I, I would imagine potential, who knows? I, I don't even know if the guy's married or whatever. My initial reaction is this, and I've heard a couple people say this about Lane. You know, at some of these programs, if you're winning, you can do whatever you want. But if the biggest programs, when they are Paying you a ton of money and they are paying their roster a ton of money. Especially a place like Michigan. They are going to watch you like a hawk and if it doesn't go perfectly well, they're going to look for a reason. It's like Cedric the Entertainer used to say, I wish a motherfucker would. And I think when it starts going less than 10 wins, less than playoff bursts, you start looking around like we want out of this. But you know, it wasn't bad enough where you could just pull the trigger and fire a guy 9 and 3, like to me, 7 and 5. Maybe you just fire him after the season. 9 and 3. You just signed, you know, this star quarterback who obviously had an up and down year. The offense didn't look great. You get completely worked by Ohio State. After the first couple drives, it was not going well. You know, last year kind of saved the season. It did not go well either. They literally didn't have a forward passing game but they beat Ohio State. So it took a ton of pressure off everybody. That was not the case this year. People are obviously pissed off. A ton of money is being spent on this team. And I think it all gets back to they were looking for a reason. And if you tell me, and this is, I would say the same thing for Lane. Obviously Lane is much more accomplished as a head coach at these places. When it doesn't go well, everyone in the town talks. The university will fall. They will know what's going on and they will look now with these contracts being big, I don't even know how much Jerome was making. I mean it's not like he was making 1 million, but I don't think he was making 10. They will want to get out and pay you nothing. And I'm sure this thing's going to get ugly. This, you know, only hour old story, you know, I'm sure he's going to sue or whatever. I mean honestly, if you know, based on the reports, this is one of those where you like, you know, people aren't messing with you, right? It's one thing if you're Bobby Petrino and you get into a situation was like, Bobby Petrino isn't the lead offensive coach, right? You know, Hugh freeze like, hey, sleeping with hookers, like, yeah, you can score points. You know, Charon's like, yeah, are you an offensive line coach? So this guy was given an incredible opportunity. Taking over for Harbaugh, ton of money behind him and now the news breaks that he's fired. Would not shock me at all if they had been trying to figure out a reason to get out of this, and now that they are, if the wheels were already in motion, because this is a massive job. I mean, if this job was open, I think it would be considered right there with LSU as, you know, the top job. And my initial reaction, and this guy's lost some luster, is, you know, if DeBoer was mentioned at Penn State, you know, he was at Washington a couple years ago, you would think he would be in the mix. I just don't know how many options they have this type job that could get, like, NFL people interested, definitely NFL offensive coordinators interested. But this is. This was just a wow moment. My guy Jackson. You sent the. The tweet, I think, from on 3. Is it Peter Nikos? Is that how you say his name?
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Jackson
Yeah, yeah. Peter Nacos. Pete Thamel. I'm speechless. I'm stunned. I mean, this is a guy that we said on the show. I know you've talked about it. He was the successor of Harbaugh because he was the offensive coordinator. He was there with him, but I always felt like it was just not the right move. He was kind of like laxadaisical. Didn't really aggressive play calling offensively. The Oklahoma game, the Indiana game last year, even the Ohio State game, we're going to run the ball down your throat. Even though our best running backs are both injured, this is a sticky situation. And I think if you are Michigan, you're right. Like, if you were to get rid of Sherro Moore, you have a reason to. I don't know where they go. I think of Bryce Underwood, the guy, that $20 million quarterback, and say what you want to say about him, if he's good or not.
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John Middelkopf
We.
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Jackson
Is he going to stay? Is he going to go to lsu, where he originally was committed to? Now with Lane Kiffin there, would he even want Bryce Underwood? It could get weird in Michigan. And you're right. I mean, this is like the best job, I would say, outside of lsu, if this was at the beginning of the cycle, which they probably should have fired him to begin with. But you're right. Like, it's tough to fire a coach that went nine and three in his second year with a young quarterback. I'm just stunned. I don't know where Michigan goes from.
- [09:37]
John Middelkopf
Here in the NIL era. You could argue it's an even better job because the money they have, the money they'll invest, the money they'll give you, you know, they view themselves as equal to Ohio State. I. I'D give Ohio State the nod there. But I was just looking like what was his record this year? Because I was like 9 and 3, but then I look at 7 and 3, I was like, oh yeah, he got suspended this year. You know, it's this and, and hit that suspension is lingering from what's his name? Connor Stallions. Right. So it's, it's kind of, you know, Jim was so good. He's their guy. They could handle the weirdness. But I, I think the suspension this year, which wasn't at a self imposed suspension, again, I, it's just hard to keep up. I think Michigan wants one thing in a weird way they try to conduct themselves like we're not LSU or like we're not as renegade.
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Jackson
Right.
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John Middelkopf
We're much more kind of hot Notre Dame. You know, there's a pretentious nature, kind of an elitism to the way, like we want to win Natties, but we want to do it the right way. And then they got hard bought. It's like, oh, we just want to win Natties. We don't care. Carnage Stallions. But yeah, this is a stunning. But I'm telling you, in this modern day, with the amount of money, maybe it's always been like this, but as the money's gotten big, unless you are Kirby smart or someone that's like an untouchable.
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You better be very careful about what you're doing because people are watching. And technology, there's so much on the line that it was 9 and 3, but it was not a great 9 and 3. Right. You get worked by Ohio State.
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I'm trying to think who else they lose to this year.
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Jackson
Oklahoma, USC on the road. They lost by 18 at USC.
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John Middelkopf
Their passing game was atrocious, you know, in this guy, he's an offensive guy. So I think they'd go, let's just assume, you know better than me. Is he considered like some elite recruiter? Probably, you know, former offensive lineman at Oklahoma. Right.
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Jackson
I feel like he relates to players well. I don't know how good of a recruiter he actually is. Like, I don't know if he's landing these guys that he's talking to, but I feel like he's got good rapport. I mean him and Bryce Underwood had a good relationship. Even though you want to say his offensive play calling wasn't great. Didn't really get Underwood outside and going. Couldn't even get him in a rhythm.
- [11:57]
John Middelkopf
Making $20 million out of good relationship with anyone.
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Jackson
I mean that is true.
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John Middelkopf
That is true to me. It's more, I think you start looking, you're like Ohio State's way more dynamic than us. You know, Oregon, even if they lose, coordinators are going to be dynamic. USC does have a dynamic play caller. And like you said, they just got, they got blown out by two and a half touchdowns. Yeah. This is, you just got to be careful. And I would say the same thing. It's a higher level version because Lane, we know Lane is dynamic at what he does, scoring points, running the offense, but if they had back to back years going nine and three and Lane's doing what he's doing, you know, it's these schools because these buyouts, you know, are just so mad. They're going to want ways to get out if it goes bad. Because nine and three to me is the old seven and five now. Right. Because you're missing the playoffs, it feels kind of bad. And then getting blown out by your rival. The other thing is they'd go, well, you got to be very, very careful also about hiring the in house guy. It's, you know, for every Ryan day that goes pretty well. Most of them more Larry Coker. Most of them are more. You can ride that. And that was back in the day when you couldn't transfer. But it typically is more this. And now I just think you start thinking like, who would they hire?
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DeBoer just comes to my mind because he was in the Penn State mix, he was at Washington, kind of feels like their type guy, but he's not. We talked about this on when we recorded earlier. His teams aren't that tough. And one thing they do, like there are certain programs that want kind of a tough version. It's not really his thing, you know, I know you texted Gruden. I mean Gruden's got some red flags behind him as well that, you know, I don't know. But like what, who are their options? It's my thing. Like they're not going to hire like Matt Rule. They're not going to get like Mike Tomlin. So it's like, who?
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I don't know. I mean they'll call like the Dan Lannings of the world, but they're going to get no's. So who are they getting that would actually leave their job? You know, some of the south, like Dabo obviously has been bad, but like he doesn't make sense up there. They've done that West Virginia before with Rich Rodriguez. You kind of got to get someone that fits that culture. I don't know who really who their options Are.
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Jackson
I was looking on Twitter, Brian Kelly's name's thrown out there. Lincoln Riley. But Lincoln Riley was tied to the Penn State job. But to your point about the whole toughness factor in Michigan, he's had a defensive issue his entire time he's been there at usc. So it's like, I don't know how his style at usc, in Michigan's culture, you can't.
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John Middelkopf
You can't hire.
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Jackson
Exactly.
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John Middelkopf
And Lincoln Riley is also, like, out of a little bit of a fish out of water in la. He's from Texas. Like, he's person I. Brian Kelly, I think you could have hired in years past. I'd say two years ago, if you were in this situation, hired Brian Kelly away from lsu, it wouldn't have been weird at all. Can you hire him now?
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Jackson
No.
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John Middelkopf
You know, Jed Fish is a guy who worked for Harbaugh. You know, like, I don't know. Remember when ESPN did a show and he was interviewing him? He was him, Harbaugh and Jameis Winston, and he was like the crab legs thing. Do you remember that, like, video that kind of went viral? Jed was the guy sitting there. He has, you know, coached at the program. I don't know if it was one or two years, but I. I would imagine he would be very interested in the job. But it does feel like his name was thrown around by media people. He's good with the media. I don't know how seriously he was taken in. Like, it didn't feel like Florida was that interested in him. Right. He'd gone to Florida. So that's just a name that is realistic. Like, if they offered him the job, he would go, but can they hire Jed Fish? He is a more innovative offensive guy. Their team actually was pretty good this year. They had a bunch of injuries. That's a name I would say initially that comes up as realistic. Would be someone to kind of keep an eye on.
- [16:00]
Jackson
I'm trying to think of. This is. This is incredible.
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John Middelkopf
I mean, Mike McCarthy, if he can't get. I mean, would. Would he be interested if he can't get an NFL job?
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Jackson
Does Jeff have flee the defensive coordinator from the Packers? Does he say, hey, I want to come back to the NFL and leave and go there?
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John Middelkopf
Can you hire. Can you hire Jeff Halfley?
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I don't know if you can. You know, I know it's like.
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I don't know. That seems like. Okay, yeah. He said the Green Bay packers, they got a ton of talent. They give him Micah Parsons. He just inherited all the. Now he's Done a good job. He's a good defensive scheme guy, but it's not like he had any success as a head coach. Granted, not all his fault. Tough place to win. The defense is good. There's no disputing that. But like, you're gonna. You're gonna make him the head coach at Michigan. I would say in 20, 25, Michigan is a top five college job when you factor in money. And that's what matters the most. Right. I would say just in terms of finances. You know, people talk about LSU being one of the best. I think it's canon.
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Jackson
It's right there.
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John Middelkopf
If you know, Ohio State, Texas, I. I'd have Michigan in the top five. Lsu, Michigan.
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I mean, Georgia is because of Kirby, but I saw Georgia before Kirby. They were just always like top 15. They're like, you know, the SEC's, Utah.
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Jackson
Any other guys that could. I'm trying to think of guys that would take this job because I'm assuming if you're Michigan, this just happened. All the top guys are gone. Group of five guys, especially all those guys are gone.
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John Middelkopf
Do you. Do you. Those guys, though, like, they. I don't think no.
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Jackson
I feel like they would have to go. You'd have to go like get Matt Campbell. What Penn State did. You would have to go poach another.
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John Middelkopf
I think they would have hired him.
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Jackson
Yeah. You're almost a week too late. If you're Michigan, I would say he.
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John Middelkopf
Would have been a guy that they would have felt. He feels like Michigan, Penn State, that. That would be like, to me, Summer, all. Who's the best group of all the Southern guys or even goal ish. It doesn't feel like any of those guys Michigan would have hired.
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Jackson
Right.
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John Middelkopf
If they just had. If Sharon just sucked and gotten fired. Normally, like that group doesn't feel. I do feel that 100% would have interviewed Matt Campbell. One million percent. Could you do.
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You know, in conference, row the boat. That's feel. I don't know if he wins.
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Jackson
Would Manny. Would Manny Diaz get any law?
- [18:19]
John Middelkopf
I mean, you can hire Manny Diaz. You know, you went from Jim Harbaugh, ACC champs. I don't blame them for hiring Sharon Moore. And obviously this is. It's probably going to get pretty ugly. Right? This is going to be. He's not just gonna be like, oh, yeah, just. I'll just. I just slept with her. Yeah, just take my money. Like, that's not usually the way this works.
- [18:41]
I mean, Brian. You could do worse than Brian Kelly. I just think Michigan fans would puke in their Mouth because historically up until like the expansion Michigan, Notre Dame was a big rival, right?
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Jackson
Yeah.
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John Middelkopf
When did they stop playing?
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Jackson
Five years ago.
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John Middelkopf
Yeah, but most, most of my life they played every year, right?
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Jackson
Yeah, I think they're. I think they're continuing it like a decade or so. They're trying to get those rivals together.
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John Middelkopf
I don't what Brian Kelly's record was against Notre or Michigan is probably pretty good because when he played, when he played them, they weren't that good. Got Chad GPT is pretty good against record verse University of Michigan.
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Yeah, he's 2 and 4. Never mind.
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He was 2 and 3 against him at Notre Dame.
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Jackson
I feel like he. Yeah, he will never, he will never coach again, especially a big program like that. You saw what lsu, the amount of talent they had with Jayn Daniels and even this roster this year, he still couldn't win.
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John Middelkopf
If they were in this particular. I think Pat Fitzgerald would have been a guy they would have talked to for sure.
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Jackson
Yeah. Brett B. Loma from Illinois. Is that another guy that they post like you're talking about Big Ten, but.
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John Middelkopf
This is what, this is the type guys they're talking to. This is shows you they're in a weird predicament here.
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Jackson
Dillingham, I mean if that's the final straw that gets him to leave Michigan.
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John Middelkopf
I mean he'd have to take that job. I would, I don't even know the guy. I'd get on the phone, tell him like, bro, you gotta. You're crazy.
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Jackson
Your quarterback just left. Tough to get nil money, tough to recruit offensive line, defensive line. And your style of coaching would work in the Big Ten. That would be a great fit.
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John Middelkopf
I think that the people feeling the best right now gotta be Ohio State in Oregon. I mean, I don't include Indiana though. Given the way they played, they deserve to be included. Like you just like to see a team in shambles because this, they just, I mean they. I think they were a top five recruiting class. Even though I read that recruiting classes like you don't sign a letter of intent anymore. It's like it's called something different now because again, the scholarship, you know, before you had 85 scholarships. That's how you know you could even if you brown bagged them, 10, 20k. Now it's like I'm giving you 700 grand. The scholarship is kind of an afterthought. But you only have so many spots on your roster based on the scholarships. This has to throw everything. Like those guys that just signed, which I'm not arrivals.com guru. But I would imagine there are a lot of guys that big time teams also wanted and that puts that into flux. So I mean, when you do, when you pull the trigger on a move like this.
- [21:23]
It can really derail 20, 26. Right. So this, they clearly just wanted out of the shroom. I. There's going to be more information coming out about this situation, him sleeping with whoever. I. I just think that you just want out of that business. Right. And who knows, maybe it's one of those situations like where he lies to you. Right? Because your first reaction as a guy when you get caught doing something you like. No, you know, you learn that from when you're seven years old with your parents about like eating the last cookie or whatever. There are certain things though that if you do lie and then you try to come back, like, yeah, I was kind of dishonest. There's no coming back from that. And they just saw themselves in a position where it's like, we got to get out of this. And clearly they were probably. You don't pull this trigger. Like he's. If they're 11 and 1. Is he fired today? No chance.
- [22:16]
Jackson
No. They probably would hold it off till later if anything. If they have evidence or maybe even kind of. I feel like a lot into college football you talk, I mean, coach, oh, when we recorded about the whole money in the bag out the back door. You can go to the front door. A lot of that stuff, even if it does come to be. But you have success, put it under the table.
- [22:32]
John Middelkopf
He was a good example when it started getting weird at lsu. You know, these weren't rumors. I mean, he was just running around having a good time with some ladies. Now I think they were, you know, more.
- [22:43]
Jackson
I don't think they were.
- [22:44]
John Middelkopf
I don't know if they were 20. They might have been 35 or what. But he was having a good time in town. These are small towns, everyone knows each other. But he had won them in Addie, the greatest season of all time. And it's not like they fired him for cause, they just fired him. And it was actually like the way Coach O still speaks about LSU is like glowingly right. He even admitted, I saw within the last month that he would go back and coach on lane staff if he was asked, which doesn't look like it's going to happen because they tried to hire the D line coach at A and M I think at lsu. But this is a.
- [23:17]
Unless the story gets really crazy, like as you know, over the next 24, 48. Whatever week this is, we want out of this guy's business. And we've been thinking this all season. I mean we were on group text. I mean if you watch they're, they're a tough watch.
- [23:33]
Jackson
Yeah.
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John Middelkopf
You know then they too much. And I get, they had some injuries, but I think when you pay that type money for the quarterback and I saw even Portnoy was asked like what if he need to renegotiate. He like almost renegotiated this. This guy RROI didn't equal what he did. Now you could argue it's not all his fault. He's 18, I get it. But we see a lot of the amount of five star guys that never amount to anything in college football that are on it happens all the time.
- [24:02]
Jackson
Dylan Raiola like if I'm, if I'm.
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John Middelkopf
Laying given what it would cost to acquire this guy, I wouldn't pay. I would get Sam Levitt. I, I want to pass. He lane just went 11 and one in the SEC with a D2 quarterback.
- [24:14]
Jackson
Why?
- [24:14]
John Middelkopf
Because Trinidad can pass, right?
- [24:18]
Jackson
He could get him too. If he, because he's trying to get a waiver for another eligibility year. He could get Chambers or Austin Simmons.
- [24:24]
John Middelkopf
But if I signed him. Yeah, exactly. I can just get a guy that I know like can run my offensive back. Like there is no guarantee. Like there's like a 50, 50 shot. This guy's always going to kind of look like this, right? Some talent, but just not great. Like there's no, there's just no guarantee. Just because you're a five star, you make $20 million, you're ever going to be a good player. And it's not. Football's not basketball. Right. Like you watch the kid at BYU or you know, boozers kid at Duke. Like in basketball, you know, right away football sometimes they start slow. Like if you tell me next year Arch is way better. Very believable. If you tell me Arch always looks like this also believable. You, you have no clue at quarterback specifically other positions is like, okay, this guy's tough enough, we just need to get him a little stronger. He needs to add like 20 pounds. Like okay. Quarterbacks usually like we hope, right? It's like that in the NFL draft. Like I think Fernando Mendoza probably be a good NFL player. I don't know, maybe not. No one has any clue. And I'd say quarterback. Look at receivers, you kind of know right away.
- [25:29]
I think quarterback is just very, it can be very, very risky.
- [25:33]
Jackson
Last name I'll throw at you. Jesse Minner. The defensive coordinator for the Chargers. I know he might be up for head coaching jobs, but he was a D.C. at Michigan. Another guy that could maybe come back.
- [25:43]
John Middelkopf
That's not a bad name. I do think though, if Michigan goes, we open up, this is our opportunity to land a quote unquote big fish that I think some of these names, the mentors.
- [25:55]
They'Re just not. I mean, I think now it's like, okay, let's go get a superstar. Let's go get our Dan Laning, Kirby, whoever. It's like, well, who's that guy? If you, if you tell me Jesse Minter is our next coach, you think like Michigan Reddit and their fan base is going to be fired up. No offense to him. I mean, clearly he's really good. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm, I'm really impressed with them. I mean, how long he was there, two years?
- [26:22]
I don't know.
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Jackson
I.
- [26:23]
John Middelkopf
My initial reaction, and maybe I'm wrong, I think they're kind of in a weird spot.
- [26:29]
But I think their job's so good. Like.
- [26:33]
I mean, they could do worse than Kaylin DeBoer. But I don't think hiring Kaylin DeBoer as it would have been two years ago would have been like, hell yeah. Now it'd be like, are we sure he's that good? And that's the business they're in. It's like things change as you win and lose, but really we just judge your teams. And I, I'm a debore guy. All he's ever done is one.
- [26:53]
He likes to pass a lot more, he likes to run. And I, I think the one thing in, in the Big Ten, even Ohio State, like, they're wide receiver. You, when do they not. Okay, we gotta, we got to rush this game 100 yards. Like, look, they have the two guys last year. Immediately this Bo Jackson guy looks like Bo Jackson 2.0. Like he's going to be Mac kid's going to be incredible probably, right? I mean, think how much better he will be next year, full year off season. He's a true freshman, right? And they just showed the stat up during the game like they've had five true freshmen hit a thousand yards and you're like, damn, that's a list. It's like Maurice Claret, Travion Henderson. Like, it's a pretty good list of sweet dudes. And you know, you just look Michigan. Now, granted.
- [27:38]
Their running back got hurt this year, but like they're. Running back Blake Corum has been hurt before. Like, they've, you should have like a stable of three backs. And that to me, the Kaylin DeBoer thing would be he's more into passing than running.
- [27:53]
Jackson
It's like the flashy name, but it's not what the fit of Michigan would want because I know Michigan fans. I mean, I've heard some on Twitter and I know I'm not a big fan of more. You got to be kind of thrilled that like, okay, like there's a reason that he's gone, but the timing of it sucks. The timing of it is horrible. I mean, do they come Biff, Biff for a year? Like interim guy. I know he's interim, but like you got, I mean, you also have time to like, get a guy. I just, I have no idea who you would go out and get with this situation. Unless they have a plan that they kind of just drop this right now.
- [28:26]
John Middelkopf
I mean, are they still going to play in this bowl game? I mean, if you're Texas right now, like, are they still committed? I mean, this kind of throws everything in a loop. Yeah, just, just crazy, crazy story.
- [28:36]
Wanted to, wanted to hop on here and get something in though. For sure. On it. But what a moment in college football. Jackson.
- [28:47]
Today's show is brought to you by our new presenting sponsor, Hard Rock bet. The holidays are here and the sports schedule is packed tighter than Santa's gift bag week. Fifteen football games, bowl games, NBA and college hoops, hockey, and a whole lot more. You know that new customers can sign up and bet $5 on any game. And if it wins, you'll win 150 in bonus bets on top of your winning. How do you beat that? That's holiday magic, baby. Not sure where to place your first bet? Hard Rock Bet just launched a brand new for you page, making it easy to find all your favorite teams, players and leagues all in one place. Plus, the Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook app is the only legal sports book whenever you're in Florida. It's also live in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado and Michigan. More states coming near you. Plus Hard Rock Bet offers new promos daily. Download the Hard Rock Bet app now and make your first deposit payable and bonus bets. Not a cash offer. Offered by Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. You must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida, call 1-833-play- wise in Indiana. If you or someone you know, has a gambling problem and wants help. Call 1-809 with it gambling problem. Call 1-800- Gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia.
- [30:26]
Jackson
So next summer, the biggest soccer event.
- [30:27]
John Middelkopf
On earth is coming to the US.
- [30:29]
Jackson
For the first time in over 20 years.
- [30:30]
John Middelkopf
Now is the time to get in on the action. Every rivalry, every crazy skill, and of course, every goal.
- [30:35]
Jackson
And we all know that every goal starts with an assistant.
- [30:38]
John Middelkopf
It's true for soccer and it's true for health.
- [30:40]
Jackson
That's why Halion, makers of Advil, Tums.
- [30:43]
John Middelkopf
Sensodyne, Centrum, and Voltaren, is teaming up with US Soccer to launch for the Assist. It's a new campaign that celebrates those everyday acts of support that help people achieve their goals.
- [30:54]
Jackson
Whether it's the fans cheering their hearts out in an electric stadium or the rec player who's keeping fit for weekend games, Halion is there for them. To learn more, go to helionassist on.
- [31:05]
John Middelkopf
The latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric, My guest, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, opens up about his 2022 stroke, his battle with depression, and his remarkable recovery. Stay in the game and keep it.
- [31:20]
Jackson
As simple as you can, because the lie of depression is that the best solution is to take yourself out.
- [31:27]
John Middelkopf
And that is the awful choice you.
- [31:30]
Jackson
Can'T ever come back from.
- [31:32]
John Middelkopf
But since there's no such thing as a slow news day, we also talked about the end of the government shutdown, a resolution he helped facilitate and one that has elicited a lot of anger from his constituents. To put 42 million Americans at food insecurity and not pay our military.
- [31:50]
Jackson
That is absolutely the wrong approach to fight for health insurance.
- [31:56]
John Middelkopf
Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [32:04]
Jackson
Hey, what's up, everybody?
- [32:05]
John Middelkopf
Daniel Jeremiah here and I'm Bucky Brooks.
- [32:08]
Jackson
If you love breaking down football from every angle, you're in the right place. Every week on Move the six, Bucky Brooks and I dive deep into the game. From the X's and O's to the front office moves shaping the league.
- [32:19]
John Middelkopf
We kick things off with Brian Binger breaking down what really went down on Sunday. It is as good a timing, rhythm offense as there is in the league right now. Then Rhett Lewis joins us for our.
- [32:29]
Jackson
Rookie draft and coordinator of the week where we highlight the rising stars and the masterminds calling the shots. DJ talked me into a Ronde Gadsden Jr. He had a monster game. Monster.
- [32:40]
John Middelkopf
A monster game and you hear from the voices who actually build the game. GMs, coaches and players who give you insight you won't get anywhere else.
- [32:49]
Jackson
High standards and high care. That's the right combination. So whether you're studying tape or just love great football talk, subscribe to Move the sticks on the iHeartra radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [33:03]
Hey all, it's me, your man, M.G. marcus Grant.
- [33:06]
John Middelkopf
And I'm Michael F. Florio. And I'm Laquan Jones.
- [33:08]
Jackson
If you're looking to win your fantasy football league, you need to tune in to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. It's right there in the name. Every week, Florio, LQ and I bring you the latest news from around the league. We break down every matchup, give you.
- [33:22]
John Middelkopf
Our analysis and advice so you know who to start, sit, drop and trade.
- [33:27]
Jackson
To bring that championship trophy home.
- [33:28]
John Middelkopf
I just want to remind everyone how.
- [33:30]
Jackson
Good Rasheed Rice was last season.
- [33:32]
John Middelkopf
In these three healthy games he was the wide receiver.
- [33:34]
Jackson
Two in fantasy I think Rashid Rice.
- [33:36]
John Middelkopf
Just goes off this week.
- [33:37]
Jackson
The Chiefs come on a flip pass.
- [33:38]
John Middelkopf
To Rice near side Touchdown. Randre Stevens is my sleeper this week. This is a matchup where I think I can slide in Stevenson in my flex position and he could deliver delivered double digit points this week. Drake takes the snap, hands it off.
- [33:51]
Jackson
For Madre, running it right and running into the end zone.
- [33:54]
John Middelkopf
Touchdown.
- [33:55]
Jackson
It's never too late to turn your fantasy season around. Subscribe to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [34:05]
John Middelkopf
Make this the year you took their breath away only with Goldbelly. The year you surprised them with the lobster rolls from their main honeymoon. The year the grandkids tried the black and white cookies that defined your brother and childhood. The year they got to stay up late eating the cotton candy cake you sent. The year they learned that true Texas barbecue really is that much better. Because with 20% off your first Goldbelly.com order, sending core memories nationwide has never been easier. Use promo code gift and make this year one to remember.
- [34:42]
Let's get into the main event. Jackson, I guess I text with you every day, but how are you doing buddy?
- [34:49]
Jackson
I'm good man. If I would have told you in this college football sport is just one of the more unpredictable years, one of the more chaotic years. If I would have told you in January, even August that Penn State and Clemson will be playing in December, you would have been ecstatic. But right now you know they're playing each other, but 7 and 5, 6 and 6 and they're playing in the Pinstripe Bowl. So that's what tells you about how crazy this year's been.
- [35:11]
John Middelkopf
You know what's funny is I, this morning I was doing something and I thought, I have no clue who's playing in any of the bowl games beside. Because I saw something on social media that Texas is playing Michigan. But usually when the bowl. You know, our entire life, up until I guess last year, a lot of bowl match was like, oh, Alabama's playing so and so it's like it does show you that it's rendered. I had no clue. It's Penn State and Clemson.
- [35:35]
Jackson
Yeah.
- [35:35]
John Middelkopf
And I would imagine especially for Dabo and he's going to take that really seriously because he can finish what, 8 and 5?
- [35:41]
Jackson
Yeah, I think they're. Yeah. 7 and 5 right now. They finished 8 and 5. Horrible year even with Penn State. Like they barely beat Rutgers. Terry Smith's last game as the interim head coach. Sure, they got a lot of seniors offensively like Ken K. Tron Allen, Nicholas Singleton. Yeah. Iowa, you got Iowa. Vanderbilt, we could start there, honestly, because.
- [36:00]
John Middelkopf
I know we're gonna get not bad. I mean, that's the thing. I mean, the bowl games, people crush them, especially Pete Baka. But there is an entertainment aspect for the consumer which is the second biggest sport in America now, college football. And there's also like for the kids that play in the game, like we understand it, cam Ward, Christian McAffrey, Leonard Fournette. I mean, I'm missing 100 guys, but individuals are going to get drafted high, whatever. I don't even care. But it's still entertaining to watch. Red, if you're a redshirt freshman or a backup special teamer at Clemson, at Iowa, like in a couple of years, you could be a second round pick. Like these guys are the, you know, K. Tron Allen and these guys at Penn State a couple years ago, it's like they, it would have been their moment to kind of shine as whoever that version is. Micah Parsons is leaving, Saquon's leaving. Like that's usually where they explode on the scene. Now I've also heard and you know, this being a college football junkie is coaches don't want to expose these guys. It's why they all started canceling the spring game. Right. Because all of a sudden it's like, damn, I'm gonna, I'm gonna give that guy a text message.
- [37:08]
Jackson
Yeah, that kind of plays effective. That's actually a good point. Because the transfer portals January 2nd through the 16th. So it's like this period, we'd see a lot of guys transfer out, and a lot of guys have already declared they're hitting the portal, but technically they can't hit it till January 2. We all know there's tampering going on. Most of those kids might even get signed like the day of that first transfer portal game. So you're right. And that kind of implies to. We can transition to this. The whole Notre Dame conundrum, obviously, them opting out of a bowl game, being super upset, the 80s temper tantrum at the ACC. I don't know where you want to start with this. I know there's a lot. Probably we want to go to the ad because before this, you and I probably have the same opinion. Obviously, I'm a Notre Dame fan, but it's just one of those things. It's just been dragged out a long time. And I get. Notre Dame was upset and it's the committee's fault for having them ranked. I think they were 10th in Miami, was 18th at November 9th, and now we sit here, a month later, they're out of the playoff. But what do you make of this whole athletic director? Notre Dame just kind of in the spotlight this week for the wrong reasons.
- [38:08]
John Middelkopf
That Notre Dame helmet behind you, Pete Bak was sending you that or so pretty.
- [38:12]
Jackson
No, my dad got it. No, he didn't know. I will accept the helmet, though, if they do give me one.
- [38:17]
John Middelkopf
I. I understand. You know, I would say Notre Dame fans are all in agreement that they got screwed and are very angry and are cool with not playing the game. You know, I think Brady Quinn, seen him tweet stuff. I. I heard him on the radio this morning. He's adamant that this whole thing's stupid. Playing in a game and it doesn't matter. I couldn't disagree anymore. But we will get into that in a second. There are still a couple brands that I would say people. A lot of people hate, right? Yankees. You know, I. I think it's probably a little less now, but for a long time, the Lakers, Duke basketball, and it. A lot of it has to do with jealousy, right? Part of the reason I hate the Lakers is because when I was in junior high, in high school, they were incredible. They had Phil Jackson, Shaquille o' Neal and Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson. Shaquille o' Neal would constantly make fun of Sacramento. So it's like you guys, right?
- [39:09]
Jackson
You. You hate.
- [39:10]
John Middelkopf
But it was that kind of out of jealousy. They were kind of right. Obviously Los Angeles and where these guys lived, it was just cooler. The brand was bigger, you know, but you hate them because you're kind of not them. And I think Notre Dame definitely was like that for an older generation. Right. You know, from Rudy to Joe Montana to the 80s, like they were dominant program. You see these 30 for 30s. Most of my life, especially my adult life of watching sports since like the late 90s, like they've been fine. They've had some really good years. Like the, I think the first Charlie Weiss year, they were pretty good. Maybe first or second. Obviously some Brian Kelly years and he's hateable. But like their team isn't necessarily so. I, I think they've lost some of the luster of like, well, everyone just hates. No, I actually think of most people that are like under 50, fall in my category are kind of indifferent. Like if they're good, like it was fun watching them last year. They have some really good players. If they're bad, like, whatever, not really paying attention. It's kind of like Miami. If you're a 30 year old college football fan, like you just turned 26, do you remember Miami being incredible? Because in your life, guess what? They have not been you. How old were you in 2001? What year were you born?
- [40:20]
Jackson
99. So I was like 2 or 3.
- [40:23]
John Middelkopf
You don't remember Ed Reed saying dominate because Joaquin told us to dominate. Like you don't remember that day. Like, but if I say Ohio State, you've been like, they've been dominant your entire Alabama. So I think the college landscape has changed and they're kind of holding themselves. Like we are like back. If you watch the Cowboys documentary with Jerry Jones, he used to like piss people off with like merchandise and he wanted higher percentages. It's like. But when you tell a young guy about Jerry Jones, they just look at the Cowboys and it's like, what's going on? Like it. So I think they carry themselves in this Pete Bakwa guy. And I'll use the NFL as an example. There's a reason that like during the season, Howie Roseman doesn't speak all the time. Sirianni is the guy speaking. Or John Schneider was Seattle, the head coach. So it's like Pete Vacua, I get it originally. But like he hasn't stopped. He hasn't stopped. And the Big 12 AD was like, yeah, it's, it's getting a little nuts, right? And this notion that the acc, well, if Miami makes the playoffs, the ACC makes money, they split the revenue Right. I think they keep two shares and they split all the other shares. Well, if Notre Dame made the playoffs, does the ACC get any money? No. So someone sent me their schedule. Today they play the shittiest teams in the acc. Next year they play Miami. But that was a home at home, clearly. And they get SMU at home. It's a lot of Boston Colleges. It's a lot of fight. The Fighting Belichicks. And the other thing is, BYU is a good example. They are like Notre Dame, you know, a religious school, a school that takes sports very seriously. And no one even questioned, like, should they have been closer in the mix with Notre Dame to get in the playoffs? Because their best win. Notre Dame's best wins, USC. Right. Well, BYU's best wins. Utah isn't Utah's ranked hour. Who's BYU second best win? Arizona, 9 and 3. Like if Notre Dame had that on the resume, they would never shut up about that if they beat Utah and Arizona. So I think, like, listen, did ESPN play with your emotions through the ratings? Because that's a big talking point, right? Probably, yeah. Every time I look at the first take, they're talking about the Cowboys. Every single at the gym in the morning, they have it on a TV that's muted. I would say.
- [42:45]
90% of the days that if I peek up, if I'm on the cardio equipment, it's Stephen A's face, a couple other guys faces and the ticker, what they're talking about is the Dallas Cowboy symbol. Jerry Jones, Dak Prescott, you know, whoever. Yes, part of the business. You're a big brand, you do big ratings. But this notion that ESPN campaign. Well, if NBC had the playoffs, what would they have campaign for? Of course, we're all in business with somebody like Notre Dame. You're in business with yourself to keep all the money. So I just think this whole thing is kind of jump the Shark. And one thing I will be adamant about, I don't know where you stand on this, but not playing in the bowl games, a fucking embarrassment. It really is. And I have a lot of respect. I love Clark Lee's comments yesterday. I didn't see him, but someone sent me that. I guess Sark kind of reiterated something similar. But this is a football program. So, yeah, Pete Bavakwa, you're into the business element of it all and trying to, you know, give it to, you know, espn and you know, Marcus Freeman, be like, well, the, the committee said we don't want to play without our guys. It's like, well, Mark, you're the boss. I bet guys said things to Sabin or Urban Meyer over the years that like, coach, we want to do this. You know, he says no. It's like, I'm about to have a child, he's going to want some things. Because I was like this as well, where I'm gonna have to say no. And I just think it's 100% the wrong decision to not play football. You're a football program and you're young guys and let's face it, I don't know if this factored in when they made their immediate decision, but.
- [44:17]
I would imagine a Large percentage of BYU's team does not drink. So at a bowl game, most of these college football programs, if they're not in the playoff, are going to be partying, especially the first three or four days. It's a big advantage for byu. They're going to take that game very seriously. And if you're, If Jeremiah Love and all these guys clearly wouldn't play and you're playing random guys that just haven't played that much, you would be. It might not maybe look like Colorado because I would imagine Notre Dame has better backups, but you could lose by 15 points pretty easily, right?
- [44:48]
Jackson
Yeah. I saw the list of guys that would have opted out. Either opted out or injury was like 28 guys. Obviously Jadarion Price, who was the second running back, looks like he's going to go to the NFL draft because that running back class, outside of Jeremiah Love, he might be the second running back off. So you dock those two guys, then you have some receivers. But it's like Notre Dame guy, everyone does. Everyone deals with opt outs, everyone deals with injuries. And to your point, like, why not play those second string guys and kind of like, hey, like show the committee what you have for next year. Like 20, 26. You got a young quarterback, it was his first year. Like, I just, I agree with you. I think initially I was on the side of emotional decision. You're bummed out, which I can't believe. They didn't have a plan B of there might be a chance that we don't make the playoff. We're independent. If we take Alabama out, it's going to ruin conference championship games. You talked the other day. SEC championships are like the super bowl in the South. So we take them out, that's gone. We take Miami out. And I know Notre Dame fans and Notre Dame's pissed because the ACC network, they played Miami, Notre Dame for like eight straight hours just to rerun over and over again. On Friday and Saturday they beat. They beat you and it was week one. Maybe you got to reschedule like come back and say hey we got to schedule A and M mid season. We can't have it back to back weeks and have our schedule look like this. And then you even talked about next year their schedule looks worse. Like do they have to go to an agreement with the ACC and want better opponents in the ACC and citizen them saying hey let's grab Boston College, Syracuse and North Carolina. And I told you that point. You're like, well Jackson, Notre Dame wants to play those teams. So I think like they have to come have to come up with some kind of like method or and in.
- [46:20]
John Middelkopf
Fairness, besides Miami this year, anyone that it would have played in the SEC is not that great.
- [46:24]
Jackson
Yeah. Yeah. Because I mean as of right now 10 and 2 didn't get you in 111 North Northern Illinois is your loss got you in now the exception next year. And we can talk about this too about are they going to expand? Like should Notre Dame be independent where the playoffs going right now? I don't really think Notre Dame has to join a conference. I think they could continue to be independent because it looks like it's going to go to 16. Maybe they try to go reach out to a Big 12 or a Big 10 if they are so mad at the ACC and not have that partnership. But I mean what are your thoughts about that independency? Because then there's another rule to that next year they are. They do go 12 teams that if they're ranked in the top 12 they're automatically in. And it's like a wrinkle that a lot of cool schools are like whoa, I didn't know they signed it. But it was agreed on when they expanded it to 12 teams.
- [47:09]
John Middelkopf
I'd be stunned if there's not 16 teams next year.
- [47:12]
Jackson
Feels like it's going that way. Yeah, feels like it is.
- [47:14]
John Middelkopf
I a couple things that from the Notre Dame standpoint because I had someone dming me, we post a social video like you're just reiterating all the same points. I thought you were better than that. It's like well I, I agree with a lot of these people what they're saying Notre Dame like no, we helped save the ace the acc. Yeah. But you're not in their conference. They have an agreement with you. Right.
- [47:38]
If I have a business partner and we do business with a third guy, but he's not a partner in what we're doing, I am going to take. I'm going to be more loyal and focus more on this guy. If push comes to shove, then the third guy, Notre Dame, you would not have shared your revenue if you got it. It was lucrative for Miami to make it and again they beat you. So I think we, if it was flip flopped, no one would even argue this. Notre Dame would be in if Notre Dame would have won that game.
- [48:09]
Jackson
Right.
- [48:09]
John Middelkopf
If it was just flipped and they had the same record. But I also seen that like.
- [48:17]
The ACC was short sighted because big picture, you want to keep Notre Dame very involved. And I'm not disagreeing. The ACC is not going to exist from a football standpoint in the next 10 years. We've already seen their top dogs desperately wanted out. And let's be real, why would Notre Dame do a deal with the ACC and not the SEC or not the Big Ten? Because would those teams turn them down? Of course not. Right. They would want to, you know, get in business with. It's easier. It's easier. The acc, no one would even argue is the easiest of the four. Imagine if like well we got, we got, you know, UT and BYU this year. Their schedule would look a lot better than if it was Utah, BYU, K State. Honestly, they were playing the Big 12 teams. It would legitimately look better. But obviously there are a lot of financial decisions for Notre Dame. They are a cash cow and I, I think it's inevitable. Where we're going is like a two tiered system where the non power four kind of plays themselves but the top is just going to be like kind of the north versus the south in however, you know, LA is definitely the south but it's going to be involved with the Big Ten and then from Texas over to Florida with the Carolinas will include whoever the best, you know, ACC teams are and that's what's inevitably going to happen. And then everyone will in a weird way kind of be independent or part of your conference that is like the NFC or afc. But Notre Dame kind of put themselves in this predicament. Doing what? Because they don't do it in basketball. Right. Basketball's in the acc. And if this was the same thing, if their basketball team was like on the fence for the NCAA tournament, the ACC would have gladly supported them. Right. Because they're in business with them, like full business, not like a little side scheduling agreement. Right. So I, I don't know. I just think the AD like one people don't respect administrators just in general like the mo. I, I would imagine the casual fan thinks most of these ads and Presidents, when it comes to, like, the football thing, it's like you guys get destroyed. It's a talking point. Jimmy Sexton works these guys.
- [50:24]
Jackson
Yeah.
- [50:24]
John Middelkopf
So it's like Pete Bavakwa. I get it. You were ran NBC for a decade. Like, no one gives a shit, bro. Like, no one cares. And if I'd be like, if Marcus had consistently done this, but he wouldn't because he knows he would look bad and kind of look like a puss. And I think if you just went, let's just pick, like, five of the top coaches in the country. Kirby, Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, you just kind of went around. Hell, I even Lane, do you think any of these people would not play bowl game? I think you would get skewered in the, in the SEC if you were an incumbent coach. I give you. I understand if your coaching staff's leaving. New coaches coming in, a lot going on. But, like, just Kirby Smart had got nine and three and missed. Or Sarky gone nine, three and missed and just quit. I think people are like, what are we doing? But he wouldn't, because he knows, like, it's a big deal to play another game, but they think, like, ESPN screwing them or something. I. I don't know. I mean, and I get how you think that, but it's just exhausting.
- [51:25]
Jackson
So next summer, the biggest soccer event.
- [51:27]
John Middelkopf
On earth is coming to the US.
- [51:29]
Jackson
For the first time in over 20 years. Now is the time to get in on the action.
- [51:32]
John Middelkopf
Every rivalry, every crazy skill, and, of course, every goal. And we all know that every goal starts with an assist. It's true for soccer, and it's true for health.
- [51:40]
Jackson
That's why Halion, makers of Advil, Tums.
- [51:43]
John Middelkopf
Sensodyne, Centrum, and Voltaren, is teaming up with US Soccer to launch for the assist. It's a new campaign that celebrates those everyday acts of support that help people achieve their goals.
- [51:54]
Jackson
Whether it's the fans cheering their hearts out in an electric stadium or the rec player who's keeping fit for weekend games, Halion is there for them. To learn more, go to helionassist.com on.
- [52:05]
John Middelkopf
The latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric. My guest, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, opens up about his 2022 stroke, his battle with depression, and his remarkable recovery. Stay in the game and keep it.
- [52:20]
Jackson
As simple as you can, because the lie of depression is that the best solution is to take yourself out.
- [52:27]
John Middelkopf
And that is the awful choice you.
- [52:30]
Jackson
Can'T ever come back from.
- [52:32]
John Middelkopf
But since there's no such thing as a slow news day. We also talked about the end of the government shutdown, a resolution he helped facilitate and one that has elicited a lot of anger from his constituents. To put 42 million Americans at food insecurity and not pay our military.
- [52:50]
Jackson
That is absolutely the wrong approach to fight for health insurance.
- [52:56]
John Middelkopf
Listen to next question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [53:04]
Jackson
Hey, what's up everybody?
- [53:05]
John Middelkopf
Daniel Jeremiah here and I'm Bucky Brooks.
- [53:08]
Jackson
If you love breaking down football from every angle, you're in the right place. Every week on Move the Six, Bucky Brooks and I dive deep into the game. From the X's and O's to the front office moves shaping the league.
- [53:19]
John Middelkopf
We kick things off with Brian Baldinger breaking down what really went down on Sunday. It is as good a timing rhythm offense as there is in the league right now. Then Rhett Lewis joins us for our.
- [53:29]
Jackson
Rookie draft and coordinator of the week where we highlight the rising stars and the masterminds calling the shots. DJ talked me into a Ronde Gadsden Jr. He had a monster game. Monster. A monster game.
- [53:41]
John Middelkopf
And you hear from the voices who actually build the game, GMs, coaches and players who give you insight you won't get anywhere else.
- [53:48]
Jackson
High standards and high care. That's the right combination. So whether you're studying tape or just love great football talk, subscribe to Move the sticks on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [54:03]
Hey y', all, it's me, your man, M.G. marcus Grant.
- [54:06]
John Middelkopf
And I'm Michael F. Florio. And I'm Laquan Jones.
- [54:08]
Jackson
If you're looking to win your fantasy.
- [54:10]
John Middelkopf
Football league, you need to tune in.
- [54:12]
Jackson
To the NFL Fantasy Football podcast. It's right there in the name. Every week, Florio, LQ and I bring you the latest news from around the league. We break down every matchup, give you.
- [54:22]
John Middelkopf
Our analysis and advice so you know who to start, sit, drop and trade.
- [54:26]
Jackson
To bring that championship trophy home.
- [54:28]
John Middelkopf
I just want to remind everyone how.
- [54:30]
Jackson
Good Rasheed Rice was last season and.
- [54:32]
John Middelkopf
There'S three healthy games.
- [54:33]
Jackson
He was the wide receiver, two in fantasy.
- [54:35]
John Middelkopf
I think Rasheed Rice just goes off this week. The Chiefs come on a flip pass to Rice near side touchdown. Ramandre Stevens is my sleeper this week. This is a matchup where I think I can slide in Stevenson in my flex position and he could deliver double digit points this week. Drake takes the snap, hands it off.
- [54:51]
Jackson
For moderate Running it right and running into the end zone. Touchdown. It's never too late to turn your fantasy season around. Subscribe to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're an H VAC technician and.
- [55:07]
John Middelkopf
A call comes in, Grainger knows that you need a partner that helps you find the right product fast and hassle free. And you know that when the first problem of the day is a clanking blower motor, there's no need to break a sweat. With Grainger's easy to use website and product details, you're confident you'll soon have.
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Jackson
Everything humming right along.
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John Middelkopf
Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
- [55:42]
Jackson
To your point about Dan Lanning, a couple years ago when, when they lost the Pac12 championship to Washington, they played in the Fiesta bowl against Liberty. So how do you even get your team ramped up for 15 practices when you're gonna, when you're gonna smack Liberty? So like to, to your point about the credit, like these guys want to continue to play games. I, I think the, the, the future of bowl games is definitely going downhill. But I do love that some teams are still wanting to play, some teams are still want to be around their guys and it's unfortunate for Notre Dame. To your point about, you made a good point earlier about the SEC when they played Arkansas 10am game, one of the more viewed games and at the time I know Arkansas is not great but like it was viewed as, I mean.
- [56:23]
Usc, Pitt, Arkansas is probably like their third best win because it's Arkansas, it's sec. They do play some teams tough so it gets kind of respected. But for Notre Dame and their independency moving forward, like their schedule is horrible. They're going to have to hope for the next coming years that North Carolina has a good season that somehow Syracuse or all these other opponents that are good so they get a ranked win because last year was the same sequence where they lost to niu and then Navy becomes ranked, army becomes ranked. I don't know if that ultimately helped them go through because I think it was pretty evident that even though they lost that game to NIU, the A& M win, they looked like one of the top 12 teams. It was kind of an easier run for them to get in versus the 10 and 2.
- [57:02]
John Middelkopf
I would say most years though, 10 and 2. Notre Dame's a lock. It was a very unique circumstances with the two and I And again, I haven't watched everything people said, but it's so much time about the ACC in Miami. He should be obliterating Tulane and jmu, obliterating that scenario. And he's spending so much time on, I mean a partner of his and I've never heard him mention those two teams. If I was him, I would come out and say it is an embarrassment that these programs, our top programs in the country, including ourselves, make all the money for everybody and we're letting these two guys in even. Even if we're going to let one but two of them. And he's spending so much time about acc, and that's why I think the big, I Forget the Big 12 commissioner's name, but he, he was like, it's your mark.
- [57:51]
Jackson
Brett Yomar. Yeah, just.
- [57:53]
John Middelkopf
Let's stop. I, I would have more respect if he just constantly crushed the little guy, but he's just spending so much time on Miami. And it's not even Miami, it's just the acc, which again, they wouldn't profit if you got in and Miami got left out.
- [58:09]
Jackson
I would have been more mad of the fact that Miami didn't make the ACC championship game and somehow Duke got in because that screws that screwed you from the minute that that was going to end up happening. If Miami goes to the AC championship game, they win the conference, you're both in. So I don't know how the hell that the 7 and 5 Duke with all the tiebreakers and I get most of those losses were at a conference. But I think that I would be more pissed about than the whole social media thing. Like you imagine the ACC posting Notre Dame. Everyone been like, huh, like why are you promoting Notre Dame?
- [58:38]
John Middelkopf
And this really bothers me because we're in the business of the Internet business.
- [58:42]
I've been. Social media, I guess has been a huge part of my career indirectly. But I would also say that like especially in 2025, it doesn't. If you're getting caught up scrolling comments, especially negative comments, you're wasting your time. It is not the real world. People talk on social media unlike they would talk in real life. Unless you're Puff Daddy Puff or excuse me, 50 Cent. 50 Cent lives like people talk on social media, but he's actually does it in real life and smiles about it. But most people, like, I think most people that are really angry or post crazy stuff about it, you go sports, you go politics. If you just met him in real life, probably like us, I mean obviously there are some nut jobs. But the overwhelming Majority of people. Because I would probably be like this, too, if I just sold insurance. If I just sold insurance and love football.
- [59:31]
I might have a fake name on my Twitter account. And I would just be blasting people left and right. It's like. It's funny. Like, I don't even. I think that happens a lot, too. And this guy's like, everything I've seen on social media, it's like, bro, you sound like a fucking late guy. A guy in his 50s who doesn't understand. None of that matters. Now, if you want to point specifically to people on the panel at ESPN that you think are taking money under the table or whatever, okay, that might have some validity. I will listen to that. But once you start bringing up social media as someone that lives in that world, I'm out. Like, you're an idiot. And I think that's like, come on, man. And maybe sticking up for his players because they kind of see it a lot. But I think that that's embarrassing. I mean, it really is. I also just get back to.
- [60:18]
I just can't imagine many coaches not, like. I just think it was a moment for Marcus Freeman to be like, we're playing. If you don't want to play, you're injured or opt out, obviously, but cool. But we're playing in a game and we're going to practice and we're going to run this program. And they didn't. And I just think it's. I think it's an embarrassment, I really do. To not play in the game because the. You're a football program. Like, okay, people, Vaka was getting bad at eat. That's his problem. But if you're Marcus, like, you're not caught up in that. You're also in the recruiting business. Just. It's more. You just. You're just gone now till, what, August 31st.
- [60:56]
Jackson
I even think it's good for the fans, too, even the donors.
- [60:59]
John Middelkopf
100%.
- [61:00]
Jackson
I get like the Pop to be like, oh, like this. The Pop Tarpol, which, out of all the bowl games, I think the Pop Tarp bowl is pretty entertaining. It sucks that they didn't make the playoff, but to your point, yeah, it's two of their.
- [61:09]
John Middelkopf
It's two of the best teams in the country, Right?
- [61:12]
Jackson
Yeah. And you're on ABC on the whole agreement with the ACC network and stuff like that probably led to. It's just an overall. An emotional thing.
- [61:19]
John Middelkopf
Is that part of it? It's an ACC team.
- [61:21]
Jackson
Yeah. I mean, it's.
- [61:24]
John Middelkopf
Technically, Notre Dame is like the best representative from The AC is like did Virginia take their spot?
- [61:29]
Jackson
It was Georgia Tech.
- [61:31]
John Middelkopf
So Georgia Tech. It's a feeder for okay, so that. So that's why they're. I I kind of got. I didn't quite okay that even like too caught up in all this BS and if I mark I'm not caught up in any of that and I tell the ad I get why you're mad but no, we're playing because BYU has nothing to do with that because you got to like hobnob with some ACC representatives at the function which you do. I mean but I don't know.
- [61:59]
Jackson
Just a weird situation. The next one we talk playoff. We talk expansion a little bit. Do you think 16 teams will solve the issues? How do they fix the cfp? It seems like an argument every year and you know we're here again a new second year of the 12 team already talking about 16 teams. I think we're pretty. We both agree that it's going to happen. It seems like it is especially when they postpone the decision is going to be I think late January instead of this supposed to be December. I'm for it more football but obviously if we get to 16 it feels like we're going to have more problems somehow.
- [62:32]
John Middelkopf
Isn't that what D1 double A's?
- [62:34]
Jackson
They're 24.
- [62:36]
John Middelkopf
That feels like a lot.
- [62:37]
Jackson
24 is a little too much.
- [62:39]
John Middelkopf
Yeah, 24 is a lot because you get double buys in that sometimes too. Right?
- [62:42]
Jackson
Yeah, it's like eight teams get buys.
- [62:44]
John Middelkopf
Yeah. So I, I 24 feels extreme. 16 probably feels just right. I also think you kick out the non power four teams and the conference championship games turn into play in game for the four conferences. So you can still do you know basically your conference champion is crowned in the regular season. Problem is you'd have to do some splits probably. Right. Because these conference is so big you don't play everybody. If I finish 11:1, you finish 11:1 or like Ohio State, Indiana they would have co split it which I think used to happen a lot of smaller conferences because like the whack and mount. Some of these conferences 10 years ago didn't have conference championship games. They've really been added for espn. Right. Or Fox because you it's television which is cool. PAC12 forever did not have a conference championship game. And.
- [63:37]
Yeah, I mean I. I think where we're headed is some play in elements which actually would feel a little bit bigger. I, I have a lot of respect for Notre Dame or excuse me Notre Dame, Ohio State.
- [63:49]
Jackson
Never, never Notre Dame Never done it.
- [63:51]
John Middelkopf
But I don't disrespect them. I enjoy them. I. I enjoy watching their team play. I think Ohio State, Indiana, neither of them needed to play, right? Neither of them needed to try hard. And they played that game. Really? Really. They played that game like it was a plan.
- [64:07]
Ryan Day definitely didn't want to kick the field goal. He's just trying to keep his head above water. But I do think that some of these games lose a little luster where if you're like, hey, it's Utah and Arizona winners into the playoffs for the 13, 14, 15 and 16, like Texas, Vanderbilt winners, then I.
- [64:26]
This year, the Big Ten would be a little hard, like USC versus Who, Iowa or something like that. But I think that's where we're inevitably headed. I'd be stunned if 20, 26, there's not dramatic changes. And the committee, you know, Mike Lombardi, I don't know if he's a great college gm, clearly kind of struggling, but always had a great line on his podcast that they've never built a monument for a committee. And I do think the committee. You gotta find a way to like, get out of this world. You know, all these other sports, like, no one tells you who's in the Major League Baseball playoffs. The records do same thing with football. And if they can get away from this group of however many individuals in this room. And then Hunter Eurocheck, and I know he was kind of put in last because the Baylor guy, like attacked a player or something.
- [65:12]
Jackson
What was that story? Yeah, that was weird.
- [65:14]
John Middelkopf
Yeah. So it's.
- [65:16]
Jackson
It.
- [65:16]
John Middelkopf
He's not answering questions. It's just kind of weird. Like you just need to get away from that. Imagine if we had that in the NFL, right? A committee. And I just think people. And I get it's television show, but you just got to get away from just subjectivity. But you'd argue that the history of college football has always been people picking forever. It was like someone just voted on who was the national championship. I mean, that changed in my lifetime. And then they've gone to four teams. What was that, like 12 years ago?
- [65:49]
Jackson
It would be weird if they had the conference playing games. It would you just judge your conference champion on the regular season or would they leave?
- [65:56]
John Middelkopf
That's what I'm saying. So like that way Ohio State, Indiana would be split it. You. You wouldn't play the game because they would say.
- [66:06]
Yeah, but then you get subjectivity over. If there are five teams for four, four buys, maybe you get more buys. I don't know again it just becomes, it's always people voting on this. So I, I just have it happen on the field. The thing with the conference championship games, if you go to 16, like both teams are always going to be in. So it's like what are you playing this for? Right.
- [66:31]
Jackson
Yeah. And you're looking at Oregon this year. They're probably glad they're not even in the championship game because their run looks a lot better versus Ohio State or even Indiana. Like you got to play Madison and you got to play Texas Tech and then you got an Indiana team that could be banged up against Oklahoma or Alabama coming off a three week buy. Like that's what's interesting too about this is last year we had the straights, no straight seating, was the conference champions. This year it's the straight seating. So that's be weird.
- [66:57]
John Middelkopf
I think the problem could be in one of these conference championship games if you're in a situation like Georgia or Alabama or Ohio State, Indiana, where their vote, you know, Alabama was, knew they were in, they were 10 and 2. They were not going to kick a team out in a conference championship game, especially in the sec. What if they had a bunch of injuries and they're like we're better off not playing this game. Giving these guys a couple of weeks and a team just doesn't play. They're like, we're just not playing because we know we're going to play here in 15 days. We don't want to risk more injuries and we need like a bye week right now. And that to me is you would, if it's Vanderbilt, Texas, you would never. Obviously they're both going to play because they're going to try to get the 14th seed. Now you could argue both those teams would be in in this scenario but again it's complicated. But this whole college football is always really complicated with this where the NFL is like I don't know how it feels so much easier they expand the playoff and it's just like no one even complains. Like you're just, you know when you're in, you know when you're out.
- [67:57]
Jackson
Yeah, I always, I don't know if it's because I'm we're. I'm oldie in the sport and obviously been following college football for a while. I still think it's a big deal to win your conference, but I know it's not a big deal in terms of the playoff.
- [68:08]
John Middelkopf
It's not anymore though. It's not, it's not anymore. Like Oregon didn't win Their conference they did last year.
- [68:17]
And I mean it feels like, I mean it would be one of the biggest upsets in the history of college football. They're almost guaranteed to be in the exact same spot with actually an easier route this year than they were last year. Like what did they get out now they got to say they're Big Ten champs. And there's some like that Indiana game meant a lot to Indiana because they've, I mean, essentially never been Big Ten champs.
- [68:39]
Jackson
Right.
- [68:39]
John Middelkopf
Back in football. But I don't know if winning the conference championship game with the, the playoffs has the same, you know, validity like Ohio State, Michigan.
- [68:52]
It was really important for Ryan Day to win the Michigan game. It was much more important in a weird way for him to win that Michigan game this year. Like if you could choose, would you have rather. Would they have still been into the championship game? I'm not sure they would have been if they would have lost to Michigan because Oregon would have been in.
- [69:08]
Jackson
Yeah, right.
- [69:09]
John Middelkopf
But let's just say hypothetically he still would have been in if he, if he could lose one of those games. He's picking the Indiana game and win the Michigan game. Right. So it's the thing with college football. It's like some games just matter more.
- [69:22]
Jackson
That's like even Caleb Debords, who with the Iron bowl rivalry games feel like it means more than the conference championships. It's just I wonder if the commissioners like if you're Greg Sankey, could you fully buy in of removing the SC championship or Potati removing the Big Ten championship and having those as playing games, would you still have the same show up? Would it still have the same range? I know it have the intensity and the importance of a playoff game. But I just wonder if those commissioners like would, would they fully buy in. Like, hey, we're going to, we're going to leave the championship games. We're going to play play in games. We're just going to see how that goes. I agree. Like Texas, Vanderbilt or one of these playing games because I wouldn't, wouldn't the playing games don't go through the playoff versus the individual conferences or with the conferences, I guess have their own playing games. I don't know, maybe this whole sports confusing.
- [70:08]
John Middelkopf
I'm not Josh Payne. I don't want to be the commissioner here. The problem is you have all these different entities. Everyone has different ideas. Some of these entities are in business with one's an NBC and Peacock someone Fox. Some are with espn. You got, you got too many hands in the cookie Jar. And no one's rolling in the same direction. Beside, the conferences look after their own as they should.
- [70:32]
Jackson
That leads us to the next question. Biggest problem in college football, Is it the calendar, the playoff, or no leadership? It feels like. And I saw Kirk, Herbert street and Joey Gow. We have a podcast, nonstop or whatever. They had Mario Cristobal, and they asked him, they said, you know, if we want to adjust the playoff or adjust the calendar. That's what they said, the calendar. Who do we talk to? And Mario is like, shaking his head like, I don't know. Ncaa, they don't do anything.
- [70:59]
John Middelkopf
My question is, when they say the calendar, in the NFL, they can create their own calendar because there is no go to school. There is no academia. There's just football. There's no student, athlete or athlete, student. You're just football, football, football. Right. You do, as of now, connected to the university. Right. And your kids, in theory, go to school. So you're based on the academic calendar. So I, I, I think changing the calendar around, what does that even mean? Like, move the portal till the spring or something. Okay, but they moved the portal last year, right? Back a little bit. But you can't have the portal. And like, February, because school's already started.
- [71:43]
Jackson
Yeah.
- [71:44]
John Middelkopf
Now, one thing that's clear is there are zero requirements as an athlete to transfer. I could have a 0.0 at my school, and if Vanderbilt wants me, I go to Vanderbilt. Which didn't used to be the case. So you could argue none of it actually matters, and you can put it wherever it's like, so what, he shows up in the middle of the semester wasn't, who cares? So I. Because no one wants to get it sued.
- [72:09]
Jackson
So.
- [72:09]
John Middelkopf
Yeah, I mean, there's no individual to do that. They're not all under the same umbrella. Right. That's the thing with the NFL. Like, everyone, Roger Goodell, all the owners are all under the same umbrella. Like the ACC and the Big Ten have different views on things. So that's where it gets really complicated. I don't have a good answer. I don't think there's a great solution until they all get into business together and pool their money. But that's where it gets difficult, because this is what Notre Dame's argument is. We're bigger than basically every school beside a handful. So why would we ever split revenue with the shitty programs? It's like Ohio State's like, do you know how much bigger we are than every university from a football standpoint in this conference, beside maybe like three. Like, why Are we giving money to Maryland and Rutgers? Wouldn't Alabama, who's the highest rated team in the sec? I saw stat, like they have to give money, spread money to Mississippi State. But that's part of the deal. Like, that's the strength of the NFL. Jerry and the 49ers and the packers, like they are more important to the television revenue, which pays for everything than your Cardinals. But the Cardinals get the same amount of money as the Philadelphia Eagles. That's the power of the business. The, the, the unity. And everyone gets super rich. But that's the problem in college football. People kind of want to hoard and not everyone's. It's just, it becomes very. Why? Because you have more and more people. The NFL only has 32 teams. I mean, how many teams are there in the power four? Right. There's 18 teams in the big ten. There's how many teams in the SEC, 16 or 18. So I mean, boom, you're already way past the NFL on the two conferences alone. The ACC's expanded because they've added Cal, Stanford, SMU, all these programs. And now it's like some of these deals, like, I don't think Cal and Stanford get the normal slice of the pie. Just like Oregon and Washington don't get the same amount of money as USC and UCLA in the Big Ten. I think they get a half share for Oregon, it doesn't necessarily matter. I think for Washington we'd probably like a little more cash, but they didn't have a Choice because the PAC 12 died. That's the thing. It's just always. It's just so fluid. Like there's nothing fluid in the NFL. Yeah, I mean, it might be fluid who wins and who loses on a given year, but like in terms of the business model, the business model is always changing because there's more and more money and everyone wants their hand in the cookie jar.
- [74:30]
Jackson
The only thing with the calendar is you would. I mean, they want to expand a 16 plan. We already have a 12 team playoff. I think the championship game's like January 20th or something.
- [74:40]
John Middelkopf
Yeah, the game. So it's like if we're going to go.
- [74:43]
Jackson
Yeah, if we're going to go 16. But I feel like you got to even take out two regular season games, take out those Grambling States, bowling greens, whatever. Or start the season earlier if you want to have it on January 1st with the portal ending up on January. I like that. The portals in January. And I know people are, well, I'm in the playoff. Like, why is it January 2nd through the 20th through the 16th. Like I feel like you're going to have less opt outs especially with the five day window they have after they get eliminated. Send to the portal. And I don't think school starts until late January or mid January anyways. So that's fine with that.
- [75:14]
John Middelkopf
But let's use your school, Montana. The one double A playoffs, they don't have conference championship games.
- [75:20]
Jackson
Right.
- [75:20]
John Middelkopf
So they just end the season and then the next week the playoffs essentially start.
- [75:25]
Jackson
Yeah.
- [75:25]
John Middelkopf
For the teams that don't have a buy, I think you could do some version of that. Just that week it's the playoffs aren't as big so you just have the play in version or the conference championship games and then just immediately start playing. Look at the NFL season ends, you start playing. Yeah, you know there's this, there's this lag and that's because are there bowl games this weekend?
- [75:47]
Jackson
Boise State, Washington on Saturday.
- [75:49]
John Middelkopf
See, so espn, they have some inventory, right. So they, they're like, well, I don't want to waste this weekend. We can do something else and then, you know, kind of do a build up. But I think you just have to kind of approach it more like football. Like every seven, eight days you're playing a game.
- [76:12]
Jackson
So next summer, the biggest soccer event.
- [76:14]
John Middelkopf
On earth is coming to the US.
- [76:15]
Jackson
For the first time in over 20 years. Now is the time to get in on the action.
- [76:19]
John Middelkopf
Every rivalry, every crazy skill, and of course every goal.
- [76:22]
Jackson
And we all know that every goal.
- [76:23]
John Middelkopf
Starts with an assist. It's true for soccer and it's true for health.
- [76:27]
Jackson
That's why Halion, makers of Advil, Tums.
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John Middelkopf
Sensodyne, Centrum and Voltaren, is teaming up with US Soccer to launch for the.
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Jackson
Assist team a new campaign that celebrates.
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John Middelkopf
Those everyday acts of support that help people achieve their goals.
- [76:41]
Jackson
Whether it's the fans cheering their hearts out in an electric stadium or the rec player who's keeping fit for weekend games. Halion is there for them. To learn more, go to helionassist.com did.
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John Middelkopf
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Jackson
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John Middelkopf
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Jackson
Hey, this is Sarah.
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John Middelkopf
Look, I'm standing out front of a.m. p.m.
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Jackson
Right now and well, you're sweet and.
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John Middelkopf
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Jackson
Even kind of cheesy.
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- [79:13]
Jackson
Speaking of the playoff bracket, look ahead at the matchups. This week we don't got anything but next week we do. And then we got three plus weeks until the big boys Georgia, Indiana, Ohio State, Texas Tech all play. I guess we could start with just the first round matchups. Oklahoma Alabama feels like a rematch from what we had earlier on. Feels like two teams that both offense has been struggling really bad. Like this game to me just feels like a game that which quarterback do you trust more? Both defense. Like which team can reach 17 points that game alongside Texas A. Miami are basically the only ones because Tulane, I mean I don't know if they have a shot against Ole Miss and James Madison, but any intriguing first round matchups that look ahead wise, I don't know any of those teams that can Make a run where you're.
- [80:02]
John Middelkopf
Well, two game. Two games. Do not. I mean, the Oregon game, they're going to murder them if they try at night. Like you said, you. That Liberty game and his Liberty was a better team than jmu, right? The Hugh Freeze Liberty team was pretty good.
- [80:16]
Jackson
I think so, yeah.
- [80:18]
John Middelkopf
I mean, I. I'd be lying if I watch much of either, but I just remember that Liberty team when he was in the press box on the hospital bed. Like they were legitimate. Like they were pretty. They were dominant. You know, given their competition, I'd be stunned if that game's not like 50 to 15 or something. The Ole Miss game somewhat intriguing just because, like, this, their coach is gone. They got these guys coming back, though.
- [80:45]
How are they? They've already played and the game was 45 to 10. Like, they did play 45 to 10. And it's not like the other coach. I think I even saw a quote. He's got two phones. Like, he's got a lot going on. Like his, let's face it, like, he gets blown out in this game, no sweat off his back. He's at Gainesville the next day. The other two games are pretty good. The other two games, it kind of sucks. It's a rematch. But, you know, I, I think we've seen DeBoer.
- [81:17]
We've actually never seen him since he became famous in this scenario. His team's not playing well. They. They didn't rush the ball at Washington when he was there. Now, granted, they had three NFL receivers he just slung around kind of like he's doing now. But they have no rushing game in Alabama, which is kind of weird. I mean, that program, to me, I would say a huge defining moment of Saban's teams. When you think Nick Saban, I know it became more of a passing offense, but you thought defense and running the ball. Derrick Henry, I mean, when you just look up how many of their running backs are all over the NFL, you know, Josh Jacobs, Mark Ingrams on tv, won the Heisman Trophy. I mean, they just, they just had Dom and a Dom. They had running back rooms where Alvin Camara was like, I need to transfer. I. I get. Don't get time right? So I, I just think Jameer Gibbs transferred. Like, I just pulled up their stats page. Jam Miller's hurt, right?
- [82:09]
Jackson
Yeah, he might be back, but again.
- [82:11]
John Middelkopf
That'S like, he had five. He has 500 yards. The other two guys, like, they just, they just can't run the ball. So I don't know. And Ty Simpson doesn't look that great right now. So Oklahoma, their defense is incredible, which is crazy because all of my life it was like a incredible offense. Maybe that like 90 or 2000 Bob Stoops team. But most of like when they became a really big deal under Stoops and Lincoln Riley, all offense. I mean, I was trying to explain to my wife because she's like, oh, where'd he get his nickname? Hollywood? And I was like, well, I think he grew up there. And then Gus Johnson started calling him that. But he also played on. He played with CD Lamb and, and Mark Andrews and Joe Mixon and Samaji P. Ryan and Orlando Brown and Baker Mayfield. I mean, their teams were incredible, but their defense sucked. It was like, ah, Kenneth Murray's okay. Now it's like their defense is picking dudes off the pass rush. Incredible. Well, Brett Venables, that's his baby. And he learned at Clemson how to recruit those guys. But their offense mater, ever since he hurt his hand, they've looked terrible. Now I was also thinking maybe, I mean his hand, I mean, broke his. This isn't a Herbert or Aaron Rodgers. This was his throwing hand. So it has to impact him a little bit. I mean, the Texas game, when he came back, it was like, what are we doing? But it never really got that much better. You do wonder if the long layoff, right. They don't have to play in the SEC championship game. Could he look better? Because early in the season he did look pretty good.
- [83:39]
I don't know. I mean, I, I think Oklahoma, if their offense is just okay, which it has not been, they could win a couple games. They got a little like Houston now. C.J. stroud's a better player than John Matier version of college, but kind of similar. It's like, hey, if your offense just can put up like 17 to 20, same thing with Bo Nix and the Broncos, like just get in the playoffs, just score 20, we're going to be in good shape. Oklahoma's gonna be tough. They're. They're going to be a tough out. Whether they play Ohio State, Indiana, I, I have to pull up the bracket.
- [84:08]
Jackson
But whoever they're playing and I, I.
- [84:10]
John Middelkopf
Think they beat Alabama, especially at home. Norman, that game's a night, right?
- [84:13]
Jackson
Yeah, the boys had a trouble a lot of. I mean he's 02 against Oklahoma in both those games where, yeah, Oklahoma's offense has been great, but both those games, Oklahoma's defense has led to a touchdown, which has also helped Oklahoma out, led to some turnovers. Just being a manageable Field position. They have one of the best kickers in the country. He's got like.
- [84:31]
John Middelkopf
Wears no pants.
- [84:32]
Jackson
Yeah, wears basically no pants. And he can make like four field goals. Which to Alabama's credit, like they only have that kicker and that's like an advantage that you know, Oklahoma thrives off of. I think if the one thing for Bama that you get three.
- [84:45]
John Middelkopf
They had three turnovers in that game.
- [84:47]
Jackson
Yeah, they got to win the turnover battle. I think Oklahoma does thrive off of those explosives. Like the last three games they played in, they had touchdowns of 82, 45, 58 against Mizzou and LSU and survived off of an explosive pass play. So I think that's something that if you're Alabama, you got to limit. If, if they're, you know, Oklahoma's offense isn't really good at running the football. But Alabama's offense is just, I mean from where they were at the beginning, that whole gauntlet they went through going on the road being Georgia, Mizzou, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and then you just at the end of the season, that November, they spend absolutely nothing. You don't know where Ryan Williams is. He's dropping balls left and right like the quick games.
- [85:24]
John Middelkopf
No, he's got awful hands. He's a receiver who's extremely skilled, who has terrible ball skills. Like to me there are going to be a lot of NFL teams if you can't catch as the wide receiver, you're an undraftable player. I mean that ball that he high pointed for a guy he was compared to Jeremiah Smith was obviously insane. But even if he's just a good player, like that's a pretty, it's crazy to say but kind of a routine catch. It went right through his hands.
- [85:50]
Jackson
He's not, he's like their third best.
- [85:52]
John Middelkopf
Wide receiver if that.
- [85:54]
Jackson
It's, it's, it's saddest drop off. But to, to. I mean I'll credit Jeremy Bernard has been stepping up. Isaiah Horton, you're right. I think it's just a. Deborah is going to walk into a trap and I think that Venables team figure out something offensively and that defense with our Mason Thomas just the pass rush like that offensive line, Alabama's been struggling like that. I mean they got bullied against Georgia with a three or four man front the entire game.
- [86:18]
John Middelkopf
Yeah. And they, they got, and they got worked in that, that, that was, that was a Saban like performance against Alabama where it's like we're going to physically punk you and kind of set and like dance on your graves A little bit. I can think for Alabama fans, they go, is our coach kind of a puss? Like, where's our toughness? And, like, you know, for. He's a former offensive lineman. He's like a passing game guru. You know, that's. That's. Ryan Grubb got fired in Seattle, didn't run the ball. The reason they hired the Kubiak kid is, like, he's a run game. They want a physical. Deborah wants to pass like 50 times a game. I. This. This game, I've always been a fan. I mean, part of it has been following his career since Fresno State. But, like, that style in the sec, there's a physical nature. It's going to be the question with Lane. It's like, is your team going to be physical enough? You're kind of doing like, your version of this, like, Chip Kelly thing, which works on offense, but does it create a physical nature? Which Ole Miss definitely kind of didn't have. Because when they practice, you're going against this, like, crazy speed offense. And that's the thing with Venables. Like, we're running the ball. Tough team. If you lose, like, 17 to 10, this was just an ugly game. If you're Bama and you spend all off season of just getting physically punked by Alabama or Oklahoma twice, people are going to want. It'll be like, coming into the season, like, we're ready to get rid of this guy. It's. It's going to get ugly. Because again, I think the one thing people respect, you know, like Alabama, Ohio State, you know, lsu, like, they want a physical team. That was a problem with Brian Kelly. It's like, bro, where's your run game? We should be able to run it. We should be able to have one of the best running backs in the country and run it down people's throat. And when you can't, I just think people hate that style of football. And, you know, at certain programs, csu, with like, Lincoln Riley, it's like, oh, our team's kind of soft, bro. You know, most of us in the heyday, we used to be like Alabama Urban Meyer style, which is crushing, sending people to the hospital. And that's what it feels like. When Kirby's right, it's like, I would not want to be on the field with these guys. Ohio State and Indiana kind of have that. Like, they are crushing people. I saw Mendoza tell McAfee, like, I got. I couldn't take a. I got hit so hard, I didn't see him. That's what. That's what, like, of the top programs. If you're, you know, some of these programs, you expect. It's like, hey, we just got to run and gun it. You play at Utah like, you play Utah, like someone's going to get hit hard. Bama. No one's getting hit hard, it looks like, which is crazy.
- [88:55]
Jackson
Speaking of getting hit hard, Miami A and M, that's another game where both of those teams, Mario Crisp done a great job. Offensive, defensive line, it feels like in the portal, they've done a lot better. Getting receivers. Carson Beck, I mean, to this game, offensive line, defensive line, both sides are pretty elite. It feels like this game is going to come down to which quarterback doesn't turn the ball over. Yeah, Carson Beck's been turning the ball over the entire year. Marcel Reed, the last couple of games, that South Carolina game, he had two picks in the first half. Texas late, you could tell his feet. Anytime he was getting pressure, he felt like he didn't know where the ball was going. This is a big game for Miami. Just kind of shove it in Notre Dame's face and say, hey, we do belong. Home field advantage. It sucks this game's not at night. But where do you. Where do you kind of lean? Early thoughts about that game?
- [89:43]
John Middelkopf
I think the scary part for Miami because you're like, if we're on, we could beat anybody. This matchup with Elko getting, what, three weeks to throw different things at Carson back, Like, you just see some of those games where he's throwing to the other team, you start hitting them, you know they got a pass rush. Was Howell the dude that has, like, abs and can rush the passer like he's Miles Caris? Like, what is going on here?
- [90:08]
Jackson
This guy's.
- [90:09]
John Middelkopf
Now Miami's got it, too. But I, I don't trust either quarterback. I just trust Elko. I, I think if you just pulled people in college football, you just went pure scheme their side of the ball. Who's the cream of the crop? Like, you know what Lane's done on offense with Charlie Weiss. I, I think Elko would be right there hand in hand with like, a Kirby smart. And if Saban was still around, it was like defensive genius. So you give defensive genius. You give any genius. Like, more times, like the Andy Reid thing off the bias. That's. I, I lean, obviously, the environment, but just from a schematic thing, even if they were on a neutral site, I was like, can Carson Beck. It's a big moment for Carson Beck. Like, he plays well. You know, it's like okay, he's gonna get drafted again. You know, I don't know. Not like first, second round, but he's third or fourth, you know, type guy. You play well in this environment. This type of. A lot of people are going to be watching it for him. Like can you even be a backup in the NFL? Can you, can you handle this? Because a lot of times backups, you know, Mariotas the. I saw a clip like AJ McCarron. You know, we've seen them in big moments like handle themselves. You know, we've seen Carson Beck.
- [91:15]
Georgia turned on him. I can't imagine that program has great things to say about him. So this is, this is a big moment for his football career and I'm gonna lean. I'm taking Elko here in this moment. Even if I don't trust their offense. I just think that that place is going to be bananas that you said that is the night. That's the Saturday night game.
- [91:31]
Jackson
No, it's not a night. It's like 11am it's not that they put the night game as James Madison, Oregon, which I don't understand how you.
- [91:37]
John Middelkopf
Do that because they gave the other two games because they espn. Yeah, I should have known. Yeah, ESPN kept the two good matchups right. And they gave TNT the matchups with the big point spreads.
- [91:50]
Jackson
Hey, at least you're gonna college football playoff game tnt give James Madison too Lane. But yeah, I agree with everything you said. I think, you know, Elko's third down defense has been something that's been given a lot of opponents trouble. If you're a fan of explosive players, I think Malachi Toney from Miami where they found this guy, a three star freshman, feels like outside of him the running game's pretty soft. Don't really have any other receivers outside of him. And then for Texas A and M, they have some of the best backs in the country. Casey Concepciono, Mario Kramer, like that's one thing that Miami's been struggling at against SMU or Louisville is if you do have those elite wide receivers and you can get them over the top, especially at home at Kyle Field, it just feels like a game where Mario Cristobal and Carson Beckman, they just suffocates them and they just can't get out of the hole or they kind of keep it competitive. Maybe they start running the ball and I don't know, maybe Carson Beck ends up performing.
- [92:42]
John Middelkopf
Marcel Reed doesn't play well if they're not throwing the like it could be. It wouldn't shock me if it's like 10:10 game going in the fourth quarter. You know, the other thing is, I remember tweeting this out on that. It was Friday night. Like Texas does not or they haven't. And I don't think Oklahoma has either. They have not played an SEC night home game. And you know, one thing about Texas, I was thinking like, this is an electric environment. This place felt like a playoff game for them because it kind of was. I mean, it was a Super bowl, right? That rivalry had gone away for a while once A and M went to the SEC and Texas was in the Big 12. Now it's, you know, it's, it's alive again because they're both in the same conference. But that night game, that place is, it was rocking and clearly like Texas, I mean, showed up to play. If that version of Texas had played more games. Like, they're not in tight games against Kentucky and Mississippi State. And they probably still lose Ohio State, but they, they don't lose to Florida. Even though when you went back and look like Arch's numbers weren't as good as the game felt when you were watching it, part of it was that big touchdown run. But they, that game, they, they would have been hard to beat beside like a Georgia, Ohio State. Like, I felt like they're beating most teams that night with their effort and the energy in the place because again, you don't see, you just don't see that many night games in Austin anymore. I feel like they, most of their night games have felt like the road game, right? And they play a ton like Kentucky, like for the sec, but there's on the road and then they typically have like the noon kickoff at home. At least the last couple years. I'm like, I want more night games of Texas. This place, it's like an underrated. No one talks about it. You get the sec. I mean, I was blown away this year. Auburn had like seven night games. Place looks incredible. I'm like, I'd want to play there if I was a kid. But I, I just think that night was. If that game had been noon. I wonder if it's a different feel. But that thing was night. Friday night holiday. People been drunk for like three straight days. Did you agree was that environment like, that was elite?
- [94:48]
Jackson
Because you're watching that game, you're like, I know Texas is three losses, but like, could they slip in? They look like a playoff team right now. Arch looks like what we wanted at the beginning of the season and he's transformed and they're able to run the football and yeah, A and M team that got kind of exposed.
- [95:02]
John Middelkopf
But I, I, but that wasn't the version of. They didn't look like that the majority of the year.
- [95:05]
Jackson
No, no, the crowd feeds into it and just the home field advantages. But yeah, I agree. Do you think, I mean we can kind of talk broad about the playoff too and you look at a pool of who can actually win the national championship. It's interesting to see like those home playoff games and then you're going to see teams in the first round. By that I mean Indiana three and a half weeks. Like how do they shape up versus an Oklahoma and Alabama that are played before Georgia last year at a first round by they looked great but this year they got kind of Stockton who's had a full season where that time it was weird because of the whole, you know, tragic situation. The game got postponed but still they look pretty flat. Then you got Ohio State, Texas Tech. Texas Tech haven't really been in the limelight like that. You don't have a lot of players that have been in the playoff. Who do you your mind like who do you think wins the national championship? Do you think any of those first round I guess teams or I should say second round team first round by get a little exposed a little bit that second round?
- [96:01]
John Middelkopf
Well, I do think that I've heard a lot of people say that only the four buy teams in Oregon can win the Natty and I, I, I just to me Ole Miss is a team in the first round that has no chance to win it. They don't have a good enough defense. But I do believe that Oklahoma could beat anybody. When you play great defense, you could just win an individual game. Now can they win four straight games? Probably not. But Mattia got a couple million dollars for a reason. And then you know, Miami, Texas A and M, if one of those teams got hot that they, they're pretty tough. You know Indiana like they're really good. But is, is the, is the, was the wide receiver Omar Kelly the second Omar Cooper? Yeah, Omar Cooper like if he's there and they got three wide receivers, they're really tough. But is, is he have a high ankle sprain? Is he out for the playoffs? I mean you know college not like the pros. You don't. We won't find out for a while what his status is. But yeah, I would say Indiana, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon wouldn't shock me of any of those four. I would say Oklahoma could definitely upset somebody.
- [97:09]
Jackson
I wonder with Indiana because I know like Indiana is one of Those teams, it's so hard to mentally compose and say that this team is the number one team in the country. It just beat Ohio State. But you do wonder like, we're all human at the end of the day. Can so can't Signetti get him right three and a half weeks against an Oklahoma team that's just going to punch him in the mouth. Like Ohio State's defense, they start out slow and if it wasn't for that interception, some field goals early, the back shoulder fade like outside of that touchdown, they lead to field goals the whole game. They lose. Like I do wonder against an Oklahoma fire team that has nothing to lose with Indiana, that now feels like they kind of have something to lose with how good they are.
- [97:48]
John Middelkopf
I'd argue they beat Ohio State if they win one. If they beat Oklahoma and then lost to Oregon in the. I guess it would be the final four.
- [97:58]
That is an incredible season. I mean that is, that's a. That's a contract for life for Signetti once you beat Ohio State. I do think you just need to win the one game though. It would be a pretty big letdown if you lose Oklahoma or Alabama. But I'm in agreement there.
- [98:29]
Jackson
And then if you're Oregon, you're smiling ear to ear because you don't got to play in the Big Ten championship game. And you got a road where a Texas Tech team. I know Texas Tech fans will be like, we spent a lot of money. Like you spent $28 million on a roster. But I think outside of their defensive line, I think their offense is pretty exposable. The red zone offense isn't very great. An Oregon team, they just have to get healthy. Like if they're receivers like the Corey Moore who's been their freshman all American that hasn't really played. He had some big catches against Penn State. Like, that's why people are. Some people are kind of puzzled on Dante Moore. Like, should he go to the draft? Should he not? Like, I, I think I credit him for finding ways to win without his top receivers on the road to Iowa. Obviously the USC game was weird at Washington. They're kind of a team what to me where if they're.
- [99:12]
John Middelkopf
They, they. They are sleeping in the name. They came in last year, all the pressure was on them. And then they got Ohio State, who Ryan David rallied the troops after that Michigan game. They blew out Tennessee in that cold night game and they came in just humming. And that wasn't like 28 nothing at the end of the first quarter or something. It was crazy, ridiculous it was, it was like the equivalent of a rose bowl when McCaffrey played Iowa and remember, he scored on the kickoff return. And then all of a sudden it was like, we're going to beat you guys 100 to nothing and that. But it was, it was like, okay, Stanford was unreal at the time. Oregon just felt like these are two equals and they got destroyed. So I, I think it's kind of a rallying cry. I do think they've had. That win against Iowa was pretty incredible. Like, that was like beating Iowa this year was, Is not easy. Like, that was a good win for usc. That was a fantastic win for them on the road. That drive, the throw he made down the right side was beautiful. That old drive, I remember I was, I was. I finished playing golf. I'd been watching, and I listened in my car, and then I rewatched it.
- [100:18]
Jackson
When I got home.
- [100:18]
John Middelkopf
That was sweet.
- [100:20]
Jackson
Like, that was.
- [100:21]
John Middelkopf
That's just one of the better. You would say Indiana's drive against Penn State might be the best drive of the year.
- [100:27]
Jackson
In the rain, too.
- [100:28]
John Middelkopf
That was sick. I mean, catch of the year, for sure. You could argue Oregon's drive was.
- [100:36]
To get in the field goal range because, you know, college kickers, it's wet and cold. I mean, that was, that was really, really hard. And I, I think last year. Listen, you just, you know, part of football, too is like, you can't lay an egg. That's the thing in the playoff, like in the NFL, this is not basketball. You see all the time a team will lose. I think the warriors played the Grizzlies one year, lost a game by like 50, won the series. Like, it doesn't in football. You have a bad half in a playoff game because you start getting really tight. You start realizing, like, our season's over and they just ran into a perfect storm. I, I think, obviously, I, I would expect Oregon, honestly, 21 and a half. That. That number's not big enough. I, I would put it like 35. I, I think they are. This is going to be a landing. We're gonna, we're gonna try to be a 35 nothing at halftime. We, we're gonna try to get it going because he just saw what it meant for a team coming in to play him, just to roll and have positive momentum. Not that they have, like a negative feeling because they're coming in. I think a lot of people think playing some of the better football over the last month of anyone in the country, but I would honestly, you could convince me that numbers. I don't know, like 60 to nothing. Unless it's like a torrential downpour, freezing cold, that that would change a little. Like the Notre Dame game last year was so cold. What was the final score? That Notre Dame, Indiana was like 27, 7 or something.
- [102:00]
Jackson
Yeah. And they scored touchdowns a little closer. Yeah, I think it was like 27, but.
- [102:05]
John Middelkopf
But it wasn't like 50 to 7, right? No, but it's harder to blow someone out in a frigid cold. I mean, what was it, 10 degrees? If it's just cold and a little wet? Like, I. I think they are pedal of the metal destroying them. And then I think Oregon's favorite against.
- [102:19]
Jackson
Texas Tech feels like the Rutgers game. Oregon's game plan, where they just ran for like 300, 400 yards, just multiple backs. We're gonna run the ball. Especially if they have receiver injuries. You don't even contemplate.
- [102:30]
John Middelkopf
They had a Minnesota game I remember watching on Friday night. They kind of did that too.
- [102:34]
Jackson
Just.
- [102:35]
John Middelkopf
Just run it down their throat.
- [102:36]
Jackson
Yeah, I got like four rainbows.
- [102:37]
John Middelkopf
What's your. What's your guess on the Texas Tech? Oregon? Let's say Oregon rolls. I mean, is Oregon a touchdown?
- [102:42]
Jackson
I think Oregon wins by 10. I think Oregon is probably a 6.
- [102:45]
John Middelkopf
But I'm saying what. What do you think the line is, like five, six points, seven points?
- [102:48]
Jackson
Yeah, yeah. Six and a half. Being a neutral site. The one thing would be, you know, Texas Tech defense. Like, could they hold Oregon enough? But Texas Tex red zone off. And if you're. If you're settling for six field goals against byu. Like, I'm just. I'm sorry, I. I don't think you can do anything against Oregon. I just. I do not. I think their secondary is better than what BYU showed. I think their offensive line got a little exposed against byu. Who. BYU is a good defense, but I just. I think it's a different level of competition where, I mean, ASU played Texas. I mean, as you played Texas well last year, I just don't think it's the same level of what Texas Techs play for this year.
- [103:24]
John Middelkopf
I agree.
- [103:25]
Jackson
One more team. I want to mention Georgia, I think. I mean, I don't know who I think is going to win at all. They might be the hottest team in the country right now. How they're playing. It feels like their defense has finally figured it out. Gunner Stockton came and we didn't know a whole lot about him. I know preseason we talked about Bama, and I know we were kind of ranking some of these quarterbacks heading into the year and he was like oh, Gunnar Stockton, Ty Simpson. I don't know. Gunnar Stockton feels like one of the more non talked about quarterbacks in football. And all this guy does is complete passes and take shots. Do do it all over again and just run for first downs. They're a gritty team. I think they're super dangerous in their path right now. You get Ole Miss, they would probably end up playing Ohio State in our backyard at the festival. But I think they're a team that could win the Natty this year. I want to be shocked too. I do have a 14:1 bet on them.
- [104:12]
John Middelkopf
That'd be a sick Fiesta Bowl. Georgia last day. I do think they really it lines up pretty good for them because they'll get Ole Miss. Lane is gone. That was a crazy game this year because they're like Ole Miss scored every single drive for like three straight quarters. And then Kirby kind of like it felt like gave his D line a wink and a hit on the ass and they started destroying Trinidad. I mean it was like on remember he. We were all texting about it. He melted down. In fairness he was getting.
- [104:39]
Jackson
And he was hot too. Yeah, he was.
- [104:41]
John Middelkopf
He was red hot. So that to me is a pretty good. Beside the two shitty teams don't belong to be there. If you told Georgia you could pick one team to play, I think they would be Ole Miss. They might pick Bama be their number one pick. Ole Miss might be number two. And then you get Ohio State or one of these other two teams that have just played like.
- [105:08]
The U versus A and M is going to be a war physically. I mean there are going to be some people that get, get like Fernando Mendoza on the ground. There are people going to be getting their teeth knocked in whoever wins that game. I think Ohio State will be the, you know, be the same. That thing will be a physical. Whoever's coming in like they're. Especially if one of those the you or A and M were to win both games they would have to be physically like that's a. That's a tough two game stretch.
- [105:35]
Jackson
Exhausted.
- [105:36]
John Middelkopf
Ohio State's a little bit easier but you just played a war zone game. So then you're playing I guess you get what basically 20 plus days off till this game on the 31st or the 1st. Because that would be. Yeah after I guess their game would be the 31st.
- [105:51]
Jackson
But yeah, after the quarterfinal it's a week in between.
- [105:55]
John Middelkopf
I, I think Georgia is going to come in on a little bit of an easier like that game against Alabama they have less guys in the ice tub. Like every single player that played at Ohio State or Indiana was like struggling to get out of bed for a couple days. You know that game was, that was sweet. I mean I, it would look like Green Bay versus Indiana or I mean Green Bay versus versus Chicago. Like it was a very physical game. Like those type games we don't even in the NFL you don't get those all the time, you know, like Cincinnati.
- [106:25]
Jackson
Buffalo ain't one of those. Right.
- [106:28]
John Middelkopf
But there are a few games that I, I think that matters. I think the attrition, the wear and tear though you would say Ohio State.
- [106:37]
I mean how often they've been tested over the last couple months? Not as often.
- [106:41]
Jackson
Not at all. Yeah, I, I just think Georgia's so, so multiple on offense. They have so much depth. They have like three or four running backs and Zachariah Branch has been kind of that breakout star for them on the offensive end. But then more importantly, you have a quarterback that played last year in this game. You have a team that knew what it was like for a first round by Kirby Smart's a smart coach. Like he's been there before. He knows how to adjust from a year before to now. I just think he would be the more Mendoza's up there in terms of quarterbacks I trust more saying, I don't know after that Big Ten championship game, he hasn't really been battle tested. But for me, Gunner Stockton would be my most trusted quarterback. What he did at Tennessee, Auburn, Texas, fourth and goal, like a bunch of fourth downs, third down conversions, that, that matters in this, in the sport and how big of a game this is. And I think that's the advantage that Georgia will have in this game. I think that's why they could win the entire, the entire thing. They could be good for the sec, finally get that SEC Big Ten matchup. You can play Ohio State and if they win that game, you know they got bragging rights because last year the SEC did not perform well in the CFP too. But I think, yeah, I just, I think George is the most dangerous team. And you're right, like they don't have to play the gritty grindy teams that Ohio State does or the A and M does that. They have to because regardless if Ohio State wins by 10 against A and M or Miami, you're going to get, you're going to be a little banged up in the trenches.
- [108:04]
Big time.
- [108:04]
John Middelkopf
Totally.
- [108:05]
Jackson
Couple more questions, we'll go NFL draft and we'll go into some coaching stuff. Mendoza Feels like he's the number one overall pick. You could kind of talk about what your thoughts are. Fernando Mendoza, it seems like he's like the legit guy. He seems legit. Do you think Dante Moore, Ty Simpson should stay or declare? Just kind of this overall quarterback class we thought was going to be one of the more best quarterback classes. It seems like Mendoza and maybe Dante Moore in top five if he does come out. It's interesting to see with he's 20 years old, his first year playing, Wolstein's gone. Does he go back? Ty Simpson, to me, seems like he should just go back. Regardless.
- [108:41]
John Middelkopf
One quick thing on Oregon, I heard someone say this the other day. Like, we've had a lot of coaches that are taking a job continue to coach like a coordinator. Right. You know, it happened forever with Nick Saban. We've seen it with Kirby and Dan Lanning. It's a little bit different when you're playing potentially three or four games. So they're both. Their coordinators are head coach, Kentucky head coach, California right now. You know, landing the defenses is baby. Not as crazy of like it's easier to. Will Stein. Like I heard an interview with him driving around on College football serious channel 84. It's actually pretty good. Listen, Rick Newheisel hosts the show on there and he was like, I. You could just tell that Kentucky is like a major priority for him now. And I just. You just have to wonder. James Madison won't be an issue, but that's something to keep an eye on, you know, like, are they getting the full. And part of it is, you know, Dante Moore, if you. If they're in the national championship, that means he's playing a game against Texas Tech, which, I mean, everyone will be watching that thing then playing Oklahoma Bama or Indiana. Everyone's watching that thing and then playing like Georgia, Ohio State or Miami like every. You know, so it's like he could have a run where you go, well, this guy actually, I mean, what if he plays Fernando Mendoza in. When would that. I guess that would be the semi. That'd be the final four. What if he outplays them? I know they don't technically play each other, but like, what if he just. One guy throws four touchdowns, the other guy shits the bed. I mean, so I, I would say as we sit here right now, Mendoza is pretty clear one. He's bigger, right? I mean, Mendoza looks. I mean, it's closer to like Andrew Luck measurements or was thinking today, Herbert physically probably has a little more juice to him. But it's kind of in that realm of like the tall, long, you know, 65ish. Herbert's got a stronger arm. Both good athletes. I think Mendoza's arm's pretty strong. It's not weak. But I, I think they're. And remember Herbert coming out of Oregon, like, obviously Burl went one, but two went above him. You know, people forget that because now it's like an afterthought. Two of those for 100 yards and steam still winned.
- [110:57]
Jackson
Dante Moore. I feel like he would learn from like what Drew allerded last year, where he was like one of the hottest names after the CFP and what his run was. Even though he threw that late interception, people were like, oh, this guy's the top five, top ten pick. And I know he ended up not panning out that way. And this year I'll probably be like a fifth round pick. But it feels like if you're Dante more, you got to strike with the irons hot. And if it doesn't work out early in the NFL, you're a top five pick. They're going to keep you around. Or maybe he's a guy that, he's 20 years old, he's kind of a skinnier build, like a Jaden Daniels. They just kind of sit on because.
- [111:26]
John Middelkopf
I do think he's only started one year. You know, Mendoza has been at two years at Cal and then this year. So he's. And it lost a lot. Had to go into a lot of games. Less talent when he was at Cal. You know, Dante's been a. I mean, he started technically some games for Chip that did not go well. I mean, no one's even valuing that. Like, that is irrelevant. But like, of being a good player. He's had one year and how many good games, like, how many good teams have they played? Indiana, usc? Like, he doesn't have that many. Like the NFL fan or NFL scouts aren't just killing Minnesota. Like, doesn't do anything for them. Right. That's where Fernando Mendoza gets a lot of credit of. Like, you know, arguably, I, I don't know how many touchdowns the Rod has, but Cooper had 11. So it's like you lose a guy that gave 11 touchdowns, like, first series of the game, your second best wide receiver is the Vander or not the Vanderbilt, but the Nashville guy. Did. Did Gus call him Baker? Not Becker. I think he was calling him the wrong name. But I had some people text Charlie regardless, like, that's. You're going up against Ohio State. That probably has multiple first round corners, let alone Caleb Downs. You know, in those environments that's what you get judged on. And that's where you know going up against Texas Tech Steel Line will be a big great evaluation point. Again, he doesn't need to come out like, what would Oregon pay him to come back? 5, $6 million. Now you do sign a $40 million contract when you are the number. Even if he's not the number one pick. I mean Dante Moore would probably go pretty high.
- [112:54]
Jackson
I think they'd be really good next year too if he were to come back.
- [112:57]
John Middelkopf
Was it next year supposed to be their year?
- [112:59]
Jackson
Yeah, yeah. Wasn't this year? Yeah, yeah. This is.
- [113:03]
John Middelkopf
Are they one of the youngest teams in the country?
- [113:05]
Jackson
Yeah. That's like their downside is just their youth and not inexperienced. But I mean you got a lot of young. You got two freshman receivers, you got a freshman running back, a lot of young guys in the secondary on the back end side. But I don't know, I think he's in a good position. I think it would be tough for him to. I think, you know, the NFL like teams are so quarterback needy where it's like the NFL maybe pushes him to, hey, you know Mendoza and you are at number one and two. Like you're guaranteed to be a top five, top ten pick. You're 20 years old. Like the Will Stein factor definitely has to play into it. But I wanted to. You made a good point talking about Will Stein. Kentucky fully locked in on that versus in the playoff. We didn't mention Ohio State. That's another team where Brian Hartline go to usf and I'm sure you've seen the clips of him talking about South Florida. He feels like another guy. And that's another team where you're kind of hesitant on how you approach Ohio State in the playoff because I don't know if it was Brian, I don't know if it was Brian Hartliner, if it was Ryan Day calling the plays versus Indiana. But some of those short yardage situations didn't look like we expected to for the entire season. For Ohio State, that's another area I'm interested to see how they are with Brian Hartline. If he makes a four round playoff run like you're talking, you're telling me in January he's not focused on the portal or focused on his team while he's trying to coach the offense. That seems like another sticky situation that could affect Ohio State.
- [114:24]
John Middelkopf
Yeah, I mean, you know, Georgia doesn't look like lost anybody, right? No. So Indiana somehow No one even talks to their coordinators. I mean, their defensive coordinator, if he was at Georgia, Ohio State, would be. Would be interviewing like seven different places. So. Yeah, I mean, it's definitely, I mean, South Florida too. I, I think they, you know, in the rev share world, all these non.
- [114:47]
Are they in the, Are they in the Big 12?
- [114:49]
Jackson
They're a group of five.
- [114:51]
John Middelkopf
Central Central Florida's in the Big 12.
- [114:53]
Jackson
Yeah.
- [114:53]
John Middelkopf
South Florida, they do like full rev share. Most of these, like Fresno State, Boise State, like, they're not, they don't have any money to give their players.
- [115:00]
Jackson
It's.
- [115:00]
John Middelkopf
It's. I heard someone say it's like by far over the next couple years gonna be the best non power forward job because of the money they have to pay players. Because when I saw he took that job, I'm like, why would you take that job? And then I heard it was the revenue share. They're going 100%. No different than all the other, you know, SEC and ACC schools. So. Yeah, I mean, I, I think that all these variables, you know, with just nil. I mean, are there going to be guys that. On the team that go, yeah, I'm not even playing. I'm going to go in the portal now. You just never know. This is, it's why, it's. Things can change fast. If you told me like a team's like, yeah, this guy's like their slot receiver. He's just, he just went in the portal because maybe he's hearing like, yeah, we're not going to pay as much next year. We got another guy coming in. Like, that's liable to happen besides, you know, like the star players. But you just never know in this world. I'm prepared for anything. I'm like, yeah, so and so they're starting defensive tackle just. He quit not to like quit to go to the draft. Like, he's just going to go to another team.
- [116:01]
Jackson
That was like Penn State's backup quarterback, Prula, and they used him in the running game. He had to leave. He had to go to the Portal before the playoff was even started because he had to go to Mizzou. Like, he had to get himself a starting quarterback job. So not saying, like, it could be of the impact of that, but it's just a weird situation. But last question, we'll wrap up on this coaching movement. A ton of hires. It feels like all the spots have finally filled up, like two weeks, which is crazy. What are the fits that you think are most likely to turn around in 2026? It's tough with, like, the Portal and recruiting. We don't know really who's there. And then what's. What was the coaching move that you were just like, what the fuck? Like, tell me who's your favorite?
- [116:40]
John Middelkopf
Who's your favorite hire?
- [116:42]
Jackson
My favorite. It feels like Summerall is going to work at Florida somehow. I don't know if it's because he's a little fiery. He's more vocal. What he did at Tulane, being able to turn around. And most of those guys left when. When Mensa left his quarterback to get red sloth from BYU and to even be a playoff team. He seems like a guy that I.
- [117:00]
John Middelkopf
Think they just needed.
- [117:04]
Jackson
They just needed. I feel like Florida just needed, like, an identity change. They just needed a guy that was more fiery, not quiet, who's going to kind of put his thumb up his butt when you know things are going on, kind of saying the same thing over and over again. So I like Summerall, Florida. I think there's a bunch of fits where, you know, even like, Eric Morris to Oklahoma State or even, like Tosh going to Cal and keeping JKS in the weak acc, that's huge. Like, he would have been one of the top quarterbacks in the Portal. So you have a draw of a former Oregon defensive coordinator that's successful with Cal. His alum, I like that fit, too. But there's a ton. I mean, I feel like I like a lot of these, and then next year we'll see them and it's like it didn't work out.
- [117:43]
John Middelkopf
So I. I do think the Tosh thing is pretty unique, right? He played there, so he understands it's not a normal place to coach. I mean, they rebuilt the stadium like 10 years ago, and they had people living in the tree, taking dumps out of the tree. Like in the sec, they would have thrown those people in a ditch and buried them, and everyone would have just built the road right over, not even cared.
- [118:07]
Jackson
It's.
- [118:08]
John Middelkopf
It can be a little wacky, but he kind of. He's a Bay Area guy. He's an elite recruiter. And now that, like, you don't have to hide the brown back, which I think he did over the years. As I saw Ed Ogeron say, the difference in the Nil, he's like. They're like, how are you going to handle Nil? It's like, you go in the front door now. You don't need to go in the back with bag, you know, hiding behind the trees. So I think Tosh. I think Rolovich, the former Washington State coach and Hawaii coach is probably going to stay and be there, you know, potentially their offensive coordinator. Potentially. His rapport with the quarterback obviously is pretty good in the acc, just kind of stinks now. I think big picture, it's not a sexy hire. He could be a little cheesy watching his press conference, Matt Campbell, but this was a guy that like, has turned down usc, has turned down, probably floor, I mean, has turned down, I'm sure, massive jobs. And all of a sudden they just kind of feels like walk into him a little bit, like, I don't know, clearly wasn't their number one choice. But he does kind of feel like a Penn State guy, you know. Now the recruiting rankings, James, Virginia Tech, like, went up 100 spots immediately. But James, an elite recruiter, you do need to kind of be both at Penn State. Like, it does recruit itself a little bit. But I say that about other programs like Florida. It's like, well, you kind of got to recruit and coach. So there's just going to be a lot of pressure on him. You know, you kind of. You can have eight and five seasons or nine and four seasons and people like, oh, good job, you that at Penn State, people freak out. So I think it's like the pressure maybe not next year, but over the course of then the following couple years, like, you're going to need like an 11 and 1, 10 and 2 year, especially if the schedule breaks. Right. And I. We'll see. Because there's a big difference that Iowa State and Penn State in terms of the pressure. No, I would say the same thing for Lane. Like, Lane, in a weird way, doesn't have that many big wins historically, right. This year beat Oklahoma. I think he beat Oregon when he was at usc. He beat Georgia last year. But it's not like he is a guy like, you know, Brian Kelly for a long time at Notre Dame rattled off a bunch of big wins. And I just think the pressure at lsu, I don't want to say he's going to get a pass next year, but it's like, okay, you go nine and three, you know, be like the 16 seed. People be cool. I think you're going to have to. People like, you got to win a national championship in the first couple years. He definitely has to be like in the Final Four because they're going to have one of the highest paid rosters. They're going to need to have like a Georgia Ohio State season that even if you don't win it, it's like, okay, I'm in the final Four and we lose by a field goal. The pressure there is going to be immense. I mean immense. The Pete Golding seems like a good guy. I don't know.
- [120:58]
Jackson
That loves Oxford. Yeah, that's a tough spot. But when you're talking about Matt Campbell, I was looking at the schedule. Next year they don't play Ohio State, Oregon or Indiana. They play at Michigan. They have USC at home. So that could be like a bridge year where they go 8, 4, 9 and 3. Famous is fine. The high school recruiting, obviously they had like two recruit signs so they might have to go fully portal. They're another team. Where I wonder is quarterback, Iowa State. Rocco Beck's been a guy that's been playing for like four years. He's got one more year. So do you kind of poach him over and have like a starter? You have a for sure quarterback that can start there, that kind of like, you know, rebuild and revive a program immediately? I don't know. But it would be interesting to see if he were to go over there and follow him. I don't know if he's a Big Ten quarterback though, so we'll see.
- [121:41]
John Middelkopf
Is he kind of a runaround guy?
- [121:43]
Jackson
Yeah, he's kind of short too. I mean he's like a Brock. He's plays similar like Brock Purdy was when he was at Iowa State.
- [121:49]
John Middelkopf
I feel like Brock threw it better than him.
- [121:51]
Jackson
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're right. But yeah, I, I head scratching wise, you're more, you know, California more Bob Chesney, ucla. I don't know if it's good. I'm not discrediting Bob Chesney, but it was, it felt like a weird fit. I felt one of those, like, I thought Bob Chesney was more of like an east coast guy.
- [122:12]
John Middelkopf
So no one's taking their job? No one's taking their job. Yeah, like no one with any name recognition or any options taking their job. And you know, my guy skipper won three games in a row. They didn't win another game. But you know, he's at Cal Poly. Great hire. I mean credible hire. But I also think that.
- [122:29]
Ucla, it's hard to get someone to take that job. You know, I mean, Bob Chesney, yeah, I think it's more just. I just don't think anyone's taking their job. I really think it comes down to that. Right. And if you look like he's just going, well, if I can get 7, 8 wins for a couple years, why wouldn't a massive program hire me? And that's what I think he's doing because typically he, he replaced Signetti, right?
- [122:57]
Jackson
Yeah.
- [122:58]
John Middelkopf
So jmu, Billy Napier is the coach. Yeah, you can dominate a jmu, but look who the teams that are hiring you now. Indiana's awesome now, but like that was. He wasn't getting hired by Nebraska or. Now his program's better than them now. But Nebraska never would have hired you or, you know, Clemson or whoever. But you prove you could win a year later. Everyone wanted Signetti. If UCLA in two years is 8 and 4, like, why wouldn't I. Whatever his kind of dream area is, why wouldn't Florida State be interested, you know, whoever you, you paid the school.
- [123:34]
Jackson
I do think it's cool that we're last. Last fit. I want to mention I kind of was under the radar. But Colin Klein, the Kansas State, he's a guy that when I grew up him in Oregon, Kansas State quarterback. I do think it's kind of cool that we're kind of going down this different avenue in college football that former guys of their universities want to help their program. I want to help their alma mater out. What Tosh is doing, what Colin Klein's doing. Braum didn't leave Clark Lee didn't leave Brent Key Dillingham. Like, I think that's kind of a cool, like, new aspect of college football that we're starting to get into is most of these former, like alumni guys want to really help their program out. I'm excited to see what, you know, Colin Klein can do at Kansas. I know Kansas State's not a big program. I know Big 12 doesn't get talked about a bunch, but it's just, it's, it's a sick hire in my opinion. And he's one of the best play callers.
- [124:22]
John Middelkopf
Yeah, definitely is. I mean, I'm with you on that. Okay, Jackson.
- [124:28]
Take it easy, bro.
- [124:31]
I'll see you later. Okay, let's dive into someone who this weekend is going to be zoned in. Now, as of recording this, we don't know if Philip Rivers is going to be starting or not, but the man has 10 children, seven daughters, three boys. He even has a grandchild. I'm pretty sure he said at the press conference on Wednesday that he has a daughter that's married. So this is a unique 44 year old. This is a guy that, you know, his prime was a long time ago.
- [124:59]
Jackson
Right.
- [125:00]
John Middelkopf
We're talking a decade ago. But the last time he played an NFL game, 2020. This is a guy making his return. There is going to be no person if he plays in this game more zoned in one than Philip Rivers, who I think is making the Brady's, the Breezes, the Peytons. You can't convince me that they're not a little jealous just to get that call like, hey, hey, man, you still got anything left? Hell yeah, I got some left. But his family, can you imagine sometimes a box right where you get like, you know, your girlfriend, maybe your parents. It happens to a lot of players in their third maybe, maybe your wife and a young child potentially. If he plays in this game or game in the next couple weeks, he is going to have his 10 children there, his grandchildren, his parents. Philip Rivers is going to have a gigantic the Rivers contingent to support their father. And how cool is it that this. He said one of his daughters, who was 1 when he last played in the NFL, had to watch like YouTube highlights for him to prove that he actually was a good player. And who knows, maybe he's not a good player anymore. Wouldn't blame him if he's not. He's 44 years old, probably gaining a little weight, little off the fastball. Granted he never really had a fastball, was always was more of an accuracy timing guy. But very, very cool moment for the family to be able to watch.
- [126:22]
Their father, their husband, their grandpa, potentially. We don't know for sure, but God, if Philip Rivers does not play, if not this weekend, the following week, very soon, we will all be very disappointed. But no one is more zoned in right now than the Rivers family.
- [126:43]
The Volume.
- [126:47]
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.