Garrett Nussmeier’s Texas A&M Nightmare, Ohio State Uncertainty, and More Week 9 Reactions With Ryen Russillo

Summary

Podcast Summary: The McShay Show – Garrett Nussmeier’s Texas A&M Nightmare, Ohio State Uncertainty, and More Week 9 Reactions With Ryen Russillo

Release Date: October 27, 2024

In this riveting episode of The McShay Show, NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay engages in an in-depth discussion with co-hosts Bill Barnwell and Ryen Russillo. The trio delves deep into Week 9 college football games, focusing primarily on Garrett Nussmeier’s tumultuous performance for Texas A&M against LSU, the uncertainties surrounding Ohio State, and broader implications for the NFL Draft prospects.

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1. Garrett Nussmeier’s Disastrous Game Against LSU

[02:17] Todd McShay opens the discussion by highlighting the unexpected turnaround in the Texas A&M vs. LSU game. Nussmeier, once lauded as a potential top quarterback prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft, saw his performance unravel dramatically.

• Critical Mistakes: McShay recounts how Nussmeier, under pressure, made questionable throws that led to interceptions, shifting the game's momentum unfavorably for A&M. “He was rolling to his left under pressure, makes the decision to throw the ball up... intercepts the ball at 17 to 7 at that point.” ([03:20])

• Defensive Impact: The LSU defense, praised as one of the best seen in years, capitalized on these errors. Ryen [04:11] Russillo emphasizes, “LSU was dominating the game. The pass rush was winning all day.”

• Role of Backup Quarterback Marcel Reese: McShay lauds Reese’s swift impact after entering the game, noting, “He was in 21 points after going three and a half quarters with just seven.” ([05:12])

2. LSU’s Defensive Prowess and A&M’s Struggles

The conversation shifts to analyze the defensive strategies employed by LSU under Coach [06:37] Barnwell remarks, “LSU couldn't run the ball either... they averaged 23 carries for 24 yards.” Todd adds, “They had excellent pass rushers, but the offensive line couldn’t sustain the defense.” ([05:48])

• Turnover Analysis: They dissect Nussmeier's interceptions, attributing them not solely to his mistakes but also to elite defensive play-calling and execution by LSU's coaching staff.

3. Evaluating Garrett Nussmeier’s NFL Prospects

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to assessing Nussmeier's potential in the NFL.

• Strengths: Nussmeier is praised for his anticipation, timing, and mental acuity. “He’s got to be great with all the little things,” McShay states ([08:18]).

• Weaknesses: His decision-making under pressure and inconsistencies are highlighted. Russillo notes, “He under threw the first deep one... he just freaks up.” ([10:20])

• Future Considerations: The hosts debate whether Nussmeier should return for another college season to refine his skills. “Maybe he comes back next year and doesn’t make those mistakes,” McShay suggests ([26:09]).

4. Comparisons with Other Quarterbacks and Prospects

The discussion broadens to include comparisons with other notable quarterbacks:

• Cam Ward and Sanders: Both are recognized for their consistency and potential as top NFL picks. “Cam has been consistently great and scary,” Russillo remarks ([32:08]).

• Ben Sheffer and Quinn Ewers: McShay expresses skepticism about their readiness and performance since injuries. “Quinn Ewers hasn't been the same since the injury,” he states ([28:46]).

5. Ohio State’s Offensive Uncertainties

Shifting focus, the episode scrutinizes Ohio State’s recent performance and their standing in the national rankings.

• Offensive Line Issues: McShay and Russillo discuss Ohio State’s struggles with their offensive line, impacting their ability to run the ball effectively. “They just can't run the football,” Russillo points out ([46:32]).

• Quarterback Performance: The inconsistency from Ohio State’s quarterbacks is a concern. “Judkins breaks, Tate's really good,” McShay notes ([52:38]).

6. Broader Implications for the NFL Draft

The hosts extrapolate the current season's performances to potential NFL Draft outcomes.

• Draft Rankings: McShay emphasizes caution, stating, “It’s stupid to stake a claim until you’ve seen the body of work,” ([28:18]).

• Emerging Players: Attention is drawn to players like Ty Leek Williams from Ohio State, who show promise as future first-round picks. “He’s got the best shot,” Barnwell asserts ([51:22]).

7. Coaching Dynamics and Team Strategies

A discussion on coaching strategies, particularly focusing on Texas A&M’s turnaround under new leadership, is highlighted.

• Jimbo Fisher’s Legacy: McShay shares critical insights into Fisher’s coaching style and its impact on the team. “Trustworthy is not a word I would use for him,” McShay candidly states ([18:36]).

• Elko’s Leadership: The positive transformation under Coach Elko is celebrated. “He's a damn good football coach and leader,” McShay praises ([19:43]).

8. Other Team Performances and Future Matchups

The episode touches upon various other teams and their performances:

• Oregon and Georgia: Both teams are lauded for their strong offensive and defensive showings. “Oregon belongs there at number one,” McShay affirms ([41:45]).

• Illinois’ Defense: Illinois’ defensive strategy and its effectiveness against opponents are discussed. “They have that bare front, five guys across,” Russillo explains ([38:26]).

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Notable Quotes:

• Todd McShay [03:20]: “He was rolling to his left under pressure, makes the decision to throw the ball up... intercepts the ball at 17 to 7 at that point.”

• Ryen Russillo [04:11]: “LSU was dominating the game. The pass rush was winning all day.”

• Todd McShay [05:12]: “He was in 21 points after going three and a half quarters with just seven.”

• Ryen Russillo [10:20]: “He under threw the first deep one... he just freaks up.”

• Todd McShay [18:36]: “Trustworthy is not a word I would use for him.”

• Ryen Russillo [32:08]: “He runs it better.”

• Bill Barnwell [51:22]: “He’s got the best shot.”

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Conclusion

In this comprehensive episode, Todd McShay and his co-hosts provide a nuanced analysis of key performances and their implications for both college standings and future NFL prospects. From Garrett Nussmeier’s critical errors and their impact on Texas A&M’s season to the ongoing uncertainties surrounding powerhouse programs like Ohio State, the discussion offers valuable insights for football enthusiasts and draft watchers alike. The episode underscores the unpredictable nature of college football and the fine line between promising talent and potential setbacks.

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For more detailed insights and updates, listeners are encouraged to tune into The McShay Show on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the newly introduced Saturday night reaction episodes.

Transcript

[Todd McShay]

Welcome in. This is exciting. I've got my main man Mensch, my other main man Rillo. This is our first ever the McShay Show Saturday night Reaction episode, if you will. I'm fired up. We're going to do this every single week after college football, after the prime time game and hopefully we're going to get to the point. The McShay show is presented by FanDuel. College football Saturdays are packed with action and FanDuel is where you can score every game day. Let's face it, November is everything in college football. The playoff picture starting to become more clear. This is the first year with the 12 team playoffs and we have some critical matchups throughout this month. Why we love fanduel there's so many markets like spreads over unders, national championship futures. I'm going to get a part of that and so much more. This app is safe, secure and easy to use. When you win, you'll get paid instantly. Visit FanDuel.com McShay to download America's number one sportsbook. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available and listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Must be 21 and older and present in select states. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit rgh-help.com this episode.

[Bill Barnwell]

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[Todd McShay]

Online where we're doing it live. Obviously this is the first time doing it, so we're going to muscle our way through and hopefully everyone gets to listen early on Sunday. But guys, what a finish to the day, right? I mean, looking at it, you got. You got LSU, Texas A& M. You got Mensch sitting up somewhere in New Hampshire watching all these games. You got Russell with what's left of that T shirt on his couch somewhere in Manhattan beach, right? Just taking it all in. Let's go. I love that shirt. Rosilla. Way to Set the tone early on. All right, let's. I mean, let's start right, right off the bat. LSU A&M. I like, I hate the phrase tale of two halves, but my goodness, like, I can't remember a game and I'll just throw it to you guys from here and we can, we can start in. I can't remember a game in which literally one play changed everything. And you know, we're on text threads. I think Connor, our producer, made a good point. It's like, it's unbelievable how one play can undo so much. Great. Talking about Garrett Nussmeier. He was at that point of the game where everything was going right. His receivers were making plays, he was showing all the things that, you know, starting to talk about him as a potential QB1 or somewhere in the top three quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft. And then all of a sudden he's rolling to his left under pressure, makes the decision to throw the ball up. 50, 50 ball, throwing back against the grain, which you're taught at 9 years old not to do, right? He makes that decision A and M, intercepts the ball at 17 to 7 at that point. And then all of a sudden, Marcel Reese. Coach Elko makes the decision to bring in Reese. The defense for LSU was playing phenomenal. Best I've seen in years from LSU's defense, and it changed everything. What were your guys thoughts?

[Ryan Rosillo]

Yeah, well, look, I think with Nussmeyer, you know, as good as he is, there's always a little dangerous to him. And on third and 15, when he converts that one in the first half, the touchdown drive to make it, I think 10, seven. Like, I remember just sitting there being like, he's going to throw to the sticks, he's going to throw to the six on third and 15. And there's just not a lot of guys that do that. And when it works, you're like, this is why he's in the conversation. But that was Cam Ward light. I mean, LSU was dominating the game. The pass rush was winning all day. It's an LSU defense that looked like a carryover of last year. I was at the USC game, Todd, and I'm watching the secondary going like, I don't know. And Baker, the DC has gotten into this point. They. There's so many playmakers, the pass rushers winning their control the football game. They throw that pick and it's just, it's just a brutal throw. And then Reed comes in, who we saw in the Florida game just keeping the ball and it just changed everything. I mean, look, they scored what, in the second half? I think it was 31 points. It was 31 6am in the second half. So 17, 7.

[Todd McShay]

He came in and I think it was 12 plays because I think it was Herb street or Fowler said on the broadcast, nine plays he's come in, it's been 14 points. And then like two or three plays later, they had that. That the blind side block on the receiver that after they scored a touchdown, that brought that play back. So it was another, like, two plays before they scored again. So it was like 11, 12, 13 plays. He was in 21 points after going three and a half quarters with just seven. So, I mean, talk about just instant impact and change the entire game. Yeah.

[Bill Barnwell]

I mean, look, LSU couldn't run the ball in this game either, man. I mean, they averaged.

[Todd McShay]

It was.

[Bill Barnwell]

They had 23 carries for 24 yards. So there's no real balance. I mean, it was just in the first half, Nussmeyer was making play after play, and Kyron Lacey was converting these long third downs, and it was just. It just seemed they couldn't sustain that offense the entire game.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Yeah, they're just going to throw it. You know what I mean? Because, like, even in the Ole Miss game, and I would say even last week, you're like, man, LSU is loaded with playmakers. Like, look at all these guys. And I think you're right, Steve. Like, they couldn't really run the football. They had one series where it felt like the running backs are involved, and then it just almost feels like a wasted play for them to even run it because they feel like their guys are going to win on the outside. And Nuss Meyer is so good. Like, when it's right, there's all of these guys flying around and Aaron Anderson, you know, beating everybody down the field. But then obviously, everything changes. Nussmeier, not only that one pick, the other two were terrible as well.

[Todd McShay]

Terrible. Yeah. I mean, let's go through them. So. So the first one we just talked about, the second interception, it. The second interception is on him, but ultimately it's. It's on Elko in that defense. I mean, it was a classic case of you get to the line of scrimmage, you're reading man to man coverage. Every. Every key and indicator tells you man to man, slot cornerback, starts with his guy, looks like he's matched up against the slot receiver, runs with him for three, four steps, right? Then all of a sudden, his eyes peel back to Nussmeyer in the backfield, and I rewound it Three or four times just to see the mechanics of the play.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Was the ball late?

[Todd McShay]

No, he peeled off at the perfect time. It was a disguise. Elko called a disguise. They're in man to man coverage. According to Nussmeyer, everything that he read pre snap first. First three steps of his, you know, his drop. First three, four steps of the. Of the slot cornerbacks, you know, drop it into coverage. He's going with the man and then he peels up. He has flat slot corner in this coverage, has flat. Has the flat responsibility. But he runs with the slot receiver for a few yards to continue the disguise of man to man, and then he peels off of him. So it was an unbelievable play call, disguise and execution from the defense. And then the third interception, it's his own blitz. The guy's come looks like he's coming off the edge. And then he. And he baits Nussmeyer, trying. Nussmeyer's trying to, you know, dump the ball off to his running back. It was his check down. And all of a sudden that edge defender was supposed to be rushing him is now some playing underneath middle zone.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I thought he gave up. I thought he just was like, I'm not going to get there, so then I'll come back and watch the running back.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah.

[Ryan Rosillo]

No, I mean, I couldn't.

[Todd McShay]

I couldn't tell. It looked like. It looked like a design play, but it could have been. It could have been based off of what, you know, if a running back stayed in the backfield. I think that's what it was. So anyway, long, short, there were two great defensive plays, disguises and designs. But ultimately it's on Nussmeyer. And Nussmeyer, just talking about him as an NFL draft prospect, like, so good with anticipation and timing. The it factor, understanding situations does not have the big time arm. You know, he's not in the Cam Ward category. Even Quinn Ewers Shador, his arm is a notch below. So he's got to be great with all the little things. And he was to that point before the first interception. And then it's like it fell apart for him. Like the confidence dropped off a little bit. And again, just two great disguises and designs defensively. And they caught him.

[Bill Barnwell]

I mean, I hear you about the situational stuff, but they were terrible at the end of this game. I mean, they were just the time management at the end of this game. I don't know if he realized the clock was going to stop at two minutes and they had no timeouts and they got to get a play in before that. And they just are just taking their time, setting up protections, making calls. It was. I was stunned at how long that they were taking. I mean, obviously recent in. Herb street mentioned it on air, but it was, it was so obvious. It's like, let's go. And I feel like that's kind of on him too. That was. That was almost more concerning to me than the interceptions was the not being like, not getting them to the line and getting the playoff.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, that was late in the game, but I mean, I don't disagree, but. But to me, like, I don't know, I just. It's. It's rare to have a game turn on its head the way this one did. Marcel, he threw two. He completed. Yeah, he completed two passes. He was two for two. I mean, think about it. And so like Baker, what he was able to. To design defensively and how effective they were versus Connor Wegman and like, just unbelievable with their pass rush, their defensive line and getting home and then all of a sudden and mention you were texting too, saying like, all right, now you can just tear up the whole. The whole play, right? Yeah. Everything that we practice all week long was. Was for Wegman and getting after a quarterback who's a. I wouldn't call Wegman a pocket passer because he's much more productive when the play breaks down. He's outside rolling around. But they throw the football. This was just our quarterbacks more athletic and faster than you guys, and they didn't have an answer.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Yeah, look, I think Wigman had a tough game after getting a starting job back. Remember, he got hurt. Reid came in and you could see how dynamic he was. Herb street was all over it because he said that the kid played with his kid in Nashville. So he said. I'd seen him play football since he was 9 years old and the way LSU was dominating this game with the pass rush, they didn't have to really blitz a lot. You know, they were getting there with four. The left guard was replaced for A and M. And Wigman, who I think we all probably like a little right for him to be 6, 18. I still don't know how many coaches would have benched him for Reed, you know, considering Reed once, like, if Reed had been perfect. Right. Like, Wigman probably doesn't get his job back. But remember too, Wigman was like a big time recruiter. He was part of that massive A and M class when you look at his position. But you know, the thing I think is really frustrating if you're on the LSU side of this is you're. You guys are right. Like, you didn't prepare for Reed all week long. So now it's a completely different offense. All the stuff that's working is now going to be different. But what I think is the most frustrating thing, like, if I worked on the defensive staff for lsu, I would be going, hey, new guy keeps the ball. It's the Alex orgy rule. When you come in and you don't get to touch the football a lot, and you're this great of a runner and you're this dynamic, the guy always wants to keep it, and I don't care. I would be like, I don't care if the running back gets it on the handoff, on the read and runs it in for a touchdown. Don't leave Reed. And the pull that Reed had on the 2817, that mesh point, how did.

[Todd McShay]

He not fumble that?

[Ryan Rosillo]

I can't believe it. I mean, that's one of the best polls you're going to see all season long in college football on that play. And then Reed runs it in. But there were still multiple times where they just didn't know what to do because, look, he's so good at it, obviously, but there were too many times where I guess I would just be so frustrated saying, I don't even care if you missed the running back. He's probably going to keep it. And I would say that, like, anytime somebody comes in off the bench on that Reed play, I'm like, just kill the quarterback because he's going to keep it. And if you're wrong, that's fine, but the odds are in our favor. And then you're thinking, okay, stack the box and make him throw. Then he hits on that 50 yarder against the safeties. You're like, all right, well, now you give up. He was. He was phenomenal. And now there's like a bigger question about him being the guy the rest of the way for the number one team standings wise in the sec, which is easy to forget.

[Todd McShay]

He has to be right.

[Bill Barnwell]

He has to be the guy, right?

[Ryan Rosillo]

I think.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, yeah, he's. He has to be the guy. And until. Until they run up a deep against a defense that. That can actually defend this and has had time to prepare for this. And. And so there's got. I mean, you look at it and it's almost like, you know, the, like the Michigan game or early on, I don't know, can. Can they continue to win like this? Like, it'll be interesting to see, but, like, Arkansas.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Go ahead, Steve.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah, they got out South Carolina and Georgia.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Right.

[Bill Barnwell]

So those. Those are pretty good tests.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Yeah. Like, Arkansas did a really good job against him. Yeah. Of all teams. You're right. Yeah.

[Bill Barnwell]

But I mean, right now it looks like he's got. I mean, until. Until that happens, he's the guy, right?

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, of course. I mean. All right, let's look at a couple time.

[Ryan Rosillo]

That stadium. I mean, I'm sorry, it just. It was like one of those moments where you just go, how do you turn the page back a second time?

[Todd McShay]

You know, I'm not insinuating that you do. I'm just saying it ain't all going to be this pretty and easy. Of course, you know, because they caught a defense that was absolutely unprepared for what they saw in the second half. For the final quarter, he had guys.

[Ryan Rosillo]

That didn't tackle either, like the running back. Major Burns has a play where he just didn't eight for lsu. He just was like, I'm just not going to go at either guy because I don't know what to. I don't know what to do.

[Todd McShay]

Hey. Hey, Coach. We didn't practice this. This week.

[Bill Barnwell]

I felt like that flips, by the way, in the halves, too. I felt like LSU tackled way better in the first half, and then A and M tackled way better in the second half. It was. I thought that flipped, but can I say something real quick?

[Ryan Rosillo]

Totally, yeah. Cause I thought A and M's tackling. I think when LSU gets it rolling with all those playmakers, you're just like, what the hell are we supposed to do? These guys are going to win every 50, 50 ball. You know, Taylor had the touchdown, and then you've got the 6, 7 tight end who gets the first down. He has the later touchdown. He's a freshman. But, you know, look, it just. I'm just adding to the elements of where A and M didn't look right in the first half because it was two completely different football games.

[Bill Barnwell]

Momentum is nuts. I mean, momentum in college football is nuts.

[Todd McShay]

But can I say something?

[Bill Barnwell]

As a former offensive lineman, as kind of a draft guy, can we stop talking about these LSU offensive tackles, like their future hall of Famers? I mean, everything I hear about these guys is that they're so good that they're. They're just elite offensive tackles. And I just don't see it. Every time I watch them play, I just don't see it. I think they're good. I think they're talented, but they. They lose. You know, it's they had some tough matchups tonight. That's a good front score, is a good player. The Shamars are both really good. It's a tough matchup.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Just a maniac, you know, like just.

[Todd McShay]

Just like a little history here for you. Rosilla Mensch was kind of like hinting at this a little bit with me early in the season. Stanford Steve came on the other day. You know, he pretends like he's one of the tough guys. Like, you know, you don't watch the trenches. McShay, he was a tight end. He was a pass catching tight end. So, like, I'm not sure, but he.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Wanted to play in the slot. Like 225.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah. But he got Mensch all riled up and he got in Mensch. Now I'm seeing playing with a different level of confidence and he was like, I was at the South Carolina game and I'm watching, I'm watching the LSU tackles get beat. And so now Mensch comes in tonight and he's got a little bit more oomph behind him.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Well, look, I mean, there's like all of these teams. You can tell a different version of the story. LSU should have lost the South Carolina game. The South Carolina got absolutely hosed by the refs. There's three specific calls in that game that are just atrocious. Ole Miss left Baton Rouge that night thinking they were probably the better football team. But what Baker had done with his defensive unit, it just was different. Like, it was weird in the first half watching an LSU team this year going like, I don't know, their defense is awesome. They'll probably hold these guys. But when it comes back to the tackles, like, look, I watch them every week. Everybody makes fun of me for being a fan of them. I agree with you. I mean, for the profile that this offensive line had coming into the season and the tackles and like, yeah, they're probably still. Certainly Campbell's going to be a first rounder. But there's some moments on like, third and two where I don't know if they love it. Like, there's sometimes they'll line up. It kind of reminds me of Ohio State last year. We can even talk about it a little bit with Ohio State later today. But, like, how you call plays on third and short tells me a little bit of what you think of your O line. And if those guys are all that, they should just be lining up on third and one, third and two, kicking everybody's ass. And I don't see it enough.

[Todd McShay]

Let me say this. Let's Go big picture on A and M. A couple. A couple different areas. First of all, like, I. This is the first time in a while I feel like. And I don't root for anyone. I'm not saying like. But like, there are certain teams. It's just like, man, it's hard to pull for these guys. Like the Jimbo Fisher era at A M. Like, the recruiting, it was so great, you know, like the class they had. What was it, two years ago? Two or three years ago?

[Ryan Rosillo]

Two years ago.

[Todd McShay]

Two years ago.

[Ryan Rosillo]

There's going to be classes taught on that.

[Todd McShay]

But, but, but. So they have that. That freshman class, right? And they're supposed to turn everything around. It's going to be, you know, it's going to be great. Finally, Jimbo's going to. He's going to pay off. And. And all the money is well worth it. I go into. It was before the Miami game, Texas A and Miami. I'm doing the game with. With Herb street and Fowler. And Fowler. Herb street, somewhere else comes in on, you know, video conference call. And Fowler and I go in the office. Jimbo Fisher. Jimbo's got all these five stars, right? Like, all these super. Like, they're gonna. They're gonna be great this year. Maybe this year they'll kind of come on. But. But next year, certainly. I walk into the office with Jimmo and I already have my, you know, my opinion on Jimbo as a coach. And I've dealt with some situations in the past.

[Ryan Rosillo]

He's a pain in the ass.

[Todd McShay]

Total.

[Bill Barnwell]

Just say it.

[Todd McShay]

And trustworthy is not a word that I would use for him. But I walk in there and it just feels like oil sales and used car. Like, it's just. And I walk in and hang. There's two pictures on his wall, mind you. Like, he's been a coach at the highest level, won a national championship, met all sorts of amazing people, I'm sure inspirational leaders. And all these different people. I'm sure that he's come in contact with. You know, the two things, the two posters, or whatever you want to call it, not posters, but. But two things hanging in his office.

[Ryan Rosillo]

A cat on a branch hang in there.

[Todd McShay]

Yes, that would have been better. Signed, signed jerseys from Pete Rose and Dennis Rodman. And I'm like, you know what? That fits, right? Like, weird. So, like, this is my. Like this. This is the head coach. This is the motivation I'm looking at. Like. And the two guys that, like, you know, the character. So anyway, I don't know why I had to tell that story. But, but it leads to like, for A and M now, like, Elko comes in, tough ass, a grinder, old football guy. But he's also, he's, he's just, he's a likable guy because he loves his players. He's, he's really is a damn good football coach, a damn good leader and a damn good, like, inspire of young men, but also damn good defensive coach. And so, like now, all of a sudden, I get to watch A and M in a different light. I'm like, I don't pull for one team over the other, but, like, I can get behind what they're doing, right? And early in the season, you're wondering, where is A and M? Is this going to take a while? I know they've got all the talent because it's, it's holdovers from, from all the, you know, five stars in the recruiting classes. But now you're seeing what good coaching with this talent can do. And now you look at a and M, seven and one top the SEC and Notre Dame. They were talking on the broadcast, McDonough and McElroy earlier in the day, you know that A and M loss early, early in the year or the A and M win earlier in the year looks, you know, really good and all that stuff. But. But now that loss to Notre Dame doesn't look quite as bad because it looks like Notre Dame would be struggling. They're getting a little bit better. My point is this. They're 7 and 1. Their loss was early and wasn't that bad. And now they've got new life, a new quarterback. They're sitting at 14 in the rankings this past week. Everyone else in the top 12 belongs and we can go through them, starting with Oregon all the way down. Everyone the top 12 besides LSU at 8 looks like they should probably stay put. But I'm looking at Notre Dame at 12, pounded Navy. I'm looking at Indiana with another convincing win against Washington at 13 and A&M at 14. I think a and M should leapfrog all of them and get up maybe ahead of Clemson was sitting at number nine before and take that LSU spot. For whatever it's worth at this point.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I would put them. Look, they're better than both the Big 12 teams. I had kept the Big 12 teams ahead of LSU just because I felt like they had to get this one. A and M was favored by two and a half in this. So this, this isn't some, like, massive upset by any means whatsoever. But if you just wanted to play the rank Part of this, they were 14th in the AP, and the coaches, you know, Indiana's probably going to bump a little bit, but Notre Dame was dominant today. BYU won, Iowa State was off. I would, I would put them ahead of Tennessee because I just think, like, whatever you think of LSU's record or whatever, like, that was a really tough win and it was dominant in the second half. They just beat a pretty good football team after not being able to move the football or doing anything right in the first half. So I would think if you wanted to start projecting it out, like, I personally would have them probably seven and move Tennessee back and then you can do whatever you want with Clemson and the other Big 12 teams. You probably can't mess with Miami, even though the point differential is like two completely different worlds since the start of the season. But they, they kicked Florida State's ass today, like everybody does.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah, it's gonna be eight at worst. I mean, A to worst. I mean, Clemson feels like a soft nine to me. Like, it just doesn't feel like. I mean, I mean, I don't know how else to say it. Like, I just look perfectly set.

[Ryan Rosillo]

You know what I mean?

[Bill Barnwell]

Right.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I mean, it feels like. I totally get it.

[Bill Barnwell]

A soft nut.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I think Club Nick. I mean, look there. It'd be weird if Clemson didn't play anybody out of conference and get it handed to him week one against Georgia. But if you're going to get smoked by somebody, at least have it be Georgia. But I think Club Nick and some of the playmakers have all gotten better. But it's just funny, if they had played like, you know, whoever, just name whatever FCS school you want, they were undefeated. Would be tricking ourselves into thinking like Clemson was back to being Clemson, because I like them, but they're not. I mean, that version of Clemson, you know, we're not seeing that this year, I don't think.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, Yeah. I mean, I, it's going to be interesting because I like, what, what size. What's Iowa State? You know, how good's byu? I. It's.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I like Iowa State, I like byu.

[Todd McShay]

But I'm saying Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana and A and M in. In reverse order, it would be, well, A and M, Notre Dame, then Indiana. For me, like, they all belong to me. I don't know. I just. I think they're all better team. But does.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Does Iowa State have a win like tonight like A and M did against lsu?

[Todd McShay]

No.

[Ryan Rosillo]

And again, it depends on what you think of LSU, but they don't. It's not Iowa when Iowa was 21. If you go through Clemson's wins, you're not going to find something like this. No, there's, there's nothing there.

[Todd McShay]

Soft BYU man shows the line of the night.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Oh, and the BYU game against Kansas State's really impressive. They were I think double digit dogs at SMU Week 2 and they beat them 18 15. You know, Oklahoma State's like this weird out even though they're in last place in the Big 12. I don't look at them as some horrible football team. You know, again, jump in if you disagree at any point. But I don't think those teams that we're talking about in front of them, like what's a better win tonight? A and M tonight at home against LSU or Tennessee? Last week at home against Alabama. I think it's tonight for A and.

[Todd McShay]

M. Yeah, I do too. There was something different about tonight. They took the best possible punch from LSU. That was, that was LSU's A game on other than.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Well, let's call it a B with the field goal situation tonight.

[Todd McShay]

Ok, fine. And the lack of a balanced run game. I'll give that. But like Nussmeyer was at his best for three and a half quarters. He was on. Let's get to Nussmeyer. I mean for this show specifically, we're always going to try to try to, to move it ahead and we can get back to it Tuesday. Mention a little bit more. But I'm on, you know, I'm watching the game, ripping through a little bit on X and it's like I was on, I was on Nuss Meyer earlier. No, me, I was on him earlier. He's my QB1. No, he's my QB0. I like him more than one. Like it was out of control. Right. And I'm texting with Herbie during the game and he, he's something by the way. Like the fact that he can be in the middle of a game and I'm sure there's 19 other people but. And like as dialed in as anyone ever. But he made a good point. And this was, this was when they were winning. I think it was 177 at that point. And he was dealing, Nussmeier was dealing and he was talking just like my goodness, this guy has it like love, love his game. You know, bah, bah, bah. But he said I'm interested to see if he's going to come back next year. No one's talking about that. He's got another year. You know, you go back to like Joe Burrow. The first year he had an LSU was good, but then he came back.

[Ryan Rosillo]

He was all right.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, he was all right.

[Ryan Rosillo]

There was no, there was no way.

[Todd McShay]

He was leading at a higher level than Burrow. Yes, I agree. And only saying. But the point that Herbstreet made and it made me think, it's like maybe he comes back next year. And I text real quickly back and let him go. I was like, you know, like he's, he's got, it looks like he's got a lot of like the mental qualities and the processing that he needs. But like, my goodness, the numbers in Brazil. We've gone over this a hundred times and mentioned we've talked about it for years. Like game experience is so critical for quarterbacks. It's not like just about getting in the league. It's about being ready to play in the league because you know if you're going to be drafted early, you got to get in. So I've got this like both, both edges going. And this is when it's 177 and he's dealing. I'm watching everyone on Twitter he's the best quarterback ever. And Herbie's like, I just wonder. You just wonder. Maybe he comes back and then you watch those three mistakes and you start to think to yourself with that perspective in mind, God, I love him. And if there's a lot of ball left, we'll see what happens. But those three mistakes are things that maybe he doesn't make those mistakes next year. And more important than just putting better tape out there for scouts that he's learned those things. So he's going to be interesting to watch because the groundswell for Garrett Nussmeyer QB1 was like at an all time high. It was even. I think it was higher than Milro. And Ro has been busting my balls for three weeks because he said why not? Why not QB1 on Jaylen Miller? Like who knows There's a lot of football left and since then it's, it's all the reasons why not Jaylen Milro, QB1. So anyway, at what point did you.

[Bill Barnwell]

Have nussmer ahead of Sanders? Have you have had.

[Todd McShay]

No, no. All right. No, I, I'm, I'm, I'm not one like I don't care about. I'm more of Jay Glazer than I have to be. Shefty like Jay Glazer will come and give you the Jay Glazer's new thing on Fox is I'm going to give you the news that's broke this week but I'm actually going to tell you the real story and it's more interesting.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

Some of these. Chef. I mean Chef is the greatest of all time. Good friend. Like, I'm not saying. But I'm saying like everyone on. You know, there's so many different NFL, NFL or reporters or reporters that have to get it out there first. It doesn't matter. And so I'd like to be shifty. But. But I also, I think it's more important to like, let's take a step back and kind of see how this thing goes. I'm not like staking a claim right now because it's stupid to stake a claim until you've seen the body of work.

[Bill Barnwell]

And then you see a lot of people stake a lot of claims like where they just go out and they have 15 guys that they throw there. You know, they're throwing darts about, oh, I found this guy first. And no one remembers the guys that they were wrong about. And then they, they bring up all the guys they were right about later on. So I mean it's. Yeah, it's.

[Ryan Rosillo]

It's weird.

[Todd McShay]

But just to, just to keep it.

[Bill Barnwell]

In perspective though, like when you say you love Nussmeyer, you. You liked him as a.

[Todd McShay]

As like I thought he was rising. I thought he was absolutely rising. I said it early in the year. I know, I know. Russell and I talked about this. Like he's a guy that I'm really intrigued about. Can he continue this upward trajectory? I love the way he plays the game, his timing, his. They had great stat tonight. I don't think I've seen it before. It's a sack to pressure rating. He was number one in the FBS is like 1.5%. He does. He doesn't get. And it's not just that's just ask men. The offensive line sucks for lsu, but it's not it like his.

[Bill Barnwell]

Who does these analytics?

[Todd McShay]

I mean, come on, buddy. I would have said this guy's as good as there is in college football in terms of when pressure's there, not getting sacked. And all of a sudden ABC pops up this statistic and I'm like, shit, where's that stat been my whole life? So I thought it was interesting. So I'm going to bring it up on this show. So deal with it. But.

[Ryan Rosillo]

But no, I mean he's been sacked four times all year and there are plenty of good throws in there tonight and he should have taken his Anderson.

[Todd McShay]

Instead of throwing the ball up and changing the entire trajectory of the game. So I'M not saying it's everything but.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Well, he could have just run out. He could have thrown it out of bounds. Yeah, he could have run out of bounds. I mean, he could have done a bunch of different things, but he must have been watching Miami tape. I, I think I defend you guys, you know, as a non draft guy. That's friend was all the draft guys and for years had to answer for both Mel and Todd all the time for my friends, like just everyone outside of it that loves the draft, hates it, wants all of you to be the dumbest human beings in any profession, which you guys both know. So I defend you. And I also realize that here in late October, you haven't even come close to scratching the surface and the amount of work that you're going to do when you really dig into these guys when the bowl season is over and you have a full season of tape. But I would tell you like tidbits that I've gotten this year from just like little hints at where the rankings are. I think the collective profession is out of their fucking minds with how they've jumped around. Like, I don't know that Beck had done anything to prove that he could have been the number one quarterback drafted. Everybody was all over themselves after the Ewers game against Michigan. Maybe, I don't know. I mean, it's funny because I thought Sanders at certain times was the guy. And again, no, I don't. No one cares about my non draft draft rankings. Here's a non draft guy. But I'm interested. Like Nussmeyer in the first half, all of these throws, throwing with the anticipation. And then we started getting like the close ups of his face. But like, look at this guy, look how calm he is. You know, A and M on a Saturday night. And I'm at home going like, maybe they're right. But you know, many times like, hey, he looks just as calm in the second half. He's fucking up. So cool. Like it's like the Nico Iamalia thing where it's like this guy's so in control of his emotions it's unbelievable. Look at this guy's total confidence. It oozes out of his pores. You're like, dude, he's 9 for 22 for 112. Like, okay, sweet demeanor. Look, I think Sanders and Cam have been the most consistent, right?

[Todd McShay]

And Sanders has been the most consistent. Cam, Cam has been consistently great and also consistently scary and getting his team.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Back into some games where it's like, you got to have some big boy stuff. To you now, if you like Sanders more than. Right, Right. Like, I'm always worried Sanders is going to get murdered in one of these games. But look, and I'll say it like, the start of the Colorado season, I was like, cool. Not doing this again this year. These guys stink. And they have turned it around. They figured it out. And you know, San Sanders has that same juice to him, too. Like, hey, we need something right now. And that guy delivers a lot.

[Todd McShay]

Yes.

[Bill Barnwell]

He's a. He was 10 for. 10 for. With 116 yards, a touchdown and a rushing touchdown. We came on.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, right.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Yeah. I mean, he's looking again. He's just dealing.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah. I was never a Carson Beck guy, Ben. She'll tell you. I think I've made that clear to you, Ryan. Like, I just was never a Carson Beck guy. Coming in, I didn't love his tape. I thought he'd make a jump. He didn't make. He's. He's. In my mind, I think he's. He's. He's regressed a little bit this year or flatlined, whatever you want to say. Quinn Ewers. It's not been the same since the injury. He just simply has not been the same since the injury. We'll get more information, see what's going on there, even today, and we can get to Texas a little bit lackluster. Like, just so, to me, it's really. It's. It's Shador Sanders. It's. It's Cam Ward, Jalen Milro, I've said for a long time, is an absolute wild card. Like, you know, what did we learn today? I got to go back and watch the tape. I don't feel like in that Alabama, Missouri game, I learned a whole heck of a lot of anything. You know, he. He ran the ball a little bit more aggressively at times.

[Ryan Rosillo]

He ran it better. Yeah, he ran it better.

[Bill Barnwell]

That score's a little deceptive, too. I mean, that Missouri team was. I mean, they were.

[Todd McShay]

They were beaten up. I mean, starting quarterback out, starting running back out.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

Those three picks.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

So, yeah, so that's. That's where we are with the quarterback.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I think it should be TBD at number three. It's just an outside guy that watches a lot of ball. And so I think it should be Sanders and Ward, and then it should be tbd, And I don't think we should pencil in. There shouldn't be anybody jumping anybody at that top two with one half a football.

[Todd McShay]

I'm just curious. Like, I'm gonna. I'm gonna wake up tomorrow because it's late now. I'll. I won't. I won't do it. And there won't be anything.

[Ryan Rosillo]

We hope we all.

[Todd McShay]

I think it'll be crickets. I. There have been mornings. There have been mornings after nights with you, my friend Russello. But anyway, I digress. But. But I'm curious to see, like, I couldn't even get down to, like, normal draft X. I always call it Twitter X. Whatever you want to call it. Without. Without, like, Nussmeyer. He's my guy. He's my. I'm just curious to see how quiet.

[Ryan Rosillo]

And this really was hot tonight. There's a lot of Nussmeyer. My guys. I didn't even know this was happening.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Really?

[Todd McShay]

Yeah. Oh, it was. It was a. There was a groundswell.

[Ryan Rosillo]

There was.

[Bill Barnwell]

Do you know that I saw, like, speaking of all this quarterback craziness, there were mock drafts with Wegman in the first round coming in.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Pff. Had him graded as the number one guy going in.

[Bill Barnwell]

I mean, based on what.

[Ryan Rosillo]

But he. But they had him. Like, not. Like, it was weird. You know, the quarterback thing's always weird. In the overall rankings, like, you guys will have somebody rank the 21st best prospect, right? He's the best quarterback. You have him going third or fourth in a draft. They had him 15th overall. And then when I thought I was like, oh, okay, I got to pay attention to that. And then I scrolled through it. He was the first quarterback they had. Great. He had the highest grade.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah. I just never saw it. I mean, there wasn't enough to see to. To like, make that kind of a projection, so.

[Todd McShay]

All right. Couple other things I want to get. I could honestly do this all night. I really. I mean, it's. It's 12:15 in the east coast, but I could. I could do this all night. Illinois, Oregon, I got you here, Rosillo. I want you here every week. I mean, I'm going to bug you every single week. This is. This is amazing.

[Ryan Rosillo]

But that's not happening.

[Todd McShay]

I'm well aware. I already got. I got the text. I got the text like, 20 minutes before we came on Mitchell. I texted him. I'm like, you're still good for tonight. Because the game was running long. He's like. He's like, yeah. And then I got a follow up, like, 15 minutes later. He's like, when are we doing this? I could, like, hear the I'm dying.

[Bill Barnwell]

To talk to you in Mensch right now. I can't wait.

[Ryan Rosillo]

This episode is brought to you by.

[Todd McShay]

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[Ryan Rosillo]

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[Todd McShay]

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[Ryan Rosillo]

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[Ryan Rosillo]

I could hear it happening that Dylan Brooks and Chris Paul got into that Spurs Rockets. I got to get back to that.

[Todd McShay]

Illinois, Oregon because you're my, you're, I mean you're my Ducks guy. Dating back to all the awkwardness with the cheerleaders. You're my Ducks guy for life.

[Ryan Rosillo]

They like me now.

[Todd McShay]

Let me, let me make a point on this dominant performance. I we were texting a lot early in the season. We've talked about it. Really underwhelming early in the season. Like what? Gosh, like the offensive line didn't look that good. Are they consistent enough? Like is this really one of the four or five best teams in the country And Ohio State opened my eyes and then today like that Illinois team is good. I'm not saying they're at the like the upper echelon but to do to Illinois what Oregon did today and I'll say this 38 to 9, it doesn't even feel like, like the Notre Dame score was more appropriate. You know when I watching that Notre Dame finished 51:14, it felt more like.

[Ryan Rosillo]

That six fumbles, right? Yeah.

[Todd McShay]

I mean it was ugly. So I want to make this point. Will Stein unbelievable Higher by Dan Lanning the foresight I want to go through this because I because I went down a little bit of a rabbit hole during the 330 games. So will Stein last year Bo Nix, best year of his career, right? Bo Nicks goes on first round draft pick and it kind of catapulted his his career. Will Stein was a quarterback at Louisville who was A backup throughout his career, played in 12 games, but sparingly. His final year was a GA for Louisville. The following year he went on, he was the Texas. It was quality control. Quality. For people who don't know, quality control is like, it's like an intern. You get an internship but then they like you're. You go from unpaid to like a paid internship. That's basically what quality control is. It's just getting your feet wet. Unbelievably important step in a coaching career. But it's not, you're not doing a whole heck of a lot. That's, that's, you know, factoring in the game games. Then he goes to Lake Travis High School, one of the powerhouse high school football programs. He's not the head coach there, he's the, he's the assistant head coach in the oc. He's there for a couple years. Then UTSC rises up to, after a couple years, rises up to co offensive coordinator. I think he was wide receiver coach and then co offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. Then Dan Lanning hires him from there to be the offensive coordinator at Oregon. Dan Landing coming from Georgia trying to make build this powerhouse and hires that resume to be the offensive coordinator and then gets the best year of Bo Nix's career out of him. And now Dylan Gabriel. I keep waiting for that Dylan Gabriel game. We all know the game, right, where all like the fun crazy stuff backfires. And we see like we saw the second half, the final quarter and a half from Nussmeyer tonight. Haven't seen it. And what I saw today, and I know I'm going on a rant, I'll shut up in a minute. But defense, the defense from Illinois is simple. They have that bare front, five guys across, three guys in the interior. They're going to stop your run. They've got numbers now against all the options stuff and they've got a single high safety and they're going to play man to man on the outside. And so, so Stein comes in is like fine. Like we don't, we're not going to run the ball. We don't have to run. And so they, they start beating man beaters, putting the quarterback, Dylan Gabriel in a position and Gabriel comes out and looks like Dan Marino. You know, it's Tez Johnson, it's Evan Stewart. It's just, just, just Tia Slow. Is it just ts. Is that how you pronounce it? Jus Tius. He's new on the scene, but I know the staff loves this guy. He had a big game number 14. The tight ends have huge games, Herbert and Sadiq. So I just. We don't talk enough about this Will Stein guy. I wanted to get that in a game where there was a blowout. But the more I watch Oregon, the more I'm a believer. I'm not saying they're the best team in the country, but they belong there at number one right now. And I truly believe they are one of the three, four best teams in the nation.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I feel like it's justice, but I'm not sure on the call game. I got out of that game quick. Look, since Landing made that higher and since Landing has been in Oregon, they're the number one scoring offense in the country. They start off the year, they couldn't pass protect and they couldn't run the football for the first two weeks. So it was really weird. I picked Oregon to win the national championship. It was just a bit of a zag because Ohio State, you know, won every single off season headline because of all the guys they brought in, you know, one of the most talented teams ever put together. It was kind of the way people were talking about it. But, I mean, I don't think anybody really thought that with Will Howard, although I thought Will Howard, like, showed me more than Will Howard's ever shown me in that Oregon game. But going into that one, I felt like Oregon, Ohio State would split and they'd rematch again, and then you know, whoever lost this one would get that one. And then when Jordan Birch was out, who's probably their most like, SEC type D lineman? You know, last year, that was a really big plus for Oregon's defense. Like, it wasn't just this flashy offense. I wasn't even like a big Bo Nicks guy. I'm still not a big Bo Nicks guy. He literally was perfect last season. Yeah, he just played the position perfectly. So I think Gabriel actually has a little bit more juice to him. Tez is awesome. I mean, in that crosser that he caught today. Yeah. Where you're like, well, okay, you know, he's going to get tackled at some point. Wait, he's not going to get tackled. Like, he just finds his way navigating through everybody. And Jordan James, not only does he love killing people that try to tackle him, watch him on some blitz pickup, like, he's a motherfucker, man. So I thought that, you know, whether it was a shootout in Ohio State, a couple things go their way. They certainly could have won that football game. But I thought physically to hang in there with Ohio State, which you're always going to probably think benefit of the doubt. You know, I'll probably give it to those guys. Traditionally, even though I think Oregon sometimes is overlooked for how physical they've been. Even going back to the Chip Kelly stuff, like, you don't run the football the way they ran the football without being a physical football team. But the, the early concerns, like, it's over. It's been. It's been over a month. Like, we just shouldn't have those concerns anymore. And, you know, Illinois, a good defense, we think, because more often than not it is. But then it gave up like 540 yards to Purdue, which is one of the worst football teams right in the power four. So. And Altmeier, who's that transfer, he had been like 15 and one and touchdown to pick ratio. And then he throws two picks today. So they. I'm with you. Like, I think Illinois is kind of like a feisty team and Belem has done a good job with them. They're probably more about their defense than their other offense. But now I'm just kind of talking about Illinois too much because in that 217 game they lost to Penn State, like third and long for Illinois, felt like it was just hopeless. It was like one of those nights where, like, you guys are never going to do anything against Penn State tonight. But Oregon, you know, I know we do this a bit with the tears and drawing. Drawing this line in the sand of like it's. It's now Georgia and it's Oregon and whatever, but the early season concerns for Oregon, if they're going to lose, it's not because they fixed all of that stuff, is my point, which I could have just said in 10 seconds.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, but that's why you're here. Is there anything more evident in the world than mention I live in the Northeast when we're like jackets and bundled up.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Just think how great your wardrobes are.

[Todd McShay]

I buy meat stick rolls in with his arms, his sleeves ripped off.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I know today was cardio, too.

[Bill Barnwell]

I'm kind of surprised you. You haven't made the move out there, McShay.

[Todd McShay]

I tried. There was a minute.

[Bill Barnwell]

I know you love the area, right?

[Ryan Rosillo]

Yeah. Loves McShay.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, I. I found in Manhattan Beach. Let's just be honest.

[Ryan Rosillo]

McShay made once. Once he found out that Jade Hotel. I had a friend that played for the Kings was traded here. So I knew about it before. Before I knew Todd.

[Todd McShay]

It's like. It's like QB1. Here we go again.

[Ryan Rosillo]

It is a bit like the Nussmeyer claim. But McShay reintroduced the world to certain ESPN members because he was like, don't tell too many people, but Shade hotels approved by Disney Travel. And I was like, how's that even possible? He's like, I don't know either. He's like, it doesn't make any sense.

[Todd McShay]

I can say I don't even think it was approved. I think that, like, it just slipped by. Like they took.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I got it approved.

[Todd McShay]

By accident.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I got it approved. They were like, as long as you pay for your own car service into la. And I was like, fine. Done.

[Todd McShay]

All right.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Because I'd be living at the JW Marriott. Let's keep doing this anyway. Ohio State.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, Ohio State. But to your point, Oregon and Georgia, we all agree right there. 1, 1, 2. Penn State was sitting at 3. I'm not a believer. I'm going to say it. There, done. We'll move on.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I like them more now than I ever did before. The offense is totally different and the backup QB is a baller too. Allen went out today and Aller. I think you could make the argument, I think the stats show based on, like, who's qualified. He had the best passer rating. But Pabula comes in, dude. And that guy's like, he's probably a better fit for that.

[Todd McShay]

They needed him. Yeah, they needed him. I mean, they would have won. I got it.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Pick six. But you go ahead.

[Todd McShay]

But my point is Ohio State and Texas, shaky, shaky.

[Bill Barnwell]

Might be down to their third offensive tackle, their third left tackle.

[Todd McShay]

So let's get into.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Let's dive into that.

[Todd McShay]

Let's dive into that.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Game day was like, we can't run the football. Yeah.

[Bill Barnwell]

I mean, they couldn't run the football.

[Todd McShay]

It's punishing.

[Bill Barnwell]

I mean, they scored. It was a 21 today at home.

[Ryan Rosillo]

That's not.

[Todd McShay]

They had one drive in the third quarter. One drive where I'm trying to think, what was it? So in the third quarter, Will Howard had the interception, set up that long drive from Nebraska, goal line, stand right. Then Nebraska gets the ball back, marches down again, touchdown. And I think the two point conversion, right. Made it 1714, I think at that point. And then. No, it was the fourth quarter. So that's when Ohio State was trailing. It was.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Ohio State didn't do anything in the third quarter.

[Todd McShay]

Sorry. It was that, that's. That's what happened in the third quarter to get it. 17:14, Nebraska, fourth quarter. Ohio State's trailing first. First time back on offense when, when without the lead. Right. Chip goes back to the ground and like, that was the only drive of the game. It was. It was early in the fourth quarter. They're trailing. And it was Judkins, it was Henderson, it was Howard on the ground with the run. And then it was. It was. It was Judkins again with the receiving touchdown, coming out of the backfield to the left side, made it 2117. And that was the final score. But, like, outside of that drive, at no point did I feel like Ohio State was the physically dominant team on the offensive side. And against Nebraska, I know Nebraska has been good on defense. They've had moments that this.

[Ryan Rosillo]

But like, against Indiana, just murdered.

[Todd McShay]

That's what I'm saying.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Sorry.

[Todd McShay]

No, that's what I'm saying is that Ohio, if Ohio State is one of those teams, you gotta be able to line up and wear them down. And I didn't see that.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Well, look, I think we've all been around long enough to know that. Just because, like, I'm bringing up the Indiana thing, because I think that's what made today so surprising. Nebraska's headed in the wrong direction. I think some of the stuff's getting to Riola a little bit. The interception he had late, he forced it. I don't think he saw the safety. Joel Klatt 2 weeks ago made, like, a really good point on, like, a certain play with Raiola where he was like, bootleg. It was a play action, bootleg. And I think he faked the handoff from, like, five feet away. And again, he's a young kid or whatever. But Clatt was such a great point by Clatt. He's like, this is the kind of stuff you're gonna have to, like, clean up a little bit. All right? Because you can't. Because, I mean, he's just so relaxed. It's kind of like that stuff we were talking about a little bit earlier. Because when Raul is dealing, you're like, oh, he's just a live arm. And it's so relaxed. It's all these different things, but just to bring it full circle, like after it was 21:17, you're right. They hit the big play to Tate. Judkins has the reception. So, yeah, I guess I. I was doing it. 1714-2117. Nebraska goes three and out. And you're like, all right, this game's over. Oh, how's Takeo's three and out before the Riola pick, Right? Like, that was the possession where I'm like, holy shit.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah.

[Bill Barnwell]

They might have got backed up on a holding call. Then their tackle goes down and then they throw like a bubble screen on.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Third and third, nine. And they're getting nine. They got backed up. But I mean, you know, it's first and 10, it's second and nine, it's third and nine, and then there's a timeout and you're. You're kind of like.

[Todd McShay]

They were booing him. They were, yeah, they were getting booed at home.

[Ryan Rosillo]

And Howard was fine. Howard was fine today. I thought, I thought. I don't know if you guys.

[Todd McShay]

The 40 yard.

[Bill Barnwell]

Was it the 40 yard touchdown that hung in the air for about 20 minutes and he still completed it. I was like, dude, to Jeremiah Smith. I think that was the. Oh, no, it was the.

[Todd McShay]

No, I was gonna say that was fine. There was one.

[Ryan Rosillo]

No, he under threw. He under threw the first deep one. Because I was watching it going. How slow are these safeties for Nebraska? I was like, they're gonna score 50 against these guys today. And then they. Cause I just figured they were gonna deep shot. The hell. I could not believe there were two specific deep shots in that game. Where I'm going, where's the Nebraska guy? That ball's up there forever. Forever.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah. And the frustrating part, if you're an Ohio State fan, is like the defense was dominant in the first half. That was the best. I think this defense has a. But like you go back to Alabama's defense with the national championships, it was like three, four first rounders. Seven. Like I can remember doing all these lists, like seven guys in the top 100, you know, and then the next year they'd have five guys in the top 100 and four of them in the first round reloading. And the same with Georgia. The last several years, everyone talked about this Ohio State defense and yeah, it's loaded. Yeah, it's talented. Where's the first rounder? Not for. Not first rounders. Where's the first rounder?

[Bill Barnwell]

I really like the defensive tackle, Ty Leek Williams. I don't think he's gonna end up being a lot.

[Todd McShay]

No, no, I, no, no, he, he's, he's got the best shot.

[Ryan Rosillo]

He'll be a first rounder. He's just sophomore.

[Todd McShay]

He's just a sophomore. Yeah, I'm just, I'm talking about like every. But every year they were reloading. So my. Again, you're right.

[Ryan Rosillo]

For me, for us to not be able to come up with the first rounder for the 25 class is unheard.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah, they have two pretty good edges. I don't think either one of them is a lock to Be a first rounder. Sawyer and jt.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, yeah. So I'm just saying. But anyway, but, but in the first half it was like, okay, a bunch of second, third, fourth round guys are starting to play together and play great. Yeah, they really were. They were playing great. They were smothering, they were dominant, they were sniffing out screens, they were batting the balls of the line of scrimmage. Like that was the defense I expected to see. But then I was watching Fox when they went to the. Went to halftime for a minute before I flipped over to another game and someone made the comment like this doesn't. What was the score at half? I forget. I mean it was 14:6. 14:6? Yeah, it doesn't feel like 14:6, but so if I don't. And again it's one game but like it does. I haven't watched Ohio State yet this year and felt like they're clicking. You know, their best game was in a loss to Oregon, quite frankly.

[Bill Barnwell]

Well, I don't think the defense isn't the problem.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Right?

[Bill Barnwell]

I mean that kid, the linebacker, Cody Simon, all over the field.

[Todd McShay]

No, the defense isn't the problem. But is the defense exceptional? And in moments like the second half, you gotta understand, yeah, they had the goal line stand against, against. But Nebraska marched down the field and got, and got to the goal line and in a close game and then Martin and then marches down the field again and gets the touchdown and the two point conversion. Now it's 1714. So again you're only giving up 17 points and you were great for a half and it was only two drives. But I just. When we start to talk about Oregon and Georgia and if Texas gets back and figures out what's going on with yours and everything, I just don't like. I know they're the most talented team that money can buy and all that stuff, but I haven't seen a complete performance outside of the loss to Oregon where I'm like, they're absolutely, you know, they belong in the conversation. They're just as good as Oregon.

[Bill Barnwell]

Yeah, that's fair.

[Todd McShay]

You know, and, and they were that night. They were like any, you know. But I don't know, I just, I haven't seen it and I wonder if we're going to see it. And I do agree with you, I think the offensive line, if I'm Ryan Day and I'm waking up on Sunday, it's like we've got to get this fixed if we're going to, if we're going to really make a run at this.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Yeah, I think the great thing about Ohio State, you know, over the years we know that this is true, is 11 times out of 12, it wasn't going to be close talent wise. Okay. And maybe Michigan in some of those years would be close. And then there's other years during Michigan's runs where you're like, yep, this is even close. Out of 12 times. No chance. And especially when you looked at how the Big Ten was split up, whoever won the other side, you're like, this is a wrap. You know, so it. It was always like an interesting conversation of like, how many times do you feel like. And again, I'm biased, thinking the SEC is the best conference for a really long time this year. The depth. Well, look at men.

[Bill Barnwell]

No, no, it just is like, I don't know why.

[Todd McShay]

Why do we have.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Yeah, why are we even doing.

[Bill Barnwell]

Why do we have defend?

[Ryan Rosillo]

Right.

[Bill Barnwell]

Like, I hate the people.

[Todd McShay]

Like, oh.

[Bill Barnwell]

Like we have to apologize for thinking the A sec.

[Todd McShay]

He's not the best ro. He's not the best co host in the business for nothing.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I love that.

[Todd McShay]

Look, I guess.

[Ryan Rosillo]

I guess I haven't done anything in two months on it because I just get sick of doing it over and over again because I just never could understand. It was like, so you're telling me that this conference that has like twice as many people that go to the next version of this sport as any other conference but just isn't good? Right? Okay. Yeah, got it. Right. All right. Anyway, anyway, so Ohio State had this massive talent advantage. What's so funny in watching them week to week guys is like, you're like, oh, it's kind of a struggle. Oh, Judkins breaks. Okay, yeah, there's seven. It's Treville, he breaks one. It's Jeremiah, who's insane. And Ibuka's unbelievable. Tate's really good, dude. I even like that G. Scott kid who has like seven catches. The tight end that's been around forever. Ever. I'm always like, how come he doesn't get a couple more balls? They've won games every week by just having three or four of these break because those dudes are so much better than everybody else. And you're right, their best game was Oregon. So it's. It's probably a little alarming at this point of the season when we talked about the Buckeyes the way that we did before the season started, but they're still going to be in the playoff. They're probably getting the rematch with Oregon and they very well could win this whole thing. But I thought day starting the post gamer with we can't run the football. I was like, here we go. You know, because he's just telling us everything we can already see.

[Todd McShay]

Yeah, this is fun. We should do this every week.

[Ryan Rosillo]

Some weeks, bowl week. I'm your guy. January.

[Todd McShay]

So like eight weeks from now. No, we're gonna, we are gonna do this every week with or without tough guy. And, and we look forward to games.

[Ryan Rosillo]

They're going to watch themselves. Guys.

[Todd McShay]

I may or may not be on Rossillo show on Monday. We'll, we'll find out that's TBD now and mention I will be back the McShay show every Tuesday, every Thursday, and starting tonight, every Saturday night. And we look forward to making this a live show coming up soon. So, Rossillo, I appreciate your time, brother.

[Ryan Rosillo]

All joking aside, it was awesome to do this, not have to worry about anything. It was awesome to catch up with Michigan, man. I think it's been a minute, so thanks, man. Thanks so much for letting me do this. I appreciate it.

[Todd McShay]

All right, we'll see you on the other side. Must be 21 plus and present in select states. For Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18/ plus and present in D.C. gambling problem, call 1-800- GAMBLER or visit rgh-help.com, call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 1-800-327-5050 for 20 port in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-HOPE NY or text Hopeny in New York.