COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF OREGON INDIANA INSTANT REACTION

Summary

Brandon Walker College Football Show – "COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF OREGON INDIANA INSTANT REACTION"

Release Date: January 10, 2026
Host: Brandon Walker (Barstool Sports)
Co-hosts: Kayce Smith, Big Ev, T. Bob, Blutman

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Episode Overview

This episode serves as a raw, instant reaction to Indiana's dominating victory over Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal. The panel, led by Brandon Walker, dives deep into Indiana's stunning rise, their display of pure football mastery, and whether their upcoming championship matchup against Miami is already a foregone conclusion. The show is brimming with animated debate, humble admissions of misjudgment, and sobering reflection on what could be one of the greatest stories in college football history.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Indiana’s Utter Domination of Oregon – Instant Reactions

Brandon sets the tone, openly admitting the enormity of Indiana's performance and its shock factor.

• Brandon: "Indiana is beating the living dog out of Oregon right now. Indiana is beating the living dog out of everybody right now. Indiana looks inevitable right now." (01:13)
• Big Ev describes the win as "about as thorough of a beatdown as I can remember just in every facet of the game." (02:07)
• The game was essentially decided in the first minutes: "After the first 11 seconds of the game, it was just like, holy shit, this is a different playing field." (Casey, 03:51)

2. Fernando Mendoza & Indiana’s Precision

Discussion turns to Indiana’s precise execution led by Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

• Mendoza’s stats: “17 for 20, Buck 77, five touchdowns.” (Big Ev, 02:26)
• T. Bob: "After winning the Heisman, shutting the door on any and all criticism… through two playoff games…eight touchdowns and five incompletions, guys. Almost double the amount of touchdowns that he does incomplete." (04:51)
• The cast draws parallels to 2019 LSU and Miami teams, but emphasizes that Indiana is statistically and operationally even more complete.

3. Signetti’s Masterclass Coaching Job

• Kurt Signetti's impact is described as ruthless and unrivaled: “It doesn't matter when that psychopath is on Indiana sideline and prepping and preparing…” (Blutman, 07:09)
• Indiana’s preparation and efficiency are emphasized as hallmarks of great coaching and mature leadership.

4. Historic Program Turnaround: Indiana’s Meteoric Rise

• The panel marvels at the scale of Indiana’s transformation: “The fact that the worst program in the history of college football became the best in 18 months is the most amazing story in the history of this sport.” (Brandon, 12:21)
• Comparison is made to Leicester City’s EPL title run, with Big Ev underscoring, “Indiana's been the worst power program for a hundred years. And in two years we're talking about is this an all time college football team?” (15:31)

5. Why Media & Fans Got Indiana Wrong

• The cast reflects on their own preseason picks—and the universal surprise at Indiana's rise.
• Brandon: “We were wrong to do it, but that is why we did it.” (22:15)
• Casey observes, “I would guarantee that…there is not one human being that watches college football…that would guess it was an Indiana Miami national title.” (22:38)
• T. Bob: “I think we need to celebrate us being wrong…that’s why this year has been so much fun.” (23:36)

6. Championship Preview: Is Indiana’s Title a Foregone Conclusion?

• Indiana opens as a -7.5 point favorite over Miami—debate ensues over whether the outcome is inevitable.
  • Big Ev: "Indiana's gonna win…they're gonna win the game." (26:35)
  • Casey: "Miami has to play a perfect football game…Indiana plays perfect football." (27:09)
  • T. Bob: "All that Miami momentum…got blasted away by the nuclear bomb that was Indiana's performance tonight…I'm like 70/30 now." (27:43)
  • Blutman: "I think Indiana's gonna win by three plus touchdowns… They're just so laser focused." (29:38)
  • Brandon: “No, it’s not [a foregone conclusion]. And I say that out of respect to the sport of college football...I think Miami has a chance with it.” (31:32)

7. Notable Statistics and Subplots

• Indiana’s perfection: “When’s the last time you saw Indiana in second and 21? When’s the last time you saw Indiana in third and 19? It doesn’t happen.” (Brandon, 08:54)
• The “age” controversy—debunked: “I think the age thing is overblown” and both teams start mainly players from the same recruiting classes. (Casey & Big Ev, 16:03)
• Fun Fact: "This is the first national champion since 2010, Auburn, that is not a Nike school." (Blutman, 39:02)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “They’re so fundamentally sound. Their blocking’s elite. They make every contested catch they want.” – Blutman (07:09)
• “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and the parts are awesome to begin with…I really feel…there is literally no weakness.” – T. Bob (16:32)
• “I love, absolutely love the fact that we were also dead wrong preseason because it’s made for some really entertaining watching.” – T. Bob (23:36)
• “This is a dynasty come to real life, man.” – Blutman, likening Indiana’s rise to NCAA video game dynasties (29:38)

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Important Timestamps

• [01:03] Episode opens; hosts react to Indiana's blowout of Oregon.
• [02:07] Big Ev's detailed breakdown of the beatdown.
• [03:51] Casey on how Indiana made domination look effortless from the opening.
• [04:51] T. Bob lauds Mendoza’s blistering form post-Heisman.
• [07:09] Blutman & panel outline Signetti’s relentless mindset.
• [12:21] Brandon calls Indiana turnaround history’s most amazing story.
• [15:31] Panel compares Indiana to Leicester City’s EPL miracle.
• [16:32] T. Bob outlines Indiana's statistical perfection, offense and defense.
• [22:15] Brandon admits why the panel doubted Indiana last offseason.
• [23:36] Panel collectively celebrates their inaccurate preseason predictions.
• [26:19] Trend of Indiana as heavy championship favorites over Miami.
• [29:38] Blutman’s impassioned endorsement of Indiana to win the title.
• [31:32] Brandon on why he won’t count Miami out.
• [39:02] Blutman on the rarity of a non-Nike champion.

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Panel’s Final Words

• Big Ev: Reiterates belief in Indiana’s inevitable dominance: “There’s really nothing on the field that says that Miami can keep…Indiana is going to win by Della did it. I don’t see how they don’t.” (36:58)
• Casey: Praises Mendoza’s high-level consistency; calls out pundits who called this a weak Heisman class: “Shame on all of us…this kid deserves every ounce of the praise that he’s getting.” (37:25)
• T. Bob: Celebrates the mix of close semifinals and Indiana’s narrative of dominance; “A real successful final four here in my opinion.” (37:49)
• Blutman: Offers stat trivia and remarks on the uniqueness of this year’s national title game (non-Nike school) (38:25, 39:02)
• Brandon: Ends with a tongue-in-cheek salute to the NCAA’s handling of player eligibility and reflects on unprecedented change: “I applaud the NCAA…making sure that this system isn’t abused...It took balls and it took guts.” (39:08)

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Takeaways for Listeners

• This episode chronicles and celebrates a genuine college football phenomenon: Indiana’s transformation from bottom-dweller to juggernaut, spearheaded by meticulous coaching and unique composure.
• The panel’s humility in admitting their preseason errors (and the outright unpredictability of the sport) fuels a lively debate.
• The all-but-inevitable coronation of Indiana is challenged only by respect for the chaos of the sport and Miami’s formidable profile.
• Fernando Mendoza solidifies his legend status, as both a statistical marvel and a charismatic, resilient leader.
• Listeners glean not just analysis, but storylines, context, and a sense of why college football remains endlessly compelling.

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For full episodes, listen to the Brandon Walker College Football Show wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

[Brandon]

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[Brandon]

All right, we're live. Not quite a post game stream but a post, a post. Anything that matters stream as far as that game goes because the game is over. The game has been over. The game might have been over after the very first play from scrimmage. I am we're brought to you by Twisted T. This is unnecessary roughness. We were live last night. We're live tonight. I'm going to make you two promises right now. A this show ain't lasting very long. B I'm not going to have a lot of poignant analysis. Any hard hitting opinions, any. I'm not going to have any stats. I'm just going to tell you what happened. Indiana's beating the living Dog out of Oregon right now. Indiana is beating the living Dog out of everybody right now. Indiana looks inevitable right now. I'll start with Big Ave. What do you say? I don't even know how to set you up. What do you say about what we are witnessing?

[Big Ev]

I mean it's about as thorough of a beatdown as I can remember just in every facet of the game. I mean offense, defense, special teams. I mean we, we talked about thinking oh like maybe Oregon play the game closer like they after they see him a second time. No Signetti in Indiana just got more data and just pummeled them. How prepared they are, how precise they are. Everything is so clean. Mendoza 17 for 20, Buck 77, five touchdowns. Whatever run game was solid. Defense was great. I mean it's. We're in a game where they're throwing d' Angelo Pons in the backfield to throw him the ball.

[Blutman]

Crazy.

[Big Ev]

Like they're around with Oregon, like they're disrespecting Oregon and then Oregon. I mean, Oregon's punting down 27 and it gets blocked almost for a touchdown. As it should. I mean, also, I mean, another Indiana deserves all the credit in the world. All of it. Another Dan Landing egg in a big spot. I've been saying it for a while. We keep crowning this guy when he just before he does anything. We, we, every year we fall for it because he's, he has good quotes. And it's funny because he's the guy that's like, we don't play for clicks, but he's Mr. Quote Guy. Nothing in the trophy case. I'm just saying there's, there's a lot to talk about. And I'll just say this last quick Brandon, you said yesterday to me that wasn't frustrating watching Miami. I think it was more frustrating watching this because it's so sad. And Ohio State's in a place now where I have to sit there and be like, we almost beat this in the editing. Like, that's all I've got for this year. But they've been that good that I'm sitting here saying that.

[Brandon]

I think in an off season show, very soon we're going to have a Dan Landing conversation because I've noticed it too. But let's focus on Indiana tonight. Casey, what do you say? Casey, unmute yourself.

[Casey]

Yikes. That's my bad. Going into this game, I said in the preview that I believed in Indiana. I have believed in Indiana. I thought they were going to win the game. But beating a team twice in the season is very hard to do. And we've seen it in the last couple of years. And exactly what everybody is saying online, what we've already said here, it was like Kurt Signetti just didn't give a fuck who they've played, when they played, how they played, who's on the other sideline. And I mean, you know, it's easy to give a knee jerk reaction on Twitter when, and as we all do, and I love to do it, you see the first drive and you're like, hey, the game's over. This was an actual example of the game was over. After the first 11 seconds of the game, it was just like, holy shit, this is a different playing field. And for Kurt Signetti, and I know it's the bigger picture question. But just focusing on this game, the fact that this is this man's second year at Indiana and this is where they are. It's incredible. And Indiana is just, it's just their year. They're. They're just impeccable across the board.

[Brandon]

T. Bob, what do you say?

[T. Bob]

Yeah, I think I want to start with Fernando Mendoza because. Well, actually, yeah, let's start with Mendoza. Here's a guy, he wins the Heisman and he doesn't have crazy stats, right? It's not been like a crazy statistical Heisman year. But you want to talk about after winning the award, shutting the door on any and all criticism about who was the best college football player in the country right now. I mean, you look at it through two playoff games against very good teams, Indiana, I mean, Alabama and Oregon and. And when we have the landing conversation, I'll actually probably be more on landing side. But against two very good teams, he has eight touchdowns and five incompletions, guys. Almost double the amount of touchdowns that he does incomplete. He is dialed. He is 2019 Joe Burrow semifinal level of dialed in right now. And it comes on a team that in some ways is even more complete than that 2019 LSU team because this Indiana defense is also just as dialed. They've been statistically the best defense in the entire country all year long. Either 1A, 1B them, Ohio State, whatever you want to say. And they just continue to do it. I mean, they start the game with the immediate pick six. And I will say this, Oregon responded very well to that pick six, right? And this just proves how good Indiana is because pick six happens. Oh my God, that's a huge haymaker land. Oregon drives it down Indiana's throat. They put together this great 75 yard touchdown drive. Okay, maybe we spoke to Seam. What does Indiana do? Like, it's nothing, 75 yards the other way, no mistakes, perfect football. And now they're beating the out of Oregon. And again, like y' all are talking about, this is not the exception. This is the rule. This is who Indiana has been for two years now. And what's crazy is like you're saying ev, maybe the best proof that we have that Ohio State was actually good is that they played this team close. Because right now it doesn't seem like anybody could sniff their jock. And maybe that's the craziest point of all is that the measuring stick for what Ohio State be good or not is that their margin of loss to Indiana wasn't that bad.

[Brandon]

Blotman, what do you say?

[Blutman]

Yeah, I mean, the whole narrative about hard to be a team twice again it doesn't matter when that psychopath is, is on Indiana sidelines and prepping and preparing for this because a 10 point win against Oregon is not a 10 point win against Oregon. In Kurt Signetti's mind it's. We didn't beat them by enough. And you saw that play out exactly to a tee tonight. He wanted to flat out embarrass Dan Lanning's program. That's why pawns is out there playing offense. They wanted to, they wanted to laugh him off the field and they did. Success of successfully and yeah, it did start from the jump. I mean there's nothing else to be said about Indiana that we haven't said already in the, you know, the few weeks leading up to this. They're so fundamentally sound. Their blocking's elite. They make every contested catch they want. They have, they have three receivers that are unsung heroes in a way because Mendoza is placing the ball perfectly on the money every time. But they make extraordinary catches watches and it's like man, they're so, so, they're so, so good. It's the highest compliment to say yeah man, they might as well be cheating.

[Brandon]

Yeah, that's, that's a little silly but,

[Big Ev]

but, but like that's what it is.

[T. Bob]

They're that good. They know everything that's going to happen.

[Big Ev]

It seems they're prepared for everything.

[T. Bob]

They are.

[Blutman]

They weather any in every storm. They are sensational in every sense of the word. Is is a complete joy to. It's a masterclass, a clinic every single rep.

[Brandon]

So here's the thing. If you play Indiana and I think we're seeing because remember their last game at the end of the regular season was a 13 to 10 win over Ohio State where it was back and forth and they lucky to win is not the right word but that game could have gone either way. Then they get a break and their coaching staff and they get to get in there and really dig around in the car, tweak everything and, and they come out with the extended break and they kill Alabama and then they have what, 10 days between Alabama and this and they come out and kill this team. Like this is. I think it's an operation, a coaching staff and a mature group of players operating at the highest possible caliber because if you give them more than a week to prepare, they're going to be the best version of themselves. And if you make a mistake, you lose. If you make one mistake, you lose. Because they don't make mistakes. They don't make any mistakes. If it's third and four, it's a five yard out. He throws a perfect ball and Surat catches it like this. If the ball's close to the receivers, they catch it. And the ball's always close to receivers because the quarterback throws at the perfect spot every time. When's the last time you saw Indiana in second and 21? When's the last time you saw Indiana in third and 19? It doesn't happen. But they put you in third 19 all the time. It is. I, I, I, I stand by my initial doubts last year because it makes the ultimate realization I had even more impactful. Yeah, like last year I saw it with my eyes but I was like this can't be real. This is. I'm gonna throw some roadblocks up in here. And this year they come in and steamroll everything. Every doubt I put in the way and now it's just, it's not. Wow, they're so good. It is. How historically good will they be? And like I said about the off season conversation about Dan Lanning, as long as they beat Miami, which that's a conversation we're going to have an offseason conversation about where this Indiana team stacks up all time too but that they got to get through. They got to get through Miami first. I think Miami is going to put up more fight than Oregon because big F said it. How many blowouts does landing have to take in these big spots? Before we say guys let's talk about this but again don't want to talk about that tonight. Casey, read an ad.

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[Casey]

Brandon, just really quick to your point what you just made too that I saw this a lot and this always happens in retrospect after games like this, right? And it's Yalls favorite fan base, the Alabama fans, everybody coming out and saying the same thing and every team does it. Don't get me wrong, every team does it but it's all the. Well you guys owe Alabama an apology now because everybody was making fun of how bad Alabama got beat in the Rose bowl and now they're doing it to Oregon and Brandon, I'm going to ask you like, do you feel that way? I don't think we owe Alabama shit, but I'm just saying there is a little bit of credence now because it's like they are just beating the fuck out of everybody.

[Brandon]

Well, I live my life by one credo, and that is never apologize to that piece of shit Alabama fan base for anything ever. So no matter what I ever say and what I ever do, I'm not apologizing to Alabama football. That being said, we, as at college football, Twitter, as this podcast, as every podcast, we are very stupid. We are very dumb. Every game in the playoff, we say, well, this conference was actually, this conference was better than that. This one. And maybe this team shouldn't have been in here. Maybe this conference should add more. Maybe this conference shouldn't have less at the end of the day, react about a conference or anybody, any other team. When Indiana plays. This is about Indiana. That's all it is. The Big Ten didn't win tonight. The Big Ten didn't lose tonight. Indiana just Indiana all over the place. And the fact that the worst program in the history of college football became the best in 18 months is the most amazing story in the history of this sport. So I. You're right, the Twitter fans and saying apologize, Alabama, apologize to this. Indiana's leaving a nothing but a vile wreckage of bodies behind them. Last week they were wearing crimson. This week they're wearing green. Doesn't matter. Big Ev, I don't know if you were to. If I were to ask you, Big F, tell me the. The most impressive part of Indiana. Is it Fernando Mendoza? Is it the running backs that get 4 yards every time they touch it?

[Blutman]

Is it.

[Brandon]

Is it the receivers that catch? Every single thing that's in the air is the offensive line that is just mauling people? What is it?

[Big Ev]

It's tough. I mean, it's a little bit of a dealer's dealer's choice there, I guess. I. I mean, the thing that stands out to me, I guess, is the way they seem to throw. I mean, that back shoulder to S is just like a cheat code. Like, and Mendoza specifically, like any. Any ball outside the hashes, like, he doesn't miss. He just. It feels like he just. He's been so locked in. I mean, like, sir, I was. I tweeted scratch gives me like Anquan Bolden vibes. Like, they just have like a. Like he just makes every tough catch. It's. I think it's more just. It's the.

[Brandon]

It's the.

[Big Ev]

Some of the parts where they just do everything right. Like even, even when Mendoza even called this like random plan to get Windows, it breaks a little run and he fumbles. Pat Coogan is flying down the field to jump on that ball. And some can say like, it's luck, whatever. No, he's following the play. He's coming down. Like they, it just feels like even when they up, they up right. It's crazy. Like they're just, they're just so, they're so prepared for every possible scenario. It feels like Insignetti. Like you see him on the sideline that they scored a put a 50 burger on him. Like he's not even flinching. I have to think he's go. I have to think he's going home. And like he's got to just sit down, like put his feet up for a second after a game like this and just laugh a little bit. Be like, can you believe this? Because Brandon, what you said, the greatest turnaround in college football squares turn around. History is sports. I don't think there's anything you can equate this to. Maybe there's something overseas.

[T. Bob]

And soccer, Leicester City winning the EPL would be like the only thing that I could think that one year they randomly won.

[Big Ev]

Like Clemer doesn't really watch college sports and never has. I was trying to even explain to him and someone tried to say like, oh, like it'd be like the Rockies who are just like a gutter, like winning the World Series this year. I'm like, that doesn't do it justice.

[T. Bob]

Yeah.

[Big Ev]

I'm like the Rockies have been to World Series in the last 20 years and like Indiana's been the worst power program for a hundred years. And in two years we're talking about is this an all time college football team? It's, it's, it's. There's nothing like it. And, and another thing to the. The age thing I think is overblown as well. I saw Jack Met get a good tweet about it.

[Casey]

Like, yeah, he did.

[Big Ev]

Maybe it is a strategy to have older guys, but it's not like Oregon, just a bunch of like pups out there. No, like it's, it's not like a bunch of 25 year olds versus 18 year olds. Yeah, they got a bunch of grown men, but all the other teams do too.

[Casey]

I think Jackson in Jackson, Jack's tweet. I think it was like the, the same high school classes. Like from a starter standpoint. Indiana has eight and Oregon has six. Something like that. Like it's like there it's that close with those guys.

[Big Ev]

Everyone's got old 23 year olds too. Everyone's got them EV.

[T. Bob]

And, and you mentioned that some of its parts, and I think that's the craziest part about this Indiana team is the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and the parts are awesome to begin with. I just don't know when the last time I've seen a team that has like and, and, and I overuse the word literally. But I really feel the form they are in right now and have been honestly all season, there is literally no weakness. Like, okay, let's think about the other great teams. Even like a 2019 LSU, right? The defense was great, good, they had dogs, but they weren't like the most dominant force ever. They weren't ranking 12 in the country in all the major statistical categories like oh one Miami offense awesome. But still Ken Dorsey at quarterback not like most over Indiana. Where are they bad in every single offensive and defensive statistic they are. And all the important ones too. Red zone touchdown percentage score and red zone touchdown percentage allowed, third down percentage allowed, third down percentage converted like you, you just go up and down the list and Indiana is top five in every single metric. Hell, even we, we, you know, we were making jokes last stream. I kept saying third manageable. Third and manageable. Come to find out, they average third and 5.1 which is number one in the country. They're always on schedule offensive, they're always putting you behind schedule. Defensively. Nine sacks in the two games against Dante Moore here. He was only sacked 14 times of the season. Guys, it's just there's, there's no weakness. There's no weakness. And the only reason why I do give and Miami will play more mistake free than they did and it'll be closer than people are feeling in this moment right now because how strong Miami is in the trenches. But I do believe Indiana will ultimately win because Miami still has dents in the armor and little areas that can be exploited where it just feels like there's nothing. They feel like Superman right now. Indiana does. The course is calling and your Chevy

[Big Ev]

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[Brandon]

London, I want to talk about this with you and we're two years into this thing, but the other day there was a graphic of like the 2020 National College Football people and it, you know, it was their national championship pick. I was on the graphic. Casey was on the graphic. She had Clemside, Penn State. But you know, a lot of people had Penn State. A lot of people had Ohio State, a lot of people had Georgia. A lot of people. Whatever the point of it was, we're all stupid. Of all the 20, 19 of them all were gone and only Taylor Lean who had Oregon is, who is now gone, was still there. And for everybody that points that out, I would like to just, I would just like to, to give some flowers to this crazy, incredible, insane, ridiculous sport. We started this in August where people thought Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Clemson and we are sitting here in January getting ready for Indiana and Miami. Yeah, I think that is an amazing, amazing part of this sport. Blubman.

[Blutman]

Yeah, I think again, as I said yesterday, for all the like flack that I give the current format and everything, at least I could put aside, sit back and see this final four in this national championship is super refreshing and super enticing. It's two very good football teams and

[Brandon]

but like this is why people are stupid. Let me just read the chat thing. Well, no, I got you. You're gonna, you're gonna talk. This guy says so no one in media knows ball. That's the point. Point. Not seeing Indiana, Miami coming at this is not about knowing ball or not knowing ball. It is about a sport that gives you this incredible story that nobody could have even written or conceived. Continue. Bleed.

[Blutman]

So this is, this is why I just beat myself up about this because I sat next to you in the mostly sports studio last year in the spring. I told you Indiana was going to be a team to watch. They were going to far surpass the win total. They were a dark horse contender to make the playoff. They make the playoff. They, they falter against Notre Dame and for some reason you, me, well, you call them a cute story, whatever. Now they're one of the best stories in sports history. But me and all these other people just decide we're pushing them away. Why did we do that? Why are we such brain dead idiots when they, they upgrade at quarterback, they upgrade everywhere.

[Big Ev]

They Were they were getting better and we pushed them to the side.

[T. Bob]

Why did we do that?

[Blutman]

They still had the elite head coach who game plans better than anyone in the pregame.

[T. Bob]

Like why we push them away. And the only two teams guys have played in the Natty though, right?

[Brandon]

I'll tell you why I did it and you all can answer why you did it. I did it because last year they had the weakest schedule in the country. They played two teams with winning records basically and got hammered by both of them. Last year's team was pretty good.

[Big Ev]

I.

[Brandon]

This year's team is hall of Fame incredibly good. Like they. I almost think this year's Indiana team would beat last year's by 60. And so like they gave us reasons to wonder in the off season. You know what Were they really that good or was it the schedule? There is no wondering anymore. There is none of that. That's why we did it. We were wrong to do it, but that is why we did it.

[Casey]

Well, and also to, to go back to what you were saying about, you know, all of us picking, you know, whatever we may pick, like I know that in, in college basketball in March Madness, you know, you do those big bracket pools, right? And then whatever. The final four ends up looking like they're like 9 of 500 million. You know, obviously that's an exaggeration, but there was like the nine total brackets. I would guarantee that there, if there is outside of an Indiana fan or a Miami fan, there is not one human being that watches college football or follows college football that would guess it was an Indiana Miami national title. And that's why the, the playoff doing what it's done is so great. But it's not just blubbing. You're right about Indiana and everybody kind of falling off, but it's the same conversations we have every year with these big conferences who actually paid a real schedule, who didn't play a real schedule. Is it, are you in a fraud or are you not? Indiana just took it and said, fuck you guys. We're just going to prove that we're not frauds like last year maybe. But that's, that's the point. Nobody saw this coming. Nobody outside of maybe Indiana fans.

[T. Bob]

Yeah, I think the point if like, it's like don't be defensive about all of us being wrong and we don't need to explain it. I think we need to celebrate us being wrong because like, that's why this year has been so much fun. That's why football is such a great game. You get 22 young men out there on the field at any given time. There are millions of variables at play there. You never quite know what's going to happen, who's going to rise and fall over a season. And this has been such a wonderful season for showing that it's, it's wide open and we don't know who the best teams are. And that's, and that's why every Saturday is so exciting because something's going to surprise you. So yeah, I love, absolutely love the fact that we were also dead wrong preseason because it's, it's, it's made for some really entertaining watching and now it has to make us get in the lab and really try to figure out and parse, okay, what are the best practices nowadays? What are they doing other people aren't to get here, how do you emulate it and how much has it? Because it's changed in such revolutionary ways that I don't even think that we can really grapple with the ripple effects of what like are going to be the best strategies for winning consistently in this era of college football.

[Brandon]

All right, Casey, we're gonna add then I've got a question for everybody.

[Casey]

All right.

[Brandon]

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[Blutman]

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[Big Ev]

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[Brandon]

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[Brandon]

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[T. Bob]

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[Brandon]

All right, so here's my question. We are talking tonight and celebrating a team that just won 5,622. Final score 56. 22 is the final. But it could have. If you said 86 to nothing, you would have been probably closer to what it felt like. We're talking about Indiana. We're pumping them up. Signetti, Mendoza, all of them. They do have to beat Miami. They have not won the national title yet. They have to go to Miami and play Miami. They have to play this defensive line that is nasty. They have to play this offensive line that is nasty. What I believe, and I don't know somebody said in the chat, I don't Know if that is correct. I'm just going to say what I saw in the chat. Indiana -7 and a half is what I saw. I don't know if that's right.

[Big Ev]

It went up two points in the duration of this football game.

[Blutman]

Correct?

[Brandon]

Yeah. So, so Indiana minus seven and a half. So we are talking like it is a foregone conclusion. Big F. Is it a foregone conclusion?

[Big Ev]

I think it is. That they'll win. Especially, I mean we need to find out what's going on with Miami and that defense, the injuries. Because, especially if, like, if a mezzador is going to be out and like some of the other guys in the secondary, I think they already were fighting uphill battle to begin with. I think, I mean those losses would be detrimental. I, I think Indiana's gonna win it all. Seven and a half. I mean, a lot of points. Maybe Miami can make it a rock fight, maybe they can play some good defense, but I think I don't see it. I, I just, I, I, Indiana, Indiana's gonna win the football game. They're gonna win the game.

[Brandon]

Hey, Casey. Is it a foregone conclusion?

[Casey]

I feel in my heart that it is. It's the easy thing to say, but I mean, less than 24 hours ago when we were doing this very show about, you know, Ole Miss, Miami, and the one thing that we said is that, you know, Ole Miss was hanging around in that game. Miami was making mistakes, but it was because the game was close because Ole Miss was allowing that to happen. Indiana, they make zero mistakes. Miami goes out and makes any of the mistakes that they made, then no, there is, there is no shot they can win. Miami has to play a perfect football game for them to be able to hang with Indiana because Indiana plays perfect football.

[Brandon]

T. Bob, foregone conclusion, question mark.

[T. Bob]

Yeah, this is tough for me because I think I'm going to be accused of being a flip flopper here, right? Because my big takeaway from last night was that I thought that Miami looked on par with, with both Oregon and Indiana, probably like equal with Oregon, maybe like a little less than Indiana. And I, I, I still think again, health is huge. We got no Miami injuries like Ev said, but because they're so good on the lines, there's a world where Miami's offense maybe slows down the game a bit, kind of limits Indiana's offense's chances. But I, all that Miami momentum that I built up on last night's show and that I was like celebrating them for, I just feel like he got blasted Away by the nuclear bomb. That was Indiana's performance tonight. And combined with Indiana's performance this entire year last week, like, like, I, I just, I really wanted to come in here and, and, and I said going into the game that I hadn't scored 55%. Indiana, like 45. Miami, I'm like 70, 30 now. Like, I, I, I really just feel like it's kind of foregone. I, Luki sent a really good tweet in the group chat, though. Did you see this?

[Brandon]

No.

[T. Bob]

From College football Nerds. It says at CFP Nerds. It's clear the only way to beat Indiana is to have an elite run defense. If you look at the season, all the close games, Penn State, Iowa, Ohio State, Indiana was held under three and a half yards of carrying. Every time they ran Forever 4 yards carry, they went by 25 plus. It's kind of an interesting little common denominator point of emphasis going in this Miami matchup.

[Brandon]

All right. And I'm fine with that. I would, I am curious, going into tonight, what was Oregon's run defense ranked?

[Blutman]

20.

[T. Bob]

I think they're very good.

[Blutman]

22nd.

[T. Bob]

Yeah. In the country. It's very good.

[Brandon]

All right, Blutman conclusion. Is it foregone?

[Blutman]

Honestly, dude, Yeah, I think so. I mean, well, okay, no, it's not. Because as we've seen time and time again, anything could happen in this sport and Miami fans will love that. I am, I'm back to doubting them in this, in, in this sport. Like, yeah, I think Indiana's gonna win by three plus touchdowns. I just think they're gonna do what they've continued to do. I, I see no reason to think otherwise. They, I mean, you, they're just so laser focused, man. And they're just so clean, technical, precise, perfect. You gotta be ma trippin if you're. How do you not take Indiana in the spy? I'm being dead honest. Like, everything that we've seen just leads you to believe Fernando Mendoza's Miss like five passes in the College Football Playoff. They don't do anything wrong. I will back them with my life in this spot. They're going to win the national championship. I like them by 21 plus. Sure, why not? And this just makes me wish so badly that when we were growing up playing NCAA video games and we were taking this random team to the top, which this is, this is a dynasty come to real life, man. I wish we had, like studio shows and podcasts and newspapers and everything to read and listen to and look at all, like us Talking about Indiana, 60 minutes away from winning a national championship right now potentially in dominant fashion. I could just like see myself playing as Indiana as a 12 year old and listening to all these people talk about that like this is crazy.

[Big Ev]

This is bananas.

[Casey]

Brandon, is it a foregone conclusion?

[Brandon]

No, it's not. And I say that out of respect to the sport of college football and I say that out of respect to, to, to, to the fact that, no, I just can't say it's a foregone conclusion. I, I do think Indiana is about to win the national championship. I do think Indiana is, is the best team. Miami went on the road to Texas A and M, won that game. Miami then beat an Ohio State team. That was a missed 21 yard field goal from being in overtime with Indiana. Okay, Ohio State and Indiana, I believe probably lockstep with each other. Probably very close to each other. Miami beat Ohio State, Iowa and Penn State kept Indiana close. Now that's a different Indiana team. That was three months ago, two months ago, whatever this one's. But I think Indiana is going to win. I'm going to bet Indiana -7 and a half. But I think Miami has a chance with it. When you have the talent profile they have at the line of scrimmage, you have a chance in every single game that you play. So I'm not going to say they're not going to get done what Oregon and Alabama got done to him. I do feel confident in that. I do think Indiana's about to win the national title at Boar's Head. We've been going back to school for over 115 years. And this year every school lunch is reason to celebrate with the flavors your kids love and the exceptional quality you

[T. Bob]

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[Brandon]

Ring the bell.

[T. Bob]

The deli is open

[Brandon]

or said committed to craft since 1905. You know I, I will. I also saw a stat today about Carson Beck. Because you know Casey, me and you are guilty. Everybody's guilty of. Everybody's guilty of watching Carson Beck and going, God damn it, Carson Beck. What's wrong with you, you idiot? You're more on. You're terrible. You got doofus face. Whatever. I think he's 38 and 5 now as a starter. Yeah, and I saw he is against ranked power four teams. He is 16 and three. He's 16 three outside like he's, he, he's got like an all time win loss record, you know, between two schools. He, he is so much better than our eyes tell us that he is. But at the same time. Fernando Mendoza is perfect. So what the do I know?

[T. Bob]

On and off the field, It. It is funny about Beck, too. I mean, he's getting ready for his third national championship now. Now, granted, he didn't play in the first two, right? But, like, he, he. He's been through the rhythm of these things. He. He's seen the type of teams and, and, and what it takes to win. Like, he's had a very storied career, considering where my head was at with him entering this season and how dead in the water I was counting him to be.

[Brandon]

All right, so, Casey, we're done with that.

[Big Ev]

Nope.

[Casey]

We have one more. We had T. Bobs.

[Brandon]

Okay, We're. It's a Friday night. I assume everybody in the chat and everybody out in the world is out there with your best gal or your best guy. And you're, you're, You're. You're either snuggled up or you're out on the town. So we're not going to take all your time tonight. We're going to get on out of here pretty soon. Uh, but go ahead, T. Bob. What do we got?

[T. Bob]

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[Casey]

Brandon, maybe. May I say something? Unless you're ending the podcast right now or you have a point, may I say go ahead.

[Brandon]

Go ahead.

[Casey]

So I've. I know that we. We went live in the middle of the game or, you know, there was some time left, but I've had the post game and everything on mute the entire time and watching it, and I know that this is not a new take, we've all been saying it, but the amount of camera time that Fernando Mendoza has had at the end of this game and in like the day and age where these guys don't really want to stand and talk to people and they're rushing off like his, I. I can't even hear anything and I'M smiling ear to ear. He's praying, he's smiling, he's talking to his teammates. He's like cheering on the crowd. People are taking pictures with his parents. This kid's unbelievable. He's just the absolute fucking best.

[Blutman]

All right, I have one question for you guys.

[T. Bob]

Yeah.

[Blutman]

It's a Miami home game. How. What do you think exactly. What do you think the split is? Indiana.

[Brandon]

Yeah.

[Casey]

I think there was 5% Oregon fans there tonight.

[Brandon]

When these. When these downtrodden, beaten programs have their moment in the sun, everybody goes. Yeah, everybody goes. Bloomington. If you want to rob Bloomington, do it next Monday night. Here's what I'm gonna do. We're ending the show quickly. It's a short show because it was a short game, but everybody's gonna get their last words here. So we're gonna go. Last words, whatever you want to say, whatever your take is from today. And let's. Let's make them pretty snappy tonight because we don't have to dilly dally around here. So big Ev, you go first. Your last word for today.

[Big Ev]

No, it's. Honestly, you put the thought in my head, right? I'm sitting here trying to tell myself how Miami can make this a game, and I'm just struggling to see it. I. I started to convince myself that maybe Oregon can make this a game. And I think that was just the contrarian in me. There was nothing of merit on the field that said that to me. And honestly, there's really nothing on the field that says that Miami can keep. I mean, Indiana is going to win by Della did it. I don't see how they don't.

[Brandon]

Casey, your last word.

[Casey]

Fernando Mendoza, the fourth player in college football history with a five plus touchdown in a game. He had three of them this season. It's just absolutely unbelievable what he's doing. And shame on all of us going back before the Heisman to say, well, this is a really weak Heisman class, guys. We're just gonna have to give it to Fernando Mendoza. Like, this kid deserves every ounce of the praise that he's getting. And he's unbelievable.

[Brandon]

T bop.

[T. Bob]

I. I love these semi finals, man. You know, I liked all the new players. I mean, like teams, like the teams evolved. I love the fact that we got an instant classic on one hand. But then on the other hand, like, dominance can be very interesting as well, especially when it is so thorough and attached to the narrative rise from the ashes, underdog story like Indiana's is. I love this final. I love college football. I'm Sad that we only have one game left but yeah, real successful final four here in my opinion.

[Blutman]

Lutman, Oregon had two 100 yard receiving games all season, both of them by Malik Benson. That's an area that they'll probably want to address for next season. This is the first and that true, this technically the first national championship game since 1988. Fiesta bowl between Notre Dame and West Virginia which I know is one versus whoever that, that won't feature a Nike school. That's nuts to think about. And then this is the first national champion since 2010, Auburn. That is not a Nike school.

[Brandon]

Am no swoosh.

[Casey]

All right, Brandon, walk us off.

[Brandon]

In a world where college football is so topsy turvy and things are so, so rapid to change, I would like to applaud great leadership when I see it. I would like to applaud great decision making. I would like to applaud an NCAA body that puts his foot down. So listen, everybody can get caught up in everything but Today when the NCAA watched 29 year old Indiana and all those, all these old guys winning the NCAA put its foot down and said Trinidad Chambliss great career. We're going to see you go ahead and go the NFL, go wherever you got to go. We don't know where you're going next but you ain't playing here. The guy played six years, he broke through in his last year. But hey, somebody else got to get a chance. It's a tough decision but it took balls and it took guts and it took everything. And I applaud the NCAA and putting their foot down and, and making sure that this system isn't abused by those people who would abuse the system just so they win football games. That's what I say.

[Casey]

Credit to you Brandon. Credit.

[Big Ev]

And Skipway known for their great leadership.

[Casey]

Yes.

[Brandon]

Thanks for watching. Thanks for watching. That's unnecessary roughness.

[Casey]

Look cute. Everybody.