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[00:01]
A
We're back.
[00:01]
B
Tech Sags Live. We are presented by David Gardner's Jewelers Rollo Insurance Studio. Let's go to the Puppies catering and bartending hotline, joined by TexAct's contributor, Kano O' Guerra here on the program. What up, Real G?
[00:15]
A
Real G. That's. That one's new. We're just. We're trying that one out. We're seeing that works.
[00:20]
B
Well, Bronnie earlier said that I do dad jokes, so I was just trying to think of what, you know, how to incorporate your old. Your podcast with your last name with Texas contributor. And I just said the real G. Real og.
[00:33]
C
Now that.
[00:34]
A
That place. That. That's perfectly fine. I like bro. You started last time by calling me bro. I'm good with that. Real G is new. And look, here's. Here's an honest confession. I was probably, like, 12 years old when I found out, like, what OG meant. Like, oh, it's original Gangster. And I very quickly realized, like, I'm not cool enough for this, but my last name just lends itself to it, and I got to lean this as much as possible. So I would just try and tell people all the time, like, yeah, my nickname is OG And a lot of people ran with that, and it was great. And then I think a lot of people just kind of gave me a look, and they're like, man, I don't really know that you're fitting that build, but you know what? I'm happy to be called whatever you got on the table for me, Nuno.
[01:20]
B
Well, Connor, I just googled because I thought I was right. Just wanted to make sure what a real G is. And according to our good friend Google, AI a real giant, right? As a person who's authentic, fiercely loyal, and genuinely cool, the letter G stings for gangsta. It comes from original Gangster. So I gave you even better. Like, I. I went like, fiercely. You're like a dog, dawg. And D, O G. Sorry, your words.
[01:45]
A
Your words and mine. Dad jokes were. Look, they're. They're flying today, man.
[01:50]
B
I.
[01:51]
A
The fact that you to look up real G is probably the sign that I am not a real G. But you know what? I'll take it wherever I can get it.
[01:58]
B
All right, let's get into your crystal ball, because I always enjoy reading these when you've done them in the past. You have A and M finishing seventh in the SEC, 9 and 3, which, before the season starts, nobody wants to hear, Right? Well, at least our audience doesn't want to hear that. But I Think that's a very realistic point of view based on the unknowns that are still out there for Texas
[02:19]
A
A and M. I haven't finishing 6 and 3 in SEC play, which when we do the predicted order finish in the media and that comes out after ICC media days, you don't get like a conference record that's associated with each one. But A and M was picked to finish fourth in the conference by the media and so technically I'm like far apart by saying I think they're going to finish three spots worse, even though if you gave media some truth serum it probably be like oh yeah, like 6 and 3 or 7 and 2 in conference play. So I'm, I, I'm not like necessarily lower on A M than the consensus, despite what that number might say. But you know, I do question the finish still. I, I wonder what it's going to finishing the schedule with the likes of Oklahoma and Texas. I think it's the elephants in the room and I think here's the place that we need to mentally get to and I think it's a very realistic place. A and M in mid November is very much in playoff consideration, feeling like they're setting themselves up to be able to get back to the College Football Playoff. And you know, the way that these two seasons have finished under Mike Elko and knowing that the elephant in the room is those looming games against teams that are going to be battle tested by that point in the season. And I question whether or not we're going to be able to see A and M play a full 60 minute game against those two teams and win. Now if you win that Oklahoma game, all of a sudden we're talking about having a playoff berth already probably locked in by that point in the season going into the Texas game, even though the Texas game would sell itself, of course, and all the different things that are associated with that narratives and whatnot. But I do think that's going to be the conversation surrounding this A and M team is that they can rack up these wins in the first part of that schedule, but everybody's going to be going well. We know this is all going to come down to how that schedule finishes out in the regular season.
[04:10]
B
Yeah, I can't disagree with that. I am still, to me it's going to boil down to can A and M run the ball this year? If A and M can run the ball, I think Marcel Reeves a significantly better quarterback. And when I say run the ball, I don't mean Marcel running the ball. I'm meaning Just the entire running game. What does Reuben Owens look like? Jamari Amora and the rest of the crew. And again, that goes back to the offensive line. There's several layers to what I'm saying, but if they're able to run the ball, I'm a big believer. If they ran the ball better against Texas, that game feels different.
[04:38]
A
I don't think you're wrong. I think if you could close your eyes and see a world in which A and M has offensive line continuity going into the late part of the season, you'd feel great. If you knew that Reuben Owens was going to be perfectly healthy and looking every bit like the former five star guy he came in as be like that bodes pretty well. If you see the turnover numbers come down from Marcel Reed. If you see a first time play caller in Holman Wiggins looking the part, you'd say, all right, sign me up. Even if Mike Elko's defense doesn't necessarily have that bona fide star that they had last year in Cassius Howell, you'd still feel like he's going to do enough to be able to give you enough of, of a floor on that side of the ball to make all those other things work. And that's the identity of a playoff contend. The problem is it's tough for me to close my eyes and see all of those things coming to fruition. Could some of them, absolutely. But a lot of unknowns and there are a lot of unknowns in this conference this year, man. Like I picked Texas to win the SEC and Lord knows that that won't come back to bite me at all. I might be the first person to ever put on Texas that I think Texas is going to win the conference. Surely Texas won't fall on its face, but Texas, I have questions about on the defensive side of the ball. They have three guys I think that are from last year's defense that had at least three or four starts. Like they are really portal alliance with a guy. And Will Muschamp who is taking over Pete Kwiatkowski in what's going to be a role that he hasn't been in in a while. And I, I do wonder what that looks like. So everybody's got certain questions. A&M's may be a little bit more pronounced than others, but I don't necessarily think there's going to be a very big gap, maybe even 1 through 7 in the SEC.
[06:22]
B
So really what you're saying, Connor, and you basically said it in a different way, is that they'll probably be seven and one heading into the last two games of the year. And that'll determine playoff team or not, as it has the last couple of years.
[06:36]
A
Right. But wouldn't be. Wouldn't be surprising. Now, I'll say this. If the playoff is not in consideration in mid November, that, that'd be a really tough look, and that would be a sign that those things we just talked about, closing our eyes and seeing them come to fruition, then probably only one or two of those came to fruition. And it would be a. A setback for Mike Elko. But, man, you see the things that are being said about him in the off season, and everybody just feels like A M has that adult in the room. Now, whether or not you can win those games that might come down to a possession or two, that remains to be seen. And I think Mike Elko has all the motivation in the world to be able to prove that. He talked about, you know, like, how do you motivate your guys? My empty trophy case, you know, like, that's. That's what's still motivating this team. And now they're going to be held to that standard this year. But, yeah, I think it's going to be a crazy year in the sec. It is going to be one of those years in which week to week we go, who's going to Atlanta? Do we know? Do we know who's going to be able to get there? Maybe a team that is trying to get there for the very first time, like A and M, like Ole Miss, can do just that.
[07:44]
B
Connor, I think some of these things are very fair, but I don't want to push back on you. I push back on people overall that say, well, A and M doesn't win these big games. Well, I'm sorry. I still think Notre Dame was a big win, and LSU I bring up because in retrospect, it wasn't as big of a win. But I've always been a prisoner of the moment when I talk about games, and at that time, it was a huge game. I know what happened afterwards, and maybe that's just coping by me. But at the time, LSU was not who they are, who they were the rest of the way.
[08:17]
A
LSU losing that game the way that they did, it changed the course of SEC history. It absolutely did. Because I think if Brian Kelly loses a close down to the wire game in which all of a sudden Garrett Nussmeier looks like he's healthy and this offense is actually doing things, I don't think Brian Kelly gets fired that night, maybe he still gets fired at season's end, but we don't have the fiasco that we had with Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss playing out the way that it did where he was courted so early on in the process. And so the ripple effect of that is, I mean, so significant. And the fact that A and M was the team that put the nail in the coffin, yeah, that was a huge part of the SEC story in 2025. And so that game did mean a lot. And still going into that place and winning at night the way that they did, like even in down years for l you, that is still a worthy accomplishment. I wonder what that game is going to look like this year because I think that is an opportunity for Lane Kiffin to show he is different than his predecessor. Marcel Reed says, look, I don't lose to lsu. I don't blame him for saying that. If I played the way that Marcel Reed did against lsu, I'd sure as heck be confident too. But I do think that that's an opportunity for LSU to be able to say, look, it's a new era in this program. And so that could be one of those games where it's just like, hey, it's, it's 28, 24 and it's coming down to that last possession. I think there are going to be so many of those coin flip type games this year and some of those probably go in M's way and then some of them won't. And maybe this year this is the time in which LSU is more competent and they can actually look like a team that fields an SEC type defense in the second half against A and
[09:56]
B
M. Connor, you picked Anto Saka as the SEC defensive newcomer of the year. Where, where do you, where does that bold prediction come from? I mean, I don't disagree with you. By the way. I love until soccer. I think he's gonna be great and with Coach Elko working with him. But just kind of give me your thoughts on that.
[10:12]
A
I've learned to just blindly trust when Mike Elko evaluates a defensive lineman in the portal. And, you know, worked with Cassius Howell. I think it worked with Nick Scorton. I think you could point to examples where you've already seen that play out. I mean, TJ Cercy is a guy that's going to be a leader of that unit and Lord knows he's been certainly a very valuable piece of that defensive line if you've watched the way that this team has played. But I think that Sock is the one that's going to be able to come in there and establish that pass rushing threat which you need to have in this day and age. Like you talk to coaches and they'll tell you go into the portal, get yourself a guy that can rush off the edge. And he's done that well so far in the Big Ten. And this is a very experienced player who's coming in with a pedigree that maybe some people are sleeping on nationally because they haven't necessarily had a reason to tune into Northwestern games when they're on 11 o' clock central or something like that. They're playing right next to Lake Michigan. But this is someone who I think is going to explode in that Mike Elko defense. I think he's going to be one of those players that within the first few weeks of the season he's a household name. And maybe it's not as much of a, oh, he's now a household name in the way that Cassius Howell was after the back to back to back sacks that he had. But he's going to make his presence felt very much. And I think if we're talking about newcomers in the SEC and you know that's what I picked him to be, the SEC defensive newcomer of the year. I think you have to look at one of those game wrecking edge rushers, these guys who I think can take a lot of these offensive lines by surprise with the things that they can come into this conference and do immediately. So yeah, it's somewhat blind faith in Mike Elko, but I think to this point he's earned it.
[11:44]
B
I know you're high on Ole Miss. Are you high on lsu? And the reason I'm asking that is that we're going to get that matchup early. Do you see a world where they play again?
[11:55]
A
It's volatile. They could, but I think LSU is going to be all over the place and they're another one of these teams. I have it 9 and 3. I have LSU missing the College Football Playoff as a result of that game, September 19th at Ole Miss. I think LSU loses that game and I think they're one of these teams that week to week is kind of tough to figure out and with so many new pieces, I, I just don't necessarily know that you can set it and forget it with them and, and know what their floor is because that's kind of been Sam Lovett as a player. I mean, even if he's healthy, like go back to that Mississippi State game last year where the first half of that game, really, the first like three quarters of that game. It's like this dude was in a college football playoff last year. What's going on? So I don't think he's a finished guy and I don't think having the off season that he did with the Liz Frank injury, wherein he missed spring ball with his new team, is necessarily going to bode well. So maybe there are some moments where he's still kind of playing some of that YOLO ball and LSU's offense is just too turnover prone. It puts too much pressure on that defense. So I think they're going to be one of those teams that week to week you're going to want to tune into because it's Lane Kiffin and Baton Rouge, of course, for all the obvious reasons. But they're also just kind of a bit of a mixed bag and you just don't know what you're going to get. Even that LSU defense at times under Blake Baker, I mean against A and M especially, have had moments in which they've been all over the place. So I can't sit here and tell you with full confidence that they're like a 102 team. I think they're, they're on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff and that will be very, very much dissected among college football fans that are waiting on Lane Kiffin to fail.
[13:28]
B
Where are you on Georgia and why?
[13:31]
A
Again, I'm dumb for saying this. I'm really, really dumb. I need to tell the people this. I am dumb for saying that the team that has been to the SEC championship eight of the last nine years is not going to get to Atlanta this year. And I am fully aware that I'm probably just doing the thing in the preseason where I'm like, well, look, that's the most obvious pick. The media picked Georgia to win the conference, understandably so. And I'm probably just trying to be a little bit interesting by saying that they're not going to win the SEC this year. But I have met 10 and 2 and 72 in conference play, losing that late season game to Ole Miss, which ultimately decides a spot in Atlanta. And if you ask Georgia fans and maybe even Kirby Smart if you give them some truth serum, do they really care about getting to the SEC championship anymore? I don't think that first round buy gives them a whole lot of confidence because we've seen what it's been like the last two years where they get the first round buy they lose in the Sugar bowl and they're like hey, maybe it would have been nice to have that home playoff, playoff game and build up some momentum and kind of, you know, get our footing a little bit here and not have as much of a, of a layoff. So I think Georgia this year actually misses out on the SEC championship and then gets to the national championship and plays a game against Oregon. Dan Lanning Masterverse Disciple A different story than 2022, Dan Lanning's debut. I was there in Atlanta. Oregon kicked off season against Georgia, did not belong in the same field as Georgia, but. But you know, it's a different era right now for Oregon football, but I think Georgia is able to make it that far and then maybe some offensive limitations in that national championship game that hold them back. And this is ultimately a year in which Georgia kind of gets over the playoff hump and ends that mini drought. But they're, they're not able to be the last team standing.
[15:16]
B
You have Alabama winning 10 games. If Alabama wins 10 games, they're a playoff team. What does that do for Calen DeBoer? I'm not talking about what they do in the playoffs. I think that obviously is going to come down to that. But just if he with a brand new quarterback gets this team to double digits, does it kind of change the way people look at him? At least in Tuscaloosa, it puts preseason
[15:38]
A
national championship contender status back on Alabama going into 2027. That's kind of the way that they've built this roster. The Greg Byrne decision to extend Kaylin DeBoer reflects that. And I thought that the way that spent in the portal with some of their offensive line evaluation, I, I thought that that looked like a team that was ramping up for sort of a two year proof of concept. And you know, there are still going to be a ton of narratives about Alabama no matter what this year. And I am going 10 and 2 because I think the schedule is really favorable. I've said this before, I'll say it again, like A and M and Oklahoma have better teams on paper than Alabama. But I do think that Alabama gets a very beneficial schedule for an inexperienced team. With the way that it starts and then that four game gauntlet. If you go two like you're still set up to be a playoff team at 10 and 2 and kind of able to work through some of those ebbs and flows. I think Keelan Russell is the real deal. And my predictions here, I have him as the SEC freshman of the year. He's a redshirt freshman. But I do think that he's going to be what that staff hopes he could be, which is the righty Michael Penix. If he is that guy. If this Alabama team retains a ton of production from a team that makes the College Football Playoff this year going into 2027, the conversation surrounding Caleb DeBoer will be, well, now is when he should win that national championship. You know, I asked him at SEC media days, do you think your time at Alabama will be defined by whether you win a national championship? And his answer? I, I think left a lot to be desired. And I think a lot of people were hoping that he would just come on and say, yeah, that's the expectation. It's Alabama. I know what I signed up for. And so he's like, well, I wouldn't doubt that. And, you know, talked about like, that's not necessarily my goal. And he gave a very Saban like answer. The problem is that he is not in Saban territory right now with that Alabama fan base and there are so many different conversations about him. So I'm all over the place, probably with Alabama, even though I do think I'm higher than consensus, but more questions than answers with this team going into 2026.
[17:35]
B
Last thing for you, Connor. Not SEC related, but Indiana related. What kind of year are you expecting from Indiana after winning a national championship? Obviously Hoover's coming in to be the quarterback. Do they maintain this playoff level program this year?
[17:50]
A
I think they do. I think they're an 111 team. I, I do. I, I think that, I mean, the win total is 10 and a half wins, which is nuts. Like, it's kind of crazy to consider what Indiana did last year and know that their win total with really a lot of new pieces is still that high. But I mean, they retained both coordinators. It's really rare. Like, Brian Haynes came back after winning the Broyles Award. We haven't seen a coach do that in this sport since Brent Venables came back from that 2018 Clemson team. In terms of like national championship winning coordinators, it's just not the way that that typically works out. So the foundation is still very much in place. I think their front seven should still be one of the better groups in all of college football. Offensive line like Carter Smith is a preseason All American. The left tackle and Josh Hoover. You're stepping into a situation where the first two quarterbacks under Signetti have both been top 10 of the Heisman voting. So it's hard not to be bullish on Indiana knowing that you have that marquee home game against Ohio State, and then you have to turn around and go travel up to Ann Arbor. Like that stretch will define whether or not Indiana makes the College Football Playoff. But like the 272 under Kurt Signetti, with the two losses coming to teams that played a national championship, it's hard to get around that. And so for me, with the mindset that he's had all offseason, very sabanesque. And it doesn't necessarily guarantee Saban levels of success. But if you're ever trying to have a coach be wired the right way coming off a 160 season, it's what Kurt Signetti's had. And I don't really question the complacency factor or anything like that. So, yeah, I mean, I think that they're going to win a whole bunch of games, make College Football Playoff. I don't think they're going to win a national championship. I think it's going to be tougher to make a deep run of the playoff this year with the roster that they have, but they're still very much going to be part of the national championship conversation.
[19:31]
B
Connor, great stuff as always, buddy. Talk to you soon.
[19:34]
A
Thanks, man.
[19:35]
B
Appreciate it, man. Conor o' Gara on Texas AGS Live. All right, we'll hit a break. We'll come back open segment followed by Billy for an hour. Right now, if you're looking for real peace of mind, it starts with the right team and it starts with making sure you manage your money the right way. Check out Aggie owned Paragon Financial Advisors. They're independent fiduciary serving clients all across Texas. No sales pitches, no commissions, just honest financial planning and investment management. And what sets them apart is the over nine CFPs, the CFA and the CPA all on staff. They take their credentials seriously and they work tirelessly to help you build a future that you can feel good about. Go to paragon-adv.com or give them a call. 979-693-3907 to schedule your free consultation. Today it is Paragon Financial Advisors. Integrity, expertise and Trust. Paragon Financial Advisors.
[20:22]
C
Start your Sunday mornings with the best week ever from ESPN Radio Radio. Listen in from 6 to 9 on the Zone, 11:50am and 93.7 FM.
[20:35]
B
Oh, it's on. So was it me or was it uk? Let's be honest, let's have a conversation. Well, I, I saw that your mic was on. I, I just, I started talking and I heard nothing interesting. So I was like, oh, ok. I thought it was me. This is really professional radio. Kade, you Took over the show and it started off brilliantly. Thank you very much. Yeah. Yeah, you're welcome. Nick Savage out.
[20:57]
D
Yeah.
[20:57]
B
Let's go to the Angry Elephant news and social center Carson Stein wants to tell us what's poppin on tech sacks today.
[21:04]
D
So on tech sacks today, we got a lot of content from yesterday and today. Starting with some stuff from yesterday, we have a five and five with Billy. We have five thoughts from Luke Evangelis from the Bahamas, sponsored by the Bayless law firm. And as for today, we have another five and five from Billy. We have a volleyball press conference with coach Jamie Morrison. We have a football press conference with Micah Riley, Mark Nabu and Dalton Brooks. And as for later on today, we have Texas Aggies United with Ashton Bethel Roman and Damian Sanford.
[21:33]
B
All right, good stuff there. And by the way, we will have Luke Evangelist live, probably from a beach or something in the Bahamas as he'll join us to talk about the game yesterday where they were running away with it against University of Victoria. I still don't have any resolution. Like, where are they from? Is that Australia? I think it's Melbourne, Australia. It is. Okay. It's not down in, you know, South Texas. Not that big. No, not that Victoria. Yeah, actually, I knew that, but I wasn't sure if it was the Melbourne one. But okay, we'll have Luke to kind of break down that game. But apparently they were up a lot. Then Victoria made a little run and then A and M's like, no, sir, they were bad from the free throw line. But that's something that, you know, and I think they. They didn't like their defense. So we'll talk about that when Billy joins us here in a little bit. Obviously, we got some fall camp stuff to get into. Like, what are some things that he's looking at? What are some of the areas that he's going to be really keying in on? We'll be there as a team tomorrow for the first day of fall practice. It's already here. It's the longest off season in the history of sports, but when it comes, it comes in a flurry. And are we September 4th, the first game?
[22:42]
D
September 5th.
[22:43]
B
September 5th. So we are just over a month away from the very first game of the season against Missouri State. One of the things I do want to get into and maybe Billy and I can get into is what does a championship roster in the SEC look like in today's era of college football? Because we talk so much about the playoffs, right. And, like, that's where we want to See A and M play in and we do. Like, all of us want to see that. I don't think I'm in the minority. I would love to be in Kirby smart shoes to be like, you know what? It's okay. We don't have to play in Atlanta. It's fine. Like, we don't need the extra game. I want it for our fans. I want it for me. I want A and M to play in an SEC championship game. So, like, do you have to have elite quarterback play to make an SEC championship game, make the playoffs? You can use the same question, and I don't know if elite quarterback play is the answer to that, but Ohio State, did they have elite quarterback play the last couple years in the Big Ten?
[23:41]
D
I'll even say Georgia.
[23:43]
B
Georgia. Have they had gunners?
[23:44]
D
Stockton was not elite last year. He was very serviceable, though.
[23:47]
B
Has Oregon had elite quarterback play? Has Texas had elite quarterback play?
[23:52]
D
I'll say Oregon has with Dante Moore is pretty legit. Dante Moore might be the first pick in the draft next year.
[23:58]
B
I'm trying to think of other teams. Yes, Ole Miss, who didn't make the SEC championship game. Did they have elite quarterback play last year? They did, right? They had elite quarterback play. But you look at Alabama, would you say they had elite quarterback play this past season?
[24:14]
D
Yeah, I'd say above average, or I'd say good to great with Ty Simpson.
[24:19]
B
So what you need is really good quarterback play. We'll take elite. Of course. Everybody will take elite. Fernando Mendoza was elite. He'll take elite. Marcel be elite. But you don't need elite. You do have to have an offensive line that is deep, an offensive line that protects and that is deep. So you have to have that. I think retention, which Mike Elko is great at, is a huge part. I think I hear Billy, by the way. So maybe we'll hit a break here in a second. Do I hear Billy Cade? No. Oh, I hear somebody being really loud. Ronnie? Yeah, bigger. So retention, obviously a big part of what an SEC championship game needs to look like. Now, that being said, you look at some of the youngest teams in all of college football. Texas, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas A and M, they're all, like, in the 19 and a half range. You have to win in the trenches, but do you have to be built that way? That's something to ask. You need NFL players across the board, but especially in the secondary. Teams that make it to SEC championship games have elite secondaries and NFL talent on that secondary. What is something we keep not only hearing, but knowing A and M has a pretty deep, darn good secondary, right? So we have that. What about spending your money on one superstore? A and M doesn't do that. They. They spread it out in A. In a great way. So I'm giving you things that to think about as potentially of what A and M has to do from a, you know, checks and balances standpoint. You want to have a veteran quarterback, for sure. A and M's got that. You want elite returning skill, talent. I think A and M has that for sure. I think you want. Not only do you want cohesion on the offensive line, that's a tbd, but you have a returning starting center at the offensive line, which hopefully brings that chemistry. It just speeds up that chemistry because he's the one who's touching the ball in every play. He's the one making the calls. He's the one who sets the tone. As I already mentioned, you want experience, secondary, and you want to make sure you hit in the portal. A and M has done all those things. The question remains, if at all, you know, you hit the jackpot on all of them. And obviously we'll have to figure that out as time goes. But, you know, if you can replace production from last year, which I think A and M's done, and you get really good to elite quarterback play, which I think that's what Marcel did for 95% of last season, then I think, yeah, you'll be in the mix at the end of the season. And at the end of the season, you got to. You got to go beat Oklahoma. You got to go beat Texas. That's what it comes down to. Kind of like what Connor was talking about. Right now, we're talking about Guarantee bank and Trust. They've been around since 1913. They have over a century of experience helping Texans as one of the most respected community banks. And they are so respected. And what does a community bank mean to you? It means that these guys work here in the market, right? They know you. Sometimes when you go to these big branch banks, like, you know, you got this triage person that doesn't know anything about you. Let me type in your number. It takes a while, right? You want somebody who already knows when you walk in while you're in there, like, oh, you want to check on the loan, you want to check on this, on that. And that's what Guaranty bank and Trust does. They are just super local and they are a community bank to their core. 33 locations in Texas, from East Texas to DFW to Houston to Central Texas. But they're not their headquarters. But their mission right here in College Station is three great locations. They grow strong for your community. Every decision is shaped by helping this community grow stronger again. It is Guaranteed Bank Trust. Check out the website gnty.com it is guarantee bank and Trust, a division of Glacier bank member FDIC Equal Housing Lender.
[28:00]
C
The money machine is open now. Two ways to enter each week.
[28:04]
B
Oh come on. Don't keep us in suspense.
[28:07]
C
Zone100150.com and the Zone Newsletter.
[28:10]
A
Thank you.
[28:11]
B
Welcome back to Tex Ags Live. We are presented by David Gardner's jewelers Rollo Insurance Studio. Waiting on Billy Lucci to join the program. We'll chit chat with Billy here in about, I don't know, whenever. We'll get to him when we get to him. Anyway, let's go back to the Angry Elephant News and Social Center. Carson Stein found out some predictions from our friend. Who was it?
[28:33]
D
J.D. pikel from the program?
[28:34]
B
Yep.
[28:35]
D
So J.D. put out his college football playoffs rankings and predictions for the end of the season. I just want to run these games and the eventual champion by you and see what you think.
[28:45]
B
Okay. Take it in parts.
[28:46]
D
So in the first round he has number five Texas Tech defeating number 12 UTSA.
[28:54]
B
Hold on. He's got. Say that again.
[28:55]
D
He has Texas tech as the 5 seed defeating number 12 UTSA.
[29:01]
B
I haven't done enough research on what UTSA has done. Is most and so sure. Okay.
[29:09]
D
And then the rest of the first round he has number six Oklahoma defeating number 11 LSU.
[29:14]
B
Number six Oklahoma in an SEC showdown versus number 11 LSU.
[29:19]
D
Yes, sir.
[29:20]
B
So he's really high on Oklahoma.
[29:22]
D
In that case, following that, we have number seven, Notre Dame defeating number 10 Indiana. A rematch of the playoffs two years ago.
[29:29]
B
The championship, not the championship. Yeah, second round of the playoffs two years ago. Okay.
[29:33]
D
And then number nine, Texas defeating number eight, USC in the last matchup of
[29:38]
B
the first round, number nine, Texas defeating USC. That means he has, I would assume he has Texas losing to Oklahoma. If he's got Oklahoma higher than them from 6 to 9. Okay.
[29:48]
D
And so then in the quarterfinals he has Georgia, number one seed, defeating number nine seed Texas.
[29:55]
B
Okay.
[29:55]
D
Oregon, number two defeating number seven, Notre Dame.
[29:59]
B
Oregon number two being. Okay.
[30:01]
D
And then Oklahoma, number six defeating number three, Ohio State.
[30:05]
B
Man, he is high on Oklahoma. Okay.
[30:07]
D
Following that we have.
[30:08]
B
So hold on. I've noticed you haven't mentioned Texas A and M yet.
[30:11]
D
I have not. He does not have A and m making the 12 team playoff this year. Okay. The last matchup of the quarterfinals he has is Miami is the four seed beating Tech is the five seed.
[30:22]
B
I can absolutely see that being the case. Yes. Okay.
[30:25]
D
And then when we go to the semis, he has Georgia beating Miami.
[30:29]
B
Georgia beat him. Okay.
[30:29]
D
So he's very high on Georgia in Oregon beating Oklahoma.
[30:33]
B
Okay.
[30:33]
D
To where it's a Georgia versus Oregon
[30:35]
B
national championship and Oregon wins it all.
[30:37]
D
And he has Oregon beating Georgia.
[30:38]
B
That sounds like what I've been saying this like for two weeks.
[30:41]
D
That's what Connor o' Gara just said.
[30:42]
B
Yeah. Now I, I think I do that. Not because I know, you know, I have an extensive history of researching Oregon football this year. Like it's. I just believe when you have one of the top two or three quarterbacks in the country who would have been a top 10 pick in the NFL draft and you have all the resources that they have and the players coming back that they have, and you have a very good coach, I think this could be the natural process for them to take that next big step. Which I think is interesting when you consider Texas A and M, because, you know, going back to Bronnie's commentary earlier, that the thing that I thought Arsenal did in the soccer world, that is something that we don't see enough of in college football is patience. And Oregon, not that they have no reason not to be patient with Dan Lanning. Like, that's not the case. But I haven't heard whispers about, hey man, you better win the big. The next big. Like it's been a little bit now if they have a step back. I was about to say that changes conversation.
[31:42]
D
If he doesn't make the playoffs is. I won't say it's. He's hot, but if he doesn't make the playoffs, does it get a little uncomfortable in order to.
[31:49]
B
I mean, it's uncomfortable for any big time coach. Like, I really believe that. I think it's uncomfortable for any big time coach that doesn't. Of course it should be uncomfortable.
[31:57]
D
The only reason I say that is because if you look at the last two years that Oregon's made the playoffs under Dan Laning, they've gotten embarrassed in their losses.
[32:06]
B
They have.
[32:07]
D
The first year they were the number one overall seed lost to the eventual national champion in Ohio State. And then this past year they beat. Who was it? James Madison.
[32:15]
B
Yeah.
[32:16]
D
And then they get bounced by Indiana.
[32:18]
B
Well, I think we're going to see more of that if the college football playoffs continues to expand. And I'm not saying that Oregon is in that conversation, but I mean, Alabama got embarrassed as well. Like, that is happening more than you would think, especially if they go from 16 to 24, if those things are possible. Billy Lucci is in studio. Billy, how are you? I don't understand what the sigh was.
[32:41]
E
No feel, no nothing.
[32:44]
B
No.
[32:44]
E
No brass knuckles.
[32:45]
B
At least you have no feel.
[32:47]
D
No.
[32:47]
E
I was like, you're talking. Keep talking. You can tell. I'm, like, still on the phone. I hadn't gotten set up yet, but here we go.
[32:53]
B
This segment started six minutes ago.
[32:55]
E
You want to know that story?
[32:56]
B
No.
[32:57]
E
I walk in, and Richard's running down the stairs. Running.
[33:02]
B
That's dangerous.
[33:03]
E
Ronnie's like, you better hurry. You better hurry. He's running down the stairs with a bunch of shirts of a new sponsor.
[33:11]
B
Yep.
[33:12]
E
That he thinks we're supposed to wear today. And then. Exactly. Even I knew. I said, y' all are wrong. They've got Cali on the phone. Richard's running downstairs. Bronzer's yelling, holding his baby. I'm like, what in the hell's going on? And it's like a. Then they said, all we have is bronies, and it's like a 3X. And I said, well, I'm not wearing that. And also, it's not for this. It's for Luchador.
[33:37]
B
Right.
[33:38]
E
And they had to call Miranda, shout out to Pons. Right? Oh, you want to say who?
[33:44]
B
Yeah, I just did.
[33:45]
E
Yeah. Yeah, Poncho. So I'm like, I'm not wearing a 3X. Let's get me in a normal size. And it's. We're wearing them during Luchador. New sponsor there. So we're gonna wear those. And I'm fired up. So then I'm going, well, do I have to always wear specific ones, or can I go, like, shop through. You know, buy different, like, long sleeve this week.
[34:06]
B
Right.
[34:06]
E
Maybe the jacket when it gets in the fall. That I've got.
[34:09]
B
Oh, they have a jacket.
[34:10]
E
Oh, yeah. They got nice. Like, not jacket, but like a.
[34:12]
B
A shacket.
[34:13]
E
Oh, yeah, yeah. You know, my look. It's unbuttoned over the look that I perfected. I didn't know that I have one. But so anyway, that was. They were just running around, and oddly enough, Cade Bickham was holding it together.
[34:28]
B
Oddly enough, is the right way.
[34:30]
E
Panicum was like, steady. Yeah, Steady as she goes. But anyway, that's what I walked into this morning. I land from Chicago. I've got. You know, dog's got diarrhea, wakes me up early. I'm. I come into this.
[34:50]
B
This should be your happy Place.
[34:51]
E
And then we got. We got Elko Presser today. Kaylee Dreyer wants me to do interview at 11. I told her, hey, look at the text above where I told you I have an appointment at 11.
[35:04]
B
Wow. You just destroyed her right there on the air.
[35:07]
E
I mean, it's just.
[35:08]
B
She's managing a lot of people, Billy.
[35:10]
D
She is.
[35:10]
E
She's the best. She. She is the unsung hero, honestly.
[35:16]
B
Yeah.
[35:16]
A
Of all of.
[35:16]
E
All that.
[35:17]
B
That I just said, dealing with our personalities and scheduling.
[35:21]
E
Yeah. Scheduling college athletes who are actually. Actually really great. But imagine having to schedule that constantly. Yeah.
[35:32]
C
Daily.
[35:32]
E
It's tough. I know you wouldn't be. You know how it feels, and you just have to handle me.
[35:38]
B
I don't.
[35:38]
E
Imagine if you had 85.
[35:40]
B
I have, like, things in play, just in case. Like. All right, what are we gonna do here? Oh.
[35:45]
E
Ow.
[35:46]
B
Was it that hot?
[35:47]
E
Feel it.
[35:49]
B
That feels great.
[35:50]
E
Oh, God.
[35:51]
B
Sorry. Some of us have man hands,
[35:57]
E
Nuno, for all you do, you. You ain't got a callous one on there.
[36:02]
B
I do have calluses right there.
[36:04]
E
You have soft hands, bro. Effeminate, almost, as if that. You use lotion.
[36:09]
B
I don't use. Well, I don't.
[36:13]
E
We talk football. I went. And by the way, you know where I went this weekend? Craig? Like, I went to Cubs, Yankees, which was great. Shout out Blue Delta. Yeah, they're on Nick Weaver and Blue Delta. Nick always might be the. He might be the unsung hero of the sec.
[36:35]
B
He's hooked up a lot of people.
[36:36]
E
Yeah. And just. But so we did that and. And then I ended up shout out another one of our friends up there. I ended up with some Lollapalooza passes. I hadn't been there in quite some time, so. Shout out Taylor McGregor. Cubs. Also SEC. Well, I'm not SEC. College Football Rising star, by the way, in case you were wondering. And went to Lollapalooza for the first time since 1996. Probably like. No, I think I've been like, to one, but I've never been in Chicago. Quite an experience. So many people. I don't know how many I'd like to look up. Why don't you look up how many people attended this thing? Because all the girls out there were jealous because I was going to get to see Tate McCray.
[37:33]
D
Yeah.
[37:34]
E
Who's all their favorites, and I understand why. And I went chain smokers. Tate McCray, some other band that was pretty good. I got to look them up during the break. I'll figure out who they were because people listening Might like them. But I mean, I don't think I've ever been to any event ever with that many people. And I will say this Lollapalooza has gotten very young. If I wouldn't have had like passes, that would have been a hard, a hard deal to attend because it was, they were so young and there were so many people, but it was a blast. I ended up loving it. Like once we got in there and got settled, it was great Sunday night.
[38:15]
B
So let's hit a break. We'll come back with a real segment on the other side. Right now we are talking about Caldwell Country Chevrolet Highway 21 and Caldwell online at caldwellcountrychevrolet.com if you're a business owner and you're ready to take your operation to the next level, check out Caldwell Country Chevrolet. They've expanded their selection of commercial vehicles and they want to meet your everyday need. They've got it all. So when you go there, you're going to find the right vehicle for you and your situation. And they are a business elite dealer, which means they understand what it takes to keep your company moving forward. And remember, when you go there, you get that commercial vehicle purchase comes with that legendary free oil change for life because they believe in supporting local business. Remember, it's about a 15 minute drive the edge of Brian to the beginnings of Caldwell. A short conversation away. But you'll see the difference when you step on the lot and do business with the good people at Caldwell Country Chevrolet Highway 21 in Caldwell Online CaldwellCountryChevrolet.com
[39:06]
C
Listen to the Houston Astros on the zone. Thanks to Kelly Burdozer for that Billy
[39:11]
B
Lucian studio and all the compliments he gives me during the break.
[39:13]
E
Billy, let's compliment during the break. He's literally sitting here trying to figure out how many Chicago's, Chicago's youth he could beat up at one time at Lollapaloo.
[39:24]
C
I'm over here.
[39:24]
E
That's where it went.
[39:25]
B
Responding to my brother and Billy says to me, oh, you would have gotten pummeled there. They would have destroyed you. And then he says, because I think you would have started a fight with a young guy.
[39:34]
E
That's what I said.
[39:35]
B
I don't start fights with anybody. I'm, I'm all about the peace.
[39:40]
E
I'm all about Aggie football.
[39:41]
B
Okay.
[39:42]
E
I'm all about five and five.
[39:45]
B
Which starts.
[39:47]
E
Yeah, I feel like everybody does some form of fives. There's all the fives now. Five and five goes back how long? Like 31 years long. Time, which started it yesterday, got one coming out today. I think today's was what did I send Zane today? Today was like the players that really caught my eye this off season in one way or the other. Whether it's coming in here, whether it's what I, what I've heard from sources, you know, what the players have said, some other sources have said, just guys that I'm like, man, get ready because. And it's to varying degrees like one of them is like Anto Saka who is going to obviously compete to start likely starter or you know, maybe you have a three man rotation and whatever but you know, one of your top portal additions, a guy that's been beyond impressive. Another one's Terry Bussey. Because I just don't think people, I saw people were talking about the weight he gained and kind of questioning, hey, is it going to be good weight or not because he was already big. No, like I was shocked when I saw the weight gain from Terry Bussey because I'd been telling people it looks like he's leaned up. So he, he had a terrific off season, it says. Someone told me Bussy was hurt in high school. He enrolled in June, he got here, he was playing corn. He missed still some time in the summer. Then fall camp started, he's playing cornerback. Halfway through they move him to receiver. And then he missed last off season, injured. This was his first full off season. You know, he was hurt in spring, but people, people made a big deal about that the day he got hurt same way they did Ash and Bethel Roman. Those guys are back and healthy as they were a couple months ago. Neither one of them was any kind of long term injury. So Bussy's essentially gone through the entire off season. He looks so different then. I've also got a guy like Tamarion Watkins who added so much weight and I don't know where it ends for him in terms of his size, but he's still got plenty of room to grow. And he came in looking like, you know, to me I was like, man, he might grow into like a Antonio Johnson type of safety. Now I'm sitting there going, man, is he going to be a 6:3,237 pound linebacker that runs like a safety? I don't, I don't know, it's gonna be fun to watch because he's so talented. But Anyway, that's today's 5 and 5, so there's just a ton to talk about and then starting tomorrow we have actual practice to discuss.
[42:28]
B
Yeah, what, what is. I don't want to call it concern, but what is the thing you're watching out for Week one, like oh, week one. Yeah, just like over the first couple practices, if you were to say, hey, these are things, I just want to see how they look have developed from spring to now. There's two or three things you got your eyes on.
[42:48]
E
Yeah, I wouldn't say I'm concerned about anything. To start fall camp, there are things that you, that you're concerned about. We've talked all summer.
[42:56]
B
Right.
[42:56]
E
All season, going into the season, like you got to see the O line coming. You got to see Marcel make that next step, that jump. You got to see the running game come the pass rush. So concern probably in week one wouldn't be what what I'm feeling. It would be more like interest. So number one to me is the interest level in seeing who the guys are up front now in day one. Like they'll be overkill. It'll be interesting. Just day one practice one. Who's out there starting five. They'll change it around pretty much daily for a while. But so maybe it's not a week. Maybe it's midway through fall camp, like two weeks. Like when do you start getting that feel? Okay. I think this is going to be the starting five. If you asked me today, I think I'd go form be it right tackle, maybe Ivey at right guard, Naboo at center ball at left guard, Adams left tackle. But see, here's Lamont Rogers. I've written about him. He's going to be a guy that it's going to be hard to keep him off the field. He's at, he's probably left tackle, could probably play either but it's going to be hard to keep him on. He, he had a really eye opening, an eye opening spring followed by a really strong summer off season. And so Lamont Thomas, I like Tyler Thomas at guard when he's out there. Looks like just a mountain of a dude. And then and also Cohen Echols is going to factor in. He's going to factor in big time there in that battle at guard can play guard or center. So that's that was why he was such a good addition himself. So anywho, I think keep some of
[44:47]
B
those other thoughts the other side. Okay, we'll identify a couple more. Yeah, top of the hour and start
[44:53]
E
at 50 and yeah, top of the morning.
[44:54]
B
Top of the morning to you when we come back on Tech Sags Live. More Billy Lucci here on the program.
[44:59]
F
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Summary5 min read

TexAgs Live – Connor O’Gara + Billy Liucci (08.03.26)

Date: August 4, 2026
Host(s): David Nuño, Billy Liucci, TexAgs Crew
Guest: Connor O’Gara (TexAgs contributor, national college football writer)
Theme: SEC & Texas A&M Football Crystal Ball – Season Preview, Key Questions, and Bold Predictions

Overview

This episode of TexAgs Live features an in-depth crystal ball segment with Connor O’Gara, offering a candid breakdown of Texas A&M’s prospects heading into the SEC football season, key conference questions, playoff implications, and bold national predictions. The second half transitions into banter and analysis with Billy Liucci, focusing on Texas A&M’s roster, fall camp storylines, and the anatomy of championship-level teams in the modern era.

Key Discussions & Insights

1. Connor O’Gara’s SEC Crystal Ball: A&M’s Path (01:58 – 06:36)

A&M Season Projection:
O’Gara pegs A&M at 9-3 overall, 6-3 in SEC play, placing them 7th in the conference—lower than media consensus but “realistic based on the many unknowns.”

“A&M in mid November is very much in playoff consideration, feeling like they’re setting themselves up to be able to get back to the College Football Playoff... but it’ll all come down to finishing the schedule with Oklahoma & Texas.” (03:16, Connor O’Gara)
Elephants in the Room:
The season’s outcome hinges on closing games against Oklahoma and Texas; the team could be 7-1 heading into those crucial matchups.

“If the playoff is not in consideration in mid-November, that’s a really tough look. That would be a setback for Mike Elko..." (06:36, Connor O’Gara)
What’s Needed for Contention:
- Running game must improve, not just via QB Marcel Reed but the whole unit (esp. Reuben Owens, Jamari Amora).
- Must see “offensive line continuity,” reduced turnovers, play-calling growth from new OC Holman Wiggins.
- Defensive consistency even after losing last season’s star, Cassius Howell.

2. SEC Parity and Uncertainty (04:37 – 06:21; 07:44 – 09:55)

SEC Tiers Tighter Than Ever:
O’Gara forecasts minimal separation between teams 1 through 7.

“I don’t necessarily think there’s going to be a very big gap, maybe even 1 through 7 in the SEC.” (06:14, O’Gara)
Big Games for A&M:
Pushes back on the narrative that Aggies can’t win big games, citing last year’s win at LSU as “seismic”:

“LSU losing that game the way they did... changed the course of SEC history.” (08:16, O’Gara)
The Role of Tight Games:
Predicts numerous coin-flip games for A&M, LSU, and Ole Miss in 2026.

3. Key Players & Breakout Candidates (09:55 – 11:43)

Anto Saka (Texas A&M Edge, Portal Transfer):
O’Gara boldly forecasts Saka as his SEC Defensive Newcomer of the Year:

“I’ve learned to just blindly trust when Mike Elko evaluates a defensive lineman in the portal… Saka’s going to explode in that defense…” (10:11, O’Gara)
Defensive depth and impact:
Cites returning production and new faces making A&M’s front seven a force.

4. Broader SEC & National Outlook (11:43 – 17:35)

On LSU:
He predicts volatility (“all over the place”) and projects a 9-3 finish, missing the playoff.
On Georgia:
Picks them not to make the SEC Championship (losing to Ole Miss), but expects them to reach the national title game vs. Oregon.

“I am dumb for saying the team that’s been to the SEC championship eight of the last nine years is not going to get there...” (13:31, O’Gara)
On Alabama:
Predicts a 10-2 record and playoff berth, sees 2026 as crucial for Kalen DeBoer’s credibility in Tuscaloosa. Forecasts Keelan Russell as SEC Freshman of the Year.
On Indiana:
Expects Indiana to maintain playoff relevance with new QB Josh Hoover after their national title, citing a “Sabanesque” ability to resist complacency.

5. What Makes an SEC Championship Roster? (21:32 – 24:14, post-O’Gara segment)

Host Panel Discussion:
Shift to roundtable on the prerequisites for SEC and playoff contention:
- Elite or very good quarterback play is important, but not strictly required (see Georgia, Ohio State).
- Offensive line depth, roster retention, portal hits, experience and talent in the secondary are all highlighted as essential.
“You want to have a veteran quarterback, for sure. A&M’s got that. You want elite returning skill talent... cohesion on the O-line... experience secondary, and you want to make sure you hit in the portal.” (23:41, Host)

6. Listener Questions & Playoff Prediction Banter (28:32 – 32:38)

Review of J.D. PicKell’s playoff picks, noting optimism for Oklahoma, Oregon, and Georgia, while A&M is snubbed from his 12-team playoff.
Hosts reflect on Oregon’s growth and the national patience (or lack thereof) with big-time coaches.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On A&M’s season crux:

“If you win that Oklahoma game, all of a sudden we’re talking about having a playoff berth already probably locked in.” — Connor O’Gara (03:35)
On the challenge of projecting A&M:

“The problem is it’s tough for me to close my eyes and see all of those things coming to fruition. Could some of them? Absolutely. But a lot of unknowns…” — O’Gara (04:37)
On Georgia’s fatigue with Atlanta:

“Do they really care about getting to the SEC championship anymore?” — O’Gara (13:57)
On Mike Elko’s impact:

“Everybody just feels like A&M has that adult in the room now.” — O’Gara (06:56)
On SEC unpredictability:

“It is going to be one of those years in which week to week we go, who’s going to Atlanta?” — O’Gara (07:13)

Timestamps for Major Segments

01:58 Connor O’Gara’s SEC projections and A&M outlook
04:10 A&M’s playoff path — needing to win the closing stretch
06:36 Implications if A&M falls out of playoff contention
08:16 The significance of wins over LSU and Notre Dame
09:55 Anto Saka as SEC Defensive Newcomer of the Year
11:43 SEC volatility: LSU, Ole Miss, and playoff implications
13:31 Why O’Gara predicts Georgia to miss ATL
15:15 Alabama’s prospects under Kalen DeBoer
17:50 Indiana’s playoff chances post-title
21:32 TexAgs crew: What makes a modern SEC champion?
28:32 Listener Q&A; national playoff picks

Notable Post-O’Gara: Fall Camp & Roster Focus (from 39:10 onward)

Billy Liucci’s Five-in-Five:
Fall camp preview spotlights Anto Saka, Terry Bussey, and the development of Tamarion Watkins among others.

“I just don’t think people… get ready because…” (41:46, Liucci)
Interest, not concern, in early practices—focus on identifying starting O-line, RB health, and if portal additions can “hit” in real time.

Final Notes

The episode features candid, informed banter on SEC and playoff forecasting, with O’Gara’s experienced projections grounded by realistic assessments of roster “ifs.”
Aggie fans get both an honest look at the challenges and a sense of optimism if the right pieces fall into place—especially at season’s critical finish.
Segments with Liucci celebrate A&M’s roster advantages and tease the heightened energy as fall camp launches.

For fans needing a quick, comprehensive pulse on the coming Aggie and SEC football season, this episode delivers honest optimism, in-depth knowledge, and classic TexAgs personality.

Loading summary

Transcript176 lines

[00:01]
A
We're back.
[00:01]
B
Tech Sags Live. We are presented by David Gardner's Jewelers Rollo Insurance Studio. Let's go to the Puppies catering and bartending hotline, joined by TexAct's contributor, Kano O' Guerra here on the program. What up, Real G?
[00:15]
A
Real G. That's. That one's new. We're just. We're trying that one out. We're seeing that works.
[00:20]
B
Well, Bronnie earlier said that I do dad jokes, so I was just trying to think of what, you know, how to incorporate your old. Your podcast with your last name with Texas contributor. And I just said the real G. Real og.
[00:33]
C
Now that.
[00:34]
A
That place. That. That's perfectly fine. I like bro. You started last time by calling me bro. I'm good with that. Real G is new. And look, here's. Here's an honest confession. I was probably, like, 12 years old when I found out, like, what OG meant. Like, oh, it's original Gangster. And I very quickly realized, like, I'm not cool enough for this, but my last name just lends itself to it, and I got to lean this as much as possible. So I would just try and tell people all the time, like, yeah, my nickname is OG And a lot of people ran with that, and it was great. And then I think a lot of people just kind of gave me a look, and they're like, man, I don't really know that you're fitting that build, but you know what? I'm happy to be called whatever you got on the table for me, Nuno.
[01:20]
B
Well, Connor, I just googled because I thought I was right. Just wanted to make sure what a real G is. And according to our good friend Google, AI a real giant, right? As a person who's authentic, fiercely loyal, and genuinely cool, the letter G stings for gangsta. It comes from original Gangster. So I gave you even better. Like, I. I went like, fiercely. You're like a dog, dawg. And D, O G. Sorry, your words.
[01:45]
A
Your words and mine. Dad jokes were. Look, they're. They're flying today, man.
[01:50]
B
I.
[01:51]
A
The fact that you to look up real G is probably the sign that I am not a real G. But you know what? I'll take it wherever I can get it.
[01:58]
B
All right, let's get into your crystal ball, because I always enjoy reading these when you've done them in the past. You have A and M finishing seventh in the SEC, 9 and 3, which, before the season starts, nobody wants to hear, Right? Well, at least our audience doesn't want to hear that. But I Think that's a very realistic point of view based on the unknowns that are still out there for Texas
[02:19]
A
A and M. I haven't finishing 6 and 3 in SEC play, which when we do the predicted order finish in the media and that comes out after ICC media days, you don't get like a conference record that's associated with each one. But A and M was picked to finish fourth in the conference by the media and so technically I'm like far apart by saying I think they're going to finish three spots worse, even though if you gave media some truth serum it probably be like oh yeah, like 6 and 3 or 7 and 2 in conference play. So I'm, I, I'm not like necessarily lower on A M than the consensus, despite what that number might say. But you know, I do question the finish still. I, I wonder what it's going to finishing the schedule with the likes of Oklahoma and Texas. I think it's the elephants in the room and I think here's the place that we need to mentally get to and I think it's a very realistic place. A and M in mid November is very much in playoff consideration, feeling like they're setting themselves up to be able to get back to the College Football Playoff. And you know, the way that these two seasons have finished under Mike Elko and knowing that the elephant in the room is those looming games against teams that are going to be battle tested by that point in the season. And I question whether or not we're going to be able to see A and M play a full 60 minute game against those two teams and win. Now if you win that Oklahoma game, all of a sudden we're talking about having a playoff berth already probably locked in by that point in the season going into the Texas game, even though the Texas game would sell itself, of course, and all the different things that are associated with that narratives and whatnot. But I do think that's going to be the conversation surrounding this A and M team is that they can rack up these wins in the first part of that schedule, but everybody's going to be going well. We know this is all going to come down to how that schedule finishes out in the regular season.
[04:10]
B
Yeah, I can't disagree with that. I am still, to me it's going to boil down to can A and M run the ball this year? If A and M can run the ball, I think Marcel Reeves a significantly better quarterback. And when I say run the ball, I don't mean Marcel running the ball. I'm meaning Just the entire running game. What does Reuben Owens look like? Jamari Amora and the rest of the crew. And again, that goes back to the offensive line. There's several layers to what I'm saying, but if they're able to run the ball, I'm a big believer. If they ran the ball better against Texas, that game feels different.
[04:38]
A
I don't think you're wrong. I think if you could close your eyes and see a world in which A and M has offensive line continuity going into the late part of the season, you'd feel great. If you knew that Reuben Owens was going to be perfectly healthy and looking every bit like the former five star guy he came in as be like that bodes pretty well. If you see the turnover numbers come down from Marcel Reed. If you see a first time play caller in Holman Wiggins looking the part, you'd say, all right, sign me up. Even if Mike Elko's defense doesn't necessarily have that bona fide star that they had last year in Cassius Howell, you'd still feel like he's going to do enough to be able to give you enough of, of a floor on that side of the ball to make all those other things work. And that's the identity of a playoff contend. The problem is it's tough for me to close my eyes and see all of those things coming to fruition. Could some of them, absolutely. But a lot of unknowns and there are a lot of unknowns in this conference this year, man. Like I picked Texas to win the SEC and Lord knows that that won't come back to bite me at all. I might be the first person to ever put on Texas that I think Texas is going to win the conference. Surely Texas won't fall on its face, but Texas, I have questions about on the defensive side of the ball. They have three guys I think that are from last year's defense that had at least three or four starts. Like they are really portal alliance with a guy. And Will Muschamp who is taking over Pete Kwiatkowski in what's going to be a role that he hasn't been in in a while. And I, I do wonder what that looks like. So everybody's got certain questions. A&M's may be a little bit more pronounced than others, but I don't necessarily think there's going to be a very big gap, maybe even 1 through 7 in the SEC.
[06:22]
B
So really what you're saying, Connor, and you basically said it in a different way, is that they'll probably be seven and one heading into the last two games of the year. And that'll determine playoff team or not, as it has the last couple of years.
[06:36]
A
Right. But wouldn't be. Wouldn't be surprising. Now, I'll say this. If the playoff is not in consideration in mid November, that, that'd be a really tough look, and that would be a sign that those things we just talked about, closing our eyes and seeing them come to fruition, then probably only one or two of those came to fruition. And it would be a. A setback for Mike Elko. But, man, you see the things that are being said about him in the off season, and everybody just feels like A M has that adult in the room. Now, whether or not you can win those games that might come down to a possession or two, that remains to be seen. And I think Mike Elko has all the motivation in the world to be able to prove that. He talked about, you know, like, how do you motivate your guys? My empty trophy case, you know, like, that's. That's what's still motivating this team. And now they're going to be held to that standard this year. But, yeah, I think it's going to be a crazy year in the sec. It is going to be one of those years in which week to week we go, who's going to Atlanta? Do we know? Do we know who's going to be able to get there? Maybe a team that is trying to get there for the very first time, like A and M, like Ole Miss, can do just that.
[07:44]
B
Connor, I think some of these things are very fair, but I don't want to push back on you. I push back on people overall that say, well, A and M doesn't win these big games. Well, I'm sorry. I still think Notre Dame was a big win, and LSU I bring up because in retrospect, it wasn't as big of a win. But I've always been a prisoner of the moment when I talk about games, and at that time, it was a huge game. I know what happened afterwards, and maybe that's just coping by me. But at the time, LSU was not who they are, who they were the rest of the way.
[08:17]
A
LSU losing that game the way that they did, it changed the course of SEC history. It absolutely did. Because I think if Brian Kelly loses a close down to the wire game in which all of a sudden Garrett Nussmeier looks like he's healthy and this offense is actually doing things, I don't think Brian Kelly gets fired that night, maybe he still gets fired at season's end, but we don't have the fiasco that we had with Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss playing out the way that it did where he was courted so early on in the process. And so the ripple effect of that is, I mean, so significant. And the fact that A and M was the team that put the nail in the coffin, yeah, that was a huge part of the SEC story in 2025. And so that game did mean a lot. And still going into that place and winning at night the way that they did, like even in down years for l you, that is still a worthy accomplishment. I wonder what that game is going to look like this year because I think that is an opportunity for Lane Kiffin to show he is different than his predecessor. Marcel Reed says, look, I don't lose to lsu. I don't blame him for saying that. If I played the way that Marcel Reed did against lsu, I'd sure as heck be confident too. But I do think that that's an opportunity for LSU to be able to say, look, it's a new era in this program. And so that could be one of those games where it's just like, hey, it's, it's 28, 24 and it's coming down to that last possession. I think there are going to be so many of those coin flip type games this year and some of those probably go in M's way and then some of them won't. And maybe this year this is the time in which LSU is more competent and they can actually look like a team that fields an SEC type defense in the second half against A and
[09:56]
B
M. Connor, you picked Anto Saka as the SEC defensive newcomer of the year. Where, where do you, where does that bold prediction come from? I mean, I don't disagree with you. By the way. I love until soccer. I think he's gonna be great and with Coach Elko working with him. But just kind of give me your thoughts on that.
[10:12]
A
I've learned to just blindly trust when Mike Elko evaluates a defensive lineman in the portal. And, you know, worked with Cassius Howell. I think it worked with Nick Scorton. I think you could point to examples where you've already seen that play out. I mean, TJ Cercy is a guy that's going to be a leader of that unit and Lord knows he's been certainly a very valuable piece of that defensive line if you've watched the way that this team has played. But I think that Sock is the one that's going to be able to come in there and establish that pass rushing threat which you need to have in this day and age. Like you talk to coaches and they'll tell you go into the portal, get yourself a guy that can rush off the edge. And he's done that well so far in the Big Ten. And this is a very experienced player who's coming in with a pedigree that maybe some people are sleeping on nationally because they haven't necessarily had a reason to tune into Northwestern games when they're on 11 o' clock central or something like that. They're playing right next to Lake Michigan. But this is someone who I think is going to explode in that Mike Elko defense. I think he's going to be one of those players that within the first few weeks of the season he's a household name. And maybe it's not as much of a, oh, he's now a household name in the way that Cassius Howell was after the back to back to back sacks that he had. But he's going to make his presence felt very much. And I think if we're talking about newcomers in the SEC and you know that's what I picked him to be, the SEC defensive newcomer of the year. I think you have to look at one of those game wrecking edge rushers, these guys who I think can take a lot of these offensive lines by surprise with the things that they can come into this conference and do immediately. So yeah, it's somewhat blind faith in Mike Elko, but I think to this point he's earned it.
[11:44]
B
I know you're high on Ole Miss. Are you high on lsu? And the reason I'm asking that is that we're going to get that matchup early. Do you see a world where they play again?
[11:55]
A
It's volatile. They could, but I think LSU is going to be all over the place and they're another one of these teams. I have it 9 and 3. I have LSU missing the College Football Playoff as a result of that game, September 19th at Ole Miss. I think LSU loses that game and I think they're one of these teams that week to week is kind of tough to figure out and with so many new pieces, I, I just don't necessarily know that you can set it and forget it with them and, and know what their floor is because that's kind of been Sam Lovett as a player. I mean, even if he's healthy, like go back to that Mississippi State game last year where the first half of that game, really, the first like three quarters of that game. It's like this dude was in a college football playoff last year. What's going on? So I don't think he's a finished guy and I don't think having the off season that he did with the Liz Frank injury, wherein he missed spring ball with his new team, is necessarily going to bode well. So maybe there are some moments where he's still kind of playing some of that YOLO ball and LSU's offense is just too turnover prone. It puts too much pressure on that defense. So I think they're going to be one of those teams that week to week you're going to want to tune into because it's Lane Kiffin and Baton Rouge, of course, for all the obvious reasons. But they're also just kind of a bit of a mixed bag and you just don't know what you're going to get. Even that LSU defense at times under Blake Baker, I mean against A and M especially, have had moments in which they've been all over the place. So I can't sit here and tell you with full confidence that they're like a 102 team. I think they're, they're on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff and that will be very, very much dissected among college football fans that are waiting on Lane Kiffin to fail.
[13:28]
B
Where are you on Georgia and why?
[13:31]
A
Again, I'm dumb for saying this. I'm really, really dumb. I need to tell the people this. I am dumb for saying that the team that has been to the SEC championship eight of the last nine years is not going to get to Atlanta this year. And I am fully aware that I'm probably just doing the thing in the preseason where I'm like, well, look, that's the most obvious pick. The media picked Georgia to win the conference, understandably so. And I'm probably just trying to be a little bit interesting by saying that they're not going to win the SEC this year. But I have met 10 and 2 and 72 in conference play, losing that late season game to Ole Miss, which ultimately decides a spot in Atlanta. And if you ask Georgia fans and maybe even Kirby Smart if you give them some truth serum, do they really care about getting to the SEC championship anymore? I don't think that first round buy gives them a whole lot of confidence because we've seen what it's been like the last two years where they get the first round buy they lose in the Sugar bowl and they're like hey, maybe it would have been nice to have that home playoff, playoff game and build up some momentum and kind of, you know, get our footing a little bit here and not have as much of a, of a layoff. So I think Georgia this year actually misses out on the SEC championship and then gets to the national championship and plays a game against Oregon. Dan Lanning Masterverse Disciple A different story than 2022, Dan Lanning's debut. I was there in Atlanta. Oregon kicked off season against Georgia, did not belong in the same field as Georgia, but. But you know, it's a different era right now for Oregon football, but I think Georgia is able to make it that far and then maybe some offensive limitations in that national championship game that hold them back. And this is ultimately a year in which Georgia kind of gets over the playoff hump and ends that mini drought. But they're, they're not able to be the last team standing.
[15:16]
B
You have Alabama winning 10 games. If Alabama wins 10 games, they're a playoff team. What does that do for Calen DeBoer? I'm not talking about what they do in the playoffs. I think that obviously is going to come down to that. But just if he with a brand new quarterback gets this team to double digits, does it kind of change the way people look at him? At least in Tuscaloosa, it puts preseason
[15:38]
A
national championship contender status back on Alabama going into 2027. That's kind of the way that they've built this roster. The Greg Byrne decision to extend Kaylin DeBoer reflects that. And I thought that the way that spent in the portal with some of their offensive line evaluation, I, I thought that that looked like a team that was ramping up for sort of a two year proof of concept. And you know, there are still going to be a ton of narratives about Alabama no matter what this year. And I am going 10 and 2 because I think the schedule is really favorable. I've said this before, I'll say it again, like A and M and Oklahoma have better teams on paper than Alabama. But I do think that Alabama gets a very beneficial schedule for an inexperienced team. With the way that it starts and then that four game gauntlet. If you go two like you're still set up to be a playoff team at 10 and 2 and kind of able to work through some of those ebbs and flows. I think Keelan Russell is the real deal. And my predictions here, I have him as the SEC freshman of the year. He's a redshirt freshman. But I do think that he's going to be what that staff hopes he could be, which is the righty Michael Penix. If he is that guy. If this Alabama team retains a ton of production from a team that makes the College Football Playoff this year going into 2027, the conversation surrounding Caleb DeBoer will be, well, now is when he should win that national championship. You know, I asked him at SEC media days, do you think your time at Alabama will be defined by whether you win a national championship? And his answer? I, I think left a lot to be desired. And I think a lot of people were hoping that he would just come on and say, yeah, that's the expectation. It's Alabama. I know what I signed up for. And so he's like, well, I wouldn't doubt that. And, you know, talked about like, that's not necessarily my goal. And he gave a very Saban like answer. The problem is that he is not in Saban territory right now with that Alabama fan base and there are so many different conversations about him. So I'm all over the place, probably with Alabama, even though I do think I'm higher than consensus, but more questions than answers with this team going into 2026.
[17:35]
B
Last thing for you, Connor. Not SEC related, but Indiana related. What kind of year are you expecting from Indiana after winning a national championship? Obviously Hoover's coming in to be the quarterback. Do they maintain this playoff level program this year?
[17:50]
A
I think they do. I think they're an 111 team. I, I do. I, I think that, I mean, the win total is 10 and a half wins, which is nuts. Like, it's kind of crazy to consider what Indiana did last year and know that their win total with really a lot of new pieces is still that high. But I mean, they retained both coordinators. It's really rare. Like, Brian Haynes came back after winning the Broyles Award. We haven't seen a coach do that in this sport since Brent Venables came back from that 2018 Clemson team. In terms of like national championship winning coordinators, it's just not the way that that typically works out. So the foundation is still very much in place. I think their front seven should still be one of the better groups in all of college football. Offensive line like Carter Smith is a preseason All American. The left tackle and Josh Hoover. You're stepping into a situation where the first two quarterbacks under Signetti have both been top 10 of the Heisman voting. So it's hard not to be bullish on Indiana knowing that you have that marquee home game against Ohio State, and then you have to turn around and go travel up to Ann Arbor. Like that stretch will define whether or not Indiana makes the College Football Playoff. But like the 272 under Kurt Signetti, with the two losses coming to teams that played a national championship, it's hard to get around that. And so for me, with the mindset that he's had all offseason, very sabanesque. And it doesn't necessarily guarantee Saban levels of success. But if you're ever trying to have a coach be wired the right way coming off a 160 season, it's what Kurt Signetti's had. And I don't really question the complacency factor or anything like that. So, yeah, I mean, I think that they're going to win a whole bunch of games, make College Football Playoff. I don't think they're going to win a national championship. I think it's going to be tougher to make a deep run of the playoff this year with the roster that they have, but they're still very much going to be part of the national championship conversation.
[19:31]
B
Connor, great stuff as always, buddy. Talk to you soon.
[19:34]
A
Thanks, man.
[19:35]
B
Appreciate it, man. Conor o' Gara on Texas AGS Live. All right, we'll hit a break. We'll come back open segment followed by Billy for an hour. Right now, if you're looking for real peace of mind, it starts with the right team and it starts with making sure you manage your money the right way. Check out Aggie owned Paragon Financial Advisors. They're independent fiduciary serving clients all across Texas. No sales pitches, no commissions, just honest financial planning and investment management. And what sets them apart is the over nine CFPs, the CFA and the CPA all on staff. They take their credentials seriously and they work tirelessly to help you build a future that you can feel good about. Go to paragon-adv.com or give them a call. 979-693-3907 to schedule your free consultation. Today it is Paragon Financial Advisors. Integrity, expertise and Trust. Paragon Financial Advisors.
[20:22]
C
Start your Sunday mornings with the best week ever from ESPN Radio Radio. Listen in from 6 to 9 on the Zone, 11:50am and 93.7 FM.
[20:35]
B
Oh, it's on. So was it me or was it uk? Let's be honest, let's have a conversation. Well, I, I saw that your mic was on. I, I just, I started talking and I heard nothing interesting. So I was like, oh, ok. I thought it was me. This is really professional radio. Kade, you Took over the show and it started off brilliantly. Thank you very much. Yeah. Yeah, you're welcome. Nick Savage out.
[20:57]
D
Yeah.
[20:57]
B
Let's go to the Angry Elephant news and social center Carson Stein wants to tell us what's poppin on tech sacks today.
[21:04]
D
So on tech sacks today, we got a lot of content from yesterday and today. Starting with some stuff from yesterday, we have a five and five with Billy. We have five thoughts from Luke Evangelis from the Bahamas, sponsored by the Bayless law firm. And as for today, we have another five and five from Billy. We have a volleyball press conference with coach Jamie Morrison. We have a football press conference with Micah Riley, Mark Nabu and Dalton Brooks. And as for later on today, we have Texas Aggies United with Ashton Bethel Roman and Damian Sanford.
[21:33]
B
All right, good stuff there. And by the way, we will have Luke Evangelist live, probably from a beach or something in the Bahamas as he'll join us to talk about the game yesterday where they were running away with it against University of Victoria. I still don't have any resolution. Like, where are they from? Is that Australia? I think it's Melbourne, Australia. It is. Okay. It's not down in, you know, South Texas. Not that big. No, not that Victoria. Yeah, actually, I knew that, but I wasn't sure if it was the Melbourne one. But okay, we'll have Luke to kind of break down that game. But apparently they were up a lot. Then Victoria made a little run and then A and M's like, no, sir, they were bad from the free throw line. But that's something that, you know, and I think they. They didn't like their defense. So we'll talk about that when Billy joins us here in a little bit. Obviously, we got some fall camp stuff to get into. Like, what are some things that he's looking at? What are some of the areas that he's going to be really keying in on? We'll be there as a team tomorrow for the first day of fall practice. It's already here. It's the longest off season in the history of sports, but when it comes, it comes in a flurry. And are we September 4th, the first game?
[22:42]
D
September 5th.
[22:43]
B
September 5th. So we are just over a month away from the very first game of the season against Missouri State. One of the things I do want to get into and maybe Billy and I can get into is what does a championship roster in the SEC look like in today's era of college football? Because we talk so much about the playoffs, right. And, like, that's where we want to See A and M play in and we do. Like, all of us want to see that. I don't think I'm in the minority. I would love to be in Kirby smart shoes to be like, you know what? It's okay. We don't have to play in Atlanta. It's fine. Like, we don't need the extra game. I want it for our fans. I want it for me. I want A and M to play in an SEC championship game. So, like, do you have to have elite quarterback play to make an SEC championship game, make the playoffs? You can use the same question, and I don't know if elite quarterback play is the answer to that, but Ohio State, did they have elite quarterback play the last couple years in the Big Ten?
[23:41]
D
I'll even say Georgia.
[23:43]
B
Georgia. Have they had gunners?
[23:44]
D
Stockton was not elite last year. He was very serviceable, though.
[23:47]
B
Has Oregon had elite quarterback play? Has Texas had elite quarterback play?
[23:52]
D
I'll say Oregon has with Dante Moore is pretty legit. Dante Moore might be the first pick in the draft next year.
[23:58]
B
I'm trying to think of other teams. Yes, Ole Miss, who didn't make the SEC championship game. Did they have elite quarterback play last year? They did, right? They had elite quarterback play. But you look at Alabama, would you say they had elite quarterback play this past season?
[24:14]
D
Yeah, I'd say above average, or I'd say good to great with Ty Simpson.
[24:19]
B
So what you need is really good quarterback play. We'll take elite. Of course. Everybody will take elite. Fernando Mendoza was elite. He'll take elite. Marcel be elite. But you don't need elite. You do have to have an offensive line that is deep, an offensive line that protects and that is deep. So you have to have that. I think retention, which Mike Elko is great at, is a huge part. I think I hear Billy, by the way. So maybe we'll hit a break here in a second. Do I hear Billy Cade? No. Oh, I hear somebody being really loud. Ronnie? Yeah, bigger. So retention, obviously a big part of what an SEC championship game needs to look like. Now, that being said, you look at some of the youngest teams in all of college football. Texas, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas A and M, they're all, like, in the 19 and a half range. You have to win in the trenches, but do you have to be built that way? That's something to ask. You need NFL players across the board, but especially in the secondary. Teams that make it to SEC championship games have elite secondaries and NFL talent on that secondary. What is something we keep not only hearing, but knowing A and M has a pretty deep, darn good secondary, right? So we have that. What about spending your money on one superstore? A and M doesn't do that. They. They spread it out in A. In a great way. So I'm giving you things that to think about as potentially of what A and M has to do from a, you know, checks and balances standpoint. You want to have a veteran quarterback, for sure. A and M's got that. You want elite returning skill, talent. I think A and M has that for sure. I think you want. Not only do you want cohesion on the offensive line, that's a tbd, but you have a returning starting center at the offensive line, which hopefully brings that chemistry. It just speeds up that chemistry because he's the one who's touching the ball in every play. He's the one making the calls. He's the one who sets the tone. As I already mentioned, you want experience, secondary, and you want to make sure you hit in the portal. A and M has done all those things. The question remains, if at all, you know, you hit the jackpot on all of them. And obviously we'll have to figure that out as time goes. But, you know, if you can replace production from last year, which I think A and M's done, and you get really good to elite quarterback play, which I think that's what Marcel did for 95% of last season, then I think, yeah, you'll be in the mix at the end of the season. And at the end of the season, you got to. You got to go beat Oklahoma. You got to go beat Texas. That's what it comes down to. Kind of like what Connor was talking about. Right now, we're talking about Guarantee bank and Trust. They've been around since 1913. They have over a century of experience helping Texans as one of the most respected community banks. And they are so respected. And what does a community bank mean to you? It means that these guys work here in the market, right? They know you. Sometimes when you go to these big branch banks, like, you know, you got this triage person that doesn't know anything about you. Let me type in your number. It takes a while, right? You want somebody who already knows when you walk in while you're in there, like, oh, you want to check on the loan, you want to check on this, on that. And that's what Guaranty bank and Trust does. They are just super local and they are a community bank to their core. 33 locations in Texas, from East Texas to DFW to Houston to Central Texas. But they're not their headquarters. But their mission right here in College Station is three great locations. They grow strong for your community. Every decision is shaped by helping this community grow stronger again. It is Guaranteed Bank Trust. Check out the website gnty.com it is guarantee bank and Trust, a division of Glacier bank member FDIC Equal Housing Lender.
[28:00]
C
The money machine is open now. Two ways to enter each week.
[28:04]
B
Oh come on. Don't keep us in suspense.
[28:07]
C
Zone100150.com and the Zone Newsletter.
[28:10]
A
Thank you.
[28:11]
B
Welcome back to Tex Ags Live. We are presented by David Gardner's jewelers Rollo Insurance Studio. Waiting on Billy Lucci to join the program. We'll chit chat with Billy here in about, I don't know, whenever. We'll get to him when we get to him. Anyway, let's go back to the Angry Elephant News and Social Center. Carson Stein found out some predictions from our friend. Who was it?
[28:33]
D
J.D. pikel from the program?
[28:34]
B
Yep.
[28:35]
D
So J.D. put out his college football playoffs rankings and predictions for the end of the season. I just want to run these games and the eventual champion by you and see what you think.
[28:45]
B
Okay. Take it in parts.
[28:46]
D
So in the first round he has number five Texas Tech defeating number 12 UTSA.
[28:54]
B
Hold on. He's got. Say that again.
[28:55]
D
He has Texas tech as the 5 seed defeating number 12 UTSA.
[29:01]
B
I haven't done enough research on what UTSA has done. Is most and so sure. Okay.
[29:09]
D
And then the rest of the first round he has number six Oklahoma defeating number 11 LSU.
[29:14]
B
Number six Oklahoma in an SEC showdown versus number 11 LSU.
[29:19]
D
Yes, sir.
[29:20]
B
So he's really high on Oklahoma.
[29:22]
D
In that case, following that, we have number seven, Notre Dame defeating number 10 Indiana. A rematch of the playoffs two years ago.
[29:29]
B
The championship, not the championship. Yeah, second round of the playoffs two years ago. Okay.
[29:33]
D
And then number nine, Texas defeating number eight, USC in the last matchup of
[29:38]
B
the first round, number nine, Texas defeating USC. That means he has, I would assume he has Texas losing to Oklahoma. If he's got Oklahoma higher than them from 6 to 9. Okay.
[29:48]
D
And so then in the quarterfinals he has Georgia, number one seed, defeating number nine seed Texas.
[29:55]
B
Okay.
[29:55]
D
Oregon, number two defeating number seven, Notre Dame.
[29:59]
B
Oregon number two being. Okay.
[30:01]
D
And then Oklahoma, number six defeating number three, Ohio State.
[30:05]
B
Man, he is high on Oklahoma. Okay.
[30:07]
D
Following that we have.
[30:08]
B
So hold on. I've noticed you haven't mentioned Texas A and M yet.
[30:11]
D
I have not. He does not have A and m making the 12 team playoff this year. Okay. The last matchup of the quarterfinals he has is Miami is the four seed beating Tech is the five seed.
[30:22]
B
I can absolutely see that being the case. Yes. Okay.
[30:25]
D
And then when we go to the semis, he has Georgia beating Miami.
[30:29]
B
Georgia beat him. Okay.
[30:29]
D
So he's very high on Georgia in Oregon beating Oklahoma.
[30:33]
B
Okay.
[30:33]
D
To where it's a Georgia versus Oregon
[30:35]
B
national championship and Oregon wins it all.
[30:37]
D
And he has Oregon beating Georgia.
[30:38]
B
That sounds like what I've been saying this like for two weeks.
[30:41]
D
That's what Connor o' Gara just said.
[30:42]
B
Yeah. Now I, I think I do that. Not because I know, you know, I have an extensive history of researching Oregon football this year. Like it's. I just believe when you have one of the top two or three quarterbacks in the country who would have been a top 10 pick in the NFL draft and you have all the resources that they have and the players coming back that they have, and you have a very good coach, I think this could be the natural process for them to take that next big step. Which I think is interesting when you consider Texas A and M, because, you know, going back to Bronnie's commentary earlier, that the thing that I thought Arsenal did in the soccer world, that is something that we don't see enough of in college football is patience. And Oregon, not that they have no reason not to be patient with Dan Lanning. Like, that's not the case. But I haven't heard whispers about, hey man, you better win the big. The next big. Like it's been a little bit now if they have a step back. I was about to say that changes conversation.
[31:42]
D
If he doesn't make the playoffs is. I won't say it's. He's hot, but if he doesn't make the playoffs, does it get a little uncomfortable in order to.
[31:49]
B
I mean, it's uncomfortable for any big time coach. Like, I really believe that. I think it's uncomfortable for any big time coach that doesn't. Of course it should be uncomfortable.
[31:57]
D
The only reason I say that is because if you look at the last two years that Oregon's made the playoffs under Dan Laning, they've gotten embarrassed in their losses.
[32:06]
B
They have.
[32:07]
D
The first year they were the number one overall seed lost to the eventual national champion in Ohio State. And then this past year they beat. Who was it? James Madison.
[32:15]
B
Yeah.
[32:16]
D
And then they get bounced by Indiana.
[32:18]
B
Well, I think we're going to see more of that if the college football playoffs continues to expand. And I'm not saying that Oregon is in that conversation, but I mean, Alabama got embarrassed as well. Like, that is happening more than you would think, especially if they go from 16 to 24, if those things are possible. Billy Lucci is in studio. Billy, how are you? I don't understand what the sigh was.
[32:41]
E
No feel, no nothing.
[32:44]
B
No.
[32:44]
E
No brass knuckles.
[32:45]
B
At least you have no feel.
[32:47]
D
No.
[32:47]
E
I was like, you're talking. Keep talking. You can tell. I'm, like, still on the phone. I hadn't gotten set up yet, but here we go.
[32:53]
B
This segment started six minutes ago.
[32:55]
E
You want to know that story?
[32:56]
B
No.
[32:57]
E
I walk in, and Richard's running down the stairs. Running.
[33:02]
B
That's dangerous.
[33:03]
E
Ronnie's like, you better hurry. You better hurry. He's running down the stairs with a bunch of shirts of a new sponsor.
[33:11]
B
Yep.
[33:12]
E
That he thinks we're supposed to wear today. And then. Exactly. Even I knew. I said, y' all are wrong. They've got Cali on the phone. Richard's running downstairs. Bronzer's yelling, holding his baby. I'm like, what in the hell's going on? And it's like a. Then they said, all we have is bronies, and it's like a 3X. And I said, well, I'm not wearing that. And also, it's not for this. It's for Luchador.
[33:37]
B
Right.
[33:38]
E
And they had to call Miranda, shout out to Pons. Right? Oh, you want to say who?
[33:44]
B
Yeah, I just did.
[33:45]
E
Yeah. Yeah, Poncho. So I'm like, I'm not wearing a 3X. Let's get me in a normal size. And it's. We're wearing them during Luchador. New sponsor there. So we're gonna wear those. And I'm fired up. So then I'm going, well, do I have to always wear specific ones, or can I go, like, shop through. You know, buy different, like, long sleeve this week.
[34:06]
B
Right.
[34:06]
E
Maybe the jacket when it gets in the fall. That I've got.
[34:09]
B
Oh, they have a jacket.
[34:10]
E
Oh, yeah. They got nice. Like, not jacket, but like a.
[34:12]
B
A shacket.
[34:13]
E
Oh, yeah, yeah. You know, my look. It's unbuttoned over the look that I perfected. I didn't know that I have one. But so anyway, that was. They were just running around, and oddly enough, Cade Bickham was holding it together.
[34:28]
B
Oddly enough, is the right way.
[34:30]
E
Panicum was like, steady. Yeah, Steady as she goes. But anyway, that's what I walked into this morning. I land from Chicago. I've got. You know, dog's got diarrhea, wakes me up early. I'm. I come into this.
[34:50]
B
This should be your happy Place.
[34:51]
E
And then we got. We got Elko Presser today. Kaylee Dreyer wants me to do interview at 11. I told her, hey, look at the text above where I told you I have an appointment at 11.
[35:04]
B
Wow. You just destroyed her right there on the air.
[35:07]
E
I mean, it's just.
[35:08]
B
She's managing a lot of people, Billy.
[35:10]
D
She is.
[35:10]
E
She's the best. She. She is the unsung hero, honestly.
[35:16]
B
Yeah.
[35:16]
A
Of all of.
[35:16]
E
All that.
[35:17]
B
That I just said, dealing with our personalities and scheduling.
[35:21]
E
Yeah. Scheduling college athletes who are actually. Actually really great. But imagine having to schedule that constantly. Yeah.
[35:32]
C
Daily.
[35:32]
E
It's tough. I know you wouldn't be. You know how it feels, and you just have to handle me.
[35:38]
B
I don't.
[35:38]
E
Imagine if you had 85.
[35:40]
B
I have, like, things in play, just in case. Like. All right, what are we gonna do here? Oh.
[35:45]
E
Ow.
[35:46]
B
Was it that hot?
[35:47]
E
Feel it.
[35:49]
B
That feels great.
[35:50]
E
Oh, God.
[35:51]
B
Sorry. Some of us have man hands,
[35:57]
E
Nuno, for all you do, you. You ain't got a callous one on there.
[36:02]
B
I do have calluses right there.
[36:04]
E
You have soft hands, bro. Effeminate, almost, as if that. You use lotion.
[36:09]
B
I don't use. Well, I don't.
[36:13]
E
We talk football. I went. And by the way, you know where I went this weekend? Craig? Like, I went to Cubs, Yankees, which was great. Shout out Blue Delta. Yeah, they're on Nick Weaver and Blue Delta. Nick always might be the. He might be the unsung hero of the sec.
[36:35]
B
He's hooked up a lot of people.
[36:36]
E
Yeah. And just. But so we did that and. And then I ended up shout out another one of our friends up there. I ended up with some Lollapalooza passes. I hadn't been there in quite some time, so. Shout out Taylor McGregor. Cubs. Also SEC. Well, I'm not SEC. College Football Rising star, by the way, in case you were wondering. And went to Lollapalooza for the first time since 1996. Probably like. No, I think I've been like, to one, but I've never been in Chicago. Quite an experience. So many people. I don't know how many I'd like to look up. Why don't you look up how many people attended this thing? Because all the girls out there were jealous because I was going to get to see Tate McCray.
[37:33]
D
Yeah.
[37:34]
E
Who's all their favorites, and I understand why. And I went chain smokers. Tate McCray, some other band that was pretty good. I got to look them up during the break. I'll figure out who they were because people listening Might like them. But I mean, I don't think I've ever been to any event ever with that many people. And I will say this Lollapalooza has gotten very young. If I wouldn't have had like passes, that would have been a hard, a hard deal to attend because it was, they were so young and there were so many people, but it was a blast. I ended up loving it. Like once we got in there and got settled, it was great Sunday night.
[38:15]
B
So let's hit a break. We'll come back with a real segment on the other side. Right now we are talking about Caldwell Country Chevrolet Highway 21 and Caldwell online at caldwellcountrychevrolet.com if you're a business owner and you're ready to take your operation to the next level, check out Caldwell Country Chevrolet. They've expanded their selection of commercial vehicles and they want to meet your everyday need. They've got it all. So when you go there, you're going to find the right vehicle for you and your situation. And they are a business elite dealer, which means they understand what it takes to keep your company moving forward. And remember, when you go there, you get that commercial vehicle purchase comes with that legendary free oil change for life because they believe in supporting local business. Remember, it's about a 15 minute drive the edge of Brian to the beginnings of Caldwell. A short conversation away. But you'll see the difference when you step on the lot and do business with the good people at Caldwell Country Chevrolet Highway 21 in Caldwell Online CaldwellCountryChevrolet.com
[39:06]
C
Listen to the Houston Astros on the zone. Thanks to Kelly Burdozer for that Billy
[39:11]
B
Lucian studio and all the compliments he gives me during the break.
[39:13]
E
Billy, let's compliment during the break. He's literally sitting here trying to figure out how many Chicago's, Chicago's youth he could beat up at one time at Lollapaloo.
[39:24]
C
I'm over here.
[39:24]
E
That's where it went.
[39:25]
B
Responding to my brother and Billy says to me, oh, you would have gotten pummeled there. They would have destroyed you. And then he says, because I think you would have started a fight with a young guy.
[39:34]
E
That's what I said.
[39:35]
B
I don't start fights with anybody. I'm, I'm all about the peace.
[39:40]
E
I'm all about Aggie football.
[39:41]
B
Okay.
[39:42]
E
I'm all about five and five.
[39:45]
B
Which starts.
[39:47]
E
Yeah, I feel like everybody does some form of fives. There's all the fives now. Five and five goes back how long? Like 31 years long. Time, which started it yesterday, got one coming out today. I think today's was what did I send Zane today? Today was like the players that really caught my eye this off season in one way or the other. Whether it's coming in here, whether it's what I, what I've heard from sources, you know, what the players have said, some other sources have said, just guys that I'm like, man, get ready because. And it's to varying degrees like one of them is like Anto Saka who is going to obviously compete to start likely starter or you know, maybe you have a three man rotation and whatever but you know, one of your top portal additions, a guy that's been beyond impressive. Another one's Terry Bussey. Because I just don't think people, I saw people were talking about the weight he gained and kind of questioning, hey, is it going to be good weight or not because he was already big. No, like I was shocked when I saw the weight gain from Terry Bussey because I'd been telling people it looks like he's leaned up. So he, he had a terrific off season, it says. Someone told me Bussy was hurt in high school. He enrolled in June, he got here, he was playing corn. He missed still some time in the summer. Then fall camp started, he's playing cornerback. Halfway through they move him to receiver. And then he missed last off season, injured. This was his first full off season. You know, he was hurt in spring, but people, people made a big deal about that the day he got hurt same way they did Ash and Bethel Roman. Those guys are back and healthy as they were a couple months ago. Neither one of them was any kind of long term injury. So Bussy's essentially gone through the entire off season. He looks so different then. I've also got a guy like Tamarion Watkins who added so much weight and I don't know where it ends for him in terms of his size, but he's still got plenty of room to grow. And he came in looking like, you know, to me I was like, man, he might grow into like a Antonio Johnson type of safety. Now I'm sitting there going, man, is he going to be a 6:3,237 pound linebacker that runs like a safety? I don't, I don't know, it's gonna be fun to watch because he's so talented. But Anyway, that's today's 5 and 5, so there's just a ton to talk about and then starting tomorrow we have actual practice to discuss.
[42:28]
B
Yeah, what, what is. I don't want to call it concern, but what is the thing you're watching out for Week one, like oh, week one. Yeah, just like over the first couple practices, if you were to say, hey, these are things, I just want to see how they look have developed from spring to now. There's two or three things you got your eyes on.
[42:48]
E
Yeah, I wouldn't say I'm concerned about anything. To start fall camp, there are things that you, that you're concerned about. We've talked all summer.
[42:56]
B
Right.
[42:56]
E
All season, going into the season, like you got to see the O line coming. You got to see Marcel make that next step, that jump. You got to see the running game come the pass rush. So concern probably in week one wouldn't be what what I'm feeling. It would be more like interest. So number one to me is the interest level in seeing who the guys are up front now in day one. Like they'll be overkill. It'll be interesting. Just day one practice one. Who's out there starting five. They'll change it around pretty much daily for a while. But so maybe it's not a week. Maybe it's midway through fall camp, like two weeks. Like when do you start getting that feel? Okay. I think this is going to be the starting five. If you asked me today, I think I'd go form be it right tackle, maybe Ivey at right guard, Naboo at center ball at left guard, Adams left tackle. But see, here's Lamont Rogers. I've written about him. He's going to be a guy that it's going to be hard to keep him off the field. He's at, he's probably left tackle, could probably play either but it's going to be hard to keep him on. He, he had a really eye opening, an eye opening spring followed by a really strong summer off season. And so Lamont Thomas, I like Tyler Thomas at guard when he's out there. Looks like just a mountain of a dude. And then and also Cohen Echols is going to factor in. He's going to factor in big time there in that battle at guard can play guard or center. So that's that was why he was such a good addition himself. So anywho, I think keep some of
[44:47]
B
those other thoughts the other side. Okay, we'll identify a couple more. Yeah, top of the hour and start
[44:53]
E
at 50 and yeah, top of the morning.
[44:54]
B
Top of the morning to you when we come back on Tech Sags Live. More Billy Lucci here on the program.
[44:59]
F
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TexAgs Live - Connor O'Gara+ Billy Liucci : 08.03.26

TexAgs Live - Connor O'Gara+ Billy Liucci : 08.03.26

TexAgs Live – Connor O’Gara + Billy Liucci (08.03.26)

Overview

Key Discussions & Insights

1. Connor O’Gara’s SEC Crystal Ball: A&M’s Path (01:58 – 06:36)

2. SEC Parity and Uncertainty (04:37 – 06:21; 07:44 – 09:55)

3. Key Players & Breakout Candidates (09:55 – 11:43)

4. Broader SEC & National Outlook (11:43 – 17:35)

5. What Makes an SEC Championship Roster? (21:32 – 24:14, post-O’Gara segment)

6. Listener Questions & Playoff Prediction Banter (28:32 – 32:38)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps for Major Segments

Notable Post-O’Gara: Fall Camp & Roster Focus (from 39:10 onward)

Final Notes

TexAgs Live – Connor O’Gara + Billy Liucci (08.03.26)

Overview

Key Discussions & Insights

1. Connor O’Gara’s SEC Crystal Ball: A&M’s Path (01:58 – 06:36)

2. SEC Parity and Uncertainty (04:37 – 06:21; 07:44 – 09:55)

3. Key Players & Breakout Candidates (09:55 – 11:43)

4. Broader SEC & National Outlook (11:43 – 17:35)

5. What Makes an SEC Championship Roster? (21:32 – 24:14, post-O’Gara segment)

6. Listener Questions & Playoff Prediction Banter (28:32 – 32:38)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps for Major Segments

Notable Post-O’Gara: Fall Camp & Roster Focus (from 39:10 onward)

Final Notes