Inside College Football: Elite Team Tactics, Playoff Predictions, and the Future of the Game

Unlock the secrets behind the success of college football's elite teams as I sit down with a panel of pros including former players like Johnny "Fiddy" Falconi, Jovon Johnson, brothers Ryan and Drew Barth, Dan Bolson, Mister Askew, Jonas Jackson, and the legendary Hal Mumme. Together, we dissect the brilliance of Nick Saban's Alabama and make our bold predictions for the playoff showdowns ahead. Whether you're a die-hard Crimson Tide fan or just love the strategic battles on the gridiron, this episode is your playbook to understanding what separates the good teams from the great ones.

Ever wondered how powerhouse programs like Michigan and Washington impact their universities beyond the scoreboard? Our conversation uncovers the transformative effects of playoff success, touching on everything from merchandise sales to academic prestige. Plus, we tackle the future of the College Football Playoffs with insights from Ryan Barth and Dan Bolson, debating the merits of expanding the current system and reflecting on how such changes could alter the collegiate landscape.

As we round off our gridiron gabfest, we spotlight the legacies being carved out by coaches like Jim Harbaugh and explore his potential NFL prospects. The episode culminates with a lively discussion on the pros and cons of moving to a 12-team playoff, offering diverse perspectives from across the college football realm. Whether you're a casual fan or a coaching connoisseur, this episode is a touchdown dance of knowledge and entertainment.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 2:18

Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. This is, as always, your host, mike Botto. I have a fantastic and special episode for us today. But first and foremost, everybody, please go and check out our newest sponsor, buddy's Beard Care. Beard oils, beard washes and beard bombs everything you're going to need to keep your beard looking healthy, thicker and a lot more full. I've been using these products for a little over a month now. My beard has never been healthier, it has never been thicker and, according to my wife, it has never been softer. Go to buddiesbeardcarecom, check them out. Tell them Mike Botto from Ride Home Rants sent you. You won't be disappointed in this Buddy's Beard Care, where size does matter. That being said, our show today is a panel of guests and we are going to be breaking down the college football playoffs. I have a ragtag group of guests today. I'm going to let them introduce themselves and we're going to start with everybody's favorite manager of the podcast, johnny.

Speaker 2: 3:30

Everybody, Johnny Fiddy Felcone, the manager of the Ride Home Rants podcast. I actually played college football as a wide receiver at Bethany College. I currently work at Notre Dame College as the assistant dean of enrollment.

Speaker 1: 3:44

Alright, then let's go to Mr.

Speaker 3: 3:49

Mr Askew, aka Vampire Coach. You already know he's from the coordinator. He's been on the Lofters podcast show. He's one of the best in the business. Make sure everybody knows him. Turn in tune in, tell a friend, tell a friend and tell another friend. Mr Askew, that's me. Mr, where'd you play college football at? Oh, college football. I played at Alabama A&M and I played at Elizabeth City State University.

Speaker 1: 4:18

Appreciate the shadow. You almost forgot to tell us where you played college ball at there, coach. Alright, let's go on over to Jonas next.

Speaker 4: 4:30

Good morning everybody. This is Jonas Jackson, Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, did my undergraduate football career at Eastern Michigan University and currently I'm a D-Line coach over at Prairie View A&M, outside of Houston Texas.

Speaker 1: 4:48

Alright, next on the list, Dan.

Speaker 5: 4:55

Thanks, bono Dan Bolson. I'm a graduate of Eureka College, which we've got a couple of Eureka brethren on here. I was a defensive end for Eureka. I ended up working in athletics at Champaign-Urbana, at the University of Illinois, as well as the Big Ten Conference, and then ultimately now I currently have been or heading into my ninth calendar year as a part of Purdue University in West Lafayette, indiana. So I do not work in athletics anymore, but pivoted into the University administration side.

Speaker 1: 5:23

So have a good time with it. Absolutely Next on the list Jovan.

Speaker 6: 5:32

Hi guys, I'm Jovan Johnson. Originally I'm from Mary, Pennsylvania. I spent some time coaching at Defines College as a defensive coordinator, DV Coach for four seasons and then the last two years, been head coach at Northeast High School in Pennsylvania. So happy to be here. I'm glad you're out by the meal, Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 5:53

Jovan, you can't get off that easy, man. Where'd you go to college?

Speaker 6: 5:56

You gotta tell everybody. I'm a Hawkeye University of Iowa, so I'm rooting for the Big Ten.

Speaker 4: 6:06

Hey Jovan, are you at the Northeast that Troy Glaw proceeded you? No, okay, not the Philly Northeast.

Speaker 6: 6:16

No, I'm in Western Pennsylvania so I'm not out there to the state.

Speaker 1: 6:21

Alright, and next here we're going to go with the brothers. We're going to start with Ryan.

Speaker 7: 6:30

Starting off with the better brother. I like it, bono. I'm Ryan Barth. I went to Eureka College and played football there, and then I coached basketball and work as a middle school TA right now in the Philcrest School District. I think I said I already coached basketball as well and then I just finished. I just resigned from my position.

Speaker 1: 6:53

I coached football at Eureka College recently, so moving along in that regard, Alright, and his brother will say the better brother, just to keep this lively here, but Drew.

Speaker 8: 7:08

Hey, thanks, bono. They always say I saved the best for last, right out of the brother, so I swam to the youngest too. So once they got to me they finally stopped. But thanks for having me on again. I'm a middle school graduate at Eureka College and then actually Dan Bolson, who is on here now, is my boss at Purdue University, so shout out to him for bringing me to the Big Ten School out in West Lafayette.

Speaker 1: 7:31

Absolutely and last but certainly not least, our favorite coach on the show, Hal.

Speaker 9: 7:42

Hal Mone. I played football in the previous century at Garleton State University. I've coached for about 40 something years. I've been the head coach at seven different colleges, including Kentucky, and we started the Air Raid offense. So that's kind of my claim to fame.

Speaker 1: 8:02

Alright, coach, we're glad we were able to get you on here, so we got a lot to uncover in this College Football Preview show. Let's go ahead and get rolling. This first question we're going to have for the entire group here. So, jonas, to start with you, who is the overall best coaching staff out of these four teams and why?

Speaker 4: 8:28

Wow, that's a great question. I want to have to go with Alabama. They've just been so dominant Since Nick Saban's been there, just everything that they've accomplished, the consistency I mean. They're just a staple of what you think about championships and this BCS private championship football mode. That guy has just done a great job. Year after year after year, we see teams these are the three teams that have had opportunities to win championships as well but just nobody's been more consistent at this level out of these coaching staffs, in my opinion, than Nick Saban and those Alabama Crimson Tide.

Speaker 1: 9:28

Alright, Jovon, what about you?

Speaker 6: 9:33

I think.

Speaker 6: 9:33

I'm going to have to agree there. I mean, when you think about success over the last couple of decades, I mean Saban has had a hand in a multitude of championships. It didn't matter what school and the SEC was at, whether it was LSU or Alabama, he's just consistently won championships, and I think that their staff just the way they're able to retool after guys, move on and get head coaching jobs and still be at the pinnacle of success I think that's a masterful job that he's doing down there and he's a big team guy. So I think saving staff is the best right now.

Speaker 1: 10:10

Alright. So alright, drew. What about you?

Speaker 8: 10:14

Yeah, I think the obvious answer is Alabama staff. But when your head coach misses sick teams out of the year and you're still undefeated I mean Michigan staff's been doing pretty well this year, so you know, I kind of give it a tie just because of that. Andy got counter stallions, I mean he got fired, but hey.

Speaker 1: 10:31

Alright, let's see what your boss has to say to that Dan. What about you?

Speaker 5: 10:40

Yeah, myself unmuted. I should have done that quicker. I apologize.

Speaker 5: 10:42

So, this is almost an impossible question, because you can go to historical perspective or you can go any different way you want on this. I mean, nick Saban is a legend, he has a statute built and it's almost impossible to say he's not one of the best coaches of all time. With that said, I'm going to go completely out of left field and I'm going to give a shout out to Kailin DeBoer at Washington, and the reason for that is the man wins, and so I'm not saying that is not a preface of my picks in this, but in terms of Kailin DeBoer, he's 103 and 11 as a head coach. That's ridiculous Right Now. This guy's won at Sioux Falls.

Speaker 5: 11:22

He then became a coordinator for about a decade and he had from 2010 to COVID. He kind of bounced around D1 coordinator jobs Eastern Michigan, some other places that he was at for a few years and then he took over Fresno State. All he did at Fresno State was go three and three his first year in COVID, with that shortened season, turns around, gets them nine and three, goes and takes the job at Washington, wins the Alamo Bowl at nine and three last year, goes undefeated this year and is winning every coach of the year award there is. So this season, or in terms of somebody who's no one's talking about, I get a shot to Kailin DeBoer. That does not mean he's better than Nick Saban, but you asked the question what's the best coaching staff? Kailin DeBoer is a winner.

Speaker 5: 12:03

Everyone hates Washington. No one's picking Washington to do anything If they lose by 50, everyone predicts it. But frankly, the guy is a hustler and he's won a ton of close games and there's something to be said. Where you can grind out close wins and Washington just keeps winning close games, we could call it luck At some point. It's not luck when you just keep winning close games.

Speaker 1: 12:24

Absolutely Johnny. What about you?

Speaker 2: 12:28

It's gonna pay me to say that. I'm going to say Michigan, and here's why Guys get suspended, guys get fired. They keep on winning with a bunch of different head coaches and it's not like they had just one guy who's been a head coach be the head coach. It's not like, for example, they had. It's not like, for example, Nick Saban got suspended six games and Lane Kiffin was his assistant, who was a multiple-time head coach, comes in and leaves the interim during that time.

Speaker 2: 12:53

Michigan had like three different head coaches during that time and the train kept on rolling. And everybody knows, here too, you're going to win when you have good players, and good players make a coach look great, but a really good coach can make good players be great. I think Michigan staff is just great and to me they have multiple guys. I think that they're going to lose from this staff in the next year or two to NFL and college jobs, and I'm going to just say it's Michigan right now, because that those at least three to four of those guys will be gone within a year or two to other head coaching jobs.

Speaker 1: 13:27

All right, Mr. What about you?

Speaker 3: 13:30

You know, man, I'm going to have to go with Michigan. Man, you know, I think you know, anytime you have your head coach, you know not there at the game and you have enough staff in place to carry the torch, like they did this year at the beginning of this year and even towards the end, they really kind of say something about your staff do you have put together, you know when, we know how, you know when John came in, where Michigan was at during that time period, before you know there's been some bumps and bumpy ride, but to be able to consistently, you know saying, get the wins where it needs to be in big that team down south, so to say, and I think you did a real good job. You know, because you know you got guys that's constantly leaving and leaving that, leaving that coaching staff. So I have to go with Michigan.

Speaker 1: 14:27

Okay, ryan, what about you?

Speaker 7: 14:31

Yeah, I think all of these staffs are great and all of them have had different upbringings, I guess, with the way that Washington, the way they've won, and then Texas they've had some bumps in the road, with the way that they've been in the nation and the way what he's gotten to where they're at right now, and then same with Alabama when saving came in and what he's built it into now, and then same for Harbaugh. They've all had different paths and all haven't tasted instant success, but they've stayed to the path that they were on and it's been very interesting and great or interesting, to watch. I would say probably Alabama, just because of all their success and that doesn't just go with wins and losses, but what they do after college as well and all of the players that they've sent to the NFL and their respected careers as well, and I would I would say that Alabama probably has the best staff.

Speaker 1: 15:28

Okay, and how around us out with this question?

Speaker 9: 15:32

Well, I'm going to. First of all, they're all good staffs, but if we just talk about this season and I think Nick Savins is the best coach of my generation, but I'm going to go with Tamer so Texas and love, because after all, they did beat Alabama and and Sarakeesian has done a great job in a very difficult situation and it was made more difficult when he lost his starting quarterback halfway to the year. So I think they were able to adjust and play good defense around the ball when they had to and bring along a backup quarterback that ended up winning all the games for him. So I'm going to give Texas some love on this.

Speaker 1: 16:22

All right, got a nice mixed bag there. I mean, it's hard to argue with with all those points there, but I think the general consensus is how do you, how do you vote against Saban in? In Alabama for sure, but next year, mr, this one is just for you here. I got a question for you here. So your brother, bj, is a former standout at Michigan and he played for the Jets Fullback in a. Bj played with a number of NFL players at Michigan, such as Braylon Edwards, jason a van Chris Perry, victor Habsen and others. Do you think Michigan has has the same type of players as when your brother played there, or are they better now?

Speaker 3: 17:10

They are nowhere near the type of players they had when my brother was there. You know you can go up and down that roster when he was there the four or five years before and even after. You know you look at the. You know quarterbacks. You know you had Tom Brady was there. You had drew with that was there at one point.

Speaker 3: 17:38

The running back situation. I mean you were a train, my brother, the receiver, david Tyrell, you had. I mean it's a full back tight end and then that's just on my office out of all. You know defensively man, I mean there was that man from top to bottom. You know all over the place there are nowhere near man. That's one thing. I think that that that Michigan has lacked in part of that the last 10 to 15 years is getting those quality athletes like they used to because they better plug them out of Ohio, pa, you know, down Florida, but I don't think they get in those type of athletes like they used to year in and year out. You know my brother was around without his NIL deal. Oh man, I can only imagine.

Speaker 2: 18:32

Let me ask you a question, mr, because I know we always talked about BJ and the older guys on the show. Remember when BJ played for the Jetson block for Curtis Martin and a Hall of Famer is, was BJ and Chris Perry a better backfield than Blake Corum and their other running back? Can you say Chris Perry is better than Blake Corum and use your brother better than their back up running back? Because I mean your brother should have been running back there if he wasn't with Chris Perry.

Speaker 3: 18:59

I mean, you know what? I'll go a step further, man, and make it real nice and easy for you. He was better than a train. My brother was better than a train, he was better than all of them, I mean. But just to add, you know, to answer your question, him and Perry, you know, even when it was Walter Cross or I can't think of the guy, maybe Howard, I think, might have been there, but they had a better overall running back group than you know something they have right now. Yeah, you can you, can you can you compare there? Can you compare?

Speaker 1: 19:36

Okay, it's hard to argue that my heart some love.

Speaker 3: 19:39

My heart went bad at all. I'll get him some love to a little bit.

Speaker 1: 19:46

All right, all right, starting to bring us back to the entire group and, jonas, we're going to start with you all. So all of you either are former or current college players or coaches. Let's talk about which of these four teams is the best, offensively and defensively, in your opinion.

Speaker 4: 20:10

Man. I'm not, you know, I'm not going to claim to be an expert on this. I'm just kind of looking at the records of these teams, which the margin of error and the margin of separation is very thin. I'm really liking that Alabama defense because of what they did against Georgia. You look at Georgia scoring 30, 40, 50 points a game, except for two games. One of them was against that Alabama defense. I really like what that Alabama defense did against Georgia.

Speaker 4: 20:58

Michigan I had a chance to watch Michigan play against Ohio State. That's the only game I had a chance to see them play. But I've seen Michigan over the years and although there's something to be said about the quarterback situation at Ohio State in comparison to some of the other quarterbacks they've had most recently, I just don't think that they were that that was as a game changing as some of the other quarterbacks. But I thought Michigan played really tough defense as well and I take a lot from that Ohio State game because that is the rival game, right. But I thought that Michigan defense man, I thought they really played as good as any of the Michigan defenses that I've seen in a while, in a long time. Now this running back for Michigan man. He's found the ends on a lot. He's found the ends on a lot. I'm talking 24 touchdowns on the season. That's got to be up there amongst the nation's best from an offensive standpoint.

Speaker 4: 22:10

You look at the quarterbacks from both of those two teams. They're fairly even, especially in total yards. And then you look at the two top receivers from that Alabama and those Michigan teams. I mean they're fairly even as well in receptions, yards and touchdowns. So in terms of Michigan and Alabama, I think it's going to be a defensive deal, man. But I'm looking at that Alabama defense. I'm kind of going that way because I really like what they did against Georgia.

Speaker 4: 22:45

As far as Texas and Washington, this quarterback, penix man, hey, big Penix energy, he's getting it done, boy. I mean he's over 4,000 yards throwing the football. I mean that is pretty special, that is pretty special to me. And then you look at the running backs, fairly even there, fairly even in yards, carries and touchdowns. You look at the receivers, the two top receivers, worthy and the Old Dunzi kid, I mean they are fairly even as well, although Old Dunzi has seen the end zone a lot more than Worthy has, but fairly even there in reception. So I got to give the nod there to Washington's offense. I'm going to give the nod there to Washington's offense. So I think, alabama's defense and Washington's offense, man, I think those would be my two picks.

Speaker 1: 23:58

Okay, jill Vaughn, what about you?

Speaker 6: 24:04

I mean honestly, I don't think there's any wrong answers here. I mean you can go either which way. I think these guys have been proven to showcase what they're able to do on a week-to-week basis defensively, offensively, I think I've seen Michigan's defense in person against my Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship game and I was not very impressed because Iowa's offense isn't very good and they did kind of move the ball against them even though they didn't score points. But I just think Michigan's defense is a little bit overrated. I think they're at them as a whole team. I think they have a very good offense in how they are able to run the football with those two running backs, and McCarthy is the athlete that when he gets the ball in space he makes things happen.

Speaker 6: 24:55

But I think Alabama is the better of the four when it comes to defensively, just because I kind of know their scheme. They are a lot like Iowa and their scheme that they run and they've consistently been one of the best defenses in all of America. I mean, on the offensive side of the ball you have to go with either Texas or Washington. I mean both of those teams are explosive on offense. Texas has, I think, a little bit of a better running game. But I think you know Pinnick's is was the runner up for the Hagenan and I thought I thought he should have won. But I mean, at the end of the day, I think Washington's offense is probably the best in the playoff right now, with their ability to just be quick, strike and do a lot of different things Okay, fitty, what about?

Speaker 2: 25:45

you Washington for sure Defensively, michael Pinnick's best offensive player out of the four teams. Defensively I'm going to kind of go off what Jovan said. Iowa statistically worse offense in America. I mean it is what it is. They won with special teams in defense.

Speaker 2: 26:03

I'm pretty sure I'm 37 and I could go play quarterback better at Iowa and I never played quarterback before better than Deacon Hill and I'm pretty sure, like Jovan's, like 38, and he can come play receiver better than anybody you know was there. We can even have Mr Askew come be our fullback to it. Like what are you, mr 50 now? So but but in all seriousness, michigan really actually struggled against that Iowa team. If Iowa didn't have those two turnovers that they punch in and make it scores, iowa potentially has a chance to win that game. So I can't say Michigan's defense is that great. I'm going to say Alabama's defense is that good because Nick Saban is that good of a deep coordinator and Nick Saban also learned from Bill Belichick on that Brown staff. So I'm giving the nod to Alabama defensively and Washington, no doubt, offensively.

Speaker 1: 26:56

All right, dan what about you?

Speaker 5: 27:01

Again. You know these questions of who's the best at this or that. It's a complete yacht sea barrel right. Throw the dice out. They're going to come up different every single time. With that said, I do think there's really only one stat that pops out to me that makes makes one team different in one aspect.

Speaker 5: 27:17

My concern for Washington is their defense, the 93rd ranked defense in the country. They've not really proven that they won a lot of close games. I gave them a lot of props a moment ago for winning close games in the Pac-12 or Pac-2 or whatever we're going to call it now and what's going on with the realignment, but they've won on the West Coast. What I don't trust them to do is have nearly as much offensive success against Texas. Texas has got some dogs in the trenches Now. The forward defensive line. They got two future NFL beasts coming down the pipe. I want to see Pena stand in the pocket when he's got two people blowing those guards and those centers up and Texas is going to be in his face all day long. So that to me, is worth a couple of possessions. That might have been a first down every other game this season that turn into a punt because there's extra pressure in there and he's got to rush a little bit. Now he can scramble, but he's not going to have as much time to throw those 50, 60 yard bombs that he's capable of throwing down the field. That takes time to develop. So for that reason I'm going to have to say that Texas, I think, is the most balanced team this year in this playoff. Just because they're offensive defense combo doesn't mean they're going to win the national championship. That's not my pick yet, but that's it. I do think they're the most balanced.

Speaker 5: 28:35

So my offensive pick for best offense, singularly, I'm going to actually give the nod to someone I didn't mention yet, which is Alabama and the reason I'm going to give them a nod offensively and again, we could split statistical hairs everywhere, but Jaylen Milrow was benched earlier in the year. He came back and has been phenomenal right 23 touchdowns. Of those 23 touchdowns, 20 of them have been from over 15 yards out from the end zone, whether that's running or throwing. The guy has been sensational with 2700 passing yards and he's probably the closest thing we've had to a little bit of a Tim Tebow comparison, which not to bring that into it, but in terms of his power as a runner. He will run you over Now. You didn't know he was way he's going to lower his shoulder. He was truck yet.

Speaker 5: 29:20

So I do think his ability to move the chains will be very effective for Alabama. So offensively, I'll give him a nod and then, especially, I'm going to go to Texas, just because I love their defensive pressure up front. I believe these games, especially when these teams are all four top 20 in offense in the country, these games are one at the line of scrimmage. Ryan Barth knows that, drew Barth knows that, from no matter what level you're at, those games are one in the trenches and I think Texas can just blow up that Huskies offensive line.

Speaker 1: 29:52

Okay, ryan, let's get your take on this.

Speaker 7: 29:55

Yeah, dan brought out some great points there. But as an O-line coach and a former O-line and I'm going to give my nod to because Michigan a couple or a month ago when they played Penn State, then throw one single pass in the second half against them. They ran the ball over 50 times and if you don't have to air it out, there's no reason to. If you can keep the chain moving on the ground, keep the clock turning, a possession type game, that's going to say something and at the end of the game I think it'll speak for itself as long as the turnover battle is one, two. So I give my nod to Michigan there because their ability to run the ball is going to be interesting to see how they able to against a bunch of five star guys as well from Alabama.

Speaker 7: 30:42

And defensively I'd give my nod to Texas. Just to the same point as Dan brought up about their front seven, six, whatever it is in the box that they play with. I just think that there's speed on the defensive side and I don't know up front how well Washington's going to be able to handle that type of pressure. They've won the close games throughout the year, but they might meet their maker this week when they're playing the front seven from Texas and all that speed around them as well to compliment their size. So I get my offensive nod to Michigan just because of their ability to run the ball and then defensive Texas.

Speaker 1: 31:23

Okay, let's see what a little brother say Drew.

Speaker 8: 31:27

He's throwing shade at me because we ran the same play 25 times in a row. Left flex King 25 lead to happen. I'm not kidding, it was right to Ryan side too. So he's throwing shade at me. And, fendi, I'd like to see you play quarterback, because I've seen you throw the ball and it is not pretty, you're wrong.

Speaker 2: 31:46

I would dip now listen. I wasn't even put a quarterback and I could zip those things. You know, because you and I did the plate drills, you know I could launch that ball, good solid, 40 yards, and I never even played quarterback, you're right, I'm feeling stupid.

Speaker 8: 32:03

You're right, fendi, I just had to throw it in there. You guys are always giving me shit on here, so I had to throw it back. But it being a former quarterback who cares about defense, I mean I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, but I have no idea. But I like defense. I mean it really cares about any of that? Because I don't care about it. I'm trying to score on them but I'll get that not right.

Speaker 8: 32:18

Alabama, that's gonna be my pick, just because this slow down that Georgia team. It was very explosive offense and I think that's why Carson Beck's coming back, because he has some more to prove. And offensively, like mentioned before, big p energy. Uh. Second, the Highsman somebody mentioned that earlier. I love their offense, enjoy watching it. And, uh, I think they're. I don't like the Texas defensive picked by the other two. Maybe you can. College graduates, I mean, maybe that's why they're not so bright, but man, it's great to throw shade at other people. Finally, for once, I'll be my defense in Washington and offense.

Speaker 3: 33:04

Tell you what man, autumn, autumn choices matter are good. You know, defensively man, I have to go with, you know, michigan, and In that team down south, with the tide, you know, I just think that no, no guys are just relentless man, and I think they, those, those defense, rise to the occasion, no matter who they plan. The one thing I will say about Texas though, that front line Defensive line that they have, they do apply pressure to come off the ball. I'll, offensively man, you know the quarterback, mike penis, over there in Washington, you know, I think, you know that's a classic case man of you know, you know I just not going to be denied, you know, think about, I wonder what the Indiana coaches think right now, because you know he's, you know he was an Indiana man.

Speaker 3: 33:56

You know, left and course, you know, we know he's over there Washington. But think about your coach, and that's that. You know you have something like that and he go, go over there to watch stands, just tear it up. You know I'm with for pretty bad move, my two Jonas, oh, how I would. I was terrible, but uh, but I have to get the, the, the nod to Washington office and the other two, like I said, michigan and Alabama.

Speaker 1: 34:20

All right, how round us out with this?

Speaker 9: 34:25

I, I, I just think Alabama's the better team overall. You know it's hard to get a read on Washington. I love pinnacle, I love watching play, I like what they did this year. But but I think you know it's gonna be hard for them to hold up to A texas defense in front and uh and or an alabama defense. So I like alabama both ways.

Speaker 1: 34:50

Okay, all right. So, fitty, let's start with you, because I know you love your predictions and your your stat man. So what is your prediction for each game with the score and who ultimately wins the national championship?

Speaker 2: 35:04

Yeah, I was really off on this on last year's show, so let me off again. Who knows um? I'm gonna go alabama 20, michigan 17, so alabama wins that game. I'm gonna go Washington 31, texas 27. I have Washington and alabama playing in the national championship.

Speaker 1: 35:22

Okay, drew, what about you now? No, no, let's not try to throw any shade, but let's throw some scores out this time.

Speaker 8: 35:28

Yeah, I'll be better this time. Sorry about that, I got a little heated earlier. Yeah, I think michigan beats alabama though I know I picked alabamas divas, but I do think michigan ends up beating them. The last second field goal Uh, with the same score 2017, but flip fitty. So we had the same numbers there. Uh, and then I think washington does beat texas. I think it's gonna be a high scoring game there. Uh, maybe we'll get a score. Gami score, Maybe like a 41,. You know what's another one in there? Throw a random number in there 36 or something. So I got washington and michigan. Are we picking national champion now or not yet? No, no, all right. Well, that's my national champion match up washington michigan.

Speaker 1: 36:07

All right, jonas, what about you?

Speaker 4: 36:09

I got bell mine in texas by nine.

Speaker 1: 36:13

Okay dan.

Speaker 5: 36:18

I'm gonna take uh michigan to beat alabama 22 to 20, and then I've all I've got texas uh in a bit of an offensive shootout Uh 38 to 27 over washington Okay mr, they got michigan over alabama 28 to 17 and washington over texas 48 to 42.

Speaker 6: 36:39

Okay, we, they put enough some numbers there. I'm taking uh michigan over bellah In the close one. I think it's gonna be a field little type of game. I think 17, 14 um, not a lot of points scored, but Uh. Then I'm gonna take texas to beat washington um again, probably around 20, 28, 24, uh, texas. So I got texas, michigan and with and the national championship.

Speaker 1: 37:06

Okay, ryan.

Speaker 7: 37:11

Yeah, I'm, uh, I'm gonna ride the coattails, I'm gonna take michigan 24 21 over bamma, and then I got Uh texas in a little bit of a shootout as well, I think some offensive fire power coming out with uh 35 31 finale Final score. How?

Speaker 1: 37:31

what about you?

Speaker 9: 37:34

Well, I'm gonna go against the court and we'll be here. First of all, I don't think there's gonna be any offensive shootouts. Last night everybody thought that was gonna be an offensive shootout and it was treated up and it Going into the fourth quarter. Yeah, with ohio state and Missouri. Uh, the problem with the way they're doing the playoffs is the long way off the kids have and there's just a lot of distractions and and uh, anyway, I, I think texas will beat washington. It's gonna be something like 21 to 17, and uh, alabama will beat michigan and it's going to be the same kind of score.

Speaker 1: 38:08

Okay, so how? Let's stay with you, and this one is just for you. I mean, you've coached at kentucky. You played teams like alabama, sarah q's, penn state, lsu and many other top teams in the country. Uh, as a coach, how are you preparing your team to play in such a high state game against another team in a legendary, you know stature, and arguably saying alabama, michigan and texas are three out of the Top five football programs ever? Uh, so what? What goes into preparing for that type of game?

Speaker 9: 38:43

Well, you just got to. You got to be consistent. We we never changed our plan, from whether we were playing indiana or playing alabama, it was the same plan. And and I think you can you can almost talk to players. I mean, you gotta, you're playing with geyser 1920, 21 years old. I mean you don't want to plant so much in their heads that they can't be instinctive. And so I tried to just have the same plan. I wanted every day of the week to be the same, but every money was the same, every Tuesday was the same, every Wednesday was the same. It didn't matter who we were playing or where we were in the in the season. So I think that helped with uh being consistent.

Speaker 1: 39:31

Okay, so next year for the entire group and uh, jovan, we're gonna start with you which of these, seems, is built to return as a top four playoff team next season?

Speaker 6: 39:45

I'm gonna have to say michigan. I think michigan is one of the best overall programs with the Makeup of their team and, you know, the constant ability to recruit and bring in top knives guys, the five star guys. Um, they got some very good players and a lot of talent coming back. Um, they're gonna lose some players to the nfl. But I think defensively, you know the big 10 is built around defense and they big 10 has like four of the top five Defenses in the in the country. So I think defensively they're gonna be better and I think offensively there they're just gonna continue to retool and just continue to be successful under hardball.

Speaker 1: 40:26

Okay, ryan, what about you?

Speaker 7: 40:31

Yeah, uh, you could say almost all of them have a really good chance to make it back. Um, I would say I would. I would agree with jovan, with michigan, and I would also in texas, the way they built um the past couple years under uh sarkeesian, um he's been on the uphill trend of Uh building the program to where he wants it to be and uh, I'd say, come down to those two. But then again you got alabama who as well has uh built and just been at the top year after year after year. Um, I would go with jovan, michigan. They got a. They had a good chance to get back to the playoff next year as well. I don't know if ohio state will bring in a quarterback to be able to Uh knock them off the top of the big 10, but we'll see. I think michigan will be back where they're at as long as hardball returns. Let's add that asterisk.

Speaker 1: 41:26

I was gonna say, yeah, hardball might be, might be jumping ship too, so there's a lot of. If they're in michigan, uh, dan, I think we can see. With the background you got a, but who's your pick here for the return?

Speaker 5: 41:38

Yeah, so I, you know, made the background texas because again, I think texas hoist that national championship trophy. This is all said and done this year. I also would say every one of these four teams is perennial contenders. This playoff expands next year to 12 teams. Right, all right, so. So all of a sudden we got triple the amount of teams. So you can make a case. All four of these are in the running every single year in their current structures. Right, washington's a little bit of a wild card going forward, for you know they haven't been over the years.

Speaker 5: 42:04

Here in there I like to bore a lot, so I think he's building a program, but this is a rant podcast, so let me rant on why the really this conversation is largely irrelevant. Bono, because this drastic Disaster that we call name, image and likeness, that is literally upside down Total dumpster fire. Let me call it just that. It is free agency. Every single year. Roster's turnover there's 30, some guys from most teams in the portal. There's over a thousand players switching teams. Every roster is different every year and for coach howl and when he had Tim couch, one of the best gunslingers of all time, he would have been getting a million, two million, three million dollar offers as a senior right before he 3rd for 4200 yards and went to be the number one pick. He'd be getting you know everybody.

Speaker 9: 42:52

Yeah, I was done going to his high school coach, I could have gotten him to come back. I could have got him to come back now, though I and that's the thing.

Speaker 5: 43:02

Well, and in I L has its place. I'm not against the athletes earning that. That's a whole different discussion. Right, I have no issues with the premise, but what's unfortunately happened in the short term is that it has gone completely off the rails and so there's gonna have to be some guidelines, some parameters. Until then, it's a wide open race every single year. I think guys like hailing to bore and I have respect for his coaching style he's good at using the portal, right, I mean, he went to Indiana and grabbed a quarterback that, frankly, everyone was like a struggling, and he's out there. He's a runner up to the eyes in a better system, in a better setup. So you can make a case that these coaches are going to adapt. But I'm going to stick to your question.

Speaker 5: 43:42

My final answer after my rant there is texas and the reason I keep going back to texas it's because they're joining the sec, so they're about to get that lovely sec treatment that we all know exists as a neutral observer.

Speaker 5: 43:56

And also Texas has oil money.

Speaker 5: 44:00

Texas a and m, texas, these schools, they are going nowhere because in this current setup of nil, it's a giant printer machine that can print whatever it takes to draft the greatest free agent roster in the country. So they're being georgia's, sending dudes that are five star quarterbacks that are landing at purdue and other places right now and transfer portals because they just don't have room for it. They got 85 scholarships and they can go get a better guy in the portal. So they're telling these five star dudes have been there two years, I'm so sorry. We love you, but you're not going to play anymore because we got guys better than you we can bring in. And every year it just becomes this roster turnover. So texas, with the 12 team playoff going forward and with oil money and the longhorn network, that longhorn network prints a lot of cash fellas there. Uh, texas is going nowhere and they got a guy in sarc who can run offense That'll keep them in any game and go into the sec. They're in with everybody else. They need to be.

Speaker 1: 44:57

All right, jones, what about you?

Speaker 4: 45:01

Yeah. So, uh, I would say, deja vu tells me alabama, right, They've just kind of been a staple of this thing. And then, um, just keeping in the lines of what dan's talking about, you know, texas and alabama man, they, they've had a bag man for years, you know, I mean they just they, they major, um, and that sort of thing, and have been doing it for a long time. So, um, yeah, I would say for sure, alabama in texas. Now, there there has been A little bit of chatter about old saint nick winning this national title and, uh, you know, head back on up to the north pole somewhere. So, uh, we shall see.

Speaker 1: 45:52

Okay, what about you?

Speaker 8: 45:54

Well, thanks for not going to me after dan, because I forgot the question after he went on as a ran. So thanks for not coming to me. So thanks, dan. Uh, I don't have to say probably, texas, I mean dan hit all the spots. Right now I don't even know go into detail, because dan pretty much hit it on the spot. He's pretty good at doing that. You know, I've been working with him for over a year now, so kind of learned his uh works and everything. So I'm just gonna go with texas and keep it short and simple, oh Okay.

Speaker 1: 46:23

Did you say mike you, johnny?

Speaker 2: 46:25

oh me. Okay, here's what I'm gonna say and I know it's gonna be a topic we're gonna talk about, but I'm gonna say washington, and here's why. Because they're they're new to the new to the game. Now everybody's finally seeing them on a national level. They didn't see them before because playing on the um Pacific coast time. So now they're a cool place. The stadium's packed, the heisman runner-up is from their school. They're getting all this free publicity millions and millions of dollars of free publicity and as long as they don't bomb in the in the playoffs, they will return because everybody's gonna go. Coolest place ever.

Speaker 2: 47:00

Wow, I want to go to washington. And you get more hits on the website. You get more people dumping in money. You get more people wanting to invest in the nil, you get more people wanting to invest in facilities. So everybody else has this all established and they, they are who they are. But washington is now gonna become the cool place to go and people are gonna want to transfer there, people are gonna want to go to school there and I think washington, because of that, is going to be the one who goes back to the playoffs.

Speaker 1: 47:24

Okay, how? What about you?

Speaker 9: 47:28

Well, I'm kind of like dan, they're all gonna make it because they're gonna go to 12 next year. So If you're saying who gets back to the final four, yeah, that's a little tougher question because they're all gonna have adjustments. They're all changing leagues. The Players in washington are gonna have to learn to play in the eastern time zone and the central time zone. They're they're not. There's gonna be a lot of logistical things with these conferences expanding and I'm mainly talking about the big 10 in the, in the sec, that that are gonna. There's gonna be some hidden, there's some landmines there that they're not gonna seize, but I don't know. I think it's kind of. I think they'll all four get to Make the final 12. But as far as getting back to the before, if I had to just bet on one guy, I bet I'll save.

Speaker 1: 48:24

Okay.

Speaker 9: 48:25

In alabama.

Speaker 1: 48:26

Okay, okay, and you know I completely lost track with with dancer at mr. Did I get, did we? Did you answer this question yet, or not?

Speaker 3: 48:36

I don't know, man, I'm only just listening, man. I think I was in the back cave man, but I can't get you real quick though, man. But I think, uh, michigan, no, I think michigan and taxes, uh, we'll get back in that final four. I mean michigan Just know, just because what's been going on the last you know, uh, five, six, seven years. But I think taxes, you know station occasion and done a real good job and recruiting and getting type of players that he won't, and, like you know, and like Dan said, man, you know, you dealing with oil money, like, come on, man, I mean, what else is there? You know they don't get, they don't be able to get anybody. They want to Be anytime, especially in the sc.

Speaker 1: 49:15

Now, okay, absolutely so, johnny, this server with you. Out of these four teams, which team has the most to gain, both as a football program and an institution of higher education, by not just winning this semi final game, uh, but the national championship? Do you think there's? Think these have the? You know, fundraisers, enrollment, plebiscite, east standpoints.

Speaker 2: 49:40

Yeah, for sure. And I think again this goes to washington right. If you look at ms Bigotus from from the enrollment standpoint, when you play in final fours, when you're on tv a lot, when you're in all these things, people take notice. They're like, oh, what is the school? And they google it. You get hits on the website. They start buying merchandise from the school. If you look at the final four, last year um like f a? U, their their um Bookstore went up like 600 percent during the Final four and their their national championship run because they're on tv of all this free marketing, right?

Speaker 2: 50:18

Look at what mount union's done. Yes, mount union had total buy-in from everybody and the school had total buy-in with the players and all that. But mount union playing in all those national championships in a row on espn Made mount union become a successful institution to the point that they got enough money that they built a brand new engineering department. What happened with that? You get you get better students coming in. You can raise your gpa standard that way.

Speaker 2: 50:43

Then you get students who usually have more money, who want to go into, say, engineering or another type of field. They're usually higher donors. They can pay more than you start to get more money rolling now. That's just an example. But Washington has the most to gain because they're the most, I'm gonna say, under or represented on national tv type of deal. If washington can win the game and maybe go to national championship, their publicity will go through the roof because people will be donating back by the bucket loads and I'll let dan and borce talk about that but they'll be donating back by the bucket loads to raise the standard of that school to be the next alabama. So it's washington and that's my ramp.

Speaker 1: 51:26

Okay, drew. What about you?

Speaker 8: 51:29

A lot of a rants being thrown on the ride home rants podcast today. No, we're the rants.

Speaker 8: 51:34

You know, we're using 50, hit it all on the spot. I mean washington has a lot to gain from this. I mean, especially if you have a second, the heisman, you could say how dan's been talking about the board the whole time. I mean he could, he molded him into that, being the type of quarterback he is in that system. And obviously alabama what clicks do they need? Or anything? They've had enough clicks of hardball this year so they don't need any more, so they're getting that. And then texas, obviously big powerhouse too. So washington definitely has the most to gain. And Uh, yeah, I mean that's the easiest way to put it 50. Hit it all on the spot right there. So Thanks for taking my uh words of wisdom there fitty.

Speaker 2: 52:12

You always know how to do that I like. I like to give my knowledge when I can.

Speaker 1: 52:18

And uh, jones, what about you?

Speaker 4: 52:23

Yeah, I think I would agree. Washington, you know, just look at the. The football brand, um, you know, although I think washington has a, a top tier football brand is just not Um at the same tier as alabama, michigan and texas.

Speaker 1: 52:44

Okay, Mr. What about you?

Speaker 3: 52:46

Yeah, I have to agree with 50, you know Washington most definitely have, you know that have the opportunity to really put himself in a good position. You know, for the next you know five, ten, fifteen, twenty years they're they able to pull this out and then win a national championship? Because, just like 50 said, I mean all those, those are marks that he hit. It's really important you know when you, when your school is out in the media, out on TV getting free publicity, you know the student, you know everybody start buying in, don't want to come in, get you down and big. You know I mean just everything and go right for them, if they're able to, to win this national championship. So they got the biggest ups on for sure, all right, dan.

Speaker 1: 53:33

What about?

Speaker 3: 53:33

you.

Speaker 5: 53:36

Yeah, so I mean, just to your question, one of these teams is unlike the other three and that's Washington. You know, alabama this is their 77th bowl game all times. Michigan this is their 51st ball game. And Texas is 59th ball game. So there's a deep amount of experience and legendary stories with those programs. Washington's been good. They've been to 42 ball games all time, so it's not like they're way behind, but it's a different level of both.

Speaker 5: 54:06

Right, when you're playing for the Micron PC comm bowl back in the day in their 90s, that's not the same as playing in some of these other mashups these other schools are involved in from a national championship standpoint. So it's, it's an outlier to the point that I Forget who made it was. If any of somebody made a comment about, about you know the impact on Revenue if this for the March Madness tournament, I would agree. I don't so much. You personally agree with it with that from the football standpoint, because when March Madness happens in Florida, gulf Coast and Dunk City back in 2012, 2013, starts throwing lobs beat in Georgetown. Their apps submissions apps went up 30%. The next year their website blew up by crash the server the whole nine yards. That's a whole different model. Right work Purdue. Bart drew Barth and I work at Purdue. Fairly, dickinson caused the problem last year, right? Uh no, in North Texas we can pick on basketball all day long. Those schools are the ones that benefit deep from the publicity in the, in the platform, in this football playoff.

Speaker 5: 55:06

None of these school, these schools, are top 25 public institutions in the country. So the same stuff that affects the Mount Union, affects the March Madness, affects whatever that's not gonna affect any schools. Right, these are, these are semi-pro leagues, these are feeder systems to the NFL. It's what they are, is what they've gone into and, frankly, at some point time we're gonna end up having some sort of a subset where these schools become just full-blown minor league teams. But they already basically are, especially with the NIL. The equation again I could just be in IEL to death. It's, it's caused so many problems and it's they've got to write that shit.

Speaker 1: 55:36

No, all right, Ryan. What about you?

Speaker 7: 55:40

Yeah, I'm not much on the administration side. I kind of stand my lane with the coaching side of things, but uh, I think the most to gain out of Going to the semi-final I'd agree with Drew in this regard is Washington. Just because they probably don't get as much as the publicity granted, they're undefeated right now and Winning a lot of close games and pennies. Being the Heisman when it comes to financial side of things, I think that they probably have the most to gain. When it's gonna be, they're all over ESPN, all that good stuff that is free advertising. As Fitty says, I think that they probably have the most to gain, as the other three juggernauts are probably more expected to be in this position.

Speaker 1: 56:24

Okay, joe Vaughn, what about you?

Speaker 6: 56:28

I mean I think Washington most definitely is a no-brainer. I mean, when you think about Alabama, you think about Michigan and Texas, their level of prestige is Far exceeds anything that Washington has. I mean Washington has been really good, but they, they have just a different Expectation on a yearly basis of making it to the college football playoff for being in the national championship. I mean you think about all of their teams throughout history. You know they've always been there at the pinnacle. I mean Washington is now up and coming and you know it has done some great things throughout, but I think the other three are already expected to be there. But when you throw in, you know what you have to gain. I mean I don't think they could get much more From being in this position, whereas Washington has a lot more to gain, especially, like everybody has said, if they were able to pull off the national championship. What they would gain from that would be Monument.

Speaker 1: 57:28

All right, how? What about you?

Speaker 9: 57:32

Well, the question is who has the most to gain right? Yep, and I think it's Texas, because they haven't been there for a long time and they got it. You thinking I'll think it pull it off this? This would be the first time Since what? 19 is young. When did Mac Brown? Mac Brown want it? Yeah, eventually. I mean I was to know that, oh six, oh six. Yeah, so you know you're looking at 18 years and and when you? If the question's the most, there's obviously hadn't been. This has already been brought up, but the Texans have a lot more money. I mean, if you just go ahead up the money, yeah, I think if they went at all, they're gonna that's gonna work. Is it's gonna rain money in Austin?

Speaker 1: 58:22

Okay, I, I Agree with all those for sure. But I think Washington definitely Institutional wise if they, if they pull this off, they may need to update their their website servers just to be safe, for that for sure. But uh, jovan this thing with you just for this question. This one is just for you. You're a former Iowa Hawke out standout and a four-year starter who Went on to play numerous seasons in the NFL and the CFL, coming from the big 10. How does playing in the big 10 and for michigan prepare them not only for an alabama game, but also potentially Either a washington or a texas? Do you think michigan's game against, uh, the likes of ohio state and iowa, you know, amongst others, prepared them for this?

Speaker 6: 59:14

Yeah, I mean one thing about planning the big 10 is week in and week out, you're gonna get physicality. So, no matter what position you play offensive line, defensive line, running backs, devies, like you have to be physical to be able to play in a big 10 on a weekend, a week out basis. You know, you think about all these different teams the ohio states, the bichigan's, the isos. They're going to run the football. I mean national championship. Right now, the playoff.

Speaker 6: 59:41

Michigan's going to come in and they're thinking they're going to try to impose their will Um upfront, because that's what they do. Um. You got to be able to defend the run Um, win a turnover battle, being able to play field position game when it needs to with special teams, and that's what the big 10 is built around. They're they're not flashy, they're not really going to score 15 000 points. That's why usc coming into the big 10. They're going to struggle, uh, because the big big 10 is going to be a defensive football. So you're going to have to play defense and right now they don't play defense but um. But yeah, I think the the thing about the big 10 um Is that you can defend multiple different things, but it starts with defending the run first and then, when you can stop To run, everything else works in your favor.

Speaker 1: 1:00:32

Okay, yeah, the big 10 has always been known for for their defensive sides of the ball, so I would agree with that. But so, fidget, let's jump to you If jim because I know you're such a jim harball fan for this question here. So if jim harball loses another semi-final game for the third season in a row, along with his suspensions, uh, that he's had this year, is it better for him to leave misshane and go back to the nfo? And where does jim harball's legacy stand after this season if he does not win a national championship?

Speaker 2: 1:01:07

You know, uh, here's what I'm gonna say. I like jim harball, the football player. I think anybody remembers back to the 95 playoff run he had with the colts. Uh guys, remember that great, great run he had. He was a tough as nels football player. I just don't like him as a coach. Um, yeah, if they lose again, I don't think jim harball is considered a great coach. He's considered a really good coach. It's not a great upper echelon coach, um, because he never could bring him to national Legitimacy with winning that national title. I think he's better off going back to the nfl. And here's why because he can bring in all the mercenary coaches he wants.

Speaker 2: 1:01:47

He can bring in all his players that he wants and he can basically cheat as much as he wants Until he finally gets caught by the nfl. But jim harball was a better and a Coach than he is a college coach. I think that's shown in his record and maybe I'm wrong. I mean, a lot of these guys on here have been around nfl camps and players and this, and that it's harder to make nfl players buy in than it is college players because you're doing a little grown men who are on salaries and all that, but jim harball gets that done because he's a former nfl player. So, yes, jim harball needs to go back to the nfl and if jim harball doesn't win a national championship, he's just another coach.

Speaker 1: 1:02:29

Okay, uh, jones, what about you?

Speaker 4: 1:02:34

Yeah, uh, this one's hard for me, right? Because you know you just, you know you just kind of have a respect for the chair, you know. So, um, you know it's hard for me to say that a guy wins, you know, 12, 13 games a year. It's not a really good football coach, even one of the greats. So you know it is really hard to win football games. We're just throwing words around, right Championships, you know that's just a word to us, but such an elusive feat, that certainly, man, you go when you win that many games. You know I think you're still a really good football coach, so you know that's kind of a tough one for me.

Speaker 1: 1:03:20

Okay, Dan, what about you?

Speaker 5: 1:03:26

Harbaugh's. I mean he's gonna go down. All these coaches are good, right, I mean you could dissect them in terms of their struggles. I think Harbaugh maybe my gut feeling is he tries to go back to the pros. That's all the rumors, right, and what's out there. But it's something I think Hal said earlier about, or someone mentioned that, maybe Saban. I forget who said this. Forgive me, hal, it wasn't you, but somebody mentioned that.

Speaker 5: 1:03:49

Saban, might you know, right off in the sunset he wins another one and there's legitimately two of these coaches who might not be in college football next year if Saban and Harbaugh were to do something. But to that point, harbaugh's legacy at Michigan is gonna be taken to Ohio State, to the woodshed. Right, that's the biggest legacy he's got at Michigan and that doesn't mean that Ohio State's not an elite program. They've been one of the best, arguably, for the last two decades in the Big Ten. But he's made his name off of that and he's caused Ryan Day headaches off of that. So for the fan base, they're gonna love him forever because of the way he turned that ship around. Harbaugh's one in six in bowl games, right? So, just like he was struggling to beat Ohio State and then turned the tide and now has lost in a few years.

Speaker 5: 1:04:35

Maybe this is his moment to turn the tide on a playoff game and win one, cause I really do think they can beat Alabama. Alabama is a fantastic team, but I actually think teams like Alabama were hit more by all these recent transfers and NIL money and all this type of there's more parody than there was six years ago, seven years ago, five years ago Teams like Alabama were hurt way more than teams like Washington gained, cause it's a way to bring in transfers and throw some cash around, or Texas, which is always thrown cash around, arguably, but they're doing it publicly now. Those teams gained a lot more than a team like Alabama did. Alabama didn't gain, they lost, and so it lives a little bit. There's still four and five stars walking the hallways everywhere, but there's less of them than there was at one point. So that's the reason I think Michigan can still win.

Speaker 5: 1:05:22

But Harbaugh's legacy I mean you could argue that his playoff legacy is defined by this game, but for the most part there's too many things over time that have already kind of manufactured where to land, and that's from Conor Stallion's to all the drama to sleep at a kicker's house on a recruiting visit one time, with social media posts and all kinds of stuff like that. Harbaugh's got quirks. That's what he'll be remembered for his quirks but, frankly, Michigan fans will love him forever because he's beaten Ohio State.

Speaker 1: 1:05:49

Okay, Drew, what about you?

Speaker 8: 1:05:52

It's all Michigan fans care about. I think if they go, even one in 11 at the Beto house state, that's all they care about. So I mean money talks, though, to that Michigan offer. From what? 10 years? 125 million, you're telling me 12 and a half million you're gonna. That's a little hard to turn down. Sometimes, like live golf, you get offered 400 million. I mean that's a different time for a different day, but I wouldn't join with live golf personally unless someone offered 400 million. That I'm probably going, but anyways, I don't think it's legacy.

Speaker 8: 1:06:19

I mean 16 suspension this year. We don't know what suspensions come in for next year yet, though, cause there's still more coming out. So I mean I think Fitty might be right. He might try to pursue the NFL. There's gonna be a lot of head coaching opening, so, you know, maybe the bears need somebody who knows. I mean there's there's so many things that can happen. I mean he wins, he can run off in the sun to end of the NFL. It's a good way to go into it. So there's just a lot that has to happen in the off season. So, you know, just saw us to play out by ear and see what happens. All right, mister what about you?

Speaker 3: 1:06:54

You know, man, I tell you what, you know it's an excellent, some excellent point. You know I you know me personally, man, you know I really don't think that he will leave right now until he, you know, until he's able to, you know, win a national championship and until he, you know, shown that he has really, really turned the program all the way around. If you think about it, think about what the last 10, 15 years Michigan has been, you know, from the time and I go back a little farther, rick, when my brother was there the whole time period, to even, you know, maybe five years south of Michigan with Dominic, then, all of a sudden, you know, they fell off. You know you went through three, three different, three or four different head coaches. You know Michigan is not trying to go through another coaching change right now with all the stuff that's going on with the NIL deals. And you know you're able to get players. You know one of the big things they were, they did not have the players that they had back in the day. You know, I think now that is slowly turning around. You know they're getting some players, they're stealing some players back to come back to the Maison blue or whatnot, but he's not.

Speaker 3: 1:08:09

I don't think he's going anywhere. He got. He got. You know why would you leave? And you're in college right now, you know, I mean he's. You know he's pretty much writing his ticket right now, you know. Does he want the NFL trouble? You know? I mean, he must love the college trouble right now, you know. So you know, I think he love it and I think he love where he at. I think he got a lot more to you know, a lot more to prove to himself. You know, I think you know coaches, you know I'm saying really don't care about the outside noise and you guys who are coaches, you know you understand what I'm talking about with that. But he's going. I think he'll be there, you know, until until he's ready to leave.

Speaker 1: 1:08:51

Okay, jill Vaughn, what about you?

Speaker 6: 1:08:55

Yeah, I think legacy wise, I think his legacy is that he has consistently been one of the better teams at Michigan in the country.

Speaker 6: 1:09:04

I mean, winning 10 plus games a year is hard to do.

Speaker 6: 1:09:06

It's not something that's just accomplished, you know, by faith, but he's been very good at Michigan and I think with him beating Ohio State the last few years, you know the Michigan fan brass is going to love him forever, like everybody said. But jumping back into the NFL, you know when you got guys that are making more money than you, I mean that is like way harder of a beast to try to overcome when you got grown men who make more money than you that when they go talk to the general manager they're going to get you out of there fashion and they're going to get rid of their franchise players. So it is, I think, where he is. He should be looking forward to being at Michigan for a lot longer, because I think right now he has it going and they got some great recruiting classes coming in and I think they're building to possibly win a national championship. I think they're right on the cusp. So I mean if I were him, I mean I would consider staying at Michigan or over going to the NFL?

Speaker 1: 1:10:12

OK, Ryan, what about you?

Speaker 7: 1:10:17

Yeah, I think there's a lot of uncertainties. Depends on how much he would want to, or Harbaugh would want to deal with Moving forward, whether it's more suspension, he wants to deal with more headaches that would arise from outside sources of the university, and then also the uncertainty of going and stepping into a situation. I think there's a lot of factors in the NFL that play into wanting to take a head coaching job there and, for all the reasons that all these guys have talked about, I think that his legacy left that Michigan is what he inherited from the university and the situation he stepped into and the steady climb he's been on to put Michigan where where they're at now is it's been impressive and if he were to be alive for Michigan, I think he would probably have a statue built for him by the time he's done that with his time there. So that's what I got to say about our ball.

Speaker 1: 1:11:18

All right, how around us on this one.

Speaker 9: 1:11:22

Well, I agree with what just got said about about his legacy at Michigan and, as far as you can go in the NFL, I think that depends on who the who, the owner is and what team you're talking about, how they approach him. I remember when I was in Kentucky I got approached by a lot of NFL guys and I asked Dennis Erickson one time at a clinic and he had done that, he had gone from Miami to, I guess, seattle and then back to Oregon State and I asked him. I said what I said. Some of these guys are talking to me. What do you think?

Speaker 9: 1:12:01

And because you've done it, and and she already knows this because he's done it, but you know he said well, where you're at right now, everybody listens to what you say. He said you go to the NFL, you got, you're gonna have. You're never better than the fourth best ego. Because you got a owner, you got a GM, you probably got some high paid player. There's at least three guys in front of you all the time. And and your your opinion is always going to be the fourth one and I always took that to heart. I always thought that was a pretty, pretty bright thing and he had done it, and and Harbaugh knows this too. So I think that depends on which team it would be and how they approach it.

Speaker 1: 1:12:48

OK, yeah, I'll weigh in a little bit. I think that there's been so many rumors that chargers are reaching out to him and all these teams that are going to be needing coaches coming up next year. You know I don't see him leaving. I mean, it's it's not broke there in Michigan. What? Why try to fix it? You know you're winning games, you're playing for the set, playoffs games and national championships. Basically, almost every year you're beating the breaks off of a high state which I love, because I cannot stand Ohio State. So just just keep going and and and putting it to all these college teams and keep doing what you're doing. I would say for for Harbaugh, but last question.

Speaker 2: 1:13:30

Let me throw this at you real quick, and I don't know if everybody knows this you know Harbaugh did play for the Bears for that's what he came in the NFL with and he did play for the Chargers. And Harbaugh did coach at San Diego and he also coached at Stanford. So him going to the West Coast back in the warm weather isn't too far fetched Right, just from throwing it out there to everybody.

Speaker 1: 1:13:52

That's why I thought the Chargers reaching out was. It was kind of interesting because of that. He's kind of a West Coast guy. So you know, get back into that warm weather. But let's round this off here and you know, johnny, we'll stay with you. So are you looking forward to the College Football playoffs expanding to 12 teams? Why or why not?

Speaker 2: 1:14:12

No, and here's why I'll just make it really quick. Someone like Liberty, toledo, smu, any of those teams that get to a major bowl game, right, that have been good. 11, 12 win teams from the power five, they can win that game and they can celebrate and make the program great, like UCF did, and all this and that. But they're not built to sustain winning against those major teams, to win three games that win a national championship. There's no way Liberty could beat Oregon than beat Alabama, than beat Texas. They're just not built for it. But winning that one game is way more beneficial to them. So no, I'm not a fan of the 12 teams. I eight is plenty, and just go from there to top eight or the top eight that's. That's my opinion.

Speaker 1: 1:15:01

All right, Jonas, what about you?

Speaker 4: 1:15:05

Yeah, I agree, man. I mean we went from four to 12. What happened to having the six, eight, ten? We just, we, just we, just we just talk. We saw what happened this year. Right Is arguably two or three more teams, maybe four, you know, I know we can all think of two. Yeah, they should be in this thing, so Think that's probably your margin for error, but I'd like to see you know, I think six is perfect, you know, no more than eight.

Speaker 1: 1:15:38

Okay, yeah, I've been saying this for our way, in real quick on this. I've been saying this since the college football started. It needs to be eight teams. Is, is, is my magic number. Eight teams. You get the five power, five conferences, all those conference champions get in and then, like Fady was saying, you get a liberty, a Toledo, something like that, a non-power five. They go undefeated. Give them a bit, see what they can do and and give them the chance at that. At that spotlight, I think eight is the magic number for me. But Dan, what about you?

Speaker 5: 1:16:06

Yeah, I'm excited for the 12 team playoff personally because I'm excited to leave the 14 Invitational that we have right now, which it really doesn't necessarily have even the best teams in it. My background would have a Georgia Bulldog on it if Georgia was in this. I still think they could win the whole thing if they were in a true playoff, but we have an invitational side pick in Texas. With that said, the 12 team playoff, what I like about it is I, fady, I agree with what you said traditionally about the big school, like the UCF or a Toledo or someone that's that was exciting and that made bowl game spun in this current era, that that, what we grew up on, kind of what you're Referencing, that's gone in my opinion, because all of a sudden it's opt-outs. If you have an ounce of ability to go the NFL or you have an ounce of career protection to put in place, you opt out. That's why we see it's a freshman bowl going on in a lot of these games where you've got 20 guys sitting out Potentially, or 10 to 15 starters sitting out. So in that case, in this modern era, by going to 12 teams if you're like 13 to 15 or you're fighting till the end of the season and you get into that 12 team. You're not all. The guys aren't often out, right, we get to see the talent on the field. So I'm excited that the talent may actually play in some of these games and and also, depending on how they structure this, if they're gonna have those first-round games beyond college campuses, what an electric atmosphere right to bring a playoff game to a college campus. You talk about an economic impact. That's the cities, the hotels, the restaurants, the bars, that's, that's what goes on. The D3 playoffs do a really nice job on a very, very, very small scale. But the stag bowl and all the playoff 32 teams that work their way down to the final round and the stag bowl, that that's a you know, an example of how it can work in a traditional playoff sense.

Speaker 5: 1:17:51

I Agree with what was said earlier about going to six or eight teams. I would have liked to have done that two, three years ago, I think. I think it's overdue, but but because of the NIL stuff that we've done, because the opt-outs and because of where things have landed in 2024, I'm really glad we're going to 12, because at least we can get 12 Fully rostered teams to get in a true playoff and figure out who's the best. I don't think that. I don't think it'll be. It'll be a long time, in my opinion, before it goes beyond 12, just because 12 is a lot. But at least it's something to try to determine a true champion, rather than what we do right now, which is an invitation on the invitationals. A lot better than the computer system grabbing the BCS picked two people. That was worse. So at least we have an invitation, but I'm excited for a true playoff.

Speaker 1: 1:18:33

All right, mister. What about you?

Speaker 3: 1:18:35

You know what, man, and until they use the same format as NCAA, division one, division to division three, all this other stuff was just a bunch of bullcrap, man, you know you got a community of people who puttin people in who didn't want to be put in. It's not played on a football field. No, you know, I'm not even interested in any other stuff, man. I can even tell you last time I really watched a whole full championship game anyway, you know, because it's just a bunch of you know, I want this team there. I'm gonna put this team in. You know I like this team, I like this thing.

Speaker 3: 1:19:12

When is it gonna be about? You know, saying we are your plan on a football field and because I won, we won, I get to go to the playoffs because I won, you know I won my conference, or I won. You know I want this. You know this committee, you know. So it's like all of us right here in, you know in the panel, and we decide, hey, man, I'm gonna put Michigan in, I will, you're gonna high-state, or you go to Texas, you know, you go to Alabama. Now you know what? Let's get you see up there.

Speaker 3: 1:19:39

Yeah, I mean, when is it gonna be about the field. We always say we play on the field and then you know you got players, you got players leaving, you got players that are, that have left, that are in, know that their team are going to the playoffs when they left and they're in the transfer portal. So when is it gonna stop? You know when is it gonna be real again? I ain't just let me know when it's gonna be real again, but I tell you what I'll be down Savannah in overtime. That's what I'll be doing. I mean, because right now it's just a bunch of bullcrap. It's all con, it's fake fake news. There's my rent, I'm sorry, there's my rent, no you can't drew.

Speaker 1: 1:20:29

I Ain't always put me falling the rants on these people Come on Bono hey, I gave you a break in the middle of the show. I can't give you a break the entire show. Let's go true.

Speaker 8: 1:20:39

Fenty, you should be happy with the 12 team playoff because now your rainbow warriors have a slim chance of getting in. But hey, there's still a chance. Go bows. I'm excited to see a 12 team playoff in extends Thank God the Dates came out. Extends a week or something, I think, now for College football. So who's? I want to see an extra week of college football going on. I mean it's right in line with NFL playoffs. All that I mean three days in a row. You can't really beat that. So I mean I'm excited to see it happen. I mean nobody does it better than division three, you to set up the 1 through 32. That's a great setup. I mean division three at heart. So that's what means leaving at that. But I mean I'm excited to see it go to 12.

Speaker 1: 1:21:20

Now I, joe Vaughn. What about you I?

Speaker 6: 1:21:24

Would. I would have much rather it been at six or maybe even eight, just because I would have. It would have gave you more of an incentive to get to number one or two, but they got to do away with the selection committee. Like that is. The biggest problem of all of the college football playoff Is that you have a panel. Like you, like a Mr Said, you had a panel of guys who sit in the room and the handpick who they want to play, who like.

Speaker 6: 1:21:49

It's not about the game, it's not about the product on the field, that you go out there and work your tail off all the way from off season Summer workouts, training camp and all of those things. It's all about these guys that sit in the room and say, well, we like Bama, we like Georgia, we like all these different schools, let's put them in and let's see what they can do. Like it's not, that's not a true national champion. But that's not how you determine a national champion. I think the only thing that the 12 team playoff does is give my Iowa Hawkeyes a chance To get in as probably 11 or 12. See and then see what happens playing good defense. I mean that. I mean I don't like it. I can't say I love it, but I mean I do think eight would be ideal, I mean even six. And then it gives you that, that Opportunity to try to work a little bit harder to get a one or two seed so you get a first round by. I mean, that would only be my, my only other option.

Speaker 2: 1:22:47

Let me jump in here real quick, let me. I'm gonna ask Joe von this Joe von Iowa doesn't lose the Minnesota on that punt, return by Dijon, I think that was who returned it. So they don't lose that game. They're gonna throw one last team going into Michigan. If they beat Michigan, do you think Iowa even gets in the national? The final no for the playoffs?

Speaker 6: 1:23:07

No right, because you know why. You know why, because, no, the reason why is because they don't have that flash factor. You know they're not. They're not gonna be Offensively, they're not gonna go out there and they're not gonna score 30, 40 points. They're not gonna give you anything. That's gonna be like, oh my god, like, look at this team, like they're so good. I mean, they just get it done. And I think that would have easily been a thing to say. You know what, even though they're the big 10 champion you know we like Michigan, they beat Michigan in the big 10 they're still not getting in. I think they would have probably ended up taking Georgia or Even Ohio State. I mean, I think they would have easily been like who's the favorite? Let's, let's pick the team that it gives us the most flash. It's gonna give us the more bang for a buck.

Speaker 1: 1:23:53

All right good point. Ryan, what about you with the 12 team playoff?

Speaker 7: 1:23:58

Yeah, the 12 teams playoff. I think the home college football environments for those games are going to be absolutely electric and Economic side of it they're, they're all gonna thrive in those environments of what Dan pointed on. And then I just the home playoff of environments in the vision. One college football game, I mean you think of a wide out at Penn State or In 110,000 fans and just for 60 straight minutes, good luck to that offense trying to Be able to communicate at the line of scrimmage. I think those are going to be. That would that would be the best part about it.

Speaker 7: 1:24:38

I don't necessarily like expanding the 12 teams just because I don't know why they even went to. For if there's a power, or if you think of power 5, it'd be five Conferences and being able to put those top five. And then if you want to expand to six and then give the top two a buy and have Three straight weeks of college football playoffs, I think that would be great. But expanding the 12. I think it's gonna be. I Just think that's too many almost, and being able to distinguish a winner from that. But then again, that's why I'm not on that committee and I don't have to make those decisions. I just get to sit back and watch the product on the field. So not a fan of it, but I think the environments for those football playoffs are going to be something to see for sure, alright how round us out here?

Speaker 9: 1:25:26

Well, I've got a lot of experience with playoffs out on the NAI, division 2 and division 3 and, and they're all different, but there's a committee on all of them. There's always that. In division 3 there's always that 30 13 that gets left out and then somebody's always gonna gripe and complain. I'm kind of like my late great friend Mike leash was. I think we should just, you know, expanded to 64, like D3 does, and because the balls are becoming meaningless, the portal and the and the opt-out stuff, and they're not even a good game.

Speaker 9: 1:26:07

It used to be if you played a bowl game and you were six and six, you might get fired, but now you can't even judge a coaching staff on a bowl game because if you're, if you're a 6 and 16 gets to go to a bowl. I mean, how meaningless is that? I mean I'd I'd rather see them in the season server, have a D3 point setup for the playoffs and uh, like a couple of Comments about the excitement on campus. That that's really true, there really is excitement on campus. And I'll say the other thing that happens.

Speaker 9: 1:26:40

When you have playoffs and like that, there's some weird stuff happens, because some of it gets down to which team wants to continue playing, and and that's you. You'll have some teams get to the finals or the semi finals or the finals that you, what thought never could have done it. But they do look, just because they're their players, want to keep playing and and, uh, maybe some guys with more talent don't. So I think it would be exciting, uncle, or, but I don't think they will. They won't do it until ESPN decides to get out of the bowl.

Speaker 1: 1:27:20

Yeah, it's Good then.

Speaker 5: 1:27:25

Bono, I got a quick question. How I'm curious in your opinion of this. Because to you know the the past week we've watched coaches and players eat pop tarts, we've watched Manes be dumped on their game, we've watched french fries be on their head and a potato bowl. So I'm just curious, as a former coach that was at the highest of levels, as you were, and developed national talent, how is that even a possible motivator these days to say, hey, we're gonna go play in Idaho potato bowl and if we win, as a coach, I get a bucket of french fries dumped on my head.

Speaker 9: 1:27:56

It's, it's horrible, it's all ESPN. Espn owns most of those bowls and and that's just, it's just made for tv. Stuff is what it is. I think he said because of the portal and the nil and the opt out, it has changed the complexion of those games so much they're that they're certainly not worth the embarrassment anymore and, uh, I'd be better option. I mean, he could still play him in those sights if you wanted to, if you get the people in that town Just want to have a bowl. But I think you'd be better off just to have a 32 team playoff and then you wouldn't have all this complaining about who didn't get in. I mean, if you, you get paired up and you you start playing in November and you end up, uh, about this time of year, with a championship and everybody'll know who the best team was because they had to play it down, yeah, I.

Speaker 1: 1:28:51

There's a lot of ways this could go. I I agree with that, for sure, I mean. But First and foremost, I think the committee needs to get out of it completely and that way it will be a true champion. Because everyone said it, you know, it's just a group of people saying I want this team in, I like Alabama, so let's put Alabama in. Oh, somebody from the SEC? God forbid, the SEC doesn't make the, the, the semifinals in the playoffs, in in college football. The world might collapse. You know, it's just.

Speaker 1: 1:29:18

You know I could go on another hour and a half rant on this about how Florida State, a power five undefeated conference champion, is a five seat and not playing For a national championship, but yet Alabama it. Yeah, we don't have enough time on the show for that. I can. I can go on for days for that, but that is actually going to wrap up our college football playoff Preview show. I want to thank all of my guests for coming on, taking time out of their morning to sit and talk a little college football for me with me and everything like that. As always, if you enjoyed the show, be a friend, tell a friend if you didn't Tell them anyways, because they might like it, just because you didn't, that's gonna do it for me and I will see y'all next week.