Ryan Day's postgame interview is only half right. Michigan's second half tour-de-force continues. How does Kyle McCord rank against other top-tier quarterbacks? What would happen if Michigan actually played the first quarter? Plus, the biggest disappointments of the season, Michigan State is still very bad, and we can finally stop talking about Colorado. Mostly.
Follow us everywhere @RivalPod
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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
3:35 - Ohio Sate Vs Notre Dame Recap
23:46 - Michigan Vs Rutgers Recap
24:00 - Rutgers to The Rose Bowl
28:49 - Michigan VS Nebraska Score Predictions
32:43 - Stupid Genius Upset Picks
#collegefootball #ohiostate #michigan #big10 #notredame #nebraska
Ryan Day's postgame interview is only half right. Michigan's second half tour-de-force continues. How does Kyle McCord rank against other top-tier quarterbacks? What would happen if Michigan actually played the first quarter? Plus, the biggest disappointments of the season, Michigan State is still very bad, and we can finally stop talking about Colorado. Mostly.
Follow us everywhere @RivalPod
Big thanks to our sponsors for their generous support:
Elevated Integrity: http://www.elevatedintegrity.com/
The JAE Company: https://thejaecompany.com/
Become a Patron: https://patreon.com/therivalry
Want more shows like this one? Visit https://riverradio.com
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
3:35 - Ohio Sate Vs Notre Dame Recap
23:46 - Michigan Vs Rutgers Recap
24:00 - Rutgers to The Rose Bowl
28:49 - Michigan VS Nebraska Score Predictions
32:43 - Stupid Genius Upset Picks
#collegefootball #ohiostate #michigan #big10 #notredame #nebraska
Can we stop hearing about Colorado, finally no.
Speaker 2:Give me my dang funeral music.
Speaker 1:Don't steal my joke, it's the arrival I came in a lead when straight for the title.
Speaker 3:Come on, touchdown Marvin.
Speaker 2:Harrison Junior, marvelous Catch pass ransom.
Speaker 3:Down of it, Edwards.
Speaker 2:Touchdown the down.
Speaker 1:There's nothing quite like the game Michigan versus Ohio State. This is the Rivalry Sponsored by Elevated Integrity Construction. Welcome to the Rivalry podcast, your garbage-free college football podcast focused on the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry. I'm Jase, that's JB. We'll break the ice on what's gonna be a spicy episode for the Rivalry, with a little bit of Wheel Route brought to you by the J Company. Fall in love with your home all over again at thejaecompanycom. All right, are we ready for this?
Speaker 1:Let's spin this thing. If you're not watching on YouTube at RivalPod, do that. Get yourself the full visual here. What do we got for Wheel Route?
Speaker 2:today Most disappointing team this season. Man, I feel like it's obvious, though, Okay, you start then, because I'm not sure there's two options realistically in my mind, the only reason I'm not going with one is because they're still undefeated. Okay, that would be. Florida State is not the one I would say, but that's the one I'm talking about. That's 4-0. I would. Normally I haven't been super impressed with them, but they are 4-0. They have found ways to win the game. The team that I actually think has been the most disappointing is Clemson.
Speaker 2:Okay, I like that I think going in to the season as high a ranking as they have going out and getting just destroyed against Duke to start the year, getting one loss already. Then this past weekend obviously losing, and over time to Florida State.
Speaker 1:When you had a chance to salt the game away from a short goal. 100%, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:That whole surround situation surrounding that kick was just it's wild. Yeah, it's insane. If you don't know, there was a guy. I don't know the like real background details of it, but basically this guy wasn't even legal, like, according to the NCAA, that was the first day he was eligible to have full contact.
Speaker 2:He wasn't clear for contact he was going to start like some financial advisement job or something and Dabo called him and was like hey, we need somebody to come kick. It was one of those situations. And then you put him in a situation like that to upset. A team like Florida State is ranked as highly ranked as they were.
Speaker 1:That's a microcosm of Clemson season so far.
Speaker 2:Yeah, 100%. But I think with the expectations that were surrounding them coming into this season, with Club Nick being the QB, everybody thought they were going to be back, that they were a potential college football playoff contender and that ain't happening which is can we talk about how beautiful that is by the end of?
Speaker 1:we're not even to the end of September and already Clemson is is done.
Speaker 2:It's music to my ears, but I feel like that's just such an obvious choice.
Speaker 1:I like that one. That's a good one. I I'm going to say Alabama.
Speaker 2:Okay, I love.
Speaker 1:Alabama. Obviously the lost Texas, which you know. No loss in September is a good loss, but it's a. It's a good loss, but they look lost at quarterback, I think. Milrose, the guy going forward, 100% you know Alabama did a did a good job getting a win this weekend, but Alabama not living up to their standards. The 17 to seven win over South Florida Yikes.
Speaker 2:Another tough game this weekend.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, they go to Mississippi State, I believe, and so Alabama. No one here, let me put it this way no one here is disappointed in the fact that Alabama looks terrible, but they are definitely not living up to to what they had hoped to have at the beginning of the season. And, yeah, they are one loss away from also just being taken out of the college football playoff running. They're still alive right now, based on the schedule that they're going to play.
Speaker 1:They're going to they're going to have opportunity to earn their way in, and if they get in they'll have earned it. But right now, boy, that's a long road ahead.
Speaker 2:I don't see it. They've got a gauntlet ahead of a man and it is too many question marks. I'm not sold on them whatsoever.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about the game that you're probably here for Cause even if you're a Michigan fan like myself, listen to this podcast. You're here to hear what we have to say about Ohio State. Notre Dame had the chance to be there and I'll make a shameless plug right now at rival pod on Instagram and Twitter on YouTube as well, of course, if you're watching there right now, but Instagram and Twitter have some just fantastic from the press box on the field. Here's the game winning touchdown from right in front of us. Make sure you go check that out there, but give me your initial reaction to to this game as the buck.
Speaker 2:Oh man, I'm going to from a non, taking away the bias of being a buck I. That was the perfect college football game. I agree the the hype around it, the crowd, energy, the tradition, the two Titan schools going against each other just classic football teams, both highly ranked, both highly talented. This felt like I know in years past, even when Notre Dame is good, you kind of feel like they're not legit. This felt like a legit Notre Dame team, a legit buck I team, very evenly matched. It was the perfect football weather. It was like late sixties, early seventies temperature outside super nice. It was a night game under the lights.
Speaker 1:I mean you couldn't have scripted it better the way the game you will out.
Speaker 2:Both teams had mistakes that could have been costly. That ended up not really being costly. I mean a touchdown in with one second left that had to be reviewed. Like seeing the fans going from we just upset Ohio state. We got the wind to immediate sadness and how the heck did we blow that it's just. It was everything. It was indescribable. I called my wife after she was asleep but I left her a voicemail that just said that was the greatest football game I think I will ever watch and I've seen Ohio state win championships and I think those are obviously sweet. But seeing that game play out the way it played out, the emotion behind it, the stress involved To me, I don't know if I will ever see a football game like that again.
Speaker 1:I don't think that I and as a Michigan man, I'm cheering for just a giant hole to open up at midfield and swallow both programs forever. I will never forgive Notre Dame for what they did to me on Saturday night because they, first of all, they made me cheer for them because they're playing Ohio State. They made me believe that they'd beat Ohio State.
Speaker 1:Then they then they gave it away to Ohio State. So now I've not only had to watch Ohio State win, right Like six feet in front of me, but now I've had to cheer for Notre Dame. I will never forgive them, for I got a beautiful shot, beautiful shot on Instagram of is it buck eye guy or the buck big nut or whatever? It's one of those big, not ridiculous, absurd super fans that nobody likes Just like in utter pain with all this green clad around him. It was an absolute vibe and I will never forgive Notre Dame for ruining that moment for me, ever. I hope Notre Dame loses every game on their schedule from here until Jesus returns.
Speaker 2:I'm Jack. I'm going to play this weekend against Duke.
Speaker 1:It's going to be a phenomenal game it's going to be a phenomenal game.
Speaker 2:I do think, and you already mentioned it we were at the game but being on the field for the final five minutes in those very intense moments, that stadium was so loud and we went to Penn state last year that was a rowdy crowd this this past week blew it completely out of the water. I mean, I'm sitting there watching Kyle McCord go down and I am in the back of my head. I'm like I can't even hear myself think, like I can't imagine being in that position.
Speaker 1:That much pressure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think. I mean, obviously, the experience was cool. You can check all of that out at rival pod. We gave you some behind the scenes look. Game day was there, so we gave you some behind the scenes looks for stuff like that. My guy, vince Vaughn, was there. Love Vince Vaughn. He was also there. We got to see him for a little bit. Tons of cool stuff at rival pod. The game itself though let's talk a little bit more in detail about that. I want to hear your thoughts, because I know I'm going to disagree.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, here's you know it's. Rather than recapping the game itself, cause I would just agree with you and say these are two of the most even teams that you're ever going to see and it absolutely had to come down to the final play because both defensive styles so so comparable to each other. It was one of those weird games where I feel like watching a mirror.
Speaker 2:I feel like you. You go into those big games thinking, okay, which one of these two teams is a fraud? And and by the end of the night you go this team isn't as good as we thought and I walked away from that game going both of these teams are as good as we thought. They are who we thought they were and I hate to quote that, but exactly right. It's like okay, notre Dame has a legit offense, sam Hartman is a legitimate quarterback, their defense is legit. They are a good football team. They weren't like last year where they they weren't good to start the year and they started to get things moving in the right direction at the end. This is a very good football team. In Ohio State was the one team that I was like, okay, they've got a. They're the ones to have a couple of question marks for me and I think they absolutely answered every single one of those.
Speaker 1:Notre Dame has got a tough path to the playoff now because to get in obviously they're going to have to beat USC and that's a tall task. But even if you beat USC, you've got one loss in Ohio States. Got one loss. Who? Who are you going to take that point? Let's even say Ohio State loses to Michigan and let's say the Ohio State loses to Penn State and Michigan and has two losses, do you still take Ohio State over Notre Dame? Not be? This is where not being part of a conference for Notre Dame really, really hurts them yet again. Will it hurt them as much next year in the expanded playoff?
Speaker 1:No but this year, with only four teams getting in, that's a tough road for.
Speaker 2:Irish situation, though they probably would put Notre Dame in because of the way that they lost. It's not like they went and got blown out and that's fair. One second to go. At home you had the game in the bag. If you go through and sweep the rest of your season and you pick up wins against a very good Duke team and a USC team, I think the committee is going to put you in.
Speaker 1:I would host that to a two loss team, but it's not having two losses anyway.
Speaker 1:There are really two main things that come out of this game that just deserve to be talked about. One of them is coaching and one of them is Kyle McCord. I want to start with McCord, because it's been fascinating to watch Ohio. I was listening to a sports talk station here in town and they were going on and on this morning about how sensational Kyle McCord was in this game. I would argue that here's my, and I'm truly trying to be unbiased here. I'll give him credit. First. The final drive from Kyle McCord was fantastic To go 65 yards and 85 seconds something like that In 95 seconds Absolutely fantastic. The pass to the fourth down conversion great pass. The completion to Ibuka right there on the one yard line great pass. But in the midst of that, even on that drive, you saw these little microcosms where you had a couple of balls thrown in the dirt. You had one that went right through the defensive backs. Hands that that game. Notre Dame had the chance to end that game and they couldn't do it.
Speaker 2:I hear that argument, but I would disagree with it.
Speaker 1:Well, but I'm saying like that is just that's. On the final drive, that I thought was really good. He went 21 for 37. No touchdowns, 17 points for the offense. That's a he. I some of that can be stout If you look at that and go he played a bad game. You're stat watching but those numbers are still the numbers. He had a good game, he had a great final drive, he had a good overall game, but he's not in the tier one of the Caleb Williams and the Quinn Ewers and the Carthage and the boat nicks. The idea that that was a sensational game with 17 points is just not realistic.
Speaker 2:Here's what I think I balance in your opinion?
Speaker 2:I think both can be right. I think you can walk away from that game and saying the way that he performed under pressure in that environment, putting up the stats that he did. He should have had a touchdown pass to a Bucca yeah, Bucca's got to catch. That Absolutely has to come down with that. He was without Marvin Harrison for a little bit there with an ankle injury. Then I think you can say the same thing for Hartman. Hartman had a couple of passes that should have been intercepted as well.
Speaker 2:I don't disagree, and so I think he played even with Hartman, and I think a lot of people look at Hartman as a top quarterback in college football.
Speaker 2:I don't think any rational fan looks at McCord and says he's a Caleb Williams or JJ McCarthy, but me, as an Ohio state fan, I wanted to see how he reacts in big games and to me he well surpassed that. He was composed all night, he made big throws, he made plays when he needed to and I think no-transcript every possible worst scenario facing you, and he went and played how he did. To me that is a phenomenal game. It's all about how you finish, and the way that he finished that game was tier one. So maybe not overall as a whole, his if you're stat watching, sure he missed 16 in completions, that's. You never want to see that. But if you're going to tell me that who, when I give that guy the ball and I need a final drive, he's going to look composed and he's going to be able to throw some dots, and he did. To me that was a B plus A level grade game for him from a composure at the quarterback position.
Speaker 2:That is what you need.
Speaker 1:That is what you look for as leadership. I think that's fair, though, like I think that's a balanced opinion. Yeah, I think it's balanced to say hey, it wasn't, because what, what I hear you saying is actually I hear us actually very close to being on the same page here which is calling this performance sensational is prisoner of the moment type stuff. The final, the. Here's the way I think you have to look at it. Let's say that every single thing happens exactly the way it does, but chip training doesn't get in on the final rush. Is it still a sensational performance from a cord? No, it's a good performance but it's not great.
Speaker 2:I would. I would argue he he did what he needed to do.
Speaker 1:No, it's, it's a good performance. But if training doesn't get in, but everything else that McCord specifically did is the same, you look at this game very differently. It he has a good quarterback and, I think to your point, his composure, I think. I think his composure was excellent. Execution was good, composure was excellent and I thought the composure piece would be what would do Moio State.
Speaker 2:So I will give credit to the court there, I think the difference, though, to me, is when you get in that moment, when you have 95 seconds, you got to go 65 yards the crowd is electric. They think that they just pulled the upset. I think all you're asking your quarterback to do is put you in a position to win, and he did that. So, to me, do I still think, even if they got to the one and train them, get stopped that he had? He was excellent 100%, because what more could he have done in that moment? He can't. If he's not given the play called of throw the ball, he can't throw the ball, so it wouldn't have been on him had trained him not getting in, I would have blamed the offensive line. There was also a fourth down near the end of the half, where, though, though house state line just got no push. They got stopped. That was also on the same drive. A book had dropped a touchdown.
Speaker 1:No, and that the I mean not not to go too much in the deal, but even the fourth and one call where you called a jet sweep for God knows why was weird, I think, the other thing moving on from a court.
Speaker 2:I think we're agreeing the same thing.
Speaker 1:I think we're we was closest in a buck. I know, wolverine, you get to agreeing on that and I think I think we're not kind of come all the way to kind of finish that yeah.
Speaker 2:You're looking at it from a radio host who's trying to get a reaction. I don't think rational Ohio state fans are immediately putting McCord in a Heisman. I was talking with somebody on Twitter during the game at rival pod.
Speaker 2:Shane was like I was talking to them and they were saying something along the lines of they wanted to see McCord become elite faster than he was ready. And I I don't ever see him being elite. I don't think years from now we're going to be talking about Kyle McCord was a great quarterback at Ohio state. I think you're looking at moments like this. Can he be a little bit better than Kate McNamara was?
Speaker 3:from.
Speaker 2:Michigan.
Speaker 1:That's exactly. Can he go?
Speaker 2:ahead and lead this team, not be rattled in tough environments, and give the ball to the play makers, who can be the elite level athletes they are, which he did this game.
Speaker 1:I hate to agree with you, but you're exactly right.
Speaker 2:Marvin Harrison Jr at times when he needed it and he made some phenomenal catches, including on that last drive. He had a clutch diving catch.
Speaker 1:Yep, and Marff was quite. Marff was quite a lot the night, no it didn't get a good job, but that's where Igbuk and Stover have to step up.
Speaker 2:Stover and honestly I didn't 100% call it. Stover Didn't have a touchdown, but he the game plan that I said they were going to go for 100% work. He had eight or nine targets.
Speaker 1:I feel like Talk talk to me about this, though. Talk to me about this because this is the other big piece of the Ohio state thing. We'll get to Michigan here in a moment. Ryan days post game caught press conference and his on the field and then clarified in the press conference has been a big talking point, where he basically called out Lou Holts and said I want to know where Lou Holts is right now. Holds it essentially called a higher state soft he talked about. Talked a lot about toughness, talked a lot about how they had one bad half of football and it was 2021 up in Ann Arbor. He didn't say that.
Speaker 2:Yes, he did. He clarified that in the press conference.
Speaker 1:In the press conference he said 2021 up in Ann Arbor was the bad hat one bad half football years.
Speaker 2:I did not see that. I did not see that Wow.
Speaker 1:What I want to know is how does that strike you? Because you know, you know I've got thoughts on this, so and we've talked, we talked about this a little bit on the way back from South Bend. I formed some other thoughts on board with half of that.
Speaker 2:I didn't know that. He clarified the Michigan. I heard the bad hat or he had one one bad 2021 Ann Arbor strongly disagree with that and you know this because we've been at some of these games. You had a very bad half last year against Michigan 28 to three in the second half. You had a very bad half against Michigan and I would say not a bad half. You had a bad final eight or nine minutes against Georgia last year?
Speaker 2:Oh goodness, yes you made some horrible coaching decisions that I think genuinely cost that team a championship. They collapsed, and so and I don't think it was a team's fault, I think it was different plays and that's a whole different conversation but I think, go back in the archive, watch this and I would guarantee I said the same thing.
Speaker 2:There were specific moments of that Georgia game where his coaching decision not any play by the player impacted that game and made them lose. And I would. I would stand firm on that hill. I would fight for it. I genuinely think that. So I disagree with that statement. I would be on board with you.
Speaker 2:They have played numerous bad halves of football, but when it comes to his comment at Lou holds, I want to know where Lou holds is that too, because I totally understand the passion that he came at him and I am sick and tired of people acting like anything Ryan day said was disrespectful. He said nothing against the man himself, he just said you're going to call our team soft. I want to know where you're at now. We just beat the team that you said was going to beat us by 10. That was going to be more physical and they want it.
Speaker 2:And guess what? The most dang physical way you can win a football game by running it right down your throat and having a battle with the line. And they won that game and I get it. You work your butt off, you're? You see your players working their butt off and to hear somebody go out there and disrespect them and then catch them in the moment like that You're going to be fired up as the coach to. I have zero problem had he gone and said something personal or disrespectful whole different conversation. But I don't care how old you are.
Speaker 2:If you're on TV and you're going to talk trash, you better get ready to receive.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I again. I hate the fact that we're agreeing today.
Speaker 2:I don't think it would happen, I'll.
Speaker 1:I'll start with Holts and then I'll I'll go to the second part of the comment. But uh, lou Holts, if you're, if you're going to make public statements, dink around and discover. Man dink around and discover because here's the thing, Like if you're going to say it publicly, I, as much as I dislike Ryan day as a coach, I love seeing passion from objective. I love seeing passion from a coach to go. You want to talk about my players?
Speaker 2:All right, let's talk about it. One final thing. The thing that really annoys me about this is, had Notre Dame actually won, they wouldn't have let what Lou Holts said about Ohio State go, so why does it have to be the other way? Why can Ryan day not come back and fire some shots back?
Speaker 1:If you're going to say it, you would be able to put up with it.
Speaker 2:ESPN, all these other media outlets would have absolutely torched Ryan day had they lost that game for the exact reason Lou Holts. So to me it is fair game.
Speaker 1:And I and I agree with you I don't know what Ryan day is watching that he thinks he had one bad half of football in the last two years for it.
Speaker 1:Absurd and and really as much as as much as I think Ryan has the right to fire back at Holts, absolutely on board with that. This, I think, is what we'll hold to talk about, because we'll hold to not the first person, we'll hold to copy pasting the whole. Well, ohio State's not a tough team. That came from Michigan. That came from Michigan in 2021, where and I think it was Josh Gattis talked about well, they're a soft team, they're a finesse team. They're not a tough team. That's where that came from. We'll hold to just copy pasting.
Speaker 1:So all I heard and this will tie back all I heard from Ohio State camp heading out of 2021 into 2022 was how we're going to be tougher. We're not soft, we're going to be tougher. It was Brian Heartline. What we've done in the dark will come to the light, and you got smacked upside the head 28 to three in the second half in your own stadium. So what I see from this, from Ryan Day, is, I think that comment from Holtz hit home because he knows what it's based on, he knows it came from Michigan and he knows Michigan has proven it right. Ryan Day is all bark and no bite Until I see him out tough Michigan, which is where that comment originated. It's all bark and no bite. You can say you're fired up about this and that that's cool. That's all I heard going into the game in 2022 was they're fired up, we're going to prove it and you did nothing.
Speaker 2:But I mean that's what this whole podcast is about. Everything comes down to that game. So I wouldn't say I would say in the past, especially last year, ohio State's defense was soft. This year I think Notre Dame was a physical team. I don't think Lou Holtz was wrong about that at all. He even said some quote. I don't know a word for word. It was basically pack your lunch. It's going to be a full day's work and it was, but I think Ohio State proved the toughness factor. I wanted to give a shout out to Jim Knowles. I know we were talking about this on the way home and Sam Hartman was looking great throughout that game. I mean he was making pass. It looked like he was carving them up the first couple of drives they were doing whatever they wanted.
Speaker 1:They were doing whatever they wanted.
Speaker 2:But then, when the defense needed to make a play, they did the very last drive after they stopped Ohio State, they got the ball back and you thought they were going to just pick up a first down the way the game had been going, and run the clock out, ohio State picked up a very nice couple of defensive plays. I will say, marcus Freeman, why the heck are you doing a pass when you're up? Yeah, I don't understand that whatsoever, but I thank you.
Speaker 1:I think he went to the James Franklin School of Play Calling, which Ryan. Day attends a part time.
Speaker 2:apparently it's little things like that that changed the game Cause had he done that, it would have forced Ohio State to do another timeout. They wouldn't have had a timeout when they got the ball back, when McCord did his intentional grounding, there was a 10 second runoff and it would have been game. So that one decision two minutes ago completely lost them the game and it was all on the head coach, which I'm sick and tired of hearing. That Marcus Freeman is some elite level coach. People are always acting like it in every big game. Marcus Freeman is so good, he is trash. He's trash. He never wins a big game. I'm sick and tired of hearing it. It's over with.
Speaker 1:I want to see okay, well, fine, I want to see Ryan Day win a big game and smooth what was this.
Speaker 2:This was a game under the lights at home in Notre Dame, with the hype around him, and he punched him in the mouth at the end.
Speaker 1:It's all it was all bark and no bite. At the end We'll see. We'll see come late November.
Speaker 2:I I huge props to Ohio State's defense.
Speaker 1:Ohio State. I actually feel like the bye week comes at a bad time, cause the team seems to be clicking. Obviously they're hyped up after that game. Not a great time for a bye week, but I, I disagree. I disagree, I think of course you disagree on a bye week, because it gives you extra prep time.
Speaker 2:I think, yes, it's nice when you have that time, when you're starting to click to get together, but I think, giving them two weeks before they play an undefeated Maryland team at home with a dangerous quarterback, you need all the time you can to prep so they can look at Hartman, they can go back and they can fix that on the defensive side of the ball, cause I do think this defense is elite. I do think it's very very good.
Speaker 1:I was impressed with them.
Speaker 2:I do think it's very good. So I'm not sad at all going into a game with outside of McCarthy McCord and I would say Aller the best big 10 quarterback Talia is going to be an issue. He's one of the better ones in conference. I'm not sad about giving a little bit of extra prep time to the defense and, honestly, with Harrison going down with an ankle thing I know he returned to the game, given a little bit more time for him to get right I am not sad about it at all.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about the other half of this whole podcast. Let's talk a little bit about Rutgers. To the Rose Bowl Michigan 31, seven over Rutgers. Just give me real quick what. Where are the Shianos at on this? So?
Speaker 2:obviously Rutgers lost 31 seven. We'll talk a little bit more about Michigan. It's currently at three out of five Shianos. They've got Wagner coming to town this weekend, a chance to be four, and one, two wins become bowl eligible. I did see something where, like ESPN's FBI or something, gives them a 76% chance to make a bowl game. I do want to share just a small story though, because I thought it was hilarious and Jase doesn't even know that this was happening.
Speaker 2:So we get ready. We watched Lee Corso put the buck eye head on, make his pick. We were going to a local restaurant to try and find a place to watch the game. We couldn't get our media credentials for a couple hours. So we're going to go watch the Rutgers in Michigan game and right when we leave, my father-in-law texts me and says well, rutgers isn't going to be shut out. And I see that it is seven. Nothing. And I promise you I have never seen Jase sprint walk so fast. I could not keep up with this man at all. I'm sweating. It is power walking time. Jase was panicking.
Speaker 1:He is frantic, because again, we've got no. We've got no set, we've got very limited self service. We can't pull it up on Hulu or whatever we have to walk a decent amount to this restaurant.
Speaker 2:So we're walking like 10 minutes and we go and I can't even keep up with Jase and I'm walking as fast as I can. He is crossing streets, not at crosswalk. He goes into this restaurant where there's a clear sign that says please wait to be seated, and he just does this he goes and sits at a booth that says reserve for somebody at 1230.
Speaker 2:And I'm like Jase, we got to get out of here. That man was on a mission and it was just like horse blinders on. He saw nothing but seven, nothing, deficit and a fear.
Speaker 1:And then, on top of that, this sports establishment does not have the Michigan game on. Okay, like South Bend is minutes from Michigan, we're watching ESPN news, yeah, and I'm like, excuse me, could we turn that?
Speaker 2:The franticness of it.
Speaker 1:And then we turn the game on what Like early second quarter or something.
Speaker 2:Yeah, something like that. I think we made it by the end of the first, but barely.
Speaker 1:I think it was maybe seven, seven at that point, something like that, yeah, and Michigan the rest of the way. I don't know what those first 10 minutes were. Actually I do it was a completely blown coverage by Michigan and Gavin Wimps that just throws a 70 yard touchdown pass and that was literally the only thing Rutgers did for the rest of the game. I believe it was somewhere in the realm of 110 passing yards for the other 58 minutes of the game.
Speaker 2:Nothing.
Speaker 1:And that's something that, as a Michigan fan, I can live with. Yeah, you don't want to have. You know you can't let that happen, but you're bound to get. It's kind of like. It's almost like Notre Dame did with Henderson they gave up one big explosive play where Henderson went almost 70 yards for touchdown 61 yards.
Speaker 1:I think the rest of it they played. They played very well. Despite losing the game, they played very well. It's the same type of thing. You can't let that happen. But a suffocating defense. Obviously Mike Sainter still gets a nice pick six there. I thought Kirk Herbstreet made a really good point he commented on he was ranking his teams and he had ranked Michigan, I think, fifth, and I don't know if that was his top top six or like top performing teams or whatever. Think it might have been his top six teams, but he ranked Michigan wherever. He ranked them and said not quite the offense of fireworks that they'd wanted to have yet and I think I think that's fair.
Speaker 2:They've got the potential but, like you said, you take away the pick six, which you can't discredit that it was a phenomenal play. You only score 24 points and I do think Rutgers has a legit defense.
Speaker 1:And you could also take away. You know, the big explosive play too, michigan was. It's a slower start than you want to have against big 10 competition, but Michigan played a really good game. This is the again the type of game where so much good not perfect but so much good stuff. No, there were no glaring issues that I saw, but there are definitely things that you could want to tweak and want to fix.
Speaker 2:And that's okay. What's funny is I don't know why we all act surprised. This was the same stuff that was happening last year You're exactly right. Where you go into halftime and it's a 10 to seven game and you're like Michigan's not who we thought they were, and then they come out and dominate it has been that way every single game.
Speaker 1:this year it was 14 to seven and a half, maybe the first game of the year against ECU. It's just the way.
Speaker 2:Michigan plays. It's like they play with their food just to kind of get a feel for what the game plan was. And then they go. Well, now we know what you're going to do, and now they just stab you in the neck and you're done, and it's you know it's not.
Speaker 1:obviously you want to play, you want to play well from the jump, but I there is still not been anything. I would say the bowling green game was the was concerning to me just because of the amount of turnovers, and I said it's only a real concern If it happens again. It didn't happen again. Now, there, yeah, there's always the possibility and you'll go every week going well. Is he going to do it again? You can't, you can't live that way. I think Harbaugh even said you know you don't want to bridle the stallion, like there's no change to the game plan, for McCarthy had a. He had again a good game. Not wasn't exceptional, didn't have to be a sensational, didn't need him to be late. A clean game, good QBR rating, no turnovers and that's the biggest thing you needed this week against Nebraska. Nebraska is a weird team. They're not a good football team. No, I think they're not. I don't know that they're bad, but they're definitely not good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean they're two and two. Their only wins are coming against Northern Illinois, and then I forget who it was last week.
Speaker 1:They beat Louisiana tech this past weekend. But also it was a, it was a 14, seven game. Start in the fourth quarter. Like, that's not that's not great, that's. That's a different level from hey. We had a close first quarter, then we just sat on you the rest of the way.
Speaker 2:That's a legitimate we're struggling with this team 100% and their losses come against Colorado and Minnesota. Minnesota beat them 13, 10, colorado Absolutely smoked them. I'm not impressed with them by any means.
Speaker 1:Which, by the way, minnesota lost to Northwestern. If that gives you a gauge, rutgers beat Northwestern. If that gets you a gauge on where this team's at.
Speaker 2:So I do think the thing that's interesting. I don't really believe this is going to be a problem, but I am curious what this is going to look like. Nebraska only allows about like 46 yards on the ground, and that is Michigan's game plan. Is we're going to go and run the ball and wear you down and then we're going to throw it? And so I'm curious, especially with how Donovan Edwards has struggled so far this year, which has just been an anomaly in and of itself.
Speaker 2:I'm curious what that Michigan run game looks like. I don't think. Even if they stop them, I think Michigan's wide receivers run, or not? Ronnie Bell Roman. Wilson those guys are still too good. They're going to get separation, it's not going to matter, they're still going to win the game. I got Michigan 42, nebraska six.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think the the run game will be interesting. I'd love to see Corum and, obviously, edwards. I'd love to see them have a good day against a good defensive line, or at least a decent defensive line, a line that statistically seems good.
Speaker 2:I'd like to see him have success there, you got to take account their competition, the other thing, and this is where Michigan is.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're not, and hard by even address this. You're not winning games by 30, 40 points, but you don't need to, it's not. You don't get points for. You know the Oregon game, colorado, yeah, you're happy with that. If you're a duck fan, but you don't get extra points for that, okay, as long as you're not struggling with teams late, I'm not concerned about it. Nebraska, rather, gave up 300 passing hours to Louisiana Tech. This might be a JJ McCarthy game. If the, if, the, if they sell out for the run, this might be McCarthy still in the rock again, the way that he has been. Again, you don't need them to put up 50 points, but you do need them to be able to move the ball, because Nebraska, secondary is is just trash. The other interesting thing to watch in Nebraska's game is a Harburg. Their quarterback ran for a hunt, ran, ran for 157 yards on Louisiana Tech.
Speaker 1:Now he likely it's Louisiana Tech it's Louisiana Tech, but that's going to be a huge feature of the game plan, because their wide receivers are just not talented. The past game is not good, so it's a very unique feel for Michigan's defense, something that they haven't seen a ton of yet. That, I think, will be a good test. She may see a little bit of success early and again. What Michigan tends to do is make those halftime adjustments. Jesse Minter does a great job of doing that. I expect this game to probably be once again uncomfortable close at the half, but Michigan to never really be in danger at losing it.
Speaker 2:Well, I think an interesting point is 3810, by the way 3810. We talked about this a little bit this weekend but Rutgers was your first real look at a mobile quarterback and I think that was the perfect warmup for a game like this. You already know kind of what your game plan should look like and it worked. This past weekend Wim Sapp essentially did nothing. He was a non factor.
Speaker 1:And Michigan's defense has been suffocating so far.
Speaker 2:So I would not be a poster that you had 3810 3810 for Michigan in this one pretty close to mine, yeah.
Speaker 1:And again, this game does not involve a lot of guesswork. For Michigan, the game plan is pretty straightforward and there's no reason that your project should involve any guesswork either. Go with the folks with integrity in their name. It's elevated integrity construction. Big thanks to our friend Aaron Carroll and his team for supporting the podcast this year. Go with elevated integrity at elevated integritycom. Wrapping up real quick here JP Stupid genius upset pick of the week. We're both wrong, Horribly. I had Penn state losing Iowa. That did not happen. Nope. By the way, Kate McNamara's whole thing in preseason about it.
Speaker 2:Give it to him.
Speaker 1:He said please keep saying, we're the worst offense in football.
Speaker 2:Please look right there and say it.
Speaker 1:Keep saying we're the worst offense in football. Please keep thinking we're the worst offense in football. Kate McNamara, you're the worst offense in football. Oh, my goodness gracious, but we've got a defense. I can finally score. Penn state stomps Iowa and I'm not upset about it. No, by the way, should mentioned stupid genius, also brought to you by the friends, by our friends at the J company, celebrating over 70 years of living space design at the J A E companycom. The scoreboard for stupid genius still 22, nothing. So who do you have this week as you're upset?
Speaker 2:All right. This week I've got my guys from Mississippi state over number 12 ranked Alabama. They're 14 and a half point dogs and I'm ready for it. I don't hate it, I'm ready for it. They're playing at home, which is going to be huge. Cowbells, cowbells are out Can never go without more cow cowbells. So I I got that it's 14 and a half point spread. I'm going big a little bit. I gotta get back into it.
Speaker 1:I was successful in calling Florida over Tennessee a couple of weeks ago. Give me South Carolina over Tennessee this week.
Speaker 2:I almost went there, but I've been tricked into picking them I think twice already this year and it's never worked.
Speaker 1:Third time's the charm baby 11 and a half point underdogs. I still don't buy Tennessee. Tennessee has obviously already lost the game to Florida. I don't buy Joe Milton. I do buy Spencer Rattler. I think this is a game South Carolina can win. Is that Tennessee? It is at Tennessee. It's at New England, which is not easy, no, but as we course have said, but not impossible. Last thing I want to hit on here is can we stop hearing about Colorado? Finally, no, give me my day in funeral music.
Speaker 2:Don't steal my joke I'm going to. No, I said it first.
Speaker 1:Colorado is a mess. Colorado is a mess. Did you watch? You picked them to beat Oregon. Did you watch this game?
Speaker 2:Here's the thing you keep going on and on about Colorado, but no realistic person thinks that they're a national contender.
Speaker 1:Stop giving them that kind of media coverage.
Speaker 2:No, they are fun to watch. They are the most quotable team. Even when they lose 42 nothing coach, prime is spitting out amazing.
Speaker 1:What was it?
Speaker 2:He said the presser the presser and he takes it on the chin. He says give it to me, Give me everything you've got. This is the worst we're going to look. I love that brother plays USC. They play USC this week. They're still without Travis Hunter.
Speaker 1:It ain't going to be my brother in Christ. Usc is coming to town this week.
Speaker 2:That's what I want to hear my coach say. I want to see him go out there and say, yeah, we absolutely got dominated, but I'm ready to fix this thing. I don't see how. They are just so fun to watch. I love watching shooter Sanders I think he's incredible. Travis Hunter, I think, is incredible coach prime. The energy he brings. The quotes that he bring, I think, are fun to watch. I don't think they are ever going to be a top four team. I don't even know if I ever see them being a top 10 or top 15.
Speaker 1:Well, they're not right now.
Speaker 2:So border 15 to 25 range. Let him get some recruits and they're going to be players that want to go play for a guy like that. I am excited to see that get turned around. I think they bring in exciting players. I just don't know how you can't root for a team like that. They wins one game last year. They bring in a bunch of exciting players. They're going to win seven or eight games this year.
Speaker 1:Again. I feel like I have to say this every week. I'm not against cheering for them to win games, I'm against. I'm against, do you believe, now, beating a three score underdog at home? That's what I'm against that type of mentality.
Speaker 2:I don't expect it, but I think that they're going to get some good recruits because of what prime is doing this?
Speaker 3:year and.
Speaker 2:I wouldn't be surprised if, in a two year gap, maybe they start upsetting some of those teams.
Speaker 1:I'll give you, I'll give coach prime a little bit of grace here and a little bit of I don't know. I'll give him some positivity. I guess USC does not have a great defense in Colorado. It does have a dynamic offense.
Speaker 2:It does it would be better. Usc he's out for two weeks.
Speaker 1:USC did struggle with Arizona State this past week.
Speaker 2:You know, in my heart of hearts. I wanted to take that as I think it's.
Speaker 1:I think it's a big noon kickoff. I'm going to be locked in on that.
Speaker 2:You're not allowed to, you're not allowed to scope up Buffalo's only.
Speaker 1:We'd also be remiss if we didn't finish out by mentioning that the team that offered no Tucker a 10 year, 95 million dollar contract got absolutely curb stomped at home by Maryland.
Speaker 2:And they also predicted they're going to beat Rutgers, which just is not happening. So I'm just going to throw that in there.
Speaker 1:Nothing gives me more joint. Notre Dame giving up the window, ohio State Nothing could take away the joy of checking the score and watching Michigan State the team that Mel built get absolutely pummeled at home. They get to go to Iowa Kinnick at night on Saturday night, and if you don't think I'll be flipping over from whatever those offenses, it's gross.
Speaker 1:It's, it is sickos committee all the way, and I am here for it. Be sure to follow at rival pod across social media and on YouTube, subscribe wherever you're listening right now and be sure to tell a friend go blue, go back, we'll see you next week.
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