Three Guys Around a Table and The Best Of…
Three buddies sitting around a table debating the best of everything and discussing what is on their minds
Three Guys Around a Table and The Best Of…
Rivalry Revelations and Playoff Puzzles
Post-Christmas, pre-new year's podcast. We have taken about a month off because of a lot of travels amongst the members.
Speaker 2:That two thirds two thirds of the members correct.
Speaker 3:Uh, so, yeah, sorry about the month. Uh, in between broadcasts I heard I heard a lot about it, by the way this past weekend from our producer, rick Mellon. Yes, uh, I spent a little time with him down in Nashville the last couple of days and uh, yeah, he was, uh, he, he was, uh, yeah, let's just say that he's like we got to get some. So we're going to talk a little bit, maybe a little post-Christmas, a little pre-New Year's, obviously a lot of college football. This is the first year that we've had the 12-team playoff, the first round of the playoffs oof they have got to make some changes to the playoffs yes, they do, yes, they do.
Speaker 1:We had a lot of blowouts. I'll tell you something I loved about the first round of the playoffs. I loved the games on campus.
Speaker 3:I did too. That was cool.
Speaker 2:That was great.
Speaker 1:Hosting. Yeah, yeah, I thought that was great, instead of it being at a neutral site. I was totally for that, yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you get to have weather play a factor.
Speaker 1:But we've got to keep up. None to have weather play a factor, but we've got None of the games were good. I mean when your closest game was the Indiana-Notre Dame game, which was complete domination Right.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:That's right.
Speaker 3:Well, so you know why did they come up with this idea that this champion has to be seeded and this champion has to be seeded If they're not the best team. You're already putting yourself at a disadvantage, and now you're going to have some good teams that are going to lose in this next round. Sure, because they did not get rewarded for being good.
Speaker 1:A team that can win the national championship is absolutely getting beat on New Year's Day. I think two of them National Championship is absolutely getting beat on New Year's.
Speaker 3:Day, I think two of them.
Speaker 1:Either Ohio State and Oregon are getting beat.
Speaker 3:One of those two are getting beat. They're getting beat.
Speaker 1:And if you receded, they would probably be one and two.
Speaker 2:Right, they play each other, so something has to lose.
Speaker 3:Well, of course, that's the point.
Speaker 2:I understand.
Speaker 1:That's the point. It shouldn't have been seeded that way, because you gave Arizona State who's playing good football and you gave Boise State buys, simply because they were their conference champions. You put two ACC teams in the college football playoffs and they both stink.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they got.
Speaker 1:I mean it's a whole conference in general stinks.
Speaker 3:And the bowl season is showing that and it's reinforcing that. You know Notre Dame is playing great football. Yes, they had one terrible loss. Terrible, terrible loss, and it was at the beginning of the year. You know what. You can't judge that, and you know. But they have a chance to lose this weekend. Sure, we do, and you know. So you know what's the answer. I think that you've got to have a little bit of sanity and take out the conference. Champions have to get seeded.
Speaker 2:No, I think that you do the eye test, you have the four best teams and the four best teams need to be seeded.
Speaker 3:Why, on earth, you know, like I said, did Penn State get the route that they have?
Speaker 1:Well, if you look at Penn State's route versus Ohio State's route, right, ohio State took your business the first game.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 3:Their road's a lot more difficult than what Penn State's road. It's a murderer's road.
Speaker 1:Yeah, If they somehow win and I don't- think that they will, and I've told you, if they win it, they deserve it. Yeah, penn. State shouldn't even have a team. Well, they did, but I mean, you said that, but they didn't.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean, that's the Sandusky effect.
Speaker 1:But I mean, look, the same thing could be said about SMU.
Speaker 2:Yep, exactly. They got the death penalty, though, and they built back.
Speaker 1:They did, that's true, they clearly didn't get the death penalty. They're not Jesus. They didn't get the death penalty.
Speaker 3:They're not. That quote occurred at the 4 minute and 33 second mark of this podcast. That's going to be a keeper.
Speaker 2:They're not Jesus. Three second mark of this podcast. That's going to be a keeper. I want to go ahead and call this out. Our studio is frigid right now 65 degrees we are preparing for outdoor football in January. Our host is wearing shorts and a t-shirt and no socks baby, that's because I'm yeah, and the two of us, the other hosts are sitting here under blankets, absolutely with chattering teeth.
Speaker 1:Now in full disclosure. I'm typically under a blanket in the summer as well.
Speaker 2:I am fully dressed for the outdoors and I am under a blanket.
Speaker 3:As well, it's been. I'm Stuttgart, I understand.
Speaker 2:I the outdoors and I am under a blanket as well. It could be an einstut garter, I I understand it's 40 degrees outside and our host is like hey, it's.
Speaker 3:There's a german word called luften. I I ask our, our folks to look it up. It means you know you've got the windows open, a little fresh air in. I haven't have two windows open in the house. Right before you guys came in, cooled it off. Lovely, it was just perfect.
Speaker 1:All right, so there's four games this week in the college football plus. The first one is New Year's Eve.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 1:Penn State versus Boise State. That's at 7 30. The line is Penn State by 11 and a half.
Speaker 3:I'm taking those 11.5 points. And I am saying right now it's not even going to be a cover issue, it is going to be an issue where Boise State beats Penn State.
Speaker 1:You're calling the upset. You're saying James Franklin, know your role shut your mouth.
Speaker 3:That's exactly right. And let me explain something. Nothing I have against Penn State, you know fine. We've had a fine year, or whatever. Blah, blah, blah. James Franklin has proven one thing he can't beat anybody.
Speaker 1:He can't beat anybody, that's good.
Speaker 3:Yeah, exactly, it's Boise State. Good, boise State is legit. I'm going to tell you right now, and it's not just Ashton Janty, the, the running back, that's the best running back that we've seen in quite some time. Their quarterback's good, their defense is decent. You know they gave Oregon everything they wanted early in the year and, honestly, could have won that game. Boise State's going to knock off Penn State. It will be.
Speaker 1:I mean, it's not going to be a blowout, but so we're not giving betting advice here gambling in states that authorize gambling. Correct You're saying if you were a betting man, you would take the points and take Boise State and the 11 and a half.
Speaker 3:There is zero chance.
Speaker 2:They are the number three seed. Isn't that weird, though they're the underdog, but they're the number three seed.
Speaker 3:That's what we just talked about.
Speaker 1:Right that's exactly what we just talked about. They're rated number three simply because they won their conference ridiculous yeah and wait, wait until we get to the a game the next day, because the undefeated team, unanimous number one team in the country is now an underdog exactly so who do you?
Speaker 2:have in this game Penn State or Boise State. So I don't like Boise State's field. I don't think you should have anything that's not a normal colored field. I think it's ridiculous.
Speaker 3:Thankfully they're not playing.
Speaker 1:Right On the blue track. Yeah, they're not playing there.
Speaker 3:I hate that though.
Speaker 2:They're playing in the.
Speaker 3:Fiesta Bowl, by the way, tell me.
Speaker 2:I'm just moving cars.
Speaker 1:Some weird person just pulled back the car out of their garage, pulled it in their driveway and then pulled it directly back in.
Speaker 2:I guess it wasn't exactly in synonyms.
Speaker 3:It was too far forward. While you're formulating that thought, have you seen Paris Independent's new football field this year? Yes, I have.
Speaker 1:It's terrible. It's terrible, oh my gosh, it's terrible. The orange.
Speaker 3:It's terrible. Oh my gosh, it's terrible. Here's the thing. Yeah, have some sanctity. Okay, so who are you going?
Speaker 1:with? Are you going with Boise State or Penn State? Here's the problem.
Speaker 2:I'm like Kyle Franklin is the big issue for me he just has underperformed over and over and over. When it's a big game, I agree.
Speaker 1:How many big games has he won, seriously, honestly, how many games has he beat since he's been at Penn State, which is 11, 12 years? Yeah, he's been there. Didn't go straight from Vanderbilt, vanderbilt. So how many games has he beat? Michigan, ohio State?
Speaker 3:He's beat Ohio State once he's 1-9 or 1-10 against Ohio State. Yeah, yeah, maybe 1-9 or 1-10. One of those, we'll call it 1-9.
Speaker 1:COVID year is probably 1-10. Yeah.
Speaker 3:So it's one of those two. So yeah, I mean Terrible, Terrible, Terrible.
Speaker 2:I'd say Boise State. The guy just has a track record for not winning the big games.
Speaker 3:That's just the way it is and he's got some talented kids. Man, I'm going to go with Penn State?
Speaker 1:Yeah, in a close one.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so point Fred.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I would definitely take Boise State in the points.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm shocked. It's that much. I can't believe it's that much, but Boise State is fairly well.
Speaker 1:It really is All right. Next game is at 1 o'clock on New Year's Day. Yep, it's the number four seed, arizona State versus the Texas Longhorns, texas.
Speaker 3:The line is Texas by 12 and a half, that's a lot of points, that's a lot of points.
Speaker 1:And the garage door is never there.
Speaker 3:I didn't realize that. Was there no offense? But is the car still running?
Speaker 1:I've taken the long horns in this game, but that's a lot of horns. Because, Arizona State is going to be able to move the football.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think. Look that running back for Arizona State, he is the real deal. Texas worries me just in the fact that Quinn Ewers you never know what you're going to get Frankly, I think their better option at quarterback is sitting on the bench in Arch Manning, I agree. So you know, texas' defense is tremendous. The front line is good, but Arizona State is going to move the football. I think Arizona State covers but Texas wins the game. I agree In the words of one of the greatest Texas Longhorn fans of all time.
Speaker 2:all right, all right, all right. I think McConaughey's Texas Longhorns win, but I don't think the spread, I don't think they cover.
Speaker 3:Oh, I thought that was Ben Stiller. Yeah, I don't think they cover.
Speaker 1:The next game has got some real interest here. This is the one I was telling you about the number one seed Oregon Ducks. Number one team in the country undefeated, or the underdog Never lost To the number eight seed Ohio State Buckeyes.
Speaker 2:The line is two and a half.
Speaker 1:in the Rose Bowl, ohio State's favored by two and a half.
Speaker 3:I'm going to withhold my comments until the end. I will allow you all to go first.
Speaker 1:Look, as I told you and you were gone, the first quarter of Ohio State's game against Tennessee was as dominant a college football as I've ever seen. After the face mask penalty on the third play of the game, it was complete domination for the rest of the quarter. I think that was Ohio State's ceiling. I mean they dominated the game. They would have lost to no one in that game. I don't know that they would have lost to no one in that game. Yep, I don't know that. I trust Ryan Day to do it two weeks in a row. That's my issue Now, if they do what they did against Tennessee, which is, you've got the best wide receivers in the country Yep, put the ball in their hands. I mean, I don't care how you get it to them, but get it to country. Yep, put the ball in their hands, throw it. I mean I don't care how you get it to them, yep, but get it to them, yep, don't? I mean what David Lading David Lading needs to come out and do is say that Ohio State's soft yeah.
Speaker 3:Exactly.
Speaker 1:And so they try to run it down their throat and then they lose.
Speaker 3:Yes, exactly.
Speaker 1:It's not a machismo thing, because that's what they're trying to do to Michigan. Yeah, and they're not that team.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:They don't have any George in the backfield. No.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I agree. Throw the ball 50 times. Yeah. Now I will also be honest with you. I don't have a huge amount of faith in your quarterback.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you don't know what you're going to get.
Speaker 1:Sometimes, that's right.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean, he'll make some throws that very few people can make, and then he'll make some bonehead plays.
Speaker 3:Yeah, One a game. Usually Usually one a game.
Speaker 1:And my concern for Ohio State is I don't know that Ryan Day can have them put it together four weeks in a row. Okay, so I'm going to go with Oregon, but I will not be surprised at all if Ohio State wins Sure. So here's where I'm at in this one Aye, aye and the reason. One more thing, and then you go. The reason why I'm picking Oregon is, I think it's a seven point difference in coaches. Yep, I understood. I think Lanning is seven points.
Speaker 3:Starting the game. I don't think that's a hard. That's almost not debatable.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree. I mean he's on a different level.
Speaker 3:Than anyone he's on the Kirby.
Speaker 1:Smart level two years ago.
Speaker 3:I think he's the best coach in college football.
Speaker 1:He was better than Kirby, smart was better than anybody two or three years ago, and I think, therefore, lanning is right now, yes, so I think Oregon has become the gimmick of college football.
Speaker 2:They started the flashy uniforms. You've got to think about this, boys, when I go to Keeneland.
Speaker 1:You're getting more of a blackboard every day. I know your first thing is that they've got flashy uniforms. Get off my line. They started the flashy uniforms 20 years ago. When I go to Kingwood, I like the silks of Kingwood, I like the jockeys.
Speaker 2:I like the silks. I think Oregon started the gimmick thing with the whole wings on the shoulder pads yeah, that's 20 years ago you got Phil Knight money out there. You know, man, I gotta tell you I've never been an Oregon fan. But Chris from Richmond, right, big Oregon fan, yeah, sure. And my problem with this thing is that I've watched that Ohio State-Tennessee game. It was a beat, it was just. I was shocked.
Speaker 1:I was shocked that Ohio State was so dominant. They haven't played that good all year. No, no, I mean in all honesty.
Speaker 2:Right now. My question out of that game was was it preparation? Was it everything just came together suddenly. Was Tennessee that bad? And I don't know the answer to that, because it was such a beatdown. I mean, there was no way you could look at that and watch that game and think, well, Tennessee was off here, or Ohio State dominated both sides of the ball. Any way you look at it, my problem is is.
Speaker 1:Ryan Day.
Speaker 2:And I don't think, like Greg said, I have enough time here he can put together this last game here.
Speaker 1:I really don't think he can. Greg said I'm not sure he can put together this last game here. I really don't think he can put four together.
Speaker 3:No, no, I mean because if they win this we're talking about, they play Texas next.
Speaker 2:I'm going to withhold my comments until the end, like I said, but I think that I would. I won't be shocked if Ohio State wins. Let me preface this I won't be shocked if Ohio State wins and they put one together and pull off one or even steal one, but I think that Oregon will be prepared where Tennessee was obviously not, and I don't know whether Tennessee was underprepared or Ohio State was just that perfect. They played a perfect game to beat Tennessee.
Speaker 1:I don't think they can do it again, did you see? I do want to hear your comments on this, but did you see all the receivers leaving Tennessee now? Yeah, and like nine of them really, which I think is weird because that's a team that throws football.
Speaker 3:Well, they don't throw it very well. Is the problem?
Speaker 1:No, their quarterback's not played well this year.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and he was a multi-million dollar. Get here's what's up what's that kid's name, nico something. Nico something.
Speaker 2:Suave, I think. Where's he going? Is he staying? Is he staying? I don't know.
Speaker 3:So all right, yeah, let's hear it. Here's where I'm going to come in, as a late. I'm going to be a bit of a homer, but not too much of one.
Speaker 1:That's okay, you can be a homer.
Speaker 3:Don't, I would argue, ohio State's best game of Oregon game. I agree with that, and they played terribly defensively in that game.
Speaker 2:They got lit up and still at Oregon, lost by one point on a flinky. Had a chance to win the game.
Speaker 3:I agree, If their offense plays as well as it played against Tennessee, I think they win the football game Defensively. Here's the big difference. And this is some inside Ohio State stuff. Okay, After the Ohio State game Ohio State, who you got to meet? Their defensive line coach, Larry Johnson. Larry Johnson's been there for a long time, Super guy right, but he and the defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, their styles have not meshed from day one. And Jim Knowles, when he was super successful at Oklahoma State before he came to Ohio State, he ran a modified 3-4, where he had three down linemen, and he's just rushing the quarterback. Larry Johnson runs a 4-3 and that's it.
Speaker 3:After the Oregon game, nine days after, was the first time Ryan Day got to come out and talk. In that press conference. Ryan Day came out and said we are reengineering the defense, which to any Ohio State fan who understands, that means we're going to put Larry Johnson out to pasture a little bit here and we're going to let Jim Knowles do what he's got to do. Since that moment they haven't given up a touchdown pass. I mean, their pressure rate is just ridiculously high. They're getting sacks left and right, the corners, play has improved, their defense has turned the corner and is playing great football. You cannot blame the Michigan loss on the defense that gave up 13 points 13 points, you should win the game.
Speaker 3:Exactly so. For that reason, I think Ohio State wins in a close game, a kind of a 31-28 kind of a game. Yeah, I see that, that their offense makes enough plays and their defense does a better job of containing Dylan Gabriel, a team that scored 32 on Ohio State, which was by far their worst defensive performance of the year. I still think they're going to score their points, but I think Ohio State's going to have just enough to win. If they don't, there's a chance Oregon could boat race them. I mean, like you said, I don't have the same level of. I don't have. I agree with you guys. I have the same level of concern about Ryan.
Speaker 2:Day your coach is concerned. You just don't know what you're going to have.
Speaker 3:I mean, you don't know what you're going to get. That night I was. You know I wasn't able to watch the game because I was on a trip, right, and it was 2.30 in the morning where I was when the game started. So I wake up at 5 in the morning, just fired up, wanting to see what the score is, thinking oh they probably got beat. And I look and I see 42-17. I was like unbelievable, what happened. Since that time I've gone back and watched that game. Ohio State's defense they cracked two helmets. They just, I mean, manhandled Tennessee.
Speaker 2:I was starting to finish.
Speaker 3:And Tennessee's vaunted defensive line didn't touch Will Howard Not much, you know. So that's the biggest thing. If the Ohio State offensive line can protect Will Howard, I think Ohio State wins the game Right and I would not be shocked one way or the other.
Speaker 1:Nope, the last game in the quarterfinal.
Speaker 2:To me, this is the funnest one.
Speaker 1:Most fun.
Speaker 3:I like funnest.
Speaker 1:The number two seed Georgia Bulldogs are favored by one and a half over the number seven seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Speaker 3:Yep, now, since I went last on that one, I'm going to go first.
Speaker 1:You can. I want to go last on this one.
Speaker 3:anyway, yes exactly no chance Georgia wins the game. Georgia hasn't played. They've played off and on Mediocre, mediocre. All year. Notre Dame has hit their stride. They are playing great defensively. They're moving the ball offensively. Georgia's playing their backup quarterback, who some Georgia fans say is a better choice.
Speaker 1:He had a good second half in the SEC championship game. Yep, yep.
Speaker 3:But I think Notre Dame wins in a close one. I think it's going to be a lower scoring game, a 24 to 20 kind of a game, what's up.
Speaker 2:I concur, you should all concur. I concur that it's going to be a close game. This is a coin toss for me. Any way you look at it, the thing is with Georgia. I don't think we've seen the best of Georgia yet.
Speaker 1:Georgia's not played great this year. Nope, I don't think we've seen the best of Georgia. I mean, they beat Texas twice, but they've not played great.
Speaker 3:Let me ask this question Is Georgia on your mind?
Speaker 2:You know what, when it's dark at night, my eyes are closed and I can't see a thing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I often think Georgia on my mind. Okay, fair enough, I probably should have this Crickets. No, that's it Much better.
Speaker 2:For those who don't know, lee Charles Blind Didn't say Georgia on my mind Anyhow, and this could be a coin toss for me. I don't think Georgia's played the best ball that they're capable of. Number one, number two, I'm going golly. I've got to keep this open-minded here. I think Notre Dame wins. I think it's a coin toss, but I think Notre Dame wins. But I think the farcity in this is that the word farcity it's kind of like funnest.
Speaker 3:I like it. It doesn't matter if it's a word or not.
Speaker 2:The biggest farce in this whole deal is Notre Dame should not be playing football because they're not in a conference. Get in a conference and then play football. You can't do this nonsense. I've said it before and I'll say it again.
Speaker 3:Get off my lawn. Nonsense. He's stealing my thing. Greg, I am, this is my thing. Get in a conference. Why aren't you in a conference? We are for basketball, but we're not for football because, oh, we're Notre Dame. So let me get this straight Notre Dame are Catholics and aren't in a conference. What's the other one?
Speaker 2:Oregon has shiny uniforms and feathers on their clothes uniforms division one FBS team, that's a Gran Torino.
Speaker 3:University. That is not get off. My lawn is not in the conference. Army, armed force, armed forces conference.
Speaker 2:They have their own common armed forces conference, absolutely liberty, liberty University. I don't know. I'm sure they're in a conference.
Speaker 3:I just figured I'd throw it out there and see if they do, but name another one.
Speaker 2:Oh, we're Notre.
Speaker 3:Dame State.
Speaker 1:University.
Speaker 3:SUNY Stony Brook State University of New York, stony Brook.
Speaker 2:Seriously, that is the biggest crap to me and I know you like Notre Dame. I do. I know you're going to blast me. I'm not blasphemy, but it's nonsense.
Speaker 1:Get in a conference Play in a conference Because sometimes you want them to be in the ACC, because that's where they basically play.
Speaker 3:Sometimes.
Speaker 1:So then we're going to have three ACC teams in the college football.
Speaker 2:I'm fine with that If they're in the ACC and they can beat all the ACC teams and they haven't beaten anyone else.
Speaker 3:I think sometimes when people say things and they throw a little word in there, sometimes you can learn about the bias. Hold on. I believe I heard the word Catholics no.
Speaker 2:What conference are you in for basketball? They are in the ACC. So I'm in the ACC for football. Because they don't have to be, because they're Notre Dame, we're Notre Dame, they are Notre Dame, we're, we're Notre.
Speaker 1:Dame, they are.
Speaker 2:Notre Dame, we're better than Notre.
Speaker 3:Dame. They are better than Notre Dame. They are better than Notre Dame. Hey, man the Gipper, they are better than Notre Dame.
Speaker 2:I think they win this game. They will not win the next championship, jerry Faust, come on man, hey Joe.
Speaker 3:Theismann yeah, theismann played Notre Dame. I don't know that, ron Paulus.
Speaker 2:Ron.
Speaker 3:Paul.
Speaker 2:Didn't he vote for that guy?
Speaker 1:All right. I'm going to Notre Dame. You're in a close one, it's close you don't bet against the Catholics.
Speaker 3:No, no, chris does. Yeah, he loses too. He feels that they are a cult you don't bet against the Catholics.
Speaker 1:You just went to Lee Corso. He will not bet against the Catholics. I can tell you that he also coached.
Speaker 2:Louisville.
Speaker 3:So, by the way, expound upon your Notre Dame. What are they going to do that Georgia's not going to be able to deal with?
Speaker 1:I don't think that Georgia's I think Notre Dame's defense is good enough. They're playing good enough. I think that not having Carson Beck for Georgia's a problem I mean I know their backup quarterback played good in the second half of the SEC game. But Notre Dame's defense is good. Yep, their offense has been playing great the last few games, so I expect them to be able to score points. I'm not sure Georgia will be able to keep up with them points-wise. Yep, that's just what I think. Look, Georgia can go in and roll them.
Speaker 3:I don't suspect that will happen, but it could. Georgia. It depends on what version of Georgia that you get. If it's the version that played.
Speaker 1:Texas earlier in the year. There's no way they lose. Then Georgia wins Absolutely. But, if it's the version that played Kentucky, then they're going down.
Speaker 2:Listen, it's coin toss boys. It really is. We've not seen the best of Georgia.
Speaker 1:It's weird how two very good teams are Jekyll and Hyde.
Speaker 3:Yep Correct Ohio.
Speaker 1:State Yep man the game that they played against Michigan.
Speaker 3:It was the stupidest. It's the stupidest game plan I think I've ever seen.
Speaker 1:Kentucky could have beat them. I'm not joking, hey, hey, look, don't go crazy. I'm not joking.
Speaker 3:I'm not going to debate any of that. I watched, not joking. I'm not going to debate any of that. I watched the game. It was awful, but the game against Tennessee. Yeah.
Speaker 1:There's no college team that's beaten them that night.
Speaker 3:No, they played angry. They played, you know.
Speaker 1:And look the Indiana. And you know me, I didn't think Indiana was that great this year, right, yep, but Notre Dame beat the snot out of it. Yeah, I mean, it was way. It was nowhere near as close as what the score said. Yeah, and the score was still the blowout.
Speaker 3:Look indiana, when they played ohio state. Uh, they came out and they ran down the field and scored a touchdown. We're up on ohio state. All the indiana fans were going bonkers right. And then ohio state boat raced them the rest of the game. I thought at that point and Ohio State didn't play great in that game and I was like Indiana ain't that good, I'm sorry, and they had a wonderful season and shouldn't take away anything from their season. It was great. They did what they were supposed to do. They got in and then they got boat raced by a much better team.
Speaker 1:What can be changed about the playoffs to make it better?
Speaker 3:I think that you, first of all, you've got to use the eye test a little bit. You know, there's a lot of folks that are giving Kirk Herbstreit a bad way to go, and he deserves it for a lot of them.
Speaker 1:He deserves it. He flip-flops yeah. Yeah, I mean he's Al Gore.
Speaker 3:Exactly. He deserves he flip-flops. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, he's Al Gore, exactly. I mean he says one thing on one and then the next day he changes. Oh, and then you know, he whines about Ohio State lunatic fringe fans, saying that 20% of the fan base are lunatics. Let me explain something to you, kirk. If you could have been, you know even half the player that you know, an average quarterback in college, would have been when I was there, when you were playing. Maybe Ohio State would have won a few more games. Having said that, I could go on and on about him. Let me just say this the people who have stated that you need to watch the games to inform your decisions on seating, I agree with that. You can't just have set. Well, we're going to give this to this conference champion or this conference champion. You and I have had this discussion. We know that the SEC is a very powerful, always has been strong, football conference. I think they were down this year and I think pretty much everyone would agree with that.
Speaker 3:So you can't go into this saying, well, this conference champion, in this conference, they, they're going to get the buys because they won their conference championship. That doesn't mean they're better than than these teams over here in this other conference. I think you got to do the eyeball test. You got to look at common opponents. You you've got to look at strength of schedule. All of those things have to play a role in it. I think it was honestly a little more fair when it was just a four team. The debates were always about what about this fifth or sixth team that should have gotten in the top four? You really couldn't argue too much, at least with the top three. Normally you had those three and they were seated pretty much where you thought they should be. The argument was always this team for four, or what about this team or this team? Now you've got 12 and you've got the top four and there's no chance that the top four should have gotten. Oregon should have gotten a bye, no question. Yes, georgia should have gotten a bye, and after that, sorry.
Speaker 2:But here's the problem how do you do that with being an open mind? You have, but here's the problem how do you do that with being an open mind? You have to talk about the ideas. They're trying to do it based upon a definitive thing. You won your conference, you did this, you did that right? Wow, how do you?
Speaker 1:and I'm like, I agree with you 100% yeah, but I mean so you got Clemson in this year because they won the conference. They're not worth a dog crap year because they won the conference. They're not worth a dog crap. No, all the teams that were on the verge of getting in. Alabama, south Carolina, ole Miss. All three of them would have laid the wood to Clemson.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Hey, South Carolina beat Clemson the week before.
Speaker 2:Right, exactly, here's the problem. What do you do now? Go to 32 teams?
Speaker 1:No, no, I honestly think 12 teams is too many, I agree, I agree. Yeah, I agree. I mean, I get the reason why you want to give four teams. It's more money, yeah, it's more money, but you want to give four teams a bye? I get that. Yeah, but it can't be conference change. It's got to be just seed them and what's next?
Speaker 3:You know your first four games should have included Boise State, arizona State, indiana and so who would have been the four top seeds?
Speaker 1:Oregon's clearly one. Georgia was probably two.
Speaker 3:I think Oregon, georgia, notre Dame and Homer in me would say Ohio State.
Speaker 1:Simply because I wouldn't, I wouldn't agree with Ohio State, simply because?
Speaker 3:Here's why Simply because Ohio State beat Penn State head-to-head and you can't put Penn State above them, but they did.
Speaker 1:I don't think I would have put Ohio State next.
Speaker 3:After their shitty game. Excuse my French 32-23 against Michigan, yeah, I don't think you could do that.
Speaker 2:Here's the problem, boys In this world. Ohio State's name carries on right, that name carries on, kentucky basketball carries on, and that's the thing People look at Ohio State and assume it's Ohio State.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean up until okay. They had one bad loss this year. It was, unfortunately the last game of the year Notre Dame had one bad loss. It was the first or second game of the year. Ohio State's other loss was by one point at Oregon, which is undefeated. They had two losses by a combined four points.
Speaker 1:I don't think their name carried them. Texas is probably the team that I would have put in. Yeah, I agree, texas is probably the team that.
Speaker 3:I would have put in at four. I agree, texas at four. I have no issue with that. That's who I would have probably put in at four. Frankly, I kind of forgot about Texas, I mean. But then I put Ohio State at five. I put Ohio State at five, I mean.
Speaker 1:They're better than Penn State.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they beat them, they beat the par.
Speaker 1:Heels. Would you put Alabama in? I would have put Alabama in. I would have put Alabama in. Look, I don't think I mean, I'm an SEC homer but I don't think any of us would sit here and say that Alabama wouldn't have put on a better performance than what SMU did. I agree, I don't think anybody could say Alabama wouldn't have put on a better performance than what Indiana put on. I agree, but Indiana, how many games have they?
Speaker 2:won. Indiana should have been in they only lost one to Ohio State.
Speaker 1:They should have been in. I got no problem with that.
Speaker 3:The problem I had is you shouldn't have got in. They didn't play anyone else. I mean, that's the thing that's right and that's the issue that we're getting to.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that's the reason why you have to go to, but if you've only played Podunk State, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2:Don't they have in college football, don't they have like to do in college basketball? Have a strength of schedule.
Speaker 1:They do, and nobody cared about Alabama's. That clearly didn't carry the day.
Speaker 2:Obviously, and soon you got in and Alabama didn't Correct.
Speaker 3:Every team had some scar. They did Every team.
Speaker 1:And if Alabama would have went and beat Oklahoma, who's just terrible. They're in, then they're in, and this is not up for debate.
Speaker 3:I think that loss put them out.
Speaker 2:That also shows we come down to the issue that we play so few games. If you screw up one game, you play a bad game, Of course, you can screw up once, you can't screw up twice.
Speaker 1:They couldn't get beat by Vandy and Oklahoma. Right they couldn't get beat by Vandy. And Oklahoma, right yeah, they couldn't get beat by Vandy and not Oklahoma but now.
Speaker 2:But you couldn't really schedule like SMU or Indiana and play nobody and beat everybody and all of a sudden you're in.
Speaker 1:Well, that's what the committee's got to figure out.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Is what are we going to go with? Because, look, I honestly think this is the real homer. Put your top eight Big Ten schools on one side and put your top SEC schools on the other side and let's go have at it. Or let's do one versus eight on each one and let's go have at it. Because, honestly, the other conferences don't really matter when it comes to football. I agree, because you've got two super conferences, but with the way the scheduling is, the difference in schedules from one team to the other are dramatically different.
Speaker 3:Then here for a.
Speaker 2:Hold on, hold on. I agree 100%. That means Notre Dame never plays then because they're not in a conference.
Speaker 3:Well, no, here I've got the answer to it. Notre Dame would always be in. You keep the 12-team playoff and this is going to sound radical and that's fine. But give four teams to the SEC, Give four teams to the Big Ten and give four at large and let's figure out who those other four are. You know, pick your best.
Speaker 1:four others One ACC, maybe, maybe Notre Dame. So let me, no conference, let me let me pull up something here real quick. While you all can, you all do a little filler while I pull up something.
Speaker 2:So Notre Dame needs to be in a conference because they are in a conference actually.
Speaker 3:What is it? The football conference. They're in the Catholic youth league. Notre Dame will always be in the football conference.
Speaker 1:They're in the Catholic Youth League Youth League. Notre Dame will always be in the playoffs, by the way, and they should be, but they should also be in the conference.
Speaker 2:Well, it would give the ACC a legitimate team then yeah, man, that's harsh and a chance to win.
Speaker 1:Am I wrong? Okay, so here's what I was wanting to look at.
Speaker 3:So if you took the top eight, sec, schools and we're going to give four SEC and four Big Ten, right? Is that what we're?
Speaker 1:That's what we said yeah, so the top four would have been Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 1:That makes sense. And now let me go see who. So the top four in the Big 12 are Oregon, ohio, state Ohio.
Speaker 3:State, indiana and Penn State In the Big 10. Those are the four I like the Big 10.
Speaker 2:It's easier.
Speaker 1:Indiana is just a weak link, right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and in another year maybe it would be Wisconsin. Maybe it would be Wisconsin, maybe it would be Illinois.
Speaker 1:Look Illinois is on the way up.
Speaker 3:Illinois had a good year this year. They made me some money, yeah, but that will never happen. Just because it makes too much sense, yep, but I don't think anyone whether you're an SEC fan or a Big Ten fan I don't think anyone could argue that with the amount of money and the amount of emphasis on football and on the football programs that those two conferences have, when all those conferences broke up, where did those teams go? Yeah, right, where did they want to go? Yeah, absolutely. Where did Washington and USC and UCLA? Okay, how did that work out? And where did Texas and Oklahoma? They wanted to go to those two conferences, correct.
Speaker 1:And look, here's my bonus question for football yeah, Is. Oklahoma on the way down.
Speaker 3:Yep, oh, absolutely Venable's got to go. I mean I'm sorry, that guy's a joke. They love him. Yeah, he's a joke how that worked out for him.
Speaker 2:They love him. They're terrible. And is Lincoln Riley the most overrated?
Speaker 3:college football player. 100%, he's a joke. The fact that they somehow beat Texas A&M, I don't know how Texas A&M was up like a gazillion yeah, yeah. So Lincoln Riley gazillion, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I think the rally was hot about 20 years ago the lincoln riley was hot about eight years ago.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's okay, it's a long time ago all right, we're rolling in 40 minutes, boys. Well, we should then go ahead and do this and say that what well, happy, happy new year coming up are we gonna go to the llama for the New Year's Eve?
Speaker 1:The playoffs Right.
Speaker 3:Playoffs, yeah, playoffs. Are you kidding me?
Speaker 1:Playoffs, we're going up there, yeah.
Speaker 2:I think we're there.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's fair. I hear they've got good pizza.
Speaker 2:Did I say Rick Jimmy Carter?
Speaker 3:We'll be back with our next episode in one week. We will, I think.
