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…
Beyond the Brackets: College Football's Playoff Drama
Is the college football seeding system fundamentally flawed? We open this episode with a playful jab at our producer’s imaginary Christmas bonus and segue into the heart-pounding drama of college football. Notre Dame's thrilling play against Georgia sets the stage for a heated debate as we challenge the fairness of the current playoff structure. With Penn State's recent blowout over Boise State as a backdrop, we passionately argue for a seeding overhaul, proposing a more equitable system that truly reflects team performance. Oregon, Georgia, and Notre Dame rise to the top in our ideal bracket, but who else makes the cut?
As we unravel the complex web of NIL deals and transfer portals, we spotlight Notre Dame's unique status outside of a conference. How has this, along with the power shift in the SEC, impacted college sports? We recount past basketball rivalries and legendary coaching figures, reflecting on the evolution of teams and recruiting nationwide. This episode also explores the fascinating changes these dynamics bring to both football and basketball, leveling the playing field like never before.
Coaching challenges and thrilling matchups take center stage as we analyze teams like Penn State and Texas. From nail-biting playoff games to jaw-dropping officiating blunders, controversy keeps fans glued to the action. We ponder the Rose Bowl's enduring legacy and its potential as a permanent championship venue. Alongside these high-stakes discussions, we sprinkle in lighthearted banter about social media buzzwords, chilly room temperatures, and the ageless debate over football helmets. This episode promises a blend of humor and insight, wrapped in the colorful tapestry of college football.
three guys around a table, and by three guys, we're talking about three friends a lawyer, an engineer and a school superintendent and just like our personalities, our opinions vary and we certainly don't always agree.
Speaker 3:Whether we're discussing the best of or giving our tips and tricks of things in everyday life, you're sure to learn something if you stick around.
Speaker 2:Alright, we had some technical issues on the last podcast and we do apologize for that, but they are all fixed now. I think we're good to go, and that was the longest podcast in the history of our podcast.
Speaker 1:I think it was like everybody was in a cave.
Speaker 3:We were on fire. We need to fire our producer.
Speaker 2:Mellon, struggled I mean you know.
Speaker 3:But you know what? He's still mad because he didn't get that Christmas bonus.
Speaker 2:I think it's his problem. So it is January the 2nd, the day after New Year's Day, and this is the rarest of instances. Now, that is strange. So we are broadcasting this during a live.
Speaker 1:This is the strangest thing I've ever seen.
Speaker 3:by the way, what is happening here?
Speaker 1:They're going to go for it and I think this is a huge mistake.
Speaker 2:This is a huge mistake Notre Dame versus Georgia at the end of the game.
Speaker 3:Oh he got it.
Speaker 2:Throw the flag. He drew them off sides and they're throwing it deep.
Speaker 1:That ended up being a great call.
Speaker 3:That was the strangest thing I've ever seen here's a different term, but what a gutsy call.
Speaker 1:It was gutsy, yes. So basically, notre Dame had their punt team out there, substituted all 11 out for their offense to come back in, drew Georgia off sides. Wow, georgia has to know, yeah, that you can't jump there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that was very undisciplined um and uh, you know, kirby looks like he just said you can't do that yep, he did say that anyway.
Speaker 1:Obviously, this podcast is going to be all about college football yeah, we're.
Speaker 2:This is a college football podcast here and uh, we've had some uh really interesting football games. Yesterday that took place. We obviously have the other college football semifinal today. We've had four quarterfinal games. Yeah, clearly, offside there, by the way, we've had four quarterfinal games. The Penn State blowout of Boise State.
Speaker 1:Look, boise State shouldn't have been. This goes back to the seeding and people didn't hear it very much or very well on our previous podcast. The seeding's got to be changed.
Speaker 2:The seeding has to be changed. There is no and look, there's no fair world on any of these things. Right, the world isn't fair, life isn't fair and all that, but you cannot reward conference champions who are clearly not as good as the eye test tells you yep and um. I you know I would agree with that a hundred percent okay, I mean we talked about it over the last one.
Speaker 1:Yeah, oregon should have been the one seat. Yes, absolutely hundred percent. Georgia should have been the two seat. Yeah, I have no issues with that. What's the the three seed um?
Speaker 2:penn state? No, not penn state.
Speaker 1:Excuse me, we talked about texas. Who are we? I'm missing, somebody missing someone uh arizona state no, no no texas, no, we had them at the four. We're missing. We're missing the three seed somewhere. Yeah, I can't remember.
Speaker 2:But we had Texas at four.
Speaker 1:I think, and Ohio State at five, and that was reasonable.
Speaker 2:I think that was reasonable. I don't think that you could have put Penn State ahead of Ohio State when they both had two losses and Ohio State beat them head-to-head, beat them on the field, and Penn State shouldn't even have a team anyway.
Speaker 1:Notre Dame is the team that we said should have been the third seed.
Speaker 2:They're sitting right in front of us. I know.
Speaker 1:Notre Dame had one loss they should have been the three seed Texas, the four, ohio.
Speaker 3:State the five. How did Notre Dame do in their conference play?
Speaker 1:They were undefeated In their conference. In their conference, they were undefeated.
Speaker 2:They were undefeated in conference In their conference. Hey, and they just converted a huge third down right there. I'm feeling good about it.
Speaker 1:I think that as we're watching this, there's five and a half minutes. Oh, and I'm an SEC guy, but Notre Dame's my second favorite team. I'm feeling good for the green.
Speaker 3:Oh wait a minute. They don't wear any green unless they're colors. Why are you hating on it? We're going to get a lot of Notre Dame. For some reason, Get in a conference.
Speaker 1:Why don't you talk about UMass this way?
Speaker 3:Quit being special Quit trying to be special.
Speaker 2:It's not anti-Semitism. Could it be anti-Catholicism Maybe?
Speaker 3:But there's multiple teams who are not in a conference.
Speaker 1:There's multiple teams who are not in a conference, but you only pick on Notre Dame?
Speaker 3:Yeah, because they should play people.
Speaker 1:They do play people.
Speaker 3:They pick and choose who they want to play, that's how they're 12-1.
Speaker 1:When they beat Georgia today, they will have beat six top 25 teams this year.
Speaker 3:But if they'd have been in a conference they may have lost, like everybody else.
Speaker 1:Just saying I think has Georgia beat six top 25 teams this year? Seriously, oh, I have no idea. Did Ohio State Didn't? Nope, I mean they may now After they've?
Speaker 3:won these two, so why would you say that Notre Dame, they're catching up? Wait a minute, though. Why would you say Notre Dame's number three or four, then, and Georgia's number two, notre?
Speaker 2:Dame has one loss. It was at the very beginning Of the year Time out Very beginning of the year.
Speaker 3:Yeah, time out. But you said they're behind. Georgia and Georgia's had two losses, Georgia's the two seed.
Speaker 1:I think Georgia was the better team. Georgia was the two seed Notre.
Speaker 3:Dame was the three seed. But if Notre Dame beat five, this goes back to the seeding. If Notre Dame beat five or six top 25 teams, well, five they had beat four.
Speaker 1:They beat Indiana the first round of the playoffs. That was five, and then this will be sixth. Yeah.
Speaker 3:So, if they okay, take before this game. So they had four.
Speaker 1:Georgia probably had at least four no Before this game, if you count Indiana, the first round of the playoffs that's true.
Speaker 3:Oh okay, right, right, right, right, okay, I see, so they had four, georgia was the two seed.
Speaker 1:I mean yeah, we both agree on that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean issue now getting a conference um, I think that you know a bigger discussion can be had, once this is all over, about something we talked about earlier in the year. Maybe the sec was just a little down.
Speaker 3:They're down this year, you know, no question I'm glad you brought that up again and you've said that a bunch and I actually have something to say on that now. Yeah, the SEC's dead. I think this goes back to transfer port at NIL, because look what happens it is equalized, not equalized, but it's made everybody more on the same playing field because the SEC was so dominant for years.
Speaker 2:So now other teams can pay when the SEC was getting away with it for years. Think about this.
Speaker 3:Think about basketball in the SEC. It used to be Kentucky. Sec was getting away with it for years. Think about this.
Speaker 2:Well, think about basketball Ism you was Think about basketball 100%.
Speaker 3:Think about basketball in the SEC. It used to be, kentucky was the best team and now All of them are the best teams. They're all the best teams now. So the SEC as a conference.
Speaker 2:Not to veer off, but do you remember how great the Kentucky-Auburn rivalry in basketball? Used to be, Charles Barkley and all those and Kenny Walker.
Speaker 1:And look, I wasn't ecstatic about Mark Pope when they first hired him, but I'm all in with him, but I was, you know me, I was for Bruce Pearl getting the job.
Speaker 3:I love Bruce Pearl, but there's no way they'd bring him in with baggage.
Speaker 1:No, but Bruce Pearl's one of these coaches that I mean. He's fun, he's a lot like. I mean there's a bunch of people like this, I mean Lane Kiffin in football. We're talking about football. You love him if he's your coach.
Speaker 3:Correct. But you hate him if not. You hate him if he's not. Well, it's Spurrier, right? Yeah, sure.
Speaker 1:But what I go back to is what about that game? Yeah, that line is 17 and a half.
Speaker 2:Who are they playing?
Speaker 3:Ole Miss playing Duke what I was saying is the SEC and basketball now is equalized right Transfer portal, portal NIL. How much you want to pay, you can have the best teams. It's. It's the same thing in football. Now you've got other teams that are getting better and the SEC, who has predominantly been, you know, the dominant conference is Do you have an issue with that?
Speaker 2:I mean now they're all on the same plane. No, I have. No, I don't have an issue with it either.
Speaker 1:I think the SEC is going to take a year or two to get caught up. Sure Agreed.
Speaker 2:And that's where I'm at.
Speaker 1:That's what I think is going to happen.
Speaker 2:But I have no issue with it. You know.
Speaker 1:Look, oregon spent a bunch. Yep, ohio State spent a bunch. Right, I don't know that Georgia spent that. I don't know that they didn't. I haven't seen it. But I think a lot of the SEC schools said, by God, we're the SEC People are going to want to come and play for us. Correct, and it don't matter how much people are getting. These kids are out for money right now.
Speaker 3:I mean, think about it. Kentucky's learned that you missed out on Cooper Flagg and all these other guys because you just didn't want to pay that kind of money. But look at the quarterback from Duke Reportedly wanted what $30 million or something Stupid. They've got to put rules and regulations in the NIL boys. They've got to. It's the Wild West. It is the Wild West, that's right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean 100% is. And you know, like I said, I've said from the beginning of the year, I'm not the biggest fan of the lack of regulation, but I also don't think there needs to be a salary cap like there is in pro sports. These are colleges. Some of them are smaller than others, some are larger than others. Some have a lot more revenue, some don't. That's just kind of the lay of the land and I don't think that there should be a restriction on hey, each team can only spend this much.
Speaker 1:That doesn't make one tiny bit of sense. I find it interesting, though, that ESPN pushed this.
Speaker 3:Can we all agree that ESPN pushed this? And now they're like, well, something's got to be done now it's out of control.
Speaker 2:I refer to it as SEC SPF.
Speaker 1:It's ridiculous? Well, it's ridiculous.
Speaker 3:The salary cap thing, you know, I get what you're saying. The problem I had with NIL was it started out? It was, you know, it was supposed to be your name on a jersey and you get credit for your name on a jersey, your name, image, your likeness Nowhere did it come out of. We're going to pay you to come. We're going to pay you 20 million because we want the best quarterback, you know, and that's what it's. It's become pro sports now. Has the game changed?
Speaker 2:no, I still think these kids play as hard in any sport as they would have, regardless, until they don't make the playoff, and then they, and then it's over. It's the reason why little transport portals.
Speaker 1:What you can tell right now is the the non-playoff games don't matter at all. The Miami quarterback, Cam Ward.
Speaker 2:He plays the first half he gets his record, then he sits for the rest of the game. I just think that's awful. What are steps that you could put in place to prevent?
Speaker 1:that Insurance, there you go, I think.
Speaker 3:Deion was right about this. I agree. That's one of the things I disagree. I agree with Deion. That's one of the very few things.
Speaker 1:And I think you can insure these kids so that way they're not, if they get hurt, they're not losing money that they would have for their lifetime going in.
Speaker 3:Look at this, but you know the other thing.
Speaker 3:I go back to besides the insurance and I agree with you 100%. I agree with Dion, that was smart. The transfer portal's got to stop. The transfer portal should open up in January after everything's over, and then you go from there. Of course, it goes back to like we said the other day on our podcast If I'm paying you to play it for this university, I expect you to play all the games. I don't expect you to sit out and go pro Nonsense. Yep. To me it's disgraceful.
Speaker 2:I agree with that. But the problem with that is the colleges aren't paying them, it's the collectives I know. So you're going to get $2 million to play from the 1876 collective, which is one of the ones at Ohio State, or 1876 collective, which is one of the ones at Ohio state, or 1870 collective, whatever it's called. So you're getting your money from them, as opposed to the university. What put it in the contract authority does the?
Speaker 1:university have. I mean, I know, at the university of Kentucky, the college, the university has to approve all NIL deals. Yeah, and what they could do is have that a requirement in one of the NIL deals. Yeah, is what I think they could do, yeah. But anyway so let's talk about the games.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the games. So Penn State, Boise State we're going to talk about Penn State. They blew them out.
Speaker 1:But I mean, look, they stopped the running back from Boise State.
Speaker 2:Penn State looked good.
Speaker 3:They looked good. What's that guy's name? Scadaboo.
Speaker 2:No, that's.
Speaker 1:Arizona State Ashley.
Speaker 2:Ashton Genty. Yeah, Genty, that's it.
Speaker 3:Genty, that's it. He only had 100 yards, though man they completely shut him down.
Speaker 1:But I mean, look, I don't mean to sound like a hater, but it's Boise, State you know what I mean.
Speaker 3:Who's he?
Speaker 1:playing. They played Oregon and got beat and they beat UNLV.
Speaker 3:Yep.
Speaker 1:Yep, I agree. I mean it's a step up in class.
Speaker 3:And let's be honest about it, jenty had not played against anybody.
Speaker 1:I mean Penn State's defense looked good. I'll say that.
Speaker 2:Penn State and.
Speaker 1:Penn State's tight end is as good as they get. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Penn State looked. They look like they're peaking at the right time. They look a lot better than when they played Ohio State, I agree. I think that their defense was much better. They look good.
Speaker 1:But you know what? Vegas don't like them because this game here that's going on, because whoever wins it plays Penn State Yep, and both these teams were favored against Penn State, and I absolutely agree with that.
Speaker 2:I don't disagree either. I think either one of these teams beats Penn State.
Speaker 1:Well, and now Penn State's got to play a big game, yep, and Franklin has not shown that he can win a big game on a consistent basis.
Speaker 2:Exactly Now. Let's talk Texas and Arizona State.
Speaker 1:Best game of the playoffs so far.
Speaker 2:Not close.
Speaker 1:That was a hoot.
Speaker 3:That was you know what five minutes into the game. I thought this game was over.
Speaker 1:Well, you and I were texting dude Yep, I thought Texas was going to win by a million, by a million, yeah.
Speaker 2:And then boom and they got in their own way. Texas got in their own way, Absolutely. You know. I think the coaching staff should be disgraced. They should feel disgraceful. You know, and I don't want to mention anything about Steve Sarkeesian and his previous problems with alcohol, but it wouldn't shock me if he had one after the game.
Speaker 1:That game would have needed to drink. If he had one after the game, that game would have needed to drink. I wanted to drink after that game.
Speaker 2:Well, so they let Arizona State back in the game. Now there are some things that happened that I think we need to talk about. I texted you all one of them today. So Arizona State kicked a field goal that was blocked.
Speaker 3:Yep.
Speaker 2:It bounced and it went through the uprights. Yep, the rule states that if a kick is blocked and bounces and is not touched and goes through the uprights, it should be considered good.
Speaker 3:I never knew. I never knew that. I never knew that rule existed. So how come they didn't? I have no idea. That's crazy. I had no idea.
Speaker 2:I mean, that was interesting to me. It's not why they lost, or whatever. I think one of the key reasons they lost.
Speaker 1:Dan Lanning would have knew that rule yes, 100%, because he needed those rules to give him some extra points.
Speaker 2:Yep, I think the biggest thing that happened in that game from my perspective was the lack of the targeting call.
Speaker 1:I don't know how you could Look. I wanted Texas to win the game. I'm glad they won. I don't know how you could have a targeting as a rule and that not be it.
Speaker 3:Well, I was listening to some things today and the guy kept saying, well, he didn't launch himself, I'm like, but he's leading with the crown of the helmet.
Speaker 2:His head hit the other kid right in the face right in the head and knocked the kid out. The kid was out of the game. Now why on earth do you have a targeting penalty if you don't call that targeting.
Speaker 3:How many times have we seen them screw that up, though, in college football?
Speaker 2:Every time. Get rid of it, just get rid of the rule.
Speaker 3:You have to because nobody calls it correctly either way, I agree.
Speaker 2:It's different with every officiating crew. It's different in every situation.
Speaker 1:Correct.
Speaker 2:I guarantee you that one of the things that they because they blew the thing and said we're going to have a review for a targeting call- Correct. And the review said it wasn't. Now what happened in that review booth? They said we got to let these teams fight it out on the field. The players gotta. They gotta decide this game, not this targeting call bull crap. I agree that.
Speaker 1:That it was. It was targeting. If there is targeting, yeah that was just, but that's.
Speaker 3:I'm like you, that's got to go away, because they never call it right. Yeah, I mean they call it 10 times, they review them and half the time they don't get it right. I mean just get rid of it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, there's Bartman, by the way. Bartman, yes.
Speaker 3:That's what they're talking about, I know.
Speaker 1:I couldn't believe it. I was watching the game and I was like they go. That reminds me of Steve Bartman from the C.
Speaker 2:So Texas squeaks one out that they should have won by a million. Yeah, I think at the end of the game the team that was more talented obviously won the game.
Speaker 1:I don't think that really, the team that deserved to win won the game. I don't have any issue with that. I told you and it worked out. Scadaboo, I said he should be the MVP even if they lost. And he was and that was the right decision. He dominated the game in the second half. Agreed Yep.
Speaker 2:So that's that one. Now we go to the next one, the granddaddy of them all, the Rose Bowl.
Speaker 1:Okay, Can I say something about the Rose Bowl? Look, I don't watch the Rose Bowl every year because it doesn't matter to me, honestly. Right, look, and I know that the stadium's historic, but get some better video boards and stuff like that, I mean the video board up there looked like I mean the one at Western Hills is bad.
Speaker 2:So I agree with what they were saying.
Speaker 1:Pregame though and the pregame thing.
Speaker 2:I think it was herb street I didn't watch it because I was watching the other game. Yeah, um, and why and why did they not delay the start a little bit more? Yeah, really, that's just crazy, uh. But what they said was uh, herb street said to um said to saban, said can we get you to go and talk to someone and just make this the side of the national championship every every year? I have never seen a more beautiful place to watch a game. I would love to go to the.
Speaker 3:Rose. I said the same thing yesterday. I would love to go to the Rose.
Speaker 1:I hate to sound as old as you too.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:But something, something I do love about the Rose bowl yeah, is it's on grass, yep.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I agree To me. Did you see the video of the guy walking through the tunnels Right?
Speaker 1:It's all concrete, yeah.
Speaker 3:On the field and it's just so cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but think about that.
Speaker 3:That's your. If you're at UCLA, that's where you play every day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, how cool is that the San Gabriel mountains, the sunset, the pink sky.
Speaker 3:God.
Speaker 2:I mean there's houses right there. I mean it's not like they said, that it's kind of like the Green Bay, the Lambeau Field. This is the game now. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean, if Georgia doesn't get this first down, it's officially over.
Speaker 3:It's over Done.
Speaker 1:Sweet.
Speaker 2:Notre Dame moves on. Notre Dame will play Penn State in the national semifinal.
Speaker 1:Wow, no, notre Dame will play Penn State in the national semifinal. Wow, no, after losing to Northern Illinois, how about?
Speaker 3:that Unbelievable. That's just. That's that one you're going to lose, yep. So, going back to the granddaddy of them all.
Speaker 2:Ohio State put belt to ass and I feel pretty good about it.
Speaker 1:It was a beat down. Yeah, it was not as close as the score said. It was no.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was really nervous about the game, just not knowing, again, you just don't know what Ohio State team you're going to get. Well, and you didn't know it during the game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean you, and I texted about it. Yep, I asked you if Ryan Day has veto power on play calling Right, because look, if I'm Chip Kelly in that game, I have one play. Yep.
Speaker 2:Get it to four.
Speaker 1:And it's throw it to Jeremiah Smith. Yeah, and that's it. I don't care how you get him the ball, just throw it up. Let him go get it, you know that dance is just different. Because there was nobody who could stop him. Yeah, he's different and look, I don't know that Texas has got anybody that can stop him. But I'll tell you what there'll be two people on him.
Speaker 2:Yep, yeah, I mean they will game plan to take him out of the game. Right, it's going to be incumbent on the other players to win the game, and so you know.
Speaker 1:And can we say something about this? Yeah, this is by far Kirby Smart's worst season. Yeah, he's got three losses.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't think that he has done a very good job with the talent that he has. Just to be honest with you, you don't go into Alabama and lay that stinker of a first half that he did. You don't lose to Vandy right. Was it Vandy that they beat?
Speaker 1:I don't know who was the other team Vandy, I think did Ole Miss beat them.
Speaker 2:Or was it South Carolina? I think it was Ole Miss. Let me look, I think it was Ole Miss. They were in.
Speaker 1:UK should have beat them, uk beat them yeah.
Speaker 3:Because they got that Lost by one point.
Speaker 1:Well, but that interception they called back.
Speaker 3:No, I agree.
Speaker 1:So I mean, under the theories that Kevin Owens is the winged champion, kentucky beat Georgia this year 100%. That's good.
Speaker 2:That may be the best line of the night Now let's go back to what we were talking about a little bit before, though, in terms of the teams.
Speaker 1:It was Ole Miss. Ole Miss throttled them 2018. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Go back to Vandy beat Alabama Vandy beat Alabama.
Speaker 1:Alabama's losses were terrible, Vandy.
Speaker 2:Oklahoma, oklahoma and did.
Speaker 1:Was it Tennessee? Was that?
Speaker 2:the other one? Yeah, it was Tennessee, I think so. Yeah, and speaking of which, this was the point I was going to make. So Tennessee, ohio State had to play Tennessee in the first round. Correct, they had to play the number one team, undefeated Oregon, in the second round.
Speaker 1:Then they got Texas next Now they've got Texas.
Speaker 2:If they win this, they'll play Penn.
Speaker 1:State or Notre Dame Penn.
Speaker 2:State or Notre Dame. They deserve the national championship if they get there it's a gauntlet. Having said that, let's take Tennessee and put them against Arizona State, and let's put Tennessee against Boise State.
Speaker 1:I think Tennessee wins both those games I got Tennessee winning both games.
Speaker 2:I think they win both of those games and both of those teams got a bye.
Speaker 1:I mean you could say Arizona State could win, but I think they'd beat Boise State with no issue.
Speaker 2:could say Arizona State could win, but I think they'd beat Boise State with no issue. I think Tennessee would shut down the run a little bit more effectively than even Texas did against Arizona State. Having said all that, as we said earlier, the seeding just has to get fixed.
Speaker 1:Oregon is complaining today. He's got green on now, Chris, Look at his wrist. Yeah, see he's got green right there.
Speaker 3:That's his Taylor Swift bracelets.
Speaker 1:Hey look, he only threw for 90 yards today and won.
Speaker 2:And won.
Speaker 3:Against.
Speaker 2:Georgia. Wow, look, you made me lose my train of thought.
Speaker 3:What was I saying? It was the Taylor.
Speaker 2:Swift bracelet wasn't it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, taylor Swift got him distracted. I know the seating's terrible, the seating's terrible, the seating has to be corrected.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you can't get a bye simply because you win a podunk conference.
Speaker 2:Oregon fans are complaining today about having to face Ohio State. Now there, Oregon got punished by beating Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game. I don't disagree with that, Whereas Penn State's had two cupcakes and Oregon had to sit a week and then face what right now is the best team in the country.
Speaker 1:At least they're playing like it. And look, let me tell you something else that I'm just observing. You're at a disadvantage if you sit an extra week.
Speaker 3:You are 100%. Every team that set got beat Rusty versus Yep, you know.
Speaker 1:I mean it's not been a big advantage for you, Yep.
Speaker 2:So now that they're set and we will not be able to podcast next week. We will on Friday. Friday.
Speaker 3:Okay, yeah, friday's the first game, so we can definitely podcast Thursday's the first game, so we can definitely podcast Thursday's the first game.
Speaker 1:Oh, I thought it was Friday. Whatever, I thought it was Friday.
Speaker 2:Thursday is the Notre Dame-Penn State game, so let's talk about Notre Dame-Penn State. Preview it Yep. What do we think?
Speaker 1:Similarly to Ohio State. And now my concern about Ohio State is going by the wayside a little bit more. James Franklin struggles, winning big games. Yep, he's paid two cupcakes.
Speaker 2:I mean honestly for the football playoffs. It's been two cupcakes.
Speaker 1:I'm not saying Notre Dame's a gauntlet, yep, but Notre Dame is the best team they will have played since they played Ohio State. Yep, yep. I think Notre Dame wins the game. I think it's close. I think Penn State's defense is good. I don't think Notre Dame can shut down their tight end. I think he's probably the best player on the field when they play. I think Notre Dame wins by seven or so.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Now the line as of last night was one. Notre Dame was favored by one, but I like Notre Dame in the game.
Speaker 3:I like to see Notre Dame beat Penn State by 40, because Penn State should not have a team, but this is two teams that you absolutely hate Get off my lawn. Do you want both teams to lose? Is it possible?
Speaker 1:I almost said something that was clearly not appropriate for our time. I was like do you want the stadium to blow up?
Speaker 3:But I didn't think that was appropriate. I want Penn State to get beat by 1,000 because they shouldn't have a team. Okay, well, how about that? But they do.
Speaker 1:What do you think, Mark?
Speaker 2:I think that it's going to be a little closer than people think. But I think Notre Dame has just got that. Look about them, that opening couple of drives against Georgia tonight. They're flying around both offensively and defensively. They look different to me. I think Notre Dame's going to win. I'm going to say it's by 20. I think it's 24 to 20, four point win Wow 24, 20. I like it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, did I say Notre Dame? I did say Notre Dame, right? Yes, you did say Notre Dame. Notre Dame 24-20. I'd be ecstatic for Notre Dame to play for the national championship.
Speaker 2:I think that they will. And now let's talk about the other one, Even though you'll be back on Friday, let's talk about Ohio State, texas.
Speaker 1:How do you handle?
Speaker 2:watching games with with people. Um, I'm okay with it. Uh, I actually do a lot better, because I'm not as nervous when I'm watching so maybe we'll watch the game, yeah we should. We should watch the game friday yeah I've got that great big brand new oled 65 inch tv in there, let's watch the game together. Compensating.
Speaker 1:I'll start out for that. Okay, that's fair. I don't think anybody who's watched these games would say that there's any team playing better than Ohio State right now.
Speaker 3:I agree 100%. They put it all together at the right time.
Speaker 1:I don't think I think Texas is talented, but I think if Ohio State plays the way they've played the last two weeks, that I don't think anybody's beating them. I don't think people always say this sounds terrible, and it probably does, but I'm not sure there's not a couple of NFL teams that could beat them Honestly I mean most of them could, but the low-rank ones I think they'd give them all they wanted. Yeah, I think Ohio State wins the game. I'm surprised. The line I told you guys, the line started out at 6.5. It's been bet down to 6. Yeah, I saw it at 6.5.
Speaker 2:It's been bet down to 6. Yeah, I saw it at 5.5.
Speaker 1:And I suspect it's going to go down a little bit more yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, think about it from this perspective.
Speaker 1:They're playing in Texas too. It's a home game for Texas.
Speaker 2:They'll be way more Texas fans there yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I suspect Ohio State wins. I suspect it to be fairly high scoring. Whatever the over is. I'd be looking at taking that Okay, because are you going to tell me Ohio State's not going to score? Yeah, I don't think it'll be a route.
Speaker 2:I don't either.
Speaker 1:But if it's a route, I think Ohio State is the driver and Texas is getting beat, but I think Ohio State wins the game I think it all comes down to play calling.
Speaker 3:For Ohio State it's 100% play calling and there should be one, and it's throw the ball to number four, and if you do something else, you come sit down, because you get a lineman to throw it to him. I think it's the dumbest thing I've said, but you guys know what I'm saying. It all comes down to play calling. It all comes down to get involved If Ryan Day keeps his mouth shut and lets Chip.
Speaker 1:Kelly do his job, then it'll be fine, ryan Day needs to shut up and keep his job.
Speaker 2:That's what's going to happen. Shut up and keep his job. That's what's going to happen. Shut up and win. And the change in the defense has made a big difference. Yes, 100%. They defensively.
Speaker 1:They looked great yesterday against. Oregon, oregon struggled. They had a couple times on Oregon's when Oregon was on defense. They had no clue where some players were.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was going to send you all a text last night.
Speaker 1:Look at that confetti. It's blue and silver.
Speaker 3:Well, it's definitely not green.
Speaker 1:It's weird. Why is it not? Gold is what I want to know. Look, look at, look at. That's a guy I'm happy to say is my coach.
Speaker 2:That guy is solid.
Speaker 1:He is legit, yep, he's young, he's young and he'll be there forever.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what were you going to send us? So I was going to send you all a tweet last night.
Speaker 1:An X. What do they call it now? They're Xs, they're not tweets.
Speaker 2:It's an X. That's so stupid. It's a tweet. Get off my lawn. I'm trying to find it here real quick. I probably won't be able to.
Speaker 1:Those gold helmets are sweet looking.
Speaker 2:Yeah, by the way, let's talk about the helmet. Last night, oregon's helmet are sweet looking. By the way, let's talk about the helmet. Last night, oregon's helmet Terrible.
Speaker 1:Oregon's entire uniform. Don't put a cartoon duck on your shoulder. Hey, hey hey. What are you trying to sound like? Look, I sent you the uniforms they should have worn. They should have had the Wolverine helmet, that's true. And then they should have said you can't run on us.
Speaker 3:That's true. That was a terrible helmet. Did you notice the?
Speaker 1:How did they get the football printed already so quick that it's got the score on it? Hmm, seriously, that's conspiracy theorist kind of thing.
Speaker 3:Look at that, mark. No, it says Notre Dame IU. Oh yeah, all right. Now what I didn't like about the helmets either, is you notice that the face masks were chrome to match the helmet? I did that was dumb looking, that's a dumb uniform. Oregon just needs to stick to a traditional uniform.
Speaker 1:Penn.
Speaker 3:State doesn't have a team. Get off my lawn, bring back the Power. K boys, the Power.
Speaker 1:K. Now that's my favorite Kentucky helmet the Power K with the stripe, With the stripe up the middle. Did you like the black face mask?
Speaker 3:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:I did.
Speaker 1:So this was sent during the game by Land Grant, Holy Land it's. This Sounds like some Ponzi scheme.
Speaker 2:Ohio State was Land Grant University, so this is it's an Ohio State fan site, but they texted Ohio State ended up with eight sacks. This is when they got their fifth sack.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Fifth, Wow, Five sacks for Ohio State tonight. The Buckeyes had zero sacks against Oregon in October. Amazing what Jim Knowles can do when given full control of the defense. That's what I was saying. That has been said about. You know, as soon as they said to Larry Johnson hey, time for you to sit down. Yeah, let Jim Knowles do what he's supposed to do. The defense has not allowed a touchdown pass until last night.
Speaker 1:Right and it was in desperation time.
Speaker 2:Right. So I think Ohio State wins the game, but I don't think it's going to be an over, I think it's going to be an under. I think Texas is going to hold them down. I think they're going to do everything they can to take Jeremiah Smith out of the game. It's going to be Ohio State's defense that wins it, and it's going to be a close one. I'm saying 24-21 Ohio State.
Speaker 1:The Lions are now out.
Speaker 2:Is that right?
Speaker 1:The DraftKings line has Ohio State favored by six and the over being 53-and-a-half.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's a lot of points.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and Notre Dame is favored by a point-and-a-half and the over is 47-and-a-half. A point-and-a-half Wow.
Speaker 2:Man, I'm all over that. I think they're going to win by, like I said, more than that, I'm going to take the under. On the Ohio State game. Yeah, I think Texas' defense is legit Now. Georgia beat Texas twice, yes, and you know, the second game was much closer, but that first game Georgia just dominated them.
Speaker 2:If Ohio State's defense can play like they did the last two games, they're going to give Texas fits. Yep, I agree You'll be fine. Quinn Ewers is not as good. He's not Archie Manning as Archie Manning. He's just not as good. He's not Archie Manning.
Speaker 3:As Archie Manning. He's just not. Nope, I cannot believe the quarterback is sitting on the bench. I agree.
Speaker 2:And I have heard through the rumor mill that there is a team that is offering Quinn Ewers $4 million next year. I've heard that, and I've heard it's either Notre Dame or Ohio State, and I hope it's not Ohio State because I don't want him, I do not want Quinn Ewers. I'd rather go with one of these young guys that they have, quinn Ewers to me. Just I don't know, I just don't get it. I mean, you guys have watched him more than I have.
Speaker 1:He doesn't look like he's not great. I mean mean he. I mean Think about. Think about the game yesterday. He threw a deep ball and threw it straight in the air.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And it just hung there forever and Arizona State come over and picked it off. Yeah, I mean, that needed to be way more on the line, and you can't have played as many games as what he's played. Issue, yep, yep. I did see something interesting on x, though. It said that texas was the. Texas was the only team to win each of the six big bowl games. Now, that's interesting, oh really, yeah, right, so and I mean it's because I mean a bunch of them's not played in them, right you know?
Speaker 2:and I'll tell you, and I'm gonna veer for my lunatic fringe, uh, ohio state fans that herb street likes to call them as an ohio state graduate your ohio state football fans are a lot like kentucky basketball fans expect a lot, we expect a lot. Having said that, I'm gonna veer and say at this point did you see the seeds, by the way?
Speaker 1:uh, five, six, seven and eight is right. That's what it just showed, which, I tell you. You didn't want to buy the buy you've been off too long.
Speaker 2:You can't be right. Notre Dame was three.
Speaker 1:Notre Dame was not three. Notre Dame played Indiana the first round. All the top four teams got beat Oregon, Georgia, Boise State you are correct, sir. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And Arizona State, so you didn't want to buy it. That is so interesting, yeah.
Speaker 1:As a rational Ohio State fan. So you want to be in the mid pack because it's all 5, 6, 7, 8.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm super thrilled with their season now. Sure, I hated the loss to that team up north, the Oregon loss you could deal with.
Speaker 1:It was in Eugene. It was yeah, you got beat because, honestly, because Will Howard didn't know how to finish the game. Yeah, exactly, I mean he should have dove quicker to save a couple more seconds. What's? Two more yards in the grand scheme of things, Exactly so long story.
Speaker 2:The Michigan loss was bad, it was bad. It was their northern Illinois. Yeah, loss was bad, it was bad it was.
Speaker 3:It was their northern illinois. Yeah, that's what it was. Um, I'm satisfied. Now give him a lifetime contract.
Speaker 2:No, not quite that, it's a contract till next year and then we'll talk about it. I'm gonna talk about that in just a second. I know we're going long, but here's the deal. Um, if ohio state loses to texas I, I will be disappointed that they didn't win the national championship to get that close and all that. But at the same time I feel good.
Speaker 2:Moral victory. I feel good. Here's what I'm going to say, though you know for them to battle back after that loss and play the last two games the way that they played and finally showed everyone. This is what the lunatic fringe was wanting to see all year. This was what you know. We knew that this team was in there somewhere and finally they've.
Speaker 3:They've shown up so ryan day released the beast they've certainly got now talent I mean, there's no question about
Speaker 2:that here's my prediction Win, lose or draw. Moving forward, I think Ryan Day is gone, mic drop moment. And it's not because Ohio State gets rid of him. It's because he takes a job in the NFL, and I think the job that he's going to take is the New England Patriots, which isn't even open yet, but it will be. He's a New England native.
Speaker 1:That's interesting, man, that's interesting. They want an offensive mind they want Chip Cale. No doubt He'll bring.
Speaker 2:Chip with him.
Speaker 3:Chip will be his offensive coordinator. Chip's been there before.
Speaker 1:Would it shock you? That would shock me?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it would shock me. Would it shock you? That would shock me? Yeah, it would shock me. I mean, look, his family's been through the ringer in Columbus, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean, I think the Ohio State football job, I think the Kentucky basketball job. I think it can be as good as it gets Yep, and it can be almost as bad as it gets Yep.
Speaker 3:Look, compare this. Look at a picture of John Calipari when he came to Kentucky. Is it good? Yes, Look compare this Look at a picture of John Calipari when he came to Kentucky. Yeah, look at a picture of Barack Obama when he became president. Yeah, it's the same Right. They look like death four years later, right.
Speaker 2:It's like any chief executive that's in a high-pressure situation.
Speaker 1:He's put in six years there with his family dealing with a lot of stuff and with his beard done Exactly there with his family dealing with a lot of stuff and with his beard done Exactly.
Speaker 3:Oh my God. I mean he's not afraid to do just for men. I can tell you that right now. He oils that thing up dark, every game that's interesting.
Speaker 2:I'm making the wild prediction. There may be no basis of fact in it, but how wild would that be. If that were to be the case, then I think, if that were to be the case, then I think, if that were to happen, I think, if you're ohio state, you promote brian hartline and you go on I know that I got a great picture with hartline.
Speaker 3:Yeah, stand in front of my kentucky tent. That's right giving the that's right so what does that say?
Speaker 1:I mean it's uh, it's gonna be fun I like the college football playoffs, but I mean it's clearly showed you you the seating matters seating matters. I mean it's gotta be fixed. And then I think, with it being five, six, seven, eight, I think it also shows you there's too many teams in it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think what I think, what Ryan day has showed the NFL over the last couple of weeks, is that he can get a team prepared to play in a big game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree with it so we'll see.
Speaker 3:By the way I didn't want to say this, but there are icicles in this room Look.
Speaker 1:I haven't been this cold since the last time we were in Lima. I remember when it was it does get cold in Lima. I don't remember when it was, because I'm not allowed back right now I'm still not allowed back, but it was freezing there and in this room it's freezing.
Speaker 3:I can see it, I can cut glass. Oh, I can tell, I've been checking you out.
Speaker 2:I'm warm. I noticed you took your blanket off.
Speaker 1:Well, honestly, you noticed, I did not.
