Blue By Ninety - Brandon Graham Joins | Michigan All-American, Philadelphia Eagles Legend, Two-Time Super Bowl Champion

Episode Date: November 27, 2025

Chris Wormley and Jordan Strack are joined by Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham to talk Michigan vs. Ohio State.

All right. Welcome into Stadium and Maine. It is episode 13, I believe. It's 13 or 14. I don't know. I can't really keep track. We've got new episodes coming out every week throughout the football season. We are teamed up with Blue by 90. Make sure you share this pod with all your friends. We can keep this thing going. And then you can follow us on Instagram Stadium and Maine pod. We have so much to get to. It is the week. And there's a reason that the recording is coming out just a little bit later this week. And as you can see on the stream, it's because, we have Brandon Graham joining us, a Michigan legend. We will get to him in just a little bit. So we had to work with his schedule, but we are at it, and we are going to get going on this thing. Chris Wormley, I'm going to start with the shirt.

You had that custom made or what? No, man, they had it on Amazon. Oh, okay. 20 bucks, came in two days, and I figured it was a perfect time to pull it out. All right. No, listen, I love it. I, is that like your, I mean, obviously everybody will always associate you with that play when J.T was obviously very short on that fourth down call. Is that like your, your Ohio State Michigan memory that will be ingrained in you forever?

I mean, unfortunately, yeah. I mean, it's, yeah, I think it's maybe a little bit of self-torture, like continuously reminding myself about that, that play, that game. That was probably one of the funest games I ever played in until that last play. It was ups and downs and everything that was at stake at that time. You know, I think we were three and they were two. And it was for the, you know, to go to the playoffs for us for the first time and go to the Big Ten championship in, you know, 12 years. So it was, there was a lot right now. LeBron James was in the building.

I remember him being on the sidelines with some of the Cavs players. My, you know, current teammates or not current teammates, but Kim Hayward was on the sidelines. him talking about that when I was playing for the Steelers. So it was, there was a lot of high profile people there. And it was a huge game for both programs. And, yeah, it's one of those things that people ask about. People, you know, every time I see an Ohio State player, I ask them about it, that was there.

And it's one of those things that will live with me forever. Like I said, it's a little bit of self-torture putting the shirt on. Yeah, no, for sure. I get it. And for context for people that maybe don't know, Worm was the guy on the tackle. I mean, you were, I mean, you were literally the guy that had J.T. Barrett wrapped up. And you were, you were the guy that was in on that tackle.

So if anybody had a good look at it, probably not. I mean, listen, you're not going to give, you can't give like a fair, honest opinion on this thing to be, let's be honest. Yeah, but like you had as good of you as anybody on that thing. Yeah, it was, but that was like one of the more heartbreaking. potential ways to lose that game. I mean, it was, it was horrible. Yeah, I mean, there was a lot of things that happened before that game, you know, before that play, there was, you know,

we had to pick six and we fumbled on the, you know, on the goal line and another interception and us as a defense didn't stop them when we needed to, you know, a few series before that. So there was a lot of things that were building up that we could have ended the game a lot sooner, and we didn't. And, you know, you look back nine years and it should have what it coulda. But now, you know, the boys, are a four-game win streak.

They haven't beaten the Wolverines, and I don't know, whatever the ticker says now, but a couple thousand days, which is always fun. So, yeah, it's on the up and up for the Wolverines these last four years. It's like 2,880-something days, maybe, I think, is since the last time Ohio State beat Michigan.

So, listen, we have a ton to get to tonight. We're going to touch on the Maryland game very quickly. To be perfectly honest, like, I get it. nobody gives a shit about the Maryland game anymore. Like, there are so many bigger things. That's why, like, when I sent you the rundown, you can see, like, normally, you know, I give you the rundown and there's all this stuff about the last game,

it, like, literally just doesn't matter, to be honest with you. All that matters is this game because the season's riding on this game. You know, there's everything that they want is right there, and it's all going to come down to, you know, Saturday at noon at the big house. No question. I called it a no bullshit win against Maryland. I think that was one of those. we'd been waiting for.

And it felt it felt like eerily similar to last year. The game before Ohio State against Northwestern Michigan came out and absolutely drilled them. And you know, there's that fear of potentially overlooking a team before you play Ohio State.

There was none of that with Michigan. I thought they came out and played a really good game. Bryson Cousdell was terrific. I mean, 20 carries 100 yards, three touchdowns for a two-star walk-on. I mean, it was a very impressed. I thought a very impressive win just because of everything that was at stake.

Not that Maryland's great or anything. Just it was a good win because of everything that was at stake. Yeah, I mean, the performance they had two weeks ago against Northwestern was, you know, we talked about it unacceptable. And I know that they wanted to come out and prove to people that they could, you know, beat up on a lesser opponent. And they did that against Maryland. Would have loved to see Zavada get, you know, make that kick.

I got a lot of crap this week for, you know, even questioning it should he be benched? But I think for the rest of the team, they played great. Cusdell impressed me a lot. It was fun to watch him run all over the place. I get a lot of credit to that offensive line and Grant Newsom, the O'Line coach, because whoever seemed to be back there as a runnyback, they seem to have 100-yard performances whenever they touch the ball. It's been fun to watch.

Yeah, I mean, right now, let's be honest, the offensive line is mashing. And that is the thing that everybody, I think, we're looking forward to coming into this week as well. So let's start to get into it. Let's start looking at this thing. I think the good news is it looks like Jordan Marshall is going to be able to play. As good as Bryce and Cousdell was, it looks like Jordan Marshall is going to be able to play.

When you're going from Jordan Marshall to Bryson Cousdell and to Bryce and Cousdell and to Bryce and Cuzzle and Jasper Parker. He's an Ohio guy. He's a guy who runs really, really sucks. That's a good thing for Michigan to have a guy like that back there. So I think getting him back, Max Bredeson

is, I mean, he is the epitome of a Michigan man. And it absolutely broke my heart to see him on crutches the other day. But you know that dude is going to try everything he possibly can. it's going to be like a Chad Hennie situation where he was like, listen, give me a shot before the game and like just find a way like I'm playing. It feels like Max Bredesen.

If anybody can play through something like that, it's got to be him, right? Yeah, I mean, he's like you said, he's a Michigan man through and through. He's going to want to leave his mark as a senior beating Ohio State, being on that field and doing everything that he can to be healthy for that for that game on Saturday. I know he's probably in the training room right now. I know those trainers are probably staying late afterwards trying to make sure that he is healthy, whatever his injury is. He's ready to lay it out on the field, not just for himself, but for those teammates that he's played with these last four years

and to get another signature win at Michigan. Speaking of playing hurt, you are playing hurt tonight, Worm, and we're proud of you for muslin through this thing. So if anybody's wondering why Worm doesn't sound great tonight, he's playing hurt tonight. And he's doing that for us, and we appreciate that. Because listen, when it comes to the game, you just got to find a way, right? Listen, you know, those guys, you know, pain and injuries and all that are real.

But, yeah, I've been sick, man. You know, my daughter came home a couple, you know, about a week ago sick, and it just kind of trickled down. And I'm fighting through it, but I think I'm on the up and up now. It's just the voice and kind of, you know, the sore throat and all that stuff. But it's, I'm managing. But it was also your first week back in an NFL locker room in a while. And how are you holding up physically?

That's what I want to know after about a week back in an NFL locker room with the Indianapolis Colts. How are you handling things? How are you holding up? Yeah, I mean, that first day is pads on Wednesday. So later that night was pretty sore getting out of the out of the couch, wake up the next morning, feeling like crap, you know, and then I'm also sick on top of it. But it was just so fun.

It was just so cool to get back with the guys, you know, and you're talking shit. You're talking trash. You're game planning. and you're watching film, you're doing all the stuff that like, you know, these last 10, 11 months, I really missed. And you don't really understand it until you're away for it for so long. And then it's like, oh, you get the call, you go work out, you drive to India and now you're practicing. So it's been a fun week.

And I'm just excited to continue with these boys this next, you know, month and a half a ball. And maybe we'll be playing the Eagles and the Super Bowl here in about two and a half months. Absolutely. You know what? That's a perfect segue. And I think if anybody can understand what you're doing. going through it's brandon graham who we're going to bring on right now uh bg so good to have you on we appreciate you doing this can you kind of understand what worm is going through having uh decided

to retire and then oh yeah you came back and threw on the pads again can you kind of understand what he's going through right now his first week back man i felt you so much on that one boy because that first week oh my goodness and and for me this was my first time coming off you know where i just jump into the season where i don't get training camp i've been training but it ain't nothing like that football training not even close it's funny because you put yourself through what you know borrowers and do all that then it's like yeah he got you a little bit but man

it ain't nothing like hitting people and striking Dan Moses can put me through all the running and the hypertrophy and the bikes and all that but nothing nothing comes close to strapping it up and just running into a double team I'll tell you it to a double team and then got to do it again then you're talking trans and like you said, and then being able to be in condition for that. Yeah, it's another level.

I love it. I love it. All right. Brandon Graham, a Michigan legend joining us, and it's Ohio State Week. It is the week. I'm going to get it out of the way, and I just have to mention it. You weren't able to beat Ohio State. How much does that still sit with you after all these years?

Well, I'm 4-0 now, man. we four game four game win street you know we win we all win but you know what uh not being able to do it was in two close games where we was number two number one that was when troy smith was there uh then uh crable crable got a pass they they caught a late uh late hit on uh the quarterback i'll never forget it down but man 42 39 man that was a heck of a game boy we was we was in there that was my freshman year and i only played three snaps and that one but I was just learning from a lot of people like Lamar Woodley and them and you know it was cool to see like all them boys just fight to the end and we you know now it would have been the

playoff but we ended up going to the Rose Bowl we lost the last two games Ohio State and then to USC and you know they end up losing I think to Florida that year Ohio State I want to say yep they lost to Florida that year but yeah man it was just it was some good times and then The one, the next year, we lost 2110, I think. That's what it was, or 14 to 7 the next year. And then after that, Rich, Chip Kelly, not, no, Richard Rodriguez, I'm sorry. Rich Rodriguez was a little rough. It was a little rough.

You were right in the midst of that. You went from a guy who was brought in under Lloyd Carr and you went and you were in the midst of the Rich Rod era for a couple years. What was that transition like after being at Michigan for a couple years and having him come in you know what's funny my my my pro career like mimic the same way almost because all right so i had i had a legendary coach with coach car then you get a young and up and coming with rich Rodriguez because he's doing what he doing with uh because he just brought that younger style he just he just he just i mean he just was hip to a lot of stuff and you know he changed michigan traditions a little bit and he was messing with all that that's why he only lasted three

years because he was trying to change too much but when i got to the league I had a legendary coach with Andy Reid, then we go to Chip Kelly, but, you know, that was like a younger version, but then Doug come, and then we won the championship, you know, and Doug was like a younger, younger, uh, coach Reed because he came up, came up under him. So it's kind of cool, just how everything kind of transpired. But yeah, Chip, I mean, Rich Rob, he was then over his head with Dowell, man, when he came here, because he was trying to change a lot of stuff. And they was, they was letting them do some stuff, but some stuff, it was like, we got it now. You know, how we got the all blue and the change of the uniform and stuff like that yeah like that's what he wanted to do and they weren't feeling that at first and um you know i remember just people just talking about like he ain't going to last long man he's trying to do all this stuff this is a traditional school and it's like if you if you if you if you a michigan man you you know what that's all about and he really wasn't a michigan man for real he was he should have stayed where he was at not in the bad way though because i like you're good you're good you're probably good

That's it. But you know what I mean. Yeah. You're good. Go ahead. I want to go back to your decision to come back out of retirement. So I'm sitting in one of these lecture halls at Michigan and at MSBC. Oh, yeah. Let's go. Which is Michigan Sport Business Conference, like a month and a half ago or whatever. It's you, C.C. Sabatier, Duncan Robinson, and Mike Tanenbaum. And you guys are on this panel talking about, you know, private equity and venture capital. and just investing in the sports world and someone asked you like what do you like about being retired like oh man I got all this time with my family and I got the head out and all this stuff and then literally like not even 36 hours later I see Adam Shepard like Brandon Graham is

talking about coming back to the Eagles and I'm like yeah I said listening to dogey talk about you know life after football and he's over here you know try to play again so how the hell does that happen I know it was but maybe you know a month or so probably beforehand But how does that happen? Because you were talking about, you know, more time with the family and all this fun stuff. Oh, yeah. You know what, man, going out, like when I went out, we win the Super Bowl. It was so busy this offseason and it was fun, man.

And I really was dealing with it. I was like, okay, I'm done. You know, I'm doing all these different things. You know, winning the Super Bowl just prolong the inevitable of me having to deal with, okay, the lights are off now. It's like football. You got to watch. hit now it's not like now you got to do some media stuff you're doing your podcast it's like you

got to get used to loving this new journey that you on and all this stuff but when one um he called me in august right before the first game and was like hey man you know if you uh if you want to come back it's a spot for you because um you know we miss you out here pretty much and so I'm like you know what I'm like all right man look I'm a I'm a I'm a I'm going to really work out. I've been working out, but I'm going to really workout because it wasn't like I wasn't not coming to the facility. I was still up there.

They gave me a locker or whatever in the staff locker room, and it was cool. Just kind of, I call it my country club, had my locker, got my cold still working, going to eat that good food and, you know, getting a workout in. But that's what I was doing, just working out. People told me to kind of just hang around just to see because of how he does that. But I ain't expect them to, you know, do it for real because it got close. to the season training camp went by i was just like man he he he ain't calling me it's all good i can't wait to the first season first game come and then we're gonna uh then we gonna do it but he called me that

week of the cowboy's first game that thursday night uh and then uh we ended up talking i was like man give me like two and a half months and before the before the by week i come i we can talk then and then i prayed about it the weeks go by i'm working out up there we're working and working and, you know, working out at my place and doing little stuff, trying to make sure I'm right. And then Zadarius, he just retired. And, man, he had my locker, too. He had my old locker that I had for a while. Man, and it was just like, like, man, is this a sign?

You know what I'm saying? It's like, man, because I had told him that, like, hey, man, we're going to play. We're going to play together. You know what I'm saying? I'm thinking about it. He was like, for real, all that. And so the next question was for me was like, man, if I come back, if I do come back, how would I, like, would he want to change lockers with me, get my locker back?

You know, and, man, when he abruptly just retired like that, I was like, wow. I was like, man, I was like, okay, God, I feel like that's what he was leaving me to do. And, man, it was just like a match made because I did want to come back. It felt good. He, he, I didn't want to leave in the first place. They just, I just wasn't going nowhere else. And so he told me to retire, go out. on top and I'm like okay cool and but when I got that car it was something that um that I

definitely wanted to do but I wanted to make sure I didn't I didn't want to look bad going out there you know going you know how it is like right now coming off the streets you got to get your training camp your little couple couple months well like a month a month for real like a couple weeks for real where you feel like yourself and so that's where I'm at right now I feel like I've been four weeks with three weeks in I feel like now I'm getting my feet under me for real and and i was just yeah just grinding grinding that's that's real the journey we're back on the journey baby because you don't know where what's going to happen i i love to meet you there boy that'd be cool because you want a good team boy with them coach too you know what i'm saying

i like Shane Shane was with us uh when we lost in 22 that's true yeah yeah and then he ended up he ended up coming um coming there and i mean he's now he was he was great play caller making Danny dime's look real good right now. Then that boy, J.T. Oh, my goodness. I know you see it first hand. That's crazy. Yes, yes.

It's fun. It's fun, man. That's how I felt with Sequin last year. It's the same thing. Even this year, we're going to figure it out. You know, it's just part of the journey. Mm-hmm. I love that I'm just getting to say over here and listen to this.

This is good stuff. I'm going to, I want to bring you back to this Michigan, Ohio State thing. It was a few weeks ago. You were on the sideline in the. big house just chilling watching football how much michigan football have you been able to watch over the last year or so well you know what i've been watching i watch every week i'm always day before friday i'm having all my michigan gear saturday that morning have my michigan gear you know it's just it's it don't stop you always checking in on them i'm loving this though this

what i'm loving like which i was talking about earlier i'm loving how they played against maryland because i thought that was going to be like that was going to show me a little bit before you get to the Ohio State game, like how they play certain people not trying to look past them. But I felt like they came out there and played good and they're getting better. Getting better every week.

That running game is crazy, man. You see them backs, it don't matter who back there. They figuring it out. I mean, man, they got that run game going good. And this is what I said. Like, we could control the game with our run game and run on the boys and then make some critical errors on defense. because I feel like defense, we dial up some good blisses.

We hold up in the back end. Man, we get some stops. And then you get the boys on offense rolling, man. I feel like we can win a close one. We can definitely win in a close one. I'm right with you. I'm going to ask you guys, I'm going to ask both you guys this. So with this four game winning streak Michigan has,

is there something to having a mental edge over Ohio State? Like, is there something to that where if you're in a game late and Ohio State starts to think, uh-oh, like, they might get us again. Is there something to that, like, as a player? Ooh, man. Yeah, it is. Because even for the four years that I lost, I thought, man, man, if we, oh, man, if they, oh, here we go again.

Like, you know, you would start saying them little words and they start getting your head, and you don't want that. You really don't want to have that negativity, you know, popping up in your head because you got to fight against that because this ain't last year, but I know if y'all, you know how it is, it's like, dang, and I know last year they didn't think that they was going to lose straight up because I ain't going to lie. I was like, man, I don't know, and I was scared.

I was scared last year. I'm a little scared this year, but I feel that we're getting better every week, and I love how Sharon just having these boys right, you know, and I think they have a good game plan going in with a good coordinator and wink and wink you know coming from the pros i think he had don loved some good stuff and they've been waiting on this game so they're throwing the whole kitchen sink at him warren what do you think yeah i mean even i remember i mean even like these last four years like Ohio state they were in it the whole all four games they were in it and then there was just something that you know the last

that fourth quarter where you know diamond edwards breaks a brics or you know they throw a picture rod more to steal the game there was all those things that like just the house state like did they just made one mistake and it wasn't like they played a bad game they just made you know one critical mistake at the end of the game and I go back to when when I played and like there were times where like we would be in the game and we were just like waiting to make a mistake like I was just waiting like okay is our offense going to make a mistake are we on defense going like when is this mistake going to come because it it almost seemed like too good to be true that we were like competing with Ohio State yeah in reality it's like you know you put your shoes

on that's the kind of the same thing that all these coaches says you put your shoes on the same way you put your pads on the same way it's not like we were scared but like at the same time when you you know you're going on an eight nine game losing streak to your to your biggest rival it's like okay here we go again we're you know something's going to happen yeah that's true that it's a bad place that's a bad place to be you know like in their case they they got to get some gold they're trying to get gold pants and in our case we're trying to win a division we're trying to make sure because at the time it wasn't no two sides it was just one side and it always came down to us at the end of the day it was always that and yeah man it always got in our head

got in mind for sure when you're looking at the score you're like oh come on y'all come on i know exactly what you're talking about on like the mistakes because we i mean we we we got blew out my third year when richard i was there and we was down 14 to 7 the first half and then we end up losing and 40-something, 42, whatever it was. I think we scored one more time, but that was it, 14. And it was just like, dang. And then even in the one that we lost my senior year, we lost 21 to 10, we was in it for a minute,

and they just seemed to make the play on third down or fourth down because they went forward and got a, they did like a screen, a middle screen with the running back, man. It was, I was like, I just couldn't believe how the ball just went right over our heads. We're chasing at the Terrell prior and he threw it, threw it right over our heads and a middle screen, man, running back screen and just ran right in. I was like, wow, I'm fourth down.

So, yes, it's going to be in their mind. They're talking about it right now on all this stuff that went down. And so hopefully we can start fast so that they can start down and they sell. Yeah, I mean, you look at it and you think there's not a single person in the Ohio State locker room that has ever beat Michigan. And there's not a single person in the Michigan locker room that has ever lost. to Ohio state. So, I mean, is there some sort of like mental thing that you would have to think so? So, yeah, you're hoping that Michigan can come out and jump out to an early lead.

I want to ask you, BG, what was your first, like, introduction to the Michigan, Ohio State rivalry? Obviously, you knew about it growing up and stuff, but like actually getting into it. What was your first, like, kind of memories of that game? You know what? The night before, really, the week of you, you, is that week. everybody getting all hype but that night before when you got all these people that come in for the team meeting uh the the highlight video where you got that's the longest highlight video of the other year right here because they're going over all the history they made a good one where you just feel it and you can hear from the music they play to all this stuff uh so i think my first year i got introduced that night

before at the team meeting it was just like oh yeah it's real because uh we got all these former guys that's in here. Then we got this big old highlight tape that, you know, that you ain't, this is my freshman year. So I don't really, this is my first time really like experiencing all that because you're getting on the schedule. We never did that in high school. It was just more when I got to college, we started getting on that type of schedule and team meeting that right before the game before we go to bed. We're watching the highlight tape if we win, you know, and it's always the previous game that we played. But this one was just got his own. It don't matter what you play before them and none of them highlights up is more about how state

Michigan and what you guys have done what's the what's the track record between the two going back to buddy um you know all them all them boys the old school days with uh shimbeckler and all that up to now and man i can i know it's still the same way warren what was your your first memories and like your first time stepping on the field in one of those games yeah i mean just when you come up that tunnel I mean, that's, when you come out into the locker room and you're both right there and there's, I mean, there's a video out there and it's like Jake Ryan is talking a bunch of crap and, you know, you got to hold everybody back. And I mean, you know, we had a brawl, I think in 2013 or 14 and a bunch of people got ejected on both sides. So like, that's, that's what I remember is like just the hostility and like, you know, I'm from Ohio. So like, I've known about this rivalry my whole life. And but not until you put the pads on. You're actually a part of it on either side of you. I think you really get an idea of, like, what that is about because it's people's, I mean, you know, legacies and livelihoods and whether you get a ring or not, you know, it's like there's

so much that rides on that game for so many years and for so many people that it's just, it's one of those things that, I don't know, like, you got to, you got to be a part of it. And it sucks. And I think about it a lot. That's why I'm wearing this damn t-shirt that I never, that I never beat Ohio State. And he too. That'll stick with me, man. That shit hurts.

You talk about the hostility. BG, you're like maybe the greatest shit talker of all time. I think people will probably give you at least, you're at least like on the Mount Rushmore of guys that chirped during a game. We've all seen like the mic'd ups and things like that. Where does that come from? Like where did you, when did that start for you? You know what?

I probably just had to say my dad, because he still talks stuff, you know, even with me, even with me being on the field, because I remember when I retired, he was just like, hey, man, like, who we're going to talk stuff now to? I'm like, hey, I'm going to talk stuff on that golf, on that golf course. It's like, you better get with me because I'm about to get my shot together and go out there and start talking stuff. But, yeah, we talked about that. I think it's more from my dad because he played basketball.

That was his thing, and he went to college playing basketball on the sky. scholarship. And yeah, he just didn't go to the pros because he just was offered to, you know, everything else. But yeah, it was cool to know that that's where it's where it comes from because it just happened naturally for me coming out and it just started to become a thing as I continue to grow. But it was just, I think it was, I know it started with my dad, especially on how he is even still to this day. And I just kind of picked it up. How much of it is just trying to get under somebody else? else's skin and like or how much of it is like personal stuff like how much how much are you just

trying to get to people's head you know what I ain't trying to have nobody looking for me after the game for real it's more of on the field but um I mean sometimes you get a little little personal if you know somebody for real not even like trying to throw them out there or nothing like that but it's just like yeah like you know I know you saw for it you know I see how you work out like you ain't you ain't trying to come in like you just little stuff little stuff that you say of me worm out there, and I see worm don't really be working out like that, but it's like, man, you ain't even in shape, boy, you ain't ready for me, you know, or that type of stuff. You know, it's just, you know, stuff that come to your head.

I remember, you know, one of the guys that was his name, Donald Penn, we was just talking about this one, the Popeye's chicken sandwiches was coming out at the time, and everybody was going crazy, and the lines was long, and I was like, yeah, I'm about to whoop your butt, because I know you've been eating on them Popeye's chicken sandwiches, and I know you're slow. You know, just like a little fun stuff, you know, but I ain't looking for, it ain't nothing really crazy that I'm going after. It's just more of a distraction because if you worry about me, you ain't going to worry about every little thing that you got to do the details.

I got a personal story of BG, not so much trash talking about it. This was 2020. We're playing the Eagles. I'm on the Steelers. And we're getting our ass kick. It's like, I think we lost the game like 38 to 3. oh yeah oh and uh we're you know we finally drive we're driving whoever we're about to kick a field goal and i'm on field goal protection and as a de lineman like i'm not really into like the cadences and all

that stuff so i'm lining up bg's over there we're getting kicked we're getting our butts kick i get down to my stance and bg starts barking he's like oh ro ro ro ro ro right yeah and i and i jumped yeah and i jump and i'm like you know i'm trying not get no penalties and nothing and i've jumped so yeah the rough the rough comes over and he's like i don't know what the i don't know what the right call is but bg got the got the got the penalty because he was yeah i did i did because i'm not supposed to i'm not supposed to make any like huts or like no noise uh for they cadence yeah but they got me though i thought it was me and i'm like man there's no way i'm about to get like we're already getting i'm about to get destroyed in

this meeting on monday oh yeah bg got i was like oh thank god to say something back to him but like he did he did right after two i'm about to say boy because he really didn't know it first but then when he found out he's like yeah yeah uh i know that's pressure though boy trust me i man when um this was a quick story too like when i really started taking um special team serious because when i first got to the league the first four years or three years i didn't play uh at all other than field go block and then chip kelly come and he made me play all four so what you saying right there i didn't take it as serious and i was just like man i can't believe they got me playing these special teams they want me to do this and that and so i end up uh getting a

punt block and boy when i tell you that next day in the team meeting room i got cussed out and boy i got i got scared straight after that one because i ain't never want to get embarrassed like i did um you know because i i didn't i really didn't know who my man was i just was just trying to block whoever kind of came in my area. And, boy, they did this nice little twist game. And we was getting blue out already by Denver, out in Denver. And, man, this one, Tristan Holiday was trending Hollywood, the holiday, or I think it was Tristan. But, yeah, either way he did this, he came and, you know, ran a kickback on us.

And then we get the punt block and, oh, boy, scooping the score to end the game. And they was already up 40-something to 14. It was just, it was crazy. Yep. So, yeah, I know what you're saying. Yeah, huh? Made you say that playbook a little better. Oh, yeah. Hey, man, it changed my career for real because I'm like, you know, I wanted to be, at the time, Tip Kelly wasn't really for me because of my size.

And he wanted, like, Dionne Jordan and all of them, like, because they was like six, five and up. He was like big people beat up little people. That was his whole little thing. And so I know for me, I'm like, man. I don't want to play these special teams. I want to play defense or whatever. And I remember Jason Peters and, you know, Trent Cole used to be like, look, man, you're getting on the field. Like, you need to appreciate just that and all that and just kind of talking me straight.

And I started taking special team series. And, man, when on kickoff, I used to have that chip on my shoulder. Like, somebody got to pay for this. And I'm running down, busting the weds. And it just turned into a thing where people, after the game, when somebody came up to me, like, hey, man, my coach said, hey, man, we got a block 50. 55, the wedge buster and all this little stuff. And when they, oh, boy, they fed my ego a little bit.

And it was just like, oh, for real? Y'all was thinking about me? Okay. And every week it became like a thing where everybody just looking at me on kickoff. And it was just fun, man. And that's why I tell people now, it's like, look, you might not, you might get to the league and it might not look exactly like you thought it would look in your dreams, but, man, you hear.

And so that's what it gave me a reality check. And I was so thankful for the moments. that I did because it still kept that chip on my shoulder to even not like I know that they asked me to come back and I'm thankful but when I'm out there I want to I want to perform I want to be able to help the guys and serve and you know help them get to their next level and for me man I try not to take these moments for granted even if it don't look like how you think it should look what thought it should look because of what you dreamed about it's like man we're here I'm thankful to be on this journey I know what it feel like to be out of it now and know like

man I do love this chaos it's chaos this our our our league is chaos and it's like we problem solvers and we're trying to figure it out and it's and that's this what we do and so yeah man um you thankful for these moments that you do go through because now looking back on it is something that really propelled me with my mentality now to never take things for granted uh and that's why I feel like stuff happened to me early on where I got hurt early in my career because I wasn't really taking it as, as, I'll just say, as serious as I do now with my regimen and how I prepare and all that stuff now. It really helped me.

I want to ask you, let me, listen, there's going to be a day where football is going to be officially done. Oh, yeah. I know. It's coming. Father time is undefeated. For real. I can see you now.

Are you going to go do TV? Are you going to get into coaching? What are you going to do? Like, you have to do something. one of those two, right? Yeah, well, I was doing, you know, good morning football and then I'm doing my podcast. I like the podcast because it's once a week. I get to spend a lot of time with my family for real. Like everything I was saying, for real, that's what I was doing. I'm still enjoying it. But when they called me back in August, I was working out. And I just couldn't,

I couldn't wait to finally get up off of that information because everybody kept asking, well, how was, how was retirement? It's like, only if you knew, I'm about to sign tomorrow. Like when I was at that Michigan-Washington game, I knew all I kept hearing it. Man, you're looking great in retirement, man, all this little stuff. And I'm like, man, I signed tomorrow. Y'all going to know. And sure enough, on that Sunday morning, Adam Schaeffner, he leaked it. He leaked it because we were supposed to do it on Monday.

But he wanted he got to be the first guy. And I know the team did it. You know what I'm saying? That's what they did. He's always got to be for. Is coaching something you even want to consider? Or is it going to be the TV thing, right? Well, the coaching could come later on right now.

I just got the young kids. I want to be there because it's a real hard. It's a harder job if you got a family, you know, if your kids is not. It's no joke, man. And it depends on your head coach. It depends on because I've seen it where some head coaches, like Bruce Ariens, he used to be, he used to look down on you if you wasn't at your kids stuff. It's like, look, look, did your work in, but go to that game.

Go this. Some coaches, you know, I'm not saying that it's a good or bad thing. That's just in their heart. That's what they feel they can stand on. Some people will be like, hey, they're going to be all right. They're seeing dad work and they're doing this and they want to instilling them certain things. I don't knock none of that, but I'm going to be here with my family. I know we was just looking back at old videos and just like, dang, how much my baby girl and baby boy have grown because that little voice that, you know, it ain't so little no more. It's all these different conversations now you have with baby. girl and the things they're asking you the questions it's like dang boy when stuff was so real innocent and simple uh you don't you i don't want to miss that so i'm still not trying to miss that because i got a nine and six year old and so that will come later on if it did uh when they when they get a little older i i get it you and i are about the same age i've got a 14 year daughter and it's like listen man when they tell you it goes fast it goes fast like he just called you 40 he just called you Jordan's 40 years old

BG's not 40 years I said we're about the same age we're about the same we're on the way though I'll be 38 April April for sure man but I feel you I ain't trying to hit it yet

I heard 40s you can definitely see the difference and I can already kind of see a little bit of difference at 37 it is no joke all right I'll ask you about this speaking of ages

so Bryce Underwood comes in as an 18-year-old kid to Michigan this year, he has all the pressure in the world on him. He's thrown a ton of money. What would you have done as an 18-year-old with that much money? Oh, my goodness, man. I'm probably, I ain't going to say I wouldn't be in the league, but I probably would have probably had to answer to some of the stuff

that at the time when I came in, answer to some of the stuff in those interviews, the pre-draft interviews of, well, why did you do this? or why was you this because really all it is man that money do attract other people and i'm glad that i didn't go through that early on because people already felt we was already doing good at michigan because we was at michigan but to know that you getting paid how they getting paid now man you got to really had to have good buffers around you uh to where everybody don't get that access to you because everybody now going to come with them stories and come with them side stories

And I probably would have gave a little bit more than I should away early on. That's what I do like about it, where people can learn early on before they actually get to the NFL and get the real, real bag. You know, you got a good bag to start you off. But if you blow through that, even though you, I mean, you know, and you got you a good talent, it's like at least, all right, I get another chance because I got drafted. And now I know who is who. And now I know who I need to be around, who I don't need to be around.

And so I hope for the sake that they paying their taxes learning as they go because it's a lot of stuff that you don't know when that tax bill come hit you and you ain't got that money because you've been just spending and you ain't, it's like I hope you're learning as you go too and got good financial people around you that's going to give you sound advice because that's the only thing that I got blessed in my senior year to have a guy that's still my best friend to this day. He worked out the business school's name. Danny Selman. He helped me a whole lot learn how to get set up as like how my owner is set up. You know, having money to be able to, you know, have later on for my kids and then being able to have my will and all that stuff done, making sure like if something did happen, this is who, this is who is beneficiary and all that stuff. And this is the person who got power of attorney over this and all that stuff. You know, it's, it's a whole thing, man. So I hope they learning as they go because I know I would have, man, that boy, hey, they having fun up there.

I could just say that because I went up there for that watch the game and then to go hang out afterwards, man, they're doing it. They're having a good time. It sounds like you need to be an agent advising these young boys how to do it right because you just laid out the perfect plan, you know? Man, you know what? It's crazy because I feel like, honestly, like me being back, that's all, even these last five years, that's all I try to do, especially if I see a bunch of people that got a bunch

of family around. I want you to have your family around, but I hope that you're saying more a nose than yes is because most of the time, like now, I don't have as much family around because of the nose. Like, you realize because some people just, like, they figure, oh, it's a free ride. He always giving, he always doing this until I say, no, now they're mad at me because they think I'm changing or they say oh his wife got him changing it's like no I'm just grown I've been new this about you I just got tired of

you know I got tired of feeling like that I got tired of feeling guilty of something that I I mean we work hard we work hard for what we doing and I've seen a lot of guys give it all the way and them saying people ain't as comforting either they're talking about you they're going off so

I'd rather somebody talk about me with money that I could leave for my family and be set up nicely than to just be all everybody all happy and thinking you thinking they're your friend and even though they family and you know sometimes it's just it's just all it's conditional other than unconditional you know what I'm saying and you could create a monster too uh because I definitely did that early on with some people and and it was kind of hard to kind of switch it up in the beginning but now man I got boundaries you need boundaries you need you need to have your own boundaries for your family. You need to protect them at all costs. And that's what you can blame

everything on, unless, you know, I'm field led to help you. It's such a good, it's such a good timing because there's actually an article out at Fox Sports.com today about Bryce Underwood and his connection with all the NIL stuff and how everybody at the University of Michigan has made sure he is set up perfectly and kind of his temperament and all those things. And, and, And when you go to a place like the University of Michigan, you have a connection to literally every private sector you want to go to. It doesn't matter what you want. There is something at the University of Michigan or a connection that somebody is going to be able to help you.

So if people get time, go check out this article at Fox Sports.com today. It was a really good one about Bryce, his family, his temperament, all those kind of things because, I mean, listen, when you're 18 and you have everybody wanting a piece of you, it's hard. And then, oh, yeah, by the way, you still have to go play quarterback at the University of Michigan and have all the pressure that goes along with that. So how do you think he's handled it from my football perspective?

When you watch him, how good can this kid be? I really feel like he's putting the work in. I mean, just going back for that little bit on what I did see, it's like, man, that boy, they work. And then as a team, they do a lot of stuff by themselves where the coaches, like I remember I was in the, where was I, I was in the stadium and you see them going over, like they got the jumble trying on,

and they're going over the plays of what just happened, and then they're running through, like, quick plays, like, you know, just like a five to ten play drive. It's really a five-play drive. And, you know, they're going down, like, too many situations, and they're doing this on their own with our coaches on the field. And it's something that, like, what's the thing that let them run as a team? It's like, look, y'all know what y'all need to get done?

This is what it is. Like, when y'all done, you know, close up pretty much. And break it down, and then y'all go get dressed and go do whatever it is, y'all got to do. But he's treating them like men, man, and I love that Bryce is leading the charge. And I think he's done a great job just from what I saw. And I know that he's putting in the extra work because, I mean, obviously, I know this league. If you're getting paid that much money, they're definitely going to be hitting your phone.

Come on, y'all, come on. They're going to give you the extra bump to if he's not already self, you know, motivated. It's like somebody around you going to give you the extra bump. Hey, you need to be doing this. This is what the great is doing. If you want to be great, you know, and I think Michigan has that. there so far so good man i think he's gotten better every week and got more comfortable and i hope that uh it applies on saturday all right worm you had anything else for for bg before we let him go

i'm going to get it i'm going to get a prediction uh before you let you let you let you got anything else beach i i feel like i asked you this after your first super bowl but like what's what's that like what's that like you know what man it feels it feels it feels great great because I know what it feels like to lose one. But the first one when we won, man, that confetti, one thing I'll tell you, boy, when you win, that confetti come right out in that losing team. They barely even can get off the, they even get off the field before they, and that's the worst feeling, boy, because when we lost to the Chiefs, oh, my goodness.

Oh, man. So this time around the way we beat the Chiefs, especially because as a D-Liaman, you know how it is, having traction. And that year, we had five people with double-digit sacks that year, and we was out there killing. But that Arizona turf or that grass field they had fed us, it was no good, man. So that one stunned. But, man, I'm telling you, it's nothing like it, man.

Everything that you ever wanted and dreamed about, like, dang, it's in this moment. And you just try to relish in it. man the biggest party is in that locker room right after the game it's like man it's like a party like man that's what we we was just talking about this other day just like dang if i could get if we can get back to that that locker room party boy because everything else was cool after the fact too but it wasn't nothing like that after after party because some of your family might sneak in all the people sneaking in to the to the party and man we smoking cigars drinking and And the only reason we left out is because everybody didn't drunk up everything that we had in there.

And it was like, it's time to go. But, man, it's a party. It's really a party. We had a great time. If you did get there and lose it, I will recommend going to the party anyway because it was great for us to talk about the game and kind of, you know, I felt good other than sitting in the room by yourself. So to have both perspectives of it, it was, it made me appreciate that, this last one. Hopefully, you know, we see y'all there and we hope going on another one. But like you say, if we're not there, you know, I'm rude for you, baby,

because I want you to feel that. I want you to definitely get that. I appreciate that. That's a great feeling because of, you know, the work that you put in, man. You see, you see what you're doing. You know how hard it is, man. And you're, like, you hopeful, but one person going to get it this year, one team going to get it. And that's just how it is.

And you hope to have been on the right team. And so that's where it's everything that you wanted to. But it's on to the next that fast. So you better enjoy it while it's here because, man, they don't talk about it as much as you think once the season come back. It's about this year. You know what I'm saying? Yep, yep.

All right. Let's get you out of here on this. Michigan, Ohio State, Saturday at noon. What's your prediction? Prediction? I think it's going to be one of those 30, 24. I'll say that. I think Michigan going to sneak out and get them one.

30 to 24 I think it's going to be a hard for our game low scoring game but we'll pull out in the end you know get us a score to go up win the game I like it I like it listen we appreciate you doing this best of luck the rest of the way thanks for stopping by man oh yeah man keep on going y'all boys killing it a fieldman Chevrolete hey come holler at me I'm looking at y'all I'm looking at y'all stuff for years

I say, what you got? You got Witson. Witson whiskey. I like it. Because, you know, I'm just looking, because I'm in the podcast stuff too. So I'm all, I'm like, man, I love that they got their sponsors. They got their little stuff too, just like me. I'm like, I'm learning.

I'm learning as I go too. I love it. I love it. Listen, anytime you want to come back, man, let us know. I got you. Just be the Ohio State, like you say. Yeah. Just be the Ohio State.

B.J., you're an OG, man. I appreciate you. I've been looking up to you for a long. a long time and it means a lot that you hopped out here so i appreciate you man go boo any anytime man i appreciate you man i just love that we got to work out together and do our thing love that you took over the torch and was still there grinding showing them boys what it's about you know seeing them throw up and do all that stuff because it's real good work man as you know he really do have us ready for uh for for the game and so man um and you know i love mose because

man he always uh he always been there every every adjustment we need to to make 6 a.m., 5 a.m., whatever it was, he's going to make sure you get that work. And that's what I got much respect for, because he prolonged my career a long time. And I'm sure it's going to be the same for you. And I hope, hopefully to keep the tradition going of at least one person sticking with it. Got to. Yep. But yeah, go Byters.

And I see you soon. Why? Hopefully we say that we're in there together. All right, Brandon Graham. Michigan Legend joining us tonight. That was fun, worm. And he, like, he just got, like, there's just that charisma about him. Like, he just, it doesn't matter what he does.

Like, he's going to be successful. You can just tell, like, he's just fun to be around. Yep. Yeah, I mean, I remember I was sitting in, we called the Academic Center. I was maybe like a freshman. And I think BG was back, maybe trying to get his, finish up his degree or something like that. And he was down at the computer just working. And I'm just like staring like, damn, that's like Brandon Graham.

And then, you know, years later, you know, you meet him in the NFL. I got to work out with him for two off seasons. You know, we trade jerseys and his jerseys up on my wall down in the basement at home. And it's just like all these like cool like full circle moments. And I watched them as a kid at Michigan. So I don't know. As my life goes on and as my career goes on, like there's all these little weird small things that happen that like, damn, like 10 year old world would like love this love like to see where you're at.

And it's pretty cool. That's awesome. That's awesome. All right, we're going long tonight. That's just part of it because we really haven't even, like you and I haven't even broken down the game. So let's just get into it. We'll get through this thing kind of fast. All right.

So as we go back to it, like we talked about the injuries. The Jeremiah Smith-Chi-Smith-Carnel-Tate thing is huge. I think to me it's a major difference maker. Ohio State looks different last week, completely different without those two. I mean, Jesus, they're at two NFL receivers, obviously. Two first round, yeah, two first round receivers for sure. Yeah, I mean, it makes a huge difference. I think it looks like Jeremiah Smith is probably going to give it a go for sure.

I don't know about Carnell Tate. As a defense, though, how much of a difference does that make when you've got two complete game breakers on the outside? Yeah, I mean, if maybe if only one plays, then you can maybe double one of those or be able to bracket them in some certain way or be able to, you know, roll your defense in coverages more over to that one receiver. But if you got two, it's like it's hard to double two guys. So I know wink, whatever, whatever, you know, whoever's playing, he's going to have a game plan for it.

But it's, when you have two first round and up all receivers, it's, it makes it really tough for defenses to be able to, to stop. Yeah. And then the other thing that they add this year, you know, you add a tight end like Max Clare, who's a, I mean, he's as good. is anybody in the league. And I think he makes a huge difference. So there's a lot of different things. But I want to talk about this because I thought this was interesting. So I think to me, Michigan's run game against Ohio State's defense is going to be the biggest thing that's going to make a difference.

If Michigan can run the football and control the clock, Michigan can win the game. So I went back and looked at it. So Texas ran for 166 yards against Ohio State. They averaged 4.5 yards per carry against the Buckeyes. After that, Texas has not been able to run the football almost at all against anybody else. Texas ran against Arkansas, average three and a half yards of carry against Georgia. They had 17 attempts for 23 yards. Against Mississippi State, they only had 72 total rushing yards.

rushing yards. Against Kentucky, only 47 against Florida, 52 yards. Texas has not been able to run the football like they ran it against Ohio State. So does that mean something for Michigan's run game? Potentially. Potentially. I think that is where, and especially if it's, you know, I've seen all these Ohio State fans this week. Their big thing is like, oh, Michigan fans are just praying that the weather's bad. Yeah, no shit. yeah like duh like of course michigan would rather the weather be crappy like that's what they do 75 and sunny no wind like yeah like you run the ball you can see you can still run the ball in cold weather the hits the hits are hurt more the tackling hurts more the turf is frozen your your fingers are cold

it's like all that plays in the michigan's favor so like yeah those are all things yeah and and and so like i've seen like it's all i have to be cold yeah no obviously like i mean that's just that, duh, like, and yes, like, so that is a thing that we're looking at and monitoring or whatever. Some of the other things I want to talk about, though, Michigan's young defensive line. So you look at the defensive line experience across their front, fourth year guy, third year guy, fifth year guy, fourth year guy, Edric Houston's the only second year guy in there. When you look at Michigan's offensive line, though, three starters are in their second year, have never played in this game.

How much of a difference does that make having that kind of experience on the defensive line going up against a young Michigan front? Yeah, I mean, it's obviously experience is huge, but I've been really impressed with this Michigan line. I know, I know, you know, Sharon and Grant have been putting a lot of work with those guys, and they're going to tell them about this game and what it means. and Grant has been there for, you know, 10 years now. So he, he understands what this game is about.

He's played in it. He's, he's, you know, obviously coached in it now for nine years because, you know, as soon as he got hurt, he went into coaching. So he knows what it's about and he's going to have those guys ready. They're going to continue to, I think, move guys off the ball and create, you know, big, big running lanes for these running backs that they've done, you know, the last three months of the season. Okay.

So I think the other storyline that I keep reading about and this thing that everybody on the Ohio State side keeps harping is Matt Patricia is going to have Bryce Underwood in a blender. Like, oh, he's going to mess this kid's head. How, in my mind, like, yes, Matt Patricia has had a great year calling the Ohio State defense. Look at the players they had, though. Of course they're going to have a defense. That's my point is, I don't want to misconstrue this.

Yes, he's had a great year. He's also coaching really good players. To me, I think it's a disservice to what the players are and how good that team is. Like, this is all Matt Patricia. It's not. It's not. Like, that's Ohio State has really damn good players. And I think you're doing a disservice to them by saying, oh, well, Matt, Patricia is going to have Bryce Underwood and a blender.

No, what's going to have Bryce Underwood and a blender is, Caden Curry coming off the edge. It's Igbenosin. It's Caleb Downs. It's, they've got NFL dudes everywhere. That to me is the bigger issue than Bryce Underwood against Matt Patricia. I think the real matchup is Patricia versus Wink, and I'm taking Wink all day, every day, 16 times on Sunday and Saturday. You know, I'm a weak guy. I know you are. I know you are. I'm take a wink over, over Matt Patricia. And I know Matt's had a good year and what he's been able to do in the league

and other places he's been. But, you know, I think it's, and Wink will tell you this. Like, it's the players that make the defense. You can have the greatest scheme in the world. But if your players don't know what they're doing, it's not going to, you know, fare too well. But I think that's why they're having success is because Matt is a good defensive coordinator.

But he also has, you know, how many future NFL players, how many future first rounders on that defense to, to help him out. But I know Bryce is excited for this challenge. It's going to obviously be his toughest challenge that he'll see probably until Ohio State next year. So they have to have Chip Lindsay and Sharon have to have, I would say, a near flawless plan, you know?

I mean, obviously what happened last year was, I'm going to say it's a fluke. I don't know what you want to call it. Maybe Ryan Day getting a little tight. But they're going to let it go on both sides of the ball, that team in Columbus. So our Michigan's offense has to play a really, really well, played, coached, executed football game. No question. Like that's the thing is, is Michigan has to come out and play a near flawless football game.

I think Ohio State can probably make a couple of mistakes and still get away with it because they're that good. They're that talented, all those things. But every time somebody says, you know, oh, Matt Patricia against, uh, against Bryce Underwood, the other thing is like, listen, Julian Sayan hasn't played in this game. Julian saying hasn't had to face Wink Martindale. We saw what Wink did last year to Ohio State. And, and, you know, as much as everybody wants to say, it was just Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, uh, were the only reason, like, yes, they were, they were the biggest

reason. Yeah, they were the biggest reason. But also Wink had a pretty damn good scheme against Ohio State. And that takes away I went back and I was looking at that box score And I tweeted this out yesterday And it's like You go back and you look at that box score from last year

And I mean you look up and down At Ohio State's roster You've got NFL quarterback Will Howard Who's who's active right now on the Steelers 53 Quinton Judkins starting for the Browns Travian Henderson starting for the New England Patriots Carnell Tate is going to be a first round pick Ameca, Abuka, killing it in the NFL with the bucks.

Jeremiah Smith, maybe the greatest Ohio state receiver ever. And Michigan held them to 10 points. So, like, if you want to talk about the Matt Patricia against Bryce Underwood thing, fine, fine. You also have to talk about Wink Martindale against Julian saying. I think that is just as big of a storyline. Yeah, put some respect on Wink's name, man. I've been saying it all year. I don't know.

I mean, maybe I know you have. I'm going to set up until the end of this game. and, you know, I need Wink to back me up on this, so we'll see what happens. Go ahead. No, finish your thought. I just, you know, Wink is going to have a great plan. He had a great plan last week or last year. He's had, you know, really good plans all year, and the boys are peeking at the right time.

Look at Derek Moore, who's, you know, like I said, in my tweet after the game is he's made himself a lot of money this last month. Barham's coming on. It's going to be a test for those secondary players, especially the young guys. and those, the exciting whites are going to have a hell of a game, so I'm excited. One other thing is, like, Ernest Hausman, I hope figures things out and is back out on the football field this week from a selfish standpoint. I hope he's good. The other thing I do want to mention about Wink's defense, and I saw this on Zach Smith's podcast, maybe.

He noticed it, and I've noticed it all year long. Michigan's rotations, when Derek Moore and Jayshon Barham are on the field, Michigan's defense is totally different. When you're rotating and those guys are out and they're out, wink is rotating. I mean, they're rotating guys constantly. I hope they kind of chop down on the rotations just a little bit for this one. I think you have to out of necessity in this thing.

I want your best guys on the football field the entire time. It makes a difference. Yeah, it does. And maybe get those guys, you know, get that rotation started a little earlier. So when that fourth quarter rolls around, it's Barham and Derek Moore, 90% of those snaps in the fourth quarter

because that's what's going to matter the most. Get those guys, you know, the rest that they need in the first and second quarter. But once that second half rolls around, you've got to let those guys empty the tank because, I mean, there's no tomorrow after this game. Last couple things, and I know we're going to wrap this thing up.

When you look at the Ryan Day thing, I think it's, I think it's probably overplayed a little bit. Ryan Day is a really good football coach. Like, I mean, like, let's not, I don't want to, I'm not, I don't want to be arrogant or stupid. Like, Ryan Day is really good coach. He's a damn good recruiter. And Ohio State's really freaking good.

And everybody that is, that, that's crushing him on the, the mistakes of last year, they look different. to me. But I also thought the same thing a year ago. You looked at last year's team and they've got two starting NFL running backs. They've got three starting NFL wide receivers. You've got an NFL quarterback. I thought Ohio State's team last year was as good a team as they've had. And then this year they come out and they might be better. Like it's almost stupid to look at. Like it's crazy. What does Ryan Day have to do different this year? Is it just as simple as, just open it up and go play is it that simple i mean maybe and that's what bj and i were talking about

earlier in the show was like when when now that they've lost four in a row you know when it gets to that third and fourth quarter and it's a close game and it's like how do you finish finishing games is like that's that's a skill you know the chiefs last year i think we're 11 and oh and one possession games or something like something crazy like that so like how once you get to the end the game and you guys are going back and forth, how do you finish the game? Because nobody cares if you win the game by one point. As long as you win the game, that's all it matters. And you have to be able to finish. And these last four years, Michigan has been able to finish. And maybe that's just that confidence after that first one, it's like,

bam, okay, now we know the recipe. Now we know that if we can just stick with them, they're going to fold. That could be a, that's a mentality. And that's what we had talked about earlier in the show. But yeah, I mean, Ryan Day just has to, you know, if, I'm a Buckeye fan. I want Ryan Day to let it loose and use all of his weapons that he has because they didn't do that a year ago. I think you're going to know a lot early on. If there's like an Ohio State situation where they have it like fourth and one at their own 45, if Ryan Day punts, oh boy, I'm telling you, I'm telling you, it happened last year, early in the game if there's an early fourth down and one and Ryan day punts everybody on that

side line i'm telling you everybody on the Ohio state sideline is going to say what the hell are we doing exactly so i think that's it's one of those like indicators early on um the last thing i want to touch on so much has been made of Ohio state's schedule um it's been bad like that's it's not any fault of their own like it's not Ohio state's fault that Penn state sucks like it's not their fault you looked at that game before the year and we all thought oh well Ohio state Penn State's going to be great you thought Texas was going to be better Texas isn't very good they're okay they're fine they're not you know they're not bad they're fine but like Ohio State has not been tested since it was real hot out like I mean

we're talking August was the last time Ohio State was even like in a football game past the second quarter you know I mean like they just they don't get tested they blow everybody out does that matter at this time of year i mean yeah it definitely does it's it's we just talked about how are you how do you finish how do you finish when uh the game is close how do you when it's cold when when you don't want to take another hit when you've already been hit a bunch of times how do you get up off of that cold turf it's all those things matter and all those things add up uh in in a fourth quarter greatest rivalry in in sports all that stuff matters and the team that can weather that storm and the team that can roll with the punches

and make the fewest mistakes is going to come out on top. And Ohio State hasn't been tested a whole lot. That's the one thing that I said two weeks ago when Michigan pulled off that victory against Northwestern. That was a resilient team. They should have lost that game, five turnovers, especially that late in the fourth quarter with all that stuff that was happening. They found a way to win.

they bounced back and they were a resilient team that fought and you know it i mean it's nice to be 11 and oh and i have to you know look back okay when the last time i we had to actually fight for the game and that was you know texas the week one and and that's a great position to be in as well so i'm not i'm not i wouldn't be mad that i'm 11 and oh and haven't had to really uh showcase everything but, you know, maybe they forget, you know, maybe they don't know how to finish and that, I think, plays in Michigan's favor. I think if it's a close game into the second half,

I think with all of the factors, the four in a row, the second guessing, the fact that you haven't been in any tight games, I think all that stuff adds up, the fact that you've got a redshirt freshman quarterback, just a lot of stuff. I think it all adds up, potentially. Now, let's wrap up on this. And if you want to make a prediction, make one, that's cool. If you want to just, hey, Michigan can win if this, go with that. But just your final

thoughts on the game. If Michigan does what they can win. I think of Michigan controls the clock. I think time of possession is going to be huge. The more that that offense can stay off the field, Ohio states, I think that bodes very well for this Michigan team. If Jordan Marshall is healthy, I think that also plays a big factor and that that plays into running the ball in time of possession. But I'll give you a score prediction. I don't think it's going to be as high scoring as BG thinks it's going to be 30 to 24 so is a little high, especially for what the weather possibly can be. And what, you know, I think Michigan's game plan of you know, just trying to bleed the clock out and run the clock out.

I'm going to say Michigan 24, Ohio State, 23. I think it's going to be close. I think it's going to be close. I think Zavada, you know, maybe has the game-winning kick and silences a lot of haters, a lot of doubters. I'm a doubter for sure. And I think he makes a game-winning kick to send him to the Big Ten championship. I don't disagree with you.

I, if you would have asked me two weeks ago, I thought Ohio State was going to win this game. I saw the tweets. I saw the texts. I saw whatever, what you were saying. I get it.

A couple weeks ago, I didn't feel good about this thing. Going into last year's game, I didn't feel good about it. I don't know why. maybe I am just naive or stupid or it could be all of the above to be honest with you I think Michigan's going to win the football game worm I do I'm going 2320 I just I don't know why I think they're going to win the football game and and here's why

it's not because of the weather it's not because of whatever all these things I think Michigan is so physical. And I don't think Ohio States had to play a team this physical since week one. And when I look back at week one, that Texas game that Ohio State played, Archmanning fumbled once at the goal line.

He also had a real shot late in the game down inside the red zone and made a couple horrible choices. Texas could easily won that football game. Ohio State has not had to play a team outside of Penn State that has the same match up with them physically that can match up with them physically. Not one team on that schedule can match up with them the way that Michigan does.

I just think, and listen, maybe there's going to be some, you know, all the Buckeye fans might be screen recording this right now to bookmark me and crush me after the game. I think Ohio State's damn good and they might lose this game and they could still go win a national championship a game they can easily

it would not shock it in the league last year yeah they steam rolled that and crushed everybody I just think that Michigan is going to win this football game I just do I don't know why

I do know why I think they're more physical and that's to me in this game in late November when everything matters I think that's the difference So that's where I'm going. Where are you going to be watching the game on a hotel room in Indy?

Where are you guys at this weekend? Yeah, we're home. I'll be watching it on my little Airbnb that I got. Airbnb. Yeah, yeah, watching it with the fam. So I'm going to introduce, well, I think my oldest is, I don't know if she's actually watched the game or not, but she's going to sit there and watch it and she's going to enjoy it. Awesome.

I love it. Hey, good luck to you. Who do you guys got this weekend? Texans. Houston Saxons. All right. Big, big division matchup. They're rolling pretty good right now.

They're 6 and 5 and playing good ball. I think C.J. Straub's back from concussion protocol. So we're getting their starting quarterback back. And we're looking to get a win after losing to the Chiefs last week. How long until you're on the field? It's a good question. I don't know. We'll see.

We will see. Okay. Okay. Perfect. We shall see it. Well, enjoy it this weekend. There is nothing like it. It is the greatest rival.

in sports it is um it makes i mean it just it's it's it's the greatest it's awesome and i love every single second of it and i can't wait so uh enjoy it worm uh and we will see you back here next week absolutely go blue all right we'll see it go blue