College Football Live - CFB Live - 9/24 - Something to Prove?

Episode Date: September 24, 2025

Join our crew Zubin Mehenti, EJ Manuel, Roddy Jones and Pete Thamel on another episode of College Football Live. Breaking news out of Oklahoma, could the team be without their star quarterback John Mateer for some time? A down south matchup between 17 Alabama vs 5 Georgia while 6 Oregon and 3 Penn State look forward to their Big Ten Championship rematch. Other notable games this weekend that our guys give their thoughts on that you don't want to miss on CFB Live! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you fly in Emirates business class and you're picked up by your private, luxury, chauffeur-driven car, you'll see that your vacation isn't really over until your flight is over. Fly Emirates. Fly better. Straight ahead on college football live. Why losing the Heisman frontrunner for a month may not be as bad as it sounds for OU. The key to Alabama and Georgia could be a quarterback that's been waiting for this moment and why Penn State is under the most pressure of any championship contender in the country this second. And with that, we welcome you inside college football live. E.J. Roddy, Pete Zubin, let's get right to it. I just mentioned off the top.

The unfortunate news for Oklahoma surrounding Heisman frontrunner, John Meteer. Probably heard about this. It came out late yesterday that Meteer has a broken bone there on his throwing hand. He's going to be out, according to our Jake Trotter, about a month. But his E.J. is going to wane in just a little bit. When it comes to quarterbacks and hand injuries on their throwing hands, it's always a little bit more nebulous than it seems. Okay, so now the Heisman frontrunner is out for a national title contender in a year where the head coach is in a make or break season. All would seem lost.

That's the conventional notion. But Roddy, you've got a quite unconventional take on this. I do. I think Oklahoma is going to be okay. First and foremost, shout out to John Matier, because reportedly that thing happened in the first quarter and he played the rest of the game and led him to a win. But I think Oklahoma, this could not have happened at a better time for them. You never want your quarterback to get hurt, but if it were to happen, this is a great time. They've got a buy week this week to get Michael Hawkins ready and a full week leading up to Kent State.

You're playing a Texas team that has struggled offensively, and yes, we saw Arch Manning be better last week against Sam Houston State, but that has to be proven in week after week, and Oklahoma defense is absolutely phenomenal. Then out South Carolina, at South Carolina, who has struggled mightily on offense. Ole Miss is going to be a tough one. That defense is going to have a tough task, but Arkansas was able to move the ball up and down. down the field against that Ole Miss defense. And then you go to Tennessee, and that is the projected time around where John Mateer could be back.

So I think the schedule is manageable during this time where Michael Hawkins is in. And Michael Hawkins also got thrown into the fire last year as a freshman. And E.J., I think that experience is going to be invaluable. Ben Arbuckle knows how to get quarterbacks ready to play. And I think Michael Hawkins is going to play much better in his second year at Oklahoma as a quarterback than he did last year. Well, Roder, you make a lot of great. points. The schedule certainly is somewhat of a setup where you have an extra week for Michael

Hawkins Jr. to get entrenched with going with the first team, also get some reps on his belt and some live scrimmage type plays during the by week. But I think the biggest thing right now is as far as Mathier, look, you got to really consider this might be longer than four weeks. I know we'll talk a little bit more with that. But the defense for Oklahoma is what will give me a lot of confidence. You get 10 sacks on an Auburn team like that last weekend. That certainly gives you a lot of confidence where Michael Hawkins doesn't have to go overboard. But, you know, when these hand injuries, man, sometimes they're a bit risky because it's not even just so much getting healthy.

When you are back, if you hit your hand again, if you brace yourself, all those types of things, you could certainly cause some issues. So it could be a longer injury than what the doctors tell you sometimes. Yeah, let's dig in on that. And one thing I just want to mention about Hawkins, when you're a four-star player like him that got benched along with Jackson Arro last year, the idea that he stuck it out and stayed with the program

does tell you something about him. And now it might be about to pay dividends. E.J. Take us inside. You were a quarterback for a big name. program with championship expectations, but more specifically, you kind of understand the situation Hawkins is in because you've kind of been on both sides of the, I'm starting, I'm one snap away. Take us inside that mentality and what this kid is facing here over the next few weeks. Yeah, and you hit the nail on the head, Zubin. I mean, one, to have a luxury of having

a good backup that stayed with your team last year, now staying with the team here in 2025. Look, for a backup, you always are one player away. You have to prepare like you're the starter. you have to prepare as if you're going to get into the game. And so that's the key. He's been with this offense the entire offseason. For Michael Hawkins, Jr., the thing is, don't make it bigger than what it is. And I remember my time at Florida State, we had to win the last three of four games to go to a bowl game in 2009, I believe, as a registered freshman. And so you talk about some pressure.

Also, it was Bobby Bowdoin's last season. So the one thing I definitely did was obviously I relied on my teammates, but I didn't make the moment bigger than what it was. Go out there, focus, lock in these next couple of weeks, and also be the best friend with the offensive coordinator. and be very honest and open about what kind of plays you like and what kind of plays you do not like. Well, one of the buzzwords both EJ and Roddy used was confidence. I was at Oklahoma Week 2 with Game Day before they played Michigan. And when Michael Hawkins' name came up in the building, there was an overwhelming sense of confidence. Now, look, nobody knew this was going to happen a few weeks later.

But I just happened to ask a few folks there about him. They really felt like he has thrived and developed in Ben Arbuckle system. They saw a jump from him in spring to what he showed. showed throughout fall camp. And obviously he has that Kent State defense to open. This is the single worst defense in the country. They feel like he can make plays with his legs, can push the ball down the field, and he fits well in that system.

Well, Pete, going back to why I think Austin, or excuse me, that Michael Hawkins will perform well, is Ben Arbuckle has been phenomenal with his quarterbacks. You mentioned the easy start with Kent State. But if you look at Ben Arbuckle's last four years as a coordinator, John Matier last year at Washington State was fourth in the country in total offense. Cam Ward two years ago at Washington State, six in the country in total offense. Austin Reed, three years ago, Western Kentucky, fourth in the country in total offense. And then Bailey Zappy led the country in total offense.

Those are the last four guys that Ben Arbock with the offensive coordinator has coached and called plays for. I have full confidence that Michael Hawkins is going to slot in that offense with his talent, his ability to run and throw it, and be just fine. How about that? They say defense travels, but apparently Ben, our offenses travel all over the country. That's right. He's just weighed in on.

This is a gigantic week of games. We've got a trio of top 15 matchups. We're going to dig into all of these here on this edition of college football live. So if any of these teams or your team, hang tight, we're all over it. Alabama, Georgia. All right, what needs to be said here? Kirby Smart is one in six lifetime against Alabama. But none of those games has been played at Sanford Stadium.

So take that for what it's worth. And there's a lot of people that have said that Sanford Stadium is much more electric than it has been in past years. It's going to be a big test for Alabama. Sure, I think both fan bases are a little nervous here. But Roddy, you are honing in on a guy that has maybe waited for this moment at Alabama. The next great quarterback that we've yet to see great play from. What a moment this would be for Ty Simpson to let it loose. It would be huge, Zubing.

And I would not say he passed his first test at Florida State on the road. Now you go on the road to Georgia, and it's going to be as tough a test, if not tougher. But I think Ty Simpson found something last week against Wisconsin or last time out against Wisconsin. The guy threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns. There's this thing that we don't give people time to do. It's called development. Ty Simpson was early in his starting career that first game against Florida State. He's gotten better and better, and he may have hit something in that game against Wisconsin

that gives him in that offense a lot of confidence. Well, if we know anything about Kalin DeBore and Ryan Grubb, the offensive coordinator and head coach at Alabama, they have gunslinger souls. They like to throw the ball. They like to chuck it around. And if they are going to go win this game in Athens, they are going to need to throw the ball around the lot. And Georgia's past defense guys just hasn't been that good so far this season. They're number 101 in the country and past defense efficient.

see number 81 and pass yards allowed. Now, some of it, they were in blowout games early, so teams are going to throw the ball around a little bit. But this is not the caliber of the Georgia secondary that we remember from past years under Kirby Smart. Can Alabama take advantage of that with Ryan Williams and Jeremy Bernard? I think that's where they have a chance to pull an upset. Yeah, Pete, the big thing for me is can you stop the run

and can you run the football for Georgia? And you look at this Georgia offense, specifically when they played against Tennessee, 198 yards on the ground. And even in some of those third down situations, being able to run for third and three, being able to run for third and four. That's a big deal in a game like this when you have seen a much improved Alabama Front Seven. But I think if you look at this matchup, I'm honing in on Nate Frazier, Dwight Phillips Jr. And even the quarterback Gunner Stockton, if they can win the game by running the football, that's going to be the big key.

And the other part about running the rock guys is you keep time of possession. So then you take away a couple of extra possessions there for the Alabama offense. It's a great point, E. And Gunner Stockton is going to be a big part of that, I think. I mean, the last time Alabama played a mobile quarterback, a quarterback that was going to run the football, they took that L down to your Knowles and Tallahassee and Tommy Castellanos backed up the offseason talk. So if I'm Georgia, that's obviously in the game plan, Gunner Stockton's legs. And that front seven has improved, but I do think you go and look at that Florida State game

and try and pull as much as you can from it. Yeah, I mean, it seems very strange to say this, but losing a game of Georgia should not be a referendum on your coach. but just the way things have been going at Alabama, this is such a big game for Kalin DeBoer. And for Georgia, if you don't get Alabama now at home with an untested Ty Simpson, when are you ever going to get him? On the way here on college football live. Speaking of a guy with something to prove,

much more than Ty Simpson and Kalin DeBoer. It's been on Franklin for years. Ole Miss and LSU renew a classic from last year, and we'll get into all that and more when college football live continues. This Giving Tuesday, Cam H is counting on your support. Together, we can forge a better path for mental health by creating a future where Canadians can get the help they need, when they need it, no matter who or where they are. From November 25th to December 2nd, your donation will be doubled.

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including the lost Oregon in the Big Ten title game last year. One of the underrated stories about this game is how great Oregon has been since they've entered the league. They've already beaten Ohio State in the regular season, Michigan and Penn State in that conference title game. Here comes revenge. It's so much ready to go. Both coaches, including James Franklin, amped. You have multiple wide receivers that can hurt you in a game, can go the distance. It changes how defensive coordinators approach the game.

And I think last year, we didn't have enough tools in our tool belt. We were strictly, strictly is probably not the best word, but majority. a man coverage team. When you win, like he's won, I mean, he did it at Vanderbilt. He's done it at Penn State. He's had a lot of success. He's had coordinator changes and still been able to have success. They've adapted with times.

I think they're one of the better teams in utilizing the personnel they have. You know, I think there's been a lot of variety that he's shown over the years and ability to win. The latest installment comes Saturday. The main number you need to see on this screen, essentially, is that with the win, Oregon is cruising towards the playoff. And even with a loss, they've got a better than average chance to get there. Can't say the same for Penn State. So surprise, surprise, in another top 10 matchup, all the pressure, according to the numbers, and everybody else is on Penn State.

R. Pete Thammel wrote a great in-depth profile of Drew Allert. It's available right now on ESPN.com. So give that a look. But right now, Pete, all people are looking at with Penn State is Nevada, FIU, Villanova, and what three wins over those three schools really mean making Saturday. all the more vital. This is the inflection point of a season of generational promise

for Penn State. They haven't won a national title since Joe Paterno in the mid-80s. And right now, I think it's safe to say they have the most talent that they've had there probably since the 90s. I had an NFL scout tell me this preseason that Penn State right now has 11

draftable players. They've only had 10 players drafted as the most they've ever had in one draft class. So you get all these things lined up. They haven't Big 10 since 16. They haven't had a first round pick at quarterback since 1995 when it was Kerry Collins. So everything Penn State has done, everything they've invested in Andy Cottle Nicky paying Jim Knowles, the new defensive coordinator, 3.1 million, is pointing to this moment and the moment starts Saturday night for Penn State. Can they live up to the billing?

I had a chance to skim through that article very, very quickly during the break. And you talked about the fact that Drew Alice put on all this good weight, that he likes to wear the 10. tank tops around. He's got these Popeye like biceps now, but he hasn't played like Popeye on the field so far. And while all the talk around the country has been what's wrong with Arch Manning, the guy with the hype that needs to perform

the most in the country, I think, is Drew Aller. Right now he's 106 in the country in QBR. And Zubing, you just mentioned the level of competition that he has played against. That is certainly going to ratchet up against Oregon this weekend. There was a lot of talk about Trevor

Pena and Kairn Hudson coming over a wide receiver to help. But Drew Aller has not held up his end of the deal with his play on the field so far this year. Absolutely, Roddy. And the most interesting part will be stylistically, was Penn State just trying to be vanilla and treating this as a preseason? I think the case for hope there comes with an offensive line that Kotlinicki told me could be the best in all of college football this year.

Certainly has the talent, the potential. There's going to be 30 NFL scouts, four GMs at this game on Saturday. and there's going to be a lot of looks, especially on that left side of the Penn State offensive lines. So can they muscle up with Oregon? Well, look, here's the key. Penn State's going to have to account for Mateo O'Iung Lale as a pass rusher for the Oregon Ducks. One, this guy is huge. He's fast.

He's mean. And I think in a game like this is where you're going to see the best of his play. Now, again, Oregon hadn't played that many tough teams to this point either. But when you look at the past game matchup for Penn State, there's no Tyler Warren. So some of those quick hitting throws that Penn State was able to hit last year, Maybe that's not there. And if you hang back in that pocket, two and a half, maybe three seconds, that's when an Ui Unglai can get home. So I would say for Oregon's defense, he's certainly a guy I'd have circled every single time I go to the line of scrimmage for Penn State.

All right. So we mentioned that's the second of our top 15 matchups that we discussed, having already talked about Alabama and Georgia. Here comes the third. And there are a lot of interesting storylines as Brian Kelly gets set to face Lane Kippen here. It's a top 15 matchup between LSU and Ole Miss, as you can. can see where the guys stand when taking on ranked opponents. So something for both teams to prove here. Remember, last year, this game ended in Death Valley with LSU scoring in overtime to win. It was the only time the Bayou Bengals led the game at all, an unbelievably dramatic ending. Roddy,

I want to start with you here. And PETA's left us for the day, but check out his piece on ESPN.com on Aller for more Popeye spinach references. Roddy, I want to start with you. They say Garrett Nussmeyer is this first round quarterback. But what you're saying this year is the people up front can't protect him. And he's having trouble turning around and handing off to people to help him. This was an offensive line that had four players drafted in last year's NFL draft. So there was going to be a natural regression.

And I think it's hit Garrett Nussmeyer in the ability to protect him first and foremost. But it's really hit the ability to run the football. They are 112 nationally in rush yards per game. And although Brian Kelly got a little prickly post game against Florida, took a 51-yard run in that game to salt that game away. Until then, they hadn't run the ball very well. So the offensive line has to continue to improve. And Ole Miss has got enough bodies up front to give them trouble there.

Well, here's the thing, Roddy, if Ole Miss is, excuse me, if LSU's offense can't get going, you can certainly rely on the defense. I mean, you can get five interceptions off the SEC team like they do. did against University of Florida. I know everybody was making fun of DJ Lagway, but if you look at those picks, I mean, they were earned interceptions. It wasn't like Lagway was making bad throws and maybe sure, you could say bad decisions, but the way that this secondary reads the quarterback's eyes. I think that's something that you really got to take into account, especially considering this is the third start here for Trinidad Chamblis. And he's played great. Arkansas was good. Tulane, not so good. But in this matchup, this defense is one where I certainly think they can potentially get their hands on some footballs and keep them in this game, especially early in the game. Look, two things can be true. I think LSU's defense is very good, but also we have to reevaluate how good because Clemson's offense and Florida's offense against other people have not looked great. And so I do think LSU is a good offense, but that Ole Miss offense will be by far the best

one that they faced all year. Trinidad Chambliss brings a running element that I think could give anybody trouble. And his ability to dish the ball to a really good skill position group, I think is going to be on full display. You've got Kiwan Lacey at running back as well as one of the best running backs in the SEC. So I actually like this Ole Miss offense to move the ball in this game. Florida did it. They just couldn't keep it in their hands.

They threw it to the other team. Yeah, one quick last thing here, and that is you kind of heard E.J. mentioned it, and it's just been confirmed that it's going to be Chambliss again as Austin Simmons continues to get better. E.J., as a quarterback, put your hat on, just finish the sentence for me. Everybody in Oxford is thinking this. when Austin Simmons is 100% healthy. Dot, dot, dot, dot. He'll probably still be the backup if Trinidad Chambliss is not playing go football.

In fact, I have some of my friends who played football at Ole Miss, who they thought should be the starter, and they also said Chambliss. And guys, the big key, when you have a guy who just has the hot hand, you know, the team is already kind of getting used to his voice in the locker room, getting used to his voice from the, you know, the offensive line and his command. So it's tough because it's tough. The thing is, if you go back to Austin Simmons and he's not fully healthy or he's a little bit lethargic and getting back into the motion of playing, but then do you go back to Chambliss? So unfortunately, these things happen.

It's very awkward for us quarterbacks within the quarterback room. But ultimately, I do believe that Lane Kiffin's going to stick with the high hand and, you know, stick with Chalmers. That's a good problem to have, I guess. Although, let's not overshadow the real lead story when it comes to LSU and Ole Miss. I'm sure you may have seen this all over your social feeds yesterday. Lane Kiffin's daughter, Landry, who attends Ole Miss, is now dating the LSU linebacker, Witt Weeks. Roddy, I want to go with you first. Dad, Lane Kiffin said, don't worry about her allegiances.

Despite this picture, she is pulling for Ole Miss. I think this is Lane Kiffin who said, you got a hard launch this week to create a distraction on the LSU side. I mean, Whitweeks now has to deal with everybody saying, oh, what are you going to do, your future potential father-in-laws on the other sideline? Lane Kippen is sitting back leaning into it. I think Lane Kippen planted this thing. I think he's doing this to disrupt LSU. Yeah, who knows? Hey, look, maybe she was giving some trade secrets

on some of the pressures that they're going to throw at their office, their Ole Miss. This is interesting. I wouldn't expect this one at all. Look, I got a young daughter, and if I am coaching at some point in my life, I'm definitely going to tell her, please do not date any opposing quarterbacks

or linebackers or anybody that I might be facing throughout the season, please. But yeah, this is certainly very interesting. It's true love, EJ. You can't stop true love. Can't stop it. Right. Fair enough.

I just wanted to make sure we hit the biggest factor that will go into determining the outcome of the game before we hit our commercial break here. On the road, on college football live, when we return. Before we hit that, we'll let you know on Friday and Saturday. We got Florida State and Virginia. We're ready to go. And then the centerpiece on that big SEC triple header,

LSU, Ole Miss, in the afternoon. As I mentioned, on the road, teams that are ranked, heading to places that shouldn't be trouble. But might they be? Roddy and E.J. with some teams that need to be seriously concerned as heavy favorites on the way. To succeed in the future of work,

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See your local Nissan dealer or nissan.ca for details. Conditions apply. This is a gigantic week, gigantic week across. the board. How about Indiana going to Kinnick Stadium where Cigetti has been puffing those sigs and blowing some smoke against the Hawkeyes. Can't wait to see it. All right, guys, let's talk about some of those games. Roddy, I know you were locked in on very quiet, number one Ohio State going all the way to Seattle. That's got you a little concerned.

Ohio State's been great, but Washington's won 22 straight in Seattle. Watch out Ohio State. Demand Williams has been one of the best quarterbacks in the country and Huskies love being at home. Lastly, EJ, your boys are on upset alert from what I hear from you yourself. Well, look, as long as they don't look ahead to the Miami week, which is certainly a huge game for all of us down here in the state of Florida. But UVA is a really good football team. Chandler Morris can throw it, Trill Harris can catch it.

And the UVA crowd there Friday night's going to be loud. So Florida State got a lock in this Friday. UVA's had a little bit of magic in Charlottesville against Florida State. If you're old enough to remember that one, speaking of UVA. Tony Elliott. Their head coach will join us tomorrow. We'll see you then.