College Football Live - CFB Live - 9/25 - Hostile Environments

Episode Date: September 25, 2025

Join our crew Zubin Mehenti, Sam Acho, and EJ Manuel as they break down an exciting Week 5 slate in college football....Will Kirby Smart best Alabama in the regular season? Can Dante Moore withstand a Penn State White Out? Will UVA repeat history 30 years after the 1995 upset versus Florida State? Catch up with Head Coach Tony Elliot to get a glimpse of Virginia's mindset moving into this matchup. And our betting analyst Joe Fortenbaugh puts some ranked teams on upset alert on the road versus unranked opponents... will any of these underdogs pull it off? Get the rundown of the highly anticipated matchup between two undefeated SEC teams as they face off in a battle that just got personal...All this and more on today's episode of College Football Live! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you're flying Emirates business class, enjoying a good night's rest in your lie flat seat, you'll see that your vacation isn't really over until your flight is over. Fly Emirates, fly better. Football Live is presented by Jocker Pepper. Week 5 on tap, we're going to discuss all three of these games. Let's start with Alabama and Georgia, Holly Row, moments ago off the field at Damma practice. Very good news to report. Alabama just wrapped up their Thursday practice getting ready to head to Athens, Georgia for the big game Saturday.

Practice was great. Jam Miller, their running back returns and he looked fast and physical, hitting the hole with speed and great balance. He's playing after a dislocated collarbone, but they do have a very special carbon fiber pad under his shoulder pads to help him withstand his first game back after that injury. They'll also get defensive tackle Tim Keenan back. He is 320 pounds. He's a senior and he is. ready to really make some havoc on that defensive front for Alabama. I talked to him about how he's feeling and he said, Holly, I'm a supernatural healer. I heal like Wolverine. He's ready for his first action of the season. And one last note that I thought was interesting, quarterback Ty Simpson, he is really working

on getting through his progressions faster and making sure his footwork is right. But he also wants to make sure his mental game is right for his first time playing between the hedges. He said the whole team did a box meditation workout this last week. Breathing four in, you hold it for four, four out. It is a breathing technique meant to calm the autonomic nervous system. They'll need all the help they can get in a hostile environment on the road Saturday. Holly, thanks.

We've got the yoga mats back here with the supernatural and the breathing. We're ready to go. But we're up tempo for the show with E.J. Manuel, Sam Hotto. That's all good. That's all great. But the X factor is the last person she mentioned in her report as we kind of bring the energy back up. And that is Ty Simpson who may need the game of his life in the moment he's been waiting for.

Well, he's been playing outstanding in the last two weeks. 89% completion percentage over 600 yards, seven touchdowns, zero interceptions. But what's set out to me most is his confidence in the players around him. He makes quick decisions. He's not afraid to tuck the ball and run. He's also not afraid to fit the ball in tight windows. Ty Simpson in his first start of the season, versus Florida State. He did struggle.

But ever since then, whether it's been. against Wisconsin last week before touchdowns or everything else around him. He's been playing like at a superstar level. So I've been impressed by Ty Simpson's play. But more importantly, the guys around him have stepped up and had his back. The biggest thing that I've noticed from week one when Alabama played Florida State watching Todd Simpson, his feet have slowed down. The last couple of games, you could tell that the game's blown down to him.

Also getting Ryan Williams back is big too. I know you have the concussion. But when you get your big time receiver back now, you just give him an out route or a comeback and that he could do the rest of the work. Real quick. mean just for like somebody like me or a fan at home when your feet starts slowing like how does that help well it helps you because now your timing is better and also your accuracy is better so when your feet are aligned with your eyes knowing where you want to go with the football that always makes

quarterbacks kind of just say instead of having a and then try to force a ball in there and then it's late it gets tipped up and ends up being intercepted fascinating great perspective from a guy who would certainly know you know the one thing that everybody knows about this series is how much kirby smart has struggled against Alabama he's one in six and here's the takeaway stat they've never played Alabama in the smart era at Sanford Stadium. They played more games in Indy and Atlanta in national title games than they've actually played between the hedges. So that's kind of the factor, EJ, I want to talk to you about what is it going to take? What's the factor, the unit that might help Georgia finally get over the hump?

Remember, he lost to the baller last year. Yep, yep. It's the offensive line. It's the trenches. And it always is for Georgia, but offensive lines specifically in this game, promoting the run game. If I'm looking at Georgia when they played their best football guys is when they're able to win on the line of scrimmage. And right here, notice the two guards. They do an excellent job.

Micah Morris and also Don Trell Glover, a young player. They're going to do what we call a pool block and then one's going to block down. You're also going to get the left tackle and to tight in a part of this action. Now, number seven there, Arian Carter, he's going to follow the eyes of Oscar Delke. He's going to go to his left. What does this create? A huge backside gaping hole there for the runnerback Dwight Phillips Jr. To get upfield and have an explosive run.

Also, gap violations leading to explosive runs. This is something that Alabama's defense cannot do. Again, you got a great pool by Michael Morris. He's going to have a nice kickout block right there. And also watch the strain of Lawson, Lucky, the tight end, pushing down the field. This was the first playing overtime, a huge explosive run like that, set up this opportunity for Georgia to get the W against Tennessee. So that's going to be the key. They had 198 rushing yards against Tennessee.

Now, Alabama's run game or run defense has gotten much better since Florida State gave up over 200 plus. But I expect Georgia own the line of scrimmage on offense. Yeah, but to your point, Alabama's run defense has gotten extremely better. They're playing downhill. It's not just the guys on the front line, the front four. It's also the safeties and linebackers as well. So to your point, Georgia's run game is dominant, but Alabama is playing a lot more aggressive than they did early in the season. All right.

Now, that is a huge game in the SEC. There's no doubt about it. But there is another very big game, easily the biggest game of the season so far in the Big Ten. Of course, that's going to be Oregon and Penn State. It's going to be a true night whiteout. I think a lot of Penn State fans know the difference between a 730 Eastern whiteout and a noon whiteout. If you know, you know, and you know what happened when these two teams, played last year in the Big Ten championship game.

We're down to two. West against East here in the Midwest. Rolling right, Gabriel, he's going to throw it down. Field wide open, catch made 20. Tess inside of the 10, Tess and a five. Touchdown, Oregon. Tiz Johnson. Allen throws down the middle.

Singleton, got it. Touchdown. Penn State. The Nubilians respond. Looks right, throws right. right all the way, going to the home run ball, and it is almost. Was it big? It was intercepted.

Final score, Big 10 champions. Your Oregon Ducks, 4537. That was some kind of game, and Aller again had some troubles late in the playoff as well. That'll be a story to watch as we get to Saturday. But that's going to be a raucous environment for sure. You guys played big time programs, walked to some hop. Hostel venues, take us inside maybe the most difficult hostile environment you guys have ever participated.

I'll start with Lane Stadium for Virginia Tech, 2012, my senior year. And being a kid from Virginia, this was a big deal for me. We lost them two years before an ACC championship game. There you are. The biggest thing I remember, guys, the fans were getting out from me. You see the Lane Stadium fans going crazy. They were talking so much trash to me. But what that did, it actually got my teammates to play up.

Right here, you get Rashar Green, who just got inducted to the Florida State Hall of Fame there for athletics. take home a touchdown and win the game. That was the thing for us to where it was like, you know what it doesn't matter what the fans say. It doesn't matter what anybody does. It's got to be the same thing there for Oregon. You're going into a hostile environment, and it gets hostile to an Austin Stadium.

But now the whiteout, you know, that whole deal. If you have some early three and outs and all that kind of stuff, that gets the fans going. So they got to handle that in the first quarter of the game. Yeah, and I've ever been a part of a whiteout, but I remember playing Oklahoma State at Oklahoma State. And the fans are so close to the back of the bench. They're begging on that,

begging on the board with their paddles. And it's just so loud, not only is it loud, But they also have the brochures where they have your name and all your information. They'll be saying, hey, Acho, Acho, you suck. And then a lot more not ready for TV. But you can hear them. I'll turn around as I do. That's not nice.

But not only that, but they also went very talented football team. And so this kind of environment with the noise and the atmosphere for a college football player, it's extremely difficult to try and catch your bearing. So early on, Oregon has to be able to weather some of that storm. The scouting report says, Acho sucks. There's got to be something more than that. But to your point, it needs to be like that again. For sure, for sure.

For sure. For sure. For sure. Let's talk about the keys to this game. We just mentioned the role that Drew Aller is going to play all season long for Penn State, but it's the other quarterback that this quarterback has his eye out. Well, look, Dante Moore has been playing great. Now, Oregon really hasn't had that tough of a defense going up against him.

But when I watch his feet, similar what I said about Todd Simpson, the game is really slow for this guy. And I'll tell you what, you had Dylan Gabriel to be somewhat of a mentor for him the past year. That's a big deal. And especially in a moment like this, Dante knows. not to make this game bigger than what it is. He's had that run last year where they went 8 and 0 in the Big Ten. Did he play a lot?

No, but he was a part of that team. So I expect him to go out there and lead. I expect him to have a big day throwing the ball vertically down the football field. And also keep this in mind, he has wheels too. If things break down in that pocket, he can get away from those defenders. Yeah, and Dante Moore, to your point, has been outstanding. Oregon has been great. They've been nearly unstoppable on offense that only given up one sack,

great receivers of Corrin Moore being one of them, but there's a butt. Okay, there's a butt. It's always a butt with a defense guy. Let's see. Even though it's only been one sack, there have been pressures. They're having hits. They're having hurries. And success leaves clues. And there are some clues on tape that Penn State could try to take advantage of.

Let's start with left tackle Isaiah World. Number 76, he's 6-8. He's 318. Like it going to be a first-round pick. He's big. He's strong. Can't go around him. But if you can't go around him, what do you do?

You get under him and go through him. Watch his technique to leverage right there. Low man wins, right? Watch what happens. Boom. Inside, ran right to the quarterback. Should have been interception versus Oregon State. So you feel okay, Isaiah World.

Let me go to the other side. Okay, check out the other side. Go to number 71. Right tackle. Alex Harky, 6-6-327. Similar, you're talking, okay, if they're going to try and bull rush, you got to sit your feet.

Get her a bull rush, sit your feet. When you sit your feet, defense converts, converts, and gets that quarterback hit, quarterback hurry, quarterback pressure. Tips and overthrow's got to get those. So you're saying, okay, what does this matter? Does Penn State even have any rushers that can rush like that?

Well, let's see. We know denied that Sutton number 33 can go. Watch the other side right here. Got to see right tackle. Going to see somebody from Penn State on the defense. Do they even have that kind of tent? Boom, running them right into the quarterback, and that's going to lead into a sack.

That's the right tab. Let's go over to the other side. Let's see, okay, boom, that's number 33. Don't I, didn't it, something. He's like, no, no, no, you go on that left tackle. Once again, don't go around him. Go right through him because you know that Oregon can't handle the bull rush. And same thing.

You're not going to get the sack, but somebody else is going to. And so I understand, Date Moore's been outstanding. Oregon offense has been unstoppable, only giving up one sack all season. But there are some clues that Penn State could try to follow. Sam, that's a great tape. And the worst thing for quarterbacks is when that pocket gets compressed like that because there's nowhere you can. really go.

You've got a guy right there in your lap. You're still trying to get a throw off. Balls get tipped, and we talk about interceptions all the time. Well done. Neither one of these teams has been tested at all this season. So it'll be interesting to see when each of them presumably faces some adversity. Let's take a look at our Dr. Pepper. Game of the week, championship drive game of the week.

It's an interesting one. This one's a little under the radar. Auburn and Texas A&M. The numbers from Marcel have been outstanding this year. Remember, A&M fans will tell you, they're looking for their first conference title of any sign since 1998 when they won the Big 12. On the way, would you guess Virginia has the number five offense in America as they get set to play Florida State Friday nights on ESPN? Coach joins us to tell us the secret behind the score.

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30 years ago, as Florida State and Virginia gets set to meet tomorrow night on ESPN, 30 years ago, in November, they met on a Thursday night. Florida State had never lost an ACC game. They were 29 and 0, a juggernaut dominating the competition, but they lose when Warwick Dunn stopped right there short of the end zone. And Virginia pulls off one of the seminal victories in ACC football history over Bobby Bowdo. and mighty Florida State. And as evidenced is what you just saw, special things can happen on a weeknight on ESPN in Charlottesville with Florida State in town.

And here we are. Once again, it's a pleasure to be joined by Virginia head coach Tony Elliott. Top 10 Knowles in town. What's the vibe like on campus this week as you guys get set for a huge game? It's been a lot of buzz, a lot more text messages, a lot more people wanting to come out and be a part of a part of practice. I'm just excited for our guys to get to feel that kind of atmosphere. You said this week you have to simplify things in order to be successful.

Why? Oh, man, you're getting ready to play an outstanding team that has tremendous speed. They've got athletes everywhere, tremendous size. They're really good at what they do. We're going to have to play fast. And in order to play fast, you can't be thinking. You mentioned how good they are. Somebody came up with this stat, so credit to whoever got it.

You have played or coached against Florida State 14 times in your career as a player as an assistant all around the ACC now as a head coach. The potential of this Florida State team, potential compared to all the other ones you've seen is... Oh, man. In my press conference, I started calling out names of guys that they have some of the players like Ramsey and Lamarcus Joyner and Derwin James. And man, they got, they just got guys everywhere. So this team has a ton of potential. I think they're a complete team all the way around.

They got tremendous depth on the defensive line. they're huge on the offensive line. They can run the ball. Every running back that they bring it in is really, really good. They got tremendous speed at receiver. So they got a ton of potential. You got to be at Derwin James. As soon as you said that, I started to perk up a little bit.

You guys have been averaging 564.5 yards per game, 45 and a half points per game. That's top five in the country. That's actually at number five. Why do you think your offense has clicked so well? I think the guys got a great chemistry. quarterback is a tremendous leader. The playmakers are stepping up and making plays.

The offensive line has done a really good job of protecting the quarterback and not letting him get hit a ton. They're having fun. They believe in Coach Kitch and in the system. And guys are just going out, having fun, playing together, playing for each other, and really accepting the challenge of chasing their best game weekend and week out. You talked about your quarterback here, Chandler Morris.

I know you've known since he was a young boy because you were alongside his dad, Chad at Clemson. He's now in his fourth school. Incredible journey for this guy. How have you seen him grow as a quarterback, considering you knew him before he was like, you know, playing quarterback? Yeah, I mean, he's done an exceptional job throughout his career from a fundamental standpoint. But what I've seen this year is just a joy for playing the game, having fun, and being a tremendous leader. I think if you just watched the film where from whatever school he was at, the film speaks for itself in terms of talent and ability. But he's having a lot of fun. He's really, really,

really embracing the opportunity to lead. And I think he wants to try and be a part of something special and lead this group to maybe a place that had never been before. Last thing, you are on the cusp. Many people saying Virginia football is on the cusp. How close are you guys to realizing the goals that you had when you took this job? We still got a lot of work, but I think the foundation has been laid. I think the culture is really starting to take root.

The guys believe that they can achieve, you know, some special things, and they're committed to work. This game will be a great indicator of just how much progress we've made. And I'll know more about our football team and our program coming out of this game. Yeah, that 95 game was on a Thursday night. We'll see if they have some magic on this Friday night in Charlottesville. Coach, best of luck. Thanks for joining us.

I appreciate you guys. And as you take a look at the Wendy's weekend lineup, that game is top of mind, literally and figuratively there, but there's some really interesting games across the board this weekend with some ranked teams, perhaps on upset alert. And that's where we're going to start as we go four wide. Our betting analyst, Joe Fortinbaugh, joins Sam, E.J. and myself. All right, give us a game that's really caught your eye gambling-wise.

The Ohio State Washington game. They're betting this game like they already know the outcome, right? Ohio State opens 10.5 point favorite on the road against the Huskies down to 8. 5, which is significant, now down to 7.5. And that is not public money that's coming in. A couple factors to keep in mind with this. Number one, Washington is a lot better than people realize. But we just haven't been talking about him this season because it's still early and our focal points have been elsewhere.

They're averaging close to 500 yards per game and DeMond Williams, the quarterback, 60 to 1 to win the Hizman. If they surprise everybody this weekend, watch out. That's a Greg McElroy special. He gave that out Tuesday. I stole it from him and now I'm projecting it to you. So if it doesn't work out, you blame him, not me. But on the Ohio State side, even with two softer games recently since Texas, Julian Sayans been under pressure. Like that offensive line has got to get it figured out with the crowd noise this weekend.

Look at the Huskies to cause some problems. Yeah, Coach Jetfish has done a great job with the Huskies. But I also want to think about that Arkansas, Notre Dame matchup. Look at that game for Arkansas last week. Look, Memphis won it because they got a lot of turnovers. And that was the issue for Arkansas. But Notre Dame, I think those two teams are actually a lot more in the same stack as far as just talent. Tailing Green and then the C.J. Carr, very similar style quarterbacks.

But I would give the nod there for Arkansas. Maybe they could hold home for it. Yeah, and even just on the Arkansas game, Taylor game, Taylor Green is special. I mean, think about his size, his length, his skills, ability to run the focus. So I understand that Arkansas has some tough, tough loss versus Memphis, but Taylor and green, I don't think was the reason for that loss. What's that culture like at Arkansas? It's been very shaky with coaching and wondering who's going to be back, who's not.

You got to rally quick coming off that Memphis game if you're going to show up against the Irish. It's a great point. Arkansas, the way they've lost their last two games, Ole Miss and the game EJ mentioned, just unfathomable losses. So they might be a lot better than their record indicates. Last one here, the game we just talked about, the good vibes in Charlottesville. You go first. It's your knolls here against the Wahoo. I feel pretty good.

My only thing is I want to say how mature this football team is at Florida State. You just come off a bunch of big wins. You still beat Alabama. That's right now. But you got Miami the following week. You cannot look ahead. UVA is a really good football team this year. All right.

That'll do it. On the way, is the SEC about to be determined by a player that nobody had heard about when the season started in a big top 15 matchup of undefeated in the conference? We'll talk about that next. Snap Up Ancestry DNA's lowest price. ever in our incredible cyber sale. With 50% off Ancestry DNA kits, it's the perfect time to help a loved one unwrap the past.

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The game in the middle is LSU and Ole Miss. Last year they played a classic in Death Valley, which the Bayou Bengals won in overtime on the last play. but last year old miss didn't have Trinidad Chambliss on the roster. Yeah, Trinidad Chambliss has been a game changer. We talked about this last week, EJ, about who's going to be the starter, him, Rosson Simmons. But Chambliss has an ability to run the ball that other quarterbacks don't have. He runs it as if he's a running back.

Great vision. He actually sets up blocks. That's what impresses to be the most. But then as a passer, he has a laser for an arm. A deep ball, I think it could be more accurate. But, man, the underneath routes, he has a dart. So for me, Chamblis is the game changer in this matchup with his arm, but specifically with his legs.

Well, look, Chambis has played great. but he also hasn't played the LSU defense. And one thing that Blake Baker, that defense of coordinator, he's going to try to speed up his passing clock, his feet, and then also he's going to bring a lot of pressures. Look, LSU's defense already has six interceptions on the season,

and a lot of that is just because of those pressure sacks. And to your point, Harold Perkins, inside linebacker, he had that huge sack in week one versus Kate K Clubnick to pretty much end the game. If Chambliss is trying to scramble, expect Perkins on the inside to be spying him. Now, you mentioned Dardt, and who would have thought this guy was to be the guy that replaced Jackson Dardt,

but he's come out of nowhere to do it. But the real big story of this game we facetiously mentioned yesterday, Joe, I want to get you in here. It's, of course, the story that Lane Kippen's daughter, Landry, is dating Whitweaks, the linebacker at LSU, and Lane had a simple three-word response to this, and it had gambling tones to it. There it is. Do you buy it? Well, I mean, after the result of what was the game where he came out afterwards, sorry about the to the gamblers, because they gave up the fuel goal late in that game. I would say here, as much as we love the LSU defense, I worry.

a little bit because who would they play that they've shut down? They shut down a bad Florida offense. And the Clemson game looked good, but now all of a sudden, does it look good? Considering out Clemsonson, look, that said, I would still play LSU here. I think the defense is good enough. Lane Kiffin in big spots. Pepto-Bismol. But how does she, she posted this the game of the week of the game.

It's incredible. The linebacker for LSU, one of their leaders? Come on. I don't get a look. My daughter is three, so I'll have that conversation with her in like 10, 11 years. But this is wild. Like week of two? Game week.

We got to have a conversation. Check back and. college football live 2040 edition. EJ's daughter is 18 years old and ready to go. Bottom line, this is good for the sport. Guys like this having fun. It's not all business all the time. I love it.

I absolutely love it. Lean into it. Be responsible with it as we always talk about. They're hilarious. They are beautiful couple. Very good. Focus on Lane Kiff and I think Lane Kiff has been outstanding. Don't look for out of his daughter in what weeks. The focus is the mustache.

But also whoever wins the games gets bragging rights at Thanksgiving too, so that's good too. You win the game, you get braggers rights. It's true. 330 local on your ABC State. to see who gets Ragged Rites College Football Live from State College, Pennsylvania, tomorrow. Enjoy the games this weekend.