College Football Live - CFB Live - Day 1 ACC & Big Ten Media Days (7/22)

Episode Date: July 22, 2025

The crew Phil Murphy, Tom Luginbill, Roddy Jones and Heather Dinich kick off day 1 of ACC and Big Ten media days. Insight on notable CFP players returning like Jeremiah Smith and Carson Beck. Sound from both conference commissioners and coaches on the state of college football. Could we see an expansion or no more college football committee? Take a listen, you don't want to miss out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you're flying Emirates business class, dining on a world-class menu at 40,000 feet, you'll see that your vacation isn't really over until your flight is over. Fly Emirates, fly better. Welcome to College Football Live as Sin City welcomes the Big Ten to Media Days. We'll hear from Ryan Day and Kurt Signetti from there. And in Charlotte, ACCC Media Days, year four for Mario Cristobal and Coral Gables, increase his win total year over year every year with the gains. But now you've got to replace the number one overall draft pick under center.

An unavoidable question to answer quickly in 2025. And the Pony Express is back in Dallas. SMU went to the ACCC title game last year, earned a playoff berth. How do Kevin Jennings and the Mustangs bounce back after an abrupt end to that run? I am Phil Murphy. I'm under center today as we look at ACC Media Days and five teams on site in Charlotte. We got a six pack in Vegas and a whole bunch. Big Ten's kind of got a case for it.

Top storylines in the conference heading into the season, home to the last two national champs, Ohio State and Michigan. Last time, the Big Ten won back-to-back national titles. He got to go back to early World War II. One three straight from 1940 to 42. Big Ten led all conferences with four playoff participants last year. And star players return. Buckeyes wideout, Jeremiah Smith, ducks, edge rusher,

Mateo Uiaga-Lulele, Lion, Nittney Lions, QB, Drew Aller. Got some new faces two under center. Julian Sane and Columbus in a QB competition there. Dante Moore, five star in Eugene, Nico Iamaleava, UCLA, and Michigan brought in the top overall recruit in Bryce Underwood. Hey, we've got the best in the business as well. Heather Dinich, our National College Football Insider joins us from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Vegas. HD solid bets only here. What are your biggest storylines heading into the Big Ten season in 2025?

Well, Phil, it starts with a big picture, and that is Can the Big Ten win its third straight national title? According to the Allstate Playoff Predictor, it starts with Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon having the best chances to reach the college football playoff. But there's also ACC Media Days. Clemson might have a word about that. And in Atlanta last week, there were some confident coaches like LSU's Brian Kelly. Another storyline that I'm watching is one that Ohio State fans are keeping an eye on, and that is Can Ohio State? beat Michigan, snap that losing streak, and win the first Big Ten title for the Buckeye since 2020. It's surprising that it's been that long.

But when you look at Ohio State, they have a new quarterback. They have two new coordinators. They lost their two leading rushers. They lost their top three leaders in sacks last year. So a lot of questions there. And then finally, third storyline to watch, can James Franklin at Penn State take them from good to great play for a national title on paper? they are loaded and they are my number one team this preseason. And Heather, I know you are in Indiana alumna.

We're going to have you back later in the show to talk about who might be this year's Hoosiers and surprise some teams in the Big Ten. And I believe that club is on site today in Vegas. Let's welcome in Tom Lugan Bill and Roddy Jones. Roddy Jones, I apologize, man. I went automatic Atlanta reflexively off the top. You guys are at a fancy hotel in Charlotte, your background for ACC media days. But let's keep the Big Ten talk going for.

now Lug's last two national champs, as we mentioned, that team from up north and that team from Ohio, bitter rivals have claimed the last two national titles. What for you is the biggest storyline in the Big Ten this year? Well, I think it's got to be Penn State. I think a lot of people feel like it's put up or shut up time for the Nittany Lions. You've got all the returning components back, particularly on offense. Drew Aller, obviously, is grown into a difference maker for this offense. When you look at the components that have to be replaced for their top tier competitors at Michigan, at Ohio State, most notably unknowns at quarterback, that's where the advantage is, and that's where Penn State has to make up some ground and prove that they

are the senior team in the league. I'm also looking forward to seeing the replacements at quarterback at some other notable institutions, most notably Oregon, we become so accustomed to seeing great quarterback play there. How will Dante Morenell fit that need for Oregon? Will they skip a beat here in the Big Ten. You mentioned quarterback's Luz and Penn State's got the guy and Drew Aller that I think probably has the highest ceiling

of just about anybody in the country. And when it comes to his improvement over the course of the season, I think his improvement is going to go a long way towards Penn State taking that next step and beating those top tier teams that they've had a hard time getting over. I think there's a couple of areas

where he can improve drastically. Number one is his footwork. He's a guy that started playing quarterback relatively late in his life. compared to some of these guys who start working with quarterback coaching at the age of six and seven. He started a little bit later than that. So I think his footwork in his eyes can certainly improve. But if he cleans up his feet, he's got the physical ability, he's got enough mobility to be really special this season.

Roddy, let's go to Michigan. This is a team that won a national title and then won eight games the year after that. But that's in the midst of incredible turnover on the sidelines. And their last two games, wins over Ohio State and Alabama, kind of an uptick on the field. an outlook in Ann Arbor from your perspective? First off, name me a team that won eight games last year that's feeling better in the offseason than Michigan. You can't do it.

And not only did they beat Alabama in the bowl game, beat Ohio State to end the regular season, then they get Bryce Underwood showing up on campus. That would make me feel really, really good about where I am. The defensive line should be one of the best in the country. The linebacking course should be one of the best in the country. That defense is going to be fine. Offensively, how does it come together, particularly with, with, whoever's the quarterback, whether it's Mikey Keen to start

or whether it's Bryce Underwood, how does that come together? But they got Justice Haynes coming over, the running back transfer from Alabama, that offensive line returns pieces after losing a ton before last season. Those guys gained a lot of experience. He got three starters back on that offensive line. I think there's the

pieces there, Tom, to be really, really good for Michigan on both lines of scrimmage and potentially at the quarterback position. We talk about all the time. We build a championship team from the inside out, right? You mentioned the improvements up front on both sides of the ball. But I think it's all about quarterback for Michigan. If you got a quarterback, you've got a chance.

I love the move to go out and get Mikey Keen because you've got a guy that's played a ton of football and winning football. And now you've got this young true freshman and Bryce Underwood, who is supremely talented. But if we're going to be very honest about it, he is a true freshman making that jump. And that is a steep, steep learning curve.

So I would expect that there will be some potholes in the road. There will be some stumbling blocks throughout there. That's why you go out and reassure. sure yourself through the transfer portal with a guy like Mikey Keen. But from a long-term view under center, Bryce Underwood has a chance to be a special player. He's a guy, Louvre's just 17 years old, doesn't turn 18 for another month. Hey, we're talking to two guys who spent some time at Georgia Tech. We've got to talk ACC. They're in Charlotte, ACC media days started today. It's a competitive, volatile league, but Clemson has been the

constant. The Tigers claim just their ninth ACC title under Davos. They've won the conference eight times in 10 seasons. K K Clubnick through 4 TDs and last year's walkoff win over SMU. Clubnick's back, as is Kevin Jennings at SMU and Haynes King at Georgia Tech. Miami's Carson Beck transferred in from Georgia while Thomas Castellanos went from Chestnut Hill to Tallahassee. But the biggest addition to the conference, Bill Belichick at UNC, Billichick's first college job of any kind after coaching in the NFL for 49 straight season. So Roddy, Clemson, the constant returns as favorites. A lot of people out there like SMU to bounce back, maybe Miami, maybe Louisville.

What for you is the biggest storyline in the ACC this year? I think Clemson's the biggest storyline. This is a Clemson team that's been building towards this year for a number of years. And they're sort of similar to Penn State. They return the quarterback, a quarterback who could be one of the top quarterbacks drafted in this upcoming draft. They've got a tremendous defensive line, maybe the first defensive end and defensive tackle in T.J. Parker and Peter Woods taken in this upcoming draft,

the linebacking core should be really good. Offensively, remember all those years we talked about with the Clemson offensive lines, not that great, and the receiving corps has gone back. That Clemson offensive line is one of the best in the country, and the receiving core is as well with weapons around Kade Klubnick. So this is a team that should be the class of the ACC throughout the season, should get a buy in the college football playoff,

and should win a game in the college football playoff, which puts you in contention for a national championship. That's the biggest storyline for me. The other one is how many playoff contenders outside of Clemson are going to be in the league. I think Miami certainly is one, SMU certainly is one, but can a Georgia Tech

with the schedule that they have and the returning teams that they have, can they be in that conversation? North Carolina has a favorable schedule. Could Bill Belichick make waves in his first year? Louisville has a really good offense coming back. I think that's sort of a big question for the league from top to bottom.

How many playoff contenders are in the league? Don't forget about NC State because when nobody's talking about them, that's when they play really, really well, and they've got a quarterback and C.J. Bailey coming back. But I think, you know, when you look at the early portion of the season, it's all about the non-conference games. This is a narrative league right now.

And the way to change that narrative, if you're in the ACC, is you have to go out and you've got to win these non-conference games. All right. And you've got some monster matchups right here. LSU Clemson, obviously, a lot of people looking forward to that one. Miami, Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida State. We've heard Tommy Castellanos, the quarterback at Florida State, make his comments earlier this spring about that upcoming matchup. with Colorado on the road to open up. To me, that is what will set the table for this conference.

I think there's tremendous competitive balance. There's really good quarterback plate top to bottom. But if you want to buzz and you want positive momentum going forward and to generate confidence, you have to go out. And I think you've got not only split those games, you've got to come out on the plus side, in my opinion, if you want to change the narrative and then set the table for the rest of the year. In addition to that list we showed Lug's, Eleanor. Illinois goes to Durham week two, which a win for Duke, if they get it, could age very well looking at the Illini schedule.

On that note, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips was asked today about conference scheduling and the plans for the future. I like where we're at, where we're at in eight games, because we're playing the type of caliber that I described, 26, really good non-conference games. If you go to nine, if the SEC ends up going to nine and, And maybe we end up going to nine. I think there's a few challenges. Those rivalry games that we really enjoy, I think that the fans really enjoy, I think some of those go away. But we'll adjust if we have to.

Year five as conference commissioner for Phillips. And Lug, there are a couple moving parts here. You have playoff criteria, potential expansion, what other conferences are doing, how that's rewarded. What did you make of Phillips quotes today? Well, I agree with him when it comes to rivalry games that have been staples within the conference. You hate to see those go away. But at the end of the day, if you're going to end up going to nine games, you're going to have more opportunities within your league to

league supremacy top to bottom, regardless of who you are. Now, depending on how scheduling falls, you never know who you may draw. You take SMU last year and, you know, they had really the schedule you'd like to have when you enter the league. You now look at them this year and the schedule is completely reversed. Much more difficult for the must. So listen, I think that Commissioner Phillips is very serious about the state of football in the ACC and is willing to look at every single avenue to ensure that the ACC is at the forefront of trying to ensure that they have the best, most compelling competitive matchups weekend and week out. I think you look at the non-conference that Commissioner Phillips was talking about.

The ACC is consistently playing in the Affleck kickoff games early in the year with one or this year multiple teams so those non-conference games would potentially be in danger. He talked about the games at the end of the year, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Kentucky, Clemson, South Carolina, and Florida, Florida State. If you go to nine conference games, how willing are those teams going to be to have 10 power four games locked in entering the year? And then what are they doing the non-conference? I just think there's so many questions about that, that the conference is going to be comfortable

where they are. Because honestly, it hasn't heard them when it comes to the college ball playoff yet. criteria, then maybe you reevaluate. And with so much recent change in college football, there was no choice but to be reactive. I give Commissioner Phillips credit for saying, hey, we're going to be measured with our approach here and potential tinkering with the schedule. Hey, we're just getting started on college football live. Carson Beck, one of the biggest names in the transfer QB market, took his talents to South

Beach. What can we expect from the Cains this season plus? Expectations always high in Columbus. What must Ryan Day and the Buckeyes do to repeat as champs this season? And you know what? What must they do to finally get the better of that team up north? 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. And with their latest update, they'll discover their family origins like never before, with even more precise regions and new and exclusive features. Their best gift, our lowest price. 50% off ancestry DNA, only until disqualify. December 2nd. Visit Ancestry.ca for more details. Terms apply. Back on college football live. Hey, look at you. A 10-win season last year for the Cains behind

top-pit Cam Ward. Great year that did fall short. Three losses in the last four missed out on the college football playoff. But another transfer QB entered the picture for the Cains and Carson Beck. He spent four seasons in Athens. In the last two, Beck became the third player in program history to throw for 3,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. This season for the Cains opened up against an age old rival in Notre Dame. Overall, the slate could be favorable for Miami. Just four road games. They only lead the state three times.

None till November. UQB1 spoke today on his decision to go to the U. Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me, obviously, was the offensive fit as a quarterback, the OC, the scheme, the talent and guys that you're going to have around you is huge to the success. and ultimately the future, A, of a quarterback, but of me, right? And this is my future, and I think that this decision is one of the better decisions I've made. And, I mean, ultimately the decision, I feel like has really paid off.

And this offseason has been really good and full of really good work. Carson Beck has as good of experience as a quarterback as you can have. He's played in monster games, and he's played at high level. and he is ultra competitive and his football IQ is off the charts. It didn't take long to realize that he's a team player and that his work ethic is also through the roof. But still, the Miami offense will look very different. Not only is Cam Ward gone,

but the top six receivers from 2024 all departed the program. The returning player with the most receiving yards last season, tight end Elijah Lofton, who had 150 yards and one touchdown, as a true freshman. Tom Lugendell Roddy Jones are with us from ACC Media Days in Charlotte. Luz, that's a lot of change in Coral Gables. I don't say this to appease the QB fraternity, but the most consequential position is the change under center.

What must happen for a seamless baton pass from Ward to Beck? Well, I'll say this. I would much rather know going into the season who my quarterback is and then figure out the rest of the pieces than the other way around. And I think that's a positive for Miami going in. Listen, I think Mario Cristobal hit the nail on the head. When you play this much football at that high of a level in big games, you bring something that you can't coach.

You've either done it or you haven't done it. He's done it. I think the key for Carson Beck is get back to being Carson Beck, the football player. Don't worry about all the outside distractions. Don't worry about the social media. Don't worry about the Lamborghinis. Forget all of that stuff. Just go out and play.

go out and be the best version you can be. Now, personally, I think he's an entirely different type of quarterback that we saw from Cam Ward. You know, Cam Ward, some of the things he did a year ago were often improvisational. You know, the little toss here and the ability to navigate and avoid and make a throw from his hip. And I don't know if Carson Beck is that type of player. What I do know is he's got great anticipatory traits. He can make every throw on the field, and he's going to get the ball out on time. He's got to minimize risky throws that I think.

plagued him a little bit a year ago at Georgia. But the experience, I think, outweighs everything else when it comes to Carson Beck. And then you start to put the pieces around him. That will fall in line. But you've got to get the quarterback right first. And that gives him the best chance. Going back to the things that you were talking about him, not worrying about off the field, it looks like by the look of that chain, he's worrying about him just a little bit.

That thing was blinding me. He was standing at the podium. The thing that Miami can do to really help him, though, is run the ball. I mean, it's an offensive line that should be one of the best in the conference, if not the country. Running back room with Mark Fletcher and Jordan Lyle that has explosiveness and experience. So I think running the football and having this team be built on a downhill powerful running game is the way to go, at least early on, because they're unprovenant receiver. Yeah. There's no doubt about that.

But Carson Beck easing his way back in, coming off of the elbow injury, I think running the football is going to be the big way to get him settled. Roddy, we see on screen the schedule that that flight to Dallas November 1st is the first time they leave the state. But we circle Sunday, August 31st, against Notre Dame on ABC. With all this change, how does Miami get off on the right foot? The first thing that they need to do is bring your big boy britches on defense because Notre Dame is going to have a heck of an offensive line and a heck of a running back room with Jordan Love and Judarian Price and Ineas Williams. they're going to run the football no matter who the quarterback is. But that's going to be the number one as they go into that game is win the lines of scrimmage, particularly on that defensive line.

But the secondary is going to have to be much improved as well. Notre Dame is going to be a lot better at receiver. And that secondary was the weakness of the Miami defense a year ago. They retooled it, brought in a ton of new players and a new defensive coordinator as well. So I think those two things, if they're able to do that and keep this to be the type of game where Notre Dame can't just go off offensively. That offense is going to score points.

Carson Beck's going to move the ball down the field with Shannon Dawson as the offensive coordinator. So that defense is going to have to come and play well. Well, you're 100% correct on the defensive side, especially when it comes to giving up explosive plays. Way too many chunk plays for the Miami defense were yielded a year ago. And what happens is it demoralizes you. It flips field position and it puts the opposition in a minimum of kicking a field goal. And you've got to eliminate those things to give yourself more chances on offense. So defensively, I think that they will be in but keeping the ball in front of them is going to be key.

I think the other thing in a matchup like this, in really every matchup going forward because of the transactional nature of college football, teams are starting to level out, and the parity across the board is starting to affect everybody. So what happens is the margin of error is really, really thin, and what Miami's got to do a better job of, and this plagued them in years past.

They've got to manage the game late in games. They've got to win-one possession games. They can't shoot themselves in the foot with penalties and turnovers and mismanagement of games, that's going to be critical early on for Miami. Mario Cristobals won more games than the preceding year every year in Coral Gables. If he continues that, he's coach of the year. Orion Day won conference coach of the year 2019. That was the last time Ohio State beat Michigan, though they are the reigning national champs.

Top storylines for the reigning defending undisputed champs. First national title for the program since 2014. Last Big Ten school to win it all, all back to back. Minnesota, 1940 and 41, but the Golden Gophers played 16. 18 games total over those two years. Ohio State's repeat quest starts August 30th, Texas, college game day on site, Lee Corsos farewell. Buckeyes also look for their first win over Michigan again six years in the finale.

They do have a new starting QB, replace both coordinators this season, but the Bkeyes do return a pair of all Americans and wide out Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. Smith spoke today with our Heather Dinnich. Jeremiah, how much better do you feel you can be this? season after a whole year of experience in near about. I feel like to be way better than I did last year. No, just getting a better to stand the offense and knowing what's going on with the others are trying to do to me.

So I felt I'm able to play faster, you know, just, that's really just play faster and, you know, just get better. And with a new quarterback this year, what's your scouting report on the competition starting with Julian Sayam? Um, I don't really think I'm allowed to speak on this, but I'm just say Julian just, know, this summer just, no, got better being more of a leader. should say, I was going in many ways. That's all I can say about that.

Then Lincoln, the same way. Both of them guys just know just been competing this summer going at it. Just came out to see how things play out in the fall camp, I should say. And last thing, what are you looking forward to most about the season opener against Texas? No, just going on and having a great game against a great university, University of Texas. It was a great game in the carton ball, I should say. So I'm just looking forward to the matchup, I should say. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Appreciate you. Got to say, I love his shirt. Smith arguably is the best receiver in college football. Last season pulled in 1,315 yards. That's a big 10 freshman record. Also had 15 receiving touchdowns. Second most by a freshman in FBS history behind only Texas Techs. Michael Crabtree and his legendary 22 from 2007.

And Lugge, you got a hell of a receiver there. And then you got Carnell Tate on the other side. But it's not Will Howard throwing the ball to the. these guys anymore. Break down the QB competition for us in Columbus. What should we be looking at? Well, obviously the name that everybody is familiar with is Julian San who comes over as a highly high profile recruit originally with Alabama. Lincoln Keenholz, who's remained with the program, and then Tavion St. Clair, who came into the last recruiting class, really, really talented. Now, I think when you have a young quarterback competition, and this is one of those, you really want to

chart everything going back to spring football, summer reps into fall camp. You're going to chart completions, incompletions, decision making, third down conversions, fourth down conversions. Every single scenario that you can put that player in and see

who comes up with the best answers. See who's most consistent, who is most stable, who makes the wisest choices with the football. Because when you're young at quarterback, you're not only got to manage the game, but you've also got to manage your emotions. And The player that displays that they can do that, I think, will rise to the occasion.

You reference the personnel around him. He's going to walk in that huddle, whoever it may be, and it looks like it may be Julian saying, and he's going to have great players around. So he doesn't have to wear an S on his chest. What he's got to do is run the offense, make quick and good decisions, and don't take risks with the football. And if you do that, let the personnel around you take you the rest of the way. This is a team, again, just won the national championship, but we're talking about the fact that they haven't beaten Michigan since 2019. Roddy, this might be the only head-to-head

pairing where that's a butt worth bringing up. How important is it for the young players in this program to get over to the thorn and the side from Ann Arbor? Unbelievably important because the senior class has just won the national championship. Like, reach the pinnacle of college football is always going to have that little thing, but you don't have that pair of golden pants that comes from when you beat Michigan, they're always going to have that. And so obviously there's Ohio State fans that are incredibly happy and pleased that they won the National Championship. I think all Ohio State fans are.

But another loss to Michigan, and I think we'll be talking about Ryan Day as you see the right guy for the job against. Some people will. We certainly will not. We are reasonable people. It's the fact that it just reached the pinnacle of college football. But I do think Ohio State fans are going to be like, well, this guy can't beat Michigan.

We need to get somebody in here who can. The guy won you a national championship could win you another one in the future. Would you rather win a title or beat Michigan? Well, so the question is this year? Is that a legitimate question? I think legitimately you would have Ohio State fans have a hard time answering that. Yeah. Because I think this year they got their title.

They haven't got their Michigan win in a few years. I think they would rather beat Michigan. So I think it's incredibly important. But it's not the only thing. We saw last year they lost to Michigan and ended up getting their college ball playoff and winning it all. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunate. in this era of college football, that game doesn't mean as much as it used to

from a national championship standpoint, but it means a ton to the people of Ohio. No dip in expectation, despite losing your starting quarterback and watching both OC and DC depart. Chip Kelly's in Vegas with the Raiders, and Jim Knowles is up in Happy Valley, bringing his defensive knowledge there.

Listen, you don't know what to expect in this sport. Indiana taught us that last year. So did SMU. Both made the playoffs. We didn't see that coming last July. But what will the Hoosiers and Ponies need to continue that success? We hear from the head coaches next. At Desjardin, we speak business.

We speak startup funding and comprehensive game plans. We've mastered made-to-measure growth and expansion advice, and we can talk your ear-off about transferring your business when the time comes. Because at Desjardin business, we speak the same language you do. Business. So join the more than 400,000 Canadian entrepreneurs who already count on us. And contact Desjardin today. We'd love to talk business.

College Football Live is back, and the Pony Express is back. SMU, a surprise playoff participant last year. ACC Media Days kicking off today in Charlotte. How about some off-season storylines for Brett Ashley's men? No question at QB1. Kevin Jennings returns. He's coming off a season where he threw for 3,200-plus yards, 23-tutties, had the best passing efficiency in ACC play.

than Cam Ward. Got some big weapons too. Tight ends, RJ Maryland and Matt Hibner. Maryland went down midway through the season with an injury and that absence was felt late. And you can go ahead and circle these games on your agenda and ACC championship rematch in Death Valley, October 18th. Then Miami comes to Dallas November 1st. Coach Lashley addressed the media today. I think we need to reimagine the college football playoff. It's at a time where I know it's being discussed. The players and the fans come first. That's what we're supposed to be. about. I think 16 teams would be great. More access for more teams, more players, more conferences. We were up close and personal with that a year ago, and I respect what they have to do.

But honestly, it's a situation that's set up for failure because there's human bias and there's always going to be. So I think if we could remove a committee from the situation, it would help. All right, Tom Lugendell Roddy Jones, coach Lashley, looking for an expanded playoff. That's how he campaigned. Roddy, what is a barometer for success for coach? and the Mustangs this year off of last year's surprise playoff berth? I think it's competing at the top of the league. I don't necessarily think they should be judged by whether or not to make the ACC championship game, schedule is a little bit harder.

They very well could go six and two in the league with losses to Clemson of Miami, not make the Acese championship game, but be 10 and two overall and be in the college ball playoff conversation. But I do think the expectation is there that they'll, that they will be in the conversation for the college ball playoff and in the conversation for the ACC. And honestly, this defense that they're having to replace a ton on, particularly in the front seven, is really going to go a long way to determining that. The offense will be good.

But when they play championship level defense, Luke, that's when SMU has really made noise. Well, and two of their, you know, non-conference teams are good programs. Baylor and TCU. I think also one of the bigger challenges for Rhett Lashley and his staff is dealing with all this. Everybody tell them how good they are. They've arrived. Look at you guys made the college football playoff. First year and the Power 4 conference, but you can't bring any of that with you.

And you can't start to believe it. You can't start to read into it. You've got to maintain that hunger, that mentality of unfinished business in their college football playoff loss on the road versus Penn State. I want to see the maturity and the leadership of a team that's just getting started, not the team that feels like they've arrived and then they go out and they don't perform overly well. This team is going from being the hunter to now the hunted, and the schedule got more difficult. So I think there are some challenges that aren't so much based on talent and a physical nature,

but more psychological that they've got to show that they can conquer. Looking at the talent, though, Lug's at least they got the quarterback back, got to figure out who's starting at running back for them. Hey, Fun Belt to Bloomington, another CFB surprise last year, debut season for Kurt Signetti, went well. Ten seed Indiana did go to South Bend and in all-Husier. state's showdown in the CFP. They did lose to the eventual runner up on the road at night. Always going to be a tall task. Hoosiers lost by 10.

Offense did get going a little too late in that game, but Signetti sparked a year one turnaround that they won him. Coach of the year. It was a few JMU transfers last year who followed Signetti. This year, you cast a wider net. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza comes in from Cal. He was the fourth ranked player in ESPN's Transfer Portal rankings. They also added Maryland running back Roman Hemby and Appstates,

Mackay Jackson, the Mountaineer's second leading receiver from a year ago. Lugues, last year's QB, Curtis Rourke, got drafted by the 49ers in Northern California. Signetti just followed him there to find a QB in Fernando Mendoza from Cal. What does he bring to the huddle coming from Berkeley to Bloomington? Well, first of all, I think for two years in a row, Kurt Signetti and Indiana have made the most underrated yet best transfer portal edition of quarterback of anybody in America. And we saw that from Curtis Rourke a year ago who played so much good football at Ohio. And now if you look at Fernando Mendoza and you really go back and watch him, you have a real appreciation for number one, his competitive temperament

and his toughness. This was a guy that played at a very, very high level on a football team that could not protect him. You look at him playing and you say, oh, you know, he looks like he's a pretty good player. And then you don't realize until you see him that he's six foot five, 25 pounds, probably runs 4, 6, falling out of bed. So now you're going to get an athletic element that maybe they didn't quite have last year with Curtis Rourke. So I'm really excited for this edition. I love the approach by going after guys that have been productive that have multiple years of eligibility left. That's what Fernando Mendoza brings in.

Let's bring in our Indiana alumna. Heather Dinnich joins from Big Ten Media Days. And Heather, I am you surprised a lot of people with their win streak to start the year last year, the playoffs. Who in the Big Ten do you think could be a similar surprise team this year? I think Illinois could be a similar surprise team. And I realize the comparison is slightly off because they were a top 25 team last year, whereas Indiana came out of absolutely nowhere. But when you look at what Beelma has coming back, 18 starters, including his quarterback, Luke Altmeier, who has all five starters returning on the offensive line. This is a team that

also has a favorable schedule, which is another reason you can draw. that comparison to Indiana, they don't play Oregon. They don't play Penn State. They don't play Michigan. Their toughest non-conference game is against Duke. So this is a team that can make it to the Big Ten championship game. Even if they lose, they can certainly be considered by the committee for one of those at large bids just like Indiana was last year.

And Heather, looking at that schedule, not just manageable opponents, but the road games at Durham, no disrespect, at Purdue, at Washington, at Wisconsin. That one in Madison is the toughest by some measure of just the four road games. games on the schedule at IU as well. I missed that one September 20th. Coach, Commissioner Tony Petiti was also talking about the playoff at their Big Ten media days today. I think, you know, we feel pretty strongly that fans will really gravitate to a play in weekend, that, you know, providing games that are do or die on the field will drive for an interest. Whether there's enough information that fans have in any one poll about what a new system

will be, you know, I'm not aware of how it was phrased or not. I just believe, and I'm talking to our league, you know, the weekend that we're talking about where you'd have championship games and across all conferences, meaningful playing games, I don't see how that's a bad thing for college football. And I think fans will gravitate to it. HD, for much of the back half of the year, your life revolves around the college football playoff. A play-in weekend? Is that something to which you think we might be close? I wouldn't say we're close to anything as far as the future iteration of the college football playoff in 2026 and beyond because the reality is the bulk of control, as Tony Petiti said multiple

times in his statement at the podium, the SEC and the Big Ten have the bulk of control over this format. They need to come to a consensus in order for it to change, and right now they're not on the same page. Now, Georgia coach Kirby Smart told me last week that it's not a consensus in the SEC of 5 plus 11, a 16 team model that would include the five highest ranked conference champions and 11 at large bids, but that has been where they are leaning towards. So when you're talking about these playing games, yes, it would certainly create fan interest. There's no question about it. And that is why he says automatic qualifiers aren't just handing to teams.

They've got to earn their way in, but they're not close because they can't agree. Yeah, we all agree more high stakes football is good, but the format and the competing interests from all these conferences make it tough to sort out. No surprise these commissioners using the opportunity today. to campaign for it. Heather Dinnich, thanks so much. When we return, head coach of the defending national champs spoke to the media just moments ago. Hear what Ryan Day has to say about his Buckeyes chances this season. College football live back in your televisions, the ACCs in Charlotte starting today for media days where Commissioner Jim Phillips was asked about the CFP format.

I've always believed in rewarding conference champions. And if you're in a really good conference, I think, like we have across the P4, and you're also part of the G6. Conference championships matter, and that's been consistent in my five years, that they should be rewarded. We have a really good playoff right now. It's the 5 and 7 model. I'm open to 59 and 511. I always look to our championships to try to have as much access as possible within reason.

It has to make sense. Andrea Adelson joins us now from AC. media days. Andrew, you heard the sound. I assume actually you were in the room when Mr. Phillips made those comments. What's your reaction to the conference championships matter, but we're going to go 5 plus 7, 9, 11, whatever it might be. I'm not surprised at all. In fact, I think that was in response to the question I asked, because Jim Phillips has been consistent for months now that there has to be fairness and there has to be access. That's exactly what the ACC wants. And so that's why they believe in the 5 plus 11 model. They don't feel as if conferences should be guaranteed

spots. They want it to be able to play out. Yes, conference championships matter, as you just heard him say, but they also want the opportunity to be able to play for at large spots as opposed to having four to this conference or four to the other conference. And while there are other commissioners who are putting their foot down and saying, well, this is how it has to be. This is the ACC's absolute preference. But Jim Phillips is also working behind the seat. so that they can have some sort of ability to move forward together. And if that means staying at 12, then that's what it is going to be. So not a surprise at all that the ACC is in favor of the 5 plus 11,

which is obviously what the Big 12 and a lot of the SEC coaches are in favor of as well. Andrew, there was a lot of other topics and questions lobbied the way of Commissioner Phillips in that press conference. What are the topics he covered that stand out that we should know? The most important one is the ACC is now moving toward a player availability report. And so essentially for football, men's basketball, women's basketball, and baseball, teams are going to be required two days before games to give an availability report that is going to be published, and then update that one day before the game and then on game day. And a lot of this is because of issues that have come up with gambling.

And so this is a way they feel like this is something that can be mitigated. The ACC about 10 years ago used to have an injury report that they put out. Coaches didn't necessarily like it. But in this situation, Jim Phillips said, I didn't get any pushback from coaches. Everybody is on board with the player availability reports. And one more thing, there are now going to be fines instituted for institutions if there is field storming or court storming. Interesting stuff. Andrea, thanks so much. Joining us from Charlotte.

We appreciate it. August, toughest postseason climb. And after all that, it's Ohio State together at the mountain time. There really wasn't a lot of people that saw this vision right here. This group of guys, this is very, very special. When I came here, I talked about winning a national championship. I'm just so glad that God gave me a chance to be a Buckeye. Yeah.

Well, that's the biggest trophy in the sport. According to ESPN Analytics, Ohio State has a 40% chance to win its first of Big Penn Championship since 2020. Penn State and Oregon are the only other teams better than 10%. chance to win the conference. Buckeyes haven't made it to Indianapolis since 2020. It's their longest drought since the conference championship game was instituted in 2011. Their head coach, Ryan Day, spoke today with Heather Dinnich. Ryan, you might have the best offensive and defensive players in the country in Jeremiah Smith at receiver and Caleb Downs at safety.

But there's turnover everywhere else on staff and on the roster. How do you build on last year's success with that transition? I think a lot of the guys were either on the team or even some of the new faces. We started classes on January 6th. They were able to watch and be around it for two weeks and see what it took and what it looked like when Will Howard was in the huddle and all the things that came with winning the national championship. But it's a whole new group. And so that's behind us.

And we have to do it on our own. Everybody's got to kind of step into new roles and do their job. So it's like that in college football. It's certainly a lot this year coming off of last year. But when you have such a great group of guys who decided to come back, you're going to have that, you know, that big turnover year. And that's kind of where we're at right now. But we feel really good about the pieces we have coming back.

Some of the guys, our household names, others aren't, you know, that maybe, you know, America doesn't know about. We do. And, you know, we're excited to let everybody see what those guys are going to do this year and then grow as the season goes on. Because that's the most important thing is figuring out where your team is and then making the adjustments as the season goes on. Tom Luganville, Roddy Jones,

back with us from Charlotte and Roddy. Ohio State, they just won the biggest hardware, reigning national champs, but this Big Ten title has proven elusive. FPI likes their odds. They're the odds on favorites. Who are their biggest challengers in 2025 in the Big Ten? I think you've got to start with Penn State because of everything that Penn State has coming back. Now, the issue is Penn State hasn't been able to get over the hump of beating teams that are supposed to be better than beating teams that they're not favored against. So I think Penn State's number one with everything they've got coming back on the offensive defensive lines. Obviously, they lose Abdul Carter.

But I think that defensive line with denied Dennis Sutton and Amin Van Over is going to be just fine on the edges. Obviously, we know about the two interior guys with Zane Durant and J. Devon J. Thomas. So I think that Penn State team is probably the biggest challenger. But you look at Oregon and what Oregon's got coming back, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. I know the quarterback is going to be different. but Dante Moore came with a lot of hype. And obviously with what they've been able to do out in Eugene,

Will Stein has done a phenomenal job, Luke, with quarterbacks over the course of his time there. So those to be the biggest two to me. Yeah, listen, I'm very interested to see what happens in particular with Oregon and Michigan at the quarterback position. Because if you hit on the quarterback, then the whole conversation changes. If you don't, then it's problematic. And you don't have maybe a challenger, a true challenger to perceive dominance of Ohio State in Penn State.

And I agree going back to Heather's point that I think Illinois, with 19 starters back, Luke Altmeier, a team that has kind of slowly been bubbling to the surface. And now all of a sudden has a ton of returning production on both sides of the football. They're going to be a problem. And I think the league top to bottom with the Big Ten is like the ACC's quarterback driven. The Big Ten is who's the quarterback that's going to emerge? And I think that's going to be fun to watch. And we bring up Ohio State because they're repeated absolutely.

from the Big Ten championship game are a surprise. But when the Buckeyes get there, you can print the shirts. Six Big Ten title game appearances. Ohio State's five and one. Still ahead on College Football Live. A pair of familiar faces to football fans make debuts as college head coaches this year. Mike Vic back in the 757, Sean Jackson. They both met the media today.

We hear from both next. Here on College Football Live, Cal and Stanford made the first. Stanford made the long flight cross country to Charlotte for ACC media days. Both struggled their first season in the league. Cow was six and seven hampered by the offense. Stanford struggled across the board. They went three and nine. Both coaches addressed the media today.

We really believe coming into this 2025 season that under new GM Andrew Luck, that the Stanford football program is about to enter a new era of football. and you're going to see a new brand of football under his vision and leadership. And I'm really excited to be a part of that for the unique opportunity that I have to be the interim head coach for the 2025 season. The goal is to bring in as many good players as we possibly can

who fit us, who fit Cal, and let the competition sort the depth chart out. Roddy Jones, Tom Luganbill, back with us. And Lug, let's start. We heard the preponderance of sound from Frank Reich. What's the outlook to you in his first full year in charge in Palo Alto? Well, it's such a unique set of circumstances, right? He inherits a coaching staff.

You've got new leadership, and you're trying to navigate this space that we're all working through with name image and likeness in the transfer portal, and then you've got Stanford's obviously outstanding reputation as an academic institution, and where do they fit? I think the number one thing they've got to do is put down a blueprint for how they're going to to navigate this space and what resources they want to put towards it. Are they going to be infinitely better than they were a year ago? I don't know.

Maybe. All right. But what the most important thing is for Stanford is figuring out a way to compete with their peers. And it's more difficult now than it's ever been before. But I think they've got good leadership in place with Andrew Luck. And I think Frank Wright, in the interim, to be in this position for this year's time, is going to be really good for those kids.

When you look at Cal, they've got a quarterback competition. Devin Brown, the Ohio State transfer, and J.K.S. I promise, I'll get your name, Jaron, by the time we get to the... Saga Poole-A-Telie. Very good. Lug's nailed it. The much Ballyhooed freshman, if they can figure that out and figure out how to win close games. I mean, you think three plays and changing from last year. They could have been seven and oh. It could have been a nine-win team. Of course, the season with wins over Miami and Florida State, you change a play here or there. Defense has got a lot to replace, but I think Cal, with Brian Harson now as the offensive coordinator, could be a team that can make some noise. comes together, particularly the quarterback. Six ACC teams expected

to speak Wednesday. Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, Wake. Lug's quickly, what are you excited about tomorrow? Well, you got great quarterbacks with those teams that you named, but what we don't know about is the quarterback yet for Syracuse, coming off of a monster first year under Fran Brown. Is it going to

be Ricky Collins? Is it going to be Stephen Angelly, the Notre Dame transfer? And can they have a great sophomoric rise off of what was an unexpected year a year ago. The correct answer was Georgia Tech. That's what you're excited about. Rambling Rex in that house.

It's going to be fascinated. Hey, for Heather Dinnich, Andrea Edelson, Roddy Jones, and Tom Luganville. I'm Phil Murphy. We'll see you tomorrow for another edition of College Football Live.