College Football Live - CFB Live: Week 0 Is Here!

Episode Date: August 20, 2024

CFB Live host Victoria Arlen, accompanied by Sam Acho and Jordan Reid get you ready for Week 0 of college football. USC and Michigan have announced their starting Quarterbacks. Find out what Acho and Reid think of these new starting QBs. Also Tom Brady made some comments about college football and player development you don't want to miss. Finally get the full breakdown on what you need to know about the NEW 12 TEAM PLAYOFFS! All that and more here on CFB Live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you're flying Emirates business class, sampling our range of vintage wines from the largest selection in the skies, you'll see that your vacation isn't really over until your flight is over. Fly Emirates, fly better. Welcome to College Football Live. I'm Victoria Arlen. Let's go out the tunnel. With four days left until the season kicks off, teams are announcing their starting quarterbacks. The one team is still keeping us guessing.

Plus, hear what Tom Brady had to say on the development of college quarterbacks. Stick around to see why we may agree or disagree. And we are joined by Heather Dinnich as we break down the new 12-team playoff. Find out why every game will just mean more under this new format. We are just days away from the college football season kicking off. And we've got a lot to tackle today, pun for sure, intended. We've got Sam Ocho in studio. And of course, Jordan Reed joining us from far.

Now, there have been plenty of questions regarding the top QB spots. and well, we've got some answers. Starting out West, it is no surprise that after spending three seasons as a backup, including two behind Heisman winner Caleb Williams, Miller Moss's patience and persistence has officially paid off. On Monday, USC head coach Lincoln Riley

named Moss the starting quarterback for the number 23 ranked Trojans. And with big shoes to follow for saying it lightly, Jordan, what are your expectations for Miller Moss this year? Well, there's a saying at the backup quarterback is always the most popular guy on the team and they have big expectations for him at USC this year. We saw what he was able to do last year in the bowl game where he had six

touchdowns and with Lincoln Riley, we know if there's one position that we can count on him to develop consistently, it has been quarterbacks going back to Oklahoma and USC. He just developed Caleb Williams who went with the number one overall pick. But with Miller Moss, I really like what he was able to show in that bowl game and that's what they're hoping to get from him. Now, the week one game against LSU is going to be really important for him just because I think there's going to be a lot of opportunities for him to succeed in that game. We have to remember they'll welcome in a new defensive coordinator as well in Blake Bell. I think there's a lot of opportunity for him. Excuse me, Blake Baker, there's a lot of opportunity for him to really succeed against that defense.

So I'm really looking forward to seeing what he does against that LSU defense in week one. And one of the benefits in Miller Moss in his game is how cerebral he is as a quarterback. I think it was last year got a chance to just have a conversation with him on Zoom. And this dude is is highly intelligent, which makes sense because that's who his coach is. Lincoln Riley ran into him at SEC, or it was Pac-12, Big 12 Media Day, wherever conference he was at a few years ago, Big 12 Media Day. And he is one of the most intelligent play callers in all of college football. So you tie that mind of a coach with the mind of a quarterback.

It's no wonder you see that early success. Now, the question is, can that success be sustained week in and week out? We saw it in the bowl game. It was amazing, but that's just one game. Louis Ross has an opportunity to prove it this season. Well, he's going to be proving it when Moss and the Trojans open up the season against number 13 LSU in Las Vegas on September 1st, 730 Eastern on ABC. Now, we're going to shift over to the other coast. Duke quarterback Malik Murphy has won the Blue Devil's starting job to open the 2024 season.

Murphy is a Texas transfer who won both his starts last year for the Longhorns and three for 477 yards and three touchdowns on the season. Now, Sam, as I just mentioned, Murphy won both of his starts last year with the Longhorns. What expectations do you have for him this year? I have high expectations for Malik Murphy. I think the reason why is that he played big time ball and big time moments. The two games that he started last year, Texas needed to win those games if they wanted to stay not only in the Big 12 championship hunt, but in the college football playoff hunt. And yes, there were some big time throws, big time touchdowns down the field. He's a big time quarterback, 6-5-2-30.

The concern I have is with some of the interceptions that he threw. three, but some of those balls were a little bit reckless. And so I think with a year under his belt being the starter, not number two, not number three. He is the guy. Yes, I get it was a competition, but he won the starting spot. That's what gets me excited about the size, the strength, and the ability of Malik Murphy. Yeah, I'm excited to see what he's able to do this year. There's big expectations for Manny Diaz and also this Duke Blue Devils team. Yes, they are rebuilding. Mike Elko did not leave a whole bunch of talent behind overall on the roster. Raleigh Leonard is one player that is now going to be. So there's big shoes for Malika Murphy to build on with that. So what I want to see from him, though, is just be efficient. That's what you want to see in year one from a quarterback taking over a program. If he's able to simply be efficient and eliminate some of those turnovers that Sam talked about, I think this Duke team can be productive. But there are big shoes to fill.

Think about it. Riley Leonard played really great football last year at Duke. They got a chance to upset Clemson. You saw some of the other big time wins or close games that they played at. Even Notre Dame and I get it, there were some injury issues. So for me, I think Maloney. I think Murphy has some high expectations. Even though Duke isn't historically a program that you think of rapid football success, they've been rising and ascending the last couple years.

Now, I get it. New quarterback, new coach, new opportunity. But I think Malik Murphy has to make the most of it early if they want to see success on this team. Of course, Murphy transferred to Duke after entering the portal in mid-December, which was pretty newsworthy. In order, he was trying to find a school where he could secure a starting job. I'd say mission accomplice. We'll see what he could do. Now, some other notable starting QBs, we got.

Sam leave it who won the job at ASU while Dequan Finn will be leading the charge for Baylor and Maddox Madsen earned the top spot at Boise State. Now a notable team that is missing from that list is Michigan with their starting QB and former coach off to the NFL. One of the biggest questions for the defending champs this upcoming season. Who is their starting QB? Head coach Sharon Moore not tipping his hand yet saying quote, it could be a week of or day of the game decision before the starter is named. Now, Jordan, their QB room has no shortage of talent. Who do you think will ultimately win this QB competition? I think this is one of the biggest questions, not only in all of college football, but around the country as well. I'm going to go

with Alex Orgy here. I think they're going to end up going with him just because of the run game factors that he brings to the table. And yes, J.J. McCarthy, huge shoes to feel. It was 28 and 1 as a starter, 15 and 0 last year and went on to win a national. But with Alex Orgy, yes, he is raw as a passer, but when you talk about somebody that gives an added element or added dimension to this offensive game plan, he can be a lethal runner in that quarterback run game. So what I've always figured and what I've always thought of is Jalen Millrow last year at Alabama. His arm, his legs gave him that leeway to catch up what we saw him be a phenomenal passer towards the end of last season. I think what they envisioned with Alex Orgy is similar to what we saw with Millroy, Alabama, where there was some early season. and struggles, but we know he's a terrific

runner. But Jalen Milrow had an earlier opportunity, even the year before Jaylen Milro got a chance not only to play, but he actually passed the ball. Think about Alex Orgy's that I think he's completed maybe two passes, attempted two passes in the last two years. And so that challenge, right, if you look at

the stats and say, man, this many rushing yards, but no passing yards, passing attempts, there's going to be a challenge if Alex Orgy is in fact named the starter. Yeah, I see what you're saying. I'm just trying to up a game plan of what they kind of envision of what Alex Orgy can be. And yes, I know I said Milro did have some struggles early on, but I think that's what we could see early on from Alex

Orgy as far as he could struggle a little bit in the passing game. But we know with Sharon Moore, offensive line coach, he's going to be able to dial up some things in the quarterback run game, which will give him some leeway to eventually catch up as a pastor. Things will eventually slow down for him. And Michigan does have some question marks on the outside on the perimeter. Some receivers do need to step up. But you do still have Colston leveling, who I think is the best tight in in America. And then also somebody is eventually is going to step, step up in this receiver room. Now you give, you give orgy that leeway as a runner to eventually catch up as a passer as well. So they host Fresno State week one. Sam, is there any advantage

to drawing out the naming process for Michigan? Well, absolutely. And even when Cheryl Moore, the comment, the quote we saw, we saw words, we didn't see the facial expression. I saw the facial expression when he said, he said, we may decide day of or week of, but he said it with a smirk. And that body language means something. To me, that means they probably know who their starting quarterback is going to be, but they don't want to reveal it just yet. Why would you not want to reveal it just yet? Because not Fresno State per se, but Texas, a team who you play in week two,

is already going to be game planning for you. And I get it. Texas plays Colorado State week one. You've got to face them week one. But what you usually do as a team as a coaching staff during the offseason and training camp is you'll sprinkle in some plays of an opponent that you think is a big time opponent. And so if Texas, their week two opponent knew who they were facing at, quarterback that would give Texas an advantage. So I think there is an advantage to not name

your starting quarterback, even if you know who it's going to be. Yeah, Siromar definitely did have an elite poker face when he said that, but he knows that the hand that he was dealt, he really likes what he has. Alex Orgy, I think, can be a really good piece for them under center, but also Jack total, we can't count him out as well. But the best thing is they can get both of these guys reps against Fresno State, but also you don't want to reel too much just because that week two game against Texas is going to be a big one for them. want to keep it a little mysterious. All right, well, defending their title is not going to come easy, as the Wolverines have the 18th hardest strength of schedule and the sixth hardest in the big 10.

But speaking of Michigan quarterbacks, Tom Brady recently sat down with Stephen A. Smith, speaking about how young quarterbacks are handled in the modern NFL and the problem that starts at the collegiate level. Take a listen. Now there are players transferring from schools when they're not playing, and they're going to different programs, and they're going to different programs, and they're going to different techniques they're learning, they're never advancing in an own individual system. There used to be college programs. Now they're college teams. You're no longer learning a program, you're learning a playbook. And the program is ultimately, like at Michigan, for me, that was a pro-style program. Five years I got to learn how to drop back pass, to read defenses, to read coverages, to be

coach, to deal with winning games, to deal playing in Columbus, Ohio in front of 110,000 people. I had to learn from being seventh quarterback on the depth chart to moving up to third to ultimately being a starter. I had to learn all those things in college. That was development. Then I went to New England and I was developed by Coach Belichick and the offensive staff there. I didn't start my first year. I think it's just a tragedy that we're forcing these rookies to play early. But the reality is the only reason why they are is because we dumb the game down, which has allowed them to play.

It used to be thought of at a higher level. We used to spend hours and hours in the off season in training camp, trying to be a little bit better than next year. But I think what happens is discourages the coaches from going to deep levels because they realize the players don't have the opportunity to go to a deep level, so they're just going to teach them where they're at. A lot to unpack there. Sam, what are your thoughts on Brady's comments?

My initial reaction is I disagree in this point. The point of oftentimes it's not just the players that are transferring, it's the coaches that are transferring as well, if you will. Earlier with this show, I was talking about Lincoln Riley. I was like, was it Big 12 Media Day, Pack 12 Media Day, SEC? Like, he's been in three different conferences over the last several years. And so think about it. He was at Oklahoma.

He leaves Oklahoma, though he says he's not going to leave. He goes to USC. What does he do? He doesn't go and try to develop a quarterback who's there, Miller Moss. No, he goes and he brings his quarterback, Caleb Williams, which Heisman Trophy, you know, first round over over, number one overall pick. So I think the change is not just in the players. It's also in the coaches as well.

The opportunity to gain income and to make money from a coach's perspective has increased as well. And so coaches feel pressure to win and to win now. And so I think for that perspective, there's not this urgency to try and develop players. The urgency is to try and win championships. Yeah, I'm with you here, Sancho. And I disagree with Brady just because it's all about instant gratification with coaches now. They want to do whatever it takes to win games. Now, player development is always good. And yes, they're going to prepare them for the NFL. But what these coaches are ultimately going to be judged by are wins and losses. We just talked about USC. They had number one overall pick Caleb Williams last year. What does everybody say about

Lincoln Riley? How did they lose so many games that they did last year with a transcendent type of talent like Caleb Williams? And another thing that I want to add just because I have a unique perspective is that with quarterbacks, you want to make sure the game is as easy as possible for them. So for example, back when Brady played, play calls were really organized to tell everybody on the field what they were able to do. But now with quarterbacks, coaches are essentially dumbing these plays down to where one word could mean an entire concept for in the offense. So for example, back when the Patriots were planning when he was at Michigan, a play call could be X shallow, Z, dig, Y cross, and now at Michigan, or excuse me, now at USC, one play

call could be Wolverine, which means all those concepts together, all those patterns together. So these coaches are essentially trying to dumb everything down for these quarterback so it can be easier for them to play right away. And I think if we are going to have the conversation about whether coaches leaving or players leaving, we do need to give the respect where it's due to the coaches who have stayed and who want to develop their players. I got a chance three years ago to be at Big 12 Media Day. I know it was Big 12 Media Day because he hadn't changed conferences

with Matt Campbell, the head coach of Iowa State. And it was the first conversation I had with the coach in college about the transfer portal about NIL. And Matt Campbell's biggest beef was the fact that coaches aren't staying to develop their players. They're actually leaving and taking the next job, the next opportunity, taking as much money as they can. And he was extremely upset about that. And I think, okay, well, Matt Campbell, Iowa State,

what does that mean? Okay, think about who he's developed. Brock Purdy. And I've got a chance to know Brock Purdy and his family. Like, they were so excited about the consistency that Matt Campbell provides. Who else has been in that program? That was a three star, not a big time recruit, and that was one of the best players in NFL. Oh, Brees Hall. And so even at a place where you actually go and you stay and develop, look at it. Rocco Bex, their quarterback right now. His dad, Anthony Beck, first round pick played over a decade in the NFL. There are still coaches who are developing their players are not leaving for the next job, you just have to find them. Well, and it's an all around thing. The landscape has changed because it's been 20 plus years.

It's a very different time now. Now, Jordan, is there a way in which teams can better equip their QBs in the current college football landscape? Yeah, I think so. I think they still have to continue doing what they're doing. And that's just dumb and down everything for them just because with these quarterbacks, everything is so signaled base. And what I mean by that is they're getting the play from the sideline and where they're signaling. Now things are going to be a little bit different with the helmet communication, and the communication is probably going to be a lot faster. But prior to this season, this upcoming season, everything was signaled in to these

quarterbacks. Long gone on the days of players huddling up relaying these long, three or four syllable type of plays. Now everything is really signaled, not only to the quarterbacks, but the wide receivers and even the offensive linemen sometimes look to the sideline and get the signals. Well, the players and coaches have to continue to adapt. and the landscape is just going to continue to shift. So coming up, we break down the new 12-team playoff format.

Find out what these changes mean for teams eyeing a spot in the CFP. The fans have been waiting. An electric atmosphere here is unique, ladies and gentlemen. I got goosebumps. You root too if you were here. Welcome back to college football live. We are just four days away from the college football season kicking off and defending champs Michigan are coming off of the season where they went 15 and 0 and won their first.

national title since 1997. They were also the last team to win in the 14th playoffs. We now shift to a new playoff era. The 12th team college football playoff will be made up of the five highest ranked conference champions plus the next seven highest ranked teams. The four highest ranked conference champions will be seated one through four and receive first round buys. Wow, the eight teams seated five through 12 will play in the first round with the team

seeded five through eight hosting home games, which is a first for the playoff. From there, the playoff will play out as dictated by the bracket with no receding between rounds until a national champion is crowned on January 20th on ESPN. Assuming that the highest ranked team in a conference is a conference is the conference champion, this is how the 12-team field would look under the AP preseason poll. Florida State and Utah both get top four seeds and by weeks as quote conference champions, despite being ranked 10th and 12th, respectively. Boise State, despite being unranked, would make the CFP as the next highest ranked conference champion.

Now, the changes to the college football playoff are so significant this year. We had to bring in our CFP reporter, Heather Dinnich, to help break it all down for us. So, Heather, what is the number one most important factor to this playoff that fans need to know? The most important thing is the difference between the ranking and the seating. The selection committee is going to release their top 25. But even if Notre Dame is the number one team in the country, undefeated, they can't be seated any higher than number five. That's because Notre Dame as an independent can't get a first round by as a conference

champion. The same can be said for Georgia, for example. If Georgia loses in the SEC championship game and they're the committee's number two team in the country, the highest they could be seated is number five. And those teams from five on down have to win four straight games to win the national title. So that's a really important thing to note that that's different. And when the bracket is released on Selection Day, college football fans have to think of it like the NCAA tournament because you're talking about the seeds, number three-seated dupe, number five-seated Kentucky, right? The rankings are out the window immediately.

switch your brain over to the seating. What type of impact will the conference championships have, Heather? The conference championship games are going to be so important this year because the top four highest ranked conference champions get that first round by. I'm going to go back to Notre Dame for a minute because Notre Dame can't win a conference title, but they get to rest that weekend. Yes, they have to win four straight games to win the national title. they can't have a first round by.

But while other teams are playing in those conference championship games, Notre Dame is resting. So is the number three team in the Big Ten, the number three team in the SEC. I talked to Georgia coach Kirby smart about that and Penn State coach James Franklin and Ohio State Coach Ryan Day. The perception of conference championship games

is still vital to those coaches. Kirby told me that it's as difficult as it is to win a national title as it is to win the SEC. And he, that means more to him. than anything. But at the same time, he said, it might be the best to be the number three team in the SEC as far as the playoff positioning goes because you're sitting there watching. And if you lose, not only do you have to come off a devastating emotional loss, you've got to win four straight games to win the national title.

The winning four straight and you just need that confidence and momentum. Now, Heather, why could number 12 be the unluckiest number for a team on selection Sunday? It goes back to the first answer about the ranking being different than the seating. Just because you're number 12 in the selection committee's top 25 on selection day doesn't mean you're in the college football playoff because there are five guaranteed spots for conference champions. So in most years, usually we're talking about the highest ranked group of five conference champion that could bump out the number 12 team.

I don't care if it's LSU on the jersey, if it's Oklahoma. Last year, Oklahoma would have been bumped out for number 23 Liberty in the college football playoff. The year before that, it would have been Washington bumped out in favor of Tulane. So there has to be room for that fifth champion, and it could come at the expense of number 12. There's just no comfort in that space whatsoever. All right, you got to head over to ESPN.com for Heather's exclusive CFP bubble watch, which predicts the 12-team bracket. First round bys first four out and how the group of five conference champ stacks up.

A lot to unpack there and we will be updated every week during the season. Thank you so much, Heather. Up next, check out Oklahoma State's new way of staying ahead of the game, sporting a unique look on their helmets for this season. We've got one for the road. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said last week that he hopes his play. players can focus on football now instead of the business side of things until the school announced that the Cowboys will have QR codes on their helmets linking to the school's NIL fund, believed to be a first in college football. Jordan, thumbs up or thumbs down about this?

I'm going thumbs up. I like the idea. It's very creative. All right. Well, we're going to. My thumbs are scrolling. Let me see how big it would be. He's going to score a lot of touchdowns this year.

We're just, we're looking for our QR codes, Jordan. And we're not there. All right, for Sam, Jordan, I'm Victoria. We're going to roll back tomorrow looking for our QR codes.