Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - HEALED: ACC & Notre Dame Rift RESOLVED + Miami Gears Up for Playoff Gam against Texas A&M

Starting point is 00:00:00 The ACC and Notre Dame met very recently. Has the relationship been restored? Let's talk about it. You are Locked on ACC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello, everyone, and welcome in a locked on ACC. I'm Jackson Holeser, the host of Locked on Syracuse. That's Tenting Gibbs, the host of Locked on NC State Wolfpack.

Starting point is 00:00:35 And thank you all so much for tuning into this edition of Locked-on ACC. And on today's show, not sure you all heard, ladies and gentlemen, but the Miami Hurricanes have a pretty big game on Saturday taken on Texas A&M and this thing called the college football playoff. And Kenton and I will be giving our thoughts on that game throughout the show. But first and foremost, we have to discuss this meeting that took place in New York City on Thursday with Jim Phillips and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua. Has the relationship been restored?

Starting point is 00:01:12 We'll talk about it here on this edition of Locked-on ACCC. And before we get to everything, this episode is brought to you by Fandul. If you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit Fandul.com and place your NFL live bets all season long. So Jim Phillips, ACC, commissioner, and athletic director of Notre Dame, Pete Bavacua, they met in New York City on Thursday. And this report came out very recently today on Friday. And this is according to Yahoo Sports's Ross Delinger.

Starting point is 00:01:43 Furthermore, according to ESPN's Andrea Adelson, the meeting was over two hours. And apparently it was a positive meeting. Quote, the ACC maintained it was simply advocating for its full-time member in Miami. And both parties hoped to move on with a positive relationship. So Kenton, that said, do you think that this relationship between the ACC and Notre Dame has been restored? Absolutely.

Starting point is 00:02:11 I don't, here's the thing. I understand when it comes to playoffs, everybody likes to get big, bad, and bold, right? And this is not me taking a shot at this school or their legislators. But remember when Florida State got snubbed and all of a sudden, there were state legislators saying that they were going to sue. There were national Congress members saying, oh, somebody's getting sued for this. How'd that work out, Jackson? Were there any meaningful lawsuits? Not against the ACC, but against the committee.

Starting point is 00:02:40 No. Because there's nothing that anyone can do about it. It's subjective. Hmm. Oh, okay. So when you look at these things, it's not, and again, I want to make it clear. That is not me making fun of Florida State. What I'm saying is when these playoff things happen and a team deeply believes we belong, we belong.

Starting point is 00:03:02 We belong. We had a dominant run, the most dominant run in college football history in 10 games, despite the best team we played in that 10 games being USC with Lincoln Riley. Pete Carroll not walking through that door. They beat Syracuse. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Who didn't beat Syracuse, okay?

Starting point is 00:03:22 I'm sorry. Thompson didn't. Well, yes. But without a quarterback list Syracuse, who lost to it? Who lost to Ricky College as a star edition? year. Who lost to the, the, the, I can't even remember the kids. No, Flaherty, the lacrosse player. Who lost the lacrosse boy this year, with all due respect to Mr. Fulardi. So, um, the reality is, I don't think that this relationship was ever as damaged as, as people said it was. It was just a situation of, I'm puffing up my chest. I'm going in front of cameras. I can't believe it. I'm coming down with the righteous indignation of God upon you. It was that type of deal. But at the end of the today, I need a lot of people to understand one thing. There are so many things in life.

Starting point is 00:04:08 And we don't talk, you know, politics and religion and all that on this show. But there are many aspects of life that function like WW wrestling. In public, I've got to say, hey, on the 12th, when I get Jackson Horser in that ring, it's going to be a beating. I'm going to put the beats on them. And then the camera say, cut. And I'm like, all right, Jackson, you want to go to the bar brother? and great shows always, man, let's go do our thing.

Starting point is 00:04:34 And that's what this was. This was Pete Blavakwa, you know, advocating for his team and, you know, saying we're so hurt and we're so devastated and we can't believe it. But again, even if that was the case and even if this wasn't a WWE thing, even if that was the legitimate feeling, you still have to look at the actual relationship for what it is and where could you replicate that? Sure, damage could be done to the relationship, but as Jalen Rose once said, your only as faithful as your options.

Starting point is 00:05:03 So where, what's next? What would have been next if they were like, oh, we're, we're still on this tirade and we've been wrong by the ACC. What was next? A deal with the SEC to be a full-time member and everything but football, keep your football revenue? You think the SEC would allow it? No.

Starting point is 00:05:22 The SEC would say, why would the SEC want Notre Dame anything other than football? You think Big Ten would allow it? Absolutely not. And your mark, as I told everybody on this show, if you thought that the ACC making a couple of graphs showing the resumes and replaying a head-to-head game was bad, you don't know your mark at all. He jumped into the smoke that had nothing to do with him to say

Starting point is 00:05:51 that Notre Dame was being a bunch of babies. So this is, with all due respect, this was just a situation where some chess were puffed up and people said things at all by feelings are hurt, and I can't believe that you would advocate for a full-time member who would pay you out $4 million if they go over me, a part-time member who you get no money if we go. That's all that is. And then once they got behind closed doors, they probably shaked hands, they probably drank good wine.

Starting point is 00:06:17 They had to stake the size of Jackson's back, which is not very big. And then they went on. I mean, I don't know what. I mean, they were in that meeting for apparently two hours. So I hope they enjoyed a very nice meal and some wine together. I hope that cooler heads prevailed, and it sounds like it did. And by cooler heads, I mean Pete Bevacqua and Notre Dame. Kenton, we're very critical of Jim Phillips and the ACC.

Starting point is 00:06:41 But in this case, I don't think the ACC and Jim Phillips did anything wrong. I really don't. What did the ACC do wrong? Yeah. I mean, Miami is a full-time member. Miami and Notre Dame had the same record. They were lined up next to each other in terms of where they were. were at in the seating, Miami won head to head.

Starting point is 00:07:05 So Miami, therefore, is the better team, and they deserve to be in the college football playoff. And at the end of the day, Kenton, Pete Ivakwa, and I said this on locked on ACCC last Friday, he can stream and puff out his chest, this, that, and the other, he can say whatever he wants. The reason why Notre Dame didn't make the college football playoff is because they didn't win. their games. Just win your games. That's all you got to do, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. Thank you, Kenton. See, you're, you're catching along to the, to the phrase.

Starting point is 00:07:39 Just win your games. If Notre Dame had simply beaten Miami in week one and they went 11 and one, guess what? Pete of Aqua and ACC wouldn't have to meet about reconciliation because Notre Dame would be prepared for the college football playoff this weekend. That's what they would be doing right now. I'll take it even further. If they're 10 and 2, but they beat Miami and lose to like an NC state or a Syracuse. They're still in. I don't know if they can lose to Syracuse, but I get your point. Alabama lost to Florida State. Alabama lost to Florida State and they still got it.

Starting point is 00:08:11 You're right. Maybe you are, I mean, lacrosse, I get it. I think there's a different. No, no, you can't lose to lacrosse boy. Now, hold on, hold on. We're imagining a different world where Syracuse. Well, that's what you said Syracuse. We're talking about a different world, Syracuse.

Starting point is 00:08:25 Okay, not Syracuse, maybe, but you lose to an NC state or you lose to, you lose to, you USC, you still get in. You still get in because you have the head to head over Miami. So even without going undefeated or being 11 and 1, there were other paths for you to get in. But you did not, again, that game won was extremely important and you lost it. I just hope that in this meeting that took place that Jim Phillips didn't admit to any wrongdoing. Because he did nothing wrong.

Starting point is 00:08:57 And I think sometimes in society, we expect and demand apologies from people when apologies aren't necessarily warranted. If you didn't do anything wrong, there's nothing to apologize about. So in the case of Jim Phillips, I hope he said to Notre Dame, look, like, sorry that y'all didn't get in the college football playoff, but we as a conference did nothing wrong. That's it. Plain and simple, win your games next time, as I have to take another drink now because I said, win your game. But I mean, but you're not wrong. You're not wrong. That's what it is.

Starting point is 00:09:31 Notre Dame wins. They're in the college football playoff. They did not. And therefore, they are not even going to play in a Pop-Tart bowl, which is neither here nor there. We don't need to get into it here on this edition of Lockdown ACC. But what we do need to get into, though, is the game that is actually taking place on Saturday with the team that did advance to the college football playoff, the Miami Hurricanes, and Texas A&M Aggies, Kenton and I will preview that matchup next on Locked-on ACC. The holidays always show up faster than we expect,

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Starting point is 00:12:04 The ACC does have a team in the college football playoff. It's not the conference champion Duke Blue Devils. It is the Miami Hurricanes representing the conference as an at-large team. Kenton, I think all eyes are on two matchups, really, for this college football playoff weekend. You've got the game that's happening tonight between Oklahoma and Bama, and that's a game that I think a lot of people say is a toss-up. And then you got this game on Saturday at noon Eastern.

Starting point is 00:12:30 And I think it's fair to say that this is also a toss-up. It's 50-50. Very difficult, I think, to predict who wins this game. But Kenton, let's start with the Keynes offense. What do you think the big key for them is to be successful in this one? I think the big key is to protect Carson Beck and stay on schedule. Those are the two things that, I mean, they play hand-in-hand. If you run the ball well, if Fletcher and company are getting it done on the ground, you put yourself in a good position to not have to make Carson Be Superman.

Starting point is 00:13:05 I hate the fact that people have turned the word game manager into a pejorative, but that's what I want. I don't want anybody to have to be Superman. I don't care if I got Lamar Jackson that quarterback, you know what I mean? I don't want him to have to be Superman. I would love to have a team that is good enough that, you know, if you think back to, to Peyton Manning his last show on the Broncos, right? They won the Super Bowl that year, and he did dilly squat in the Super Bowl.

Starting point is 00:13:33 He basically was the guy that was along for the ride on the group project that shows up the morning of in his pajamas and wipes his eyes. Yeah, and this is Cold Fusion. Sir, this is a language arts class. What are you doing? You know, it's that type. He still gets the A because everybody else read and thoroughly went through all the material. The reality is that's what you would want if you are Miami.

Starting point is 00:13:58 You have to run the ball. You have to stay on schedule because Texas A&M has a type of defensive line. Those boys can do it. They can absolutely go if you get them into predictable passing situations. So I think Miami needs to stay on schedule and just be themselves. Just be themselves. Here's a very interesting fact about Texas A&M that nobody realizes. I want to ask you a question, how many teams with a winning conference record in the SEC has Texas A&M beaten this year?

Starting point is 00:14:36 One? If you're listening to this show, you've beaten as many SEC teams with any records as Texas A&M has this year. Zero? None. Not a single one. Not a single one. And so with that in mind, I'm trying to tell you all it is a very strong possibility that if Miami is, just themselves. They don't get outside their body and say, oh, we got to chuck deep balls all

Starting point is 00:15:01 game long or, you know, the run game don't work in the first quarter. We got to abandon it. Stay who you are. Stay to the process. And defensively, get to a banged up Marcel Reed, who his most, his most important weapon is his explosiveness with his legs. That is what sets the table for everything else. And so if you allow him to get off, if you allow him to get comfortable because you're so scared of that, you're going to be in a very bad way. So for Miami, I'll just say be who you are, run the ball, stay ahead of schedule. I'll get to the defense for Miami in just a moment because I do think there's a very specific game plan that they can follow that Texas just used not too long ago.

Starting point is 00:15:41 And it forced Marcel Reed into maybe his worst game of the season. The big win for what it's worth for Texas A in this year was very early in the season, and that was against Notre Dame. So it's not like Texas A&M has played nobody throughout the whole season. They do have a big win against Notre Dame earlier on in the year, but it's also a team that Miami beat early on this season. For Miami, here's the deal. Texas A&M has a bottom five rushing defense in the SEC,

Starting point is 00:16:12 and that's just in total. That can sometimes be misleading because it depends on a situation. Maybe you give up a large quantity, but in terms of quality of yards that you're allowing, like yards per carry, for example, maybe you're not giving up that many yards per carry, so who cares what the total is? Well, you dive a little deeper.

Starting point is 00:16:31 Texas A&M is also bottom five in the SEC in yards allowed per carry. However, they do lead the conference in sacks this season. That defensive line can really get after you. So for Miami, it's very simple. You've got to be able to run the football. And also, you got to stay ahead of schedule, stay ahead of the sticks. You don't want to be in obvious passing down situations too often,

Starting point is 00:16:55 because if you allow that Texas A&M pass rush to pin their ears back and go after Carson Beck, that could be trouble for Miami on offense. So I think we both are on the same page here. They need to run the football very efficiently in this game. As far as the defense, I'll start off with right here. This is the big key. Keep Marcel Reed in the pocket and then generate pressure with the front four. If you can generate pressure with the front four and keep Marcel Reed contained, Miami is going to win this game.

Starting point is 00:17:28 Plain and simple. We just saw very recently with Texas what they did to Marcel Reed. They didn't blitz a whole lot in that game. No. They didn't have to. They said, all right, we're going to rush three. We're going to rush four, whatever the case may be.

Starting point is 00:17:43 Marcel Reed is not going to break the pocket. we're going to force him to be a sole passing quarterback. Now, he can throw the ball. I'm not going to sit here and disrespect him. Of course, you can throw the ball, but if he can't use his legs, well, all of a sudden, that's just half of his ability right there is on.

Starting point is 00:18:03 It's like when you're playing Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, if you can stop Lamar in his legs and force him to beat you with his arm, your chances of winning go up significantly. So that's the big key for Miami on defense. keep Marcel Reed in the pocket and not having two blitz to generate pressure. You know, I very strongly agree with that. And the other thing that I want to make clear here is in saying, hey, the way to beat them is to do these things.

Starting point is 00:18:32 These are things that Miami has done well all year. Yeah. Miami is not a team that blitzes a tough. Because when you have Ruben Band and Mesidor, why the hell would you? It doesn't make sense. Why would I take guys out of coverage to say, hey, we need to have even more pressure than what these guys could already generate, just saying, hey, dogs, go hunt, go hunt.

Starting point is 00:18:56 So ultimately, I do think that this is a very winnable game for Miami. And by the way, the best conference record of any team that Texas A&M beat this year was best SEC conference record was 4-4 by Missouri. So 500 Missouri. So they still technically, no wins against the 10%. team with a winning record in the SEC in terms of conference record. So ultimately, I understand that there were times this year where people held Texas and them as world beaters.

Starting point is 00:19:28 I don't think we're right there. I don't think we're quite there. You know, they're at home and they're what, three and a half point favorites? Yeah, it's a toss-up game. Yeah, I mean, like Vegas is telling you, $120,000. They're telling you we have no idea who would. is going to win this game. So Texas A&M is at home, therefore they get three points.

Starting point is 00:19:50 That's what they're running. Exactly. And that's in essence where we are right now. This would be a pick-um without that home field advantage. So ultimately, this game is going to be a fun one. It's going to be an exciting one. And if I'm Miami, I want to turn this into an old-school rock fight. I want to turn this into a knockdown, drag out.

Starting point is 00:20:09 Hey, bring your toughest guy to the brawl. I'm going to bring my toughest guy. Let's see what we can do. Let's see what we got. I think that Miami could absolutely win that style of football. I did see them in person one time this season, albeit it was against a pretty bad Florida Gators team, but that game was a rock fight like you described.

Starting point is 00:20:28 There was not much going on for either team, really, in that game. But Miami is just a very, very good defensive team when they are playing at their best. And so I actually think matchup-wise, they match up pretty well with Texas A&M. I do not think that they are overmatched in this game. I think Vegas has the line. correct because you have to respect that Texas A&M is A, A, worthy opponent, and B, they are at home. But coming up, Kenton and I will give our predictions for this game. Are the Miami Hurricanes about to upset Texas A&M? Find out next on Locked on ACC.

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Starting point is 00:21:44 go to rocketmoney.com slash locked on today. That's rocketmoney.com slash locked on. Rocketmoney.com slash locked on. All right, Kenton, let's touch to the chase right here. Miami, Texas A&M, Saturday, noon Eastern. Who do you got? I got Miami. I got Miami winning a close one.

Starting point is 00:22:06 And it, even though, like you said, Jackson, it's technically considered an upset because you'd be going against the Vegas books, but not really. You know, I mean, like, this is a game that everybody knows is going to be a toss-up. But I've got Miami winning this one, 24-21, and I think that ultimately it comes down to the fact that while people talk about, oh, Carson Beck in big games, it just hasn't been there. It hasn't been there.

Starting point is 00:22:33 Well, where's Marcel Reed been in big games? Notre Dame, he played well, sure. Carson Beck, if you go through and look at some of his big games in the past, you can file one or two where he's performed well. but as a whole, it just, it hasn't always been there. And so beyond that, the injury factor as well, I think greatly benefits Miami because you're talking about a quarterback that's banged up that is a fantastic runner who, you know, the legs just, we saw it against Texas. He did not, he seemed hobble. He seemed like he was struggling to get out of the pocket and, you know, windows where he could normally figure.

Starting point is 00:23:14 all the way to escape. It just, he just was a second or half a second two slow. I think Miami wins this 24-20. I said this on ACCC Squad. In fact, you said the same thing on ACC Squad. We have basically identical scores. I have 24-20 Miami, and I think that the way they're going to win this is going to be in dramatic fashion.

Starting point is 00:23:34 I think they're going to go on the road and they're going to get a goal line stand at the end of the game. They're going to be driving for that winning touchdown. They're going to need a touchdown because they're going to be down four. and Miami is going to get a stand at the goal line. So that's what I got in this game. I want to add to keys of this game and it goes along the same lines of staying ahead of the sticks

Starting point is 00:23:54 if you're the Miami offense. It's going to be a loud building. Over 100,000 people in there, 110,000 people in there. And they're going to be loud. Let's just put it that way. It might be so loud in there. It's going to maybe generate an earthquake,

Starting point is 00:24:11 like we saw with the beastway, quite literally in Seattle. way back when. It could happen potentially this weekend. So if you are Miami, this is very critical and this is not going to be easy. It's very easy to say it on a microphone right now. You have to do your best to limit those pre-snap penalties. Those are drive killers. Even a false start, which is only five yards, could be a drive killer against this Texas A&M defense. Because when you're behind the sticks, suddenly you're going to have to throw the ball a little bit more than you might want to against that Texas A&M pass rush, which led the SEC and SACS, like I mentioned earlier.

Starting point is 00:24:48 So very important for Miami to do their best to deal with the environment and limit those pre-snap penalties. Tanton, any last thoughts on this game? No, I think it's going to be a great game. I think it's going to be a great contest. And I'm so glad that Miami just won their games. So that way, we get to see them playing the playoff on this wonderful Saturday. instead of throwing a hissy fit that they're not in the bowl and then saying that

Starting point is 00:25:15 Notre Dame has done irreparable damage to their relationship with Miami because of the way that they've talked about Miami in the interim. But no, seriously, I'm excited for this game. I think it's going to be a good one. You know what I really like about the college football playoff is that now the style points don't matter. Yeah. It doesn't, it's no longer, is it a beauty pageant. It doesn't matter how Miami wins or how Texas A&M wins. All that matters is who actually won the game. You don't need to take a drink for that. No need. You don't need to do it. It's just point being here is that the style points of the regular season and how a team did in their conference championship and who's better, this, that, and the other and trying to rank them. It's all,

Starting point is 00:25:58 it's all done. All right. We got the 12 teams. May the best team win. Kenton, I already asked you your last thoughts. So, folks, thank you all so much for watching. Thank you all so much for listening. If you like this podcast, be sure to hit that like button. If you really enjoy the podcast, be sure to hit subscribe. Tell all your friends about locked on ACC. We will be back on Monday to recap Texas A&M and the Miami Hurricanes. And hopefully we're talking about a Miami victory. So take care, everyone.

Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - HEALED: ACC & Notre Dame Rift RESOLVED + Miami Gears Up for Playoff Gam against Texas A&M

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