Locked On ACC - Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast - Heisman BREAKTHROUGH: Miami’s Darian Mensah and Louisville’s Isaac Brown CHALLENGE the ACC Drought

Episode Date: April 9, 2026

ACC football’s decade-long Heisman drought faces a reckoning—could stars like Louisville’s Isaac Brown or Miami’s Darian Mensah finally break through? Miami’s balanced attack and Malachi Ton...ey’s highlight-reel versatility stir debate, while NC State’s C.J. Bailey rides a compelling storyline that could propel him into the Heisman conversation. Analysts weigh the odds, spotlighting Dark Horse candidates and hidden values across the conference, from Kevin Jennings’ statistical upside to Chris Vezina’s question marks at Clemson. Off the field, controversy brews over the NCAA’s new punt rule—will its safety implications lead to more blocked punts and risk for punters, or just confusion for coaches? Alex Donno and Kenton Gibbs tackle hot-button topics like unfair media labels on Miami QB Carson Beck and pitch wild proposals for triple-digit jersey numbers. Get the pulse of ACC football’s biggest questions and drama as the season approaches. Everydayer Club  If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub     Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Mazda Like our players, we’re driven by the details. Highlights make the reel. But the work behind them makes it count.
The all-new Mazda CX-5. More to move every side of you. Wayfair Get last-minute hosting essentials, gifts for all your loved ones, and decor to celebrate the holidays for WAY less. Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home.  Wayfair. Every style. Every home.  TurboTax This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. Robinhood You’re no longer just a spectator. Play by play. You decide. Trade Every Play with Robinhood. Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast   Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 The ACC is breaking their decade-long Heisman drought this season. You are Locked-on ACCC, your daily podcast on the Atlantic Coast Conference. Part of the Locked-On Podcast Network, your team every day. He is Kenton Gibbs. I am Alex Dono, and today's episode of Locked on ACC is brought to you by Fanduel. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get $250 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Head to fandual.com to get started. On this loaded episode, you're a college football fan.
Starting point is 00:00:41 Chances are your special teams coach is really upset about a new punt formation rule that's going into effect this season. Looks like we might be seeing more blocked punts this year. That may or may not be a good thing depending on where you sit. A headline about Carson Beck that rubbed me the wrong way. I need Kenton to talk me off the ledge on this one. but Kenton, we've talked about this before. We check in on this a couple times per year here on Locked on ACC. You know it's a sticking point with me that this conference has not had a Heisman
Starting point is 00:01:17 trophy winner in now officially a decade. Lamar Jackson, 2016 was the last one we've gotten. We've had some guys that have gotten to the ceremony like Cam Ward a couple years ago, but no one has gotten us over the hump in 10 years. How many candidates do you see like legit or dark horse candidates for the Heisman Trophy? Because the Miami and me would say Darien Mensa, who is top eight in odds, maybe even Malachi Tony. But there's a few others in this conference who can sneak into that conversation. Y'all know where I'm going to go with this.
Starting point is 00:01:54 Anybody who has watched this show longer. No, not CJ. Not CJ. It's another guy to wear it's red and white. Isaac Brown. That is the guy. that you need to watch because there are basically three paths to being the guy that wins the Heism. Path number one be the best player on the best team.
Starting point is 00:02:14 Fernando Mendoza won it last year for that reason. Fernando Mendoza had less passing yards than Derry Minson last year. Fernando Mendoza had the same amount of interceptions, seven more touchdowns playing on a much better team last year, and playing a worse out-of-conference schedule, although they're in conference schedule. Nobody's denying that overall, They played a better schedule. However, if you take away the stats from the playoff, it's not close.
Starting point is 00:02:40 It's not particularly close statistically between those two. So why am I saying that? I'm saying that to say, best player on the best team is route number one. Route number two, video game numbers. And I'm going to tell you, a young man, that's a cheat code. Let me tell you something. He popped up as available in the portal on college football 26. I sent the house immediately.
Starting point is 00:03:05 I didn't wait around. Also, he was in the portal in real life for a couple days, but he decided to stay at Louisville, which was big. So video game and reality, he hit the portal, but he stayed at Louisville. He did. And let me tell you something. He can put up video game numbers, because if you think back to Lamar Jackson team,
Starting point is 00:03:22 Dono, what did they do of consequence? Did they play in a national championship? No, they won, like, what was it, eight or nine games that year? Like it wasn't a great team season. It was a great individual season. That's my point. Isaac Brown does not need Louisville to be great to get in there. And to me, he can do it.
Starting point is 00:03:43 He can be the guy that just puts up numbers where you're just like, I don't understand how this happens. His ability to accelerate is otherworldly. His ability to stop, start, accelerate. And I know everybody listening to this is like every running back starts, stops, and accelerates quickly. I don't think you understand. Isaac Brown makes fast guys look slow.
Starting point is 00:04:06 He does. He makes guys that if you would put them up against a race, against 100 normal people, those guys that would blow by everybody, he makes them look like they're running in mud on a perfect day when it is sunny out, and the grass is perfect. Isaac Brown is a dude that he will have to carry that team,
Starting point is 00:04:26 because whether you believe in Messemaker or not, I don't think that that team does anything if Isaac Brown is not a start. at minimum. Superstar to Heisman level, they still could be a nine-win team. But I don't think they piss a drop if he's not at minimum a star player. So I think Isaac Brown has a path there that is that second way. Now, obviously, all the Miami guys that you mentioned, they got the first way to be the best player on the best team. All of them can be sure. Yeah. Well, and on Isaac Brown for a second, let me give you his numbers from last year, but also with the context. He missed
Starting point is 00:05:01 four games last season due to a leg injury. So this is two-thirds of the season played. And still, he puts up 884 yards on 8.8 yards per carry, seven touchdowns. And that's missing four games. The year prior where I don't think he missed any time, at least not significant time, 2024, he had almost a 1,200-yard season rushing and 11 touchdowns. So yeah, like you said, Kenton, If Isaac Brown, if he stays healthy, because that's also an essential component for any Heisman winner. Guys who miss four games don't win that trophy. If he's healthy this upcoming season, he is more than capable of putting up the numbers necessary. Because I think it's safe to say Isaac Brown probably a better player in 2026 than he was in 2024 when he rushed for 1,200 yards.
Starting point is 00:05:52 I mean, my man could be looking for 1,300, 15 touchdowns this year. I can definitely see it. Now, going back to the Miami guys who were obviously near and dear to my heart, I think the only things that could, you know, that could hurt Darian Mensa or even Malachi Tony. So Mensa, Mensa threw for, you know, just a shade under 4,000 yards last season. And if Duke had had a better year, he probably would have been in that Heisman conversation with his numbers. Obviously, Miami should have a better year than the year that Duke had last year, although one of those teams won the ACC championship and one didn't.
Starting point is 00:06:28 But still, he should be on a better team this year. But that also, Kenton comes with the problem of Miami's attack is going to be probably more balanced than the one he played on at Duke when you've got Mark Fletcher and those horses running the football. So he may by design not throw for 4,000 yards or 34 touchdowns this year. And then, of course, that balanced attack, we'll see how it affects Malachi Tony. But maybe Tony, to me, is a super interesting one because he also throws passes on trick play. and he runs for touchdowns as well. So I think Tony with the sheer versatility might be able to get in there. Like in certain ways, he's almost more intriguing than Dary and Mensa given Tony.
Starting point is 00:07:11 Tony's going to have a more interesting highlight reel at the end of the year than a quarterback will, I think. I want to go back to Isaac Brown for just a second and let you know. It's always about Isaac Brown with you. Let me tell you, after this, we'll get into the Miami guys, but I want to give you a stat that is that most people would not be aware of. You said he was injured for four games last year, which means he was probably hobbled for a lot of the other ones. He is the only back. I'm sorry, only player, not just running back,
Starting point is 00:07:36 quarterback included, anybody who runs the ball, included. He is the only player in the power four to have over 100 carries and have over eight yards per carry. He's the only one. That's a great stat. He's the only one. And mind you, that's him hobbled. A healthy, Isaac.
Starting point is 00:07:55 I'm telling you, the world may not be ready. I'm not joking when I say that. The stuff that we see from that kid, I'm expecting some freak show stuff this year. I just ain't. I am because even injured him last year up against JMU. You remember that game?
Starting point is 00:08:11 They had a bottled up for 90% of the game. And then all of a sudden, that one play, boom, 80 yards, gone. And it was just like, yeah, this is what you expect from. But now, onto your Miami guys, absolutely. Absolutely, Darien Menta will be hindered a little bit by the balanced nature. but Darien Minta has the advantage of he will be on a really good team that plays a lot of national games.
Starting point is 00:08:32 When you think about what influences Heisman voters and why oftentimes is the best player on the best team despite them not being the best player overall, what is the difference, right? A receiver at San Jose State winning a triple crown,
Starting point is 00:08:47 does he get seen by a majority of the voters? No. But Miami, Notre Dame, a majority of the voters are going to be sitting there with their popcorn. It's a great game. Oh, man, that Mintsa kid looks crazy.
Starting point is 00:08:59 Oh, that Tony kid, he just does it all. Oh, Fletcher, he looks great. He's breaking off 40, 50 yards left and right. So this is a, it's not just about who the best player is. It's also about what stages are you playing on. Even if you go back to that Lamar Jackson year, the game that I believe they lost by a touchdown against Clemson, that was a prime time, big time game.
Starting point is 00:09:21 And everybody in America is watching. He wasn't dueling with the shit. Sean Watson. He was dueling with the Clemson Tigers. Everything was going against him. His defense couldn't stop nobody. His wide receivers weren't creating chasms of separation. And yet he was getting in, fitting things into those very thin kind of needle point areas. This is a situation where all of your guys in terms of Miami guys, they're going to be on a national stage. Your goal as a Miami guy, if you're obviously winning the game is first. We're not talking about that.
Starting point is 00:09:56 We're talking specifically for winning the husband. Your job here, show up in those big games. Your job here, when you get that national stage, make the most out of it. Have a ball, dance on them a little bit. Because that's ultimately what will get you there. Jeremiah loved last year, same type of situation. He might not have even been the best back in Notre Dame's backfield last year,
Starting point is 00:10:19 but what did he have working for him? When those national games came up, all of them except against Miami. Miami shut that man out. 33 yards. He was in jail that whole game. Prison, okay, Alcatraz, a 23-hour lockdown on Pelican Bay. But other than that game, every time that there was a national stage for Notre Dame, he took advantage. He took advantage of that, that propelled him into that conversation.
Starting point is 00:10:41 So ultimately, Miami guys, if you're going to be the best guy on the best team, take advantage. Kevin Jennings can do a combination of the two. He could do some freak show stuff in terms of, of the stats and he can have a team where if they're number two in ACC, number one in ACC, who knows? CJ Bailey, you've got to be out of this world. You've got to put up some stuff. You've got to lead NC State to a season like NC State's never had.
Starting point is 00:11:05 And he'll have the third way of winning, which is the storyline angle. The storyline of you got a very good storyline. He's got the storyline of he's what college football is about. He was loyal to the soil to his team. He could have left and all these teams called for him and he stayed where he was at. He's the guy that's going to take NC State to their first ACC championship since Lou Hokes was there. If you've got those things working for you, you know, God rest Lou Hose. So if you've got those things working for you, that storyline angle is the third way.
Starting point is 00:11:33 And I think that that could greatly benefit C.J. Bailey over Kevin Jennings, who his team has been a perpetual winner. Miami, you're expected to win NC State, not exactly in that same ballgame. I mean, the storyline angle had a certain Notre Dame linebacker at number two in Heism voting and then we found out the girlfriend didn't even exist. That's how powerful the storyline. The storyline got a linebacker to number two in the highs. We didn't know at the time the story wasn't real.
Starting point is 00:12:02 Yeah. We got to be number two. We did not know. But you're absolutely right, Donno, because even if you look at his stats against some of the other linebackers from that year, right? It was the storyline and he played on those big national stages. And so he ended up in that conversation where it was like, oh, if he doesn't win it, then it's clear.
Starting point is 00:12:21 It's just no defenders ever going to win it. You know, it's one of those things, man. And I'm going to tell you, C.J. Bailey can work that storyline angle. He could work that. I bought the pat-back thing like nobody else could expect. And his girlfriend exists. So that'll help. Come on.
Starting point is 00:12:37 Come on. I'm sure C.J. Bailey has a very real-life old lady. I haven't met the young lady. I don't know. I don't know. I'm sure she exists. There's no catfish on this one. All right, so when we come back,
Starting point is 00:12:52 we'll show you what the odds have to say about ACCC players, their chances to the Heisman Plus. A Carson Beck headline that annoyed me. You want to keep it locked right here. We're only getting started on this brand new episode of Locked on ACCC. Yeah, we're only getting started with Fanduel. And you can get odds, guys, futures for the Heisman Trophy. They're already available at Fanduel.com.
Starting point is 00:13:19 And the NBA playoffster here, where every possession matters, every matchup is magnified, and every game can swing a series. And right now, Fandual is giving new customers a great way to get in on that action. Here's what I love about it. You can bet just $5 and get $250 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. The app makes it easy to follow the action live with player stats, trends, and matchups all in one place.
Starting point is 00:13:43 And during the playoffs, that extra insight really matters when you're looking at stars, role players, and key moments. It just makes the entire playoff experience more engaging from start to finish. Head to Fandual.com to get started. Fandual, play your game. Folks, if you've been thinking about joining the Everydayer Club, now is the time, guys. You get exclusive ad-free versions of our episodes and group chats
Starting point is 00:14:11 where you can talk with your favorite hosts and listeners of your favorite shows. Go to Lockdownpodcast.com slash Everydayer, and you can join the Everydayer Club for Locked on ACC, Locked on Wolfpack, Locked on Cains, become an Everydayer today at Lockedonpodcast.com slash everydayer. Thank you for making Locked on ACCC your first listen. For your next listen, make sure you check out Kenton Gibbs and Grayson Boone at Lockdown Wolfpack, talking all things, NC State.
Starting point is 00:14:44 I talk all things Miami on Locked on Cains. All right, so Kenton, Darien Mensa has the best odds for Heisman in the ACC. You can find his odds starting at plus 1,200 in some places. Then Malachi Tony at plus 2,500. Then Kevin Jennings at plus 6,500. It looks like he's moved up a little bit. And I get that.
Starting point is 00:15:08 And you made a good case for Kevin Jennings, by the way. But the ACC player who is currently fourth in odds, you're going to chuckle at this one a little bit. Chris Vizina, quarterback of Clemson. Would you take that bet at plus 7,000? Here's the thing. I'm not a bed and degenerate anyway. But if I was, if I'm stepping into the shoes of the degenerate variant of Kenton,
Starting point is 00:15:34 who just can't turn a bet down, I'm still turning this one now. I'm still turning this one now. You haven't won the job yet. It's not your job. That's enough for me to say, actually, I think I'm all set here. I think I'm all going. Yeah. Now, I actually, I find better value, although, you know, you figure his team is probably not going to be great, but the video game numbers thing you bring up, maybe, JKS at Cal plus 7,000 odds, same odds as Vizina. Again, like Cal, maybe not as many national TV games, but we're big fans of JKS, right?
Starting point is 00:16:12 Yeah. I mean, if he doesn't win the Heisman there, maybe he'll win the Heisman in his next team. So, so sorry, sorry to our Cal friends. want to anger the Calgary. And you know what? If he stays there for four years, I would love it. I would love him to be a Cal lifer. I think that if he also has the headlines, storyline situation going on, because if Cal turns into a surprise team, first year head coach, oh yeah, you had your star running back leave, your leading rush or leave and this quarterback, second year guy leads him there. And plus, quarterbacks normally make that biggest jump from year one to year two. I'm I wouldn't be at plus $7,000.
Starting point is 00:16:53 I'll take that. I'll take that because at least I know it's his damn job. At least I know that before anything else. There's not a doubt in my mind. Hey, there's a quarterback battle brewing that cow. You know, JKS could be supplanted any moment. I think that that's a good value at plus $7,000. I think so too.
Starting point is 00:17:15 Speaking of quarterbacks, I thought it was a good episode of John Gruden, the film, what does it call it, Gruden's quarterback camp? Yeah. He did the hour-long film session with Carson Beck, who obviously has some limitations, and Gruden went over, you know, the turnover questions he's had,
Starting point is 00:17:34 but, you know, praised Beck for his accuracy. Obviously, he's got the prototypical NFL size, and it was a good episode. And then I'm looking at some recaps today, Kenton, and on Sports Illustrated, their headline was John Gruden says to look out for controversial college football quarterback. Now, listen, there has been in the last year and a half since Carson Beck had the audacity to leave Georgia,
Starting point is 00:18:04 there has been a coordinated PR smear campaign against that young man to the point where Kenton, it affected me before I met him in person. and we both met him at ACC Media days last year before he ever took a snap at Miami. And like before I met Carson, like I didn't know because he didn't play spring ball for Miami last year because he was injured. I didn't meet him until July. And the PR campaign against Beck had me wondering, like, is this dude, like, is he a little bit of a diva? Is he not a good dude? And I was just blown away by, by, you know, how good of a teammate he seemed to be and how well he handled his interviews.
Starting point is 00:18:45 So it's like if you're going to label someone a controversial quarterback, like shouldn't it be somebody who has some legit baggage or has actually been in trouble? Carson Beck might be the only player to spend multiple years playing for the Georgia Bulldogs and didn't collect so much as a speeding citation. Like it was there for five years. Didn't get a speeding ticket. That dude's controversial. See, see, this is how spoiled Miami fans are.
Starting point is 00:19:11 Are you all watching this? Are y'all watching this? Miami fans are complaining. They're saying our players' arms are too short, even though he's going top 10. Even though he's going top 10. Oh, they're calling our quarterback controversial, even though he's still going to get drafted.
Starting point is 00:19:28 And the rest of us are sitting here begging people. Talk about our guys. Talk about our guys. We've all got some really good guys. Why is nobody throughout this entire draft process? Nobody has said a thing about Haynes King, except, well, he needs to switch positions. He can't be a quarterback.
Starting point is 00:19:48 He needs to switch positions. And he might actually. And he might actually. It's a spectacular year. And here's the thing. I'm not sure I disagree with that. But I think you're on to something there. But we're not hearing about anybody else's guys.
Starting point is 00:20:03 We're not hearing, oh yeah, Florida State. You know, they've got some guys going in the drive. Big Daryland. How good is he? Right? Is he going to be able to be better at the next level? when he's not going to be asked to play as many snaps. Are his motor issues legit?
Starting point is 00:20:18 Or is that, you know, a lot of riffrapped that comes with him having to play a lot? We're not hearing that. We're not hearing anything about any players getting drafted from any other school. And so Miami fans are so spoiled, so privileged. So, oh, we're better than you all. The desk sit up here discussing whether or not their quarterback is controversial. Ah, oh, foie, I've had enough of it. You got two top ten picks.
Starting point is 00:20:42 You got a quarterback that's about two. to get drafted. I ain't trying to hear it. So what they label them as controversial. They're going for the clicks. They need a couple of clicks just like being you. They, you know, they might be playing a bigger ball game to dust, but they jack it for beats the same way we are. I might call him a controversial
Starting point is 00:20:58 quarterback in our episode thumbnail when I put this out. And to your point, to your point, here's how spoiled I am. This is the second time today that I've complained about that headline because I complained about it on Locked on Cains as well. Like I'm recycling
Starting point is 00:21:13 topics on the two shows. That's how upset I am. See, and that's what I'm saying. And that's what. Meanwhile, us, us NC State guys are just sitting up here, you think we'll get somebody drafted this year? I mean, I don't know. After that thing, didn't get drafted. We just don't know anymore. You know, I'm just going to tell you, Donald,
Starting point is 00:21:31 if you, if your biggest concern as a Miami fan dirty offseason is they're saying your top 10 draft picks, armed or too short. By the way, I haven't heard a single complaint about C.C. mine also. So even if you say his arms are too short and he's going to slide out of the top 10. Well, you still got a damn tackle that somebody is going to beg and plead and scratch and claw to go get in that top, you know, top 15 picks at worst. So, you know, y'all Miami fans, stop this. Stop this, okay.
Starting point is 00:22:01 Your quarterback's not controversial, but they want them clicks. That's all that he is. That's all that. You've got too much perfection going on all. I said at the top, I hope Kenton can talk me off a ledge on this one. you did. I still, though, controversial to me,
Starting point is 00:22:16 terrible choice of word. I agree. The word that they were looking for was polarizing. Yes. That I get. I agree. Like controversial like implies that like you did something wrong or there's a warrant for your arrest or you're cheating on your wife or something. Like, you know,
Starting point is 00:22:34 it's that this is not a, this is not a, a Mike Vrable situation we're talking about here. Even following that one. Hey, listen, okay, being an NC State fan is hard sometimes. Being Ms. Rusini's husband got to be the hardest job in the world. That's got to be the hardest job in the world, you know. This show has gone off the rails, but I'm telling you,
Starting point is 00:22:55 I would never in a billion years want that job. But, Dono, I'm telling you, in all seriousness, and looking at this wording situation, I do a thousand percent agree with you. Because the only thing that Carson Beck has ever been a part of that's negative in any way in a meaningful. away was his his stuff getting stowed. Nobody, not that he stole from
Starting point is 00:23:15 somebody else, somebody stole from him. So you're right, there's no controversy. There's no controversy surrounding this young man. By all accounts, by everybody I've talked to, he's a wonderful guy. He's a really good dude. He's a hard worker. He wants to play ball. Even if he's
Starting point is 00:23:31 not good at it, even if he's known to throw a shrimp pole boy in the worst possible moment as we saw the national championship. The reality is, to call him controversial, is an abuse or a misuse of the word because what's controversial about him? Again, I will tell you, would I trust Carson Beck to lead my team? Absolutely not. If the Lions drafts him, would I say, hey, you could have dropped to me if you're going to waste a draft pick? Absolutely.
Starting point is 00:23:58 But with that in mind, I mean, polarizing, like you said, there are certain people who believe, well, you can kind of work him out of that interception and big moments page. There are people who believe that. I'm not one of them, but there are people who believe it. So I guess you would say, you know, I'm on the polar end that's opposite of those people, but polarizing is not controversial, or at least now should not be synonymous with controversial, especially in this context. You know what is controversial? A new punt rule that the NCAA has passed. And I, I think they were, they were able to kind of slide this one in because there's so much else going on when we're talking about executive orders and lawsuits and.
Starting point is 00:24:39 NIL and eligibility. It's like no one's going to notice if we piss off every special team's coach in the country. Well, Kenton Gibbs and I, we did notice. And you want to keep it locked right here. We're not done yet on this brand new episode of Lockdowne ACC. I'm Kleea Butler, host of Lockdown Women's Basketball. And this is Mazda's Women's Basketball Snapshot, celebrating the work no highlight reel can ever capture. UCLA made history by winning its first NCAA women's basketball national championship dominating South Carolina 79 to 51. The Bruins controlled the game from start to finish with elite defense and balanced scoring, finishing the season 37 and 1. Star Center Lauren Betts was named most outstanding player,
Starting point is 00:25:27 leading a team effort that capped a 31 game winning streak. Under head coach Corey Close, UCLA secured a landmark title that has been decades in the main. making. These moments are earned off the clock, those long before the lights ever come on. The sweat, the fakes, the doubt, the scrapes, I'm coming back for more every time. Mazda puts that same drive into every detail. Wins defined the moment. Putting in the work, that defines you. There's more to a Mazda because there's more to you. Thank you for making locked on ACC, your first listen. So, you know, usually Kenton and listen, I, you know, maybe I'm not an expert on what's going to happen here with this new punt rule. But usually when pro football and
Starting point is 00:26:16 college football, when they're changing rules, it's usually in the interest of making the game safer. A lot of coaches think this is going to do the opposite, that it seems like this rule is being changed to make life easier for referees, to make their job easier, but you might make the game less safe as a consequence of this. So the NCAA has passed a new rule where they're restricting punt formations, but it's controversial because, again, it's introducing potentially unintended safety risks. So now the snapper and the two adjacent linemen on either side in a punt play
Starting point is 00:26:59 for the team that's punting are no matter what, they are officially ineligible receivers on punt plays, regardless of whether their jersey numbers fall outside of the 50 to 79. range. That was how teams worked around that. Now, the rule specifically addresses players not wearing 50 to 79 numbers who were previously used to create a confusing, unorthodox formation in the agap or the egg gap. And teams would do this to either, whether you're going to fake a punt or not, at least make the other team think you might fake this punt.
Starting point is 00:27:32 Now, in passing this rule where the snapper and the two guys adjacent can definitely not ever be Reigible receivers, Kenton, the fear from special teams coaches is that this is going to make it easier. If you force that standard predictable lineman assignment, it becomes easier for defenses to time their rushes, which could lead to a higher frequency of blocked punts, which I'm not going to lie, might make the games more exciting. But the fear is a greater risk of collision-related injuries to punters who will now face more direct pressure. So is there something to that? if you know the three guys who were lined up closest to the ball before the snap, under no circumstance could ever be eligible receivers,
Starting point is 00:28:18 is that going to make it easier to block punts and force collisions? Potentially so, but I think the biggest thing here, why are you making rules to make the refs jobs easier? They're paid to do this game. They're paid to know the rules. That's like at the end of the day, you know the rules, you know what this game is about. With all due respect, I don't care.
Starting point is 00:28:39 I don't care if it's hard to decipher what you to earn your damn paycheck. What do we? What? I don't like rules that make it easier on the offense. I don't like rules that make it, you know, easy for people to do, have their way with the opposition. I like rules that, hey, let's make it as simple as possible. Let's make this thing as straightforward as possible. And let's get it all.
Starting point is 00:29:03 And you know what? Sometimes in trying to create rules that way, there are going to be loopholes that create some confusion. There are going to be loopholes that require some sifting by referees and figuring out. But that's why you get paid. Okay. None of you are volunteers. Not at the ballgame of FBS and Power 5 or Power 4. None of you are doing this for free.
Starting point is 00:29:26 Earn your check. And that's no disrespect to officials. I'm not saying that they're not working hard as is. I'm not saying that they're not earning their check. But I just don't like a thing where it's like, oh, we're going to simplify the rules and making so that this and that and the third so that reps don't have to think. You're paid to do that. What are we talking about here?
Starting point is 00:29:47 Yeah, because according to NCAA.org, the change is designed to clarify to officials and opposing defenses, but it seems like the opposing defenses don't want this as much as the officials do, which players are eligible to receive a pass on a fake punt, specifically targeting tricks that took advantage of previously. loopholes. You know what? I'd like to see if I'm going to propose rule changes, Kenton. I want to see triple digit numbers allowed in college football. And I say this because the thing that annoys me so much is, because the rosters are so big, right, that you have multiple players
Starting point is 00:30:28 who wear the same number. You have a guy on offense and a guy on defense who both wear the number 19. And if either of them is part of a special teams play, they got to switch their number. So there's only one 19 on the field, right? Why can't we have a hundred and 19 as a number? So we're not seeing these guys switch jerseys. It confuses the hell out of me. How about that? Triple digit numbers coming to a college football field near you. I absolutely hate that, Donald. Thank God, you are not a part of the rules committee because the day that I see somebody wearing number 1090 or 109, I'm going to be disgusting. I'm going to look at that.
Starting point is 00:31:09 Alex, Dono, what have you done? I think that we should do two digits. I don't think that that should be controversial. But, you know, that's, that's Dono for you. That's the Keynes for you. Controversial as always. Yeah, you know, nobody's going to want to wear those triple digit. numbers. But you, you reserve that for like the walk-ons and, you know, the kickers and funners.
Starting point is 00:31:32 Yeah. The kickers and punters wear 103. That's the guys you reserve that for. I don't, I don't like it anymore, even when it's reserved for the walk-ons and the kickers. I think, I think that that's as silly of a rule as this puck rule is, which again, I just, you know, at least with this punt rule, there's no way around it. You've got to enforce that. Yeah. The triple-digit rule, nobody's going to follow that down. I'm sorry to tell you. I'm taking this to the White House. I'm taking this to Congress. We're going to get this thing passed. I'm taking it right over Kenton's head. I appreciate everybody for making Locked on ACC, your first listen. Make sure you follow Kenton at TGIF underscore Kenton on X. Check him out on Lockdown Wolfpack. He and Grace and Boone do a great job.
Starting point is 00:32:18 Check me out on Lockedon Caines and at Alex Dono. And we'll talk to you again next time on another episode of Lockdown ACC. we are part of the number one locked on podcast network your team every day

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.