The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL - Building the Beast: NFL Draft prospects to watch in Rivalry Week

Episode Date: November 26, 2025

Rivalry Week always has, and always will, mean so many things in the college football world. One of the newer elements of Rivalry Week, though, is that it's often the last time any NFL Draft prospects whose teams don't make the College Football Playoff will put something new on tape for pro teams to consider. It's on those players that Dane Brugler and Dave Helman focus their attention on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Connect with The Athletic Football ShowX: https://x.com/TA_FootballShowIG: https://www.instagram.com/tafootballshowYT: https://www.youtube.com/@TAFootballShowTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tafootballshowDiscord: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshowCall us: 847-448-0701Email us: [e-mail]: Dave HelmanCo-Host: Dane BruglerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerVideo Producer: Katy DuffyAudio Producer: Michael BellerSocial Producer: Scott KrinchFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Dave on X: @davehelman_Follow Dane on X: @dpbruglerTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Building the Beast. I am your host, Dave Hellman, and we have got a huge episode for y'all today. It is Rivalry Week in college football. One of the best weekends of the year. Thanksgiving is upon us, and there's just a smorgasbord of meaningful college football from beginning to end. Myself and Dane Bruegler walked through all of it. The stakes are enormous all over the country. Obviously, there are playoffs.

scenarios galore teams playing for spots in the postseason players playing for postseason awards. On top of that, for our purposes as draft evaluators, this is the last big opportunity for a lot of college football players to put some good film out there. So a lot to play for for everybody on a loaded weekend. Dane and I walked you through all of the biggest matchups, all the biggest storylines. Great episode. Let's get into it. Dane, we all know what week it is. It's a holiday that I get super excited for every year. But I'm going to try to spin the topical conversation into something that pertains to us here at Building the Beast.

So forget about actual Thanksgiving dinner for a second. When it's Friday afternoon and you're settling in to watch the Egg Bowl or whatever else is on, Iowa, Nebraska, whatever game peaks your interest on Black Friday, what leftover are you belining for? Like, what's your favorite thing to make a plate of on the day after Thanksgiving when you're watching football? So every Friday after Thanksgiving, we go and get the Christmas tree that morning.

Classic Americana. I'm not surprised to hear that about you for the record. Yes. It's kids love it. You know, it's obviously, you know, not really worried about work Friday morning. Just kind of go out there, cut down the tree, you know, throw it. in the back of the truck, bring it home, and get that all set up. And then, yeah, leftovers, I mean, I'm not going to say it's better than Thanksgiving

because that's, you know, that'd be disingenuous. But it's still pretty high up there. I think a good turkey sandwich and then with mashed potatoes and corn mixed together, like, as a side, to me, like, that's, I don't know if I can point to one thing, but that as a meal as like a Friday lunch is, perfect. So with gravy, obviously, too. So I don't know, but what about you? What is your go to the day after? I love the actual meal. Don't get me wrong. Sure. And sometimes, like, my family will mix it up and we've done like prime rib on Thanksgiving before. But typically, you get, you do like

a turkey and then we'll do a small ham. And on Friday, when I'm sitting down for football, I'm going to make a turkey sandwich and throw a slice of ham into the turkey sandwich, some gravy. And then this is going to sound uncouth, but some yellow mustard in the mix as well. And then the only thing better than a devil d' egg, the day you make it is a devil d'ed that's been sitting in the fridge overnight. And I'm going to probably eat like five of those over the course of the day. It's going to be fantastic. Not a fan. That's okay.

I can't do this. Are there any unique, like, Louisiana things that you guys bring to the table for Thanksgiving? So people in Louisiana, you might make like melaton casserole for me. It's a new word. For me, the big thing that I've do, and I'll probably do it this year is like I'll use the turkey carcass to make a gumbo like over the weekend. that's not really like on Thanksgiving Day. But yeah, you do that like on Saturday, which this all ties in to, okay, week one is really special in college football because we just were getting football back.

And there's usually a lot of good matchups, team schedule good non-conference games. I really think rivalry week is the best week of the year after that day. And other than just the excitement of getting football back for all the reasons we just outlined. Like the playoff stakes are obvious. The Heisman stakes are obvious. It's Thanksgiving weekend. So you got your friends and family together. Maybe you've got a tradition of going.

You know, if you're one of these teams that plays on Black Friday or if you're a team that used to play on Thanksgiving, unfortunately, that doesn't really happen anymore. Maybe you go with your family to that game. Or you just eat leftovers and sit around the house with your family all weekend watching these high stakes college football games. It is absolutely one of the best weekends of the college football season. And for our purposes, I think it's fantastic because you got a lot of high stakes games. And in this new era of college football, I do think this is a last opportunity to watch a lot of big time prospects play a meaningful game. Guys sitting out of bowl games is nowhere near as uncommon as it used to be.

Some of the guys we're going to talk about today aren't even teams. that are bowl eligible. So this is a last chance to get a look at quite a few guys that we think very highly of. So for all of those reasons, I'm way in on this weekend. And I know, like I said, the NFL kind of owns Thanksgiving Day these days. But Thanksgiving weekend is, it's a special moment in college football every year. Oh, no doubt. And I don't, especially with Texas, Texas A&M back in the fold.

Like, it feels like that's very, uh, a big part of what happens on Thanksgiving weekend. But yeah, and it feels like yesterday we were just talking about week one and a loaded slate in Texas, Ohio State and Clemson, LSU, and here we are. This will be the final time we get to see some of these prospects. So yeah, we have plenty of rivalries to talk about. Excited to jump in. So here's what we're going to do if you're listening to this during your holiday weekend.

There's two big days in college football this weekend. Got a lot of good games on Friday. We're going to do the big Friday games at the top of the show, and then we'll move on to Saturday and we'll work our way from there. So let's start with Friday, which is kind of the new Thanksgiving day in this rivalry weekend. And there are several games worth getting excited about here, man, but if I wasn't already geeked about Texas, Texas A&M being a rivalry once again, it's so good this year. with A&M being an unprecedented territory. I mean, they look like a lock for the college football playoff, but very much in the mix for a by week,

very much in the mix to play in the SEC championship, which they have not done as a member of the SEC as of yet. And Texas, I guess you would call it a disappointing year relative to starting the season rank number one, but still at least slightly mathematically alive for the playoff, and you get a chance to play spoiler to the team that you hate more than, anybody else. So the storylines abound. And on top of that, there is so much NFL talent in this game. I'm really looking forward to this on Friday night. And you and I have unique relationships to both

fan bases, I think, because we were both Texas transplants for a decade or so. And so. Yeah, I have so much more appreciation for this than I used to, right? Like, it means a lot more to me, having lived in Dallas and, and you as well. And because we got. to know people on both sides. There's definitely crazy on both sides. There's a lot of passion on both sides. I mean, how many times has A&M been favored in Austin? I can't imagine it's happened very often.

So the fact that that's what the case is this year makes for some pretty interesting storylines, like you said. And then I really think that this game comes down to the Texas A&M defensive line versus the Longhorn's offensive line. We've talked a lot about Cassius Howell, Edrusher for the Aggies, one of the biggest risers in the 2026 NFL draft. I want to see him win in more ways besides just high side and speed to the corner. But he has a presence to him. Just the wiring that he plays with.

It's undeniable. And so I cannot wait to see his burst and bend up against Texas left tackle, Trevor Guzby, who is high cut, a little rigid, but he's long and he's strong. and he can end the fight pretty quickly once he gets his hands on rushers, but it's not easy to get your hands on howl. So this is going to be a great test for both of these guys. I mean, it sounds like Goosby, who's an underclassman, it sounds like he's going to be back. His younger brother, big-time basketball recruit,

he just committed to Texas over Duke and some other schools this, I think, last week. So that's a part of his decision-making, but he's definitely a player to know if not for this class, definitely for 2027. That is such a good point. And I wanted to talk about Goosby in particular, really, because I mean, we've talked a lot about A&M

over the course of the year. We know about Cassius Howell. We know about Will Lee. We've talked a little bit about Tori in York. They're Mike linebacker and the guys on their offensive line. We haven't after it became pretty obvious. I mean, we kind of guessed that

Arch Manning wasn't going to come out anyway, but he also didn't start his season playing like he even should. And I feel like Texas has kind of been relegated from an NFL prospect standpoint ever since then. But I wanted to talk about Goosby because he is still a guy that most people think of as being on the short list of better offensive tackles. Anthony Hill, the linebacker in Texas is another guy worth mentioning. And I think that's a fantastic point about his brother.

And it goes back to it's a theme for the show where it's just not as easy to guess what a guy going to do with his NFL future as it used to be because staying in college is a lucrative decision on its own now. But what do you think about of Goosby in general and the season that he's had, understanding that maybe this is a guy that we're still talking about next season. But overall, like as a prospect, where do you think things stand? Big shoes to fill coming in and replacing Kelvin Banks, who was a top 10 pick last year. and you see the youth and the inexperience at times. But like I said, he's big, he's long, and he's strong.

And so not the twitchiest in terms of the reaction quickness. And that could be an issue against a guy like Howell, where it's just, it's speed, speed, speed, he's going to attack you. And, you know, if he can get inside Gooseby, driving backwards, knock him off balance, like that's something that could be an issue and something that's a storyline in this game. Because, I mean, you look at the pressure numbers. Arch Banning has been pressured the fourth most of any quarterback in college football this year.

But he has a relatively low pressure to sacrate, which I think is a credit to him and his mobility. But this Texas offensive line has not been a strength so far this season. And so what can they do against that Aggie's defensive line? And Guzby is a big part of it because he has, he has, he looks like an. NFL player, a future NFL player. It's just, you know, could he benefit from another year in college? There's no doubt about it.

So, but he might be one of those guys that at least kicks the tires and sees, all right, what's my, what's my projection right now? And what is the feedback that scouts are saying? Because he has a pro future. There's no doubt about that. I'm thinking about this matchup and going back to the Texas loss to Florida in the swamp.

And we can make plenty of valid criticism. about Arch Manning over the course of the season in that game, I was like, well, my God, what do you want the kid to do, man? Like he hasn't been playing college football that long, and he is just under siege from this Florida front. And I'm curious to see in another big test at the end of the year, because it's been some time since that game, how does this offensive line meet the moment?

And having Howell there, it's such a fun barometer where I'm sure we're going to debate Howell's arm length and what does that mean for his ceiling? Will somebody be willing to draft him in the first round? Wherever he winds up falling, I know as somebody just watching on TV that I can zero in on Howl and be like, all right, how are they holding up against this guy? Because if it's going well, then that can sort of change your perception of some of these Texas offensive linemen. And in particular, Goosby, I mean, if you play a great game against a talent like that,

I don't know if it sways your decision as it pertains to the NFL, especially if your little brother's coming to campus. But it's the type of thing that can, A, gain a lot of attention and B, build your confidence a lot for that type of decision. Well, and how is a guy that should have success against him? When you compare their skill sets and their strengths and weaknesses, how is a guy that could be a problem? So if Goosby has a productive gain, sure, yeah, absolutely.

that should factor into what his future is going to be. I also want to give shout out to the rest of that A&M defensive line, especially on the interior. Albert Regis and Tyler O'Neidem, both defensive tackles, both have draftable grades from scouts. And they've been kind of the unsung heroes of this A&M defense. The stat sheet's not going to blow you away. When you watch A&M games on Saturday,

you don't hear their names called all that much. But O'Yatom is a Iowa State transfer. he's been terrific this year. He has a chance to go in the mid-round. Regis has been in the program for like five years now. He's got a fun story. He's the only member of his family who was born in the U.S. and he was a nationally ranked e-sports video game player growing up.

He has an interesting background, but he's also been a really good player. So I think he's going to get drafted as well. And like I said, these guys won't light up the stat sheet, and you might not hear their names once against Texas. But I do think how they perform is a big part of the success of not only putting heat on Arch Manning, but also shutting down the run game, which has been really a volatile unit for the Longhorns this year in terms of their offensive success. We said it a few weeks back when we really highlighted A&M, but their roster just looks like it's going to have quite a few draft picks. And I don't know. We'll see who all comes out this year and what that looks like.

I don't think you can put a number on it until we know who's even part of the draft class. But over the next two years, I'll say, just feels like there's going to be a lot of Aggies drafted, which not surprising with just how complete this team has looked. AC Concepcion. I mean, yeah. We haven't even talked about the A&M offense.

I mean, yeah, the offensive line has several dudes. The receivers are great. The tight end is good. He was right in front of me a minute ago. Nate Borer, like there's there are players all over this roster one one last thing i wanted to hit on i mentioned it the linebackers in this game i mean we've we've talked about the linebacker class this year being particularly fun where where do you think these guys stand up between york for a and m and then like

as i mentioned anthony hill for texas yeah i mean hill's really polarizing i think in terms of where fans have him and then where scouts, scouts see him as more of a third or fourth round guy. Fans think he's a top ten pick. So there's a little bit of a disconnect there. The truth is he's probably somewhere in the middle, you know, somewhere in that,

I don't know, mid-second, late-second range. There's a lot to like about him. He's athletic. He can work downhill. I don't really trust him in coverage. But, I mean, there's a lot to like about his play style and the way he can make an impact. And this will be, you know, with the way the Aggies have been running the football,

this will be a big, and I know Hill's been banged up this month. And so, you know, he won't be at 100%, but Texas will need him playing at his normal level in order to stop or at least limit this Aggies offense. We'll see if you can do it. York is a little bit undersized, but he's just a fun player because he's so smart. He's so instinctive. His reads, he's so. quick to the ball because he anticipates. He understands, okay, this is what the offense is trying to do.

I'm going to get a head start. And so when you watch linebacker play, a lot of times, it's kind of like running backs. Like after 10 plays, 15 plays, you should be able to tell pretty quickly, okay, this running back has vision or he doesn't. He has moves or he doesn't. It's kind of the same thing with linebacker. Because the action's happening right there in front of you. And it's a lot of times in the box where you have to make quick decisions about, you know, what angle you're taking. how you're going to attack the block, you know, the way you're going to attack the football. So York has been, again, a little bit undersized, but he has, I think, the instincts and the awareness that are going to carry well to the next level.

I might say something that you as an Ohio guy don't appreciate here, but between the talent on display, the stakes, particularly for Texas A&M, and this is not normal territory for them, the you know arch manning is still a huge draw even if he's not part of this quarterback class the fact that texas is the underdog trying to play spoiler in a series that they have historically dominated and the just the passion and and i would say hatred that is often part of this rivalry i think this is this is the game of the weekend for me even over the one that we're going to talk about on saturday i'd like if i was going to pick one one game to be seated for, it might be this one with Ohio State, Michigan as a very close second.

Oh, I totally get that. And they're kind of similar where A&M could lose, they're still going to the playoff. Now, they won't win the SEC, but they're still going to the playoff. Ohio State, if they lose, they're not going to win the Big Ten. They're still going to the playoff. Whereas with Texas and Michigan, they've got it, Michigan, if they win, good chance, they're going to get into the playoff. Texas, that probably needs some more help to actually get to the playoff.

It seems like the odds might be stacked against them. But a win over a top three team in Texas A&M, that would go a long way. And it would be tough to keep them out. So totally get that. But yeah, both these games are going to be must watch. And it feels like the stakes are high, which is, you know, big for college football, but also big for evaluation purposes. You know, when the stage is big.

bigger, the lights are brighter, that's when you want to see these guys play at their best. And so cannot wait to watch these prospects and see how they perform. We will get into that game in Ann Arbor in a little bit, but let's stick with Friday quickly. There are several other good games on

the docket. Friday afternoon, maybe it loses a little bit of luster after Georgia Tech's loss to pit last week, but I mean, Georgia, Georgia Tech last year was one of the games of the entire college football season. We know George's roster loaded with NFL talent,

plenty of opportunity to watch them. Is there anything else from this matchup that strikes your fancy? One more opportunity to see Haynes King throw himself around like a crash test dummy for three and a half hours? Yeah, I mean, Georgia Tech has some intriguing guys, but I wouldn't call any of them lock, no doubt about it, draft picks. And that's kind of how scouts feel. I think Keel and Rutledge at Guard has a good chance to be drafted.

and then we'll see with Haynes King. You know, he doesn't have a lot of draftable grades out there, but, you know, there's just no question this guy's toughness. And if he's able to get a win in this rivalry, in this type of game, that would go a long way to kind of turning some of the doubters into believers. But so Rutledge at right guard, going up against Kristen Miller and that Georgia defensive line,

can't wait to watch that. And then for the Georgia offense, if I'm going to pick one player to watch, Georgia needs to protect the gunner Stockton for this in this game if they're going to win. Left tackle Monroe Freeling is one of the more underrated draft eligible tackles. He's a junior. He's got only, I think, 15 starts under his belt. So I don't know that he's going to declare.

I think he could really benefit with another year in Athens. But if he does, he's going top 100. He's big, he's athletic, he's got thudding hands, good recovery skills. I don't hear his name a ton. Scouts kind of like him. And I think he'll have an NFL decision-making. after this year. I think we've mentioned Zachariah Branch at times

this year having a nice season for the dogs. I think that's a name worth mentioning. I don't think we need to talk about C.J. Allen at this point, but I am excited to see him in a big spot just because I like watching him play football. I think I'm starting to elevate him

to pet cat status, which is like that's not a that's not like an interesting take. He's a really good player. Everybody's going to like C.J. Allen. but if your team is in need of a linebacker, keep an eye on on CJ Allen for Georgia on Friday afternoon. A couple more, mainly Jordan Tyson for Arizona State. He came back from his hamstring injury against Colorado last week.

Arizona State beats Colorado pretty handily. And they are mathematically alive to get back to the Big 12 title game. They need some help, but they can do it. So I would imagine we're going to get to see. Jordan Tyson in a big spot in a rivalry game against Arizona on Friday night with a chance to reach the Big 12 title game. And if not, maybe this is his last big opportunity to put some wide receiver one tape on, you know, out there before before declaring for the draft. Hopefully he's fully healthy and ready to do it. Yeah, he had only two catches against Colorado, but it was just awesome to see him back out there.

There was a hamstring injury that really kind of held them down for four weeks or so. In this game, trading Stoakes, he plays primarily as a nickel for Arizona. So I don't know how many times we'll actually see him lined up against Jordan Tyson. But Stox is a draftable guy. And great story, too. Former Walk-on, late bloomers really turned himself into a prospect. But any time we get to see Tyson versus Stukes, that's going to be a must-see for NFL scouts. And like you said, this could be the last time we see Jordan Tyson on a college field.

And so one more last chance to really evaluate him. And, you know, because he's in the running for wide receiver one. He used wide receiver one preseason for me. That's where he was at the midseason. And, you know, we'll see if he can finish that way with what he does in this game. I really enjoyed after that Colorado game, Tyson spoke with reporters. And, you know, basically, he was asked about. about like, hey, you're going to be a high draft pick.

And you don't need to be out here if you're fighting through an injury. And Arizona State's lost a few games. Why come back? And you're just like, yeah, part of a team. You've got to love your neighbor as you love yourself, love your teammates as you love yourself. And it's the type of thing at the risk of sounding sappy, like, I think that registers with scouts and NFL evaluators where like the potential top receiver in this draft coming off. an injury is out there trying to help Arizona State get back to the Big 12 title game.

I do think that stuff registers. Yeah. No, I think you're right. It's funny. So a couple, it was about a month ago now, buddy asked me to go to the Cavs game with him, and we were like five rows from the floor great seats.

And this dude for the Cavs throws down this dunk and just unbelievable athleticism. And I have a, I have a a bad habit. When I go to any type of sporting event that's not NFL or football,

I can't help but look at these guys and be like, oh man, what a safety that guy would be. Or this guy would be. Holy car. I was like, this guy, this Tyson would be a great tight end. And I look it up and oh, he's Jordan Tyson's older brother. Okay. That makes sense.

Because yeah, it would run in the family that these guys are pretty good in terms of size and catching the ball. So yeah, he just, it's a pretty athletic. family. And later this spring, you will be able to read about it in Dane's bio about Jordan Tyson at the top of this receiver class.

That's quite literally why we call it Building the Beast right there. One last Friday game, it's not the sexiest matchup, but also on Friday in the morning, Utah is traveling to Lawrence to play Kansas. Their two

touchdown road favorite. I wanted to highlight this specifically. Again, Utah is also mathematically alive to play in the Big 12 title game and they're mathematically part of the playoff conversation, it seems like they need a lot of help. I'm going to step out on a limb and say it would be pretty surprising if they get the breaks that they need. So this could be potentially the last meaningful game or the last game we see from their offensive tackles. Caleb Lomu, well, excuse me, let's start with Spencer Fano because he got hurt against

Kansas State, not even sure if he's going to play in this game. So I'm curious about that. And then Caleb Lomu, I wanted to highlight this, Dane. He's a red shirt sophomore. And Utah put him in the senior day graphic as a way of saying, like, thanks to our seniors last weekend against Kansas State. So it kind of sounds like Utah is aware both of these guys are going to be gone. So this is a big opportunity to watch two of the bigger tackle names in the class.

Yeah, we're recording this. Tuesday afternoon. As of now, no word on Fano and his availability for this game. He got rolled up against Kansas State. Hopefully it's not long term. You know, I think he's the best chance at this draft having a tackle go top 10 overall. But at left tackle, yeah, Caleb Lomu, I mean, we've seen it before where guys have walked or been included in the senior day stuff, but then gone back to school. So I wouldn't say that it's, you know, tells us.

just definitively anything except for that he's probably undecided at this point. But he is, he's fascinating because he's one of the more polarizing prospects, I think, in this, at least among scouts. Some have given him day two grades, second, third round. Other scouts, area scouts think he's a day three guy, fourth round, fifth round. There's no doubt about his beat, his recovery ability, but I think it's the marginal play strength that really throws evaluators off. That's the hang up for guys that just can't get on board with him early.

And he was really up and down against Texas Tech midseason. And then he's played well since. But I don't know, you look at that Big 12 schedule. And it's like, all right, well, what pass rushers has he really faced? So it's going to be really interesting with Lomu. He's a redshirt sophomore, could really use another year of just physical development and getting better. But, you know, if he comes out, I still think he'll be. be a probably a top 50 player because

tackles always get pushed up and his upside is awesome. So, you know, I think that there's just a lot of opinions all over the place. He is not a definite top 10 guy, top 20 guy, first rounder, but

I think there's enough optimism from him from some scouts that will end up going top 50, but that is definitely not the consensus when you talk to scouts around the league. Do you think, we could do a whole off-season show about this. But other than quarterback,

it feels like offensive tackle is the position where scarcity of ability at the position can inflate your draft stock. And yeah, maybe you are a top 50 guy or maybe you're a third round pick, but you could see yourself go a lot higher because look around the NFL, it's obvious the need is there.

And if you think you can get a guy with high upside, who's still young and needs to do some developing, maybe that's worth drafting him around or even two rounds early. It feels like outside of quarterback, which we've known that forever, it feels like that is kind of a theme at the offensive tackle position.

You can look every single draft and it will at least be one, two, three, maybe more tackles that you can point to and say, oh yeah, he went around early or, oh, yeah, he went much earlier than most thought because this team needed a tackle and they knew they could not wait to the next round to get one or they couldn't trade back and get them. I'm thinking, you know, Austin Jackson, when the dolphins took him first round,

Anton Harrison, Jaguars took him first round. I mean, that's just off the top of my head. There are plenty of examples. So I think you're absolutely right. Aside from quarterback, offensive tackle, because there's so many teams that need these guys, if you show even the smallest foundation of a future starter, teams are going to clutch to that and say, all right,

we can coach up the rest. And so, yeah, Lomu will be interesting because, again, I think he needs more physical development. There's a lot to like about him. But it's just a little bit of a faith-based projection

because he does need more work. Something to watch. And again, this game is at, it's 11 a.m. Central. on Friday. So what else are you doing on Black Friday? Get home from getting the tree or if you're doing shopping in the morning, get home, scout some offensive tackles before all the craziness

of the NFL game and everything else gets started. I hope I sold you on it because I'll I'll be watching. All right. That does it for the Friday games. We're going to take a quick break and we'll come back and dive into Saturday. All right, Dane, let's talk about it. Let's get the big one out of the way because on Saturday at 11 a.m. Central, Ohio State as a nine and a half point favorite goes into Ann Arbor, playoff expectations, chance at a national title. I mean, they're going to make the playoff either way, but an undefeated season. And my whole point is, does any of this sound familiar? Feels like the last like three Ohio State seasons. And surely, surely this will be the Ohio state team that doesn't let Michigan be the hiccup in their year?

On paper, Ohio State clearly the more talented team. They could have more top 50 draft picks in April than Michigan will have guys picked period in the draft in 2026. But the more talented team does not consistently win this matchup. That's what history has told us. It's part of what makes this, in my opinion, the greatest rivalry in sports. But I think that this is a type of game where I think these teams match up well with kind of the strengths and where you can get the other team. And so this is a matchup where Ohio State needs Arvel Reese and his versatile front seven talent to take over the game and play like the number one player in the draft.

Michigan has a top 10 ranked offense or top 10 ranked rushing offense and Bryce Underwood's part of that the dual threat ability that can really make a difference in a game like this and so I'm guessing we're going to see rees spying Underwood most of the game but then also mix in a few of those timely blitzes

just to try and get that offense off schedule and really I think this is a great test for all of Ohio State's defensive prospects Caden McDonald's knows he's been phenomenal this year So him resetting the line of scrimmage, creating those 10 car pileups in the middle. Because, again, we know Michigan wants to run the ball. Sunny Stiles playing well in space. Caleb Downs playing top down and making plays.

You know, this Michigan, you know, they're without Justice Haynes, the really talented running back, who might be their top draft pick next year. I think he'll probably go somewhere third round in that range. But, you know, he's going to be out. but they still have running backs behind him that are really talented. Michigan tight end, Marlon Klein, has not been the weapon that scouts expected him to be this year, but maybe this could be somewhat of a breakout game for him. So watching this Ohio State defense and seeing what they can do

to stop a Michigan offense that is a little more one-dimensional than ideally you want, but they're pretty good on that side of the ball where they can still have success. me take off my draft hat for a sec and put on my college football fan hat and do my best impression of a Paul Feinbaum caller. Is this the best opponent Ohio State has faced since the season opener? I guess what I'm trying to,

like, has Ohio State played anybody, Paul? They ain't played nobody. Like, is this our best look? And I got a ton of respect for the amount of talent on Ohio State's roster. But I do think this represents, and ironically, Michigan feels like a very two-dimensional football team. But they were a two-dimensional football team last year and they beat Ohio State. I think it is fair to look at Ohio State's schedule.

And maybe that's not all their fault. I mean, the Big Ten is enormous. It's not their fault that they cycled away from Oregon. and they didn't play Indiana in the regular season this year. But I know Penn State has a ton of talent on their roster. I mean, if you want to try to sell me on Illinois, you can. But yeah, like this feels like the truest test for this team since all the way back in week one. Or do you think I'm off base with that?

No, I think that's fair. Obviously, Texas in the opener, but, you know, with a very young and experienced team that is better now than what they were when they went to Columbus and the opener, I think that's fair. You could make the argument that Michigan is the best team they have faced up to this point. So that's another

thing to add to this team. Now, but I will say that while I think that's true, Ohio State has dominated everybody that they played. That's fair. They lead the college football in scoring defense. They're giving up 7.6 points per game. No other team in college

football is below 11.5 points per game. So they are completely dominating whoever they're playing. And going to Washington is not easy. But again, you know, we're talking about, you know, they went to Illinois. They went, but that's not exactly. I think it's different than what we're going to see in this game. But I think that's also, it's fair to point out too, because Julian's saying, we have to remember, he's a sophomore.

He is a first year starter. And a guy who, yeah, he, the poise is something. something that you really like about him. And he did well at Washington, at Illinois. But he's only had like four road tests up to this point. So this will be his fifth. And this will be a big one. Going to Ann Arbor with over 100,000 people, it's something you don't experience

until you're actually out there trying to complete a pass, especially because, like I said, at the top, Michigan, I think is uniquely suited to have success against this Ohio state offense because they have two pass rushers that can get after the quarterback. Derek Moore, J. Sean Barham, two Maryland kids who have been playing some of their best football now as seniors. Moore has nine and a half sacks. That's top 10 nationally. 6.3, 265 pounds, playing with a lot more violence this year.

And then Barham, who he started the year as an offball linebacker. But the strength of his game is just speed. And so they've been working him into more of an edge role over the second half of the year. And it's been, it's fit him because it's less reading and more attacking. And that's what he does best. So Julian's saying he's been sacked, I think, eight times this year. That's, and obviously that's not a lot. That's, I think, top 10 in college football in terms of least number of times sacked.

It'll be a much tougher test for Ohio State's offensive line and for saying to get the ball up and out, show that mobility a little bit. And, you know, again, that poise is something that really is unique to him for such a young player. But this is a little bit of a different animal. It's very dangerous trying to predict injury stuff with college football, especially on a Tuesday afternoon. But it does sound in Columbus like Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are trending toward playing in this game. So that. The Smith's that he's playing. So that's a good sign at least.

You're right. Jeremiah said it himself, whereas Cardinal Tate, you're kind of leaning more on what Ryan Day is saying about this. And Smith, it sounds like it's more of a pain tolerance issue. And, you know,

so having him back was obviously a huge deal. But yeah, will Cornell Tate play? You know, he's missed the last three games. It sounds like it's not just a pain tolerance issue, but something where you have to worry about, losing him long term, not just for, you know, Big Ten championship game playoffs, but, you know, into the spring. And, you know, he's got an NFL career to think of too. And so you don't want to necessarily put him in harm's way where you almost have to protect him from himself. So having Smith back would be great. But having Tate back really opens up everything for that offense. And I mean, selfishly, I just enjoy scouting Tate. And so I want to see him out there so we can really see this.

team at full, full health and full speed, but it very much up in the air at this point midweek. It's so gross. I was going to ask you about other Buckeyes we should highlight because like, we've talked plenty about Carnell Tate and obviously Arvell Reese and Sunny Stiles. And I like, you just pull up there too deep and I feel like you could talk about almost anybody, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Is there anybody else we should? highlight other than like the obvious candidates like have we talked about davis and ignisbonosen at all like like how do you how do you know yeah how do you feel about some of the other guys on you know kaden mcdonald canyatta jackson i mean if if you if you're looking at defensive

prospects in this draft we we've we've talked about kate and curry like if you're looking at defensive prospects in this draft there's almost nobody you could watch on ohio states defense that that isn't going to factor into this conversation at some point. Yeah, I mean, just going over at my head, I think every single, it might not be this year, but every single starter for Ohio State's defense will get drafted. It might not be this year, but every single one will be drafted. And some of these guys are junior, you know, Germain Matthews, you know, he'll have an NFL decision to make after this year.

So Kenyada Jackson, same thing. But, you know, I think that with Igbenoson, I'm glad you brought his name up because he played really well last week. And, you know, he's someone that was dinged a lot last year because of all the penalties and rightfully so. That physicality is still part of his game. It's just you have to either live with it or die with it. I mean, it's who he is. You have to be okay with it or you just don't draft him because you're not going to coach it out of him. He is a physical player on the outside.

and you just, it's, like, I'm worried he's going to get whiplash for him. Because as soon as the play's over, he's immediately looking for the ref to see if they threw a flag. Because that's just, it's part of his game. But when you talk about a guy that 6-1 has his length and, you know, is going to run really well. That type of makeup, physical makeup is what gets corners drafted in, you know, the first two rounds. And so Igbenosin certainly could get drafted that high. On the defensive line, yeah, I mean, Caden Curry, he's, it reminds me a lot of, I don't remember John. Simon, the former Ohio State defensive lineman

where it's he's short-armed and doesn't really have what scouts covet in an edge rusher at the next level but man, the motor is just non-stop and he's going to find a spot. He's going to find a way to make a roster and do some things.

So yeah, he'll be drafted somewhere probably in the middle rounds, somewhere early day three. But yeah, this Ohio State defense is just loaded. a lot of these guys are upper classmen and they've never beat Michigan. And so it's this this means a lot to that squad. On the offense, Max Claire at tight end is someone that we probably don't talk enough about.

You know, he was in my preseason top 50 as tight end two behind only Kenyon Sadiq. And he hasn't been really an integral part of the passing offense. I mean, they've been kind of impressed with him. How many college tightens are integral parts of their college passing offense? Yeah, not a ton. frustrating thing about watching college tight ends. It's, that's fair. And I mean, I think what we saw from him last week with both receivers out against

Rutgers, you know, he went over 100 yards receiving. So it's nice to know that you have a tight end like that who could have that type of impact. Now, we did have a fumble and, you know, it wasn't all perfect for him. But he's a guy that, I'm told, will be sitting down and making, you know, he's kind of like 50-50. You know, he's not leaning one way or the other, but he's going to make a big decision about whether he goes pro because he could be one of the first three tight ends drafted. I don't think he goes above Sadiq,

but could he sneak into the top 50 as tight end two? Yeah, it's on the table for him. So, you know, he's another guy that I think we need to, we have, we've talked about him before, but maybe not enough for where he'll eventually be drafted. And Michigan's got a good defense. And so Ernest Housman, the linebacker, see, you know, what he can do against a tight end like that.

Ohio State's run game, they're all underclassmen. but it still be a big part of this. So, I mean, there are so many NFL prospects in this game that will play a big part in what eventually happens at the end. Here's my pitch. Ryan Day won a national championship. We don't have to indulge any of the silliness about firing him

if he can't beat Michigan. But if Michigan lose or if Ohio State loses to Michigan again, then Ohio State hires a closer, like a closing coach where like, when Ryan Day's done beating Rutgers in mid-November, they just like pat their arm and bring in the closing coach against Michigan. Because at, I'm not trying to be too dismissive of Michigan,

but come on, guys, like, you can't, like this team should not be losing this game, especially for a fifth straight year. So maybe we just experiment with like a coach who can get them over the finish line, just for one week. and then Ryan Day can be coach again.

Well, and I think that it's funny because you see the way that some of these losses have played out, and then you see Ohio State has attacked some of those weaknesses in the offseason. So, you know, when Donovan Edwards and Blake Coram were running all over them and J.J. McCarthy didn't have to do all that much. It's like, all right, we got to bulk up on defense. We have to get better on defense. And they did that last year. They held Michigan to what? It was a 17 to 10 game.

but on offense they tried to out physical Michigan in the trenches and the strength of that Michigan defense was in the interior where they had two top 15 picks with Mason Grant or Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. So, you know, I think that in this game, I'm interested to see how Ryan Day wants to play it where like you said, he won a national championship. Like, yeah, you have to get the monkey off your back

in terms of beating Michigan, but don't listen to the narratives where you feel like you have to win a certain. way, just play to your strengths and, you know, go win a football game. And so it'll be interesting to see how this game plays out and how Ryan Day coaches it without the, I mean, he feels pressure, no doubt about it. But without the pressure that, you know, we thought at this time, 364 days ago, where, you know, they had just lost and it, you know, Columbus was on fire because they lost to a team they shouldn't have at home. and even though they were going to still make the playoffs, it just no one really cared at that point. So, yeah, this is going to be interesting to see how it plays out.

I think the spread is, whew, I mean, if I'm a betting man, I'm feeling good about Michigan, at least covering that, if not outright winning it. So it's not easy to go to Ann Arbor and win. So especially with a young quarterback and injury questions at receivers. So this is going to be a fun one. The great thing about rivalry week is that, Ohio State, like, they're in the playoff.

They won the championship coming from deep, like coming from outside the bracket anyway. Like they didn't have a buy last year. They're going to be in position to do it again, even if they lose this game. But if they do, Columbus will be on fire again anyway. It will not matter. None of that crap will matter if they cannot get over this hump. And that is why this is such a special weekend. You think the state of Michigan wants to take it to?

Matt Patricia one more time after what happened in Detroit. I mean, like, what a great wrinkle. What a great wrinkle. Add another one to it. Why not? All right. We still have plenty more to cover on Saturday. We're going to take one last break before we do that. Plenty of other action on Saturday after Ohio State, Michigan, Dane. Namely, for me, and like the stakes aren't, they're not equally high because it has been a very

forgettable season for the Auburn Tigers. they fired Hugh Freeze. But the Iron Bowl, obviously, we know it's one of the best rivalries in college football, Alabama with plenty to play for. Ty Simpson trying to get off the Schneid that he's been on ever since you and I professed our love for him a couple weeks ago. But I'm also interested in this because, like I said, this is truly an opportunity where if you're looking at big time prospects in this class, potentially playing their

final game, Auburn's got quite a few of those guys. and none more visible than Keldrick Falk, who unanimously seen as one of the biggest prospects in this draft class, if Auburn doesn't win this game, he doesn't even have a choice about opting out of a bowl. They won't make a bowl. So a lot of reasons to care about this from both sides, even if Auburn is a little bit lackluster from a record standpoint.

Yeah, probably the last time we'll see Keldrick Falk in a college game, so very eager to see him and how he goes out, especially when he goes up against left tackle, Caden Proctor, that'll be a treat to watch those two guys go at it. Falk, he's going to be a polarizing player because he has more almost plays

than impact plays on his tape. And that's going to be an issue for, and understandably so, I get it. But his trait stays top 10, and he's the youngest player in their draft. So I still think there will be more than a few teams lining up to draft this guy develop him and take him pretty early in this class.

Opposite him, Kiron Crawford, he's had a really nice senior year, someone that scouts are always bringing up to me as, you know, don't, you know, we hear you talking about Falk, but talk about this guy as well. 64, 250, ripped, impressive guy when he steps on the scale, but he also plays like that.

High effort, big time competitor, scouts really like him. But kind of how you set it up and mentioned it, this is to me a Thai-Simson game because it's, you know, we talked about it when my top 50 came out. The first two months of tape from Simpson this year, really impressive audition to be quarterback one and be a top 10 pick. Then November happened. And it's been rocky. Three interceptions, just the last two games.

He had another fumble. I'm still really impressed by the pocket movement and the way he gets through his reads. But there are times where the play. placement is just a tick off. And with his willingness to give his targets a chance, a little off would be a disaster at times. And so this is a game that are we going to see the more of the early season Simpson or are we going to see the November Simpson?

Seeing how he bounces back from a roller coaster last two or three weeks, that's going to be a key part of his evaluation and a key part of probably his decision-making process about do I go back to school or do. I declare as part of the 2026 class. And so I think it just feels like there's a lot riding on this performance from Ty Simpson in the Iron Bowl. This is also in Auburn. And do not let the five and six record fool you.

That will be a hostile environment. Going six and six, but messing up Alabama's season would have those folks plenty happy. So I expect a rowdy, rowdy environment. It's usually a very competitive game. when the game is in Auburn, no matter what the record is. So I'm pumped for this.

And yeah, like I want to see Ty Simpson handle that environment against a defense with some NFL juice on on that side of the ball. I think even if this is only a five and six team, I think this will be a big, big test for him. Let's take it out to the West Coast. Another, I love this because like, of course, Thanksgiving weekend, like I'd love to see the Apple Cup happening in Washington. But if you're not going to do that because the Pact 12

doesn't, it ceased to exist the way we grew up with it, but at least you've got Washington playing Oregon. Like at least you've got a rivalry game with some juice to wrap up the season. And I love this for a couple reasons. I've mentioned on this show several times.

Denzel Boston and Jonah Coleman are two of my favorite prospects that I've seen so far. Love watching those guys. This could potentially be their last big game if they're if they're gone to the NFL and then a road game for Oregon going to Seattle again what what better spot could you ask for for Dante Moore Oregon probably makes the playoff anyway but I mean the the big 10 title game is still in play for them they need a little bit of help to get there but lots of play for for Oregon Husky

Stadium very raucous place to play I I'm curious to see how he handles that but you Yeah, again, a couple really fun Washington prospects to watch in a big spot too. Yeah, it's funny. I think Oregon would like to win the Big Ten, but I think they'd be okay with skipping the Big Ten championship. It's a problem, right? Conference title games are dead. I mean, I know they're never going to get rid of them because the ratings are too good, but like, we got to do something about this.

For the Big Ten and the SEC, yes. Now, you know, for the other conferences, you win and you're in the playoffs. So there's more stakes in the ACC, Big 12, but SEC and... It's a good point, but the two leagues that are going to produce the most playoff teams and have the most NFL talent. Everybody's looking at the conference title game. Like, what do you mean we got to go play another game? And that's not the way it's supposed to be. It could be the difference in between getting a buy or playing in the first round of the playoffs.

So there are still some stakes involved here. You know and I know that it's not the same. It's just not. It's not. And that's why I said, I think Oregon, you know, they won the Big Ten last year and got a buy. And then they got boat raced by Ohio State in the second round of the playoffs. So this year, I think they'd be fine with missing the Big Ten championship game. And then playing whatever they, whatever opponent they get, maybe it's Tulane.

You know, maybe it's, you know, I don't want to disparage other teams. but maybe it's a team that they're very likely to win and go into round two of the playoffs with a little bit of more momentum. So, yeah, this is a game where Washington kind of, it seemed like when Kail and DeBore was there, they had a good stranglehold on this rivalry. Michael Pennix was a big part of that.

And then last year, you could tell it kind of shifted where Washington loses a lot of their dudes. Oregon still has their dudes. and that's probably still going to be the case this year. And a lot of what we said about Ty Simpson, you can kind of say about Dante Moore, where it's, you know, this is a big performance in terms of,

where are you in your development and how seriously should you be considering going pro? Dante Moore is very much in the QB1 discussion. You know, I think that there's a lot of things working against him in his age, his lack of starts. And, you know, it's something that, he has to think very honestly about in terms of how much development does he still feel like he needs. But, you know, how he performs in a game like this and then in the playoff,

I think that'll go a long way to ultimately what decision he makes about going pro or going back to school. So that'll be a big one. You mentioned Jonah Coleman, very eager to see him a go against Bryce Becher, the Oregon linebacker who I think the Astros are going to be pissed when Betcher ends up going to the NFL because I just scouts scouts like Betcher too much, I think, to let him get away. But yeah, Denzel Boston, you know, can they

get those one-on-one matchups with him and then give him chances to go make plays above the rim? So yeah, this, hopefully this is a, I think Oregon wins regardless, but hopefully it's at least a closer game going into, you know, the fourth quarter. I really enjoy that Ty Simpson and Dante Moore

are going to wrap their seasons up with big road games against teams with talent. Like, I think that is that's a nice way to to wrap this this regular season up even if both of those guys go on to play in the playoffs and whatever 11 a.m. Saturday, the records are not impressive. Clemson, South Carolina is a Building the Beast showcase as far as I'm concerned. Like two teams that thought they would be doing a hell of a lot better, but Peter Woods and T.J. Parker going against Lenora Sellers? Like, what else could you want? This was this was the game that kind of put

Lenora Sellers on the not it didn't put him on the radar because obviously people knew who he was but like for the casual fan and for the NFL fan that's hunting for quarterback prospects. This game really jumped out for Lenora Sellers. So not

where we thought we would be with either of these teams but plenty of reason to have an eye on it on Saturday morning. And there's a big question hanging over this game. Is this the final time we see Lenora Sellers in a Gamecox uniform? I mean, obviously this season has not gone according to plan both for the quarterback and then just a team as a whole.

So we can talk about it more at another time about is it the quarterback's fault? Is it the sporting cast fault? Mixer of both. How much blame are we going to, you know, we can talk about that another time. But this is one last time for Lenora Sellers to go out there this season and put up something that is an impressive performance. You know, he, last week against Coastal Carolina, it's kind of a get right game.

He had four touchdowns, two passing, two rushing. But watching the tapeback, it really wasn't that impressive of a performance, at least as a passer. So going up against a Clemson defense that has been much maligned this year, but we know they still have dudes, Peter Woods, T.J. Parker, Avian Terrell,

Will Held, Wade Woodaz. I mean, they've got guys that are going to be playing on Sundays next year or the year after. So what can sellers do in this game to potentially change some of the negative narratives out there on him? And how will that shape what decision he makes after this game about going pro, transferring, staying put? It just feels like how this game plays out could directly influence what ultimately that decision is. He had 330 total yards in last year's win against a Clemson team that made the playoffs. including the game winner.

I mean, that was, the fourth quarter was awesome. If he does that again, and, you know, Peter Woods, T.J. Parker, Aviontaryl at cornerback. Like, there's plenty of talent on this Clemson team, even if their record is underwhelming. If he does that again, I'm curious to see the effect that it has on the conversation we're having about Lenora's sellers. I'm only going to watch half of the LSU Oklahoma game, Dane. I'm going to flip away whenever LSU's on offense because that I wouldn't wish that on anybody. But LSU's defense going against John Mateer and Oklahoma with OU trying to play their way into a playoff spot. I do think that's worth watching.

Our guy, Mancer, Delane, named as a Thorpe finalist on Tuesday morning. Very exciting for me personally. You know what? Thank you. And like I know the other guys are going to have like. Who are the other getters? So it's Caleb Downs and Leonard Moore, who are both. Really good.

Big time players on playoff teams. Like I don't, I don't feel good about my guy Delane winning over them, but I will passionately defend him anytime. Speaks to Delane that he on a defense that has been really up and down and a lost season and still being recognized, as he should for how good he has been this year. But yeah, I mean, Is Whit weeks back do we know for this game?

Or is they, they put, so there's three weeks brothers on LSU's roster. And they put, they put, we, wow, they put Witt out there for a series against Western Carolina last week with his brothers. And it felt very ceremonial. It felt very like, oh, let's let them, let them have this moment. I'd be, I think I'd be pretty surprised if he's playing in this game. So do we think that he's leaving after this year then? You know what? LSU is probably best put on a shelf until the weekend and we'll figure out what the hell's going on with the coaching nonsense. You know, if a certain other SEC coach winds up coaching LSU, then maybe what weeks will want to hang around.

I have, I have no idea. I don't know what to do with LSU other than I know that I don't want to watch their offense play football anymore. Yeah. I mean, we do know it's probably the last game, me, or not probably, but maybe the last game for Hill, Perkins. Perkins. And they're, I'm not trying to sell anybody that they're big time picks, but there are several interesting players on LSU's defensive line.

AJ Halsey. AJ Halsey, phenomenal player. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, there are definitely guys that for our purposes in terms of prospects, um, worth watching. And Oklahoma's offense has been really spotty. I mean, but,

Matier has been, since coming back from that injury, it's been, it's been rough for him, at least through the year. I mean, he still uses his leg. and that's that dual threat ability is a big part of what helps Oklahoma put points on the board.

But yeah, this Oklahoma defense, it's going to be tough for LSU to put, you know, get first downs and really get past. I mean, does LSU score more than 17 points in this game? LSU hasn't scored more than 23 points all year, period. Is that real? Or against against power for competition. Okay. So like not counting the rent a wins. So no, I think the answer to your question is no.

I think this is going to be a mud fight. It's going to be disgusting. I can't wait. Yeah. And like you said, Oklahoma's plan to get into the playoffs. So they've got a little bit more to play for it than this Tiger squad. I was asked by a listener, Dane, to ask you to revisit one Diego Pavia. And whether opinions are changing about his draft ability.

he just had a 500 yard. I believe he finished with six touchdowns against Kentucky. Yeah, six touchdowns, 500 scrimmage yards to beat Kentucky in the Heisman conversation. And I love Vandy playing Tennessee in Knoxville. You talk about Texas A&M being in a weird spot as the favorite against Texas. How about Tennessee being the team trying to spoil a Vanderbilt season? I don't know that I've ever said that in my life. I don't think anybody's ever said that in their lives.

But it's, this is a Tennessee defense that, and when you just look at it, the offense led by Pavia and Eli Stowers, it looks like a mismatch. But Tennessee has some dudes on defense. Arienne Carter at linebacker, this guy is playing with turf toe on both feet. And he still, like, he missed a few games. He was out there against Florida last week, making plays. He is second behind only CJ Allen and the S. and tackles per game.

His reaction speed, his, the instincts, they just jump off the screen with him. So, you know, he's one of those guys that will, I think he's 50-50 on whether he comes out or goes back to school. But, you know, even though he's hurt, he will have a big impact on how this game plays out. But, yeah, I mean, Pavia, like, he has not done enough, I think, through the air

to convince teams that he's draftable. But all it takes is one. team. You know, all it takes is one team to buy into the competitor and what he can bring to an offense. And so I'm not going to say it's impossible

that he gets drafted. But, you know, just talking to scouts that are going through Vanderbilt, they're not giving, they're not just stamping. Oh, yeah, definitely draftable grades on him. But like you said, this is a game like this where it's, it's not play in your end because Vanderbilt

still needs a little bit of help. But if they win, they've got a decent, you know, reasoning to say we belong in this playoff conversation and Pavia, how he performs, could win him the Heisman. It's just, it's Jeremiah love to me

is what he's done this season. He belongs as not the front runner close to it. But if Pavia goes out there and puts up a big number in a tough place to play like Neeland, that would go a long way and gets Vanderbilt into the playoff, my gosh. I think it's also interesting too, not to talk too much about the Heisman,

but it used to be you had all week starting on Monday and had all week to vote. They changed it. So now you don't get your, I mean, there's a thousand people that vote. You don't get your ballot until like Saturday night of conference championship game. And then you have like 48 hours. So it's basically forcing you to not vote ahead of time. You have to watch the conference championship games. And that's something that favors obviously the guys that are playing on championship weekend.

The Julian Sayans, the first. Fernando Mendoza's, you know, whoever else ends up playing on conference champion weekend. And that could potentially hurt a Diego Pavia. So this is a big game for him to go out there and kind of, you know, one last say why he should win the award. I actually love that. And I mean, it does suck that the guys that play in a conference title game get to make a last impression. But that's still better than a lazy voter deciding who should win the award two weeks ahead of time, which used to happen with alarming regularity.

No doubt. I think I said this last time we talked about Pavia. I just, he's going to be a day three pick that, like some teams just like not going to want to fight for him. And that's what you have to do when a guy goes undrafted. And I can just, I can see that of him being like a fifth to seventh round pick culture guy.

Possibly. Developmental guy. I will not be surprised. Especially when coaches, especially when coaches get involved in the process. Yeah, dude. You know, they meet them and talk to them and say, like, oh, this is my spirit animal. I want them on my team. I want them in my quarterback

room. Like, you know, that's, that is something that even though scouts are not, like I said, scouts are not coming away, like, oh, this guy is draftable. Once coaches get involved, that could definitely tip to scale. Such a great note. And I can't wait to talk about that. When the coaches sit down and they're like, oh, no,

we need this guy. Anyway, two more to get too quickly. I, I love that we're highlighting North Carolina, North Carolina State. a lot of bragging rights on the line to not very successful teams this year. But North Carolina State in particular does have two guys that you've been a fan of throughout the season. Yeah, Justin Jolie, the tight end, you know, he was a 190-pound wide receiver who couldn't get recruited anywhere.

Nobody wanted to take a chance on him. Goes to Yukon, moving to tight end, puts on weight. Now he's 250 pounds and still moving. similar to way he looked at 190 pounds and just making plays. I mean, watching him against Florida State, he had the game ceiling touchdown. You just kind of throw it in his zip code and he comes down with it. He's not, I wouldn't go as far as to say a top 50 guy, but he's right there in that mix to be the first senior drafted, you know,

somewhere in that 50 to 100 range. You know, he's competing with Eli Stowers and some of these other guys to be a tight end two. tight end three, tight end four. But Jolie is awesome. And if I'm NC State, I'm targeting him 10 times a game. I don't know why they don't. And then Hollywood Smothers at running back is a big play waiting to happen. I mean, he could help this running back class.

I don't think he goes in the first two rounds, but rounds three and four. That'll probably be the sweet spot this year for your Justice Haynes, your Jonah Coleman's, you know, that next tier of running backs after Jeremiah Love. nothing better. That's my sweet spot. I'm trying to spend starting with like pick 70 and going to like pick 105. That's where I want to take my running back. So if you're telling me that, then I am interested in Mr.

Hollywood Smothers. One last one before we get out of here. Miami going to pit hurricanes. It's looking dicey for their playoff odds, but they are still mathematically alive. one more chance to put a good win on their resume and hopefully catch the right breaks to get in. If they don't though,

and no offense to any hurricane fans, that's what's potentially interesting to me is even with a win here, they could win this game and get locked out of the playoff, whether fair or unfair. And so for a Rubin Bain, for a Francis Maui Noah, this could be their last meaningful

college game. It could be their last game in a Miami uniform. So even if I don't love Miami's playoff odds, I do want to tune in to see that. I'm going to watch this game, not caring at all about the playoffs and what it means.

I don't care. I just want to see, these Miami players knowing it could be the final time they're playing together, whether it be Carson Beck, whether it be Ruben Bain and the guys on the defensive line, how do they go out?

they go out putting the best possible product on the tape or do they kind of mess around a little bit? And it's, you know, I, because I do think that the talent on this team should get them in the conversation to be in the playoff. It's just can they go out there and play like it? I think they have the last few weeks. You know, they, it feels like they know they have to put up style points and they've done that. But I want to see. They were overtly trying to put up style points against Virginia Tech last week. And I think everybody knows that.

And I get why, you know, whether or not it matters, you know, who knows, but why not? And this will be another game where Pip, their rankings nationally on the defensive side of the ball. It's taking some hits, especially after that Notre Dame game. But it's still a pretty decent defense. And they're well coached. And so I want to see from an evaluation standpoint, Carson Beck, how does he, what does he do against? this defense. I want to see, you know, can Ruben Bain go out with a three-sac night, that type of thing. So, yeah, there's still a lot, even not caring at all about the playoffs, just the evaluation

of these prospects. I think there's still plenty to learn from these guys. Underrated subplot, Mario Cristobal coaching against Pat Narduzzi almost guarantees some silly situational thing is going to happen, like whether it's clock management or a weird fourth down decision, one of these coaches is going to do something insane. You're not wrong. And that's not that either of these guys are on the hot seat or anything, but it's just you are going into the offseason with a fan base that is pissed and let down. And you have to hear about it for months.

And so you know neither team wants that to happen. And so, yeah, there's just, this feels like a matchup that is, it's not a rivalry per se, but it just feels like there's a little bit, you don't want to be a loser in this one, put it that way. The stakes are high all over the country. I cannot wait for all of this to play out. Cannot wait to chat with you about it.

Not only over the weekend, Dane, but when we reconvened to reassess it all, one of the best weekends of the year. On a serious note before we get out of here, man, I'm very thankful to be back talking ball and talking draft with you. It's been a delight. And this is the end of the,

regular season, but it's just the beginning for us, man. I can't wait to really crank the dials up on the draft process. I mean, this is one of my favorite hours of the week because it's a chance to really talk about scenarios and prospects and evaluations. And it's, yeah, it's crazy that we're going to be out of tape soon. You know, like with this, we're at the end of the regular season. And so next week, my first mock draft comes out, which is kind of crazy. So yeah, we've got plenty.

Even though the games are ending, we still got a lot to talk about and continue this conversation as we get closer and closer to draft weekend. It's getting real. Until then, we hope you all have a very happy, very safe, productive Thanksgiving weekend.

We will be back to chat about all of the fallout from Rivalry Week. Next time on Building the Beast. Talk to y'all soon.