The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 3 - The Niners have a decision to make

Episode Date: December 6, 2022

The issues the 49ers would face if they brought in Baker Mayfield Should the Seahawks stick with Geno Smith? Thoughts on the new 12 team College Football Playoff   Guest: Brian BillickSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but the show. celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

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You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Well, a decade Ravens head coach, also an offensive coordinator for the Vikings for years, and he made the playoffs five of six years that Brian Billick was the offensive coordinator for the Vikings. That's why he got that head coaching gig and won his Super Bowl along the way, and he is joining us now. So as an offensive coordinator, if you had Brock Purdy, four years college, four-year starter, Brian, highly functional. He completed 68% of his throws at Iowa State. you've watched them at practice.

He has a very, very good repetitive throwing motion, and you could go out in the market and get a Baker-Mayfield. Or as a coordinator, would you be concerned if you did bring in somebody like Baker, you're taking first team snaps from Purdy? I mean, how would you feel about that situation today? Yeah, they obviously have, they're comfortable with Purdy, and particularly with the formula they have. You know, even with Garoppolo, they're a team that wants to keep the quarterback,

on a 25-30 pitch count, run the ball better than 30 times, play good defense, and obviously that was the formula for them last week. Then they're obviously comfortable with all the things you just laid out with him doing that. I'd be very careful about bringing somebody in from the outside. I don't know that a Baker-Mayfield or anybody that's available is going to produce any more efficiently than that. Now, the question becomes, all right, well, what happens if you get into a track meet, and this has to be a 40-45 throw game? Well, you know, now you're not. You know, now you're you've changed the price of poker a little bit. But this guy, they're obviously comfortable with him.

And I know he was Mr. Irrelevant, but it's kind of like the old joke, where they call the guy that finished last in med school, doctor, well, what he called a guy that's Mr. In, you know, Mr. Irrelevant, drafted. So obviously, this guy's got enough of a resume, and they're comfortable with it, and he sure looked good the other night. You know, another quarterback situation that's fascinating to me. So Gino Smith is second in the league in passer rating. And because of the Russell Wilson deal,

they engineered. Brian, they have two first, two seconds, a third and two force. That is, that is, you may get one of those as a coach once in a 20 year career. So they could certainly spend on a draft pick. But I look at them and I think to myself, or do I roll it with Gino and just build a super roster? Because they nailed their first six picks last year. They're all really good players. What do you do if you're Seattle? Do you buy into the Gino? thing? Is it a little bit of a mirage? How do you feel about that? Well, no, I think they've got enough of a body of work to feel comfortable with him. No one knows better than they do, particularly in the system and surround it again.

It's a little innocuous to say, well, you surround a guy with the good defense and the right tools outside. Well, there's a lot of guys you could do that with and be functional, but Gino has been outstanding. I mean, in the day, he was 28 to 39 for almost 400 yards and three touchdowns. He kind of stays away from the mistakes. And the way Pete Carroll wants to play, now you add all that other talent to continue to build back the defense, maybe give them some more receivers outside, build up your offensive line. Yeah, I got to think that they're very comfortable unless they just fall in love with someone in the draft.

And, you know, Pete Carroll's no spring chicken. I don't know if he wants to go on a three or four year. Okay, let's build up a rookie. And I got to feel like they're feeling pretty good about Gino Smith and all those picks. Yeah, no, I think you're right. So I want to ask you, 20 years ago, if you could coach in the NFL, you probably took the job, even if you had a good college job. But it's interesting today. Financially, Michigan, Georgia, USC, Texas, financially, they can pay what NFL teams can pay.

You get to live in great little college towns. The media is a little friendlier than they are in a Philly, in a New York, in a Miami, and a San Francisco. I look at Harbaugh and I think, yeah, maybe if I could have Joe Burrow as my quarterback, I would go. But Brian, if you coach Michigan today and made $8, $9 million, would you leave for the NFL? Yeah, that really, that has to become a personal, okay, I still got that itch to go chase that in the NFL. Uh, you know, that, and that's just a personal decision. You're right. Plus, he's at a place where, and so remember, let's go back to

San Francisco or some of his frustration was what he had control of, what he didn't have. He has got total control of Michigan. You don't have to, you know, yeah, you've got a president and there are boosters and the like, but whether it's the owner, whether it's a general manager, maybe there's a president's team, head of personnel. That's a, you, it's one-stop shopping. You have total and complete control, as does he has a Michigan. That is a lot to give up, unless you can go someplace where you know you have the exact same

thing. You're certainly not doing it for financial reasons, because you're right. The college jobs are paying as well as anybody. It's just a matter of, okay, if he can win a national championship, maybe there's that itch to go back. But you could ask the same thing. Why is Nick Saban not gone back? You know, because he didn't produce in the NFL. Is there a bit of an it to, well, show that I can do it there? Well, why? He's got a heck of a program. He's going to be the national championship chase every year. He's in complete and total control. Yeah, I'm not sure why you'd leave. Yeah.

So give me the update on Lamar Jackson. I always kind of fall into in the NFL. If you win 70% of your starts, I'm going to give you, I'm going to pay for you a quarterback. That's a lot of starts to win. And I think he may not be Joe Burrow, but he looks better than Kenny Pickett and he's better than Cleveland situation. I would pay Lamar. He hasn't been hurt a lot despite his style. What do you think's going on there right now?

he's kind of regressed this year and struggled. Well, it's always difficult to separate a quarterback play from what's going on around it. I mean, what's going on around him has affected a little bit, a little bit of change on defense. Really don't have the dynamic receivers on the outside. But they're still a good, solid team and totally committed to what he does and the style that he plays. But this is what he is. He's going to run the – you're going to lead the league in rushing if he's in because he's going to give you 50, 60, 70 yards every game. If he can stay healthy.

you know, you understand that him throwing the ball, you know, is not going to be a strength, but certainly good enough. And so, yeah, you framed it up exactly right. What are my alternatives? I mean, when I say we, the Ravens, we've been there where we didn't have the quarterback and had a run of not having the quarterback. That's not pretty. And so you've got a guy that can produce that way.

Now, the injury thing, as he gets older, you know, he lost, missed five games last year. He's hurt now with the knee. That doesn't mean he's not going to stay healthy going forward. forward, but his style of play, it's got to be in the back of your mind. So that would have to be the only thing. And I don't know that the Ravens look at it that way going, well, do we really want to invest one of these mega, half billion dollar contracts on a guy that could have some injury issue, but you could say that about any quarterback. So I think they're wholly committed to getting it done. It's just a unique circumstance. I think he's betting on himself like Joe Flacko did

and said, hey, I'll play my way into my last year. And then let's see how much you want to pay me. Yeah. By the way, X-Tex company you went with for years and years, not just shoulder pads. You guys did something with Justin Herbert this year, didn't you? Yeah, you know, there was the pad protectors, the red protectors, as we've done that a couple of years over the last couple of years. And yeah, this is one of the things I'm most proud of since I left coaching is my association with XTEC pads. And we went with the number one pad professional football, major colleges, S.C. Oklahoma, Auburn, and the high schools. That's the exciting thing now. The high schools, particularly in major high schools,

Maudetay, Wesley, Katie, Bishop Gorman, they're now replete with X-TEC-PADs. Parents realize they don't have to just settle for what they've had in the past. They can get the best pad. Go to X-TacPads.com and go to Instagram at X-Tac-Pads and protect the players in what is a phenomenal game, but they need to be protected with the top technology, and that's what X-Tac-Pads is.

Yeah, Josh Jacobs, by the way, started using them this year, and he said, he said it feels like I'm not wearing pads. So you got yourself a real company. Brian Billick, Super Bowl champ is always. Great seeing you, coach. Sounds good. I just found out today he grew up in Palos Verdes, California. So did Jay Billis.

So I know two people that grew up there. Jay Billis was a basketball star at Palos Verdes. When I first got to L.A., I want to say, I drove by, I say I want to see where Jay Billis went to high school. And I drove up up, like, Peninsula High School up there. Beautiful area. Really nice. You know who lives there now?

Who? Your buddy Lincoln Riley. He does live up there. He's up in PV, yeah. I got a couple friends up there, played a couple poker games up there in PV. Beautiful views. I'm sure our audience cares about Palisarius. Well, more than they care about your tennis game. What about my fantasy football team?

Three out of four made the playoffs, Cowder. Oh, Lord. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.

Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment.

And the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we picket here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because. of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now.

Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your All right, J-Mac for the news.

No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Start with Lamar Jackson. Sounds like his injury is a PCL strain, and he's going to be out this week, likely out this week. Harbaugh has not officially announced it, but they said he's less likely to be able to play this week against the Steelers.

But you could just look at the gambling market and get the real answer. The Ravens were four and a half-point favorites before the Lamar injury. Pittsburgh now favored at home by TV. two and a half, looking like it's headed toward three. It's going to be Kenny Pickett against Tyler Huntley. Now, Huntley went to Utah. I'm sure you remember him from the Pac-12. Good player.

But he started against Pittsburgh last year in week 17, two interceptions. They lost. He was plucky, got a couple covers against the spread last year, but I don't know that he's beating Pittsburgh on the road. This Baltimore team has not looked good now for a while, Colin. It is another team I whiffed on this year. I thought they were going to be very good. Well, they'll probably end up finishing second in their division, you think.

You sure about that? And listen, if you're Lamar Jackson, what's your incentive to come back? Your best receiver, Bateman, he's out. You have no offensive input. Ronnie Stanley, the left tackle, he went down. I don't know his health. Mark Andrews is playing walking wounded.

I think he dropped the touchdown pass uncharacteristic. Like, if you're Lamar, I don't know that you're rushing to get back to a Ravens team that I don't even think they're getting out of the first round of the playoffs. Probably not. He's got a bigger future ahead, a big payday as well. So what are the seven teams going to be in the playoffs

in the AFC. So Buffalo, Miami are in for sure. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Cincinnati's in. Miami's in? Oh, yeah, they'll make it in. They got Chargers this week and then Buffalo. They're going to, they'll be in. So Buffalo.

File this away, ladies and gentlemen. Miami, Cincinnati for sure. Probably the Titans. Titans in that division. Kansas City's five. So Jets, Baltimore, Patriots are fighting. Oh, God, no. Chargers, if the Chargers don't get in, you've got to fire the coach.

Chargers, Miami this week is enormous. It's probably game of the week. They flexed it to Sunday night football. Big game. Whoa. Now, Tua, I mean, it sounds like he, should we go into this ankle injury that Tua had? Like, he was pulled for an ankle injury late in the game against Sanford. I think they pulled him because the game was over and he was taking shots and let's get him out of it.

Let's not rattle the confidence any further. No, that's exactly right. Boso was killing him. No problem pulling to it. None. I've said before, I worry about him last in five years. this league. I got no problem with a three touchdown lead or a three touchdown deficit pulling to a. I don't understand why teams don't pull quarterbacks more. I don't get it.

I do not like last night, Brady, you don't. But I have never understood that. If Joe Burrow leads 3017 and there's three left, he's sitting. For instance, I was surprised Dak was throwing the ball against the Colts up like 30 in the fourth quarter. Like you lose Dak and I know Cooper Rush is good, but come on. You don't need your quarterback yet up 30 in the fourth quarter. All right. Let's move on to Aaron Now, you're hot on this story. His current contract runs through the 24 season. Lafleur and GM Brian Gutikunst say they want Rogers back.

Gutikunz added that player futures are conversations had in the offseason, but did note that the commitment they made with Rogers' contract was not intended. Interesting wording there. Not intended to be for just one year. So you think this could be a big move in the off season. Rogers ship it out of town. We don't need this. Yeah, this is not a criticism of anybody.

It is an opportunity. The dead cap hit for Rogers is not nearly as bad if Jordan Love plays. You can get draft capital. It does appear Christian Watson is a star. Romeo Dubs is clearly a capable. Alan Lazard. You've got weapons now. And you have multiple picks.

There's a ton of receivers every year. I'm just saying if you're going to move off Aaron, it's an opportunity. And Tennessee's got to wake up. So you can move off Ryan Tanniel after this year. You're not getting through Burrough Mahomes. You're not getting through these guys. By the way, in their own division, it looks like Trevor Lawrence is pretty darn good.

He got dinged up against Detroit by the way. He may not play this week. Well, he came back and played. He got hurt and came back. Yeah. I don't know, Kyle. It's just tough for me to see Rogers moving on. That being said, remember this past off season was the whole ayahuasca deal.

How does he level up this offseason? What does he do now? Does he like try to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? Like, what does Aaron Rogers do in the offseason that's crazy? Because every offseason, he keeps escalating into crazier and crazier things. No, I think Aaron has, I think what Aaron, if he stays in Green Bay, will disappear, and that's what he does. Because now he can argue that Watson and Dobbs, he's got a relationship with him. So I don't, if he stays in Green Bay, he'll disappear.

That's what he does. And, you know, that's, that's, I don't, now, if he goes to Tennessee, he will get some heat. if he doesn't commit. Mike Vrable, I mean, you got to sit down man to man. Mike Vrable's going to want him to go to camp. I do like your idea of quarterback musical chairs. Like Aaron Rogers goes somewhere. We keep seeing it.

Where does Tanna Hill go? Russell Wilson, Kyla Murray, Jimmy G. We could have some fun with this. Talk to the people that matter about hunting. This is not a hot take. Look at the last three years. If I'd have told you Brady to Tampa, Stafford to L.A., you would have laughed at it. This is the way the league works now.

People are taking big swings. All right. Final story. Miami's high-powered offense, Colin. I love to go after these guys. Hit a roadblock against Sanfran. They had two long touchdown passes. Tyreekill was wide open.

Sherfield was kind of a catch-and-run. But outside of that, Tua could do nothing. However, Mike McDaniel thinks the team has the ability to bounce back from this difficult loss. I think that the guys were a little off, just in general, collectively. But I know one thing it wasn't because of preparation. It wasn't because of lack of detail. It was one of those things that you have to go through as frustrated as it was. I think that we are well equipped and we have the guys in the locker room

that collectively will take this piece of adversity and get better from it. And that's the objective. So this matchup with the Chargers is interesting because their defense is hurting. They're 30th against the run. Devante Adams was just running circles around dudes in the evening. I love Miami this weekend. I love Miami this weekend. Here's an interesting thing.

Everybody else does. Every single person you talk to says, oh, Miami's going to crush them. Well, I'm not to crush them. What's the line? Three. Okay, that's not crush them. I'm going to take Miami to win in cover. I'm telling you, I have a question of leadership with the Chargers.

Let me ask you a question. I'm going to look this up real quick. So we're now almost two years with Brandon Steyer. No, I'm serious. And it's not like they have bad personnel. Derwin James. Now, Bosa's been hurt. But they've got some...

They need Bosa back. I don't know where the heck this guy is. Isn't it a red flag? If you have a defensive coach, his side of the ball, second worst run defense in the league through a year and a half, second worst scoring defense, second worst third down defense, NFL since Brandon Staley arrived. and they don't create turnovers.

They're middle of the path. Isn't that a little bit of a concern? I've got to see on the side of the ball of the head coach. Now, I think they have more talent on offense than defense, but they have pieces. This is not a team. This is a loaded roster. There are no excuses for Brandon's saying.

Show me the coaching. Outside of, left tackle, right tackle center, all out. Mike Williams out. And Herbert's still putting points on the board, but they can't stop a nosebleed as people lose. Burrell won without. Joe Mixon and Jamar Chase. And an offensive line.

So, like, you got to give me a break on my guys are hurt. Kansas City's had injuries. Buffalo had multiple injuries for a month in October. You got to win games. You got to overcome. I don't know. I feel like that franchise now is Justin Herbert, fourth quarter. They put a cape on him and say, save us.

I think they're uncreative offensively. You can't, your side of the ball cannot show negative, like erosion through a year in three quarters. You know what's going to happen. So let's say Miami goes and beats the Chargers. Everybody and their mom's going to be out here. Tua beat Justin Herbert. Oh, God. It's so comical.

Meanwhile, Tua beat Brock Purdy last week in San Francisco. I mean, like this game that the Dolphins fans are playing, they're really going over the edge here on defending Tua. We know Herbert's better than Tua. Anyone with a pulse knows that. Everybody. Every executive in the league, if you could redraft today. If you could redraft today, the entire league would take Herbert.

There's not a GM except the most. Miami guy, if you had to go public with your votes, the Miami guy would say Tua. If you went private with your votes, it would be... I'll just point out, Miami stayed on the West Coast right after they faced the Niners. They're staying out here. And if you are a guy who looks ahead, Colin, at Buffalo next week, massive game for Miami, perhaps the season, if you want to have any chance at winning the division and sweeping Buffalo.

I'm not selling my Miami stock. I don't think they're a Super Bowl team, but they're a really good team. Miami? I think Miami is a very, very... explosive team. No comment. Jay Mac with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The herd line news. I'm going to be up till midnight tonight. I got to go pick my son up at the airport. Today is my longest day of the year. Are you going to call in sick tomorrow? Do I need to warm up in the bull? No. No. Bring in the egg. I'm going to have a red bull at about 6 o'clock. Oh, geez. And then I'm going to crash at midnight till about 5.30.

Hey, just the way the game works. No excuses. Play like a champion. That's right. Exactly. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. This is Steve Covino and Rich Davis. And together we are Covino and Rich. Covino and Rich.

Thanks, buddy. That's right, Covino & Rich, Fox Sports Radio's newest hit show. Heard weekdays from 5 to 7 Eastern 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app. Every Covino and Rich show is available as a podcast. Just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast and subscribe. I'm such a rocking dude. The show features our unique take on sports, injected with some fun, humor, and relatability.

Listen to Covino and Rich five days a week on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Covino and Rich, give me your hell, yeah. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all.

all embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast.

It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to? do a little kill. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Save up to half on your wireless plan. Consumer Cellular talks text data $20. That's all it costs.

consumer cellular.com slash the herd promo code the herd so college football not next year the year after from that point forward we will have a 12 team college football playoff and the way at war war is the top six conference champions we'll get in and then the remaining six best at large bids the top four seeds are reserved for the top four conference champs the top four seats will have a bob Seeds 5 through 8 host home playoff games against Seeds 9 through 12. The remaining games will be played at bowl locations. So this, if we had it this year, this would be the 12-team format. Six conference champs, six best at-large bids. So this is what it would look like. Some big-time schools. And then you got Tulane in there, which is pretty cool, right?

So let's, let's, I'll make my picks. You ready, J-Mack? Can I have a quick critique? Yeah. So Alabama, USC? That's, I mean, Tennessee, Kansas State, Tennessee's quarterback is done. He's out. Kansas State, like that's, oh, that's, Michigan would get totally screwed here, Colin.

No, that's, okay, so I would take, Kansas State, to me, would beat Tennessee because Henan Hooker, the quarterback is out for Tennessee, and Kansas State averaged 39 a game over their last six games. So Kansas State's going to score some points. One of the more underrated teams in the country, right? now, Kansas State, a better's favorite team, by the way, and Tennessee doesn't have their starting quarterback. So I would take Kansas State to win that game. I would take TCU to beat Tulane, TCU, number one scoring defense and total offense. Their quarterback got dinged up, but Tulane played only one game against the Power 5 opponent this season. So TCU has played much better competition,

much better at quarterback, overall, much better and consistent offensively. And so again, TCU is a fun team. They can play with probably almost anybody except a Michigan or a Georgia. I would take TCU to win big. Alabama would beat USC. There are only two losses came in the last play of the game. Caleb Williams, by the way, is limping. And USC is still just not that talented defensively.

They have one NFL player in their front seven defensively. And Bryce Young, I think, would eat them alive. So Alabama would beat USC, and I think they'd beat them handily. Ohio State to me would beat Penn State. They're better. Penn State was 0 and 2 this year, housed by Michigan, and beaten by Ohio State. That's the game Marvin Harrison just was unstoppable. But I think Ohio State recruits better.

And I think, you know, Penn State at home is one team. Penn State neutral or on the road to another. So I don't think this would be... Penn State beat nobody this year. I think Ohio State would beat them handily. In the quarters, I would take Georgia to beat Kansas. Kansas State. I mean, Georgia's 27 won over the last couple of years, and they've won 12 of their last 13 by double digits. They're good enough offensively because Kansas State would score some

points. But, you know, Stetson Bennett's quality, he's been on a lot of big SEC games and a lot of big stadiums, so he can handle himself in a big spot. And George is, you know, a factory, NFL guys all over the field. So I think Georgia would win that game handily. I think Utah, this would be probably as good a game as the whole thing had. I think Utah would beat T. It's a great offense against the great defense. The difference is Utah's offense is better than TCU's defense. So Utah's defense is number one in the conference. NFL guys, they're better offensively than anybody wants to admit.

They had one, you know, they played lousy at Florida to open the year in the south. It happens. The difference is, I think, again, Utah's offense with Cameron rising at quarterback is better than TCU's defense. So I would take Utah here. I think Michigan would beat Alabama. I think Michigan has a shot to beat Georgia. I think they have a much greater offensive identity. J.J. McCarthy has never lost.

He's now 12 and 0 as a Michigan starting quarterback. Alabama was 1 and 2 against top 15 ranked opponents this year. Their only win came by six points against Ole Miss. So I just don't think it's a great Alabama team, and I think it's the best Michigan team in maybe 20 years. So the beauty of this 12-team format is Bryce Young's actually playing in these games. He has zero incentive to play in their bowl game. I don't even know who they're playing,

but why would Bryce Young play if there's no playoff at stake? That's right. Ohio State would thump Clemson. I didn't buy into Clemson. Clemson lost two of their last five games. They started really hot. The schedule was weaker, but they're not very good at quarterback,

and Ohio State's very good at quarterback. So you're going to have to score some points in this game, and I just think Ohio State has the best receiver, the best quarterback, an offensive coach. So I think Ohio State would totally light up, Clemson. And then I think Georgia would beat Utah handily. You know, I mean, Utah is basically Georgia, like a really poor man's Georgia. I mean, a defensive coach puts guys in the NFL capable at quarterback, but their entire culture is toughness and defense.

Georgia is just a way better version than Utah, and I think they'd thump them. But Utah basically is kind of built like Georgia in terms of, you know, quarterbacks are fine, but it's all about pass rush and NFL linebackers and corners. And then I think Michigan would hammer Ohio State again because I don't think Ohio State's identity offensively right now is close to Michigan. Michigan outrushed Ohio State 240 to 19 yards on the second half in Columbus. In Columbus! And I think this Michigan team is really special. And then I think Georgia beats Michigan.

I think it's a really competitive game. But I think Georgia wins. And here's what's interesting. In a four-team playoff, I think Georgia Beach, Michigan. And in a 12-team playoff, I think Georgia beats Michigan. Because football is a volume sport. You need massive bodies to overcome injuries. You need depth.

So you could expand this thing to 20 teams, 24 teams. I still think Georgia would beat Michigan. I like the idea of expanding the 12 teams because I do think we're going to let in the two lanes of the world and the Utah's of the world, the teams that are often just left out. brand-wise, but you'll also include big brands with a couple of losses. So I think sports is often, whether it's March Madness, the World Cup, or this playoff, is about stories and competition. And this allows more good stories.

And remember, inclusion matters not only in sports, but in life. Not only do you have 12 teams getting into the playoff, but you'll have another 12 playing to get into the playoff. One of the problems with college football now is by Ladock, October, the season's over for a lot of fans. Well, you could argue, Colin, that when the season starts, I think there's like 125 Division I college football teams. Like 15 have a chance to win the national championship.

Everybody else, you have no chance. You're not even going to get in the tournament with a chance. And those 15 are whittled down to about four to six by November 1st. And listen, I know that this isn't going to be a popular thing, but Colin, with the evolution of the transfer portal, you are going to see some teams close that gap on the top two every year. I'm just telling you, a team like Colorado is going to be three years away from gaining guys. USC, by the way, is going to look incredible next year. A team that we don't see on there, Notre Dame, they are going to raid the transfer portal so well this year.

I mean, I just love what it's doing. And the 12-team playoff college football just got a lot better. No, I actually think the transfer portal in NIL has helped college basketball because now, instead of going to the G-League, I can pay you at Duke. I can pay you at Carolina. That was always the knock, because it was the G League wouldn't pay you a fortune, but it gave you $150,000 a year. You don't think Carolina can pay a star a million a year?

Of course they can. So Arizona's, Gonzaga, UCLA, Kentucky, I can pay you more than the G League can't, and you get the platform of March Madness, so you get massive, I mean, I wouldn't know who Zion is without the tournament. Yeah. I mean, without Duke's TV contract and the tournament, I wouldn't know who all these guys are.

So I think the NIL has really helped college basketball, and the transfer portal has really helped college football. It's not as regional now. You go watch what USC is going to do in this portal. They're going to go get six defensive starters because they're bringing back Caleb in the offense. They're going to go get six defensive starters, and they're all going to be starters at other big schools. I know what people are saying.

Hey, what about the Pittsburghs of the world and the NC states? What about them? They can't keep their star players. You pop and have a great year. You're hitting the transfer portal. You're going to a big school and probably getting $500,000, $250,000, whatever the numbers. Well, I can't Pitt go get Duquesne's best players. That's what you're going to have to do.

The lower class is going to have to level up and start to pay these kids some more money. But let the market dictate what these kids get. You and I love college sports. Well. College basketball absolutely helped my family. Vermont tonight, four and a half, if you're interested. I have no idea. I couldn't name a player on Vermont.

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