The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast - 11/22/17 - Rivalry week + Baker Mayfield + Heisman favorites

Episode Date: November 22, 2017

Joel Klatt and Matt Leinart break down their top 6 teams across college football and how this weekend's rivalry matchups factor in. Plus, Klatt explains why he has Clemson on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff. Also, fallout from Baker Mayfield's gesture against Kansas and a look at Heisman favorites headline today's show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up it's Joel Clatt and Matt Liner. Yep, super dorky high five right there. This is Breaking the Huddle. We are live. It's almost playoff time. Love it. Show is sponsored by Dr. Pepper like it is always. And the crew got me a cold one this week, which is super awesome.

Oh, did it? Yeah. Matt doesn't get one, though, because he's not here every week. Sorry. Random appearance guy. DP, baby, DP. Okay, here we go. This is what we got going on today.

Matt's going to join live all day. So here, bring your comments. I want the snark. Everything you got. Bama fans, all the grammatically incorrect tweets and Facebook comments that you can possibly put up there. Please do it. RTR, I can't quit you. You know that.

We're going to go over my top six. Then we're going to do our Heisman chat, basically talk about Baker Mayfield and all that. Oh, man. Give me a break. All right, here we go. We'll get to that. We'll get to that. I wonder if we differ about that.

Probably not because we share a love for Baker-Macon. I do love that kid. Talk about I can't quit you. Man, he's like, we'll get to that later. We'll get to that later. Okay, here we go. Let's get to the top six. I'm going to start with Auburn.

That's right. Auburn's at number six, Matt, for me, and here's why. Auburn is right now defensively very good. They've been playing very good the second half of the season. When it comes to SEC play, they're the number one offense in the SEC. They're the number one scoring offense in the SEC, and they're running the football for right under 250 yards per game. So that bodes well when facing Alabama this week, and that's an Alabama team that is struggling a little bit, in particular, stopping the road. Yeah, I got them six as well.

I love Jared Stiddle in the last couple weeks. The numbers aren't, like, dazzling. But they're doing enough down the field, right? They're exploding secondaries. They're throwing the ball down the field. Carry on Johnson. You mentioned a Heisman candidate for me, leads the SEC in rushing. He's been phenomenal.

Bama is still, like, I know everyone's talking about the injuries, but Bama is still Bama. They're still very good defensively toward the top in every defensive category. That's going to be a clash in the Iron Bowl. I can't wait to see what happens. This feels a little bit. Remember a couple of years ago, I'm sure you all well, remember when Georgia was favored over Alabama, when Alabama went down to face Georgia, and Bama just blew the doors off of that dog's team. Listen, I think it's going to be a close game, but it feels.

is kind of like that where all the conversation is like, hey, Bama's going to get beat, Bamma's going to get beat. And then they roll out there and it's like, don't poke the bear. Let me tell you something. Exactly. Nick Saban, this team, they're going to come out and they're going to play well. Jalen Hertz having a good year. It's going to be a good game. Auburn's playing their best football right now. So can I, if I have a different five, can I switch? Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Look at the top of this board. It says Joel Klatz playoff picks. You can say what you want. You don't get to touch my board. You know what that says? That says geek swag, so I don't answer to geek swag.

Here's why I have Clemson outside of the top four, though. I got you. For me, they're not playing very good football when it matters most. If you actually look, this is very nerdy, I understand, but if you look at their defensive total yardage numbers per month, they basically get worse each month. And that's not a good sign, right? Kelly Bryant, everyone's like, oh, man, don't worry, threw three touchdown passes last week. It was the Citadel.

When you talk about his touchdown passes, the majority of his touchdown passes come against the Citadel and Kent State. So what is Clemson? I don't think Clemson is very good. Call me crazy. Call me crazy. But this love affair with the ACC and Clemson, I don't understand it because they are, at least for me, five is great, but they're not in the top four. At the end of the day, them and then I have, I actually have, I'm not going to tear you down because I know this is your show. Yeah, that's right.

I have Wisconsin at five. The thing with Clemson is... Why you hate in Wisconsin? I'm not. And again, my whole thing is right now on the field... Why you got to be a hater? Let me ask you a question. Why are you got to be a hater?

Let me just throw this out there. Who wins that football game right now in a neutral field? Do you think Wisconsin? I don't think they could move the ball against Wisconsin. I don't trust Bryant to throw it. They're not going to run it on Wisconsin. I don't trust Hornerbrook to throw it either. I threw it fine last week against the number one past defense in the country.

Yeah, he had the one interception, but dude was throwing dimes there at the back-haaping. He threw dimes there at the back half-house. in the back half of the game, but that pick was bad. I do not trust. I mean, Devin Bush, let me tell you something about this. I agree with you on Kelly Bryant. I actually agree with you. You think Clemson's moving the ball in Wisconsin? I do. I doubt it. I do. You know what I'm talking about. Wisconsin, listen, Wisconsin, and by the way, Wisconsin wins out they're in. Clemson wins out their win. It doesn't matter right now if they're four or five just this week. I think the committee is garbage with them above Oklahoma. The speed, the speed and athletes being there before, and I know that

kind of goes against the brand. It's not even about the brand. That would be trouble, I think, against the Wisconsin. Hey, Bro, Seth, guess what Wisconsin hasn't done this year? They haven't lost. They lose to a seven lost team. And that's why... Seven lost team.

Syracuse hasn't won since they be glimpset. They have great wins. What are we doing? And also, this whole Kelly Bryant passing thing, and I love Kelly Bryant. I don't think he's very good throwing the ball. They're horrible throwing the football, so I agree with you there. Okay. Two things.

Great defense and an unbelievable running back. Bro. Alex Hornerbrook makes me nervous, and we'll see in the Big Ten Chamber. Yeah, he's kind of like, if you were to borrow like a Rick Riley line from an old Sports Illustrated article, he's kind of like watching a drunk chase a balloon near a cliff. That's not good. Right? I mean, is that bad? You're basically, at any point, at any point, you can not say that.

You're basically at any point, he could fall off the cliff. Yeah, I'm just like, it's like, oh, he like scoots up to throw in the pocket. For instance, the touchdown pass. throws this bullet touchdown pass on that, you know, kind of concept. The double post. It's kind of a double post where all of a sudden the safety kind of goes with the inside post, and he's got to throw a really tight window ball against a good defender in Kalee-Hudson. And he threw it in there.

I was like, what? Yeah. I thought it was one of his best throws he's made all season. At any moment, I'm like, he could have tripped. He could have fumbled, just dropped the ball. It could have been picked off. Again, chasing a balloon near a cliff. That's just what makes me nervous.

He might get the balloon. You never know. That's what makes it so interesting. You never know. I get the balloon as he's falling and then, you know, then they're done. But, uh, wow. I like them. I think, let me ask you a question.

Let's, let's move forward. Wisconsin, Ohio State briefly. Who do you, who would you, me, I don't know, you can't get a prediction, but. I will tell you next week. Yeah, there you go. Boom. All right. All right.

Here we go. I've got Miami at three. Here's the deal with Miami. I think I have Miami in three as well. Yeah. I think Miami is kind of your classic. play up to your environment or competition level any given a week. So it's like it's electric against Notre Dame.

They're amazing. It was pretty electric against Virginia Tech. They're amazing. So-so environments, so-so teams come in. Virginia, you know, they're down by 14 once in the first half again in the second time. Virginia is a pretty good team. Really? They won six games, seven games.

You know what I mean, though? What's the difference? Do they get that feel? I do. And I'm not totally sold, but at some point, and even with Wisconsin, you're 11 and O, and you have a couple really good wins. At some point, you have to believe in the hurricanes. I mean, they're in my playoff. I know, but I just feel like you put them in there just because they're under, but you don't really believe in them. No, I don't believe in. Let me tell you something. The turnover chain, right? And I'm like, everyone laughs and do we have it? No. But they've forced three plus, or they have three plus takeaways in each of their last five games. Five games.

It is remarkable. And, you know, we all played... 19 turnovers. Yeah, we all played. And listen, a turnover chain, like, it's funny, but it's like, it's created a swag and a confidence with them getting it. And it's, it's incentive, it's motive, it's all these things. And they are playing as good as we've seen them play defense in those games going back to the early 2000s. I mean, they got some players on that team.

Speed. I like their speed. I got Bama number two. Where's Bama guy? Where's Bama guy? Bama guy. Bama guy. Bama Bob.

Bama Rob, whatever, RTR, Rav, 16, we're the best. I love you, Bama fans. Like, literally, I love you so much. Getting a message from a Bama fan on Twitter is kind of like Christmas. It really is. You just never know what you're going to get. You're unwrapping that package, and it's just like, oh, please be what I think it could be. And then usually it is, which I love.

I love. Okay, here's the deal with Bama for me. I really like Bama. I think there are injuries. to the linebackers hurt. I think Hertz is actually a bigger key and weapon for them than everyone leads on or what they even lead on. I do too.

Think about the big games that he's been in. LSU last year in a tight ball game, he was great down the stretch. Clemson, if Deshawn Watson doesn't go right down the field, what are we left with? The fact that a true freshman went right down the field right before him and scored and potentially won the national championship, I think he could play really big in this ball game in the Iron Bowl. I'm a big fan of Bama. Here's the thing that Vama fans, it's kind of like telling them that the world isn't flat

because they just kind of like freak out for a second. When you tell them that their strength of schedule is actually the worst strength of schedule in the top 25 in the Power 5 teams. So the only teams with the worst strength of schedule than Alabama in the top 25 are Memphis, UCF, and South Florida. No, that's a good point. your mind is blown, Bamabob. But they're Alabama. It doesn't matter. Oh, yeah. I mean, they're shouting at their computer screens right now. I can hear you through your computer screen right now.

I was like, where's this kid talking about? Jalen hurts. Is that too much? That was over the line. He's the X factor. I love him. You said everything I was going to say, 14 touchdown passes, one pick on the season. Only one. He's throwing the ball much better this year. They're not asking him to throw a ton, but he's completing.

He's winning games throwing the football. I like Bama this week against Auburn. It's easy not to turn the football over when you hand off on every play. All right? It is. I see you media guys out there. One of them I know you personally. I like Alabama.

I think the SEC is horrible this year, but I like Bama. I think Bama wins beats Auburn. I mean, should we start the Love Fest or do you want, what do you want to do? I mean, whatever you want. Are we going to do comments after this? What do you want to do at home? Does, I. I know I've listened to you talk about Oklahoma.

Does their defense, if this is how does, does their defense scare you? Does their defense scare you against any of these teams if this is how the final four end up? Not really. Them. That's the only team that I think, oh boy, like, I don't know if Oklahoma could win a shootout against Auburn. Not Clemson. Even though they just blew the doors off of Auburn last year in the Sugar Bowl, which everyone down south likes to forget about. even though the last time Oklahoma faced Alabama, they won that ballgame.

The thing about Oklahoma's offense, I am convinced that they can score 45 points out of will, right? Just because, like, roll their helmets out there and they'll score 45 points. And when you get into a game like that, like, do you trust them to do that offensively? Do you trust them to do that offensively? I trust them because I think their defense, is the best defensive. Again, I just, I trust Bama, despite the injury, I still think they're really good.

And they have the speed and the playmakers on both sides of the ball to match the speed on this. I'm with you. I think they score 30, 35 points on anybody. That's dangerous. They get into the playoff, they are dangerous. But a couple turnovers. The way they run, the way they can,

the way they can dominate the game. Or he gets arrested. I mean, who knows, right? I think this team with that defense align and this team are the two best best. And even- What are you talking about? What are you talking about? Joel. Their defense has been like average since September.

Their defense has been horrible since 2014, so it doesn't matter. Guess who they got, though? Kelly Bryan or Baker-Mayfield? Listen, I pick them in our playoff show where we're- Where's your flashing light, by the way. Do we have that somewhere? Do we have that? I don't know.

I picked them to win at all, the sooner. I've got the Sooners. I've got the Sooners as well. What do you want to do comments now? Or do you want to do comments after Heisman? Let's talk Baker. Let's talk a little Baker Mayfield. Okay, so what gets lost in the Mayfield conversation is, and listen, he's our leader for the Heisman trophy. It's by a wide margin. We'll throw some other names out here as we get closer to the end of the show just to give them some love. Because that's all it is now. It's like, who's going to get the invoice? Exactly. Right. Baker's going to win the trophy. And there's been, like, I understand, listen, I'm not a huge fan of his behavior last week.

I'd tell that to his face. If I was his coach, I'd probably be doing the same thing that Lincoln Riley is doing, which is sitting him down for maybe a series, maybe it's two series, I don't know, removing him from your list of captains. But the narrative has just gone, like, so overboard, right? In particular when the coach from Kansas, not David Beatty, but there was a coach on their staff that was inciting that type of behavior, captains roll out there and don't shake hands. Just classless. They took a cheap shot on him.

Took a total cheap shot on him. So I don't want to give him an excuse because like I just said, he should never have done that. And he should be suspended for a series or whatever it is, not start the game, whatever the punishment is from Lincoln Riley. And I commend Lincoln Riley for doing that. Having said that, give me a break, Kansas. Like, what are you going to do? Play gamesmanship? Yeah. For what? So you can stay close for the first eight minutes? garbage. Go ahead. What do you want me to say? I don't know. I would like your thoughts. I think it's unbelievable. I think the thing about

at some point, I've been listening to everybody talk about this and you know, this is, I don't, it's not a growing trend with him, but he does, he's a passionate player. He's a competitor. He's a trash talker. He's had some off the field things, you know. But he, actually, I think to sum of the best, Lincoln Riley, who, I have a lot of respect for. I think he's handled this situation this year. Great. I mean, he broke down in the press conference talking about his quarterback because I think he knows. I think he knows the type of person he is and the type of teammate he is. So a crotch grab and trash talk. I mean, are you kidding me? I guarantee you did those things too.

Hey, it's unbelievable. I chewed a guy out at the coin flip because I'll tell that story some of the time. Like, give me a break. I went all in his business. Yeah, the guy, the guy, the guy, the guy, his emotions on his sleeve. Yes, at some point, you know, you've got to be better and you got to draw the line. At some point, you know, that stuff. But, I mean, look at the NFL. Look at Philip Rivers. I mean, Philip Rivers is the biggest trap.

I mean, Philip Rivers is talking. And no one likes. World champion trash talker. There's a lot of guys, man. Well, there's a lot of guys. Listen, they're, you know, Marshawn Lynch is jumping into the end zone, grabbing his crotch. Let's not.

Everyone's talking about, oh, he shouldn't win the Heisman trophy. Give me a break. Like, what? Let me tell you something. If James Winston can win the Heisman trophy, then Baker Mayfield. going to win the Heisman trophy after he grabs his cratch because coach for Kansas is being an idiot. Yeah, and listen, man, Kansas, shake the hands,

sportsmanship, cheap shot on that play. I mean, give me a break. You're already a laughing stock because your team sucks, and now your behavior sucks, and now my mom's disappointed in you. Some other guys for the Heisman. I like Bryce Love, obviously. I think he deserves a trip to New York. And I'm going to throw another guy out there,

two others actually. Because I think you'll mention Jonathan Taylor from Wisconsin. I just want to make sure that we are giving the love to Lamar Jackson that maybe he deserves for the season that he's putting forth out there. He's been pretty fantastic. And then Rashad Penny. Got to give you some love, Rashad Penny. The fact that you're not on the Doak Walker finalist list is a joke.

And it just shows you that all those East Coast voters, they don't watch games, they don't watch on the West Coast. I'm sorry, bud, but hopefully you get an invite to New York. Yeah, I think to your point, what you said earlier, it's just now about getting the invites. Yeah. Because we know, we think we know who's going to win the trophy. Bryce Love, Jonathan Taylor's great. I mentioned Kerry on Johnson opportunity.

I actually have Lamar Jackson this week on the top five. I'm getting a lot of crap for not having them on there, I think. I put him all the way to three. Yeah, he's, they've lost a lot of games. He's struggled in some of those games, but his team is not very good. And, you know, we like to say, well, you should elevate the players around you. I mean, they're just, he can't elevate everybody. Matt elevates me on this show.

I do, I do, but it's fine. That goes, you know, I think next year I'll probably have my own show, and then, you know, you could be the... Anyways. Let's get to some comments here. Here we go. This is Matt's first time. It's live comments. This is live.

Clatback? Here we go. What do we got? We got Oklahoma at number one. I give that a Baker-Mayfield cross grab from L-T. Can we give a cross-back? I mean, do what you please. I would stay away from it in the current climate.

Wait, we can't, they can't see right now. I'm just kidding. Joel, what are you saying to that? First of all, LT, this is really good. Like, this is a really good comment. I almost just want to let it stand. Even though you're wrong, right? I mean, they've got more wins against quality opponents than anybody else up there.

They've got the number one player in the country. They've got the number one offense in the country. I just broke down exactly what I'm talking about as far as matchups go, right? So, listen, I've given love to some of the undefeated teams, and this is how I rank them. If I were to throw these teams out on a game and a neutral site tomorrow, this is who I think would win. I think Oklahoma would beat anybody. Alabama beats everybody else. Wisconsin beats everyone else, so on and so forth.

So that's how I rank them. So LT, go grab your own crotch. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, come on. What does it say? SEC is terrible. Ha, ha, funny. Jared the jeweler? Is that where he's from?

Why don't you stick to making jewelry and stop talking college football, okay? Get him. Listen, I know Joel could probably dive into the deeper metrics, but yes, the SEC is terrible this year. Mississippi State, right? I saw three losses, but they're somehow ranked in the top, what, 14? Well, they're the top three lost team, and they're the only team in the country that has a schedule makeup of eight power five opponents, three group of five opponents, and one FCS opponent. Do you know those three group of five opponents? None of them have won over five games, and yet, oh, our quality win is against LSU.

By the way, that was a couple weeks before LSU lost at home. To Troy. Like, give me a break. Yes, they're horrible. Yes, they're horrible. The SEC is not very good this year. The fact that you want to prop them up on all these FCS games, fine. But I just want you to know that there's only 21 teams in the country that play fewer than nine or fewer Power 5 games and an FCS opponent. Of those 21, 16 are ACC or SEC teams. 11 are from the SEC. You prop yourselves up on the back of children. The FCS is a lot of the SEC. The FCS is. like the children of college football so you go ahead go ahead have yourself support go eat some more cupcakes Jared okay walking on the backs of children red velvet wait send me some I love cupcakes I do too he's gonna send us some Jared is yeah did he say he was no he will though I would be really excited about that I would be really excited about that is that all we got why is Matt so tall like got heel lifts on no you don't like you're You're seeing why, like, I never made it.

And I know, like, lack of speed, lack of judgment. I got a lot of concussions. My arm wasn't quite there. My accuracy wasn't quite there. But mostly height. I think so. You're a competitor. I'm gritty.

I'm gritty. Got a lot of moxie. All right. Listen. You can hit a golf ball. This show is sponsored by Dr. Pepper at every homegate and tailgate. It is the one that fans crave. Remember, we're going to have a lot of stuff coming to you from Ann Arbor this week.

And as Michigan takes on Ohio State. Ohio State's already locked up to the division, but that's a huge game for them as their playoff hopes are still alive. We didn't dive into that a bunch, but we'll, I'm sure, get into that next week after this week's ball games. Can't wait to be out there, man. Wait, this one. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah.