The Kevin Sheehan Show - Real Football Tonight

Episode Date: August 31, 2023

Kevin had ESPN's Stanford Steve on the show to preview the college football season and discuss Maryland, the Commanders, and some other NFL too.Also on the show, a follow up to yesterday's Jason Wright announcement on the old name, an update on Chase Young's injury, and more.For your sports gambling needs, go to https://www.mybookie.ag/sportsbook/. Use code KEVINDC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don't want it. You don't need it. But you're going to get it anyway. The Kevin Sheehan Show. Here's Kevin. Happy football season, everybody. Real football back tonight, college football's first full week of the 2023 season. Stanford Steve will be on the show with me coming up in the next two segments.

The next segment we'll talk college football. We'll do a season preview. We'll get his thoughts on the Terps as well. And then we'll talk some NFL and some commanders with Stanford, Steve after that. Steve, by the way, has a big role on ESPN's College Game Day this year, starting this Saturday in Charlotte, where North Carolina plays South Carolina. That is the best football pregame show, I think, by Miles. One of the best pregame shows, period.

I would put that one in the TNT NBA show side by side, is that. the best. No early smell test pick tonight. So no Thursday night smell test pick. The 2023 smell test will debut on tomorrow's show. The big game tonight is Florida at Utah. My bookies got Utah now as a five-point favorite. They were a six and a half point favorite yesterday, but their excellent starting quarterback, Cam Rising, is out for the game tonight. The other big story tonight is Matt Ruhl makes his debut as Nebraska's head coach. It did not work very well for Matt Ruhl in the NFL. You know, some guys are just college guys.

I think he's one of those guys. My bookie has the Huskers as seven and a half point underdogs at Minnesota. That game tonight on Fox at 8 p.m. Did you see, speaking of Nebraska, did you see the women's volleyball game in Lincoln last night? Women's volleyball, Nebraska against Omaha, the Lady Huskers, beat Omaha in front of 92,000 and three people at Nebraska's football stadium in Lincoln. It was the most amount of people, the largest crowd, to ever witness a women's college sporting event. That's all I know about that game. I did not see it. I just saw it on Sports Center early this morning.

My Bookie has everything you're looking for if you're ready to bet some football. And even if you have a place already, you should have a second place. I've told you that many times over the years. My Bookie can be your second comparison shopping place or it can be your first place. They've got fair lines, fair pricing. You get paid if you win. No worries about being taken advantage of. No complicated process for getting.

your money out, go to mybooky.ag. Use my promo code, Kevin, DC, to secure a welcome bonus on the house. Signing up is free, but when you make that initial deposit, use my promo code, Kevin DC, to secure a deposit bonus and for a limited time, a free chip to use in the MyBooky online casino. No, mybooky.ag, one of the most reliable places to bet on sports, use my promo code, Kevin D.C. So I want to start the show with this lengthy email from Allen in Rockville. Alan wrote to me, and Alan's written to me before. I know that name and that location. He wrote, Kevin, I've been a fan of yours for a long time.

Well, thank you, Alan. Even when I disagree with you, I respect your opinion because it's always reasoned and backed by information except here it comes for one issue, the name. On yesterday's show, and he titled the show, well, I had titled the show, but he mentions the title of the show. Wright-Berry's old name, that was the name of the show yesterday because Jason Wright put an end to any kind of long-shot hope that, some have that the old name would come back. He did that with J.P. Finley and Brian Mitchell on their radio show on 1067 The Fan. But Alan writes on yesterday's show, Wright Barry's old name, you once again showed an unwillingness to accept the fact that the name is a slur no matter how many times you ask for a second dictionary definition. Yes, I have for many years now said, and I pitch this to the team, that they should petition dictionaries for a second definition.

You know, Redskins, plural, the team that plays football in Washington, D.C.C. Or a player who plays for the team who plays in Washington, D.C. Because that's really what the word has meant for 50 plus years. Nobody uses that word and hasn't used that word for nearly a century to describe Native Americans. They use that word to describe the football team that plays in Washington. Anyway, he was referring to that. He writes, no matter how many times you ask for a second dictionary definition, it's a dictionary defined slur.

And as Jason Wright might punctuate, period. That's a good reference to Jason Wright's comments yesterday. He writes, that's not as you call it a mic drop for me because I do believe that the issue is hard to wrap arms around, so I'm willing to listen, but I worry you're not anymore. Then he continues,

how were you so duped by this so-called Native American group and their phony petition? Why do you continue to cite polls when all of them, the post-pull, and yes, even the Berkeley Michigan poll, which had the opposite result of the post-pull, are so flawed. Native Americans can't be pulled accurately for so many reasons. I think you know that. I have always agreed with you that despite the dictionary definition, opinion on the issue shouldn't be solely decided on that alone. You've mentioned many times in the past the Native American high schools that still use the name Redskins, and that more than anything else

has made me pause in my tracks. It's very obvious that it's not the N-word, and positioning it as such has made my side look unwilling to even have a conversation. One of the reasons I've listened to you over the years is that you're tough but empathetic. You're passionate and yet you've shown a willingness to have your mind changed by others who are passionate as well. I hope that hasn't changed. Oh, I agree that the Arizona game is a must-win game. Well, thank you very much, Alan, for a very thoughtful email.

You can tweet me at Kevin Sheehan, D.C. You can email me through our podcast website at the kevincian show.com. So I am, by the way, Alan, sincere when I say I really do appreciate the kind words and the effort you put into it. Although I am a little bit curious as to why yesterday's show prompted you to write that email. But anyway, I think I am still willing to change my mind with new and improved information. I think I'm still capable and willing to listen, even on this issue. Although I have to say, and I think I said this a few weeks back, I'm not really into having this conversation with people who aren't part of the family, so to speak, Alan, meaning bona fide, legitimate fans of the team.

And I know you are. I just think this is a very personal issue for longtime fans. And for people who have just followed the issue, read about the issue, but haven't felt it like we have, they're entitled to an opinion. but I'm not as interested in theirs as I am yours, Alan. But anyway, let me get something out of the way real quickly before I address the bulk of your email. I don't have a real opinion one way or the other about the Native American Guardian Association petition.

But I think it's important for you to take note before you claim that I was duped by them, which is not the case. I don't even know what that means, really. But you should take note that I have not had them on the show. I haven't had them on this podcast. I haven't had them on the radio show, despite being inundated with people insisting

over the last month or so that I put them on the show. I mean, an incredible number of people have continually sent me the updates on the petition and not asked or requested, insisted that I have them on the show. So just take notice that I have not done that. Secondly, I want to take a second. I think I did this a few weeks ago as well. to read an actual definition of Redskin in a real dictionary, like the Merriam-Webster dictionary, because this is something I didn't, I actually didn't realize until I brought it up,

I don't know, a month ago or whatever. But if you go to the Miriam-Webster dictionary and a few other dictionaries as well, Redskin is defined as a noun used as an insulting and contemptuous term for an American Indian. Now, I'm not suggesting that that's a compliment, that that's a complementary definition of Redskin, but it's also not a definition that includes the word slur or racist, as you suggested in your email. there may be a dictionary or two out there that do use slur and racist, but Webster's doesn't, and that's a pretty big dictionary. And by the way, insulting and contemptuous, while not complimentary, they're not synonyms

for slur or racist. But anyway, moving on. Look, again, I'm not sure why yesterday's show was the show that really upset you. I've been outspoken over the years on the name issue, but yesterday's show was really about recognizing that Redskins is done, which is what I've thought all along. Now, did I think Jason Wright was the right guy to be the public voice on this one? The one sounding so official?

Not really. And by the way, I would have recommended to him, and I don't think I said this on the show yesterday, I should have. I would have recommended to him that he not do what Dan kind of did years ago when he said never, ever, ever, and put it in all caps. When he said yesterday, it is not being considered, period. You know, when JP said after he said it's not being considered and JP said at all,

he could have just said at all instead of saying, period. I guess that's nitpicking to a certain degree. Look, I know Jason being the one that said it yesterday rubbed many of you the wrong way because he was the one in charge of coming up with what we have now. So to many of you, it appears that he has an agenda. I get that, but I don't think he was out there just winging it. I think he knows what ownership wants. And it wouldn't surprise me if he was authorized to go public with that. But yesterday, Alan, wasn't a name discussion show at all.

I didn't think it was. I think it was just a response to what Jason Wright had said. Now, if you're referring to me saying yesterday that changing the name back to Redskins would be wildly popular with the fans of this team, I believe that to be true. Actually, I'm convinced that that's true. But like I've said for months now on the old name, it's not. coming back because the league won't allow it. And, you know, for Josh Harrison company, after paying $6 billion for the team,

I don't think they want the heat that comes with bringing back or even discussing bringing back the old name. And in so many ways, I don't blame them. But I do think there will be a serious, you know, a serious deep dive into whether or not commanders. commanders should stay or not. That's a different subject. And Jason didn't say, you know, not a consideration, period, to that one, to, you know, whether or not there would be a rebrand at some point. But again, Alan, I'm not sure really why yesterday's show got you fired up.

Maybe you were just waiting for the right time to send me your thoughts on all this. And I'm fine with that. As far as the polls go, you're right. It is very difficult to get anything definitive through polling when it comes to Native Americans. The reasons for that, first of all, it's a very small percentage of our population. It's less than 2% unless you include Alaskan native. But yet, the small percentage of the population is spread out over 500 plus reservations. And they are very different.

culturally, socially. There are issues in contacting them for polling purposes in many cases. There are issues related to those who identify as Native American versus those who are actually part of a tribe. When it's come to this issue, though, this is all we've had to work with other than your dictionary definition. You know, the Annenberg poll was, I think, the first poll that really hammered home what Native Americans thought. Again, understanding the difficulty in polling Native Americans, but the Annenberg poll in 2004, and this is kind of interesting actually to consider it. I'm going to hopefully get a lot of this right based on memory.

But the Annenberg poll in 2004 was the first. first poll of primarily Native Americans, or maybe those who identified as Native Americans. But anyway, the numbers were so startling. Nine out of ten didn't have a problem with the name. So for years, the other side, after that poll came out, especially as we got into the late 2000s in the early 2010s, the other side, those that wanted the name to be changed, would just say, look, that poll is outdated and it doesn't reflect the current view of Native Americans. So, you know, look, even I would have said before the 2016 post poll, and I did say, because I remember saying many times, I'm willing to believe that the Annenberg poll is outdated, but where's the new poll reflecting the major change?

And for years, there wasn't one. And then in 2016, the Post poll came out and it mirrored the Annenberg poll to the exact percentage breakdown. I mean, does anyone really think the Post was expecting or wanted a 90-10 result? They ran that poll because they thought, like many did, that the Annenberg poll of 2004 was too old and it was outdated. The Post was shocked at the results. And certainly, if you know anything about media and political and social preference, you know the Post cringed putting that poll out. But they did.

And so what happened then? Well, of course, the other side said, The polls flawed. It's majorly flawed. Don't believe it. You know, it would have been easier to scream how flawed that poll. was if the New York Post had put the poll out, but it was the Washington Post that put it out. I mean, I still, to this day, the people who try to minimize the results of that post poll

as massively flawed and, you know, just dismiss it, you know, erase it. You know, I kind of view those people as total marks, total marks, and just a bit silly. Do you really think the Washington Post wanted a repeat of the Annenberg poll? They ran it because they expected a far different result. They thought 12 years later they would get a far different result and it would be significantly influential in everybody changing their mind. If there were any really serious issues, serious flaws with that poll, the Post would have run to the presses with a retort.

And then there was another poll, the Michigan Berkeley poll. We've talked about that one in the past. That one had a different result. Alan, it was not the opposite result, as you described. It wasn't 90-10 the other way. It was more like 4940 the other way with the rest undecided. Hardly the opposite, but still very different results. And that poll actually had a larger sample.

size. It was like, I think, a thousand compared to $5.50 or something like that. But some of the flaws that were discussed with the post poll were also cited as flaws with that poll. Bottom line is, polls are all we've really had. But if you want me to acknowledge that polling of the Native American community is just really difficult. I acknowledge that. Look, polling in general is kind of flawed, isn't it, to a certain degree, because of the small sample size? But, no, you're right.

Everybody seems to agree that it is a hard group to poll. But, you know, there are other things to consider, like you pointed out, and I appreciate you pointing some of these things. out that I've said before and that others, you know, understand that, you know, it's far from super, super offensive because there are Native American high schools that still have the team name and refuse to change it and say they're proud of it. But again, that also could speak to the fact that there are so many reservations, so many different tribes, and they're very autonomous. They don't all think the same.

Anyway, this gets exhausting after a while. Look, the bottom line is, it's over. Like, I think Jason Wright told you yesterday, it's over. And I know some of you reached out to me to say, it's not over. All they have to do is go to all of these reservations and they have to do what Florida State did. It's over. The league is not going to allow it and this new ownership group, they don't want the heat that will come with it, whether it's right or wrong. So I told you yesterday on the show that Chase Young had, you know, that I learned that Chase Young had a big doctor's appointment late this week related to the Stinger, and that they're hoping he's okay and they're hoping that he'll be cleared to practice next week. But, you know,

there is some, you know, there's some not necessarily concern, but they have to wait for this to happen, and it hadn't happened yet. So our good friend, Ben Standig, reported on that today. And he wrote the following. He wrote, and by the way, he was very nice. He gave me credit. He said, the Kevin Sheehan Show podcast was the first report that Chase Young had this upcoming doctor meeting. But Ben got more information. He wrote,

Chase Young remains not cleared for contact after suffering a stinger in the preseason opener and is expected to meet with a doctor this week, according to multiple people briefed on the matter. He hasn't practiced since August 11th. And then Ben wrote, Washington made multiple transactions with its D-line this week, placing two players on injured reserve, while Young remains on the active roster. Revereignor, Rivera informed reporters that Young was to meet with a medical professional last Friday, but he passed on answering subsequent follow-ups about this situation. Teams, Ben Wrights are not obligated to share injury information in terms of an injury report until week

one. Ben writes, The Stinger, which is a neurological injury. We talked a little bit about that yesterday, is not related to the significant knee injury, etc. And he wrote, the team has been pleased by Young's approach to camp and the health of his knee. And I discussed that yesterday as well. In addition to this person telling me that there was this, you know, important doctor's meeting, this person also insisted that Chase had been great. You know, he's been great since training camp began. This is a big deal.

I can't wait for the season to start and for us to really get a handle on what. But he is as a player. You just need him to be healthy, first and foremost, understood. But if he is healthy, I'm leaning in the direction of this could be a big bounceback year for Chey Chong. I hope I'm right about that. The team today put out a press release announcing a $40 million investment in FedEx field, funding significant upgrades to the stadium infrastructure and the overall fan experience. These upgrades include three new themed suites, new ticket scanning pedestals,

point-of-sale upgrades, and updated commanders branded imagery around the stadium, as well as maintenance repairs to the bowl and paint around the stadium. This is something, by the way, that Jason Wright talked about in that interview with JP and with Brian. A few of the highlights of this. FedEx Field will be the home to 12 new food vendors, including Hill Country Barbecue, pardon my cheese steak, DC Halfsmokes. I know DC Half Smokes. They're phenomenal.

There was a location right near where my. son lived, not in Logan, but sort of Columbia Heights for a while. And I walked into that place one day with him. And the guy that was working in there was a fan of the show, as it turned out. Anyway, Pisano's Pizza, Washington Grill, Capitol Cettlecorn, Fuku by David Chang, Visitors Dog, Loaded Mac, Jerry Seafood, familiar with Jerry Seafood, PMC cheese steak, nachos, that sounds good, Swizzler, DMV crab rolls. Those are the 12 new food vendors. The commanders also have added three new themed suites, an arcade-themed suite, a legends-themed suite, and a military-themed suite. The suites are catered toward large groups looking to take their

game day experience to the next level. The arcade suite features an air hockey table. Is air hockey still a thing? That was a thing when I was a kid. That was like a 70s invention. Retro-classics like Pac-Man and NFL Blitz as well as Madden 23 on the Xbox. The legend suite is decked out with players lockers, benches, astroturf carpets, and artwork commemorating franchise history, and the military suite celebrates past and present servicemen and women with custom artwork that honors all six branches. Brand new sound system, brand new video boards, upgraded graphics. So there you go.

Look, this is $40 million. That's not chump change. I understand it's just a fraction. You know, it's not even 1% of what they paid for the team. But it's real money. And this is, you know, why they can't, back to the name thing for a second, they can't do anything about the name right now. That's why they have been focused on these things that they can do something about.

You know, that's why Jason Wright said yesterday. Their focus really right now is on, you know, enhancing the stadium experience, you know, building a winning team on the field and re-engaging with the community. This is enhancing the stadium experience. Look, that place was run down, run down. And they've got to play there, not just this year, but for the next several years. They may be playing in FedEx Field for another five seasons before a new stadium opens up and is ready to go. It might be more than five seasons.

Two more things before we get to Stanford, Steve. Number one is Bryce Harper hit his 300th home run last night. If you haven't been paying attention, he's been on an absolute tear. Ten home runs in the month of August, 16 hits and 18 RBIs in just the last 12 games. Anyway, I am a fan of Bryce Harper. I've always been a big fan of Bryce Harper. He's 30, by the way. I was thinking, because I don't think I talked about this, I think it was away, the Stephen

Strasbourg announcement that he's going to retire in September. man does time fly. It seems like yesterday that Strasbourg was making his debut against the pirates with Bob Costas on the call. And then, you know, a year and a half later, it's Harper debuting in the early summer of 2012 as a 19-year-old. I think he was 19. Man, I mean, we're now 11 years after that. Amazing. One other quick thing. Gil Brandt passed away at the age of 91. Gil Brandt, Hall of Fame general manager with the Cowboys from 1960, the year that they were an expansion team until Jerry Jones bought the team in the late 80s. Gilbrant was revered as a player personnel guy, and he was a big part of building what has become, you know, with the Dallas Cowboys, America's team, the biggest brand in the NFL,

one of the two or three biggest brands in all of sports. Gil Brandt, Tech Schramm, Tom Landry. That was the group. They were responsible for it. And Gil Brant was the guy that brought all of those players to Dallas. He was a brilliant personnel guy. But in recent years, I have become a bigger fan of Gilbrand. First of all, he's been very active on social media, sometimes to his detriment.

But he has been someone I've referenced many times because, of the lists that he's put together, ranking the best players all time at various positions. To me, no better place to go than the Gilbrant list of the best players in NFL history at a certain position. He's an NFL historian. And Ken Houston was the number two safety of all time on Gilbrant's list of the greatest safeties of all time. Emlyn Tenel was number one, Ken Houston was number two, Ronnie Lott was three, Ed Reed was four. And, you know, I've said this many times. Kenny Houston is consistently the highest ranked position player in franchise history.

It's not Sammy Baugh. Sammy Baugh is not ranked number two or consistently in the top five of the greatest at his position. Darrell Green isn't, Art Monk isn't, Rigo isn't, Sunny isn't, but Ken Houston is. And on Gil Brant's list, number two, all time on the safety list. All right, let's get to some college football. Stanford Steve joins me next, right after these words from a few of our sponsors. This segment of the show is brought to you by the Circa Million and the Circus Survivor pools out in Vegas. I have played both of them, Stanford, Steve, who's just.

joining us right now. I was out there a few weeks ago. My guys work at the Circa. You know Tim Murray. I think you know my guy Aaron Oster who produces this podcast and works for the Circa. Yep. And I'm in their $6 million guaranteed prize, circa million, five games a week against the spread, pays the to the top 100, a million bucks to the person who has the best record at the end of the year. And then the Survivor Pool, guarantees $8 million to the winner or winners. Pick one team straight up, no spread each week. Can't pick the same team twice during the course of this season.

But that one pays, again, $8 million to the winner or winners. That makes it $14 million and guaranteed prizes from the biggest sportsbook out in Vegas, the circus sports book. The deadline is September 9th to 2 p.m. That's the day before the first Sunday of NFL football. And as mentioned, you do have to be in Vegas to enter. So this is for those of you that are planning on being in Vegas, you know, at some point over the next week. Maybe you're going to be out there this weekend watching college football.

But weekly picks can be made from anywhere. Stanford Steve is with us right now. Of course, you can follow him on Twitter at Stanford Steve 82. He's part of the Scott Van Pelt Sports Center. He is the co-host or the sidekick. however you would describe him. But this year, big new gig, and he's on his way, probably as you're listening to this, he will be a part of one of my favorite shows on any network,

and that is College Football Game Day on ESPN. So let's start there. What are you going to be doing for Game Day each week? First off, we've got to go back to Circa because I love it so much. I'm so happy that you got to see it. There's nothing like it. I am actually, was invited to be part of the Circa Sports Invitational, which is 16 handicappers.

I think it's seven picks a week, and we go at each other, and Derek is throwing the money in the pot. Derek Stevens, obviously, they have a circus. So I'm super excited to be a part of that. It's seven picks a week, college and NFL, best record, and then, like, the worst record, I think after three weeks, gets eliminated, and it's just the build-up all the way. So I'm fired up to be part of that.

Matt Humeans in charge of that deal Friday nights. We have to leave all our pictures by then so he could do a show based on what the Pixar. But no, going to college game day, Kevin, it's, you know, I've been asked a lot about it. And being a kid that grew up in Connecticut but loving college football and then going to play out at Stanford, like I made it part of my routine to get up on game days to watch college game day. I just loved every I think it captures everything that's great about college sports, especially college football. And with all the BS about realignment and the geography issues that we're going to face in this future, it still captures all the pageantry and all the great stuff with college football. And we start with a neutral site game this week in Charlotte for North Carolina, South Carolina.

I'm not worried about it because those are two very good fan bases. South Carolina is going to bring a ton of people knowing that they've been away from game day. North Carolina, they'll show up when they can. We know how the Carolina people go. But I'm fired up. And we get to see a former top recruit in the country in Rattler, who's got himself better since going to South Carolina. And I think the world of drink may.

I'm really, really interested. to see what he does this year because all we've heard from really is college people when you talk about Caleb Williams and also Drake May. And being here in a DMV, obviously you get inundated with Caleb Williams. All deservedly so. He is that talent. But I do feel like there are people out there that like Drake May's mindset and everything he brings to the table better when we start looking at the next level.

I think it's a fascinating conversation that's going to go all the way to draft night, unless a team, you know, that number one team does make it known who they want. But I'm fire up to see Drake May in person for the first time. I love what he brings to the table. You know, the family going back with the Carolina roots, I think he's handled himself extremely well knowing what he's up against in that limelight spotlight with that team, that program. so I'm super fired up to be a part of this.

It's starting off in Charlotte. I haven't said this, but I have kind of felt this, and you just said it. And that is, it's not necessarily the Caleb Williams sweepstakes, you know, the chase to number one for Caleb Williams. And we've seen this in many, many drafts previously. There's so much time between now and April 30th or whatever night one will be in 20. 2024 and things happen. You know, not to mention that, I would almost guarantee you that there's a quarterback that right now is not on anybody's board as a potential first rounder.

No doubt. That will make his way onto that board at some point when the college football season ends. But, you know, the big difference between Drake May and Caleb Williams is height. Drake May's a big dude. Like, he's 6566, right? Mm-hmm. Yeah, all of it, all of it. And he's not a twig.

He's put together, man. Yeah. Real quickly, on game day, will you be taking the role of, you know, what the bear did, what Felica did, your partner? Yeah, I'm going to be on the set with the guys. I'll be, I'll have my own set. There's not enough room for my big self at that desk.

But, yeah, I'll be mixing up with the guys. I'm going to give fix every week. driving people of that. We obviously don't have our podcast anymore with the bear, you know, him going to Fox and doing his thing. So all my picks will be given on college game day. I'll be part of the conversations in and around

the show. And yeah, it's, it's, you know, I'm up there. I'm, I'm on the desk and I couldn't be more fired up. Knowing what we have, um, as far as people, when you talk about Herbie and in coach

Corso and McAfee and Reese and Desmond Howard. Like it's, you know, we got Jeff Sims and Jen Lada doing their thing. Also, there's going to be a lot more, you know, crowd integration and involvement there. We got, you know, we're going to Charlotte. There's some NASCAR stuff lined up. We got some country music performances. We got a new open coming.

So there's plenty to get to. And I think, you know, with so much new, there is a feeling out process. And that's part of the gig here, man. you get assigned a new thing in the production crew and the directing crew. It's a huge conglomerate that, you know what, at a point like this, we've had meetings, we've had calls, all that stuff, and now it's just time to go out and do it and figure out what we do best and do that as much as possible.

Well, I hope you give out South Alabama on Saturday, because that looks like free money. I hate saying that about week one, but my God, when I do my smell test tomorrow, I promise everybody that South Alabama will be a part of it. That line makes no sense to me at all, and the whole world's got to be on Tulane. Anyway, what? I agree. I just think about last year, like, I was at the Rose Bowl in Penn State, in Utah. And then that night, what do we have that night?

Oh, that night, you know, Damar Hamlin, that whole thing happens. And what gets forgotten on my favorite day of the year, which is that day, Tulane beat Caleb Williams in the U.S.C. an incredible football game. I gave them out. And now they're ranked. Yeah, now they're ranked. And they're given six and a half to South Alabama.

Like, what the hell is going on there? So there is a very good chance that South Alabama will be on my pick. Well, you know, South Alabama, because in preparation for my first smell test of the year tomorrow, I don't just go strictly based on, you know, the public, you know, money. I have a lot of information, as you know, from several offshore sources. But beyond that, I tend to try to look at the game as well a little bit. South Alabama was actually really good last year. They lost two regular season games by less than a field goal.

That was it. But anyway, yeah, the world will be on Tulane. And I had them in that Cotton Bowl game against Southern Cal plus the number. And they won that game outright. And it was a thrilling, thrilling game. All right. So let's get to college football. Big picture.

And I'll start with this. Give me a list of the teams that can legitimately supplant. Georgia, stop Georgia from winning its third national championship in a row? I'll start outside the SEC. I think Michigan, this is the best team he's had. I think top to bottom, everybody's going to talk about the line of scrimmage, and everybody that brings that up brings back Georgia two years ago, and then brings up the mishaps and the fiesta bowl last year against T.C.

I get it. McCarthy's a better player. The way that Harbaugh has brought him along, I think he is set to be a big-time, big-time quarterback. I think the race for first team, all-big ten quarterback is fascinating. When you look at it, I mean, Leah has a chance at Maryland. He's probably got the most experience. I know I'm missing somebody.

Cade McNamara going to Iowa, had experience at Michigan. The kid Mordecai at Wisconsin, he's thrown all over the place. The kid Aller, who I'm dying to see for Penn State, and everybody I talk to is raving about what he brings to the table. And I'm picking Penn State to go to the playoff. They get Michigan at home. I think it's time. They have the talent.

They are better on the line of scrimmage. And to me, everybody's going to talk about the offense. To me, the pressure is on the defense. Manny Diaz has the talent and has no more excuses. You have to be dominant on that side of the ball. because you're only going to get better offensively. They have a huge test in a couple weeks going to Champaign to play Beelma in Illinois. I think we'll learn a lot about that team then.

So in the Big Ten, I think Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State are all worthy of going to the playoff. I go to the ACC. I have Florida State back. I have them winning the ACC. I have them in the playoff. I have them being better than Clemson. They have a huge chance to take a monster step in the national. perception Sunday night against LSU.

They beat them last year, but I keep saying with Florida State, if not now, when? They have everything you want. Their quarterback's back. Their offensive line is not the weakness of the team anymore. They have major difference makers on defense. You look at the defensive line through the portal. They get the kid burst. They got a lockdown corner from Virginia.

Everything you, I mean, a transfer receiver from Michigan State who's a stud. Everything you want. And I think it Orville is a top five play. caller in the sport. Everything you want in a team, Florida State has. I do expect them to make that step. So I do think Clemson has a chance. I'm just not there yet with Clubnick.

I think their defensive line has taken a major hit with guys leaving. It's not even fair to compare this defense to defenses in the past that Davo has had. I think there's a transition period with the offensive coordinator and Clubnick here. So

Clemson's there. They could do it, but I'm not picking them. But they are definitely worthy of a playoff spot. And in the Big 12, I think it's Texas. Oklahoma has an easy schedule. They should play Texas in the Big 12 title game. But Texas, again, they have everything you want. That roster, when you talk to guys on that staff and around that program,

all those guys coached in the SEC and everybody wants to talk about the future, this is about going to Tuscaloosa and being able to compete next week. and they are as confident as I've ever heard those guys. They have depth on both lines of scrimmage, a bunch of their offensive linemen are back. They have two stud defensive tackles that absolutely dominated Alabama last year. When you watch that game back,

they have serious talent on the perimeter. Yours definitely got humbled last year. They have running backs that are five stars to replace Bijon. I think Texas is ready to take the next step. And then the problem in the Pac-12 is I think there are six teams that could win that conference. I really do. You talk about the quarterback star power.

I have UFLA again. I was on them last year. Yeah, you were, I remember. Their staff. I mean, you go back and look at, they beat Utah, who won the conference. They beat Washington, who's everybody's darling this year.

They bring back everybody except quarterback. I know DTR was great in the preseason and making the brown, but Chip Kelly's a guy who went to the national championship with a freshman quarterback at Oregon. I'm not worried about a quarterback in Chip Kelly system. and the defense is all back. So I look at Oregon State, UCLA, Oregon, Washington, SC, and Utah,

they're all going to beat each other up. And that's why I don't think they'll get a team in the playoff. But that is going to be by far, in my opinion, the best conference to watch football week to week, because anybody's going to be able to beat anybody. Well, the last year, we'll be watching it as a conference. Yeah, yeah. All right. All right.

All right. So let's go to the SEC other than Georgia. Yep. Alabama for sure. I'm picking Alabama to go to win the SEC and make the playoff. I get it. The quarterback situation is not what everybody. Everybody wants an answer. Nick has done this before. I think he roll, I forgot the kid's name. Blake Barnett, maybe he rolled out against USC a couple years ago, and who finishes that game? Jalen Hertz. Jalen Hertz fled his team in the national championship that year.

was four seconds away from winning a national title. So the way Bama's roster is stacked, this is, this is, this is as an identity of a Nick Saving team, you know, talking to guys on their staff, their favorite player on the offense is Booker, their guard. Like that's Tommy Reese talking. That's their offensive staff talking. When I think about Tommy Reese, too, I think back to when Notre Dame was really good. Their best player in offense when they had it rolling, Quentin Nelson, he was a guard. You know, Zach Martin was a guard that played with Tommy. The identity is going to be Alabama running the football.

They're going to have three guys over 330 pounds starting, not an average of 330, three guys that are over 330 playing on the offensive line. So I really think they're going to get back to playing Alabama football, getting up big, and then playing the – they call it down there that murder ball where they're just running it down your throat and that game shrinks like no other, especially if they have the lead in these new rules. So I really like Bama. I love the talent they have on the defense.

Their secondary is the key. That's what's going to be a lot better than it was last year. And their offensive lines, as I mentioned, those are the two biggest differences when you look at Alabama last year to this year. LSU is the wild card. I get it. Everybody's – I love Brian Kelly. I love what he did last year.

But it's amazing to me, Kevin, how much people look at LSU and all they do. is bring up they beat Alabama last year. There were some stankers last year. They got buried by Tennessee at home. They were so lucky to beat a bad Arkansas team that didn't even have their quarterback. Yeah, that was a little bit.

Wasn't that the week after Bama, though? It was. And that game reeked going into it because they had beaten Bama and it just seemed like a letdown spot. And they got through it. You're right. But then they got waxed by A&M.

Yeah. But you know what? They moved the football and scored against Georgia. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, a lot of that was Nussmeyer, the backup that came in. So to me, this is about Daniels. He still is not consistent enough for me to say LSU is worthy of an SEC championship and a playoff spot.

I am not there yet. And then I said they're the wild card. I meant to say they are the other team. The wild card is A&M. Like Reese Davis said on Game Day the other day, it was perfect. He said, you know, Jimbo Fisher hires Bobby Petrino. What could go wrong? I mean, you talk about those two guys getting together.

I need to see it. It feels like they got rid of all the trash, all the big-name recruits that were just about NIL. Those guys are gone out of the program. Wegman got some great experience last year. He was great against LSU in that. win. The line of scrimmage should be as solid as they've been. I love the two receivers they have in Muhammad and Stewart. They got a great tight end, two tight ends. You know they'll have running back talent. So A&M, they get Bama at home. That's a monster game. I think they play Tennessee

in a crossover. So A&M is the team that could take the biggest step to me. And when you talk about the SEC, I don't know if that, if you could go five to six. five and seven to an FCC title. I don't think you could do that, but they could definitely get back to picking off a couple of the top teams and having a nine-win season, which would be tremendous and get that band-based back up and running. But I'm assuming especially considering Georgia's schedule, that you've got them as an undefeated East champion against Bama in the title game? I can see a loss in there.

The problem is I don't know what Tennessee is going to be. be at that point in the season when Georgia goes there. Listen, Georgia, I get it. They're stacked. They have everything you want. But when I go back and I watch them and I look at what Stetson-Bennett did for them, it was everything. He had all the intangibles.

He was a gutsy kid, man. I mean, his confidence level was insane. They were on the ropes at Missouri, just getting their butt kick. And they figured out a way to get a win there. you go back in Tennessee, they muck up, they mucked that game up and make it ugly and make Tennessee play how they Well, that was a beat down. That was a dominant beat down. The score was not reflective. Yeah. Yeah, Bennett was great. Nope. But they had Bennett to make plays early. Yeah. You put all the pressure on Tennessee. You know, now, like they got in early, I have no idea what Auburn's going to be. But I'm telling you right now, when Georgia goes to Auburn early in the year, that place is going to be bananas. Carson Beck's only played and blowout games.

Listen, I know he's got all the stars next to the name, but I still, I don't judge anybody until I see him go on the road in a hostile environment. That's when I will make my decision about Georgia. I still need to see it. You know, everybody talks about their schedule, but that's because you're taking, you're using Georgia as the team to go through the schedule. Like take Clemson against that schedule. They're not going to run the table, I don't think.

Take anybody. Well, it's still an SEC schedule. Yeah. Correct. Correct. And I think people just hold them so high now that this is where the expectations get out of line. Yeah. And you've got a brand-new quarterback coming in. That's a monster deal.

There's been so much roster changeover. I don't think they have the elite pros on the defensive line. They're going to play more guys, but they don't have a Jalen Carter or a Jalen Carter. Jordan Davis or a former number one pick on that D-line right now. So there are going to be challenges. They are going to face adversity. How are they going to handle it and how are they going to look handling it? That's what I'm waiting to see.

But I expect them to make the playoff. But I think the grown can get taken from them for sure this year. All right. So you gave out Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State, is potential playoff teams out of the Big Ten. FSU out of the ACC, Texas out of the Big 12. nobody out of the PAC 12 and then Bama and Georgia

out of the SEC so give me your four I got Bama, Georgia, Penn State, and Florida State okay Penn State would be Penn State and Florida State would be like last year you had UCLA and by the way I think DTR I've watched him play a couple of times

it's preseason I understand but they got rid of Josh Dobbs because they immediately have elevated him to back up course. quarterback behind Deshawn Watson. Well, you know this, Kevin. Just on that quick, look how fast Heineke got picked. Like, those guys, that's who you want as your backup.

If you can't have another stud, which you can't now with the Valerie cap, you need a guy that can improvise and you can't game plan for. You know, like when that guy comes, you can't game plan for Heineke's scrambling ability. Same thing with DTR. He's played four years of college. He's seen every kind of defense. and when a play breaks down or he knows he's got a bad matchup for one of his offensive linemen, he's going to make the quick decision whether it's a quick throw or a run.

Like that stuff is measured now in the NFL, and I think you're going to see more guys. Jake Hainer hung on with the Saints. Those guys are valuable because of the opponent not being able to prepare for them. And when you have an injury to your starter, that's what you want. You need an automatic juice, you know, a boost from a guy, and that's the intention. tangible stuff, a guy that played a ton of football, and is it going to be wowed by the moment? All right. Give me a team or teams outside of this group, all right? The TCU and the Cincinnati equivalents that could really bust up the party and make a very surprising, because I don't

think, you know, Florida State would be a surprise to a lot of people, but those that are following the sport know that they have a chance. especially Sunday night to really make an impression. Penn State may have their best chance they've had. I still don't trust Franklin personally. But give me a team outside of the group of teams that you gave me that you could see making a surprise run and legitimately contending as TCU did last year. Cincinnati did the year before for one of those four spots. All right. I'm going to give you one here that I find really, really interesting and I do believe has a legit chance to make noise out of absolutely nowhere.

It's FMU. SMU is playing in the American, okay? UCF's not in the American anymore. Houston's not in the American anymore. Cincinnati, not in the American anymore. SMU did a great job in the portal of getting guys that are difference makers. Their quarterback left to go to Wisconsin, but this Knew Kid Stone is a real deal. I think the world of Lashley as a play caller, but the money.

My main reason is for a team to come out of nowhere, they got to go undefeated. And what are you going to have on your resume when you have all those wins? They play Oklahoma and they play TCU. They can win those two games. I know they got to go to both places, but they play offense better, or I should say as good or if not better, than those two teams. So when I think about a team out of nowhere, that's my team this year, is SMU. I just love what they have. And now in this dude's new day and age,

you talk about having to defend sideline the sideline and the deep ball and a complicated run game. Lashley has that in his offense. They are a team that I definitely have my eye on that could pull this off because you know, everybody, it's the question, right? You've got to come out of from nowhere, but you have to immediately go to,

all right, what do they look like with an undefeated season? That's as good as the resume as I could find with wins over two big 12 top-notch teams. That's a good one. I mean, that's a really good one. You know, they played TCU tough last year. As you know, I watched and followed TCU, and that was a competitive game.

They could really score last year. But Tanner Mordecai, their quarterback, and they played Maryland last year in an early season game in College Park. And he's now the starting quarterback at Wisconsin with Phil Longo is the offensive quarterback. coordinator for Luke Fickle who left Cincinnati to take the job. By the way, Wisconsin's just going to be totally different, I think, offensively than they've been for a long period of time. I mean, they're going to be able to throw the football, don't you think?

Yeah, but you also got like Kevin, like I get it. Long ago, everybody just thinks to Drake May, you know, and Howell swinging it around, which you have to realize. Now, Howell was the main factor in May rush for a bunch of yards, but Longo led the ACC. in rushing his last four years there. Yeah, well, they had 2,000-yard backs with Giovante Williams and Michael Carter. Now they got an absolute stud. Yeah, during Hal's good year.

Gray Allen. Right. Yeah, and now, Alan at Wisconsin now. So I think, like, he's got everything on the table. You know they're going to have offensive linemen. But I love Wisconsin to win that division. I love what they bring. Fickle, obviously, is going to bring a dynamic, just a toughness that his team's.

play with, and they're going to be back to Wisconsin defense there. Their schedule is very formidable. I think they only have to play Ohio State, and they get Ohio State to come to Madison. So Wisconsin isn't like everybody wants the other team outside of the three in the big ten. Wisconsin's that team for me in the West. I think they're headed shoulders. I think the transition in Nebraska is too much. I think Iowa still is Iowa. You can't trust them offensively. Purdue, I think, takes a major step back after winning it. You know North Carolina. Western's got nothing. So I really look at Wisconsin as a team that has a chance to make some noise. I think Minnesota takes a step back too. You mentioned, so you mentioned SMU as a real,

true sleeper. To go undefeated, win it, and then, you know, we'd be talking about it. I mean, I don't know if that would do it, but it would certainly put them in the conversation. But you're right, having Oklahoma and TCU on the schedule, if they go undefeated, they'd have to be taken seriously. But you mentioned that you don't like anybody in the Pact 12 because they're going to beat each other up. So if I told you one Pact 12 team emerged and you said you like UCLA again, I kind of like Washington and I kind of like Oregon, I mean with Bo Nicks back, what do you make of those two teams? Well, here's the day on Oregon.

Oregon brings in a new guy, Will Stein, I think his name is. he's the second offensive coordinator from UTSA to go get a major job. I think Will Stein is in a really, really difficult spot because when you look at it, yeah, I got Bowdo Nick. He's coming off the greatest year he's ever played. But that was what Dillingham's calling the play. So Will Stein comes in, right? He's got an ego about himself.

He's got his own offensive beliefs. But are those beliefs in the same exact thought process of what Nick's had success in in Dillingham system. You know what I mean? Like how much are you taken away from your own belief to make sure this kid's good? That's a really, really weird and tough dynamic, I think, for an offense coordinator. They also have a brutal game in Lubbock, who I think is the sleeper team in the Big 12, if you need a team not named Texas in Oklahoma with Texas Tech.

So I look at Oregon as maybe coming out slow out of the gate, and I think the schedule's tough. you know, they got to play all the top dogs this year, whereas, you know, S.C. didn't have to play Washington in Oregon last year. And that's why I like UCLA this year. They don't have to play Washington or Oregon. And I think I have UCLA playing Oregon State in the Pact 12th title game because I look at the schedules. And I keep bringing up, everybody's going to beat each other up. SC's schedule is absolutely brutal on the back end. they've got a chance to be, if somebody gets knocked off,

they got a chance to be number one in the country in the first six weeks because they're not playing anybody. You know, they get Nevada this week. They got Stanford. They got Colorado. They got Arizona, like all the bad teams. And then they go to Notre Dame. And then they get Utah at home.

And then they go to Washington and home, Oregon on the road, and UCLA to finish, Jesus, yeah. That team's not built yet for that. They're better on defense. And I'll tell you right now, if they keep doing what I saw in week one with Caleb Williams, he's not going to make it through the season with the hits he's taken. So that's why I look at SC, I don't think they're built for that.

Utah looks like they're going to hold everybody out. They got a huge game at Baylor next week. And it sounds like Rising and Keithy, the tight end, who I love, they're not going to play until UCLA comes to town. So Oregon State plays all the road games you want when you look at the competition, and all the bad teams, they go and play on the road, all the good teams on their schedule, come to them. And obviously, they have the Civil War late in the year in Eugene.

So I just did it off of schedules when I looked at it because I do think all those teams are that close. Like, Washington, I get it. The office is going to be phenomenal. DeBoer, again, top five play caller in the sport. The receivers are tremendous. They have an elite NFL pass rusher in Trice. But I want to go to see them go to East Lansing and play. play Michigan State. Like, they're not good.

Yeah, they're not good. They're not good this year. Yeah. No, but they're going to, they'll be, if they have a strength, it's going to be their defense. And they'll, you know, it's on natural grass. I believe right? They went back to natural grass. I think he's playing. But there's going to be scenarios in that game where they are uncomfortable. That's what I want to see Washington. So that's why I think Washington and Oregon have the tougher ends of the schedule when you look at that conference when compared to a UCLA or Oregon State who I like, as I mentioned. All right. One more college.

What do you think of Maryland this year? Well, I look at what has transpired, right? And what we are looking ahead to. You know, I thought they exceeded expectations the last few years. Did they get the monster win? No. How many teams do when they're in this situation and you have to play that elite level of three teams every single year.

Were they improved? Yes, they had Michigan on the ropes in Ann Arbor. They had Ohio State. Yeah, they did. At home. I was there. Awesome game. Atmospheric was incredible.

What's the next step now? Now you've got to beat one of those teams. And that's where I worry. I think there are some key guys that are gone off this. I talked to people at Alabama. They love the kid to Pree that left, the tight end. But they still have a great one in Diches. I worry about them on the line of scrimmage.

I know Lox is going to have playmakers. I know I love the kid he got from FIU. I think he's going to be their best receiver. They still have great, great running backs. But what happens if you go down 14 nothing in a game? You know, that run game's gone. You know, now Leah, now more pressures on Leah. And he's been good, hasn't been great.

He's shown flashes. The consistency level needs to improve in their inconsistencies on the offensive line. I worry are going to hinder them because they're not a team that's going to be able to rely on their defense. They lost two NFL corners. Barham, you know, at linebackers, an absolute man-child. They like what they have up front on defense line, but it's the big tent. You need multiple guys at that position to be successful. So I think eight wins is a really, really good season.

it's another improvement. But can they knock off one of the big three? That's the big question. I'll tell you right now, they get Michigan in a perfect spot. If Michigan's a little beat up and they get them the week. Yeah, the week before, I mean, that's what you want. Now, what's Maryland going to look like at that point in the season? That's where I think Lox has done better.

They competed a lot better later in the year last year, where, you know, a couple years, was it six and oh, two years ago or the year before, and then, you know, the bottom fell out because they didn't have any depth on the roster. Yeah, they were four, they were something like four and o and ranked. Yeah. This year, by the way, if you look at their schedule, I think there's a really good chance there'll be five and oh heading to Columbus in early October. I don't know if that'll be good enough to be ranked because the only win they'd have is at Michigan State.

Indiana stinks this year. Virginia stinks. They play Charlotte, who's not terrible. But decent chance. The Terps are 5 and O and maybe ranked headed to Columbus on October 7th. If there are 5 and 0, they'll definitely be ranked. I don't care who the wins are. They're a big 10 program and they have star potential. But it's, you know, the biggest thing this year, when you take that step and you're looking to knock off those teams, Kevin, you have to win the games your favorite it. You can't. That's where you get, that's where

the confidence maybe gets a little super, like, oh, are we that good? We're supposed to win that game. That's where I have to do. So, they come out strong out of the gates. I expect big things. I do expect them to be 5 and 0 when they go to Columbus. And then you roll the balls out and see what you got. You know, the last couple times

to Columbus, they've been decimated by injuries, not having any guys in the secondary, and that's a problem when you go play that team. I don't care who the quarterback is in the Ryan Day system. No, I'm fired up for the service. I love what Lox has done. And everybody's rooting for them to take that next step.

The problem is, is what do you consider that next step? The majority of the people are going to want to win against those big three. But I look ahead of the future where they're not going to have to play those big three every year. And that's where I think you can start making success and make them serious progress when you talk about talent level and winning more games. All right. Let's talk some NFL and some Washington when we come back with Stanford, Steve. We'll get to that right after these words from a few of our sponsors. So what do you make of Washington?

I think when you were on with me last month, we talked a little bit about it. But now that we're on the verge of the NFL season, a week away from Kansas City and Detroit in the opener, what are your thoughts on Washington? Before I start, I have one question for you. What are your expectations for Chase Young? Well, I'm a little bit concerned about this Stinger. He's got another key doctor appointment, which I told everybody about yesterday, and I think it's scheduled for tomorrow.

Hopefully all will be well, but I am cautiously optimistic about Chase Young having a bounce-back year. I think it's like to me there are three major. Who the hell knows? Sam Howell, the offensive line, and Chase Young, we pretty much know a lot about the rest of the team, and it's pretty good. But Chase Young could be a massive difference maker if he ends up playing to what we all believe his potential is, which we haven't seen since the end of his rookie year. Yeah, I think it goes back to a couple of years ago. What made them a playoff team?

It was that defense. And they were able to rely on the defense. And they worked through some things offensively, right? And that's where they have to be better. They have, I love the draft pick to help on the back end. We know what they have up front. But to me, they have, like in week one, you have to come out and not give up double digits. You know, you got to come out and just put your foot down.

and say this is how this game's going to go, even if our offense is struggling to get going, this team is not going to score a touchdown against us. So that's what I want to see coming out. As far as the division goes, I think the other teams have more questions than Washington has. I think Washington's identity is more set. We know they have a young quarterback.

We know he has plenty of guys when healthy to throw to. You have dynamic playmakers at running back. when your offensive line is healthy, they are good enough to have success offensively. When I look at Dallas, I just think about the guys that didn't practice a lot in training camp and the health and how much better is the Dallas defense. I'm not, I just, health is always an issue with that team to me because it feels like they always lose key guys. So I think they still have a lot of questions, and their schedule is absolutely brutal to start the season. New York, are they really going to take another step forward?

I don't think so. I still think they have questions at wide receiver. Barclay played a full season for the first time in his career. Those are things that I like to guarantee are going to happen again. And Philadelphia, just something in my mind and watching the NFL, my whole wife, tells me it's not going to be as easy as it was last year. do they have all the goods? Absolutely. How much better are they going to be offensively? Is that offensive line going to be better than it was last year?

I don't see that. So you have a chance to be to my home? Yeah. Is it going to be a first time, you know, in a while where maybe the commanders have more fans against them in a home game? If there's ever a time, it will be this year in the recent past. So I look at establishing consistency. And again, as we talked with some of these with Maryland, you have to win the games you're supposed to win in this league.

And that's where they've fallen behind the eight ball is just having, you know, teams on the ropes, whether it's at home and playing well and scoring points when you weren't accustomed to against the better teams and still losing. That's what it comes down to. And, you know, I think that week one is a great start. Get up off the mat. Get a win. Feel good about yourselves. And then assess everything. And the biggest thing about week one, you get to see everybody else.

and see what you're stacked up against you. So that's, I am, as you said with Chase Young, I am cautiously optimistic with the commanders. I like the staff. I like the changes that they made. And I just, I thought we talked about Alaska. I feel the juice. I feel the energy around this place that I haven't felt. And I had no idea existed with just the ownership change.

Right. I think the thing that is the most certain, and we know it's the NFL, so it doesn't always end up this way, because I was certain about this in 2021 and it went the other way. But I think defensively, they're top 10 defense in the league. And if Chase Young ends up being Chase Young again and Emmanuel Forbes is the playmaker that they believe he can be, I think it's a potential dominant defense, like a top five-ish kind of defense this year. So I mean, you know, things change, as we know, and health means everything. And, you know, last year they played very well, and by almost every metric, they were in the top 10 defensively.

Yeah. This year, they've, you know, they've got some quarterbacks on their schedule. They've got some offensive teams early. They've got to play, you know, Buffalo in Philly in weeks three and four. you know, later in the year, they've got Miami, they've got San Francisco, they've got the Jets, and of course they've got Philly twice, and the Cowboys twice, and I actually think the Giants have a chance to be better than they were last year. You didn't really mention them. I just, I think of what made them good last year, right?

They had Barclay the whole season, and I need to see that. Waller, yeah, tremendous. upside at tight end. Another guy, though, hasn't played a full season in a while. And when I think about Jones and what he did, he relied on on the half Berkeley all last season. They found some good things with the tight ends. Their offensive lines stayed healthy. And, you know, they got, they have two difference makers, you know, on their defensive line, too. So I just, in the NFC, like, there's going to be teams that make a big jump as far as wins goes. I just don't know how good a football teams. They're going to be, when you look at how loaded the AFC is.

So, yeah, I mean, Washington and the Giants, can they win more games that they did last year? Yes, does that mean they can make a longer run in the playoffs? Not necessarily to me. I just think there's too many things that I'm not confident are going to happen that happened last year for him. So I just need to see it again. I love Dable. I mean, don't get me wrong there. And he does a great job of creating scheme and playing in his strengths. But is he going to have all those strengths on a week-to-week basis in that league? All right. Last one.

Give me, you know, a team or something about the league that you feel strongly about that you've been telling people about, you know, watch out for this guy or watch out for this team that, you know, that you feel really strongly about that might surprise a lot of people. All right. The biggest wild card to me in the NFC is Seattle. If Gino Smith anything, what he was last year, that roster is really, really good. You add Smith and Jigman to the mix. That's a guy that can run any route. You know, last year at this time, he was the number one rated wide receiver. And they got him alongside Lockett and Metcalf.

Like, I love what I'm seeing there. They got the running back to get some death behind. Walker with Charbonnet from UCLA. I like their offensive line. Their defense, I'm pretty sure they're going to get Adams back, who's an ultimate game game. They didn't even have them last year.

He got her on the first or second series of the game on Monday night against Russell Wilson. They are a team that they get back to where they're unbeatable at home because I think San Francisco has a ton of work to do. You don't have Bosa who's, you know, reigning defensive player of the year, that changes things. I get it.

I'm as biggest Shanahan fan there is. Purdy's going to be better than he was. I don't know. I need to see that. And they got to play a first-place schedule. I think they're up against it, week one. I love put me down for Pittsburgh as a home dog week one. But Seattle's the biggest wild card because they can win that division.

I firmly believe that if things go the right way. And as far as a big picture thing, I can't wait to see how the AFC North plays out. I cannot wait because, you know, to me, we will talk about Pickett taking the next step. He's the third best quarterback in that division. Don't even try and argue on that one. I talked to Cincinnati people when they were here last weekend. It's back to the old way. Their most feared team is Cleveland because of what Cleveland wants to do with running the football.

And they're, you know, what's Cleveland? I mean, what's the upside of Watson? How good is he going to be? I have no idea. You just put him as the fourth best quarterback in that division. I mean, it's possible that we get to the end of this year and he might be the best quarterback or maybe the second best quarterback in that division. That's possible.

I mean, if we see the Deshawn Watson of the good years in Houston, Cleveland's a legitimate deep into the postseason contender. Exactly. And that's why that division, and I think they all play each other in the first two weeks, which is just awesome to see. And we didn't even mention Baltimore. I love the hire a Monkin. I don't think you go in the, don't have a firm mindset of what you think because you haven't seen anything in the pre-season. You have not seen anything they are going to do offensively with Lamar back there. Health, obviously. obviously is the most important thing in this league. But you know that mindset and that we're going to say they're not afraid of anybody. They are going to play the way they want to play. And they're as dangerous as anybody just laying in the weeds and having a bad year last year. So the AFC North is I'll be watching those teams every single week because I think it's the toughest and most fascinating division without a doubt in my mind.

All right. finish up with this. Give me your favorite game this weekend, other than Sunday night, which is the only matchup of two ranked teams. All right, well, we spend a bunch of time on the Pac-12, and I'm a Pac-12 nerd.

I am fascinated the... Well, you went to a Pac-12 school. We don't know what League... We don't know what League Stanford will be in next year at this time. But can you imagine if they're in the ACC? see, how would you deal with that? Oh, man.

I'll get to see them a lot more. I guess. We'll have to go a lot more games. But let's save that conversation. We don't need to talk about that. All right. To me, I'm being selfish here because I, we want to compare everything, right?

And Oregon State goes to San Jose State Sunday. And we get to, right after that game, we get to compare Oregon State and USC. We get to see DJ Oweyunga Laleigh. in Oregon State offense, which I think the world of because it has so much structure, and his throws are going to be so much easier. We've seen him do it. I just think he got caught in a ruck confidence-wise,

and they were brutal on the offensive line the last two years. So I get to see that, and then I get to compare Oregon State and SC, and as I said, Oregon State's a team I'm picking to go to the Pact 12 title game. So that is my most fascinating game just from a selfish perspective. But I get to watch Drake May in person. I actually think that game after FSU, LSU, that might be on paper the most competitive game between two teams that have somewhat lofty aspirations. I think South Carolina fans are excited about this season,

excited to see what Spencer Rattler can do after, you know, there was a question mark this time last year, not just about his play, but just about him in general. You know, so that's an interesting game. Yeah, and also, you know, you mentioned South Carolina fans being excited for this season. really, really need this game because they go, they get Furman next week, then they go at Georgia, Mississippi State, at Tennessee, Florida.

Like that is, that's a gaunt. I mean, you could be one in five, and all that optimism is thrown out the window. So I think South Carolina really, really needs this game. And I've sort of leaned that way just because they've had more, they have more experience on the defensive side. I think North Carolina is still going to be a mess defensively. in a situation where when it's under a field goal spread, I usually take the better quarterback.

I'm going to take the better defense here. So I do like South Carolina, but I'm fired up to see that game in person. Do you give Duke any chance on Labor Day night at home against Clemson? I really do. I do. When I think about that game and, you know, you follow TCU. I'm the one side. I think TCU upgraded offensive coordinator.

I think Kendall Bryl's is a better offense coordinator than Garrett Riley. Now, if Garrett Riley, excellent? Absolutely. But there's a lot of unknown with Clemson. You know, are these wide receivers ever going to pan out? They have transition on the offensive line. I mentioned the defensive line. It isn't even close to the talent they've had in some.

It seems like the last decade. Linebackers are very good. But Duke, I think, has a very, very underrated quarterback. I love Elko as a hire there. because I've always said, you know, at your higher institutions, you need to be able to play defense. And Duke did that last year. Now, they were the benefit of a really good schedule,

and this year they're up against it. But they know more about themselves right now than Clemson does. And if there's ever a night that that place is going to be packed for Duke football game, Monday night, you know, I really... It's actually not a bad game. It's actually not... It's an interesting game for those that don't know or don't remember, because it is a new season. Duke was good last year. They won nine games.

They absolutely annihilated UCF in the bowl game that they played in. Almost every game they lost last year was a winnable game. They were all within a touchdown or less, I'm pretty sure. I remember they lost to Kansas. Remember in the basketball matchup early in the year when Kansas was actually playing well. but they had some close calls in the other losses that they had. So actually an interesting, I'm surprised they actually did Clemson Duke for that Labor Day night game. I know we haven't seen the best of games on that night in recent years. For whatever reason, people don't want to play on that night. I guess it's the short turnaround with Week 2.

Yeah, Week 2, that's a tough deal. But, actually, I feel like he plays it. Yeah, he does. But, yeah, we talked about, you know, you talked about a quarterback not being on anyone's radar. I think this kid has a chance to do it, Bradley Leonard at Duke. He's got everything. They got a ton of guys back. Their whole offensive line is back, and that's stuff I want to see early on that I'm confident.

Like I said, they know what they have, I think, more than Clemson. Now, as Clemson have a better roster, of course they do. But in order to keep it close, I think Duke really has a good chance because they're scheduling. will only get harder. So I think the emphasis is on this game for Duke, and I expect them to compete and cover that game for sure. All right. Good luck on Saturday. I'll be watching Stanford, Steve, a part of Game Day now on ESPN, which is as good a show for pregame as there is today. To me, it's that and the TNT NBA show. Those are the gold standards in pre-games, post games and in games these days.

Good luck with everything. You got it, my man. All right, that's it for the day. Again, no smell test picks or even liens for college football tonight. I am looking forward to watching Florida in Utah tonight, but I will have the first smell test of the year on tomorrow's show. Tim Murray will join me on tomorrow's show as well. All right, that's it.

Back tomorrow.