The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Happy New Year! Bowl Games Are Underway! Friends Join the Show

Episode Date: December 31, 2025

Happy New Year! Bowl Games Are Underway! Friends Join the Show

This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Like, can I wake up the strippers? Can I do all of that and, you know, do all the things that Matt usually does? That's a Friday show thing, not a Wednesday show. You know, like to lead you to believe that we're talking about certain businesses, but not say the actual business. Like, trying to think all the other benchmarks that the Matt Thomas show with Ross has. Oh, yeah.

Hey, by the way, we're the guys who just talked with you for the last. last four hours. We're in with you here for this hour. And then Adam Wexler is coming in from 11 to 1. I'm Dan Matthews. He's Cole Thompson. And we've swapped chairs behind the scenes because now you got Jonathan Allen in with you. So that's what you got here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. We started off with a guest immediately because we're going to get ready for Sunday's game between the Texans Ian Colts at NRG Stadium. And he is our Sports Talk 790 Texans Insider. And also, too, you can see him on KPR. too. He is Aaron Wilson. He's hopping on with us here for a few minutes.

Aaron, happy New Year to you, man. Let's just go ahead and get it started with the first practice of the week. We've seen Wednesday be used as a strong designated rest day. Do you expect that we're going to see a huge injury report today? Not necessarily for people to be concerned about, but just Amico Ryan saying, hey, take the day off. Yes, I do. I think that a lot of players will not in practice today I potential candidates

because I don't have the list yet would include Derek Stingley Jr. oblique Mario Lasseter knee and previously foot

I would think Trent Brown with his knee and ankle area after Richard did practice a little bit last week on a limited basis

so I could see them you know maybe they're using them in maybe they're not you know with his you know thumb injury

It's already been broken and dislocated and repaired, so I could see him practicing. And then I would imagine Sheldon Rankin's knee, Dinochal Autry, knee, who missed two practices last week and then played in the game, played very well. And I'm sure there's others. Dolan Shultz has been dealing with stuff. You know, there's just different things like that. Aaron, let me ask you, when you're talking about this upcoming game against the Indianapolis Colts,

you want to win. Everyone wants to win. But I'm looking at it at it from the standpoint. of is there a point in the game where you feel comfortable with that backups may be coming on in whether that be because jacksonville is absolutely beating the brakes off of tennessee or you're putting bta on a colts team that has nothing left to really play for outside of maybe seeing if riley lernard can be the future do you expect on sunday to be a game where you're going to see davis mills and you're going to see a couple of backups make their debut

i do if it's going that way and i think half time is a good time to kind of take the temperature on that. I don't know if it's necessarily like the first quarter, but remember Demico Ryan's orchestrated a game last year where T.J. Stroud and it didn't have these sorts of stakes played

one series, I believe it was five for five before giving away to Davis Mills. So do I anticipate something like that? Yeah, because he's sold that he might say we're playing everybody and then technically not you know, like kind of

half step it that way. There's certainly stakes. I mean, you can't, you know, give up a chance to win the division title. Imagine how upset people would be that were been resting everybody and then you had a chance to have a home playoff game.

I think his logic is fine. It's just you have to evaluate whether some guys can play and still be okay for the playoffs. I'm sure Derekson Jr. can keep playing with the oblique injury. And, you know, Camar Lasson went back in the game and played within the injury.

so I'm just not sure there's many candidates as people think other than the obvious the two offensive tackles for rest for the playoffs I wouldn't play either of those guys this week I would go with Blake Fisher and Titus Howard again Offensively for this game Do you think they do anything different I mean we saw an offense that really came out firing

In that last game And you know stretching the field I mean you know some huge downfield throws Do you feel like that's something that Maybe they try to really shore up Before you head into the playoffs they'd love to do it again I think those guys trying to have the speed

to strike deep against most coverages they identified something in the way the charges were in their shell coverage that allowed them to have those plays and then they adjusted so Mike Lou Anarumo noticed that and had his own adjustments

with his corners I could see it yeah I mean I think they're not done trying to throw deep though I mean it's one of the things I think they should do more of because CJ Stroud does it very well Wow, that's his strength sometimes, is throwing deep. He likes to do that. So more of that will be great.

I just wonder if they're going to be able to logistically because people have seen it now. Aaron, when you look at this offense, the thing that has been very tiresome is that the Texans, they're called a Texan's game. I mean, outside of those two early touchdown passes, Jaden Higgins, Jalen Knoll, it was very much a quiet day at the office out in Los Angeles. There is going to be a weakness of Houston going into the play. I don't know what it is. I mean, it could be lack of a running game. It could be bad play calling. Could be turnovers.

In your opinion, what's the thing that's going to keep Houston from finally reaching their first AFC title game? I think turnovers could hurt them. You know, I'm concerned that there have been too many interceptions, sometimes some really avoidable ones. That's a possibility. I think they are not as stout against the run as you would hope for. There was a recent Ashton Jenty game to worry about. I think it does help that they switched out safeties, putting in

Kayvon Wallace, who's now first on the depth chart ahead of Miles Bryant. And in terms of other Achilles heels, I mean, special teams, I think they've got things rolling pretty good, especially, Tammy Fairburn. You know, if the offensive line

was to regress, they're playing pretty well, though. We'll have no sacks, basketball games. I think a lot of it's on Stroud. He's got to stand in there and just throw a football, deliberate the way he can, and be a little more judicious about throws over the middle. I don't think there's a ton of, like, real danger points in the team

and so that are just, like, real deficiencies. I do think the end of the first half, the management has been, you know, poor for the majority of the season, some of the decisions there. You could second guess a bit of the strategy there. What are they doing? What are they trying to do? hasn't always worked out. Some of it's play, no, it's not always

the strategy, but yeah, a couple times I think they've just at the end of the half last week that was I think a little too aggressive. He is our Sports Talk 790 Texans Insider as well as you can see his work, part of KPRC2. He's Aaron Wilson. He joins us

every single week here on Sports Talk 790. Aaron defensively on the front. I mean, once Tim Settle Jr., and also Mario Edwards Jr. both went down for the season. It seemed like there was a little bit of a void there on the inside. But how about the job that Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togey I have been able to do in their absences?

Those guys are very good. I mean, and I think with Togei, this was someone that they identified, and they were talking about even before training camp. And so one that really stuck out to me in terms of what he did in Ohio State, that he had potential, some untapped potential. With Sheldon, and I think Sheldon would like to come back. He's a free agent. I think they're interested, too, which depends on if they can work out.

So he might be back for more of this kind of strong play. He gets a lot of the push and does a lot of the dirty work. And so does Autry that allows Will and Deniel to Will Anderson's Neal Hunter to collapse the pocket and, you know, hit the quarterback so often. So he's very valuable and a very smart player. backups, I felt like he Foti gave them something as elevation, I would imagine he'd be up again.

He did well, and they haven't gotten a lot from the previous McMorland-Davidson. They've had a couple plays from Nick Juan Jones, but not probably as many. And Foto was just a big, big, massive guy in the middle there that pushes the pocket. So they like what he did. So a couple of guys that are new to the defense.

Foto and Wallace were making some plays. while it's the safety. Aaron, I'm just going to come out straight and say it. Do you think that the Texans are going to be playing at home next week in the wild card round? Are they going to be on the road? What happens down in Jacksonville? I think they're going to go to Baltimore or Pittsburgh. I think that's what's going to happen.

They're going to wind up as a five-seed, and they're going to play the fourth seat on the road in the wild-card round, and they'll be favored to win, even though they're not the division champion. They're the lower seed. They will be the favorites. And it could be on a Sunday, too, as possible. hasn't happened very often, but it's possible, especially, you know, some of these other teams, they might want to have them on television on a Sunday. And it could be Baltimore.

We're going to see what happens today with Lamar Jackson. Is Lamar going to practice today after this back contusion? That sounds awful. You need in the back and having a sore back, but I'm sure he'll step up. I mean, he's pretty tough, and he's done it before. I'm kind of thinking that's what will happen and the Ravens will beat the Steelers. Steelers are really bad right now.

It's going down that way. Yeah, and Aaron, I mean, we've seen, you know, in the past with the Texans, that it seemed like a road playoff game was death for them. If that happened, it wasn't going to go their way. But with the way this defense is and getting just enough offense, I mean, do you feel like it's them where you get that game? You win that game, you move on, you take on Denver. That no matter of the path, this is a team that feels like,

that they can make a deep run in the playoffs? Yeah, they're confident. I think there's a lot more confidence within the locker room and the building than perhaps outside where obviously fans and media raised a lot of legitimate points. I don't think that they worry about it. And you can kind of sense from the tone of D'Neiko Ryans on Monday on the Zoom. It feels probably like people are nitpicking them a bit. You know, eight wins in a row is very impressive.

And I think it's certainly been celebrated and respected. And, you know, the praise is obviously rightfully going to the defense and all those things. But just as a team, winning is winning. I mean, they've won a bunch of games in a row. So I would say confidence is extremely high. And I talk to these guys all the time and, you know, I was in LA for the game. And after the game, it wasn't like they were who didn't hollering because we're going to playoff. They expect it to playoffs.

that's the new standards, three years in a row. And I think they're, while it was humbling the O&3, it's been a while, it's been a few months, and now they're on a roll. So, yeah, they're carrying themselves. Not cocky, but I think it would be an appropriate amount of confidence. I mean, I play that when I feel like to win eight games in a row. It's pretty good. Or if I, I've had to have before, you know, maybe I get, like,

that's cut day, and I get, you know, 15, 20 cuts. in a row, I break them all. Guess what? I feel pretty good when I think a weird comparison there. But, you know, if I get a bunch of stories, I'm like, oh, man, I'm going to keep getting them, I'm going to roll. I think it's the same thing for football in a way that, you know, you get some momentum going, anything going, whatever kind of business you're in, and you feel good about it.

They're very confident. Well, Aaron, hey, buddy. Have a happy New Year's tonight. And we'll see you up in the... Yeah, same to you, man, and we'll see you up in the press box on Sunday. big plans for you guys what are you going to do dinner and hanging out at a friend of mine's house nothing too serious

I don't I yet probably get drunk sounds good man be safe out there there you go you do the same Aaron Wilson again our sports talk 790 Texans Insider as well as KPRC2 all right from the Texan side we go to the Colts side of things Derek Schultz locked on Colts

he's going to hop on with us here again it's Dan Matthews Colt Thompson in for Matt and Ross here it is the Matt Thomas show with Ross right here Sports Talk 790 It's the Matt Thomas show with Ross, Dan Matthews, and Cole Thompson. I'm not Ross. No, you're not Ross. You're not, Matt.

I'm not Matt either, no. I mean, at least Ross you can deal with being Ross, but Matt, maybe not. He's fine. He is. He's all right. Anyway, it's us with you for this hour. And then also, you can have Adam Wexler coming your way from 11 to 1. I'm going to catch up with Derek Schultz, locked on Colts, hopping on with us here in just a few as, you know, the Texans and Colts.

Final regular season game. I mean, we just talked about it a little bit with Aaron Wilson where, I mean, it's going to be just kind of maybe like a series by series thing with them of just seeing how it all goes. But from the Colts side of things, we know there's not going to be Phillip Rivers. It's going to be Riley Leonard. And as promised, Derek Schultz, locked on Colts hopping on with this here for a few minutes. Eric, I appreciate it, man. You got myself, Dean Matthews. He's got Colt Thompson with you this morning.

Just Riley Leonard. I mean, I got to believe that expectations are pretty low from Colts fans in terms of not really expecting a, you know, four touchdown, 300-yard performance out of the guy and saying, hey, we got our guy for the future. What do you mean? The Colts have a game tomorrow? Is that where you're going up here on Sunday?

Is that what you're trying to tell me? That's the rumor. That's what I've been told, unable to confirm just yet. I mean, they might as well not show. up in my opinion, but apparently they got to play for more quarters of football the show. Yeah, no, guys, you know, all kidding aside, yes, to say that the expectations

are low, or the baseline is low, I think would be an understatement. I mean, here's a guy in Riley Leonard that I think a lot of people nationally know because of the runs in the national championship game last year, but a guy that was a very late-round draft pick, he was brought here to be the third string quarterback, and because

of circumstances somewhat beyond the cult's control, here he is, being thrust into a starting role here. You know, they scrambled to replace him with a 44-year-old. So that tells you all you need to know about where they feel like Riley Leonard is right now at this portion of his career. But the team is, you know, on a positive side of things. And as far as his, his IQ, he's obviously a great leader. I think that was apparent when he was the collegiate player and a guy that they feel like they can groom into eventual a QB2 level player. But really, this is just the

situation that the culture in right now playing a meaningless game Sunday with. the quarterback who, under normal circumstances, they would never throw out their under setter, I don't think. Derek, I just got to ask you out of curiosity. You're throwing out Riley Leonard. You bring back Phillip Rivers. He's a grandpa. He's trying to go ahead and probably prove that there's still enough left in the tank. He's impressing in front of his high school team. But you're going up against a Texan's defensive line that features two all-pro talents in DeNeal Hunter and Will Anderson, Jr. Just, just humor me for a second. Did Shane Sykin make this move because of his respect for Philip Rivers? He didn't want him to die on a football field on Sunday.

you know what honestly um i think if he was worried about philip rivers perishing on a football field uh he wouldn't have thrown him out there game one in seattle right and he did that so um and philip rivers survived like he normally does but yeah you know i i do think that there is there's an element of okay we tried you did us a solid you being rivers um we appreciate it you gave it a go let's just go ahead and call this what it is and move on to the next thing. And I think essentially that's what they're doing here with Leonard. They know that there's nothing to play for. They're not saying that

of course publicly, but teams know deep down that, you know, what this game is and what it means for the future and a 44-year-old does not factor in or else a 22 or 23-year-old might. Again, Derek Schultz, locked on Colts hopping on with us here for a few minutes on the Matt Thomas show with Ross.

Derek, let's look forward this offseason. It's going to be an interesting one up there in Indy. Is Chris Ballard going to be making the personnel decisions or is Carly Ursa going to say your services are no longer needed? Yeah, I mean, it's a million-dollar question. It's the biggest question facing the Coltsis off season more so than I would argue guys that it's an even bigger question than what they do a quarterback. Because obviously Daniel Jones is not under contract

and all of that. You know, here's a general manager and Chris Ballard that it's hard to believe has been here nine years. And while Ballard is often talked about like he is one of the top level executives in football, or at least has been in the past, the results certainly don't bear that out. I mean, we're talking about a guy that will be five years removed from his last postseason appearance, seven years removed from the last postseason win. If you guys can believe it, that was all the way back wildcard weekend in Houston in 2018 at the end of that season when the Colts came in and beat the Texans and Deshawn Watson.

So, I mean, you know, that's ancient history. I mean, Houston's remade itself at least once and not twice. Jacksonville's remade itself. Tennessee has gone through some cycles with Ryan Tannahill and then Cam Ward and here are the Colts. No division titles under Ballard and one playoff win and those results just aren't good enough. But the problem that they're facing is that they just traded their next two first round picks. They don't have quarterback solved. Most of the core players of this team are signed through 2026.

It's never a good time to fire your general manager, but it's particularly a bad time for the to fire their general manager. But the problem is here, guys, is that there has to be accountability. There has to be consequences. and this team has been stuck in the muck for way too long. You know, the Colts problem isn't that they're bad. They're not bad. They're just not any good. And that's the way that they've been now from the last decade.

And fans are tired of it. And I'll be honest, even as a media member, I'm tired of watching it. I'm sick of. The worst place to be in the NFL is 8, 9, 9, and 8. It's the absolute worst place to be. And that's where the Colts just seem to be permanently stuck here with Ballard. I got to ask us out of curiosity, when you look at this team, I mean, no quarterback's solution right now.

Daniel Jones is going to take forever to get back from a torn Achilles. Yeah, you have Jonathan Taylor, you got Tyler, I mean, you got Tyler Warren. You have Josh Downs, who's a really decent number two wide receiver and Michael Pittman, Jr. But with no direction at the most important position and no first round picks and still so many other problems to solve, is this going to be the worst team in the AFC over the next two years? Yeah, you know, I'm hesitant guys to speak in absolutes because we've done that before. Remember when Manning got hurt and then they drafted luck, it's like, oh, yeah, they're going to be like the worst team in the league. and they won 11 games and went to the playoffs, right?

I think this year, the expectations were really low, and they jumped out to a 7-1 start. They had a historic offensive start with Daniel Jones. So, you know, the NFL is one of those things where, you know, we thought, you know, Trevor Lawrence and the Jags were just going to take over the division for the next decade. And, yeah, they're good again, but they went back into the tank. I mean, they were a four-winning team last year. So I think some of these things can be sort of tops of turvy.

But to get back to, like, you know, the crux of your question, the big problem with the Colts is that you listed some good players like John Tedor is a really good player Quentin Nelson is a really good player um left guard doesn't matter but left guard is not an impact position it doesn't it doesn't change the game a running back it's nice to have a running back in a lot of ways isn't an impact player in the sense that you can get somewhat decent level production out of somebody who's way cheaper where the Colts have really struggled is they just lack dynamic playmakers at receiver, at corner, at edge, at quarterback, the positions that truly impact winning and

losing. The Colts under Chris Bauer have struggled to find players there. They're great at finding interior defensive linemen. They're great at finding guards and centers and things like that. And, and, you know, off ball linebackers and slot corners, but that's not what wins in today's NFL. And I think that continues to be the big, like, long-term problem for the Colts in solving those issues. I mean, guys, they burned, you know, I want to say five or six at this point, day one and day two picks on edge, and they've got a collection of guys like Quiti Pei and Layatu Latu who are just guys. I mean, they're just average football players, and that's not good at all.

Got about a minute left again with Derek Schultz. You can find his work on Locked-on Colts. Join us here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. When Black Monday comes, I know we asked you about Chris Ballard, but Shane Steichen's safe? No one's safe right now. I think if you're asking me what I think is the most likely solution or solution is presented with the wrong way, the most likely outcome. I do think that they decide to move on from Ballard and maybe give Shane Stuyken another chance and bring in a new general manager and have him decide to do what he wants to do with Sikin. I mean, there's no question Stikin's a gifted offensive mind, but the problem is, again, results business.

And right now in the three seasons under Shane Stuyken, the Colts are 25 and 25. And that's about as middling. In fact, mathematically, it's as middling as it gets. But I think a lot of these guys you mentioned, you know, Michael Pidman Jr., Kenny Moore, Grover Stewart, these guys that have been longtime Zaire Franklin that have been longtime Colts, I think are going to be cut candidates because they're out of guaranteed money. And, you know, some change is going to happen here, guys. They can't possibly just continue to keep running it back over and over and over

and expecting a different result. Going to be an interesting off season, no question about it. Again, Derek Schultz, locked on Colts, hopping on with us here for a few minutes. Derek, hey, really appreciate your time. I'm sure we'll catch up with you again sometime next season. Happy New Year, fellas. Same to you. Again, Derek Schultz hopping on with us.

All right, so from the Texans and Colts, you got college football playoff games coming up tonight. So we'll get into that and much more with Trey Wallace. Outkick.com. He's going to hop on with us. Again, you got Dan Matthews, Colt Thompson. In for Matt and Ross, it is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Sports Talk 790.

It's the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Of course, I'm not Matt. And Cole Thompson's not Ross. I'm Dan Matthews. Well, actually, I'm in this group. I would be actually Matt Thomas. you're sitting in Matt's seat. Yeah, there you go. So that's all true. But anyway, Jonathan Allen's still hanging out with us. So at least

one guy from their show can show up. But anyway, we've been talking a lot of Texans and Colts. Now it's time to get in a little bit of the college football playoff. Trey Wallace from Outkick.com joins us right here. Trey, happy new year, my friend. Let's get started off on tonight's game. Miami, Ohio State, Arlington. There's a lot of people that are starting to turn on Ohio State a little bit. They weren't impressed with how the offense looked in the matchup against Indiana Big Ten Championship. And even though it was a very limited performance from Mark Fletcher, I mean, from the offense, Mark Fletcher Jr. went off for Miami. What are your overall

takeaways going into tonight's matchup? Yeah, good morning, guys, and happy New Year to you. I just, man, I look back and see what Miami's front seven did against Texas A&M. And I think that should give some Miami folks some hope going into tonight. I watched this Ohio State defense for the entire season. And look, they continue to get better. I know what happened against Indiana in the Big Ten title game, but I still feel like this is a matchup that does favor Ohio State. Now, where it gets interesting to me is how the Ohio State defense

plays somebody like Jeremiah Smith or Carnal Tate on the outside. and, you know, if they can force them into, you know, and look, it would depend on if they're playing man, you know, or if they're trying to double up one side, if you're trying to double up one side, that means one of them is going to be playing man to man. And so how do you prevent that deep ball? I look at Ohio State, and I do think that they are, in my opinion, one of the three teams that can win a national championship. Miami, to me, is just, they've been so hot and cold when it comes to. the offensive side cold and it gives me a little bit of nerves but but then again I you know I see that and I was talking with somebody last night a coach assistant coach last night here in new Orleans and ban it it wouldn't surprise me if if IME comes out and cars them back throws for 275 two touchdowns and they're able to run the football like I just this one I understand

why folks want to kind of look at this and and think maybe Ohio State is going to take them on the defensive side but I think this is more of a game tonight I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of wrinkles Miami has done over the last week or two when it comes to offense and trying to tackle Ohio State. Trey, which of the other three games do you think is going to be the most competitive? Oh, man. I hope it's the one I met. That would be great if we got something like we got in Athens

and then, you know, besides the 17-0 run that Georgia went on, to be honest with you, Alabama, Indiana, and it's going to be very interesting because, first off, we'll see what the weather looks like, actually on game day. I know people are freaking out right now at the Rose Bowl, thinking it might be a slop, but Alabama not being able to run the ball much.

That gives me a little bit of trepidation in even thinking Alabama could do this. I'm going to go with one to Miami. I'm going to change things like, even though I hope it happens here in Illinois. I'm going to go to one Miami. I think Oregon and Texas Tech is going to be a handful. You've got both offenses.

That can score points very quickly. I think Texas Tech has proven this year defensively that they can rise for the challenge. And look, and I get with Texas Tech that's hard to take it away when you're looking at, what, two games against BYU that are really your marking points for the entire season. But I think there's something about this Texas Tech squad. And so when we break it down and when we're looking back, I hope it comes through. I do think the Texas Tech Oregon game is going to be a fun one. I think there's going to be a lot of points scored in that one.

But man, if Ole Miss boys can figure out a way to get off the field a little bit, stop Gunner Stockton from going on these 10-play drives with Georgia, this really does open up an opportunity for Ole Miss to come out of here with a win. And I'm telling you, if they do, it's going to be pure craziness. because of everything else surrounding this game, which has been probably the most awkward thing that I've covered during my college football career. I mean, Trey, you're currently in New Orleans, and so is apparently Lane Kiffin hanging out with Governor Jeff Landry,

and he's going to be watching his team that he got to the Sugar Bowl. Now, inside of a suite, he's got to have nothing to do with it. But part of the reason why also, and credit to my co-host for being quiet on this part, that Ole Miss has gotten to this point is because of who they have a quarterback and Trayette at Chambliss. And I'm going to say the quiet part out loud. if you give me one quarterback to trust in the college football playoff, I'm going number six from Ferris State. I just think that the way he plays games and the way that he's able to make these highlight plays left and right,

that's what's going to take to beat a team like Georgia. I am fascinated by Trinidad Chambers. I am. And the way he handles himself with the media, the way that you look at him being at, like everybody thought this is going to be the Austin. show guys and he comes in I think it was the second week pretty much and he comes

in and he's taking over and for a young man that was playing at Ferris State and now you're on the big time and you're going up against in the SEC every single week and you know and also it's the leadership thing. To me

it's when you're the new guy coming in and trying to be that leader and trying to rally the locker room it takes some time and he but he's been able to come in and earn the trust of these guys. And I'm telling you, like, there's an opportunity for him tomorrow night. I understand how much Georgia has gotten better since that loss to Alabama early in the season in Athens. But I look at Ole Miss, and I know people want to kind of write them off because it's Georgia

and it's Kirby Smart and, you know, Gunner Stockton and they got Kobe Young coming back. But, man, I'm just saying, you know, with Trinidad Shambliss, they got to watch. receiver, Ole Miss does, named Trey Wallace. They actually do. It was weird interviewing him yesterday. I just think this could be an opportunity where Trinidad Chamblis really

says, hey guys, I'm here, type of deal. And so, you know, will it go in Ole Miss's favor? I don't know. But I promise you, from a financial standpoint, the guy that might be potentially sitting in a suite tomorrow night with Governor Landry's hoping so, because they'll collect a half a million

dollar paycheck if that's the case. So This whole thing is just weird. And I wrote about it today. It's just awkward when you've got assistant coaches who were technically working for LSU, but also technically working for Ole Miss. They're in the room. You know, the media availability, which was on Tuesday, and they're all sitting around. But then they know, you know, you're going to hang out with other LSU staff members at night.

Or you're getting on calls and you're handling recruiting. And then when you're in the Ole Miss facility, you know, you're breaking off after all your work is done with the rebels to go work for the Tigers guys. I've just, I've never seen something like this before. I know it's happened. I know defensive coordinators is kind of like stuck around or offensive coordinators are stuck around. But I'm talking about six, seven coaches, you know. So this whole thing has been weird.

It's been awkward. And I'm just saying, if they win Thursday night and the transfer portal opens up, what, Friday at midnight, guys, this is going to be an awkward week for what's going down. Oxford and Baton Ridge. Real quick here, Trey Wallace again, Outkick.com, hopping on with us for a couple more minutes. The Alabama-Indiana game, the Rose Bowl. I mean, a lot of people thinking that Alabama's got a real shot here,

and if they do pull this off, does all of a sudden the narrative about Kalen DeBore and Tuscaloosa change? Probably from a fan's perspective. You know, when you look at it from, you know, our perspective, you know, in the office perspective, I think that there have just been certain times where Kaelin DeBoer, I think, has made a few decisions that aren't Nick Saban. Well, here's the problem. He's not Nick Saban.

He doesn't want to be Nick Saban. He's trying to change this program around where it doesn't really look like Nick Saban, but still keeping the same attitude as Alabama. I think that once they beat Oklahoma, what was it, a week and a half ago, I think the narrative might have shifted a little bit around Tuscaloosa and the state of Alabama when it comes to the fans. But, you know, this is something that he's still building. That's the thing.

Like, we seem to forget it. I do it sometimes. I'm not going to be honest with you guys. Like, you know, he's still trying to put together a program. I get where we're up in the transfer portal and how everybody wants to quick fix. But to really establish your culture, I think you need more than two seasons to do it. But I give credit to Kailin Nabor. He has fought through some noise, all that.

Michigan nonsense that was brought up. Oh, was he going to leave for Penn State as well? Like, he just kind of kept things rolling there. And I understand what happened in the SEC championship game, and I'm not trying to diminish any credit from Georgia. But Alabama was playing without about 10 players. And so I just, I think that he has changed the mentality of some Alabama fans, but I'll say this, and you guys both know it,

go out there to Pasadena and lose by 14 to 17 points to Indiana, and it's going to be a very, very long offseason for Kenyon DeBore in Tuscaloosa. Yeah, it's not the fact that it's losing in the Rose Bowl. It's the fact of losing to Kirk Signetti, the losing his program in college football history, and you're supposed to be the standard of the sport. That's the entire reason that people would lose their mind. It's like the – I said this the other day. It's the opposite David versus Goliath in this one.

Because if we really look at it, Indiana is Goliath here. And Alabama, we look at it as David. And you're like, wait a minute. Really? Who would have thought this five years ago, Trey? Right, exactly. And that's just the changes that are going on in the sport. And I give so much credit to Curtisignetti and what he has done, man.

He has turned Indiana into a monster. And they are going to be a massive problem for Alabama tomorrow. But I also, you know, think to myself, you know, five years ago, you know, here's the funny part. Five years ago, we were sitting around covering Jimbo Fisher, going off on Nick Sabin, you know, following some, I think it was a special Olympics event in Birmingham, that Nick Sabo was speaking about NIL and Jim Bo Fisher, and that carried over in the SEC spring meetings, and it was the talk. But you look at where we're at five years later, and it's like, everything's legal, you know,

and if it's not legal, they're going to figure out ways to do it. And what I mean by that is, you know, building up these rosters in a very, very short period of time, it's just how we're right now in college football. And so when you have Curtin-Sich Nettie coming along with Indiana, and that guy's just a winner. Wherever he goes, he's just a winner. And I think it took a minute for Alabama to kind of get rolling in this era. And no pun intended, I just, it is fascinating to me.

And I think that you're right. Like, if nobody's going to be able to get in the state of Alabama, in that fan base, nobody's going to be able to get over the fact that they lost to Indiana. But if you're looking at it from the outside and you look at the Indiana Hoosiers, that's a really, really good football team. And there's a reason why they're ranked number one in the country. And Fernando Mendoza is so stellar a quarterback and their defense. So, you know, that part is kind of curious to me to see how Alabama fans will react because I think Indiana is going to beat Alabama tomorrow. And so the fallout from that game is going

to be very, very fascinating to say the least. Trey Wallace, again, Outkick. Hoping on with us for a few minutes. Trey, hey, appreciate it buddy make sure our boss chris gordy behaves himself there in his hometown in new orleans and uh returns back to us in one piece can you make us that deal actually don't don't make us that deal let him have fun let him let him go crazy i'm trying i'm trying chris he's done a good job he's control himself we'll see what happens tonight too what kind of trouble we can get into but no it's uh we'll keep dabs on him and i appreciate you guys have me hope you have a wonderful new year and uh enjoy the games today happy new year too too try same to you tray appreciate it buddy

I hate him. I hate him. I can't believe he would do that to me. I bring him on for one final interview, and now he's going to say Alabama's losing. How dare he? Well, anyway, so we got the college football playoff, got some final thoughts on the Texans. And then, of course, Adam Wexler are going to be hopping in with you here for the next couple of hours. But it still is the Matt Thomas show with Ross, Dan Matthews, Cole Thompson, in with you here on this New Year's Eve morning. A few more minutes with you here with Dan Matthews, Cole Thompson, in for Matt and Ross,

on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Adam Wexler coming in here in about five minutes. Take you for the next couple of hours. And we got Texas football. Cheez-It's Citrus Bowl coming your way with Texas taking on Michigan in set games. So their final game of the 2025

season, and we ring in the new year tonight. I got to bring this up. It's been bothering me for the last two hours. Jonathan's in here now, so I got to make sure that everyone can be on the same page. Jonathan, our friend Dan Matthews here did not know that there were multiple flavors of Cheez-its. What? Exactly. He thought there was one flavor of cheez-its, and I'm losing my...

And I almost went across the table and he had to strangle him and make sure that he was indulged in all the cheese of flavors because if he's acting like that just one flavor, there's extra tasty, there's spicy habanero. There's spicy habanero. There's white cheddar. There's garlic parmesan. I mean, brother, how have you not had any other flavor of cheesa besides regular cheeses? Hey, I'm sorry, when it comes to the cheesy snacks, I mean, I'm team goldfish over. team cheeses. But then you compared it to Doritos and then it's like how were you saying that Doritos are all the same? Well, I didn't say that they're all the same. I just said that they have one actual like brand that is them. They just have a few offshunds. They have one actual brand that is cheeses and every single one is a different flavor. Just like yeah, they're offshops. You have spicy buffalo. You have chili linemen. You have sweet taco. I mean, you got honey mustard.

You got all flavor of cheeses. The only Dorito that I was really disappointed in was the flaming Hot Dorito. I thought it was going to be a lot better. It sucked. It sucked. Kind of like Flaming Hot Cheetos. You know, when I was in my fat game, like really into my fat game, Flaming Hot Cheetos were my thing. Okay, Jonathan, what is the best flavor of cheese? Because it's not regular cheese and flavor. Isn't there extra cheesy? There is extra cheesy, and there's extra toastie. And you can wake up feeling the cheesiest today. I'm going to, listen, when Texas ends up kicking the crap out of Michigan and they finish the year

10 and 3, and they get to brag over both Oklahoma and Texas A&M for beating them. and then winning their actual bowl game. Steve Sarkeesian will get doused in the best flavor of cheese it, which everyone can agree with, is Tabasco White Cheddar. It is the number one flavor. Now, there you might have me. I actually might have to try that one out. I'm telling you, it is a delectable treat.

It is fantastic. It is exactly what is necessary on a cold winter state. You know what? New Year's resolution for you. You were trying every flavor of cheese it before we get back in the studio next week. A lot of tickets. I'll get through like a couple of them. I'm not saying you have, I'm not saying you have 18.

boxes. I'm saying you go to the store, you buy 18 boxes, have one flavor of every single one, and then afterwards, you just give the boxes to me. The only regret that I have is that with us being in these chairs for the Matt Thomas Show with Ross is that we didn't turn it into at least a one hour roast of each other like they do for four hours every single day. And in turn, too, I mean, in the process, it seems like Jonathan gets some strays as well. So I apologize to you in the audience for that. But good news, Adam Wexler is going to carry the weight for the next couple of hours. So I think that he can probably do that. Fantastic.

There we go. I do one out there just to go ahead. He's Cole Thompson. I'm Dan Matthews. We're part of the morning drive every single weekday morning, 6 to 10 a.m. Everybody have a happy and safe New Year's. Jonathan, you do the same, buddy. We will talk to you all next week. Adam Wexler hopping in with you next right here on the Matt

Thomas show with Ross. This is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. As you know, the rest of the afternoon As you know, no MT, no RV. Just a little wax for you, the rest of the afternoon, and it's not even a full rest of the afternoon. So we have college football coming your way,

beginning with one o'clock coverage of the 2 p.m. kickoff from Florida, where the longhorns and wolverines will get together, part of a very long and super exciting. hopefully day of college football with the culminating game of the day. The playoff game, the first of the four tonight with Miami and Ohio State. Three more coming tomorrow. Host of bowl games between now and the rest of the college football playoffs. We'll focus in on those couple of games for the next two hours or so,

along with a little focus on the NFL weekend ahead. Teams hitting the practice field today, those that aren't playing on Saturday. There are a couple teams that are, but those teams that are not, like the Texans and the Colts. They're hitting the practice field for the first time this week, so a little bit more intel on what we might see this weekend. There's a lot of seeding left to determine around the NFL. The number one seeds have not been clinched in either conference. The last remaining playoff seed for the AFC will come Sunday night when the AFC North is just. decided between Baltimore and

Pittsburgh. Very likely, the winner of that game will host the Texans. Can't tell you if it'll be Saturday, Sunday or Monday of the following week, but in the postseason as the four meets five game, we got the Carolina Tampa game coming up on Saturday,

which again can't be a winner-take-all game, sadly, because there could be three teams in that division that finish eight and nine. That happens if Tampa wins and Atlanta wins the following day. So it becomes the opposite of a winner-take-all game if those results happen. If Tampa wins to get to 8-9, to drop the Panthers to 8 and 9, and then the Falcons beat

the Saints on Sunday to get to 8-9, well then the winner of Saturday's game, Tampa stays home. And Carolina gets to also stay home. But Carolina gets to stay home to host a playoff game because the Falcons win in that scenario would eliminate the Bucs via a divisional tiebreaker. Kind of ridiculous stuff on that front, but that's one of the things that could play out. And obviously the NFC number one seed coming to a head with the game

between San Francisco and Seattle. It is official now that Shane Steichen has met with the media today. They will be starting Riley Leonard. I told you yesterday that that was going to happen, as did many that cover the Colts was obviously headed in that direction. Philip Rivers will obviously still be with the team.

He's on the roster. But he also probably isn't even going to be their backup quarterback. And who knows with Riley Leonard starting his first NFL game against the Houston Texans, who by all evidence so far, will be playing their starters. I don't know if they'll be playing their starters throughout the game because there is another game or two or three that will impact their playoff seating. One of them will be played at the same time. That's the game between Jacksonville and Tennessee. Tennessee wins that game and the Texans win their game.

well, now the Texans bump up to the three-seed, win the division, and will host a playoff game. Very unlikely that the Titans are able to come up and end the Jaguar 7-game winning streak. Nobody's beaten the Jaguars since before November, and that was the Texans, their last loss, early November, I should say. And I don't see that happening. So if that doesn't happen, well, then the Texans are going to do whatever is they're going to do on Sunday. and when the game ends, if they win, they know all they need to know. They are the five seed, and they can await the winner of Sunday night football to see where they are traveling. If they don't beat the Riley Leonard Colts on Sunday afternoon,

then they have to wait and see if the Trey Lance-led Chargers can beat the Broncos. Broncos are playing for the number one seed. Chargers are resting at least Justin Herbert, if not more, players. and the other game that obviously impacts them is the game between the Bills and the Jets. The Bills are at home, it appears that Josh Allen will play, the Jets are an embarrassment, and it probably stands to reason that the Bills will win their game, the Chargers will lose their game. So if the Texans also lose their game on Sunday, they would end up as the sixth seed with Buffalo bumping all the way up from 7 to 5.

I said this yesterday, and I don't really believe it, nothing's going to change on this front other than maybe injuries for other teams or your own, the Texans' best case scenarios are with them winning. You win to give yourself a chance to win the division. You win to keep yourself in the five spot. Want to be as high seat as possible because you never know what other upsets could play in your favor, considering the quality of the AFC postseason and the lack of an obvious best team in the AFC. Ask seven people who the best team in the AFC is.

you probably get one or two teams said more than once because nobody's going to say Pittsburgh or Baltimore. That leaves the other six teams. The records of those six teams currently, 11 and 5, 12 and 4, or 13 and 3. They're all good. They've all kind of beaten one another over the course of this season. The Texans are sitting at 11 and 5.

The two other wildcard teams, they've beaten both of them. Two of the three top seeds, they've played. They've beaten Jacksonville and lost to Jacksonville. They've played the Denver Broncos, lost to them by three on the last play of the game here in Houston while playing more than half the game without C.J. Strau. It was the game that he got hurt in and went into concussion protocol, and they began an eight-game winning streak immediately after that. Won three games with Davis Mills starting and the one in the last five with CJ starting. Point being, if you're the fifth seed and New England loses a home playoff game in the first ever playoff game for Drake May, And Jacksonville loses a home playoff game because they're not better than the Chargers or the bills who they get to play.

Well, then guess who hosts a game in the next round, the divisional round? Well, the winner of the Texans game would host again the following week. It'd be again if it's the team that wins their division, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and it would be, well, for the first time. Texans will be on the road if they don't win the division. but if they're the five seed and the six and seven seats win their playoff games well then they get to host a divisional round playoff game against one of the two of those other remaining teams obviously if you're in the three seed it's an even easier path to hosting potentially a second game and again after the into the divisional round because you now need one upset of either the two or the number one seat and you could potentially have an opportunity to host after that so obviously something that you would want to play for that's why I think Domingo is approaching it like this, but I have a strong belief that they will probably keep an eye on what is going on in Jacksonville with the Jags and the Titans. Mention of the college football playoffs. Chris Gordy is going to join the program from New Orleans, the site of the Sugar Bowl, where it's all SEC all the time.

One of them will advance, Georgia and Ole Miss getting together. So we'll talk about each of the four playoff games. That's one of the three tomorrow. obviously Bama playing tomorrow and this evening, Miami and Ohio State, Indiana and Alabama, the middle game of the day. And we'll get things started early with Texas Tech and Oregon State early in 2026. So looking forward to that conversation. You guys are always welcome on the Matt Thomas show with Ross via social media. Of course, via the phone lines.

I'd love to get your questions, comments, and thoughts about the things we're discussing here today. at 7-13-212-5-7-90, our final appearance on the airwaves here in 2025. Don't worry, I'll be back with you tomorrow. Rockets are playing the Nets tomorrow, 5 o'clock tip, so I'll join you along the network at 430 for that. But anything in between, we've got lots to get to. There is some other NBA news to discuss. Obviously, a lot of NFL news around the league with the 14 teams, or I should say 16 teams, trying to reach the playoffs this weekend and everything else on the table.

All fair game. We might as well get started on the phones early and get James here in on the program this afternoon. A very great morning to you, James. What do you have for us today? Yeah, did you happen to catch the Music City Bowl or the Alamo Bowl last night? Well, if you tell me who played in them, because I look at the teams rather than the names of the Bulls. Illinois and Tennessee played in the Music Bowl. Yeah.

And then a TCU and the USC played in the Alamo Bowl. Yeah, I did. Both games were great last night. Oh, my, I mean. They're both really good games. You know, I have this trouble every year, James, and, you know, the games themselves, very exciting. The players obviously are playing to win. You're going to see some great football, obviously the way that TCU won that game on third and 20 with a dump off in the flat, 35 yards from the end zone, down three, and scored.

Not to mention how they outscored or got 10 points in the fourth quarter to get there. The games themselves are great, usually, and I don't mind anything about that. But do we really care if a team lost or won a game five, six weeks after their regular season ended? With the players that are no longer there or the coaching staffs that are no longer there? I don't know the value in all that. But I'm not usually disappointed in watching them. The games themselves are fine, you know? Yeah, we almost saw a Music City miracle last night.

I don't know if you saw that one where you turn that kickoff for a touchdown, but they couldn't hold the league. Yeah, that's exactly what I'm saying. The product is entertaining, and I think the game that we'll have for you here on the air today will be the very same, but I don't know that, I mean, Texas shouldn't be beating their chest that they won a 10th game this year. They should be disappointed that they only won 9 in the regular season because a 10th win in the regular season would have put them in the playoffs. Well, that's the next question I was going to ask you, do you think that the bowl games are kind of like, who really cares, or do you think that you have HB and LSU, that was a big deal for me. I mean of H fan

It's just hard to I don't want to make the statement for them Do the fans care It's funny when their team loses They say they don't care And then some in the or you know Whether it's players or whoever else

They say the same thing I don't really believe that I mean you're playing a football game Your university is in it You want to win Now from a university standpoint We've got a lot of discussion James About the U of HLSU game

For obvious reasons In that we have their games right here on Sports Talk 790 or over on 950. I was in the booth for the Cougar radio broadcast for that game as well like I was for about half their games this season. There's no doubt that game means something.

It meant something to the players on the field. It meant something to the coaching staff. It meant something to the university. It meant something to the athletic department. It meant something for their future. That's why I think you saw them do what they did. It happened to be one of their best games of the year offensively without

any mistakes with a four touchdown performance from Connor Wegman, and all indications are that he will be back. Yes, he agreed to return. We'll see if that stays true when the portal opens on Friday, but they're trying to build something. They're trying to build a fan base that will regularly attend their games and announced attendance of $64,000 for their bowl game here in Houston when obviously they can't draw $64,000 for a home game at TDECU Stadium, but they can fill the building.

They didn't, and they would like to. Don't want it to be based on who's coming in. It's great that they're in the Big 12, so now you get visits from Big 12 caliber programs. They will also bring some of their fans. It was there for the Texas Tech game over at TDCU, and there are lots of Red Raider fans there. It's good that you're bringing very good and worthwhile opponents. They will also bring fans. Both of those things are different than what it's been for so many years before they got into the

Big 12. The conference opponents in each of the conferences they were in over the years where it's just uninteresting teams with, they're just nowhere near Houston to begin with,

nowhere near Texas. They don't bring any fan support. They don't bring any rivalry. They don't bring anything. And that will change, and it already has changed a little bit in the Big 12. And you flip over to the LSU side of things.

You got Frank Wilson and an interim head coach who not only is not going to be back. He already knows where he's headed. He's going to Ole Miss, ironically enough. The players there that opted out, the players there that wanted to enter the portal, so they obviously

weren't playing. Players that are declaring for the draft, and some other schools have that. Pretty much all of the bowl game teams that don't play play playoff games. We'll have a lot of that. We'll see that this afternoon with Texas and Michigan. But the quality of the team they were,

even though they only went 7 and 5, well, still not even the quality of the team they were for this game because many of those players just, they're just not playing. Cougars had almost everybody that was available to them during the season, available to them in this bowl game. And LSU just didn't. And it's the same story for most every other bowl game,

whether it was Tennessee's game last night or SC's game last night. You know, some teams have more, some teams don't. If it's a regular season game and you have five or six days to prepare for it, and you've got to travel out there after three days, and you're dealing with classes in between, it's just not the same. I don't even consider these games, these non-playoff games that are bowl games. I don't even consider them part of the season. You've got different players on campus.

You've got different coaches running things. You have practice time to work on things that have nothing to do with your game or your opponent. They have to do with next season. But that's the way the system is right now. And it is going to be exciting on Friday when the portal opens. The games themselves, like I said, numerous times, I watch them because they're usually entertaining. It doesn't mean I base a whole lot of it on what they did during the season. Or if I think it's going to matter at all for the upcoming 2026 season,

But I expect the games today, the game we have and the playoff game tonight, to be wonderfully entertaining. And I certainly hope that that continues. We got to continue here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Adam Wexler here in with you. We'll hear from a couple of the Texans about what they've done and what lies ahead of them when we come back. We're on Sports Talk 790. Wex here with you. M.T. and RV out. Take you up until Longhorn's football coverage begins at 1 o'clock. Talk a lot of football in between now and then. A little bit about the NBA and the Rockets who will open up the new year with a game in Brooklyn tomorrow. Game in Dallas two days later. And then back home for one home game before back out on the road. You're hard to believe it. Rockets have only played 12 of their 30 games at home. And five of their next six will also not be at home. home. Obviously at the end of the year, it's going to be 41 here and 41 there, but definitely imbalanced at this point in time. I think it shows a little bit in their record in that they are so

good at home. They're 10 and 2, so eight of the 10 games that they are overall over 500. I've come thanks to their eight games over 500 at home. If that continues to play, they currently have the fourth best home record in the NBA. They will probably have a very good record when the season and ends. The news on Nikola Yokic yesterday, coming down that it's probably four weeks minimum that he is out of action with the knee injury probably ends up being a little bit more, will be re-evaluated in four weeks. They're one of the teams ahead of them. Spurs are one of the teams ahead of them, but both of those teams still only have one fewer loss than the rocket. So an opportunity to take care of business and get back to where they probably should

have never left, which is the second or third best record in the Western Conference. I imagine and that they will get there in short order. Mention I want to hear from a couple of Texans. They get ready for Riley Leonard and the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are among the worst teams in the NFL. And I'll tell you why. This is, I've said it probably, you guys remember the Andy Dalton era of Cincinnati Bengals football. It's like the worst place to be.

You have Andy Dalton. You know you could play better football without him, but you're really not sure how you're going to find that quarterback. You know you'd be significantly worse without him because he's a competent starting quarterback, but you're not going to win anything ever. They made the playoffs a couple times. Obviously, we saw them here in Houston.

He had a couple of nice seasons, but they weren't going to be challenging for anything, and for the most part, they were just an average football team. Well, the Colts are... Nobody knows average football quite like the Colts. And over the last eight years, they made the playoffs a couple times, they weren't going to win anything.

this year, no matter what the result is on Sunday, they're going to have, for the third time in four years, they're going to finish with an eight win or eight loss season. Eight and eight, eight and nine, nine and eight, as you go from 16 to 17 games during that time period, because they're an average football team. That's why they were their worst football team in the NFL. The Giants, the Raiders, the Titans, they stink.

But they're going to be able to get something in the draft, if they know what they're doing to help them, not stink. And, you know, the Patriots last year, they were four and 13. The year before that, obviously, they were in position to draft Drake May. So they can go from four and 13 to a 12 win, 13 win, 14 win team in two seasons. How are the Colts going to do that? They're not.

This is the eighth consecutive season. The Colts are going to have a different quarterback, lead them in passing yards. Eight straight years of saying, hey, man, you're our guy this year. and then the next year saying, hey, you're our guy this year, which means they don't have a guy. It all started in Andrew Luck's final season, and then the seven that have followed without him, they just, they've only put that the least amount of effort possible would be never drafting a quarterback. They've drafted a quarterback once. So they put almost the least effort possible into finding their next great quarterback.

They drafted Anthony Richardson a couple years ago, same draft as CJ Stroud, and same draft. is Bryce Young. Bryce Young is one win or loss away from reaching the playoffs this year with a bad football team and he's played bad football. C.J. Stroud's already made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons. He's played good enough football to have teams that have won 10, 10, 10,

12 games, maybe, 11 right now. And has a couple of postseason wins with the Texans under his belt. Anthony Richardson's team has played competitive football since he's been there. So has Matt Ryan's team. So is Carson Went's team. So is Jacoby Preset's team. So

So has Daniel Jones team, competitive football, eight or nine win football. Every single year, they move on to a new quarterback who isn't the answer. And every single year, they keep their general manager in place, which, as I've said on our show, the A team, two to six weekday afternoons, has been phenomenal for the rest of the AFC South, most notably the good teams in the AFC South, the Texans, because they're not trying. They're literally not trying to win big in Indianapolis. They're trying to put a competitive football team on the field that I guess keeps him getting paid by the Ursa family.

And his deal that he made in season this year is going to help cripple them moving forward. Traded for Sauce Gardner and Sauce helped them win one time after his arrival. Granted, not on Sauce's shoulders that they lost all their games to close out their season. Obviously not having their quarterback and already beginning the spiral downward before Daniel Jones got hurt and left the field. it's going to look like an awful deal. Their pick got better the whole time that they gave away to the New York Jets and their pick in the future could be really good as well because we don't know what their quarterback situation is going to be next year either.

So it's awesome to have them in this division. It's been awesome to have Tennessee in this division for most of their time together, the Texans and Titans. And we'll see about Jacksonville. Jacksonville at least has figured one thing out. And I think, unfortunately, that's the toughest thing for them to get figured out. That's the front office. James Gladstone, their new GM, this is year one. Liam Cohen, their new head coach, this is year one. And Tony Bisselli is now part of their basically three-man

front office making all the important decisions for the franchise. I mean, you can act like they didn't do things right. You can act like it's a fluke that they're 12 and 4 and then, you know, Trevor Lawrence still isn't very good. I don't put him in the elite caliber, but I'm not going to disrespect the football that they're playing. Trading for Jacoby Myers, the cults traded for Sauce Gardner. The Jaguars traded for Jacoby Myers in season. One of them was unbelievably good and we thought it at the time.

One of them was very questionable because of how much it cost to get Sauce Gardner and while it's great they have them under control technically, I mean contractually, he's making an incredible amount of money. He's being paid like he's the best quarterback

in football. He definitely is not. He's good. He's definitely not one of the best and he got hurt. So that's what you decided to do. Well, the Jaguars decided to trade for a very reasonable cost player, and he's their new number one wide receiver. And they've rewarded him with a three-year $60 million deal. This is what's changed Trevor Lawrence more than anything else in season. Liam Cohen is what's changed Trevor Lawrence overall. I think he's playing for a competent coach with a competent offense. I think they have weapons now because obviously they're

running back duo of Etienne and Tootin, mostly Etienne, has been very good. Brent and Strange is a perfectly capable tight end, and now that you no longer have to rely on Brian Thomas Jr. to be your number one, or hope that Travis Hunter can become that. He's obviously missed most of the season now at this point, so he hasn't even been out there. You had Parker Washington on the roster. He's emerged as a legitimate target for you. So all of a sudden, this is a pretty good football team. It definitely looks like the future is only between these two teams. Jonathan Taylor's a great player. They have a couple of nice players on their roster in Indianapolis. They're not

a factor in this division unless they have a quarterback who plays great football. They did have it for a few games this year with Daniel Jones. Who knows if that would have continued all year? Who knows if that will pick back up again next year? He's not even under contract for next year. This is a, and I'm

giving Jacksonville a lot of credit for some staying power that we don't know that they necessarily will have. But that's who the Texans get to finish their season with. Look to go 2 and 0 against the Colts. Look to go to 5 and in the division. Same record is likely the Jaguars will have this year. These two teams are likely to finish 5 and 1 in the division and 10 and 2 against the AFC respectively. The 10 and 2 mark

will be the best in the AFC as they head into the postseason. We will table the comments from C.J. and Demico until after we pay a visit to Chris Gordy. He's going to join us from the Sugar Bowl right here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross next. Let's dig in on some college football conversation. Adam Wexler here with you on the Matt Thomas show with Ross without either one of them, but with me and Chris Gordy, who's been our college football insider throughout the season, joined us on the show throughout the year, and the season is not yet complete until seven more college football playoff teams get eliminated. The first of those seven will come tonight with the first of the four quarterfinal games coming your way tonight. Chris

joining us from the Sugar Bowl, one of the three games tomorrow. I guess we should, should start there since that's the game you have been covering throughout the week. We've had some conversation about that on our air earlier this morning on what it could look like if Ole Miss walks off the field and has another football game in their future.

Do you think there's a possibility that that will happen? I mean, it's possible, Lex. I mean, Ole Miss is a super talented team and, you know, they played Georgia within, what, one score a couple weeks ago. In fact, you know, they were

leaving for a good part of that game. And you felt like, oh, they have a chance to beat Georgia in Athens. So it really, the only thing that's changed now is there's no Lane Kiffin. And, you know, on other teams, losing a head coach would be a big deal. But I just think the way that this team is formulated with Charlie Weiss, taking over play calling duties from Lane last year at Ole Miss, he's still sticking around a run of the offense before he leaves for LSU. You know, they've been able to keep most of this staff intact for this playoff run And so I do think you're going to get Ole Miss's best effort. Being around town here in New Orleans,

there's a ton of Ole Miss fans that have made this trip, and I almost think it might be 60, 40 Ole Miss fans in the Sugar Bowl. So it's going to feel like a home game. They're going to have the crowd behind them, and they've kind of become the darlings of the country, right? Big Bad Lane Kiffin has become the villain, and how dare he leave this playoff team? And so they're almost kind of playing with House Money with nothing to lose.

And so there is a chance. old miss could pull it off but i'd be lying if i said it wasn't awkward as heck when you know we're talking to charlie weiss yesterday who was the lSU offensive coordinator still lending his duties to old miss uh when you have kevin smith the running backs coach for ls u s u who is still working at old miss it's just it's all very strange no question about it well let's take it maybe from from the fan standpoint because so many of them have traveled for this game do they want to win this game for the old miss program and their future, or do they want to win this game to show Lane Cliff Kiffin,

who needs you? Oh, they won't both. I mean, they, they, it's an interesting dynamic, right? It's the jilted lover, ex-lover syndrome. It's like you, you hate Lane Kivak, every Ole Miss fan you talk to, it wants to diminish what he actually did there. Oh, he didn't do much for us. We were a good program before we got here.

Newsflash, you weren't. Ole Miss was basically a 500 team in the SEC. sub-500, really, under Matt Luke. And, you know, Lane Kiffin brought them back to a standard of respectability. And 10-win and 11-win seasons that they never had. But the minute he leaves for a school, not just another school, but a rival school in your conference, yeah, you're going to villainize him even more. And, oh, he, you know, diminishes accomplishments.

Oh, he didn't really do this for us and all that. And even easier when you have Pete Golding, who's already on the staff, and you just promote within and say, oh, he's the guy now. So there's no doubt. There's a lot of that. I mean, we saw it last week in Oxford at their home playoff game. They had signage saying, you know, bleep Lane Kiffin and all that kind of stuff. And, you know, Lane likes making stuff awkward.

And the latest reports are the Louisiana governor who's going to be at the Sugar Bowl tomorrow night may invite Lane Kiffin as his honored guest to join him at the Sugar Bowl, just to make this whole thing even more weird. It's going to be awesome if that's the case. Let me ask you a quick Ole Miss college football coaching trivia question. In the last 50 years since Ken Cooper was coaching Ole Miss and they had a one-loss season in 1975, how many Ole Miss coaches have coached their team to a one-loss conference season? How many Ole Miss coaches have coached Ole Miss to a one-loss SEC season in the last 50 years?

I was just going off the top of my head I would say maybe one of those Eli teams under David Cutcliffe Well you got it right Lane Kiffen did it this year and Coach Cutcliffe did it once during his run there nobody else has done that and if they think that and I could have gone

10 win seasons which Lane's had four of them and there's no question he did something for the program look where they are they're in the playoffs there are eight teams playing you're in it and this is just the latest year it looked like this was where they were headed for each of the last several years. So yes, saying he didn't do anything for the program

is comical. The fact that they were in a position financially to be in the running to keep him this whole time also shows you where the support for the program was. So it's fine to call him a villain. It's fine to despise the manner in which he left. But recognizing where the program is and you hope, I think the real issue is they know that they're not going to be able to stay here. And I think that's the real issue. On this last item for this team, Amos is going to play tonight and any future playoff game. Is he going to play college football next year for Lane Kiffin? I would say right now, no.

The latest reports we heard is that the NCAA is not going to grant him that six-year of eligibility. The board that decides eligible in all this, basically what he is trying to push for, when he was at Division 2, Ferris State, he had a season where he did not play because he had, I think it was tonsillitis or a tonsillectomy, and then, you know, was sick because of it. Well, the reality was he got beat out that year, too. He just wasn't the starting quarterback,

but they're trying to use that as a medical redshirt year for him to say that he was injured, and that's why he couldn't play. So it's a long shot for it, but, you know, Lex, I mean, these days, look at what they've pushed with Diego Pavia and the Jucco ruling last year. I mean, at the NCAA, you never know. It's a 50-50 crap shoot with them. So if he does get an extra year of eligibility, I do think he's going to wind up at LSU with

Lane Kiffin. I think that there have been rumblings behind the scenes for a while now that he would follow Lane over there because he likes Lane Kiffin. That was the reason he chose Ole Miss. If he gets the six-year, does he decide to stay at Ole Miss? I would put that as kind of a long shot at this point. But right now, I'd say it's probably more 60-40. He's going to be playing in his last college football game tomorrow night.

We know one SEC team will reach the semifinals because, as Ole Miss and Georgia play each other. Will a second SEC team reach the college football semifinals? It's interesting. I mean, look, it's a talented Alabama team. They have their flaws. They can't run the football. The offensive line has not played great the last couple of weeks.

And yet, man, to fall in a hole like they did in Norman, Oklahoma, and come back and play such a great second half like they did against Oklahoma and get the win in a rocking atmosphere. Who knows? I mean, this is almost kind of like, you know, like using the word house money. I've heard that from a couple of people in Tuscaloosa, that they feel like Kailen DeBore.

Look, the goal was they wanted him to make the playoffs in year two because he missed it in year one. Okay, he's done that, and he's even won a playoff game. So if he loses to Indiana, look, there's going to be some of the fine bomb caller, die-hard Bama fans are going to say, fire him. But most level-headed to Alabama fans feel like,

okay, you've achieved, you know, what we came to do. We won a playoff game. We made it to the playoffs. And Indiana is a really good team, but it would not shock me at all if Alabama's defense led by Kane Womack gives Fernando Mendoza some fits and some different looks that they haven't seen all years. So, yeah, to me, like, if I'm picking somebody, I'm probably going to still lean Indiana. I know they're the favorite team, but would not shock me at all if Alabama finds a way to win this game. If I'm picking Texas Tech tomorrow morning in Ohio State this evening, will I be correct?

Probably two good picks. Look, Miami is really good. I mean, seeing them up close at College Station two weeks ago, the Bain guy is the real deal. I mean, blocked a field goal. He was running all over the field. I mean, it just felt like he was involved in almost

every play. That defensive front is going to give Julian San Ohio State some trouble. Now, can Miami cover guys like Jeremiah Smith 101 downfield? No. To me, it all comes down to the run game. And we saw how good they ran the football all over A&M. If they can do that to Ohio State, take the pressure off of Carson Beck, having to be

excellent, I think Miami's got a chance. And then the other one, man, I'm rooting for tech. I'd love to see it. It'd be a great story. And, you know, let's be real. Oregon doesn't really do anything when they get to the postseason. Dan Laining, for as good of a regular season coach as he is, man, he's got a whole lot of nothing in the postseason.

And so wouldn't shock me if Texas Tech is the hungrier team. and they beat an Oregon team that, like I said, super talented. But Dan Laining just the next time he has a big postseason win, it'll be the first time he has one. Well, even if he gets one tomorrow morning, it will be as the favorite. They're almost a field goal favorite, still sitting at two and a half points, the only poorer-seeded team that is favored adding into these four playoff games. Gordi, always appreciate the time. I love talking college football with you, and we'll still have a chance to do that

because we're nowhere near the end of the line in college football. not only the games, but we're two days out from the portal opening up. Oh, what fun it's going to be. Appreciate the time. Well, and just to give you a little caveat, Wex, the portal opens at midnight's eastern time. That's 11 p.m. Central on Thursday night, right around the time that Ole Miss might be losing a game to Georgia, it's going to be really awkward when those new LSU staffers are telling the Ole Miss players on the field, hey, man, I'm heading to Baton.

Is you coming with me? It could be very odd. So are you saying that the play caller in a game they're losing will be running the ball at the end of the game so it can end sooner? I think they're coaching to win. I'm just saying if they lose, suddenly those guys at the strike of 11 o'clock Central are now LSU employees and talking to Ole Miss players about coming to join them. Now I hope they win and give the worst post-game interviews, post-game press conferences of all time because they just don't have time for it. Oh, it's all, it's all awkward. Everything's weird.

College football, got to love it. Gordy, enjoy the game, and we will check in with you in 2026. Happy New Year. All right, well, let's hook them horns. We need to win today. One o'clock, coverage starts. Longhorns and Wolverines, right here on Sports Talk 790. Well, we're into our number two of the Matt Thomas show with Ross.

By now you probably figured out neither one of them are here. Adam Wexler here with you. Great conversation with Chris Gordy about the college football. football postseason playoff games on the horizon finally tonight and the three games tomorrow bunch of other things for us to discuss i still have some more thoughts on those particular games we want to work some more of you in it you know you guys are out there so happy to hear from you and roger's done that right here so he joins us here on the program this afternoon all right roger what do you got for us hey hey adam first time i talk to you man i've been on the other shows

plenty of times uh good to hear from you you bet uh so I know this is a scenario because it's a game that's being played at the end of the scheduled year with Jags and Titans and there's no way you might as well just go ahead and scratch that out and Jaguars are going to just absolutely probably have all benches cleared by the third quarter with that game. I know there's a scenario out there that we can, the Titans can beat them and then we can win the vision. Clearly people have to keep in mind that Amy Adams is still there and probably sent a memo to the players and so, like, we're not going to help this team win anything.

So, yeah, just kind of that clear that argument. I wouldn't mind going to Pittsburgh, it's the easier to do. Baltimore, it doesn't really matter how well this defense travels this year. I just wouldn't mind if, you know, the Colts, the Colts are going to play a guy that I've never seen play before or some kid. I don't know, but I just wish that they would have let Rivers play the last game because I would like to play, you know, I like he can play again because I have a little respect for that old man.

I don't know why. I just, I just have respect for his game, you know, just I guess because I'm older too. And it was pretty cool to see him try to try to do something at that advanced age. But, yeah, that was it. That was all I'd say, please, please get that scenario out of his head, and please just know that the Titans are not going to beat the general. I'll tell you what, Roger. I appreciate the call.

Great talking with you here and appreciate you listening to all the shows here on Sports Talk 790. That's an element that I bet you a lot of people have thought about that the Titans are involved and Amy Adams Strunk is involved. And I don't know that she held a meeting with her team as they head into Week 18 and game number 17 during the rookie season of Cam Ward with interim coach Mike McCoy and said, if you wouldn't mind, since I would love to stick it to the Texans, and we've got nothing else to play for, can you go ahead and take a dive in this game? I mean, I know we're a terrible football team anyway. We have all of three victories this year, and it would help us in the future with our draft position, obviously would hold firm there. So could you do that for me? I think that's a fun element to bring up, and I just think they're overmatched, and that's

what we'll see. Jacksonville has something to play for. Jacksonville does not want to be falling into a, now we have to go on the road for the playoffs. Jacksonville just put together a seven-game winning streak. And if they don't make it eight, they're probably going to not win the division. So I do think that they realize what's at stake. I think that the position, you know, same thing I said about the Texans earlier. Being in the three-spot matters. Being at home to open up the playoffs, it matters.

Being in position to potentially host more games in the playoffs with all the upsets that I think might happen in this year's AFC postseason. there's too much on the line. Now, Tennessee's played better football later in the year, but they also played Jacksonville later in the year. It was just four weeks ago when they met end of November, and Jacksonville just absolutely slaughtered them. The Titans had three points.

The Titans couldn't do anything offensively against it, probably still pretty underrated Jacksonville defense. I like the Texans. They force a ton of turnovers. They've been excellent against the run. Cam Ward has engineered two wins in their last four weeks, and Tennessee has started to score pretty much ever since that Jacksonville game. They've scored 31, 24, 26, and 26 in their last four weeks.

So they're a little bit more of a live dog, but they're also a very significant dog in this game. So I wouldn't expect that to happen either, Roger, unfortunately. I think the Texans are going to close the year on a nine-game winning streak. They're going to go from three and five to 12-and-five, and it's going to be two more wins than they had in either of the last two seasons when they won the division. but they're probably headed to a wildcard game on the road. And like you, I would agree, going to Pittsburgh is extremely unfrightening. Doesn't mean they're automatically going to win.

Doesn't mean Pittsburgh isn't capable, but, yes, a lot less threatening than the equally uninspiring Baltimore Ravens. Neither of those teams should beat the Texans in the playoffs. But yes, I would agree that Pittsburgh is less likely to beat the Texans in the playoffs. That's one hour. We got another hour with you here until we get you to Longhorns Football, halfway through this second hour at 1230. We're going to hear from Aaron Wilson on the Texans. Texans about to hit the practice field in about an hour.

A little update on where things might be with some of their players heading into this final game of the regular season. All still on the horizon during the final hour here on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. I'm Adam Wexler. This is the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Great to be with you here. on the final day of 2025. Hanging out on the Matt

Thomas show with Ross. I'm Adam Wexler. They are both out. M.T. will be with you tomorrow, as will I, for Rockets Basketball. 5 p.m. Tip against the Brooklyn Nets to kick off the final 52 games of the Rocket season. Looking forward to seeing if they can continue

what they've just started to do again, which is bludgeon their opponents. Each of the last three games, going back to the Christmas Day game, where they, in my opinion, broke the L.A. Lakers. They have been in an absolute spiral here, really the whole month of December, but it did seem to come to a head when their head coach is saying, I'm not going to do this for another 53 games. Love it. Good news for the Rockets that they're taking care of their own

business, but a little added bonus, a little dessert, a little topping on the dessert of what they've done, if they can do that to the Lakers. They've got the Nets and the Mavs to open up 2026. We'll be back home next Monday for a game against Jalen Green and Dylan Brooks, Phoenix, sons, though it looks like only Brooks will be available for that game. Texans will be done with their regular season by the time we get back here with you on the air on Monday of next week. They'll know if they finish 12 and 5 or if their winning streak has come to an end. They will know if they are the division champions for a third consecutive season or

if they are a wildcard team in the 5, 6 or 7 spot, all of which are still possibilities for the Texans coming up this weekend. Imagine you know the schedule by now. Two of those games that matter to Houston are at noon, their game against the Colts and the other AFC South game, the Jaguars and Titans, and then the other two games that are impactful potentially to the Texans. Only if the Texans lose are the games between the Chargers and Broncos in Denver with the Chargers sitting, Justin Herbert, and the game between the Jets and the Bills in Buffalo with the Jets playing. The Jets are awful.

The Jets will have Brady Cook again. and the bills, maybe they care to move to seven or five in the seatings in the AFC. They are seven. They don't have tiebreakers. They need to have a better record than whoever the wild card teams are. And if they don't, then they won't be anywhere but seven. I would imagine they would prefer not going to New England, even though they've beaten them. I would imagine they would prefer not going to Jacksonville or Houston. and I imagine they would love to go to Pittsburgh or Baltimore

of their remaining bad choices for not winning the division for the first time in a while. But again, all those games not having their kickoffs at the same time this weekend, a bit curious, obviously, more information you have going into your game. Like if the Texans played after the Jaguars, that's why the NFL didn't do that. The Jaguars had a noon game and the Texans had a 325 game,

so they already knew if they could still be played. playing for the division title versus they can't. I would imagine that would impact what they want to do. D'Amico Ryan's met with the media earlier this week and indicated he's going for it. They're playing their starters. I imagine that could change based on what we see throughout the day. Mention we'll hear from Aaron Wilson, who covers the Texans for us here on Sports Talk 790 and for KPRC Channel 2. We'll check in with him around 1230.

He had a visit earlier today. And we'll share with you some of his thoughts about what the Texans have on the line in this game. situations they have to be a little bit concerned with and some of the things going into this game beyond the obvious because playing to win is I'm all for it. I understand a healthy team is a better team. I think putting your team in the best position to win in the playoffs, well, if you can help yourselves by winning, then I think that's what they should go out and try to do, and I think that's what they are going to do. Granted, it is a Colts team who's playing Riley Leonard. Leonard was officially announced as the starter for the Colts earlier today by Shane Steichen. He has since met

with the media. So I'll let you hear from him also a little bit later here during this hour. His thoughts on working with Grandpa, Philip Rivers. Also not the first time he's worked with him. Some draft preparation has passed off season, a little bit of time spent with Philip. And also his first ever NFL start. Riley Leonard, rookie quarterback, been with Colts all year, has seen the field a little bit. Coming in in relief of the injured Daniel Jones came in last week to throw a Hail Mary. But now he makes his first NFL start against the league's best defense. certainly one of its more ferocious. We'll see if they are out there for 60 minutes of football.

Across the board, you know the Texans rate very well, pretty much any statistic you want to look out to grade out a defense. There at the top, I always get a kick out of this each week when a couple people out there on social media that cover the NFL will put together this chart and update it on a weekly basis. It shows you what teams like to do defensively, which team blitzes more, which team is. putting out different coverages more often, disguising things more often.

And they put it on this little graph. And then you chart it and you see which teams do that combination the most and which team does that combination the least. Those two different things as you plot them on your graph. And every week it shows by a wide, wide, wide margin. The Texans don't disguise their coverages and they blitz less than anybody in the NFL. And yet they're still the best. two reasons why that's awesome.

It's awesome because they don't have to commit more players to try to create a pass rush. Here's our four-man front. Here's who's rushing your quarterback. They're going to beat you four-on-five or four-on-six, and they're going to get pressure on your quarterback, and your quarterback's going to make mistakes, and they're going to create turnovers,

and they're going to win football games. Or you're looking at the same coverage over and over and over, and you're still unsure of exactly what you are up against and where are the holes in this defense? It helps a great deal that you have Kamari Lassner and Derek Stingley Jr. at Corner and I think it's the best cornerback do on the NFL and having them healthy for the playoff game

is extremely important. When the Texans hit the practice field in a little under an hour, my best guess is neither of them will be practicing today. It's been pretty standard for the last couple weeks for Lassiter, although he was then dealing with a foot injury. He's now added the injury he suffered in the game

against the Colts to that. So I would imagine he's probably not on the practice field on Wednesday. Maybe he will practice on a limited basis at some point. But if he said, D'Amico, that we're playing the starters, I bet you he'll be healthy enough to go and they will play him. And with Derek Stingley, Jr., as he's played through and gotten over and tried to continue to play through an oblique injury, which was re-injured in the game against the Colts,

probably not a Wednesday practice player either. I would say don't be too alarmed. when later today the Texans injury report comes out I expect a lot of players to be on it I don't know that all those players are going to miss the game though or play the full game either because by the time you get to the third quarter you might have a pretty good idea of what's going on in Jacksonville

you're not going to know anything about the bills and chargers and remember if the Texans lose on Sunday then they've opened the door to fall back to the sixth seed or the seventh seed if one of the teams Buffalo and L.A. If one of them wins, then the Texans fall back to six. If both of them win, then they fall back to seven. Odds are pretty good that the bills beat the Jets. Our odds are not very good that the Chargers beat the Broncos. Broncos are still playing for the number one seed. So you may not see the Texans care too much after the Jaguars are clearly going to beat the

Titans. Because then they just know, well, if we win, we get to play Pittsburgh or Baltimore more on the road. If we lose, we're probably going to Jacksonville to take on a Jaguars team that beat us in Jacksonville 1710 in week three when they had two fourth quarter interceptions, or fourth quarter turnovers. Nico Collins fumbling the ball and then C.J. Stroud late in the game, had his arm barely hit by Josh Hines Allen and a pass intended for Christian Kirk at the goal line was tipped and then ultimately intercepted, which prevented them from potentially tying the game. I imagine they would not have gone for. two. With the overtime rules going for two to win a game on a final play or thereabouts,

it's not something a lot of NFL teams feel the need to do. Buffalo felt the need to do it last week. Might have been protecting Josh Allen from playing more football, but for whatever reason they chose to do it, it ended up not working. And so that's why the Texans were able to pass them along with the Chargers last week. Texans were seven going into Week 17 with the ability to pass the Chargers via tiebreaker. They now have the same record, but head-to-head is in their favor. And obviously the head-to-head similarly with the bills is already in the Texans favor. So those are among the things that are sitting in front of them. I wanted to go back for one thing before we get the break here on last week's game and what it might mean

moving forward, especially if the Texans are working their roster a little bit in terms of health and preparation for the postseason. They have seven active wide receivers as we sit here today with Justin Watson being activated off of IR. That's Watson. a couple of rookies and Higgins and Jalen Noel, Braxton Berrios, who pretty much doesn't play is active every week. Could that change so some other starting wide receivers won't see the field nearly as much if that's how it plays out? Couldn't tell you. But a look at what the rookies have done to help this team as the season has moved on. Here's D'Amico Ryans.

I think both guys, you know, Higgins and Noel, they both are really confident guys. They had really good college careers and made a lot of successful plays. And they're confident guys. I think for us, you know, they're still gaining their confidence. They're still learning. They still have room to grow. They're still young players. But I'm excited that they were able to make two big plays for us to put us in position to win the football game.

Right out of the gate. First time all season, the Texans have scored touchdowns on their first two possessions. Obviously, with the ball landing in the hands of the. awaiting rookie wide receivers. The 7.85 yarder to open the game, the 43-yarder to Jalen Knoll to get them to that 14-0-0 lead. Just keep this in mind, in that very same game with Jaden Higgins and obviously C.J. Stroud on the same page on that particular throw.

There was a play later in the game where he was expecting Higgins to see what he was seeing, and he threw the ball one place, and Higgins just ran a go route. And he saw something different. I still think that they're not quite on the same page, and I think the same is true with Noel. I think the same is actually true with Christian Kirk, who's not been on the field nearly as much, and obviously was not here with CJ a year ago, missed four of the first seven games of the season for the Texans. Curious to see if that is something they still are working through. Higgins has been on the field a ton this year, especially the last eight weeks,

and he's still only seen eight targets in the last three games. He's only caught four passes in the last three games. And as much as Jaylen Noel showed up in the box score, three catches, 54 yards, and that long touchdown this last week, that was his second game with even a catch in the last five games. And he still was only on the field for 16 snaps. He's not a huge part of this offense. I don't think that's going to change in the postseason.

I think it should. But again, they know more than I do. They're there at practice every day. They're in the meeting rooms every day. I'm only at practice for 10, 15 minutes or so, and I certainly don't see them get to do the work. But it looks like he can help this team a little bit more than they've asked him to so far this season. Here from C.J. Stroud, coming back on the other side here on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. I'm Adam Wexler sitting in for both of them who have taken the rest of 2025 off.

A little bit afternoon on the final day of 2025. Wex here sitting in for M.T. of course one part of the Matt Thomas show with Ross nice enough to show up for work today you got to work with the most of the rest of the staff here today j a in the house today produced as per usual and spend a little time with the morning drive who filled in for the first hour for mt and RV I'm here for the final hour but like those two guys no AC he's not working today we also didn't have a show today otherwise because we got longhorn football coming your way 1 o'clock, coverage begins for the pregame of their game against Michigan, the Citrus Bowl.

One thing I didn't ask Chris Gordy earlier when he was joining us from New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl. It's a huge game. It's a playoff game. There are festivities around the game for the obvious reasons, and you're in New Orleans. But it's also sponsored by Allstate, as opposed to some of these other bowl games that are sponsored by baked beans or flavored cheese crackers or. or wonderful breakfast delights that you can toast or not. And because of that, there's usually some pretty ridiculous stuff going on, whether it's what the handouts are for the players, their swag bag,

stuff for the media, stuff for the fans. Mentioned yesterday that the Cheez-It Bowl had a 10 canister sampler of the 10 different Cheez-It flavors for you. And they had the Cheez-It Bowl helmet out there today, you know, see who wakes up the cheesiest. A lot of the bowl game sponsors get it. Kinders, another great example. They had the barbecue pit on the stage during the postgame ceremony handing Willie Fritz and the Cougars.

Their Texas Bowl champion trophy and handing Connor Wegman his MVP cowboy hat and jacket. And then they gave him some barbecue. Brought out this honking slab or ribs for him. And they were able to hand that out to take a big bite out of it. It was there in the locker room as well. And obviously, around the stadium, for the fans, it was there. Heck, it was in the press box as well. They had all sorts of the kinders seasonings up there for some of the food.

Clearly, they served us barbecue and Kinder's barbecue sauce flavors. Had some hot honey and some hickory-smoked flavored barbecue sauce for us. We appreciate that. This is your game. This is why you've spent the money to have everybody, most everybody, say the name of your company. the bowl game. That's what you're supposed to do. Now, I guess I could do just credit to our friends over Ralea Quest. Iowa, Vanderbilt, going right now. I don't know what fun stuff was a part of that game with Ralea Quest, but Vanderbill has three points. Maybe, maybe, just maybe, the SEC is

going to lose another unimportant bowl game, a we don't care game. Iowa 14, Vanderbilt 3, 40 seconds before halftime. Told you last segment, back to the Texans. that they scored touchdowns on their opening drive and their second drive. First time all year that's happened. They led 14-0-0. I think they would love to be in that position every single game. Certainly this week, so maybe that can impact how they play the rest of the game. C.J. Stroud, obviously, and the rest of the offense, and Nick Cayley,

and their head coach and their team and their fans all recognized that they were also done scoring touchdowns for the day. And then score a touchdown the rest of the game. They had 50-plus minutes left to football and multiple drives throughout the half and Obviously, in the second half to score a touchdown. Last drive of the game, they weren't intending to score a touchdown. What they were trying to do was close it out, and they were able to do that. So they closed out the game with better than a three-minute drive, got three first downs, and ran the clock out. But in between, they managed just two field goals, one of them coming off of a turnover,

and the other one obviously helping to put them ahead by two scores late 20 to 10 in the fourth quarter. CJ absolutely would like to keep the foot on the gas offensively. They're playing too high shell. and, you know, they're trying to, you know, take away your best guy, so we kind of knew that. And, you know, came up with some good plays and designed some good plays, just a pick on that. And, you know, we've got to keep that going. You know, it can't just be in the first quarter. You know, it got to be throughout the whole game.

So, you know, something we can learn from is, you know, is just keeping the gas on and making sure, you know, we're still calling it. I'm taking care of the ball, and, you know, we're moving forward. You mentioned something there at the end, taking care of the football. This team has been exceptional at taking care of the football. A two-turnover game for the Texans is very. very rare. And you look over the course of the season, they're number two in the NFL in turnover margin. They're at plus 14. They've also only turned the ball over 12 times. That's

the second lowest total in the NFL. It's the lowest total in the AFC. In fact, among AFC playoff teams, all of them have at least 15 turnovers. If Pittsburgh doesn't make the playoffs, all of them have at least 16 turnovers, except for Houston, who again has just 12. Now, looking deeper into that, that was a two turnover game. They've had only two turnovers or more in a game four times in 16 outings. They did it against the Rams to open the season. They lost. They did it to Jacksonville.

Two weeks later, they actually had three turnovers in his only other two interception game. Obviously, they lost. I ran through two of those turnovers in the last segment. They both came in the fourth quarter late in the game, two of the three, that certainly could have flipped that game in your favor. and the only other two turnover game before last week was their second meeting with Jacksonville when they trailed 29 to 10 and were getting housed in their house before the miracle comeback three touchdown fourth quarter led by Davis Mills and then the fourth touchdown of the fourth quarter when the defense scored on the final play of the game the rest of the year basically almost no turnovers they only have turnovers in three other games period and it's a total of three turnovers during this eight game winning streak, began with the Jacksonville two turnover game, and continued with the two turnover game against the chargers. The six wins in between, one turnover, one

turnover. CJ Stroud threw a pick early in the Annapolis game, and that was it. They haven't turned the ball over and didn't turn the ball over in any of those other six games. You have a good defense. Don't let the other teams have the ball in good position. Certainly don't let the other teams score while their defense is on the field and they don't have to try to score against your defense. It's a pretty simple formula. It maybe makes games a little bit more dramatic and close because I think it's pretty clear. Their quarterbacks, both Davis Mills and C.J. Stroud are not putting the ball in arm's way and in turn not making as many risky throws and taking more chances or being more aggressive offensively. It probably should

easily match up for you here. They also lead the NFL in field goal opportunities. They've attempted more field goals and made more field goals than every team in the NFL. Maybe there's a fourth down situation here where I get three points. Games over. We win. I get three points

again. We're up by seven. We're up by ten. And my defense, our defense is going to handle business. I don't need to force it there. Other teams with other setups, with other defenses might do things a little bit differently. I don't think it's a factor of they don't trust the offense. I think it's a factor of he just doesn't feel the need to go about it that way.

Before we get you to Aaron Wilson's thoughts on the Texans this matchup and the NFL, which we'll do at the top of the next segment here at the bottom of the hour, mentioned we would hear from Riley Leonard, quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts. He will start this weekend against the Texans. He spoke earlier this morning, spoke about how nice it is to have Philip Rivers around, I had some really nice things to say about their quarterback room, the veteran starter, Daniel Jones, the young player like him, Anthony Richardson, and obviously Grandpa Philip, I've been very good for him. He's very excited about his first start.

He also recognizes there's a little bit of balance between, this is awesome, I get to start this game. And he's getting to start his first NFL game against the best defense in the NFL. Some challenges. Yeah, yeah, they're a really good football team. We got great players on offense as well. But, you know, I think, you know, what an opportunity, right? You play at this level.

You want to go against the best of the best. Certainly they got great players. And, you know, I think throughout my career, I've been able to, you know, obviously a rookie, but, you know, last year in college was able to play against, you know, the best players at that level. And now, you know, this is a new stage, but looking forward to it. Got to love it. Throughout my career, they paused and checked himself.

I'm a rookie. So there basically hasn't been a career. And he went back to his college football. Now, that's great. I'm excited for him that he did some great things in college football, especially last year with how Notre Dame advanced. He began his career at Duke and finished out at Notre Dame. Look around the NFL starting quarterbacks,

especially the backups that have become starting quarterbacks, too. They all did that. All of them, all of them played against great competition in college and succeeded. That's why they're in the NFL. Not all of them played against great competition. the NFL and succeeded. We'll see what Riley Leonard has in store for the Texans coming up on Sunday afternoon. Noon to get the regular season concluded and make their way onto the postseason.

We're going to talk with Aaron Wilson about that game and about this team and about this season when we return here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Wex sitting in for MT and RV. I wanted to share with you a conversation that our Texans, Insider had with the morning drive, who were also sitting in for MT and RV. A couple hours ago on our airwaves here on

Sports Talk 790, that's none other than Aaron Wilson. You know the situation this weekend for the Texans and the AFC South Crown. They will play at noon against the Colts, and the Jaguars will play hosting the Tennessee Titans also at noon. A Texans win and a Jacksonville loss will

result in the Texans winning the AFC South for a third consecutive season. Any other results will prevent that. So not knowing specifically what they can do with a win probably indicates what Damico Ryan said the other day is exactly what they're going to do is play their starters, play this game to win. They can ensure they're no worse than the third or fifth seed if they win their game. So regardless of the Jacksonville outcome, there will be third or fifth.

With the Jacksonville outcome, a loss by Jacksonville makes them third, a win by Jacksonville would then make them fifth. So they wouldn't have to worry about possibly falling down to six or seven. wouldn't have to worry about paying any attention to the Chargers game with the Broncos or the Bill's game with the Jets. They could just await the announcement of kickoff times after the evening begins. They might even announce kickoff times before the Baltimore-Pittsburg game Sunday night is concluded because there's really nothing else to determine. I don't think the NFL cares a whole lot if they have a game hosted by Pittsburgh against Houston or a game hosted by the Ravens against Houston from which of these six slots. they put it in. Everything else in the playoffs will

already be determined by that point in time. And again, that's the only matchup that is impacted by that. So they know all five other game matchups and they technically know this one, the AFC North champ against the five seed, whether that turns out to be Houston or somebody else

obviously remains to be seen, but they would know it by that point in time. Nonetheless, we'll start the conversation here. Part of the conversation you heard this morning with Aaron Wilson, from that standpoint of the Texans and to play their starters, but could we see an instance in the game where the scoreboard from Jacksonville indicates maybe it's time to go ahead and move on from some of the starters?

I think half time is a good time to kind of take the temperature on that. I don't know if it's not to like the first quarter, but remember, Damico Ryan's orchestrated a game last year where T.J. Stroud didn't have these sorts of stakes, played one series, I believe it was five for five before giving way to Davis Mills. So do I anticipate something like that? Yeah, because he's shown that he might say we're playing everybody and then technically not, you know, to like kind of half step it that way. There's certainly stakes.

I mean, you can't, you know, give up a chance to win the division title. Imagine how upset people would be that weren't arresting everybody and then you had a chance to have a home playoff game. I think his logic is fine. And it's just you have to evaluate whether some guys can play and still be okay for the playoffs. I'm sure Derek Stanley Jr. can keep playing with the oblique injury. And, you know, Camarra Lasson went back in the game and played within the injury. So I'm just not sure there's many candidates as people think,

other than the obvious, the two offensive tackles for rest for the playoffs. I wouldn't play either of those guys this week. I would go with Blake Fisher and Titus Howard again. Offensively for this game, do you think they do anything different? I mean, we saw an offense that really came out firing in that last game and, you know, stretching the field. I mean, you know, some huge downfield throws. Do you feel like that's something that maybe they try to really shore up before you head into the playoffs? They'd love to do it again.

I think those guys try to run to strike deep against most coverages. They identified something in the way the charges were playing their shell coverage that allowed them to have those plays. And then they adjusted. so Mike Lou Anarumo noticed that and at his own adjustments with his corners. I could see it, yeah. I mean, I think they're not done trying to throw deep, though. I mean, it's one of the things I think they should do more of because CJ Stroud does it very well. That's his strength sometimes is throwing deep.

He likes to do that. So more of that will be great. I just wonder if they're going to be able to logistically because people have seen it now. Aaron, when you look at this offense, the thing that has been. very tiresome is that the Texans, they're called a Texans game. I mean, outside of those two early touchdown passes, Jaden Higgins, Jalen

Noel, it was very much a quiet day at the office out in Los Angeles. There is going to be a weakness of Houston going into the playoffs. I don't know what it is. I mean, it could be lack of a running game, it could be bad play calling, could be turnovers. In your opinion, what's the thing that's going to keep Houston from finally reaching their first

AFC title game? I think turnovers could hurt them. You know, I'm concerned that there have been too many interceptions, sometimes some really avoidable ones, that's a possibility. I think they are not as stout against the run as you would hope for. There was a recent Ashton Genty game to worry about, I think it does help that they switched out safeties. Putting in Kvon Wallace is now first on the depth chart ahead of Miles Bryant.

And in terms of other Achilles heels, I mean, special teams, I think they've got things who've rolling pretty good, especially. Jamie Fairburn, you know, if the offensive line was to regress, they're playing pretty well, though. We'll have no sacks, basketball games. I think a lot of it's on Stroud. He's got to stand in there and just throw a football, deliver it the way he can, and be a little more judicious about throws over the middle. I don't think there's a ton of, like, real danger points in the team,

and so there's just, like, real efficiencies. I do think the end of the first half, the management has been, you know, poor for the majority of the season. Some of the decisions there, you can second guess a bit of the strategy there. What are they doing? What are they trying to do? It hasn't always worked out. Some of it's play, though. It's not always the strategy.

But, yeah, a couple times I think they've just, including at the end of the half last week, that was, I think, a little too aggressive. He is our Sports Talk 790 Texans Insider, as well as you can see his work, part of KPRC2. He's Aaron Wilson. He joins us every single week here on Sports Talk 790. Aaron defensively on the front, I mean, once Tim Settle Jr. And also Mario Edwards Jr. both went down for the season. It seemed like there was a little bit of a void there on the inside. But how about the job that Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togey I have been able to do in their absences?

Those guys are very good. I mean, and I think with ToGI, this was someone that they identified, and they were talking about even before training camp. And so the one that really stuck out to me in terms of what he did at Ohio State, that he had potential, some untapped potential. With Sheldon, and I think Sheldon would like to come back. He's a free agent. I think they're interested, too, which depends on if they can work out.

So he might be back for more of this kind of strong play. a lot of the push and does a lot of the dirty work. And so does Autry that allows Will and Deniel to Will Anderson's Neal Hunter to collapse the pocket and, you know, hit the quarterback so often. So he's very valuable and a very smart player. Backups, I felt like Kifote gave them something as a elevation. I would imagine he'd be up again. He did well.

And they haven't gotten a lot from the previous McMarlin-Davidson. and they've got a couple of plays from Nikon Jones, but not probably as many. And just a big, big, massive guy in the middle there and pushes the pocket. So they like what he did. So a couple of guys that are new to the defense, Boto and Wallace were making some plays. Wallace's the safety. Aaron, I'm just going to come out straight and say it.

Do you think that the Texans are going to be playing at home next week in the wild card around? Are they going to be on the road? What happens down in Jacksonville? I think they're going to Baltimore or Pittsburgh. I think that's what's going to happen. They're going to wind up as the five seed, and they're going to play the four seat on the road in the wildcard round, and they'll be favored to win, even though they're not the division champion,

they're the lower seed. They will be the favorites. And it could be on a Sunday, too, that it's possible. It hasn't happened very often, but it's possible, especially, you know, some of these other teams, they might want to have them on television on a Sunday. And it could be Baltimore. We're going to see what happens today with Lamar Jackson.

is Lamar going to practice today after this back contusion that sounds awful in need in the back and having a sore back but I'm sure he'll step up I mean he's pretty tough and he's done it before

I'm kind of thinking that's what will happen and the Ravens will beat the Steelers are really bad right now going down that way yeah and Aaron I mean we've seen you know in the past with the Texans that it seemed like a road

playoff game was death for them If that happened, it wasn't going to go their way. But with the way this defense is and getting just enough offense, I mean, do you feel like it's them where you get that game? You win that game, you move on, you take on Denver. That no matter the path, this is a team that feels like that they can make a deep run in the playoffs? Yeah, they're confident. I think there's a lot more confidence within the locker room and the buildings than perhaps outside where obviously fans and media raised a lot of legitimate points. I don't think that they worry about it.

And you can kind of sense from the tone of D'Amico Ryan's on Monday on the Zoom. It feels probably like people are nitpicking them a bit. You know, eight wins in a row is very impressive. And I think it's certainly been celebrated and respected. And, you know, the praise is obviously rightfully going into the defense and all those things. But just as a team, winning is winning. I mean, they've won a bunch of games in a row. so I would say confidence is extremely high

and I talk to these guys all the time and I was in LA for the game and after the game it wasn't like they were who didn't hollering because we're going to playoff they expect it to playhouse that's the new standards three years in a row

and I think they're while it was humbling the old three it's been a while it's been a few months and now they're on a role so yeah they're curing themselves, not cocky, but I think it would be an appropriate amount of confidence. I mean, I point out of actually feel like

to win eight games in a row. It's pretty good. Or if I I've had to have them before, you know, maybe I get like the cut day and I get 15, 20 cuts in a row, I break them all. Guess what? I feel pretty good. When I think, it's just like a weird comparison there,

but, you know, if I get a bunch of stories, I'm like, oh man, I'm going to keep getting them. I'm going to roll. I think it's the same thing for football in a way that You know, you get your momentum going, anything going, whatever kind of business you're in, and you feel good about it. They're very confident. They're very confident, if you caught that analogy, there at the end. The Texans are in line to do something they've never done before in franchise history.

We'll close out the show next with a bunch of things and hopefully make your New Year's plans. And end of 2025, that much more enjoyable. Coming up. Mentioned there were a couple things that I wanted to leave you with. Just some news and notes, hopefully brighten up your day. Texans related. Texans are about to do something, or possibly going to do something they've never done before in franchise history. You know they've made the playoffs eight times before.

They've won the division eight times. There's a possibility they will win on Sunday, and they'll make it nine times. But there's also a possibility that the Jaguars beat the Titans or the Texans lose. And in that scenario, the Texans will make the playoffs. as a wildcard team for the first time ever. Texans have never made the playoffs as a wildcard team before. All eight of their previous playoff appearances have been because they won the AFC South. All eight of their previous postseason trips have included a home game to open up the postseason.

All eight times. They won six of those games. Two wildcard game losses, probably very easy to remember for everybody. Not necessarily me. I actually forgot one about three weeks ago when we were talking about. about it. Game against Kansas City that Brian Hoyer started. It was a disaster. You lost 30 to nothing. He turned it over five times. And then the first playoff game for Deshawn Watson as Texans quarterback. They played the Colts and were awful offensively. They scored seven points

and lost. Those are the two lowest scoring games in Texans postseason history. Obviously, they were both losses. What it also should point out to you, open up the playoffs eight times at home, all eight times. They won six of those games. That means they've advanced in the postseason six times. All six of those times, their division winning team advanced. They went on the road

for that next game, which they've lost all six times, which means the Texans have never won a road playoff game. Six road games, all in the divisional round, all losses. This upcoming opening playoff game

could be on the road, and it will be if they are the wildcard team, which is where they currently sit. They also have a chance to tie their best regular season win total in team history. If they get a 12th win, they've never been better than a 12 win team. They've only been a 12 win team once. That team also won their opening playoff game and then lost in the divisional round. A hat tip to Tommy Townsend becomes the fourth Texans player this year to win a player of the week award in the AFC. obviously the special teams, player of the week.

Four punts inside the 20 was enough to get him. His fourth career nod as player of the week and an even bigger hat tip to Brevin Jordan, who continues to fight through things, continues to attempt to continue his career with Houston. But injuries have derailed much of it, including this season. He's the Texans Ed Block Courage Award winner for this season. One of the most prestigious awards in the NFL, certainly among. this team, any team. So kudos to him for being their selection. We'll talk to you again in 26. I will do that tomorrow in advance of Rockets Nets. Matt and I will have the call to game for you

and we'll have Rockets launch pad beginning at 4. Up next, Longhorns, Wolverines, Bull game football here on Sports Talk 790. News Radio.