The McShay Show - CFP Quarterfinal Recap: Ohio State Routs Oregon, Texas Survives OT Thriller, and Penn State Slows Ashton Jeanty

Episode Date: January 2, 2025

Welcome back to ‘The McShay Show’! Todd and Steve kick off by reacting to Ohio State’s big win over Oregon. Then, they talk Texas’s close call vs. Arizona State in the Peach Bowl and Penn State’s trench dominance against Ashton Jeanty and Boise State. (0:00) Welcome to The McShay Show! (6:25) Rose Bowl: (8) Ohio State Defeats (1) Oregon 41-21 (30:18) Peach Bowl: (5) Texas Defeats (4) Arizona State 39-31 in OT (1:03:15) Fiesta Bowl: (6) Penn State Defeats (3) Boise State 31-14 (1:17:10) Who's now the CFP Favorite? The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Host: Todd McShay Guest: Steve Muench Producers: Tucker Tashjian, Mark Panik, Conor Nevins, and Daniel Comer Social: Eduardo Ocampo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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I love it. So we didn't expect to be on this early. Appreciate everyone who's joining us early and joining us on this live show. obviously tragic events in New Orleans, hearts go out to thoughts and prayers, go out to everyone involved. You know, tragically, over 10 people lost their lives, dozens of people injured, the senseless act, a lot to still learn information-wise on what's going on in that situation. But as far as football is concerned, the least important aspect of it.

But it did affect the Sugar Bowl, the matchup that, you know, everyone was going to excited to watch in prime time this evening. We've got, we push it back, push it back a day, Georgia versus Notre Dame. 4 p.m. Eastern it will be. And so, so we have three games to review. And it was an unexpected day. Let's put it that way. I think that's the best word. It was unexpected. The results, the action, how it all played out. The first thing that jumped out to me, Mensch, we talked about it. Let's just get into it now, right? The first thing that jumped out to me, we talked about this. And Nick Saban, I'll give Nick credit for bringing it up as only a coach can, right?

We talked about it over a month ago, maybe two months ago. We were starting to look ahead to the college football playoff in the first year in the 12th team playoff. And the question kind of was always thrown out there. Is it better to have the first round by or to kind of keep in rhythm? And, you know, creatures of habit. That's what football players and coaches are. And you like your weekly process and you like things to be the same. And even Urban Meyer, I've talked to him about how he leaned on Lou Holtz,

you know, when they had the long layoffs before the BCS championship and the college football playoffs and how each week they would go through it, not the same level of intensity or physicality, but every week off it would be the same drill. It would be, you know, Saturday, kind of a walkthrough as if it's a game. And then Sunday the tape preparation. and Tuesday, you know, I think was the live action, the full, you know, full pads, ones on ones, and then putting in installs and different things on Wednesday, all the way through

the week, right? And they would do that repeatedly for the three weeks off. So Nick Saban brought up, is it better to have the buy or to actually play in the first round and to get a home game and to stay in rhythm and to keep the momentum flowing? And also to have momentum and not be as rusty going into that first game. how about this for you? And I just thought about this literally, like last five minutes of watching Ohio State just put it on Oregon.

The three teams that played in the first week absolutely jumped the opponents that were rewarded with the buy week. Penn State up 14-0 over Boise State, Texas, 17 to 3 over Arizona State. And then Ohio State, 34-0-0 in the second quarter over Oregon. Interesting. I guess it's something to keep in mind for tomorrow's game, right, for the Sugar Bowl, but also moving forward. We already know there's

discussions, and I fully expect change to happen in the first round, the seeding of the playoffs, who deserves to be the top seeds, but now all of a sudden are you putting the top four seeds kind of at risk of coming out rusty and not being in rhythm and not having played the week before. So it's just something I thought was it. Yeah, I mean, yeah, you expect it in two of the games. Or it's not like you expect it, but it's not a surprise that Penn State jumped Boise State or that Texas jumped Arizona State. But that, I don't know how to state working game. I mean, that's an eyebrow.

That raised your eyebrows a little bit about maybe you're on to something with that. And we'll see as we get more data as this goes on. I hear you on that. I hear you on that. But I also, like, I know the score didn't indicate it, but Boise State crawled back in that game, you know? Yeah. And made it competitive and made it uncomfortable for a little while.

Arizona State made it. Yeah, three point game. And Arizona State took up to double overtime. Yeah. If you're watching live or watching on YouTube, you can see the results of the, of the quarter final games, the three that we've had so far. Tomorrow's Sugar Bowl is, you know, number seven, Notre Dame versus number two, Georgia, Notre Dame favored by a point in a half.

But you see those results we're talking about. There were insurmountable leads, well, I shouldn't say insurmountable. Major effects on the game, the fact that all three teams, Ohio State, Penn State, and Texas were able to jump out to leads in those games. Chalk it up for what you will. All right. How about Ohio State, man? Unreal. I feel like we're on repeat, right?

I said it last time. If you're promising me that's the team we're getting, that's the best college football team in the nation this year. That Ohio State team for four quarters against Tennessee was the best team I had seen play this entire season. And guess what? They come out again tonight. And they absolutely, it's like that same fire was burning.

I don't know. like there's so much to get into offensively with Chip Kelly and what they were doing in Jeremiah Smith defensively like there but the domination in both sides in the trenches and the level of two things the level of intensity did you hear some of those hits yeah they've been rants in that or running back knocked out of the game tess johnson was getting a massage on the you know his neck and upper back like that that was a physical ass kicking and we said the same thing about Tennessee. The same exact thing, Munch,

it's wild. They have an identity. Yeah, they found their identity. It took them a little while. I mean, it took them, you know, there was parts of the season. They were inconsistent and who was his team and who were they going to be and the injuries along the offensive front. And all that seems ancient history at this point. I mean, that Michigan game seems like it was a year ago. This seems like a different team now. The talent is now has an

attitude and they have their identity, which is, again, we're going to talk about all the big plays and It is physical domination. I mean, we're going to talk about the offense, I'm sure, which was the funest part of the game to watch, I thought, is watch Chip Kelly do his thing. But defensively, they were just, Oregon was lost. There was nothing they could do for most of that first half.

I mean, to me, the game was over in the first half. They were down four scores. And that's tough to do to come back against a quality team like Ohio State in the second half. So we'll get into it all. But it's, again, same thing we said in Tennessee. It starts with the physical ass kicking up front. Sometimes in life you need to get your ass handed to you. Sometimes in life when you got a $20 million roster and you think everything's great.

And nothing's going to knock you off course. Everything's easy. Sometimes in life you need to be knocked off the pedestals. You need to be knocked down the mat, whatever, you know, that you want to put out there. But I think anyone watching right now can relate. Like there's been a point in everyone's life where something that you thought you had, that you, whether you worked for it or you were handed it,

something that you had that you should have valued more than you valued was taken away from you or you thought it was in grave danger and it woke your ass up, right? And I feel like that Michigan game, not because it was a loss, they had already lost a game to a really good Oregon team and not even because of the consequences. They were in the college football playoff. it was because of the magnitude of Michigan, Ohio State,

and having lost three previous games and how important that this was the year, Harbaugh's gone. They're not the same Michigan team. We got this. It's our right. We're Ohio State. Best roster that money can, you know what I mean? Like all those things.

And it got taken away. And it started with that stupid flag planting incident after the game. right with jack sawyer just freaking out and the rest of the team coming out and it was insanity and we don't promote any of it but it was almost like that galvanite like not just that but that game and feeling like you're losing something before you even like put the effort into it i don't know i don't want to get all philosophical but that game did something to this team you know no question and and and and not just the players man You know how much I love Chip and we're close and we've spent a lot of time together.

We've hung out together and all those things. But Chip would be pissed at me if I didn't call it like it was. Chip was pissed at himself. Chip was pissed at himself for his play calling and what they tried to do against Michigan. We all saw it and he certainly would be the first one to recognize it after. But it's almost like that game freed them. It pissed them off and it freed them. And since then, this is a different offense.

Let's start on that side of the ball. This is a completely different offense. And I thought I've had our guys, Daniel and our production group took the time to put this together. But you go back and look, I thought that the pass attempt numbers would be a lot different. They're actually not like 29 pass attempts, a game comparing the regular season for Ohio State's offense versus the last two games, the two games in the college football playoff. Pass attempts are basically insane. it's the big plays. It's all right, we're not going to, like Chip loves his run game.

He's cutting edge with the run game, the blocking schemes, the tempo, the angles, the misdirection, the motions, all those things. He's also cutting edge with the short passing game. Everything he's built in his career offensively is about getting your playmakers of the ball in space and unique running run game that also allows his running backs to get the ball in space. it's now opening things up. We got two Ferraris on the outside, man.

We've got to take advantage. And that's what they've done. I mean, they've opened things up the last two weeks. Listen to this match. The last two games against these defenses, by the way. And we've got, you guys are awesome. Daniel Tucker, the whole crew. Best team of the business.

I mean, yeah. So look at these numbers. The past attempts are the same. but it's an increase of 233 yards per game. Six points per game, but you also got to remember there's a lot of bad teams they're playing. This is against Tennessee that vaunted NFL defensive front that's like 12, 13 deep that they rotate, right?

And this is against an Oregon team that has been great defensively for the vast majority of the year. And they've done it against these two teams, 233 more yards per game in two games. six more points per game in two games versus the regular season competition. And Jeremiah Smith has been the difference, man. Only two more catches per game. But look at the difference in yards.

That's the difference. Vertical threat, getting down the field, taking shots, letting the best wide receiver in college football as a true freshman, get the opportunities to go make plays down the field. He was not getting enough opportunities. And the opportunities he was getting, they weren't big enough. 145 yards receiving per game with two touchdowns per game the last two.

That's 58 more receiving yards per game. 57, I guess. I think we did some bad math pre pre uh, but whatever it is. Almost six, almost 60 more receiving yards per game. So, and I'll start with this as I haven't shut up yet. But I'll, I'll transition to this. Chip came out gunning. How about the four by one screen, the screen and go to G Scott of all people, right?

Right, yeah. You know, four by one, four receivers, one on the other side. They fake the screen. G. Scott went in motion, fake the screen. And he kind of just slipped underneath the screen and got down, like a wheel route down the right side. That opened things up. Then one or two plays later, the touchdown to Jeremiah Smith, it was. It was like a scissors motion in the back field, easy throw for Will Howard,

gets the ball in space, gone, right? Beautiful. Then the second touchdown to Amika, Abuka, Will Howard, by the way, protected really well. The last two games, he's been protected really well. And that's a front that's been getting a lot of pressure on opponents. Abuka gets open. If you're watching, he's on the right side, Jeremiah Smith on the left.

It gets a too high shell. Two safeties, okay? Jeremiah Smith, they run like a post corner, but he's kind of like working a scene and then goes to the corner. Obviously, wisely, Oregon doubles them up. The safety goes over the top. They kind of bracketed him high, low, and he goes over to the left.

So if you're following me here, now the picture is your quarterback is that the safety on your left side, of the two high safeties, the safety on the left side has got to travel with Jeremiah Smith. Abuca then comes in running a post. kind of a seam post on the backside slips behind that where that safety would be and gets the the front side safety, the right safety on his back. And they got it.

It was a great throw. Great catch. Unbelievable catch. Unbelievable catch. But Chip set all this shit up, man. Right. And so like for as much hatred that was spewed towards Chip and as much, he'll take all of it because he knew he was wrong and he didn't have the right plan and they didn't

adjust properly against Michigan, you got to give them his flowers here. Like you really do. It's been brilliant. And it's normally the run game, but it has been the altering of the passing attack, both philosophically and like play to play, the creation, the creations that they're providing for their receivers in the passing game and the looks for their quarterback in the passing game. That's been the difference to me. Yeah, I mean, look, they had four touchdowns in the first half. the shortest one was that 42 yard at Buga catch. That was the shortest touchdown they had in the first half was 42 yards.

I mean, that's insane when you think about it. And it starts there with Chip, I guess. But, you know, he's not the only one who deserves a little recognition, I guess, in that the offensive line, we talked about them as well. They played much better the last two weeks, really elevated their play. And I'll be honest, I didn't think Will Howard could do it. I didn't think Will Howard could elevate the way he's elevated. When you could talk about that's a great route combination to a,

attack a too high look. I mean, a great route combination. And it's a great catch. But it's also a great throw man. I mean, he drops that ball in right over that dropping safety. I mean, it's an unreal throw. Will Howard's playing with a lot of confidence. And yeah, some of it is easy. Some of it is that he has, Jeremiah Smith. But he's also. Yeah, I'm not trying to take it. That's a good, I'm glad you said that. I'm not trying to take anything away from Will. I'm just saying the difference I'm seeing in putting him in position is they've kind of scrapped. the we're going to be creative run game we got two two NFL running backs we're just we're going to be conservative we've a quarterback maybe we don't fully trust like that's out the window it's gone in two

weeks it's gone i mean it's so funny how fast the landscape can change in college football and it's exactly what we've seen happen i mean it's and jeremiah smith i mean i don't like all those big plays he had a catch in the third quarter where he he tracked the ball made an adjustment i think there was three defenders around him. And I was like, all the plays this kid made in this game, that might be his best catch, that catch. That was probably the hardest one for him to make. He is, it's one of those things we're looking at,

oh, what's his best trait? Oh, I think it might be his hands. Oh, it might be his speed. It might be his strength. It might be his strength after the catch or going up for, you know, going up for the ball. I don't know. Pick one.

I mean, you could choose. There's an abundance of talent there. I thought it was interesting. They were talking. I've said Julio Jones, right? When we're talking about when we're talking about Jeremiah Smith.

And I've said it before. I think you agree. You can disagree here if you'd like. NFL drafts tomorrow or last weekend in April isn't scheduled to be. And Travis Hunter's a wonderful, wonderful player. Two sides of the ball, all of that.

New England Patriots are running. New England Patriots are turning in that card. And like, yeah, they'll field offers for a tradeback, but it better be something that blows their doors off. They're taking Jeremiah Smith. And the dude's 19 years old. He would be the number one overall pick in the draft. If the Patriots have that pick and they couldn't or didn't trade out of that spot,

he would be the number one overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. And he's 19 years old and he's played, what, 13 games? And he's gotten bigger this year. He was, they list them at 21. I guess 14. Yeah. They list them at 2.15. and Herbie keeps on saying on the broadcast.

He's always saying he's 225 now. He weighs 225. He looks it. That's why I said, Julio Jones, a good comp. I guess they asked him in a meeting, like who he studies and tries to emulate.

Julio Jones was one of them. It was another kind of obvious one, but he went back to Andre Johnson. Oh, the old Houston, Texan, Miami, Miami Hurricane. Yeah. Yeah. And I actually like that for him.

Because I think he's like a little bit more, bendy than Julio Joan. I'm not Beny. I don't know. He's somewhere in between those two. But we're talking about two of like the all time most talented wide receivers we've ever seen coming during our 25 years covering the NFL draft. So that like that's it's rare to watch.

And I even tweeted tonight like I felt like I had to say something about Jeremiah Smith. So I was like, you know, I don't know what else to say about Jeremiah Smith. The best wide receiver in the country. Like that's all I got for you. What else jumped out at you? Go ahead. I mean, I've got three or four other things. It turns into this every time.

I just got to, we're going to mention it quickly. It was on the broadcast all the time. Caleb Downs, they might have the best, Ohio State might have the best defensive player and the best offensive player and they're both coming back. I mean,

they're both going to be in that. I mean, they lose 75 other players and like 30 of them with, with draftable grades. But those two are coming back. Yes. But if you're telling me, put me in that situation and you're telling me the two,

I get to keep. Are those two? Okay. All right. Caleb Downs is Ed Reed to me. I mean, when I look at him and I know he's got, he's probably bigger than Ed Reed. He looks a little bit bigger than him. But I hear whenever, you ever see those old clips about Tom Brady talking about playing against the Ravens and being like, I know I see a too high look that Ed Reed's got this coverage and he's got this responsibility. And if I run this route combination, then most safeties I can do this. But I know Ed Reed knows that I know that. So he's going to drop off and do this. And you're seeing, you're seeing Caleb Downs do that today. Yes. He's just playing in the middle of the field. It's almost like they're like, hey, man,

we'll do the structure of the defense around you and then you do you, whether it's against the run, tracking down the run, whether it's breaking on passes underneath. Whatever it is, you just be Caleb Downs and just do whatever you want to do. And I don't know if that's what the deal is. I don't. But it looks like that to me because he's always around the ball. I promise you, Mensch, those two players, have gotten significantly better from like six, seven weeks ago and were better than they were in week one. And they were still awesome in week one. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. So credit to Brian Hartline, the wide receiver coach and the offensive staff for Ohio State, credits Jeremiah Smith for

like, it's one thing to just have all the talent in the world. It's another to have all the talent in the world and to be a dog and like to be in there grinding and doing the right things. And to have, have a million or two million or whatever their NIL deals are and more money coming. And still, and everyone in the world telling you how great you are at 18. Can you imagine making a million or two when you were 18 coming out of Andover down at University of Richmond? And everyone in the world telling you how awesome you were, you'd be a disaster. And I would have been worse. I would have been worse.

Okay. So like credit to these young men, but also credit to Brian Hart. I don't know who the DB coach is for Ohio State. but credit to him and to the entire staff because those guys are better. You're right. Like watching the game tonight, it felt like they either they mentioned Caleb Down's name. They isolated him in the picture or I saw zero or saw two on like 50, 60 percent of the defensive snaps for Ohio State, you know. And by the way, Ransom was awesome at the other safety spot, laying due.

dudes out. And I wanted to get to this, too. Simon, the linebacker. I'm excited to go back and watch his tape. He's not the same guy. He's not the same guy I did, you know, early in the season. He's not. Because unless the TV version is telling me something, I'm watching him in coverage and actually like turning and running with guys and keeping up. I'm watching him in a spiral and keeping it, you know, getting his drops, eyes on the quarterback, still like passing guys off and then and then go in and making a sack or limiting a run. I'm watching him sideline to sideline versus the run just cleaning, like a vacuum.

Simon's playing some great ball at lineback. And Tiley and Tileak Williams. So remember we talked to Joel Clatt. We talked to Joel Clatt a while ago. Sorry, I'm just, it fires me up because like, because of what is the Bronx tale? Like the worst thing in the world is wasted potential, right? And it felt like this team was headed towards a wasted potential season, right?

my dad always told me the worst thing in the world is wasted potential and and it's just it's not anymore and you're seeing all Joel clatt told us he had a production meeting we were getting ready for the Oregon game I think it was the Oregon game we had him on or maybe no it was Penn State we're we had him on and he was talking about talking to the coaches that they were either directly saying they were directly saying in some instances and other instances insinuating that we got a lot of dudes going to the NFL, a lot of dudes who have been here four and five years, and they're not getting better or they're just not playing to the level. And it was pissing the coaching staff off, and that was being relayed to Joel Klapp.

We saw it on tape. That's not the case anymore. No. This is not the case. I mean, Sunny Stiles, the other linebacker. I mean, he's an interesting cat, man. He's the former safety, and he's starting to really come on too. they're a bunch, I'm just going to say it,

they're a bunch of mean bullies up front. I mean, they are angry, they are pissed off. They are, they, they come off the ball with purpose on every snap right now. And they're not the most, they're not as talented coming off the edge as a Penn State is. Penn State, I think, is deeper on the edge in terms of talented pass rushers. But they are the most physical group left in this tournament, I think. And I don't, I'm not sure it's really all that close. I mean, Georgia's really good too.

And they might be more talented again. But this group is playing with that level of anger and physicality that I'm not seeing from anyone else. I'd be curious. We've got plenty of time to get to start moving forward. The two games coming up, the Cotton Bowl and the Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl is on Friday, January 10th. So over a week from now. And then Thursday, the 9th of the day before is the Orange Bowl. That will be Penn State versus the winner of Notre Dame, Georgia.

But I'd be curious to see, and I'd have to believe, as of right, as of the, as of the second and probably no matter what the result is tomorrow, unless Notre Dame, Georgia absolutely puts it on the other team. And I still don't know that it would make a difference. I got to believe that Ohio State is the heavy favorite to win the national championship now, right? Right. Like heavy. Right. I mean, you have the odds for the Conville, right?

Yeah. Ohio State is favored by five and a half. It's Ohio State minus five and a half over Texas. Over Texas. Yeah, but like, is it enough? That's how you're feeling after that game. I think it's a perfect transition. Let's just say this real quickly.

Dylan Gabriel, awesome season. Yes. You know, brutal way to go out. Loved his compete in the second half. Late first half. He was still awesome today. I loved his calmness in the pocket. I thought he was making plays,

considering he was getting, I mean, there were bullets flying all around him, man. I wouldn't say it was awesome today. I thought his competitiveness was awesome. I thought the way that they adjusted, it was too little, too late. Yeah. But they clearly, Oregon clearly adjusted with a lot more,

they realized they have to be more creative, a lot more like misdirection, pre-stap motions, and like almost more tempo within the play, not between the play, but within the play. Like guys had to be flying around because just lining up and going and running routes and like this, the usual screens. stuff and like reverses throwing back, all that stuff like just wasn't working. Yeah, maybe it was just too strong.

No, but I hear what you're saying. And once he, once they started moving the pocket for him or he started to move after the initial read, that's when he was at his best in this game because he just wasn't being protected very well up front. And we knew it coming in the game. We said the interior offensive line for Oregon. It's not Conner Lee or is it Cornelius, the other guy, both NFL offensive tackle is Conner. Conor Lee is,

Conor Lee's going to be a high pick. They actually held up pretty well as the interior that was an, I didn't hear J.T. or Jack's names, much at all. Only like, Jack had a cleanup sack at the end. I'm just saying, I got made some plays, but they weren't like, yeah. It was the interior. So when he started moving around,

bottom line is Dylan Gabriel was awesome all year. Tess Johnson fought back. I gave him credit. He's, you know, buck 75, wet wearing boots. and he got he got knocked around early on and some guys may may not have come back in he did he fought do you see his story with his mom coming to his first ever game the big 10 championship that was awesome like tears in my eyes um but to see him battle back in to fight the way he did to see holding the other receiver crying after his touchdown his last touchdown catch almost like it was sinking in

like that might be it for me might you know um i don't know i just i give them a lot of credit they had an unbelievable season, brutal way to go out. But they got jumped. They absolutely got jumped by a team that is on a mission. And so here we go, set up for Ohio State, Texas. The McShay Show is brought to you by Fanduel. The playoff is bigger than ever. There's eight teams left, and you can still win big on Fanduel.

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So let's get to Texas. What a ride. I mean, the Rose Bowl was supposed to be the classic. Right. And Arizona State, Texas was supposed to be what Arizona State, Texas was for about a half of that game. a brutal watch. It was.

And it was everything. I don't get this Texas team. And we get so much unpack here. It was the most compelling. It wasn't always clean. It wasn't always beautiful, but it was the most compelling. Certainly the wildest finish of the college football playoff. And it had the best single performance of the college football playoff.

And it won't be surprising if when it's all said and done, we crown a national champion that we go back. and say, all right, who had the best individual performance in a game of any player during all these college football playoff games with the 12 teams in it? And we say Cam Scadaboo from Arizona State in a lost Texas. It was awesome. It was just so much fun to watch. And this is what makes the 12, this format great is because you can catch a game like this every once in a while. We didn't see it coming. I didn't see it coming.

I mean, going in, this was going to be Texas takes care of business, move on. they'll play the winner of the Rose Bowl, which we're all waiting to watch now, yada, yada, yada. The next thing you know, you're watching, I mean, that second half was unreal. Even like the fake punt at the end of the first half, that was a lot of fun. I mean, there was just elements of this game.

They were like, this is, you know, this is getting crazy and fun and awesome, and this is why they do it. I just want to thank everyone, by the way, because we get carried away. Like, I probably should have said this a long time ago. I know I mentioned in passing, but thank you to everyone who's on with.

us live right now. Like this is awesome. It's growing every week. We appreciate it. We'll be back. We're going to cover both the, on the ninth and the 10th after those, after the orange, orange bowl on the 9th and the cotton bowl on the 10th will have live reaction shows after that. Hopefully the amount of people that join us live continues to grow. We truly appreciate it. Do us a favor. Just hit the subscribe button if you don't mind. Like I hate begging, hate being that show. But we're trying to grow this thing. And we are. And it's been fun to do. But thank you. Truly, thank you for being here. And I love going through the chats after and reading all this stuff that they, you know, attacking us on. Hey, we're not always late. We're

usually in there, by the way. I'm sure you guys got after us again. Everyone's always yelling in the first five minutes that we're late. And I've got a history of being late to think. So I'm a little sensitive to it. But normally it takes like five minutes to get on the air. But here we are. So thank you for joining. All right, back to this game. 39, 31, two overtimes it took to get it finished. As we were, all of us, you and I, and everybody on our crew is on this group chat.

It's like, we were just like, of course it was going to end like this. Like this game is ugly, it's sloppy, it's beautiful, it's fun, it's wild, it's got a little bit of everything. Scataboo, though, I don't even have its final numbers in front of me, but he had the 42-yard touchdown pass. It's like around

250 total yards. You can come up with those. He had 143 yards. two touchdowns and 30 carries and eight catches for 99 yards. Just limping on and off. And through a 42-yard touchdown to ignite a touchdown pass on a fourth down to ignite to ignite the comeback. That's when they were down 16. They not only needed that touchdown.

It was fourth over. He was throwing up on the freaking sidelines before and like gasping for air, oxygen coming, fluids, throwing, like, all. of it and then he throws he pops a 42 yarder and and now they've got some life it's like yeah they got life but there's only like eight minutes left or seven minutes left and and they got to get the two oh shit they get the two now they and then they get the ball back and they score they get the two and there's still time left and that's when things that got really haywire but um i don't know i i'm going to start with this and it's probably not the best place to go i can't figure texas out

every single we i can't figure texas out i can't figure out whether quin ewers is it is an asset or a liability and i i promise you i know this for a fact he's both he's both he's both he's both an asset and a liability the unpredictable part is figuring out at what portions of the game is he going to be an asset and what portions of the game is he going to be a liability and i think the trend is during the scripted plays early in the game, he's an asset. He operates the offense well. But Sark is so damn good at what he does. It's a lot like what we saw with Chip in Ohio State.

Their first drive or first two drives of games are beautiful. They're scripted. They found a weakness on tape. They attack it immediately. And then by like the third series, the opponent has adjusted to that. And now it's my best versus your best. And it's not just like what we saw.

not many gotcha moments anymore. It's like now we're in the rhythm of this game. Texas explodes out of the gates. They've done it the vast majority of the second half of the season. They explode out of the gates early. They jump teams. They get leads. Then they, I think, I think, you know,

we've been talking about this for like five, six weeks. I finally heard someone on the broadcast like bring it up, that it's a trend. It's a maddening try. Jesse Palmer was doing the game. He put it well. He goes, then they start playing with their food a little bit. Right.

It was a really good way. I would never, that's not totally how I envision it in my mind. It's a little bit more frustrating, but it's like, yeah, yeah, just pushing the food around a little bit, just talking, not paying. It's like when you're a parent, you have a kid. And it's like, finish your meal. But they do this over and over again. And then what happens is they get in a.

a situation where the opponent gets back in the game. And then all of a sudden they've got to come up with whether it's one big play or one big drive to kind of put the game away and to make the game look like it was a bigger defeat or it wasn't as close as maybe it should have been. But the whole time you're kind of like, I know Texas is the better team. They're dominant in so many facets. But why do they let teams hang around? They did it.

I want you to remember back now if you think I'm crazy. Vanderbilt, three point win. that was more of a dog fight than the other ones. But Arkansas jumped them, lead, let them back in. Kentucky, never totally scared in that game, but jumped them. Big, we got 14, nothing, I think, in the first quarter, and then let them back in a little bit. A&M, perfect example, jumped them.

And when the game was over, they dominated A&M, much better. And then you looked at the scoreboard, it was like, that was tight. They needed a drive in the fourth quarter, remember? Clemson, same thing. And now Arizona State. I mentioned earlier, they jumped a 14-3 lead, second quarter. That's who they are.

So, yeah, they are who we thought they are, right? Right. And then the one thing that was an issue tonight is they, that offense is always like, ah, we've got this great defense. They'll just take care of it. And then Arizona State was like, well, we're going to come up with a trick play. And then this guy, Cam Scadabu refuses to go down, refuses to be, to be not. My goodness.

And Sam Levitt. for all his flaws and he's still growing, I think he's going to be a great player. His mobility was a problem. He's going to extend plays. He's going to get a defensive holding call. He gives him a second chance. He's going to scramble down on the side of the five.

He is. He was, Sam Levitt, man, played his ass off today. He did. And you get a game like that with a mobile quarterback. And all of a sudden, your defense is like, hey, you know,

a little help here. And the other thing is, do you know, do you see how many plays of Arizona State ran today? It was 97. 97.

Texas ran 60. You're leaving your defense out there for 97 plays. Yeah, I mean, part of it was, it was a byproduct of a positive that they scored on two, two plays in the first drive, two long plays. It was a 54-yard reception to Matthew Golden, who by the way, has been awesome.

Right. Isaiah Bond was supposed to be the guy. he I don't he didn't even play today he warmed up and people thought he was going to play I didn't he played like a couple snaps he did okay all right so it wasn't very minimal non factor non factor and in d'andre moors he had the 23 yard touchdown on the very next play it was 66 seconds two plays touchdown right and and more's developed into a really good compliment we've said that before now they're up seven three they get the field goal now they're up seven three and then they get the punt return after stopping them from silas bolden who's

been awesome, but he's like, and I, and Connor and Evans, our producer, he mentioned it on their group text and he's right. Like, he's their number, he's their number three, actually, he's their number four with Isaiah Bond. No, shit, he's just, he's their number five. He doesn't see the field that much as a receiver because you got, you got, um, uh, wingo as well. Right. So he's truly their number five. When bonds out or limited like he's been in the last two games, he becomes their number four. and we saw him take over that one drive a couple weeks ago, but usually it's in the return game. And he would be the number one receiver for Arizona State.

And he would be, I mean, he's undersized and all that, a slot guy, but he would be, he would be a number one or a number two for most schools out there. But he had to, so my point is, getting back to it, it's 14, 3, and Texas has been on the, on the field for 66 seconds and two offensive plays. And so while it was a huge positive, it kind of led to Arizona State controlling, controlling the time of possession and wearing down that

Texas defense, which we didn't think was really going to matter until all of a sudden it started to matter, right? Right. I mean, there was the other thing about this was we kept talking about, can I just say this? Kenny Dillingham got a new deal recently, like a day before the game, I think. Yeah, I think yes. And then he went out and had the game of his life, I think. I thought he was unreal.

First of all, let's just look at, you know, his team down 17-3 at the half to a Texas team that's supposed to handle them. No quit. Down 16 in the fourth quarter. No quit. This is, he went for it, I think, six times on fourth down. They got three of them, right? The fake punt. The fake punt was on their own 20-yard line.

They were down 14 with less than two minutes in the half. If they get stopped there, I think this game's over, right? And then you say, well, they got, went down. they still had a blocked field goal at the end. And there was a lot of these drives where they didn't end up with points. And it was like, you need to finish, you need to finish. And I get that. You need to finish.

But the side product of that was, they were just eating a clock and keeping the ball out of your hands, not giving Sark opportunities to put more points on the board, wearing down that defense. I mean, Dillingham, it was, he turned this game into a rock fight, which is what he wanted to do. Yes, what he had to do. And I just thought, I mean, you look at him as a coach on that stage. At this level, the first time he really was able to do that right after getting a new deal, I was super impressed with the way that the Dillingham was today. I was super impressed with the defense, like specifically.

I mean. I have a rule change. Go ahead. Have a cool new rule change. All targeting calls get erased after the conference championship games. You can't carry over objections or like if someone get, you can't carry over suspensions for half into the playoff. Because this kid, Shamari Simmons. for Arizona State, who missed the first half.

Yes. What a difference. Because he had a hit in the big 12 game. And like it happens. I get it. Like a month ago. Don't do that. In the playoffs, they get erased. I agree. Start anew because Shammari Simmons was all over the field in the second half of this game. And they were saying it.

Jesse Palmer said in the first half. He's like, this guy's different. They have a safety right now who's on the sideline, who is a special player. Once he come in, blows up the play in the backfield, gets the same. He had a pass deflection. He was, I mean, he was all over the place. So I'm hoping that going forward, just start anew. If you got to targeting in the second half in the first round,

sure, he doesn't play in the first half of the second round. But if you're talking about a conference champion game or a regular season finale, those get erased. They don't carry over to the playoff. I'm just fixing it. No, I love it. And you know what? It sounds like if you watch Game Day this morning,

it sounds like Nick Sabin might be the new commissioner of college football. so maybe we'll have to have to get him get him that the mensch rule don't mention it um i know right but but yes excellent point excellent point on that but as a group too like you go down 143 against big bad texas right you can't do anything offensively that arizona state defense hung in there they were physical they were smart like they They shut down the run. Like Texas, Texas, and I get it. Listen, Cameron Williams is out.

And so they bring in Goosby, who started at left tag. Give this kid credit. And I know he had that false start. He wasn't perfect. But he's now filled in at left tackle for you when Kelvin Banks was injured, filled in at right tackle for you. He's filled in at guard. He's played like basically four of the five positions along the offensive line,

filling in for guys who have been injured and really late in the season, you know, the second half of the season. but Goosby's in at right tackle and and that uh because Cameron Williams is out and Kelvin Banks is gets injured in game now he wound up coming back but you can blame it on that but it's still Texas and you should be able to line up you know with line up with these guys and and run the football and they didn't like late in the fourth quarter I don't know what the final numbers were it doesn't because there was overtime and all that. But we're talking late in the fourth quarter, late, like four, four or five minutes left.

Quintravean, Wisner, and Jaden Blue. I know they're number four and five on the depth chart coming in the season, but, like, let's be honest, Blue's an absolute burner. And Wisner had like 200 rushing yards versus A&M. They're both talented. Right. Wisner and Blu combined for 17 carries and 41 yards against Arizona State's defense late in the fourth quarter. And I don't think it'd improved drastically with the last.

few minutes and overtime because they were because they were throwing the ball they might be close to the final numbers the bottom line is 2.4 yards per carry they allowed those two cats that's that's something man that's not nothing okay and they they were frustrating the hell out of you were you were i think in times i know that was the longest pause in and in the mickshay show history because i want because stuff gets clipped and then things get you know things get get get get looked at and all a sudden something will come out i said this before you were with us you were you were under the weather and i'm glad you took the time off because you're you're great you're you're beautiful and and full of energy to night mention stevie boy but um what i said the other day that i'm

talking to scouts that everyone i've talked to and we i think we agree i agree i've said it for several weeks now like going back to like mid late season that i think yours could use another year. And everyone, because, and I even got unsolicited from somebody who was in the league and decision unsolicited, like, oh, but we were talking about, because I reached out to a bunch of people, because we had all sorts of shit going on with Carson Beck, Cam Ward sitting out the second half of that game. I had someone totally unsolicited texting me, ranting and raving about Shador Sanders, and he's scared for his life in the NFL if he doesn't improve his pocket instincts. So I went in a whole like 15, 20 minute rant the other day when you weren't here.

But part of those discussions in the back and forth with people, it was brought up multiple times. Like Quinn Neuer's needs to grad transfer. And I was saying like, and some people, he needs another year. He's not, you know, go go make money. And you're going to make more money in NIL than he is in the NFL on a third, fourth round contract, right? And I totally agree at that point. And the more I watch, like, he throws a beautiful ball. I know he's gutsy.

I know he's got talent. But the ball is hanging in the air. And you've said this multiple times this year. And I saw it today in two instances where it was absolutely detrimental. And you wonder. And I want to say that he would have been able to make those throws in previous years. and maybe I just overrated his arm talent. Maybe I overrated the velocity on the ball

and the ability to drive it vertically. But he under threw his speedster freshman receiver wingo on the one ball and it bounced off the guy's shoulder, the defensive back shoulder pads, right? And then there was another one. Was it an interception? What was the interception late? Interception late.

The ball hung in the air forever. So physically, I don't know if he's not right or what the deal is, but he's not making these throws where you're like quen you're definitively is an asset to this Texas offense that they couldn't get from from other top tier highly regarded quarterbacks. So yeah, something that chubbed out to me today. Go ahead. Sorry.

No, I was just going to say because I loved his progression to where you got. And I keep going back to the Michigan game. I thought it was going to be another step in what Quinn Ewers could provide. And since then, and I keep saying this phrase, but I leave the experience wanting. And I got to the point today where I was saying to myself and even put in a text message, like I feel like at times, not always, but at times, I feel like Texas has to win despite some of the limitations or holding back at the quarterback position. I think Sark coaches with a certain level of limitations in terms of what he wants to put on, the plate for yours. And I don't mean mentally. I don't mean processing. I mean like difficult

throws down the field driving the ball. I don't see them doing a lot of that. Yeah. And so it begs the question, it begs the question, why aren't we seeing a little bit more of arch? But then, but then shit starts to happen in the game. And I'm like, they, they haven't been able to do anything offensively. That first drive, the two throws, that was Sark. Let's be honest. That was Sark. Oh, yeah. Golden's, Golden was a, they clearly saw something in the tape. Yeah, an RPO, they saw something to the tape or the, the safety's going to bite, linebacker's going to bite, and they got golden hit. Now, yes, accurate throw, but like anyone, any solid quarterback in the league can make,

and the college football can make that throw. And then the next one was, I think it was on the right, the right rail, or it was a wheel route, I think, right? Well, there was a, there's a little bubble to the side. Yeah. kind of like, I mean, Carson. Yeah, it was a bubble. He was going to throw that.

And then he looked over back like that. Yeah. It wasn't totally dissimilar from the Chip Kelly play we were talking about to G. Very similar. Yeah. Very similar to play. Down the right rail.

Two easier throws. My point being, they jumped them early. They looked great. The offense is rolling. Texas is back. But really, it was two easy throws and a punt return for 75 yards from Bolden. Right? Yeah.

And then throughout the game, the offense is sputtering. And they're not, you know, and they, they didn't, until the game got tied and the urgency was there and they didn't have a choice. This is the thing. I wonder sometimes is it Sark playing it safe because he knows his defense is so good and he wants to, he was bitching at halftime. I want it. We need to run the football better during his interview because it's more comfortable that way.

Or is it because the viewers can't do it? And I think it's a little bit of both. Honestly, I think we saw in those two throws, ball off the shoulder pad, ball hung too long on a deep ball. Interception, outside the numbers, ball hung in the air. I'm watching it. Before it was an interception, my brain said that ball is hanging too long in the air. And so Sark's seeing that thing every day in practice in every game and on the tape. And I've got to believe he's playing the percentages, right? I don't know. I think Ewers has developing to do somewhere else and needs to have a healthy season.

for his own regard. And that's not what the show is about tonight. It's about Texas moving on and playing the next, next round matchup against Ohio State. But if we're flipping it to Ohio State, they're going to need more out of the quarterback position than they have been getting with viewers. But then I look at the last couple of drives and the overtime and the urgency,

right? I'm purposely being insane right now. It's a roller coaster, right? Let's go. I'm purposely doing this up and down, talking in circles, because it's the experience. I truly it is. Because I'm texting you guys like, are they winning in spite of him?

Is he an asset or liability? And then when Sark has no choice, but to open it up, like we have to throw, we're in this situation, clock's taking before regulation, and now we're in the overtime. Ewers all of a sudden, it's like, I don't know if his training wheels come off or there's urgency in his mind and he's just got to let it rip without the concern of making a mistake. It seems like it's that. Both the coach, the play caller and the quarterback, when they have to perform without the concern of making a mistake,

this thing can, this thing can hum. But in the middle quarters in between, when they got a little bit of a lead, it's not working. There's my rant. Something interesting that jumped out to me that I want to look at when we go back and watch his tape towards the draft is that I felt like he's more confident and more aggressive throwing outside the

ashes than he is over the middle of the field. But he's afraid he's going to make a mistake over the middle of the field, and it's going to turn into a turnover. And I wonder if that's a trend or if that's just something that I was seeing tonight. So I want to go back and look, I will play devil's advocate here and push back a little bit. And I do mostly feel the same way. My guy was lights out in the overtime.

I mean, the fourth and 13, when you talk about that play, the season is on the line. That stadium's getting loud. Everyone's like Texas is going down. And I was here to see it, man. I was here to see it. I told you Quinn Ewers was no good. And the protection does a great job.

And Golden runs a great route, but still, he delivers that ball. And then the second overtime, when he steps up and makes that throw to Gunnar Helm, you're a quarterback. You know that throw is not that easy. It kind of looks. Dude, that that throw looks easy on TV. I said it, but they ran the replay of it because they had the angle then behind. The sky cam.

I was like, oh, shit, that's, that is not easy. And that catch, that catch, that's not easy. Right. Excuse me. You rush for a touchdown. I don't know. I'm going. Stepping up in the pocket with your momentum going and having to hit it on a line.

And seeing that angle to get it past that linebacker and trail, trail coverage versus Helm. And to put it on that spot. Then Helm being able to pluck it the way he did. His hands were awkward. I forget what it was. But that was not an easy catch. And it happened fast. Uh-huh.

But I feel like that's when they're successful. When they know they got no choice. I know. When their backs against a wall, when it's happening fast, it's like when they slow down, we got a 14-point lead, and we get to the line, we're running our RPO's.

Like, I'm curious to see against Ohio State where it's all going to be happening fast. If we get anywhere close to the version of Ohio State, we've gotten the last two weeks, both offensively and defensively, that game's going to be happening fast. And a couple, not mistakes, but if you don't execute, things can get away from you fast.

So you better not come out and think you're going to run your conservative offense and hit your bubble screens and all that stuff. Your RPO, like you've got to come out attacking if you want to beat Ohio State. And so I'm interested to see if Sark's self-assesses and looks at the opponent and says like that script in the first quarter. and then what happens late in games when we need one because we're starting to feel like it's getting pulled away or the opponent's coming back or we're tied up or it's in overtime. That urgency, that aggressiveness, that's got to be the mindset going in for Uers and for Sark. Yeah, Uers and that defense are going to both have to play better against Ohio State. I mean, I don't think there's any question about that. Now, the defense is shown it can do that.

The defense is shown it can elevate. And yours is interesting. You know, part of the pushback I would also give you is there is no run game. I mean, he got 60 plays. He got no run game. And, you know, when it mattered the most, he made plays. Now, listen, some of those mistrows, as you mentioned, are frustrating because I do think he's the kind of player that can make that throw.

So why isn't he making that throw? You know, if he's the Quinn Ewers that we thought he could be coming into the year, he's making that throw. So maybe he does. Maybe, maybe Ohio State is the best game he's at all season. We'll see. Yeah, it's almost like the awakening that we've seen from Chip Kelly and Will Howard over the last two games is the awakening that we're going to need to see from Texas against Ohio State. Without Jeremiah Smith or Mika,

or Parnell Tate or. Agreed. And maybe that's why we haven't, we didn't see Isaiah Bond the last two weeks, quite frankly. You know, if we got any shot of beating an Ohio State team, we're going to have to go out and beat these two opponents. Clemson and Arizona State without bond because he's track guys are different man it's it's like it's like having a it's like having a I don't want to say a specific thing it's like having a race car okay I don't think we're going to have any race car sponsor our podcast so I can say if having like you always hear one little thing with the engine goes out the electrical something like and the parts cost it

wide receivers is the same way like one little tweak and it ain't right and it ain't right and they got to shut it down until they're right because it'll come back like that because they're tight the tight fiber, all that stuff, the muscles. So, yeah, it'll be fascinating to see. But I do want to echo what you're saying in overtime. He was awesome.

That fourth down touchdown to Golden. I talk about big time in the first overtime, right? And then the touchdown to Helm, the Sark design on that and the execution, awesome. Then the safeties, I wanted to get to this. The safety, how many safeties does Texas have? I feel like there are nine safeties on Texas's defense, and they all were awesome today.

I kept writing down like notes, one safety after another. They were awesome in support. They made plays in coverage. The game was sealed or another safety, Andrew McCu. Cuba. The Clemson transfer, yeah. Right? He comes in.

He doesn't bite on that combo route and makes it, it was, no, it wasn't a it was the bubble. It was a bubble. He didn't bite on that bubble. And he stayed with his guy and makes the interceptions to seal the game. But I mean, I put it in my notes here, like these safeties all day. Yeah, safeties and run support. The involvement was critical.

John A. Brown, Call McCorn. or whatever. Nicol, he plays all over the place. Count him as one. Jolani McDonald. How many times do they call it Jelani McDonald's name today? MacCuba, way before that play. Michael Taff. These guys were awesome all day long. And the last thing, I'll leave you with this, Colin Simmons. Oh. Similar to what we've seen with Jeremiah Smith and his improvement and Caleb Downs and his improvement, I'm seeing the same thing from Colin Simmons.

It's like it's not, he's always been fast, man, but now setting up guys with the speed, outside in moves, his hands like, like, you know, the slap, the rip, he's special. Yeah, I mean, he's only going to get better too. I mean, it's crazy. I mean, he is a, it's game plan. You have to game plan for him.

You have to locate him every time. He's turned into that player. It was like, he's talented, but, you know, he's still trying to get his legs under him. Now it's, we better know where he is and we better have a plan for him because we don't have a guy that can block him by himself. That's the kind of player that he's turned into.

So, it's interesting to see what he can do against Ohio State. Those Ohio State offensive tackles who I think are tough and strong in the run game, but aren't as good in pass protection and they can get him in drop back situations what he could do in that game. Yeah. We got a lot of time to preview that, but there's really some fun matches. I mean, you look at it. I mean, I would, I mean, 27 prospects we have between Ohio State and Texas with guys who have draftable grades potentially, you know?

Yeah. Talking to teams, like those are guys that potentially could go in the seven rounds. That's, I mean, that's awesome. That's a dream. That is a dream. All right. So, yeah, yours is the biggest question to me. Honestly, God.

Ewers is the biggest question. Is he going to step up? He's got one game guaranteed to him, two potentially, to try to finish out his career. And really quickly, like, don't you, the run game issues, don't you want Arch to come in and maybe jumpstart your run game? Yes. Jumpstart the run game. No, I want more of Arch. And I didn't want to say it.

And I don't want to, like, be part of the whole nonsense and all that. But I just feel like there are, there's more opportunity for Arch to come in and be a compliment. it's not a threat to youers but there are situations where he can come in and utilize his mobility and then strike strike for a deep play because everyone in the building thinks he's going to run the football i just don't and again is it why isaiah bond didn't play the last two weeks but we didn't see it as much as much against george as we thought because uers had the ankle injury remember yeah and we thought so yeah i don't know why because at this point it's not like oh if we play him then what's going to happen and all the media attention like who cares you're in the playoff you're you're you're

insulated. You're like, you must arrive. Almost found out today, man. You almost found out today. Sark knows better than us. I know that. Sark knows his team.

He knows the, he knows better than us. And there's got to be a reason. And, and I, because I don't have all the information he does it, you got to just, you know,

you got to trust that he, it may not be the right decision, but he's got good reasoning for his decisions. Let's put it that way. But I think we're seeing the same thing. It just doesn't make sense where you've got a talented quarterback who brings a different skill set, though. That's the thing for me. Who has a role to play, I think?

All right. Last game. And I'm fired up to get to preview in the next games, but we can't do the full preview. It's not time to do it. But we don't, you know, with Georgia and Notre Dame being postponed by a day, we don't even have that match up yet. So, Boise State, Penn State. I'm going to throw one thing out to you and you can take this wherever you want to go. I was so impressed.

And the reason I'm going to say it first is because I need to beat you to it. And the only time I try to beat you to something is what it has to do with the trenches. I was so impressed with Penn State's offensive line, man. I went back because the beauty is it was a game was last night. So I had some time to actually watch the tape this morning before the kickoff of the 1 PM game, the Texas Arizona State game. And just watching the like the pins and poles, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, out and log blocks, the counters, how well they executed.

Like this is an offensive line that's playing together, cohesive group. And the result for them was, you know, Nick Singleton, he had that 58-yard touchdown run, read the blocking beautifully, but the blocking was apps. Like, if you're one of those weirdos like Mench's and you love watching the tight version where you can't see the receivers and you don't see the whole play, but you're just watching the offensive line versus the defensive line. and you're kind of isolated on just the trenches there. It was a thing of beauty. And so the 58-yard touchdown run was there. But Catron Allen, he was the workhorse. You know, 17 carries 134.

They combined mensch for 29 carries, 221 and a touchdown. But two of those, but two of those carries were for 108 yards. So it was hard earned. And I felt like the dirty work was done by Catron Allen in this game. but they both played significant roles. But honest to God, that was one of the better run blocking performances I can remember watching this year. I'm not going to, I mean, go on. Office of Liman love angles, man.

And they did a great job of creating favorable angles to get, you know, to fit up guys. And that's great. I will say when you are an offensive lineman, you love the block for a guy like Allen. I mean, he, there are a few running backs that when a defender gets into their five. iPad they can keep their feet. When people get into his legs, he can see like he powers through that. His,

his core strength is remarkable. And I listen, I love Singleton and he did have a great read on that play. I think Singleton's probably going to be the better pro, although I think Alan will be good too. But I do think Alan's seeing it better too. I think he's just seeing it a little bit better with his vision. Well,

clearly they agree because he had the 17 carries and Singleton had the 12, you know, and they also think the Singleton's also a different kind of dude in their scheme. I think they kind of use them as a receiver too. They want to get him touches in the passing game. So, you know, especially without the wide receivers. They just don't have one receivers. Right. So, you know, I just, he's the kind of guy that you want to block for.

He's a B.YOB guy, bring your own block. I will say one of the things was interesting to me about that. Speaking of the offensive line is I think they might have a call or check or a communication issue. Do you remember in the game late in the game that they got called for a false start and Franklin was angry? because they were saying that. Didn't it seem like Boise State was real good about timing up those pressures, man? It seemed like we're, I think that's something they're going to go back and look at and say,

you know, it's like a pitcher tipping pitches. Are we tipping our count here? Are we tipping our, like even the Singleton run and get into the weeds a little bit, the Singleton run on third down when they ran outside and he got blown up at the backfield. They were out leveraged on that play. There was just a couple of things. I was looking at it seems like. Do you remember? I don't know if you remember.

The first game of the year in the NFL, Falcons versus Steelers. Someone on, I don't even know who it was. Someone on Twitter sent out, like what he, this person, I honestly, I don't remember who it is. This person every once in a while, like, what's the first thing that jumps out to you? And they'll put like the tight clip or whatever clip it is of like every single offensive player or the player for that player's plays in the game. And so I was watching. And Kurt causes the there, it was basically.

being like it's so obvious that he's not moving off his spot is his Achilles isn't healthy there's a problem here right but the thing that jumped out to me is the communication and i Stanford was the first team i ever remember doing this they probably weren't the first two ever do it but i remember talking to Andrew luck when he was in college covering a game for Stanford and and i asked after watching tape i asked Andrew i was like what's the deal with your guard tap in the center I had never seen it before at that point. This is what, 15, 17 years ago, whatever it is. And so you could do that, but it doesn't necessarily,

that cues that the quarterback, he's looking back to the quarterback, that cues the quarterback's ready. But you can have a pause or you can work different ways off of that. The Cousins tape, it was tap, head down, center, head down, 1001 go. literally every single time. Yeah. T.J. Watt, by the fifth play of the game was like, oh, we're going to do this. And I think he had like, I think he had like 12 sacks for fumble recovery, four fumble

force. But my point is, if you're crazy if you think that, I mean, that's what players look for. Oh, no, yeah. Give me the edge. So it wouldn't surprise me if that's something they saw. And it also wouldn't surprise me if Penn State's cleaned it up. But yeah. Right.

I think they'll go back and they'll look at that and say, we're, we got a. change something here or tweak it. So, yeah, I thought the running game was unbelievable in the game. It did feel like... But the past game wasn't. It wasn't. Three touchdowns. Look great early.

And it's... And it's... Deep shot after deep shot after deep shot after deep shot. There wasn't really bearing much fruit. And I get that they had matchups they liked. And I get that there was there. But they weren't... They were not capitalizing.

Drew Aller was 13 of 25 for 171 yards. It's a tricky spot, man, because Drew Allen are super talented. right his footwork's not completely right yet but it's gotten so much better he's not like as consistent with his with his ball placement as a result of his mechanics and and just drilling at home and needing more game experience and I'm thrilled that he's coming back um but he's got a big time arm I love the confidence he's playing with I love that he's taking off and running in certain situation certain situations say that five times fast and he's and he's doing it at the right times and he's doing it with a lot of confidence,

and he's been successful doing it. I like a lot about Drew Aller, but I also, unlike the Ewer's stuff and unlike Will Howard earlier in the season, there's nothing there. Like, so it doesn't, it's not that it doesn't matter how Drew Aller plays, but like there's a very low ceiling on what this passing game can be. Right.

It's Tyler Warren, and you got nothing of significance or consistency or that you trust. on the perimeter. And so they've done a brilliant job getting to where they are. They've done a brilliant job of being multiple and unique in all the different crazy ways they use Warren and how they use Singleton. They've been, it's been brilliant. And their run game has been outstanding, all of those things.

But there's a ceiling on it, man. And Drew Aller, for all of his talent and all the improvement he's made, and he truly has made significant improvement this year, he hasn't thrown for 250 plus since USC in October 12. Okay. That's nine games. Five of them, he threw for less than 150 yards. And it's not, and normally I'd be like, what's wrong with the play caller?

What's wrong with the quarterback? It's just what they have to work with, I think. Right. That's my takeaway. I mean, look no further than last year with Michigan, the way that they were built. the way that, you know, I made this argument for J.J. McCarthy, too. You know, you're not going to throw the ball in the second half against Penn State. Well, it's not J.J. McCarthy's fault. It's not Drew Aller's fault. Not all of it. You know, they just don't, we've talked about this.

They just don't have the guys on the outside to do what they want to do in terms of attacking downfield and moving the ball through the air. And it's only going to get hard. I mean, it's going to be much harder in their next game. So, yeah, Georgia and Notre Dame. Yeah. So we'll see who that is. But shit's about to get real. for Penn State is what, I mean, let's just be honest. It's about to get real. I mean, anyone who's, if you're left, it's, it's about to get real. Like, he's next, but it has awesome.

Yes, but it hasn't been, they've had the easiest path. SMU and Boise State, it's been the easiest path. Boise State is, and I hate to say it, but they're kind of the poor man's version of, nah, I shouldn't say that. Never mind. Yeah, they're just not in that scene. They're not in the same. I considered them in a similar regard to Arizona State,

but Arizona State is a more complete athletic team. They have more, they have more dudes. They have more dudes. That's the best way I could put it. Let's cover, but Boise State. First of all, I just want to say this. You look at the stat line, three interceptions, and yes, he threw them. And they were, and they were killer.

But I actually thought Maddox-Madson outplayed his ex, the ex-ex, He exceeded expectations in this game, truly. I don't love him on tape. They had no shot unless he plays as well as he did. Yeah. And they trusted him and they came out throwing. You know, like I thought he completed 70% for 304 yards. Like he did a good job.

Ginty. I'll start with you. What did you think? Ashton Ginty. Number one running back in the NFL draft. He's going to be a top 15 pick. I feel comfortable saying. Worst case top 20.

A lot of hype. coming in. Can he do it against Penn State this defensive front? What did you see? I will go back and watch the coaches tape to see if I'm missing anything because I think his vision is elite. But saying that, I don't think he was. I mean, I thought he ran hard. I thought, listen, they were not going to open up a lot of scenes for him. I think he got what he could. He created some on his own. I saw an Ashton Genti performance. It was just that he didn't have the supporting cast against a much better defensive front than he had seen. I mean, he had 30 carries for a little over 100 yards, I think.

I didn't see a guy was getting 30 carries for 104 yards. And I'll be honest, the average back has 30 carries for about 60 yards. Right. With that same situation, right? He fumbled twice, though. That was shocking. That's interesting. Right?

That is something to talk about. That is interesting. The second one, which they recover, which boys he recovered was actually even more concerning. The first one, the sideline. I was like, okay, you got a little loosey-goosey maybe because you thought you were out of bounds. But it still got punched out. Yeah, it still got punched out.

He hasn't fumbled a lot. So, you know, you take it with a little bit of a grain of salt. So, yeah, it wasn't the lights out performance that maybe you were hoping for him. But that was a Penn State team that knew that the record was on the line and knew that they didn't want to be the team that gave it up. And also knew, I mean, just from game purposes, like strategy, like, go ahead, Madsen, beat us. Right. You know, go ahead, Maddo. Madman. Dan just sent us a note.

81 of Genties, 104 yards came after contact. Really? That's the kind of, yeah, that's the kind of night he had. So, yeah, I mean, and I, listen, there was a couple plays. Do you remember that jump cut that they highlighted? Yes. And what makes him special isn't that jump cut? Because guys can jump cut like that.

It's his ability to hit the ground going 100 miles an hour. I mean, he jump cuts and makes the guy missed. And then is already accelerating outfield. it takes a guy, you know, any regular human being, second to get out of the blocks, he's already moving up field. And it always makes me laugh because he made a couple of plays as a receiver. The guys are like, oh, I think he'd be a better receiver in the pros. He didn't play a big game.

He didn't play a big role in their passing game this year. But he had pretty good receiving numbers two years ago. I mean, it's not an issue for him about whether or not he's going to be a receiver in the NFL. He's going to be fine in the passing game. Am I crazy? Well, the other thing we should mention, Abdul Carter left with an injury. I saw James Franklin on the game day,

pregame today from the Rose Bowl. He came on, you know, virtually from wherever he was still at that point. But, I mean, how critical will that be if he can't? I mean, hopefully he wasn't ready to go. They weren't the same without him. I thought Van Over flashed the guy who came in after me. flashed a little bit and Dennis Sutton outside of the couple penalties he had he's a talented dude he can turn it on yes uh they still weren't the same without him I mean in Abdul Carter is a

difference maker anytime I like I like Vanover but he's not yeah he's not Abdul and he's not yeah and Dennis Dennis Sutton was out earlier in the air and Van Over came in and he played remember I look I had to look him up I was like who is this guy you know yeah yeah that was actually before I was it with Riscilla that was before we even started the McShay show and and I remember being like I had to look him up and he's a senior and he's like six five, two 55. You know, he looks the part. But Abdul is a different cat, man. I mean, he is, he is, if you wear that 11, you're something at Penn State.

And he, and he is that. He's potentially a top, I think he'll be a top five pick when it's all said and done. But that's obviously something to keep an eye on as we await the winner of Notre Dame in Georgia tomorrow. I don't want to get, like, jump the gun. Don't you kind of feel like the winner of Ohio State, Texas is going to win this thing? Yeah.

I mean, with Carson Beck out for Georgia, they're flawed. Notre Dame I really like, but they've had some serious injuries on defense now, and they are one-dimensional on offense, a little two one-dimensional on offense. And then, you know, Penn State, I think, could make it a game. It would be interesting to see. I think Penn State can make it a game, but their lack of playmakers on the outside. could be their downfall. It's just, look, it's hard to go against anyone. Like, you're saying Ohio State or Texas, it's hard to go against Ohio State at this point. I mean, it's all about Mo and they've got momentum rolling. I mean, they are a freight train right now. And I don't see that going away. It's, you know, you could say that they had an axe to grind coming out off of the loss to Michigan. And that's why they blew out Tennessee. And then they wanted to, you know, revenge to get revenge for the loss against Oregon. You don't think they're going to look at Texas. You don't think they're going to look at Texas. Texas and be like, oh, here's another SEC team that everyone told us was better than us all year.

You don't think they're going to be motivated for that game. And then you get a natty. I don't think this team's going to lose any fuel for their fire. And that's what's scary about them is they had the talent all along. And now they're motivated. And getting them to be unmotivated is not going to be easy. Yeah. It's going to be a wild ride.

Have you ever seen a quarterback? And like, this is bad. you know, working 20 years in television and, you know, when you, when you're putting out a show and you know it's going to be listened or viewed, listen to or viewed after, after the games played, it's not good to help.

But I just want to preface with this. And for those who wind up listening or watching the show after the games play tomorrow, you'll get to have a little laugh. Have you ever seen a situation like this with Gunner Stockton where everyone is like, oh, no, we're just, maybe we're better.

Right? And I get it. Like Carson Beck, not what we signed up for the Carson Beck show is not what we signed up for this year. And there was ups and downs. And I thought he got better. But like,

I swear to God, I feel like everyone in that locker room, including the coaching staff, is kind of trying to say to the public, we're better off without Beck. We like this guy more. We're going to rally more around this guy. I'm misreading that or are you getting that same vibe?

I think you, I mean, it's where else are you going to go with it of, you know, Stockton, you know, I think they're trying to be positive. They're trying to generate their own momentum. They're trying to, you know, make the best of a bad situation. I don't know what else you would say. I don't think you need to throw Carson Beck under the bus per se, but, but I do think. Maybe I am misreading it. I'm telling you, when, when it's all said and done and we get it.

information from Georgia, months down the road, pre-draft, whatever it is. I mean, I can't believe Carson Beck is leaving for the draft. I made my comments last week. I stand by and nothing's changed. Then we have months to get to all that. So I'm not here for it right now. But I, there's something here. I'm just going to leave with that. There's something here. I will, I'll be surprised if we don't hear something like, you know what, for whatever reason, I don't know what it is. And honest to God could purely be they just believe in this young man. They love him. Georgia guy, best friends with a bunch of guys on the team.

Whatever it is, they believe in him. And you saw it come to life. You saw the offense come to life. And even Herbie said to that. And he doesn't say stuff unless he's like they rallied around this guy. You know, there's a lot of the quotes coming from the people they're coming from. And then Kirby had one quote, I don't know. I'll be fascinated to see because I saw a quarterback that brought mobility.

Clearly has talent. But he's up against it against his Notre Dame defense. Yeah. I'll be fascinated to see. I'll be fascinated to see. We got, yeah, we got a lot more to watch. I can't wait. We'll be back.

I love you under that. With that. Yeah, I just want to kind of start up there. We appreciate you, everyone. Thank you very much for watching, truly. And I love the fact that it's starting to become a thing. People are starting to actually join live. It was just mention I and like nine family members the first week we did this.

And now we got all of you joining us and being a part of this. And you can say maybe 10 more viewers that you were in on it before those 10 viewers got involved. But we love what we're doing. We hope you enjoy it too and appreciate it. And if you get a chance, spread the word. Press that little slippery button. Subscribe. Like and all the other.

stuff that you need to do. But we are back on Tuesday and we've got the live stream again. We're going to do it two more times. And it's going to be, there's something exciting about doing it after just one game to focus on, jump right on here. Like, we don't have to go to make up and like the producer of print out this like literally games over. I walk upstairs home office. Here we go. Ments you there. Yep, you good. Yep. All right. Here we go. And we'll be doing that live. Again, everyone knows the dates. It's Friday, June, Thursday, January 9th for the Orange Bowl, right after that live reaction show.

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