The McShay Show - CFP Quarterfinals Reactions: Ole Miss Upsets, Indiana's Dominance, and Oregon Flies | The McShay Show

Episode Date: January 2, 2026

Join Todd and Muench as they react to the quarterfinal matchups of the College Football Playoffs. 0:00 Welcome to The McShay Show!0:40 (6) Ole Miss defeats (3) Georgia: 39-346:40 (10) Miami defeats (2) Ohio State: 24-1435:05 (1) Indiana defeats (9) Alabama: 38-350:00 Ranking Curt Cignetti's rise with Indiana59:42 (5) Oregon defeats (4) Texas Tech: 23-0 The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Host: Todd McShayGuest: Steve MuenchProducers: Tucker Tashjian, Conor Nevins, Daniel ComerSocial: Alysha Tsuji Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All right, you know what I do know? There's a hundred, there's a hundred and twelve days. Remaining until the NFL draft. Tell us now, Mentschie good? I'm great, man. Roll our favorite beat, Tucker. 934. That's how it finishes.

Got a little out of hand at the end. A little swirling. All's well to end's well. Don't ask Georgia fans, though. Trinidad Chambliss now becomes the story. of the college football playoff. The McShay Show is presented by Fanduel. FanDuel's got it all. Same game parlayes,

quick bets for jumping in live, and your way. So you can build the bet that fits your play. Plus, don't miss out on all the action during the rest of the college football playoffs. Download the Fandual app or head to fandual.com slash McShay to get started. Must be 21 and older in president's select states, or 18 and older in President D.C., Kentucky, or Wyoming. Gambling problem?

Call 1-800 gambler or visit RG-Help.com. Call 1-88-78-98-9-77-7-77 or visit cpG.org slash chat in Connecticut. It was Fernando Mendoza. It was Dante Moore. It was Carson back.

Can he play Jordaned Chandles, Division 2 quarterback, now takes Old Miss Sons Lane Kiffin to the semifinals of the college football playoff and knocks off Georgia the only team that had beaten Chambliss and Ole Miss this year in a game where Chambliss actually melted down in the fourth quarter. You could see it in his eyes.

And to get this redemption against that opponent, it's special and then the story and then Pete Golden watching him now talking to Molly McGrath, Like, you're right, man. We're going to have to bring the production crew back down to the Grove, and we're going to have to make the second major motion picture of what's going on. Now we've got underdog Miami, which legit could win this thing. Underdog Ole Miss, which legit could win this thing.

Indiana, which looks unbeatable, but we know they're not, and Oregon. which is just kind of sneaking around the chicken coop a little bit, right? So Ole Miss or Miami is going to be in the final. Like we know that that's never would have thought it going in. And that's what's great about this. Shout out to our friends at Fandall, by the way. What are the spreads right now? Tell me.

Who's favored Miami or Ole Miss? I didn't see it. I know he just put up. Good, good. I saw it. So go ahead. Oh, who's favored a Miami or Ole Miss? Yeah.

and by how many points? If you're on the chat right now, guess with us? Miami two and a half, Miami two and a half. Okay. All right. I'll just get a pause for effect, so everyone in the chat can get involved as well.

The other game, Oregon versus Indiana. Who's favored? I think we both know, I would guess. Indiana by four and a half. Not bad, Munch. You're close.

Amir turnage says, Miami minus two and a half. MLS, Weech, Miami by three. ATB, you're dead wrong. MLS Weech, you got closer. Tony B-2-3 guesses Miami minus three and a half. Put them up again, Tuck, is that what it was?

Is it Miami minus three and a half? Or is it Ole Miss minus three and a half? I know Indiana was minus three and a half as well. Miami minus three and a half against Ole Miss. That's a six versus ten seed. Yep. And not last year is where the seeding was messed up. And it's a five versus one seed, Oregon, Indiana, the Peach Bowl, January 9th.

We will be live with you. Here you see our brackets. We will be live with you for each of those games. What is that next Thursday and Friday night? Yes, Friday and Saturday. Is that Friday and Saturday, I think? Get your calendars out. Yeah.

I mean, Thursday and Friday. So Thursday night and Friday night. You'll be with us. Come hang live with us. We're fired up. You just, you muted the mic again. There it is. I can't stand our new equipment and situation.

Your sucker knows it. I knew you're going to have a problem. I have two wonderful employees coming that are going to try again from New York City tomorrow because they, they didn't muck anything up. A piece wasn't here. I've got an old camera with new stuff. I've got a mic that's sensitive.

And you know how I talk with my hands. That's going to be a lifetime problem. No problems on my end. That's fine. It's just weird. No problem. Well, of course not, sweetheart. Everyone loves you.

I'm the pain in the ass. You look beautiful. You get depth to your shot. You've got a little blur. It looks dramatic. It looks like when I used to do features for game day, that's how it would look. Like, oh.

And I'm just sitting here kind of like, it's like, I only, I only paid half my electricity bill. And I got a mic that's tapping. And now I get two computers instead of one. And I'm pissed. But the show's got to go on. Who's winning the Natty is the poll that we got up on the show right now. Indiana, Oregon, Miami, Ole Miss. But let's get to the games.

And that's why we're all here, right? Let's get to the games. Let's go back to last night. Miami 24, Ohio State 14. Let's just start it with I told you so. And by the way, had anyone listen to me, and thank you, Fanduel.

Our friends at Fanduel, like the best partnership in the world. Like they, like from day one, they have been here. They put the lights on. They pay the bills. So we know it's not the electrical bills. The fact that they're getting us Fandual

odds right away, for next week is awesome. And if you were following this show and you were listening to Uncle Todd a week ago, you would have heard, no, two weeks ago, like 20-something days ago. I had my chart. I had my little chart, right? All the snaps that Stanford Steve made fun about. me.

Mensh, they're giggling at me on a text thread. Like, I'm not there. How many, how many starts does Trinidad Chamble is get? Do you get like 0.3 a start? For, uh, for division two? I thought it was a good question.

I thought it was a fair question. I mean, we're trying to figure out exactly what you're saying. We did a whole show on the quarterback confidence index. And I came to you and said, Carson Beck, don't sleep on it. Look at, look at last year. Leonard Riley. Ohio State

the quarterback of Ohio State last year is a Pittsburgh Riley Leonard, yeah. No, no, Riley Leonard, but for Ohio State, Munch. Oh, sorry, Will Howard. Will Howard, thank you. Two, two, outside of Dylan Gabriel, the two most experienced quarterbacks in there

were the good defense. Carson Beck, 2,881 snaps coming into the playoff match. Do you care about that number now? never let the truth getting away of a good story, right? You took Gunner Stockton. I had a Carson back in that draft. Just to be clear.

And by the way, I shouldn't have. I love when you admit you're wrong. You're just a big man. I like that. Anyway, my point is, had Miami fan duel at the time. It was plus 700. It was plus 700 to get to the semifinals.

And they come out. Miami's defense, quite honestly, was the story. That's the most vicious and violent display of defense that I've seen in college football all year. I've seen great defense. I saw Ohio State in several games, including Texas to start the season. I saw them smother. I know statistically that Ohio State defense is the best defense in college football the last 14 years. Statistically.

Statistically, yes. The best defense on that field, bar none, was Miami's. And Ruben Bain, Rubin Bain, was Bain the Bull. Yep. He was awesome. And I know he finished with one sack. He and Messador finished with three sacks together.

But Bain finished, I looked up his stats. I think he was two tackles, one sack. It felt like, setting the edge. He was insane. He was, like, he funneled everything to everyone else. And he disrupted Julian saying, especially in the first half of that game, but then again in the fourth quarter.

I do give credit to Julian saying I thought in the third quarter to come back for it was an abysmal first half and to bounce back from that and come out in the third quarter and play the way that he did against that defense he was nine of nine to start the second half really settled down

finished 22 of 35 287 yards and a touchdown but he had the two interceptions right the back the backbreaker pick six I really felt like and it was early but it felt it felt like that was just going to be a monumental play in that game, and it was. And if it wasn't Bain, it was Messador.

If it wasn't Messador, it was Bain. And if it wasn't those guys, it was Keante Scott. It was. Kobe Thomas, like both those guys had monster games. Torre, the linebacker, I thought it was awesome. And, you know, Leslie Besant was good, but normally he's the one making a lot of the plays. Tori kind of stepped into that role. And you know what?

I actually went to a, like a friend's house. And Cal, Uncle Cal, you know Cal. Yeah, nice. He was there, and there were a couple other guys. We were watching the game last night. And Cal hadn't watched a lot of Miami this year. He'd seen a little bit, but he was like, I know Ohio State's the best defense, like they're talking about for a decade.

But, you know, and I was like, watch Miami tonight. And they came, I was like, I want you to watch every single time a tackle is made. how many white jerseys are around it. It was like five, six, seven. And then I told him the story about our favorite defensive coordinator. He's unbelievable. He was unbelievable last night.

He's been unbelievable all year. All year. Dialing it up, knowing when to dial it up. I mean, he had, I thought this was interesting. I want to get your take on this. Heartline, Brian Hartline takes the head coaching job at UCF. He's been calling plays all year long. Ryan Day, who is Chip calling plays for Chip Kelly,

you know, has been with him since the UNH days, with Urban, all of it, had given the play calling duty to Brian Hartline, but Ryan Day is known as one of the great play callers in college football. He makes the executive decision, understandably so, I think, at the time of you can't, like the transfer, you're taking this head job at UCF,

high school recruiting starts in like two days, the recruiting window. And then the transfer portal is January 2nd. He's still on the staff, still on the sideline, still a part of all of it, but Ryan Day takes play calling back. What did you think of that? And what did you see in game?

I thought the thing that really jumped out to me when I looked back at it was 11 carries for Bo Jackson. And I know they weren't running the ball well, but you cannot, I think he would even admit, going back, you've got to run the ball with Bo Jackson more than that. Most talented running back in the college football playoff, in my opinion, and there's some really talented backs, got to run the ball more than that and put your quarterback in a tougher, in a better place.

I mean, Jeremiah Smith went off. I mean, Jeremiah Smith was seven for one, 57 in a touchdown. An absolute monster game. Getting the ball to Jeremiah Smith wasn't the issue. They didn't run the ball like they have in the past, and I thought that's where maybe he wasn't on top of his game as much. as he would be in his I do think there's a rhythm to it though man and you see this in games with great play callers like with sark with kiffin with day when they start to get on these

runs and they start to figure out you're probing right they come out with a script and then they were like well what are you going to do I know that you've run this coverage against this look all year but you might do something different in this game to throw us off but as soon as I figure out what you're doing then I'm going to counter with something and I do think there's a rhythm to that I think there's you know you have to be doing it for a little while As good as day is, and I do think it won't. I honestly do believe, I think it's a great point that you make, I honestly do believe that it played a role.

I did too. But you know what I thought played a much bigger role? Ohio State has always had this, not always, under Ryan Day, I feel like this manifesting that we're the tough team from the block. We're up the up north team from Ohio State. trying to manifest it, trying to tell everyone that were the, you know, and they stopped having to tell everyone

after they win the national championship. And they did bully some teams around, right? And they ran the ball. That team last year did. With Trayvion Henderson and Quinchon Judkins behind that offensive line that had been retooled because of the left tackle injury and all the stuff. But what had kind of gone unnoticed this year,

and we saw late in the season, they started run the ball. Bo Jackson started to become a bigger part. They beat Michigan, right? Everything's fine. But what I don't think enough red flags went up in that Big Ten championship game because everyone just, rightfully so, Indiana's been so damn good defensively, and they're so physical that they kind of got pushed around a little bit in that game at moments.

Yeah. Miami bullied the hell out of Ohio State, period. On both sides of the ball, by the way. Both sides of the ball, and especially on defense, they were more physical, they brought the fight to them, and they abandoned the run because they're tough guys up front, weren't so tough. They weren't so strong.

They weren't matching hatchets with hatchets. I thought that was a big difference. We talked all year about that Ohio State defense, not good they were, but we also said, you know, who have they played? Who have they played? And then they played pretty well against Mendoza, Indiana. I mean, they weren't the problem in that game.

They played, you know, pretty well in that game. Their legacy, the legacy of that defense was damaged severely last night by the fact that they weren't even the best defense on the field. And then think about this, Mesh, five minutes and 50 seconds left in that game. It is a three-point game. Miami goes on a 10 play. five minute drive, eight runs out of the 10 plays to steal the game.

Bullying. Like, I mean, if you're going to be one of the best defenses ever to play college football, that cannot happen in one of the biggest games. If that happens in the middle of the year and they don't lose or whatever, it's like that, you know, you question some things. You cannot be one of the greatest defenses of all time and have that happen to you in a playoff game. I'm sorry, I just, you can't. And I think that, not only that, there was a glaring.

difference in Cade McDonald, the defensive tackle for Ohio State is awesome and he really showed up at times last night. He did. But the edges between the difference in the edges for Ohio State and for Miami was glaring.

It wasn't even close. They're not even in the same conversation. I mean, Bain and Messador were outrageous, how good they were. And by the way, they never come off the field. They look gassed at times, but they never came off the field. They never came off the field.

So, I mean, I thought it was an unbelievable form in terms of their effort as well. Do we lose McShea? Is he gone? Can you hear me? No, I can, yeah. Do you know the panic that was setting in? No, it wasn't panic. It was for me.

Frozen. Oh, the panic for you? Yeah, I mean, you're also gone. But that was somebody recently. I'm like, mention, just handled it. And I was like, ah, he would. But it would be traumatic. Like, he'd save the baby from the burning building, but he'd be in.

therapy for 20 years. PTSD from the one time. Yeah. Van Duel and the ringer spotify would have to chip in for some therapy. The amount of snaps those two guys played outrageous. I mean, they were just, there was one time, I think, you know, they had to rotate amount of times, obviously. But there was the drive, I think, at the end of the first half maybe, where Ohio State

moved the ball a little bit and you could just tell how tired they were because they just, again, empty the tank on everything. every single play that they're on the field. There is no, well, I got to play 50, 60 snaps tonight, so I got to manage my effort. They don't do it. They don't know how to do it. I don't think you could get them to do it if you asked them to do it.

There was one play in the fourth quarter where I watched, it was like the fifth, it felt like the fifth time that Bain had rushed off the edge and giving full maximum effort and chasing. And I was actually, it's one, another point where I was watching with Cal and healed and these guys. And it was like,

when they, when the room finally started to realize that this four cat is different, you know? And, and there, and he had just made a play, and he came back and they showed an ISO on him. And he's like, you know, he's like, he looks gas. Sucking wind. And then the next play, he rewrax that son of a bitch, gets him up, flies around him, it forces the quarterback out, and then the ball, I think he tried to, like, swing it to the other side. and then goes and chases and tries and, like, that's, I was like, Bain the Bull.

This guy is, El Dorro. He's just, he's like a bull, like, you know, like the bull running. Just knocking people over. Doesn't need, everyone bitches about short arms this, short arms that. We'll get to the NFL draft. Like, we'll talk about it.

Fine. But we won't right now. Because ain't wait to talk about those guys, by the way. I cannot wait to get in. I cannot wait to talk about those, too. Messador versus Bain, right? And it's going to turn into that. And it's going to be a fun,

that would be a fun debate and conversation, but really shouldn't be those two. They're both, they're just both awesome. I can't wait to talk about. They're both great football players. Yeah. They both bring different things to the table. And my goodness, they compliment each other so well.

It's awesome to watch. And then there's, I do want to say this, speaking of NFL draft prospects, it's the first time all year. It reminded me a little bit of last year watching Carnell Tate when we did the breakdown this summer. It was the first time all season that I was underwhelmed and in fact disappointed in Carnal Tate.

I think he still might be banged up. I wonder what's going on with that, the whole issue situation. I would have to assume there are two catches that Carnell Tate 2025 usually makes. The one that was over the middle where I promised you he didn't fully extend. because he felt the ghost around the corner, you know? Yeah. And then there was another one along the sideline where it wasn't that, but he just didn't make a catch that he normally has made this year.

But that, I mean, it wasn't even like the story, but it was just, I'll be interested to kind of get the scouting background, what was going on with him health-wise, because for such a phenomenal season, to see it end that way was disappointing for Cornell-Tate. Now, positive side. There were three things that I took away, okay? For Miami, just like notes that I want to get to.

First of all. C.J. Daniels. I did that article in the McShay report. Google it. Subscribe if you feel inclined. Would love to have you as a subscriber if you're not already. C.J. Daniels is one of those guys that I think love in the NFL circles. He's a wide receiver for Miami. Sorry.

In scouting circles, there's a little bit more love and intrigue for C.J. Daniels than there is national awareness. I'm not saying he's going to be first, second round pick. He's not. Probably not even third, but I think when we get to pick 100 and that, like 120, I think he's going to come off the board. He's got measurables. He's got speed. I want to say he's like 6-2, 6-3 over. 200 pounds, clocked pretty high, like pretty low, four threes, maybe four, four, but it was good to see him back. It wasn't a huge game, but he had been nicked up towards the end of the season, really like the second half of the season.

And when I wrote the McShay report, kind of underrated prospects to watch for each of the 12 teams, Daniels was the guy for Miami. And he had like, he came back from injury, didn't have. have a catch in one game. Then there was two, but he had five catches for 49 yards. And two of them were really big catches. So it was good to see a guy who was kind of battled through it this year, step up for, you know, in that big spot against that defense in those moments. The second thing is, I just can't get enough of the Mark Fletcher story, man. It's so good. It's so good. Mario Cristobal refers to him like a pillar of the program player.

Picture a pillar holding up a building. He's not the only one, although he's the top one in terms of leadership, commitment, following by, you know, leading by example, people just follow what he does. Because they know, you know if you want to do it the right way. Follow junior. You know, follow Mark Fletcher Jr. and he's junior to senior who's senior passed away recently

and this young man still calls or calls and leaves a voice message to his deceased father before every game and leaves him a message. Like, melt, right?

Unbelievable. And to see all that he's put into this program and to be this man to show his father while he was alive and now passed that that he's going to be the expectation and the bar that his dad set for him and to watch it come to,

because he's always been a good player and he's always been a productive player. But when the chips have been all in on the table, man, late in the season, Fletcher's been the guy. You know, in the last two games in the college football playoffs, this pillar of the program,

36 carries 262 yards, mensch. That's pretty awesome. here's something else that it kind of ties into Christopal too because, you know, I've given him a lot of flack. Mario Cristobal, the head coach for Miami, have given a lot of flack for some of his management, game time decisions, things. Fletcher fumbled early in that game. Yes. Some coaches might have gone away from him. They might have said, oh, man, we can't have that, you know, we're going to go and we're going to go with the,

just going to another direction. We're not going to go back to him. And they didn't. They stuck with them. They put their faith in them. And at the end of the game, I mean, he rewarded that faith by getting. I think by getting Miami into the next round. I thought he was unbelievable on the last drive.

Unbelievable. I said like eight times, but that's what's going on tonight. It's just an unbelievable round. And every time, I kept feeling like, man, they should run the ball more. They should run the ball more. Yeah.

You know? Because every time he gave him the ball, it was like it was six, seven yards. It felt like. I could not understand for the life of me. this year why they weren't more effective running the ball. I loved Fletcher's tape from last year. I thought he was going to be better earlier this year coming into the season.

Their offensive line is really good. I still don't understand why they weren't running the ball, but they found it at the right time. They have found their identity at the right time, which is we're just going to line it up. We're going to run it right at you. We're going to play great defense. And then Carson Beck just needs to be a veteran efficient quarterback

who spreads the ball around like he did in this game. It takes care of the ball. like he did in this game and makes the occasional play with his feet like he did in this game. That's exact, that is their recipe. And as long as they stick to it, they are talented enough to make this a run. And I know that this is the same Miami team. I want people to know. I know everyone's got the receipts on me, the same Miami team that I thought Notre Dame

should have got in ahead of. And I get that. But this is a team that's hitting its stride at the right time. I've always said they were talented. Earlier in the year, I made the argument they should have been ranked number one. Yeah, you did. before the wheels came off. And all this inconsistent stuff started showing up.

So there, again, it's about, this is what this playoff is, man. It's about hitting your stride at the right time. And Miami's doing it, which makes them dangerous. I still don't think they're the best team left, but they might be the most dangerous team in the tournament at this point. Here's my final of three points. Carson Beck is somehow improving his draft stock. and his general image nationally throughout the world.

But for our purposes, he's internationally. Internationally. Why not? Somehow he's improving his draft stock, and despite the fact he's thrown for 241 yards and two touchdowns and two college football playoff games. He's averaged 120 pass yards and two college football games with one touchdown.

But somehow, I'm okay with it. I am too. Somehow. Who cares? Because you got to keep a little bit into perspective. These have been defensive games. The first one was at one of the most difficult venues in all of college football, college station. Kyle Field, Texas A&M with gusting wins where neither quarterback could throw the football, managed a game.

He fumbled once. I can't remember. Did he lose a fumble in that game or not? he hasn't thrown an interception nope yeah so so he has not turned the football over in two games right

and he's under I know we joke around about the 2,881 snaps and all the hoopla I gave to experience quarterbacks in this tournament and we now know I was right and we now know I was right about Miami so you and Stanford

Steve can shut the fuck up never never But tell me, all joking aside, tell me you don't see the experience in him. Oh, absolutely. Because there are a throw, there was a couple throws last night where I'm watching, I'm like, you can say he's afraid to or why did he double clutch? Because those 2,881 snaps that he took before the college football playoff,

and the highs and the lows and all the stuff that went on to Georgia, all this stuff he's gone through has helped mold him into someone who understands actions have consequences. Yep. Whether it's Lamborghinis, Cavender Twins, I just did it to get that, get your face to match that beautiful red hat that you wear.

I love the new hat, by the way. Yeah, we're trying new things, man. I love it. I'm open to feedback. That new hat. Here we go. I'm getting frozen. Well, listen, listen, by the way, the numbers are better, but Mendoza threw for 192 today.

And it's just a super efficient game, but not, he didn't throw over 300. And he didn't run for 80. I mean, like Mendoza had an awesome game. And guess what? Riley Leonard got Notre Dame to the national championship and was a fifth round draft pick. And like, yeah, you got passed over by a grandfather, but like he was in playing in an NFL game. If you want a fantasy game or you want to win the championship? Like, what do we doing here?

And that was my point when you and Stanford, Steve, and everybody else was laughing about all the numbers. But honestly, but joking aside, there's something to it, knowing like it's more important that I don't throw this ball or I throw this ball away because I got a defense that's just bawling out on the other side. And I get, like, Fletches back there, man. Junior's running the ball hard. Like, we're going to be okay.

and there's wisdom that comes in all those snaps and all that experience. And I'm watching him. Now, is it going to be enough against Ole Miss? If Trinidad plays lights out again, is it going to be enough? Does he have it in his tank? I'd like to think he does. Do they have the receivers? I don't know.

CJ played well, I told you that. We know Malachi Tony's special. If he stops fumbling the ball, he got away with two. Oh, yeah, he got away with two. but they're fascinating to me. And I just wanted to make that point. As I'm watching Carson Beck throw for an average of 120 the last two weeks, I'm gaining more respect for him.

Yeah, I'm okay with it. Because winning football doesn't always have to look like 250 to 300 plus yards throwing and ripping it around everywhere. In fact, winning football oftentimes is knowing what your role is inside that game. and his role the last two weeks is don't turn this ball over because we're playing awesome on defense, we're turning it over from them. Let them make the mistake.

Yep. I'm with you, 100%. And I can't stop thinking about the feeling I'm going to have with Trinidad Chambliss and Wallace and Stripling and Lacey and that offense going up against Bain and Messador and Scott and Thomas and Torre and Bessain. That's going to be an awesome matchup.

It is. That Ole Miss offensive lines in for a day. A day. A day. Because they're big. They are big, but they are not. That's going to be a good matchup for Miami, I think. That's going to be interesting to watch.

I don't think Lacey's going to get much going. I just don't. The Miami defense is so good. Yeah, we got to move on. We got a week. Okay. Next up. where's Chambliss on your board right?

I've said from the beginning, like, if he doesn't get drafted, first of all, he's applying for a six year. Right. Bryce, N-A-D-E-S-662S. I might take a flyer on him late. His deep ball is beautiful.

He rips it. He's a gamer. I just, I like the way he carries himself. His intermediate stuff, timing, anticipation, like too many fast balls drilling it. But one year in the SEC,

finger today. Yeah. I know. I thought he broke Wallace's finger on that outlet throw. Wallace said he took himself out of the game trying to pull his finger out of the socket. The McShay Show is brought to you by Fandoul. The field is down to the final four and every play now decides who moves on.

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Call 1-88-78-9-7777-or or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. All right. Next up. Rose Bowl. Man, what a statement. And I get it. It's not Nick Sabin's Alabama. Yeah, I, I don't know.

You take this one. You start. I really feel like the Ohio State game, and I know Ohio State just lost, you know, they just lost their second in row. I feel like the Ohio State game was more of a statement.

Something's wrong in Tuscaloosa. Something is wrong with that Alabama team. They, you know, it wasn't like, I wasn't surprised. I just wasn't surprised. I mean, they got their doors blown off. Oh, I wasn't.

I wasn't surprised at all. Yeah. I'm not saying I went the way of it. Here's what I was surprised by, quite honestly. I wasn't surprised by Mendoza. I wasn't surprised by a lot of things. I was surprised that Alabama imposed so much of their will that it looked like Alabama,

the Indiana imposed so much of their will. I don't know if I said it wrong. It looked like Alabama quit. It did. And even Herb Street to say this is embarrassing and it looks like they're just going through the motion or they're just out there. I couldn't have agreed with them more though, man.

I thought it was, it's a tough thing to say. You don't really want to say it. I mean, it got bad. I mean, it was embarrassing for them. And I want to say something. And that means two of their last three outings. We've seen signs of that. Go ahead.

Yeah, what's your excuse now? I mean, what's your excuse? You didn't have 10 players out or. whatever it was, like, you know, I want to start by saying that I think Indiana is an unbelievable football team. So when I say that, that I think that today's game was more about, said more about Alabama than Indiana. I want to be clear about what I'm saying there.

I think Indiana is awesome. I want to nickname their linebackers, the law firm, Cardi Fisher and Jones. I just think it sounds like a law firm. And they are so freaking awesome. I just, they are unbelievable at how versatile, it's, distinctive, tough they are. They didn't have Stephen Daly. The defensive line doesn't care today.

They're just all over the place, making plays. They're sharp and pounds, are unbelievable corners. I love the Indiana team. And then the offense, we can go on it for days. This said, I already think they were awesome. So the fact that they played well didn't surprise me at all. But Alabama, there is something wrong.

I mean, Ty Simpson didn't look good early. And then he fumbled and he looked hurt. and it just seemed like they couldn't get anything going. The offensive line, they better figure out, I think the portal opens tomorrow. They better get some offensive linemen in Alabama. Like they, they, the offensive line, you have to be able to run the ball. And I don't think it's all on the backs. Like, you've said it every single week.

We've said it. You have to be able to protect your quarterback who might be a first, an early first round draft pick if you can get him to play the way he was earlier in the year. Like this, this team is something's wrong. And maybe all, maybe the, all, maybe the, the only thing that's wrong is that an absolute legend has left the building and it takes some time for you to get out of the shadow of that man to get to a point where you can run your program because imagine if you're a player that was recruited by Nick Saban, played for Nick Saban and was

competing in those games and now you're there and Kellynne DeBoer comes in and you're not maybe buying in because I think DeBoer's a good coach. Everything we saw at Washington, we know he's a good coach. He's a great coach. He's a great coach. I don't I'm not sure it's a board problem. I think it just might be this takes time that this is sometimes there's sometimes there's there's fit issues yeah that might be it too i don't know what it is that was not a competitive football team that was out there that was not a team that team Notre Dame and that's two of the last three games that we've seen Alabama put those helmets on yeah where we have we have watched and said there's something wrong and and it was not competitive and they were lacking what we are so accustomed to

is even in a loss, Alabama is like they've laid it all in the field, and there's a certain level of discipline, commitment, and a bar that is set of excellence. And I have not seen that in two of the last three games from Alabama. And it's interesting because had they lost to Oklahoma, yep, had they lost to Oklahoma, would DeBore be in Michigan and not winning him? I think there's a very good chance that that's true.

I mean, that's, there's smoke, there's fire. And as much as I like Whittingham, I mean, the Wittingham situation is interesting to me, because I think, I don't know why Utah wanted to part ways with him, but that's what it felt like. He said he didn't want to stay somewhere and overstay his welcome is basically what he said when he left there. And that didn't make any sense to me,

but I do think that DeBore is a better candidate than Wittingham when you add it all up. Oh, there's a yes. Yes. Interesting. It's all interesting. But I, it was a depressing game. What's that?

It was a depressing game other than the fact, like, it's great for it. I mean, and they made the recent and Herbie made a good point of saying, like, this is unbelievable that Indiana is in the Roseball, being a team like Alabama. I'm not just going to gloss over and name a linebacker core a law firm and think that that's okay for coverage on this game. Can I ask you this? Yes.

And forgive me. I know this is, it's already in late. This is a wacky question. Did you see Signetti before and after the game that he was wearing the windbreaker? No. I'm pretty sure he doesn't wear a T-shirt under that thing. Like he was, the chest was hanging out, man. Like when he was like zip the thing down, I'm pretty sure that's not too-shirt.

Which is a wild. I'm watching Van Pelt right now. Which is a wild move. He was just up on the podium. I want to see if I get a glimpse of what the hell you're talking about it. 12.35 a.m. East. No one else. no one else will get this.

Well, you were very Gordon used to do this. Gary Hart used to do this. Yes. It would be so unbranded an old school coach. Yes. Absolutely.

RCF was out big time today. It doesn't matter the score. RCF was hanging out, man. The problem is not enough people on the internet are watching our show yet. They'll come. But RCF was one of the all-time great calls out of you.

and and now it's now his face if you go anywhere any social media platform threads twicks instagram it's all over where someone did like 16 different posts throughout the game until he finally smiled um that's the story the and then the ray the raised eyebrow i can't even do it the arch eyebrow yeah yeah arched eyebrow all of it um but the rcf is the best name Resting Signetti face. I can't find it. But let's put it this way. I'd say it's 90-10.

He's not wearing a T-shirt under that. We know the, we know the, like, the Al Lugan bills, the Gary Hortons, like the old school coaches. They never have it. So why is he going to change? Never anything underneath there. All right. Very important stuff we covered there.

I'm sorry. That's how my brain works. I saw it and was like, no way. You know, Ty Simpson was the leading rusher with 17 yards and he didn't even complete the game for Alabama. It was a joke. It's the same thing. Yeah. I do want to say a couple things, though.

Kaelin Black and Roman Hemby continue to be the two most overlooked, underrated players in all of college football. And they complement each other perfectly. They run with the same passion and fire and like every carry is the most important carry of their lives.

They combined for 33, carries 188 yards, two touchdowns against Bama. In the Rose Bowl. This is Indiana. A couple of transfers, small school guys just did that. And they've been doing it all year long, but no one wants to pay attention to it. We got Jeremiah Love and Judarian Price. We got all like these, we had Judkins and Henderson last year.

Why aren't we talking about them as Judkins and Henderson? because they're not going to be first round top 50 draft picks. Hemby and Black have been absolutely phenomenal all season long. I don't know statistically. I know they've been better than the two at Penn State. They're going to be early draft picks. Patron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. Statistically, I don't know if you take love and prices, numbers.

I don't, probably not. But my goodness, every single week, talking about these two. And that offensive line, Hemby's what? Hemby's got 918 yards, 5.2 yards per carry, and Black has 799 yards and 5.6 yards per carry. It's pretty freaking good. Yeah, you hand it to either of them getting you five and a half.

Yeah. So I wanted to give them some love. Then I wanted to say this. I went chips all in on Mendoza after Ohio State because I'd been waiting to see. And I also want people out there who are very serious about the NFL draft stuff. And I love that everyone who is, I love that. I'm not overlooking or glossing over any of the flaws.

I do think pressure up the middle. I do think he's fortunate to play in the system. There's a lot of first read, second read, take off. I see all those things. But I'm also seeing a man after going chips all in after Ohio State. And I don't care what version of Alabama showed up today. I'm talking about the handling of the Heisman, handling of your business, knowing who you are as a human being, the preparation that goes into it, comfortable in your own skin, having answers to the test and then answers if the first answer doesn't, all of it. The leadership, by example, the toughness on the field, taking that shot against Ohio State and the first play of the game bouncing right back, everyone rallying.

around him. Sacked on two of the first three plays in this game. No problem. Do you ever see him wince or cower? Nah. Nope. So there's imperfections and we can get to it. Someone today wrote this whole thesis or 13 pay reasons why he's going to suck in the NFL. He's always in shotgun. That sounds like fun. Former NFL scout. And there's some things in there. I agree with him. We've touched on him. And there were reasons why I haven't gone all in. But I'm seeing a man who's ready. And I get news for you. Dante Moore's a better

pure passer than him. Dante Moore does things with the football coming out of his hand that he doesn't do. Dante Moore throws a more catchable ball. Dante Moore leads anticipates a lot of NFL throws. Dante Moore's got a chance to be absolutely special. And I also get news

for you. If Dante Moore leaves early for the NFL draft, we're going to have a raging wild debate by the time we get to April. Is it Mendoza? Is it more? Who are the Raiders taken? Right? Yeah.

I think it's a good, good, you have two good options there. I really think that. But I'm telling you, I'm seeing the maturation of a young boy who loved the game, who made a lot of turnover worthy mistakes, who was just kind of happy, go lucky, and goofy. He was trying to figure out the world to this guy is now a man. And he's carried the way, not the weight, it's not even the weight of the world. He's handled all the pressures with grace, with ease, with comfort. And it hasn't changed his approach, his preparation, due diligence, and who he is at all.

One guy loses the Heisman and goes out and does the big. Oh, my God. Pavia, fuck you campaign, right? I won't even start with that. I mean, he's young. It's a mistake. No, I'm just saying, I think the thing it's caused over with these quarterback sometimes is,

do they know who they are as a human? Are they ready for the mental grind? He is like beyond. The mental grind is, I don't want to put a percentage on it, but the mental grind of playing that position in that league with those pressures, with an entire city and a fan base and the ownership and every it's all on you bud and i'm seeing a young man who's growing into a man who's in my eyes seems to be a lot more ready to take that step and you say todd like that doesn't make sense he was 14 to 16 efficient

but 192 yards three touchdowns no interceptions a good a good day there's just certain things after 25 years of studying this, like, I'm seeing him grow up. And he's now, like, okay, he's ready. He's ready. And I wasn't saying that back at Iowa, even Oregon.

Okay? Yeah. But how amazing is it? Like, I think Dan said to text to our thread earlier, popcorn. Yeah, more. Yeah. You know?

The rematch. The rematch with it all on the line. He just knocked. And granted, one team was way better than the other. But we talked about this was going to be a multi-week NFL draft prospects, quarterbacks matchups, right? Yep. He just knocked Ty Simpson's ass out.

If we're looking at it that way, which isn't the right way to look at it. But like, right, I hear you. But now you got more coming in with all the comments. confidence and his receivers look a little healthier. And let's get to Dante more now. Oh, did you see the, the Albert Beardt,

beard tweet about the coaching job that Cignetti is done, calling it one of the greatest coaching jobs of all time? Yes. One other thing I want to mention, oh, okay, we're going to just transition. That's good. I like it. Way to be on top of it, Tucker. This is not hyperbole.

What Kirkson Cignetti is doing is one of the greatest coaching jobs I've ever seen at any level of any sport. And I'll stand by that, even if they don't win this game. Albert Breer sent that text out or post out on X. I think it seemed like mid-game today, right? Yep.

The Rose Bowl. He said, yeah, I think he said it doesn't matter if he loses this game. I, this is not the show for it, but I wanted to bring it up. Because I have some of those same thoughts. Like, has, is there ever been? a better coaching job in this short of a span? I want people to understand this. And like, and people talk about that's the winningest program of college football.

I don't care because that that program they played today wasn't the winningest program. But yeah, it was pretty cool to see Indiana, who, depending on who's what stats you read, they have the second most or the most losses in college football history. And obviously the record books are all over the place with college football. But either the most or the second most. Losses in college football history is a program. And we've all seen all the numbers. The win percentage before or after all of it.

But it feels like here's the difference. Because I started to think. And I was actually looking at not a Breers thread. There were some other comments like that. And I was trying to get some context. Like Schnellenberg, I was born in 77. So I wasn't alive to see pre-Schnellenberg, Miami. Right.

I do remember having a VHS tape of his and something about playing quarterback when I was a little kid. But that's some people were saying that's, that is maybe an apt comparison. Belichick 2001, get out of here, man. Because the Patriots sucked and I grew up a Patriots fan and they were really bad. And there were times where people with the bags in there,

you know, the grocery bags over their heads, cut out the eyes, miserable in old Foxborough Stadium. But before Belichick, there was Parcells, and Parcells had kind of shown an organization despite all the feuding with the crafts and all. There's a way to win. Stop it. Stop it. They went to the Super Bowl.

I don't care that they went to the Super Bowl. The fact that Bill Belichick came in after getting run out of Cleveland, after getting run out of Cleveland, then it has to make a decision about this is all world quarterback Drew Bledso and whether or not to put him back in the lineup after it comes back from getting hurt or play this kid who barely played at Michigan. But Tom Brady was more responsible for the success in New England for 20 years. For 20 years?

Sure. Sure he was. What do you want to do? put a number on it. 6040? Put a number on it. Don't tell me that the Belichick coached you. He did it with Ruggish Rourke last year and a bunch of J.M.

He lost the Notre Dame in the first round with Curtis Rourke. But they got, oh my gosh, you're, you're going to say Belichick's, the job Belichick did in New England was better than what Signetti's doing here. A thousand percent. We'll see. The jury's still out. The jury is still out. Belichick wasn't even responsible.

Belichick wasn't even, he wasn't. He wasn't the most responsible. You're saying that I'm saying next year when they grab a transfer for the full guy. Wow. I'm saying that they're still going to be winning. Wow.

What happened when Brady left? Brady won a Super Bowl in Tampa. I under that doesn't like, so what? Oh my God. You're telling me that I don't want to make. You're telling me. Hold on. We can do this another time.

But you're wrong. You're telling me. Pick, pick one other head coach that you like. in the NFL right now. You're telling me if Sean McVeigh was the head coach of those Patriots that he went and won those Super Bowls in the early 2000s. With Brady? With Brady, who wasn't Brady at the time?

Against Kurt Warner. One of the greatest defense of game players. One of the greatest defense. The Patriots went to the Super Bowl when we were in college. When we were sophomores in college. He won a Super Bowl. We graduated in 90. That was like 97, they went. We graduated in 99.

Two years later, they go the Super Bowl. So we're talking five years earlier. They were in the Super Bowl. What are you talking about? Do you know the last time Indiana went to the Rose Bowl? 57 years ago. Awesome. Can you take one second and listen to me?

No. He won a Super Bowl and then he won two out of the next three. So he won three Super Bowls. Kurt Signetti is doing something amazing in Indiana, something incredible in Indiana. He has not even gotten close to where Bill Belichick got. He hasn't gone there yet. You're playing the longevity game because,

I'm just saying this transformation of a program in two years. In two years. It's completely different than a transformation of a program that just five years earlier. So you're making a slightly more nuanced argument

and I understand that argument better. I wouldn't compare it. You can't compare them to a pro then because it's apples and oranges. And the other thing you can't really compare them to is anyone who is before the portal. You can't really do that. one of the reasons he's been able to turn it.

And this is to his credit. I thought about this because when we were asked about this in the testimony. They didn't have the resources. They're transfer portaling from JMU and like, I understand. And I'm going to get into it in a second. Okay.

I'm going to get into all that. I'm going to talk about that. You need the portal to do what he's done in Indiana. Now, to Signetti's credit, he's used the portal better than anyone else. at evaluating players that aren't necessarily four or five star guys and bringing them in

because they fit his system and he knows that they're going to work on his team. But if you can't, if Kurtzignetti goes to Indiana and he can't bring in guys to the portal that can play immediately, if he can't bring in a Fernando Mendoza or Curtis Rourke to play right away,

they're not as successful as they are. Despite the fact that he's an unbelievable coach, despite the fact that that is true. He's doing a check. was allowed to hit free agency and get a bunch of mid-level free agents, which is how he turned things around there. Do you understand? I know you know you know it's a lot harder to win at the NFL level than it is to win in college.

I know you know that. I know you know that. It is so hard to win in the NFL compared to winning. Okay. If you're softest schedule. If you're in the Big Ten last year, sorry. I'm sorry. Like you, you, you, you, you, you're, you're, you're, you're into yourself again.

I shouldn't even tell you This fuck I'm not doing a show On Monday We got the mock draft show Coming up on Monday I'm not doing it Unless it's all

We got a mock Nice I've got three fucking computers I got wires everywhere I get up Am I muted? Am I muted? You're good now

Nothing drives me crazier in life Than people When it's something's trying to be better And they make it worse What do you mean? Nothing Oh, with you're such a grump with this stuff I am I know um yeah dude I hear you

we've made we've made our arguments and I'm not and I want you understand hey I got a lot of people telling me that Leicester city in England the 2015 Google it yes Google that what about have you seen miracle lately what about her Brooks of the 1980 American hockey team man how about that how about that for a coaching job you're a I couldn't wait to, I could not wait to drop that on it. I did want to mention this about Mendoza. Alabama blitzed him a season high 12 times today. He was eight for eight for 161 yards and three touchdowns

with five or more pass rushers coming at him. First quarterback with three passing touchdowns versus the Alabama blitz since Johnny Manzell up set him in 2013. Pretty cool. Pretty cool. It was unbelievable. Here's the thing that's... He made it look easy today, man.

Here's a thing that's so tricky with him, and if I'm Oregon, I'm not blitzing him, but Iowa really pressured him. Iowa brought the house. Pressure him up the middle is the way to beat him. And they almost won that game until it burned them, and they lost because they went to it won too many times, and that's really what happened.

So, yeah, I'd be very careful about when you mix. it in. Obviously, you want to mix in looks and you want to throw different things at them. Be very careful about when you blitz Fernando Mendoza. Yeah, your boy, Omari, O'Mary, Washington, right? He's going to have to have a big game. Yeah, yeah. He's going to have to have a bigger game than he did the first time around. Here we go. Here we go. Texas Tech, Oregon. Oregon won 23. Nothing. Let's get out of here. Hell of a year for Texas Tech. Nothing to be in that defensive line. and David Bailey.

David Bailey so hard. Jacob Brod, Regis played so they all played so hard. Both those guys. Bailey with the multiple past breakups to combine they had 14, heightened Bailey this is, two NFL prospects. Bailey's going to be top 20 pick is my guess.

14 combined tackles, two sacks and all the past breakups they had. They did their part. But it was, here's the deal in that game. They had six plays Texas Tech did in the entire first quarter. I don't care how good you are. I don't care how much money the El Matador Club has.

I don't care how deep you are. It doesn't matter if you're the 85 bears. If you're on defense on the field too long, the best of the best will wear down. And they wore down. I thought Dan Lannning with that. Two coaches with fake punts today with just onions. Kirby smart, it worked out, but it didn't result in winning the game.

Dan Lannin, it worked out, and it was kind of a momentum shift. It was three nothing at that point, but the offense was sputtering. And they needed a spark. And Lannin provided that. I thought that that was impressive. It put Texas Tech back on the field. It was very much an emphasis of what we're going to, wear them down.

Yeah. And it worked. Right. One thing that, the only one thing that worried me about landing today was just this, the one thing was all the fourth downs. You got to kind of adjust to this situation. Take the points, man. Like your defense is playing that well.

There were a couple times or at least one time when they ran that fourth down play where they rolled more to the right. And he's almost lucky that David Bailey swatted it down because I don't know where it was going. Kick the field goal there, man. Take the three there and play it the way the game's unfolding. Your defense is in complete control. Just get the points.

It was clearly an emphasis. It was a stats analysis. I'm sure that analytics, I'm sure something in those, the Oregon labs out there with Phil Knight and all the, that clearly was the emphasis. And by the way, it worked. I know in that moment it was different from what I'm talking about here. And I understand.

I was with you, but it is what it is. Oregon had the ball 22 and a half minutes compared to seven and a half minutes in the first half. It just warmed down. I do want to say, I thought the vast majority of Adonte Moore was brilliant. He's playing the best ball. The first third down for Oregon,

he made a layered throw over the middle, and it was right over the linebacker. And I was like, man, if that's not an NFL throw, I don't know what is. It was an unbelievable play. Dante Moore was awesome early in the year. And then there was this period of time that coincided, and I'm not blaming it all on the wide receivers getting injured,

but it coincided with some injuries. But the cool part of where Dante Moore is now, it doesn't matter what human being is wearing a duck's helmet. Do you know he completed passes to 11 different ducks today? 11. Two here, three here, you get four, you get one, you get one, you get two. you get, you know, like, 22, what do you have, 26 completions to 11 different receivers. This isn't the Jacorian Moore show anymore.

He got roughed up, man. I mean, he was getting popped. I mean, there's a couple one, I remember one, he tried to spin out of it, and he spun back into a sack and got, I mean, clobbered. But when I watch his game, it's so pure NFL, right? Yes. It's ball out on time. anticipation leading receivers two spots but doing it like you said layering it the most

catchable ball in the entire country receivers are catching like pillows like it just he knows when to throw the defenders with their back turn he's putting the ball up letting receivers go make plays in the ball he's just the best pure passer in the country and he's playing the best ball of his career right now. And we thought that best ball was early in the season. And then we thought, it was time to come back to school. You're not ready, kid. And now I'm watching him being like, I still want you to come back for your sake. Doesn't matter to me. I got plenty of quarterbacks in 20, 27 to talk about. Doesn't matter. In fact, you want to make my life easier and Mench's life easier and anyone who works in this industry of the NFL draft? When we wrap this thing up in a

couple weeks in college football for the next four months we are NFL draft all day every day tape mock drafts rankings all of it you want to make our lives better and more interesting coming to this class yeah but now i'm watching a guy where i'm like maybe the right thing could be to come into this class even though i think the long term the right thing is probably to go back to another year's school but he's more ready than i thought he would be especially given the limited number starts and especially given the kind of low in the middle of the season that he had.

And you know, the best part about all this stuff, man, the two best quarterbacks in the country, the two top NFL draft prospects of quarterback, the two guys that are playing the best ball right now, Dante Moore, Fernando Mendoza are going head to head in just over a week. And I'm pumped. Can't wait.

I can't wait. And even though you had the most ludicry, Chris. And by the way, we're back. We're doing a mock draft Sunday night. What do you mean by the way? Are we doing a show Sunday night? Late Sunday night. I'll text you. It might be midnight. I don't care. Because our mock draft's coming out before everybody else's. I've had enough. And we get to make the rules now. Late Sunday night. Yeah, so we'll be out before get up or whatever. Because everyone does a mock draft after week 18. and ours is going to be out earliest. And by the way, it's going to be the best.

Okay. If it wasn't for your assinine comments about Belichick. Dude, I'm getting some hate. I think someone said you need a new co-host after that take. I do. But his set's too beautiful. His hat's too great. He's got that smile and that laugh.

So we'll keep him around. And you know what? I'll give him five stars too. Thanks to everyone for being here. Five stars to you too. Must be 21 plus. and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in DC. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 gambler or visit RG-Help.com. Call 1-888-88-88-8-9-7777 or visit ccpg.org

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