The McShay Show - The Rough Draft, Week 7: Scouting Notes and NFL Comps for Fernando Mendoza, Arvell Reese, and More. Plus, Talking Oklahoma-Texas and 'College GameDay' Atmospheres With Chris Fowler.

Episode Date: October 9, 2025

Welcome to The McShay Show! Today, the guys are debuting Rough Draft, a new NFL draft–focused preview show highlighting six prospects to watch this weekend. Todd and Steve go through their scouting reports for each player, with current draft stocks and NFL comps. Then, they're joined by ESPN's Chris Fowler to preview the Red River Rivalry and talk best 'College GameDay' atmospheres. 0:00 Welcome to The McShay Show 3:02 Introducing Rough Draft: Week 7 Prospect Stock Watch4:04 LaNorris Sellers | South Carolina QB9:33 Arvell Reese | Ohio State LB14:57 Fernando Mendoza | Indiana QB21:17 Cashius Howell | Texas A&M EDGE24:50 Makai Lemon | USC Wide Receiver28:40 Join Us Saturday Night!32:22 Ahmad Hardy | Missouri Running Back38:22 Chris Fowler Joins The Show44:40 Red River Preview: (6) Oklahoma at Texas [-1.5] 59:38 Projecting The College Football Playoff Matchups1:06:18 Best College Football Atmospheres1:10:05 Join Us Saturday Night! Subscribe to The McShay Report for access to all of Todd’s mock drafts, big boards, scouting reports, and more throughout the college football season. 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, and Daniel ComerSocial: Jon Roemer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a special one. Today we unveil our new Thursday staple, Rough Draft. Every NFL star starts somewhere, and usually it's on a Saturday. Mention I've devoted two and a half decades to studying the tape, cultivating the relationships, analyzing the data, grading the prospects, trying to see what's coming before everyone else in this space, and we stand comfortably on our work. Rough draft isn't about final grades or mock drafts.

It's about first impressions, the raw notes, the truth that lives on the film before the media and combine hype starts. Each week, mention I will break down the names you need to know. Who's climbing, who's slipping, and who might be writing their own story before the draft season even hits? Scouting the next class, before the noise, because every NFL draft begins as a rough draft. And without further ado, just 196. days until the NFL draft. Minch, you good? I'm good, man. One time, Tucker.

This episode is presented by Duluth Trading Company. Ready to give rival tailgates the foam finger. Duluth Trading Company crafts Hall of Fame game day gear to help you grill hotter, cheer louder, and tailgate longer. Bibbs loaded with pockets, gusseted pants so you can crouch without snuffing out your coals, and free-swinging shirts tailor-made, for Cornhole Tossin. Stay comfortable from preseason to playoffs

in the toughest tailgate attire around only at Duluth Trading Company. We're excited. Yeah, we put a lot of time into this. And listen, there are other draft shows out there. Watch them if you want. Like I said, we stand on our work. And we've been doing a preview show and picks and this and that.

Let's get to what we do. You know, we have Saturday night, which we love that show. That's our kind of our flagship show, the live reaction show we break into the primetime games. Monday we do the 10 tape truths, and we feel great about that, where we're studying tape, not just a reaction to what we see on TV, but also like now we've got Sunday to study the tape, and then we share what we found on Monday. We're looking for a Thursday show that's a staple. This is the first one, and I can already tell.

This is going to be it moving forward. It's rough draft where we're going to have a draft show, but we're going to promise, every single week when we get into the players and some of the breakdowns and guys who are rising, slipping, guys who are about to pop, we're going to make sure that it includes guys that are playing this Saturday. So it gives you something to look forward to as you prepare for an awesome slate on Saturday. So with that as the backdrop, this version of Rough Draft, our first ever, I just figured let's get six names out there. Guys, we've been watching on tape. We're already into October. Guys who are rising, guys who are making noise. You come into a year and you,

We've got the national list. We've got the Bledo list. We do our top 150. But there's always guys that are moving into it. Cam Ward last year. Perfect example. Fifth round grade decides to come back to school because the advisory committee tells them, it's not first, it's not second.

Go back to school. And then it becomes the number one overall pick. Jaden Daniels the year before, second year at LSU. So every year there are guys that are making moves in their final year in college football. And so today I want to start that conversation. for our audience that's going to be the most informed draft audience out there. So, Mench, I throw to you this very first rough draft, which player do you want to start spotlight what you've seen on tape

and why people should start getting excited and what they should expect to see on Saturday? No surprises here. If you give me a chance to talk about him, I want to talk about them, and that's South Carolina quarterback Lenora Sellers. 745 kick SCN network at LSU, night game in Baton Rouge, sharing the field with Garrett Nussmeyer, big stage. Also remember last year,

Sellers had two touchdowns, including a 75-yarder when he had to leave the LSU game. They were up eight. South Carolina was up eight at the time. And LSU came back to win that game, South Carolina kicking themselves. That might have been the difference with him going to the playoffs. Let's get into the trades a little bit because, you know,

you're going to first start with the frame. He's 240 pounds. He's listed at 6'3. McShade will tell you that he's five. nine based on what he saw at the man he will not okay but he's a he's a big kid thick lower body yeah and you see that in his ability to break tackles extend plays like he's just a powerful runner i love that aspect of his game i think what's underrated is this kid's getting better from within the pocket you're seeing some of these touch throws he's making his percentages completely percentages up a little bit more

offensive line hasn't been great the pass protection hasn't been great you look at a game like last week against Kentucky, and I think he only had 14 passing attempts, but super efficient, 11 completions. He's getting better as a passer. Now where he gets into trouble is when he's trying to make too much happen. That's, you know, you've got to, that's the double edges to this sword, right? The flip side of it is when you've got to play, a guy that can expend plays like he does.

Sometimes he tries to make too much happen, holds onto the ball too long. You know, I think about that sack in the opener against Virginia Tech in the end zone. You know, he'll force things, force some throws when he gets like that. but to me, Lenora Sellers is still, is still the top quarterback prospect in this draft, despite everything that's gone around them. I love Oregon-Santé more. If they're one-two, I'm fine with that.

But I have Sellers slightly ahead because Sellers does things as a runner that more can't do. And I'm sticking by it, McShay, until we get an official measurement. If he's shorter, I'll go Jalen Hertz. But right now, I still think this kid's ceiling. Sealing, sealing is Josh Allen. jeez i mean yeah that's you don't know what to do but it's borderline outrageous um this is a big test

because that ls u defense is significantly better that lsu defense with with blake baker as a coordinator with harold perkins with some of the corners that they brought in some of the um the defensive front guys that they brought in the transfer portal um despite an offense that sputtering with a quarterback and Garrett Nussmeyer, who may be dealing with some injury, which would explain some of the, you know, the lack of juice on the ball. This defense has had to hang in there and keep games close. And they've done for the majority,

not all moments, for the majority, they've done an awesome job. Now they go up against sellers, a mobile quarterback. And so like they've had some trouble with that in the past. We've got not, we've got Nussmeyer versus Sellers on Saturday. in this game of your talk. We've got Arch versus is it Mateer in the Red River game.

We've got, we'll maybe get to Fernando Mendoza and Dante Mour in a little bit. But like that could like some people are talking about Mendoza maybe as QB1. I'm not there yet, but I'm just saying like, so to have all these quarterback battles that we have, it just lines us up for a for a special day on Saturday. I want to shift it over to the defensive side with my first. Hold on really quickly. I just want to end this because that test is that's one of many. The next four games for sellers in South Carolina are Oklahoma, Alabama,

Ole Miss, and Texas A&M. Bright stage on Saturday night, but this kid's going to, one of the things I'm going to love about sellers when we get in is it's going to be a clean eval. Because you're not worried about level of competition. You're not worried about big moments. We're going to have a good feel for how good this kid really is. Yeah, and I hope, you know, we saw Caleb Williams getting into a lot of bad habits, right, having to carry that USC team a few years back. I hope it's not the case for sellers, but you can see in these games against those defenses, you can see a path where you start to feel like you're a one-man show.

Because let's be honest, like there's not enough around him, especially starting with protection up front. There's not enough depth at the wide receiver. There's not enough run game. the defense is so like that pressure is on sellers how does he manage that still play smart efficient quarterback while also utilizing the special tools that he's been gifted to try to keep them in games and competitive so that's going to be an awesome run of games to watch sellers and certainly and here's the i always want to mention it with sellers and with some of these dante more in Oregon like as talented as they are and as high as they probably will go on the draft

I'd like to see 2027 for the draft class rather than 2026 because I think game experience, learning from some mistakes and continuing to develop in college is the route that has always been the best path. But we've seen more examples of it recently with guys coming into the league with a lot of game experience and what that has meant to them early in their careers. All right. shifting over. My first guy up, Arvel Reese. I know he's been like he's the social media darling. Everyone's talking about him. So this isn't like breaking news or anything like that. But it's our very first rough draft episode of the McShea show.

And I just I couldn't start this thing without putting Arvel Reese in there. He has been an absolute epiphany. And by that I mean, we knew he was talented, all the recruiting services and talking to people at Ohio State. But when Cody Simon leaves and goes to the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals, There was the question of, okay, it's his time. What are we going to see from this superstar athlete? He didn't make the, I was surprising to a lot of people going back and looking, surprised he didn't make Bruce Feldman's freaks list, but certainly warranted.

The guy is six foot four, 243 pounds. I don't know what he runs in a 40 or what he deadlifts or any of that shit. What I do know is he plays fast. He can play ball. He plays fast and he strikes hard. Okay. He's got five games, 29 tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, two past breakups, and five quarterback hurries. Sometimes when I'm watching him, I'm like, is he from this planet? Like, the way that he, did he read that that quickly? Did he slip that block?

Was he in 15 yards of space? with DeMond Williams, the unbelievable athlete of quarterback for Washington, and just bring him down without like being a problem with his momentum shifting towards the sideline and Williams making a cutback and he just stops on a dime and brings him down, lassoes him. That was the first play of the second quarter if anyone wants to go back and watch it versus Washington. So I've got a lot of plays in my notes here.

He's not perfect yet. you can see some of the game and experience in some of the lack of eye discipline and coverage sometimes gets a little bit overzealous at times fitting you know just striking through gaps although that's kind of what he's asked to do in that defense um what's interesting to me is with that frame 6 4 243 pounds with that speed that athleticism the length all those things this past minnesota game last week and I want to see, does it trend towards this? Is it just a specific matchup thing for certain opponents? But they used him a lot more, Steve, as an edge rusher.

So you add that to his bag. And I want to go back, right? Jave, these are the off-ball linebackers that were drafted in the first round. There's not many of them. And a couple of them also had edge component, major edge components to them that allowed them to rise. So that's why I bring up this edge stuff. against Minnesota, will we see, and they're not doing it to improve his draft stock, right?

They're doing it because he's a special talent and you can utilize him in different ways. But Javon Walker was the 15th overall pick in this past draft, this year's draft, Edge Hybrid, right? Jack Campbell, true off the ball linebacker. You have to go back to 2023. There was one taken last year, I think it was, one in the first part. Jack Campbell was the only off the ball linebacker. He went in 2023.

You see the graphic here if you're watching on YouTube or on Spotify, and we appreciate all of you that are. He was the 18th overall pick. Quay Walker off the ball linebacker, 22nd overall pick in 2022. Also, Devin Lloyd, who, by the way, Devin Lloyd would be my NFL comp. Oh. Yes, and we'll get to that in a second.

And then Micah Parsons was the 12th overall pick. None of those guys were in the top 10. Isaiah Simmons, who I think is out of ball now, got drafted number eight overall in 2020 as an off-the-ball linebacker. The Cardinals drafted him. Then he played for the Packers for a little while and just was released it. It just wasn't up. He wasn't playing to the level.

And so I don't even think he's on an NFL roster right now. My point is guys don't go in the top 10. It's rare. You'd go back to two. That's five years of. drafts without a off the ball linebacker going the top 10, I think this guy could be, could break the norm. I think he's that talented.

I agree. I can't wait to see more. I mean, for a guy who really wasn't on the radar coming the year, what a, what an astronomical rise for him. And how to speak to Ohio State's talent level, right? How is this guy not been on the field that much yet? It's crazy to me.

Well, a quick side don't. 92 and 98 are absolute dogs on that defensive front. We got to keep it moving. I know. Caden Curry and Caden and McDonald, 92 and 98 are awesome. Sunny Stiles has been kind of overlooked and all that. We've got, but he's actually playing really well. And don't like,

Ohio State pod. Yeah, and by the way, they got a pretty good safety in Caleb Towns, who's also like kind of overshadowed by all this. He's playing in an awesome level as I went back and watched the tape. So like, go on. Take it. Next, next up. I'm going to get under your skin with this.

one, I think, and I'm here for it. Good. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Another big stage, another great quarterback tool. He's going to Oregon. He's got the 3.30 game on CBS against Dante Moore, who some people think is quarterback one right now, and I think is definitely in the mix. I should have mentioned, by the way, Ohio State plays plays Illinois at Illinois this week. I should have mentioned that. And it's a noon game. It's the big noon kick on Fox. Okay. And by the way, my Fandul pick of the week, my midweek pick of the week is Ohio State minus 14 and a half.

I think they're going to, like I think this team is at a different level. And I think everyone's kind of gripping to the fact that they lost eight guys on defense and all this talent. They're starting quarterback. This team is, I would argue this defense is better than a year ago. And I'm shocked that I'm saying that after watching all that tape. Who's your pick of the week for Fanduel? I got Oregon covering against Indiana. I don't have the spreader.

I had Oregon covering against Indiana. It's somewhere. Yeah. All right. Well, that transitions right back to where you were going. Sorry. Correct. So for Nano Mendoza, let's start off with the good. He's a great fit for that scheme. He's outstanding at the RPO because of his release. The way he reads, he makes great reads, has a quick release.

He's accurate leading guys to yards after the catch. Love him in the RPO game. When he is in rhythm, some of his downfield touch is like, it's chef's kiss, man. It is perfect. His timing and touch when he drops back, hits that back foot, and gets the ball out. There were several outbreaking routes to the left that he threw where I was like, man, that is perfection. And the Indiana offensive line is playing pretty well for him.

But if you think this kid might be quarterback one, I'm glad you watched the Illinois game. It's awesome that you saw Illinois and maybe Indiana State. That's great. That's great. Because that's the only thing I can say to you on that. And it's not that I don't like Mendoza. Here's what I have on Mendoza. Day 2 quarterback.

I think Jared Gough is the absolute ceiling. And if he turns into Jared Gough, that's a pretty damn good pick. Yeah. I think that's what he is. But I'll tell you right now, if you get him off his first read, whoa. Whoa. He starts, it gets bad. It's not that he can't get there in terms of processing.

It's just the accuracy starts to suffer tremendously. We love that he completed 91.3% of his passes against Illinois. That's great. Against Old Dominion in the opener, 58.1. Oh, well, maybe we're just a little concerned. He's getting his feet wet. Well, against Iowa last week, when you said, Iowa was going to throw some things at him

that would make him do what he's uncomfortable doing, 56.5% with a pretty bad pick late in the game. I like Fernando Mendoza. He's not, he's a good runner, he's not a great runner. He has got to improve his ability to get to that second read and then deliver the ball as accurately as he does. does when he's able to do it in rhythm. I don't, right now, I don't see a first round quarterback, let alone quarterback one.

I purposely am staying, not staying. I'm letting you roll with the quarterbacks today. Because as promised, and a lot of people have been asking, when are you going to re-rack the quarterbacks? It's next week on the McShay report, and we'll do some of it on the show, on rough draft next week. I'm going into the lab, I'm going to study, because we have all these great matchups this weekend. I didn't want to release

my updated quarterback rankings now when we got all these big games coming up. It just didn't make sense. So next week we will dive into all that. I will give you my rebuttal or agreement on Mendoza. I don't think we're super far off.

But check out the McShea report. It just dropped today. We got another one. We're breaking down. There's more in-depth. There's gifts and videos. and clips to back up some of the things I'm seeing on tape. And it's a wide array of things,

including some NFL draft guys you need to know. I also dove into Michael Hawkins Jr., the quarterback from Oklahoma. If we do see him, and I assume we will for OU and the Red River, what you can expect to see in that one. So McShay report, Google it, please. Get involved.

And we've got, obviously, Sunday mornings, we're coming out now with the review of what we saw from all the Saturday. game. The McShay Show is brought to you by Fanduel. This college football season is delivering weekly showdowns you don't want to miss. And right now, all customers on Fandual can score a 50% profit boost for this week's big matchup on campus between Texas and Oklahoma. And the best part, you get paid instantly when you win. Use your boost on bets like spreads, over unders, team props, and so much more. Don't wait. Visit Fandual.com

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help.com. Call 1-88-78-9-777 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. This episode is brought to you by Duluth Trading Company. Ready to give rival tailgates the foam finger. Duluth Trading Company crafts Hall of Fame game day gear to help you grill hotter, cheer louder, and tailgate longer. Trust me, like, I'm a scene at the grill. I know what this is all about. They've got bibs loaded with pockets, gusted in pants so you can crouch without snuffing out your coals, and free swinging shirts tailor-made for beanbag tossing, or some like to call it cornhole. Stay comfortable from preseason to playoffs in the toughest tailgate attire around, only at Duluth trading.

All right. Next up on my list, Cassius Howell, number nine, edge rusher, Texas A&M. Let me give you a quick history on. on this guy, okay? Cassius Howell really was, he was graded by the, you know, in the offseason by the NFL scouting services, if you will, and was kind of given a mid-round grade, projected, kind of has a chance to rise. That's exactly what he's done. And when you want, like, he was part of that COVID recruiting class, right? Couldn't go on visits all those sorts of things. Lands at Bowling Green, Balling Green State. So he's at Bowling Green, had a breakout year in

2023 with nine and a half sacks. Then he transfers to A&M in 2024 and you're like, well, why didn't he, like, if he's that talented, Todd, why didn't he break out? I'll give you two reasons. Shemar Stewart and Nick Scorton. Right. Shemar Stewart drafted, you know, middle of the first round. And Scorton was the 50 first overall pick, I believe.

So he's behind those two guys who are really talented players, obviously by where they were drafted. but the production, the sack production wasn't there. Well, he comes in this year, takes over as a starter, named SEC defensive player of the week twice for having the multiple three sack games, Utah State and Mississippi State, respectively, leads the nation with seven sacks,

four in the last two games, Auburn and Mississippi State. As a pass rusher, Cassius Howell is an attack dog. I want you to think of every movie or show you've ever watched where someone climbs over the fence and there are these like rabid dogs chasing down someone who's trying to break into the property. That's what Howell is. He's undersized.

He's 6-2. He's 249. Those are verified by scouting services in the off-season. That's 6.02.21, 249. Estimated 475 speed. I don't buy that. Quick first step. But the thing with him is he's unbelievably quick with his feet,

but also with his hand. He's one of those guys who's always advancing because it's like, you know, his dip and it's a dip and rip and or dip and slap move that he has and the bend like this around the edge and everything's moving. He's cutting at you. I love watching him on tape. He gets Wegman's arm. In addition to the three seconds, he gets Wegman's arm as a wide rusher from the behind.

He circles around, cuts the, cuts a sharp edge and breaks up the pass before he, even comes out of Wigman's hand last week. So I don't know. I just, he's a guy that, where was Azareka taken from Boston College? Was it early second I want to say? Very early second. I'm not saying he's that high.

This class has got Ruben Bain, man. It's got Eldrick Falk from Auburn. It's got T.J. Parker, L.T. Overton, Mateo Uiunga Lange-Lole. But I think he's working his way into that like six to ten range where you got a bunch of other dudes like Anto Seika from Northwestern, Zion Young, Danny, Donnie Dennis Sutton, Tyreek Sapp, who's having a huge year, David Bailey's having a huge year for Texas Tech. So, but I think he's starting to compete in that range and it won't shock me if he works his way into

day two if he continues to do what he's done so far this year. What aren't you buying about that time? You think he's faster? You think he closes there than that? Faster. Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

I love his tape so far. And the production matches everything. We're going to roll. We're going to roll. I don't know if there's any player who's on a heater like USC wide receiver, McKay Lennon, who his, I got to find the, I'll find the numbers here in a second. 19 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns over the past two games. He almost willed USC to a win over Illinois.

So USC's got Michigan coming to town, big game. They got to bounce back from that loss to Illinois if they want to get back in the Big Ten race. It's a 730 kick, so I guess it's 430 there. But 730 NBC, they're going to need McCoy Lemon to have another monster game. Michigan has given up 100-yard receivers in two of their three power four conference games. And the other game, a guy had 97. So they've had some problems slowing down some of these receivers.

And I think Lemon can exploit that. Look, he's not a very big dude. He's 5'11-195. that's what he's listed at. There are things that I'd like to see him kind of develop as a route runner because it's, you know, like a lot of college receivers, it's crossers, it's hitch, it's go, it's some gimmick stuff where they put him in motion.

He caught a long pass over for trick play against Illinois. There's all of those little things going on. But when he does get a chance to run it out, you see that he could be a good route runner at the next level. You see already that he has a great feel for when to settle against zone looks. I think his best two best skills, are his ball skills. He's 5'1.1.95.

He had two contested touchdown catches against Illinois in the fourth quarter. He's just, he catches the ball well. He's got two drops over the last two years. I think that's 117 targets at this point. So he's very reliable for a smaller guy. And then it's that compete level. He is, he will get hit over the middle. He's going to compete for those 50-50 balls despite his size.

He's going to, he just does a fight for yards after contact, after the catch. I love the compete level on this kid. Now, if we're being honest, there's a difference between being a great college player and what you project to the next level. At 5 foot 11, 195, he kind of reminds me of Trey Tucker. That's the kind of vibe I get from him is a Trey Tucker vibe.

I think he played that role where he's more of a slot receiver in the NFL. But he's gone from a player that I thought in the preseason when I wrote him up, I gave him a fourth round grade. I think he's now on the top 100 mix. I think he's in the... Really?

in the top three rounds mix. I really do. We'll see how we test. That'll be a big part of it again. It's rough draft, baby. It's early on. We'll see what happens. But right now, I mean, that production speaks for itself, man.

He is on fire. I think it's fair. It's only fair for me to share with the audience, three things. One is, you came up with this name, Rough Draft, and I absolutely love it. Two is and more pertinent to what's going on right now. When we came up with this concept, I'm never like, I'm never, like, strict with you or tell you what you have to do. But the nature of this relationship in the show is I'm hosting it.

And, like, there are certain things we're trying to accomplish. I told you there are two things you had to do, both of which you have absolutely nailed and both of which I've absolutely failed. One was we're keeping this thing under 30 minutes. And when it goes over and Dan, get your little chuckle in. a great producer and editor and Mr. Do and everything. Dan always bets the over when I say a certain time. I've blown that.

And the two is I said with every single player I want to know, give the audience who they're playing, what time and where they can watch. So they can kind of watch what we're talking about. And both times I've failed that. So Cassius Howell, going back to Cassius Howell, Texas A&M's playing in Florida is one of the games, 730 ESPN.

And this is a good time to remind everyone that this will become our favorite show, our flagship show, but like really the show that is doing the best and we love the most is the Saturday night live reaction show. It's on YouTube. Go to the McShea Show page,

McShay Show page on YouTube. And we'll send it. Look at our McShay 13. You Good Mench are the two handles for us. We'll send out information. But we're going to break into all four of those games. We have South Carolina LSU. We got Texas A&M in Florida.

We got USC in Michigan. And we got, what was it? South Carolina, LSU. Yeah, I mentioned that one. Anyway, there's four games in that prime time. We're going to break into it. Come join us. It's a great hang all night.

And we'll react to all the shows. The interaction is the best part. Getting to interact with everyone, everyone coming at us, going at each other. That's the best part to me. So while most of us, most of the problems, us going over 30 minutes are going to be on me, part of the problem is going to it has to go on the shoulders of Dylan Tito.

Okay. Dylan Tito is a huge fan of our show. And for that, we are eternally grateful. I don't do a lot of this. I don't like the people who are like, oh, I read an email or someone supporting

to try to pat yourself on the back. But when you take time to write a two-page email to tell us how you feel about the show, I have to mention you. So first off, Dylan, I really appreciate all of us appreciate your email. I don't want to read the whole thing. We're short on time, and I don't think a lot of people want to hear the whole thing.

But he starts out by saying first time email or a long time listener. I wanted to send this to Todd. And he said in parentheses, I'll give, I'll give Mensh his flowers later in the email. And he does. ESPN stuck a thorn in my side the day that they decided you needed to walk out of that building. I've been following you in Kuiper ever since you joined the NFL draft team at ESPN. Mel's a legend. No one's trying to take that from him.

In parentheses, he writes, Yates made first draft insufferable. That's not very professional of me to read, but he wrote it, I didn't. Todd, you're the best NFL draft analyst that walks the face of the earth, and Mench, you have skyrocketed up the damn ladder, brother. As someone who spends a lot of time in the car for work,

I get bleepin-amped when you release a new show. The most important trait is a podcaster, the most important trait a podcaster can have. And I could give a rat's ass about what excels in the business. But who can make you feel like you're sitting alongside them in your kitchen or living room with your guard down just talking ball? You guys do that. You have the it factor.

And he goes on the list of a bunch of players with the it factor in the NFL. I knew after the first episode that it was going to be the best NFL draft podcast in the industry. And he goes on to talk about the big. Cat show, all these different things. And he said, appreciate you and the production team. If you guys open up a merch store, send a link. It's a good idea. I'll hit a Steelers game this year with a you good mensch hat on.

I love that. I love that too. And then he finishes, and this is why the transition here, he finishes by saying, and he's not the only one, I've gotten a lot of requests. Fired up that Ahmad hard, fire up that Ahmad Hardy tape. and tell me you don't see a little bit of you know who from last year. All the best, Dylan Tito. So Dylan, we appreciate it.

You are heard, as they like to say these days. So I have been getting a lot of requests. And quite honestly, I did his tape before I even read this email that Dan passed along to me. And I'm thrilled that he did. I'm out hardy. He's not eligible. And I'm not going to do this a lot. But I figured it's early in rough draft.

And let's get ahead of the tape. And he leads the nation, Ahmad Hardy does. The Missouri running back. They're playing Alabama at 3.30. Fascinating game. ABC, okay? It's going head to head with Red River. Monster game.

Yeah. So in 2024, he's a freshman. This is Hardy now. Freshman All-American at Louisiana Monroe. 12 career games. He compiled 237 rushes, 13-51, and 13-touchouts. transfers to Missouri. But that was as a true freshman, okay?

So this is his second year. And this year he comes in, wins the job and is leading the nation in rush yards per game, Munch. One year transfer from Monroe and now is leading the nation, 146 yards per game, 730 rush yards and nine touchdowns, 7.1 yards per carry. Party on tape. He is built like an absolute battering ram. And you're right. When we were texting back and forth, you were like, it's 211. He's listed 211.

I don't buy it either. I've got to, he looks way thicker. He's got a shorter frame at like 511 or 510, whatever it is. Anyway, a couple things that stood out with him. He runs with such great urgency, but also confidence. And he has confidence because he has some running backs just have it, right? that sense of I need to patiently wait, that sense of when I got to hit it, that sense of where

the cutback creases before you is and even as an evaluator watching tape, see it. That's what always tells me. When they see something, if you go and rewind it and slow-mo and then pause it, like, how the fuck did he see that back lane? But he saw it and he hits it, right? And so, and then the most beautiful thing of his tape is, and I, you hear it all the time with go watch first draft or go watch this podcast, whatever. And you'll hear, you know, he falls forward at the end of runs.

He's got great pad level. Yeah. And I get it. And that's what Scott was writing their report. But I want to explain to you this guy, I don't think one time. And I watched the whole season so far, all of his characters. One time did he fall backwards or get stopped? And I don't think one time that one tackler brought him down.

He's the hardest guy to tackle. on college football right now. I really believe that. Truly. Okay. So you got all the yards he generates. And I don't even need PFF for this one. I need him for a lot of things to help, you know, either either like steer me to help solidify a point I've already seen on tape or to make me go look at something else. I don't need PFF. I didn't even bother looking for like yards after contact.

It's a shit time. Okay. So. But but here's the two. pretty sure he leads the country. I'm pretty sure he leaves. I'm sure he does. The two things that I'm concerned about with the NFL, and he's got a whole other year,

he doesn't explode out of cuts the way I'd like to see. So it's not even a gathering as much as he'll make, he's got quick feet, he'll make that cut, but he doesn't out of it. Okay? And I don't know if that's something that will change. Most importantly, for his NFL evaluation, he's got a whole other year next year, okay?

He's only got one catch through five games. It was a screen. Right. to his left. Okay, so that's where he's going to, he's capable as a past protector. He knocked the crap out of him. Yeah. Cat Blitz of South Carolina.

But his technique's not there. But the passing game development is going to be critical because right now he is one of the most fun and most talented runners between the tackle the college football has to offer. So who does he remind you of? Who do you think Dylan's talking about? I mean, he was saying last year. year. So is he, Omari and Hampton? I think it's got to be Scataboo. I think he's talking about Scataboo. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

You even mentioned that. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's Scataboo. I saw Scataboo, by the way. This is a staple now. Don't forget. McShay report, Google it. Go subscribe. We got a bunch of stuff coming out this week. Saturday night, four awesome primetime games. My head's going to be spinning. I know yours will be too, but it's going to be a fun hang, breaking into those games. watching, I'm going to have the four screens up. It's going to be wild to watch all of that. Come hang with us, the McShay Show on YouTube, and we'll get you the details this week and send it out on social media.

But it's just like this is now, this is our staple. This is our flag. I'm so excited. I'm pumped about it. Great job naming it. Great job Dan with coming up with it. And I love that we pivoted at the right time as we started gearing up for the NFL draft, but also getting you ready for college football.

We've got an absolute treat for you today. The Red River rivalry is the biggest game in the, the week seven slate in college football and one of the biggest games in the entire football season. It's ABC 330 with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herb Street, and Holly Row. And we're thrilled to sit down with Fowler as he prepares for this massive matchup between Oklahoma and Texas. We'll dive into all the storylines, including Arch Manning, the Texas offense, Steve Sarkesian's quest to turn things around, and the John Mateer situation.

I also want to remind everyone, Saturday night, it's our staple, the live, reaction show. Mention I'll be breaking into four primetime games. We've got Michigan, USC, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina, LSU, and Florida, Texas, A&M. What an unbelievable run of games we're going to have on Saturday night. So come hang with us on YouTube late Saturday evening.

There he is. Are you finally recovered, my man? Taking a deep breath after that September. U.S. Open, college football, Corso's well-deserved tribute. I feel like it was a grind. that September. You're taking a breath now? Recovery is scheduled

for February 11th. The day after the Super Bowl is, which we call for the international feed. No, yeah, grind, but a fun grind. I always say that, look, it's, people say, you do what you love, you never work a day in your life, we work, you know how that goes. But it's fun work. It's a fun grind. It's a challenge. I mean, I think it got the best to me.

The nexus of U.S. Open and CFB was pretty tough. my voice was trash for one of the Monday night games I did at the end of the run there because I Monday night too. I didn't even mention that. I didn't sleep. There was a sinus infection, you know, all that stuff. But we recovered. We're good to go. We've had our stride midseason form. I got two double dip weeks the next two weeks, which means I have my Falcons Bills board on the floor with blank, by the way. Nothing's filled in yet. We got to get to work on that. We got OU Texas in the meantime. So speaking of recovery, how's our girl Holly Row doing?

I checked in the next day. Holly is a national treasure. She is. A phenomenal at her job. I mean, in that game, what you don't know is she got knocked down. She got up again. She got knocked down. She got up again.

It was the two knockdown rule. It was in effect that she had fallen earlier before the time that the cameras caught her nearly getting run over. I didn't know that. Michael Lervin did nothing to protect her. Well, she didn't advertise it. But earlier, a mic cable, someone's camera had gotten tangled around her ankle. She uses a wireless mic. So somehow a cable, and the guy ran away.

And she got pulled to the ground when he ran away. And so she had sent for some ibuprofen from the compound, which had been rushed out to her. She was already on meds when she went down for the second time. And, yeah, Michael Irvin could have been chivalrous, could have stepped in front. But I know, instinctively, the playmaker protect the knees. And we were just glad that Holly doesn't have the experience to back pedal quickly. You know how you do. The first thing you do is you put your hands down, you crouch down,

and you protect those knees from getting rolled up, which she did. But now she was amazing. Well, we're thrilled to have you here, Chris. And obviously, I think like 17 years working for the same company. And honestly, looking back, and I don't want to, we don't have all the. time in the world today with you. But, but, and I will share with our, with our audience later, kind of some of our, our history. But I, like, certain people help me throughout my career in certain moments and the kind of, as you take steps in building your career when you're a young

person in this profession. And, and the support you always provided and the trust you gave to me at Game Day and you and Kirk and Des and Coach Corso especially kind of help elevated things. So I'm always, I'm eternally grateful for that. And just our friends. and going to dinners and all over the years. So it's great to have you on for the first time in the show, man. Yeah, it's my pleasure, man. Yeah, it was great working together. If I helped in some way, it's nice to you to say that.

I appreciate that. I mean, it's a team sport we do in TV. And the collaboration is one of the great joys of it for me. And people come in with different talents and experiences you work with them. And your area of expertise is fascinating to me. I got to tell you this season, I can't so often, I thought, What would McShay think? What's he thinking about this performance, about this individual?

Like, how much is this guy's stock dropping? Basically what we've seen. I mean, because that happens every week. You know, the stock goes up and down. And you get some quarterback that's listed at the top of the board in the season. Maybe he struggles. I don't know if you know what I'm talking about. But it's like, I wonder what is what's being affected.

I mean, you know, I don't think in terms of, you know, it's early in the season. and the story hasn't been written yet. These guys have other games to make up for it. They have their pro days and their days, their meetings with teams. So we know they can recover. But you do wonder, like, wow, I wonder if he's thinking that he cost himself money with that performance. Because the reality is, it happens, right? It's been a wild year at quarterback.

Well, Herb Street and I text during your broadcast sometimes. So you can always reach out. You are here. I'm kind of like, I think I can really get behind. this go for dose thing. I feel like I've lived my life on that on that premise, but I do want to give you a minute to share and, you know, what you're, what you're here to promote. And, and I was shocked by this. They sent a note with the teams in college football have already attempted 166 two point conversions compared to the last seasons, 162. So it kind of ties into

what you're doing as well. Yeah, I don't know if those secues knew that was going to be an analytical trend to go for dose much earlier in the game. No, but it's a great campaign. It's obvious tie in with their name. But it does bring up the choices that coaches have to make, not just in game-ending situations where, you know, it's obvious what the stakes are, but in the first quarter, where teams will go for dose and you get to read that card.

We read the card, I mean, way more than I thought it was going to. Right. It'd come up so often. But, you know, because they happen a lot, and I don't know if you know, probably you do, because you're in this sport, what the success rate is in college football for two-point conversions, like one play from the three-yard line. It might surprise people.

Maybe not if they watch a lot, but it's under 50%, just under, high 40s, the success rate overall. I don't know specifically this year because they've gone for it more often, that the data hasn't been compiled yet, but I know that in general in recent seasons, it's about 46, 47%. So I'm going to be curious to see, I actually just checked earlier with AI and they didn't have a ready answer for me. over nationally what it is. But, you know, that that makes it compelling because it's like a coin flip, basically, when these teams line up from the three-ar line and try to double their money and go for two. Well, you're covering the Red River, as you mentioned before, we're thrilled to talk to you about that game as you get ready to go down to Texas and really cover one of

like the true gems in all of college football, right? And you got Oklahoma, Texas. I'm curious from you. You always have great perspective. on the big picture in college football and what's going on behind the scenes and the relationships you have. When you look at this game and you look at Texas specifically, what do you make of Texas this season

and where they are and kind of just the big picture of that program and what they're facing heading into this game? Well, the first part, I wish I had all the answers. I don't. I'm looking forward to really, you know, diving into them as kick-up approach is getting with Sark, getting with players, don't fully understand why they'd struggle as much as they have. I was in Columbus. The Lee Corto game day tribute was there. I watched the first half of that game on the field.

Obviously, I saw a very well-prepared, complex talent at Ohio State defense smothered Texas's offense. I saw Texas's defense make some crucial penalties that allowed Ohio State's first scoring drive. And I thought, well, you know, I didn't necessarily expect them to win that game, but I expected them to improve after that game. And I think we've all, Todd, maybe underestimated the difficulty of assembling an elite offensive line. And he had a place like Texas where they recruit so well, you sort of assume that you can use, lose guys like banks and send both tackles in the NFL and just plug and play. And, you know, they didn't frankly go to the portal and do what some other teams do. It's now possible to get quality offensive linemen in the portal.

You got to pay them. But there was always the challenge. in the early years of the portal. It was hard to get those guys to transfer. Now you can. You got to pay them. And Texas didn't go that route. And I think the offensive line struggles have been the easy answer for why they've not put together the kind of start and why Archmanning has struggled.

Part of it's on him, as you know, better than I do. But part of it's protection and the lack of a running game. And it shocks me that Texas can't run the ball well. Baxter's injury is part of it. But I think that, you know, we all assumed that they were going to reload up front and look like Texas and then they have it. Six sacks in the swamp is unacceptable. The Gators hadn't generated a pass rush most of the year, as you know. I mean, the defense had been sturdy, had been missing some guys up front that backups have been playing well. We did the

Miami game, but offensively couldn't make a first down. I mean, Lagway was they struggled to make a first down against mine. They had one decent drive all game. So the part of that loss that surprised me for Texas was how much they gave up defensively. And, And, you know, I don't know, nobody does, knows what material is going to be able to do on Saturday or not do. If they're facing Hawkins, they faced him last year. It's a different kind of an attack. But you'd thoroughly expect Texas to be much more stout and better, perform better, be better prepared on defense than they were last week. And offensively, you know, I'm eager to see them against Oklahoma's defense.

To me, Oklahoma's played like two real teams. so much like Florida State had played two games before they took on Miami, those stats on the offense were wildly inflated and not really indicative of where they were offensively, and they didn't do much against Miami's defense. And so is Oklahoma's defense as good as they are on paper? And I think they're good. And I think Venable's calling the defense has made a huge difference. They've got excellent players.

Are they the best defense in the country, as the numbers suggest? we're fixing to find out as they think that in Texas. Yeah, you sort of answered the question I had for you because it was the offensive line and watching tape against Florida last week. It seems like it's a chemistry and a personnel issue. It seems like you said, they haven't reloaded there,

but also players aren't playing together. Backs aren't blocking as well as maybe they could. Tight ends aren't blocking. And, you know, I don't want to let arch off the hook because, like you said, there have been stretches where he hasn't played well, but there's also been stretches where he's played well. And I guess what do you do?

Is it the, you know, would you put more of a stress on getting that running game established or getting the pass protection fix? It seems to me that they do a lot of play action. So it seems to me they need the other running game going and that might help him. But I just want to get your thoughts of like the best way to get Arch on track. Yeah, it's a good question. I'm sure Sarke's scrapple with that. Well, you guys know from the NFL, if you don't have a running game, play action means nothing.

So if you can't run the ball, the quarterback's up against it, frankly. A lot of what they do, you're right. You want to be able to get up under center and do the play action game. You want to be able to protect him. They're struggling in all areas. I mean, like I said, you can't be that porous, even in predictable past situations. Even with the gators bringing extra stuff, a lot of it is on him. I mean, you look at the data.

You can break down, as you guys know, quarterback pressure responsibility, right, and sack responsibility by position. I've got all that data. You know, and a lot of it is on the. QB. A lot of times people think, oh, you often, well, no, it's on him holding the ball too long. Being, you know, too patient, not throwing it away.

You want to generate those downfield shots, which he throws beautifully. But there's so much scrutiny. He was never going to live up to the expectations of the hype. We knew that going into Ohio State, and it's been the case ever since. You know, and I think we talked to him, you know, this week. I, you know, I don't know

right now that there's a lot of joy in the job for him. He's got to be able to, I sound like an older person when I'm talking about. No, that's, I see that. I'm with you on that. I've known Archel. I know, I've known Cooper forever. I know the man he, I'm around, as you guys, I'm around them. And I do pull for him because of that. And I pull for him because I'm not making him a sympathetic figure. He's extremely felt paid to do his job. And it hasn't lived up. But I want guys to remember that they got into football for a reason is that they loved it.

And there's joy there. And, and when you're. not meeting your own expectations. And that's way more important to him than the outside static. He's not played as well as he wants to play. Can he against Oklahoma? Can a win against Oklahoma fix a lot of their ills? Absolutely. But it's going to be tough and not easy because they, I mean,

Venables and that defense is real. And I think they're not the greatest defense in the world. But we'll see. Maybe they'll prove me wrong by smothering Texas and continue on in the SEC. see. So you mentioned John Mater, I mean, listen, Arch is always a huge story in Texas in general, but like I get the sense as we get closer and closer to this game and Pete Thammel coming out and saying, well, you know, surgery went really well. Like, first of all, you want to break any news here? You got any material news? Well, we have our Oklahoma Zoom is later. I don't know if Venable's

going to break news for us. I mean, I think it's always interesting when you, when you, this, the modern miracles of surgery. When you get the best guy in the world, you have the hand surgery done. and it's not the most serious variety, but the thumb isn't, fracture wasn't as serious, blah, blah, blah, it's still a thumb, right? Isn't that kind of important for a quarter?

Yeah, like, I'm just, like, I don't, I'm not a expert thrower of the ball, but it seems like that would be. But you've held one in your hand before, right? I mean, so, so, yes,

it's a gray area. You have to, you have to be really confident that you can do it. Can, can you sustain a shot to the hand? I mean, it's unlikely that that area is not going to be under duress. I thought he played well, Todd.

You know, we had the Michigan, Oklahoma game down there when he really carried the low, kind of put the team in his back. And I knew coming from Wazoo and I knew it would be a great fit for the offense. He's a great guy. But is it sustainable going into the SCA grind to have a quarterback take that many hits, run the ball. That style. Historically, when it's been done over a period of time, it's been done by a creature. It's been done by an alien like Tim Tebow or Cam Newton.

Cam Newton, yep. Jayton Daniels is a different kind of creature. You just couldn't hit him that often. And you didn't want him taking direct shots either. He did suffer some shots and get knocked out of games and play hurt a lot more than people realized. And I'm sure Matera's a tough guy. He can play hurt that particular injury. You know, I don't know.

I mean, I think you want to lighten the workload on him and let him do his thing, but it is such an integral part of what he brings. Let me float this theory that I've had. since the beginning of the week, and I shared with Steve and our group. I think Venables as a defensive coach knows the stress and strain creates, having two different style quarterbacks, right?

While Matur is a runner and does some of those things, like just going back and watching the tape of Kent State, like it is a different animal, this offense, and what they are able to do and what they try to do with Hawkins Jr. in there. So my guess is even if there's absolutely no chance, that Mityer plays on Saturday. He wants Texas to have to prepare.

The time is limited in practice. So if you're every minute they're preparing, I should say, for Meteer is a minute that they're not preparing for Hocken. So I'm just curious your thought on that theory. No, I think it's true. I think that's why injury reports are kept secret. You feel like if you can get a 2% edge, because they're not sure who's going to be out there,

that that 2% is worth the secrecy. And then I compelled to share information anyway in the way that you are in the NFL. So we're not going to know. I mean, I'll know more in a few hours, but we'll know for sure, you know, Friday, Saturday, morning, for sure. I don't know that it's radically different with Hawkins in there. I just know that I saw Hawkins play against Texas a year ago. And, you know, he's capable of electrifying runs, but I think it became predictable.

And to one-dimensional. and they, Oklahoma didn't have much success in that game. I guess they're really talented Texas defense that's proven to be a little bit better than this unit so far. But, no, I obviously I wanted to play because you want, you want, you want their best players to be there. Yeah. The big games. I hope you can go, but I'm skeptical like you.

If I were to think of one word to kind of describe this Red River this year is volatile, right? Like, don't you? And that for you and for a broadcast. This is wonderful. Like there's so much uncertainty. There's so much pressure on this game always. But then you add arch in the Texas offense and start the, the whispers now of what's going on in Texas and Steve Sarkesian and the press

conference. And then John Mateer, is he playing? Like it just feels more volatile than, than typically coming into what's already just one of the great rivalries in all of college football. Yeah, it's my favorite game to call every year. People ask that. We used to be the whiteout.

We can't call big 10 games anymore. but it's always been right there. I've seen a lot of them ringside when Game Day was there, got a chance to call some games. It's bedlam every play no matter who's doing well. So the scene is special. The backdrop is different this year, but it's not been spoiled by the fact that Texas has a couple of losses.

There's more urgency there. You're right. It's kind of supercharged on both sides. You know, the team that got handled last year, Oklahoma Venables wants to come back. back and just the way Texas wanted to come back after Gabriel got him before. So that push-pull is always a beautiful thing. The rivalry, you know, people say, well, it doesn't matter what the records are.

Throw out the records in this rivalry. You know what? The records do matter this year. And they're a part of the backdrop. Texas is in must-win mode, period. Period. Period. Right? You can't take a third loss.

No, that's it. And you would have zero control of your death city. You'd have to have a complete chaos. You have to try to navigate back to the SEC championship game in a hyper-competitive conference, you know, starting a race with a serious handicap. Or, you know, they have to win the game. So that makes it compelling.

And I think the backdrop is really different. We talked about the struggles on the Texas side and the fact that Oklahoma, I mean, still has to prove a couple of things, right? I mean, they have looked good. They've earned their spot. But Michigan and Auburn, you know, that's not Murderer's Row. And then the other games are basically nine games. So I'm really eager to see them perform in this stage.

And the plot lines are really cool. Yeah, I love the contrast and styles and backgrounds with these two head coaches, but wanted to focus in on Venables for a second. Is this the kind of team you expected him to build when he left the Clemson job four years ago to take his first head coaching job? Well, I knew the success in the SEC was going to be tough. I don't know that because there wasn't continuity that Oklahoma had been building their roster and recruiting for the SEC the way Sarks been able to do at Texas. And their schedule is brutal.

You know, as you know, it's the same schedule this year with the sites reversed. But they didn't do Oklahoma any favors in the first couple of years in the conference. And they were diving into the deep end. He's trying to develop this team. And they're just getting murderers rough. The schedule was rough for them. And it's challenging again this year. But I think you expect him to have a defense that's going to be better than the sum of its parts,

and you expect the parts to be really good. So I expect elite defense, him going back and calling it. The offensive piece has been a challenge. Continuity's been a challenge, wanting to play complimentary football. Everybody knows when you're a play caller for a team that is coached by a defensive-minded guy, it can be challenging. I think Ben R. Buckel's a really bright guy. I mean, you know, when they were doing great when Matt Tier was in there, it was like, okay, which NFL job is Ben Arbuckle going to take?

You know, no, that was, and it will be which head coaching job, or is it going to be a play call? Everybody was putting him there because he's under 30 and he's having great success, and he is one of the bright young minds and coaching. So, but again, it's, this game is humbling. and the SEC is humbling. Now, it doesn't matter who you are. You know, it doesn't matter if you're Nick Saban or Kirby Smart, whoever you are. Certainly, Sark's been, you're going to be humbled.

You're going to be brought down to earth. You're going to have those nights when shit ain't working, and perceptions are going to be changed, and the fortitude of your team is going to be tested. And we're just beginning that. So, I mean, to me, Oklahoma's story is far from being written at this point. I wonder, we'll get you out of here. in just a little bit. I got a couple quick hitters for you. First of all, I'm, I just,

part of the broadcast that makes it special with you and Kirk is it's also a college football show baked in and a little bit more so in the games, maybe it'll blow up. But like the big picture perspective and doing, and you know, hosting college game day for as long as you did and doing a phenomenal job. Like, you always have a great feel for like nationally. And you've seen a lot of these, the top teams so far this year. So if I made you the one man college football playoff, you didn't have to focus on on strength of record or most deserving. But in your opinion, you got a chance to hand us the national championship matchup. Who would be your top two teams right now that you would want to see go head to head? That's a tough question, you know, because I mean, the big tennis is so top

heavy and they really haven't fully collided into each other. I mean, went to Penn State and won and off that win, you immediately would put the ducks in that position. It's, it's, it's hard not to put Ohio State there too. But, and I still, like I said, the SEC, it's a long way to being sorted out. And then once you get in the bracket, like, who's equipped to win three games or four games if you don't get to buy? I mean, Ohio State clearly was last year equipped to do that. And you have to, year one of it, it was interesting to see, you know, do you fall back on

roster, talent, and depth? because it matters. As you expand the playoff format, as we've seen in the NFL, sometimes it's just who's healthier and who's healthier. Who's got that momentum built up? And sometimes you can take zero momentum after the end of the Michigan debacle and turn it into fuel. So it's a long answer.

It's hard for me to say because I wouldn't have thought sitting here at this point in the season, Todd, that the three highest ranked teams in the SEC were going to be Ole Miss and I'm in Oklahoma. You tell me, okay, who are those three teams going to be? And they're not going to include Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida. I just said, you're insane. But here we are, a month plus into the season. And already we've had that shakeup in the SEC.

We haven't had, unless you can't UCLA shocking Penn State and knocking them way under the back burner after being in a position. to beat Oregon and be perhaps number one of the country. Look what's happened in a couple of weeks. Now, Ohio State, I just don't see them getting challenged. I don't see Ohio State losing for a while.

I frankly don't. I don't see them losing in the regular season. I mean, yeah, they got to play Michigan. Yeah, Michigan's been in their head. They're still the favorite net game right now going in. Pretty solid favorite, probably. And then, you know, then they're in the playoff. Okay, they're in.

if they navigate through that, it doesn't matter what happens in Indy. And Ohio State has shown that they've got the roster depth and talent to get there again. It's not a very exciting pick. But teams that we thought at the beginning of the season were positioned to be there, like Clemson, quickly have fallen away. So Miami is that. I was going to say, I know you're right.

Yeah. Because I was waiting. I tend to immediately go Big Ten SEC as you do. The Canes, you know, I wrote back with some people or Miami fans after the game. Now, the Canes number one, is that game put his number one? I said, calm down. It doesn't matter, first of all.

I don't even know Mario wants that for his team. They did jump to two, which it surprised me a little bit. I don't know what the reasoning was for that. I mean, they looked good. The game against Florida State was not nearly as close as the final score. They dominated him and then kind of fell asleep in the lead as they do. but at the time at one point it was 28 to 3. So they look great.

The schedule sets up. They'll be solid favorites. They've got to handle that role, the rat poison. As Christavall has adopted his former boss's phrase, and Saban taught his former assistants well. And Mario knows that his teams have collapsed. So can they reverse that trend, Todd? Can he get a team ready?

Could this be the group? Because the roster changes every year. So you can't hold these guys responsible for Miami collapsing in other years. years. But it's a strong trend. November hits. They stumble against people they shouldn't stumble against. They don't respond to the pressure internal or external of expectations very well. I mean, they're in the playoff list. They lose at Syracuse from 21 up. I mean, come on. And the entire defensive staff basically is gone because of those kinds of collapses. I think this team is really talented. They're really well set up. They have the best front for in

college football. They have a guy in Carson Beck that I thought would have a big year. They have Malachi Tony who's a day one star. They have C.J. Daniels. They have multiple backs. They have an emerging tight end and lofted. And they got a secondary that I thought was maybe a little bit suspect, but has gotten better and grown on the job and is playing behind a ferocious pass rush that, as you know, can get home with four and finish a game. Like they did it against right? Finish the game. Like it, you know, that's what fascinates me about getting to know the NFL better. It's like those kinds of things. When you can do that in the college level, when you can.

Closers. What what 50 million dollar guys can do in the NFL, which is go win the game right now with a sack. That is priceless. And Miami can do that. And so they have different ways to win, which is a way of saying that they are the most intriguing team for me because they're going to muscle up on an ACC competition. I think, you know, Louisville at home, and then you look at the rest of their schedule. They leave the state finally November 1st to play SMU.

But again, not easy. They can even afford a loss, which is dangerous for them to think about. But, you know, I see them as really well positioned. I'd be shocked if they're not in the playoff. And once they get in, how do they handle business, you know? I know Steve has one last question. He's been dying to ask you. This is a rapid fire.

I don't do well with rapid fire. You can ask my wife or anybody else. Come on, man. I've seen you do three-hour game day shows without a single note. I just love the topic. I love the questions because we don't know the answers. But I didn't really give you an answer to that question. No, no, no.

It's exactly what we were looking for. Just kind of because you have a good feel for like the whole, the big picture. That's what I wanted to share here. True. McShay is always telling me about his experiences covering games and telling me stories about where I need to go. I think both of you are big fans of Chuck's Fish. Is that, I think that's right. Yeah, that's right.

Chris Edding, you introduced me to him. Go ahead. Yeah. So if you could send me or other college football fans to one place for one game to have that perfect college football weekend, where are we going? Wow. So the week, does that mean like food and beverage? And it would be sponsored by Dosecis.

I'll take whatever you can give me. You know, I mean, again, LSU is a lot. a lot of people's answer for a reason, okay? Because the food, check the food part, check the hospitality part. The tailgating, assuming it's a night game, which you should go to a night game, is amazing. I've had the tailgate experience both sober when I was working that night and not when I wasn't. I was just game days over at 11 central. The game was much later.

I'm out in the mix of people wearing a T-shirt and having a good time. And then the experience, because I've heard from so many people who are from Europe or somewhere else or having grown up around college football and you take them in there and you see the experience and the insanity of it. You know, the best crowds in college football are the ones where the regular folks act like students, right? If the student section is crazy, which Penn State has always been, that's okay. On a whiteout, the regular folks are crazy. That's why the environment is different. And that's what makes the SEC consistently the toughness environments to play. play because the regular folks get as crazy as the young folks do.

And so LSU is that, you know, times five. So I would say go have that experience if you haven't already had it. There are many other great game day experiences. But, I mean, if I had to pick one, that would be it. Well, we appreciate the go for dose, Doseki's promotion that you're doing. And we appreciate your time as always. I'm excited to watch this game. I mean, Red River with all these storylines.

It's going to be an awesome Saturday. And I know you'll love it. It's going to be a wire. Yeah, like this has become like on top of all that. This has become, to me, it's become the, it's Red River. But with this backdrop of, is Herbie going to make it in time? And you doing the C.Y.A for Herbie and the whole broadcast until everything kind of, everyone gets to take a deep breath.

Game Day was in the building, Todd, a couple years ago. And he wasn't in the booth when, when Xavier Worthy took a, took a ball 75 yards on a screen to the house. So the first quarter of the first play of the game, you remember the play. Yeah, yeah. That's when people showed, oh, like, this dude is track fast and he still is. And he was like, he was like, get the head set on him.

He had analyzed the replay, but he wasn't scared in position. And then last year, you know, he did the game day picks from the plane. They have to leave Eugene, they have to leave this set an hour early because there's no, the math doesn't work. Right. And he flew from Eugene. It's weird that it lined up this way two years in a row. I assume the same plan is in place.

But in all the things you were adding about the anxiety and the stress and the subpluses that's one for me. Oh, I'm sure. I mean, we have a backup plan. There is somebody there doing some prep who is ready to jump in and analyze this game. But in case Kirk isn't there at the start, I hope he is. It does add some stress.

It's just wild. It's awesome. Well, we appreciate your time, my man. It's always good catching up with you and keep in touch. Enjoy the program, man. Really, I'm a fan. Keep it going. And let's do it again.

Okay, sounds good. You bet. See you guys. There he is, man. What a treasure follower is. He's an unbelievable. His depth of knowledge, but the storytelling and all, I just, I love the whole concept of he's up there in a booth.

And the game's getting ready to start. And he doesn't have a clue of Herb Street. like the mechanics of him if he's going to be up there and you've got arch and sarkesian and mityer might not be playing like that is a stressful deal and you're calling who's the alternate by the way i didn't want to ask him i want to know the alternative usually it gets leaked usually it gets because because that person is either not doing his game or it wouldn't surprise me if like i don't know like an orlovsky because they're doing monday night together so it could be it could be someone like that um but anyway that was that was a lot of fun chris is always a treat we'll have them back

And like I said, he's, he's been, you know, like no one knew me back in the day it came, you know, ESPN or nationally. And when it was presented to them from Lee Fitting, who was the producer, like he never, he never batted an eye. And like I would send him my reports, you know, like our matchups and all that stuff. And he and not only did he like bring me on, like, we would talk during the week and he would ask me questions. and then he would ask for my scouting rankings and kind of a friendship and relationship developed over time and yeah he just from day one that man supported what I was doing and what we were doing and so I'm always grateful for those you know I'll take my shots at certain people because they deserve it but uh but when when someone's someone's that meaningful for your career

and has been there from the beginning it's it's hard not to you know share that with our audience. So all right. That was an awesome interview. Good to get caught up. So fired up for this matchup, man. It's going to be good. I don't care. I mean, I know there's questions on both sides. You know it's going to be good. It's always good. It's always wild. And the hitting. The one thing, there's certain games, Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, Ohio, when you're on the field, I've had the pleasure of being on the field for a lot of these big time games. The first thing you notice from like the kickoff, the first series, the noises are, the hitting, the striking is different.

And so that's going to be one of them on Saturday. So awesome interview, awesome show. Five stars, Mitch. Must be 21 plus and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in D.C., Kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 gambler or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-88-78-88-78-7-7-7 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut.

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