The McShay Show - Week 12 Reactions: Oklahoma On Top, Georgia's Guts, & A&M's Comeback | The McShay Show

Episode Date: November 16, 2025

Join Todd and Muench every Saturday night throughout the College Football season to recap and react to the biggest games, plays and prospect performances. 0:00 Welcome to The McShay Show!3:12 Week 12... Live Reactions!10:55 (11) Oklahoma stuns (4) Alabama: 23-2130:15 (7) Ole Miss escapes Florida: 34-2434:36 (3) Texas A&M 27 Point Comeback vs. South Carolina: 31-3045:55 (9) Notre Dame defeats (22) Pitt: 37-1551:38 (17) USC defeats (21) Iowa: 26-2157:20 More Week 12 Takeaways1:03:23 TMS Top 121:10:05 Live Q&A with Todd The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Remitly Business: pay global contractors & vendors—fast, secure, reliable. https://bit.ly/RemitlyBusiness Host: Todd McShayProducers: Tucker Tashjian, Conor Nevins, Daniel ComerSocial: Alysha Tsuji Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:00 Let's do it. Here we go. I don't know who I'm going to ask or how I'm going to ask it, but we do know there's only 159 days until the NFL draft. Always trade back. I saw you said it was 160. It's 159. We're getting closer. Medch, you good?
Starting point is 00:00:17 Medch, you good? He's good. He's enjoying some nice drink at a fancy place and some warm weather spot. And I'm glad he is because it's pouring down frozen rain here and probably going to get some snow. So Tucker, you know what time it is. Roll that music, please. Let's start things out the way we always do.
Starting point is 00:00:56 We get the best things we saw all week. But I do want to say this. I'm supposed to have my emotional support dog, Tilly here. I don't think Tilly made the trip up. I think she was asleep like a couple other people in this house. I won't mention names. This is the McShay show presented by Fandul, and college football Saturdays are heating up.
Starting point is 00:01:16 Whether you're in for the early kick or the late-night action, Fanduel lets you bet your way with the same game parlays, live betting, game props, and more. And Missouri, get excited because Fandual is coming your way on December 1st. Download the app or head to Fandual.com slash McShay and make every Saturday count. Must be 21 and older in President Select States or 18 and older in President D.C., Kentucky, or Wyoming. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 gambler or visit R.G. call 1 888 789 777 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. I did promise a shout out to my son.
Starting point is 00:02:04 And if I'm going to give one to my son, I'll give one to my daughter as well. Tate and the boys are hanging out. They're doing a sleepover. We got George, we got Johnny, we got Jeffrey, we got Tate. I'm thrilled that you guys are watching, but don't be watching at the end. of the show when Dan's getting ready to go to his party in the Hollywood Hills because it's time for you guys to get some sleep tonight. But I love when the boys get together. They're doing a sleepover. They're supporting me. And I appreciate you watching. And we're going to have a fun show.
Starting point is 00:02:32 And Alair is also having a sleepover with Lincoln and Coya. So hopefully all the kids are happy having fun. But we're here working and I'm happy to be working. And maybe I'll bring Tilly in here in a little bit to get some emotional support because I don't have mentioned. I'm not the same without them. Okay, so we covered Texas, we covered Georgia. Let's get to the best things we saw today before we get to the rest of the slate for week 12.
Starting point is 00:03:02 Tuck! I know you're back there, brother. I know you don't want to come on the show with me. I'm not going to badger you tonight, but you're the favorite person in the chat. Everyone wants to know what you've been up to. So let's start running out the best things that we saw today. Oh, he didn't even drop back.
Starting point is 00:03:16 He just took off running. No way. No way. The first play of the game. Legend. You watching this guy? Oh, my God. Oh, my goodness. Legend.
Starting point is 00:03:23 Bay. Oh, my goodness. Legend. No way. Oh, my God. He's next. This is crazy. Yeah, sorry.
Starting point is 00:03:32 What happens? He likes that. What happens when Carnell Tate leaves this year? What happens when Jeremiah Smith leaves next year? Well, I get news for you. Brian Hartline's always got next. And that's next. Legend Bay.
Starting point is 00:03:48 apparently a 10-2-3 100 meter. It's really, really fast, if you don't know. It's like blazing fast. He's probably going to be the fastest wide receiver to play there since, what, like Ted, Ted Ginn, Ted Gid Jr. So yeah, that's next. I saw that on social this week, and I wanted to share that. It's like, of course, Ohio State's going to have someone who might be the fastest they've ever had and that heartlines ever had. that I can't wait to see what they,
Starting point is 00:04:21 you know, draw up with him. See how long Julian Sane's here and how much those two can intersect. All right, what do we get next? Do you feel like this is a must win for this team when it comes to something? Absolutely not.
Starting point is 00:04:34 You know, it is not an ACC game. I'm glad you brought that up. It's not an ACC game. You know, I gladly get beat 103 or 110 to 10 in that game. They can put 100 up on this as long as we win the next two after that, but it can our focus is on Notre Dame
Starting point is 00:04:50 and getting as many wins as we can. Well, they only put up 37, so it wasn't 100. It's classic Narduzzi. And truth be told, I told Tucker to clip this in the middle of the week before we knew what the outcome was. It's Narduzzi, A, he's not wrong. Their path is not as an at-large.
Starting point is 00:05:13 There's only one team from the ACC, and we'll get to the ACC, and the disaster that is in a little bit. but he's not wrong. And I know what he's doing. It's like, I told you. Narduzi, every time I meet with him, it's like, oh, whoa, it's me.
Starting point is 00:05:27 I'm just, you know, we're down the senior bowl, and I'm glad, I'm glad that they just brought a couple of these, you know, our pit programs, kind of trying to kind of make our way. And it's nice to see a couple guys get a chance to show scouts what they're doing. I mean, even when he had, like, Aaron Donald, like, you know, so. But that's just the way he goes about business. So it's like, yeah, don't worry about us, Notre Dame.
Starting point is 00:05:49 We won't get in your way. I know you have big plans. We're just going to try to see if we can compete a little bit in the ACC. And I don't even, like, it didn't backfire. One had nothing to do with the other. But it's always interesting. Whether they pulled off the upset or they lost by 100. I wanted to run that clip back to see how we felt about it in the moment.
Starting point is 00:06:08 He's a different cat. It's plain and simple. I've told you, some people in this business, around this business, love them. Some people don't kind of clash with his way of doing things, and that's fine too. But he's definitely one of the interesting characters. We'll leave it there. Next up, Tuck, I like this. But at what point, right?
Starting point is 00:06:33 And you know I love Lane. And Lane sent me the clip of his son, you know, doing the show they do for Ole Miss football, a couple of coaches' sons. Today was interesting. We'll get to that game. Florida Ole Miss. Lane's unapologetically Lane. There's a lot of buzz right now.
Starting point is 00:06:56 The team they just beat, maybe he's the head coach of the Florida Gators soon. I'm not buying it. And I kind of like how he's trolling everyone. Now, do you worry is getting in the way and someone, he posted something else later that was like 23 minutes before the game.
Starting point is 00:07:13 It's just Lane, man. Let Lane be Lane, but you know. And the more you engage with it, and the more you try to like tear him down or get in his way on it, the more he's going to lean into it. And I should put that up again, Tucker. Yeah, the BTA, 2026.
Starting point is 00:07:38 Yeah, have fun with it. Have fun with it anywhere you want. Because you know what, Lane is having an absolute blast. Best dress coach. in college football. I can tell you that. All right, last one. I really enjoyed this one. All right, so we appreciate everyone who's watching on YouTube, but if you're listening to this, driving somewhere, doing some chores, whatever it is,
Starting point is 00:08:03 going on a jog, I'll read it to you. It shows up, it's an ex post from the ECU Pirates, but it shows up as a FedEx delivery slip. He says, hi Memphis football, package not found. Thanks for reaching out to us about your win again. against the pirates. We really apologize for any inconvenience you've experienced. And in this case, we recommend you to please contact your shipper
Starting point is 00:08:28 to report a lost missing package so they can provide you with further details. This support ticket will be closed. And it goes on to say thank you from the FedEx team member. That was obviously in relation to the 3127 upset of Memphis. This group of five things getting a little wha-waxed. I was thinking today, and I'm curious to see what you guys think. We're getting so refined in all this, and we're talking about 16 teams, and so at that point,
Starting point is 00:08:59 but like, why do we have to have a group of five? You ever ask yourself that question? I mean, I know why. It's television rights. But, and it's deals that were made and to get this pass through and all of that. It's politics slash anything that's politics. and television is a.k.a. money, right? But to bring it back to football, I love a Boise State story. I love when there's a program that absolutely deserves it. Can't we come up with some kind of
Starting point is 00:09:38 formula where it's a strength of schedule wins and you have to qualify based off of that formula? You can't just be like a three loss, good team, but not a team that has to has earned the right to be in this dance. Sit on it. Think about it. Because I don't, like, why does someone just get an automatic bid? There's only 12 spots. We're talking about like chipping at one off from the Big Ten, the SEC, in order to give up one of these spots to a team that we know is going to,
Starting point is 00:10:18 in this year, not Boise State necessarily last year, even though they were one and done, but they gave Penn State a battle. this year it's just you get to feel like it's just a throw it's a buy it's a throwaway game i don't know something to think about it's not for tonight um all right that's it for for best things we saw today all right we had some great games i don't know that anyone was better or wilder or more exciting well more exciting might have been the comeback that we'll get you in a minute but oklahoma alabama i think that's the place i mean we'll keep it in the SEC and everyone's yell at me about SEC bias.
Starting point is 00:11:00 Well, they happen to play competitive games versus ranked teams. This was 11 Oklahoma going to Tuscaloosa, fourth ranked Alabama. One of my picks of the week. And I'm just going to say this. Has there ever, is there a team in college football this year that has taken on the personality more of its head coach than this Oklahoma team? Brent Venables is an absolute certified lunatic as a head coach. And I mean that in all the positive ways.
Starting point is 00:11:41 He is aggressive. He is demanding, but he cares about his players. And he has built this off of a defensive style and a brand that relies on relentlessness, aggressiveness, toughness, physicality. And there may be a couple things that are kind of lost in the cracks because he's so determined and laser focused on doing things the way he wants to do them. And I'm watching an Oklahoma team each and every week take on that identity. And remember, they had a lot of transfer portal guys.
Starting point is 00:12:17 They have a new offensive coordinator in Arbuckle who has fallen right in the line and is like a perfect fit because he can do a lot of the due diligence on the offensive side and that is a perfect compliment to what Venables is doing. and I'm watching Oklahoma each and every week. It's not just R. Mason Thomas because he's been nicked up. And now it's the wean cat on the other side. And now it's some other individuals stepping up. It's special teams.
Starting point is 00:12:46 It's offense. It's complimenting one another. This was not John Mateer's best day. But Alabama had things rolling. They're playing at home. They've got all the advantages in this game. and Oklahoma just wasn't having it. And it's just as a football fan who didn't,
Starting point is 00:13:07 like I picked Alabama to win the national championship. So if I had any horse in the race, it might have been that. I don't care. I just wanted to see a great game. And it was sloppy at times. There were mistakes and turnovers and, and just like wild plays.
Starting point is 00:13:25 But it was two teams that just laid it on the line. And no more so. than Oklahoma and Oklahoma's defense. That was the story. The story was Oklahoma's defense in this game. And I'm going to give you my spotlight player of the week. We do this every week. And I think, unfortunately,
Starting point is 00:13:40 we've done almost all, if not all, offensive players to this point. Well, we're flipping it today. Because the most deserving unit to be under the spotlight and to have focus was Oklahoma's defense. And the most deserving player from that defense, in my opinion, was Kip Lewis. Did you watch this guy?
Starting point is 00:14:00 23, 21 win. They hold Ty Simpson in that vaunted passing attack to 21 points in the, in the victory. Upset win in Tuscaloosa. He had seven tackles. All seven were solo in space, rangy, flying around the field. The emotional leader of this defense, he had two sacks, two tackles for loss. And one of those sacks, remember that sack? It was the sack that maybe saved the season.
Starting point is 00:14:30 for Oklahoma. Kip Lewis comes racing in, gets an 11-yard sack late in this game, and you felt like that was the moment where everyone for Oklahoma was like, oh, this is our game. We got this. And it's not because the gunslinger John Matier,
Starting point is 00:14:47 he did his part, and he grinded it out. But like his stat line, if you look at the end of it, what did he finish? He was only 15 of 24 for 138 yards. if you told me that Oklahoma is going to go in and knock off the number four team in the country with Ty Simpson on the other side playing at the level he's been playing,
Starting point is 00:15:12 I'd say yes, it would take a great defensive performance all three phases, but Mateer would have to give me more than 138 yards passing and 23 yards rushing. He'd have to. There's no way. McShay, Matier's going into Tuscaloosa against that team that's been on fire since that Florida State blemish. And he's going to throw for 138 and probably even scarier, quite honestly, considering what's happened since that thumb injury.
Starting point is 00:15:48 Even scarier is just the 23 yards rushing. And Oklahoma is going to win. It would be hard to forecast, like, how, how'd that happen? Turnover is crazy. And it was just a stifling defense. just going through this. I was blown away. I want to hold on that note for later.
Starting point is 00:16:13 I was blown away with how disciplined yet aggressive. And I say this all the time. I'll never forget the Venable story. I want to say it was NC State. When he was the defensive coordinator of Clemson, I wound up having like four Clemson games that year, okay? And they pulled it off. There was a miracle play at the end.
Starting point is 00:16:37 I think it was a missed field goal. And they came rushing down. And then the coach has come down for like the final minute of the game. He's on the sidelines. And he comes rushing over. For some reason, he decides he's just going to clock my ass. Like knocks me. Forearmed like two.
Starting point is 00:16:53 And it was like out of affection. That's what I knew he was a madman, right? But his teams have always, his defenses have always played with that same level. Like out of. control yet still under control. He's going to take chances, but he's going to have, he's going to have something behind it to make you second guess. It's like a string attached.
Starting point is 00:17:16 If I'm sending this, something's going to move over here. That's how all defenses work, by the way, if you're a quarterback. And so we saw that throughout the day today. And what did it do? It didn't shut down Ty Simpson. Because if you look at Ty Simpson, he did all right. If you look at Ty Simpson at the end of the day, he was able to do some really good things.
Starting point is 00:17:38 He was 28 to 42. He threw for 326 yards in a touchdown. But he threw a critical interception that was returned for a touchdown. And that's when I tell you, he's going to send something and then he's going to twist something behind it so that the string doesn't match.
Starting point is 00:17:56 So if you send a corner blitz, right? If you watch tape on an all 22, try this one time. if someone's coming unexpected whether it's a corner or it's a linebacker there's string attached to that human being you visualize that and as that corner goes there's going to be a safety that kind of gets tugged over to that area it's called sound defense what he does sometimes is it won't there'll be like a detachment of this string and this guy who's supposed to be going with it will go this way and all of a sudden that strings attached to something else.
Starting point is 00:18:38 And so I'm trying to explain this to you. Venables does this a lot, and that's how he turns people over. He'll throw in a wrinkle off of what, okay, I've seen that cat blitz before a corner blitz. I've seen a safety coming. I've seen the linebacker coming through the A-gap or delayed blitz.
Starting point is 00:18:54 But what you don't always see is the wrinkle behind it, and he got Ty Simpson on one. And pressure came with it. So now Ty's got to make a quick decision. I think it was a switch release and the cornerback jumped it. However the dynamics are, and I'll look at it on tomorrow and maybe get back to it for the tape truth on Monday. But that's a pick six.
Starting point is 00:19:18 Okay, so that's one big play in a game that we didn't know it at the time was going to be a defensive battle. Neither team would score, you know, 25 or more. And so I'm watching this play out. And while Simpson's driving the ball, and he's moving it, and Ryan Williams has this catch, and Jeremy Bernard has that catch, and Isaiah Horton has a couple catches,
Starting point is 00:19:43 and Quavis has a touchdown. Like, things are working, but there's enough pressure to make the pipes burst at times. And I thought it was great, too. I hope this lasts for a few years. I hope that Ryan Grubb stays at Alabama, and I hope that Venables is at Oklahoma, and I hope Mattier and Simpson are back next year.
Starting point is 00:20:07 year, despite all the NFL draft talk, especially with Ty Simpson, I want to see this again. I want to see that battle because those are two of the most fun quarter. If you appreciate quarterback play and their polar opposite experiences, Ty Simpson's the most buttoned up, advanced beyond his year's quarterback that college football has right now. His mechanics are impeccable. I have this quarterback coach that I work, the Tate Worksworth, and he does, it works with a lot of, you know, top-rank quarterback prospects and Alex McLaughlin's his name. I've mentioned him before. I get five texts of freaking weak from him about like the mechanics, the eyes.
Starting point is 00:20:48 Like everything, he's a coach's dream because he's a coach's son. And he's been around the game his whole life. And then you got Mateer who's just a gun slinging, crazed, aggressive mechanics are horrible. Jumping up in the air, throwing the ball. Like none of it makes sense. but the results are awesome for the most part. And he's got a ton of talent. And he's built like a truck, and he plays like a fullback mentally.
Starting point is 00:21:17 And he's got legs of a fullback and all those things, okay? And so you get these two contrasting styles that I love to see. And while one quarterback, the more polished guy had more yards, like 200 more yards passing, and moved the ball more effectively and did all these good things, he was thrown off his rhythm in this game. And the other quarterback who's this wild guy who could run just as well as he throws
Starting point is 00:21:42 and he's fast and he's aggressive and he's physical, he was kind of bottled up too. And I don't want to get lost on people. Alabama's defense did an awesome job in this game. Remember, seven of those points, one touchdown in a, in a 20, what was it, 2321 win was a defensive touchdown.
Starting point is 00:22:02 And so the defenses were both amazing in this. game. But Oklahoma just did enough in the moments. And that's the thing that I think it's hard to do with transfer portals. It's hard to build a program. It's hard to do all the, and Oklahoma, I've talked to you about Jim Nagy coming from the Senior Bowl, now the general manager there. They're doing it at a professional buttoned up level that I know for a fact being on the inside of some of these things. A lot of other programs are watching, consulting with the same people that they use to figure out how Jim and how they're doing it, and they're starting to try to do that.
Starting point is 00:22:41 But you still have to have a coach that's going to pull it all together, and Venables has done that at Oklahoma. And this team was left for dead. Remember how bad that beating was against rival Texas? Should Mater have come back? And I told you about the tape against Ole Miss, and it was hard to watch, man. And it wasn't a no, that was Nussmeyer.
Starting point is 00:23:06 One of his next tape, I forget who it was against. Maybe it was Ole Miss. I forget who it was getting it. But he was missing just errant throw after errant throw, okay? And he's steadily getting a little bit better. And he even said in an interview, like he's more confident now than he has been since the injury. And it didn't show on the stat line, but he's making better decisions. And he's running when he needs to run.
Starting point is 00:23:31 And you watched it like, this team came out rolling. They came out hot, like you could tell all week long. Just the mental preparation, but they were also like caged animals, just let out finally. And right off the bat, set in the tone, Satania, the punt return. After three and out for defense, you got a big punt return, held to a field goal, but it's three nothing. Two turnovers led to 14 points for Oklahoma, punching at the ball, ripping, like doing all the little things. now it's 17 to 7, but Ty Simpson keeps grinding. I thought this was one of the most important moments in this game.
Starting point is 00:24:15 A graphic popped up. This is McDonough and McDonough and McElroy with Molly McGrath on the sideline. Three of my favorite human beings in this business. It had a great graphic. The two-minute operation for Alabama, they outscored their opponents this year in that final two minutes before the half, okay?
Starting point is 00:24:36 49 to 10. They had a 39 point advantage. Third in the entire country behind just Toledo, which I found interesting, and Oregon. And you hear all the time about the eight minute, you know, the final four, the final four and the first four of the half.
Starting point is 00:25:04 And so they've been dominating that. But Oklahoma, they drive down the field a little bit, they had an opportunity, I think it was a shorter field, they drive down, they missed that field goal. At that point, after seeing that graphic and kind of recalling how they've done things, they have dominated that eight-minute span. The final four or the first four.
Starting point is 00:25:25 And the stats prove the final two they've been awesome. And it's in the large part because Ty Simpson's so good in the two-minute drill. He's just in command, and he thrives in those situations. But they hold them to a field goal. missed the field goal, and now all of a sudden they're carrying momentum. Then the second half. Mateer wasn't brilliant in this game, as I said, but he climbs the pocket on this one throw to Cetania,
Starting point is 00:25:54 and you can just tell they're gaining confidence on that side of the ball. I also thought that there were times you saw flashes of Alabama's run game on the opposite side. Like you saw good things from both of these offenses at times, but it really was a defensive, a defensive turnout. And then I mentioned finally, it was all three phases for Oklahoma, and it required that. If you're going to go into Tuscaloosa, you've got to play well and play complimentary ball in all three phases.
Starting point is 00:26:27 This was not going to be an offensive day. But they did enough on that side of the ball. The defense was the star, but the special teams. And I'll never forget Nagy and I talking this summer in August. We were doing our preseason top 12, I think it was, and we were previewing each of the teams and doing like deep dive. And I asked Jim, who would know better than the guy who's the general manager of the program, talking about some of your personnel.
Starting point is 00:26:52 I don't know some of these guys who are coming in, the transfer portal guys. I know the Armacin Thomas is. I know the Deion Burks. I know intimately through tape study, John Mateer. But tell me about some other guys. And I was surprised as we're going back and forth how early in that conversation he talked to me about this kicker. Tate Sandel. Yeah, he's the guy who wears the short shorts
Starting point is 00:27:20 and kicks the long field goals and Herbie and Fowler make fun of him and all that. But when you get over the jokes, he's another perfect day, man. Three for three field goals, two for two on extra points. That's 11 points in a 2.1. And if you're an Oklahoma fan,
Starting point is 00:27:39 remember your kicking situation a year ago? I don't know what was worse. Your special teams last year or your wide receiver core with five starters out or your quarterback play or your offensive. Like it was all bad. And so to see this team with some parts that come in, but then to gel together the way Oklahoma has,
Starting point is 00:27:58 let's look at the outlook here. Alabama is still right where it needs to be. But there's a ton of pressure on that Auburn game now. It's all on the Iron Bowl. And how else would you want it, right? As a college football fan, right? right after Thanksgiving stuff from all the food,
Starting point is 00:28:20 maybe hungover. You got the Iron Bowl. The SEC title is on the line for Alabama and the entire college football playoff run is on the line. They win. They're playing, from my understanding, they're playing in the, they're in the SEC championship game.
Starting point is 00:28:40 They lose. They're not only out of the SEC championship game, they might not be in the, college football playoff depending on how this thing shakes out. So a massive game looming for there. And then Oklahoma, remember we talked all year like it's been a great run. You know, the Mateer injury really set them back. Mater can come back next year. You know, they'd really get foundations in place. And it was great to see that Venables in the program are building something here and it's heading in the right direction after coming to some ups and downs.
Starting point is 00:29:12 But this schedule, there's no way. There's no way, right? Well, now they've got two, they've got four wins now against top 25 teams. They've pulled off a couple big upsets. And now you look at the schedule that's so freaking brutal. And all of a sudden, they've got two games remaining in the regular season. They're both in Norman. And they're against good teams, but teams that both don't have their starting quarterbacks. Bo Perbule of Missouri,
Starting point is 00:29:45 Garrett Nussmeyer, LSU. Those are winnable games. Oklahoma, if Oklahoma takes care of its business and plays a B-level game, and I know Venables, Brett doesn't want me to say that, but if they just play solid games the last two weeks, they're in the college football player.
Starting point is 00:30:05 And you'd be lying if you told yourself, oh, I knew that, because everyone had left Oklahoma for dead. So today was a massive game. if you're a Sooners fan. Before we get to the wild one, I do want to mention, because it was the night game,
Starting point is 00:30:23 before we move on. I'll stay in the SEC for a minute here. Ole Miss, Florida. I don't want to waste a bunch of time. And everyone on the chat, I love it. Keep it rolling. Oh, my gosh, we're growing. That's good.
Starting point is 00:30:37 It's good to see. I promise you we will take questions in a little bit. And I promise, Dan, I'll start to speed things. But I wanted to mention this, Ole Miss. There's a lot to unpack. Lagway played a really good game. Trinidad Chambliss, I thought we saw a lot of, some of the inexperience come out. We have seen that in moments this year.
Starting point is 00:31:02 But Chambliss pulled it together in the second half and played a lot better. But I think the big takeaway from me, remember a couple weeks ago if you follow the show closely? We talked about Kiwan Lacey. I highlighted him as one of my tape truths and said, I remember saying this actually in the tape truth that Kiwan Lacey was the emerging star, was one of the most important players for this team if they're going to make a run to the college football playoff,
Starting point is 00:31:31 and that he in a kind of roundabout way is the best asset that Ole Miss's defense has. And I said that after he went for 148, I think it was, against South Carolina, 146 against South Carolina. This guy's emerging. Love his run style, he's physical, wear defense is down, got to get him more carries.
Starting point is 00:31:53 I'm certain Lane wasn't listening to the show. But I think Lane saw the same thing I saw on tape. If you're going to ride this thing out with a defense that is pedestrian and has played that way, you've got to have a back that can take the load off, you can slow the game down at times when you want to. And I know Lane's obsession.
Starting point is 00:32:13 as the son of Monty Kiffin and Tampa, the Lord of Tampa 2 defense is the founder, CEO of Tampa 2 defense. He saw the game through the defensive lens and figured out beaters and wait. And that was all about, you've got to be able to run the football. You've got to be physical.
Starting point is 00:32:30 I'm going to spread you out. I'm going to do the West Coast stuff out in SC. I'm going to do different stuff with all these, with all these different quarterbacks. I'm going to do it at FAU. I'm going to do it at Tennessee. I'm going to try to do with the Raiders. I'm going to bounce all around.
Starting point is 00:32:43 But he's always, if you really go back, and study, had really good running back play and had a commitment to the run game, even with Jackson Dart, even when they lost Quinn Sean Judkins. Kiwan Lacey's that guy, and I saw it on tape when he finally got healthy and they were starting to feed him carries. And today he went for 224 yards on 31 carries and three touchdowns. He may have saved the season today because they were on the ropes, Ole Miss was. They were trailing, 2420 at the half. There was no sign of offense from either team in the third quarter. So they're still trailing 2420 going into fourth quarter. And that score looks like,
Starting point is 00:33:29 oh, well, you know, they took care of business, kind of a letdown game. They scored a touchdown at the very, very end. It was it was 2724 of the vast majority or the last like six, seven minutes, six, seven. Tate, if you're still up six seven, yep. But for the last chunk of minutes, it was a three-point game and they almost scored at the very, very end. Kiwan Lacey is a critical part of what they're doing and he's going to need to be if they're going to continue to make this run and be one of the teams that's in in the college football player from the SEC. This episode is brought to you by Remitly Business.
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Starting point is 00:34:37 Speaking of the SEC, I mean, this is definitely the social media game of the day. There's no question about that. People are having a blast. South Carolina, Texas A&M. Texas A&M wins 31 to 30. Doesn't begin to tell the story here. I honestly thought it's over. Not the season, but they're not coming back from this.
Starting point is 00:35:11 You look at like, South Carolina put it all together for one half of ball. The defense was playing great. The defense was exploiting a quarterback that was completely overwhelmed in Marcel Reed. Lenora Sellers had some really good moments. I don't want to say he was perfect in the first half. He wasn't. He threw an interception. It was a terrible moment to do it.
Starting point is 00:35:33 But they jumped him, and they were rolling. They were running the ball early on. Face on looked great. He was breaking tackles. They were balancing out, throwing the ball. Nick Harbor had that. Nick Harbor's 6 foot 5, 240 plus pounds. And he caught a ball on the run.
Starting point is 00:35:53 and went 79 yards. I can't wait to see what the miles per hour was on it. It had to be upwards of like 22. Trackstar in a D.K. Metcalf frame. Faster than D.K. maybe. And D.K. ran like a 4-3-9 at like 227 at the combine. I was there. I watched it. I don't know that I've ever seen a human being more chiseled than that man that day running his 40-yard dash.
Starting point is 00:36:21 In person. not Hollywood and so everything this this big monster of a receiver with all this blazing speed who we just keep seeing flashes is he ever going to put it together
Starting point is 00:36:35 it feels like that's happening Sellers is playing well the run game's happening the defense is playing well and I just I broke down these notes right they're leading 20 to 3 South Carolina is
Starting point is 00:36:49 and this is like just minutes before the half a lot happened three minutes remaining before the half There was a lot of stuff that happened in the final three minutes of this first half. Their leading South Carolina is 20 to 3. Sellers throws the ball behind and high. It gave the Aggies life.
Starting point is 00:37:06 Lenora Sellers must come back to school next year. I think that's a given. I think everyone in his camp understands that. It's moments like that and moments like the second half that you see. Unbelievably talented young man could be a top five pick in the NFL draft, but it's going to have to be in 20, 27. he's not ready. And I don't care where he would get drafted this year.
Starting point is 00:37:29 I don't care of Mendoza and Simpson go back. And people, agents are promising that you'll be a top 10 pick because there are 17s in the top 11 right now. I just did the mock draft. 17s in the top 11. If the draft order were set after this past week, week 11 in the NFL, that need a quarterback.
Starting point is 00:37:49 So you'll go high, but he won't be ready. And we saw it on this play. High and behind, in that moment, that throw can't happen. Gives the Aggies left three minutes remaining before the half, but the Aggies don't convert. Okay? First and goal inside the 10, they wind up missing a field goal. Then it goes back and forth,
Starting point is 00:38:14 and there was an interception right before the half from Marcel Reed, late and underthrown on that ball. And I talked a lot. I talked the last two of the last three weeks on tape troughs, I talked about if Texas A&M's going to get got, it's because Marcel Reed is, it makes them vulnerable. He is such a dynamic athlete.
Starting point is 00:38:36 He's such an explosive player. But I was literally watching it and felt badly about everything I had said because I'm watching it unfold right in front of my eyes. I'm watching a young man who's footwork and mechanics. He's antsy. He's overly caffeinated in the pocket. He's not trusting his reads. He doesn't know where to go with his eyes sometimes.
Starting point is 00:38:54 And his feet are bouncing around. And when he goes to throw, it's like this across his body or open wide. It eventually that catches up when you're playing good competition. And then you start to see the schedule stuff. And you're like, oh, yeah, they beat Notre Dame, but that was early when Notre Dame was still putting it together. They've beaten all. Someone drew a line I saw on social media and the SEC standings.
Starting point is 00:39:19 Every win A&M has had is against a team that was below that line. their combined record of opponents' records and the SEC wins that they've had is atrocious. I don't know the numbers right in front of me. It doesn't matter. You get the point. And so we're starting to think, well, maybe they've gotten away with it
Starting point is 00:39:38 because they haven't played great competition. South Carolina is one of those teams below that line. One of the six, seven worst teams in the SEC record-wise. And so I'm starting to watch and be like, I knew there was a moment like this that could happen, but I didn't think it was going to be this blatant, this ugly, this in your face. And so they go in the half and they're down bat. And I wrote, yeah, I know my kids might be watching, so I'm not going to say what I wrote,
Starting point is 00:40:06 but like read another interception, open Concepcion just misses the throw. South Carolina converts a field goal after that next one, that next interception. And by the way, Marcel read through three other passes in the first half. that not only could have, should have been picked off. He could have had five picks in the first half of this game, I promise you. South Carolina goes in, they convert a field goal, 30 to 3 at the half. There's no way. Not the way Marcel is playing.
Starting point is 00:40:41 There's no way. And then they do it. By the way, read at that point, I just want to, I want to, like, in case you didn't watch it. And it's, you can read about it everywhere, I'm sure. Marcel Reed for one stretch during that game in the first half was one for 11 passing with two interceptions plus the three other INT worthy throws. Concepcion and Craver Casey Concepcion and Mario Craver who are phenomenal, both stock rising for the NFL draft. Concepcion may be working his way into the first round,
Starting point is 00:41:18 certainly a top 50 pick wasn't coming into the year. They're catching balls. They're making plays. They're like, They've been Mr. Everythings. And if one's having a down game, the other one picks them up, they're both dropping passes in the first half when they were getting balls thrown on target. And then Roman added one too, who I've been telling you just kind of starting to step up.
Starting point is 00:41:41 I'm seeing moments out of him. Then they're having trouble with pass protection. Dylan Stewart had that awesome play. Go check it on the highlights. And then defensively, we've heard this at halftime a couple of times with Elko just banging. I've seen it on tape. It's breakdowns in the secondary, and it's tackling.
Starting point is 00:42:01 Poor, poor tackling. They clean it up in stretches, but then it rears its ugly head. So now we're seeing all these things with this perfect Texas A&M team, best run they've ever had, Elko just signs an extension and pumped for him. Nobody deserves it truly, nobody deserves it more, considering what this program has been for all the money, all the support, all the resources. and have never had a coach that can lay a foundation the way that Elko has.
Starting point is 00:42:28 But you're watching all the negatives, the warts that have been masked, come out at once in one half against a subpar team this year. So they, in the second half, considering all those things, come back, and Marcel Reed, I don't know. How does it change? I literally watch football for a living. I spend a gross amount of time watching tape and watching games. I'm sure there's other examples,
Starting point is 00:43:05 but I can't remember example of a quarterback playing that bad and an offensive and defensive units playing that, but especially a quarterback playing that bad looking lost and confidence shattered. And then coming out in the second half, like it never happened, unconscious. amnesia. That was the biggest thing for me in this game.
Starting point is 00:43:32 He comes out, it's like, oh, we kicked off. Oh, okay, I thought we were, that wasn't like a, we weren't like warming up. Oh, okay, let's go. And it's like decisive and getting the ball out and maneuvering when, like, extending when he needs to, but still. And all of a sudden two drives, two touchdown passes, bang, bang, things are good. And then, and then read, like, and the defense. is playing with this energy and they're tackling better
Starting point is 00:44:02 and they're not having the letdowns in the second and then you start to feel the pressure building for South Carolina. But all along Marcel Reed is playing the second half that's like mind-boggling considering it's the same human being, I believe, in that same jersey and the same helmet from the first half. Then he leads a 99-yard touchdown drive to complete the 27-point comeback.
Starting point is 00:44:27 This cat, I just told you five times. he should have been picked in the first half. Looked lost. Threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns. Listen to these numbers. A&M outgained South Carolina, 371 to 76 in the second half. 371 they had a total offense in the second half.
Starting point is 00:44:53 They outscored them 28 to nothing. They had 18 first downs. South Carolina had four. They averaged 9.8 yards. her play. Every time they snapped the ball, it was just about a first down. South Carolina 2.9.
Starting point is 00:45:12 They had four sacks in the second half of Lenora Sellers. South Carolina's sack Marcel Reed zero times. The Aggies never punted in the second half, and it's the largest comeback in the history of Texas A&M football. And if you haven't noticed, has been around a long, long time
Starting point is 00:45:34 and they've got a lot of deep-rooted traditions. There's nothing more to say. It's baffling, but it was an awesome roller coaster ride to be on this afternoon. Awesome. All right, let's switch it out of the SEC. Notre Dame 3715 over Pitt.
Starting point is 00:45:57 We talked about Narduzzi, called his shot, turned out better than he thought. It wasn't 100 to 3. I want to touch on a couple things in this game, all offensively for Notre Dame. CJ Carr continues to be up and down, and it's mildly worrisome as we start to look ahead to the future in the college football playoff.
Starting point is 00:46:21 There were moments early in the season where I was like, oh, this guy's the next. And I'm not saying he's not. I'm just saying that Carr is, car is playing like a first year starter and it's okay it's okay against pit and yeah pit was ranked 22 coming in this week and pit was on a role with its own freshman quarterback young guy um but the two interceptions they're still every day like the USC game i remember that's the first time we saw i saw some of the things on the sidelines like he's still just young he's still learning
Starting point is 00:46:58 yeah, his grandfather was Lloyd Carr, and he's been around the game, and Tom Brady's pumping him up, and all these things, and it's wonderful. And he's, I'm telling you, he's got the talent and the instincts to become a first-round draft picket quarterback. We know what that looks like, right?
Starting point is 00:47:15 We've been around this long enough. It looks like that at times. The inconsistency is there. They saw the two interception. But otherwise, it's kind of an efficient day, right? He's 21 to 32, 22, 12 yards. The other thing that's standing out to me, Malachi Fields. This guy Malachi Fields, and they get face on to the other side, and they've got some guys.
Starting point is 00:47:39 But Malachi Fields is different in that he's a big-bodied physical wide receiver at 6-4-224. It's a quarterback's dream, and it's a first-down machine sometimes. He's an X-wide receiver as an NFL prospect. rising. He's a guy coming into the year with maybe like fourth, fifth round. I don't, like, he keeps playing like this and making contested catches and adjusting the ball the way I'm seeing him do that. He may wind up
Starting point is 00:48:08 pushing for like top 100 consideration. Okay? That's first three rounds of the draft. And what's turning out to be a wide receiver group, I talked about Nick Harbor, and we've talked a lot, Casey Concepcion and is Mario Craver. I think he, I don't even know if he's eligible, but from the Zachariah
Starting point is 00:48:24 branches to the Mackay Lemons. We'll get to him in a minute. and obviously Ohio State's guys with Jeremiah Smith, who's eligible in 27, but this year, Carnell Tate, Jeremy Bernard for Alabama. This wide receiver class is way better than we thought, but he's one of the reasons. And I'm watching him today, and a couple highlight catches,
Starting point is 00:48:46 he's become a huge factor. And it's really good to see because Notre Dame, like when they got into the dance last year, their inability to, and it was a large part to their quarterback. Riley Leonard. But they didn't have the consistency and the weapons and the playmakers on the outside.
Starting point is 00:49:03 I think that they're more equipped this year and I think that Fields is a big reason why. Remember, he had 58 catches each of the last two seasons at Virginia. So this isn't new to him. It's just new to him at Notre Dame. So that's good to see. And then the final thing is, like,
Starting point is 00:49:23 Jeremiah Love. I talked to you in the preseason about how, like, almost, like a feat of a ballerina for such a big back and the acceleration. And there's a smoothness like poetry in motion, I think I called him. Like, he's just a smoothness about it. I knew he was the best running back in the country coming in the year. I knew he was the best back in the NFL draft.
Starting point is 00:49:49 I don't think I realize quite how special he is. And I'm just going to admit it here in the show. I'm all alone. I don't have mentioned to yell at me and you guys can laugh at me in the chat. I knew he was the first rounder. I didn't know we'd be like, oh, he might be one of the four or five most talented players in the entire draft. Might not be a top five pit because it's a running back position,
Starting point is 00:50:11 but it might be hard for him to get out of the top 10. He's that good. And he did it again today. 23 carries, 147 rushing, two touchdowns, two catches for 20 yards. So Notre Dame continues to roll, and this was their last spot. Game day, all the excitement, the anticipation, Pitt was rolling, kind of a dangerous team to go up against. And they just exerted their dominance immediately.
Starting point is 00:50:49 And Marcus Freeman, once again, teams getting better and better. Good coaches. We talked about Georgia with Kirby. He saw it all the time with Nick. Saw it all the time with Urban. There's maybe a blemish here early in the season. You know, with the Tim Tebow, the Ole Miss. Alabama always had that one loss.
Starting point is 00:51:12 Wasn't expected. They had the two losses, but now it's, I mean, they're massive favorites in the last two games from Notre Dame they're going to be in. And I think, quite honestly, I didn't think they'd make the run they did last year, given what they had talent-wise, I think this team might actually be more talented.
Starting point is 00:51:35 We'll see. All right. The ACC, quickly. No, no. USC Iowa. I love this Iowa team, man. They don't have enough gas in the tank to pull games out. But my goodness, are they like everything you dream of
Starting point is 00:51:52 in terms of being prepared, toughness, flip the page on that Oregon loss, which was brutal, show up and they jump in order to. Dame. By the way, on the poll right now, best running, best college running back. Oh, we're going long term. Jeremiah, I love Bijan Jinty. I'm telling you right now, I'm voting Bijon, but love is getting it. Getting the votes. It's okay to love a team the way I love Iowa. It's kind of this weird side passion of mine. I just, Kirk Ferrence, that he's still doing what he's doing without the NIL level and the, without the transfer portal. And, you know,
Starting point is 00:52:32 and who wants to go to Iowa when I can go to one of these other programs and all that stuff. But I just have so much respect for what they do and they come out and they jump USC. But I've also told you since week one, like USC's kind of one of my darlings. I think Lincoln Riley has taken it on the chin all year long
Starting point is 00:52:51 and he's taken on the chin for a couple of years now. I think Lincoln Riley has created a batten down the hatches bunker environment with this USC locker room that has not existed. And you can see it and how resilient they're playing. And they're not quite there talent-wise, but there's a lot of talent there. And Jordan Mayava continues to do some really cool things, continues to make some mistakes here and there. But he finishes 23 of 32, 254 yards.
Starting point is 00:53:25 I talk about this wide receiver class, and I mentioned Mackay Lemon's name. Because Mackay Lemon is one of those guys that's truly elevating the first round of the 2026 draft class. And I've got to tell you, coming into the year, it's like Jordan Tyson, maybe like the Boston Cat from Washington, Carnell Tate's kind of fringe, I'm not sure.
Starting point is 00:53:46 But Tate's, like, he's got like eight of nine on contested catches this year. He's making plays down the field. He's transformed into a heartline-type route runner. And I'm watching, I'm watching Jordan Tyson, catching the ball a little better than last year,
Starting point is 00:54:02 big physical target. I'm watching Zachariah Branch Excel. I'm watching all these other guys. But Malachi Lemon, I don't know that any receiver has improved his stock. I told you, I talked to a scout recently. He was like, I don't know, man. He might be my wide receiver one.
Starting point is 00:54:19 So like there's a lot of love for him. He went 10 for 153 and one again today. It's like every week, the stat line. And so if those 23 completely, 10 of them went to 11. But this to me was bigger than a quarterback and a receiver. This was about character for USC. This was about, all right, we're the West Coast team.
Starting point is 00:54:46 We're L.A. We're Hollywood. We got an offensive coordinator as a head coach who won a lot of games at Oklahoma, but like it's always kind of that spinoff of the Texas tech stuff. And nah, it's always been about, you know, he had the best offensive line coach who stayed in Oklahoma, beat him bow. And it's been about like the guard tackle pulling and the counters and the physicality. And I'm just seeing a team, not just the offense, a football team that is finding themselves in these like dog fights, back alleys, and coming out with wins that USC typically hasn't won. they've typically, and I'm talking
Starting point is 00:55:32 even prior to Lincoln Riley come there, like they've typically kind of coward in these moments against an Iowa who jumps out and can run the ball. It's tough to come back on Iowa. What they did today was a rarity. I don't remember the exact graphic I saw, but like it almost never happens with like a double-digit lead with Kirk Ferrette's teams.
Starting point is 00:55:52 They just suck the air out of the ball. They smother you defensively and they win those games. So this is a big one. And I'm looking at USC's 8 and 2. And I'm looking at one loss in the Big 10. I'm also starting to look at this from a big picture standpoint. I remember in August saying, keep an eye out on USC. This team's better than people think.
Starting point is 00:56:15 And there's a path for them to kind of, I don't want to say backdoor it. But maybe they're not going to win the Big 10. And they're probably not even going to play in the championship game. And, yeah, the Big 12, a Big 10 championship game, and they're not. That's Indiana. That's Ohio State. But there's a path in. I want to remind you there.
Starting point is 00:56:37 Two losses are Notre Dame in Illinois. Combined 15 and 4 records. Notre Dame's top 10 in rising. Illinois is 7 and 3 and is going to finish the season 9 and 3 if you look at their schedule. So you're talking about two pretty darn good losses. and they're going to win over a Michigan team that's struggling, but found a way to win 24-22 today. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:57:08 We'll see how they finish out, but USC's got a legitimate shot at 8 and 2, which is one loss in the Big 10. NC State, Miami, I only want to get to this real quickly because I thought this was a damn impressive one. I thought NC State had gotten a lot of confidence. I thought that NC State, they just beat Georgia Tech. They got a quarterback in CJ Bailey that everyone's talking about
Starting point is 00:57:37 is he going to transfer to my school. And they came out, Miami did, and they just put it on NC State. And we're starting to see Miami the last couple weeks where it's like, we know the talent's there, but what happened for like this two, three game stretch where they just weren't playing to the level, but are they starting to get that confidence back? And Malachi Tony is kind of,
Starting point is 00:58:02 gone on the, like, witness protection. But in stepping up for him is this Keel and Marion guy, really emerging, eight for 200 the last two weeks. Wasn't really a factor early in the year. Jacoby Thomas, who we featured early on in the year when Miami's defense was rolling, and I was telling you all about the positive things
Starting point is 00:58:19 and the new coordinator and all the great stuff. Well, he's still doing his thing at two interceptions today. And the defense was just dominant. So Miami, me with not a statement win, it's NC State, but with a win where I wondered if they were just going to kind of come in and drag a little bit. They clearly are on a mission to finish the season strong. They need to get in to the college football playoff. They're the most talented team. They have the best chance of pulling off an upset of competing in that college football
Starting point is 00:58:55 playoff. So I'm not saying I'm a fan and you know my thoughts on Haynes King and you know my thoughts, on Georgia Tech, and I love them too, and Dan's going to be pissed to me because he's late to his party and because I'm beating on Georgia Tech. I'm not, but I'm watching Georgia Tech, and it's just a one-man show with an awesome coach. Brent Key's awesome. Hey, quarterback Tim Tebow 2.0, just not in the place for anyone to care, nationally, the way that everyone cared about Tebow. But you look at this ACC, and it's like, who else would you want in there? If you're looking for the 12 best of... teams and the ACC has to send one.
Starting point is 00:59:35 It's not Clemson, even though they have three first rounders on the defensive side, and they've got a couple first rounders on the offensive side. They've got all the talent. But even in their win against Louisville, which was a nice upset for them, it's just ugly, man. I watched that whole game on Friday night before I watched Minnesota get pounced by Oregon. And so now I'm looking at Georgia Tech. They survive a scare.
Starting point is 00:59:58 After losing, remember recently to NC State, B.C., just up the road. here. 36-34. Every game's got to be this. Kind of a shootout with a quarterback who's carrying the whole deal. Clemson beats Louisville. Louisville is another one of the teams. Even after the loss a couple weeks ago, they still were kind of hanging in there.
Starting point is 01:00:22 So now you've got all these one-lost teams, right? With Louisville, Louisville out of the picture. Clemson's out of the picture. One-lost teams in the ACC in ACC play. Georgia Tech, Virginia, Pitt, because remember Narduzzi said, they didn't have to win this game. It's all about the next two games,
Starting point is 01:00:41 NSMU. And then the two-loss teams are Miami and Duke, although Duke lost today, so they're up. So it's Miami. So I'm looking at the two loss, the team that has the two losses in the ACC, and I'm saying to myself, boy, I'd rather see them in the dance,
Starting point is 01:01:06 in the 12-team playoff, college football playoff, over Georgia Tech, over Virginia, over Pitt, over SMU. But we'll see how it plays out. We'll get to the TMS top 12 in just a minute here. A couple other notes. I'd mentioned Michigan. Ohio State blew out UCLA tonight. Nothing to report.
Starting point is 01:01:25 Saying is fine, but he kind of twisted his knee, but he played beyond that point. I'm not trying to make anyone nervous. But it's pouring down rain there. Carnell Tate, who got injured during warm-ups, I kind of haven't gotten enough information on that. Didn't play against Purdue, sat out this game as well. They're obviously being overly precarious, as they should.
Starting point is 01:01:44 And then Jeremiah Smith was kind of questionable to play. He wound up playing. He had that unbelievable one-handed catch, if anyone needed to be reminded how special this guy is. But then he went, he was, he was seen kind of limping on the sideline a little bit, came out in the halftime in his civvies. He's not dressed. So just something, I mean, Ohio State's sketched.
Starting point is 01:02:06 until Michigan and even the Michigan game. I mean, that's going to be a war. We all know it for obvious reasons. But just something to keep an eye on. I also thought it was fascinating today. Indiana, I'm watching that Indiana-Wisconsin game with kind of a quarter of an eye this morning, it felt like. And it's 7-7.
Starting point is 01:02:24 I think it was, no, 10-7th-the-half, Indiana. Pressure was on Mendoza, kind of sputtering on offense. Defense had a couple of mistakes. The second half he comes out, his long, beautiful strike deep to Charles Becker, who's emerges with Elijah Surat being out. And they just kind of got things going, they pulled away.
Starting point is 01:02:50 Wasn't perfect. I saw a handful of the throws by Mendoza, some really good things, but some stuff like, yeah. He finishes 20 of 24 passing. 299 yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions. The third time completing at least 90% of his throws this season.
Starting point is 01:03:07 and with at least 20 attempts. It's pretty amazing, right? We can have a discussion on the Heism and all the other stuff. Let's get to the TMS top 12. And I promise you it's going to be fun to do. And you guys start to help me out, all right? We got to make some decisions on the fly. I covered everything today but this.
Starting point is 01:03:34 So I'm here for it. Let's have some fun. And if it's not right, who cares? It comes out tomorrow morning. We'll see what the rankings are Tuesday night and everyone will forget about it, right? Ohio State, Indiana, absolutely stay where they are. Texas A&M, like, how do you knock them?
Starting point is 01:03:50 They're undefeated. They're 11-0. But my gosh, there was like an out. There was about two hours in that game, real-time, not game time. Two hours in that game, obviously. Where I was like, well, how far are they going to fall? Where does it bring them down in the pack? But you've got to keep them at three.
Starting point is 01:04:09 They're 11-0-and-0. They found a way to win. Then there's Alabama at four with the loss and Texas at 10 with the loss. Everyone else played and won, including Georgia with a huge win over Texas. Ole Miss with a huge win over, or no, Ole Miss, we talked about that, just got by against Florida. Texas Tech put it on UCF. Good to see Jacob Rodriguez, huh? Trying to get that Heisman vote down in Lubbock, scored his first career touchdown.
Starting point is 01:04:38 Oregon, I told you, just slapped Minnesota the other night, Friday night. Notre Dame, put it on Pitt, and then Oklahoma has to be the rising team. Utah won as well at 12th. Here's what I want to do. So we're looking at Ohio State, and I'm going to be looking out of my notes because it's the only way to do it. Ohio State, check, Indiana check, A&M, check. Alabama Circle at the number four spot.
Starting point is 01:05:06 Georgia very clearly has to move up. here's where I'm going to get in trouble. There'll be a head-to-head or some kind of something that is a fly in my ointment. But with that win, how does Georgia not move up to number four? And for the first time all season, I swear to you, I look at Georgia and I'm like, they deserve it. That team's actually good enough to be number four. And that's exciting to see because I want all these teams to be peaking when we get into the
Starting point is 01:05:35 playoff. Texas Tech absolutely deserves to be at five. I don't think anyone had a win below that that would put a team ahead of Ole Miss with that funky win. I really don't. And so I'm going to go Ole Miss 6. And I would have argued at a point
Starting point is 01:06:01 that Ole Miss should have been ahead of Texas Tech. We did, and I think it was the case, but not right now, not the way they're playing right now. So that makes Oregon 7, Notre Dame 8, and Texas is out. So here's the big one. Oklahoma has to move up. Oklahoma two lost teams.
Starting point is 01:06:25 I'd like to look at these, this competition. Hmm. You could make an argument, as much as I like Notre Dame, you could make an argument that Oklahoma goes up to eight.
Starting point is 01:06:50 I'm actually going to. I'm putting Oklahoma eight in the TMS top 12. Always trade back once. Ohio State, Georgia. Oklahoma, A&M, Indiana. You know the sad part is you're able to do that without getting screamed at.
Starting point is 01:07:18 And I don't know that you're necessarily going to be that wrong. All right, so Ohio State, Indiana, A&M, if you're still following along, you're brilliant. Georgia is four, Texas Tech is five, Ole Miss is six, Oregon 7 Oklahoma's 8, Notre Dame's 9
Starting point is 01:07:51 How do you do? No Yeah, I'm doing it Who cares? Both two lost teams They lost to Miami and They lost it to No, all right, fine, fine, fine,
Starting point is 01:08:08 Notre Dame stays at 8 Oklahoma's at 9 Texas is out Alabama's 10 Only makes sense Alabama's 10 Then you get 11 and 12 and 13
Starting point is 01:08:37 But 11 and 12 we get a sort out Texas is out of this thing What's BYU you doing right now Anyone get an update Oh I'm watching it I'm literally watching it TCU is driving But I don't know the score
Starting point is 01:08:57 Not that this is 27 to 10 So they're in control of that game And BYU is obviously got to be headed Utah, Anderbill. I guess I'm going to make this point. Yeah, I don't care. Nine is Oklahoma.
Starting point is 01:09:22 Ten is Miami. Eleven is USC for the reasons I gave you earlier. I see you, Jason Moses. You could do Georgia Tech, but I just can't. How am I going to bump them from 16 to 12 after beating BC by two points? and I'll leave BYU at 12. That's it. I feel great about it.
Starting point is 01:10:01 All right, Dan, text me. You got to get out of here. How about we go five minutes right now, live chat? Five minutes. And I'm going to take your questions. I'm going to pull this screen up. Let's rock and roll. Oh, you want five stars.
Starting point is 01:10:22 You want to get out of here, too, St. St. Chair. Okay. Bam, I told you, Bama is a 10. Vin Kiddret. Ohio State 1, Indiana 2, Texas A&M 3, Georgia 4, Texas Tech 5, Ole Miss 6, Oregon 7, Notre Dame 8, Oklahoma 9, they move up from 11 to 9, Miami 10, which I'm going to get a lot of flack for, but I don't care. And USC 11, get a lot of flack for, don't care. It's my TMS this week.
Starting point is 01:11:02 I've hijacked it since Menches sipping Pinacoladas somewhere. And BYU 12. Who gets fired? I don't know. What do you mean who gets fired? You want me to... But it does bring me to a point that we are... I'm excited to have Bruce Feldman on Monday.
Starting point is 01:11:25 There's a lot going on. You can just tell. Whether there's Virginia Tech with the James Franklin stuff, it's perfectly in line. Virginia Tech wants them. They're committed to them. Franklin's kind of waited. is there something better, greener pastures out there? Does that fall in line with everything I've been telling you?
Starting point is 01:11:40 Okay. All sorts of kiffin rumors right now. Everyone's kind of waiting for one piece to fall. What's LSU going to do? It's going to be fascinating to see. Need some B.C. questions. Come on, man. I'm not doing B.C. questions right now.
Starting point is 01:12:03 I open this up for questions. And it feeds to my point. You guys don't even need us here. Jeremiah Love make the Heisman ceremony. If he doesn't, something's terribly, terribly wrong, Jeremy, Godin. Terribly wrong. How does he not? Julian Sayyne, Mendoza, the Marcel Reed stuff, like, can we stop?
Starting point is 01:12:33 Can we just stop? Saying Mendoza. I'll tell you what, like, can we talk about Gunner Stockton as a possibility? And everyone wants to talk about Rodriguez, and I'm the king of Rodriguez and the peanut punch and the tour. But like, does anyone watch David Bailey play? I think he had another sack or two today. Oregon, I'm just trying to.
Starting point is 01:13:05 Yeah, Jeremiah Love has got to be. If he's not there, I don't know. I have a vote. So if that tells you anything. Notre Dame Team Speed, top five. No, Ohio State's team. Speed's top five. A&M with the quarterback
Starting point is 01:13:26 in Concepcion and Craver and the Deve Cassius Howell, they are top five speed. Georgia was Zachariah Branch? I wouldn't say top five, but they've got speed. Oregon, have you seen those running backs? And that freshman receiver? They've got speed.
Starting point is 01:13:47 Oregon's always got speed. Why Notre Dame over OU? That was from Ethan Wingo. I struggle. That was the one I struggled with. If I'm being honest right now, I think OU's a little bit better. Here's my answer, honestly. And I don't need, I don't, I'm not on a committee.
Starting point is 01:14:23 I don't need to answer to the strength of record and all that stuff. I really don't. But I do need to see Mateer play continue to progress. If Mateer plays in the next two weeks, I mean, it's not going to matter outside of a seating they're in but if mater keeps playing a little bit better and like the accuracy and confidence and throws i just i feel like we're getting 70% of mater which is better than 40 50% which is what i saw for a couple games texas and beyond i think mature is getting close closer but he's still there's still a gap and i don't know that we're ever going to see full mature this year i just i'm not
Starting point is 01:15:06 a medical doctor i don't know what he's struggling with but i can only go off the tape and the tape is getting better, but he's not. Remember, he was the aggressor. He was the ass kicker, and I'm not talking about the running stuff. I'm talking about, like, coming out flinging and ripping it. And I'm still seeing a little bit of hesitation there, and like, let's make sure I don't put myself in a
Starting point is 01:15:30 position where I'm going to let down my team because this defense is playing great. Our special teams are playing great. I need to play within myself, because if I try to make some throws that I think I can make, but I'm not certain I can make, that I put us in a position to be vulnerable. And I think Oklahoma has proved enough around him outside of the run game that they absolutely, they can make this run as long as he plays within himself. That's it.
Starting point is 01:16:06 I thought we were going to get more awesome questions. Oh, here's a good one. Bengal Fan 0.09. Put this up on the poll real quick before we get out of here. Joseph Rowling's predicting that Jeremiah loves a 438 and prices of 4-4-1. I'll be interested to see those numbers at the combine. I hope a bunch of you guys are coming to Indy 2. Let's just make this a traveling party in the offseason.
Starting point is 01:16:34 Where Black Unicorn or Little Cobb, best nickname. You know I'm a black unicorn guy. I didn't see him much today. Who are you taking the national title game? There you go. Dan or Tucker, whoever put that on the, you understand my brain and how all over the place I get. Ohio State
Starting point is 01:16:54 to win the national title. Who are you taking? If I were to give you Ohio State, Indiana, or the field. I'm taking the field. Let me press the button. You want to know why? Because my eyes tell me
Starting point is 01:17:15 that Ohio State is clearly the best team right now. And I know Patricia and I know the defensive talent and I know I know Arvel Reese is phenomenal and I know that they have the best safety, maybe the best player in the entire country. Like I know all of it.
Starting point is 01:17:32 And I am now like king of the Julian San Juan Cove. And the receivers and all of it. I worry about their run game and I do worry about their level of competition. Is it elite, elite, or are they a really good team?
Starting point is 01:17:53 But when they lock horns with an SEC team that's had to play this kind of schedule, like a Georgia team that's battle tested, an Alabama team if they come out of this unscathed, A&M if they can play like they did in the second half of that game. You know, so I would take the field. I think it's going to be a wild run in the color. football playoff. I really do. I really do. We didn't expect Ohio State last year.
Starting point is 01:18:25 Ohio State just came off the Michigan loss. It was over. All that money, $20 million spent, for what? For who? For what? Ricky Waters, one of my favorite quotes of all time. When he dogged it in the second half of the game, and the reporters were asking him coming to the Philadelphia media. He's like, for who?
Starting point is 01:18:45 For what? he was gone moments after that um all right fine dan go to the hollywood hills party tell us all about it on monday i appreciate you guys this chat has been awesome all day long ghost of stevedazio jeremy godin i think you're the king again this week matt matthias the whole group always trade back Ethan Wingo, you're kind of on a roll today. Joseph Rowling. Maybe because I'm not keeping up. Yeah, I'd like to say five stars,
Starting point is 01:19:23 but without mention it feels more like a 4.9. 4.9 stars. Ah, 5. 5. 5 stars. 5. 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.
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