The McShay Show - Week 6 Reactions: Georgia Tops Alabama, Texas Trust Issues, Indiana’s Playoff Case, UCLA’s Rise, and More

Episode Date: October 11, 2026

Todd and Steve react to a wild Week 6 of college football, starting with Georgia’s win over Alabama and what it means for each team. Then, the guys discuss their lingering trust issues with Texas, Indiana, and Oregon, and break down UCLA’s surprising rise. Plus, more takeaways from Saturday’s biggest games and another edition of McShay After Dark.Check out the guys’ Top 50 Big Board and Todd’s mock draft at TheRinger.com/McShay.The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit https://fanduel.com/playwithaplan to learn more about the resources and helplines.Host: Todd McShayGuest: Steve MuenchEditor: Oscar De La LuzProducers: Tucker Tashjian, Conor Nevins, and Daniel ComerSocial: Abou Kamara Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In communities across Canada, hourly Amazon employees can grow their skills and their paycheck by enrolling in free skills training programs for in-demand fields. Learn more at aboutamazon.ca. It's our week six reaction show. Today was absolutely out of control. I'm in Florida and don't know what I'm doing here. And I can bunch of claratives for you. Let's start this thing, Steve. You ready?

Let's go. Outside of Trinidad Chamblis. One college football game. That's all you got to win. Gunner Stockton is the guy you're taking. Yes. This is not the last time we're going to see Alabama and Georgia play this season. No, this will not be the last time.

IU, meaning Indiana, is not a college football playoff team this year. False. They're absolutely a college football playoff team. UCLA is this year's Indiana circus. 2024. Oh, God, I hate these. Yes, we'll see, but yes. They could be.

You're going to be considered a real old man at the end of the night tonight. Yeah, I'm going to be yelling at the clouds. I think that's going to happen. I think it's like 202 days of the NFL draft. Like I said, I'm on remote. We can't even do that countdown thing. Ments you good?

I'm good, man. All right, Oscar, roll of the damn thing. Would you please? This episode is brought to you by 18. and T. Connection matters. That's why AT&T guarantees your network. If there's an outage, they'll credit your bill. That's the AT&T guarantee. AT&T, connecting changes everything. Visit ATT.com slash guarantee to learn more. Credit provided for wireless downtime lasting 60 minutes or more caused by a single incident impacting eight or more towers. Restrictions and exclusions apply. See ATT.com slash guarantee

for full details. There's a big shakeup today, man. I mean, let's face it. We knew there was going to be something at the top with Alabama and Georgia, and I'm going to lead off with that as our main event in a second. But I also, like, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention, like we had some massive losses today,

some massive results. Just looking at it, right? Texas, number one team in the AP poll for whatever it's worth goes down to Oklahoma, Alabama was sixth in the AP. P poll. It's not an upset by rankings, although our TMS last week, it was a slight one. And I think it was by like a point and a half fan duel, right? Kentucky upsets LSU overtime. Oregon gets upset at home.

Quarterback issues, but UCLA knocks them off in Eugene. South Carolina, crawling back with Lenora Sellers. Florida. What a mess that's become. So, excuse me, we'll get to our TMS top 10 tonight. But it's the main event for a reason. It's the main event because it's become that because it used to be Alabama LSU. Remember, that was the rivalry in the SEC. It was like the SEC West, Alabama, LSU. And it was the same, like stylistically similar to what this is. But now in the week that Staben comes back to celebrate his documentary, which is awesome, by the way. We've got to look. little sneak peek at that before.

Huh. I found myself like, like, Morris, you can drive the car. I'm one of the, watch 20 more minutes, you know? But he comes to town, of course,

Kirby's going to now come to town and ruin that whole thing. And it's also the main event because it's like, it's like a 12-round, heavyweight fight where it's body blow, body blow,

body blow, imposing will, mentally just to, And then all of a sudden, every once in a while, there's that right hook, right? And the form of big plays. And it's kind of become what this series is. So I want to ask you this question in this main event of a game that also same day as Red River rivalry. It's become that big of a game.

What is the, if I had to say to you like, what one truth are you taking away from this game? If there's one thing that you now believe in, what would it be? you kind of hinted at it in one of the questions, but I was looking around the country, and there are a lot of great quarterback head coach tantams in the country right now of all these contenders. I mean, if you want to go through it, it's Sark and Ars at Texas,

Marcus Freeman and CJ Carr, Notre Dame, Ryan Dane, Julian San at Ohio State, Derry Mensa, Mario Cristobal at Miami, DeBore and Russell at Alabama, I think is one of those, and then Kurt Signetti and Josh Hoover at Indiana. These elite, I think, coach quarterback tantums, I don't trust any of them more than I trust Kirby Smart and Gunner Stockton. And I think that some of that is understanding in a weird way that it's not about them. It's about managing a game and making plays when you need to make plays and not getting caught up in certain situations.

I think other guys, and I think this is natural for players to do to press and try to make a play. Stockton makes plays all the time. but I think he also is smart. And for the most part, I know there was a couple issues tonight, but for the most part takes care of the football. I just, I don't know. And I think it matters in the playoffs. Like, who are you going to trust more than those two?

I think they both know how to keep their heads about it. I mean, that is a tough environment. Stocks has played in a lot of big games now, man. And he was ready for that. I mean, that was a tough environment for him to go into. And he took some shots tonight, and he just kept getting up off the ground and making plays but they banged up backfield.

It was, to me, it was just another impressive performance for him. I think my biggest truth is, it's kind of twofold. My biggest truth coming out of this game is I have this strong sense of whether we get to see them play like circumstances work out this way or not.

These are the best two football teams I've seen play all season. So far. Yes. So far is important to say, but yes. I don't have enough context with Miami. I don't have enough context with Notre Dame. So I'm just saying like where I, like, and granted, this is the first real test for Georgia.

I understand that. But I told you coming off of that tape watching Georgia's defense early in the week. And I was like, dude, this is the closest thing. Jordan Davis and Carter and then those cats from, you know. And later in the week we did, we had rough draft show and I'm watching Alabama. defense and I'm like yo one's as good as zero and they got like five other guys I don't know which defense is better so while well Stockton is the story and there's 455 yards of pass total offense for for Georgia and Alabama is like they had some big plays and Keelan did some

magical things he did they finished 46 um the defense was the story tonight on both sides So knowing that, and I'm going to have taken a while to get to this, but hear me out, I think these might be the best two teams in the country at the end of the year too. But my truth is they are from what I've seen so far, and they're both young. The difference in my opinion, it's not solely, but one of the big differences tonight is what you just touched on. Georgia is actually younger overall than Alabama is if you go study that roster. But Alabama is really young, especially at some key spots. But Stockton's not young. No.

And so they had that steadying force, right? Yeah. But this is week six. Imagine week 12 college football players, where these young teams are going to get. You know what I mean? Especially Russell. especially Russell. I mean, I think he was shocked tonight a little bit.

And I don't think it was the moment. I want to be very careful about how I say this. I don't think the moment was ever too big for him. I don't think that this was a, that wasn't the problem. It's your first exposure to this kind of a game at the college level. And it is, it's a little bit of a, you have to, until you go through it, you haven't gone through it. And so you look at some of the numbers, 16 for 30, had the lost fumble. I think that's a little misleading.

When you watch the tape, I think you're going to come away and be like, there were some impressive plays in this game, and there's no worries about him going forward, but there is a difference between having that experience and not. And by the way, I just got to say it because you mentioned the defenses, your guy, Chris Cole, the linebacker, was outstanding tonight. I mean, there's a lot of hype about him coming into this game, and he lived up to all expectations.

It was another impressive performance for him. Yeah, and there were some big-time throws, right? There were some big-time extension of throws. One that comes to mind is when he broke the tackle extended and, like, through to Meadows, who's like, who's Meadows? Number 30, right? That was late in the game, but there were some others. Like, I was sitting there, like, literally sneaking off the dinner.

I'm with my family. It's Columbus Day, Indigenous people. I'm not getting into that fight. Like, I married a Paison, probably Columbus, but, like, I get both sides. Here we go. But, and I'm, like, it tastes like, we're trying to pretend we're not watching the game, you know, well, getting a bowling A's brought over.

But my point is, like, there's a couple throws where it's like, whoa, this is different, right? Like, you know, and, but the inexperience showed up. The other thing I want to say is, I love what I love what Kirby in the Georgia defense or Georgia coaching staff did coming out of half and in Herb Street actually like brought light to it and I appreciated that but it was and it it wasn't about that first drive necessarily scoring but they did because Gunner Stockton made that third down and long conversion coming out of the half right

it was about we're running eight plays six are going to be runs We have to throw on third and long. But if Kirby had it his way, they literally would have run every single down on that drive and scored. And they wind up scoring. Docton takes it, runs it in, like breaks to tackle, bang in, little, and go. Yeah. By the way, with no Nate Frazier, no Chauncey Bowens in this game, like, they were like, we're going to run Dwight Phillips all night.

But it was, hey, we don't need to win this game in the third quarter. we got to win it in the fourth. And in the fourth, that great defensive front that I, we've talked a lot about, everyone in the country's talked a lot about, they are great. But every, every great heavyweight fighter is susceptible if you get in that 11th and 12th round

and you've taken enough shots to the ribs, right? And we saw those add up. We saw them. The hands start to drop. Philip, the hands start to drop. Phillips gets a crease, he's got speed. And runs hard for a smaller back. And then power back comes in.

Bo Walker was, yeah. He comes in a play or two after that, and he gets a chunk run. And I'm like, those body blows, you're starting to see it, you know? Not the first rodeo for Kirby in this game. have that foresight of yeah Fraser's out

and we don't know about our offensive line there's been continuity this year and we're preaching that we're better and we're better and the numbers say we're better but we haven't really played anybody but that that unit

and I thought that that was while all the debate on fine bomb and first take and all the debate shows is going to be about the no call and a couple of the other things in this game, then they'll get to Texas, and then we'll get on the Cowboys, I'm sure.

However, that's the kind of the nuance of this game for me that really stood out. Yeah, and then I do like, because you mentioned, let's talk about it. I mean, if you're an Alabama fan, you're probably sitting here saying, yeah, that's great Kirby and Gunner and all that, but if they make the right call there, and KJ, they flagged KJ. Boldman for past interference, which seemingly to me, I believed with, you know, with Herbie and Fowler. That was clear to me.

I mean, that was shades of Roby Coleman. Yeah. Shades of Roby Coleman. Remember that play in the Saints and the Rams playoff game where Roby Coleman came over and hit the receiver about three seconds before the ball got there and they didn't call it? Like shades of that play. Did you look that up? What's that?

Do you look that name up before? did I look it up? I knew the play. I didn't remember the name. Yeah, okay. I was going to be impressed. Yeah. So if you're an Alabama fan,

you're sitting there like, hey, man, we get that call. We probably go down and score. This is a different game. And you might be right, but that's at the end of the day, this is how it went. And I also, even if you score there,

I'm not sure Gunner Stockton doesn't find a way to come back. You know, like there's all these different aspects of it. But yeah, that was unfortunately going to be a storyline of this game as soon as it happened. It was a bad non-call in my mind. And KJ. Bolden, by the way, I thought also had one of the plays of the game earlier in the game

when Trace John Brown broke loose for Alabama and KJ. Bolden came out of nowhere to chase him down and prevent him from getting into the end zone. I know they scored later on, but still a great play. Yeah. Dejan Lee had a bad night. Bad night.

Dejan Lee. Dejaun Leigh, however we're pronounced it. these people are going to care about the pronunciation in Tuscalo was this morning. I can tell you that. The PI allowed, big play allowed, head not turned around, and then the costly PI. Yeah, he allowed DeBoer to make him the punching bag when there were a lot of other issues,

but he was clearly an issue. It's also, I don't know, I'm ripping three. a bunch of notes here, but like, it was, it was good to see Russell in the second half when things were breaking down, him getting involved running the football, right? It was good to see I mean, Alabama actually had 29 carries average 5.6. It's just Georgia finished with 39 carries. They possessed the ball three and a half minutes longer than Alabama did, but it was because of that commitment running the football. Yeah, that was something that stood out to me, by the way. Alabama had 17 carries in the first half, which, you know, that's not bad.

Five of them were Russell. I thought they've done a really good job. That's something I think when they go back and look at their, you know, do the autopsy of this game and watch the tape and what can we do better? I think they could have shown a greater commitment to the run early on. And Crowell only had five carries for 11. He had the one touchdown, which was an awesome run. Mm-hmm.

And I know he's a pop and all that. I thought maybe tonight would be a night we'd see a little bit more of him. Yeah. Also, great job by DeBoer there going for it and putting the trust in as well. I mean, if you don't get it, I guess they say it's a bad job, but, you know, what a gutsy call at the end of the half. Normally after games like this, I'm like, where would the hangover be? What's the fallout? I just, I forecast, correct, you tell me, I forecast both these, like, it's on to Auburn for Georgia.

I don't know who's Alabama got next week. A game like this. Have like a compound injury, you know? Yeah. Alabama's at a pretty good Tennessee team, but I like them in that game. Yeah. Which is obviously a ride. Also, by the way, stutter that the Georgia tight end showed up tonight a little bit.

Like every time there's a big game like this, the Georgia tight ends are good for three, four players, right? I mean, the Jane Riddell catch was ridiculous. that ripped down the seam. Lost and Lucky, I think, had two catch. Yeah, two for 32, but, like, big plays. Those tight end, like, the Georgia tight ends show up in big games, man. Redell's the guy from, is that 23, right? Yeah.

He's so good. He's the guy who's going to go on. He's going to become, like, a Pro Bowl tight end in the NFL. And he's just going to be, he's just kind of like in a rotation at Georgia. I mean, he only had one catch, but it was 53 yards. And it showed you everything you need to know about him. Like he's so fast at that size. It's crazy.

One thing I will, let me raise this really quick. Yep. Because Coleman Williams got banged up tonight, left the game. Are they good enough at receiver without him? Like that's, that, that's, when he left the game, I was like, all right, we're going to Brooks now. And I like this Marshall Pritchie kid at side end. And Rico Scott's pretty good, but that offense is different with Coleman Williams playing

at a high level. And it did, it does concern me a little bit that if he does. end up missing time, what does that look like? And where do they replace that production? What is it? Was it Meadows who had the catch I talked about? Yep. He's listed, I don't know what, he's 6-5-212.

He's listed in a wide receiver. It looks like a tight, I don't know what he is. But it could be an only time we'll tell a thing. Like, we won't know until we know, but. You know the talent's there. Yeah. I mean, George is so beat up at wide receiver too. again they're yeah they were beat up in this game yeah beat up in young but but that quarterback

and that coach and that's what I mean like managing the game understanding how like what that this didn't go our way but but but fall like letting it snowball until I'll be honest with you like I don't know where we're to transition but I felt like arch let a couple things snowballed today. And it got away from him a little bit. It got away from him a little bit. And I don't see that happening with Gunner Stockton. Arch Manning has way more natural ability. I really believe that. But Stockton's not going to let a bad decision or a turnover turn into another turnover or another bad play. Trust issues are something that's like real in relationships and real with human beings and like interpersonal relationships, right? Yep.

I feel like a lot of trust issues. I feel like a lot of people have earned the right to have trust issues. I feel like a lot of people have scorned some people to have trust issues. I think my therapist would probably say I'm like, I have like toxic positivity. And I probably trust too many people sometimes. And that's burned me in my past. And now I'm like over, overcorrecting. And I fucking hate everybody.

I was going to, I was hoping that would continue. That's why I was trying to be quiet. So with that is the backdrop. Let's, let's play a little game of trust, trust issues. Okay. I want to go through some of these big games and talk about like, where are we? And I want you to be like, trust or skeptic, right? Yep. Let's start with this.

Let's start with the Texas game, Texas, Oklahoma. If I were to say, basically let's frame it this way, trust or skeptic that today was just another game experience, notch and belt, learning from this, Arch is going to be just. just fine. Texas is going to be just fine. We'll be right in position to, you know, with the final six teams and like in position to, and you like the trajectory, despite this being miserable. Do you essentially, are you trusting Arch? Are you skeptic that like, hmm, maybe this is what he's going to be, at least for the remainder of this year. Where are you on that? I trust, because I'll say this, right? Obviously, the turnover at the end of the game that gave Oklahoma a chance to win it at the end of the game was big.

And then the pick six. Texas probably wins that game comfortably if they don't have the punt blocked for a touchdown. I think they were in control of the game. Again, momentum is a real thing. And they had control of the game. And then all of a sudden that happens and it gets different. Cam Coleman had his best game as a longhorn today. That's very encouraging.

And I am to receive, the talent receiver transfer from Auburn. I'm encouraged by a lot of that. I thought that he made some plays and some throws in this game. He's holding on to the ball too long. That's starting to drive me nuts. You pointed out before I saw it, and now I can't get it out of my head. And it was pretty bad today.

But I like the arc that he's on. Again, I always think about this chart for progress, where we often think of progress as a straight line. And it's not. There's dips and there's plateaus, and then you are getting out of it. The point is that you want your data point at A to be lower than the data point at B, and that's progress. So Arch is going to go through some of this.

I think that's going to happen again. I think all quarterback's going to do that. But I trust that he's going to get there. I'm in a Zen place with Arch. But it's okay that that Zen place with Arch can also include that I'm going to, I'm a skeptic that it's going to get a lot different for A, Arch, B, Texas this year. Okay. Let me explain.

If we're going to sit here and talk about, like, arch draft prospect, where is he in that path? And how do we feel about what he's going to become? I'm like, I think today can be a good thing in the long run. Right. Because Arch in the NFL can't be still hanging on and taking that sack that eventually that, I mean, let's just break it down. You want me? Me, here's the deal. I actually got on social media, which I never do.

I'm going down to the, going down with the kids. I just watched that play. I'm like, that's what we signed up for. We, by the way, not being new. Yeah, it was a great clip. we be that's what Texas fans the Texas boosters who pay for it NFL evaluators that was the deal when Cam came to town that oh now we got a guy when arch extends which he does beautifully and arch throws on the run things breaking down has got this guy who's gonna who's like despite not having

any quarterbacks at Auburn is a awesome at getting vertical and kind of having a feel for when on a scramble rule is to go and gives his quarterback and opportunity to take a big shot and B, balls in the air go up and make a play. Adjust to the ball, all of it. That's what we signed up for. That was in the brochure of let's pay X amount of dollars to bring Cam Coleman in. Coleman. Yep.

And so it was like, there it is. And maybe this is the start of something. And hopefully it is. And it still can be. And then the wing go throw shortly thereafter. and you're like, got it rolling. But then there's like, why is it with, this part doesn't have to be an arch thing,

but arch is absolutely included in this. Why is it that if there's a great first quarter or a first half, it's not matched with this same, like attention to detail, vigorous, like, it's still zero, zero, whatever, or we're down 14, whatever that mindset is. Because when Arch is down 14 or Texas is down 10 or whatever it is, they seem to play

different. When they come out and they have a great drive against Tennessee. And I'm like, oh, this looks beautiful from the jump because remember, it was starting late against Ohio State. So now we're going to get a fast start. Maybe we'll carry this out. Where's the first quarter, first drive all the way through consistency? And now I get it, you're not going to score a touchdown and have these beautiful drives.

But, like, I'm missing that consistency level from Texas. And now some anonymous scholars will go that program's soft. It's historically soft. And they have a reputation for that. I don't know if that's the case. I also want to point out that this is the first time that they've lost to a team. Like one of, if not the first time with Sark since those first two seasons, that they've lost to a team that's not like not a top 10 team. like they handled their business.

And this is a rivalry game, so that's different. So back to the arch evaluation. I know I'm rambling, but I'm, but it's important for me at least. There seems to be, and I don't want to call it a killer instinct, because I want to remind people outside of Chambliss. We said the Chambliss with, and I don't even know that Chambliss could have, but I'll give Chambliss the benefit of the doubt. How many other guys?

And it ain't Gunner Stockton. Gunner Stockton is like, I trust you in one game with, the right game plan with that coach and all of that. I'm talking like it's going to take something so extraordinarily special to lead three drives of 12 plays or more against the number one team in the country, down three scores in the fourth quarter. How many other guys are doing that, man? He's got something special in him that's beyond 6-4, 6-4-230-plus,

straight line speed, extending, it's beyond the physical. It's in there. And then there are times where he goes, progression, read, one, two, three, ball out, instincts,

feels it, like chaos, moving, all of it. But then there's the time where, as I started this whole rant on, we're just locked on. And we, like, read one isn't there, two isn't there,

three isn't there. Guess what, man? They won this down. Let it go. Oklahoma, it's a coverage sack all day long. So don't be the sack part of the coverage sack. Make it a coverage, one-yard gain. Yeah.

You're so fast when you take off and go. Make it a coverage. Okay, fine, you covered me up, but I picked up three onto the next town. Right. There's an quarter account where he's like, it's not ticking. That can change. but we haven't seen enough. Then there's like the locking on to the,

and these two things can be like the holding on, holding the ball too long, and the locking on and locking on can be one and the same at times, and sometimes they're two separate things. On the coverage look, he was going through progressions. He wasn't locked on to his primary, but he just held on the ball too long. Should have taken off and run.

Another one, he, and that touchdown throw to the true freshman. I don't, um, It's in here somewhere. Whoever the true freshman was, it's a slant. It was kind of a move slant, touchdown, throw. He was locked on. What's his name? He was locked on the whole time.

Germain Bishop. Thank you. Bishop, Jr., yeah. His receiver ran a better route, uncovered, and he made a great throw. But he's still doing it. So from an evaluator's standpoint, the good news is he has this quality to him when the game, the chips are all on the table, he tends to play extremely well and do great things.

Today, in a moment, he didn't against a blitz, a pressure. He came back from left to right, and he made that second interception of the game, and it cost him. But he's going to learn from that one. All the stuff he's got to get better in, for the most part, I believe, is totally coachable. I don't think he's Byron Lefich, is going to wind up holding on to the bowl. too long for the rest of his life and he's going to wind up being out of the league. I think he's going to kind of pull it all, you know. But I do wonder with him and with Texas where this inconsistency ends.

And is something going to happen magically in the next six, eight weeks where it's different in late November, December, and, you know, where they get a chance to play into January? How does that change? Is that a Sark and staff thing? Is that an Arch thing? Is that a Texas high school football? I don't know. I'm just saying that's the skeptic in me.

Arch long-term pro prospects? No, I'm good. This is part of the maturation process. 26, Texas, Arch, Sark, all of it. I'm a skeptic. Okay. I mean, that's fair. They haven't, and I think that that,

I am, I think, a little more critical of Stark at times than you are. And I would say, I would even say to you, like, the killer instinct was a Quinn Ewers thing, too. I mean, they, that one, I was just looking at that. I heard something. It wasn't like that with Quinn Ewers. Get out of town, man. It wasn't like that when they were winning. That Vanderbilt game, they won 27 to 24 that they should have run away with that game at Arkansas.

That was another one I remember specifically. 20 to 10, they won that game. Like, they didn't have. a killer instinct that year. They just didn't. Like, there was teams they should have blown their doors off, and they found ways to win, but it wasn't as dominant as it could have been.

Yeah. All right. So that's where we're on that. Trust or skeptic, I'm just going to throw this one out there. Let's go to the morning first. When I submit the declarative that IU is not a playoff team this year, you quickly snap back.

I'm assuming Signetti, Indiana, this year's version, if I'm saying college football playoff team, you're saying trust. I am. So tell me why. Because I've seen this movie before, and I know I've seen the ending. I know it ends. And the Hoover versus Mendoza thing is a really critical piece of this. But Indiana, the Indiana team that we saw in October last year,

that we saw in October last year was not the Indiana team we saw in the playoffs. Signetti had gotten that team elevated to an entirely different level. And if you remember coming into the season, we felt that the roster for Indiana, overall, outside of the quarterback position was better. And I still think that. I think they're better defensively. Today was a tough day.

But I think that they are a better talent-wise, a roster. I think a Signetti signature of a Signity team is it's going to be better in November and December than it is in September. And you look at their, you look at their schedule and it's all doable man i mean they have ohio state next week i don't feel about that after watching what i watched today you think i don't feel good i don't feel good i don't feel good about that but listen that's the whole thing when no one i mean that i mean that iowa team was underrated last year but they went into iowa and it looked like it was all over and that they were

going to lose that game and mendoza hits that skinny post to elijah sarat and the next thing you know they've won and it wasn't the same situation but that who the job Hoover to Nick Marsh with about eight minutes left in the game. There was about two minutes left in the Sarat game. It was a different situation. That felt a lot like that Surat touchdown pass. They needed it. They needed a big play at that point, and Hoover stepped up and delivered it.

Can he continue to do that? I don't know. But if I'm thinking that they're going to get better on both sides of the football, and they have more talent than they had last year, and their toughest game is Ohio State. I mean, they've got Ohio State, then they've got Michigan. I guess that's a potential pitfall.

But then they have Minnesota, USC, at Washington, and Purdue. I don't, like, just start doing the math on this. So to me, they're a playoff team. Read that again. It's Ohio State next week, at home, which we know will be a different game. And then they have at Michigan, Minnesota, USC, at Washington, Purdue. Yeah. you're not wrong.

So let's go through the red flags today. Let's see what's concerning about today. They didn't run the ball well. They didn't run the ball well. They couldn't get off the field in the first quarter in the first half. Remind me, I want to finish up with Hicklinski for Isman. Before I forget. So they didn't run the ball well.

I think they had, what do they have in this game? 65 yards rushing, I think it was what they ended up with. That is not. Yeah, that's not even. Indiana, man. That is not Indiana. So that, that to me is a red flag. In the first half, it was, I think, I think Indiana ran something like 13 plays and Nebraska ran 46. At the end of the day, they almost, Nebraska almost doubled up in time of possession. Indiana's defense couldn't get off the ball in third down and their offense couldn't sustain drives in the first half. I mean, it was ugly. I mean, it was ugly. So yeah, there's some There are some concerning red flags in this game. Do you know what the halftime adjustment was?

Do I know what the halftime adjustment was? It was Marsh. Yeah, I also thought defensively the Haynes turned up the heat. I thought he was more aggressive about bringing pressure. But literally the offensive thing was they're doing this, Becker, our guys better than him. We can't run the football today. Nick Marsh.

you can see the first try first try of the second half he was awesome he finished with what 6181 168 and 2 6187 187 and 2 this game we're looking like all right you're going to give too much to to Becker and load up against the run

this is why he's here he was awesome yeah but but like 10 3 at the half 17 6 early 4th quarter Nebraska controlled this game Nebraska got a, remember the Frank D. Felice? Hey, boys, boys, nosebleeds.

Lindsay Parker, he's in Ford, Lindsay. I mean, I'm picking anyone. I was a horrible hitter in high school. Lindsey Parker, great eight hitter. Bump them up to five, nosebleed. I don't know if he's taking a shot right now, but yeah. Great third baseman, man. He's like Wade Boggs of high school baseball, Lindsay Parker was.

But it was hard to watch for Nebraska fans because they wanted this thing so bad and quite frankly they kind of earned it today except for the last handful of minutes. And there was that costly flag with 1110 in the fourth quarter, Tyreek Tucker's roughen the passer penalty. I thought that that, I was like, wait, is this happening? Mm-hmm.

Because that was an interception, remember? It was. Right? And Calandria threw the intercept. because that moment it was like, this thing's falling apart. And then the ball goes up in the air, pick, and then it's like, oh, that was the first, do you know this match? That was the first penalty against Indiana in seven quarters?

Wow, I did not know that. I've never heard a stat like that. That's insane, yeah. It was a broadcast observation. It's not verified. But regardless, they, they, I think it was, I mean, they wouldn't have said it on the broadcast. right?

No. It wasn't like a CW on Fox. Lots of ricochet shots tonight. Lots of them. That was clat, right? Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that was clat and Gus.

There's no way that unless I misheard it. But has it felt like like the end of the whole season? I guess that's my point. I'm telling you. You're thinking to feel like Indiana in like the Indiana

that was making Dante Moore look bad this is not that Indiana this was the Indiana that went in and destroyed Illinois and everyone thought it was like the greatest thing on the planet and then the next week went to Iowa and struggled but found a way to win and then struggled that Penn State and found a way to win and you know we all think about Fernando Mendoza

never made a mistake Fernando Mendoza walked on water and he fed the like turn no that's what people think about for Fernando Mendoza because he may plays a key points, man. Can Hoover keep that up? I don't know. They'll need him to do that to win the national championship.

But there's a different standard. Do I think they're a national championship contender right now? I don't have them there. That's a different thing for me. Are they a playoff team? Yes. Here's the difference. They were struggling in games against really good competition and it wasn't pretty and you kept waiting for

this. But they were beating the hell out of. Unless Nebraska is better than we think. they're not really I mean the Ross is 5 and O I don't know I don't know what they are yet I don't know I'm a skeptic Anna in a seat here's the other thing

we're talking big picture like this is Cignetti now Cignetti has built this monster and it went from like they're way overrated but an awesome story to oh my gosh this is a dynasty yeah

better like recognize that Cigetti is now the to this doesn't feel this it doesn't forget feel it doesn't look the same it doesn't like and and i am such a believer in signetti that i that while i'm skeptical from an evaluation standpoint of what i'm seeing on on film and watching games on saturday this doesn't look the same i remember watching when they didn't have the talent in 2024 i'm like my gosh that they are so like everything is blocked up perfectly think defensively. They had the gaps down and hat on hat and like the eyes, the coverage.

There's, there's break. And apparently they don't commit penalties if Clat was right with that stat. But there's chinks in the armor I'm seeing. I don't know. It's going to be, but you lose to Ohio State and then you slowly build this thing up towards the end of the year. Their wide receivers are awesome. I don't know where else that they're actually awesome, though, you know?

No, they're not, that's fair. Other than the head coach. The head coach is awesome. Yes. All right. Well, we're going to find out a lot next week. UCLA Oregon, trust issues here. I don't even know how to frame it for Oregon.

Are you trusting, are you trusting Dan Lannning and this Oregon team and all the talent that we know is there? From an NFL standpoint, from a transferable, all of it. Like, we are, I believe, as qualified as anyone out there, from work habits to experience and evaluating talent to make the statement that, like, this roster individually stacks up with just about any other roster in the country. Is this, are you trusting that when Dante's back, the rest of the team has gotten better enough

that they're going to run. the table and this is going to be a blip and there's two losses they can still get in or is this Oregon team like too much transfer portal too many individuals doesn't feel right you're skeptic oh I'm a skeptic I mean they got they're at Ohio State and November 7th I mean I don't I think this was they were must win until they got to that game and they didn't do it and when are we getting Dante back because I don't think I'll be quite honest with you they're not a very good football team

and I don't think they're going to be very like they've got Nebraska next like okay like UCLA we'll talk about in a second they deserve all the credit in the world Dylan Ryola who by the way to his credit addressed the media after this game

and owned up to it and great job a old friend the show, Cole Marie sent me the clip. Good for him. He looked lost today. I mean, he couldn't get the ball. I mean, they weren't competitive with him at quarterback. So they have to go to their third string quarterback.

Like, I don't know what this team looks like. There's some interesting positives from a draft standpoint in this game, by the way. I know Evan Stewart lost the fumble, but he started to look like Evan Stewart again, which was nice. He made some plays in this game. Yes. But they're not competitive with. Dante Moore, a quarterback.

They're just not. I read Bruce Feldman. I think it was Bruce Feldman. Was it? I hope it. I'm almost positive. I happen to click on, yeah, I think it was this morning.

I must have missed it. I'm starting to second guess. But it was quotes from like scouts and coaches leading into this weekend, interesting stuff. and there was someone who said, you know, pump the blood breaks on Rayola. It's very, very coming into a game with an injured Dante Moore

versus give us a week to prepare for that cat. Yeah. Oh, whoever he spoke to, not only like knew what we know from where Raola is in his development and really, like, quite honestly, I think he should have been at Kentucky with Will Stein, if I'm just going to be honest. Like, if you want to take the advancement, and I don't know what that looks like or looked like or whatever it was.

But not only do we know, we kind of knew the evaluation part of it, but like to know, oh, UCLA's going to, like, they know what they have to do, too, and they're capable of doing what they did. That was pretty impressive to read that and then hours later. Watch. Then adding the whole situation as the play callers for Oregon, that whole situation too. Like they, it's just

that's what happens. I mean, that's the product that you get today. When you have a struggling play caller and a struggling quarterback, there you go. And it's starting to leak. I mean, Decorion Moore looked extremely frustrated during this game. There were some, you know, obviously some things that he was showing. I will say the other guy that really popped for me though in a positive

of way is the edge who i keep pressing on to you matthello ungololele he is he had two sacks a block field goal in this game i think i got that by the way i think i crushed that uh he's starting to do ungalula lay there's no end but whatever i got it um he's started he's starting to do some mr miagi stuff with his hands man i mean he is starting to do some some really good stuff with his hands and getting off blocks on this way to the quarterback. One of them was an effort sack, but the other one was a great move. And then you added in the block field goal. I thought he had a nice game and he's been playing well lately.

But they're not putting it together. They're not, this is not a complimentary football team. And I'll tell you this. I really like head coach Dan Lannning, and I think they get a ton of talent there. I'll know that the next time I know that they're going to be a serious championship contender is when they figure out their offense. line. They have got to figure out their

offensive line. Like they've got all the talent in the world on that roster. The offensive line's not good enough. You have you are down to you have really good talented running backs too and you need to get a two point conversion and you run up the middle and you just can't get it because your guys up front

aren't good enough. They're just not good enough. So they got to figure that out and that's going to be a big piece for them big picture. But as far as this year goes, I don't, I just don't see the path anymore. It's it's as bad as it gets. Yeah, and it's not like the offense was rolling by any stretch of imagination,

but lost in all of this is that, like, potential top 50 picket quarterback, whether it's this year, next year, and an absolutely dynamic quarterback wound up not finishing the game for UCLA. Yep. He's been in and out of the lineup all year long, like starter and bouncing back constantly, but he left the game with a leg injury, Nico Imaliaba.

And this Wayne Nightcat just keeps getting in a day where the 140 rushing yards, Wayne Knight, all freaking 5'5 foot 6 and 3. This is their in the spring.

5, 6, 3 eighths of an inch, 194 pounds of fucking heart and steel and speed. He's a 442 guy. sudden catches the ball, all of it, determined. He winds up with, what was it, 102 or whatever it was? 103 on 22 carries, but like it, when it matters, like this is the thing, too, man.

All these numbers, all this talent, at the end of the game, when it mattered, this kid was, I mean, he was putting the fear of God in Oregon in terms of like they were going to be able to stop. And I think they did get the ball back, but it was because of a penalty. like he was that kid was as good as advertised he was so good in this game i mean i literally sat there on tuesday and and gave you the formula of chesney did this at holy cross chesney did this at jm u chesney's been into otson before chesney will find a way to win the turnover battle did not know it would be seven turnover takeaways for for organ for giveaway um and i just I love this for UCLA.

I love this for Chesney. Mm-hmm. But it's great. I look out. But is this a team? Is this sustainable? Like, where are we? Listen, could I give you, I'll give you their, their schedule and you tell me.

And, and I, and I, and I, yes. And when you're done with that, I want you to say, trust, like, where should we put the, the trust line on this? I guess that's the question. Before we ask, trust or skeptical? Is it, so it's Ohio State in Indiana. Mm-hmm. It finishes third best team in the Big Ten?

Is it, because third best team in the Big Ten gets in? Fourth best team in the Big Ten gets in. I was going to be there, in my opinion. I think. We will. Keklinski for Heisman, but go ahead. I think I will be there. That's the conversation.

They're in Bucket, too. They're in tier two. We do buckets and tears. They're in tier two. They're not Ohio State or Indiana. We're not saying that. I mean, they got Wisconsin next week. They could lose that game.

They could lose to Wisconsin. Now, I like them in that game right now, but they could lose to Wisconsin. I mean, it's kind of a fragile thing when you're those, when you have a team that hasn't dealt with success. They are five in O right now and three and O in Big Ten, meaning they have seven more big, the UCLA has seven more.

We're going to make this quick, simple, and line in sand. They have seven more regular season games. Mench is going to read them off, but before he reads off those games, trust means you think they're going to lose only one or fewer. Skeptical means you think they're going to lose two more games before the regular season's over.

Go. Wisconsin? No, no. Do you trust it or are you skeptical? Skeptical. Skeptical. Okay. I'm skeptical too, but man, I want to see it.

I'm here for the ride. I am a long for the ride. It's Wisconsin, Michigan State, Nevada. They have the next three are all at home. Then they go to Minnesota, which has been a, man, they're a tough team. Illinois at home, then at Michigan, and then the end of the year against USC, which, by the way, I mean, that could be awesome. Awesome. My album went for like almost 400 again tonight.

All right. Yeah, I'm skeptical. I think three is a possibility two would be 10 and 2. Chesney first year at UCLA with what it was, the dumpster fire. It was like, forget it. All right. I mean, what was their record last year? I mean, it was.

If anyone watched tape crews on Monday, might have had our greatest segment in the history of our because we laid out the blueprints. I took UCLA, you took Kentucky, and we can't just. gloss over what Kentucky did to LSU tonight, can we? No. I don't want to. I've been rowing the boat, as you mentioned, Minnesota. I've been rowing the boat for Kentucky for a while, and then you kind of stole my thunder.

You've been more of a UCLA guy, and honestly, not any more of a U.S.A. You've been more of a, I'm not buying Oregon stock guy, but decided to go with Kentucky, and I decided to go with UCLA this week. So are you on board with Kentucky now? Are you feeling it? Did you see the Kroger Center tonight, Mench? It's awesome. I mean, I'm feeling it.

Sure, I'm feeling it. I mean, how are you not feeling it? They just beat LSU. They have a head coach who doesn't, has no... who just doesn't care. Back in 2007, Stein's in the stands, just rooting. It's a family business, Kentucky is. He, I mean, you just saw.

No, like he's the, is Dosecchi's the brand for Gofer 2? I mean, he's basically going to be in a Dosecke's commercial next week. Yeah. I mean, the two fingers going up was the most, like, like, most predictable thing anyone had. Like, there was no chance that they, I go, I actually said to myself, I, they, this is what's going to happen. You else, they're going to win the toss. They'll go on defense first, like you absolutely should. And then they're going to go for two, and that'll be the game.

Like, they're both in a score here, and then it'll be whoever gets the, the two or whether or not Kentucky gets it to two. And it was, I mean, it was almost anti-combatic, the play. I mean, the two-point play was almost, the seas just parted and then she, like, walked into the end zone. There was no real drama in the play once the ball was snapped. But still, like, yeah, how, I mean, we knew that Levitt was good for an interception. He gave him their interception.

And then they didn't get any points off it. When the, with the field goal kickers started missing field goals on back-to-back drives, and one of them was an absolute. chippy, I was a little nervous. And I was talking to the TV alone by myself, my office being like, hey, Will. Do we really want to kick another

field goal here with, or attempt another field goal here to send it to overtime? Or maybe. 88, man. Maybe we should push it here. Come on, man. 88. He finally got his, though.

Put in overtime. C.J. Baxter, a little nod to C.J. Baxter. Nice night for C.J. Baxter. We have been waiting for this. Talking to people in the league before the season, like this could be the offense. Hopefully he's back healthy.

The former Texas star running back down with some injuries. Lines up in Kentucky. Kind of a... Where did that C.J. Baxter guy go? People in the league are like... And we're starting to see... He finishes the night with 19 for 123 and two touchdown. 6.5 and had a 77-yard...

run. So, good to see that out of C.J. Baxter. Great to see that for Will Stein. LSU, though. I mean, it's now two losses. Pull up their schedule. Yeah. I got it.

I can't buy it, and I won't make any excuses. They just flat out can't run the football. Who was the organization you were talking about with the offensive line? I feel like it doesn't matter if it's Kiffin. It doesn't matter. Like, when's the LSU used to be this like every year. They had a new star running back with Four Nett to Clyde Edwards, a lair, and everyone in between.

They like came out, like down in the bayou. They were just like coming out of a marsh. The swamp, yeah. And, and now the, I don't know. And I know. And I know. it's the offensive line because I know they didn't run out of athletes in Louisiana

that can run the football. No. And I know this is your area of expertise, but like until we get that group right and get a little more nasty in them, it's it's sacks, which Levitt's a part of, don't get me

wrong. But for 316, he he's half the rushing game. They get that Jones got 13 to transfer. from Wisconsin. First game in the year, Clemson looked awesome. It's not a talent run-a-back situation. It's our guys

up front aren't winning against your guys up front. And I've told you about Kentucky's defensive front. That's as good a three-man front as you're going to find in college football in terms of like gaps down, all that. So they met their match, and you kind of knew that they would. But it gets offset with 316 through the air and 34 yards rushing from Leavitt or 39 yards rushing from Leavitt and a touchdown. But I just can't buy it.

LSU. What's the rest of the schedule? I can't buy them. No. No. I mean, they've got, they've got, Mississippi State next week. Then they go to, they're at Auburn, and you're ready for this? Alabama, Texas, Tennessee. Yeah. If they go on a run, and what weeks ain't walking through that door tomorrow. They got like four other guys. Trade As Green. I could see this thing kind of nose diving a little. Not knowing. If you see that, let me ask you this. Yeah.

Is that a failure by Lane Kiffman or is that we have way too high expectations for someone to come in and turn around a program? That we just thought that Lane Kiffin was going to magically, you know, get everyone to do hot yoga and score touchdowns. Like, is it, is that kind of on us or is it this is actually a failure? Not on us because maybe inflated expectations. but they weren't like number one in the country coming in. I think it's because Leavitt is as talented as Leavitt is, and what Weeks was the healthiest he's been, and they brought in Daughery next to him,

and they brought in Ty Bedfield at Safety, who was an absolute dude, and they brought in it, they had the number one recruit in the interior defensive line, and he's been awesome, and like, they've hit on a lot of parts. They just had a lot of bad injuries early on,

and they're offensive line, and they just, their offensive line ain't right. So no concerns about this long term. You still think that? Oh, no. No. No. Yeah, me neither.

I don't. They're going to be fine. All right. Two more segments I want to get through. TMS top 10. Here we go. Tonight's going to be interesting. We do this every week.

It should be sponsored by someone. Anyone. If you're interested, let us know. I've got too many sponsors these days. This is not an us begging for sponsorship thing, but this is a good... I'm kidding. Yeah, I know. Although we got one coming up that hits home for me.

If we pull off this one... Ooh. Outside of my... No, really? Oh, no, no, no, no. Outside of that, which is my... Okay. My people there.

We all horse of... There's another thing in my life that I'm not proud of, but that I am in... But I'm proud of. Uh, anyway, we're almost an after dark, Dan. It's getting, it's getting squirley. This episode is brought to you by American Home Shield. The one thing I've learned evaluating football players every week, you can't predict everything.

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fees, limitations, and exclusions. American Home Shield. Don't worry. Be warranty. This one's going to be fun. Here was our top 10 last week that turned into a top 12. You ready? Alabama 1.

Texas 2. Ohio State 3, Georgia 4, Miami 5, Notre Dame 6, Mississippi, almost 7, LSU 8, Indiana 9 Mississippi State 10 then Missouri 11 Florida 12

So I counted four Aths in there and a How you want to play this big dog Ohio State's one George's one Ohio State's two Correct Miami

or Notre Dame am three. Notre Dame. I just think. They're just doing what they're got to do. They're doing what they're supposed to do. And I'm starting, and Miami's getting healthier,

but dinged up, and I like it. Miami's four. I don't think we're just, I mean, I don't think we're disrespecting anyone there. Then, quite frankly,

I'm going Alabama 5 unless you fight me over it. I'm good. And Texas or Mississippi, that's the conversation for May 6. And people who are going to think No, let me... Sorry. This is not a dictatorship.

Are you... Argument for Indiana at 6. I would. I do think you make the argument for Indiana 6 because they haven't lost. But I've seen Texas beat the number one... We have... Yeah, I've seen Texas beat the number one team or number two team in our TMS top 10 tonight.

What do you think about this? Oklahoma loss? Is it a rivalry game? Anything happens? Take out the art stuff. I was at one. I'll go back and look at the year. It was circa 2016, 2017. Oklahoma was so damn bad

and Texas was so good at that point. Honestly, maybe flipped. I think it was Oklahoma was so damn good. That might have been Baker. Yeah, that was like Baker Me Field. That was one of those years. And Texas was down.

and Texas got them. I can live with Indiana than Ole Miss. Okay. Ole Miss's loss was to Florida, and that Florida loss is starting to not look great. I want to ask you now, because I think this is where this conversation starts, who is the best team in the Big 12

and where are they in this mix? Because I think the AP's got it wrong. The AP has Utah as the third best team in the Big 12. I think Utah's lesson. And we haven't got to maybe a tape truth on it on Monday, maybe Tuesday as we come back from the holiday. I think Utah starts to come into the conversation at this point.

I don't know why Utah wouldn't be. What is Texas Tech done? I just kind of peeked to see and like I haven't seen it. And BYU has been good, but not. BYU is. Not dominant. All right, so let's go with this. Let's go.

We got off the time. You want Ole Miss or you want Indiana? Indiana. It's probably a smart thing to do. Considering also the floor, the wheels are coming off, and that's the team. That's right. And then Mississippi, the floor to loss.

Now we're at nine. Mississippi State, we still living with that? I'm going Utah. I think the argument's for Utah here. What's the score of that game, though? They won 41-24. It was close going into the fourth, and they pulled away. Against Kansas, huh?

Mm-hmm. This is the week we're going to pull the trigger on them. They haven't lost. Mississippi State beat Missouri. Who have they played? Pull up their schedule. I mean, listen, I'm the one who I've been trumpeting Utah, quietly, like, on our texts and all that.

Yep. Utah beats Arkansas. 43 to 10. They beat Utah State 33. Nothing. I know. I'm just, I'm just a bit like the margins here. Iowa State 31 to 17. Kansas, 41 to 24. That Iowa State team that lost to Iowa by three.

I mean, at Iowa State. I'm not talking about talent now. I'm not talking about talent. I want Kentucky in here. In your 12. You went Kentucky? Oh, do you want Kentucky? at nine?

I'm just looking at it. Like, their strength of record, man. They were six last week before they beat LSU, I believe. Here's what I would do. I'm going Mississippi State at 9. Okay. I'm going, this is me. And you need to talk me off the ledge.

I'm going Mississippi State at 9. I'm going Missouri 10. I'm going Kentucky 11, and I'll give you your Big 12 team, which I would prefer Utah right now, but I honestly think the sane argument is with BYU right now, or Texas Tech. But I do like that we're getting some attention to Utah. Yeah, I mean, BYU and Utah have...

I think this comment is that good this year. Now, fight me on it. I know it's crazy. I don't think it's crazy. would go lose their mind. That would mean one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight of the top eleven would be U. would be SEC. And people would go.

I don't, I mean, like, I get the argument you're making here. Like, I do. And I don't know. So Indiana, Ohio State are in there. We're the third, our third big ten teams not in there. So we don't think that Iowa or UCLA is a top 12 team. Yeah, and Kentucky shouldn't be in there. I get it.

Like, they beat a bad Texas A&M team. They beat a, we'll talk about South Carolina in a minute, but not a great South Carolina team. They beat LSU at home. It took two-point conversions and overtimes and all that. Yeah, this is tough, man. I feel really good about our top eight, and then it gets a little scurly. because I think the rest of the top eight just aren't at the level.

Georgia, Ohio, let's make a decision here. Okay. Georgia 1, Ohio State 2, Notre Dame 3, Miami 4, we feel great about that. Alabama 5, 6, Indiana 7, Ole Miss 8. We feel great about those teams. You can make arguments. Great. And I feel really the strongest of those, of those, that 5 through 8 about Alabama

a staying at five after what I what I've seen through this entire season including today which now is yesterday because this segment's taking so long you state Missouri Kentucky at 9 10 11 and then throw in honestly for me Utah with the understanding that BYU is better strength of record and in Texas Tech is just shown more too, technically. I think Utah is the sleeper team, but I can live with any of them. But I

think the smart play would, if we're going to go with Mississippi State and Missouri for now, would give two of the top three. Who do you prefer Munch? You're the Big 12 correspondent tonight. I'm going Utah. Utah 11, and then who's the other one? BYU or Texas Tech.

In the top 12, you're putting another big 12 team in the top 12? then give me Kentucky at 12 or give me Iowa oh god get out of here Utah yes

it's Iowa Kentucky okay we're good it's Kentucky Iowa and everyone can eat it this is actually the best 12 teams in college football I love that there's a party that's still 18 and making this argument like

in a classroom to everyone else like that's the same shit you've been doing all your life I love it. I figured it out. It's done. Where some see heroes and others see egos. Bloomberg sees the era of billionaire athletes. A fad to some, the future of money to others.

We see crypto's trillion dollar swings. The end of jobs or the end of human struggle. We see the endless funds fueling the AI hype. While others follow the noise, we follow the money. Learn more at Bloomberg.com. Gepson School of Leadership, the debate classes. Let's get to it. We've been in, I feel like we've been in last call.

I'm bloodshot from swimming in chlorine pools and I'm sure everyone to check them up with other reasons why they think I'm bloodshot and exhausted and rambling on. No. Thoughts and prayers, by the way, that you've been toughing out in the chlorine pools. Good for you. It's a war in there. You try managing all this. It's McShay after dark. And we always start with our young spry friend,

Stephen Richard Munch and his enough already. So go ahead, sir. Here's my enough already. And hear me out on this, because some of these are sweet, and I get it, and I'm watching Notre Dame, and I was like, damn, they look good today. I'm over the alternate and throwback jerseys. Hey, Florida, awesome that you're going to, like, pay respects to what, you know,

Steve Spurrier was wearing when he won the Heisman. And then you go on those uniforms. When I turn on the TV, when I turned on the TV and I saw those uniform, I saw the scorebug and then I looked up at the uniforms. And I'm like, they don't, not this week. No shot. No. And they hear, like, there's so much.

Like, what are you doing? Like you're going to get your, now people are people going to buy their kid a jersey of the night that they got their ass kicked again and to South Carolina? Like it's just a bad, it's a bad look when you go out in that uniform and things don't go well. You are, especially because the Florida jerseys are so good. They're normal jersey is so good. We're watching Texas, Oklahoma today. I'm like, look at these jerseys. They look so awesome.

Like, I'm like, I'm just, I'm just a traditionalist. I get it. And I get that some of them look cool. like Utah had the ice on their helmet for the whiteout tonight. And also like sometimes it's a problem. Like Notre Dame's as good as they were today, Notre Dame's uniforms in the opener against Wisconsin,

and you're trying to watch tape and you can't see anyone's number, thanks, I'll pass. And a lot of this comes back to, and I know they have a different uniform every week. But I don't know, maybe it's just me. Oregon looked awful today. And maybe... Awful.

And listen, I get it. And I love the... And I actually like a lot of... of their mixes and matches. And I am more of a traditionalist. But like the modern day tradition of Oregon is they mix it up and they make it cool and there's good variation. Today's uniforms for Oregon absolutely sucked.

Supposedly there was like two years in the making. Who's making these for two years? And so what are, oh, what do they compare it to? Oh, it was like, that's like, that's the team that tries too hard and flagged football, that. those are the teams that they have all like all like the glitter and like pinks and all that stuff and they're like oh that's the team that tries too hard

and flag football like you know yeah and it's like give me the yellow they have again some of these teams all have great options the yellow helmets with the O on the side and the yellow pants for Oregon yes please man all day even George even Comer's Georgia Tech I love the normal Georgia Tech today they had the the rambling wreck, the car on the side of the house. I'm like, what am I looking at?

What am I even watching? I don't even understand. You have all these great traditions, and now you're going to mess around with all these uniforms. And I know a lot of people like the changes. I get it, and some of them do look really good. But I don't know. I'm over it.

Enough already with those. I'm with you. The funny part is, match, I keep wanting to rail on you, like, you old man. Maybe I'm just old with you. But this doesn't, oh, this is actually, like part of it is like stop going back to the old old i don't know i'm with you i want to

on saturday and see something that i was it michigan oklahoma last year it was like that it was the night game and it was like so clean and crisp and norman and we're like oh gabrie was early season it felt like the rose bowl it's like another chapter in the story like i don't want new characters now i don't want like i want to see the same people people. Yeah. All right. I'm with you. Last call for me. And I'm getting my boy Mention's back here. Don't you dare second guess Mench on Lenora Sellers. Don't you dare bury Lenora Sellers before he's dead because he ain't dead. And Mench told you three weeks ago against Alabama in an ugly loss. I am seeing some signs. No one won't.

to listen. I just told you last week, not as bad as it looks. I'm getting frustrated, but I got to stay away. And now I'm watching today. And I'm excited to go watch the tape more

closely. But as we're getting ready to update our top 100, or advance it from our 50 on the ringer.com slash McShay, our draft site, the draft guide. and we're already advancing it to about 120 right now, Mention and I are the players that we want to start watching tape for.

And the next release will be 75, and after that it'll be 100. And then we'll be in like Senior Bowl and Combine, and we'll blow the thing out, right? But I'm trying to figure out, like, where to sell, where all these quarterbacks stack and all that. And I kind of, of all the quarterbacks, that's the one that I'm kind of dropping the most

before we go back and really study and try to figure, thought it out. But now I'm like, man, he's faster. He's more explosive than all these guys. And man, he rips that ball when he wants to. And wait, does he know where to go with his eyes now? Maybe it just took him a few games in this new Kendall Browell's system. And maybe he's starting to trust it. Maybe the protection's getting a little bit better because they're used to playing with it. And maybe like, I'm not saying the SEC's loaded. Like South Carolina is not doing anything in terms of a college football playoff or anything else. But I'm starting to get the sense that they're going to finish the season with a lot of pride.

And I'm starting to get the sense that they brought back Dylan Stewart, not on Dylan Stewart's terms. They brought him back on their terms. And Dylan Stewart showed me something today showing up being like, you know what? I had football, which is the greatest thing in my life that's been, that's had a lot of trouble in it and a lot of external factors that have kind of sucked and sucked and suck the life out of me at times and maybe created some of this frustration and these unhinged moments that happened on national television. And I had some really responsible, awesome people around me come and say, you know what, this thing can be taken away from you. And you can choose as a young man now who's about to, and he's already making money,

was about to go on and define who you're going to be. And everyone hates Shane Beamer. And everyone hate, get him out of Columbus. Who else is winning? Who else is recruiting the way he is? Who else is bringing this kind of attention? And most importantly, who else is developing? some of these young men into the men that they're turning out to big.

And so now I'm watching Dylan Stewart come back quietly. It was not some big announcement. Dylan Stewart, potential top 10 pick. Maybe he's dropping out later. Some scouts don't think he finishes. He just kind of showed up in the lineup today. Because this wasn't the Dylan Stewart show, and he's getting that message. And now I'm seeing a little bit more attention to detail from him.

And I'm seeing him be a team football player. And I like what I'm seeing there. And then I'm going back to the offensive side. And I'm watching this Lenores cat with a little bit more support up front. Nick Harbour's going and making a play, this 6-3-245 pound who runs up 4-1 as the legend continues to grow. And it's like, yeah, we know that this season isn't going to end with them hoisting it, right? But a lot of this stuff, when 0.6 kids wind up with stars out of the million-pillar. Plus that have all, like, this is much more, this game is much more than what mention I give

you of an NFL draft grade and what tiny, tiny percent of the guys that go start their careers in high school and want to go play college ball and want to play in the NFL. Like, this is about growth development, human beings, team, and being the best you can be. And I kind of fucking love what I'm seeing from Shane Beamer this week. and I kind of really like what I'm seeing in the development of Lenore Sellers. And I'm here to watch the rest of the ride. Well, everyone else is like,

are they going to mean the playoff? Are you in the playoff? They're not making the playoff. I'm watching this ride because I'm seeing some really stuff happening in Columbia, South Carolina. And I don't care if all of you in Columbia aren't noticing. I am.

That's my last rant. Bench, I love you. I'll see you on probably going to be Tuesday morning this week. Tuesday, yeah, yep. morning, we will get this out as soon as humanly possible. Enjoy the rest of your long weekend. I know I'm back in the chlorine tomorrow. Mench five stuff.

Thanks, man. 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. or Wyoming. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 gambler or 1-800-my reset. Call 1-888-78-9-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7. or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut or visit MD gambling help.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gambling helpline m a.org or call 1-800-327-50-50 for 24-7 support in Massachusetts.

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