The McShay Show - What’s Going on With Arch Manning? Plus, Picking Indiana-Illinois, Florida-Miami, and More Week 4 Games With Stanford Steve.

Episode Date: September 18, 2025

Welcome to The McShay Show! Todd and Steve open by discussing what they’ve seen on tape from Texas quarterback Arch Manning this season. Then, “Stanford Steve” Coughlin joins the show to preview the Week 4 college football slate and give his favorite picks. 0:00 Welcome to The McShay Show! 2:05 What's Going on With Arch Manning?17:15 Evaluating Arch's Tape This Season 30:10 Stanford Steve Joins The Show!33:52 Week 4 Picks: (17) Texas Tech vs. (16) Utah [-2.5]40:13 Week 4 Picks: (21) Michigan [-2.5] vs. Nebraska45:30 Week 4 Picks: (22) Auburn vs. (11) Oklahoma [-6.5]1:03:50 Week 4 Picks: Florida vs. (4) Miami [-7.5]1:12:53 Join Us On Saturday Night The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit ⁠www.rg-help.com⁠ to learn more about the resources and helplines available.Host: Todd McShayGuests: Steve Muench and “Stanford Steve” CoughlinProducers: Tucker Tashjian, Conor Nevins, and Daniel ComerSocial: Jon Roemer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've got a fun one today. What's really going on with Arch Manning? I've got a lot to share. Plus, our good friend, Stanford Steve, joins Stevie Boy and I to preview and pick another juicy slate of games. It's week four in college football, and just 217 days until the NFL draft. Menchie good?

I'm great. Let's roll it. This is the McShay Show, presented by Fanduel, and college football Saturdays are already delivering. Every game means something right now. Ranking shift, upsets hit, and the best place to stay on top of it all, Fanduel. Whether you're riding a noon kickoff or betting the late games,

Fanduel lets you bet it your way. Same game parlays, live betting, player props, alt lines. Whatever your angle is, it lives in the app. So if you're watching the action, bet on it with Fandual. So download the app or head to fandul.com slash mix. and make every Saturday count. The ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit RG-Help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

And listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Must be 21 and older in present in select states or 18 and older and present in D.C., Kentucky, or Wyoming. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 gambler or visit RG-Help.com. Call 1-888-78-9-7-8-7-7-7. 777 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. We've got a lot to get to you today, Mitch. Sure do.

You excited? I am. I'm not excited about this first part. I'm very excited about the second part. But I am interested in here what you have to say about Arch. It's worth talking about. The second part's going to be a lot of fun. We get a juicy slate as dessert.

As I said, yes. Yes. So we've got to get through our vegetables and get to our dessert. Steve Cochlin, better known as Stanford Steve, joining our show, good friend of the show. I mean, the three of us are on a text thread that is never ending, and I love it. He's obviously got some insight. He's coming off of an awesome primetime game.

He's got another one this week. I believe he's at Florida, Florida, Miami. I think that's right, yep. Yeah, and so we'll get to that in a minute. We'll get to some housekeeping later. I just, I get asked a lot. lot, Steve, right? About Archmanning. And I see a lot of people out there throwing takes. And you know what that does to my Irish blood, right? And so I, so I took some time. Like it, they're playing Sam Houston

State, Texas is this week. This is not like a big week to preview. We're not breaking down the tape to get ready for a big. And following Sam Houston State, yeah, you would, you would think I would do this exercise. if you will, leading up to a two-week stretch where they've got Florida and Oklahoma back to back. But I chose now because there's been a lot of narratives, if you will, about Arch. And so I went back and I studied it. And I just, I want to start with this. I will not be persuaded or, and I will not have any biases due to relationships with the mangs or time spent at the manning camp or anything else. when you collect this kind of money, when you are, you know, a manning.

More importantly, when you're a starting quarterback at Texas, you get the same treatment as everybody else. And that's what I think everyone would prefer, right? So let's just be honest about things. Arch is completing 55% of his passes this year. That's second worst in the SEC, and he's got an offensive coordinator who's a head coach and Steve Sarkeesian who is one of the brilliant offensive minds

and all of college football. He's got weapons, right? He's got Wingo. He's got Livingstone, who's stepped up and emerged. He's got injuries at tight end. He's got more junior who is a draft prospect. There's weapons around him, okay? Completing 55% second worst in the SEC.

What's more damning is when you look at throws, that pass the line of scrimmage. I'm not talking five or 10 yards past. I'm talking like cross the line of scrimmage. He's completing a frightening 46% of his throws. So something's wrong, right? And we all know it, but I just wanted to start with that. Like this isn't, oh, he doesn't look as good as expected.

He's not playing to the level or we thought he was Heisman. We thought first overall pick, all that stuff. He's just not playing to the level of a starting quarterback in the SEC, let alone at Texas with that cast, okay? So I went back and I studied the Ohio State tape, which I think everyone in the world studied, right? Or at least watch that game. Anyone who has any pulse on college football watched that game. And we saw a defense in Ohio State that's loaded with talent.

We saw a defense in Ohio State with a new coordinator and Matt Patricia that threw a lot of stuff at him. And so that was the jumping off point. And I think there was a residual effect. I wanted to see against lesser competition games where he should be completing 70, 73 percent. Offense should be humming. Should have been a quick bounce back. It wasn't necessarily. And I wanted to see, okay, what's going on here?

Because these are games they should roll in. Things should be like, you know, it should have been, oh, it was a bump in the road, arches back. Yeah, it's not great competition. He's playing great, right? Confidence is building. We got one more against Sam Houston State. then we start the stretch run with Florida and Oklahoma and beyond, right?

Not the case. As is always, and you can attest to this, Steve, as is always the case when you go watch tape on, whether it's an individual, a unit, a team, there's a narrative that's in your mind. There's what you see in when watching games on Saturday. And then when you go and watch the coach copy tape, you know, all 22 and then the tight version,

And I find I always, and I know you and I've talked about this ad nauseum, you always come away with a couple things. One is, it's a little different than what I expected based off of what I watched, just watching the game. And two is, it's never just one thing, right? It really is. It's never just like, you go into this and you're like, is it, is it because he's sidearming? Is it his shoulder that people are talking about? Is it, you know, he's, he's go doing the Mahomes. thing.

There's a myriad of things that are happening. And you see a lot of different things. And not some of them don't add up with others and with others. So that it's, there's, I can't see.

You didn't even get into receivers being in the right places, receivers consistently catching the ball. You didn't even get into the other mitigating factors that surround whether or not a quarterback can be accurate. Right. And I will get to a little bit of that. year. And just bear with me. But if I were to say after getting done studying every single play, both games, after watching the Ohio State tape, there is an overarching situation that I am convinced

is causing the majority or a high percentage or whatever you want to say. They're causing a lot of, it's causing a lot of the problems. I truly believe first and foremost, arch, is pressing. Couldn't agree more. He's a manning, had all the support in the world. He's got the uncles, Eli and Peyton.

He's got the grandfather in Archie. He's been around ball, his whole life, all those things. He's been prepared for this moment. We talked about that all summer long, prepared for this moment, playing, you know,

talking down all the hype, kind of, you know, tongue in cheek with reporters, handling himself beautifully. But he's a human being. and he's not a fully, like me at 1920, even 21, is not the fully formed version of Todd McShay. He's not, it's a lot to take on.

He is an economy in Austin, Texas. He is an economy in the SEC. He's an economy in college football. He's a manning on top of all those things. It's one thing to be John Mateer, Garrett Nussemeyer. It's another to be manning at Texas with all that, hype. It was Heisman. It was number one overall, 2026 draft or 2027 draft. These are human elements that are real. Okay. So no matter

how prepared you are when you're at his age, it's going to affect you in some way. I know this, okay? The man in camp would agree. There's been a pressing. There's been trying to live up to that expectation. And you try to ignore it, and you try to put in the back of your head, and you try to do all the things, the right things, and you know that you grew up in the right, but he's pressing, period,

because he wants to live up to these expectations. He knows what's expected of him. He knows what the path looks like. So, and the game is to, and why do I say all those things? Because I'm watching a quarterback on tape, take the name off of the back of his jersey, take the, how much,

the sticker, take the school. It doesn't matter if I'm watching someone from Sam Houston State or Alcorn State. When you sit down and you watch tape, as you and I do, you're just watching the player, each play, mechanics, play design, coverages, all those things. This is a quarterback, regardless of name, that the game is moving too fast. And what is happening to him, and I do think what happened against Ohio, State was a punch in the face. And I think he's in round two and round three.

And he's still trying to shake off some of the blows that he took in that game. I swear to you. Because I'm seeing, he's seeing ghosts at time. When he's being, when he's got protection up front, he's in the pocket and he's rushing his process. I don't see it when I watched the PGA tour in the highest level. And even if I saw it, I wouldn't be able to recognize it because I'm, I don't, I'm not an analyst who's, who's, who's, immersed in that world. But I know when I go swing a golf club,

when I swing, when I'm relaxed, man, had a good day. No one at home's calling about when I'm going to be home. Kids are good. Grades are good. Getting along with their friends.

They're being kind. I go out and I, I play free and swing free. And it all, like the hips and the hands. It's all loose. And that's the word I've used in talking to people. around that are in this camp and around like, I just don't see a young man who's playing free and

loose. And it's hard to play free and loose when you're carrying all that weight, weight of expectation on your shoulders. And so when you're just watching him on the tape, I'm seeing a guy that's rushing throws. Frequently, I'm seeing rushing when he doesn't need to rush. Frequently, I'm seeing that his, his hips and his hands aren't. working in the same unison, like that golf swing I'm talking about. I'm seeing him dropping his arm, shot putting. And that's what's led. And I know the wincing on tape people say, I can tell you right now,

I'm not being lied to and I'm told, like, it's not a shoulder issue. So let's just, okay? Good. Yeah, good. Which was confirmed. So like, I can share that. It's, it's the, it's the mind working too fast. and this tense, you know, it's swinging jerk.

It's trying to get the ball out too quick. The short game, even the short game, some of the throws aren't as accurate as they should be. And I think even some, I see his throws, and I went back and I studied the tape from last year, too. Right. Small catalog,

but he was playing, he came in in situations. He, like there was more juice on the ball. It was tying everything, you know? And now it's almost like he's, there's some throws where he's it's it's short arming it it's just getting it out you know because his mind is like i got to get it there but but but there's so much going on and i think matt patricia

sped things up and i don't know that he's been able you know like you ever have a car engine that's revving too fast and it takes it was yeah you know takes a cool down he's got to get the like the yeah the engine revving back down so i'm not saying it's just ohio state i'm saying it's all the things all the factors i'm watching a quarterback that to me like his his mind is going faster than his body can keep up with that's the overarching the global for me go ahead okay so i agree with everything you're saying i see the same things my i do want to i just do want to preface this with there are now like what we're done with our conversation i then want to get into some specifics that are that are byproducts of what I just told you,

but also are, um, that are separate, separate entities to, to the, the mind moving too fast and pressing. I think we agree this is the underlying issue though, right? I mean,

I think, okay, so that's the underlying issue, right? And I don't have the answer. And I'm not paid to have this answer. I think it's a tough, it's a tough thing to solve.

Tomorrow morning he wakes up. He's still Archmanning. Tomorrow morning, he's still the starting quarter. for a Texas team that still has national championship aspirations. All of that stays the same. He still lives in Austin. It's still the same kind of attention.

None of the pressures. There's no release valve here, my man. There's nothing. We can't come in and say, you know what, don't worry about it. You don't have to worry about this or that or whatever. The pressure is staying the same. It's not going away. So how do you handle this?

What's the solution to getting a very talented young man to understand that he doesn't doesn't have to carry that all around with him, that he just needs to work on playing quarterback and executing. What do you do? What does Sarkeesian do? Do you have an answer? I don't have an answer. I'll be honest with you.

I mean, that's above my pay grade, to be honest with you. I don't know how you get this kid to just relax, do what you've been taught to do your entire life, go out, do your thing, play football. I don't know. I know it takes a lot of care from people around you. I know it takes a lot of good support and you've got to lean on it. And I don't want to get like sappy.

I don't know if there's a sports psychologist involved. Certainly there's all the, there's all the support in the world for him in his circle. And he has access to things that maybe some other quarterback, certainly pre-NIL. I don't know. You make a good point, though. He has to take advantage of it.

And sometimes I know, I was young. It was I've got this. I don't want to acknowledge that there's a problem. If I go to you and say, I need help, then I'm acknowledging that there's problem. I'm trying to avoid that.

There's the football part. And then there's the personal part, right? Right. Yes. Like the football part is the human being. You see Sark, like there are periods of time and I'll get to the kind of specifics. And I only want to go maybe 10 more minutes on this.

But max. But there are times where Sark is very clearly trying to take that pressure off of it. Right. right he's trying to whether it's short passing games screens um the like there are time calling play design all of that play die so so there's the football part of it and then there's the personal part of it which like we can speak to if we want but it's kind of useless and i don't want to bore our audience with it's true but there's some personal stuff that he's going to have to kind in order to get his mind back where the the engine's not revving too fast and everything is in sync right

but I do want to get like in transition to it's on arch to slow this process down and as you just happily said like we would we don't have that answer for him and but hopefully people in his circle and and he can look within himself and he can figure that out but as is always the case as I said there's a myriad of things that are going on right I want to start with this that's San Jose state the game after Ohio state like he was pretty damn good for a long stretch in that game okay i and so was texas's offense as a whole i think that's important to mention he it was 287 midway through the second quarter against uh san jose state and and yes it's san jose state i hear you i'm not making excuses i'm not i just like i'm reporting back what the tape is telling me that's that's the only thing i can do here and and the information i'm getting from people who know Okay. Yeah. Arch would have been 10 for 13 if it wasn't for a holding call that brought a deep completion down the right rail back.

He's still at that point up 287 was nine for 12 with three touchdown passes. Things were rolling, man. Then he kind of hit some bumps in the road and kind of up and down, didn't finish great. But it was like, oh, it was fine. You know what I mean? Progress. It was progress. It was progress.

You felt like we're getting there. And then it kind of just like sputtered. out, but it was, but like, it was definitely progress from the first game and you felt like, all right, we're building. He's going to be just fine. Things were off from the jump against U-TEP, man. And I know you watched that. They were off from the jump. Sark came into that game, like, and I'm sure he's got a football team. It's not just 16. He's got a whole football team and a season that he's looking ahead to where he's got to get some answers about what are we capable of doing when we need to do it in the biggest games versus the toughest opponents.

And Sart came in, man. We're going to establish the run and we are going to be Texas and we're going to, I need my offensive line to understand that there are times in this season where we have got to line up, run the football, and we've got to dominate. So they came out and they were pounding it early. He wanted to establish 16 of the first 20 plays. And I didn't go off the stats. I was just off of my tape.

So maybe there was a penalty. Maybe it doesn't exactly line up. but 16 of the first 20 plays were runs. One of them was not a designed run. It was a drop back where Arch ran. So you're talking three quarters of the plays, the first 20 plays run were designed runs. Arch didn't get into a rhythm early.

Now, I'm not putting any of this on Sark, man. Sark's working his ass off. Sark knows what he's doing. Sark's got a team to work. I'm just saying then when they started to throw the ball, Arch didn't look settled in, right? Right. But if I had to summarize and give kind of some bullet points beyond just the pressing and the pressure and like the the mind working faster than the body.

I want to mention a few things. Number one, there's a serious manning wingo issue going on. And I'm not talking personal. And here's the funny, not the fun, here's the fascinating part. It's like, it's just a glitch. there's a manning wingo glitch going on and sometimes it's manning sometimes it's wingo there's like some of the issues are timing between the two a couple are miscommunications wingo on that stop route should have been an out he stops down

the cornerback has inside leverage arch is expecting him when when the corner has inside leverage instead of running a stop like it was like eight back to or 10 back to eight something like that you've got to kind of peel it towards the sideline, right? Wingo doesn't, balls outside in completion. Little things, right? A couple flat out drops. Can I just give a suggestion to Sark? Here we go.

Here we go. Hey, Sark, let's put a plug in the dig route to Wingo for a minute. Just for a minute. Let's get Manning and Wingo back because the two worst drops I've seen of Wingo short career are that left side of formation working the dig route from left to right back inside anyone who doesn't know it a dig route basically you run down the top of your stem top of your route and then you like if you run an out route you cut out if you run a post you kind of angle you run a corner you angle to the outside but a dig route is like an old six route right and then

sharp sharp breaking in this dig route it just ain't working and it ain't working like wingo had two drops and man two of manning's worst throws just like killing killing worms in the dirt but again it's it's it's errant throws from manning it's drops from wingo and it's miscommunications like those four things so like they have got to get on the same page because when he catches the ball steve oh my god oh like that screen he caught in the last game like late in the game they just got they're like fuck it. We're not running intermediate deep routes. Like, let's just get him the ball in his hands and let him let him eat a little bit. He catches it. And he's like, what, six two? He's a big, freak. Just shot. And I'm like, oh, okay. That's Texas. Like, that's explosive ball right there.

So they got to work that out. That's a big thing. He's an elite talent. But I wish it, I wish it was one thing. I wish it was they're just not on the same page. I wish it, like, it's like four different things between those two. Number two, both interception, this goes back to the pressure. Both interceptions were arch trying to do something that he could do in high school that he can't do in college. And I know he hasn't been a full-time starter before this year, but he's played in, he's played in just enough ball. And he's been around this game since he was birthed to not make the two interceptions that he's thrown in the last two games, they are just him. frustrated trying to do too much.

I'm Archmanning. I'm supposed to be Winnie Heisman. I'm supposed to be the number one overall pick. I can fix this. Got to cut that out. Because if he's doing it again, San Jose State and U-Tep, it's frightening to think about him trying to do, you know, the U-TEP one was rolling left,

runs back to the right, does a great job of extending, and then it's like, no! No. No. And I know it's fourth down. Yeah. Yeah, but yeah. And then the one, we talked about it, the San Jose State one,

he's like, getting the grass, but it was a free rush, just take the sack. Or I think he tried to get it out of bounds or maybe he was, I don't know. So those are like, I know that Sark's like drilling that home in him. Number three, sloppy feet. And I've, and please check out the, check out, like, if you, if you're interested at all in like quarterback dynamics and what we're talking about today in Arch and even just quarterbacks in general, I'm working on a really cool piece with a lot of video support for the McShea report.

And you can Google it if you don't subscribe. You can subscribe for free. And then there's a premium as well if you want to become a premium member. And we appreciate everyone who has and the continued support that we're getting. But it's the McShay report. That'll be out. That's out now, actually. It came out just a little bit ago today this morning with this podcast.

But the sloppy feet. It's, it's, I was expecting quite honestly, it was going to be like vast majority of that. It's still, it's still too often. And again, it goes back to like, I just think there's, there are throws. There's a handful of throws, not enough, a handful of throws where he actually looks free, confident, like deliberate feet underneath him, base. There was one where he play action to the left. And he worked his way, but you could actually.

from the tight version, the end zone copy of the cameraman back there, right? You could actually see his helmet go, which tells you his eyes are going left to middle to right with his reads, right? And with it came his feet. It hasn't happened a lot. The glimpses are great. Yeah. Lipses of it. He drills a throw to Moore Jr. to a touch high, but like led him to the sideline, perfect ball. And I'm like, they're like that's it let's bottle that up arch you know but then there are others where it's just even when he doesn't have a reason to rush the throw it's he's just not bringing his feet around he's not tying it all together it's stuff i know he knows how to do because i still see him doing it and i've seen him in the past do it um and then honestly there's some throws and it's not a huge

catalog of it it's a few i just don't like the one he overshot livingstone off the play action one-on-one down the middle kind of crossing over. I just didn't think he had a lot of conviction in that throw. I think he, like, in addition to those other problems I'm talking about, I think there's been a couple occasions where he just looks like a quarterback who's not super confident in what he's doing. Right. It goes back to it.

And you can, and so I did like the way he finished the San Jose State game. He had a couple nice throws there. He hit Wingo on a dig route. Holy shit. He hit Wingo on the diggerout. It was play 79. A few plays earlier, he threw with conviction. Wasn't a hard throw, but it was that touchdown pass where he kind of, he knew I had

to get it low into the outside and he drilled it. You could tell when the ball hit the receiver's hands for a touchdown. You could see his demeanor change. He's like, yep, just got to get him there. Got to get him rolling. Too much talent, too much support, too many good players at Texas, too good of a coach with Sark. I've got to believe he's going to get there. But right now as it stands, like, it's absolutely concerning.

And the only person who's going to be able to solve it is Arch himself with the support that he has around him. I agree. All right. Any other comments? I'm good. I thought that was well put. Those are our vegetables. Now we got dessert.

I can't wait for dessert. Yep. I'm excited. Stanford Steve's joining us right now. The McShay Show is brought to you by. fan duel. Ready to fire up your Saturdays? Fan duel's got a boost you don't want to miss. It's

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Gambling problem? Call 1-800 gambler or visit RG-Help.com. Call 1-88-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. This episode is brought to you by Duluth Trading Company. Ready to give rival tailgates the foam finger? Duluth Trading Company crafts Hall of Fame Game Day gear to help you grill hotter, cheer louder, and tailgate longer. Trust me, like, I'm a scene at the grill.

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Trying, fellas. Good to see you. Hey, show me what shirt. Show me what shirt you're wearing. Come on. Spiders. For the kids. Ferdic kids.

I love it. I love it. You know how to make us happy. Hey, real quick, I was just, I was listening to you guys. I'm not sure. Who does Mench hate more? Penn State or LSU. Wow.

Here we go. It's, I'll be honest with you. It's definitely Penn State. And I don't love Clemson either. shots fired. About 10 minutes after I went on that rant, Brian Kelly comes out and apologizes. So look at that.

It's Penn State globally for him. It was Brian Kelly last week, I think. Yeah. Yeah. How are you doing, man? We're good. We're good, man. You know, we're in it.

Incredible. Incredible last weekend. It's been a while since I was in Knoxville. And I said on... How great is that place when it's right? Todd, just give you a timeline here. The last time I was there, Game Day Radio, Rissillo, I think it was the year you were gone. Will Mush Champs coached Florida and Derek Dooley was coaching Tennessee.

Like that, I forgot how good Neeland is. Like, it's above Penn State. It is. Oh, yeah. I put it two. I put it two behind LSU. I really do. Yeah, I can see that.

It is, I mean, and the fans were just tremendous. They know they're on the cusp. You know, I said on game day that morning, I said, last year I was in Athens, Tennessee, it's about matching the physicality of Georgia when you play them. You know that. And last year, in Athens, Tennessee did it for 30 minutes. They had to do it for 60.

They did. They were right there. And I think it says a lot about where Tennessee is going from talking to the fans there last weekend and really being unsure with this whole quarterback dynamic. but I go back to this. Only a Kirby smart coach team wins that game. Yes. Right.

And like watching them on the sidelines. And I mean, it is absolute chaos. You've been there. The noise. The momentum swings. Fricking Rocky Top just blaring. I know. You can't get it out of your head for like three nights of sleep.

I still haven't gotten out. Yeah. And he's, and it's not crazy, Kirby. He's going over there. The visor wasn't flapping or nothing. No, it's going over. And like, you could take it.

It's like roll up your sleeves curb. Yeah, like they were getting spread all the way, getting killed with the mesh and, you know, in the run underneath and all the split zone stuff. And he was just like, all right, we're going to come over and do this. His corner's getting beat like a drum. All right, let's put another kid in. He gets beat for a touchdown. Like just. It might just be brazzell.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. I saw the breakdown. So I got you. Slow down. Slow down. No, I can't. Randy boss.

See, this is what happens. You're staying. in the, you're staying at home now and you got the clicker. I know. And you're just falling in low. I'm dangerous now. Oh, yeah. You're swiping right on everybody on the dating apps.

We got to get you out. We got to get you out. I don't know, man. I like being dangerous from home. All right. We got a slate, man. And I know you got things to do. You got travel to.

Wherever you guys want to go, I'm fired up. We got it now. The Big Ten's done with their BS. We're in it, man. We are. We are. And I want to start in the Big 12, though, first. You mind?

Yeah. I want to go kind of chronologically through Saturday because it's an awesome slate. There's five games I want to get to. There's actually more, but it's kind of juicy, man. And I, it's, this to me is a prove it game. Texas Tech, the, what is the, the Matador Club? Yeah. She's got all that oil money together.

I think it was 22 Juko guys they brought in. It's off to a fast start, 3 and 0. And now you got Utah. I think everyone who like actually like really watches college football and like really cares to know like all that understands that Utah's, Utah's for real. Like this is a good football team, right? Both three and oh, Texas Tech is plus two and a half. It's kind of a fishy line to me. What jumps out to you in that game?

That's a noon kick, by the way. You know, prove it. See what we got. You know, these teams, you know, my favorite pick of week one was Utah going to UCLA, just because I had a feeling when you're reading about UCLA, like this receiver's gone. Like, their good pieces were gone. But then Nico overshadowed all of it. And reading between the lines, I love what Utah did following this new deal that Oklahoma did.

Vandy started and bringing in your offensive coordinator and then bringing the quarterback. And Dan Peer's a guy like, you watch last year, it's like, what the hell's going? on and then touchdown, you know, he's running around all over the place. So I liked him in the idea of playing in some structure, which you know you're going to get from Kyle Whittingham. It's going to be different. And he took, he did something that he hasn't really done here. But I think it says a lot about both guys.

So I was, I'm in on Utah. I thought they would win the conference beforehand. But this one, I mean, you've been there, Todd, the must that, that section, you know, I call this one the must versus the money. You know, Texas Texas is the best, the best, the best. team money could buy. And all the big 12 coaches pointed that out at media days. So, you know, there's a big bullseye on Lubbock, which is cool.

I haven't, you know, been a part of a game since probably playing junior midgets. That's going to kick off at 10 a.m. I think that's because you have to start off well in this game. 10 a.m. local. So I look at Utah as being more sound. Now, Texas Tech spent a ton of money on the defensive line. and Utah's bread and butter is that offense. I mean, you see the different variations.

I just wonder how they go about things. It's going to be more quarterback run. Are they going to let guys run free and read them? You know, are they going to go gap scheme? You know, more zone scheme. They have it all. You could do it all with Dampere. So I lean towards the home team.

I trust Wittingham's defense in his schemes and Bose Scali more. But there's plenty. I mean, Morton is a kid, coach's son, great story, battle. an injury, you know, but if he stays healthy, Texas Tech's got the goods, man. Because one thing that you think about is Utah secondary is getable and Texas Tech's got some receivers. Yeah, they do.

Protect. Can they protect? Yes, can they protect? Here's the, I actually watched a little tape of both these teams because I hadn't seen enough like during Saturdays. You, like, Dan Pierce playing awesome, right? I mean, you look at the numbers. You watch like 73%, seven touchdowns, no interceptions, all the running around.

all the things he's done. But he's only seven, seven yards per attempt. And then I'm watching, I'm like, who can separate? Who's like a game break? Ryan Davis is reliable, but, but like fewer than 10 yards per catch. Dalen Bentley, the tight end is second leading receiver. They, they just don't have dudes on the perimeter. Texas Tech, on the other hand, with Baron Morton, they've got like five, I think,

what is it? I wrote it down it. Five, five guys with 134 receiving yards per game. More importantly, their top three receivers are averaging 20, you know, 20 or more receiving yards per game. So like, I just, I don't know, the line's fishy. And you know how I am. Like I'm, I go back to Corso. Like somebody knows something that I'm going, like, Fan Duel knows something. And I'm going with the fan duels here. Like, I just, I think Koy can, I don't know, I, I like Texas tech here, but I'm skeptical. I'm very skeptical.

No way. It's Utah. It's Utah on that offensive line. They're going to wear out that talented. That Texas Tech front is really good, man. David Bailey out of Stanford. I don't know why anyone's leaving Stanford these days. It's such a good program.

But David Bailey coming over from sit. We're one and O in our last game. That's all right. Correct. But David Bailey comes over from Stanford. They got, I mean, they've got Romello height. He's on his like 17 school. They've got some dudes on that defensive line.

I'm not sure about the depth, though. And I think that Utah is, as good as that defensive line is, Utah is one of the, I think it's the best offensive line of the country. I think Utah gets downhill on their ass. I think they run some quarterback power with Dampeer, create some numbers games in the running game. They're going to wear that Texas Tech front out. And I think that's going to be the difference of the game. And I think, you know, Steve, I think you make a great point about whether or not Texas Tech can protect because they're running six and seven man protections in the first three games of this year.

And they haven't seen anything close to this pass rush. I mean, Utah, they don't have like, you know, a lot of great athletes with John Henry Daley, that edge. He is a physical dude. He's got five sacks tied for the best in the FBS. I like Utah on this game a lot. Texas Tech's really good team, really good team. But I think Utah's, you know, they're going to be in the playoff on. These are, you know, the two favorites now to win the conference.

I mean, everybody had their feelings about what it was going to happen. I think Kansas State ended up starting the season as the favorite. And we saw them go by the wayside. I do. Arizona State was another one that a lot of people thought. Yeah. But Utah again, I was in love with those teams when they had it rolling with Keithy and Kincaid. They got two guys.

J.J. B. Cannon is a true freshman. This kid is awesome. Number 81, 64, jumps like 40, 220. And then they got another fifth year or six year kid Bentley. They could be a problem for, you know, the way Utah can, you know, run those. I mean, everybody's running it now. You saw the Colts do it with, you know, that insertion. Yeah, yeah.

The insertion stuff. That, I mean, God, why couldn't I play these days? You're running through the defense nude, man. It's not even fair with these guys. 3.30 is going to be fun. Like, this is a nice little snack. But, like, you got Michigan, Nebraska, Auburn, Oklahoma, right? Michigan's 2 and 1.

Nebraska's 3 and 0. I was kind of surprised that Michigan was only a 2.5 point favorite in this. you can take it anywhere you want to go. But yeah, I mean, is Nebraska, I think they've improved. I'm kind of buying what rules selling. I don't know if they've arrived. I mean, they haven't arrived. But like how far are they, are they good enough to be a Michigan team that, quite honestly,

like I don't think people recognize how many pro prospects are there. Yes. Along the defensive front is especially. I don't think people realize how good underwood. we've heard all the hype and we saw that first game. But like, I can see a world in which Underwood starts to absolutely sore as the season progresses. Where are you in this game? A couple things.

On the Michigan side, I actually was just watching the start of their game last week because I was there for an Oklahoma game. And, you know, again, to you, I was like, whoa, whoa. And there's a dude. There's a dude. And Mater's, you know, materials pulling off rabbit tricks. to get out of trouble. But I was more on the offensive side. And, you know,

Shereau Moore's not coaching this game. He wasn't there this week. And when you go back and watch last week against, I know it's central Michigan, but their first drive is 10 plays. They throw the ball, I mean, all over the place. Boots, deep balls, comebacks, tight end overs,

the first five plays of the game. And they end up scoring in a 10-play drive. And to me, I just, I wonder, in this spot. And knowing Biff-Pogee and how much of a wild card is where he just says, Bryce, go. Like, we're going to run you, we're going to let you throw.

And we're at Oklahoma, it was like, all right, we don't have our tight end. We still don't know about our receivers. We are going to hold this thing down. We're going to play defense, get bar them back in the second half and make it a game. And they did. But that two scores in the first half that they went down was too much to overcome. So Michigan's, I think, super dangerous here. When I watch

Nebraska and I go back to, I talked to Dana Holgerson this summer and he was in awe of what they were asking Ryola to do last year as a true. He was just like, you know, media and team functions and be in the face and doing

everything and just the onus. I mean, the kid's a true freshman. He's like, all right, the first thing we're going to do is we're going to simplify some things in the offense and make it easier for you. And I think you saw that. You know, there was some progress. He threw 11 interceptions, just 13 touches a year. You could, and as the season progressed, you could tell it off.

Like, you didn't know where it was going to go, though. And it didn't go the right way. Yeah. And now when you watch them, you know, against Cincinnati, a lot of, like, Dana's stuff is super creative, obviously, and he's going to, he's going to see what you want to do. And he's always got an answer. That's why he has that little freaking note card that he has. I don't know how he see him, Cliff, all those guys, Spav.

But it's with two. tight ends. And I've never seen this before. And it was creating windows and making them like it was catch and throw. And the last thing you want is a young quarterback holding on to the football, especially against a team like Michigan that could get pressure with minimal guys. So I look at Nebraska, their defense being the key here. Everybody knows Matt Rule, year three. This is where he takes a step. But I wonder about that defense against the run because Soresby for Cincinnati really, really was successful. Second half of Cincinnati, man.

Second half of Cincinnati is all I needed to see. Sorsby was killing them on design runs, on scrambles. And what happened against Central Michigan last week with Underwood? Way more decisive about taking off. And also you saw some of that quarterback power against Central Michigan, too. If they do the same thing with Underwood this week, I mean, I watched that Nebraska defense second half of Cincinnati, and I just don't know how they're going to do it.

We're rolling here. I love one Steve to the next. Everyone's worked up. You know what's kind of weird about Nebraska? This is a passing organization, if you will. Like they are relying on throwing the football. They are much more effective throwing the football than they are running the football at this point.

Not your grandfather's Nebraska, man. And defensively, they have been much better defending the past than they have been versus the run. If you're pro-Michigan, you're looking at the fact that, like, They're 75th in the nation versus the run. 202 yards against Cincinnati, 113 to Akron, 93 to Houston Christian. So it's going to be interesting to see the game plan for Michigan in this. But I don't know.

I think Nebraska, I think this is going to be a battle. I'm really fine. These two 30-30 games, I think, are super interesting. And I think the way I heard it early, all the money was on Michigan. So be careful. That's what I'm saying. I get just like a little slight lean. Like I think something's going to happen with Nebraska this week.

I'm not saying win, but like this is going to be tight. All right, Auburn, 22 in the country. Oklahoma, 11 in the country. Three and O, each team. Auburn's plus six and a half in this game. What jumps out to you? You'll like this. Pre-game Michigan, Oklahoma, and everybody's out there.

Nagy's got freaking 280 recruits. Out of his mind. And you know how he's, is like he leans over and like the place is rocking right i mean everything's you know it's 80 degrees and you know how he leans over he's like you know i think our roster's a lot better than people think i'm like why why you wait until now to tell me that i just did game day this morning i said i picked you but that way i would like some encouragement here yes and and and that's exactly how i felt after watching them uh i think the defense is real i mean they got as good at de-tackles and

in a position where you talk to any, you talk to scouts, you talk to coaches. In this new era, I mean, I think about Georgia and Alabama, specifically Clemson, that started this whole thing where they would just stockpile DTs and DNs. Oklahoma's as deep as anybody at defensive tackle. And that's what you want, especially in a game like this where the guy that's going to want to establish quarterback run. So to me, I get it. Metteer is awesome. I got the headbands, the whole thing.

The story's great. But to me, I like Oklahoma as a team because of the defense more than him. I think Guillory at Corner, I think he's a true freshman. He's a stud. I expect him on Coleman. I like the secondary. And when you saw Billy Bowman balling for the Falcons the other night, replacing guys. But, you know, our Mason Thomas, I believe is suspended for the first half because of targeting in the second half for the Temple game.

Yes. That's something to keep an eye on. He's a big time player. So to me, Oklahoma wins the game because of the defense. I feel like Jackson Arnold in a crazy spot. I'm really rooting for the dude because I go back and I watch it. I've said in the office. I don't think Patrick Mahomes could have survived.

No, it was. He couldn't have been successful in Oklahoma system last year. Between the offensive line. It was awful. And five wide receivers injured. Yeah. Like no one was going to succeed in that. And, you know, he gets a call and he gets offered.

And that's what it is. is. So I've been a fan of his just because what he went through last year and knowing how young and brittle guys could be. But Auburn, this is a big, you talk about prove it spots. Yes. You know, Hugh Freeze and the recruiting and off the field stuff. And this is, I mean, I still think that's a really good win starting to season and going to Baylor. And they did it because Jackson, they said, we are not letting the receivers. Yeah, you don't fuck with Sawyer Robertson, man. No, no. That's, hey, I got him number one. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,

Um, but no. Auburn's got weapons. Like, I'm, I totally agree with you on Oklahoma's defense. What I'm really intrigued to see. And Jackson Arnold is making progressions. I don't know if he's there yet against this defense, but he's got dudes, man. Yeah. Like Cam Coleman's what, six three.

Fields, the number three receiver, six foot two, Horatio Fields. Eric Singleton is that. I like Singleton the best. He's like an Olympic track star and he can play ball. Yeah. like part of me is like I keep going back like could this turn into a little not a shootout but like no a little higher score because it's some big playing that Jackson Arnold with his legs on top could this be a little bit higher scoring than than we expect because Oklahoma's defenses look so good

Auburn's past defense though worries me and they got four returning starters from that secondary year ago and tackling and they got two guys from from G5 from group of five they got two more D-Bs who are like stars of the G-5 level. That was supposed to be a strength. And you get Keldrick Falk and the boys up front. But they've not been able to cover. I was looking at it, 419 against Sawyer,

which everyone's going to give up 400 plus against my man. But USA, South Alabama. I know, I'm joking. But Bishop, to a certain. Yeah, but Bishop Davenport at one point was 15 of 18 against that secondary until they finally got pressure to them.

So that's like those are the things like can Oklahoma's defense remain solid in coverage against those receivers with a mobile quarterback. So now we've got more responsibility than just matching up one-on-one. And then on the other side, Auburn's defense in the secondary, can they plug the dam a little bit because it has not looked pretty in the first couple games? Yeah. Medge, I'm curious to what you saw.

Did you watch Fasusi against Michigan, the true tackle? He didn't play last week against Temple. Is he playing this week? That's what I'm waiting on. Yeah, me too. From what I saw, and I mean, you hear Beenbaugh talk

in who's as trusted as anybody, like going to his season. He was talking about he never had a freshman like this. And then I see him in person. I'm like, holy shit. What's the other? What was that like? And just raw.

Like he's, He's raw, but like, I mean, he can move. He's good with his hands. His, you know, his balance look good. He didn't play too high. And I mean, you're going against guys against Michigan. And I thought he held his, it wasn't pretty at all. But your first start, you're going against Michigan.

And it got to have a game with the program that's trying to take that next step. I thought he was good. I thought the right tackle hanging. They're only going to get better. So, and then, you know, but with that on the other side, you know, talking to Baylor's people for that first game at Auburn, they were really worried about Falk. They thought the world of him.

And I don't know how twitchy he is, but when he wants to get after the Pat, like he could ruin this whole game. I'll say that. But I think Oklahoma knows that and we'll have a plan. So I like Oklahoma in this matchup because of the totality. Six and a half even, okay. I like really quickly.

I like Oklahoma too, but one of the ways that Auburn wins this. game is that their pass rush. Those Oklahoma offensive tackles, I like a lot. And I hope the Fasusi plays because they're different with him in the lineup. And the other guy is Derek, Derek Simmons, I think. Right. Derek Simmons on the other side, right tackle.

He moves really well. But Auburn's power, man. It's not a you can be finesse with those sets. And they will run right through your face if you let them. So I like Simmons as an athlete. One of the issues I had is can he sit, can he anchor? that's something to keep an eye on in this game. I still like Oklahoma, but that's one edge

Auburn potentially has. Stanford, Steve. I got to differentiate between the two. What's your record now on game day? Picking games. Freaking four hour rather than like crushed us with the USC over. We're one and two last week.

Five and four, I think. We were four and two. We got the fan dual featured picks every week. I'm three and two. I was three and one going in the last. last week. And I was banking on Mensa and Duke against Tulane. They let me down. Don't mess with my man, Summerall. Don't mess with him. We're going to get back on track. I'll get a sneaky one for you. And then I'm going to give you a four-leg parlay because this is important. We have the

fan dual feature picks every week. Manch, first of all, who's your pick of the week? I can't believe I'm doing it. I'm going back to the well. I'm taking Michigan. I like Michigan in that game. I just, I just like Michigan the game. I had Michigan beat in Oklahoma. That didn't work out well for me. I've been on a little bit of a cold streak after taking the under and Kansas State and Iowa State game, barely getting it. I don't think I've hit anything since, but I'm taking Michigan. Michigan minus two and a half. Okay.

My pick of the week is SMU. SMU against TCU. Over? No. The game. I love Hoover. I love Hoover. I like it.

I think Jennings, I think, I think SM, Lashley is not going to let this happen. I think that they bounce back. And I think they surprise me. Plus, everyone in the world is on TC. They saw him against North Carolina, and everyone's, oh, I love Hoover. Like, SMU is going to reestablish itself this one. You're not believing it.

Okay. And then this four leg, parlay, get your pen ready, Mr. Spider over there with his new hoodie on. Let's go. I love how he gets better gear than us, Mench. Yeah, that's, that's nice. Write this down because you're going to want to put this in,

Fanduil, right? Get your app out. Alt line on all four picks. You love the old line. Well, you got to maneuver. This is plus 500 if we come in in this four-leg parlay. I feel it. I don't want it on bad beats this week.

I want it on beats. Auburn plus 10 and a half. I love Oklahoma. I'm the biggest mature guy in the entire world. Bigger than Nagy, bigger than Mateer's parents. But I like Auburn in this spot plus 10. And a half. Indiana, I move to two and a half.

We'll get to that game in a second against Illinois. Only minus two and a half. I knew you'd kind of like that. Florida plus 10 and a half. We'll get to that game in a minute. With that spread, we'll talk about it. And then SMU plus 10 and a half in that alt line. So that's it.

Fanduel, get your app. I'm telling you. I picked three out of four two weeks ago. Steve, I picked three out of four. You can start a, I guarantee you'll have a streak of doing that this year. And then last week I was two for two. All right.

Blime me. You blame me. Prime time. Yeah. Let's save your game for last. Let's go Illinois at Indiana. Illinois is ranked ninth in the country. Indiana is 19. Illinois is actually plus five and a half in this game.

Where are you going with this? You know, it's hard because when you look at Illinois, I do take some stuff from the Duke game. I thought, you know, when you watch Illinois, it seems right now it's pretty methodical. That's the best opponent that either of these schools is played. Exactly. That's the one thing I have substance on.

I'll get to Indiana. But when you watch Illinois, I like their skill guys. They're shifty. They do a lot of different stuff. They'll run, you know, the screening goes where you're faking like you're blocking and running up a seam. They do it across the middle of the field. They do it down the sideline.

They got a good mix of backs. They got a big guy and was it Fabian, Fabian, I believe. And then McFarland, I believe, is the little scat guy. And Altmeyer's been good. It's crazy. When you look at the quarterback's numbers in this game, Altmeyer versus Mendoza, they're like identical. Both have like the 22 incompletions.

They're both right at 7, 106 yards, and one has nine touchdowns, and one has eight. So with Illinois, I worry about the way they've started. And then when you watch that Duke game. Yes, that was a big thing to me. The Duke game, Duke out gained them, you know, but they had five turnovers. And then Illinois turned those into points. And you saw, I believe it was 14, 13, and then they win like, what, 4119 or 4319? So they capitalized on it.

They come back last week against Western Michigan, again, kind of sluggish to start and then get it rolling. On the other side, I have no idea with Indiana. When I watch them and I watch their good, their good is better than it was last year. Yeah, I agree. It is. I actually agree. The offensive line, I don't know what's. going on there. 67 didn't start

last week, but he started game one, and then he comes in in the second half. I loved Hemby when he was at Maryland. He's a guy that could go get it. The receivers are legit. I really like the additions at tight end. 37s from Wisconsin. Stays, who was at

Notre Dame, and then Tennessee. He's more of a receiver, but he's stuck his face in there on those leads and stuff. And I like Mendoza as an upgrade at quarterback. So I look at the balance of Indiana's defense, and I trust their offensive line more than Illinois doesn't have a typical be.

I thought I would see more from their tight ends blocking, not much. And the whole line seemed consistent. A couple transfer tackles, I believe they have. It's getting to the point. I think it's started like open at three and a half. Now it's up to five and a half. I still would take Indiana. I feel like they've got this thing cranked up.

The one thing I'm disappointed in is I thought this would be starting Sunday or Monday. We were going to have a coach's war of words with Bilema and Sig. Like I thought they were going to start firing at each other. And both guys have held, I'm shocked. I know. We haven't gotten anything. I thought that was. Here's how this would have to work, though, just so people understand, like, their characters.

It would have to start with Sig popping off in a place where he did. And maybe it's coming on Friday, like, because the work's kind of done, haze. the barn. So it may still be coming on like Friday. Okay. And but Bielma is just like Sigs incapable of like if it's in his head and he's, it's just going to come out. He's going to come out. Yeah. Beelma's incapable of not responding, retaliating. You know, like he's a reactionary like get in trouble. Sig's a shit starter. So he's got the response already in the draft. Oh, yes. Yes. Mensh, what do you guys? on this. No, I want to hear it from you

because I think this is going to be typical from you too. I want to hear what you have. It is going to be typical for me. It is. I promise you. Because I look like, yeah, Illinois is slightly more battle tested. I worry about the, as I wrote down, like the Western Illinois, Duke, Western Michigan, they didn't,

they did not like fast, the slow starts. And I don't think on the road, and believe it or not, like, this is a, this is a place that's like sneaky good home field advantage. It was wrong. It was awesome last year. Right. Like awesome.

That can be a problem. Night game. Exactly. So here's the difference that I saw when I was just looking at a little bit of it last yesterday. The wide receivers for Indiana are actually legit. Like like Surrott is a bona fide NFL prospect could be a day two picky. He's six three leads the team 15 or six two, two 15 leads the team with 15 catch. The big story, man, I didn't know a ton about Omar Cooper.

Yeah. 21 yards, 21 yards per catch, seven touchdowns last year, right? This year, but he only had like 28 catches last year. So you saw the big flashes, but this year, three games, he's got 13 catches already, almost half the number of catches through three games. Still, he's averaging more yards, 23 yards per catches. four of those 13 for touchdown. And then you got E.J. William, remember him at Clemson?

Yeah. He went witness protection, transferred to IU. He had two catches last year. And now he's a sixth-year player. And he's breaking out. So you get three veteran receivers with Mendoza, the run element that he brings to that offense. It was already really good last year.

You got a junior, a senior, a six-year guy. you got six foot six two six three i i just and i don't think illinois has the secondary that it had you know when you think back to woodrow the spoon like so that that to me is the matchup to keep an eye and they've got a three-headed monster with guys who were averaging between a five and a half and seven point seven yards per carry so this is going to be interesting really quickly cooper junior had ten of those catches last week but he's a dude if they he's inconsistent but he's a he's a he's an absolute dude also mendoza and the only game that's mad at And really that whole passing attack was Old Dominion, and they did not look good.

He was a sub-60% completion percentage, and he was missing throws. There we go. And he was dropping passes, all that. But you two are unbelievable, because in the preseason, I said, I was going through all the games that I thought Indiana was going to win this year. And I rattle off Illinois. And here comes Stanford Steve with the top rope sending me a text of, oh, man, you're pretty confident in that Indiana team, huh?

Really think they're going to just handle Illinois? I don't know about that one, Mensh. And here we're game week, game week, and all of a sudden we're all Hoosiers. I give you credit from being ahead of the curve. That's what I'm doing. That's what I want, my credit. That's all I'm saying is I want credit. I was going to say, I forgot to preface it by saying,

Metsch has had this game marks as a shoot. Yes. And you know what? Like, it turns out it's not an elimination game, but it might be an elimination game. It could be. I don't see the, like, I've loved. coming into this season, but I knew it was going to take a while because these Big Ten teams, you know, having forged themselves and playing a big out of conference games.

But who's going to be that fourth Big Ten team? Like USC, Washington, Iowa, you know, Iowa took a hit early, but like Illinois and Indiana, they're right there. How about Washington? I don't see you making the playoff if you lose this game. No one, like, Indiana's sake, you've got to go to Iowa after this. you know, with a hungry team, and you know what happens at Kinnick? I think that's going to be a night game.

Illinois hosts Ohio State in a couple weeks. Washington gets Ohio State next week. USC comes to Illinois in a couple weeks. It's really, really compelling stuff. And this is a monster, along with Michigan and Nebraska. It's the same deal. You're going to struggle because everybody, not everybody play each other, but plenty of teams get their shots at the big three in Oregon, Ohio State, and Penn State.

And these are all awesome games, but for some reason, man, I am most excited about where you're going to be, South Florida, and not because I want to stay on South Beach and spend a couple extra days in the back end, but because Florida is now one and two, backs against the wall and played like it at 21 of 22 starting positions last week. Out play out past, no, out rushed, I think it was LSU, out total offense LSU,

had significantly more first downs, out time of possessioned them, but their quarterback through five interceptions. And they had holding penalties in the most inopportune times you could ever imagine. So with that is the backdrop. You got Miami 3 and no, the rolling,

South Beach, Beck's down there. You've got his Lamborghini's back. He's rolling. He's got Malachi Tony that we all knew was supposed to be good, but he's an absolute star. and you got a mentality that feels like it's the right mentality for Miami.

Not like this fake their back, the U is back and all the shit, but like they actually feel like this team has the right psyche. But Florida is a wounded, rabid animal. What do you got? I'm with you with Florida. I feel the same way. I can't wait to see it. I mean, this game, and it's not for Miami, Florida State,

but still it's at that level of all these dudes know each other. Yes. All these dudes knew where each other was going and they had in the back of their mind, hey, if so-and-so goes there, like that might flip me. Like it is real, real stuff. And that's what's awesome. You'll see there's going to be some extracurriculars. There's going to be some flags.

Put a freaking. There was last week before LSU. Put a wall up at the 50 pregame. Like don't even let it happen. On the Florida side, I really was interested. to see them last week, knowing how bad. And seeing, you know, I go back to that last drive against USF, and I really think Lagway changed that play to an RPO pass.

You know, like you just look, you like, you can't do that. You can't do that. And it caught, I mean, that along with eight other things. Yeah, we talked in the game. You know, it was a domino effect that they kept happening in, and in USF, give credit USF for pulling it out. And then they come back next the following week. the best environment there is in the sport, in my opinion.

And they get another touchdown called back because of a penalty. Like 87 yard touch or 80, whatever it was. Would have been up to. 87. It would have about 10 nothing after their first quarter. Yep. So then you go in and then the turnover start happening. But then like they get banks back on the D-line 88.

They wore out. And now LSU's offensive line is as a work in progress. I get it. But in that spot, we're in a got to have a game. and Florida's defense just kept coming back. All right, we'll limit them here. We'll limit them here. Another pick.

We'll limit them here. That showed me a lot, man. It showed me that the team has bought in. And in the back of my mind, that going in that game, I didn't have the guts to take floor. I thought they would cover. But in the good that was last year,

Lagway's run, six and O in games he started. He never started an SEC road game. No. And you saw it. You saw it. Todd, you know it. It was overall.

I don't know if you've been there. When that swoon happens there, it just keeps going. And then to see Baker just get in his bag with the options that he has defensively, even down two weeks guys. It's like I was telling mentions, I went back and watched that tape. It's like the old UNLV amoeba defense. Like I was like, I don't know because I, it was tight copy, right, watching from the end zone behind Lagway.

And I'm watching like, I don't have a fucking clue if seven's coming off the edge, if he's covering, if he's going to, if he's going to blitz the A gap, the B gap or if he's coming, like, I don't know. And then, and they've got like, it looks like seven safeties back there. And the Weeks brothers are absolute lunatics. And they'll, they'll come off the edge. They'll blitz, but they'll, like, sometimes there's just like two guys with their hands in the dirt. And you just didn't know what was happening.

And so I think it'll be more traditional what they'll see from Miami, but it's still going to be an absolute test. Yeah. Yeah. Heatherman, I think, has been a genius coming to Miami. I love that. I love that. Just watch them.

It's not crazy guys moving around. It's simple. They're matching personnel, how many are in the box, whatever. But let me tell you, they got some dogs. This 31% linebacker. Yes, he's in an adult. I talked to a scout actually maybe two weeks ago. I didn't realize how high some teams are on this guy.

He might be like a day two pick. Wood. Yes. And I asked Coach Saban to do, I just wanted to do a physicality tape on Miami. You put on the first half of the USF game. Baines wrong arm in putting tackles, tight ends, pullers, whoever it is,

to the ground. Mesidor is doing the same exact thing. This besie, I mean, leadbacks coming up. I mean, when you watch the, when you watch the sideline and you see that blocker's head, you know you're getting jolted. Yes. But again, it's just destruction.

And it's in its bodies on the ground. And Byron Brown's doing his best amidst chaos. And I'm like, they're giving themselves up. Like this is a little bit of sacrifice in here for the better of the defense. And that's what I think makes the great defense is great. I have been so hesitant to jump on the U.S. back trained for 20 years. I've never jumped in. Last year, I thought they would make the playoff with Cam Ward.

I love them that much. And they just missed. I'm in. I'm in. I think they should be the best right. the top ranked team in the country, the speed and physicality on the defensive side. Now, on the other side, you said,

you got a wounded animal coming in in probably the most underachieving group I've seen amongst groups. I'd love to get your tie on Florida's offensive line. I mean, they were into top five everywhere of this pre-slaughter. I do like to tackle. That's going to be an awesome match. Barber, yeah.

608. Yeah, Barber against those ends. I don't know what they're going to do there. but in Napier's offense, when he's been successful, it's all play action to open throws. And what we haven't seen is them run, like ball, I think is awesome. But I think it, what, 10 for 37, 10 for 40 last week? It drove me nuts in the USF.

He gave him six carries on the first drive. He only had 12 the rest of the game. They have to run the football. They've got to stay committed to ball. He's so good. Yeah. So you're going to get Florida's best. They're still in there.

And I give Napier a lot of credit when everybody wants to bag on him. His team is still locked in after watching. No, they won't quote on him. No. I know that much. He had an awesome quote this week where he said, I forgot how he phrased it, but he's like, they say the sign of a beaten man is when he starts making excuses,

and I'm not making excuses. Yeah. And so I thought that was really good stuff. I can't wait to go. I obviously wish Florida was undefeated. to really see how this stadium, I expect the U to show out. But Saturday night, man, in Miami, it's on. Because like I said, this is big boy.

This is state championship stuff. And there's plenty of pride when that happens, fired up to be there for this one. Let me say this. And I know you got to run. The second I saw Heatherman and what he's about and what with the athletes and the skill guys and the South Florida recruiting, I was like, this is exactly what they knew.

You ready for this? He coached in Austria, Germany, Fitchburg State. He's from Western, like Oxford Mass, right? He coached at Old Dominion. He coached at JMU. He coached at Maine and Rutgers and Minnesota. Like to get a lifer, but also like at those programs. Yeah.

Whereas like we don't have the. talent, but we're going to beat your ass up. We're going to play with discipline and toughness and physicality. And we're going to wear you down. We're going to do all the things that those programs do to stay better than their talent level wins and losses wise. And now he brings it to Miami with those guys. It's been fun to watch.

I like, I don't know. I like Florida in this one. Huh. Against the spread, not to win it. Yeah. You give me seven and a half. I just wanted on the round. record for Stanford Steve. All right. I know you got to get out of here. We appreciate you, man. Love you,

safe travels. We will talk to you soon. We'll get caught up. Anytime you guys. Don't forget that four-leg parlay. Today, this is the week. I got it written down. I got it written down. I'm impressed with three underdogs in it too. Appreciate you guys. Listen to your stuff all the time. You guys are killing it. Love the breakdowns. Nobody's better than you guys. Keep it up. All right. Thanks, brother. All right. We'll see you. He's the best, man. Awesome. How about Stanford, Steve? The son of a bitch showing up with the Richmond He didn't even tell the story why he was wearing it. The bad beats, the bad beat segment.

I know that got you all fired up. Oh, it's brutal. I mean, we're going, Richmond's down, I think, 46 to 3 in the game. Yeah. And we kicked a field goal at the end to cover the spread, man. I can't tell you, that's embarrassing. That's soft. It's so soft.

Finally, Richmond's in the bad beats. You wanted to be like a backdoor cover where they make some kind of crazy. easy play and they get a touchdown late where it's going to happen. You know, no, it's because we kicked a goddamn field goal. Yeah, it was kind of a weak moment. But, hey, it is what it is. All right, this is a fun show, man. I will, oh, Saturday night, Saturday night.

We just talked about the two prime time games. Yet Indiana, that's going to be a scene there in Bloomington, Illinois, Indiana, almost an elimination game week four and obviously Florida, Miami. We're going to break into those games early. I'll let you know on social media. Follow Mench if you don't. It's you good, you good munch.

And I'm at McShay 13. We'll keep you posted on Saturday. But come join us. Get it on the big screen. Get us on your phones. Whatever you want to do it. But it's a lot like honestly, I think it's the most fun like 20, 30 minutes of our entire week,

at least work-wise, watching the end of the games. And then we recap all of them. So come join us on Saturday night at YouTube, the YouTube channel, the McShay show. and then you can listen to it after the fact, Spotify and Apple and wherever else you get your podcast. So we'll see you Saturday night.

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