The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1280 - LIVE from the CFP National Championship, Divisional Round Recap, Adam Schefter, Nick Saban, Shane Gillis

Episode Date: January 20, 2025

On today's show, Pat, AJ Hawk, Darius Butler & the boys are LIVE from Mercedes Benz Stadium ahead of tonight's CFP National Championship between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish & the Ohio State Buckeyes. The boys recap everything from the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs, including the Chiefs still being the Chiefs, what led to the Ravens falling short in Buffalo against the Bills, rookie phenom QB Jayden Daniels & the Washington Commanders shocking the Detroit Lions, and Saquon Barkley continuing his dominance with 205 yards to help take dahn the Los Angeles Rams. In the first hour, ESPN'S Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter joins the progrum to update us on the NFL Coaching Carousel, including what the surprise elimination of the Detroit Lions means for OC Ben Johnson & DC Aaron Glenn's impact on the hiring cycle, an update on Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury's head coaching prospects, former Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy's potential landing spot, and more. Also in the first hour, College Football Hall of Famer & 7-time National Champion, Nick Saban, joins the show live to chat about what it's like preparing for the National Championship the week of the game, where the Championships should be played, whether he was nervous before his 10 Championship appearances, what he expects to see in the battle between the Fighting Irish & the Buckeyes, his takeaways from the NFL's Divisional round, and much more. In the second hour, legendary Stand Up Comedian, Actor, & Podcaster, Shane Gillis stopped by the set to let us know how he feels about his Fighting Irish going into tonight's game, his perspective on their run to the National Championship game, his latest commercial with Under Armour, and much more. Make sure to subscribe to youtube.com/thepatmcafeeshow or watch on ESPN (12-2 EDT), ESPN's YouTube (12-3 EDT) or ESPN+. Tune into College GameDay on ESPN at 5pm today and ESPN2 at 7:30pm tonight for the Field Pass with the Pat McAfee Show. We appreciate the hell out of all you. Cheers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello beautiful people and welcome to Atlanta, Georgia, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the home of tonight's national championship. We're live on this massive Monday. Football is wonderful and we're lucky to be celebrating it for numerous hours live here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Obviously the home of tonight's national championship as Notre Dame looks to become a national champion for the first time since 1988. And the Ohio State Buckeyes are looking to get to the top of the mountain once again.

A team that had to watch Michigan do it just a year ago and then lose to Michigan this season, lose to Oregon. Now has an opportunity to potentially call themselves world champions, national champions, the best team to take the field this season. The road to this game tonight has certainly been an awesome one. I've been incredibly lucky to be a part of it every single Saturday with College Game Day.

We went through Texas, we're up in Oregon, obviously across the north and the southeastern part of this beautiful country. And tonight we crown one champion that'll get rings and banners and stories told about them forever. Will it be Captain Jack Sawyer, Will Howard, JTT and that Ohio State Buckeye team or will it be Riley Leonard, Jeremiah Love, Xavier Watts, Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame fighting Irish. We got a heavyweight fight here in Atlanta and we're incredibly lucky to be on the sideline for that game, for our field pass on ESPN 2. I'm obviously not alone here.

And there's a lot more than just a college football national championship happening on this particular Monday. Obviously, it's Martin Luther King Jr. day. Hope you take a moment to celebrate that and everything about what our world and our country can be. And it's hopefully heading towards its inauguration day up there in Washington, D.C. A new era is beginning in our country. There's a national champion tonight and the NFL's divisional round is coming off a record breaker weekend. Man, there's so much happening. We're so incredibly lucky to be a part of all of it. Thank you so much for watching and allowing us to do this for a living. It's not just me. The Talks at Table is here at

Boston Conner and at Ty Schmidt. Whenever the hammer just me, the Talks at Table is here at Boston Connor and at Ty Schmidt. One half of the hammer, done! Cowboys AP Tone is here. Obviously the living legend, a man who whenever he walks around these parts, especially with the Ohio State and the National Championship, he is revered as if some god is walking amongst mere mortals for the Ohio State Buckeye fans, A.J. Hawk, ladies. A.J.

Hawk, good to be here. Ohio State back at the top. It's gotta feel good for you and everybody that is from that glorious state of Ohio. Yeah, this stadium, obviously, we were here a couple years ago. We saw the Bucs lose to a great Georgia team. So I think Ohio State people are hoping for some redemption tonight, hopefully.

Yeah, there was a commissioner potentially that was reminding us potentially about all the horrors that have happened not who are as horrors that have happened down here two hours yeah and then one at the end and an h at the front yeah no dub save the dub but the horrors of ohio state in this particular building a nine-year nfl vet one of the smartest minds in all football derrish j ballers smartest minds in all football. Darius J Ballard. D Bunch, it's great to see you in.

It is an honor to tell you that football is the greatest sport that has ever existed. Division All-Round weekend had record breaking numbers. ESPN has just reported that the Chiefs Texans game had 32.7 million viewers. That is the most watched NFL game on ESPN in the history of the network. And the reason why people were tuned in is because the Chiefs is still the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes. Travis Kelsey is still Travis Kelsey.

Andy Reid, especially with a bye week, is still Andy Reid coming off a bye week, let alone Spags and Tobe, the special teams coordinator. But in a massive moment, Travis Kelsey and Patrick Mahomes are going to make plays. Travis Kelsey has cemented himself in postseason folklore. He is now a leader in receiving yards. He's going to become a leader in everything. If he continues to play after this season, which all signs are indicating, he will.

He had his best game by far the season up over a hundred yards receiving. Obviously had a touchdown where Patrick Mahomes did something absolutely filthy absolutely filthy for falling forward diving hitting Travis right in between the eight and the seven which will be a massive part of the conversation today after the division around and then with the fireworks going off behind Travis Kelsey with his lady in attendance sitting next to Caitlin Clark. It was a magical day for the Kansas City Chiefs. But the conversation of this particular game, everywhere, everybody is seemingly saying that at the beginning of those games over there, when they sing the national anthem, what they should be saying is,

the home of the cheats. They're calling them cheaters. They are. They're saying the refs are working in Patrick Mahomes' favor. They're saying that all the bull crap calls that we hate about football seemingly always go in the championship's favor. How come Patrick Mahomes always getting these calls everybody else doesn't get? Omar Jackson, who we will certainly talk about later, he got a hip drop tackle on his sideline super late. No call at all.

This comes right after a game where Patrick Mahomes was seen flopping on the side. And what everybody say? You can't do that. You're gonna be the face football. You can't be flopping around like that. You can't be taking advantage of the situation that you are. Patrick Mahomes, Houston Texans, hell of a season. Thank you for representing the A. S. South. But Houston Texans, I think Joe makes it in many others. Even coach D'Amico Ryan said, you know, it's gonna be when you're playing chiefs Okay, you know, what's gonna be no. What does that mean?

We all just have come to understand that the refs are gonna help the cancer you chiefs That is seemingly a narrative that everybody's bought into if you're a chiefs fan you say, hey, sorry ball bounces our way If you're the rest of the NFL, you're certainly gonna be finding reasons to hate the team That's gone back to back at Super Bowl champs and looking to do done which is win three straight But it is got loud and Troy Aikman is basically I'm done with it. Awesome. This is bullshit.

All of it. I don't like any of this stuff. The calls are crop. They're trash. I don't like the way they're calling this game. I don't like the way patched. I'm trying to take advantage of it. And I think as that continues to happen, maybe the rest have a little better eye on it all.

Maybe they'll be able to stay focused. But this is what happens when you're at the top of the mountain. This is literally how it goes. Now, the Chiefs obviously move into the AFC Championship. Congrats to them. That is absolutely awesome. One half of the hammer, done.

Cowboys, who they can be playing over there. Another dream matchup in the AFC Championship. Yeah, another dream matchup. They were playing the Buffalo Bills and everyone expects me to absolutely destroy the Baltimore Ravens. I am not going to do that today. No because if I were to do that, if I were to blame Lamar Jackson or if I were to blame Mark Andrews I would be a loser according to Dan Orlovsky. I saw that Dan Orlovsky said if you watch that game and you want to blame Lamar Jackson for the loss respectfully you're a loser. If you want to watch that game you want to blame Mark Andrews respectfully you're a loser. So Tony you want to be a loser in Dan Orlovsky's eyes because you're a loser in a loser's eye. I mean that's bingo. I mean, that's bingo. I'm actually saying, but it does.

But I think the world is a loser. Wow. I didn't mean that. I didn't. That came out wrong. But that is sports media world. Somebody's going to get blamed. And that is kind of how it immediately works.

We knew this was going to happen with this Bills-Ravens game. The loser was going to get some terrible things said about him, even though both of them have had an absolutely wonderful season. The Buffalo Bills, though, I think I forgot, has somebody that picked the Baltimore Ravens. I forgot that all they need to do is just win this game. It's not about like, can they win every game? It's not like who's more dominant, who's more spectacular him dropping off to the tight end in

the middle of the field. Okay, you got it. Shakir making some big catches, then they go empty backfield. Who's tackling the 6 ft 6 240 pound guy who's used to the snow. All they had to do is prepare for one team in one situation. I think the snow helped All they had to do is prepare for one team in one situation. I think the snow helped them even though Baltimore is no stranger to the cold weather. And in the third quarter, the Baltimore Ravens, they come out, they do AFC North football. Pound, pound, pound, pound. And it works. First half, I think they had like 21 yards rushing with Derek Henry. Then in the third quarter, I think they had 70 yards in one drive alone. Derek Henry, Patrick

Card, the offensive line just pounded that Buffalo Bills team that only plays nickel. They're too small. They're not going to be able to handle it. Then they have a two point conversion. What do they do? They throw it. They throw the ball. And there's a couple different times where there's been five, I guess, two point conversion attempts this season for the Bucks and Ravens. Derek Henry's got the ball and none of them, not a single one of them has Derek Henry got the rock. Now that is going to be judged, that is going to be picked apart. But this Buffalo Bills team, wagon, and I think a lot of us forgot about that.

Yeah, the Bills team is a wagon. Obviously, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson was the battle of the MVP's. The Guardian Cat boys were awesome last night. Taylor Rapp had an interception. Then Damar Hamlin, kind of, he was the one who got Lamar's leg on the on the fumble where Von Miller took it back. But now this has kind of been like the story of the Ravens in the playoffs. They haven't been able to get it done. If you go back to last year's Zay Flowers, he fumbles on the goal line. If he goes in there, the Ravens win that one. Then you start this year, the first game of the season, Isaiah likely toe out of

bounds by half an inch to start the season. Another game this year where it was 18-10 10 they score against the Steelers to make it 18 16. They got to go for two. They don't get the two point two point conversion there. And then obviously in this one you know Lamar leads an incredible drive down gets a chance to get the two point conversion doesn't work out. You know everyone is killing Mark Andrews for that situation but it's just another situation

where the Ravens didn't come up as they should have in a big spot. D. Butch, your thoughts on this game and your thoughts on how we should be viewing this. Obviously Mark Andrews is going to feel terrible. He was on the side that get busted up. He lives and works for this moment here. Now, granted, one 33 left on the clock. Buffalo Bill still have two timeouts. Nobody's seemingly saying like Josh Allen could potentially chiefs, you know what the chiefs think to him. Oh, yeah. And overtime when they had to

change the rule to this Baltimore Ravens team, all he has to do is get in field goal range. No offense. I know it's just all you got to do, especially against a great Baltimore Ravens defense.

Wherever the case is, I tend to believe on this particular season in this particular game, Josh Allen, probably one thirty three. He might score too fast. AJ Lamar might get a chance to come back and tie it again on the other side

with the way he'd been playing. What are your thoughts on how that game ended up? Do you know it comes out as ball security and you can point at Mark Andrews? You can point at Lamar and AJ. Kind of talking about it early

before the show like you know, this is one of those games on good teams. At least everybody kind of looks themselves and say hey, what could I have done better? I think the Ravens defense they play well, especially with all things considered, you know, given those turnovers, but you can't you can't beat a good ball club like that in their house. Turning the ball over like that.

So the fumble strips act from tomorrow. Hamlin will get credited for that and then their interception Eddie through late. And then obviously for Mark Andrews going to be a long, long off season. That sucks, but I was two two great quarterbacks, two great teams. You can't point the finger.

Blame it on one guy, but Buffalo got it done. Chiefs Bills yet again. More teams get a shot to shine, but they don't. They're down to the same two on the AFC side. Now let's go to the NFC. More teams get a shot to shine. Holy shit. Rookie sensation.

Starting to crack in the territory that nobody's ever been. Anytime they start saying, this is the first rookie to do this since there's only been three rookies that have done this more wins than these rookie I mean what Jaden Daniels is doing in the moments that he's doing them the way they go about doing their shit is bananas. The amount of pressure that has been on this guy's shoulder fourth down we're going for it it does not matter he seemingly picks up every single time. I believe in the playoffs thus far Jane Danos and the commanders have scored 7 touchdowns on 5 of those touchdowns they have either gone for it

on 4th down and that was a touchdown or during the drive they gone for on 4th down this kind of Dan Quinn's M.O. everybody talks about MC DC being his M.O. this commander's team which a lot of people are calling the. his M.O. this commander's team which a lot of people are calling the the I think I'm kind of the shade but I'm not gonna say a lot of people are talking about that you know but this commander's team AJ there's a chance that they could shine I'm a believer in you know this game this national championship I think a lot of people are like he's Notre Dame have enough talent to keep up with the whole estate with what they've been able to do I saw the commanders beat the Lions I don't think anybody expected that in Detroit.

But this commander seems a real deal. They might win the fucking Super Bowl, this Washington commander's team. Yeah, they might. And everyone's talking about, like, we know Jaden Daniels and all the praise that he is getting, but I think you almost can't say enough about this, dude. I think what I think about when I think about that game, Detroit came back and they got it within three points towards the end of the third quarter. Detroit makes it a game. Here we go. within three on the road. Detroit has some momentum. What does

Jayden do? He leads him on a 15-play, 75-yard drive that ends in a touchdown to Brian Robinson on one-yard run. Like this guy just, he's unflappable. And we say that a lot about other quarterbacks, I think. But Jayden's on, like you said, there's levels to this. Like Jayden, the way, like, he's sure sure. Unbelievable by Terry McLaurin right here as we're watching. But I think when a quarterback has that moxie when he has that cool calm demeanor that I've

said it a million times on here it trickles down to everybody on the roster every player and every single team or every single coach I should say like Cliff Kingsbury has to feel so confident whenever he's calling into Jaden Daniels like he knows

like this guy he's going to protect me he's going to protect the team and he's gonna protect the ball that's what that's what that was a fadeaway yeah like bad footwork how we're supposed to do right do it and Zach Ertz obviously what he has become for this particular team he and Cliff Kingsbury have a great relationship but it was like buzz saw juggernaut the over obviously we all thought was gonna happen but I thought the Lions we're to be able to just joust with anybody because they've had to do that all year but what this commander's defense taking the ball when they have to now obviously

Jared gop throws for three interceptions Jamison Williams throws one interception then there's a fumble in there five turnovers by the Detroit lions, abnormal game for them. People were saying there's a Jared Goof football con man. I didn't like that at all. Yeah. Well guess what? Fairy tales over Detroit. You guys are a dump again. It stinks for you, but I hope you had fun these last two years because it's done MCCB. I mean, he's one of my favorite coaches. I love the emotion from them, but he is now the motor city cry baby. It stinks because you know, if I were to be the head coach of Jericho, I'd probably be crying too. Cause that was embarrassing.

Now for the record, he did get a concussed in the second quarter when I had their pig six cause he got absolutely obliterated. And if you have to bring in a high school coach to pay quarterback for a couple of plays, that's never good. Jameson Williams kind of a, with the sweet little return and then having sex with the ground only to turn around and throw a terrible interception is brutal. But I'll tell you what it stinks. I feel bad for MCCB and you know, they're losing both their coordinators.

Ben Johnson, he's out of there. He doesn't want to, according to in his words, black Adam Schafter, Adam Pacman, Joe Johnson, the head coach of the Raiders. His words, not mine. And I trust him. Kelly mo heading to the Cowboys as well. We'll see what happens there though. But it stinks for Detroit.

I genuinely feel bad. Okay. Hard to win super bowls. And I told Foxy this morning, I said, Hey Foxy stories over brother. I hope you enjoyed these last two years. You guys are going back to the dump. You're paying goof $250 million for the next four years. I'm sorry, Fonty.

Come on, in ATFC Championship, he's won games. They won games. Yeah, absolutely. In his biggest game in the Super Bowl with the Rams, he scored three points, but that's not, again, we don't have to bring that up. Who was that against? Who was that against?

Against Patriots in this building. That's Bill Belichick, brother. That's what Sean McVay has so much respect for. Absolutely, and I do too. And Sean McVay's won the Super Bowl without a goof now. But again, look, it just sucks. I feel bad for Detroit. I feel bad for the people of Detroit.

I feel bad for M&M. People are saying LeAngelo Ball might have tweaked his way into a curse. But again, I saw Cameron talk about that. Yeah, it's not good. There's a lot of legit. There's a lot of different opportunities to perform. It's a big game in Detroit because it's been,

in a long time, you go with, whoa, I mean, a little bit of a opportunities before Mr. Big game in the biggest has been a long time ago with. I mean a little bit of a hawk obviously right decisions were made out there obviously that's going to happen so stay in the NFC the commanders beat the lines and Foxy I don't think it's over I think MC DC's culture is cemented in there I think you're going to win get MC North's going to be tough going forward having to rebuild and real recline and reinvigorate reignite

Remotivate renegotiate. I mean there's a lot that has reassign offensive defense coordinator. We'll find out here in a second There's a lot that the Lions are gonna have to do but I think MC DC's got to figure it out, right? Or are you heartbreaking? I'm heartbroken, but I trust MC DC but everything you just said is why I am so heartbroken It's gonna be so hard to have that season again and fence got exposed. It was I mean as a fan of a team that has gone on 16 that wasn't heartbreak that was just embarrassing. This one was so heartbreaking worse than the NFC Championship game last year and to have to redo it all again be the ones it's just going to be so hard.

And I'm bummed out. You should be bummed out. We're all bummed out for the entire city of Detroit. And you know, didn't even want to play off game. You know, Foxy's big dream there for a long time was nine and seven. When a playoff game, six, when a playoff game, that's what he wished for his entire life. And you want to play off game to no playoff. Had a home field advantage. Could have thrown out the entire millions. And millions. Of more dollars coming to the city for another game. Instead they lose.

They need it. MCDC is gonna motivate, we don't need to take shots at the city. They're going through it now. You're right, you're right. MCDC is gonna remotivate and get the crew to go. And then who are they gonna be taking on in the NFC Championship? The Washington commanders will be traveling to where? The nation's first capital, D-Bunch.

This Philadelphia Eagles team is an absolute wagon. In that weather yesterday, it was obviously, Matthew Stafford's Matthew Stafford. Yeah. first capital debunch this Philadelphia Eagles team is an absolute wagon in that weather yesterday it was obvious Matthew Stafford's Matthew Stafford yeah mad respect big oose Pukin Akula has an incredible catch Matthew Stafford has a couple no-lookers the snow seemingly didn't affect him except for the turnover when he was gonna go try to hand the ball off or whatever the case but that Philadelphia Eagles offense that Philadelphia Eagles team and that snow that weather feels like it was set up for them to go and shake

Shake one shake gone. Yeah, anytime it gets the rockers an opportunity now goes through feeling So you talked about those elements who knows what the elements will be next week Obviously a familiar opponent with the commanders coming in there It's be that third time facing off But all the things that AJ talked about with our Jayton as far as the confidence you have It's the same thing with 26 like Jaylen hurts He comes out and throws for 130 yards. You got a guy like this who you can hand the ball off to. And you know as a defense, he went for over 250 against the Rams back in week 12. So as a defense,

you're keying in on 26 all throughout the game. First quarter breaks a 62 yarder to get him out in front. And then in the fourth quarter, he breaks a 70-something yarder to make him go up to score. So you know 26 is going to get the ball outside those tackles once he hits the gap once he breaks a tackle in that second or third level he is out the gate to take it home so when you have to deal with this run game on offense and then obviously Philly what they have on defense monsters all up and down that roster i mean howie roseman he's done an incredible job putting this roster together but this Saquon Barkley offseason move may have been the best offseason move of the offseason and Mara's watching it all You know and as say Kwan is running down the field hitting himself in the helmet

I think that's like him saying like we knew like he knew yeah You know he always knew he was supposed to be in these moments and what he was gonna be able to do the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line a Q Shipley said can't win Yeah, even though you have the greatest offensive line in footballQ Shipley said you can't win. Yeah, he did. Even though you have the greatest offensive line in football, they showcase that you certainly can. Here's some stats I got from Hembo as you read some others on the screen here.

Saquon Barkley in the fourth quarter this season, 108 rushes in the fourth quarter, 719 rush yards, which is an average of 6.7 yards per. Seven rush touchdowns, which is an average of 43.7 yards each one and in two games this postseason Sake one has run at 20 times for 141 yards in the fourth quarter he's a closer versus also a dog I'm excited to watch that Rams team but congrats to the Philadelphia Eagles and all the Johns over there maybe

Siriano isn't a big dumb dipshit Ty. Maybe you know maybe this guy just wins and again we can pull up the graphic of him being the you know Youngest winningest coaches quickest to whatever number since he's been in the league there as most wins in the first four seasons There's been a lot of pretty good head coaches in the NFL listen I know this guy sometimes puts his foot in his mouth in his press conference. Okay, okay, it happens I know sometimes he gets to the game and he's got some John in the crowd calling him a big dumb dip He can't help himself. He can't help help himself he's a Philly guy at heart so you know he's gonna turn around and say oh yeah watch this watch this and then

boom Saquon's taken off for 70 yards so I mean obviously the Eagles are unbelievable can't wait for that game next week excited for our guy Coop as well because I know you know, oh, yeah, oh, exactly. Tell me something. Coop. He he's real. Paul. Yeah, he should be as he should. I mean, no birds real deal.

AJ. You think they got a chance to go? What do you think age you like the Eagles next? I do love the Eagles love Saquon. I think the commanders have a good chance to go in there and get a win. Oh, sorry, Coop. Oh, no offense to Coop. I love everything that he has done

he's asked unbelievable resumes I be paid is pretty legit but I think we're going to be in for a barn burner. I'm joining us now I think championship games to be awesome. Yeah, and shot the Jayden Daniels just dropping himself right into the spotlight. There's be 4 teams left at the end of the season. We're going to be one of them Jayden cliff Dan Quinn new ownership crazy grass Washington. I should be incredibly pumped.

Joining us now, senior NFL insider at ESPN, friend of the program, Michigan Man. Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Schefter. Hey, how you doing, pal? What's going on? Hey, happy National Championship Monday. Obviously, Michigan was the reigning national champs until tonight when we crowned somebody new.

So congrats to you. This is it for you guys. And hopefully you're back next year. Now let's talk NFL a little bit here. Shall we? We chit chatted about the Detroit Lions and Foxy said he was bummed out. Foxy says bummed out. Here's a clip from today's press conference of Motor City. Dan Campbell chit chatting about his offense coordinator and his defensive coordinator. MC DC looks incredibly strapped, incredibly jocked. He's in a hoodie and he says,

I'm preparing as if I'm losing both of my coordinators. I'm preparing as if both guys are gonna be gone. It's not 100% sure, but he's preparing. Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, how quickly should we see a team make a move in hiring them as a head coach or is there still a full process in this thing, Shefty? They're gonna fly here because once the Lions

were eliminated, it accelerated the hiring cycle that much more. So you're gonna see Ben Johnson get a job, you're gonna see Aaron Glenn get a job. I would imagine that both those guys have jobs no later than the middle of this week, both of them. And the Lions will lose both their coordinators. We've talked about that before.

It's obvious right now. These are the top two guys out there right now. In no particular order. Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Aaron Glenn, Ben Johnson. They're gonna get jobs. They're gonna have multiple opportunities. It's just a question of where they wanna go right now. And so that's what they're sifting through.

So, Shepty, at the Combine, agents talk to general managers about players. Have all the back channels already been chatted about for Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson. Now it's just whether or not it's a good fit between those two and whatever team they're going to have agents already kind of figured out what the pay would be who's all interested who's meeting where or does that literally start today because they're focused on ball up into a loss. today because they're focused on ball up until a loss? Well, Pat, as the coaches are involved in the games, let's just say last week, Ben Johnson's getting ready for the commanders, Aaron Glenn's getting ready for the commanders, they have agents. Agents are allowed to talk over and over and do their business and gather as much intel and put together their boards and figure out all the answers to the

equations here. So that if and when these guys are available, which many people thought it would be after the Super Bowl, they're ready now. So essentially they're handed dossiers of information on organizations and where they would want to go. And then they sit down and again, the process is accelerated to where they have to just make the decision about where they want to go. Do they want to visit somewhere first? Do they have to just make the decision about where they want to go.

Do they want to visit somewhere first? Do they want to close in the deal? What's going on behind you there? Where we got going on? I think they're testing some shots here. I think this guy's also got a great beard, a lot of good beards down here in Georgia, not 100% sure. But okay, so they're going to read the pamphlets, get introduced and then obviously do some

face to face time, you would assume. And to your point, they- Visits or however they want to do visits or however they want to do it however they want to do it but my point is I I don't think these guys will be on the market much later than the middle of this week if that like it's going to move it's going to move everything got accelerated okay and it's a bummer for Detroit that that is the case because obviously what the offense and defense has been able to do defense with so many injuries offense just being more creative than everybody they play.

We assume Ben and Aaron are going to be great head coaches in place. Good luck Detroit. Good luck. Good luck. You guys are going to find backups. Don't worry. You guys will be able to find. No it's not.

It's over. Whatever. Thanks for a great regular season boys. Let's talk about a team. Let's talk about a team that is still going, but certainly something that should be monitored. Ty has a question for you, Shefty. Yeah, Shefty, is there any kind of update on Jalen Hurts' knee?

Obviously yesterday when he got kind of twisted up there, he went into the medical tent. Kenny Pickett was warming up, but he came back in. But it limited him quite a bit. There was the safety. And then now just looking ahead, do we have any kind of update on what the Eagles can expect with Jalen Hurts going into the NFC championship? Well Ty I think the first thing we operate under is he came back

in he finished the game so it's hard to imagine that he came back in finished the game and he wouldn't be out there this next week short of testing finding something that's which we haven't heard to be the case just yet so barring anything unexpected I expect that Jalen Hur Hertz would be out there next week. Now he's taking a beating here in the last month or so between the concussion, between that injury yesterday. I don't know that he's gonna be operating at full strength for Sunday's NFC championship game.

But I think at this point, with the exception of more news coming in, it would be an upset if he's not out there. Okay, so let's stay in the NFC, shall we? Tone has a question for you. Yes, Shepty, I thought I saw a report where Cliff Kingsbury, OC of the commander, said he was not gonna interview with teams

until after their run was over. Does that have anything to do with, I believe the Cardinals are paying him his head coach salary through 2026? Is that the full head coach salary? And do you think he is actually gonna interview for jobs or is that that going to be passed? You know, their run is going to be too long to be considered for any of these jobs. Well, I think by the time the commander is ready to interview, most of the jobs may be

filled. So that's number one. Number two, I think Cliff Kingsbury is very happy in Washington. He's got an incredible quarterback, a transcendent quarterback. And so, yeah, between making money in Arizona, having the head coaching experience that he did, he's not rushing to become a head coach again. What'd he like to be one day? I'm sure. But it's not something that he has to rush to go do. And if the right opportunity comes along at the right time, I'm sure he would be open and amenable to that. But he's not going to force that. And I think he's more focused right now in the NFC Championship game Sunday than anything else. That moment between Dan Quinn and Cliff I think last week after their win where he comes up he says like stick around kid or like we

want you here we love you here kid such a cool moment. Cliff not having to be a head coach but still getting a head coach's salary with Jaden Daniels who's doing awesome things sounds like a good life We'll be excited to see what Cliff does. He's made quite a name for himself. Let's go over the AFC side. Now, Baltimore obviously loses to the Bills. Uh, there's no conversation about hard bar or anything like that, right? Never. I mean, he's been there a long time, long, long time. Listen again, in this league, Pat, I,

I never want to rule out anything because anything's always, but I have not heard any of that. Like, he's one of the great coaches in the game. He's one of the great coaches in the game. Not going anywhere in my mind, but you know, that's up to them. Yeah, interesting. I didn't know, because everybody was talking

about how hot it would get for Lamar and Josh Allen. It's like, what about, I mean, anytime you lose, everything gets readjusted and resorted. I think of John Harbaugh when I think of Baltimore Ravens, but also I haven't won a long time They got the MVP he by far has not played his bet Their team has not played best in the biggest moments certainly worthy of a combo I love what Lamar said after that game. I love the way he operated I would love if Lamar was my quarterback

But man it has to be a heartbreaking loss after heartbreaking loss after heartbreaking loss for the Ravens I don't know how they deal with it. Now let's talk about some of the coaching searches shall we? D-Bud has a question for you. Yes, Shafty we heard earlier this week from the black Adam Schefter of Adam Pac-Man Jones. He said Kellamore would obviously be the next coach in Dallas but I saw a tweet from Florio saying that uh Brian Schottenheimer, Schottenheimer I'm sorry was now the favorite in Dallas. What the hell's going on in Dallas with their head coach of searching? Who is the favorite in your opinion? I think the one guy who knows is Jerry Jones and Jerry Jones is certainly apt to change his mind from day to day and Again, I think the candidates have been out there so far

I think Brian Schottenheimer is the favorite in Las Vegas Here now that doesn't mean that Brian Schottenheimer isn't going to be the head coach at some point in time. Again, we never rule out anything, but to the best of my knowledge, he hadn't even interviewed for the job and Dallas hadn't approached him about being the head coach. I think the Cowboys absolutely love and respect Brian Schottenheimer and they want him there, but I don't know that that's as the head coach right now. Now, again, the process will unfold

and we'll see what twists and turns it takes. And maybe it leads them back to Brian Schottenheimer as a head coaching candidate. At one point in time, Brian Schottenheimer was like the hot guy out there, roughly, I don't know, was it a decade ago, a decade plus ago when he was the offensive coordinator of the Jets and he turned down some jobs jobs and I think there's a lesson there in that

When you're a coordinator and these jobs come along you're a GM candidate and these jobs come along You you can't wait Yeah, too long you you have to you have to strike when you have the opportunity And it would be great if brian schoenheimer were to get another opportunity. I haven't heard that that's happening yet Maybe it does happen down the line, but to my knowledge right now, that's not the case. Okay, Shottie obviously comes from football family, been around a long time.

We'll be interested to see what Jerry Jones decides to do. We have two quick ones for you, Shefty, on this glorious day. AJ has a question for you. Shefty, any update on Mike McCarthy and what he may be doing? If he doesn't get a head coaching gig? Do you see him coaching somewhere else this year? Like, what's the deal with with McCarthy?

Well, you know, I haven't gotten that far down the line to know what he would do if he doesn't get one of these jobs. I think he's in play in New Orleans. I think he's been in play in Chicago. Um, I think he's a legitimate candidate in both places, so I don't know that he's gotten there yet that he's taking okay I didn't get either one of these and now what do I do that that's two steps ahead of me right now I think people are more interested to see if he finds a way to get one of these head coaching jobs which which I think is possible right now. Okay, excited for Big Mike to

obviously he got into coaching cycle a little bit now. Okay, excited for Big Mike. Obviously he got into the coaching cycle a little bit late. Last question here for you, Schefter. We appreciate you. Go ahead, Con Man. Yeah, Schefter, he's sticking with Chicago. Eddie George, he's interviewing there. Is that a real opportunity?

And then also you reported that the Bears reached out to the Steelers for a possible trade for Mike Tomlin with other teams. What were the other teams involved and what was kind of that conversation like? Well, it was a pretty short conversation because they reached out to the Steelers and the Steelers have no interest in moving on from Mike Tomlin and Mike Tomlin has got a no trade clause in his contract and as he himself said last week to any teams that would approach the

Steelers about a potential trade, exploring a trade, he said, and I use his word, save your time. But again, I think it's smart for teams to at least make the call if it's a five-minute call and they say no Thank you fine, but who knows if they ever would have any Indecision there or second thoughts and maybe they would be open to that conversation. They weren't they're not he's staying He's not going anywhere. So the Bears got shut down. Good for them for trying. Another team just kind of checked into it peripherally

to see what the situation was. And they were told that he's got a no trade clause that he doesn't want to move on from. That was the end of that conversation. And Eddie George, listen, he's one of the 16 or so candidates that the Bears have had in. He's obviously had a legendary career. So jacked. Oh yeah.

Yeah, great character. So you bring you're bringing everybody like you want to hear what everybody has to say. Sounds like the 33rd teams doing some consulting for a lot of teams will interview everybody. That's just the best way no stone unturned any of these jobs. You said Aaron Glenn Ben Johnson probably by middle of week. Is that when we should be expecting probably next big news

break in the coaching cycle world? Well, it could come today, it could come tomorrow. Oh, it could be it could be any moment like with any of these guys. That's how it is with Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. And again, like I said, the loss on Saturday changed everything. So as opposed to all these teams waiting, everybody's been waiting for these two dominoes to fall before we can place the rest of the board and figure out who's hiring who. Because again, with Ben Johnson, Vegas, Jacksonville, Chicago, all want him. With Aaron Glenn, the jets, the Saints, Jaguars, all Raiders, all interested in Aaron Glenn.

So where's Ben Johnson going? Oh, he's going there. Okay. Where's Aaron Glenn going? And then who does that leave behind is the other three openings. And I put Dallas category. Right. So I think everybody's waiting to get answers here from Ben Johnson and Aaron

Glenn before the rest of the coaching board falls. But I think again, once they go, which I think will be relatively quick, then the rest of the board then falls into place. All right, we appreciate the hell out of you, Shefty and man, ladies and gentlemen, Adam Schefter. Hey, Shefty. All right, we go from one legend

to a college football hall of famer. Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest coach of all time, a man who has won how many of these? Seven? Seven? Seven of these things? I only remember the three we lost. Okay, could have won 10 ladies and gentlemen. Nick Saban. Coach, how you doing boss? Doing great, man. How are you? So you said you lost three. So you've won seven lost three.

You've been at 10 of these. I talked to Marcus Freeman and Ryan Day yesterday. I believe was that yesterday morning? Yes. Both very comfortable. Felt like they were both very, very comfortable, both very loose. What do you think they're trying to kind of say

to their teams at this moment? Is a, hey, everything's the same? Or how do you think the coaches are kind of feeling in this moment here, just hours away from the netting? Well, I think one of the things that I always tried to do was how do you get the team to manage the disruptions of a game like this? Because players get exposed to things They have not used to being exposed to more press conference more media more attention Peter Herbstree turn around

And then the second thing is is both teams just came off of big wins So how do you sustain that and not have the players feel a little relief syndrome like I'm entitled to having a little time off here, let's take it easy because you got to restart it and you got to get ready to play the next game. And I always told the players, look, when you play in a national championship game, you got to assume when you start preparation that you're playing against the best player you ever played against. And that's how you got to get ready to prepare for this game so

you can play your best to dominate your box and it's still keeping it simple you know keeping it simple I have these coaches calling me say how'd you get your team ready to play a national championship game well you just played a big game last week how'd you get your team ready to play that game? Because if there was a better way to do it, you'd have done it last week. We should be doing this all season, not just one game. You know, players like routine. You know, you guys played.

I mean, you like routine. You'd like to know when you come in on Monday, this is what's going to happen. When you come in on Wednesday, this is what's going to happen. So if you change that routine, you're just you're just acting and making the players think that they don't have confidence in the way they did it before. Yeah. And I believe that was a big report yesterday. I don't

know if it was Molly or Holly. I saw on Sports Center that basically said, there's only one voice talking to the Notre Dame fighting Irish team, and it's Marcus Freeman because a lot of people maybe assume outside like, Hey, let's bring in somebody to come speak to the team. It's a a big game Marcus Freeman to your points like this is just hey how do you feel about this particular year and how it's gone got to win four big games to win the national championship he's talking about the Ohio State team are cotton ball champs Rose Bowl champs and it beat the hell out of the SEC they're Civil War champs that's just in this one playoff and then Marcus Freeman

has won more bowl games at Notre Dame than Brian Kelly did in his entire career at Notre Dame just this year. You talk about the massive games. Are we gonna inevitably get the right team because these teams have to show up in these massive games time after time? This is a lot to ask a team I think show up four straight times against the best in the country. Yeah well I think it's a lot like the NFL playoff. You know the best team doesn't always win the game. You got circumstances around it. You got turnovers. You got people getting hurt like Notre Dame's probably not at full strength for this game.

You know, the little war down beat up got some guys out. So it's not always going to turn out that way, but that's why you play a tournament. You got to win the tournament. It's not about just the best team winning as you got to win the tournament. So I just feel resiliency. That's all me just the best team winning, it's you've got to win the tournament. So who has the most resiliency to do that? I had resiliency there because I just dumped water all over myself. That was a very embarrassing moment. You covered it up nicely. Thank you, thank you. I appreciate that. I think people saw me probably just drool all over myself. But yeah, you got to show up. You got to get your team ready to go. AJ has a question for you, Coach.

Coach, you mentioned you, I don't want to bring up any bad memories, but you said you lost three of these national championship games. When you went and you self- Coach, you mentioned you, I don't want to bring up any bad memories, but you said you lost three of these national championship games. When you went and you self scouted those losses, were you able to pinpoint anything that you would have changed going back if you had, if you could do that or say the next year, if you got back that you realize, okay, this is a speed bump that we don't need to, we got to figure out to not do that again. Well, I think each of them were different. I think only one of those games that we really get beaten

You know when we played out in San Jose against Clemson, we just got beat but we had bad circumstances in the game You know, we had to play Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl We had a eight-day turnaround to get to California a lot of travel a lot of disruption in practice And you know we got out there it raining. There was no place to practice indoors. So and we didn't handle those houses for you. You're right about this whole thing.

No indoor facility. No, that's why I think that these games should always be played at both sites, you know, because both sites have the facilities because they're used to accommodating teams. We played in San Jose. They weren't used to accommodating a team.

No disrespect to Indianapolis, when we played Georgia and Indianapolis, they weren't used to accommodating. Pretty disrespectful. Whoa! Pretty disrespectful. It was cold as shit, too, wasn't it? It was cold as hell. And we had to go practice

in your Indianapolis Colts facility, which may be... I don't know what it's like now, but it wasn't really very nice. I'm sorry. We like gritty football. Gritty football. That was shite, coach.

That was shite. No, but to answer your question, A.J., yeah, there were always things that we didn't do well in the game. And in some of the games, I mean, like we lost to Clemson in the last play of the game, I think in 2015 or 16, I mean, it was two great teams. I mean, we covered them and they caught it anyway and they scored. I mean, it was just a great game and we played a really good game. We just lost.

That happens in football could potentially happen tonight. I think tonight's game could go anyway. Do you agree with that? I think there could be a buzzsaw. I think it could come down to the last second. I think that could be a massive upset. I think it could come down to the last second. I think that could be a massive upset. I have no clue how tonight's gonna go strictly because these teams have had to show up in massive games already three times. They both proven it. Do you? How do

you? What is your kind of judge on how tonight goes? Anyway, I think it who can play their game. Which team allows the other team to play their game? You know, if Notre Dame's going to win the game, they're going to have to play ugly. You know, they can't get in a three-point shootout if it's a basketball game, you know, with Ohio State to make explosive plays to win the game because Ohio State has too many weapons. But if they can make the game ugly, kind of like Michigan did, you know, they ran the ball, they kept it away from Ohio State. did. You know, they ran the ball, they kept it away from Ohio State. They made the plays they need made. They got, you know, get some turnovers, play good defense, don't let them get explosive plays. I think anybody can win the game. But I think the team that's going to win is going to be able to play their game, their identity, their identity, which has been proven here already. Their both of their identities have been proven. You think about

Ohio State, you talk about explosives. That has become like the stat of this football season, both in college and in the NFL. Who can stop explosives and who can make explosives? This Ohio State team makes explosives on offense and on defense, and they stop them. And then Notre Dame has been able to keep everybody in a phone booth.

I'm very, very pumped. I asked Marcus Freeman yesterday, I said, for you guys to win, what needs to happen? And he immediately said, we need to run ball, we need to stop the run. I mean, that is what we need to do, was not scared to say it at all. That is who we are, and it's how we're gonna win.

And I think Ryan Day knew exactly who they were too. Two teams that know who they are coming in here, very excited about it. D-Bud has a question for you, coach. Yeah, coach, you've been in so many of these huge games, and I'm sure most people would assume you don't have nerves coming into here. Very excited about it. D-Bud has a question for you, coach. Yeah, coach, you've been in so many of these huge games, and I'm sure most people would assume you don't have nerves coming into it. What were your nerves like coming into these huge games?

And I know as a player, like that first hit or first coverage rep may be a target, then it kind of settles down and turns into just football. How are your nerves coming into big games like this and what settled you once the game kind of got going? Yeah, well, I think I had nerves going into every game. And sometimes I was more nervous about the games that we were supposed to win. You know, like when you're a big favorite, but you're playing a pretty good team.

And, you know, your team's probably not looking at the game like you need to. But I think to ignore anxiety, I think all players and all coaches have anxiety when you win the games like this. And I always thought as a coach, the most important thing I needed to do was manage that anxiety because that anxiety was not going to help you perform well. And to keep things simple, play in, play out,

do your job, dominate your box, don't worry about the scoreboard, all those kinds of things kind of minimize anxiety because everybody wants to win. Can we focus on doing the things that we need to do to win? That was what I always try to promote to the players and I didn't want to make them think that I was anxious because if they saw me nervous and anxious then that means I don't believe in them. Oh yeah, everybody knows and can feel it, even your assistant coaches. Your assistant coaches can't be

nervous either because then they think oh we don't have enough we can't get job done. You listen to music before the game what you do? Do you listen to music? I never listen to music. I kinda just thought things through. I did a little stretching. Oh really? Yoga? You're a yoga guy? Stretch it out. No I'm a yoga guy. I try to keep busy but I always had like I made notes like of what I was gonna say to made notes like of what I was going to say to the team relative to what I'd said to him the day before.

What I was going to say to him in halftime. I always had notes on what do I say if we win? What do I say if we lose? I mean, I was anticipating what was going to happen so that we didn't have to respond and spur of the moment type thing. You ever break any headsets at national championship games? Feels like a perfect setting to go ahead and put one of those through the ground. Well, you know, I broke so many, I can't remember when they happened.

But had to tone has a question for you. Coach, nobody runs more man to man than this Notre Dame defense. And Al Goldin has been asked a ton about it this week if they are going to continue to do that against these, you know, Ohio State wide receivers that are very, very good. Would you in that situation, like would you do, would you go out doing what you do the whole season, do what you do best or would you play more zone because of how these wide receivers are gifted athletically and just who they are?

Well, I think that, yeah, you want to be who you are, but you also want to look at what the other team does technically, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and what can we do to take that away. And I think one of the things that, like, the thing that we played a lot, and people think as soon as you say man to man, that means you've got to middle the field safety and everybody's kind of locked up outside.

But we actually played a lot of split safety man to man, which is what Texas did last week in the game. But Taft or whatever his name was. Yeah, where you got two deep safeties, but they're not playing half field coverage. They're still involved in a run to some degree. But you can take and say, all right, we're gonna double number four. All right, we're gonna double the guy on some degree, but you can take and say all right. We're gonna double number four

All right, we're gonna double the guy on the slot, but you still got too high You're not always playing middle of the field coverage I think when you play middle of the field coverage and you got great wide outside here your cats better be better than their cats Because you're gonna give up You know that that's the toughest thing in ball for the defensive back to be able to play all those balls and play man-to-man short and deep and not give up explosive plays which is exactly what we've been talking about but you know to that point people always think about turnovers and I we did a thing last week on turnovers and

the number one statistic and outcomes of games but the second most compelling statistic and outcomes of games is your turnover ratio and your turnover margin not when it comes to turnovers but your ratio and explosive plays how many did you make and how many did you give up? It's the stat of the year especially with how college ball and the NFL was it's like cyclical came back to like power football if you're able to open a team up you were gonna win the. Last question about what's happening tonight before Connor pivots away

and into the NFL conversation. Jeremiah Smith, this guy special man, didn't get the rock a lot in the semi final against Texas because I think of what you were talking about with a shade and then they just basically said, all right, we'll take take a book Henderson, Judkins, also G Scott

Jr. and great name tight end from Ohio State. Has merit, has merit, great name. He said, we'll just use all the chip. It great name, tight end from Ohio State. Casmeric. Casmeric, great name. He said, we'll just use all of it. Chippa was like, cool. You want to take him out, we'll play 11 or 10 on 9, basically, is what we'll do. Because what you're doing in the modern world that we're in,

he's going to have to get the ball, right? I was thinking about this because, Jeremiah, I know who your cousin is, Geno Smith, West Virginia legend. Sure. Mm-hmm. They don't want to get you the ball there? OK. What's that? What are you doing? You lobbying? I see where you're going here. No, no, no Virginia legend. Sure. They don't want to get you the ball there? What's that?

What do you do? You lobby him? I'll see where you go here. No, no, no. Come on, Gino. Let's not even say West Virginia, but let's just say the amount of people in college ball that immediately afterwards will be like, they don't want to give you the ball there. That's the world we're in right now.

And Jeremiah's the best football player in the country. I mean, that is by far, and he still has to play two more years of college ball. Is that something that plays into Chip Kelly's mindset like we got to feed this guy just to keep him happy or how do you feel that gets treated and is Jeremiah Smith gonna get his plays anyways regardless of it? Well I don't think there's any question if you're the offensive coordinator and I think Chip Kelly's one of the best play callers but you're gonna have plays designed especially early in the game, to get the ball in his hands, whether they got to motion them over to the slot, throw them a screen pass, a slide

or boot, whatever it is, to get the ball in his hands. It doesn't have to be something that has to be down the field, because if it's down the field and the defense has two guys, one short, one deep over the top, that read's not there for him. So the quarterback's gonna throw the ball someplace else. So you can design ways for guys to get the ball, which this guy needs to get the ball because he's a great player,

but the defense can also determine where the quarterback throws the ball by how they're playing. So you gotta take both those things into consideration and the quarterback can't force it there because then you're subject to turnovers in bad plays. He dropped that one early that we saw where he normally goes up and gets it.

And then that was basically all we saw. One for three, I think. Yeah, Wil Howell did a good job of not actually forcing the ball to Jeremiah Smith, I feel like. He took what the defense was giving him. And what I'm saying right now, I like what they did. They played nowhere near their A game,

mostly because Jeremiah Smith didn't go crazy. But the modern college world we're in, it is what it is. What is Michigan? Michigan has Larry Ellison right in their back pocket now? That's right. He's worth how many, 200 billion? Yeah, yeah, yeah, about that. Probably more actually today.

That would be a heartbreak. I'm not gonna say it's gonna happen. It ain't going nowhere. I think he's gonna take you, man. That's why I'm receiving you. Way how they've been producing it now lately. Yeah, we know Brian Hart lately. Okay, I agree, but I'm just saying this is the modern world that we're in.

Like, Ohio State has to think about that. That is a real deal. Back in the day, you never had to think about that. Jeremiah Smith, what he has been able to accomplish this season, nothing short of spectacular, cannot wait to watch it. Will Howard also. Nobody really gives him much credit. You talked about his decision-making and not forcing it anywhere. What have you seen from will thus far obviously

at Kansas State. He was great. He I think he was a big 12 player of the year last year. Texas was the champion of the big 12. They make it to the Cotton Bowl this year in the SEC. It's like will Howard's a player. So is Riley though Riley's like a Hooper. It looks like he's like a Hooper quarterback in his throne. He's getting been getting better.

How do you feel about the quarterbacks in this game? And how big of a role do you think they have in the outcome of it all? Yeah, well, I think Will Howard has done a good job of taking what the defense gives. They got a lot of weapons now. They got two really good runners. They got three really good receivers.

They got a good tight end. So he just got to give the, take what the defense gives and they're gonna be able to do a good job. I think Raleigh Leonard on the other hand, you know, it's more about him being able to be a runner, having more diversity as a quarterback, which he's done a really good job of. He's a really good athlete, he's a great competitor, and his throwing has gotten better, especially the short throws where they

can keep you know the the sticks moving. They haven't made a lot of explosive plays, but that's okay if you're playing keep away. Yeah, they've stayed on schedule, they say. All right, let's get to the NFL now. Connor has a question for you. Yeah, Coach, Jalen Hurts. Obviously, there's a lot of conversation about him.

He kind of gets killed on the internet for his passing, but, you know, he had a 44-yard touchdown yesterday running the ball. People kind of ignore that when it comes to him being a quarterback. What do you think about his performance so far, and how do you kind of think he gets better almost as they head to the NFC championship next week?

Yeah, well, I think he's doing the things they need to do to win. I mean, they're a running football team. I mean, that's what the Philadelphia Eagles are. They got Jaquan Barkley, they run it. Jaylen can run it, which he had a big play last night as a runner. So you gotta make people defend that

and then you gotta throw the ball effectively enough and play action game And I think Jaylen is a good enough pastor to do all those things I think the one thing and this is any athletic quarterback and every one of them and when Jaylen was with us We would have team and seven on seven and I would say you cannot run You cannot scramble you cannot you have to throw the ball on time. And because these guys are so athletic, they see the rush coming and they think they can scramble and get out of it.

And a couple of those sacks that he took last night, he took them because in normal circumstances, no snow, no bad knee, all that, he probably would have been able to escape and get away and make a play. And he's done that so much in his career it's hard to tell a guy, hey don't do that. But I was trying to train him to become a better on-time passer, you know, by not allowing him to do it in practice. And I think he improved in that regard, but he's still a great athlete and those guys are gonna make plays and you can't take that away from them. Let's talk about a great athlete who has done

something that not a lot of rookie quarterbacks have done. Jaden Dane, it was obviously when he's at LSU, you have to play against him. He transfers in there from Arizona State. Everything that happened over there at the end of his run, those dudes gotta feel like the dumbest of all time in that locker room. He goes to LSU, you have to play against him a few times.

Kirk Herbstreet sat on this particular program when we were at Army Navy last year. And he said, you know, throughout all these draft classes, this is a good draft class for quarterbacks. And it has been. I mean, Drake May seemingly going to be a guy. Pennex, we think, is going to be able to be a guy. We think Caleb has an opportunity. Who knows in Chicago if they get it right. Bo Nix is a guy. And Kirk kind of laid out all those answers. And then he said, Jaden Daniels is the guy, he's been playing with for a long time. He's been playing with him. And then

Nick's is a guy in Kirk kind of laid out all those answers. And then he said. Jaden Daniels is the guy, though, whenever people meet him when they talk to him, whenever they understand his football knowledge, but also

just his sense of calm that he has and then the Moxie and confidence in which he plays with Kirk was like, he's the guy. This was last year Army Navy coming out. I don't think he was the only one, but what do you know from him when watching him at LSU? Obviously very closely and could you have ever expected this from him coming into the NFL? Since Joe Burrow, which whatever year that was when they beat us, this was the most dominating player that we played against at Alabama for four or five years. And I said last year in the draft,

you know, all these pro people call and ask your opinion on people you played against. I said, this guy is the best player we played against for five years. And I, no disrespect to anybody else, you guys got to look at all the quarterbacks, but I think this guy is a great passer. He's fast as hell, and he can scramble and run and make plays. He's smart. He makes good decisions. I don't see how you can go wrong with this guy. And I actually

thought he was the best guy in the draft last year because of the production that he had in college and he did it for two years. Yeah. But what do you know? Yeah, you're right about that. What do you know? I mean, you don't know ball on this entire thing. What's that? There's so much confidence in them, like all the going forward on fourth downs. And as a defensive minded coach, how much does that change? I guess game plan wise planning gets a team like Philly or team like Bump. It seemed like the NFL is just kind of like fourth down revolution as a whole. How do you feel that changes out for defensive game planning?

Well, that's that's that's analytics. And I think one of the big things you have to do as a defensive coach, which we started to do a couple years ago because Ole Miss would go for it on fourth down lane and go for it on fourth down all the time, is defensive players automatically think, all right, we stopped them on third and five, we're off the field. We're out of here. And they're going for it, and your mindset changed. I mean, you have another third down to play. And they're going for it and your mindset changed.

I mean you have another third down to play. So we actually started scripting in practice. All right. It's third and five incomplete fourth and five. You got it. Got to play. You got to go play. Got to go play in one game. You know we actually went five for five on making stops on fourth down which typically was not the case because you never practiced it. And even the defensive coordinators over there

got marbles in his mouth, doesn't know what to call it because he thinks the punt team's going out there, the punt return team. All right, so all these things kind of work against you because it's not your mindset. But analytics changed all this. These analytic guys say, if you go for it on fourth and three your mindset. But analytics changed all this. You know, these

analytic guys say, if you go for it on fourth and three on your own 40 yard line, you got a 56% chance to make it. Well, my question was, when my coaches used to bring all that stuff to me was I'd say, Well, what happens the 46% of the time? They never ask about that. They never answer that part. Yeah, the analytics. I like how you do this with the analytics. Feels like we can make a stat out of anything is what you just They never answer that part. Yeah, the analytics, I like how you do this with the analytics. Go.

Feels like we can make a stat out of anything is what you just did there with the analytics. Going for it on fourth down has been fun. And I don't think we've ever seen a graphic, maybe once, that has said, don't go. The ESPN stats, the NBC stats, the Amazon Prime stats, we say go for it. Does that mean it's more than 51% or what is,

cause that's a lot out of a hundred times 42 times not getting it even though 58 sounds good. That is a lot of not getting it on fourth down You stop you talked about stopping it five times one game. I assume you won that game. Yeah, we did Yeah, that feels like a lot of turnovers there. All right coach. I can't wait for college game day starting at five o'clock I do believe Eastern will be right here. Then the national championship this evening. You've been awesome to watch on TV this year. Hell hell of a debut into a television career that you had this year.

You need to know that well, it's because of you. You have made and taught me how to be able to operate without having anxiety because I had anxiety in the beginning. Why you're Nick? operate without having anxiety. Because I had anxiety in the beginning. Why? You're Nick Saban. No, but not based on doing this. Yeah, you are. No. Yeah.

Can I say one thing? We got 30 seconds. You better say it quick if you're into the TV guy. But you brought this up about Jeremiah Smith going to Michigan or West Virginia or whatever. All right, you created that. No. He did.

You're right. But all I'm saying the people out there need to know this model is unsustainable. It's not good for players. I mean, people in Congress, I don't care who has to get off their butt and do something. Players need to get compensated, no doubt, but it has to be done in a way where we can, you know, some kind of way have competitive balance. Yes, you know, that kind of way have competitive balance. You know, that every school has the same thing. One school can't spend $30 million for players

while another school's spending three million. Agreed, you're the one that's gonna have to fix it. Hour one, wrapping up here from the National Championship, we're live. Calling all sellers, Salesforce is hiring account executives to join us on the cutting edge of technology. Here, innovation isn't a buzzword. It's a way of life. You'll be solving customer challenges faster with agents, winning with purpose, and showing the world what AI was meant to be.

Let's create the agent-first future together. Head to salesforce.com slash careers to learn more. From ESPN podcast and Omaha productions. Coach is a new groundbreaking educational football podcast hosted by NFL legends Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia and Michael Lombardi. In each episode, the coaches break down game changing situations and front office management tactics, sharing insights from decades of coaching experience and opening up the Bill Belichick Encyclopedia of football knowledge. Created by football legends for football fans.

New episodes of Coach Drop Weekly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Football! It is wonderful. We're so lucky to be here. We were just joined by the great coach Saban who's won seven of these, but he has lost three of these, which he says are the only ones he thinks about. That's a shame. I hope he has a little bit of happiness. He's been fantastic on TV.

We told him as such because whenever you have something like that, you need to let those people know. And speaking of people that I need to let something know about, talk to table you guys have had a great year at boss of Connor at Ty Schmidt, Conman, another national championship. We shouldn't be here. What a moment. Yeah, it's incredible.

And what a match up for the seven versus eight in the first 12 team playoff. We started with 12, we're counting down to one. It felt like it was always meant to be here. But I'm just happy that it's here. And it's a bummer because, of course, it's the last college football game for a while here. So it is kind of almost nostalgic looking back at the season. It feels like Iowa Hawkeyes haven't played football in like two years, but we're wrapping up a season here. And, you know, new schools get a shot to shine.

It's Ohio State, Notre Dame. Notre Dame is back. I know you're a Catholic school boy. Obviously grew up watching the fight in Irish. Big night tonight potentially for that team up there in South Bend, Indiana. Yeah, without a doubt. More teams getting a shot to shine or, you know, we'll get two of the five winningest programs of all time. Getting another shot to shine. Who haven't had a shot to shine in quite some time. Bar. So, I mean, it's one of those things where at the end of the day, yeah, am I broken

up inside because the Hawks stopped playing what seems like three months ago? But at the same time, it's a Big Ten country, baby. Okay. Notre Dame, yes, they're independent, but they are a de facto Big Ten team. Everybody knows that. They played basketball in the ACC. That's bullshit. That doesn't matter.

I was about to say, I think everybody, de facto ACC team is what they say. They're not though They're right in the middle of the country not too far from us. So they're a big ten team as well And you know next time we do a conference realignment might have to throw, you know 500 million Adams get him out of that NBC deal and you talk about Petite over there Tony Petite is an absolute dog. Everybody knows that. We may have talked to Tony Petitti a little bit this morning. Let's just say he's happy there's a chance that the national championships coming back home where it belongs in the big 10. This would be back to back big 10 national championships if Ohio State was to win, which hasn't happened, I think, since 1965 or 1966 when Michigan State won back to back. So the big 10 could

potentially be national chumps for two straight years for the first time, long time, especially in this new time where there's a lot of wondering of who runs this house. But T.D.'s walking around, cock of the walk. Sankey's here as well, it's like a crazy. It's great to see him. One half of the hammer, done.

Cowboys, AP tone. This weekend, I saw that I want one and three and I picked all the favorites. So obviously it was good for the dogs this weekend. I saw that I want one in three and I picked all the favorites. So obviously was good for the dogs this weekend. Yeah, it was so you went one in three because the the Chiefs line moved a bit there but closing line because the Chiefs were nine and a half. I believe closing line all the dogs went for no on clothing

closing lines this weekend. Obviously a lot of people weren't happy with the Chiefs one because of the safety late, but no it was a great weekend for the dogs and no not was a great weekend for the dogs and no not normally a good weekend for the public when all the dogs cover big lines we thought going in there tonight what's spread this evening has the line moved at all what are we learning from what the sports books are saying it's 8 and a half

there's been some between 8, 8, 1,5,9, some there was a 9 and a half for a second out there this in his last 10 days or whatever it's been but no it's it's kind of hung around there. Money's a bit on Ohio State. It's like 55, 56 percent. So not a not what I thought it would have been. I thought it'd been a lot more Ohio State. A lot of people think it's going to be a lot closer.

Yeah, but the Catholics, thou hath bet on games. Bingo, they have bet on games, which we appreciate. So, you know, the Irish potentially shown up. They understand their team's got a lot of fight. Let's go to an Ohio State Legend AJ Hawk here. AJ you like being favored by more than a touchdown, more than a touchdown, two-point conversion in the National Championship or how do you think Ryan Day handled this? Now see as a fan I do not like it. As a fan I feel like Nick Saban when he said like it was tough to get your team ready when you

are such a favorite because it's easy to kind of relax a little bit But as a player, I don't think you care I know it's a different time now But as a player as coaches you don't care like you just see the enemy across the lines and who you've been studying on film So but as a fan, yeah, I do not like that as a fan when I don't have any control of the game I don't I don't like being the favorite. I like being the underdog chip on your shoulder kind of guy I've seen a lot of different maps about who each state is pulling for. Nobody's really pulling for a high state in this thing. Well thank you Marcus Freeman. Marcus Freeman has made Notre Dame very even more of a we know it's been an institution everyone the

people are like Notre Dame love Notre Dame but usually it's like you're Notre Dame or you're not now it's like everybody loves Notre Dame. And I think if you talk about the likeability of the Notre Dame team, they do say Marcus Freeman and obviously there's a lot of Catholics out there. We know that is true. A lot of things being said about Brian Kelly. Yeah, people not like him. Just kind of passively and actually.

People don't love LSU right now either. Yeah, and Jaden Daniel is what he's able to do. Tiger back on the sideline. Yeah, that's that's Governor Jeff Landry. Alright, I don't know how Jeff Landry is doing right now. There's a lot obviously, but Brian Kelly's taking a lot of shots with this successful Notre Dame team because he said Notre Dame can win a national championship up there and

here's Marcus Freeman. Now he mentioned Marcus Freeman. Obviously, he's about our age Ohio State legend. What do you like about him? I like that he goes at the refs. I do I like it goes. He's always himself. It feels like and he's always professional always cool. The boys love him D

But I like how he connects with his team and you saw it from the moment He was introduced as the head coach in that weight room and it's just materialized and gotten better and better Year after year and for him to be at this point, you know after obviously Brian Kelly leaving But we see like Notre Dame is putting out these clips these videos of kind behind the scenes, maybe some of these halftime talks and even that game we were at Orange Bowl with Penn State. Like everything was going away from them. The calls, they didn't get any calls and it was just so what now what his team responds. We always talk about teams taking on the identity of head coach.

I think that's what we're seeing right now with the fighting Irish and Marcus Friedman. Excited for tonight. The Ohio State Buckeyes have a lot of talent, says Notre Dame. The Ohio State Buckeyes have a lot of talent says Notre Dame. Yeah, the Ohio State Buckeyes spent a lot of money on their roster. So nerd. Yeah, the Ohio State Buckeyes have won a lot of massive games here in a college football playoff. So is Notre Dame. It's awesome tonight is I think divisional round obviously stole a lot of hype Lamar Josh.

Yeah, the commander is beating the Lions. Everybody's going crazy. Taylor Swift Caitlin Clark at the the Chief Texans game. They had a single shot on both of them. And obviously I have not done a research, so somebody's probably gonna correct me, which always seemingly happens. Are those the two biggest needle movers

in the history of women? Taylor Swift. Maybe Mother Teresa might be up there. I doubt it. Mother Nature. Technology wasn't around. Moving the needle. Mother Nature watches the Weather Channel, I guess. These are the two biggest needle movers I bet I doubt it nature technology

Watches the Weather Channel I guess is this these are the two biggest needle movers in the history of women I think people will only argue Rihanna and Beyonce Madonna they'd probably throw her in as well Okay, so so then you those people would all be competing against Taylor And I think Taylor would be I think the Taylor's one I think Swifties would be very comfortable going to bat against Beyonce Rihanna Madonna the whole doubt I think they'd be very comfortable. So you think about Caitlin Clark? She's the biggest needle mover in the history of Serena Sweeney, yeah, she's not in sports

She's doing some commercials at Dr. Squatch. Great commercial. I saw that. I saw the whole thing. So I mean, you're popular. You got Taylor and Caitlin sitting next to each other. Then you go on Patrick behind Travis Kelsey on the field and then you got a Texans team that was balling.

I mean they had not played well, you know at the end of the year, then they kind of found something got rolling in there and then obviously the refs Are those videos of the refs in my homes and Andy are those real there's photos? I saw some on the internet. I think they're AI Andy Reid fell like that. They're saying he fell It seems like a weird spot to be I don't know if he prays like that Field right in front of the refs. That don't know if he prays like that. I thought he was praying. That's all smooching.

I do appreciate the fact that we're at the point where technology is so easy to kind of utilize. I think there is a little bit of a drawback where you can just go down into one of these, either Grok or anybody else and just say, I want to see Patrick Mahomes sucking face with Ed Hawke Lee and then Grock says Let me get 22 seconds real quick. Oh, so that was AI We ran that through an AI checker back here. There was no AI detective Andy Reid one had to be fake That one cleared no way because I did not see him fall in front of the refs the internet certainly got it I guess a screen grab. Yeah, the one of my homes in the refs can't be real.

Smooching? Yeah. Arm around each other? A little tongue in there? That wasn't even the worst one I saw on the internet yesterday. That's gonna make the internet difficult. You can't believe anything. You either believe everything or you believe nothing.

You sent me one that was crazy. I don't think that was, which one are you talking about? Some people. It was just an, it was an absurd one. I never even thought that it could do something like that. Oh yeah, yeah. It's crazy how they can work like that. People that aren't good editors

can really do some damage right now in here. You put that pie into the hands of a very clever internet person, which we have done now. Sure. It's gonna be tough to kind of see. I don't remember Andy Reed falling to his knees. But you look at that screen grab a couple of times, it's like, well, who would have

it could be Grok or Mr. GPT or Mr. GPT. Yeah, I do apologize. That's in a hole too much access. Thirty two point seven million viewers in that Chief Texans game. That's huge numbers. I was watching that game with my wife. She was hoping Travis would score so you know. So Taylor's doing it.

Then Katelyn Clark pops up and it's like, there it is. I think Brooke Shields was in this back row too. Great actor in her time. Really? Brooke Shields was in there? Yeah, of course. Brooke Shields taking a back seat to all of them. That's how big they are. So many stars.

So many. I think a couple more actually. Can't believe you didn't mention her when they were talking about the biggest of all time. Needlemore. We're talking about Brooke Shields? Yeah. Yeah legit. I mean the game though was awesome. If you can get past the ref stuff, which a lot of people aren't going to be able to, and guess what? Next game you're going to be able to find something that the refs do for the Kansas City Chiefs that you're going to say that the refs are on their side. This is what the New England Patriots had to deal with for a long time. I don't like Patrick Mahomes flopping around on the sideline, but let's also remember Patrick Mahomes just had newborn.

Okay. The guy's probably not sleep. He's making decisions he wouldn't normally make. Patrick Mahomes understands he's a dog, understands he's a face of football, understands he can do plays like that on a team that's about to do something that's rather historic and he can't be flopping around the sideline. He's had a newborn. Yeah.

He can't be doing that. Can't be looking like you're an NBA guy. That was tough. Can have it. Obviously Troy Aikman wasn't happy but Patch Brown's running on about 35 minutes of sleep. What do you think this guy's doing? That's why a little bit early he was a little bit off his game. Missed a couple.

Missed a couple. He was like, oh I'm playing football again. And he snapped right back into it. The people were saying the refs were helping them snap back into it though. Weren't they calling her? Yeah. Big time. And some of the calls you could argue for sure. I mean, the will Anderson one to start was egregious, especially because it was a

third down and they ended up going on to score on that drive. And then there was another one later on where it was a 15 yard penalty. I think that is the biggest thing, but that was the only game too. People were bitching about the Bills Keon Coleman pass interference For the Ravens yesterday because Keon Coleman in the corner were hand fighting It actually looked like Keon Coleman pushed the corner Tony Ramos said You know that looks like a good call to me and Gene Sarator immediately came in and said no Tony That was a terrible call. But again that happens in every game. It's just the Chiefs it gets ample

Well, the consistency too is the thing like yeah that game that's all getting called then we watch bills, right? There's nothing good. Yeah, literally nothing get called free for there was like four late hits Very clear late hits and refs like up up up up we go boys. We're gonna keep it rolling Speaking to keep it rolling. I don't know if you've been watching football this weekend Underarmour launched a banger of a commercial involving Jesus Christ in a comedian that wasn't allowed on Saturday Night Live. Hey, God. It's me, Shane.

I haven't been here in a while, but I have a pretty big prayer for you. No Dave's in the national championship on Monday. I know you know, because you've been with us the whole time. A couple weeks ago, that field goal, I know you had a lot going on, so it was pretty chill you took time to help us with that. I should also say I have not bet on any of these games. I have, I have bet, but going forward, if Notre Dame wins, thou will not bet on games for a month.

Couple weeks. We'll probably bet on something. Come on, God, I know you can help us. Truckin' dudes. Pick sixes everywhere. Boom. Have a couple fun barouskies. Just please let Notre Dame win a national championship.

Yo, hey, what are you praying for? Praying for Notre Dame, what are you praying for? Say, Notre Dame. Hell yeah. All right, cool. Shh. Shh. Hell.

What? Did you go to Notre Dame? Yeah, I went to Notre Dame. Oh. Sorry, that was a lie, guy. No, I didn't go to Notre Dame. Did you? No, my uncle did.

Oh, that's awesome. Yeah. All right. Shh. Shh. Shh's awesome. All right. Shh. Shh. Shh. Go Irish.

Go Irish. Ladies and gentlemen, the man who knows the Bible inside and out, Shane Gillis. Hey, hey. Hey, thank you for joining us, man. I love that the whole world has just accepted you as a Notre Dame mouthpiece at this point. The commercial was awesome. How much of the Bible knowledge played into work there? Because when you dropped the hat, it sounded good.

The vowel also sounded good. It's just Bible talk, man. Yeah. It's just good Catholic Bible talk. You think Jesus was listening up there? I think so. I hope so. Was that guy Italian that was up on the thing?

Yeah, it was an Italian man. Yeah, I think so. I think I've seen him. Yeah, he works down the road, right? Yeah, he does. The other shop. Yeah, he was on the road, right? Yeah, the other shop. Yeah. Okay. How do you feel? National Championship Day? Real deal. Notre Dame is back in it. Let's go, Shane. I don't know, man. It's, you know, scary. I thought, I don't know, I was hoping to be a little sharper today, but last night, last night

got away from me. Oh, runaway? Yeah, we thought we I was like, all right, we're gonna get in. We're gonna take it easy. night what didn't happen you shut down in Lena last little rusty no magic city damn my girlfriend's here obviously the conversation is they're favored by eight and a half depending upon some sportsbooks they think they have too much talent too much skill too much power What do you think it feels like you are actually a part of this Notre Dame team in the locker room in the commercials How do you feel about the boys? I mean, I love the team. I feel weird that that's you know, it's uncomfortable But uh, why you're part of the team

I didn't But you're some nobody, they're not just going to let you talk for Notre Dame, brother. You've earned it. I feel good. I feel good about the game. It'll be, you know, they've been, apparently the other team has had more talent every week.

And they keep winning. So we'll see. You and I talked at the beginning of the season about Riley Leonard. Yeah, because you didn't put Notre Dame in the playoffs. Yeah, I couldn't. Just because at the time, the only Riley Leonard I had known was you didn't put Notre Dame in the playoffs. Yeah, I couldn't. Just because at the time, the only Riley Leonard I had known was a guy who can't throw.

Like at Duke, I don't know if it was potentially the weapons he had, didn't have weapons, or the offense they were running, but like when we watched the film for Duke UNC, we went and did Game Day down there, it was like, oh, this guy, he's a great athlete, hooper. Like actual hooper, but he can't throw, I think you're gonna, he's been making those throws.

Feels like Riley's only gotten better in his arm has gotten better. I think it's a big deal. He's got a lot better. If you watch like, I mean, week two Northern Illinois, it was like. He's got to go. And then he just kept getting better. And he's, you know, I mean, he got us to the title. So do you after the Northern Illinois game?

I think all of us, just like after Michigan for a house state needed that loss for this team to get to where they are absolutely you said Riley Leonard got to go he wrote that basically his players Tribune was like I felt like I let down all of Notre Dame after what week did you know this team could go was there a time. Now after after doing on the way I lost faith in town that admittedly my dad had a heart attack from that. No no he's back.

Is he back? He's worked his way back to health. He's here. He made it all the way back to Atlanta. No shit. He had an actual heart attack after Northern Illinois? Yeah. Because of the game?

Yeah, he's back. Holy shit. Yeah, he's back. Jeez. How come that wasn't God? I know if you're up there. Did Marcus pump his chest? I feel like Marcus could have pumped his chest're up there. Did Marcus pump his chest?

I feel like Marcus could have pumped his chest and helped him. Like Marcus is that good of a guy. Yeah, Marcus revived him. What do you think about Marcus? What do you think about Marcus? Marcus is the man. He's awesome. He's the nicest, coolest guy.

Yeah. Brian Kelly said he couldn't win national championship there. Yeah, no, he went to LSU and he's going to ruin that program. Connor has a question for you. So when it comes to the actual game tonight, like how do you see a player like Marcus, like he's going to ruin that program? Yeah, he's going to ruin that program. So when it comes to the actual game tonight, like how do you see a player like Marcus, like

he's going to ruin that program? Yeah, he's going to ruin that program. Yeah, he's going to ruin that program. Yeah, he's going to ruin that program. Yeah, he's going to ruin that program. Yeah, he's going to ruin that program. Yeah, he's going to ruin that program. Yeah, he he's gonna ruin that program. So when it comes to the actual game tonight, like how do you see a playing out? Do you think they can kind of go down the field score 30 points hanging with Ohio State? Are you thinking like hey, let's make this thing gritty. Let's make this I mean, you gotta hope it's it's gritty You gotta hope I mean you gotta hope it's Michigan, Michigan, Ohio State again. Okay. It can't be Oregon, Ohio State, you know, hopefully, hopefully that Rose bowl team doesn't show up.

Well, they can against anybody. They played their bad game against Texas too. So now the conversation is like, will they get back to being who they are? But you guys make everybody play worse than what they're supposed to be, which is I'd picked against them every single time. Yeah. Pick up. You're going to pick against again.

I know you're one of the guys. Good. A lot of Notre Dame people telling me, don't even consider. If you do it now. Yeah, it happened with Michigan last year. So it might be an homage, me thinking I'm that important, also awesome.

You know, that's a little bit of a ridiculous thing. But I think a lot of people, Tone said there was only 55% of the money was on Ohio State. I think we all thought it'd be a little bit more. But thou hath bet on these games if you're an Irish Catholic? Yeah. No, I didn't. I didn't bet on this. I lost all my money on Georgia. I put all my money on Georgia versus Notre Dame just in a drunk moment of weakness. Win-win.

Win-win, yeah. Yeah. I like it. Let's talk about the Eagles. I have no more money on them. Let's talk about the Eagles. Go Birds. How about that? How about it? Saquon. God damn, Saqu saying once a mutant. He's real guy Yeah, that's awesome Detroit loses to see of home field now for the NMC championship with the commanders coming in NFC East rival How do you feel about sir? Yoni? How do you feel about the Eagles? I mean, I'm not giving you guys good stuff But I like them. No, that's good You hate sir, Yoni ever no

I like them, they're great. Did you hate Sirianni ever? Uh, no. No, he's the man. Ty, go ahead. In terms of tonight, obviously, you know, big underdogs, if you want to call them big underdogs, Lou Holtz comes out and stirs the pot again, starts talking shit to Marcus, or not Marcus,

or Ryan Day. We thought it was over. It's not over. It's still living. How do you feel about that whole situation? Are you worried old Coach Lew's giving a little more bulletin board material than that? No, I like Lew's fired up from the inauguration.

Oh, yeah. Is he there? That's the thing. Is he sitting in the front row up there, I do wonder? I don't know. He put out a tweet this morning. If you know, you know, it was about a motivational speech that he gave to the boys way back.

And he basically won after. I mean, it was a pretty big shot across the battle. They replaced it. It was against Miami and he basically said something along the lines of Jimmy Johnson. Save Jimmy Johnson's ass for me. We'll beat their ass in the parking lot and you can save Jimmy Johnson's ass for me. And they just replaced Jimmy Johnson with Ryan Day. That's awesome.

Lou Halsey is awesome. Halsey is the man. Feels like all the Notre Dame people have come back full. And that's good for college ball to have Notre Dame good. You agree? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you started a war with Saban by saying, now everybody can do it.

The North is gonna rise. The North is back, dude. But it does feel like that. Big 10 could go back to back national championships. Notre Dame has won what? Three bowl games already pretty much this season. And you guys have massive support. This isn't ending after the season.

No, no, it's not. It's just the beginning. But yeah, I saw I saw Saban up here. I was I was back there hiding. I was trying to figure out whether or not we should link you guys. No, no, I don't think he would. I don't know. I don't know.

You guys have to link. Has to happen. Yeah. Yeah, I would. I thought we he would. I don't know. I don't know. You guys have to. Has to happen. Yeah. Yeah, I would. I thought we were joking. Yeah, me too. Yeah, you tricked me. No, no, no.

You did that on purpose. I did not. I was on like, what, 80 milligrams? I thought everything was good with the fucking college football playoff. No, man, I think Saban's pissed, dude. And I'm like, I don't think. What?

Yeah, you're like, no, he's not mad. I was like, I know he's mad. He's pissed. At this point, you should just choke slam him him or you guys should get in the ring. No, no, no. The Hall of Fame. There's no reason to go one way or the other. It feels like it's not getting settled.

You two get along. You two. I would love to. I'd love to get along. But until then, let's win a national championship. Let's get a title today. Yeah. D-Bot has a question for you.

I want to ask you about obviously you had a bit of a runaway last night. Do you have two plans tonight or is it win or lose you about, obviously you had a bit of a runaway last night. Do you have two plans tonight? Or is it win or lose, you booze? Or you winning that or you're out in the town? What's the plan post game tonight? I mean, I'm just, yeah, I mean, yeah, it's going to be win or lose, you booze. Okay. It'll be a sad loss.

That'll be a rough drunk. How do you feel about the booze intake? You feel like you're doing a good job? I've got it under control. Is this an adderall day? No, no, no, no, no, a good job? I've got it under control. Is this an Adderall day? No, no, no, no Adderall, we got to focus today. We got to stay.

Whoa, that's what I'm talking about. Adderall would just, I'd be drinking, I'd be off. Okay, so you got Tire season two coming up this spring. Any more Under Armour commercials? How's that come together? No, that just came together like last week. They just reached out and we're like, we have an idea and then McKeever who writes and directs everything I do,

he came up with that idea. And yeah, yeah, he was like, I was just sitting there, knees killed. That was a long shoot. Oh yeah. And then he was, yeah, John was just like, all right, do this, yell this, say this. And I was like, I don't know how this

is gonna cut together. It was amazing. And it ended up great, yeah. Yeah, it's great. I don't, very rarely do amazing. And it ended up great. Yeah, it's great. Very rarely do you see the internet just be like. Yeah, it's a good one. Yeah, it's a good one. Filmed it in Pittsburgh.

And then we know John edited the entire thing on the turnpike on the drive back because they needed it the next day. OK, so you're at the point now where you've produced enough great stuff like tires and like other things where companies come to you, they have an idea, you say, hey, we're going to do this. we'll get it to you and they trust it yeah no they were awesome they led us to kind of whatever we want it still on tour to as well right now on tour yeah I'm gonna I don't know where I'm at next whatever you're an Atlanta brother National

Championship yeah yeah this is all I was thinking about in the moment did the arena in Pittsburgh was that two nights ago that was Friday what are we doing we working on a new set? We ready for a new hour? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just gotta do it for another year. Your next show is in Vancouver going to Canada. Vancouver? Hell yeah. Yeah, you're gonna do great. Can't wait. I love it. Gonna be a national champion potentially. Yeah, we'll see. What do you guys think? I'm hoping. I'm praying for you. I hope it's just a great game. It's just sometimes it's hard to get myself there.

I like the Irish. I like the Irish. You like it? I do. Damn, that's nice. Wants to go Catholic school. That's good. Worried about that left tackle? No, don't be. Okay. JTT. Jack Soder on the other side. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I saw him, yeah. Have you watched film on the Ohio State team? What scares you the most? He's pretty scary. Whiteout, Smith, there's, yeah, they're scary. They got a lot of weapons. Hopefully their O line shits the bed tonight There's chance. Yeah Hey, AJ has great faith in the Ohio State Buckeyes I do I see um, I see some pundits saying that Notre Dame is probably go for like once they cross the 50

It's gonna be in four down territory I think that's gonna happen and you want Marcus be like, do you want him to take chances? We know what special teams wise, he's going to do some things to give him an advantage, but you think they're going to take some chances? Yeah, I think they have to. Yeah. We'll take chances. Absolutely.

Yeah. Are you on the sideline with a headset? Are you leading them out? Are you leading them out? No, no, no. I'm, I'm going to be in, I'll be up here. You know, post game, you'll be in the locker room. Could you do, could you do it?

Okay. When I'm coming down, I'm going to, if. If they win I'm gonna cry and hug my dad. My dad's gonna, we're gonna cry. I did hear you say that. That's not true. That'd be very embarrassing. That's not embarrassing. I'm gonna cry a lot.

Don't be embarrassed. You're crying cause you're happy. You're allowed to cry cause you're happy. Don't cry cause you're sad. Yeah, MCDC. If they lost and I cried that would be the saddest. That'd be the most pathetic week. No, no, no, very emotional.

Connor Stallions. Your dad being Jesus Christ with his Notre Dame football, no, very emotional. Connor Stallions. Your dad being Jesus Christ with his Notre Dame football team dying. He died. Then fucking opens the rock, comes out of the tunnel, winning national championship. Marcus' pregame speech probably got mentioned Shane's dad. You know Shane Giles.

My cousin's here too and we were talking, because my whole family's obsessed with Notre Dame, and they're getting old, and if Notre Dame wins this I think like three of my uncle's will 1988 last time Notre Dame was won national 93 they got to count that Why what happened the same record as Florida State head-to-head Notre Dame beat him and they gave it to Florida State, okay? I will make sure that that is added this year during the conversation. I will certainly make sure you guys 93. I hate the way the

Catholics have been kind of doubted and prosecuted left out prosecuted. Sometimes I say that's unbelievable. What's that? Hey, some of the things they've done. Like you're worried that if you worried that if Notre Dame loses, it's because you went AWOL and left your post at Army? One of the guys was just asking me, he was like, do you know this guy? He was at West Point with you. I was like, dude, I talked to like 10 people and left.

I was there for five minutes. Yeah, but we're all very thankful you took the path that you did. We're very lucky. I cannot wait to see your next stand up special. I cannot wait to watch the next four years with you. You know, yeah, should be pretty good together. You and me having a nice time. Well, are you how often are you gonna like? I know they kicked you off the show because they found something that you said. Oh, that's no. Yeah. Are they you're the best Trump. You're by far the best. Yeah, I got four more years.

That's what I'm saying. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So how does that work? Are you playing? Is there any of that type of conversation? No, I have no idea. They're pretty, SNL is pretty like last second with their hosts, who they picked to host there. Chappelle just did what, an 18 minute? Yeah, it was great. It was great.

Damn. Yeah. He's the best. He's in Chappelle's next week and he's the musical guest as well. Timmy? Yeah, double duty. He's gonna do a little Bob Dylan up there. Hey, it was unbelievable. He's got a college ball too.

I mean his picks on college game day were outstanding. Yeah, he was good. Did he get any of them right? Got that Mac one right. I don't think he got any of them right, but it sounded good. He was way more prepared than me every time. No, no, you got it right. Notre Dame by a million. After you took a shot at Alabama Jones, did your entire thing.

Shane, enjoy the hell out of the day. We can't thank you enough for stopping by. Are you pre, are we tailgating for this thing? You guys, yeah, whenever you want. We tailgating? I think we should at least do something. I mean, last night we weren't able to link up with you. They were stopped to find a bar.

But then you did did it sounds like. We found a bar, yeah. They stayed open. What did you do? You shut a place down last night? Yeah, we just went back to the hotel and drank there. That's good. It was a nice time. That's what this is all about. Enjoy the entire experience.

We appreciate the hell out of you. You guys are awesome. Seriously, thank you. Young Jamie, you and him. Jamie's down there too. Oh yeah. Where's the buck eye jacket? Oh, okay. That is Jamie.

Yeah. It's good jacket. Hey, I thought you two were really going to get into it on Rogan there. Did he give you points? Yeah. You guys were dancing. Yeah. You guys were dancing with some real shit there.

Oh yeah. Yeah, that was a mistake. Seemed to have. I keep running my mouth on these shows and I wake up the next day like oh shit. I was watching that young Jamie be like do we want to talk about it? Yeah yeah yeah. Like let's go we can do it. As the clip was starting I was like oh shit.

Here we go. Are these two about to dial it? But that's college ball baby. That's what it's all about. And Shane will be watching that. Were you going to join us on the field pass thing? I would love to. Okay we'll figure that out.

Yeah, let me know. You're Shane Gillis. They got to let you get down. We'll see. That'll be no problem. You're the man. Tell your dad we're happy he's alive. Yeah.

Hey, we're happy you're alive, man. Good job, Phil. I have an EMT nearby tonight. Him and Brady Quinn, right? Almost got into a brawl with people. Yeah, in Ireland, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, Phil was ready to fight.

I was the one going, let's not. Phil's a legend, as are you. Ladies, yeah, yeah, Phil was ready to fight. I was the one going. Let's call it let's not. Those alleged as are you ladies and gentlemen, Shane Gillies because. Yeah, thank you. We'll get him. Hey good luck tonight. Hey, we'll see you on the side.

Sorry about the low energy. We're still live, we're still live, Shane. Shane, we are still live, still live. Oh, shit, my bad. My bad. No, no, not bad. No, don't worry about it, Shane. Don't worry about it. The energy was fantastic. Let's get a couple.

Hey, we'll see you tomorrow. All right, tonight. 93, you gotta give us that. Yeah. That's the first time I've heard that. Me too. I feel like I should do my research a little bit more. Yeah, I forgot they, did they like split them back then sometimes?

Jamie's hair looks amazing. I love that jacket. I love that jacket. You know, I forgot they like split them back then sometimes. Jamie's hair looks amazing. I love that jacket. Voted on, voted on. Ah, man. What's that? Yeah, Florida State obviously got voted in or they deem a game the national championship, right? And then I assume Florida State won that game.

Notre Dame was not in game. So I assume that is how it kind of all came to be. Shane, that dude's in the middle of... All time run. Yeah. How about Under Armour just being like, here's the idea, just if you guys could... That's awesome.

Yeah, that's really cool. Good for him. That's why they're funny. Editing it on the way to the airport, or yeah, airplane, whatever. Bingo. So cool. Quick turnaround.

Tires too is gonna be great. Yup, I'm very excited for that. Tires too is gonna be amazing. Cause I guess the first one was just kind of put together. Like, hey, do we got something or not? Yup. This one, like for and prepare. We need him and saving the shake hands or or just fight. I'd be a great beef.

Yeah, just to have going forward. Nick Saban and Shane Gillis. Yeah, it's like two bowl or opposite people. I don't think we need any of that. All right. Let's talk about a hiring that took place in the NFL Tennessee Titans have hired one guns the eyes on from the Kansas City chiefs as their general manager so that's one of the jobs that

has been filled fantastic name on this guy, you know just like a lot of these GM's we want to share the bottom. We don't know anything about assistant GM so he's with each over there that chiefs he's with Veach over there, the Chiefs, he's been in the room where it happened. He knows what you should be looking for. Chris Ballard also comes from that particular building. There's been a lot of people that come from successful teams that get hired into these roles. And the brutally honest truth is this guy could be the worst of all time.

He could be. We have no idea. But he's Italian, so he won't be. We assume he's going to be great. We assume he's going to do a fantastic job. Now, Tennessee is now in a situation where the head coach was hired at a different time than the general manager. Are they going to force them together like they have done the last couple times? And how does that end up working out?

Tennessee Titans' job has been filled. Defense coordinator job for the Atlanta Falcons has been filled as well. Yeah, Jeff O'Rourke. Coach Br brick out of the running for the Jets. Now defense coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons with Rahim Morris as the Atlanta Falcons try to do their thing. A lot of jobs still open age. Which one would you be I and Don? If you were one of these potential candidates, what's the best job in your eyes out there that is currently available? The best job that well, an interesting job when it pops out of me is the Jacksonville Jaguars job. For some reason we continue. I

forgotten that job was even available. I assume they filled that role yet. So that one I'm curious to see who goes there. But that Raiders gig Raiders cow. We all know Cowboys is always gonna get some get some pub. But that Raiders job, I want to know what's gonna happen there. The best jobs in San Francisco, 49ers D. C. I mean, you step in, but that's like they swapped it out with five years in a row. No, you have a Bob. Bob goes back there. Sala coach, Sala Robert. Sorry. He's interviewing him. Go for Bob. Go by Bob. He still has years left on his contract, so he's going to be getting a head coaching salary guaranteed much like

Cliff Kingsbury is currently with the commanders but everybody assume that coach Salah would be heading right back to San Francisco after a year with the Green Bay Packers finishing it up you say you don't like that job because the turnover so yeah, I mean you get guys out of there really really quick they do have good players on that side of the ball so that always helps but if I'm looking at that list I still think Chicago Bears right now because you have I'm still hopeful I'm still optimistic

with Kayla Williams. Obviously you have to build some more stuff going, but I think he's still a talented quarterback. You got talented guys on the outside. So I think that Bears job is part of the best of these right now is is Caleb Williams addicted to football working. I think so, right? That was the big thing.

Everybody was saying after we got to know him. This guy loves ball. All the noise that we heard surrounding him was more so his team it wasn't necessarily him this guy loves football he loves this because this offseason is a massive one for him and huge obviously physically it's a big deal but learning NFL football is gonna be a big convo every quarterback and Shane Waldron it's gone another offense coordinators gone so you're gonna have more anonymous sources that have worked alongside Caleb and Zito. What happened to this guy's wrist? Do we know what

happened to his wrist? I believe it was a cyst and they removed it. It was a healthy process throwing hands still good. Okay. That could have been a part of the entire issue. You got to hit it. You got to see it's grown in your wrist while you're throwing it around. But like obviously physically he's going to have to continue to develop and become in shape and everything like that. But you listen to, you know, the sources that are talking to the quarterback gurus that are on TV, they're like, this guy doesn't have a clue. This guy has basically got to play whatever football he's wanted to play at USC and at Oklahoma. And that was the Caleb shit that we liked, extending the plays, running, doing crazy stuff, throwing strikes, which is like backyard football. Basically,

hey, wide receivers, he's outside the park, it pocket now get open. Like in the NFL, you're gonna have to be able to understand what the defense is in. You're gonna have to know what your first read is or second read is. You're gonna have to play on time. It's like I think if you listen to any of the people that might have a relationship with any of the offense coordinators in the NFL that Caleb has had yet, that's their biggest gripe. It's like, hey OK, gotta learn ball,

but he has an entire offseason to do that. Number one overall pick is going to be a lot of pressure for you to do that. If he can develop the game IQ alongside the football and also get some consistency, maybe at the offensive line and offense coordinator job.

Maybe we shouldn't just throw in the towel on old Caleb. Yeah, you hear it. You hear a lot of these things that you gotta take for me. At least who you're hearing it from. When are you hearing it from them? And then the sources or whatever. But once again, I still believe in the talent.

I see the talent. Now it is a big, big learning curve when you come into the National Football League and just understanding where to go with the ball. We hear it all the time playing on time, playing from the pocket, allowing your playmakers to be their best and allow you to be their best as well. And they're kind of waiting for those moments to take over the game and make special, special plays. But if you look at his whole rookie season,

it wasn't terrible. You have Jayden Daniels who played phenomenal. You have Bo Nicks who played great as well. But if you look at Caleb, he didn't turn the ball over a ton and he had some moments where he flashed. So I think it's still hopeful. Okay, so-

And Drake, man. I'm sorry, Drake. Yeah, just leaving out Drake.. I mean they play full seasons, went to the playoffs. Those guys with you know, head and shoulders. 13 games. I do appreciate everybody come out and saying I said it.

Jaden is the best guy in his draft. Yeah, that's right. I said it. Coach Saban I think probably did actually for sure that take he had about Jaden Danos. I remember him saying at the draft whenever we had that was his first

like college game day experience up in Detroit. A lot of people were saying it. I think especially this rookie year, they felt like Jayden will be the better player this year. Now in the full career, we'll still see, but yeah, they say he was the best player, the most dominating player since Joe Burrow.

He's seen that saying a lot, been in that SEC every year, but a lot of people saw exactly what he's doing in the NFL stage. He did it last year in college and won the Heisman. So, you know, it's not a crazy statement, but people are definitely taking their victory laps right now. Congratulations to the commanders making it to the NFC Championship in their first year with a new head coach,

new ownership, new quarterback, new building, new everything. Crazy. That's a quick turnaround. That's just like the Houston Texans who once again lost to the Kansas City Chiefs but won another playoff game. It feels like some places are on the right trajectory. It feels like the commanders are obviously going to become a blueprint. Let's talk about a little college coaching news. Steve Sarkeesian after his name was floated for a couple NFL jobs. Hey, this guy, people want him. He's an offensive guru. He knows how to coach quarterbacks. He knows how to lead a program. He knows how to lead a team. Look out for maybe the Cowboys or the Bears to want to maybe look into

Steve Sarkeesian. Was that floated out for real? Was that ever a possibility or was it being utilized as a negotiating chip and maybe it was? Sarkeesian just signed a brand new deal with the Texas Longhorns. Congratulations Sarke. Steve Sarkeesian agrees to contract extension with Texas after climbing interviews with two NFL teams. Okay. Okay, have any of the NFL teams come out and said which ones they were?

Or that's not a bad play. I like it. I understand that he's a great coach and maybe NFL teams are doing that. But it feels like more often than not, when college coaches' names kind of get thrown into the head coaching cycle or carousel in the NFL, it's a potential.

Huh? I you know what you're pretty good. Huh? You think Marcus Freeman brand new deal another day. Yeah, in this little bit Steve Sarkey brand new deal with Texas. It's like if you got a winner you hold on to that though. AJ a lot of people think grass is greener on the other side.

Not always the case Texas obviously back to back years college football playoffs obviously with Arch Manning coming into us. They're thinking that's only going to continue smart play down in Texas. Yeah smart play. If you find your guy, you got to keep him do whatever it takes. Like we know how much money is floating around college football and the NFL.

Like if you find your dude find a way to keep him there and if you're a coach absolutely try to get some interviews with the NFL teams and have your agent let them know as well because you want to know hey, there's some competition. You can't just sit back and expect me to be here if you don't want to re-up me and pay me what I'm worth. Options always good during contract negotiations. Yeah hey Dan Lanning you need to get on the horn right now and say hey the Bears are calling me, the Jets are calling me and to be honest I might go to the NFL because if any school could do it if any coach could do it like Dan Lanning is number one, I feel like at that position.

Yeah, I love it for these guys. It's so cool. Get all the money you can get. College coaching life is not easy. We'll talk to Bill Belichick tomorrow in a weekly check-in all the way through the playoffs. I can't wait to hear his takes on this Detroit Lions team. Hey, Foxy, we're about an hour and 39 minutes into the program now. Any change in your thought? You said you were bummed out earlier.

All Lions fans feeling like that? And is there any like silver lining in this? Like we're much better than we were and have been for a long time. Or is it all shite right now? Are we eating shite up in Detroit again? Certainly bummed out, Pat. But from a grand perspective of my 30 year life

We just had the best regular season say Detroit line football He bought an every single week we didn't win victory. We kicked ass we won That's right see north the standard now Hang the banner to your point hawker the standard was a Super Bowl and we didn't even win one single playoff game and I have a stat for you guys I hope this is correct but I believe no team has ever won a Super Bowl after losing both coordinators so yeah if anyone could do it it would be MCDC but I'm pretty bummed out because next year is gonna look a lot different. It certainly is this is what it's like to have a good team and a good program welcome to it congrats to to Detroit. We love watching your team and your program, your culture build.

Remember if MCDC is there for 15 years, what happens in the third year? You know, amen. It's a lot different animal. Let's talk about Jayden Daniels out against his Lions defense. Aaron Glenn interviewing with the New York Jets today. I believe it's being reported. So Schefter said in the first hour, they're going to move quick on those guys. Jaden Daniels versus the Lions. Jaden Daniels rookie quarterback at LSU for the Washington Commanders. Zero interceptions, zero fumbles, zero sacks taken,

nine total incompletions after 31 attempts. And he accounted for 350 yards in total offense, let alone all the fourth downs that they went for. You know, the Lions had to watch literally themselves beat them. Yeah. You know, and that's tough. And you guys were down two scores and it was like a must have. Yeah.

This one was over. You know, you guys got back into it, but it felt like, I don't know how much time you guys are going to have or find, but congrats to the commanders being able to beat this very dominating Detroit Lions team that we've been a massive fan of throughout the entirety Baltimore Ravens obviously lose to the Buffalo Beals shout to Rasul Douglas get the onside kick at the end because if they lose that game there it's on him you know if Lamar goes down they can't blame anybody and let's say they you know

they don't get that two-point conversion but they do recover the onside kick and they go down, kick a field goal. Justin Tucker hits that thing. They win. It's like the, the Josh Allen narrative bananas. Okay. The Josh Allen narrative would be absolutely crazy, but he, he gets his book frozen and been there too. Been a corner and being nobody's around him, but multiple Ravens right there. He knows if he bobbles that even an inch. McDermott said, we need it, we gotta have it. Who we putting there? West Virginia guy, Rasul Douglas.

And then I believe afterwards he even talked about it because some people said he was probably shitting bricks out there. Yeah, some guy tweeted at him and was like, I know you were so scared on this. And he said, fuck that, I've been playing shortstop since I was six Years old that was a routine ground ball was not worried about it for a second and it showed Justin Tucker gave his team an Opportunity in that cold-ass weather with cold-ass ball not gonna be able to hit a high-hawk

Yeah, you know balls not gonna be able to do that grounds probably not gonna let you be able to do that So have to be one where he has to make a play he did yeah, and. And congrats. The Razul Douglas. That was that's a huge deal. 1 33 left. Huge. There's a lot of times doing Lamar just walked right down the field. That's a game. Yes, that's huge. And I was that guy in college. Hi. I had a high hop, got flipped, landed on my neck and I said, I'll never do it again. Actually, coach coach mids came in came and had me as, I was supposed to be that guy in one game. I just told him, coach, look,

putting the team in a bad spot if I'm back there. That's another note too for parents out there. Have your kids play multiple sports. They always be playing multiple sports, right? So I just start growing up, you play multiple sports, play multiple sports. I don't care where you go pro in, play multiple sports. They all kind of fit in and give you different superpowers in different areas.

What a different tale today would be if Russell Douglas isn't like perfect with that. You know, Josh Allen, the defense, the Bills defense yet again, 13 seconds against the Chiefs. Now they give up nine points in a minute to let the Baltimore Ravens come back, cement an MVP for Lamar Jackson, win a game instead casual give me that we win the game. Philadelphia Eagles thought they were going to trick that one off. Oh, legit thought that was that was going to be a problem at the end. I assume there's a lot of Johns too.

They were like, of course, now we got in Jalen hurts his hand. Now we got to kind of end this game. We're not able to do it. And then they go down and score, and now it's a six-point game. It's like, are they about to... Are the Eagles about to go ahead and ruin everything here for everything they've accomplished?

Have a guy rush for whatever, 200 yards? Have two 60-plus yard touchdowns in a playoff game? Become a record breaker? Are you going to ruin this day and give this game up? They were close. Los Angeles Rams could have won this game very easily. And I think that's good news for the Eagles. But Big Who's having a catch like that. One twenty five left out. I mean, this was this would have been a nightmare for Philadelphia and for Sirianni without

a doubt. He made a couple big kicks in the snow. But if you're an Eagles fan, you're you're worried about Jake Elliott moving forward because Because it, missing those two extra points, like we, at the time, you know, after Saquon's long run, it's like, okay, ultimately it's not gonna matter, you know, this will be just a little footnote, who cares? But then after Nakua has that massive catch, it's like, oh, okay, we're talking touchdown, extra point wins this thing.

So, you know, obviously it didn't kill him yesterday, but that's the kind of thing where it seems like against the commanders who didn't make any mistakes last week, like that's the kind of thing where it seems like against the commanders who didn't make any mistakes last week, like that's the kind of thing that can show up if it happens again. Okay, so this game, great. Yeah. Yep. Raven's game, Bill's game, great.

Oh yeah. Commander's lion's storybook. And then Chief's Texan, Chief's is still a Chief. It was a good game. It was great division, what's that? Refs is still the Chiefs. It was a good game. It was a great division. What's that? Refs is still the Refs is what people are actually saying. What? How many of those?

That's just a word on the street. Eight sacks that the Refs get. Yeah, Chris Jones going bananas out there. Look, I'm a Patriots fan, so you know where I stand on this. Block kit. Good teams win, good teams get lucky, good teams get the calls, OK? That's where I stand.

I'm just telling you. Yeah, he can't be flopping though. Patrick knows he's a new dad. The flop was egregious. Coach Reed on his knees too. We didn't see that. That wasn't real. That was AI. And all eight of those sacks came after the missed calls.

Is that true? Wow, that seems like a made up stat. It was a great division around weekend. We assume it's gonna be a great game this evening too. And I believe we have some gifts here from what appears to be chefs. Yeah, like very sharp dressed lads have just came in here.

This is Big Matt. Matt, how you doing, Matt? I'm Pat. You can set that down right here if you want. Matt, what are these? Are you guys all? Oh, shit! Oh, no!

Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, shit! We lost the popcorn. all? Oh, shit. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, shit. Get him on camera. Sorry. We lost the popcorn. It's okay.

It made it better. Mike's not gonna be happy. That's a better presentation. It's live. Ruhlman's gonna be able to make that happen. It actually looks better. It does. It looks better.

Popcorn on the dog. That nice gold. Okay, so Matt, Chef Matt. Yeah, yes sir. Okay, so what do we have here? And we thank you for bringing us some grub here in the middle of the program. Absolutely.

So this we created just for this game. So this is our barbecue box of champions. Oh, yes. And we got some barbecue. So this is something we did just for this game. So we have brisket, some chicken quarters. Yeah. Yeah, look at that.

We have two different kinds of barbecue sauces representing both teams, baked beans, peach cobbler, coleslaw, so really cool item. Comes in a nice box. There's the lid right there. Now who's buying this? Anybody or is he's in the suites? So these are, we're doing 200 of them.

So once they're out, they're out. And you can get it at Molly B's concession stand. Shouts to Molly B's. I saw somebody yesterday, we were driving in a car. They said, house music is the greatest and in peace love. And I said, this car loves Molly in front of us. This is not that Molly. This is Molly Bees right here at the Gallagher club.

How much is this thing right here? So this is $40. So this is a $50. Get charged $150. Cornbread and all that. Well, I forgot that piece. So yeah, this could feed three, four people. We've got a couple of them for you guys.

So definitely dig in. And just to give you some facts on on quantity. So for today's game, we did about 3000 pounds of brisket, 3500 pounds of chicken, 2000 pounds of mac and cheese. So it is, it is a lot. How many chefs, how many people? Obviously we just saw five guys come up here.

I have a team of 10 full-time chefs and then 300 cooks to open up this building. So we have a lot of people that got ready for this. We've been planning it for about six months We have an amazing team here does an amazing job. So we're excited. We're ready for today Well, it sounds like it smells like you guys have done a great job. We were just talking about the pizza How much is the pizza? Yeah, like a full-sized what 18 inch pizzas like 22 bucks Yeah, so affordable you guys want to make it affordable. Absolutely. So that's the name of the game right here. So that board, if you get a close up of that,

everything on there is $20. This whole thing is $20? You have the nachos. That's crazy. You have the popcorn. You have the hot dog. Chicken fingers. Sliced pizza, chicken tenders and fries, $20

for that entire board. So that's something we can never change. Who's making that decision? That's Arthur 100%. So this is something that we started when the building opened. Fan-friendly pricing, $2 hot dogs. That price has never changed for any game,

including national championship. What's the company that you guys run? So we are Levy Restaurants. Levy Restaurants? Yes sir. Thank you so much, chef Matt. We can't wait to enjoy this. Thank you for taking care of the sports fans.

Absolutely. Legit, cause most people prey on them. No, no, gotta feed you guys. Legit. Thank you, chef. There's nowhere else you can get food. So you got to buy the stadium. Well, here's a $10 water bottle of water. Instead, I think the Hawks also do it. The basketball team down here, I believe the Coonins are that and an author Blake, the same thing like one people to be able to take their family to a game. You're already paying enough for the ticket. The ticket price was crazy. That entire board being 20 bucks is crazy.

This thing being 40 bucks is insane. There's a half rack of ribs right here. So much food. There's a full chicken right here. And then there's pulled pork. And then there's five pieces of cornbread, two soups in this entire thing, 40 bucks. That's a family.

I cannot wait to dig in on this bread chicken. It is so good. I'm gonna wait because I'm gonna eat this. How it's supposed to be Remember down in Miami. I kind of dove it a little early What I home gave me It really is like it's almost negligent how cheap it is it's incredible that that big oh fans But like they could they could sell us for 150 bucks And it's delightful people wouldn't blink twice people would have to buy it. Yeah, it's just like

150 bucks. And people wouldn't blink twice. People would have to buy it. Yeah. It's just like the. Just like the merch, they got these popped up all around the stadium. It's like they can charge whatever they want for these because they got people here. Yeah. Is your only option. Also, it is cold as shit in Atlanta. It is very cold.

It is the whole country is cold. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know if you know, but when we get back to Indianapolis, it's going to be about negative 20, 30 degrees colder than it is right here. It might be cold outside. Cora might still be blowing her cold ass winds on the entire country, including places where it's supposed to be warm. But what we know that will happen on this field here tonight is hot action.

Hot and spicy. It is gonna be high heat. Super hot. Super duper fuego action with a team that is built with so many weapons that you would say maybe this is a future NFL starting 11 on the Ohio State offense and then a team from Notre Dame that has come together and had to fight for everything that they've got all season long. They were counted out. But now here they are. We started with 12.

And we're counting down to one. Tonight we find out who is the one. Who is Neo? Who are the national champions for this college football season? Which has been the biggest and best season of all time. Ratings up and to the right. Top five games up and to the right. Interest ins up and to the right. Top five games up and to the right. Interest in sport up and to the right.

Tonight is gonna be electrifying. Obviously it's Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I hope you take a look around and say, hey, we can be more unified than ever before. It'd be our choosing to do so. It's Inauguration Day up there in D.C. Obviously a lot of storylines developing from that particular world, which is very serious.

And then tonight to cap it all off, the entire country and world are going to watch two teams from cold weather climates from the north. Try to win a national championship. It's a wonderful Monday here in the United States of America. Tone Diggs, it really is. And I don't know if you guys saw the tweet. It came out, I think, earlier this week, end of last week. The last year before NIL started, 130 underclassmen came out for the NFL draft. 130.

This year only 70 are coming out for the NFL draft. The NIL has done like a huge part for keeping these kids in school, whether they go out, they get the grade, they come back, or they think they can make more money in college. But that's 70 underclassmen, 70 more underclassmen than before on IELTS that are playing in college football this year that would have been in the NFL. And I think it's raising the game of college football a ton. Most definitely. Now, the numbers that are being paid to these guys that are sticking around and going in

the transfer portal, I don't know how long that's going to last. You know, Coach Saban said, we need, all right. Yeah, this is not sustainable. I got to say this. How much time? I got 30 seconds. This needs to be said. We're at the national championship.

I love what we're doing. I love college football. This is not sustainable. He said, you just mentioned Jeremiah Smith maybe going to Michigan because this can't be how this goes going in the national championship. I think everybody with a rational mindset sees it that way. So I think it's a big off season for college football. We're not there yet.

Obviously we're one game away from that. But where we were being set up in our production meeting in the hotel, it was right next to the college football playoff committee with a lot of meetings happening with all the commissioners of college ball. And it feels like everybody understands we got something special here. We have a lot of meetings happening with all the commissioners of college ball, and it feels like everybody understands. We got something special here. We can't throw it away, we can't ruin it. We gotta continue to make it more special.

We gotta continue to introduce it to more people. We need to give more people a shot to shine, and we need to make sure we take care of the student human athletes in a manner that is respectable for the grandness that is college football at this point. I feel like there is nothing but blue skies in the horizon and tonight is going to be a majestic game that's going to make us say, wow, that was the greatest college football

season of all time. As we wrap up here on, I don't know if we're on ESPN or not, we didn't start on ESPN. Okay, we are on ESPN. I don't know if we're on ESPN or not. We didn't start on ESPN. Okay, we are on ESPN. I don't know how that happens. But all the people that helped set this up, this is the game day set, and did a little extra work all season long for me, for this show.

I can't thank you enough. Okay, I appreciate the hell out of you. College game day, five o'clock. Then the national championship from the sideline. We'll see you there. Goodbye! clock then the national championship from the sideline will see you there. Okay, so we're still live here. What we need to do is

we take a little bit of a break. Actually let's just pick the games there is a PA announcement test. Oh, yeah, that is going to happen in here and they have delayed it already an hour for us. Wow, okay, obviously. There are people that are not thrilled. Okay, the games that actually yeah, we should do that now get 10 minute break.

Yeah, well this will they be got a long night. I want to Foss Foss had the Foss presented the information and I said so just let them do it while we're live that'd be great because we'll just talk about it they're like they do not want to do that. Okay, okay so they have bobbed and weaved with us so we should certainly do that as well.

I'm hearing that we have a sick b- shot of a plane that this alive shot from the sky They're testing their camera and they're off. Okay, that was sweet for a second. It was great Was that good year? That's probably the good year blink. I would assume so let me see if I see a sneak peek So never going up in that thing Ladies and gentlemen, you're looking live as they test their cameras and all their shots Let's get a good white balance here on Mercedes Benz Stadium. We have a little insider information that maybe this particular stadium

costs a little bit more than projected. See, it's beautiful. It was worth it. It is glorious. It is gorgeous. You are looking at the home of tonight's national championship as Ohio State takes on the Notre Dame.

Fighting Irish from gorgeous Atlanta, Georgia Let's make these picks before this PA announcement and I think whoever's doing the actual PA announcement is watching the show going I mean, I don't know if you could ever work something out to be funny but that is kind of what the conversation that I was hearing was. Let's go around the table here tonight's national championship con man Notre Dame or Ohio State. Ohio State wins Notre Dame covers Notre Dame plus eight and a half. That's the number we're going off right now. Ty.

I'm also Catholic guy. So I'm going to go with that. Ohio state wins. Notre Dame covers. Notre Dame plus eight and a half. That's the number we're going off right now. Ty. I'm a big 10 guy, but I'm also a Catholic guy. So I'm going to go with the motherfucking Irish tonight, baby. Okay. Going with the Irish. Helen Diggs, yeah, you see ya. Yeah, as you know, I was once the mayor of South Bend, so that's where my heart lies.

But my brain says my favorite bet is Notre Dame team total under 18. So that would make me take probably the Ohio State Buckeyes. Okay, seems like you kind of did not give an answer. Cause you got a lot of family and friends. Ohio State Buckeyes. Okay, you got the Buckeyes.

You got Notre Dame covering or just Notre Dame under? Nah, I don't think so. Geez. Good luck going back to South Bend, Tom. Geez, the week. These Buckeyes gonna have your ass. Yeah, maybe. Good luck going back south bedtime. Geez. Going to have your ass. Yeah.

Maybe. Hey Jay. Your pick for the game tonight. I like Ohio State to win and I like Ohio State to cover but I think it may be a cagey affair early on. I think you could. Notre Dame obviously is a great

team. Marcus will have these guys ready. Might try to steal possession or two. But yeah I think I said wins and covers. D.

Butch. I'm right there with a J. Ohio State wins. Ohio State covers will be a great game from Notre Dame. You know, they do have, you know, kind of no pressure almost playing with house money, but I just like too many weapons. We saw him not play their best game last week against Texas. I think they're firing also Ohio State cover Ohio State cover Ohio State cover Notre Dame win straight up and Notre Dame

covers Ohio State wins. Boom. All right. That'll help me make my pick on game day. Yeah. Well well can't wait to see you guys out there. Alright from all of us to all of you thank you for allowing us to do this for a living. We are... I think it's recording. I was hoping it was live. That cannon here? Yeah there's the cannon. He can't read the music, but he can sure hear. Travis Parker.

All right, we got the national championship tonight live from this building. It's going to be electrified from all of us, especially the guys back in the truck. Good work back in the truck. Good work back in the truck, boys. Good work. The practice and the pyro, the flames, the PA. Tonight is going to be a spectacle as we crown the next college football national champion. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice. It might change their life. We're in this thing together. Team on me.

Hey, thanks for the food, Levi restaurant. It's all good. Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three, team. Goodbye.