The Ryen Russillo Podcast - Talkin’ Baseball! Plus, Oregon, Ohio State, and Miami or the Field? And the Top CFB Stadiums With Fox’s Chris Fallica.

Episode Date: October 1, 2025

Russillo starts with some baseball talk, getting into why it’s so easy to get hooked on the playoffs. Then, he chats with Fox’s Chris Fallica about who the real contenders are in college football, how he’d rank the SEC right now, why this week is massive for Arch Manning and Texas, and the top stadium atmospheres. Finally, the guys close it out with some listener-submitted Life Advice, including a question about being TOO close to your pickup hoops teammate. (0:00) Welcome to the show! (1:35) MLB playoffs (3:33) Red Sox–Yankees (16:06) Chris Fallica stops by! / Who are the real CFB title contenders? (20:04) Should we rule out Penn State? (30:05) Top five SEC teams (35:05) Oregon, Ohio State, and Miami or the field? (54:43) Best CFB stadiums (1:07:15) Life Advice Host: Ryen Russillo Guest: Chris Fallica Producers: Kyle Crichton, Steve Ceruti, and Jonathan Frias  _ _ _ _  The All-New 2025 Lincoln Navigator® SUV Learn More at Lincoln.com The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our baseball special podcast, we talked baseball, maybe nine minutes, but I enjoyed it yesterday. I'll run through some thoughts on a packed baseball week. We got Chris Felica, aka the bear, from Fox Sports. The guy's locked into college football. We talk about the matchups this weekend. And also just, you know, kind of run through the contenders, some of the stuff that we're seeing, just a really good football conversation, college football conversation, including the preposterous stadium ranking that Fox Sports put out that I think needs to be addressed.

And we've got a little spicy life advice for you, too, including how far can you go with a teammate? This is the Ryan Marcila podcast presented by Fandul, and if you're betting on the NFL, Fandul, is the place to do it. They've got everything. Same game parlays. Quick bets. when you want to jump in live and your way so you can set your own lines.

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Must be 21 plus and present in select states, 18 plus in D.C., Kentucky, and Wyoming. Gambling problem call 1-800 gambler or visit RG. dash help.com call 888789 777 or visit ccpg.org or 4 slash chat in Connecticut. Baseball rise back. Let's play for a lot of baseball at the house yesterday. Loved it. It felt good to care again. Sox Yanks down to the last hitter. I'm going to go over a couple of things. Very few things because I'm a fair weather fan now. And I've got to tell you, this is easy. This is way easier.

becoming the thing I always despised just now I get it you're like how can the ratings go up so people won't watch all season long and then the teams in the playoffs and then everybody just watches that what's wrong with people

now when it comes to baseball I'm one of those people and I'm going to say I kind of get it now this is way more efficient if you have other things going on if you don't have other things going on like I kind of had for a good stretch of my life when I was younger. But like music, like a band that somebody likes a little bit too much.

What are you really doing in your youth? You're probably just exploring something that matters so that you can identify with something. So all of a sudden you're like, hey, this is my favorite band. I'm going to take it way too seriously and I'm going to dress like them, and I'm going to argue about them, and I'm going to call on message boards and do all these different things. I mean, it's the same thing kind of with baseball, really. I mean, you could say it's football, but you're not making the same investment. 16 fucking game 17 now

162 dog but yeah I can't do it anymore so I just popped down on the couch yesterday and was like let's go socks uh yeah so I don't like that I'm admitting it I'm just admitting it to you so the cool thing too is you just to start firing off opinions

like I guess this is what people do right like I don't have a ton of reference not a ton of data points I haven't put the hundreds of hours in. I'm just going to have like, hey, Max Free, shouldn't have taken them out. This is easy, man. How many pitches do you have? I don't care. And aside on pitch count stuff, there was a long, long time ago where we never cared about pitch count. And then once we started to care about pitch count, then all the pitchers are going to be healthy. And then that didn't really happen. And then we understand that, like, it was funny because I was like, let me start

looking up stuff. I don't know fair weather. guys do that, but I did it. I was like, we're a free, we're a crochet on pitch count. Number one in baseball and number three in baseball. And the Yankees number two starters, number two in game two, against the socks. So these guys

crochet, I think it was like 93. 0.5 pitches per start, number one in all of baseball. So you're watching that. And then also understanding the stress, the playoff stress of a pitch as opposed to maybe a Pirates game in May. But it's fun to

not I guess again this is kind of how the world works even though there's like a couple little lanes that I feel pretty educated in baseball is no longer really one of them and I guess because I have a show or a passion for the sport which was rekindled again as always rekindled around this year because I just love this product so much I love the playoff product but then sit here and say well Cleveland needs to do this are you actually going to listen to me if I say Cleveland needs to do this hot start terrible history hot start what last two 22 games, 45 runs allowed. I looked that up today.

I could share it and say their pitching has been immaculate, and that's going to be a tough matchup. And then you have Scoobble in game one. So last night's game, the one I was paying the most attention to. Great job with the Cubs. And I can mention teams, Dodgers' bullpen concerning, whatever. Reds don't really have much of a chance. And this one, staying alive and just going out, check out Otani leading off.

Gone. No problem. I saw some Otani criticism earlier. season where it was like, oh, because he pitched a couple good innings once. Everybody's turning this guy to Babe Ruth. He's like, that seems a little unfair. That seems a little unfair. Those are not, those are just Dodgers, haters saying that kind of stuff. And then you see how he closes the season to pitch.

And then also on his way to winning another MVP. So at least last night at Yankee Stadium, I don't know if they still call it to boogie down, but that's what they used to call it. Sox up 3-1, Chapman's in, Chapman's own history with the Yankees, the history between these two teams that has shipped. in a way that would disrupt a planet's access going back to we up right 2004. Chapman in, they're up 3-1, bases loaded no-outs.

And I was like, this is starting to feel like a good chunk of my 20s all over again. Except it didn't. Like that scenario, pre-2004 for me, just dread. Like already standing up, already know that tomorrow's going to be brutal. I'm still going to be mad Thursday. There's no way they're going to close this out. It's the Yankees and the socks. But again, it's this is a weird feeling the last 20 years.

You're like, I don't know. Maybe they'll get out of this. And Chapman got out of it. Base is loaded, no outs, up 3-1, gets out of the whole thing. You know what I love about baseball? I love caring about the difference between what a pitcher is going to do, one-two versus 2-1. And if you care about the outcome of the game when it's 1-1,

and you're like, I need this to be a strike. I need this so bad right now because then it opens up the rest of the palate. 2-1. I don't really know if I like this match-up all that much. Depending on who the pitcher is, you're like, this guy at 2-1, like he's just serving it up right here. The great ones, the great ones can still pitch to their will when they're behind in the count, right? As opposed to so many of the guys that are out there, even in the major leagues, it's a 2-1, it's like, oh, I have to give in, I have to give in. Well, Chapman's not going to give in, gets through the next two hitters,

and I'm watching his matchup with Jazz Chisholm, who has a million, shirts at his Yankee Stadium locker. I don't know if you saw any of that post game. He didn't start. They're like, how's that work? He didn't turn around. He was pretending he was organizing his shirts because he didn't really want to get into why he wasn't starting after having a monster home run season for jazz. But jazz is sitting there at 2-1. Chapman throws a 2-2 slider that's just perfect, right? And we had seen in the previous at bat with Stanton where it was 0, 2, 3 pitches 02 with a foul ball in there, where he'd thrown 100, 100, 101 to Stanton, sped him up, throws him a splitter at 80 and 9. Stanton is just out in front of it because he's just

all he's seen is gas. And I'm like, that's the beauty of these matchups. That's what I love about this sport. Is it like, look, you're 02, you can throw a splitter and you can throw it in the dirt, although you do have the bases loaded, you're a little bit more worried about that kind of stuff. But you can try to waste one. He doesn't even waste one. It was right down the middle. of the plate. And there's probably no way Stanton's going to make that adjustment there because now you're down 02. You've filed one off. It's 100 miles an hour. And you're like, can I actually plan? Can I look for something here? I thought the broadcast did a good job and talking about Chapman and some of the struggles in the ninth because he had to get that

extra out in the eighth. But now he's throwing 95. You're like, where's the hundred? And they're like, you know what? Usually this guy's all lathered up. A lot of perspiration on. Where's the perspiration? Well, after some base runners got on, he started gearing it back up. And so that brings us back to the Chisholm at bat. So he's sitting there and he throws a slider to Chisholm that Chisholm looks at after throwing him gas to start the at bat. And I'm like, would he go back-to-back slider? Because it kind of froze him. And that's just what I love about the sport is you're playing these little games at home.

and you're like, I wonder if you go back to backslider here. It wouldn't be the worst idea because he's probably thinking he's going to go back to the gas. Now you start doing the Prince's Bride deal. And it's like, yeah, but it's Chapman. And now if he's hitting 100, like he just did against Stanton, like it's, just get it inside on Chisholm and try to blow him away, 101. And that's exactly what he does. My favorite moment from the night, crochet walking off the mound.

So he gives a back-to-back singles to start the game. You're like, hey, this isn't supposed to happen, not with the season that this guy. I just had. Gives up those back-to-back singles, retire 17 straight at one point. He did give up kind of like a Chili Davis, Pedro 17 strikeout night, home run to Volpe, although Chile kind of guessed wrong and got his bat around. Volpe just put a great opposite field swing on this thing, somebody who apparently is just getting worse every year with the Yankees. I just see people bitch about him all the time. But again, it doesn't look like he's been very good this year. So you're like, is this going to happen?

Again, this is kind of like a 90s thing. Because then Volpe had a hit a little bit later that reminded me like of a Jeter double down the right field line off of Pedro. Like he didn't even come close to making good contact here. Like, of course, again, this is pre-O-4 stuff where you're like fucking figures Jeter would hit this huge double that he barely hits and it would go down the line. And I'm like, I mean, look, I don't hate Jeter anymore. I don't even really know him. But you understand the point. So crochet comes off the mound.

He's done his job. just a hoss of a dude big looping left-hand delivery where it feels like you're helpless and he also when he's like behind in the count you want to talk about not giving in like he's kind of thinking almost you can see it like with a batterer's like I know it's 3-1 but do you actually think you're getting on because you're not like now now I'm going to go back to work here and the way he walked off of that mound and looked up at the fans in yaking stadium like And he's feeling himself in that moment. I mean, it was like Russell Crow gladiator type shit up until, you know, obviously the final scene there.

So I even got pissed at Abraeu in right field when he cut off Raphael, where I'm like, what are you doing? Because Volpe is at second. And I'm like pre-2004, they hit into each other, obviously. Volpe comes around. Maybe it's even inside the Parker, because. you'd have a collision there with your center fielder and right fielder. And I was psyched. I mean, I hadn't got mad at not deferring to the center field or calling you off in months.

And here I was being like, how, I don't know what's loud in there, but give me, like, think about the ground you're covering. And yeah, did Abraeu's gold glove history matter to me in that moment? No. No, it didn't. So all those things happened last night. It was a lot of fun. so I'll be a little bit more locked in the next well being more than 0% locked in it will be more locked in so even at 1% it's an improvement for me so we'll talk a little baseball here for the baseball fans of the podcast and it was just a look I'm never going to hate the Yankees as much as I did I probably hate Sweet Caroline now the song and the association I don't hate Neil Diamond at all do not think I said that I hate that song and the association of Dr. Weirdo time making that become some staple that's like 20 years old. None of us that grew up with this shit like that song for the record. The Rymer's solo podcast is brought you by Fandul. And Fandul's keeping the energy up with their $2 million jackpot every Thursday game of the NFL season.

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Call 888-789-77- or visit ccpg.org forward slash chat in Connecticut. This episode is brought to you by the all-new 2025 Lincoln Navigator SUV. Lincoln's original SUV is back and better than ever with a bold, new design, and elevated features throughout. Experience three rows of comfort and tech from the multi-sensory Lincoln and rejuvenate to available massaging seats. Explore more at Lincoln.com.

Some models, trims, and features may not be available or may be subject to change. Check with your local retailer for current information. Lincoln and Navigator are trademarks of Ford or its affiliates. Good to catch up with a guy. I spent a lot of time on the road with from Fox Sports and Big Noon kickoff and Bearbats on FS1. It's Chris Felica of the Bear. What's up, man? Not much.

Fun September. Now we're off and running on October. A couple of upsets. We kind of reshape some things and might be a couple more this week. We're going to ask you for a winner, of course, at the end of this, although the Alliance, although we may retire it after our only attempt this year going 3 and O and being a winner on that side of it for you. So, look, you're a Miami guy first and foremost. So, you know, the discussion about where this program is is an annual thing. Although I don't think it's specific to Miami. It's kind of a general thing with college football. There's fan bases all over the country that are like, yeah, but we'll probably end up losing a game. You're like, yeah, you probably will end up losing a game. But with Miami, because there were questions about the turnover, receiver,

defensively being a letdown last year, really being the issue with them and their losses and still a Syracuse loss that I still don't quite understand as you shake your head in agreement. What do you see from this team as far as like looking at them as a real title contender? I think you look at the trenches, and that's where while we talk about receiver and things like that, defense secondary some issues that they that they had i think me maybe like the shiny object over here we lost kind of the fact that they really built this program on the offense defensive lines and now you've seen what they did in the offseason revamping that secondary you got a malachi tony c j dangles is realizing his potential uh keel and mary and the transfer from bYU they really

went hard into the portal to sure up those areas on the outside and knowing that you've got a great offensive line, a great defensive line, three legitimate running backs. And I think they feel really good. And that's when you look at nationally, how many teams can really match up in the trenches with Oregon probably, Ohio State probably. Outside of that, I don't know who else in the trenches in terms of the contenders can really match up with them on both sides of the ball. So are you ruling Texas out of the contender? I worry about Texas's offensive line. And I worry about their skill guys on the offensive side of the ball. Obviously, I think this is a mass game this week for Arch.

We saw the one real team that they played was a game at Ohio State season opener. Of course, you're going to struggle. And they did. I really don't care what you did against San Jose State, San Yustin State, and Utep. That means nothing to me. Going on the road against the Florida defense, which if they haven't licked the stamp on the season, that's going to be a big problem for them.

I was talking a couple guys down there. Texas and they're like this is a pretty big game for Arch this is going to tell us a lot so I'm not even sure if they're sure what way this is going to go so obviously you've got the game against Georgia on the road as well you've got the game against day and M like it's not too crazy to be sitting here and saying that Texas could be nine and three and maybe on the outside looking into the playoff yeah that six and a half is telling you a lot for that Florida game as soon as you saw that line you're like all right you know that kind of makes sense but It just feels like a reluctance where there'll be lines early in a season where I'll go,

oh, man, Vegas must just love this team because there's so much assumption, so much, I should say, assuming going on at the beginning of the season. But when I saw that six and a half, it's like, okay, look, Florida was still on the fight against Miami, which is kind of the sneaky secret of the story of that game. Beck throws the pick and it's like they're down 13-7 and still have a chance, despite, you know, again, a football game looking like it's pretty much dominated by one side of it. But yeah, that's six and a half, I think, tells you uncertainty of Texas and who they are. And then Napier, getting that team to respond late last season and thinking maybe this is not a group that's going to give up. I think that transitions well into Penn State

because it's easy to just dump on Penn State, the history, Franklin, Aller. I mean, they've given us plenty of evidence to dump on them. But after that Oregon loss, like how do you view them the rest of the way? Because I, I'm, like, not turning the page on them at all. No, they are what I've thought they are. Like, this is what they've been. It's funny. Like, people thought last year,

oh, they got to the semifinal and they changed the narrative. Did they really? They beat Boise State and SMU. That's not changing the narrative. I lost to Notre Dame. And then this year, people were expecting. And, oh, Penn State's, I love this week hearing, oh, Penn State was my number one team entering this.

Is it in, wow, I'm really surprised at their lack of progression in the past game. Really? Have you been watching them the last couple of years? This is who they've been. Look, there are probably, what, 120 teams out there in the country that would trade places with Penn State in a heartbeat. The question I have now, though, is that Indiana game looks far from a layup at home,

and that comes on the heels of the game in Columbus where you can't beat Oregon on your home field, white out, Dante Moore making a road start, like what leads you to believe it can go to Columbus and win when he didn't score an offensive touchdown on them last year? So it's like, again, talked about it with Texas. Like there is a path here where maybe Penn State finishes 9 and 3, and they might be either on the bubble or on the outside of locking it.

But look, I still think that Penn State defense is really good. Despite doing nothing offensively and being thoroughly outplayed for 50 minutes, game was tired. They had the lead in overtime. Just couldn't get a stop to ultimately win the game. So, yeah, I am not turning the page on them completely as a college football contender. Do I think they can get to the playoff? Yes.

Do I think they can win the title? No, because, again, I don't think they can rip off three straight wins against the type of teams that they haven't beaten in years under Franklin, certainly with All or a quarterback. I know we shouldn't spend too much time in the AP voting, but it does tell you trends. And then I do think it gets into influencing the committee there a little bit because it felt like, like, how do you keep Penn State ahead of some of the other teams that had big wins? And you can still like Penn State a lot, but we keep talking about, you know, hopefully the committee taking this approach of like, hey, maybe we like a 10 and 2 team better than an 11 and 1 or maybe we like a 9 and 3 team better than a 10 and 2. And I just think human nature has told us time and time again, people can't really do that. AP voters have a very hard time with it. But, I mean, Ohio State, whatever you want to say about Texas, at least they have that pelt.

And prior to the Oregon game, I'm like, so how, like, the coaches, the coach's poll is even a bigger waste of time. time. But, you know, you're sitting there looking at like what Miami had done and certainly like a lot of the LSU Clemson stuff prior to the Ole Miss loss, a lot of similarities there and that like, hey, Clemson's not really the same team. Texas is obviously better than Clemson. So you get to the point here. But there was this kind of benefit of the doubt that Penn State was getting that usually is reserved for like an Ohio State or in Alabama with a recent national championship or at least appearance. Yeah, it really was. And that's, I think that's the struggle with the with the rankings we've heard rich clark and the playoff committee talk about

how we're going to take into strength of record and wins and strength of schedule into effect until they do it i'm not going to believe it i i think we're still going to see the one lost record really ultimately matter and that's even the trouble this week in ranking teams i put out in a relevant top 10 that everybody gets up in arms in about and like how do you handle the the Alabama situation, like the Florida State, the Alabama team that went to Florida State week one without their top two running backs, without the best defensive player, and Simpson's first road start, completely different team than the team we saw last week on the field. It happens with all those guys back and Simpson getting a little bit of experience.

I think Alabama has the potential to be the best team in the SEC. I think maybe they are right now. But again, it's funny because you look at the SEC and you look at the Big Ten, like I think Oregon and Ohio State are probably the two best teams in terms of winning the title. But the depth of the SEC is probably better, even though they don't have, they don't have that alpha like an Ohio State or like an Oregon. It's funny, because we were kicking around something. I'd like to get your thought on it too. I love coming on other people's shows and asking them questions.

In terms of like trust factor at quarterback, it doesn't feel like a lot of these teams really trust. their quarterback. Like you see Arch at Texas. You see Aller at Penn State. You see Ohio State what's saying on the road. Like in a Texas game, he's averaged like five yards in an air attempt. It seems like a lot of these teams haven't really let that lagway had 60 yards passing against Miami. Like a lot of these teams haven't really let their their quarterbacks go out and do the things that they need to do to win games. Like they're really playing it close to the best and almost thinking about having other teams make mistakes and winning games. with your defense yeah this is my thing all summer and you know dana and i talked about it and i think there was another guest to be touched on it it's like if you looked at the preseason top

eight in the ap six had total question marks a quarterback right and so like let's start with ohio state because i completely understand them being number one if i were an ap voter i'd probably go oregon or miami i think that's a coin toss discussion you probably if you really want to get to the schedule stuff and you know oregon was another one of those question mark things i wasn't sure about Dante Moore, the UCLA thing wasn't that great. I went to one of the high school camps and it didn't feel like they were talking him up the same way. They were talking up some of the other guys, which is usually like this little seed that gets playing in my head because how accurate the high school guys are with the elite 11 and the camps over the summer.

And, you know, to go into Penn State to win that game, to win the game in overtime after blowing lead and the whole thing like that, that's probably something I put down for Oregon. And now that I've watched them a few weeks, like they're just loaded with all of these offensive options again. Yeah, defensively, I don't think they're Ohio State necessarily. But yeah, that's what I would do, but it doesn't really matter. But back to like Sane. Like Sane, I think, is sixth in quarterback rating in college football.

But that defense might be that filthy. I mean, Washington has scored 168 points, I think, combined in the three games, and they score six at home. I think that's what Ohio State. It almost feels like Jim Tressel all over again. So I may not, Ohio State may not need to trust Sane. right? I'm sure they love that. But I don't know that it's going to matter where, like I'll use another example, like

another team that if you're talking about the best teams in the SEC, like A&M with that Notre Dame win, you know, they're what, sixth? It's really funny looking at the polls, by the way. Georgia is still ahead of Alabama in the coaches poll. You know, A&M's got kind of a, you kind of knew that was going to be like a dicey. Arbor's just going to be annoying for everybody all year long. I think when you watch Auburn. It might be really bad. Wow.

Yeah, but I think based on the three Auburn games that I've watched this year, it just feels like they're not going to have a great record this year, but you can't just roll in against them thinking that it's going to be easy. And I'm taking way too long to kind of come full circle on this whole thing. Right? But on the trust part of I'm Flica, that goal line possession with Marcel Reed and A&M

and the fourth down throw. to his tight end, which was just throw it to him and maybe he'll make the play on it. It's going to be very hard for me to look at A&M at that quarterback spot and say, yeah, pencil me in for that the rest of the season. Like, I think they can win the SEC. I think they're a national championship contender

despite being undefeated, having that great road win and being six in the country today. So, yeah, I'm in a complete agreement with you. And now with a month of games here, we can tell kind of who trusts who. I mean, go ahead, jump in. I'm going too long here because I do have an aller thaw in Penn State to follow up. No. No, it's funny because you look at A&M and like you wonder like you got road games at LSU.

You got road games in Missouri. We're games in Texas and Florida obviously still tricky. Like I know Pollock was very high on A&M coming into the air and he thought they were a playoff team. And it's funny to think about you back and you watched that Auburn game. You're like sitting there like, how the hell is Auburn still on this game? They can't convert a third down. They can't move the ball. all, Arnold just takes sacks left and right, and here they are.

It's a one possession type game. So it's really nutty to think about them right now. Like, what kind of odds could have you gotten right now to have Ole Miss and A&M be the top two ranked teams in the SEC? But it's funny as well because you have like that Auburn corollary. You've got the SEC admitted officiating mistake against Auburn that kind of cost them that game. And yet A&M who benefited from the no-hold. holding call and on the final play of the game against Sunder Day. Officiating can really come back and wind up really affecting the structure of the

playoff down the road, especially if you get some mature back for that South Carolina game in a couple weeks. Yeah, the mature part of this changes everything because we might. I mean, if you look at the statistical profile of Oklahoma across the board, I mean, it feels like a franchise team that you create in the video game. And after you've got all your recruits in there, year five, you're like, We're number one in literally every single category because I put the hours in. That's how good Oklahoma is on paper and getting material back.

Like maybe they can get through. But that schedule is so brutal that you're right. Like I'm blown away by Chambliss and Ole Miss. But I don't know if I think they're better than Georgia, right? Like I don't, I'm picking Alabama against Ole Miss if that's the matchup. So if you were like giving me your top five teams in the SEC. I'd probably go Alabama 1, Georgia, 2, Texas 3. So, Meteer healthy, you would still have?

Oh, no, well, yeah, I just worry about Oklahoma and that offense and their inability to run the ball with a running back against anybody good. I don't care what you did against Temple. I don't care what you do against Ken State this. week. Like it's basically like one man like try and stop us. And so far, I mean, it was good enough to beat Michigan with Underwood making his first road start and it was good enough to beat Auburn with the help that they got. But a long term, like, I'm not sure. You've got those five games to finish the year against ranked teams and three of them on the road. So I don't know. I'm still kind of holding out. And maybe it's just a me problem. Maybe it's kind of

have been there, done that. Look, last year I was high on Oklahoma and I kind of got burnt to buy him and we've seen a lot of people in the past be high in Oklahoma and they've gotten off the good starts and then they faded down the stretch. And maybe is a little bit of that still in my mind, but I still got to wait and see when he comes back and how he is when he comes back to kind of, I'm kind of using the injury as a little bit of a way to kind of, okay, that's my crutch to kind of default them down a little bit right now. Yeah, look, I don't know that it's just a tough group to be definitive about because it feels like those five teams at the top

and I'm not even including LSU in that group anymore. Yeah, that's what I was just going to say too. Like after week one, I was like, look, I was not high on Clemson coming into the year, but to go there and win on, and we are like, okay, yeah, that's a good end. Just to see what they did against Florida with the one offensive touchdown,

and then just a complete no-show on offense last. They might not be very good. They do not look like they have. a functional offensive line. They did not look like they have a running game, certainly with the injury there. Nussmeyer's confidence looks shook. It kind of feels like the vibe that maybe Brian Kelly is letting off,

like in the press conference, but don't ask me about the offense. Like it feels that might be seeping into the offense and the players a little bit. So it would not surprise me at all to see LSU kind of, I don't say, fold it up down the stretch, but I think there's certainly three, at least three more losses on the schedule.

for them. And that would have been something completely opposite because I had them after that game. I'm like, I got to put LSU number one right now. That's a great win. They look, Texas very easily could have won in Columbus. They really controlled that game at Clemson. Defense was fantastic. But right now, as good as that defense is playing, their offense is going to have to do something at some point. Yeah, good time for them to get the week off. I'd be surprised if it were just a disastrous, like, closed of the season. They've got South Carolina, they're at Vandy, who, you know, is legitimately good. yeah but who knows

that might be one of those spots where now that Vandy's been good for a year and a half it's like you have to be a little bit more up for it where I think Bama going in there last year was probably just assuming they're going to put 40 on them and then the next thing you know they couldn't figure out the mesh point for three hours and dudes are yelling at each

we just put 40 on the board and beat George and surely we're going to go to Vandy and win easily now yeah would you So we don't have Ole Miss and Bama this year. Thank you, college expansion. We will not have a locked-in LSU Bama game every year, too,

which is going to end my streak, although the streak kind of get interrupted there with COVID and some hard for flight options once. Join the club. Give me somebody then that you think is just not a title contender, maybe that is talked about as one or is ranked there. Penn State. I don't think they're a time.

I mentioned them earlier. I know I know Russia and I hate to dump like sound like I'm dumping on them because, I mean, they were the team that I fell on love with college football, rooting for growing up, having a family in the area. That was growing up in the Northeast. That was the team that you rooted for and followed. But again, I think we've seen it. Like if they're four, if these four and 21,

against top 10 teams at Penn State, like what leads you to believe that he can beat three potential top 10 teams in a row in a playoff environment with all those games being on a neutral field? Like, I just don't see it. Again, it doesn't mean that it's a bad program and they're a bad team.

It's just that they're kind of, they are what they are. I can't see that one in the title. It was funny because I pose this question in our production meeting the other day, like if you could bet right now, and then I actually asked Chris Andrews at South Boy and Outsmaker, like what he would post the price at.

If you could bet Ohio State, Oregon, and Miami versus the field, would you? And then I asked the odds maker what the price would be. And he said, wow, he goes, wow, he goes, I think the field would be a short favorite, maybe like minus 140 or so. but I ran it by a couple of my guys here and they like the trio.

They like Oregon, Ohio State, and Miami. So it's just interesting. It looks like it's wide open, but how many of those like Ole Misses, Alabama's, A&Ms, Texas's, Georgia's, do you think, like, can rip off three wins in a row against teams of that caliber? It'd be interesting to see. Yeah, I mean, I know I'm very guilty of letting Danny

canel annoy me with social media post. That's okay. You're forgiven. I think I have enough hours, hours in the lab with him. But he bangs the drum. But I always feel like everything that he's doing is just directly leading back. It's like this maze that has one ending every single time. And it's some way to just, I'm actually impressed that he thinks his voice is so important

that the propaganda that he's putting out there is going to get like the committee to think, maybe this guy's right. and we shouldn't hype up any of the SEC teams. But he'll say like, hey, everything's different now. Everything's different now. Why is he pushing everything's different? He's pushing everything that's different because he's hoping that the momentum continues to push away from the SEC being the default best conference.

And, you know, with back-to-back national championships of the Big Ten, you know, he's like, look, I'm handing out pamphlets, more people who are starting to read them. But he'll say like, hey, it's different. Like, we're not going to have these undefeated powerhouses anymore. Like, this is the college. One, we didn't really have that many undefeated. teams. Okay, so there's that. And now we're asking these teams to play, well, the scheduling thing is its own topics, but if we just talk math, 12 games, we're asking to win a conference

championship, and then we're asking you to get to this bracket with 12 teams that with this December decision, it feels like this thing's going to expand again based on everything that I'm hearing, which I hate, but whatever, done the rant before. We're asking these teams to play a lot of games. So the idea that we're going to, yeah, like 16 and 0, you're right, man. It's probably not happening a lot. Yeah, 16 and 0 when you got to face like six other teams that are going to be in like the top 12 or 15 or 10. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they extrapolate that out and do the math. Yeah, not not happen. Okay, so off of the Penn State thing, I think there's a bigger issue. Maybe it's just because I watch LSU not be able to run the football with drop eight defensive coverage.

But it kind of speaks back to the Penn State thing. They should trust Al or more. Maybe they don't. And this is two years in a row where they've tried to fix the receiver room through the transfer portal because they didn't have anybody who could get separation. What is it? Last year, 23, it felt really gross. We were like, any of these receivers ever get open?

Yeah, so one pass to a wide receiver? Was it last year in the quarterfinal and the semifinal? think it was? Yeah, there's a really gross stat out there. Nothing as gross as the Eagles not completing a pass in the second half and that game against Tampa. And still won and covered. And still won, right. But watching Ketron Allen get going against Oregon and knowing that Singleton's right there with him, like this unbelievable running back duo that complements each other with their style of play perfectly. And I'm watching Allen get going and be like, hey, when these defenses start to get tired because this is what happens. I mean, we see it constantly in NFL

where it's like, how is this team moving? Well, they're moving the ball now because everybody's exhausted and they're just going to let it rip. But to have Singleton and Allen combined in that kind of game and that kind of environment to say, all right, well, maybe it's them wanting to have Al or have this big moment with everybody watching, but I'm not a big play calling guy. Watching those guys get going and you're thinking this you might have to you might have to sacrifice the passing attempt that opens up the field for that two-yard run that feels like it doesn't mean anything just to get Alan hot get him 17 18 touches like I have forever when we saw this this sport become pass happy and college football's influence travel up meaning college football to the NFL I was happy about

it because it was like man there's so many rushing attempts to just feel like they have no chance and it's a wasted down at a chance of breaking something open and getting somebody outside I'm now starting to come back around the other way that there's so much out there for you in the running game and these teams and the quarterback development and the seven-on-seven and all these coaches. It just feels like that has become such a priority that teams, you can run balance numbers for me,

but watching the games, it feels like there's so little priority on running the football that I think I'm coming back around. Like Georgia almost winning that game against Alabama being one-dimensional was fucking mind-blowing to me. And I wasn't really rooting either way, but there was almost an old-school version of me rooting for Georgia to pull that off by saying we're going to line up and you're going to have to deal with this for three hours. And that's what I said almost the exact same thing a couple weeks back after the Miami-Flority game where it was like, okay, the score was whatever it was in Florida, was somehow in the game at 13-7. But it was like, okay, we're better than you up front on both sides.

of the ball. You're not going to be able to move the ball. Go ahead and try. We're going to run every play. You're going to have to stop it and you're not going to be able to. It was very reminiscent of a vintage Sabin team when they got into a big game or Kirby's vintage teams or it was like, we're just better up front than you and you're not going to be able to do anything about it. And I think that was the bigger concern with Penn State. Not the Aller deal. We know what the numbers are. But they couldn't run the ball at all early in the game. And then finally, when they got down 17-3, I think it was Singleton who had that one long run, and it finally opened some things up. But you're right, you'll look at Miami. That's what makes

them so dangerous. They got, you're going to get Lyle back this week was their best running back. So I'm going to have three legit backs. Oregon, just owning the line of scrimmage and running the ball. Notre Dame. Notre Dame, you know, with the double the price and love, the two-headed monster, which that was, by the end of the year, Notre Dame is, Notre Dame is going to finish 10 and two. and they're going to get in the playoff and they're going to be a bitch when they get into the playoff

because the defense will grow up a little bit that needs to happen soon here yeah they're going to get they're going to get some guys back healthy car is going to have a full year under his belt like they're going to be they're going to be they're going to get a home game at 10 and 2 they'll win that game

and then they are going to be a pain in the ass for one of those top four seeds in that in that quarterfinal game yeah I wonder if like with wise are getting back to Texas and I don't know the latest on that. I was just checking it here. Yeah, he's going to be back. He's going to be back. This week?

I think so, yeah. Okay. All right. The guy that would talk to you down there was like, thank God we're finally getting some guys back this week. Well, that sounds pretty good. I'm assuming that means it's him. I just wonder if Texas will go, hey, maybe we shouldn't try to make this the art show, you know, once they get into the tougher portion of the schedule and, you know, get back to some of the things that we're talking about here. Because that's clearly what Ohio State's doing.

Yeah. Why put it off? all on him and I'm super like I don't think they're going to they're going to put it all on arch I think I'm not sure like they're fully like I think publicly they're talking about arch is fine arch is fine art but I don't know I get a vibe by talking to some people down there that like this is a massive game for him like I don't even think they know how this is going to go down there because you look at Florida's defense and McLean has grown up as a corner their secondary is good I know their front's got injuries, but they made life very difficult on Carson Beck,

knocking down balls and getting pressure against a much better offensive line than what Texas is going to be traveling down there. So, yeah, that is a, like every ounce of me wants to bet Florida plus the points this weekend and maybe even nibble a little bit on the money line. Yeah, it feels like, you know, with BoJack and he had like 18 carries combined, and then he goes into the Washington game, 17 carries for Ohio State. And you're like, all right. I mean, how can we not be paying more attention to a freshman named Bo Jackson?

But we'll see. We'll see if that's what happens because it feels like a lot of teams with expectations just try to pass their way out of trouble. And if you have the guy, great. But a lot of teams, to me, feel like they don't have the guy. And give Ryan and Brian Hartlanders calling place for the first time a ton of credit. They know their defense is that good that Washington could have played eight quarters and they weren't going to score a touchdown.

So, I mean, I'm sure we'll see this week their offensive look completely different against Minnesota at home against Illinois, a terrible defense on the road, Wisconsin a team that might be Luke Fickles, like final game, depending on how they do this week. Like, I think there are opportunities where they can get him confident, and they can get Jeremiah Smith and Tate and Claire their numbers. But then when push comes to show, with Penn State comes in, when they go to Michigan, I think you'll be in a situation.

where it might be a little bit closer to the best, even though you saw that, I think Ryan thought last year again, when Michigan came in, they could do that and then shit hit the fan and it went bad and they couldn't dig themselves out of the hole. So maybe at that point in the year, they'll find it a little feel better about where they are and let go on the road and open it up

and finally break that losing streak. But it's, I'll cut saying a little bit of slack because I think that they win the surest way. You know Arch for a start. You knew Washington could be a job. dangerous spot. Just don't do stupid shit and you'll win the game. And I think it's probably the way they went out and played it. We don't text often, but when we do, at least in the fall of 24, we text about Indiana. So once I had dug through the schedule and gone, this is insane of

the 18 teams in the Big Ten, this is who they're playing. And it, like, you always kind of telling yourself a little bit. I think early Dion Sanders stuff is like, well, they beat the national championship runner up. It's like, technically, they did. But the team was a little different. There was a little push last year. It's like, well, they beat Washington. And they just played for a national championship. You'd be like, yeah, and all the guys, all the guys are gone. And their coach gone. Yeah. So I know what the uniform says. But I really, really got pissed off about the Indiana conversation because of, look, to get invited to this new version of the playoff, I've got to see it once. And we didn't

see that from them. And Signetti annoys the shit out of me. All right. That's on the record. However, watching them this year, and there's three things that happened. The just demoralizing ass kicking against Illinois. But then to see Illinois come back,

respond, Altmeyer have just a great, I thought he's so clean. I just like him. He's not my favorite quarterback, but like there's just a, I know when I'm watching Illinois, it's like, all right, they got a chance today because that guys back there. And their win against SC where they were clearly the better team throughout the two fumbles end zone, the whole thing. Great response by Illinois after being

that embarrassed, but also then proving for the Indiana arguments that we're going to have moving forward in the season. Like, hey, that Illinois wins pretty good. They beat an SC team that was ranked when they played each other. Who knows what ends up happening with SC. When you saw the Iowa line, you're like at Iowa, five and a half, you know, man, like you just knew that was going to be kind of a tough spot. And they respond. Mendoza hits the touchdown. So like there's there's already stuff that I feel better about with them, even though like I don't know what to make the bigger matchups for them. I'm probably not going to pick them. And maybe it's as simple as a carryover. But again, it's still a lot of different pieces here. So where are you now on Indiana

where it felt like we were pretty aligned last year? I think this Indiana team has the potential to be better. I think certainly at quarterback, I think they're better than what they were last year. I think defensively, they look better than they were last year. I can't believe the D-line is like already this much better, you know? Which is amazing. And I think

look, it was kind of like the Bill Snyder method at Kansas State way back when. You'd play nobody. You'd build up a record and all of a sudden people would be like, oh, wow, they're winning games. Maybe I'll go there. And I think what they did last year caused people to come in in the portal and why

and wind up giving them a record. It was interesting, though, because I'm looking at their schedule right now, and I looked at Joel Klatt that did his weekly college football playoff deal. And I have to go back and double check, but I didn't think I saw Indiana in there. And his top what? Top 12 for the playoff, playoff, playoff projected bracket. Flat loves the Big Ten. Yeah, he does.

And I know he's very, he loves Indiana, and he's high in Indiana. And I'm looking and I'm like, okay, so you assume there's, going to lose at Oregon and they're going to lose at Penn State. So that means they're going to be sitting there 10 and 2 and not in the playoff or do you think they're losing either to Michigan State, UCLA, Maryland, Wisconsin, or Purdue. It's kind of interesting because I think a 10 and 2 Indiana would probably have a pretty good case unless they lose the beauty pageant name with the Notre Dame or a Texas or a Georgia or another team that might be 10 and 2. So it's interesting. It looks like 10 and 2 is kind of what they're going to be.

And maybe another interesting conversation here, depending on how the align I want to finish enough year. Right. So they won't have Ohio State this year, but you're right. They've got Oregon, got the week off, so that'll be in two weeks or a week and a half.

And then at Penn State, but the rest of it, I mean, Wisconsin's a mess. UCLA is going to go all in 12. Michigan State's okay. I you know there there's just we know what we should do is we should come up as some sort of ranking system of just hey they're all right you know and it has to like start because it could be the entire of the entire big 12 they're all right yeah uh i don't know Texas tech is more than all right let's just give me a little on Texas tech so we mentioned the big 12 I think people I mean you heard about the buying team and NIL and the collective. I think people were very surprised nationally at how good they were up front, especially on the defensive side of the ball. I think people kind of thought that they were

this air raid team with Morton kind of throwing the ball over the place. And then you saw him get hurt. And I know there were people who were close to the program that kind of were a little bit surprised. Hammond didn't play more. Maybe he didn't even win the job. And they think he could potentially be better. I think they proved, Utah obviously has a ton of warts on offense and there were a little bit of warning signs there about what they did against UCLA and then seeing how bad the Bruins were. They still don't have a deep threat, the game breaker at wide receiver. I think we kind of saw why Dan Pierre was at New Mexico as opposed to a Power 5 team. That was a horrifying performance. And then you hear about Wittingham afterwards that, oh, he was

he was probably about 75, 80 percent, and he wasn't on the injury report, but he had an ankle injury. So that was kind of concerning right there. But yeah, but what Texas Tech did go in there and just completely shutting them down, getting turnover is winning without putting up points on every single position. That, in a sense, to me, was even more impressive than them just going out and winning one of those shootouts. I think that defense, I think that defensive front is pretty real. And they're going to be a tough out in that league. I wasn't sold on them at the start of the year. But looking at the rest of the league, K-State obviously has their problems. Iowa State's undefeated, but that's a really dangerous game for Iowa State this

week at Cincinnati with Swordsby's playing really well. You look at the games that Iowa state's been in. Last week, obviously blew out Arizona, but the Iowa game, even the games against lesser opponents, Arkansas State. They're kind of like 50-50. type games. So they very easily could be three and two right now as opposed to five and oh. So that's one that I have circled this week. I think Cincinnati is actually a small favorite. So the odds makers are kind of telling you there that you see is the right side. I like Cincinnati. I like watching this year. By the way. I shouldn't say should have. Very easily could have beaten Nebraska underthrow by Sourisbee

with the pick six kind of changed that game and all effectively ended it. But yeah, I think Satterfield's got a pretty good team there is here. By the way, Texas Tech has named Morton starter in that Houston game. So there's no way Will Hammond's not getting into the game. I would be shocked. But Morton, after getting knocked around in that Utah game that was kind of ugly both ways. And then Hammond comes in. Again, he was a huge recruit.

He was a big-time guy. So I think a lot of us were wondering how that decision would go. All right, two things. I need a winner. And then I'll close with something else. Give us a winner. I'm going to go Purdue plus nine and a half for 10. I don't know what numbers we're going with.

I think there are a couple of tens out there. It's just a terrible spot for Illinois. Coming off of that win, you got Ohio State next week. Now you're playing Purdue, who's been proved under Barry Odom. I think people are going to look at the USC score at Purdue. And now USC won easily there. Then Illinois, just beat at USC. Of course, they're going to go there and win like a bad spot on the schedule for Illinois

and Purdue was improved. I think Brown is going to be able to move the ball on the Illinois defense. They nearly beat them last year. Illinois was like a massive 20-something point favorite, and the game went to overtime. I'd be surprised if Illinois had an easy time on the road Saturday. And like I said, the other one, the other one, I have a feel, and I'm going to be holding a Florida ticket come Saturday plus points.

Purdue, a little sneaky, if you haven't been paying attention, because it's very easy to go. I'm not watching Purdue in a game. based on recent history. Yeah, no, I don't know. We're not all watching Purdue? Because the SE game was like nasty, considering, and they moved the ball. They're minus three in a turnover margin there.

And then the other game was why, you know, even though we were sitting here getting excited about Notre Dame and where they may end up, it's like, you gave up 30 to Purdue. But maybe, maybe the secret at all of this is that Purdue's out there, you know, as Van Pelt used to like to say, you know, doing some things. Boilermakers hanging in the fight, staying in the fight. All right. I have to ask you about this. You're kind of college football's double agent,

part of the ESPN machine and all the allegations of propaganda. I as a neutral observer of the world who likes to kind of sit back and say, you think this is happening when in fact I think this is happening over there, where if college game day goes to, If it goes to an SEC game. You see SBN, right? Right.

But then I'll see a big noon kickoff and be like, this is the big 10 game they picked, right? And understanding they're not going to go to other games based on some contractual agreements. Having said that, the Fox Sports and College Football on Fox social media page released a few weeks ago their top 10 college football stadiums. Oh, yeah.

Oh, no, yeah. Did you see this? Yes, I saw, and I responded. I think I actually did a quote tweet and did my top 10 stadiums. And I think I did not have like four of the stadiums that they put in there, including like the two that they had at the top. All right. So for the audience, who we will get you caught up here,

the top 10 college football stadiums according to Fox Sports, number one, Michigan, which no one has ever said, ever. ever no okay it's funny it's funny i joke with uh stu gotts about this and uh he says thanks for returning your text by the way he was kind of upset when when i told him i was going on with you and he's like yeah tell tell rsolo to text me back so um no i joke with him that uh the big house is the quietest hundred and ten thousand people you're ever going to no one's ever said that so i knew what was going to happen here and i was like what's going on so then it was was Ohio State 2, which is a good time.

I have them. What did you have them? I put them six. Six is fine. It's a pretty, it's a pretty, they sunk the field down. They've kind of closed it in. It's pretty cool in there now. Beaver Stadium 3.

I've got it two. Okay. All right. Now we're cooking. Notre Dame. No one has ever had Notre Dame in the top five. No. Unranked in my top.

10. It's kind of, it's interesting because I haven't been there in a while, but I know they had that like inner shell of the old stadium and just kind of put the wrapping around it. But again, it's not an intimidating place to go play. They have LSU 5th, because they knew they were like, all right, we put it.

That's my number one. I mean, if you don't have LSU, like in your top three, like, what are you doing? Yeah, that's even they were like, hey, we got to put LSU. Eventually, we have to put an SEC team in here. They go, Brian, Denny 6, which they actually made a mistake of not putting a different team.

I would honestly, if we're talking stadium experiences in the SEC, and I've been at Brian Denny a million times. I have had epic nights there. I have been part of history. Well, not really a part of history. I just was watching it happen in front of me. There were some unbelievable moments, as you know, as we would all be there for it. And then they got really spoiled.

But there's plenty of nights where I felt like this place is absolutely great. But I still would go Florida over that. I would go, I think Knoxville is incredible. That's number three for me. That's number three for you, okay. Straight up, loud, everybody in Orange, fans are nasty and rabid. Like, yeah, that's, that is a bitch to go in there and play. Okay.

All right. Two educated men, just chopping it up here. And I love Athens. I love Athens. Yeah, I have Sanford Stadium in there at seven. I got Jordan hair at five. Like that is an underrated sneaky place. It is.

I remember a few years ago, like I went back and did like this whole like difference between home winning percentage and winning percentage away from home and like Auburn had like the biggest difference. So it doesn't mean it's the best home field. No, but they tend to respond there. No. Yeah, you're right. You're talking like the variance between like expected.

Um, Auburn's just, I'm forever fascinated by the Auburn college football program. It's because it never really makes any sense. And then it just, I don't know, it's hard to explain. I'm going to drop Kirk Samson in Texas and be like, that should be like the media guide motto next year. Auburn football 2026. It just doesn't make sense. Where would you have Otson? I have Austin eight.

it's right there. It's small, it's loud. It's like in this bowl. It very, I mean, per capita in terms of noise, it's, it's loud. Per capita, yeah. It's sneaky. So if you were, I'd hate even saying this is a Big Ten Stadium now. Yeah.

I just got sad for a second again. So you would have Beaver Stadium one, and it sounds like you would have Columbus over Ottson, and then Ottson would be your third Big Ten? Yes, yes. Okay. And those are the three that those are the three big ten I have in the top ten. And I got I got one, I got a stadium at four that is not on this list. Okay, what do you got?

And actually, I lied. It is a Big Ten stadium. Washington. Husky Stadium stadium, stadium, the whole thing. And look, I went there for an Oregon game, but it was such an ass kicking that the place fell flat pretty immediately. And that rivalry is really nasty. Obviously, they have the Washington State stuff. there. I've been, and it is, it was when Sark was there, it was awesome, but they got rolled.

Yes. Like, that's when Oregon was just killing everybody. I've been there, and I mean, I can't remember Miami going there in 2000 and the place literally shaking, just the noise with that overhang, just staying in. That's a, that's a tough place. And I give Ohio State major props for going there and winning. And then I had a, I got a Tiger, Memorial Stadium, Clemson, nine Kyle Field 10 just all running down the hill deal and it's just a cool looking place again everybody everybody in orange

atmosphere setting post-game traditions is great and then Kyle Field is speaks for itself they don't win very many big games there but the atmosphere is great atmosphere is special yeah it's kind of like a grown-up Lane Stadium

like like we're off to never never land that's like the highlight of the game here we have oh, here come the Hokies. First down, Vanderbilt. It's like, wow. It's not 1999 anymore.

Hey, look, tech. 40 more on the pit boss, John Engelberg, or ain't walking through that door. I feel like all day on Saturday, I'm just looking at Virginia Tech transfer somewhere else, too. I'm like, man, they had a nice little group over there. It didn't work out. And they're going to be more.

Yeah. So I had another little follow. follow-up here, and I didn't want to spend this much time on it, but I'm enjoying it too much. I thought you were going to ask about, are you surprised at game days and not going to Florida, state, Miami this week and chose to go to Alabama Vandy? I thought that was going to be your question when you, when you teed me up as to like the dark side. Are you? Well, let's do it. I am a little surprised. I'm not shocked. We've seen to, if I had a dollar for every time in the 27 years I was in the show that we were planning on going somewhere and a team lost

the week before or then we pulled it pulled an audible and went somewhere else I wouldn't be working right now. But teams lose. Teams are going to lose. But what I think what it does show though is like they don't they don't care who's got the game. And last week is a better example of it than this week because last week NBC had the Penn State Oregon game and Kirk and Chris called the game in Athens on ABC. And this week, Kirk and Chris are going to be doing the Miami Florida State game and they're not going there. They've got a 5-0 bandy and an Alabama team back on the map.

But it just goes to sure they don't care about what their primetime game is, what network it's on. They're going to go for what they think is the best atmosphere. And they obviously just didn't feel that Florida State for a primetime game, eight hours before kickoff. 10 hours before kickoff, whatever, it would be the best atmosphere for the show. Whereas, and you mentioned Big Noon, and you mentioned the tweet, like, it's just kind of a little different philosophy.

Like, I think the Big New philosophy is more like it's more of a pregame show for the game that's on at noon. And I get it. I mean, it makes sense for what their programming strategy is. And that's why you don't see our show really deviating from what we've seen so far. It's already been announced that we're going to be in Illinois, Illinois back. for the second time, three weeks, doing the Ohio State game next week. Yeah, I think because Vandy's at Bama, where if you were like the Vandy stories,

Vandy, although game day atmosphere, Vandy, wouldn't exactly put it up against some of the other programs that we were just talking about. But, yeah, I mean, look, I'm not pretending I understood it, but because of the years that I was on the radio side of it and the exact same thing, we'd be booking flights. And then all of a sudden, I think it was shoelace, like ran for a touchdown against no Notre Dame. It was going to be my first time in South Bend. And I couldn't wait. I think it was even like telling buddies. And then that game happens. The next thing you know, I think we ended, I don't know if we ended up in Utah or something, but it was like a complete change. And it had

everything to do with the result. BDL, BDL, MSP, SLC. Kind of trying to get out of Eugene back to BDL wasn't my favorite. Yeah, UG, SLC, ATL, BD, that's three flights. That's the, that's That was like the worst possible decision you could make. It's like, do I take two flights and go to Portland and have the death drive after that game? Or do I take three flights and just completely waste Sunday? Like I finally opted on like, you know what? I'm old. I'm tired, whatever.

I don't care about getting home. I just don't want to make that drive to Portland in the middle of the night and risk driving off the roads. So I, towards the end of my tenure, I wind up just sucking it up and doing the three flights and just dealing with it. Hey, you can check out Chris Felica on Fox Sports again, Big Noon kickoff and Bear Betts on FS-Swan. Thanks, man. Enjoy the weekend. You got it, absolutely. Let's text more from now on.

You know what I'm going to text you, but we'll leave it in the show. I think Tallahassee, it's not the stadium, but when they're right and that stadium is going off. Yes. I've had some nights where I look around going, okay, you know, look, so many places are special. We're lucky we've been to so many of these places. But I think Tallahassee, it kind of loses on the stadium front and maybe the surrounding area. But when you get in there and it's hot and maybe it's a little rainy or whatever and they're good. And they're really good. I've had some nights in there where you look around and you're like, this is pretty special. It's like you can remember like Andre Wadsworth and Marvin Jones and Peter Bullware. Snoop Minniss. When they're walking off, teams were beaten when they walked off the field with their helmets in the air and and like the feel like interlocked and just like entire line is straight in solidarity with

helmets in the air. And the band is kind of playing the, playing that Seminole War chant. Like teams were done. With the except maybe a good Miami teams or if they had a good non-conference to put it in there like, but the game's over. But yeah, it's a little part of me That's a little bum that they lost in Virginia

Because it would have been really cool to see Five in No Miami, Five and No Florida State Top 10 matchup would have been pretty cool Yeah, I think it's still going to be a lot of fun But I hear you on that one Good talk, man, see you soon You want details? Bye

I drive a Ferrari, 355 Cabriolet What's up? I have a ridiculous house in the South Fork. I have every toy you can possibly imagine. And best of all, kids, I am liquid. So, now you know what's possible. Let me tell you

what's required. Life advice. Life advice, R.R. at gmail.com. Kyle, Steve, three wide. Let's get into it. We have a couple really good ones here. We have one that's so good. I think it might be fake. So I'm not 100% sure what to do. But we've got a follow

up from them, so we'll just go for it. All right, what's fellas medium time listener first time email or 510 160 no maxes to speak of but i p i teeter between a four and six pack whoa how about that sounds awesome dude it's great being from new england do you think definitively like kyle do you know today you will never have a six pack because i don't know that about you i don't know you know modern science it seems it seems to be like surprising me at every turn i'm i'm do you want one i don't think you need one you don't need one seems like people would really notice if it goes away, whereas now it's just sort of like, yeah, he looks a little different today, but I feel like people would really notice if, you know, early summer, June popped his shirt

off and they're like, dude, what's happening to you? You know, I'm, I'm past that. People, my buddy's like, oh, still fat, huh? Cool. But, like, you know, somebody, like, my one, my one, like, more trim buddy, he, uh, he had his third kid, uh, last summer. And, uh, he's getting, he's getting a little keg himself. And, uh, I mean, just brutal. Like, sorry, man, went through that. already. So, you know, he's not used to the comments. So I don't know. He's a snacking a ton about it. Yeah. I'm not, I'm not going to sour grapes a six pack though. That sounds pretty sick. I got to be honest. I got to be honest. It'd be awesome to have a six pack and be the guy and he's had three kids. Who's had to develop a personality for all this time? Then you're like a six

pack guy. No, I meant more like, look at this. Still after three kids. Like that's their little routine. He says it in front of the wife. They get along so well that, you know, everybody's at the kitchen island bar and their lap and having Chardonnays and stuff. Maybe a McElchrist. Okay. So back to the email. Yeah. Well, being from New England, I used to get the Kyrie comps, but I've aged and more of a Jason Terry type.

Kyrie, dude. That's pretty like, you're the best player. Basically? Always. I mean, just a filthy, filthy handle and shock creativity and finishing against taller players in a way we've never seen before. Even better than Alan Iverson. Go ahead, look it up. Speaking of basketball, I need some unbiased advice. Here's the situation for about six months. My wife and I found ourselves hooking up with another couple early and often. Yeah, pivot.

We're talking about handles. Speaking of. Early and often, both of us guys are straight. The ladies, not so much. Recently it slowed down and lost its flare. So we cordially broke it off. That's going to be tough breaking up with three people. Well, I guess it's only two. Yeah. Yeah. You're like, actually,

where you're like, you just go to your wife and be like, you know what? After that, I don't see it with any of us. Wait, that'd be awkward too because it's like, hey, you're not feeling this. It's just being if she's like, no, I still love it. And you're like, I'm not really into it anymore. Then that became a rift between you guys.

That's kind of a bold move. Not like you now either. Might just be a loner. Imagine. Telling your buddy, he's like, what did you do today? Broke up with three people. All right. So.

Real wolf. Okay. So I guess these people are far more mature, far more mature than three of us. Yeah. They broke it off, totally cordial. No problem. About a month into it, I started playing pickup basketball with my new Eskimo bro. Never felt weird, though he's a little quiet and awkward.

during i'm just kidding yeah i'm just joking yeah i there's like seven lines that jumping away head i can't believe you slept as a quiet awkward guy like what we even played well together well the chemistry i'd imagine um one night on the court legit felt like stocked malone vibe between us this has to be right now i think it's We didn't lose a game and had quite the unspoken connection. I haven't spoken to them since we broke things off. My wife thinks it would be awkward if I went back there to play. This is what the email is about.

I feel like it wouldn't be an issue. So shoot me straight, guys. What do you think? I should add that this spot has the best pickup runs I found around me. So even more reason to suck it up and keep playing there. He'd sent that a while ago and then sent another request that it was like, hey, the league starting up soon. So maybe it's not faker. It's one of the most coordinated fakes ever.

Yeah. yeah as you get older you you you learn that this type of stuff happens way more than you ever thought it was like it's really not these things aren't really myths you know they're in your own town you know it's a normal question like if if it was fake i feel like it would be some absurd question he's just wondering if you keep playing pickup you know that's that's a reason and the follow-up i think it's real okay so are we just going to guide this thing and be like well dude if you like the run yeah clearly you're able to talk about hard things with your wife don't make a joke but like clearly you're clearly you're like you're not scared of having these

weird conversations you guys have already you know done that yeah imagine like you're you're gonna let me do this but you won't let me play pickup hoops yeah i can't wrap my head around what your choices are in the first part of this email really so i don't really know where i would go so i'll lay out here i think i've talked enough on this this is such a great just look into the minds of like men versus women though because like dudes are good at just hey we're just not going to talk about it and we're just going to keep doing our thing and we're not going to talk about it and that and you and honestly you'll probably be fine to have good run you'll probably have fun but you know I think the the are our female women out there like you know these things enter their minds more often

it's like how could you how could you do this how could you pick up with somebody who you're in the situation with where dudes I just don't think think that way so I she I get why she thinks it might be weird but I think if you're having fun and it doesn't really mind just suppress that stuff do that's where we're good at yeah never let it out bottle it um a good run is a good run man and if this guy's kairie into jason terry now like that's important to him that's really important to him i i just trying to think like who has the upper hand in this though i mean does she have a right to say oh they don't say who's the dom yeah i don't Sure, there's plenty of more questions, but does she have a right to say, like, I don't want you playing basketball with that guy?

I don't think so. Technically, it's an ex. Yeah. I mean, it's not like he's playing, like, you know, co-ed volleyball with the girl. I can understand that, but this is, you know. Yeah, you're both, they're both straight, right? So, you know, that probably does matter in a situation. Like, she shouldn't be afraid of you leaving her for your buddy.

Oh, he's not really your buddy, but your teammate. yeah i think Kyle just figured it out what did you just say again I said it's not like he's playing you know co-ed volleyball with the with the guy's wife it's you know yeah of all the ways that

swinging can go wrong this is the least wrong dude I dude teammate assist to bucket pick up oops yeah I think I don't know I think you're fine

I just don't know how there's like a foreign language to me trying to figure out like What? Yeah, go ahead. Can I get a read? Whatever you're thinking, buddy, go ahead. Well, I, it feels like a Friday.

Is this a for some, or is this just a swap situation? It seems like a swap. I think a hard swap. Well, because they had, they said, he had said that they're not. I think there's like some reserving going on. Yeah, yeah. And, you know, a hard swap. Adjacent courts.

Everyone's in the same room kind of thing. Maybe two queens. Well, yeah. I mean, I mean, yeah. no they we go over and I wonder if there's somebody to the group it's like do you guys want to like watch Cleaner in present danger and just kind of like see what happens

about to get a pizza all right this one actually I thought was something I could relate to but I don't know that I can I think my thing was actually worse than what the emailer sent us 6-1-230 no gym stats but I'd wax that one 100 pushups.

You don't hear wax a lot anymore, but I'd wax that 100 pushups in 10 minutes guy. Okay. Oh, fucking look out. Hell yeah, brother. NBA comp would be at Matt Harpering when I was in shape. Good shooter with an even better, no looker to a cutter.

Specific and I love it. You can leave names and locations in here because my in-laws are too old to access podcasts and wouldn't be able to hear it even if they could. They're from Louisville, Kentucky. and every time they come to visit, which is way too often for my taste, six, seven times a year for four to seven days.

That's a lot. The timeshare, dude. That's, I mean, yeah, that's crazy. Yeah. They throw their trash away in my big outdoor trash bins. I live in Norris, Tennessee, and our town's trash pickup policies that all trash must be in bags.

All caps. Must be in bags in order for them to empty the bins. Today was trash day when I opened the bin this morning. I saw several fast food bags and cups from my in-laws daily outings while my wife and I are at work. Great effing way to start the morning. Let me dig through this bin and pick out all your bullshit garbage while I'm already late for work. Anyway, this happens all the time, and I've tried to be nice about it, but today set me off. And instead of blowing up on them, I wanted to come here for some advice.

Do I sit them down and explain my concerns the next time they're here last week of October in case you're wondering? Wasn't, but thank you. uh do i put signs on the lids of the bins that say no loose trash or trash bags only or do i charge you to the game because maybe it'll be one of the things i miss about them when they're no longer with us thanks to let me rant hope to hear from you would love to have you do a live show in knoxville well we just talked about knoxville with felica there uh we did a live one for um it was a florida Tennessee game I believe but I don't I probably won't be doing another one there ever I love the town had a great time probably never going back so um I don't know that when your

in-laws die you're gonna go you know what I fucking missed is that day or just sonic greasy wrappers right on my dried up tissues from the fucking side compartment of the door yeah I think there's gonna be hey make sure you get all that stuff out well when we pull in. I do think sign guy always loses even when he's right. Signs around the house. I remember there was a grandmother, but it was like my cousin's grandmother.

You know that deal? Like if there's family that's close, so it's not your grandmother. And, you know, if she's not awesome. So is it like a non-grandchild? Whenever we'd go with the cousins to like visit her, it sucked for us is like the non-natural grandchildren.

And there was this grandmother that had a sign. like signs everywhere soon as upon entry this you know fucking sink just signs all over the place and i really think all of us should avoid that because even if the signs are right you're just like the vibe in here is totally off i use that word i hate but it no one ever seemed to like sign person so those are the first two things i would start with this is like a great use of a sign though this particular like on your fucking garbage can that only you are really supposed to be throwing stuff in but like might even might even go a long way with the sanitation crew if they see that you know somebody still didn't listen to you i mean people throw dog shit and in one garbage day all the

time right i mean it's i don't really do happen to me last week open my bin up because you know they pick it up middle of the day ran errands came back went to put the bins back behind a little thing opened it up throw something in it just the freshest like german shepherd or something i mean it was like almost a person did it yeah well i'm just saying people do it all the time. So whether it's, whether it's not even just, you know, these people are old, which means there's a chance they're going to forget this thing. Even if you try to nicely say this, there's a chance they totally forget it when they come back. And, uh, you know, Christmas time. There's some, there's some bullshit in there again. So that's really the one time

I think a sign would actually make sense. And also it, like I said, it might, might go like a little bit with the sanitation guys if they're like, all right, someone's doing this to him. He put a sign on this thing. He decided to get into sign guy territory. He's trying to help us out. And someone's fucking with them. I mean, I might be overthinking this, but I don't, I think option A and option B that he said are both good ones because clearly you're already not psyched about this. And every time they come, you're going to look for something, whether it's a terrible story that your mother-in-law is going to tell you for the 10th time and then you add the garbage thing into it. So I think, I think the sign in conjunction with a nice little thing, it sounds like he hasn't

mentioned anything to them about this garbage stuff. And it's just like, you know, his tank is almost full with bullshit. Like the amount of times they're coming, the amount of time they're coming, the amount of time they're staying it sounds like yeah they're coming a lot they're coming a lot they're they don't sound like hotel people you know so uh i think i think i think you can at least get this off your chest say that in a nice way and i'd say maybe get a laminate sign or something because i mean so you're pro sign i'm pro sign on the garbage can i'm not pro sign you know when you walk in the house and one next to the kitchen sink and one in the bathroom don't flush anything but toilet paper like how many times you even even need to say that to people yeah so i don't know

so don't flush wash gloss thanks feminine products dated girl used to just flush tampons like you can't do that's crazy I mean I grew up in the house of a city plumbing obviously yeah city plumbing I guess you just kind of you know we used to flush

grease you know what are those things called those giant globs that that are in the sewers you know I'm talking about yeah it has a crazy name that are big problems now actually a hilarious name I forget the name of yeah what research on it Let me see if I could find it. I remember the grease thing. I didn't even know.

No one told me that. My parents didn't tell me about the grease thing in the pipes. I mean, it's pretty straightforward now that I think about it. But I remember, I don't know, 23, and I was in an apartment. I'd cook something. And then I dumped some grease in a pipe. And there was a guy from, like, a neighbor. It's a fat bird, by the way.

What is it? It's a fatberg. It's a combination of fat and iceberg. It's a fatberg in the... Yeah, masses of fat. of fat oil, grease, biodegradable non-biodegradable waste, wet wipes. It just, they just

congeal into this a fat burn. The worst thing you've never have to pull out of a pipe, yeah. That's a great, babe. Good work there. Thanks. You don't have any signs absurdity, do you?

No, I don't like signs. But I, I know I get accused of, like, just saying the obvious thing, but, like, can you just tell them? Why can we just tell them? That was his option A. He was like, should I, Tell them.

I don't get it. I don't get it. Just be like, hey, like they don't take the trash. Can we just, and then, and then if they don't do it, then you can make a deal, like make a scene or whatever, start putting signs up. The first step is just to just tell them. It seems, I'm sorry. It just seems pretty straightforward. I thought this originally was, I don't know.

This is traumatic. But there's someone in my family who, if you take out the garbage, and then don't have a garbage bag in the garbage bin and you know look your boys upgraded on the domicile situation since the early years right i may even been guilty of like whatever like trash can out in the corner now when you can put the trash can away yeah right just pull out a little slider somewhere yeah yeah i mean that's when you're that's when you feel like you're really living so i'd say the last three places i've lived get a little slider going And I've noticed that one family member in particular, if I take out the garbage and don't put another liner, aka fucking garbage bags.

That booed, the manor. Liner. I'll then open up the drawer and then I look down and I just see garbage in just an empty bin. Indiscriminate garbage, too. Not like, here's the paper towel I just went to counter with. It's like, that's an empty soup can. yeah yeah garbage food smoothie thing with just a little inch left in there yeah boom whatever that's going to melt through and all and I just I want to go insane like you saw

that there was no garbage bag in there and this is a garbage bag place like we use them I have them like hold on Ryan are you saying that on your way back from the curb like you haven't caught in time or you're saying a couple hours have gone by yeah yeah okay No, because that would almost feel like the person was doing it on purpose. Yes. So what I've noticed in these exchanges is that, and if it's an older person, let's say, the grace has to be there. What I've run into is like a defiant, like, counterpoint.

Really? It's totally wrong. And so it doesn't really get me anywhere. And that's why I think our email is hitting us up, like to Surrey's point, the answer to almost all of this stuff is why can't you just talk to them but even when you just try to talk to him and I'll go hey are you serious man like there's clearly no garbage bag in there can you just hold off or can you ask me where the garbage bag is or the other thing that you learn like I don't know it was late 30s maybe early 40s for me putting extra garbage bags

at the bottom of the garbage basket pro can whatever you want to call it so it always feels like you're at the ready you know look sometimes you go through them and And then there's, there's no relief in there. And I just go like, got to replenish. Right. I'll just go, hey, man, like, are you serious? Like, clearly, like, can't you just help me out? And usually the response is like a smirk and, oh, you're going to fancy place now.

Clean guy over here. Yeah. You don't hose off your bins every week like we used to, right? Yeah, right. And it's like, oh, you know, when you were at the house. house as a kid you didn't you didn't care about it's like yeah no shit I was in my teens and then I moved I didn't care about anything you're like he wasn't still in my bedroom so that's why talking to people sucks sometimes because the talker our emailer in this case is 100% in the

right and there's something about people that are 100% wrong it's almost worse to admit when you're 100% wrong, then it's like on the fence. And whatever it is about our human instinct to survive, where it's like, hey, don't throw shit in here. It's like, oh, look at Mr. Belding over here. Mr. Rules. So I don't know. This one's a little different, though, right?

I mean, you know, in the crown jewel, in the crown jewel, you can throw anything, you know, they're dumping it. They really don't care. But, you know, and, and in, in the city of Poughkeepsie, I think you need to have by special city bags like the bags themselves you have to buy from the city i think used to be that way at least so like really yeah like they won't take the garbage unless it's in these special bags instead of like it has to be in the special can it has to be in these like they used to be orange bags or something hefty just corporate meetings being like we can't crack the petopsy market but i'm just

saying like there's trashes there's different rules and this just might be like a you know a total hey i know i have i know you would have no way of knowing this especially because I don't have a sign on the can. That's why I think it's an easy conversation to have. Because I don't have that rule. I mean, I typically like to put stuff in bags. I don't like them being dirty. I even put my recycling in paper bags and kind of close them off just so it doesn't get messed up.

Way to reuse that. But then some places you can't put, if you put your recycling in a in a garbage bag, they won't recycle it. No, not a garbage bag in a paper like Trader Joe's bag. But if you put your recyclables and something like that, nice. Pannifer, shout out. Rib eye. No, we got London. broil over here uh wait so can you put your recycling in garbage bags if you wanted to well i

guess theoretically you could but that doesn't that defeats the purpose i feel like of it can't be recycled the only thing other than an expedia link like every time they do it i mean you can't get away with it they're older they're your in-laws they're not going to think it's funny to see a hotels dot com link next time they they come to visit but you have to be like forceful That's pretty much. I think it's just a series original point. You have to be forceful and go, hey, the other day, I picked up all your fast food stuff. I love you guys. I love that you're here every month. It's awesome. It's like roommates except for paying utilities. I don't know what you can get away with because I don't know the dynamic between the two of you. But nothing else has worked at this point. And you have to probably make it a little uncomfortable by being like straight line as clear as possible. That's like, we can't do it. Maybe even tell them you think it's a stupid rule. Yeah, it's their fault. It's sanitation. They won't take this garbage.

We'll have double garbage for a week if this happens. But that just made me think of this, though. This is not a you problem. This is your significant other problem. They need to be the one delivering this message. Well, I think that... What if they're swingers? Nice callback.

I think by the tone of the email, he's probably told her a bunch of stuff that she's not relaying to her appearance. By the way this whole thing, he's emailing us, he's given up, frequency of their visits. his his words are not making it through that filter to the parents but I think you could also I think you could even take it a step further where it's like you say the fucks at the garbage company won't take it and also there's someone in this neighborhood that's dropping stuff so I'm looking out for him I just want to let you know like you can even just say like someone someone has been putting some stuff in the bin and we've been I gotten burned on this so you know just

want to if we could all pull in the same direction here it's not even on them so Just make up a, you know, the scourge of the community who's dropping their crap. You're on the same team kind of thing. Yeah, exactly. Look out for this guy. That'll do it for us. Good work out of both of you.

You can check out the pod on our Spotify app and watch the video, our YouTube page as well. Thanks to Kyle. Thanks to Trudy. Thanks to Jonathan Prius. Ryan Rundersulb podcast. Ringer Spotify. They were going to name me Michael Jordan.

My dad was like, I don't think he can live up to it. So they named me Michael Jared. Must be 21 and older and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in D.C., Kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem. Call 100 gambler or visit RG dash help.com. Call 1-888.com. Call 1-888. 789-77-7 or visit ccpg.org forward slash chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is there. Visit gambling help line m a.org or call 800 32750-50 for 24-7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-8778 Hope NY or text hope NY in New York.