Will Cain Country - Mark Cuban For President?

Episode Date: December 1, 2023

Story 1: Deadspin and Dan LeBatard attempt to slam a 9-year-old Kansas City Chiefs’ fan for wearing black and red face paint and a Native American headdress to a game last Sunday. Will the young fan end up with the last laugh? Story 2: Mark Cuban is quitting Shark Tank and sold his majority shares of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Are we close to seeing a President Mark Cuban? Story 3: Chris “The Bear” Fallica of the Bear Bets Podcast on Fox Sports joins the show to discuss the potential fallout of the conference championship games and their impact on the College Football Playoff.  Tell Will what you thought about this podcast by emailing [e-mail]  Follow Will on Twitter: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alert the Pulitzer Committee. Deadspin and Dan Levittard are better than a nine-year-old fan of the Kansas City Chiefs. Two, there could be a new candidate running for president, Mark Cuban. Three, a knockdown, drag-out debate over the college football playoff before championship weekend with Chris the Bear Felica. It's the Wilcane podcast on Fox News podcast. What's up and welcome to the weekend. Welcome to Friday. As always, I hope you will download rate and review this podcast wherever you get your audio entertainment at Apple, Spotify, or at Fox News podcast.

and you can watch the Will Cain podcast on YouTube. I am in hell. I am in a vortex, a spiral. I'm in a maze full of trap doors, locked doors, and doors that lead to nowhere. I am in hell. And it's not because I'm having withdrawals from nicotine. Trust me, I am having withdrawals from nicotine, and I am no peach. This week, I have been incredibly irritable.

And for that to you, I do sincerely apologize. And she probably hasn't heard it enough, but as well, to my wife, I'm sorry. I do think that nicotine will play havoc on your system. I mean, I have been moody. I have been down because I was addicted to Zen. Now, a lot of people out there I posted on social media about this new path. with Zen have said things like, good, I'm glad you quit, that stuff causes cancer, good, that's gross, all the spitting, and I just feel like to set the record straight, and for the sake of accuracy and truth. Zen is a tobaccoless nicotine pouch. I think, I think. The primary substance is salt. It does not cause cancer.

Man, the anti-smoking lobby was so strong that, and I guess maybe, in fact, the tobacco defense lobby so effective that everybody thinks it's nicotine that ruins your mouth or ruins your lung or causes cancer. And it's not. And listen, I'm not encouraging anyone to pick up nicotine. In fact, I mean, the moral of the story is that I quit. but nicotine perhaps causes a little bit of elevated blood pressure. Nicotine is addictive.

Nicotine also increases focus. But nicotine doesn't force you to spit into a cup like chewing tobacco or dip. You swallow it. I don't think it gives you bad breath. I can double check with my wife. I'm sure anything that you hold in your mouth for too long can have some deleterious effects on your oral hygiene. but it doesn't cause mouth cancer. No, the reason that I quit is because I had surrendered.

I had surrendered control, and I didn't like that feeling, and also that I was just like a yo-yo when it came to energy. But I just think for the sake of accuracy, everyone should understand. I'm not sitting here telling you that nicotine has no ill effects, otherwise I'd never quit. But I am here to tell you, just, you know, we should know that's not what causes cancer. It's the delivery mechanism.

It's the tobacco and the dip. It's the tobacco and the cigarette. It's the inhalation of smoke. We'll see about vape and what it does to your lungs. I think it's pretty obvious at drawing anything deep into your lungs. It's probably not healthy. Still, it may not be causing cancer, but I have found it virtuous, meritful for me to quit Zen.

But that's not why. That's not why I know that I'm in hell. I'm in hell because I once lived in New York. I'm telling you, once they have their hooks in, you cannot get out of the bureaucracy and government apparatus of the state of New York. If you'll remember some six months ago, I went to try to get a driver's license in Texas. And that in and of itself was incredibly frustrating. The DMV experience, no matter where you live, is, I think, the best lesson in persuasion or the best case for anyone to become a conservative.

If you've ever been to the DMV, you don't want to turn over your health care to the government. And I found some very nice individuals in a small town where there's a community, where you might go back, who are willing and remain willing. I hope I'm reaching out soon, I hope, to walk me down the path of giving a driver's license in Texas. I've been back in Texas for several years now, but I can't because New York has their hooks in me and they dinged my driver's license with a suspension based upon the fact that I haven't proven insurance in New York.

Well, I don't have insurance for a car in New York because I don't have a car in New York. My cars are registered in Texas, where, by the way, they are insurance. insured. So there's no reason for my license to be suspended. But if I have a suspended license in New York, I can't get a valid driver's license in Texas, which means that I can't buy guns and I want to buy some guns. And it has limited my rights as a citizen. And I would hear to tell you, I think this is unconstitutional because the state of New York will not let you reinstate your privileges of a valid driver's license in New York. Here's how it works. they have a phone tree okay and it is a nightmare it will reduce you to screaming at a glass and plastic object

it's a phone tree that seems to lead back into itself i'm serious like i think i press one and then she says if you're calling for suspension due to laps of insurance press two and i follow all the instructions, and I promise you, if you stop pressing buttons, because I've tried that as well, it hangs up on you. And there is no, you know, like when you call the airlines, and if you, you know, representative at it, then somebody will eventually pick up and it will push you through all the different buttons. And finally somewhere, it will just ring. Who knows, on the 18th floor of some building in Mumbai, where somebody will finally, in heavily accented English attempt to politely yet ineffectively address your concern. There is no option at the New York

State DMV where you will ultimately get a human being. It just pushes you back to the same exact female voice running through the same exact phone tree options. But weirdly, even though she's giving you the same options, like the second and third time you go around, it's not press 1. It's moved to like press four so you think that you have advanced to the next stage of this obstacle course but you actually haven't because once you have cleared like five hurdles you all of a sudden go i think i've been here before this sounds familiar and i'm back to pressing one it goes nowhere man it is like cruel and unusual punishment it's like it's designed to create insanity it's hell And for 10% of your income and another 1.5% should you live in the city of New York,

you get the privilege of going onto the NY.DMV.gov website, which is supposed to be the way that you can escape the phone tree maze. But what they've done is they've only recreated this hellhole in text format. they've got page after page full of words it is though somebody vomited the dictionary up on multiple pages and within that tome novella of words that you scroll down there are multiple links all in government ease and i don't know which links are for me so i end up trying them all. And none of them go to anywhere. It's just more words. More words. And then you'll see this thing says, my DMV. And you're like, oh, maybe we can personalize it. You know, maybe this is

where I actually can get directly to my particular issue. And you go through that. And after it's forced you to recreate a password six times, it times out. The website has this cool trick function where it times out. We're not dealing with Amazon. Now, say what you will about our tech overlords, but at the very least, for trading in our privacy, we have accomplished some level of convenience. There is some effectiveness.

I do find it troublesome sometimes that I can't figure out how to import my Google Calendar on my iPad into various soccer schedules and members of my family into one coordinate fashion. I don't even retain any hope that there's someone out there in Google World that I could get on the phone. But in the end, I accept that that's mostly because I'm old. But the DMV manages to deprive you of any connection to human beings

and make it the worst experience of your life. This thing is not run by Jeff Bezos. This thing is run by Kathy Hokel. And no one ever said this is going to be the next innovation and driving privileges

in the first world. And so I'm trapped. I'm trapped. My DMV personal portal link does nothing. I think honestly, after I've listened to every phone tree option and clicked on every single page full of a thousand words each,

You know what I think I have to do? I think I have to fax something to a random number. I'm serious. And proof of insurance, I don't know. Cover letter explaining, I don't know. I have to fax, which means I have to track down a fax machine. And then I'm just going to send off some insurance and registration information. And I'm supposed to believe that somehow, after that, in some timely fashion, I will be able to sacrifice

my New York driver's license with full privileges so that I can then get a driver's license in Texas. It's pure hell. Pure hell. I mean, I'm always in spirit and culture, a Texan, but I need in legal privileges to get to be a Texan. I need to buy some guns. By the way, in the last episode of the Wilcane podcast, I talked about the best gun store that I've ever been in. It's owned by my friend Cliff Montgomery. And it's been really awesome to see him build this business over time. Now I've got an indoor shooting range as well up in Sherman, Texas. And I mentioned it was called BNR Outfitters.

And perhaps because I'm suffering from mood swings and nicotine withdrawal, I got it wrong. It's BPS Outfitters. And you can go online and you can buy guns from them right there online. And I am not being paid for an advertisement. I'm just giving you a solid recommendation. I don't think you're going to do better. I don't think you're going to do better in customer service, in inventory, in supporting people that support your values in life. BPS Outfitters, Sherman, Texas.

But I can't, I can't, I can't go to BPS and buy my A400, my Super Black Eagle, my SIGP 365, my AR, all of those on the Christmas wish list. I can't buy any of that because I'm not a legal Texan because I'm an illegal New Yorker and I can't escape. The hooks are in me and I'm trapped in this cycle of hell. We'll be right back with more of the Will Cain podcast. For a limited time at McDonald's, enjoy the tasty breakfast trio. Your choice of chicken or sausage McMuffin or McGrittles with a hash brown and a small iced coffee for five bucks plus tax. Available until 11 a.m. at participating McDonald's restaurants. Price excludes flavored iced coffee and delivery.

Hey, I'm Trey Gowdy, host of the Trey Gowdy podcast. I hope you will join me every Tuesday and Thursday as we navigate life together and hopefully find ourselves a little bit better on the other side. Listen and follow now at Fox News Podcast.com. Story number one. Congratulations, Deadspin. Alert the Pulitzer Academy, Lebitard. You're better than a nine-year-old fan of the Kansas City Chiefs. at least that's what you would have us believe at least that's the chest pounding you embarked upon

earlier this week at least that's what you tell yourself with your self affirmations in the mirror at least that's what you published and projected to nationwide audiences starting on monday dead spin writer karan j phillips published an article at the zombie of Deadspin, it's long since lost any sort of cultural relevance. It lost all of its, I believe, corporate funding. It lost all of its supposedly well-respected writers, although I never thought much of any of even the most esteemed writers at Deadspin. But what you're now looking at is some zombie version of Deadspin

with some dollar-store discount version of relevance of the, one-time riders with men like Karanjee Phillips. Karanjee Phillips actually looks like someone who is trying their damnedest to get your attention by writing the most outlandish and ridiculous things on race. He has been someone who literally would say the game of pool like Martin in the Eddie Murphy movie. What's the name of the movie? You know, look it, look at, look it.

He has the mushroom belt. He's got the mushroom liner, he's got the mushroom belt. You've got to coordinate Boomerang. Boomerang. He's like Martin Lawrence's character in Boomerang explained that the game of Poole is actually racist. See, the point of the game is for the white ball to knock all of the colored balls off of the table,

the table and the felt green signifying the earth. And the game ends. It culminates with the white ball, taken out the black ball. That was comedy once upon a time in the early 90s for Boomerang. It's the material for a nomination to the Pulitzer in 2023 for Karan J. Phillips of Deadspin. He published on Monday the following headline. The NFL needs to speak out against the Kansas City Chiefs fan in blackface native headdress.

Subhead. They're doubling up on racism. Are you going to say anything, Roger Goodell? There was a picture. of a young boy wearing a cartoonish caricature of an American Indian headdress and his face painted black. He's wearing a Travis Kelsey jersey, number 87, and the picture is taken in profile from the side. Phillips goes on to explain how this is horrific examples of racism being embraced and tolerated by the NFL.

fell and he has gone out of his way to make sure that you know he is someone capable of great virtue by pointing out others vice what phillips doesn't point out to you is that the other half of that young boy's face is painted red he's not in black face he's in black and red face because he's a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and he's got team colors on his face. It's blatant manipulation. Of this young man's situation,

it's blatant manipulation of the media. Importantly, it's blatant manipulation or attempted blatant manipulation of your mind to make you believe something that is not true. In short, when Donald Trump says to you that the media is the enemy of the people, as he said infamously, it was true.

When you meet someone like me, who is in the media, we deserve your skepticism. We deserve your cynicism until we can earn your trust. This industry has a lower approval rating than attorneys. This industry has earned its low position, it's low reputation in society. Why? Why? Because of Zwell, men like Dan Lebitard, who used to have a radio show at ESPN.

Lebitard went on to explain, along with his cast of self-important characters, that the outrage, the real outrage here, is the outrage to the outrage. They went on to say in their very condescending fashion, because condescension among that crew within the former ESPN circuit seems to be a currency. I think smart is all there is in world. They know nothing of wisdom. They know nothing of virtue. and they know nothing of grace. But they certainly think highly of themselves and their own intelligence.

They are busy explaining you condescending that the outrage to the outrage has entered this Vegas residency stage of our cultural careers. The whole point is about the right upset at the outrage from Deadspin. And that the right has worn on its welcome being outraged by the outrage?

It's horrifically just twisted logic, and it's absurd upon its face. They're right. The culture war is tired. The sports culture war has entered its Vegas residency stage. But that is about Quran Phillips. It's about Deadspin. And it's about the Dan Lebitard show.

We're just tired of hearing you inject politics into every aspects of sports. And if we point out, that we're tired of it or that it's absurd, that's not the worn-out phase of this conversation in our culture. The worn-out phase of this conversation in our culture is your schick. It's that we don't get the show. They went in then to explain, did Dan Levitard, that, fine, whatever, it's not black face.

It's overlooking the real racism in this whole thing. And that he's got black and red face. and he's wearing a headdress, and that the chiefs in general are racist. This is so, let me just take you up on your terms, tired. And it's honestly so stupid. The existence of Native Americans is not offensive. I personally think that's someone who's quite a fan of American history and the history of American Indians.

Be happy to have an extended conversation with you about, I don't know, the Lakota or Kwanah Parker or Pettanakona or any of the famous American Indian wars or their way of life or their culture. Happy to have an extended conversation. I love it. I've read deeply about it. And because of that, in part, I know that not every reference to American Indians is offensive. I don't think that.

that the buffalo nickel needs to be erased from our history. I don't think the image as drawn by a Blackfoot Indian in Montana that was the emblem of the Washington Redskins is offensive. In fact, I think the opposite. I think it's an honorific. I think it's proud. I think it should remain a part of the history of America. So what is it exactly that's offensive about the existence of the case?

Kansas City Chiefs. The fact that they are a mascot. What about the Cowboys? Is that offensive to ranching in Western Heritage? Is that offensive to the men that still work in that industry? If you find yourself somehow, a moniker of a football team, to the men work in steel meals in Pittsburgh? Are they missing out on their chance for grievance and victim in the offended industry?

The Chiefs are noble. Every image they have of the American Indian is flattering, and they should not be erased from history. That headdress, it's ceremonial, and it's not common to every Indian tribe. And there's nothing about it, the entire presentation by this boy, that is racist. Now let's get to a couple of obvious quist points before we get to the big revelation. If you feel the need, deadspin or lebatard, to explain the racism of a nine-year-old, to explain your virtuous over a nine-year-old, you've literally lowered the bar for yourself that could not be a smaller leap. Congratulations on your two-inch vert. You just cleared a huge hurdle.

You're better than a nine-year-old. This has gone from criticizing 14-year-old Josh Allen to 18-year-old, what, 21-year-old, what, 21-year-old? Kyler Murray, you know, when the Heisman, get drafted in the first round, pour through someone's tweets when they were a teenager, find something they said that was, you know, your 50-year-old version of yourself knows better than, and explain to everyone how society is poisoned. You now reduce the bar to a nine-year-old, a nine-year-old. And look, I want to laugh and I want to make fun of you because I think that you are little, little small people, small people to stand on the shoulders of nine-year-olds to make yourself

look taller. You're small, small people. You walk around in the real world doing that? Oh, son, that's racist. Oh, son, that's offensive. That's who you are in this world. Not someone of grace, not someone of education. You're not trying to help the nine-year-old.

He doesn't need your help, by the way. We'll get to that more in just a moment. but you are someone that needs to feel better about themselves by finding the faults in a nine-year-old. How could it get smaller? And I want to laugh, but I also think it's incredibly gross, and I think Karan Phillips should probably be thrown in jail. I think he will be sued. He'll be sued. I hope he's sued.

I hope Deadspin is sued from its zombie. I hope somebody puts the stake through the temple of the zombie version of Deadspin. Covington kids sued CNN in the New York Times, settled for big figures for what they did again. Just criminally libelous to the kids of Covington. And I don't, this kid's not a public figure. No actual malice, no recklessness required. This is just simple libel. This is defamation.

Sue what's left of the zombie version of Deadspin. But let's get to the final reveal, the most fun part for all of these people. people that are so much better than a nine-year-old. The nine-year-old is a Native American. He and his family are of the Chumash, Chumash tribe. So we've got, I guess, we've arrived at the inevitable, we've arrived at the inevitable and absurd conclusion. It was the same way with Washington Redskins, most popular team on American Indian reservations,

explaining to people why they should be offended by the things, not just that other people do, but that they themselves do. You, American Indian, dressed up in American Indian headdress and team colors, you are racist. Congratulations, Deadspin. Where do you go for your Pulitzer? Don't go anywhere. More of the Will Cain podcast right after this. Hey, we know you probably hit play to escape your business banking, not think about it. But what if we told you there was a way to skip over the pressures of banking?

By matching with the TD Small Business Account Manager, you can get the proactive business banking advice and support your business needs. Ready to press play? Get up to $2,700 when you open Select Small Business Banking products. Yep, that's $2,700 to turn up your business. Visit TD.com slash small business match to learn more. Conditions apply. Story number two, we might have a new candidate for president. Is it Mark Cuban? News broke this week to Mark Cuban has sold a majority interest in the Dallas Mavericks to the family of Sheldon Adelson.

Dr. Miriam Adelson is now the majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks. Around the same time frame, we also learned that Mark Cuban will in time be stepping back from Shark. tank. What does this mean? Does it mean that Cuban is running for president? I don't think so. No. I think it's what everybody wants to believe because Cuban is so politically active, mostly on Twitter. But I don't think that's what's going on here. I think it does have some political implications, but it's less about president of the United States. I think what we see here is the handwriting on the wall that soon Texas will legalize gambling. The Aidesland family owns the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.

If you've been a listener to the Will Cain podcast or watch Fox and Friends, it should ring familiar. The Las Vegas Sands Corporation reached out to me in August of this year, wanting to donate some of their fleet of planes to help the people in Maui after the devastating fires in Lahaina. We managed to put together in partnership an incredible project. We're over a million dollars in necessities from air purifiers to stuff teddy bears, e-bikes and scooters to close.

We're loaded up onto a 747 designed to take high-stakes gamblers across the world to casinos owned in Macau or others by the Las Vegas Sands. And flew all that over to Maui. I have a real soft spot in my heart. for Miriam Edelson. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. And I, for one, on a personal level, consider this great news that they're the new owners of the Dallas Mavericks. But I'll think there's something more to it. Mark Cuban is going to retain control of basketball operations. And he has said in the past that he wants to partner with Las Vegas Sands to build a hotel resort, casino, and stadium in the city of Dallas.

And I don't think that he would be doing so. If he didn't already know, the gambling would soon be legal in Texas. The Adelson's are big supporters of various politicians in the Republican Party, including Governor Greg Abbott and former President Donald Trump. The Adelson is the type of owners we want in the NBA. Charitable on the right side of history share great values. And they seem to be interested in developing North Texas and Dallas. Dallas, Texas. And Mark Cuban wants to be a part of an operation that's going to have resort,

casino, basketball arena in Dallas, Texas. I think that's the political takeaway from Cuban selling the Dallas Mavericks. It's a surprise everyone around here thought he was going to be like Jerry Jones and hand this down over a lifetime to his children. But it doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe there's something bigger at play and going into the casino business. Or maybe I'm wrong and maybe down the road here we might see yet another entrant along with no labels along with rfk along with gavin newsom joe biden donald trump mark cubit for president of the united states story number three a knockdown dragout debate over the college football play of going into championship weekend with the host of the Bear Betts podcast on the Fox News podcast,

Fox Sports Podcast Network, Chris Felica. We go through all the scenarios where I disagree, where he pushes back, what could happen this weekend? It's a fun bit of gamesmanship before the games actually take place on Saturday. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Chris Felica. The bear, Chris Felica, is about to meet his match. I got bad news for you. Felica, you've walked into a buzzsaw. I'm under the weather and I'm unhappy. I just saw your college football playoff rankings. I've seen the entire world's perception. This seems to be obvious Oregon over Texas. And I've been relishing the opportunity to have a face-to-face debate with anyone incapable of such ill logic. Make the case for me, Bear, why you have Oregon in the college football playoff ahead of Texas. Texas? Because I think Texas power rates as a better team right now. If you look at a lot of the,

look, I'm a numbers guy. I see the terminology of the best four teams. And if you look at a lot of the power ratings and rankings, Oregon is power rated second behind Georgia. Like I spoke to Chris Andrews, who is the odds maker at South Point last night. He's got Oregon favored over Michigan. He's got Georgia fairly favorite over Oregon. Now, I do think we're going to get into Texas and Florida State, I think, in a bit. But I think if you look at the way Oregon has controlled games and dominated teams, I know they had the one game early in the year against Texas Tech that they needed a little bit of help to win and a late come back to win, and they did have the game in Seattle that they wound up losing

in weird fashion landing with a couple of mistakes. But I think if you look at offense, defense, and the way they have controlled games, games and the overall strengths or the perceived strength of the Pact 12, I think Oregon, the way they power it out right now makes them a playoff team. I was surprised. I thought you were going to go while I would have them a playoff team ahead of Texas instead of Washington, as you'd say, instead of Texas. I just think anyone who watched that game against Washington, I think came away thinking that Oregon was the better team in that game and a couple of fourth down decisions ultimately cost the ducks the game. And I think,

we've seen with the odds makers baking Oregon close to a 10-point favorite this week, I think they feel the same way. But do we want to get into the whole Texas deal right now? We've got something alt-first. No, we're going straight into this debate, and I am not going to skip over Oregon versus Washington, because I think those two debates are one in the same. You know, when I listen to you, and I know I'm having fun with you here, but I am serious about this debate, because I feel like college football has turned into ice capades.

I feel like it's turned into rodeo. We need to have a panel of judges that sit by the side of the arena and judge someone based upon what their perceived performance is instead of the outcome. Did you make the eight seconds seems completely incidental to how good you looked while you were atop the bull? And so here's what I'm afraid college football has turned into, this idea of perceived power of the pack 12, quality of offense, whatever power rankings are. The one piece of evidence that you gave that I give some level of credence is Vegas odd. is our Vegas lines because at least they have some skin in the game on establishing who is the better team.

But the problem with all of it is it's like Plato's allegory of the cave. It's like we begin to think the shadows on the wall are reality and not what's actually happening in front of the fire. And what's happening in front of the fire is actually a game that took place and Washington actually beat Oregon.

That happened. And if we don't let that be the determinative factor and who's better between Washington, Washington, Oregon, there's literally no point in playing the game. Now, I think the Texas debate is sitting there side by side with that Washington debate because we have every piece of objective evidence of what has happened on the field. We don't have to do offensive and defensive efficiency. We can actually see common opponent in Texas Tech. Of course, different time of year, but it's close as we get without those teams going head to head. And then we

say, best victory. Not even close. It is Texas with. a victory in Tuscaloosa, dominating is only slightly homeristic and strong, but it's not far from reality. I mean, Texas- They were clearly the better team in Tuscaloosa. And you and I agree on that, right. There wasn't a second to that game that I thought Alabama was the better team and thought that we win that night. Correct. And so in all of these debates, whether it's Texas, Oregon or Texas Ohio State, by the way, we also have strength of schedule and strength of record, all which tip in the favor of the Longhorns over Oregon. What's happening is we're just ignoring

reality and indulging like let's put a panel together of Dan Orlovsky and Joel Klatte and Kirk Kherbstree, which by the way, that panel would be better than the one that we're using to actually determine reality. But it's like they're going to be the judges at the side of the ice skating rink and at the end

the season they'll tell us who's best, regardless of what happens on the field. See, you bring up Texas, I think Texas should be in the playoffs. I think if Texas wins Saturday, they should be in the playoff regardless of what Florida State does. And I know it's hard and I know it sounds unfair. And Florida State would be 13 and 0 when people talk about Florida State's resume. I think ultimately, and it's in writing

in the committee's guidelines and criteria for selecting team, they say their mission is to select the four best teams. And they've got their criteria. And in there, it specifically alludes to player availability. It's harsh. Yes. And there may be a human aspect that doesn't want to leave a 13-0 Power 5 champion out. But you cannot tell me that Florida State without Jordan Travis is one of the best four teams in the country. And I think ultimately that's what, that's the only question I think that matters on late Saturday night, early Sunday morning when they're finalizing their rankings, do you think

Florida State without Jordan Travis is one of the best four teams of the country? I think, I don't think that's the only question that will matter on Saturday. By the way, let's deal with Florida State for just a moment. Then let's come back to your question of what the actual debate. is going to most likely be on Saturday. I, one of my producers, Patrick Haddon, is going bananas right now listening to you because he is a seminal.

But I think I'm fairly objective on this. I think if they win 13 games in Power 5 conference, you have to put them in. If you are undefeated in a Power 5 conference, I don't want to hear arguments about best. And I agree with you, by the way. Look, the backup quarterback, do I take Florida State over Oregon?

Probably not. Do I take them over Texas? Probably not. I'm talking about, like, were they to, play in a neutral field tomorrow, would I take Florida State over those teams? The answer is probably not. But they've literally done everything you've asked them to do, including win with a backup quarterback in this scenario, which, by the way, same thing with Texas, not all, but a lot of those close games that they're being punished for. We're with a backup quarterback. And it's just,

I don't understand this whole thing about style points when you've done. You could, the only thing, you know, you're tempted to say, well, Florida State, you know what you should have done? You should have, you should have scheduled a very impressive non-conference opponent. But they did in LSU and beat LSU. And by the way, so did Texas, about as impressive as you can possibly do in going to Tuscaloosa. And neither of them are getting credit for those non-conference wins. So it's as though there's nothing they can do,

except what Oregon's done, which is beat up Cal by 40 points. And that seems to be more valuable to people than actually going undefeated. Well, I think people with the Oregon deal, I think the projecting that they would have a road Power 5 non-conference win, it is a big deal. They would have avenged their only loss, which is a- Oh, you know, about Texas Tech there? Oh, yeah, yeah. But even that one, they're like, and then technically, at least it's a Power 5 conference team on the road at night in a crazy wild atmosphere.

They took the game, and they did win it. It's not like Michigan who played nobody. Like, at least they did make an effort. And go back to the beginning of the year, people thought Texas Tech potentially a dark horse, and I gave you my New York, Long Island accent, Hawks. A dark force made to get to the Big 12 championship game, and then they had injuries to the quarterback position, and their season spiraled out of control. The one argument that I will not, like, I don't get this whole championing, Alabama to make the playoff over Texas. like that like that would be the like the florida state thing we can agree to disagree on everything it's not like i'm pounding on florida state makes it it's a joke they shouldn't be like

it's because if you take one side your view it is like heating the other side or having a i know it's like if florida state gets in i'm not going to be outrage yeah they would have won all their games will they be a 15 point out of against georgia or a 13 point out of against michigan sure would texas be favored by a touchdown on a neutral field over florida Sure, but the committee has their criteria with what they do. And if they judge FSU to be one of the best four, even with Rodmaker or quarterback, fine. They're in and it is what it is. But I can't put Alabama in over Texas in any scenario, even though people are saying,

well, what if Alabama beats Georgia and snaps that winning streak and ends the two-time defending champions, good. They did. Congratulations. But you know what? they in Texas have the same exact record. And Texas went to Tuscaloosa and Brian, he beat him a double digits. So like, people are saying, like, well, if you're Texas, what do you want to have happen?

I kind of disagree a little bit because I think if Alabama beats Georgia, they obviously are the conference champs. They have the same record as Georgia where they would be the SEC team to go ahead of Georgia. But at the same time, then you take it to the Texas Alabama conversation and Texas would have been bad. So let's stay with Texas. I think I disagree again with you on this one. I think I'm forced to root this weekend for Georgia, Washington, and Louisville. I think that's Texas's only path into the college football playoff with that combination of wins. I don't think they're going to keep an SEC team out.

So even if they buy your logic, oh, there's no way we can put Alabama in over Texas. They're not going to leave out Georgia and Alabama. It's just not going to happen. That's what a lot of people think. See, I kind of disagree with it. I think, I think Texas, the only thing they need to have happen is Louisville beat Florida State or Washington beat Oregon. Like, I think that would potentially be enough because Ohio State is like a placeholder there right now. Like that's, they will not have a conference championship, which the committee will look at, whereas Texas, what I think Texas would go would bump all the way up to four in that situation.

So on that note, and I've heard people talk about this, because I don't even focus on Ohio State because of what you just said. I assume that to be the case. I'm a little nervous. This committee makes me nervous. I'm a little nervous at Ohio State is ahead of Texas and Alabama. And I'm just saying Alabama as well because, I mean, this isn't all about Texas for me. It's actually about some principled criteria here as well. But I've assumed, based on the history of the committee, that you go win your conference championship, they'll jump you over an idle team that weekend. You think that's true? Yes, I do. Okay, so then Texas and or Alabama would jump Ohio State in that scenario. Yes. The concern, and this is why I focus on Oregon, see, this is what I'm concerned about. I'm concerned Georgia wins. I'm concerned that Florida State wins, Michigan wins, and there's three spots,

and then it comes down to Oregon beating Washington and Texas beating Oklahoma State, and they'll take what's clear that they will. I think it's clear based upon their. history of voting here. And by the way, Oregon would that point have a better final victory on the last weekend over Washington than Texas beating Oklahoma State? They'll take Oregon over Texas, and that's why I'm focused on this resume. We didn't even dive into the Texas Tech common opponent, but yeah, that too. Texas beats Texas Tech by 50, and Oregon wins by one possession at the end of the game. It's just there's nothing on paper, but yet everybody's decided by the

eye test or narrative or media love of Oregon or Bo Nix's Heisman candidacy, that is a It is Oregon that will get that fourth spot. Yeah, and I think you hit the nail on the head with the, the exclamation point at the end of the, like, if they have an opportunity to beat number three Washington in that Pactwell championship game, like that that is going to be kind of the final stamp on their season with the Hythman caliber type quarterback, they're going to get it. I think with Oregon, it does come down to just how good had, how impressive they have been to watch. and what they've done since that loss to Washington. Like, it's, I think Oregon's a really good. And the problem, the problem is, is I think Texas is a really good team, too.

Like defensively, I think they are the one defense out there that could match up with the Georgia, certainly Michigan, or anybody else, and give them a world of problems. Like, because they got dudes on both sides of the ball, and I think that was apparent when they went to Alabama, and one and therefore i remember i was talking with someone on the staff a couple weeks ago and he's like dude this is the first time since week two that we're fully healthy so like

we'll we'll see if that remains the case but um yeah it sucks because if travis was healthy for florida state i would say four best florida state winner and the uh the back fall of Michigan, Georgia, but it's just hard for me to say without Travis that Florida State is one of the best four, even though I do think if they win, the committee will put them in because it's never truly been about the best four for the committee. It's just combination of best season slash resume with maybe a conference title over one, the team. It's been a lot of that it's like a healthy dose of eye test right if you want to go straight if you want to go strictly best we can just look at the sagarin power ratings or the or the uh the f i ratings or

fpi or sp plus or vegas power rankings and just here are the best four and they'll crank out georgia michigan oregon and texas that's what it'll be but that's not what the they like having this subjectivity to it where they can kind of mold their argument to whatever they want to. And that's, that's where we are. I'm curious. I enjoy this. Like, I love the debate in the conversation and the fact it should be hard to get in with only four teams. Like next year, we're not going to have this. Like, it's just strictly going to be about seating. Like the Ohio State Michigan game last week, that was going to be the first ever rematch to get next week. And with the playoff expanding, we're going to know who's in.

So, like, I love this setup that it's hard to get in, and we're having this debate about what is, who is the better team, what makes a resume better than other? Should it late season injury factor into, like, oh, this is great. It's great for our business and our talking. Well, so I actually appreciate what you're saying because college football is more so than basically any other sport, a talking sport. And it's interesting because I held a national sports radio show for three years and it doesn't get the ratings. That conversation doesn't rate in the same way NFL talk does.

But the truth is, you know, and I've been in sports my entire life, whether or not I'm sitting around a campfire at hunting camp or I'm sitting at a bar, the best conversations about sports are the ones you and I are having right now. And it's better than who's the best quarterback in the NFL, which is the next best corollary to be on. Like, no one, like I thought, you and I consider it today and talk about Eagles versus Niners and the Cowboys resume, which they haven't beat up, they beat up on bad teams and haven't be good teams, but nobody's is emotionally invested in winning that debate because ultimately it's going to play out on the field. And that's what we're moving to in college football. When I'm at a campfire at Hunting Camp, which I've been, you know, twice in the past two months, this is the conversation. Now, it's regional. It's in Texas, but this is what we talk about. And it always is like, are we having fun or are we not having fun? Are we Matt, are we having a good time? It's always in that range, but I also heard somebody saying this. It wasn't always this way with college football. You know, you know what's died? As this has become college football, you know what died? Was Heisman talk. When you and I were younger, we talked about the Heisman, and we cared. Would it be, you know, Bo Jackson, 80s, even into the

90s, we cared. I don't care. I don't care if it's Bo Nix. I don't care if it's Jaden Daniels. I don't care that it's not Michael Pinnock's. I don't care really. And I don't think I'm alone. I don't think unless you are a fan of one of those teams, you don't really care. And it's probably been that way for a decade. Instead, we debate who should get into the playoff. Yeah, because I think with the highs, but I think it's turned into, and maybe this year it'll be different if Jaden Daniels does win. It's just defaulted to voters just voting for the quarterback on one of the top couple of teams in the country, which I don't think is the spirit of the award. And again, kind of like the whole Texas versus Florida state, if you want

throw Oregon in there, that's fine. Like, if it's not an outrage on the other side, I don't hate the other side. I'm just trying to make the case that I believe. And like, I think it's the same way, at least this year with the Heisen, from what I've noticed, is that, like, if you support Jane Daniels, like, I do because of the historic season that he's had, like, if you get, your view it is like hating Bo Nix, which is not the case. Nix has had a great year. year. And if he wins, fine. I just think Daniels has had a better year and it's not his fault. The LSU defense was terrible. If neighbors catches a ball that went right off of his hands in the end zone against All Miss, we're not having a conversation about who the, who the Heisman trophy

winner is because LSU would be 10 and 2 instead of nine and three. But you're right. I think back to like growing up and like you think of like Chuck Long, nearly beating Bo Jackson and the Heisman trophy. Like, who would ever imagine like nowadays like Iowa quarterback to coming in and second and nearly beating an SEC running back. But yeah, there was so much passion about that. And I think maybe the TV part of it maybe had something to do with it because it was so rare. All we would see highlights of these games, they weren't on widespread like they are now. It was kind of this mythical lure about some of these college players back then.

So that might not be the one thing that I can think of why that might be. Well, when you and I were young as well, they voted on national champion. Like, that was even more maddening, you know, I mean, there was zero ability to settle this on the field. So, but in the end, I'll say this, I'm actually looking for, the takeaway from me on all of this is I'm looking forward to the 12-team playoff. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. I think we will still have the debates at, you know, 11, 12, 13, and 14. I think it will be overseeding to your point. But there'll just be more justice.

There's a chance. I'm just trying to think about the scenario. if Oklahoma State wins and Florida State wins and Washington wins and Georgia wins, we won't have a debate. You know, we have the opportunity for four undefeated teams. That could potentially be the case. Or these one-loss teams all drop to two losses, and Ohio State doesn't have a case to make it a one-loss team. You know, so I think there's a chance there's not an injustice, but there's also a chance there's a real injustice that is done to Florida State or to Texas or to or to Alabama or Georgia in those scenarios. scenarios where you're not in the college football playoff. In fact, I want to do that with

you, Bear. Let's talk about a few scenarios that no one kind of discusses. You've already said you actually believe it's possible for the SEC to be left out. That's Alabama beating Georgia and neither of them getting in because Alabama lost to Texas. Do you see a scenario where actually both Georgia and Alabama get in, where Alabama wins a tight one? Georgia, you know, who by the way is done okay, their strength of schedule doesn't compare to some of these other teams, but they're on a two-year, what is it, three-year win streak, essentially, and they have the huge reputation. Do you think Alabama and Georgia could both get in in Texas or Oregon or Florida State be pushed

out because of Georgia at one loss? I think they're potentially, potentially could be. Obviously, I think you'd need Oklahoma State to beat Texas. You would need Louisville to beat Florida State, and you probably would need Oregon maybe to win a close game against Washington. And for this purposes of our conversations, yes, Michigan will win.

Michigan is in, Iowa is not beating them. So in that case, you've got Alabama, who beat Georgia in a close game, but therein, got Michigan who is in, you've got...

You could actually put a Pac-12 team in there and then have Georgia go in over Texas and Florida State say they lose to Louisville. I mean, I think a one-lost, my point is, I think a one-lost Georgia is going to put that committee in a situation where they'll say, are we going to pick Georgia over a big 12 champion, Texas? Are we going to pick Georgia over a Pac-12 champion in Oregon? And I think the answer, I'm not sure I know what the committee will say to those debates.

It's crazy. I don't either. But the human element and the human emotion of this, and like, I don't want to say guilt, but maybe kind of guilt kind of like comes into play here. And that's why I think ultimately Florida State will win because I think we'll get in if they do win because I think there will be this human element that says, yeah, I know they're not the same team and they're not as good, but we can't do that to them.

So I think that's why they will. But that's the same thing with George. Like two-time defending champion on a 20 game winning streak or whatever the hell it is and you're going to leave them out because they're lost in a last second field goal in the SEC championship game. to right or bet like that's that's a hard call like i agree i'm i'm nervous of that scenario that's why i'm rooting for georgia i i i think that i don't want to be in a situation where

they're gonna they're in my mind they'll never leave the cc out of the playoff so what why i have to worry about them is putting two teams into the playoff now you just i want i actually want to address this and nobody's addressing it and maybe because it doesn't matter but no matter how unlikely, what if Iowa does beat Michigan? What does that do? I mean, would that push Michigan out of the top four? Would that reintroduce Ohio State? Would that box the Big Ten out of the playoff?

What would that loss to Iowa do to the playoff? I think there would be a chance Michigan could be left out. I know they have the win over Ohio's done on their home field, but at the same time, Texas were super impressive in winning. If Washington or Oregon were super impressive in winning, Florida State wins. Like, I think that could push,

because you're not going to put Ohio State in Overmission. That's not going to happen. And I wonder, you talk about the human, I talked about the human element as well. Like, is there a little bit of residual? And I know who Corrigan kind of said, no, there isn't. When you talk about what happened off the field with a scandal,

like, would there be something in the committee room subliminally being like, yeah, you know what, now is our opportunity where we can plummet Michigan down a little bit because they did lose as a four-touchdown favorite to two of the worst offense in the country. So I think if Michigan loses, I think there's a really good chance depending on the other results, if the right combination happens, that Michigan could be out. Yeah, and then therefore Ohio State as well, and no team from the Big Ten in that scenario. Okay, and I think these are both really unlawful.

likely events. But do you think there is a scenario where a one-loss Florida State or a one-loss Washington gets in? In that scenario, you'd have two pack 12 teams in the playoff. And by the way, that's your top four right now. I think you have Oregon 3, Washington 4. I think if Washington loses, they're out. I think if Florida State loses, they're certainly out. I think Washington and would have a better chance because they still would have, I think it's three top 20 wins against the committee's top 20. If you look at the team, they have ranked with Oregon State, Oregon and Utah,

I think it's the other one that would be in there. I think they would still have a case depending on what happens in the other games. But I think if Florida State were to lose, I think that gives the committee to say, okay, we gave them the opportunity without Travis to beat Louisville, we had 14 or 15, I think they are on the rankings, and they couldn't do it. We can't justify them as one of the best four teams now if they do lose. I think Washington, there would probably be some type of conversation, but I do think the way

UW has played down the stretch, all of those close games, yes, they found a way to win. They've clearly not looked like the same team that they did early in the year when Pennix was thrown for 400 yards a game, and they beat Oregon in Seattle, and they dominated all those games and put up those points. It's not the same looking team. Now, maybe Friday night, they turn the switch and they're back to doing that, but it would be hard for me to imagine a one-lost Washington galling it, unless we have this scenario where Georgia does win, Texas loses,

and maybe you're looking at it. Well, that comes down to this, bear. This is going to be my final question for you. If you're a fan of the Buckeyes, you're rooting for the exact same scenario as Texas, plus an Oklahoma State win. And then Ohio State slips into number four. But actually what we're talking about there is, what if Oregon wins?

I said Washington is the best win for Texas in the Pack 12. And I think that's the same for Ohio State. So let's say, what if Oregon wins and you've got a one-loss Washington and a one-loss Ohio State going up against each other right there for the fourth and final spot? Texas is down to two losses. Alabama's down to two losses.

So it's Washington versus Ohio State both with one loss for the fourth spot. I think they put Ohio State in and they probably don't think twice. They both would be non-champions and I think they would look at the closeness of that game in Ann Arbor last week, a coin flip type game. Ohio State had the ball at midfield with a chance to win the game. They would look at Ohio State having the two top 10 wins that they do have against Notre aim in Penn State. I think they would look at the efficiency rankings of those teams and realize that Ohio State's defenses far superior to Washington. I think that's the scenario where Ohio State

does get in. Oklahoma State pulls an upset. Oregon beats Washington, Georgia beats, Georgia beats Alabama. And I think in Florida State we're to lose, I think that's the scenario where Ohio State gets in that four team partly there. All right, let's wrap up college football really quickly, bear by, let me ask you this, the early lines. You already mentioned Oregon, Washington. What is that line? It's nine and a half now. And I, it was funny because I have Oregon future tickets early in the season. And I was like, okay, this is an opportunity to win the Pac-12. I was like, oh, this is an opportunity to get Washington at plus seven, like last week or 10 days ago. I didn't expect this number to go to nine and a half. But it has it. Nine and a half,

I would think I have to take Washington plus the points in this game right now, just not knowing what's going on with any injuries or anything over the next number it did the fact that it's gone up like you mentioned they did win the game the first time around they did have success against the oregon secondary could they do it again sure like it just we've seen especially in the pack 12 teams with so much at stake an opportunity to get get to the playoff and clearly both teams have pressure now to get to the club this is the conference that that's kind of had upsets the last few years. I would just have to take Washington

plus the points here just to kind of be like, okay, they did win that first meeting and the line has just gotten way out of hand. All right, Louisville, Florida State. What's the early line? It's two. Actually, it was like five and a half

before, six and a half before the travis injury. And now it's down to two and a half. I mean, it, probably have to take Louisville on this game. And the reason why is you look at the two games from last week. You look at Florida States win in Gainesville. They average, what, 3.9 yards of play, 240 yards, whatever it was. They were added mightily by a number of Florida and a

personal foul penalties that prolonged drives. And if you look at Louisville last week, you look at that box score, they had three turnovers, a couple deep in their own territory that led to Kentucky points outgained Kentucky by like 140 yards in the game like they they had the winning box score Florida State had the losing box score and the results were flipped just because of the turnovers that happened in that game I have utmost respect for Jeff Brom and if you look at Brom's career against like top five top 10 teams it's been very good he can draw plays I think if Plummer avoids turning the ball over I think with that running game that they have. And a defense, I think it's pretty underrated as well.

It was like Kentucky that went up and down the field on them. It concerns me that even with the backup quarterback, Florida State couldn't move the ball on a gator defense. That has been trash all year. I went back and looked at Florida. They beat two, maybe four FBS teams this year. Two of them were three and nine Charlotte and two in ten, Vandy. It's not a good Florida a team. Yes, they got out with the win, and it's a rivalry game, and all bets are off. But the offense really worried me last week. I would be inclined to take Louisville plus the point there. Finally, Georgia, Alabama, early line.

It's now six and a half. It opened it three, three and a half, and it's been bet up to six, and I've seen it come down to like five and a half or so. I think either. I know what I think. I think Georgia either wins the game by double digits or Alabama wins out. I think it's one of those. I wish I would have gotten Georgia early minus three. That's an incredible buy. I think, I mean, Auburn almost beat Alabama.

Alabama's had trouble throughout the year. Everybody's talking about this Alabama resurgence and Jalen Milrose growth? They've had trouble. It was a 2420 game of Bryant-Denny against Arkansas who was terrible this year. Exactly. Exactly. They've been in game. And yes, Milro has grown and he's gotten better.

But I'm with you. I know George, I think Bowers is still just kind of getting back into the swing of things from the surgery after his ankle injury. Mims is back now. I think George, the way Georgia has played in recent weeks, I know they struggle with Missouri a little bit. Missouri is a good team. I think the fact that they lost Georgia a couple, I mean, they lost to Alabama a couple of years ago in the SEC championship game. and didn't get that SEC title over Bama. I think that matters to Kirby Smart.

Like, you might be able to wait a little bit more, and this number might come down a little bit more as some. I think it's got to be a good bit of Bama money because I do think that Alabama narrative is really strong. If you like Georgia, I would wait and see if it comes down some more. If you like Bama, you better hop it now. But I'm with you. Well, I'd be inclined to lay it here with Georgia.

I'm with you on the same bets, by the way. I would take Georgia and sacrifice the points. I'll take Louisville plus the points. I'll take Washington with the points, if it's that many. But what I just heard you break down essentially, and you didn't give me money line, but I can read between the lines, is your college football playoff prediction

is going to be Georgia, Oregon, Michigan, and Texas. That sounds like you're four because you've got Florida State loss, you got an Alabama loss, you got a Washington loss. I hear you jumping conference champion Texas over Ohio State. That sounds like your top four. Yeah, that's where I think ultimately we're going to wind up. And look, it'll suck for Florida State to have gotten this far. I think back.

I remember in the first year of the BCS, Chris Wanky got hurt. I can't remember if it was in the Florida game at the end of the year or if it was a game flyer to that. And Marcus Aulton came in and they had an unbelievable defensive performance with those freaks that they had on defense and they beat the Gators. And then they went up going to the title game against, we got losses by Ohio State. We got losses by Ohio State. We got losses by A&M and eight losses by UCLA. And they wanted to be in Tennessee against Florida State. And I remember that Florida State offense was just completely outmatched in that game. So they've gotten in with the backup quarterback before.

And it didn't go. And there's no correlation to that. But it's just kind of ironic that here we can be, with 25 years later or whatever it is. But here they could be again in a situation where they could get thrown into the deep end of the pool and have to go in very shorthanded quarterback position, which would kind of suck for them to go in there. And oh, you're in, congratulations. But oh, by the way, you got to play Georgia in your 15 point dock. But that's why the team that we saw early in the year against LSU, I mean, that was a great performance. And the way they had some games that were up in the air in the second half. But they found ways to win. I think the Wake Forest game was a great performance that they had. They got up on Miami and it held on there. Like, it would be hard to be like damn far.

They didn't get in because a quarterback got hurt. And we really. That one doesn't bother me. That's not injustice. It is what it is if you lose, if you lose. But if they win, in my mind, they have to go into the playoff. All right. A lot of people feel the same way, Will.

Yeah. We can continue this debate. Perhaps we can do it at the Dallas Sands Resort and Casino just before a Mavericks game here in about four or five years, bear. Yeah. Four or five years. Can we make it four or five months? We got to legalize gambling in Texas.

We've got the Mavericks sold to Las Vegas Sands. We've got to get gambling. legalized in Texas. They've got to build this Dallas Venetian. That's going to take a few years. But I think it's all, I think that's what's going to happen, man. I think, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Will Kane show is broadcast live from this new Dallas Venetian right there. Count me in. Guest number, guest number one, day number one. I'll be there. All right. Chris Felica, bare bets. Always good to have a conversation with you in this time of debate about the college football playoff. Thanks, man. You got it, but there you go. Check out.

Chris's podcast, Bear Betts at the Fox Sports Podcast Network. That's going to do it for me today. I will see you again next time. Listen to ad-free with a Fox News podcast plus subscription on Apple Podcast. And Amazon Prime members, you can listen to this show, ad-free, on the Amazon Music Act. It is time to take the quiz. It's five questions in less than five minutes. We ask people on the streets of New York City to play along.

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