Transcript
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Announcer:
Welcome to the podcast, to be named later, where we explore the world of conversation at a time, sit back and enjoy. Here are your hosts, Chris and Kelly.

Kelly:
Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of the podcast be named later. Winter's starting to set in here in Wisconsin. Probably still enjoying some of that warm, sunny Southern California weather and we have a few things to talk about. And how's it going, bud?
Chris:
It's going great, Kelly. Thanks, man.
Kelly:
Some late breaking news that totally changes our. Prep. As I mentioned to you just before I we started, I went to mute my phone and the top headline was that an Ohio legislator has proposed making it a felony for flag planting at Ohio Stadium.
Chris:
I'll be my response to that is just win the game and nobody's planting anything.
Kelly:
Glad to know that Ohio lawmakers are on the ball about the most important things in the state of Ohio.
Speaker
Yep.
Kelly:
So.
Chris:
People come first, Kelly.
Kelly:
Yeah, I. They like their football there. So we'll see, but.
Chris:
It's nice that that's her biggest problem in the state of Ohio, though. You know, public safety is all in order, apparently.
Kelly:
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
Chris:
We could focus on the some of the other things.
Kelly:
Yeah, I mean, you know, so. Anyway, a lot happening in the world of sports for one guy, I'd say it's 765,000,000. Things are happening in the forms of dollars sliding into his bank account.
Chris:
Yeah, minimum. There's. There's some escalators in there. So hey, man, I'd never fault anyone for going out and getting what they can, man. You know, that's what the. Market has determined that he's worth and good for him. Hard to fathom. You know from my position I mean that kinda money for for playing baseball. But you know, it is what it is, man. The market determs.
Kelly:
Yeah, it is interesting to see them get that much money. No, no fault to the guy, I mean. And if it's out there, get it. I would say just a couple of things. It doesn't make me. We talked about this a little bit before about the long term prospects for baseball. Are we really going to get to a phase of just the haves and the have nots? And how's that look for competition? Know here in Wisconsin. We just suffered the case of this as well with Willie Adams. Heading off to San Francisco for think, it's seven years. 182,000,000 after you know, having some stellar years here with Milwaukee. So. There's some inequities in baseball that don't exist in other sports at this level, and I do wonder if. Like I said, long term, that's going to be a problem.
Chris:
I mean, I think it's been a problem. I think. Yeah, I think it's already been a problem, you know, and there's been. You know, different teams at different times that have risen up the the Pirates have put, you know, a team together. The as had a really nice run, you know, using the Moneyball tactics and but the reality is, you know, Yankees, Dodgers, you know, Red Sox, you know, the. With the money are always going to be in a better position to acquire talent and. For a league. Don't think that's. You know, a competitive balance is pretty crucial to the long term success you and I have talked extensively. I mean, I got to sound like a baseball hater on this podcast, but the reality is they just do things. That, you know, I don't think are are in the best interest of the league and you know, we talked about the playoff schedule and how they, you know, rush through it and cram it. Know starting games at 90 clock in the morning on a Tuesday and things like that. And this. Inequity. You know, the haves and the have nots, as you say, it's just bad for the sport man to start the year with 10 teams that have a legitimate chance is just bad. You know the the money that. Five of the teams spend it. It just puts them at such a distinct competitive advantage over the rest of the league and you know, it's part of the reason that my interest in baseball has faded.
Kelly:
Yeah, I was thinking about that and I'm myself and I'm not going to be a guy that's going to go and say, hey, you know, I'm never going to watch another baseball game, but talked earlier, you know, went to my first playoff game and was thinking about you. It's chilly and cold here right now and. You know, do I want to get tickets to next year's opening day? There's a part of me that's like. Still listen to the Brewers and follow them and all that, but. And you know, they've probably done about as well as they can with their budget, making the playoffs for all the years they have in a row here and stuff. Obviously, too many first round exits, but you know. Is that how it's really going to be that they don't have a legitimate chance unless they always continue to find these players that Excel? Above and beyond what might be expected for the payroll level, we'll see. I guess just to pound on baseball one more time. Probably not going to be a reality very much soon anyway, but heard this other story about this idea of the quote golden at bat. Being proposed or in. I've heard that Rodman puts. No, but let me say this every time you hear an idea doesn't mean it's not going to happen down the road. Don't like this one? The golden nap bat concept is basically, hey, you can take any player in your lineup and once a game, stick him in Tibet no matter where you are in the batting order.
Chris:
Yeah, it just sounds so gimmicky. Kelly, you know what? I. It has a real like WWE feel to it, you know, like who's going to come out of the tunnel, you know? Yeah, I mean that's you got a good product, man. Mean you just you know. You need to make a couple tweaks to what you already have, I think the. A pitch clock. Was a success and I think most people would agree that, you know, it was a good change and but you know, that was something that we. Hey, well, this is a legitimate problem. People have a issue with how long baseball games take, and part of the problem is all this, you know, fix your glove and this routine and all this and that and. You know, all just a wasted time. The inefficiency of the game. So you know that went to address an actual issue. You know. What you're talking about now is it just sounds like a gimmick, man and. I. I mean, to me, I'm not a fan, but that's that's my personal opinion.
Kelly:
Yeah, I'm not. Not a fan of that? I think that, you know, the challenges with baseball are more. And I mean, there's different stats that say, hey, they're their big problem is they're not attracting as many young people. Think the pitch clock can help with that, I think. Other things that teams are doing working on the in game experience, I mean. Right. Everybody's more used to exposure to a bunch of other stuff. So and you're seeing some teams really get creative with more in game or outside venue kind of experiences and also ticket ticket packages that reflect kind. Of hey, people might want to go to more. They don't care as much about where they sit, but make that affordable. Other thing I think that baseball needs to do. Is figure out how to. Market themselves in a way that makes games more relevant during the regular season. They've tried like Apple TV Friday night. That's not a restricted service, so that wasn't too exciting, but. I think too much of the. There's no games that just strike anybody as relevant, so baseball doesn't really become must watch or must until the playoffs. Then you know. So we'll see. They got to figure that out, I guess. To jump to what I really want to talk with you about today, we've talked about this probably since the beginning of the podcast in one form or another, and really now we're just a couple days. About 10 days away, I. Maybe 9 days away from the start of the 12 Team College playoff.
Chris:
Yeah, this is something that I'm super excited about, man. This, you know we. We've touched on it, you know, throughout the year and it's just it's finally here. I think it came together really nicely. I think the you know my, I've always liked college. I think you and I are both big college football fans and I I just think it's one of the purest sports out there. I. Kind of. You know, I would say over like the last four or five years or something like that. You know, maybe a little bit of my passion for it had faded. Was still one of my favourite sports, but maybe just you know, a little bit of, you know, diminished interest or so. And then with this, you know it's it's peaked all the way back to the top and you know I'm checking the the standings and the rankings, you know, and then when the playoff ranking started coming out on Tuesday nights, you know, I'm recording that. I could watch it and. You know, my interest is just been at an all time. High this year and with the. I mean, it's just exciting. I mean the whole setup that it just. I'm so happy we've gotten. I do think there's some tweaks that still need to happen. I do think they stub their toe a little bit, but man from from where we were to where we are, you know, remember, I mean, you know, back in the day. You know, you had all these bowl affiliations and you know the the Big 10 and the and the PAC 10 would would play at the Rose Bowl and. I actually like that better than we went to the BCS with all the computers and you know, somehow they they would determine who the two best teams were and they'd play. And I hated that. Then we went to the four team playoff, which was better. But still, you know flawed and and left some really high quality teams out. And I mean, like, legitimately deserving teams out. And now that we've gone to 12, there's still some controversy. Still some? You know, there's inequity within the schedule and there's just too many college football teams. Everyone can play everyone. And so even within your own league with these, with the realignments and and the way these. Various power 5 leagues have swollen just you. Can't have an equal schedule. So there's going to be some years where teams have a little easier path than others. So on. But now I think I can confidently say that, you know, at least the top ten teams. Are in this an that's more than we could have ever said in the past.
Kelly:
I'm looking forward to it. I think that. Every team had. Some chance of making this tournament in a way. Right. And we've seen examples of this, probably none better than ASU where that was picked to finish last and now look where they are.
Chris:
Yeah, them them and cleanse Clemson both. You know I'm. You know, we discussed this a little bit off air and I just love it, man. Love that there's an opportunity that. You can play your way in and Asus. Exactly the example and I would say Clemson would qualify as well for similar. You know that they had to win their league in order to get in, which they did, and now they're in and I think it's a great story for ASU. You know, again, I don't think that it's necessarily completely equitable. You know, SCC is always going to be viewed as a stronger conference. Big 10 is going to be viewed as a stronger conference. You know, if you're in the Big 12. You're going to have to win it. Probably, you know, is likely not a lot of at large teams going to be coming out of the Big 12. In in the near future. But. And the strength of schedule is always going to be, you know, appear better for teams that play in in, you know Big 10 big or SCC and and maybe could throw the ACC in there a little bit. But. If you win your league, you make. You know, if you're in a Power 5 and then even for like a team like Boise State who never ever would have had a chance. It doesn't matter if they would have gone undefeated. Know that with a fourteen playoff and the previous. You know, set up. There's a really good chance that a one loss Georgia team was going to get in over them anyway. Now, that's not the. So like you said, every team in the country has an opportunity now. Have a heart, a tougher Rd. to hoe, right? And you know, you may have to go undefeated or. The the margin for error might be significantly less for some teams, but it doesn't change the fact that you can. You can get there and that I am a big fan of everyone should have.
Kelly:
Shot and I I like the fact that I think I think the. The format does a good job of still. Preserving the conference championships, as we saw obviously winning those is still a path. And then you know that that's going to get you that automatic bid. And I think that's fair within each conference and the way it is, obviously this conferences are so big and then you've got all the the remaining bid, so. If I had one quibble, and it might be. I would say that they should. Not have first round buys just because you won your conference.
Chris:
Yeah, 100% agree with you on that. That's my one quibble. So you know, we're always going to have the discussions at the tail end. You know, it doesn't matter if it's, you know, in March and we're trying to determine, you know, Team 646566. You know, there's always going to be some. Differences of opinion on who deserves to be in at the tail end. But at the front end, you know, you get everybody at the front end. So you know Oregon, Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, I mean, these these teams have proven to be the best teams in the country over the course of a season and and they they cleared it. No problem, right. So OK, we locked them up and there's a little bit of, like I said, a difference of opinion on at the back end on on who. A couple of the last spots, my overall, I mean I'm really happy with the field that got in. Yeah, my beef is the same as you, dude. It doesn't make. This is what I. This is just how they find a way to muck it up for no good reason. Know why? Did you have to complicate it this? And the one thing I'm wondering is maybe this is how they had to sell it. Know there's some. Well, there's a lot of politics involved and you know, I just wonder if the, you know, power 5. You know today will sign if if we get you know, if we if we can have buys or whatever. And so, you know, in the in the course of getting this all passed and and implemented, I gotta imagine, you know, that was a concession. That was made, but it's it does make for an it. Unbal. And I would love to see them do away with that. And I think, you know, if you listen to, you know. Some of the people who cover college football, they feel the same way, you know, and the reality is Oregon kind of got hosed, man. Mean they got a really tough draw. You. As the. Team in the country you know and and you know all other. Sports leagues, you know, try to reward the team that earned. You know the highest seed with an easier path, and they didn't do Oregon any favors with this draw. So you know, again, I would say hey, you know, settle it on the field. I mean, you know, you're in the playoff. Going to have to beat everyone who comes in front of you. So that's one way to say it. I mean there is. It is nice to have a little easier road and Oregon did not get that with the way this thing all shook up.
Kelly:
Well, Speaking of how it all shook up, let's let's pull up the schedule and just chat about some of these games.
Chris:
Alright. Well, I'll tell you what first game that's going to be played is going to be on Friday the 20th and that is going to be the 10 seed playing the seven seed, Indiana versus Notre Dame. And that game is going to be a home game. You know, and for the golden Domers and I, I actually like this setup too. I do like. That you know, some teams, some teams got buys. So that that's that's brilliant to not have to play a game is is. That's the easiest way to win is not have an opponent, and so that's. That's awesome that they set it up and then I do like that there is another tier. Where? Hey, we're going to give you your little better than this other team or we think you had a better season. We're going to give you an edge and in college football, you know. Home field still matters quite a bit. And so college sports in general, I think does a better job of of having home support than some of the professional leagues. And so, you know, being being home, it matters for in football, for false starts and just, you know, the impact on the game is you know. It's a real thing and I like that. You know the higher seeds, how we're given a slight advantage over the the team that they're playing. So Notre Dame I believe is a 7 1/2 point favorite. Me. Pull it up.
Kelly:
Yeah, I'd say the other. I'm I like, I mean, so just. Hey, man, you know, college football's got more of the pageantry and all that, and so I like that. And I like that. We're going to retain some of that, at least, you know, for the initial round of the playoffs.
Chris:
Yeah. I mean, these guys are these two teams are interesting because you know the the kind of a similar story to me. You know, they they really didn't have the toughest of schedules. One of them. And. Ended up with really good records, right? They're both 11:00 and 1:00. And. Now they're going to meet. And so there's some questions like, you know, they haven't had to face the stiffest competition pulling up Indiana schedule right now. Mean they got a win against Michigan. They got beat pretty handily at Ohio. That was their one loss was at Ohio State, which is, you know, perfectly respectable. People lose at Ohio State, not Michigan, but most.
Kelly:
Not Michigan, buddy.
Chris:
You know, they got some wins against names. You know, they beat Washington, but Washington's having a down. You know, they beat Nebraska again, you know, Michigan State again down years. So, you know, and their schedules are scheduled, man. Mean. You know, you look at their schedule to start with. They they didn't go out of their way in in the preseason, you know FIU, Western Illinois, UCLA and Charlotte. Know it's not like they you know. Really try to light the word on world on fire with their out of Scout Conference schedule, but then within the Big 10. You know you're in and you out. You, you, you just, you know, these schedules are made in advance. Don't necessarily know what these teams are going to look like. Big 10's a tough. They had, you know, Marilyn, Northwestern, Nebraska, Washington. Now, new members of the Big 10, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Purdue.
Kelly:
And UCLA was actually a Big 10 game.
Chris:
On a year by year basis. Oh yeah, you're right. UCLA wasn't. Yeah, you're right. Anyway, so, you know, look, man, they mostly handled business and and they got a good record and they got into the playoffs based on, you know, the record they had and. A lot of their games were blowouts. I do like that. A team can can beat the crap out of another. I like to see that you do that in Indiana for the most part. Did that, and then Notre Dame is kind of comparable. They had a tougher game to start at Texas A and Ms. That's a tough place to play, and that was their first game of the season, so kudos to them. Played Northern Illinois, Purdue, Miami of Ohio. You know? And then they rambled off. The Northern Illinois was just kind of a fluke. They lost 14 to 16. Gotta be honest, I didn't watch that game, so I don't know exactly what it looked like. Was early in the year and you know, football bounces funny man sometimes, you know. Lesser team can beat it. Another team on a given Saturday, and I think that's what happened in that game. But then they really didn't have much in the way of competition, you know. You know the the Naval Naval Academy and you know army, both good programs this year, both have played really well. Notre Dame handled them, you know, 5114 against Navy and 4914 against armies so. They handled their business there, but just, you know, you looked at, you look at the schedule top to bottom. It's not a lot of real stiff competition on here, but you know, credit to them, they they won the games they needed to except for the Northern Illinois game, but. These two teams, to me are kind of similar, man. I do think from what I have seen I. I have watched both these teams play over the course of the season and I think the seven and a half point spread is fair. Notre Dame seems like the the more complete football team. You know, much better defense. Now Indiana can score, but. I also don't think Indiana has played a defense quite like Notre. You know, couple, but Michigan's, you know, defense is still pretty solid and everything. I don't know. I I like Notre Dame in that game.
Kelly:
Think overall. I mean, I like Notre Dame to win, but I think overall for the first playoff game, it's not a bad. Game. Where you know Indiana, if we toss out the Ohio State game, as far as I mean, they just plain got hammered in that game. And that's probably why that, you know, they're not going to win the ultimate tournament here, but. You know, they, they they have a legitimate chance to win a first round game because for the most part, like I said, they've taken care of their business other than Ohio State. And there are other games you know, they won them by a significant margin more often than not, which? I don't like to see a team A-Team like Indiana that doesn't have, you know, elite players across the board or even things like that. I like to see them if they're supposed to win, win by a lot. Because at least that means, you know, they're still taking their business seriously. Notre Dame is just Notre. And I think if you stack up the rosters. Across the board, they'd rate out higher, so I think it'll be an interesting first game.
Chris:
Yeah, I agree. You know, and Curtis Rourke's played really well all year. And you know you can hear you go, man. Got you. Got your chance so. You can ask for as an opportunity right? And and they have one and they're in the tournament. You know, go to Notre Dame and get yourself a win.
Kelly:
Well, we got next.
Chris:
Up the next game that'll be played will be. A 9:00 AM my time on the 21st is these are all three of the remaining. Will it be not court, not quarter finals like first round games, so they. This one actually is really interesting to me and I this is the one upset I. It's the second largest spread, but SMU is going to play at Penn State and this is one. If I was picking up upset, this is. Is the one I would pick? I think so. You know, Tennessee and Ohio State, I think are a little closer than the 7 1/2 point spread. It just matters which which Tennessee team shows up so their defense can be elite at times and so can their offense. It's also real Jekyll and high. So, but this is the. The SMU, Penn State game's the next one. For two. I mean, going on three years now, I've watched Drew allor play, you know, in big games an the guy just never seems to show up. And Penn State just. They throttled the people that they're supposed to be right when they come up against weaker competition. They beat them sixty to 10. And then when they get in a big game against Michigan, Ohio State, whoever, right. They just don't perform well and I've seen it year after year now. And so my faith in Penn State in terms of big game performances. I. A ton of faith in them, man and I, the one thing that they have going for them. State I'm talking is Smu's defenses not great. So I mean, there's no way that that when you go player for player talent by talent, you know 4 star recruit, 3 star recruit, 5 star recruit on and on, Penn State's gonna blow SMU out of the water in terms of man for man. But. I do think SMU showed a ton of heart. You know, they got in a hole against Clemson. Probably were the better team, but you know, duty falling a hole and then eventually you just kind of run out of time. The way they came back and fought to the end lost on a 56 yard. Field goal. You know as time expired and regulation and. I don't know. I I think that was probably a good confidence builder for him and I feel like, you know, even if they did fall down a little bit against Penn State. I don't think they're going to have a lot of quit in them and I kind of like SMU in this game. I mean, it's 8 1/2 point line. At Penn State. You know Penn State's probably the better team, but I've just seen them lay down in big games, you know, a bunch of times over the last few years, and I, you know, if I'm picking an upstate SMU would be my.
Kelly:
I think independent of the game, I think SMU is an interesting story as far as right coming back from basically the program being in all their trouble from back in the 80s and stuff and. Really, back in the in the game, if you will. Won't surprise me if Penn State blows him out, but I would say the same thing that you have. Penn. There's just something they they don't live up to expectations. In some of the big games and they've fallen short, you know, not always the happiest times there in Happy Valley.
Chris:
Yeah, I mean, you know and like I said, I mean, Penn State's probably the better team. I, you know, blowout is possible if they show up and play to their if both teams show up and play to the best of their abilities and at their absolute absolute maximum output, Penn State wins this game. I just it's, you know, too many times. Penn State. You know, trip over their own feet in football games. Know when when they matter. And so I'm just kind of counting on that. And SMU got to feel a little a bit of a free roll. They. They could have just handled business.
Kelly:
Other defining playing with health money.
Chris:
They could have just beat Clemson and then we wouldn't even be having this conversation. But the feeling is, I mean, they were. They were real close to not making this tournament and the fact that they're here, you know, I'm sure they just plan on wrecking some stuff. And so I I got to imagine they're pretty confident bunch.
Kelly:
So that game. What's Next up on that Saturday?
Chris:
Next one will be the Clemson Tigers at the Texas Longhorns. Another one kind of similar actually, where Texas is probably the better team, but they also have failed to, you know, play their best in the biggest moments. And. You know, I mean, I I wonder what would have happened with Texas had they just made the switch. To. Manning to Arch Manning earlier in the season and just like rolled with them, you know, and understand, you know, yours has done a lot for him. Know he's the older, but you know they've looked better with Manny at the helm. For whatever reason, man, I you know they. 'Ve they never took it away from. Umm yours? And you know, when he was healthy, he came back and played again. But in the big games, Texas, it's not just. Not just the offense that the defense has not played to its best in the big games either. The defense is legit. Yet in the big moments, you know, they have. They haven't played like. So Clemson's got to feel a little house money too. Dude, you know, I mean. They barely snuck in and they said took a 56 yard field goal, you know, to win it. And they got to feel like they're on that house money and and, you know, in here to try and ruin someone elses experience. And again, Texas is the better team. Mean they're 11 point favorites. That's the biggest spread in the first round. I've watched both these teams play this year and at times you know, Texas looks like a national champion. Mean they were as high as number one in the country at one point and. But other times, you know, and especially the other times are in the big games, they haven't shown up. And I think if they don't show up and it's not like dabo hasn't, you know, been here before, I mean, Clemson as a program has plenty of experience playing post. Football for championships and been a couple years removed, but they they've been here before. And. Texas doesn't show. Clemson's going to beat them.
Kelly:
Yeah, I think Texas has got its hands full here. Where as you just said, if they don't show up and there's just times when they don't. It's not like Clemson is unfamiliar to this kind of hey, you know, they found a way to squeak in and all bets are off with what they can do. I'd also say, and this is always a tough thing about. Any athletic thing? I personally think that Texas should have made the switch. I think that nothing against yours, but and it's not just his name. Mean I think that Arch Manning is showing. He's going to be able to live up to his name and. I think I think they played better when he's in the quarterback myself.
Chris:
I. I think they just, they look more. It's it's a third of the run here. I mean, he is a legit mobile quarterback, man and. You know that element of the. You could just see the evolution of football, you know, really, over the last decade or. Those mobile quarterbacks, I mean, you can get by if you just have pocket awareness. You know, we've we've seen, you know, Burrow and Tom Brady did it for years and. Aaron Rodgers, even. You know. That's one aspect, but if you legitimate, you can legitimately gain yardage. Running the football from your quarterback. It just gives you a distinct advantage. You know a lot of times that guy's not accounted for by the defense and when. You actually got some moves in the open. You know, it's not just. Oh, I'll take the 10 yards where there's no defenders and I'll fall down when I get there. If you're a dude, you know, you look a little like Lamar Jackson does, and obviously he's the pinnacle. Gaining yardage he I mean, looks like a tailback out there when he's running and that's kind of what that's the thing that Arch Manning brings is is. I mean, he's a legitimate runner, man. Mean he's not just, you know, he's not a he don't look like a manning out there. The. You have you ever seen Eli Manning or Peyton Manning around with the football? Not pretty and. Tone of athleticism in those legs, not the Olympics, I would say, but Arch is completely different and he absolutely has some skills and I think that element is. Huge, and that's what Texas could. And it's not like you can't throw the. I mean, yours is probably a hair better in terms of just, you know, passing accuracy, efficiency, things like that. It's only a hair. But Arch is significantly better in terms of mobility and I I think Texas's offense looked better. When Arch was.
Kelly:
At the. Well, I think that all sports kind of evolve, right? Mean if we go back, you know. There's a reason why they used to say 3 yards in a cloud of dust. I mean, go back far enough and even a pass wasn't that common in NFL then we then we kind of got to the hey, you know, I'm going to just get myself a really good pocket passer and. You know he's going to be great. That was, you know, worked. But we're really seeing the evolution of the offensive game with these mobile quarterbacks because it's. You know, and in many ways like getting two players for the price of 1. Maybe the highest price of. But when you have a mobile quarterback, it opens it up. Really gives you another running back on the field. And a passer that you know can still play that part of the game, and it's that combination of, like I said, kind of two players for the price of one and the surprise element of which is he going to do because you can't, you can't. Plan for one of them anymore and I think it just makes the game more explosive.
Chris:
Yeah. I mean, generally speaking in in more you know traditional offenses, the defenses generally play 11 on 10, right, because you don't have to. Never have to tackle the quarterback. You're trying to sack. You're trying to tackle them. He has the ball, but for the rest of the play. Everybody else, you know, defensive players have. 11 people on the field who are all, you know, have a job to do. And offensively, especially in, like any type of handoff situation or anything like that, you know, once the quarterback has gotten the ball out of his hands, either by, you know, hand off pitch or whatever, giving it to a running back or throwing it to a receiver that quarter. Stops being a factor at that point. They don't go away, you know, throw down blocks. They're not, you know, running pick. They're they're not doing anything at that point. Finished. And so now for the rest of the play. The defense still has 11 people trying, and that offense only has. 10 and when you have a mobile quarterback, you know anytime that that person takes off and runs, you're back to 11 on 11, and it's even more than that really though, because a lot of times. The quarterback. Is one. They can see the whole field and the play has already started develop. Now everybody has spread. You know, whereas like a tailback it, you know, everything's more condensed and. People are aware that he has the ball relatively quickly in a play, whereas a quarterback, you know a lot of times two or three seconds have gone by before he decides to rebuild. Everyone's scattered. The space is is so much larger and when you got a guy who has some fluidity to him, has some moves, has some vision running the ball. Then it's really devastating because, you know people are coming from all different angles and stuff now and and there's no way gap contained any more and that, you know, there's there. There's nothing in structure any more from the defensive side. And so that. You know that just. You know exponentially increases the amount of yardage you can gain and the ability to flip a field and gain first downs and do all the things you need to do to get closer to the end zone. And yeah, I mean, we'll see. Mean Eurasia is going to. I mean, I do wonder if you know this is where the stakes are the highest. Mean Texas has to win this game, right? And. In order to, I mean they got to win more than this game to have a successful season. I mean really for for what the expectations were for that program and where they've been throughout the season. I would say a loss in the championship game. Would probably be sufficient, but still disappointing. Anything less than making it to the championship game is 100% a disappointment for the Texas Longhorns this year, and I think the expectation you know from the fans is is is a championship winning the championship game so. It starts with this game. They lose this. I mean, you know, it's going to be a bad look for the Longhorns.
Kelly:
Losing year for them is not going to be good and. I really do agree, nor agreeing on a lot of this, but. The expectations for the Longhorns? Mean a it's Texas. They're always high. But where they are and what the resources they've been given, you know with nil money and everything else. Losing this week, that first game will not be good for anybody. Most of these other first round teams, I mean for a lot of them just getting here is a successful season, I'd say of the first round teams Texas like this is more of a necessary evil to get to where they want to go.
Chris:
Yep, well.
Kelly:
For them, more so than any other team in the first round.
Chris:
Yeah, I mean it's. I would put Ohio State in Texas, both in the same category with that. I I would agree, Indiana, Notre Dame. I mean, the people from Notre Dame may have something different to say about that, but I I feel like, you know, Indiana, Notre Dame, SMU, Penn State, Clemson. You know, I I feel like all of them, you know, I don't say they're. Be here. I mean, I think they have an expectation for winning inside their own. But you know from my perspective, it's like all right, man, you know you have a shot. You're here. Where is Texas and Ohio State is like, hey this. You already disappointed us by not having a buy like you know you. You already are behind the 8 ball like we expect a national championship from you and I would say, you know, Ohio State just as much, man. I mean that that you know, they're at home against Tennessee. The last game of the first round and I, I'd say Texas and Ohio State. Kind of the same boat, you know, like Amen. Our expectation is the national championship. Maybe we would settle for a loss in the championship game and still be able to chalk it up to like we almost got there, but anything less than that is going to be a disappointment. For sure, and a first round loss would be devastating.
Kelly:
Yeah. The only reason I think I. I think the only reason I rate Ohio State a little bit lower on that playoff expectation scale or season scale, if you will is. Much like what we started things with, they already kind of botched one of their. Big successes of the season. By not beating Michigan again, I mean, I don't think it'll. But you know, there's a legitimate talk of, hey, we should get a go, get a new coach.
Chris:
You know, it's it's so funny. I mean, can you think of another? Rivalry or single game? Anywhere that that matters more than that Michigan, Ohio State game. I mean, you know, a team can go, you know, 3-3 and nine. And but if one of those wins was against, you know, let's say you're Iowa State, you know, yeah, they they they'd be ****** that you were 3:00 and 9:00. If you beat Michigan, everything's OK. And, you know, Michigan lived on that for years, right? And. I just can't think of another scenario anywhere in sports. We're literally the whole season rests on a single game against your rival the way it does in that game.
Kelly:
Now I. I mean, it's funny because it goes back and forth, right? Years, right, Michigan? Night 1/4 in a row now, but I'd have to go back and look. How many before that? Did Ohio State beat Michigan? And I have thought about this once in a while because I think it's honestly, I got to say this like when I first heard, OK, they lost. And then I heard all Michigan or Ohio State fans are saying, hey, we should get rid of our coach. I'm like. Good grief, man. Where are you coming from? But and it made me wonder like, are there other rivalries? There's big games and across the sports, but I don't know that there's one that consumes. The fan bases in particular, and probably the players. As much as this one throughout the year and where as you said, winning or losing this. Won't say it's the same as a national championship, but it's pretty high up there on how your season's evaluated.
Chris:
Yeah, I just can't think of another. Single in season regular season game in any sport that carries more weight than than that game does. And yeah, it makes some brakes careers. Years, you know. You win that game and it buys you two more years as a coach. Lose it and you're immediately on the hot. And you know, I mean, by all accounts, Dave's done pretty damn good, man. But you know what? You keep losing this game, dude. You're out of here.
Kelly:
And that's that's why I say, I mean put it this way, my Wisconsin Badgers. I don't. I'd take that guy. We just ended our. 22 year streak of at least making it to a bowl game this year. I don't know I. I get it. Big. So I'd really be interesting of Ohio State. Ohio State goes through and wins the whole thing. Do they say about Ryan Day then?
Chris:
Yeah. Well, I mean, he's perfectly fine at that point, you know? Well, not perfect.
Kelly:
They'll still say he is, except for yeah. But you still can't beat Michigan.
Chris:
Right. Right. I OK, maybe not perfectly fine. But he ain't losing his job. If he goes wins a national championship, he's bought himself a little more time to, to, to try and get over that Michigan home.
Kelly:
All right, so we finished that first weekend, you know, and next weekend of playoff games. Then we get into the semi, the bowl games and the teams that have had buys now got to show up. What do we got coming up there?
Chris:
Let me go back to the. So in the Ohio State Tennessee game real quick, you got a you got a pick there. Mean is it? You got a strong feeling one way or another.
Kelly:
I do think Ohio State's going to win that game. Again, Tennessee's been good, but I I. Look, when Ohio State's on and they were for most of the year, they're an impressive football team. Just make no bones about that. Yes.
Chris:
Yeah, I mean it was. It was a very close loss at Oregon and then, you know, they obviously lost the Michigan game. But other than that, they lost dominant. Will say this Tennessee's front. Specifically the front 4, but really you know the front, the Front 7 very strong man and they, you know my concern, you know, from an X's and O's standpoint is, you know, Michigan suffered. Some injuries on the offensive line and if they had to pick a match up that you really don't want to have offensive line issues. I think Tennessee is one of the toughest. Know Texas? You know good front and probably would be able to get pressure. Even if the offensive line was at full strength, so that's the one thing that that maybe. And then Tennessee's just, you know, like I said, so Jekyll and Hyde, I mean just, you know, gosh, man, it just it just really depends which team shows up I think. State wins the game too. Think if they played the game 10 times, you know I'll state when seven of them, something like that. You know, I would pick them in. But I. You know. If they can, if they can, you know, get there and they got some time to figure things out. There's a little bit of a break couple week break before they have to play this game as long as they can get the offensive line short up and and they can block for, you know, Quinn, Sean Judkins and Trevion Henderson and and get the running game going. They obviously have elite wide receivers year in and year. I mean, this year is no different. I mean, they have incredible playmakers, you know, at the wide receiver position. You know, if as long as the Ohio State handles their business, they're probably the better team. And they should win. But. Tennessee defensive front versus that offensive line of Ohio State is really going to determine this. And if that's swayed heavily on the Tennessee side and they're winning the line of scrimmage, you know, I wouldn't be surprised at all if 10 Tennessee. You know, beat them handily. If that ends up being the. So Ohio State's very dependent on being able to run the run the ball, and it's hard to do if you're if you're offensive and lines getting dominated. My pick would be Ohio. You know, I'm just going to give him the benefit of the doubt that, hey, they're going to show up and play well. And then you know their skill, position players you know, are are superior to Tennessee. So I think they would win under those circumstances, but if you're watching that game and that offensive line or that that line of scrimmage is jumping back a yard and 1/2 every time they snap the ball and that defensive. Tennessee is is blowing them off the ball right from go. Going to be a long day for Ohio State. What? I mean, we'll get to see. We'll know soon enough, but that that's all I would say about that game.
Kelly:
I will say one last thing before we go on to the next round. This is also an example of the kind of game that makes me excited for the playoffs. These are two legitimate teams with shots to go all the way. And really, you know, a lot of players from both teams are going to be playing on Sundays down the road. This is. This is just the kind of stuff that I I love to see for playoffs in college football.
Chris:
Oh yeah, I mean, I mean, it's just so exciting. Know IA week after. I you know, you go through and you you look at the schedule for the week and and most of them are throwaways, right? And there's always. It's not too hard to pick out, you know, when teams have a number next to them, right? When they're when there's 2 ranked teams. I mean, they generally show you the number. It's it's pretty easy to spot when you're looking at the schedule like. Let me let me just see if I can find, you know, a #5 versus a number 11 or something, right? And so you Scroll down and now what we're getting is nothing but this, right? Are these are two? Football programs, you know in Tennessee's. Been struggling in the SEC, but you know, Tennessee's a program and you know they've they've been in this position before, you know, similar to Washington making their run back last year. University of Michigan under Harbaugh coming back and you know, this could be a statement game for Tennessee and all that stuff plays in. Sudden, you know, people start digging a little deeper in their pockets for that nail money. You know, all of a sudden recruits start start thinking orange is in such a terrible color to look. And these, you know, these are the kind of games that can really propel a program into the future and and, you know, for a team like, I think Ohio State is pretty well solidified at this point. Tennessee. This could be a marqu. Really has an effect on them. You know, for years to come in the future. So good. Opportunity for them.
Kelly:
Yeah, all. So then we get up to the next weekend. What do we got?
Chris:
So the the following week. Man, I forget which one is which day. I don't have the date right in front of me. Let me see what it pulls up. Well, anyway, I'll just go by seating. So the. Oregon Ducks will take on the winner of. The Ohio State Tennessee game, which is, you know as we talked about early on, a pretty ****** draw, dude and so.
Kelly:
Where are they playing machine?
Chris:
That's what they got. It was that.
Kelly:
Which bowl game is that gonna be?
Chris:
That. Hold on. Give me one. Let me pull my other thing here. This is a little better. Our better representation Rose Bowl.
Kelly:
But while you're playing that, no in the Rose Bowl.
Chris:
Hey, so for Ohio State wins, that'll be a pretty classic. A little weird because it'll be big 10 versus Big 10, but you know, traditionally Oregon PAC10 team or PAC 12, you know, as the evolution has happened and. If Ohio State wins, that'll be a kind of a classic Rose Bowl match up.
Kelly:
That, as we said, they certainly did not do Oregon any favor.
Chris:
No, I mean, you know, whatever, man, they seated them, how they did and and you know the purest in me or whatever, you know the hey you play who's in front of you. You know if you're going to win a national championship you're going to have to play. Games and so that that, you know, I can just stop there and just say, hey is what it is and. But the other side is kind of. This is wasn't exactly balanced and. Either one of those teams, Ohio State or Tennessee is going to be. Right. Whereas you look at like Arizona State, they're going to play Texas or Clemson? You know, we already talked about Clemson could win that game and and boy, I I think Oregon would have rather seen Clemson. Than Tennessee.
Kelly:
Yeah. I mean whichever team they get, I mean, this is not a a walk in the park. I think Oregon can beat either one of them. But it's it's going to be a dog fight, man. I mean, because I live there, I guess. Maybe you know been a while now, but I still got a soft spot for Oregon. I don't know. Why do we have become fans of any team? So I kind of pull for them here. And why? They've been playing really well this year. And. But honestly, it won't surprise me if they lose in this first round either.
Chris:
Yeah, me. I mean, at that point, all these teams are gonna be. So I mean I can get into the other contests, but all of these you know, once you get into that corner quarter finals, yeah, that I mean, you got good teams remaining. Obviously who? Whoever makes it from the first round is gonna look really good because they just won a football game and they just beat a really good team to do it. They're they're gonna look pretty. I will say Oregon, historically for me has always felt like. I don't know man like. Just not quite there. Like you know, cut I guess.
Kelly:
There were always like there there like. One step short they they because this has happened several times, man, they really blow through the regular season. They do great. And then they get to the big game and they're just a little bit off.
Chris:
Right. The record says they're Alabama or Ohio State and their players that they recruit say that they're in that top tier of, like, hey, you know, we're we're equal to, you know, the Georges and Alabamans and stuff. But yet their results don't. They just seem to consistently fall short and. I I personally to have just kind of discounted them like, yeah, I don't know. They're not in that top top tier. But yet yeah, you know, you look at like wins and losses and you know, you look at like point differential and and you know even big game victories and stuff. Stacks up pretty well. It's just for whatever reason, man, they they don't get over that last hump and and to put them in the truly elite elite category and and they're just on the cusp of it and. You know, they got that signature win over Ohio State this year. Was big. This is, you know, that was Big Boy football against to, you know, Big Boy programs and they want it. And it was a great game too. Man, that was a really, really good game to watch. The other game of another playoff team with Oregon was in, we'll talk. Them in a little bit as Boise State. Was a great football game that. Boise State absolutely had every opportunity to win. And you know, so that you know, there's been a couple of really good Oregon games this year and there's potential for rematches. So they could very well. See Ohio State. You know, in the in their first game and then should they both advance that there's a chance they could see Boise State again. That would be way later, though, that I think that would take all the way to the championship for them to see Boise, but it's possible they could have two rematches, you know, based on the bracket.
Kelly:
I do think it'd be ironic if there first you're in the Big 10, the. Oregon wins wins it all.
Chris:
Yeah. I mean, they're a good team, man. I mean, you know. Benefit beneficiaries of the transfer portal. You know, and and we'll see. I mean, you know, it's going to be tough no matter who they who they end up matching up with. It's it's going to be a tough, tough matchup. And that will be at the Rose Bowl on the 1st. So I got the schedule here.
Kelly:
Yeah, that's.
Chris:
That's a 55PM game. On. The first.
Kelly:
Little bit of trivia. I've read more than once. The Rose Bowl Committee is right. Always wants their kickoff time to be the same as it is because one of their selling points is. They want that picture of the third quarter of the game going across the country. Of the sun starting to set over the California Mountains when half the country's freezing.
Chris:
I'd never heard that before, but that's funny.
Kelly:
So all right, what other game?
Chris:
So I'll move on to the second. We'll just go by seating here, so #2 seed with the first round bye is going to be the Georgia Bulldogs.
Kelly:
Yeah.
Chris:
They will also play on January 1st and they will get the winner of the Indiana Notre Dame game. Thoughts on that?
Kelly:
Yeah, it's I think this is a case of just doesn't matter which team gets there. Georgia's taking this game. With relatively.
Chris:
Well, I don't know, man. So I would still take Georgia even with the backup. I mean, you know, again they have a lot of. You know they're going to have basically three weeks of preparation and just knowing what I know about the Georgia program, I will say I don't know. I can't even think of his name off the top of my. You know, Beck went out on the last play of the first half and was pretty ugly. Ugly and I don't know what his status is, but without Carson Beck, I mean, he has not necessarily lived up to expectations this. I think a lot of people had him as the first overall pick and the highest rated quarterback that was going to be coming out this next year. Was. He was the Heisman favorite, you know, on and. And I would say that Beck has not lived up to that. Pretty high bar, but he has been a very good facilitator of the football. He's been a good quarterback, mounted some comebacks, and he's played well. That. Georgia would much rather have back a. And if he doesn't play, it's gonna be a dogfight at that point. So.
Kelly:
It'll be more of a fight, but the other thing I'd say. Of those two teams that they might have to face. Look, man, these teams out of the SEC, dude, they've got elite talent, stacked ups riding the bench.
Chris:
You're not 100%. And I don't know what the matchup would say, but you know, in the watching the SEC Championship game. You know, running the ball was pretty tough and I think that that would be more of Notre Dame's game and throwing the ball to secondary. For Georgia played like crap, I thought. Thought there was dudes wide open all game against Texas. And that would be more of an Indiana, you know, style of play, I would think so. You know, matchups might matter in that game.
Kelly:
Yeah, I really. I would just say I think both of those teams have a chance, but again George has been there.
Chris:
Yeah.
Kelly:
An like this is where I think previous experience and coaching. Look, you got to have the players in. But previous experience in coaching, I think can win the day here.
Chris:
Well, and this is where you kind of, I mean, tell me if you're Oregon, you know, they got to play the winner of the Ohio State Tennessee game. Play and they're the one. George was the two seed and they get Notre Dame or Indiana winner I. Think you would hands down. This one. And so that's where like the seating and the rankings are like man, there's something, there's something just just off with the way this is set up and it's not balanced.
Kelly:
On heartbeat.
Chris:
In a fairway to benefit the undefeated Oregon Ducks in any. So I I think, yeah, hands down you would you would take this one. And yet George is the lower seat of team, so something's. Something's awry with the seating, and hopefully they'll tweak that because I guarantee. You know, I'd have to pull up the Vegas odds, but I guarantee. Ohio State and Tennessee are shorter odds to win the national championship than Indiana, and probably both ahead of Notre Dame as well. Notre Dame in Tennessee might be close, but Ohio State for sure is ahead of Notre Dame in terms of ability.
Kelly:
For that.
Chris:
National championship and Oregon's got to play the ones that are, you know, Vegas is pretty smart man that you know they they aren't wrong a lot and you know. So anyway just another. Little shot at the committee. I guess that they kind of job durgan a little bit. I agree George has been here. Played for national. I mean, this is old hat to. I think they have an expectation. You know, I got a buddy coaches, a football team up in Washington state. Shout out to the Linden lions. And. We talked about. You know, we chat a little bit, you know, over the course of the season and I kind of tracked the team, you know, and I was asking about team heading in and he said, man, they're really young. Know we're playing a bunch of sophomores and and a lot of juniors, and you know, it's just a really young team was not a lot of experience. Had a lot of seniors on on the squad last year and. Linden for you know, the size school that they are kind of a powerhouse football program in the state of Washington and you know, the smaller schools they play against, you know, not not quite the same. Same, you know, number of students. Stuff, but in terms of a football program, they're good. Anyway, we're chatting through things and. They just started rambling off wins and wins and you know, as we're chatting, you know, throughout the year and he's like, hey man, the guys just keep winning. And and I've made a comment to him. Was like it. Sometimes there's just an expectation, you know when you've won state titles and the guys before you have been winners and and you come up through the program as a freshman and a sophomore. You know, eventually you just expect to win like you go in with the confidence knowing like hey, you know, we're the Georgia Bulldogs man. We play for national championships. We have the confidence that we're going to get this. Done. And it just permeates throughout the the gym and the weight room and the locker room. And you know, through the faculty and the coaching staff and everybody. Everyone, there's just an expectation to win and you see it all the time in sports. Or teams that you know on paper, maybe shouldn't be as good as another one that you know there's a there's a up and coming or someone who kind of, you know, has been lighting the scoreboard on fire or something. And yet, you know, when you get down to crunch time and you get into playoffs, that just, you know, it's it's the old hat, the old guard who find a way to win a lot of times. I just think that's the Georgia Bulldogs. They they know what it's like to play in these games. Lights aren't going to be too bright for them. And you know, they have an expectation of winning that maybe a team like Indiana doesn't.
Kelly:
Yeah, I mean this is how you, this is the thing where you're looking to build a program. And you know, there's a relatively small number of college football programs. That. Our elite. Over a long period of time, it's going to be interesting to see, for example, on that point. Especially with. How quickly this can change? Alabama's probably the most interesting school on that very point. Because Nick Saban. It was Alabama. He built an institution. Obviously they didn't do quite what they wanted to this year and. It'll be interesting to. I mean, I think there's still those expectations that this is what we do at Alabama, but it can especially you know you already. Mean you'll see more players leave and. Georgia still got back to where they need to have ultimate shot, and so I that's why I think that this is a case of. This is where they know what they need to do and they'll take care of business.
Chris:
Yeah, I would. And actually, I mean we can get into it, but you know, spoiler alert, I I would if if we're, you know filling out our brackets, I would have Oregon playing Georgia in the national championship. I I just I think the. Program is such that you know it's superior to everyone. So basically in Georgia's bracket, it's going to be SMU, Penn State, Indiana, Notre Dame and Boise. Those are the other five teams that are on their side of the bracket and Georgia is the best program. Of the. So just by that alone. I would have them advancing. All right. So let's jump on in #3.
Kelly:
Let's jump to the next.
Chris:
So next game based on seating would be the three seed Boise State Broncos.
Speaker
Yeah.
Chris:
The Boise State, Ashton Genties versus the winner. Of. I think they got hold on one second. Let me pull back up, Penn State, SMU. So.
Kelly:
This this is a game.
Chris:
I've watched a lot of boys.
Kelly:
You know what? My first reaction to this game is? This is a game that there's just something whacked with the whole seating once again, because this game should never even have a possibility of existing.
Chris:
Right.
Speaker
Hey, but.
Chris:
I would. Agree. I don't know where you put Boise State. Should not have got to buy. They are not a better football team than Penn State, Ohio State, Texas, Tennessee. Know, I mean, ****, they might might be. They're close with Indiana, you know, or Clemson. And probably behind them actually. So you know, I do appreciate that they have an opportunity. This I do love this about a college football and I'd I'd love that Boise State has an opportunity still to date the greatest football game I think I've ever seen in college football was at Boise State. Oklahoma game that would nothing has passed it to this point in, in my opinion. I mean, the Texas USC Rose Bowl game was amazing. Know the Vince Young game was amazing. Been a bunch of them. There's been a lot of really good. The Tung of a LOA coming in for Jalen Hurts, you know and. Anyway, there's a list of great ones, but still I still put that game as #1. Was just exciting from jump and. A lot of it was, you know, that was when Oklahoma was, you know, in their heyday and Boise State showed up and and played the big boys. And now Boise State has done enough over the last, you know, 15 years or so to say, hey, no, we Bel. Now, yeah, sure. We might be like just a tear down. We don't have quite the same. You know, resources that some of these other programs do, but dude, we can play football. And I'm happy that they're in the field and I think they have a right to be here based on how they played. So they got one loss. Dude, they lost to Oregon at Oregon and it took Oregon to kick off or two kick returns for touchdowns to beat them. You know Boise State. I don't want to say they were the better team on the field, but they were as good. As Oregon was on that day and, you know, Oregon did what it needed to do to win. They they got the victory. But I watched that whole game and. Boise State played right with them then. I mean in for a lot of it, they they were the better team for for chunks of that game.
Kelly:
Make no mistake, I again. Not just because of the story, but. They've shown, and they've built a program and sustained it over many. I this is exactly why I think we need a playoff and why they're a team that I'm excited to see. Right, that they get a shot and they're going to get a shot more often than they ever would when we just had the four teams. I mean, they'd have to be so exceptionable to get that shot as as they were a few times. So this is, This is why we should have an expanded playoff. But again, you know, I just this this is not like for me a game of, yeah, this this is what I expect. When we were bringing in a team with first round Boy hey. They win.
Chris:
Oh me. And I'll tell you what, man, I'm there is not a more exciting player in all of college football than Ashton Gentry. This. So I you know, we talked a little bit, you know I do some dynasty leagues and. So I kind of track players in terms of like, OK, you know, I mean, these are people don't have to draft, you know, for my fantasy, you know, when they came to the NFL and for what it's worth, highest ranked. Running back by Pro Football focus, who's, you know, pretty respected. Kind of evaluator of talent, and Jason Gentry is number one ahead of Herschel Walker ahead of Barry Sanders. Mean his Pro Football focus rushing grade is the highest in the history of all. So I kind of puts in perspective, you know these these things can be a little fuzzy, right and and? You don't know what it's going to mean for his NFL career or anything, necessarily, but it does say. It makes a statement that, hey man, this dude is legit and I've watched a ton of Boise State games just cause I think they're exciting. And gently. I mean, his contact balance is just unbelievable. His ability to to. He's like a Tommy tippy tuck. He just never tips over and Pete Speed power and he ran for. I have to go back and he ran for over 200 yards against the Ducks dude so. If for nothing else, just to watch Gentry play in a game that matters, you know, and not against the UNLV like running rebels. That part alone is exciting for. And just to see what Boise State can do and you know, don't rule them out. I mean that they're they're a good football team and for them to beat, let's say Penn State moves on. Actually think SMU might move on, but Boise State versus SMU? Would be amazing football game to watch. Know I. I just think they're going to run up and down the field and the game might be 56 to 54 by the time it's all said and done. And I just think it's going to be a really, really exciting game. And I'm I'm excited to see what place they can do.
Kelly:
Yeah, I I think of Boise State. I think of Boise State again. Love the program. They built something, you know, in a state that doesn't have a lot of other sports, and they've managed to find a way to sustain it. And it seems like they always, you know, have. More often than not, one of these really kind of elite players that can make things happen, I think of them a little bit or, you know, I guess could go either way. But they remind me like they're like the Gonzaga of college football in a way.
Chris:
Yes. Comparison. OK.
Kelly:
So all right. What's our, what's our last playoff game there or?
Chris:
So last one would be the Arizona State Sun Devils versus the winner of the Clemson, Texas game. And that game is Fiesta. Oh no. Was Boise State. There was a little bit of, you know. Talking point about, you know, Arizona State getting to play at the Fiesta Bowl. Really wanted that three seed, that they didn't end up. So this is going to be the Peach Bowl #4 Arizona State versus the winner of Texas Clemson. And that's going to be 1:00 PM on New Year's Day. And I can see. Arizona State really wanted that Fiesta Bowl bid, right? Just play right in their their backyard. You know, ride your bike to work day and you know instead they they got to go across the country and play. But Arizona State's no joke, man. Played pretty. And you know, it's hard to compare. The Big 12 versus, you know, some of the some of the other power. But reality is there a stone state has has gone out and showed up and played, and they've kind of dominated man. So. And you know, these aren't scrubs that they're playing. Mean. These are other legitimate programs and. Arizona State's, you know, beat them pretty handily, so. They're not going to be a. I don't know what I think. We both anticipate Texas beating Clemson, so it's going to be Texas who's a powerhouse, you know, coming off of seven days rest, playing a team that you know has been off for a while and. I don't know. I mean, I I don't know what that line will come out at, but I bet it's, you know, under a touchdown.
Kelly:
This one's probably for me. Especially if it's Texas that they play. Probably the hardest game to kind. I don't have a strong opinion here because I just don't know what's going to happen. Now ASU is. They've just been such a surprise all year, man.
Chris:
Yet another story. That's cool. I mean, they were picked last in the Big 12. Know that they've been ranked low all. They do have a couple losses and and so rightfully so, you know, but. You know, hey, they earn their way in. Got their spot. And then. Just kind of by way of the goofy seating and the the locked in conference champions and highest rank conference champions, they edged out Clemson for that last bye. By all rights, I don't think Arizona State should have a bye. As Boise State, they should be playing in the first round. You should be happy to be there, you know, based on the season you put. But you know, under the way it's set up, they they ended up earning themselves a bye and that's one less game they got to play. That much closer, you know to the. So I do think this game, if I had to guess, you know, Texas in the Peach Bowl against Arizona State. I mean it might be right around to touchdown 6 1/2 maybe. I mean that's, you know, that's saying basically, hey, it's a reasonably. You know, this team has about. 35 percent, 40% chance of winning, something like that.
Kelly:
Yeah. So I think you know that's going to take us right up through New Year's Day and I think January 2nd. Umm. We'll have to come back and talk about once we kind of too much speculation at this point. Couple other things I'd love to cover before we call it a day though. And obviously this is subject to. But right now, if you had to pick who's your, who's going to host the trophy on January 20th?
Chris:
Even though they got a tough road to hoe and you know, maybe didn't get done any favors, Oregon's been the best team. Been consistent. They beat everyone. They've had to beat. Played in big games. I just I've I've seen all of these teams play at one point or another and Oregon is the team that doesn't have a hole somewhere. So I would I would take the Ducks, man.
Kelly:
We're going to be in strong agreement here again. I told you I got a soft spot for the ducks and. They're often especially for their games around the West Coast. I've listened to pretty much at least part of every Oregon game this year, because usually for me, they're like my late night Saturday Night Football game, especially when I, like I said on the West Coast. And they are. Just incredibly well-rounded team. Only hesitation with them is the same thing. It's always been like I said earlier. Every once in a while, they just they fall short in the. Biggest playoff. But again, if if any team of theirs is equipped to go beyond that, this one is as equipped as any. We'll see how it all shakes out after the first couple rounds of the playoffs, and then we'll be able to revisit this further. Want to jump over to the NFL briefly, just for a couple of things. Ultimately, some of these guys are going to be playing on Sundays and. We had Chris recently in the. One of those things I just love it. Doink for the division win.
Chris:
Yeah. Yeah, I was watching that game. And you know, I'm happy for the kid that it went through. Because that'd been a devastating. I think it was only like a 36 yard field goal or something like that and that would have been a devastating miss for him and his career. It's one of those deals, man. Where? You know, you know, and I said, you know, I've well, I watch a lot of football, right? I've seen balls hit the upright many many times. I got to do it. Like 1. Maybe 2 out of 10 that go. They hit the upright and and go through most of them. If they hit the upright, they don't that they bounce out right, and for whatever reason it just. Something about the chiefs? I mean, it's hard to quantify what exactly it comes from, but you know for the Chiefs, that's the Chiefs found themselves being the one. You know, they're the one that it goes through on it and and they get the win as a result. Whereas you know for the Beng Cleveland Browns guarantee that things missed right and or the Bengals or someone right that that ball never goes through. If it's, if it's the Bengals. But for the for the Chiefs it it magically makes its way through and they win.
Kelly:
So. For this. Podcast you gave me some observations that I just wasn't aware of, I guess. Step back a little bit and talk about. Just what the typical kickoff looks like or not kickoff field goal? Try looks like on TV and what you see because you you made some observations that I found really fascinating when we kind of brought this up as something we wanted to touch briefly.
Chris:
Yeah, I'll just kind of for from a visual standpoint, just to kind of lay out the the setup. So what we get during Q go kicks on our TTV you know on our telecast is. The camera that is behind. Basically the. So there's the teams that are the. All have like a suspended camera that follows the action and you know it gives us a really good view and essentially. When offense is on the field, it'd be, you know, 10-15 yards behind the quarterback, kind of suspended up in the. And it gives you a nice wide view of the of the game kind of sort of from the Cubs perspective. But but it's set back from him and the field goals are the same way, right? You. The view you get is from behind the kicker, say about 15 yards from behind him. Camera pointed at the back of his. And you can see the gold post and the fans in the stands and basically the whole field.
Kelly:
So let me let me pause right there. National question.
Chris:
It's it's a 2 dimensional views go ahead.
Kelly:
Let me ask you a question even there, so that shot. If the guys on the left hash mark, is he? The kicker centered in that picture? Or is the like when he's on the left hash mark kicking and Seymour in the left side of the picture.
Chris:
He's more on the left side of the picture. Camera is centered.
Kelly:
So it is OK that it is always kind of say from the perspective of looking straight down the field towards the middle of the goal post.
Chris:
Correct. OK.
Kelly:
Keep on them.
Chris:
So. So you have a view of the goal post and you can definitely see right and left. The challenging part from that camera angle is depth. It's really hard to tell as the ball's kicked in. Going away from you. It's it's just hard to tell where if it's at the 10 yard line or the 15 yard line or what or where it's at. You know, it's up in the air and you can see right and left really easy because the goal posts are painted yellow. So they. Out and it's it's easy to see where it is. It's in the center or fading. You can see if it's got some hook on it or some draw right and all of that is very easily easily spotted. From the camera angle we're given, but like I said, it's a 2 dimensional view. So the depth is is what you're. You don't have you know where the ball is. So on that particular kick. And you know, I had a rooting interest in this particular. And so, you know, I personally really wanted this kick to go through. And as the ball was up, you know, started out in the center and as it started approaching. You know, it's been in the air for a little bit as it starts approaching the goal posts. You can see it fading off to the left and and it's working its way left. You know from my best guess it looked like oh, it's going to make it easy, right? But it just kept curving and it just kept going forward and and it hadn't gone through yet. And when it finally crosses. The you know the goal post you you have some more reference with the crossbar being down there and you can see the ball. So when it crosses you have a better. Like depth perception. But until it crosses, you really don't have a point of reference, and so it's hard to see exactly where it is. So as it was. You know, and this is all happening in milliseconds, right? Know you're processing this information that you're seeing. You know what? the IT doesn't take very long for the ball to travel there. So you know, as I'm watching it fade left and left and left, I'm like, dude, can you just get through through the uprights? Know what I mean? Like, where's the ball at and and just get through and it it sure looked like he was going to make it the whole time. But it just kept fading left and it wasn't there yet, right and. Then you know you hear the Doink, you know, and you and you see it. You know, you visually see the the ball ricochet and then again, you know everything processes real. This all happens in less than a second, and so the ball clearly kicks right hard. You know, after it hits the goal post. Now, because of the lack of depth perception that you have. What we are is in front is or is in front or behind, you know and. And you know, as a fan, you're just kind of living this out, you know, in real rapid succession. And like I said, I had a rooting interest in this game and I was like, man, come on, you know, is that in or out and knowing full well that most of the time if it hits that thing, it doesn't go through. And now you're kind of like it almost feels like a hell Mary to you. As soon as it hits that upright in that little. Your brain's thinking like, oh, God hope we get lucky, you know, and you know, then there's another second when the two referees look at each other. And then they stick their hands up and say, oh, yeah, it's good, OK. Yeah, but visually you can see it fading. You can see the hook on it, but what is a challenge is you don't know where how far away it is from the. Still, you know, like I say, you don't know if it's at the five yard line or the three or you know, what the distance it has to travel still is. Just know that it's headed left. And you hope it holds on well, unless you're a, you know, Charger fan, then you're hoping it doesn't, but. Yeah, you got to kind of sweat it out for a couple of seconds.
Kelly:
Couple other random questions I just. I was doing a little research while you're giving me that answer. According to what I've found. The cross barn and goal post is 10 feet off the ground. And. The post, if you will, off the crossbar, extend another 35 feet in the air. So the top of the post I guess would be 45 feet in the air. When you see like and I'm sure it's all over the map, but how often when it goes between the goal posts is the ball higher than? Top of the posts.
Chris:
Very rarely. Less maybe in the 10% range, Kelly, so. One if it's a long kick, then they don't have the leg strength to get it up over the over over top of the goal post, right? That rules. Say you know 45 yards and. They just don't even have the physical ability to kick it up that high from that distance, so that so all of those kicks are. Are below the top of the goal post and then in addition any of the shorter kicks, most of the kickers take a lot off of. They just kind of chip it up there, you know, it's it's more like a a pitching wedge instead of a driver at that point. There's no no sense blasting that hell out of the ball. If you don't need to, right if it's a 30 yard kick, 3540 yard kick or whatever, most of the kickers can just kind of swing their leg through it and they don't try to kick it hard. They just try to kick it accurately and so both of those reasons. Significantly reduce the number of times that that ball is going to be way up in the air. So you know, if I had to put a number on it, I'd say, you know, less than one in 10 maybe. And when that does happen, though, I will say man, that's really tough to spot because it's it cause from like a like I described our two-dimensional camera angle that we're given that that's why the referees position themselves where they do because you know from from the TV. You have no idea where that goal post is. If it's way up in the air, you know if it's 10 feet above the goal post, you have no idea when it crossed and only.
Kelly:
And where do the reps position themselves?
Chris:
The referee. They stand right underneath the uprights. Directly in line with the 235 foot up rights, they're they're like an extension of them. They're directly below. So you know one eye. Well, I mean, most people's eyes are close enough. They're probably both in there, but they are directly centered under that. And then basically they make a judgement call on whether that ball went over their head. You know, if they were at the right or the left of them, then it determines whether it was good or not.
Kelly:
And since I'm the guy for random questions, I'll ask you one more.
Chris:
As long as there's no homework.
Kelly:
Hey, I've learned that homework don't work. You so. You know good educational method says you got to meet the students where? Are so. I'm all about your success, Chris.
Chris:
Thanks, Kelly. Appreciate it, buddy.
Kelly:
Using that 45 foot reference. Whether it's a kickoff. A field goal kick. Or an NFL pass. How often do any of those balls at any point get higher than that 45 foot reference?
Chris:
Quite a bit. So all the kickoffs do. And unless they're like squib kicking it or on siding kicking it, but any, any, any kick that is intended to be a touchback or or or, you know, going to be blasted, that all of those go over that and then in terms of passes. Well, if you're Russell Wilson, you know quite a few of them. If you're most other quarterbacks, not many. So you're talking 45 feet in the air, you know, at some point, like you don't. You don't want to. You know, it's like a baseball. You know when you first start in Little League, you know, coaches tell you, you know, you can get it there faster by throwing it on a line, right? Better to one hop it to the third baseman than it is to try to fly it to him because it just takes longer and so a pass. Thrown way up in the air like that. Is gives a defensive a chance to. You don't want a ball hanging up in the air forever, so you get to have some air under it, so it's catchable. Especially a deep ball. And I said Russell Wilson, because he, you know, he's famous for his moon balls and and he's a guy who absolutely chucks it way up there and kind of, you know, tries to drop it in a bucket. But that's more. Most other guys have a. At 25° ARC or 30° ARC or something like that. Russell Wilson might be more like a 50, so. It's yeah in the.
Kelly:
What was Brett Farburg?
Chris:
It's very rare, but on a kickoff, it's all the time. And even on a field goal, I would say it gets up there even on the even on the shorter kicks. At some point it gets up there, but it doesn't stay up above that very often and like. It actually crosses it's it's lower. But you know on field goals, I would say it creeps up above it for a little bit before it falls back down.
Kelly:
What was Brett Favre's typical past like?
Chris:
Yeah, he had a much lower trajectory, but Farve had a a a cannon, right? There's a handful of guys. Josh Allen's like that Josh Allen's arc is is very small. You know, but, but to throw about 60 yards, you know you can't do it. If that ball is only 80 feet off the ground, right? You know you don't have the velocity to to to take to do that, but a guy like Brett Favre? Yeah, he had. You know, he could he? He didn't need the like angle trajectory to be the as high as maybe some other guys do because he had a cannon for an arm, right? He he could get it to 60 yards without having to have the same level of elevation. You know, if you think about like. A home run hit by a baseball player. You know, not a lot of guys can can hit it 12 feet off the ground and have it travel 400 feet. Guys need to get. You know more like 5060 feet off the ground in order to cover that distance.
Kelly:
So AI Chris is taking over the world. It's always used in everything. I'm actually going to go and ask some of my same questions that I just asked you to different AI things before our next podcast and see what they say about all this. Spent a few power plants of energy, I guess. Ask any eye. Hey, analyze our podcasts. What did AI conclude about how we are on the podcast?
Chris:
Yeah, you sent me that. I'll read them to you real quick. So it says, Kelly style, in the podcast transcript is reflective, analytical and thoughtful. Kelly often provides detailed insights and considers multiple perspectives when discussing various topics. Chris's style in the podcast is direct, assertive and. Chris often makes definitive statements and expresses strong opinions about the performance of teams and players.
Kelly:
Well, there you go. I will say that my analysis of this week's episode is, as always entertaining, thoughtful and enjoyable.
Chris:
Yeah, I think we make a good team. I mean, I and honestly, these assessments of of our styles I think is pretty accurate, you know. Yeah. I mean, I think this is pretty accurate, dude. Mean. You know, obviously there's Gray. It's not like you're not directing assertive at. It's not like I'm not reflective and thoughtful at times, but for the most part.
Kelly:
Chris never does his homework.
Chris:
That that is for sure, yeah. That's pretty direct and pretty confident, but but I smashed the test so.
Kelly:
There you go. All right, Chris, we got a few more weeks of the NFL and a little more and, you know, next weekend we got the first batch of college playoffs. I can't tell. I'm really just looking forward to that. As we said at the start and. As always, enjoyed our conversation.
Chris:
Yeah, me too. Always appreciate the time, man.
Kelly:
Alright. Thanks everyone for listening to this episode of the podcast to be named later.