Latest / College Football Nobodies / Northwestern STUNS Penn State 34-13 | Missouri Thumps Florida | Week 5 Recap
Transcript
- Erich: Week five recap, Kevin. We are, believe it or not, way further along the season I would like to be, just in terms of how quickly these things go by. But we are learning more and more each week about teams, who's a fraud, who's not, where we were, where were we right and where were we wrong? So let's get into it and let's focus on a team that you and I were rare very wrong about going into the year. We've been wrong about them the past two weeks, and we will try to allow Kevin or prevent Kevin from talking about this too much. But Penn State goes to Northwestern. You and I talked about this being a potential nightmare spot. If Penn State loses to Wisconsin, they gotta be the team that opens the new stadium. And it ended up being the nightmare scenario. And as you said last week, if the honeymoon period for Matt Campbell wasn't over for those after last week. It certainly is over now. And and now the question is, what is this team and what do they do going forward? They gave up over 400 yards rushing to a team that I think ran for five yards against Indiana the week before. I don't know what to think. Other than Northwestern's probably solid and Penn State's probably not. Kevin, what are your thoughts? Kevin: I'll just start by saying this, Eric. It was bar none the worst game I have ever attended in person in my life. I've never been more embarrassed. I sat there to the bitter end, I always do win or lose till clock hits triple zeros. I I just could not fathom what I was watching sitting at the new Ryan field on Friday night. Was excited to go down there. Easy trip for me. Got a chance to spoil their new digs and all those things. Instead, as you pointed out, we come out and get flattened for four hundred and thirteen rushing yards. Four thirteen. Penn State's defense. we ran for forty eight yards. You could see it early on. The the holes from where I was seated up above. my gosh. Just immediately like fifteen yards wide. Northwestern ran the wing tee all game. They ran it down Penn State's throat. There was simply no answer for it. Chip Kelly and Jerry Newheisel, Rick Newheisel's son, who of course caused issues for Penn State's nightmare last year at UCLA, was up to his tricks again. They clearly saw something on film because Northwestern had not shown a ton of wing tee prior to this game. That's literally what they did. And Danton Lynn, Penn State's new defensive coordinator from USC, decided to just sit in a 4 2 base the whole game with two high safeties. Thought maybe over 200 yards at halftime that would change. Maybe a run blitz or two. No. The Erich: No. Kevin: one or two times we did run blitz, I said to myself and the crowd like, what do you know? A tackle at the line of scrimmage. Utterly embarrassing. Give credit to David Braun and Northwestern staff, Chip Kelly. They were 10 steps ahead of Matt Campbell and Dant Lynn all night. Caleb Komalafe was incredible on the ground. Joseph Hyman was. Aiden Childs managed the game. They showed that they were maybe pretty solid versus the defending champs last week, only losing by six points to the Hoosiers. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect this. Was losing the possibility? Absolutely, with how Penn State looked last week. Picked him to win a close game, but to get thoroughly embarrassed like this, it was coaching malpractice in its highest form. There was no energy on Penn State's sideline. I just I could not believe what I was seeing. And the easy thing for people to talk about in this game is yes, Penn State's blue chip ratio is down considerably from previous years. However, there is still tons of talent on this Penn State roster. This should never happen to Northwestern, even if it looks like they are a solid team this year. And the other thing people are talking about is all the Iowa State players not be able to compete in the Big Ten. And then we talked about this online. It'd be one thing if Penn State opened their Big Ten schedule and were getting run off the field by Ohio State in Oregon or Indiana and programs like that. Outside of your top dogs in the Big Twelve, like BYU and the Utahs of the world, Wisconsin last week and Northwestern this week are exactly the type of teams that the Big Twelve is filled with. They are Erich: Yep. Kevin: exactly the type of teams that Iowa State players are familiar with competing against and beating. So that's what doesn't equate in my book for how this goes. And the last thing I'll say before you give some thoughts on it is. The other narrative that's going out, of course, is I'm sure Penn State misses James Franklin and this stuff. I will say I missed his defensive approach of putting eight, nine guys in the box with Manny Diaz and Brent Pryde type defenses. And normally we just swarm to the ball and get six sacks and 12 tackles for loss, give up some big plays once in a while, but that was their MO to create chaos in the backfield. But it's not about the fact that. Penn State needs James Franklin back. James Franklin needed to go. Let me be clear on that. There was toxic culture that had formed. And simply, Penn State, you have the right to say, hey, after 12 years, we need a coach that can win a big game once in a while. And some are saying out there, Penn State, it's been since 1986, then since they won a national championship, got screwed in 94. That's a story for another day. But Penn State can absolutely compete for Big Ten championships more often than they do not, and expect to win some big games once in a while. So James Franklin did need to go. Penn State doesn't think they should be competing for a national championship every year. So that that's false. Matt Campbell, I don't know. He may be in over his head. That may be ridiculous to say after a couple big ten games. But wow, wow, wow. So I'll let you go. Erich: Well, Kevin, I wish I could say I don't know how you're feeling. However, as a Wisconsin fan over the past couple years, I know exactly how you're feeling. I'll just say you can't give up four hundred and thirteen yards on the ground to any team you're playing, regardless of how good they are. So for me is who does Penn State play this coming weekend? Is it USC this weekend or is that in the in the future? Kevin: USC in the white out, which I don't think's gonna be mm-hmm. Erich: Yeah, could be the saddest whiteout ever, but what I want to see is how do we respond? Mostly negative so far. Another big game. You know, things are being said about USC, but the reality is USC sitting there five and one. They're gonna be, you know, probably close to top ten ranked. Opportunity to get things going in the right direction. As we know in college football, one week to the next can be a completely different thing. So let's see what happens next week. And if it go keeps going this direction, you know, then we learn a little bit more about what this Matt Campbell Penn State team looks like. If they do get it together and they turn some things around, then maybe we can understand that this staff is starting to learn. So for me, that's what I want to see. what happens next week with that game. All right, Kevin, let's move on to another Big Ten game. And the reason I wanted to have this in our recap is not that it was. some close game or anything like that, but Ohio State goes to Iowa. And a lot of people, even if you looked at the, you know, ESPN pregame predictions, a lot of people are picking Iowa to win this game. I picked Iowa to win this game. The thought being that okay, it's it's really Jeremiah Smith or nothing for Ohio State. That was the case in this game as well. But it appear apparently it's easier said than done to shut that down. Because you and I texted during this game and you said Jeremiah Smith might be the best receiver in the NFL right now, even though he's not there. I mean, that's the talent we're talking about. I was texting with another buddy. We're trying to figure out who who's his comparison. The best comparison I could come up with is is Terrell Owens in some respects, just in terms of like his strength and his control. But I think he has better hands than TO as you if anyone who remembers Terrell Owens, tremendous wide receiver. And but he just had a case of the drops every now and then. Like Jeremy Smith almost never drops a pass. So he's incredible. Goes set. I think he now has every receiving record for the for Ohio State now. And he's got half a season or a little more than half a season left to go. He had 11 receptions, 206 yards, two touchdowns. Iowa, they had two, they tried bracketing him. They just couldn't stop him. So Ohio State goes to Iowa, wins 31 14. I'm impressed. I still think like the what F here is if Jeremiah Smith gets banged up, then what happens? Because Julian Sane is not a dual threat quarterback. They're running games okay. Their other receivers just you know, they just they don't seem to get open as easily. So it's still an interesting world of what it looks like when Jeremiah Smith can't be the end LBL, but great win for Ohio State. And I think they're the best team in the Big Ten right now. Kevin: Yeah, it's nothing to sneeze at to go into Connec win by seventeen points. I know it's Ohio State and the expectations are high, but this was impressive. They put up almost five hundred yards of offense. Of course Jeremiah Smith was two hundred and six of that. I mean, the catch he had and triple coverage where he just snags it with those big paws and keeps on trucking. He's now their Career records leader, receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, which is a mouthful at Ohio State with the receivers that have come through there. So Julian Saiyan was his efficient self, and I thought the game honestly turned on the very first drive. Iowa Lex or Ohio State won the toss, I believe. They deferred. Iowa, of course, gets the ball, and Hank Brown fumbles on that third down. He held on to the ball too long. And Ohio State recovers deep in Iowa territory. And they're able to convert and go up 7 0 right away. And that's the type of thing that Iowa needs in a game versus Ohio State to pull the type of offense. That's when you see that when you go into Connecticut and the favorite fumbles and Iowa gets that, then it's no, buckle in. It's you're gonna lose 19 to 16 at. Kinick and get Iowa. But instead it was the opposite. And they were kind of chasing those points the whole first half. It was 17-6 for a long, long time. And without that seven, it would have been 10-6. And that just feels like a totally different type of game. So that was an issue. Kirk Friends talked about afterward. They settled for too many field goals. Iowa had some opportunities in the red zone, just like Illinois moved the ball last week, but. By and large, Matt Patricia got through to his defensive unit this week. They didn't allow near the first downs and yardage that Illinois had the prior prior week. So it's a statement win for Ohio State. You know, everyone knows they're a top dog. This was a chance to get a a big road win within conference after they stumbled to Texas. And in Ryan Day business like fashion, they did. They they won by 17. It was really Never all that competitive. You never felt Ohio State was threatened and canick could never get to a full roar and put that pressure that is really hard to deal with with the crowd on top of you and it it didn't happen. So kudos to the Buckeyes and Iowa will have to regroup and we'll see what these guys look like going forward. Erich: Yeah, when you play the way Iowa has always chosen to play, unfortunately against these bigger teams, unless the game is just mucked up and and low scoring the whole time, you just it just seems to just pull away from you with there being no point of return. And that's just, you know, again, Iowa is really good at winning games like that, but when you're playing a blue blood who just says we're not gonna give you what you want here, just the odds of You know, it can work, you know, like they mucked up the game against Michigan the week before and it it can work. It's just it's not going to work every time. Sometimes you just have Kevin: You you Erich: to be the better team. speak Kevin: Well, and to add to that, Eric, if I can, a lot of times I was able to spring those upsets. Either it's one of two things. One, it's a horrendous trap spot for a team coming off a monumental win, or two, the other team they're playing that may be highly ranked, you know, they have tons of top five, top ten wins, but there's some some hidden flaw there, you know. And for Michigan, I don't know if it's it's not so hidden, but th their offense isn't anything special and That's when Iowa can take out a team with much better talent. And Ohio State is rarely going to have a bad offense. They certainly don't. Erich: Well, speaking of teams that were favored who delivered, let's go to a game that was happening at the same time, I believe, or a little before then was Alabama at Mississippi State. You had this one. Kevin: Yeah. Early kick in Starkfell, yeah. Erich: Yeah, early kick in Starkville. a great noon kick, which I love. you had this one picked right. I maybe was a little too much on the Super Camario train than I should have been. You had pointed out there. really glaring weakness on the defensive side of the ball in regards to just how many yards they give up. And that really showed itself here. Whereas Alabama got pressure and showed some things defensively. It was close early. And it just the difference in talent on the defensive side of the ball here just showed itself every minute the game went on. And by the end of the game it was okay, solid effort, Mississippi State. Obviously you've had a several emotional wins already this year and Alabama just pulls away. At this point, Kevin, I have to say I I don't want to hear Alabama fans complain about DeBoer as their coach anymore. He's a really good coach. He came in after Saban. Yeah, it wasn't gonna be perfect right there. And then I don't know how set up they were from an N N I L perspective to retain and grab guys in the portal right away. Obviously that was You can see how Saban's lobbying Congress. He wants to do away with the Nil. So Alabama looks pretty good. Like if I'm an Alabama fan, I really like where we're at. This is this is probably one of their tougher road games this year. So Alabama more than covers. They end up kind of running away with it. And they look pretty darn good. Keelan Russell ke he's getting better every week. So look out for Alabama. What did you see? Kevin: Well, Eric, I'm glad you mentioned Calen De Boer because that's what I was gonna lead off with in this game. Sean McDonough mentioned on the broadcast that he is now sixteen and five in ranked on ranked matchups in his career, which is one of the greatest Erich: It's incredible. Kevin: ranked on ranked percentages of all time. Of course, he's not gonna be Nick Saban. You never wanna be the guy to follow the legend, but hopefully this gets Crimson Tide fans off the ledge with Debore. It's kind of been ridiculous the heat he has taken taken. And this is this goes a long way. Because this, not saying, of course, he's not Nick Saban, that goes without saying. But this was a Saban-like performance where you have all the noise of Mississippi State, a talented team, Camario Taylor, all the talk, and they just rolled into Starkville and dropped 56 on their head. They dominated this game and Every way. They were seven for seven in the red zone for touchdowns. That's incredible and really hard to do in a hostile environment. They forced four turnovers. They held Mississippi State under 20 yards rushing. Fluff Bothwell couldn't get going. And all the talk about Camario Taylor just says any good quarterback needs, you gotta have that balance when you're playing big time opponents. Obviously, Alabama falls into that category. And the Bulldogs weren't able to do that. It was 14 0 before you could blink. Camario Taylor made a bad decision on that pick six. I believe Alabama leads the country in pick sixes. And it was 14 0 early tied. Yes, Camario Taylor and the Bulldogs responded to make it 14 7, but Bama responded again. And from there, Mississippi State was chasing, and then they just got run out of their own stadium. So sets up a massive matchup next week, of course, with game day in town. Georgia rolls into Tuscaloosa. So another massive Georgia Bama showdown. Really, really excited to see it. Alabama's gonna be getting all sorts of pats on the back now going into this game. They cer certainly look better than last year, where that was a playoff team, but there were some issues there. and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Keelan Russell. He looks like the real deal, and they are scheming things up right for him. This is a scary team right now, and I I can't wait for that game next week. Mississippi State fans, don't worry. You can still have a really, really good season. Jeff Levy will will go back to the drawing board. This is still a quality team. Just ran up against the Buzzsaw in this game, and you gotta get those defensive issues clean cleaned up going forward to if you're gonna take out some of the Giants and the SEC. Erich: Yeah, and I think we'd be remiss if we didn't point out that Obama is running the ball again. Kevin: Yes. Erich: And that is something I don't think is getting everyone's just talking about Keelan Russell. It's like, no, they are running the ball pretty consistently every week now. And that's a big difference between the last two years and this year for them. So look out. It's Kevin: Hundred percent. Erich: gonna be real interesting. And in fact, next week, I mean, that game could end up being like who runs the ball well, Georgia or Bama, to decide that game. But like you said, monumental game next week. I mean Again, when those two teams, when is it not the main Kevin: Ha. Erich: show in college football? And it very likely, certainly will be next week. let's talk about, you know, Mississippi State kind of coming back down to earth. Let's talk about another team that came back down to earth, Kevin. Florida goes in. You know, you got, I'm not gonna even say his name. You got you know, people in the college football media world saying ridiculous things like. Florida, you know, maybe twenty nineteen LSU, this type of stuff. I'm just like, okay, please stop, guys. Like, it's a long year. They go into Missouri, you and I had this wrong, and Missouri absolutely thumps Florida. Thumps them. It wasn't even cl I mean, Kevin, it was ridiculous. Like it was this was I I think one of in some ways Maybe not quite as lopsided as the way Northwestern Penn State looked. But like it was in that category in terms of Florida had no chance to win this game. Missouri threw it all over them, passed it all over them. Florida couldn't block Missouri's front four. And I just where was this Missouri team last week? You know, and then maybe that's this is part of what makes college football so great is that you know, people can start crapping on Missouri or the frauds. They never beat rigged opponents. Well, Florida let the national title contender playoff play a playoff and and then it looks like the opposite. So, you know, the the polls are gonna have some issues this week because you vaulted Florida probably way further forward than you should have. Now Missouri beats Florida, but the week before Missouri lost to Mississippi State, and Mississippi State just got killed by Alabama. So, like, what are you gonna do now that you've put yourself in this corner with these rankings? Because you can't have Missouri jump jump Mississippi, you know, Mississippi State. And are you just gonna say, Mississippi State, you lost, but we're gonna keep you at 14, and then you're gonna have a, you know, so what are you gonna do there? This is why I hate pollsters. Like, you should, you know, maybe not vault people forward like that just because you think it's a great win when it's week four, and it might not always be, but impressed with Missouri. That's what I have to say is, you know. If they can play like that more often, Austin Simmons has looked better every week. Boy. You know, and then if if they get fully healthy at running back, they could be really interesting going forward. you know, especially with what I saw their front four do against Florida that no team had been able to do to them yet. So I really like what I saw from Missouri. Kevin: Complete shocker. This was stunning to see. Yes, it's at Mizzou. Decent team, solid team, I thought coming in this year. But to smash Florida with how they looked, it was not on my radar. And I know Mizoo went to Mississippi State last week and they had a chance at the end of the game. I I guess it just shows for Florida fans wait, hold hold on. It's not gonna be this easy. You get a new coach and you're just gonna run rough shots through the entire SEC. And this isn't even one of the powers or one of the traditional SEC teams, of course, but man, Mizzou was waiting for him. Austin Simmons, the old missed transfer, as you said. He's looked phenomenal. I think he threw for about 340 yards, couple touchdowns, no picks. He was efficient, 23 of 30. And it was the Mizzou ground game, though. You know, they they still don't have Ahmad Hardy, arguably the best back in the country. but Jamal Roberts went for over two hundred yards. Went for two eleven. He's the Erich: He's really good. Like he is as good of a second running back as you can have. Kevin: The that that eighty eighty yard run he had was absolutely spectacular. That just brings me back that it and and that's the th video game Erich: It was that was video game stuff. Video game stuff. Kevin: video game stuff, you know, and so impressive Florida. This is your first game. Now Jaden Ball, he's got tons of hype, of course, warranted. He's been the best back in the nation this year. came into this game with over 600 yards. And the funny thing is is he's still just a little over 600 yards. I I think he had like 11 or 12 carries for 11 yards. Who who would have had that? Unbelievable effort by the Tigers defense. And when Buster Faulkner, the offensive coordinator from Florida, of course he loved to run the ball at Georgia Tech, and he's been a godsend for the Gators. But when he doesn't have a downhill running attack That changes everything for their scheme and what they can do. So that'll be the question for the gators going forward. Not to say Jaden Baugh's gonna have another game like this where he's literally a non-factor at all, but what happens when he has a game with 71 yards and it's it's just okay? Can Aaron Philo carry you? Can the defense be enough? The defense got shredded in this game. And there was some couple issues that showed up in prior weeks. Miss had it going at times versus them, but Never saw this coming, wouldn't pretend to say saw this coming. And that's a statement that Eli Drinkwitz and that program badly needed. We talked about Eli Drinkwitz's really, really poor record versus team SEC teams that finish with a w winning record, which it looks like Florida will do. So he's able to check that box. So Como is happy with that win. And now Now the Tigers get a little bit more spotlight, so we'll see if they're they're bet better than we thought. Erich: Yeah, it will be interesting to see which of all the teams named Tiger, their mascot end up being the best one at the end of the season because seems like there's a little competition there in conference for that. Kevin, you you spoke about a defense getting thrashed. Let's talk about the how much caffeine did you drink game of the week. Baylor goes to Arizona State. And I want to preface this by saying. People gave up on Baylor after they lost to Auburn and they Kevin: Mm-hmm. Erich: probably should not have. And they probably should start paying attention because Baylor goes to Arizona State and just thrashes them. on the ground and in the air. Arizona State did get some yards. They got their yardage in the air, which th they're going to. They're a really good passing team. But fifty five nineteen on the road at Arizona State. DJ L DJ Legway looked really, really good. And Dave Aranda might be, you know, people are talking like hot seat with him. I don't know, Kevin. I see a Baylor team that can probably play with anyone in the Big 12 right now. I see an offense that looks really, really good passing and throwing the ball. and I see a defense that can stop the run. we saw them stop the run pretty well against Auburn, and we saw them get pressure on their quarterback against Auburn. Now we skip to got to see him do it again in a tough road spot here. You know, so that this one for me, I just want to say, you know, I we covered this game in our preview because we thought maybe this is interesting. Like is this a game that allows one of these two teams to take a step forward? And it clearly appears to have been that for Baylor. And Dave Randa seems to have these guys humming. And DJ Legway looks really good right now. Kevin: Boy, does he ever. I mean, they threw threw for 320 yards. He was spreading the ball all around. He made some really key throws, and, you know, you look at the score 55-19, Erich: Look at the score. Kevin: but there were moments in this game where Arizona State had a chance to get back into this, and DJ Legway stepped up and made critical throws. The margins are so are so close in college football a lot of times, especially in the Big 12. And If he doesn't make those throws, the score could look quite different. Threw for four touchdowns, added a rushing touchdown. I liked how Baylor ran the ball. Rylan Morris went for over 60 yards. They had a two-headed attack going. Caden Knighton was the other back, ran for 75 yards. The thing that sticks out for ASU is they only ran for 99 rushing yards. And Kenny Dillingham and his post-game presser talked about. That's not our identity. You know, you picture when they had Cam Scatabow and physicality running the ball down your throat. But they had turnovers in this game. The rushing yards wasn't good. They were poor on third downs. They were poor in the red zone. So are some of those prob problems fixable? Yeah, it doesn't seem to be schematic things, but you never like to see red zone issues show up and turnovers early in it early in the year. This was thought to be a toss-up game. Arizona State was at home, remember. This was in tempe. And Baylor just rolled in there right away. I think it was 21-0, 21-4, or excuse me, 24-0 off the rip. S something like that. Baylor would love to have that two point conversion back versus Auburn. You know that. There'd be a good chance they'd be ranked. They'd be undefeated right now. So I'm with you. I was out on Baylor going into the year, but kind of sizing up before this game. I was like, they're doing some nice things. Their defense is playing solid. So this is definitely a team on my radar now. I did not expect the Baylor Bears to fall into that category. I thought this could be it for Aranda, but he's coming through in a make or break year for him, I believe. So great win, and I'm sure that was a happy flight home for the boys from Waco. Erich: So I'll close on this game with this question. If you were ranking doing your own personal top twenty five, and maybe we'll do that someday, maybe not. I feel like plenty of people do that, so you know I don't need to. Would Baylor be in your top twenty five? Kevin: I'd not quite. I'd go receiving votes. If if Arizona State had maybe won that game at Texas A Erich: Yeah. Kevin: and Yeah, I think they I think they would be. They won't Erich: Yeah. It'd be close. I I would say s it Kevin: Go ahead. Erich: Okay. I was just gonna say if someone wants to put them in the top twenty five, I'd be like, Okay, I'm okay with that. I've seen enough. Just cause once you get to fifteen, it's the difference between fifteen and forty, like there's there's not a lot of difference. So yeah, for me they're right there receiving votes, but I you know, I think it's great for the big twelve because it makes things more interesting as we get going there, for them to be much improved from where they were last year. Kevin: Agreed. Erich: Well, let's get into our whip around, Kevin. And we talked about a couple games in the SEC already. So we covered Alabama, Mississippi State. Alabama travels on the road, gets the 45, excuse me, the 56 23 win. Missouri hosts Florida, gets the big 45 17 win. We talked about Tennessee Auburn. you were on Auburn. I was on Tennessee. My prediction was Tennessee would get the the ground game going and and they got it going in that game and that allowed them to win that game and their defense their defense played well too. So Tennessee makes a change at quarterback. I don't know that that's going to be a permanent thing for them. I think they just need to give their their freshman some rest so he can come back and get his confidence back. Anything you want to add to that game? Kevin: Yeah, I went with Auburn here because I don't love Tennessee. And Auburn led 7-3 at half, an ugly half. But then to your point, Deshaun Bishop for the Valls went nuclear in the second half. Finished with 34 carries for 220 yards. Erich: Yeah. Kevin: Obviously, that helps a young quarterback getting placed in there, as you mentioned. Joey McIntyre came in. He didn't have to do anything too special. Phase on Brandon. I Erich: yeah. Kevin: I think he got pulled because of his performance, no doubt. But I also wonder is he beat up a little Erich: But also but there Kevin: in this game? Erich: are seen some of the tears. I think so. Yeah. Kevin: Because he took a beating versus Texas. So that could have been part of it. Auburn's offense is simply too inconsistent in this game. They had all the opportunities to win this game. but Tennessee didn't panic. This is kind of a figure out how to win in the SEC for Josh Hyper, with obviously not his best team there in Knoxville. They wore Auburn down and They looked how a program should look with a coach that's been there for a while, that's further ahead. And Alex Golish is finding out life in the SEC is certainly all that it's cracked up to be. And bigger picture for Auburn, I just think there's a lot of Auburn fatigue down there on the Plains. Like it just seems to be more than coaching at this point for this program. Alex Golish is thought to be a a pretty darn good coach. Maybe we're wrong on that, but th this is one of those gettable games that even on the road, there there was plenty of opportunities and those Tiger fans, it just has to be brutal for what they've been in lately. They have been stuck in a malaise for a while and administratively, the athletic department, all those things. I I don't know. Seems more to me than just maybe the coaching, but they cannot seem to get right and just get a and and would this win have made noise? Absolutely for Auburn in the SEC world. Nationally, probably not, but this would have been a chance to get one of those quiet, like take a step forward, show something with a new coach and they couldn't do it. So those are my thoughts. I was wrong. Kudos to Tennessee. Solid SEC win. Erich: Solid SEC win indeed. And as you and I mentioned, conference wins are you take the win when you get it and you keep going. Georgia 38, Vanderbilt 14. No surprise there. That's a typical Kirby Smart score over a lesser team in conference, I feel like. this one was really exciting. Maybe a game of the week contender. We'll see. Kentucky, South Carolina. Another game where South Carolina just seemed like they had it the whole time. Kentucky comes Kentucky comes scoring back. They get it to overtime. And they decide, you know what? We're not going to wait till we're forced. We're getting the two point conversion now. We're ending this game. You love it when you do that if it's your team and you get it. You hate it if you do that when it's your team and you don't get it. But the culture seems to be pointing upward in Kentucky and downward in South Carolina for Shane Beamer. Kevin: I think this is it for Shane Beamer. The low the noise Erich: I think this is after shameful floor. Kevin: is really loud in in Columbia this morning. I watched most of this game. Really fun game on the SEC Network. Erich: morning. Watch most of this really fun. Kevin: It was a 315 central kick. It led right into those Erich: three fifteen central kick right. Kevin: primetime games. It's just a game for the Game Cox. You simply cannot lose. And Erich: Yeah. Kevin: Yes, Will Stein looks like he is the right pick for Kentucky and they're doing amazing things. But it's hard to sell to a fan base that knows Kentucky's a basketball program. They're in year one of a rebuild, and you had them down 17-0. And then Kentucky eventually takes a 24-20 lead. Lenora Sellers, an incredible like 72, 74 yard run down the sideline to the one yard line. They punch it in. South Carolina's up 27-24 late. Okay, we blew the lead, but our star quarterback makes a play. Doesn't matter. Kentucky's able to kick a field goal on the road and force overtime. And then South Carolina, hey, they they get the ball first in overtime, they score, and their defense can't close it out. There's there's issues there. The two-point conversion was a great call by Will Stein in Kentucky. If you look, South Carolina was not lined up properly on that play. Call a timeout if you're Shane Beamer. There's three or four guys was like linebackers and safeties that had no clue what to do. Kentucky didn't call any special play. Just tight end wide open in the back of the end zone. You can't lose a game that way. Dylan Stewart was suspended prior to this game for his antics last week. He refused to go back in the game after he was taken out. There was a whole thing with that. So there's some internal issues going on there. The seat is on fire down there in Columbia, but what a win for the Cats. And I thought I thought South Carolina would would win this game at home because I've s I wasn't sold on Kentucky's win because I'm really down on AM. I wasn't sold when they when they did that. But hey, this now you get another road win, and they're maybe a little bit better than I thought in year one with Will Stein. Erich: Fully agreed. Rounding out the SEC. AM thumps Arkansas thirty four seven and boy Arkansas. I just I feel so bad for their fans. I don't think it I I mean, I don't know if they're gonna fire a coach in year one. I hope the buyout's not tremendous, but I just don't think it's the right guy for what they need there. Unfortunately, I think Arkansas with just what they're doing, Kevin, they need almost like a PJ Fleck type guy who gets just way more out of his players than he should if you're gonna compete in this conference 'cause They're, I mean, they're just the laughing stock of the SEC at this point. And it is really unfortunate because you and I really like that program and we really want to see it turn around. And then LSU had a non conference game where they destroyed McNeese 63 14. let's go to the Big Ten. Kevin, we talked about the disaster that was Friday night already, Northwestern 34, Penn State 13. We talked about Ohio State 31, Iowa 14. How about this? Speaking of PJ Flack, Minnesota wins the Brown Jug I don't know, like since the 70s, since like Star Wars came out over Michigan Kevin: At home, yeah. Erich: at at home. Yeah, first time winning it at home for since the seventies. great win for Michigan. I I do want to say I think this is more about the dysfunction at Michigan than it is Minnesota beating Michigan. Which is fine. It I mean, if you're a Minnesota fan, who cares? It's a great win. You don't beat Michigan often. so back to back weeks now where Michigan has made the the old Big Ten West look superior, if you will, Kevin. But terrible things going on for Michigan. it's just gonna be really interesting to see what happens as this goes because I mean, what should Michigan's record really be? I mean, they didn't really beat they should have one win. Kevin: Two two wins 'cause they beat Oklahoma and UTAP. Erich: Two wins. Yeah. So they should be two and three instead of three and two. And we'll see what happens here. I I I just I don't know. Clearly Bryce Underwood needs to be benched, but are they not allowed to do it because of what he's being paid? I mean, that's the downside to the NIL world is guys get favored because they're getting the big bucks. Right? Or am I wrong on this? Kevin: No, you're absolutely right. It ha it happens all the time. I watched a large majority of this game. I watched The third quarter, I'm just gonna start there. To sum things up for Michigan in this game, they ran two plays in the third quarter. Hard to win a game when you do that. Minnesota started the ball at the second half, trailing fourteen seven. And was that two touchdowns for Michigan? No, of course it wasn't with their offense. It was because Nathaniel Staling had an amazing Interception to the house about 80 yards when the Gophers were looking to go up 1470. Broke on the football, took it back. So Michigan's leading once again because of their defense. Third quarter, Minnesota punts on their first drive, but it chewed up like six or seven minutes. They punt it to Andrew Marsh, who I was talking about him in the preview of this game. He had an awful game. He is just not taking the next step, and he has all the talent in the world. He fumbles the punt. Minnesota recovers in the red zone. But of course, Michigan's defense steps up, saves him again. So Minnesota has to kick a field goal. It's 14 10. Michigan gets the ball back. Let's write the ship. Second play of the drive. Bryce Underwood just throws the ball just up for grabs. Atrocious on the sideline. Picked off. Minnesota starts the ball at Michigan's 42. Michigan's defense. Don't worry. We got you. We got you again, Bryce. Holds Minnesota to a field goal. They got all the way down to the eight. The Gophers did. They settle. 14-13. Okay. Start of the fourth quarter now. First play of the fourth quarter. Bryce Underwood under pressure. Horrible throw again. Intercepted. Michigan's defense. Can only bell you out so many times. And the Gophers punch it in and win 2014. And if you didn't see the game, that's literally the game in a nutshell. It's absolutely CJ car time for the Wolverines. I've I wrote that a few weeks ago. I believe I wrote it after the Western Michigan debacle. Here he takes strides. Last week versus Iowa, they actually put up almost 500 yards versus that defense. He looked efficient, but I am now completely out. Thought I could maybe get maybe a toe back in the door on him. He threw for 101 yards, less than 50%. It's ugly, ugly in Ann Arbor. Kyle Woodingham, Kyle Whittingham, excuse me, just looks emotionally detached. We've talked a little bit about that. Things are not right there. And honestly, the scary part is, is I don't even know if CJ Carr is gonna make a difference for them, Eric, because you know why? What can't Michigan do? They cannot run the football, and their offensive line is brutal. I know they've had some injuries. They can't protect. So CJ, excuse me, Tommy, Tommy Carr, I think I called him CJ before. Tommy Carr, CJ's brother, is gonna come in there. You have no run game and no offensive line. So, but I think they have to at least try it. You have to at least try it. So kudos to Minnesota, but it really was more about Michigan. PJ Flex enjoying the water out of the jug, crowd surfing all the things. And the Gophers, they that's that program. They don't care how they get the wins over the big boys. They got it done in the end. So congrats to PJ Fleck. He is rowing that boat today. You know that. Erich: absolutely. let's talk Kevin. I think Indiana Rutgers. We haven't talked about Indiana a ton because they were like, well, you I haven't really planned anyone. Seems like they got their running game going. I know it it is Rutgers, but when you look like you're supposed to look like against the Rutgers, you can take something from that game, especially when it's on the road. Yeah, I you I I said to you this earlier, I think it's a pretty clear top three in the Big Ten, Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon, however you want to rank them, seem to be your top three teams in the Big Ten right now. And Indiana is, you know, the other thing they do too, Kevin, is their defense looks really good this year. you know, compare to what USC looked like when they traveled the Rutgers to this game, and you're seeing a drastic difference between those two teams. So Indiana appears to be getting better every week. Which means that these games coming up that they have on their schedule are going to be fantastic. Anything you want to add to that? Kevin: Not so much. I'm just shocked. You you just you glossed right over your badger. So cut I mean, they they the I mean that's not the norm lately, Erich: I I I'll go back, I did, I did, I'll go back. Kevin: just a thirty one three Big Ten win. I don't I don't care what Michigan State looks like, but take take the floor there and then I wanted to talk about US C and Washington. Erich: Yeah. Wisconsin appears to be at least at least improved off of the last two years right now. you and I said they were favored by ten and a half. We thought they should cover that. They did. Colton Joseph's legs were finally unleashed. And they got a bye week now. So we'll see. I mean, it's it's one of those things. I'm not saying pump the brakes on Wisconsin. I am saying that their next streks stretch of three games, they're at UCLA after their bye week this weekend. Then they got USC at home. And they're at Iowa. So let's reconvene at that point and see. Did they add one win? Did they add two wins? Or do they add three losses to to that column? Or do they add three wins? So we'll we'll see. the Big Ten's wide open though. And I think any of those games could go either way. That's why I'll I'll close on that. Kevin: I know there's crowd issues everywhere, but I flipped to that game on the Big Ten Network and and after jump around, they showed a mass exodus by the students in the fourth quarter. And I know the game was over, but Erich: Yeah. Kevin: come on students, like have your fourth broad of the day a little later. Wait Erich: Yeah. Kevin: to s wait and whatever else they're getting into there in Erich: And whatever else they're gonna do that. Kevin: Madison, like wait and see your team and celebrate them winning. It'd be one thing if it was like, this has been ho hum lately, but there's crowd issues all over. that was a little surprising to see. But yeah, great great, great win. I mean, I did not see thirty-one three there. just thought Pat Switcherald's coaching would do a little bit, but he he's got a a lot ahead of him. moving moving into the Coliseum. Erich: Wait and see your team and celebrate them winning. One thing if it was like, this is the call homeway, but it's all over. that follows you see, but yeah, you're correct and see if one through that thing. Kevin: Man, Rink Lincoln Riley and USC were on the ropes in this game. They desperately needed this. It was not looking pretty. Early third quarter, Washington's up 21 10 on a play that has since gone viral of the Washington tight end catching the ball in the flat or towards the sideline and then rumbling down the sideline where USC apparently thought it the rules changed and it was two hand touch. If you saw this, and they're literally just trying to shove the guy out of bounds with two hands, and he's like, Okay, that that's cool. I'm just gonna keep rumbling. And and the sad part is one of the USC players doing that was Brian Erlacher's son. So the irony there, I just don't know what to make of USC still. They finally made Washington look competent. For the first time all year. So that's what their defense is capable of. And Damon Williams looked okay, but of course, for Damon Williams, he still has a game changing turnover. And that's why USC won the game. Jakeem Stewart's scoop and score in the third quarter after Elijah Newby strip sacked him. And that that changed it. USC was trailing twenty one sixteen and then they went up twenty two twenty one after that because they failed the two point conversion. Washington, I I thought they were gonna maybe win the game. They had one one final shot. Damon Williams had an incredible fourth down scramble drill play. You know, you talked about it as a a backyard play. They're deep in USC territory, but a critical sack that became fourth and long and a desperate throw into the into the end zone. But USC, they didn't have their offense rolling in this game. Washington stepped up defensively. Their their defense really flew around in this game and made some plays. They held USC under 400 yards, just hard to do with all their talent. It's a good win, but it's not evidence that their problems are fixed. This was a Washington team that came in undefeated, but was thrown out of the rankings for how poor they've looked versus really weak competition. Pardon me, sorry. They lost To Minnesota last week at home. That's what got him out of the rakings. My fault, Gophers fans. Ugly loss at home. And they had looked really bad versus Utah State and some other teams early on. So for US E. To be in a dog fight with them, we'll see. They got the whiteout next week, but Penn State is an absolute mess. Who knows what to think of that game? Try I would stay far away from trying to predict what will happen in that game next week, but USC escapes at least for another week and keeps maybe a little bit of heat off Lincoln Riley. Erich: USC's four week keeps being letting up. Yeah, we gotta be fair to Washington fans here. One of the worst pass interference calls I've ever seen gave USC a third down when they were backed up on like their own five or six yard line that allowed them Kevin: Yes. Erich: to continue that drive to get the three points they needed to then force Washington to need a touchdown to win. Kevin: Mm-hmm. Erich: I I mean it was just criminal. I mean again, you don't want to point to one call, but even the announcers were on it like that's offensive pass interference. That's not defensive pass interference. And these officials talk to each other. What did everyone see? Don't just automatically give the team the penalty, especially in that moment. But it is what it is. Bad calls happen and move on from it. The only thing I want to say Kevin is as much as you and I don't like a lot of what we're seeing from USC, they are five and one. And Now they get to go to what looks like a much simpler task at Happy Valley than we would have thought going into the year. So I agree with everything people are saying about USC, other than the fact that they're five and one. They shouldn't be. They should have lost the Rutgers. They should have lost to Washington, you could say, like, so but the reality is they're five and one. So here we, you know, and if you look at the way the Big Ten looks, who knows? We'll see where things end up. But Let's let's move on here so we don't favor some conferences here a little bit. And not a lot of games in the Big 12 this week, Kevin. A lot of bye weeks. And we covered, I think, the biggest game, Baylor, over Arizona State. I had some friends over here that are BYU fans. We watched that game together. BYU escapes TCU 1710. Nasty, wet rain. the kind of rain that was just not like pouring rain, like that wet, misty rain where just even the air is wet. Some really bad conditions. they took advantage of an interception and then a drive late to put it away. Some bad coaching down the stretch by TCU. You need you're down 10, you're in field go range, there's over a minute left on the clock, and you have three timeouts. Call the timeout, get to three, and then line up the onside kick. They instead decided to run more plays and get it down to 30 seconds before they decided after no yardage. To kick the field goal and then go for the onside kick. Now, they didn't get the onside kick anyways, but I still hate seeing bad coaching in those scenarios. You need the two scores, you got three timeouts, get the field goal here, and then you can kick it deep because you have the three timeouts if you want, right? And I just it I just bothered me me to no end that coaches make bad decisions like this, but I digress. Texas Tech, 29 over seven, Colorado. Colorado's a mess. I gotta imagine this is. This is Dion's last year. Big win for Zona over Cincy. I know you wanted to cover that one in the the preview, but Arizona still looks pretty good as we go. And then Houston comes back late over UCF. So I think we're seeing here now we can maybe add Baylor into that category of those like top one through six teams in the Big Twelves. You know, the Utahs, the BYUs, the Texas Tex, the Baylors, the Arizonas. the Houstons, you know, I I think we're starting to see a little separation, Kevin, in the Big Twelve. Kevin: Yeah, and I wanted to go back to the BYU TCU game. Like you said, the elements played a large role here, but Sonny Dykes is doing himself no favors in Fort Worth. They they had all the opportunities in this game to win this. Kari Ashley gave them some offensive production, but the Frogs just could not finish drives. And TCU fans have to be wondering how in Offense that allowed only 216 yards to BYU. Like you couldn't turn this into a win. You mentioned some of the coaching decisions. Kalani Sataki and the Cougars get it done, but this is sometimes how you define a contender. You go on the road, you win an ugly game in the rain, they lost their workhorse LJ Martin, one of the most underrated running backs in the country. So that changes obviously everything that the Cougars like to do. And you still walked out of there with a win. Erich: But this is sometimes how you define the contender. You go on the road, you went in on the game in the ring, lost an overcourse LJ Martin, one of the most unrated running backs in the cut. So that chance obviously the cookie selection to be and still wash out of there with a win. Kevin: Part of that is Bear Bachmar. He's a winner. He talked about that on the postgame. He's just a tough kid. And I think he was the difference at times. It's not always going to s show up in the box score for him. And BYU's defense got four sacks. And their interception return to set up the first touchdown was probably the difference. When Sado Sadu Ala's 59 yard interception return. Erich: the winner. We talked about that up posting was just a tough kid. And I think he was a difference at times. It's not always gonna s show up in the box score for him. And BYU's defense got four sacks and their interception return to set up the first touchdown was probably the difference. When Sado Sado Mala's 59 yard interception return Kevin: That that was huge, especially in a low scoring game like that, giving Erich: that was huge, especially in a low scoring game length. Kevin: them the seven points. So tough one for the Frogs at home, but BYU stays alive, of course, in the race there. As far as Texas Tech goes, my the buffs, I had this as them covering this game, even though I think very, very little of that program, especially under Dion. Sorry, Buffalo's fans. Erich: seven points so tough one for the frogs at home but beat by you stays alive of course in the race there as far as Texas Tech goes the boss I have still covered this game even though I think very very little of that program especially under Dion sorry Buffalo Stats it was 157 the Buffalo's were covering they're only down by 80 Kevin: It was fifteen seven. But Buffaloes were covering. They're only down by eight. Ugly, Erich: ugly, ugly game. And then they decide to drop that beep in the end zone, throwing pass right to practice. It was so bad. Kevin: ugly game. And then they decide to drop back deep in the end zone and throw a pass right to the Texas Tech linebacker to get. It was so bad. Like and that's why. So I can't predict that. This basically I was all over this game that Texas Tech. Wouldn't be impressive out there, but I can't predict stuff like that on college football nobodies. And then they tax one on late cause the Buffaloes quit, which is what they do under Deion Sanders, 'cause they are soft. Arizona's and Cincy the Cincinnati Bearcats did not g make the trip to Tucson. I just don't think that's a very good football team. Arizona is talented. Noah Fafita did his thing and there's not Too much to add on that. I want to talk about Houston's embarrassment of a crowd for Central Florida. Did you see that? Erich: Yes, I did. it's almost why I don't even want to talk about this game because it's like, Good job, you got to win. The crowd sucks. Let's move on. No one. So that's what I mean. Kevin: Yeah, who are who are we talking to out there, Cougars fans? So you you're ranked in the top twenty five and there was maybe three thousand people Erich: twenty five there was maybe three thousand Kevin: there. Dead serious. Unacceptable in a big city like that. Erich: Yeah. Kevin: I know there's pro sports stuff, but but come on, at least fill it half. It came back from down seventeen zero and probably started slow because there's no juice there versus a UCF outfit that doesn't look too good this year, but Erich: They came back in about seventeen. So we started slow because there's no juice there versus a UCF outfit that doesn't look too good this year. Kevin: Moving on, let's roll into the ACC. Erich: Moving on, let's roll into the Kevin: Lot lot of intriguing stuff here. Erich: Yeah, you know, obviously the Friday night game was a no defense game. Really unfortunate that Pitt's QB is out for the season. I that's my main takeaway of the ACC overall. that he was playing great. They're undefeated. It's just, you know, some teams can bring in the backup and get through that. I really have a hard time seeing Pitt pull that off here, Kevin. I'm just gonna give you all my thoughts on the ACC and then I'll let you know you can give yours as well. weird field goal at the end. Was it good? Was it not? One angle looked no good, while another angle looked maybe. So I'm gonna just lean towards it was no good. Kevin: Mm-hmm. Erich: but at least for you, I mean boy, that would have been a n little extra sting had Franklin got this this win tonight. But you know, kudos to Pitt. It's just really unfortunate they the injury they picked up there. Miami, clearly the class of the conference right now. gets the win over Clemson. We said that the 16 and a half point spread was not enough. We were right. Virginia frauds. Louisville frauds. And you know who's not a fraud, Kevin? Wake Forest. Right now, unfortunately, Pitts injury. But if you have to rank your top three in the ACC, I'm going Miami one. I'm going Wake Forest clear number two. And I would have gone pit three without the injury. just from what I've seen. So yes, Louisville, your frauds, your your big win earlier in the year is is not that big of a win anymore. And no one's talking about the Demon Deacons, Kevin. And they just look have looked better each week. They had some weird results early. You know, the overtime was it overtime with Purdue? Kevin: Yep. Erich: So they have the weird overtime game against Purdue. Purdue, who just beat Illinois, by the way. I told everyone who knows me, Illinois is a fraud. They have been for three years. They were scheduled darlings the prior two. Rant over on that. The Brett Bielamo fall for Illinois Aline fans. The Brett Bielama fall will be hard and it will be fast. And it's starting half fun the next season and half. but Demon Deacons look great. the Notre Dame, North Carolina game was a little weird. Notre Dame just showed their quality late and and took that away, overcame a kickoff return for a touchdown coming out of the second half. but I really enjoy watching these Demon Deacons right now and and look out. Let's see what they can do. and then SMU again still looks sloppy and gets the win over Boston College. Kevin: How dare you say that the deacon Erich: Say Kevin: the demon deacons aren't getting love. They've been getting love right over here. I've been I've been all yeah. Erich: Yes, from you. Outside of you though. Kevin: Been on that Jake Dicker train, Demon Deacon fans. I I I love you. Had you covering with Gio Lopez versus the Canes a few weeks ago, and since that game, you've only continued to show why you are a very, very dangerous team. I mean, 57 3 over Stanford. Yikes. That rebuild we talked about with Andrew Locke on the Week Zero podcast. looking rough, but that is a Good quality Wake Forest team. Excited to continue to watch them moving forward. Hopefully they can retain Jank Dickard. He's going to be on the short list of some some programs that need a new coach. Back to Pitt Virginia Tech. Erich: Yeah, Kevin: One of the stories of this week, the big Friday night game. Really, really fun game. Of course, being at Penn State Northwestern. Didn't get to see a ton, but I got all caught up on it. Highlights and read all about it. For once, James Franklin, not for once, I should I shouldn't say that, but sometimes his perspectives through the years on games were a little off. But this one is probably the right one. You know, he didn't make the missed field goal at the end, the entire story. Virginia Tech had numerous opportunities before this. they had eight penalties for 82 yards. He talked about that. And They went from a twenty-four-fourteen lead to trailing thirty-five-24, largely because of turnovers and penalties. So that's what bit the Hokies in the end. It certainly wasn't Ethan Grunkmeyer. Shees, he continues to be amazing. Four hundred and thirty-four yards and four touchdowns for the Hokies. But Pat Narduzzi gets some a revenge here on James Franklin and the Panthers, like they have Done so often in the Pat Narduzzi era. They just they find ways to win through hell or high water. The Mason Heinzchill injury is is really too bad. But we'll see what Holden Garner can do going forward. He looked all right in this game. I I think that is gonna come back to bite them in in a game or two, but for now, what a what a win. 35 33 comeback in a hostile environment. The Hokies fan base is, of course, rejuvenated because of Franklin. So what a win for Pitt when they got down pretty big early, and it looked like it could have been a long night. So that was exciting for them. what else? What else? Mention Miami, yeah. Too just too physical, too much talent. They look like the old Clemson, and that had to be tough for Clemson Tiger fans to watch in Death Valley, where Miami just set the tone early. Clemson kinda hung around, but I thought that key third down throw in the third quarter by Darien Mensa, where he just got sandwiched and he still was able to complete it to Malachi Tony was impressive. They're just a really tough outfit, and that's a a hard place to play still. So they showed their dominance. Not on this show, but offline, of course. I just do my score predictions, not betting or anything like that. With my brother, as you know, I was proud to pick the Knolls to take care of Virginia. I just think Virginia might have been a one year wonder. And to to lose 38 7 to where the Florida State program is right now is not good. But kudos to Florida State for this week. Give Mike Norvell credit. Those kids still seem to be playing hard. Jeff Brahm, Louisville, it's like what you said last week. I was one of the people that was crowning them a little too early Erich: Frauds. Kevin: and Erich: Pure frauds. Kevin: You you you can't lose on the road at NC State. They have a host of issues. You let CJ Bailey have a career day. I know it was rainy as it was much of in the South and the Atlantic Coast, but you can't lose that cave. You just simply can't to take the next step, and that's why they'll continue to be Louisville, and it looks like just another eight and four season. That is a better team than NC State, and that has to really hurt Cardinals fans. You mentioned ND over Carolina. We're still not gonna find out about them until they go to Provo and then play Miami, of course. So don't wanna spend too much time there. But I don't know, allowing 26 points to North Carolina is not great. That was a game for a little bit. SMUBC. I mean, Bill O'Brien can coach some ball. I mean, he had the Nor'easter to help him last week to keep things close with Virginia Tech, but SMU 25 16 winning, that's not great. So we'll see about them going forward. They they have considerably more talent than the Eagles. So SMU and Louisville, they gotta start showing a little bit, a little bit more really, really fast, in my opinion. That's that sticks out to me, those schools. Erich: Well let's talk about the group of six and I wanna keep it concise and I'm gonna have you go first. Well I'm gonna give you a question and then I'll go. So rank your one through three and if you have to four in the group of six and then I'll rank mine. Kevin: I'll go Boise one, North Dakota State two Erich: to Kevin: Memphis still three. Erich: That's still north. Okay. I'm gonna go Boise one, New Mexico two, and then I'm gonna have North Dakota State and Memphis tied for three. And the reason Kevin: Okay, it's fair. Erich: I'm say saying all this is I think those are the clear front runners. And I queuing this up 'cause I don't know if it's next week or the week after. It's coming up in the next three weeks. We get North Dakota State, I think, hosts or travels to New Mexico. So some big ones coming. And I do want to call I mean Jason Ack, they're just destroying teams, and he's doing it with his backup QB. Kevin: Mm-hmm. Erich: so you and I've talked about this offline. He's gonna be highly sought after this season. And obviously with him being a former Badger player himself, I hope he makes a good decision on the program he goes to and doesn't go to one that's a mess and goes to one where he can actually have continued success. But That to me, Kevin, seems like it's a pretty clear cut right now who the the favorites are in the group of six and we'll see how that keeps going. Yeah. Kevin: Yeah, I love New Mexico and Jason Eck what he's doing. Only reason I didn't have him top three, and it's not entirely their fault, just the schedule early on. With with Mercy Hearst down there in central Michigan, New Mexico State. I know they played Oklahoma Erich: And only because I have three, but it's not entirely their fault, just a schedule or like RC curves down there in the special mission carriage mistake. Kevin: close. They have their world of issues, but no, they're I would I'd have them just after that. But like you said, coming up, they'll have a chance to prove it. And the bison continue to press, you know, just twenty eight zero versus Wyoming and I I know it's Wyoming and Erich: they'll have a chance to prove it and wise and continue to oppress twenty eight zero versus Wyoming and I know it's Wyoming and they and they are really struggling right now but that that is still impressive to just shut out T twenty eight zero. So can't say enough about those guys but really excited to see that move forward. Kevin: They they are really struggling right now, but it this is still their leap into FPS, and it that is still impressive to just shut out a team twenty-eight zero. And so can't say enough about those guys, but really excited to see them moving forward. New Mexico and Boise, and we'll see if if Memphis can run run the table. Erich: You might just go ahead and noise E and we'll see if Map Fest can run a run. Well let's get into our categories. So I went five and seven this week. You went seven and five. we had some some picks that we were both same on where you know I was right on Wisconsin, North Dakota State and BYU and Miami and Tennessee. But boy was I wrong about Virginia Tech. It was wrong about Penn State. It was wrong about Michigan. It was wrong about Florida. It was wrong about Mississippi State. It was wrong about Iowa. And that Iowa pick was kind of cute. you know it was more for fun than it was serious. But it was fun to do. And it was wrong about Arizona State. So not as good of a record as last week. happy to eat crow there. Happy to be right about my team Wisconsin, obviously. And yeah, you know, it's the nature of picking these games, Kevin. Kevin: It certainly is, Eric. And yeah, I'm feeling pretty good. I had a pretty good week last week. Solid this week. I'm really happy with the Alabama pick. This is a kind of a tooting your own horn segment, so I'll definitely say that one felt good to just go against the grain there as much as I love Mississippi State. Kinda proved out how I thought. Erich: say that one felt I did just go against the grain there as much as I want this to be state kind of proved out on thought. Kevin: Ohio State, like you said, I I get it. You you picked Iowa, have a little fun there. Lot sometimes I lean that way too, but it's the butt the pick picking the buck guys can always make you look pretty good through the years. Erich: Safe picks usually. Kevin: A lot of yeah, a lot a lot of the other stuff. ba Baylor was a was a solid pick. I'm I'm definitely happy with the the Baylor Roadwing. And then you kind of mention a lot of the of the stuff. wrong about VATEC. Close game toss up. They played well. Can't be too upset. Penn State, pfft, that's just brutal. Michigan really surprised me because their defense did travel, like we talked about. I'll get a little bit more into them in our our next segment. Florida, that was shocking. And then yeah, took took a risk with Auburn. I thought it was reasonable and they showed for a while, but there's a long rebuild there to go for Alex Goelish. Erich: Agreed. There certainly appears to be. let's get to our letdowns. for me I'm going Penn State and we covered a lot of the reasons why. you know, for me the biggest thing is just We've seen this formula where a coach comes in and brings like a lot of his like players with him and what that can do from a culture, right? You saw obviously Signetti's the extreme example of it, but we've seen in other places too. Obviously, with with some are all in Florida right now and with Chesney at UCLA and you know, these places where coaches can go and bring guys in and and appear to at least have like a good foundation going pretty quickly. And that appears to not be the case. And so you start asking questions around. Is just Matt Campbell not able to handle the bigger stage. Is the guys he brought with him creating culture issues, not actually helping helping feed what he's trying to build there from a foundation standpoint? Rocco Becht appears to just be a crutch rather than a weapon for them at QB. So there's just a ton of questions right now. So for me, and more questions, like every game they've played, there's been more questions, not answers. And so to me, that's usually the sign of a very downward trending arrow. So that's an a a pretty easy one for me this week. Penn State letdown of the week. Who's yours, Kevin? Kevin: Yeah, you nailed it. And as a fan, I'm I'm not thrilled with Pat Kraft right now for a number of reasons. Erich: Yeah. Kevin: I I I I I think he he should be gone. Because also let's remember that coaching search was really botched. And yes, you do get a good football coach at Matt Campbell, who, well, we'll we'll see if he can prove it at at this level now. Erich: 'Cause also let's remember that coach search and C2 football coach and can pull who well we'll we'll see if he can prove that at this level now. Kevin: Not off to a good start, of course, but Erich: course, but what to buy in Campbell that is where you got they really had no choice but to take those Iowa State players and with them because it was late in the game of the tram reportal and the review class had already been dismantled and had left other schools and some on it at the front. So said there I'm sticking with 10 Kevin: He was put in a bind, Campbell, that is, where hired that late. He really had no choice but to take those Iowa State players with him because it was late in the game of the transfer portal and the recruiting class had already been dismantled and had left other schools, and some following him to Franklin. So yeah. Everything you said there. I'm sticking in the Big Ten. It is Michigan. Erich: Michigan Kevin: Their defense is very, very good. And with just a competent offense and better coaching, there's no doubt they should have walked out of the Twin Cities with a victory. Their defense did all it could. Heck, it scored for them. Back up against Erich: Their defense in this offense. They'd scored for them. They'd be undefeated if they just had an average offense. Kevin: Hundred percent. And that's that's the easiest way to say it. So there are questions there. Erich: There are Kevin: And the bigger question is I'm gonna predict it right now on college football nobodies. I think Kyle Whittingham gracefully steps down at the end of the season and retires and apologizes to the fans and everyone else that hey I I should have retired. It's hard to say no to Michigan, so I took a chance, but I just don't have Erich: No to Michigan, so I took a chance, but I just don't have the same juice to it. It's time for me to sail in the sunset and and and step away from the classic of a guy's worn out and it doesn't have the animal to get that step over the right direction. So that's my big prediction of a one below one year rental of Winningham and I think the both next year. Kevin: the same juice that I had at Utah and it's time for me to sail in the sunset and and and step away from the game. I I think he's too classy of a guy. And I think he knows he's worn out and doesn't have the energy to get this thing going in the right direction. So that's my big prediction. A a one a little one year rental of Whittingham and and I think the Wolverines are gonna have a a new coach next year. Erich: Wow. Big prediction. I love it. We'll see how it goes. Although at this point, I don't think there's going to be too many Wolverines fans that would be against that. And in some ways, I would hate it because that might be the right move. And that means that Michigan gets another chance with a no buyout constricted option for them to make a hire. Although I don't know that a buyout really impacts them with the donor base that they have. Kevin, our most impressive team is the same. Crimson Tide, Alabama. How can you not take him? They've just shown growth every week. even like the little things and on defense, running the ball. Calen DeBore appears to have it right at this point. Big game coming up for them. You know, can they go from the emotional road win to get ready to host what you believe is the SEC championship in Georgia's coming week? But great win for Alabama. I I think just the most impressive win of the week and the most impressive team of the week. Kentucky, maybe a short second. Just with what they did and how they can be able to come back and win and the over time like that. But that's for me Alabama team of the week. Kevin: with you and and you mentioned that the ground game is back in Tuscaloosa. Trayshawn Brown's Erich: Yeah, and you mentioned that the crowd Tuscaloosa. Kevin: running hard. Calen DeBore really praised him. The the five-star Erich: More like trying to have those. Kevin: EJ Crowell in the backfield. He had only three carries Erich: And all these Kevin: for 50 yards, but he had one. my gosh. He broke to like five or six guys and was just throwing guys and running through people. And it was like that's the Alabama running backs you expect to see. So I'm sure Crimson I'm not sure I I know Erich: Or six guys, it was just throwing guys and running through people, and it was like that's the Alabama running backs you expect to see. So I'm sure Crimson, I'm not sure. I I know Kevin: Crimson Tide fans were really excited to see some glimpses into the Saban era of just, hey, we're going on the road and we're absolutely destroying a ranked SEC team when you had all the momentum and things going, and we're Erich: Crimson Tide fans were really excited to see some glimpses into the Saban era of just hey, going on the road, and we're absolutely destroying a ranked SEC team when you've had all the momentum and things going. Kevin: gonna run the ball down your throat and play physical Alabama football. So we'll see if that continues now versus the lead dog in the conference next week. Cannot wait for Georgia. Erich: And we're gonna run the ball down your throat and play physical Alabama football. So we'll see if that continues now versus the lead dog in the conference next week. Cannot wait for Georgia Kevin: and Bama to to meet up. But yeah, this this was incredibly impressive by Kaylin DeBore and the tide. Erich: and Bama to to meet up. But yeah, this this was incredibly impressive by Kaylin Nabohr and the tide. Well, I love it. That is the week five recap. We'll be back midweek for the week six preview as we always are and thank you for watching and listening and we'd love for you to like and subscribe. See ya everyone. Kevin: Thank you for listening, everyone. We'll see ya in a few days.