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Preview of The BIG 12 · The Saturday Slate Football Show

• Canon Stogner: And we are live. Welcome back to episode four of the Saturday Slate Podcast. You have me, your host, Canon Stogner, your co-host Andrew Wright. We are coming to you on Thursday morning at probably around 10, 11 a.m. where we'll be posting on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts. Also be posting clips on TikTok and Twitter. tonight we'll be talking about a lot of things where we will finish going over Andrew's top seven teams from his AP poll. because if you tuned in last time he had technical difficulties, they had a mic problem. and then we'll also be talking about all things that comes with the Big Twelve. Will the Big Twelve have contenders this year? Will there be more than one team to come out? will BYU make it in again? are there any other sleeper teams that could potentially sneak into the playoff? so we'll be coming to you Talking about all those things, we are going to listen to one voicemail that was left to us. and then after that, we'll jump right into it. So let's go ahead and play the voicemail. thanks, Cooter. well, I mean, breaking news to you. I don't know if you knew this or not, but Clemson did not make the AP poll top twenty-five. They did finish twenty-sixth in the votes. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: Florida actually came in behind them at twenty-seven. but it was a really close battle between Clemson and Missouri was at twenty-five. but yeah, maybe the AP poll people listened to this podcast and decided You know what? Maybe this canon guy is right. Maybe he does know a little bit about what he's talking about. Andrew Wright: Ha ha. Canon Stogner: no, I just think a lot of people were thinking the same thing I was. Obviously not the coaches since they had him in there, but you have this pretty much the same offense as you had last year, except you lost your most probably important person on the offense, which is Cade Clubnett. Obviously he had a mediocre college career. well, I guess For Clemson fans, he probably they probably thought he was a little bit better than mediocre. Maybe that was little bit of a shot. so you lost him, he's now in the NFL. You lost your starting running back who used to be a receiver, Adam Randall. You lost your number one offensive tackle, Blake Miller. you did retain all three of your star receivers. and then you also kept your star linebacker, Sammy Brown, who I think has been a little bit underwhelming since he's made it to campus. Last year was a lot better, but his freshman year was very underwhelming. so yeah, I don't think we'll keep Clemson out of our mouths, but if they d if they have the season like they did last year, we probably won't talk about much. unless they have a leading up to their big games this year. but thanks for the voicemail. Remember to keep calling, leave questions, comments, anything that you have for us, and we will play it and answer it. as you can see, we are wearing our sarcalonic gear again tonight. Which leads me into our next topic. So last episode we talked about Jaden Sellers and Jordan Gibson, the two receivers. Lenora Sellers' younger brother, who was a freshman last year, he's going into a sophomore year. And then Jordan Gibson from Oklahoma. both of them are ruled out for their year with lower body injuries. I would assume it's probably a ACL or something with the knee or the Achilles. we also had another injury update. Earlier this evening, Dylan Stewart and Jacarius Peake are out for the South Carolina's opener at home against Kent State. obviously they probably don't need to play, probably keeping them out for safety reasons. I think if they were Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: playing Mississippi week one or playing a better team, they probably would be playing. at least Dylan Stewart. I Jacarius Peake has a knee injury. I do think Dylan Stewart would be playing week one if they were playing a little bit of a tougher opponent. so yeah, they are out preseason or the opener of South Carolina's home game. Which means Julian Walker, the freshman from Dutch Fork, he was a four star, five star on some websites. He was committed to Michigan for a while and then once Sharon Moore got fired, he flipped his commitment to Shane Beamer and South Carolina. I think this is a big time for him to step up. And, you know, get a feel for what college football is like. Now it's not obviously not SEC football. It's gonna be a little different, but just to get his feet wet and get some experience against Kent State and probably against Towson too. I don't know if we'll Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: see Dylan Stewart or Jacari's peak the first two weeks. and then Darius Gray, the five star offensive lineman who is in his freshman season with South Carolina, has had very ecstatic reviews at camp. From what I've seen on the internet and stuff, they say his footwork is top notch. he's very strong to be a freshman. I've seen pictures of him. He looks massive. His arms and just Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: his body figure is just wide and he's built like a refrigerator. but with Jacarius Peacout, I could see him maybe even stepping into starting that first Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: game. I don't know if they will. Beamer doesn't usually start freshmen, their first game. So but I'm sure he'll play a lot of snaps that first game. And I wouldn't be surprised if he plays good if he finds another spot. Because I know right now he's practicing that right tackle. Jacarius Peak is a left tackle, so he'll probably switch over to that side pretty soon during practice and get some reps over there. but going back to the freshman thing, Nicky Milori, who started all four years or was he there for three or four? I think he was there four. Andrew Wright: Believe four, yeah. Believe four. Canon Stogner: No, he was there for three. Who he started all three years. He only one game he didn't start in was their very first game, his freshman year. and he actually came in like the fourth or fifth play of the game and never left the field again until the bowl game against Illinois three years later. so yeah, I think obviously it hurts not having store and Jacarius Peak, but I think that's a great opportunity for these younger guys to kind of step Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: in and see what they can do. Also, for South Carolina fans, if anybody recognizes this name, a restraining order in Louisiana was issued today that allowed sixteen players who were seniors last year to come back for a fifth year. Now, all sixteen of those players are on an NFL roster as we speak. but one of those guys that was cleared was DQ Smith, who came in the same draft class as Nicki Mori. He played all four years. started most games all four years as well. I think he started At least his last three years. he Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: star he started a lot of games this freshman year too alongside Nikki Maury. but he was also cleared. So I think it's gonna be interesting to see if they bring him back because right now I think on defense that's probably their weakest position. I know a lot of reports have had David Boosey playing starting at safety. maybe Gerald Kilgore. I think they moved him to nickel. you also have Peyton Williams who We'll play back there a little bit. So if DQ Smith can come back, I think that would be very beneficial for them and Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: the team. all right. So let's get into your last or top seven of your AP poll. Andrew had Mike problems at the end of last episode, so he's gonna do a quick rundown of his top seven, and then after that, we will review the AP poll that was released Monday. Andrew Wright: I can't thank you very much. I won't hold everybody up too much. Just kind of run through this really quick. So seven, I would like to preface this and say I did these before the actual rankings came out and me and the AP voters did have the top seven in the same order. So give me a vote, please AP if you see this. So Miami at number seven, Darian Mensah, probably the best quarterback in the ACC comes in their new system, but they return like you said, Mark Fletcher, Malachi Tony. should be the best team in the ACC, should be a representative of the ACC in the playoff. So Miami is seven, Indiana is six. They'll go as far as Josh Hoover takes them. A lot of people kind of mad maybe that they're reigning national champions with what some consider the best coach in college football are ranked that low. I think it's okay. A lot of skepticism about Indiana this year. Kind of can they do Canon Stogner: Good work. Andrew Wright: what no team has done in the last four years, which is repeat, Georgia last repeat champion. in 21 and 22 and I guess I'm kind of the same way having a ranked at six. So Indiana there for me, Texas at five. It's kind of weird that I think me and the AP had them ranked the same spot, but me and me and Cannon have both been very skeptical of Texas this year. I don't know how good Texas is. They're too good to be ranked lower than five, but I don't think they're the fifth best team in the country, if that makes any sense. The roster is unreal, unreal roster, but Canon Stogner: Well the raw the roster the roster is really good. Really good. Andrew Wright: we got the same issue with Texas. We don't trust 16 and Canon Stogner: They go as far as Arts Man. Andrew Wright: absolutely see it just strictly based off talent. They have to be up there. So they're number five. Notre Dame number four, maybe the favorite for the national championship to kind of depending on where you look, they do have to replace Judarian price and Jeremiah love. It'll be kind of interesting to see how they do that schedules. Pretty favorable. You got two really tough games. BYU and Notre Dame. If you just split those went out, you're in the playoff is a really high seed Georgia number three. Should be the top dog in the SEC. Both our picks, believe, to win the SEC. If not, at least make it to the championship game. They'll always be right there. Gunner Stockton we both think very highly of. And then number two, Oregon. Dan Lanning, Dante Moore, that Unreal class, Evan Stewart, Dakiri, and Moore. Number seven, overall recruiting class. Just again, another loaded roster. They'll always be really good with the Nike money and with Dan Lanning. And then number one, kind of no argument really here. Didn't feel like Ohio State, Julian Sayen, Bo Jackson, Jeremiah Smith, number three overall current class. Ryan Day will always do a fantastic job there. Matt Patricia, really good defense coordinator. Can't make it in the league, but he can go back to college and do a really good job. Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: So yeah, seven through one, Miami, Indiana, Texas, Notre Dame, Georgia, Oregon, Ohio State is how I laid them. Canon Stogner: Yeah, let me jump on Ohio State real quick. So last year, Jeremiah Smith didn't have as good of a year as he did his freshman year. But a lot of that was because teams are double teaming them and triple team Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: not necessarily having three guys on him, but you know, having somebody playing man or playing short on him and then having a safety that kind of covers the deep part. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: which I think last year they had Carnell Tate on the other side. And then you see Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: Carnell Tate got drafted number four this year to the Titans. So I think their biggest question right now is how good is Brandon Ennis gonna be? Because he's wide receiver too. and Carnell Tate had a lot of one-on-one opportunities last year Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: with Jeremiah Smith having all that attention on him. So I I really am interested to see how good they are going to be this year because I do think it's gonna be kind of difficult for them to just throw the ball to Jeremia Smith every play like they probably wish they could. and I'm not downplaying anything about him. He's just gonna he's just gonna I think he's gonna have a tough time this year because teams are just gonna focus on him. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: so yeah, I think Brandon Innis has a lot of pressure on him. All right, well let's jump into the A P poll. The official AP poll. Now, Andrew, I do think I went twenty-five for twenty-five this year. Or this week. Yes. Andrew Wright: I believe you did. I think I was 24 for 25. my. Canon Stogner: So the AP poll is right here on your left side. The coach's poll is on your right. So you can kind of compare looking at that. at number 25, I had Louisville. And that is Missouri. So they had Missouri at twenty-five. I had Missouri, I think, at twenty-one. Yeah. Or twenty-two. And then I had Virginia on here. Wow, excuse me, I did not go twenty four for twenty five. So who am I who am I missing? Andrew Wright: Man, Virginia wasn't in the top 30, can it? Woo! Canon Stogner: Wow. Well, I mean, they went seven and one in their conference last year in the ACC Clemson fence. Andrew Wright: Ken, I sure never in the top 35. Canon Stogner: Well, they they they were eleven to three overall, so I feel like the rankings are based on how you performed last year and the guys that you brought in. Now I did say last episode that they had a very poor recruiting class and transfer portal Andrew Wright: You did? Yep. Canon Stogner: class. So that'll be interesting. I really don't know which team I missed though. I'm trying to figure it out. 'Cause I had Iowa, maybe Wow I have no idea. I really do apologize for this mistake. Andrew Wright: You Canon Stogner: Okay. They had SMU up there. They have SMU rank number nineteen. so anyways, you can kind of take a look at that. very similar. Now, I think my top ten is where I saw a very different ranking than the AP poll did. So I had Oklahoma Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: at 10. Which is what AP had Texas was my number nine team. So I tend to be Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: the only one, I guess, that's seeing it like this. And I've always said they have a good roster. We just talk about Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: Arch Manning a lot. they had Texas at five. I had LSU at eight. Now LSU is I think at eight they're a little low, but I think it all depends on how they all mend together and work and play Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm Canon Stogner: like that. They had LSU at eleven on here. I had Notre Dame at seven, they're number four, Georgia at six, they're at number three. So yeah, I was a little bit all over the place. I did have Ole Miss above Georgia, but hey, this is my A P poll. This is Andrew Wright: That's right. Canon Stogner: what my predictions are, and we'll see. We'll come back to this in December after the last game. We'll do a little review and we'll see who Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: was right and who was wrong. so Andrew, who are who's the team that you think could be ranked? much higher by the end of September. So after a month of games, who do you think will be ranked much higher? Andrew Wright: man. It really feels like a Florida and I know I'm big on Florida. The Florida hype is real with me. They're one of them for me just with the schedule. If they can knock off Auburn in week three, they have a chance to easily catapult right into the top 20. They were what 27th? Canon Stogner: What are the first Yeah, what are their first four games? Andrew Wright: Let's see. Let's pull that up right now. Canon Stogner: I I think that's a very poor answer. Andrew Wright: I'm not done. Canon Stogner: It's very poor answer. Andrew Wright: So Florida's first four games. Well, we'll go first three. They get FAU at home, Campbell at home, and then they hit the road to Auburn. If they're three and O, they'll be inside the top 20 going into week four Canon Stogner: Who's week four? Andrew Wright: where they get Ole Miss coming into the swamp in week four. And I know everything's an if in college football, but if that's Ole Miss coming off what could be a brutal home loss to Lane Kiffin's return to Ole Miss. So if things work out for Florida and they come out 4-0, we're looking at a top 15 team in the country. 4-0 with wins over Auburn and Ole Miss. Canon Stogner: Okay. I mean you just say all right, I went to count Ole Miss I Andrew Wright: Yeah, that's 13 spots in four weeks. Canon Stogner: I think if these twenty five teams were to win their first three games and Florida beats Auburn, they don't move at all. Andrew Wright: no way. See, I guess I'm way lower on Tennessee than the poll is. Tennessee was the one team I didn't have in my rankings that the poll did. They have what, Tennessee at 20 right there? Tennessee was my first team out, I guess you could say, at 26. So I guess, like I said, they think highly, but I think Florida's a better team. So Florida would be my first answer. And then, geez, really? I guess one of the big 10 teams that don't play any really anybody in the early parts of the season like It's such a cheap answer. But if Indiana wins their first four games know how state Loses to Texas or Notre Dame or Georgia drop a game. They shouldn't early like Indiana's go jump That's a cheap answer because they don't play anybody in the first three weeks of the season But I guess guess far does my real answer there because I just I'm big on the hype train for the Gators this year Canon Stogner: Yeah, I mean, I think that's a very poor answer. I honestly expect a little bit more from you. let me give you my answer. I know I've talked a lot Andrew Wright: yeah. Canon Stogner: about them. A lot of people probably think I'm a fan of them s secretly, which I'm not, I promise. but the team that I think could be ranked much higher by the end of September. So after a month of games, I have LSU. So LSU is starting at number eleven. Three of their first four games are against Clemson. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: If they can win that. They'll probably jump one spot. Then they play Ole Miss, who if they win that, they'll jump probably a few spots at least, three or four. It'll obviously Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: jump Ole Miss, who's in front of them by two s two spots. And then they play A and So those are three games where couple people have Clemson ranked. Ole Miss is top ten and A and is also top ten. So They win those three games, they start the first month four and They're already through a third of their games. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: I think they'll be much higher. So, all right. Well, that is the end of our A P poll review. Like I said, we'll come back to this at the end of the year. and by the way, now that I'm thinking of that, we will only be doing we'll be doing this podcast from August, obviously, through the end of December or the end of January. So We'll do it every week through the season and then once the college championship happens, we'll talk about that and then we'll probably do a couple of videos about how our reviews and predictions panned out. All right, let's get into the Big Twelve. So is the Big Twelve a legitimate conference this year? Andrew Wright: I guess we would have to define what legitimate is for that. Canon Stogner: Can we take them serious? Cause obviously the last year or two has been them and BYU. Ever since Andrew Wright: Yeah, probably not because I mean there's a chance again it could be just Texas BYU again, Texas Tech and BYU again. I mean, and we saw that BYU played two good, like two real games last year and they're both against Texas Tech and they're both blowouts. And then we saw Texas Tech get to the playoff and get pants by Oregon. So I mean, I don't know if Brendan Sworesby was still like, we've talked about him. If Brendan Sworesby is still at Texas Tech, maybe. Maybe we take them more serious than we do, but I don't know how much either one of us trust Will Hammond to kind of lead that team. Defense will be good. We know that. We kind of discussed that. But I don't know how legitimate and serious the Big 12 should be viewed this year. Because I don't think anybody's scared of BYU. Canon Stogner: Well yeah, I mean, I th I think I think that's a great question. Obviously a legitimate conference is SEC and Big Ten. Those are like the Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: top dogs. Okay. SEC you have eight teams that could potentially win it this year, the conference. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: The Big Ten you have four or five teams that could win it this year. But those four or five teams are absolutely loaded. Have dominated the last several years, couple years. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Yep. Canon Stogner: Big Twelve, I think they have one or two teams that can compete against those other teams. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: But I'm not so sure any of the Big Twelve teams can beat any of those teams that we just mentioned. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: so here, let's take a look at the full Big Twelve Teams. Is it not popping up? Do you see it? Andrew Wright: Yes, sir. Yep, here we go. Canon Stogner: Okay. All right. So you have Arizona State, lost Sam Levitt. They weren't very good last year after they lost out on Cam Scadabo. So I'm gonna say no. Kansas State, they're interesting. I think they'll be fun this year. They have Avery Johnson playing quarterback. so they'll be interesting. Texas Tech, yes, they'll probably win it. Utah, I think Utah is the team that's people are questioning because they have a brand new coach, defense coordinator that was there the last 10 years. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: So I think they're the team that people are wondering the most about. You have Houston. Houston, I think, will be very fun this year. They Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: brought in that five star quarterback, number one QB in the country, but they do have Connor Wagman still there. so it'll be interesting to see how long he is the starter. Connor Wagman feels like he's been in college for ten years. Andrew Wright: forever. Canon Stogner: I mean, I'm pretty sure he started the game against South Carolina when when look at Andrew Wright: Yeah, when when Randy kickoff back he sure did Canon Stogner: Yeah, and that was twenty one. Andrew Wright: That was 2022, I believe. Canon Stogner: Geez. then you have Cincinnati, no. USF, no. BYU, Andrew Wright: UCF, but you're Canon Stogner: sorry. Yeah. Central Florida. No. BYU, who knows? They'll probably make it because they have a weak schedule. they can't beat anybody. West Virginia, Baylor. So Baylor is a team I will be watching a lot of this year. I do like DJ Lagway. He obviously did not perform his first two years at Florida, but He is there at Baylor now, which he is from Texas. I Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: think his like father or grandfather, somebody in his family coaches there under some capacity. So that is the main reason why he went to Baylor. Arizona, no. TCU, who knows with them. and then you have Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffalo. No, this will be This is my hot take, probably not so hot. this will be Deion Sanders last year in Colorado. I think part of that would be because they're they're gonna be terrible, and the other part of that would be because he will decide to step down. I don't think Colorado would ever fire him just because of how much money Andrew Wright: you Canon Stogner: he's brought them. But yes, I do think this will be his last year. Then you have Kansas. Now Kansas is an interesting team, so You never really take them serious because they are a basketball school, a blue blood when it comes to basketball. But I feel like Kansas every year they end up going eight and four, nine and three, or Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: at least the last three or four years. that's not gonna get to the playoff or anything, but I I do think they have been fun to watch the last couple of years. I think they just got a brand new stadium or renovated their stadium, Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: so it's gonna be a lot better. And then I was state. I don't think anybody's talking about Iowa State either, especially after Matt Campbell left. So yeah, are they a legitimate conference this year? Probably not. I do think Texas Tech will have more competition against them this year. Last Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Yep. Canon Stogner: year they didn't really have to, you know, really beat anybody. Andrew Wright: No. Canon Stogner: Other they did lose to Arizona State. They lost one game last year to Arizona State, but other than that, I don't think they have to worry about that. so how many teams do you think can make it to the college ball playoff? Andrew Wright: So I'll say preface this, but I also don't think all of these teams will. I think there's four that if things fall the right way, could possibly get in. You have the two obvious ones in BYU and Texas Tech, kind of the two top dogs. And then one of the teams you mentioned that kind of some questions around is Utah. We'll get into our QB rankings right here in a minute. Devon Dampier, really, really high for me. Big expectations for them. And let me walk you through Utah's schedule. So they get Idaho in week one. Week two night game, 10-15 ESPN against Arkansas. So that's a Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: little bit of a rare SEC big 12 game we don't see very much anymore. And that's a good test for Ryan Silverfield and Arkansas, but Utah should win that game. They don't really have another tough game on that schedule until October 24th against Houston. One of the four teams I think could also make the playoff. I think the winner of that game is positioned very, very well. to win out on the rest of their schedule, maybe slip up once and be in a very good spot to compete for a conference championship. If Utah can win that game against Houston, they do play BYU, but again, that's a home game for Utah. I mean, really, their three hardest games could likely be BYU, Houston, and maybe a sneaky good Arkansas team that we know nothing about really. And they get all three of them at home. So Utah is a very, very interesting team for me. I they go to Colorado, to Arizona, to TCU. I don't think those are just really terrifying road games to play in the Big 12. So I think if Utah just goes one and one against Houston to BYU, I think they're sitting there at 11 and one with a real shot to win a Big 12 championship and get in with Devin Van Pier. So yeah, the four I would say would be Texas Tech, BYU, Utah, and Houston. All I think could realistically get in, obviously all four of aren't, it's likely that not even two will, just because of how good these other colleges are going to be. and kind of how top heavy they are. But yeah, those would be my four that could realistically make it. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I mean, me and you had kinda had the same thought. I think one, maybe two teams get in. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: so I do think Texas Tech will be the one that gets in. Now, Texas Tech, their only top twenty five matchup right now is against Houston and who Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: is ranked number twenty three. If Texas Tech goes undefeated, they go twelve and in the conference, they make it to the championship. So Texas Tech is in the playoff regardless, they win or lose that championship Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: because they'll probably if they go undefeated, they'll probably be at least top four. Four or five in the rankings. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: So that leads me to the BYU and Utah game. So only path I see for three teams from the Big Twelve in the playoff would be BYU and Utah are undefeated when they play in November. So BYU does play Notre Dame, but that's that's not that's Andrew Wright: Best of Canon Stogner: not a conference game. So if BYU can go undefeated in the conference, They'll play Texas Tech in the championship. And I do think both teams would probably be in. Only only world where I see them not making it if they lose the championship would be if they got blown out against Notre Dame. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: so if BYU and Utah are undefeated going into their game in November, I think BYU would probably need to win. Cause like you said, Utah has a little bit tougher of a schedule. They'll have that ACC team or SEC team in Arkansas. So I think the only three is Utah losing one game and it being to BYU, barely missing out on the championship game. The championship game being BYU and Texas Tech. And then obviously I think both of them would probably get in. you never know. I think a lot of it depends on the type of games that Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: they actually play and like who they're playing and how bad or how bad of a beating it is. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: But I do think that's the only world. Now, can BYU go undefeated? Andrew Wright: Probably not. Canon Stogner: Probably probably not. I know I think Notre Dame probably handles them mightily. Andrew Wright: Yep. Canon Stogner: And then Utah, I feel like Utah will probably have a hiccup once or twice during the season. And I think when we get to December, we're gonna be thinking all it is is Texas Tech. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: And it's gonna be loaded down with one ACC team and then the rest of them's gonna be SEC and Big Ten. so who'd you have? Who what was your prediction for the matchup, the championship? Andrew Wright: Texas Tech and BYU. I just think too many unknowns with those kind of other two teams with Utah and Houston to kind of put them in that conversation right now. Six weeks, we might think completely different than that, but right now, just without seeing those teams play yet, it's got to be Texas Tech and BYU. And Canon Stogner: Yeah, that Andrew Wright: I think BYU gets it done this year. Canon Stogner: Really? Andrew Wright: I do. I just, I don't know how much I trust Will Hammon. I don't. Which I guess if I don't trust Will Hammon, I shouldn't trust him to get there. But again, just. Too many unknowns, think, right now with Utah and Houston to put anybody else there instead of Texas Tech. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I mean, that was the biggest question for Texas Tech is can they get a quarterback that can carry them over the hump? And then they finally Andrew Wright: Yep. Canon Stogner: brought one in from Cincinnati, Brendan Soresby. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: And then obviously his whole ordeal happened. So Andrew Wright: Yep. Canon Stogner: now we're talking about Will Hammond and Bear from BYU. So Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: not great quarterbacks, but Texas Tech Andrew Wright: No Canon Stogner: is lean on their defense heavily. And I think BYU is pretty much more of just a all around sound team. Not gonna really light you up anywhere, but we'll see. so let's go ahead and move on to our top five QBs of the Big Twelve. Now I was a little surprised of the amount of quarterbacks that they had in there that could have made my list. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: I do think I did lean to the I'll probably will have the best list if you ask me personally. I think it will be a lot better than yours. I mean, I'm surprised you didn't put Florida's Q B in the top five, although although we don't even know who he is. Andrew Wright: Shout out Aaron Fowler. Canon Stogner: Yeah, so let's move on to our top five. Who'd you have at number five? Andrew Wright: So I went Connor Wigman at five. Like we said, do think he'll win that job. Fifth year in college, so he's very experienced. Last season, 2,700 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, nine interceptions, little bit of a problem there. But I don't think I realized that Connor Wigman could still run a good bit. I he ran for 700 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. So 34 touchdowns to nine interceptions. I just think if Houston is going to be one of those teams we talked about that Mike could get in there, could sneak in with the schedule. I think Connor Wagner is gonna have to carry that team and be, Connor Wagner was a five star, correct? Canon Stogner: Yeah, he was. Andrew Wright: He's gonna have to be that five star potential that he was at a high school and he went to Texas A So yeah, Connor Wagner at five for me. Canon Stogner: Yeah, Connor Wagman did not make my list. I think I think Houston's gonna be one of those teams where they finally bring in one of those top recruits that a lot of schools Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: hope for. So I think Connor Wagman has a lot of pressure on him because he's gonna know a Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: lot of fans are wanting to see Sean. So he really can't mess up much. Yeah. Andrew Wright: Almost like a short leash for him this year. Yeah, if they come out the gate slow and they need a spark, yeah, he's done. Canon Stogner: Yeah. And so I think that's gonna be interesting. now they do play Texas Tech week three, so I think we'll see how good he really is. I don't know if they really Andrew Wright: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: I don't know if Houston wants to put the freshman in there that soon. I but I I think Houston's setting themselves up for a lot of a lot of success because you have Connor Wagman who's been there five years, like you said, and then this Henderson guy. If he can play out this whole year red shirt, Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: And then play his next three or four years there. Yeah, they'll be set up. Now, obviously with the transfer portal, that's a lot of fear of sitting your five star there for a Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: for a full season and hoping he doesn't transfer. But so at number Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: five, I had DJ Lagway. I'm not gonna get into the stats. he does have some injury concerns, Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: a lot of interception problems. but his talent is there. He has a good arm, he has legs, he's built like Cam Newton. not sure his brain. is the smartest Andrew Wright: Hahaha. Canon Stogner: Cam Du at least his at least his football brain. so I did have DJ at Baylor. He's playing at his home state. So I think he has some motivation there. And then obviously it being Baylor, you can kinda kinda breathe a little bit. I feel like playing at Florida, you probably have a lot of weight on your shoulders to carry this team back into winning again, which he failed to do. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: So number five. And number four I had Avery Johnson from Kansas State. So Avery Johnson's another one of those guys. It feels like he's been in college for decades. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: It feels like he's been playing for so long. He's got that long curly hair. He runs fast as crap. he can throw it. But he does have those games where he kind of falls under the pressure. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: so he's dangerous dangerous with his arms and legs. I think Kansas State's a team that can go eight and four this year and maybe nine and three. so that's who I had at number four was Avery Johnson. Who do you have? Andrew Wright: So for me, think I have, I have what I think is the wild card of the entire Big 12 quarterbacks, which is Drew Mestamaker from North Texas. He comes in there having led the nation in passing yards last year with almost 4,434 touchdowns. Like I think Oklahoma State in general is a wild card team because I mean, they revamped the entire roster after 0-12 last year, correct? Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: Mike Gundy finally gone. So I think the lack of Big 12 experience will be interesting for Mestamaker. But I mean, if he comes into the big 12 and throws for 4,400 yards again, it's hard to envision a way where Oklahoma State is not good. So I just think the ability is there. I'll just have to see the experience kind of as the season progresses. But yeah, Drew Mastamaker at number four. Canon Stogner: Did you have it three? Andrew Wright: And then at three, went Noah, I'm going say, I hope I don't say this wrong, Fafita, Noah Fifta, Fafita from Arizona. Canon Stogner: That's how that's how I was gonna pronounce it. Andrew Wright: thought he ran a little more than he did. only 216 rushing yards, but in the air, not as many turnovers. 32, 28 on the yards, 24 touchdowns, 29 touchdowns, six interceptions, very experienced. will be his third year starting at Arizona. I just think with the lack of turnovers. I think he kind of fits in above the guys like Wigman who throws picks and then above Mesta Maker who doesn't have the big 12 experience yet. So yeah, Noah Fifta hit three for me. Canon Stogner: Yeah. I I had Noah Fafita at three two. he's been in college for a while now. He's thrown for Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: over nine thousand yards in his career. So you're looking at one of the top passing yard leaders in college football, like over career wise, that's still playing right now. he actually can run. He's not using his legs enough. he was one of the most sacked quarterbacks last year in college football. Now, obviously he still he stayed at the same school. He's playing at Arizona. Arizona probably doesn't have a great offensive line. And that's a weird thing about college stats, is they if you get sacked, they take it on your rushing yards. So Andrew Wright: Yeah, I don't understand that. Canon Stogner: I don't really that's it's interesting. I mean, I know you said he only ran for 200 yards, but how much of that is lost on when when he gets Andrew Wright: sex yeah Canon Stogner: sacked? so yeah, I do think he has the talent. I don't know if he's at the right team to really showcase it. being in Arizona and stuff, but that is we both had no feet at number three. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: Now at number two, I had Devin Dampier from Utah. So he had the seventh best QB rating last year. He has had back to back a thousand rushing yard seasons. So he is a true dual threat quarterback. like you said I think it'd be interesting to see how they play this year with they have a new offensive coordinator. Kyle Whittingham's gone. But it kind of feels like He's finally taken Cam Rising's legacy Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: and pass it up to him or pass it on to himself. So that's who I had at number two. Andrew Wright: So too, I kind of wrestled back and forth with damp here and this guy, I went bare Bachmeier at number two. I just think the lack of success in those two big games last year. I mean, can't say he's the reason they lost Texas Tech either time, but he certainly didn't help the calls. Only threw 15 touchdowns last year, almost a two to one turnover ratio, so mean seven interceptions. So that's not great. Did rush for 11 touchdowns on the ground, 530 rushing yards. So I think. If he can elevate himself in those big games, like that Notre Dame game for him will be a humongous game for him. Cause I believe Notre Dame goes to Provo this year, if I'm not mistaken. I think that's a home game for BYU. So Bayer has to kind of prove himself in that game. I mean, if he goes out there and they lay an egg again and you look up and he's 16 for 38 for 125 yards and two interceptions, it's kind of hard to take that guy serious and take BYU series in any big game situation. So I'll end up going Bayer. Lockmire at two and then I Devon Dempere at one. And you kind of gave all the information I had about Devon Dempere. So I have really high expectations for him this season. Canon Stogner: Well yeah, I think the interesting thing is for one, my championship prediction was BYU and Texas Tech. I have neither Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: quarterback in my top five. Bayer did not make my top five. Andrew Wright: So who's your number one? Canon Stogner: Now let me tell you let me tell you something about Bayer. I I don't know if it's because BYU is boring. It feels like they always run the ball on first and second down and then it's third and five and they run like a QB power or QB Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: draw. I mean it helps them win games. Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: but I could not put a quarterback on my top five list who wears number forty seven. Yeah. I mean you're not you're not Andrew Wright: What's 40 said? Canon Stogner: you're not Tom Glavin. I I I I don't know if I it's I just feel like every time I turn BYU on on the T V and I see number forty seven, I'm like, Okay, well this kid can't play. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. It's hard to gravitate towards a quarterback that wears a tight end number. Yeah. 100%. No. Canon Stogner: Yeah, and you're right. They don't they don't throw the ball a lot. I don't think they have a lot of confidence in him throwing the ball, which is probably why they run the ball a lot. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: it's kind of like they're just in it's kind of like their offense is like the modern day Navy. So they're not running the Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: triple option, but they have the same concepts and stuff. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: So he did not make my top five lists. Now, my number one quarterback of the Big 12 conference. This guy you had at number four. My guy is Drew Messamaker. So Drew Messamaker Andrew Wright: Mr. McGar. I love it. Canon Stogner: came from North Texas. Obviously, he transfers. He's now at Oklahoma State and followed his head coach from North Texas. So I'm not sure a lot of you know about North Texas. North Texas throws the ball more than anybody in the country. They aired Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: out on almost every single play. Drew Messamaker is this big, tall, long quarterback who just lets it fly. He has a lot of confidence in his arm. He's not afraid to throw it in tight windows. he was obvious like you said earlier, he's first in passing yards last year. He was tied second in touchdowns. so his throwing ability is there. Now he is coming to a team that's 0 12, brand new coach, messing or recruiting against big the rest of the Big 12 teams. so I'm not sure the roster around him is gonna be much better. And obviously the competition is gonna be a lot more difficult for him. But that is Andrew Wright: you Canon Stogner: who I think is the number one quarterback. I think we're looking at him by the end of the year. He may even surpass Arch Manning in the QB draft, in the NFL draft. Andrew Wright: All right, Drew Mesta Maker. Canon Stogner: I'm serious I I I really do like this guy. He's probably my favorite quarterback to watch play football. I mean, we're looking at North Texas last year in the final rankings of the season, they were tw twenty-fourth. So, I mean, a lot of confidence in their coach and obviously bringing Drew Messemaker with them, he has a lot of confidence in him, and so do I. If there was one school I could go coach right now, it'd be North Texas to coach my boy Drew. Andrew Wright: Well, he'd be at Oklahoma State, so you'd have to... Canon Stogner: What I say? Andrew Wright: North Texas. Canon Stogner: Sorry. Yeah, sorry. anyway, so offensive player of the year. Now, to no surprise to anybody, my offensive player of the year was was Drew Mastermaker. like I said earlier, he has the stats, he throws the ball a lot. so yeah, that was my offensive player of the year. I don't have much else to say about him. Who's your offensive Andrew Wright: I guess it'd be no surprise for anybody else here either. Devin Damper was mine just for the fact, like you said, dual threat batted back thousand yard rushing seasons. If he puts together another one of those and increases on his 2500 passing yards from last year, he hasn't turned the ball over either. That's very important. yeah, mean, Damper is mine and then Mestamaker was mine. Is it hard to call him a dark horse? Is he a dark horse? Canon Stogner: Not to me. Andrew Wright: I guess he probably shouldn't be to me if he's in my top five quarterbacks, but he would be my runner up for offense play of year if all things go as planned for them. He might go Canon Stogner: Yeah, I mean I was a little surprised. Andrew Wright: for 5,000 yards. Canon Stogner: It very well could. What's the record? What's college ball record? Andrew Wright: It was, know Colt Brennan's probably got it. Poor Kase Canem. Canon Stogner: Okay. I thought Bur I thought Burrow may have broken it. I think K Scam has the like career. I don't know. Anyways, I was a little surprised neither one of us said BYU's running back. So he won Big Twelve Offensive Player of the Year last year and he's still there. And obviously they run the ball a lot. So I think it's I think it's gonna come down to the voters who are you taking the juiced up passing yards because obviously Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: Messamaker's gonna throw the ball a lot, or are you gonna take up the juiced up rushing yards because BYU is gonna run the ball a lot? So it could be either. That's probably my second runner up pick was BYU's running back. Now my defensive player of the year. So this one was a little tough for me. There were some guys that finished second and third last year that are still playing. my the big twelve defense player of the year from last year was Jacob Rodriguez. He was probably the best linebacker in college last year. He just leads the nation in tackles and I think interceptions as well. but playing at Texas Tech, you have to have dudes. that can play linebacker. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: You have to be able to, you know, stick your nose up in there and, you know, be mean and not miss a lot of tackles. So my defensive player of the year pick was Ben Roberts from Texas Tech. So he's taken over Jacob Rodriguez spot. He was all the second linebacker last year on the field. so I I took Ben Roberts. Now we'll see how the season plays out, but that's who I have. Who'd you have? Andrew Wright: I also had Ben Roberts, I think getting to watch what Jacob Rodriguez did last year, another year to build off of that. I definitely think he's there and then my runner up for that would have been AJ Holmes, a defensive lineman at Texas Tech that could benefit from just being in that defense run stopper, maybe get to the quarterback a little bit. So yeah, both in the Texas Tech realm on defense play of the year it seems. Canon Stogner: Yeah. okay. Well that is the end of our Big Twelve preview before the season starts. this will be posted on Thursday. on Monday we are going to cover the ACC and all the teams that come with that. Now I do think we're talking down on the ACC just a little bit. I don't think Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: it'll be as bad as we say. obviously it's just hard to argue against the teams like Geez, Vir Virginia Tech. Well, I mean, they have James Franklin, so that could be an interesting topic that we could talk about. Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: just a lot of teams in that conference. Syracuse, Andrew Wright: Yeah Canon Stogner: who you never know what you're gonna get out of them. So that is the end of the Big 12. Please make sure you like, subscribe to the YouTube channel, follow us on social media under the same name. Call into our number if you have something to talk about. Yeah, we're gonna be coming to you twice a week and we are only thirteen days away from week zero. Or no, excuse me. Ten days away from week zero. Andrew Wright: Yeah, 10, yep. Canon Stogner: From the Saturday. we are ther fifteen days away from Thursday college football. So sorry, my math is a little Andrew Wright: Yep. Canon Stogner: it's a little late over here where I'm from. Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: Alright, well thanks guys. make sure you tune into our Monday episode. Andrew Wright: See y'all.