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Predicting the Preseason AP Poll · Run After Cast: The College Football Podcast

• Aaron: Howdy, howdy, and welcome back to Run After Cast, the college football podcast. I am your freshly returned host, Aaron, joined as usual by Ryan Ryan: Hey guys. Aaron: and Chandler. Chandler: Going on, gentlemen. Aaron: And I heard you fellas were gonna talk about Big Ten last week, so I decided to go up to Indianapolis, attend Gen Con, absolutely exhaust myself, come back, and now I am relatively human again. So I figured since football is back, time to get back in the seat, talk about how we think the rankings for the AP poll coming out, not The Monday you're listening to this on, but next Monday, how they're gonna come out. But before we get into that, We do have a small bit of football news to cover, and even though I was away at a convention, I went ahead and did the legwork for the Raction news team and wanted to bring up The clause in the Save College Sports Act that they are trying to pass, which who knows if it's going through or not, that is an 180-day grace period for teams to leave their conference. After that grace period, they will be locked in for five years. So what do you boys think about that? Chandler: Hundred eighty days is a long time. Aaron: It is it i it is a long time. Chandler: think you're gonna see teams that wanna get out Like you said before we started recording Aaron, like the FSUs in the world that have been very vocal about wanting to leave the ACC, those kind of teams are gonna leave. Whether or not they get accepted by another conference, that's another thing. I don't really know how the exception into a conference works because I know in that same bill there was the limit, I believe, on how many people can be in a conference, and I think that was at nineteen. So the Big Ten's already is already Aaron: Big ten, watch out. Yeah. Chandler: at eighteen, so they can only accept one more burst. in if that were to be the case if a bunch of people were trying to relocate conferences. So I guess like FSC would have to join the SEC or something and and really make that conference, you know, that much better, bringing in that kind of powerhouse of a team. Aaron: Heh. Ryan: We don't want We don't want Chandler: So I don't know how it's gonna shake out 'cause really only have I mean, you have one more slot in the Big Ten. You don't have that many slots in the SEC. I'm not for sure how many how many like fourteen, sixteen you have total in the SEC. I don't know. Don't kill me if I get that number wrong, but you don't have that much long or that much leverage left to to weasel your way into that number. So then what, you gonna switch to the big twelve? Gonna go to the pack twelve? Like what what do we I don't know. Ryan: Like a lot of these teams aren't gonna downgrade, you know. So I don't Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: really see a lot of them leaving. Aaron: Now, with 180 days, I see a ton of wheeling and dealing happening. Like that Chandler: For sure. Aaron: is going to be, they're going to be fighting over those slots. And, you know, power to the conferences here, because they're going to grab it. You know, this is putting them in a great leverage point. Big Ten is going to say, all right, who wants to give us the most power over you to come and grab the last slot? And how many teams might be removed as well could be interesting. But I do think it will cause a big shakeup. just because of the time limit. That five year cap is a lot. And especially teams like FSU, Clemson, potentially Miami, some of those teams that have been attempting to move conferences probably aren't going to want to sit for five years on that unless they're not given a deal. So I could see FSU definitely making the move. I could see Clemson definitely trying to make the move. But I do think whatever shakeups do happen, A five-year lock in there is probably gonna create a little chaos. Chandler: Teams like an FSU or teams like a Miami though, I mean, geographically speaking, they would fit into that SEC realm because they are southeastern conference. So they're down in the southeastern part of the United States. So it's not like the Big Ten where they Aaron: Make sense. Chandler: have a nationwide graphic going on. They're they're pretty centralized still, so that would make sense geographically for those teams to kinda fight for that slot, whether or not they want to be in there or it would bode well for the conference. I know Miami wouldn't monetarily. but FSU, I don't know. But we'll see how it shakes out. Aaron: Yeah, yeah. And now I wouldn't be upset of S of FSU joining the SEC. I feel like they're right there. You know, you bring in the Florida FSU rivalry into the conference. as a Mississippi State fan, I can't talk about how good a team is and where that barrier should be right now. So I won't. But Yeah, I it just I think Miami, FSU, Clemson, if one of those did want to come into the SEC, it does make sense. they're easy to get to games. So I I I wouldn't be crazy about it. I would worry about if they all left. There could be just the ACC turning into another big twelve of like, well, there's some teams there. they're doing stuff, but when it comes down to postseason, it's just like We're not gonna be following. Ryan: Yeah, 'cause those teams are the ACC. They'd literally be nothing without those three. They'd be like SMU or something. Aaron: Right now, yeah. Chandler: Yeah SMU and Louisville would be the powerhouses of the of the ACC. Aaron: Yeah. Yeah. Ryan: Yeah, they're both like terrible. Aaron: Yeah, you know, you'd be w looking at the ACC like conference title that's like SMU Louisville, maybe Wake Forest on a good year, Duke if they put it together, it's just like I don't know about that. So you know, I and that is something I don't want to see. I don't want to see a conference completely bottom out. Chandler: Well I can tell you one thing for sure. Notre Dame is not going anywhere. Aaron: No, no, this is like Notre Dame's dream. Like, hey, five years where nobody's gonna bother us about it. We got it. We can be like, well, we might think about it, but unfortunately, for the next five years we can't. So I Chandler: Yeah. For the next five years we're taking our talents to the same independent conference that we're in. Aaron: Yep. That was it for news. It was a quiet week. I mean, I think a lot of us kind of tuned into Hall of Fame game, watch Haynes King do a a hero drive at the final moment. But then as you were telling me earlier, he's already hurt. So interesting start to a season or preseason. But it was just nice to have some football on. Ryan: Yeah, and they always talk about those running quarterbacks, you know, they don't last in the NFL. So he's gotta tone that down. I'm kinda surprised they're letting him run so much. But Karsten Beck, I'm the biggest Karsten Beck cater ever. He actually looked really good. Wore my cardinal rad for him. Aaron: He did. He did. I I was actually surprised. Chandler: Yeah, he he he was slinging it. Yeah. Aaron: Yep. like for you know, we know the Hall of Fame game, it's not exactly full season momentum, but I I have been somebody who's doubted Carson Beck, and I do feel like I gotta own up to the fact that he played well, he stood up to an NFL line, and it it wasn't a mess. And I think for somebody coming in, it's all you really hope for. Both him and Hayden's King. Like both great performances Ryan: and I like to see these these college guys finally play in the NFL. It's like an extension of our of our college podcast, you know. But he was physically Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: physically doing it, which he couldn't do at Miami, so it's good. Aaron: With that game, season draws closer every week. And like everyone out there, we're all dying to see what the AP top 25 poll is gonna be. even though at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. It's always like irrelevant by week two, but it is something that we wanted to come in and layer predictions down to how we think the AP poll will rank, not what we want to see. I think all of our lists would be. drastically different if we were putting in teams that should be on it. But we wanted to make a little contest here and see who could get closest to the right top twenty-five. And to kick us off, I'll go ahead and run us through my So I'm gonna go through all 25 of mine. We'll send you both through it as well. And then we're gonna kind of talk about what we think, where we think the AP might go wrong here after we get the list out there. That way we're not just bogged down in the top 10 for the next hour. So to kick us off here, I've got for number one, I'm here for Chandler. I got Ohio State. I I I'm gonna I'm gonna see it hard to not have him there. Number two, I put Oregon. I think the preseason hype is quite strong for them. Number three, I put Texas. followed by Georgia. And then in the five slot I put Notre Dame. I think I won't be surprised if those top five are very similar across the three of us here. where we might start to differ, I got six, I put Indiana, seven is Miami. Eight is Texas AM. You know how Yeah. I I really we talked about this pre-show. I think Chandler: I mean you're reading my list right now. Aaron: the top ten we will maybe one difference because I think we all know how these rankings are affected and where they're gonna sit. So no, this is first time Chandler: And and we did not converse about our lists before this. Aaron: we're all here in each other's list. So number nine is Oklahoma for me, followed by number 10, Texas Tech. Eleven is Ole Miss, 12 USC, 13 LSU, 14 Alabama, 15 Tennessee, 16 BYU, 17, sorry, Chandler, put Michigan, 18 Penn State, 19 Washington, 20 Utah, and in the wild card last five here, I got twenty-one Iowa, twenty-two Houston. Twenty three Clemson, twenty four SMU, and twenty five put Mizzou in there because they always do. So that is my top twenty-five as I think the AP poll will print it. Ryan: It's pretty good. Pretty good. Chandler: Not a bad list. Ryan: Yeah. Aaron: I I think I went safe here. I I didn't try to to jump anything. I didn't try to to get ahead. I just went with where's the narrative been? So Chandler, what do you got for your top twenty five? Chandler: Okay. Number one, I have Ohio State. Whether or not they should be Aaron: Course. Chandler: up there, being, you know, beaten in the quarterfinals, who knows. But they're I think the only team that's returning their starting quarterback, wide receiver one, and starting running back. So They have a lot of preseason hype. Number two, Oregon, number three, Georgia, number four, Texas, number five, Notre Dame, Number Six, Indiana, Number Seven, Miami, Number Eight, Texas AM, Number Nine, Aaron: Wow. Chandler: Oklahoma, Number Ten, Ole Miss, Number 11, Alabama, Number 12, LSU, Number 13, USC, Number 14, Michigan, Number 15, Tennessee, Number 7. sixteen Washington, number seventeen SMU, number eighteen Utah, number nineteen Clemson, number twenty Iowa, number twenty one, Texas Tech, number twenty two Louisville, number twenty three, Houston, twenty four Missouri, and twenty five Penn State. Aaron: So we definitely started to differ post top ten. Chandler: Mm. Aaron: which we will definitely hop into that. But Ryan, let's hear it. Ryan: Alright, I have number one Ohio State. You know, these media people, I could totally see them putting Oregon up there, but they don't deserve it. Ohio State's the best. Aaron: Ha ha ha. Ryan: So I put Oregon number two, three Georgia, four Texas, five Notre Dame, six Miami, seven, Indiana, eight, Oklahoma, nine Ole Miss, ten Texas AM, eleven Alabama, twelve Texas Tech, thirteen LSU, fourteen USC, fifteen BYU. Sixteen team up north, seventeen Tennessee, eighteen Washington, nineteen Utah, twenty SMU, twenty one Iowa, twenty two Penn State, twenty three Clemson, twenty four Missouri, and twenty five Houston. But I put an honorable mention that I think they could either put Louisville or Florida in that like twenty-five spot. They might do something like that. Something weird. Aaron: I completely agree with you that I think I there there's a sneaky Florida twenty fifth that I I felt my gut too, but I was like, I'm gonna go with Mizzou, because I just feel like it happens every year. Ryan: Yeah, I couldn't Chandler: He's adding some cushion on the back end there just in case he you know, we have to come down to a tiebreaker. He can say it was on his list and he can he can he can get escaped out of there. So Ryan: I was just saying, I don't think they should do it, but I think this is what they're gonna do. Kinda thing, you know. Aaron: Yeah, absolutely. And I I think, you know, we're unanimous to kind of start diving into it. Ohio State and the number one slot, because Ryan, I agree, I I could see them putting Oregon there, but I think you'd have to be fighting against the current narratives that are going on. Ohio State just has shown nothing but being a powerhouse this preseason. So I just feel like they're gonna they're gonna bite on that. I think they're gonna give Ohio State the number one slot. You guys just have too much talent. Like it's too impressive right now. Chandler: I also think you can't bet against Vegas. Vegas has th Aaron: Yeah, yeah. Chandler: the number one odds winning the national championship is Ohio State. And that was what solidified me putting them at one and not anywhere else. I was like, We're not gonna go against the bookies. Whether or not they're right is another question, but you gotta go with the boys that do it for a living making money. Aaron: absolutely. Absolutely. But I just feel like it's a safe first slot. I I think Oregon is gonna be a number two, but we just haven't heard as much about them in terms of like media circulation. I think even when we had the coaches poll come out, Ohio State was ahead of Oregon. So it makes sense to me. it just feels like something they'll do. I I did notice you both had Texas and Georgia. You had Georgia at number three, Texas at number four, where I had those flipped. I I think this year, if I was going off my gut, AP is going to be based off of some consistency. I think we're arguing one position here. But I think Georgia has just been so consistent where Texas is does this come together for them? They they they're I think they're rightly ranked at the three or four slots. I I as much as we get tired of hearing about Texas right now, I do think they have the talent to be at that level. Ryan: Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I think they have a super high potential, but George just kind of does it every single year. I think we kinda just forget about that they're so good because they're good every single year. That I was thinking they should probably realistically be three. But a lot of the time I was singing this, I was like, I don't know if the AP people will actually be willing to put them at three. They kinda like the hype stuff. That's why I was joking about Oregon. 'Cause Ohio State has it all. They are the best team. But they just love pushing the they love Oregon, they love Oklahoma, like these weird teams. They should like boost up a couple. But they like Texas. They Aaron: yeah. Ryan: boosted them up real high last year. I kinda thought they'd do it again, but Georgia should be one ahead. Chandler: I would argue that Texas has the highest upside potential if they can click in the SEC. I think I think Aaron: Absolutely. Chandler: that they have the high they can finish out there and and ma and pave their way into the SEC championship. They would have a chance to win it. I if if everything clicks, I mean they do have a good schedule. but if they they have the pieces around them. They've this is their most talented roster they've had in the past three years, so they can do it. Aaron: Yeah, I Ryan: Yeah. Aaron: I agree. Like that's something where that's why I put them below Georgia is there is just a few of those that we haven't seen if it clicks yet. And I think when we're breaking it down into the to the stat side for AP, they're gonna look at that and say, like, Georgia, we know. Texas, it does have to fire right. Ryan: That's what I was thinking. And I I think Texas is gonna be super good this year. But it's just weird trying to guess what the the voters are gonna choose. So it's Chandler: Mm. Ryan: yeah, it's a familiarity thing, like Aaron's saying. Chandler: Yeah. Yeah, that's why I have Georgia at three and Texas at four as well. That that they were my my flip back and forth, but like you said, Aaron, George's Ryan: Yeah, that was a yeah. That was a tough one for me. Chandler: George's done it. Aaron: I also found it interesting that we both have Indiana and Miami in the bottom half of the top ten. Because that definitely feels like what's going to happen. But for the, you know, championship winner and the competitor for the championship to not be in the top 10 always feels a little weird, but I don't think they're going to do it. I think they're going to keep them in that, you know, six to eight slot. Chandler: Yeah, I don't know. I mean, if I'm an Indiana fan, regardless of how my team looks this year, you're a defending national champion and nobody's beaten you. So why would you not be one? But with that said, the AP poll has done it. I mean when Ohio State won the national championship and then the next year they were not one. So they've done it and they've done it multiple times. So I could definitely see that they're down there in that bottom half of the top ten. Should they? Realistically, probably not be because they haven't been beaten. So, you know, keep up there. When Georgia was in that run when they went back to back and they hadn't lost, they were up there one every year. Granted it was a back to back season and they hadn't lost in almost three calendar years, but tomatoes tomato, you know? Ryan: See, but I get it though. That one was last year. They're guessing this year's team how good they're gonna be. And even y'all win the national championship. On paper, you were still so good and they dropped you spot. Georgia on paper was still so good. The Indiana, I think they almost th think they stepped back a little since they lost Fernando. But like Kurt does it year in, year out. I don't think Josh Huber's the guy. But they obviously just think it's a little less. And I don't know why I'm saying it's like they've already made it. I guess this is my list. That's why. Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: But we all had noted him Aaron: No, I would say Ryan: at five, right? As well. Chandler: Notre Dame is at five, yes. That's what I have. Aaron: Yes, Notre Dame for five Ryan: Yeah. Aaron: for me as well. And it is strange that we all we all landed on five for Notre Dame for AP. Because I I feel like you could make a argument that they could be higher, they could be lower. and I'm sure people already are. But I do feel like five's a safe Chandler: I mean not making the pla Aaron: spot for Chandler: not making the playoffs last year and being at five this year, pretty good. Aaron: Yep. Pretty good. Pretty good. Ryan: Mm, mm. Aaron: But we'll have to see. I I do think when we get to that Indiana conversation, I think that's gonna end up being like a don't bet against Kurt situation in the future. But for right now, Chandler: For sure. Aaron: they're gonna see can he pull a another roster like that together? And I believe he can do it because Chandler: I mean Aaron: I but I don't necessarily know if they like I don't even think they have to make the playoffs this year to still be a successful team from where they were. Chandler: mean he went his very first year and brought all of his JMU players over and I know they didn't have a schedule to like back it up like they did last year, but he still got them to the playoffs. His very first year with a bunch of J MU non P four players. So he's already done it arguably two years in a row. The results clearly last year were a lot better than the year before, but to be able to get that kind of team to the playoffs regardless of who you play is impressive. So now, I mean if you do if he does it a third year, at that point like w what more do you have to prove to prove that you are gonna be a top end Big Ten team until proven otherwise? So I think he'll do it. I think he'll make a postseason appearance again and at that point, I mean, until the benefit of the doubt is gone, you gotta give it to him. Aaron: Absolutely. And I was just up, as I was talking about earlier, I was up in Indianapolis. the belief is strong up there. They're feeling it. And as a fan base, they should be. Like that is that's such a good run to have. And from where they where they started, this is a a big step up. They've got the support of the fans, because why wouldn't they? We'll see if it continues. But like I said, even if they don't make the playoffs, I think the medial turn, they'll say, Well, it was a one and done type thing. And I just don't think that's true. I think we're gonna see them continue on and find success. Ryan: Yeah, they'll be a consistent upper third for sure. Like forever probably with Kurt. Aaron: Now I'll s I'll go for it. Yeah. Chandler: Big big digression here. But we talk about hype and media stuff. Did y'all see that Illinois now has the biggest jumbotron in their in college football history? In their Aaron: I didn't. Chandler: stadium. Seventeen Ryan: I didn't either. Chandler: thousand six hundred square feet screen on one of their end zone corners. To put it Ryan: Holy moy. Aaron: They have like near sided fans. Chandler: I but to put it in perspective, like Ryan, the the all Y'all's stadium is ten thousand. Y'all's is the was the biggest until Ryan: Yeah, ours was the Chandler: this year's. Ryan: Yeah, ours was the biggest when we made it. Ours was the biggest Chandler: Yeah. Ryan: in the country, like not just college football, until I think the Cowboys made a bigger one and then I guess Illinois now. Chandler: Yeah, seventeen thousand six hundred square feet. That's insane. Aaron: That's Ryan: That's so crazy. Aaron: that's very that's very large. Like I I mean if you're thinking about it, it's what seventy-five percent bigger than Auburn's at that point. And it's like Chandler: And theirs was the biggest. Yeah, it's in s it's crazy. But but for a Aaron: Like you're just watching T V at that point. Chandler: I mean you're the nosebleeds looking like you're you're looking at four K, like it I mean it looks like you're on the field. Aaron: Yeah. Yeah. Ryan: It's gonna ex extend past the upper decks. You're not gonna see the ends of it. Yeah. Yeah. Chandler: Yeah. It just wraps around the stadium. Aaron: Yeah. Chandler: Sorry. Aaron: Which I mean, I bet it'd be impressive to see though. Like I bet it'd be cool in the stadium, Chandler: For sure. Aaron: but it is it is it what seems to be a little excessive. Chandler: Yeah. Put them at twenty five Ryan: Yeah. Chandler: so people will buy tickets to go watch them and see Aaron: Yeah. Chandler: the see the screen. Ryan: Yeah, they have some like high school bleachers and then a giant jumbotron. Yeah. Aaron: Yeah. Chandler: All those Texas schools, man, in high school, they have some crazy stadiums with like jumbotrons and big screens and stuff. That yeah. Ryan: Yeah they do. Chandler: Crazy. Aaron: Yeah. It's like I think we all came from high schools that like we had analog clocks and that's like it. Like you just had a number with a scoreboard. Chandler: Aaron, you're way older than us, man. Aaron: Hey, I I've been to your high school. I've I've been there recently. I've seen they still got those they still got that, you know, red light countdown with green scores. That old school, the stuff that was around high tech when I was a kid. so now, yeah, but you go out to Texas and you're like, this is like some like D2 programs level of dropping Chandler: Yeah. Aaron: tech. Chandler: I remember my wife went out there for like a high school game and this is my last digression. They were like, You guys don't have a jumbotron at your stadium? And they were like, No. Like, we've never seen one that did in high school, so yeah, it's it's crazy. Aaron: Yeah. It's different over there in Texas. Ryan: Yeah. It's bigger. Aaron: Not anymore. Illinois got him. Tech Chandler: Compensation. Exactly. Ryan: Mm. Aaron: Texas gonna be next year. We'll hear about the new biggest, the thirty-six thousand square foot jumbotron. Ryan: Mm-hmm. Chandler: No Ryan: Yeah. It's a float above Aaron: But Ryan: the stadium. Aaron: to bring us back to our list here, I will say the thing I was shocked of from you two. We all agreed on AM in the top ten. I thought I was throwing in a curve there. I was like, I could see him doing it. Texas AM's got it. They got the credential right now to be placed there. I but I did not think. I thought you guys were gonna put him in the teens. Ryan: I put them at ten. So they have two numbers there. They're in top ten but there's two. Aaron: Yeah. Double digits. Chandler: Yeah. Ryan: Yeah. Chandler: Yeah, I I just think right now on paper their team didn't change a ton. I think they made a postseason appearance last year. Whether or not it ended the way they wanted to is whatever. Whether or not they had the schedule to get there is whatever. But on paper nothing changed that drastically. They were turning their quarterback, Marcel Reed. I think that they have what it takes to get back in that top ten slot to be able to make a postseason appearance, and that's why I put them there. Aaron: I I agree. because as I've said before, and I'll say it again, what you say about Texas' you gotta say about AM. you know, as as people have Texas hyped up, they have lost in the postseason, they've lost the big games that they needed to win, just like AM does. So AM's finally climbed out of the eight and four rut that they've existed in their entire time being a football team. And I think They now just need some time. I bet the pressure was extreme on the athletes, on the the administrative staff to because they were finally there. They were reaching that point, and I bet that just didn't help. and then, you know, played against Miami in a very low scoring game, but still held Miami back. So I I'm still riding for Texas AM this year, but I'm glad to see you guys think the AP poll will also believe in them because in my heart I feel like they could be put at seventeen and nobody bat nine. Ryan: Yeah, and I like Texas A I think they have a super high upside. Yeah, kept all their great players and everything. But they seem slightly sputtery to me. That you almost lose to South Carolina, you almost lose to us, you lose to Texas. That Miami game wasn't really their fault 'cause it was so windy and they couldn't throw the ball anyway. That's like I knocked them down a couple, put a couple FCC teams in front of but I still think they're very solid, might squeak in, you know, and they love Texas Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: A and over there at the AP. Aaron: They do, they do. But it's also important to remember Texas got taken to overtime by us. So Ryan: Mm-hmm. Aaron: in the Mississippi State game, that had to have been their easiest cupcake game of their SEC schedule, and they almost fumbled that one too. So I think that was a equal embarrassment at that to the South Carolina game. Ryan: True, true. Chandler: See, like in my mind I wanna put Ole Miss at that like eight slot and then have Oklahoma and Texas AM nine and ten. Just because I think Aaron: Yeah. Chandler: Old Miss is has more upside, but I don't know. For some reason when I was typing this list out, that's what I came to But like just like that was what I was battling is that old miss like Trinidad Chambliss, Keywan Lacey, like they're all coming back. If they can stay healthy, great. They're gonna be back in the postseason. They have a tremendous roster. Aaron: yeah. Chandler: So it but I mean, eight, nine, ten, all of those people are gonna be in the playoffs theoretically. So Yeah. Aaron: We'll see about Oklahoma. I think Oklahoma has the chops this year. I you know, they looked great for the first half of that season. after after Matir's injury, you know, they kinda had their slide. but like I said, there was some inconsistency there too. So we'll see. I Chandler: No, I was saying if they end up in the eight, nine, and ten, they'll be in the playoffs. Not not Aaron: yeah, yeah. Chandler: them right now being in the playoffs. Aaron: Yeah. Yeah. I think but I also felt that like Ole Miss probably deserves to be in the top ten. I just don't think they're gonna be ranked there. I think they will be in the high teens or in the in the low teens. I I put them down at number eleven because I do feel like they will get that hype ride. you know, most prepped game. Everybody's hyped for week three LSU Ole Miss. I think that's gonna be Most watch game of the week. So I think they're gonna want to keep that a little bit. Now Chandler: The winner of that game shoots up, baby. Aaron: absolutely. Absolutely. Now, I had Texas Tech to round out my top 10. And I noticed you guys had Texas Tech much lower. so I feel like I completely agree with you guys that Texas Tech should not be ranked in the top 10. But I do think the AP poll w will feel weird not putting him in the top ten. Like I Chandler: So Aaron: there's just something about that feels like they're gonna just put him in there. Chandler: My my confession is Texas Tech is not what I think Vap's gonna do. That I just put them down there 'cause I just don't like Texas Tech. I was like, I can't I can't put them higher. Like I know they're gonna be a top twenty-five team, but like I'm not I'm not doing it. I'm putting them on the bottom. Like they're going to twenty-one. Twenty one is where they are. Twenty-one Aaron: I'm I'm with ya. To me, they're the villains this season. Yeah. Chandler: stayed out of there. Ryan: I also don't like Texas Tech. If I got to choose like my own ranking, probably put like twenty-five. But they love Texas Tech. They kinda got like like I don't know nicely to put it this like Neppo D in something. Just gave a little handout, like here you can be in the playoffs last year. They didn't earn that spy, you know, you just walk in, get killed by Oregon. So I think they're just gonna put at twelve, 'cause that's like a low teen. Doesn't seem like why'd you put Texas Tech at five? They're not gonna freak out that you put at twenty. You know, just right there. Not make anyone too mad. Aaron: I agree. I I still feel in my gut it's going to be in the top 10, just because looking at the schedule, like it's just they don't play anyone. They they just Chandler: No. Aaron: kind of play around in some, you know, low stakes games. And I think they're gonna see that. They're gonna, they're gonna ride the consistency of that schedule. I agree. I I just don't if it were up to me, I would be putting Texas Tech not in the top 25. Chandler: No, I will say if they finish like i if they start twenty one, like like my list says, they will be a top fifteen, top ten team quickly with that schedule. Aaron: Easily, easily. Like they they are gonna climb similar to Oregon, where it's just gonna be like they just don't have that challenge that's gonna really make them drop. so that I think like in terms of as we get to those numbers where we have Ole Miss, we have LSU, we've kind of got them all in the same bracket. And I think I I I think that's just gonna be how it comes out in whatever order. Whatever number we're gonna be looking in that, you know, anywhere in those five slots, these teams are gonna fall. Ryan: Yeah, I have Olmis at nine. I actually wanna put them higher, but I think that they think with Lane leaving, it everyone's kinda seemed like it's too big of a step back, even though most of the roster is same. You got Trinidad and Keywon, which are your two biggest ones. But there's so much hype for Oklahoma this year. They love John Mantier. They love talking about how great Oklahoma's defense is. I think they're gonna put the one higher. That's why I had them eight and nine. I actually had Alabama one ahead. Texas Tech, 'cause they still love Alabama. Even though I think they they might only win like eight games this year or something. You know, knock down a couple, but they like they'll put at like high or low teens in my Aaron: Yeah, I definitely I see them being middling teens and nobody really batting an eye. Alabama fans, I don't think, will bat an eye. I think everybody'll say, like, we're gonna need to see that run game. And if that doesn't show up, we may end up unranked. So that is that's the make or break for Alabama. I think putting them in the middle, they definitely have the talent. They definitely have everything they need to be at that, you know, top 15 ranking. It's just gonna be Does that O line develop a run game? Chandler: See no US C is an interesting one for me because we talk about preseason narratives and we talk about preseason hypes surrounding programs and coaches and I think USC is up there with the top in expectations. Like we've talked about numerous times Aaron: absolutely. Chandler: on this show. And I think thirteen th thir I put them at thirteen, but really thirteen to twenty, anywhere in that range, I think is their sweet spot of where if they start in and they catch a groove, then they're gonna position themselves perfectly to get into the playoffs. But that also puts them in a spot to where if they slip one or two and they drop out of that top twenty, then it's gonna be hard for them to get back up into it. So I think they're gonna be starting in Aaron: Absolutely. Chandler: a position to where if they do what they should and they do what the fans and all the boosters and all these people surrounding that program think they should do, then they're gonna position themselves to be able to be in the playoffs. So I think I think if they start in that 13 to 20, they'll be in a perfect spot if they can achieve their goals. Ryan: Yeah, and I was thinking the same thing. I put them at fourteen. I had LSU in front of them at thirteen. But yeah, I think same thing. Lincoln Riley, Jaden Mayaba. You know, there's those weird guys on that website telling everyone how they're gonna win the Heisman just 'cause he plays for Lincoln Riley. So I I Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: think that's a pretty good spot for him and it gives them great potential. They're right there already. Aaron: Gonna go with a hard opinion here. If they do get ranked at like 1920, it almost feels unacceptable to me. Like Ryan: Mm-hmm. Aaron: for for the amount of talk and the amount of just give it time, we've heard about it. Like if you're starting the season at 20 in this with the schedule they have with everything, I don't think they will be placed that low, but if they do. I think we're gonna be seeing kind of the the fallout of that. Almost that like Jimbo Fisher level for Lincoln Riley of like, you made a lot of promises. You made a lot of just give it times and you had the time and we didn't get a development. I think starting the season at that low, the fan base could turn. Chandler: Yeah, but then Ryan: Yeah. Chandler: again, like you said, there's so much volatility in that preseason AP, so like w who's to say Aaron: Absolutely. Chandler: that like after a game or two, if they win both of them they're not like thirteen. So like they could jump up super quick. Aaron: Yeah. Chandler: And same thing, vice versa. If you have a pick any team on the list. If you have an SMU Aaron: Mm. Chandler: ranked s seventeen and they drop one or two, then all of a sudden they're unranked. I mean things change so quick, like we said in the beginning of the show, that Aaron: Absolutely. Chandler: I don't know. It's hard to judge a a a placement based off of where some random people in a room put you at. Aaron: Came up with. Yeah. It just it to me it's it's that hot take on it of like if they're if they're being ranked that low, that's there there is some rhyme and reason to the AP poll. And if they're seeing that, if they're placing them that low, it to me would feel like they don't have faith in the program and I won't either. But it is something where I think if the higher placement I had at twelve. Because I do think with all of that, with the talent that they do have, they should be up in that end. Ryan: Yeah, and that's the other thing. There is some like gut feeling here too that I feel like we've seen them do this like a million times. So you see them rank teams every year. That I I just can't see them ranking them that low. Rank them at like twenty or seventeen or something. And these other teams I have behind them too, which is USC's better than them, USC's better than them. So I kinda like that where we all have at twelve, thirteen, fourteen. Wait, that's a good area for Chandler: Yeah, I mean that's a good point, Ryan, especially where like when you have the SMUs, the Utahs, the Iowa's, the Texas Tech, the Louisville, the Houston, like you have all these different teams that you could say, I don't think USC would have a problem beating any of those teams. So why would we drop them below them? Ryan: Yeah. Yeah, and they more culture, more money, better roster, bigger conference, like all those things, it's like they're Chandler: Yeah. Ryan: gonna have a harder schedule and a better team. There's just like more appeal to put them higher. Aaron: Absolutely. Yeah, Chandler: Agree. Aaron: and I and they should. Like they should be higher on that list than some of those teams. And if they don't, that to me feels like there's a reason. And there's something there's something we're not seeing that they are. Because you would have to have a reason to put them down that low. So but that's that's a tangent that's more than likely not going to come to fruition because I think they'll be in the top teens. Ryan: Did y'all have LSU around there too? Aaron: I had LSU Chandler: They're at twelve. Aaron: directly under him at thirteen. Ryan: Yeah, I had at thirteen. Chandler: I had them right above US Aaron: And I Chandler: C at twelve. Aaron: yeah, I I feel like that's just everybody waiting to see. Like I feel Chandler: Mm. Aaron: like they have the, you know, don't bet against Lane and his program building right now. But it is something that it's like, we're gonna have to see if this all comes together. And we've already kind of talked about it. We've dived into, you know, do we think the investment this time's gonna pay off the same way it has for him in the past? We don't know. You know, going to Arizona State to get a quarterback. He picks good quarterbacks. We'll see if it works out, but we'll have to see if he's the guy or not. Ryan: Yeah, and I I think the AP loves hype. You see things like Aaron: yeah. Ryan: last year, they're starting to make riskier decisions these last couple years based on hype. Like you have a fifteen Alabama that loses to Florida, instead of being like that's an upset, be like, Florida State, you're fifteen now. Like they're making bolder kind of things like that. So I almost think they love Lane, they saw how good old Miss is, they see the turnaround. And like L S U is already like a pretty predominant school that I think they put them up there. When I'm looking at this I hate to see them behind Texas Tech on my thing. But like Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: that's like the hard thing with making this list. There's so many like that team's way better. That team will beat this team. But that's just like not how the the AP works. They just kinda do whatever they want. It's so weird. Aaron: Yeah. Yeah. Like I said, I don't want Texas Tech on my top twenty five at all. They're gonna be there, but I completely agree with you. Like I I do think there's a higher chance of LSU succeeding than not. They have arguably one of the best SEC schedules that you can have right now. I think that's gonna go well for them. but speaking of SEC schools, Where did you guys have Tennessee again? I had them at my fifteenth. Chandler: Meet you. Ryan: I had seventeen. Aaron: So we all kind of agree. I think that's too high. Yeah, I I'm gonna come out and say I'm a Tennessee hater. and I I went very hard and committed to they're an eight and four team and they gotta start understanding that. as a fan base, as a team. But I do feel like they're gonna be placed in that upper portion of the teens. And it's I I just don't see it. I don't see why. Ryan: I don't either, and I think they might move up a spot or two, but my my thought press was where would eight and four land? And I picked seventeen. that seems like an eight Aaron: And Ryan: and four spot to me. So I'd p I flip them there, I don't know. Aaron: Yeah, I I could definitely see him from like sixteen on and eight and four team with what it's gonna be and we're gonna get hate. Tennessee fans, feel free, take a moment, comment on the short or the clip or the video itself. let me know. I don't know what I'm talking about. It's fine. I don't believe in your program. Ryan: Same. They really like T C though. Like they might move him up to like fifteen. That's unacceptable though. Like that's terrible. Aaron: Yeah. Now y'all also had BYU in this area, correct? Chandler: Absolutely not. Nope. BYU is not even on my list anywhere. Nope. Nope. Ryan: I had them at fifteen. BYU, terrible. Another mid team. They just have mid offs against Texas Tech all year. And they love both of Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: They're like which one of these teams are put in the playoffs? Like neither of them. Don't pick one. You know? Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: And all they do is play each other. Texas Tech barely wins every time and BYU is just as bad. But they're like they think they're so good for some reason. They think the Big Twelve's like exactly the same as Big Ten SEC. I think they put here like like fifteenish for some reason. If they really put Texas Aaron: I agree. I Ryan: Tech at twelve where I have they're gonna put BYU at fifteen. But if not, they're just gonna like Aaron: Yeah, I had him at Ryan: shift back. Aaron: I had him at sixteen and Chandler, I completely agree. They should not be on this list. Chandler: No, they I they've done nothing to prove that they should be on this list. They were ranked a couple of times Aaron: No. Chandler: last year and they lost Texas Tech twice. until they beat Texas Tech, you keep off the list. Aaron: Yeah. I mean Ryan: Yeah, and they were a terrible football program. And so was Texas Tech. And they just lose to another terrible football program over and over. And when I say terr I know I use terrible loosely Aaron: That's it. Ryan: often, I'm using it firm this time. Really terrible. Aaron: No, I as much as I like to make fun of your trademark terrible, I agree. You know what? Just move Big Twelve games to Friday. Ryan: Ha. Aaron: you know, let's keep the schedule open. It it is something that it's like it's i we we've been harping on the ACC, but the ACC I think has still got something going on. when, you know, Big Twelve can't even have a quarterback on their one power team. that if we consider it a power team that made it even to the season. It's just to me it's like it feels like a cursed conference right now. The Monster Twelve. Chandler: It's something for sure. Now I will say the two speaking of the teams that are hard to put on this list. The two teams that were hard to put on this list for me were one Penn State and two Michigan. And Penn State to me, I feel like with the changing of the guard, James Franklin leaving, they had a disastrous season, he got fired mid season, which nobody had on their bingo card. I think coming in fresh slate, they have a lot easier of a schedule this year coming in. They don't play Ohio State, they don't play all these big name programs in the Big Ten. They kind have just a like a rebuilding season on their calendar to match like their rebuilding inside of their program. So I think for them, that's why I put them on the twenty on the top twenty five. They should be on the top 25. They've always been a ranked team since James Franklin's been there. They've always competed well at the at higher levels. So that was a hard team for me to put on there after the disaster of a season they had, but I think with those reasons, that that's why they're there. And two Michigan, same kind of thing. They I mean they're the off-season kings with all the Sharone Moore stuff and all kinds of different things going around. Aaron: Just a dumpster fire. Chandler: The A D getting fired and saying he had bones under the closet and could all coaches fi hire or coaches filing lawsuits like former coaches against Michigan. I mean all kinds of just disasters. So that was it was hard for me to put them out there as well. But again, Kyle Whittingham coming in, changing of the guard, brand new system, they're gonna be up there as well. Aaron: I I have I am back to back in my list. Six it is 17 and 18 for me. And it felt terrible. Like I was like, this is wrong to do. It's what they're gonna do. But I agree, like it this was a disaster off season for Michigan. And I I feel like how you're gonna come out into the season like stumbling a little bit just from the amount of like blows you took and to To know that they're going to be ranked just feels wrong. Like there are teams that I do feel like we could make an argument for putting them in over you could say a Louisville over something like a Michigan or a Penn State, because I Chandler: Well Aaron: think Penn State is also going to be in a weird place. Chandler: I will say Kyle Whittingham is if you want to talk about a black and white by the book coach to fix a dumpster fire of a program, that's a guy that's gonna be able to do that. If he Aaron: Yeah. Chandler: if he can do it, that's a guy that has the tools to be able to do it. Aaron: I I I agree. I think it is a smart hire. I just feel like with what we know from the preseason, to put them in a preseason top twenty-five, I feel like you could leave them off and then correct it as they prove it. and that wouldn't feel weird. But putting them in there, it just seems unfounded. Like it just seems like there's so much more that could go wrong than right. Ryan: Yeah. I mean holy fall off by Penn State though. Weren't they preseason two last year? Chandler: They were preseason top five, yeah, two or three somewhere in Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: Yeah. Chandler: there. Ryan: But like they're just so bad. Like, they're just gonna hand the ball to James People forty times a game. Not a joke. Probably like actually thirty something times a game. And like I probably wouldn't rank them, but they always seem to put them up there. You they have the Penn State wideout game, you know, that's pretty cool. Let's put at twenty two. So I had team up north at sixteen. They just shouldn't have a football program 'cause they they cheated. In twenty twenty three, they get stripped from the title, maybe not play for like five years. They had all the stuff going in with all their coaches. So they should just not probably have a program right now. But they love them. They have the best player to ever come out of team up north, the Bryce T underwood. So I think all of that on paper looks really good. So they're gonna put him like sixteen. Chandler: Now what's crazy is counting these numbers in the list, I have eight Big Ten teams and eight SEC teams. Ryan: Interesting. We've kinda had Chandler: So Ryan: all the same teams so far until now they're just slightly different ordered. Chandler: Yeah. Aaron: Yeah, this is kind of where we Ryan: I'd pin stayed a little lower. Aaron: completely break away. So as a refresher, I'll kind of go through nineteen to twenty-five for mine, where I have Washington, Utah, Iowa, Houston, Clemson, SMU, and Mizzou. And I think we all ended up with very different teams in that list. Chandler: Yeah, I have Clemson, Iowa, Texas Tech, Louisville, Houston, Missouri, Penn State. Ryan: I had similar teams as you, Aaron. They were just a little out of order. So far we've talked about every team that I have up to seventeen. and I put Washington at eighteen. I really like Washington. I think they're your sleeper Big Ten team. But again, it's not like who do I think is going to win the game? Could they be this team? Could they be this team? It but it's like what do the AP people see or do the off season prediction for this year? So I think eighteen, I think they are very good. I think they have a lot of potential. I like damon Williams. I like all the six four secondary they have. I like the receiving core. Chandler: so apparently they don't have any six four corners. Ryan: What about Ephesians price arc? What do you mean? Chandler: I don't think I think this could be completely wrong, but Noah looked it up at the gym the other day and they don't have any six four corners on their roster. Ryan: Hmm. Chandler: So I'm gonna need you to fact check that real quick. Like current active roster players. Ryan: Ephesians price suck got drafted. That's awkward. Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: Whoops. Aaron: Well, we could say they loved their six four corners. But it Ryan: I missed the six four corners. Aaron: now but Ryan, six four corners aside, and your strong love for them as well. I agree with you. I like Washington. I think Washington is one of those teams they are not gonna compete at the Ohio State level. Like you're not gonna be the kings of your conference because the Big Ten, the top of the Big Ten. Is just powerhouse after powerhouse. Like you guys have great teams at the high end. And it's kind of like it's the same thing in the SEC where you know you can be a nine win team, you can be a 10 win team. It's not good enough. Like you're not gonna be on top of your conference with that. And so I think Washington, as you said, can be a sleeper team just because they're not gonna get the headline for it. Penn State. made the same call because it's like, well, we can't beat these powerhouse teams. We need to get rid of the coach that got us here. so let's make let's just shake it up, see if that helps. And, you know, the same call we've seen many teams make, and most of them have suffered for it. And yeah, I I applaud Washington for kind of just staying the course. Like, you know, let's be competitive and not necessarily chase a dream that we have to have everything in the right place to achieve. Chandler: And Jed Fish is a tremendous coach. I love his attitude of he's very recruit, develop, keep in house, retain players, keep the culture intact and like get them to the NFL. He and when he when he needs to, he picks up portal pieces, but he's a very high proponent of getting people out of high school, developing developing them into their culture, just developing them super well, going to the league. So I I love that from a coach, especially in a in an era where people are just jumping chip left and right and following paychecks and and bags of money. So that's a it's a breath of fresh air to see. So I I applaud him for being able to keep that. Aaron: Agree with you a hundred percent. He definitely feels like an old school coach that, like our dads talked about when they talked about college football, like a guy who's raising young men to be as good as they can be. It's not just about the sport, it's about developing, getting them further. It's it's a real for-the-team mentality and staying quiet, staying kind of humble in their area. I appreciate that. In in a world of Lane Kiffins right now dominating the media circuits, we can easily kind of bypass looking at some of these coaches that are just, you know, doing a good job and doing it well in house. Ryan: Well said, well said. Aaron: Now with with my list where I have Utah up in there, I do feel like these last five, it just total free for all. it's whatever whatever teams come across there. I feel like you can kind of just put whoever. Utah I don't really have any strong feelings about. I don't have strong feelings about the 20th position on the top 25. and so I was like, here they go. They can plop right there. I feel like it's a safe place to put You can put them in twenty-three, no different. Like it it means nothing. So I'm sorry, Utah fans. I have nothing against you here, but I also feel nothing for you. Ryan: Yeah, I put them at nineteen, they were right there for me. They're just kinda there. They never Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: win anything, but you're not like they suck, they lose all their games. They just kinda play. Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: They're a little worse than BYU, but BYU's a dumpster fire. So I don't know. Aaron: Like I I I truly like I don't mind the fan base. I don't have any issues with anything. They're just outside of my radar. Like I just don't watch the games. I don't really keep up with anything. It just is something that's there. If you got cool Utah stuff, send it to me. I'll teach me about Utah. Get let me care about them. But until then, they'll just be another team. Ryan: Yeah, to me they just seem like they're nice, they're there. You know? They're accessible. Put put at like nineteen ish. You had at twenty. Aaron: Yeah. Chandler: I will say they were a part of the best game I've ever seen in college football in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State and Utah when Jackson Smith and Jigba had about a thousand yards receiving. So that was a pretty cool game. So shout out Utah for being Ryan: Mm-hmm. That that's why it was a cool game. Chandler: there with Cam Rising and and and Co. for allowing that to happen. Where defense was optional in that game and it was like a a hundred to a hundred game. Ryan: That was a fun game to watch, but only because Jackson Smith and Jigue had like three hundred forty yards receiving, 'cause he's just the best. And he continues to be the best in the NFL. Aaron: Now, I also had Iowa and Houston in here. we're kind of in that part where it's like do feel like Iowa does catch the media breeze every once in a while. They don't necessarily ride to the highs, but you'll hear about it. You you know, they'll have some waves, they'll have some players, not necessarily huge names, but they'll get guys in there. And that's something where once again it's just a little outside the scope for me. Ryan: Yeah, I had Iowa at twenty one. I seem like they just kinda seem to have a little more hype than Penn State. Penn State's fallen off after Jim Franklin. I was usually a pretty consistent Big Ten team, so I just put them one ahead at twenty one. I actually put SMU in front of them at twenty. Kinda hate that, but they love SMU. I don't know why they love SMU. Aaron: Absolutely. Ryan: They're so terrible. But sorry. Gotta quit that. But they love put at twenty. Aaron: I I felt the same way. Like my list wasn't complete till SMU was on it because they do. They they show up. Like and and when we get done with our discussion, I'll have points I want to bring up about teams that I do think should be on there and they're not. but it is something that like SMU in Houston, they make the list, they show up, and it's like there's nothing spectacular, there's nothing in there that I really see that deserves a top twenty-five ranking. There's not anything I see that doesn't necessarily mean they shouldn't be either. Like we're at that gamble point, but it they're there. But a team that I feel like is on there that we can all agree shouldn't is Clemson. Like Clemson has been in a downward trajectory for years. And we talked about like I don't want to Dabo get fired. I if they can't pull it up, I'd I hope he can walk away. I hope they can separate in a way that keeps his legacy intact. He did develop him, he did make him a national championship winning team. But despite that, They're gonna be in the top twenty five and they shouldn't be. I like they've given us nothing to believe in that. Ryan: Yeah, same here. Chandler: Yeah I guess recently you can say that. I mean they they have been like he like you said, he has been a national championship team. Like he's made multiple playoff runs or appearances. And it's just one of those things that you hate to see as as a Dabo fan. Like I I love the guy. He's awesome to listen to in the media. He's a great coach, but I mean at some point in your coaching journey it comes to an end. And We'll see. I mean if he can beat L S U, they have the opener against L S U, if they can beat L S U in in a convincing manner, then All jokes society's back. You know, let's let's let's get let's get going again. Let's get the Clemson train going. It's a better Aaron: Yeah. Chandler: place when there's when there's multiple people in multiple conferences that are powerhouses in football. So I would not be opposed to having a Clemson return back to like the the Trevor Lawrence days when they were a dominant football program because that's just another team that's going to be competing for it. You're just going to have a n more competitive games postseason. So if they can come out and beat LSU Week One in a convincing manner, I'm I'm here for it. Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: Yeah, I wouldn't hate it if they're good, but yeah, last year they had LSU and Clemson super high preseason and they had like a mid off and they like, this is so great 'cause it's like top ten matchup. Where I had at twenty three on my list. Like, they were super good during the Trevor Lawrence days, and I like Dabo. I don't want them to be bad. But it's not like an SMU. I'm talking about they just love them for some reason. They shouldn't. They just always think Clemson's way better than they are, then they always disappoint us. And they're not in a really hard conference and they don't win a lot of games. Especially since the Trevor Lawrence days have ended. Aaron: Yeah. And they've had the talent. That's the thing. It's like I feel like they get put up there because they have the talent. But then it just doesn't come together. And yeah. But Ryan: Maybe like Cade Klubnick, you know. He's alright, I guess. Aaron: i he he was a quarterback of all time. Ryan: Yep. Aaron: but it is something where it's like I picked Clemson as my irrational team to dislike. when I first started watching college football, I've carried that with me, for no particular reason. But even then, you you don't want to see a program fall off. And Chandler, as you said, I want to see competitive teams from every conference. Miami's gotta be tired with all the weight of the ACC on their back right now. But it is something that it is like you wanna see some fun games in those, you wanna have a reason to tune in for conference games. And with Clemson where they're at, it feels like you've lost one of the top end slots to to watch. And I hope, I I do hope they come out and have a surprise opener against LSU. I'm sorry, LSU fans, but I I just to make the season interesting, just to just to get some some hype going, some talk going. I'd love to see it. I'd love Clemson to prove me wrong. Chandler: That would make week three that much better. Aaron: absolutely. Absolutely. Old Miss going in there with that, with that. Chandler: With a one loss L S U. Aaron: yeah. They would be just foaming at the mouth and it'd be beautiful to see. And no, it's gonna be something where we'll see them get in there. probably another team, even though I truly believe in them. I put Mizzou on there. They like to throw Mizzou in that 25 slot. I feel like that's Mizou's home in the start of a season. Like if they'll just hang out there. And I think they're better than that. I do. Like I I think they've got the potential. I think they're always kind of just one thing clicking away from being a very, very strong team. And maybe this year. I'm I'm like a disillusioned fan for another team where I'm like, maybe this year for But we'll see. Ryan: I kinda like Missouri. I had him at twenty four. that cook guy at quarterback was pretty solid, but I think Austin Simmons is be amazing. And everyone apparently thought Ahmad Hardy was gonna win the Heisen last year, but he got shot in the leg. So it's kinda hard to be a running back if you can't run 'cause he got shot in the leg. So that makes it difficult. But I think they have a lot of things and yeah, like you're saying, there's always one thing that's not clicking. So I always feel like it makes them the difference of just being a really scrappy team, kind of cutting in fifteen ish rather than being a playoff team. And I think a twenty four spot will it's like solid, but then it also gives a potential to move up a little. Chandler: And Amon Hardy apparently is practicing. And full Ryan: Really? Chandler: he he had a full bill of health. He's cle he's cleared. Like he's he's good to go. Ryan: Good for him. Good for him. Yeah. Aaron: That's good. Good to hear. You don't want to hear people taking out on off-field stuff. You don't want to see them taken out on field. Ryan: Mm. Mm. Aaron: you want them to continue. But, you know, getting shot in the legs, probably not an easy recovery. No experience Ryan: Yeah, that's tough. Aaron: there, so I can't comment on it. But I'm just gonna assume, I think safely, that it's tough to recover from. Chandler: I will say being a D one athlete at that kind of program, having that happen to you, you're in better hands there than most places. Ryan: Mm-hmm. Aaron: yeah. Yeah. Like if I got shot in the leg tomorrow, that's just I I have a limp now. That's it for the rest of my life, I'm sure. but that we'll see. We'll see if this happens for them. I hope it does, because I like a competitive SEC. I want every SEC team to be incredible. I want every f game to be a toss up of who wins and who loses. I feel like at the top end we have that. Down in my area where I live. it's not as much, but we'll see. I I do think we might have some scrappier teams this year. Ryan: Yeah, and that that just about wraps up my list. My last team I have is Houston. Again, just another one of those teams. Like they they always kinda just put them up there. They're kind of just there, like a Utah or something. But I just seem like the other teams have more hype or they're better. I could also see them doing something weird like throwing in a a Louisville or a Florida 'cause they seem to like those teams. They have a lot of hype, but I would I just went safe. So I just hard cut Houston. Aaron: So I do think like the A people, if they come out, there are some places down at the bottom that they could put some teams in that I think should be there. Ryan, you mentioned I I think Florida should have a shot at a 25. I I'll even put Auburn in that in that list of like we're seeing potential. We're seeing some stuff there that says you want to be in that 20 to 25 because it is a who cares bracket. And like I We do have some information there to say these teams could be really strong. I think it's tough on the SEC side because you got to look at schedules, and the SEC schedules are all brutal. They're all miserable. no easy wins. But I think for preseason, I would not be upset to see a Florida, an Auburn. I'd love to see a Virginia Tech. you know, I'm that's my that's my side team this year, other than UNLV. but those are some teams that I feel like could be ranked. It would make sense that they are, but I don't think they're gonna do it. I I think they're gonna lean more conservative and stick with the teams that they know and that they normally place up there. Ryan: Yeah, I think the same thing too. I'm kinda surprised he didn't put Virginia Tech because I think they're gonna be very good. I think they have so much potential to be better than the SMU and Clemson with James Franklin going in there. And Florida isn't a crease one either. They have a lot of preseason hype. Everyone loves John Summerall. Great turnaround. The Auburn one, I don't think we deserve to be twenty five, like starting. But we're always like us in Florida we'll probably be in that thirty ish, like not there. We're usually there pretty often. But for our schedule, it seems like we have like a pretty high chance to win the first four or five games in a row. 'Cause like our schedule's not that Aaron: Yeah. Ryan: crazy. Then that put us in later. But preseason, you know, I I wouldn't hate a Florida right there. Aaron: Yeah. And I throw Auburn in there because of the team familiarity. Like having so many components during this transition, I think it gives them a little bit more than a fresh head coach that some of these programs we have talked about, I think there's a higher potential ceiling. I agree. I think they're going to be in the 30 range. And that'll be that'll be not a crazy placement for them either. And I think they will climb up. But I think if you wanted to go in that area of like We were right the whole time as the A people, I would put them in those bottom tony positions. Ryan: Yeah. And I think the the last AP poll, like last year, I'm pretty sure USF was like twenty five at the very end of the season. So we have their whole offense. You know. Aaron: Yeah. Taylor, do you have anybody that you'd throw in that bottom position that you think could make a case for it, make an argument? Chandler: No, I mean, I like Florida. I I support that decision if they were to they were to put that in there like you guys said. I can't think of anybody else that I would squeeze into that bottom slot. I mean I guess I didn't have BYU on my list, so maybe BYU. No. Wouldn't want to be down there. So Aaron: Yeah. I I do feel like this year that we're gonna rely on safe bets o other than gambles. So it does feel like as much as we came up with these lists, they're so similar. There's so few it's actually gonna be a hard competition to judge because we'll have we're gonna be down to like a couple different changes that may come through. I am excited. When this comes out, because now we'll get to break down and say who got what? Who who was the closest? But it is something that it's like I'm on the fence of should we even do a preseason AP poll? Do we need this? Is this helpful? Does this it doesn't matter? it just feels like hype and like media benefiting more than it is the teams, more than it is the fan bases. Because the fans of the smaller teams that do make it are like, we're not gonna stay there. We're gonna fall. the big teams expect to be up there, so they're not surprised. We're arguing over maybe a couple placements. but I just think, you know, start ranking at week four. You know, put put the first AP poll out then when we see people, people have had a hard game on their schedule by that point. We could actually gain some information, but as much as we're sitting here talking about it because it's preseason and, you know, this is what we got to talk about, it it does feel like it just is just narrative fuel. Ryan: this was really good for me though. I kinda had to put the ego down, kinda be like, less of this team's terrible, you know, and try to organize them. Yeah, but when I was making it I had to Aaron: Yeah, you only called four or five teams terrible this time. Growth. Ryan: kinda put it down, you know, organize it in a good manner. But like you're saying, the only good thing about the BCS system, I I think it was slightly more fair because there's less bias, and I like that they didn't do the first four weeks ranking. Because we look at teams like last year Where FSU beats Alabama, then they put A FSU at fifteen, and then they play two nobody teams, and then Virginia beats them, they shoot Virginia way up. Like all these other teams, they'll shoot up and they shouldn't be up there, and then they play nobody and stay. So I think that's very bad. And they do that a lot, so they should quit that and wait for four weeks, like you're saying. Aaron: But whether or not we wanted to. The AP poll is coming out. Like I said, not this Monday that you're listening to this on, but next Monday. So the show after that that we record, we'll have our breakdown. We'll have the who won, who was closest. But despite all my statements, I will check it out the day it comes out. I'll be excited to read it. And we'll just have to see where they put everybody. But until then, we're gonna be back next week talking about what everybody else is talking about. College football. As we count down the weeks. So we all got our calendars and our marking off days till the first games start. Until then, thank you all who have supported the show, that are following the channels, that are interacting and commenting on our short forms. All that is such a huge help. The boys have launched a side venture. For the run after cast label here, they have started streaming. So Chandler, tell the people what they can expect out of the streaming. Chandler: First of all, you can expect no quality gameplay to come out of these streams. it's gonna be all entertainment and side gaming, if you will. But we're gonna be live on Twitch, TikTok, YouTube, kick. and you can follow us at run after cast on all of them. we'll be Ryan and I will be nailing down a schedule. We'll be updating that in our bios for all of them to kinda get a couple days a week where we can for sure sit down and and stream and then we'll have a couple bonus days here and there throughout the week. But we'll hopefully nail nail down about three or four days a week that we can have consistent times for you guys to check us out on all those platforms. But we play college football, Rocket League Play a little Sea of Thieves. We'll play all kinds of different stuff. Call of Duty when it comes out, GTA when it comes out, all kinds of different stuff. So make sure you check that out if you're interested. If you want us to play certain games, also let us know. We're there for the entertainment and the camaraderie and friendship more so than the gaming experience. So let us know what you want and be sure to follow us there. And we do have a giveaway that we have the winner for. And we will announce that also on next podcast. Aaron: So keep an eye out. We are going to be continuing to do giveaways. this one was for a branded hat. I don't think we mentioned it on the show at any point that we were doing a giveaway. We might have, you guys might have. I forget I was not here for a bit. Chandler: We did, we did, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Aaron: I was in Indianapolis doing some work for my other show of Mexican Men, the Battletech Book Club. it was a great show, had a great time, met a bunch of great people. So shout outs to everybody I spent time with there. it was incredible, exhausting, but a lot of fun. I did catch y'all's first stream. It looked great. you guys were able to get it, have it running smoothly. So if you're looking to kill some time, go follow him, go support it. I'll probably be on it when I have time in the future to play games. I can't wait to play some fun, goofy stuff with y'all. but Once again, thank you all for supporting the show, and we'll see you next week. Ryan: Bye.