Latest / Run After Cast: The College Football Podcast / Big 10 Media Day | Curt Cignetti Says Big 10 Is The Best Conference?
Transcript
- Ryan: welcome to Run After Cast, the college football podcast. Aaron is not here to do the intro this week, so there's no howdy howdies. He conveniently disappeared on Big Ten Day. We're one week closer, we're approaching college football month, but we're talking about Big Ten Media Day today. Chandler: We are. So we're gonna start off, we're gonna break down Tony Petiti's kind of talk, some of his highlights, the Big Ten commissioner, then we'll go into some of the top teams in the Big Ten. We'll talk about a sneaky team that we think is gonna emerge potentially in the Big Ten. But of course, since we're a little light staffed today, since again, you know, Aaron wants to ditch us, he's out supporting his other show. But, you know, we'll cut him some slack. So we're gonna skip the reaction news desk and we're gonna just gonna hop straight into it. So First and foremost, Big Ten Media Day was this past week. on Tuesday, Tony Petiti came out and opened it up and kicked things off. One of the big highlight talking points that I saw was the importance of the conference rivalry between the SEC and the Big Ten. And He really honed in with the working relationship of Greg Sankey, the SEC commissioner. and just said that they work really well together and they both go back and forth and they really enjoy how much our conference is bicker and all the the hype around Big Ten and SEC playing each other and just the conversation of who's the best conference. And as a Big Ten guy, you know, I'm I'm here to admit I clearly will admit that it's the SEC at the top to bottom. They will always have us beat. Well, NIO could change things, but for now they have us beat. but he really highlighted that point, so thought that was really cool. Ryan: I think it's good. I I I've talked about it before, but I think it'd be really good to have scheduled out of conference games, you know? Especially the SC Big Ten since we're all so competitive with each other. I think it'd be fun to have scheduled games. You already do it with Texas and stuff, but I'm not a big fan of the like the nine, eight SEC and Big Ten games. We're all so good, you know? Let's cut that down. Maybe two games. Two games Big Ten SEC. Chandler: And that kind of feeds into what he said later. They hinted at the the bill that's being passed in the Senate, or trying to be passed in the Senate, that's gonna be passed back to the commissioners, with the Protect College Sports Act, and in there, I believe the 2014 playoff is inevitable to happen and be a part of that. so with that, I do believe that if there are nine conference games still, there will be more teams in from our two conferences because of that. Conference championship games will go away. Which I'm not a huge fan of. Because I'm a very traditional, I love the conference championship games. But I mean, like we've talked about Ryan and with Aaron in the show, I do think the value of them has gone down since the t playoffs have expanded. But the meaning of them, I feel like, has still kind of stayed intact. And I fear that with twenty fourteen playoff and when they do get rid of these that it's just gonna be that was a good, you know, memory thing of the past, not coming back. But it it's gonna be sad to not have that that conference bragging rights of championships. Ryan: Yeah, I like the tradition of it. Even before kind of like around the four team playoff era, like twenty fourteen, it started to lose value around there. Cause it was always like so great that you had to win every single game, be undefeated pretty much, to be the two best teams in the country 'cause of B BCS system. That now, you know, it kind of made it where if you didn't win that, you had someone else to play for you the SEC championship, you had bowl games. And then all of that just kind of doesn't matter anymore. You're just trying to make the playoffs. Those are the bowl games now. And a lot of people you're not in an advantage to play in the SEC championship and the Big Ten championship. I know that y'all didn't go twenty twenty four, and then you had the best playoff run ever. But example, twenty seventeen, Auburn plays in the SC championship, loses, gets out of the playoffs. We would have gone to the playoffs. Alabama last year, same scenario. They almost didn't go to the playoffs because they lost twenty seven against Georgia and that was a big thing. It just wouldn't be a thing though if you didn't play. So if you're trying to make the playoffs, trying to win a national championship nowadays. not in your best interest to play that game. But I love the tradition of it. I loved when it was the old East West system. You're playing to knock someone out of the West and go to the championship. Like it was just a huge deal. People took it so seriously back then. I liked that. Chandler: Exactly. And I mean, like you said, the traditional aspect of it, it's always held a super high stake in all the conferences. They had the bragging rights at the end of the season, but now I mean really the only importance to it is seeding in the playoffs. But like we've seen like in twenty twenty four with Oregon when they won out and they were the first seed, they had a road where they had to play Ohio State second round in the Rose Bowl. And I mean, that's if you're the first seed team coming out of the playoffs, regardless of if you should have been there or not, you're not gonna want to play one of the hardest stretches in that bracket be as your reward for winning your conference and being the number one seed in the playoffs. So I do think even like the seeding aspect of it can can play a role. But the argument is still it's just an extra game you can get hurt. It doesn't really have any value of postseason. If you're already there and competing for it, you're gonna be in the playoffs regardless. So it's gonna be sad to see it go if we do to go to the twelve twenty fourteen playoff, but I think it's inevitable that we get there. Ryan: Yeah, fans sake, keep it. Everyone else that actually plays or coaches, probably don't want it. Chandler: So So let's open up with Indiana. Indiana, Kurt Cinetti, he's taken the media by storm the past couple years. He always has those little one-liners in there, the Google Me's, the all the different things, the eyebrow raises. He's very well known in the media, and people that don't even watch college football probably and just are NFL guys or just even outside sports loving people that just aren't super into college football probably know who he is. Well, he had another one-line quote that took the media by surprise, or maybe not surprised, because they expected him to say something. But he said the Big Ten is the best league in college football. He said we don't run a hype machine. Up here in the Midwest, we believe everything is earned, not given. And when we fall short, we say we fell short. We don't cry a river and whine and complain. And that's why we're the best. And I I see where he's coming from with the recency bias of the national champions of the past three years, really two years, because Michigan, you know, asterisk in the season. They cheated, so shouldn't have even counted. Ryan: Teaters. Yep. Chandler: but Maybe on top end just because the trophies live in the Big Ten the past three years. But even as a Big Ten guy, Ryan and I had this conversation today at the gym, I can't see how we can have the argument that top to bottom the SEC is not the better conference than the Big Ten. I just i it it doesn't make sense. The argument's not there. There was so many worse records in just talent wise on the rosters top to bottom is always gonna be more in the SEC until proven otherwise with the NIL as it continues to climb and spread people out like we were talking about with Nebraska, Trey Taylor, they got the number one quarterback in the in the country, committed to Nebraska for 2027 season. And ten years ago, maybe that doesn't happen because there's not a lot of money floating around the sport. So until things continue to change like that. I can't see the argument that the SEC is not clearly the best conference in college football top to bottom. Ryan: Yeah, I try to be neutral. Of course my team is an SC. We haven't been super good recently. But it's like you go a few years back, Georgia just wins a few years in a row. You're not just like, S C's the best conference ever 'cause Georgia won. I think peak to peak, you know, we're all like the same. Yeah, top to bottom, my opinion, we're better. But it doesn't matter. It's a stupid argument at the end of the day. Doesn't really matter. Chandler: It is. And I mean, like we said, who cares what whose bottom of the conference is better? I mean, the bottom of the conference isn't winning championships. So it's Ryan: Mm-hmm. Chandler: really just your top four teams that come out in that season. Those are the guys that are battling and having that rivalry and competing to get to that playoff spot and get to that national championship. I understand both arguments. If you're talking about just top end, sure we can make the argument, especially recency. But top to bottom, I can't see the SEC not taking the cake. And then he he Ryan: Yeah. Chandler: doubled down and said Missouri and Tennessee didn't beat a team with a winning record. And South Carolina, look at the numbers. Big Ten, SEC, it's clearly two to one in every stat that matters, Big Ten to SEC. So I mean, again, you can call it nitpicked. I can see where he's coming from, but then you have the same argument that we just had, the top to bottom was the Missouri's and the Tennessee playing harder people than the Purdue's and playing the bottom of the of the Big Ten? Probably. So it's just funny how much turmoil he stirs up every time he's on the media. Ryan: Yeah, I like him. I like how stern he is kinda. It's pretty funny. But like, I don't know. I think this was the whole shot at Texas. Literally only said all this to talking about Texas. Chandler: It is funny though, he is it he is a coach that I I don't want him to place Ryan Day, so I'm not saying that. But he's a coach that I would love to coach at my football program if we were looking for a football coach. If I mean he says stuff like, Yeah, I'm excited for college camps to start back up because my wife's been bossing me around the house and I'm I'm ready to get out of the house and start bossing people around on the football field. So I mean, he's he's just he seems like a just a genuine dude that just wants to go out there and just win football games and not and mean sure he has a a no filter mouth out there in the media, but at the end of the day it just comes down to he wants to win, he's not a BS guy, he's gonna do what he can to win every game he can. And I respect that. Like Ryan: Yeah, and he just loves football. He just loves football. Wants to be out there coaching. Like that. But you know, like a Chandler: Exactly. I mean I Ryan: couple of years ago, we were making fun of him, like, this arrogant guy, Google me or whatever, putting up at the highest state stadium. Turns out he's good, you know. Good to see people doing doing good things. Yeah. Chandler: Yeah, I mean two years later he has a national championship with a sixteen and no Indiana team. And Ryan and I talked about this today at the gym. I think There could definitely be some kind of story or book or documentary or something on it bringing an Indiana the most losing program in P four college football to two years later on the roster, they have a national championship. It's one of the crazier stories I've seen in my lifetime. Not very old. So, you know, there could be other ones. So Ryan: Yeah, and I will say, we're talking about Big Ten today. Two good things. Two in a row. Twenty twenty four, best playoff run of all time, Big Ten team at high state. Last year, biggest flip of all time. Indiana. National Championship. Chandler: True. Ryan: Pretty crazy. Both in Big Ten. Chandler: Yeah. it's gonna be interesting to see how he does this year. He he has the same recipe. He has his transfer guy coming in from TCU. Take over Fernando's spot. He did it with a a cow quarterback coming to Indiana. I know it's not the same, but he clearly has proven that he has an eye for talent. And until he stumbles and takes a huge turn, I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he's gonna be Just fine moving forward. I don't think they'll resort back to the old Indiana. Ryan: think they'll reserve it. I can't see them ever losing less than eight games with Kurt. Maybe nine. Less than nine. Never. But Fernando was special. We even saw him at Cal. Like who in the world is this kid? You know, the next year he's playing Indiana and didn't realize it's the same guy, you know? Chandler: But speaking of coaching quotes that came out of this media day. As fans of two teams that have the two greatest rivalries in college football, I listened to the Michigan press conference during Media Day when Kyle Whittingham came out there. And he said, and this is a direct quote talking about the rivalry game with OSU in Michigan. Hate's a strong word. But I wanna win that game as badly as anybody in Ann Arbor. I just think the rivalry can be intense and emotional without the hatred factor. I don't think there's a place for that. And me growing up, just like when Kyle from E2C was in the show. I Michigan we're supposed to say the team up north. Like that whole maze in blue school is just a negative connotation. That's a bad word in the house. Like, you don't say that. And he said the same thing about Auburn. He was like Roll type, don't say that. Like Alabama, hate the program. So I I for him to come out first year and say that about the rivalry game if that was Ryan Day that said that first year, I would be like, That's not my coach. That's not the guy I want up there. I understand he says he wants to win it, but that's not what you say, talking about one of the greatest rivalries in the college football hour, in my opinion. The best one, but definitely a top two. Ryan: Yeah, I know a lot of my opinions come off strong worded, but that is a loser mentality. Like, the whole thing is like I hate the other team. We strike for justice. You know, me and Jay would love justice here. Alabama, we don't like Alabama 'cause they're a bunch of cheaters and they try to steal our land and choke out our programs. It's cool. Without with Ohio State Mish team up north, my goodness, I almost said it. I don't even say it 'cause they suck so bad. They cheat, they have things off the field They're a terrible program. Everyone in that program's terrible and they lie and cheat and s We don't want to be a part of that. And this guy is trying to like make up for it somehow by saying we don't want hatred. It's like you're just gonna wanna hate him more. He's trying to like project it somehow. Chandler: I mean, it's at Ohio State this year. I if they win when they win, that's gotta be put on the jumbotron. That quote, the whole thing, gotta be put up there. And we talked to Ryan, I talked to Ryan's dad about it. Like a can you imagine like if Alex Golish came in and was asked about the rivalry, and that's one of the first things he said about Al Auburn, Alabama. Like, yeah, I mean I wanna win just as bad as everybody else, but like hate, like I'm not gonna say I hate Alabama. Like that's a strong word, like I wanna beat them, but Let's just keep it intense and, you know, leave the emotion, the hatred, like let's leave that aside. I'm not the guy you want. T V off. Get him outta here. Next. Ryan: When I hear I've I've been worried about since the transfer thing, 'cause I've always thought, you know, these guys come into these schools, they're kind of raised up there for a few years. They kind of get brainwashed into this culture. They're fully in. I've thought, you Chandler: Course. Ryan: know, does Byron Brown really know how much this Alabama game matters? You know, does Alex Gulwish really matter? I feel like it takes a couple years. So when your coach is saying coming in doing this stuff, and Ohio State is in their Every single day thinking about that game. Every day you're thinking about the game. You have the clock up ready for the day. Y'all are ready for that game. And he doesn't want it bad as you. You can't win that game. It's just gonna become a normal game at the end of the day. Normal conference game for them. And you're here to come out with b with vengeance. Chandler: And some gold pants. But I mean Ryan: And some gold pants. Chandler: you say that as your opening statement when asked about the rivalry, and it's at Ohio State this year. So that's two things already immediately. You're behind the A ball this year. I it's just to me it'd be hard to buy in. I don't know. Maybe I'm just over exaggerating, but growing up and I know Ryan you feel the same way, it's always been like you have a hatred for that school. Like i i the your rival school is that's more than any other rivalry in the country. That's like it's more than football. It goes beyond it. hate is a perfect word for it. Ryan: Yeah, but he's downplaying one of the best drivers ever. You know, why like isn't that just gonna make you hate him more? Chandler: Exactly. I don't know. I mean, there was land wars over Alabama Auburn. There was an actual war from Ohio State and Michigan. Like it all kinds of stuff. So I mean it it I could understand if it was just a in state football rivalry that just it just started on the football field because they just were fighting back and forth, just trading games every year. But both of our programs, it's off football that this was created. And it just got brought into foot the football program. So it just it means more. That's July SEC's quote. It means more than than just playing between the white lines on Saturdays. I'm gonna be curious to see how that plays out. I've seen it all over social media with with him being clipped and putting in last year's game highlight. So it'll be interesting to see what they think. But I haven't seen a single Michigan fan say that they appreciated that statement. I've seen in all the comment sections like, Hey, this is something that Ohio State and Michigan can agree on. Like this is not good. This is not the take. Like This is not what I want my coach to say, so if we Ryan: It's like the Notre Dame lowering their hands 'cause it was like too aggressive. Like it's kinda just stupid. The tame Irish. Chandler: Yeah, like on the on the logo you're talking about. Yeah. Ryan: Yeah. Chandler: Speaking of which, we can go on a small tangent real quick. What is your opinion, since we talked about Notre Dame, on the Jersey patches? Because I know Ohio State, well, first of all, we talked about it a little last week with the w with the monster deal with the Big Twelve. That's conference wide. They signed a twenty million dollar deal for the whole conference with Monster over this course of a couple years. Shortly after that, Ohio State signed with Ohio State Athletics for all thirty six teams a chase sponsorship. So they got a seventeen million dollar multi year deal where they get seventeen million a year for all of their athletics to be used on NIL, facility upgrades, co or whatever they want it to be used for. And then shortly after that, I saw a quote from a Notre Dame reporter that said, with a quote of Ohio State's case deal, this is exactly why we're independent. We're not buying into all these brand deals and all that kind of stuff. Like we're our own name brand. We generate our own money. Like we like we don't need all this extra outside help. Like we're keeping our main thing, the main thing, the tradition of Notre Dame's jerseys, like we don't want that stuff taking over our jerseys. Literally six hours later. They released a statement that says SoFi has signed an eighteen million dollar multi year deal with Notre Dame for their athletic program. So with that going around with that kind of money from these huge Fortune five hundred companies sponsoring these schools, what do you think this is gonna do to NIL? Do you like the patches coming on the jerseys? Do you think it's turn into NASCAR or they have a ton of them on the jerseys? Like w where do where do you see this going? Ryan: I think the NASCAR be hilarious, but it's funny how they switch up so much. They say money talks, you know. but I think it's good for certain schools. Like it's not gonna be as good. I think this is one of those things it kind of brings appeal back, you know. If these big companies really like a certain school, they're going to go to that school that actually gets the revenue, does good rather than just being some school random ACC school that gets money now. Like FSU or something, you're not gonna sponsor FSU. I'm a little worried stuff like like Auburn, we have the big Yellowwood guy. It's like I don't want the Yellowwood guy to sponsor our jersey. We already get money from him. I think it's a good way to venture out and get more money for more NIL opportunities, but we're already getting like so much money in this, it's kinda scary to see like how much more this could scale. Chandler: Yeah, I mean now you look at just Ohio State's instance, they have seventeen million dollars to spread across all of their athletics every single year outside of all the other revenue they generate from all their sports. So that can just be hand selected to go straight to NIL to any team they want or any facility upgrades they want. if we think NIL's bad, once these big programs start taking over all these big big name deals and get these patches across all the different PowerPoint conferences. I mean, there's going to be an unbelievable amount of influx of g of capital coming in to college sports across the board. But I will say I think it is good because now we're going to get money, even though it may be a fraction of what the total is, into these sports like we talked about a couple shows ago that don't generate a lot of money and are maybe in the negative during the season. Like this could help, maybe not a lot, but it could help pay some more players to get on there and give those people that want to play other sports a chance to still play that. So we could see a a positive change in that avenue as well. Ryan: See, 'cause majority of this still is gonna go the football program. But eventually, Chandler: Of course, of course. Ryan: if it's like a percentage wide, like this where it gets three percent. If you have so much money that three percent's like a ton of money, then you have enough to for that program. So it could be something Chandler: Of course, yeah. Ryan: like that. That'd be good. Yeah, yeah. Chandler: Because you you also see like nobody on the lacrosse team at Ohio State is making a three million dollar NIL deal. Like that's just it this the money scales program to program and and sport to sport. so I do think a fraction percentage of that money could be used, like a three percent, like you said, could be used towards other sports, and that could suffice because those NIL deals aren't super crazy. Like it could be just a scholarship and like fifty thousand dollars or something crazy. I don't know exact numbers, but it could be a a lot less in r in perspective to college football. Okay, we're gonna bounce over to Oregon. So Dan Lanning, just like Steve Sarkeesian in the SEC, he's one of those guys that have th I've thought similarly to Dan Lanning that he gets the talent, he gets the recruiting, he has the facilities, he has the money, he has the talent around him to be able to make these runs in the postseason. But the pieces don't quite fit together, don't quite gel together, and they just come up a little short. Whenever those big games come, they're they're competitive in them at times. Sometimes they get blown out. But they just fall short every time. So he's one of those guys that that was a heavy emphasis on when they when the media was asking. And the number one point that him and Dante Moore brought up during media was them wanting to chase history. Oregon's never won a national championship in college football and that's what they're coming back to try to do. Will they do it? I Ryan: They've never won. Chandler: No. Never won a national championship in college football. So Ryan: You know, both Chandler: Chasing Ryan: of our teams have have have been a part of that, stopping them. Chandler: Exactly. And then Bonex went and went and traded over there and got over there and and joined the dark side. Ryan: Still didn't weigh nothing. He beat them too. He beat them with Justin Herbert on their team. Maybe Chandler: So Ryan: came Justin Herbert. Chandler: W will they have a talented roster on paper? Yes. They have a lot of seniors around them. They have a lot of talent. They had a great recruiting class. They had a great transfer portal hall. They got Coy Perritch. I mean he's a lockdown defensive back. They have a lot of pieces they picked apart and got. The caveat is they had two coordinators from last year that are now gone and took other power four head coaching jobs. One went to Kentucky and I don't remember the other one went and they both got promoted within. So now both OC and DC are promoted within coordinators inside of Oregon's program. What's your opinion on that? Ryan: know, I always think it's risky to promote within. I feel like most of the most of the really good coordinators are hired, in my opinion. It almost seems like these guys left to get a big coaching job, but they didn't really get it done, so they kind of had to bring someone up, which is is not that good. I don't know how Oregon manages to always have such a great roster and lose so many games. They they're not competitive in big games. Chandler: No. And another big emphasis on the media interview questions and what they asked the players and the coaches was the repeat opponent problem that they've had. In twenty twenty two w they played Washington twice in the Pac twelve championship and in the regular season. I don't know if they won or lost, but They didn't win both games. Same thing in twenty twenty four. Ohio State played them in the regular season. They a thirty-one thirty win. They play again in the Rose Bowl and Ohio State beats the doors off then you go last year, they play Indiana in the regular season, they lose thirty to twenty at home, they go play Indiana in the semifinals and get beat by like thirty. the repeat opponent issue, I think, is not just relative to them, but it's it's more so highlighted in them because it's happened to them so frequently in such big scenarios. But I think there is a very hard thing about playing a team twice in a year. Most of the time it's if w if you win the first time, you're not gonna win the second time. I think it usually is a coin flip back and forth, fifty-fifty split of winning to losing. But I don't have an answer of how you how you prepare for that. Because usually the first time you play somebody, you're given it your all right. It's pretty hard to rework your game plan and schemes to be able to go in and play them a completely different way and have the same outcome. Ryan: You just gotta be that much better. It is so hard. It happens at SEC a lot too. Most of it is just people playing Georgia and losing to Georgia again. Chandler: Yeah, like Alabama, Georgia's a perfect example. They play each other usually twice a year, at least recently, in the regular season and then SEC Championship. And usually postseason, we always are like, yeah, Georgia's probably got him postseason. Because usually Georgia falls in regular season. So it it's a it's an interesting topic, but I just think it's just it's hard to play the same team twice. Ryan: Yeah, and it's hard to give it o you're all the first time. But Oregon just can't get it done in the playoffs. All these times. I know they had Pinnock set one year, couldn't win. Y'all y'all had the best run of all time, played you. I know Indiana was the best. They just can't get it done. Ridiculous. I don't know. Chandler: What's funny is we talk about Alabama last year last week in the SEC media days. And one of the key things we talk about is their running their running game has to get better. Ryan Grubb has got to figure out how to run the ball somehow, some way. But it's interesting because Ryan: Mm-hmm. Chandler: in that Pac twelve season, what we just talked about with Oregon when they played Washington, guess who was on the team? Ryan Grubb. And he was coaching Ryan: Mm-hmm. Chandler: on the offense for Michael Penix So Ryan Grubb, he I feel like is the common denominator. We Ryan: Mm-hmm. Chandler: got in a tangent sidebar with with Alabama, but I think Their run game sucks. And Ryan: Yeah, terrible. Chandler: I don't know why I brought that up, but it's funny because you brought up Michael Penix and that's immediately what thought, but it Ryan: They still be organ. Chandler: Exactly. So that just even even proves your point further that they can't they can't win big games. Ryan: Yeah. Chandler: he's like he's turning into old boy that went to Virginia Tech. James Franklin. Yeah, James Franklin. He's gonna take the James Franklin. Ryan: Franklin? dude. That was so terrible. James Franklin should not have been in any of those playoffs. Those were the worst games ever. I don't know how he got there, first of all. It's like you beat Boise State, good job. That's the only is that the only playoff game he's ever won? Chandler: Mm-hmm. I think so. Ryan: Yeah, I I don't know. I don't know if it's 'cause they don't play enough people during the year, they're not ready. If it's a Dante Moore, if it's a scheming issue, they have like the best roster ever. The best facilities, the most money ever. How do you not win a playoff game? Chandler: Well they did last year. They beat JMU or Tulane or whoever they played at home. Ryan: Yeah, yeah, good job. Texas Tech actually. It was Texas Tech. Or JMU. Was it JMU? That was misplayed Tulane. Chandler: And before that they played Tulane at home. JMU or home. And then they beat Texas Tech. Yes. Then they played J U. They played J they played JMU and they played Texas Tech and then they lost to Indiana in the semifinals. Ryan: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Chandler: Like fifty two to twenty or something. Ryan: Mm-hmm. First play was a pick six. Dante More, good job. Just kidding, sorry. Chandler: But Exactly. And I just Ryan: Sorry, sorry, keep going. Chandler: it's it's insane that like you said, they have such a great roster every year on paper. The talent's there, facilities are there, they have Phil Knight backing their pockets, they have a million different jerseys they wear, the Nike deals, the I mean as a kid growing up like playing in CA, you you pick Oregon because they have so many different jerseys you can you you can change into and play as. So it it's it's insane. But who knows, maybe this will be a year they, you know, string together some wins or they'll keep losing big games. For our sake Ryan: might it'd be nice. I mean I love Kway Perit. They're getting good guys I like. I like Dan Lanning. He seems like he can get it done. I don't know what's happening. I think the coordinator issues are really big deal. yeah. Chandler: I yeah, you look at Ohio State last year. Bry they they did the same thing. They put Brian Hartland in as the OC. He's been the wide receiver coach for years. And granted, he was one of the best, if not the best, wide receiver recruiter ever, with the with that run he had. But there's a difference from being an assistant O C or some kind of position coach than going to do that O C or D C job full time. You have a lot more Stakes and if you're doing it for the first year, you could be overwhelmed. And Dan Lanning did say he's he's a part of those rooms a lot. So he probably will have his hand in there, but he's a defensive guy. So how well is that offense gonna perform with the first year OC that was promoted within? He was a part of it and he's been a part of the offense before, but he's never had the reins. we'll see how it worked out. It didn't work out well for Ohio State when they when they had to put the pedal down and and and grind out those fourth quarter games. But maybe it'll be different from Oregon because at the end day, we like competitive football and we like as many teams to be good as possible to have good games week in and week out as fans sitting on the couch with no stake in it. Ryan: Yes. But Oregon is already in the playoffs right now because their schedule sucks so bad. That's good for them. Chandler: True. This is very true. Ryan: Good job. He made the playoffs again. Great job, guys. He Chandler: Jay Lanning's he's on a tear. He's on a tear. Ryan: is. He's making it like every year now. Good. Chandler: He decided to join the Big Ten. Ryan: It makes it easy to compete makes it easy to compete for a championship though for the playoffs every year. String a couple together. Chandler: True. You said it one out of twelve chance. So on the same train of expectations, USC, same West Coast problems, they have high expectations year in and year out. They've had success in the past, but now with Lincoln Riley, they gotta get it done. They've had the number one recruiting class, they have a heavily experienced roster coming back, they have a whole new defensive staff, they returned fifteen starters, including their quarterback, and both primary running backs. I mean they have all of the tools necessary. to get it done and be a playoff team. Will it happen? Again, same thing like Oregon. Who knows? But I do think that Lincoln Raleigh, if he continues to have eight, nine win seasons and not playoff postseason runs, that seat could get pretty hot. Ryan: Yeah. Dan Linning seems like he's supposed to be really good. But I think it all comes down to this year. Like everything's peaked up to this year. Like you're saying. Top recruiting class. All these returners. This is the year. It's kinda like do or die. Chandler: Exactly. And especially with the way NIL's moving, you have so much money going into these recruiting classes, these transfer portal halls, player retention, your coaching staffs, your facilities, all kinds of stuff. the money just gets bigger and bigger and bigger every single year of what things cost and what the market value for things are. So year in and year out, if they have a number one recruiting class this year, this is the highest market evaluation any player four rosters ever been. So you have to imagine that that roster and that recruiting class they got number one is expensive. So how Ryan: Mm-hmm. Chandler: long is this leash for these boosters and these NIL backing people to keep funneling this kind of money to keep getting these recruiting classes if they keep falling short? So yeah, I mean I think it's b it's building up its climaxing to this point. And if Jaden Mavia and Co can't get it done, I don't know. It it it could be an interesting offseason. We could have a Coaching carousel, just like last year. Ryan: But it's also that's another school. You have all the money, all the boosters. The coolest stadium ever. All the appeal, you're in you're in California. Like it's insane. Chandler: Yeah. Ryan: How are you not winning games? Also though, you're in the Big Ten now. Kinda know your role. Yeah. Chandler: I mean, at some point, like you said, the appeal, I mean, who's not gonna want to go to South Southern California to play football? As a kid, like even if especially if you were like the East Coast or the Midwest or up in the north, like that would be a dream to go to USC, play in the Rose Bowl Stadium. I mean I mean you have all the outside appeal that you could need to be able to build a roster and play some football. Just go Ryan: Like, have seen their media control? Like the videos they have for them and stuff? Insane. Chandler: It's insane. Ryan: But like you're not in the Pac twelve anymore. Gotta play a little harder competition. I think everyone thinks they can win every year now, though. They are winning they won nine games last year. That's like that's good for them. Know Chandler: Yes. Yes. Ryan: your role. Chandler: But they gotta get to that ten. They gotta get double digits. They gotta get postseason. Ryan: But see, how are y'all all gonna win ten games? How are you and Oregon and USC, how are you all gonna win ten games? And team up north, they're not, because they suck. Chandler: Yeah. Ryan: They shouldn't. Ever. They should just quit their football program because they're cheaters. Chandler: Yeah, I don't know. I I Ryan: Sorry, that's the last mean comment for the day. Chandler: We can bring it up again and we can get some more meat comments out of you if need to. But you said, and like we said when we we said it a ton, this has gotta be the year. It's come to this one. I don't know how it's again, not to beat a dead horse, but with how much money is around the program, the expectations are so high and not everybody can be a championship roster, like you said. But The leash is short for these coaches now. I mean, you gotta have consistent postseason progress and outcomes to be able to keep this money and keep the stuff coming in, or you're gonna get traded out because there's too much money floating around to for people to pay tens of millions of dollars for a six and six roster. Just you just can't do it. Nobody wants Ryan: Yeah. Chandler: to have a twenty million dollar pop tart bowl game. Ryan: Yeah, but I believe in him as a coach. this is the year. Everything has led up to this moment. This is the best he's gonna do. Let's see how he does. We'll see soon, as you say. Chandler: It is. Just like, you know, everybody always says, great thing about college football and sports in general, is you will find out, folks. You will indeed find out. And I mean we're in once you see this episode, we're in college football month. It'll be like what August second, third when this comes out. We're about two weeks away from NFL preseason. Media Day has just ended. We got August twenty eighth or twenty ninth, first game of college football. I mean, come on. We're back. We're here. And these episodes are gonna get a whole lot better. Ryan: Jeremiah Smith, week one. Chandler: yeah. But it's funny Ryan: That's the week one. Chandler: It's funny like like you said with the with the schedules and with the Big Ten having so many teams, them having eighteen teams now. Jeremiah Smith even said in multiple interviews during Media Days. He said, We haven't really played a lot of top competition week in and week out these past couple years. We were supposed to on paper. Like with the Texases and the Penn States and all these people that were supposed to be really good preseason. But not having the week in week out with a few games sprinkled in throughout there with the out of conference games as your buffers, did you get really battle tested for the postseason? If you're gonna make a twelve team playoff run and then eventually a twenty fourteen playoff run, you're gonna have to be battle tested. You can't have your wake up call be first round of the playoffs when you're going away to somebody's home stadium and probably playing a night game. So I did think it was cool to see him own up to that. And I do and I think we all see that as fans. I mean, we we want to see them have a have a hard schedule to be able to get through and have that the bragging rights of hey, we got through the gauntlets, we got through it, we're we're postseason ready. There's nothing to hang our hat on that says we had a cupcake schedule and all this outside noise for the committee to think about. Like we we did what we did, we proved what we proved, and we're ready to rock and roll. So I do think there is a a fine line of What the SEC's doing with the nine conference games and if that gears us up into the twenty fourteen playoff, I that's only gonna bode better for them for arguments because they're gonna be battle tested. And I think if you add nine to the all the other conferences, you should. I mean, as as as the NIL keeps spreading around, the talent's gonna keep spreading around, these games are gonna get more competitive. I think there is something to the fandom that nine games is gonna be better and we are gonna see increased competition if we expand to the twenty fourteen playoff. To give the more slack in there of like, hey, not everybody's gonna be ten and two, so where's where's the give gonna come from? So it'll be interesting to see how it plays out. Ryan: Yeah, I was gonna say if it's twel I'm sorry. Yeah, I was gonna say if it's twelve teams, like Chandler: Nine sucks. Ryan: you're making less people in the playoffs. But yeah, they will be more ready. So twenty four team, nine's good, you know. Get ready. We'll have a lot of people in there still. It'll be fine. But I Chandler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Ryan: think there's some Jeremiah is on to something. Last year they were really trying to limit your plays, you know? what'd y'all run eight games worth of plays in twelve games kind of thing? About Chandler: Yeah. Yeah, but I think it was like like like ten or ele yeah, like ten games maybe. They they played like a game and a half less on paper. Ryan: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah, and like Brian Hartline really hold him down. So when it's time to turn on, couldn't it turn it on. I think Art just needs to have his have his way, you know, let him play the game. Give Jeremy like eight hundred yards a game. Give him the Heisman, give him the Blitnikov. He should have his third one this Chandler: It is funny though, Ryan: year. Chandler: as we transition into Ohio State, which we're saving f saving for second to last, because that's what we want to talk about, you know, as as as Ryan and I come in here as as Big Ten fans and as an Ohio State fan. But it's interesting that he did bring up when Arthur Smith came in, the narrative around him was, all he does is run the ball. He runs a lot of heavy, heavy set personnels with Tight ends and two tight ends and a lot of running plays and he they don't ever take deep shots and have an air raid offense. One of the first things Arthur Smith said to Jeremiah Smith when he came in the door was when I had Derrick Henry, I got him the ball. You know why? 'Cause he's the best player on the team. He said, I'm gonna get you the ball. And Jeremiah Smith said, I don't know why all these people have this narrative. of that we're not gonna get the ball as receivers and we're just gonna run the ball the whole time. He said he th he knows what to do to win the games and we're gonna get plenty of touches. He's gonna feed all of us, like we're gonna be good to go. So the narrative around him only running the ball is insane to me and running heavy personnels. So we'll see it. I'm excited. Jeremiah Smith's very close to breaking the receiving receptions and touchdown records at Ohio State all time. So he could be a three time record holder, a Blitnikop winner, and another national championship potentially. That could be a pretty Pretty crazy stat line coming from a receiver. Ryan: See, he's not out here bragging about that like Bryce Shunderwood is. And he's actually gonna do it. So that's fun. But I'd give it Chandler: Bryce did say he was the best player that's gonna ever come out of Michigan. Ryan: Maybe that would fit them good, you know, if he's the best player they got. Good job, guys. yeah, but Arthur, smart guy. I like if I had the best one of the best running backs ever, I'd give him the ball like every single play. Their high school coach said they get like a thousand carries in high school or something. Mm Chandler: Yeah, he had like forty five hundred yards or something in high school. Ryan: hmm. Yeah, I just give it to him every play. I would do it too. I would probably throw the Jeremiah as much as I could without hurting him. Chandler: Plus touches a game, easy. Ryan: yeah. Chandler: And then a big another big sticking point over the offseason, I think, around Ohio State was Julian Sand running the ball more and extending plays of the legs, getting the cheap third first downs, extending drives if it's third and ten, not taking a sack, getting a couple yards, making it third manageable, all those kind different things. I think Julian Saiyan Ryan Day embraced that. When they came out to Media Days, the number one things Julian said was that he's excited to have more freedom at the line of scrimmage. He said as the season built, he got more and more freedom last year. But this year, he's really getting the full keys to the offense. He's getting the line of scrimmage freedom where he can go out of the huddle and have two or three plays lined up. They can hot route on the line with w based off what they see. Jeremiah Smith even talked about him them as a receiving core being able to hot route and play around with all that kind of stuff when they line up as well, based off what they see. So I think there's gonna be a lot more freedom in that offensive line room and the receiver group, all that of different stuff. But He also mentioned that running the ball and getting those cheap first downs, extending those plays and extending those drives, getting out of the pocket, has been a key emphasis and he did see that he struggled during that. He said he said he watched a lot of film back. He said he saw some plays where he could have gotten those extra yards instead of taking a sack or throwing it away. He let things go too early and he could have extended plays. So I appreciate that. I've always appreciated that as Ryan Day and from the players when they see things they did wrong like Ryan Day last year with his tempo. He goes Owns up to it, he adjusts, he changes it. Same thing here. I think it he's going to run the ball more, maybe not as mobile as like Will Howard was, where they had design run plays, but he's going to use his legs and make that a threat when he needs to. So I think that check the box for me. Ryan: Yeah, I love that about Ryan Day. A big thing in sports is how well you can adjust. He tries stuff, doesn't work, tries something else. I think Julian Singh can run. I've been seeing a lot of clips on him on Instagram with his workouts that he's doing a lot of getting outside the pocket, off platform throws. Looks really good. So I I'm gonna give you an analogy here. Your offense last year was like Michael Phelps in the Olympics, the fastest swimmer ever. Brian Hartline was on his back swimming. Holding him down. And now that Brian Hartley's gone, he can swim free. That's what you're gonna do this year. You let that offense loose. Arthur's gonna let it loose. They have so much freedom. He's gonna run around. What they level hard run all the time. I think Julian can run, but you know, even look at Texas, look at Grambling State. They're kind of holding him down. He was passive, made a couple late reads, stuff like that. Later in the season looked really good. He al he looked good the entire year. He had the physical qualities, but the stuff they would allow him to do was holding him down. But I think giving him freedom is very good. Chandler: And And on top of that, I think Arthur Smith being paired with Tyler Bowen in that offensive line room, he's been involved heavily in hovering around that offensive line group and working with the schemes and working with the blocking patterns and working with Julian and all the running backs and the receivers and making sure they know their expectations, they know their assignments, they know their different complexities and all the different schemes. And I think him being a former not only offensive line coach in the NFL for multiple years, but also an offensive lineman himself is gonna bode very well. He has as much experience and as much credentials as could possibly have coming in an offensive line room. to have another guy and another set of eyes, fantastic. Ryan: Yeah, and we love that. We were saying, you know, he was an NFL coach. He's gonna be able to scheme better. He was an offensive line coach. He was an offensive line. We were really hoping he would take it over. We're gonna have blocking problems. Brian Hartline doesn't know how to fix an O line, and that was obviously an issue. And he brought his offensive line coach with him. So me and you were hoping that all year. I'm glad to get some confirmation that he was really doing it. Because you never really know until they say it. But we were just really Chandler: Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. Ryan: hoping that. Chandler: And we know how media days shake out. The things they want to say, they'll say, the things they don't want to say they don't. So you can kinda read the tea leaves and see what they do mention, the players they mention and that kind of thing. And for him to say that speaks volumes. I do think that I'm I'm very excited. They have a they have the most experienced offensive line group in the country coming back as far as career starts. So that'll be huge. And then having an NFO guy come in, revamp the whole thing, work schematically, and just fix assignments, fix awareness, make them smarter, understand film. I mean it's gonna be phenomenal to watch, hopefully. If Arthur Smith is a quarter of the higher that Matt Patricia was, production wise, it's it's the problem's gonna be fixed. I mean I'm excited to watch this offensive line group. It's gonna be a great season. Now look now, listen to this. A little a little sneaky fact for you here. Jeremiah Smith is on the record saying that he thinks the depth in the wide receiver room is the most it's been since he's been at Ohio State. Ryan: Brock Boyd. Chandler: Brock Boyd. I mean Ryan: He said he said Brockway is out there making pla he was shocked. He's out there making plays, playing football. Jeremiah Smith said he reminds me of myself when I was a freshman. And Jeremiah Smith is probably the best freshman wide receiver ever. Chandler: Yes. So to say that about Brock Boyd, yeah. Ryan: He reminds us, if he's half as good as Jeremiah Smith, he's the second best freshman receiver ever. Chandler: I mean, you have Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Innis, you have Brock Boyd, Chris Henry, Jaqueton Guilford, you have Kyle Parker, you have Devin McEwen, you have Philip Bell, you have all these guys that the coaching staff is super high on. All four star plus guys. To have that kind of depth in that room with a guy like Jeremiah Smith leading the helm and and grooming all these guys underneath him, tell ya what. It's gonna be exciting to watch. And I think there's there's so so much talent in that room that people like Brock Boyd and Chris Henry and Jaqueton Guilford, like all these guys, I mean, I would love to see play and I hope they come out and play in in meaningful snaps at some point. But it's gonna be hard to defeat all of them. Ryan: If you're Arthur Smith right now, how could you not just like be so happy? You come from having the worst, probably the one of the worst offensive rosters like in the whole NFL. You're still pretty successful. And you go to Ohio State and you have the best quarterback, the best receiver in the country, the probably the best running back dude in the country, the most seasoned offensive line in the country. How could you not just Chandler: I mean Ryan: be like a kid in a candy shop? Chandler: I mean and to add on to that, it was the cheapest NFL offense in the league. It was like thirty-two of thirty-two. And they finished in like seventeenth in production or something. So yeah, seventeenth isn't great, but it's a lot better than thirty second. So he overachieved there with that little talent. Every single game he went into, he had a worse roster on paper financially. You know what you know what Yeah, you know what's not gonna happen at Ohio State? He's never gonna go into a a game where he's not gonna have at least the same amount of talent on the field, if not better in every single game. So, I mean I Ryan: Every single guy on the offense is better than the guy on the defense. He kinda has to put in an okay spot for them to succeed and they will do it. Be aggressive. Chandler: Exactly. Yeah. Ryan: Let loose. Just like Chip Kelly did in the playoff. He's like, I'm just gonna be aggressive, let him loose, and they made plays. Chandler: I mean you're segueing me perfectly. The next thing I was gonna talk about was the big emphasis they've had this whole entire Off season was fourth down or fourth quarter, red zone, and goal line. All of those different places they've had a high emphasis on this whole time. Winning games in the fourth quarter. They looked at their schedule. They know that they're gonna have a lot of games in the fourth quarter where they're gonna have to close out games and win them. They looked at last season. There was a lot of three and outs where they could have extended plays and gone into the red zone and and at least come away with points. A lot of goal line stands where they had third, fourth, and goal and they couldn't get it done. So all of those points, if they can just get a little better, it's gonna be a whole lot better from a viewership perspective and from an of offensive efficiency perspective. Because I mean, if you look at, like you said, Chip Kelly's year. I mean they were clicking in the o in the in the red zone. They were clicking in on third and in manageable situations. They weren't ever getting themselves in third longs. Their run game was efficient. Their yards after catch were efficient. Last year, with Brian Hartline, took a big step back. Their offensive schemes were a little vanilla. Their yards after catch, not good at all. I think they were one of the worst in the country. Yeah. Ryan: Zero. Yep. Chandler: I mean they were horrible. And that was a big thing. Cortez Hangton came in as a wide receiver's coach and was like, that was the big thing that jumped out on me on tape. You guys are talented, but you were getting no yak. So he said, You gotta come in there. Exactly. Ryan: Rack, run after catch. Chandler: He said, You gotta get in there and we gotta do better. And Jeremiah was like he was asked if that's a Julian problem. Like, is that like a he needs to put him on him better? Or is that like a the receivers need to start clicking more and like be able to after the catch make plays happen? He was like, no. I mean, as receivers, we're taught balls in our vicinity, we catch it, that's all that needs to happen from the quarterback. He's like, Yeah, the the position of where the ball comes in, but then it's in front of you, you have to break stride, whatever it's behind you, is one thing, sure. But he said, once the ball's in our hands, it's our job to extend plays. He said, We should never be tackled immediately. We should be able to get yards after catch at least fall forward. So that'll be interesting to k to to see how that where that stat line goes. It's a very nitpicky stat line of percentage of ranking in the college football system, but it'll be interesting to see where they rank last year compared to this year and in yards up to catch. Ryan: Y'all need to be nitpicky though. Because y'all are so good that every small percent matters. Like a huge deal. But got a big thing. Brian Hartley leaving. Getting a better offensive coordinator. Pretty good. When y'all had Chip Kelly, and y'all had Quinsha on Junkins and Trayvon Henderson, when you're in the red zone, pretty much auto touchdown in my head. I was like, you are scoring here. Seems good. Last year, got really nervous. TJ Donaldson was terrible. So you got rid of CJ Donaldson. Got rid of Brian Hartline. You got a new kicker. So if you're in the red zone, you're either scoring a touchdown, making the field goal, or you're just gonna run more plays in the game, score more touchdowns. So that part, all that seems fixed already. So that's really good. Chandler: Yeah, I mean shout out Connor Hawkins from Baylor. I he's the he's the guy, he's the kicker. I tell you what though, on that first kick that goes up in the air, the whole stadium's gonna be real quiet until it goes to the uprights. If it goes through the uprights, he's gonna have a statue built. If it doesn't, might as well start packing. Ryan: Mm-hmm. Chandler: But yeah, I mean it's it's one of those things where, like you said earlier, I really appreciate and I take it for granted sometimes the fact that Ryan Day sees problems and he tries things and then if they don't work, he fixes them. So he brought in two NFL former head coaches as coordinators, overqualified, as overqualified as overqualified gets to come in and take over. So he can really be hands off. He said he's gonna be the most hands off he's ever been in the offense. And to say that from an offensive minded guy and a quarterback in college. is insane. So I'm excited to see where the season goes. I know it's a very long winded media explanation, but a lot of great points and a lot of reassurances. Usually media days all kind of smoke and mirrors and they just say what you want to say and it gets you excited for college football and just every team says they're gonna win it all and all that kind of different stuff. But there were some key parts like we mentioned that I was really looking forward to hearing. Especially on the offensive line. And I can confidently say that I I heard what I needed to hear. I I'm excited to see it and We'll see it quick. Week two in in Austin. It's gonna the test is gonna come quickly. Ryan: Can Chandler: So Ryan: Devin Sanchez lock up Kim Coleman? I think so. Chandler: Seeing Cam Coleman and Jeremiah Smith on the same field is gonna be crazy. I've all I've always Ryan: Master class right there. Chandler: wanted to see it. Like I always was hoping that Auburn was gonna play Ohio State at some point to see the two best receivers in college football play. And now it's gonna happen. Unfortunately in the bad circumstances, but hopefully Camp Coleman has the worst game of the season, week two. Ryan: It will be crazy. But if I was an Ohio State fan right now, I don't know how you were worried about Julian Sain, how are you worried about Arthur Schmidt. Chandler: No. Ryan: You should be so happy. This is like the best, most tangible hope that you actually have stuff to hold on to that be hopeful for ever. I'd be happy right Chandler: Yeah, I mean Ryan: now. Chandler: all the problems around the offensive line last year should be fixed and have the best tools to be able to be fixed. They're returning everybody, they got bigger, stronger, faster, and they have an NFL OC that was an offensive line coach and an offensive lineman coming in to help fix it. So I mean what more can you ask for? The narrative around Julian Saiyan is a whole nother thing. I don't understand how Ryan: That's ridiculous. Chandler: how people think that he was just some overhyped quarterback. He's predicted to go in the second round in some mock drafts now in the NFL. Like I it doesn't make any sense to me. He was a a drive away and a made field goal away from winning a Heisman last year. So it's it's nuts. I mean he had the highest completion percentage in the regular season of all time. So I don't I don't know. It it's it's insane to hear all that. But I'm excited to see him i it's impossible barring crazy situations for him to take a step back. From last year's per performance as a year two Ryan: Yeah. Like Chandler: full time starter. Ryan: Y'all w y'all were the best team in the country last year and you fixed all of the problems that held you down. Like it's too good. You're set up for success. Chandler: excited football season like we said right on the corner. We're gonna find out very soon. And you're gonna hear a lot of emotional rides from this run after cast group because there's gonna be there's gonna be some emotion every week, especially when we're going over our games. Ryan: Corner from that corner from Ball State better get ready. You can have a bad day. Chandler: So Ryan, we're gonna put you on the spot here. What team do you think as a sleeper in the Big Ten could emerge that you heard good things for from Media Day? Ryan: Washington. Chandler: I like that. I like that a lot. Ryan: You know I like Washington. I love Damon Williams and I love six four corners. They got both. Chandler: They got both of And I mean, you mentioned Damon Williams. Fifty eight returning players. Hard to argue with that. They have a great Ryan: I mean Chandler: roster retention. they have great Rosh retention. Jetfish is always a built, not bought kind of perspective. Kind of like Dabo back in the day. Like he's a he's a very, you know, get these guys in, recruit them, build them, get them faster, bigger, stronger, and keep them in the program. So fifty returning players, twenty of twenty two starters are coming back, zero assistant coaches left. So they I mean that that program is just kind of like Kentucky last week that we talked about. That's a very sneaky program that is just kind of working behind the scenes and just being a dark horse mentality and getting back. Like they've they've been that middle tier of the Big Ten. They've kind of fallen short where expectations were when Damon Williams last season was or was that two seasons ago? Either last season or the year before, he was in the Heisman contention at some point during the season. So I mean they they have a lot of media around that team, but I think it's kind of fallen off, like you said. I I think They could be a sneaky good team. Ryan: Yeah, no one's talking about them. They they weren't kind of figuring out early. I mean, go back and watch that bowl game from last year. Damon Williams was on the sideline drawing plays. Like not only is he one of like he's just such an elusive guy. He can throw so well. He's just so smart. Dude, you can't beat that. As a quarterback, you have all the tools. And the rest of your team, stick to our corners, can't throw the ball, can't block You know? What what else do you need? You just need somebody to throw the ball to. For Damon Williams. And we're gonna be a great team. Chandler: Yeah, we talked about that with Kelly Jones at Mississippi State. I mean, l you can't teach length like that. Like if you're six four and you're coming across the field, even if you're a step or two behind, I mean, all of a sudden your wingspan makes up for it. Like it's that's kinda the the raw, like intangibles that you just can't create, kinda like we talked about with height with Will back when we had the Georgia Tech episode. I mean, those kind of things you just you can't just go to the weight room and fix. Like those are just what you have. So I mean, yeah, like you said, I mean that that opens up a lot of situations where you don't have to Bring down safeties to fill the box. If you have all these guys that are just that can cover so much ground that you you do have the ability to be able to, you know, commit heavier to the run or the RPO or whatever you're doing and and free up those defensive backs to be able to be trusted in that one on one coverage. Ryan: You have a bunch of small linebackers too in run run capabilities. Like you have a little six foot wide receiver trying to block a six foot four corner, not doing it. Literally can't do it. Hitting you out here. Got too much length, you know? It's too good. Chandler: Yeah. That's nuts. But no, I do agree with that. That's a that's a good pull. Ryan: And no one's talking about Washington. I can't wait for them to play Oregon. That would be the best that would make me so happy. If they beat Oregon. Chandler: Jedfish is a s is a sneaky good coach too. I really like him a lot. Ryan: Mm. And I like he like letting Damon Williams like do stuff that he saw on the field. Like he trusts him a lot. I'm so excited to see them this year. Like it's so fun. Chandler: Glad Devon Williams came back 'cause there was a lot of that speculation of him transferring to like LSU or Clemson or whatever wherever it was. And he was like at some some Ryan: Bumpson. Ew. Chandler: he he was trying to go somewhere and he signed some N N I L deal then had to backtrack and like cut out of it and come back to Washington. So I'm glad that all played out because I do like him at that program. Ryan: He was at LSU, I would be terrified if I was any other school that had to play L S U. Chandler: Yeah, he's a problem. He's gonna be a great NFL player. And he's gonna be, like you said, I think he they're overlooked now, and I think if he just has the same kind of season he did last year that was really good, that he just he did what he had to do, but just the scheming and the players around him just couldn't get it done, then I think he'll be a good pickup for somebody like in second, third round that just kinda just flies under the radar and they'll have a solid backup and f and foundational player on their roster for a quarterback. Ryan: No, I think he's good. He's better than that. Chandler: I agree. It kinda reminds me a little bit of like Ryan: better than that. I hope they beat Oregon. Chandler: Jade Daniels. Ryan: I know. I love it. Chandler: Yeah. Well do you have any other teams that you want to bring up? I think that I think touched on all the high ones that I that I that I saw meaningful information come out of. Ryan: No, I think that's it. You don't have another one? The other ones are there, they Chandler: I don't any more. I think that Ryan: showed up. Good job guys. Chandler: Yeah. Well, no, like like we said, and since Aaron usually does this part too, I appreciate you guys coming out again another week down. By the time you're watching this, August, football month. It's here. It's now. And if there's ever a better time to leave a nice rating, it's now. Because we're getting ready for football season. So leave us that five stars and tell us that you're excited about football season. But no, like we said Every episode. We appreciate all the short form content engagement. Just follow us on all the socials. And we do have a Branded Bill's hat giveaway that we are giving away a run after cast Branded Bill's hat. This is not it. we made all white Branded Bills hats with a black rope going across the top with this same rack logo. So if you go over to any of our socials on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram and you like, comment, and follow us, you will be entered in for the next two weeks for this giveaway. So we'll be posting short form content probably once a day. And if you see any of that, just engage. You'll see the giveaway banner on top. Engage with the content and you'll be entered. And then we'll be announcing a winner on this show coming up in about two weeks. And then by that time, it really is football season. So thank you guys as always. Share the show with your neighbors, your dogs, your cats, your post office people. When you drop off a package, pick their hand and tell them to listen to Rack. As always, we appreciate it. Have a great rest of your weekend and Ryan: Thank you and bye bye.