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Ep. 2 BIG 10 Preview · The Saturday Slate Football Show

• Canon Stogner: And welcome back to the second episode of our brand new podcast where we talk about all things related to college football. We did make a brand name change, so we are now the Saturday Slate Show. So please make sure you like and subscribe and leave a voicemail at our call-in number. You can also find us on YouTube for the video version, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts for just the audio version. We will be posting every Monday to give a recap from the previous weekend. And on Thursday to give a preview of the upcoming weekend sleep. Andrew, we have a big episode ahead of us today. How are you feeling? Andrew Wright: good. Man, glad we worked through some of these difficulties over the past few days and ready to get going again. Canon Stogner: Yeah, it's you sound a lot better to hear your mic. You really do. All right, well we are actually going to start by listening to a few voicemails that were sent our way and we will discuss those and then we would jump straight into our Big Ten discussion. I think you're gonna like a couple of these voicemails. Let's see. We'll listen to landing diesel. Enter anything? Andrew Wright: I guess just for the the question about when do you start looking at a playoff possibility if all things go right. I think you have to get to that two week stretch of Georgia Clemson with one loss. You can't like you can't go into that that stretch eight and two and lose one of those finish nine and three. We've s we've seen nine and three before. It ain't good enough. So you have to you gotta go into that bye week either five and one or six and and you've gotta get to Georgia and Clemson with one loss. That way you give yourself breather room if you do likely will drop one of those games. Probably to Georgia. So you you have to be able to have only two losses cornered in one week game and kinda winning that one and seeing what you can there. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I mean their f first stretch of the SEC schedule is very easy. I think their first three SEC games is Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi State. Not in that order, but those are their first three games. I think it will be a lot tougher this year for a lot of SEC teams to get in since they moved to nine. which I also think you have the four automatic bids. So you It's 12, you're down to eight right there. Then you have Notre Dame who's going to get in because of that stupid rule they created for them, where if they finish in the top 15 or top 12 or something, it's an automatic bid. Okay. And then you have the highest ranked group of six. So there's six spots right there, right off the bat. And so I don't think it's real expectations to think they're gonna win the SEC championship, which means they're gonna need help from the committee. So if you got all of those teams Andrew Wright: Well. Canon Stogner: that are stacked up at the top, not a lot of people are talking about South Carolina. rightfully so, 'cause of how things went last year. I do think things get tough. And as a South Carolina fan, Landon, you know, there's never you should never get too excited about South Carolina football, 'cause you know every week you could it could be an absolute blunder. They could put out an absolute doozy on the field. And then when they do that, I mean, there's nothing you can do. As a fan, Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: I mean, you just kinda accept it because you know it's gonna come at some point. I just think them staying healthy and you know, winning the games they should win. And I think in the games they lose, as long as they don't get blown out, I don't think it's gonna hurt as bad. But they obviously have to win. Because I think if they win their first three games, they're probably gonna be ranked. If they beat Kent State, Talison, and Mississippi State, they're gonna be three and There's gonna be some teams that were ranked ahead of them that are probably gonna have a loss or two. So they'll probably be up there. And so that leads into a top twenty five matchup against Bama. After that, they have Kentucky. So I think the Bama game is the biggest game of the year so far because Andrew Wright: Definitely. Canon Stogner: you start off in the SEC two and a. Yeah, not since I've been alive. Andrew Wright: If they have, it's been a long time. Canon Stogner: But I think this is their best chance to beat Alabama. I mean, last year it came down to Andrew Wright: Well it's Canon Stogner: the last play of the game. They had a play in the back of the Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: end zone and Lenores overthrew him. He was wide open. so and that was at Alabama. So I think if they can just get past those first couple games, you start building confidence. you have Tennessee at home. you'll have A and at home. You'll have Georgia at home. So you really only have room for a Oklahoma loss on the road. so yeah, I mean that's a great question, but I think we all know as Sarkana fans you never expect a playoff. You just kinda hope you wake up and they get in. Andrew Wright: Right. Never. Canon Stogner: thank you, Landon. Let's go on to thank you, Dontrell, is that what it was, Dontrell? Andrew Wright: yeah, Don Trailer, Don, Aisher. I got a suspicion about who that is actually. Canon Stogner: Yeah. Thank you, Dontrell. yeah, neither one of us had Arch Manning in our top five, which I think was probably a little crazy, but it's actually a very good conference. I mean I really had I had we made a top five list, but I had six on the list because I had two at five, Comario Taylor and Sam Levitt. I just don't think Arch can handle the pressure. Now, he does have Andrew Wright: No. Canon Stogner: a lot better offense this year. He's got Cam Coleman with him. He's got Ryan Wingo. lot of people are saying they have the Avengers on offense. And Steve Sarkeesian's obviously a very good offensive coach. I just it's gonna be interesting to see how much he grew from last year to this year because if you're just bake bake basing it off last year and what he did last year, I don't think he's top five at all. Andrew Wright: Right, yeah. No, I don't I would agree with that. I don't think we're disrespecting him in any kind of way, I just think we watched last year and we know what the schedule is this year. Like, if if if he's good, we're wrong, we'll say we're wrong. But Canon Stogner: Yeah. yeah, thank you, Dontrell. Let's go in. So this is actually my dad's voicemail. He left the voicemail. But it is two minutes long, so just hang in there. Andrew Wright: Yeah. no. Right. Yeah. Right. Canon Stogner: All right. so I do have a couple things to say. I'm not gonna get into the Big Ten being better than SEC right now because that is actually our next segment. however, you have a very good argument about that. you did bring up the South Carolina versus the Illinois game. I think for one, that was a great bowl game for Illinois to be in. I think they were proud of being there. For South Carolina, I don't think they wanted to be there at all. I mean they They thought they should have made the playoff, especially after beating Clemson and then seeing Clemson get into the playoff. So obviously that has an effect on it. don't forget, like right before the game started, or right like right after the first drive, Nicki Minwari, who was their leader on defense, the guy that set the tone and you know, had a big impact physically and just as a leader in the locker room, he left after like the first drive or whatever it was. So I think that had a lot to do with it. yeah, I mean other than that, I mean the SEC is or the Big Ten is ten seven in regular seasons since they merged in two thousand twenty four and they're four and one in postseason games against the SEC. so yeah, you absolutely have an agr argument about that. so what you got? Andrew Wright: I mean yeah, that like you said, that's a that game, a lot of different circumstances there, kinda like said, one team, nine and two teams both nine and three won one of their best seasons in a long time in Illinois, South Carolina thought they should have been in the playoffs. So kinda like you said, difference of attitudes there. And then it's so hard to judge bowl games head to head now. Just with all the opt outs and people not playing and just bowl games I think are a bad way to look at head to head for a SEC Big Ten. No, college ball playoff games, completely different story. Regular season games completely different. But yeah, just just the fact that I I don't like comparing bowl games there 'cause there's just too many too many underlying factors to go into bowl games. Canon Stogner: Yeah, and a big thing that we talked about on Monday was Sacalana did not have a running game last year. Two years ago, Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: when they played in that bowl game, they had Rocket Sanders, who was Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: probably I mean, he was he set the tone for the offense. He opened up things in the passing game for the Norse and in the running game. Last year they didn't have that. So I think when you go into the Illinois game, Rocket Sanders didn't play. I mean, he stayed he stayed back and they actually had I think Jawarn Howell was the one that caught a screen pass. Think they were winning, or it was tied at the this time late in the third quarter or so, and he caught a screen pass and was running across the field and made a good play, and then he got stripped from behind and he fumbled the ball. So, I mean, you're having guys, I don't think Rocket Sanders is gonna do that. So, yeah, I mean I think there's a lot of things. But Illinois did absolutely whoop them that night. I mean, it was Andrew Wright: Yeah, a hundred percent. Canon Stogner: I mean, they completely just embarrassed them Brett. Belamy or whatever his name is, he embarrassed Beamer. so yeah, thank you for calling in, Dad. And we have one more. Thank you. what was it, Marcel? Andrew Wright: Thank you, Presley. I appreciate that. Canon Stogner: yeah, so that was Presley. I I you might be the only one that thinks you might be the only one with the right state of mind that thinks that staying at Ole Miss over LSU was the right move. he obviously got more money, which is mostly what it's all about. he gets more money for the transfer portal. He brought in the best transfer class. I mean, I think just going to LSU is the pinnacle of college football. I think those are if all jobs in college ball were to open, that'd be top three. That'd be on the list of top three. Probably with what? Alabama and Ohio State. LSU. So I do think he took the right job. it'd be interesting to see that game this year is what, week three when they match up Ole Miss and LSU. so that would be exciting. But Andrew Wright: Yep. Just the topic right. Canon Stogner: Lane Kiffen can win anywhere. He's proved it. He won an Ole Miss Andrew Wright: So Canon Stogner: and name a quarterback that's never been successful under him. So I absolutely think that was the right job. But appreciate you calling in Presley or Marcel. Yeah. Andrew Wright: Or whichever one it was. Canon Stogner: All right. Let's head into our Big Ten discussion. Andrew, is the Big Andrew Wright: Yep. Canon Stogner: Ten better than the SEC? Andrew Wright: So I think I think with that discussion, I think you have to layer it. I mean, it's very hard to say no to that question when they've won the last three national championships with three different teams. But just looking at it, I think you have you have the th I wouldn't even put Michigan in the top three in the Big Ten anymore. I think you have those three top those top three Big Ten teams in Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon. I think those three teams at the top, I think the Big Ten is more top heavy and more loaded than the SEC. But I think when you go teams four through sixteen for the SEC and four through eighteen in the Big Ten, I think the SEC is a much deeper conference in that regard. Because we know from watching football our lives and being South Carolina fans, anything can happen on any given week in the SEC. You there's there's truly never a just sure fire winnable game. And for me listening to the Josh Bate College football show, he talks about the Big Ten a lot and he's set a stat multiple times over the last few weeks of his podcast. If you take the rest of the Big Ten over the last two seasons outside of Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon, The rest of the Big Ten against those three teams, they're one in 48. They have won one time in two years against those three teams. And the SEC, that can happen any week. Like, Florida beat Texas last year. Mississippi should have beat Texas last year. Vandy beat Alabama two years ago. So like the top of the Big Ten is better, 100%. But when you go second level, third level, bottom level, I think the SEC is much deeper. So it's it's really kinda hard to judge that because what do you think carries the weight of the conference? Three teams or eleven teams? So I guess that's Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: really up to interpretation. I would I guess I'd have to say the Big Ten, yes, it's better because like I said, hard to argue against three straight national championships. But it's a very interesting conversation and it's not just an on the service conversation. You have to really kinda layer it out and kind of dive deep and then make your judgment based off what do you think is better, top heavy or depth. Canon Stogner: Well, here's the thing. When Alabama was winning all of their championships, when Nick Saban was there and they had a loaded dynasty, I think a lot of people other than Alabama or a lot of fans in the SEC kind of claim that as them being the best conference. Andrew Wright: Right. Yeah. Canon Stogner: Right? Like Vany should never be able to claim the SEC's better because Alabama is winning all these championships when Vany was bad years ago. But I like you said, I think if you look at the bottom five of the Big Ten from last year, I'm looking is Rutgers, Purdue, Michigan State, Maryland, and Northwestern, opposed to South Carolina or to SEC's bottom five last year was Florida, Auburn, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Arkansas. I think if you take those five and play them against each other, all five teams Andrew Wright: the SCC is wiping the floor with the Big Ten in that regard. Canon Stogner: Correct. so and also if you look at it, going into the season, you have Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana as potential national championship winners out of the Big Ten. In the SEC, you have Georgia, Bama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Ole Miss, and A and So that is seven versus three. Why are you giving me that look? Andrew Wright: I just thought Tennessee was a crazy pull there. We both had them Lazar, like most of us. Nope. Huh? Canon Stogner: Well, Tennessee has a easier schedule though, so however, I mean, if you look, like I said earlier, since twenty twenty four when Oregon and USC and all those teams joined the Big Ten and they went to eighteen. they're four one against the SEC in the postseason. they're ten to seven in the regular season. Ohio State is three and They've beaten Texas twice, both one last year, first week of the season, which was fourteen to seven in a snooze fest. College game day was there, it ended up being a snooze fest. The year before, Quinn Ewers fumbled at like the 10-yard line for a scoop and score. So the final score ended up being 28-14. But remember, they were right there at the goal line, about to tie it Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Yep. Canon Stogner: up. So it ended up being 28-14, but it was really a seven-point game, a touchdown away. so Ohio State was 3-0. They also did blow Tennessee out at home in their playoff game. You go to Michigan. Michigan was is one and three since twenty twenty four against the SEC. They lost to Oklahoma last year. They lost to Texas in the Citrus Bowl last year, since we're talking about bowl games, Dad. they lost to Texas another time 31 to 12, and they beat Alabama two years ago or three years ago when they won the championship. and then we go to USC, who's now in the Big Ten. They're two and They beat LSU two years ago and then beat AM last year. and then Indiana's one and they beat Alabama obviously 38 to 3, which I don't think that game's really fair to judge. They did whoop but remember Ty Simpson broke his rib early in the first half and had to come out. And then they had that other guy play the rest of the game at the Rose Bowl. So that game is a little questionable, but they did win the national championship last year. So it's hard to argue that. And Oregon hasn't Oregon hasn't played anybody in the SEC since twenty twenty-four. So yeah, I mean, Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: you could definitely argue that Big Ten's better than the SEC. You could argue the SEC is better than Big Ten. I think the argument is purely Are you making it because the Big Ten's winning the national championship? Are you making it because the depth of the SEC? All right. Let's well, the Big Ten versus SEC matchups this year will be Andrew Wright: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Canon Stogner: interesting. You have Ohio State at Texas, week two. Oklahoma is at Michigan. This will be Kyle Whittingham's first big game. That's week two. And then you have Mississippi State at Minnesota. So that's one of those bottom five matchups that would be very fun to Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: watch and see who's the better team because like we talked about the other day, I think Mississippi State will be a little sneaky this year because of Camario Taylor. I think they'll win gains because of him and then I think the games they lose will probably not be because of him. Andrew Wright: Okay. Canon Stogner: But could be interesting. So yeah, those are three SEC Big Ten matchups this year. All right. Which coach has the best chance to win it all from you in the Big Ten? Andrew Wright: Man, took took a lot of time to think about this one. And just looking at schedules, kinda laying this out. I think Oregon has the best chance to win this year with Dan Lanning. And that doesn't mean I think Dan Lanning's the best coach in the conference, 'cause I don't. I think that belongs to Ryan Day. But I just think with schedule resources. They probably have the best quarterback in the conference. We'll to that in a few minutes. I just think all those factors that Dan Lanning has with Dante Moore, with all the NIL money, with all the transfer classes, with the schedule, it's not a hard schedule at all. They have Ohio State late in the season and they'll play US C. Really outside of that, there's no really potential slip up spots. And I think with Ohio State having to play Michigan and Indiana and then Indiana Indiana has to play Ohio State of course. I just think the path is there for Oregon. And for Dan Lenning to kinda finally get to that promise land he's been trying to get to ever since he arrived on the scene at work. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I just Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: I also had Dan Lanning in Oregon had the best chance to win it this year. that's not to say Ohio State doesn't have a better roster or Indiana won't do it because they don't have the better coach. I still think Signetti is probably the best coach. but I did say Oregon as well. If you look at it, they had two losses last year, both to Indiana, who won the championship. they have they brought in the number four recruiting class. They have Dante Moore, their quarterback, who will probably be number one drafted. their weapons for the receiving quarter is nasty. They DeKirion Moore, Evans Storr, the running back's name, I forget. Jade Jideon Davidson or something like that. so yeah, I do think Oregon, the last two years they've lost three games, and all three have been to the national champions. So the Indiana twice last year, and then they lost to Ohio State two years ago when Will Howard won the national championship at Ohio State. they did lose thirty players to the portal. None of them really played meaningful snaps, but it was the Andrew Wright: Yes. Canon Stogner: most out of any team this year. they also did lose both coordinators. Will Stein went to Kentucky and their defensive coordinator, he joined someone else, I think, but he's not there. So yeah, they do have a new team, which is fair to say, although they did retain Dante Moore in most of their offensive weapons. but yeah, you know their defense is gonna be good. Dan Lanning's a defensive guy. Their offense is probably gonna be electric most games. when they play like the Ohio State, Michigan, and USC, it'll probably be a little bit closer. But I think if they can go two and one of those three games, which they should, they'll be favored against USC and Michigan. If they go two and one of those games, they'll easily make the playoff. They'll probably make the Big Ten championship. So they'll be in it. And then it's just a matter of fact, can they get over that haunt that they haven't been able to get over? yet. who Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: who else? Andrew Wright: Who else what? I'd say I Ohio Canon Stogner: Which coach has it all w chance of winning it all this year, do you think? I would say Andrew Wright: State's Ohio State's probably second. I'm I'm very I'm kind of I guess low on Indiana this year. don't really trust a quarterback. a ton. So I think I just think based off that I think it's kinda hard to trust them. I don't I don't nobody knows if they can repeat what they've done the last two years. And I just think Ohio State has all all I think Ohio State's just a better team, really. I think that'll carry them throughout the season with Julian Sayon, Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Day, who like I said, I think is probably still the best coach. It's pr it's very close. You could argue it either way. But I definitely think if you had to put in order, I'd say Dan Lenning in Oregon, Ryan Day in Ohio State, and then Signetti at Indiana is the the way I would rank chances to win this season. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I can't I can't under I don't know what it is about Signetti. I don't understand him because his receiving core is never that great. His running back room's not that great. He brings in these old twenty-three, twenty four year old offensive linemen from smaller schools and they just win. Now their schedule is very easy this year. Their schedule is very poor compared to everybody else in the Big Ten. which it was last year as well, but they obviously dominated all the teams they played. I just I don't really there's something about Indiana that I don't think everybody else has. I think Signet is the smartest coach out of anybody in football. I think he understands the game the most. Andrew Wright: That was Canon Stogner: he's always been a winner. He told that he's told people that in his opening press conference when he got hired. He's a winner. He said he was going to change Indiana and bring back to a football school, which he has. Andrew Wright: Yes. Yeah. Canon Stogner: which, like I said the other day, the offensive line, bringing in all these offensive linemen that are older than everybody in their fourth and fifth years of college is kind of like the model that South Carolina used this year, which is why I think it'll be interesting to see how South Carolina's offensive line is, because they did use the same model and brought in these guys who are just much older than everybody because when you have twenty four year olds playing against eighteen year olds, I mean I'm not the biggest guy, but I'm sitting here thinking, I'm twenty four right now. Andrew Wright: No. Canon Stogner: I would have strangled my eighteen year old self Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: at this point. So I mean it's completely different. And I'm not saying I'm I won I'm not a five star athlete. I ain't a four star athlete. but that's just kind of how your body matures. Okay. How many teams do you think it will make Will make it out to the CFP this year out of the Big Ten. Now remember you had the four auto bids, you have the group of six, and you have Notre Dame. So there's six there. So you're really battling between the SEC and Big Ten now for the rest of the six. However, Texas Tech will probably win the big twelve they're already in. And then you have BYU who will start ranked. They return pretty much everybody this year. And they'll they don't play anybody this year. So you really have they'll probably make it in two. So you really have five spots. Andrew Wright: So I got I got four big ten teams, with a couple narrow misses. I have Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana. So I got the top three getting in. And then my fourth team, I have a resurgent Penn State with Matt Campbell and Rocco Beck with a very easy schedule, sneaking in there at ten and two. I got USC just out, I got Michigan just out. And then another another sneaky threat I think that ten and two is definitely on the table. And It's Iowa. Iowa has a three week stretch, I believe, against Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington. If you just go one and two in those three games, you beat Washington, you go one and two and you win the rest of your schedule. I was sitting there ten and two, probably right outside that cut line or right inside. Well, we don't know where I would be ranked at ten and two. How does the committee view them? But for sure locks for me, Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Penn State. I can definitely see Penn State sneaking in there at ten and two as well. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I mean, that's the tricky part. Ohio State, probably gonna be in. Oregon, probably gonna be in. Michigan, I don't think so. They do play Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon. Andrew Wright: Yeah, I don't trust that. Canon Stogner: which I tell you what, I was looking at things from last year. I did not realize they finished fifteenth in the rankings. I thought last year they had like a miserable season because of the whole Sherrodmore and Butterknifes and all this stuff. But they did finish 15th. They kept Bryce Underwood. They have Kyle Whittingham this year with them. and he's proven that he can win at Utah. So, but I do not think Michigan will get in. and then I said Indiana would get in just because of. How soft their schedule is. They'll start highly ranked, whatnot. I would love to say USC gets in. I do like USC. I'm very excited to watch them this year. I am a Lincoln Riley guy. I love watching his offense. his defense is always there, they couldn't stop a runny nose. but they did bring in the number one class overall for tr transfer and recruit. They brought in the number one recruit, Luke Waifel, who's a defensive edge rusher. so I do think their defense will be a little bit better this year. But this is also, I think this is the year for Lincoln Riley. You either win this year, go ten and two, nine and three. If not, if they go eight and four, I think he's out. Andrew Wright: Correct, I I a hundred percent agree with that. Canon Stogner: so yeah, I have three teams out of the Big Ten making it. Here's another thing about the Big Ten that we kind of argued earlier. Like we said, they're not really their bottom half of the Big Ten is not very good. So I think you're gonna by week twelve, week thirteen, week fourteen of the season, you're gonna have a lot of teams with two losses. Like you said, Iowa, USC, Penn State, Michigan, Oregon, Indiana, Ohio State. If those seven teams handle business like in the games they should and can afford only having one or two losses, that last week of the season does get very interesting because I mean only two will make it to the championship. Obviously we have the automatic bid out of that. You'll probably have the automatic bid for the team that loses the Big Ten Championship. Not automatic bid, but they'll Andrew Wright: Yeah, okay. Canon Stogner: probably get in. And then you'll have probably the team that finishes third that doesn't make it to the Big Ten Championship. So it'll be interesting to see if the committee will put in maybe Michigan or Penn State or Iowa or USC who has Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: two losses or maybe three losses and see if they can get in. so yeah I mean the Big Ten's loaded this year. They are very top heavy but the top is incredibly loaded. Andrew Wright: Right. Well Canon Stogner: all right well let's go into our top five QB lists. Now this was the hardest list I've had to make. There were probably eight or nine guys I could have put top five. And if you take those guys and put them in a different conference, if you put in the ACC, the four that I left out, they're probably in the top five. So Andrew Wright: See, for for me I didn't think it was that hard really, honestly. I I f I felt the SEC was much harder to put together. To fit all those names into one. You want me to start or Canon Stogner: Well yeah. Andrew Wright: you want it hard? Canon Stogner: well, I mean, you have Bryce Underwood. If he Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: takes a leak this year, he'll be very good. You're gonna laugh when I say this, but Nico from UCLA, I Andrew Wright: Okay. Canon Stogner: think they brought in a coach who's gonna they'll be a lot better this year. obviously they have a lot of room to improve from last year and several years a couple years ago. Malik Washington, who plays at Maryland, he was a rookie or freshman last year. He was really good. he threw for like over 3,000 yards. I think he rushed for 600 yards. he's going to be really good. I don't know if he's getting a lot of like press because he does play at Maryland, but he is really good. You have Demon Williams at Washington. You have Rocco Beck at Penn State, who came from Iowa State with Matt Campbell. you have Julian Saban, obviously. You have Dante Moore, Josh Hoover from TCU, who's now at Indiana, and then you have Jaden Maeva at USC. So, I mean, those are eight or nine guys right there that I could have easily put. I mean, you mean that Andrew, if you if Nico was still at Tennessee, you you he wouldn't be in your top five? Andrew Wright: I mean, guess it depends on performance from last year. Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: I wouldn't just play him there off namesake, no. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I don't I don't know I don't know what it is about him. I think he has the talent. He's got a good arm. He can run. I don't know if it's the reading of the defense problem. I don't know if he's just in over his head about who he is. Andrew Wright: Well the he's he's definitely bat, but I Canon Stogner: yeah, so it's interesting. So who'd you have? Who's number five? Andrew Wright: so I had Bryce Underwood at number five. I think Canon Stogner: Okay. Andrew Wright: there's a re and reason five star out of high school, such this big commit for Michigan. Now like like you said, I I was kinda with you. I thought Michigan had this miserable season last year, so I didn't know they finished in the top fifteen either. So Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: obviously he played some kind of decent now, he does have a new coach, probably a new system. Not the guy that committed him, probably not some of the same staff that committed him. So a big learning year for him. But I think we're well aware he has all the talent in the world. He's at five star out of high school and started in Michigan as a freshman. So Alexa, I don't think he's at that upper tier of Big Ten QB's yet. I think he can get there. It's a really Canon Stogner: Mm-hmm. Andrew Wright: good season this year with maturity, with accuracy, using his legs more. I think he can get to that top tier. But as of now I haven't been for five. Canon Stogner: Okay, well the the AP poll has him at twenty-one from last year. The college ball playoff had him at fifteen. So they were right there. I had Demon Williams from Washington. He threw for 3,000 yards last year. He had 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions, he rushed for 611 yards and had six rushing touchdowns. I think the biggest thing for him right now is what he what happened this past offseason where he transferred out, came back. And then he like try to transfer again or something, and he ended up signing a contract where he couldn't, or Washington wouldn't terminate his release. So it's very obvious he doesn't want to be there. Maybe he does now, but at the time it was very obvious he didn't want to be there. So I think it'd be interesting to see how the rest of the team plays around him. So I did have Demon Williams at five. I think his talent is very elite. I think our list is going to be interesting because I had Bryce Underwood at nine. Andrew Wright: Well, at number four I I had Rocco Beck at number four. I just think the experience he brings for Penn State's really good. If if I remember this correctly, I think he had a stretch at Iowa State where he threw a touchdown in some absurdly amount of like consecutive games with a touchdown. He doesn't turn the ball over much. I think he is probably he's a little bit of an upgrade from Ethan Grunkmeyer, who was at Penn State last year. So I think Canon Stogner: Mm-hmm. Andrew Wright: with that team, that class, Matt Campbell brought in the number four portal class. Now it was number sixty five overall, so they didn't do a whole lot of recruiting. in high school. But number four portal class, I just think Rocco Beck's the perfect guy for that system. And I think he's very talented. I think he may have been overlooked at Iowa State. I think he's gonna have much more attention at Penn State than he had at Iowa State. So yeah, Rocco Beck number four for me. Canon Stogner: Yeah, well here's the thing. Penn State fired James Franklin, what, week five or so? I Andrew Wright: I think week five, yep. Canon Stogner: mean, it was early in the season, and they were the last school to hire a coach, pretty much. Like last elite school. Which is funny. Like you would think Penn State would be a very like wanted job for most coaches. So to come in and get Matt Campbell, I think was a little bit underwhelming for the fans. I think they wanted somebody probably like Brent Venables or Lincoln Riley or so. I think they probably tried to get those guys. I just don't know if they're not as attractive as they thought they were. but another thing about Penn State, you know they're gonna run the ball. They're gonna be play boring offense. Their defense is gonna be pretty good. So I do think it'll be interesting how their offense looks this year. I don't think Rocko Beck's a bad quarterback. He did not make my top five. so yeah, I mean, even you see the Navy, the Navy will fire and hire a new coach and it's like, they're finally gonna Andrew Wright: Yeah. Canon Stogner: move away from the triple option. And then this new coach comes in and they start running the triple option. So it'll be interesting to see how they do with that. But so far your four and five is not even in my top five. So my number four was Julian Saiyan. He threw for thirty six hundred yards last year, thirty-two touchdowns, eight interceptions. He obviously does have Jeremiah Smith, who will be the first receiver drafted. And he had Carnell Tate last year. he had the third best QBR in football. He had a 77% completion percentage. Andrew Wright: True. Canon Stogner: so he's very accurate. I just I don't know if the three guys I have above him are, I don't think he's better than the three I have above him. I just I don't know. I think he's obviously has a lot of talent around him. He's got Brandon Innis this year. a few other guys. He's got Bo Jackson's son playing running back. that's not I'm not saying Ohio State's not gonna be good this year. I just do think he's number four on my list. Number three. Andrew Wright: I had I had Jade Maiava at number three. Baylor once again very talented and a very high profile, high powered offense. Kinda came in, replacing Caleb Williams in Lincoln Riley's offense. I thought he did a pretty good job last season. I think another year of experience under Lincoln, under that system. Like you said, the number one overall class in the country this year. Portal wasn't great. Twenty ninth. That feels a little bit low for USC, honestly. But that means they recruited very well out of high school. They're always gonna get five star California kids. That'll never change. So I think with that class, another year under that system, most of the same coaching staff, I think Myava has a very good chance to be very, very successful this year. Just limit the turnovers and he'll be fine. So yeah. Jade Mayava at number three. Canon Stogner: I had Josh Hoover from at Indiana, the one from TCU. he throws the ball downfield. He's very good at throwing the deep ball. obviously Signetti likes to push the ball downfield. he threw for thirty four hundred yards last year. Signetti just got the number one pick, the Heisman, his quarterback Fernando Mendoza. So I do think playing in Signetti's system helps you out a lot, obviously with their soft schedule. think he's going to be the third best quarterback this year in the Big Ten. I mean, he can throw the ball and he's got Signetti. Now the weapons I'm not really sure of. so it will be interesting. But obviously you play Indiana with Signetti, you're going to be a pretty good quarterback or you got to be at least for him to bring you in. Because I I watched the interview on him the other day and he said he doesn't really watch Or he'll his team will put Andrew Wright: Your easy. Canon Stogner: together clips from the year prior because this is his third year in Indiana. He's had three quarterbacks. And he said his team puts together clips from his previous school and he puts they put together like ten bad ones and ten good ones. And he says if the things that he sees on the bad ones can not overshadow his ten good plays, he thinks that he could play in his system. So obviously Josh Ho Hoover fit that mold and That's who I had at three. At number two, I had Dante Moore. so he's probably gonna be the number one pick in the twenty seven draft. He is playing for an Oregon team Andrew Wright: Okay. Canon Stogner: that can win the entire thing this year. He does have all those weapons on offense. I do think he might take a step back this year because of not having Will Stein. not saying their offense won't be good this year. However, he does have an interception problem. I think he was like twentieth in the football last year in QBR. He threw for thirty touchdowns, but he does have an interception problem. and even I know a lot of people are high on him, but just watching last year against Texas Tech snooze fest. they lost to Indiana last year. I I just don't really I don't think he's the best dog in the Big Ten. Andrew Wright: So I had two for me I had Julian Saiyan and kinda you I don't touch on him too much, kinda touched on him. I thought he like you said, when you laid out all the incredible stats he put up last year as a freshman. I think that probably gets better. Not it's hard to get better. I don't think it gets much worse. It definitely helps me as the best receiver in college football. So I Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: think I think we view him pretty similar, just a couple couple of different spots away, but I do think we both like Julian Satan. I think he's very talented. Canon Stogner: All right. One? Andrew Wright: I had Dante Moore at number one. I think it kinda captivate is not the right word, but the college football world was kinda on edge last year, waiting on his decision. I mean he he did the LeBron James one on ESPN to announce his decision to come back to Oregon. So there's definitely Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: a there's definitely a brand there and there's definitely popularity there and I think he probably would have been the second quarterback taken this year if he decided to come out. So I think he is the the be I think he's probably the best returner in college football. at that position in that offense. Like you said, Will Stein leaving. What does that do to him? How does he mess with their new offensive coordinator? But and like you said, another interception problem. And for me, you had Josh Hoover at number three. Josh Hoover didn't make my list because of his interception problem. Josh Hoover will turn the ball over in a heartbeat. Canon Stogner: Mm. Andrew Wright: And Dante Moore, he can make some stupid throws but he can also make some incredible throws. And I think he's probably got the most talent of anybody in the big ten. So I got Dante Moore at number one. Canon Stogner: Yeah, my number one quarterback was Jaden Maiava. Okay. Before we even get into the stats from last year, you're playing with Lincoln Riley, who's probably the most creative offensive-minded coach. Okay. I would say he's the best because you have Signetti, but I'm saying he's probably the most creative. You saw what he did with Caleb Williams. You saw what he did with Baker Mayfield. You saw what he did with Spencer Rattler. all of these guys, Jalen Hurts. You just see these quarterbacks who probably don't have the most talent and what they do for a Lincoln Riley offense. he threw for thirty seven hundred yards last year as a dual threat quarterback. He's threw for he averaged two hundred and eighty five yards a game. he had the second best QBR in football last year. I do think his stats are a little bit boosted just because their defense can't stop anybody. So they scored Defense gives up a touchdown, he's back on the field right away. but I do think he is the best quarterback in the Big Ten. And I think he will show that this year. I think Dante Moore will take a step back. I wouldn't be shocked if Dante Moore does not fall out of the first overall pick at the draft or first quarterback drafted. so yeah, that is our top five. We have one more question or segment. Andrew, what is the biggest regular season game of the year for the Big Ten. This is Big Ten versus Big Ten. Andrew Wright: I think it's gotta be Ohio State, Indiana. I think you have the rematch of the Big Ten Championship game last year and I think that game last year in the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis was f a hundred percent like Indiana saying like we're here. Canon Stogner: Mm-hmm. Andrew Wright: I know they I know they didn't lose in regular season and I know they only lost one game before the season before in Notre Dame in the playoff, but that was the question. Like, are they ready? Can they compete with Ohio State? And they went out there and they did. I mean, if you remember Fernando Mendoza got his brains knocked out on the first play of the game. Canon Stogner: Yeah. Andrew Wright: And we're like, all right, there it is. There goes the fairy tale. Like they play in the big boys now. And Canon Stogner: Mm-hmm. Andrew Wright: he he shook it off and he came back in there and he beat They didn't lose. So I think that game in the rematch, I believe Indian has to go to Ohio State. And they played two seasons ago and Ohio State boat raced So this is their this is their chance to get back at them in the regular season. Kinda they don't have to prove anything to anybody, I don't think, but just kinda remind everybody like, hey, we're not going anywhere. Like we're still here. So for me that's it's Ohio State, Indiana. extremely Canon Stogner: Yeah. there are a lot of big games this year. You have Ohio State and Oregon. A lot of I think Michigan plays a few of those teams. but my biggest game of the year is not because of the rivalry, not because of the stakes that it has on that weekend. Okay, because obviously Michigan has a very good record against them previous. the only time they've lost recently was they didn't have a coach. I mean Coaches over here messing with females. my biggest game of the year is Ohio State versus Michigan. And this is for Ohio State. I do not think this game will tell who makes it to the playoffs. It could Andrew Wright: Mm-hmm. Canon Stogner: for Michigan. I think Ohio State will pretty much already be in. However, if they have two losses going into this game, it becomes a massive game because they will play Texas. Could be a loss. Indiana, like you said, that could be a loss. USC and Oregon. If they go two and two in those games, those are four losable games for them. If they go two and two in those games, they're heading into week fourteen, game number twelve against Michigan. I can't remember where it is. Is it at Michigan or Iowa State? Andrew Wright: I believe it should be back at Michigan this year. Canon Stogner: Yeah, I don't remember where they played last year. but I do think this game is the biggest of the season for Iowa State. If they lose that game, that potentially puts them at three losses. Okay, it is at Ohio State, so they played out of Michigan last year. it is at Ohio State, so that is that is positive for them. But that becomes the biggest game. And who knows? I know that's I don't think Michigan making to the playoffs, but if they have one or two losses as well going into this game, the winner of that is making the college football playoff, regardless if they make it to the Big Ten Championship. The winner of Michigan and Ohio Andrew Wright: Yep. Canon Stogner: State, if they both have two losses or less, is making it to the playoff. So I I think this game is probably the biggest of the season. It Andrew Wright: Correct. Canon Stogner: would definitely be the biggest of the weekend, potentially. But that is the game that I think will be the biggest for the Big Ten. Andrew Wright: And like you're saying, if if Ohio State goes in there with two losses and they lose, we're talking about Ryan Day getting fired on Monday. Like a three lost a Canon Stogner: Yeah. I mean you could. Andrew Wright: three lost Ohio State team and you lose to Michigan again, like that that's not gonna fly. It's Ohio State. This ain't Northwest. Canon Stogner: Yeah, 'cause y you remember two years ago they lost to Michigan and fans wanted him out. Andrew Wright: before the playoff and they went and won the dang national championship. Canon Stogner: Yeah, fans wanted him out. And I do think a lot I don't think Ohio State fans will have a hard time like they they say they want to fire him or whatnot. I don't think Andrew Wright: Right. Canon Stogner: now as much, but if they were to lose Michigan this year, then yeah, because I think those fans would much rather beat Michigan than they would win the national championship. But he recruits Andrew Wright: Right. Yeah. Canon Stogner: so well. And I think one thing, a lot of teams are so quick to fire people. But my question is, who you gonna go get? I don't think at Andrew Wright: Right. But yeah. Canon Stogner: I don't think at this point anybody's gonna leave the SEC really. No coach is gonna lead the SEC, which dad, by the way, I think that is why the SEC is better than the Big Ten. I think being in the SEC is a much more appealing job. So if you fire Ryan Day, everybody's gonna be after him. And I'm not sure sure who you're gonna hire to come to Iowa State. all right, well, that is the wrapping up our Big Ten preview before the season starts. We are now what fourteen days away from week zero Thursday night football. Andrew Wright: Yeah, fifteen's but four fourteen, fifteen right there and at that range. Canon Stogner: Yeah. so it's getting closer by the minute. We will be posting every Monday and Thursday right here on YouTube. we post clips on TikTok and Twitter. So make sure to follow us and keep a lookout for that. Thank you guys for tuning in. And remember to dial 864 406 1414 to leave a voicemail. thank you. We'll see you guys Monday.