Transcript
Caleb Call: Week four. Coming up here quick, we got a fun slate across the whole country. BYU on a bye week. Utah going on the road for the first time this season. Thanks for joining us. The, uh... Blue vs. Red, Holy War Pod, Caleb. Ben.
Caleb Call: Looking forward to. Going over this week with you. And I guess to start, let's kick it off over to you, Ben. Utah's first road trip of the season. How are you feeling about it?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I'm excited. it's ah It's one of those things that... you always like to see them get tested a little bit so going on the road weather's supposed to be bad so It's going to be ah a fun game where I think it gets a little... ah Um, you never know a little ah ugly muddy type of game so I um I'm excited to see know how they how they answer the test.
Caleb Call: Yeah, if there's any one team in the Big 12 that probably is most comfortable playing in some... like a poor field bad weather ugly game it's probably iowa state i feel like that's why we've seen the spread shift towards them because They want to run the clock out anyways. They like to run the ball.
Caleb Call: And so... I mean, yeah, it's been kind of an interesting movement with the Vegas line. It went from, I think it opened at 11 .5, and it's already down three or four points, depending on where you're looking.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, i I think it's part of the the bad weather. You never know what's going to happen with the passing game. and I guess it's like 80 % chance of rain. and Seems like it's going to be. Amen. pretty bad the whole day. so um You never really know what – sometimes you see that completely like neutralized scoring and sometimes you see like defenders slipping in.
Ben Fowers: You have like long touchdown runs. and completions where it's a db is down and then the receiver is gone so you never really know what it's gonna how much it's gonna affect but usually it hinders the offense more than the the defense, but I'm excited. i yeah i think ah I think Utah's...
Ben Fowers: I think the roster is set up. But... to do well for this ah for this game. So I'm excited about it. I think. ah utah getting out of rice echoes kind of making it so they get their first uh First test of the year is going to be.
Ben Fowers: It's going to be good for him.
Caleb Call: What do you think iowa Iowa State's game plan is going to look like going into this one, both on defense and offense?
Ben Fowers: yeah
Ben Fowers: Exactly how that Iowa game went. Iowa iowa State, the game ended three so three -point game. Iowa made it. Um, kind of shorten the game.
Ben Fowers: Ran the ball really well. and um really just try to keep it as low scoring as possible to hit the under. And I think that's what Iowa State's going to do. because Thank you. Roster wise, they're not.
Ben Fowers: Not quite to the level of Utah's roster, but they're able same with Iowa that I Iowa State's roster is not good as good as Iowa's roster was. And they made it a 16 -13 game and had a shot. And so I think that's the same thing. They're going to try to.
Ben Fowers: make this a low scoring game and try to shorten it. A little old school football.
Caleb Call: Yeah, I honestly kind of hope that we get a little bit of that. I feel like that's the... the kind of game Iowa State needs to be able to compete in this one, and it's always fun having some bad weather football. And you mentioned that sometimes it helps the offense. It just reminds me of when we had Farmageddon.
Caleb Call: and It was the last week of the season a few years back in a snowstorm. And everyone thought that meant no point. It's two teams, Iowa State and Kansas State, that like playing defensively anyways. And it ended up being 42 to 35 or something like that with a bunch of...
Caleb Call: just long touchdown plays so You really never know, like you said. It's not like Utah. is going to be that concerned about wet weather. Utah plays in at home all the time too. and so it's Something that Utah will be ready for. I'm sure Iowa State will be ready for. It should be a fun one.
Caleb Call: Do you think that...
Ben Fowers: Morgan Scali. morgan scali came out this week and said we just got to put our big boy cleats on so It's one of those things where you're going to get a little bit longer cleats, maybe the...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So you're not sliding around and hopefully that. ah I mean, maybe that should makes the teams a little bit slower, but. I think. ah i I don't think it, I think it'll, it it maybe pushes the the under a little bit.
Ben Fowers: More ah more appetizing for the under but I i think generally the game is gonna a little wet isn't gonna these guys have all played in wet before
Caleb Call: Yeah. Do you think Iowa State has enough firepower on offense with... fluorine rainer to be able to do some damage and get some points on the board.
Ben Fowers: No, I don't I The offense, the QBs, he's throwing for under 200 yards all three games. And now you're getting, like i like we talked about before. It is going to be um worse weather. so you'd expect it to be. Probably not as good as it was before. so You're sitting there three games where he's.
Ben Fowers: throwing about 50 it's completion percentage and then Now you're getting a wet ball. so i I think it's one of those ones where. And Utah typically is a man team. They play man on the outside and kind of have all their other defenders in the box. and so It's a...
Ben Fowers: I think they're gonna... basically beg him to throw it and I don't think ah he hasn't proved that he can do it yet. and so Utah's DBs have been good. They've been rated really high so far this season. and both safeties and both corners. And so I think defensively, they're going to be.
Ben Fowers: Their pass coverage is going to trust their guys, go one -on -one on the outside. and then They're gonna... um kind of stack the box with everybody else. and beg him to run it. and um I mean, Utah's...
Ben Fowers: I think it's 75 yards a game on the ground is what they're allowing. so Pretty good defensively. I was running about Iowa State's... rushing about 203 yards, I think when I looked at it.
Ben Fowers: per game and so. I think Utah is going to bring, I mean, they're going to have men everywhere else and they're going to have everybody else in the box and they're going to kind of stop that. And so I think. ah I think Utah is going to. Keep Iowa State.
Ben Fowers: pretty low score and Iowa State. In my head, it's just... the if you if you look at the line it's like 48 and a half right now and the the over under is 48 and a half and the the spread is like roughly eight depending where you look
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: It's like the implied Vegas implied odds are. Iowa State scores about 20 points in the game. and That's my favorite bet is to hit the under on Iowa State 20 points this week. and uh I just don't think with the weather and with.
Ben Fowers: how this Offenses ran with mainly a rushing attack. they They run the ball more than they throw the ball. I think it's just going to go. and This is going to get played right into Utah's hands. so
Caleb Call: The defense that we saw at the end of last year with Kansas State, Kansas, and Baylor all being able to move the ball a ton, Kansas State breaking records on the ground. That doesn't scare you at all that a team like Iowa State might be able to.
Caleb Call: capitalize on some of the gaps that Morgan Scully defense showed last year.
Ben Fowers: No, I... It was one of those things where like John Henry Daly, he got injured in the second to last game of the year. And so the last two games he was out. and our defense was kind of just banged up at the end of the year. Early in the season, you got everybody healthy right now. and Maybe if this game was weak.
Ben Fowers: 11 or 12, I'd be thinking. It's differently worth a bunch of banged up guys, but. I think I think you talk kind of. Keeps Iowa State in check this this week and this on Saturday.
Caleb Call: Yeah. We'll see. Definitely. I mean, there's a reason Utah is the favorite on the road by. ah score or more they definitely this is a game they should win and that's one of a chain in games here to start conference play that they Should win.
Caleb Call: The other side of the state, we've got BYU on a bye week, resting up before they go play TCU. This is actually the BYU TCU game. This is the first time in as long as I can remember in my lifetime.
Caleb Call: BYU having a game the same day as General Conference. Now, General Conference, they got rid of the priesthood session, so there's no night. session anymore and so i was wondering if the game was in get scheduled during conference or after.
Caleb Call: Turns out it's after, so we they just announced the game time. um 5 p .m. kick local time up in Utah. so I think that this year, maybe years moving forward. Priesthood session has just changed to. Watch BYU football together session.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it's gonna be a I mean, you always had either the the fall session where it would kind of... conflict with college football or you had the spring session right during the final four. And so that was always the the Saturday of the final four.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: and so now you're not getting Now you can go watch the Final Four. You can go watch football with ah with family during those times now. so
Caleb Call: I was convinced that that was the whole reason BYU had never made the Final Four in their history is because we had to watch General Conference instead. So now that it's changed. Get ready for BYU to go on their final four run finally after all these years.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, that's a... I was going to say, I think ah A couple years ago, it was the Jimmer year. Everyone thought they were going to, but then they dropped the game to Florida. Is that the Florida game where they lost the Sweet 16 year?
Caleb Call: We lost in overtime to Florida. Yeah. That one hurts. That felt like. the year obviously had brandon davies Go down. not go down but well maybe he didn't go down on.
Caleb Call: Somebody. And ended up.
Ben Fowers: Hmm.
Caleb Call: And this is the end of the year. And yeah, it's probably the biggest what if in BYU sports history. There's a few others that. are up there too but That team had championship potential. And I really do think.
Caleb Call: ah It's not like the most hyped matchup as far as brands go because there have been some big matchups in the national championship. But I think that a Jimmer versus Kemba matchup in the championship had a... been able to play out that way.
Caleb Call: would have been One of the most hyped championship games. of our lifetimes. and Fortunately. What then? break our way so Oh.
Ben Fowers: That Kemba run was crazy.
Caleb Call: Amen.
Ben Fowers: He won the like six games of the Big East Tournament to make even make it to the...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: March Madness and then had to win six more. And so they went on like a 12 -game win streak to end the year or whatever it was.
Caleb Call: I'm just insane I don't know what it is with UConn in March, but they just turned into a... different animal both women's and men's basketball but you think that
Ben Fowers: Hang they hang those banners
Caleb Call: UConn. would be a worthwhile addition to the big 12 because they kind of been floated as a potential addition. But they, uh... Obviously don't have an invite yet, and I'm not sure there would be a partner to come in with them at 18 but if for whatever reason there was a chance to bring in uconn how would you feel about it
Ben Fowers: I feel good about it. I mean, I think the basketball alone would probably provide value to whatever conference they end up at. and so um just the basketball side of it. Football, it's probably... Wherever they go. If they get taken into football, I think they're going to have to.
Ben Fowers: I think the jump up in football, it's going to take them a little while to get going because they've never historically had a. a football, a good football team. and So it'd take them a while to get relevant. and then and football and some other sports but yeah basketball wise i mean You get it.
Ben Fowers: consistent. Top 10 -ish team. year to year in the conference you think that would Money -wise, that would probably do what it needed to do for the conference.
Caleb Call: They seem content in basketball in the Big East, but it feels like... The ACC is stuck with 17 teams and can't play a full. nine game schedule. I feel like adding UConn to the ACC just makes so much sense.
Caleb Call: I'd honestly love them in the Big 12, especially if you could get them to sign on without football. and then you bring in yukon bringing gonzaga is basketball only and like olympic sport only members and you take a basketball conference it's already one or two depending on the year and
Ben Fowers: me
Caleb Call: solidify it with two more of the powerhouses, I feel like that would be. If I were at your mark, I would... heavily consider that.
Caleb Call: Speaking of the Big 12, we've got... Some fun games on deck here. Half the conference still is not into conference play yet. But we've got... ah alongside Utah and Iowa State kicking off conference play.
Caleb Call: We got two teams who got two huge surprise wins in the Out of Conference. West Virginia. taking down Virginia and Oklahoma State taking down Oregon. And now they're going at it in Morgantown.
Caleb Call: Do you think that... the winner of this game. Has the potential to like. be a big 12 championship contender what do you think that this game kind of will mean for the rest of the year.
Ben Fowers: well First off, I think, so West Virginia's... If you look at the others receiving votes, they're 28th in the... Pull one. Oklahoma State's 30th. Starting there, I think the the winner is going to be ranked. and so That's going to be ah another Big 12 team that will be ranked, which will be good for the conference. and and then the I personally don't think. ah Either team has the...
Ben Fowers: the firepower and the consistency to go win the conference. But I think they're... They're going to be one of those. I think the winner of this game could go threaten eight, nine wins on the year. Um, Finish the year like 9th.
Caleb Call: hopefully be ranked for a lot of the year.
Ben Fowers: will rank for a lot of the year and kind of bolster up the top of the Big 12.
Caleb Call: Yeah, I'm excited for this one. Really, I feel like West Virginia. We know who they are at this point. They've got an explosive rushing game. Hawkins has been an awesome quarterback, and I think that West Virginia is capable. They're not going to be the best offense in the conference.
Caleb Call: but they're capable of scoring points. Their defense definitely isn't. Maybe a little bit more suspect. We saw Coastal put up 24, Virginia put up 27, and Virginia could have put up more. They left some points on the field.
Caleb Call: It's Oklahoma State that I've got more question marks about because... Again, we talked about it earlier. We saw their A game against Oregon. We saw their F game against Tulsa. And on a week to week basis, who are they going to be?
Caleb Call: Trench wise they got mauled by Tulsa. It was embarrassing. And so if if they play a team that can take advantage of them in the trenches like that again.
Ben Fowers: me
Caleb Call: And I'm not sure West Virginia is that team. but Are we going to be able to see them score points and improvise the way that they did against Oregon? Which, again, is just so weird to me that they... won the trench battle against Oregon and lost it against Tulsa. Oklahoma State and Oregon and Tulsa, the entire situation there just...
Caleb Call: really confuses me. um so i feel like Honestly, West Virginia, if they win this game, I'll feel great about West Virginia. If Oklahoma State wins this game. I think West Virginia is probably a...
Caleb Call: Seven. It's a 9 -win team this year. If Oklahoma State can go out there and beat them, I'd feel pretty good about it. the Cowboys the rest of the year. Right now, I still have some concerns about their consistency. but a win here after the win against Oregon. I'd be feeling pretty good if I were a cowboy.
Ben Fowers: yeah I mean, first game of the year, you never know. You never really know. All that goes into that. and so i uh i think just turning them turning around and be in Oregon the next week kind of.
Ben Fowers: tells you a lot about them is kind of being in the gritty spot and going. going to lose into an in -state school like Tulsa. and then going and beating Oregon right after. And so I, uh, Oklahoma State is a team that...
Ben Fowers: I mean, new coaching staff, new quarterback, a lot of new players. and so they're a team that You just don't know a lot about them. So you see them lose to Tulsa and you don't think they're a contender, but then they go beat Oregon, like you said, and kind of like. the polar opposite games. And really they're probably like, they're probably not as bad as that Tulsa game and they're probably not as good as good as that Oregon game. They're probably somewhere in the middle. And so. it's ah They're going to be a fun team to watch. i ah I actually like him this week against... uh West Virginia, I i think. ah
Ben Fowers: I think they're... After that first week, I think they've kind of gotten the... the train going the right way and i think they're gonna be able to do it this week.
Caleb Call: I think I'm actually taking the other side here with West Virginia. I like the way the Mountaineers have been playing. I think that they're going to be able to. Run the ball. well and I trust them to score more than I do Oklahoma State.
Caleb Call: Now... Oklahoma State like we've Send. they may end up being a pretty formidable team the rest of the year. But I think that they're a year out. I think that this year they're going to be kind of a chaos agent where they could win any game on their schedule, lose any game on their schedule. It's going to be a mystery week to week.
Caleb Call: I think next year, if they can. fit some more pieces especially on the o -line and d -line around what they've got with mess to maker and caleb hawkins assuming they can keep them both in still water I think next year, look out for the Cowboys to be a...
Caleb Call: contender in the Big 12. But yeah, give me the... Mountaineers in that one.
Ben Fowers: one One interesting thing about that game.
Caleb Call: We have another game.
Ben Fowers: is so Oklahoma State. When they played Oregon, they kept Oregon under 100 yards rushing on the ground. and Tulsa went over 134. West Virginia being.
Ben Fowers: Pretty rushed, happy team. i I think it's one of those things where if Oklahoma State can play like they did against Oregon and keep them under 100 yards, I think they win this game by a lot. But if it's somewhere...
Caleb Call: Now the question is... is Hawkins. tipping off runner pass. like like Moore was for Oregon. As long as Hawkins' stance is the same on passing downs and rushing downs.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: I think West Virginia will be fine.
Ben Fowers: So you put that much stock into... to how Oklahoma State.
Caleb Call: not Not entirely.
Ben Fowers: Did against Oregon.
Caleb Call: But. Good. If you watch the Oregon game, It really did feel like every single time Morgan ran the ball, they were just getting stuffed right at the line of scrimmage. Good night. i do honestly think that that They probably would not have had that same success if it wasn't for.
Caleb Call: um more tipping it off as much as he did it might not have you know given a perfect explanation for every single play in that game but it definitely made sense afterwards seeing that Oklahoma State was right at the line, ready to go.
Caleb Call: It felt like whenever Oregon was trying to run the ball. so I guess we'll see. Maybe they are just that stout in the run game. But. West Virginia is going to be a different animal. Oregon has amazing receivers, and I feel like their offense.
Caleb Call: is shaped around the passing game. Whereas West Virginia is kind of the opposite. So being able to slow down Oregon's run game, I don't think will be a perfect one -to -one translation for slowing down West Virginia's run game. But it definitely is a promising start. to at least have a hope that you can.
Ben Fowers: yeah Um, for the next I guess for the next game in the Big 12. Kansas State versus Cincy. um This is an interesting one just because... They both kind of looked down last week.
Ben Fowers: Um, Kansas State kind of.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Looked like they had a shot to lose against Tulane. and Cincinnati almost lost to... in state rival Miami of Ohio.
Caleb Call: They were down 28 -7. that i had Just a wild game.
Ben Fowers: Yep. And so this is an intriguing one just because they both are coming and kind of off down weeks. and um This game's... at Cincinnati and so. since er Yeah, at Cincinnati. in Cincinnati being...
Ben Fowers: a six -point dog at home so it kind of is a closer line than i was expecting If you had asked me a week or two ago, I would have expected Kansas State to be better. weren't favored and so this is an intriguing one even though kansas state's coming on the road
Caleb Call: but Yeah, in this game. I don't think this is on anyone's radar in the whole country. There's a million other games to talk about. Both these teams are quietly 3 -0. In here, we we're guaranteed to have a 4 -0 team. coming out of this one. I don't think either of them will be ranked after a win. Maybe if Kansas State goes and beats them. 55 to 0 they'd have a chance but Yeah, I feel like this one.
Caleb Call: So neither of these teams, I think, are going to like win the Big 12 or win the Big 12 championship, especially not Cincinnati. Kansas State at least has a chance with their schedule. I'm excited to go see what Avery Johnson and...
Caleb Call: uh the new ah head coach over there can do colin klein i feel like
Ben Fowers: funly
Caleb Call: Kansas State. Has a lot of potential to be an explosive offensive team and we just haven't really seen it play out yet this year And they've played Tulane and Washington State and an FCS team. It's not like we've seen them challenged yet. Cincinnati should probably be the best team they've played to this point.
Caleb Call: and i'm hoping to see that offense step up a little bit here since now he's got a good defense that capable defense these maybe not good they've given up a lot of points to both miami ohio and Boston College.
Caleb Call: but should at least still be a pretty good challenge for the Wildcats. i'll be values paying attention to how the Wildcat offense looks because if they're struggling at Cincinnati. Could be a longer season than they're hoping for.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. show out i think it's one of those things where they're we've talked about their schedule being pretty light and so They're a Kind of an interesting watch after they... I mean, you never know how good Tulane is after they ah reloaded last year. so Them struggling last week made me hesitated.
Ben Fowers: to kind of talk about them as a legit contender. so im ah I'm curious to see this one. I expect them to win. but um I'm interested to see how it goes.
Caleb Call: Honestly, kind of an important game to set up another game. Kansas State has a bye after this week, and then they host Houston.
Ben Fowers: <unk> yep
Caleb Call: If you're the Big 12, you want... Houston to be ranked still, and you want Kansas State to be sitting there 4 -0 or ranked. That gives a good way to kind of highlight that game as a big one here in a couple of weeks. Houston before then, they played Georgia Southern this week on the road.
Caleb Call: And then they play UCF at home. So you're probably thinking Houston should come in 4 -1, probably ranked. Maybe Kansas State can sneak into the back of the. top 25 and lead into what should be a Pretty big game there with the Wildcats and Cougars in a few weeks.
Ben Fowers: Houston's kind of got a weird schedule. They got Tech on the road, and then they got that Kansas State game on the road, and then two weeks later they got Utah on the road. So a lot of their big games right now early in the year are on the road. So. it'll be They looked pretty good in Lubbock, so we'll see how ah they do in Manhattan against Kansas State this time.
Caleb Call: We've got two more conference games, TCU -UCF. Baylor, Colorado. obviously is a Cougar fan, I'll be watching TCU. Go play UCF. i Don't really think either one of those teams are gonna do anything this year UCF, granted it was in a crazy storm. They put up seven points against Pitt.
Caleb Call: And then they followed that up with a 44 -30 win over a bad Georgia State team. UCF, I feel like, is not... a Great. team this year TCU going on the road.
Caleb Call: They showed off. that They were not good out in Dublin. or Yeah, in Dublin, and they were not... great against Arkansas State. Kind of an important get -right game for TCU before they got... BYU coming into town.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it's it's weird. There was so much hype about Jane Craig coming into the year and Um, He just hasn't. That first game of the year against Bill Belichick, it was like a quick. Good first drive of the game. I can't remember if it was first two good drives of the game and then they...
Ben Fowers: Um, Bill Belichick kind of like stymied that. at the offense and then They just haven't looked right since. the The Arkansas State game, they only won 31 -7.
Ben Fowers: They only had 14 points at half. It was a 14 -7 game at half. and so
Caleb Call: It was 14 -7 with a minute left in the third.
Ben Fowers: Kind of just a lot of...
Caleb Call: That's when TCU finally put up some points in the third quarter.
Ben Fowers: yeah
Caleb Call: Took him an entire game to pull away from Arkansas State.
Ben Fowers: Yeah
Ben Fowers: And it was interesting is the the third quarter that. that drive they had was like a 15 play like eight or nine minute drive and so it was a it wasn't nothing was easy that game for TCU they did go on that long drive which Um,
Ben Fowers: which I mean, it's it's impressive to go on an 8 - or 9 -minute 15 -play drive. but It just doesn't seem like they have the explosive fireworks to. go beat some of the the better teams on their schedule. and so TCU and UCF is an interesting one. I think.
Ben Fowers: I think this one could get open. could be low scoring and could get ugly.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and If it is... I don't know who that benefit i don't know who that ah gives the advantage to. So we'll see how this one plays out. and it's It's an interesting one because both Utah and BYU go.
Ben Fowers: to tcu this year so it'll be a an interesting one to just to kind of keep our eyes on for that one.
Caleb Call: And BYU also goes to UCF, and at the beginning of the year, I honestly was a little nervous both for the UCF road trip and the TCU road trip. The UCF one. Like the matchup itself, I feel pretty good about BYU. But the fact that they're going on the road across the country right after they play Notre Dame and Provo.
Caleb Call: Win or lose, it's going to be a huge game, emotional carryover afterwards. And that's a long trip to make. Right after. But UCF hasn't shown enough on the field to feel like they are a legitimate threat. And then TCU as well. I feel like.
Caleb Call: I feel pretty good about UCF being a... lower end team in the big 12 this year and so We'll see if TCU stoops down to their level or if they seem like they're... a step above UCF i i think As a BYU fan, I'll have my eyes on this one, but I don't blame anyone else in the country for kind of letting these two play in the dark away from everyone else. they ah Both need to figure themselves out a little bit. Both still 2 -1, have everything in front of them. but I've not shown much to...
Caleb Call: Give a lot of faith. Another matchup between two 2 -1 teams, Baylor and Colorado. We just saw Colorado get pulverized. Deion says he's already kicked some players off the team for...
Caleb Call: Conduct detrimental. to the team not sure who not sure what that means but Things were already and going down in Boulder, and now they've got Baylor. on the schedule How do you think this one plays out?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it's an interesting one just because... ah I mean the when you first watched beta this year um They had DJ Lagway, and then he kind of, I mean, everyone that watched it, he was kind of limping around and didn't play a whole lot of that game before he held the end. He hasn't played the last two weeks. and um i the last report i saw is there there's a chance he's expected to play this week and so it's ah You really haven't seen Baylor with DJ Lagley besides that Auburn game, and he was limping around.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and uh I thought they would have won that game if he was healthy. Wow. And he just missed it. I mean, he missed a two -point throw. and He under, I mean.
Caleb Call: Lost by an inch.
Ben Fowers: launched by an inch because he threw it behind the guy caught it had to come back and then as he's trying to turn to get in he gets hit and he just threw it out in front of him but And then there was other plays during the game where it kind of limited him. So it'll be interesting to see how healthy he is. I expect Baylor to win this game. They're at home.
Ben Fowers: um Colorado, we've talked about it. It seems like a mess. and With DJ Lagway back, I assume he's healthy. And so.
Caleb Call: and even if he's not i still think baylor is the better team here
Ben Fowers: Hiya.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I agree. i Overall roster, I think they got more talent. and Honestly, their backup quarterback's been fine. So i I think this is one where Baylor should.
Ben Fowers: Should be good. And with DJ Lagway back, hopefully for Baylor's sake that they. He goes and makes plays. And who knows, maybe with DJ Lagway fully healthy, they would have. Maybe you got a legit – because Auburn actually didn't look terrible against Florida either. They kind of had a good offense. Baylor's defense kept them to 17 points. And so Baylor is an interesting.
Ben Fowers: Could be a sneaky team that. Once DJ Lagway is healthy, maybe they yeah do some damage on their schedule. They've got to. Um, They don't play anybody ranked. uh until their last three games and then they play At BYU, home against Texas Tech at Houston. so they They've kind of got a weird schedule where they could go on a little run and all of a sudden everybody's looking up and being like, oh, their only loss was Auburn and they're going into it.
Ben Fowers: a November stretch or maybe they. drop one other game somewhere. And so. if ah If Lagway works out for them, they kind of they could be a sneaky team.
Caleb Call: Yeah, and I kind of hope they are. I feel like... Dave Aranda. deserves a job in the Big 12. I feel like he is a good coach. and a If he can get things right, he's already won a Big 12 championship with Baylor.
Caleb Call: I'd love to see him keep his job, have a good enough season here and be able to build on it going into next year. and have a second shot with dj lagway again They definitely... I feel like have the ability to win every game on their schedule up until that last three -game stretch.
Caleb Call: um Colorado, ASU, TCU, Kansas, UCF, Iowa State I may have just named off the six worst teams in the Big 12. like that.
Ben Fowers: ASU is sneaky. That'll be ah that'll be a tough game.
Caleb Call: Yeah. In that game, they announced the game time.
Ben Fowers: but
Caleb Call: It's late night in Tempe, which might be a good thing to get out of the heat a little bit, but I know. su and everyone loves to play night games at home. so That'll be an interesting situation to be going into. but I would not be shocked at all if Baylor went out and won that game. And if they do. They should be favorites in the rest of these. five other games before their tough stretch to end it.
Ben Fowers: And if Lagos is healthy, they're going to kind of be a sneaky, dangerous team.
Caleb Call: okay
Ben Fowers: so
Caleb Call: Yeah. As far as the rest of the country goes, we have... a fun Slate. the sec I can't stand them. Hate everything about the SEC.
Caleb Call: They're giving us some fun games this week to pay attention to and watch. Big Ten's given us a few as well. We got a huge G5 showdown for what feels like. the fourth time in four weeks let's maybe start with talking about the Two main Big Ten games this week, USC -Oregon, Michigan -Iowa.
Caleb Call: I feel like both of these matchups feature four teams that I still have a lot of question marks about, starting with USC and Oregon. I don't know if Oregon has an offense or a defense, and I don't know if USC even wants to play defense.
Caleb Call: I honestly think. The USC -Oregon game. I don't know if you can learn much about either team from this game. because I still need the context of other matchups to know. like If Oregon goes and beats USC.
Caleb Call: I'm not sure I think USC is even the top 25 team with the way they're playing on defense, giving up 35 to Rutgers and 30 to Louisiana. And same goes if USC goes out and beats Oregon. like Oregon looked like trash against Oklahoma State and against Boise. i mean I honestly don't know what there will be to learn from this game.
Caleb Call: I expect. USC to be able to score and to not be able to slow down Oregon? I mean, what are you thinking we're going to? see out there at the Coliseum this week.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it's ah just watching USC defensively the past few weeks, they've ah they put a week zero game, so they're actually already 4 -0. And... they ah They're giving up 26 to San Jose State.
Ben Fowers: 30 to Louisiana, and the last week 35 to Rutgers. And honestly,
Caleb Call: They did shut out Fresno, so props to them for playing one good game defensively.
Ben Fowers: And.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, and so it's ah It's an interesting game just because you give up that many points to teams that are... Kind of that lower tier where you kind of expect Oregon to go put up a ton.
Ben Fowers: I don't know if those put up 84 like they did against Portland State, but.
Caleb Call: okay
Ben Fowers: ah
Caleb Call: Probably not.
Ben Fowers: um and score ah And score with like 15 seconds left. Did you see that Oregon tried – they were up 77 -0, and they instead of kneeing it out, they ran in another touchdown.
Caleb Call: Yes.
Ben Fowers: But I kind of expect Oregon to – I just don't think USC defensively can slow anyone down. And I think. um I think Oregon will be able to get. a couple of stops during the game to kind of make it. So this swings Oregon was away. And so I like Oregon this week. I Oregon, like you said, Oregon's kind of a a funky weird team where.
Ben Fowers: they They played that Boise game tight. They lose to Oklahoma State. And those are the only two games that you've seen. And so even if they win this game against a USC team that hasn't looked very good. Really, we're not going to.
Ben Fowers: feel like we know anything about Oregon until... November because they're pretty uh After the USC game, they're pretty light on their schedule until they play. um Ohio State and so and they'll have to go to Ohio State Amen. same day as the holy war and so it's a it's kind of a it's kind of an interesting schedule where i don't think we're going to know a whole lot about oregon for a while either
Caleb Call: Well... You say we won't know a whole lot about them. But I feel like. A UCLA, Nebraska, Illinois, Northwestern. and That's that stretch in October that they've got. All four of those teams.
Caleb Call: at the start of the year Illinois is 2 -1, but the others are all 3 -0 right now. Northwestern is 2 -0. They had a very early bye. I feel like all those teams probably feel like they're bowl teams. And if Oregon... struggled that much against Boise and Oklahoma State.
Caleb Call: There's a chance that Oregon keeps struggling and even drops a couple of these games. Now, I don't think Oregon can go out and prove that they're a championship contender until we see them go do it against Ohio State. But I think that they could prove themselves as a fraud, confirm themselves as a fraud pretty quickly during that stretch if they're sitting there in close games or even losing to teams like...
Caleb Call: UCLA or Northwestern. This USC road game. They follow it up with a bye. And so I feel like. If they can win this USC game, everyone's kind of sitting there forgetting about the Oregon, but they do have a chance here to.
Caleb Call: Jump up in the rankings and be right back on track to make the playoff. Honestly, their schedule is set up pretty nice for them to have a shot at that. Ohio State and Michigan are their two biggest games after this USC one.
Caleb Call: Then as far as USC goes. Again, I don't trust their defense. You don't trust their defense. Nobody trusts their defense. Right now. is sitting at 4 -0. You probably only have to go 10 -2.
Caleb Call: make the playoff. If you beat Oregon... You've got Penn State, Ohio State, Indiana. Those are your three toughest games left. Probably got to go. One and two there and when the rest what? washington wisconsin ucla maryland not a guarantee they go four and over those but Yeah, USC still has a bunch of tough games left, but they – don't have to go undefeated in those games if they can come out and beat Oregon.
Caleb Call: I, this is. Honestly, one of the rare big matchups where I really do feel like. Even after the game, I'm not going to have a definitive answer on who either of these teams are, though, just because.
Caleb Call: I feel like they're both on fraud watch. and two frauds playing each other doesn't make the winner a great team.
Ben Fowers: What if Oregon went and beat them 49 -14, just kind of dominated both sides of the ball?
Caleb Call: Okay.
Ben Fowers: and kind of Lincoln Riley's offense kind of got slimed down a little bit by landing in that defensive organs.
Caleb Call: Probably be the one situation where I wouldn't even fully trust Oregon yet. i would just be ready to pack like uh Lincoln Riley's bags and say goodbye, coach. and on to the next one out there at USC.
Ben Fowers: Have fun. Have fun going and coaching Florida Atlantic like Lane. Just kidding.
Caleb Call: Yeah. Honestly. if If Lincoln Riley gets fired from USC.
Ben Fowers: Hmm.
Caleb Call: You want to know where he should go? He should go to Florida State. That would be a fun next drive.
Ben Fowers: Ooh, that would be a fun one, yeah.
Caleb Call: Florida State wouldn't mind. some eight and four and nine and three seasons. They probably be begging for that right now. So.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: ah Yeah, an Oregon blowout, again, it's... A USC blowout. I don't think that a blowout would tell me enough about the winner. It would just tell me enough about the loser. The loser truly does suck. this year.
Caleb Call: Whichever team ends up. losing. maybe suck isn't the word but just clearly is not a playoff team. Dad. Iowa -Michigan is a little bit of the same thing. Iowa, we saw a struggle with Iowa State in their one real game they've played so far. They crushed Northern Illinois, crushed an FCS team. Congrats, Iowa, for that.
Caleb Call: Michigan struggled a ton in the first half against UTEP and then got things figured out and ended up blowing them out. Obviously beat Oklahoma. maybe beat Western Michigan, maybe lost to Western Michigan.
Caleb Call: Two teams that... Do not like the end zone. On offense or defense, this is going to be. a little bit of a rock fight And I honestly. i can't wait for this one i love watching defensive football even if it is because of inept offenses.
Caleb Call: I... I'm excited for this. This is where like one of the priority games for me this weekend. And I honestly think that. If Michigan can win, as much as I don't think that they belong anywhere near the playoff conversation.
Caleb Call: I think by the end of the year we might be. talking about them in the playoff consideration. just because of the way their schedule shakes out and the fact that they've already beaten Oklahoma, and if they win this one, the Iowa game as well.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, this is one of those ones where it's like before you go look at the over -under, you're like, I'm going to bet the under no matter what. And it came in at 38 and a half and it still feels high.
Ben Fowers: um It feels like one of those.
Caleb Call: 21 -17? Are we going to get five touchdowns in this game?
Ben Fowers: Yeah. and And Michigan, the most amount of points they've allowed this year is 17. And then Iowa, they've had two shutouts and then they've given up 13 to Iowa State. and so this is a Neither team has allowed more than 17 points this year, and they've both played a Power 5 team. and Michigan's played Oklahoma, beat them 17 -10, so only gave up 10.
Ben Fowers: Iowa went and beat Iowa State 16 -13. And so this is ah this is a low scoring. i The 38 feels like. It feels like it's high to me. So i ah I expect it to kind of look like that Michigan -Oklahoma game did.
Ben Fowers: and i I think it's going to be a pretty low scoring game.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and Yeah, I don't know who it favors I those type of games are kind of what I was built their brand off of. And so normally I would think that would give Michigan the.
Ben Fowers: Um, the benefit of the doubt, but because the this is Iowa's identity, I think. I think they'll have a shot to win this one. so
Caleb Call: There is no one. more comfortable. than kirk ferens in a game that is featuring field goals only.
Ben Fowers: yeah
Caleb Call: And Iowa, honestly, being as good as they always are in special teams, and I don't know enough about them this season to know if they still are. Especially if the team is juggernaut or not. or not but I mean, yeah, this game is really going to come down to can either.
Caleb Call: defense give their offense enough short fields to score some points because I don't think either offense is going to go on more than maybe one. 10 play EDR drive in this one.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Um... 38 and a half if that's what the over under is I might have to go put some money on the under there I would just be shocked if This game gets there. I don't expect many points there I'm kind of leaning Michigan with them being the home team.
Caleb Call: um But honestly, it's just. This is who Iowa wants to be. and Do we think that Kyle Winningham? Honestly, Kyle Whittingham and Kurt Ferencz is a pretty fun head coach matchup.
Caleb Call: they For a long time, they were the two most tenured head coaches at their school, Utah and Iowa.
Ben Fowers: mm -hmm
Caleb Call: Never got to see them play against each other. But both of them have this just defensive mindset where they're. The philosophy on offense really is. let's not put our defense in a bad situation and the philosophy on.
Caleb Call: defense is we're going to go out there and shut this offense down, starting with the run game. Honestly, I'm kind of sad we never got to see Utah and Iowa play.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I think this is a, I agree. I think Kyle and. I think he's kind of just always been that. He's kind of the exact same way where he's fine with those low -scoring games. where
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: um He kind of just makes it a dogfight defensive game. and Michigan's kind of an interesting team just because they they played that Western Michigan game where. um felt like they lost and then they they kind of It felt like handled Oklahoma that whole game.
Ben Fowers: They kind of outplayed them in the trenches. They outplayed them the whole game, it felt like. And it ended up being 17 -10, but I felt like Michigan was going to win that game the whole time. and then Last week, they play UTEP and are only up 17 -14 at half, so they have another bad.
Ben Fowers: It's almost like they're playing every other week.
Caleb Call: not Not only that. UTEP was up 14 -7 with like three minutes left in the half. And then Michigan got 10 points right at the end of the half. to make that halftime score look better than the first half really did play out.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. And so now you're like, it's almost like you had a get right game for the Oklahoma one. And same thing happened where you kind of have the letdown game against UTEP. And so now it's like. Does Michigan get up again for...
Ben Fowers: this Iowa game and so. um Being in the big house, fourth big house game in a row. They got four straight home games. I... I... I think Michigan. ah I mean, there's a reason where Michigan's the slight favorite is because they...
Ben Fowers: i mean they they got it in the big house. And so I think, ah I think they're going to be able to do this one, but I mean, I was a good team and they're going to be, I mean. Any low scoring game. I mean, if you can find a way to go score a touchdown instead of a field goal, you're going to be in a pretty good spot. So this game is going to be a.
Ben Fowers: As close to 50 -50 as you can get. so
Caleb Call: Yeah, this is going to be a game that you can turn it on halfway through the fourth quarter and feel like you haven't missed anything.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: um The Big Ten, that's about all for that slate. But the SEC, they have. five to seven games that we could talk about. College game day is going to...
Caleb Call: Knoxville this week for Tennessee. hosting Texas. Sarkeesian, Arch Manning, big road test for them. They already beat Ohio State. Despite looking terrible for three quarters against Ohio State, they found a way to one.
Caleb Call: How confident do you feel about Texas this year? Because last year. They were a roller coaster ride up and down. They had great moments. They had awful moments. They lost to a terrible Florida team. looked like trash against Kentucky and Mississippi State, but managed to eke out wins in both of those ones on the road.
Caleb Call: You think that Texas can go out there and handle business on the road in Knoxville?
Ben Fowers: I do. i ah i just It's hard to know anything about Tennessee right now. They have they play Georgia Tech. and beat Georgia Tech by a few scores, and that was really their only big game on their schedule so far. And so they kind of feel like one of those. middle -tier SEC teams that's always ranked early in the year that might end up never winning a like they might never beat a team that was above 500 like last year.
Ben Fowers: And so. I just don't know about Tennessee. The line's closed. They got it tied. It's in kno or it's in ah Knoxville. And so. I like Texas, I think.
Ben Fowers: Just kind of. Even though they didn't look very good to start the game against Ohio State, and having the kind of having the guts to come back. and Score three touchdowns there late, I think. they're gonna be uh i mean they're battle tested now they're go beat a team like Ohio State, you're going to be able to. Um, you're going to feel confident going into any game. And so I like Texas. this is their first road game of the year as well. And so.
Ben Fowers: This will be interesting to see how they how they treat an SEC environment on the road in 2026, because last year they kind of. was what bit him in the butt was these rug games.
Caleb Call: I'm going to go over these road games last year. They go to Ohio State and lose 14 -7. Often puts up seven despite putting up a lot more yards and Ohio State in that one Then they get a bunch of home games.
Caleb Call: their next to road game. At Florida. Off of Bi -Week, they go to Florida. And they lose 29 -21 to a Florida team that went 4 -8. You had the famous quote from Sir Cusion where he's talking about.
Caleb Call: i'm not sure there's a 20 teams in the country that would go out to Gainesville and win a game. Meanwhile... a usf team that didn't even win the american went to the swap and beat florida just a few weeks earlier so Two losses on the road.
Caleb Call: And then they played two of more SEC teams that missed bowl games at Kentucky. They won 16 -13. Kentucky, I've never seen a team struggle so much in the red zone in that one. Kentucky more than doubled Texas' as yardage in that game.
Caleb Call: We just couldn't score points. Texas wins 16 -13 against the back Kentucky team. Follow it up down by 17 points at Mississippi State the very next week. End up winning in overtime 45 -38.
Caleb Call: But just a huge comeback win against, again, a bad Mississippi State team. And then their last road game of the year at Georgia. They lose 35 -10, get blown off the field.
Caleb Call: so i mean really they they played four road games Or, sorry, five road games. And that those might have been their five worst games of the season. that was Not anything.
Caleb Call: that gives me a lot of confidence about them on the road here against Tennessee. And Tennessee is a team, I mean, last year we can go and nitpick them as well. They played. Eight teams. that had losing records and they played five teams that had winning records and they finished eight and five winning exactly the eight games against bad teams and losing the five games against good teams so We'll see. One of those streaks has to end here. Is Tennessee going to be the team that can have a winning record, or is Texas going to? win a game on the road and actually give their fans some uh
Caleb Call: encouragement for road trips the rest of the year. do Do you trust Arch Manning? And I don't know if you saw against UTSA, he had... Pretty bad stats. He was doing fine. And then he took a big hit that knocked his helmet off.
Caleb Call: In the rest of the game he was awful. Maybe a concussion that... got through the protocol there i don't know but I'm not sure he's going to be 100 % after that big of a hit he took against UTSA. and We've seen him struggle. We've seen him play really well. Do you think he's going to be?
Caleb Call: I mean able to go out there and leave the charging in Tennessee.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I do I I think it's bad. The end of the day, like you said, Tennessee was... fraudulent last year. They were 0 -5 against those teams. And um three of them were, one of them was in a bowl game. and So there are four games that they lost in the regular season. Three of them were home games. and so It's not like they were doing this on the road.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I think this is a... I think Arches. I think honestly. The first full year of... him being a starter, I think everyone's expectations were just too high. And I think he was a good starting quarterback, but.
Ben Fowers: the expectations was he was going to be a Heisman candidate. and so Um, I think if... Like if you were to switch. him and bear. I think BYU fans would have been happy with him last year with what he did at Texas. And so I uh...
Ben Fowers: it's kind of an interesting thing where you're you're manning the name on your last back or the name on your Back. is kind of gives you the expectations that you're going to be. the absolute best. You're going to be Peyton Manning out there. And so when you're not, it kind of is you get Nick picked a lot. And so Texas is kind of an interesting team. I think now with a full year.
Ben Fowers: as the starter under his belt, a full offseason as the starter, now a second offseason, I should say. Being the starter. I think he's a I think he's gonna be improved. I think he's gonna um He's going to be better. and Even the Ohio State game, you saw it and start out slow and then kind of come on late. And so I think it's a I think it's one where.
Ben Fowers: He's a... I think he's going to be a... he doesn't feel like he's a top one quarterback right now but like like he's wow like he was prospect to be but he kind of he feels like he's a guy that's going to be good enough to to win games. and Not take over a game, but he's good enough to win games with the talent around him.
Caleb Call: This is a huge game for Tennessee. If they can find a way to win this one. Their schedule looked tougher. preseason than it does right now. they have Auburn and Arkansas, and then they host Alabama.
Caleb Call: And then. They get South Carolina, Kentucky, and at the end of the year, they go to Texas A &M, and they get LSU. So i mean their biggest games are going to be Bama. I guess you can throw Kentucky in there now.
Caleb Call: Texas A &M and LSU. You beat Texas, all you got to do is go 2 -2 in those games. You're probably a playoff team. And I don't think – I think Tennessee probably is fraudulent.
Caleb Call: they ended up being Georgia Tech 45 -24, but it went a lot like the Texas A &M ASU game went, where Georgia Tech was just handing them points and couldn't overcome it themselves. But, I mean...
Caleb Call: um parker fleming he always posts on twitter for anyone who doesn't follow him he tracks success rate and he'll go and measure an entire game down to down, which team was more successful.
Caleb Call: in Georgia Tech. technically down to down outplayed Tennessee. It's just that their bad plays were really bad, and Tennessee's good plays were really good, and that was enough to get a three -score win.
Caleb Call: And we saw Georgia Tech struggle mightily with Colorado to start the year. I don't think they were any good.
Ben Fowers: Do does he did did they do that for every single game?
Caleb Call: Every single game, yeah.
Ben Fowers: Do you uh... I'd be curious to know the Texas A and &M Arizona State one. how close that was.
Caleb Call: i have to go find it it never popped up on my feed automatically because i i pushed back on him once and he blocked me after one tweet so It comes on my feed when somebody...
Caleb Call: like quote tweets it or something. Well, what? Ended up getting me blocked. right Parker, please reconsider if somehow you listened to this. He, uh... I just.
Caleb Call: he measures every positive play the exact same way. So like, for example, on first down. It's considered a success if you get 50 % of the yardage. So if it's first and 10, if you get five yards, success.
Caleb Call: If you get 80 yards touchdown. Success both of those are just yes one success It's not measured based on how good your good plays were. and So I just pushed back on him a little bit there. and was enough to get me blocked so Parker please reconsider. I do love your content but Yeah, we can go find that. I'd be curious to see, too, how the ASU -Texas A &M game looked. um I imagine ASU either outplayed them or was very close to outplaying them.
Ben Fowers: That's why I was wondering about it because you get the two defensive touchdowns late for A &M.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: You never know if that... ah I mean how close that is
Caleb Call: Speaking of A and &M, you've got the... consolation bowl here with two teams that lost us last week, A and &M. going to Baton Rouge against LSU.
Caleb Call: Kind of a... Get back game for both teams and... Feels like an early elimination game for both teams. The loser of this one's already going to have two losses in September. what's up hard hole to dig yourself out of.
Caleb Call: Do you think that this one... Texas A &M's got much of a shot in this one. Do you think it's going to be LSU all the way?
Ben Fowers: I mean, it's got a, the line's three points. I was shocked it was that little. I i like LSU, and so.
Caleb Call: hours too.
Ben Fowers: I, uh, when and especially It's in Baton Rouge, like you said. So it's in Baton Rouge. LSU is coming off of ah a bad loss, too. So it's not like it's a... Trap game. that way and so Hiya.
Ben Fowers: I like LSU to get back. and Yeah. kind of come Turn it to 3 -1 and kind of knock Texas A &M out of the the playoffs. Last year you saw Notre Dame lose two games in September and then win 10 straight. and didn't make it. I think this is...
Ben Fowers: I mean, Texas A and &M is going to fall out of the polls if they lose this game. I think they're not making it back. They do have ah an SEC schedule, which is different than a... the Notre Dame does but I yeah The top end of Texas A &M's schedule isn't.
Ben Fowers: um To the caliber as some of those other SEC they got Bama in Texas Are there two? like really big marquee games and so i think a 10 and 2 a m team might be looking
Caleb Call: Amen.
Ben Fowers: I'll be on the outside looking in.
Caleb Call: Yeah, and... They won't go 10 -2, especially if they lose this one. I've been so unimpressed with the Aggies. And it's tough because last year. I feel like the whole world. New. A &M was a fraud.
Caleb Call: They played the seven worst teams in the SEC. and then the one good team they played was Texas and they lost. um And then.
Ben Fowers: Their schedule was the reason they didn't make the SEC title game too. There was a three -way tie and they fell out because their strength of schedule was so bad because they literally only played Texas.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: That was like the only team that was above 500.
Caleb Call: Yeah. And honestly, it was – I mean, we saw them in the playoff put up three points at home against Miami. Now, granted, Miami had a great defense, but – Three points at home in your first ever playoff game. which just what What a showing. Good job, Texas A &M.
Caleb Call: The fraudulence continues. I think they'll lose to LSU pretty comfortably. Another surprise spread, and maybe it shouldn't be too much of a surprise because Florida has a good team and a bunch of good players, and they play a good game against Auburn. but There. a favorite. over Ole Miss, who is number four in the country.
Caleb Call: Beat Louisville. Beat LSU. Going on the road to the swamp. Were you pretty surprised to see that opening spread?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I was shocked. i ah I think just. in general I guess the betting world Vegas is just taking it as a you This game, the LSU game last week was circled all offseason. That's where they spent all their energy. And now this is the trap game in the swamp right after. and so I, uh...
Ben Fowers: It's crazy that there are. A three -point favorite, too. i i I thought it would be... I would have been... If you had told me it was three for Ole Miss, I still thought it would have been too small. And so it's kind of ah an interesting one where Vegas is really liking the. the trap game here.
Caleb Call: Yeah. and I get it. I mean, the swamp is... a tough place to play. And. Ole Miss. It's not like they blew out LSU and blew out Louisville. Those were close games. And if you think that Florida is about the same level as a Louisville and LSU.
Caleb Call: going on the road to Florida is not going to be. Easy at all for Ole Miss. Um. I am hoping Ole Miss goes and wins this one. I love Trinidad Chambliss. I love Pete Golden. I think it's awesome how.
Caleb Call: Pete Golden just took over and is already... I mean, he proved himself as a great head coach with the wins he already has under his belt in his first. six games coaching. It's kind of crazy. And so.
Caleb Call: By the way. There's probably nobody in the history of college football that probably has a more impressive first six games as a head coach. One of those games is a loss to Miami.
Caleb Call: But the wins. wins over Tulane in the playoffs in the blowout, win over Georgia, win over LSU, win over Louisville. I mean, that's four. legitimate ranked wins now you got a chance to add a fifth in your seventh game at florida in the swamp I think Ole Miss wins this one. I think Florida.
Caleb Call: They played two bad teams to start, Florida Atlantic and an FCS team. And then they play. Auburn. who we saw Auburn struggle with Baylor.
Caleb Call: and You beat them 44 -39, gave up a ton of points in that one. I think Florida is a better team than they were last year where they went four and eight and they were still able to go get a team like Texas in the swamp. I think Florida is.
Caleb Call: Better than that? But I think this Ole Miss team will be too much for them.
Ben Fowers: This was kind of an interesting game, though, because... I mean, they give up a ton of points. It looks like a pretty close game. um Florida scored early in the in the fourth quarter and made it a three -score game, and it didn't feel like it was.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: Kind of a game until Auburn. Scored. two They scored twice, two touchdowns late in the game to kind of... shrink the lead and so It was tight for most of the game before Florida pulled away at the end. but Florida's tough.
Ben Fowers: they ah I really like this running back for them. Jane Baugh.
Caleb Call: Boz in the Heisman race for sure.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. He's legit. I think he's i thought was the best running back coming into the year. I i think Boz now. i ah I really like Ball. I think he's the type of guy that can change a game. and um I think.
Ben Fowers: And you just saw, I mean, week one, you saw Ole Miss give up. 38 to... um Louisville. And so I think this is a game where I think Florida could. put up points. and kind of make it a tight game. And I like this as a really tight game that comes down to the fourth quarter. And I lean Ole Miss still, but I think Florida's capable of winning this game. I think Vaughn, their playmakers, and Summerall, I think. He's going to have the crew going. I, uh...
Ben Fowers: I'm curious to see if ah if they get Ole Miss after this trap game, after they spent all their. offseason energy to go beat LSU.
Caleb Call: Yeah. Can't wait to watch that one. i mean Props to the SEC. We're getting some fun games on the schedule we haven't even talked yet about. Mississippi State and Missouri, two undefeated teams at the back of the top 25. Huge win for both of those teams if they can pull it off. It'll kind of propel them for the rest of the year.
Caleb Call: Then you got. Georgia. Hosting Oklahoma, 14 .5 -point favorites. Probably didn't see that coming at the beginning of the year, but Oklahoma's obviously struggled a ton.
Ben Fowers: I think that's too low
Caleb Call: Yes, I
Ben Fowers: oklahoma Oklahoma can't score. They're so bad.
Caleb Call: 14 points against New Mexico and 7 of that because of the crowd helping to tear out. I still just... I can't believe this Oklahoma team is as bad as they are on offense. They saw all the struggles they had last year. It's just like as if they doubled down. is I'm thinking the only issue in the whole offense is that Mateer's hand was hurt, and his hand this year, being healthy, was going to fix it.
Ben Fowers: Matera might be the most overrated.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: like consider like he's like a top tier quarterback he's considered that he's the most overrated of those top tier type of guys So.
Caleb Call: I don't know how many teams in the country would trade their quarterback for Mateer. Even teams that don't love their quarterback probably aren't trying to trade for Mateer right now.
Ben Fowers: no
Caleb Call: And with the price tag that I'm sure Mateer comes with, I mean, I'm sure he's making. upwards of anywhere from two to five million who knows and He's not worth a single one of those pennies that are Can't beat to him. Whereas Mississippi State, Kamario Taylor. He's worth every single penny he's getting paid. He looked awesome against South Carolina.
Caleb Call: I'm excited to see him play Missouri. Like Tennessee, Missouri also went 8 -5 with five losses to everyone with a winning record and eight wins against... teams with losing records. Feels like Missouri.
Caleb Call: This year they struggled a little bit with Kansas. They struggled a lot with Troy, 27 -17, and that game was a seven -point game for almost the entire second half. I think Mississippi State. get to win. and I think Kamaru Taylor continues to shine. Honestly, Mississippi State's a team that I'll have my eye on almost every week the rest of the year.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. What do you think the... Do you think Kamario Taylor is at Mississippi State next year?
Caleb Call: Yes. And... I feel like. And Mississippi State's obviously an SEC team that's got money. But the other thing with Kamaru Taylor, too, is He's a year away from the NFL.
Caleb Call: He... He has all the money in the world to make in the NFL. He, I feel like, already in the first few weeks of the season has almost solidified himself as a first -round prospect. Even if he has a bad rest of the year.
Caleb Call: A team will fall in love with him like they did with Anthony Richardson just based on what he's already shown on tape. um And that dude just seems loyal. He grew up right next to Starkville. That dude loves Mississippi State. I don't know if you've seen his interviews or what he's talked about. but I don't think he's going anywhere.
Caleb Call: and Now, the question of that is, you Mississippi State, you've got him for two years, this year and next year. Can you elevate your team to get him to the playoff? I don't know if that squad is good enough to do it this year.
Caleb Call: But if you've got Camario going into next year. Those boosters better pony up, not just for Camario. but Get a squad around him. I would love to go see a new team in the SEC like Mississippi State step up. and be a playoff contender. They might be able to do it this year. um they have a tough schedule it won't be necessarily easy to do They've still got.
Caleb Call: Bama, LSU, Texas, and Ole Miss, they'd have to go in. Probably win. three of those so We'll see if they're able to do it, but yeah. i I hope he's still at Mississippi State. I feel like.
Caleb Call: With NIL and the portal and everything a team should be able to keep a hometown quarterback I'd be pretty disappointed with the whole. college football world. if They can't keep Camario.
Ben Fowers: they the type He's the type of guy that's just been stolen year after year in the new NIL portal.
Caleb Call: Miami and Ohio State are going to call. I guarantee it.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, well, Miami, is Mensah, is he draft eligible this year?
Caleb Call: I'm almost positive he is. Because, yeah, he played at Tulane and played a year at Duke, so this is at least his third year.
Ben Fowers: Okay, so he's draft eligible, yeah. so Yeah, it'll be curious to see if Miami seems like they're a... a one -and -done type of thing the last few years where they just go pay you a lot of money for a new guy, the new the new toy. so hopefully ah Hopefully the $7 million dollars that they're offering Mensa or whatever it was.
Ben Fowers: isn't enough to pull him. my way, so.
Caleb Call: All right, well, let's run through our pick -em for the week. We replaced, since BYU is on a bye week, we usually pick those two and five other games. We're doing six other games this week. So we'll start with Utah and Iowa State. I said at the beginning of the year.
Caleb Call: I do not think Utah goes 6 -0. now Utah's been impressive in the first three weeks. I probably should have faith in them to go 6 -0, but the game I've had circled ever since that schedule came out.
Caleb Call: was the road trip to Jimmy Rogers Iowa State Cyclones. And we might be playing in a cyclone. against the Cyclones. I honestly don't have a lot of basis to make this pick, but I'm going to trust Jimmy and the boys to get it done.
Caleb Call: 27 to 24. i honestly don't feel great about the pick but If Utah's going to lose any of these next three games, I feel like this is the only one that they have a legitimate chance to lose. so Give me the Cyclones in a close one.
Ben Fowers: I got Utah 27 -10. I got this one going under quite a bit. The over -under is 48 .5, so I only got 37 points. I got the weather kind of slowing the game down. um Like I said before, 20 points for Iowa. You said 27 for Iowa. 20 is the.
Ben Fowers: Easiest bet. of the week going under the point total for Iowa. So I'm going 10 points. I think that might be too high. They scored 13 against Iowa. ah Now you've got bad weather on top of it, Utah's defense. where I mean...
Ben Fowers: All Iowa State does is run the ball. And so I think this is just going to play right into Utah's hand. I think Utah dominates the game. I think Utah wins.
Caleb Call: I trust the Iowa State run game. Flora looked amazing. I like Jalen Rainer. I think he'll be able to do some stuff. and 27 -24 might be too high scoring, but... I... I'm set alert.
Caleb Call: Iowa State. You're going to get it done.
Ben Fowers: for For listeners out here, Caleb projects Buta to go 4 -8 every year based on his win -loss total. so
Caleb Call: That's not true.
Ben Fowers: This is a...
Caleb Call: If you remember from the beginning of the year,
Ben Fowers: This is just one.
Caleb Call: I picked Utah to go 9 -3. Losing to BYU. losing to one of Arizona or TCU, which now apparently is going to be Arizona. I have Utah beating Houston. I...
Caleb Call: Just... one of these three games to start the year in the big 12 play i feel like we'll catch them And.
Ben Fowers: and And pick them groups. It's always like six and six. He always, he always takes a shot to get you target. to get upset. And so this is a, this is a traditional Caleb pick. Don't, don't fit or don't follow. Don't tell him he's going to lose your money this week.
Caleb Call: What's funny is Ben saying that with all the amount of times he picks against BYU.
Ben Fowers: It's been pretty good in my lifetime though.
Caleb Call: We'll see. Not the last few seasons, at least. Um... Next game up, West Virginia, Oklahoma State. I think we'll disagree on this one again. I've got the Mountaineers. Give me 31 -30 for the Mountaineers. I think they get it done in a high -scoring, crazy game. I trust their offense. and Ding dong.
Caleb Call: Do it at home.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, this one I like, Oklahoma State, I think. Just what they did to Oregon's run game, i I'm just going to trust them to be able to. to hold them down just a little bit, West Virginia's identity of...
Ben Fowers: the run game, and I still got them putting up points. and I got this one, 34 -27 Oklahoma State. I think Oklahoma State. does enough where they can come out on top of this one.
Caleb Call: Kansas State Cincinnati. 3 -0 bull here with these two teams. I like Kansas State by seven, 24 to 17. I think it'll be a lower scoring game. i Don't.
Caleb Call: Fully trust Avery Johnson and the Kansas State offense to this point in the year. And I think that Cincinnati will be able to slow them down and stay in the game. but Not enough to win it.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. Yeah, just what? Cincinnati did last week against Miami. I'm just not sold on Cincinnati. And so I got this one kind of going. few scores the other way so I got Right, same waist, but.
Ben Fowers: I think it's a Kansas State 34 -17 in this one. I think Kansas State's going to be too much, and they win by a handful of scores.
Caleb Call: Jumping into SEC play, Texas -Tennessee. I've been tempted to go Tennessee just because I don't trust Texas on the road. but i Just don't trust Tennessee as a team yet Give me Texas in the close one, 30 -27. I think that Texas will.
Caleb Call: Get a big lead early, make you think they're going to blow them out, and then just slowly let Tennessee back into it and be able to do just enough to hold on for the win.
Ben Fowers: I got this one going under as well. I got a... I got you, or I got Texas. um 27 -20 over Tennessee. and Tennessee's like Even if you look at their games they lost last year at home, they were kind of a tight game. They played Georgia.
Ben Fowers: I don't know. overtime game against Georgia last year. And so I still think it's a close game. I think Texas does enough to. to win this one 27 -20.
Caleb Call: Iowa, Michigan. hardest pick of the week for me i feel like these two teams it's like looking into a mirror with each other I'm going to trust on the road. Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes. to get a win here.
Caleb Call: Give me Iowa. 13 to 9. One touchdown on the day. probably defensive for Iowa. Give me the hot guys.
Ben Fowers: I, uh... I liked. Witt and Jay Hill to do it against Oklahoma. i I like them again this week. i They got another home game. I think this is going to be a low -scoring game. I don't think Iowa's going to do much on offense against Michigan, I think. This one ends up going under. the 38 and a half, the low total already. And I got. 20 to 10, Michigan.
Ben Fowers: Winning this one. of the kind of a fist fight.
Caleb Call: 20 -10, that's getting dangerously close to the over on the 38 .5 there. We'll see. That's a lot of points.
Ben Fowers: Or did I say 28?
Caleb Call: 20 to 10.
Ben Fowers: No, I was gonna say 20 to 10 so 30 it's still not quite it's still eight points away from the over -under on a pretty low scoring line anyways
Caleb Call: Okay.
Caleb Call: Boise Western, Michigan. One of the games that I'm super excited to see about. see who boise is again we have another chance to be their third big game to start the year Western Michigan.
Caleb Call: They looked awesome against Michigan, especially defensively. and then um They've done just enough to still be. just have that one loss. and I've got Boise here on the road. I know playing in Kalamazoo might be a...
Caleb Call: different and interesting experience for Boise. e Probably not a place that they've ever played before. Give me Boise 37 -34.
Ben Fowers: Hiya! This one I would have always... penciled in Boise from the get -go but Boise just hasn't impressed me recently. they They didn't look great against Memphis. They didn't look great against South Dakota. Did enough to win both those games. And just the Western Michigan and what they did against Michigan, I think.
Ben Fowers: Um, Being a team that's... Kind of got to. chip on their shoulder after They lose that game where they feel like they they had won it. and Now they're sitting here. They feel like they're 3 -0. They're 2 -1 on the schedule. i think they're a The seven -point line, seven -and -a -half -point line for Boise State coming into Kalamazoo, I think ah i think Western Michigan does enough to to go knock off the Broncos.
Ben Fowers: ah what Broncos away from the blue turf. So I, I like Western Michigan. I feel like. Boise always gets these big ones. On the blue turf and this one. is away from the blue turf so give me western michigan as a as a dog
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Caleb Call: I like the pick. and Now to finish it out in the Coliseum, Oregon and USC, the Fraud Bowl. I'm going to take the Ducks here, 41 -35. I think it'll be close all the way through. I think Oregon ends up just being more consistent on offense.
Caleb Call: Get the win.
Ben Fowers: This one is... So fascinating to me. guys I mean, you're sitting here, you're looking at the over -under and it's... 62 and a half. It started at 58 and a half and it's now to 62 and a half.
Ben Fowers: I think that's too low. I don't think these defenses can play. I don't think they're gonna stop each other. And so I'm going way over and I'm going to go. 45. Duh.
Ben Fowers: 34. ducks. And so. Um, To tally up that, that's 79 points. That's 17 points over the... over under that's already uh
Caleb Call: and already high over under.
Ben Fowers: That's already high and so I just don't I I don't trust USC at all on defense. I don't think they can get a stop. I do think USC's offense has been good enough this year to score points. and Hiya. I would. I would lean on Oregon being able to slow USC down more than USC being able to slow Oregon down. So I think Oregon puts up enough points to do whatever they want. And so and I do.
Ben Fowers: I do trust ah Lincoln Riley enough that. I think they they score enough points where they keep it. kind of close and i got 45 34 and it just a Shoot out of the game
Caleb Call: Yeah, we both can have the same read on that one As far as super dogs go, who are your two super dogs this week?
Ben Fowers: Yeah. So first super dog, I already mentioned it. Western Michigan. I like them at home. I like them Boise's. Boys is away from the blue turf. I feel like they get those big games on the blue turf a lot of the time. They're going on the road. West Michigan team that honestly punched. Michigan in the mouth.
Ben Fowers: um controlled the line of scrimmage and did what they needed to do. Like it wasn't a fluke game where they had like a pick six, so a punt return, a special teams play. Like it was mid Western Michigan went and kicked four field goals and played good defense and kind of.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: did what they needed to do to to beat a Michigan team in the big house. and so It's kind of a Western Michigan is a team where. No. They kind of seem like a little bit of a contrast of Boise State. Boise State's kind of been in, like, they were in a little bit higher of a scoring game against Oregon, and Western Michigan's have been in kind of these lower scoring games. And so I think their contrast style is going to make it interesting where it can go either way. but My super dog, seven and a half points. I ah i like him for covering for sure. And i like i think I think Western Michigan can go.
Ben Fowers: control the line of scrimmage and do what it takes to win this game. And so give me ah Western Michigan as my first. My first dog. Bye. And you want to do your first one next? You want me to go second one?
Caleb Call: Yeah, it's your second one, too.
Ben Fowers: Okay, I'm going to the Big Ten. So give me a Wisconsin this week. So Wisconsin. Last week they played. um Notre Dame tough.
Ben Fowers: and They, uh... They're playing at Penn State this week. And, or sorry, they played Notre Dame tough the week one. And if you look at the score, you're like, no, they didn't. It was 41 -13. That all came pretty late in the game. and Hiya.
Ben Fowers: Watching that Wisconsin game, I was like, man, i I like the... I was kind of doing some research on them and they got a lot of transfers in this year, more transfers than they ever had. He, he kind of talked the.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: There was this thing about Luke Fickle and how he talked the the boosters into... Um, kind of paying up this year. And that was kind of his last pitch before he got fired. And so he. I think he's kind of all in on the season and he played a really tough game and Notre Dame ended up kind of pulling away.
Ben Fowers: later in that one. and um I like what Wisconsin's, the pieces they have. and Penn State, I'm just not sure about. i You've got it.
Caleb Call: They struggled a lot with Temple, which did not leave you very inspired.
Ben Fowers: And they. ah Yeah, and I mean, it was at Temple, so it was an in Eagle Stadium. but um The... 27 -9 against a Temple team. That's not very good. They lost last week to Toledo. and uh I just think Penn State.
Ben Fowers: They don't have the firepower to really dominate a game like this. where it's a nine and a half point line. It's a huge line. So I like the cover. I like the i like Wisconsin. to potentially win this one outright. and another Another factor in this one was...
Ben Fowers: Wisconsin avoided the wide -out night game. at Penn State.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: So this kind of was like ah an afternoon slated game. And so I think everything's kind of... playing towards a Wisconsin. um kind of program get -right game. and So give me a give me Wisconsin to take down pennny or Penn State this week.
Caleb Call: I honestly like the pick there. My two super dogs. My first one. I love Louisville. Love everything they're doing. They have already played two huge games against Ole Miss, which they lost at SMU.
Caleb Call: And now it feels like the rest of their schedule is ahead of them. They have a chance to go. and win out and beat the ACC championship. But they've got a home game against a Wake Forest team. to They already beat Purdue, who looks improved from last year.
Caleb Call: They lost. a game to Miami 33 to 20 and in the second half they played better than Miami and they granted it seemed like Miami just kind of Put things on hold there. But Wake Forest, they went 9 -4 last year. They had a good team.
Caleb Call: Give me Wake Forest. They're a 12 .5 -point dog. I don't know if I necessarily trust them to go out there and win the game. I think this one's going to be close. I think Wake Forest is good. I think Louisville, this is a little bit of a trap game after a few big games early to where that could be a game that they...
Caleb Call: All of a sudden, you look up and it's tied in the fourth quarter. and kind of catches you off guard so Give me the Demon Deacons. And then my second pick. This one feels too obvious. And I'm going to...
Caleb Call: Bite for it. It's ah Tulsa, Arkansas. Arkansas we saw it look awful against. both ah Georgia and Utah. They really didn't even look good against North Alabama either.
Caleb Call: And now Tulsa, they did beat Oklahoma State. But they struggled a lot with Sam Houston, who I don't think is great. They're a six and a half point dog to Arkansas on the road. um Give me Tulsa. I just really don't trust anything about Arkansas or Ryan Silverfield. I wouldn't be shocked if Ryan only lasts one year in Fayetteville before he's out. and I think a torso loss could be something that.
Caleb Call: Already. Four games in, good. do them in which is crazy to say but I mean those fans have already turned on Ryan quick there's already I mean have you seen Fans are talking about showing up.
Caleb Call: in paper bags or even just like I've seen. people posting online about Gray out in the stadium, gray being the bleachers, just don't show up. they They're trying to protest Ryan Silverfield.
Caleb Call: I wouldn't be shocked if he loses control of the team and it starts with the loss to Tulsa this week.
Ben Fowers: I mean, Tulsa, I mean, they went and beat Oklahoma State, and I think if you were to – pick Oklahoma State. Arkansas, you'd probably pick Oklahoma State. and so um I mean... i don't mind it 7 .7 points right there that's That feels like a pretty good pick right there.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I like the pick.
Caleb Call: So to end this off, let's... Throw a couple of teams and... Do a contenders or... Pretenders segment here. we uh can kind of decide how we define contender for contender i'm going to say it's a team that i think can not only make the playoff but win a playoff game against a power forward team so somebody who not just sneak in there kind of fraudulently like Texas A &M, but somebody who can actually go and win a game. in the playoff.
Caleb Call: Do you find up that definition here?
Ben Fowers: Yep.
Caleb Call: So to start off first contender or pretender, I'm going to throw to you. is going to be LSU.
Ben Fowers: I'm going contender. i ah I talked a little bit about this game. um last time but LSU, they're They went three and out, three and out. Finally got a first down, still ended on a punt.
Ben Fowers: And then their fourth drive and last drive of the first half, they went and scored a touchdown. So it was one of those things where it was a super slow start. They're down 24 -7. And then they got going in the second half. And honestly, kind of a gritty game to even.
Ben Fowers: go tie it with Ole Miss. And so I ah i think LSU, like I said this last time, I'd pick LSU if they went and played that game again.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And I think LSU is going to. find their way back in the playoff. And I think they're going to be able to. win a game against anybody they suit up against. And so they're their roster's talented enough. They've spent enough NIL to...
Ben Fowers: to kind of go. a mono -y mono with anybody. And so, I mean, they drop a game, a big one on their schedule, but I i like them.
Caleb Call: Yeah, I agree with that. I think that they are still a contender. but I don't fully trust Sam Levitt yet. And so if the quarterback play doesn't improve, I could see them kind of s slipping into pretender status.
Ben Fowers: right Here's my... ah here's my next one Alabama.
Caleb Call: It's one that I was going to give to you too. This is an interesting pick for me because. Keelan Russell. It's been very good. They put up a lot of points against Kentucky and against Florida State.
Caleb Call: Kentucky and Florida State, I mean, Florida State is a bad team. Kentucky seems like they're a good team, but they're still not like world leaders. And for... Two -thirds of both of those games, Alabama was playing even with their opponent.
Caleb Call: Florida State got up big early. Alabama didn't really pull away until the third quarter, late in the third. and then Kentucky. Kentucky had the lead at halftime. That game was...
Caleb Call: a one -point game uh pretty late into the third before alabama kind of poured it on I think I want to put Alabama in contender. But... There's a little bit of an asterisk there and it's that.
Caleb Call: We still haven't seen them prove it on the field. But I like the talent on offense. I think the offense is going to be good enough to. score on most anyone they play. I like what Ryan Grubb is doing there.
Caleb Call: contender But they're on the watch list. Same as LSU. I feel like both of them are kind of on the fringe right now for me.
Ben Fowers: <unk>
Caleb Call: all right Next one for you. Going to give you Texas Tech.
Ben Fowers: Texas Tech, I'm going to go Pretender. i ah Watching this Texas Tech team. I don't think they ah they're They're nowhere near where they were last year defensively. Offensively, Will Hammond just makes enough plays. is not uh i think their offense isn't quite as good as last year either and so This is a team where.
Ben Fowers: You saw what they did last year. They win the Big 12 on the back of that defense, and then they go get. I'm dominated in the... Um, the CFP and so. I, uh... I don't think our definition was be able to go to the semis. I i think this is a worse team than last year, and you didn't even see them do it last year. They got a bye, and then they get.
Ben Fowers: i'm killed in the quarterfinals. and so i Give me a pretender for Texas Tech. I don't think this defense is going to be elite like it was.
Caleb Call: If we didn't have the context. of last year. to like see what Texas Tech had been. I don't think anyone would be taking Texas Tech seriously right now.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: I just... Honestly, they're living off of last year's reputation still. So I agree with you as pretender status. I think they still will compete in the Big 12 largely because of their schedule. but I'd honestly be pretty disappointed in the conference if they end up winning the conference.
Ben Fowers: All right, I got one for you next. BYU.
Caleb Call: I'm going to say. Contender. to be able to win a game.
Ben Fowers: Whoa, we said semis.
Caleb Call: i don't think that
Ben Fowers: We said semis. That was the definition.
Caleb Call: the Semis, yeah. I mean, if you can go and get a bye, that's winning a game. I think BYU. but They have a chance to prove it against Notre Dame. Last year they were a pretender. We saw it against Texas Tech. they got beaten off the field pretty badly both times they played.
Caleb Call: I think that this year. We've seen new wrinkles on offense that seem to... Hopefully give us some hope that we can. be more explosive against the better teams on our schedule. Notre Dame. they might be a little bit fraudulent. They've struggled in a few games earlier this year. They can't run the ball to save their lives. So we'll see how much. the beauty Notre Dame game. Maybe we can go out there and... win the game i feel great about the college content um contender And I think that honestly this year.
Caleb Call: You have a few really good teams at the top, but it feels like outside of the top. six or seven teams. There's just kind of a big logjam of a ton of teams. I think BYU deserves to be in that log game as much as anyone else.
Caleb Call: So I'll say contender, and I think we'll get a much more definitive answer after we see the Notre Dame game play out.
Ben Fowers: This just in, Caleb's saying they're getting a bye this year. so Texas Tech of last year, BYU of this year.
Caleb Call: If you can beat Notre Dame, you're you're sitting there with a chance to.
Ben Fowers: yeah
Caleb Call: And I'll throw Utah right back over to you. What are you seeing from the Utes so far?
Ben Fowers: uh I think... ah Man, I... I haven't even thought about this from the um from the standpoint of being able to make it up run in the in the CFP I think. ah I do think the Big 12. is a step down right now from everybody else. Last year you saw an elite Texas Tech team just get hammered. and so um It's almost one of those things where I want to see it before.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I do think Utah is a better ring. a better team than 15. um So a contender from the status of what they are right now, I don't think they're i don't think they're capable of making it to the semis this year.
Caleb Call: I feel like... Every year. matchups matter a ton as far as like for you. are facing in the playoffs. And I think with both BYU and Utah.
Caleb Call: I think both teams have the capability of. Making a run. But it will just heavily depend on who they play in the matchup. Like if their first game for either team. Is Georgia?
Caleb Call: for Ohio State. Or even Texas. Yeah, you're probably going home. Sorry. but If you get a chance to go play ah a Big Ten team that just snuck in, like a USC or a Penn State, or maybe you get the G5 representative.
Caleb Call: Then you never know and so We'll see.
Ben Fowers: And if a one.
Caleb Call: I'm going to give you...
Ben Fowers: A one -game schedule against anybody, I feel like it's one of those things where I feel like Utah could go beat. Most teams, but. going doing that back -to -back weeks it's kind of tough when you're playing
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: a georgia ohio state or like a um a USC and then you go to Ohio State or USC then a Miami or Notre Dame and then uh Like those kind of type of tower caliber of teams, like winning two in a row is kind of tough. And I don't know if.
Ben Fowers: To be honest with you, I don't know if any team in the Big 12. There you go.
Caleb Call: Yeah, and it's one of the things that I think... makes the out of conference scheduling so important for the conference as a whole to be able to kind of gauge where you're at. And we saw Oklahoma State beat to Oregon, who.
Caleb Call: people thought was going to be a playoff contender to start the year. BYU's got Notre Dame. ASU had Texas A &M. So you're getting a few glimpses to see like, okay, how does the conference stack up against other top teams?
Caleb Call: Utah next year has got Miami. BYU will have Notre Dame. So, I mean, there's important games, and I think – With the way the conferences are built now, You don't get to play Oklahoma and Texas and have that measuring stick every year. Utah doesn't get to play USC and Oregon and Washington and have that measuring stick anymore. so It honestly motivates me if I'm at BYU.
Caleb Call: Coach, I want to play Notre Dame or anybody else like them every single year to be able to really. truly see are we at the point of competing with them on the field yet so I love that we got the game on the schedule. to be able to show us and Utah this year doesn't really have it they'll get kind of get to live off of the context of the BYU Notre Dame game when they play BYU so that'll at least be an interesting data point to see how that Two games go.
Ben Fowers: Free. And I agree with you. Scheduling those big out of conference games are huge. Utah's, they're starting the year. in Vegas next year against Miami. um and just i team with the caliber of that just kind of excites you because then you can Like you see, you can just see where you're at.
Ben Fowers: So, and if you're not quite to where you need to be.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: then, yeah I mean... Wait, the coaching staffs? I mean, I think Utah and BYU's coaching staffs are some of the best in the nation. I think they do more with less a lot of the time. And so they can kind of see.
Ben Fowers: where they're at and i think they're both kind of on the trajectory. trajectory to Can they make it to the next step? And so I think ah those type of games are big because they they show the coaching staff where they need to improve and where they...
Ben Fowers: where they can get to and so. and just how to compete against those top teams.
Caleb Call: And more importantly, if you can go out and win that game. That buys you the respect you need. to be able to prove to the world at large. like nobody No offense to the Big 12.
Caleb Call: If Texas Tech goes 12 -0 this year. Nobody. in the SEC world or the Big Ten world is going to really consider Texas Tech a threat.
Ben Fowers: They're going to talk about the Oregon game last year instead of talk about what they did.
Caleb Call: It's all good. Exactly.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. Fun.
Caleb Call: You have to go earn it on the field to get the respect.
Ben Fowers: In the CFP, in the CFP before there.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: Before the Big 12 gets any respect, someone's got to go do it. So.
Caleb Call: And you've already kind of seen it with Miami and the ACC. Like Miami going and on the run that they did last year, beating A and &M and beating Ohio State. and almost beating Ole Miss like that, or beating Ole Miss and then almost beating Indiana and winning the championship.
Caleb Call: The ACC as a whole hasn't gotten the respect yet. but Miami has. And so now if an ACC team goes and beats Miami. That is the same caliber of one that people will respect that. And that would be something that really carries a lot of weight on a college football playoff resume. so Hopefully the Big 12, like...
Caleb Call: If BYU, Utah, or Texas Tech, if any of them can... Have the kind of run that you need to be established as a program that people kind of respect as a benchmark that helps elevate the whole conference to be kind of chasing that standard.
Caleb Call: We thought Texas Tech was going to do it for us last year. and The ah offense wasn't good enough, too. The defense was. Plenty good. I mean, they shut Oregon's offense down for the most part. and just the offense didn't do enough to help.
Caleb Call: so
Ben Fowers: And that's the next step.
Caleb Call: Hopefully this theory.
Ben Fowers: That's the next step for the Big 12 is they need.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: the top end teams to do that.
Caleb Call: Yeah, for sure Any other contender pretenders you want to throw out?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, last one I got for you is Indiana.
Caleb Call: I was thinking about giving them to you. End. it's tough because So goodie. year one. They were a huge pretender. And they went 11 -1 in the regular season, got killed by Ohio State. got killed by Notre Dame. Those are the two big games that they played. But they won all the other 11, and they blew out a lot of those teams that they played.
Caleb Call: And then year two. Everyone kind of just expected more of the same But then they went to Eugene. improved tape. We're here for real. And then they go and beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship game.
Caleb Call: And. obviously ended up going 16 -0, which was ironic that Indiana went 16 -0 because Steve Sarkeesian. literally It was either before the season or during the season.
Caleb Call: He said, I'm not sure we're ever going to see an undefeated team again the rest of our lives. with the way that the playoff and the regular season stacked up with these conferences.
Ben Fowers: soon. Cignetti said, hold my beer.
Caleb Call: and Indiana of all teams. Yeah, he He delivered already. I'm going to say contender. We don't see them. play anybody that's going to prove they're a contender until they play Ohio State on the 17th. october And.
Caleb Call: Honestly, this is just me basing it off of trusting Cignetti. they against the three G6 teams that they've played to this point have looked fine, about the same as they did last year. Hoover's been playing well. so I'll trust Nettie and call Indiana a contender. I don't see any reason why they couldn't do it again this year.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it's one of those ones that it's hard to even with all the changes it's hard to Say the... this early it's hard to to call the defending national champs pretenders.
Caleb Call: Yeah. I'll throw one last one at you and then we can close up.
Ben Fowers: time
Caleb Call: Louisville.
Ben Fowers: o I'm going to go. ah I'm going to go Pretender just because of that defense. I don't think the defense is going to be able to. At the end of the day, go win two playoff games. I think they're just going to get manhandled at the line of scrimmage against...
Ben Fowers: teams that are um to that caliber in the CFP. And so I, I love their quarterback play.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I love Keane Holtz. He's a, he's a dude. They've scored a lot of points. They put up. 41 against... against SMU last week, 59 against Villanova, and then they lost but scored 38 points against Ole Miss. so And all messes break. that kind of like a caliber of team that you'd see him playing the CFP. so offensively like you saw him kind of come on late in that second half and score. Most of their points came in the second half, but I just think defensively that I can be able to stop.
Ben Fowers: those kind of top end teams and so give me a I'm going to go Pretender.
Caleb Call: Yeah, I agree with that. I think Louisville absolutely can make the playoff this year, and I think that depending on the matchup, they could win a game. but They really are so match -up dependent with the way that their defense has struggled to this point. so I agree.
Caleb Call: I think that the ACC is going to get a second team in this year. It's going to have to be Louisville.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, what about, ah I guess that... I guess the ACC, you're probably sitting there Louisville versus Miami in the... ACC championship game. That'll be a pretty fun game.
Caleb Call: And one interesting thing, I mean, we talked about how. Big 12. ACC. are Almost for sure gonna be one bid leagues I feel like people underplay.
Caleb Call: a scenario which very easily can lead to multiple bids and that is Having a clear playoff team. play and lose in the conference championship. Miami goes 12 -0.
Caleb Call: It doesn't matter who they're playing. If somebody beats Miami in the conference championship, that's a two -bit league. whether you like it or not. If BYU or Utah or Texas Tech, if they go 12 -0. And they lose in the Big 12 Championship. It's a two -bid league. I mean, the Big 12 last year, they were BYU beating Tech away from being a two -bid league. So it's hard to definitively say that it's like a one -bid league. and You can't make the playoff unless you go 11 -1 for Louisville. but I think that.
Caleb Call: We're probably going to see that happen. more frequently than people expect is to have the best team in a conference and not always win that conference championship game. and let a second team in.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. yeah and i mean You saw it, I think it was three years ago, where there was like three or four upsets. in the championship weekend like it happens all the time so
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: We just haven't seen it quite yet in the CFP era where like a... a one deadly League turns into a two.
Caleb Call: Well, you actually did see it the first year with SMU Clemson.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I guess that's true. You got and Clemson kind of backdoored in. And last year you saw it a one -bid league turn into a zero -bid league with the ACC.
Caleb Call: with this. Well, they did still get the at -large bid, but their champion just didn't make it at eight and five for Duke.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. Yeah, I guess that's, yeah, maybe zero bid is their the wrong word, but they had to change the rule because their automatic qualifier wasn't the champion. so um
Caleb Call: the The new rules this year. I loved that. The ACC champion missed the playoff last year. well with duke and now the four leagues have auto bids. So now 8 -5 Duke would have made the playoff, and that would have kicked out a James Madison team that...
Caleb Call: I think definitely deserved that bid over. duke so It really didn't. ACC's issue is just their tiebreakers. having a five -team tiebreaker play out the way it did and sending the worst of those five teams probably in Duke to the...
Caleb Call: championship game was a bigger issue.
Ben Fowers: You know what?
Caleb Call: Miami can just go on the ACC. No one's complaining. it
Ben Fowers: Yeah, and rep really that did was if Miami would have won the ACC, it probably would have just put. Notre Dame in instead. so
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: as the last LR.
Caleb Call: the The debate would have been Notre Dame and BYU to join Miami. would wouldn't It would have been a much different conversation had that been the case.
Ben Fowers: So. Notre Dame was on fire last year, so that would have been a fun... ah That would have been fun to see them playing it. but
Caleb Call: yeah Awesome. Well. Everyone, thanks for listening. Like, subscribe. We'll be back for a... Week four. recap. next Monday morning. So be looking out for that.
Ben Fowers: Go Utes!
Caleb Call: Go Cougs!
