Transcript
Travis White: Hey everybody, welcome back to the Pack South podcast. um kind of a crazy weekend in a way i think we're learning a lot more going into this college football season um Not as many.
Travis White: high -end shocks this week. Now, obviously, we had the initial Shock the other week of Oklahoma State and Oregon. Things kind of coming back down to earth there. Oregon with a big game this weekend against Southern Cal. We'll talk about that later on in the show, but we'll start off.
Travis White: With. Probably our favorite thing from last year, coaching carousel. it It's never too early to start, especially when these schools still have active head coaches. um First one being Florida State. Florida State sounds like.
Travis White: There's mutual interest between them and a one Jimbo Fisher. Pat, how do you feel about... A return for Jimbo to Tallahassee.
Pat Q: oh man um I kind of feel how I feel like. most of the Florida State fan base. is probably feeling right now and i'm a little torn on it like In some ways, like yeah, it's easy to reminisce and be like, dang, we were good and we were competing for the ACC every single year when Jimbo was here. well except the last year.
Pat Q: Um. but At the same time, like... feel like yes the sec is the sec and Etc, etc. But I feel like.
Pat Q: most of his issues at Texas A and &M were because of his offensive scheme not really fitting what college football is. Currently. Right. And like.
Pat Q: Is Jimbo willing to totally give up the reins, bring in somebody new to be an OC? implement their own system that might not be the same philosophy and style that he has.
Pat Q: i'm not really sure Like I feel like. The retread is always the easy option for a fan base into like. Appease. especially like older fans, I feel like.
Pat Q: um I don't know if it's the right one for Florida State. Granted, I have no idea who they would go after if it's not Jimbo. um Because. FSU is not the...
Pat Q: marquee job that it was when Jimbo left. Bye. Um,
Travis White: You do have the benefit of playing in a pretty wide open conference, though.
Pat Q: Thank you.
Pat Q: Yes, and... I mean, I know recruiting today is different and kids are more concerned about their NIL than the program tradition. But like, I mean, it still is Florida State football, right? um Yeah, i don't I don't know. I would not personally be a huge fan. of the Jimbo hire if I was an FSU fan.
Pat Q: Just because I feel like. You've got to move forward. um You can't sort of pull up Arkansas last year where they hired Bobby Petrino to be the OC, trying to kind of like get that.
Travis White: Yeah.
Pat Q: what, 2011 -ish magic back from after Houston Nut kind of left them high and dry. Uh... Yeah, I think that was a pretty good...
Pat Q: Case in point on why you shouldn't do that. And I don't think FSU should hire Jimbo.
Travis White: Yeah, and Florida State would also be... This would be... If... if the first one was 1a this is 1b because this isn't really a second return in a way because the landscapes change completely.
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: Jimbo has not really coached in like this full -blown NIL era, so he's going to be learning all that from scratch. and he would really have to, like... Kind of. get into the...
Travis White: pockets of Florida State to go get good coordinators that have already been in this. and know how this works on a firsthand basis. which I don't know if... Florida State would really be able to do that.
Pat Q: I was going to say FSU. doesn't exactly have a lot of money right now. I think that's very apparent by the fact that Mike Norvell is still their head football coach.
Travis White: Yeah.
Travis White: Yeah, I mean they're already I mean they're kind of held hostage on that buyout right now The... roster they're paying for is not the highest in ACC. um Nor would.
Travis White: A buyout. a new roster new coaches new coordinators that would not help Anyone.
Pat Q: Now.
Travis White: get a lot of money in Tallahassee.
Pat Q: Okay.
Travis White: so
Travis White: You know. Coming back full circle, it would be a feel good. But I really think that this would... be only a detriment to Florida State. Unless they really just said, we're we're committing for five years, and then by year five, maybe there's a turnover. but If they do the commitment to that,
Pat Q: Zero.
Travis White: Once again... You're in the same boat you're in now with Mike Norvell. They're committing to him long term. There's a lot of money. There's been a lot of failed expectations so far. So it's just how long are you willing to wait if you're Florida State?
Travis White: I mean... the the more we go at this current pace to more of the Florida State program goes back to what it was before Bowdoin. Because now we're just creating a large gap and it's kind of.
Pat Q: For sure.
Travis White: a program that like, needs to win now, otherwise they're really going to lose their status in the ACC.
Pat Q: Yeah. And I'm sure it hurts FSU fans to see their main in -state rival. Well, you could argue Miami is too. But, you know, state school, main rival, Florida.
Travis White: Yeah.
Pat Q: ah Hire a new coach. and find so far immediate success with that so um I don't know, maybe that's motivation enough for Florida State fans to say, yes, let's hire a new guy, right? Like Florida could have easily called up Urban Meyer and said.
Pat Q: Hey, how's it going?
Travis White: Yeah.
Pat Q: um But I think they realized that was probably not the right call. and 2026.
Travis White: Yeah. 100%. Another coach coming up. In a power for school. Brian Kelly to Rutgers. Um...
Travis White: Do we think? Like really in 2026, 2027.
Pat Q: and
Travis White: Brian Kelly with a powerful job after everything that happened at LSU.
Pat Q: I think yes, he would definitely take that job if it's offered. Um. And I also think, yes, Rutgers would probably do that because. I mean, if you look at Rutgers football.
Pat Q: Since they joined the Big Ten, it is. It is bleak. Like it's... It's not good Um,
Pat Q: I just, I just don't know, like if you're an up and coming coach, why would you want to go there? Because that could totally derail all of the momentum you've built at a smaller school or a smaller program, right? Like, why would you not just take, let's say the Maryland job instead, which has more resources, the DMV pipeline.
Pat Q: All that type of stuff, because... I don't know. I don't want to speculate on Mike Loxley's job security, but. They did just get lapped by year one.
Pat Q: James Franklin, Virginia Tech. so
Travis White: Dead.
Pat Q: Can't be super, super comfortable for ah old Mike in College Park right now. So I think Rutgers would do it. And I definitely think Brian Kelly would take it because he, I'm sure, is desperate to get back into coaching.
Pat Q: like His people are probably going to put feelers out to every major job that opens. This winter let's say
Travis White: Do you think Brian Kelly would pull a Dan Mullen or do you think he's powerful or bust? Because also we have to remember Dan Mullins.
Pat Q: i'm sure he would.
Travis White: Dan Mullins out there with a... decent UNLV team.
Pat Q: Yeah, I mean... He doesn't exactly have a quarterback this year. um The Jackson Arnold experiment does not seem to be going. well. Um. But yeah, I mean... Dan Mullen wanted to get back into coaching. He didn't want to be a coordinator anymore.
Pat Q: um Or again, I should say. And so he took. a smaller job with UNLV that had a lot of upset or upside excuse me or high prospects. I could see Brian Kelly doing that. i mean He really made his name nationally at Cincinnati.
Pat Q: so What's stopping him from taking? let's say like a higher level um American job or a higher level. west job something like that i could totally see that happening because i think he just wants to coach football
Travis White: Alright. and something completely off. the radar we did not talk about this before the show at all. is Oklahoma State. A staying...
Travis White: job.
Pat Q: oo
Travis White: Because, obviously, Eric Morris starting off looks very good, basically bringing over a lot of his key players from North Texas last year.
Pat Q: Oh man. Um.
Pat Q: North Texas, yeah.
Travis White: Oklahoma State. Not good recently. Eric Morris coming in and making an immediate effect. still water. Big 12. Kind of wide open. There's definitely some play there um But... Is Stillwater a place? these coaches would stay for their whole career.
Pat Q: I'm gonna say no. um I think the main reason that Mike Gundy stayed as long as he did, even when he was approached by bigger programs, um is because.
Pat Q: He's Mr. Oklahoma State pretty much, you know. um He loved Stillwater. He loved that school. He loved that program. So I don't think Eric Morris has the same affection for. the pokes, unfortunately. um Wow.
Pat Q: It's probably too early to say if that's fortunate or unfortunate. but Um, I think if... the opportunity knocked for Eric Morris to take, let's say like a.
Pat Q: mid to low level SEC job. that potentially would invest in. NIL quite well. um I think. career wise he probably would take that leap maybe not after year one Right.
Pat Q: Like.
Travis White: Okay.
Pat Q: I'm sure he probably is the type of guy who doesn't want to see like he's jumping job to job.
Travis White: Mm hmm.
Pat Q: um or things of that nature but i i don't see him staying in still water more than I'd say like three or four years if it goes well.
Travis White: Okay. There's a take there. Oklahoma State fans probably not listening to the rest of this show.
Pat Q: ah
Travis White: um All right, so that's it for our college football news. To start off our initial roundtable, we'll head into men's soccer before following over to women's soccer.
Travis White: um Men's soccer standings, still a lot of the same. South Carolina. holding Big lead.
Pat Q: Let's just say it's pretty firm.
Travis White: over the rest of... The Pac -South Conference. However, they did take an upset. They first get to their... Number one overall unanimous first time in school history. Immediately lose.
Travis White: the College of Charleston. um Not a program. bad program of itself. For the last five rinks. matches they've played. They have one, which is kind of...
Pat Q: It's a pretty crazy stat, yeah.
Travis White: Insane to think. um Yeah, you would think a program like that would have a little bit more national attention, but... I believe they are currently in the Colonial Conference.
Pat Q: They are.
Travis White: so
Pat Q: Amen.
Travis White: Not a lot of.
Pat Q: yeah
Travis White: High profile. programs in that conference and obviously we know college charleston probably more for their basketball program who has not been good lately as well um so bad upset for the gamecocks they will definitely drop a lot of spaces but
Pat Q: Mm hmm.
Travis White: as it comes to our actual standings they are. very firmly in first. UCF. follows them as close as they can get.
Travis White: um
Pat Q: that
Travis White: by or Excuse me. Actually, it's Notre Dame. That's women's at UCF is in second.
Pat Q: Hmm.
Travis White: Notre Dame in second place. A few ranked wins themselves. Southpaw and Notre Dame. At the top. beating a ranked Clemson team. That's kind of what does your points there. Defending national champions, Washington in their close. um Big win earlier this week over Indiana.
Travis White: um massive for that program because the Hoosiers are playing. quite good soccer as well.
Pat Q: ahha
Travis White: UW needed that too. kind of bolster themselves up this season after a bit of a hangover start. um Now, team for you, Pat, Providence. Is this a little shocking to see the Friars? Are we familiar with the Friars game?
Pat Q: I'm going to say no, like PC soccer or sorry, Providence College soccer. uh was like pretty consistent 4 -H strong stretch from i'd say like 2010 to like 2016 ish give or take um obviously the program's kind of taken a step back since then but I think for people from the Northeast, it's probably not like a huge surprise to see PC.
Pat Q: putting together these types of wins these types of performances um Because like they do have. a fairly i'll say strong um soccer history as a program
Travis White: Okay. UNC Charlotte tied right in there with Providence with 13 points. Charlotte, similar to UW, kind of a hangover start to the year. Lots of expectations for that program.
Travis White: Have not lived up to it yet. We're about to get into American Conference play. I can see Charlotte. gaining their stab. They've already started getting some good results so far.
Travis White: I could see a little bit more consistency from them in conference play.
Pat Q: ah
Travis White: Boston College, then UCF. Duke. lot lower than i thought they would be and then The biggest shock. outside of maybe Star Colonna being... as good as they are this year is St. Louis.
Travis White: being as poor as they are this year. This is a team I thought would be top three for sure. especially in men's soccer. um They are sitting just one point above Oregon State, who is our seller dweller for men's soccer.
Travis White: But St. Louis. horrible, horrible start. Um, They get a draw to start. conference play. Just not the way. the Billikens would get going. manes A historic program, I mean.
Travis White: St.
Pat Q: yeah
Travis White: Louis soccer. Not just the university, but like. the city of St.
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: Louis. Very well known for soccer. They take a lot of pride in it. It goes back. over a hundred years. um this is one of the initial Like... bastions of American soccer. St. Louis University has always held on to that. They are almost consistently a top 25 team.
Travis White: this year I don't know I don't know, maybe Maybe they can figure something out in A -10 play, but I mean, it's going to take...
Pat Q: yeah
Travis White: a lot to even make the tournament this year.
Pat Q: for sure and like it's i think it's super surprising given that they finished what i think like fourth or third um in the final rankings last year like this is it's not like this was a mediocre team last year like this was one of the best teams in college soccer
Travis White: and And they came into this year high expectation as well. I believe first ranking was number nine in the country.
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: so i Mean top ten fin or top five finish Top 10 start. And this is what we have. So it's very shocking for the Billikens. This will be something to keep an eye on. but Not a lot more that can be said about that.
Travis White: We'll head over now to the women's PAC South table. and As I mentioned, UCF is in second, and South Carolina is in first. I thought South Carolina would be first in the women's table. Did not expect them.
Travis White: in the men's table uh duke women's third kind of where i expected them similar i thought the men would be a little bit higher in this position uh we then have A lot of people tied with 17 points. Boston College, Florida, and UW.
Travis White: Um, Florida, Boston College, are we shocked? where they are right now.
Pat Q: A little bit. I'd say Boston College especially. It's not exactly like a...
Pat Q: soccer rich. um I'll say. Like. History. for the program. um Good for them. I'll say that maybe this is... I'd say besides hockey, probably like the best team we'll see from Boston College Athletics this year.
Pat Q: Well, their baseball team is pretty good now.
Travis White: Baseball, maybe?
Pat Q: yeah Yeah.
Travis White: Can we?
Pat Q: Um. But... Yeah, I'm a little surprised they're this high, but they've been performing well. Um, Obviously, they'll get some conference matchups against Duke, ah both.
Pat Q: Sort of squaring off against each other. Thanks. at least once, this season.
Travis White: I think it's in a week as well. It's coming up.
Pat Q: Yeah, yeah Um, So that should be should be good stuff. um a little surprised that
Pat Q: Charlotte is not as strong. for women's soccer as they are for men's usually this is pretty strong for both uh male and female soccer.
Pat Q: as an ah athletic department. So it's a little shocking to see them as low as they are on our list.
Travis White: They've always lagged behind just a little bit from what I've noticed but also
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: at the same time. the expectation and talent level hasn't differed this much because the men's team is has been expected to be top 25 this year women's i would not say the expectation was as high but we're getting similar results this year.
Travis White: um But I mean, yeah, like you... The women, especially if you go to basketball. UNC Charlotte. women's basketball. Much better than men's basketball.
Pat Q: yeah
Travis White: Um, And usually the women's soccer just right there behind the men. But big difference on the talent level this year. Then moving over to some new names that we haven't really talked about this year, at least on a soccer standpoint, Iowa State.
Travis White: tied with Charlotte, eight points. New Mexico. who Had a match cancelled because of the other team not having enough available players.
Travis White: They received a point for that. It's not very fair. Probably a match that they actually would have won as well. So we're going to get to treat it like a conference draw. They're getting a point. Tied with Providence, seven points. North Dakota State, Montana.
Travis White: And Central Michigan, two out of three big sky schools. or big sky country um schools With four points, not really a soccer haven over there. Central Michigan as well.
Travis White: Not really known for Many. good athletics these days. And then Oregon State. ah in the cellar again. We go back to last year and then we see how.
Travis White: are... Tables are starting off. football, men's and women's soccer. Oregon State and Central Michigan are at the... bottom. at almost every single one of these.
Travis White: What is going on with those athletic departments? Oregon State, obviously we know a lot has happened with the Pac -12, Reser Stadium. There's been a lot of money tied up, and the athletics have to figure out a lot. Central Michigan however, they don't have the same excuse.
Travis White: Two different stories, same result. What is happening in your eyes with those two schools?
Pat Q: Yeah. um I don't know. I feel like Central Michigan is just at that huge disadvan disadvantage. of being a directional university you know like most of the focus, most of the talk. in Michigan goes to the two flagships. um in Ann Arbor and East Lansing.
Pat Q: Of course, Western Michigan has had... its moments in football. um in the pj fleck era last year they were a pretty good team Mac Champions, of course.
Pat Q: This year they had their controversy in Ann Arbor. um But I feel like Central and Eastern are just in that. Kind of brutal spot of.
Pat Q: relevant to alumni but not really like relevant outside of that. um And I think.
Travis White: Yeah.
Pat Q: especially for... men's basketball, especially for football, when you get talent at a school like that, it's really, really hard to keep it. um Once that talent gets noticed. So I do think that's a big issue for Central Michigan and why they've struggled so much in our conference. And I think Oregon State.
Pat Q: ah It's got to be a money issue. um
Travis White: Yeah.
Pat Q: Like, we we know that. The athletics department is struggling. Both them and Washington State were kind of. put into a tough spot last year.
Travis White: Yep.
Pat Q: Washington State seems a little bit more sound, financially at least, from an athletic standpoint. Bye. Um, Yeah, it's it's not great in Reser right now, or in Corvallis right now. We're at Reser.
Travis White: I mean, Reese's are probably the biggest reason they're in this whole thing.
Pat Q: I think.
Travis White: They do a massive renovation.
Pat Q: renovation, yeah.
Travis White: ten tens of millions of dollars than you're expecting.
Pat Q: Looks fantastic.
Travis White: Yeah, it looks great. However... The state might have to come in and take the stadium, depending on how much money.
Pat Q: Ha!
Travis White: They're able to get from. uh donors and then also now this new pac -12 tv deal but i mean they really got the rug pulled on conference realignment at the worst time for them.
Travis White: Because here they are expecting that. Things will be paid off in three years based on the amount of money that's coming in from TV deals. and then Here we go, pack two, there's no money.
Pat Q: I do think like.
Travis White: So now they're really behind the eight ball. They're working on a TV deal that's not making as much money. um So it's really unfortunate for them. and i I feel like especially the football program is going to suffer for her.
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: a while. because of this.
Pat Q: I think they will. claw their way out to at least respectability. um in terms of like on -field products this year and then hopefully next year it gets even better But.
Pat Q: yeah that lack of money is going to be really really tough Um... Because again, Same issue Central has. If you can't pay these kids and they're getting noticed, like.
Pat Q: I don't blame them for going and securing ah millions of dollars for their families, you know? um And if you can't...
Travis White: Yeah.
Pat Q: match that as a smaller school that's just sort of becoming an unfortunate reality of the NIL era. I do think Oregon State can at least make a bowl this year. So hopefully that can.
Pat Q: inject some money into the football program.
Travis White: Mm -hmm
Pat Q: um But if for whatever reason things don't go as planned, you know, let's say they drop. the Colorado state game, let's say they dropped the, um, Fresno game. or the Texas State game now.
Pat Q: You're facing an uphill battle to make a bowl. And. Things could get really, really tight financially if you don't make that bull.
Travis White: Yeah, so it's It's not even a case of just... becoming a better team. It's almost a... life and death right now for the football program there in corvallis um central michigan i think you did kind of hit a nail on the head there um talk about like
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: It's a directional school. Michigan State, Michigan, they're getting all the money because also. You mentioned it earlier, a couple weeks ago, when ah when we went over the Western Michigan -Michigan. debacle Some Western Michigan grass. are probably bigger fans of Michigan. And you probably have a similar situation with Central, where they're probably a bigger fan of east or Michigan State.
Travis White: or of just the University of Michigan. so Those alumni that you could be getting money from, if they're caring more about The Spartans or the Wolverines, they...
Travis White: probably you're not donating any money to your school or athletic program.
Pat Q: Okay.
Travis White: So then you're really falling behind even. further and once you kind of get out of that cycle of like having a good team. Like you look at Northern Illinois. there for a while. Very good team, very good program.
Travis White: a lot of money coming in as soon as they started slowly falling off they under Uh... What's the word? underperformed Slowly slowly slowly next thing, you know Darling, Illinois is in the Mountain West right now.
Travis White: But they're probably the worst team in the Mountain West this season. So they're really trying to bring their way back in a different sense. but I mean you look at Toledo as well on the Mac. Toledo, very good there for a while. Next thing you know, they started falling off, falling off, falling off. they Didn't fall off as hard.
Travis White: But there's definitely been a fall off. It was a 9 -1 program every single year. Now they are kind of in a four to seven. Wind window maybe a little bit on the higher end right now All right, so that's us fixing financial issues at mid -major programs.
Pat Q: and
Travis White: We do have a couple of fun announcements before we go into our picks this weekend. Beginning this Sunday, we will have the PAX South Top 25 coming out. That will be every week.
Travis White: So be sure to tune in to our Instagram and our threads. That will be posted. at some point on Sundays.
Pat Q: catch
Travis White: Um, Also, if you enjoy listening to us. talk about sports and athletics and college, everything. And you're like, man.
Travis White: These two guys. They should talk about Disney. Well, we do. We have a new show, of Theme Park Sickos. That will be on Zencaster and YouTube. That will be released biweekly to start off with season one.
Travis White: And the first episode will be coming out here in about two weeks. So please be on the lookout. Theme Park Sickos. We are also on Instagram with the same name as well. So now you can actually get.
Travis White: uh and understanding for why we have these ride posters behind us we've been so it's been there the whole time folks it's been there the whole time
Pat Q: Double Dibs. and
Pat Q: that
Travis White: Alright. Pat. We're leaving. theme park land for now. um Predictions this weekend, starting off with a team that...
Travis White: Feels like they're going to Disney World. Virginia Tech. James Franklin? They're feeling good three, you know against PacSouth member... ah Boston College. This is on the road for the Hokies.
Travis White: It's gonna be a little bit of... territory i feel like this is a perfect like first road conference game for Virginia Tech. um under James Franklin. They're receiving votes. I mean, there's there's some expectation here now.
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: What do we think?
Pat Q: um I don't know. this This could be a fun game, potentially. um Because this was... I mean, if you liked college football in the mid -2000s to early 2010s.
Pat Q: This was actually a really good rivalry when Boston College was...
Travis White: It was.
Pat Q: relevant as a football program. Um. And especially in the Matt Ryan era. These two teams became... Pretty consistent foes against one another. You know, Virginia Tech always seemed to beat Boston College, but...
Pat Q: They both were putting together really strong seasons year after year in the ACC. Virginia Tech obviously kind of. fell off a little bit later than Boston College did. But I think this could be a fun matchup. Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to be.
Pat Q: particularly close. I think. Virginia Tech wins this one pretty comfortably. Ethan Grunkmeier's looked really, really good this year. And I just. don't have a ton of confidence in The Boston College offense.
Pat Q: um to be able to keep pace with Virginia Tech. Their defense actually isn't... Awful? um they're They're very opportunistic. They force a lot of turnovers, but...
Pat Q: That offense is not. Easy on the eyes.
Travis White: Yeah. i um Kind of with you there. I think Virginia Tech is going to get it done. I feel like Boston College might have a fun atmosphere for about a quarter or so. I think it will be close enough.
Travis White: within one or Two scores, two score being a field goal.
Pat Q: enter
Travis White: um But then I think by the time you get to halftime, I think Virginia Tech's going to be able to open up. They're going to be able to show that. They have just better coaching. a little bit more depth in Boston College, especially this year already. So I like the Hokies getting it done on the road as well.
Travis White: We then head south SEC land a team that probably is still partying ah at the time of our recording here.
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: That's number four, Ole Miss going to the Swamp. John Summerall, 1 -0 as an SEC coach.
Pat Q: Mm hmm.
Travis White: uh
Pat Q: mm -hmm
Travis White: first. SEC game. at home. for the Gators under their new skipper. Pat, who do you like there?
Pat Q: This is tough. Because I feel like this is that classic. trap game you know that you see and you circle Florida is always a really tough environment to play in, regardless of how good they are. And this year. They look pretty good. So I'm sure the Swamp will be rocking.
Pat Q: Ole Miss just came off a huge, like you mentioned, victory. Probably an all weekend spilling into Monday party. um Although I'm sure Pete Golden was trying to get him right back to business as quick as possible.
Travis White: Yeah.
Pat Q: Um,
Pat Q: um' I'm going to fall for it. I'm going to say that because. It is in the swamp. And because... Only Gators get out alive.
Pat Q: I'm going with Florida.
Travis White: Okay. Little hometown. Pride there for the Gators. um Yeah, I think this is going to be tough. I think... Ole Miss obviously coming into this game battle -tested, but it stinks that it's going to be.
Travis White: back -to -back weeks for a big game. Although that could play in favor for Ole Miss. You get around the old... trap game the the letdown going from we just played essentially a Super Bowl to.
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: Alright, we're about to play. Louisiana, Lafayette. Like...
Pat Q: No shades of the Cajuns.
Travis White: Could be a big fall
Pat Q: No shade to the Cajuns.
Travis White: It's all a program, Sunbelt. Play good football down there. but you know, it's
Pat Q: It's not the same.
Travis White: a little bit different When you go from... A team that's been talked about all offseason as one of the best in the country.
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: literally stole your coach. um having to get a police escort onto the tarmac, like, you know.
Pat Q: Thanks.
Travis White: It was a big game.
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: um So like... ah This Florida ranked game going into a Swamp like could help with Ole Miss to like not overlook the next game here. I think this is a very close game.
Travis White: I think Ole Miss is going to have to fight to the very end, just like they did with LSU. But I do like Pete Golding to get it done.
Pat Q: Okay.
Travis White: Um, I love. pete as a head coach um you look at his resume and i mean He's got to have one of the best starts to a coaching career.
Pat Q: For sure.
Travis White: Um, Ciao. Out there, period. I mean, he's in the playoff. He's got. high -ranked wins. um Stars off the year in a shootout against Louisville, who it does appear Louisville is actually quite good, possibly.
Pat Q: Pretty good. Yeah.
Travis White: Maybe one of us on the podcast made mention of it. I don't know.
Pat Q: yeah so Some of us might have been talking about that.
Travis White: It probably wasn't me.
Travis White: Um. But yeah, I like the rebels going into the swamp and... getting it done and avoiding the Big game hangover. Um,
Travis White: Speaking of what could be.
Pat Q: possible trap game here. Yeah.
Travis White: Could be a trap game here. We have Utah and Iowa State. Iowa State, obviously a PacSouth member the last two years. um Utah coming in. Quiet expectations this year. They're ranked 15th in the country. I feel like not a lot of people are talking about them. But.
Travis White: I mean, you look at Texas Tech, I'm not really... convinced of the way they've started out this year. um Houston, not a bad team, but only winning that game. by 2. I would expect more from Texas Tech.
Pat Q: Mm hmm.
Travis White: BYU, still some answers I want to see there as well. so Big 12 conference, quite open, and Utah kind of back. door but Could Iowa State?
Travis White: Get in the other back door. um This game is... At Iowa State, I feel like this is as trap as trap game gets. Pat, do you think? do Do we do the unthinkable here?
Pat Q: You know, talk about a statement win. for Jake Rogers if Iowa State can pull this off. you know you
Travis White: This is an important year one game.
Pat Q: Very important. I mean... Credit where credit is due. They... Hung. every inch of the way against a really good Iowa team in Iowa City um in the annual Seahawks game. a lot better than I think both you and I actually picked Iowa State to...
Pat Q: Be super close in that game. I think I actually might have picked them to win it
Travis White: I think you did take them there.
Pat Q: um Yeah.
Travis White: Which, I mean, very close.
Pat Q: But... I don't think a lot of people in the national media really saw that coming. um Jack Trice, like you mentioned is a really underrated atmosphere. not just in the Big 12, but across the country.
Pat Q: Just ask Oklahoma State fans about that. Sorry. um And... I really, really, really wanna pick Iowa State here.
Pat Q: Um, But I... feel like. Utah just has that like. extra little gear. that Iowa State doesn't have quite yet and totally understandable. they're in a transition year.
Pat Q: New coach. New OC. You're playing a guy at quarterback who was playing Sunbelt football last year, you know, like it's. A work in progress. And I think Iowa State's going to hang.
Travis White: Very soon.
Pat Q: most of this game. But I think Utah and Devin Dampier just have a little bit too much. And I think. Mainly Dampier's legs are eventually going to wear down.
Pat Q: That's Cyclone defense.
Travis White: Yeah, I... I'm going with a Utah road win as well. I think... Yeah. college football you never want to lose a game because you've you gain nothing from losing. But I feel like Iowa State.
Travis White: As you mentioned, this year won. If you get a win here, this is amazing. But... I think you just need to feel positive about your game. I feel extra strong about Utah.
Travis White: In a lot of the points you just said, but also... you look at the oregon oklahoma state game And this is so recent still at this part of the season. where there's not a lot of sample size for a lot of other teams.
Travis White: You just had a conference team that you are not counting on being. That good? doing that to a top ranked team, a team that'll... A lot of people have in the semifinal or the... Final. um this year.
Travis White: so That's kind of a wake -up call in realizing, hey, we need to, like, really be on it. And I feel like if this game was maybe, like... four weeks down the line.
Pat Q: Could be different. Yeah
Travis White: I could actually be... saying, hey. I think Iowa State pulls an upset here, but because... This is so early. big road test and also seeing some teams that you are not expecting to be as good in conference.
Travis White: You're like... we need to buckle in so I like the Utes getting it done.
Travis White: Big ten football now. This is actually pretty good on us good on us ACC SEC big 12 Big Ten It's like we did that on purpose.
Pat Q: Look at us. yeah
Travis White: All right, we have... Iowa going on the road to Michigan and I'm going to take this one first because I have opinions here. And. I've already talked a little bit about Michigan. I already did that. I'm actually going to talk about...
Travis White: Oklahoma right now. We're going to give a little transitive property. Um. Oklahoma goes into Michigan the week after the whole Western Michigan -Michigan game. Michigan gets to win.
Travis White: Everyone's like, oh. Alright, just crazy first week. Not all that good. Or, like, not all that bad. Michigan's going to be okay.
Pat Q: be fine yeah yeah
Travis White: Well, we go ahead another week and Michigan is All right. at football. Oklahoma on the other hand plays host to New Mexico Not a bad program, I will tell you. They are...
Travis White: very good at football however If you're Oklahoma and you're Michigan and you're saying. We are really good. We're making the playoff. We're going to contend in our conference. A 14 -6 game. And stopping New Mexico.
Travis White: On a potential game tying. drive and with a little assistance from me. spot that was two yards short of where he was um
Travis White: ah You know, it same thing. It's like, I don't think Oklahoma's that good. um I don't think they're bad But... I don't think New Mexico is.
Travis White: that. high level i i think if they had their starting quarterback maybe i'd argue a little bit differently
Pat Q: Different story. Yeah.
Travis White: um But I mean, like they're a very good Mountain West program, but that shouldn't really translate to a very good SEC program.
Pat Q: touch
Travis White: um So I think that Michigan is very much still playing the fraud game. And we just had a bag over our heads for two weeks. So give me the Hawkeyes this week. And I also believe in them.
Pat Q: Um...
Travis White: Quick little turnaround.
Pat Q: You know, I wasn't sure. If you were going to go in that direction. So I thought I could be. Having to defend my position a little bit, but I'm actually with you. I'm taking the Hawkeyes here as well um as.
Pat Q: visitors to Ann Arbor going in there, getting a big win. I think. I was. team this year is Kind of interesting because yes, I mean, Cy Hawks always.
Travis White: They play awesome.
Pat Q: nuts Like, Seahawk's always nuts. I feel like you can't really judge offense in that game because it's always like. weird stuff happening.
Travis White: Sure. Sure.
Pat Q: Bye. The other two games, they've put up 40 plus points. I mean, they. Crushed Northern Illinois. Crushed Northern Iowa. Um, I feel like this offense. has the possibility this year to be a little bit more explosive.
Pat Q: than some of those Iowa teams that we would poke fun of. in years past. So I i do like Iowa to win this game. um And I. think This could be...
Pat Q: you know the start of the ball of the yarn unraveling a little bit for The Wolverines.
Travis White: Okay. Now we will... switch over to the Best team in Michigan.
Pat Q: Question mark.
Travis White: Western Michigan will host Boise State, which... Really? This is a bigger game than I think people are talking about.
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: And Boise State.
Pat Q: Yeah.
Travis White: Oui. Whoever scheduled Boise State. Their schedule, I mean, they they may as well have just had a power. schedule the way that they because they were just like we're just going to play the best non power teams possible.
Pat Q: Mm hmm.
Travis White: which is great for strength of schedule it really bolsters their resume and they Talk. organ down to the wire and you know, say what you might about Oregon, that needs to be figured out this week.
Travis White: um But I mean they've looked good everywhere and if it wasn't for a third quarter collapse end. second quarter mismanagement of time, Boise State wins that game and they're undefeated.
Travis White: um So this is huge. This game is in Kalamazoo, which is... Such a weird setting for this game. um D. Do we think... This isn't...
Travis White: Right? this This has got to be Boise. like just You think historically, you think the way like the season's gone, like...
Pat Q: I think. From a story standpoint, like the best possible outcome is Western Michigan wins this game. And. potentially places itself as the front runner um for the group of college football playoff bid. Question mark.
Pat Q: I'll say it. um And then I think. If I was on the committee and that hypothetical scenario happened, I have to think a lot about. The fact that. The NCAA's officials committee essentially said, yeah, we screwed up.
Pat Q: Western Michigan should have won that game, but we can't retroactively change it. um However... I'm with you. I think that we have to.
Pat Q: Unfortunately, um It is fun to think of a MAAC team making the college football playoff, but I think we have to look at the talent that Boise State has and really acknowledge that and say, yeah, this this team's really, really good. um And I think.
Pat Q: they do ultimately emerge victorious. um in this game
Travis White: Okay, so we got Boise on the road. Yeah, I mean, I just don't think I can see a MAAC team getting in into the college football playoff, especially when the way that this year is looking right now.
Pat Q: It would be cool, though.
Travis White: um The MAAC championship is probably going to be... Unless things... Which they can. Western Michigan and... UMass. So you cannot tell me the game before getting into the college football playoff.
Travis White: is UMass.
Pat Q: Hey. Hey. Zoom ass is back, man. Come on.
Travis White: Aye. Well, when were they
Pat Q: ha which
Travis White: When were they ever there? Um...
Pat Q: FCS power.
Travis White: Now that being said this is not leading us in. to the college football playoff. Boise State has played a lot of weird games already. Western Michigan.
Travis White: Getting the job done where they need to and they're pissed off on other results I don't like saying this because I like to favor the Chippewas, but... That team in Kalamazoo.
Travis White: Might be something. I'm taking Western Michigan.
Pat Q: Yeah, okay, okay.
Travis White: it's good It's an upset still at home, but I think this is just a fun game.
Pat Q: I like it.
Travis White: and I think regardless, one way or another, this is going to be a great game. I like a 38 -35 Western Michigan. Uh, entertaining matchup.
Pat Q: So is Western Michigan. Maybe we'll revive an old graphic from last year for our Instagram. Is Western Michigan our ah home dog of the week?
Travis White: They've got it They've got it.
Pat Q: Let's do it. Let's do it. Fire it up, graphics department.
Travis White: Aw.
Pat Q: okay
Travis White: We'll just repost it. We aren't going to get that crazy. All right. Moving back to the SEC because, of course, we are. That is number 23, Texas A &M. After a stunning upset against Kentucky at home, going down.
Travis White: to Baton Rouge. playing number 10, LSU. LSU obviously going to be... Very ticked off. about their loss to Ole Miss last weekend. I mean... I feel like this is anger versus anger at this point. It just comes down to talent.
Travis White: Yeah. It's at LSU. I have to take the Tigers. I feel like this is kind of a no -brainer. It's unfortunate for Mike Elko in Texas A and &M because... i mean they were doing a lot of great things last year i mean they were They were good. I kind of wanted them to do the same stuff this year.
Travis White: keep building because that's a program that truly cares and puts in the resources needed to win and I mean and they're almost cursed at this point. I mean... the Some of the luck that they've had and the random results they've gotten.
Pat Q: It's tough It's tough
Travis White: Um... And unfortunately, they're about to be a 500 ball club. I got LSU and... I gotta be honest. It may not. be close.
Pat Q: ah yeah Yeah, I think... I'm with you there. I'm also favoring LSU in this matchup. I think it'll be... Two scores close, I'll say that. And by two scores, I mean.
Pat Q: I'll rephrase, two touchdowns close. Um. But I...
Travis White: Backdoor from the third.
Pat Q: Gosh, oof. I just feel like Marcel Reed's going to... mess up at some point. And... probably a high -pressure moment. ah If you watched that Kentucky game or saw highlights of that Kentucky game...
Pat Q: It's not like Texas A and &M wasn't moving the ball. they definitely were. Marcel Reed. untimely turnovers really just doomed them uh credit to will stein the huge win for him uh year one
Travis White: I mean, Will Stein has proven to be an incredible hire for Kentucky.
Pat Q: Heck of a coach.
Travis White: which I mean, it's funny. We were like... You know, Mark Stoops did what he had to do to, like, not get fired by Kentucky. And the next thing you know, I'm guessing Will Stein called them and was like, hey. And they're like, all right, Mark Stoops, great job. See ya.
Travis White: And then Will Stein comes in, which a lot of people. especially for SEC fans. I mean, Pac... Pac -12, Big Ten, they may have already known about... Will Stein's offensive capabilities. But SEC fans, not on their radar.
Travis White: I feel like this was very much... A bit of a shock. But so far... It looks good in Lexington. So. We will move over to... the Pac -South game of the week. and Will Stein's former home.
Travis White: Oregon. Going on the road to Southern Cal, a traditional Pac -12 matchup and a game. that. Both teams need. Badly. Oregon needs to prove it.
Travis White: Southern Cal needs to win to bolster their resume after some very... Shockingly close results. I mean, theoretically, this is... One of Lane Kiffin's best teams.
Travis White: in LA. Maybe second best outside of the team that lost to Tulane.
Travis White: They should be able to compete. This should be a playoff team. Does it? Feel like a playoff team yet Pat do you think? The Coliseum will have the wide -angle shots on kickoff this weekend.
Travis White: Yeah.
Travis White: Yeah.
Travis White: We're going to l LA. Um... Yeah, I mean I feel like This may not have even been a game that we picked had Oregon not had the Boise State.
Travis White: Like, close game. and obviously not have lost to Oklahoma State. Now, here we are. they're ranked behind Southern Cal. I don't feel good about the Ducks at all. They have an okay defense. They're doing all right over there. But, I mean, Dante Moore.
Travis White: Which... Speaking to the wider sense of college football, all the top quarterbacks going into this year. which I don't know why we weren't talking about Drew Mestemaker more. He's actually living up to... how he should have been playing.
Travis White: um All the other top quarterbacks. Not playing well, just not making good decisions or not making um the right reads you're not making the play that's needed. Dante Moore.
Travis White: possibly the most out of all of them. um you know, this is a guy that you really expect to be a top five pick in Dante Morris. Not competing for the Heisman. He's not a top five pick right now. That's for sure.
Travis White: And I really don't think this is the atmosphere. atmosphere hopefully the coliseum shows up um but the game. the game. To figure that out, going on the road to Southern Cal, I mean...
Travis White: is still going on the road to Southern Cal. Um. And like you say, this is job defining for Lane Kiffin. He's been in L .A. for a while. Gotta figure it out. Um,
Travis White: He's got to win a big one, and even when he had the best team. He. ah
Travis White: You should have just said that out loud. It starts with an L. Link. Lincoln Riley. Sorry, as umm umm I'm living 15 years in the past here. Um...
Travis White: I'm, yeah, I'm... 15 years in the past. Yeah, Lincoln Riley. This is... job defining for him because i think if he doesn't win more than eight games this year he's Probably Al. Very like Pete.
Travis White: Like, you know. It's there and you mentioned It's a tough schedule. are some of those games winnable. By some, I mean Penn State. um Yeah, but I mean, like...
Travis White: You go 10 -2 in the Big Ten, you're right there in the playoff picture. um especially with some potential high profile wins so i'm going to take Southern Cal and Lane Kiffin.
Travis White: Keeping the dream alive. Following your pick. I already had it picked. I already had it picked. um Following the dream, and I think unfortunately for Oregon, they're going to be unranked for the first time in...
Travis White: a while. Um... So. Probably not for long. Probably just one or two weeks, but... i just I don't like this Oregon team. This is a fringe top 25 team, it feels like.
Travis White: Um, so I'm getting destroyed. yeah The podcast and the video, you don't even get to see. was going on in our chat on the side. It's not good, not a good thing for me.
Travis White: um just as it's not a good scene for dan laney as well so we'll take a seat in the back Pat, you know what? You're giving me a hard time. I'll let you send us out.
