Transcript
Caleb Call: Week three is in the books. Learning more and more about teams across college football and of course in the state of Utah. Let's get it kicked off on the Holy war pod with. The Utah Utes and the Battle of the Brothers hosting Utah State down in Salt Lake City.
Caleb Call: We had boots on the ground with Ben up there. How did the game go?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it was a fun one to start you talk kind of jump out jumped out all over them. It was 16 -0 after the first quarter, and then it ended up being 26 -0 at half. and Utah at 300 yards, a total offense at half. and so It was one of those games where they kind of just took it to them early and then kind of coasted. so The second half, they... Final score ended up being 33 -0, so second half.
Ben Fowers: Utah. Broke a... Daniel Bray broke a touchdown. um He looked pretty fast on that play, but that was the only ah only points in the second half. So besides that, in the it would kind of just seemed like one of those games where you...
Ben Fowers: You get in, you get out. and um you take your win into the next week. So first shutout of the year for the Utes, which was kind of exciting. so they got ah The defense got a zero. and And they were putting some. in some spots where they had short fields to deal with and they were able to get off the field. So it was fun, a fun game to be at. and They, uh... The first three games, they had those all three at home, and so they were able to take care of them.
Ben Fowers: Those three games and they. Now they got ah a road trip coming up, so the first one of the year, so it'll be a fun one to... the follow
Caleb Call: Yeah, I feel like. And kind of the same with BYU too, both teams. Played a team that they were much better than from the Pac -12. One, how you expect and and Utah. No.
Caleb Call: issues there. No, but... Didn't let Utah State hang around at all. They put that game out of reach quickly. um Any concern at all from you? So Daniel Bray had the 63 -yard run, but Wayshon Parker 10 carries for 30 yards, Dampier 10 for 34, Ficklin 5 for 23. Any concern at all from the lack of run game from your...
Caleb Call: Main three players there.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so ah way seawn broke a knight I think it was a 96 -yard touchdown, but they got called back. So most of his damage.
Caleb Call: that per
Ben Fowers: Yeah, most of his damage got taken out of the box score. but um i was ah I was listening to Morgan Scali on the postgame, and Scali was talking about how Broncos run fits. and They brought a lot of guys in the box and stacked the box and did a pretty good job in the run. So I think Utah State was kind of trying to take that away. and um And Broncos always been a good defensive coach and kind of always had good defenses. And so I think they did ah a decent job at trying to limit those.
Ben Fowers: Like you said though like Bray was the only one that really broke one so it kind of was and I mean, like Ficklin had a... Had a nice carry. um I think he had ah a carry early. when um um at One of our first two drives of the game where he broke like a 12 or 15 yarder, but nothing like huge. like some of these guys normally do so um I mean, it is ah it is something.
Ben Fowers: to watch for going forward. I'm not like... um scared about it but it's obviously something that needs to improve so i uh I'm... I'm interested interested to see if if teams will stack the box and kind of have a...
Ben Fowers: the run fits like Utah State did. And if they do, then I think Utah's utah's going to have to fix some things up front before they. ah before they getting to the thick of their Big 12 conference schedule.
Caleb Call: Yeah, and we've already talked about the ramp up that Utah's got. Iowa State on deck, honestly, is going to be a... Probably a pretty fair test. Iowa always State is... Played some decent football to this point. Lost close to Iowa. and killed Bowling Green this last week. so Definitely a step up in competition from Utah State and I'd imagine from Arkansas as well.
Caleb Call: Utah is three weeks into the season now. They have gotten through their out -of -conference schedule, 3 -0, which honestly... definitely should be expected to when you're playing. the worst team in the SEC, and maybe the worst team in the Pac -12, and then an FCS team. What would you say definitively at this point that you know about the Utes, and what do you think are still some question marks you've got about the Utes after three?
Ben Fowers: Yeah upfront just like we were talking about a second ago is The offense, I'm not. 100 % sure. The offensive line, sorry. The offensive line, I'm not 100 % sure. um is going to go dominate like they've done in the past through the Whittingham era. so That's one where it's going to be interesting to watch. but And then the other thing I know about him is that the offense coordinator has been super creative. and so I uh... I've seen stuff I've never seen on a football field before with this guy. and so i um That's the one thing I'm...
Ben Fowers: Alright. I think his creativity. hopefully covers up some of the the mishaps or some of the. the problems up front so um overall though i thought the off offensive line from what i watched looked all right. So I think it was more what Bronco and Utah State was trying to do and was able to do then.
Ben Fowers: than the upfront. So that's the one thing is I'm just not sure yet about the offensive line.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And so that's the, that's the biggest thing. And then defensively, I, I mean, this is a Morgan Scali. head coach team. so anything Anytime Morgan Scott is the head coach, I think we're going to have a pretty good defense.
Ben Fowers: and so It's one of those things where it's going to be a... I... A defense that's a... A band don't break, get off the field, make a big play here and there. And so I, I'm excited about defense. And so I think we're going to have a.
Ben Fowers: ah solid a solid defense this year. And then. I'm optimistic about the offense with McGivens as the... the new oc so that's kind of the the rundown on the Utes and also special teams. They got ah they got this punter that's...
Ben Fowers: booting it big. And so I, I think in a big games, he might be able to flip the field and he was consistently putting some like 60, 65 yards. That is a couple punts.
Caleb Call: That's it.
Ben Fowers: on saturday so yeah it was it was kind of a I think he's going to be a weapon. And I mean, obviously you don't want to punt, but like in in big games where you're not just scoring every drive, you're going to have to flip the field. and Try to.
Ben Fowers: when you flip the field, you're going to be able to kind of help yourself out, um help the defense out, and then give your offense a shorter field. So I'm hoping that. ah Collectively, i liked I mean. Collectively, they look pretty good. and it Pretty exciting.
Ben Fowers: Utah jumped up to 15 in the poll this week. And um I think it's it's one of those things. I just sent you a text right away. It was like USC was right ahead of them. And I was like, I guarantee if you Utah and USC strapped it up right now, i'm I'm taking Utah by two scores right now.
Ben Fowers: Like, give me an alternate line in Vegas.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: i'm I'm taking all the money that they're willing to give me on that one. So, but I, so I, I'm excited. 15 is a, I mean, 15 seems about right, but. I think it's one of those things as you fans, it's a.
Ben Fowers: It's I feel like we're we're cautiously optimistic that we can. ah climb even further. So that's kind of this the start so far this year.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: It's an exciting start to the year. And I mean, like I said, that through all the few episodes that we've gone is that I think this, ah this ramp up is, it kind of gives you a nice little. You should be able to get to 6 -0 pretty easily as long as you're playing good football. So I think going into that Houston game, if you can go if you can go take care of Iowa State on the road, which which is probably the biggest test so far, I think you're going to be 6 -0 probably just outside.
Ben Fowers: the top 10 and so i think it's going into that houston game so Utah fans, I think, are just more optimistic than anything right now.
Caleb Call: For good reason. There were definitely question marks in the offseason for the world at large looking into Utah. and At least through the out -of -conference against some bad teams, Utah's... proving that they can dominate how you should against bad teams.
Caleb Call: They weren't sitting there in a two -point game in the fourth quarter like Washington was against. Utah State. So at least got that goat for Utah. um For BYU against Colorado State, this game was delayed a little bit for weather, and then the weather was perfect for the whole game, which was nice to see. BYU. Really kind of similar to Utah in the first half. Put this game away fast. This game.
Caleb Call: Both teams scored on their first possession. Colorado State had a big chunk play. And. BYU kept scoring and Colorado State didn't score for a long time. Lead was 31 -7 at halftime.
Caleb Call: Got to 38 -7 and then ended the game 41 -23. A few touchdowns in the fourth against the backups, which. frustrating to see but thankfully didn't cost byu in the polls at all um saw LJ dominate in this game. LJ probably could have ran for 300 yards if the coaches led him. I don't think Colorado State had anybody that was.
Caleb Call: trying or willing to tackle LJ. and He ended up with 170 yards, averaged over 10 yards of carry, he had three touchdowns in the first quarter, and really didn't get a ton of carries outside of the first quarter. So we saw what we needed from LJ.
Caleb Call: And once again, a second time this season, we saw. a Baerbock -Meyer bomb to Legend -Glasker. That's something that our offense really has not had with Baerbock -Meyer yet. Last year, we...
Caleb Call: Really do not. We already have more. passes of over 50 yards with Bayer than we had last year. so Great start to the year with that. Legend Glasker is a true freshman. Looks like he's one of the most explosive players on the field every game he plays in. Super excited to see how... He's developed to this point. and I'm hoping that once we get into.
Caleb Call: some of our tougher games that he continues to be a weapon that we can kind of use to unlock the offense more than it was last year. Last year, BYU was really steady, but we didn't have a ton of...
Caleb Call: explosive plays of like We had a bunch of like 20 to 40 yard plays, but really nothing larger than that. We had to. drive down the field. and Score with long drives very often And against Colorado State, it was the opposite. We were getting explosive plays everywhere. So that was fun to see.
Caleb Call: um Really, the only thing to complain about is Bear Bachmeier throwing a forced, he tried to force a pass into. Kyler Casper, awful throw, got intercepted. Could have pushed lead the lead to 45 -7. And instead, the backups go and let Colorado State get.
Caleb Call: 16 points in the fourth quarter. and make the score look more respectable than the game actually was there.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I just... Some thoughts when i was ah when I tuned into this game was... It didn't look like there was anyone on Colorado State that could tackle... a BYU so it was ah it looked kind of ugly early i think it was five Two touchdowns in the first five plays of the game. and And it didn't look much better after that. so It was one of those... with the starters in, BYU kind of just...
Ben Fowers: Took it to woman Amen. I mean, obviously Colorado of State has the two late touchdowns in the fourth quarter, which makes the... you look at the score if if we've talked about this like From the voters' standpoint, if you don't watch a game like this, with I think this was the same time slot as LSU -Ole Miss, and I think there was one other game at the same time as this one.
Ben Fowers: And. So if you're just a vote if there's an AP voter that didn't watch any of it and just looked at the score of 41 -23, might ding BYU for not. kind of blown them out. But it didn't seem like that happened in the poll this week.
Ben Fowers: BYU fans, I mean. probably pretty happy right now because it seems like the top seven in the
Caleb Call: Okay.
Ben Fowers: in the AP poll right now are kind of like head and shoulders above everybody else. and um with the points total that they've gotten in so
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: BYU being nine is second among the the rest of the group. so that's i mean As a BYU fan, you're probably feeling pretty good about where you're sitting at right now.
Caleb Call: Yeah, and BYU. It goes into a bye week now. and After the buy, you've got. TCU and Iowa State. Those are your two. games you got before Notre Dame comes to Provo. So honestly, that Feels like BYU to this point.
Caleb Call: has a pretty good chance to be undefeated and in the top 10 when the irish come to town You're hoping the Irish can do the same and be undefeated in the top 10. Could have one of or maybe even the biggest game that.
Caleb Call: we've ever seen at LaBelle Edwards Stadium would be huge for playoff implications for both BYU and Notre Dame. Um,
Ben Fowers: Notre Dame's got...
Caleb Call: as far as
Ben Fowers: Notre Dame's got Purdue, North Carolina, and Stanford. North Carolina looks like that's the best matchup on that schedule.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So it should be 6 -0 Notre Dame versus 5 -0 BYU going into that week, assuming BYU can. off their buy, go into TCU and go get a win. so That should be a top 10 matchup.
Ben Fowers: mid -October.
Caleb Call: yeah I'm hoping so. As far as the... Three weeks in, things I know about BYU, things I'm still... What question marks you still have about BYU? What I know is that.
Caleb Call: The offense. at the very least is going to be as good as last year's. We're hoping for better against better competition. But when it comes to games against teams that aren't Notre Dame and aren't Texas Tech, and maybe we put Utah in that category too.
Caleb Call: BYU should beat every team on their schedule besides... you Notre Dame, Utah, or... potentially big 12 championship game whatever that matchup is LJ, the offensive line, just as dominant as you hope.
Caleb Call: The passing game was a big question mark because we lost Chase Roberts, lost Parker Kingston, lost Carson Ryan. A lot of big departures, and so far the receivers have stepped up. Legend Glasgow, we already mentioned him, has been.
Caleb Call: Amazing as a true freshman. Kyler Casper has been great. and then Walker Lyons and Roger Saliapaga are an awesome tight end duo as well. So I think that we feel pretty good about the offense.
Caleb Call: on the defense I do have some question marks when it comes to the pass rush And. Kelly Poppinga said that sacks are one of the most overrated stats.
Caleb Call: And he's looking to cause havoc. and a myriad of ways. And the defense has been very good. And we saw. like against Arizona when they were forced to throw. Our pass rush was able to get home when we were selling out for the pass and knew there was no chance of a run there.
Caleb Call: um But overall, I'm a Colorado of State head. 40 something pass attempts. No sacks against Colorado State. Now their quarterbacks, all three that played.
Caleb Call: We're very athletic. We're running a lot. And that is going to be part of not. getting a sack there, but still that's a. something that you would hope to see against Colorado State that you're able to at least get. one or two there. Arizona, for a lot of that game, we did struggle to pressure Pafita, especially when we were sending three, there was no sign of pressure. And sending four still was not as consistent.
Caleb Call: as you would hope for getting pressure. So I think that the pass rush is going to be. Really the main thing that I think could end up. hurting BYU when they are facing teams that have good pocket passers. I know Notre Dame with CJ Carr.
Caleb Call: They love to throw the ball. C .J. Carr is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. And so that's one where. We're going to have to generate some sort of a pass rush if we want to. be able to slow that down. So yet to be seen there.
Ben Fowers: Are you... a Right now. I just kind of was glancing through BYU schedule Um, after the first three weeks of games. It seems like the Big 12 schedule is actually pretty.
Ben Fowers: light for BYU. I think Utah is their only I guess they already took care of Arizona, so Arizona might be. their second best game on that schedule. I don't know. What do you think of the teams and what have you seen?
Caleb Call: All right.
Ben Fowers: and Besides the Utah game, it doesn't seem like.
Caleb Call: When the schedule first came out
Ben Fowers: And.
Caleb Call: Yeah, the Utah game is going to be obviously very difficult. When the schedule first came out, it's it's hard to know how tough a schedule is going to be. because A conference like the Big 12, you have no clue what teams are going to rise and what teams are going to fall.
Caleb Call: Arizona. TCU and Utah felt like the three toughest games on the conference schedule. And then you had some question marks with teams like Arizona State, who knew what Baylor with DJ Lagby was going to look like. Arizona State still is a mildly concerning opponent.
Caleb Call: But you get them at home, and that should be a win. The road trip to UCF looked like it could have been tricky. but They've struggled in a few games early, and I don't think that UCF is a team that we should expect to be able to beat BYU even with the...
Caleb Call: home game two time zones away. Honestly, the the teams that... Kind of scared me the most in conference Obviously, Utah's on there, and we played them. Arizona's on there as well, and we already played and beat them. But then you got Texas Tech and Houston.
Caleb Call: Neither of them on BYU's schedule. Kansas State. who Again, I don't think that... that's a team that should beat BYU but definitely a team that could in every Johnson senior year with uh cullen klein back calling the plays for him and they've had a good start to the year But then Oklahoma State and West Virginia.
Caleb Call: Two wildcard teams, Oklahoma State with these North Texas guys, Drew Mestemaker. and Caleb Hawkins. And after the Tulsa game, I thought they were going to be awful, and then all of a sudden they went out and beat Oregon and dominated them. So they they still are a wild card.
Caleb Call: I'm glad they're not on BYU schedule.
Ben Fowers: But you void those. Yeah, they avoided both those games.
Caleb Call: And West Virginia too. West Virginia is going to be one of the best rushing teams in the Big 12. BYU avoids them as well. Utah closes their season with West Virginia. But really, BYU did avoid.
Caleb Call: Five. Big 12 teams that I think are. going to be in the top half or near the top half of the Big 12. this is a schedule where Now that you've beaten Arizona.
Caleb Call: It really does feel like you've got a one -game Big 12 schedule, the Holy War in Salt Lake City. And outside of that, you've got a bunch of landmines that you just need to avoid stepping on like you did against Kansas back in.
Caleb Call: 2024. And what will be interesting to monitor is... Let's say BYU beats Notre Dame and loses to Utah at 11 -1. Does that get them into the Big 12 championship game? Does that get them into the playoff?
Caleb Call: So yeah, there's a... The Big 12 schedule is it being unbalanced leaves a lot of question marks as far as what it's going to take to make the big 12 championship
Ben Fowers: Yeah. Texas Tech not playing Utah or BYU and Kansas State not playing. um texas tech utah or byu makes it so a one like whoever loses the holy war one loss doesn't ah doesn't necessarily mean that there's a way back in Kansas state and Texas tech takes care of their schedules. So it's kind of a ah well weird, some of the top teams don't all play each other this year. Utah BYU. both Voight -Tech.
Ben Fowers: Alright. and then Tech avoids Kansas State. Tech's actually got a pretty light schedule there. Their only big one was this last week against Houston, and they were able to pass the test. so they They kind of took care of their biggest game on their schedule now. and so They haven't looked like the Texas Tech of last year, but they ah their schedule is lighter and they already passed the first test. So that's one where.
Ben Fowers: It almost feels like. In that scenario, say BYU beats a... Right now they're ranked third. So a top five Notre Dame team. And if they were to drop. That game against Utah, that's 11 -1 and not in the big. Big 12 championship game.
Ben Fowers: potentially and so Does that get you into the playoffs? um where they are right now being number nine a win against Notre Dame I would project them to be closer to five. And so a loss to.
Ben Fowers: Utah. would put like a Utah team that would probably be about 10 at the time. I think BYU actually is in, in that scenario. which they they haven't, Big 12 hasn't gotten the respect to get two teams in in the past.
Ben Fowers: But I think with a win against Notre Dame, I think is the difference between.
Caleb Call: changes the equation of time.
Ben Fowers: this year versus the last big 12 seasons that has expanded to 12 teams.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And so I think that's an interesting. theory And I think, obviously, it'd be interesting to see if what BYU would be ranked if they beat Notre Dame. But I'd assume it'd be close to five, if not. five so I think they're.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: there's uh with the kansas state and texas tech avoiding everybody it kind of makes it a ah weird where If you drop one Big 12 game, there there's a real chance you're not playing in the Big 12 championship game. so
Caleb Call: Yeah, in the past, if you went 8 -1 in conference, you're making the conference championship game. him There really wasn't a question about that. and with a 16 -team conference, that's just... not a guarantee at all anymore. And then even like 2024, BYU goes seven and two in conference and ends in a four -way tie with a bunch of seven and two teams. So really just every year.
Caleb Call: It is impossible until probably the last week or two of the season to know what it's going to take to make. the conference championship game so something that makes the large conference era that we have in college football interesting as the conference races are more complicated than they've ever been.
Caleb Call: We mentioned a little bit the Texas Tech -Houston game on Friday night. What did you see from both teams? and Do you think that... Both teams are...
Caleb Call: Big 12 championship contenders after that one.
Ben Fowers: um I think for sure they're contenders because I think. Um, text the type of team that they don't have another ranked game on their schedule and so They are. I mean. theoretically, if they're getting. getting into the championship game, then they just got to win one game. So, and with them doing it last year, they're for sure a contender. I think Houston kind of is now looking. I'm on the outside looking in. They're going to have to.
Ben Fowers: like like we just talked about with BYU, Utah, Kansas State, Texas Tech, they're going to need. with losing to tech straight up, they're going to need a lot of help. and then went out to to have a shot. So I probably would. I think that, like we talked about this last week, I think that was probably an elimination game for the Big 12 championship game. And so I think Houston's probably would need a lot to go right for them to get back in. so I think Houston, no, but Tech.
Ben Fowers: Tech's a weird team. i ah I think defensively, they're not nearly what they were last year. and so There's a lot of... opportunity to take advantage of the defense more than they're at. Ever has been. Houston jumped out all over them. They went 10 -0 quick.
Ben Fowers: and then Kind of slowed down, but I think they ah when I was. watching the game, and I think when I look back at the box score, they scored in every quarter on Texas Tech, which... um Didn't happen last year.
Caleb Call: Things were not going last year, yeah.
Ben Fowers: like i i think ah I think I remember last year, like the first. Half for like. I don't know if Texas Tech gave up a touchdown the first half all year last year. And.
Ben Fowers: Or something crazy like super late in the year where it was like 10 or 11 games into it or before Texas Tech gave up a first half touchdown. And so. ah Now you're seeing you're seeing that kind of fold a little bit. And Texas Tech's offense – It's not great, but it's weird.
Ben Fowers: Will Hammond made just enough plays where it's like, okay, he could make, like if he got going and their offense kind of figured it out, like I think they could kind of cope with the the bad defenses. So they're kind of an interesting team where I think they could.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I mean, they're capable. I mean, they won the Big 12 championship last year. Obviously, there's some turnover, but I think they're capable of winning it again and capable of beating anybody in the Big 12. it's ah It's one of those things where I'm not super, on both sides of the ball, I'm not super impressed by them.
Ben Fowers: Defensively, Compared to last year, not at all. But offensively, still not. that impressed, but like Will Hammond just did enough to. to figure it out.
Caleb Call: Just a nod.
Ben Fowers: make the plays that needed to and even when it was 21 20 like he needed to go make another drive um to kind of put him up eight and he did and so Ended up kind of giving them the cushion there at the end when Houston went down and scored, had to go for two. and um inches short.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So.
Caleb Call: I... I came away from that game thinking that. Houston. Now a lot of people thought maybe they were below Texas Tech BYU, Utah that top tier I think they're right there in there. They went too Lubbock.
Caleb Call: They were an inch away from overtime with Texas Tech. I think that game in Salt Lake City is going to be a huge one. I anticipate Houston winning every game they've got in the schedule between now and then and probably being ranked going into that one.
Caleb Call: I really was impressed with Connor Wegman and just that team as a whole. Like you said, the... Texas Tech did just enough. And I think this year. Last year, Texas Tech killed everybody on their schedule except for ASU.
Caleb Call: Every other game outside of that one. was a blowout. And granted, some games were like the Big 12 championship game was a six -point game late in the third. The Utah game was a three -point game going into the fourth. So they had a couple of games that were close at points.
Caleb Call: But the final score is a blowout. every single week. And I don't think this year is going to play out like that at all. They will still blow a few teams out. But they've got ASU. They've got Arizona. They've got West Virginia. They've got Oklahoma State. They've got teams that.
Caleb Call: are probably going to be in that game late in the third or fourth quarter. Can Will Hammond. deliver every single week, week in week out. I honestly don't think so. I think they still will win a majority of these games, but I don't.
Caleb Call: I came away from that game. feeling pretty confident that we're not going to see a 12 -0 Texas Tech team. Maybe 11 -1. That probably gets them the conference championship game at 11 -1. Not a guarantee, but likely since they got the Houston win already.
Caleb Call: And, yeah, we'll we'll see. The Big 12 this week honestly had a pretty good. day outside of Colorado against Northwestern. They got. absolutely pulverized by the Wildcats and honestly just embarrassed completely. i Don't have much more to say outside of Dion. I think this is your last year.
Caleb Call: Thank you. Goodbye. Have fun on your next adventure after Colorado. i
Ben Fowers: Do you think he coaches next year?
Caleb Call: All right. Say that again.
Ben Fowers: Do you think he's coaching next year? somewhere else
Caleb Call: I bet you he takes a little bit of time off. He might go on. join Fox big noon kickoff or something. I don't think he'll be coaching next year. I'm not sure he'll ever coach you again.
Caleb Call: um West Virginia, Virginia. Huge game. wet Virginia as a They were barely ranked. They should have been ranked higher. And granted, Virginia ended up getting...
Caleb Call: exposed a little bit by West Virginia. What do you think the Mountaineers proved with that win against Virginia yesterday on Saturday?
Ben Fowers: I think that win, I didn't know what to expect from Rich Rod in West Virginia just because of... Um, especially the after the Utah -West Virginia game last year. Utah kind of just... shut down their run game and dominated them.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So I didn't know what to expect. But year two in the system usually improves with a good coach. and so
Caleb Call: and a better quarterback and running back than last year.
Ben Fowers: Um,
Ben Fowers: Better quarterback, better running back
Caleb Call: Hawkins and Cook is... and amazing duo.
Ben Fowers: So what i what I learned from West Virginia is I think they're going to be capable of. being in closer games this year and kind of having a shot to beat. um Most.
Ben Fowers: most of the games on their schedule. So I think they ah they end the season on a really tough stretch. they Three of their last four games are against Houston, Texas Tech, and Utah. And so. Um, I wouldn't be surprised if they go. ah If they're now sitting there.
Ben Fowers: like they get to bowl eligibility before that so before those four games they're sitting at like I guess maybe like going five and three going into the last four or something like that. and so They're a team that.
Ben Fowers: I think when they got like they go they come Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Arizona, Cincinnati is their next four games. And I think those are games where. On paper before the year, I would have said Oklahoma State. I would have said Iowa State.
Ben Fowers: Or actually, I would have probably gave West Virginia the Iowa State game. But I'd have taken Oklahoma State and Arizona preseason. and I think those are games now where I'm like I'm not so sure. I think West Virginia has the capability of winning those games.
Caleb Call: They get both of those at home too.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so I think it's that's what it showed me. It showed me that they're going to be able to play and compete with like the middle, even the middle to upper tier teams. and it'll be
Caleb Call: And I tell you what, you said that November stretch. Texas Tech, Houston and Utah. West Virginia, I'm putting this down. my finger down here they will ruin somebody's season. One of those three games, they'll win.
Caleb Call: because of their running game. I'm not sure if it'll be Tech, if it'll be Houston, or if it'll be Utah. But I don't think West Virginia goes 0 -3 in that stretch.
Ben Fowers: It's tough though because they go to Tech and to Utah. So those are tough games to go. to go do damage on but they do get houston at home i don't know how much where Houston will be at at that point. because Houston still goes into Salt Lake and goes into ah Manhattan, Kansas, like Kansas State. and so I...
Ben Fowers: At that point, I don't know if Houston will really be in the thick of things, but I wouldn't be surprised if they go get a win. down the stretch, it's going to be a tough game for them and they're going to have to still be in the, I mean, obviously it's easier to be.
Ben Fowers: Um...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: At the beginning of the season, it's always easier to be kind of more. cohesive as a unit and as ah as a team. and when so Honestly, once it comes to November, it's harder to... um those games everyone's getting banged up and hurt and sometimes it's harder to be from an average to above average team, if you're not all healthy, sometimes it's hard to stay together. And so that's, there'll be an interesting team to watch. I'll I'm curious to see what happens going into that game, because if, I mean, they're three and all right now looking pretty good. And so.
Ben Fowers: um made they're They're making Pat Mack, if you look real good, on the game day picks.
Caleb Call: Yeah, no kidding
Ben Fowers: now He's the only West Virginia picker every week, it feels like, and he keeps getting them right. so They look to be more improved than last year, for sure.
Caleb Call: Yeah, I love seeing that. West Virginia and Oklahoma State are probably the two brains in the Big 12. that if they were to rise to the top again, those are teams that people remember being good and I think could bring a lot of.
Caleb Call: um just a ah higher reputation to the big 12 like it Maybe this is the wrong way to put it, but it feels like... if you go and have uh 11 -1.
Caleb Call: Arizona. team. People are not going to trust them as much as in the Lebanon one, Oklahoma, even if they had the exact same resume. And as much as it hurts to say, it's literally just because of the brand. We've seen this team do it before. We've not seen this team do it before.
Caleb Call: I think having Texas Tech, obviously they... have the NIL working in their favor and it's made people trust them because of the cash they're putting into the team. but they're not a historically great brand.
Caleb Call: I think West Virginia and Oklahoma State, if they could get to the point where they're constantly being ranked. That's a program that people would probably respect more than a lot of the other teams in the Big 12, like at Houston. like In the back of people's minds, yeah, Houston might be a ranked team.
Caleb Call: But I don't think any SEC fan would even consider Houston. a good win for Texas Tech. Again, it's just not a team that people... have respect for the brand. And that. It just has a lot to do with the perception. um So um I'm hoping – I mean, West Virginia and Oklahoma State, they play this week, and there's a good chance that the winner is ranked going into next week. They're both among the first five in receiving votes. so Huge game coming up. Awesome win for West Virginia against Virginia.
Caleb Call: A few other notable results, you had ASU beat Kansas, really sloppy game. the More points were scored. by defenses and special teams, then... by the offenses. Granted, ASU had one touchdown that was a one -yard drive, so I'm giving that to the defense there.
Caleb Call: the big dude Couldn't get all. 80 yards down the field. He got 79 instead. so Sloppy game there, but ASU got the win. and Never really felt like that one was in question. Solid one for the Sun Devils. They get to come home and rest for a week after a London trip. and um still Dangerous team, not a team that I think is going to compete for the Big 12 this year, but a chance to play spoiler with.
Caleb Call: BYU and Texas Tech on the schedule. Kansas State beat Tulane. 31 20. Cincinnati. Went down 28 to 7 to Miami, Ohio, their in -state rival. And they managed to claw all the way back and win that 135 -31.
Caleb Call: am and Any other big takeaways from the Big 12 this week, whether it was those games or others?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, the for me, that Kansas State Tulane one was interesting. um Tulane. gave Kansas State kind of all they could handle for a while. and Kansas State has, or sorry, Tulane's actually, they play Duke pretty tough. and Kept Duke to 17 points. They lost that game 17 -3. So they came into this game one -on -one. um And they jumped out on... a on Kansas state and they scored in the first quarter, went up seven, nothing. And it kind of stayed a tight game for a while. It was a one score game.
Ben Fowers: a halftime and kind of they were sticking around late but kansas state just didn't dominate and so it's kind of an interesting one from the this aspect of kansas state is like we've talked about they avoid utah byu and texas tech and so It'll be interesting to see what happens down the stretch. And they're kind of a team after watching that game where i'm I don't think even avoiding those top three teams, I think they've got.
Ben Fowers: Two. Probably losses on that. to minimum losses on the schedule, even with. um We even were avoiding the top three teams. and so they're ah They're a team that's going to be interesting to see.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: they ah They play it at Cincinnati, and then they get a they get a home game against Houston, which is interesting. because um We just saw what Houston went into tech and did. and so Luckily, they get it at home for for Kansas State fans, but that's going to be a ah big one to kind of.
Ben Fowers: Get you from like the middle top tier to the top tier if you can go take care of that one So that's one that I'm ah now I'm leaning in Houston after watching this last week and watching Tulane kind of hang with Kansas State. So I think ah that was my biggest takeaway was i don't I don't think Kansas State's quite ready to make the jump to the top tier.
Caleb Call: Yeah, Kansas State. before the season like if you just take how good They should be. I kind of pictured them as an 8 -14, but their schedule gave them a chance to. win more games than that despite probably being about as talented as Laika.
Caleb Call: upper to middle Big 12 team. And yeah, the Tulane game. Definitely ex exposed a little bit of just some flaws for Kansas State. I still think that Kansas State will finish.
Caleb Call: probably about 8 to 10 wins on the season. and That gives them a chance if some chaos happens or if they can. you know score an upset against Houston or someone else to...
Caleb Call: being the Big 12 championship. It's a team that you can't cross off the list yet. but Definitely have some concerns about. Cincinnati. and Kansas State both going into that. Game 3 -0, so that'll be another interesting one to...
Caleb Call: See you next week as far as. The Big 12 season goes. Right now we've only had two conference games. It was BYU -Arizona and Houston -Texas Tech. I guess kanas state or Kansas and Arizona State just played one as well. So three conference games to this point. Still a lot to figure out. in conference play, so I'm excited to get this going here in week four.
Caleb Call: As far as the... Whole country goes. LSU Ole Miss. delivered one of the I mean probably the most fun game of the season to this point.
Caleb Call: 24 -24. LSU went down big early. It was 17 -0 and then 24 -7. LSU comes all the way back. Ties it at 24. And then Trinidad Chambliss does what Trinidad Chambliss does.
Caleb Call: Great drive down the field. Score the touchdown. And... Kind of a shocking decision to go for two. And in my head. I kind of feel like. Pete Golding probably thought in the back of his mind.
Caleb Call: Lane Kiffin's going to go for two. He's probably going to have a play that's going to work. So let's go for two ourselves and beat him to it and make him go for two. And so... That's what they did. They got it and went up 32 -24.
Caleb Call: The end of that game would have been a lot scarier had it been 30 -24. But yeah, they stopped LSU at the goal line. get the 8 -point win. What are your takeaways from that one?
Ben Fowers: You know what's weird is... I... It's hard to... make this argument. to a lot of people but So LSU, they go. Um, Three and out, three and out to start the game. And that was the only two possessions they had in the first quarter. And then they finally get a first down, but then don't get a drive going at punt. So they had three straight punts.
Ben Fowers: And then they get the ball and score a touchdown, and that was their last drive of the first half, so they never really got going. And then Ole Miss, right after that happened, went and scored. instantly So it's 24 -7 at halftime. I think if this game were to happen again, I would. hammer the LSU side of the bet. I think it's one of those things where.
Ben Fowers: Ellis. I mean, they go three and out, three and out. They only have four drives. the in the first half, and they find themselves in a 24 -7 hole, able to dig themselves out, get a – like they tie the game up and then – um I mean their defense held them scoreless before that last drive and so it's one of those ones where I think LSU kind of.
Ben Fowers: I mean, dug their own grave in the first half with, I don't know if it was the script or what. or Just kind of didn't come ready to play, but LSU kind of got off to the worst possible start they could have. and then was able to manage a 24 -24 game. and then Had a shot.
Ben Fowers: late to tie it but that's a it's an interesting uh dynamic I think that LSU team's good I think um Ole Miss, I don't know if it was just the... the football gods was giving that one back to Ole Miss.
Caleb Call: is that
Ben Fowers: but i i That was my takeaway was I think LSU is actually the better team. I think if they play again, I would pick LSU. I would hammer the bet on the LSU side. And that was my takeaway was I just think everything that could have.
Ben Fowers: um in the first half that Kind of how it played. Ole Miss got the extra possession, scored on them all. LSU didn't get. a first down until the third drive. and then still punted on that drive and then scored. They didn't start scoring until the fourth drive, and then they really.
Ben Fowers: didn't get stopped much before they came back and tied it. So I think it's one of those things where everything went wrong for LSU and they still found themselves with a shot to win it late. And so that's a good, LSU is a good team. And and kudos to Ole Miss for winning. Like you still got to strap it up and go.
Ben Fowers: go play the first quarter. So kudos to Ole Miss for being ready to go and then being able to come back at the end. but That was my takeaways. I think l LSU is going to be a sneaky team that still makes the playoffs.
Ben Fowers: Um, that was my takeaway was initially, I didn't think the loser was going to be in a good spot too, but I think LSU is going to be.
Caleb Call: Yeah, it's honestly, to me, it felt like those two teams. were pretty even. LSU probably has a better roster as a whole. than Ole Miss. But the gap between the quarterbacks is huge. Trinidad Chambliss really is, I think, the best quarterback in the country. Him or Darian Mensah, one of the two.
Caleb Call: Sam Levitt's a fine college quarterback, but not somebody that I think is. Like a... future NFL first rounder or like an all -world college quarterback. And LSU, like you said, they're going to win plenty of games this year. They'll be in the playoff hunt for sure.
Caleb Call: But Ole Miss going out and scoring this win was huge. Trinidad Chambliss, legitimate Heisman contender this year. I honestly think that he – Vegas probably has him as a favorite after that one, despite the way that Darian Mence has been playing to this point.
Caleb Call: um I'm excited to see both of these teams play the rest of the way. Ole Miss. you've got to put them at the top for resumes so far. You got Texas with the Ohio State win. That's the best win in the country so far.
Caleb Call: Maybe. I mean, who knows if Ohio State's better than LSU. But beating both LSU and Louisville in the first three weeks.
Ben Fowers: And Louisville looks good.
Caleb Call: See you. Yeah, I mean that. That's a huge start for Ole Miss. If you have any resume ranking at all. Ole Miss has to be one or two. They've proven a ton this year.
Caleb Call: Pete Golding as head coach of Ole Miss. has wins against Tulane in the playoff. win against Georgia in the playoff, a close loss to Miami.
Caleb Call: And then a win against Louisville and a win against LSU. thrown right into the fire. in four ranked wins against four great teams. Honestly, I want to start to the Pete Golding era.
Caleb Call: and Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And on top of it. On top of it, they're going to the swamp this week and are... early underdogs. They're three -point dogs in the swamp to Florida, who looks good right now.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Summerall's got them going, so it's going to be another fun week for Ole Miss. we're gonna We're finding out real quick if Ole Miss can sustain it week after week.
Caleb Call: Yeah, it is.
Ben Fowers: It's going to be a...
Caleb Call: Yeah, that schedule is tough.
Ben Fowers: Fun start to the year.
Caleb Call: to slow down for Ole Miss.
Ben Fowers: Mm -mm.
Caleb Call: um we talked about Louisville being a good team.
Ben Fowers: So.
Caleb Call: They had another – I mean, they're another team that had a huge – second test in the first three weeks, they've got. a win against SMU now under their belts. That one they were going back and forth. for the entire game And then the fourth quarter You just stop. Louisville pull away.
Caleb Call: Able to win at 41 -31. in a game where it felt like both defenses were really struggling. And then. Louisville did just enough in the second half to force enough stops. Kevin Jennings had some.
Caleb Call: errant throws and a turnover that really ended up closing the door on SMU. Do you think that Louisville, despite the loss to Ole Miss, do you think that they have any shot to be a college football playoff team if they don't win the ACC?
Ben Fowers: Louisville? No, I don't think they... ah I don't think they get in because at that point you're probably sitting at, if they don't win the ACC. I guess theoretically the best.
Ben Fowers: resume they could have is they could win out and then lose to Miami. So then you'd be sitting at 11 and one. Um...
Caleb Call: They're probably sitting in a similar way that BYU was.
Ben Fowers: I mean you're 11.
Caleb Call: But the difference is if Ole Miss is good.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, they're
Caleb Call: And they had a three -point loss to Ole Miss. And people love that quarterback kind of was, and he's awesome.
Ben Fowers: He is good.
Caleb Call: i wouldn't be shocked if the committee talks themselves into louisville and i the reason i asked that question is because i've seen a few people post their updated Playoff predictions and I have seen Louisville slotted at 11 multiple times as a second ACC team. and So I'm just wondering if that is a possibility to have.
Ben Fowers: I think if you play if you play the same season as last year, they're out.
Caleb Call: Louisville do that.
Ben Fowers: um If they get a little bit more help with teams bouncing around. like two years ago, they're probably in. And so.
Caleb Call: Yeah. We saw SMU do it.
Ben Fowers: That's it.
Caleb Call: SMU won 11 -1, lost the ACC championship to a bad Clemson team, and they stayed in.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: So it is possible.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. And there was more losses at the top. last or that year two years ago than there was last year and so
Caleb Call: yeah They were competing with a 9 -3 Bama, not a 10 -2 Notre Dame and an 11 -2 BYU.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: So it definitely would have been a... different situation And that's what's tough about the 12 -team college football playoff era is the standard to make the playoff. shifts every year. depending on what teams are doing.
Ben Fowers: yeah
Caleb Call: And so, yeah, BYU at 11 -2 last year. would have made the playoffs the year before. and obviously they picked the wrong year to win the extra game. and have that good of a season. so Yeah, I mean it's an interesting situation that we'll have to monitor as far as both the Big 12 and ACC. hunting for a second bid.
Caleb Call: Around the rest of the country, we had... One of the biggest boneheaded plays I actually I liked the call. From the NC State head coach.
Ben Fowers: You just have to hold it with two hands, but you have to hold the ball two hands
Caleb Call: to go take say not and Not even that. Hold it with two hands and stand in the back of the end zone and the second someone's ready to touch you just go out like they're The thing is...
Caleb Call: He was trying to run the clock out and drain the extra time. It does not matter. You do not need that clock to hit zero because you can punt it with after the safety. Vanderbilt's not scoring with two seconds left. for that safety plan. So.
Caleb Call: And just... all around is awful
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I don't think they have J .J. Buchanan on that roster, so I don't think they're scoring off of a fair catch pun or something like that.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: where They could have tried to Hail Mary is the only thing is. Because... You walk out the back of the end zone, you're up by one, you punt the ball. best case is they either take a pump back or they fair catch it and Convert to Hail Mary and so.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, NC State, there's no no reason to even get hit if you're the quarterback. You should just...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: dance around as long as you can and then just go out the end zone and
Caleb Call: And you know what? This game is another lesson. You see people leave games early all the time. The second Vanderbilt threw that interception. I'm sure. Plenty of Vanderbilt fans were leaving.
Caleb Call: And you just never know. It's college football. Anything can happen. we We saw the stat teams that had the ball. with the lead. Under 10 seconds left. we're 1046 and one.
Caleb Call: going into this game That one was, of course, Michigan, Michigan State back in.
Ben Fowers: Oh, the punt one?
Caleb Call: the 20
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: 2015 or 2016, yeah, with the Jalen Watts -Jackson getting the... blocked punt touchdown and This is the second time. And the last. I think it was 10 to 20 years that.
Caleb Call: A team. trailing. and not having the ball in the last 10 seconds, man, just to win the game. so
Ben Fowers: if If you were a fan that left the game... and you go home and someone's like oh you were at the game are you ah are you like if are you admitting you left or are you saying you stayed
Caleb Call: Oh, I see.
Ben Fowers: and
Caleb Call: I'm staying. I can't even answer that question honestly. BYU lost to Utah 54 -10. I was there. You've got to stay through thick and thin with your team. and If football is not your priority. Okay. I get it a little bit, but think back even to like the NBA finals when.
Caleb Call: LeBron and the Heat were down big to the Spurs and people were leaving and begging to get back into the game.
Ben Fowers: They're running back in yeah
Caleb Call: when it looked Yeah. And I mean, you just. You can't leave sporting events early. It's something that you got to stick it out to the end because you never know when you're going to see something amazing And yeah.
Caleb Call: Nine times out of ten, you're not. It's going to be a blow. It's going to be a loss. It's going to be what you expect. But you want to be there for that 1 in 10. It's worth sitting in there and dealing with.
Ben Fowers: One that was like one in a million on what's it felt like?
Caleb Call: it That one's one in a million. Absolutely
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Um...
Ben Fowers: so
Caleb Call: Kentucky, Texas A &M, another fun one. Texas A and &M looked suspect against Arizona State despite the large victory. Alabama, Kentucky. Kentucky really was the better team for that game, or at least equal with Alabama.
Caleb Call: for the first two and a half quarters, and then Bama really poured it on Kentucky. So it was kind of funny to see Kentucky lost by 28. Texas A &M won by 28 the week before this one. And so you would think, I mean, the spread had Texas A and &M.
Caleb Call: a large favorite And then they go out there on the same field in. uh college station at college feet or um at Kyle Field. and Kentucky D - They dominated Texas A &M.
Caleb Call: I think you played that game 10 times. Kentucky's winning that game. seven, eight, nine times. I mean, they looked better on offense. They looked better on defense. Marcel Reed. could not get anything going. They couldn't move the sticks consistently, and they struggled to stop Kentucky's passing game.
Caleb Call: Do you think that Kentucky – I mean, I haven't seen what – they've done so far do you think that they're uh and Not necessarily a contender to go win the SEC or anything like that, but... I mean... How good of a team do you think they are?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so I actually... ah I'm a will sta ah Will Stein fan. He's the coordinator from Oregon that came over and took the head coaching job. And I picked them as my super dog last week against ah Bama.
Ben Fowers: And they played a pretty tight game for a while before giving up a lot of points.
Caleb Call: Picked the wrong week.
Ben Fowers: I picked the wrong week. Yeah, they came in and. I do that. three Part of the reason was it was a home game last week. but This ah this being an away game is a kind of. Kept me off of it. But they walked into Texas A and &M. They walked into Kyle Field and Kyle Allen Field and were able to get the win. And so I ah i think Kentucky's a sneaky team that – i think will stein i mean he's He was with Dan Lanning, and i I felt like he's seen how ah a program, a really good program has been built. and I think they're a team that's a – um
Ben Fowers: capable of beating anybody on their schedule. And so they're not going to beat everybody on their schedule, but I think they're going to be able to win any game that they show up to. And so I think there'll be a fun team.
Caleb Call: You know what game I've got circled right now?
Ben Fowers: to follow What?
Caleb Call: October 10th Lane Kiffin in LSU. Go to Kentucky.
Ben Fowers: Okay.
Caleb Call: And I'll tell you right now, that will be my super dog on October 10th, Kentucky.
Ben Fowers: Okay.
Caleb Call: I'm sure it will be probably a six or seven point dog.
Ben Fowers: Maybe more to
Caleb Call: I'm taking the Wildcats there. yeah Kentucky's got kind of an interesting schedule. They already played Bama, already played Texas A &M. They got LSU coming up in a little bit. And then they played just a ton of teams kind of in the middle tier of the SEC. They've got Oklahoma. They've got Tennessee. They've got Florida. They've got Missouri. so Kentucky.
Caleb Call: is probably not worse than any of those teams. If they are, it's amenable. So I bet you Kentucky ends up having kind of a chaotic. 7 -5 to 9 -3 season where they just have a ton of close games against these teams. And not to mention...
Caleb Call: They closed their year hosting Louisville. with another team that they are
Ben Fowers: And state rivalry, yeah.
Caleb Call: Yeah, in -state rivalry. And honestly, that's. If you're a Louisville fan, as much as it hurts to say it, You're cheering for Kentucky. You need Kentucky to be ranked when you play them in the last week of the season if you want any chance to make the playoff.
Caleb Call: without winning the ACC. so
Ben Fowers: i don't i don't think they're I don't think you can talk their fans into that.
Caleb Call: You probably can't. But it is one of those things where you... You might have to swallow your pride a little bit and cheer for your rival. It hurts. The only time I've ever in my life cheered for Utah.
Caleb Call: was when they were playing Iowa State, and a win over Iowa State would have put BYU in the Big 12 championship game. One of the most painful things I've ever done in Utah. Blew a fourth quarter lead.
Caleb Call: Let in a.
Ben Fowers: Do you notice? Do you know what was the weirdest thing ever as a Utah fan? So I'm at the game, Rocco Beck kind of turns it on late and Iowa State pulls the win. It was one of the weirdest experiences of my life because as a Utah fan, I've never.
Ben Fowers: like even remotely wanted Utah to lose a game. But like I walked out of the stadium and was like, eh, kept BYU out. It was like the weirdest.
Caleb Call: Yeah. Yes. Silver lining there.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it was like the weirdest feeling ever as a Utah fan. be like oh I mean, in a season that they went 5 -7, so like all it would have done was give us a bowl game.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and so It really didn't impact the season a whole lot, except for. It impacted your guys' this season a ton. and so
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: it was ah it was really It was a weird feeling leaving that game being like, oh, screw BYU over, I guess. So it felt like a win almost.
Caleb Call: Yeah. I'm fascinated to watch Kentucky the rest of the way. And I think that across the ASU and Kentucky games, I've learned everything I need to learn about Texas A &M. That's a team. That.
Caleb Call: that last year they got. a cream puff schedule in the sec as easy of a slate as you could have hoped for They lost the one challenge against Texas late. They did beat Notre Dame early. Huge win. Tip your cap to Texas A &M for that.
Ben Fowers: I don't know if you remember that game.
Caleb Call: And then they go and score.
Ben Fowers: They shouldn't have won that game. They cut that touchdown super late.
Caleb Call: No. they yeah And there was a massive holding that went on call to let their quarterback make that throw. Yes, I do remember that.
Ben Fowers: Yep. yep
Caleb Call: And they're scheduled the rest of the way.
Ben Fowers: Out.
Caleb Call: and they've got LSU. on the road this next week. They've got Missouri, Alabama, even South Carolina will be tough. They've got Tennessee. They've got Oklahoma. They've got Texas. I think this Texas A &M team is probably going 7 -5 or 6 -6. They don't look.
Caleb Call: like a so a cultural playoff team or anything close to it. Marcel Reed. Probably one of the more overrated quarterbacks in the country. And. Yeah, I honestly think that we'll see Texas A &M. If they lose to LSU, they'll be out of the rankings.
Caleb Call: I don't think we'll see him again this year. I think this is a team that we can kind of... drop off the map maybe they ruined somebody's season down the stretch but
Ben Fowers: They even struggled with Arizona State two weeks ago.
Caleb Call: yeah they uh
Ben Fowers: They kind of just had those two defensive touchdowns late that kind of made it look like a blowout.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: But they struggled with ASU. So they're a team I don't think they're going to dominate. I don't think they're going to – I think they're going to be – In tight games against the lower half of the SEC, like the South Carolinas and some of those other teams on the schedule where I don't, yeah, they're going to be a borderline.
Ben Fowers: I think bowl eligible team and they're, they'll probably make a bowl, but I, yeah, I agree. I think they're overrated. I think they're one of the most overrated teams in the country this year.
Caleb Call: Every year.
Ben Fowers: oh or
Caleb Call: The preseason AP Top 10 has a team that ends the season unranked. I think Texas A &M started. Right? They are a candidate. Oregon's a candidate to be that as well. um Yeah, I Not much more to say about Texas A and &M. I think that. If I were an A &M fan.
Caleb Call: And it's one of the things that's hard because you want to trust your quarterback to get better as time goes on. but you've spent too much money as an organization. to waste another two or three seasons with Marcel Reed at quarterback.
Caleb Call: I think. You might want to try and make a switch this off season. We'll see how the rest of the year goes, but it's kind of like. Kansas State with Avery Johnson a little bit. Avery Johnson's ah a good...
Caleb Call: quarterback. But I think that Kansas State will improve once Avery Johnson's gone and they get a different guy in and can play offense in a different way. And I think Texas A &M could be a similar situation where.
Caleb Call: Yes, you haven't. Good option of quarterback. But you're a good enough program to have a better option at quarterback, so why waste your time just because you already have Marcel Reed? So we'll i alwaysll see how the rest of the year goes. but You're not impressed with them. Also not impressed with Oklahoma. 14 -6 win over...
Caleb Call: New Mexico and their offense looked putrid. Did you see what John Mateer said about the... 70 -yard pass that he threw that.
Ben Fowers: He didn't see him, but he just heard the crowd.
Caleb Call: Got them.
Ben Fowers: and So he started looking for somebody. That's crazy.
Caleb Call: what What a thing to admit. Like, yes, our only good offensive play of the whole game only happened because you guys were pissed at me for not seeing the receiver.
Ben Fowers: was
Caleb Call: So funny.
Ben Fowers: Crazy. Yeah.
Caleb Call: Oklahoma with drama tears, another situation. Move on. Utah. They tried to get Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer. Aren't you glad that didn't go that way?
Ben Fowers: yeah Yeah, Dan Peer felt like. When you first happened, I mean, it was kind of one of those unknown Mountain West. He was at New Mexico. You didn't know how good he was going to be. And so it seemed like a bummer that they didn't get him.
Ben Fowers: And I was, I was really wanting to mature that off season two off seasons ago.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: And so, but now looking at it, it's like, oh man. um Thank goodness we got Dan Pierre.
Caleb Call: Dodged a bullet.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So. And they were number 10 preseason, so that's another one of the top 10 teams that they're currently out of the rankings.
Caleb Call: With that.
Caleb Call: Another one. and
Ben Fowers: It could be the 10 to out. like a
Caleb Call: And I don't think Oklahoma, they got Georgia and Texas. for the next couple of weeks. I don't think we'll see Oklahoma again in the rankings.
Ben Fowers: 8.
Caleb Call: Goodbye Sooners.
Ben Fowers: Eight, Texas A and &M.
Caleb Call: Right.
Ben Fowers: Ten, Oklahoma. I think those are two of the top ten teams that you're going to see out.
Caleb Call: Yep. Um, Notre Dame -Michigan State. Notre Dame again looked... vulnerable still got a comfortable 17 point win but showing holes for sure Boise, South Dakota, we thought Boise was a...
Caleb Call: for sure team to have a good chance of being the College football playoff G6 representative. tied in the fourth quarter with an FCS team is probably not something you want to see, even if it is one of the Dakota FCS teams. And they've got Western Michigan a road trip.
Caleb Call: out to Ypsilanti, Michigan this next week.
Ben Fowers: This week.
Caleb Call: so Yeah, well I'll have my eyes on that one for sure.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, that won't be a fun when I ah I think with Western Michigan, I think getting this like. um, weird, like pseudo win. Like they're kind of going to get, I think a little bit of credit and they can go take care of Boise this week.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Western Michigan probably jumps in as the. the new betting favorite to a... to make the the playoff from the G5. And right now Boise enters as a seven point favorite is what the they started at this week. And so they. ah I don't know. Boise's kind of looked vulnerable the last few weeks against some of those other teams. and They played well against Oregon.
Ben Fowers: Now it's like how good is Oregon? I don't know. So it'll be interesting to see. I think this one's going to be a fun 1 .30 game on ESPN2. So it's getting a primetime window, and I think it'll get some eyeballs on it. I'll definitely be tuning in a little bit to it. In and out of it. I think that's the same time as the Utah game. So I'll probably
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: have more of my attention on utah but that'll be a fun one to follow so
Caleb Call: Yeah, honestly, it was a really fun week of football felt like every single Point of the day, we had some fun games. Weather delays early out east. I left the... ah schedule in the middle of the day a little wonky because of games finishing when they shouldn't have. We didn't mention yet Bama, Florida State.
Caleb Call: Bama looked awful on defense for a lot of this game. They did enough that Keelan Russell looks amazing as a freshman over there. They end up winning 50 -36, but again are showing a little bit of cracks.
Caleb Call: They showed some cracks against Kentucky. I think Bama probably is – I mean, they'll for sure be in the playoff conversation, but – Not sold on them as a playoff team yet, but they do have some. Tests coming down the line there.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, that was a Bama is an interesting one just because the name, like we. We all grew up with Bama just being this like national title. like winning contending team every year and it still they i don't feel like the nick saban um shine has really rubbed completely off. Like I feel like they get the benefit of the doubt a lot. And I don't think they're kind of.
Ben Fowers: to the caliber. they're They're not to the caliber they used to be in. They kind of feel like a... I don't know. I feel like a mid -teen type of team in the rankings.
Caleb Call: If you replaced their jerseys with, like, Tennessee jerseys.
Ben Fowers: See you.
Caleb Call: I don't think anyone would be terrified to go play them. This year or early any year. And it it really is just the allure of Alabama and the prestige of the program. And they do have good players. They do have a good team.
Caleb Call: But they are not. dominant I don't think that they're going to win the SEC anytime soon with the way they're playing these days under Caleb DeBoer.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I totally agree. they got They got a nice little... ah Tough window of schedule, too, with a Mississippi State now looking pretty good. They're going to Mississippi State. Then they host Georgia to Tennessee.
Ben Fowers: Host A and &M at LSU. so There's kind of like a five -game stretch right there. where I wouldn't be shocked if they're two and three in those five. and so um it'll be interesting to see how they kind of shape out how they work.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Well.
Caleb Call: So the AP poll. Every week it's kind of a mystery what they're gonna do with The adjustments from preseason rankings to what we're actually seeing with our eyes And we're getting there with some teams, a couple annoyances still.
Caleb Call: Ole Miss jumps to four after beating LSU. LSU falls to ten. BYU climbs up to nine. Texas Tech. climbs up to 11. And then you've got Utah at 15 and Houston just hanging on at 25.
Caleb Call: What are your main takeaways from the AP poll this week? Who do you think is too high, too low?
Ben Fowers: Yeah. Well, the first one was just the the Ole Miss jump. They jumped up to four. And I, in my personal, I kind of, I always try to guess the AP poll before it happens. And I thought they were going to pass Notre Dame too.
Ben Fowers: So I thought they were going to jump up to three. um with
Caleb Call: You know what's funny about that? There are five teams getting first place votes. Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss, Indiana, Miami.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: I did not say Notre Dame there.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Notre Dame's third. And they're ahead of three teams getting first place votes.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. So I think that's kind of maybe some of my thought is like, it looks like Ole Miss has three. first place votes this Um, this week, which with wins against Louisville and last week against LSU, you kind of, um, I thought they were going to get a little bit with, and with Notre Dame struggling a little bit with Mississippi or not Mississippi state, Michigan state.
Ben Fowers: I think that I, in my head, I thought they were going to jump them. So Notre Dame kind of held them off. They are pretty close in the, in the ranking point wise. So that could go either way down the stretch.
Caleb Call: If Ole Miss beats Florida and Notre Dame looks unimpressive again, I bet you Ole Miss jumps them.
Ben Fowers: Yep.
Ben Fowers: I wouldn't be surprised if Ole Miss just jumps them anyways if they win too.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and so it's a And this week, Notre Dame's got... i think it's Purdue and so they don't have a yeah, they don't have a tough game and so makes it so
Caleb Call: per view.
Ben Fowers: I almost kind of has
Caleb Call: Which...
Ben Fowers: and a
Caleb Call: A little.
Ben Fowers: an option to jump on Zoom.
Caleb Call: Side note on Purdue here. Purdue last year was horrendous on both sides of the ball. They're at least scoring points this year, 38 on UCLA, and then they scored 36 against Wake Forest.
Caleb Call: Probably not two of the best teams in the country. but At least you're seeing some pulse from Purdue. And again, I don't think they're going to beat Notre Dame, but it wouldn't have shock me if Notre Dame's again. Not. pulling away early. Like they.
Caleb Call: weren't able to do against Wisconsin and Michigan State. Could be another one where Notre Dame is... this looks vulnerable again. Honestly, the the top seven, it feels like the whole world's got the top seven in some different order, but it's the same seven teams. Texas, Georgia. Ole Miss.
Caleb Call: Indiana, Miami, Ohio State. Feels like the pretty unanimous top seven.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. Amen.
Caleb Call: Of those seven teams, if you were going to host one of them, You probably would want to host Notre Dame based on the way those teams are playing so far this season.
Caleb Call: Indiana, we haven't seen them play a real team yet, so maybe that's a team that ends up being a little overrated at five.
Ben Fowers: Hey, hey, hey, hey, North Texas has some. ah Has it?
Caleb Call: North Texas just lost to Texas State. so i'm matt Yes, I think North Texas had a nice start to the year.
Ben Fowers: Oh, excellent.
Caleb Call: but they Did give up 49 points today.
Ben Fowers: i was thinking I was thinking about their UNLV blowout, but yeah, I forgot that.
Caleb Call: Yeah. second
Ben Fowers: they ah I must have missed that this week when they beat or they lost to Texas State.
Caleb Call: Damn.
Caleb Call: So yeah, I'll be interested to see how the... Rankings continue to develop throughout the year. But yeah, Notre Dame at three. I'm hoping they can stay up that high before they come to Provo. Some other things to... notice here.
Caleb Call: USC. You already talked about it. They're at 12. They are the most overrated team in the country. They have played four games to this point. They gave up 26 to San Jose State. They gave up.
Caleb Call: 30 to Louisiana Lafayette. And they gave up 35 to Rutgers. And if it weren't for... a 100 -yard pick -six when Rutgers was about to score a touchdown.
Caleb Call: The USC might have either been in overtime or lost that game.
Ben Fowers: I'm at a loss.
Caleb Call: the ruckers they On on ah offense, they're as good as you expect a USC team to be. But this is just the same old Lincoln Riley. They are so bad on defense with no sign of improvement They've got Oregon coming up.
Caleb Call: I cannot believe USC is at 12. USC last year. start They finished the season unranked after going 9 -4 and losing to TCU in a bowl game. But again, it's the brand. They get pushed up high in the rankings to start the year. They were 14 tied to BYU preseason.
Caleb Call: And here they are at 12 with four. awful wins. I don't. i'm in USC playing Oregon. I think Oregon's not a good team this year. And I'm not sure USC is going to go out there and beat them.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, they host Oregon this week. And they' I was kind of surprised they're currently only a two and a half point dog. I was like, man, USC is getting some love. You went from Vegas. Sometimes you see it in the polls, but not in Vegas.
Caleb Call: Okay.
Ben Fowers: Vegas is usually more true. and so That's even pretty close. And who knows, maybe Oregon's not great, but. That kind of surprised me too. I was i wasn't expecting. us And I think USC's...
Ben Fowers: parental perennially overrated. And so I think ah it's one of those where I think if Utah went strapped it up with USC like the Pac -12 days, they wouldn't have won that game.
Ben Fowers: even when their roster was really good. And so I think it's one of those ones where now I think i think Utah, I'd be shocked if they didn't go win by two scores and they're sitting there three spots behind USC and then Poland.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I think USC is going to lose this game and they're going to go. I mean, it's a home game too, so. They, uh... They've got the – that's pretty much the only thing they've got going for them in this game, I think. 4 -0, I think Oregon's going to – be able to run the ball on them. and kind of physically just punched him in the mouth. and And we saw Oregon lose to Oklahoma State, so it'll be interesting to see if USC's offense can hang. So if USC's ah offense can hang, maybe it's a good game, and I think that's kind of the recipe for success is this high -scoring game. where
Ben Fowers: Their offense is able to shoot him out.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: so
Caleb Call: You know what frustrates me? it is There are so many head coaches. in college football and even in the NFL. that are just so good at one side of the ball and inept on the other.
Caleb Call: USC. with Lincoln Riley. consistently one of the best offenses in the country. And then you leave Oklahoma, you go to USC, and now... Brent Venables is over there in Oklahoma. with an amazing defense, one of the best in the country. He knows defense so well at Clemson. They were always a lead on defense.
Caleb Call: And again, just one of the worst offenses in the power floor. 14 points against New Mexico, seven of those because of the crowd. Just... an unreal opposite from USC and Oklahoma. If you were to give USC Oklahoma's defense.
Caleb Call: That might be the best team in the country. If not, they're top 5 to 10 for sure. But then on the other side, if you go give Oklahoma's offense USC's defense, That might be a 2 -10 team, depending on what conference you put them in.
Caleb Call: i I just think that sometimes when you are. that good at one side of the ball like Lincoln Riley is on offense, Brett Benham was on defense. maybe just stick to being a coordinator and just Go dominate your side of the ball and stop spending time thinking about the other side.
Caleb Call: Let somebody who's better at that. be in charge of that.
Ben Fowers: And he did just hire Gary Patterson this year to try to.
Caleb Call: Perhaps.
Ben Fowers: take over the defense and fix the defense, but it just hasn't worked.
Caleb Call: have
Ben Fowers: And so maybe you go get it. I don't know. He's kind of an older guy that's proven it in the past. but It's hard to, I don't know, once the culture is set too, you need a culture changer on defense to come in and fix it.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and so Yeah, it's a tough one.
Caleb Call: Oregon ranked at 20. Still way too high for me. Texas A &M. ranked at 23 while Kentucky sits unranked. really bothers me. Mississippi State. 24 feels too low um And then we mentioned it.
Caleb Call: Oklahoma State and West Virginia are two of the first teams in the receiving vote section. Do you think the winner of that game ends up ranked next week?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I do. I think they jump in. and um I mean, you've got ah either an undefeated West Virginia or a 3 -1 Oklahoma State team that with a win over Oregon. And if Oregon goes and beats USC this week, then maybe that win gets a...
Ben Fowers: a little bit more credit too so um yeah i do i i would guess that they're not very high i think they're probably one of the bottom 20 teams like 24 25 so
Caleb Call: Yeah, I hope so. Would be great to get another team. range from the big 12. Um, Really not too much else. on the ap i think that they're doing an okay job and we're seeing the adjustment from overall rankings to preseason. get influenced more and more. a couple I mean, there's a lot of ranked games this next week that we'll talk about in our preview later in the week, so join us for that. But, yeah, we've got a fun slate on deck, and we're going to be learning a lot more about a lot of these teams as conference play gets started.
Caleb Call: Looking back at our... Superdog and Pick 'em. People should have followed us on our Superdog pics because we we got four covers across our pics.
Ben Fowers: no win No outright wins, though.
Caleb Call: i No outright wins. But we got the covers. I had Eastern Washington against Washington. There was never a doubt in my mind that Eastern Washington was going to cover. they end up covering it was a 42 and a half point spread when i got it They ended up losing 38 to 16, covered that by with 20 points to spare.
Caleb Call: And then I had f FIU against FAU. That game finished 10 -16, and the spread was... i can't remember i got six and a half or seven and a half but Regardless, they covered that one as well. And then your two games were around me those two.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so I had the Friday night Texas Tech -Houston game, and it was kind of too bad. Houston almost got that outright for me, but it was a 7 .5 -point line for Texas Tech, and Texas Tech just seemed like it had some holes in it. from the um beginning of the season. And so I just didn't think.
Ben Fowers: If Houston was as good as I thought they were, I thought they were seven and a half point favorites, but I did. I did pick tech in our straight up, but. I thought there was a chance Houston could win this game outright, and I thought the 7 .5 was too big. so Um, it ended up being, I mean, it was an eight point game late and they had to go score a touchdown.
Ben Fowers: So the line seemed about right. But, um, so I got that cover and then I went to Ohio on the road against, uh, South Alabama and they, uh, they were able to, the line was seven, they lost by five.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: So. um they were able to cover that one
Caleb Call: just a nap
Ben Fowers: What?
Caleb Call: Just enough to get the cover.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, just enough to get the cover. they And actually, they weren't. They were down two scores kind of late, too, so they. um they kind of backdoored me in the fourth quarter gave saved me a Saved me a touchdown. they ah They scored on the last play of the game, actually. And so they were down 12, and they they threw it. 21 -yard touchdown right at the end.
Ben Fowers: to cover so i got a late cover on that one uh the bad beats went my way
Caleb Call: Okay. Take it any way we can get it.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, the bad beats went my way. So I I've hit a I've had at least one. ah one super dog each week so far, so it's ended up being pretty good for me.
Caleb Call: We've been doing better than College Game Day has been doing so far. We'll leave it at that. As far as our pick -em goes, we pick seven games every week. Last week, we both got Utah and BYU right. weren't hard games to guess.
Caleb Call: We both got Arizona State and Texas Tech winning those. We both picked LSU. Trinidad Chambliss punked us both. Props to Ole Miss.
Ben Fowers: Yep.
Caleb Call: We split on the last two games. I had SMU. You had Louisville. Louisville ends up getting the win. And then I had James Madison on the road. You had San Diego State as the home team. and James Madison ended up spanking him a little bit. so Both of us had a 5 -2 week.
Caleb Call: Puts me to 14 -7 on the season and puts you to 17 -4 on the season. So still a three -game lead for you so far.
Ben Fowers: Let's go, baby. We've got to start adding some. ah some distance between you and me so It's been fun.
Caleb Call: yeah Yeah, well, we'll be back again. Be ready Thursday morning for another episode. We'll be previewing week four. BYU's got a bye week. We'll talk about Utah, Big 12, and all the other ranked matchups that we've got in the week.
Caleb Call: Thanks for joining us, The Holy War Pod. Ben and Caleb. Great being with you guys. Like, subscribe. Go Cougs.
Ben Fowers: Go Utes!
