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Week 7 Preview: BYU vs. Notre Dame Showdown, Utah–Colorado & SEC Elimination Week

Red vs Blue: The Holy War Pod
Red vs Blue: The Holy War Pod

13 plays · Oct 15, 2026

BYU hosts Notre Dame in a game with big stakes. We go over the hype, what it means for the rankings, and how BYU matches up: our worries about the offense, the defense's path to slowing the Irish, and what an upset would take. Then we give score predictions and talk about what the game means for BYU, the Big 12 and the atmosphere in Provo.

Next we turn to Utah vs. Colorado and the Isaac Wilson subplot, then check in on the Big 12 race: Houston–Oklahoma State, Kansas State–Kansas, TCU–Baylor and Texas Tech–Arizona State. We also ask whether Indiana can really threaten Ohio State, break down SEC elimination week (Alabama–Tennessee, Ole Miss–Missouri, Texas–Florida) and highlight underrated Big Ten games: UCLA–Wisconsin and Nebraska–Oregon. We wrap up with our weekly picks, underdogs and some thoughts on coaches and how much programs swing from year to year.

Transcript

Caleb Call: Week seven coming up. Thanks for joining us, Caleb and Ben, The Holy War Pod. Like, subscribe. We appreciate it. And. I don't know how. utah fans feel about the season so far but it's felt like for byu to this point The entire offseason, everybody was looking forward to the Notre Dame game. And we got it coming up here.

Caleb Call: And it really just felt like. We had a preseason. where just please win every game, go 5 -0. I don't care how it looks. I want to be undefeated when Notre Dame comes to town. and help set up a top 10 matchup.

Caleb Call: And that's exactly what happened. BYU hasn't looked perfect against Arizona, Iowa State, TCU, Colorado State. but they won the games. That's all that matters, your 3 -0 in conference play.

Caleb Call: ranked number eight in the country and the biggest opportunity BYU's had in my lifetime to, you know, make a big statement on the national stage. and You've got Notre Dame, number two in the country. Coming to Provo, college game day in town as well for it.

Caleb Call: Really, I mean, it's just... exactly what you dream of as a college football fan. And when BYU joined the Big 12, these are the kinds of games that you hoped to have on your schedule, the kinds of games where... If you win, you can get vaulted into the top five or even top three, depending on how the game goes. and earn some of the respect that BYU just kind of desperately craves.

Caleb Call: Um, so Huge opportunity.

Ben: Give me a what if. Give me a what -if scenario here.

Caleb Call: Bye -bye.

Ben: BYU hits a walk -off field goal. What is BYU ranked next week?

Caleb Call: It'll depend. If everybody else wins in front of BYU, I would guess BYU jumps to number... Four or five? I think they would for sure be behind Georgia, be behind Miami.

Caleb Call: They would be behind the winner of Ohio State, Indiana. So that gets you the three If Bama mauls Tennessee... I think Bama goes to four, BYU five. But if Bama struggles or loses, I think BYU could get up to number four.

Caleb Call: especially if you if it's a close game, probably number four or probably number five.

Ben: So.

Caleb Call: If they win convincingly, it could be number four.

Ben: So pass Texas, even if Texas takes care of business. Pass Notre Dame for beating them head -to -head. So that jumps them up to six. and then pass to Ohio State.

Caleb Call: And then pass the loser of Ohio State, Indiana.

Ben: Indiana, so that puts you at five. And then if you dominate, you said. um

Caleb Call: Yeah. Or even if Bama looks skittish, if they don't look great, I could see BYU.

Ben: Jump down.

Caleb Call: jumping band having the undefeated record and I think it really would be like a... just a sign of respect from the whole like national media view, you can go out there and beat Notre Dame. That's the kind of.

Caleb Call: win that everyone's just kind of i feel like everyone's kind of in wait and see mode with byu like we haven't really almost even been evaluated to this point by people like seriously because we haven't played a game like this yet and The way last year went, we beat every team that we were supposed to beat.

Caleb Call: We lost to Texas Tech twice. in. Everyone just kind of waiting to see is this going to be. 2025 BYU again where they lose to Notre Dame, maybe lose to Utah, beat Utah.

Caleb Call: go 11 -1 or 10 -2 or whatever. and We're hoping it's not, but if we get the win there, I think it will really vault the perception of BYU in a lot of people's minds, and I think that it could. ah portray that.

Caleb Call: Come the... AP pool coming up here soon.

Ben: uh looking at the

Caleb Call: Well, it's kind of interesting.

Ben: thinking of the exact opposite way like what does a loss do i was looking at the

Caleb Call: or Go ahead.

Ben: the AP Top 25. the sec there's like a sec patch of like 13 through 16 to have all really tough games this week. And I could see all four of them losing. and I mean, depending on what they do, like I see kind of BYU would probably drop into that range.

Ben: Like 12, 13 is kind of what I would think with a loss.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: And so, yeah, I think the range is like you win, you're up to. Four or five and you lose your down to that like 12 or 13 range. So it'll be interesting Interesting to watch the game on Saturday. It's going to be a fun one.

Caleb Call: Yeah, I'm excited for it. And honestly, the matchup itself, like Notre Dame. feels very similar. to who Texas Tech was last year. Notre Dame's defense has been incredible to this point. Great defensive line, great cornerbacks. It sounds like Leonard Moore is going to play.

Caleb Call: Linebacking core, one of the best in the country. There's not a lot of weaknesses on their defense. And so. BYU kind of dealt with that last year against Texas Tech, and we saw it last year. really where the game was lost for BYU.

Caleb Call: was the fact that We could not. block their pass rushers. without going into max protect And Texas Tech did not have a hard time covering two to three receivers on each.

Caleb Call: play that we were trying to throw the ball on and we couldn't establish the run enough Now in this game, I do not expect us to be able to establish the run. I think that we'll have some improvisation from Bear Bachmeier. We might hit a couple. of it We've always very successfully run like the little speed option. We've had some good reads and counters. and stuff i think that we'll have some one -offs that are like effective run plays but i don't think it's going to be the kind of thing where we can go hand it off five or six times in the same drive and have that lead to points

Caleb Call: So.

Ben: Yeah.

Caleb Call: We're going to have to be able to block.

Ben: I think.

Caleb Call: And get.

Ben: Yeah, I think um From a defensive standpoint, I was looking at some of like Notre Dame's like EPA stats, and they're like top five in like almost every defensive stat in the nation defensively.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: and We talked a little bit about this bear.

Caleb Call: I am.

Ben: Bear kind of had his day on the ground which kind of bumped up. BYU's rushing yards to about like five rushing yards per carry. But if you just look at the backs, it was around three. So it's going to be one where I think Barry's going to have to kind of have one of those.

Ben: big heroic games for BYU to have a shot here so it'll be Notre Dame's tough defense they've uh If you go look at their their scores, they've... They've kind of allowed 10 points or under to like pretty much everybody. Wisconsin, the first game of the year was 13, and then they had a...

Ben: One game in the middle there where. North Carolina scored 26, but... They gave up a kick return in that one as well. So they've kind of. Honestly defensively have been pretty pretty lights out solid so it's going to be it's going to be a test for BYU's offense

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Caleb Call: One of the things that gives me a little bit of hope is last year. BYU. When they got blitzed, it gave up a lot of pressure, and it showed against Texas Tech. we Bear was under fire.

Caleb Call: As soon as we snapped the ball, David Bailey and the rest of those pass rushers were getting back. And that's why we had to go max protect. But so far to this year, now granted, we have not played a single defense that's close to Notre Dame's. TCU is probably the closest to Notre Dame. and We also had that game win. Granted, it had some weather and BYU was just kind of in.

Caleb Call: Don't mess up mode. But. uh So far to this point. we're getting blitzed on about 40 % of our dropbacks. And our pressure rate is one of the best in the country, despite that fact. It's under 10%.

Caleb Call: So. we've Through the blitzes, we've been able to still protect Bear and give him the time he needs to throw. a lot of that's kind of a rod's craftiness we do a a um a lot of stuff to either move the pocket or i'm just going to play design with some eye candy though.

Caleb Call: kind of hold off rushers because they're having to defend potential motion or other things. I think there's a chance here that We can get our passing game. Going I know Notre Dame secondary is awesome. So it I think our our best chance really, as far as like.

Caleb Call: getting the drives. rolling um first down after first down, our tight ends. Notre Dame so far to this point hasn't really had to defend a team that had. athletic tight ends like we do.

Caleb Call: I think their corners are going to do a fine job on the receivers on the outside. And so I think that we're going to have to. Just hope that our tight ends. Roger Saliapaga and Walker Lyons can... have an impact on the passing game be able to break away from tight end or i mean linebackers when they have the chance and we'll see the The offense is definitely the part of the game I'm most concerned about. i If I had to guess on the other side of the ball, I think our defense will do fine. I'm sure Notre Dame is going to have their moments. They're probably going to.

Caleb Call: If I had to guess, they're going to score somewhere in the vicinity of. anywhere from like 17 to 31 points. And you're hoping that the defense can keep them on the lower end of that. and really I think our defense will almost be more determined by the offense. If the offense does what it it did against Texas Tech, which is essentially...

Caleb Call: Putt, putt, putt, turn the ball over, turn the ball over. yeah our defense is going to give up points that's how the game is going to go But if the offense can... At the very least, like. If this becomes a field position battle, You don't have to score a touchdown on every drive.

Caleb Call: You need to get two first downs, get the ball near midfield, and be able to punt and pin Notre Dame and make them go 90 yards. You need to be able to do that. You don't have to go score a touchdown on every single drive. but if you can just consistently get One or two first downs is enough to flip the field on special teams.

Caleb Call: You're going to give yourself a chance in this one with the way the defense has been playing to this point.

Ben: Yeah, C .J. Carr has been pretty good this year. he's only Only throwing one pick so far. Um, So. It's one of those things where. As a 10 .5 -point dog, BYU, I feel like...

Ben: Thank you. I mean, you saw it last week with

Caleb Call: You're gonna have to rattle him.

Ben: Yeah, you're going to have to rattle them a little bit. You're going to have to try to get a turnover or two. And you saw it last week with Oklahoma, Texas, where a team like Oklahoma. Amen. Their kind of recipe to success was a special teams touchdown and a defensive touchdown. and If you can kind of figure out a way to. completely change the game, the momentum of the game and get... ah to get Lavelle Edwards rocking then.

Ben: i think ah I think they're going to have to do something to that offense and maybe get a short field. on one of those drives.

Caleb Call: Yeah. I'm going to be very interested to see how our pass rush does against Notre Dame. Because our pass rush has been very effective, especially when we've been able to get teams into need -to -throw -downs and situations. You saw it against Arizona. Their last drive ended with multiple sacks.

Caleb Call: back -to -back because we knew they were throwing the ball we sent in effect we had a a stunt and a blitz that both got home and You're hoping that that's going to be the same case here, that our pass rushers can get through their offensive line.

Caleb Call: I just... Make it. in Life not so easy for CJ Carr. If he's sitting back there with all day to throw. We're not winning this game. We're going to have to figure out a way to. get back there and rattle him.

Caleb Call: obviously it's going to take a good day from the um rest of the defense too it feels like their running game has gotten figured out a little bit They've got running back Walton, a freshman who.

Caleb Call: Ran for almost 200 yards last week. Granted, it was against Stanford. so borderline fcs caliber opponent there but you uh You hope that. BYU has run defensively pretty stiff to this point. Flora was...

Caleb Call: a non -factor for 90 of that iowa state game and you hope that you can do the same to notre dame and make them one -dimensional where they do have a lot of second and third and longs and you're able to get some of your more effective pass rush calls in. and just...

Caleb Call: kind of and get cj carl nervous back there and rattled you haven't seen it like yet this year like you said

Ben: i Was just watching ah a clip of like a film room clip of BYU's defense and they run a lot of those like the double twist or like the the two D -line men. kind of both stunt in this way to try to pull the guard in the center. Then the other guy kind of wraps around and they like have a simulated pressure where like the linebackers come up and. just a lot of twisting. And so.

Ben: um The BYU defense is going to have to try to create some havoc that way with. Because, I mean, when you show a lot of things and you simulate pressure, even if you don't bring it, a lot of the time it just, for the offense to line it. It's tough to.

Ben: to sort it all out and pick it up and so i think that's going to be

Caleb Call: It's a lot of mental work going into the play trying to diagnose what's going to happen too.

Ben: Yeah, and then and then be able to pass off twists and slants and things like that. and So I think that's going to be something BYU is going to – I mean, they've done well to this point of the season, so they're going to have to keep doing that.

Ben: Hopefully that'll, for BYU's sake, i hopefully they can figure out. something in Notre Dame's offensive line. ah protection patterns to to mess it up or to kind of get in Carr's head. because Like you said, make them one -dimensional. You saw Wisconsin do it in the first half. That first game of the season, it was it was a pretty tight game, and the only reason was Notre Dame scored a touchdown in that game was there was a muffed kickoff.

Ben: And so.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: Early in the first half, I think the first half Notre Dame was up 13 -10, but their only touchdown was off of a short field. whats cut i mean it Kind of the recipe to success is if you can play that first half Wisconsin did the whole game and you win a turnover battle. like If you can win the turnover battle, not give them a short field like that and make them drive and then bend, don't break defense. and only giving up three points type of thing.

Ben: Like I, I think that's your, that's your recipe to success.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: And I mean, no, I mean, there's a reason Notre Dame went and blew them out in the second half. They went and scored. four touchdowns in the second half, so it's going to be tough for 60 minutes. but um that's kind of the the recipes for success if you can replicate it over two halves

Caleb Call: One of the things that I'm gonna be Just paying attention to the most in this one. To this point in the year, like last year, BYU was an amazing red zone defense. They were allowing touchdowns on under half of their red zone defensive attempts.

Caleb Call: and getting field goals or even turnovers all the time. And to this point. in the season. We've had five games. And. Granted, we've not faced a ton of red zone. attempts to this so far this season but We're giving up touchdowns on 80%.

Caleb Call: of our... red zone possessions. And that is just a number that's not going to win you very many games. When you have a team as capable as Notre Dame, you got to be able to get them off the field, whether it's three, whether it's zero before a touchdown.

Caleb Call: in Looking at the games, so... You had the Utah Tech game. They had the one red zone possession. They scored a touchdown in it. against the backups. Colorado State had three red zone possessions, scored touchdowns on all three, as far as I remember at least.

Caleb Call: Two of those were in the fourth quarter against the backups. So three touchdowns were not from the starters. But then Arizona was able to score on two of their three touchdowns.

Caleb Call: um tcu i think they only had the one they were able to put up a touchdown and then Iowa State. a touch -on and a field goal on there. That's something that... Again, we have not seen a ton of reps in the red zone on defense.

Caleb Call: But if you're going to beat in Notre Dame, you you have to be. able to not break in the red zone and give up touchdowns. They're scoring touchdowns every trip into the red zone. that the game is going to be lost pretty quick.

Ben: Yeah. I mean, Notre Dame's kind of been a... An old school type of team. Like they don't. know they they're willing to go kick it field goals. and so I think it's one of those things. Three points is actually a win down there. A lot of times it's like, oh, you give up points. but if If you can bend, not break. and um And three points is is huge. guys You were talking to me. I think one of the BYU coaches in an interview said like,

Ben: holding somebody to three points is huge because Not only... two field goals at six points like you need a third field goal to beat a touchdown and so It makes sense a lot of time to go for it on those fourths and shorts, and that's why you see more.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: more more coaches do it nowadays. and so I mean if. if you can kind of prevent Notre Dame from punching it in. and make them kick a couple field goals there and You can go capitalize on your things. I think you can make it a game. so

Caleb Call: BYU fans know all too well. If you think back to the biggest game we played two years ago in 2024. you had A road trip to Dallas against SMU who made the playoff out of the ACC.

Caleb Call: You win that game 18 -15. All 15 of SMG. SMU's points came from field goals. You're able to keep them out of the end zone all game long. BYU played a nasty, disgusting offensive game.

Caleb Call: I thought Jake Restoff was awful after that game. He ended up having a great year the rest of the time. but Just ugly. Three turnovers.

Ben: That was an early Friday night game, wasn't it?

Caleb Call: which

Ben: If I remember right.

Caleb Call: yeah it was a friday night game smu was 11 and a half point favorites and like For example, one of the turnovers, we threw Jake Retzlaff threw an interception on what was supposed to be a screen pass. The defensive tackle fell down. stood up and Jake threw it right to his lap.

Caleb Call: Now, to his credit, he went and helped get the tackle, tackled him at the four -yard line. And the defense goes out there and they forced a fumble and got off the field. Like it's going to take that kind of effort. And honestly, that SMU game might kind of be the same roadmap that.

Caleb Call: a win here takes is Hey, your ah offense is not gonna have a perfect game. But if they can do enough to go score 18 points. You've got to help your defense and keep them to 17 or lower. Force field goals. Don't allow touchdowns.

Caleb Call: um And that's the kind of defensive effort it's going to take. I really do think that. Compliment. Kalani always talks about complimentary football. You have to be able to put your defense in good spots. And that was what lost us to Texas Tech games, both of them last year.

Caleb Call: We eat. We got like a huge stop on Texas Tech's first possession in Lubbock. They punt the ball deep to Parker Kingston. He muffs it. Texas Tech gets the ball at the 30 -yard line, and our defense gets off the field again, forces a field goal, but now you're down 3 -0, and the offense just kept punting quick, punting quick.

Caleb Call: turning the ball over to the point where The defense honestly had a great game in Lubbock. But you lose the game 29 -7 because you put the defense in awful positions the entire game. so I don't need the offense to go be heroic. I don't need them to score a touchdown in every single possession. but You just have to protect your defense a little bit. You can't go three and out. You can't be turning the ball over. You just need to.

Caleb Call: put them in a position where you can succeed. and on the defensive side. You got to get off the field. in the red zone. so I think BYU's path to victory is going to be kind of a... You can't in the Notre Dame get above the teens. I think BYU's offense probably in this game is going to score, on on a bad day, could be as low as 7 or 10.

Caleb Call: I'm hoping to get up to 17 to 24 points. I'm going to call the score on this one BYU 20 to 17. And um I think the defense does just enough to give our offense enough.

Caleb Call: short field possessions to be able to score the points you need to win it.

Ben: I, uh... I got Notre Dame in this one. I think their defense is going to do. Too much for... too much for BYU's offense to handle, especially with no LJ. um so I uh...

Ben: And like you said at the beginning, you you kind of said you thought Notre Dame was going to be 17 to 31 -ish. That was actually the exact range I had. i And then I. I tended to... just because I think BYU is going to be chasing.

Ben: I uh... I have. Notre Dame all the way at 28 points. I got. 28 -10. I just don't think BYU's offense is going to do enough to... to keep them in the game. And I, I really think LJ's.

Ben: A brutal... Brutal loss for BYU. I mean, Big 12 Player of the Year, obviously. so

Caleb Call: It's tough.

Ben: Yeah, it's tough. And last week it didn't look great on those short down.

Caleb Call: It'll probably cost BYU three to five first downs at least, and maybe a touchdown at some point in the game.

Ben: Distance is with the book.

Caleb Call: like is that they give it

Ben: and And who knows, maybe they... Maybe they so just completely like third and shorts. Maybe they completely scratched the running backs and they just go. all passing there or bear runs like that that maybe maybe they find ways around it but

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: Just from what I saw last week, I i think they're going to have to have a – especially against a Notre Dame defense that's better than the teams they've – play it and Notre Dame's kind of. Almost, it seems like every week it's like 10 or 13 points is what their opponents have. So that's what I got BYU down at. So I think Notre Dame is going to pull this one out. and

Caleb Call: What's gonna be interesting? And I think I know how Kalani is going to handle it, but. You mentioned chasing. in a Big 12 championship game against Texas Tech last year.

Caleb Call: You're down 13 -7. It's late in the third quarter. Your offense has done nothing since the first drive. And you could tell that there was kind of getting a little bit more urgency. Barrett throws an interception. Texas Tech goes, scores a touchdown. Now you're down two scores. And that's where the chasing started.

Caleb Call: And BYU ended up turning the ball over, I think, three times. across the rest of the game. LJ had one of his first, I think it was his first ever lost fumble. a drive or two after that and All of a sudden, you look up and a 13 -7 game turned into a 34 -7 game really quickly.

Caleb Call: And I think that. With this game. A close loss still helps you. So if the score is... 20 to 10 was you know, three minutes left and BYU has a fourth and 15 at their own 30.

Caleb Call: Are you going for it or are you punting? Are you going to try and keep the scoreboard close and just kind of take the respectable? hey we lost it close but we competed out there Or are you going to risk the scoreboard getting worse? and You know, you're you're going for the win, but then at the same time, if you end up losing by three or four scores instead of one or two scores.

Caleb Call: The way you'll be perceived the rest of the year changes a lot. And I don't think Kalani is going to have the long -term thought on his mind. but It is something that just as a fan, it's... The kind of thing that you...

Caleb Call: you do wonder about like it is it almost more valuable just to go and take a 10 -point loss if that's kind of how the game flow is going.

Ben: Yeah, I think the competitive competitive spirit and nature of coaches and players like that's definitely not on their mind so

Caleb Call: There's no way they're thinking about that.

Ben: fourth fourth and like I think you said fourth and 15, did you say? like

Caleb Call: Mm hmm.

Ben: like depending on what the time situation is and how far backed up you are probably still punt there but like even in a situation like fourth and five, fourth and seven type of thing, you've seen. BYU do fourth and sevens before.

Ben: Where they...

Caleb Call: All the time. Yeah.

Ben: Yeah, and so I wouldn't be surprised if that happens still. like i I think you're still trying to win the game. like You're down two scores, down by 10, even though it puts you in a bad spot. on the scoreboard wise and you're going to get the perceived Oh, they got blown out. I i think he'd just go try to win the game, and that's what Kalani's going to do. he Any football coach is going to.

Ben: They're not going to have the... the hindsight of what the fans are thinking.

Caleb Call: It's how you're supposed to play the game for sure.

Ben: Yeah, and that's why I think BYU's been good the last forever is because Kalani plays like that. He plays aggressive. He plays to win. Like, you you can't play. uh thinking you can't you can't do all this window dressing

Caleb Call: It's part of the identity and culture at this point of BYU.

Ben: Yeah. Yeah, no window dressing. There's no point to do the window dressing stuff in football, especially in the Big 12. Like most of the time you have to win the conference or. almost be undefeated. So you have to play to win those games. ya you don't have the luxury like of the SEC team is like, oh, well we have to lose, but look.

Ben: and look good doing it like it's it's just one of those things

Caleb Call: Yeah. yeah You don't have quality losses. That's not part of your resume. Yeah.

Ben: Yeah. So that that won't, in my opinion, that won't be part of the calculus for Kalani on Saturday. So I'm interested to see how it goes. i For the Big 12's sake, I hope it's at least done.

Ben: relatively close so we don't i mean at the end of this we've talked about this i think it's going to take a big 12 playoff win or two before teams before the national media and the national

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: Um... perception of the Big 12 gets changed. but Um,

Caleb Call: And this is kind of the beginning opportunity for it.

Ben: X.

Caleb Call: You saw Oklahoma State beat to Oregon. Turns out Oregon sucks, so it doesn't mean a ton. but This one, you expect Notre Dame to be in the playoff even if they lose. and so being able to beat a potential playoff team.

Caleb Call: definitely would lift the perception of BYU. you know, by association, the rest of the big 12. So awesome opportunity to the views got this week and hopefully they can. Do everyone proud and go out there and win. At the very least, i I'll be in attendance. I cannot wait to see LaVellador Stadium. I mean, we've seen it.

Caleb Call: for games a lot less impactful than this one being madhouse. And so with college game day.

Ben: When did you buy the tickets?

Caleb Call: kind We bought these tickets. in the I probably got them cheaper than almost anybody else. We got them in presale.

Ben: You know a long time

Caleb Call: Yeah. so the very second they came on sale during um the off season for pre -sale. It's nosebleeds, but... 200 bucks a piece. Can't complain about that right now. You can probably sell those for six or 700 bucks

Ben: and what was that like april or may or when was that on when did they first come in july okay

Caleb Call: Granted, if we do something there. July. do i that's what's

Ben: Because I knew you got them for a pretty good price.

Caleb Call: the kids.

Ben: so BYU fans in the future. July if you're looking for a big marquee matchup. So.

Caleb Call: So. We got a revenge game coming up as well. Isaac Wilson.

Ben: For Isaac or for Utah?

Caleb Call: Done a little dirty, has some hard feelings about the way that everything happened at Utah. kind of became a scapegoat for some of the struggles they had in 2020. uh four and Here he is starting at Colorado.

Caleb Call: I'm not sure he's... a Very good quarterback still. you You see flashes, but then you also see a lot of struggles. and But nonetheless...

Ben: Yeah, like this last week this last week, he like spun out of a sack a couple times.

Caleb Call: Okay.

Ben: and like I saw some clips of him escaping the pocket. and Um, Looked athletic and I've told you this before he's one of the best quarterbacks. I've ever seen in the state of Utah in high school And I was pumped when Utah signed him out of high school.

Ben: I thought he was going to be the next Utah guy after Cam was done. And obviously, he got thrown in a little bit quicker than everyone thought as a true freshman.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: and um put in a tough situation and honestly probably went worse than everyone expected. that year and so yeah Yeah. and then I never heard for sure, but I think that right before the end of the year, I think he tore his ACL, but it was never I never saw it was confirmed.

Caleb Call: Yeah, I can't remember.

Ben: but

Caleb Call: I remember there was a lot of rumors about it. And honestly,

Ben: Yeah.

Caleb Call: Not the worst thing in the world for Utah because If... Rising had played that whole year and you never had Isaac Wilson start. then By the end of the year,

Caleb Call: Rising's gone. You probably just assume that Utah's coaching staff is... Happy to have Isaac Wilson be the starter going into the next year. instead of kind of doing a full reevaluation of the quarterback position.

Caleb Call: But then he went out there and played so poorly to where you knew. hey, we have to get a new quarterback this year. And in comes Devin Dampier, who I'm sure not a single Utah fan would trade. devin dampier for the unknown of true freshman isaac wilson going into year two so the The way it... Played out, sucked for Isaac Wilson, but... I ended up working out just fine for Utah.

Caleb Call: I'm sure Michigan fans are ready for the same thing to happen over there. Goodbye, Bryce Underwood, and let's get a new quarterback. Maybe even Devin Dampier next year. Who knows? so um But anyways, yeah, this game out in Boulder.

Ben: Yeah.

Caleb Call: this bread where did it where's it kind of settled in i know it was

Ben: What? I'll see you in the next one.

Caleb Call: Above two touchdowns.

Ben: 15 and a half is what at last I saw and so This one. With an over -under only at about 50 -ish. so Um, Kind of makes it a ah fun, I guess. the implied total you've got like.

Ben: the You got to score like 30.

Caleb Call: 32 -17 kind of game.

Ben: Yeah, so like... Kind of a and Utah has been a little bit better than that offensively. So you'll be curious to see how the game actually plays out utah's still a Utah actually are still undefeated against the spread. so You got the big 15 and a half line. So we'll see if. a You took and do that.

Ben: and

Caleb Call: I think there have been multiple .5 point covers for, and they'll be what you did against TCU.

Ben: and i'll miss you

Caleb Call: And I think Utah may have done that against Kansas too.

Ben: Yeah, I think ah Yeah, so... I mean, what what do they always say? Good teams win, great teams cover.

Caleb Call: Great team's cover.

Ben: and so ah they uh i think yeah so in

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: There was a list of but how many teams were still left. I can't, I haven't seen the.

Caleb Call: There was four. It was BYU, Utah, and two others. I can't remember who. I think UCLA might have been one.

Ben: Yeah. Yeah, so you got to two in -state teams out of the four and so it'll be it'll be fun to see this week byu's a 10 and a half point dog as of now and utah's a 15 and a half point favorite so that'll ah That'll be two interesting lines to watch for. And and Isaac Wilson being on the other side is kind of an interesting.

Ben: Interesting watch. um I was really high on Isaac when he was coming out, like I said. and you see flashes of him like spinning out of. the pocket and making good plays. And then you see like what he did against tech where it's like he.

Ben: He throws a pick.

Caleb Call: He threw a touchdown pass from his own end zone. Was that not impressive to you?

Ben: Yeah. d D lineman jumps up and catches it in the end zone.

Caleb Call: yeah

Ben: and

Caleb Call: Yeah, such a bad play.

Ben: And I. And honestly, the the Utah season, where true freshman year, where he – He ended up being the starter for most of the year. It was kind of a rough season because, I mean, you started with Cam.

Ben: And so. He wasn't supposed to be the starter, and so he wasn't. prepped to be the starter really and so He comes in mid -year, and he gets two starts, and he wins the third and fourth game of the year. I think we played Utah State and Oklahoma State, and that Oklahoma State game preseason was supposed to be like a big favorite for – like the two favorites in the Big 12, and both Oklahoma State and Utah collapsed that year, and neither of them made a bowl game even. but Isaac for Utah that year it ended up

Ben: He ended up losing his last five starts and so it ended up being like Because he didn't even play the BYU game. and that was

Caleb Call: He lost the job right before, and they had Brandon Rose step in instead. And Brandon played a fine game.

Ben: Brandon Rose. and he

Caleb Call: Damn.

Ben: Yeah, and then he didn't play the UCF game where they ended on a win so Isaac really didn't. He ended on a pretty rough streak in Utah. and then like he's Like we said, he like got hurt, and then now he's at Colorado. so It's an interesting thing. just with I mean, you never will.

Ben: I never wished, like, poor Ron. the players that came to utah and i keep he wouldn't have been the starter here anyway so i get him leaving too so it'll be uh it'll be interesting to see how he does obviously i hope uh

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: I hope Utah goes and gets after him. and um and takes care of business, so.

Caleb Call: I honestly... I don't think Colorado is going to be able to score much at all on Utah. They've struggled to score in every game they've played. theyve 14 points up on Georgia Tech, 7 on Tech, 13 on...

Caleb Call: Baylor. Seven on against Northwestern. But their defense, outside of the Northwestern game, and Northwestern probably caught them off guard because of how good they are and the way that Chip Kelly's running that offense is just so unexpected and different.

Caleb Call: But they held Georgia Tech to 13, who's got a fine offense. They held Baylor to 23, who we just saw them put up 55 on ASU. And then they held Texas Tech. The final score was 29 -7.

Caleb Call: But Texas Tech, I think three touchdowns came off of turnovers late in that game.

Ben: It's tight.

Caleb Call: and That game was 7 -3 at halftime. Colorado's defense, credit to Dion.

Ben: It was. Yep. It was 12 -7 going into the fourth quarter, so it was a one -score game.

Caleb Call: And it was all field goals to that point too.

Ben: Yeah.

Caleb Call: Amen. got Credit to Deion. he He built a good defense. If they would have had this defense in 2024 when Shadur and Travis Hunter were... going crazy and Travis from the Heisman.

Ben: You might want to pick 12.

Caleb Call: That's probably a playoff team for Colorado. they they that This defense is awesome.

Ben: Yeah.

Caleb Call: and I'll be very excited to see. how that side of the ball does against Utah. Because if Baylor and Texas Tech, ah Utah probably has a better offense than those two, at least you'd hope they do at this point. and 23 and 29 points. I think that the 31 to... that 15 implied line or whatever it was I don't think Colorado's going to score that much, but I wouldn't be surprised if they gave Utah a hard time on offense a little bit, probably probably more than anyone besides maybe Iowa State has done to this point in the season.

Ben: Yeah, well, Colorado is...

Caleb Call: it

Ben: Colorado. is ranked like 65th when he comes like the epa Amen. the rankings and so Because I was wondering the same thing when I was just score looking. And so they haven't ranked very good. Iowa State's defense has actually been better. I think they were around 50 when I looked. BYU played them last week. and so Technically, Iowa State's defense has actually been better than Colorado's, and Utah's offense being... as unique as it is i think it's going to give colorado problems and

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: Hiya. i think I think at the end of the day, Utah is going to. I mean, their kind of implied total in Vegas has been around 35 -ish points for most of the games, and they seem to go over it usually. And so I got Utah taking care of business. I got them.

Ben: getting up to 41, so 41 for the Utes, and then I don't got a lot going for Colorado, so I got a 41 -13 final.

Caleb Call: Yeah, and that sounds about what I expect for this one, too And I mentioned at BYU, their season was just... get undefeated into the Notre Dame game. Feels like Utah's is kind of the same, but with Houston coming up next week.

Ben: Hmm.

Caleb Call: Go 6 -0, and then you've got the stretch where it's... Houston, Cincy, BYU, Arizona, TCU. like Those five games are going to determine the Utah season. And even West Virginia at the end could be tricky if you guys struggle to defend their run game. but The first six games might have been the six easiest games on the schedule.

Caleb Call: You're about to pass the sixth one. and Got Houston on deck. and Maybe we can talk a little bit about their game coming up. This is. one of the most excited exciting games.

Caleb Call: on deck for the entire Big 12 season. Oklahoma State. who looked dead against Tulsa. they've Come alive. Be in Oregon. beating West Virginia. They're playing Houston. and Top 20 matchup. and really it feels like this might be a For Houston, you can't lose a second game. So this is a must win for Houston. And for Oklahoma State, they do play Texas Tech, so they'll get a chance to.

Caleb Call: kind of redeem themselves if they lose this one. but The winner of this one has a chance to really vault themselves into the top 15 and put themselves even into. borderline at large contention. How do you see this one going? I feel like Houston's. Not been as stout on defense as they have in the past. i think that they'll be able to have an answer for Mestemaker in the Cowboy ah offense.

Ben: Yeah, they're kind of it's kind of an interesting thing because Houston's kind of been like, they've scored enough points, but then... Defensively, they haven't been like amazing, but they haven't been bad. and

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: Oklahoma State's kind of been this like deep vertical passing attack or they've kind of just Been able to score a lot. um and quickly and last week. You you saw it for a second. It looked like it was going to kind of.

Ben: They played UCF really tight. like It went into the fourth quarter being a really close game, Oklahoma State -UCF. and then before they finally pulled away. And so I think Houston's going to be able to. slow them down compared to how the other teams have done recently and kind of keep them.

Ben: in like the upper 20s. I think this is a high scoring game. like I think the total goes into the 60s.

Caleb Call: I think so too.

Ben: But. I think they they do keep them like they're not I don't think they're giving up 40 like some of these other teams have done to Oklahoma State even Oregon giving up 39 to them but I think uh I got Houston coming out on top of this one. and I think it's going to be a tight one, though. and I do give the the. slight advantage to the home team. and so um In Houston.

Caleb Call: Do you give Houston the home team advantage when they can't fill their stadium? It almost feels like a neutral game. I bet you your Oklahoma State's going to have plenty of fans there. I'm sure they've got plenty in the Houston area.

Ben: Yeah, i i think the I think the home, I mean, the familiarity and the routine of them.

Caleb Call: It's not just the crowd that impacts it for sure.

Ben: Yeah, sleeping in your own bed and stuff like that. but i ah Oklahoma State, I'm still not completely sold on. like Both the last two games against UCF and West Virginia, they're both tight late.

Ben: before they kind of pulled away in the fourth so i'm not completely sold on oklahoma state yet I mean, they still obviously beat Oregon, but then they lose the... the Tulsa game, but I think, ah I think Houston's gonna.

Ben: be able to limit that vertical passing attack that they have and that they've showed and so i think they'll be able to keep them to like 28 points. I got this one really tight. So I got 31 28

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: But I think that. Um, slowing them down compared to how the other teams have done recently, I think is going to be enough. And, and I like, ah I like. this Houston squad. I like Wegman. I like ah Willie Fritz.

Ben: I think, I think they're going to.

Caleb Call: Willie Fritz is such an underrated head coach.

Ben: they do just enough to to be in games they shouldn't be in and win games they need to win. And so like that tech game, they kind of just hung around, hung around. And so I liked it.

Caleb Call: They left for most of it.

Ben: Yeah, i I like him in this game. and I am cheering for them in this game, too, just because they're coming to Salt Lake the next week. And so I want to. I'm hoping that if Houston wins this game, they're at 20, Oklahoma State's ranked 18. I'm hoping they jump up.

Ben: it's like the 15 -ish range because of all those sec teams that might lose of like 13 through 16 they all have tough games this week and so

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: As a Utah fan now you're sitting there if you take care of Colorado they take care of Oklahoma State you got it probably a top 15 matchup in Salt Lake next week. And so another big, big 12 game. And so I, I'm, I'm as a Utah fan cheering for cheering for the.

Ben: The Houston Cougars. So.

Caleb Call: You can cheer for all the Cougars. Let's get the Big 12 ranked up high this year. i

Ben: Bye. Right now.

Caleb Call: What's going to be interesting for me?

Ben: i was gonna say right now we got three of the um we got eight ten and eleven so if you you did a cfp

Caleb Call: Three playoff teams right now.

Ben: Yeah, if you had a CFP with just the AP poll right now, you get three Big 12 teams. So it's looking pretty good for the Big 12.

Caleb Call: Houston against Oregon State showed some cracks with their defense. And granted, nobody expected Legree and Atkinson for Oregon State to... have the just passing the firepower that they do.

Caleb Call: But. Houston was given a big place in the passing game. So it'll be interesting to see if that was a one -off and just truly Oregon State had a couple of special playmakers. or if that is something that Oklahoma State can exploit as well.

Caleb Call: I tend to think Houston's going to win this game. I agree with that. But. I would not be shocked at all to see Oklahoma State win this game. I think it is going to feel like an old school Big 12 shootout where both teams.

Caleb Call: end up in the 30s maybe even 40s I think it's gonna be a fun one. Honestly, this is the kind of game that... just as like peak Big 12. Two awesome offenses. They both, at least not both, Oklahoma State with the inexplicable loss. and Here they are in a ranked matchup.

Caleb Call: i'm excited for it We got a couple of rivalry games in the Big 12 too. We got it. Kansas State playing Kansas in what feels like a... Like the loser season is just going to.

Caleb Call: completely fall apart. Then you've got TCU Baylor, where Baylor is still fighting for a Big 12 championship. and TCU is just trying to win a game. they' two and three and already have a couple of conference losses.

Caleb Call: And these two rivalry games, where do you expect them to see here? Do you think that you just saw Kansas play? We've seen Kansas State already start to kind of implode. Do you think the Jayhawks are the better team there?

Ben: Um... I... it's tough because You could have asked me that last week. got I would have said Kansas State for sure. But the last two games, we've... We've seen Kansas State go from 3 -0 to...

Ben: losing to Cincinnati and Houston, and now they're 0 -2 in the Big 12.

Caleb Call: And they got beat up by Houston. They did not look like they belonged on the same field with them.

Ben: Yeah, and I was at home to the Houston went into Manhattan and just kind of took it to him and so now And. You know how I am with Isaiah Marshall. I just think he's... I think he is.

Ben: One of the worst quarterbacks in the big 12, but good He had a decent day against Utah. His best game by far.

Caleb Call: You is one of the best statistical quarterbacks last week in the entire country.

Ben: Yeah, it was his best game by far.

Caleb Call: against Utah's defense. Yeah, good game.

Ben: he's He's been pretty bad before that game. And so with that guy. I. I still lean Kansas State here. I think they're just... They're a better, more talented roster, I think. Marshall's gonna throw the ball the other team.

Ben: I i don't think he's gonna

Caleb Call: Kansas State. I can't remember the exact number. I think they're up to 19 consecutive wins in this rivalry. It might be... it's It's in that ballpark.

Ben: That's crazy

Caleb Call: It feels like there's a mental hurt hurdle that Kansas has to overcome that they still have not been able to. with better teams than this and so i I agree. I think Kansas State wins the game. i still think Avery Johnson is.

Caleb Call: maybe the most overrated quarterback I've seen. ever like the way that Kansas State fans and just cultural fans talk about him. I've never thought he was all that. And I... I still think they win this game. but I'm excited for Kansas State in the post -Avery Johnson era. i think that They need to let their offense evolve a little bit beyond what he's capable of.

Caleb Call: But in a game against Kansas, I'm not going to bet on Kansas until I see him actually go out there and do it.

Ben: Interesting thing is that the line started at 8 .5 for Kansas State, so a pretty big line when it opened, and it's down to 4 .5 now, so it has shrunk. I don't know how much of that is the game last week. is Isaiah Marshall did look good in Salt Lake. He he made some crazy throws on the run. and um kind of looked like a better player than he had at the beginning.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: year.

Caleb Call: If I had to take one of those two quarterbacks in pro Provo. Based on what I saw just last week, I'd take Marshall, as crazy as that is to say. but I am an Avery Johnson hater. Ever since I had to watch Avery Johnson.

Caleb Call: In a do -or -die game for BYU, go try and beat Iowa State back in 2024.

Caleb Call: That... Go back and watch that game and pretend like you're cheering for Kansas State, and Avery Johnson will drive you crazy. The throws he misses, the bad decisions he makes, the way he's such a good runner, but he refuses to run when it makes sense. i get he's a maddening quarterback to watch That's my two cents on Avery. i'm I'm excited for Kansas State post Avery Johnson. You guys should have.

Caleb Call: Should have picked ah Will Howard over Avery. But...

Ben: I gotta...

Caleb Call: I'll end my rant there.

Ben: I'll go and then just to talk about that other game you mentioned. i kind of I've talked about it. I'm a little bullish on Baylor. I think they're kind of a sneaky team this year. and So I like Baylor.

Caleb Call: They got a fun squad.

Ben: Yeah. i i ah I think they're going to go on a little run here. They got TCU, Kansas. um the next two weeks and so If they win those two, they're 6 -1 and they're rolling. They're six straight wins. and so i I like Baylor this week. I think they're kind of a sneaky team in the Big 12. That'll be fun to watch. so

Caleb Call: I am a little nervous for this one just because... TCU. Has an awesome defense. And they are fighting for their season. And this is the kind of rivalry that can get muddy. And when you've got D .J. Lagway, a quarterback.

Caleb Call: If this is a close game in the fourth quarter against a good defense, I would not be shocked to see two DG Lagway pick sixes, you know, just the kind of game that it could end up becoming. So I do think Baylor's the better team.

Caleb Call: But I would not be shocked if the TCU defense does enough to. take advantage of Lagway's inconsistencies he's shown in the past. But I do think Baylor's a better team and should win the game.

Caleb Call: But I've got my eye on that one. I do think that one could end up being a pretty fun one in the fourth quarter. and Hopefully TCU can at least make it competitive. We'll see. the Two other games in the Big 12, West Virginia, Cincinnati, not one that we really need to cover too much. but Texas Tech hosting Arizona State.

Caleb Call: These two teams. took turns beating each other when they weren't supposed to. Hack in 2024. Texas Tech had an average year. But they beat Arizona State at home. ASU ended up going 10 -2 and making the playoff and winning the Big 12 that year.

Caleb Call: And honestly, that game. Arizona State, they were losing by two scores almost the whole game against Texas Tech. It looked like Texas Tech was the better team. And then last year, it's Texas Tech's turn. They're having the awesome season. ASU was down last year. They went 8 -4.

Caleb Call: and they had their own struggles but Levitt and Tyson did just enough to sneak out a win against Texas Tech. and ended up pulling that one out and Obviously, Texas Tech still made the playoff, just like ASU did. but Here we are, year three of this matchup. It kind of feels like it could become a little bit of a rivalry here, especially if they keep... upsetting each other.

Caleb Call: Do you think that ASU has the juice to give Texas Tech a game? 14 .5 point spread.

Ben: Yeah, 14 and a half point spread. So they're a big dog here. I just have ingrained that Baylor just beat down. Baylor just went and just smashed Arizona State. That was two weeks ago, or three weeks ago now. and

Caleb Call: Two weeks, yeah.

Ben: So I, uh...

Caleb Call: 55 to 19.

Ben: Yeah.

Caleb Call: Ugly.

Ben: So I think Texas Tech is going to do enough to win this game. and Hiya. I would assume Arizona State's. a little bit better than that like They they played A and &M pretty tough for three quarters. and um but We don't like A and &M is not as good as as it was now. I think they were ranked top 10 at the time they played that game, but Now...

Ben: I think this is one where I think tech's going to take care of business. Tech schedule is just really favorable, and there is a lot of games on it. at the beginning of the season, this being one of them where it was like you circled it going, oh, this could be a potential letdown spot. um Just how the season's played out. i i've gone away from that a little bit and i think tech schedules kind of uh um

Caleb Call: The rest of the way, it feels like they've got a three -game schedule. They've got Oklahoma State. Arizona. And then correct me if I'm wrong, I think they play Baylor as well.

Ben: Yeah, I just barely pulled it up. they got They're playing at Baylor and at Oklahoma State back -to -back weeks. Then a couple weeks before that, they host Arizona. That's probably their...

Caleb Call: those Those three games are probably the only three games they're capable of losing.

Ben: 3D.

Caleb Call: Maybe... the West Virginia game. You see it sometimes. West Virginia's got an explosive offense. And sometimes a bad offense, even against a really bad defense, still can't get things going.

Caleb Call: Will Hammond's not a great quarterback, so if he can't take of advantage of the Mountaineer defense like a lot of teams have been able to. Maybe West Virginia makes that one interesting. so But for the most part, it does feel like Texas Tech.

Caleb Call: They might only have one or two losses at the end of the year even if they are a much worse team than they were last year

Ben: Yeah, agreed. It'll be interesting. I think Utah and BYU fans, if you're hoping for a... If you drop a game and you're hoping for a backdoor, Texas Tech's... their schedules as easy it looked. As it looked preseason, it feels like they're doing what it takes to take it. and So it doesn't look like there's going to be very many options to backdoor back into it. so into the Big 12 Championship.

Caleb Call: At least the road trips to Oklahoma State and Baylor looked a lot easier preseason than they do today. I honestly think it's probably more likely they lose one of those games than go 2 -0.

Ben: yeah

Caleb Call: So what we'll see. They got some. challenges coming up here in Wilham and still is not a Good enough quarterback to feel like you've got a guarantee there. As far as the rest of the country goes.

Caleb Call: We talked about it. There was one huge marquee game this week that we thought could contend to steal game day from Provo. And that's Ohio State, Indiana. If Ohio State had beaten Texas, that's my... VR game day and ended up going to.

Caleb Call: But yeah, number four, verse number five. Indiana, they were able to sneak out a win against Northwestern, who we now all believe is a lot better than we thought going into that one.

Caleb Call: They beat Nebraska close. They were down by 11 in the fourth. And then they turned it on, had two quick touchdowns. and That was that. And now they've got Ohio State coming to town for. arguably the biggest game in Bloomington history.

Caleb Call: Last year we saw them hold the Buckeyes to 10 points. I don't think Indiana's defense is probably as good as it was last year. And Ohio State this year, they... More so than – you called it preseason that they were going to be super reliant on Jeremiah Smith.

Caleb Call: Well, they have been. He's been their entire offense, it feels like. But nobody's been good enough to slow it down. Do you think that Indiana is going to be able to... limit that offense as much as they did last year.

Ben: Yeah, Indiana's defensive line has actually been pretty good this year. It's top of the run. and so um If they can do that, I think they're going to have a shot in this one. because Then you just got Jeremiah Smith on the outside. and I mean, he's a tough cover. like ah You double -team him, he might still burn you. so it's a um

Caleb Call: Iowa tried, it didn't work.

Ben: Yeah, like it. I mean, and you see him spinning the safety ah around. Or was that Illinois? I can't remember which game that was where the safety –

Caleb Call: Yeah, I can. Yeah.

Ben: Completely spun in a 360 circle, yeah.

Caleb Call: Illinois.

Ben: um anyway

Caleb Call: felt bad for the kid to kind of

Ben: Yeah.

Caleb Call: play that you just hope your kids never find.

Ben: It's like, yeah, I tried to guard. and It kind of reminds me of. I'm Jackson Smith and Jigba.

Caleb Call: Okay.

Ben: And the Roseborn.

Caleb Call: Against Mekhi Bernard playing corner.

Ben: but Yeah, we were all decimated in the secondary. that ah That Rose Bowl. And so we move a running back out there. And if his kids ever go find that tape, like, Dad, you did not play. like i go I see how you played running back. goes He set the Rose Bowl record. We actually went to the Rose Bowl the next year and they gave us the program. And he had like every single Rose Bowl record was Jackson Smith and Jake with a year before, but.

Caleb Call: It was 350 receiving.

Ben: um

Caleb Call: I think it was 339 or something. that was just

Ben: Yeah. It was a ridiculous game.

Caleb Call: Crazy and they needed every one of them.

Ben: But back to the Indiana game, I i think Indiana's defense is going to. I mean, if they can figure out how to slow down, jet and I mean, you're not going to be able to stop Jeremiah Smith. so If you can kind of slow them down. keep him and then stop the run game. Kind of just make a, make Ohio state. Slowly do it. I think you're going to have a shot. Ohio State's actually down two. two offensive linemen right now. They've got ah one of them, the right tackle might be back for this game, but.

Ben: than the other tackles out. and so i yeah I think Ohio State, they're going to be. It's going to be an interesting one because I saw a stat that said Ryan Day.

Ben: is uh i think it was 13 and 12 when his team loses the rushing battle. And so if Indiana can do that, that's probably all 12 of his losses in his career, to be honest.

Ben: And and i think I can't remember if that was going back to before Ohio State. Has he even lost 12 games at Ohio State? but Um,

Caleb Call: I don't think he ever coached anywhere else before. He was the OC. He kind of came up.

Ben: maybe it was Maybe it was him.

Caleb Call: Quietly.

Ben: Maybe it was like the OC at Delaware. i can't remember where he was at dose yet but

Caleb Call: No, I... think So.

Ben: Anywho, I I think if Indiana can slow that rushing attack down, I think they're going to have a shot in this one. And so it's going to be a fun one. I mean, you've got a Josh Hoover. He has no turnovers this year so far.

Ben: And so. If they can control the ball.

Caleb Call: Still so funny, by the way. Sonny Dykes in the offseason blaming Hoover for all the turnovers and losing games last year. and Now he's got Jaden Craig, a quarterback, and Hoover's got...

Caleb Call: No interceptions, no turnovers to this point in the season.

Ben: Signetti kind of took a shot back, like, well, if you can run the ball and play defense, it kind of helps.

Caleb Call: okay

Ben: and so

Caleb Call: Yeah. No kidding.

Ben: And so I mean he's done exactly what they've asked him to do and And so if Indiana can do that, control the game, don't turn the ball over, stop the run, I think they're going to have a shot in this one. and i think they're um I think they're going to have as good a shot as anyone to knock off Ohio State. They don't feel – Ohio State doesn't feel like – Um, some of those old like wagging Ohio State teams.

Ben: And so.

Caleb Call: No.

Ben: I mean, they're a slight feat.

Caleb Call: You've got the best player in the country, but... The team around him is not as good as it has been in years past.

Ben: Yeah. It is Ohio State at the end of the day, too. And Indiana it feels like they're a little bit down compared to the last Last year. where I mean, they they kind of, I mean, Northwestern's look better now. that they They seem better than when...

Ben: They originally played them, so they played them tight. Then last week, it felt like they should have lost to Nebraska. Interesting fact about that game. I went back and was looking. Um, Indiana had five. offensive drives from the first to the third quarter because Nebraska did such a good drive so such a good job at just like...

Caleb Call: They were burning clock.

Ben: killing clock it was like five or six minute drives in the first half so they only had three First half drives Indiana did and then they had two in the third course. They had five total drives And then in the fourth quarter alone, they matched it. They had five.

Ben: drives against they have five in the first three quarters and five in the fourth quarter and then the fourth quarter is when they came back and exploded and so if you can limit that that's kind of like this it seems like that's the success for some of these teams upset Indiana. And so you'll be curious to see how Ohio state does, if they can like milk the clock and go just punch it in. and and then stop the Indiana offense. That's going to be Ohio State's recipe to success on this one is can they do what Nebraska did, shorten the game like they did the first three quarters.

Ben: Keep Indiana out of the end zone.

Caleb Call: I like Ohio State in this one. I agree with what you're saying, but I think Indiana's down from what they were last year. And last year they. Barely beat Ohio State. They did blow out a ton of teams, but this year we're already seeing some cracks. they Close one against Northwestern, close one against Nebraska.

Caleb Call: Last year's team probably wins both those games by three scores. and Ohio State, well, I don't think they are. At like Georgia's level. I do think they're going to still be able to win this game on the road.

Caleb Call: but i'm excited this one i'm glad i got the morning slate so i'll be able to watch it uninterrupted without the worrying about the Notre Dame BYU game later in the day. so

Ben: You're actually going to be in Utah.

Caleb Call: That was going to be exciting.

Ben: we're gonna be We're going to be watching that one together. so That'll be a... That'll be a fun one to watch. I just barely pulled it up. Ryan Day's record at Ohio State is 87 -13. And when he's lost the rushing battle, he's 13 and 12.

Caleb Call: yes

Ben: 12 of his 13 losses at Ohio State has been when his team's lost the running the rushing attack. Indiana's defensive front's good. Ohio State's down two offensive linemen. That might be the... That might be the. the picture. I ah i personally, I still am picking Ohio State in this one. I think there's a real path for Indiana, like I just said.

Ben: can go um do it i think at the end of the day i think jeremiah smith makes just enough plays for them. And I think. Julian's saying he's been better this year. And so I think he's going to make enough plays. I think Ohio State's defense is going to.

Ben: be able to slow them down you see indiana struggle with nebraska and northwestern so It's not like the Indiana team of old, but I definitely think there is a. a real path for Indiana to win this game if they can kind of control the line of scrimmage and their defensive front can do.

Ben: Do damage so I I don't feel really strongly about this one I wouldn't I wouldn't go to Vegas and put money on it, but I yeah I lean Ohio State so I got a I got him in a kind of a lower scoring game.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: I got him 24 -21 Buckeyes. So I don't know if you said your score already.

Caleb Call: No, and I think I'd even go lower scoring than that. I was thinking something along the lines of like... 20 to 13. and the de defenses will control the game. and Indiana will just struggle to score too much.

Caleb Call: Elsewhere in the country. It's kind of, it feels almost like SEC elimination week. You've got. Ole Miss, Missouri. You've got Bama, Tennessee. You've got LSU, Mississippi State. Florida, Texas. Oklahoma, Kentucky.

Caleb Call: There's a lot of games here that are featuring... Ranked SEC teams that already have a loss. I think every single game I just said fits that bill. And then you got LSU and Florida. with multiple losses.

Caleb Call: Let's start with Bama, Tennessee. Obviously a huge rivalry game. First time in 50 years, they're having both teams wear home colors, kind of like what BYU and Utah do. So we'll get the red and orange on the field at the same time. Tennessee.

Caleb Call: They have struggled on offense. And we've seen Bama's defense against Georgia. Hold them to 20.

Caleb Call: i Don't see a path to victory here for Tennessee Tennessee's defense has been good But. Bama's offense. is still an elite offense. And... I just don't think Tennessee's ah offense is going to be able to score. i don't Do you see a path to victory here for Tennessee? Do you think they got a shot?

Ben: Yeah, I mean It's ah it's in Knoxville. I mean, at the end of the day, you're going to have a crazy. ah Crazy crowd. So that's the first thing. And then...

Ben: On top of it, their defense is elite. So I think if their defense. can slow down Alabama at all. i think they're gonna have a shot and on top of it Bama just announced that their center's down for the week. and so sometimes with just like pass protection and Um,

Ben: setting up just The pass protection with like sliding one way or the other and picking up blitzes and stuff like that and calls.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: You never know how that's going to look with Alabama not having. And and Tennessee's D -tackle, their main guy. that lines up over the center is kind of their big disruptor that.

Ben: You kind of saw him. killed the Texas game that kept the Texas game close. And so. If he ah and now you got ah a brand new first start for Alabama center, if he can kind of. cause a little chaos and disrupt the offense.

Ben: Get Russell so he's a little flustered. like keep it a lower scoring game. And then on top of it, it's in Knoxville. I think that's your shot. um I think at Alabama, I mean. it's tough because Yeah.

Ben: I mean we've seen Tennessee kind of not look very good And so offensively.

Caleb Call: I really do think Tennessee. is the most overrated team in the country right now sitting at 14. Date. They beat Arkansas 24 -17. They were losing in the fourth quarter to Arkansas.

Ben: their Their offense is awful.

Caleb Call: Good.

Ben: Yeah. It's a... kind of They're like Oklahoma, honestly. It's just kind of like ah a really good defense with a really bad offense. and so I mean, you saw Arkansas come into Salt Lake and look terrible.

Ben: and that game was um Arkansas, I think. if i'm Correct me if I'm wrong. Weren't they winning in the like going into the fourth quarter?

Caleb Call: They were. they They were down, scored a touchdown, scored a touchdown, and they were able to go take the lead. And then Tennessee. was able to go tie it with a field goal i'm pretty sure and then score the touchdown at the end to win it

Ben: Is it kind of crazy that they didn't go down in the ring? rankings after that game. but um

Caleb Call: They... They have not been in my top 25 once this season. and they will continue to not be in my top 25 that they have to beat bama they They just don't win big games. and Not only that but just Even at the Auburn game, 24 -14, Auburn's offense was awful. Tennessee was getting put in. great positions for their offense, and they still couldn't score. That game was...

Caleb Call: low scoring, and then you had the... game against Texas where it just... They were getting sacked. every other play. Like Simmons literally. pulled his mead out in the middle of a you know give tennessee a first down like That was just.

Ben: He's peeing on the field.

Caleb Call: Such a... poor performance from Tennessee, and I really don't.

Ben: Hmm.

Caleb Call: i have such little respect for that team this year their defense is really good i agree with that but I just don't think they're that good as an event. team and i think the alabama wins this one pretty easily i'd be shocked if this game is close in the fourth quarter.

Ben: Honestly, and maybe it's the same thing as that Oklahoma game. Maybe they need ah a big. either special teams or defensive touchdown to give them a shot. so

Caleb Call: You're gonna need it. Yeah.

Ben: Yeah. So interesting thing you were just talking about there.

Caleb Call: ye

Ben: um And I don't know if you wanted to talk about any of these games, but if you're looking at 13 through 16 in the AP poll, so right below. um Utah and UCLA. 11, UCLA's 12. BYU, if you drop this game, you're kind of like, who's gonna pass us?

Ben: So 13 through 16 are all SEC teams and they're all underdogs this week. So 16 is going into LSU and are 14 and a half point dogs without Camario Taylor.

Caleb Call: No Kamario Taylor, probably.

Ben: seth It sounds like I haven't heard it's confirmed yet, but with the 14 and a half point line, I think that's kind of implying he's not going to go. Um, And so. He's not going to go. And then you got 15th ranked Kentucky going into Norman. um and so there's six and a half point Dogs against Oklahoma, which.

Ben: um I mean... I don't know if that's you're living off of the Texas win or what. with Vegas. And you got 14.

Caleb Call: Oklahoma's defense. is going to give them a chance in most games they play. But their ah offense is going to give the opponent a chance too. so either I think Oklahoma is about to play their first of like six more games where.

Caleb Call: either team could win flip a coin.

Ben: Yeah. And then you got. 14th -ranked Tennessee hosting Bama, like we talked about, and then 13th -ranked Missouri going into Ole Miss. All four of those teams are underdogs, according to Vegas this week. And so, theoretically, if you had even only one win or four lose, like you're going to have a little bit of a shift.

Ben: um in the ap poll this week i think you're gonna have a lot of um

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: Yeah. movement.

Caleb Call: There will be a lot of movement. There's a lot of big games.

Ben: I think the wind. The winner of that Oklahoma State -Houston game is probably going to jump them all. And so they might climb up pretty high. Like you might see an Oklahoma State -reg 14 if they win. You might see Houston in the same spot. and so it's a It's kind of a fun... ah Fun slate of windows. The SEC is. I mean.

Ben: It's hard to know. Just like everyone's beating everybody right now.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: I'm really interested to see this Missouri Ole Miss one because in my head, Missouri Ole Miss, I'm like, okay, Ole Miss is going to take care of business here. But if you think about it, just from the standpoint of they've both played Missouri.

Ben: and Ole Miss got dog walked by Florida. Or sorry, did I say Missouri?

Caleb Call: They're both played Florida. Yeah

Ben: They both play Florida. Ole Miss got dog walked by Florida and Missouri did the same thing to Florida. And so it's like, now you're going to have the. Is it the circle where they all beat each other?

Ben: is that

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: I think that perceived. perception is the Ole Miss is the better team. and so They both lost by like... I think it was like a four score game in each of those. And so that one's going to be really interesting. What's your thoughts on that Ole Miss Missouri game?

Caleb Call: I'm excited, too. Another aspect of this is you had Austin Simmons leave Ole Miss and go to Missouri, and now here he is starting against his old team.

Ben: Any? He was the starter for the first two games before he got hurt, so he's probably that's a little revenge game too.

Caleb Call: No.

Caleb Call: I... I trust really that Chambliss here, but I really do like it. Missouri, it feels like, is always just a little better than you expect them to be. Like they.

Caleb Call: They have had years where they've won 10, 11 games, made the SEC championship game. I don't think they're gonna do that this year. But. I wouldn't be shocked if going into the last week or two of the season, in Missouri is...

Caleb Call: legitimately on the playoff bubble. and Eh. This game right here, I really do think is an elimination game. It's not like a... clear thing but they both have tough games the rest of the way that i don't think they'll win out after a loss here.

Caleb Call: Huge game for both sides. I'm leaning Ole Miss. But. It's a pick that I might change. I do like Missouri. What they did against Florida was impressive. They really did control a lot of the Mississippi State game as well.

Caleb Call: So I... I don't know. This is a game that I really don't have a great feel for. i trust both teams in some ways and also distrust them both as well. so i I'm excited to see. I do think Ole Miss.

Caleb Call: Their resume. has fallen apart. like they Had the big win against Louisville to start the year. Well, now Louisville's sitting there at 2 -3, and they're losing to everyone they play.

Ben: Get ready. Three losses.

Caleb Call: They beat LSU. who also just lost to Kentucky.

Ben: And LSU gave him that game.

Caleb Call: So. Yeah. And then Ole Miss's loss, they got. killed by Florida. who jumps to number eight. And now Florida's losing. They got blown out by Missouri, blown out by South Carolina. so I honestly think – I said Tennessee is the most overrated team in the country.

Caleb Call: I think Ole Miss at nine. probably is the most inflated team. Their resume does not match that of a team ranked in the top 10 right now with that blowout loss to Florida and their two wins kind of.

Caleb Call: falling apart.

Ben: it's kind of It's kind of frustrating because they they overreacted to Florida with that win. They like shot them way up, and they instantly get kicked out because they lose the two games. But then Ole Miss didn't fall anywhere.

Caleb Call: They never got punished.

Ben: And they never got.

Caleb Call: They fell from four to like 10 or something. They always.

Ben: Yeah, they never get punished for it. It's just like they're so reactive that week or they reacted to the Florida losses, but like

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: The Florida losses also didn't affect Ole Miss' resume at all.

Caleb Call: And that's why like the committee's rankings, they get to come in with a lot more context. than the voters are reacting to on a week -to -week basis so that That'll definitely help. i This is like, I think Missouri is a legitimate, probably top. 20 team in the country. so right This will be a good test for Ole Miss to be able to see.

Ben: They kind of remind me like an...

Caleb Call: And honestly.

Ben: like a Utah, Iowa team where it's like they can come in and square up with most teams in the country. You never know, like it's going to be this low.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: like They might win every game like they could beat any team and on their schedule but like They're probably not going to go. 12 and almost years. Like it kind of seems like that's kind of how Missouri, that's how I feel about Missouri this year. I don't know if that's.

Ben: a fair comp but

Caleb Call: Yeah, honestly, I could see that And just. With the way the SEC is this year playing the nine conference games, I think you're going to see a lot of teams that are just playing close games every single week. like just day.

Caleb Call: can't avoid a that they all kind of feel relatively equal to each other right now and so um and i'm just pulling up Missouri's schedule. I'm just curious to see the rest of the way who they're playing so after this they get arkansas who they're for sure be. And then come November.

Caleb Call: Their November's brutal. Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, Oklahoma. So if you win this game... You're you can probably lose to one of Texas or Georgia, but you got to probably beat one of them you lose this game you're done for if you're Missouri. And Ole Miss also has Georgia, who I assume is going to win. I beat them. and plenty of other tough games too. so yeah this is gonna be uh Elimination game for sure. The loser of this one is going to be out.

Caleb Call: and Honestly, I think I'm kind of talking myself into Missouri here. I like Missouri. I like the way they're playing. the The Florida. Situation with Ole Miss like you just saw them get destroyed by a team that really he has not been that impressive outside of that game. and I think that there's. cracks there they So far in the season, still sitting in the top ten. I don't think they deserve that. I think we'll see Missouri win it.

Ben: Yeah, that's one of the ones I'm... Actually, sorry. This didn't seem like a ah great game preseason, but... I uh...

Caleb Call: It got put on the SEC network. like what What is a top 15 matchup doing on the SEC network? People are going to not even know that game happened.

Ben: Yeah, so it's going to be. I'm curious to see just how Missouri looks because i I agree with you. I think Missouri is an underrated team. and so I think I'm leaning Ole Miss, though. Same thing you're just doing is you're kind of talking yourself into the Missouri way. and I kind of was. I was on though.

Ben: Ole Miss side and I've kind of leaned back towards like, I think it's going to be a pretty good game that could go either way, but I'm still leaning Ole Miss.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: so It'll be interesting. i'm I'm excited to watch that one. now Another, ah I guess another one is Texas, Florida. You think Florida has any shot after their... They die back -to -back weeks. like Do they have a shot against Texas here?

Caleb Call: And Sarkeesian must be terrified for this game because there's nobody who thinks floor does better than Sarkeesian does. The...

Ben: Yeah.

Caleb Call: ah I don't think Florida's that good. I think that they... or a little bit of a one trick pony. I don't, Philo might not even play. And he's...

Caleb Call: Not a good enough quarterback. I think the if the running game is not working, Florida's not going to win many games. And that defense, two weeks in a row, they go. blown out with Missouri and South Carolina's offenses.

Caleb Call: Now, granted, Texas's offense. despite having more talent than South Carolina and Missouri. Might not be as good of an offense as those two teams. Just the weirdest thing to watch them play. it It doesn't feel real with how much they struggle on ah offense despite the talent.

Caleb Call: I do think Texas wins that game and may even cover. um And I... I'm not high on Texas at all. But I'm just that much lower on Florida this year. And I think Texas' run defense should be able to.

Caleb Call: stop Ba on the rushing attack outside of him. Just make Florida one -dimensional enough to where... Texas is able to. Escape with a win.

Ben: And on top of it, Florida, I mean, the last two weeks. They are. they just got shut down running wise like that's all that um you have four with that.

Caleb Call: They don't have an answer. that They can't.

Ben: Yeah, missouri Missouri and South Carolina, they just went and stopped the run and Florida couldn't do anything else.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: And that's what.

Caleb Call: There was no counterpunch.

Ben: killed That's what killed Ole Miss. And so Texas is D -line.

Caleb Call: Okay.

Ben: up front has been legit this year. And so that just seems like it's a bad matchup for Florida. So I got Texas big in that one as well.

Caleb Call: one of the I think more underrated games of this slate. We just saw. UCLA. jump into the top 15 there's in there 12 right now undefeated We're talking about how easy their schedule looks the rest of the way.

Caleb Call: Well, they don't have Nico the rest of the way he tore his ACL he's done for the season Backup was fine against Oregon, not great. They still were struggling to score. um but They got Wisconsin And.

Caleb Call: Wisconsin, they have the one loss to Notre Dame. and They won every other game on their schedule. Penn State probably the biggest win to this point for Wisconsin. And. Honestly, I think that these two teams are probably a similar tier of like.

Caleb Call: talent on the roster. I'm excited for this one. UCLA's offense has struggled a lot of the year, but their defense has been good enough to win these games. and The Wisconsin feels like a pretty fun matchup. and Wisconsin, they they're one of the first teams outside of the top 25, so despite this being 12 versus unranked.

Caleb Call: it does feel like you're these are Two similarly caliber teams. And they both have a relatively manageable schedule the rest of the way. so the the winner of this one really could put themselves in a pretty good spot to Be in the hunt come November.

Ben: Yeah, I mean, they're both undefeated still in the... the big 10.

Caleb Call: Big time.

Ben: So right now you've got Indiana, Ohio State, and then you've got UCLA, Wisconsin as the four last undefeated. and They all play each other, so there's only going to be two undefeated. Big Ten teams. And so the winner of this one is going to be. currently slotted into the to the Big Ten Championship game. And so this one's a big one. Wisconsin's only loss was that. first game of the year to Notre Dame. And I actually thought they played decent in that game, even though they ended up getting blown out. But in Penn State, they kind of backdoored their way back in to win that one. they

Ben: i don't know if they really deserve to win that one but they found a way to win it and so um I think ah it's going to be an interesting one. I mean, this game is at the Rose Bowl, so it's. at UCLA. and No, Nico.

Ben: Makes it so... It will be interesting to see whether. a full week of prepping for this ah this backup and see what he's got. guys I think this one's going to be a fun low scoring game.

Ben: I think when I looked at the line, it was close to 40. I think I saw like 42 and a half. And anytime you got to score around 40 for the over -under, that low scoring of a game, I feel like.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: always go either way and so i think this one's going to be tight low scoring and i think uh I think it'll be fun. i This one's going to be... It might have a lot of impact for the the Big Ten race. so It'll, uh...

Ben: We'll see. who has the the leg up after after Saturday.

Caleb Call: Yeah, I'm excited for this one. And the Big Ten has another kind of sneaky game. To end the night, you got... Nebraska, Oregon. We saw Nebraska almost beat Indiana. Oregon's season's falling apart.

Caleb Call: Sounds like Moore's not going to play, so you got... Are we going to see Ryola go on the field against Nebraska, or did he lose his spot? I don't know yet. Um, The loser, i this is a playoff elimination game as well.

Caleb Call: Oregon for sure can't afford afford a loss here. I was kind of surprised at the spread here. Nebraska is a seven -point dog after almost beating Indiana with how bad Oregon's looked to this point in the season.

Caleb Call: Do you think that like... Does that spread justify by the way organs looked at this point?

Ben: Not by how organs looked I think part of it is just Preseason expectation, rosters, I think. The overall roster perception is that Oregon's more talented than Nebraska. And then on top of it, you've got it in Eugene. and so i think the combinations of them they probably had that game They always say it's about two to three points for. home field and stuff.

Ben: They probably had Organist Light like a four -point favorite before that, and so now they're a seven -point.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: rich. in oregon but they haven't looked good so i don't know if the the original three or four point favorite for organs justified. So I think this one's going to be a fun one. I. Like we talked about earlier, I thought Nebraska did a really good job in that Indiana game limiting Indiana's possessions. And if you've got a backup quarterback and he's not getting in rhythm.

Ben: Because Nebraska's milking a lot of the game clock like they did last week against Indiana. i think they can they definitely have the recipe to go beat oregon and eugene so um I think a lot's going bad in Eugene, and and I think Nebraska's got more than...

Ben: I mean, they they did three quarters they executed the perfect game plan for three quarters against indiana and They just need to finish 15 minutes.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: So if you can you can kind of pull that off for four quarters and do the exact same thing you just did last week, you're going to have a shot to win, and you're probably going to win if you can pull it off.

Caleb Call: Yeah, it's going to be a fun night, Cap. That happens at the same time as the Utah -Colorado game, so it'll be a fun one to see. for anyone who doesn't know my X account was Boxscorefootball.

Caleb Call: And every week I'll post. a um the Quad box from YouTube TV though.

Ben: box.

Caleb Call: Guide. and it blows up every single week so um And the night slate always kind of leaves a lot to be desired. Last week, there were only three football games, period. in the next league.

Caleb Call: But this week you got some fun ones. You got Utah. Colorado, you've got Nebraska -Oregon, Cal -Wake Forest. There's a few G5 games. Give me a follow box score. football.

Caleb Call: we uh Can jump into pick 'em here I uh... Every week we pick seven games to go pick BYU -Utah. a couple of big 12 games, and then three of the top games from the country.

Caleb Call: So we'll start with the BYU. We already kind of gave our score guesses there. I'm going to 20 -17.

Ben: I got Notre Dame 28 -10.

Caleb Call: Utah, Colorado. My score guess is pretty similar to yours. A field goal less for both teams. I'm going 38 -10 for Utah.

Ben: And I went 41 -13 for the Utes.

Caleb Call: And then ah Houston, Oklahoma State, the... Big 12 conference matchup of the day. um I wanted to take the Cowboys, but I just can't. I'm going to go Houston 38 -31, I trust. Wegman and I trust Willie Fritz.

Ben: Yeah, that one's a... It's tough. i The score I gave you earlier was 31 -28. I don't feel great about it. i I think Houston does enough to slow Oklahoma State down a little bit. and so That's Eileen Houston there.

Caleb Call: And then... Kansas State and Kansas. i Give me the Wildcats 26 -21, despite Avery Johnson, the quarterback, the Wildcats get to win.

Ben: I got to. I got Kansas State winning this one. 31 to 21. So. they uh they do enough to i didn't realize that they had won 19 in a row is that what you said earlier so that would make 20 so

Caleb Call: Yeah, I don't remember the exact number, but it is an embarrassing amount of wins in a row.

Ben: So give me give me the Wildcats again.

Caleb Call: for

Caleb Call: And then Ohio State, Indiana. i it's gonna be a little scoring give me the buck has 20 to 13.

Ben: Yeah. I think I just said 24 -21. when we were talking about that game. so I'm going to stick with that one from what I said earlier. It's a 24 -21 Buckeyes.

Caleb Call: 17 game winning streak. I just looked it up. 17 straight for Kansas State over Kansas.

Ben: So give me give me Kansas State for 18.

Caleb Call: Missouri Ole Miss. I'm going Missouri here. i Give me Missouri 31 -24. And. Honestly, with the way Ole Miss has been playing, I wouldn't be shocked if Missouri ends up winning by more than that. But I'll take the Tigers by by seven.

Ben: I'm going to lean Trinidad.

Caleb Call: thank you

Ben: I'm going to. I think. I think offensively, they're just going to be able to put up the points. And so I'm going to give them. a I'm gonna let him. kind of take care of the game, 38 -24. I don't feel great about it. i'm just I think oh Ole Miss' his offense is going to score enough where Missouri is going to have to chase, and it's not going to.

Ben: Turn into a... a close game that's the kind of the route i'm going with that score so 38 24.

Caleb Call: Alright, I like that. Wisconsin, UCLA. What do you got in this one?

Ben: Yeah, this one's a I got Wisconsin winning this one. I think ah they're kind of a sneaky team just because they lost that Notre Dame game early, and so I think everyone kind of... wrote them out, but.

Ben: no nico i think wisconsin is going to do enough to be able to slow down this backup and go on the road and get this win. And so I got this one. I got a low scoring, so I'm going to give ah Wisconsin the... the win 20 -13 in a pretty low scoring, ugly game.

Caleb Call: I am going to take the other side here. Give me UCLA backup quarterbacks. You always assume the worst with them, and it feels like nine times out of ten, they're not as bad as you expect. Sometimes you have a team who...

Caleb Call: They'll pull a Dylan Rayola performance out of the bucket. You never really know. but I think UCLA gets it done. I'm going to say. a Low -scoring game, 23 -17. But.

Caleb Call: Yeah. Still have a lot to learn about Wisconsin and UCLA both to this point. and um Should be a.

Ben: Bigger

Caleb Call: fun one.

Ben: Big matchup in that one is Wisconsin's defense. like they uh rushing attack wise defensively they're ranked i just looked it up the 36 ranked defense in terms of like stopping the run and that's UCLA's identity right now.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: is being able to run the ball. So if Wisconsin can s slow them down, I think that's going to be their path to win. if Usually they run the ball. i That two -and -a -half spread, I think, is going to get blown out. like I think UCLA can blow this team out if they if they run the ball. and so that's That's my – I think Wisconsin does slow them down enough to be able to to win that one.

Ben: But that's – I think that's going to be the interesting matchup.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: That's my favorite part of the game is I'm going to watch – can UCLA run the ball?

Caleb Call: My dream bowl game matchup. I want the West Virginia Mountaineers to go play UCLA in some bowl game.

Ben: That'd be fun.

Caleb Call: I want to see a thousand rushing yards. in a football union.

Ben: In the game. It might happen, actually.

Caleb Call: Those are the two teams that are capable of doing that.

Ben: Yeah, that actually might happen. it wouldd be That'd be... How many? How many passing yards would there be in that one? 100 for each team.

Caleb Call: under 100.

Ben: Hmm. So that'd be it.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: That'd set some crazy record, probably. record back to like the army navy pack rushing attack days but

Caleb Call: yeah Something like that. yeah For our Superdogs this week, I had an outright win last week with UCLA going out and beating Oregon. gonna try and follow that up My two picks this week.

Caleb Call: I'm taking Mississippi State. I think that spread's climbed up to 13 .5 or was it even 14 .5 to this point?

Ben: I think I saw 14 and a half, just barely.

Caleb Call: Um,

Caleb Call: And then BYU has kind of settled in at 10 .5. Those are going to be the two that I take. Both of those games. I feel good about the cover even if the outright win doesn't happen. But I do think that both underdogs have a shot to win those as well. So, yeah, give me Mississippi State, give me BYU.

Ben: I'm going ah Nebraska plus seven over Oregon. So, like I talked about earlier, I think ah i think Oregon, I mean, they haven't even announced if Riola's going or not. They were debating whether to go him or the third string quarterback.

Ben: And so, I think Oregon's kind of a mess right now.

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: and And like I talked about earlier, Nebraska did such a good job at limiting possessions. Indiana only had five offensive drives through the first three quarters. And so if they can do something similar to that with.

Ben: and be able to slow down Oregon. I think they're going to have a shot to to win this one outright. And then my second one is Kentucky over Oklahoma. So this one's six and a half.

Caleb Call: like that one.

Ben: Yeah, this one's six and a half for Kentucky. um I mean. You know that if they score a touchdown down seven, they're going to go for two to win it at the end. So you saw it back -to -back weeks for Kentucky, and I just think Oklahoma's offense is that bad. Their defense is elite, and I think this is going to be a low -scoring game. and Their defense is always going to keep them in every game, but I like ah i like Kentucky to keep this one close. um I want to put a clarification here, though.

Ben: I i have picked Kentucky as a Superdog one time, and they looked good for two and a half quarters against Bama before Bama blew them out. So maybe I maybe i jinx Kentucky and give them their second loss.

Caleb Call: Okay.

Ben: Both times I pick Kentucky as my Superdog, they get a loss. so But I just don't think Oklahoma's that good. i think The perfect storm happened last week for them to beat Texas. A blocked punt.

Ben: X6. pick at midfield, like just everything. Good God. there's nothing else that could have happened more beneficial for Oklahoma to win that game. And I think if you play that game 10 more times, it's Texas 10 times. And so I just think Oklahoma's a little.

Ben: Um, I think there, I was surprised to see six and a half here. And I mean, I guess Kentucky hasn't looked great the last few weeks, but. I mean, they barely beat South Carolina. They got to go for one. They got to go for two to beat them by one.

Ben: and so

Caleb Call: Yeah.

Ben: But i I got Kentucky six and a half. So give me Nebraska plus seven, in Kentucky six and a half.

Caleb Call: What's funny about those pigs, by the way? You're betting against Oregon? And then you're betting four. Oregon's old coordinator who went to Kentucky. the Oregon brought back so much of their team, but they lost both coordinators. and people just kind of They hired from within for both positions, and people just kind of expected Oregon to be able to...

Caleb Call: keep rolling however they were rolling but No, coaching matters. and Will Stein over at Kentucky. He's got them rolling ah you know one of their best starts they've had in a long time. and I mean, that team, they they look good. They went out and beat LSU. Everyone thought it was a championship contender. meanwhile The organ is just falling apart.

Caleb Call: That's kind of interesting is Tosh going over to Cal. They looked awful, too. so i Not even like the hit rate from Oregon coordinators was 100%, but it feels like Stein in Kentucky, he went and stole Kenny Menchie from Nebraska, which made them go rebound and take.

Caleb Call: Anthony Calandria. It's kind of funny the connection between Oregon, Nebraska, and Kentucky from there. Super dogs.

Ben: Yeah, that's fine. And I hadn't even put that together when I... I thought about it. But if you're a Kentucky fan, you're probably feeling great about that Steinhauer. so

Caleb Call: Oh, yeah. and it's the kind of hair that you need to make. And it's tough. Kentucky is the kind of job like. You are... Probably regarded for football is in that bottom tier for the SEC But.

Ben: And you're the number two team.

Caleb Call: You can still get enough.

Ben: You're the number two team at the school, too, which is tough. but

Caleb Call: Yeah, it's tough. But. We saw it at Indiana. the right coach at the right time with the right players. can win a championship. Even at a basketball school like Indiana was. They're a football school now. but um Yeah, I'm in Kentucky.

Caleb Call: As much as it sucks in the sport. You're wondering if Will Stein can keep doing this at Kentucky. When does he go somewhere else? And that might be in the future, but. At least in the meantime, like it is nice to have hope with a good coach, and the portal just lets you.

Caleb Call: have ah an influx of talent. and be able to succeed right away when you get the right person in the door instead of having a two to three or... if you're Mike Norvell, a five -year you know learning curve to get the ball rolling at your to school.

Ben: Yeah, it's a... it's a different world where Now, if you don't go win right away, you're almost, you don't get a lot of. the the runway that other coaches used to get like it's almost like you You have less of a leash than you ever did too, so.

Ben: makes it. Makes it hard if you're not producing right away for some of these guys.

Caleb Call: Which, speak of the devil, we didn't talk about the game, but Michigan Penn State, two teams that are already willing to fire their coach.

Ben: let's Let's stop right there. and Nobody wants to hear it.

Caleb Call: yeah Okay. Yeah.

Ben: Meh.

Caleb Call: Well, we'll ah we'll be back Sunday with a recap of the games. Obviously a huge day for BYU with Notre Dame coming to town. Funding the Big 12. So make sure to catch us. I'll be posted Thursday, Monday morning for you guys.

Caleb Call: Thanks for listening. Hit the like and subscribe.

Ben: Go Utes!

Caleb Call: Go Cougs.

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