Transcript
Caleb Call: You already know what it is. Holy War Pod. Kayla, Ben, looking forward to talking another week of football. We have BYU on a bye. Utah had a game this next week. BYU's got a game. Utah's got a bye. So we're just taking turns talking about our teams.
Caleb Call: But let's kick it off with Utah. First road trip of the Morgan Scali era. Kicking it off against Iowa State. Weather ended up not being too big of a factor, it felt like.
Ben Fowers: Yeah the I mean, the weather, you kind of was... The big... talk of the town all week and then um Game day it was raining in the morning all night the night before but during the game it actually didn't ran at all so
Caleb Call: the field looked a little sloppy but yeah it wasn't raining at all
Ben Fowers: Yeah. yeah and there was like a few plays where you could tell this guy slipped like we our running back slipped on a cut on one of his cuts like in behind the line of scrimmage and but honestly it wasn't super bad like i felt like for the most part everybody stayed upright and There was no injuries or anything because of that. the feel so that was good
Caleb Call: Yeah, I feel like in this one A big question mark was just who is Iowa State? And I felt like in the first half we got a pretty good answer. I actually texted you in the first half. I was like, Iowa State is really good.
Caleb Call: Getting to the 50 -yard line, and their offense can't do anything once they get there. They're getting 20 yards a drive and just stalling out. And I feel like that was kind of who Iowa State. Might be a lot of this season. It's just a team who...
Caleb Call: can get like They are good. but they are not like a finished product yet. And honestly, it's year one for Jimmy Rogers with a completely new roster. I was pretty impressed by them. The second half, they had a...
Caleb Call: A lot of fight in them despite a pretty rough first half.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, the I mean the first half. Utah did a really good job with their game plan defensively. They just came out and kind of shut them down. They they were averaging under three yards of carry in the first half. and they I think they only ended up with... I think it was 15 carries for 41 yards a half.
Ben Fowers: And so, I mean. Utah didn't really give up anything in the first half. They were up 24 -3, and um they had five drives, four drives. They scored on three touchdown drives and a field goal drive. So it was one where Utah kind of had its way in the first half. and um And then it.
Ben Fowers: It was one of those weird things where Iowa State first drive of the second half, they went seven minutes. kind of seven minute drive ended up scoring I touched down and. And Utah, honestly, I don't know if it was just because you're up 21.
Ben Fowers: kind of become complacent, but Utah ends up. I mean, They obviously has to cut it to seven before Utah decides to go again in the second half. It's one of those things where you're up big.
Ben Fowers: and It kind of feels like the foot's taken off the gas.
Caleb Call: Fell asleep at the wheel a little bit, yeah.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, and then it and then it became, I think ah Utah actually punted, gave them the ball back, a tie game, and so defense needed to stop, and then they ended up going, scoring again to make it two scores. but I mean, that's one thing where against a bad team you can do – you can kind of get away with that. But honestly, Utah to this point, they haven't had to play four quarters. And so they've ah they've played really good halves, first halves, and been able to dominate a first half. And then they kind of let the second strings come in. And so I don't know if that was just the –
Ben Fowers: The body clock. Now I'm getting used to it or I'm getting used to having to play four quarters. And so that was kind of the one thing with. ah that i they're just gonna have to step on people's throats and they're gonna have to learn how to do that they haven't had to do that yet and so um that's that's one where To play four quarters, you have to beat good teams playing four quarters.
Ben Fowers: And they they haven't had to do that yet.
Caleb Call: Nah.
Ben Fowers: So and I don't know if they're going to have to before the Houston game still. So it's one of those things where hopefully you're hoping it becomes.
Ben Fowers: part of that identity but you never know like that's ah a first half where i feel like they can beat anybody in the big 12 they can win the big 12 with how they played in the first half and then the second half you can see that they could drop a game and they're not supposed to lose and so
Caleb Call: Yeah, there's some cracks released a little bit
Ben Fowers: That's one of those. Yeah, so that's one of those things where they gotta Keep the... keep the gas pedal down and so i i'm excited still i as a utah fan i think uh I mean, they've they've showed that they can play with anybody. in country anybody in the conference and so i uh i'm just i'm waiting to see this morgan scali product uh polished a little bit because i still think we're not quite to where uh
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: where scally wants it to be and so i uh i think yeah as a As a Utah fan that's watched Kyle Whittingham teams over all these years and watched some really good Kyle Whittingham teams, I really...
Ben Fowers: I really believe the Scali ceiling is higher for the Utes. And so I, I'm hoping that we see it this year and I don't know if we're going to yet, but. It, uh... it seems like it's uh It's starting to ramp up for the youth side.
Ben Fowers: I'm hoping that we get four quarters here soon and they kind of just go blow somebody out, but it's hard when the game's already out of the.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: out of the water as near. run your twos and threes out there so
Caleb Call: You mentioned that Iowa State actually had the ball down seven. in If you remember Utah is about to be punting from their own end zone. And then Iowa State had a... DN hit dampier late which gave him a First down, which at least let Utah extend the drive enough to put in a better field position, and Iowa State got put back around the 20.
Caleb Call: I think they went three and out there, and then Utah went and scored their touchdown to push it to two scores. It felt like that. Roughing the passer was honestly pretty deflating. Iowa State had a lot of momentum going into that moment. They had gotten the long touchdown drive. A quick stop. Another long touchdown drive. in what looked like another consecutive quick stop, like just four straight perfect situations for Iowa State.
Caleb Call: And then... It took a little bit to get the offense to ball back. They... squandered the situation. in Utah scored real quick. So, I mean, yeah, Utah ended up winning in the game. but Honestly, it's not like the worst thing in the world to have a team push you like that. I kind of thought the same thing about the BYU Arizona game. like Yeah, BYU was down at halftime against a good team. they managed to come back, win by a couple scores, could have won uglier. I mean, it was... 28 -17, kneeling it out in the three -yard line. and
Caleb Call: Utah had a similar situation. They missed a field goal, could have extended more points on there too. so You get a multiple -score win against a team who pushed you, and it gives you a good test for your team.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I thought it was kind of interesting too. because like utah hasn't put their starters haven't really played the fourth quarter like i think they finished one drive that like leaked into the fourth quarter and so being up seven, needing to go score in the fourth quarter with the starters out there, I thought was a good thing.
Ben Fowers: So I thought it was one of those things where and we you go see him score there.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and And like you said, it's kind of funny there. There was actually a ah worse roughing the passer call that wasn't called when it was 2410 that kind of. And Utah ended up having to punt it back. And then Iowa State ended up scoring. So when they got that one, I thought it was kind of funny because i I thought the second one was one that they probably could have not called. But then the first one that kind of.
Ben Fowers: um killed the drive was the one they should have called and so I mean, you never know with the.
Caleb Call: They made it up in the end.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, Jimmy jimmy Rogers, i they were just I thought Iowa State was kind of...
Caleb Call: Colin Warren, but not both.
Ben Fowers: They were um undisciplined and they didn't look very good. Yeah, he's got a lot of work to do with them, I think. And he's got a long ways to go. I don't i don't think they're... um i don't think they're close to even the matt campbell days yet so um the peaks of the campbell days so
Caleb Call: Yeah, I feel like Iowa State feels like a 500 team where they are just going to. honestly struggle to score consistently their defense is pretty good i feel like For the most part, I could see Iowa State.
Caleb Call: Maybe not winning. against one of the top. BYU has them at home here in a couple weeks. I'd be pretty disappointed if BYU lost that game. But I wouldn't be shocked if it's ugly like this one. I feel like they've got talent.
Caleb Call: I like the way he coaches. and We'll see. I feel like if he stays there for a little bit, I wouldn't be shocked if he built them into something. Obviously, he managed to do that back in the FCS level before going to...
Caleb Call: Washington State and Iowa State.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I I was just at the very beginning of that game. I wasn't impressed by. I don't know. It just seemed like Utah got whatever they wanted and they were just kind of just throwing late hits left and right.
Caleb Call: way sean parker by the way amazing game three touchdowns had 174 on the ground 65. He was the leading receiver for Utah, funny enough. it was a Quite the game for Wayshon after a pretty quiet game against Utah State.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, he's bouncing off of guys in his... his Balance is better than I've ever seen a running back at Utah.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So I
Caleb Call: It was impressive.
Ben Fowers: I think it's one of those things where he – I guess they kept talking about it in the game that he stayed. He didn't go home in the offseason. He stayed and was just working out all offseason. Yeah. I honestly think he kind of reminds me of. a Um,
Ben Fowers: ah similar to like a Zach Moss type, mos of really good running back to come through Utah. So I think he's kind of ah a little. a day day three -ish pick that I think ends up making an NFL roster at some point.
Ben Fowers: I think he's a legit back.
Caleb Call: I think the state of Utah has got two backs like that with LJ and Weishan.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so
Caleb Call: ah you You need a running back like that at the college level to have a dynamic offense. and Not really a doubt that BYU and Utah both have that.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it's fun to watch so
Caleb Call: But the rest of the Big 12 had some pretty fun games. Honestly, it was a pretty good weekend for the Big 12. To start, let's go with one of the late -night games, Oklahoma State. going to morgantown And early on in this game,
Caleb Call: West Virginia was doing whatever they wanted on ah offense. I mean, granted, whatever they wanted on the ground. They struggled to throw the ball. but Oklahoma State. They managed to rally the troops. and They didn't just come back and win. They came back, shut down West Virginia. They were down 24 -17, I think.
Caleb Call: And then they finished the game with 24 unanswered points to win 41 -24. honestly Thanks. That first game against Tulsa. was not, I don't think, representative of who this team is going to be the rest of the season. they Caked butt against Oregon yardage -wise. that That game could have been a blowout had they not thrown the two pick sixes.
Caleb Call: And then West Virginia, they turned it into kind of a blowout there in the fourth quarter, 41 -24. BYU and Utah both dodged the Cowboys this year. I think that's a good thing for both teams.
Ben Fowers: yeah they Yeah, they're kind of a sneaky team. And that back to Caleb Hawkins, he's legit. he's
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: um he I mean, he had like 30 touches for like, he went for nearly 200 yards and I. Like you said, I don't think... I don't think that Tulsa game is a representative of.
Ben Fowers: who Oklahoma State is. And it's too bad because if they make a run, the national media is going to come back to that game. And you see that happen sometimes. Like it happened to Notre Dame a few years ago ah with, was it Northern Iowa or Northern Illinois?
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Northern Illinois.
Ben Fowers: Now. They lost to Northern Illinois early, and sometimes it just happens to teams. and I mean, it's the first game with – all the North Texas guys coming in and they just. Didn't play a very good game, and they go beat Oregon. Oregon ended up winning the game against USC. And i I just think, like, Oklahoma State's got Houston. and Texas Tech on their schedule. so You'll be able to see where they stack up against. two of the teams that are considered the top of the Big 12.
Ben Fowers: I think they're going to be a fun team. I think they're a team that can beat both those teams. And I mean.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: One of them, they play at Houston and they they host Texas Tech. And so that's a team where everyone, I mean, the Holy War seems like it's a playing game right now to the Big 12 championship. And I wouldn't be surprised if the winner of the Holy War gets Oklahoma State. and So they're a team that's playing good enough to go do it. and what their Drew Messamaker is good. like He's balling out right now. He just threw for almost 400 yards and is back. and They, uh...
Ben Fowers: They went and kind of turned it on in the second half on the road. It's hard to play in Morgantown. so its ah it was a good win for them. And I think that they're kind of a, a fun, I'll go and say it's, it's fun when they're good.
Ben Fowers: So I think it makes it another fun.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Fun team in the Big 12.
Caleb Call: It bugs me. You see a lot of discourse. about how like Texas Tech has no more ranked. Houston was the only ranked team they play on their schedule. That discourse happens at the beginning of the year and sets this narrative that persists through the whole year.
Caleb Call: Now all of a sudden you're looking at Texas Tech's schedule. They got a road trip. to Oklahoma State. They got a road trip to Cincinnati, who's 4 -0 and just beat Kansas State. like There are games. The Arizona schools aren't going to be easy outs either. so I just feel like in general, like you got to.
Caleb Call: wait a lot longer to make definitive statements of who teams are and how tough their schedule is going to be. And yeah, Oklahoma State. If they had beaten Tulsa, they're probably sitting in the top 15 to maybe even like.
Caleb Call: about where texas tech and are at 12 and 13 like and then even without that they're still sitting at 19 with the tulsa law so
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Yeah, Oklahoma State, props to them. and i love seeing them because like you said that's a brand that the big 12 needs to get back up to the top of the Big 12 again. and I think they're well on their way to doing that.
Ben Fowers: the one ah The one hesitation I had to picking Oklahoma State this week was... They've turned the ball over. Messmaker's ah mess makers stone the ball to the other team a lot. And it was halftime. West Virginia's up by one, 14 -13.
Ben Fowers: And the first drive of the second half, he throws a pick. And I was like, oh, there it goes again. Like West Virginia's going to kind of.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: be able to turn it away or. kind of take it away and but then after that he kind of just sorry Putting scoring drives left and right, it was I think it was five at the last. ah the five out of the last six or maybe it was even straight the next five drives they scored points on and so after that pick he just he settled down and so that's one thing where um Oklahoma State's kind of shown they've been able to, besides the Tulsa game, they were able to kind of, even with the turnovers against Oregon, they were able to play and win that game.
Ben Fowers: and so That's kind of one thing to watch for is they've got to be able to not turn the ball over.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: But when they're ah when they're right there. Tough offense to stop.
Caleb Call: Yeah, and I mean, what a sight for Oklahoma State fans. who They had not won a conference game since 2023, the year that they played in the conference championship game. so three years later i guess two years and ten months later they finally get a conference win on the road against West Virginia and jump into the rankings.
Caleb Call: Fun year for Oklahoma State. Sucks they dropped to Tulsa, but... It is what it is. and We mentioned it briefly, but Cincinnati getting a huge win too. Nobody really. after they lost sorsby and after like the long losing streak they had last year I think everybody just kind of forgot about Cincinnati and just assumed that they were going to be in the. you know, seller down at the bottom of the big 12.
Caleb Call: But no, Satterfield, I mean, they they beat Boston College pretty good. Boston College, who went and beat Rutgers and gave Virginia Tech a good game. And then they go out and beat Kansas State. They were a touchdown underdog at home. and They kind of controlled that game almost the entire time. It never really looked like they were... a worse team than Kansas State at any point. They look good on defense. They look good on offense. and I was pretty impressed by Cincinnati
Ben Fowers: Yeah, Cincinnati's a... A weird one goes... they They don't feel like they're... a team that can really go make a run. but they uh i mean like you said no sorsby and so and then last week they um Miami of Ohio they're up 21 points to him.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and so They had to take everything they could to to go win that game. And so I kind of just dismissed them. And that was a good win. To me, that just... I feel like that just gives you more Kansas State's not quite to where we thought they were.
Caleb Call: For sure.
Ben Fowers: I still don't think Cincinnati's even the top half of the league. They're probably more middle of the pack at best case scenario. so they
Caleb Call: We're going to get a chance to learn quick Cincinnati is going to Tucson And Arizona's kind of been playing with their food. Northern Illinois and Washington State both gave them some struggles. and uh yeah I think that Cincinnati -Arizona game next week, that's going to be pretty telling for both teams there.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, eight and a half point line. So Arizona is a big favorite and Arizona kind of they went down to Washington State and didn't look great last week and so that's a game where i don't know if cincinnati's in it late maybe ah maybe they're one of those teams that is an underdog but just find ways to win Um,
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: These crappy games. So, yeah, they're.
Caleb Call: Cincinnati, by the way, I'm just going to read off this three -game stretch they have late October to the first game in November. Texas Tech. Utah. At Houston. three straight weeks.
Caleb Call: And then they have a couple games, and then they go to BYU to end the year. So they play. for the five ranked Big 12 teams. Do you think that Cincinnati wins any of those four games, if you had to guess?
Ben Fowers: I don't No, I don't think so. i i Like I said, I just think the Kansas State win just tells us more about Kansas State not being near the top like we thought initially.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: i oh yeah Yeah, that I think that Miami -Ohio game is really telling that they just kind of. Um... Couldn't even. I mean, Miami or Ohio is.
Caleb Call: Yeah, they they were getting blown out in the first half by Miami, Ohio.
Ben Fowers: And Miami, Ohio had only... they were like one and two like they lost they got beat by pitt by like 45 points and then lost a
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Or then beat Holy Cross.
Caleb Call: Hey, Miami, Ohio had a big win against UConn this last week.
Ben Fowers: as
Caleb Call: They're back on the back on track.
Ben Fowers: Back on track. Yeah. So I think Cincinnati's. They're still a ways away. they gotta
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: Completely. I mean, they were. a ranked team for most of the year last year and so i think they've got a a little bit of roster reconstruction before they get back into. to the thick of the Big 12.
Caleb Call: Speaking of ways away. BYU is going to Fort Worth next week against a TCU team who... Put up 13 points against UCF. At UCF last week,
Caleb Call: They beat. Georgia State by two scores, 44 -30. Maybe up 30 points to Georgia State. That defense definitely is... something that you should be able to go and score on
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: TCU manages 13 points. Jaden Craig struggles all game. if is sunny dykes at this point like on the hot seat with the potential to get fired this year.
Ben Fowers: Oh, man, it's so tough because, what is that, three years ago that he plays in the Natty?
Caleb Call: Four years ago, 2022.
Ben Fowers: Four years ago now where they win that crazy game against Michigan where they fumble it on the – Michigan fumbles it on the goal line and just – They can't get anything to go for him late. and that ah That Jim Harbaugh of Michigan team that ended up making it to the nat or winning Natty the next year. But that was a game where TCU...
Ben Fowers: I couldn't – like I watched that game. I was like everything for Michigan is going the wrong way and they TCU barely ends up.
Caleb Call: I think Michigan threw two pick sixes in that one.
Ben Fowers: one. Yeah, there's two pick sixes plus they got a fumble on the goal line. I think like as the guys like
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: jumping into the end zone and it was just michigan like every but anyways back to sunny dykes like you you make it to the natty and then it just hasn't been very good since then and um
Caleb Call: It's gotten worse every year.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so... I don't know. I don't know what the the booster situation is, how hot they they get over there. I would imagine he still has probably got a little bit of time. but Um,
Caleb Call: I think what makes it even worse for Sonny Dyches is...
Ben Fowers: it's It's getting close.
Caleb Call: They make the national championship game. And they are pretty firmly. the best team in the dallas area you got baylor and smu both right there within 40 minutes of them But SMU goes and makes the playoff right after, and they're sitting here as a consistently.
Caleb Call: Thank you. good solid team and Baylor with Dave Aranda obviously they have their own struggles but like TCU probably expects to be above both of those teams in just the last three seasons they haven't been. and uh I don't think that if SMU were having a better year, I think TCU might be quicker to fire Sonny Dyches just because of the comparison. between the two schools. I honestly don't know what to expect TCU to do there with the Swing and Dyke situation. Their fans are sick of him.
Caleb Call: And honestly. TCU, they already have two losses. They still play BYU. Utah, and Texas Tech. I'd be shocked if they won any of those three. They have a ton. of Every game on their schedule they could lose the rest of the way, except for me.
Ben Fowers: So i just I just pulled up his history. So after the natty year, he they went 5 -7, missed a bowl. And the last two years, they lost four games. So i'm not bad years, sitting winning a bowl game.
Caleb Call: Yeah. 9 -4 is solid, and I guess that's true.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: They finished third -year ranked, and they beat USC last year. For some reason, I was thinking they went 5 -7 last year, but no, they did have a good team. But then they lose Hoover, and he kind of threw Hoover under the bus. like It'll be nice to have a quarterback that doesn't turn the ball over as much. and
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: ah Little did he know with Jaden Craig what he was going to be getting there.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, Jaden Craig, the the Harvard transfer. he
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: tore it up in the Ivy League, but he's a... There was a lot of hype on him in the offseason, and I don't know. It'll be interesting to see if he even has a job at the end of the year. Yeah.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: It hasn't looked good.
Caleb Call: By the way, ah UCF's next three games. that They're saying a three and one. Close loss to Pitt in a crazy... a weather game. But they got Oklahoma State. Houston and BYU in their next three. so I think we'll find out real fast if UCS got any potential to be a spoiler this year.
Caleb Call: I've not been impressed with UCF despite the 3 -1 record.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, both.
Caleb Call: their Offensive defense have both shown. awful. and The defense against Georgia State was awful. Offense against both TCU and Pitt was just abysmal
Ben Fowers: yeah the pit one you kind of give them a little bit of a pass but
Caleb Call: Yeah. But even then, seven points is...
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Yes. you get it The weather was a crazy in that game, but still.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: That is... just a rough showing and it was zero points until like late in the fourth they put up that seven late
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so the next two weeks at Houston, at Oklahoma State, then they get a bye week, and then they get a host BYU after the bye week. They probably are sitting there hoping for a one win.
Ben Fowers: in that group of three. and
Caleb Call: You feel great about one win.
Ben Fowers: um
Caleb Call: Especially with two of those on the road and BYU coming to town.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, you too
Caleb Call: and like You probably wish that it wasn't BYU coming to town and that you got... Houston at home or something of team that they probably perceive as more beatable.
Ben Fowers: honestly, That BYU game is a little bit sneaky because they get a bye week right before that. They probably just go get... beat by Oklahoma State on the road.
Ben Fowers: and so
Caleb Call: BYU's got Notre Dame right before.
Ben Fowers: Usually. Usually you get coached up harder after you lost. You have a bye week. You just lost. BYU plays the week before while UCF has the bye against Notre Dame.
Ben Fowers: So that's like one of those high games, just like Ole Miss happened. Ole Miss, even when they went and go.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: They go beat LSU. Then they go. underdog at Florida and lose the game, even though everyone thought Ole Miss was the underdog. Like that's a sneaky spot for BYU. UCF is not quite to the caliber as like a Florida team, but that's the.
Ben Fowers: That's kind of ah the coming off the lost.
Caleb Call: It's been circled as the trap game all year.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: I feel like that really is like. the Honestly, what's more intimidating than the game itself is the travel two time zones away after the big game. like that That is a tough turnaround.
Ben Fowers: after the Notre Dame.
Caleb Call: Yeah, so
Ben Fowers: We haven't gotten a time yet on that Notre Dame game. Have we found out it's a late one?
Caleb Call: No, we should find out. like in a week
Ben Fowers: okay
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So that that that one's going to be interesting. to I think it's ah it's one of those ones where as a BYU fan, you're probably hoping for the jump out quick. I'd hate to look up the scoreboard at halftime. and had to be a one score game because You shorten a game like that.
Ben Fowers: and You never know what happens, but.
Caleb Call: Yeah, you never know. Another Big 12 matchup that we had, we saw Isaac Wilson on the field for the first time in a little bit. He took over at halftime for Juju Lewis after an abysmal start against...
Caleb Call: Baylor. This game was kind of interesting. Baylor. I thought they were going to blow Colorado out. Colorado's defense hung in there a little bit, but it was 13 -3 at halftime. Juju Lewis and the offense looked terrible.
Caleb Call: And then Colorado managed to come back and tie things up at 13. and then baylor Real quick, we turned that back into a two -score game and won 23 -13. Isaac Wilson. Early looked pretty poor the rest of the second half after a good first couple drives.
Caleb Call: Baylor is still just a team that... I feel like, kind of like Iowa State, just a team that's kind of floating around as a potential. team to play spoiler, but not necessarily like a contender in any way.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, Bela's kind of a... To me, that I think they're a little bit higher tier than Iowa State just because. I... we We haven't seen the the quarterback all year, so we've only seen the quarterback first game, and then he just barely came back for that Colorado game. And and overall, the defense looks pretty good.
Ben Fowers: Um,
Caleb Call: It's true.
Ben Fowers: They kind of. They stymied Auburn and then they... ah That Colorado game, they were the defense had him pretty low scoring for a while and used a quarterback change. Isaac had a good drive and went and tied it. but um i think ah I think that defense is...
Ben Fowers: It's got enough guys on it to... to make ah a low scoring game. And then if Ladway can make a play or two and doesn't throw his famous pick, then um you've got a.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: you've got like They could be in a any type of game. and so they play a i mean We've talked about this before, but they go at BYU, home against Tech, at Houston to end the year. and That's one where they could...
Caleb Call: the The stretch before there, they...
Ben Fowers: ah Thank you.
Caleb Call: They could be on an 8 -game winning streak going into that.
Ben Fowers: They could spoil somebody's season. Yeah.
Caleb Call: If you look up and see 8 -1 Baylor, don't be shocked. They go to Tempe this week, which is their biggest test for the next month and a half.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: But after the... Game and Tempe, they get a bye. TCU Kansas UCF Iowa State Those are four games that Baylor's going to be favorites in.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, they got a Friday night at in Orlando against UCF, so that would be a tough one. but um i I wouldn't be shocked if you're sitting 8 -1, 7 -2, Baylor's walking into Provo.
Ben Fowers: So they're kind of a sneaky team.
Caleb Call: And if they had just gotten the one inch against Auburn, I mean, they might be in the top 25 right now if they'd gotten that one inch.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how long it takes them to get in because they kind of don't have the
Caleb Call: There's no game that has juice on that for them
Ben Fowers: um yeah to give them the so it almost wanted you wonder if it's like six and one seven and one before they start getting into the top 25 but
Caleb Call: They're not even getting votes yet, nor should they at this point.
Ben Fowers: um
Ben Fowers: Yeah, and I mean at at arizona state this week's tough so they could easily drop that one and they could probably not be considered the rest of the year. so
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: um Hopefully. ah for the i guess it doesn't I guess hopefully baby's not the right word, but for the Big 12's sake, I think Baylor could be a sneaky team that could get ranked and could cause...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Make some fun matchups, ranked on ranked matchups in the year when they play BYU Tech in Houston.
Caleb Call: Yeah, we'll see you. We also had two. somewhat Probably closer than have both teams hoped they were going to be. Matchups against the G6. Arizona. It goes down.
Caleb Call: two scores to Washington State early. Fafida had thrown a pick six for one of them. And they ended up pulling it out 34 -24. Houston gives up a bunch of points to Georgia Southern, but they win 42 -28.
Caleb Call: yeah Either one of those teams, I mean, both of them should have won by more. you nervous at all about those performances or you just kind of chuck that as a win and move on for both of them?
Ben Fowers: um I think. for the most part you kind of just start You take the win and you go to the next week. i ah I don't know. it's It's interesting just because Arizona State had a pretty good first half against BYU, but then they didn't do anything in the second half. so They, uh...
Ben Fowers: Like, I don't remember, did they have a... Were they under? I think they were under 50 yards for the whole second half or something like that before the last drive.
Caleb Call: They had one. Yeah, before the last drive, they had 14 yards in the second half besides that last drive. So, they yeah, they struggled a lot in the second half.
Ben Fowers: Get it. And honestly, it kind of looked like it. The beginning of the game kind of looked similar to that for them. They kind of just struggled a little bit. Washington State going jumped out on them. And so they're kind of a team that I'm curious to watch them. I thought they were a Big 12 sneaky dark horse, and i I currently don't think that anymore.
Ben Fowers: Just because of me.
Caleb Call: I still think they're a good team, but I think that they're like... A 7 -8 win, good team, and not a team that's yeah going to be... threatening at all to sneak into the conference championship game like they were last year.
Ben Fowers: yeah like last week or two of the season where they're in the mix i i don't see that anymore
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: But, yeah, so that's what I got from ah from them. Houston was kind of an interesting one just because Houston jumped out on them. They were up 14 -0 after the first, and so it was kind of easy to – I was watching some other games, and then it just seemed like they never kind of pulled away from Georgia Southern or Georgia Southern just stuck in it. So I didn't really watch that one just because I was watching some of the other big – big notable games, but Houston kind of didn't pull away, which Georgia Southern's 1 -3, and so it kind of makes you wonder if...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: i don't know maybe
Caleb Call: Georgia Southern put up seven on Clemson, and i granted that was a close game too. They lost 22 -7 to Clemson. But. Houston, with Willie Fritz, they've really prided themselves on their defense, and they've had a good defense last year. The last two years, they had good defenses.
Caleb Call: But this year already, we saw them give up. a ton of points to Georgia Southern. the up 28 to texas tech to will hammond to again Texas Tech. They... are a good team but i do not think they're a good offensive team And they gave up a bunch of chunk plays to Oregon State. They ended up still winning. two of those games. but Their defense definitely looks more vulnerable than I expected going into the year. i honestnsey been a little disappointed by that.
Caleb Call: I still think Houston's a fine team, but... The defense definitely gives you some. pause thinking about them as a potential contender.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, they It was one of those things where they they kept the ground game in check. They were under 100 yards. Georgia Southern was under 100 yards for the whole game. they werere at like 66 yards so they're averaging like two and a half yards of carry so Um, but they're able to toss it around the yard a little bit on houston so that's something to I mean...
Ben Fowers: to look for going forward so Houston's ah I mean, without. Tough loss to Tech. They can't really afford to drop any more games. So they host UCF this week. when you take care of that at home. so
Caleb Call: One more. Shout out to the Big 12 before we move on. Austin Romaine. Two consecutive plays, two pick sixes against Sam Houston. That game was sitting there close for a little bit.
Caleb Call: and they ah You look at the TV, and it's I think Sam Houston it was 14 -14 or even 14 -7 for Sam Houston. and then Two pick sixes for Austin Romaine, Texas Tech.
Caleb Call: exploded in the second half and they went 49 to 14. I think that at least from what i've seen i'm not sure that's ever happened before the same player getting Two straight touchdowns on defense.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it'd be an interesting ah Stat to see if that's ever happened before.
Caleb Call: Yeah, awesome.
Ben Fowers: Two on consecutive plays.
Caleb Call: That was a huge transfer that they got from Kansas State. Just continuing on the Jacob Rodriguez trend of... awesome linebackers in Lubbock. um yeah Big 12 had a pretty good week. obviously you've got We'll talk more about the AP poll later. but You end up with five teams in the top 20.
Caleb Call: going into next week. so Awesome by the Big 12. Good performances really all around. Only team you can truly say you're disappointed in is Kansas State from what they did this week. so As far as the whole country goes.
Caleb Call: Man. We talked about it last week. A little weird to see Ole Miss and Florida with Florida as the favorite. And you understood that Florida was probably a good team, but. Ole Miss have just shown it on the field against Louisville.
Caleb Call: And against...
Ben Fowers: Bless you.
Caleb Call: LSU and Florida dominated them. they They couldn't slow down the offense. Ole Miss had struggled scoring. The game ends 52 -28, a 24 -point win for Florida.
Caleb Call: Vegas knew, and that was just honestly... An impressive performance by Florida. And that's one of the few SEC teams that... i think it's It's fun when they're good. They're they're a fun brand.
Caleb Call: They never had a long period of dominance like Alabama. i guesss I'm also kind of excited to have Florida be back.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, Urban Meyer was only there for four years. So he came in, won two Natties and was out.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: And so it wasn't like ah like the Alabama where you're kind of just like sick and ready for the new. show in town. as Florida was in and out. and It has honestly been kind of bad.
Caleb Call: And they were.
Ben Fowers: like Last year, they were 4 -8.
Caleb Call: They were bad. Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: They have missed the bowl game so many times in our lifetime, which is just insane for a program like Florida.
Ben Fowers: They've kind of had it. They've run through some.
Ben Fowers: And ah that, like we were talking about last week, that running back, Jordan Baugh, he's legit. Or Jaden Baugh, sorry. that is they had a They had two running backs go for over 100 yards, and so they kind of just torched Ole Miss.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and um just scored. From. the jump. And I think they scored a touchdown in every quarter when I was looking, I mean, I scored 52 points. That's not that shocking, but they, they just kind of like consistently just poured it on them the whole game. and So Florida is a, I mean, you saw in the poll, they jumped all the way up to eight.
Ben Fowers: Ole Miss went down to nine.
Caleb Call: And they should have jumped higher. We'll talk about that later. but i Kind of ticked. that florida's Only eight.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, and after Ole Miss gets dominated, they don't they just fall one spot below them. And so it was kind of an interesting – they ended up 8 -9. So Florida jumped BYU.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: BYU was 9 last week, so Florida jumped BYU. And then Ole Miss slid right in front of them. So BYU just got jumped down the spot. So they ended up 10 on the week. So that was kind of ah an interesting – AP, part of the AP poll this week is the two SEC schools. I don't know.
Ben Fowers: It's tough because Ole Miss has had two pretty good games. they've Gone. won two ranked games and then they go get killed in this game so it's kind of hard to Talk about ways.
Caleb Call: it's a hard Yeah.
Ben Fowers: slide Ole Miss in or slot Ole Miss so I was kind of interested to see where they ended up I was It was a hard one to guess going into it. so
Caleb Call: Honestly, I think that Florida. You go look at their schedule. They've got two huge games at Texas and then in Atlanta against Georgia. Outside of those two games, The rest of their schedule.
Caleb Call: at Missouri. This week. South Carolina. Oklahoma. kentucky Vandy. Florida State. I've not seen enough from any of those teams to think that Florida is going to lose any of those. And if their only two losses at the end of the year are Texas and Georgia.
Caleb Call: Florida's a playoff team. the guy We'll talk later this week about our projected playoff field. Florida will be in my projected playoff field. John Sumrall.
Caleb Call: Most underrated hire by far. I think that... Florida wanted Lane Kiffin badly. He goes to LSU instead. I think Florida might have won the – yeah, I think they might have gotten the better head coach there.
Ben Fowers: They got the better one.
Caleb Call: And now we'll see. He's got to prove it over a long period of time, not just one season. but Again, it's... it's another proof in the portal era that I guess two things are true here.
Caleb Call: First off. You can turn around a team in an instant. Florida went 4 -8 last year. They're already 4 -0 this year, and they look better on offense than they have in... since kyle trask was there during covid and they uh on the I mean, a lot of these players were there under Billy Napier. People kind of make it seem like it's just all about players and coaching doesn't matter as much anymore. No, Billy Napier had a lot of the squad in place. The recruiting has been awesome. for Florida.
Caleb Call: And John Sumrall was the one who actually was able to have... get the pieces to work and so i think that First of all, I get you the expectation that it might take years to build a program. That's done now. You suck. Indiana won a championship two years off of it. 3 -9 season where they looked awful.
Caleb Call: Florida's turning this around and It's not like... Philo from Georgia Tech was a huge sought -after quarterback, but a good enough quarterback to... run the offense with the crazy athletes that they have around him and all of a sudden florida if you were to have Like taking somebody who knew nothing about any team in college football at all.
Caleb Call: and let them go into the season with a completely blank slate they might rank florida number one in the country right now of how they've looked to this point
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I mean You go dominate an Ole Miss team that's kind of proved it. and And I know the Auburn game only ended up being five points at the end. I think it ended up being 44 -39, if I remember right.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: And. It's kind of a weird score, but they were up 17 in the fourth quarter. and so they kind of had uh pulled that pull away, and then Auburn scored late to top or to make it tighter than it needed to be or than it looked on the score. So Florida, they're two big tests so far. They've kind of passed it, check, check, and like you said.
Ben Fowers: um they've got that two back -to -back I guess they got a bye week in between, but they go to Texas on the 17th of October. And then on Halloween, they host Georgia in the swamp. And even after a bye week.
Caleb Call: They don't host. That game's neutral in Atlanta, by the way. So it is more of a road game than a home.
Ben Fowers: Oh. Oh, that one's in the Falcon Stadium. That's right. I forgot about that.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: that's ah They always play there. and yeah they ah So that's going to be an interesting one just off the bye.
Ben Fowers: i was initially when I looked at that I was I was thinking it was in the swamp and so I That would make that changes things a little bit.
Caleb Call: yeah They don't get either of those at home, so that that is tough for them.
Ben Fowers: So
Caleb Call: But... I guess maybe let's talk about this game next, Texas and Tennessee. I'm not sure I've ever seen a team with a better resume than Texas. and thought less of them than i do right now at least on the offensive side of the ball they
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Against Ohio State, they had three points going into the fourth, and then they turned it on. It was really thankful to a couple of huge fourth -down conversions. i mean that There's another world where that Ohio State game finishes 30 -3 and you just...
Caleb Call: kind of write Texas off. Then against Tennessee, we saw Georgia Tech put up 24 points against Tennessee. Texas ends up with 20, and that was with... 10 sacks. like that They were getting good field position all game, and they just really couldn't move the ball consistently. They couldn't run the ball. Arch Manning wasn't.
Caleb Call: I mean, great enough to make every throw you needed. And they ended up winning 20 -17. An onside kick gave Tennessee a chance to. win a game that felt like it was over for most of the fourth quarter.
Caleb Call: I honestly can't figure this Texas team out. I think their defense is good enough to win most any game. but I just don't think their offense is good enough to win a championship this year. despite the awesome resume to this point.
Ben Fowers: Dude, it's kind of an interesting thing about them is I was looking back through. the Ohio State game for Texas. And I'm like, man, because offensively, they don't look. as dominant as she would.
Ben Fowers: hope to be like for a contender and so
Caleb Call: yeah They feel clunky. It feels like they are bad for long stretches, and then they kind of turn it on for a drive, and you think, okay, there's this talent. Then they go back to just being clunky again and not being able to move the sticks.
Ben Fowers: This defense is legit, though. I i think this defense is the caliber to win a natty. Interesting. so thing about the Ohio State game. So yeah actually, let's start with the Tennessee game. So the Tennessee game. They give up a punt return to the house. That's the only touchdown that they give up.
Ben Fowers: before the last drive. So it's 20 to 10.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: 20 -10, the defense really hasn't given up a touchdown. like It's only a punt return that they're giving up before Tennessee goes and scores late. The Ohio State game, an interesting thing is they fumbled. Texas fumbles on the opening play of the game and gives up three points right away to Ohio State.
Ben Fowers: then um Right after that. Oh. Ohio State ends up. um they kicked Two field goals. And then two touchdowns, both touchdowns were coming right off.
Ben Fowers: of turnovers so
Caleb Call: Yeah, sure. I guess one wasn't a short field, but the other was.
Ben Fowers: tech texas Yeah. Yeah one was that crazy ricochet.
Caleb Call: Interception.
Ben Fowers: But the other one was a yeah turnover on downs.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: they They went for it right at midfield, and so Ohio State was able to convert on a... Um... Converge. midfield starting position so
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: That's kind of an interesting thing. ah Texas really hasn't given up a ton of points. They've kind of given up in weird ways like a punt return to Tennessee last week some short fields to Ohio State a fumble like And so the the defense is good enough to win the natty, but the offense, you see them and you're like.
Caleb Call: I think they do have. the best defense in the country. Like honestly, what Texas Tech was last year. They were a... amazing defense and just kind of a middle of the ground offense that was opportunistic and the defense set them up so many different ways to capitalize and score points But that ah offense wasn't going on long drives all game long, especially against the better teams they played.
Caleb Call: Texas is almost like a bigger extreme of that. like I think Texas' defense is better than Texas Tech's was last year. by a good margin, honestly, and Texas Tech's defense was awesome. But I think the Texas offense, despite all the talent and like the, you know.
Caleb Call: big recruits that they got. Their offense might be worse than Texas Tech's was last year. like they it's They're going to be a weird team to watch. like They belong in the Big Ten this year with how they play football.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, they got to figure it out offensively to really Um, Go dominate. They're kind of another. We've got some interesting games coming up. like like we were talking about the defense there, they're playing Florida in three weeks. And so that one's a fun one where.
Ben Fowers: We'll see how Texas' defense does against that offensive floor.
Caleb Call: And you know what?
Ben Fowers: Does this look pretty good?
Caleb Call: Don't skip over the Oklahoma game. Now, Texas will win that game. I feel. 100 % confident in saying that. But that is two teams that probably have two.
Caleb Call: of the better defenses in college football. Oklahoma showed some cracks against Georgia. i We won't even waste our time talking about that game. Mateer sucks. Move on, Oklahoma. but ah That is a chance for Texas against a good defense.
Caleb Call: After a bye week. To go out there and prove, like, hey, you know what? We can actually go score the ball in a good defense, which they have not been able to prove so far this year. Even against UTSA, only putting up 30 points after we saw Colorado State put up 45 this last week. like Texas' offense definitely leaves a lot to be. desired.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it's going to be an interesting one just because. I don't know. Does Oklahoma score 10 points in that game? I don't know. the down
Caleb Call: They didn't last year. They put up six.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I had forgotten that but
Caleb Call: 23 -6. That one was an ugly, ugly game too. I still can't believe Oklahoma snuck into the playoff last year.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. the team.
Ben Fowers: And I mean, it is neutral. It's at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. And so you get half the stadium as Oklahoma fans, which is, so you're not. One team's not. got an advantage over the other side but i uh i I don't know.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I'd assume Texas rolls off the buy in that one. and um Well, we'll see offensive with how they do
Caleb Call: Texas has a three -game stretch all at home, all three of these games in Austin. Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State That might be one of the most fun three -game stretches that any home crowd will have. ever.
Caleb Call: with those three teams coming to town.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, the Mississippi State game is looking – I mean, earlier in the year, you didn't think – I thought that was just kind of like one of the. the break games there but um
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Kamario Taylor's looking legit, and he just keeps winning the big games. He's got another test this week against Alabama. He's got to go up. um he gets in my home actually and so that's kind of a fun one for uh to see exactly where Mississippi State's at, if they're actually. um an undefeated like contender like they are right now.
Caleb Call: No kidding. Mississippi State with Kamario Taylor. like That's just such a fun story. the The fact that the SEC, like, I get that.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Everyone's sick of the SEC. I hate the SEC too. But. Having Florida and Mississippi State kind of vault into the... kind of upper tier of the sec at least has given some variety to these games. Like, i I don't know about you, but it's gotten almost a little stale. Like, even the Georgia -Alabama matchup.
Caleb Call: That's like just a game that we've seen get played so often to the point where it's like not even a matchup that... like I don't have the same excitement to watch that as I should. But Florida. Georgia, Florida, or Mississippi State, Alabama. like That excites me. I can't wait to go see those matchups here. and Yeah, Kamario Taylor, he's been amazing to this point. Nick Saban was talking on game day about how if he was still in college, he would be.
Caleb Call: doing anything he could to get Camaro Taylor to go into the portal. And Camaro shut it down. Did you hear this? He said that. ah I don't think Nick Saban knows just how much I bleed maroon. uh white so Good sign for Mississippi State. and I hope they can keep him.
Caleb Call: there for the season to next.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, hopefully the booster's still... Open up their pocketbooks a little bit keep them there for another so I owe it.
Caleb Call: I'm sure they will. They'll they'll figure it out.
Ben Fowers: Yeah so.
Caleb Call: ah Over to the. Big 10. We had... Another. Last second game ended the big house. This time goes against Michigan.
Caleb Call: a couple of utes were the culprit the old old utes you had john henry daly who gets injured, which gave Iowa the last play. Had they just been able to walk off the field, that play doesn't even happen.
Caleb Call: And then Smith's noting gives up the touchdown. in an Iowa team who looked so bad offensively the whole game. Had a special teams touchdown and had that late. crazy touchdown drive with a Deflected catch.
Caleb Call: They steal a win. in Michigan the same way Michigan stole a win against Western Michigan. What a finish there. And honestly, just kind of a hilarious full circle moment. after the Western Michigan game game that we saw earlier. in the year.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it seemed like Michigan. Kind of deserved a... to drop one that was like this and so
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. Michigan's kind of an interesting team just because. I felt like they kind of felt like they had the game in hand, and so they were kind of playing conservative and were just giving the ball back.
Ben Fowers: just trying to kill clock um Just like the old Utah days. just Run the ball, kill clock, punt the ball. punt the ball, play defense. And so it ended up killing them.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: um And this one, this one is funny. We were talking about how it was going to hit the under and last play of the game. It was 38 and a half was the line and the last play of the game. It ends up hitting 39.
Ben Fowers: So they needed the last play and a a special teams touchdown and kind of.
Caleb Call: To get there, yeah.
Ben Fowers: a A bunch of things bounce Iowa's way on the the drive before that. to Um... To be able to... to hit the over here. so the under betters uh i'm sorry for you on that one that's a that's a tough week so
Caleb Call: Yeah, that's her. Tough break there. the Just kind of a full circle moment. You know who the Iowa's offensive coordinator is?
Ben Fowers: um
Caleb Call: T - Tim Lester. Tim Lester. Was one of the best Mac quarterback statistically at Western Michigan for four years.
Caleb Call: And so at Western Michigan's old quarterback gets to be the one to go and deliver a shot of revenge against the Wolverines after the way the season opened.
Ben Fowers: I was trying to think if it had a...
Caleb Call: Yeah, you know what's funny?
Ben Fowers: if I had a Utah connection because the old Davis high quarterback from last year trading Bessinger, he, he just committed to Iowa.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: He's on their depth track. So I was wondering if there was a Utah connection I was forgetting, but.
Caleb Call: Oh, Western Michigan, even better.
Ben Fowers: Western Michigan. That's funny.
Caleb Call: So... And this is one of the things that's just so funny about college football. There's no right or wrong answer to it. Iowa and Michigan are ranked right by each other, 17 and 18. Michigan dominated that game.
Caleb Call: They were. On offense, their stats were way better. They were more consistent moving the ball. Their defense played better. I got felt like Michigan was a better team. and For probably two -thirds of that game, Michigan fans probably felt pretty confident moving forward with what they were seeing.
Caleb Call: and then you lose the game on a last second play that almost didn't even happen And that one last play, if it goes the other way. Michigan's jumping into the top 15, Iowa's falling out of the rankings, and instead Iowa's sitting there ranked 14, and Michigan's out of the rankings. And literally that game came down to a play with two seconds left. like It's just such a big, harsh reaction for both teams jumping in opposite directions.
Caleb Call: And it would have been the exact same opposite had just one play gone differently. And it's just a... One of the beauties of college football is just how much consequence each individual play has during the regular season. Even in the 12 -team playoff era, you're still seeing it like this.
Ben Fowers: And Iowa, the rest of the way, it's kind of a, like you said, they jump up to 14. They play Ohio State this week, and then they don't have another ranked game on their schedule. They kind of have ah a little bit lighter of a Big Ten schedule. They play with some of those mid to top tier.
Ben Fowers: teams. so they
Caleb Call: Washington was supposed to be a ranked game, and they suck.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so Iowa's kind of a ah sneaky team where, I mean, they're two -touchdown underdog this week against Ohio State. and so um If you go get blown out there, are you even ranked next week? Maybe not. but um I was kind of ah an interesting one where I think.
Ben Fowers: ah They're going to get beat by Ohio State, but Ohio State lost. Maybe they still stay in the 20s in the poll if they can kind of keep it close -ish.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: After that, they might go on a little run and have a... There's a chance they could go 10 to 11 and 1
Caleb Call: They might backdoor their way into the playoff. And honestly, like. I would love that and hate that. Like just picturing a team like. Miami with their high caliber offense.
Caleb Call: Before they can go play these big teams, they first got to go and beat Iowa, who wants to just... throw a wrench in the spokes of the bike and just slow this game down to a halt like it's just They play such a different style of offense. I saw somebody on Twitter talk about how every time you watch Iowa, it's like they sit around and do nothing for three quarters, and then all of a sudden you look at the score you lost.
Caleb Call: That's just the Iowa experience. It's a shame that Iowa State didn't beat Iowa. They were winning for most of that game. and Iowa ends up pulling it out in the fourth quarter. And because of that, that might directly result in Iowa making the playoff. Iowa State let us down. we I'm not sure the country is ready for playoff Iowa.
Ben Fowers: I think I still looking at that schedule. I think there's one other loss on there. They. There you are.
Caleb Call: Nebraska's looked good.
Ben Fowers: Nebraska's looked good. They go to Illinois. Northwestern's kind of been a sneaky team. They go to Northwestern, to Minnesota.
Caleb Call: Yeah. They look solid. Wisconsin, the home's not easy.
Ben Fowers: host, Wisconsin. Yeah, so i I don't think Iowa is a legit enough team to to win all those games, but they're kind of a that was kind of a funny, like you were saying.
Caleb Call: But they do it every year.
Ben Fowers: like a
Caleb Call: they just they
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Every time you think that they're going to go out there and lose to... A team like a Wisconsin or an Illinois, who that be? Just. are so consistent in winning those games. I'll be fascinated to watch them the rest of the way. and They get game day this week against Ohio State, so that should be...
Caleb Call: a fun change up from all the SEC games the the college game day got bullied I guarantee you they wanted to go to Starkville And I wouldn't have been too upset if they'd gone to Starkville. to go see Mississippi State Alabama.
Caleb Call: But they've been all SEC to this point, and so I think the pressure got to them, and they elected to go to Kinnick Stadium. with Iowa Ohio State
Ben Fowers: Yeah. hopefully ah Hopefully we get ah some Big 12 action later in the season when some of the big games start.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Start going so I think it looks like it's kind of looking like a BYU, Notre Dame might get a year. Did you say big as a big noon's already so decided where they're going or is it?
Caleb Call: you So the show hasn't announced, but they will go to Indiana. ohio state i'd be shocked if they don't that's going to be the new kickoff The show doesn't always go to the noon kickoff. but They generally do.
Ben Fowers: I guess to tailor ah the tailor to some BYU fans here, the other games that...
Caleb Call: list
Ben Fowers: And last week, this wasn't looking like. as big of a challenge or two weeks ago when we were talking about this Texas Florida is um one where game day might end up going to Texas Florida instead of
Caleb Call: looks a lot more likely now than it did before.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so that's kind of the game that would keep BYU Notre Dame off of Um, game day.
Caleb Call: It does help that they just It's an odd Texas game, despite it not being in Austin, just barely.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so So big noon going Ohio State, Indiana, probably. And then the other games are Mississippi State, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss. And so a top 10 matchup in BYU. BYU Notre Dame feels like it's got game day.
Ben Fowers: But now you got Florida, Texas.
Caleb Call: They've not been to Provo. 17 years.
Ben Fowers: They haven't, you said?
Caleb Call: Yeah, it's been 17 years since they've come to Provo. They've gone to a couple of BYU games, but they were road games. So, yeah, it's been a bit.
Ben Fowers: So. So maybe BYU fans just kind of... Somebody to cheer for this week. Missouri at home against Florida. Maybe you hope for Missouri gets the win there
Caleb Call: It's a big one.
Ben Fowers: Gets Florida out of the top 10 and maybe that gets you college game day. and two weeks to, or I guess three weeks to to host in Notre Dame.
Caleb Call: Another big game. and i I told you this before. The matchup. Oregon USC, I was not ready to crown the winner of this game a contender.
Caleb Call: But I was more than ready. to label the loser as a fraud. USC. with you can call it dirty you can call it like a borderline late hit but Regardless, they knocked Dante Moore out of the game, knocked him unconscious, put him in the hospital.
Caleb Call: You got Dylan Riola coming in behind him. And USC defense does what it does, gives up points to anyone and everyone. 41 for Oregon. USC put up 27, and USC just...
Caleb Call: in the whole second half i feel like they were just chasing oregon and couldn't keep up on ah offense and They fall by two touchdowns. I think that... If USC's defense, with how bad it's been all year long, it's not going to show any improvement the rest of the way, and I think that this might end up being the...
Caleb Call: End of the Lincoln -Riley era. in Los Angeles here for the Trojans. i just They've not shown any life. I'm not even convinced. Oregon just jumped into the top 15 of the poll.
Caleb Call: I'm not convinced Oregon's even the top 25 team this year, but that it's just USC is. Lost by two scores and honestly doesn't show a lot of hope the rest of the way for me.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, USC's kind of got a... They've got a tough two week. on back -to -backs games where they play Ohio State and Indiana. they're kind of a it's like one of those things where Is USC good enough to...
Ben Fowers: Go to Happy Valley and go be Penn State. Are they good enough to go? um
Caleb Call: Camp Randall with Wisconsin too.
Ben Fowers: Beat Wisconsin, Washington. Yeah. And then they end the season with a rival, obviously, at UCLA. That game's looking a little tougher. Like, their defense looks so bad where I could see them losing any of those games that just lifted off.
Ben Fowers: so i'm
Caleb Call: And if they start losing, and if there is a hot seat for Lincoln Riley.
Ben Fowers: we were talking about.
Caleb Call: This is a situation where, kind of like Penn State last year, the wheels could completely fall off, and this could turn into a 6 -16 fast.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, this ah on Washington, you're notoriously low on Washington, so that's a good get -right game for USC.
Caleb Call: I hate Washington. They're so bad this year.
Ben Fowers: if they can figure it out so maybe that uh i mean that would get them to five wins already so it probably isn't gonna I don't think the wheels are going to completely fall off this year for them, but I don't think they're a top 15 team.
Ben Fowers: I don't even know if they're a top 25 team. And so USC is kind of a.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: One you don't know about.
Caleb Call: We had the G5 Super Bowl, Western Michigan and Boise. and Boise came out of that one kind of looking awesome and kind of setting themselves solely apart as the g6 contender it's theirs to lose at this point
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I mean, the nice thing about them is they they go take care of Memphis. they go take care of Western Michigan. So they've kind of taken care of two of the top teams in some of the other G5 conferences. and so now boise state's just sitting there gotta take care of the pac -12 and This week, they jumped into the AP poll.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and so They, uh... Yeah, they they go in the back, Pac -12, and you got the you got the p playoff spot for Boise. So the Broncos are looking good. It's a big work. road win. I wasn't so sure about them, but they went and dominated that game.
Ben Fowers: and So Western Michigan, maybe.
Caleb Call: Start to finish. now
Ben Fowers: Yeah, maybe Western Michigan wasn't as... a as good as we thought after that Michigan game week one. they ah they kind of went and got dominated it was 32 nothing then Um,
Ben Fowers: Before they went and scored late. So before they even got points on the board, i I think this Boise team.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Caleb Call: I mean...
Ben Fowers: Might be looking for for real.
Caleb Call: A rule change this year that benefits Boise. potentially at least, is... The G6 representative doesn't even have to be a conference champ. So if they go 11 -1 and they're ranked. 12 or 14 or whatever they are at the end of the season.
Caleb Call: And let's say they go in one game, lose to Oregon State or whoever they end up playing. If they're still ranked higher. than the next highest ranked. conference champion from the American or wherever else.
Caleb Call: Boise will still get the playoff spot. So one fluke conference championship game loss won't. end their season. which is kind of an interesting rule change. I honestly would have preferred it to be a conference champ. but that a situation that could benefit Boise there. Essentially, you... I think 11 -2 Boise is a lock unless the team that... beats them is also 11 -2. If Oregon State goes and wins out and finishes 11 -2 with two Boise wins, they probably make it.
Caleb Call: Outside of a situation just like that, Boise has a...
Ben Fowers: Do you know what I could see? 11 -2 Boise, one team that I can see right now that would. Um, potentially take the bid for him is North Dakota State 13 -0.
Ben Fowers: you know
Caleb Call: Maybe, but what would be North Dakota State's win? under like they won't really have played anyone.
Ben Fowers: It's... You don't think 13 -0 gets the love?
Caleb Call: No, because I think that...
Ben Fowers: the old FCS powerhouse in year one.
Caleb Call: I really don't. I think that. Like it's kind of the same thing that happened with. BYU last year where hey like yeah you had all those wins cool but Yeah, you've lost the two games that matter. like the The schedule situation, I feel like people will love what Boise did, losing close to Oregon and beating Memphis and Western Michigan.
Caleb Call: And it's not really even North Dakota State's fault that they didn't have a big game on their schedule. They've not been able to schedule FBS teams since they always beat them, and then they get thrown into the FBS last second. and the schedule ends up shaking out how it does. i I think Boise at 11 -2 probably still gets the bid.
Ben Fowers: 11 -2 Boise over 13 -0 North Dakota State.
Caleb Call: I think that it'd be close.
Ben Fowers: I'd love to see that.
Caleb Call: You also have a chance to have 13 -0 UMass, by the way, who has a Rutgers win. but they also have two FCS teams on the schedule. so I think that. yeah UMass and the Mac could be a as quiet, sneaky contender. and i think that North Dakota State may be the Mountain West. Mountain West does not look great to start the year
Ben Fowers: That's why i think I think North Dakota State could run it. I don't think UMass is good enough to go on the MAAC, but I think North Dakota State could actually go. and They can go run there.
Caleb Call: I would love North Dakota State in the playoff.
Ben Fowers: they're uh
Caleb Call: Picture a world where you have a playoff game that is Iowa against North Dakota State. okay That might be one of the funnier results that college football has ever produced, if we get it.
Ben Fowers: That'd be crazy.
Ben Fowers: I'd probably pick North Dakota State.
Caleb Call: Quick chance to... Shout out both of us, by the way. Two more games we haven't talked about yet. You had two teams in the teens lose as big favorites to unranked teams. You picked it for your super dog, Wisconsin over Penn State. I picked Wake Forest.
Caleb Call: They go and beat Louisville. Do you think that these games say more about the underdog and more about the favorites?
Ben Fowers: I uh... I think they say more about the favorite for the Penn State, Wisconsin one that I was talking about. i I just didn't think they were for real. And you go at home. that That was the big thing is Penn State's at home and they go lose that game. So I just think that kind of shows you that. I think last week they were 13th. um Penn State was.
Ben Fowers: And so. Bye. I mean that just shows you that they weren't even... In the...
Caleb Call: They fell completely out.
Ben Fowers: Honestly the conversation
Caleb Call: People who were ready to drop Penn State.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so I think that tells you a lot about them. And Wisconsin's still one where they...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: They played a good half against Notre Dame and them before losing that game. So they're kind of one to keep your eye on. but ah A lot of things had to bounce their way in this one. They ah they threw an early pick six. and then Right after that, they threw a pick where Penn State brought it down to the 11 -yard line and then scored on a short field. So Penn State went up 17 -0 fast.
Ben Fowers: And then. It was 20 to 10. late in the game. um wisconsin went and scored a touchdown with three minutes three and a half minutes left Kicked the ball deep, had to play defense, got the three and out.
Ben Fowers: and then went and broke a long touchdown to win the game. And so it was one where it was 17 -0 early, and um the two picks that made short – one was a pick six, one it was a short field to the 10. I didn't think Wisconsin was going to have a shot because it was 17 -0. They kind of dug their own grave. and Penn State not being able to.
Ben Fowers: Ding. after being up 17, nothing kind of. win the game after that. I think that tells you a lot about Penn State, and I don't think they're anywhere near where they need to be.
Caleb Call: I still can't figure out. why Penn State was ranked in the preseason. Because if Matt Campbell had stayed at Iowa State. Iowa State would not have been ranked preseason. Penn State last year went 6 -6.
Caleb Call: if James Franklin was still there. After 6 -6, Penn State would not have been ranked in the preseason. At what point – Why did a blend of these two teams... get jumped into the top. I think they started 16.
Caleb Call: in the AP Bowl preseason. That had just made no sense to me. They have not been in my rankings once to this point of the season. They look bad against Temple, and here they are losing to Wisconsin, who Wisconsin may end up being a good or not so good team. Who knows? But.
Caleb Call: We saw a couple examples of this. of Penn State and Kansas State both were teams that People I think talked themselves into them being good teams because their schedules looked easy. Not because the team looked good, but they just assumed that since the path was easy.
Caleb Call: that the team would be able to capitalize. but Doesn't work out that way always. An average team against a bad schedule is still an average team, and I think Penn State might have just showed us that, and Kansas State did too against Cincinnati.
Caleb Call: And on the other front, Wake Forest and Louisville. We're still – I mean, Louisville has played three tough games to start the year, Ole Miss, SMU, Wake Forest. and Wake Forest are going back and forth with them the whole game. Really, that's kind of been Louisville this entire season. they were a high -scoring game against Ole Miss, high -scoring game against SMU, and then against Wake Forest, same thing. Their defense is not great. and Wake Forest kicker made more field goals. Louisville missed two in the last few minutes of the game. and That's what decided that Wake Forest wins 30 -27.
Caleb Call: Wake Forest with Jake Dicker to the helm went 9 -4 last year. He had a 13 -point loss to Miami, just beat Louisville. One of the more underrated... programs, coaches and teams in the country right now, I think.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. Yeah, they're kind of a... An interesting squad. A lot of fun games this week. And like you were saying, the Wisconsin game for me was 10 points. So that was a good pick. And then you even.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I was at twelve and a half was the wake one so that was even
Caleb Call: 12 and a half. is where I got in on that ham.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I was even... even bigger line for you so that was a nice call on your end
Caleb Call: Yeah. um Super fun week of college football. It felt like after week three we needed a week like this, and that was a blast. Um, As far as the AP poll goes, I thought Wake Forest should have been in there. They end up. Missing it out. What were some of your big takeaways from? This week, say people.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so I was the one things I was the biggest thing I was looking for was I was gonna wanted to know how high Florida was gonna go and help Far Ole Miss was going to drop. And then also I was kind of interested on Mississippi State just because Kamario Taylor is getting all this hype.
Ben Fowers: And I didn't know how high they were going to climb after that win against Missouri.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: And they jumped up to 16. And then. like we talked about earlier Florida jumped up to a Ole Miss went right behind him at nine and so That's kind of just ah those SEC schools. as As a Big 12 representative, like fans of the Big 12, you're always a little worried that you're going to get passed by some of these. sec schools and you kind of sometimes get overlooked or passed by them and so Mississippi State's one where there still are few spots below.
Ben Fowers: um utah but a game against Alabama this week. I don't know if Utah is going to be able to hold them off just because just the SEC hype, of the big win. back -to -back wins.
Caleb Call: See if they beat Alabama, you're hoping to jump Alabama and get passed by Mississippi State and call it a wash.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, and so and that's what, you as a BYU fan, you were probably hoping that this week. You were probably hoping to get passed by Florida, but Ole Miss jumped below them, and it didn't happen.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Ole Miss stayed one spot in front of them, and so BYU falls a spot because Florida makes the jump. and
Caleb Call: And I didn't mind that, honestly. like i Yeah, Ole Miss has two better wins. At least, I mean. Who knows if Arizona or Louisville who's a better win there at this point, but Ole Miss has gone out there, beaten Louisville, beaten LSU. And, yeah, they lost big to Florida. but Like I... got I get it with the LSU one on the.
Caleb Call: schedule there in Florida. i Like I said, if you had a completely blank slate going into this year. They might deserve to be number one in the country. You go look at like what Georgia's done to this point, what Notre Dame's done to this point, what Indiana's done to this point. but I just cannot believe it. The way AP voters vote Bugs the crap out of me Like they.
Caleb Call: Just... Take their last week's ballot. move teams up or down a few spots, depending on the result, instead of reevaluating it completely. Like Florida. Should be a top five team, maybe top three team in the country right now.
Caleb Call: You've got teams like USC who's still sitting there at 18. when usc like if you were to go throw Illinois' logo on USC's uniforms, they would be not getting a single vote right now.
Caleb Call: with how bad they've been on defense, how close a game is they've been playing, and then losing by two scores to Oregon at home after Oregon lost their quarterback, after Oregon got killed by Oklahoma State. Like, it's just... Drives me crazy. And Oregon being as high as they are is kind of a result.
Caleb Call: of usc being way overrated to this point in the year i guess just been that You see it every year. When you have preseason rankings, you end up having this weird poll inertia that shouldn't be there.
Caleb Call: Missouri still ranked. Why? Who knows? When you have teams like Wake Forest, who's sitting outside of the AB Top 25 with a big win. or A team even like Pittsburgh or Virginia Tech who are sitting there 4 -0. Cincinnati, like they're Wisconsin. there's A whole bunch of teams that you can point to as more deserving to be ranked than Missouri. but hey we had them ranked earlier they lost a close game to Mississippi State so yeah that's Throw them at 25. Why not?
Ben Fowers: it's a It's kind of a, I don't know, it's going to be an interesting. I mean... The nice thing about some of these games is. um Their schedules, I mean, they're going to be proved right or wrong pretty quick.
Ben Fowers: And so a lot of these teams prove themselves wrong fast.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and so Yeah, USC is one where i can't I couldn't believe they were still at 18. They look terrible.
Caleb Call: I could not believe it
Ben Fowers: yeah
Caleb Call: How is UCLA behind USC to this point? and I just don't understand it. Another team that's ranked way too high right now.
Ben Fowers: yeah
Caleb Call: Did you see my SMU? They're number 21 in the poll. SMU's season to this point. They beat Florida State by three. Florida to State. is awful. They beat Missouri State by 10.
Caleb Call: and they lose to 2 -2 Louisville by 10. but Here they are ranked at 21. Why? Because we thought they were going to be good going into the year, and they've only lost one game. so Yeah, sure.
Caleb Call: 21 for SMU.
Ben Fowers: They bring back Kevin Jennings.
Caleb Call: i do
Ben Fowers: like
Caleb Call: Yeah. I don't understand. i Yeah. I'm glad that the playoff committee ranks teams as late as they do, but even they rank teams too early, and it kind of traps them into arguments that they've made. and I just think in general. Culture Ball would be in a better spot if...
Caleb Call: We didn't really rate teams at all until later in the year and let things play out how it does. but Regardless, so be it. Big 12's in a good spot. You've got... Five teams that are ranked and all of them have good chances to move up here in the near future Probably one of the biggest games here in the next month for the Big 12 as far as conference games go. we've got Oklahoma State and Houston who are 20 and 19.
Caleb Call: They phase off here in a couple of weeks. and yeah i feel like in general Big 12 is in a better spot to this point in the season than they were last year.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, that's a It's going to be fun because... And like Houston, they go Oklahoma State and Utah. Oklahoma State, like we talked about earlier, plays Tech, BYU. I mean, it's not a conference game, but got Notre Dame. and They, uh... It's kind of like a fun little...
Ben Fowers: You're going to have more ranked -on -ranked matchups than you have in the past. and so No. I think the Big 12 is going to be able to kind of... I'm hoping to get a team get couple teams up towards the top. and BYU is at 10, Texas at 12, Utah jumped two spots up to 13, and then you've got Oklahoma State, Houston at 19 and 20.
Caleb Call: the path
Ben Fowers: So it's kind of a fun.
Caleb Call: to two playoff teams is wide open.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: In the path. It's not because, like, the SEC got five last year. I think they'll get five again this year. But the path is open because the Big Ten, who got a bunch of teams last year.
Caleb Call: You got Ohio State sitting there at the top. Indiana looks vulnerable, but let's say Indiana makes the playoff. Oregon. USC. Michigan, Iowa. like None of those feel like they should be playoff teams. Maybe it ends up playing out that way. Penn State, too. like It feels like the Big Ten might only end up having one to two.
Caleb Call: playoff caliber teams in there. they get Very different Big Ten than we've seen the last few years, which could leave a spot open. The ACC. Really feels like it's Miami and nobody else. and so The college football world is playing out in a way that could.
Caleb Call: end up seeing multiple Big 12 teams get in.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, the Notre Dame being... a non -power conference team that's going to probably get in this year. is um It does take a spot. So you've got four conferences, G5, Notre Dame. So that's six spots. And now you've got six at -large bids.
Ben Fowers: And. Hopefully Miami doesn't lose an ACC title game to shrink that. but Like if you're saying. the SEC gets five, then that's four of the six spots. And so now you're sitting there with two spots. The Big Ten probably gets at least one.
Ben Fowers: other one with indiana ohio state oregon even like somebody and so If they have two, if they get a third, that kind of shrinks everything.
Ben Fowers: and so I mean, it depends how good the SEC is, how...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: or I guess how. good they're perceived and um you and so now that there's the big 12 get an extra team if they're if you've got like a ah utah byu texas tech with one loss late like What's the... what's the perceived...
Ben Fowers: value of the the big 12 can they get that second spot can they get in that large so
Caleb Call: yeah If you're a Big 12 fan. This is what you're cheering for. you want Georgia. Texas. in Alabama.
Caleb Call: to win. every game on their schedule. That would lead to them being 12 -0, 11 -1 because they play each other. I think Georgia plays. Bama this year, so that would give you one 11 win team.
Caleb Call: and then you want everyone else to beat each other up and finish with a bunch of like nine, eight, seven win teams in the SEC. The way I think it ends up playing out is you probably do have five teams with... 10 wins and end up getting five in the playoff but There's a world where there's a little bit more chaos underneath the team to the top and that's what you're cheering for
Ben Fowers: Yeah. Yeah, it's it's kind of a tough one because... we've seen we've seen in the past those those big conference get five or three or four And so that makes it so.
Ben Fowers: It's hard for the Big 12 or the ACC to get a second team. so
Caleb Call: And there's the standard to get ranked. Hi. is definitely like It feels like. If you're a Big 12 team, like... A decade ago,
Caleb Call: BYU went 10 -2 in the regular season, and they finished the season ranked 12th or 13th. That was during Independence without really any marquee win on the schedule. attended to BYU team.
Caleb Call: two years ago, 2024. got ranked 19th at the end of the year. Like, it that was with a Big 12 season with a win over SMU who made the playoff. Like, just the... the way teams have gotten ranked has changed a lot. And so, yeah, without.
Caleb Call: that's what's good about having all the ranked teams that you have now is that it gives chances to have credible wins, but yeah. the The path is open. But you've got to have the right thing lined up. you probably In a perfect world, you get 12 -0 Texas Tech against 12 -0 Holy War winner.
Caleb Call: and guaranteed you got two playoff teams. And if BYU beats Notre Dame and loses to Utah, maybe you have three playoff teams with all three of the BYU, Utah, and Texas Tech making it. There are ways to get there.
Ben Fowers: man that'd be good That'd be crazy if there was... a three in there because Three in there it would make. Yeah. That would make it so if you're getting... two big ten then you're only getting four uh sec And so.
Ben Fowers: Now you're sitting there. i guess that means i guess notre dame spot so maybe byu gets in over another game there is what you're saying so
Caleb Call: If Notre Dame goes 10 -2 with losses to Miami and BYU, I honestly can't even. picture what the committee is going to do with them because they maybe wisconsin ends up being an okay win but they would have a very It'd be just like last year. You lost two. important games and you won every other game. like Congrats. What did we do with you?
Ben Fowers: Yeah. it's it's weird though because they they're like number three now so it's like how far did the losses drop them at the times of the games and so they'll probably still be in the mix
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: But, yeah, three three three big 12 teams would be crazy. so
Caleb Call: And it's possible that the path is there. Let's close this one up with a continuation from what we did last time.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Just a quick contender pretender with some new teams here. First one. Florida. You calling them a pretender or a contender?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I'm calling him a pretender. I'm a... I don't think...
Caleb Call: A pretender, wow.
Ben Fowers: i don't think Yeah, Pretender. I don't think they're... I don't think they're good enough to to run the... their schedule. i I think it was one of those things where Ole Miss is coming off of a...
Ben Fowers: um the high of the LSU week and they got them at the swamp and everything just kind of went right. Lacey, you didn't play in the game for Ole Miss. And so I think Florida is one where they get those two middle games, Texas, Georgia, and we'll find out. pretty quick uh middle october how how good they are i i don't think they're they're gonna be able to um I think any game on a schedule they're going to be.
Ben Fowers: Fine to be able to compete in it, but I don't think they're gonna be able to to go win. every game on the schedule.
Caleb Call: I get that. i i So last year I would have called Ole Miss a pretender, even through like the end of the year when they made the playoff. And they end up. making it to the semifinal and we're a drive away from making it to the championship game.
Caleb Call: And I think this year's Florida is better than last year's Ole Miss. They look awesome on offense. They look awesome on defense. I think they've got the dudes. so They might be one of the most talented teams in the country outside of the quarterback position, which they still with Philo, I think, is a fine quarterback to have.
Caleb Call: I'm saying contender with Florida. I would not be shocked at all if we end up seeing them in the... semi -final of the playoff this next season and maybe even in the championship i I love what John Summerall's done there. and Maybe they lose a few games and I get proven wrong there, but with what I've seen so far, I've got no reason to doubt them.
Ben Fowers: I just got them. i I think they got to be perfect because. The Texas -Georgia games, if you lose those games, then you've got to win every other game on your schedule to get in. I i just don't think they're – I think they're a year or two out before.
Ben Fowers: Um, Summer, I'll get them rolling.
Caleb Call: We are going to be picking the game, the Florida -Texas game. I can tell you right now I'm picking Florida on that one. well We'll see when we get there. but a I'm a believer in Florida. And let's jump to the next one here. Another SEC team on the rise, Mississippi State.
Ben Fowers: I'm a pretender again. i I think Mississippi State's kind of one where... They've been, uh... a fun storyline so far just because they've Camaro tailors looked really good and they've been able to Um,
Ben Fowers: to win I mean, they're undefeated right now as they're able to go 4 -0.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: They're able to go beat. Missouri this last week. And so Mississippi State, I think once they start getting these ah tough games on their schedule, they're going to. Start to fall a little bit.
Ben Fowers: They got a big test this week against Bama. They do get it at home. So That's kind of going to be a fun one to see, but I think you go. I mean we just saw what South Carolina did. and they uh went only beat south carolina by a touchdown so i i'm not on the
Caleb Call: Yeah, and they had to come back in that one too.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I'm not on the Mississippi State bandwagon yet.
Caleb Call: I agree with Pretender. They might have the best quarterback in the country, but I don't think the rest of the roster is there yet. Missouri and South Carolina are two teams that I think are not great and will end up being 6 -6, 500 about teams. South Carolina may be even worse than that.
Caleb Call: And Mississippi State beat them both by a touchdown. Struggled them both. Both of them were comeback wins. so i I think Mississippi State. will be kind of a chaos agent in the SEC this year.
Caleb Call: winning a couple, maybe one or two big games that they shouldn't. and losing a bunch of games too. i I agree with Pretender for Mississippi State.
Ben Fowers: Okay, let me throw you this one um organ.
Caleb Call: man, I Before the season, I would have been shocked at this answer. but i i'm very firmly in pretender status, even though here they are ranked 14th in the country right now.
Caleb Call: I just. They have not seen it. right in Their first four games of the season, they have not shown anything that makes me think that they could be a contender. The win against Boise. Who knows how good that is. I think it's a good win.
Caleb Call: But... Still, only by seven, you'd expect more from a team like Oregon. And then the Oklahoma State game, I just can't get out of my head. They looked so bad against Tulsa, and then you just get dominated.
Caleb Call: by them that you gave up. twice the artist that you mustered. And I don't even, I think Dante, Dante Warren.
Ben Fowers: Question now. Question though, are they better off without Dante Moore? but
Caleb Call: I think that it's kind of a wash. I think both quarterbacks are good. Neither quarterback's elite. They're both just good. quarterbacks. I think they'll be fine. I bet you they'll be a... 9 -win team in contention for the playoff by the end of the year. but If BYU makes the playoff, I would love an Oregon matchup. That would not be a matchup that really scares me at all.
Ben Fowers: a bye week, and then they're playing UCLA. So that's going to be a fun one in two weeks.
Caleb Call: Yeah, it's a fun matchup. Do you agree with Pretender on Oregon?
Ben Fowers: Yeah I do. I think. ah It's tough because Boise we got them as the g5 team but Just... Not really and I wasn't high on USC too and you're kind of in a tight game until they're able to pull away late. And so I just think all three of their big games this year, they've lost to Oklahoma State. and They played tight against Boise. They played tight against USC. and To be a contender, I think you've got to go dominate those games. and
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: They didn't do it.
Caleb Call: All right. All right, one more for you here, Ole Miss.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, Ole Miss, I'm gonna go. Pretender. i ah I think you got to be able to show us more, even if it's in the swamp, to be able to go content contend with.
Ben Fowers: The best of the best and so Ole Miss is there
Caleb Call: They had no answer in that one. like You gotta have an answer or something you can fall back on.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so give me pre Pretender.
Caleb Call: They didn't.
Ben Fowers: i I think you got to be able to go compete with the... The... I would say the middle tier of the SEC, middle of the top tier, if you're going to be able to contend.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And so not being able to do that, even on the road, I think. That shows you a lot about who they are.
Caleb Call: Yeah, I definitely agree with that
Ben Fowers: all Alright. Kind of circle back to a couple weeks ago LSU
Caleb Call: Yeah. I... I'm going for Tinder with LSU. I like LSU's team. like I think that they're a good squad. I don't think that this is like a championship contender. A lot of people did think they were this year, and they might have the talent to if they're fully healthy. But Sam Levitt I don't think is a good enough quarterback.
Caleb Call: Lane Kiffin's already making excuses about... why his team is so hurt and like ah i feel like the mentality is already like Lane Kiffin's an excuse -making move because this season's not going to be what he drew dreamt it to be. And they did just kill Texas A &M, who has looked awful so far this year.
Caleb Call: and They did kill Clemson. and It was a close loss to Ole Miss. They have had a good start to the season. But I just don't think that was. Viewers. Good enough to have. get it done in the playoff.
Ben Fowers: This is where I'm different. I got contender for LSU. We've talked about it before where I think. um Ball bounces the wrong way against Ole Miss, and they drop a close one after they kind of are gritty to get it back in it, and they go.
Ben Fowers: Just annihilate Texas A and &M. and I know Texas A and &M. We talked about them being down. They looked down. they I'm lost Kentucky, but. Those are the type of games where, I mean, A &M's got a roster where.
Ben Fowers: Still got. Still got dudes on each side of the ball, and you go dominate them 35 -6. They kind of made it look like it was a... They were playing an FCS game or a G5 matchup. and so
Ben Fowers: i think I think LSU's dudes, they ah I mean, they showed it against Clemson. They showed it against Texas A and &M there where they're able to dominate it. I think they did have that lapse against Ole Miss, and so they can't keep having those. But I think LSU's going to have a shot there. to go make a deep run. They, they've got some fun games on the schedule where I think we'll be able to find out pretty quick too.
Ben Fowers: if they are for real.
Caleb Call: Here's my comparison for LSU. I think that they are going to be kind of like 2024. Indiana. Like, Indiana that year was killing teams, blowing them out.
Ben Fowers: Okay.
Caleb Call: But you saw it against Ohio State and Notre Dame. They finally played the two best teams on their schedule, and they lost them both. and Didn't really have a chance to win either. LSU did look a little bit better against Ole Miss, but we just both called Ole Miss a pretender. LSU's going to have chances against some of the better teams in the... sec And I just think that.
Caleb Call: I think LSU is a year out. I think that they... Maybe they sneak their way into the playoff. I still think I would have them outside of the playoff as of right now. I think I wouldn't be shocked at all to see them continue blowing out teams that they just have a lot more talent than.
Caleb Call: And I wouldn't be shocked at all to see them go and lose to the teams that are better than them. i think that LSU. I wouldn't be shocked at all if they're the next year's champion, but I think they're a year out from doing that. I'm not sure their team's ready for it.
Ben Fowers: right
Caleb Call: Well fun week of college football Big 12's in a good spot. BYU and Utah. combined 7 -0. Utah's got a break. BYU's got TCU on deck.
Ben Fowers: And 7 -0 against the spread, baby.
Caleb Call: We'll preview that one. Yeah, bet on the state of Utah, except for Utah State. who They did cover the spread and beat Troy. Congrats to Utah State on it. First win of the season. Good job, boys. and Harrison Tiger seems to be doing better. so Got the boys rallied this last week to go play for Harrison. Good job there. and Yeah, we are. Got some fun football in the state of Utah. We'll be back later this week. to Preview week five. and See what we have in store.
Caleb Call: Go Cougs.
Ben Fowers: It's on by take a nap this week everybody go youths
