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New Year's Playoff Fireworks: Previewing the 2025-26 CFP Quarterfinals
18 Plays5 months ago
Ring in the new year with an epic slate of College Football Playoff action! In this episode, we break down all four quarterfinal matchups kicking off on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. From Ohio State's powerhouse clash with resilient Miami in the Cotton Bowl, to the explosive Big 12 showdown between Texas Tech and Oregon in the Orange Bowl, the historic Rose Bowl battle featuring undefeated top seed Indiana against Alabama's tradition-rich squad, and the SEC rematch thriller between Georgia and Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. We'll dive into key storylines, players to watch, X-factors, bold predictions, and who we think advances to the semifinals. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just tuning in for the holiday football feast, this is your ultimate guide to the games that will shape the road to the national championship!
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Transcript
00:00:01
Mike Bell
Alright, welcome back to the episode of Blown Coverage.
00:00:01
Kaleb
Thank you.
00:00:04
Mike Bell
I'm Mike Bell with my co-host Caleb Schwerer.
Excitement Around Playoff Games
00:00:08
Mike Bell
Alright, Caleb, we haven't talked since the last set of playoff games and now we have the next four games taking place in the first one just on Wednesday and then the next three on Thursday And i think it's gonna be exciting. i know Texas plays, I believe on that Wednesday. i think I remember you saying that maybe you can't watch it. And we have a couple more bowl games that we don't necessarily have to get into. But you were just saying that it seems like every game has the making to be a good game.
00:00:39
Mike Bell
So i am pretty excited. I think it's going to be a great, you know, what is it, quarterfinal?
Can Miami Beat Ohio State?
00:00:47
Mike Bell
So, yeah, what ah what are your general thoughts?
00:00:47
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:00:53
Kaleb
Before we go there, I think we have to backtrack to your game and just briefly discuss that. Just for mine and your sake.
00:01:02
Mike Bell
Um, we can. The only thing is, i mean, look, I guess, you know, that is my team and then you have your team as well. So if we just want to focus on the one game, we can.
00:01:14
Mike Bell
ah it kind of goes, so why don't we do this? I'll talk about that and it's kind of a good lead into Miami, Ohio State. So basically my answer to that is going to be why Miami has no shot against Ohio State and why a and m quite frankly, wouldn't have had a shot either.
00:01:30
Mike Bell
You know,
00:01:31
Kaleb
Not many teams would have, but yeah, go ahead.
00:01:33
Mike Bell
Yeah, but I don't know. You could paint in a picture where if A&M had gone and they just blew Miami out or they just looked really solid on ah offense, you could say, oh, okay, maybe A&M could put up a fight.
00:01:44
Mike Bell
And I don't feel that way if A&M would have pulled it off at the end or now Miami obviously winning. I don't i just don't see it. Especially against Ohio State, you just got to have an offense, I think.
Texas A&M's Offensive Struggles Analyzed
00:01:56
Mike Bell
But to talk about the game, I guess I thought it was very disappointing on a lot of levels. because I don't think anything of Miami. I think they have a solid defense. I think it is a legitimate defense. Obviously, they've got Reuben Bay and all that. I get it.
00:02:12
Mike Bell
But i said against Texas and I said against Miami that it's on one man and it's on one man only, and that is Marcel Reed. And it looks like A&M has a Marcel Reed problem.
00:02:26
Mike Bell
I think to only score three points in a game against a team that is – around equal competition is inexcusable.
00:02:37
Mike Bell
And, you know, in big games, it does seem like the A&M offense going back to last year, since Colin Klein came to A&M, has not been good.
00:02:49
Mike Bell
And I think it's, I really thought the game was unacceptable. um You know, against Texas, Do I think A&M should have beat Texas like overall in terms of like the team versus team?
00:03:03
Mike Bell
Yes, but on that day, Texas was the better team, and I'll give Texas that. I do not feel that way about Miami, and that's why this one is so frustrating. and you know Turnovers, Marcel, them not throwing the ball downfield. Now, maybe they're not throwing it downfield because they know he can't.
00:03:21
Mike Bell
I continue to say, i don't know. You got to take risk. and Yeah, I just thought it was very bad from A&M. I was impressed with their defense. Carson Beck, I think, looked awful.
00:03:32
Mike Bell
We completely took Malachi Tony out of the game. He was a non-factor. Their entire offense was a non-factor the entire game. And A&M had opportunities to score.
00:03:43
Mike Bell
Couldn't score.
00:03:44
Kaleb
The only thing that I was surprised about with like concerning A&M's defense was just their – the Miami running back. Like I think the last drive or the second to last drive off offensively for them, he had like 75 yards rushing.
00:03:56
Kaleb
But before that he had around 80.
00:03:57
Mike Bell
I
00:03:57
Kaleb
Like so your defense gave up quite a bit of rushing yards, which I think is obvious, which is with the low scoring game, that's definitely the difference maker there. You know what? Marcel Reid did not help, but I don't know.
00:04:11
Mike Bell
i gotta tell you, I don't, I don't agree with that at all.
00:04:12
Kaleb
I'm kind of surprised.
00:04:14
Mike Bell
I don't think that was the difference maker. um If the, if the A&M defense gives me that every game and our weakness has been against the run and it wasn't against Texas, same thing. We bottled up the run and both games.
00:04:26
Mike Bell
decently well but then there were just some big runs that kind of made the yards look at look like it was more than it was that's not why we lost the game you know that that's not why the problem is is the offense the offense not moving the ball and not scoring uh the run defense has to be better and we just brought in a guy i think his last name smith elijah smith or something he's been with a and him before and he's supposed to help our d line as a d line coach whatever It absolutely has to be better. I won't argue with you on that.
00:04:55
Mike Bell
That's not why we lost. The defense has been fine. It is 100% an offensive problem. And i think it's a Marcel problem more specifically. Problem is, I don't know what you can do about that because he's going to be the guy next year. He's a small and he's very, he's just limited.
00:05:11
Kaleb
Yeah, was about to say, i don't really know of like, if there's going anybody in that quarterback room to really like push him, you know, put pressure on him to, I'm sure he's going to like want to improve, obviously, you know, not every quarter, every college quarterback does, but sometimes like the more pressure a quarterback has on them, like the more strict they're going be on diets and I don't know, every level of preparation.
00:05:11
Mike Bell
So we'll see.
00:05:33
Kaleb
So I don't know. I think, i think A&M will be like an interesting team to see next year. Number one, do I know like exactly what you're losing to the draft or transfer portal yet?
00:05:46
Kaleb
No, but it'll it'll be interesting to see. I think your offensive line, though, is going to kind of go through what Texas did this year, next year, because a lot of like seniors, juniors, it's very heavy upperclassmen, which that's not fun.
00:05:53
Mike Bell
right
00:06:00
Kaleb
So we'll kind of see how you guys are in the portal.
Oregon vs Texas Tech: Preview and Challenges
00:06:03
Kaleb
um But anyway, we could lead into the Miami and Ohio State game, I guess, if you want to. ah You know...
00:06:11
Mike Bell
um I have to say, I'll just go quickly.
00:06:11
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:06:13
Mike Bell
Just I think Miami, is they're fraudulent.
00:06:18
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:06:18
Mike Bell
And I think Carson Beck is bad. Malachi Tony is very good. Reuben Bain, very good. Their defense is solid.
00:06:26
Kaleb
Your defense may be able to keep them in the game, but...
00:06:26
Mike Bell
Other than that, do I – right, right.
00:06:30
Kaleb
I mean, Ohio State just has too many weapons.
00:06:30
Mike Bell
Could I see the – yeah.
00:06:33
Kaleb
So it's, and Miami does, frankly.
00:06:34
Mike Bell
And off the loss.
00:06:36
Kaleb
Do what?
00:06:36
Mike Bell
Yeah. Coming off a loss, and it's hard to imagine Mario Cristobal putting together like two really good games.
00:06:42
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:06:43
Mike Bell
So, yeah, I don't know. I don't have much to say other than, you know, the over-under total is 40 and a half, so it could be like a low-scoring game. I could see that. I think Ohio State's just going to find a way, and they're going be pissed off about this loss, and they're going to pull away.
00:06:55
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:06:58
Mike Bell
That's really all I have to say.
00:07:01
Kaleb
Yeah, and I would agree agree with you on that. um I think Ryan Day is, like, one of the better coaches in college. um I don't know before, like, last year – or this year, there was actually a lot of talk, like, about, like, the Michigan game, you know, and just like, oh, can this guy ever do it or whatever?
00:07:23
Kaleb
But I've always thought he's a really good coach, and I think he's, like – Night and day difference, but yeah maybe not night and day difference, but I think he is a huge improvement over Mario Cristobal. So I think on a coaching like like landscape, I think Ryan Day is –
00:07:42
Kaleb
Hugely better. I don't even know if that's like a good wording there, but anyway, whatever. I think Rondae is a really good coach. think he's better than Mario Cristobal because he, like every year, he's got like one questionable call and whatnot or one questionable game. It's like, okay, man, you really just kind of screwed your team.
00:07:58
Kaleb
It seems like every year anyway. So next game, I think that we could, I think we'll be interesting to go into. Let's just go into the 11 o'clock game on New Year's Day, Oregon, Texas Tech.
00:08:10
Kaleb
What are your thoughts on that game?
00:08:13
Mike Bell
I think of all the games is probably the one I'm most looking forward to. And it's kind of the one where you least know what to expect.
00:08:22
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:08:23
Mike Bell
You know, it seems like we've been saying all season, not quite sure what expect of tech. They haven't faced anybody outside the big 12. you know what we kind of think of the big 12.
00:08:35
Mike Bell
So know nevertheless, they've been a very solid team. Like they've been blowing people out too. It just seems like they've kind of got a little bit of everything. Great D line, obviously Jacob Rodriguez, you know, Heisman candidate. And then their ah offense has been very good.
00:08:50
Mike Bell
Morton as quarterback. So It's just going to be interesting to see what they're like against a team like Oregon that has not played in a while now.
00:08:58
Kaleb
Yeah, it's been a I would say that's a huge thing.
00:08:58
Mike Bell
And
00:09:01
Kaleb
Oregon, they played the 20th of December, so like, you know um well, nine days ago now, but when they play, it's going to be around 10 days, so a week and a half roughly, or not 10 days, probably about, what, two, three, so 12 days, um so little just under like two weeks, but for Texas Tech, it's going to be It's going to almost be a month, man.
00:09:26
Kaleb
I think that's going to be like a preparation. I expect that to be like to a tee, but I think there's like.
00:09:32
Mike Bell
You have this, you mean Oregon's been a month and tech has been 12 days because Oregon hasn't, and Texas tech was in the big 12 championship.
00:09:38
Kaleb
ah
00:09:41
Mike Bell
I think that's what you meant to say.
00:09:44
Kaleb
No. Oregon played on the 20th against GMU and beat them and Texas Tech played the sixth.
00:09:49
Mike Bell
Oh, that's right. That's right. That's right. i forgot.
00:09:52
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:09:52
Mike Bell
Well, they basically didn't play in fairness. Uh, but, but yes, yes.
00:09:55
Kaleb
Yeah. So I think i think that's going to huge.
00:09:56
Mike Bell
Uh,
00:09:59
Kaleb
You know, we'll see if it is it if it's an advantage or disadvantage for tech. You know, that's ah just a long time not to actually play like a real game. You know, there's a difference, I think, between practice, no matter if it's the...
00:10:14
Kaleb
you know, scout team or, you know, whatever. I think there's a huge difference between that versus like a real opponent and like real time, that kind of thing. so and And not to say that Oregon, you know, I don't really think too much of the JMU outing, but I don't know. We'll kind of see how that,
00:10:32
Kaleb
ah plays out, I guess. But you're exactly right. I mean, you don't know what to expect. Both really good defenses, interesting offenses. You know, right now, Dante Moore has a lot of hype around him. So I think – I don't know. Don't know what to expect. i was trying to – that's what I meant to look at. I saw that Oregon's favor by two and a half points.
00:10:53
Kaleb
Yeah, 52 and a half points is what they have it here. So, okay. Interesting. Interesting.
00:10:59
Mike Bell
No, I think it's going to fascinating. Oregon, number one in explosive plays. Texas Tech is number four in defending explosive plays.
00:11:07
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:11:07
Mike Bell
So going to be strength on strength. You know about both these teams in the trenches. Obviously, I was just talking about how good Texas Tech is, you know, in the D-line. And, you know, Oregon is very good at running the ball. So i don't know. I look at this as two elite teams, but it's two elite teams that you could argue – I don't want to haven't faced anybody. I think people say that too often, like, oh, they haven't faced anybody.
00:11:31
Mike Bell
But it's two teams that whenever you find out the winner of this one, it just feels like they're going to have a lot of momentum going into that next game.
00:11:39
Kaleb
Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:39
Mike Bell
And, you know, Oregon was in a similar spot, somewhat similar spot last year to where, remember, they were the number one team and then they got knocked off. And I think they remember that. And I think they're trying to, you know, this year take advantage of maybe their seeding a little bit more.
00:11:56
Kaleb
yeah
00:11:56
Mike Bell
And... And yeah, I'm very excited. and It'd be cool just as a you know a fan of most Texas teams besides one specifically to see a Texas team you know advance. i like Texas Tech. I've never had an issue with them.
00:12:10
Mike Bell
And I think it'd be cool to see them advance. So yeah, I think it'd be, I think it's going to be just a great game.
00:12:18
Kaleb
Yeah, I mean, it would be it would be interesting. Obviously, I'll be rooting for Texas Tech. I'm not the biggest fan of them. I'd probably say my the only reason why I would go for them is because my grandfather went there and graduated from there. But anyway, I think it'll be very interesting. um I guess we can wait to say our picks for personal ah this upcoming week so we won't give anything away.
00:12:40
Kaleb
But, um you know, too
00:12:43
Mike Bell
I don't know who going to choose.
00:12:46
Kaleb
To what?
00:12:47
Mike Bell
I don't know who I'm going to choose anyway.
00:12:49
Kaleb
Yeah, I don't either.
00:12:54
Kaleb
I don't know, man. I would need to look at, like, Oregon's injury report, you know, because I remember, like, I can't remember if it was against JMU or the game before that that they had several key injuries, you know, and just to make sure those people are back because – Really, man, I think that I'd probably give the edge maybe to Oregon just because maybe they have more offensive weapons than what Tech does. But other than that, I think they're pretty even kill. you know like Both their defenses are pretty good.
00:13:24
Kaleb
um Maybe give a slight edge to Oregon's secondary. But the The front seven for each elite, you know, so I'm kind of interested to see it. I would not be surprised if it's a low scoring game and maybe that's kind of where I'm going to lean towards is a low scoring game. And I think that'd be pretty exciting too, to be honest. So I guess we could go on to the next game unless you had something else to say.
00:13:52
Mike Bell
No, we can go into the next game. Next game would be 3 o'clock right after that. Alabama, number 9 versus number 1,
Alabama vs Indiana: Potential for an Upset
00:14:00
Mike Bell
Indiana. Indiana favored by 7. And yeah, this is, what do you think of the spread and what do you think of just the game in general?
00:14:03
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:14:13
Kaleb
I would maybe agree with that, you know. um Kudos to Alabama for coming back the way they did against Oklahoma. I did not foresee that coming. I don't know if you did or not, like, you know, but I believe it was like 17 to nothing or whatever at the beginning.
00:14:24
Mike Bell
I think they were done.
00:14:27
Kaleb
and I was like, oh, wow, dude. I'm actually very surprised by this. um and I was even more shocked when Alabama came back and basically shut out OU for all intents and purposes. so i just don't think that kind of stuff is going to be able to happen with Indiana, though, to be honest with you.
00:14:46
Kaleb
um Indiana is too good to come out flat and then you know have to kind of pull a comeback type of thing that they did the first time. so i think Indiana is going to win. and you know I wouldn't be too against saying that they cover, but You know, anything could happen. It's a playoff game. So.
00:15:08
Mike Bell
Right. You know, it does seem like in these spots, granted, Indiana has had enough experience now, but Alabama has more players on their team that has been in these situations.
00:15:18
Kaleb
yeah
00:15:18
Mike Bell
And, you know, Alabama is going to be giving everyone their best shot. And there's part of them that's going to be saying, no team should be favored by seven against us. Do we really think now Georgia blew out Alabama, but do we really think Indiana is that much better?
00:15:36
Mike Bell
than Alabama. And just saying that out loud, I actually would say, yeah, probably, because we can't just forget.
00:15:43
Kaleb
I just think they're they've shown more consistency than what Alabama has.
00:15:47
Mike Bell
Well, consistency.
00:15:48
Kaleb
and it And that would be easier for Indiana to do versus Alabama because the schedules were remarkably different. different Alabama's schedule is one of the most brutal ones you know in college.
00:16:03
Kaleb
Indiana, I won't say they had like a cream puff schedule, but they didn't necessarily have – like if you want to compare schedules, it's kind of a night and day thing. so But when it when it mattered, when they went and played Ohio State and beat them in the Big Ten Championship, they looked like an all-around good football team.
00:16:22
Mike Bell
Yeah, well,
00:16:22
Kaleb
As good as you can. i mean, you know.
00:16:26
Mike Bell
that's another psychological thing, though, they're being part of Indiana.
00:16:26
Kaleb
against yeah Are they cocky?
00:16:30
Mike Bell
They're Indiana still. They can't really afford to be sitting too high. But are they saying, like, hey, we just beat the best team. Now we've got to go play other games? you know it's like It's hard to like say they're not going to take Alabama seriously.
00:16:45
Mike Bell
i think they're going take them seriously.
00:16:46
Kaleb
yeah.
00:16:47
Mike Bell
But is there just a psychological part of them that's complacent? I don't know the answer to that.
00:16:51
Kaleb
yeah
00:16:52
Mike Bell
That's just something to think about. But, you know, like, would it shock me? If Alabama won this game, no. But I do think you have to look at the last like four months, three months of play and just realize that something has been off with Alabama.
00:17:08
Mike Bell
And look, they seem to have solved something against OU because for them to score the way they were scoring on OU is really just impressive.
00:17:09
Kaleb
yeah
00:17:16
Mike Bell
No one's done that all year other than, I guess, maybe Ole Miss.
00:17:16
Kaleb
He was.
00:17:20
Mike Bell
And, you know, maybe they found something. I don't know. It will be an exciting game to watch. But I do think there is something just special about this Indiana team. And I think it's going to take an elite team to beat Indiana because Indiana themselves are elite. So I think the teams that could beat them are Georgia and Ohio State.
00:17:43
Mike Bell
And then honestly, I'd like to see organ against them again. That could be cool. So, but I just don't think Alabama is at that level yet. And.
00:17:50
Kaleb
Yeah, and' well, with just them being so one-dimensional offense for the most part and their defense just being a little bit more leaky than, you know, what you really can go into the playoff and expect a championship with.
00:17:57
Mike Bell
Right.
00:18:05
Kaleb
so
00:18:05
Mike Bell
Yep. No, agreed. That's pretty much all i have to say there. I guess we can move on to what I think is also going to be a very good game. It is too bad Lane Kiffin. is out the
00:18:15
Kaleb
Different storylines, yeah. I mean, there's a couple storylines that will come out of this, you know.
00:18:20
Mike Bell
Well, storylines, but I think it just has the potential to good game.
00:18:22
Kaleb
Well, yeah, I know. I'm just saying like game and storylines, you know,
00:18:25
Mike Bell
Yes, yes. um Number six, Ole Miss versus Georgia. Number three, Georgia, 7 o'clock, also on ESPN. They're all on ESPN. Georgia favored by 6.5.
Ole Miss vs Georgia: High-Scoring Game Ahead?
00:18:36
Mike Bell
This has the highest over-under total of 55.5. Last time it was a shootout, you would expect the same here.
00:18:43
Mike Bell
I was watching LSU versus Houston the other day. Houston beat him, and they were interviewing Lane Kiffin and you know his thoughts on the game. he was saying, well, you know, it's probably the best offense in the league right now, old Miss, which is probably fair, versus what has been lately the best de defense. um Not for the year necessarily, but lately for the, you know,
00:19:04
Mike Bell
At the end of the day, you saw, you you just saw what um Alabama did to OU put up that many points, but look at what they did against Georgia talking about Alabama.
00:19:04
Kaleb
Yeah, the the whole team. Yeah.
00:19:15
Mike Bell
They were only able to put up seven.
00:19:17
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:19:18
Mike Bell
So something to keep in mind, Lane Kiffin is one of, if not the best play callers in the league. And you do think that is the type of thing that would cost Ole Miss at some point. And it would make sense to cost them against a team like Georgia.
00:19:34
Mike Bell
You know, i would love to see this game be competitive. I think it will be because I just think Ole Miss does have the offense.
00:19:39
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:19:41
Mike Bell
They're going they're going to score. But, you know, Ole Miss hasn't really been in these situations before. Georgia has. And, yeah.
00:19:50
Kaleb
Yeah. Kirby Smartman, he's hard to beat in these seats these situations, man.
00:19:57
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:19:58
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:19:58
Mike Bell
In fact, I would say it would even borderline shock me if Ole Miss won this game, to be
00:20:04
Kaleb
Oh, for sure. I think it would too, just because, you know, you're talking about just how much the defense for Georgia has improved over the last couple, you know, like probably the last month or a month and a half. I mean, the same thing goes for the offense. You know, each week they kept getting better and better and better and look just as a team, they almost look unstoppable. So I'm not going to initially put, like, I do agree with you, Lane Kiffin's probably one of the best play callers in the country, but I think, you not Charlie Weiss, but the offensive coordinator for Ole Miss that is that they've allowed to coach.
00:20:37
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:20:38
Kaleb
But he's probably – I think he's going to LSU after this game or whatever.
00:20:39
Mike Bell
Maybe there's...
00:20:41
Kaleb
But anyway, I think he's going to call good enough plays. I don't think that will be the issue. I just think Ole Miss, yes, it's probably one of the better offenses in the country, if not the best overall ah offense. Their defense is just – I don't know if they're going to have enough in the tank to really stop Georgia and Gunnar Stockton, you know, with what they've been able to do in their run game.
00:21:01
Kaleb
That's my question.
00:21:04
Mike Bell
Yeah, no, agreed. it is kind of a game. you just kind of It kind of feels like you don't quite know what to expect.
00:21:11
Kaleb
Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:12
Mike Bell
But I would say, like I said, I do kind of expect a good game, at least for like...
00:21:18
Kaleb
I would be – if i didn did't If I had to sit here and say how like how i'd guess I guess it would go, it's like maybe it's competitive going into halftime and then Georgia separates after that.
00:21:29
Kaleb
you know We'll see though.
00:21:31
Mike Bell
Yeah, no, I could definitely say that.
00:21:33
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:21:34
Mike Bell
What what i was to say is what could be, you know, if Georgia wins this game, as we expect, you know, the next round is going to be a lot of fun. Georgia versus Ohio State, as
00:21:45
Kaleb
yes, for sure, man.
00:21:48
Mike Bell
especially as Georgia has come on, you know, they've just really – because it's safe to say, like, beginning of the season, maybe even middle of the season, Georgia did not feel like an elite team at all. Like, they were they just had, like, a lot of struggle.
00:22:00
Mike Bell
Now it's like, okay, they're reaching that elite level. They're coming on at the right time. And that would just be one heck of a matchup, Ohio State versus versus Georgia. So i am I am rooting for that result selfishly as a football fan because I would just say it's just hard to imagine Ole Miss running the table.
00:22:21
Mike Bell
But if beat Georgia, maybe ah maybe I'll fall differently.
00:22:22
Kaleb
Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah, I guess it depends on the fashion that they were able to beat Georgia in, you know. um Yeah, it would be interesting.
00:22:35
Kaleb
um You know, something earlier, we kind of, you know, we briefly talked about the Ohio State-Miami, or we talked about it for a little bit, but one thing that I thought was interesting, Kurt Curbstreet brought it up, like, I forgot what game it was, but was game Was game day at the A&M Miami game?
00:22:54
Mike Bell
Yes.
00:22:55
Kaleb
Okay, so it must have been that one. So he was talking about how, like, the 2002 National and Championship when Miami and Ohio State played and stuff like that. And I think it was, like, a controversial call. I don't know the specifics of it. But anyway, so they'll be playing probably some, like, highlights of that game and stuff like that. So the lead-up to the game will be very cool and interesting, I think. So – I don't know.
00:23:18
Kaleb
We're getting to some of the best football. And like you said, you know, it's a shame that the first week of this playoff game or the playoffs were kind of a joke in all fairness, to be honest with you.
00:23:30
Mike Bell
Oh, hi.
00:23:31
Kaleb
You know, like two good games, half of them, half of them were a joke, I would say. And we won't get into that, you know, hopefully that's fixed, but you know, we're really about to get to the cream of the crop football for the year, you know, and it's kind of bittersweet because, you know, it's about to end, you know? So anyway, um couple of things I think are very interesting.
00:23:53
Kaleb
Okay. So ah saw today that Penn state hired USC's defensive coordinator and he made markably improved, like he has made very big improvements for USC's defense in Lincoln Rally this year. And he's gone, apparently it's an alma mater, of like the defensive coordinator at USC this year as alma mater is Penn State. So anyway, he he was ah you know considered a top defensive coordinator, you know. um So him going back there with Matt Campbell at Penn State, I think that'll be very interesting. Good move on Matt Campbell, which I didn't expect anything less other than good moves.
00:24:35
Kaleb
um I think something that's happened since we've been on here, Kyle Whittingham going to Michigan, I think that is a home run hire, home run hire for sure.
00:24:45
Kaleb
Yeah.
Kyle Whittingham's Move to Michigan
00:24:46
Mike Bell
Yep.
00:24:49
Kaleb
You know, um I forget exactly when he left Utah. You know, I think I want to say it was like within this week or something like that. And I don't know if part of it was just like, you know, that's very odd though, like, is he announced he left.
00:25:04
Kaleb
And frankly, he's just one of those coaches that the only reason why Utah feel like is even relevant year in year out is because of him and what he's been able to do there, you know, his systems.
00:25:18
Kaleb
And he left or, you know, he decided to leave. And then now all of a sudden he's a coach at Michigan. I don't know. It's kind of interesting, I guess. But, you know, given the state of the program at Michigan, he's a steady guy. You know, he's – I think he's got a proven track record because you expect Utah to be a powerhouse? No. But – And did he do that? Did he go win a championship at Utah? No, but then again, it's that Utah is a hard place to do that at. He's goingnna have more resources and whatnot at Michigan. So I'm excited to see what he's able to do there.
00:25:50
Kaleb
so
00:25:52
Mike Bell
Yeah, no, I mean, well said, i wouldn't add much. I do think it was the best hire that maybe they could have got of the people.
00:25:59
Kaleb
For sure, especially now. That's the thing that really sucked with Michigan was like, all the cream of the crop guys that are cream of the crop guys you could have picked on, they were already picked over, you know, because they weren't expecting to fire Sharon Moore.
00:26:14
Kaleb
So.
00:26:15
Mike Bell
Yeah, no, I good there.
00:26:16
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:26:18
Mike Bell
think Matt Campbell should be good at Penn State. The only thing is, with him, is just... It may take him a couple of years at Penn State just because they only had, like, what, two recruits this year?
00:26:27
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:26:31
Mike Bell
I mean, that's tough.
00:26:31
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:26:32
Mike Bell
You know, that's a tough thing to just deal with.
00:26:34
Kaleb
Oh, for sure.
00:26:34
Mike Bell
So... But I am excited for the Big Ten. That is interesting on the USC side because, you know, their defense, you kind of think their offense is always going to be okay under Lincoln Riley.
00:26:45
Mike Bell
They kind of need that consistent defense.
00:26:46
Kaleb
But the – yeah, right. The defense, though, my gosh. Yeah.
00:26:49
Mike Bell
Yeah, right, right. So what's interesting is, i think everyone's going to be looking at USC this next year. And this is going to be kind of like the year that puts Lincoln Riley potentially on the hot seat.
00:27:03
Mike Bell
So if they're a disaster, that's probably it for Lincoln Riley. And
00:27:08
Kaleb
Well, I know their top wide receiver is going to the draft. I don't know if the quarterback has declared or not. I mean, oh, well, we'll figure that out.
00:27:19
Mike Bell
I haven't seen that yet.
00:27:21
Kaleb
Okay. I have an either off the top of my head. However, it has been crazy with the holidays, so there's a chance I could have missed it. But, you know, and I mean, rightfully so. He's been there.
00:27:35
Kaleb
What, I mean, this this may be be his fourth or fifth year? And what have they done, honestly? The biggest accomplishment, he he's you know, he's done there is Caleb Williams winning the, believe he won the Heisman at, yeah, he won the Heisman at USC.
00:27:52
Mike Bell
Right.
00:27:52
Kaleb
i mean, what's to that? There's nothing else, really, to be honest with you. He has a number one recruiting class this year, like,
00:27:58
Mike Bell
Right. That's the thing is he's found a way to recruit very well, but it's just like,
00:28:03
Kaleb
Yeah, this year, but he's just – I don't know. It's like
00:28:09
Kaleb
no matter what his recruiting classes have been, the offense has been great. Defense has been trashed no matter who they've recruited. And they he the entire time he's been there, he's been able to recruit okay at least you know every year, maybe not the number one recruiting class. But I don't know. I'm curious to see who he fills in at the defensive coordinator spot in – um know what he's able to do next year.
00:28:32
Kaleb
As far as the Texas-Michigan game, to be honest with you, I'm going to miss it. and i was telling my dad earlier, I'm not necessarily as upset about it as I typically would have been in years past because just as many people have hit the transfer portal and kind of the same sentiment that we've talked about in the last couple weeks is just like, if your team's not in the playoff, then the bowls just, I don't know, they're just, it's kind of this weird thing that's happening. You know, the only aspect of it that I would be excited about and that kind of sucks to miss is just to see the young players that fill in those roles that maybe we haven't gotten to see as much of throughout the year, see how they do in the bowl game, you know, um because we do have a lot of talented young players that will, you know, be able to play now because of either they have like to go to the transfer portal or for the draft.
00:29:28
Kaleb
Um, and you know, the, something that really sucks in that I'm not necessarily going to concerned about yet, but for Texas, you know, we've lost four running backs alone into the transfer portal.
00:29:43
Kaleb
And I think we had
00:29:49
Kaleb
targeted the Florida, I think, freshman running back, which if we were able to get him, would be a great pickup. But, I mean, here's the deal. We've got to get the linemen first. And I was kind of telling my dad that, you know, we could get the some of the best running backs in the nation. But if we – you know, Stark doesn't hit the portal really hard and get really good offensive linemen, it's going to be all for nothing, to be honest with you.
00:30:12
Kaleb
kind of a funny note onto that is, and i don't know if it's real or not, to be honest with you, but I saw that Trey Wisner, like you guys were interested in picking him up, ah which funny enough, Trey Wisner, he, I think he didn't even get over a hundred yards at all this year until like we played you guys oddly enough. And then the year before, i mean, he had like almost 200 yards, I think, but So, i mean, if you guys got him, I mean, hey, he'd be a good pickup. But anyway,
00:30:43
Kaleb
um I think that's about it on the Michigan game. I don't necessarily know too much about, you know, their transfer portal draft situation. But, you know, you just get the sense that their program is not necessarily – I feel like it's in a better state now that they have a great proven head coach. But before, you know, the offensive coordinator was filling in and, you know, I don't necessarily have – comment on him or anything, but you just kind of felt like, dang, man, you know, they were building something special here. Is it just going to crumble fall and put them back into the depths like they were for a while? And, you know, what's going to happen with Michigan is my, was my question, you know, so.
00:31:24
Mike Bell
Yeah, so yeah, as far as that game specifically, it is too bad, and it is too bad on some of these teams. It it depends on the bowl game. I do think Michigan-Texas is one of those, but you know a game that is not one of those that will be fun to watch is Iowa-Vanderbilt.
00:31:33
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:31:39
Mike Bell
I think that's a great matchup, and both teams, I think, are going be taking it seriously.
00:31:41
Kaleb
Yes.
00:31:44
Mike Bell
That's just an example. There are others, but back to Michigan-Texas real quick. You know, it still could have been a great game. I think both teams still would have taken it seriously if it wasn't for, like, the Sharon Moore thing. And then now, you know, Michigan's head, like, just can't be in it completely the way that it would have been. And then Texas, I don't know what to think about that. But especially with the portal stuff now, it does seem like, okay, like, you can't – just You just can't take it as seriously as you used to because it used to be like a big deal. Like, hey we won the Citrus Bowl, not ironically. Like, that actually is kind of a big deal.
00:32:20
Mike Bell
But now it's just like there's always that asterisk of like,
00:32:22
Kaleb
Well, yeah, it's a good bowl. And, you know, Michigan, like if everybody, if nobody left the portal or nothing happened, I think it would have been a good bowl game matchup. You know, ah Michigan was a good team.
00:32:37
Mike Bell
Yeah. um What are your thoughts on so many Texas players leaving? so Because I have seen that and it has been a surprise to me.
Texas Players Entering Transfer Portal: Causes and Concerns
00:32:45
Mike Bell
the There's been quite a few, more than I would have expected, that are entering the form.
00:32:50
Kaleb
I think the – so the running backs, I think the reason why they have left is because we are – for whatever reason, Coach Sarkeesian let our running backs coach go, you know.
00:33:01
Kaleb
um So I think that's one aspect of it. I was actually very surprised that Trey Wisner left because he was pretty much the only consistent running back that we used this entire year. And I know he doesn't necessarily look – Like, I'm sure whenever we played you guys, you looked at him and, you know, he was running. I'm sure you were like, dang, how the hell is he?
00:33:22
Kaleb
i don't know. He just kept – he gains yards fine. It's – I don't know. It's just so weird. Every game he's just like – he looks small, but he just bounces off, wiggles, gets room, whatever. And so that one really sucked.
00:33:34
Kaleb
Yeah. Another surprise was DeAndre Moore, our wide receiver, and honestly, probably our most consistent wide receiver. um He decided to go into the portal. I'm not sure what the reasoning was there because he played pretty much the whole year. he had, you know, can all things considered with us not having a consistent offense, he had good stats.
00:33:57
Kaleb
um i So I don't really know. I don't know if Sark was like, hey, oh you know, i bet I bet some of it was money related though. you know maybe like we ah they think hey I'm worth more than this and Stark maybe thinks he can go in the portal and get a comparable player for maybe a cheaper price
00:34:16
Mike Bell
Apparently Weisner wanted one. i don't know if this is true, but apparently he wanted one million, which is a lot for a running back. So that's kind of what.
00:34:23
Kaleb
yeah non-quarterback yeah
00:34:25
Mike Bell
Right, right. I don't know if that's true, but that's the rumor. Didn't you guys also lose a linebacker?
00:34:31
Kaleb
Oh, yes, Liana LaFowle. I'm very surprised by that, too. He's been as like he's been a starter, like I think a three-year starter for us. um that I think the reason behind that one was like the play style of defense.
00:34:46
Kaleb
But here's the deal, and I i don't know the differences between pk so Pete Kwiatkowski, the guy that a Stark let go and we hired rehired Will Muschamp.
00:34:54
Mike Bell
What are talking about this? Yeah. Yeah.
00:34:56
Kaleb
um I don't know the differences, but LaFowle left because he didn't like the way he was playing. It didn't match like how – it didn't suit his play style.
00:35:07
Kaleb
um And I don't know if Will Muschamp's defense does – I think it's different than what PK does, but I don't know if the linebackers, what exactly the differences are there. Yeah.
00:35:19
Kaleb
I think that was surprising too, to be honest. i saw I thought it was pretty funny. Somebody commented, oh, so Sark's going to fix our offense by letting our defensive coordinator go. i see. it i thought that was so true because it's like – and frankly, like you know we let our running backs coach go, and it was not our running – maybe the only thing was like we had just no – our running back room has been obliterated for like two years.
00:35:49
Kaleb
um like not really healthy. And I don't know if you blame that on the strength and conditioning coach or the running back coach specifically, but I don't know.
00:35:59
Kaleb
Our issue was our offensive line, not the running backs, not necessarily the wide receivers either. um was offensive line. And I'm just, I'm not worried yet, but I'm curious.
00:36:12
Mike Bell
I've seen a lot of Texas fans have issue with the fact that they that you guys did let your defensive coordinator go.
00:36:12
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:36:18
Mike Bell
Apparently he was overall at doing well and it seemed like an odd move to lot of people.
00:36:22
Kaleb
Yes.
00:36:24
Mike Bell
so But who knows what's going on internally, I guess.
00:36:25
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:36:27
Mike Bell
Maybe they just didn't get along or see eye to eye on the way direction.
00:36:29
Kaleb
Well, he... Yeah, Steve Sarkeesian in a press conference, actually, and I was surprised he even said this because he typically doesn't, like, say...
00:36:31
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:36:38
Kaleb
He didn't come out right out and say, like, you know, anything bad about PK, but he was like... um
00:36:47
Kaleb
you know, bringing Will Muschamp in here, I'll be able to pay more attention to the offense and not have to, you know... So, in a sense, it kind of comes off like, oh, so was he having to micromanage PK and that kind of stuff? You know, like, what was he having to do behind the doors that, you know... I don't know. But our defense... Listen, we weren't 10-3 or nine in three because of our defense.
00:37:11
Kaleb
You know, it wasn't as good as it was, like, maybe, like, a year or two ago. bye our secondary was pretty young, pretty fresh.
00:37:19
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:37:21
Kaleb
So that's going to just happen naturally. So I told my dad, whenever that first happened, I was like, man, that's kind of crazy. Actually, like, you know, am I pumped about Will Muschamp coming back?
00:37:31
Kaleb
Because back when he was our defensive coordinator, that's, you know, 2008, 2009, very good defenses in And, ten very good defenses and um back when that Back when he first got hired, everybody was like showing all the memes of him and Nick Saban yelling on the sideline.
00:37:52
Kaleb
and Then there was one where he was like yeah like just staring at the quarterback and like frothing at the mouth kind of thing. and It was pretty funny. but um I don't know. It'll be interesting to see. I'm looking forward to seeing what ah Coach Arkegen does in the portal. He's got to be active, probably more active than he has been at Texas yet this year. um And yeah, I don't know.
00:38:18
Mike Bell
Yeah, last thing on in terms of coaching and coaching changes and hires, I love what Bill Belichick has done, bringing in Bobby Petrino as the offensive coordinator.
Bobby Petrino Joins Patriots: Impact on Strategy
00:38:29
Kaleb
I saw that.
00:38:30
Mike Bell
If Bill Belichick has had a weakness, hate to say it, it has been an offense you know recently, and Bobby Petrino has always had great offenses. I will say when he was at A&M, we still didn't have the best offense, but we also had like quarterback injuries like crazy. Yeah.
00:38:46
Mike Bell
But and also, I think Jimbo – now, here's the thing, and this is where i want to go with this. My understanding, this is what Bobby Petrino was kind of saying, Jimbo Fisher brought Bobby Petrino in to still run Jimbo Fisher's ah offense, and there was just pressure on Jimbo Fisher to hire an offensive coordinator because before that, it was just Jimbo Fisher running you know the offense, basically. He was the de facto offensive coordinator.
00:39:09
Mike Bell
I could see Bill Belichick doing the same thing, to be honest with you. and bringing in, like, oh, I'll bring in the high-profile guy, but it's still going to be my offense. I don't know about that, though, because I feel like Bobby Petrino would be like, okay, I've been through this before. Like, I've got to run my own system.
00:39:25
Mike Bell
And I just think, I hope bella Belichick knows that, look, he knows he can coach defense, but offense has been an issue. So let Bobby Petrino do his thing.
00:39:36
Mike Bell
They've got a great recruiting class coming in. I think it's the number 17 class, which is really good for North Carolina. And they're
00:39:41
Kaleb
That is, especially with how they did this year. so
00:39:44
Mike Bell
Right, right. So, and then they're, I think, pretty good in the transfer portal portal. I don't know what they'll do at quarterback. Gio Lopez is okay. Maybe they'll go with him. Maybe they'll try to bring somebody in. I don't know, but just have to say, as somebody who's rooting,
00:39:56
Kaleb
ah saw somebody left them, a quarterback left them this week.
00:39:57
Mike Bell
oops
00:39:59
Mike Bell
yeah, he was a freshman quarterback, but I don't think he was going to start or anything.
00:40:03
Kaleb
Yeah, I don't know anything any other that.
00:40:04
Mike Bell
know who the issue is there, but... Either way, I like the direction they're going. I hope they can do something with it. And, you know, it's just a personal team I'm rooting for. But that's that's all I've got on that.
00:40:18
Kaleb
I, the only thing I would say to that is maybe like, I just don't know if how big the leash is on Bill Belichick for him to sit there and I don't want to say like sabotage the offense by just kind of, you know, bringing in Bobby Petrino just for him to run the offense. I don't think he's got that much because I think there was like actually a good amount of pressure on him like this year because of,
00:40:39
Kaleb
remember there were like lots of reports of parents getting pissed off and saying like, man, what's going on up here is not necessarily the best. And so I don't know, like in, he was able to not, there wasn't like really any drama around him that I can think of in the NFL off the top of my head.
00:40:45
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:40:55
Kaleb
But while it was with the Patriots, obviously, but he had a huge leash, right? just because how successful he is here. It's, I don't want to say he's like, reproving himself, but it is a different landscape. So therefore, i just don't think his leash is that big, you know, and Bobby Petrino, i mean, look what he was able to do at Arkansas in who's a superpower. I mean, I think their quarterback was kind of an anomaly. The guy could run and he could throw. so I think he had a good quarterback to work with, but who else, you know, and they had one of the best ah offenses in the country. So I think that's a great pickup for him. Hopefully they just utilize him.
00:41:36
Mike Bell
Yep. Agreed. All right. Well, that's pretty much all I've got. Is there anything else you want to discuss college football wise that comes to mind? Or do you think we covered everything? Okay.
00:41:45
Kaleb
I think we covered everything off the top of my head.
00:41:49
Mike Bell
All right, well, then we'll wrap it up there, and we will be back at some point next week to discuss these previous – these playoff games that we discussed today and then, of course, the next round. So, all right, this has been another episode of Balone Coverage, and I will see you next time.
00:42:07
Kaleb
right.