Transcript
Caleb Call: Week one is in the books. Kind of. We still got Florida State SMU tomorrow, but for 99 % of the country. week one is done on to Labor Day in week two. um Pretty busy weekend. I feel like it was supposed to be kind of a dud of a slate, but there was a lot of exciting games, lots of fun. Didn't get a lot of excitement from BYU and Utah this year. but Let's kick it off with that. You were at the game Thursday for...
Caleb Call: Utah and Idaho.
Ben: Yeah, I was able to make it to Rice -Eccles. watched that first one and I mean, Utah, I mean, did what they were supposed to do to an FCS team. They kind of just took care of them. and um
Caleb Call: but Are you saying that what Utah State did to Idaho State they're not supposed to do against an FCS team?
Ben: they They lost to Weber. Did you see the the shot that Big Sky took on we or on Utah State?
Caleb Call: Oh that was awesome.
Ben: Because last time Utah State played a Big Sky team, they lost to Weber too. So 0 -2.
Caleb Call: 35 to 7. That was...
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: a Quite the loss there. J. Hill, baby.
Ben: Yeah. So... Basically, my my big takeaway from Utah, it's it's hard to really tell when you get these. kind of lesser opponents. And so the biggest takeaway I had was Um,
Ben: I... from the From the start, the offensive line, I... i At first was kind of a little worried about it the center completely whiffed on a on a just a simple down block Um,
Ben: that kind of stalled our second drive of the game. So it was a third and three, kind of just ran to the left side, and he just completely whiffed, nose went and blew it up. So that caused it. So we had to kick a field goal there early.
Ben: Our right guard didn't play. He ended up, there's hamstring. something with his hamstring. So the guy that was supposed to start at right guard, Keith Olson, he was. he ended up not playing the game. so Um,
Ben: and then they also rotated a lot like obot the big five -star recruit. he He wasn't starting, but he came in on the third drive of the game, and he kind of was in and out of the lineup. And so there was a lot of shuffling, a lot of – For me, it was a little uneasiness. I mean, at the end of the day, they scored five out of six drives on both halves.
Ben: They, uh... Four touchdowns and a field goal in the first half and then five touchdown drives in the second half. and So, I mean, they they did kind of what they were supposed to do the whole game. but um Against like Arkansas at first, I was a little...
Ben: I mean, Arkansas. always they're not you
Caleb Call: They struggled with North Alabama a little bit there.
Ben: Yeah, they're they're not usually great, but it's an SEC opponent. So at first I was thinking like maybe Maybe it's going to be a little bit tough of a matchup. And then after I watched Arkansas's matchup, I felt a little bit better about it. but That was kind of my initial takeaway was I was a little worried about the offensive line. but um with return Hopefully Keith Olsen is ready to go this Saturday night.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: and If he's ready to go and. Offensive line, maybe they got tape now, during game tape to kind of dissect.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: I think. ah I think everything's gonna... look good. and they ran um They ran the ball well. 633 yards, 364 on the ground. They're not going to do that. to um better opponents but um i think i think they're going to be able to um i was kind of really impressed by McGibbon's offense. and Yeah, I actually.
Ben: as a former high school defensive guy. I started, I just. out of curiosity i started to chart i just started charting the first half and was curious like how how it would be to prep against Utah's offense. And it was like.
Ben: more than 10 different formations. And it was just like. different run pass concepts and all of them. And it seemed like a nightmare as a defensive person to. Um, basically prep for the game and so I that was my
Caleb Call: prayer for that. and
Ben: Yeah, so I think he'll be able to scheme around the offensive. Line woes early when we're playing lesser opponents. It'll be interesting to see what happens when we Hopefully at that point, though. clicked by then but i mean that's kind of what i was talking about even before this week was um I mean, we got six games against teams that are all...
Caleb Call: Got the runway.
Ben: the little runway. So hopefully it's one of those things where we get them.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: dialed So that still was a concern for me. I was really impressed by the first unit on the defensive line. That was one of the concerns also going into the game. But I actually thought the first unit kind of created havoc.
Ben: And the second unit has got some work to do. I wouldn't be surprised if there's still some shuffling around there. but The first four guys I was impressed by. So I defensive line. Um, exceeded my expectation, offensive line.
Ben: I uh... we don't really have really the picture of what the five are going to look like yet. and I think. ah It'll be interesting to see how they do against an SEC front, even if it's one of the worst teams. but
Caleb Call: yeah I'm excited to see that too. I caught probably half the game. I saw most of the first half and didn't see much of the second half. And I kind of came away thinking the same thing. The offensive line, I mean, obviously last year, one of the best in the country. and They didn't look like that against Idaho. but there was still like The offense is moving. It's not like drives are stalling over and over. There's not a lot of concern overall about the offense as far as some of the top end potential. but
Caleb Call: I feel like on a down -to -down basis, I mean, last year Utah was running for as many yards as the service academies were. and This year if that's going to happen again It might not be as much dominant up the middle, punch you in the gut. It might be a lot more. I came away thinking that you could see a lot of horizontal run game. I know Bray is a huge piece of that. I know the quarterbacks like to get out and run too. so you may end up seeing some more non -conventional K reason where some of that.
Caleb Call: Russian garbage comes from. But yeah, we'll see.
Ben: There you go. You saw it. I was going to say, you saw like two quarterback sets where sometimes they would even pitch it out to one or the other. and then Like they even had a play where they flipped it to Ficklin and then he actually threw it.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: when he looked like a sweep. And so I think that's going to make teams prepare for.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: like the potential pass there and then Ficklin. I mean there's going to be sets in there where he takes off and runs.
Caleb Call: He had the diamond later in the game.
Ben: so Yeah, honestly, I... That was one takeaway is I actually really. I mean, he missed. The turnover on downs, I thought he missed a touchdown on. That was one of the two drives we didn't score a touchdown on, but he had some plays where. I think i think if...
Ben: like some Same thing that happened last year where if Dampier goes down, I actually wouldn't feel bad going into it. I wouldn't feel much worse going into a game with Zwicklin. I think they got two quarterbacks in. Kindly.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: almost do the same thing.
Caleb Call: the The way I approach. these fcs games it's the same for every team across the country i don't care how good or bad the fcs team is You. can prove yourself as a bad team against an fcs team but you cannot prove yourself as a good team against an FCS team.
Caleb Call: And so Utah, obviously, you win 66 -14. Great. Well, you got Arkansas coming up. You got. Utah State, who they proved themselves as a bad team. they They're going to struggle this year.
Ben: Yep.
Caleb Call: I'm not worried about Utah beating Bronco and the boys. Weak. I think it's your Big 12 opener is against Colorado on the road. I'd be a little bit more nervous about that one. We'll talk about that game a little later, but that could be a challenging one. Their defense looks stout.
Caleb Call: I think Utah's offense will be fine this year. I think the defense will be fine this year. It'll be interesting to see. I do think that Utah is going to be relying more.
Ben: Tickets. It is. It is at Iowa State. The opener is at Iowa State.
Caleb Call: Oh, Iowa. Okay, if they play Colorado, maybe a week or two after that then.
Ben: Yeah. two weeks after you.
Caleb Call: um the ah Last year, in just traditionally thinking about Utah, you think of them as a power run team. I almost think that this time it's going to be more of like a spacing and speed run team. like You've got some crazy athletes.
Caleb Call: You've got, I mean, Ficklin, who's a monster. Dampier. quick and fast, Bray, who I love watching him run. his's very fast as well and got around the edge a few times against BYU last year and had some big plays against Idaho even too. like I feel like it's going to be a...
Caleb Call: a different looking Utah running team than we're used to back in the Winningham days. And obviously he was a part of the running game last year. So it'll be interesting.
Ben: It is.
Caleb Call: obviously
Ben: it is The offense is similar to Beck's, though. I i actually think McGiven's and Beck's, so I think it'll be similar to last year's, but not quite like you said, like the Whittingham Bowl.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: days but because they did spread it out and run horizontally more last year than they ever had.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Last year looked very different than anything you've seen in the past. I remember back when Utah played in Provo in 2021. They just couldn't stop running the ball up the middle. And at some point, you've got to recognize it's not working. and then Took him too long in the game to recognize that. So, yeah, it's... ah It'll be an interesting season for Utah. I feel like.
Caleb Call: Utah and BYU both. one. the uh coaching exchange with michigan we'll talk a little bit about that too but yeah i have a lot to like from utah Going over to the BYU side of things.
Caleb Call: Utah Tech. got drilled. by Montana State last week. BYU. Going up against Utah Tech, the spray got over 50. It was 42 -0 at halftime, and then BYU. coasted and got to a 63 -7 win. Kind of the same thing that you were saying. Loved what I saw from the starting defense.
Caleb Call: they had highlight turnovers. that even though it's against inferior competition, it was tough plays that were made, a great diving interception by... Trey Alexander and then Evan Johnson made a...
Caleb Call: ah Great play on the ball for another interception on. another drive and so The defense was getting off the field quick, which is exactly what you want to see against a bad opponent. They were forcing turnovers, giving the offense the ball.
Caleb Call: in good field position. So no complaints from the first. string offense. The second half, you had the second string and third strings go in. and We gave up some points. There was another drive that could have let the points late. So obviously not what you were hoping to see from the backups. but Their backup's for a reason. One big injury, Raider to Mooney.
Caleb Call: Probably out for most of the season. he had a like i i didn't see what the official report was but something on his knee was a pretty nasty hit And then see you on your MOA. He got hurt too. He went into the season as running back too.
Caleb Call: Everybody remembers him from the Kansas State game. Really? I don't want to disrespect Sonny Moe because I love him and he was awesome in that game. But he had the one awesome run against Kansas State where he broke six tackles and scored a touchdown.
Caleb Call: Outside of that one run, I feel like... He's not done a ton but he still kind of lives like an infamous backup running back for by BYU. The backups behind him looked awesome. Awesome.
Caleb Call: Devon Ika was great. Tonga was great. Pain looked good. Rex looked good. I came into the year a little bit worried about what running back looked like behind LJ. And I do not worry about that anymore. And that the young backs look like they...
Caleb Call: belong in the power for conference again, that's against Utah tech. So we'll see what they do. And we, we even thought like a year ago that Joe Bessa Damoni might. Have an impact and then he had fumbling issues and didn't play much. He also got hurt so We'll see if they can actually hold on to the ball and how they do against a better team.
Caleb Call: But I liked a lot what I saw from that. But the number one takeaway.
Ben: What are you, uh... Oh sorry. i was just gonna ask you while you're still on that topic what is a like if you had to guess the number two back right now is it moa or would you guess one of those young guys kind of takes takes the spot over.
Caleb Call: Moana. Moa was number two on the depth chart. He got hurt in this game, so he's probably going to miss a little bit of time. And that might lock him out of the top. two or three spot on the depth chart the rest of the season. Cause I think these backups are ready. Preston Rex, he moved from safety last year, came over to running back.
Caleb Call: He didn't.
Ben: Any relation to the old the old tight end at BYU?
Caleb Call: Isaac Rex, yeah. it's Brother or cousin, I can't remember.
Ben: His brother.
Caleb Call: They are a family.
Ben: Okay.
Caleb Call: um Preston Rex. Last year. He kind of played like a scat back. he We threw a couple of passes. He had like a 30 - or 40 -yard catch against Utah and another one against Arizona, but not a ton of production across the year. And he looked a little small. I didn't love, like, when when LJ got hurt against Iowa State, Preston Rex was RB1 the rest of the game.
Caleb Call: He was okay in pass pro. Not LJ. LJ is great in pass pro. Sione Moa, to his credit. might be our best pass pro running back. So that is one thing that we would lose without Sione. but Preston Rex is good. and he' like he's bigger he looks faster and stronger i loved what i saw from preston rex But then...
Caleb Call: tonga and ika these two freshmen they both looked explosive tonga had a run where I thought. the game was on fast forward. He came out of the hole. quick. and got down the field. I couldn't believe but what I was seeing from you know a fifth -string running back. I think he's even a walk -on. um They may not even have walk -ons anymore, but he was not somebody that... He he was added late to the roster. And then you had... a Devon Ekel with the crazy touchdown run at the end, and he got some good to run too. So if I had to guess, you got Preston Rex too.
Caleb Call: And then you got kind of a bunch of these freshmen and young backs. At three, Sione Moa probably is tied there with Preston Rex. but situationally they'll all get used different what's tough for sione He...
Caleb Call: is just like lj but worse. he's not is like They were getting carries together on the same drives. LJ was turning hits in the backfield into six - or seven -yard runs.
Caleb Call: Sione. You want 10 yards, you're getting three. You want one yard, you're getting three. He's the three -yard running back. like LJ's a power back. Sione's a power back. LJ's way better at that. so i don't i know
Ben: That's tough to get on. Tough to get on the field when you're... your skills are the same as the guy in front of you.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Caleb Call: But then these other backs, they are... They're quicker, they're faster. I feel like they've got more utility. potential in the offense so we'll see how it ends up playing out and Parker Kingston, losing him in the offseason late was concerning. We're already losing Chase Roberts.
Caleb Call: Main takeaway from this game. We got guys to throw the ball to. Legend Glasker, three touchdowns in the first half. First one was a rushing touchdown on a jet sweep, just like you saw Parker Kingston do all the time the last year or two.
Caleb Call: Legend Lasker. looked the part in that role and then he had two great receiving touchdowns. There was one where he was getting double covered. He had the corner on him and he had a safety over the top. Bear threw a ball that against some teams might get picked. it was a ball that Legend had to adjust on. But he made the adjustment, got between the two defenders, caught it, got into the end zone. A great play by Legend.
Caleb Call: And then he had a ah screen pass go for 20 or 30 yards into the end zone. We heard all camp that this true freshman three -star legend, Glasker, was going to accuse the real deal. We had...
Caleb Call: I can't remember his name. but there was Somebody at the Big 12 who was talking to the BYU coaches and some of the BYU coaches told him that. They thought Legend could be a first -team Big 12 receiver this year, not like in the future, but this season.
Caleb Call: And i we saw the flash there. And obviously it's against Utah Tech. We'll have to see what it does against cornerbacks. that are more talented But. You see the vision with Legend as a true freshman going out there and kind of dominating the way he did.
Caleb Call: And then... You lose Parker. He was an explosive returner. But what does Cannon DeVries do? He goes out there and returns a kickoff for a touchdown, and his first start is a returner as well. so You feel pretty good about some of the playmaking that...
Caleb Call: We have on the team, despite losing the receivers, the tight ends, Roger and Walker, looked solid. nothing to... really talk too much about there they delivered how you'd expect. The rest of the receiving crew looked fine. Bear looked good.
Caleb Call: I feel like. with arizona on deck we're about to learn really quickly Just how. ready this offense is to go.
Ben: It's a big game.
Caleb Call: Yeah. And it's like you have a conference game week two against one of your toughest opponents. You've got to go out there and be ready. And so thankfully BYU's got the experience on the team that you'd hope that they are ready for a game like this.
Caleb Call: But, I mean, yeah, this is –
Ben: Plus in Provo.
Caleb Call: Yeah. And Provo helps too. It's honestly a make or break game. We'll talk about it more later in the week, but yeah, I'm excited to see the step up in competition and see how these. young guys do defensively.
Caleb Call: I know we didn't talk much about that for the Cougars. Defensive line was good. corners were awesome you had ready to get hurt we'll see how we adjust to that The linebackers, Isaiah Glasper didn't play, but Kedu Lawave was all over the field as well, making plays for the few drives that he played in. feel great about that. I feel like.
Caleb Call: For the first time, BYU probably has legitimate power for depth of defense in a lot of these positions, like linebacker. It's grown quick, the defensive line. I'm excited about. So yeah, it's going to be It'll be a fun season. I feel like the offense and defense.
Caleb Call: Both did enough to prove that. At the very least, they aren't bad. Like like I said, you can prove that you're not bad against the next team. you can't prove that you're good and I feel like We saw what we needed to out of a game against Utah Tech.
Ben: Yeah, it'll be fun to... I think they both got a little bit tougher of a test this week, so it'll be fun to see how they do against some better competition.
Caleb Call: yeah
Caleb Call: As for the rest of college football, we we had quite the game. In. Ann Arbor this weekend I... still Don't understand what happened there why it happened The Big Ten tried to clear it up, and I...
Caleb Call: and just think it's a whole bunch of bull crap. but Michigan, Western Michigan, obviously every BYU and Utah fan had their eyes on this one. Let's ignore the ending of the game. Let's talk about the first 55 minutes. what What did you see from Michigan there? and What do you think?
Caleb Call: they are going to be doing going. forward.
Ben: So I actually tuned. I tuned into this one early just because. I I'm in a fantasy college football league and it's two quarterback league. I've got ah Underwood as one of my two quarterbacks.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben: And so I was like, I want to see. Because I was kind of buying in, like, as a Utah fan.
Caleb Call: and
Ben: Like, I liked Jason Beck last year. I liked the offense. and so I got Underwood and was expecting kind of a step forward and opening drive. It was scripted. It was good. He was five for five on this opening drive. He went.
Ben: and He went and scored a touchdown, and then they called him short at the one, and then they just did like a little QB sneak to get him in. but So I was like, oh, this offense looks good. it's seven points quick and then they didn't do anything the rest of the game and I thought offensively, I thought.
Ben: ah First off, I didn't think Underhook would win. Underwood looked good. I thought he was making bad throws. I thought making bad decisions.
Caleb Call: and
Ben: And then on top of it, I didn't think the offensive play calling was. good at all I thought Beck's like watching Beck all last year it kind of reminded me of some of the like the BYU and Texas Tech games for Utah last year. Like their two biggest games last year were his two worst games, I thought.
Ben: um and that's just how it looked it looked like it wasn't very um besides the script it looked like the opening drive script it looked like it was pretty bad and so i uh
Caleb Call: This was not a game against Oklahoma.
Ben: i don't
Caleb Call: This was a game against Western Michigan.
Ben: No.
Caleb Call: They're a MAAC favorite. But this is a MAAC team.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: You're a four -touchdown favorite. If you're Michigan.
Ben: Yeah, and I mean that And I mean, This is, I'm trying to give them excuses, but like. um A Mac team. the best chance for them to beat you is beginning of the season when they're all healthy. But at the same time, you're a four -touchdown favorite.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: You've got to take care of business. and they ah I mean, they should have lost. i I actually feel sick to my stomach for the the players of Western Michigan and the staff. Like, I just, I can't believe that they.
Caleb Call: I did. I have never had such a vile reaction to a game that BYU wasn't involved in. Not once in my life have I felt that way about a non -BYU game.
Ben: Yeah, and I, they, they came out like two hours after and showed the video and it had one second on the clock. And I'm like, that wasn't the live stream that it showed, like the clock that it showed.
Caleb Call: That was a secret imaginary clock.
Ben: that
Caleb Call: That is not a clock that anyone knew existed until the Big Ten said after the fact, oh, hey, by the way, this is the real clock.
Ben: Yeah. i
Caleb Call: There's a random clock that nobody can see.
Ben: This is...
Ben: And the rules analyst that was on the... the um that was on the call said they had got confirmed that The clock that we were looking at was the synced clock with the game clock. And so they told us that live.
Ben: And so I i don't know. It's hard to explain. i i kind of Everything the Big Ten is saying, it's kind of hard to believe. and i'm i'm not a he like I'm not a huge conspiracy. I'm theorist believer and types of things like that. But I'm like, man, like I I'm looking at it. I'm watching the game. It's zeros. Like.
Ben: Zeros the game should have been over you see there was a clip like a mouth reader clip where Kyle Whittingham goes up to the
Caleb Call: Yeah. It looked like he did admitted that even yeah
Ben: he said He said there's no time left. There's no time left. He said that to the other coach. handshaked after the game, and I agree with that.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: um He said after the game. I mean, is he kind of contradicted himself.
Caleb Call: I think there was one second left, yeah.
Ben: and the Presley. yeah you say you thought there was one second but i uh yeah i i mean clear as day from what we saw it was zero so i don't know it just i kind of I just feel sick to my stomach for everybody involved for Western Michigan.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: so
Caleb Call: It brings to one of my biggest complaints about the sport and it's that the conferences have too much influence on stuff Why do we have conference referees? Why is this not like a nationally standardized thing?
Ben: That should be an ACC reffing crew or an SEC reffing crew.
Caleb Call: the fact that even
Ben: No bias at all.
Caleb Call: And why do we have conference refs and crews?
Ben: when you don't have
Caleb Call: Let's get NCAA refs. lets Let's have this all go under an umbrella where.
Ben: one actually.
Caleb Call: Conferences aren't the ones with a replay center. That should be an NCAA replay center. There should not be any conference involved in deciding who wins or loses a game. It reminds me of last year. Do you remember?
Caleb Call: Miami, Virginia Tech. Miami needed a Hail Mary to beat Virginia Tech, and they got it.
Ben: Yeah.
Ben: ah got it
Caleb Call: It might have been two years ago. I can't remember which season it was. But. It was called incomplete on the field or an interception on the field. goes to replay.
Ben: I think it was last year
Caleb Call: Secret a ACC replay over there. And ACC replays like, you know what? No. Our playoff contender won this game, I promise you, and they gave it to Miami. felt a like The Big Ten obviously still had to rely on Michigan completing a Hail Mary, low odds.
Caleb Call: You just can't give the conference a dip. power and influence to decide things like that It's a conflict of interest.
Ben: Yeah. But to I guess to tie it back into Utah and BYU, I... I think. ah A wit? That was... You're wondering how long how many weeks he would last before you got the can if you would have lost that one and then Same thing with Jason Beck, where I thought the offense looked bad.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And I even thought the defense, I mean, the defense kind of. That was a good defensive performance against a really good team, like if you were playing a really good team. But I actually thought they –
Caleb Call: You give up 12 points to a good MAAC team, you don't feel terrible as long as your offense scores 40.
Ben: They just ran the ball really well was the one thing.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: i I just thought Western Michigan kind of – it almost looked like they weren't even that much worse of a team. Like they usually – when you kind of have an upset, it's like somebody slinging it around or things like that, but they were just.
Caleb Call: turnovers or random plays.
Ben: they kind of just ran it and
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben: Slowly kind of chunked down the field and they had like a 19 play drive on
Caleb Call: Western Michigan had a... ah 20 -play, 13 -minute drive against the Michigan defense.
Ben: I think it was 19 plays.
Caleb Call: like
Ben: Yeah, 19 plays, 30 -minute drive, I think it was.
Caleb Call: Unacceptable. Jay Hill, i will like he was awesome at BYU. Loved him. That was one of my biggest complaints. And a lot of teams, our offense was doing well enough a lot of times to where... We were scoring points, and teams had to keep up a little bit and didn't stay true to the run.
Caleb Call: But we gave up a decent bit of yards per carry. I feel like Jay Hill, that almost is one of maybe his tendencies.
Ben: Bend don't break
Caleb Call: is hey Ben don't break, and I think that he's almost daring the offensive coordinator to be patient enough.
Ben: Like who?
Caleb Call: to take four yard carries all day because that's a There were very little tackles for loss on the run game with Jay Hill's defense, it felt like. it felt like We did have big plays on defense, but...
Caleb Call: run game we were still susceptible to. I remember the Iowa State game, for example, last year. Iowa State was running the ball all over us. and Eventually, we got back into the game and Iowa State went away from it and we were able to take advantage of some Morocco -backed turnovers on the passing game.
Caleb Call: but i mean yeah they're jay hill does a great job on defense overall. But a team like Western Michigan in a low -scoring game, being able to run the ball that consistently, being willing to do that all game.
Caleb Call: Oh, yeah, Western Michigan, that that was the perfect game script to go and beat a better team like that. And like you said,
Ben: Bye.
Caleb Call: I'm not even sure if they were better. If they played that game a hundred times. Western Michigan's winning a third of those at least.
Ben: I... So that was one. Only 12 points seems like a pretty good outing for a for a defense, but I actually. kind of the takeaway from that was i actually think they kind of got Um, bullied a little bit.
Ben: um at times again
Caleb Call: Four Swarm Grounds.
Ben: Yeah. And so I actually, I would have probably graded Jay Hills. cc minus performance from that day and i did great at beck and the ah offense and f and i uh
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben: it was just I just didn't think but either of the i mean the bu the former BYU and the former Utah. coordinators. I didn't think they did a very good job from
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: what we saw them do a really good job last year so I don't know that was my takeaways was they kind of They got a lot of work to do or else they're going to. You might find a four -win Michigan team at the end of the year. so
Caleb Call: And I'll be honest, going into this year for Michigan.
Ben: They got a lot to fix.
Caleb Call: I like Jay Hill. I like Jason Beck. Winning cam. don't have the same feeling for, but I at least respect Whittingham. And I was so curious to see what they were going to be at Michigan. And honestly, despite how much I hate Whittingham, the fact that at the end of his tenure, Utah fans got a little peek into.
Caleb Call: Some of the stuff that, we I mean, Utah fans kind of turned on wit. Not everybody. I know you still. you still enjoy weight and everything, but there's a lot of Utah fans that were. Really ready for him to be gone. And we're pissed that he started taking players and coaches.
Caleb Call: And so the fact that you had Utah kind of turning on him almost had me. Not sympathy for him, but like... I almost supported him a little bit because him being really good at Michigan would have been funny for it if he was better there. Scali did at Utah. But regardless, if you if Michigan had a good team.
Caleb Call: i thought that would have been fun they might have been an annoying recruiting target in the state But them being bad.
Ben: They already have.
Caleb Call: would be hilarious.
Ben: they already have a big recruit out of utah this year so they i think they got a blueprint in already
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Caleb Call: So, yeah, we'll see how the rest of the Michigan season goes. But if I were a Michigan fan, I would want Bryce Underwood. out I don't think that That's a quarterback that's worth. building your future around or even maybe your season around i don't know what they got here
Ben: already already bent We already benched him in our fantasy league.
Caleb Call: Thank you.
Ben: Hauser for Illinois is already in in that spot. Around the world. watching that game.
Caleb Call: God. So anyways Crazy game in Michigan. Western Michigan got robbed. I stole in my... own personal top 25. Michigan is nowhere near it and Western Michigan is somewhere in that receiving votes.
Caleb Call: i I love that Western Michigan went out there and should have. They really did beat. a ranked Michigan team. But that Michigan team were ranked 16th in the country. They are not the 16th best team in the country.
Caleb Call: they are probably closer to 30, 40, 50, who knows how the rest of the season goes, but that offense was dreadful.
Ben: I think they'll get taken a bit.
Caleb Call: We had a...
Ben: I think this week against Oklahoma, they're going to be in trouble.
Caleb Call: It's gonna be ugly.
Ben: They've got a lot to clean up if they're going to be competitive this week.
Caleb Call: Their offense is gonna be ugly. struggle. Yeah. For the rest of college football, we had a fun one just ah ended about an hour ago between Louisville and Ole Miss.
Caleb Call: One of those games that you just.
Ben: yeah
Caleb Call: You hate when the clock hits zero because it was such a fun game. Both teams deserved the win. And in this one, when the clock hits zero, the game was actually over, surprisingly, too. i The Michigan game set a weird precedent that you weren't sure if games ended at zero or not. Well, this one did. Ole Miss comes out on top, wins by a field goal, super low scoring first half. And by the second half, you had all sorts of fireworks. What were were your main takeaways from both Louisville and Ole Miss there?
Ben: Yeah, it was the tail two halves because I mean the only touchdown that Um, And what scored in the first half was because Louisville's long snapper snapped it over his head. and gave Ole Miss a short field.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And so it ended up being 10 -6 at half, and it looked like this big defensive. battle and pete golding was this new Ole Miss was going to be this new identity without Lane Kiffin was just the defensive juggernaut.
Ben: Then it looked like the Lane Kiffin of old teams where they're in the second half where they're just putting points off.
Caleb Call: real quick.
Ben: Yeah. And I i was impressed. i yeah Well, I was actually really impressed by Louisville. I think Louisville has a shot to go compete for the ACC title. it. They're good enough to go win a game against Miami, so and they don't play Miami.
Caleb Call: They did last year.
Ben: Yeah, and they don't they don't play Miami in the regular season this year. So that could be the ACC title game this year. And I wouldn't be shocked if Louisville goes and gets that a playoff spot from the ACC. So they're a good team.
Ben: i I'm impressed by. that staff and those players.
Caleb Call: Jeff Braum might be the most underrated coach in the country.
Ben: and I like that.
Caleb Call: I said that last week on our preview show.
Ben: All right. Yeah.
Caleb Call: I think he's next in line for these blue blood jobs. And honestly.
Ben: Now you said that
Caleb Call: we'll We'll talk about this game here in a little bit. He might be the coach of clemson next year if i were the clemson ad i'd be pushing for that
Ben: That'd be crazy to push here. Two -time national champion. Coach out. The two?
Caleb Call: It's the same thing as wit. If it's time to go, it's time to go. Dabo did his time. He did his service to Clemson. We'll go back to that later. but i How long are you going to dwindle in mediocrity? when you have a solution at your fingertips and i know it's tough to get rid of a legend but You can't sit there as a team who's won two championships and just, they went seven and six last year. They've been on a downward trend for the better part of a decade. And this year could get ugly too. They don't have a very easy or forgiving schedule.
Caleb Call: So we'll see what Clemson does. well We'll talk briefly about that Clemson LSU spattering. but I love Jeff Brom. Like you said, kind holds a quarterback. Awesome. the The second half, Louisville was moving the ball so easily. But once Ole Miss started opening up the scoring, I was kind of worried that they were going to run away with it. Trinidad Chambliss was everything that you hoped he was going to be. he was a great playmaker.
Caleb Call: I think Ole Miss is going to be a lead on offense for most of the season here. But. louisville kept up they were right there with them they go down two touchdowns and they managed to get up two touchdowns in the last five minutes of the game super impressive game by louisville I...
Caleb Call: strategically, I'm curious your thoughts on this. A lot of coaches in the NFL, you know, you see like if the... if there's a penalty on the extra point. They'll go lineup at the 1 and go for 2. And obviously they didn't have timeouts, so if you don't get the two, you have no way to guarantee you're getting the ball back.
Caleb Call: But once they had the penalty on the extra point. is that Would you have considered going for two there?
Ben: I probably would have done it, yeah. I mean, with how good Ole Miss' offense had been. i The scare is that. you kind of push them to go get a field goal there. and
Caleb Call: And they got one anyways
Ben: They got one anyways, but the The big thing for me is I would have gone for two on the one before that when it was 38 -24 and they would have scored. just uh the analytics it's like
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: yeah i think it's I actually did it last week. It's like... 13 % more likely to win a game if you go for two on that first one, so I
Caleb Call: It's caught traction in the NFL.
Ben: I would. I would have gotten.
Caleb Call: You've got coaches actually doing that.
Ben: Mm hmm.
Caleb Call: Dan Campbell's kind of leading the analytics charge and being more aggressive. and there You see a lot of teams doing it.
Ben: i don't know I don't know if his is analytics. I think he just...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: He just slings from the hip and just goes.
Caleb Call: okay It's good to have a coach like that in the NFL.
Ben: Right. Yeah.
Caleb Call: It's fun.
Ben: yeah so I yeah it's a I would have but for sure on that PAT when they bump them up to the one yard line I and think you gotta Chance to take the lead there. go by one I mean, it's 38 -37. It's tough to...
Ben: Tough to put it all in one basket.
Caleb Call: but One of the things that...
Ben: but
Caleb Call: I saw... um, a fan of Ole Miss point out. is let's say Louisville does go for two. 39 -38. You're already scared of Chambliss in that offense. And now you're giving them an extra down.
Caleb Call: They're going for it on fourth now. So they got four plays to get first down, whereas you go tie the game up.
Ben: And their kicker is a win.
Caleb Call: left.
Ben: Ole Miss' kicker is a weapon, too. Like, he had a 58 -yarder last year in the playoff.
Caleb Call: He's good. Yeah
Ben: and Yeah, he got legs. so I mean, it kind of like almost. pushes them to go for it i mean obviously you have to go for it if you're down one so it makes it so
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben: They have to. and I don't know maybe Maybe you're. Fearless. You're more scared of that.
Caleb Call: if louisville If they had not roughed the kicker, on a 57 yard field goal. they really ah That was a missed field goal. You're getting the ball back tied.
Caleb Call: Louisville might have won that game. like that I mean, they ended up losing by a field goal. And that ended up being a touchdown drive that should have been zero for Ole Miss. So that was – Rough to see for Louisville, obviously a big mistake. and I mean, they were right there in the game at the end. Like you said, I think Louisville is a contender in the ACC.
Caleb Call: I don't know if I can confidently say Ole Miss is a contender in the SEC. That transitions us to our next point. They've got a game against LSU coming up, and LSU looked like a juggernaut. And I don't know how much of that is. Clemson.
Caleb Call: having a bad roster, a bad team, not what we were used to seeing from Dabo, and how much of that is just LSU having dudes. but That game was non -competitive from the start. And I'd say that in the preview.
Caleb Call: I thought Clemson was gonna have a hard time slowing down LSU. I call it a 42 -20 game. And I undersold LSU by 10 points on offense and 10 points on defense. LSU. looked.
Caleb Call: amazing They looked like a national title threat or contender. They paid the money to have a team that good, and it looks like they might actually have a team that good. yeah Do you think that Dabo can... recover the season at all for Clemson, and do you think that... you'd put LSU at the top of the SEC. What are your thoughts on those two things?
Ben: Yeah, i i so -wise, I... i Think you're gonna see kind of similar to last year where they're probably a seven and five team. Yeah. Just out of I would expect them to be above 500 still I expect
Caleb Call: I think that there's a world they miss a bowl game this year.
Ben: Really? I guess my big takeaway on that was LSU is legit. I thought that was more of the the story there. and I think LSU is right in the mix. to to go to go win the SEC, to go...
Ben: Make a run. Um, playoff. I think I told you this. I think we talked about this on the first episode. but LSU I initially thought LSU was gonna win that Ole Miss game in the earlier in the off season. And then right before we.
Ben: did our bracket, I switched to Ole Miss. And I'd flip them back now after watching them both play. I i think that LSU, I think Lane's going to go get Ole Miss. and i LSU looks tough. They're going to be.
Ben: i um I have their schedule right here. And so they got, they're going to go to Ole Miss in two weeks. And so if you go get Ole Miss in two weeks and then you host A and &M, those are kind of your big two games in the early half of your season. And then at the end of the season, you.
Ben: host Bama, host Texas. And so you kind of have. a lot of the big games at home like most your big ranked our ranked matchups are at home. And so your big one is at Ole Miss in week three. So I think in week three, if they take care of that Ole Miss.
Ben: Now they're sitting there with. Really, three big games left, all being home. And really, if you go 1 -2 in those home games, you're 10 -2 and you're probably in.
Caleb Call: their playoff team. You're going to be hosting a playoff game.
Ben: Yeah, you're in it Yeah, you're probably yeah, you're seven or eight ranked seventh or eighth and you get you're in lsu at the first so i think i think lsu's
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: i'd put them I'd pencil them in right now just from week one, the the week one overreactions, but i I like them.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: so
Caleb Call: I have an off -season philosophy that... Always kind of ruffle some feathers on X every time I post about it. I... when you have a pre -season ranking there's two ways to go about it the first way is to try and make guesses, and every team's going to have a whole bunch of off -season hype, and they all have their own propaganda that they spew out about their own team, their own conference, and so on.
Caleb Call: You got a lot of that from LSU. And LSU was good last year, and I trusted that they were going to be good this year. But I don't like to anoint a team. who was bad last year until they go and show it to me on the field. Like, for example, you had a lot of the media. They were ready to go put to Oklahoma State in the preseason top 25 because they brought in a bunch of North Texas kids.
Caleb Call: I... Not even close. My preseason top 25. is identical to my last year's postseason top 25. I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt to teams that won games last year, and I'm going to let teams that lost games last year earn it on the field before I go and get them ranked.
Caleb Call: Ellis, you earned that. My week two top 25. LSU might be my number one team. They're gonna be in the top five. Now, I don't think that Clemson's great. But they looked more dominant against a team in Clemson that's got a good roster.
Caleb Call: than a lot of teams did against teams a lot worse than what Clemson. should be. And, again, it's early in the season. You've got to be willing to fluctuate on things. Like if LSU goes out there and puts up a dead against Ole Miss, then you have to reevaluate some stuff. but Yeah, LSU showed me everything that I needed to see from. Lane Kiffin. I can't wait for the LSU Ole Miss matchup. I know Game Day already announced they're going there.
Caleb Call: i don't think that It's possible to have a more hyped matchup this early in the season than what you're going to have in Oxford when Lane Kiffin comes back to town with LSU. I hope so, especially if Ole Miss wins that game.
Ben: Heh. Okay, I was going to ask that.
Caleb Call: But I can't wait. Yeah.
Ben: Yeah. I don't know why I kind of. i'm I tend to... I'm a big softie when it comes to the coaches. and wanting to finish the year out so I was kind of bummed for Lane I'm not even a big Lane fan but just in general I don't I like it when coaches can finish the year I mean he kind of built something big and oxford And I mean, it was the best season Oxford's ever had.
Ben: And then he can't finish it out. So I kind of want him to get his revenge on that. And I'm not even a big lane guy.
Caleb Call: That's his own fault You're Ole Miss, okay?
Ben: So.
Caleb Call: Pretend you're Ole Miss' athletic director. and your head coach accepts a new job, that's one thing. but he is actively recruiting your players and your coaches to follow him at what point did that be
Ben: But you got a shot to win a natty. You got a shot at winning that. You made it to the semifinal, and then you're playing Miami. Like, if Lane Kiffin's there calling the offense, do they win that game? and Are they playing Indiana in the national title?
Caleb Call: Goodbye.
Ben: And Miami almost got him too.
Caleb Call: Is him actively recruiting people to leave too big of a distraction? He is actively. working for LSU. He is employed at LSU. Yeah. You can't have a head coach employed in another team.
Ben: Eddie's employed at Ole Miss at the point.
Caleb Call: No, he wasn't. they they They told him to leave. You're employed at LSU, you're gone. You're recruiting our players. You're recruiting our coaches. Go. Get out of our locker room. If I'm Ole Miss, I do exactly what they did. Every single day of the week.
Caleb Call: there' There's no question in my mind. Pete Golding.
Ben: I mean, you see.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: you see teams do both sides and like. most of the time g5 teams are I mean, both the G5 teams. like ah Chesney went to UCLA. he They let him coach out the James Madison game.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And then some raw went to Florida and they let him finish the. the game for the ge or for both the G5s that made it last year. and so I just... as Somebody that's gone.
Caleb Call: But what's the difference? what What's the difference there?
Ben: I mean, it's just G5 versus powerful.
Caleb Call: What was Lane Kiffin doing at those coaches? Well, yeah that's ah that's one difference. But Lane Kiffin... was actively trying to recruit. All of his players. to go leave and go to LSU with him. Not all of his players, but the big players.
Caleb Call: And...
Ben: my My problem is...
Caleb Call: Too late.
Ben: The coaches that he brought over to LSU, they let him come back and call the offense. So it was like the guys, the offense coordinator that called the playoff was already going to LSU anyway. So he's recruiting the players regardless. And I don't know.
Ben: I just, I think that team that you have has a chance to win the natty. You let them try to win the natty. that.
Caleb Call: I think them rallying around Pete Golden.
Ben: I uh...
Caleb Call: might have been more beneficial for that. we um mean we saw They lost to Georgia in the regular season. They beat them in the playoff.
Ben: I beat him, yeah.
Caleb Call: So I mean who who knows?
Ben: and And with Lane, you never know.
Caleb Call: that's
Ben: They might have lost. You're you're right there.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: They might have lost that game. but I just think.
Caleb Call: And the other thing too.
Ben: If you got a chance to win the natty.
Caleb Call: all right
Ben: you stand by your coaches that have put in the, hes he turned the Ole Miss. The only reason Ole Miss is what they are right now is because Lane Kiffin's been there. So I just.
Caleb Call: that That is true. But Lane Kiffin did say on his way out, I think it was in his opening press conference at LSU, he said... I'm at a place where I can win a national championship or you can win a national championship. He admitted that he did not think he could do that at Ole Miss.
Caleb Call: If you're Ole Miss and you've got your head coach. openly admitting To another team, yeah, I'm here because I believe in your program more than that program. like You just...
Ben: Well, I mean, what do you expect him to say though?
Caleb Call: you had to advertise It's true, and LSU is a different job than Ole Miss. I get why Lane did what he did. But I also get why I almost did what they did. And that's another tangent.
Ben: Speaking of that though... Yeah, speaking of that, though, it's crazy that Nick Saban won on Addy at LLSU. And then moves to Bama.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Can you if you imagine that?
Caleb Call: Yeah, granted, he had the dolphin stint in the middle there too.
Ben: and
Caleb Call: yeah You want to know a fun fact. LSU's last three head coaches at all won championships at LSU. And it was Brian Kelly who broke the streak. so Yeah, b Brian Kelly is the one coach who couldn't get it done at LSU, got fired pretty quick, and now here comes Lane Kiffin.
Ben: he probably He probably wishes he stayed at Notre Dame. Hmm.
Caleb Call: There was a hypothetical posed to Josh Pate on Twitter a couple weeks ago. Somebody asked, do you think... that in five years, it's more likely that Lane Kiffin will not be coaching at LSU. Maybe he leaves for his own. New job, maybe he gets fired.
Caleb Call: or that he wins a championship in those five years. And my gut instinct was that Lane Kiffin's gone from LSU for whatever reason. Could be a scandal with a co -ed. Could be an NFL job.
Ben: oh
Caleb Call: Could be the Alabama job. Who knows? But now having seen that first game. I'm already almost ready at to flip and say I think it's more likely he went to championship, but that could be this year.
Ben: He's switching.
Caleb Call: That that team is legit.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: they One of the other contenders, we preseason.
Ben: Yeah, they're good
Caleb Call: Oregon. Everyone's talking about them. They keep their quarterback. They've got Boise coming to town. They're big favorites. I think it was upwards of 24 to 28 points. We talked about it.
Caleb Call: We both didn't think Boise had a chance in this game, despite both liking Boise's prospects for being a playoff team. With the G6 bid. But fourth quarter, that was a 27 -27 game. Boise he hung in there.
Caleb Call: Maddox Madsen, have an experience and continuity at quarterback and the coaching staff as well. I mean, obviously Boise. They had to go in on offense. we We both thought that Boise's defense was going to struggle against Oregon, and they held it together for most of that game too. Oregon was having a hard time moving the ball. They got stopped on downs multiple times near midfield early in the game.
Caleb Call: I feel like Oregon still has the potential to be as good as they hoped. But I came away thinking that Boise's ceiling isn't just making the playoff. I think that they could win a game in the playoff if they get the right matchup.
Ben: Yeah, totally agree. i ah Same thing. i I always liked Maddox Madsen. I mean, he's a Utah boy, so I've kind of followed him a little bit.
Caleb Call: He's the local kid, American Fork, yeah.
Ben: Yeah. Yeah, and so he's one of those guys I ah I kind of wish he would have stayed local. and I know at the time I don't think BYU -Utah really recruited him, but it would have been fun to see him. Um, Maybe.
Ben: I mean, the last few years, Utah. I mean, they had Isaac Wilson, who was a big time recruit, but like the last few years, it feels like Maddox could have been. The guy in Utah and Salt Lake. and um I don't know.
Ben: I just think it would have been fun to to have him. But he's had a career at Boise State. so hes I mean, he's made a playoff two years ago.
Caleb Call: He's not too far from home.
Ben: and
Caleb Call: I'm sure that he... It was easy to get back from Boise back down to American Fork.
Ben: yeah Night. during yeah During the game, they kept showing clips of his family in the stands, so they made it out to Oregon, and they're probably going to all his games. so He's not. I mean... ah He's had a good career there. And so I. ah I was impressed. i I was impressed that they could run the ball as well as they did too. And they still have that. ah running back gains from He was the backup for Gentee when he was a freshman.
Ben: and he He was a good little running back two years ago, too, and so he's ah he's still running the ball well.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: and i i kind of was surprised that boise was able to run it as well as they did as well to kind of
Caleb Call: They are running the ball consistently, and Maddox Madsen got involved in that too.
Ben: Make it so they're off. Yeah.
Caleb Call: he I didn't remember him as a passer from their first playoff run, and I admittedly did not watch a lot of Boise last year. and I was impressed at how shifty he was. He was making guys miss and getting first downs with his legs as well.
Ben: He's a gamer. he's ah He's a good athlete. I mean, he's a multi -sport guy from Utah.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben: want to won two state titles at different high schools for baseball. He's just a good athlete and just kind of shows up. and wins games when you need him to. I mean, obviously, he didn't make the final play there. and And Oregon had some.
Ben: Some dudes that... Boise couldn't stop down the stretch, but to go along with what you were saying earlier too, I feel like Boise, there's a couple. A couple of big takeaways is Boise? is Even with a loss there, they should be ranked next week.
Ben: And then same with Louisville. I think Louisville, I mean, they're ranked 24 in the AP. They're not ranked in the coaches, but they should.
Caleb Call: They should hold steady or go up.
Ben: They should go up.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Yeah, I actually would. if i were to the quote I haven't done my top 25 yet, but I would bump Louisville up. I would have them probably in the low. te or the high teens to...
Caleb Call: I probably.
Ben: low 20s. I think they're a top 20 team.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And I don't think that loss changes my opinion of that.
Caleb Call: I would try and keep them close to Ole Miss. like You got Ole Miss at 12 or something. I'm putting Louisville probably two or three spots below them. In the same vicinity.
Ben: Okay, so you even got them higher than me, but Anyways, I think they should go up. And then like you said with Michigan, Michigan proved that they weren't good. And I think you should. bump them out and make them prove it. And obviously if they go take care of Oklahoma next week, maybe. there they sneak back in, but. those are kind of like big takeaways for me is those three teams and also Oregon on the other side of it. They're not, I don't think they should be ranked as high as they, they should fall a couple of spots too. And so I think there should be a. a reaction to this. and Two teams that lost, Boise and Louisville.
Ben: I think they should both go up from where they were last week. And I think the the week one reaction, you should those poll voters should react to it properly and um pretend like they actually watched the games. and
Caleb Call: what wouldn't that be nice that that's one of my biggest problems with college football rankings is that people aren't reactive enough
Ben: adjust accordingly. Yeah, so.
Caleb Call: you spend nine months daydreaming about what these teams are going to look like and you create in your mind these narratives that organs They bring everybody back. They're going to be so good.
Caleb Call: And then you go watch Oregon struggle with Boise, a Boise team that you didn't rank. And if you go put Oregon there at number two again. that just is You have to be willing to react to what your eyes are showing.
Caleb Call: week one should be valued 99 % in your off season. expectations one percent at most like you just can't sit there and still let your preseason pull. Well, Oregon, they won, so they're going to stay here. Michigan, they won. They're going to stay here. like you You have to be moving these teams around, and you don't see that a lot from the voters, which can be annoying.
Caleb Call: And I know the AP pool doesn't matter. But the narratives that get built around the games that are played... Well, AP pulls. rankings are associated with the teams.
Ben: Hosts do matter.
Caleb Call: Those do matter, and it does influence how teams are viewed the rest of the season. And if you don't think that the committee has at least a little bit. of influence based on the number 14 being next to a team that they saw somebody beat earlier in the year, you're crazy. The rankings do matter, even if they don't. nominally matter, even if it's not clearly stated that they matter.
Caleb Call: there is influence there so yeah i mean do your job if you're a ap poll voter i love that in the last year you've had more and more people calling out. voters by name.
Caleb Call: I feel like you need to put a little bit of pressure on them to actually do what's right. and put Put out a poll that makes sense. Yeah, watch the games and react to them. So yeah, i'm I'm with you on there. I hope that we see some.
Caleb Call: Pretty big reactions from the first week, including Boise and Louisville being ranked. at Louisville with Ole Miss, Boise with Oregon. They did exactly what they need to to prove that they belong in the playoff, and that's what BYU failed to do last year. They got on the field with a... potential playoff team.
Caleb Call: And they both played them down to the wire and proved that, hey, on a good day we might win that game. And so I have no doubt that Louisville and Boise, if they keep winning games, they're going to get respect for what they did.
Caleb Call: Props to Boise by the way. They play Oregon on the road. but they also still play Western Michigan. who's one of the favorites in the Mac. And they still play Memphis.
Ben: and
Caleb Call: who that they beat Arkansas State this last week. They already beat UNLV. Memphis. but themselves and the american in a good spot so far so i mean boise state's got two Huge games.
Caleb Call: You lose either one of them. your bids in jeopardy but if you win both of those I think you can almost lock Boise into the playoffs. Now, maybe injuries derail their season, but if they can finish offense out of conference undefeated.
Caleb Call: Boise has put up the schedule so far that gives them such a clear path. So I love what they did on the scheduling side of things. and Can't wait to see what they do against some of these other G6 contenders.
Ben: That Memphis game is this week, right?
Caleb Call: There might be a week off before. I can't remember. I know the Western Michigan game is week four.
Ben: Okay.
Caleb Call: I think Boise Memphis is week three. So we'll see.
Ben: Okay. So that Memphis, I mean, Memphis beating UNLV. Boise, what they did to Oregon. that ah That feels like it could be the G5 spot whenever it happens, if that's this week or next week.
Caleb Call: a If Western Michigan actually got credit for that win against Michigan.
Ben: so
Caleb Call: Picture how big that Western Michigan and -Boise game would feel.
Ben: yeah
Caleb Call: I think it's in Boise, too. I mean, that would be... Those are going to be two fun games regardless.
Ben: i mean I mean, if Western Michigan beats Boise and... They go run, say they run the table, they're sitting at 11 -1, everyone's like, oh, they should have won that game.
Caleb Call: People would give them the credit for that. Yeah
Ben: that probably Yeah, they... probably get the They're probably like retroactively getting the credit for that game. and they probably
Caleb Call: Honestly I think you're right.
Ben: Get the G5. Yeah.
Caleb Call: So yeah, Boise can put themselves in a good spot.
Ben: so they probably still control their
Caleb Call: But Western Michigan and Memphis having Boise on their schedule. put them in a good spot too i don't think the mac can get a playoff team over some of these other conferences. unless you go out and beat somebody. And Western Michigan obviously should have and already kind of did beat Michigan.
Caleb Call: They have a chance to go beat Boise now, and that could vault a Mack team up high enough to. get to play off a bit. So yeah, we'll see. It's for the rest of the...
Ben: That Memphis -Boise game is Saturday. So that's a – Yeah, it's a big week two game.
Caleb Call: Saturday. if not That will be...
Ben: so
Caleb Call: Yeah. well We'll make sure to talk about that one coming up.
Ben: I'm gonna keep your eyes on
Caleb Call: later in the week.
Ben: Yeah. Sweet.
Caleb Call: As for the Big 12. started off with a Fun game on Thursday. Colorado. narrowly beats Georgia Tech. Colorado struggled on offense the whole game. I really did not think that they were calling them Juju Lewis. I don't think that Juju was nearly as good as what Colorado needs to win games consistently. in the Big 12.
Caleb Call: but when the moment was brightest when he needed to go out there he had 64 passing yards before his Two minute drive. Goes right down, scores a touchdown, makes it look easy. They go and get the lead.
Caleb Call: And then Georgia Tech has the answer, gets a 40 -yard pass on their first play of their next drive. before getting that field goal blocked. I don't know how good Georgia Tech is going to be this year. They lost a lot, but obviously Mendoza had a good game. They should at least be. I would suspect the 6 -6 or 7 -5 team.
Caleb Call: Colorado going on the road and beating them is a great sign for both the Big 12 and Colorado. I don't think that Colorado is going to be a cellar dweller like we envision them potentially being. They may not still be as good to contend for a Big 12 championship.
Caleb Call: But I think Colorado's good enough probably. to at least make you nervous when they're on your schedule. I don't think anybody can take them lightly. I know last year. Utah smacked them, and I think that...
Caleb Call: There was plenty of other teams that also smacked Colorado. BYU struggled early in the year with them. It was when their receivers were healthy and when Bear was a true freshman. It was a rough start for that game for BYU. by the end of the year, Colorado is getting.
Caleb Call: destroyed by a bunch of teams. And I don't think that you'll see that much this year. I liked what I saw from Dion squad. the offense hopefully they can get things together but overall pretty promising start from Colorado.
Ben: Yeah, and to the Baylor -Auburn game, i that was a fun game to watch. it ah Um, Baylor was... I thought. They looked better. collectively as a team than they have in a couple years. so I think they're kind of a team that.
Ben: It has has the capability to be anybody on their schedule. So I think they're I mean, they're probably not a team that's going to. really compete for a Big 12 championship, but I think they're... they're the type of team that Amen. Could be a Tech or could be a BYU, could be the Utah on any given Saturday.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: and i uh I mean, you had DJ kind of limping around. and So you wonder how much... ah that affected the game or affected the result. but they He kind of grinded through it and went.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: scored that touchdown late and they went for two to win it.
Caleb Call: It's tough to say because... ah DJ Lagley is the kind of quarterback where... Both teams get to take turns cheering for him. he He makes great plays, and then he makes some boneheaded plays. Yeah, if that ankle's healthy.
Caleb Call: Maybe he's running around like he did in the first quarter and getting stripped of the sideline. more often, but I think that Baylor probably wins that game. Flagway is healthy. I liked the decision to go for two.
Ben: I do too.
Caleb Call: That was the right play call, even.
Ben: Especially with him. Yeah, especially with him hurt and like I I liked it too
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: and they got the right call.
Caleb Call: All right.
Ben: He just he he threw it too close to his – he kind of like short -armed the throw, and it was behind him, and he caught it, gave the defender.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: time to come make a play.
Caleb Call: And honestly, the safety.
Ben: Like if he just puts that. Nuff.
Caleb Call: Safety made a great play, giving them a bear hug, taking them to the ground.
Ben: yeah
Caleb Call: There was no chance to stretch that ball out. it was physically possible for the tight end to stretch the ball out and try and score there. so
Ben: a lot and it was by less than a
Caleb Call: Sucks that you lose by a couple inches.
Ben: ah Less than a foot. You lost by less than a foot.
Caleb Call: Yeah. flashbacks to when Baylor beat Oklahoma State by less than a foot in the Big 12 championship a few years back.
Ben: Oh. That was a crazy one that reached right at the
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: the pylon the left side pylon yeah
Caleb Call: As for the rest of the conference, I feel like you saw what you needed to see from most teams. Cincinnati. They beat Boston College pretty handily. I don't think that. Yeah. Boston College is not a team that...
Caleb Call: Beating them by three scores means you're a good team. But at the very least, that shows that Cincinnati can go out there and handle business against an inferior. opponent who has probably a similar I bet you recruiting rankings would. Tell you that Boston College and Cincinnati have similar rosters, and Cincinnati went out there and handled them. Loved seeing that.
Caleb Call: Houston, Oregon State. Houston had a good game against them. they For a little bit there in the middle, Oregon State hung around, had a few big plays, but Houston pulled it out, one by two scores. they get tech your company
Ben: That one was actually. That one was actually kind of crazy Oregon State cut it to six in the fourth quarter and then Houston on the very next drive ended up
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: They went and answered and scored a touchdown to make it, I think it was a 13 -point win. um Speaking of that, I don't know why they kicked the extra point there. but
Caleb Call: So. I was watching that. They scored a touchdown to go up by 12. They convert. the two -point play. but there was a holding so you go back to the 12 yard line So they go and kick the extra point.
Ben: I still just... I mean, there's five minutes left in the game. I still just chuck it to the end zone, don't you think?
Caleb Call: I do too. And what I. I bet you what the coaches thought was. The odds of us getting this are probably similar to the odds of them missing or having one blocked. maybe that was what he was kind of thinking but
Ben: fair
Caleb Call: I still think you go for two there. I don't think that could give me the extra point. And it didn't matter in the end anyways. but I agree with you on that one. i Even with the penalty, go for two.
Ben: But that was one. Houston kind of controlled most of the game, and then all of a sudden it was like late scores for Oregon State. cut it to one I'm at one score game and you're like.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: If Houston doesn't convert on this drive, then Oregon State's going to be driving for the win. and Luckily, Houston went and just answered right away.
Caleb Call: There's nobody. I feel worse for right now besides Western Michigan fans. They're in their own category. Oklahoma State fans endured they They went. 4 -20 in Gundy's last two seasons.
Caleb Call: They have not won a big 12 game in either of those years.
Ben: and were ranked really high at the start of the first one.
Caleb Call: And.
Caleb Call: Yes. like that This is a team that... really across the last two decades they were A mainstay, at least being competitive in the Big 12, they had their own share of success. They were ranked all the time, it felt like.
Caleb Call: And they were awful. And then you go and you bring in Eric Morris and his North Texas players. Drew Mastemaker putting up crazy stats, but it's against the Americans, so who knows. Caleb Hawkins putting up crazy stats, 25 touchdowns.
Caleb Call: But it's against the American. When you open up, with your powerful roster with these North Texas players. against an American conference team. So you expect that they're at the very least going to be what North Texas was doing to American teams last year, which was scoring points.
Caleb Call: No, they go out there and they get manhandled on both lines of scrimmage by Tulsa, who won four games last year. and you go out there and lose 24 -10. Your offense sucked the whole game.
Caleb Call: I just don't even know What you have to look forward to the rest of the year and they probably will end up improving I bet you they probably win two to four conference games depending on if they can figure something out.
Caleb Call: But wow, was that a disappointing start. I i can't believe that Oklahoma State scored 10 points. I thought they were going to be closer to 30, 40, or maybe even more.
Ben: Yeah. the It's one of those ones where I think they were projected. They were one of the few. bowl eligible teams. according to the Vegas lines. and It's one where...
Ben: I wouldn't be shocked if they're sitting outside this year. so
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: they they They look like a team that could be on the up, but it's... I don't know. well they got a lot of fix so
Caleb Call: Yeah. I just don't even... If you're an Oklahoma State fan. Why are you still watching college football? Spend your time doing something else, please. That that first game does not give you a lot of confidence. and Now you've got Oregon coming to town next week.
Caleb Call: He lost 69 -3 to Oregon last year. I'm not sure you scored more than those three points this year. Now, maybe they make some adjustments and actually go out there and have a poll. Oregon didn't look perfect either.
Caleb Call: But I don't think Oklahoma State's got a shot at winning that game. You're going to be sitting at 0 -2. And it's just, I mean, with the Big 12 schedule, you're going to play a lot of teams better than Tulsa. Can you actually come out there and move the ball?
Ben: You don't. And you don't got Gundy taking a shot at Oregon, so maybe Oregon's not running the score up this time around. but
Caleb Call: Yeah, hopefully that's the case.
Caleb Call: The other game that I was watching in the early window, you had West Virginia go up big, quick on Coastal.
Ben: No.
Caleb Call: They're up 24 -0. They were running the ball so effectively. Loved what I saw from their offense. Hawkins was actually throwing some nice passes too. And then the second half, the switch flipped. All of a sudden, Coastal was moving the ball just as well as West Virginia was in the first half. West Virginia couldn't keep drives up.
Caleb Call: And they end up. Sneaking a 31 -24 win out. I think that West Virginia. They probably thought they could cruise control for the rest of the game and win that one and didn't want to you know keep putting guys in danger, getting hurt and so on. But I think West Virginia this year.
Caleb Call: probably will be about what we saw in that Coastal game. A team that's going to have some really high highs with that running game. in a team that's going to be susceptible to some early low lows and giving up some runs like that. so If I'm a team with West Virginia on my schedule, I know Utah closes the year with them.
Caleb Call: i'm probably at least a little nervous for that game but that's ah That's probably going to be a... Six and six type team. I don't think that they're gonna be at the bottom either, but I don't certainly don't to be at the top. after seeing what Coastal did in the second half.
Ben: Did you see, ah did you see Rich Rod end up, he like went. out of his way to go find the deuce bailey the coastal carolina quarterback he's this freshman that kind of i think he ended up with like 370 yards and three teddies or something like that and
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Probably some recruiting going on there if I had to guess.
Ben: And I saw something online where it was like that get that second half probably added a zero or two to Deuce Bailey's check next year. so It's going to be a... It'll be interesting to see if he... ah Yeah, he was trying to – I think he was like, I got to get this guy for next year, quarterback. but Uh,
Caleb Call: that That discussion right there just reminds me. we We had the UMass Rutgers game earlier in the week. Rutgers gets manhandled by UMass. I bet you Rutgers administration wishes that they could just trade staffs and trade rosters with UMass right now. Because UMass has a fun quarterback in Pop Watson. He was a Virginia Tech quarterback who transferred out, couldn't get on the field over there. and He looked electric. Coastal Carolina's quarterback, kind of the same vibes. Awesome runner. Had some explosive passing plays, too.
Caleb Call: I almost feel bad for G5 teams because you go play a game like this against West Virginia.
Ben: Now you don't have your freshman quarterback anymore.
Caleb Call: and Yeah, it's fun to go and have a chance to win. but yeah exactly it's you are You're giving your players an in -person tryout for the power floor.
Ben: One year.
Ben: Yeah, it's a one -year, and Coastal's probably only getting this kid for one year, which is too bad for him.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: but Just the new age.
Caleb Call: The only other game I think is really worth talking about in the Big 12, you had... Arizona and ASU and a few other teams, Kansas State blow out some FCS teams. Texas Tech against Abilene Christian, they struggled.
Caleb Call: 33 -10 win. They kicked so many field goals in this game. Couldn't close drives out. The game, I mean, it was... Only a... 17 or 20 point game decently late into the third quarter.
Caleb Call: Texas Tech, I still think will be. one of the main favorites in the conference. But wow was that kind of a disappointing stretch from them
Ben: Yeah, they still don't have a ton of... challenging opponents on the schedule like they they kind of miss a lot of the big big matchups, but i uh The Houston game in a couple weeks actually is going to be.
Ben: I'm interested to see how that game goes just because. Texas Tech kind of I don't know, they didn't. It didn't seem like they really Um, or as dominant as they were last year. So they're a very beautiful team. and I mean, as Utah and BYU fans, we're probably both looking at it like, okay, like you go make a Big 12 championship game this year. there would be This is a winnable game this year. It feels like it's a... a worse team than it was. a worse tech team then.
Ben: it was last year so i'm kind of excited about that and Aya. I think the i think Big 12 is kind of. more open. um this year than it ever has been in and also with tech not looking good you might see um A big thing is.
Ben: If they drop a game or two, you might get a Holy War rematch if Utah and BYU takes care of business and conference, which would be. Biggest Big 12 game. Our biggest ah Holy war game ever.
Ben: If you could get it in the big 12 championship game. And so that's one that.
Caleb Call: Good job.
Ben: I, ah I wouldn't be surprised like watching that first game. I wouldn't be surprised if tech drops a game or two now. So I think it'll be.
Caleb Call: Honestly, I mean, once Sorsby was gone. The line dropped from 11 .5, which is absurd to have an 11 .5 preseason.
Ben: yeah
Caleb Call: win total.
Ben: so why
Caleb Call: to ten and a half but it was still slanted towards the um over on that I think if I had to bet on 10 .5, I'd probably lean under. I think 10 .2. Now, they're going to get their toughest games at home.
Caleb Call: But they still like they have a road trip to Colorado. It could be a little tricky. They've got both the Arizona schools. come into town. They do dodge Kansas State, who I think probably will end up calling Klein did awesome in his first game. Again, it's against an FCS team. but Love seeing them go out and dominate an FCS team, whereas last year they beat South Dakota by three and arguably should have lost that game. so Yeah, it'll be interesting. I don't think that text is tech.
Ben: Pat Baylor.
Caleb Call: is going to be a clear.
Ben: at Baylor late in the year, too.
Caleb Call: At Baylor late in the year.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Now, if they do play TCU late, that's probably going to be a win. But yeah, so overall, I think that Texas Tech. I don't think that they're a tier above everybody like they were last year. That could change over the course of the season. Maybe they end up improving on ah offense. I think the defense will still be.
Caleb Call: probably the league's best defense. But, yeah, I don't think that you're going to have them just blowing teams out like they did last year. Their closest win last year was a 22 -point win. That's absurd, and that's that's not going to happen again this year.
Ben: That was my main takeaway too. was I mean, lost to an Albin or. I don't even, Abilene Christian, right? Abilene Christian who.
Caleb Call: have a
Ben: who lost last week to Lamar. and so Now they're sitting at 0 -2. I didn't think they they struggled against a team that had already dropped a game. I'm sorry.
Caleb Call: To an FCS team, yeah.
Ben: I... Yeah, so I think Tex I think Tex more vulnerable in the past and I think ah I mean, as a BYU fan, as a Utah fan, it's It's one of those things where you're licking your chops going, okay, this is a year where hopefully you can make a run, and they seem beautiful.
Caleb Call: Now, if BYU and Utah... do make the Big 12 Championship. That might actually be one time where you tip your cap to Brett your mark Thank you for not making this play the same game twice in two weeks.
Ben: okay yeah
Caleb Call: So much. Maybe playing earlier in the year. and then going and playing again in december a month later Probably a better thing for both teams and for the conference as a whole. But still, if...
Caleb Call: When you have BYU and Utah as contenders, that game should be the end of the year. We can talk about that more later. but Man, i still i Rivalry Week should be Rivalry Week.
Caleb Call: So we had our first ever, both we did. college football pick them we'd pick seven games every week we had BYU and Utah game on the docket every week.
Caleb Call: the two best Big 12 games outside of BYU and Utah, and then the three best games in the country. at least from what we're projecting on a week -to -week basis. So this first week.
Caleb Call: For Utah, we both had Utah beat in Idaho. They did. You had to score closer. BYU -Utah Tech. We both have BYU, obviously. Colorado Georgia Tech. Both of us go with the yellow jackets.
Caleb Call: Colorado pulls off the win. So we're both sitting at two and one. We both picked LSU to win. We both picked. Ole Miss to win. but we differed on a couple of games. I had Cal, you had UCLA.
Caleb Call: I had Auburn. You had Baylor. So we both go 5 -2 in the first week, both getting Colorado wrong. and then Cal for me.
Ben: but though
Caleb Call: and Baylor for you.
Ben: Yeah, I was.
Caleb Call: Baylor released. They were an inch away from giving you a 6 -1. week but Auburn gets it done
Ben: yeah And it was kind of a bummer for me too, because we also are are super dog. projections. Baylor was one of my two. And so I got the cover.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: So you get the the five points for Baylor there, but I was hoping for the outright. Mike. extra points and so
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: it was a it was a double thing i picked them straight up on the pick them and then Barely missed it. and missed the the super dog get too so
Caleb Call: And then on my side for Superdog, we both picked two teams that were. at least they have to be at least four and a half point underdogs or more I had South Dakota State plus 13 .5 against Northwestern. They failed to cover, lost by 16.
Caleb Call: I had Sam Houston plus 16 .5 against Troy. I admittedly Do not watch much Sam Houston or Troy football. but They felt like teams that were pretty close to equal, and it played out that way. Sam Houston lost by three, so I get the cover there, five points.
Caleb Call: And then you had Baylor plus seven and a half. They covered easily against Auburn. And then Toledo, you missed by one point. They needed to cover nine and a half. earlier in the week it was in me kind of
Ben: I got to ask our ah i gotta ask our listeners this. I think ah I never saw the 9 1⁄2 line. When I sent it to them, it was 10 1⁄2.
Ben: and then I'm in a competition with him and my cousin. And I also, when we were screenshotting the underdog for the week, I got the fan deal screenshot 10 and a half after he made this graphic. So I never saw the nine and a half anywhere.
Ben: So I think this is a, I think this is a five point cover. I think this is kind of like the big 10 trying to cover up the one second here. I think he's just making these, he's shaving points off.
Caleb Call: i'll have to see if i had a screenshot i'm fine giving it to you on the cover there it it When I went to go, I was looking to potentially place a bet on the game, and I had it at 9 .5, and that's when we had talked about it.
Caleb Call: So it was at 10 .5 for almost the entire week and probably was sitting at 9 .5 for a couple hours, and that just happened to be when we put this together. So, you know what, we'll split the difference.
Ben: This is like the Big Ten. We should...
Caleb Call: We'll give you that.
Ben: We should put a little Big Ten.
Caleb Call: Okay. well we'll split the difference and we'll give you a two and a half of the five points on the cover there
Ben: list right over Caleb's head right now. Okay. yeah I'll take it.
Caleb Call: So there you go.
Ben: Hmm.
Caleb Call: yeah You'll be leading five points to seven and a half points going into next week.
Ben: So Superdog, I'm seven and a half, you're five, and then Pickham was five to five.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: So we're pretty.
Caleb Call: Five and two to five and two.
Ben: Pretty tight going into this
Caleb Call: So. Follow us for betting advice if you want, but I'm not sure we're any better than any of you guys when it comes to actually taking money from Vegas. but yeah the steward eye competition will be fun to track the rest of the year week two It's going to be tough to narrow this down to just a couple of games because we got... some big games on deck for week two so We'll come at you guys again, either.
Caleb Call: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday this week. We'll see which day it comes out. We'll give you a whole week two preview. Focus mostly, we got Arizona coming to Provo. We got Arkansas going to Salt Lake. Two big games in the state. to kick off week two.
Caleb Call: Outside of that, it's going to be a fun slate. Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Michigan. We talked about Memphis and Boise. You've got Georgia Tech hosting Tennessee. so i'm excited for week two we got some fun games in week one and i think week two should hopefully take that and run with that.
Caleb Call: hopefully even better week.
Ben: we're underway baby let's go
