Transcript
Caleb Call: Welcome back to the Holy War pod. Caleb and Ben, you guys both here for the week eight recap. and The haters were right. The trap game was a trap game for the Cougs. Utah had game day. and and was i able to play the Houston Cougars. Hard fought battle. Utah comes away with the win, so we'll...
Caleb Call: Talk about both of those. That started in Orlando, the game that happened first. um This is just a weird game like it felt like So many points throughout the game. BYU is ready to run away away with it.
Caleb Call: And then just exactly what needed to happen for UCF happened multiple times. I think there's like three distinct plays you can point to for like that. truly change this game's outcome.
Caleb Call: The first you had before halftime. BYU is at 14 -10. They're driving. They get the ball right after halftime. and There.
Caleb Call: He has the ball tipped to the line of scrimmage, bounces straight up into the safety of his arms for an interception. We were already in field goal range. You're probably looking at 17 -10, maybe 21 -10 for the Cougars and getting the ball.
Caleb Call: You're feeling pretty good about any points there. Instead, UCF gets to pick. They go straight down and score a touchdown. Now you're down 17 -14 at halftime. That play hurt.
Caleb Call: And then in the second half. you go score touchdown right away 21 -17 you're feeling good about it again your defense Gets what looks like should be a three and out. You're forced a third and 17.
Caleb Call: and Isaiah Glasker for as good as he played last week. goes for a hit stick, doesn't wrap up at all, and just knocks one of their fastest playmakers to the side where he just runs down the boundary for 50 yards, and they end up scoring a touchdown on the drive. so What should have been 21 -17, if you're getting the ball back, turns into...
Caleb Call: 21 to 24. And, you know, eventually BYU plays to overtime. There was a really weird sequence sequence there at the end of the game that... Got you to overtime. i Obviously there was the debate about the 10 -second runoff.
Caleb Call: the The refereeing crew had no idea what was going on. Really weird. Haven't seen something like that in a while, or really maybe ever. and then over time was its own debacle as well with the um kick but Honestly, that just You knew going into the...
Caleb Call: no lj games that you are going to have some games that. you know something was going to come up and be a tough game that you're going to have to overcome and Just a few chances BYU had to really pull away in this one. They failed to do so, failed to.
Caleb Call: capitalized on what they needed to. and They fall to UCF, just another one of the big upsets on the season. um I... I don't know what that's going to say for the Cougars going the rest of the way, but you just blew your mulligan in the Big 12. Now you have a loss in conference, and you probably got to win now if you want to guarantee a spot in the conference title game.
Caleb Call: How do you think that changes the season for the Cougars?
Ben: Yeah, it really is. a Um, Like that, like you said, the Mulligan is kind of... um Like you have to beat Utah now. to... Phil.
Ben: any good about making it to the Big 12 championship game.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And you're probably feeling good if you do that, if you do win that game. but Um, yeah. If BYU drops the second one, it just becomes... a We need this, this, this, and this to happen, like four or five different things to kind of like you need Tech to lose another game. You need Arizona to lose another game, which they'd play Utah. and then So that there is a loss available there.
Ben: you need Oklahoma State to lose a game. like it just And then you'd have to win tiebreakers at that point, which you might be cheering for other stuff on top of it.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben: and so Yeah, it's just kind of a tough... ah It's a tough one that. um It's kind of... The Big 12 schedule makers didn't do BYU any favors with. The game right after Notre Dame, you make them travel.
Ben: to Orlando.
Caleb Call: few time zones away.
Ben: two time zones away. and
Caleb Call: and
Ben: and Kind of just give ah and it's UCF coming off of a bye. So it's a it was a tough scheduling And it was hard to. like we We talked about it a little bit, and UCF just wasn't finishing these type of games, but they were in all the games. They were in the Houston game. They were in the Oklahoma State game. and so They were a good team. and Um, They were able to put put together kind of a...
Ben: a worthy effort to um to do the job. And that backup quarterback is pretty good. I'm I actually would.
Caleb Call: He has some good throws.
Ben: Yeah, and i I feel like he extended plays when he needed to. and and ah And it wasn't even like extend plays to run. to do much damage with his legs, but it was just like, It felt like his running was like more just like kept everything available. like it It didn't seem like his damage was like really with his legs. It was just like to extend plays. to make good enough throws where they, it just felt like there was somebody open when they needed it to be always.
Ben: And so.
Caleb Call: Their first touchdown and overtime came like that their two -point conversion and the second overtime came like that with just
Ben: just
Caleb Call: him extending plays and finding a man downfield.
Ben: Yeah, we go a lot of first downs um happened where it was um Like where they were in the from in between the 20s, they ah kind of just extended the plays, got first downs and like second and third downs. And it just seemed like they, ah and like you said, the Glasker. bounce off hit stick was was brutal that uh That really sparked UCF when it got a touchdown on that drive, and they would have punted if it was just.
Ben: literally grabbed him and so um Yeah, it's kind of just ah for... For BYU, that's a tough game just because now it feels like, and you even felt like it was a mulligan. Being the number two team in the country, we haven't seen the CFP rankings yet, but it felt like you had a loss to even getting that large, too. it
Ben: Now it almost feels like it's gone, like you lose a second one and it feels like you're probably on the outside. 10 -2, like if 10 -2 and two you don't make the conference championship game, like you probably feel like you're on the outside. Depending on what else has happened, like there's been a lot of chaos, but.
Ben: it's a It's kind of a bummer to to use it immediately after you get that Notre Dame win.
Caleb Call: Exactly, yeah. There's been a lot of chatter as far as... If you were to have gone 1 -1 in those games, is it better to have worn Notre Dame or... We'll be in UCF. and I don't know. It's a tough call. BYU is probably ranked higher right now than they would have been if it had been gone. the other way.
Caleb Call: um it hurts in the big 12 race but i feel like it helps with the rankings so if you go and beat utah Beating Notre Dame definitely was a better choice there. But if you go and lose to Utah, you probably wish you had had the UCF win instead. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out. i Like we said, UCF is a good team. I don't think they're a great team, but they're a good enough team to where in a situation like this without LJ on the road after a huge win.
Caleb Call: Exit. you know a few plays don't go your way and all of a sudden here you are finding yourself. tied and in overtime with UCF and anything can happen there. um one of the what We'll talk about late game decision making for both the games. BYU UCF and Houston, Utah.
Caleb Call: to start with the BYU UCF. Endgame. BYU gets up. Fourth down stop at the goal line. I don't mind UCF going for it there. I thought it was honestly a pretty good call by them.
Caleb Call: If you don't get it. BYU has the ball at the one -yard line. where they are notoriously conservative. Aaron Roderick much to his credit. He's a great offensive coordinator he is terrified of bad plays.
Caleb Call: Hates turn turning the ball over. Safety's terrible for him as well. He goes very conservative to try and avoid. situational like um just momentum flippers like that and So I was just worried there, you know, hey, if we get the ball to one, we're not going to do anything with it. We're going to punt it right back to them, and they're going to have another chance to go get a field goal.
Caleb Call: And sure enough, third and six. You already got kind of got out of the... End zone. Ball's at the five -yard line. Third and six. Minute and a half left. You've got... I think we had two timeouts.
Ben: and it landed.
Caleb Call: And BYU runs the ball. Siona Moa had no chance to get the first down. Very ineffective ball game. they handed it off got two yards and punted Do you UCF had two timeouts, made them use one of them.
Caleb Call: Do you think that... That was the right call to go conservative and force a timeout usage. instead of just trying to get the first down.
Ben: Um... It's tough because... They had the timeouts to stop the clock anyways. And... BYU, I think, burned.
Ben: Was it? A minute off of the clock only. I think it was like.
Caleb Call: a minute. They went from about UCF's fourth down play, I think was the first play after the two -minute warning. And then BYU got like a minute off the clock.
Ben: okay
Caleb Call: It it was sitting at like a minute. 12 when we punted i think It was right on that vicinity.
Ben: Yeah, I I don't know. It's tough because you're backed up there. and get a like a penalty obviously a year. Um... It's a safety. And so i I probably am a little bit more aggressive there, especially because BYU without LJ, maybe.
Ben: Maybe that's more like LJ can... Have a shot at going and getting that. But I always like – even for Utah, like Utah and BYU, what I've been looking at is i like I go count the total yards on the ground without the quarterbacks. That kind of just makes me – I think that gives you a better feel of – And there are some design runs, but I feel like that gives you a feel of.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: um how the running game actually did. And I think it was only 79 yards when I counted it for BYU. um without bears yardage and so 79 yards weren't that effective on the ground throughout the game. And third and six is a lot of yards. I know maybe you're. I don't know that.
Ben: That backed up if you're really fooling anybody. um It just seemed like it was. we're a content putting this ball back, which was kind of interesting, but I'd be more aggressive. I, I try to go, uh, cause first down there and you go to overtime. And so
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And you're not feeling good punting the ball back because, like you said, it's like one or two first downs away from a –
Caleb Call: And not just overtime. First down there. All you need is a field goal to go win it, and you've got a minute and a timeout. like It's not like if if you get a 15 -yard play there, you're sitting at the 20 -yard line.
Caleb Call: You only need two or three more first downs to go. be in field goal range. like You gave yourself a chance to win it instead of just. Trying to hang on to the end there. I thought the right call, if I had been in A -Rod's shoes, and granted he knows more about...
Caleb Call: football than i'll ever know but At least, at the at the very least. some sort of like a quick read for bear have one of your receivers or tight ends run a quick whether it's a slant or a quick curl or something and if that first read isn't there give it like a split second decision for bear and have them just take off or even just kneel it after.
Caleb Call: like a run up the middle. And ah if the pass is there, great throw it. And if it's not. Bear has a better chance of picking that up with his legs then Siona Moa had running it up the middle for the third straight play.
Caleb Call: and at least Gives you a chance.
Ben: Yeah, if you're giving i mean if you're only giving him one read, too, you could even... I'm calling RPO where the yeah you pull a backside guard and you like the offense line thinks it's a run play, so you have that.
Ben: if he If he decides to kill her, then... You've got the run playing.
Caleb Call: No.
Ben: place too. And so, yeah, it's a. I don't know. it It's tough. i i think it was like you said he's a little bit more conservative um Like he doesn't love the... um obviously like all cord all coordinators should be. he He's terrified of the...
Ben: The negative. that The losing play, the game losing play, which... Isn't it could be worse things but um But yeah, it wasn't, it didn't feel like it was a. Let's go win the game call and So that was that was probably where you.
Caleb Call: Exactly. Yes, sir.
Ben: more frustrated with it was go win the game instead of play not to lose it.
Caleb Call: In... Granted, the timeout did end up being, again, an important factor at the end of the game because if UCF had had that timeout, it could have changed a re -kick potential there for them. But... in my mind, going into the third and sixth play call.
Caleb Call: There's going to be a minute in 15 or so seconds no matter what you do. if one timeout and two timeout. no matter what it ends up being, you're probably expecting about a 45 -yard field flip, so they're getting the ball about the 50. It ended up being a 60 -yard punt, much better than he'd had all game. and and put him back at like the 30.
Caleb Call: five yard line. So.
Ben: It was a really good punt.
Caleb Call: Ended up being a best case scenario. But you're not assuming you're getting a 60 -yard punt. You're probably assuming you're getting a 45 -yard punt. Playing ball the ball at the 50. Having one timeout or two timeouts really doesn't matter that much when all they need to do is get one or two first downs. to be in field goal range like it didn't feel like that was going to be as much of a game -changing mode. factor.
Caleb Call: as actually trying to get the first down would have been. so i I disagree with it there. Kalani is so aggressive so many times, so it's just kind of weird to see him be that. passive there and trust the defense when the defense had struggled.
Caleb Call: For a large majority of the game It turns out the defense, really they could have gone off the field on that last drive if they had just. Not. had keanu tanavasa face plant the uh offensive lineman after the he thought he recovered a fumble but really he recovered an incomplete pass and You have the 15 -yard penalty. It was just a...
Caleb Call: comedy of errors there at the end and then you had the blocked field goal that UCF. was able to grab and if any byu player there grabs it it's byu ball for that last play of the game instead of What should have been a UCF re -kick ended up being an overtime call. but There's so many different plays that could have gone differently and resulted in a different outcome. so
Ben: I thought it was interesting they ran out a new kicker when they initially thought they had to re -kick.
Caleb Call: overall.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: They ran out that new kicker. I was like, man, they don't got any chance. You get one kick blocking you out. You're out of the you're out of the game here. so
Caleb Call: Yeah, crazy. ah So too bad for the Cougars. You use your mulligan on UCF. I think 10 -2. There's a small chance you make the playoff only because of all the carnage that you've had.
Caleb Call: But if Notre Dame or Arizona.
Ben: hunt There's been a lot around the nation.
Caleb Call: Yeah, so I mean if if Arizona and Notre Dame both keep winning. And they are sitting there 11 -1, 10 -2, both ranked in the top 15. I think that might end up being enough to have BYU stay in the top 11.
Caleb Call: It'll just. at that point Like we talked about teams controlling their own destiny. If you lose one more game, you control nothing. if you're BYU, and you're sitting there just waiting for the 2014 playoff next year and you wasted three straight chances at the 12 -team playoff.
Caleb Call: We'll see what they have ready in store for. ASU and then Utah coming up. um On the other side of the rivalry... ah Utah hosted Houston. Weird.
Caleb Call: First half, I mean, yeah you were at the game. Well... The team was moving the ball. Nobody could really score. I mean, what was kind of going through your mind? being in the stadium in the first half.
Ben: Yeah, so I talked about it. You said they were six for six on touchdowns on the first drive of the game. and so They had had really good scripts up until this point, and they... ah they I think they hit a big play. Um...
Ben: They got to about mid -ish field. and before they kind of stalled out and had to punt and so It almost felt like, oh, dang it. Like there's the first like. First drive of the year. I mean, you're not going to score touchdowns on the first drive of the year all season long. And so then you kind of were just expecting them to turn it on. And then they went three and out. Next time they had the ball, they...
Ben: They finally got going and that ah that drive milked into the second quarter. So before you knew it, it was the second quarter 0 -0. And then Utah was actually moving the ball quite well. And then they got into like fringe field goal range. It had been a. It would have been a deep -ish field, like 40s, like mid -40s. And then Dampier was...
Ben: I untouched all on the right side and I look like he saw him and I think he He just airmailed them. mit Sometimes he just... that happens he was trying to get rid of it before he's gonna get hit and he just missed the guy by about five to ten yards up and so next thing you know you you move the ball and I think they started at their own like ten yard line on that drive and so They moved the ball quite a bit.
Caleb Call: I think it was even closer than that. I think it was like the three -yard line. Houston had a – They went for it on fourth and goal and didn't get it.
Ben: Was it?
Ben: Yeah, and so they moved the ball all the way down the field. and um Yeah, I just pulled it up three -yard line. It was that fourth and, yeah, that very first. fourth and one that they went for it on the three where they like they only had to get to the two yard line for a first. and They stopped them. So started at the three -yard line, went 70 yards on that drive. So they got to the 27. So that would have been like a 45 -yard field goal.
Ben: And, but then he got. Dan Peer just got hit. and untouched off the edge from a ah blitz and just airmailed that guy, picked it off right at the end zone. so Next thing you know, it was.
Ben: three zero because i think the next drive they went scored and then Um, And then... Before you knew it, Utah was driving right before half to try to... They had to go two -minute offense, and honestly, it was they moved it really quick down the field and then missed the field goal.
Ben: I think you sent me the clip of it. It like looked like the holder just kind of bobbled in.
Caleb Call: The hole were messed up there. Yeah.
Ben: And the ball was ball was still moving while he kicked in. so just I think. a like hesitated while he kicked in. It just affected the kick. and so Next thing you know, you're down 3 -0. You felt like you didn't move the ball. poorly like you had one drive where you stalled out of midfield that first drive of the game where you're probably feeling okay and then you drive the ball from your three -yard line into field goal range throw a pick after
Ben: The quarterback just gets – he just looks like he's a little antsy after he's about to get hit. And the next thing you know, you miss a field goal and you're down 3 -0. And then the worst part about that was the start of the game at – or the start of the third half. third quarter.
Ben: Now you've got Houston and they take it. Like it was like a nine minute drive where they went and scored a touchdown. So it was 10, nothing. It was over halfway through the third quarter, and Utah hadn't touched the ball in the third quarter. And so it got a little scary in there.
Caleb Call: The announcer said that it was like, 45 real -time minutes between Utah possessions. because of that long Houston drive right with halftime.
Ben: Yeah.
Ben: And that's even including Utah ended the half with the ball too. And so. That's a long time So anyways, they... Luckily, they used just bounced back in the second half. They started. And you you heard a lot about this going into it, that Houston's rushed.
Ben: defense was really good and really stout and i was interested to see how they were gonna um attack it. And honestly, they kind of slowed Utah's rushing attack down. ah they They were as good as advertised.
Caleb Call: Wave chance rushing attack.
Ben: and they kind of
Caleb Call: Devin Dampier -Ross ripped.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Got whatever he wanted.
Ben: yeah, and it was a So just like I said, I like to count like the, so Utah rushed for 226 yards, about 150 were damp here. And I think he had one or two design runs and they didn't go anywhere. And so it was never designed runs that really broke. It was. End. And Dampier, I was listening to the postgame on the way home, and Dampier was saying that they saw it in the film that there was going to be rushing lanes when they...
Ben: pin back and try to get after the quarterback. and the the coaches told him to take them. And so he kind of knew going in that was that was kind of their point of attack. And honestly. It didn't really happen before the third quarter. And then third quarter.
Ben: Um... into the fourth quarter it was that's like i felt like utah's offense was him just kind of gashing them late in the game. They actually started to, and I was actually curious if they were going to start to spy and they started to spy him a little bit more. And so he stopped rushing it later in the game. but so It was kind of a, I mean, he ran for 150 yards. Utah only ran for 76 yards besides him. so BYU and Utah's numbers were... about similar. um
Ben: rushing wise without their quarterbacks. They really ran for 79, he turned around for 76. And so both of them didn't run the ball very well, but. Um, It was interesting. dan pier just Dampier's scrambling and just playmaking. It was it just seemed like he kind of bailed Utah's offense out a little bit by just making plays that... um
Ben: Most quarterbacks honestly don't make like he, some of those plays where I was expecting him to get tackled like for no gain and he gets seven yards or he'd get a first down. On. kind of.
Ben: nothing there and so he uh he honestly made made a lot of plays it was probably I think it was one of the better games. That second half was one of the better games I've seen. Dampier used... just to create with his legs in Utah so far.
Ben: And so he still made it.
Caleb Call: What's kind of nice about quarterback like dampier and even like bear Dampier threw two picks in this game. Honestly, not the greatest game of his passing. But when you're dynamic enough on the ground, you can overcome a bad passing game like that. and It... But you said that that's probably.
Caleb Call: 80 % of the reason why Utah was able to win this game is because of... how well he was able to move the ball with his legs when the passing game wasn't working.
Ben: Yeah. He just kind of, it felt like, I don't know if. I obviously. Not in the huddle. I don't know all the plays. and i't I'm not on the headset or anything. But it didn't seem like the off offensive of play calling was as open as it.
Ben: been in all the other games so far. And so it kind of needed Dampier to be a little bit extra special with his legs.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And he made that bad throw late in the second half that was really bad. to the He tried to throw it to Weishan down the left side, and he just threw it right to the defender.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: So those those are mistakes that can't happen. and I mean, obviously against a good Houston team, we were able to. And I'm not hurting us terribly so He was able to get the win with even with that. so He's got to clean that up if Utah's got to.
Ben: going to win. Even this next week, Cincinnati looked pretty good against Tech, so they're going to have to clean some some of those things up. and um but For the most part, it was just Dan Pierce's scrambling ability was the the name of the game on offense. And defensively, I thought it was their best defensive game of the year, too. and um they uh Honestly, kind of just like. bend not break and just held them in the red zone so it was kind of a
Caleb Call: Houston Dreads on offense looked lost without Overmeyer. I don't know how much Houston football you've watched, but like. He's a 6 '9", tight end. That guy has a huge big body. They use and abuse him in the red zone.
Caleb Call: that he gets hurt on the first drive of the game and all of a sudden you don't have him. Wegman kind of... It looked like he rolled his ankle up a little bit earlier in the game. and wasn't running the ball as much as he normally does. and so it Just looked like they had no answers in the red zone. and Utah is able to only allow one touchdown the whole game.
Ben: Yeah. And honestly, it was ah I was listening to Scali, and Scali was like, yeah, if it... Really, they... They stopped him today. If it wasn't for a PI call, that was going to kind of spark to the.
Ben: um the touchdown drive. So really Utah's defense.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Like got to stop on every third down in the red zone to and fourth downs on some of the drives.
Caleb Call: Okay.
Ben: And so um that was, I mean. It's always good to... to have your defense have a good game. And they created the last touchdown too. So you had the big blindside nickel blitz from Benny.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben: And so. Um, Jackson Benny just... he He's feeling it.
Caleb Call: To this point in the season. Connor Wegman statistically was one of the best quarterbacks in the country. against the Blitz. And Utah was just like, you know what? We don't care. We don't think you can do it against our Blitz. and Sure enough. I mean, it was like the last three Houston drives.
Caleb Call: the He had the big 50 -yard pass on the very last one.
Ben: I just brought the house.
Caleb Call: But then after that, they did nothing on the next few plays, and he was getting blitzed. and pressured and was making you know quick bad throws after that so Yeah, he did not handle the pressure as well against Utah.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: had earlier in the year.
Ben: There were even some like long 10 or 15 -yard outs that he just missed that I was kind of surprised it was so off.
Caleb Call: three
Ben: Bye. was expecting him to have a better game. and so It was kind of a, and I don't know how much of that is to do with. coverage blitzing whatever because like you said you've been pretty good against the blitz but um yeah i wasn't i think they said he was the utah's the first um
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben: Team of the I can't remember what the stat was but Wegman didn't have a touchdown Amen. passing or running and he was like the first team to do that and like I can't remember if it was like two years or something like that, but um yeah no no touchdowns for him they they ran one in but That was their one touchdown of the game on that right after that P .I.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: They just went and handed it on in those short yardage ones. and So that was for the most part is a good, uh, I mean, obviously, you're down 10 -0 after they milk a lot of the third quarter over. It's kind of a...
Ben: Good. not panic and... keep executing and then so they did what they were supposed to and dampier kind of went created for the offense and so it was a Honestly, a ah good gut check.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: performance and You go outscore them. Um, 21 -3 from that point after that drive. in the third quarter. And so. Finish the game strong and with those lasts. I don't know what that would have been like last. 22 minutes of the game, 23 minutes of the game. they dominated it, so.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: It's going to win.
Caleb Call: the So we talked about the late game decision there for BYU. Now on the other side of the... Going for Utah. You have a one point lead. There was, I want to say two minutes left in the game.
Caleb Call: If Utah gets a first down, the game is essentially over. They had a fourth and three at midfield. They put the punt team out, ran them back, put the offense on, trying to draw somebody offside. Scali said after the game that they were willing to run a play there.
Caleb Call: But the refs. kind of held it up for some reason i can't remember the exact Reason the refs held it up. but They ended up. calling to not put the punt team back on and punting. obviously the result worked out because you got the forced fumble on their first play of that drive there.
Caleb Call: but In theory, a Houston team that had moved the ball pretty well. all game I thought it was going to be kind of a tough call because fourth and three, you probably feel good about it getting that. But at the same time, if you don't get it.
Caleb Call: They're 15 yards away from field goal range. Utah likes to punt. How did you feel about the decision? Would you have punted there too?
Ben: Yeah, I mean, I think that was... I mean, you're up one. The defense had been good. enough at that point. Throughout the game, they...
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben: I thank you. I think you punt the ball and let your defense do it. So I liked it I liked, and then you also heard. Like. Up by one, you score a touchdown. Any chance? If you were calling the plays, you'd have gone for two to try to make it nine to score a game, or do you kick the extra point to go up eight?
Caleb Call: So. I take that situationally because. if houston Like if they had over Meyer if they were scoring touchdowns in the red zone I might go for two there and just shut the game down right then and there.
Caleb Call: But Houston's... play They could not get... The ball at the goal line, they struggled all game long. they had a couple of fourths and shorts that they couldn't convert as well and so i just with how poor Houston did when they needed two or three yards.
Caleb Call: I would not have. I would have made Houston go for two and instead of you going for two. And obviously we didn't even see a Houston touchdown. but I think going up. Eight. was the right call in this game. But there are other games where going up nine, I think, or trying to go up nine would have been the...
Caleb Call: A fine decision too.
Ben: There's some dialogue on that. Scali came out and said they didn't even consider it. and i ah I agree with it just because one, you're at home. So if worst case scenario you're up eight they go score and tie it now you're playing an overtime And honestly with.
Ben: how Utah's defense had been at that point. If they went for two and missed it. And we're only up seven. I would expect Houston. on the road. to go for two to try to win it there almost and stuff
Caleb Call: I think so
Ben: And I, uh...
Caleb Call: And you're you're pretty, you don't want that.
Ben: I'd rather just...
Caleb Call: stupid
Ben: Yeah, I'd write the worst case scenario. You don't get in you're up seven I would that and so i would uh
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: I agree with it. Just kick the extra point, eight points, make them go. show that they can go put it in the end zone like they hadn't done at that point. so
Caleb Call: Yeah. Well, Houston, I mean. I feel a little bad for them. They have a a very good team. But they had their two toughest games of the year on the road, and they came out just short in both of them.
Caleb Call: Two -point loss at Texas Tech. They played a really good first half against Utah and Texas Tech. They played great first halves and just not enough juice in the second half. If they had... If the scheduling gods had flipped those and those games had been in Houston instead of on the road.
Caleb Call: We haven't been talking about any of the Houston team right now. that That's a pretty good football team. I expect them to. probably win the rest of the games on their schedule and finish 10 -2. They have a couple of maybe tricky games, West Virginia, TCU. but games that they should
Ben: Cincinnati.
Caleb Call: the second win Cincinnati. And that's coming up.
Ben: But they got they got that one at home, which is it will be nice for them.
Caleb Call: see you
Caleb Call: Yeah. good football team i'm glad they're still ranked and i think they were eighteen I saw in the poll.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: So honestly.
Ben: Yeah, 14 to 18.
Caleb Call: pretty good respect
Ben: Only dropped four spots.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: It's not bad. Big talk again, Lord.
Caleb Call: We had a Yeah. Big 12 is sitting with six ranked teams. BYU was not the only undefeated Big 12 team to lose. you had Texas Tech.
Caleb Call: going on the road to Cincinnati. Utah's doing this exact road trip. Here's this upcoming week. Texas Tech did not handle this well. Will Hammond had a bad game. They found themselves trailing.
Caleb Call: 24 -6 at halftime. They had. It took a questionable targeting pick six that the targeting got taken away and they gave him the pick six to even kind of get back in the game.
Caleb Call: And they still.
Ben: And I was shocked they gave it to him.
Caleb Call: Yeah, and they still ended up. having the game run away from them at the end. They lose 37 -24. you kind of knew the clock was ticking with Texas Tech. Like they had been. struggling to win games like their their offense was a liability and you knew that eventually It was going to. bite them somewhere.
Caleb Call: It turns out the road trip to Cincinnati is where it bit them. Do you think that this game... a Utah plays Cincinnati this next week. Do you feel any different about Cincinnati having seen this game than you did before?
Ben: Yeah. I before I felt like it was a game Utah was going to still go in and take care of. And I think this is a game where Cincinnati. I mean, it's kind of the the nice thing is Utah goes and wins their big game. And you always talk about the trap game after. And the nice thing is I always like when Utah plays a team that's coming off of a win.
Ben: um So especially a big win like this because now both Utah and Cincinnati are both coming off their biggest wins of the year.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben: And so it's kind of ah a letdown spot for both teams.
Caleb Call: To wash almost, yeah.
Ben: and so Yeah. And so it's kind of I i was as a you.
Caleb Call: like One more thing on that. did Did you see the record? They showed this after the BYU -UCF game. There are 12 teams that have beaten a top 12 team.
Caleb Call: And those 12 teams next. Game. They are five and seven. And so, I mean, yeah, if you need a top 10 team, and obviously Houston was just outside of the top 10.
Ben: It's crazy.
Caleb Call: Tech was in the top 10, but... Is it? the hangover is real it's been happening all over the place this season and so you have a potential hangover spot for both Utah and Cincinnati.
Ben: Yeah. Yeah, so it's one of those. I guess Cincinnati would. It's going to be part of that stat for this week, but Utah won't.
Caleb Call: Thank you.
Ben: Houston's the 14th, so I guess they're just outside but um Yeah, I... It's definitely a ah game where, because i to be honest with you, the final score is 37 -24. The game wasn't that close. Cincinnati dominated this game. Texas Tech scored with a minute left to make it 24 points. And then on top of that, that. questionable pick six. I was shocked they picked big. It was a pick. They called targeting live.
Ben: It was a defenseless receiver. like i I couldn't believe they picked up the flag and then gave them the pick six. And so I think Texas Tech got bailed out for that touchdown. and then Obviously, I'll let you touch down that. did even affect the game, even with.
Caleb Call: They had, yeah. Their only offensive touchdown of the whole game came in garbage time.
Ben: it
Caleb Call: ah The game was already over by that point. that Their offense, they were getting into field goal range and couldn't do anything after. that was Rough showing, especially after you watched West Virginia put up 45 on that defense.
Ben: Yeah, and they ran they're running back. um He ran well, that little short kid. i
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Tab, I think is his last name. He's like five. I had to look, I had to look up on one of his things, how tall he was five, eight guy. and He ran for like 180 yards, I think it was. And they it ran for over 250 and just kind of. like Cincinnati dominated that game. And so. That's definitely, I mean, I.
Ben: it's more I'm more worried about it than I was before, for sure, to answer your original question. And so it's a game where Utah's got to go play. And luckily, they're coming off of a top 10 win. And so hopefully that's a letdown spot for for Cincinnati in that game.
Ben: and so
Caleb Call: And they can't surprise Utah anymore either. like They might have surprised Tech a little bit. They've got Utah's full attention, even though the Holy Wars the week after. You got to take them seriously.
Ben: And I don't know if... If that tech game hadn't happened, I think this is kind of a... Not only ah a letdown spot, but a look ahead spot. It was probably a two for one for Utah, but now with Cincinnati.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: Um. going and hammering tech like they'll watch the film this week and be like oh like we gotta go and so i don't think this is gonna be as big of a i think they'll be ready to go this week and so i don't think they're gonna have time to to do the look ahead just because they're gonna watch the tape and see that they It wasn't a fluke.
Ben: It wasn't like one of those crazy like Oklahoma games where they're blocking ponds and scoring on defense.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And this is a game Cincinnati just.
Caleb Call: So they earned this one.
Ben: They just dominated from wire to wire and just kind of just stepped on their necks.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: And so I...
Caleb Call: I always kind of like the, like, approach of football game. like like the Cincinnati -Texas Tech game. If you did not know anything about college football, you were watching this game without any context, not knowing the team's records.
Caleb Call: Who would you think was the better team? like What would you expect? they're like seasons to be looking like. I would have guessed Cincinnati was the top 10 team. like they Looked way better on both sides of the ball.
Ben: Yeah. And they jumped, they actually, ah they're like. I think 28th, if you were to rank the top 25, like they're the third team out of the receiving votes.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: and so They're getting some... some love And I don't know if you ah you remember their West Virginia game. That was kind of a fluky loss. like You could really be talking about ah a 6 -1 Cincinnati team.
Caleb Call: It's a shame they lost it. Yeah.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: They had, it was 42 -42. West Virginia had a third and nine in their own end zone basically and they completed a 50 -yard pass but the quarterback who can't throw. And if they don't complete that, their punt in Cincinnati is going to be in the field goal range pretty quick to probably have their own game -winning field goal.
Ben: yeah
Caleb Call: so It's... You could have had a 6 -1 Cincinnati who's probably sitting there about number... 18, probably right in front of Houston at 17 maybe even. It's too bad
Ben: Yeah. so Yeah, that'd be another good ah good ranked team for the big 12 but
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: um So, I mean, they got another – I mean, if they beat go beat Utah this week, you could beat – two top 10 teams, the two top eight teams in a row. And now you're probably sitting there in the teens and maybe in the the high teens next week. And so they still can kind of.
Ben: take care of business and have ah put together a pretty good season if they can look like they did last week.
Caleb Call: Since I've had you, Beat Texas Tech. And they still play Utah and BYU. Like they play. All three of those top contenders. They also already played Arizona. They got blown out in Tucson.
Caleb Call: So that was a... That win looks better for Arizona than it did before. And Arizona is kind of, you know, quietly being a very strong contender as well. They go to Lubbock this week.
Ben: It's a baby.
Caleb Call: It feels like an elimination game for those two teams.
Ben: Have you seen the line yet on that game?
Caleb Call: arizona bro No, what what did it come out to be?
Ben: Get. I want you to guess.
Caleb Call: I probably would guess it's like. Text. nine and a half. Seven and a half maybe
Ben: So I... I would have said the same thing before last week, and then I probably would have lowered it a little bit. but Would you pick Arizona right now? based on their last week, just killing Iowa State and Tech looking as bad as they did against NC.
Ben: It ended up being three and a half for Tech.
Caleb Call: If the game...
Ben: Three and a half points for tech.
Caleb Call: Three and a half. and These teams are equal on a neutral field is what Vegas is saying.
Ben: Yeah.
Caleb Call: I honestly. Arizona. They killed Cincy. They killed... Iowa State this last week, and they they dominated that one too. Arizona's got a good football team.
Ben: Yeah, 39th rumor.
Caleb Call: It's ah two years in a row now. That BYU beats an unranked Arizona that turns out, hey. Arizona's actually pretty good and gonna be in the rankings all year but So, I mean Good for BYU to already have the loss, but they've got two quality wins. and If you're a BYU fan, you're cheering for Arizona because...
Caleb Call: First of all, You own the head -to -head tiebreaker over Arizona. But second of all, You want to be ranked as high as possible. The playoff rankings are coming out after this next week of football. If Arizona beats Texas Tech, that means Arizona is going to be a top 15 team.
Caleb Call: which means v you would have two top 15 wins i guess That's a team you have to be cheering for. but yeah i I can't wait to see the Arizona -Texas Tech game. morning game, first slate of the day. and It's going to be a huge game for them as well.
Ben: Afro. Fafida? Vavita can make plays, and it feels like Texas Tech is just kicking field goals.
Caleb Call: different
Ben: They're not stop finishing right now. like To me, it's like, oh, man, I know it's three and a half for tech, but. Arizona it's in Lubbock like there's a lot of things that point towards tech but Arizona's going to be a live dog in that game. I think they've got a real shot to win that game. and It's a...
Caleb Call: For sure.
Ben: there with With tech. And then Utah coming into Arizona, like. Arizona's got everything in their hands right now. like they can they they're probably grateful they have those two games on their schedule after they lost the BYU game because now they...
Ben: they don't have to wish and hope for stuff to happen they can go help themselves
Caleb Call: Yeah. they dismantled Iowa State. Across the rest of the Big 12, you had another one loss in conference, Oklahoma State. They were down 24 -23 at halftime to Colorado.
Caleb Call: It doesn't matter.
Ben: I just blew them out.
Caleb Call: They come out in the second half, and they win that game 57 -24, I think was the final score. so Right now, if you're kind of looking at the upper echelon of the Big 12. i feel like you've got a pretty solid tier thank you where there's a lot of separation after you've got.
Caleb Call: BYU, Utah. Texas Tech, Arizona. Those are the four. And then Oklahoma State also has one conference loss. Those are the four one loss overall teams. Then you've got Cincinnati, Oklahoma State. Houston.
Caleb Call: right behind them that. Definitely are not dead yet. And especially it helps that Oklahoma State, they still play Texas Tech. Cincinnati still plays Utah BYU. Houston doesn't have anybody else left, but Arizona plays.
Caleb Call: Texas Tech and BYU. So we thought that... all the contenders didn't have a lot of games against each other This entire last month of football is going to be games among these contenders. I mean, there's there's going to be a lot of very important games happening. every single week of the season the rest of the way.
Ben: Yeah, it's going to be interesting. because You got four one -loss teams. You got Utah with no losses right now. And so those five teams are kind of like all. trying to get those two spots in Arlington.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: and so It's going to be a... Like right now it's. i Okay. I don't know what the ti the tiebreakers can change so much based on every single game and who wins, who loses, who's tied with who. And so this ah the Big 12, who's going to make the conference tournament? like You could guess right now. in you ah You could probably come up with three different scenarios and you might still be wrong on all three because it's still wide open. so
Caleb Call: It's a shame. like If the 2014 playoff were a year earlier, if this was the first year of the 2014 playoff. You're looking at this race very differently because there's a legitimate chance the Big 12 could have like six college football well playoff teams if it were a 2014 field.
Caleb Call: And with. The way college football is right now, it feels like the top. is nowhere near as good as they're They usually are. In some of it. If there was ever a year to have a bunch of teams go on a run in a big playoff, this was the year it could have happened. now Maybe next year will look like this too. but Instead, you're going to have a bunch of these teams.
Caleb Call: All playing each other, fighting for... I think the big 12 probably is. 50 -50 whether they get one or two teams in, depending on how the rest of the season plays out. and so You're only going to have a couple of opportunities to prove yourself in the playoff. and yeah the The Texas Tech loss and the BYU loss definitely hurt the conference's chances. at multiple bids
Ben: Yeah, all the national media people this today, were after this week, were kind of saying that. They were all saying three, there's a chance it's three, there's a chance it's three, and then all of a sudden... instantly, oh, it's a one big league.
Ben: And so now you're almost losing the respect that the Big 12 had like perceived to have. and so But we we still don't know what the CFP committee actually thinks of the conference teams.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: So it'll be interesting to see where those are ranked after this week of ball.
Caleb Call: True.
Ben: Um, If you can take care of business one more week. um All the top teams in the conference if Utah can go figure out a way to beat Cincy then You might be sitting with two top 10 teams with Tech maybe just on the edge if they can all get, or I guess Tech's playing Arizona, so that's a tough one too.
Ben: but um You're probably sitting with two top 10 teams if Utah can go get Cincinnati.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben: and so Um, It'll be interesting to see how that affects. I mean, then you play the Holy war the next week. So it'd be interesting to see how that affects the. um ill just everything if you can get it if you can figure out a way to get a second team. so
Caleb Call: Honestly, the most likely scenario for two Big 12 teams is very simple. Whoever wins the holy war. needs to lose the conference championship game. to whoever they play. And it's that simple. Then 12 -0 Utah, they're they're making it if they lose the conference championship.
Caleb Call: 11 -1 BYU with the Notre Dame win. They're making it if they lose the conference championship game. That's the – path. to get multiple and then where you could really get three this is probably the only scenario is if You have BYU, Utah, and Texas Tech all win out, BYU winning the Holy War.
Caleb Call: then you would be sitting there with three 11 -1 teams. you probably at that point need either Utah or Texas Tech, one of those two to win the conference. But...
Caleb Call: There's... a slim path but the The path is much harder than it looked like before. At the very least, you know, the Big 12 is going to get one. and In the end, if it's Utah, if it's BYU, you don't really care that much who else makes it.
Ben: There's... be Bill, you played Cincy the last game of the season, right?
Caleb Call: Yes, in Provo.
Ben: So interesting thing, I guess, and I don't know this for sure. I'm just in the top of my head. I'm thinking, I think the second tiebreaker thing in the Big 12 I was looking at this week is record against common opponents after you play the head -to -head stuff.
Ben: And so you got the three teams.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben: If it's just tech. BYU. and Utah all at 11 -1 there. you're going to have a Holy War rematch because Texas Tech lost to Cincinnati and Utah and BYU both beat them. And so that's going to be the first tiebreaker that separates them. So if it's those three teams at 11 and one.
Ben: then you got a Holy War rematch in Arlington, which would be fun.
Caleb Call: That would be... Mayhem. Holy War once is already bad enough, but Holy War twice in the season with the potential for a third in the playoff if it happened. that um yeah we'll uh we'll keep a close eye every single week we'll kind of go over the big 12 conference race and and kind of review what's what's it looking like and Biggest game that we'll preview this upcoming week besides the in -state games.
Caleb Call: Arizona and Lubbock. Can't wait to see that one. We had some more Big 12 news. Baylor has a last second field goal blocked against Kansas. They lose. lose two games in a row that they probably should have won and now dave aranda is Gone.
Caleb Call: He won a Big 12 championship early in his tenure. And then it's been just a bunch of mediocre and even just bad seasons since then. He finishes 40 -40 as a head coach. I feel bad. I thought Baylor had a chance to kind of come into the scene here this season. I like Aranda as a coach. I'm sad to see him out of the conference. but I get it. You expect more if you're Baylor after winning the Big 12.
Caleb Call: It's just been a bunch of crap since then.
Ben: Yeah, it's kind of tough because you lose that game with lag weight. That kind of hurt. against Auburn. and Then you rip four in a row off. And you're going into your buy form one. 2 -0 in the conference.
Ben: Feeling great about it.
Caleb Call: You had just killed ASU.
Ben: Just killed ASU. And honestly, you had, like we had talked about earlier in the. Couple weeks ago BYU Tech and Houston is on your schedule, so you're feeling good if you can get on a roll. I thought they were about to go on a roll down the stretch, and they just lay an egg at home against TCU. and then get that field goal blocked against Kansas, and now they're sitting here 2 -2 in conference fire their coach. and It just felt like they were a team that was – they're just really close. but They I mean, close isn't good enough.
Ben: And.
Caleb Call: Nope.
Ben: in Baylor. So.
Caleb Call: It's tough because you can kind of see what Dave Aranda is building. That defense is a lot better than it was.
