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Rivalry Week 2025: A Thanksgiving Feast of Chaos and Heartbreak
25 Plays6 months ago
What a weekend for college football. As the regular season wrapped up on November 29-30, 2025, rivalry games delivered the drama we crave—upsets, nail-biters, and a few blowouts that locked in College Football Playoff spots while throwing the at-large bubble into a blender. Week 14 wasn't just about settling old scores; it reshaped the playoff field, with Ohio State and Alabama flexing their muscles, Texas pulling off a stunner, and the ACC adding its usual layer of unpredictability.
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Transcript
Season Conclusion and Texas A&M vs. Texas Debate
00:00:00
Mike Bell
All right, we'll back to another episode of Boulogne Coverage. Just like that, the season is over. And we are getting into the playoffs, getting into conference championships.
00:00:15
Mike Bell
And we had a pretty big week last weekend. Obviously, lin your you know, Texas A&M, Texas is where we're going to have to start. So I say we're just right into that.
00:00:25
Kaleb
Oh my gosh. I don't know that's actually smart because we might not get to anything else if we start there, to be honest.
00:00:31
Mike Bell
i think I think it is smart because I actually think it'll be um decently quick. But in you know thinking about it, the other games, i don't know if there's a lot to be said about the other games other than what is obvious.
00:00:48
Mike Bell
But obviously we'll have a few thoughts on that. But with what I have to say with Texas, Texas A&M is pretty straightforward. But I want to hear your
Texas vs. Texas A&M Game Recap and Emotions
00:00:57
Mike Bell
take. I'd rather you go first on this.
00:00:59
Mike Bell
Winners go first.
00:00:59
Kaleb
Oh my gosh.
00:01:02
Mike Bell
Just give me your thoughts on the game, whatever you want to say when it comes to if you want to talk playoffs, whatever.
00:01:02
Kaleb
All right.
00:01:09
Mike Bell
ah Just go ahead give me your thoughts.
00:01:13
Kaleb
So the, I would probably say like,
00:01:19
Kaleb
i was not closely watching the game for the first half, unfortunately, just because the Thanksgiving dinner was happening at the time.
00:01:28
Kaleb
The second half, I was watching pretty closely. And i and Man, I really and truly, like I was like, man, we're gonna fumble this at some point. you know They're gonna come back and win, whatever.
00:01:44
Kaleb
And it was...
00:01:50
Kaleb
it was just awesome, let me tell you. It was awesome. I don't really have like too many thoughts to be honest honest with you. It's like a typical rivalry game. I think it, you know, it pretty hard fought. And the thing that I was, you know, people were like, Oh, Marcel Reed and the Heisman. And I, I was on that too.
00:02:09
Kaleb
and I kind of feel bad, like, because I don't really think like what he did was necessarily in character, like in the fourth quarter, like throwing pretty much almost back back interceptions. Yeah.
00:02:21
Kaleb
I don't necessarily think, i know you're like, you kind of have this little hesitation with him, you know, but for the most part, he's been pretty solid for you guys throughout the season. Now you guys got weapons like all over the field. So it's like, okay, if the guy's at least serviceable, he's going to have some good numbers and whatnot.
00:02:38
Kaleb
So in a sense, I mean, it was awesome for me, right? But for you, that kind of sucks that, you know, it ended the way it did. um don't know. I mean, it was just, it was an awesome, like that game was just kind of like epitomized why Ravelry Week is so awesome.
00:02:55
Kaleb
Just because i was like, the whole time I was like, oh, he oh well, like the Emperor Palpatine meme, I'm saying you.
00:02:58
Mike Bell
Okay.
00:03:03
Kaleb
I mean, it was just, I don't know. It's awesome. I don't know. It's awesome being on this side of it, thankfully, you know, and I like how you were silent all weekend as well.
00:03:16
Kaleb
That's really all I have to say, though. um
00:03:20
Kaleb
Maybe if like you say some things or whatever will pop something in my mind, but that's all i can think of.
00:03:24
Mike Bell
Well, so before i say anything, I want to get to this now. What are your thoughts?
College Playoffs Complexity and Selection Debate
00:03:31
Mike Bell
We talked about a little bit last week in terms of playoffs.
00:03:31
Kaleb
Oh,
00:03:35
Kaleb
So I think really and truly there will be like a fundamental issue. not And I'm not saying this just because of Texas, but if we did not schedule Ohio State at the beginning of the year and we were 10-2 right now, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that we're in the playoffs.
00:03:55
Kaleb
Would you agree with that to some extent?
00:03:59
Kaleb
With our resume, I think right now, yes.
00:04:00
Mike Bell
Yeah, I think so. I think so.
00:04:02
Kaleb
Yes. So in other words, if we were to miss the playoffs, basically what you what the committee is saying is, oh, you played a good team, you don't get in.
00:04:13
Kaleb
Now, trust me, I get it. It doesn't necessarily look pretty with three-loss team in there. I get that. However, I think
00:04:25
Kaleb
two teams in the Big 12 – I'm sorry, i don't think that's necessarily the same thing as like being from Big Ten, the SEC. i just don't.
00:04:36
Kaleb
You know, i Texas Tech, fine, fine. But BYU, I don't really know. I think it's an interesting story. But I don't know if they can truly go in there and compete. We'll see. We'll see. Maybe they'll prove me wrong. But I just think there's a fundamental issue because basically what that saying is, hey, make sure your records pretty and you can get in kind of thing, you know?
00:05:02
Mike Bell
Yeah, so I think there's no shot they're going to put Texas in, but I will tell you, I i want to say I think they should. The problem is, that's easy to say here. i don't think they have the balls to do it, but I understand why. And the problem really is a format issue, and I don't really know a way around it because you do have to leave someone out.
00:05:26
Mike Bell
And let's just take BYU because of the teams that are in the conversation, they seem to be the weak link. At the end of the day, they've lost one time to the number five team in the country.
00:05:37
Kaleb
Yeah, I know. i know. i know.
00:05:39
Mike Bell
And it's like, so what do you do about that? And I agree the conferences are not equal. And this idea that there's something about, oh, well, if you have three losses, you're out. I don't see why it should be like that.
00:05:51
Mike Bell
You know, I mean, if you're in a tougher conference or a tougher schedule, isn't that the point of having a committee that can go over the schedules and say, hey, you know, this three loss team does have one of the losses is Ohio State.
00:06:03
Mike Bell
And like, that's hard to argue. Does, is that going to hurt like out of conference play? But then you just you just have to look at it from all angles. It's just like, okay, fine.
00:06:12
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:06:14
Mike Bell
That's a great resume. Now, who do we leave out? And that's like,
00:06:17
Kaleb
Yeah. It's definitely hard. It's just...
00:06:23
Kaleb
I don't know. I just feel like people are going to more hesitant if they like look at this and say, well, dang, you know. This schedule... I mean, that if... I just think like in the coming years...
00:06:37
Kaleb
They will remember this and they will say, okay, let's just schedule an easy non-conference game. And I think like for several weeks, I think the Texas Ohio state game was like the most watched game of the college football season, probably until week six or whatever,
Expanding the Playoff Format Discussion
00:06:51
Kaleb
when the big games were on. But Anyway, I think it's a good thing for college football like to have really big like non-conference games like that. It's huge. you know like i was amped up the whole week for it. and it's definitely like There's a huge difference between when your team is playing Ohio State or like New Mexico State or you know whatever the team is.
00:07:13
Kaleb
that If you have a shot, I guess could say. But... um Anyway, yeah, I mean, it's definitely hard. It's definitely hard. But I think the biggest thing is like, and you could, I mean, I know it's any way you cut the pie here, you're kind of screwing somebody, right? And it's kind of unfortunate. um I guess let me ask you this, and we don't really have to get like too far into it, I guess, because really, I would need to do some more research on like everything as far as that goes. But do you think simply adding like a couple more teams would fix this solution?
00:07:47
Mike Bell
I don't know, you know, stay it's like, because then it's like, you're just say that every year, you know, it's like, whether we need to have
00:07:49
Kaleb
Because, it yeah.
00:07:54
Kaleb
I know. Because it's going to be, like right now, it's like the 13th team. Like, who do you leave out? Then next year, it's going to be the 15th.
00:07:59
Mike Bell
couple
00:08:01
Kaleb
Or if you were to do that and add two more teams.
00:08:03
Mike Bell
And this does seem like a very special year where you where those teams that are right on the cusp are all have like a pretty good argument.
00:08:04
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:08:11
Mike Bell
Now, I still say the biggest thing is leaving out that group of five team. I don't understand why we have to include them. If you want to give them something value, like then fine, like then give them some of that value.
00:08:18
Kaleb
Oh, 100%. Yeah, forgot about that. Yeah.
00:08:23
Mike Bell
And then also like, look at how much of it, and we'll get into this, I'm sure, but look how much of a disaster the ACC has been. And like, why do we have to get them in
00:08:30
Kaleb
yeah
00:08:33
Mike Bell
You know, like, I don't see because you know, now if Duke wins, They are the ACC champ, and that doesn't mean that they would get in, but that means we make it two group of five teams rather than a Vanderbilt, Texas, Miami, whatever.
00:08:48
Mike Bell
So those little things, like, I just think could be cleaned up.
00:08:48
Kaleb
Yeah, which is ridiculous.
00:08:53
Mike Bell
I don't know. I don't know. the the You know what the actual best format is? And I'm not saying we should do it, but it actually
Texas A&M Game Performance and Player Focus
00:09:00
Mike Bell
kind of is the 2014 playoff. Because the 2014 playoff, if you look at it, it rewards conference champions a little bit more because you could argue conference champions don't mean as much in this current format.
00:09:13
Mike Bell
And you're getting in more teams like from the deeper conferences and they get home they would get home games for the like their first games. And I don't know. that But the problem is that's just like a lot of teams. Would it be fun to watch? Sure. But I don't think it'll happen. I'm not even saying it should.
00:09:31
Mike Bell
I think this may be something you just have to deal with. And like there's just going to be teams left out. Yeah, I don't know. But I guess I should get to maybe before we get more to playoffs because we're
In-State Rivalries vs. Broader Matchups
00:09:40
Mike Bell
going to talk more playoffs. But as far as my thoughts quickly, really just a couple things.
00:09:46
Mike Bell
I said this game would come down to one person. I still – well, I think it came down to two. But Marcel – just is lacking. Yes, he threw the interception at the end of the game.
00:09:59
Mike Bell
You know, he there's just something there with him that is it's just lacking. He struggles to throw the ball down the field, especially when you really need him to.
00:10:11
Mike Bell
And the reason I say this comes down to two people is not just because of Marcel, but I really put a lot of this on Colin Klein. I thought the play calling was really bad, way too conservative.
00:10:23
Mike Bell
And the whole time I was watching the game, it's like I was waiting for it to start for A&M. I was like, okay, when are they going to like start trying on offense? Because it was a lot of just like kind of like basic stuff. And at first I could kind of understand it's like, okay, they're trying to get in the rhythm.
00:10:38
Mike Bell
And they literally just kind of kept doing that until it was too late in the fourth quarter where you had to score. So that kind of put Marcel in a tough position. And i understand maybe that was kind of the game plan. They thought, okay, well, something's going to open up eventually.
00:10:52
Mike Bell
But I really have to put a lot of this on Colin Klein. I am not happy with the way he called this game. And Marcel, look, yeah, I agree with you. He's fine.
00:11:03
Mike Bell
um No one's calling for him to be benched. But he was the number three pick for the Heisman. Way too high up He is not that.
00:11:10
Kaleb
Yeah, i ah yeah, there's think about, oh my gosh, blanked out the Indiana quarterback, you got Jeremiah Love.
00:11:18
Mike Bell
doesn He's number one. yeah
00:11:20
Kaleb
Yeah, Mendoza, Jeremiah Love.
00:11:21
Mike Bell
Say it.
00:11:23
Kaleb
Yeah, saying um there's another quarterback.
00:11:25
Mike Bell
love I mean, I would even say, well, CJ Carr, but that's probably a little bit different.
00:11:27
Kaleb
Yeah, yeah, there's another.
00:11:32
Mike Bell
But anyway, point being, with with Marcel, ah he's got issues throwing the ball.
00:11:33
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:11:39
Mike Bell
Now, i I will say maybe this, you have to turn it into a good thing in the sense that, okay, well, maybe this will open some eyes because they've been flawed all season, but they've been able to get away with it.
00:11:50
Mike Bell
And I think now maybe they'll be forced to kind of look in the mirror and say, okay, these are some things we need to do better because at the end of the day, we're going to the playoffs. We're going to host a playoff game.
00:12:02
Mike Bell
Season's not over. We're not going to be forced to play in the Alamo, unlike some others. This doesn't have to be the highlight of our season. So last thing I'll say Le'Veon Moss.
00:12:14
Mike Bell
levian moss Got to get him back. We missed him at the end of the year last year. Missed him this year. There was a chance he could come back for this game this year. He wasn't there. Without him, it is hard to overstate how different the offense is.
00:12:27
Mike Bell
He will be back for the playoffs. So figure out the offense. That does seem to be the weak link. If you look at it, like you say, oh, well, A&M gave up some yards and points.
00:12:39
Mike Bell
I don't think the defense was that bad. I think the defense was put in awkward positions all game because of the offense.
00:12:42
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:12:46
Kaleb
Mm-hmm.
00:12:46
Mike Bell
So that's all I have to say. i guess the last thing I'd say as far as the Texas side you know Arch Manning, I thought Arch Manning was mid, and I thought Marcel was mid.
00:12:57
Mike Bell
um I think now you're seeing people do the reverse with Arch Manning, and it just goes to show like the difference between winning and losing because I think Arch was okay.
00:12:58
Kaleb
Yeah, he he largely was.
00:13:07
Mike Bell
he but but Did he even get over 50% passing?
00:13:08
Kaleb
What?
00:13:10
Mike Bell
like he There some –
00:13:11
Kaleb
I don't think so. But here's the deal.
00:13:12
Mike Bell
there was a pun last thing last thing
00:13:14
Kaleb
hear
00:13:15
Mike Bell
there some times when he
00:13:15
Kaleb
okay
00:13:16
Mike Bell
should have ran the ball and he did end up running the ball pretty well. But I remember there was one where he could have ran for like a touchdown and he just like, didn't know what to do.
00:13:20
Kaleb
yeah
00:13:24
Mike Bell
So he, to me, looks the same as he did against Georgia. It's just, Georgia is a better team than A&M and was able to, you know, get out to a lead. Whereas in this game, Texas was able to get out to a lead.
00:13:35
Mike Bell
I, Look, I think Arch is fine. I've said that all season, and we'll see what he is next year. But this idea that he is now would be the Heisman, hold up on that because you're seeing that talk. You're seeing that talk.
00:13:46
Mike Bell
But –
00:13:47
Kaleb
Well, that should surprise you because they already had that talk like at the beginning of the year before he even like really started the game, right? But um here's the deal.
00:14:00
Kaleb
So i in for the most part, I do agree with you because he was mid and... I was going to say maybe even arguably a slightly lower than mid until like, I would honestly even say the fourth quarter, to be honest with you.
00:14:16
Kaleb
um But here's the deal. I think what you lack with Marcel Reed, like the confidence to like, will your team to win? I feel like that's kind of where the difference is between the two. I think Arch Manning has that.
00:14:29
Kaleb
I'm not saying that just because of the A&M game, but it's like,
00:14:36
Kaleb
There's just this, like, I don't know, this feel about him, I guess. And I'm trying to think, like, ah okay, so the Mississippi State game, I know the Kentucky game was an absolute crapshoot, but he got a little bit better, like, at the very end. So I feel like his play gets a little better as the game goes on minus the Georgia game.
00:15:00
Kaleb
Just because Georgia's – I think Georgia's very underrated, actually, to be honest with you.
00:15:02
Mike Bell
you
00:15:04
Kaleb
Yeah. But anyway, it was a great game. I'm very glad that we have the game back just because.
00:15:16
Kaleb
And really and truly, I seriously want to think about how many, like, here's the deal. The Michigan-Ohio State game. You know, something that dawned on me like over the weekend, that's not even an in-state rivalry.
00:15:31
Kaleb
You know, they may have all this hate and stuff, but it's not necessarily like in-state, like where there's like literally families mixed together, you know, at the same table having meal.
00:15:42
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:15:43
Kaleb
I don't know. I just think that, I think there's something about it, but um I'm trying to think. I want... I don't know if you had this thought, not didn't necessarily like say the calls were bad, but just the officiating, you know, just the officiating was horrible.
00:15:57
Kaleb
It was like, they would stop, take five minutes and change the call or they would stop and they couldn't even get the correct call. And then we'd have to go back and fix it. And I was like, Oh my gosh, dude, this is pretty atrocious to be honest with you.
00:16:12
Kaleb
Um,
00:16:12
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:16:16
Kaleb
Man, there's more I want to say, but I kind of forgot. So anyway, do you want to go to the ah Ohio State-Michigan game, I guess?
Ohio State vs. Michigan Game Analysis
00:16:26
Mike Bell
Sure. We can go to that. That was kind of the primetime game on, orre not primetime game, but the prime game at the noon window on a
00:16:36
Mike Bell
And yeah, my, my thoughts. Just quickly, i don't have that many thoughts. I think Ohio State looked like Ohio State.
00:16:42
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:16:44
Mike Bell
And good for them because they couldn't do that the last five years.
00:16:49
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:16:49
Mike Bell
And, ah you know, at first it looked like, oh, my God, is Michigan going to do this again?
00:16:55
Kaleb
Yeah, I know.
00:16:56
Mike Bell
yes Like that first quarter, you know, 6-3.
00:16:58
Kaleb
I started laughing.
00:16:58
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:16:59
Kaleb
Yeah. Yeah, did too.
00:17:00
Mike Bell
yeah But at the end of the day, i mean, this was – You know, snowing. I could maybe make the argument the most impressive win of the season for Ohio State.
00:17:12
Mike Bell
Just because, you know, rivalry game and they kind of took this.
00:17:15
Kaleb
Well, just what it means. Yeah. Yeah.
00:17:17
Mike Bell
Yeah, they just took care of business. And now it's just like, OK, I think there's very few teams in the country that are going to be able to truly compete with them. So that's just one of my thoughts.
00:17:25
Kaleb
Oh, yeah. Yeah, same. You know, I think ah think Ohio State is like super really talented, really deep. I think there's a good chance that Ryan Day could come out with like another national championship the end of this, you know.
00:17:43
Kaleb
i would be curious to see like which team presses them. And I know you're big on Notre Dame and that in that sense. And I think that would be a good game. I'm just curious. You know, I think Georgia would be an interesting matchup for them too.
00:17:55
Kaleb
Potentially. um But yeah, that's really all I have to say, you know, still, cause I think, yeah, cause Michigan's nine and three true freshmen.
00:18:06
Kaleb
And I think they have like half of their offense is true freshmen or red shirt freshmen. So keep that mind. That's pretty impressive to be honest with you.
00:18:16
Mike Bell
Right. Yeah, I think they have a pretty good future ahead.
00:18:19
Kaleb
Yeah, they do.
00:18:20
Mike Bell
I'm very it just to be very excited for next year. So, yeah. now let me ask you this. Now, maybe it was the Ohio State Michigan game, if that's so, tell me. But what other game that you watched, what did you think was the best game of the weekend?
00:18:41
Kaleb
Aside from our game, of course, I got to actually watch probably the fourth quarter of the Iron Bowl. That was pretty good, you know, really and truly.
00:18:51
Mike Bell
You only watched the fourth quarter? What were you doing?
00:18:53
Kaleb
I know.
00:18:54
Mike Bell
It's a rivalry weekend.
00:18:56
Kaleb
I know. Black Friday shopping.
Alabama vs. Auburn Game Highlights
00:18:59
Mike Bell
Okay, well then you're, I'll find someone else on this podcast.
00:18:59
Kaleb
My wife.
00:19:02
Mike Bell
That that should disqualify me.
00:19:02
Kaleb
now My wife asked, and I had to say yes.
00:19:08
Mike Bell
Well, listen, I thought the best game of the weekend was Alabama-Auburn.
00:19:09
Kaleb
and Good.
00:19:14
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:19:14
Mike Bell
And it is too bad that you, I mean, the fourth quarter was good, but it really was the game of the weekend.
00:19:17
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:19:21
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:19:21
Mike Bell
And, again, i don't know if i have anything to say about it that isn't just kind of, like, obvious, but very impressive by Alabama to go in there because it just shows, like, the difference in the SEC and some of these other conferences.
00:19:37
Mike Bell
Because you could look and say, oh, Auburn's a 5-7 team.
00:19:39
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:19:40
Mike Bell
But if you watch the game, you know, no, this is just different. Like, these teams are just like,
00:19:44
Kaleb
Game that came to mind was the Tech and West Virginia game. I know that's not necessarily a rivalry, but Tech just blew the crap out of them.
00:19:47
Mike Bell
right.
00:19:51
Kaleb
you know
00:19:52
Mike Bell
Right. Yeah. Right.
00:19:53
Kaleb
I'm trying to think.
00:19:57
Kaleb
Ole Miss, I mean, Ole Miss did pretty well against Mississippi State, but I'm trying to think. There's really not that much disparity in the Rattler games typically, you know, unless there's just a juggernaut, you know.
00:20:08
Mike Bell
yeah
00:20:09
Kaleb
Like, look, Georgia Tech, Georgia, 16-9.
00:20:16
Kaleb
You know, and the let – sorry to cut you off there too, but, you know, I think what's a pretty – LSC, Oklahoma was another one. um I think it's almost a crime that OU does not play Oklahoma State anymore, rivalry week.
00:20:35
Mike Bell
I
00:20:36
Kaleb
That's, I mean, honestly, that's pretty absurd in my opinion. I mean, that's just like, that's what college football law' is about is like the rivalries. Why would you take that away? You know, and OU dominated that thing. You know, it's...
00:20:50
Kaleb
I wouldn't say like, oh, you never know who's going to win that one. You know, it's like maybe Oklahoma State wins one out of 10 or something, but still, who cares, you know? Anyway, go on with what you were saying.
00:21:02
Mike Bell
Well, I mean, I agree. Even OU Nebraska, you know, but that that was a while back.
00:21:08
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:21:08
Mike Bell
but That used to be the rivalry. But, yeah, anyway, just as far as ah Auburn, I feel bad for Auburn because it really looked like they were about to drive down and maybe tie the game.
00:21:10
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:21:15
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:21:16
Mike Bell
And who – was that Coleman that fumbled? I think it was Coleman.
00:21:19
Kaleb
Yes, yes, their stud while receiver.
00:21:20
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:21:21
Kaleb
That's not bad.
00:21:22
Mike Bell
Yeah, and it's – yeah, felt bad for them. You know, that sucks. But, you know, also –
00:21:28
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:21:29
Mike Bell
you know, Alabama, they had it, what, fourth and two, what was it, that down there on the goal line, they could have kicked the field goal, they go for it, they get it, that's extremely gutsy, so, you know, in a way, it feels like, just talking about now, A&M, Alabama, and Georgia, I kind of thought coming into the week, you know, it feels like destiny, that it's just going to be Alabama, Georgia, and the title game, like, it just kind of feels like that's going to be the game, and it
00:21:33
Kaleb
Uh-huh.
00:21:55
Kaleb
But here's the thing, man, I don't know if there's that same ring to it like it used to be with Nick Saban versus Kirby, you know?
00:22:00
Mike Bell
I agree. Actually, I agree. I was kind of gonna, I was gonna kind of kind of get to that, but either way.
00:22:05
Kaleb
Yeah. I mean, I just, maybe Kalen DeBoer will silence all of us within five years, you know? don't.
00:22:12
Mike Bell
and
00:22:14
Kaleb
And honestly, like ah me and you have both been pretty high in Alabama and rightfully so. I think they've played well. They've had a very hard schedule to come out of it with only two losses. That's pretty impressive, to be honest.
00:22:26
Kaleb
um We'll see. i will say it kind of does suck for A&M to lose one game and not be in the SEC championship.
00:22:41
Mike Bell
So only three teams in SEC history have lost one game and missed the SEC championship. 2025 Texas A&M, 2020 Texas A&M, and 2025 Ole Miss. So, you know, pretty unlucky. and twenty twenty five all miss so you know pretty unlucky
00:22:57
Kaleb
Oh, so two teams. Yeah, that's right. because on Yeah, Ole Miss, too, is in that same apartment, which we'll have to get to that in a minute, or here a little bit, too, by the way, but
00:23:08
Mike Bell
Agreed. Agreed. But last thought on Auburn, I'll be curious to see what they do. Coaching-wise, DJ Durkin has been you know kind of the on the you know top of the list for coaching candidates. Did he do enough to maybe get this job? Are they going hire from within?
00:23:26
Mike Bell
I don't know. Something to watch. But I will say, it seems like Auburn, even though they haven't won that many games, it seems like they've been playing better. And it looks like this new quarterback of theirs has been decent as well.
00:23:33
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:23:36
Kaleb
yeah
00:23:36
Mike Bell
So... I think they're a team to watch. but
00:23:40
Kaleb
They hired,
00:23:44
Kaleb
my gosh, I believe USF's coach. Yeah.
00:23:47
Mike Bell
Oh, did they?
00:23:49
Kaleb
Yeah, they did.
00:23:49
Mike Bell
ah thought that was Arkansas. Alex Gullish?
00:23:53
Kaleb
Arkansas hired Memphis coach.
00:23:55
Mike Bell
Oh, okay.
00:23:55
Kaleb
Florida hired the Tulane coach. Arkansas hired.
00:23:58
Mike Bell
That's right. I remember seeing that now. I remember seeing that now.
00:24:01
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:24:01
Mike Bell
That's right. Yeah, yeah.
00:24:02
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:24:02
Mike Bell
All right. And then Summerall looks like he's probably going to Florida. I think that's the...
00:24:07
Kaleb
That's two-lane coach, right? Yeah.
00:24:09
Mike Bell
No, Summerall is – mean, you know what? Maybe he is. Yeah, okay. I think I'm getting people confused.
00:24:14
Kaleb
Yeah, i know
00:24:14
Mike Bell
usf I think. I don't know. It doesn't matter.
00:24:18
Kaleb
ah well I know. mean, kudos to Auburn, though, for coming out and playing a really good game. Because I ah remember, like, we left right after the game started, I believe. or maybe I just checked the score or whatever, and I saw, like, I think Alabama was up 17-3 or 17-0 or whatever in the second quarter, and was like, oh, man, okay, Alabama's just going to blow it out. And I was like, this is going to be kind of a letdown rivalry year, to be honest with you, because aside from ours and the Georgia Tech game, pretty much everybody else just handled business, you know, which isn't always the case.
00:24:52
Kaleb
Maybe there's a couple other teams, too, but... Anyway, and then I turned it on, and I'm like, holy crap, dude, this is this is a game.
00:24:55
Mike Bell
Right.
00:25:00
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:25:00
Kaleb
Anyway, so kudos to them, though, because like you're saying, they're 5-7, you know, and I was telling my wife's grandfather, like, this the it's insane, just like I was explaining to him how important this game was, because for Alabama, excuse me, Alabama, if they lost, they wouldn't go to the title game, probably not get in the playoff.
00:25:01
Mike Bell
No, know.
00:25:24
Kaleb
Huge game for them. Auburn, they're 5-6. They lose a game. They don't get to go to a bowl game. They win. They get to at least go to a bowl game.
00:25:36
Kaleb
And without a head coach for a month?
00:25:41
Kaleb
kind of I mean, I won't say it's an accomplishment, but that's pretty good still, you know. And it's funny enough, Hugh Freeze, once they left, or once he left, it's like the kind of the team had reversed.
00:25:52
Kaleb
Pretty decent on offense. The defense has kind of showed some holes, but anyway.
00:26:02
Mike Bell
Yeah. um Okay. So going through these games here, trying to think of where to go next. the The next place is I want to go, i don't know if you guys will watch it because apparently you're out shopping, but Vandy, Tennessee.
00:26:18
Kaleb
I got to watch, yeah, before I left a little bit.
00:26:21
Mike Bell
Okay. Yeah, this game, I was so impressed with Vandy. And it's to the point where, I don't know, Vandy's now getting enough talk for the playoffs.
00:26:25
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:26:28
Mike Bell
I don't think they'll get in. And it would make the Texas thing even weirder because now you'd have three teams that Texas beat in the playoffs with Texas right there on the edge.
00:26:39
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:26:39
Mike Bell
But you talk about a team playing good at the right time.
00:26:42
Mike Bell
i think Vandy's just been so impressive.
00:26:43
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:26:44
Mike Bell
To go into Tennessee, Pavia looking great.
00:26:44
Kaleb
Diego Paz here.
00:26:47
Mike Bell
To go into Tennessee, win. I thought the way they beat Auburn a couple weeks ago was very impressive. Like, they've been able to put up points now.
00:26:54
Kaleb
Yeah. Yeah. Hmm.
00:26:55
Mike Bell
It seems like they've figured something out offensively.
00:26:58
Kaleb
yeah
00:26:59
Mike Bell
So, I don't think they're going to get in. But at end of the day, they beat their rival at Tennessee somewhat handily. Close game, obviously, first half. They pull away second half.
00:27:10
Mike Bell
Yeah, I mean, it's a great way to kind of, I guess, cap off the magical season that has been for Vandy. And something we haven't got to is Clark Lee has signed an extension for Vanderbilt, six-year extension.
00:27:18
Kaleb
man
00:27:21
Mike Bell
And we talked about that, how they have that quarterback recruit coming in.
00:27:24
Kaleb
Yeah, the crystal ball prediction.
00:27:27
Mike Bell
Yeah, yeah.
00:27:27
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:27:28
Mike Bell
And I bet you that did have something to do with it.
00:27:28
Kaleb
you Yeah.
00:27:31
Mike Bell
I'm a little surprised myself. But, hey, maybe he thinks he could do something at Vandy
00:27:35
Kaleb
Me too.
Vanderbilt's Season End and Playoff Implications
00:27:37
Mike Bell
long-term.
00:27:37
Mike Bell
Clearly he does. So that was...
00:27:38
Kaleb
I love my, you know, and ah I think, so I think this kind of applies here. On game day, you know, Pat McAfee,
00:27:50
Kaleb
was only one of the – I'm sure Nick Saban was probably saying the same thing behind the curtain or whatever, but he was like, you know, Lane, you can always stay at Ole Miss. That's fine too. You know, saying that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
00:28:02
Kaleb
And maybe Clark Lee is just happy where he's at, you know.
00:28:06
Mike Bell
ah Yeah. m
00:28:07
Kaleb
ay I mean, I get that to an extent. But anyway, i think it's interesting. The quarterback we're referring to is the number one quarterback in next year's class. he was he had They have put out – a couple of recruiting analysts have put out crystal ball predictions that he will be flipping his commitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt.
00:28:27
Kaleb
So, anyway, very interesting development. I don't know if Vandy has had a number one overall recruit go to the school or –
00:28:38
Kaleb
I'm sure they've had a five star, but maybe, I don't know. That's maybe an iffy, but anyway, interesting.
00:28:46
Mike Bell
Yeah, yeah. So, you know, congrats to Vanjo on the season.
00:28:49
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:28:49
Mike Bell
They really did finish well. I mean, to finish 10-2, their only losses were, you know, at Texas and then at Alabama, you know, so great season for them.
00:29:00
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:29:00
Mike Bell
I thought it was very impressive. For Tennessee, i you think they finished about how you thought they would, maybe even better, eight and four It's all about next year for them.
00:29:08
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:29:10
Mike Bell
And, yeah, I think that's all I have to say about that game. I guess quickly, i want to talk about the game that maybe makes it toughest on the committee, and that is Miami versus
Miami's Win and Playoff Selection Challenges
00:29:23
Mike Bell
Pitt.
00:29:23
Kaleb
a
00:29:24
Mike Bell
And that is, you you know, Miami, Pittsburgh found its way to the rankings again, and then the moment they get in the rankings, they get blown out again. This was an interesting game because Notre Dame just faced Pittsburgh.
00:29:36
Mike Bell
And everyone's talking about Notre Dame blows out Pittsburgh. Is Miami going to be able to do the same, or are they going to go into cold weather and not know what to do? And they just handled Pitt. I mean, they won 38-7.
00:29:45
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:29:47
Mike Bell
You know, I had my on the game and was kind of expecting this to be a good game. And it really wasn't. Miami just blew doors. So... Back to the playoff conversation, like, what do you do? Miami is clearly very talented.
00:30:03
Mike Bell
They've had two pretty bad losses, especially now after SMU could have gone to the ACC championship, but decided to lose DeKal. And then obviously Louisville looked like a good team and they just fell off. So they've got two really pretty bad losses. i mean, there's worse losses, but you know, bad.
00:30:23
Mike Bell
Um, They've also got good wins. That's the thing. And I saw something the other day. and I thought this was a great point. And I'm guilty of this as well. Notre Dame gets more credit for losing to Miami than Miami gets credit for beating Notre Dame.
00:30:43
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:30:43
Mike Bell
And it's like, that's a good point. Like, that's a good point. Miami at the end of the beat Notre Dame. So I could see them. They're never going to take Notre Dame out.
00:30:55
Mike Bell
But I could see them forcing Miami in, and is BYU going to just be that odd team out? I don't know, but I thought Miami really made it tough for the committee by doing this against what is a you know a decent team, and they did it on the road.
00:31:10
Mike Bell
So... Yeah, I guess quickly, do you have any thoughts on this game? And then let's go ahead and give me your thoughts on who should be that 11th team between BYU.
00:31:23
Mike Bell
What, you know, who the options are BYU, Miami, Notre Dame. It seems like Notre Dame's in, but who would you go with?
00:31:31
Kaleb
So I think Nick Saban said it pretty well, to be honest with you. um Miami, if they're able to get into the playoff, they can be a very hot team. They can go in there compete with anybody because they have freaks all over the field.
00:31:50
Kaleb
Between Miami, BYU, you could at least make a case that, okay, if Miami doesn't like play –
00:32:01
Kaleb
If Carson Beck can play clean and efficient, Miami could potentially go all the way. I mean, that's really how good Miami is. Can we say the same for BYU?
00:32:13
Kaleb
I think at best, depending on who BYU plays that first game, they can maybe get past that, but I don't know if they could get past the second round. you know um I would maybe say...
00:32:29
Kaleb
And that may be the same thing for Texas too, by the way, if they get in. Depending on who we play the first game, you know we could get past that. um I don't know. it is it is tough, right?
BYU vs. Miami Playoff Spot Debate
00:32:41
Kaleb
Okay, so we've got Notre Dame at 9, Alabama 10, BYU 11, Miami 12, Vandy 13. Listen, I think just the head-to-head value, you know you'd probably have to put Texas over Vandy.
00:32:57
Kaleb
in that sense, Miami over BYU. And honestly, i would probably, this is going just really make it look like I'm biased against the big 12 now, because I'm not part of that conference anymore, but I do think there's a difference between BYU Miami. Actually, I think there's a difference between Texas Vandy Miami and BYU. Okay.
00:33:19
Kaleb
I will not be apologetic about that. Um,
00:33:26
Kaleb
The question is.
00:33:32
Kaleb
Dang, I mean, it is tough. It's almost like going back to seventh grade, having to learn algebra with Miss Essary.
00:33:39
Mike Bell
Here's the problem in terms of conferences.
00:33:39
Kaleb
To be honest with you.
00:33:41
Mike Bell
It's not like you can say Miami plays in a good conference.
00:33:41
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:33:45
Mike Bell
you know You could argue the Big 12 maybe is better than the ACC.
00:33:49
Kaleb
That's that's true.
00:33:49
Mike Bell
I mean, that's the thing. So in BYU at the end of the went eleven and one and lost to the number five team twice. So I think it's tough, but my personal opinion I think you kind of have to stick with BYU and you just have to deal with the fact that Notre Dame is going to get in over Miami.
00:34:09
Mike Bell
At the end of the day, Notre Dame does have better losses. It sucks that you have to keep saying that, but Miami, you can't lose in a weak conference to two bad ACC teams. Notre Dame lost to Miami, which is a good team, but then they are the other loss was to A&M, which is a top, you know, it's going to be a top 10 team depending on where they're ranked. So,
00:34:30
Mike Bell
It's just, I don't know. I just, I think you can't just leave BYU out. But what if they get beat like forty one to zero in the Big 12 championship? You know, that's the thing.
00:34:44
Mike Bell
That's the thing.
00:34:46
Kaleb
Well, here's the deal, because I believe when they played Tech earlier, I think Tech pretty much went there and handled business against them. And granted, BYU didn't have their stud running back.
00:34:59
Kaleb
I think that kind of shows that there's like how much separation there is and but in the Big 12, like the two best teams in the Big 12. Both times they've played, Tech beat the crap out of them both times.
00:35:12
Mike Bell
yeah
00:35:21
Kaleb
It's always interesting. I mean, it really is. it'll be I'm sure the rankings will come out on Tuesday.
00:35:28
Mike Bell
<unk> it
00:35:29
Kaleb
Yeah. Oh, man. That's goingnna crazy, too.
00:35:31
Mike Bell
Which won't give everything away because you still the conference championship games, which will move some things around, but it's mostly going to tell us what they're going to do.
00:35:35
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:35:39
Kaleb
Yeah, exactly.
00:35:39
Mike Bell
But they're they're in a tough position. I mean, I don't think they can necessarily get it right. But...
00:35:45
Kaleb
Well, you're right. Every somebody is going to be pissed about something, you know, and um might be one of those people this year. I don't know.
00:35:53
Mike Bell
I don't know how you could be pissed, to be honest. like I agree that the it's been very... a bit unlucky. But i think you... I don't know how you could expect to be in, being everything that we just talked about. Like...
00:36:07
Mike Bell
it's They're just in a position where they're not going to even go with Texas.
00:36:07
Kaleb
One, I'm just saying like, oh my gosh, what?
00:36:17
Kaleb
I guess I'll just go back to the saying, like, you know...
00:36:22
Mike Bell
So you're thinking there's a chance that they're going to put Texas in?
00:36:26
Kaleb
I think at the very beginning of this, I think you said, oh yeah, i think they're going to put Texas in. Yeah.
00:36:31
Mike Bell
No, I don't. I don't think they have the guts to put Texas in.
00:36:35
Kaleb
Okay. I remember you saying that, but I was...
00:36:37
Mike Bell
And I'm not saying I would because it's a tough thing because then you're going have to leave some other teams out that I think just it's hard to just move them back now. I think it's very tough. I would I'm just saying I wouldn't expect Texas to be I'd be shocked if they put Texas in like I'd be shocked.
00:36:57
Kaleb
I guess, it okay, my comment was i might be in that camp of people that would be pissed of being left out. What I meant in my head was it would suck to be left out.
00:37:17
Kaleb
Because here's the deal, because there's definitely cases being made for us to be in there, I think. I think a resume says that. But also, do i know or I know for a fact we wouldn't be able to go in there and like legitly challenge for the national and championship. Our team's just not there yet this year.
00:37:36
Kaleb
The argument is, could we play against these teams better than other teams in this in the playoff ranked ahead of us could? Probably so, to be honest with you. Maybe a couple. Okay. Okay.
00:37:50
Kaleb
What Miami team would you get? BYU.
00:37:59
Kaleb
i think, honestly, a Texas-Alabama game would be a little interesting, to be honest with you. um i don't know i don't know i think it is hard for the committee though just because like five what was it we played five top 10 teams or whatever lost two one three don't know anyway we can we can get off beating the bush of texas getting in or whatever whatnot whatnot because it doesn't come down to you or i so like five or six people or however many people are on that committee but
00:38:29
Mike Bell
Well, let's finish up then with some of these games that we haven't got to yet.
Georgia vs. Georgia Tech Game Overview
00:38:34
Mike Bell
I guess the next one that comes to mind for me briefly, Georgia, Georgia Tech. This was closer than I thought it would be.
00:38:39
Kaleb
Yes.
00:38:42
Mike Bell
Like, I kind of thought Georgia would... i don't I thought it would be a higher scoring game, I guess. And... I don't know. It just wasn't a credit to Georgia Tech again for playing hard, but it really shows that Georgia is kind of coming into their own. And they were, you know, if they're going against a team like that, that is kind of one dimensional, like Georgia Tech is, you really just can't do that against a team like Georgia.
00:39:05
Mike Bell
But I do wonder about Georgia offensively. Like there just seems to be something there that I don't know, they they don't have, you know, to I'm talking in terms of like winning it all.
00:39:19
Mike Bell
Like every once in a while they can, you know, have some good games, but i do I trust Gunnar Stockton to take this team the distance?
00:39:22
Kaleb
yeah
00:39:28
Mike Bell
i don't know. But yeah, quite a fall off.
00:39:32
Kaleb
Just think about Stetson Bennett the first year you know he he was playing. you know Or actually, I think he came in a field end, if I'm not mistaken, and like took them and won a championship. you know dis they but although I think they're pretty similar as far as quarterbacks. Maybe athleticism and like actual throwing ability would give an edge to Stockton, but Anyway, I'm just saying, offensively, I think it's kind of interesting like where Georgia's at.
00:39:59
Kaleb
It kind of mirrors where they were couple years ago. But at least then, they had Brock Bowers, and ah they had a little bit more offensively at that time than they do now, for sure.
00:40:07
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:40:14
Mike Bell
Yeah, well, and this is probably going to be the last edition, as I said, coming into the week of this game being as good as it was. Although you never know, their coach is very good, so we'll see what they do as far as Georgia Tech goes.
00:40:24
Kaleb
Yeah, he stays there too, right?
00:40:27
Mike Bell
Right, right.
Coaching Changes and Their Implications
00:40:28
Mike Bell
So, so yeah, that's –
00:40:30
Kaleb
I think that we can kind of lead into the coaching changes, you know,
00:40:34
Mike Bell
Right.
00:40:34
Kaleb
um
00:40:35
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:40:37
Kaleb
So Arkansas getting the Memphis coach, the USF coach going to Auburn, Tulane coach going to Florida, and then, of course, Lane Kiffin you know going to LSU.
00:40:52
Kaleb
So I guess let's discuss the Lane Kiffin thing, just get in the mix with everybody else, the cobbler dish. So my opinion, and I think Nick Saban said a very good point, you know,
00:41:06
Kaleb
Lane Kiffin right now to have success at Ole Miss, he is having to dip into the portal every single year and get like a plethora of players. You know, he's he's dubbed the portal king.
00:41:18
Kaleb
Is that any way to build a perennial championship team? I would think not, right? Because most the – I mean – You might be able to get a stud that's a sophomore or a freshman or whatever every once in a while, but most of these people are probably juniors, seniors. They're going to be with your team a year or two, right?
00:41:38
Kaleb
So the case for LSU is at least he could go recruit better and actually like build. It'd be easier for him to build like a championship culture at LSU than Ole Miss from that standpoint.
00:41:52
Kaleb
And Coach Sarkeesian, or the Texas coach, I feel like, He manages the portal pretty well. And like something I've heard him saying, I pretty much, and I really agree with it. You know, it's like, we try to just get at most 15 guys just because it's very hard to keep that same culture if you just bring in new people every year.
00:42:10
Kaleb
And so it's easier to just assimilate 10 to 15 people instead of 20, you know, to keep that same consistent culture in there. And I think that would, that was just a huge roadblock for Lane and,
00:42:23
Kaleb
um I don't know. ah it sucks. Don't get me wrong. It definitely sucks. And it sucks for Ole Miss because like, hey, I know they're not going to the SEC championship, but they're fixing to be in the playoff and they're going missing Lane Kiffin. They're going missing their, I believe their offensive coordinator has said that he's leaving to go to LSU with Lane.
00:42:44
Kaleb
So they're going without that, which what was the whole, what made LSU special this year? It was their offense. And the masterminds behind that was probably Lane and the offensive coordinator. And both those people are gone, right?
00:43:00
Kaleb
So, and their defensive coordinator is Pete Golding is now the head coach. So, I don't know. Ole Miss is in a tough spot and it sucks that it went like that for the players. But um
00:43:15
Kaleb
it'll be interesting. i think I think Lane will have some success with LSU. Let's just –
00:43:21
Kaleb
Number one, he's good at the portal and then he's good at recruiting just in general and LLC is in a sweet spot. You know, got Texas. We've got a lot of area that he could cover pretty well.
00:43:34
Mike Bell
Agreed. I thought there was just kind of this national campaign to keep him at Ole Miss. Like, oh, you know, grass isn't necessarily greener.
00:43:39
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:43:41
Mike Bell
And it's just like, that's true. Like, if he wanted to stay at Ole Miss, like, I could understand. Like, maybe he's happy there.
00:43:48
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:43:49
Mike Bell
But, like, people are acting like he's making this crazy decision to go to LSU. And i don't I don't think it's that crazy. Obviously, LSU is one of the best programs in the country. – and ah you know I really think there's not enough talk about, this isn't that maybe I'm wrong on this. This isn't a hill I'm going die on because maybe there's something I'm not getting.
00:44:11
Mike Bell
But I don't understand why it would be so bad to keep Lane Kiffin there to coach his team through the rest of the season. Because if you want to win at all, you probably need him coaching throughout the playoffs.
00:44:26
Mike Bell
And
00:44:27
Kaleb
Mm-hmm.
00:44:28
Mike Bell
The athletic director kind of saying, no, no, we don't want to do that because of how that could affect recruiting. Well, yeah, that could affect next year, but you know what's going to affect next year? Lane Kiffin not being on your team anyway. So I don't know. I would have let Lane Kiffin continue to coach the rest of the season, continue to coach his team.
00:44:45
Mike Bell
I don't understand it would have that much of an impact. You've made it this far. Let him finish the job.
00:44:52
Kaleb
So Bill Cowher, the guy that's on CBS that was a Pittsburgh Steelers coach, said that they made the right decision on letting Lane Kiffin go, or not letting him coach, because
00:44:52
Mike Bell
But.
00:45:07
Kaleb
i guess his point was he could just be there for another month convincing them why he they should follow him to LSU. And I don't know if if Lane Kiffin would really do that or not. I mean, he probably would do that to a couple players.
00:45:21
Kaleb
But
00:45:25
Kaleb
I don't know. I mean.
00:45:26
Mike Bell
I know that's the argument, and I've heard that argument. And again, maybe there's something I'm not not understanding because that's what a lot of people are saying. But my thing is, like look, he's already taking most of the staff with him anyway.
00:45:38
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:45:39
Mike Bell
You're probably going to still lose some players. It's not like he doesn't have their phone numbers. He can still call them and talk to them. To me, it's like you kind of have to put next year aside at this point and say, hey, we're 11-1, and we've got a real shot to win this.
00:45:54
Kaleb
This is like your Super Bowl year, man, because in all reality, in all reality, next year, I mean, at best, man, you're probably looking to just, I don't know, be bowl eligible, maybe.
00:45:56
Mike Bell
Right, right. This may be your own. Right.
00:46:08
Mike Bell
Yeah, I mean, they're going to be in a rebuild.
00:46:09
Kaleb
listen Yeah, because you got to think, I think Chambliss, you know, who has done very well for them, I think, what is he, a sophomore or something? ah and ah And to be honest with you, I think it'd be unwise of Chambliss to stay at Ole Miss, right?
00:46:23
Kaleb
Because his success largely has come from Lane's calling ability in development. So he if I think it's almost a foregone conclusion that he's probably going to go to...
00:46:36
Kaleb
um LSU with Lane. And there for a little bit, you know, Chambliss was in discussion with um the Heisman. I mean, there were a couple weeks that he was in that discussion. I mean, he's had a pretty good season with them.
00:46:51
Kaleb
um I think, it honestly, like, I think regardless if Lane was recruiting for the whole month, number one, I think Lane has ah enough respect for Ole Miss not to just completely gut them. You know, I think he'd go about it in a respectful way.
00:47:06
Kaleb
um of like not poaching, per se, the players from Ole Miss. um I think a lot of it... I'm actually kind of surprised there's as much 50-50 on this, to be honest with you.
00:47:22
Kaleb
ah The only thing that comes to mind as far as... like between the Ole Miss and the LSE thing, and i kind of touched on this like a week or two ago or whatever. Forgot who it was.
00:47:34
Kaleb
Oh, maybe Kirby Smart or whatever. I forgot who it was. But it was actually like a staffer with Nick Saban or whatever. Or maybe it was Nick Saban. I don't know.
00:47:44
Kaleb
They said – um or like Nick Saban had his like thing on the door whatever. And they asked him like, why did you do that? And it was like, cause I'm the head coach. And he was like, and they were like basically saying like, you're not going head coach for longer, you know, whatever, you know, basically saying they were evolved through coaches so much, you know, whereas at Ole Miss, he' he's like the golden boy kind of thing.
00:48:01
Mike Bell
Right.
00:48:06
Kaleb
So that's the only thing that I think Ole Miss really had was like, Lane could go, I mean, Lane would probably be put on a pedestal if he went and won like two or three championships. But I think if he goes and wins one championship, LSU is really not going kind of bat an eye and and treat him any different.
00:48:24
Kaleb
You know, really and truly.
00:48:25
Mike Bell
Yeah, I mean, that's true, but I don't even know how true that is because if he can be consistent, it's not like he has to literally win it every year.
00:48:28
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:48:33
Mike Bell
Now, you can't have too many years.
00:48:33
Kaleb
Think about Les Miles, though. Think about Les Miles.
00:48:36
Mike Bell
The list miles kind of fell off.
00:48:36
Kaleb
He's Well, he definitely – I'm not saying he didn't. I completely agree with you there. He really did. But the guy was like a 10-2 machine, man.
00:48:47
Kaleb
I mean, at the end there, he may have had like an 84 year or something like that. I forgot all the – I mean, but he was – won a championship in what, 07? Went to the championship game, I think, in 12 or 13 and lost. But, I mean, that was against a really good Alabama team. but And then, you know, after that it was just 10-2, 10-2, whatever.
00:49:08
Kaleb
Anyway.
00:49:09
Mike Bell
I mean, that's true. That's true. And I guess, again, and this is for all teams, but readjust your expectations because it's not going to be undefeated every year. It's probably not the case anymore.
00:49:19
Kaleb
Yeah, that's true. Yeah, that's true. Especially with a new format.
00:49:25
Mike Bell
Right. Okay. You know, I don't really have much else to say. i guess the only other thing I wanted to briefly mention, because I don't know if you've watched LSU OU and I did.
00:49:35
Kaleb
At first, I was like, oh, man. i was like, if OU lost that game, it would dampen Texas' is win over OU.
00:49:43
Mike Bell
Oh, I say I don't agree with you. i Yes, it would, but it would that would have been Texas' best chance to get into the playoffs because then OU's a three-loss team.
00:49:53
Kaleb
Well, that's okay that's true, I guess, actually, from that angle.
00:49:53
Mike Bell
You need all the spots you can get, and that would have opened up a spot.
00:49:55
Kaleb
yeah Yeah.
00:49:58
Mike Bell
i don't know if it would have opened up a spot for Texas, but it would have opened up a spot. But just quickly, you know, OU, I mean, look, at the end of the day, they went into Alabama and won.
00:50:02
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:50:08
Mike Bell
They can compete with teams, but they can also just be really flat. And I'm sorry, LSU this point in the season is just not that great.
00:50:16
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:50:17
Mike Bell
And their offense is just going to be so limited, like to the point where they just don't have much of a shot to go far in the playoffs. Depending on the matchup, obviously they could win some games.
00:50:27
Kaleb
Yeah, it just have to be like a really run heavy offense.
00:50:27
Mike Bell
But, like,
00:50:31
Mike Bell
yeah. Yeah.
00:50:31
Kaleb
ah Yeah. BYU, I think they can match up well against.
00:50:36
Mike Bell
That would be a slugfest.
00:50:38
Kaleb
Yeah, would.
00:50:38
Mike Bell
You know, funny enough, you say they match up well with BYU. I think BYU matches up well with them. I think BYU actually may be thinking that that could be a game we could possibly win just because it it'll be like a low-scoring affair.
00:50:49
Kaleb
Yeah. Yeah.
00:50:51
Mike Bell
But obviously, I would take over you in that game. But I'm just saying of all the teams in the top 10, they seem the most flawed to me.
00:50:54
Kaleb
yeah
00:51:00
Mike Bell
Like they just aren't going to be able to do much offensively. So that's kind of just my thoughts on OU. And I guess that's all I have for the weekend. Is there anything else you wanted to bring up talk about in terms of the games or just anything?
00:51:18
Kaleb
I guess my thought is like, what are your thoughts on these premier schools hiring some of these group of five coaches? Like the USF guy I don't know how long he was there for.
00:51:31
Kaleb
Had a couple good years. Tulane, they've had a couple good years. Florida hired him. Memphis coach, I actually don't really know anything about him too much, to be honest with you. I'll be honest.
00:51:44
Kaleb
But...
00:51:48
Mike Bell
I don't know, like,
00:51:48
Kaleb
You know, you've got to think about like think about this, right? Florida hired Billy Napier, which at the time was at ULM. Where did that get them? People were very high on Billy Napier with what he was able to do at ULM.
00:52:01
Kaleb
you know, fired him after, what, four your seasons, whatever the case may be. And I kind of feel like, to an extent, not any disrespect to this guy because he could be completely different, but...
00:52:14
Kaleb
for all intents and purposes, you're pretty much doing the same thing. A really, like, you know, a top-tier group of five coach coming in, bringing them into the SEC. Maybe he can pull off things that Napier couldn't do.
00:52:27
Kaleb
Napier was able to bring players in It's just, you it will come down to the coaching. But, and I get with Arkansas, I get it, like, you know, it's like,
00:52:40
Kaleb
it's going harder to attract like a top-tier coach. okay I get it. You're going to have to probably go to the group of five. But anyway, and maybe maybe it was like a part of it they had no choice. Oh, you can another thing, too, before we forget. We can kind of stay with those teams, too. but ah
00:53:02
Kaleb
Pat Fitzgerald, longtime Northwestern coach, hired at Michigan State.
00:53:10
Kaleb
Which i think that's I think that's a good hire. You know, and Kirk Herbstre brought that up like two weeks ago or whatever on, a what's it called? Game day. Pat Fitzgerald, I know Northwestern's kind of like, there for a while, they were like eight and four. I mean, they were a pretty good Big Ten team there for a while. I know they've kind of had a couple down years.
00:53:33
Kaleb
But think about Northwestern. Is that an easy or hard place to win? Hard. So if you're able to get over bowl eligibility pretty consistently, that's a pretty good mark, in my opinion. So anyway, that'll be interesting. i think because there is like, think about this, man. If Michigan State is able to get pretty decent, think about just where Michigan's at right now.
00:53:55
Kaleb
Ohio State. I don't know. I think the Big Ten is more fun when Michigan State is good. and like Obviously, the other teams have to be good too, right? but you know Huge NCAA rivalry with Michigan, um Ohio State.
00:54:10
Kaleb
like i remember I can't remember if it was an Ohio State game or whatever, but or maybe it was a Michigan game. It was probably like around 2014 to 2016 when Michigan State blocked a kick from Michigan and returned it for a touchdown won the game.
00:54:26
Kaleb
I can't remember if that was them or not. but or Anyway. um Do you have anything say about the coaches, I guess?
00:54:33
Mike Bell
Yeah. Well, first of all, yeah, I think the Big Ten is a conference just to watch out for because I think they're going to just be getting better and better with some of these teams in the middle.
00:54:41
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:54:43
Mike Bell
But, you know, also something that's recently breaking is, you know, Mark Stoops looks like he's going to be fired from Kentucky. And that's interesting. You know, they got blown out this week, 41 to zero.
00:54:56
Mike Bell
It's interesting because he was supposed to be A&M's coach a couple of years ago until the fan base revolted. But
00:55:02
Kaleb
Would you have taken him?
00:55:04
Mike Bell
I could understand the argument for him. I would have taken Elko over him. i wasn't that upset about it because you do have to look at, hey, it's Kentucky. And could Mark Stoops have been... i don't know.
00:55:16
Mike Bell
I would have preferred more of a Grand Slam player and I thought Elko was kind of close to that. So... I don't know how I feel about it. I think they just feel like – I just don't know what you expect at Kentucky. Like, what are your goals?
00:55:30
Mike Bell
Like, they they finished the season kind of well, and then they just got blown out by Louisville, which that sucks.
00:55:30
Kaleb
Well, exactly.
00:55:37
Mike Bell
But I don't know. i don't know how feel about it. I feel like Mark Stoops is the type of where that was – Yeah, I don't know.
00:55:42
Kaleb
He's the only reason why that team's been relevant in the past five years.
00:55:49
Mike Bell
But as far as what you're saying, these group of five coaches, I think these teams have no choice because it seems like a lot of, yeah they're all wanting to stay with their programs, which I kind of like.
00:55:58
Kaleb
I guess that's true too. Yeah.
00:56:03
Mike Bell
so So, yeah.
00:56:03
Kaleb
Yeah. Basically, what it'll come down to is, do they get lucky and pick the right one? i mean, obviously, that's always the question, right? But it's kind of like, more times than not, these guys have a couple Cinderella years in the group of five. They come up here, and they may have one good year, and then they're dog crap the rest of the time. I don't know.
00:56:25
Mike Bell
And there's a major program that has not hired their coach yet. And that is Penn state, you know?
00:56:31
Kaleb
Oh, yeah. I forgot. Dude, i'm funny enough, All the buzz is elsewhere, not even there.
00:56:39
Mike Bell
Yeah. Now I'm seeing, I don't know if it's true, but they apparently have been targeting Kellen DeBoer. And it did make me think if Alabama would have lost to Auburn
00:56:54
Kaleb
oh
00:56:54
Mike Bell
If he would have said, you know what? This Alabama thing is too much for me. Like, this is on just unrealistic expectations for me. I can go win at Penn State.
00:57:03
Kaleb
Well, in being in Nick Saban's shadow, i mean, that no matter what he does, he's never going to live up to Nick Saban, no matter what the guy does. And in that sense, I feel bad for him.
00:57:16
Mike Bell
Yeah. So, I don't know where Penn State's going to They apparently have been talking about some – you know NFL names like Joe Brady from Buffalo Bills.
00:57:28
Mike Bell
So I don't know. That's going to be a one to watch. But at this point, it looks like they're probably not going to get like a big name. So I don't know
00:57:35
Kaleb
I don't know, think Joe Brady could be interesting because he was the offensive guy that, you know, helped Joe Burrow in 2019 championship. um
00:57:47
Kaleb
He was at the Panthers for a little bit with Matt Rule.
00:57:52
Kaleb
i don't know, that could be interesting. I mean, you know, they talked about Manny Diaz there for a little bit because he was a defensive coordinator with James Franklin. I'm trying to think what else. Yeah. I can't believe I forgot about that, actually. That'll be very interesting to see who they choose to be their head coach.
00:58:14
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:58:14
Kaleb
You know, I think they threw out pat's fit Pat Fitzgerald there for a little bit, too, with that job before he took the Michigan State job. you
00:58:23
Kaleb
Obviously, i probably a month ago or whatever.
00:58:23
Mike Bell
Yeah, it's definitely been very quiet.
00:58:24
Mike Bell
Like you're not hearing a lot of names around the teams.
00:58:27
Kaleb
Which is fine. i like that, to be honest. That probably means they're being like very, like they're looking at all their options, you know?
00:58:36
Mike Bell
Right, right.
00:58:37
Kaleb
I'd say should.
00:58:42
Mike Bell
Yep. Okay, well, I pretty much am done, and I think we may both have to get rolling now. So I say we caught. It was a great week for the most part, and now we have conference championships and playoffs, and, of course, my team will be able to experience that in years more.
00:59:01
Mike Bell
So that's it. That's another episode of Loan Coverage, and we'll see you next time.
00:59:04
Kaleb
11 and 1.
00:59:07
Kaleb
um eleven and one