Transcript
Caleb Call: Week two in the books Fun slate all around. Stayed to Utah. Had a couple of big tests early on. and Both teams passed the test with flying colors for the most part.
Caleb Call: um I guess we can start in Provo here. BYU hosted Arizona. one of the bigger games of the day, especially in the big 12. And this one was a game that.
Caleb Call: Both of us kind of felt like BYU. Should win But you never know. I know Fafita's a good quarterback. and In the first half, i mean Arizona did everything that they needed to.
Caleb Call: to win a game like this. They move the ball very effectively. Chunk plays all over, moving the sticks all over. BYU really struggled to get off the field on defense. Really, the only saving grace deal you had in the first half was... an interception that gave BYU the ball to 10 for an easy touchdown drive.
Caleb Call: You take that out, though, first half, Arizona would have been up 17 -7. Ended up being 17 -14, and Arizona was... That through two quarters, they were out gaining BYU 230 to 130. Time of possession was about 21 minutes to nine minutes.
Caleb Call: 17 -14 Arizona lead. what What were your thoughts at halftime? Maybe we'll kind of start and diagnose the first half here.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, at halftime, it was one of those things where... I thought Arizona was going to win the game. i I thought they outplayed them. in the first half for sure. and um honestly like you said like if it wasn't for that pick It, uh... It felt like it could have gotten away from the Cougars there. So my ah my initial instinct was I thought Fafita looked good. I thought he was kind of making plays, making throws. and um He was... getting pushed out of the pocket and still kind of extending plays and making the play down the field. and so That was my initial thought was.
Ben Fowers: um you had i Thought Arizona was gonna In my head, I thought Arizona has looked better than they originally, like six and a half was their win total for Vegas. coming into the season. And to me,
Ben Fowers: I would just from watching that first half, I was thinking smash the over on. I mean, it's too late.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I bet it now, but it seems like it's a ah better team than that.
Caleb Call: Yeah, I thought so, too. And honestly, after the first half, I was sitting there thinking we're going to have to score in every possession in the second half if we want to win this game. Part of it, too, is that it's a new defensive coordinator for BYU with Kelly Papinga. And this is one of the first.
Caleb Call: It really is his first game against a real opponent. And so it's hard to know with a new coordinator like that, are they going to be able to make adjustments on the fly? Do they have enough in their repertoire to stop an offense who's moving the ball like this? and I think one of the biggest stats, it felt like BYU in the first, at the time of possession was so low.
Caleb Call: that it felt like on ah offense they never actually got things going, and they had a couple of holding calls on two different drives that killed two drives before. We really even moved the sticks. And so it felt like.
Caleb Call: And then we had the short touchdown drive. And so at halftime, BYU had run 23 plays. LJ Martin had four carries at halftime. Like, it just felt like the BYU offense wasn't.
Caleb Call: even present in the first half. And so it felt like in the second half, hey, if we can just get LJ. going. We can probably do what they did and dominate the clock ourselves and hopefully be able to score enough to win this one.
Caleb Call: And, I mean, it kind of turns out that's what happened. BYU went right out and went on a 75 -yard touchdown drive to open things up and took a 21 -17 lead. and They, uh... Managed to shut Arizona down in the second half. Arizona had under 100 yards in the second half.
Caleb Call: 57 of those came on. their final drive of the final meaningful drive of the game where they were down by four questionable PI extended the drive and then they got down into the into or close to the red zone and got stopped by probably three inches on a
Caleb Call: fourth down play. And so outside of that one drive, though, Arizona had 14 yards on their other three drives combined. So, I mean, great defensive performance by BYU and Kelly Papinga in the second half. They really clamped things down. And then they did just enough on offense to.
Caleb Call: seal the game comfortably they ended up kneeling the ball at the three yard line could have been a you know higher final score than 28 to 17. and i felt like that game was Overall, when you take the two halves into account, I think that was probably a pretty accurate summary of who BYU is going to be this year. It is a team that is...
Caleb Call: At their best, they are good enough to just kind of. slow a game down and beat you on both sides of the ball. And at their worst, a team like Arizona, a good enough team is capable of.
Caleb Call: winning a half and then hopefully nobody manages to win two halves ah but i feel like overall by you played a good game the second half especially was where we So. the The team shined for the most part. LJ got involved. He looked great. and unstoppable like you'd hope and then Maybe my biggest takeaway of the game. Last year, Bear was...
Caleb Call: one of the worst graded passers on throws over 20 yards. He completed very few, very inaccurate, and he really didn't attempt many in this game. but the throw that iced at the game right after the fourth down stop.
Caleb Call: It was 60 yards in the air. just a dime to legend Glasgow down the field. and set up what would end up being the final touchdown of the game. I honestly did not know that Bear had that in him, and it was something that if we can add that to our offense. just adds an extra element that'll make it even tougher for Defense is the plan for the Cougs.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I That drive, that one Arizona drive in the second half, it seemed like as they kind of started to go down the field. Um, They had that drop on first down, which ended up killing them because their guy looked like he had some space.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And so it's crazy that.
Caleb Call: He probably would have gotten 10 to 15, maybe even a touchdown if he makes a guy miss.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, and then now you're sitting at 24 it would be twenty four twenty one byu has to go on that drive which they ended up scoring on that next drive but it just kind of makes it fun ending to the game. so it was It's crazy how how fast football changes. is you You drop a first down play and all of a sudden you're sitting at fourth and two. You throw a crosser underneath. and miss it by two inches and then Two plays later.
Ben Fowers: BYU bombs one deep and then... be at the end zone so then the game's over and so it was kind of a it was a it was a fun game once that uh Once Arizona didn't get that ah first down, it was crazy how fast it flipped and the game seemed to seem to have ended. And if Arizona gets that first one.
Ben Fowers: You never know if, say, Arizona win scores right there 24 -21. Say BYU even goes and does the exact same thing on offense. They are up by four. Now Arizona doesn't have to. like they kind of like just decided they were, I mean, they're down 11. They got to. start airing it out. And so BYU.
Ben Fowers: kind of pinned the errors back and went after the quarterback and was able to stop that offense. If they're down four, you could kind of mix in the run game a little bit. And so that that whole game changes.
Caleb Call: they had They would have had enough time to six or seven minutes left at that point.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so they could have actually ran a a normal drive instead of having to speed it up. And so it changes the whole game. And that was a big, I mean, they ended up getting by. hist like it was probably three inches like initially they spotted it and gave it to him and Alive, I actually thought it was short too. i i thought they were i was kind of surprised
Caleb Call: Yeah. It seemed pretty clear the ball was in the wrong arm for that to have been a first down. And so the review, thankfully, was able to overturn it. But that was a close call.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, and especially when they gave it to him on the field, I was like, well, I gave it to him on the field. Maybe my initial thought was maybe the red line for the first down was wrong. Yeah.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And so but I I was like, that's the only way I can see him holding it for arizona but then they they ended up marking it short so it's crazy that the i mean just two inches in there the game completely changes like that. So that was a big stop for BYU to pull on. and get their big 12 opener win.
Caleb Call: So Arizona fans, and I've... Maybe we can talk a little bit about the strategy behind it. They've got a kicker who's been a little shaky, nailed his first one. Down 21 -17 with about nine minutes left in the game. They had fourth and four.
Caleb Call: I got a chip shot field goal range would have been a 37 ish yarder and they elect to go for it. And their fans afterwards seemed pretty upset with Brett Brennan that he. did not kick a field goal. to make it a one -point game, and thus they could have survived a touchdown and evened it up at 28 afterwards if they had gotten a two -point conversion.
Caleb Call: Down by four, nine minutes left. Is that something that you consider kicking the field goal?
Ben Fowers: I mean, it depends on, I mean, like you said. They've in the past had a shaky kicker. I liked the call when they went for it. I mean, you get one play. if whatever you on your call sheet that week, whatever you circle as your best two -point play, you probably just burn it right there and try to go get the first down. and um i mean i didn't love the the little underneath crosser a yard or two i i've always I wish they some of those routes, like they just get in the end zone or get past the first down stick.
Caleb Call: Yeah, throw it past the sticks. yeah
Ben Fowers: If you... if you complete it it's a it's like a conversion or a two -point conversion or your first down so that was my thing but i i didn't mind the call i i get i mean obviously everything Want you I mean, once you see that they missed it, obviously, but oh, they should have kicked the field goal.
Ben Fowers: And same thing happened in the Utah BYU game last year. I think it was fourth.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I can't remember if the first one was fourth and one or fourth and two. and
Caleb Call: first one was fourth and one the daniel bray jet sweep that was fourth and one
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. I mean, you can argue the play call. I mean, i mean obviously, if you don't like it. A jet sweep, but... uh, the situation fourth and one, I think you gotta go for fourth and one. right there.
Ben Fowers: Try to go get seven points.
Caleb Call: now
Ben Fowers: Seven points in football is... a lot different than three and it doesn't seem like that but Touchdowns a lot of difference like if you if you go get
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: 50 % of your... Fourth down conversion to seven points instead of six points if you kick two field goals instead.
Caleb Call: Yeah. but One thing that Aaron Roderick, he points out.
Ben Fowers: um
Caleb Call: Because we mentioned it in the last show that BYU goes forward it on fourth down more than most teams. And Aaron Roderick kind of revealed his philosophy last year in an interview where he was talking about this. And he said.
Caleb Call: One touchdown beats two field goals. It takes a third field goal to beat one touchdown. So. If you are even 50 % on those fourth down plays, your touchdown is going to net you way more points over the course of the season. and so In a close game like this situationally, I liked it. Either way, you're down by one score. You've stopped BYU enough in the game to feel like you might be able to get a stop there and get the ball back.
Caleb Call: and Kicking a field goal, you're still down a point. Yes, that would have opened up a field goal later in the game for you as well, but they showed it on the screen. they were ah The kicker was a 56 % field goal kicker.
Caleb Call: It's not somebody you want relying on to make two field goals at the end of the game to potentially win it for you. I thought going forward it was the right call. I honestly didn't even think that Arizona was going to consider it.
Ben Fowers: I do too.
Caleb Call: And I think that their fans complaining about it is probably just a little bit of. Just hindsight being 2020.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I I mean at the end of the day even when you don't get it You're still in the game. You just can't give up a touchdown there. And they went and gave up a touchdown. so you can pipe I can blame it more on the defense than the coaching call there.
Caleb Call: Yeah. I definitely agree. So, if I'm going to Provo, like you mentioned, that was the first Big 12 game of the season. So, BYU sits at the top of the standings. Arizona. sinks to the bottom despite probably still being an upper quarter to half team in the conference. I thought that they...
Caleb Call: Proved enough that I think that they're going to win plenty of games this year, even with a somewhat difficult conference schedule. And then to end the night we had the Razorbacks. The sacrificial lambs going to Salt Lake City at night.
Caleb Call: their athletic director. already basically conceded this game months ago and the team played like it.
Ben Fowers: Yep. Yeah, it was an interesting game. because Actually, I thought Arkansas came out good. They ah they came out.
Caleb Call: That first drive was nice.
Ben Fowers: i turned so I was at the game, and I turned to my dad. We were sitting by each other, and I said, As a 12 and a half point underdog, that's exactly what you want to do on an opening drive. You milk seven and a half minutes, so half of the first quarter.
Ben Fowers: You kick a field goal. Obviously you want to touch down there, but. You score points. And the other team hasn't touched the ball yet. Like that's exactly what you want to do. That's the recipe to win a game. when you're a 12 and a half point underdog. And so they came out and.
Ben Fowers: I mean, that was pretty much the end of what they did. but that
Caleb Call: That drive was the only highlight of the game for Arkansas.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I've actually always said this. I think... ah Lee's OCs, they got good scripts. I even thought like Jason Beck against Western Michigan last year. week, his opening drive. it was pretty i can Bryce Underwood was perfect. like I think it was 5 -5 or 6 -6 on the opening drive. They went and scored a touchdown. and End.
Caleb Call: The only touchdown of the game in regulation.
Ben Fowers: I look like. mm -hmm and so it um And so you got, and then you got the Arkansas guy that I thought he'd moved the ball pretty well. and I ended up having to kick a field goal. but Pretty good opening drive. and um i thought i mixed it up good and So, I mean, they seven and a half minutes into the game, Utah hadn't touched the ball and I was like, oh boy.
Ben Fowers: Because that's exactly what you want is a... as an underdog. And so luckily Utah went and they.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: did exactly what you're supposed to do, go score fast. And so they went and scored a touchdown right away. and I kind of negated that. And and honestly, Utah's offense was pretty explosive that whole game. they ah
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: um mcgivens is it's probably the most creative offense i've ever seen not just in salt lake like in general they've i don't know if he's using it with just the two quarterback set or just like all of different personnel, but.
Ben Fowers: um I think I told you this last week. I've started to. chart some of the formations and it's just like more formations than then a defense coordinator wants to prepare for. And I think it's one of those things where he just does so many random things that I've never seen before on a football field. like I think it's one of those things where Utah's offense is going to be hard to slow down this year.
Ben Fowers: and I saw a stat that it was, I think it was 7 .1 yards per play for the youths. at the game.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: so And then on a first down, it was eight, eight yards per play on first down. So on first down, they kind of just. dominated. And. got ahead of the chains and kind of just made it so they could score quick and fast. and um they were able to get to 29 and a half so There you are. they kind of poured it on even without touching the ball for the first half of the first quarter. so They, uh...
Ben Fowers: I saw it was like 11 explosive plays during the game, too, for the Utes, which is really high. and so it would
Caleb Call: And it felt like it. I mean, that was constantly. chunk plays that Arkansas just had no answer for it seemed like.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so it's an interesting ah dynamic. i mean Obviously, you're not going to play a team quite like Arkansas every week. You're going to have better. opponents down the stretch, but Utah's offense is... ah is interesting because I think it's ah an explosive one where I think they're going to be hard to slow down, hard to prepare for.
Ben Fowers: um And so I think it's it's kind of a fascinating. It's going to be a fascinating year because it's. It'll be interesting to see when you're playing the top dogs. and how they prepare, how they try to shut and Utah down.
Ben Fowers: and what they do you guys
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: We haven't really seen any. I mean, we played Idaho and Arkansas so far, so you haven't really seen much.
Caleb Call: And it's not like Utah State this next week is going to.
Ben Fowers: resistance.
Caleb Call: be much resistance themselves either.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I mean Utah State played a pretty good week two against Washington, so we'll see but I don't know. It'll be it'll be curious. i i'm ah I'm really high on McGivens. It's funny because last year with Beck, I actually was slow to like him.
Ben Fowers: And then kind of like middle towards the end of the year, like, like, okay, this is a good offense. But from the jump here, i've just I'm high hopes for the Utah offense this year. So I'm excited.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I think the year the offense is going to be good. I saw the PFF grades come out for the offensive line, and Utah's right tackle got a top 10 performance for the week. and so I think the offensive line is starting to gel a little bit. They still are.
Ben Fowers: um They still rotated a teeny bit, but I think they're kind of settling on their five guys. i uh i'm interested and fascinated to see how they Keep going forward with all these. ah playmakers that they're using in all different ways. so
Caleb Call: Yeah. Utah's offense. Like, I feel like the word that most people would kind of use for it is gimmicky, maybe. And gimmicky might not...
Caleb Call: Might not be the right word for it. But... They just are running plays that you never really see. It feels like they're running 10 -trick plays, but it's just their offense. like yet you We saw the double pass of Bird and Devin Dampier, one of the first chunk plays of the game. That's the kind of stuff that's just almost going to be a staple for Utah, it feels like. And they have two quarterbacks good enough to do it, so why would you not?
Caleb Call: Yet we saw later. Ficklin handed off to Dampier on a dive, and Dampier pitched it out like it was a speed option, almost back out to Ficklin for a first down run as well.
Ben Fowers: Mm hmm. The thick line, yeah.
Caleb Call: like There are some creative play calls and it's the kind of thing that it almost reminds me. When BYU went cross country to play Coastal Carolina on three days notice and Coastal Carolina was playing this really like kind of like a wonky modified triple option offense where they were throwing out to receivers in the middle of like a run play like it was almost like an rpo triple option mix They kind of offense that in two days to prepare for.
Caleb Call: it's so different than everybody else you face that it's just hard to go and plug and play what you've done in that season. to match this offense. And McGivens, like you said exactly, he's...
Caleb Call: He's got the players, especially. the Running backs and receivers and are running backs and quarterbacks to make it work receivers. I feel like our at a point too they're going to be open just because of the play calling and so I'm excited to see, and it's almost a shame with Utah that we're not really going to see them get tested against. the who we expect to be.
Caleb Call: like top tier Big 12 team. for another month Like ah Houston coming to Salt Lake is probably the first time where we're really going to see a team that feels like they're an equal to Utah play Utah.
Caleb Call: and be able to match up against that.
Ben Fowers: That's October 24th, so that's in five or six weeks.
Caleb Call: Thanks.
Ben Fowers: so
Caleb Call: Yeah. Before that, we got Utah State. I don't think they'll. They lost to Idaho State by two scores. I think Washington's bad, Utah State. Game a game.
Caleb Call: You got Colorado, Kansas, Iowa State. One or two of those teams might be able to slow you guys down, but I just don't, I mean. Utah's offense is going to be. probably putting up some big numbers. And then by the back end of the season, once they get some of these tougher games.
Caleb Call: It'll be fascinating just to see if the offense can. get shut down by a team or not I agree I thought it was it went about how we expected Utah scoring and Arkansas struggling to score Arkansas and the SEC in general at the very bottom like I saw this tweet kind of pissed me off a little bit because.
Caleb Call: We talk about this a lot. A lot of the advanced stats that get used and straight to schedule metrics and so on favor recruiting rankings so much to where it just... has such a strong weight on the discussion at the end of the year.
Caleb Call: Arkansas, according to 24 -7. has a better talent composite. than every single Big 12 team. And that's an Arkansas team. That might go 1 -11.
Caleb Call: They beat an FCS team barely. They still play Torsa. who beat Oklahoma State, who beat Oregon. They have an SEC schedule that I just do not see them winning many games in.
Caleb Call: and yet they supposedly have more talent than an entire conference in the Big 12. After losing 43 -10, that game could have been... 67 -3 if Utah was trying the whole time. like I don't know. I just think that recruiting rankings, especially in the NIL and the portal era.
Caleb Call: I feel like we get too much. stock in those. and yes Arkansas did not look like a team that had talent honestly Arkansas if they were to go play Idaho I'm not confident.
Caleb Call: going to state that I think Arkansas would go out there and dominate Idaho like that. That was not a very good roster KJ Jackson did have some moments at quarterback, but... Man, that was just... Utah probably hoped for a little bit of a test, and Arkansas did not.
Caleb Call: really deliver what felt like a a great test for how Utah is going to be against better competition.
Ben Fowers: yeah so I'm I think it's one of those things where you go you go handle what's in front of you. And so Utah did that. and Um,
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: I think it's going to be, I mean, like you said, it was, I think it was 40. Utah went and scored on the first drive of the. I think the drive like leaked into the fourth quarter. It was like the end of the third quarter into the fourth quarter.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: They went and scored on that drive. The starters were still in on offense. And then once they started to rotate a little bit, it was 43 -3 at that point. So they were up 40 points, and Arkansas went and scored a touchdown. and then Um,
Ben Fowers: And then also their last drive of the game, they started to move it a little bit and gave up two sacks and made it so they weren't able to. But it it was almost like they were about to kick another field goal. So didn't really get a lot going on offense until those last until the fourth quarter once we started rotating guys in.
Ben Fowers: and
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: So, yeah, it's it's one of those things where Utah is going to be. a I mean... It'll be interesting to see if Iowa State in week four is any good, Colorado. Kansas like I but i don't know if we're gonna This is might be what we see for the for next six games for or for the first six games.
Caleb Call: Yeah, Utah will probably be a double -digit favorite until the Houston game, and even maybe in the Houston game, too, depending on what Houston's doing.
Ben Fowers: yeah ah That's why I love this eight and a half. total is I know there was a lot of change up front, but I think it's the talent and the playmakers. You've got a quarterback like Devin Dampier. like For example, we we were talking about the Kansas quarterback. The Kansas quarterback is awful.
Ben Fowers: and just having a quarterback that's competent, it makes you grateful for it. and david
Caleb Call: legitimately, yes.
Ben Fowers: Yeah. And they like, I just think. gets bad teams, like he's going to make more plays than he's not. And so I think he's going to give us a shot to win all those games and give us. a We're probably going to be favorites in all those games, like you said. and The eight -and -a -half line at the beginning of the year, I thought.
Ben Fowers: They don't even play. like They're going to be 6 -0 before they play Houston.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I'd be shocked if they weren't 6 -0 before they play Houston. so It's going to be an exciting year for Utah. It's one of those things where I expect to be double -digit wins this year again, just like last year. Mick Givens the first two weeks makes me, I'm. More excited about this offense than any offense I've ever seen at Utah so far through two games. So I'm curious to see how it keeps rolling.
Caleb Call: And last year, Dampier played some games hurt and... Obviously, Fickling got some time last year. It feels like this year. with how much Ficklin's on the field. Like Ficklin, he may not be the best backup quarterback in the country. and it still he's probably in the top tier, but he might not be the very best backup in the country.
Caleb Call: But I'm not sure there's any quarterback in the country more ready to take over an offense than Ficklin. Like if Dan Peer goes down. That offense is playing the exact same way. He's got a lefty who's maybe even more athletic than Dampier. So it feels like even though Utah's playing two quarterbacks and risking injury on these plays and Dampier's taking hits.
Caleb Call: If he goes down and misses a game or two, I don't think that Utah's offense has to make drastic changes at all. Ficklin's already out there on the field making these plays.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, maybe you're just not throwing those double passes to quarterback to quarterback anymore. but
Caleb Call: Yeah, you probably lose those, but I mean, really outside of that, maybe you go, I don't know if you trust Brandon Rose to go out there and do that at third string, but probably not.
Ben Fowers: Hey, he was supposed to be, he was actually the favorite to win the job in 2023 win. right after they won back -to -back Pac -12 titles. And then he like punctured a lung.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: um practice like couple weeks before the season and it ended up not starting that year and Bryson Barnes got it but he was supposed to be the starter for Utah before he transferred out and transferred back in so he was a he was an old Ute guy that
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: we were excited about for a little bit.
Caleb Call: Yeah. Played a good game in the Holy War. Almost beat the Cougars.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: The rest of the Big 12. Pretty exciting slate on the day. Biggest game of probably the whole week. Oklahoma State, to Oregon. Maybe the most unexpected upset.
Caleb Call: Neither of us gave. the Cowboys a chance in this one, despite Oregon.
Ben Fowers: I think you I think one thing you said last at our last episode was they didn't have to practice this week.
Caleb Call: vulnerable.
Caleb Call: I did say Oregon not to practice. Turns out I don't think they did practice this last week. ah Oklahoma State wins the game 39 -31. And I don't know if you caught the whole game. It got moved from channel to channel because of a delay. Tennis took over, and then UCF pit came back from delay and took over. And so this game ended up on yeah ESPN News. and i I wish the whole country got to watch this as scheduled on ESPN.
Caleb Call: Because despite a 39 -31 final score. Oklahoma State. doubled organ and yardage They. We're moving the ball. The whole game. Every drive, Oklahoma State was just moving down the field, and it felt like Oregon was fighting hard to get first downs.
Caleb Call: Their running game wasn't going. Dante Moore is not on the same page with his receivers. i get Oklahoma State threw two pick sixes early. And then Oregon had two good drives back to back in the second half.
Caleb Call: And that's how Oregon got to 28 of their 31 points. It's like Oregon. legitimately if that game goes slightly differently Could have lost this one by three or four scores. i get Oklahoma State, despite...
Caleb Call: trailing for a second in the second half. They dominated that game on both sides of the field. Super impressive game by the Cowboys, and it leaves me just very... confused with what to expect from more Oklahoma State and Oregon the rest of the way.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it's one of those things where and we've talked about it before. I i watched Dante Moore. It was one of his first starts as a freshman in Salt Lake, but he just looked so bad when he played for UCLA when he came into Salt Lake where I've never been like. really convinced on him and he struggled. I think his completion percentage when I was looking at it was just below 50%.
Ben Fowers: They just kind of. didn't show up but i wasn't expecting that at all when oklahoma state goes and loses to tulsa and they've got their 11 game. losing streak and
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And I saw something that it was like. it was 11 game losing streak, but an FBS losing streak of like 20 something games, like just ridiculous. And obviously a new coach in town, but you lose to.
Ben Fowers: Tulsa last week and so you just kind of expect Oregon to come in and roll and so um I would. I was shocked. It was, I mean, it shocked pretty much everyone in the country that game. and But the nice thing ah or the first thing that I thought of was like, okay, now the Memphis -Boise game.
Ben Fowers: I'm curious, maybe Memphis goes and rolls Boise.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: That was my first initial thought was like, maybe Oregon and Boise aren't very good.
Caleb Call: Me too. It's always way overrated.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so that was kind of my.
Caleb Call: And then the other thought is, is Tulsa the best team in the country?
Ben Fowers: instant reaction Yeah.
Caleb Call: which Tulsa did end up sneaking out a game against Sam Houston to stay 2 -0.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Just. overall a really weird chain of events at the Oregon start to the season.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, during that whole thing I looked
Caleb Call: Oklahoma State.
Ben Fowers: During that whole thing. I looked at the score and saw Sam Houston was up to and I was like what is going on?
Caleb Call: Yeah, just the weirdest thing.
Ben Fowers: There's...
Caleb Call: Oklahoma State against Tulsa. looked awful on offense. like It was one of the worst performances I've ever seen. When they were so explosive at North Texas, it made no sense that they were so bad.
Caleb Call: And then against Oregon, it looked exactly like you expected. that Chad Morris offense to look like they were. Hitting big plays on the ground, hitting big plays through the air. Drew Mestemaker was...
Caleb Call: throwing dimes, jumping over players. He was incredible. And honestly. It made me think that Oklahoma State, despite having lost to Tulsa. may end up being a contender in the Big 12, if they can play like that on offense every week. and They're... One of their defensive players, their linebacker, said after the game, oh be a you linebacker Tate Romney.
Caleb Call: He said that the coaches found some tells on tape. and Utah players actually said this too about Arkansas, that the... offensive linemen, alignment and stances were given away, run or pass. And so they ended up.
Caleb Call: For the most part, knowing what was coming. And it makes a little bit of sense because of how bad Oregon ran the ball. And if Oklahoma State knew it was coming based on the alignment and stance of the offensive line, then they could. key in on it and obviously get stopped so We'll see if Oregon kind of adjusts. i I don't think Oregon.
Caleb Call: is going to be even close to a playoff team this year. They've got a tough schedule. okla hes Oklahoma State, on the other hand. proved that they could be a contender in the Big 12. Really just to... Wild upset. twenty three and a half point underdog.
Caleb Call: Oregon beat Oklahoma State 69 -3 last year. I just don't understand how Things flipped so fast for both teams one year later.
Ben Fowers: Oklahoma State's going to be an interesting watch now, I guess. um They avoid Utah and BYU this year. And so they ah they're two big games on their schedule are Texas Tech and Houston. They play Houston right before Utah does, and so my eyes will be on that one the week before. and It'll be fun to fun to follow them because...
Ben Fowers: i mean if they play like they did in week two i think they're like you said i think they're a contender
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: i mean they they're one loss to tulsa it doesn't count in the big 12 standing so everything's in front of them and they play like they did against oregon and I mean. Like you said, those recruiting rankings, they ah said Oregon was the big deal. So we'll see if Oklahoma State can kind of.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Continue to... to pour those on Pour the winds on.
Caleb Call: Oklahoma State, it feels like we've seen their A game. and we have seen their F game. What they do the rest of the season will be a mystery. I don't know.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Oklahoma State. And Arizona State. They played very similar games. If you go and look at the numbers, Arizona State outplayed Texas A and &M statistically for a lot of that game. And Kenny Dillingham said it after the game. That game really came down to four plays that differentiated.
Caleb Call: The scoreboard ended up being 48 -20. They threw two pick sixes right back to back late in the game. They had a muffed punt early, and they had a fumble. Turned into 28 points off turnovers for Texas A &M.
Caleb Call: You take those four plays away, 20 -20, Arizona State more efficient on offense. Turns into a blowout. And Oklahoma State had the same turnovers happen in Oregon's benefit, and they were able to outplay Oregon to a level where they survived.
Caleb Call: two one of them wasn't a pick six so we're gonna have the ball to one after one of the interceptions and punched it in right after but essentially two pick sixes Arizona State. It's almost the worst thing for the conference. They went out there and proved that on a down -to -down basis they were Pretty close to equals with Texas A &M.
Caleb Call: But they lost by 28 points, and nobody's going to have that impression of ASU. But anyone who's going to play Arizona State the rest of the season, which includes BYU. you're probably pretty scared of that game because they did look like a good team for most of the game and if they can fix some of the meltdowns and turnovers then they could be a contender in the Big 12.
Caleb Call: And again, you never know if a team can fully shake off a turnover bug. Maybe that's just who Cutter Bully is as a quarterback. I don't know. but I mean, what what are your thoughts on Arizona State following that one?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, even... I mean, besides the two pick sixes, like even with all those other, like the muff pond. given the short field. Going into the fourth quarter, it was 24 -20. Like, Arizona State was going. punch for punch with them.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I like. And then that's when the two pick sixes happen, and all of a sudden it's 24 -20 going into the fourth quarter. and then In the fourth quarter, the score is 24 -0, Texas A and &M, because of those two pick sixes. and Kind of just. all the wheels fell off. and so it's a it's one that like you said we're Anybody that didn't watch the game is going to be like, oh.
Ben Fowers: Arizona State's not good or Texas A and &M is way better than... like SEC Big 12 comparison. But honestly, like you said, down -to -down basis, Arizona State, I think is going to be able to play with a lot of teams.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: they They do travel to Lubbock and to Provo this year. So they got those two big tough road games that. Um, are going to be hard games but they just show them
Caleb Call: And Tucson, I think. too I think they go to Tucson as well.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, they go Tucson and then they they host Oklahoma State host Kansas State so they actually have a a pretty pretty tough schedule for the big 12. But.
Ben Fowers: they just went into Kyle field and proved that they can play with one of the best teams in the country or one of the best teams last year, at least. And I think you're going to see. I think you're going to see competitive games in those tough away games for them. And so, like you said, it's going to be one where I don't think any team could just show up. and play their CD game. like I don't think Tech or BYU could go play their C game and beat them if Arizona State comes and plays. That's what they proved this week. and so Obviously, as long as they're not throwing two pick sixes, muffin ponds.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and giving all these points away if they if they can kind of clean that area up they can play with anybody in the big 12. I still just looking at that schedule. like seems like it's going to be tough to kind of maneuver and manage it but I think it's one of those teams that could play spoiler.
Caleb Call: Yeah. Okay.
Ben Fowers: And so, I mean, they went and got Tech last year, which was an impressive win.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So it'll be interesting to see if they can play spoiler this this year on a contender.
Caleb Call: It honestly is just the worst possible reserve. result the Big 12 could have asked for. They proved themselves as a really good team and still managed to get blown out on the scoreboard. If they end up at 9 -3, that's going to be thrown as a reason the SEC is that much better than the Big 12.
Caleb Call: because of four plays that turned to... Pretty even game into a... It'll blow out. Been fortunate there. We mentioned a little bit about Texas Tech. They found themselves in a thriller in Corvallis. Now, that's that's Oregon State has played two Big 12 teams that are supposed to be two of the contenders in the Big 12. Texas Tech in Houston.
Caleb Call: and lost by 11 points and 13 points in those two games. And in both games, They had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. So I don't know. Oregon State last year was awful. I think they went 2 -10 last year.
Caleb Call: They got some dudes. I like their quarterback. You got this freshman receiver who went for three touchdowns and 200 -something yards. So that I think Oregon State probably is going to be an upper -end team in the Pac -12.
Caleb Call: But... Texas Tech last year, their closest win was 22 points against BYU. They blew everybody out they played. and Until they played Oregon and then the one game against Arizona State They have an 11 -point win They were down by three points in the fourth quarter to Oregon State.
Caleb Call: It really did feel like Texas Tech might lose that game. The offense struggled to move the ball. The defense was giving up chunk plays to Oregon State. It felt like a completely different Texas Tech team than we saw last year.
Caleb Call: Well... how are Are you sounding the alarm yet on Texas Tech? Are you worried about them?
Ben Fowers: I am, yeah. i don't i don't think they're i mean the portal era it's so hard to replace what you had the year before. They had some dudes on the defensive side of the ball. and I think. you i The average college football fan just thinks if you spend the money, you're going to be able to replace them. but A lot of the time you don't have.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Sometimes you don't hit like you did the year before. And I don't think Tech's roster is as good as it was last year. And so and also the quarterback position, I don't. I don't think they're getting the the production that they were last year as well.
Ben Fowers: one thing that I thought was interesting was tech. Host in Houston this week. um the line opened at 12 and a half and it's already Shrunk all the way to eight and a half and still eight and a half seems too high for me
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: That seems like. kind of a big line. I i think this is going to be a really tight game. They've played... Tech, they this last week, they were... They were tied in the going into the fourth quarter.
Ben Fowers: And so It was ah it's one of those ones where I. I think. like houston i Houston could go win this game this week, and so it'll be interesting to see. how good Houston actually is right now. They're the the fourth -ranked team in the Big 12 in the AP poll.
Ben Fowers: um you've got utah byu in tech and er and tech in front of them and so kind of I'm interested to see where Houston's actually at. because they're one They're a team that if...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: with tech struggling, they got to go show it right now. and If they go win this game, they're going to be a... Kind of alarming. the the country like they're gonna Put everybody on notice is really it was what's gonna happen.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And so I think it's going to be a fun ah fun one this weekend.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I don't think eight and a half is way too big of a line for that game. and i think ah I think it's going to be. Just like they both. went into the fourth quarter against oklahoma or against Oregon State.
Ben Fowers: in a one -score game. And so I think it's going to be, I think they're pretty comparable teams right now.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: they've performed pretty comparable. And so I think you're going to get a pretty good game.
Caleb Call: I feel like. And it's probably too early to say this definitively. But that feels like a Big 12 championship game elimination game. Whoever loses that game is probably going to have to overcome too much to make it back.
Caleb Call: 7 -2 might get you in there, but Houston's got Utah later in the year. They still have a couple other tricky games. Texas Tech, their schedule is honestly not too daunting. They get all their toughest games at home, Arizona and Arizona State and Oklahoma State.
Caleb Call: But.
Ben Fowers: Oklahoma State is in. It is in Stillwater.
Caleb Call: All right.
Ben Fowers: That one is.
Caleb Call: In Stillwater, okay. So...
Ben Fowers: Yeah
Caleb Call: For Texas Tech, looking at their schedule, though, if they lose to Houston, they already showed us how fragile they are against Oregon State. I don't think that... they can survive a loss to Houston and still go make it to the conference championship game.
Caleb Call: Because at that point. You have to go beat Houston in the standings because Houston's going to have the tiebreaker. And if it's a multi -team tie, it could be more complicated than just the head -to -head. But then you also have to rely on.
Caleb Call: Not just passing Houston, but... You got Utah and BYU to worry about, who seemed like they might have put themselves a tier ahead of most of the Big 12. You've got a team like Kansas State who avoids the entire top three. So, yeah, it might be too early to say definitively, but I'm putting – elimination game stamp on. Houston, Texas Tech right here.
Ben Fowers: Okay.
Caleb Call: and We'll talk about that game more in our preview this next week. But that's a big one on Friday, and I am excited for it. It's for the rest of the...
Ben Fowers: That's going to be a fun one.
Caleb Call: Big 12 slate. We had a bunch of fun games. a lot of them didn't go the big 12s away unfortunately started with you had Kansas, Missouri, Friday night. UCF pit in the middle of a crazy storm. UCF gets almost shut out, loses 12 -7.
Caleb Call: Kansas State. beat up Washington State. Looked really good doing it. Washington State's only points were pick six. Iowa State, Iowa. 14 .5 point spread. and Iowa State.
Caleb Call: came out and played an even game with Iowa. and just Lost on a... Late field goal, the most Iowa State, Iowa thing to ever happen. Are there any big... jumps or falls in your minds from any of the big 12 teams that anybody to do something to impress you or worry you in week two.
Ben Fowers: um The big, like I was talking about that Friday, Kansas -Missouri game. In my head, Kansas isn't. I don't think they're a team that can even go. clip a giant like i don't think i think they're gonna all the teams that are in that Tier above them are just gonna go dominate them that that seemed like a game in the past like two years ago when BYU in November went got Kansas and lost to them.
Ben Fowers: Kind of knocked him out.
Caleb Call: And Colorado and Iowa State can just beat three straight rate teams back to back to back.
Ben Fowers: I mean, I know that was two years ago, but Kansas is always a team that's a little scary. like you don't You don't know what you're going to expect from a Kansas team.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: like That's a team that can go get you if you don't go play a good game. I don't think they're... a team that can do that this year they seem like they're a pretty uh almost like a a penned W on a, on a schedule.
Ben Fowers: I don't think the quarterback, they're going to have to change the quarterback. If they're I'm, that's probably going to be the only way I can see them go taking somebody down as if they go change the quarterback. Cause he's a. that little spin throw that he that was caught.
Caleb Call: The 360 no scope.
Ben Fowers: Oh my gosh.
Caleb Call: completion.
Ben Fowers: That was the dumbest throw I've ever seen. I can't believe it got caught. I wish it would have been picked just because. just so that his coaches can talk to him about how stupid that was.
Caleb Call: No.
Ben Fowers: but
Caleb Call: That guy is gonna go pro in something other than sports.
Ben Fowers: um
Caleb Call: He deserves that highlight to show his kids later in life.
Ben Fowers: ah
Caleb Call: Give it to him.
Ben Fowers: You'd be like.
Caleb Call: i'm glad it was
Ben Fowers: Peace. Son, this is exactly what you're not supposed to do as a quarterback.
Caleb Call: Yes, exactly.
Ben Fowers: If run out of bounds, spin 360 and just heave it, even though you're not looking downfield. So I don't know. I just. Kansas was the big my first big takeaway. And then. And Kansas State looked really tough.
Ben Fowers: I think they're going to be. ah They're kind of a dark horse that.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: They're they're in the mix for the big 12. I know it's a name that hasn't been in the mix since they Made it to the Big 12 Championship game three years ago, was it? Or is it four now?
Caleb Call: Four years ago now.
Ben Fowers: um four eight Four years ago now.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So it's been a few years since Kansas State's been in the mix, but they're in the mix this year. and So that's that's probably.
Caleb Call: Half of it's their schedule.
Ben Fowers: the
Caleb Call: They dodge BYU, Tech, and Utah. i mean they
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: There's a world where Kansas State goes undefeated.
Ben Fowers: And they look. And they look better this year than they have in the past two years. So on top of looking better, they avoid all the teams.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and so You've got to go, you've got a home game against Houston and that's it. Like you go, I mean, you got to host Arizona too, but like.
Caleb Call: We got Arizona as well.
Ben Fowers: you got
Caleb Call: like Yeah
Ben Fowers: You got Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma State. You got kind of like that middle tier of the Big 12. So you're still, but you're just avoiding BYU, Utah Tech, which is. All Kansas State could ask for. So if Kansas State actually is as good as they seem to be after two weeks, I think. ah they're in the mix so
Caleb Call: Yeah, I think. We talked about it a couple of times now, one of my other big takeaways from the Big 12 this week. Iowa State. I've been so on the Jimmy Rogers bandwagon this whole time. I think he's a great coach. And just because they lost their whole roster, I wasn't ready to call them one of the worst teams in the power pool like a lot of people were.
Caleb Call: They went out there. A 14 .5 -point underdog to Iowa. And for the first three quarters of that game, they pretty definitively played better than Iowa. and Down the stretch of the fourth quarter, it felt like their defense got worn down. They were giving up first down after first down and still came up.
Caleb Call: and Got stops in the red zone. Iowa kicked enough field goals to win the game 16 -13. But coming away from that Iowa State -Iowa game. really did give me the impression that Jimmy Rogers and the Cyclones.
Caleb Call: Not that they will, but they're capable of playing spoiler this year too. I think that's probably a five to seven win team. they play a few of the contenders byu and utah included and so yeah that's a game that Pre -season, everybody probably penciled in as a W. but You've got to be ready for a tough physical team in Iowa State. They're not going to. hand you the win freely. You're going to have to go and take it from them.
Ben Fowers: So. I guess now going into. after we just recapped all those. Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the Big 12. um but what's your What's your tier one? What's your tier two? How do you separate them?
Ben Fowers: And I guess, how are you defining both of those tiers before you even? put the teams in there
Caleb Call: So the way I would tier, tier one. is a team that is good enough and expects to be in the conference championship game. And I think you've got. Three to five teams in that range. b BYU and Utah are for sure there. And they might even be in Tier 1 by themselves at this point. But it's still early enough to where I'm not ready to split them completely. In a couple of weeks, that may be the case.
Caleb Call: The teams I'd consider to add there in Arizona, I have tier two simply because they've already lost a game at the big 12. Arizona probably would have been there a week ago. BYU, Utah. I'm going to give Kansas State a spot.
Caleb Call: Texas Tech. A lot of it is because of last year. They're going to get a spot in Tier 1 in Houston. would be my five tier one teams. And I think after Texas Tech -Houston, you have another team to drop.
Caleb Call: And you're going to be sitting with four, Kansas State. the winner of that game, BYU and Utah. So that's how I'd go tier one. what What's your tier one philosophy here?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, tier one for me is It's a team that's capable of winning. the Big 12 championship game. That's how I define tier one. And so. tier one to me i've got it uh a little bit smaller of a tier than you i uh I've got it narrowed down to just the three teams. I've got Utah, BYU.
Ben Fowers: Utah and BYU obviously look like... in my opinion, two of the best the two best teams in the Big 12 currently. But like. tech won it last year techs until tech proves otherwise i i'm gonna include tech to the top
Caleb Call: They've got the talent to do it
Ben Fowers: Yeah, they they're good enough to... to go win it. And I think those are the three teams that I think right now. If... you were to go... put a bet down in vegas and you could pick three teams like i think you would You'd be pretty comfortable making that bet with just those three teams.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And so that's my tier one
Caleb Call: I... Yeah, I like that. And my tear obviously was a little bigger. And and the main reason why is because it's so early in the season to wear. You never know if a team is fool's gold or not yet.
Ben Fowers: And you said mit you said make the conference championship game, which I think.
Caleb Call: Tier two for me.
Ben Fowers: That does open it up a little bit.
Caleb Call: Yes, there's a distinction there.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: My tier two, I think these teams also can make the conference championship game, but these are teams that are going to have to rely on. Maybe like a fluke like ah a multi -team tie maybe a team that's gonna have to go in get some upsets and outplay their own talent.
Caleb Call: my tier two is honestly kind of wide So far, I said the five in tier one. A couple of those might drop to tier two. I've got Arizona in here. Got Oklahoma State in here. I've got...
Caleb Call: Arizona State. barely hanging on in this tier. and I've got Colorado in this tier. Colorado is not a team that I think is going to win a lot. of like I don't expect them to be in the conference championship game.
Caleb Call: But they showed a lot on defense against Georgia Tech, and they managed to. put up a ton of points on Weber State. Their offense looked a lot better. Clearly, it's an FCS team, so you expect that. but I'll be curious to see Colorado. They could fall to one of the bottom tiers pretty quickly.
Caleb Call: but I'm willing to put them here after a big win against Georgia Tech early in the year. so Got four teams in Tier 2, five teams in Tier 1. Feels kind of like a classic Big 12, just having a...
Caleb Call: bunch of teams that you still aren't sure what to expect from it at this point.
Ben Fowers: So my my tier two is a little bit. i' Wider I think I've got so I'm Kind of a team that's... if all the chips line up right they've got the capability of making or being in the mix to make the big 12 championship going into the last week of the season.
Caleb Call: Yes.
Ben Fowers: So a team that going into week 13. um, how like, If things fall their their way, they're in the Big 12 championship game. So I've got it a little bit wider open. So I've got Arizona in it.
Ben Fowers: I've got Baylor in it. I've got Arizona State in it. And I've got Houston in it. and Kansas State in it. So. Houston, Kansas State. Arizona State. Baylor.
Ben Fowers: and Arizona. Those are kind of the. the five T's.
Caleb Call: Notable omission is Oklahoma State.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so i didn't I didn't put Oklahoma State in. It's like you said, where I think we saw their A game and their F game. I don't think they're going to. And honestly, it probably is an omission with Oregon.
Ben Fowers: um With the organ when they probably deserve to be in it, but um Oklahoma State's one of those teams where I... I mean we... we saw pretty quick what it is but you could probably add them to the tier two i Those six teams, I think, where if things line up right, you got you get them going hot, I think they could kind of all six of those teams be in the mix to make the Big 12 championship game. um come November.
Caleb Call: Yeah. I think your tears are pretty... clearly defined in a way where your tier one teams all probably feel like they should go out on the field and beat all of your Tier 2 teams.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: And so both of us had. Pretty much the same grouping of teams. I had Colorado. You had Baylor. They both played a one -point game in week one. and Obviously, Colorado won it. Baylor lost it. but But those are probably pretty similar teams. Baylor did show that they.
Caleb Call: at least against Auburn, that they were able to. you know, play a tough game against an SEC team, essentially on the road, neutral site. I'm excited. It feels like. There are going to be a lot of fun and chaotic games in the big 12. It really does feel like even BYU and Utah aren't going to be immune from upsets this year. I mean, there are teams on both teams schedules capable of.
Caleb Call: playing a good game. and and and winning it if it goes their way so I'm excited. if Last year I felt like Texas Tech. Really just had control of the conference the whole way through. They killed Utah early. They killed BYU late. Killed BYU again. that it was really just their conference from the get -go. And I don't think that's going to be the case this year at all. I think we'll be guessing week to week.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it was weird though with that little... Arizona State slip.
Caleb Call: Yeah. We saw the beginning of Will Hammond being a... mid quarterback. That was a rough game from him and Tempe. And honestly, Arizona State, their offense played pretty bad that game.
Caleb Call: they had Two or three massive plays by Jordan Tyson. and that ended up being enough to win the game. it was Honestly, an impressive game by Tyson. I did not come away thinking that.
Caleb Call: Arizona State was the better team. I came away thinking Jordan Tyson was the best player on the field. after that one
Ben Fowers: Mean you said he Payday happened. Pick eight, pick eight was it? Eighth pick in the NFL draft.
Caleb Call: Yeah, picket to the Saints.
Ben Fowers: so Yep.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So.
Caleb Call: It's for the rest of... College football, that was a pretty loaded slate. Texas, Ohio State. most fun game. It was a pretty boring game, honestly, for the first three quarters. Texas couldn't do much at all in offense.
Caleb Call: They found every way in the book to turn the ball over to Ohio State. They find themselves down 23 -3. going into the fourth quarter. Everybody had essentially... Called the game over, kind of counted Texas out.
Caleb Call: And the game flipped completely. Texas starts moving the ball. Ohio State's having a hard time getting first downs, putting the ball away, missing the field goal late. And all of a sudden, Texas. finds themselves down six and goes on a game -winning touchdown drive and wins it 24 -23.
Caleb Call: Did you come away? Thinking that Texas and Ohio State. are both kind of in the top tier college football after that game, or what what are your impressions of both of these teams?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, I actually for a little bit I was thinking Amen. Is there a chance that Ohio State's like still number two or number three? Just because. for most of that game they proved that it seemed like they were better than Texas and so
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: does does ohio state not get docked that much i mean it is pretty early so it's hard not to and you saw it in the poll that they jumped down to number six they fell from one to six and so which seemed fine.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: I was fine with that. I just was. um I was curious because it seemed like a... I mean, obviously, there were some bad bounces early, like the Cam Coleman, where he falls down, the ball just shoots straight up.
Ben Fowers: and
Caleb Call: Unreal interception.
Ben Fowers: gets picked off.
Caleb Call: Interceptions sometimes are a wide receiver stat, not a quarterback stat.
Ben Fowers: And so that'll go on Arch's stat. And that's one of those, I've heard that like the NFL draft process, like the, like Arch Manning will sit down with them and they'll like walk through every single interception he throws and like ask them about it. They probably will just like delete that out of the.
Ben Fowers: out of the process so it's one of those ones where i think uh
Caleb Call: probably
Ben Fowers: it's It's tough when you when you fumble the ball early, you give up three points, you throw that, it gets bounced up, they go score a touchdown right away, and you're just kind of playing from... from down where it felt like Texas just.
Ben Fowers: Couldn't really get anything going. And it just kind of felt like that was kind of what was going to.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: be the narrative of the game and the results of the game. And I was high on Texas going into this game. And just the start of it, I... I was thinking, oh, maybe it's, you had mentioned that like Ryan Day versus Sark.
Ben Fowers: I just was like, maybe just Sark isn't one of the big games. And um obviously.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Fourth quarter went his way.
Caleb Call: Okay.
Ben Fowers: and they uh a lot of they had to have a lot of things bounce their way in the fourth quarter too and they did and so it's one of those ones where i think i think they're both at the top end of the college football. and I think both teams have a chance to win a national title. and I don't think I think.
Ben Fowers: What you saw from Texas isn't going to win a national championship, though. And they're going to have to play a more clean game. They're going to have to play a better four quarters to be able to actually win a national title.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: And I think they're one of, I mean, it's pretty early in the year. You see it even from week one to week two, all these teams. You saw Oklahoma State drop to Tulsa, then beat at Oregon, you see. all these You see it nonstop. Michigan plays a bad game against Western Michigan and then goes and beats Oklahoma. All these games where...
Ben Fowers: um it's pretty like everyone's trying to find their identity right now and so texas saw the long time to to figure it out. But if they play like they did yesterday. They're not going to be able to to win a natty, but they're going to have a lot of improvement to do. They've got the talent to do it. so i'm ah i'm I'm interested to follow them. and i Both these teams are capable of winning a national title. and I don't think how the game ended. like If Ohio State would have hit the field goal. then
Ben Fowers: Texas would have went down and scored 26 -24. I'd probably feel the same way about both teams. was
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Texas just needs to play a cleaner four quarters. like The win or loss doesn't really affect that for me. So um I think they're both capable of um winning a natty. I think they both got a lot of cleanup. so It'll be interesting to see how they adapt as the season goes.
Caleb Call: You said in that that you think that... Most of these teams are still trying to figure out their identity. It's been one of my biggest takeaways of the Portal era. Back in the day when there was no portal or player transferring was really rare.
Caleb Call: You're turning over. 20 to 30 % of your roster on a year -to -year basis. You know who you are. every year you can replicate it you're going to look pretty similar the next year maybe a big quarterback or skill position player change Modifies your offense a little bit.
Caleb Call: But you can kind of count on what you're doing. In the portal era, you're turning over half or more than half your team in a lot of cases. to where the first few weeks of the season You're still trying to figure out who you are, what players you can actually trust on the football field.
Caleb Call: It really does feel like you're going to get some pretty wonky. early season results most years while teams are trying to get themselves honed in. It'll be interesting to see. What the committee does, if if they end up valuing late season games more than early season games, because teams will have their identities figured out later in the year more so. And honestly, I'm not sure what the right answer is. In a perfect world, every game is worth one twelfth of your resume.
Caleb Call: But if you have a team like, let's say, Oregon, drops a game to USC here in a couple of weeks and then gets things figured out. How do you treat Oregon, who looks like crap against Boise and Oklahoma State, loses to USC and eventually gets a turnaround and goes...
Caleb Call: 9 -3. Who knows it? It is. a Interesting thing that you're facing in the portal era more than you used to see before And a perfect example of that. You mentioned it, Michigan, Oklahoma. Michigan looked awful.
Caleb Call: against Western Michigan. End. Their offense. Look better still didn't look great. I'd still be a little worried if I were a Michigan fan But their defense shut Oklahoma down. They ended up winning the game 17 -10.
Caleb Call: And it did not feel like Michigan was any worse than Oklahoma that entire game. Michigan played them even or even better. material. Maybe one of the most overrated quarterbacks we've seen in a long time in college football.
Caleb Call: but yeah Michigan, as a team, they're 2 -0 despite having a rocky start to the season. They're sitting here in the same position as anybody else could hope to be with a big win under their belt against an SEC team. what What do you expect from Michigan the rest of the way, having seen these first two weeks?
Ben Fowers: It's one of those ones where I think there was two my two biggest takeaways were... um Western Michigan's better than people think. And... I think Michigan was overlooking them for this Oklahoma game.
Ben Fowers: And so the combination kind of. made. the product that you saw that first. week for Michigan. And. I think that you're going to see A similar game to this Oklahoma.
Ben Fowers: is kind of what their identity is going to be. And those games aren't always going to bounce your way when you've got low -scoring games if you've got a better quarterback than Mateer making plays.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: on the other side of the field, and then they're probably going to drop a game or two or three. Um, that are similar to that. But i think I think their defense is going to keep them in most games. I think they're going to be. a ah tough competitive. team. and It's one of those ones where I...
Ben Fowers: they yeah They've got Oregon on the schedule late. They've got Indiana. They've got Ohio State. like they got On paper, it's a pretty tough schedule. and so It's one of those ones where I kind of expect them to be in most of those games. i I think it's going to be. Um, rocky roller coaster, but I think any given week. I'm a big.
Ben Fowers: Jay Hill. Kyle Whittingham fan, like I think. That was the reason I picked Michigan to take Oklahoma down last week was I just thought there was no way it was – I thought they were going to make the adjustments. They're good coaches. theyre They've been – both coaching college football for 20 plus years.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And I thought they were going to make the right adjustments that they needed to. And I think their defense. Amen. Jay Hilton -led defense is going to be able to... um Keep them in any game. So that's kind of what I expect from Michigan. I i don't expect them to be a top -tier Big Ten team. I think they're going to drop some of these games that look similar to the Oklahoma one, but I think they're going to be in them all, and they're going to be competitive. And they might get routed by Ohio State or somebody at some point, but I think they're going to be pretty competitive in most of these games.
Caleb Call: Michigan plays Iowa. in a couple of weeks What is the over -under going to be in that one?
Ben Fowers: 12 just kidding.
Caleb Call: Good dog. If that game finished 6 -3, I would be so unsurprised.
Ben Fowers: yeah
Caleb Call: I think Michigan's going to have one of the best defenses in the country and one of the worst offenses. my world. maybe not worst ah offense, one of the least explosive offenses. They'll probably go out there and beat up some of these lower -end Big Ten teams and just kind of ground and pound and win those games by 20 or so points.
Caleb Call: But they are going to be so unexplosive, I feel like, to where when you are playing a better defense like a Iowa, like an Ohio State. i think they're going to have a pretty hard time putting any points on the board So we'll see if Michigan can beat them.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, you kind of. You kind of saw it against Oklahoma. Bryce Underwood, had a he made a big scramble.
Caleb Call: Yeah, he did
Ben Fowers: I think it was like a 39 -yard scramble. to the left side of the end zone. Um, that might be like kind of the off script stuff. is usually what takes.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Like, Oklahoma's oklahoma' is a good defense, too, and that's kind of what. um exposes good defenses sometimes is like just the playmaking ability of a quarterback, a scrambling quarterback. And so maybe that's what. Kind of keeps up Michigan's offense moving some of these times.
Caleb Call: Yeah, it felt like they were more willing to let Bryce Underwood run in this game. It was a part of the game script for sure. He really didn't do a lot of that against Western Michigan. They probably honestly didn't think they needed him to do a lot of that against Western Michigan to win the game.
Caleb Call: and against Oklahoma.
Ben Fowers: Definitely more designed runs this last week.
Caleb Call: i think yeah Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Yeah.
Caleb Call: You get almost 20 carries or even more than 20 carries against, Oklahoma and
Ben Fowers: yeah
Caleb Call: Ended up working out. The rest of the college football slate had some interesting games. We saw Boise beat Memphis up. We saw Washington narrowly beat Utah State. Mississippi State. Camario Taylor might be the truth. They murdered Minnesota.
Caleb Call: Any other big takeaways from the rest of college football this week?
Ben Fowers: Yeah, Boise State. ah Boise State, even with Oregon dropping, I still think controls the G5 path because you go take care of Memphis now and you got Western Michigan in two weeks, which is a big one. that He didn't think it was going to be as big as... the beginning of the season, but after Western Michigan, this game against Michigan week one, I think. ah They go take care of that. I think they're now... ah They're now sitting there with...
Ben Fowers: everything in front of them being so I think that was the big takeaway was Once Oregon lost that game on Saturday, I was like, my eyes were like. I was following this one just because I was like, is Boise as good as we thought?
Ben Fowers: Because they stayed with Oregon last week or is Oregon not as good?
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And so. Them being able to to take Memphis. This one actually was close. for the first half. it was It was actually a fun game to follow for a while, and Memphis was leading at half, but then...
Ben Fowers: Kind of like the Arizona game, the Arizona -BYU game, Boise just shut out. Memphis in the second half. and Memphis didn't really do much in the second half. And so Boise who was able to kind of pull away a little bit and make it.
Ben Fowers: So that was kind of my fun, the G5 takeaway from. from me is that.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: i think ah I think Boise State still kind of controls everything. And if you made me pick right now, though, I don't know if I would bow. Boise State against ah Western Michigan in two weeks.
Ben Fowers: i
Caleb Call: It's gonna be a fascinating game.
Ben Fowers: I. Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if Western Michigan goes and wins that game. So that'll be a fun one. and We'll see about that.
Caleb Call: the The other complicated matchup that Boise's got...
Ben Fowers: What happens?
Caleb Call: They got to play at Oregon State. who looked like a very formidable opponent against both Houston and Texas Tech. Oregon State -Boise might end up being a game that we see twice this year in the Pac -12 championship game as well.
Caleb Call: That was... Okay. One of my big takeaways, obviously Boise -Memphis was up there. UNLV Did you see this? They lost to North Texas 44 -6.
Ben Fowers: Mm hmm.
Ben Fowers: And North Texas, is I think it was they scored. Two or three touchdowns. I think it was three touchdowns against Indiana week one. So North Texas.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: after seeing that i was
Caleb Call: They reloaded.
Ben Fowers: north Yeah, North Texas is ah is now a little bit of a dark horse for the G5 spot because UNLV played with Memphis that first weekend.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: Honestly, kind of gave the game away late where it seemed like UNLV was the better team. but Played a really bad fourth quarter, really sloppy fourth quarter. and but then You go from barely losing to Memphis, and Memphis is now playing with Boise. and You kind of have all these tight games, and UNLV just goes and gets boat raced.
Ben Fowers: And so I think North Texas is is a sleeper team. It's one of those North Texas, Western Michigan, Boise. Those are kind of like the three G5.
Caleb Call: You're forgetting a team.
Ben Fowers: teams.
Caleb Call: We have a 3 -0 G5 team. North Dakota State.
Ben Fowers: oh
Caleb Call: They go out there First FBS game, they beat Jacksonville State.
Ben Fowers: We got Air Force this week, right?
Caleb Call: They just beat Air Force. It ended up being 38 -32. They struggled a little bit to kind of finish putting that game away, but they were leading the whole time, looked great against Air Force. North Dakota State. UNLV doesn't look like a threat. Hawaii doesn't look like a threat.
Caleb Call: I think they're slated to go win the Mountain West. Now, if they're going to be ranked high enough to be the G5 representative, I don't know. But their schedule, it's not really their fault. they came into the FBS late.
Caleb Call: They've got an easy schedule. They're out of conference wasn't anything crazy. They're a contender to go 13 -0 this year. and put themselves in the conversation to be a G6 playoff team.
Ben Fowers: I watched all of that Jacksonville State game in week zero that they played. and It was a fun game to watch. They're a fun brand. And I think it's it's a...
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: It's a brand that needed to be FBS that made the jump from FCS to FBS this last year. and They're going to be, I think they're kind of like a. a 20 years later Boise State type of team where they're going to kind of always be that.
Ben Fowers: Um, they kind of have football is the staple in that city and people show out to the games.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: They got a good crowd. And I was, ah I was. I didn't think I was gonna tune in. Week zero to Jacksonville State, North Dakota State. I mean, it wasn't a full slate, but it was a fun game to follow, and they're going to be a fun team the next five, ten years.
Ben Fowers: I think they're going to – I wouldn't be surprised if they make a playoff or two in the next five years.
Caleb Call: I think that they're going to set themselves apart. as the best team in the Mountain West. and Honestly, it wouldn't shock me if they end up getting an invite to another conference, be it the Pac -12, be it the American Conference or something.
Caleb Call: They've got a good team, good coaches. They've just got. football players. no if sands or butts about it. They they got a squad up there, and the Mountain West does not look like they'll be able to.
Caleb Call: Take the bison down this year We'll see. It's still their first year in FBS. It's hard to go win every game on your schedule. but I think that's a fourth team that's at least put themselves in. contention status. James Madison's looked good too. you're You're going to have probably a bevy of contenders. but We're starting to see who's Separating themselves a little bit now
Ben Fowers: Yeah. It is tough because Western Michigan and has already dropped a game.
Caleb Call: All right.
Ben Fowers: Same with Boise. They've already dropped a game. it was to two tough teams, but.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Caleb Call: Honestly, Western or Michigan, it wouldn't shock me if there's a little bit of an asterisk there. Like if they go at the end of the year and they're in contention at 11 -2 or 12 -1. I wouldn't be shocked if the committee gave them a little grace.
Ben Fowers: They get credit for the win.
Caleb Call: Honestly, like maybe not even credit for the win, but just like. They're not even counting that as a loss against them almost.
Ben Fowers: yeah Yeah, I mean I I probably would bring it up if I was in the playoff committee room. I'd be like... Are we really? Are we were really docking this?
Caleb Call: are we shortly even lost that game yeah
Ben Fowers: Yeah, like if you're if that's the... tiebreaker between them and the other G5 team. i
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: I wouldn't be surprised if they get the nod because of that.
Caleb Call: And honestly, does one play with one second left outweigh what we saw happen for four quarters?
Caleb Call: We got any people?
Ben Fowers: Yep.
Caleb Call: Yes, this morning and Some interesting. of moves by the the AP. Washington fell completely out of the rankings. I was begging for it. And the AP voters did it.
Caleb Call: They looked terrible on offense against Washington State. Looked even worse against Utah State. And they're out. a 2 -0 team can drop from the rankings. I was very proud to see that. I was also pretty disappointed by what happened with Oregon.
Caleb Call: They filled to 21. I don't hate them at 21. but you had multiple voters one of them had them at 11 one of them had them at 12. Just awful. Oregon Nobody should think that they're that high.
Caleb Call: and what also upsets me with the war game. is that they are clearly ahead of Oklahoma State, who we just saw dominate them. And they are also ahead of Tulsa, who we just saw dominate.
Caleb Call: Oklahoma State. We've got two weeks of play on the field to evaluate these teams with. We don't have to sit here and use preseason expectations as the basis for rankings anymore.
Caleb Call: We've got enough play in the field to... Cut that out. So anyways, Oregon. Ranked ahead. We had Oklahoma fall 13 spots to 24. i don't know if that's an overreaction or not but i was pretty surprised to see them fall that much They're going to have to work to climb up into the rankings higher again.
Caleb Call: ah Two of the biggest jumpers for BYU in Utah. BYU up from 15 to 11, biggest jump of the week. And then you had Utah climb from 20 to 17. Texas Tech stayed pat at 13. So we got a bunch of Big 12 teams in the top 20 now. Houston just outside at... 22.
Caleb Call: what What were your i guess main takeaways from the AP poll? Anything else?
Ben Fowers: The big thing for me was BYU. I was surprised they jumped up four spots. um I just. Big 12 has never really gotten any. any respect and so I think it's one of those things where BYU went from 15 to 11.
Caleb Call: Yeah
Ben Fowers: and jumped Texas Tech, who was 13. They stayed put. USC was 14 and they jumped up to 12 but BYU um Leap them too. And so it's one of those things where USC, just the brand of USC, I feel like usually holds the weight in the.
Ben Fowers: in the early preseason poll.
Caleb Call: true
Ben Fowers: a 2 -0 versus a 2 -0 like so I was really surprised that BYU made that the jump and then obviously they had Oregon and Michigan fall blooms that Oregon and Michigan fall So they went from 15 to 13, and then they made the jump over Tech, and then they made the jump over USC. So that was that was my biggest surprise. i ah I was kind of expecting them to be 13 slated behind those two teams. and so um they made the jump and
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: um Tech I mean tech didn't look great. So maybe ah maybe the AP maybe I'm giving the AP voters too much credit, but maybe they actually did watch some football. but
Caleb Call: Yeah, there we go.
Ben Fowers: So.
Caleb Call: The BYU jump caught me off guard. Two outs, also expecting 13. But if you go look at like the points that each team had. It was a pretty tight. grouping. between BYU and the teams ahead of them to where that looks like a big jump.
Caleb Call: But honestly, it was not as big of a jump as it may have looked like because they were... rated very closely behind the teams ahead of them. And like you said, I thought that was some respect. BOU is now sitting at exactly where they ended last year. They ended last year at 11. They're sitting at 11 right here with room to go up.
Caleb Call: You've got LSU Ole Miss on tap. That's going to be 7 -8. BYU probably jumps to loser in that game, and you're sitting in the top 10 three weeks into the year, which honestly, if you're a team like BYU who just missed the playoff the last two seasons.
Caleb Call: That's amazing to be ranked this high this early and probably gives you a pretty good indication that you can make the playoff as an at -large team this year. We'll see how they perform against Notre Dame in the rest of the schedule. but Love seeing the respect this early. And Utah jumping three spots for being an SEC team late at night. Wasn't sure everybody was going to see it. but They got the respect they needed to jump in three spots after that.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, it was one of those. I don't know if it was really the respect I, I was looking at. So Oregon dropped Oklahoma state. They're one of them. Oklahoma dropped Michigan.
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: They're one of them. And then Washington only pulling out that two point game against Utah state drop. So I think it was more of just the result of. um the other teams performing that poorly than Utah really exceeding expectations. So I don't Utah's three, it was three spots up, but if you just look at the three teams that fell below them, it seemed like it was kind of just.
Ben Fowers: I doubt most of these AP voters were up watching the Utah game at 2 in the morning Eastern time.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: um Bye. I mean, it's one of those things where Utah, I mean, still kind of everything's in front of them, like SMU. is right ahead of Utah. they I didn't think they looked very good against Florida State. um
Caleb Call: No.
Ben Fowers: Week one and they they played I think it was UC Irvine this last week And so their team that's right in front of them, Tennessee's got their SEC schedule, which opra I mean, they're... These teams in front of them.
Ben Fowers: I don't think they're as high. caliber as Utah's team is. And so I think, like you said, BYU's at 11 where they ended up last week. like or at they where they ended last year, I think.
Ben Fowers: Utah's not quite back to where they ended last year, and I think it's going to be a week or two before they do because SMU's got a game against Louisville this weekend. and Louisville playing with Ole Miss last week, I got them.
Ben Fowers: No.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: I picked Louisville to win that game. and so I think it's going to be one where Utah might climb up the the rankings pretty quick here. and I uh... and the you see the You see the plus three on the side, but it really wasn't. ah it it really wasn't respect it was just everybody else sucking so
Caleb Call: Yeah. We still have four voters who don't have Utah ranked. BYU, highest ri voter, had them at eight. Lowest had them back at 16. Pretty tight grouping, honestly, there. They end up in the middle at 11.
Caleb Call: Utah's highest was 12. Four people had them unranked. Which still, we we talk about this all the time with the rankings. Utah went 11 -2 last year.
Caleb Call: There's two and oh to start this year like At some point, a winning program is a winning program. and You should not be so hesitant. to rank a team like that. Virginia is sitting at 25. Still kind of irks me. I feel like they should be a lot higher than that. They got a chance to go prove themselves against West Virginia this week. I just.
Caleb Call: When you've got a team who's proven themselves as a winner year after year. I think that you have to not be so quick to drop them in the off season. So hopefully some of these voters can. Write the ship a little bit and give Utah and Virginia some more respect
Ben Fowers: Yeah. Yeah, Rhys Davis is one where he didn't even put Utah in the top 25. I thought that was kind of ridiculous. like he had hes i mean he's got boise in there he's got mississippi state in there over utah i just I was just...
Caleb Call: He's missing Houston, too. Big 12 hater, maybe?
Ben Fowers: And he's missing. Yeah.
Caleb Call: Only two Big 12 teams ranked.
Ben Fowers: it's It's interesting, though, because he's got BYU and Tech pretty high. I think he's got BYU, was it eight or nine? And then...
Caleb Call: BYU at 9, Tech at 12.
Ben Fowers: Tech at 12, yeah. So it's like he's gone. He's respecting those top two teams, but Utah and Houston being out. Houston, I mean, it isn't. I mean, they're .22, so like that doesn't bother me.
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: like Crazy, but. for what Utah did last year. and i don't know i just mississippi state i i thought was kind of crazy i mean obviously their quarterback he looked pretty good but like i think he's maybe drinking the
Caleb Call: yeah
Ben Fowers: the Camario Taylor Kool -Aid because he's sitting next to Nick Saban and Nick Saban called it on game day hours before it happened.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And so I was just kind of. i I was just like, wow. To me, it was just more shock. I was like, he doesn't even have Utah in the top 25. um I don't know, just like you said, consistently proved that they are a top 25 team.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: And so, I mean, that's why AP, at the end of the day, the AP. pull really doesn't matter because You even saw it last year. You tied it up. when the first cf people came out was actually ranked quite a bit higher than they uh
Caleb Call: There are almost 10 spots higher than the AP. eight spots or nine spots higher.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, so they were sliding quite a bit.
Caleb Call: That's pretty unexpected
Ben Fowers: so it's kind of nice to see them get respected in the cfp but i mean Yeah, it is what it is. Beat who's in front of you, and that's how you get the sh - the respect that you need.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: So it's one of those ones where Utah sitting at 17 and I think it's low right now. So. I... I think it's one of those ones where Utah is just going to have to keep winning. Really, they don't like I said, they don't have the first six games where they're really getting tested. So really, I don't think they're going to make a jump for anything they do. I think it's just teams in front of them right now. When they lose, they'll just start to fall. but The crappy thing about the Big 12 being a Utah BYU fan you've seen over the years is...
Ben Fowers: um is those the teams that have the big wins below them it's like teams are falling below them but then like they get jumped very easily too and so
Caleb Call: I'm happy.
Ben Fowers: it's hard to it's hard to really set yourself apart unless you're really going like undefeated, one loss. And so so you're not getting jumped by those other teams. And so it's frustrating, but it's one of those things where you got to take care of business in front of you.
Caleb Call: Yeah.
Ben Fowers: and As dumb as it is, you gotta to be kind of have to stack years on. years to kind of get the respect of the poll and so i mean this is byu's third year going on and you're kind of seeing like you said 16 is the bottom of the ranking so three consecutive years of pretty good football and you're now sitting at eight's the highest in the ap poll from a rent a voter and 16 is the the lowest and you kind of get the respect when you start stacking years and it should be yeah like we've we've talked about this but it should be year to year but
Caleb Call: very much
Ben Fowers: In reality, it's not. like you're
Caleb Call: Yep.
Ben Fowers: you're taking what's happened in the past and so byu having three good seasons in a row is Um, is kind of what's holding the day for them rankings. And Utah had a bad year two years ago, so it's only been one year removed from ah a good season for Utah. And so it's one of those where Utah has – I mean, you've got to prove it on the field. So right now you're – As a.
Ben Fowers: As the number 17 team in the country, I feel like it's low, but it's one of those things where you just got to go prove it. So it's ah it'll be fun. ah one few weeks while I i think they're not going to get tested super Super competitive way for this for about a month so
Caleb Call: one other thing that I kind of took away from the people. We're on college game day watch in Provo. We host Notre Dame in about five weeks. Notre Dame is sitting there at three, jumped Ohio State.
Caleb Call: BYU is sitting at 11. The biggest contender that day to take college game day. is Ohio State in Indiana. And Reese Davis on his college game day podcast that he does, he was talking about that game with his co -host and they brought up. Thanks.
Caleb Call: potential college game day week. And Reese was saying before Ohio State lost to Texas that they were probably still leaning Indiana -Ohio State. It's going to be big new kickoffs. You already got one show for sure going to Indiana, Ohio State.
Caleb Call: But if BYU and Notre Dame are both undefeated, that's going to be... number three or higher maybe even Notre Dame against probably somewhere in the seven to nine range BYU.
Caleb Call: Pretty good chance to get a lot of attention on that game if you're BYU. In scheduling a game like Notre Dame, BYU gave themselves a chance this year in their scheduling. to have a win good enough to give them an at -large bid, even if they don't go and win the Big 12.
Caleb Call: Something to keep an eye on. Notre Dame up to three. Huge for BYU, getting that game in Provo, and hopefully that ends up being a... top 10 matchup when it all is said and done.
Ben Fowers: Yeah, that one's a...
Caleb Call: We'll... laugh
Ben Fowers: oh sorry Good job.
Caleb Call: Yeah, we'll we'll be back here in the next two or three days with a preview for week three. Not very many exciting things going on in the state. Utah, Utah State. BYU Colorado State. Classic Big 12, Pac -12 matchups. and Outside of that, it...
Caleb Call: There are some pretty fun games on the slate. So yeah, join us for the preview. Thank you a ton for watching.
Ben Fowers: and don't let but Don't let Caleb forget was last week pick him out of seven. Oh, he was four and three So I got a nice little three game cushion now
Caleb Call: yes but Props to Ben on that. Great pick -em week for Ben.
Ben Fowers: Go Michigan, baby.
Caleb Call: well we'll dive into that a little bit on our preview show here but yes ben powers with the Ultimate Pick 'em Week. Follow him for betting advice.
Ben Fowers: Go Utes.
Caleb Call: Like, subscribe. Thanks everyone. Go Cougs.
