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NCAA Football preview part 1
4 Plays5 days ago
Don and Russ discuss the change in the College Football playoff, and preview the Big Ten, SEC, AAC, and Mountain West for the upcoming football season
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Transcript
Introduction to the NCAA Report Show
00:00:00
Speaker
This is Gateway Sports. Ladies and gentlemen, I've got a couple questions for you. Do you love college sports as much as I do? Are you always wondering where you can find the latest NCAA reports?
00:00:13
Speaker
Will come to the right place? Welcome, sports fans, to Fuel Sports Presents, the NCAA report with Don Enright. Gee, that sounds kind of interesting.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
00:00:29
Speaker
Ready to win the game.
00:00:33
Speaker
For the win in the air, it is up and it is good!
00:01:02
Speaker
Look at the air, look at the hang time, look at the flying motion. Look at his head above the rim.
00:01:44
Speaker
To infinity and beyond!
00:02:19
Speaker
on the field stands. Touchdown.
00:02:31
Speaker
You've got to get it done.
00:02:44
Speaker
Pay attention, son. This is for your own good. The moment you've all been waiting for.
Return After July Break
00:02:49
Speaker
Here they are, your favorite hosts, Don Glenn and Russ Robinson.
00:02:57
Speaker
Well, we are back. This is the NCAA report with Don and Russ. I want to thank Devin Dynan for that introduction again, as he always does a great job.
00:03:11
Speaker
Well, i actually, R.O.' 's on recording, so he's always going to do a great job. But anyway, ah we were absent the month of July. um You know, pretty much not a lot going on during that month. So we decided to take ah a little bit of time off and kind of recalibrate everything we got going here.
Gateway Sports Network Overview
00:03:30
Speaker
And so we're goingnna we're going to jump in today with some NCAA football talk since that's right around the corner. I didn't want to let you know that this program is a proud part of the Gateway Sports Network. Gateway Sports, you're going to find articles and podcasts and a whole bunch of other stuff.
00:03:50
Speaker
There we've got some photojournalism going on over there. And so just some neat things. Check it out at gatewaysports.net. All right.
00:04:01
Speaker
Well, with me, as always, is my partner from the South, the man that knows everything about the SEC that I don't know, which is usually most everything. Russ Robinson. How are you doing tonight, Russ?
00:04:14
Speaker
I'm doing great, Don. Thank you. Yeah, like I said, it has been a while since we've we've gotten together. But, you know, like I said, July, there's really not a lot going on. I mean, yeah that we could have done some recruiting stuff, but that was but most of that usually is over by but you know late May. I mean, you get a few last minutes or and we could have talked about 26 recruiting, I guess.
NCAA Football League Analysis Plan
00:04:38
Speaker
Yeah.
00:04:38
Speaker
So anyway, while what we thought we'd do today today is we're going to do a show. We're going to do the some a um analysis of some of the ah leagues. And we're going to do today, we're going to do the Big Ten, SEC, AAC, and the Mountain West.
00:04:56
Speaker
ah And then on our next program, ah we are going to finish it off with the rest of the bunch.
NCAA Playoffs Structure Changes
00:05:05
Speaker
So... um A couple things though we want to get to first is there's been a change in how the playoff picture has ah was is going to be presented, if you will.
00:05:21
Speaker
Still going to be 12 teams. they're not They're not changing that. Although, I don't know, have you heard any more about the expansion to 16? Is that still on track for 26-27
00:05:32
Speaker
26 or 27 is what I understand. I guess they're just trying to wait and see if the Big Ten and the SEC can get on the same page on that. I imagine that's what it is because they have two different formulas right right now that they support.
00:05:47
Speaker
right So that's what I – and they haven't come together on it yet. and then They'll have to come together on it before they they can move forward. Oh, yeah, no doubt. So right now for what's coming up this year, it's still going to be the 12 teams and there's still going to be five automatic buys or automatic bids, excuse me.
00:06:04
Speaker
However, the teams getting the buys are not going to be conference, not necessarily going to be conference champions as instead of going to what they did last year, which was the,
00:06:17
Speaker
ah top four conference champions getting an automatic buy regardless of seeding. It is going to go strictly by seeding this year. So if you are now ah with the proviso again, that if there is a team that gets an automatic bid that is ranked outside of the top 12, they will automatically come in at number 12.
00:06:38
Speaker
or right wherever they wherever they line up. It depends that and if there's more than one. so um So, I mean, which i mean no last year, that would have changed a lot of things.
00:06:49
Speaker
Don't you think?
00:06:52
Speaker
Oh, yeah. I think so. I think, I mean, especially when you had, ah you know, Arizona State and who was the other? Was it Boise State? Boise State. Yeah, and Arizona State.
00:07:05
Speaker
Yeah, I don't think they would have gotten it if they had gone if they were if they were doing it this way last year. yeah Well, you would have had, see, Oregon was one.
00:07:18
Speaker
penn State was two, I think. Texas was three. And I can't remember who the fourth one was, the fourth fourth seed.
00:07:29
Speaker
But anyway, i mean, and all that had to be reworked because, you know, you couldn't have Oregon and Penn State. And, you know, so that that's going to be somewhat different this year around. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I do. No doubt about that.
00:07:43
Speaker
Yeah. So, all right, well, we're going to jump right in here. So I'll go first with the Big Ten.
Big Ten Football Analysis
00:07:50
Speaker
And just want start out by beating my chest a little bit. The last two NCAA football championships come out of the Big Ten. Thank you very much. That's right.
00:08:01
Speaker
That's right. I know. Do respect here. So, but... ah You know, because last ah two years ago was Michigan Wolverines. Last year, of course, it was Ohio State. um And I have to admit, I did not give Ohio State much of a chance to to make that run they did in the playoffs ah after they lost him after they lost to Michigan at the end of the season.
00:08:24
Speaker
That was just a ah strange thing. Yeah. So the big 10 last year, i said, to Oregon was the big 10 champ. Uh, Indiana was runner up in Penn state, Ohio state, Illinois were the top five.
00:08:39
Speaker
Um, And then all those teams had 10 wins, which was, ah I thought, something something special for the Big Ten, at least.
00:08:50
Speaker
um And then the middle-of-the-pack teams, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, all had overall winning records, and everybody else was kind of lumped into the bottom. 18 teams, I ain't going to go through all of them. so Um, and that's the one thing I'm not going to go through, uh, every team in the big 10. I've kind of highlighted a top five or six, you know, as far as who I'll talk about.
00:09:14
Speaker
And then, um, this kind of gave me a thought about the rest of them. So, uh, I want to start with Penn state. As they return, I've seen a couple publications that list them as the odds-on favorite for the Big Ten championship.
00:09:30
Speaker
um You know, ah is it their year? Is this the year Franklin finally gets the monkey off his back? and ah yeah It could line up that way. ah they They returned Drew Aller, who threw for 3,327 yards last year, touchdowns, only eight picks.
00:09:48
Speaker
They are running back, uh, Nicholas Singleton. He's back again this year. They they returned 14 starters from last year. So they've got up. They've got a good amount of starters coming back.
00:10:01
Speaker
Um, On defense, they've got Danny Dennis Sutton back at eight and a half sacks, nine quarterback carries, and 13 tackles for loss.
00:10:12
Speaker
Their defense is still going to be solid. ah They brought in the number 23 transfer out of the top 100, Amari Campbell. They say he's a very athletic player, can play inside, outside, play in the box, blitz.
00:10:29
Speaker
um You know, they they say this kid can can pretty much do it all. um So that that could bode well for them. Penn State also is going to benefit from having the... I had it written down here.
00:10:47
Speaker
I think they've got the ah second easiest schedule in the Big Ten. Which, like they need an easy schedule, okay? Okay.
00:10:59
Speaker
ah rot ah They will play see at home. They are against, they have ha or on the road, they go to Ohio State and Oregon and at home.
00:11:15
Speaker
um They don't really have – Indiana is the only tough team that they've really got. um They also play Iowa on the road, which could be a trip-up game, if if you will. but And their non-conference schedule pretty much is a bunch of cupcakes. Villanova, Ford International, and Nevada.
00:11:37
Speaker
um so, you know, that those guys coming in with, uh, I mean, they could, they could go undefeated. I don't see ah an option. I mean, the Ohio state's the toughest team team that they've really got.
00:11:48
Speaker
Uh, Oregon's kind of down this year. So, you know, uh, but it's still Oregon's still a tough team, but I'm, I could see them. I could see them, you know, coming in with only just the one loss, maybe going undefeated.
00:12:02
Speaker
Uh, we'll talk, we'll talk Ohio state next. I mean, they, They're kind of a ah um in a flux because they're only returning nine starters from last year. um They did bring in the number 17 tied in Max Clary.
00:12:25
Speaker
ah They say he's a Zach Ertz type. if you If you remember, if you know Zach Ertz from the Philadelphia Eagles. They also brought in Ed Wrecker...
00:12:38
Speaker
um And I can't read it by half my writing. ah atkins the company Atkinson from North Carolina, um who last year had 26 pressures, 12 tackles for loss, and 7 1⁄2 sacks.
00:12:54
Speaker
So they've bolstered their defense as long as well as their offense. They are going to be dealing with a new quarterback, so that's going to be something they've got up that has an... And he's a true freshman, too.
00:13:05
Speaker
Or no, redshirt freshman. Excuse me, redshirt freshman. Um... Let's see. They have the
00:13:16
Speaker
fourth toughest schedule in the Big Ten. They have home dates against Texas, Penn State. um And then they go to Michigan, Illinois, Washington, and Wisconsin.
00:13:30
Speaker
Not all easy places to play. They do escape playing Oregon, Iowa, and Indiana. So that's ah that's a plus for them. Yeah. I mean, they they could. I can see, you know, that they're going to be in the mix no matter how you look at it. um they ah They're always going to be in the mix. I mean, Ohio State is one of those teams. They're just there. there Oregon.
00:13:54
Speaker
Now, the Ducks did lose a lot, and they're only bringing back five starters from last year's team. um They're going to have a new guy quarterback, Dante Moore.
00:14:08
Speaker
He played a little bit in 2023. um Only had 11 touchdowns and nine picks. So he's going to be, he it's it's questionable how he's going to play.
00:14:22
Speaker
Their top wide receiver, Edwin Stewart, is now out for indefinitely with a big bad knee injury. So that's going to hurt that as well. And they have the sixth toughest schedule in the Big Ten.
00:14:34
Speaker
um They did get the number four trans transfer ah defensive back in Dillian Thinnaman. And the number 11 transfer and i came over what position he ah quarterback, Mackay Hughes.
00:14:51
Speaker
He threw over 2,700 yards, 22 TDs. So I'm not sure why this other kid's playing unless he's just they're going to go with him. and Because I guess he may be a senior or something.
00:15:01
Speaker
Yeah.
00:15:05
Speaker
Oregon, i don't think is going to challenge for the guy. I don't think they they could. They could make a run for the championship in the Big Ten. But with you know they've got away games at Penn State, Iowa, Washington.
00:15:20
Speaker
They've got USC and Indiana at home. now they you know they they And they've got ah what I would call a trip-up game in in-state rival Oregon State. So that can you know, those state games, they can all, they, they, they come up and bite you when, when you least expect it.
00:15:37
Speaker
So last year, Indiana had that fantastic run. um And, you know, you and I both kept thinking, it's just, you know, it's just a fluke. It's just, it's, they, they're not that it may not have been a fluke.
00:15:53
Speaker
um You know, they, they didn't, I mean, they didn't play well in the playoff, but you know, it it's a a It was a bunch of new guys to get together. ah Now they only return. Now they return eight starters, four on each side of the ball.
00:16:09
Speaker
Pretty much their O-line and wide receiver or or Elijah Surratt are back. Defensively, Aiden Fisher had 118 tackles last year ah he's back Their defensive backs, Amari Farrell and D'Angelo Pena combined had seven picks and eight and a half tackles for loss and nine passes defended.
00:16:40
Speaker
So they've still got some they've still got some ah guys they can that can play. um I had their strength of schedule down somewhere.
00:16:56
Speaker
Actually, they are... They have a fairly still a fairly weak schedule. although They do play Oregon and Penn State and Iowa on the road, and they've got Illinois at home.
00:17:06
Speaker
So i'm I thought I had it written down where they were at. but So their schedule is favorable to them, again. um you know They can make and a quick run.
00:17:18
Speaker
ah Illinois, 10 wins last season. they returned They are returning the most starters of any team in the Big Ten with 16. Yeah. Yeah, I think a lot of people are high on Illinois taking the next step.
00:17:32
Speaker
Yeah. Well, because you've got a third-year quarterback, Luke Altmyer, Aiden Lowry, who had to step in for the injured guy Caden Fagan last year.
00:17:43
Speaker
he you know, over 1,000 yards. Yeah. um You've got now they they the entire offensive line is coming back Big things they really lost was the defensive line. No, nobody's returning from the defensive line and two receivers Problem was it was their two best receivers in in Pat Bryant and Sakari Franklin ah But they are very high on the kids that they that they've still got Malik LZ Colin Dixon
00:18:16
Speaker
And there's a ah kid they brought in um Hudson Clement from West Virginia. he's ah pretty good He's got some pretty good numbers that he played over there.
00:18:30
Speaker
So he's going to be taking over the Pat Bryant role. Then on defense, like I said, dave you've lost the defensive line, but you're bringing back you're basically your top two linebackers in Gabe Ackes and Dylan Rosiak.
00:18:42
Speaker
And the entire secondary is back. Every one of them is back, which that, you know, that was huge because a couple of those kids could have gone anywhere they wanted to. Luke Altmaier could have gone anywhere he wanted to, for that matter of fact.
00:18:59
Speaker
Illinois also given, was given the third easiest schedule um as really at Indiana and, um,
00:19:14
Speaker
At Washington and and at Duke are three games that you know could be interesting. And then home against Ohio State. We don't get Penn State. We don't get Indiana. We or know we don't get the not indiana we don't get Penn State. We don't get Michigan.
00:19:30
Speaker
um We don't get Iowa. you know we we They come up with a pretty decent schedule for that. I could see Illinois making another 10-win season. and And I think if they if they have a 10-win season, I think they'll be pushing for a spot in the conference championship.
00:19:46
Speaker
Definitely going to be pushing for a spot in the playoffs. A lot of people are also high on Michigan. um life of me really can't figure why or couldn't figure why but they do have 13 returning starters uh pretty much their row line is there their linebacking core is still solid uh uh tj guy five and a half sacks um they've got uh a schedule that's Again, I forgot to list exactly where it's at. I think it's like it's the middle of the pack schedule, like 11th or 10th or something like that.
00:20:24
Speaker
um They do have a home game against Ohio State. They ah go to Oklahoma and USC. So, you know, it's it's a fairly favorable schedule.
00:20:37
Speaker
So, you know, eight or nine wins, not out of possibility. I don't think they're going to challenge for a championship if they'll be in the playoffs. or not I don't think they'll be in the playoffs, but they're definitely headed for a bowl game, I think. um Iowa is Iowa. I mean, that's the best thing you can say about Iowa being Iowa.
00:20:56
Speaker
Always going to have a good defense. Yeah. they are also one that's going to be dealing with the uh new new people at the you know say key positions quarterback and and uh which they brought in um mark gronkowski and uh not not in relation to the pro tight end but he's from south dakota state um
00:21:27
Speaker
He was rated as the number 33rd player in the transfer portal. ah think he's under the defense. One thing about Iowa defense, is it's always going to be constant.
00:21:39
Speaker
They are very good at takeaways. Very good at not necessarily interceptions, but with forced fumbles. They've got two guys on the defensive line right now that have a total of 12 and a half sacks and six forced fumbles after last year or had a total of 12 and a half sacks, six forced fumbles last year.
00:21:56
Speaker
So that's always a defense you're going to face again, probably not going to be in the. and Any kind of a run for the title. ah Don't envision them in the playoffs. I do think they'll they'll probably get a bowl game.
00:22:10
Speaker
Then you got the rest of everybody. The next group down I've lumped together is USC, Nebraska, Washington, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. All those teams could have good years. Probably some of them may end up in a bowl game. Some them may not.
00:22:25
Speaker
And then you've got the bottom feeders, Rutgers, UCLA, and Maryland, Michigan State, and Purdue. And you think about it, I put UCLA down there, even though they picked up Nico Iamaliva, or Iamaliva, just because they don't have anything else.
00:22:45
Speaker
I mean, there's really nothing else that points to them being any type of more than i mean, they could surprise people come up middle of the road being that next group down but or the next group up.
00:22:57
Speaker
ah But I think right now, if you had to put a of um team to our two the two teams to watch for the championship it'd be probably ohio state penn state um illinois and oregon certainly are um to me outside uh possibilities dark horses if you will uh you know if they get the right things happen they could make a run for it um so you know we'll see what happens but therein lies the big 10 my friend Well, comments?
00:23:28
Speaker
I think he yes well the only thing, Ryan Day is the was the going into the playoffs. He was kind of the, but what what do you want to call it kind of the yeah he was He was on everyone's target list. Yeah.
00:23:44
Speaker
You know, everyone didn't think he would survive, that Ohio State might make a move or something like that. It seemed ridiculous with his record. But now he's everybody's big best buddy, as you say, BFF. And I'll tell you something else that's interesting, too, is I did fail to mention this.
00:24:03
Speaker
Purdue has changed head coaches, and Barry Odom is now the new head coach. And ah he's got one starter returning from last year's team. Yeah. You know, that's an interesting hire by Purdue.
00:24:16
Speaker
And I don't, you know, Barry Odom had done a great job at UNLV. Turned that program around. Yeah, he did. And he's a defensive guy because he was a defensive coordinator Mizzou and the head coach for a while.
00:24:28
Speaker
But they usually hire offensive-minded coaches is usually what they do. That's their second defensive hire in a row. yeah and Yeah, that's correct. Two former Mizzou defensive coordinators, basically. You'd think they might have learned their lesson, but but anyway.
00:24:45
Speaker
ah You know, I don ah hope Barry does well there. He's got a challenge. and He's going to have to be patient with him. So we'll see what happens. yeah And and in in real in real terms, i i I'm not going to say Walters wasn't ready for a head job.
00:25:03
Speaker
I just don't think he was ready to build a program. I think he needed to come in with a program that was that had been fairly established to make it to make his mark. I don't think he was ah he's what you would call a program builder.
00:25:16
Speaker
Well, I don't think he was at Illinois. He went from Missouri to Illinois and then to Purdue. Well, I would have thought that Ryan would have probably should have done something like what Barry Odom did when Mizzou let him go to a mid-major and be a head coach.
00:25:34
Speaker
ah He apparently was a young guy. a lot of people had their eye on him. I don't know where he's at now, but you know maybe going to a mid-major would have been Ryan's best. option after coming out of illinois you know He found a good program.
00:25:48
Speaker
I mean, yeah, if he wanted to take a head coach job, he would probably have been better served, ah you know, taking a um had you know a head coach at, say, like a mid-major. Even D2 would have been a good, you know, I think a pretty good fit as far as his first head coaching job. so so So, anything. um So, like said, any other comments on the Big Ten before we move on to your
SEC Football Team Insights
00:26:13
Speaker
SEC? Yeah.
00:26:14
Speaker
No, it seems like a pretty solid. I think, of course, I know these preseason predictions are. Oh, yeah. I wasn't even going to mention preseason rankings because. Yeah.
00:26:25
Speaker
You know sometimes they're very valuable. Sometimes, you know, they're, you know, we go back in December see where we stand on some of this stuff. yeah It would be interesting. As far as the SEC, Don, I'm going to kind of go a little different on this. Yeah.
00:26:39
Speaker
I'm going to, you know, I think that it's pretty well Texas seems to be the unanimous choice to be the number one team in the SEC, mainly because, and the big talk is Arch Manning is finally going to be the starting quarterback and everybody's in Texas is excited. And I think everyone across the SEC is excited to see him. I think across the nation to see what this kid can do.
00:27:01
Speaker
you know, everyone seems to think it's a no, no fail type situation that he's that good. So, yeah, a lot of reason why I guess Texas is rated number one right now, you know, so um in the cut, you know, going in as a preseason number one, it's lot pressure.
00:27:19
Speaker
I, you know I hate to hate to see a kid like that had that much pressure on them. I think consensus is that Georgia's the number two team. Kirby Smart is is he being replaced by Steve's I always have to pronounce his last name, Steve Sarkeesian as the elite SEC coach because you know well Steve, ah Kirby's been kind the guy ah that would kind of replaced Nick Saban.
00:27:48
Speaker
he' kind of He kind of passed Nick Saban as the guy that he won back-to-back national championships and So a lot of people thought he had kind of passed Nick Saban, but now it seems that Circassian is the guy.
00:28:02
Speaker
Brian Kelly at LSU, that seems to be everyone's thinking that this may be the year he makes the move. His defensive coordinator, Blake Baker, he's entering his second year. Maybe he's beginning to make his impact, and that seems to have been their issue, trying to get their defense straightened out.
00:28:17
Speaker
And the other fourth is Alabama. And I think Bama is, you know, they've got so they've got talent. What's going to happen there? It's hard to see Alabama going to another nine and four season or a 9-3 season. It's just hard to see them accepting that. And but that would be interesting to follow. That would be almost as interesting as any other story to follow there, i Alabama.
00:28:41
Speaker
and You know, looking down at it, I just don't see any other schools that could – come up and maybe challenge those four. The way they have, most of them have it rated is they've got Florida coming in at five, South Carolina at six, Ole Miss at seven, Texas A&M at eight,
00:29:00
Speaker
Oklahoma at nine, Tennessee at 10, Auburn at 11, Mizzou at 12, Arkansas at 13, Vanderbilt at 14, Kentucky at 15, Mississippi State at 16. And the only thing I think for sure in that listing is I'd say Mississippi State is probably the 16th team in the conference. I think the rest of that from five on down to 15 is probably could be juggled around any way you want to. So that's, that's where I've, I've kind of focused my on.
00:29:29
Speaker
Also, I found it interesting to talk about coaches on the hot seat coming in. and I always find that interesting. yeah And I think what we have is a, Brian Kelly, I don't know if his seat's hot, but it's warm.
00:29:42
Speaker
LSU people sure don't have a lot of patience. And they didn't hire him just to go eight and four and nine and three. They hired him to win the SEC and go to this playoff and win, go deep into the playoff. So he's got I think his seat is warm.
00:29:57
Speaker
I also think that going down, Sam Pittman at Arkansas is hot. I think he's got to win this year. He won he went seven and six last year. But Arkansas feels like they're of the top teams. They should be up there in the top of the SEC, whether they really deserve to be there or not.
00:30:18
Speaker
Their fan base certainly feels that way. And the other hot seat probably is I don't know if it's hot speed, Oklahoma. And let me look at, I always forget his name.
00:30:32
Speaker
Hold on there. Just give me a minute.
00:30:37
Speaker
Brent Benables. Yeah. I don't know why that name just slipped my mind. Brent Benables is – he really needs to do something in Oklahoma this year. ah think if he doesn't, his he his seat I think is fairly hot.
00:30:52
Speaker
Yeah. So I think those are the those are the storylines in the SEC. I don't – I think those four of the teams that are going to – the alabama LSU, Georgia, and, um, and, um, uh,
00:31:10
Speaker
Texas, I think those are the four teams. If there's four teams that end up in the college football playoff, those are the four. i think all four could make it. But I just don't know i don't know anyone below that that's really got a shot for going at it. There's just too many question marks in each of those schools.
00:31:27
Speaker
Right. ah what So, I mean, there could be one surprise. You never know. Well, yeah, mean, you get have yeah mean i i to me, just kind of cursory look from the outside because we played them last year.
00:31:39
Speaker
I think South Carolina could, you know, and again, this all depends on transfers they brought in and the kids that they've been able to keep. And ah but and i wouldn't I would not count out, um I wouldn't count out Ole Miss.
00:31:58
Speaker
I never count those guys out ah Question, though, what if Alabama does not, you misses the playoff again.
00:32:11
Speaker
how how how hot does DeBoer's seat get at that point? think it's pretty hot. I don't think he gets fired unless he has some type of two and 10 season or something like that. if he If he repeats a nine and three season, regular season, then goes in and loses his bowl game, or even if he wins his bowl game, a nine and three season, he'll get hot then for the next year. I don't think he would be – you know, they're going to want to fire him right away. right that That'll be an interesting storyline to the see, DeBorg, how he, you know, how he does this year.
00:32:47
Speaker
That's why I think, you know, I've always found it interesting and the SEC, and it seems like way more than it was when Mizzou was in the Big 12 and I was following them.
00:32:58
Speaker
It's almost like the ah personality type. The fan base is in it. You know, have the patience. There is no patience. Auburn, Hugh Freeze, he's on the hot seat, I think.
00:33:11
Speaker
And he's only been there two years. But if you don't win, you know, I mean, Auburn fired a coach. two years after he won a national championship. I mean, that's that's just the way they think.
00:33:22
Speaker
And so he freezes probably on the hot seat, I think, or at least most people speculating. So this is what I've always found interesting about being in the SEC is what the lack of patience is. You know, and the expectations are so high.
00:33:35
Speaker
And not everyone can win the conference. Not everyone can go to even the 12-team playoff. Not all the teams who think they should can go. so do you think Oklahoma has any buyer's remorse?
00:33:47
Speaker
I'm wondering if they have Brent Venables, you know, I think they, you know, they probably wish they had kept, he was the guy that went to USC from Oklahoma.
00:34:00
Speaker
It's um anyway, I would say ah got us listening to that conversation today on sports talk radio.
00:34:12
Speaker
I think on fine bomb show, ah you know, he's a, He was supposed to do a lot more than what he's done at USC, and he did very well at Oklahoma. And I'm just wondering if the buyer's remorse is – he regrets making that move.
00:34:27
Speaker
Lincoln Riley. so youre Lincoln Riley to USC. That's right. Yeah. You know, of because USC just hasn't done much since he's been there. No, they haven't. And they did a lot.
00:34:37
Speaker
i had I didn't look into coaches on the hot seat in the Big Ten, but I would presume he he may be there. Yeah.
00:34:48
Speaker
Other guys, I'm thinking, I think i don't think Cinginetti's seat's getting warm anytime soon. Sherron Moore, I don't think his could get, if if Michigan doesn't have doesn't get eight or nine wins, he could be on a hot seat.
00:35:04
Speaker
I could see Michigan fans getting upset with him for that. Sure, sure. sure You know, and that's, yeah. Yeah. And rutgers Rutgers, I think, needs, I think there they need a good season, I think. And otherwise, that I think that the head coach there might lose his job next year. Yeah, don't.
00:35:22
Speaker
It's hard to, yeah, it's hard to see. ah Some coaches being on the hot seat with their records, but we saw what happened to Ryan last year at the end of the regular season. That was so that was so nuts.
00:35:36
Speaker
Yeah. he he lose his It's like, wait a minute. they He's still top three in the Big Ten. What do you want from him? you know Yeah. I just didn't quite understand all that. Right, right.
00:35:51
Speaker
So, you know, that's kind of my quick analysis of the SEC. I think, you know, I just think it's four teams that that have a real shot at getting into the playoffs, and maybe all four of them will.
00:36:03
Speaker
Yeah. um I just don't know. that And there may be one that comes out of the blue. they And very likely there's going to be some team that surprises everyone and comes out of the blue. But I think that's the four you keep an eye on.
00:36:16
Speaker
Okay. All right. Well, we'll ah get to the ah two group of five schools we got here in just a minute.
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AAC Football Teams Discussion
00:41:10
Speaker
It's Don Glenn and my partner, Russ Robinson, with the NCAA report with Don and Russ talking a little NCAA football. We've gone over the Big Ten, gone over the SEC.
00:41:21
Speaker
ah So now we're going to take a break from the them the Power Four conferences and and hit a couple of the Group of Fives. um So i'm gonna I'm going to start off with the AAC, the American Athletic Conference.
00:41:38
Speaker
And you got to be real careful when you type in looking things up for those guys. Because I kept hitting ACC. I'm like, man, do Yeah. Yeah. got give but But for those of that aren't familiar with it, the ACC is made up of Army, Tulane, Memphis, Navy, East Carolina, South Florida, ah University of San Antonio, or University California.
00:42:02
Speaker
San Antonio, Austin, I think. Or something like that. USTA, that's all I know about. Charlotte, North Texas, Rice, Temple, UAB, Florida, Atlantic, and Tulsa.
00:42:17
Speaker
And I have to admit, I didn't don't know a whole lot about any of these. So I had to do a little bit of research today on these guys. um And I'm going to start with Tulane because that's what everybody's figuring who might be the the the powerhouse this year.
00:42:31
Speaker
um um i nicknamed them Transfer U because they've got six transfers just this season on offense, five transfers transfers just this season for their defensive starters,
00:42:47
Speaker
Three of their other offensive starters are transfers from last year, and two their defensive starters are transfers from last year. So all told, they pretty much have an entire transfer lineup, if you will.
00:43:00
Speaker
um But they quarterback
00:43:07
Speaker
Jake, and I'm going to butcher this last name. uh retzlov uh he's a transfer i've once got said i said i shouldn't even but bother saying he's a transfer he was a twenty number 27 rated transfer uh comes over from byu last year he threw 2 900 yards 20 touchdowns and 12 picks kind of an interesting line there for him uh they've got a looks like the running game may be a little bit suspect um As is the receiving course. Well, I don't know what to expect from them offensively, but defensively um they've got a ah group of sack of sack masters, if you will, 17 sacks between 17 and a half s sacks between three different guys.
00:43:53
Speaker
um And the ah the biggest one they've got, well, not the biggest sack guy, but the um one of the one of their transfers, a top 69 transfer, Santana Hopper.
00:44:06
Speaker
They think he's somebody to keep an eye on. Tulane also has the third toughest schedule in the AAC. They do get Ole Miss, Memphis, USTCA, and Duke as far as as the top teams that they're playing.
00:44:22
Speaker
uh the first three are on the road the last one they get duke or the other one they get duke at home um memphis is a another another team uh that everybody's kind of pointing to they've had a little bit of a turnover as well they've got 19 transfers into their starting lineup as well um you know but Didn't Sinjinetti do the same thing last year at Indiana?
00:44:50
Speaker
I mean, you know, people, I think some of these guys are thinking this could be a ah way to do things. They've got a quarter a transfer quarterback coming in, Brandon Lewis, through 16 TDs and seven picks last year. One their better running backs is also a transfer, Cortez Brom, 724 yards and four touchdowns.
00:45:12
Speaker
seven hundred twenty four yards and four touchdowns Their defense is solid. Again, all mostly transfers. So we'll see how that plays. That could be a but good thing or a bad thing for them.
00:45:24
Speaker
They have the fifth toughest schedule in the AAC, so at least it's not that bad. And their first two or three games are going to be fairly easy enough for hopefully that you can get all those guys to gel a little bit and then make the season a little bit better.
00:45:40
Speaker
ah us t USTA, they've got the sixth season hardest schedule. They play at Texas A&M, at University of South Florida, at Tulane.
00:45:54
Speaker
So that's going to be a little rough. They are solid on ah offense. Got a quarterback that threw for 3,400 yards and 25 touchdowns last year. um They've got a pretty decent running game. ah They've got a couple of backs that they've got combined went for almost a thousand yards nine tds um they've got another guy that's also there or no excuse me that yeah that was right no that's receivers excuse me uh they got a running back that had 700 yards last year seven touchdowns their defense might be a little suspect
00:46:28
Speaker
Um, uh, you know, uh, we'll see how that, how it all plays out. I know that they gave in a couple, three years ago, they gave Illinois a run for their money at, uh, in, in Champaign, which is how we ended up with a Barry Looney Jr. Yeah.
00:46:44
Speaker
yeah You know, be said I can't beat him. email i might as well hire him. rock Right. Right. You know? So, uh, but they, yeah they, they've got a pretty decent program down there. Um,
00:46:56
Speaker
So let's see. Then you have Navy. Now they had a good year last year. Kind of faltered at the end. But they also they've also gotten right now the fourth easiest schedule.
00:47:11
Speaker
Blake Horvath is coming back. And I'll tell you what. why How this kid did not get a Heisman. Horvath. ah He only threw for 1,353 yards. But he rushed for
00:47:26
Speaker
2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns and dis and doesn't even get a smell. I don't understand that one. He's backed up in the running game by... um Alex Texan, 576 yards, eight touchdowns.
00:47:42
Speaker
They've got a decent defense. um Some, you know, sack, not big sack guys, but they can pressure your quarterback if your offensive line's not up to snuff.
00:47:56
Speaker
uh their one i think drawback is in their secondary and i think that could come back and haunt them uh so i'm not sure that they're going to be in any type of a of a mood to be take that conference again army of course last year just they rolled for the longest time uh over just about anybody now they've coming back this year with the second edg schedule they've got pretty much a heavy upper class i mean everybody that's starting is either a junior or a senior so they're going to be a very old team um lot of guys returning but we will have a new quarterback though uh that one is still i think that's kind of up in here they got a little competition going on up there for that uh and then the other team i looked at was south florida
00:48:48
Speaker
um they had a pretty good run at the end of last year and they're hoping they can make a new run on it uh build off of that this year they've got a lot of returnees but they've also got a lot of holes that they had to fill so it could be an interesting interesting year for them but i think they could probably end up in a bowl game uh then you got the also rams of the mid the mid group of um North Texas, East Carolina, UAB,
00:49:20
Speaker
um and then you've got the everybody else at the end, FAU, Temple, Charlotte. um you know Handicapping a mid-major like that is kind of hard.
00:49:34
Speaker
Because you and I don't see these guys. And, you know, we only kind of hear certain reports or we catch the the sports highlights on ESPN if they decide to show it.
00:49:47
Speaker
You know, but I think Army did kind of prove themselves last year. I think Tulane proved themselves last year. as ah And Memphis is always going to be right there. So I think are going to your top three teams pretty much.
00:49:58
Speaker
ah The others could make a splash, but we'll see what happens. Yeah, I think pretty well. Memphis is not too far from me down here, and I see some things on them, and they've been pretty steady, as you said, pretty stable, and they've always been containers the last several years in that conference and probably will continue to do it.
00:50:18
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Yeah. I think I want to run through the Mountain West pretty quick here.
Mountain West Conference Changes
00:50:25
Speaker
Okay. They are. It is an interesting story. What's happening there. Their break, that conference is getting ready lose a whole bunch of schools to the, to the new PAC 12.
00:50:38
Speaker
Yeah. All the state schools are loot are moving out. Yeah. You know, and there's some lawsuits going on, but, So this is the last year for this this kind of this lineup, but Boise State is probably going to win it as they usually do.
00:50:53
Speaker
What's interesting is UNLV, as we were talking a while ago with Barry Odom going to Purdue, Dan Mullen has gotten back into coaching. Oh, really? ah Mississippi State and Florida.
00:51:05
Speaker
Yeah. Quite well Mississippi State. Didn't meet the expectations at Florida and got run off. He's been an analyst the last couple years. And so he's taken over the UNLV job, probably taking it up on a high. But he's a defense he's an offensive guy. So that's what UNLV traditionally has been.
00:51:24
Speaker
So they should be all right. The rest of schools are San Jose State comes in. Fresno State is next. Colorado State comes in after that. um Air Force, Hawaii, Utah State, in Wyoming, Nevada, and New Mexico.
00:51:42
Speaker
And then, you know, the story is, Don, that the three schools are suing the Mountain West. They're trying to get out. And they're they're with Mountain West is withholding tens of millions of dollars. And some of these schools are...
00:51:58
Speaker
there Boise State is, I think, in a lawsuit against them. And I think Utah State and Colorado State. But they're also losing. Let's see. what Who else are they losing here? Fresno State, I know, is moving out.
00:52:14
Speaker
yeah press Yeah, Fresno State. um Yeah, Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State, Fresno State. Right. And there's there's tos of there's talk. They're trying to they're trying to draw UNLV out of there, too.
00:52:29
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. They and that what once you in they want UNLV bad for some reason. yeah That seems to be their prize. They want UNLV bad. Yeah. Maybe maybe so they can have the base said that the the the conference media day in Vegas that way. I don't know.
00:52:44
Speaker
ah That is right. you know and You know, UNLV's probably got some money, so they like that idea. So this is the last year. This is the last year of some of this ah this configuration of this conference.
00:52:58
Speaker
And so, I mean, there're there's a lawsuit. They're not wanting to pay Boise State and the rest these schools. ah These schools are not wanting to pay their exit fees, in the and the conference is not wanting to pay whatever money they owe them. There's a big battle going on there, and I don't know that – yeah, I don't know. i The poor Mountain West, I don't know what they're going to end up being.
00:53:24
Speaker
so you know There won't be much left. I mean, i mean bishop especially if they lose UNLV. I mean, that pretty much takes that down to what? Utah and – utah and Well, Utah's in the Big 12. Or they're in the Big 12. That's right. Yeah. Utah State's going. So that looks like what leaves is saying.
00:53:48
Speaker
Let's see. Ryan, Don, hold on just a second. It's all right. no back I don't know. New Mexico is probably staying. Nevada is probably staying. Yeah, those two probably are.
00:53:59
Speaker
Wyoming. But Utah State, San Diego State. And air Force is probably saying Colorado is on stage. Yeah, I'm kind of surprised Air Force may not, that the AAC hasn't tried to ah bring Air Force into the into the mix since they've already got Army and Navy.
00:54:22
Speaker
Well, it seems like it would be a natural fit. To me, I mean, you know. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, so I don't, I don't know. Uh, anyway, so that's, uh, yeah, that conference now they're probably the mountain whistle probably pick, uh, take some, somebody from another conference somewhere. yeah i'm I'm kind of looking at a, um I've just kind of did a quick Wikipedia and it looks like that the full members that are going to be left are going to be Wyoming, Nevada, UNLV, New Mexico and grand can air force and grand Canyon.
00:54:58
Speaker
Grand Canyon is coming in, I think. yeah Well, no. there it It says that they're already in. Well, I don't think they're in this year's. ah man may It may not be for football. Maybe they haven't got football yet. Maybe that could be it. Yeah. ah But coming in, a future member does show as UTEP and UC Davis.
00:55:22
Speaker
and Okay. Well, who knows about UC Davis UTEP? That's a, you know, yeah Texas El Paso. Yeah. Yeah. So I don't, they're just, they're great. That makes, yeah.
00:55:35
Speaker
Okay. Those make some sense for them. Those make some sense. Yeah, for sure. but I mean, you know you lose a California school, grab another one. Um, you know, well, actually there isn't three, but, uh, but yeah, so that, that, that looks like what's going to happen. What's going there.
00:55:50
Speaker
And, and there's probably going to probably steal couple from the sunbelt. Uh, I imagine, um, and I can't imagine them going with just what that what that what's left there.
00:56:02
Speaker
What's that, six teams? you got to have eight for a full-fledged conference. Yeah, that's right. So they're still going to need a couple of schools to jump in there.
00:56:14
Speaker
So, well, all right. So we've got the four done. um So just to kind of recap, I'm kind of going with the in the Big Ten with the Ohio State, Penn State.
00:56:27
Speaker
Illinois and and Oregon as you're as your mix for the for the championship. I think that alex ill do think it's going to be a two-horse race with two horses on the outside. yeah um and Like I said, I think probably in the AAC,
00:56:43
Speaker
i if I had to actually put down who I was going to put money on, I'd probably put money on Memphis. Yeah. than anybody I mean, they just seem like a more stable program than Tulane is at this point.
00:56:56
Speaker
All right. So, and you went with on the SEC? Well, I'm going with Texas, Georgia, LSU, and Alabama as my four. I think the ones that real a chance. And over in the Mountain West, I think it's Boise State.
00:57:12
Speaker
But I think keeping – since Dan Mullins come to UNLV, keep an eye on them because they – they, you know, they did quite well last year. on I mean, yeah, they the kids know the feelings that they had and they, they made ah I mean, they made it interesting there at the end for sure.
00:57:26
Speaker
Right. Right. So, all right. Well, uh, where can we find you as always, my
Social Media and Show Promotion
00:57:33
Speaker
friend? Uh, well, I'm, uh, uh, you'll find me floating around some of the zoo Facebook groups, but, uh,
00:57:40
Speaker
uh, uncle Frank at FR Robinson, one nine five seven. And I'm at Russ, uh, Robinson at blue sky. So, that's where I spend most of my time out on social media.
00:57:51
Speaker
All right. Well, you can always, uh, find me on, on Facebook at, uh, talking sports on the bleachers. You can, uh, Get to me on X with TSOTB GCS or at TSOTB GCS.
00:58:07
Speaker
And you can also find me now on the Champagne Room ah for University Illinois Sports. Started a gig there, doing some writing, helping out with some podcasts here and there for those guys. So find me any one of those things at thechampagneroom.com.
00:58:23
Speaker
uh, for that. So, well, for my partner, Russ Robinson, this is Don Glenn. And I want you guys until we meet you again, i want you to have fun and stay safe.
00:58:35
Speaker
We'll talk to you next time on the NCAA report with Don and Russ.
00:58:42
Speaker
Don't forget to check out gateway sports.net. You can find news and articles about the Cardinals, the blues, Missouri Tigers, Illinois fighting line, even some high school sports. You'll find articles and content from guys like myself, Russ Robinson, b Brian Swole, Gene Bonds, Derek King.
00:58:58
Speaker
you want more podcasts, check out the Cub and Cardinal podcast with Ron Nuttall, Pete Geddes, and Elliot Dewey called The Team of Rivals. Say it's not enough baseball for you? and i'll Check out the Cardinal content with the two for three and the mighty moose, Mike Stevenson.
00:59:13
Speaker
Ron Nuttall also co-host at the park with Chris Hamilton. You can check out my other show, Talking Sports with Uncle Don. Tim Van Stratton Ronnie Nappel host the stupidest sports show on earth.
00:59:24
Speaker
And then there's the often imitated but never duplicated Derek King sports show with a man himself, Derek King. So head on over to Gatewaysports.net, look us over. And as always, if there's a sport you follow and we don't cover, drop us a line. We'll see what we can do for you.
00:59:38
Speaker
Also, check us out on Facebook at Gateway Sports.