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Week 8 Upsets and the Fall of the Undefeated
16 Plays8 months ago
In this episode of our College Football Weekend Review, we dive into the mayhem of Week 8, where four unbeaten teams—Ole Miss, Memphis, UNLV, and Texas Tech—crashed and burned in stunning upsets. From Louisville's Friday night shocker over No. 2 Miami to Vanderbilt's historic takedown of No. 10 LSU, and Arizona State's late-game heroics against No. 7 Texas Tech, we break down the key games, defensive standouts, and Heisman implications. Plus, Ohio State's dominant shutout, Georgia Tech's rise to 7-0, and the coaching drama shaking programs. Join us as we unpack how this wild weekend reshapes the playoff race—pure gridiron pandemonium you won't want to miss!
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Transcript
Introduction and Overview of College Football Upsets
00:00:00
Mike Bell
All right, welcome back to another episode of blown coverage. I'm Mike Bell with my co-host Caleb Schwerer. Let's get right into this thing. We got a lot to talk about, a lot of great games.
00:00:12
Mike Bell
And a lot of a big shakeup, I guess, this week in college football with some of the upsets that happened. So let's just start with the early game ah or the late game on Friday, but it was kind of the first sign of things to come, I guess, this
Louisville vs Miami: A Game of Surprises
00:00:27
Mike Bell
week.
00:00:27
Mike Bell
That is the Louisville at Miami game. um Major upset. I don't think anyone saw it coming. We didn't even give it. It's due for the games that we kind of covered last week in the preview.
00:00:41
Mike Bell
And I've always respected Louisville, but I just respect Miami a lot, and I didn't expect Louisville to go in there and beat Miami.
00:00:53
Mike Bell
And, yeah, it was a shocker. Louisville came out, and they just scored instantly. And then they were up 14 to nothing. Miami forced to play catch-up. And what have we talked about? What have we said on blown coverage?
00:01:08
Mike Bell
Miami will go as far as Carson Beck takes them And he threw for four interceptions in the game. He did not look good. And my question about the game is, like, not to take anything away from Louisville because they completely earned the game.
00:01:26
Mike Bell
But we were talking about before also the weird bye week situation for Miami.
00:01:31
Kaleb
okay
00:01:33
Mike Bell
Yeah, and I just wonder, did that contribute to them coming out flat? Now, Louisville was coming off a bye week, and they were coming off a loss against Virginia. And, you know, that motivated them.
00:01:45
Mike Bell
It was a must-win game for Louisville.
00:01:48
Kaleb
it was close game, too. Louisville had against Virginia. and
00:01:51
Mike Bell
Yeah, I mean, they really could have won it. so So, yeah, it was
Louisville's Strengths and ACC Implications
00:01:56
Mike Bell
great game. I think the story is – look, everyone was putting, in myself included, and I don't think it was wrong, in Miami kind of in this elite group.
00:02:06
Mike Bell
There was the elite tier, right? There's Ohio State, Indiana, maybe Oregon, and then Miami. And now there's going to be yeah.
00:02:15
Kaleb
I mean, the school people played up to this this point. i mean, it was really good, and they played really well. so it's kind of hard to put them.
00:02:20
Mike Bell
Right. i still, i mean, look, losses happen, right?
00:02:24
Kaleb
We did.
00:02:25
Mike Bell
So I would still say Miami is a great team, but a lot has to happen for them now. you You're going to worry about Carson Beck now the rest of the way.
00:02:39
Mike Bell
is he going to, be the elite quarterback that Miami needs. And actually that's not right. that Carson Beck doesn't need to be elite. He just needs to be not that.
00:02:49
Kaleb
feel yeah Turn the ball over.
00:02:53
Mike Bell
Yeah. Yeah.
00:02:53
Kaleb
for
00:02:53
Mike Bell
So it was a great, I think, way to start off the weekend. I've kind of said a lot about him. you have any thoughts on the game?
00:03:03
Kaleb
You know, I think we just need to be paying attention to Louisville just because i really love their head coach, Jeff Brown. Interesting guy ah But, you know, Miller Moss, USC quarterback, ah transfer, Chris Bell, the huge wide receiver that had a pretty good game and for Louisville.
00:03:21
Kaleb
And also their running back had a really good game. Okay. And it's, up to this point, Miami's had a very stout defense. So, you know, I definitely think Louisville is team to be watching in the ACC.
00:03:32
Kaleb
And I think the ACC is going to have like, it's going very interesting, like in a couple of weeks, like when we get down to the wire, just because, Number one, so many teams that we haven't necessarily heard from or gotten some notoriety like in the last couple years. ah You know, they're kind of showing to be that some of the top teams.
00:03:52
Kaleb
I don't know. I'm excited. I think the ACC is interesting just from the storyline perspective. But, yeah, i think Louisville is a team to watch. That's a very good win by them.
00:04:04
Kaleb
believe – can't – I forgot what statistic they showed on the TV, but I and don't know if that was a first like – Oh, no, it was their first ah like top two win since Lamar Jackson took down Florida State, which was number one or number two or something like that. So, like, almost 10 years ago. It was 2016 when they did that. So, anyway, good overall win for Louisville.
00:04:26
Mike Bell
Well, so here's the thing, their coach, which now he's going to be in a lot of conversations for, you know, big jobs, but I believe I saw that he has like a really good record versus top five opponents.
00:04:38
Kaleb
Yeah, which is pretty insane because know he's been in Louisville.
00:04:39
Mike Bell
um
00:04:42
Kaleb
I forgot the other places he's been at, but I mean, they're not like premier jobs. Yeah.
00:04:49
Mike Bell
Yeah, I want to say he's five and oh, actually, I could be wrong with that, but I know it's a very good record. But to piggyback off what you were saying on the ACC, ah this really shakes things up. And I'm really excited to see what happens because I thought if this was going to happen, it would be Miami losing to Florida State.
00:05:12
Mike Bell
But with Miami's one loss...
00:05:12
Kaleb
Mm-hmm.
00:05:15
Mike Bell
They now lose the tiebreaker against Louisville in the standings. Louisville has a very manageable schedule. Now, a lot of these ACC teams are kind of equal, so there could be chaos that happens and there could be more losses for Louisville.
00:05:30
Mike Bell
Point is, they they both have one loss and Louisville owns the tiebreaker. Virginia and Georgia Tech are still unbeaten in the ACC. Most people, including myself, think Georgia Tech is going win out.
00:05:45
Mike Bell
And that is going to make it where Miami is going to have a tough time even getting in the ACC championship.
Notre Dame's Playoff Picture Post-Miami Loss
00:05:52
Mike Bell
So I'm curious to see what happens with the conference in general.
00:05:56
Mike Bell
A big loser in this game, it's a good thing they won yesterday, is Notre Dame. Because, one, i mean, they need Miami and A&M to be elite so they can say, hey, look, our two losses were versus elite teams.
00:06:10
Mike Bell
But also for p playoff seeding. Because I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know if this is going to turn to... to make it where the ACC, it's looked at, okay, they're not a great conference, we're only gonna choose a conference winner?
00:06:24
Mike Bell
Or does the opposite happen? this Is there so much chaos that it's like, okay, now we have to actually choose three teams. Because imagine the scenario where Georgia Tech and Virginia both went out.
00:06:36
Mike Bell
Or sorry, Georgia Tech and Louisville both went out, maybe Virginia too.
00:06:38
Kaleb
Amen.
00:06:39
Mike Bell
They face each other in the ACC championship, Miami wins out too, they're still probably gonna be ranked in the top 10. So it's like, what do you do in that scenario? You know, and that's why, like, I don't know what conversation needs to be had in the committee, but that's going to either take away from Notre Dame that could take away from a team going in the sec.
00:07:03
Mike Bell
But like, should three ACC teams get in? Like, you just have to look at their schedules and say, well, look, these schedules are not equal. I don't know what they're going to do, but.
00:07:11
Kaleb
Simple. No.
00:07:13
Mike Bell
Yeah, yeah. But chaos is on the way.
00:07:17
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:07:17
Mike Bell
and i I think the odds pretty good that Miami actually does not make the ACC title game.
Nebraska vs Minnesota: A Continued Struggle
00:07:23
Mike Bell
So I'm –
00:07:23
Kaleb
Which is pretty insane, to be honest with you.
00:07:27
Mike Bell
it is because, I mean, we've kind of had Miami in this elite tier. And like I said, rightfully so, losses happen. um
00:07:33
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:07:34
Mike Bell
So this was ah not – go ahead.
00:07:36
Kaleb
And speaking of Virginia,
00:07:39
Kaleb
Speaking of Virginia, you know, they barely made it out alive against Washington State, who the week before almost beat Ole Miss, too. um Anyway, just like to throw that in there because it's like all of a sudden Washington State's like played really good against some quality opponents.
00:07:55
Kaleb
So, anyway, shout out to them.
00:07:56
Mike Bell
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Let's move on. I guess briefly, let's just mention that Nebraska could not pull off the win against Minnesota.
00:08:09
Mike Bell
This would have been a big game for Nebraska to pull off.
00:08:09
Kaleb
Exactly.
00:08:12
Mike Bell
I think I saw a stat where ah Nebraska hasn't won back-to-back road games since like 2006 would have been big game for Matt rule. And yeah, Nebraska is kind of remains in that tier of above average, but just can't get to good.
00:08:31
Mike Bell
But credit to Minnesota for pulling this one off.
00:08:32
Kaleb
exactly
00:08:35
Mike Bell
Nebraska now is going to be out of the top 25. Don't know if you have any thoughts on the game.
00:08:39
Kaleb
Yeah, not necessarily. ah P.J. Fleck, think that's the Minnesota head coach's name. But the guy's crazy. Crazy good, I think, honestly. It's just always – I think Minnesota, like, they're not always at the forefront of the Big Ten Conference. I mean, that's very hard thing to do, number one.
00:09:00
Kaleb
But, you know, he's brought Minnesota, like,
00:09:06
Kaleb
Every so often, like you know you hear their name mentioned more so than ever, honestly. I'd just like to give some credit to P.J. Fleck there. um Good win for Minnesota because, like you said, Nebraska's an above-average team.
00:09:20
Kaleb
They just haven't taken that next step to where –
00:09:25
Kaleb
It's like, okay, Nebraska's good team. Be careful. They could go in there and but just be consistent throughout the year. They haven't made it to that step yet, which they're still, don't know, what is this, Matt Rule's like third year whatever?
00:09:38
Kaleb
Yeah, third year.
00:09:39
Mike Bell
Yes.
00:09:43
Kaleb
Maybe there's some questions in the coming weeks, depending on how Nebraska finishes this year off. But, yeah, that's really all the thoughts I have.
Georgia Tech vs Duke: Turnovers and Standings
00:09:50
Kaleb
Minnesota had a good run game, really good run game.
00:09:54
Mike Bell
Okay, let's move on now to the games that actually took place yesterday on Saturday. Let's start first with Georgia Tech and Duke. ah This is one of the games I was watching. And again, this has ACC applications.
00:10:09
Mike Bell
Georgia Tech, one of the easier schedules in the ACC.
00:10:10
Kaleb
Mm-hmm.
00:10:12
Mike Bell
But if they were going to face a test, it is Duke. If you look at them, they're 4-3, but they're always pretty competitive in all these games in the ACC.
00:10:20
Kaleb
yeah
00:10:22
Mike Bell
This was a good opportunity for Duke. And, you know, they were favored in this game. And they had opportunities really to win this game. They drove down the field their first couple drives. In fact, I'm looking at their yardage.
00:10:39
Mike Bell
They outgained Georgia Tech 454 yards to 380. They moved the ball fine. They could not finish drives. They had a bad turnover there in the first half, first quarter, I believe it was.
00:10:51
Kaleb
Yeah, one of the early drives, the fumble.
00:10:51
Mike Bell
In fact, yeah. Yes, it just.
00:10:54
Kaleb
And I think that was a big mental thing because, yeah, exactly.
00:10:54
Mike Bell
yeah
00:10:57
Mike Bell
Oh yeah, now you're in a hole.
00:11:00
Kaleb
and and i don't know. i think that was just a huge mental thing. I believe that was maybe the only turnover on the day, but you know it was enough to kind of propel Georgia ahead.
00:11:08
Mike Bell
was.
00:11:11
Kaleb
I think anytime you fumble on the – I think that was probably within the 10-yard line, that fumble.
00:11:17
Mike Bell
and was
00:11:18
Kaleb
I think any time you do that, it's like a huge mental thing, and it's just a huge momentum swing. I mean, any turnover is, but especially when the defense gets a turnover like that, like that close to end zone to where you don't even get the three points, you know?
00:11:34
Mike Bell
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
00:11:36
Kaleb
and
00:11:36
Mike Bell
Another thing, another storyline, and then we've talked about it, is just Haynes King. He is so good. They, I mean, the offense runs through him.
00:11:45
Kaleb
Thank you.
00:11:47
Mike Bell
They need him to remain healthy. i don't see why he wouldn't be healthy. They're going to be in every game they play for the rest of the year, including the Georgia game. I'm excited for that game at the end of the year. i think that's going to be a great game.
00:12:01
Mike Bell
And yet watching Georgia Tech this year, because, you know, they've nearly lost a couple of games to, I know one of them was Wake Forest, but they are a team that seems to get stronger as the game goes on.
00:12:14
Mike Bell
Like they'll start a little slow. And in the second half, like they're a second half team. They really have been able to dominate their opponents. So um good for Georgia Tech. Look, me I'm curious to know what their odds are to win the ACC, but they are very good team. And like I said, for Duke, this was kind of their chance.
00:12:36
Mike Bell
Now they can still have but you know a good season, but in terms of any sort of a run, playoff, ACC, I think they're probably out of it. and i mean, look, it's just one loss. Who knows what's going to happen in this conference?
00:12:46
Mike Bell
But good win for Georgia Tech to get out of there with the win, and they might be in the top ten this week.
00:12:47
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:12:53
Kaleb
You know, kind of just talking about Georgia Tech, it made me really think about, like, not necessarily, like, in a play style or anything like that, but ah feel like Georgia Tech is almost like the Vandy of the ACC, just in a sense of, like, they've been down on their luck for the last couple years.
00:13:06
Mike Bell
Thank you.
00:13:09
Kaleb
They've got a good coach in there, and pretty intense coach. You're going to get – I know that they've kind of been up and down as far as like almost losing some games and stuff.
00:13:21
Kaleb
But as far as a mentality standpoint, I feel like it's like really good. And then just like their team leans heavily into their quarterback, Haynes King, and then, you know, de yeah Diego Pavia. So I thought that was interesting. Manny Diaz, the head coach for Duke, is also one of those names that's being thrown out for the Penn State job because he was a defensive coordinator there for a couple years. So anyway, that's a little interesting storyline with Duke.
00:13:45
Kaleb
um But, yeah, you know, Haynes King just took over the game. Duke's quarterback had a good game. Their wide receiver, forgot what his name was, but he had a fantastic game too.
00:13:57
Kaleb
Barkate. Barkate. Or Barkate. Huh. Interesting. So, yeah, good win for Georgia Tech. Duke isn't not necessarily ah top team by any means, but there it's a good quality win for sure.
00:14:13
Mike Bell
Yep. Okay, let's move into what I thought was the the game of the 11 o'clock window.
Vanderbilt vs LSU: A Historic Season
00:14:20
Mike Bell
And that was lsu at Vanderbilt. I said coming into the week, this game could go either way, no idea what's going to happen.
00:14:29
Mike Bell
ah Tell me what you thought about that game.
00:14:32
Kaleb
Man, I thought this was like awesome game, honestly. um i feel like Vandy just ah kind of like what we were talking about in the preview, man.
00:14:47
Kaleb
Vanderbilt is just a little bit more consistent than LSU. And don't get me wrong, LSU kind of like made it the game towards the end. But I felt like Vandy just controlled this entire game, to be honest with you.
00:15:01
Kaleb
Diego Pavia did what he needed to do to get his team to win. That's pretty insane too, to think about like Vanderbilt controlled LSU. i don't know. It's, it sounds weird to say, and it it was funny. I don't know if you heard this on college game day or not, but ah Nick Saban was like, he picked LSU and then Pat McAfee was like, are you ever going to pick Vanderbilt or whatever? And he was like,
00:15:25
Kaleb
It's just hard for me to think of them in that way. you know and it i mean
00:15:28
Mike Bell
Yep.
00:15:29
Kaleb
you know We both really like Vandy, but it is a little weird to kind of think about them in that sense, like being able to physically compete with LSU. and I don't think Nussmeier had a bad game by any means.
00:15:41
Kaleb
um It's just, don't know, man. There's like some sort of magic with Vanderbilt. I think it's just their attitude that they can beat anybody. That was really what propelled them.
00:15:52
Kaleb
But really, i mean, Diego Pavia had a really good game. i don't know if you saw that. I believe it was a third down or whatever it was. Yeah, i believe it was a third down, maybe in the third, fourth quarter.
00:16:04
Kaleb
like Basically, he had this ah LSU ah player coming right at him, and he kind of did like a little circle and then duped, and then he like turned around, threw it back, and went off for like a really good play.
00:16:12
Mike Bell
you
00:16:18
Kaleb
So i don't know. They're an interesting team. um And I think LSU, I know Nussmeier has not been consistent, but like when he's firing on all senators, okay, let me take that back.
00:16:34
Kaleb
Ness Meyer, when he's not like throwing interceptions, he has the capabilities of being a really good quarterback, even elite quarterback. that He just has not put it together yet for whatever reason.
00:16:45
Kaleb
um So I think that you have to give Vandy's defense some credit there. Now, K. Durham i popped off for a good run. But other than that, Vandy's defense kind of held their run game to not much, which isn't necessarily the hardest thing to do because they've had issues running all year long.
00:17:04
Kaleb
But anyway, just a lot of credit to Vandy and Clark Lee, what he's building up there. Yeah.
00:17:11
Mike Bell
Yeah, I mean, this is a historic season for Vanderbilt. A great story. I was selfishly, as an A&M fan, rooting for LSU just because this is now going to make it tougher. I mean, it's but it's going to make it even tougher for A&M next week. but
00:17:25
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:17:26
Mike Bell
But um Vanderbilt, this by the way, they've got game day this week, well-earned. This is the first time since 2008 they're going to have game day there in Nashville.
00:17:37
Mike Bell
And it's only the second time ever they're going to host game day. ah Weird saying that Vanderbilt's a good team, but, you know, used to. A good season for them was to be bowl eligible.
00:17:49
Mike Bell
And now this is a team with legitimate playoff aspirations.
00:17:49
Kaleb
yeah
00:17:53
Mike Bell
And I think it's pretty cool. You know, you were just talking about Georgia Tech. It's cool to see them being good. But you've got teams like Vanderbilt, like Indiana, that have historically been nobody, that are playoff teams this year.
00:18:06
Mike Bell
So ah pretty great. This is the first time Vanderbilt has had six wins before the month of November since 1915. nineteen fifteen so
00:18:15
Kaleb
Yeah, that was the last time they went six and one or whatever it was. Yeah.
00:18:19
Mike Bell
Yeah, so here's the deal.
00:18:20
Kaleb
Crazy.
00:18:21
Mike Bell
Here's the deal. I think you have to legitimately start talking about Pavia for Heisman. I'm dead serious.
00:18:31
Kaleb
Yeah, you definitely have to have him in the conversation.
00:18:31
Mike Bell
He's been great.
00:18:33
Kaleb
Haynes King, Mendoza,
00:18:34
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:18:36
Kaleb
um
00:18:37
Mike Bell
Simpson.
00:18:37
Kaleb
for sure.
00:18:39
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:18:39
Kaleb
I mean, he encompasses what college football law is about, really.
00:18:42
Mike Bell
Oh, yeah. Well, and he is like their team. Like, make no mistake.
00:18:46
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:18:46
Mike Bell
mistake If he was not, if they just plug it into the quarterback, they're not that good.
00:18:51
Kaleb
Oh, for sure.
00:18:51
Mike Bell
He's like the key to them winning that much.
00:18:52
Kaleb
Without a doubt.
00:18:54
Mike Bell
He's Johnny Manziel-like, game-changing player. So I'm not saying he should win Heisman. He should be in that conversation.
00:19:01
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:19:01
Mike Bell
So that's the Vandy side. On the LSU side, i thought Nuss played a lot better. Nussmeyer, no interceptions for him. By the way, no interceptions for Pavia, which was a big key for me coming into the game.
00:19:13
Mike Bell
Like no turnovers for Vanderbilt.
00:19:13
Kaleb
Yeah. Turnovers for sure.
00:19:16
Mike Bell
No turnovers for either team. I know what you're saying with Vanderbilt maybe controlling the game. i didn't quite see it that way. I thought they kind of took over – Maybe even in the fourth quarter, I thought it was kind of a back and forth affair and it could have gone either way.
00:19:34
Mike Bell
Vanderbilt kind of felt just a little bit ahead the whole game. So I know what you mean. um This was probably the best game I've seen Nussmaier play this year.
00:19:45
Mike Bell
And now they're kind of in a must win situation. They've still got A&M and Alabama coming up. So I would be ready for to hear some talk about Brian Kelly's job.
00:19:57
Mike Bell
And that's going to be interesting. Should there be talk about his job?
LSU's Challenges and Coaching Questions
00:20:01
Mike Bell
I don't know. Maybe it's a little unfair.
00:20:02
Kaleb
what
00:20:03
Mike Bell
But, yeah, I'd be ready for that talk.
00:20:05
Kaleb
Yeah, maybe we should be asking Nick Saban about what's fair a little bit more often.
00:20:10
Mike Bell
Yeah, well, he's going to say that about every coach that gets fired. I get where he's coming from, Nick Saban.
00:20:15
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:20:16
Mike Bell
But it's like – I don't know. I feel like in a way he's actually not being fair because it's not like they just fired James Franklin for, like we've said, the loss to Oregon. It's that he's kind of, he's been given a lot of chances to be great. And then in your most hyped up season, you go three and three, not because you lost to Oregon, because you lost the teams you should be. But anyway, that's kind of a different conversation.
00:20:43
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:20:44
Mike Bell
But I get where Nick's coming from.
00:20:45
Mike Bell
I do. he's And he's kind got to say that. So whatever.
00:20:45
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:20:48
Kaleb
Yeah, he does. Otherwise he'd get a bad rap from the coaches, which yeah, yeah, for sure.
00:20:53
Mike Bell
Yeah. Okay, let's move on now to another game on the 11 o'clock window was Washington versus Michigan.
Michigan vs Washington: Performance Highlights
00:21:03
Mike Bell
This was a get right game for Michigan.
00:21:05
Mike Bell
I was very curious where this was going to go. you picked Washington outright, and I actually thought about picking Washington outright.
00:21:12
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:21:13
Mike Bell
And the thing is, like we've said, these Big Ten teams that are traveling now, like across the United States, these road games for them are tough. So Washington going to Michigan.
00:21:26
Mike Bell
Washington, a lot of people have been saying like, hey, they're underrated. They should be in the top 25. And I've agreed with that. But now you have to look at them. look at him They faced two good teams, Ohio State, Michigan.
00:21:38
Mike Bell
And in both games, their offense did nothing. Michigan, they if if Michigan can control the game and they can play from ahead, I mean, this was a close game going into the third quarter.
00:21:41
Kaleb
yeah
00:21:51
Mike Bell
But if they can play from ahead and run the ball, they are a very tough team to beat. They've got a great defense, great run game, and Underwood is getting better every game.
00:22:01
Kaleb
Yep, and he had a really good game yesterday.
00:22:01
Mike Bell
So he did.
00:22:04
Kaleb
um he he really did.
00:22:05
Mike Bell
He did.
00:22:06
Kaleb
and i think the biggest thing was the differentiating factor was, excuse me, Underwood played very good, efficient football. No turnovers, whereas Washington's had three interceptions. I think that's really what screwed Washington.
00:22:21
Kaleb
Of course, and like you said, man, um Michigan's one those teams that they're going be fine as long as they like have the lead and they can play their – you know just put a huge amount of stock into their run game. and Okay.
00:22:37
Kaleb
Now, if Washington, their quarterback, didn't, like, throw all those interceptions, were able to put some points on the board and force Bryce Underwood to kind of throw the ball a little bit more, then maybe Michigan would have had some issues. But, yeah, Michigan's defense came up clutch, getting those turnovers for them, playing the game that they wanted to play, chew the clock down, just play efficient, good football.
00:22:58
Kaleb
ah think you I think it's a good win. i think Washington is – I think –
00:23:00
Mike Bell
Thank you.
00:23:03
Kaleb
um want to say Nick Saban said this on game day, you know, um
00:23:09
Kaleb
Washington is probably like there's a big three in the big 10, right? And then after that is Washington. One of those teams, maybe this was before, yes, you know, the game, but I do think Washington is a team to watch.
00:23:22
Kaleb
I think up to this point they have not, Oh God, I forgot what that stat was. They had an interesting defensive stat. I forgot what it was though. Um,
00:23:33
Kaleb
But, yeah, and like Washington's coach, too. So, anyway, I think a good win for Michigan. Kudos to Sharon Moore at Michigan for, you know, this i think this was a hard, like, not a hard game, but, like,
00:23:50
Kaleb
They just lost pretty badly to USC. And if they were to lose this game too, like maybe does that take a lot of the momentum that he's built there like out and does it turn the season into a tailspin?
00:24:02
Kaleb
Who knows? But they came out and manhandled Washington. So good win.
00:24:07
Mike Bell
And if the Big Ten is going to get a fourth team in the playoff, no one really knows who that fourth team going to be. still be USC, Michigan.
00:24:14
Kaleb
Yeah. Yeah.
00:24:16
Mike Bell
ah Michigan runs the table. no granted, they've got Ohio State. But Michigan is still in the conversation. And I agree with you. If they lose this game, you're really going to be talking about the head coach and them in general. But, yeah, i think this was a big momentum win for them.
00:24:33
Mike Bell
So, ah moving on now, I want to cover maybe two games at once, and you can say whatever you want, obviously, about each game, but just quickly, because I don't have much to say on these games.
00:24:43
Mike Bell
You have OU versus South Carolina.
Quick Hits: OU, South Carolina, Clemson, and SMU
00:24:45
Mike Bell
OU taking care of business. South Carolina continues to be what maybe is the worst team in the SEC, in my opinion.
00:24:55
Mike Bell
Good game. I was surprised actually how well OU moved football. It wasn't like great, but it was decent and their defense continues to be very good. McTeer getting better after that injury. So that's good to see. And then quickly, i just wanted to say Clemson continues to not be the best.
00:25:13
Mike Bell
They lost SMU 35-24. Who would have thought both Clemson and Penn State would be three and four at this point in the year.
00:25:21
Kaleb
It's insane, man.
00:25:22
Mike Bell
Pretty wild.
00:25:24
Kaleb
Yeah, pretty insane.
00:25:24
Mike Bell
So, yeah, I don't have much to say on those games. i don't know if you do.
00:25:29
Kaleb
You know, honestly, not really, you know, just OU was able to get a run game started and I would say oh u is pretty similar to Texas in that regard as far as like there just being no consistent run game, which is making it really hard on the quarterback in their defense, number one.
00:25:48
Kaleb
But as soon as you give them a chance to have a run game, you know, their offense can do pretty well. i But, yeah, other than that, man, not really curious.
00:26:03
Kaleb
You know, an SMU's coach, too, speaking about the SMU-Clemson game, I've seen his name thrown around for the Penn State job or even the Arkansas job. um
00:26:11
Mike Bell
oh
00:26:12
Kaleb
So that'll be interesting. But, yes, in saying that Clemson is three and four.
00:26:18
Mike Bell
It really is wild. Okay. Getting into the big game at 2.30, and I said this would maybe be the game of
Ole Miss vs Georgia: Offensive Showdown
00:26:26
Mike Bell
the weekend. Maybe that's debatable, but I thought it was, if not the best game, maybe the number two game, and that was Ole Miss at Georgia.
00:26:34
Mike Bell
And boy, did I think –
00:26:35
Kaleb
Who would be the number one game in that sense then?
00:26:39
Mike Bell
I'm sorry, what was that?
00:26:42
Kaleb
Who would be the number one? or who whos What's the game that you were like, okay, maybe it' would be that game that would be the Georgia Ole Miss game?
00:26:48
Mike Bell
Well, I thought, i mean, you kind of said that Vanderbilt, LSU, that that Vanderbilt controlled the game. I didn't think that. I thought it was a back and forth. affair I thought that was a great game. um you I know you were busy with Kentucky, Texas, but the USC-Notre Dame game was fantastic.
00:27:05
Kaleb
Yeah, yeah, it was pretty good.
00:27:06
Mike Bell
So i I don't know. i don't know i don't know. I'm not telling you that I think this was the number two game.
00:27:15
Kaleb
Yeah, no, i yeah, I was just curious. I mean, the Ole Miss Georgia game,
00:27:25
Kaleb
Man, i like, you know, and I talked about this in our preview, you know, Kirby Smart, just the coaching over there. and know the team's not necessarily the best, but they still, like, as good as it has been in years past, but they still have an elite coaching staff, you know. And the last two offensive drives for Ole Miss, which that – it was insane. That whole game, it was just basically trading.
00:27:48
Kaleb
and Like whoever got the ball that, I mean, it was just going to be a score. Like, was it going to be touchdown or a field goal? You know, and for the most part it was touchdowns. um And then at the very end of the game, when they needed to, for Georgia to, you know, pull ahead and actually get the lead yeah for the first time since the first quarter, when they scored that field goal, you know, Georgia's defense stopped Ole Miss.
00:28:12
Kaleb
um And that's how they were able to get the win essentially.
00:28:13
Mike Bell
Mm-hmm.
00:28:15
Kaleb
Yeah. Really, really great game, I think, to be honest with you. for both For both teams, okay? So Gunnar Stockton, that was his first game to kind of come out there and keep Georgia in that game, which was a huge thing. And I believe we were talking about this on the preview.
00:28:33
Kaleb
Can Georgia's offense stay – ah ahead of Ole Miss' offense. um And that was the other thing, too, for Ole Miss was how would their quarterback do going to Georgia?
00:28:46
Kaleb
Because up to this point, he hadn't been in like a huge – like one of the best – I was about say arenas – best stadiums in college football.
00:28:57
Kaleb
How would he respond to that? he honestly – he played very well. Like I can't sit there and not – Ole Miss for losing the way that they did. Now, it kind of sucks because it's like Lane Kiffin.
00:29:09
Kaleb
ah believe they're 6-1 now. When they see you can be able to win against like, you know, one of the top tier coaches in the SEC, I guess you could say.
00:29:10
Mike Bell
Thank you.
00:29:17
Kaleb
And let's see where Ole Miss goes from here because it's like every year Ole Miss starts out and then they lose one game and it's kind of like very iffy the rest of the year if they're going to win or not.
00:29:31
Kaleb
So, anyway, I thought it was a fantastic game, honestly. ah And I think it was a great game for both teams. It just so happened George ended up pulling it out. What were your thoughts on though?
00:29:43
Mike Bell
Well, Georgia continues to just have like infinite number of lives. they just will not die unless it's Alabama.
00:29:48
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:29:50
Kaleb
This is the new Alabama.
00:29:51
Mike Bell
team will not beat.
00:29:52
Kaleb
All those lives will transfer from Nick Saban to Kirby Smart.
00:29:55
Mike Bell
I guess so. I guess so. But yeah, I mean, I thought Ole Miss was going to pull this out. Neither defense could stop the other's offense, but there is something to be said about, and this is what Georgia does, finishing games.
00:30:01
Kaleb
Yeah, me too.
00:30:05
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:30:11
Mike Bell
And in the fourth quarter, it was just different. It looked like Ole Miss maybe kind of like, you know, pissed themselves a little bit. And especially when they didn't score on that fourth down drive and they got stopped for the first time and then Georgia went ahead, they they didn't know what to do.
00:30:23
Kaleb
Yeah. Definitely mental. Yeah.
00:30:29
Mike Bell
They were like, oh, crap.
00:30:31
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:30:31
Mike Bell
I don't know how Georgia keeps doing it, but they keep doing it. Here's a stat that I would not have believed, and that is Georgia actually outgained Ole Miss 513 yards to 351.
00:30:41
Mike Bell
thought both teams would had like 500 yards, but it's also –
00:30:44
Kaleb
Oh, wow.
00:30:45
Mike Bell
but have had like five hundred yards but ah is also
00:30:47
Kaleb
I mean, I know kind of at of the game, Georgia's defense kind of locked down Ole Miss's offense a little bit more, but still, just that wide of separation, that is kind of – that is Right.
00:30:52
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:30:56
Mike Bell
Well, and Georgia possessed the ball, which makes sense because, you know, they run it a little bit more, but they possessed the ball 38 22 minutes. So, so
00:31:04
Kaleb
Which was a huge thing we talked about the preview was Ole Miss's, like, quick striking ability. They were going to probably have to run the ball a little bit more, which – they ah They do run the ball, but just time of possession matters, I think, in huge games.
00:31:22
Mike Bell
For sure. Yeah. I, so, you know, I agree. I don't think Ole Miss is done by any means.
00:31:30
Kaleb
No.
00:31:30
Mike Bell
I think they actually showed that they are for real because I was kind of wondering about that. Like, okay, is Ole Miss, like, are they for real? I mean, they played very, very well, at least offensively, defensively, they obviously have issues and that's going to be a problem for them.
00:31:44
Mike Bell
Georgia, ah They clearly still have issues too, but they know how to win. Fantastic game. Now you've kind of got both powerhouses in the SEC or traditional powerhouses, a ah Georgia and Alabama. They're both going to be in the top 10 now.
00:32:01
Mike Bell
And yeah, definitely maybe the game of the week for sure. Let's move on. And let's move next. I'll tell you what, I want to go ahead and get into it.
00:32:15
Mike Bell
Well, actually, before I get into it, kind of a shocker, Texas Tech
Texas Tech vs Arizona State: Ranking Impact
00:32:20
Mike Bell
falls to Arizona State.
00:32:20
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:32:22
Mike Bell
I don't know what to think about this game. I'm curious to hear your thoughts. I was watching it And Arizona State, you talk about controlling the game. Arizona State controlled the game.
00:32:33
Mike Bell
And then late, Texas Tech found a way to score twice. And then Arizona State obviously scores at the end. Look, this game is going to have an asterisk.
00:32:44
Mike Bell
Because obviously Texas Tech's starting quarterback was out.
00:32:48
Kaleb
yeah
00:32:48
Mike Bell
But their backup has played well this season. And he's the guy who beat Utah, or at least was part of the equation in beating Utah. So this keeps Arizona State alive in the S or not the S, but the big 12 Texas tech.
00:33:05
Mike Bell
I'm curious to see how far they drop because they just lost to an unranked team. But again, it's with an asterisk.
00:33:10
Kaleb
Yeah. Oh, yeah.
00:33:12
Mike Bell
This is, you know, creating more chaos. Don't want to take anything away from Arizona state. They won fair and square, but, I don't quite know what to think because I've looked at Texas Tech as a legitimate like elite team, like a top 10 team, not just some like Big 12 team that's undefeated because they're not facing anybody. like No, Texas Tech's a great team.
00:33:35
Mike Bell
But this is I'm curious to see what's going to happen going forward.
00:33:35
Kaleb
oh you
00:33:40
Mike Bell
ah Credit to Arizona State because they nearly just lost it at the end and then they found a way to score at the very end of the game. So, yeah, what are your thoughts on this?
00:33:50
Kaleb
um I mean, he pretty much touched on it. Texas Tech, albeit made that their backup quarterback has played pretty decently for them in some big games. Arizona State also got their quarterback back, which is –
00:34:04
Kaleb
I think a huge thing because some people are really high on Sam Levitt. And, you know, this is his first game back in, I don't know, what, three weeks, four weeks, somewhere in that ballpark? And he threw for 300 yards.
00:34:15
Kaleb
Okay. and And maybe we found the Achilles heel for Texas Tech. You know, everybody talks about the defensive line, you know, but – and and I would need to go back and kind of look at their schedule, but I don't think necessarily Texas Tech has played a team yet that is very good at passing the ball.
00:34:34
Kaleb
They play Utah, yes, but what does Utah do They just pound and ground you to death, basically.
00:34:37
Mike Bell
You're right.
00:34:40
Kaleb
um In Arizona State, know they're unranked. What are they now, 5-2? You know, keep in mind, ah yeah, 5-2 now.
00:34:46
Mike Bell
Yes.
00:34:50
Kaleb
So and or Arizona State was ranked twelfth in the preseason, and then they lost – crap, I forgot who they lost off the top of my head. It was right there. But, yeah, Mississippi State –
00:34:57
Mike Bell
Mississippi State.
00:35:02
Kaleb
who almost took Florida toe-to-toe and almost won last night. But um I don't think Arizona State is a bad team by any means. They're probably a good team. ah lecture ah like their coach. Sam Levitt's really good. and They kind of have an oomph about them.
00:35:19
Kaleb
So, anyway, I think that's the biggest thing. Arizona State gets Sam Levitt back. Texas Tech isn't playing with their starter. um More so the Arizona State getting their quarterback back.
00:35:32
Mike Bell
Yeah. Well, let's talk about that Mississippi State Florida game quickly. i was watching this game and it was one of the games of all time.
Florida vs Mississippi State: Coaching Implications
00:35:45
Mike Bell
By that I mean it was not maybe the best game to watch. But Florida nearly just gave this one away. they i mean Mississippi State's a good team. I think both these teams know they kind of need to win. Billy Napier knows that he needs to win. he loses this game, he's probably gone today. He might be gone today anyway.
00:36:04
Mike Bell
I actually think... I don't know. I'm curious to see what they do there at the head coach position. But Mississippi State, i don't know if you were watching it, but fourth quarter, they were in field goal range to win this game.
00:36:11
Kaleb
Yes.
00:36:16
Mike Bell
And then they throw a bad pass with like 30 seconds left, intercepted by Florida. And... Yeah, good win for Florida to – I mean, they just got to get all the wins they can.
00:36:29
Mike Bell
and Mississippi State continues to show that they're improved. i don't know where their wins are going to come from this year because they've got a gauntlet of the schedule. Although, I will say this. I hope you as a Texas fan are ready for them because Mississippi State's a decent team and then you're going to be at great place.
00:36:41
Kaleb
Yeah, we played it. Yeah, right. we'll Yeah, we'll we'll talk about that at our – yeah, and we are playing it at Mississippi State. We'll talk about that in our preview of this upcoming week.
00:36:54
Kaleb
Yeah, I am nervous for sure. If you want to, we can go ahead and get into Texas-Kentucky game because we got the USC and
00:36:57
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:37:03
Mike Bell
let's Let's do that. I want to make a quick mention. ah Memphis lost to UAB. I don't want to go over with the game, but they lost, and Memphis was a potential playoff team.
00:37:15
Mike Bell
That's going to take them out of the playoffs. They face USF this week, and that was going to be maybe the game of the ah you know American who was going to make it from that conference.
00:37:21
Kaleb
be a good yeah
00:37:26
Mike Bell
Now Memphis is probably out of it. Just wanted to make a quick mention.
Texas vs Kentucky: The Role of Special Teams
00:37:31
Mike Bell
um But let's, yeah, let's go ahead and get into that Kentucky-Texas game. What happened? What happened there?
00:37:32
Kaleb
so i
00:37:39
Kaleb
so ah ah I think what I said was I wouldn't be surprised. Like, I didn't really think much of it in a sense, but I said that but Mark Stoops, Kentucky, really good defensively, no matter what their record says. It's a tough little trap game.
00:37:59
Kaleb
um And I maybe think that was a little bit of a component to it, not to say like, oh, you know, that's an excuse or anything. But like we just came off a huge emotional win against Oklahoma and Kentucky's in this spot where it's like do or die in a sense for the season.
00:38:17
Kaleb
So it was a dangerous spot to be in. Basically, in to Kentucky's defense just beat the crap out of our offensive line, made it really hard on Arch to just be able to even have time to look back there to pass.
00:38:29
Kaleb
It was pretty atrocious. And honestly, without our kick returner, We would have lost this game. Honestly, that's the majority of where our offensive yards came from was just the kickoffs or the kick returns.
00:38:45
Kaleb
um we We have got to figure something out on the offensive line if we want to just be competitive in the SEC. and our defense played very well. Their quarterback, yeah I want to give some props to Kentucky's quarterback because, you know, Levy is a true freshman and honestly, he was just kind of dunking and surgically tearing us apart, which is not easy to do.
00:39:11
Kaleb
um and you kind of briefly brought it up kind of at the, or before we got on here, but Kentucky probably should have just, not running up the middle as much as they did on that last and that over overtime drive that they had against us.
00:39:29
Kaleb
I mean, they should have just swung it out or something quickly. I don't know what made Mark Stoops kind of think that was the way to go there. um But anyway, I'm glad he decided that. And Texas finally has a very good kicker.
00:39:44
Kaleb
The last couple of years, that has been a weak spot in our special teams unit. um And he came up big for us. You know, it was, I would like to say that was a good win in a sense, like it was ugly, but we got it done, which I think there is some stock to put into that in a sense.
00:40:00
Kaleb
But yeah, I mean, it it just makes me nervous for the rest of the year for sure. Because, know,
00:40:08
Kaleb
I don't know. I think there's like a balance between Mark Stoops and their defense. and I think there is something to be said. I think he would probably go around the SEC and say, hey, who is a sneaky good defensive team no matter what happens?
00:40:22
Kaleb
I think a lot of people would end up saying like Kentucky. um But our offense was just pathetic last night, honestly.
00:40:33
Mike Bell
It was maybe the worst i have seen Texas' offensive line. I actually thought it was their worst game. thought it was worse than Florida.
00:40:40
Kaleb
Like this year?
00:40:41
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:40:44
Kaleb
Well, yeah, right. Because at least our – I mean, I'm trying to remember what the score – I mean, our offense was at least moving ball to some degree on Florida. This game, it's like we couldn't do anything.
00:40:56
Kaleb
We couldn't run it.
00:40:56
Mike Bell
By the way, yeah, the when you guys did move the ball, you guys should be thinking your special teams. It was really your special teams return that kind of kept y'all in the back.
00:41:06
Kaleb
Yeah, no, that's what i'm saying. Our special teams unit is what won us the game in the majority of our offensive yards.
00:41:08
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:41:13
Mike Bell
Yeah. Yeah. I ah look, I'm going sound like a hater and I'm not going to cover it for too long, but ah you're, you know all who's got a sneaky, good defense, Kentucky. no, no, no.
00:41:25
Mike Bell
Yes. Is Kentucky like just a horrible defense? No, they're the worst team in the SEC. Kentucky has always been the worst team in the SEC. When you go to Kentucky, you got to take care of business. and This was not a good win for Texas. i mean, there is something to be said for winning the game. Fine. You guys stay alive.
00:41:45
Mike Bell
that's not what I would be taking from this. that This was, I don't know, this was, ah you know, sirens should be going off. You got to take care of business against that kind of team. Mississippi State's better, tougher environment to play in.
00:41:59
Mike Bell
Then you got Vandy. Yeah, Texas has issues. And as far as Kentucky's quarterback moving the ball, like, That's a problem because they don't have a legit offense either.
00:42:11
Mike Bell
It's a bad team. Kentucky is a bad team. And they were, you know, a couple inches away from winning this game. Texas wins. They find a way to win. Credit to them.
00:42:21
Mike Bell
But you're right in the sense that it's a trap game because you're coming off an emotional win against Oklahoma. But you kind of had like the perfect next opponent, I would say, to take care of business. And something's just off for Texas. Something's just off. So that's all I have to say about it. If you have a rebuttal, you can give me the rebuttal. But I would not think highly of Texas after this one.
00:42:48
Kaleb
Well, yeah, I mean, it's hard to be a contender of anything. Like, no matter what the conference is, if your offensive line can't do anything, right? Until we totally figure out something to at least improve them, yeah, I mean, the season is not looking too fair for us at the moment.
00:43:07
Mike Bell
Agreed. Okay, let's get into these big games at
Alabama vs Tennessee: Elite Status Restored?
00:43:10
Mike Bell
6.30. Let's start with Alabama-Tennessee. Tennessee-Alabama. This is one of the games I was, I guess, kind of ah mostly wrong about, i would say, because I thought this would be a more competitive contest.
00:43:24
Mike Bell
I know this is going to sound bold in the sense it's going to no-duh thing say, but I don't think enough people are talking about Alabama. And you say, what are you talking about? Everyone's talking about Alabama.
00:43:38
Mike Bell
Not enough people are talking about Alabama being fully back and being back to an elite team. I said that the elite teams people are thinking about was Miami, Indiana, Ohio State.
00:43:53
Mike Bell
I think now you have to start talking about Alabama a little bit in that category. At this point, their loss to Florida State was just fluky. What they're doing is so impressive. It really does look like the Alabama of old.
00:44:07
Mike Bell
I think this is a team, like Ohio State is like the best team in the country. There's some separation there. But, I mean, Alabama, for them to blow out Tennessee like that and not just blow them out, what they're doing Against the schedule that they have had, at some point, you just think that they would throw up a dud. You know, they'd be a little bit exhausted.
00:44:30
Mike Bell
They look better and better and better each week. You know, they really dominated Tennessee, really both sides of the ball. I mean, Tennessee is an offense that moved the ball very well.
00:44:43
Mike Bell
And Tennessee, I mean, I think the game was probably over when they threw that pick six at the end of the second quarter. You were talking about in the Duke Georgia Tech game, how those kind of plays like can really change, you know, momentum and all that.
00:44:57
Mike Bell
That's a tough hole for Tennessee at night at Alabama. But I just couldn't be more impressed with Alabama. And now I really would put them, if i had to rank, power rank the SEC teams, it's Alabama number one.
00:45:12
Mike Bell
People have said there's not an elite team in the SEC. I think it's time to start talking about Alabama in that way. Tennessee... I don't know what to say about them. i still can't really figure them out. I can't deduct too much from them for going to Alabama and losing, but they don't have a great win this year either. They're going to have more opportunities, but I just really can't say enough about Alabama. Ty Simpson, who's you know one of the front runners for Heisman.
00:45:39
Mike Bell
And yeah, it looks like Alabama may run the table. And if they run the table, that's the most ah impressive resume in college football. So that's what I have to say.
00:45:50
Kaleb
Yeah, and that's pretty much like what I would say, too. you know i would i think it's pretty huge that Alabama's defense only gave up 20 points to the offense of Tennessee.
00:46:03
Kaleb
I think that they're the fourth best ah offense in the nation. um yeah in the Josh Heupel has had a top-tier offense no matter what. Every single year he's been there. So I think that's – People, if they had questions about Alabama, it was, I guess you could say, their defense more so than their offense.
00:46:25
Kaleb
And I think for them to come up big in this game and just hold them to 20 points and, for the most part, Alabama just kind of manhandling Tennessee, I would say. i mean, hey – That's really good.
00:46:37
Kaleb
It doesn't surprise me necessarily how Ty Simpson, like how well he played. And, you know, that if anything, the offense, they just need to kind of figure out their run game and just have at least a consistent, like, player that they can count on.
00:46:51
Kaleb
And they had, like, the last couple weeks, like when they played Missouri and Vandy, they What was his name? Miller.
00:47:02
Kaleb
Yeah, their running back Miller. you know He was having some really good games for them, and then Tennessee's defense was able to kind of stop that trend this game. But –
00:47:13
Mike Bell
Thank you.
00:47:13
Kaleb
I don't know. Alabama, I mean, and I had the same thought about them after this game. I was like, you know, honestly, like, I know Ohio State is number one, and they just had a really good game against Wisconsin. I mean, Wisconsin, but – um You know, honestly, i don't care about the one loss against Florida State anymore. would almost beg to say, like, just put Alabama at number one. Just who else could do this right now? on there Like, with Alabama's schedule, the way that they've played, who else could do that?
00:47:46
Kaleb
You know, i know Ohio State's defense.
00:47:47
Mike Bell
Ohio State. I mean, they're pretty good.
00:47:50
Kaleb
and know i okay I know Ohio State's defense is really well, but how would Julian Sane play against these teams? And he's played well.
00:47:59
Mike Bell
He's pretty good.
00:48:00
Kaleb
i'm just I'm just sitting here and saying, who's played more emotional, maybe heart more hard-fought games up to this point? Definitely Alabama versus Ohio State, for sure.
00:48:13
Mike Bell
The resume is better. I agree.
00:48:17
Kaleb
So anyway, a really good win um for Alabama. And like you said, i don't know really where to put Tennessee at this point.
00:48:27
Kaleb
They played Kentucky next week. Sneaky game.
00:48:32
Kaleb
We'll see how it goes, though. In all seriousness, we'll see how it goes.
00:48:37
Mike Bell
Yeah. Okay, let's move into the other game.
USC vs Notre Dame: A Thrilling Contest
00:48:40
Mike Bell
I thought this was in competition for being the game of the week. That was USC at Notre Dame. And i just have to say off the top, I think this game had two of the best players in the country.
00:48:52
Mike Bell
And that is Jeremiah Love, who I just continue to be impressed by each and every week. I think he's the best running back in the country. He has some competition for that. Missouri's guy, Hardy,
00:49:05
Mike Bell
Nebraska, I know, has a good running back. ah Michigan has great running backs. But Jeremiah Love is just different. I feel like there's a running back I'm forgetting. But he you should win whatever that award is for the best running back.
00:49:20
Kaleb
Doak Walker Award, I believe, is what it is.
00:49:21
Mike Bell
Yeah, yeah. I mean, that guy is – like, he's just insane. And to watch – and they have two great backs, by the way. They can really run the ball. Let's see. What did they run for? They ran for 308 yards.
00:49:33
Mike Bell
yards
00:49:34
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:49:34
Mike Bell
308 yards.
00:49:35
Kaleb
Jeremiah Love had 228 yards. The first time, or they had like a little stat up there. Somebody ran for that like a little bit more than him 2023. And then ah Jerome in the ninety s had like Closer to 300. I mean, anytime a running back has 228 yards is pretty insane. Now, do we have much stock into USC's offense?
00:49:58
Kaleb
No, but it's still really good. Like, how often do you see running backs get over that much? And, frankly, every time you watch Notre Dame's offense, who has been, like, very impressive up to this point, but Jeremiah Love is a huge part of that, and he just blows you off the screen pretty much every time he's on that.
00:50:15
Kaleb
So –
00:50:16
Mike Bell
Yeah, no, he's...
00:50:17
Kaleb
both receiving and rushing and running the ball.
00:50:21
Mike Bell
Yeah, yeah. And the thing is, this was actually maybe Notre Dame's worst game in terms of their passing. But again, I didn't... Now, also it was raining and that may have affected things. But Notre Dame continues to look just so impressive on the offensive side of the ball.
00:50:34
Mike Bell
The other player I want to talk about is on the USC side and he may win the award for the best receiver. And that is... something Lamont, however you say his last name, Lemon, whatever.
00:50:44
Kaleb
Yeah, Mattel.
00:50:45
Mike Bell
He's, yeah, yeah, yeah,
00:50:46
Kaleb
I'm just going to say...
00:50:49
Mike Bell
He is just so good. Now, he kind of, he had the a really bad fumble on was supposed to be like a trick play. And that really hurt USC. I give USC a lot of credit for going in there.
00:51:03
Mike Bell
And this was really a competitive contest. USC had opportunities to win this game. I kind of didn't think it would be like that. I kind of thought Notre Dame would control it. And instead, Notre Dame just kind of pulled away at the end. USC kind of showed some struggles. They had some turnovers. They three turnovers in this game. And that probably was the difference in this game.
00:51:24
Mike Bell
And yeah, for USC, I mean, look, it wasn't a Big Ten game. They still only have one Big Ten loss, but they have, I know, Oregon, UCLA, which is still a big game.
00:51:36
Mike Bell
And I want to say somebody else, Nebraska, at Nebraska, I think. So yeah, I'm curious to see what USC does from here. I was actually pretty impressed by them. I did not think they would show up.
00:51:48
Mike Bell
They actually did. i know it's a rivalry game, all that. I hope they can figure out something on the schedule side to make these two teams play next year and obviously in the years going forward I think it's a travesty it's not figured out right now these teams they've just got to play every year it should be like a law but fantastic game again Jeremiah I love can't say enough about him Notre Dame they've got to just continue to win this was maybe their last big test and Yeah, Lincoln Riley continues to have road struggles.
00:52:23
Mike Bell
They've got to figure that out. But I think he's kind of bought himself one more year. And yeah, this was ah great game to watch. What what were your thoughts?
00:52:34
Kaleb
Well, this may be like Lincoln Riley's best overall USC team that he's had there. um i know they went nine and four, I believe his like first year with Caleb Williams, but I think Caleb Williams just really kind of put some band-aids on that defense. it was, you know, rough. And like you said,
00:52:54
Kaleb
I know that Notre Dame was able to carve up a good amount of rushing yards. Notre Dame's always been a really good, like every year that it seems like they have an offensive line going in the first round. I mean, that's just what Notre Dame does. They are just able to ground and pound you.
00:53:09
Kaleb
And then when they're really good, it's when they have a quarterback that can throw the ball like really well, which is what C.J. Carr has done. I think USC, like obviously very heavy on the offense, but their defense is like doing just enough ah for the most part to either propel them to win the games or keep them in there.
00:53:27
Kaleb
yeah And I think it is something to be said that they that there was a pretty competitive game. It's just USC had the three turnovers versus Notre Dame's one turnover. i think that was the key in this game.
00:53:39
Kaleb
But honestly, the time of possession really wasn't all that different, which you you kind of find surprising um because with Jeremiah Love like having as many rushing attempts as he did and as much yardage, you would have thought that Notre Dame, like there would be a huge disparity, but USC had...
00:53:56
Kaleb
Let me look here. Had 27 minutes ah time of possession, whereas Notre Dame had 32, but basically 33 minutes. So there's really not too much of a spread on that, which I kind of found a little surprising. But anyway, i mean, good showing for both teams.
00:54:12
Kaleb
um USC has a couple big games coming up for sure. Notre Dame, like you said, it's, you know, they control their destiny, the games that the the remaining games that they play.
00:54:24
Kaleb
should be able to win, but you know how that goes.
00:54:27
Mike Bell
Well, again, seeding could be weird for them. They definitely have to win out, but I think even if they win out, it could be tough. But we will see.
00:54:33
Kaleb
and
00:54:34
Mike Bell
a lot could happen. um Okay. Last game that i really watched.
BYU vs Utah: Big 12 Impact
00:54:41
Mike Bell
So actually before I say the last game I really watched, because I didn't watch a lot of this other game, let me cover it first.
00:54:47
Mike Bell
ah Utah BYU, BYU found a way to win twenty four twenty one I was surprised BYU kind of controlled the game they went the way they did I thought Utah was really going to step up here.
00:54:59
Mike Bell
i think Utah is showing. I've said all year, BYU is overrated. But maybe it's just Utah that's overrated because Utah, they've been ranked. they Now they've lost their two significant games, Texas Tech, BYU.
00:55:11
Mike Bell
BYU continues to find a way to win. Good for them. Hey, let's see. BYU, they're now first place in the Big 12, right?
00:55:19
Kaleb
Yeah, Big 12.
00:55:20
Mike Bell
Are they alone in first place? Is there another undefeated team in the Big 12? I don't know.
00:55:26
Kaleb
is 4-0 as well.
00:55:28
Mike Bell
Okay. Okay. BYU could be.
00:55:30
Kaleb
Arizona State's behind them too now. And then Texas Tech. So BYU, Cincinnati, Arizona State, Texas Tech are the top four teams, the Big 12. Yeah,
00:55:40
Mike Bell
Yeah, that's going to be a fascinating conference to watch.
00:55:42
Kaleb
it is.
00:55:42
Mike Bell
I know BYU still faces.
00:55:43
Kaleb
yeah it is
00:55:45
Mike Bell
Do they face Tech? I was going pull up their schedule. um I got to see that. I don't have it in front of me.
00:55:51
Kaleb
mean, I'll look. Yeah, they play Texas Tech in two weeks. So next steve for yeah next game for BYU is at Iowa State, which don't knock that game off.
00:55:55
Mike Bell
So that's going to be a great name.
00:56:01
Kaleb
It is hard to go into Ames. And then at Texas Tech.
00:56:04
Mike Bell
you know And then they've got at Cincinnati too at the end. So this that's going to be a really cool conference to watch.
00:56:08
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:56:11
Mike Bell
I don't have anything on this game unless you do.
00:56:14
Kaleb
Yeah, I don't really have anything much to say on this game.
00:56:18
Mike Bell
Okay, last game that maybe we'll talk about, and that is Missouri-Auburn.
Missouri vs Auburn: Playoff Aspirations Maintained
00:56:23
Mike Bell
And Auburn has made every team that they have faced this year, every game has like been a bad game to watch.
00:56:32
Mike Bell
And I think that says a lot about actually Auburn. And I think that's because these games are often like defensive games, you know?
00:56:41
Kaleb
Oh, for sure.
00:56:42
Mike Bell
And I think you actually have to Auburn credit for that on the defensive side of the ball. And then offensively, they just can't do enough. I give actually major props to Missouri. Again, that is a tough place to play at night.
00:56:55
Kaleb
ah for sure
00:56:55
Mike Bell
First road game of the year for Missouri. They went in. um Yeah, for Missouri. and They went in. Won the game, found a way to win when it looked like maybe they were going to lose it because they went down 17-10, forced overtime.
00:57:07
Mike Bell
forced over time win in overtime. The play calling for Auburn continues to be very suspect. I don't really get what's going on there. I don't know what to expect from Auburn.
00:57:18
Mike Bell
Whatever. Credit to Missouri because now they they're in the hunt for the playoffs for the SEC and they faced Bandy this week. I thought it was a ah very good comeback win for Missouri being an emotional loss last week against Alabama.
00:57:30
Kaleb
and
00:57:32
Mike Bell
And yeah, i'm I'm very excited for their game in the upcoming week against Vanderbilt. so So yeah, credit to Missouri. They needed to find a way to win that one, and they did.
00:57:45
Kaleb
I agree pretty much with everything you said. i to me, man, I mean, if Hugh Freeze just had like a somewhat decent quarterback – Man, Auburn would be – would be very dangerous this year because, like you said, every game they make it ugly, which is a credit to Auburn's defense.
00:58:05
Kaleb
So if they actually had a quarterback that could really threaten you as far as, like, passing the ball – because that's the thing. Jackson Arnold, it's like, yes – and I know he's still had 200 passing yards, but really, man, it's just – I don't know how to describe it other than –
00:58:25
Kaleb
He's dual threat. He relies on his legs a lot to make the offense go. And i don't know, I'm just not necessarily scared. And I think the only reason why he's had as much success throwing the ball this year is because he's got Cam Coleman, who you can basically just throw the ball up to, and the guy can go up there and just snatch it out of the air, which makes it really easy on the quarterback, especially one that's not necessarily the best passing.
00:58:49
Kaleb
But yes, huge because of all those things I just said, huge credit to Missouri. Emotional loss last weekend, and we were talked about this last week. ah One of the hardest places to play in the country, I think, um being at Auburn.
00:59:04
Kaleb
ah So huge, huge culture win for Missouri, I think.
00:59:09
Mike Bell
And their head coach is going to be in the running now for some jobs. Him and Clark Lee from Vanderbilt. ah
00:59:16
Kaleb
You know, and honestly, my heart would kind of break if, like, Clark Lee left Vandy, which keep in mind with him, he's an alumni Vandy.
00:59:16
Mike Bell
They're...
00:59:24
Kaleb
So Vandy may be able to get away with him not, like, leaving per se, maybe, because this it'll play with his heartstrings little bit.
00:59:25
Mike Bell
and
00:59:33
Kaleb
Now the Missouri coach, open field. Yeah.
00:59:39
Mike Bell
Here's the deal. Pavi is going to be gone after this year. This may be Clark Lee's like best chance if he wants to.
00:59:43
Kaleb
Yeah.
00:59:46
Kaleb
Right. Yeah.
00:59:47
Mike Bell
Yeah.
00:59:47
Kaleb
yeah Right. Which is the other equation to that. Yeah.
00:59:52
Mike Bell
yeah Okay, is there anything else you wanted to mention? I know you're kind of maybe short on time today. I think we've covered a lot, but any other game you want to talk about? Anything, any other storyline?
01:00:04
Kaleb
I mean, we talked about my team struggles, but not your team's. I think that's a little unfair. If you want to briefly pretend the game.
01:00:11
Mike Bell
Well, I mean
01:00:13
Kaleb
And I had it on the other screen, so I'll watch maybe the majority of the first half. Now the second half, ah not so much, just because of the Texas game coming on.
01:00:23
Kaleb
And anyway, but let's go for a touch on it.
01:00:25
Mike Bell
i mean, that's, yeah, I mean, that's, I think, a complete false equivalence. One, there's a big difference between Arkansas and Kentucky.
01:00:33
Kaleb
Jesus.
01:00:33
Mike Bell
Arkansas it scored on everybody.
01:00:33
Kaleb
Jesus. And just...
01:00:37
Mike Bell
Arkansas has scored on everybody except Notre Dame. I don't know how Notre Dame pulled that off. Arkansas, like, they just get chunk play after chunk play. They really are a dynamic offense, and then they really do just suck on defense.
01:00:51
Mike Bell
A&M offensively, i mean, they just couldn't be stopped except for, like, one drive. And then – mean, the game basically went exactly how I thought it would go, and it came to A&M just getting enough stops on defense – And, i mean, if you watch the game, A&M really did control it.
01:01:08
Mike Bell
Although, Arkansas always –
01:01:11
Kaleb
they There were a couple moments that where Arkansas was like, hmm, okay.
01:01:12
Mike Bell
yeah Yeah, they they threatened. They definitely did threaten. But Arkansas just has too many problems. If they could put together a defense, they would legitimately be one of the scariest teams in the country because on ah offense, they can just score at will, it seems like.
01:01:31
Mike Bell
A&M defensively obviously did have a very rough game. I have to give credit to Arkansas, though, because they do that to everybody. But the defense needs to be better. ah Defending the quarterback run is a problem for A&M.
01:01:44
Mike Bell
And we don't really face anybody on the schedule quite like that because he's a big guy that can run. I think he's like one of the faster guys in the SEC.
01:01:54
Kaleb
Tomah Arkansas quarterback.
01:01:54
Mike Bell
And yeah, yeah.
01:01:57
Kaleb
Yeah, he's definitely a monster man for sure.
01:01:59
Mike Bell
He's a monster. So for A&M, huge win because like I said, their road games coming up are tough at LSU now, at Missouri, and then at Texas. This pretty much guarantees that they will have a better season than last season.
01:02:16
Mike Bell
All they have to do, i mean, they only have to win two more now to get to 10 wins. And yeah this was a big win because now you can, not that you want to lose any games going forward, but now you can kind of afford a loss when it happens. And spoiler alert, I think it's going to be this weekend.
01:02:32
Mike Bell
But you needed to win this one. This was the most winnable of them all versus a bad opponent. And yeah, the first road game in a month.
01:02:43
Mike Bell
And now Andam's kind of felt that. Yeah, I was just happy they won the game. These rivalry games are always close. like These games are always a heart attack with Arkansas. First game in Fayetteville in 15 years.
01:02:55
Mike Bell
That's really all I have to say about it. And, yeah.
01:02:59
Kaleb
Okay. I mean, that's just all I wanted to hear. I wasn't necessarily sitting there saying, oh, yeah, that's an equivalent game to the Texas-Kentucky game. Just saying. Defense struggled a little bit. Not to say that, hey, I mean, how many defenses could handle that?
01:03:10
Mike Bell
Yeah.
01:03:14
Kaleb
And like you said, it's kind of weird that Notre Dame was able to handle it. But, you know, I think –
01:03:18
Mike Bell
makes no sense.
01:03:22
Kaleb
You know, i wonder, like, that game made me think yesterday because, honestly, I think you do have to give Arkansas credit for showing up and being very competitive in that game, especially with losing Sam Pittman. I know that's been kind of like, what, three weeks ago, so they've had time to kind of see.
01:03:37
Kaleb
And Bobby Petrino has kind of been in that so exact situation before, so he kind of knows how to do it. ah You know, a question I have in my head is, like, I wonder –
01:03:48
Kaleb
With the boosters, the president, whatever, at Arkansas, I wonder how quick they were. And I think they gave sip pi Sam Pittman enough time but like to know, like, hey, Bobby Petrino, the last Arkansas coach that really kind of had us pretty in a pretty good spot for a couple years. He's right there to take over the helm.
01:04:06
Kaleb
Do you want to just let Sam Pittman go to see what he can do with it? um that being said, he inherited a great offense, but horrible defense, like you said, curious to see what will happen at Arkansas at the end of the year, because I know we keep on mentioning like, Hey,
01:04:22
Kaleb
You know, here's the all these coaches that could – like I don't think the Missouri head coach would leave to go to Arkansas. um James Franklin could take the Arkansas job potentially just to get his hat back in there. um But who's to say that Bobby Petrino won't take the coaching job? I mean, at least he's got a – because Arkansas is a unique place.
01:04:42
Kaleb
I don't think anyone can go in there and it necessarily be like automatically thought of, okay, winning culture here. Maybe Nick Saban. Maybe Carvey Smart or something like that. Like you're talking about two of the best coaches in the league. But um I don't know. it I think it would be very interesting to see at the end of the year who Arkansas puts there as the head coach.
01:05:04
Kaleb
Because like you said, if they just had a like a good enough defense, they'd be a very dangerous team.
01:05:12
Mike Bell
ah Agreed. Agreed. Okay. Well, I think that pretty much wraps things up. ah Caleb, been good talking to you. And I'll talk to you next time.
01:05:23
Kaleb
All right. See you.