Two Undefeated Teams Are In The Natty... Will It Be For The Last Time?

Michigan vs Washington... both are perfect through 14 games and both are capable of winning it all! Coach AJ Pratt breaks down both teams and the game, like only he can! He also goes back through all the New Years Weekend Bowl Games and gives out this season's last "Win The Day Award!"

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome into the Oh Show on iHeartRadioalong with Coach AJ Pratt. My name
is Paul James Coach. Happy NewYear, Happy New Year. That's what
my first thing I want to sayto you. Lots to be thankful for,
lots to look forward to, anda happy New Year to you and
your family. Did you have agood New Year's Eve and New Year's Day?
We did. Happy New Year's toyou and yours as well. We

(00:22):
stayed quiet. I mean we wewatched Dick Clark's Rocking New Year's Eve and
had a few friends over and justreally kind of we were going to play
games and stuff, and then weall just kind of got comfortable and just
chatted and watched some crazy stuff onTV and just kind of had a nice
evening. I think woke some pork. It was fun. I think Carrie

(00:44):
and I have went out once,maybe maybe twice in twenty five, twenty
six years New Year's Eves together,and yeah, we're typically wrapped up watching
a movie and this year I waswrapped up watching movie, eat and dry
cereal and drinking sprite. Yeah yousaid you are feeling your best man,
that's yeah, man, I neverget sick. I don't know what the
heck happened. I don't know.Maybe it was the display of the buck
eye, probably one. I willtell you though, I look at New

(01:08):
Year's Eve the same way I lookat Saint Patrick's Day and Cinco de Mayo,
and you know, in the nightbefore Thanksgiving, I mean, it's
just it's amateur houry. You gottabe careful. You and I didn't talk
about I was gonna say Rookie nightor amateur every year. It's an amateur
hour, you know. And Iwas actually out on the twenty third that
night with a bunch of friends.We were at the Knights of Columbus and

(01:30):
when we got there there were eightpeople in there and one bartender, and
when we left there was close tofifty. But she got a real nice
tip that night. Maybe it wasto get another occupation because our families all
showed up, but boy, wehad we had a good time. Well,
I know we have a lot ofOhio listeners, but my man the
show Pony is sporting his the SalesStallions hoodie over there. Yeah. Classic,

(01:56):
nice great memories, even myself grownup watching some the sales teams play.
Well, look, Paul, yougot we can say it for the
last time in our fifth season.The twenty twenty three college football season delivered
absolutely this NFL weekend, we havetons of playoff implications. I'm already locked

(02:17):
in the girls high school hoop hadno choice with that. And by the
way, they're eleven and one.They've got a big game tomorrow night on
the road against the power in theconference. And then it's time to look
into college hoops, men's and women's. The final four of the Masters,
and the next two things that wehave to look forward to it well,

(02:38):
the NFL playoffs servis. But here'sthe thing. I looked back at where
we started, and this being thefinale of our fifth year, there has
been a transformation. There has beena transformation. It's true. It's true.
You've went from being mister media tothe perspective of a coach that no

(03:02):
longer drinks the kool aid every gameof the Ohio State buck eyes. Amen.
It's true. Yeah, And it'sbeen pointed out to me by people
that I trust. I've went frombeing a black and white coach to more
of the media man, with beingless rigid with the sport and having more
of an analyst and media looks,so I've changed, You've changed. Five

(03:24):
years has done it to us.So we've both rubbed off on each other.
It's been an amazing five years.But still to this point, from
all of the media stuff that Iwas exposed to, I still have zero
emotion when I watch games. Andthe other night I had a friend over,
I believe, and watching the game. He literally says to me,

(03:46):
he goes, he goes, thisdoesn't bother you at all, he goes,
matter of fact, he goes,you laugh more at the bad plays,
then you get frustrated. I said, Oh, you have to,
I said, I said, youknow, I'm just you have to.
I said, there's no sense gettingupset for something you can't change. When
you watch a Buckeye game, aTide game, and NFL game this weekend,
think of how healthy that perspective wouldbe from most of the nuts that

(04:09):
are sitting. Oh. Absolutely absolutely. And I'm going to be out of
town. I won't get a chanceto see the Browns Bengals game, although
you know it's going to be alot of guys from the practice squad,
and I get all that because itmeans nothing to either one of those two
teams. I get it, butI still will get home and want to
check everything out from what they did, and of course the game's around it.

(04:30):
How about the Steelers in the Ravensgame. That's going to be fantastic.
I think so absolutely looking forward tothat. When I've already told my
wife we're what we're doing there?So well, listen, I told you
before all the work you put intoour great script every single week, it's
unbelievable how fast you get it tome. I was going to throw you
a little curveball. And the ESPNTop one hundred college football Players of twenty

(04:55):
twenty three, No, we're notgoing through all hundred of them. We're
not going through all of one hundredof them. Quick looking at the top
ten, you got Jaden Daniels numberone at quarterback, Number two, Michael
Pennox at quarterback, Number three,Marvin Harrison Junior at wide receiver, Number
four, Bow Knicks at quarterback.I don't have a complaint yet. Number
five, Rock Bowers at tight end. Number six Malik Neighbors. How can

(05:18):
you complain about that other than ifyou flipped six and seven Roma Doonzay,
who is spectacular as a wide receiver, first non offensive skill player at number
eight is outside linebacker, edge guy, a little bit of everything on defense,
Dallas Turner for Alabama. And thenyou've got your first and only offensive

(05:39):
lineman, I think two time AllAmerican Joe Alt Notre Dame offensive tackle.
And maybe the biggest surprise if wewould have had this at the beginning of
the year, one in ten couldhave easily flipped as you've got the returning
one time Heisman winner Caleb Williams atten. So real quick, Paul,
do you have anything to add becauseI got I got four questions, I

(06:00):
guess five questions to ask you,not at all. I think I think
that is a solid top ten.I really do. I do too.
I think they did a good jobthere. Obviously there's two, three,
four, five, the next thatyou could make arguments for. But who's
your most improved player in the collegefootball season? Well, if I had
to think of the most improved collegefootball player this year, ah, man,

(06:25):
that's a that's a tough one.I want to say. I want
to stay with the Buckeyes and II don't know, man, I don't
know. Well, here's what I'llsay. Questionable is the starter second game
they get beat third game, hegets benched, and then they play in
the national semi final. Well sure, now, yeah, Milrose, so

(06:47):
I get that. I'll make I'lltake Jalen Milrose. So here's the next
one. Who is the most disappointingplayer in the twenty twenty three college football
season? Well, I was disappointedin the fact that McCord didn't produce what
I thought he was going to produceand hit guys in stride and then walk
away to go to a losing programat Syracuse. So you know that's my

(07:08):
feeling. Well, the most disappointingplayer to me, and it maybe has
more to do with team than itdoes the player. And he wasn't helped
with the other side of the ball, as who I alluded to at number
ten, as Caleb Williams right,because we were about five games into the
season and you and I were inagreement. It was a clear to that
point number one to who was goingto win the Heisman and ends up probably

(07:29):
more record than anything that he doesn'tget there. Who's your shadow most valuable
player? My shadow most valuable player? I see. I think the most
valuable player in football this year toa team is Michael Penix Junior. I
mean, I think if Michael PenixJunior isn't with Washington, I don't think

(07:50):
Washington is playing football on Monday.I still think they have a good team.
They have a great offensive line.But I think I still think the
most value in college football was Pennixbecause he put his team in the in
the National title game. So Idon't know. I guess i'd have to
go with that. The only thingI will correct you today he is because

(08:11):
he's still played. I agree that. I agree you stole my thunder with
Michael Pennocks. I'll get back tohim. The second is the shadow MVP
is Tory Taylor. Oh okay,sure, the Iowa punter. Yeah,
I mean he has to, butI don't even think it's close. The
most valuable player in college football isyours is Michael Pennocks junior. We'll talk

(08:33):
a little bit more about him later, but what he has done for that
football team, how he's played,and how he performed on the biggest stage
he's ever played in the National semifinal. That team is talented, they're
awesomely coached, but he is theman this year in terms of the most
valuable player and my last one.I've got four runner ups and then I'll

(08:54):
give you my winner. So ifyou've got any runner ups, give them
to me. And who's your collegecoach of the Year. Well, it's
funny because there are people out therethat would say that Jim Harball should be,
but he didn't coach six games,so I have to take him completely
out of there. My coach ofthe Year is a Northwestern head football coach.
I think I think he did anamazing job. I think given the

(09:16):
circumstances that he was he was given. But man, you can't you can't
disappoint Kiln de Bor. I mean, he did some wonderful things. He's
rebuilt that program and he's put himselfin the national spotlight and you know,
but I still think what happened atNorthwestern is amazing. You know, he

(09:37):
took that team from one win towhere they're at. They lost their head
coach in July. He took over, and the story is just amazing.
I mean, it's a it's athirty for thirty stories. Yeah. No,
we spent a lot of time together, obviously, because I've got Jim
Harball's one of my finalist because beinga great coach is having your staff able
to carry on when you're not there, so they were prepared well enough.

(10:00):
The culture he's created, I callhim the Darth Vader of college football.
I mean, play the Empire musicright now, David Brown, I don't
need to add anything to what yousaid. Jedfish Arizona is one of my
four finalists, much much deserving andfourth until their bowl game. He played

(10:22):
an undefeated season and he just keepsmoving up the ranks. Is Jamie Chadwell
at Liberty As they go into thatbowl game, it was ugly. They
were out manned, but to playan undefeated regular season and a championship game
is not easy. Well, Ithink Eli Drinkwoitz did a hell of a
job this year, and I thinkhe's rebuilt that entire program and they're going
to compete for a long time.I mean, you've got to give some

(10:46):
credit to Sark because a lot ofpeople didn't think I mean two years ago,
they were counting them down and out, and then last year he struggled
and and this year he was ableto really put it together. So you
got to give him a little bitof credit. But I just think bron
did an incredible thing, and allthe money they're spending on facilities and everything
at Northwestern. I think he's ina position, especially if he ends up

(11:07):
being there for the next ten years, to building something really special at a
school that's almost impossible to recruit at. I mean, it really is hard
to well, you know, I'mnot telling you anything. Yeah, I
mean no, I'm with you onall of those, Paul, But my
coach of the year and I'm gonnalay some things out later is Kaylen de
Boer. And his story is prettyincredible. Their schedule is was ridiculous,

(11:37):
and yeah, Kaylen de Boer andall deserving. Every one of those guys
we talked about is deserving in someway or fashion. And I'm with you
with Bron But my guy's Kaylen deBoer. So let's sneak that in before
we hit your weekly terrific script.I'll tell you we got some great stuff.
Man. We got to start,obviously with the game from Friday night.

(11:58):
Missouri beats the Buckeyes fourteen to threezero offense. The defense was outstanding.
We talked about that before we hitthe record button. Today. You
can't say anything bad about the defense. You mentioned, Jack Sawyer at his
best game ever in his entire world. The defense was fantastic, and it's
almost upsetting to me that the defensehad to work that hard to lose a

(12:18):
game and they almost expected the defenseto score a couple because the offense was
just horrible. Well, here's thestoryline, let's not put names in there.
A team that fought like hell allyear and still played balanced on offense
with a running back and a runninggame Cody Schrader, and a team who

(12:39):
excelled on defense all year that foughtlike hell as long as they could,
with a second and third quarterback thatlooked ill prepared, an offensive line that
showed early season issues that we haven'tseen the last few weeks, and a
special teams that has not been specialfor two plus seasons. The line,

(13:00):
to me, if we put itin a little kid's book, there it
is in my opinion. But theplus is for Missouri is quarterback Brady Cook
one hundred and ninety four total yards, one touchdown, nothing spectacular, But
what does he not do? Hedoesn't turn it all over. He takes
care of the ball. Cody Schraderin that Missouri run game when it showed

(13:22):
up, when it needed most whenthat Buckeye defense was tired at the end
of the game. Does he remindyou of Christian McCaffrey or he does me.
Oh my gosh. He's fun towatch play football. Probably not as
explosive, but he has some similarities. Missouri's defense creates fourteen negative plays.

(13:43):
Missouri's defense held Ohio State to threeof sixteen on third and fourth down.
That's been a sore spot a lotin our conversations throughout this fifth season with
the Buck eyes his third and fourthdown conversion and they get the one takeaway.
Ohio State a positive the defense excepton fourth down where Missouri was three

(14:09):
for three, So split those two. That's converting the ball continuing drives the
opposite for one team a huge dealand that they were tremendous. And then
the fourth quarter. Let's give theBuckeyes credit that they were tired defense,
but Ohigh State the negative. Wewon't beat a dead horse. Two hundred

(14:35):
and three total yards, three points. Look, look, I'm gonna end
with this, and you know,if anybody that listens to this show for
this year the last five I don'tbeat up on coaches. I've lived at
some of my best friends, theirfamilies. There's a lot of things involved
that people don't see watching the gameson TV. Don't have a clue,

(14:58):
but I'm going to to the chasehere. They're at the crossroads with Ryan
day Paul. They are. Andit's sad because he's won nine hundred percent
of his games. Absolutely, buthe's two and three against Michigan. He's
zero and three in the last three. And that's all Buckeye fans most of
the time need to hear. They'retwo and four in bowl games, and

(15:20):
you've got to start asking are therestructural issues that are there? Here's an
interesting point, and I didn't comeup with this originally. I read a
lot. Who's the last head footballcoach that called plays to win a national
championship? It's been a long timetwenty thirteen Jimbo Fisher at Florida State.

(15:43):
Wow, And the game's changed sincethen. The guy just lost his job
trying to call plays and catching heckfor it. My opinion, you are
the CEO of one of the greatestbrands in sport. There is so much
going on and to effectively call playsat that position in this sport, to

(16:07):
me, I don't know how youcan do it effectively. And I think
they missed Kevin Wilson more than peoplewill ever realize his experience, the type
of coach he is, he's beena head coach, and I know he
didn't have a problem speaking his mindbecause when I don't know because I'm not
in that building, I'm not inmeetings. But it's hard for me to

(16:30):
believe there's many personalities on that offensivestaff that are not yes men to Ryan
Day. And it's hard for meto believe Kevin Wilson was not missed a
lot this year because helping him playcalling. And then when we look at
this again, I don't go aftercoaches, but at some point you have
to call a spade a spade.Parker Fleming and special teams. The decision's

(16:53):
got to be made Corey Dennis.Now that's a tough one for obvious reasons
who his father in law is.And then maybe the toughest call is justin
Fry because Ryan Day's got to ownthat if that offensive line isn't going to
produce, he brought him in andhe let a guy down that I've defended

(17:18):
before in Greg's Dru Dawa, whooffensive line play and recruiting was at a
very high level, and they haven'tperformed as well as they could have possibly
the last two years. And thenthe next thing, Paul, is the
quarterback position. I've heard so muchthe last forty eight hours about the Will
Howard situation about him positioning himself tomake the most money. Why wouldn't you

(17:42):
and even starting to consider possibly goingentering into the draft. Is what is
the answer for a high state?Is it Devin Brown? Is it Aaron
Nolan? Is it Keen Holtz?Who is the guy there? And is
there a transfer guy? Because itwas like there's going to be a big
surrounding cast that have decided to comeback. And as you and I know,

(18:07):
as it's evident this weekend, towin the big one, you got
to have a quarterback. Absolutely,You've got to have not only a quarterback,
the quarterback, you've got to haveone of the best in the country.
And who knows. I mean,obviously the portal's open until what the
nineteenth of January, so there's otherthings that can happen. But I just
don't know. I mean, rightnow, it's a gigantic question mark.

(18:27):
But I totally agree with you thatit is crossroads time for that program.
I felt that way about the OhioState basketball program a year ago, and
right now Chris Holtman looks like agenius and I look like an idiot,
which I'm fine with. I watchedhim play basketball last night, and that
team has turned the corner. Hegot a little bit of fire underneath him.
They had a horrible January and Februarylast year, and all of a

(18:51):
sudden, he's got one of thebest teams in the country playing in Columbus,
Ohio, and they're doing something thatthey couldn't do a year ago,
and that's finish. And I onlycan compare the two because a lot of
people are feeling the same way rightnow about Ryan Day. Is he really
the guy? Is this fire goingto make him a better guy? Or
does he know something we didn't know? I mean, Bruce Thornton a year
ago was not that good. Thisyear he's fantastic, one of the best

(19:12):
players in the Big Ten. He'sgot one of the best three point shooters
in the Big Ten. So maybehe knows something that we don't know,
and this fire underneath him is goingto ignite him into something brand new.
When we get to August. Weplay football in August this year. Well,
I'm gonna go back and be afootball coach for a second before we
get onto the next thing. Sure, I'm rooting for Ryan Day because I
root for coaches. I don't seeanybody get fired. But I'm just saying,

(19:37):
man, he looks miserable. It'spossibly the hardest place to coach in
college sport, is it? OhioState? As the football coach, you
can't lose. I hope he figuresit out, and I hope that you
get to see the guy with asmile on the face at the end of
next year. That's what I hopefor any and all coaches. So we'll
see what happens. A lot togo on between now and next fall.

(20:00):
They Bow and Woodie were best friendsfor one reason, because they were the
only two people in the world thatunderstand what they both had to do,
you know, and I get that. It makes sense to me, So
well, let's move on. Let'stalk about some of the other Bowl games.
I know there were a lot ofpeople coach that were, oh,
I'm not watching the bowl games,opt outs, transfer portal, all this
kind of stuff and everything. Iwas not that guy. The games that
we talk about today. I watched, if not all, of a good

(20:23):
majority of eighty percent of the gamesthat we're going to talk about today,
maybe more, and I loved everyminute of it because I got to see
different guys play. I mean,I was obviously, I was off work
for that time, so I hadthe ability to do it, and I
texted you a lot, and Ijust I had a ball last week watching
these games. So I'm looking forwardto talking about them. And the first

(20:45):
one we want to talk about isa Holiday Bowl where USC actually came alive
and they beat Louisville forty two totwenty eight, and there's a brand new
meeting to the word being mossed.Miller Moss six touchdown passes, record setting
game for USC, they got anotherquarterback. Yeah. Uh, you know,
Louisville has to be disappointed where theyare and they finished at ten and

(21:07):
four with the those late losses.And then you know, last game in
the Pac twelve for the USC Trojans. As crazy as that is. Uh,
I called this one, if notthe one of the opt out bowls.
Uh. But this game had somespecial team return, special team block
kickstrip sacks, red zone interceptions,but you're right, Paul, the story
was was Miller Moss six touchdowns?Uh? Obviously the offense is set and

(21:34):
the head ball coach and Lincoln Rileycan coach quarterbacks twenty three at thirty three,
three seventy two. Just the oneturnover A plus was Louisvill's running game
Isaac Wenido one hundred and sixty onewith three touchdowns. The team rushed for
two twenty But the problem for Louisvilleand this one and the loss was two

(21:55):
costly fumbles. Yeah. Went backto the old days with Oklahoma State taking
on Texas A and M and theTexas Bowl. The Cowboys win thirty one
twenty three. Big second half forthe Aggie's not enough to make up for
being down eighteen points at the break. Yeah. A and M finishes at
seven and six, and guess whatit is? Officially the Mike Elko Era
at Texas A and M. AndYeah, Mike Gundy gets to ten and

(22:19):
four with a thirty one to twentythree win. Mike Gundy is now twelve
and six in bowl games in hiseighteen seasons at Oklahoma State. Yeah,
Paul, I mean Oklahoma State.You're right, They're up twenty four to
six at half A bright spot forA and m Is Marcel Reid. They'd
like to have this in the regularseason. Three sixty one yards past twenty

(22:41):
nine rush. Wide receiver John A. Walker rush for one hundred and thirty
seven. But Alan Bowman for OklahomaState a really strong game with thirty four
completions for four oh two. Didthrow a couple picks, he tends to
do that. But wide receiver RashadOwens and Brenlan Presley twenty six catches combined

(23:02):
for the two for three sixteen.That's a heck of a day. And
yeah, OLLI played. M hmm, OLLI played, and it was enough
for Oklahoma State to hang on withhis one hundred and eighteen yards rushing fun
the next two games I sat andwatched and you and I talked about him
Thursday night, laughing at the factthat you get to play a bowl game,
and you get to go to thenortheast part of the country and playing

(23:22):
pouring down rain and cold conditions,and the first one was a Fenway ball.
Loved this one. BC wins twentythree fourteen over SMU. Thomas Castillano's
fourth quarter comeback that dude's fun towatch. Well, people listen to the
show. We talked about him allyear, oh year, I mean what
he is athletically, Let's see ifhe sticks around. He's still so far.
I think he's still not in theportal and they're running out of days.

(23:45):
But SMU kind of dropped off theend of the year to finish eleven
and three. That's still a heckof a year. But BC finishes seven
and six, they can say wehad a winning season. This was a
huge win for Jeff Haffley, nodoubt about it. And this was a
thirteen to zero second half for BC. Their defense shut them out. One

(24:06):
thing that I didn't know as wepreviewed this game. I missed this that
Preston Stone got his leg broke latein that Navy game. So Preston Stone's
out. Kevin Jennings competed in thisgame. But yeah, BC defense,
Your boy Castellanos stole the show andthe BC run game, especially in the

(24:26):
second half. But Costellanos one Otwo pass, but he'll get you in
the run with his legs with onefifty six. He's fun to watch and
again a big, big win forJeff Affley. Well then we headed over
to New York and we were playingin Yankee Stadium, the pinstripe bull Rutgers
thirty one. They beat Miami thirtyone to twenty four. Kyle Manananai runs

(24:47):
for one hundred and sixty three.Holy smokes. Rutgers had a great season.
I got chuckle, folks, whenhe sends me the script, he's
he sends me the correct fanatics correct, so I don't screw it up.
So full Monty there. But Rutgersgets to seven and six. Great job

(25:10):
by coach Giano and his staff ina tough job. A thirty one to
twenty four win over a seven andsix Miami A little bit surprising because Miami's
strength all year has been defense.Uh and and Rutgers found a way to
score. But yeah, your boy, monan guy. The Rutgers run game
and zero turnovers A discipline game forRutgers was the difference. The one thing

(25:32):
I will do, and I knowyou never like to put down a coach.
I have no problem putting down anotherbroadcaster. The amount of games that
I watched last week with lousy calls. Okay, these guys doing this Rutgers
game, and I don't remember whothey were. They had no idea that
Rutgers was known for trick plays ontheir offense forever they run them, I

(25:56):
know, right, And that's whatit was. They're running these trick Oh,
we didn't even think that would I'msitting there, I literally and that's
that got me out of my chair. Well, I'm like, do your
prep. Man. Ernie Adams islaughing right now because he and I text
every game, And you're right,I question calls. I don't question coaches.

(26:18):
I question announcers. Yeah, andwith all these Bowl games, Paul,
I mean, I'm thinking, whereare they getting these guys? They
are cut I mean out of thewoodwork. I mean, holy smokes,
I can't get a job getting paidto do one of those jobs. I
know, right, I know right. And these guys don't even have any
idea that Rutgers. That one blewmy mind. How about the Pop Tarts

(26:40):
Bowl. I don't know if youguys know this or not, but before
before the games on New Year's Day, the number one watched bull was the
Pop Tarts Bowl. All because ofall of the advanced social media and marketing
and the pop Tart and all theshares everybody wanted to watch the Pop Tarts
Bowl, except for maybe Kansas Stateand North Carolina State. Anyway, KY

(27:03):
State wins it twenty eight to nineteen. Freshman quarterback got the job done for
k State. Though that game wasproof of marketing. When my wife is
talking to me about the trophy ofthe pits of the Pop Tart Bowl game,
and I've got people just jenner a, did you see the trophy of
the Pop Tart game? And I'mthinking, they don't know what's going on
in the game. They ate themascot. They ate the mascot. So

(27:29):
let's get back to the game.NC State finishes nine to four. Another
great job by that staff to getto where they were, especially with a
slow start. Chris Climbing. Anothergreat job by his staff to win this
game to get to nine and four. Both teams were able to run the
ball, and both teams struggled offensivelyon third down. Brendan Armstrong was average

(27:51):
with an I in t but quarterbackAvery Johnson's legs was a difference in the
game. Three touchdowns, zero turnoversis the difference. And I'm going to
tell you right now. With WillHoward going into portal and Avery Johnson got
some snaps during the year, notmany, but he got some. Those
folks out there Wildcat fans are saying, we'll be all right. I think

(28:12):
that kid's going to be just okay. No, fine, no question about
it. One more thing to addto the Pop Tarts Bowl. Whoever did
the marketing, whoever was the headof the marketing program for the Pop Tarts
Bowl needs to probably get a phonecall from Anheuser Bush. We'll leave that
alone, but it's the truth.How about the Alamo Bowl Arizona thirty eight,

(28:33):
Oklahoma twenty four. This was agood one. The Sooners dominated that
game, but they couldn't hold ontothe football. I have the same word
as Paul, you know, Arizonathirty eight to twenty four. Arizona finishes
finishes seventeen to nothing to win thisgame, to take it. And Oklahoma

(28:55):
dominated the game, especially if theline of scrimmage on defense linebacker Kip Lewis
with all his tackles and tackles forlosses. Dylan Gabriel is gone offensively obviously
for Oklahoma. Jackson Arnold three sixtyone pass two touchdowns, ran the ball
for thirty eight, but he turnedit over four times. Credit Arizona d

(29:18):
for bending most of the game andnot breaking. But that defense got six
six takeaways every week they get Youall probably get tired of me saying it.
If you didn't watch him all yearand you watch him, noa fafida.
Yeah. Twenty four thirty eight,three fifty four two touchdowns, just
that one turnover. Wide receivers McMillanand Cowing another duo seventeen for three twelve

(29:40):
two touchdowns, and safety Dalton Johnsonwas outstanding in this game for Arizona.
A great finish to a great yearfor the Wildcats. Coach talking about the
Wildcats, your cats gave it awaythe gator ball. Thirty eight thirty five.
Clemson beats Kentucky three turnovers in tenplays in the fourth quarter. They

(30:00):
let Clemson come right back in fromdouble digits down to win that game.
We're gonna get to this one fast. Yeah, I call our soign I
could tell in this tone. Isaid, what's wrong? Man? Did
you not watch the Kentucky He's aBuckeye Kentucky fan, So I don't know
how that happens. I guess becausehe was raised in two states. But
yeah, Clemson turns it around thathe Dabbo says. By stock, they

(30:23):
get to nine and four, UKis seven and six. UK season up
and down lately. Two interceptions,two fumbles, three in the in three
and ten plays. As you saidin the fourth quarter, it encapulated their
season, Paul, Yeah, Imean it really did. The Clemson offense
struggled up front for certain, alloweight sacks and ten tackles for loss.

(30:47):
So how in the world do youlose this game? Uh? UK linebacker
THEVN Wallace was outstanding in this game. Barryon Brown for UK had one hundred
yard kickoff return, but phil OMafA four touchdowns and obviously the one to
seal it right there in the lastseconds on the goal line. Good win
for Clemson. Really tough loss.That again, the game encapulated what the

(31:11):
UK season looked like, right understood. The Sun Bowl, Notre Dame blows
Oregon State out forty to eight.I stayed on this game until three minutes
left in the first half, andwhen I'm going somewhere else, I mean,
it was just total domination by NotreDame. Look Oregon State, really
good start, really poor finish tothe season. They lost their last three.
They end up eight and five,score eight points, Notre Dame ten

(31:34):
and three, forty points. NotreDame finishes strong, a good springboard of
next year, winning five of six. Look, Jonathan Smith leaves, they're
leaving the PAC twelve. There's nointerest. I mean, I mean Ray
Charles is watching the game saying thisteam ain't end right on. Notre Dame's
defense allows two rushing yards. Itwas Notre Dame run by committee. No

(31:59):
estimate that it's okay, we're gonnarun for two thirty six against the Oregon
State Beavers. And then lastly,how about quarterbacks Steve Anngelly two hundred and
sixty yards, three touchdowns, zeroturnovers, So a good game for him
in their quarterback without Hartman. Yeah, they're building things there. And Hartman
stood on the sidelines cheering him onthe whole game. I thought that was
cool. I know a lot ofpeople had issues with the guys that opted

(32:21):
out. Being on the sidelines didn'tbother me a bit. I was glad
they were there. They're gonna dowhat they're gonna do because football is business.
The way football is a business.I can't change that at any rate.
Let's move on the Liberty Bowl,Memphis played at home. They won
thirty six twenty six over Iowa State. Seth Hennigan, that's his name.
He was outstanding. He was andgetting to ten wins is a big deal.

(32:45):
Yeah, you know, I wasState ends up seven and six.
That's a winning season. They're nothappy with that, but Memphis to get
to ten and three. One ofmy best friends, one of the best
people I know in the sports acoach at Memphis, so I'm happy for
him. Rock O for Iowa Statewas outstanding for them at quarterback four forty
six three touchdowns, but so isyour guy quarterback Seth Henigan three sixty four

(33:08):
four touchdowns, also zero turnovers.Possibly the player of the game though,
was linebacker for Memphis Chandler Martin.Multiple tackles, one sack, five tackles
for loss, but that Memphis defensivefront was the difference. Zero rush,

(33:28):
eight negative plays. They win sixof their last seven to get to ten
wins. A great job for theTigers at home in the Liberty at home.
Absolutely. In the Peach Bowl,Ole Miss beats Penn State thirty eight
twenty five. Now we all knowthat Ole Miss won the transfer portal to
this point. Now, obviously wehaven't seen the big teams and what they're
gonna do, but he's doing reallywell. I saw today an article that

(33:52):
said Ole Miss probably will compete fora national title next year based on the
schedule that they have and everything likethat. That Old Miss is right there.
Jackson Dart had himself a game andnow he's got some decisions to make.
But boy, he sure showed upand said I may do something different.
I don't know, We'll see.So I got to tell you how

(34:12):
this goes. So, as youknow, I finalized the show on Wednesday
night for today's recording, right,and here's what I got. Old Miss
great and win eleven and two PennState with a tough loss. What ten
and three? Yeah? Correct?They missed Manny oh very much. So
they missed Manny on defense. AndI look, this was a springboard game

(34:34):
for old Miss Lane Kiffen to twentyfour. Why he's killed it in the
portal again, Jackson Dart's coming back. I've said it now for two weeks.
Their schedule is possibly the most favorablein the SEC. It's delightful for
them. So today, sitting therein my office, I'm listening to full

(34:54):
ride, which I like to ChrisChilders, Ye my man Rick new Hies
and I'm listening and they're saying everythingthat I just said. And then all
of a sudden, Chris Chylder goes, whoa, whoa, this is live
radio. Hold on, are youkidding me? Quin Shawn Juckkins just entered

(35:14):
the transfer portal. Oh wow,And I'm thinking, what the hell is
going on? Yeah, I meanLive on, I mean it did,
And instantly I had a text fromErnie Adams quin Shawn Juckkins just went into
the transfer portal. But let's getback to this game. Yeah, they
did miss Manny on defense, butboth quarterback Dark Nailer had a good day
advantage Jackson Dark four touchdowns to zeroturnovers. Both teams ran it effectively.

(35:38):
Here's the difference. Penn State misseda field goal, Ole miss one third
and fourth down without a doubt andOle missus plus two and turnovers. That's
how the SEC team meets to pitthe Big ten team in this game.
And what was closer than thirty eighttwenty five? No question, it was
actually a good game. Music CityBowl, your guys at Maryland win thirty

(36:00):
He won thirteen over Auburn turnovers thedifference there, But boy, Maryland look
good. Yeah, Auburn has atough day. But this was a needed
big ten win in bowl games.Oh absolutely it was. This is the
congratulations to coach Locksley, his staffand his kids. First time in the
history of Maryland football to win threestraight bowl games. They get to eight

(36:23):
and five. No to lea forMaryland. He doesn't play, but a
fast start they get out to thattwenty four to seven lead. Interesting in
this game. Five quarterbacks played inthis game, five three for Auburn,
two for Maryland. None particularly well, but it's hard to overcome four turnovers,
which Auburn's done all year. Absolutely, the Orange Bowl sixty three to

(36:45):
three total beat down. We kindof called it that way. Everybody in
the country called it that way.I hope you took the over. Both
teams finished thirteen and one. Theteam that came in undefeated Florida State.
So here's the thing. It's fortytwo to seven at half and not being

(37:07):
cute, Kirby caught off the dogs. Georgia may be the best team.
They may be the best team,but not the best season. Georgia has
six hundred and seventy three yards inthis game. Paul Carson back side note
may could be the preseason favorite forthe Heisman. But here's all I'm will

(37:30):
say. This game was an indictmenton opt outs, players and coaches,
the transfer portal timing. Now,look, the twelve team playoff is going
to help because there's not opt outsin this game, because one of these

(37:50):
teams absolutely are still on the raceto win a national championship. It will
help. But again, until theyget this stuff fixed. It was ridiculous
for Kirby's art to have to playa team that had that kind of personnel
gone, And it was beyond sadto watch Mike Norvel and that team be
a shell of what they were theentire season. Sad. I'll tell you

(38:10):
what I loved Mike Norvell's words tohis team in the locker room. If
you've got a chance to see that, If you didn't, go to YouTube
check it out. If you're interested, YouTube will also want to go play
for Mike Norvel. I thought itwas really what he said. I and
on that same side, I thoughtthe words that came from the Georgia's sidelines

(38:30):
were extremely put together as well too. We've heard from a lot of big
time coaches that have said, we'vegot to do what you've been talking about
all year, and that's put upthe guardrails and figure this thing out.
And when when your highest paid,most successful coaches are telling you to fix
the problem, the problem has tobe fixed. So hopefully it will be.

(38:51):
Well, we'll see what happens,because man, there were some fired
up people to the last week forall these games. Let's talk about the
Arizona Bowl. I thought Toledo wasgonna win it. By golly, they
were ready, but they lost tothe buzzer Wyoming fifteen Toledo fourteen, eleven
and three Toledo. Wyoming gets tonine wins. Is there a more stoic

(39:12):
face that's leaving the game than CraigBowles who heads into retirement. No to
Kwan Finn for Toledo, But TuckerGleason was okay. Quarterback Andrew Peasley did
play for Wyoming and he was solid. Toledo had one more turnover, Wyoming
won the fourth quarter and Wyoming hadone more field goal and at the gun

(39:36):
by your man kicker John Hoyland towin it. It was a really enjoyable
game to win just to watch.So the Rely Request Bowl, LSU wins
at thirty five thirty one over Wisconsin. Huge fourth quarter for the Bayou Bengals.
But to me, this game camedown to one thing, and that's
the fact that Luke Fickle had betterget himself a defens or he's going to
be in trouble into Big ten.Their defense was horrid in that game,

(40:00):
especially in the second half, fourthquarter. You're right they were. And
the crazy thing is it was theother defensive staff that was let go within
about twenty four hours of this.Wisconsin looked good and solid early. They
go up twenty eight to fourteen atone point in the third and then LSU
outscores, as you say, toWisconsin twenty one to three. In the

(40:23):
rest of the second half. LSUdefense sacks Tanner Mordecai three straight to end
it. Both teams rushing defenses showedup. Neither passing defense did. Quarterbacks
were warriors. Tanner Mordecai twenty sevento forty three, seventy eight three touchdowns,
sometimes not getting much protection, buttheir smiles and Tiger Country. Because

(40:45):
Garrett Nussmayer, who I have alsothought has a chance to be really good.
Thirty one to forty five, threeninety five, three touchdowns, just
the one pick. A couple sidenotes in this game, Paul Malik Neighbors
plays to get the LSU record andthen takes the pads off and heads the
sideline and sets to cheer on histeammates. And I don't blame him at

(41:06):
this point. A showed up togo after the record and wholesale changes as
I've alluded to by LSU and coachKelly for the defense. For defensive coaches,
including the DC, let go here. Just a couple of days ago,
you talked about it earlier in theshow. The Fiesta Bowl featured Oregon
blowing out Liberty forty five to six. That game was one hundred percent about

(41:28):
bow Knicks and my gosh, didhe show up? It was fun.
Yeah, thirty one to six athalf. Look, Jamie Chadwell. I
talked about Caden Salder this season,talked about him last week. Really good
player, Flames a great year,but it was a tough day at black
Rock. And my question was aboutOregon and a couple other of these games.

(41:49):
Will they be interested? They wereinterested? Says a lot about Dan
Lanning and that staff and those kids. But you know where I think that
comes from Nicks five touchdowns. Hedidn't opt out, no, and I
think if he would have, theirinterest would have been gone. It's leadership,
Yeah, it's leadership. And youknow what, if I'm an NFLGM

(42:13):
and a head football coach and I'mmaking decisions, that says a lot.
But the college football record for completionpercentage, Now, he wasn't throwing little
bubble screens. Yea. They weren'ttrying to pad the stats. He was
ripping the ball down the field anddoing that. He finishes not just with
five touchdowns, seventy seven point fortyfour percent completion for the season makes him

(42:37):
the number one in the history ofcollege football. Only now behind him is
who he took over Mac Jones atseventy seven point three six. That's how
close it was. So they couldhave padded it and they didn't. Wide
receiver Tes Walker, who's been outstandingall year, outstanding, one hundred and
seventy two yards and a touchdown.Now, Oregon Ducks, it looks like

(42:57):
your man is Dylan Gabriel. Yep. And they've already gone to work because
next year they play the Buckeyes andMichigan, and they do it three weeks
apart. So Dan Lanney's got hiswork cutout for Oh my god, next
season. I think it's three weeksapart. I think it's three weeks.
Unbelievable. Citrus Bowl Tennessee blows outIowa thirty five to nothing. Iowa scores

(43:19):
no points in their last two games. Somebody said they didn't score a point
against a top twenty five team atall this season. I didn't go do
the research on that, but didthey score against Penn State? I don't
think they did. Wow. Yeah, I just I heard that rumbling the
other day, and I went,did I hear that? Right? I
woul didn't score a point against atop twenty five team? Points aren't that

(43:42):
important? That's what head coach did. That's what he said. No,
I know, I mean, Iunderstand. I defend my son. Listen.
Iowa finishes at ten and four.Ut gets to nine and four.
They needed a w with the lossesand two of their last three down there
at Rocky Top. This game washighlighted by ut He's James Pierce Junior's fifty
two yard pick six, and UT fans have to be happy with freshman

(44:05):
quarterback Nico IAmA Leva, who wastwelve of nineteen one to fifty one,
first start against a terrific defense.Against a terrific defense, he rushed the
ball for twenty seven yards, hadthree touchdowns, took care of it.
Also, they ran the ball againsta team that does not allow you to
run the ball. Dylan Sampson,their sophomore running back, ran for one
hundred and thirty three and Iowa fansare happy with the changing of the ground,

(44:28):
of changing of the guard on offense. I can tell you that I
understand Monday Nights games were unbelievable,as classic as classic could be. You
gotta tip your hat to the guysthat set these games up, and you
gotta tip your hat to the teamsthat showed up to play the Rose Bull.
Michigan twenty seven, Alabama twenty Thatgame went overtime. Coach, They're
going to talk about this game fora long long time. It was fabulous.

(44:51):
Well, you got the goat whowas down and out, dead and
buried, and then you got DarthVader of college football. They didn't shake
hands before the game. That wasduly noted. But Michigan listen, Michigan.
Michigan dominated physically at the line ofscrimmage in the first half. I

(45:13):
mean, if it was not forthe special team's airs by Michigan, this
is a seventeen to twenty one pointgame at half. Now, there's no
question in my mind, Michigan hada great plan offensively and defensively. Pre
game prep plan x'es and o's,here's what we're doing. There's no doubt

(45:36):
in my mind what I've watched twice, Michigan had a better plan. Give
it to them early offensive play callsfor the Tide. I was baffled because
as the year went it looked likeTommy Reese had figured out the identity of
this football team what they were goodat doing, and they keep dropping back
and drop back, and there wasblood in the water. To give up

(45:58):
six first half sacks is ridiculous.But then the nod goes to the Alabama
staff at half the halftime adjustments thatthey make the Tide come out. They
figure out the quarterback run game,they commit to stop the run on defense,
book playing bigger personnel to slow downthose big bullies of Michigan upfront and

(46:20):
corm and crew. But look herecome the tide, but Michigan holds on.
They hold on the tide fumble,they struggle in the red zone offense,
and they have to kick field goalswith their great kicker instead of scoring
touchdown. And look Michigan finishes fourthquarter corp McCarthy's plays in the fourth quarter,
the way the Old Lions step backup to run the rock late in

(46:43):
the game and the defensive front bounceback. I mean it was the first
quarter, first part of the secondquarter. What happened to the defensive front
and they show back up in thefourth quarter in overtime. The pluses for
Alabama their defense for majority of thegame and their offense of adjustments at half
their run game. Michigan doesn't allowyou to run the ball. Alabama ended

(47:06):
up running for one seventy two.Jason McClelland had a good day. And
don't forget the field position game thatAlabama created to continue to flip the field.
Don't miss James burn up the punterfive punts inside the twenty to pen
Michigan, where percentages are very lowto score when you have to drive the
field. But Michigan, their defensivepressure was terrific. Just like the Buckeyes

(47:31):
in all year. They were twofor two on fourth down to extend drives.
But here's the stat of the game, Paul, And if you haven't
seen it, I actually found thisone. Okay. The stat of the
game and maybe the stat of theweek. The number of negative plays that
Alabama's defense created two. Wow.The number of negative plays that Michigan created

(47:58):
sixteen. I knew it was doubledigit. Yew sixteen to two. I
don't care who you got playing.It is going to be hard to overcome
that unless the other team turns itover, and Michigan didn't. So great
a great win for the Michigan Wolverine. Oh my hat's off to them.
They was an unbelievable football game theyplayed. They did exactly what they needed
to do, and now they're inthe national title game. They'll be playing

(48:20):
Washington. They won the Sugar Bowlthirty seven thirty one. Washington held on
in that game. Boy, anotheramazing game. You had to stay up
till one fifteen in the morning,but it was worth it and I did,
and you did and I did.So here we go. Number three.
Texas ends at twelve and two.The Washington Huskies win this thirty seven
thirty one. They're perfect at fourteenoh dimes and darts. Paul Listen,

(48:51):
Ernie and I discussed this. It'sgoing to be hard for me to believe
that the best quarterback in this draftdoesn't end up being down the road Michael
Pennix Junior. I mean his touch, the way he navigates himself away from
pressure, how he can throw theball, the way he throws it and
spends it without stepping into a throw, which is a problem a lot of

(49:14):
times when there's pressure in your face. He showed the mobility that a lot
of people maybe didn't know he had. His deep ball accuracy is incredible.
The last one I saw that goodwas Mac Jones. Now I know he
struggled with the NFL, but hisaccuracy the deep ball was incredible in college.
But here's what I want to notewith Washington. Here's their wins this
year. Boise State at the timewe didn't know it, Arizona, Oregon

(49:40):
twice, usc Utah, Oregon State, and now Texas unbelievable. But here's
the differences in the game and theHusky survive. We'll get to that very
quick. Differences. Texas has twoturnovers to Washington one. Texas has ten

(50:02):
penalties, a lot of penalties inthis game to the most penalized, if
not one of the most penalized teamsin college football. The Huskies in this
game only had five Washington wins.The explosion plays. If you go back
and watch the big plays, themajority of the big plays in the game
came from Washington's offense. Michael Pennock'sarm yes twenty nine to thirty eight,

(50:23):
four p thirty eleven point three pertwo touchdowns, no interceptions, but three
key rushes in this game thirty oneyards. Michael Pennock's longest run of the
season into this game was eleven yards. Trust me, there is no holding

(50:43):
back Minel. There will be runningrun game for Michael Pennocks going into this
national title game. There's nothing youhave to but look quin yours was solid
twenty four to forty three, didn'tthrow pick. Receivers played on both sides
were amazing. You know, lookDoonsay Polk, McMillan, and west Over
in Washington. Then you go overto Texas, got Sanders Whittington, this

(51:06):
guy named Xavier Worthington, and theyoung Star Blue who had a big turnover
in the game, but he canplay. But the last two things I
want to talk about, Paul.In this game. The Washington offensive line
tremendous. That's why they won theJoe Moore Award. And the ending of
this game was something I kept saying, this can't happen. We can't go
through the whole thing. But theway that game came down to, really,

(51:28):
I said, Washington handing the balloff, a kid getting hurt.
Yeah, stopping the clock and nowthey got twenty more seconds, twenty twenty
five seconds more Texas does and theycomplete a big one. And I'll be
honest with you, watching how thatthing was unfolding late, You're like,
Texas is gonna win this day game. Yeah. I felt that way too,
did you know? Yeah, Imean you're like, they're gonna find
a way to win this game theway this thing went down, but it

(51:49):
did not happen. And I don'tknow which is which. We'll finish the
show with this, but it lookedlike two teams of destiny won on the
in the semi finals. Before wego to the win the day, I
want to ask you one question.We didn't talk about this, but I
know you got an answer for it? Is this the last time we ever
see two undefeated teams play for theNational college Championship? You know, it's

(52:14):
funny you say that because you andI talked about it, friends of mine
that have talked about it, andI didn't even think about it this week.
I'd bet a lot of money.Yeah, I think this is it.
I don't know that we'll have anundefeated national champion ever again, I
really don't. I mean, you'rewatching history. You watched History on Monday

(52:35):
night. You're watching history again thisMonday night. You have two undefeated teams
in major college football for probably thelast time ever, and both teams can
win that game and we'll talk aboutthat. Yeah, you're one of the
most astute on top of things withsport that I know. You said this,
Who is this league start other thansalary cap and controlling how money's spent

(52:58):
and free agents in season? Butwho's college football trying to model themselves after?
Well, the NFL? And whenwas the last undefeated champion in the
NFL? Seventy two? Nineteen seventytwo. So yeah, odds are with
one, mister Belichick. Did wecame really, mister Brady with mister Brady
and mister Belichick. That's right.So we'll talk about that again a second.

(53:21):
But coach, your Win the Dayaward, and I feel like,
I feel like I don't want tosee your thunder, but I almost feel
like I'm going to hear the nameHarball in the Win the Day Award,
but not because of where they're at, but for what he's dodged. But
I could be way off. Butanyway, going well, that's our last
win of the day. So I'mgoing to throw this in here real quick
side note because we started the Bowlpreseason off with this is Bowl records by

(53:45):
conference. Absolutely American three and three, AC and c ACC five and six,
Big twelve five and four, BigTen five and four, Conference USA
two and two, Independent meaning NotreDame. Want to know the MAC two
and four, the Mountain West threeand four, the PAC twelve five and

(54:05):
three, the SEC five and four, the Sun Belt five and seven.
Couple things I see there. Noconference really spit spit the bit. The
worst record was two and four bythe MAC and they had one point losses,
two point losses. I mean theycompeted, yeah, But I look
at the Big five, the ACC, the Big twelve, the Big ten,
the PAC twelve, the SEC,who I thought was the deepest has

(54:30):
the best record at five and three, and who I thought was the least
deep was the ACC, the onlyone of the Power five that did not
have a winning record at five andsix in the bowl games. But also,
like you say all the time,the NFL is built to be five
hundred. If you look at thoseand they're going after an NFL model we're
looking at that's true at what fiveeighty six hundred type teams. So they

(54:52):
were built to be five hundred.And if you win a game here there,
you make it. Great point coachwho won the day? Man?
Well man, this may be mylongest list, so I'm not gonna spend
time on it because there were somany nominees. First ut quarterback, first
start versus Iowa again, Nika,I'm a lev A great job. Yeah,
next one, I mean this couldbe a winner. Lamar Jackson and

(55:14):
the Baltimore Ravens. They're thirteen andthree, they beat the tar out of
the Dolphins fifty six nineteen, Theyhave the MVP. He's gonna win it,
and they got the number one seedin the FC. Enough said the
Missouri Tigers. You alluded to coachRinkwitz the job he's done, great defense,
over performed expectations other than the peoplein that locker room. The team

(55:36):
gutted it out and got a bigprogram win against the blue blood. I
have to because I got a crushCaitlin Clark from the logo to win it
over Michigan State at the buzzer bythree, It's like it never ends,
it never ends. That ball wasthis close in her She got that ball
out literally in centimeters before that clockwent off. I watched that five times,

(56:01):
and I swear to god she stillhad the crazy, crazy shot.
I would prefer to watch her rightnow than any other athlete playing. It's
crazy. She's unbelievable. C J. Stroud another great game. I think
I can say this with confidence,will be your Rookie of the Year in
the NFL, and took the Texansto the playoff and be reminded he was

(56:24):
voted before his first snap in areal game. Captain Stroud, Garrett Nusmeyer,
Jade and Daniels Sitz the Heisman Trophywinner. Coach enbrock Leaves is the
offensive coordinator. There's LSU expectations alot like there are at Ohio State and
throws for four hundred and three touchdowns, bowl win. These next three could

(56:47):
want it, the last three nominees, But how can I not say Michael
Pennox junior, his career, hisseason, his Bowl performance, his Heisman
runner up, his title shot,and who you and I both agree is
the most valuable player in college football. Next standing right there with him is

(57:07):
Bo Nicks. He's a champion fivetouchdowns, is now the record holder for
percentage completions in college football. Andthe young man does not opt out.
He is a winner. And thelast nominee, I hate to disappoint you,
Paul coach Jim Harbaugh. He's gotdecisions to make. Millions of them.

(57:34):
Yeah, one hundred and twenty fivemillions of them, they say,
Blake Korum McCarthy. The defense,the job that offensive coordinate, offensive coordinator
Sharon Moore. Charon Moore made DCjustin minner of the season that they had
on defense, the plan he hadagainst the Tide, a head coach that
was suspended six games. Some sayit should have been more Connor Stallions at

(57:58):
the game. I mean, youknew that, you kind of thought that
had to happen. Right, It'stwenty twenty three football, Michigan wins three
in a row for Coach Hardball againstthe buck Eyes and they are title game
bound, which is much needed forthe Big Ten. Buck Eye fans hate
it, but it's good for theBig Ten. But the winner, the

(58:20):
winner is Kaylin de Boor and theWashington Huskies. Folks, if you don't
know about the coaches I respect,most are the ones that weren't born on
third base, I'll say it.The best coach I ever coached with,
and I've coached with a lot ofgreat ones, so I hope I don't
hurt feelings. Was Dean Pace gota pretty good record. He started as

(58:44):
a high school football coach at asmall school in northwest Ohio. He went
to coach Division two ball, coachedin the MAC, coached at an academy,
coached in the MAC, and wego on to Michigan State, Notre
Dame head coach in the MAC,and all those defensive coordinator jobs in the
NFL. The bottom line was,he learned it at every level. Kaylan

(59:08):
de Boor has won at a pace. If you haven't looked at his history,
which is phenomenal. Kaylan de Boorfrom South Dakota is a winner.
His record at Washington in two seasons. Last year they were eleven and two.
This year they're fourteen and Oh he'stwenty five and two. Now,

(59:30):
mind you, the three seasons beforehe arrived at Washington in twenty nineteen,
eight and five, the Huskies werein twenty twenty in the crazy COVID year,
they were three and one, andtwenty twenty one. Before he got
there, they were four and eight. So he's taken a team that was
fifteen and fourteen and three years totwenty five and two and two. But
that ain't his most impressive work.Paul five years as the head football coach

(59:54):
at Sioux Falls in AIA sixty sevenand three, three national title titles and
one runner up. He then,after being a coordinator at Indiana, gets
a chance to be the head coachat Fresno State COVID years three and three

(01:00:14):
whatever, bounce back nine and three. The guy goes twelve and six and
two years at Fresno State that wasstruggling before he got there. The guy
can flat out coach football. He'sgot a great staff and the story for
the Washington Huskies. That's why beforewe go to this last bit of our
last show, there's some stuff pullingon my heartstrings because his story is pretty

(01:00:35):
fricking incredible as a football coach.Yeah, and by the way, he
doesn't call plays. He does notcall place great great ad there, great
ADSs tody call plays. Just wantedto let you know, because coach,
you're right about that, all right? Who wins it? Man? And
why who wins Monday Night? Andwhy? I don't have a single note.

(01:00:55):
All I'll say is you got theonly two perfect teams, As we've
already said, the only two getto face off for the national championship number
two fourteen to O number one fourteenO, the Huskies and the Wolverines.
The Wolverines, as of today,Thursday afternoon, are sitting at a four
and a half point favorite, afifty five and a half point over under.

(01:01:21):
And I don't know. I kindof think that over under favors Washington.
I do. It's this one's atough one to call. Paul.
I would not bet this game becausemy head says, Michigan they've weathered a
storm that no other team is weathered. They've went there the last two years,
got got embarrassed by you know,the first hurdle was to beat Ohio

(01:01:44):
State. Okay, the harball era, that culture. They got that done.
They've done three straight times. Thenthey went to two straight semi finals
and got boat raced. Now they'vegot that demon gone as they beat the
big bad Alabama Crimson Tide, andthe naysayers they've been galvanized. You've listened

(01:02:07):
to JJ McCarthy, You've listened toBlake korm you listen to these players.
Their defensive front is tremendous. They'relike a Boa constrictor. They do,
They pound you. They're gonna playtheir style of game, then all of
a sudden they'll sneak up. SharonMoore's got a great knack for calling the
trick play, the aggressive play atthe right time. So again my question

(01:02:28):
is, but they answered it isdo they have enough players on the perimeter
to make plays? Well? Obviouslythey did to go where they're at and
they just beat Alabama. The WashingtonHuskies have the offensive line that just took
away the Joe Moore Award from Michigan. They have who we think is the
MVP. They have arguably the bestwide receiver group that we've seen, including

(01:02:52):
what we've seen at o High Statetwo years ago. I mean odoonsay arguably
is he is right there with MarvinHarrison junior and those guys with them can
play. They say, is RandyMoss all over again? Yeah? Does
does Dylan play? He is playing? Yeah? You know he got hurt
late in that game. I guessthe biggest question to me is the Washington
defense show up and slow and createpunts and turnovers to help because Washington they're

(01:03:20):
gonna score points. And we've seenWashington give up points Oregon in some of
those games in the middle of theyou know, back in September October,
they gave up a lot of points. So again, all games. Let's
end the show with what I've saidbefore, turnovers, explosion plays, red
zone, offense, defense, doyou convert on third down? But I
do think the Washington if the Washingtondefense shows up, I'm taking the Huskies.

(01:03:44):
Yeah. Now that may be myheart. I've got friends on that
staff. Again for the Big Ten, I'd love to see Michigan win.
I think it's a great story forcollege football because how many people are rooting
against Michigan because of all the Shendanagainst that have been going on this year.
But yeah, uh, to endmy picks, you know, I
don't like to pick, but puta gun to my head, I guess

(01:04:05):
my heart says, take the Huskies. Yeah, I hear you. I
guess I look at it this way, you know, And I look at
the Michigan team, and I sayto myself, if I had to take
one player, if I'm an NFLguy and I have take one player off
that Michigan team to have on myteam, I'm taking JJ McCarthy because I
think that guy just gets the jobdone. He gets it, he understands.

(01:04:27):
I think he's a fiery guy.I think he understands toughness. I
mean, I can't say a badthing about JJ McCarthy. I think sometimes
he lets his tongue slip a littlebit. But he's a college football player,
so I'm not going to credit himon that. I would take him.
Who's his mentor? Well, absolutelyand best friend. If you watch
the love after the game on Mondaynight, and then I look at the

(01:04:49):
Huskies and I think to myself,who on that team do I want?
Yeah, I want Michael Pennix.But I think I also want Rona Do's
and do is unbelievable. So butdo I look at a second player on
the Michigan team that I want?Korms good, but I think I think
there's other guys as good or whatever. But I look at the Washington team

(01:05:12):
and I say, man, thereare multiple players on that team I would
take today, and there's only acouple of guys I would take off the
Michigan lineup. So that's why Ifeel like Washington probably is going to win
that football game. Plus obviously theoffensive line and getting that award and knowing
they're the best offensive line Michigan hadthat a year ago. Well, I
just but I think it's gonna bea great game, barring anyone getting hurt.

(01:05:34):
If you think this game is goingto be a blowout, I think
you're nuts. I think this isgoing to be a great football game where
two teams just punch each other inthe mouth. I really do. I'll
be shocked if it's not a greatgame. And I see your point.
Here's what I see, And I'mglad you brought this up because I didn't
think of it the way you justsaid it. There's more wow, guys
for Washington. Yeah, but there'sseventeen or eighteen NFL draft picks of depth

(01:05:58):
for Michigan. Obeah, what makesit such an outstanding and Ernie Adams and
I said what you just said toPaul when we're watching this past game in
the semi final, both of us. JJ McCarthy looks like he has a
chance to be a real deal quarterbackin the NFL. Yeah, I just
don't think he had any receivers thisyear. I think Wilson's good, but
I don't think he's elite. Ijust I don't think he had the people

(01:06:19):
to throw to that they were hopingthat he would have. And especially towards
the end of the season where hejust wasn't throwing the ball that much unless
he had to, I think therewas a reason for that. I just
think he's a good game manager.I mean, I hate to say this,
but he kind of reminds you ofof Brady. When Brady's playing good
football. He knows where to putthe ball, who to put the ball
to, you know where he's doing. He doesn't make mistakes. He's a

(01:06:41):
fiery guy. I just think Ithink the world of the guy. I
really do. I hate the factwe're gonna have to compete against him next
year, the Buck guys unless hechanges his mind. Well, here's the
other thing that people wouldn't have saiduntil last week about Pinnix is one key
to this game will be other thanthe ones we went down. There's a
lot of keys. Is one.Michigan has to quit making turn special teams

(01:07:04):
heirs but extended plays because both quarterbackscan do it with their legs. Washington's
got to limit that with McCarthy andnow Michigan's got to do the same against
Washington. Absolutely, it's gonna bea great game. Coach, It's been
a phenomenal season five. I can'tbelieve it's over. Well, I got
a few people I got to think. First of all, I want to

(01:07:25):
thank our listeners because every week itamazes me the messages I get about the
show. Two, I want tothank Ernie Adams, who's like a brother
to me. Will keep him anonymous. I think he thinks that's cool,
but every week we discuss things andI trust his judgment. I want to
thank the coaches that listen, butthe coaches and staffs and football that allow

(01:07:45):
me to have insight of what's goingon. So this is not just BS.
I want to thank my wife,Carrie in and our daughter and our
kids because this show takes a lotof prep time a lot. I don't
complain about it, but sometimes Ido. I do want to thank College
Football. I mean, it's tome other than Master Sunday. I don't

(01:08:08):
think I don't know what's better.And last, but not least, I
want to thank you, Bud,because you're awesome. Thanks man. I
appreciate it. I love this.I mean, this is this is the
best part of my week some weeks, it really is. And I appreciate
you, and I appreciate what youbring to the show and all of the

(01:08:28):
response that we get. I justit blows my mind. I can't believe
we've done this five years. Yousaid that a few times, and I
was like, well, I can'tbelieve we've done this five times. And
you'll know that I put on thescript that our next show is Thursday,
August twenty second, twenty twenty four. I don't know where we'll be in
August, but I had to putit on there. I saw I had

(01:08:49):
to put it on there because thatis week that is week zero, the
Thursday before Week zero coach. Thankyou. It is truly my pleasure of
being here and doing this show withyou, and I'm so glad we make
the time to do it and thework you put into it. It really
is a great show. Thank youguys for tuning in once again. If
you're finding The Oh Show for thefirst time, make sure you hit followed

(01:09:10):
because the next time we put oneout, which is gonna be a while
because we'll start the next season inAugust, you'll get a ding right there
on your phone. Enjoy it,share it, and enjoy the game Monday
night. It's going to be unbelievable.