January 10, 2025 • 9 mins
Mark Kunz, from BCSN, joined Todd Walker on the Friday edition of "Lima's Morning News" to preview the Ohio State-Texas College Football Playoff Semifinal.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Tonight here on WIMA. It's the College Football Playoffs semifinal
at the Cotton Bowl Ohio State and Texas, And of
course one of these teams will have a chance to
get revenge on the other in the season opener next
season hint Columbus. But right now everything's on the line
for the Buckeyes and the Longhorns. Seven thirty tonight with
(00:24):
the Buckeyes down in Arlington, Texas. Is our good friend,
Mark Coons from BCSN in Toledo. Mark, Good morning, Good morning, Todd.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
How's it going good?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Good? I had some scary, kind of nasty weather there
on the arrival day, but looks like things will be
fine for tonight and the Buckeyes and the Longhorns. You know,
even though they were both outside the teams with a bye,
certainly no surprise that they're both here. So from the
psyche standpoint, I think both these teams are kind of
(00:56):
where they thought they should be.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Right Well, when he talked about blue bloods in college football,
they don't get a whole lot more blue than Texas
and Ohio State. Great tradition, they've been both been on
the upswing over the last several years. They've They've been
doing a great job recruiting. The talent level is there
for both Texas and Ohio State. So this is similar
to the Rose Bowl. This is a matchup that very
easily could have been a national championship type matchup. But
(01:20):
we're gonna get in the semifinal and we got two
good teams, two very talented teams going head to head today.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
And of course, the other subplot storyline is one Quinn
Yours of course, became famous for doing nothing at Ohio
State but getting paid a lot of money to say
he would come there and play. He since left and
went to Texas and pretty good numbers this year and
a rumor that he's going to leave for another mega
(01:46):
deal somewhere else. But I don't know. I mean, I'm
not that big a Quinn Yours fan. I mean he's
fine and good and everything. But what's your take on him?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I think you've hit something right. There is a good
college quarterback. Is he a fantastic college quarterback? He can be.
Is he a horrible college quarterback? Certainly not. He's like,
just like a whole lot of eighteen to twenty three
year olds, He's gonna have his ups and downs. He's
gonna have good games, he's gonna have bad games. He
statistically he's a little he was a little better last
season than he was this year, but he has been
(02:19):
bad this year. And heeds so much hype out of
this individual. Coming out of high school, as you reference
as a what he should have been a high school senior,
he signed a million dollar endorsement deal, which is why
he reclassified a year early, left Texas come to Ohio States.
At the time, in Texas, high schoolers could not sign
endorsement deals. In Ohio you could, so he signed an
(02:39):
endorsement deal for a tea company and came to Ohio
State for four months. And he is very complimentary about
his time at Ohio State when he talked with the
media earlier this week and said he doesn't regret anything.
He came because of the culture at Ohio State, because
he wanted to learn from Ryan Day and from CJ. Stroud,
and he did just that, and then it was time
to come back home. He was a little homesick, and
so he's been in Texas since then and has had
(03:02):
some success. But certainly it's an interesting matchup and from
the highest state perspective, here's something to keep an eye on.
Jack Sawyer and Quinn Ewers were roommates those four months
Viewers was in Columbus, so they've kept in touch, and
they both said, you know, we kind of look forward
to meeting each other in the backfield tonight.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
I would bet Sawyer's looking forward to that more than
quinn yours, so he's probably not one a meeting till
after the game. But nonetheless, the speaking of defense, Mark Coons,
we focus on offense so much, but really both of
these teams are better defensively. They're both top five in
just about every category. What do you see with the
Texas defense that makes them tough?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Well, I think you got to talk about the secondary,
particularly Jada Baher and the Thorp Player of the Year.
He's five interceptions eleven pass breakups so far this season
and one of the reasons why this Ohio State team
is honestly offense has been so good in the playoffs
because Will Howard has been so good in the playoffs
he has not thrown an interception, and throughout the regular
(04:05):
season we always counted on Will Howard to throw a
bad pick at some point in time, and against Michigan
it came at some really bad times. Howard's been very
good in the in the in the playoffs. He has
not thrown an interception so far in the postseason. But
this Texas secondary is going to be really good. And
the front for Texas is really good. The Donovan Jackson
called it the fastest front they're gonna they've seen all
(04:25):
season long. So this Texas defense is superb that they've
leave the nation in pass defense in Ohio State, certainly
they've written Will Howard's arm and more accurately, Jeremiah Smith's
hands and legs to get to the semifinal. So we'll
see how they can do against a very good Texas
defense tonight.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Yeah, Mark Coons is with us talking Buckeye football, buck
guys and Longhorns tonight here on w IM and the
College Football Playoff semi final. And conversely, when you think
of these teams matching up, you look at sort of
the arc of their s season. Texas was kind of
the number one team for a while and then lost
twice to Georgia, but they've salvaged their season same way
(05:08):
with the Ohio State. So both of them got scares,
I guess you could say, but maybe we're overlooking something.
Where's it? What's the key area of this game? You
think they could decide it other than the usual with
the turnovers or something. What's a matchup you're looking at.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
I think one thing to keep an eye on. When
Texas has lost, they have struggled to run the ball.
Ohio State's run defense has been extremely good. If they
can limit the Texas run game and make Texas one
dimensional what they were able to do against Oregon, what
they're able to do against Tennessee, I think that'll be
a huge plus in Ohio State's favor And that goes
back to getting off to a quick start. You know
(05:48):
they thirty four to nothing in against Oregon into late
the second quarter and then the twenty one nothing start
against Tennessee. That they got off the good starts in
those two playoff games games and that was able to
put a little pressure off of the defense make the
opposing offensive one dimensional. We saw the great job the
has to State defenset against Oregon thirteen TfL's eight sacks
(06:11):
in that game because they made Oregon one dimensional. They
can do the same thing for Texas, then it's going
to be a long night for the Longhorns.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Were talking Buck guys with Mark Koons. Of course, injuries
on the offensive line have led to changes, and it's
meant playing time for Findlay grad Luke Montgomery. He's been
in the mix at the guard spot Mark and he's
been playing very well. Maybe not getting a majority of
the reps or the snaps, but he's making a name
for himself here.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Oh absolutely, it's been an interesting solution to the injury
issues on the offensive line for Ohio State as they've
moved Donovan Jackson out to left tackle and they've gone
to a little bit of a unique rotation with Tiger Shabola,
Austin sever Old, and Luke Montgomery. Now Shabola and several
Olds have been starting with the third series of the
playoff games, Loops come in and has, like you said,
(07:01):
has made an impact. Against the Tennessee Volunteers, Pro Football
Focus had him ranked as the number one graded him
as the number one offensive lineman, and against Oregon he
graded out as the number two offensive line behind Donova Jackson.
So he is doing his work and he's getting some
recognition for it. And you know, when we've talked to
Luke a couple of times over the last couple of
weeks and he said, you know, I haven't changed my approach.
(07:23):
I've just been able to get more reps and they
have been able to show what I can do. And
I've been put into these moments and I haven't flinched.
And I expect the same to be true tonight that
Luke's going to get his reps and we're going to
see this former highly regarded high school recruit coming to
his own as he has done the last two games.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Mark final thoughts of both these coaches have sort of
dinged reputations. I mean, of course, Sarkisian had his off
field problems and seemingly his team sort of underachieves. Ryan Day,
of course, the whole Michigan albatross continues to wrap around
his neck. Both these guys are sort of, I don't
(08:02):
want to say on hot seats, but a little under fire,
trying to cement a legacy. It's an interesting angle.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
There's so many similarities between these two programs, and then
it goes back to, like you said that the coaches
and the issues they've had. I think that the hot
seats part of me. I think the hot seat under
Ryan Day has certainly been turned down a little bit
takes to the two wins in the playoffs, a victory
tonight for either coach woll a long way our colleague.
Day breaks from this little blade had an interesting calm
kind of comparing Ryan Day to pre major winning Phil Nicholson. Everybody,
(08:35):
everybody accepts the talent that Ryan Day has and the
ability has as a coach, but until he beats Michigan,
he's going to be the best head coach and never
to beat Michigan. He has beatn Michigan, but they going
back to that comparison with Phil Nicholson, where it took
Phil winning a major before he was fully embraced as
one of the top golfers in PGA history, or we're
at the same point with Ryan Day. He needs to
(08:56):
win a national championship be fully embraced. I don't know
if it's going to this year. It very well could,
but he has done a lot and I think also
Chip Kelly has found a better rhythm with Ryan Day.
With the offensive play calling that they've had. What they've
been able to do against Tennessee and Oregon is what
we thought that this Ohio State offense could look like
(09:17):
all season long. They have found that play calling rhythm.
I expect that to continue tonight as well.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Mark Coons is down in Dallas with the buck Eys. Mark,
we'll talk again next week regardless, but hopefully we're previewing
one more game.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Sounds good as hopefully we get an all Midwest National championship.
But first off, Buckeys need to take care of business
against the Longhorns.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
You've got it.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Thanks Mark, You're welcome, Todd anytime
Tonight here on WIMA. It's the College Football Playoffs semifinal
at the Cotton Bowl Ohio State and Texas, And of
course one of these teams will have a chance to
get revenge on the other in the season opener next
season hint Columbus. But right now everything's on the line
for the Buckeyes and the Longhorns. Seven thirty tonight with
(00:24):
the Buckeyes down in Arlington, Texas. Is our good friend,
Mark Coons from BCSN in Toledo. Mark, Good morning, Good morning, Todd.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
How's it going good?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Good? I had some scary, kind of nasty weather there
on the arrival day, but looks like things will be
fine for tonight and the Buckeyes and the Longhorns. You know,
even though they were both outside the teams with a bye,
certainly no surprise that they're both here. So from the
psyche standpoint, I think both these teams are kind of
(00:56):
where they thought they should be.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Right Well, when he talked about blue bloods in college football,
they don't get a whole lot more blue than Texas
and Ohio State. Great tradition, they've been both been on
the upswing over the last several years. They've They've been
doing a great job recruiting. The talent level is there
for both Texas and Ohio State. So this is similar
to the Rose Bowl. This is a matchup that very
easily could have been a national championship type matchup. But
(01:20):
we're gonna get in the semifinal and we got two
good teams, two very talented teams going head to head today.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
And of course, the other subplot storyline is one Quinn
Yours of course, became famous for doing nothing at Ohio
State but getting paid a lot of money to say
he would come there and play. He since left and
went to Texas and pretty good numbers this year and
a rumor that he's going to leave for another mega
(01:46):
deal somewhere else. But I don't know. I mean, I'm
not that big a Quinn Yours fan. I mean he's
fine and good and everything. But what's your take on him?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I think you've hit something right. There is a good
college quarterback. Is he a fantastic college quarterback? He can be.
Is he a horrible college quarterback? Certainly not. He's like,
just like a whole lot of eighteen to twenty three
year olds, He's gonna have his ups and downs. He's
gonna have good games, he's gonna have bad games. He
statistically he's a little he was a little better last
season than he was this year, but he has been
(02:19):
bad this year. And heeds so much hype out of
this individual. Coming out of high school, as you reference
as a what he should have been a high school senior,
he signed a million dollar endorsement deal, which is why
he reclassified a year early, left Texas come to Ohio States.
At the time, in Texas, high schoolers could not sign
endorsement deals. In Ohio you could, so he signed an
(02:39):
endorsement deal for a tea company and came to Ohio
State for four months. And he is very complimentary about
his time at Ohio State when he talked with the
media earlier this week and said he doesn't regret anything.
He came because of the culture at Ohio State, because
he wanted to learn from Ryan Day and from CJ. Stroud,
and he did just that, and then it was time
to come back home. He was a little homesick, and
so he's been in Texas since then and has had
(03:02):
some success. But certainly it's an interesting matchup and from
the highest state perspective, here's something to keep an eye on.
Jack Sawyer and Quinn Ewers were roommates those four months
Viewers was in Columbus, so they've kept in touch, and
they both said, you know, we kind of look forward
to meeting each other in the backfield tonight.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
I would bet Sawyer's looking forward to that more than
quinn yours, so he's probably not one a meeting till
after the game. But nonetheless, the speaking of defense, Mark Coons,
we focus on offense so much, but really both of
these teams are better defensively. They're both top five in
just about every category. What do you see with the
Texas defense that makes them tough?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Well, I think you got to talk about the secondary,
particularly Jada Baher and the Thorp Player of the Year.
He's five interceptions eleven pass breakups so far this season
and one of the reasons why this Ohio State team
is honestly offense has been so good in the playoffs
because Will Howard has been so good in the playoffs
he has not thrown an interception, and throughout the regular
(04:05):
season we always counted on Will Howard to throw a
bad pick at some point in time, and against Michigan
it came at some really bad times. Howard's been very
good in the in the in the playoffs. He has
not thrown an interception so far in the postseason. But
this Texas secondary is going to be really good. And
the front for Texas is really good. The Donovan Jackson
called it the fastest front they're gonna they've seen all
(04:25):
season long. So this Texas defense is superb that they've
leave the nation in pass defense in Ohio State, certainly
they've written Will Howard's arm and more accurately, Jeremiah Smith's
hands and legs to get to the semifinal. So we'll
see how they can do against a very good Texas
defense tonight.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Yeah, Mark Coons is with us talking Buckeye football, buck
guys and Longhorns tonight here on w IM and the
College Football Playoff semi final. And conversely, when you think
of these teams matching up, you look at sort of
the arc of their s season. Texas was kind of
the number one team for a while and then lost
twice to Georgia, but they've salvaged their season same way
(05:08):
with the Ohio State. So both of them got scares,
I guess you could say, but maybe we're overlooking something.
Where's it? What's the key area of this game? You
think they could decide it other than the usual with
the turnovers or something. What's a matchup you're looking at.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
I think one thing to keep an eye on. When
Texas has lost, they have struggled to run the ball.
Ohio State's run defense has been extremely good. If they
can limit the Texas run game and make Texas one
dimensional what they were able to do against Oregon, what
they're able to do against Tennessee, I think that'll be
a huge plus in Ohio State's favor And that goes
back to getting off to a quick start. You know
(05:48):
they thirty four to nothing in against Oregon into late
the second quarter and then the twenty one nothing start
against Tennessee. That they got off the good starts in
those two playoff games games and that was able to
put a little pressure off of the defense make the
opposing offensive one dimensional. We saw the great job the
has to State defenset against Oregon thirteen TfL's eight sacks
(06:11):
in that game because they made Oregon one dimensional. They
can do the same thing for Texas, then it's going
to be a long night for the Longhorns.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Were talking Buck guys with Mark Koons. Of course, injuries
on the offensive line have led to changes, and it's
meant playing time for Findlay grad Luke Montgomery. He's been
in the mix at the guard spot Mark and he's
been playing very well. Maybe not getting a majority of
the reps or the snaps, but he's making a name
for himself here.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Oh absolutely, it's been an interesting solution to the injury
issues on the offensive line for Ohio State as they've
moved Donovan Jackson out to left tackle and they've gone
to a little bit of a unique rotation with Tiger Shabola,
Austin sever Old, and Luke Montgomery. Now Shabola and several
Olds have been starting with the third series of the
playoff games, Loops come in and has, like you said,
(07:01):
has made an impact. Against the Tennessee Volunteers, Pro Football
Focus had him ranked as the number one graded him
as the number one offensive lineman, and against Oregon he
graded out as the number two offensive line behind Donova Jackson.
So he is doing his work and he's getting some
recognition for it. And you know, when we've talked to
Luke a couple of times over the last couple of
weeks and he said, you know, I haven't changed my approach.
(07:23):
I've just been able to get more reps and they
have been able to show what I can do. And
I've been put into these moments and I haven't flinched.
And I expect the same to be true tonight that
Luke's going to get his reps and we're going to
see this former highly regarded high school recruit coming to
his own as he has done the last two games.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Mark final thoughts of both these coaches have sort of
dinged reputations. I mean, of course, Sarkisian had his off
field problems and seemingly his team sort of underachieves. Ryan Day,
of course, the whole Michigan albatross continues to wrap around
his neck. Both these guys are sort of, I don't
(08:02):
want to say on hot seats, but a little under fire,
trying to cement a legacy. It's an interesting angle.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
There's so many similarities between these two programs, and then
it goes back to, like you said that the coaches
and the issues they've had. I think that the hot
seats part of me. I think the hot seat under
Ryan Day has certainly been turned down a little bit
takes to the two wins in the playoffs, a victory
tonight for either coach woll a long way our colleague.
Day breaks from this little blade had an interesting calm
kind of comparing Ryan Day to pre major winning Phil Nicholson. Everybody,
(08:35):
everybody accepts the talent that Ryan Day has and the
ability has as a coach, but until he beats Michigan,
he's going to be the best head coach and never
to beat Michigan. He has beatn Michigan, but they going
back to that comparison with Phil Nicholson, where it took
Phil winning a major before he was fully embraced as
one of the top golfers in PGA history, or we're
at the same point with Ryan Day. He needs to
(08:56):
win a national championship be fully embraced. I don't know
if it's going to this year. It very well could,
but he has done a lot and I think also
Chip Kelly has found a better rhythm with Ryan Day.
With the offensive play calling that they've had. What they've
been able to do against Tennessee and Oregon is what
we thought that this Ohio State offense could look like
(09:17):
all season long. They have found that play calling rhythm.
I expect that to continue tonight as well.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Mark Coons is down in Dallas with the buck Eys. Mark,
we'll talk again next week regardless, but hopefully we're previewing
one more game.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Sounds good as hopefully we get an all Midwest National championship.
But first off, Buckeys need to take care of business
against the Longhorns.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
You've got it.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Thanks Mark, You're welcome, Todd anytime
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