July 9, 2025 • 10 mins
Today the Guys talk to Phil Steele of the College Football Bible as he talks about the upcoming season, what to expect from the Longhorns, what to expect in the SEC and who will be the breakouts.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
He wrote this. He started this in nineteen ninety five,
and he continues to roll on. And if you are
a college football fan, this is like Christmas for most
of you, well all of you, because I know as
soon as I got mine, it became Christmas once again.
He is Phil still the one and only that is
(00:23):
bringing you the field still College Football Preview, and Phil
as always thank you so much for joining us. I
get excited every time because it means football season is
upon us.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, it's only about forty some plus days away, but
always good being on the show with you guys.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
We're excited about it. So let's get right into it.
Because obviously the Texas Longhorns being here being the flagship
station where you can hear all you games right here
on AM thirteen hundred the Zone. But the Texas Longhorns
have turned this program around since the Sarkisiam first got here,
obviously five and seven. You start to see continuous growth
(01:06):
and it doesn't look like this team is slowing down,
especially now that you have Arch Manning as the starting quarterback.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, this year's Texas team loaded with talent. You look
at the quarterback, as you mentioned, Arch Manning. They've got
my number three set of running backs in the country.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
And even though they lose.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Their top three receivers from last year, they're pretty much
in the same shape they were last season. Remember they
lost their top three guys last year.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
They still have ten what I.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Call vhds or very highly ton of receivers and my
number five receiving corps. Defensive line linebackers dbs. All top
ten special teams are even up there. I've got them
at number six. Probably the one biggest question I have
with Texas would be the offensive line loose and four starters.
But I think when you look at pure talent on
the team, you can make a case that Texas might
(01:53):
have the most.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Seal to the team in the country.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Bill, you have a book called the Bible. When people
start listing your publication as the sports Bible, it's got
to make you feel real good about yourself and all
the work that you put into this.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah, I tell you what you know.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
We pour seven months of effort into this magazine each
and every year. I start the Sunday after Thanksgiving and
go all the way through the first week of June.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
I talked to probably one hundred and twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Five plus head coaches going over their entire roster spent
about an average of an hour apiece. Been doing it
for thirty one years, so it's a lot of effort
put into it. But yes, you are very correct when
people refer to it as the Bible. It makes me
very happy and makes me all that effort well worth it.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
You have to also feel great about not having a boss.
I mean, you're the editor, the writer, the producer, like
you own all the publication company. Like, man, you're doing
it big. Are we going to see you on Forbes
anytime soon?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
I don't think we'll get there.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
But you know what, when I'm watching my twelve games
on Saturday and I'm thinking that's work, It's not really work,
is it, Guys? When you're watching twelve football games and
that's your job. So I tell you what, I'm living
the life right now.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
That's what it's all about. We're talking to field Steel.
He is the author, editor of chief, he is the CEO.
He is the man when it comes to field Steel's
college football preview. And we wanted to talk about this too,
because you said that the Texas Longhorns. Right now you
have them as your twenty sixth ranked offensive line. And
(03:33):
there's some guys on there that are making some ways.
Obviously DJ Campbell's getting a lot of pub but a
guy that really stands out to us is Trevor Gooseby.
He continued to show when he got his opportunities, the
ability to grow, and it seems like he's just getting
better and better.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yeah, and you're looking at a guy that's six seven,
three hundred and fourteen pounds, and you know, I like
the versatility starting at both tackle spots. Last year, played
in all fifteen games, and he wasn't one of the
highest rated guys coming out of high school, but he
sure looks like it. He's got the size and as
you mentioned when when thrown into the fire last year,
he played extremely well.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Yeah, yeah, he did play well.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
One hard to ask me or before you came on,
like was there something really particular that you want to
ask feel? And I said, yeah, I want to ask him.
With the world of sports in college football is very
clique and everybody in the SEC just was bashing Texas.
(04:36):
Texas is not ready and now here we are right
before August and everybody's glowing about Texas, like.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
What is the deal?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Yeah, And I think when you look at Texas this year,
They're probably going to be the pick to win the
SEC by the SEC media this year, probably come in
the highest ranked team in the country as far as
the se segos. It just speaks volumes of the job
that Steve Sarkisian has done recruiting wise. You just look
at the overall talent of this team, and they in
(05:09):
the era of the playoffs, guys, you kind of have depth,
and I think that Sarkisian has been building great depth.
I mean, you look at their second string, You've got
a lot of guys who would start for most other teams.
So I just think the overall talent that Texas has
and the fact that they've made the playoffs each of
the last two years, all of a sudden, all those
Texas doubters are saying, well, you know what, maybe we
(05:29):
were wrong and Texas does indeed have it.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
No.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I mean, to make the playoffs two straight years and
they're going to make it a third straight year this year,
that really shows what Sarkisian's doing.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
So let me ask you this, because you are you
have Arch Manning as your second team quarterback, Grant Neusmayer
is your first team quarterback on your All SEC preseason team.
But Oklahoma's got their guy, South Carolina's got their guy.
So what is it about newsmyerl you that makes them
(06:01):
one of the teams to pay attention to in the
SEC this year.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Well, I think with this Meyer, you look at the
fact that he's going to throw the football, probably a
little bit more than Manning.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Will you look at.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Last yearnus Meyer threw for over four thousand yards at
a twenty eight twelve ratio. It's got an outstanding receiving
core coming back, probably definitely a more experienced receiving core
than arch Manning has thrown to this year. Both teams
LSU and Texas have are young at the offensive line position,
so that is a question mark for both. But I
think nus Meyer is probably going to throw for more
(06:34):
yards this year and that's why I put him number
one in the SEC as far as the first team
coming in.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
But there's no doubting.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
The talent that arch Manning has, and I think that
arch Manning coming in for Texas this year gives that
quarterback position the run ability that they lacked last season.
And I remember last year at the end of the season,
while Quinn Ears had a really good year, sort of
tellied off down the stretch a little bit the last
five games, only an eight six ratio. I think we
(07:01):
want to see more downfield passing with Arch Manning as well.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah, he's one of those special deep ball throwers and
people love the DP ball around here. So let me
ask you this before we transition. I wanted to ask
about Texas A and M because obviously us being here
we have close proximity. You got to find out about
your enemies as well. So what do you think about
(07:26):
Texas A and M and coach Elko coming up this season.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I'm a big fan of coach Elco.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
You go back and look what he did as a
defensive coordinator at A and M.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
You go back and look what he did. Is the
head coach at Duke.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
I can tell you each year at Duke he surpassed
my expectations, and once again last year at A and
M surpassed my expectations.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Again.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I think with Marcel Reid, if he can stay healthy,
he gives him that mobile quarterback that can be dangerous.
They've got a very deep running back court, not quite
as deep as Texas, but very deep. They've got a
veteran offensive line, and this is an offensive line.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
You know.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
When I talked to coach Elko last year going over
the squad, he said, hey, you know, we've got a
fair to midland offensive line.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
This year.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
He told me their offensive line will contend for the
Joe Moore Award. So I think that he's pretty much
tells me like it is. And they look good there.
They had in the case conception on a wide receiver.
I remember, this is a Texas A and M team
that was one game away from actually playing in the
SEC title game. So they did not finish the season well.
They lost their last three games last year for the
(08:27):
last five games, but I think A and M could
sneak in there and be a contender in the SEC.
So I think it's gonna be a strong year, and
I think they topped last year's a win total.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Bill, your expertise, give me your offensive and defensive player
that is not the guys that everybody thinks. You know,
you went through all of these players in college football
that you unexpectedly know are going to be a success.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Wow, that's a good one, you know, you know, I
naturally a couple of names pop out the I've put
most of my guys on the first team that I
think are going to be first team. I guess one
guy to watch for SEC fans that aren't familiar with
them might be jaydean Ot of Oklahoma. When you look
(09:16):
at him at Cal two years ago, jade Nott was
just spectacular, and then last year Ott was banged up
and he was not one hundred percent the entire year,
so we didn't have the type of year expected. So
I don't know if jayde Nott's on a lot of
folks lists, but I've got him first team SEC. I
think he's gonna have a big year this year, and
I look for him to recapture the form he had
two years ago.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
There he is the man, the myth, the legend. Field
Still you can follow him at field Steel zero for
two on social media, and of course you can go
to Fieldsteel dot com and place your orders or Barnes
and Nobles. Where else are you located?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, exclusively at Barnes and Nobles and Books a million.
Those are the two locations to go get them, get
them while they're still there. And then, as you mentioned,
Phil sal dot com, we charge you a shipping charge
if you order at Phil Steel dot com, but we
give you the digital magazine for free, and we actually
update the digital magazine all the way through the start
of September. So Barnes and Noble books a million. Phil
(10:15):
Steel dot com.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Yeah, and I'm always on that digital one because it
is always updated as always, Phil, I appreciate you taking
the time and continue your book tour because it's going
to be a busy one. Hey.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Love talking football with you guys. Appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
No problem. There is Phil Steele coming up.
He wrote this. He started this in nineteen ninety five,
and he continues to roll on. And if you are
a college football fan, this is like Christmas for most
of you, well all of you, because I know as
soon as I got mine, it became Christmas once again.
He is Phil still the one and only that is
(00:23):
bringing you the field still College Football Preview, and Phil
as always thank you so much for joining us. I
get excited every time because it means football season is
upon us.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, it's only about forty some plus days away, but
always good being on the show with you guys.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
We're excited about it. So let's get right into it.
Because obviously the Texas Longhorns being here being the flagship
station where you can hear all you games right here
on AM thirteen hundred the Zone. But the Texas Longhorns
have turned this program around since the Sarkisiam first got here,
obviously five and seven. You start to see continuous growth
(01:06):
and it doesn't look like this team is slowing down,
especially now that you have Arch Manning as the starting quarterback.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, this year's Texas team loaded with talent. You look
at the quarterback, as you mentioned, Arch Manning. They've got
my number three set of running backs in the country.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
And even though they lose.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Their top three receivers from last year, they're pretty much
in the same shape they were last season. Remember they
lost their top three guys last year.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
They still have ten what I.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Call vhds or very highly ton of receivers and my
number five receiving corps. Defensive line linebackers dbs. All top
ten special teams are even up there. I've got them
at number six. Probably the one biggest question I have
with Texas would be the offensive line loose and four starters.
But I think when you look at pure talent on
the team, you can make a case that Texas might
(01:53):
have the most.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Seal to the team in the country.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Bill, you have a book called the Bible. When people
start listing your publication as the sports Bible, it's got
to make you feel real good about yourself and all
the work that you put into this.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Yeah, I tell you what you know.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
We pour seven months of effort into this magazine each
and every year. I start the Sunday after Thanksgiving and
go all the way through the first week of June.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
I talked to probably one hundred and twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Five plus head coaches going over their entire roster spent
about an average of an hour apiece. Been doing it
for thirty one years, so it's a lot of effort
put into it. But yes, you are very correct when
people refer to it as the Bible. It makes me
very happy and makes me all that effort well worth it.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
You have to also feel great about not having a boss.
I mean, you're the editor, the writer, the producer, like
you own all the publication company. Like, man, you're doing
it big. Are we going to see you on Forbes
anytime soon?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
I don't think we'll get there.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
But you know what, when I'm watching my twelve games
on Saturday and I'm thinking that's work, It's not really work,
is it, Guys? When you're watching twelve football games and
that's your job. So I tell you what, I'm living
the life right now.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
That's what it's all about. We're talking to field Steel.
He is the author, editor of chief, he is the CEO.
He is the man when it comes to field Steel's
college football preview. And we wanted to talk about this too,
because you said that the Texas Longhorns. Right now you
have them as your twenty sixth ranked offensive line. And
(03:33):
there's some guys on there that are making some ways.
Obviously DJ Campbell's getting a lot of pub but a
guy that really stands out to us is Trevor Gooseby.
He continued to show when he got his opportunities, the
ability to grow, and it seems like he's just getting
better and better.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yeah, and you're looking at a guy that's six seven,
three hundred and fourteen pounds, and you know, I like
the versatility starting at both tackle spots. Last year, played
in all fifteen games, and he wasn't one of the
highest rated guys coming out of high school, but he
sure looks like it. He's got the size and as
you mentioned when when thrown into the fire last year,
he played extremely well.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Yeah, yeah, he did play well.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
One hard to ask me or before you came on,
like was there something really particular that you want to
ask feel? And I said, yeah, I want to ask him.
With the world of sports in college football is very
clique and everybody in the SEC just was bashing Texas.
(04:36):
Texas is not ready and now here we are right
before August and everybody's glowing about Texas, like.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
What is the deal?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Yeah, And I think when you look at Texas this year,
They're probably going to be the pick to win the
SEC by the SEC media this year, probably come in
the highest ranked team in the country as far as
the se segos. It just speaks volumes of the job
that Steve Sarkisian has done recruiting wise. You just look
at the overall talent of this team, and they in
(05:09):
the era of the playoffs, guys, you kind of have depth,
and I think that Sarkisian has been building great depth.
I mean, you look at their second string, You've got
a lot of guys who would start for most other teams.
So I just think the overall talent that Texas has
and the fact that they've made the playoffs each of
the last two years, all of a sudden, all those
Texas doubters are saying, well, you know what, maybe we
(05:29):
were wrong and Texas does indeed have it.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
No.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I mean, to make the playoffs two straight years and
they're going to make it a third straight year this year,
that really shows what Sarkisian's doing.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
So let me ask you this, because you are you
have Arch Manning as your second team quarterback, Grant Neusmayer
is your first team quarterback on your All SEC preseason team.
But Oklahoma's got their guy, South Carolina's got their guy.
So what is it about newsmyerl you that makes them
(06:01):
one of the teams to pay attention to in the
SEC this year.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Well, I think with this Meyer, you look at the
fact that he's going to throw the football, probably a
little bit more than Manning.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Will you look at.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Last yearnus Meyer threw for over four thousand yards at
a twenty eight twelve ratio. It's got an outstanding receiving
core coming back, probably definitely a more experienced receiving core
than arch Manning has thrown to this year. Both teams
LSU and Texas have are young at the offensive line position,
so that is a question mark for both. But I
think nus Meyer is probably going to throw for more
(06:34):
yards this year and that's why I put him number
one in the SEC as far as the first team
coming in.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
But there's no doubting.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
The talent that arch Manning has, and I think that
arch Manning coming in for Texas this year gives that
quarterback position the run ability that they lacked last season.
And I remember last year at the end of the season,
while Quinn Ears had a really good year, sort of
tellied off down the stretch a little bit the last
five games, only an eight six ratio. I think we
(07:01):
want to see more downfield passing with Arch Manning as well.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah, he's one of those special deep ball throwers and
people love the DP ball around here. So let me
ask you this before we transition. I wanted to ask
about Texas A and M because obviously us being here
we have close proximity. You got to find out about
your enemies as well. So what do you think about
(07:26):
Texas A and M and coach Elko coming up this season.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I'm a big fan of coach Elco.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
You go back and look what he did as a
defensive coordinator at A and M.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
You go back and look what he did. Is the
head coach at Duke.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
I can tell you each year at Duke he surpassed
my expectations, and once again last year at A and
M surpassed my expectations.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Again.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I think with Marcel Reid, if he can stay healthy,
he gives him that mobile quarterback that can be dangerous.
They've got a very deep running back court, not quite
as deep as Texas, but very deep. They've got a
veteran offensive line, and this is an offensive line.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
You know.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
When I talked to coach Elko last year going over
the squad, he said, hey, you know, we've got a
fair to midland offensive line.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
This year.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
He told me their offensive line will contend for the
Joe Moore Award. So I think that he's pretty much
tells me like it is. And they look good there.
They had in the case conception on a wide receiver.
I remember, this is a Texas A and M team
that was one game away from actually playing in the
SEC title game. So they did not finish the season well.
They lost their last three games last year for the
(08:27):
last five games, but I think A and M could
sneak in there and be a contender in the SEC.
So I think it's gonna be a strong year, and
I think they topped last year's a win total.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Bill, your expertise, give me your offensive and defensive player
that is not the guys that everybody thinks. You know,
you went through all of these players in college football
that you unexpectedly know are going to be a success.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Wow, that's a good one, you know, you know, I
naturally a couple of names pop out the I've put
most of my guys on the first team that I
think are going to be first team. I guess one
guy to watch for SEC fans that aren't familiar with
them might be jaydean Ot of Oklahoma. When you look
(09:16):
at him at Cal two years ago, jade Nott was
just spectacular, and then last year Ott was banged up
and he was not one hundred percent the entire year,
so we didn't have the type of year expected. So
I don't know if jayde Nott's on a lot of
folks lists, but I've got him first team SEC. I
think he's gonna have a big year this year, and
I look for him to recapture the form he had
two years ago.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
There he is the man, the myth, the legend. Field
Still you can follow him at field Steel zero for
two on social media, and of course you can go
to Fieldsteel dot com and place your orders or Barnes
and Nobles. Where else are you located?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, exclusively at Barnes and Nobles and Books a million.
Those are the two locations to go get them, get
them while they're still there. And then, as you mentioned,
Phil sal dot com, we charge you a shipping charge
if you order at Phil Steel dot com, but we
give you the digital magazine for free, and we actually
update the digital magazine all the way through the start
of September. So Barnes and Noble books a million. Phil
(10:15):
Steel dot com.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Yeah, and I'm always on that digital one because it
is always updated as always, Phil, I appreciate you taking
the time and continue your book tour because it's going
to be a busy one. Hey.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Love talking football with you guys. Appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
No problem. There is Phil Steele coming up.
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