October 27, 2021 • 28 mins
Reuben and Randall discuss the new and improved ND offensive line and the overall performance of the Irish vs USC. Can the Irish continue to improve vs UNC?
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You're listening to Irish Sports Talk ElloNor Dame fans. Welcome to Irish Sports
Talk. This is episode six hundredand fifteen. I'm Rubin, joined by
Randall. We're gonna recap Nor damesvictory over USC and then preview the matchup
with North Carolina at Notre Dame onSaturday. Radel, you were actually at
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the game on Saturday against USC.What was over your thoughts just from a
experienced crowd atmosphere? Yeah? Well, first of all, Um, shout
out to one of our listeners outMichael McNeely out in California for the techts.
He usually comes out. He livesclose to USC and so whenever Notre
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Dame plays here, he comes outto the games. And I actually went
with him to a game two yearsago or the last home game, and
this time he didn't make it outand he ended up giving me tech.
It's to take my boys. Somy two boys got to go to their
first Notre Dame game and I wassurprised, like I wasn't sure tanks there
were six and four, but theyloved it. I mean way more than
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I expected. There's enough going onat Notre Dame, like for kids with
the jumbo tron and just you know, they had the lights, all the
stuff they do with the lights,like it's I was shocked at how entertained
kids are going to the football gameas well, and so we had a
good time great. I loved nightgame first of all, and especially USC,
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which one of my best memories ata Notre Dame game was the USC
night game a few years ago andNotre Dame blew them out from the start.
So it was it was fun tobe you know, it started a
little bit slow, but it wasfun to be there. It was you
know, I've oh I was atthe Perdue game a few weeks ago,
but since then I've kind of beena little hard on Notre Dame as far
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as how they used the JumboTron andthe mute, like trying to create a
home field advantage for Notre Dame.But they're doing it better. They did
a good job on Saturday, evento the point. One thing I know
is since the tickets I had wereprobably from the US, I would say
they would have been in the USCsection because he probably got him through USC.
Anyways, Notre Dame used the JumboTronand the music and completely drowned out
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their band, so they were behindus. I couldn't even hear their band
because whenever they would play the JumboTronand the Notre Dame music completely drowned him
out. Like I don't even knowwhy they kept doing it because no,
but I was a few rows infront of them and didn't even know they
were there. Wow. So propsthe Notre Dame for doing that kind of
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stuff. I'm sure it was intentionaltoo, so it works. That's why.
You know, back before they hadthe JumboTron and the news sounds all
that stuff, people weren't sure aboutit. Yes, it does create it
does help with the home field advandI mean that they're just an other instance
of that happening. But I feellike Notre Dame did a great job,
you know with the light show theydid. Um they're fourth quarter closer to
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the end of the game. Justdifferent things, like everybody was talking about
that, like recruits, um playersthat were there. I mean, Josh
Adams was at the game Chase Claypooland there was former Nore Dame players like
everybody was taking it. Was impressedwith that stuff. And so they had
some games where they do a badjob, and then they also have games
where they do a good job.So well, this was they We can
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still say it's a learning process,but they're they're getting better at it.
So and this is a game thatit mattered with all the recruits being there,
they left a positive impression by theirplay and also by the in stadium
experience. And there was a lotof five star at recruits there. Well
did you hear the total number ofhow many recruits were there? No?
I didn't see the total it.Yeah that's crazy, and I don't know
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how many five Stars there were,but yeah, that's that's a lot of
There was quite a few of themthere. So, um, is there
any question that this was Notre Dame'sbest all around performance if you I mean,
obviously what's been holding them back hasbeen the offensive line. And they
looked better than they ever have.Yeah, which you know, for I
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kind of figured they would look better, but not that much better because they're
as far as their um opponents thetalent level. Like they were good.
It's an easier schedule now, Imean they have some tough games coming up.
This was USC this is still rivalrygame. Um, you know they
have North Carolina Virginia count Those aretough games. But as far as you
know, the defensive lines they playlike this. The offensive line was going
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to have more success, but Ididn't expect them to be this good.
Like they were actually closer to whatthey had been doing. And we've been
so hard on the coaches, soI also got to say when they do
a good job, clearly the coachingis taking is making a difference, because
you don't just improve with no justwith bad coaching. So they are doing
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some thin right and these players areproducing. You know, with the lineup
they had, the guys they havein there, I feel like they they've
figured it out. You know whothe guys are. There's not as much
of a rotation as what there hadbeen, and they can actually run the
ball. They're giving Jack Cohen moretime. But they're also as it relates
to coaching, they did make achange in their approach to the offense,
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play calling and tempo. So thatwas that was a big thing coming out
of the bye week that we werediscussing, you know, is door Dame
are they gonna It was obvious toeveryone what needed to happen with the tempo,
and the question was really are theygoing to make that, make their
correct adjustments and changes. And theydid. Yeah, I was shocked to
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see that they did change things.I didn't really feel like they would,
but they did change things. Andeven the biggest difference I saw was that
even the drives, like when theydidn't score, they still went down the
field, not as many of thesethree and outs they had been like it
just seemed like for a few weeksthere, like they could do nothing,
Like, Yeah, there was adrought in almost I think every game where
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it just seemed they had multiple threeand outs that went nowhere. And yeah,
in this game here, even thoughthey entered the interception, it was
a seven play drove, seven playdrive and it was an okay thrown ball.
I mean it was a it wasa dangerously thrown ball, but it
could have gone either way and endedup going USC's way. Well, even
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was the first drive they marched allthe way down the field but then missed
the field goal there. Now,that's what they're running into, is making
mistakes down in the red zone.But I would still say it's progress.
They're marching down the field, it'snone of these three and outs, So
it's definitely trending in the right direction, and I feel like after Saturday's game,
everybody feels a little more comfortable withwhere Notre Dame is at and where
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they're headed than we would have beforethe bye week. Yeah, rushed for
hundred seventy yards. Really impressive rushingperformance. Karen Williams one hundred and thirty
eight carries two touchdowns. Yeah,the with the offense one of the big
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things I noticed. I mean,obviously Michael Mayer's back. Um, they
made that pretty clear from the startthat he was he was back and very
involved. But getting the young guysin there, Dione Colzi, Lorenzo Styles,
Lorenzo Styles led the team in yards. Yeah, that's good to say.
They have finally like allowed these freshmento get some playing time. Um,
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and you know, Brian Kelly evenmentioned that they're not just in there
to get reps. They're actually partof the game plan. They are part
of the plan, part of theoffensive plan. And they needed to do
that because like with Brandon Lendzay,he wasn't producing and so now you bring
in Styles Colzy, like these guysare taking advantage of the reps they're getting.
I mean, look at that stylesthree for fifty seven, dian Colzie
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one for thirteen, and some ofthose catches weren't easy ones like the diving
catch, but they have Braydon Lendsayone for minus two yards. Like it's
pretty clear that the staff made achange there. They knew something needed to
happen and they did it. LikeI feel too often we don't see that
happen where an upper classman actually getstaken out and replayed by a freshman,
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made by a younger guy. Thatwould happen more, but by a true
freshman, like letting those guys comein and compete like that, Like they
did that. I didn't expect themto do that, but they did and
it paid off. Like I feellike those guys got the playing time they
deserve and they're just gonna get more. I mean, you feel bad for
Lendsay, but your speed isn't gonnaget you. Isn't everything. There's more
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than you need, more than speed. So what do you think about Brian
Kelly's comments about USC being nor Dame'sarrival. I mean, he really drove
it home to the point where Imean, I kind of he made it
sound like USC is our only rival. Well to me. It's strange because
wasn't at USC. I mean,it's been a few years ago Ray where
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we would get frustrated with Kelly notlooking at it like a rival like it,
oh, it's just another game onthe schedule. Yeah, and Notre
Dame not coming in ready for theserivalry games. Like I feel like they
finally, just in the last fewyears and now especially this year, looked
at this as a rival, assomething that it's not just a normal game.
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This is a rival. This isa rivalry. So I appreciate.
I'm glad to see that. I'mglad to see that he's emphasizing it.
But I thought he almost U.I mean, Stanford is also a rival
and yeah they're not having a greatyear this year, but either is USC,
and there's other teams that we frequentlyplay. I thought he maybe went
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overboard a little bit singling out USC. But well, I would say it's
something, Yeah, I know whatyou're saying. I think some of that
comes from it is probably just becauseof all the questions he's gotten over the
years about not treating this like arivalry game. I mean, the media
got after him about not looking atthis as more of a rivalry game,
Like a few years ago, theywere asking questions and giving him a hard
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time why this isn't more of arival looked at as a rivalry game.
So I think he might go alittle overboard because of the media. I
feel like the last two years he'sdone that more with the media, Like
he's more he kind of feeds himsome stuff, give them what they want.
Yeah, all right, Well let'sI'm finish talking about USD I'm ready
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to talk about the Well, justa few more things with them. I
mean on defense, obviously, KyleHamilton went down. He's out for this
next week against a good offense inNorth Clients, So that's a little concerning.
But you know, guys, DJBrown stepped up and played, and
so I mean, I'm guessing that'sgonna who's gonna get the start. But
that's a huge missing peace. Butit seemed in this game the guys stepped
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up cornerbacks as well, treat bracingsome of that. They stepped up and
did what they needed to, sohopefully they can continue that. But then
with the defense, I mean thedefensive line, I mean, the stuff
we're seeing from them, Isaiah Foskiis just I don't know what are his
total I don't know what his sacknumbers are for the year, but he's
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gonna end up having quiet And hehad two in this game plus two tackles
for loss. Like we knew hecould be good, but I don't think
anybody really saw it. Well,the No Name staff claims they saw this.
He has thirty two tackles on theyear, seven and a half sacks,
and three forced fumbles. Yeah,and that's just seven games in,
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so he's averaging over just over asack of game. And then you know,
obviously Justin Adamiola is making a hugedifference as well. Like, I
just feel like these guys are thisdefense is finally getting to where they need
to be. They're figuring out thenew system and they're they're thriving in it.
And bo Bauer is always fun towatch. I mean he almost got
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the got the touchdown. But um, yeah, we just we don't give
the defense enough credit. We kindawe expect them to do what they need
to do because we've we've gotten usedto it. Yeah, but these guys
were really down on them early inthe year, the first three games.
True, but they have well,I don't feel it was the players.
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I felt more it was like thethe game, plant, the coach,
just a new system, just toomuch going on. But I think they
do have it figured out and it'sfun to watch these guys play. I
mean they did give up quite afew yards to Never Dams receiver Drake Landon
one hundred and seventy one yards,but he never scored. Yeah. He
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I did look at before the game. I was looking at kind of if
there was any kind of relation betweenhim having a great game and USC winning
and that really wasn't he a lotof his games he had over one hundred
and forty yards, Okay, butthey didn't necessar only always win when he
had big games well, and theydidn't necessarily always loose. Yeah, I
think it's easy to miss, butUSC. I think they were averaging thirty
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two points a game coming into thegame, coming into the Notre Dame game
close like they've they've had some highscoring games and so for Notre Dame to
hold them to sixteen like this defense, Like, I mean they scored thirty
twenty eight, forty five, twentyseven, thirty seven, twenty six.
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Yeah, I mean this is thisis a good offense. So for Notre
Dame to do that is impressive.So anyways, you that's about all I
had about the game. Good time, great game, and it's always good
when USC Notre Dame beats USC.And what is the is it ninety five?
They're getting close to the hundredth game. I wonder if there's going to
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be I'm I thought about it whenthey announced it at the State that this
was the was it ninety five ninetyfive meeting? It's quote it's around there.
I think it was. I thinkit was the ninety two ninety five.
But I wonder what's gonna like,that's gotta be something for the hundredth
matchup. I mean for the hundredthgame. I don't know if that's going
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to be like the Shamrock series ordo they bring out the green jersey and
like, I yeah, it'll beinteresting to see. I'm guessing they'll do
something fun around that one. It'llprobably be If it was the ninety fifth,
then that means the night the onehundredth one would be at USC.
Yeah, they play every year thenext yeah, odd odd numbers are here,
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even would be at use because theyskipped last year or so, That's
what um, all right, let'stalk about the matchup with the tar Heels.
So another night game kick off atseven thirty or TV coverage starts at
seven thirty. Notre Dame number elevensix and one hosting the tar Heels four
and three. You would think this. I was shocked at the spread for
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this game. It's only three anda half points. I figured it'd be
more like it was for the USCgame, closer to a touchdown. So
obviously, UM, I don't know, there's something that doesn't quite meet the
eye. They are just looking attheir opponents who they've played this year as
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far as North Carolina. They lostto Virginia Tech only scored ten points.
They beat Georgia State, who cares? They did hammer Virginia pretty good fifty
nine to thirty nine. Lost toGeorgia Tech, beat Duke thirty eight seven,
beat Florida State thirty five, twentyfive, beast to Florida State.
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Oh sorry sorry yes, lost toFlorida State thirty five twenty five, beat
Miami barely forty two. I justI mean Brank Kelly bragged this team up,
you know, said that they've gotum as much talent returning as anyone
but they just have not done iton the field by any by any means.
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So I don't understand why the spreadis so close. My feeling on
this game even preseason was that theTar Heels are often overhyped in my opinion,
and so I just don't think thisis going to be a close game.
I think Nor Dame wins it,probably by more than two scores.
I actually don't think it's gonna beas close as the USC game. Yeah,
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well, I think a lot ofit is because Notre Dame does or
North Carolina does have a good offense. You also got a factor in that,
Um, Kyle Hamilton isn't playing,so I think that's being looked at
as this this offense is going togive Notre Dame some issues, um with
their passing game. UM so no, I haven't watched their games um this
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year, but like they let's see, it's just for the last game.
But anyways, like they do havea good offense, and so they're better
than they used to be. Andbut I agree, I think they're overhyped,
like you said, like they getthey get more credit than they deserve.
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Um, they had a few good, really good years there. But
I do think Notre Dames is stillgonna come away with a win and Nor
Dames also getting some momentum going towhich is another reason. I don't think
this is going to be a closegame. And often I'll side with the
spread. I mean usually, especiallyif it's not what I expect. It's
like something's got to be there,but I just do not buy it this
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time. Yeah, um, doyou have your actual score? M real
close? I wasn't quite ready togive it yet, but but no,
I agree. I think Notre Dame'strending in the right direction, like they're
confidence their their confidence is building.Um with this offensive line, I think
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at this point, like we knowJack Cohen as a starter, like there's
no question about I think people aredone questioning that, whether they like it
or not. That's that's how itis. Um Buckner's going to play some
and Drew Pine isn't going to comein unless somebody gets hurtle, unless two
people get hurt. Yeah, prettymuch. But which by the way,
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Brendan Clark did announce he's transferring,so he's kind of had a rough like
he's been dealing he's dealt with injuries, which is kind of set him back.
He was clearly ahead of Drew Pinelast year, but then injuries kind
of set him back and he justnever was able to get ahead of guy.
And now it's pretty clear like he'sthe fourth guy. Like, I
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don't blame him for transferring, LikeI think it was kind of expect that
one of these quarterbacks going to you, And I still think that out of
these, well, yeah, Idon't want to jinx. I still think
one of the quarterbacks going to transferbefore his career's over at in there Dame.
But um, I don't. Idon't see how Drew Pine would want
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to stick around unless he realizes thathe's not a starting quarterback material. But
he's looked good, like he's lookedgood in small Well, maybe you're right,
maybe that's why he's not getting playingtime because I don't think a starter
at Notre Dame could ever be aquarterback that isn't convinced he could be that
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he should be the starter, youknow what I mean, Like they gotta
have that mindset he's got to have. I know he does. He has
to seek he's confidence when he plays, he looks very confident. Yeah.
So yeah, but that's all downthe road, hopefully, We're gonna have
to talk a lot about that.Thankfully we don't have to make the decision
for them. But yeah, it'sobviously Jack Coleen and Jack Cohen looks good
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if this offensive line continues to dowhat they're doing, and if if the
play calling keeps um if he can, if he makes fastest decisions, fast,
reason quicker, and in the playcalling is set up where you know
there's a an option for a quickdump off if necessary. Yeah, I
think it's gonna work. Yeah,I do have my score prediction ready,
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go for it. I think NorDame is gonna score more points than they
have all year. I'm picking theIrish Wow, forty two twenty four Wow.
I'm I was actually going with atthe same score for North Klina,
Like I think North Calina scored twentyfour. I mean, if Kyle Hamilton
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will be playing, I'd take thatdown a touchdown. But I think with
this North Klina offense, like,I think they're gonna get a touchdown that
they wouldn't have got Kyle Hamilton inthere, so I gave him an extra
score. Kyle Hamilton is worth atouchdown, so, but I have Nor
Dame at thirty four thirty four totwenty four. All right, so we're
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both picking Nord Dame to beat thespread, but I'm a little more optimistic.
What do you expect to see fromNotre Dame's running game? Obviously the
success they had against USC, doyou think that continues or do you think
that it was a little bit ofan anomaly. No, I think it
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continues just because of the the defensesthey're playing, Like, the schedule has
gotten easier, which helps the offensiveline. And if the offensive line is
doing good, then Notre Dame canrun the ball like it starts with that
offensive line. The more success theyhave, the better it's going to be
for Cohen throwing the ball, whichhelps with the running game. So they
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all works together, and so Ithink this is maybe not quite as good
as what they had against USC,But I do think this was We're going
to see more. It's gonna becloser to the USC game than what it
was the first six games for therest of the year. Yep, I
agree, all right, I don'tknow if anything else. I do have
one question, who would one comment? Who would have thought the best team
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in the accould be pitt this year. I just saw that, like I
haven't been keeping track, and allof a sudden I saw it. I
was like, wait, what's theirrecord? So I was surprised by Yeah,
they're a surprise to me. Idon't know if I don't follow them,
so I don't know if how manypeople are surprised by that. Um,
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but yeah, obviously I got ayoung fan in here. Um,
we've got something else that was interesting. Wisconsin beat number twenty five per Due
thirty to thirteen. On Saturday.They're playing Iowa this uh, this upcoming
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game is against Iowa. And what'sshocking is that they're actually favored against Iowa.
I don't know. I don't knowhow that happens, how that's possible.
Well, what they're winning? No, wait, Purdue is favored a
sorry, what's consin meat? Perdue? Last week? This week Wisconsin's playing
number nine Iowa, and yes,Iowa you know lost in a embarrassing game.
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Was it a week ago or twoweeks ago? A week ago to
Purdue? Okay, yeah, toPurdue. That's why. Because Purdue abolished
I know who lost, just barelylost to Wisconsins. It's more going on
than that. But Wisconsin is favoredby three and a half points. And
what I was thinking is it couldend up by the end of the year
some of these teams that Nor Damehas played beside Cincinnati might be in the
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top twenty five. Again. Iknow it looked impossible after after six games
that anyone would be ranked besides sincebut you know, Virginia Tech wins here
and there, they could rack up, you know, nine wins by the
end of the year. Maybe Ifeel like there's a lot more shuffling or
just drastic change. Maybe not sure, like more drastic changes this year than
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before. It's kind of the unexpected. Yeah, I mean, who would
have thought that at Georgia be one, Cincinnati two, Like just how the
and you know even Iowa and PennState, like that was a Penn State
you know, lost their starting quarterback. Um, my business partner's Penn State
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fans, I heard of all aboutthat, but um, you know that
was a top ten match up there. Well then I was up in the
top. Then they get destroyed andnow you know, they're not even favored
against the unranked team, Like theywent up and just dropped again. And
even Penn State was all the wayup to I'm not sure how they weren't
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like they were they in the topfour. I don't think they hit the
top four, but they were surein the top seven or six for sure,
somewhere in there. But then theythen they dropped like it's it's been
a lot of these teams have beenvery up and down. I feel like,
um, Cincinnati number two, likeyou mentioned, they're playing to lane
one and six to lane. Istill don't think they're a great team,
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but and they did. They almostlost a Navy, like very closely lost
to Navy last week. I thinkthey're gonna go and defeated. I'm really
curious to see when the Playoff committeecomes out with their ranking where Cincinnati lands.
Obviously, every every year there's ateam like Cincinnati that some fans think
should be in the top four.I'm really curious where Sincinnati ends up,
and they legitimately probably should make it. With all the teams everyone's lost besides
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Georgia, well there's a couple oftheir teams. There's Michigan and Michigan State
but the ones that everyone was expectingto be in the playoff have lost a
game except for Georgia, and theybeat Notre Dame, you know, Notre
Dame. If they continue to gorun the table, they probably do deserve
to be there, even though Idon't think they're actually that good of a
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team. Yeah, well, likelike who were saying, Like after Notre
Dame's for a few games, itwas like, Okay, well they're not
in the playoffs. You know what'sgoing to happen with Notre Dame. But
now all of a sudden, theirschedule is looking better. Um you know
it's it's it's changed and they're actuallyup there. They've lost one game,
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Like after the first two games,I would not have expected to be this
whatever about Notre Dame. Order themto be ranked where they are and for
their opponents be where they're at,Like I feel much better about their tent.
No, they're not a playoff team, but like they're right there though,
So I feel better about them thanI did after the first two games,
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that's for sure. And it's notjust Notre Dame. It also has
to do with every the rest ofcollege football and who the teams are playing,
Like that's not just Notre Dame.Like you look at the teams they
played and even teams they haven't playedthat have lost, and so Notre Dame
buzzing as bad as what I originallythought they were. I think I said
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it was undefeated. They actually dohave one loss. It was to Western
Michigan of all teams. That's what'sso crazy about Yeah, but really interesting
matchup on Saturday is Michigan and MichiganState. Both are undefeated, both in
the top ten. I don't rememberthe last time both these teams were,
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you know, even probably in thetop twenty five necessarily when they played each
other. But that's an exciting matchupfor the Big ten. And you do
have all miss in Auburn playing,and then you do have Penn State in
Ohio State, which has really losta lot of it's luster. With Penn
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State's two losses, still a toptwenty five matchup. And then I guess
for our opponents. Another interesting matchupfor that is BYU in Virginia. Virginia
six and two by U is sixand two, number twenty five. So
Virginia beats BYU. You know,there's a good chance that they cracked the
top twenty five. Anyway, anythingthat jumps out from you from the schedule
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coming up this weekend, no,not early, I mean yeah, I'll
be ready to playing watching over dameplay, so I don't. I haven't
really paid attention to a lot ofthe other game. I haven't watched a
lot of other football games this year. Then, college playoff rankings do come
out next Tuesday, so that'll bethe first one November second, so yeah,
(28:18):
I mean, I guess we'll recordagain before that. But they do
come out. They start that nextweek, so that's gonna be interesting to
see. Usually it doesn't change muchthat first week though. It's basically what
where the ap and the coaches poillhave them, so but we'll see.
It'll be interesting to see what theysay about some of these teams. All
right, and so we got today. Thank you guys for listening. Until
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next time, Go Irish, GoIrish.
You're listening to Irish Sports Talk ElloNor Dame fans. Welcome to Irish Sports
Talk. This is episode six hundredand fifteen. I'm Rubin, joined by
Randall. We're gonna recap Nor damesvictory over USC and then preview the matchup
with North Carolina at Notre Dame onSaturday. Radel, you were actually at
(00:25):
the game on Saturday against USC.What was over your thoughts just from a
experienced crowd atmosphere? Yeah? Well, first of all, Um, shout
out to one of our listeners outMichael McNeely out in California for the techts.
He usually comes out. He livesclose to USC and so whenever Notre
(00:48):
Dame plays here, he comes outto the games. And I actually went
with him to a game two yearsago or the last home game, and
this time he didn't make it outand he ended up giving me tech.
It's to take my boys. Somy two boys got to go to their
first Notre Dame game and I wassurprised, like I wasn't sure tanks there
were six and four, but theyloved it. I mean way more than
(01:11):
I expected. There's enough going onat Notre Dame, like for kids with
the jumbo tron and just you know, they had the lights, all the
stuff they do with the lights,like it's I was shocked at how entertained
kids are going to the football gameas well, and so we had a
good time great. I loved nightgame first of all, and especially USC,
(01:34):
which one of my best memories ata Notre Dame game was the USC
night game a few years ago andNotre Dame blew them out from the start.
So it was it was fun tobe you know, it started a
little bit slow, but it wasfun to be there. It was you
know, I've oh I was atthe Perdue game a few weeks ago,
but since then I've kind of beena little hard on Notre Dame as far
(01:57):
as how they used the JumboTron andthe mute, like trying to create a
home field advantage for Notre Dame.But they're doing it better. They did
a good job on Saturday, evento the point. One thing I know
is since the tickets I had wereprobably from the US, I would say
they would have been in the USCsection because he probably got him through USC.
Anyways, Notre Dame used the JumboTronand the music and completely drowned out
(02:23):
their band, so they were behindus. I couldn't even hear their band
because whenever they would play the JumboTronand the Notre Dame music completely drowned him
out. Like I don't even knowwhy they kept doing it because no,
but I was a few rows infront of them and didn't even know they
were there. Wow. So propsthe Notre Dame for doing that kind of
(02:45):
stuff. I'm sure it was intentionaltoo, so it works. That's why.
You know, back before they hadthe JumboTron and the news sounds all
that stuff, people weren't sure aboutit. Yes, it does create it
does help with the home field advandI mean that they're just an other instance
of that happening. But I feellike Notre Dame did a great job,
you know with the light show theydid. Um they're fourth quarter closer to
(03:08):
the end of the game. Justdifferent things, like everybody was talking about
that, like recruits, um playersthat were there. I mean, Josh
Adams was at the game Chase Claypooland there was former Nore Dame players like
everybody was taking it. Was impressedwith that stuff. And so they had
some games where they do a badjob, and then they also have games
where they do a good job.So well, this was they We can
(03:30):
still say it's a learning process,but they're they're getting better at it.
So and this is a game thatit mattered with all the recruits being there,
they left a positive impression by theirplay and also by the in stadium
experience. And there was a lotof five star at recruits there. Well
did you hear the total number ofhow many recruits were there? No?
I didn't see the total it.Yeah that's crazy, and I don't know
(03:53):
how many five Stars there were,but yeah, that's that's a lot of
There was quite a few of themthere. So, um, is there
any question that this was Notre Dame'sbest all around performance if you I mean,
obviously what's been holding them back hasbeen the offensive line. And they
looked better than they ever have.Yeah, which you know, for I
(04:14):
kind of figured they would look better, but not that much better because they're
as far as their um opponents thetalent level. Like they were good.
It's an easier schedule now, Imean they have some tough games coming up.
This was USC this is still rivalrygame. Um, you know they
have North Carolina Virginia count Those aretough games. But as far as you
know, the defensive lines they playlike this. The offensive line was going
(04:38):
to have more success, but Ididn't expect them to be this good.
Like they were actually closer to whatthey had been doing. And we've been
so hard on the coaches, soI also got to say when they do
a good job, clearly the coachingis taking is making a difference, because
you don't just improve with no justwith bad coaching. So they are doing
(04:59):
some thin right and these players areproducing. You know, with the lineup
they had, the guys they havein there, I feel like they they've
figured it out. You know whothe guys are. There's not as much
of a rotation as what there hadbeen, and they can actually run the
ball. They're giving Jack Cohen moretime. But they're also as it relates
to coaching, they did make achange in their approach to the offense,
(05:25):
play calling and tempo. So thatwas that was a big thing coming out
of the bye week that we werediscussing, you know, is door Dame
are they gonna It was obvious toeveryone what needed to happen with the tempo,
and the question was really are theygoing to make that, make their
correct adjustments and changes. And theydid. Yeah, I was shocked to
(05:46):
see that they did change things.I didn't really feel like they would,
but they did change things. Andeven the biggest difference I saw was that
even the drives, like when theydidn't score, they still went down the
field, not as many of thesethree and outs they had been like it
just seemed like for a few weeksthere, like they could do nothing,
Like, Yeah, there was adrought in almost I think every game where
(06:08):
it just seemed they had multiple threeand outs that went nowhere. And yeah,
in this game here, even thoughthey entered the interception, it was
a seven play drove, seven playdrive and it was an okay thrown ball.
I mean it was a it wasa dangerously thrown ball, but it
could have gone either way and endedup going USC's way. Well, even
(06:29):
was the first drive they marched allthe way down the field but then missed
the field goal there. Now,that's what they're running into, is making
mistakes down in the red zone.But I would still say it's progress.
They're marching down the field, it'snone of these three and outs, So
it's definitely trending in the right direction, and I feel like after Saturday's game,
everybody feels a little more comfortable withwhere Notre Dame is at and where
(06:54):
they're headed than we would have beforethe bye week. Yeah, rushed for
hundred seventy yards. Really impressive rushingperformance. Karen Williams one hundred and thirty
eight carries two touchdowns. Yeah,the with the offense one of the big
(07:15):
things I noticed. I mean,obviously Michael Mayer's back. Um, they
made that pretty clear from the startthat he was he was back and very
involved. But getting the young guysin there, Dione Colzi, Lorenzo Styles,
Lorenzo Styles led the team in yards. Yeah, that's good to say.
They have finally like allowed these freshmento get some playing time. Um,
(07:40):
and you know, Brian Kelly evenmentioned that they're not just in there
to get reps. They're actually partof the game plan. They are part
of the plan, part of theoffensive plan. And they needed to do
that because like with Brandon Lendzay,he wasn't producing and so now you bring
in Styles Colzy, like these guysare taking advantage of the reps they're getting.
I mean, look at that stylesthree for fifty seven, dian Colzie
(08:03):
one for thirteen, and some ofthose catches weren't easy ones like the diving
catch, but they have Braydon Lendsayone for minus two yards. Like it's
pretty clear that the staff made achange there. They knew something needed to
happen and they did it. LikeI feel too often we don't see that
happen where an upper classman actually getstaken out and replayed by a freshman,
(08:24):
made by a younger guy. Thatwould happen more, but by a true
freshman, like letting those guys comein and compete like that, Like they
did that. I didn't expect themto do that, but they did and
it paid off. Like I feellike those guys got the playing time they
deserve and they're just gonna get more. I mean, you feel bad for
Lendsay, but your speed isn't gonnaget you. Isn't everything. There's more
(08:46):
than you need, more than speed. So what do you think about Brian
Kelly's comments about USC being nor Dame'sarrival. I mean, he really drove
it home to the point where Imean, I kind of he made it
sound like USC is our only rival. Well to me. It's strange because
wasn't at USC. I mean,it's been a few years ago Ray where
(09:09):
we would get frustrated with Kelly notlooking at it like a rival like it,
oh, it's just another game onthe schedule. Yeah, and Notre
Dame not coming in ready for theserivalry games. Like I feel like they
finally, just in the last fewyears and now especially this year, looked
at this as a rival, assomething that it's not just a normal game.
(09:31):
This is a rival. This isa rivalry. So I appreciate.
I'm glad to see that. I'mglad to see that he's emphasizing it.
But I thought he almost U.I mean, Stanford is also a rival
and yeah they're not having a greatyear this year, but either is USC,
and there's other teams that we frequentlyplay. I thought he maybe went
(09:52):
overboard a little bit singling out USC. But well, I would say it's
something, Yeah, I know whatyou're saying. I think some of that
comes from it is probably just becauseof all the questions he's gotten over the
years about not treating this like arivalry game. I mean, the media
got after him about not looking atthis as more of a rivalry game,
Like a few years ago, theywere asking questions and giving him a hard
(10:13):
time why this isn't more of arival looked at as a rivalry game.
So I think he might go alittle overboard because of the media. I
feel like the last two years he'sdone that more with the media, Like
he's more he kind of feeds himsome stuff, give them what they want.
Yeah, all right, Well let'sI'm finish talking about USD I'm ready
(10:35):
to talk about the Well, justa few more things with them. I
mean on defense, obviously, KyleHamilton went down. He's out for this
next week against a good offense inNorth Clients, So that's a little concerning.
But you know, guys, DJBrown stepped up and played, and
so I mean, I'm guessing that'sgonna who's gonna get the start. But
that's a huge missing peace. Butit seemed in this game the guys stepped
(10:58):
up cornerbacks as well, treat bracingsome of that. They stepped up and
did what they needed to, sohopefully they can continue that. But then
with the defense, I mean thedefensive line, I mean, the stuff
we're seeing from them, Isaiah Foskiis just I don't know what are his
total I don't know what his sacknumbers are for the year, but he's
(11:20):
gonna end up having quiet And hehad two in this game plus two tackles
for loss. Like we knew hecould be good, but I don't think
anybody really saw it. Well,the No Name staff claims they saw this.
He has thirty two tackles on theyear, seven and a half sacks,
and three forced fumbles. Yeah,and that's just seven games in,
(11:41):
so he's averaging over just over asack of game. And then you know,
obviously Justin Adamiola is making a hugedifference as well. Like, I
just feel like these guys are thisdefense is finally getting to where they need
to be. They're figuring out thenew system and they're they're thriving in it.
And bo Bauer is always fun towatch. I mean he almost got
(12:03):
the got the touchdown. But um, yeah, we just we don't give
the defense enough credit. We kindawe expect them to do what they need
to do because we've we've gotten usedto it. Yeah, but these guys
were really down on them early inthe year, the first three games.
True, but they have well,I don't feel it was the players.
(12:24):
I felt more it was like thethe game, plant, the coach,
just a new system, just toomuch going on. But I think they
do have it figured out and it'sfun to watch these guys play. I
mean they did give up quite afew yards to Never Dams receiver Drake Landon
one hundred and seventy one yards,but he never scored. Yeah. He
(12:46):
I did look at before the game. I was looking at kind of if
there was any kind of relation betweenhim having a great game and USC winning
and that really wasn't he a lotof his games he had over one hundred
and forty yards, Okay, butthey didn't necessar only always win when he
had big games well, and theydidn't necessarily always loose. Yeah, I
think it's easy to miss, butUSC. I think they were averaging thirty
(13:07):
two points a game coming into thegame, coming into the Notre Dame game
close like they've they've had some highscoring games and so for Notre Dame to
hold them to sixteen like this defense, Like, I mean they scored thirty
twenty eight, forty five, twentyseven, thirty seven, twenty six.
(13:30):
Yeah, I mean this is thisis a good offense. So for Notre
Dame to do that is impressive.So anyways, you that's about all I
had about the game. Good time, great game, and it's always good
when USC Notre Dame beats USC.And what is the is it ninety five?
They're getting close to the hundredth game. I wonder if there's going to
(13:52):
be I'm I thought about it whenthey announced it at the State that this
was the was it ninety five ninetyfive meeting? It's quote it's around there.
I think it was. I thinkit was the ninety two ninety five.
But I wonder what's gonna like,that's gotta be something for the hundredth
matchup. I mean for the hundredthgame. I don't know if that's going
(14:13):
to be like the Shamrock series ordo they bring out the green jersey and
like, I yeah, it'll beinteresting to see. I'm guessing they'll do
something fun around that one. It'llprobably be If it was the ninety fifth,
then that means the night the onehundredth one would be at USC.
Yeah, they play every year thenext yeah, odd odd numbers are here,
(14:35):
even would be at use because theyskipped last year or so, That's
what um, all right, let'stalk about the matchup with the tar Heels.
So another night game kick off atseven thirty or TV coverage starts at
seven thirty. Notre Dame number elevensix and one hosting the tar Heels four
and three. You would think this. I was shocked at the spread for
(14:58):
this game. It's only three anda half points. I figured it'd be
more like it was for the USCgame, closer to a touchdown. So
obviously, UM, I don't know, there's something that doesn't quite meet the
eye. They are just looking attheir opponents who they've played this year as
(15:20):
far as North Carolina. They lostto Virginia Tech only scored ten points.
They beat Georgia State, who cares? They did hammer Virginia pretty good fifty
nine to thirty nine. Lost toGeorgia Tech, beat Duke thirty eight seven,
beat Florida State thirty five, twentyfive, beast to Florida State.
(15:41):
Oh sorry sorry yes, lost toFlorida State thirty five twenty five, beat
Miami barely forty two. I justI mean Brank Kelly bragged this team up,
you know, said that they've gotum as much talent returning as anyone
but they just have not done iton the field by any by any means.
(16:03):
So I don't understand why the spreadis so close. My feeling on
this game even preseason was that theTar Heels are often overhyped in my opinion,
and so I just don't think thisis going to be a close game.
I think Nor Dame wins it,probably by more than two scores.
I actually don't think it's gonna beas close as the USC game. Yeah,
(16:26):
well, I think a lot ofit is because Notre Dame does or
North Carolina does have a good offense. You also got a factor in that,
Um, Kyle Hamilton isn't playing,so I think that's being looked at
as this this offense is going togive Notre Dame some issues, um with
their passing game. UM so no, I haven't watched their games um this
(16:55):
year, but like they let's see, it's just for the last game.
But anyways, like they do havea good offense, and so they're better
than they used to be. Andbut I agree, I think they're overhyped,
like you said, like they getthey get more credit than they deserve.
(17:18):
Um, they had a few good, really good years there. But
I do think Notre Dames is stillgonna come away with a win and Nor
Dames also getting some momentum going towhich is another reason. I don't think
this is going to be a closegame. And often I'll side with the
spread. I mean usually, especiallyif it's not what I expect. It's
like something's got to be there,but I just do not buy it this
(17:38):
time. Yeah, um, doyou have your actual score? M real
close? I wasn't quite ready togive it yet, but but no,
I agree. I think Notre Dame'strending in the right direction, like they're
confidence their their confidence is building.Um with this offensive line, I think
(18:03):
at this point, like we knowJack Cohen as a starter, like there's
no question about I think people aredone questioning that, whether they like it
or not. That's that's how itis. Um Buckner's going to play some
and Drew Pine isn't going to comein unless somebody gets hurtle, unless two
people get hurt. Yeah, prettymuch. But which by the way,
(18:23):
Brendan Clark did announce he's transferring,so he's kind of had a rough like
he's been dealing he's dealt with injuries, which is kind of set him back.
He was clearly ahead of Drew Pinelast year, but then injuries kind
of set him back and he justnever was able to get ahead of guy.
And now it's pretty clear like he'sthe fourth guy. Like, I
(18:44):
don't blame him for transferring, LikeI think it was kind of expect that
one of these quarterbacks going to you, And I still think that out of
these, well, yeah, Idon't want to jinx. I still think
one of the quarterbacks going to transferbefore his career's over at in there Dame.
But um, I don't. Idon't see how Drew Pine would want
(19:04):
to stick around unless he realizes thathe's not a starting quarterback material. But
he's looked good, like he's lookedgood in small Well, maybe you're right,
maybe that's why he's not getting playingtime because I don't think a starter
at Notre Dame could ever be aquarterback that isn't convinced he could be that
(19:25):
he should be the starter, youknow what I mean, Like they gotta
have that mindset he's got to have. I know he does. He has
to seek he's confidence when he plays, he looks very confident. Yeah.
So yeah, but that's all downthe road, hopefully, We're gonna have
to talk a lot about that.Thankfully we don't have to make the decision
for them. But yeah, it'sobviously Jack Coleen and Jack Cohen looks good
(19:48):
if this offensive line continues to dowhat they're doing, and if if the
play calling keeps um if he can, if he makes fastest decisions, fast,
reason quicker, and in the playcalling is set up where you know
there's a an option for a quickdump off if necessary. Yeah, I
think it's gonna work. Yeah,I do have my score prediction ready,
(20:08):
go for it. I think NorDame is gonna score more points than they
have all year. I'm picking theIrish Wow, forty two twenty four Wow.
I'm I was actually going with atthe same score for North Klina,
Like I think North Calina scored twentyfour. I mean, if Kyle Hamilton
(20:29):
will be playing, I'd take thatdown a touchdown. But I think with
this North Klina offense, like,I think they're gonna get a touchdown that
they wouldn't have got Kyle Hamilton inthere, so I gave him an extra
score. Kyle Hamilton is worth atouchdown, so, but I have Nor
Dame at thirty four thirty four totwenty four. All right, so we're
(20:51):
both picking Nord Dame to beat thespread, but I'm a little more optimistic.
What do you expect to see fromNotre Dame's running game? Obviously the
success they had against USC, doyou think that continues or do you think
that it was a little bit ofan anomaly. No, I think it
(21:12):
continues just because of the the defensesthey're playing, Like, the schedule has
gotten easier, which helps the offensiveline. And if the offensive line is
doing good, then Notre Dame canrun the ball like it starts with that
offensive line. The more success theyhave, the better it's going to be
for Cohen throwing the ball, whichhelps with the running game. So they
(21:34):
all works together, and so Ithink this is maybe not quite as good
as what they had against USC,But I do think this was We're going
to see more. It's gonna becloser to the USC game than what it
was the first six games for therest of the year. Yep, I
agree, all right, I don'tknow if anything else. I do have
one question, who would one comment? Who would have thought the best team
(21:57):
in the accould be pitt this year. I just saw that, like I
haven't been keeping track, and allof a sudden I saw it. I
was like, wait, what's theirrecord? So I was surprised by Yeah,
they're a surprise to me. Idon't know if I don't follow them,
so I don't know if how manypeople are surprised by that. Um,
(22:22):
but yeah, obviously I got ayoung fan in here. Um,
we've got something else that was interesting. Wisconsin beat number twenty five per Due
thirty to thirteen. On Saturday.They're playing Iowa this uh, this upcoming
(22:44):
game is against Iowa. And what'sshocking is that they're actually favored against Iowa.
I don't know. I don't knowhow that happens, how that's possible.
Well, what they're winning? No, wait, Purdue is favored a
sorry, what's consin meat? Perdue? Last week? This week Wisconsin's playing
number nine Iowa, and yes,Iowa you know lost in a embarrassing game.
(23:07):
Was it a week ago or twoweeks ago? A week ago to
Purdue? Okay, yeah, toPurdue. That's why. Because Purdue abolished
I know who lost, just barelylost to Wisconsins. It's more going on
than that. But Wisconsin is favoredby three and a half points. And
what I was thinking is it couldend up by the end of the year
some of these teams that Nor Damehas played beside Cincinnati might be in the
(23:30):
top twenty five. Again. Iknow it looked impossible after after six games
that anyone would be ranked besides sincebut you know, Virginia Tech wins here
and there, they could rack up, you know, nine wins by the
end of the year. Maybe Ifeel like there's a lot more shuffling or
just drastic change. Maybe not sure, like more drastic changes this year than
(23:52):
before. It's kind of the unexpected. Yeah, I mean, who would
have thought that at Georgia be one, Cincinnati two, Like just how the
and you know even Iowa and PennState, like that was a Penn State
you know, lost their starting quarterback. Um, my business partner's Penn State
(24:15):
fans, I heard of all aboutthat, but um, you know that
was a top ten match up there. Well then I was up in the
top. Then they get destroyed andnow you know, they're not even favored
against the unranked team, Like theywent up and just dropped again. And
even Penn State was all the wayup to I'm not sure how they weren't
(24:36):
like they were they in the topfour. I don't think they hit the
top four, but they were surein the top seven or six for sure,
somewhere in there. But then theythen they dropped like it's it's been
a lot of these teams have beenvery up and down. I feel like,
um, Cincinnati number two, likeyou mentioned, they're playing to lane
one and six to lane. Istill don't think they're a great team,
(24:59):
but and they did. They almostlost a Navy, like very closely lost
to Navy last week. I thinkthey're gonna go and defeated. I'm really
curious to see when the Playoff committeecomes out with their ranking where Cincinnati lands.
Obviously, every every year there's ateam like Cincinnati that some fans think
should be in the top four.I'm really curious where Sincinnati ends up,
and they legitimately probably should make it. With all the teams everyone's lost besides
(25:23):
Georgia, well there's a couple oftheir teams. There's Michigan and Michigan State
but the ones that everyone was expectingto be in the playoff have lost a
game except for Georgia, and theybeat Notre Dame, you know, Notre
Dame. If they continue to gorun the table, they probably do deserve
to be there, even though Idon't think they're actually that good of a
(25:45):
team. Yeah, well, likelike who were saying, Like after Notre
Dame's for a few games, itwas like, Okay, well they're not
in the playoffs. You know what'sgoing to happen with Notre Dame. But
now all of a sudden, theirschedule is looking better. Um you know
it's it's it's changed and they're actuallyup there. They've lost one game,
(26:07):
Like after the first two games,I would not have expected to be this
whatever about Notre Dame. Order themto be ranked where they are and for
their opponents be where they're at,Like I feel much better about their tent.
No, they're not a playoff team, but like they're right there though,
So I feel better about them thanI did after the first two games,
(26:27):
that's for sure. And it's notjust Notre Dame. It also has
to do with every the rest ofcollege football and who the teams are playing,
Like that's not just Notre Dame.Like you look at the teams they
played and even teams they haven't playedthat have lost, and so Notre Dame
buzzing as bad as what I originallythought they were. I think I said
(26:48):
it was undefeated. They actually dohave one loss. It was to Western
Michigan of all teams. That's what'sso crazy about Yeah, but really interesting
matchup on Saturday is Michigan and MichiganState. Both are undefeated, both in
the top ten. I don't rememberthe last time both these teams were,
(27:10):
you know, even probably in thetop twenty five necessarily when they played each
other. But that's an exciting matchupfor the Big ten. And you do
have all miss in Auburn playing,and then you do have Penn State in
Ohio State, which has really losta lot of it's luster. With Penn
(27:32):
State's two losses, still a toptwenty five matchup. And then I guess
for our opponents. Another interesting matchupfor that is BYU in Virginia. Virginia
six and two by U is sixand two, number twenty five. So
Virginia beats BYU. You know,there's a good chance that they cracked the
top twenty five. Anyway, anythingthat jumps out from you from the schedule
(27:56):
coming up this weekend, no,not early, I mean yeah, I'll
be ready to playing watching over dameplay, so I don't. I haven't
really paid attention to a lot ofthe other game. I haven't watched a
lot of other football games this year. Then, college playoff rankings do come
out next Tuesday, so that'll bethe first one November second, so yeah,
(28:18):
I mean, I guess we'll recordagain before that. But they do
come out. They start that nextweek, so that's gonna be interesting to
see. Usually it doesn't change muchthat first week though. It's basically what
where the ap and the coaches poillhave them, so but we'll see.
It'll be interesting to see what theysay about some of these teams. All
right, and so we got today. Thank you guys for listening. Until
(28:42):
next time, Go Irish, GoIrish.
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