January 20, 2025 • 8 mins
Dave Biddle from Bucknuts previews the National Championship game
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Twenty three minutes after three o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen thirty.
I'm oegar the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. By
the way, you could hear it down the hall on
seven hundred WLW Ohio State and Notre Dame. Dave Biddle
covers the Buckeyes for Bucknots dot com joining us from Atlanta.
You've done this before. You've been to championship games, playoff games,
(00:22):
a lot of postseason games. I know it's cold down
there in Atlanta. Describe set the scene for me. Describe
the vibe in Atlanta for me.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Dave, Yeah, So it reminds me a lot of ten
years ago mo with the even that was the first
year of the four team playoff, everything was new. Ohio
State had to play in three postseason games that year
because they play in the Big Ten championship game. This
year they'll play in four. Notre Dame will also play
in four. So it reminds me a lot of the
first year of the four team playoff and now with
that being the first year of the twelve team playoffs.
(00:50):
So it's and some of the similarities are very interesting,
very striking between Ohio State ten years ago in Ohio
State right now, because a lot of people left Ohio
State for dead. A couple differ and times in twenty fourteen,
you know, I sure did. They lost a you know,
very mediocre Virginia Tech team. Before that, Braxton Miller was
lost for the season, then J. T. Barrett was lost
for the season, left for dead. They win the national
title while I was they was left for dead after
(01:11):
the Michigan game. And here they're on the on the
doorstep of the National championship and there are Dames, a tough,
gritty team, They're talented. I mean, this is going to
be a good game.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Remove all the emotion, which is impossible to do. I
get it in the aftermath of what happened against Michigan.
But if I would have said to you that night
that the Buck guys will be playing in the championship game,
you would have said.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
What, Oh geez? I would have I thought they had
a chance. I did say after the Michigan game, okay,
and once the bracket came out, I'm like, if they
can get past Tennessee, they could be a problem. I
did say that many times, so every once in a while,
get one right. I just felt like if they could
emotionally get past Tennessee, I didn't expect to have like
a blowout, but they just came out there ticked off,
(01:54):
like they came out there pass it, and like, you know,
whate was me. I was thinking Tennessee could beat them,
like definitely, and I thought that was a strong possibility.
I mean, I picked Ohio State, but I picked him
in a close game. But I remember saying, like, if
they could get past Tennessee, they're gonna be a problem
because they're still very talented, and just felt like they
had not played their best football yet. Their defense was
starting to peak, but then the offense, like you know,
(02:16):
went went way downhill against Michigan. So and now everything's
just come together for them and it's been a pretty
magical run. When you beat Tennessee at the Horseshoe, then
you beat Oregon, who beat you earlier in the season
in the Rose Bowl, then you beat Texas in the
state of Texas. Can they finish the deal here in
Atlanta against this Notre Dame team.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
The prevailing sentiment is going to be that if if
Notre Dame has a chance, they've they've got to they've
got to ugly it up. They've got to turn it
into a rock fight. The way to do that, I
guess would start with doing what Texas did with Jeremiah Smith.
Can Notre Dame use that blueprint? For those who don't know,
he had one catch for three yards against long hoards.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, and then when Will Howard threw his interception, he's
trying to force it to Jeremiah Smith that they had
like three guys on them. So yeah, I think that.
I mean, that's it'd be fullest not to coffee with
Texas is you know what they were doing. But here's
the thing. Mo like Al Golan, who hopefully will be
the Bengals future defensive coordinators if that happens. I love him.
He's a heck of a good defensive coordinator. But he
(03:11):
loves to play man covers. Now they play I've heard
people say all Notre Dame does is play man That's
not true. They've mixed in zone. He's he's pretty exotic.
There's times we'll have man coverage on one side, zone
on the other side, will mix it up after the snap.
I mean, they do some things that are just like
next level on defense. I'm very impressed. So yeah, I mean,
you can do that, and I'm sure al Golam's gonna
come up with something. He might not mimic exactly what
(03:32):
Texas did, but I have no doubt he's gonna come
up with a plan that leaves a limit. Jeremiah Smith.
The problem, then, of course, is they've got two other
really good receivers with the Mecha Buca and Carnel Tait.
So to pick your poison type deal, I I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
I could ask ten Buckeye fans their opinions on Will
Howard and get ten different opinions as somebody who's much
more reasonable. Give me your assessment of his overall season,
but I guess specifically how he's played here in the postseason.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah, that's a great way that you asked that question, right.
I think if you have tend to Buckeye fancy would
get ten different answers about Will, kind of similar about
everbody would say something different because some people it's like, oh, yeah,
Will Howard it's a great Some people it's like Will
Howard isn't good at all, will never play in the NFL. Yeah,
I'm somewhere in between. I think he'll be like a
fourth round pick. I don't see him be in like
a starting quarterback in the NFL. But as far as
how he's played, he's played really well in the postseason,
(04:21):
specifically against Tennessee and Oregon. That was the most accurate
he's been as far as throwing deep balls. I mean
he was putting just dropping dimes. That that's like Joe
Burrow's style, Bros. I don't say that lightly and I'm serious. Like,
you know, a Mecca that his catch the second touchdown
of the Rose Bowls. He had to catch it like
one that even the dB did a great job, got
a hand on a Mecca catch it with one hand
(04:43):
because the ball was placed perfectly with like perfect throw,
perfect coverage and a perfect catch. Everybody did their job
on that. So he's been really really good in the
postseason again Texas. He was a little shaky though a
little shaky against Texas. So here's the thing. Notre Dame
and they know this will will put the ball in
harms way he did it against Texas, did it against Michigan.
He's He's usually good for about one or two boneheaded
(05:04):
plays a game where you're like, what in the heck
was he thinking there? Like, but overall he's had a
good year. You know, he's third team All Big Ten.
I thought he might be second team All Big Ten,
so he's like, you know, he's that's about right. He's
like a second team, third team All Big Ten quarterback.
He's not like an All American or anything like that.
He's not gonna be, you know, a second round pick
or anything. I think, and he could slide into the
third round because NFL teams will like his leadership, they'll
(05:26):
like his toughness, will like his thighs. He's a legit
six to four. He looked at six five at KSE State.
They listened at six to four here, So yeah, he's
a good college quarterback.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
You mentioned Al Golden, the Notre Dame defensive coordinator, and
I think most of us fought if you feel like
he's the uh the favorite to be the Bengals defensive coordinator,
perhaps as early as tomorrow, which is fine, that's all
well and good. Well he'd be coaching Jack Sawyer next year.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Oh gosh, i'd be a good pick when you replaced.
And I love him. I love Saam Hubbard, but that's
you know. I read Paul the Inner Story the other day.
I completely agree that. I mean, can't be paying hub
Sam Hubbard ten million dollars now when you're trying to
pay all these other guys and Sam. I love Sam,
but his production's gone way down. Not probably not any
faults of the done. He's just came to injuries. Older
Jack Sawyer was a replacement for Sam Hubbard to be
(06:14):
really good, especially with Miles Murphy doing absolutely nothing really
first two years.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
As many sacks as me last year. Let me talk
about a Notre Dame offensively. I think they're best described
as competent but not explosive. What should worry Buckeye fans
about what the Irish do on offense?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Well, I Sate's not done it. He's done a better
job late in the year, but they haven't done a
great job against running quarterbacks. I think something Texas should
have used more, especially down the goal line. I can't
play then put Arch Fanning in. They did it once
early in the game and it worked, then they never
went back to it. Okay, okay, thank you. So. Riley
Leonard is a heck of a good running quarterback. I
know he's a little banged up, but like I think,
the time off, he's going to be fine. More than fine.
(06:54):
He's tough, he's physical, he's athletic, he's big, and then
they also have a really good running back in or
My Love. That's all you can say. Okay, we're just
gonna spy Riley Leonard, and he's really good at throwing
the ball on third down, Like, yeah, he just doesn't
put up like sparkling stats or anything passing wise, but
they're like maybe the best team in the nation at
converting third down. So third down conversions is a big win.
(07:15):
Containing the QB run you're not gonna stop it. Containing
the QB, You're gonna containing Jeremiah Love are the biggest concerns.
And turnovers. I don't think Notre Dame can win this game.
Mode Maybe I'm wrong. I don't think not Dame can
win this game if they don't win the turnover battle.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Yeah, that sounds about right. So Ohio State's heavily favored.
Let's say they win tonight, Ryan Day hoist the trophy.
How many days will you give him before people start
asking him about the twenty twenty five Michigan game.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
At the press conference as a postgame presser. Here here's
what I say that. Like, obviously, Ohio States Day. That's
probably you can't say, well, Ohio State fans won't care
about his record against Michigan. If they win the national championship,
they'll still care, like did much rather before one under
Ryan Day with national championship. Then if they win one
and four against Michigan with the national championship, but they
would take the national championship in one and four one
(08:06):
hundred times out of one hundred times out of being
four and one against Michigan in no national championship. But
he'll be asked about it a lot. He'll be asked
about it a lot. But he'll be a legend in
Columbus forever if he's able to take care of business tonight.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
I would agree with that. I can't thank you enough. Know,
have a lot going on. Enjoy the game tonight. It
should be a lot of fun. Appreciate the time.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Thank you, mo, Appreciate you man.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
That's our guy. Dave Biddle from Atlanta Bucknuts dot com.
Ohio State Notre Dame kicking off at seven forty five tonight,
that is four hours and fourteen minutes away. Sports headlines
are next. We'll take a look at the weekend in
college basketball on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati sports station
Twenty three minutes after three o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen thirty.
I'm oegar the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. By
the way, you could hear it down the hall on
seven hundred WLW Ohio State and Notre Dame. Dave Biddle
covers the Buckeyes for Bucknots dot com joining us from Atlanta.
You've done this before. You've been to championship games, playoff games,
(00:22):
a lot of postseason games. I know it's cold down
there in Atlanta. Describe set the scene for me. Describe
the vibe in Atlanta for me.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Dave, Yeah, So it reminds me a lot of ten
years ago mo with the even that was the first
year of the four team playoff, everything was new. Ohio
State had to play in three postseason games that year
because they play in the Big Ten championship game. This
year they'll play in four. Notre Dame will also play
in four. So it reminds me a lot of the
first year of the four team playoff and now with
that being the first year of the twelve team playoffs.
(00:50):
So it's and some of the similarities are very interesting,
very striking between Ohio State ten years ago in Ohio
State right now, because a lot of people left Ohio
State for dead. A couple differ and times in twenty fourteen,
you know, I sure did. They lost a you know,
very mediocre Virginia Tech team. Before that, Braxton Miller was
lost for the season, then J. T. Barrett was lost
for the season, left for dead. They win the national
title while I was they was left for dead after
(01:11):
the Michigan game. And here they're on the on the
doorstep of the National championship and there are Dames, a tough,
gritty team, They're talented. I mean, this is going to
be a good game.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Remove all the emotion, which is impossible to do. I
get it in the aftermath of what happened against Michigan.
But if I would have said to you that night
that the Buck guys will be playing in the championship game,
you would have said.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
What, Oh geez? I would have I thought they had
a chance. I did say after the Michigan game, okay,
and once the bracket came out, I'm like, if they
can get past Tennessee, they could be a problem. I
did say that many times, so every once in a while,
get one right. I just felt like if they could
emotionally get past Tennessee, I didn't expect to have like
a blowout, but they just came out there ticked off,
(01:54):
like they came out there pass it, and like, you know,
whate was me. I was thinking Tennessee could beat them,
like definitely, and I thought that was a strong possibility.
I mean, I picked Ohio State, but I picked him
in a close game. But I remember saying, like, if
they could get past Tennessee, they're gonna be a problem
because they're still very talented, and just felt like they
had not played their best football yet. Their defense was
starting to peak, but then the offense, like you know,
(02:16):
went went way downhill against Michigan. So and now everything's
just come together for them and it's been a pretty
magical run. When you beat Tennessee at the Horseshoe, then
you beat Oregon, who beat you earlier in the season
in the Rose Bowl, then you beat Texas in the
state of Texas. Can they finish the deal here in
Atlanta against this Notre Dame team.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
The prevailing sentiment is going to be that if if
Notre Dame has a chance, they've they've got to they've
got to ugly it up. They've got to turn it
into a rock fight. The way to do that, I
guess would start with doing what Texas did with Jeremiah Smith.
Can Notre Dame use that blueprint? For those who don't know,
he had one catch for three yards against long hoards.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, and then when Will Howard threw his interception, he's
trying to force it to Jeremiah Smith that they had
like three guys on them. So yeah, I think that.
I mean, that's it'd be fullest not to coffee with
Texas is you know what they were doing. But here's
the thing. Mo like Al Golan, who hopefully will be
the Bengals future defensive coordinators if that happens. I love him.
He's a heck of a good defensive coordinator. But he
(03:11):
loves to play man covers. Now they play I've heard
people say all Notre Dame does is play man That's
not true. They've mixed in zone. He's he's pretty exotic.
There's times we'll have man coverage on one side, zone
on the other side, will mix it up after the snap.
I mean, they do some things that are just like
next level on defense. I'm very impressed. So yeah, I mean,
you can do that, and I'm sure al Golam's gonna
come up with something. He might not mimic exactly what
(03:32):
Texas did, but I have no doubt he's gonna come
up with a plan that leaves a limit. Jeremiah Smith.
The problem, then, of course, is they've got two other
really good receivers with the Mecha Buca and Carnel Tait.
So to pick your poison type deal, I I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
I could ask ten Buckeye fans their opinions on Will
Howard and get ten different opinions as somebody who's much
more reasonable. Give me your assessment of his overall season,
but I guess specifically how he's played here in the postseason.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah, that's a great way that you asked that question, right.
I think if you have tend to Buckeye fancy would
get ten different answers about Will, kind of similar about
everbody would say something different because some people it's like, oh, yeah,
Will Howard it's a great Some people it's like Will
Howard isn't good at all, will never play in the NFL. Yeah,
I'm somewhere in between. I think he'll be like a
fourth round pick. I don't see him be in like
a starting quarterback in the NFL. But as far as
how he's played, he's played really well in the postseason,
(04:21):
specifically against Tennessee and Oregon. That was the most accurate
he's been as far as throwing deep balls. I mean
he was putting just dropping dimes. That that's like Joe
Burrow's style, Bros. I don't say that lightly and I'm serious. Like,
you know, a Mecca that his catch the second touchdown
of the Rose Bowls. He had to catch it like
one that even the dB did a great job, got
a hand on a Mecca catch it with one hand
(04:43):
because the ball was placed perfectly with like perfect throw,
perfect coverage and a perfect catch. Everybody did their job
on that. So he's been really really good in the
postseason again Texas. He was a little shaky though a
little shaky against Texas. So here's the thing. Notre Dame
and they know this will will put the ball in
harms way he did it against Texas, did it against Michigan.
He's He's usually good for about one or two boneheaded
(05:04):
plays a game where you're like, what in the heck
was he thinking there? Like, but overall he's had a
good year. You know, he's third team All Big Ten.
I thought he might be second team All Big Ten,
so he's like, you know, he's that's about right. He's
like a second team, third team All Big Ten quarterback.
He's not like an All American or anything like that.
He's not gonna be, you know, a second round pick
or anything. I think, and he could slide into the
third round because NFL teams will like his leadership, they'll
(05:26):
like his toughness, will like his thighs. He's a legit
six to four. He looked at six five at KSE State.
They listened at six to four here, So yeah, he's
a good college quarterback.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
You mentioned Al Golden, the Notre Dame defensive coordinator, and
I think most of us fought if you feel like
he's the uh the favorite to be the Bengals defensive coordinator,
perhaps as early as tomorrow, which is fine, that's all
well and good. Well he'd be coaching Jack Sawyer next year.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Oh gosh, i'd be a good pick when you replaced.
And I love him. I love Saam Hubbard, but that's
you know. I read Paul the Inner Story the other day.
I completely agree that. I mean, can't be paying hub
Sam Hubbard ten million dollars now when you're trying to
pay all these other guys and Sam. I love Sam,
but his production's gone way down. Not probably not any
faults of the done. He's just came to injuries. Older
Jack Sawyer was a replacement for Sam Hubbard to be
(06:14):
really good, especially with Miles Murphy doing absolutely nothing really
first two years.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
As many sacks as me last year. Let me talk
about a Notre Dame offensively. I think they're best described
as competent but not explosive. What should worry Buckeye fans
about what the Irish do on offense?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Well, I Sate's not done it. He's done a better
job late in the year, but they haven't done a
great job against running quarterbacks. I think something Texas should
have used more, especially down the goal line. I can't
play then put Arch Fanning in. They did it once
early in the game and it worked, then they never
went back to it. Okay, okay, thank you. So. Riley
Leonard is a heck of a good running quarterback. I
know he's a little banged up, but like I think,
the time off, he's going to be fine. More than fine.
(06:54):
He's tough, he's physical, he's athletic, he's big, and then
they also have a really good running back in or
My Love. That's all you can say. Okay, we're just
gonna spy Riley Leonard, and he's really good at throwing
the ball on third down, Like, yeah, he just doesn't
put up like sparkling stats or anything passing wise, but
they're like maybe the best team in the nation at
converting third down. So third down conversions is a big win.
(07:15):
Containing the QB run you're not gonna stop it. Containing
the QB, You're gonna containing Jeremiah Love are the biggest concerns.
And turnovers. I don't think Notre Dame can win this game.
Mode Maybe I'm wrong. I don't think not Dame can
win this game if they don't win the turnover battle.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Yeah, that sounds about right. So Ohio State's heavily favored.
Let's say they win tonight, Ryan Day hoist the trophy.
How many days will you give him before people start
asking him about the twenty twenty five Michigan game.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
At the press conference as a postgame presser. Here here's
what I say that. Like, obviously, Ohio States Day. That's
probably you can't say, well, Ohio State fans won't care
about his record against Michigan. If they win the national championship,
they'll still care, like did much rather before one under
Ryan Day with national championship. Then if they win one
and four against Michigan with the national championship, but they
would take the national championship in one and four one
(08:06):
hundred times out of one hundred times out of being
four and one against Michigan in no national championship. But
he'll be asked about it a lot. He'll be asked
about it a lot. But he'll be a legend in
Columbus forever if he's able to take care of business tonight.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
I would agree with that. I can't thank you enough. Know,
have a lot going on. Enjoy the game tonight. It
should be a lot of fun. Appreciate the time.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Thank you, mo, Appreciate you man.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
That's our guy. Dave Biddle from Atlanta Bucknuts dot com.
Ohio State Notre Dame kicking off at seven forty five tonight,
that is four hours and fourteen minutes away. Sports headlines
are next. We'll take a look at the weekend in
college basketball on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati sports station
Mo Egger News
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