August 31, 2026 • 9 mins
CBS College Football Analyst Brian Jones
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
1530, Cincinnati's sports station. After the traditional annual, although not
(00:07):
anymore next year, I guess, week zero appetizer college football
begins in earnest this weekend with a whole slew of
week one tilts. Brian Jones, CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network.
You see him on College Football today and on Inside
College Football. Kind enough to join us. He is with
us on behalf of Bear E, the first ever CTE drug,
(00:28):
which I do want to ask you about. I just
like this. We have you on and we can talk
about college football without referencing injunctions or anything related to
the courts.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
You don't want to get litigious. No, it was great.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
There were games on my television this weekend, and I
could forget about court proceedings and stuff like that for
a while.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Hey, man, it's the best drama series going, college football,
but I'm in agreement. It was great to see teams
back in action, and we had a little drama. We did.
We did.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
As everybody gets set to begin this weekend, give me
some storylines that you're looking forward to watching unfold.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, you know, Big Ten, four straight or three straight natties,
can they do it a fourth time? Who in the
SEC can finally knock Georgia off the throne? I'm hoping
it's my Longhorns, but until they can defeat Georgia, I'm
not picking them. I think Alabama's going to be back
in the mix this year. I really, really like Oregon.
(01:31):
Miami finally wins a conference title. It's taken them forever
to do that since their Big East days. And And always,
who's going to emerge is that Heisman candidate that no
one's been talking about. I think it's going to be
running back Bo Jackson at Ohio State.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
So I think he's actually going to have competition with
his own teammate, though. And we've had wide receivers, players
who play wide receivers, break through and win the award
this decade. So what I'm excited to watch, just from
a national perspective, but obviously a little bit here locally,
Jeremiah Smith's numbers his first two years have been insane.
I'm kind of curious what kind of totals he's going
to put up this year.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
No, I agree with you. And saying 77% a season ago,
it might be 80 this year because he has receivers
such as Jeremiah Smith and Chris Henry now comes in,
Chris Henry Jr., big 6'5, 6'6 kid. I already had
others on that wide receiver, in that wide receiver room.
(02:38):
I should say, yeah, I think Bo's going to have
some competition, but I also think Ohio State will be
grounded in excellence this year. And what I mean by that,
I think they're going to lean on their running game
a lot, lot more. This kid is a superstar waiting
to happen. I mean, over 1,000 a year ago, of course.
He's got others, Wes, who's a legend, Bay, in that back.
(03:02):
So he got the transfer from Florida. But I think
with that seasoned offensive line, why not? just pound the
rock and i think they will jeremiah smith will get
his but i still think that run game will lead
the way uh for this football team especially allowing that
defense with some new faces starting to really.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Find itself i i learned my lesson in kind of
looking at indiana through the lens a year ago as
cute story in 2024 uh that was nice and then
you know maybe the greatest season ever And so like
I'm still in this part of the country, it is
still weird to look at, you know, the top 10
and there's Indiana six and people are talking about them
(03:43):
being a little bit undersold. What do you make of
the Hoosiers this year?
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Well, it's going to come down to quarterback play. Of course,
they have to replace the Heisman Trophy winner, Josh Hoover.
He can find a fix for the ill-advised throws, the
interceptions from a year ago. If they can replace two
excellent running backs, I was a big fan of of
him being, especially Kalen Black and the way they ran
(04:09):
the rock. And the receiver, I think they're going to
be just fine. Charlie Becker, especially when Surratt went out,
he showed up and showed out each and every week.
Marsh comes over from Michigan State. Defensively, I love the backers,
Holiday and Jones. Now, you know, they get the kid
back on the D-line, speaking of being litigious. So this
(04:32):
is a team that's still going to be pretty good,
but now they're the hunted, for real. They are the hunted.
They've shown that they have staying power, at least defensively.
Last year they did lose two games first year and
come back and run the table a season ago. So
they are now the hunted. And how do they handle
that week in and week out? This is not your
(04:54):
mom and dad's Indiana Hoosiers anymore.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
You mentioned the Big Ten and the SEC, and understandably so. Now,
I root for here in Cincinnati a Big 12 school.
And at Halloween last year, my beloved Bearcats were 17th
in the country defensively. and then they never won another
football game. It feels like Texas Tech and everybody else
this year. How do you break down the Big 12?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
I like BYU. Here's another well-stocked operation, which seems like
all their top players are coming back. Of course, you
have Bear, a quarterback. What a great name. We got him,
and we got the other Bear, Alexander. At Oregon on
the D line. So I think BYU, man, and LJ
(05:41):
Martin coming back at the running back position defensively, so
like all their cats are returning and they add in
a linebacker. Ula Aave from Cal. So this is going
to be an extremely difficult defense to penetrate. I mentioned Bachmeier,
(06:03):
quarterback Martin. And so if they're able to run the
run the rock. the way they did last year, and L.J.
Martin was one of the best with almost 1,400 yards.
Look out for BYU. Of course, Texas Tech, they'll be
back in the mix. Will Hammond, the team went to Utah.
He's thrust into action once more than the starter gets hurt,
(06:25):
and they were no worse for wear. So they'll be good.
And I'm with you, man. I was singing the praises
of the Swordsman last year early on, and then I
don't know what the heck happened. He just pooped the bed,
and so I don't know if it was what was
occurring off the field that affected him, but early on,
I was like, man, he looks like one of the
better quarterbacks in our game.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, no, it's been the same script each of the
last two Novembers for the Bearcats, and the thing about
last season was the schedule kind of favored them, right?
They didn't have to play Texas Tech. They got BYU
at home. This year, they have to go to BYU.
They have to play Texas Tech here. The expectations aren't massive, but...
(07:05):
We will see. Tell me about your involvement with the
first ever CTE drug. And we we talk about CTE
in this sport quite often for good reasons. The short
name is Bear E. Tell me about Barry and what
the real name is.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Veracitinib. Veracitinib is the real name. And so we've got
a trial study, a treatment study for depression and cognitive symptoms.
And thanks to Dr. Christina Gavignano, she was able to
discern that inflammation is the main driver in a lot
of our afflictions, whether it's depression, dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's. and
(07:46):
also CTE. And so we're going to have, she's going
to do some trial studies to see if we can,
if baricitinib will be an elixir for mitigating the inflammation,
which then will allow us to treat what's actually going on.
So that inflammation gets in the way. So she's seeking
(08:08):
for the study men aged 30 to 55 who played
11 plus years of tackle football and are currently experiencing
depressive and cognitive symptoms, and they can contact Karina Null
at 404-778-7599. That's 404-778-7599. Or you can go to concussionandcte.org, concussionandcte.org,
forward slash Barry, B-A-R-I, study.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Important work being done. There's no doubt about that. Brian,
enjoy week one. I appreciate the time, man. Thanks so much.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Appreciate you, Mo. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Brian Jones, CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network as we
get closer to week one of the college football season.
Tony Pike on the Bengals and their roster cuts next.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Cincinnati's ESPN 1530.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Traffic. From the UC Health Traffic Center, trust the same
1530, Cincinnati's sports station. After the traditional annual, although not
(00:07):
anymore next year, I guess, week zero appetizer college football
begins in earnest this weekend with a whole slew of
week one tilts. Brian Jones, CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network.
You see him on College Football today and on Inside
College Football. Kind enough to join us. He is with
us on behalf of Bear E, the first ever CTE drug,
(00:28):
which I do want to ask you about. I just
like this. We have you on and we can talk
about college football without referencing injunctions or anything related to
the courts.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
You don't want to get litigious. No, it was great.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
There were games on my television this weekend, and I
could forget about court proceedings and stuff like that for
a while.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Hey, man, it's the best drama series going, college football,
but I'm in agreement. It was great to see teams
back in action, and we had a little drama. We did.
We did.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
As everybody gets set to begin this weekend, give me
some storylines that you're looking forward to watching unfold.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, you know, Big Ten, four straight or three straight natties,
can they do it a fourth time? Who in the
SEC can finally knock Georgia off the throne? I'm hoping
it's my Longhorns, but until they can defeat Georgia, I'm
not picking them. I think Alabama's going to be back
in the mix this year. I really, really like Oregon.
(01:31):
Miami finally wins a conference title. It's taken them forever
to do that since their Big East days. And And always,
who's going to emerge is that Heisman candidate that no
one's been talking about. I think it's going to be
running back Bo Jackson at Ohio State.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
So I think he's actually going to have competition with
his own teammate, though. And we've had wide receivers, players
who play wide receivers, break through and win the award
this decade. So what I'm excited to watch, just from
a national perspective, but obviously a little bit here locally,
Jeremiah Smith's numbers his first two years have been insane.
I'm kind of curious what kind of totals he's going
to put up this year.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
No, I agree with you. And saying 77% a season ago,
it might be 80 this year because he has receivers
such as Jeremiah Smith and Chris Henry now comes in,
Chris Henry Jr., big 6'5, 6'6 kid. I already had
others on that wide receiver, in that wide receiver room.
(02:38):
I should say, yeah, I think Bo's going to have
some competition, but I also think Ohio State will be
grounded in excellence this year. And what I mean by that,
I think they're going to lean on their running game
a lot, lot more. This kid is a superstar waiting
to happen. I mean, over 1,000 a year ago, of course.
He's got others, Wes, who's a legend, Bay, in that back.
(03:02):
So he got the transfer from Florida. But I think
with that seasoned offensive line, why not? just pound the
rock and i think they will jeremiah smith will get
his but i still think that run game will lead
the way uh for this football team especially allowing that
defense with some new faces starting to really.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Find itself i i learned my lesson in kind of
looking at indiana through the lens a year ago as
cute story in 2024 uh that was nice and then
you know maybe the greatest season ever And so like
I'm still in this part of the country, it is
still weird to look at, you know, the top 10
and there's Indiana six and people are talking about them
(03:43):
being a little bit undersold. What do you make of
the Hoosiers this year?
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Well, it's going to come down to quarterback play. Of course,
they have to replace the Heisman Trophy winner, Josh Hoover.
He can find a fix for the ill-advised throws, the
interceptions from a year ago. If they can replace two
excellent running backs, I was a big fan of of
him being, especially Kalen Black and the way they ran
(04:09):
the rock. And the receiver, I think they're going to
be just fine. Charlie Becker, especially when Surratt went out,
he showed up and showed out each and every week.
Marsh comes over from Michigan State. Defensively, I love the backers,
Holiday and Jones. Now, you know, they get the kid
back on the D-line, speaking of being litigious. So this
(04:32):
is a team that's still going to be pretty good,
but now they're the hunted, for real. They are the hunted.
They've shown that they have staying power, at least defensively.
Last year they did lose two games first year and
come back and run the table a season ago. So
they are now the hunted. And how do they handle
that week in and week out? This is not your
(04:54):
mom and dad's Indiana Hoosiers anymore.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
You mentioned the Big Ten and the SEC, and understandably so. Now,
I root for here in Cincinnati a Big 12 school.
And at Halloween last year, my beloved Bearcats were 17th
in the country defensively. and then they never won another
football game. It feels like Texas Tech and everybody else
this year. How do you break down the Big 12?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
I like BYU. Here's another well-stocked operation, which seems like
all their top players are coming back. Of course, you
have Bear, a quarterback. What a great name. We got him,
and we got the other Bear, Alexander. At Oregon on
the D line. So I think BYU, man, and LJ
(05:41):
Martin coming back at the running back position defensively, so
like all their cats are returning and they add in
a linebacker. Ula Aave from Cal. So this is going
to be an extremely difficult defense to penetrate. I mentioned Bachmeier,
(06:03):
quarterback Martin. And so if they're able to run the
run the rock. the way they did last year, and L.J.
Martin was one of the best with almost 1,400 yards.
Look out for BYU. Of course, Texas Tech, they'll be
back in the mix. Will Hammond, the team went to Utah.
He's thrust into action once more than the starter gets hurt,
(06:25):
and they were no worse for wear. So they'll be good.
And I'm with you, man. I was singing the praises
of the Swordsman last year early on, and then I
don't know what the heck happened. He just pooped the bed,
and so I don't know if it was what was
occurring off the field that affected him, but early on,
I was like, man, he looks like one of the
better quarterbacks in our game.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, no, it's been the same script each of the
last two Novembers for the Bearcats, and the thing about
last season was the schedule kind of favored them, right?
They didn't have to play Texas Tech. They got BYU
at home. This year, they have to go to BYU.
They have to play Texas Tech here. The expectations aren't massive, but...
(07:05):
We will see. Tell me about your involvement with the
first ever CTE drug. And we we talk about CTE
in this sport quite often for good reasons. The short
name is Bear E. Tell me about Barry and what
the real name is.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Veracitinib. Veracitinib is the real name. And so we've got
a trial study, a treatment study for depression and cognitive symptoms.
And thanks to Dr. Christina Gavignano, she was able to
discern that inflammation is the main driver in a lot
of our afflictions, whether it's depression, dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's. and
(07:46):
also CTE. And so we're going to have, she's going
to do some trial studies to see if we can,
if baricitinib will be an elixir for mitigating the inflammation,
which then will allow us to treat what's actually going on.
So that inflammation gets in the way. So she's seeking
(08:08):
for the study men aged 30 to 55 who played
11 plus years of tackle football and are currently experiencing
depressive and cognitive symptoms, and they can contact Karina Null
at 404-778-7599. That's 404-778-7599. Or you can go to concussionandcte.org, concussionandcte.org,
forward slash Barry, B-A-R-I, study.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Important work being done. There's no doubt about that. Brian,
enjoy week one. I appreciate the time, man. Thanks so much.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Appreciate you, Mo. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Brian Jones, CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network as we
get closer to week one of the college football season.
Tony Pike on the Bengals and their roster cuts next.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Cincinnati's ESPN 1530.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Traffic. From the UC Health Traffic Center, trust the same
Mo Egger News
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