December 7, 2025 • 40 mins
This episode delivers a sweeping look at a pivotal moment in the football calendar, where the chaos of college championship week collides with the grind of the NFL’s late-season push. The spotlight opens on the college game, unpacking the shockwaves from conference title weekend and what they mean for the final College Football Playoff picture. A major portion of the discussion centers on Indiana’s stunning Big Ten Championship victory over Ohio State, breaking down how the upset unfolded, what it says about both programs, and how it reshapes national perception heading into bowl season. The episode then turns to Georgia’s decisive win over Alabama, examining how the Bulldogs asserted control, what went wrong for the Crimson Tide, and how both results fuel intense speculation over who ultimately earns a place in the Playoff bracket. From there, the focus shifts to the fast-spinning coaching carousel. Listeners are guided through a flurry of major moves across the college landscape, including headline-grabbing hires at UCLA, Iowa State, UConn, and Memphis. The show also digs into an unprecedented NIL contract dispute initiated by Georgia, explaining why this particular conflict stands out, what it might signal about the future of name, image and likeness deals, and how it could influence recruiting and player leverage across the sport. On the professional side, the episode transitions into the NFL, zeroing in on preparations for Week 14. The hosts walk through key injury updates that could swing games and betting lines, while also reviewing important roster adjustments, with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs under particular scrutiny as they fine-tune depth charts for the stretch run. Finally, the conversation turns to the sidelines, where the job security of several high-profile NFL head coaches is being closely examined. Special attention is paid to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the looming contract deadline for Mike Tomlin, with analysis on how the team’s recent form, locker room dynamics, and organizational expectations could shape his future in Pittsburgh. From college shocks to professional pressure cookers, this episode captures the full spectrum of drama defining football right now.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Football Army. We have just emerged from a
weekend that wasn't just pivotal, No, it was catastrophic for
half the teams involved, creating perhaps the most complex selection
Sunday the College Football Playoff Committee has ever faced.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It was an absolute reckoning across the entire college landscape,
and that was compounded by a high stakes Week fourteen
in the NFL Division races are tightening and internal team
dramas starting to dictate who actually has a path to
the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Yeah, it feels like we're dealing with chaos on both fronts.
You've got these monumental upsets shaking the CFP bracket on
one side.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
And on the other, multimillion dollar contract disputes that are
actively benching elite NFL talent. It's everywhere.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
So our mission is simple, to dive deep into everything
that matters. We need to unpack the chaos of this
expanded college field, who's in, who's out, and why the
rules are now like bending under the weight of the results.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
And at the same time, we've got to dissect the
critical injuries, the coaching moves, and the fight financial deadlines
that are making this NFL Playoff race so incredibly volatile.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
We're jumping straight into the epicenter of the destruction, and
we have to start with the biggest shock of Championship weekend.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No question where we start.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I am still trying to fully grasp the magnitude of
what the Indiana Hoosiers achieved in the Big Ten Championship.
H Number two Indiana, a program that has often played
the spoiler but rarely claimed the crown, just took down
the previously undefeated and frankly untouchable number one Ohio State
(01:33):
thirteen ten. Yeah, this isn't just an upset. This is
Indiana's first outright Big Ten title since nineteen sixty seven.
The historical weight of that moment must be just incredible.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
It's hard to overstate it. I mean, when we look
at the last five decades of Big Ten football, Indiana
simply wasn't supposed to win this game, never especially gets
an Ohio State team that felt destined for a top seed.
This victory was a tribute to sheer, defensive grit and
strategic execution. It was cold, low scoring, and it was
defined by the trenches.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
And crucially, the narrative belongs entirely to the Hoosiers. Defense.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Absolutely. The defining moment offensively was that seventeen yard touchdown
pass from Fernando Mendoza to Elijah Surat.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Right midway through the third exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, and that was the last meaningful offensive play the
Hoosiers needed, because from that point on they just locked down.
They successfully contained an Ohio State offense built on explosive
plays and speed.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
They forced them into a game they did not want
to play.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
They forced them into a grinded out game that the
Buckeys were simply.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Not prepared for, and the margin for error was just
infintesu Smaal. We heard about a massive break for the
Hoosiers late in the game.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Oh, this was the kind of moment that coaches spend
like hours obsessing over in the film room. Ohio State
thought they had converted a fourth and one near the
goal line.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
A huge momentum swinging play.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
It would have surely tied the game or even given
them the lead, but the replay review reversed the call. Wow, wow,
gives a ball back to Indiana. When championships are decided
by a three point margin, those microscopic decisions and rulings,
that's the entire difference. Yeah, that sequence, the defensive stops,
and the luck of the replay. It just confirmed that
(03:15):
Indiana was the mentally tougher team on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
It's also worth noting the Heisman implications here. We had
front runners in Mendoza for Indiana and Julian Sayan for
Ohio State. Did the pressure seem to get to them?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Well? They played on relatively even terms in the first half,
you know, both managing a really difficult defensive environment. But
the ultimate narrative it shifts away from the individual brilliance
of a quarterback toward the team's resilience. Right for Mendoza,
the win seals his case as the leader of a champion.
For saying the loss, especially in such a low scoring game,
(03:49):
it introduces the first major narrative stumble in his otherwise
sterling season.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So how does Ohio State process this? They were a
lock for a top seed. Now they are just reeling.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
They are. Coach Ryan Day faced the media afterward and
was visibly frustrated. He called the loss a painful lesson.
I bet she acknowledged the disappointment was profound, noting a
lot of guys in the locker room.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Were pissed off right now, which you'd expect, of course.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
But Day's job now is psychological. He has to refocus
the team. He was quick to state that the season's
not over, pointing to their automatic entry into the expanded
playoff field.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Right, there's a silver lining for them, It's the.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Only one he has. The silver lining he offered was
the hope that this humbling defeat serves as a catalyst
for improvement before the tournament begins. It strips away any
sense of complacency they might have carried as the undefeated
number one.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Okay, shifting gears to the SEC. The result wasn't shocking,
Georgia was favored, but the sheer dominance they displayed hmmm,
it was breathtaking.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Georgia dismantled Alabama twenty eight to seven, securing the SEC
championship and locking up a top four seed and a
first round by for the second. This wasn't a contest,
It was a physical master clap.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
It was absolute declaration of supremacy and it confirms all
the reports that Georgia was writing a hot defense into
the CFP are sure. But the most stunning statistic from
the entire game, and it speaks volumes. Georgia held Alabama
to negative yardage on the ground.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Did you say that again? Negative rushing yards?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Negative rushing yards? Think about the history and identity of
Alabama football. To limit them to negative rushing yards in
an SEC Championship game is I mean, it's practically unprecedented.
That defensive front was the entire story.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
They led fourteen to oh at the half, built it
to twenty one to oh and Alabama's lone score in
the fourth quarter felt almost like a mercy point.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
It really did. That twenty three yard pass from Ty
Simpson to Jeremy Bernard. It was too little, way too late.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
So what stands out to you structurally about Kirby Smart's
defensive approach.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
What's fascinating here is Smart's ability to motivate and execute
and what you'd call second chance situations.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Reports indicate that Georgia teams coach by Kirby Smart are
now four in zero in second chast games. That means
games where they were looking to avenge a prior loss
or correct an earlier failure.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
So this fits that pattern perfectly.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
This victory against Alabama, where they avenge their only loss
of the season, fits that pattern. It speaks to a
culture of accountability and correction, not just overwhelming.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Talent, but that defeat creates massive implications for Alabama, putting
them squarely on the bubble, and coach Kalin de Bear
immediately went into pr mode, arguing that the loss shouldn't
define their season.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
And this is where we need to challenge that logic
directly debor stated and I'm quoting here if this game
applies to and takes away from our resume, I don't
think that's right.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
What he is essentially pleading with the committee not to
be penalized too heavily for losing to the number three
team in the country.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
But how can you possibly justify that when a top
four contender loses twenty eight to seven, especially to a
team they might face again. Doesn't that inherently tell the
committee everything they need to know about the gap between
those two teams right now?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
It has to They were flat out dominated. It's the
equivalent of saying, hey, please ignore the most recent and
definitive piece of evidence we just gave you.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
It's a hard data point to ignore a blowout as
a blowout exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
It's not just that they lost, it's how they lost.
It raises major questions about their ability to compete for
a national title this year, even if their overall resume
is strong.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Before we jump fully into that bubble debate, let's quickly
touch on Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton. He threw three touchdowns
in this dominating win, but his long term out look
is unusually conflicted. Given his success this year.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
It is a fascinating case study in how NFL projections
often divorce themselves from college production. Stockton has led a
top SEC program to an SEC title, yet his NFL
draft stock is surprisingly low.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
How low are we talking?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Some sources have him as a Day three or fifth
round prospect in the twenty twenty six NFL draft. He's
currently ranked as the sixteenth overall quarterback prospect for that cycle.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Why the low stock is its size, arm, talent, scheme fit.
What's the deal?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
It often comes down to perceived upside and ceiling, especially
in the league that's obsessed with prototypical size and elite
arm strength. Right, Stockton has great game management skills and accuracy,
but he might lack those truly elite physical tools that
evaluators look for in the top rounds.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
So what's his decision making? Process now, well, the bigger.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Question is his internal decision. He hasn't announced whether he
will declare for the twenty twenty six draft or return
for his senior year. If he comes back excels in
twenty twenty six and improves his physical profile, he.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Could shoot up the boards.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
He could easily elevate himself into a top ten QB
prospect for the twenty twenty seven class. It's a classic
decision between a guaranteed, albeit lower draft position now versus
a potentially huge payoff later.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Okay, Finally, in the Big Twelve, there was zero controversy
about the winner, only the dominance. Number four. Texas Tech
absolutely dismantled Number one BYU.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Yeah a convincing thirty four to seven performance to clinch
the Big.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Twelve title, and Texas Tech deserves immense credit.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
They put on a defensive clinic. They forced four turnovers,
including two huge interceptions by Ben Roberts and a crucial
force fumble by John Curry.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
That defense just set the table, and offensively they were
aggressive when it mattered.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
They sealed the deal when quarterback Baron Morton threw a
twenty eight yard touchdown to koay ekean On a decisive
fourth and two conversion that signaled they trusted their playmakers
in the biggest.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Moments and this outcome it really validates those who felt
the CFP committee had the wrong perception of BYU all along.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Exactly for weeks BYU was ranked ahead of Texas in
the CFP rankings. This demolition by Texas Tech effectively made
that prior ranking look completely incorrect.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Yeah, the difference was stark.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
It was so Texas Tech clinch is a likely CFP
spot and we even saw Patrick Mahomes, their most famous alum,
appealed to the CFP committee on their behalf. They won
convincingly and showed they were prepared for the spotlight.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Okay, now we turn to the headache. The College Football
Playoff Selection Committee faces a monumental task on selection.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Sunday, the biggest headache they've ever had.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
The upsets by Indiana, the blowout loss of Alabama. It's
all flip the bracket. We have chaos and the automatic
bids and a brutal three way fight for the at
large spots. Let's start with the automatic BIZ and the
rule that is creating all the confusion.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
The confusion stems from the mandatory rule requiring the five
highest rank conference champions to make the bracket. The Big
ten champ Indiana is lock. SEC champ Georgia is a lock.
Big twelve champ Texas tech lock. The next two spots
are where it gets dicey, and that's thanks entirely to
the AEC Championship.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Because the unranked Duke Blue Devils managed to be number
sixteen Virginia twenty seven to twenty in overtime to win
the ACC Championship, their first outright title since nineteen sixty two.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Correct, and Duke is eight to five. An eight to
five Power five champion is an anomaly that committee now
has to deal with.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
And what does that mean?
Speaker 2 (10:59):
It means Duke is competing directly for at that fifth
conference champion spot against the top Group of five contender.
The sources note there is a high chance the ACC winner,
the only Power five champion with five losses, might be.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Left out in favor of a second group of five team.
Exactly can you explain that to the listener? Why could
an ACC champion, a Power five champion be excluded in
favor of a group of five team? What's the mechanism?
Speaker 2 (11:22):
This is the critical technical detail it often gets missed.
The rule simply states the five highest ranked conference champions
get the automatic pits. It doesn't specify power five versus
group of five. So if the committee ranks say twelve
to one James Madison or thirteen Tulane ahead of eight
five Duke, then Duke is out regardless of their conference.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Because an eighty five resume is just weaker.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
It's very weak compared to a twelve to one or
thirteen to zero team, especially when that group of five
team has strong program continuity.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
And who is the main contender from the group of
five making that claim Tulane.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Tulane, led by coach John Sumral, who ironically is leaving
for Florida, that is coaching the title game, punch their
CFP ticket by defeating North Texas for the American.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Title, and their program strength is undeniable.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
It is they reached the conference championship for four consecutive years,
first program in American history to do that, and their
regular season conference winning percentage since twenty twenty two is
zero point nine zero six, the best in the FBS.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
That's a powerful resume point.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
It's a level of consistent winning that just outweighs Duke's
five losses.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
That's a compelling case for Tulane, even with a coaching
change looming. And just to toss some gasoline on that
coaching carousel fire, we hear former LSU coach at Orderon
has expressed interest in that now open to lane job
coach oh.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Back on the sidelines, that would be immense. But focusing
back on the committee, They're juggling an eight to five
Power five champion in Duke against a twelve to one
Group of five team in James Madison, and they consistently
excellent Tulane. The rule is being stress tested immediately.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Okay, that's just the automatic bids now turned to the
at large free for all Alabama versus Miami versus Notre Dame.
This feels like the highest stakes poker game of all
it is.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
You have number nine Alabama at ten three after the blowout,
Number ten Notre Dame at ten two, and number twelve
Miami at ten two, all vying for the final at
large spots.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
The committee is basically looking for the least flawed teams.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
That's all it is, and coach Caitlin Debor is actively
pleading Alabama's case, trying to minimize the impact of that
blowout loss. Is there any precedent for them to get in.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Despite that, that's the question.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
There is historical precedent that gives them hope. Last year,
a highly ranked team fell two spots after losing its
conference title game, but still stayed in.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
The field, So it's not an automatic disqualifier.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
No. However, the committee has also historically penalized teams that
slumped into selection Sunday.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Which Alabama just did big time.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
They've now lost two of their last four, and that
one sided twenty eight to seven loss to Georgia is
a terrible final impression to leave.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
If the committee values quality of win, Bama has that
road win over LSU. But if they prioritize recent performance,
it's hard to justify.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
It's very hard. And the difficulty is that just five
days ago, reports said the committee cited Alabama's win over
a five to seven Auburn team as so impressive they
felt compelled to jump them ahead of Notre Dame.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
The criteria are clearly fluid and subjective.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
And we're about to see which subjectivity wins out respect
for the brand and past wins or the reality of a.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Blowout loss and then there is the classic Miami versus
Notre Dame debate, which revolves around a single early season
result and the quality of their losses.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
It's Week one versus the body of work. The committee
has to weigh Miami's three point win over Notre Dame
way back in Week one against the perception that Miami's
two overall losses are worse than Notre Dame's two losses.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
And the committee has praised Notre Dame recently.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
They have the previously highlighted Notre Dame's ten game winning
streak and noted how much their defense has improved since September.
Miami's resume just feels slightly weaker in terms of consistence.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
This debate wasn't just contained to the committee room either.
We heard reports that the network broadcasting the Big Twelve
Championship got very involved in advocating for one team over
the other.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
That's where the whole influence conversation gets thorny. Reports reveal
that during the Big Twelve Championship broadcast, ESPN announcers Joe
Tessit and Jesse Palmer were forcefully advocating for Miami over Notre.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Dame, which is not a great look. No.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
It immediately led to renewed scrutiny of the network's perceived
influence on the CFT selection committee, given their immense financial
stake in college football.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
And this comes shortly after ESPN personality Chris Fowler had
denied this very theory, calling the idea that ESPN is
pulling the strings nonsense.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
And yet here we are, when the broadcast team aggressively
lobbies for a specific outcome involving two high profile teams
on the bubble, the conversation about network influence inevitably resurfaces.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Perception matters absolutely, and that media influence debate wasn't the
only source of high profile TV drama this weekend. The
SEC Championship coverage itself was full of fireworks, starting with
an explosive exchange between Nick Saban and Kirby Smart on
College Game Day.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Oh this was fantastic. Saban was a guest host and
he decided to throw the formalities right out the window.
He was completely blunt with Smart, who was joining remotely.
He said, so, after all that bulls, tell me what
really is a factor in this game?
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (16:24):
He just wanted to cut through all the coach speak.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
And Smart's response was immediate and just perfectly delivered right.
He leveraged a little SEC rivalry history.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Oh he was ready smart, never wanted to pass up
a chance to troll his former boss shot back instantly
by referencing the twenty eighteen SEC Championship.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
The Jaalen Hurts game.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
He said, apparently, the key for you is to play
your backup quarterback. It was a brilliant reference, a rare, genuine,
laugh out loud moment on game.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Day, and there was drama even before that exchange surrounding
Lane Kiffin, the new LSU coach, who totally ghosted the broadcast.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Kiffin abruptly bailed on his scheduled game day interview the
night before the game. He cited the need to finish
some things out with players and a coach at LSU.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
This was after he'd publicly said he sought Saban's counsel.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
On the move exactly, and the game day broadcast actually
break the fourth wall to address it directly. They invoked
the names of powerful agent Jimmy Sexton and CA, acknowledging
the intense scrutiny those relationships have recently received. It showed
the level of transparency required when the coaching world is
spinning this fast.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Finally, Saban, alongside Kirk Herbstreet, used this moment to transition
from coaching drama to a high level critique of the
college football governance structure.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Itself, and that's the real institutional takeaway. Saban agreed with
herb Street that the CFP system has clear flaws, especially
the selection process. We just discussed and argued for a
real commissioner and a real governing body.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
His assessment was pretty scathing, it was.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
He suggested the NCAA is essentially a paper tiger right now.
He said, the country, the second most popular sport, needs
legitimate definition, centralization, and leadership that can enforce consistent rules,
something that is sorely lacking right now.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
The coaching carousel has been spinning with unprecedented speed, and
the defining characteristic of the cycles seems to be that
geographic loyalty has completely taken a back seat to proven
winning records and successful systems.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
That's a great way to put it. Let's look the
major new hires that illustrate this shift.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
We start on the West Coast where UCLA just hired
James Madison coach Bob Chesney, replacing the fire to Shaun Faster.
This feels like a radical hire for the Bruins.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
It reflects a massive philosophical shift. Chesney has a history
of success at nearly every level, from D three cell
Regina to detime Assumption, to leading Holy Cross to five
straight Patriot League championships and then an eleven to one
record this year at James Madison.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
But the geographic factor cannot be ignored. Chesney has never
coached outside the Eastern time zone. How does that translate
to success in Los Angeles?
Speaker 2 (18:59):
This is the crucial sowhat of this hire. It signals
that UCLA is actively de emphasizing local ties in favor
of a coach with a proven, adaptable system. In the
transfer portal era, attracting local talent isn't the sole priority
it once was.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
You need a national recruiter.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
You need a coach who can evaluate talent nationally and
recruit players who fit a winning scheme regardless of where
they're from. UCLA is betting that chesney system and winning
pedigree will travel.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Over in the Big twelve. Iowa State moved incredibly quickly
to replace the departing Matt Campbell by hiring Washington State
coach Jimmy Rodgers on a six year deal.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Rogers is viewed as one of the fastest rising stars
in the profession, and Iowa State wanted him immediately, citing
his strong Midwest ties.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
His background is compelling very He.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Led South Dakota State to an FCS national championship in
twenty twenty three when fifteen dill in his first year
as a head coach. Before that, he was the sole
DC for the twenty twenty two FCS title team, which
led the FCS in rushing defense. He's a perfect fit
for the Big twelve grind.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Meanwhile, the Yukon Huskies have brought in Jason Kandell. What
kind of leader is he?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Candle brings stability and a winning culture. He's the winningest
coach in Toledo history eighty one victories, two MAAC Championships.
He's known as a strong culture builder.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
And he's got some high profile endorsements.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Yeah. Eagles head coach Nick Siriani, who coached with Candle
at Mount Union, praised him as an excellent head coach
and an even better person. Yukon is looking for consistency
and Kandle provides exactly that.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
And finally, Memphis focused on Charles Huff, an elite recruiter
known for quick turnarounds.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Huff is expected to position Memphis as a top American
conference team immediately, and the resources back that prediction up.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
His track record is sensational.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
It is he took a one to eleven Southern Myss
team and turned them into a seven to five Bowl
team in one season. He won the Sun Belt at
Marshall the year before that.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Well, crucially, Memphis is capitalizing on a massive, dedicated resource.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
The twenty five million dollar NIL commitment from FedEx in
twenty twenty four. That financial backing gives Huff the immediate
resources he needs to compete nationally right out of the gate.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Let's discuss coordinators next, because these moves, especially between rivals,
can be just as impactful as a head coaching hire.
Oh for sure, and Michigan made a fascinating and certainly
controversial hire by bringing in former Ohio state defensive coordinator
Carrie Coombs as their new special teams coordinator.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
This is a classic win win for Michigan, even if
it feels jarring to fans of the rivalry. Coombs is
deeply beloved in Ohio, having had two stints with the Buckeyes,
where he developed multiple first round NFL draft picks.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
So Michigan gets an elite recruiter.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
And teacher exactly, and it's a move that immediately hurts
Ohio State's ability to recruit certain areas while simultaneously boosting
Michigan's staff stability.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Mississippi State is also targeting a familiar name for their
defensive coordinator role.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
They are they're not retaining d C Coleman Hutzler and
are targeting former Bulldogs DC and head coach Zac Arnett
for the position.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
He's been an analyst for Florida State.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Right and he worked under Lane Kiffin at ol miss.
His return to Starkville, if it happens, would represent a
commitment to his proven defensive system and a desire to
restore stability.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Okay, Oregon has some incredibly complex dynamics happening as they
prepare for the CFP. With two outgoing coordinators.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
It's highly unusual. They promoted tight ends coach Drew Meringer
to OC and secondary coach Chris Hampton to d C.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
However, here's the catch.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
The outgoing coordinators Will Stein, who's now the head coach
at Kentucky, and Tosh Lupoy, now head coach at Cal,
are both staying on to call plays for Oregon in
the College Football Playoff.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I can imagine the reaction from fans. On one hand,
continuity might help Oregon win a title. On the other,
On the.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Other, Kentucky fans have to be nervous that their new
head coach is focused on preparing for another team's CFP
run instead of devoting his energy to his new program.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
It creates a massive conflict of interest professionally.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Even if everyone involved has the best intentions. Yes, Stan
is calling plays for an opponent's playoff run while simultaneously
recruiting and building a roster for Kentucky. It's just awkward.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Finally, a necessary defensive overhaul in the Big Ten, Nebraska
is in desperate need of an elite defensive mind after
their run defense finished a dismal ninety sixth nationally.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Give four point eight yards per carry. That gap in
performance is alarming. Their pass defense finished second.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Nationally, so they had an elite secondary but an atrocious
front seven against.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
The run, which makes game planning against them simple. Just
run the ball, yeah. Coach Matt Ruhle is signaling he's
going to fix this immediately. Reports confirmed they hosted one
of college football's top defensive coordinators for an interview.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Before we move to the NFL, let's wrap up with
some crucial recruiting and nil headlines that are defining the
future of the sport.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Start with Ohio State. They held on to a major
jewel in their twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Recruiting class, Wes Henry Junior.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Five star wide receiver Chris Henry Junior, the number one
WR on the class, reaffirmed his commitment and signed with
the Buckeyes despite late pushes from Oregon, Texas and West Virginia,
massive win for them.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
LSU is also pulling in top talent, even with the
defensive coaching staff status being unclear. Following the Kiffen hiring.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
YEP, LSU officially signed five star defensive tackle Lamar Brown,
the number one recruit at his position. This shows the
long term relationship building of the recruiting stats is still
holding that class together.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
And looking ahead. Texas A and M is expected to
be a major playoff contender next year, primarily due to
their returning offensive firepower.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Virtually all of the Aggie's offensive playmakers could return, including
quarterback Marcel Reid and running back Ruben owens a second.
If they get their guys back, A and M should
be squarely in the playoff picture.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
The nil landscape continues to create legal precedents, and Georgia
is involved in a closely watched case that centers on buyouts.
This is a crucial legal development.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
This is a landmark case that could set a major precedent.
Georgia is targeting three hundred and ninety thousand dollars in
NIL damages from Zuri player Damon Wilson the second, arguing
that he breached a buyout clause in his agreement.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Can you explain the concept of an nil buyout clause
for our listeners? Why is this case so revolutionary?
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Essentially, an NIL buyout clause functions like a noncompete clause.
A booster collective provides a substantial sum of money to
a player, often centered around them staying at that university
for a set.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Period and if they leave.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
If the player leaves, especially to a conference rival, the
buyout clause dictates that the player must repay a portion
of that initial NIL money.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
So this is a direct challenge to the transfer portal.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
It is if Georgia wins and the court enforces the
damage claim. It radically changes the financial dynamics of the
transfer portal, giving collectives significant leverage to discourage movement. It's massive.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Meanwhile, we saw only MISS quarterback Trinidad Chambliss capitalize on
NIL success, announcing a new deal with AT and T.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Chambliss's valuation is estimated at six hundred and sixty five
thousand dollars, which is fourth highest among only MISS players.
It just underscores the continuing growth of individual athlete brands.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
And finally, we have to address the drama surrounding Penn
State athletic director Patcraft. Audio from an alleged private meeting
was leaked.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Yeah, the sensational headline was Craft calling Oregon frauds and
making remarks about the area around the university.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Juicy gossip, right, But.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
The real insight came from his candid admission of the
internal pressure he faces. He stated, if I don't hire
the right person, my career is over. Understand that if
I don't get this right, they'll fire my ass and
I don't get another ad job.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
That's a profound moment of transparency.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
It is it reveals the terrifying high stakes of the
modern coaching carousel. It's not just about winning football games.
It's a zero sum game for the athletic directors themselves.
That admission of existential pressure is the key takeaway from
that leaked audio.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
The college game was electric, but the NFL playoff race
feels like pure survival mode, especially in the AFC. Oh Yeah,
we start in the AFCC, where the six Ravens meet
the six to six Steelers in a matchup that reports
are correctly calling a genuine playoff game happening in December.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
The stakes are incredibly high. For the Raisins, a win
boost their playoff chance to seventy eight percent, a loss
drops it to thirty three. And for the Steelers, a
win for them boost their chance to sixty five percent.
A loss drops them all the way down to nineteen.
This is essentially an elimination game for any realistic path
of the postseason.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
The Ravens success, of course, hinges on Lamar Jackson, who
had a midweek health scare.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
He missed Thursday practice after his foot was stepped on Wednesday.
He's back and confirmed to play, but this is just
the latest in a series of ailments hamstring, knee, toe, ankle.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
The physical toll is starting to manifest.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
It is. In his last game, the Thanksgiving loss to Cincinnati,
he committed a season high three turnovers. He's hoping to
come out sharper this week in a must win game.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
What about the Steelers. They've been active on the transaction
wire and have some new faces to integrate into their
struggling offense.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
The elevated receiver Marquez Veldez Scantling, who's deep threat and
sign an ot for death. But the biggest question mark
is new receiver Adam Thielen, claimed off waivers from the Vikings.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Healin had declined joining the Bills earlier citing the cold weather.
Will he see action immediately?
Speaker 2 (28:14):
He traveled with the team, so they think he can contribute,
but his playtime will be tracked closely against Calvin Austin
third in Roman Wilson. He could immediately provide a reliable target,
which they desperately need.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
We also have to revisit a major offseason move that's
still generating discussion, the trade of Mina Fitzpatrick for Jalen
Ramsey and JOHNA.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Smith and former Steelers DL Brydon Fojoko provided some critical
insight here. He suggested the trade was about more than
just production versus pay.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
What was it about?
Speaker 2 (28:44):
He confirmed, the Steelers' coaching staff places an immense, almost
disproportionate value on takeaways and game changing negative plays, sacks,
force fumbles, interceptions.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
So when Fitzpatrick stopped creating those big plays.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Fijlka believes Fitzpatrick was scapegoaded and traded away because he
wasn't producing the specific type of plays they wanted. They
weren't paying him just to be a high tackle safety,
they wanted game changing turnovers.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
And finally, coach Mike Tomlin's contract situation has a hard
deadline that is now drawing scrutiny.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
The Steelers face a March first, twenty twenty six deadline
to decide whether to pick up the team option for
Tomlin's twenty twenty seven contract.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Year, and this challenges the mythology around the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
It challenges the mythology that the Steelers never fire head coaches.
Reports noted that before Chucknull, the team fired multiple coaches.
That deadline forces a concrete organizational choice soon.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Just a quick note, the Ravens showed their long term
commitment to tight end Mark Andrews this week signing him
to a three year, thirty nine point three million dollar
extension and.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Moving to the AFC South. We have the Colts now
eight to four and tied with the Jaguars, facing a
critical divisional matchup.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
The Colts are on a knife edge. The remaining schedule
is brutal Jaguars, Seahawks, forty nine Ers Texans. The sources
are calling it a gaumt.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
There is a real possibility they could miss the playoffs entirely.
If they folter, the Colts could become the first team
since the merger to start seven to one or better
and miss the playoffs in the seven spot era, and.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
A major factor has been Daniel Jones's split performance.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
He is remarkably effective at home five to one with
fifteen touchdowns and only one turnover, but on the road
he's a different player three three, nine touchdowns, nine turnovers.
His recent leg fracture also made him visibly one dimensional.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Jacksonville, meanwhile, has been quietly improving and getting healthier.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
They get safety Eric Murray back from ir tight end
Bretton Strange has been highly productive, but the most significant
improvement is the acquisition of W R.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Myers Lawrence Trussom.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Has developed strong trust with him eighteen catches on twenty
one targets since he arrived. That chemistry has directly helped
reduce the team's league high drops statistic and.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
The dreaded streak hangs over Indianapolis. They haven't won in
Jacksonville since twenty fourteen.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Nor have they won the AFC South since then. Plus
we've got external factors intervening. Heavy rain is forecasted with
a possible lightning.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Delay, which favors the team that can run the ball.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
And minimize turnovers. It adds another layer of uncertainty to
a must win divisional game.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Elsewhere in the AFC, the Chiefs are fighting for their
playoff lives and must secure a win against the Texans
this week.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
They just placed Chris Roland Wallace on IR. The margin
for error is zero. The math is simple. The Chiefs
need to run the table to have a good chance
at the playoffs. Another loss could doom their playoff hopes.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Finally, the Dolphins are heading into a familiar cold weather
narrative against the Jets.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Tuatago Vailoa is famously zero seven in games when the
temperature is below forty six degrees. It's an easy narrative,
But the Dolphins are six to zero against the Jets
when Tua starts. Coach Mike McDaniel is trying to manage it,
saying they must make sure the opponent is the Jets,
not the weather cemental early as to.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Coach them through flipping to the NFC. The drama is
less about injuries and more about system internal dysfunction, starting
with the Dallas Cowboys and the fallout from their crucial
forty four to thirty loss to the Lions.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
That loss ended their winning streak against teams with the
best records last season and put their playoff trajectory under
immense pressure.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
And the recurring problem is this team's repeated habit of
falling behind.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
They trailed twenty seven to nine early in the second half.
They just cannot consistently start slow against elite competition and
expect to win. It exposes a lack of readiness and intensity.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
But the truly frustrating moment came late in the game,
sparking rage from the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
Absolutely Dallas was driving down by ten, sitting on the
Lions eleven yard line on third and three, the OPI call,
Dak Prescott threw a pass to Jake Ferguson and the
officials called offensive pass interference. It forced them to settle
for a field goal instead of a potential touchdown. Prescott
was enraged.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
He called it a game changing call that I don't understand,
and they.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Never got the ball back with enough time to matter.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Beyond the calls, the Cowboys of a massive internal decision
to make regarding wide receiver George Pickens, whose effort has
come into question.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Diggins's performance against Alliance was described as disinterested by multiple observers.
Reports noted he was jogging through routes.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
And only putting his mouthpiece in on passing downs, a clear.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Tell for the defense that he wasn't involved in the
run game. This is an issue of professionalism and commitment.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
So what's the decision for the Cowboys.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
It's a massive decision on how much behavior they can
tolerate from such a talented player. It's a classic talent
versus temperament dilemma that can derail a Super Bowl run.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Moving to Philadelphia, the Eagles are dealing with the psychological
fallout of their ugly Black Friday loss to the Bears.
They're in crisis.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Mode following that shocking loss. The team held a series
of NOBS discussions. The message from leadership was direct, stop
pointing fingers.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
The issues are systemic, not isolated.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
Right one player confirmed the problem isn't limited to specific
players or coaches. It's a little bit of everyone. They
are trying to shake off that crisis mentality before Monday
night against.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
The Chargers, and their defense is facing an immediate challenge
due to key injuries to their interior.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
That's right defensive tackle Jalen Carter is out after surgery
on both shoulders, and ot Lane Johnson is also out
with a foot injury.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Meanwhile, the Chargers are getting healthier.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
Justin Herbert is optimistic he will start despite surgery on
his fractured left hand, though he'll operate exclusively from the
shotgun or.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
Pistol, and the Chargers' offense gets a huge boost in
the running game, something the Eagles desperately need to contain.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
They do. First round pick rb O Marion Hampton is
likely returning after missing time since October fifth. He gives
them a strong one to two punch with Kamani.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Vidal and considering what Chicago did of the Eagles.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Chicago rush for over two hundred yards against them. The
Chargers are expected to study that film feverishly. With Carter out,
the Chargers will absolutely try to capitalize on the Eagle
shortcomings against the run.
Speaker 1 (34:59):
Shift to the west coast. The nine to four San
Francisco forty nine Ers are defined by a massive defensive
problem that flies under the radar because of their record
coupled with an alarming internal conflict.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Structurally, their defense is an anomaly. Despite their offensive firepower,
the forty nine ers defining storyline is their inability to
affect opposing quarterbacks. They rank worse in the NFL with
just eighteen sacks through thirteen games.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
The tape confirms that qbs are too comfortable. They are
so how can they be so bad at sacks yet
remain a top scoring defense.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
It's because they excel at everything else coverage, run defense,
maximizing opportunities. They generate pressure without finishing the play with
a sack, forcing quick throws or mistakes.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
But their Super Bowl chances are reportedly being impacted by
significant internal contract turmoil with wide receiver Brandon Ayuk, and
this reveals a startling organizational philosophy.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
This is one of the most revealing stories in the NFL.
Right now, Brandon Ayuk, a critical offensive weapon, will not
play another down this season until the forty nine Ers
reinstate the g guarantees in his contract, which were avoided
back in July.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
And he refuses to risk injury without that financial protection. Correct,
So why won't the forty nine Ers just pay him
and let him play? They are nine to four and
pushing for the Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
This is the crux of the organizational dysfunction. The sources
suggest the forty nine Ers would rather lose in the
first or second round of the playoffs than give Ayyuk
what he wants because their priority is purely financial. Wait what,
They are driven by a desire to save money, potentially
to grossly overpay quarterback Brock Purty. Yeah, when his contract
(36:34):
comes due.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
So they're prioritizing the future over right now.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
If winning the Super Bowl this season were truly their
number one goal, they would fix this immediately by prioritizing
future cap space overfeeling their best team right now. The
forty nine Ers front office has made a startlingly clear choice.
They're optimizing for the twenty twenty six balance sheet, not
the twenty twenty four championship trophy.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
That is organizational dysfunction at its highest level, revealing a
major crack in a post contender. Let's look at the
NFC North, where the nine to three Bears, leaders of
the division, face a massive rivalry matchup against the Packers.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
The Bears have gained serious momentum, winning nine of their
last ten games by playing a run first offense backed
by an opportunistic defense. On the other side, the Packers
activated receiver Jaden Reid off injured reserve, getting closer to
their full compliment of receivers.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
And we had some classic rivalry trash talk coming from
Green Bay defensive lineman Micah Parsons.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Parsons called the Bears disrespectful, explaining he is playing for
respect and that opponents want to beat us in our house, and.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
Coach Lafleur's take was a little different.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
A more measured defense of Parsons, noting that opposing offenses
already show how much they respect him by double and
triple teaming him.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
We also finally have an answer for Romo Dunes's mysterious
dip in production.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Reportedly due to a hamstring injury sustained around Week seven,
which he played through for over a month.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
Quickly Wrapping up other NFL news, is getting a defensive boost.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
Safety Julian Love and DT Jaron Reed are both set
to return against the Falcons. This marks the first time
all season that Seattle's preferred starting eleven will be available defensively.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
The ten one Broncos have impressed and gained flexibility for
the twenty twenty six offseason.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Their surprising success gives them options to make a big investment,
possibly at inside linebacker or running back in free agency,
to solidify the rushing attack and protect Bo Nicks.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
And finally, the Deshaun Watson situation in Cleveland, the Browns
are committing to keeping him, even with the success of
Ricky Shudder Sanders starting. This is purely financial driven by
the dead cap hit.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
That's absolutely right. We need to clarify what that means.
The dead cap hit is guaranteed money that still counts
against the salary cap even after a player is cut.
With Watson, that's some cost is enormous.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
How enormous.
Speaker 2 (38:53):
If they released him before June one, they would incur
a charge of nearly one hundred and thirty five million dollars.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
Thirty five million dollars counting against the cap for a
player who is no longer on the team. That's stunning.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
It illustrates the impossibility of moving in so, despite the
current QB situation, the Bronze planned to keep Watson on
the roster next season due purely to the financial impossibility
of moving On.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
What a monumental weekend. We saw Indiana shock the world
for their first Big Ten titles since nineteen sixty seven,
and Georgia put on a defensive master class to demolish Alabama.
In the NFL, the playoff picture is being twisted by
high stakes divisional games, critical injuries to guys like Herbert
and Jackson, and massive internal contract feuds like the one
(39:37):
crippling the forty nine ers offense.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
The central theme of this weekend is the sheer volatility
of systems and human decision making under pressure. The blowout
losses of Ohio State and Alabama make the CFP committees
at large decision incredibly difficult to justify under any objective criteria.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
The rules are bending and the subjective judgments are becoming
more and more arbitrary.
Speaker 2 (39:58):
They really are.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
It raises a perfect final provocative thought. Freedom all over.
For all the talk of rules and systems, whether it's
the cfp's subjective criteria or the NFL salary cap structure.
We've seen this weekend that the human element still dominates.
Coaching drama with Kiffin and Sabin, off field contract disputes
with Ayuk, and the impossibility of predicting the emotional weight
of a rivalry game like Indiana versus Ohio State. What
(40:22):
football institution, college or professional is closest to the breaking
point right now? This CFP committee trying to decide between
equally flawed ten two teams or the forty nine ers
organization trying to justify prioritizing money and future contract positioning
over winning a Super Bowl ring Right now.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
That question connects this systemic failure of college football governance
directly to the corporate dysfunction in the NFL. We will
be tracking the final CFP rankings and the outcome of
these pivotal Week fourteen NFL matchups in the coming days.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Thank you for joining us for this deep dive into
a truly unforgettable weekend of football. We'll catch you next
time on Football Army
Welcome to Football Army. We have just emerged from a
weekend that wasn't just pivotal, No, it was catastrophic for
half the teams involved, creating perhaps the most complex selection
Sunday the College Football Playoff Committee has ever faced.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It was an absolute reckoning across the entire college landscape,
and that was compounded by a high stakes Week fourteen
in the NFL Division races are tightening and internal team
dramas starting to dictate who actually has a path to
the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Yeah, it feels like we're dealing with chaos on both fronts.
You've got these monumental upsets shaking the CFP bracket on
one side.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
And on the other, multimillion dollar contract disputes that are
actively benching elite NFL talent. It's everywhere.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
So our mission is simple, to dive deep into everything
that matters. We need to unpack the chaos of this
expanded college field, who's in, who's out, and why the
rules are now like bending under the weight of the results.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
And at the same time, we've got to dissect the
critical injuries, the coaching moves, and the fight financial deadlines
that are making this NFL Playoff race so incredibly volatile.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
We're jumping straight into the epicenter of the destruction, and
we have to start with the biggest shock of Championship weekend.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No question where we start.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I am still trying to fully grasp the magnitude of
what the Indiana Hoosiers achieved in the Big Ten Championship.
H Number two Indiana, a program that has often played
the spoiler but rarely claimed the crown, just took down
the previously undefeated and frankly untouchable number one Ohio State
(01:33):
thirteen ten. Yeah, this isn't just an upset. This is
Indiana's first outright Big Ten title since nineteen sixty seven.
The historical weight of that moment must be just incredible.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
It's hard to overstate it. I mean, when we look
at the last five decades of Big Ten football, Indiana
simply wasn't supposed to win this game, never especially gets
an Ohio State team that felt destined for a top seed.
This victory was a tribute to sheer, defensive grit and
strategic execution. It was cold, low scoring, and it was
defined by the trenches.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
And crucially, the narrative belongs entirely to the Hoosiers. Defense.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Absolutely. The defining moment offensively was that seventeen yard touchdown
pass from Fernando Mendoza to Elijah Surat.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Right midway through the third exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, and that was the last meaningful offensive play the
Hoosiers needed, because from that point on they just locked down.
They successfully contained an Ohio State offense built on explosive
plays and speed.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
They forced them into a game they did not want
to play.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
They forced them into a grinded out game that the
Buckeys were simply.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Not prepared for, and the margin for error was just
infintesu Smaal. We heard about a massive break for the
Hoosiers late in the game.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Oh, this was the kind of moment that coaches spend
like hours obsessing over in the film room. Ohio State
thought they had converted a fourth and one near the
goal line.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
A huge momentum swinging play.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
It would have surely tied the game or even given
them the lead, but the replay review reversed the call. Wow, wow,
gives a ball back to Indiana. When championships are decided
by a three point margin, those microscopic decisions and rulings,
that's the entire difference. Yeah, that sequence, the defensive stops,
and the luck of the replay. It just confirmed that
(03:15):
Indiana was the mentally tougher team on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
It's also worth noting the Heisman implications here. We had
front runners in Mendoza for Indiana and Julian Sayan for
Ohio State. Did the pressure seem to get to them?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Well? They played on relatively even terms in the first half,
you know, both managing a really difficult defensive environment. But
the ultimate narrative it shifts away from the individual brilliance
of a quarterback toward the team's resilience. Right for Mendoza,
the win seals his case as the leader of a champion.
For saying the loss, especially in such a low scoring game,
(03:49):
it introduces the first major narrative stumble in his otherwise
sterling season.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So how does Ohio State process this? They were a
lock for a top seed. Now they are just reeling.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
They are. Coach Ryan Day faced the media afterward and
was visibly frustrated. He called the loss a painful lesson.
I bet she acknowledged the disappointment was profound, noting a
lot of guys in the locker room.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Were pissed off right now, which you'd expect, of course.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
But Day's job now is psychological. He has to refocus
the team. He was quick to state that the season's
not over, pointing to their automatic entry into the expanded
playoff field.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Right, there's a silver lining for them, It's the.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Only one he has. The silver lining he offered was
the hope that this humbling defeat serves as a catalyst
for improvement before the tournament begins. It strips away any
sense of complacency they might have carried as the undefeated
number one.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Okay, shifting gears to the SEC. The result wasn't shocking,
Georgia was favored, but the sheer dominance they displayed hmmm,
it was breathtaking.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Georgia dismantled Alabama twenty eight to seven, securing the SEC
championship and locking up a top four seed and a
first round by for the second. This wasn't a contest,
It was a physical master clap.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
It was absolute declaration of supremacy and it confirms all
the reports that Georgia was writing a hot defense into
the CFP are sure. But the most stunning statistic from
the entire game, and it speaks volumes. Georgia held Alabama
to negative yardage on the ground.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Did you say that again? Negative rushing yards?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Negative rushing yards? Think about the history and identity of
Alabama football. To limit them to negative rushing yards in
an SEC Championship game is I mean, it's practically unprecedented.
That defensive front was the entire story.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
They led fourteen to oh at the half, built it
to twenty one to oh and Alabama's lone score in
the fourth quarter felt almost like a mercy point.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
It really did. That twenty three yard pass from Ty
Simpson to Jeremy Bernard. It was too little, way too late.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
So what stands out to you structurally about Kirby Smart's
defensive approach.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
What's fascinating here is Smart's ability to motivate and execute
and what you'd call second chance situations.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Reports indicate that Georgia teams coach by Kirby Smart are
now four in zero in second chast games. That means
games where they were looking to avenge a prior loss
or correct an earlier failure.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
So this fits that pattern perfectly.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
This victory against Alabama, where they avenge their only loss
of the season, fits that pattern. It speaks to a
culture of accountability and correction, not just overwhelming.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Talent, but that defeat creates massive implications for Alabama, putting
them squarely on the bubble, and coach Kalin de Bear
immediately went into pr mode, arguing that the loss shouldn't
define their season.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
And this is where we need to challenge that logic
directly debor stated and I'm quoting here if this game
applies to and takes away from our resume, I don't
think that's right.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
What he is essentially pleading with the committee not to
be penalized too heavily for losing to the number three
team in the country.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
But how can you possibly justify that when a top
four contender loses twenty eight to seven, especially to a
team they might face again. Doesn't that inherently tell the
committee everything they need to know about the gap between
those two teams right now?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
It has to They were flat out dominated. It's the
equivalent of saying, hey, please ignore the most recent and
definitive piece of evidence we just gave you.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
It's a hard data point to ignore a blowout as
a blowout exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
It's not just that they lost, it's how they lost.
It raises major questions about their ability to compete for
a national title this year, even if their overall resume
is strong.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Before we jump fully into that bubble debate, let's quickly
touch on Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton. He threw three touchdowns
in this dominating win, but his long term out look
is unusually conflicted. Given his success this year.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
It is a fascinating case study in how NFL projections
often divorce themselves from college production. Stockton has led a
top SEC program to an SEC title, yet his NFL
draft stock is surprisingly low.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
How low are we talking?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Some sources have him as a Day three or fifth
round prospect in the twenty twenty six NFL draft. He's
currently ranked as the sixteenth overall quarterback prospect for that cycle.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Why the low stock is its size, arm, talent, scheme fit.
What's the deal?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
It often comes down to perceived upside and ceiling, especially
in the league that's obsessed with prototypical size and elite
arm strength. Right, Stockton has great game management skills and accuracy,
but he might lack those truly elite physical tools that
evaluators look for in the top rounds.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
So what's his decision making? Process now, well, the bigger.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Question is his internal decision. He hasn't announced whether he
will declare for the twenty twenty six draft or return
for his senior year. If he comes back excels in
twenty twenty six and improves his physical profile, he.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Could shoot up the boards.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
He could easily elevate himself into a top ten QB
prospect for the twenty twenty seven class. It's a classic
decision between a guaranteed, albeit lower draft position now versus
a potentially huge payoff later.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Okay, Finally, in the Big Twelve, there was zero controversy
about the winner, only the dominance. Number four. Texas Tech
absolutely dismantled Number one BYU.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Yeah a convincing thirty four to seven performance to clinch
the Big.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Twelve title, and Texas Tech deserves immense credit.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
They put on a defensive clinic. They forced four turnovers,
including two huge interceptions by Ben Roberts and a crucial
force fumble by John Curry.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
That defense just set the table, and offensively they were
aggressive when it mattered.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
They sealed the deal when quarterback Baron Morton threw a
twenty eight yard touchdown to koay ekean On a decisive
fourth and two conversion that signaled they trusted their playmakers
in the biggest.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Moments and this outcome it really validates those who felt
the CFP committee had the wrong perception of BYU all along.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Exactly for weeks BYU was ranked ahead of Texas in
the CFP rankings. This demolition by Texas Tech effectively made
that prior ranking look completely incorrect.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Yeah, the difference was stark.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
It was so Texas Tech clinch is a likely CFP
spot and we even saw Patrick Mahomes, their most famous alum,
appealed to the CFP committee on their behalf. They won
convincingly and showed they were prepared for the spotlight.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Okay, now we turn to the headache. The College Football
Playoff Selection Committee faces a monumental task on selection.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Sunday, the biggest headache they've ever had.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
The upsets by Indiana, the blowout loss of Alabama. It's
all flip the bracket. We have chaos and the automatic
bids and a brutal three way fight for the at
large spots. Let's start with the automatic BIZ and the
rule that is creating all the confusion.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
The confusion stems from the mandatory rule requiring the five
highest rank conference champions to make the bracket. The Big
ten champ Indiana is lock. SEC champ Georgia is a lock.
Big twelve champ Texas tech lock. The next two spots
are where it gets dicey, and that's thanks entirely to
the AEC Championship.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Because the unranked Duke Blue Devils managed to be number
sixteen Virginia twenty seven to twenty in overtime to win
the ACC Championship, their first outright title since nineteen sixty two.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Correct, and Duke is eight to five. An eight to
five Power five champion is an anomaly that committee now
has to deal with.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
And what does that mean?
Speaker 2 (10:59):
It means Duke is competing directly for at that fifth
conference champion spot against the top Group of five contender.
The sources note there is a high chance the ACC winner,
the only Power five champion with five losses, might be.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Left out in favor of a second group of five team.
Exactly can you explain that to the listener? Why could
an ACC champion, a Power five champion be excluded in
favor of a group of five team? What's the mechanism?
Speaker 2 (11:22):
This is the critical technical detail it often gets missed.
The rule simply states the five highest ranked conference champions
get the automatic pits. It doesn't specify power five versus
group of five. So if the committee ranks say twelve
to one James Madison or thirteen Tulane ahead of eight
five Duke, then Duke is out regardless of their conference.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Because an eighty five resume is just weaker.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
It's very weak compared to a twelve to one or
thirteen to zero team, especially when that group of five
team has strong program continuity.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
And who is the main contender from the group of
five making that claim Tulane.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Tulane, led by coach John Sumral, who ironically is leaving
for Florida, that is coaching the title game, punch their
CFP ticket by defeating North Texas for the American.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Title, and their program strength is undeniable.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
It is they reached the conference championship for four consecutive years,
first program in American history to do that, and their
regular season conference winning percentage since twenty twenty two is
zero point nine zero six, the best in the FBS.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
That's a powerful resume point.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
It's a level of consistent winning that just outweighs Duke's
five losses.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
That's a compelling case for Tulane, even with a coaching
change looming. And just to toss some gasoline on that
coaching carousel fire, we hear former LSU coach at Orderon
has expressed interest in that now open to lane job
coach oh.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Back on the sidelines, that would be immense. But focusing
back on the committee, They're juggling an eight to five
Power five champion in Duke against a twelve to one
Group of five team in James Madison, and they consistently
excellent Tulane. The rule is being stress tested immediately.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Okay, that's just the automatic bids now turned to the
at large free for all Alabama versus Miami versus Notre Dame.
This feels like the highest stakes poker game of all
it is.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
You have number nine Alabama at ten three after the blowout,
Number ten Notre Dame at ten two, and number twelve
Miami at ten two, all vying for the final at
large spots.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
The committee is basically looking for the least flawed teams.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
That's all it is, and coach Caitlin Debor is actively
pleading Alabama's case, trying to minimize the impact of that
blowout loss. Is there any precedent for them to get in.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Despite that, that's the question.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
There is historical precedent that gives them hope. Last year,
a highly ranked team fell two spots after losing its
conference title game, but still stayed in.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
The field, So it's not an automatic disqualifier.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
No. However, the committee has also historically penalized teams that
slumped into selection Sunday.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Which Alabama just did big time.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
They've now lost two of their last four, and that
one sided twenty eight to seven loss to Georgia is
a terrible final impression to leave.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
If the committee values quality of win, Bama has that
road win over LSU. But if they prioritize recent performance,
it's hard to justify.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
It's very hard. And the difficulty is that just five
days ago, reports said the committee cited Alabama's win over
a five to seven Auburn team as so impressive they
felt compelled to jump them ahead of Notre Dame.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
The criteria are clearly fluid and subjective.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
And we're about to see which subjectivity wins out respect
for the brand and past wins or the reality of a.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Blowout loss and then there is the classic Miami versus
Notre Dame debate, which revolves around a single early season
result and the quality of their losses.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
It's Week one versus the body of work. The committee
has to weigh Miami's three point win over Notre Dame
way back in Week one against the perception that Miami's
two overall losses are worse than Notre Dame's two losses.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
And the committee has praised Notre Dame recently.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
They have the previously highlighted Notre Dame's ten game winning
streak and noted how much their defense has improved since September.
Miami's resume just feels slightly weaker in terms of consistence.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
This debate wasn't just contained to the committee room either.
We heard reports that the network broadcasting the Big Twelve
Championship got very involved in advocating for one team over
the other.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
That's where the whole influence conversation gets thorny. Reports reveal
that during the Big Twelve Championship broadcast, ESPN announcers Joe
Tessit and Jesse Palmer were forcefully advocating for Miami over Notre.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Dame, which is not a great look. No.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
It immediately led to renewed scrutiny of the network's perceived
influence on the CFT selection committee, given their immense financial
stake in college football.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
And this comes shortly after ESPN personality Chris Fowler had
denied this very theory, calling the idea that ESPN is
pulling the strings nonsense.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
And yet here we are, when the broadcast team aggressively
lobbies for a specific outcome involving two high profile teams
on the bubble, the conversation about network influence inevitably resurfaces.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Perception matters absolutely, and that media influence debate wasn't the
only source of high profile TV drama this weekend. The
SEC Championship coverage itself was full of fireworks, starting with
an explosive exchange between Nick Saban and Kirby Smart on
College Game Day.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Oh this was fantastic. Saban was a guest host and
he decided to throw the formalities right out the window.
He was completely blunt with Smart, who was joining remotely.
He said, so, after all that bulls, tell me what
really is a factor in this game?
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (16:24):
He just wanted to cut through all the coach speak.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
And Smart's response was immediate and just perfectly delivered right.
He leveraged a little SEC rivalry history.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Oh he was ready smart, never wanted to pass up
a chance to troll his former boss shot back instantly
by referencing the twenty eighteen SEC Championship.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
The Jaalen Hurts game.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
He said, apparently, the key for you is to play
your backup quarterback. It was a brilliant reference, a rare, genuine,
laugh out loud moment on game.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Day, and there was drama even before that exchange surrounding
Lane Kiffin, the new LSU coach, who totally ghosted the broadcast.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Kiffin abruptly bailed on his scheduled game day interview the
night before the game. He cited the need to finish
some things out with players and a coach at LSU.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
This was after he'd publicly said he sought Saban's counsel.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
On the move exactly, and the game day broadcast actually
break the fourth wall to address it directly. They invoked
the names of powerful agent Jimmy Sexton and CA, acknowledging
the intense scrutiny those relationships have recently received. It showed
the level of transparency required when the coaching world is
spinning this fast.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Finally, Saban, alongside Kirk Herbstreet, used this moment to transition
from coaching drama to a high level critique of the
college football governance structure.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Itself, and that's the real institutional takeaway. Saban agreed with
herb Street that the CFP system has clear flaws, especially
the selection process. We just discussed and argued for a
real commissioner and a real governing body.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
His assessment was pretty scathing, it was.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
He suggested the NCAA is essentially a paper tiger right now.
He said, the country, the second most popular sport, needs
legitimate definition, centralization, and leadership that can enforce consistent rules,
something that is sorely lacking right now.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
The coaching carousel has been spinning with unprecedented speed, and
the defining characteristic of the cycles seems to be that
geographic loyalty has completely taken a back seat to proven
winning records and successful systems.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
That's a great way to put it. Let's look the
major new hires that illustrate this shift.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
We start on the West Coast where UCLA just hired
James Madison coach Bob Chesney, replacing the fire to Shaun Faster.
This feels like a radical hire for the Bruins.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
It reflects a massive philosophical shift. Chesney has a history
of success at nearly every level, from D three cell
Regina to detime Assumption, to leading Holy Cross to five
straight Patriot League championships and then an eleven to one
record this year at James Madison.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
But the geographic factor cannot be ignored. Chesney has never
coached outside the Eastern time zone. How does that translate
to success in Los Angeles?
Speaker 2 (18:59):
This is the crucial sowhat of this hire. It signals
that UCLA is actively de emphasizing local ties in favor
of a coach with a proven, adaptable system. In the
transfer portal era, attracting local talent isn't the sole priority
it once was.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
You need a national recruiter.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
You need a coach who can evaluate talent nationally and
recruit players who fit a winning scheme regardless of where
they're from. UCLA is betting that chesney system and winning
pedigree will travel.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Over in the Big twelve. Iowa State moved incredibly quickly
to replace the departing Matt Campbell by hiring Washington State
coach Jimmy Rodgers on a six year deal.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Rogers is viewed as one of the fastest rising stars
in the profession, and Iowa State wanted him immediately, citing
his strong Midwest ties.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
His background is compelling very He.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Led South Dakota State to an FCS national championship in
twenty twenty three when fifteen dill in his first year
as a head coach. Before that, he was the sole
DC for the twenty twenty two FCS title team, which
led the FCS in rushing defense. He's a perfect fit
for the Big twelve grind.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Meanwhile, the Yukon Huskies have brought in Jason Kandell. What
kind of leader is he?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Candle brings stability and a winning culture. He's the winningest
coach in Toledo history eighty one victories, two MAAC Championships.
He's known as a strong culture builder.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
And he's got some high profile endorsements.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Yeah. Eagles head coach Nick Siriani, who coached with Candle
at Mount Union, praised him as an excellent head coach
and an even better person. Yukon is looking for consistency
and Kandle provides exactly that.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
And finally, Memphis focused on Charles Huff, an elite recruiter
known for quick turnarounds.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Huff is expected to position Memphis as a top American
conference team immediately, and the resources back that prediction up.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
His track record is sensational.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
It is he took a one to eleven Southern Myss
team and turned them into a seven to five Bowl
team in one season. He won the Sun Belt at
Marshall the year before that.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Well, crucially, Memphis is capitalizing on a massive, dedicated resource.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
The twenty five million dollar NIL commitment from FedEx in
twenty twenty four. That financial backing gives Huff the immediate
resources he needs to compete nationally right out of the gate.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Let's discuss coordinators next, because these moves, especially between rivals,
can be just as impactful as a head coaching hire.
Oh for sure, and Michigan made a fascinating and certainly
controversial hire by bringing in former Ohio state defensive coordinator
Carrie Coombs as their new special teams coordinator.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
This is a classic win win for Michigan, even if
it feels jarring to fans of the rivalry. Coombs is
deeply beloved in Ohio, having had two stints with the Buckeyes,
where he developed multiple first round NFL draft picks.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
So Michigan gets an elite recruiter.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
And teacher exactly, and it's a move that immediately hurts
Ohio State's ability to recruit certain areas while simultaneously boosting
Michigan's staff stability.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Mississippi State is also targeting a familiar name for their
defensive coordinator role.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
They are they're not retaining d C Coleman Hutzler and
are targeting former Bulldogs DC and head coach Zac Arnett
for the position.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
He's been an analyst for Florida State.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Right and he worked under Lane Kiffin at ol miss.
His return to Starkville, if it happens, would represent a
commitment to his proven defensive system and a desire to
restore stability.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Okay, Oregon has some incredibly complex dynamics happening as they
prepare for the CFP. With two outgoing coordinators.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
It's highly unusual. They promoted tight ends coach Drew Meringer
to OC and secondary coach Chris Hampton to d C.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
However, here's the catch.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
The outgoing coordinators Will Stein, who's now the head coach
at Kentucky, and Tosh Lupoy, now head coach at Cal,
are both staying on to call plays for Oregon in
the College Football Playoff.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I can imagine the reaction from fans. On one hand,
continuity might help Oregon win a title. On the other,
On the.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Other, Kentucky fans have to be nervous that their new
head coach is focused on preparing for another team's CFP
run instead of devoting his energy to his new program.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
It creates a massive conflict of interest professionally.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Even if everyone involved has the best intentions. Yes, Stan
is calling plays for an opponent's playoff run while simultaneously
recruiting and building a roster for Kentucky. It's just awkward.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Finally, a necessary defensive overhaul in the Big Ten, Nebraska
is in desperate need of an elite defensive mind after
their run defense finished a dismal ninety sixth nationally.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Give four point eight yards per carry. That gap in
performance is alarming. Their pass defense finished second.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Nationally, so they had an elite secondary but an atrocious
front seven against.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
The run, which makes game planning against them simple. Just
run the ball, yeah. Coach Matt Ruhle is signaling he's
going to fix this immediately. Reports confirmed they hosted one
of college football's top defensive coordinators for an interview.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Before we move to the NFL, let's wrap up with
some crucial recruiting and nil headlines that are defining the
future of the sport.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
Start with Ohio State. They held on to a major
jewel in their twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Recruiting class, Wes Henry Junior.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Five star wide receiver Chris Henry Junior, the number one
WR on the class, reaffirmed his commitment and signed with
the Buckeyes despite late pushes from Oregon, Texas and West Virginia,
massive win for them.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
LSU is also pulling in top talent, even with the
defensive coaching staff status being unclear. Following the Kiffen hiring.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
YEP, LSU officially signed five star defensive tackle Lamar Brown,
the number one recruit at his position. This shows the
long term relationship building of the recruiting stats is still
holding that class together.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
And looking ahead. Texas A and M is expected to
be a major playoff contender next year, primarily due to
their returning offensive firepower.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Virtually all of the Aggie's offensive playmakers could return, including
quarterback Marcel Reid and running back Ruben owens a second.
If they get their guys back, A and M should
be squarely in the playoff picture.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
The nil landscape continues to create legal precedents, and Georgia
is involved in a closely watched case that centers on buyouts.
This is a crucial legal development.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
This is a landmark case that could set a major precedent.
Georgia is targeting three hundred and ninety thousand dollars in
NIL damages from Zuri player Damon Wilson the second, arguing
that he breached a buyout clause in his agreement.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Can you explain the concept of an nil buyout clause
for our listeners? Why is this case so revolutionary?
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Essentially, an NIL buyout clause functions like a noncompete clause.
A booster collective provides a substantial sum of money to
a player, often centered around them staying at that university
for a set.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Period and if they leave.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
If the player leaves, especially to a conference rival, the
buyout clause dictates that the player must repay a portion
of that initial NIL money.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
So this is a direct challenge to the transfer portal.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
It is if Georgia wins and the court enforces the
damage claim. It radically changes the financial dynamics of the
transfer portal, giving collectives significant leverage to discourage movement. It's massive.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Meanwhile, we saw only MISS quarterback Trinidad Chambliss capitalize on
NIL success, announcing a new deal with AT and T.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Chambliss's valuation is estimated at six hundred and sixty five
thousand dollars, which is fourth highest among only MISS players.
It just underscores the continuing growth of individual athlete brands.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
And finally, we have to address the drama surrounding Penn
State athletic director Patcraft. Audio from an alleged private meeting
was leaked.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Yeah, the sensational headline was Craft calling Oregon frauds and
making remarks about the area around the university.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Juicy gossip, right, But.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
The real insight came from his candid admission of the
internal pressure he faces. He stated, if I don't hire
the right person, my career is over. Understand that if
I don't get this right, they'll fire my ass and
I don't get another ad job.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
That's a profound moment of transparency.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
It is it reveals the terrifying high stakes of the
modern coaching carousel. It's not just about winning football games.
It's a zero sum game for the athletic directors themselves.
That admission of existential pressure is the key takeaway from
that leaked audio.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
The college game was electric, but the NFL playoff race
feels like pure survival mode, especially in the AFC. Oh Yeah,
we start in the AFCC, where the six Ravens meet
the six to six Steelers in a matchup that reports
are correctly calling a genuine playoff game happening in December.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
The stakes are incredibly high. For the Raisins, a win
boost their playoff chance to seventy eight percent, a loss
drops it to thirty three. And for the Steelers, a
win for them boost their chance to sixty five percent.
A loss drops them all the way down to nineteen.
This is essentially an elimination game for any realistic path
of the postseason.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
The Ravens success, of course, hinges on Lamar Jackson, who
had a midweek health scare.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
He missed Thursday practice after his foot was stepped on Wednesday.
He's back and confirmed to play, but this is just
the latest in a series of ailments hamstring, knee, toe, ankle.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
The physical toll is starting to manifest.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
It is. In his last game, the Thanksgiving loss to Cincinnati,
he committed a season high three turnovers. He's hoping to
come out sharper this week in a must win game.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
What about the Steelers. They've been active on the transaction
wire and have some new faces to integrate into their
struggling offense.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
The elevated receiver Marquez Veldez Scantling, who's deep threat and
sign an ot for death. But the biggest question mark
is new receiver Adam Thielen, claimed off waivers from the Vikings.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Healin had declined joining the Bills earlier citing the cold weather.
Will he see action immediately?
Speaker 2 (28:14):
He traveled with the team, so they think he can contribute,
but his playtime will be tracked closely against Calvin Austin
third in Roman Wilson. He could immediately provide a reliable target,
which they desperately need.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
We also have to revisit a major offseason move that's
still generating discussion, the trade of Mina Fitzpatrick for Jalen
Ramsey and JOHNA.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Smith and former Steelers DL Brydon Fojoko provided some critical
insight here. He suggested the trade was about more than
just production versus pay.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
What was it about?
Speaker 2 (28:44):
He confirmed, the Steelers' coaching staff places an immense, almost
disproportionate value on takeaways and game changing negative plays, sacks,
force fumbles, interceptions.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
So when Fitzpatrick stopped creating those big plays.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Fijlka believes Fitzpatrick was scapegoaded and traded away because he
wasn't producing the specific type of plays they wanted. They
weren't paying him just to be a high tackle safety,
they wanted game changing turnovers.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
And finally, coach Mike Tomlin's contract situation has a hard
deadline that is now drawing scrutiny.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
The Steelers face a March first, twenty twenty six deadline
to decide whether to pick up the team option for
Tomlin's twenty twenty seven contract.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Year, and this challenges the mythology around the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
It challenges the mythology that the Steelers never fire head coaches.
Reports noted that before Chucknull, the team fired multiple coaches.
That deadline forces a concrete organizational choice soon.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Just a quick note, the Ravens showed their long term
commitment to tight end Mark Andrews this week signing him
to a three year, thirty nine point three million dollar
extension and.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Moving to the AFC South. We have the Colts now
eight to four and tied with the Jaguars, facing a
critical divisional matchup.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
The Colts are on a knife edge. The remaining schedule
is brutal Jaguars, Seahawks, forty nine Ers Texans. The sources
are calling it a gaumt.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
There is a real possibility they could miss the playoffs entirely.
If they folter, the Colts could become the first team
since the merger to start seven to one or better
and miss the playoffs in the seven spot era, and.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
A major factor has been Daniel Jones's split performance.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
He is remarkably effective at home five to one with
fifteen touchdowns and only one turnover, but on the road
he's a different player three three, nine touchdowns, nine turnovers.
His recent leg fracture also made him visibly one dimensional.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Jacksonville, meanwhile, has been quietly improving and getting healthier.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
They get safety Eric Murray back from ir tight end
Bretton Strange has been highly productive, but the most significant
improvement is the acquisition of W R.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
Myers Lawrence Trussom.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
Has developed strong trust with him eighteen catches on twenty
one targets since he arrived. That chemistry has directly helped
reduce the team's league high drops statistic and.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
The dreaded streak hangs over Indianapolis. They haven't won in
Jacksonville since twenty fourteen.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Nor have they won the AFC South since then. Plus
we've got external factors intervening. Heavy rain is forecasted with
a possible lightning.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
Delay, which favors the team that can run the ball.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
And minimize turnovers. It adds another layer of uncertainty to
a must win divisional game.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Elsewhere in the AFC, the Chiefs are fighting for their
playoff lives and must secure a win against the Texans
this week.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
They just placed Chris Roland Wallace on IR. The margin
for error is zero. The math is simple. The Chiefs
need to run the table to have a good chance
at the playoffs. Another loss could doom their playoff hopes.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Finally, the Dolphins are heading into a familiar cold weather
narrative against the Jets.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Tuatago Vailoa is famously zero seven in games when the
temperature is below forty six degrees. It's an easy narrative,
But the Dolphins are six to zero against the Jets
when Tua starts. Coach Mike McDaniel is trying to manage it,
saying they must make sure the opponent is the Jets,
not the weather cemental early as to.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Coach them through flipping to the NFC. The drama is
less about injuries and more about system internal dysfunction, starting
with the Dallas Cowboys and the fallout from their crucial
forty four to thirty loss to the Lions.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
That loss ended their winning streak against teams with the
best records last season and put their playoff trajectory under
immense pressure.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
And the recurring problem is this team's repeated habit of
falling behind.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
They trailed twenty seven to nine early in the second half.
They just cannot consistently start slow against elite competition and
expect to win. It exposes a lack of readiness and intensity.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
But the truly frustrating moment came late in the game,
sparking rage from the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
Absolutely Dallas was driving down by ten, sitting on the
Lions eleven yard line on third and three, the OPI call,
Dak Prescott threw a pass to Jake Ferguson and the
officials called offensive pass interference. It forced them to settle
for a field goal instead of a potential touchdown. Prescott
was enraged.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
He called it a game changing call that I don't understand,
and they.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Never got the ball back with enough time to matter.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Beyond the calls, the Cowboys of a massive internal decision
to make regarding wide receiver George Pickens, whose effort has
come into question.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Diggins's performance against Alliance was described as disinterested by multiple observers.
Reports noted he was jogging through routes.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
And only putting his mouthpiece in on passing downs, a clear.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Tell for the defense that he wasn't involved in the
run game. This is an issue of professionalism and commitment.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
So what's the decision for the Cowboys.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
It's a massive decision on how much behavior they can
tolerate from such a talented player. It's a classic talent
versus temperament dilemma that can derail a Super Bowl run.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Moving to Philadelphia, the Eagles are dealing with the psychological
fallout of their ugly Black Friday loss to the Bears.
They're in crisis.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Mode following that shocking loss. The team held a series
of NOBS discussions. The message from leadership was direct, stop
pointing fingers.
Speaker 1 (33:52):
The issues are systemic, not isolated.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
Right one player confirmed the problem isn't limited to specific
players or coaches. It's a little bit of everyone. They
are trying to shake off that crisis mentality before Monday
night against.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
The Chargers, and their defense is facing an immediate challenge
due to key injuries to their interior.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
That's right defensive tackle Jalen Carter is out after surgery
on both shoulders, and ot Lane Johnson is also out
with a foot injury.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Meanwhile, the Chargers are getting healthier.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
Justin Herbert is optimistic he will start despite surgery on
his fractured left hand, though he'll operate exclusively from the
shotgun or.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
Pistol, and the Chargers' offense gets a huge boost in
the running game, something the Eagles desperately need to contain.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
They do. First round pick rb O Marion Hampton is
likely returning after missing time since October fifth. He gives
them a strong one to two punch with Kamani.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Vidal and considering what Chicago did of the Eagles.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Chicago rush for over two hundred yards against them. The
Chargers are expected to study that film feverishly. With Carter out,
the Chargers will absolutely try to capitalize on the Eagle
shortcomings against the run.
Speaker 1 (34:59):
Shift to the west coast. The nine to four San
Francisco forty nine Ers are defined by a massive defensive
problem that flies under the radar because of their record
coupled with an alarming internal conflict.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Structurally, their defense is an anomaly. Despite their offensive firepower,
the forty nine ers defining storyline is their inability to
affect opposing quarterbacks. They rank worse in the NFL with
just eighteen sacks through thirteen games.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
The tape confirms that qbs are too comfortable. They are
so how can they be so bad at sacks yet
remain a top scoring defense.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
It's because they excel at everything else coverage, run defense,
maximizing opportunities. They generate pressure without finishing the play with
a sack, forcing quick throws or mistakes.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
But their Super Bowl chances are reportedly being impacted by
significant internal contract turmoil with wide receiver Brandon Ayuk, and
this reveals a startling organizational philosophy.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
This is one of the most revealing stories in the NFL.
Right now, Brandon Ayuk, a critical offensive weapon, will not
play another down this season until the forty nine Ers
reinstate the g guarantees in his contract, which were avoided
back in July.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
And he refuses to risk injury without that financial protection. Correct,
So why won't the forty nine Ers just pay him
and let him play? They are nine to four and
pushing for the Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
This is the crux of the organizational dysfunction. The sources
suggest the forty nine Ers would rather lose in the
first or second round of the playoffs than give Ayyuk
what he wants because their priority is purely financial. Wait what,
They are driven by a desire to save money, potentially
to grossly overpay quarterback Brock Purty. Yeah, when his contract
(36:34):
comes due.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
So they're prioritizing the future over right now.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
If winning the Super Bowl this season were truly their
number one goal, they would fix this immediately by prioritizing
future cap space overfeeling their best team right now. The
forty nine Ers front office has made a startlingly clear choice.
They're optimizing for the twenty twenty six balance sheet, not
the twenty twenty four championship trophy.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
That is organizational dysfunction at its highest level, revealing a
major crack in a post contender. Let's look at the
NFC North, where the nine to three Bears, leaders of
the division, face a massive rivalry matchup against the Packers.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
The Bears have gained serious momentum, winning nine of their
last ten games by playing a run first offense backed
by an opportunistic defense. On the other side, the Packers
activated receiver Jaden Reid off injured reserve, getting closer to
their full compliment of receivers.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
And we had some classic rivalry trash talk coming from
Green Bay defensive lineman Micah Parsons.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Parsons called the Bears disrespectful, explaining he is playing for
respect and that opponents want to beat us in our house, and.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
Coach Lafleur's take was a little different.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
A more measured defense of Parsons, noting that opposing offenses
already show how much they respect him by double and
triple teaming him.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
We also finally have an answer for Romo Dunes's mysterious
dip in production.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
Reportedly due to a hamstring injury sustained around Week seven,
which he played through for over a month.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
Quickly Wrapping up other NFL news, is getting a defensive boost.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
Safety Julian Love and DT Jaron Reed are both set
to return against the Falcons. This marks the first time
all season that Seattle's preferred starting eleven will be available defensively.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
The ten one Broncos have impressed and gained flexibility for
the twenty twenty six offseason.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Their surprising success gives them options to make a big investment,
possibly at inside linebacker or running back in free agency,
to solidify the rushing attack and protect Bo Nicks.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
And finally, the Deshaun Watson situation in Cleveland, the Browns
are committing to keeping him, even with the success of
Ricky Shudder Sanders starting. This is purely financial driven by
the dead cap hit.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
That's absolutely right. We need to clarify what that means.
The dead cap hit is guaranteed money that still counts
against the salary cap even after a player is cut.
With Watson, that's some cost is enormous.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
How enormous.
Speaker 2 (38:53):
If they released him before June one, they would incur
a charge of nearly one hundred and thirty five million dollars.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
Thirty five million dollars counting against the cap for a
player who is no longer on the team. That's stunning.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
It illustrates the impossibility of moving in so, despite the
current QB situation, the Bronze planned to keep Watson on
the roster next season due purely to the financial impossibility
of moving On.
Speaker 1 (39:15):
What a monumental weekend. We saw Indiana shock the world
for their first Big Ten titles since nineteen sixty seven,
and Georgia put on a defensive master class to demolish Alabama.
In the NFL, the playoff picture is being twisted by
high stakes divisional games, critical injuries to guys like Herbert
and Jackson, and massive internal contract feuds like the one
(39:37):
crippling the forty nine ers offense.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
The central theme of this weekend is the sheer volatility
of systems and human decision making under pressure. The blowout
losses of Ohio State and Alabama make the CFP committees
at large decision incredibly difficult to justify under any objective criteria.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
The rules are bending and the subjective judgments are becoming
more and more arbitrary.
Speaker 2 (39:58):
They really are.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
It raises a perfect final provocative thought. Freedom all over.
For all the talk of rules and systems, whether it's
the cfp's subjective criteria or the NFL salary cap structure.
We've seen this weekend that the human element still dominates.
Coaching drama with Kiffin and Sabin, off field contract disputes
with Ayuk, and the impossibility of predicting the emotional weight
of a rivalry game like Indiana versus Ohio State. What
(40:22):
football institution, college or professional is closest to the breaking
point right now? This CFP committee trying to decide between
equally flawed ten two teams or the forty nine ers
organization trying to justify prioritizing money and future contract positioning
over winning a Super Bowl ring Right now.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
That question connects this systemic failure of college football governance
directly to the corporate dysfunction in the NFL. We will
be tracking the final CFP rankings and the outcome of
these pivotal Week fourteen NFL matchups in the coming days.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Thank you for joining us for this deep dive into
a truly unforgettable weekend of football. We'll catch you next
time on Football Army
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