January 6, 2026 • 17 mins
Jon Wilner of The San Jose Mercury News and Wilner Hotline joins Dave Softy Mahler and Dick Fain to talk about the College Football Playoff final four, the rotation of bowls in the playoff, the playoff chances between UW and WSU, the bowl TV ratings, and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time for a weekly Pac twelve conversation with Senos
Mercury News reporter John Wilner, brought to you by Simply Seattle.
Our friends at simply Seattle dot com have the most
amazing collection of all things Seattle Seahawks gear UW. Hatson
the largest selection of Sonics gear anywhere in the world.
Learn more at simply Seattle dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Dick, would you say? John Wilner's record is now predicting
games on the.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Year is a scorching thirteen and.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Five thirteen and five, John, I gotta be totally honest
with you.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I think you're a good writer.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I think you're an excellent prognosticator, and I don't know
what the hell you're doing in this business when you
should be a handicapper making millions of dollars a week?
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 5 (00:42):
Man?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Thirteen and five? After you nailed Oregon a week ago.
So we'll get your wind Galorian pick hit a second
from now. But John Wilner is with us here courtesy
of our friends at simply Seattle.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
How are you?
Speaker 6 (00:54):
Man? Thanks?
Speaker 7 (00:57):
We'll see if you guys are saying that next year
when I'm five and thirteen.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, Yeah, Well, you got to commit to the bit
right and you've been You've been amazing. So if you
commit and you're right every week, you're gonna come out
on top overall. Well, let's let's start by talking about
what we're about to see on Thursday and Friday, Miami
Ole miss Oregon Indiana.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Let's start with Oregon Indiana.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Obviously that's the game that we're most concerned about here
in Seattle. I told Dick and Jackson on the air
that maybe it's because of the Seahawk run.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I have no idea.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I don't have as much angst this year about Oregon
winning a title as I did.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
A year ago.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
And I guess the question is, should I have as
much angst as I did last year?
Speaker 6 (01:34):
You know, I don't know.
Speaker 7 (01:36):
The whole vibe is different with because of the makeup
of the final four and not having the traditional blue bloods,
you know, I think that maybe that affects how people
are looking at it potentially. I mean, only only Miami's
ever won a national title in the poll ap Pole era.
(01:57):
Of the four teams, it just it paints everything in
a different picture in my and I think it's a
good picture to be honest with you, the sport has
needed to get some new blood, you know, in the
late rounds of its playoffs. So to me, it's good.
I think Oregon's got a really good chance. I think
the winner of the Indiana Oregon game will be favored in.
Speaker 6 (02:18):
The championship game.
Speaker 7 (02:20):
I am curious because I think Oregon fans would love
to see them play Miami and play Mario, so that,
to me, that's a little bit intriguing.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
But it's kind of a crapshoot with all four here.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
How much does home field advantage from Miami in the
National Championship matter if they go? I mean, would that
tip the scales as far as favorites or underdogs between
Let's say, yes, Indiana wins, they're going to be the favorites.
But if you still think Oregon will be favored at
Miami if Miami wins, I.
Speaker 7 (02:50):
Do because Oregon will have beaten Indiana, the team that
just beat Alabama and Ohio State. And I don't know
that you know Missippi as much as they got going
for him, and they're kind of the best story because
of the Kiffen thing and because their starting quarterback was
playing Division two a year ago. But they don't have
(03:12):
the same clout I think in the public's mind, and
so I don't know how much that would do for Miami,
especially if it's a close game. I think Indiana Oregon
winner is favored, and it might not be by much
maybe a point or two for the Ducks, yeh, but
I would bet they would be well.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
They rollas well.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Got twenty five million people to watch that game is
the most watched college football playoff game since Michigan's went
over UB in twenty twenty four when they drew twenty five.
Was twenty four point nine to twenty five million, by
the way, so they barely got him in that game
a couple of years ago. But I guess the question
is why are ratings so good? Because all I hear
(03:49):
from people is critics ripping college football for the portal,
nil the ball games, blah blah blah. Why is there
so much criticism on the outside, but on the inside
quietly people are tuning in to watch all these games.
Speaker 7 (04:09):
Well, I think that if you notice, ratings are up
everywhere for every sport.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
NBA ratings are.
Speaker 7 (04:15):
Up, NFL way up, And a big part of it
is that Nielsen has changed how they measure audience. They
now are able to capture the out of home. They
also have this new thing they do called big data,
and so what's happening is they are capturing people that
weren't included in the ratings data before. So every everything
(04:37):
is pretty much up across the board.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
College football also is part of that.
Speaker 7 (04:41):
There's no doubt. I think people like the playoff. I mean,
the Rose Bowl is a lot in a lot of
ways its own entity, right, People set even though it
started an hour earlier this year, people set their New
Year's Day, you know, they're scheduled by the Rose Bowl.
And it's a great time. And you had all of
Obama in it and this undefeated Indiana team, so it
(05:03):
was set.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
Up very well.
Speaker 6 (05:04):
But the Rose Bowl always does well.
Speaker 7 (05:06):
I mean, it's almost immune to other secular trends in viewership.
But the way Nielsen is doing it has elevated the
ratings for all sports.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
How much do you think gambling is helping the numbers? Honestly?
Speaker 7 (05:22):
Oh a ton a ton. I mean, especially the NFL,
but you know it certainly has helped college football. Football
is such an easy sport to bet on. I think
it's helped that more than maybe it has MLB for instance,
But yeah, I mean it's a big part of it.
There's no doubt about that.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
And the Rose Bull got great ratings.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
And yet I was still a little disappointed that it's
a quarterfinal game.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
John.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
I know your plan. I love it that the Rose
Bowls should be the national championship on January first, but
sort of that can we at least get the Rose
Bowl out of the quarter final circulation and at least
make it a final four game every year?
Speaker 7 (06:02):
So there's six bowls, right, the CFPS tied to the Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton,
Fiesta and Peach And there's four quarterfinal games, two semi
final games, six games, six bowls.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
There is, you know, in theory of rotation.
Speaker 6 (06:20):
The issue though, is the Rose Bull wants to be
on January first.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
They care more.
Speaker 7 (06:25):
About being on January first than they do care about
being a semi final game. They'd rather be quarterfinals on
the first than a semifinal on January Thursday January eighth,
for instance. They want the holiday spot.
Speaker 6 (06:39):
So I don't.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
The only way I think think we can get your
plan into action, and I'm all for it, is if
the semi finals are on January first, which requires moving
everything up.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
John Waters with US thirteen and five on the air
after kneeling Oregon shut out of Texas Tech by the way,
so we've got to pick from him coming up before
he takes off here in a second courtesy of simply
Seattle dot com. John Dickon Jackson and I were having
a little bit of a debate early on the show
about who's got a better chance to make the playoff
and who's got a better chance to win the playoff
(07:14):
down the road over the next maybe I don't know,
ten to fifteen years consistently, Washington State in the new
look PAC twelve or you dubbin the Big Big ten.
There's two different questions there, winning it and getting in.
How do you kind of maybe answer that question.
Speaker 7 (07:30):
Well, I mean winning a game in the playoff, winning
the championship, or get winning the whole thing versus getting in, right,
I mean, Washington State's got no chance to win the championship,
thank you. I mean that's yeah, that's not really a question.
Speaker 6 (07:47):
In my mind.
Speaker 7 (07:48):
So part of my answer depends on what we're presuming
the playoff is going to be in terms of the numbers,
the size of the playoff and the access if they
go to sixteen, you know, I think that Washington would
probably have a better chance on a year and a
year out basis of getting in than Washington State. If
(08:09):
they go to twenty four it'll be interesting because they're
probably going.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
To have two spots for the group.
Speaker 7 (08:15):
Of five in a twenty fourteen playoff, So that would
in theory help the Pac twelve champ a lot. How
much of a chance, you know, Washington State would obviously
have to win the Pac twelve, whereas the Huskies could
finish you know, fourth or fifth in the Big ten
and have a decent chance in the sixteen or twenty
fourteen field.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
How will Washington State.
Speaker 7 (08:36):
Fair against San Diego State, Boise and any of those
other teams?
Speaker 6 (08:41):
Pretty pretty well?
Speaker 7 (08:43):
I think if it's sixteen, which is what I expect
for next year, then then Washington has a better chance
to get in.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
John, did we declare the death of the Bowl games
too early? These other Bowl games? Because as you mentioned
that the ratings are out of this world, and so
these Bowl games with these seven and five teams playing
six and six teams, people are watching. So does that
mean that they're just gonna keep continue.
Speaker 7 (09:08):
They will continue now expanding this the playoffs of sixteen
will obviously hurt the balls a little. Going to twenty
four is a big issue, uh and probably would result
in uh some of the what is it four thirty
nine or forty games, bowl games vanishing, But overall they're
gonna stay because it's good business for ESPN.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
Like you said, the Pop.
Speaker 7 (09:32):
Tart Bowl drew eight point seven million, which would have
been like top ten audience for a regular season game
this year.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
It's great for me.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
What else is.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
ESPN gonna put on at you know, nine o'clock Eastern
on December twenty seventh, a Tuesday.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
It's gonna outdraw football.
Speaker 7 (09:53):
There's nothing so in that regard, They're not gonna go away.
They may get downscaled depending on the playof the playoff
has We should do a whole segment on this. The
playoff has such incredible implications for the entire sport, the
bowl system, the conference championship games, the transfer portal signing day,
(10:14):
the regular season schedule. The playoff has an implication for
all that usc Notre Dame series was impacted by the playoff.
It's just a behemoth and it's going to only get bigger.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Well, John Wilders with us and John Befriget to the
Semis this weekend. I know you were on last week
right with Dick and here you guys talk about the
Kyle Whittingham thing last week.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Obviously what happened at Utah? Why is he gone?
Speaker 7 (10:38):
I think that a lot of folks at Utah felt
like we don't want to get and by that I
mean the president because a lot of people have been
pointing a finger at the athletic director, Mark Harland.
Speaker 6 (10:48):
And if you think that Mark Harland.
Speaker 7 (10:49):
Decided Kyle Woodingham's fade at Utah, you're wrong. The president
was heavily involved. So we're major donors, and there was
It was two things. One, they didn't want to get
in a position where every year they were waiting on
winning him to decide is he gonna stay ors he's
gonna go. They didn't want that purgatory. And the other
(11:10):
piece is they worried about losing Morgan Scalley, who they
really think long time defensive coordinator there coaching waiting. They
really think he's going to be a dynamite coach for them,
and they were worried that if wood he had kept
going for another then another year and another year that
scale was gonna leave. I kind of think it's a
win win win. It's a win for Utah, it's a
(11:33):
win for winning him, and it's certainly a win for Michigan.
Sometimes you got to just kind of let go. Even
being a year early is better to be in a
year late.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
John, the Big Ten schedule last year came out in December. Well,
we've gotten past December, and I still don't know when
I'm gonna take the family down on the old trucks
or trucktor to Oddson Stadium.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
So when are we going?
Speaker 7 (11:54):
Well, I've actually been trying to figure out that very
question because I'm planning on I've got a couple of
articles planned based on that schedule.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
Yes, it was originally.
Speaker 7 (12:06):
Schools were told it was going to be released second
week of December. I think delayed, certainly. I don't think
coming out this week.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Why would you do it?
Speaker 7 (12:14):
If you're the Big Ten with two of your teams
playing in the playoff, you don't want to take the
focus away from that. My guess is at this point
it could very well be after the championship game, maybe
next week. If not, then after the championship game. There
is a part reason for the delay is there is
(12:35):
certainly some debate about how the Big Ten has gone
about scheduling the West Coast schools. As I'm sure you
guys are aware, not thrilled with how things have gone.
There's some complications with Ohio State Michigan plan on Fridays
or High State Michigan.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Playing at night in November.
Speaker 7 (12:52):
Very complicated situation, partly because of eighteen teams across four
time zones.
Speaker 6 (12:58):
But my guess is if not than the week after.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah, well, we know the Apple Cups the first game
of the year and the Organ Game is the last
game of the year. We just don't know what night
the Organ Game is going to be on. Could be
on a Friday, could be on a Saturday. But it's
funny when you mentioned they didn't want to take away
from the semi final. I mean, when they announced the
schedule last year, it was like here it is. There
was no build up to it whatsoever. I mean, what
the hell would the semi final be worried about with
the Big Ten releasing their football schedule? I mean, is
(13:24):
that really a thing that the CFP is concerned about?
The Big Ten schedule distracting from people watching the semis.
Speaker 7 (13:33):
No, I think it's more that the Big ten doesn't
want to take away any spotlight away from Oregon in
Indiana this week. Yeah is my gas. That's my gas.
I don't know that for sure, but yeah, that's you know.
And if you're Oregon in Indiana, you certainly don't want
you want the everything the conference is doing to be
focused on you, And that's the way they should do it,
(13:57):
to be honest, that's and I'll tell you what the
s if in a situation similar situation they would be
all in on their teams, they would and with the
schedule they would delay at the SEC does a great
job focusing on its product, a better job than the
Big ten does.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
To be honest, well, the SEC should schedule for this
week to take the focus off the failure that they've
been in the bull season. So is the SEC failure
a fluke or a sign of things to come here
in this new nil world?
Speaker 7 (14:25):
I mean, I think it's it's a continuation of what
we've seen, which is that basically LSU, Alabama and Georgia
cannot stockpile the talent that they once did because of
the portal because of revenue sharing an nil also the
low I mean, the greatest coach of all time retired,
let's not you know that that's certainly had to impact that.
Speaker 6 (14:46):
Dobors a really.
Speaker 7 (14:47):
Good coach, but he's not Nick Saban, So you know,
it's definitely evened out.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
There's more teams.
Speaker 7 (14:55):
It used to be what six or eight teams every
year had a real chance to win the title. And
now it's obviously more than that because look at who's
in the final four and look at the Indiana.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
But I still think the SEC.
Speaker 7 (15:07):
It's not as dominant as it once was. I do
think the SEC is you know, has a little bit
more meat for sixteen team league than the Big ten
does for eighteen. But yeah, it's it's a whole new
world and it's great.
Speaker 6 (15:23):
I think it's getting more.
Speaker 7 (15:25):
It's getting fan bases involved at one't before, and I
think that's good for the sport.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
All right, thirteen and five on the air. Time to
make it fourteen and five, I need one pick for
one of the games this week Miami Ole, Miss Oregon,
Indiana and both three and a half point spreads for
the Hurricanes and the Hoosiers to get to fourteen and five, John,
who do you like this week?
Speaker 6 (15:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (15:48):
Well, I probably would have thought about taking Oregon, except
that I was at the Oregon Indiana game and it
was just a you know.
Speaker 6 (15:55):
Truck stop stomping.
Speaker 7 (15:58):
That was actually the day after of the Washington Rutgers
Friday night game with the Mariners twenty seven. In game,
I will take Miami and give.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
What I think is three or four points.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
I think that. I mean. Now, Okay, Miami's.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
Past rush is just too good.
Speaker 7 (16:16):
Those guys are NFL ready edge rushers, and Miami is
like we're talking about SEC teams. Miami is on the
lines of scrimmage as as good as an.
Speaker 6 (16:28):
Elite SEC team. Don't be fooled by the acc affiliation.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So I will take the Canes, all right, Miami minus
three and a half. And by the way, if you
think Mark James is unsufferable, now wait until they play
for the National championship. How about Oregon beats Indiana and
loses to Mario Christobaul in the National title game? How
painful would that be for them to lose to their
former coach?
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (16:52):
Yeah, I mean that's a huge issue for Oregon fans.
They are still frustrated with Mario for the way he
left and for how that season ended, and they are
dying to get a shot at him. And if they lose, boy,
that would be I mean, man, that would be a long,
difficult pill for them to swallow.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Yeah, well, I almost want to see it happen.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
I almost want to see Oregon play for the title,
just so they can lose to Mario Christaball and then
whine about it for nine months.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
All right, Sean, great stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
We'll talking a week, Toddy, Thanks man, Thanks a lot, guys.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
All right.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
John Wilner with US likes the Hurricanes minus the three
and a half over Ole miss on Thursday, and then
Oregon Indiana obviously play on Friday. We're gonna break cracking
hockey against the Bruins. We haven't done our cracking Tuesday
ticket giveaway yet for this hour could happen anytime. Tenth
collar when you hear the sounder called two eight six
ninety five ninety five wins a pair of seats for
(17:44):
the Islanders game on January twenty first, keep listening right
here on ninety three three KJRFL
It's time for a weekly Pac twelve conversation with Senos
Mercury News reporter John Wilner, brought to you by Simply Seattle.
Our friends at simply Seattle dot com have the most
amazing collection of all things Seattle Seahawks gear UW. Hatson
the largest selection of Sonics gear anywhere in the world.
Learn more at simply Seattle dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Dick, would you say? John Wilner's record is now predicting
games on the.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Year is a scorching thirteen and.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Five thirteen and five, John, I gotta be totally honest
with you.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
I think you're a good writer.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I think you're an excellent prognosticator, and I don't know
what the hell you're doing in this business when you
should be a handicapper making millions of dollars a week?
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 5 (00:42):
Man?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Thirteen and five? After you nailed Oregon a week ago.
So we'll get your wind Galorian pick hit a second
from now. But John Wilner is with us here courtesy
of our friends at simply Seattle.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
How are you?
Speaker 6 (00:54):
Man? Thanks?
Speaker 7 (00:57):
We'll see if you guys are saying that next year
when I'm five and thirteen.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah, Yeah, Well, you got to commit to the bit
right and you've been You've been amazing. So if you
commit and you're right every week, you're gonna come out
on top overall. Well, let's let's start by talking about
what we're about to see on Thursday and Friday, Miami
Ole miss Oregon Indiana.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Let's start with Oregon Indiana.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Obviously that's the game that we're most concerned about here
in Seattle. I told Dick and Jackson on the air
that maybe it's because of the Seahawk run.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I have no idea.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I don't have as much angst this year about Oregon
winning a title as I did.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
A year ago.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
And I guess the question is, should I have as
much angst as I did last year?
Speaker 6 (01:34):
You know, I don't know.
Speaker 7 (01:36):
The whole vibe is different with because of the makeup
of the final four and not having the traditional blue bloods,
you know, I think that maybe that affects how people
are looking at it potentially. I mean, only only Miami's
ever won a national title in the poll ap Pole era.
(01:57):
Of the four teams, it just it paints everything in
a different picture in my and I think it's a
good picture to be honest with you, the sport has
needed to get some new blood, you know, in the
late rounds of its playoffs. So to me, it's good.
I think Oregon's got a really good chance. I think
the winner of the Indiana Oregon game will be favored in.
Speaker 6 (02:18):
The championship game.
Speaker 7 (02:20):
I am curious because I think Oregon fans would love
to see them play Miami and play Mario, so that,
to me, that's a little bit intriguing.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
But it's kind of a crapshoot with all four here.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
How much does home field advantage from Miami in the
National Championship matter if they go? I mean, would that
tip the scales as far as favorites or underdogs between
Let's say, yes, Indiana wins, they're going to be the favorites.
But if you still think Oregon will be favored at
Miami if Miami wins, I.
Speaker 7 (02:50):
Do because Oregon will have beaten Indiana, the team that
just beat Alabama and Ohio State. And I don't know
that you know Missippi as much as they got going
for him, and they're kind of the best story because
of the Kiffen thing and because their starting quarterback was
playing Division two a year ago. But they don't have
(03:12):
the same clout I think in the public's mind, and
so I don't know how much that would do for Miami,
especially if it's a close game. I think Indiana Oregon
winner is favored, and it might not be by much
maybe a point or two for the Ducks, yeh, but
I would bet they would be well.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
They rollas well.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Got twenty five million people to watch that game is
the most watched college football playoff game since Michigan's went
over UB in twenty twenty four when they drew twenty five.
Was twenty four point nine to twenty five million, by
the way, so they barely got him in that game
a couple of years ago. But I guess the question
is why are ratings so good? Because all I hear
(03:49):
from people is critics ripping college football for the portal,
nil the ball games, blah blah blah. Why is there
so much criticism on the outside, but on the inside
quietly people are tuning in to watch all these games.
Speaker 7 (04:09):
Well, I think that if you notice, ratings are up
everywhere for every sport.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
NBA ratings are.
Speaker 7 (04:15):
Up, NFL way up, And a big part of it
is that Nielsen has changed how they measure audience. They
now are able to capture the out of home. They
also have this new thing they do called big data,
and so what's happening is they are capturing people that
weren't included in the ratings data before. So every everything
(04:37):
is pretty much up across the board.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
College football also is part of that.
Speaker 7 (04:41):
There's no doubt. I think people like the playoff. I mean,
the Rose Bowl is a lot in a lot of
ways its own entity, right, People set even though it
started an hour earlier this year, people set their New
Year's Day, you know, they're scheduled by the Rose Bowl.
And it's a great time. And you had all of
Obama in it and this undefeated Indiana team, so it
(05:03):
was set.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
Up very well.
Speaker 6 (05:04):
But the Rose Bowl always does well.
Speaker 7 (05:06):
I mean, it's almost immune to other secular trends in viewership.
But the way Nielsen is doing it has elevated the
ratings for all sports.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
How much do you think gambling is helping the numbers? Honestly?
Speaker 7 (05:22):
Oh a ton a ton. I mean, especially the NFL,
but you know it certainly has helped college football. Football
is such an easy sport to bet on. I think
it's helped that more than maybe it has MLB for instance,
But yeah, I mean it's a big part of it.
There's no doubt about that.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
And the Rose Bull got great ratings.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
And yet I was still a little disappointed that it's
a quarterfinal game.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
John.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
I know your plan. I love it that the Rose
Bowls should be the national championship on January first, but
sort of that can we at least get the Rose
Bowl out of the quarter final circulation and at least
make it a final four game every year?
Speaker 7 (06:02):
So there's six bowls, right, the CFPS tied to the Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton,
Fiesta and Peach And there's four quarterfinal games, two semi
final games, six games, six bowls.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
There is, you know, in theory of rotation.
Speaker 6 (06:20):
The issue though, is the Rose Bull wants to be
on January first.
Speaker 5 (06:24):
They care more.
Speaker 7 (06:25):
About being on January first than they do care about
being a semi final game. They'd rather be quarterfinals on
the first than a semifinal on January Thursday January eighth,
for instance. They want the holiday spot.
Speaker 6 (06:39):
So I don't.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
The only way I think think we can get your
plan into action, and I'm all for it, is if
the semi finals are on January first, which requires moving
everything up.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
John Waters with US thirteen and five on the air
after kneeling Oregon shut out of Texas Tech by the way,
so we've got to pick from him coming up before
he takes off here in a second courtesy of simply
Seattle dot com. John Dickon Jackson and I were having
a little bit of a debate early on the show
about who's got a better chance to make the playoff
and who's got a better chance to win the playoff
(07:14):
down the road over the next maybe I don't know,
ten to fifteen years consistently, Washington State in the new
look PAC twelve or you dubbin the Big Big ten.
There's two different questions there, winning it and getting in.
How do you kind of maybe answer that question.
Speaker 7 (07:30):
Well, I mean winning a game in the playoff, winning
the championship, or get winning the whole thing versus getting in, right,
I mean, Washington State's got no chance to win the championship,
thank you. I mean that's yeah, that's not really a question.
Speaker 6 (07:47):
In my mind.
Speaker 7 (07:48):
So part of my answer depends on what we're presuming
the playoff is going to be in terms of the numbers,
the size of the playoff and the access if they
go to sixteen, you know, I think that Washington would
probably have a better chance on a year and a
year out basis of getting in than Washington State. If
(08:09):
they go to twenty four it'll be interesting because they're
probably going.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
To have two spots for the group.
Speaker 7 (08:15):
Of five in a twenty fourteen playoff, So that would
in theory help the Pac twelve champ a lot. How
much of a chance, you know, Washington State would obviously
have to win the Pac twelve, whereas the Huskies could
finish you know, fourth or fifth in the Big ten
and have a decent chance in the sixteen or twenty
fourteen field.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
How will Washington State.
Speaker 7 (08:36):
Fair against San Diego State, Boise and any of those
other teams?
Speaker 6 (08:41):
Pretty pretty well?
Speaker 7 (08:43):
I think if it's sixteen, which is what I expect
for next year, then then Washington has a better chance
to get in.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
John, did we declare the death of the Bowl games
too early? These other Bowl games? Because as you mentioned
that the ratings are out of this world, and so
these Bowl games with these seven and five teams playing
six and six teams, people are watching. So does that
mean that they're just gonna keep continue.
Speaker 7 (09:08):
They will continue now expanding this the playoffs of sixteen
will obviously hurt the balls a little. Going to twenty
four is a big issue, uh and probably would result
in uh some of the what is it four thirty
nine or forty games, bowl games vanishing, But overall they're
gonna stay because it's good business for ESPN.
Speaker 6 (09:31):
Like you said, the Pop.
Speaker 7 (09:32):
Tart Bowl drew eight point seven million, which would have
been like top ten audience for a regular season game
this year.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
It's great for me.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
What else is.
Speaker 7 (09:44):
ESPN gonna put on at you know, nine o'clock Eastern
on December twenty seventh, a Tuesday.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
It's gonna outdraw football.
Speaker 7 (09:53):
There's nothing so in that regard, They're not gonna go away.
They may get downscaled depending on the playof the playoff
has We should do a whole segment on this. The
playoff has such incredible implications for the entire sport, the
bowl system, the conference championship games, the transfer portal signing day,
(10:14):
the regular season schedule. The playoff has an implication for
all that usc Notre Dame series was impacted by the playoff.
It's just a behemoth and it's going to only get bigger.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Well, John Wilders with us and John Befriget to the
Semis this weekend. I know you were on last week
right with Dick and here you guys talk about the
Kyle Whittingham thing last week.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Obviously what happened at Utah? Why is he gone?
Speaker 7 (10:38):
I think that a lot of folks at Utah felt
like we don't want to get and by that I
mean the president because a lot of people have been
pointing a finger at the athletic director, Mark Harland.
Speaker 6 (10:48):
And if you think that Mark Harland.
Speaker 7 (10:49):
Decided Kyle Woodingham's fade at Utah, you're wrong. The president
was heavily involved. So we're major donors, and there was
It was two things. One, they didn't want to get
in a position where every year they were waiting on
winning him to decide is he gonna stay ors he's
gonna go. They didn't want that purgatory. And the other
(11:10):
piece is they worried about losing Morgan Scalley, who they
really think long time defensive coordinator there coaching waiting. They
really think he's going to be a dynamite coach for them,
and they were worried that if wood he had kept
going for another then another year and another year that
scale was gonna leave. I kind of think it's a
win win win. It's a win for Utah, it's a
(11:33):
win for winning him, and it's certainly a win for Michigan.
Sometimes you got to just kind of let go. Even
being a year early is better to be in a
year late.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
John, the Big Ten schedule last year came out in December. Well,
we've gotten past December, and I still don't know when
I'm gonna take the family down on the old trucks
or trucktor to Oddson Stadium.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
So when are we going?
Speaker 7 (11:54):
Well, I've actually been trying to figure out that very
question because I'm planning on I've got a couple of
articles planned based on that schedule.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
Yes, it was originally.
Speaker 7 (12:06):
Schools were told it was going to be released second
week of December. I think delayed, certainly. I don't think
coming out this week.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Why would you do it?
Speaker 7 (12:14):
If you're the Big Ten with two of your teams
playing in the playoff, you don't want to take the
focus away from that. My guess is at this point
it could very well be after the championship game, maybe
next week. If not, then after the championship game. There
is a part reason for the delay is there is
(12:35):
certainly some debate about how the Big Ten has gone
about scheduling the West Coast schools. As I'm sure you
guys are aware, not thrilled with how things have gone.
There's some complications with Ohio State Michigan plan on Fridays
or High State Michigan.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Playing at night in November.
Speaker 7 (12:52):
Very complicated situation, partly because of eighteen teams across four
time zones.
Speaker 6 (12:58):
But my guess is if not than the week after.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah, well, we know the Apple Cups the first game
of the year and the Organ Game is the last
game of the year. We just don't know what night
the Organ Game is going to be on. Could be
on a Friday, could be on a Saturday. But it's
funny when you mentioned they didn't want to take away
from the semi final. I mean, when they announced the
schedule last year, it was like here it is. There
was no build up to it whatsoever. I mean, what
the hell would the semi final be worried about with
the Big Ten releasing their football schedule? I mean, is
(13:24):
that really a thing that the CFP is concerned about?
The Big Ten schedule distracting from people watching the semis.
Speaker 7 (13:33):
No, I think it's more that the Big ten doesn't
want to take away any spotlight away from Oregon in
Indiana this week. Yeah is my gas. That's my gas.
I don't know that for sure, but yeah, that's you know.
And if you're Oregon in Indiana, you certainly don't want
you want the everything the conference is doing to be
focused on you, And that's the way they should do it,
(13:57):
to be honest, that's and I'll tell you what the
s if in a situation similar situation they would be
all in on their teams, they would and with the
schedule they would delay at the SEC does a great
job focusing on its product, a better job than the
Big ten does.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
To be honest, well, the SEC should schedule for this
week to take the focus off the failure that they've
been in the bull season. So is the SEC failure
a fluke or a sign of things to come here
in this new nil world?
Speaker 7 (14:25):
I mean, I think it's it's a continuation of what
we've seen, which is that basically LSU, Alabama and Georgia
cannot stockpile the talent that they once did because of
the portal because of revenue sharing an nil also the
low I mean, the greatest coach of all time retired,
let's not you know that that's certainly had to impact that.
Speaker 6 (14:46):
Dobors a really.
Speaker 7 (14:47):
Good coach, but he's not Nick Saban, So you know,
it's definitely evened out.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
There's more teams.
Speaker 7 (14:55):
It used to be what six or eight teams every
year had a real chance to win the title. And
now it's obviously more than that because look at who's
in the final four and look at the Indiana.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
But I still think the SEC.
Speaker 7 (15:07):
It's not as dominant as it once was. I do
think the SEC is you know, has a little bit
more meat for sixteen team league than the Big ten
does for eighteen. But yeah, it's it's a whole new
world and it's great.
Speaker 6 (15:23):
I think it's getting more.
Speaker 7 (15:25):
It's getting fan bases involved at one't before, and I
think that's good for the sport.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
All right, thirteen and five on the air. Time to
make it fourteen and five, I need one pick for
one of the games this week Miami Ole, Miss Oregon,
Indiana and both three and a half point spreads for
the Hurricanes and the Hoosiers to get to fourteen and five, John,
who do you like this week?
Speaker 6 (15:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (15:48):
Well, I probably would have thought about taking Oregon, except
that I was at the Oregon Indiana game and it
was just a you know.
Speaker 6 (15:55):
Truck stop stomping.
Speaker 7 (15:58):
That was actually the day after of the Washington Rutgers
Friday night game with the Mariners twenty seven. In game,
I will take Miami and give.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
What I think is three or four points.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
I think that. I mean. Now, Okay, Miami's.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
Past rush is just too good.
Speaker 7 (16:16):
Those guys are NFL ready edge rushers, and Miami is
like we're talking about SEC teams. Miami is on the
lines of scrimmage as as good as an.
Speaker 6 (16:28):
Elite SEC team. Don't be fooled by the acc affiliation.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So I will take the Canes, all right, Miami minus
three and a half. And by the way, if you
think Mark James is unsufferable, now wait until they play
for the National championship. How about Oregon beats Indiana and
loses to Mario Christobaul in the National title game? How
painful would that be for them to lose to their
former coach?
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (16:52):
Yeah, I mean that's a huge issue for Oregon fans.
They are still frustrated with Mario for the way he
left and for how that season ended, and they are
dying to get a shot at him. And if they lose, boy,
that would be I mean, man, that would be a long,
difficult pill for them to swallow.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Yeah, well, I almost want to see it happen.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
I almost want to see Oregon play for the title,
just so they can lose to Mario Christaball and then
whine about it for nine months.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
All right, Sean, great stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
We'll talking a week, Toddy, Thanks man, Thanks a lot, guys.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
All right.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
John Wilner with US likes the Hurricanes minus the three
and a half over Ole miss on Thursday, and then
Oregon Indiana obviously play on Friday. We're gonna break cracking
hockey against the Bruins. We haven't done our cracking Tuesday
ticket giveaway yet for this hour could happen anytime. Tenth
collar when you hear the sounder called two eight six
ninety five ninety five wins a pair of seats for
(17:44):
the Islanders game on January twenty first, keep listening right
here on ninety three three KJRFL
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