September 11, 2025 • 26 mins
Catch “The Drive with Spence Checketts” from 2 pm to 6 pm weekdays on ESPN 700 & 92.1 FM. Produced by Porter Larsen. The latest on the Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, Utes, BYU + more sports storylines.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Commanders in the Packers from lambeau Field.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
That comes your way right after we say good night,
so stay tuned for that. University of Utah is on
the road at Wyoming coming up this week. They're a
twenty two point five point favorite to beat the Cowboys
in Laramie. Our next guest covers college football, does a
little soccer as well for ESPN. Always fun to chat
with Kyle Bonnager. We'll do that now on a Thursday. Kyle,
Happy Thursday, man.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
How are we doing too good?
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Spence? Are you?
Speaker 1 (00:26):
I'm good? I'm good. I am annoyed well for a
lot of reasons. But let's just stick with football.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I just this this non con stuff for most of
these teams. Look, I get the economics, I understand why
the smaller programs need to check. But most of these games,
I mean, in the Big twelve this this week, we
have a couple of decent games. But whether it's Utah
or BYU, it's just it's really hard to accurately analyze
who some of these teams are, Like Texas Tech with
(00:53):
two dog games. Are we ever going to live in
a college football world where some of these lopsided matchups
just go by the wayside, I think for.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
The foreseeable future they will can It is just going
to be part of the deal. But I do think
that the change in the playoff format means there will
I mean, in theory, there could be more high profile
games in addition to those, right because I because you're
just not punished the same way for a loss and
(01:23):
the non conference as it used to be. So with
with with an automatic slot for you know, for five
conference champions then plus all the all the additional slots
in the at large now, especially if they expand it
beyond twelve, it creates a you know, a scenario where
teams can can lose a game in the non conference
(01:44):
and still bounce back and make the playoff, especially if
it's if it's a loss to a top a top
tier team. And so I think that has me a
little bit encouraged if there's gonna be more teams who
are willing to do it. Of course, you know a
lot of these games, as most of these games were
scheduled before the playoff, you know, formats had changed, right,
(02:05):
and so this is just still scheduling from a you know,
bygone era to a certain extent. So it is theoretical
by me, but I do think you'll see better games.
But I you know, like you said, but the financial
aspect makes it so like it's just these teams are
it's always gonna be in their best interest to get
a couple, give a couple of buy games. At the
start of the year.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
We did see your your old friend Paul Wolf here
last week with cal Poly. He's got quite a task
on his hands to try to build that thing up.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
So a couple of things here.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
First of all, you guys have done a hell of
a job man on this Finding Dolores podcast.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Kudos to you.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
And of course that features a story that we talked
about with Paul Wolf and his mother. So let's do
a couple of different things here. Get me the latest
with the pod, tell people where they can find it.
And I am curious. I would imagine through your conversations
with Paul you talked to him about this new project
project of his trying to build cal Poly Football up.
So tell us kind of, uh, you know, some of
(03:02):
the contexts with those conversations as well.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, So it's been it's been a really cool run.
The podcast is we have six episodes out. There'll be
not nine in total, it's a nine episode run. It's
been a really you know, Candle, it's been an incredible
week for us. We were featured by Apple Podcasts like
a kind of a noteworthy podcast to listen to within
the true crime like narrative series Space and we actually
jumped right now. I think in the Apple podcast h
(03:28):
app we're the number three ranked series in in in
the world among series. We climbed tofy as number eleven
in all podcasts regardless of format yesterday. So it's it's
been a little bit overwhelming to see that sort of reaction.
We had no idea that it would resonate so much,
but you know, so I guess that's my pitch to
go listen. People are liking it at released as they
(03:50):
seem to be. And then and then Paul's yeah, like
you said, he's got a tough project. He's been a
count PAULI for a while. He was there as an
assistant under bow Bolving before you taken over the head
coach from when Bo left to go to Arizona State.
And it's never a place that has really had it
much success on the football field. But I but I
do think they have some reason for optimism there. They
(04:12):
they're in the final stages of completing this John Madden
facility football facility. I saw Paul down accout Poly a
few years ago and the football building in a building
in air quotes here was it was a trailer near
the stadium, like a literal like you know, you know
it is what it is. It was. It was a trailer.
It's kind of a permanent one but like nothing special
(04:33):
at all. And the fact that they are building like
a real football building, I think it's going to be
a much more intriguing place for you know, for for
better players to go visit. He's got a kind of
an older staff now, a lot of experience in that
building now, so he's he's optimistic about where it's going
to go. But it's yeah, it's it's a tough it's
(04:55):
a tough place to to build and win, just because
there's not a whole lot of tradition there. It's you know,
it's not a big population based within California. There are
a high academic standards can hurt and help of course
nil in this day and age, and if you have
anyone who does who performs at a high level at
the SCS level, they're probably going to jump for some
sort of ANIL deal at a higher level. They just
(05:17):
don't have the money at the SCL level to be
competitive there. But yeah, like it's it's been a kind
of a rough run for him there so far, but
I think I think there's reason to believe that he
could he could get them headed in the right direction.
When here at Eastern Washington years ago, you know, he
had that thing really humming, So he's done it before.
A tough time at WSU, but I'm confident he'll he'll
have things going going there, going pretty well there eventually, And.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Of course a tough ask for cal Poly to roll
into rice Ecles and make it competitive against a team
that looks like a Kyle when you have him coach
team again, Kyle.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
That's kind of the the takeaway around here.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Physical disciplines U U C l A might stink and
cal Poly obviously is cal Poly. We'll see what happens
against Wyoming. Laramie can be a tricky place to play.
They got Texas Tech a couple of years ago, and
Texas actually was pretty uncomfortable for about two and a
half quarters against the Cowboys. Utah is a twenty two
point five point favorite. But what are your takeaways through
(06:13):
two games with these Utah Utes.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, I mean, you can't really take much from the
cal Poly game, right, It's just like the talent gap
was too significant for anything to really matter. And then
Ucla went out and didn't look very good against you know,
v either. They filled behind twenty three zero to unlv
made it close in the end, but the game was
really never in jeopardy. So Ucla is not good. Cal
Poly is just a different level of football, and so
(06:40):
you know, it's hard to it's hard to know, right.
I think everything in Utah has done indicates it's a
very good team. I mean, and we talked about it.
I think against Ucla too, like they did exactly what
you're supposed to do against a team that you're better than.
They ended early left no doubt. It was lopsided start
to finish, and UCLA saw us play. I mean, granted,
(07:01):
it's not a very good team for the power for
but it's still a team with a lot of talent,
a lot of guys who can play, were highly recruited,
those sort of things, and it didn't and you know,
there wasn't much of a difference between how competitive the
game was and Evan cal Paul, really it's gonna look
at it that way. So yeah, look, I think we'll
find I think this week it will be more of
the same. I mean, Wyoming, you know, certainly has the history,
(07:24):
like you said, have given better teams a game. Fact
that this is in in Laramie certainly makes it a
little bit more interesting. I mean old won't matter for
the use like it does some of the other opponents
that go in there. But you know, it's it's it's
still a road game, and you know you have a
puncher's chance. Like all that is just a caveat before
(07:45):
saying like, I still think Utah wins like easily and
should win easily, and at the end of that game
will probably be asking the same questions that we're asking
now what to make of them? We played the Wyoming
what doesn't mean probably probably not a whole lot. And
if it's a close game then it works the other way,
right that well, maybe the other team maybe the first
two games were a little bit you know, it didn't
(08:09):
provide as much context as we got or or or
something like that. Right, So, yeah, well everything is going
good and I think it's really if you look at
if you looked at you know, Utah's schedule, right, you
think I just had Who's Who's after Wyoming? It takes
a while before they get challenged, if I remember.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah, they their first conference game is Texas Tech, so
that should be interesting.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah so they Yeah, so I had that run. So yeah,
Texas Tech for me is interesting because the budget they
have in building that roster. You know, we'll see what
you know, thirty forty whatever million dollars gets you in
the Big twelve. And so I think that that's the
game that we'll really have a great idea of what
the what the expectation should be the rest of them with.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah, and the difficult part about Tech, I mean, you know,
the Cody Campbell oil money is what it is in
sixty mil I guess is the figure people are floating around.
But Arkansas Pine Bluff, Kent State, like what do we do?
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Man? Like they hung they hung sixty.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Seven on Arkansas Pine Bluff, sixty two on Kent State,
and then they see Oregon State at home coming up
on Saturday. I know you've covered that program for a
long long time. Will Oregon State even make that somewhat
interesting or is this going to be another game where
Tech just hangs sixty on a bad team.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
I don't. Yeah, I don't think Oregon State's any good
this year. So and like to be fair to scheduling,
like when you say out to Oregon State, he probably
allowed for them to be somewhat competitive right at the time.
And so, but but that being said, it doesn't change
what it means this year and that organ State is
just not good. I mean, we leaving the PAC twelve
thing and the budget changes that creates for them obviously
(09:44):
means that Oregon State's competing at a different tear now
as well. And so it's just like it is, it
is what it is. It's not a revealing opponent protects
Tech either. So it's almost like, yeah, you know, both
of these two teams who will open that guess you know,
open up the conference against each other, they kind of
both skated through with against teams that they're you know,
(10:04):
significantly better than assume in Oregon State go the way
that you think they will. So yeah, I kind of
agree with the mystery match on the twenty U b YU.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
I mean, look, I've said this probably fifteen times. This week.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
It's not Utah's fault the UCLA might stink, and it's
not BYU's fault that Stanford might stink. I mean, you
schedule these games years in advance, then you hope that
it's a decent test or challenge for you. But BYU
smokes Portland State sixty nine zero and then Stanford could
not move the football twenty seven to three. It appears
that Kilate has an excellent defense. Once again, It's funny, Kyle,
(10:42):
I've noticed that people are starting to cover BYU and
talk about BYU in the same way they've talked about
Utah Underwit for the past couple of decades. Like it's
a stout defense. They're fast, they're physical. I think that
defense is going to keep them in a lot of games.
Offense installed quite a bit. Againstand in the red zone.
That had opportunities to put a lot of points on
(11:03):
the board twenty seven to three.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
It was never in dow They cover the spread.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
But where you at with BYU right now through two games,
we won't learn anything. They're on a buy this week
and then they're at East Carolina. Their first conference game
is in Boulder against Colorado. Maybe that'll be somewhat interesting,
but just kind of same general question.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
What do you think about b YU so far?
Speaker 3 (11:23):
No, it's it's like a mirror image, right, It's like
they played well, they dominated their opponents, But also what
does it mean we don't have a great sense. I
watched quite a bit of the Stanford game, and Stamford's
offense is just brutal. It's it's they're not going to
score many points this year against anyone and so but
but again they did. You did what it was supposed
(11:44):
to do. It was suffocating and left no doubt I was,
but I came out of that game a little bit
more concerned about the offense than I was going in
because Sanford doesn't have a good defense either, and I,
like you said, they stalled. They generally didn't impress against
Stanford on that side of the ball, And so I
(12:05):
would say, like, if you're looking stock up, stock down,
you know, stock a little bit down coming to that one,
just because the quality of Stanford this year. But at
the same time, it's like I was, I was in
our like communication channel with ESPN Stats and Research group
trying to figure out the last time a team started
out scoring a hundred points without allowing a point, because
(12:27):
like it looked like BYU was on track to do that.
So when you have that sort of you know, stat
during a game to like see how historically relevant it is,
like it's hard to be it's hard to be too
critical of what they're doing at the same time. So yeah,
like we're gonna have to wait a few weeks. East
Carolina next next games is probably more of the same.
And then you know, and like you said, Colorado, you know, Colorado,
(12:52):
We'll see how they end up being. I think Colorado
could be okay, average, not gonna be great, and they'll
you know, challenge for a Bowl game, but that's no
guarantee you want that sort of gear. And then West
Virginia is bad after that. So five and oh going
into Arizona. Arizona looks good, look looks better than last
year at least. But like it's not too early to
circle the Holy War because I think you know, you're
(13:13):
looking at you know five and one six and oh
six and oh six and oh type of battle next month.
So should that that's really a lot of fun as
all this, I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
I think there's a good chance both these teams remain clean.
I mean Utah will be challenged in a different way
than BYU b YU.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
The beginning of.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
BYU's conference slate, as you just outlined, UH should be
something they can manage their way through. Utah will get
tech as we talked about coming up in two weeks
for their conference opener, Fox Big Noon will be here
and then they're at West Virginia, then they get Arizona
State at home. Let me ask you about where you're
at with Arizona State, who did not look good in
Week one and then lost to potentially the worst team
(13:50):
in the SEC or one of in week two when
Sam Levitt has looked shaky, the footwork hasn't been great.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
They were a lot of people's preseason pick to win
the Big Well, I'm not saying they still cannot do that,
but that will be one of the challenges you tasked
to fake face prior to BYU.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Where yat currently, Kyle with Arizona State?
Speaker 3 (14:11):
So I think the big question about ASU coming into
the year is like, what does it look like offensively
in a post cam Scattado era? Right, we haven't seen
many players in college football the last you know, call
it five years. Who are who were as important to
an offense as he was like catching the ball out
of the backfield, running the ball, I mean the all
purpose yards. I forget what is off the top of
(14:32):
my head, but it was like well over two thousand
all purpose yards and he was everything for them, And
and Sam Levitt benefited from having him in the backfield
in a way that probably wasn't clear until until this
past week. Right, they looked bad, and you know, maybe
that's because Mississippi State has taking a significant step forward
(14:53):
this year. That's certainly possible. I mean, there is a
lot of money down there, even for the teams at
the bottom of that conference to be competitive, and so
that's certain plausible as we try to figure out how
to place the necessary context on these games. But yeah,
not not impressive at all with what AFC has done.
That doesn't mean that's a sure thing win. I think
it's still that's that's still a toss up, right. I Mean,
(15:14):
Kenny Dillingham is a very very good coach. I have
a ton of respect for the job he's done there,
and like he'll have him ready, he'll address you know,
he'll address deficiencies and try to figure things out. But yeah,
Levitt has certainly, and I wrote this somewhere on the
site this week that you know, he was kind of
one of those dark ones Heisman candidates coming into the
year based on all the success he had a year ago,
and that's that's over, like he's been. So he's been
(15:36):
below mediocre to start the year. So he's really got
to he's got to kind of re earn the respect
that he earned last year, just because it doesn't look
the same without Scataboo, you know, hip the hand the
ball off too, you.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Know, continuing along the lines with the theme of I
don't know a rip about this conference. Didn't a year
ago as we all thought, you know, the top would
be the bottom, the bottom would be the top.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Is the Big twelve? Foll uh? Well, I won't say full.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Does the Big Twelve have I don't know, seven or
eight really good teams are gonna beat up on each other?
Does the Big Twelve have one or two good teams
that should rise up at the end or is it
just a bunch of average football teams beating up on
each other?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Honestly, don't know. After two or three.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Weeks, Yeah, and I think a lot of it is,
like I don't think anyone really knows because, like we
were saying before, like a lot of the good teams
have just not played very good teams and so there's
not a lot of good measuring stick games yet to really.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Answer those questions about it. Like, I think there's gonna
be some good teams, though, I mean, I think six
or seven of these teams will be like pretty good,
pretty good teams. I mean, there's good coaches in this league.
There's a lot of talent in this league. You know,
I Iowa State as up to a good start. They've
historically been good under Campbell. Look, I mean I think
you know, the rise of Texas Tech. Baylor had a
good win last week. So I mean there's enough teams
(16:50):
to be intrigued about what it could be. But it's
still I mean, I feel like watching and covering the
Big twelve now, it's so similar to what the PAC
twelve was so all the time with a lot of
the parody. Right, maybe they don't have that elite one
or two teams at the top, but you know, there
could be you know, six ranked teams at any given time,
you know, beyond that elite tier at the top, And
(17:13):
that seems like it's in play. Doesn't mean it doesn't
mean that's for sure going to be the case, but
like that, that kind of feels like where it's settling
into for me.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
So look, it feels like and I'm not trying to
be disrespectful, because Mike Gundhy certainly has made Oklahoma State
football relevant playing days, coaching days as well.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
I don't know that I have seen an ass kicking
like that. And Dan Lanning.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
When Dan Lanning wants to put an on you, is
Dion learn Dan Lanny's going to put an on you?
Takeaways from that debacle for Oklahoma State. Did it tell
you more about Oregon or did it tell you more
about the state of the program for Oklahoma State?
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Yeah, I thought it was pretty revealing for both. But
but I think it's it's probably means the end for
Gundee in Water. I just don't like you lose by
sixty six points. A colleague of mine, Jake Trotter, had
like the best note of the weekend I thought in
college football is that Oklahoma has not had a loss
that bad since like nineteen o seven, which is the
(18:15):
same year that Oklahoma gained statehood in the United States. Right,
like the place to place context on how historically embarrassing
that was for that program. It's the worst loss in
program history, and there's no other way to look at it.
It was embarrassing on all levels. You just don't you
(18:36):
don't bounce back from that. I don't think you can.
They've completely lost the respect of the top tier of
college football at this point. I mean, and they were
really bad last year too, So this isn't like this
has just come out of nowhere, like it's just being
so off the rails. I mean, they lost I believe
the nine games, the final nine games last year, right
they were, they were winless in the conference. They went
(18:57):
oh to nine, And now it doesn't look click they're
going to be competitive this year. You know, it's it's
last week's game. A gets worries any sort of indication
that was to come.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
The College Football Playoff Committee a year ago was pretty
emphatic about their message with this conference that their belief
is it's not a very good football conference.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Any scenario in your mind that the Big Twelve can
get two teams in this year, I mean it would
it would take quite a miracle.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
I think. So I'm gonna push them out a little bit,
because I think that it really comes down to you
can easily get two teams in, right cause if because
because of the automatic bid. Right so last year, I think,
what did b why you start nine to oh or
ten and oh.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Yeah they got got by Kansas. Yeah yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Not so so if they started if they were if
they got to like if they went eleven in one
right as opposed to ten and two and got to
the title game and then lost and then they were however,
right you know, if they're say, say they got to
what they got through the season with one loss, and
now you're eleven and two as the as the runner up,
(20:01):
I think they might might have had a shot at
that point. But I think, like so as long as
your favorite loses, if you have like a top like
a top eight type favorite going into the conference style
again and they lose, I still think that you're kind
of positioning the way when you can still get in.
But it needs something like that to happen. I think
(20:21):
is probably how I was looking at because I remember
looking late in the year last year, like at those scenarios,
and there was like a lot of scenarios I thought
up up up until in November, where I thought the
conference could get too, could get two teams, and it
just didn't play out in the in and of those
those ways. And so yeah, if you there's a number
of teams that could put together on eleven and one
(20:43):
type season and be like, you know, who knows how
good they really are? So yeah, look, I wouldn't, right,
I wouldn't close the door on get multiple teams yet.
Is it is it possibly even likely that it will
be one? Sure of course, but I would certainly I
think it's way too early to to have the conversation
about it on getting one. There's there's just too many
prementations out there.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
I constantly push back whenever somebody starts to pound the
USC drum. I mean, I just feel like for forever,
and I mean, you know, obviously Pete Carroll had a
legendary run there, but it seems like every year I
hear this, you know, the the buzz about USC and
the transfers and the offense looking different and maybe they've
(21:23):
got the defense figured it out figured out. So far,
they do lead college football. They're the best scoring offense
in college football. Through a couple of different games. Again,
Missouri State, Georgia Southern. Let's be very clear, but Lincoln
Riley has found a way to run the ball this year.
You know, at Oklahoma he led the country in yards
per rush attempt. I mean, I think a lot of
(21:44):
people saw Baker and Kyler and Jalen Hurts and you know,
just assume it's all they do is throw it around
the field. Again, we have to say this with every
single team not tested yet.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
But are you buying the early hype surrounding USC.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Not yet. It's they they've just been They've just underwhelmed
for enough time now that they no longer deserve the
benefit of the doubt. And I think for a long
time the benefit of that had been earned, right, Like
the type of recruits they brought in, the type you know,
the history of the success, all that stuff, it's USC, right,
It's still there's They're still always going to have the
(22:20):
potential to be an the laite team in college football.
They just they just check all the boxes is why
they could be good. But yeah, the two teams they
played are you know, they have a lighter schedule than
the UYU at this point, right, and so it doesn't
make any sense to praise USC for where they're at,
I mean to be Clay Hilton, the guy who basically
helped run the program into the ground, you know, like
(22:41):
who's now coaching at Georgia Southern. And we're not going
to find out much about SC for a couple more games.
And Purdue is produ is not one of the better
teams in the Big Ten. I think they have Michigan
State after that at home, so again bottom tier for now,
Michigan State in the Big Ten. And so I got
to actually got their schedule up in you know, Illinois
(23:02):
after that. Ills are really good team. So I think
it will have to wait until you know, the end
of the month Illinois to really have a good feeling
about USC. But you just look, when you're as mediocre
as they have been, and not only mediocre, but like
trending in the wrong direction, I think, I mean I
had to look it up to confirm this, but like
they've gotten I believe they've gotten worse every year since
(23:22):
the King has got there. They had the good first
year with with with Kalblin' Seisman Trophy and all that,
but but every year since then they've gotten progressively worse.
And so when that's your trajectory over the course of
three years. Yeah, you don't. Look, there's just no reason
to assume anymore.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
You got it, you got to earn it last thing
before I say, you lose Oklahoma with a bit of
a statement. And like Utah, they grab an offensive coordinator
at a quarterback who are familiar with each other, of course,
Ben Arbuckle and John Mattier, Yeah you know them. Was
was you know, obviously a Wazoo combo is Oklahoma football back.
I mean, is it time to acknowledge that this is
(23:58):
a team that needs to be looked at pretty seriously?
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Yeah, I mean I think they deserve to be looked
at seriously because you know, the defense looks really good.
Michigan is who who knows the mission will be. But
I do think Michigan has a good defense, and they
did move the ball and then they look pretty good.
But Tire, I mean, I love Mitia. I watched a
lot of a lot of him. I love Zoo and
he's just a lot of fun to watch in general.
So even if they're not being for real, they're going
(24:22):
to be worth turning in for it just because he's
just you know, he runs it, he throws it, he
just makes terrible decisions and great decisions and you get
the whole experience with him. But the combination right of
bringing a cut recordinator with a quarterback, it's it's proven
now at this point. Utah is doing it. This year,
Oklahoma's doing it. It's a really quick way to rectify
(24:43):
an offense. And you know, Oklahoma went to a proven
way to do that. And so I think they're I mean,
they're obviously much better than they had been the past
few years. But their schedule. I was actually looking at
it when they were playing Michigan. It's it's brutal. I mean,
I think they have ranked opponents in you know, I
think the entire last half of the season, if not,
(25:05):
if not the last seven games. So they're gonna lose
a few, I have no doubt about that. But it
doesn't mean that they're not capable of competing with the
best in the sport. Right now.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Is our guy Diego Luna Locke, We're nine months away,
Kyle real quick for saw you lose?
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Is our is our guy Diego Luna?
Speaker 2 (25:23):
A lock to make the US men's national team roster
for the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
He's I mean, I wouldn't say lock quite yet, but
he but he is he It feels it feels more
likely than not. But I didn't watch either of the
South three or Japan game, so I need to go
back and check those out. But you know, his trajectory
is one of the best in American soccer. And now
to go from getting cut by the Earthquakes Academy several
years ago to USL to Salt Lake now and now
(25:49):
we're the fact that we're even having this discussion about
is he a lock or not? Kind of speak, you know,
just says it. All right, So he's again like maybe
he's like John Mattierra's just so much fun to watch
and just add an element that the team doesn't really have.
That makes me kind of rude for his success.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
All Right, Cole, appreciate the time, man, enjoy the games,
and we'll chat soon, all right, thinks best. Kyle Bondeger
our buddy from ESPN who stops by on a weekly basis.
You can get him on social media and his new
podcast is excellent.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Uh. You find him at Bonnegur at ESPN.
Commanders in the Packers from lambeau Field.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
That comes your way right after we say good night,
so stay tuned for that. University of Utah is on
the road at Wyoming coming up this week. They're a
twenty two point five point favorite to beat the Cowboys
in Laramie. Our next guest covers college football, does a
little soccer as well for ESPN. Always fun to chat
with Kyle Bonnager. We'll do that now on a Thursday. Kyle,
Happy Thursday, man.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
How are we doing too good?
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Spence? Are you?
Speaker 1 (00:26):
I'm good? I'm good. I am annoyed well for a
lot of reasons. But let's just stick with football.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I just this this non con stuff for most of
these teams. Look, I get the economics, I understand why
the smaller programs need to check. But most of these games,
I mean, in the Big twelve this this week, we
have a couple of decent games. But whether it's Utah
or BYU, it's just it's really hard to accurately analyze
who some of these teams are, Like Texas Tech with
(00:53):
two dog games. Are we ever going to live in
a college football world where some of these lopsided matchups
just go by the wayside, I think for.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
The foreseeable future they will can It is just going
to be part of the deal. But I do think
that the change in the playoff format means there will
I mean, in theory, there could be more high profile
games in addition to those, right because I because you're
just not punished the same way for a loss and
(01:23):
the non conference as it used to be. So with
with with an automatic slot for you know, for five
conference champions then plus all the all the additional slots
in the at large now, especially if they expand it
beyond twelve, it creates a you know, a scenario where
teams can can lose a game in the non conference
(01:44):
and still bounce back and make the playoff, especially if
it's if it's a loss to a top a top
tier team. And so I think that has me a
little bit encouraged if there's gonna be more teams who
are willing to do it. Of course, you know a
lot of these games, as most of these games were
scheduled before the playoff, you know, formats had changed, right,
(02:05):
and so this is just still scheduling from a you know,
bygone era to a certain extent. So it is theoretical
by me, but I do think you'll see better games.
But I you know, like you said, but the financial
aspect makes it so like it's just these teams are
it's always gonna be in their best interest to get
a couple, give a couple of buy games. At the
start of the year.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
We did see your your old friend Paul Wolf here
last week with cal Poly. He's got quite a task
on his hands to try to build that thing up.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
So a couple of things here.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
First of all, you guys have done a hell of
a job man on this Finding Dolores podcast.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Kudos to you.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
And of course that features a story that we talked
about with Paul Wolf and his mother. So let's do
a couple of different things here. Get me the latest
with the pod, tell people where they can find it.
And I am curious. I would imagine through your conversations
with Paul you talked to him about this new project
project of his trying to build cal Poly Football up.
So tell us kind of, uh, you know, some of
(03:02):
the contexts with those conversations as well.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, So it's been it's been a really cool run.
The podcast is we have six episodes out. There'll be
not nine in total, it's a nine episode run. It's
been a really you know, Candle, it's been an incredible
week for us. We were featured by Apple Podcasts like
a kind of a noteworthy podcast to listen to within
the true crime like narrative series Space and we actually
jumped right now. I think in the Apple podcast h
(03:28):
app we're the number three ranked series in in in
the world among series. We climbed tofy as number eleven
in all podcasts regardless of format yesterday. So it's it's
been a little bit overwhelming to see that sort of reaction.
We had no idea that it would resonate so much,
but you know, so I guess that's my pitch to
go listen. People are liking it at released as they
(03:50):
seem to be. And then and then Paul's yeah, like
you said, he's got a tough project. He's been a
count PAULI for a while. He was there as an
assistant under bow Bolving before you taken over the head
coach from when Bo left to go to Arizona State.
And it's never a place that has really had it
much success on the football field. But I but I
do think they have some reason for optimism there. They
(04:12):
they're in the final stages of completing this John Madden
facility football facility. I saw Paul down accout Poly a
few years ago and the football building in a building
in air quotes here was it was a trailer near
the stadium, like a literal like you know, you know
it is what it is. It was. It was a trailer.
It's kind of a permanent one but like nothing special
(04:33):
at all. And the fact that they are building like
a real football building, I think it's going to be
a much more intriguing place for you know, for for
better players to go visit. He's got a kind of
an older staff now, a lot of experience in that
building now, so he's he's optimistic about where it's going
to go. But it's yeah, it's it's a tough it's
(04:55):
a tough place to to build and win, just because
there's not a whole lot of tradition there. It's you know,
it's not a big population based within California. There are
a high academic standards can hurt and help of course
nil in this day and age, and if you have
anyone who does who performs at a high level at
the SCS level, they're probably going to jump for some
sort of ANIL deal at a higher level. They just
(05:17):
don't have the money at the SCL level to be
competitive there. But yeah, like it's it's been a kind
of a rough run for him there so far, but
I think I think there's reason to believe that he
could he could get them headed in the right direction.
When here at Eastern Washington years ago, you know, he
had that thing really humming, So he's done it before.
A tough time at WSU, but I'm confident he'll he'll
have things going going there, going pretty well there eventually, And.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Of course a tough ask for cal Poly to roll
into rice Ecles and make it competitive against a team
that looks like a Kyle when you have him coach
team again, Kyle.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
That's kind of the the takeaway around here.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Physical disciplines U U C l A might stink and
cal Poly obviously is cal Poly. We'll see what happens
against Wyoming. Laramie can be a tricky place to play.
They got Texas Tech a couple of years ago, and
Texas actually was pretty uncomfortable for about two and a
half quarters against the Cowboys. Utah is a twenty two
point five point favorite. But what are your takeaways through
(06:13):
two games with these Utah Utes.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, I mean, you can't really take much from the
cal Poly game, right, It's just like the talent gap
was too significant for anything to really matter. And then
Ucla went out and didn't look very good against you know,
v either. They filled behind twenty three zero to unlv
made it close in the end, but the game was
really never in jeopardy. So Ucla is not good. Cal
Poly is just a different level of football, and so
(06:40):
you know, it's hard to it's hard to know, right.
I think everything in Utah has done indicates it's a
very good team. I mean, and we talked about it.
I think against Ucla too, like they did exactly what
you're supposed to do against a team that you're better than.
They ended early left no doubt. It was lopsided start
to finish, and UCLA saw us play. I mean, granted,
(07:01):
it's not a very good team for the power for
but it's still a team with a lot of talent,
a lot of guys who can play, were highly recruited,
those sort of things, and it didn't and you know,
there wasn't much of a difference between how competitive the
game was and Evan cal Paul, really it's gonna look
at it that way. So yeah, look, I think we'll
find I think this week it will be more of
the same. I mean, Wyoming, you know, certainly has the history,
(07:24):
like you said, have given better teams a game. Fact
that this is in in Laramie certainly makes it a
little bit more interesting. I mean old won't matter for
the use like it does some of the other opponents
that go in there. But you know, it's it's it's
still a road game, and you know you have a
puncher's chance. Like all that is just a caveat before
(07:45):
saying like, I still think Utah wins like easily and
should win easily, and at the end of that game
will probably be asking the same questions that we're asking
now what to make of them? We played the Wyoming
what doesn't mean probably probably not a whole lot. And
if it's a close game then it works the other way,
right that well, maybe the other team maybe the first
two games were a little bit you know, it didn't
(08:09):
provide as much context as we got or or or
something like that. Right, So, yeah, well everything is going
good and I think it's really if you look at
if you looked at you know, Utah's schedule, right, you
think I just had Who's Who's after Wyoming? It takes
a while before they get challenged, if I remember.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah, they their first conference game is Texas Tech, so
that should be interesting.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah so they Yeah, so I had that run. So yeah,
Texas Tech for me is interesting because the budget they
have in building that roster. You know, we'll see what
you know, thirty forty whatever million dollars gets you in
the Big twelve. And so I think that that's the
game that we'll really have a great idea of what
the what the expectation should be the rest of them with.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah, and the difficult part about Tech, I mean, you know,
the Cody Campbell oil money is what it is in
sixty mil I guess is the figure people are floating around.
But Arkansas Pine Bluff, Kent State, like what do we do?
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Man? Like they hung they hung sixty.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Seven on Arkansas Pine Bluff, sixty two on Kent State,
and then they see Oregon State at home coming up
on Saturday. I know you've covered that program for a
long long time. Will Oregon State even make that somewhat
interesting or is this going to be another game where
Tech just hangs sixty on a bad team.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
I don't. Yeah, I don't think Oregon State's any good
this year. So and like to be fair to scheduling,
like when you say out to Oregon State, he probably
allowed for them to be somewhat competitive right at the time.
And so, but but that being said, it doesn't change
what it means this year and that organ State is
just not good. I mean, we leaving the PAC twelve
thing and the budget changes that creates for them obviously
(09:44):
means that Oregon State's competing at a different tear now
as well. And so it's just like it is, it
is what it is. It's not a revealing opponent protects
Tech either. So it's almost like, yeah, you know, both
of these two teams who will open that guess you know,
open up the conference against each other, they kind of
both skated through with against teams that they're you know,
(10:04):
significantly better than assume in Oregon State go the way
that you think they will. So yeah, I kind of
agree with the mystery match on the twenty U b YU.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
I mean, look, I've said this probably fifteen times. This week.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
It's not Utah's fault the UCLA might stink, and it's
not BYU's fault that Stanford might stink. I mean, you
schedule these games years in advance, then you hope that
it's a decent test or challenge for you. But BYU
smokes Portland State sixty nine zero and then Stanford could
not move the football twenty seven to three. It appears
that Kilate has an excellent defense. Once again, It's funny, Kyle,
(10:42):
I've noticed that people are starting to cover BYU and
talk about BYU in the same way they've talked about
Utah Underwit for the past couple of decades. Like it's
a stout defense. They're fast, they're physical. I think that
defense is going to keep them in a lot of games.
Offense installed quite a bit. Againstand in the red zone.
That had opportunities to put a lot of points on
(11:03):
the board twenty seven to three.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
It was never in dow They cover the spread.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
But where you at with BYU right now through two games,
we won't learn anything. They're on a buy this week
and then they're at East Carolina. Their first conference game
is in Boulder against Colorado. Maybe that'll be somewhat interesting,
but just kind of same general question.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
What do you think about b YU so far?
Speaker 3 (11:23):
No, it's it's like a mirror image, right, It's like
they played well, they dominated their opponents, But also what
does it mean we don't have a great sense. I
watched quite a bit of the Stanford game, and Stamford's
offense is just brutal. It's it's they're not going to
score many points this year against anyone and so but
but again they did. You did what it was supposed
(11:44):
to do. It was suffocating and left no doubt I was,
but I came out of that game a little bit
more concerned about the offense than I was going in
because Sanford doesn't have a good defense either, and I,
like you said, they stalled. They generally didn't impress against
Stanford on that side of the ball, And so I
(12:05):
would say, like, if you're looking stock up, stock down,
you know, stock a little bit down coming to that one,
just because the quality of Stanford this year. But at
the same time, it's like I was, I was in
our like communication channel with ESPN Stats and Research group
trying to figure out the last time a team started
out scoring a hundred points without allowing a point, because
(12:27):
like it looked like BYU was on track to do that.
So when you have that sort of you know, stat
during a game to like see how historically relevant it is,
like it's hard to be it's hard to be too
critical of what they're doing at the same time. So yeah,
like we're gonna have to wait a few weeks. East
Carolina next next games is probably more of the same.
And then you know, and like you said, Colorado, you know, Colorado,
(12:52):
We'll see how they end up being. I think Colorado
could be okay, average, not gonna be great, and they'll
you know, challenge for a Bowl game, but that's no
guarantee you want that sort of gear. And then West
Virginia is bad after that. So five and oh going
into Arizona. Arizona looks good, look looks better than last
year at least. But like it's not too early to
circle the Holy War because I think you know, you're
(13:13):
looking at you know five and one six and oh
six and oh six and oh type of battle next month.
So should that that's really a lot of fun as
all this, I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
I think there's a good chance both these teams remain clean.
I mean Utah will be challenged in a different way
than BYU b YU.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
The beginning of.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
BYU's conference slate, as you just outlined, UH should be
something they can manage their way through. Utah will get
tech as we talked about coming up in two weeks
for their conference opener, Fox Big Noon will be here
and then they're at West Virginia, then they get Arizona
State at home. Let me ask you about where you're
at with Arizona State, who did not look good in
Week one and then lost to potentially the worst team
(13:50):
in the SEC or one of in week two when
Sam Levitt has looked shaky, the footwork hasn't been great.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
They were a lot of people's preseason pick to win
the Big Well, I'm not saying they still cannot do that,
but that will be one of the challenges you tasked
to fake face prior to BYU.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Where yat currently, Kyle with Arizona State?
Speaker 3 (14:11):
So I think the big question about ASU coming into
the year is like, what does it look like offensively
in a post cam Scattado era? Right, we haven't seen
many players in college football the last you know, call
it five years. Who are who were as important to
an offense as he was like catching the ball out
of the backfield, running the ball, I mean the all
purpose yards. I forget what is off the top of
(14:32):
my head, but it was like well over two thousand
all purpose yards and he was everything for them, And
and Sam Levitt benefited from having him in the backfield
in a way that probably wasn't clear until until this
past week. Right, they looked bad, and you know, maybe
that's because Mississippi State has taking a significant step forward
(14:53):
this year. That's certainly possible. I mean, there is a
lot of money down there, even for the teams at
the bottom of that conference to be competitive, and so
that's certain plausible as we try to figure out how
to place the necessary context on these games. But yeah,
not not impressive at all with what AFC has done.
That doesn't mean that's a sure thing win. I think
it's still that's that's still a toss up, right. I Mean,
(15:14):
Kenny Dillingham is a very very good coach. I have
a ton of respect for the job he's done there,
and like he'll have him ready, he'll address you know,
he'll address deficiencies and try to figure things out. But yeah,
Levitt has certainly, and I wrote this somewhere on the
site this week that you know, he was kind of
one of those dark ones Heisman candidates coming into the
year based on all the success he had a year ago,
and that's that's over, like he's been. So he's been
(15:36):
below mediocre to start the year. So he's really got
to he's got to kind of re earn the respect
that he earned last year, just because it doesn't look
the same without Scataboo, you know, hip the hand the
ball off too, you.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Know, continuing along the lines with the theme of I
don't know a rip about this conference. Didn't a year
ago as we all thought, you know, the top would
be the bottom, the bottom would be the top.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Is the Big twelve? Foll uh? Well, I won't say full.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Does the Big Twelve have I don't know, seven or
eight really good teams are gonna beat up on each other?
Does the Big Twelve have one or two good teams
that should rise up at the end or is it
just a bunch of average football teams beating up on
each other?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Honestly, don't know. After two or three.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Weeks, Yeah, and I think a lot of it is,
like I don't think anyone really knows because, like we
were saying before, like a lot of the good teams
have just not played very good teams and so there's
not a lot of good measuring stick games yet to really.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Answer those questions about it. Like, I think there's gonna
be some good teams, though, I mean, I think six
or seven of these teams will be like pretty good,
pretty good teams. I mean, there's good coaches in this league.
There's a lot of talent in this league. You know,
I Iowa State as up to a good start. They've
historically been good under Campbell. Look, I mean I think
you know, the rise of Texas Tech. Baylor had a
good win last week. So I mean there's enough teams
(16:50):
to be intrigued about what it could be. But it's
still I mean, I feel like watching and covering the
Big twelve now, it's so similar to what the PAC
twelve was so all the time with a lot of
the parody. Right, maybe they don't have that elite one
or two teams at the top, but you know, there
could be you know, six ranked teams at any given time,
you know, beyond that elite tier at the top, And
(17:13):
that seems like it's in play. Doesn't mean it doesn't
mean that's for sure going to be the case, but
like that, that kind of feels like where it's settling
into for me.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
So look, it feels like and I'm not trying to
be disrespectful, because Mike Gundhy certainly has made Oklahoma State
football relevant playing days, coaching days as well.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
I don't know that I have seen an ass kicking
like that. And Dan Lanning.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
When Dan Lanning wants to put an on you, is
Dion learn Dan Lanny's going to put an on you?
Takeaways from that debacle for Oklahoma State. Did it tell
you more about Oregon or did it tell you more
about the state of the program for Oklahoma State?
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Yeah, I thought it was pretty revealing for both. But
but I think it's it's probably means the end for
Gundee in Water. I just don't like you lose by
sixty six points. A colleague of mine, Jake Trotter, had
like the best note of the weekend I thought in
college football is that Oklahoma has not had a loss
that bad since like nineteen o seven, which is the
(18:15):
same year that Oklahoma gained statehood in the United States. Right,
like the place to place context on how historically embarrassing
that was for that program. It's the worst loss in
program history, and there's no other way to look at it.
It was embarrassing on all levels. You just don't you
(18:36):
don't bounce back from that. I don't think you can.
They've completely lost the respect of the top tier of
college football at this point. I mean, and they were
really bad last year too, So this isn't like this
has just come out of nowhere, like it's just being
so off the rails. I mean, they lost I believe
the nine games, the final nine games last year, right
they were, they were winless in the conference. They went
(18:57):
oh to nine, And now it doesn't look click they're
going to be competitive this year. You know, it's it's
last week's game. A gets worries any sort of indication
that was to come.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
The College Football Playoff Committee a year ago was pretty
emphatic about their message with this conference that their belief
is it's not a very good football conference.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Any scenario in your mind that the Big Twelve can
get two teams in this year, I mean it would
it would take quite a miracle.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
I think. So I'm gonna push them out a little bit,
because I think that it really comes down to you
can easily get two teams in, right cause if because
because of the automatic bid. Right so last year, I think,
what did b why you start nine to oh or
ten and oh.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Yeah they got got by Kansas. Yeah yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Not so so if they started if they were if
they got to like if they went eleven in one
right as opposed to ten and two and got to
the title game and then lost and then they were however,
right you know, if they're say, say they got to
what they got through the season with one loss, and
now you're eleven and two as the as the runner up,
(20:01):
I think they might might have had a shot at
that point. But I think, like so as long as
your favorite loses, if you have like a top like
a top eight type favorite going into the conference style
again and they lose, I still think that you're kind
of positioning the way when you can still get in.
But it needs something like that to happen. I think
(20:21):
is probably how I was looking at because I remember
looking late in the year last year, like at those scenarios,
and there was like a lot of scenarios I thought
up up up until in November, where I thought the
conference could get too, could get two teams, and it
just didn't play out in the in and of those
those ways. And so yeah, if you there's a number
of teams that could put together on eleven and one
(20:43):
type season and be like, you know, who knows how
good they really are? So yeah, look, I wouldn't, right,
I wouldn't close the door on get multiple teams yet.
Is it is it possibly even likely that it will
be one? Sure of course, but I would certainly I
think it's way too early to to have the conversation
about it on getting one. There's there's just too many
prementations out there.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
I constantly push back whenever somebody starts to pound the
USC drum. I mean, I just feel like for forever,
and I mean, you know, obviously Pete Carroll had a
legendary run there, but it seems like every year I
hear this, you know, the the buzz about USC and
the transfers and the offense looking different and maybe they've
(21:23):
got the defense figured it out figured out. So far,
they do lead college football. They're the best scoring offense
in college football. Through a couple of different games. Again,
Missouri State, Georgia Southern. Let's be very clear, but Lincoln
Riley has found a way to run the ball this year.
You know, at Oklahoma he led the country in yards
per rush attempt. I mean, I think a lot of
(21:44):
people saw Baker and Kyler and Jalen Hurts and you know,
just assume it's all they do is throw it around
the field. Again, we have to say this with every
single team not tested yet.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
But are you buying the early hype surrounding USC.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Not yet. It's they they've just been They've just underwhelmed
for enough time now that they no longer deserve the
benefit of the doubt. And I think for a long
time the benefit of that had been earned, right, Like
the type of recruits they brought in, the type you know,
the history of the success, all that stuff, it's USC, right,
It's still there's They're still always going to have the
(22:20):
potential to be an the laite team in college football.
They just they just check all the boxes is why
they could be good. But yeah, the two teams they
played are you know, they have a lighter schedule than
the UYU at this point, right, and so it doesn't
make any sense to praise USC for where they're at,
I mean to be Clay Hilton, the guy who basically
helped run the program into the ground, you know, like
(22:41):
who's now coaching at Georgia Southern. And we're not going
to find out much about SC for a couple more games.
And Purdue is produ is not one of the better
teams in the Big Ten. I think they have Michigan
State after that at home, so again bottom tier for now,
Michigan State in the Big Ten. And so I got
to actually got their schedule up in you know, Illinois
(23:02):
after that. Ills are really good team. So I think
it will have to wait until you know, the end
of the month Illinois to really have a good feeling
about USC. But you just look, when you're as mediocre
as they have been, and not only mediocre, but like
trending in the wrong direction, I think, I mean I
had to look it up to confirm this, but like
they've gotten I believe they've gotten worse every year since
(23:22):
the King has got there. They had the good first
year with with with Kalblin' Seisman Trophy and all that,
but but every year since then they've gotten progressively worse.
And so when that's your trajectory over the course of
three years. Yeah, you don't. Look, there's just no reason
to assume anymore.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
You got it, you got to earn it last thing
before I say, you lose Oklahoma with a bit of
a statement. And like Utah, they grab an offensive coordinator
at a quarterback who are familiar with each other, of course,
Ben Arbuckle and John Mattier, Yeah you know them. Was
was you know, obviously a Wazoo combo is Oklahoma football back.
I mean, is it time to acknowledge that this is
(23:58):
a team that needs to be looked at pretty seriously?
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Yeah, I mean I think they deserve to be looked
at seriously because you know, the defense looks really good.
Michigan is who who knows the mission will be. But
I do think Michigan has a good defense, and they
did move the ball and then they look pretty good.
But Tire, I mean, I love Mitia. I watched a
lot of a lot of him. I love Zoo and
he's just a lot of fun to watch in general.
So even if they're not being for real, they're going
(24:22):
to be worth turning in for it just because he's
just you know, he runs it, he throws it, he
just makes terrible decisions and great decisions and you get
the whole experience with him. But the combination right of
bringing a cut recordinator with a quarterback, it's it's proven
now at this point. Utah is doing it. This year,
Oklahoma's doing it. It's a really quick way to rectify
(24:43):
an offense. And you know, Oklahoma went to a proven
way to do that. And so I think they're I mean,
they're obviously much better than they had been the past
few years. But their schedule. I was actually looking at
it when they were playing Michigan. It's it's brutal. I mean,
I think they have ranked opponents in you know, I
think the entire last half of the season, if not,
(25:05):
if not the last seven games. So they're gonna lose
a few, I have no doubt about that. But it
doesn't mean that they're not capable of competing with the
best in the sport. Right now.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Is our guy Diego Luna Locke, We're nine months away,
Kyle real quick for saw you lose?
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Is our is our guy Diego Luna?
Speaker 2 (25:23):
A lock to make the US men's national team roster
for the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
He's I mean, I wouldn't say lock quite yet, but
he but he is he It feels it feels more
likely than not. But I didn't watch either of the
South three or Japan game, so I need to go
back and check those out. But you know, his trajectory
is one of the best in American soccer. And now
to go from getting cut by the Earthquakes Academy several
years ago to USL to Salt Lake now and now
(25:49):
we're the fact that we're even having this discussion about
is he a lock or not? Kind of speak, you know,
just says it. All right, So he's again like maybe
he's like John Mattierra's just so much fun to watch
and just add an element that the team doesn't really have.
That makes me kind of rude for his success.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
All Right, Cole, appreciate the time, man, enjoy the games,
and we'll chat soon, all right, thinks best. Kyle Bondeger
our buddy from ESPN who stops by on a weekly basis.
You can get him on social media and his new
podcast is excellent.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Uh. You find him at Bonnegur at ESPN.
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