The Ryen Russillo Podcast - College Football Preview With Danny Kanell and Life Advice

Episode Date: August 13, 2024

Russillo is joined by Danny Kanell to preview the upcoming college football season. They discuss who benefits most from playoff expansion, share whom they like in each power conference, and draft teams they think are most likely to be in the College Football Playoff (0:24). Finally, Life Advice with Kyle and Ceruti (62:09)! How do I handle my 23-year-old sister dating a 45-year-old? Check us out on YouTube for exclusive clips, livestreams, and more at https://www.youtube.com/@RyenRussilloPodcast. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please check out rg-help.com to find out more, or listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Host: Ryen Russillo Guest: Danny Kanell Producers: Steve Ceruti, Kyle Crichton, and Mike Wargon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Good friend Danny Cannell back talking some college ball and we'll go through all of the conferences, talk about the quarterbacks that you need to know about and do a little draft of teams that we think can make the expanded playoff. This episode is brought to you by Vitamin Water. So much of what the world is obsessed with starts out in New York City. It's a place full of style and character that has something for everyone. With a range of flavors to meet any kind of taste, it's no wonder Vitamin Water was born there.

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Mitsubishi, drive your ambition. It is my good friend, former co-host, Danny Cannell from back in the day. What's up, man? Good to see you. It's good to see you too, man. It's been a minute. You're looking great. Love the backdrop. Looks good. You look well rested. I mean, you look skinny. What's up, man? Good to see you. It's good to see you too, man. It's been a minute. You're looking great.

Love the backdrop. Looks good. You look well rested. I mean, you look skinny. You look great, man. I look skinny? That's not a compliment. Yeah, you look good.

That is not a compliment. That's right. I mean, I didn't know. You're not the target demo for Ozempic. So I know it's popular out there in your neck of the woods, but I don't see you. It is popular out here, yeah. No, I don't. I don't. To me, that'd be just a sentence of back to high school phase of me. So people would have thought I was on it in high school. No, I appreciate it.

This is super complimentary to start the podcast here. Okay. So normally most years we'd probably start this going, okay, give me your four playoff teams, give me the six or seven we think could be in it. Is there kind of a surprise? And when I was mapping out how I wanted to do this, like I don't want to do who are your 12. I've already talked about my issues with expansion, but I do know that it adds a different element to it. It's going to change the conversations about a lot of different stuff. So do you think there are locks,

maybe the locks of the teams that we would think are the fours? So when you look at like the top teams, I think that's kind of how we start. Like, give me who you love, and then maybe we'll get into some of the rankings where you're like, I don't see it at all. I love Georgia to make the playoff. I don't know if I'm gonna pick them to win it all.

I saw a stat from David Hale at ESPN that Georgia, I don't know if you saw this, has not lost to a coach other than Nick Saban in the regular season since November 7th, 2020. An active FBS coach since January 1st, 2019, which was Tom Herman when he was in Texas. And Kirby Smart hasn't lost to an active FPS coach in an SEC game since November 17th of 2017.

Their dominance in the regular season is absolutely out of control. Carson Beck, I feel really good like trusting him. I think he's got to take another step to kind of showcase where he's projected. Number one overall pick in the NFL draft, but as far as what he's done at Georgia, and here's the other reason I think they're a lock to get to the playoffs. They, they could be 10 and two and they're a lock to get in. And that could be a situation which could unfold with road games at Bama and at Texas.

And even if they slipped, you know, had one other slip up, and again, all of these are kind of outrageous to even suggest that they could lose these games based on the stat I just gave you, but they're gonna get in. Like they're in the playoff no matter what. That's why, you know, the expansion, I think some people might've thought,

oh, this is great for the group of five, they're gonna get a team in, or this is great for Penn State, you know, because they've always been on the outside looking in. While it is good for those teams, I think it's better for Georgia because sometimes half the battle last year is a great example. You don't get in because there's only four teams. Now you're probably going to get in almost every year. And the chances of you, you know, a team beating you in that scenario is pretty slim. So I think it really favors some of the heavyweights more so than most. Sure, we might see upsets, but I think it really benefits a team like Georgia. So like, I'm a believer that Georgia is going to be in the playoff. Do they win it? I don't know,

but I feel like they are a lock. And I would say the same for Ohio State. I'd say the same the same for Ohio State. Um, I'd say the same for that's probably the only two that I feel like locks. To get in, although now I would say that top three teams in the big 10 or locks to get in, like, I feel really good about Penn State getting in. I feel really good about Oregon getting in. Um, so yeah, I'm my, my lock field is expanding kind of as we're going through it. Yeah, Georgia. And if you want to make the argument against it somehow happening, you would say, well, if you

look at their sec schedule, they're playing the number four, the number five and the number six preseason teams on the road in the regular season conference, or conference schedule. So that's, they're gonna be at Bama, they're gonna be at Texas, and then there'll be a break in there, but after Florida, or before Florida, and then they're at Ole Miss. So in normal, now granted,

this is part of the expansion thing of like, how did you get this many teams in there? And then you start with Clemson, who's probably the co-favorite with Florida State and the ACC, but I really like your point in that. Maybe it certainly expands the field, but now you can screw up. You might be able to screw up twice. It's with that kind of resume. And if they smoke everybody the way they do.

And when I go through all the quarterback stuff It's tougher now I think than ever before because almost every guy stats are really good and you can talk yourself back into something if you haven't Watched a lot of the games But I really feel like Beck is on a short list of guys that I go I would be shocked if he's not really impressive this year because I just thought is the season progressed And I know there's the Bama game there, but, um, as the season progressed, he just felt like somebody going, this guy's coming back next year.

Um, I feel really good about him. You, one of the teams that I'm not, a lot of people are high on Ole miss. Um, schedule sets up perfectly for them. Cause you meant they do get Georgia, uh, at home. They do, um Dodge, Alabama. They get Oklahoma at home. The non-conference. I know it's tough going against an ACC foe and Wake Forest on the road,

but I'll give that to them. You know, just three 30 kick. Yeah. That's a tough environment they could have to go to. But if you look at how they fared, like in lane has done a great job and this is not a knock against Lane. And this is one of the reasons I think is because the schedule sets up is why they went all in and brought in Walter Nolan from Ole Miss, brought in Prince, Prince Liu from Florida, and brought in a

lot of these pieces and once again went after it is because they feel like this is their time. But the one thing Lane Kiffin hasn't done that even Hugh Freeze was able to do before him, he hasn't fared that even Hugh Freeze was able to do before him, he hasn't fared well against Bayama or Georgia or the big dogs in that conference. So I need to see him take a step forward in that area until I see it.

I'm a little bit skeptical on Ole Miss being this team that could be a true national championship contender. Like the schedule does set up very favorably for them. But even like the LSU game, I'm not chalking that up as a win just yet for them even Oklahoma at home not chalking that up as a dub just yet But so I guess I'm a little bit more cautious like on the hype around Ole Miss Than most people are because what are they five or six in the preseason top 25? I think they're a little bit over right now

Yeah, yeah. Okay. A lot of it has to do with Jackson Dar, because I think he's that good. You know, the offense is going to be really good. Like that's not a question whatsoever. And look, they put up what? A million yards of offense against LSU in that game, but LSU's defense was just a disaster last year. So even with LSU having Nussmeier,

and you know, there's still enough receivers there. They're going to figure out the old line will be better. That secondary was so bad last year that I would have to, like I'm going to have to see it. We'll see how it looks against SC and everything to start the season before I'm going to start thinking that a win at LSU for Ole Miss is like a real national championship boosting thing. But I don't even know what the resume stuff will mean. I don't think the resume stuff is going to mean as much for Georgia or an Ohio state, because we're not going to be having the same kind of arguments. We're going to be talking about Penn State's

resume, we're going to be talking about maybe an LSU's resume. And that's, I know Penn State fans are probably sick of me and hate me for this. But when I look at it in the last two regular seasons, like they don't beat anybody. They beat Utah on the bowl game two years ago. They shut out Iowa, but I don't know what an Iowa win means. They lose to Ohio State, Michigan back to back years.

They lost the bowl game this year, but that's six top 12 finishes for Penn State under Franklin, which is kind of cool. But I would say the same thing about LSU. LSU last year, They lost to Bama They lost the Ole Miss game. They lost to Florida State in week one They went one and three against ranked teams and now that caliber of team is Going to be in the conversation to play for a national championship

And so whether it's LSU's defense last year and that resume or Penn State not beating the other teams and have athletes that can match theirs when they're just gonna overwhelm the rest of a Big Ten. That's not obviously the same product this year. That's always gonna be something that I look at and go, okay, cool. Like we're gonna be arguing like crazy about this stuff in November and they may not be anything.

I think the 12th team really benefits Penn State from a perception, I think the 12 team really benefits Penn State from a perception. I think it clearly helps James Franklin who, you know, every question I get, I'm sure you do too, anytime on social media or wherever we, what do we have to do to get like, what do we have to do to take that next step? They might not take the next step,

but they will be perceived as taking the next step because they'll probably get into the playoff. But I do think the opportunity to get there. They've got to win one of these close games as sooner or later. So even if they win a playoff game, like I don't think they're a legitimate national championship contender unless Drew Aller takes a massive step forward. By the way, I do really like the hire of Andy Colt Nicky coming in from Kansas.

Like the quarterbacks he was working with were slightly different build than what Drew Aller is. Drew Aller is a big kid, but he's not exactly Jaylen Daniels or Jason Bean who are running a lot. But I do think he's got some innovative ideas. I know they brought in a receiver from Ohio State that at least gives him a pretty good target to throw to because that was one thing I noticed. And the defense I kind of trust, right? They're bringing Tom Allen from

India, from Indiana, the replacement and Diaz, they've always had ballers on defense. To me, it is about the offense, can the offense take that next step? Um, but like, it's Drew Aller, because you look at the stat line, I think it was 26 touchdowns, two interceptions, but it's a little bit misleading. It was a little bit of check down city and watching him play, I was in Columbus for the Penn State, Ohio State game. And he just looked a little bit overwhelmed. But I also noticed that there weren't a lot of receivers running open. I think that's been an issue for them. So like,

I'm curious to see with receivers that are good, maybe not great, can Colton Niki scheme up some things to get some guys running open? Julian Fleming was the receiver from Ohio State that I was thinking about. So at least he's got somebody who was recruited out of high school, maybe just was in a really crowded room that still we were talented that he could throw to. But like, if they can take that step forward,

like they've been in close games with Ohio State, Michigan, sure, maybe they lose them again, but can they get there and then maybe playing a, you know, a team from the big 12 that they can win in a playoff game? They'll probably be in the conversation for a home playoff game, which will be insane to see Happy Valley in that place. And then let's see an ACC or big 12 or even an SEC team potentially have to travel in there in, you know, late December when it's cold.

So like, I'm excited for that type of opportunity. More so than I'm like, well, as Penn State, can they really win the title? I'm excited for like the energy enthusiasm it could bring. And then, you know what that brings? It helps you recruit a little bit stronger, which will help Penn State like make a little bit of inroads closer to Ohio State, Michigan and Oregon. So the, the, the Aller numbers.

I used to love when I would see somebody with low interceptions. And then I don't know how many years ago where I started thinking about it. Maybe it was a Kirk Cousins moment I was having where I just went, I might, I might want to see around eight or nine interceptions because that tells me that you're making some of these throws. And I don't care what the touchdown interception split for Alariz because we all saw it. And whether it was 70 yards against Michigan or 18 to 42

against Ohio State, you just weren't, like, it didn't feel good and it's a transfer rule that I remember thinking of last year is because I think their number two guy ended up being from what Kent State. So that told you that the in-house options, so maybe it's the guys not getting open, not getting separation. Maybe it's the new offense because no one's ever brought in a new offensive coordinator and then downgraded their expectations. But Aller to just find you some wins in those big moments where, hey, everything's going to be really hard on this third down because right. Perception is okay. Now we're in the playoff. It's like, well, maybe nothing actually changed.

But when you look at the schedule, they don't have Michigan this year. They've got Ohio State at home. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game.

They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They've got the big game. They team. You're right. Perception is okay. Now we're in the playoff. It's like, well, maybe nothing actually changed.

But when you look at the schedule, they don't have Michigan this year. They've got Ohio State at home. They've got to go out to SC after the game with UCLA. And then, you know, they're going to have Washington at home, which I have no idea what to make of Washington at all. Like I have no idea if it's going to be really good or go wide. I think, I think Washington's to be similar to what happened to TCU after the championship came.

Like, and I know at least Washington was slightly more competitive against Michigan. They have three returning players from the too deep, not from the starters, like not three starters return. It's from the too deep. Like they have nobody back. And I like Jed Fish a lot. I think he's a program rebuild guide in the phenomenal job at Arizona. I would have liked them a lot more.

Could he have brought Fafita from Arizona and Teterode of McMillan, who's incredible wide receiver. He didn't. Will Rogers, I think brings you some stability, but I think this is clearly a rebuild year for Washington. So I like Penn State in that game. Okay. So let's, let's look at some of these other quarterbacks and we'll stay in the

big 10 because of the Will Howard part of this with Ohio State. We know that Ohio State's loaded up as always. And even more so in the portal with Caleb Downs leaving Alabama, that's going to sting for Bama fans. I don't care how well Caleb DeBora is done and recruiting he's done a great job. But Downs was just that special as a freshman, first freshman to lead Bama and Tackle since 1970. But the hope is that you're bringing in Howard, who if you want to do a numbers to

numbers thing again here, which is kind of a good segue off of Aller, is that you can look at some Kyle McCord stuff and go, well, what was the problem with him? He was 24 and six split, completed 66% of his passes, tore us for 3,000 plus yards. You saw those limitations though, in some of those biggest moments. And I think at least with Howard, it's about the dual threat with him and the fact that he, you can tell me I'm wrong here,

but Howard feels like more of a baller, like a guy that's just gonna go out there and ball in a way that other guys aren't seeing the game at that position. I totally agree. I think he's a perfect fit. By the way, Chip Kelly going to Ohio State, I think was one of the best off season moves

like any head coaching or coordinator hire. I think it's really gonna work well, especially because I don't think there's any sort of intimidation factor from Ryan Day, like worried he's gonna try to take his job. I think it's his mentor, right? That's where he learned everything. There's video of him playing at New Hampshire quarterback for

him. This is old coach, but I think and I think chip is like reinvigorated as well. Like he's got like this breath of fresh air with not having to worry about recruiting and going on the road, he can just worry about the offense. And Will Howard, I do think is the style of play being athletic. He can just worry about the offense. And Will Howard, I do think is the style of play, being athletic. He can run. I think that's going to be what is going to surprise people is how much more physical Ohio State's going to be on the offensive side of the ball.

Like I don't think this is going to be a CJ Stroud type of offense or even adjusting fields. I think Will Howard's going to be a runner. I think you're going to see Trevion and Quinshawn Judkins in the backfield at the same time. I think there's going to be a lot of misdirection. I think it's going to be like good luck stopping us. We're coming downhill. And I also think it limits Will Howard's exposure somewhat in the pass game where he's not going to be relied on to throw for 4,000 yards. You're not going to need it.

And I think he's going to be a much more consistent thrower. But to your point, like I totally agree with you because there's something about a check down Charlie where like you're asking that quarterback, come on, man. Like take a shot or two here or there, which I think is harder to teach and get a quarterback's mindset to change. Whereas if you get a gunslinger,

somebody's a little bit more like a baller, like you described him, like we're gonna be good. There's gonna be opportunities to make those plays. We just need to manage that risk a little bit better. I would rather have that style of quarterback every time. And I do think that's what Will Howard brings to the table. He also, I saw, I think it was Chip said the other day that he ran like 22 miles per hour.

He's the fastest player on the team and their off season workouts. Like he is a runner and he's big. He's like two 40. They're going to be physical, which has been their biggest criticism. And I'm sure Ryan Day and every Ohio state fan has watched the way Michigan has run the big 10 and it was big criticism that Ryan Day had after they beat Notre Dame, he probably should have waited till after the season to start, you know, pumping his chest about how physical they are. But I do think Ohio States can be way more physical this season.

I do wonder what some of the quarterbacks too, like where I, I'll watch. And you know, you don't know, you'll have theories that pop in your head, but offenses have done such a great job of creating these advantages. And if you think of the way a kid now goes through the high school ranks, the camps, and I'm not turning this into like an AAU for football thing, but I wonder if everything is so programmed with some of these top talents that then when it becomes that freelance part of it and you know needing somebody to kind of just like play with a little less fear. I wonder if that's something that we're happening or that's happening that we're seeing now with some of these younger

quarterbacks where it's like as soon as I'm off schedule now I'm totally lost despite being one of the top overall recruits and putting up all these ridiculous numbers and having all of these physical gifts because in some of these offices, be like, okay, this is the read. It's this read and then it's this read and then we're done. Don't even think about looking at the other side of the field or you're not even going to get to your third option or you're not going to have, or we're always going to have an advantage on this route because again, with Ohio State, their teams were always just so much better than the majority of everybody they're going to play other than Michigan.

So I wonder if that's, that's part and like, look with Howard, I'm not going to worry about that with him at all. I just wonder if that's the case with some of these other guys that come in with huge profiles, but actually can't think the game in a way that you need them to. Offense always has had the advantage. I mean, that's been the case for the last 20 years and probably even more so since the, you know, the implementation of the RPO and how it's just,

everything favors the offense, but the offensive minds and innovation that have come in there, like exactly what you're talking about, a lot of these quarterbacks, they don't have to get through their first option because the first option is wide open. Like the offensive minds and the way they've scouted and they start getting things and they dial up shot plays.

Like I remember getting shot plays called up where we were gonna take a shot and it was like, we hope this post comes wide open. And it would hit maybe 40% of the time or else you'd have to get your check down. But now it feels like the shot plays, the chunk plays, they're scheming guys wide open all the time. And kind of going back to the Will Howard,

last year we talked about Drew Aller, Kyle McCord, again, saw those two players in person. The difference in that game was Marvin Harrison Jr. was scheming open a couple, now he's incredible, you don't have to scheme him open. But he got open a couple wide open times. Coma court hit him like first read and they ended up winning the game because of a couple big plays to Marvin Harrison Jr. Like that's what you're talking about. The one thing that

has me a little bit concerned. Have you seen what, um, and this is the case for two schools where Chris Clime and head coach of Kansas State, he's alluded to the fact that if Will Howard would have come back, he wouldn't have beat out Avery Johnson, which is interesting. Like why didn't you want to bring him back? And then there's also the fact that maybe he doesn't want to admit that they got outbid.

There's also that, but he did- You also used to be talking up your guy that's in house too. Exactly. He might be telling the truth, but I've also heard every coach spin everything to their advantage at some point anyway, so I don't know what to make it.

Like I've started reading less previews because I just can't do it anymore. But I go back to last season. I would read all of these previews. Go ahead. There was a stretch last year at Kansas State where Will Howard, I remember doing this, like he almost got benched.

Now almost his relative, he got hurt. Avery Johnson came in, kind of lit it up. And then climate was like, we're going to split series this game. And then like, he never played like he didn't play any more meaningful snap. So Will Howard kind of put it to bed, like pretty quickly. But I did think that was interesting that they were that bullish on Avery Johnson. But as Ohio State fans pointed out, like, Joe Burrow was at Ohio State and wasn't playing and, you know playing and then it worked out pretty well for LSU.

You could have one man's trash might be another one's treasure. And I think Will Howard is going to be helped tremendously with the talent that he's around and the system that he's in. Okay. There's more things that I want to get to here. So I feel like I got to spock down on it, but I do have to do something in Michigan. We know the news. Recently, Harbaugh gets a show cause and more, I guess, administrative bad news from Michigan. We know the news recently Harbaugh gets to show cause and more, I guess,

administrative bad news for Michigan, but it just may not mean anything. I don't think the kids are going to care. And, uh, really it comes down to, I guess, is Alex Orji going to be the guy at quarterback he's thrown? We've, we know what he is when he gets out of the field, it's immediately physically impressive. He's thrown one pass in his career. Um, Michigan still has a lot of guys back on defense that I really like, and of the field, it's immediately physically impressive. He's thrown one pass in his career.

Michigan still has a lot of guys back on defense that I really like and they've recruited well enough that they're still in the mix here, but that's asking a lot of Orji who looks like he's just somebody that has only been brought in to the run game because he's so physically gifted. You know what it reminds me a lot of? Like eerily similar is Jalen Milrow.

And now Milrow had the, I think it was the Mississippi State game. He played and he had three touchdown passes. Like we saw more of him as a passer, but I remember their bowl game when Bryce Young's last game, I think they played Kansas state and they won. There was a report out that Jalen Milrow was taking reps at wide receiver. Like that's how they were considering a change of position for Jalen Milrow. It was very much up in the air. Remember after the spring, he struggled and they brought in Buckner from Notre Dame. Like there was all this thing like who's the guy going to be?

It can't be Jalen Milrow. He's just a runner. And then even early in the season, which I do think could play out very similarly with Michigan, it was like, remember they played South Florida and he started Buckner and gave the other kid time and didn't play Milrow at all. And then Saban like folded and was like, no, no, no, we're going to go back to Milrow and just ride it out with him. And he slowly like started to develop. I think that's what you could see with Milrow. The one thing that I think- With Orji you mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

With Orji. But I think they're like very, very similar situations. I think what helps Orji even more is like, JJ McCarthy, as good as he was, and you know, we'll see how he does in the NFL, they did not rely on him to do very much. I think he had in his whole career, I think he had three games over 300 yards. Like Alex Orji is not gonna be asked to, you know, pick apart defenses and sit from shotgun. He's gonna be asked to hand it off to Donovan Edwards,

probably to run it more than JJ McCarthy had to run it. And they're still going to try to run over teams. I mean, and I think the one thing Sharon Moore brings to the table with the offensive lineman mentality, offensive line coach mentality, is more of a willingness to run the football. I mean, the second half of the Penn State game is a great example. Harbaugh wasn't there. I know J.J. McCarthy was dinged up. They're like, we are not going to throw the ball. I think that's one thing that favors Orji while he's kind of figuring it out. But where it kind of holds

them back, JJ McCarthy in the clutch games and the toughest games of the season did come up and he showed the ability to make big plays on third downs, red zone, you know, playoff against Bama and even making catches. But he would make like convert in the crucial situations. That's what we don't know about orgy, which again, going back to the Milro comparison, I think it could be a little bit bumpy early. And there's gonna be a lot of scrutiny on them. Oh, do we go to the guy that lit it up in the spring game? Because that was like the story was Davis Warren, like who the heck is this guy? And he had like three touchdown passes. I think they're gonna roll with orgy and just limit his exposure and really feature him as a runner.

Okay, let's talk Bama then. Good job on Milro because he has numbers in every direction. His sack numbers, the number of sacks that happen when he's pressured, they're the worst in college football. All right. It's not like last place, but I think like one number's third worst. I think percentage of pressures that lead to a sack was the second worst for any of the quarterbacks. The deep ball numbers are terrific.

The rushing numbers are terrific. The intermediate stuff is bad. I don't think he's that good. Okay. And Saban getting to the playoff with him and kind of not knowing you're getting every week offensively, I think is probably one of Saban's best coaching jobs and maybe was the final straw for him to be like, I don't know if I can do that again. But to be fair, the same way Jayden Daniels, you know, I thought he was all right two years ago and then he wins the Heisman.

I think that two-year turnaround is one of the most impressive things I've seen at that position. But maybe this is just the next step for Milrow but I'm telling you if it's the same thing, if it's the up play, the down play, the up play, the down play. I thought he was all over the place against Michigan. I don't know if Bama can get back to the playoff if that's the kind of season they get from the quarterback again. And I know a lot of people are going to listen to this and think I'm nuts. And that he got a lot better.

I saw a guy in the deep ball numbers that threw it up Jermaine Burton and Burton made the play. And it was just like, please make this happen. He's a terrific runner, but there's just a lot of holes and maybe they're gone now and maybe he's going to be better and it's going to be his job. And he doesn't have to deal with all the bullshit that he's doing in the past. But I think it's a miracle that team was in the playoff with a quarterback play they got from him last year. I agree. I thought the offense, I don't know.

I think I said this with him last year. I agree. I thought the offense. I think I said this with you last year. It was almost like the new NBA where you just like the three point shot has become so prevalent. It's like the percentages. Well, if you hit the threes, you don't have to hit as many like they were taking deep shots. Well, we don't have to complete 70% of our passes. Let's just hit, you know, 30% of our deep balls, which is where Jalen Milro really excelled and he was able to hit on those enough to get him back there. I still I'm very much on the same page with Milrow. I'm not a believer in him as like this. I've seen some projections for the NFL draft.

He's got to take a massive step forward as a processor of information, like as a decision maker in the pocket. Now I do think the one advantage he has is Kaelin DeBoer has done a really good job throughout his career wherever he's been working with quarterbacks and mobile quarterbacks. I still think you're going to see Jalen Milrow running the football a lot. You should. He's great at it. Yeah.

One of the things about Pennix that really impressed me was Washington's offensive line got a ton of credit last year for, I think they only gave up 12 sacks the entire season. A lot of that was not the off, it was the offensive line clearly was good, but Penix is knowledge of where to go with the football quick, where to redirect traffic like that. I really like, I mean, I, I don't want to say he's going to unseat my guy, Kirk Cousins, but I think he's going to play a long time in the NFL because he was very smart at the line of scrimmage. And you could see like these little intricacies of where he like just knowledge of the system.

And that I don't, we haven't seen that from Jalen Milro, you know, like, and if Kalen DeBoer can bring that in and help him in that area, then yeah, maybe he turns into that style of quarterback and he can grasp some of these concepts. But from what we've seen, I'm not buying it either. I'm very skeptical. He's way too erratic. Pennex is a very natural throw of the football.

Like his release, ball's a cannon. He puts it in a tight windows. Milro struggles with those mid range, like accuracy. Like, and you saw, I don't know if you can teach that up just being an accurate thrower a lot of That's innate natural talent and I've seen more of a mechanical erratic thrower the football Is there anyone else in the SEC that you like or hate? What do you think in Nussmeyer? Because I there's a lot of I like them Yeah, most people do I'm more tentative on us than I think most people do. I'm more tentative on NUS than I think most people are. Just from

the standpoint of I'm always a little bit cautious with players that we've only seen a little glimpse of and they've been good, but like how is it going to translate over the course of a year when you are under scrutiny like you've never seen before? By the way, I know Jaden Daniels is gone, but there's also two incredible wide receivers that are gone as well. And this is wide receiver you, I get it. Kyron Lacey is supposed to be a stud, but I think they're gonna have to rely

on the run game a little bit more. And then most importantly, like, what do you do when, like, I don't think they're gonna lose to USC. They might, could be a shootout, could be a wild game. But if you lose, like, how do you do under the scrutiny of being the starting quarterback? You know, I think he'll be able to handle it. I don't, but there's always that, like, do you get gunshot? Is it change your outcome? I'm just a little bit more skeptical of he's going to step in and LSU is going to be the exact same offensively. I think it could be

a little bit of a bumpy ride for them on the offensive side of the ball. Offensive line looks great. So that should be in his favor, but Offensive great offensive line and the SEC are still gonna get hit a lot, you know Like so I'm curious to see and he's not as mobile as Jayden Daniels who ran around a lot for LSU I just I think that offense gonna take a step back. Well, I would imagine it's going to because Jayden was just that good I mean, he basically played the position perfectly and I have to see what the defense looks like against SC. I don't, I don't have like a lot of, well, they're going to be, there's

no way it can be as bad because it was really that like they couldn't stop anybody when they needed to stop it. It just, it wasn't going to happen for him and it didn't matter. And unfortunately it's kind of like a waste of just an epic offensive season. And on top of, you know, Lacey coming back a wide receiver, but to have neighbors and Thomas's first round wide receivers and, you know, you're not at least sniffing it. But we've already covered them. You know who I'm cautious on?

And I would say borderline, like don't like the hype around them. Notre Dame checking in at their seventh in the preseason and the coaches' poll. Riley Leonard coming off an injury, going to a new system, uh, where they just lost their left tackle after losing Joe all. So like Joe all goes to the chargers. It's young kid. I forget his name. It's a, I can look it up, but he gets lost for the season with an ACL.

Yeah. So now they're bumping in another guy and they have to go to tech saying I'm week one. It got Florida State. Essentially it's a two, maybe three game schedule. So like I think that's what people are projecting because they should be able to like 10 and two looks very doable if not almost guaranteed. But I think they have zero chance of winning the like winning the national championship. They're going to be in.

Riley Leonard is and I love him. He's a really good kid. He had three passing touchdowns last year, three. Like in the way he's talked about the year before, I think he had 20, but like, he has not exactly lit it up. He still needs a lot of development as a passer in a new system where the receivers aren't great. I'm a little bit skeptical on Notre Dame. Yeah. When I saw them seven of the coaches poll, we thought the same way. I go, this is because of the schedule. I got like, it used to drive me crazy when we did some of the college football preview stuff because like, I get it, but I go, wait, do you think they're good? Or they're just, their schedule isn't that good.

And I, I don't know that in the preseason rankings, you should be doing it based on projecting that stuff out. But I also wonder if the coaches, which again, the coaches pull has historically been a joke. Um, if there are times like, why would Utah be six spots behind Notre Dame with camera? Is it coming back? Yeah.

Yeah. The favorite is azo coming back. Yeah. The favorite is a winner and beat USC twice. I get he's coming off injury, but I totally agree with you. But you know what they do is they probably go back in like eight and five last year. Ah, you know, they were, I don't even know. Like they just start to plug them in. You know how it is. They definitely just start plugging them in and you run out. And then sometimes I think you'd want to balance it because that can happen.

It's like, Oh, I've got too many big 10 teams or I have too many sec teams. So we'll guess what? You're going to be doing that every single week because as it sits right now in the coaches poll, Notre Dame is the only team in the top nine. That's not from the sec or the big 10. And then your Florida State Seminoles. Do you want to do Florida State in the ACC here or do you want to stay on Utah in the big 12?

No, I mean, you can just keep bearing the ACC. I mean, it's what most people do. Just like keep them as an afterthought. We can go wherever you want. We'll do the ACC now. Clemson and Florida State have won the SEC every year but once since 2011. You've got a new quarterback at the helm, but he's an old quarterback. He's a good friend. He's a good friend of the conference.

He's a good friend of, of, of miles. I thought maybe you knew him the way you introed him. All right. So here's, here's the deal about DJ. I wanted cam ward. Uh, that would have been, and I think Florida state wanted cam ward as well as a lot of teams did. Miami won the bidding war for him. I'm very bullish on Miami. But for Florida State, I think the one thing that DJU brought to Florida State was like a floor.

Like the rails aren't gonna fall off. You're not gonna have a quarterback. Like you saw last year when Jordan Travis got hurt and Brock Glenn had to step in very green. And all of a sudden it was like, we can't even operate an offense. Like it was, that was brutal. And I don't even mean that to, to knock your guy, but it was, it was, it was, it was painful to watch. I was like, it was one of those situations where like, what do you want them to do? There's nobody else to turn to. So I think it protects against that.

Maybe he plays and he plays better cause he's got more time, but DJ you comes in, I think the floor is like eight and four worst case probably more than nine and three. Because I do trust that Norvell has been once again doing really well in the portal. And I hate to revolve so much around the quarterback because I do think Florida State's secondary could be one of the best in the ACC if not the country. I do think there are defensive front could be really good. Patrick, Patrick Payton is an absolute beast. Marvin Jones Jr., who came in from Georgia, whose dad played with me, shade tree, Marvin Jones was incredible. I think they could be really good on the defense side of the ball. Here's where I feel pretty good about Florida State and their chances to win the ACC. The defense, I think can be a lead in the offense. Even when you watch Jordan Travis, like he was more of a game manager

and like his, his numbers don't just jump off the table at you. They're going to run the football. Roy Dell Williams, an offensive line. That's veteran. That's probably one of the better ones in the ACC. They're going to try to cram it down people's throat. And then DJ is going to ask to be a manager of the game. I don't think he's going to be a playmaker. But here's where I think separates them from the floor or potentially, you know, winning the ACC, where Jordan Travis was

great. And I go back to the LSU game. Remember, the game was like in the balance and Florida State was driving in and Jordan Travis, the play was broken. and he like went opposite the play, like backed out to his left and rushed in for a touchdown. Like there was nothing there. Forget if the back went the wrong way, but he just, he had a knack for making plays when they needed to be made.

That to me is where DJ has to step up. And if he can get that, then Florida State could be right back in the playoff hunt. But if he doesn't, I're, they're a good team. It's kind of a rebuild year. You kind of find a playmaker the next season for quarterback. But I think a lot of it does hinge on DJ. Interesting.

You said the LSU game was kind of in the balance. Cause I think I remember you arguing about Florida States resume saying they killed LSU last year. Well, they did. And then they leaned on them in the fourth quarter, like in the four minute drill, they just railed them and scored two touchdowns at will. So there was that. Okay.

Am I getting Clemson vibes from you or Miami vibes on the ACC? Man, I'm buying into Miami. This might be the best roster they've had like 15 years. Like the Damian Martinez kind of flew in. He was really good running back at Oregon State. They're bringing back, you know, a receiving core, which is really good. Sammy Brown, a transfer receiver has been really good.

So I trust the offense. I think Cam Ward is a baller. Like I think he is a difference maker. And that's been the position that really has haunted Miami. Derek King was probably the closest thing to him. Remember when he came in from Houston, they were a 10-win team that year. That was with Mark Rick, but they were pretty good. I think the defense is better. Across the board, they are really solid. I think the top to bottom, the schedule they play Florida State at home.

The big question is can Mario kind of get out of the way? Because now the criticism has kind of reached this crescendo where everybody's starting to notice game time decisions. You know, does Cam Ward, does he turn Cam Ward into Justin Herbert and not the Justin Herbert in the NFL, but the Justin Herbert at Oregon who was okay, you know, like wasn't lighting it up and that's the concern.

But I, I just feel like this was a really good team last year. The Georgia Tech, you know, refusing to kneel at the end of the game, I think cost them two losses. Um, I think they're, I think they're a team that could, uh, that can win the ACC this year. Give me your Clemson breakdown. Okay. Because if you go back to the 2020 season, they lose the playoff. Again, they were the preseason number one team in the country.

They come back in 21 preseason number three, and they end the season ranked 14th at 10 and three. 2022 preseason four, end up finishing 13th, 11 and three, and then people stop picking them as much. It's just what happens. So they're pre-season nine and they end up 20th in the AP on a nine and four season. It is very easy just to go, Hey, Dabo had his titles. This is the way it works. It's usually the results are early with the coaches because you're so energized. You're so into it.

And like, he's the only guy. He's the only guy that even came close to feeling like it was a legitimate challenge to Saban. And it wasn't just a challenge. He got him a couple of times, right? Like he was a legitimate challenge to Saban. And it wasn't just a challenge, he got him a couple of times, right? Like he was, he's hanging with him. As Saban's going through the greatest run

the sport has ever seen, what is your opinion on why this Clemson thing has now, it feels a bit like their pre-season 20 this year. It kind of feels like year four of what happened to this group. What happened is I think Dabo's stubbornness is causing them. It's keeping them from regaining their dominance in the ACC and potentially even college football.

He just will not even look at the transfer portal. Now I know he said, and he's got his excuses, he said, hey, you know, no one wants, you know, we've got, no one's better than our guys. And I appreciate the mentality, right? He is trying to build up his team and the loyalty of the players that get recruited by Clemson and stick around at Clemson

and finish their careers at Clemson, which I appreciate. That is an antiquated view. I mean, what Dabo is trying to do essentially is an NFL team winning through the draft and refusing to look at free agency. Like you can't tell me that, that Kate Clubnick would have benefited from a Keon Coleman last year who ended up at Florida state was really good for them. And, you know, it was one of the better receivers in the country, but Dabo's like, no, we don't need him.

We don't need anybody. We've got our guys. And he's right that their talent is really, it's elite. Like he's got really good recruiting classes. He still stacks those up. But where I think it comes to haunt them are two things. One, it's select positions where maybe you missed on a five star and he doesn't live up to the potential.

So then you have a weakness in your roster. And I thought receiver has been one. They're hoping Bryant Westco is the guy that steps up and maybe he does, but it's there, but it's also depth. And with the season expanding with getting to the playoffs and have more games, you're going to get attrition where all of a sudden you could be going from a transfer guy who's a fifth year grad transfer with experience, potentially stepping in if somebody gets hurt or if he gets hurt, you still have a guy that's not, it's keeping Clemson from achieving their full potential. Cause this is a fan base that is invested as anybody.

They would throw money at the NIL. They could compete with anybody. And Dabo's like, no. And he doesn't have to become Deon and go get 45 transfers a year. But look at Ohio State. They had one of the smaller transfer portal classes cause they recruit really well too.

But they go out and get Caleb Downs, you know, to add to a secondary which has been Dicey. They get Quinshawn Judkins. They didn't need him, but man, that backfield looks incredible now. They bring in the center from Bama to help the offensive line. They got a select group of guys that helped them fill voids. That's what Clemson's not doing. I think it's hurting him. Yeah, and Ohio State should be able to just call anyone and go, would you want to play here?

If it didn't go great your first year and then it's done. I mean, place recruits itself, especially you would imagine too, with the top guys of say a Georgia or Ohio State or anything like that, where there's probably some existing relationship from all the work that you put in when the guy was in high school on top of everything else. So why not try to recoup some of those resources, just a time resource of, okay, who did you lose out on? Who do you have a relationship with? Well, think how different it is now.

I mean, think how many times just younger people in general, and I don't even mean to make it an age thing, but you're kind of, actually immune's not the right word, but look, when you're younger, you think a lot of things are supposed to work out. You're kind of immune. Actually immune is not the right word, but look, when you're younger, you think a lot of things are supposed to work out. You're kind of shocked when things don't work out for you. And then the realization of like, yeah, this is kind of the way things work.

So knowing that this is the group that you're talking to here and how many young men would be thinking, Oh, I don't want to do this. Like not everything is going my way. Like let me out of here. I mean, this is the whole reason why they used to have this, the year that you had to sit out because they didn't want young guys just going, ah, I'm going to change my mind the entire time. And I've granted they wanted that rule in there because they didn't want to

make their own jobs harder, but it was so unfair time and time again, that I'd like that they have that freedom. I just can't imagine spending time recruiting somebody in high school, losing out on them and knowing that you may have an advantage in the transfer portal and then not wanting to do it. So there you go. And look, Tade Klubnick has to be, like God, I thought he was going to be awesome. Me too. And it hasn't happened yet. Yeah. You know,

because I thought Gary Riley was a great hire. I think he has to take a big step forward physically is a little on the small side. He did a couple funky things last year to remember at Miami called his own number, which was I was shocked to see that. Last thing, love it. Yeah, I was in like, I was surprised to get benched to be honest with you. Last thing on the portal. I think dabbo looks at the portal the way I did 10 years ago, where you looked at him as not great teammates, quitters, you know, and I felt that way 10 years ago. I don't want guys in the transfer portal. Like it has changed though,

the minds of the players. It is basically you have to approach it that it doesn't say anything about the players mentality. It says that they are taking advantage of a system to potentially get as much, you know, earning capacity as they can. And I think that rubs a lot of coaches the wrong way, but Dabo is like drawing this line in the stand saying, nope, I want a guy who's been mine since day one and I am not going to listen to anybody else. I think he changes eventually, but I think it could, you know, be a little bit painful in the process. But I think it could be a little bit painful in the process. Okay, let's do a little Big 12 because I, like you, love the combo of quarterback and wide receiver in Arizona. They were two of my favorite players in all of college football last year.

It was just so much fun realizing it in real time if you were up late watching those Arizona games going, this is awesome with these guys. And they stay there, which, you know, I'm sure Jed Fish wishes the time it's been getting them into Arizona. Is there enough here, though, in a big 12 where it feels like if Utah's healthy, it's their conference. Totally agree. This is probably one of the conferences where I feel most certain about my pick. Kansas State is a trendy pick as well. Like if you were going to go non Utah, they're betting on a young guy who we don't

know much about Avery Johnson. We mentioned him earlier because he's the pick over Will Howard. But Utah, I think they're one of the, like the Pac-12 was a better conference than the Big 12 top to bottom. Now they didn't have an Oklahoma, Texas. They didn't have really that standard bearer, but the depth of the conference was there and Utah was perennially one of the best teams in the Pac-12. I think that helps them tremendously coming into the Big 12. They get back Cam Rising.

I still think Kyle Winningham is one of the more under appreciated coaches. I think he's finally starting to show up on top 10 coaches list finally. But yeah I feel really good about them. They also get the tight end back. Is it Brant Keithy? I think is his name? Yeah. Who comes back from injury well. And he's a really dynamic weapon. The defense, I kind of just trust. So yeah, I like Utah probably better than anybody. And I do think there's just, I think the interesting thing,

and this is what Brett Yormark, the commissioner, sold everybody on is that there's, you know, all these teams are really evenly matched, which is true. There's going to be a lot of really tight games in the conference. I just don't think there's going to be a lot of really tight games in the conference. I just don't think there's any really, really good teams except for Utah, who I trust is a really good team. I think there's a bunch of okay to good teams, and

they're going to bang each other up all season long. And the winner of the conference might be ten and two. I think you'll have a lot of eight and four teams and seven and five teams throughout. That's what I've liked about the Big 12 in past years. And it's just, I've already done it. So I'm not going to get into how disappointing it is. Just little reminders. You're like, it's just never going to be the same without Texas and Oklahoma,

but the depth of competitive teams. And that's what I've loved about the Big 12. Certain years you go, okay, but there's not, there's not like half the league that stinks. And yet they'd all kind of get in each other's way. And I don't know that it was, it was underrated or, I don't know, I'm gonna get into whether or not the big 12 has been rated properly historically here.

But when you go through all of these teams, you're like, man, you're right. Like it could be a two loss conference champion just because there's not as many breaks there. But again, where are the breaks in the SEC? Where are the breaks? Like you have to go through every team schedule to kind of find like, maybe

that's part of the old miss math is you're looking at it going, well, it's, it's not as devastating in the possible outcomes. Like we're again, when we started this whole thing with Georgia, like that's brutal, that's brutal when you look at who Georgia's going to have to play based on preseason rankings and the fact that they're all gonna be on the road. Okay, I think a good way to finish up here will be whether or not you're taking the over or under

for Colorado wins right now. Man, why you bait me? I, so I, you know, I talked to Joel Klatt. I saw him in Indianapolis, big 10 media days. Are you guys cool? Yeah. When we're in person, we're cool online. You both hate the SEC. So, Oh, really?

Because that's crazy that you guys hadn't found some sort of alignment based on your, your SEC hatred. But the Colorado thing veered you off into a different. Yeah, it did. Bane of resources? Yeah, I think Colorado's, here's the thing about Colorado. It's four and a half, right? What's that? It's four and a half?

Is it four and a half? I thought it was up to five and a half. It's four and a half I'd go over, but I think it got up to five and a half, so I'll go under, because I think five and seven is probably where I would peg them to be. It is a step in the right direction for them. I do think they have a better roster this season, like the

transfer, like they both seasons, they've hit the portal hard. It is five and a half now. It is. I would go under on that one. Um, this, I think should do her is incredible, but man, when he was doing really well, like they decided to make a move at coordinator, which made no sense. They bring in Pat Shermer kind of cause it's an NFL mind.

I'm a little bit concerned there could be a step back offensively in the production, but here's where I could buy in. Travis Hunter, you know, they lost him for that midsection. That's when kind of things started to come off the rails when they lost Travis Hunter for that, you know, three or four game stretch. This team is all about vibes. Like I look at week two, cause I like, I'm, I'm sure like it is, it is about the vibes week two, by the way, Dylan Viola. I love that

dude. By the way, he looks exactly like Patrick Mahomes. It's crazy. He's trained with them the spring game. I thought it was him. He wears 15. I think he's going to be really good for Nebraska this season But like that game if they lose that game Then they go to Colorado State like how do you feel about that game a game? That was a shootout last year was in Denver. I think it might have been in Boulder It was in Boulder. They used to play it at Invesco But like are we sure they're gonna win that game or they still still kind of like, this is a program because all the new players,

there's not much chemistry and there's not much loyalty and there's not much a camaraderie that you build up over time with classes, even two and three years together. And that's what we saw last year. The minute they faced adversity, it imploded. Like the season fell apart on them. So like if it starts great,

if they start three and O or four and O, which they probably should, then yeah, buy all the stock you can. But for me, I don't trust it yet. I mean, everything out of there feels like drama and some of it's intentional drama because they like, you know, being filmed. But I'm not buying the hype just yet

until I see it consistently over time. I think there's way too much uncertainties around the team. Here's what happened. And here's what you also couldn't do while it was happening. TCU was not a good football team, but since they played in the national championship,

you had people going neon in Colorado beat the national championship runner up. And it was the most relevant stuff ever because the roster was even close to being the same. But it puts it on the map because TCU comes in at 17 in the preseason rankings. They beat Nebraska who won five games last year. Like, let me know when I'm supposed to pay

more attention to Nebraska, I'll be here. But just let me know. The Colorado State win, no, I'm just meaning in general. Like Nebraska, it's just, I'm so fucking sick of hearing about Nebraska and there's just not really a lot that has gotten me excited. Maybe it'll be this year. Maybe it'll be the new quarterback that you mentioned. Um, the Colorado state win, they probably shouldn't have won that game.

I know that you can do that with any kind of close outcome for a million different reasons, they win a double overtime, so I start three and O and now it's off the rails and then they lose every game, the reigning this season, except a three point game at Arizona state. So the TCU Colorado state thing, like really messed everybody up. And I remember looking at the transfer portal rankings and thinking, okay, maybe they are going to be good. Cause this doesn't make any sense when you blow out that many guys,

the roster wasn't good in the first place. So getting rid of guys that were there before Deion got there. It's what are you really getting rid of? But then the overall, the aggregate score of their transfer portal class was higher than everybody else's, I think. So then I thought, okay, maybe, or is it just so skewed with Shador and Travis Hunter that I don't know, I fell for it all again. What seemed to be the constant theme of last year is that you were allowed to ask any of the tough questions after they started three and then it became a circus of coverage and you got caught into it and it was sun got into it with you

and a million different things but i don't know it it now becomes a kind of like victory lap group versus victory like everybody's across the street from each other in the parking lot and they're waiting and I know what side you're on and That was so like I don't have any animosity towards Deon or should do her his junior the one who doesn't play I do have a little bit towards him. He's the one that called me a ho so I don't love him But yeah But it wasn't the other thing that there was a clip that was running around.

If Dion picked you off and they say it ended your career and like the timeline didn't even come close to matching up. Right. Well, and also as if that was the interception that ended my career, it might've been one of the other 30, you know, like that took place. Like that was what I was like, cause that was so frustrating. Cause I think Reddit, I don't know who runs the Reddit college football page, they do not they're not a Danny Canell fan. But they like

put that out there and it goes viral. And yeah, I was benched. It was sometime after that it wasn't the game that I was benched. But that was the least of my problems was a pick six to Dion, which was kind of comical. There was also the clip of Dion when he said he didn't kind of distance himself from Florida State And that's when he came when Dion came back to me He's like, you don't know what you're talking about because remember the reporter said, you know, you're a Seminole But now you're at Colorado and he he stopped her was like no, what'd you say?

I'm not you know I didn't graduate from there and that all goes back to him wanting the Florida State job and then telling him you have to Have your degree. That's why that a lot of that was playing out, but he was really him wanting the Florida State job and then telling him, you have to have your degree. That's why a lot of that was playing out, but he was really distanced himself from Florida State, which he went back on when he was on big noon. He said, hey, I owe so much to Bobby Bowden and Mickey Andrews. So he made good on that one. Okay.

Real quick, I know you got to go. We went pretty long here. Let's do it. It's a surprise. Let's draft eight playoff teams each. Okay, so we'll see how we can do we're gonna give us 16 chances to hit all 12, which we're not going to do. And I'm afraid this is going to be a little chalky, but I'll let you go first. So go for it.

I'll go Georgia. St. Draft. I'm just kidding. I'll go Ohio State. I'll go Oregon. Very chalky. Have you met Lanning yet? Yeah, lovely. He's awesome.

Yeah, he came on, he spent like an hour with me, man. I was thrilled. God, we're staying in shock. I'll stay Texas. So this is how many teams make the playoff? Yeah, yeah. I'll go Penn State. Smart and equitable selection there.

Give me Bama then. I'll go Missouri. You just head to head like Missouri better than Ole Miss today, right? I think they're very similar teams. And I think Missouri is completely flying under the radar. And by the way, their schedule is way easier than Ole Miss's. Even though Ole Miss is pretty easy.

I want to start getting a little creative, but I think I'll wait one more round. So give me Michigan. I'll go Florida State. Even though you picked Miami. I didn't pick them. I said I was bullish on them. Okay.

I'll stop getting cute. Give me Utah. Oh, it's a great one. I'll go Notre Dame. Brands going to help them. They're going to be 10 and two and get in. The schedule, when you start looking at this conference expansion

and then look at Notre Dame schedule where Notre Dame used to be the standard of like, look at all these teams they have to play. And now you look at it and go, maybe they will. And I think that's what's happening with the preseason ranking here as well. I'll take Ole Miss. How many are we at?

Five each, three more. I'll take Ole Miss. How many are we at? Five each, three more. I'll go Miami. Okay. You know, I'm gonna be cute here. And give me Tennessee. It's a good one, I like that. Nico, get the Nico show ready to go. I'll go Kansas state.

Well, I had it, uh, give me. So this means, hold on. Neither one of us, there is going to be a group of five team in. So I just gave you a layup. Like if you want to take your favorite group of five team Liberty is 100% going to run the table. Like that is the lock of the century, but they don't play a power five team, which Memphis does.

I think it should be left out. I think it should still be left out. I do. I think they might because of what happened against Oregon too. That might hurt them. They should give them the bid and then say, but since you didn't play anyone and you're probably going to make up national championship t-shirts that Danny's going to order. Uh, I almost don't want to take, give me app state then.

There you go. Sean Clark squad. They play Liberty. I think they play each other in Boone. It's a good pick. Okay. Last thing before we let you go, do you want to guess how many active coaches in college football have a national championship? Uh, I think I saw this number.

Dabbo's won. Who else am I missing? Mac Brown. Mac Brown from Texas. Now you're just gonna be mad you can't get another one. Yeah, now I'm just driving me nuts. Kirby, Georgia. Oh, duh, yeah.

And that's it, right? That's it. That's it. It's crazy. That is an unbelievable stat. Kirby was the most obvious, missed him. The most obvious one is the easiest one to miss, right? So it's three now with Saban leaving cause he owned a decade's worth essentially. And then Jimbo's

gone, Coach O's gone, Urban's gone, Harbaugh's gone after getting last years. So that's- there will be coaches who get fired because like James Franklin, if they don't win one, he's gonna be on the hot seat. Like it shows you how hard it is too. Sounds like you're a huge James Franklin guy. I like that. I'm not.

I do like him. I am a huge fan. I know you do. I should have given you another name. Dang it. I should have said, Kailin DeBoer. If he doesn't win it, he's going to get fired. Thanks man.

I appreciate it as always and we'll check in during the season. All right. All right. You got it. Tradition rivalries and fight songs are back and Fandel wants you to join in on the college football action because right now new customers can get $150 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. Okay.

Fandel has something this year going on, which I love. And if you like a game of the year matchup and by game of the year, they mean basically any single game on the slate all season long, you go to the very end of November where you think it has potential game of the year scenarios. They're already have a line on this for you. And if you look at Georgia schedule, it's tough because they're going to have to play Clemson, then they get Tennessee Tech at Kentucky, then they're going to go to Bama September 28th. That line right now is Georgia minus three and a half.

So even though they're favored, my theories on at least that being the first big boy SEC test, the chance the Bama thing could not be smooth sailing the first month in my position is that's a better price today than you'll get the week of because I obviously think Georgia is going to look awesome to start the season. So I would look at the game of the year slate and try to get the price now that you think makes way more sense than the price that you're going to get days leading up to the actual kickoff. Again, that's the game of the year tap. If you've been thinking about joining FanDuel,

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Just need a nice place to settle in? Enjoy your room upgrade. Wherever you go, we'll go together. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Visit amex.ca slash ymx. Benefits vary by card. Terms apply. You want details? Fine. I drive a Ferrari. 355 Cabriolet. What's up?

I have a ridiculous house in the South Fork. I have every toy you can possibly imagine. And best of all, kids, I am liquid liquid. So now you know what's possible. Let me tell you what's required. Life advice. The email address lifeadvicerr at gmail.com. What is up to everybody? Shout out Kyle. Not sure why though. All right. 65190 slim frame. So not lifting super heavy here, but make up for it with good looks will attach picture to confirm Awesome Player comp Bruno caboclo pre-draft with a little bit of dodge attitude

You might have it I think it was caboclo draft night Not important. I think it was Kaboklo Draft Night. One of those ones. Yeah. Yeah. Because I still have that in my head from the prep. Like Tarad and Tyron.

Gadsurak, Gadsurich. So, so all in the worst type of guy to run into at the Y. Oh, so physical and attitude. I've been struggling with a small issue that has arisen since meeting my girlfriend, nothing bedroom related. I'm a stallion there. This guy's fucking awesome. All right. What's going on? Yeah. He didn't attach a pick. Sure. That's too bad. New age or silver? She comes from a family which has a lot of money. She's used to a certain lifestyle. This is a rather common issue for lots of money. She's used to a certain lifestyle.

This is rather a common issue for lots of people, I'm sure. But the problem is I don't have any money. I actually make, well, you're just there for the sex and good looks, dude. I actually make a decent enough salary within the banking sector. I'm writing from my work email, so don't mention the company in the pod.

Okay, no problem. We've done a few of these before, dude. The issue is she makes a lot of money herself, also a also banker and she doesn't really have to make adjustments to her lifestyle We were currently doing a somewhat long-distance relationship until she moves my city and we can start living together But now I'm flying about an hour to go see her almost weekly flying to her city and visiting her as an absolute treat I love doing it, but it comes at a cost every month. I'm spending all the money I prefer to put aside. I'm basically just traveling visitor and then we haven't gotten to the let's go out and eat tonight, let's do something nice tomorrow

aspect of the relationship. But combined with the ski holiday with her family, we're obviously pay for myself, summer vacations to Italy and so on and so forth. I'm basically going paycheck to paycheck and don't really get the feeling that she understands that I want to have a bit of a buffer. Disguised like in an Instagram relationship.

Yeah, cheese. But well, at least everybody thinks you're killing it, dude. Yeah. Take all the pictures and all the opportunities you have to show off your lifestyle. I guess what I'm asking is what do I do here? She come, she does come visiting me, but her employee doesn't allow it for as much as mine, which is completely fair. But I do wish she could understand we don't have the same means to an end. I don't really know how to bring it up without

sounding stingy or whiny either, since I've mentioned in the past briefly, but it all kind of got pushed aside. We've been together for almost two more years now and I'm certainly marrying her. But goddamn, I don't see how I'm going to be able to afford a wedding ring down payment for a house together when I can't put any money aside. Sorry for the long sob story, which probably sounds like a non-issue. We'd love to get your thoughts on my situation. Love the pot and tell Bill to go easy on LeBron. The guy's been carrying the league for 20 years.

Respect greatness. You know what I think you should respect is the rules of free throw contest. Did you see LeBron shoot the free throw with his right hand and the contest was you had to take the free throws with your off hand. And then everybody else shot it like left-handed that were right-handed. And he said, cause he writes left-handed, he shot and made the free throws and then won the contest. How is this not a bigger deal?

Why is mainstream media not covering this story? And then he crowned himself again after he won the free throw contest and then crowned himself when he came back in the arena at yesterday's game, when the entire arena was cheering the French swimmer and he thought they were cheering him. And I don't know what else he workshopped prior to the crown. Like, did he stick his finger in his armpit, smell it and be like, no, that's number two, I'll do the crown as my celebration.

I'm just telling you those moments sucked. So we'll respect none of it. That's a tough one. You know, they always tell you right with your, what hand are you right with when they say what, what are you, but I bat lefty and shoot a gun lefty, but everything else is right hand. So. Yeah.

But if you were with your friends and you were like, Hey, let's do a free throw contest and you're going to shoot your off hand. And he's like, no, actually I shoot right handed. And then he wins. That's fucking weird is my point. And it doesn't mean I don't appreciate how spectacular he has been for 20 years. But that's fucking weird.

We're all witnesses. I didn't have a window. I was gone. Exhale. Okay. Look, man, I think the good thing here is that you're going to marry her. So I think you should be able to go, I'm going to start mailing in some of these trips here. Mailing in is not the best term for this. Probably not. Not a great fit here.

But maybe what I'm leaning towards is the mailing in the time investment that you're making on this. Like if it's already locked up, like if it's the girl of your dreams and you're in a tenuous situation, you're like, I have to invest all of this time and in this case, money to make sure she realizes how much I care and reciprocate everything. Well, it doesn't sound like it's being reciprocated because she's not gonna go back to you.

Like you've already pretty much got it locked up. So I think you can get away with cutting out half of these trips. If you're doing this weekly, that's fucking crazy, dude. Yeah. Unless you're like, if I'm not there, what's she going to do on Friday instead? That might be something you have to figure out internally. But I mean, if you're not going to go the lying route, which I don't think you should, which would have been like, hey, listen, I was just a lot of margin calls. I don't know if you've been watching the stocks

lately, but I just got to figure this out. And I don't think you should start out with a lie, but I think you could definitely say, listen, I'm not going to miss any of the big ones. And, you know, I was thinking maybe we just cut it down monthly. You just level with her, right? Because you're saying you're, you're looking down the road at a long future. You should be able to talk about this stuff. But maybe you could also Easter in Ash Wednesday out. Right. I will definitely be an Aspen and I'm starting to scratch together something for this Italy trip you're talking about 2025.

But maybe you could leverage some of your airplane costs into some 1,800 flowers. You know what I mean? Like the less than two evils. It's like, I'm not there this weekend, but that's a big bouquet that's coming your way. Maybe you could do that gold belly, some nice to show you care, but just knocks down your, uh, knocks down your, your outgoing costs. Here's the other thing I'd ask is she loaded loaded? Because then you can just spend all of your money and it doesn't matter

because you're marrying somebody really rich. If you think that way, it's still, it's Still a roll of the dice there. You're not quite locked in. Yeah, you're not quite locked in. You're right. Yeah, I don't know. I don't think he's looking at this like, hey, I want to go, I'm going to be on scholarship once we get married.

That would be good. Wow. Who says he shouldn't? But am I taking crazy? Just talk to her. If you're that close and you're on the path to marriage, just be like, hey, I'd like to be able to invest and afford a down payment on our future house and your future engagement ring.

What's she gonna be mad about that? I don't, and if she is, then that's a huge red flag. So I just like, I know I get docked for like, hey, I was reduced, just as the obvious thing, I'll just talk to it. Just I don't understand why you wouldn't just be like, this is the situation, it's not sustainable. Can we figure out a different solution? It's not because I don't love you or don't wanna why you wouldn't just be like, this is the situation, it's not sustainable. Can we figure out a different solution?

It's not because I don't love you or don't wanna see you as often, but we have bigger goals in life. So let's figure out those now as we start to like progress to this point in our relationship where it's kind of, you know, heading towards the engagement marriage section. I just don't think that's insane.

And then you're gonna get your answer if she has a reaction to that. Yeah, this is classic Sarutti advice and it's the right advice. This is vintage Steve Sarutity advice and it's correct. I don't know if you have to say like what I want to spend the money on instead, but I think the core of it is just honesty. Big, listen, I'm a little low.

Uh, this, this current lifestyle is making it so that I'm paycheck to paycheck. I just want a little buffer and I think we're just knocking down for once a month for now, like, you know, I'm secure about that instead of being like, I have to do it to pay for this and that. And like, don't, don't overload it. I think it's all about her. Like, you know, I'm secure about that. Instead of being like, I have to do it to pay for this and that. And like, don't, don't overload it. I think it's all about her. Like it's, it's, it's, it's not like, Hey, I want to go, you know, take a golf trip with my buddies.

Like we were just talking about a previous email, like it's, it's stuff for you guys and your future. You're not even being selfish here. You're being smart. She should appreciate that. But I would share that there can be people that are really rich that are just so oblivious to stuff. And they're like, what do you mean you can't go to. Post a ton of this weekend, you know, and you're just like, I can't do you even care about me, dude.

Yeah, right. Or maybe you're supposed to continue to present that you're not worried about any of this. I mean, I imagine two years, she has a pretty good understanding of your cash situation, right? And so are you, are you the prospective husband here? No, no. Is he, has he been so like willing to spend that she thinks he's positioned better financially? Maybe. Yeah. That's a bummer. And they're working in the same industry. I mean, who knows? I mean, if the guy has his stuff together, then he's probably going to have been successful anyway, at some point.

But yeah, sometimes like I think rich people can understand, but then can be like incredibly oblivious at the same time. And especially if it's your family's money and not your money. Uh, and again, it's like everything else. It doesn't mean every kid that grows up really, really wealthy And especially if it's your family's money and not your money. And again, it's like everything else. It doesn't mean every kid that grows up really, really wealthy is oblivious to what other people are capable of. But there's certainly examples. And I've seen it plenty of times where you'll just go like, oh, we're all doing this thing. And when I'd be younger, I'd be like, how are

you even pulling that off? Like, what the fuck are you talking about? It's a little weird too that, you know, usually, I mean, you know, you want to speak for everybody, but usually in the situation, I feel like when you are going on a vacation with especially like a really rich family, like you'd have to pay for all of that is a little odd or am I wrong on that? That usually the tab is picked up every once in a while.

Yeah, but you, you know, I think if you're the guy trying to make a nice impression, you might just like come in there already. Just to be like, look at me. Yeah, but a lot know, I think if you're the guy trying to make a nice impression you you might just just like come in There already just be like a lot of time. It's like hey I'll pick up the bill if you're you know out to dinner with your in-laws and it's like alright, dude, like come on Yeah, yeah, look, I didn't we got it The fact that he brings it up that he's like I've tried to bring it up. She's kind of pushed up the side And he's asking specifically he knows he has to say something.

So that's not the revelation. It's how do you handle it? And I think the key thing to do here would be to emphasize that you need to cut down on some of this travel and some of these visits, that's a lot of visits for two year long, like longest relationship. I don't even know how you're staying above water right now. That's got to feel like the longest year ever, like January. And you're like, Oh my God.

Yeah. So I would say, Hey, this is what I want to do because I'm going to marry you. And I want us to have a decent foundation here financially. That's what you're doing. You're not telling her you don't want to spend money. You're telling her that you want to save money to be able to spend money on her and your future together. Well, it's been nice being a Delta Diamond member that does have some drawbacks. Right. We're not getting upgraded anymore, but here we go. Okay. 23-year-old sister dating a 45-year-old. Yo. 6'2", 215. Well, at least you're huge, dude.

6-2, 2-15, well, at least you're huge, dude. It's just... Jim Stats have taken a hit since my two kids, but can throw up 2-25 on a bench a handful of times. Everything else hurts these days. Basketball comp Alex Caruso, white guys, deceptively quick, solid defender, average mid-range, and losing my hair at a young age. My sister, 23 years old, just told me

she's dating a 45-year-old. As a concerned older brother, I was flabbergasted My first concern was the age gap obviously, but it gets worse They work together in the same division and their boss happens to be my uncle Is this a TV show plot I'm not sure I know that's an episode Kyle He's also divorced with two kids who were closer in age to her than she is to him She says she's never been happier. He treats her well Says Says when they're together, I mean, dude, if your girlfriend's 23, you're probably the happiest you've ever been if you're 45. So no wonder he's in a good mood all the time.

Um, he treats her well and says when they're together, you don't even notice the age difference, massive eye roll. She's fully aware of how this comes across and all the difficulties dating a much older man could bring down the road. They've already talked about marriage. You don't even notice the age difference. Massive eye roll. She's fully aware of how this comes across and all the difficulties dating a much older man could bring down the road. They've already talked about marriage. And by the way, like I know as I say that,

you've never been happier. I think for anybody getting north of 45, there's actually a floor that gets raised. We're like, this doesn't even make any sense. I think this has passed the floor. Like, you know, I don't know where you guys are on that. You're not as old as I am, but there's a line where you go, what the hell am I going to talk to this person about? Okay. They've already talked about marriage, said I love you and having

kids of their own and even freezing his sperm. It's only been three months. Oh, I think freezing sperm three months in is a, is it pretty hard right turn. But hey, some people just, when love is in the air, you can't deny its power. She generally has her head on straight or at least I thought she did. Good job. Good degree, grad school. She's ready to tell my parents. I, on the other hand, think it may kill my elderly father. I want to be supportive if she's happy, but there's some major red flags here. Is there any time that she's going to tell my parents. I on the other hand think it may kill my elderly father.

I want to be supportive if she's happy, but there's some major red flags here. Is there any talking any sense into her or will this likely fizzle out in a couple of months? Yeah, I think you got to let this one fizzle. She's not going to listen to anything you're going to have to say. I mean, you could do the ultimate like, hey, we need to do this one time and I'm going to talk to you one time and I promise I will never bring it up again. But do you understand the math here in the complications of

what's going to be going down? And obviously if I were like a 23 year old girl and I start doing the math going like 45 and then he's 67. Am I going to be into that? And then he's 67. Am I going to be into that when I'm 55 and he falls in the shower and I'm rolling around the farmer's market? Am I going to be into that? Might not want to say those things, but if you think it, it doesn't mean you're the most evil person ever. I would have a hard time with it. I have sisters. I wouldn't, I wouldn't love it, but if they're, I also know what would happen.

If they're like, this is who I love. I'm like, okay, my work is done here. I would maybe spend a little time with this dude before you do anything. Cause I like, even, even if your mind's made up fine, if you're not going to jump to the other side of the aisle on this, that's fine. But I would, I would at least get. What if he's awesome, right? I would at least get a little bit of a, a little bit of a, a little bit of a before you do anything. Because even if your mind's made up, fine.

If you're not gonna jump to the other side of the aisle on this, that's fine. But I would at least get a little- What if he's awesome? Right? I mean, you ask the uncle. Can you ask the uncle? Give us the scouting report.

What's his deal? What if, right? But I would definitely, even if you are planning on talking to her about it, you should wanna have a little bit of credibility in the field of this man. You don't wanna just be somebody who's spewing stuff just because you feel like it's wrong. I don't think you're going to have success talking to her about this. Some girls just like older dudes. Like she might have

a type and this is her discovering that. I don't know. And I think there's two types of older divorce guys, like guys who are ready to get back in the marriage line and guys who are never going to do that again. So maybe you could try to sniff out which type of dude that is. But I wouldn't say anything and I wouldn't commiserate with your dad and get more fired up about it until you at least maybe go to a function or just do a little scouting on this guy. I wouldn't just off the dome be like, this is wrong because it's wrong. I just wouldn't do that.

There you go. 99% of the time, yeah, this is wrong, but you, Kyle, 100% crushed that. You can't, you need some, the age thing can't be the only thing. Like you gotta meet him. You gotta at least try. Cause otherwise she's just gonna think you're being a hater,

which you know, you are in some ways, but even though you, I agree, you are right. Like if I have two younger sisters, if this was the situation, I would not be thrilled about it. But there's just not much you could really do in these situations. I think you just gotta let it play out as shitty as that's gonna be.

I mean, the father thing does suck because I could see my dad also not loving that. And that would bum me out a ton. And I'd probably wanna try to do something, but you're only gonna kind of make it worse the bigger stink you put up without really even knowing who this guy is. So I think you got to let him come to a couple of functions and hopefully he screws up.

There's something, something, you know, hopefully like the message gets seen and she can see that it's not just you, maybe it's your entire family. It's like, this is kind of strange. And then she gets kind of awkward and realizes that she's wrong. But or maybe they're in love, who knows? And it's great. And they're going to be awesome. And they're going to have a bunch of kids and everyone's going to be happy. Yeah. Invite them over for Labor Day.

See if you can see what's going on there. Everyone, then you guys can all talk about him after he's gone. I think the uncle part is key here, but then again, you don't know what are the uncle's priorities. Be like, he's one of the best age-back guys in the Midwest. Yeah.

What else do you need from me? And he just go out. Many things about his personality. He follows up on his calls, his numbers are good, his book is good, he's meticulous about it. That's not really helping me. The job may be that you're the buffer for the sister and your dad.

That might be the role that you have to pivot into here. But yeah, maybe the guy is awesome and it'll actually kind of work out. And I mean, it can happen. It can happen. I don't want to do this because we've since banned any family stuff with Saruti. So we're not going to make it specific to this because this is already awkward as we started, but like, all right, maybe we'll just start with Kyle to kind of appetizer our way into it.

If you didn't know me, Kyle, and then you had a sister who was, let's for the sake of my math, like 28, and then I'm on the scene, where are you? Well, we've kind of done the opposite with my brother and his girlfriend this last year. I mean, that's similar math. So I kind of felt him out and he was just like, I don't want to fucking talk about this. And I was like, great, okay. That's, I put my shot up and it didn't go in. That's fine.

So. So Rudy, I know this is weird. I've already made it weird. No, I mean, I. It's impossible now. Yeah, if I didn't know you, I'd be like, this sucks and fuck that guy. What if you only knew me as a podcaster? Like you're like, I really like his podcast, but.

I still think I wouldn't be excited about it. I don't know. You can say you hate it. Cause you hate it. You would hate it. No, I'm not afraid at all to say that. I think I would, there's no way I would be cool with it. Would you unsubscribe?

Which sucks to say, cause even if you have the best intentions, even if the guy has the best intentions and he's awesome. And I don't know, like it's just, maybe that makes me anxious or whatever. Some optics you can't fight. Some optics you just can't fight. Yeah, look, it can happen, but I think our reactions and the reaction to this email are fairly normal.

So, good luck. Thanks to Oregon. Thanks to Sarutti. Thanks to Kyle. Ryan Rossolla podcast on YouTube as well. Please subscribe and ring your Spotify. Let's get started. Must be 21 and older, 18 plus in DC and present in select states. Fandual is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under agreement with Kansas Star

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