Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sportsradio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sportsradio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowver on Fox Sports Radio.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowver on Fox Sports Radio.

Oh, we got a Friday. We got a Friday, all right, live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. One hour from now, Urban Meyer stops by Ohio, State and Texas will not look like last night. It will be a fireworks show. Although I thought last night was exactly why college football is amazing, bad officiating, nervous quarterbacks, a team that lost in Northern Illinois earlier now is rising. I thought last night was just a flawed, messy, fantastic newt Rockney feeling moment for Notre Dame. Jamck and I watched it together, knocked down some waters and great food. That was a wild one. Yeah, it was.

Oh, we got a Friday. We got a Friday, all right, live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. One hour from now, Urban Meyer stops by Ohio, State and Texas will not look like last night. It will be a fireworks show. Although I thought last night was exactly why college football is amazing, bad officiating, nervous quarterbacks, a team that lost in Northern Illinois earlier now is rising. I thought last night was just a flawed, messy, fantastic newt Rockney feeling moment for Notre Dame. Jamck and I watched it together, knocked down some waters and great food. That was a wild one. Yeah, it was.

I mean, I lost the under which is feeling great for three quarters. Oh yeah, But you know when it's a great game like that, you can't be all right. So Notre Dame moves to the national Championship. I think James Franklin is a good football coach, but he got out coached his twelve straight loss to a top five team just at Penn State, and in big games, the little things matter. There was a million excuses for Notre Dame. First of all, they had two balls interception intercepted. They were both taken away on penalties. One of them the worst calls I've ever seen in a huge game. They called a pass interference on a wildly underthrown ball, and again both picks that I'm showing you here got called back. Their quarterback got hurt in the first half. People thought he was concussed. Their running backs planned about fifty sixty percent. They've got injuries all over their offensive line. They fell behind, yet they were amazing on third down. They had very few penalties, they had very specific plans on their final drive, and in every big third down or every big down defensively, they were completely buttoned up. Marcus Freeman, to me, feels like you're watching the college version of Sean McVay. The energy, the presence, the intensity, the way his team believes in him. He's like the classic player coach, Like you almost wonder if they could use him at like safety. He's got that physical presence and the players love him. And this team lost to Northern Illinois at home, and you got to remember about Marcus Freeman.

I mean, I lost the under which is feeling great for three quarters. Oh yeah, But you know when it's a great game like that, you can't be all right. So Notre Dame moves to the national Championship. I think James Franklin is a good football coach, but he got out coached his twelve straight loss to a top five team just at Penn State, and in big games, the little things matter. There was a million excuses for Notre Dame. First of all, they had two balls interception intercepted. They were both taken away on penalties. One of them the worst calls I've ever seen in a huge game. They called a pass interference on a wildly underthrown ball, and again both picks that I'm showing you here got called back. Their quarterback got hurt in the first half. People thought he was concussed. Their running backs planned about fifty sixty percent. They've got injuries all over their offensive line. They fell behind, yet they were amazing on third down. They had very few penalties, they had very specific plans on their final drive, and in every big third down or every big down defensively, they were completely buttoned up. Marcus Freeman, to me, feels like you're watching the college version of Sean McVay. The energy, the presence, the intensity, the way his team believes in him. He's like the classic player coach, Like you almost wonder if they could use him at like safety. He's got that physical presence and the players love him. And this team lost to Northern Illinois at home, and you got to remember about Marcus Freeman.

I'll get to this in a bit, but this guy his first home game when he got the job, when he was thirty five, he lost to Marshall. What they have done at Notre Dame is a direct correlation and reflection on Marcus Freeman. This guy is a rock star. They're all banged up, and I thought it was fascinating at the end of the game. James Franklin's a good coach, but he can't learn from his mistakes. They make too many in big games. I mean, they had eight guys on the field in that final Notre Dame field. Goalkick, Why are you throwing the ball with thirty three seconds left in that game? What are you doing? I mean, you don't trust your quarterback. He didn't complete a ball to the receivers all night. You ran before that, so you kind of wanted to get to overtime. When I watched Notre Dame's final drive, I saw you seven plays twenty six seconds, using time out, using Riley Leonard. There was a absolute plan on how to use this big I like this kid way more than everybody else. Apparently I see a little bit of Josh Allen, maybe just a little bit. But they had a specific plan. It looked like Penn State decided, hey, let's go to overtime. Wait what we gained twelve yards, Hey, let's go for it. That's not a plan. That's just making crap up as you go. So I thought that, and again I'm not anti James Franklin, but what you saw was a specific, buttoned up smart team. Injuries, O line injuries, running back. We thought the quarterback was Cancuss. Two picks taken away, one an agregious call. If Notre Dame would have lost, you'd literally, as a Notre Dame fan, be like, man, we couldn't get a break. We're falling apart here physically, and yet they won. So what I saw in this game was two young quarterbacks with talent, both a little nervous, two strong defenses, two huge brands, two limited passing at tax down the field, especially for Penn State. But one head coach that everybody in America with one five star recruit, one is playing in the National Championship. You go to Georgia Bama, they'se teams the last couple of years. Ohio State, Notre Dame, it's different. The rosters are different, Texas, Notre Dame, the rosters are different. How is Notre Dame here? They're here because of the coach, And why did Penn State lose? Here's their coach.

I'll get to this in a bit, but this guy his first home game when he got the job, when he was thirty five, he lost to Marshall. What they have done at Notre Dame is a direct correlation and reflection on Marcus Freeman. This guy is a rock star. They're all banged up, and I thought it was fascinating at the end of the game. James Franklin's a good coach, but he can't learn from his mistakes. They make too many in big games. I mean, they had eight guys on the field in that final Notre Dame field. Goalkick, Why are you throwing the ball with thirty three seconds left in that game? What are you doing? I mean, you don't trust your quarterback. He didn't complete a ball to the receivers all night. You ran before that, so you kind of wanted to get to overtime. When I watched Notre Dame's final drive, I saw you seven plays twenty six seconds, using time out, using Riley Leonard. There was a absolute plan on how to use this big I like this kid way more than everybody else. Apparently I see a little bit of Josh Allen, maybe just a little bit. But they had a specific plan. It looked like Penn State decided, hey, let's go to overtime. Wait what we gained twelve yards, Hey, let's go for it. That's not a plan. That's just making crap up as you go. So I thought that, and again I'm not anti James Franklin, but what you saw was a specific, buttoned up smart team. Injuries, O line injuries, running back. We thought the quarterback was Cancuss. Two picks taken away, one an agregious call. If Notre Dame would have lost, you'd literally, as a Notre Dame fan, be like, man, we couldn't get a break. We're falling apart here physically, and yet they won. So what I saw in this game was two young quarterbacks with talent, both a little nervous, two strong defenses, two huge brands, two limited passing at tax down the field, especially for Penn State. But one head coach that everybody in America with one five star recruit, one is playing in the National Championship. You go to Georgia Bama, they'se teams the last couple of years. Ohio State, Notre Dame, it's different. The rosters are different, Texas, Notre Dame, the rosters are different. How is Notre Dame here? They're here because of the coach, And why did Penn State lose? Here's their coach.

Everybody wants to pick out a specific play. There's probably eight to twelve plays in that game that if we could have found a way to make a few more plays in that game, and we're that close, right, it's a game of inches.

Everybody wants to pick out a specific play. There's probably eight to twelve plays in that game that if we could have found a way to make a few more plays in that game, and we're that close, right, it's a game of inches.

Now, it's a game of decisions, And there was one play. Go watch the final drives. Penn State should not have thrown that ball. They had not completed the pastor receivers. You could tell they really didn't trust their quarterback a lot. That's a long way to go against an excellent secondary and a very well coached team that was making it up as you go. And I want to talk about Marcus Freeman here because first of all, Notre Dame is doing it the right way. When he took over for Brian Kelly, I was like, he's a great recruiter, but he's thirty five, he's a defensive coach. I'm not sure if this is gonna work. He went nine to four, ten and three, fourteen and one, and now he is five and one in Bowl games. But what's more redeeming about it? In my opinion? He went zero to three to start, and he lost his first game at home at Notre Dame to Marshall. Right, right right, think about that. And this year they lost to Northern Illinois. And this is a great life lesson for young people and young coaches and young athletes. I've said this about Michael Jordan. I mean Michael Jordan struggled with his owner, his GM, Dennis Rodman, his first couple of coaches, the Pistons, the Celtics. Life is hard. You gotta believe in yourself, and if you believe in yourself, young people around you will believe in you. We talk about this all the time about players developing. What you have watched with Marcus Freeman is a young coach developing. He probably wasn't quite ready to be Notre Dame's coach the first two months he got the job, thirty five year old coach. That is a that's not just a job. Notre Dame's got academic umbrellas. It's a really tough job. I mean, Brian Kelly was successful into Notre Dame, and Brian Kelly stumbled a lot in his first several years, and he'd been a successful coach previously. This isn't Marcus Furman's first Marcus Damon's first job. Your first head coaching job is Notre Dame. You know how many guys have failed at Notre Dame that have previous winning experience. And I don't think he probably was quite ready in the first few weeks. But I'm watching a rock star here. I see Sean McVay. That's exactly what I see, chest out, big energy, talking to the refts, motivating players. Notre Dame had every reason to lose last night, and I'm telling you that pass interference call that took away the interception of the end zone was awful. You can't call pi a football as wildly overthrown or wildly underthrown. You can't call that. Here's Marcus after.

Now, it's a game of decisions, And there was one play. Go watch the final drives. Penn State should not have thrown that ball. They had not completed the pastor receivers. You could tell they really didn't trust their quarterback a lot. That's a long way to go against an excellent secondary and a very well coached team that was making it up as you go. And I want to talk about Marcus Freeman here because first of all, Notre Dame is doing it the right way. When he took over for Brian Kelly, I was like, he's a great recruiter, but he's thirty five, he's a defensive coach. I'm not sure if this is gonna work. He went nine to four, ten and three, fourteen and one, and now he is five and one in Bowl games. But what's more redeeming about it? In my opinion? He went zero to three to start, and he lost his first game at home at Notre Dame to Marshall. Right, right right, think about that. And this year they lost to Northern Illinois. And this is a great life lesson for young people and young coaches and young athletes. I've said this about Michael Jordan. I mean Michael Jordan struggled with his owner, his GM, Dennis Rodman, his first couple of coaches, the Pistons, the Celtics. Life is hard. You gotta believe in yourself, and if you believe in yourself, young people around you will believe in you. We talk about this all the time about players developing. What you have watched with Marcus Freeman is a young coach developing. He probably wasn't quite ready to be Notre Dame's coach the first two months he got the job, thirty five year old coach. That is a that's not just a job. Notre Dame's got academic umbrellas. It's a really tough job. I mean, Brian Kelly was successful into Notre Dame, and Brian Kelly stumbled a lot in his first several years, and he'd been a successful coach previously. This isn't Marcus Furman's first Marcus Damon's first job. Your first head coaching job is Notre Dame. You know how many guys have failed at Notre Dame that have previous winning experience. And I don't think he probably was quite ready in the first few weeks. But I'm watching a rock star here. I see Sean McVay. That's exactly what I see, chest out, big energy, talking to the refts, motivating players. Notre Dame had every reason to lose last night, and I'm telling you that pass interference call that took away the interception of the end zone was awful. You can't call pi a football as wildly overthrown or wildly underthrown. You can't call that. Here's Marcus after.

But these guys are resilient and they found a way to make a play when it matters the most. And that's what, again is to me what great teams, great organizations. They're able to at that moment that they need to do their job or make a play, they do it and the last play doesn't matter. There's unpredictable things that happen all the time, and they find a way to make it work.

But these guys are resilient and they found a way to make a play when it matters the most. And that's what, again is to me what great teams, great organizations. They're able to at that moment that they need to do their job or make a play, they do it and the last play doesn't matter. There's unpredictable things that happen all the time, and they find a way to make it work.

Just to give you more context, it is harder to get into Notre Dame. And then once you're in Notre Dame, the workload for student athletes is as hard as maybe any not called Stanford. I mean it's hard. They can't take anybody. Think about this. Texas is gonna play for the right to go to the national championship tonight. They have eleven five star athletes. Ohio State's playing Texas they have fourteen. Okay, Georgia just got beat by Notre Dame. They had fourteen five star recruits. Notre Dame's got one. It is virtually unheard of to be playing for a national championship with one elite five star recruit. And this program also in this world of the transfer portal and nil players don't transfer out a Notre Dame. They go in, they buy in, they stay in. That was a coaching masterpiece last night. On a game where you got banged up players and bad calls and you're playing a good team. And I mean I watched that game. I'm not so sure Penn State doesn't have more good players. I mean, I watched it last night. I'm like, halfway through that game, I'm like, I think I picked the wrong team. I think Penn State's got better players. I mean, that Carter kid, you can't block him all that tight end. That kid's insane. They got him throwing passes. Coaching rock star Marcus Freeman, J Mac, that is what college football is all about. It was flawed. It had wards, it had pimples, it had everything. It had a motion. I had fun.

Just to give you more context, it is harder to get into Notre Dame. And then once you're in Notre Dame, the workload for student athletes is as hard as maybe any not called Stanford. I mean it's hard. They can't take anybody. Think about this. Texas is gonna play for the right to go to the national championship tonight. They have eleven five star athletes. Ohio State's playing Texas they have fourteen. Okay, Georgia just got beat by Notre Dame. They had fourteen five star recruits. Notre Dame's got one. It is virtually unheard of to be playing for a national championship with one elite five star recruit. And this program also in this world of the transfer portal and nil players don't transfer out a Notre Dame. They go in, they buy in, they stay in. That was a coaching masterpiece last night. On a game where you got banged up players and bad calls and you're playing a good team. And I mean I watched that game. I'm not so sure Penn State doesn't have more good players. I mean, I watched it last night. I'm like, halfway through that game, I'm like, I think I picked the wrong team. I think Penn State's got better players. I mean, that Carter kid, you can't block him all that tight end. That kid's insane. They got him throwing passes. Coaching rock star Marcus Freeman, J Mac, that is what college football is all about. It was flawed. It had wards, it had pimples, it had everything. It had a motion. I had fun.

Watch Marcus Freeman. You're right, man, he is the winner. If I'm the Chicago Bears of some of these other teams in the NFL, I'm just waiting until Notre Dame's done the championship.

Watch Marcus Freeman. You're right, man, he is the winner. If I'm the Chicago Bears of some of these other teams in the NFL, I'm just waiting until Notre Dame's done the championship.

That was like LinkedIn on TV. That was a resume. Here's what you want as a coach.

That was like LinkedIn on TV. That was a resume. Here's what you want as a coach.

I can't believe there's no camera in the locker room to find out what the halftime speech was. Because Notre Dame, after getting blitzed in the first half, they dominated well.

I can't believe there's no camera in the locker room to find out what the halftime speech was. Because Notre Dame, after getting blitzed in the first half, they dominated well.

They came out in the second half and run the ball Ryan. They just got very physical run the ball between the tackles us Riley Leonard, and they got a break. One of the breaks they got his Penn State had a couple of defensive backs fall down on a big play. I mean, listen, when you win games like that, you did get a break somewhere. They got a big break when a Penn State d he just fell down.

They came out in the second half and run the ball Ryan. They just got very physical run the ball between the tackles us Riley Leonard, and they got a break. One of the breaks they got his Penn State had a couple of defensive backs fall down on a big play. I mean, listen, when you win games like that, you did get a break somewhere. They got a big break when a Penn State d he just fell down.

Ye, James Franklin stuff. Though, let's I feel like people are crushing him for this loss. I don't know that it's on him. You got three timeouts. Yeah, all you need is to get in field goal rings to have a shot. Okay, taking three knees there at the end timeout. That is a great secondary. They were great against Georgia. It is a great secondary. People aren't throwing the ball on Notre Dame. You don't trust your quarterback. You don't have a completion in the game to a wide receiver. Overtime is built for what Penn State does. Great tight end and I mean singletary, big time running back yeah. So if I'm Penn State and I look at my team, I don't have a pass completed to a receiver. I'm not trying to drive the ball forty five yards.

Ye, James Franklin stuff. Though, let's I feel like people are crushing him for this loss. I don't know that it's on him. You got three timeouts. Yeah, all you need is to get in field goal rings to have a shot. Okay, taking three knees there at the end timeout. That is a great secondary. They were great against Georgia. It is a great secondary. People aren't throwing the ball on Notre Dame. You don't trust your quarterback. You don't have a completion in the game to a wide receiver. Overtime is built for what Penn State does. Great tight end and I mean singletary, big time running back yeah. So if I'm Penn State and I look at my team, I don't have a pass completed to a receiver. I'm not trying to drive the ball forty five yards.

By the way, kickers, when Jeter went up there to kick the winner, did you think he was gonna make it? I was like, God, this is I mean, this.

By the way, kickers, when Jeter went up there to kick the winner, did you think he was gonna make it? I was like, God, this is I mean, this.

Is it, just like football coaches want to try to win. We're out here, we got timeout, we got the ball, Let's give it a shot. I personally would have gone to Warren and drawn another flag because it's all he's doing all night is n flash.

Is it, just like football coaches want to try to win. We're out here, we got timeout, we got the ball, Let's give it a shot. I personally would have gone to Warren and drawn another flag because it's all he's doing all night is n flash.

And I said before that, I think James Franklin is a good coach, but I didn't think they used their running back enough. I think the kid, I think we talked about him earlier, it's a big it's a bad. I was just talking to an NFL GM yesterday about Penn State's run game.

And I said before that, I think James Franklin is a good coach, but I didn't think they used their running back enough. I think the kid, I think we talked about him earlier, it's a big it's a bad. I was just talking to an NFL GM yesterday about Penn State's run game.

Yards like they I thought they had a good and the game plan was good.

Yards like they I thought they had a good and the game plan was good.

I can't blame Frankly.

I can't blame Frankly.

I thought they were making it up on the final drive.

I thought they were making it up on the final drive.

Fair and that's been one of the knocks on him, like a late game situations.

Fair and that's been one of the knocks on him, like a late game situations.

He's just and I.

He's just and I.

Like James Franklin. This is not an indictment. He beats everybody except you know, like Notre Dame in Ohio State and Harbaugh's Michigan. James Franklin is a very good football, no breakthrough.

Like James Franklin. This is not an indictment. He beats everybody except you know, like Notre Dame in Ohio State and Harbaugh's Michigan. James Franklin is a very good football, no breakthrough.

Remember Harball.

Remember Harball.

We said this about him for a few years when he was.

We said this about him for a few years when he was.

At That's You watched this game last night. Does Penn State have better high end talent?

At That's You watched this game last night. Does Penn State have better high end talent?

It's at least equal maybe maybe I mean Carter, Like you said.

It's at least equal maybe maybe I mean Carter, Like you said.

Well, the tight end and Carter are the two best players.

Well, the tight end and Carter are the two best players.

Carter wasn't even one hundred percent coming off an injury. Like he looks like he I mean, he's weren't Michael Parson's number.

Carter wasn't even one hundred percent coming off an injury. Like he looks like he I mean, he's weren't Michael Parson's number.

He looks like Michael Parsons.

He looks like Michael Parsons.

He's everywhere. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon Easter nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

He's everywhere. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon Easter nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Here we go, it's hour two. We're live in Los Angeles. It's The Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. J Mack got a blazing five year in a couple of minutes. You know, it's interesting. So my initial belief on games. There's about one a week I look at and I zero in on it. You had strong feelings about the Rams in this game, and I pushed back, and I have strong feelings about the Ravens in this game. And then you start digging and digging and looking at these lines.

Here we go, it's hour two. We're live in Los Angeles. It's The Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. J Mack got a blazing five year in a couple of minutes. You know, it's interesting. So my initial belief on games. There's about one a week I look at and I zero in on it. You had strong feelings about the Rams in this game, and I pushed back, and I have strong feelings about the Ravens in this game. And then you start digging and digging and looking at these lines.

He take it, Take it the Steelers here, oh bold, you go with big dogs this weekend.

He take it, Take it the Steelers here, oh bold, you go with big dogs this weekend.

I'm not saying that.

I'm not saying that.

Listen.

Listen.

You've had a better year than me picking game, not by much. I mean I've I've been good, not great. I've been bet College football has been really good. We got Ohio State tonight, right, we both have Ohio State tonight. Yeah, we've gone last two weeks. We both had Notre Dame over Georgia and Notre Dame over Penn State. We both liked Ohio State over Oregon. We've we've I stayed away Texas ASU. You liked the ASU th opening round.

You've had a better year than me picking game, not by much. I mean I've I've been good, not great. I've been bet College football has been really good. We got Ohio State tonight, right, we both have Ohio State tonight. Yeah, we've gone last two weeks. We both had Notre Dame over Georgia and Notre Dame over Penn State. We both liked Ohio State over Oregon. We've we've I stayed away Texas ASU. You liked the ASU th opening round.

I think we went four to oh each of us.

I think we went four to oh each of us.

You did great season. No, I bought into the underdogs in the opening round and then I learned my lesson. But here we go are blazing five bought you brought to you by Draft Kings Sportsbook.

You did great season. No, I bought into the underdogs in the opening round and then I learned my lesson. But here we go are blazing five bought you brought to you by Draft Kings Sportsbook.

Let's blaze it up. It's Collins Blazing five sponsored by Draft Kicks. Steelers and Ravens.

Let's blaze it up. It's Collins Blazing five sponsored by Draft Kicks. Steelers and Ravens.

Listen, I'm gonna take the nine and a half. These are thirty eight times Tomlin harbad met The underdog's done very well in this series, three and one all time against Baltimore in the playoffs and the Ravens. They're two and six over the last eight playoff games. And I love Lamar Jackson. He's not the same. He's been under two hundred yards passing. They don't have D eight Flowers, they don't have another receiver. They have a good tight end, Lamar and a back. I mean as a starter against the Steelers in the playoffs, he has struggled. And let's be honest, the Ravens pass defense isn't great. You can move the ball, chop it up offensively. I think the Ravens win a nine and a half as Mike Tomlin's the best underdog coach in a decade. Twenty seven twenty three Baltimore wins. I'm gonna take the nine and a half points.

Listen, I'm gonna take the nine and a half. These are thirty eight times Tomlin harbad met The underdog's done very well in this series, three and one all time against Baltimore in the playoffs and the Ravens. They're two and six over the last eight playoff games. And I love Lamar Jackson. He's not the same. He's been under two hundred yards passing. They don't have D eight Flowers, they don't have another receiver. They have a good tight end, Lamar and a back. I mean as a starter against the Steelers in the playoffs, he has struggled. And let's be honest, the Ravens pass defense isn't great. You can move the ball, chop it up offensively. I think the Ravens win a nine and a half as Mike Tomlin's the best underdog coach in a decade. Twenty seven twenty three Baltimore wins. I'm gonna take the nine and a half points.

Broncos and Bills.

Broncos and Bills.

Listen, a lot of the wise guys, Yeah, they're gonna Like Denver, I'm gonna take Buffalo eight to no at home during the regular season and winning by an NFL best seventeen points. Josh Allen playoff career twenty six touchdowns, four interceptions. What's not to like? He's not Lamar Jackson. He may not be hosting trophies. He's not Lamar Jackson. James Cook led the NFL eighteen scrimmage touchdowns great at home. Broncos number seven Seeds are one and seven all time in the wild card round since playoff expansion. They didn't play particularly well down the stretch. They lost two or three games, the only win over the Chiefs, and the Chiefs were resting starters. Josh Allen at home, big spot rookie quarterbacks in the first round go eight and thirteen. I like the Bills. I like him to cover thirty to twenty Packers at Eagles. This is my favorite bet of the weekend. I like Philadelphia to win at home in Philadelphia to cover minus four and a half. They've won twelve of their last thirteen games and they're only giving up about fifteen points a game. Number two rushing offense the highest rush percentage in the league. So Jalen hurts concussion protocol. They should be able to keep it on the ground. Jalen Hurts, by the way he gets it's a fresh takeuon Barkley. Okay, so I well rested Saquon Barkley and the Packers. They were not good against good teams. Zero to five this year against the Vikings, Lions, and Eagles. Two and five against playoff teams this year. Green Bay's a bit of a front runner, a bit of a bully. I don't like him in this spot. They also were second in the NFL and drops, so they're a young team that can make mistakes. I like Philadelphia. Jalen Hurt since Week four has been great thirty three to twenty.

Listen, a lot of the wise guys, Yeah, they're gonna Like Denver, I'm gonna take Buffalo eight to no at home during the regular season and winning by an NFL best seventeen points. Josh Allen playoff career twenty six touchdowns, four interceptions. What's not to like? He's not Lamar Jackson. He may not be hosting trophies. He's not Lamar Jackson. James Cook led the NFL eighteen scrimmage touchdowns great at home. Broncos number seven Seeds are one and seven all time in the wild card round since playoff expansion. They didn't play particularly well down the stretch. They lost two or three games, the only win over the Chiefs, and the Chiefs were resting starters. Josh Allen at home, big spot rookie quarterbacks in the first round go eight and thirteen. I like the Bills. I like him to cover thirty to twenty Packers at Eagles. This is my favorite bet of the weekend. I like Philadelphia to win at home in Philadelphia to cover minus four and a half. They've won twelve of their last thirteen games and they're only giving up about fifteen points a game. Number two rushing offense the highest rush percentage in the league. So Jalen hurts concussion protocol. They should be able to keep it on the ground. Jalen Hurts, by the way he gets it's a fresh takeuon Barkley. Okay, so I well rested Saquon Barkley and the Packers. They were not good against good teams. Zero to five this year against the Vikings, Lions, and Eagles. Two and five against playoff teams this year. Green Bay's a bit of a front runner, a bit of a bully. I don't like him in this spot. They also were second in the NFL and drops, so they're a young team that can make mistakes. I like Philadelphia. Jalen Hurt since Week four has been great thirty three to twenty.

Four Commanders and Buccaneers.

Four Commanders and Buccaneers.

I think Tampa's the better team here. I'm going to take a favorite minus three at home, veteran quarterback with a real run game and a better defensive front. Do you know Tampa's the first NFL offense in league history with a seventy plus percent completion percentage through the air and five plus yards per carry. This is a daunting run attack. So Baker is going to be throwing on second and five and third and two, and Baker right now leads THEFL with fifteen touchdown passes over the last four games. So Baker's hot. The run game is substantial, and listen, we like the Commanders. They are down in the fourth quarter. It feels like even in the game they win. I mean, the most famous win this year was a Hail Mary. They've trailed in the fourth in three straight games. They don't have a run game. They're gonna be totally Jaden Daniels dependent, and he may pull it out. But they had the second easiest NFL schedule this year. This is a tough draw. I like Tampa to win and Tampa to cover thirty three to twenty four.

I think Tampa's the better team here. I'm going to take a favorite minus three at home, veteran quarterback with a real run game and a better defensive front. Do you know Tampa's the first NFL offense in league history with a seventy plus percent completion percentage through the air and five plus yards per carry. This is a daunting run attack. So Baker is going to be throwing on second and five and third and two, and Baker right now leads THEFL with fifteen touchdown passes over the last four games. So Baker's hot. The run game is substantial, and listen, we like the Commanders. They are down in the fourth quarter. It feels like even in the game they win. I mean, the most famous win this year was a Hail Mary. They've trailed in the fourth in three straight games. They don't have a run game. They're gonna be totally Jaden Daniels dependent, and he may pull it out. But they had the second easiest NFL schedule this year. This is a tough draw. I like Tampa to win and Tampa to cover thirty three to twenty four.

Viking said, Rams, It's hard.

Viking said, Rams, It's hard.

The more I thought I listened to Greg Cosel yesterday, I'm gonna take the Rams plus two and a half. Listen. They won five straight games before resting their starters in Week eighteen, and they're six and one. When they score over twenty one points, and I think they will. Matt Stafford has been a very good playoff quarterback in LA sixty nine point nine percent complete percentage with a lot of touchdowns and only three picks. Their defense is on fire. It's young, it's totally healthy. Sam Darnold's making his playoff debut. It's a road game. I'm just worried. I'm gonna take, by the way, the highest passing yard per game playoff in NFL history for quarterbacks, Matt Stafford is number one over Kurt Warner and Dan Fouts. I'm gonna take the Rams to win a close one, twenty seven to twenty four. So there you have it. By the way, DraftKings this week's new customers bet five, get bucks, get two hundred in bonus bets. The promo code has heard. I'm taking some favorites here. I'm taking Buffalo, I'm taking Philadelphia, I'm taking Tampa as favorites, and I'll take the Steelers and the Rams getting points. I think Jmack likes most of them, except the Pittsburgh I know.

The more I thought I listened to Greg Cosel yesterday, I'm gonna take the Rams plus two and a half. Listen. They won five straight games before resting their starters in Week eighteen, and they're six and one. When they score over twenty one points, and I think they will. Matt Stafford has been a very good playoff quarterback in LA sixty nine point nine percent complete percentage with a lot of touchdowns and only three picks. Their defense is on fire. It's young, it's totally healthy. Sam Darnold's making his playoff debut. It's a road game. I'm just worried. I'm gonna take, by the way, the highest passing yard per game playoff in NFL history for quarterbacks, Matt Stafford is number one over Kurt Warner and Dan Fouts. I'm gonna take the Rams to win a close one, twenty seven to twenty four. So there you have it. By the way, DraftKings this week's new customers bet five, get bucks, get two hundred in bonus bets. The promo code has heard. I'm taking some favorites here. I'm taking Buffalo, I'm taking Philadelphia, I'm taking Tampa as favorites, and I'll take the Steelers and the Rams getting points. I think Jmack likes most of them, except the Pittsburgh I know.

I think I'm in lockstep with you through all along the board.

I think I'm in lockstep with you through all along the board.

I just I don't.

I just I don't.

I mean, I guess the is a Flowers injury.

I mean, I guess the is a Flowers injury.

He's been ruled out.

He's been ruled out.

To me, its steels substance. He'll be limited without it. No, I mean it's Mark Andrews in a backfield like they don't have their next number two receiver of fifteen catches. Yeah, in the NFL. This isn't Penn State, It's the NFL. I don't know. Without Jay Flowers, They're not going to be explosive down the field at all. And I think that makes the game a thirty to thirty game in between the thirties.

To me, its steels substance. He'll be limited without it. No, I mean it's Mark Andrews in a backfield like they don't have their next number two receiver of fifteen catches. Yeah, in the NFL. This isn't Penn State, It's the NFL. I don't know. Without Jay Flowers, They're not going to be explosive down the field at all. And I think that makes the game a thirty to thirty game in between the thirties.

Probably a good bet.

Probably a good bet.

Fight.

Fight.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and Noone Eastern nin am Pacific.

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All right, Urban Meyer, the voice of college football here, is joining us down Fox Sports' big noon kickoff Saturdays in the fall. Okay, so I'm watching that game last night, so listen. I don't like the second guest coaches. I don't. I'm not a second guess or Urban because I don't know who's healthy and who's not. You looked at film and I didn't. But I got to get to something. So Penn State hadn't completed a ball to receivers. There's very little time left. Notre Dame Secondary is excellent. They're very disciplined and well co and let's be honest about Penn State's quarterback. He can make mistakes. I don't think with that time forty yards to go, I'm packing at him. We're built for overtime. I got great running backs. I didn't like Penn State getting aggressive down the stretch. Am I wrong telling where you land on that?

All right, Urban Meyer, the voice of college football here, is joining us down Fox Sports' big noon kickoff Saturdays in the fall. Okay, so I'm watching that game last night, so listen. I don't like the second guest coaches. I don't. I'm not a second guess or Urban because I don't know who's healthy and who's not. You looked at film and I didn't. But I got to get to something. So Penn State hadn't completed a ball to receivers. There's very little time left. Notre Dame Secondary is excellent. They're very disciplined and well co and let's be honest about Penn State's quarterback. He can make mistakes. I don't think with that time forty yards to go, I'm packing at him. We're built for overtime. I got great running backs. I didn't like Penn State getting aggressive down the stretch. Am I wrong telling where you land on that?

Yeah? I was in the suite at the Orange Bowl watching it, and I was with a group of people. And when they got the ball back, they're deep in their own territory. Forty seven seconds left. They did have all the timeouts, and they ran the ball. Nick Singleton, I believe got like twelve yards in ten yards. Yeah, And I even said to myself, don't do it. Don't just play this thing out. Run the ball one more time. If you get near the midfield, then go ahead. But you know, Drew Aller is going to have to live with that one for a long time. But I saw the same thing. The country saw that Penn State's receivers just had a hard time getting open. And you can put this all on the quarterback. It's not it's their best player is Tyler Warren. And then the two said after that, there's a significant drop off, So that'll be questioned for a long time. But you also, you know, you kick yourself in the teeth if you don't at least take a shot. But I would have I would have handed that thing off one or two more times. If they would have busted it, I would have thrown it down the field and never throw that ball across the middle in that kind of situation, and that one that was tough. And I'm with you Colling, I exactly. And I said that to a group of people. They're looking at me, and I said, no, no, no, don't know. Two manute here, it's only forty seven seconds left. You're facing a secondary that's better than your receivers. Don't do it.

Yeah? I was in the suite at the Orange Bowl watching it, and I was with a group of people. And when they got the ball back, they're deep in their own territory. Forty seven seconds left. They did have all the timeouts, and they ran the ball. Nick Singleton, I believe got like twelve yards in ten yards. Yeah, And I even said to myself, don't do it. Don't just play this thing out. Run the ball one more time. If you get near the midfield, then go ahead. But you know, Drew Aller is going to have to live with that one for a long time. But I saw the same thing. The country saw that Penn State's receivers just had a hard time getting open. And you can put this all on the quarterback. It's not it's their best player is Tyler Warren. And then the two said after that, there's a significant drop off, So that'll be questioned for a long time. But you also, you know, you kick yourself in the teeth if you don't at least take a shot. But I would have I would have handed that thing off one or two more times. If they would have busted it, I would have thrown it down the field and never throw that ball across the middle in that kind of situation, and that one that was tough. And I'm with you Colling, I exactly. And I said that to a group of people. They're looking at me, and I said, no, no, no, don't know. Two manute here, it's only forty seven seconds left. You're facing a secondary that's better than your receivers. Don't do it.

Yeah, I was talking about Mark Marcus Freeman. You know, he started owing three. He lost his first home game to Marshall and he's thirty five years old, and I'm like, oh boy, and he had good players. I'm like, I don't know if this thing's gonna work. So when you know you were the turnaround specialist, that's what you you and Bill Parcells like, you're in a very short class. So when he starts owing three and he's thirty five, and unlike you, he didn't you know your first job you were kind of hitting were there in bowling Green. We didn't know who urban Meyer was. His first job's Notre Dame. How do you think he turned it around, go back to the first year. What's his secret sauce here?

Yeah, I was talking about Mark Marcus Freeman. You know, he started owing three. He lost his first home game to Marshall and he's thirty five years old, and I'm like, oh boy, and he had good players. I'm like, I don't know if this thing's gonna work. So when you know you were the turnaround specialist, that's what you you and Bill Parcells like, you're in a very short class. So when he starts owing three and he's thirty five, and unlike you, he didn't you know your first job you were kind of hitting were there in bowling Green. We didn't know who urban Meyer was. His first job's Notre Dame. How do you think he turned it around, go back to the first year. What's his secret sauce here?

I think he goes back to the way he was a player at Ohio State. You know, he's always had that reputation of doing things the right way, of being unselfish and extremely hard work, and I think that's what he is as a position coach for Luke Fickle. Luke Fickle is one of my guys. So I know Marcus Freeman very well. I followed him. I actually called him. I saw his press conference after they lost to Marshall, and he looked exactly like he thought he would look. He looked like, what in the world just happened? Where am I and what am I doing? And I remember Mac Brown reached out to me when I was at Florida was in a similar situation. I was a little bit over my skis and you just you've become overwhelmed. And I talked to him quite a bit. I've stayed in touch with him. His maturity of a coach is I don't want to say it's unprecedented, but it's phenomenal what he's done. He's got a good roster, great roster he does not have. You know, the two rosters playing tonight are better than Notre Day. Oh yes, but they got something. They got something very special in that locker room, their leadership, their toughness to refuse to lose. That game was almost out of hand in that first half against Penn State, and they you got to get Marcus Freeman his coaching staff credit, but also those damn players. Man, I was there, I watched them. They were They refuse to lose and just toughed it out. Man, that was a great win for them.

I think he goes back to the way he was a player at Ohio State. You know, he's always had that reputation of doing things the right way, of being unselfish and extremely hard work, and I think that's what he is as a position coach for Luke Fickle. Luke Fickle is one of my guys. So I know Marcus Freeman very well. I followed him. I actually called him. I saw his press conference after they lost to Marshall, and he looked exactly like he thought he would look. He looked like, what in the world just happened? Where am I and what am I doing? And I remember Mac Brown reached out to me when I was at Florida was in a similar situation. I was a little bit over my skis and you just you've become overwhelmed. And I talked to him quite a bit. I've stayed in touch with him. His maturity of a coach is I don't want to say it's unprecedented, but it's phenomenal what he's done. He's got a good roster, great roster he does not have. You know, the two rosters playing tonight are better than Notre Day. Oh yes, but they got something. They got something very special in that locker room, their leadership, their toughness to refuse to lose. That game was almost out of hand in that first half against Penn State, and they you got to get Marcus Freeman his coaching staff credit, but also those damn players. Man, I was there, I watched them. They were They refuse to lose and just toughed it out. Man, that was a great win for them.

So one more question on this Riley Leonard is it's fascinating because everybody's talking about Drew Aller and Shaduur and all this stuff. And I said, there's something about Riley Leonard. He's got a little, just a little Josh Allen, just to eight percent Josh Allen. But you know what I like about Riley Leonard is you know, there were a lot of reasons he could have had his head down. His defense, got a couple of picks, one terrible call, took one on two away, they trailed that running backs, banged up his own line. I like Riley Leonard. He's a kind of kid that has a short memory. I mean, if you watch his body language urban, he's smiling, he's in a good mood, he's big, he's physical. What do you see when you see him? Because I'm trying to tell everybody on this set, I'm like, I like that kid. That's a Sunday player. To me, everybody's like, he never completes passes. What do you see with Riley Leonard?

So one more question on this Riley Leonard is it's fascinating because everybody's talking about Drew Aller and Shaduur and all this stuff. And I said, there's something about Riley Leonard. He's got a little, just a little Josh Allen, just to eight percent Josh Allen. But you know what I like about Riley Leonard is you know, there were a lot of reasons he could have had his head down. His defense, got a couple of picks, one terrible call, took one on two away, they trailed that running backs, banged up his own line. I like Riley Leonard. He's a kind of kid that has a short memory. I mean, if you watch his body language urban, he's smiling, he's in a good mood, he's big, he's physical. What do you see when you see him? Because I'm trying to tell everybody on this set, I'm like, I like that kid. That's a Sunday player. To me, everybody's like, he never completes passes. What do you see with Riley Leonard?

I see what his record is. I see a guy that's a good passer. I see a guy that's has so much of the intangibles that you see as leadership, as walking around the sideline, his energy. Like you said, he's always a positive person. A person is what their record is. That's what Riley Leonard is. He's a winner. He's gonna win. You know. Is he good enough to be a starter in the National Football League? No, he's not physically. But there's other guys in the NFL I've seen have great careers that weren't good enough physically. They just have the other stuff, and he has the other stuff. Remember, a man is what his record is, and that's I see Riley Rudgard. What is he He's playing for the National Championship. His career running percentage is extremely high for a quarterback. His completion percentage in yards per game is average. That's what I see. I see a winner that has all the values. And I'm speaking on I had a guy like that called j T. Barrett.

I see what his record is. I see a guy that's a good passer. I see a guy that's has so much of the intangibles that you see as leadership, as walking around the sideline, his energy. Like you said, he's always a positive person. A person is what their record is. That's what Riley Leonard is. He's a winner. He's gonna win. You know. Is he good enough to be a starter in the National Football League? No, he's not physically. But there's other guys in the NFL I've seen have great careers that weren't good enough physically. They just have the other stuff, and he has the other stuff. Remember, a man is what his record is, and that's I see Riley Rudgard. What is he He's playing for the National Championship. His career running percentage is extremely high for a quarterback. His completion percentage in yards per game is average. That's what I see. I see a winner that has all the values. And I'm speaking on I had a guy like that called j T. Barrett.

Yeah.

Yeah.

J T Barrett is what his record is. He's a winner. Yeah yeah.

J T Barrett is what his record is. He's a winner. Yeah yeah.

So let's talk Ohio State and Texas. So I told everybody get your welders mask on. This is gonna be Fourth of July. It's gonna be fireworks and splash plays. So when you go into a game like this, you're the Ohio State coach and you know Texas has nothing but talent and they're gonna make you look bad. You may fall behind, there's gonna be this is a game that resilience matters, because it's not going to be I mean, I think last night's game looked like you think it would look. I think Tonight's could be the opposite. When you go into a game and this may be the only time this year Ohio State has met their match physically, what is the messaging? Because Texas played Georgia twice, they've met their match physically. Ohio State, I don't think has and this is the first one. What's the messaging?

So let's talk Ohio State and Texas. So I told everybody get your welders mask on. This is gonna be Fourth of July. It's gonna be fireworks and splash plays. So when you go into a game like this, you're the Ohio State coach and you know Texas has nothing but talent and they're gonna make you look bad. You may fall behind, there's gonna be this is a game that resilience matters, because it's not going to be I mean, I think last night's game looked like you think it would look. I think Tonight's could be the opposite. When you go into a game and this may be the only time this year Ohio State has met their match physically, what is the messaging? Because Texas played Georgia twice, they've met their match physically. Ohio State, I don't think has and this is the first one. What's the messaging?

Well, the message in is and I actually set this to a friend of mine. When talent becomes equated, it's not the pregame talk, it's not the it's simply the most prepared team will win this game. And the team that practiced the best had the best preparation. I'm not just talking about practice, but their bodies are in great shape, and that that takes so many hours of prep for a player, especially this late in the season. The guy that spends them so much time in the training room, getting dry needle, getting the cuppying, all the different prehab things that get your body at the point to be at its best tonight. So the most prepared team will win. And I also believe that Texas or Ohio State, how Ryan Dave manages the game and Sark will be how their defense is playing. If their defense is playing well, I would always have two different game plans in my mind as a game manager. If my defense is going out like it did against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl in two thousand and eight and we held Sam Bradford and that offense to seven points at halftime, it was a whole different animal if it was twenty one to whatever it was. So I think the first half, and I think this is really cool for the viewer to watch this. The defense is going to set. It has to because you go out there and do something stupid early in that first quarter. This is not Tennessee, all due respect in, it's not Oregon. You're right. This Texas team is toe for toe, the only team in the country that can line up against Ohio State and they can. So how your defense plays is going to how you manage that game.

Well, the message in is and I actually set this to a friend of mine. When talent becomes equated, it's not the pregame talk, it's not the it's simply the most prepared team will win this game. And the team that practiced the best had the best preparation. I'm not just talking about practice, but their bodies are in great shape, and that that takes so many hours of prep for a player, especially this late in the season. The guy that spends them so much time in the training room, getting dry needle, getting the cuppying, all the different prehab things that get your body at the point to be at its best tonight. So the most prepared team will win. And I also believe that Texas or Ohio State, how Ryan Dave manages the game and Sark will be how their defense is playing. If their defense is playing well, I would always have two different game plans in my mind as a game manager. If my defense is going out like it did against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl in two thousand and eight and we held Sam Bradford and that offense to seven points at halftime, it was a whole different animal if it was twenty one to whatever it was. So I think the first half, and I think this is really cool for the viewer to watch this. The defense is going to set. It has to because you go out there and do something stupid early in that first quarter. This is not Tennessee, all due respect in, it's not Oregon. You're right. This Texas team is toe for toe, the only team in the country that can line up against Ohio State and they can. So how your defense plays is going to how you manage that game.

So listen, Saban did this where he pulled a quarterback and inserted a quarterback in a national championship game. So let's just and I know that's guts. That is hard to do. So would there be a point tonight if you're Sark? Would it be a score thing? Would it be a confidence thing? Because I saw Ryan Day when Will Howard struggled. I watched him change his game plan against Michigan like I saw him play as Jane. You can't do that tonight. You can't just say we're not going to throw as much. Would what would you have to see it with, Sark that you would be concerned about the quarterback situation, which had been inconsistent for Texas this year.

So listen, Saban did this where he pulled a quarterback and inserted a quarterback in a national championship game. So let's just and I know that's guts. That is hard to do. So would there be a point tonight if you're Sark? Would it be a score thing? Would it be a confidence thing? Because I saw Ryan Day when Will Howard struggled. I watched him change his game plan against Michigan like I saw him play as Jane. You can't do that tonight. You can't just say we're not going to throw as much. Would what would you have to see it with, Sark that you would be concerned about the quarterback situation, which had been inconsistent for Texas this year.

Yeah, here's the thing about Arch. I think he's going to be a great player. I'm about to say something that I don't want to offend anybody that he's not a great player. He's going to be a great player. When I watched and I did, I went back and watched a bunch of his tape. It's not like he's overwhelming yet. It's not like he comes in the game and it's just he blows the doors off of everybody else. So I don't see that drastic, you know, I do believe Arch Fanning at some point will be a high draft pick and all that that time is not now, okay, And so I think he's doing the right thing with can you quin yours? Has one of the big games do you make? Do you do the Nick Saban? Which is one of the gutchest move I've ever seen in that kind of scenario. Only Sark knows that because we're not privy to being in practice and what Arts is really capable of doing. What I've seen, he's got a great future, But right now, one years is the best opportunity to win.

Yeah, here's the thing about Arch. I think he's going to be a great player. I'm about to say something that I don't want to offend anybody that he's not a great player. He's going to be a great player. When I watched and I did, I went back and watched a bunch of his tape. It's not like he's overwhelming yet. It's not like he comes in the game and it's just he blows the doors off of everybody else. So I don't see that drastic, you know, I do believe Arch Fanning at some point will be a high draft pick and all that that time is not now, okay, And so I think he's doing the right thing with can you quin yours? Has one of the big games do you make? Do you do the Nick Saban? Which is one of the gutchest move I've ever seen in that kind of scenario. Only Sark knows that because we're not privy to being in practice and what Arts is really capable of doing. What I've seen, he's got a great future, But right now, one years is the best opportunity to win.

Yeah, okay, so years ago, I don't know if I told you this years and years ago, I think you were coaching at Florida and the other place the other big sports network had Ohio State played LSU, and I saw you in the hallway. I said, hey, I was doing a commercial break. I said, hey, coach, get over here. What's this game going to look like? And you told me off the air, you said blah blah blah blah blah. And it looked exactly like you told me it was going to look like. And then I went on the air and I pretended that I knew that, and I didn't give you any credit. I just said, you know, here's what the game is going to look like. I guarantee you. So anyway, now everybody knows that. So tonight I'm not asking for a score. What do you think the game looks like tonight? What should I What kind of tempo pace? What does it look like?

Yeah, okay, so years ago, I don't know if I told you this years and years ago, I think you were coaching at Florida and the other place the other big sports network had Ohio State played LSU, and I saw you in the hallway. I said, hey, I was doing a commercial break. I said, hey, coach, get over here. What's this game going to look like? And you told me off the air, you said blah blah blah blah blah. And it looked exactly like you told me it was going to look like. And then I went on the air and I pretended that I knew that, and I didn't give you any credit. I just said, you know, here's what the game is going to look like. I guarantee you. So anyway, now everybody knows that. So tonight I'm not asking for a score. What do you think the game looks like tonight? What should I What kind of tempo pace? What does it look like?

So? Ohio State twenty twenty four was a slow starting team and the Wolverine game was really bad as far as a slow start. They actually fell behind Marshall seven to nothing. I remember, you know, we had we were there, and I've obviously I watched other games against Tennessee. Something happened, and I think all the criticism about Chip Kelly and Ryan Day not being created enough, not being exposed enough, not getting the best players of ball. They went after him like I mean, I mean it was we saw the scores, the score, the game was over in the first quarter. Yeah, I'm more. I hope they don't do that. I hope they're conscientious about how aggressive they are. Because I went back and watched Texas. Texas has this will be the best secondary, this will be the best defensive line in Ohio State still is three offensive linemen down upfront. I think you see how that defense plays. The fans don't want to hear that, But you got to go win this game. How do you go win the game? See how your defense plays, managed the game. I would not be reckless in that first quart I think against Tennessee and I mean I loved it, it was fantastic, But you overmatched Oregon. You had better players in Oregon. You had much better players in Tennessee. Tonight, I think they I think they have the better roster, but I think it's fairly close.

So? Ohio State twenty twenty four was a slow starting team and the Wolverine game was really bad as far as a slow start. They actually fell behind Marshall seven to nothing. I remember, you know, we had we were there, and I've obviously I watched other games against Tennessee. Something happened, and I think all the criticism about Chip Kelly and Ryan Day not being created enough, not being exposed enough, not getting the best players of ball. They went after him like I mean, I mean it was we saw the scores, the score, the game was over in the first quarter. Yeah, I'm more. I hope they don't do that. I hope they're conscientious about how aggressive they are. Because I went back and watched Texas. Texas has this will be the best secondary, this will be the best defensive line in Ohio State still is three offensive linemen down upfront. I think you see how that defense plays. The fans don't want to hear that, But you got to go win this game. How do you go win the game? See how your defense plays, managed the game. I would not be reckless in that first quart I think against Tennessee and I mean I loved it, it was fantastic, But you overmatched Oregon. You had better players in Oregon. You had much better players in Tennessee. Tonight, I think they I think they have the better roster, but I think it's fairly close.

Very excited Urban Meyer Fox Sports College Football. He's on the big noon kickoff, and you were inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame last night. How about that? And then and so you you.

Very excited Urban Meyer Fox Sports College Football. He's on the big noon kickoff, and you were inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame last night. How about that? And then and so you you.

Drove the Penn State fans were the Penn State fans didn't like that, and Notre Dame fans were getting after Brady or Matt Leiner. So it was well. I looked at the Orange Bowl gall and I says, Holy cal that ever happened, she happens every year. Yeah, I mean, if there's fans at the other school, yeah, you get hammered pretty good. So it's fun though.

Drove the Penn State fans were the Penn State fans didn't like that, and Notre Dame fans were getting after Brady or Matt Leiner. So it was well. I looked at the Orange Bowl gall and I says, Holy cal that ever happened, she happens every year. Yeah, I mean, if there's fans at the other school, yeah, you get hammered pretty good. So it's fun though.

Notre Dame fans, Notre Dame fans are I don't know. I've told you this before you had You had an opportunity to take a Notre Dame job, and you didn't. I know that you don't want to say that. You're a humble guy, but Notre Dame. You were an assistant there for years. And I'm watching them last night. I love when Notre Dame's good. There's just I mean, when you were on that campus, you had a Florida job, you had an Ohio State job, you did smaller colleges. Did Notre Dame feel a little different, all things considered.

Notre Dame fans, Notre Dame fans are I don't know. I've told you this before you had You had an opportunity to take a Notre Dame job, and you didn't. I know that you don't want to say that. You're a humble guy, but Notre Dame. You were an assistant there for years. And I'm watching them last night. I love when Notre Dame's good. There's just I mean, when you were on that campus, you had a Florida job, you had an Ohio State job, you did smaller colleges. Did Notre Dame feel a little different, all things considered.

But there's no place like it. I made the comment that I got a little choked up the first time when I saw them win a couple of weeks ago against Georgia. You know, who'd have thought in this day and age that they would basically control a game against the University of Georgia and SEC powerhouse. I know I recruited there. I made the comment that I remember when you hear those words lake effect coming off of Lake Michigan. There's only a certain type of player that you can recruit to Notre Dame. December January. It's changed a little bit, but I mean, academics are real. You know, there's seventy five hundred students. Are how many students go to game? Call it seventy five hundred. It's it's incredible place. It's the purity of college football. I love their coach. I love that place. And I was the same as you when Notre Dame's great. It's good for great for college football, good senior coach, good senior college.

But there's no place like it. I made the comment that I got a little choked up the first time when I saw them win a couple of weeks ago against Georgia. You know, who'd have thought in this day and age that they would basically control a game against the University of Georgia and SEC powerhouse. I know I recruited there. I made the comment that I remember when you hear those words lake effect coming off of Lake Michigan. There's only a certain type of player that you can recruit to Notre Dame. December January. It's changed a little bit, but I mean, academics are real. You know, there's seventy five hundred students. Are how many students go to game? Call it seventy five hundred. It's it's incredible place. It's the purity of college football. I love their coach. I love that place. And I was the same as you when Notre Dame's great. It's good for great for college football, good senior coach, good senior college.

All right, the great Urban Meyer. Yeah, it's if you love college football and the traditions and the stadiums. And I thought last night was just so rich. It's the fabric of college football starts with to me, it doesn't start with the SEC. When I was a kid growing up, Washington was great, Ohio State was great, Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan. It was cold weather teams that were great. I mean, USC always had a bunch of players. Texas was hit and miss, but Nebraska was great. SEC wasn't as dominant like Georgia. You know, the Herschel Walker Georgia team with Buck Baloo at quarterback. One of Natty didn't. I don't know if they completed more than one or two passes. But I mean, when I kind of think of college football and its history, it was a lot of these northern powers, and then over the last twenty years it's kind of veered down into Sunshine states. But I just think there's something pretty cool about Penn State Michigan. I mean, I was thinking this last night watching it with j Mac. I'm thinking, are we going to get a big ten final off Michigan's win? I mean, what what? Because? Right now, I mean SEC fans the new guy in the neighborhood, Texas is their last shot. It's either going to be Northern power Ohio State or northern power Notre Dame. I'll tell you then. I'll just tell you this right now, Ohio State Notre Dame television rating may beat USC Texas.

All right, the great Urban Meyer. Yeah, it's if you love college football and the traditions and the stadiums. And I thought last night was just so rich. It's the fabric of college football starts with to me, it doesn't start with the SEC. When I was a kid growing up, Washington was great, Ohio State was great, Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan. It was cold weather teams that were great. I mean, USC always had a bunch of players. Texas was hit and miss, but Nebraska was great. SEC wasn't as dominant like Georgia. You know, the Herschel Walker Georgia team with Buck Baloo at quarterback. One of Natty didn't. I don't know if they completed more than one or two passes. But I mean, when I kind of think of college football and its history, it was a lot of these northern powers, and then over the last twenty years it's kind of veered down into Sunshine states. But I just think there's something pretty cool about Penn State Michigan. I mean, I was thinking this last night watching it with j Mac. I'm thinking, are we going to get a big ten final off Michigan's win? I mean, what what? Because? Right now, I mean SEC fans the new guy in the neighborhood, Texas is their last shot. It's either going to be Northern power Ohio State or northern power Notre Dame. I'll tell you then. I'll just tell you this right now, Ohio State Notre Dame television rating may beat USC Texas.

What's your line for that?

What's your line for that?

Who? How much is Ohio's day favored by over at Notre Dame? Yeah, I because Texas is. I would got to be bigger than six six and a half. I think Ohio State would win. I think might be seven and a half, maybe maybe higher. I don't even know if i'd want to.

Who? How much is Ohio's day favored by over at Notre Dame? Yeah, I because Texas is. I would got to be bigger than six six and a half. I think Ohio State would win. I think might be seven and a half, maybe maybe higher. I don't even know if i'd want to.

You've watched this Notre Dame offense now closely the last couple of games.

You've watched this Notre Dame offense now closely the last couple of games.

They don't have months coch Yeah, but I've watched this coaching staff in this second area.

They don't have months coch Yeah, but I've watched this coaching staff in this second area.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No, definitely, and they came out of it pretty healthy last night, didn't they? Riley offensive lineman went down.

No, definitely, and they came out of it pretty healthy last night, didn't they? Riley offensive lineman went down.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I don't know if it's serious or long term, but I think if you're a Notre Dame fan, you're probably rooting Texas here.

I don't know if it's serious or long term, but I think if you're a Notre Dame fan, you're probably rooting Texas here.

Right, Oh, I think Notre Dame could beat Texas.

Right, Oh, I think Notre Dame could beat Texas.

I don't.

I don't.

I don't rooting for Texas. You want to? You want to see that? Yeah, I think they could beat Texas. I'm not saying they would. They'd be an underdog, but I can see Notre Dame getting into Texas's head.

I don't rooting for Texas. You want to? You want to see that? Yeah, I think they could beat Texas. I'm not saying they would. They'd be an underdog, but I can see Notre Dame getting into Texas's head.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Penn State receivers had zero catches. Jeremiah Smith will have three on the first drive.

Penn State receivers had zero catches. Jeremiah Smith will have three on the first drive.

Maybe, I mean, come on, yeah,

Maybe, I mean, come on, yeah,