1 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: And welcome in lay kick on the air. It is 2 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: Thursday night, January seventh year of Our Lord, twenty twenty one. 3 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: Still not in the studio in National Still got things 4 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: going on back here at home, still in Georgia. That 5 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: is where we are broadcasting from the tentative, and I 6 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,479 Speaker 1: do mean tentative written in a light pencil. Plan is 7 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: to be back in the studio Sunday night. Okay, everyone 8 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: crossed your fingers. We'll see if that comes to fruition. 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: That'll be the night before the National Championship game. So 10 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: hopefully at some point in the next year or so 11 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: you'll actually see a moving, living picture of me instead 12 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: of just hearing my voice. Now, that could be a 13 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: good thing, it could be a bad thing, but hopefully 14 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: it will be some kind of thing Sunday night. So 15 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:47,599 Speaker 1: thank you for bearing with us and hanging in there 16 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: with us. It's not like it's thrown things completely off 17 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: the rails, but we've had to adjust on the fly. 18 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: So tonight we got a jam back shows as you 19 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: would figure we would have the Thursday before a National 20 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: championship game. Now what I thought, and I was talking 21 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: to Director of College and I thought that tonight we 22 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: were just going to do wall to wall Ohio State Alabama, 23 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,559 Speaker 1: and we are doing that tonight is our full National 24 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: Championship preview special. However, as many of you probably noticed 25 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: over the past week, we've been sort of hinting at 26 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: more news coming about Tennessee and Jeremy Pruitt, and that 27 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: did happen today. I don't know if you noticed. If 28 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 1: you didn't, we will rehash that. So the very latest 29 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: there and now I think we can a little more 30 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: freely speculate about what's going to happen moving forward and 31 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 1: what needs to happen, and whose legs have been cut 32 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: out from under him, YadA, YadA. So thank you so 33 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: much for watching and listening. Please subscribe to the twenty 34 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: four to seven Sports YouTube channel where you're at right 35 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: now if you're watching, and subscribe to the Late Kick 36 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: podcast where you may be right now if you're listening. 37 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: We've done really really good traffic there, and don't think 38 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: for a second that the content stops when the season stops. 39 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 1: In fact, I'm probably a little more excited. I don't 40 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: think I should say this out loud, but I already 41 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: started the Senate, so who cares. I'm a little more 42 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: excited about some of the content ideas we have for 43 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: the off season than I even am for the regular season. 44 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: So trust me, I will at least I think I 45 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: can tell you that you will really like what we 46 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: have coming up in the office season. It makes it 47 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: a lot shorter. The off season normally seems like about 48 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: fourteen months, so we try and condense it with really 49 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: good stuff to pass the time. So let's dive in 50 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: on this. We are, as I said, As I said, 51 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: we're going to talk about Tennessee. We're going to talk 52 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: about Ohio State, Bama, and that should fill our show tonight. 53 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: So let's very unprofessionally, let me lit my finger and 54 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: let's flip the old notebook page. There we go. Okay, 55 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: so there's trouble in Knoxville. I mean, there's definitive trouble 56 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 1: in Tennessee. We've known it for a while, but today 57 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: Mark schleigh Baugh, story that I had heard was coming 58 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: for the better part of a week now with ESPN 59 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 1: dot Com, released a piece about the hiring freeze. Now, 60 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: if I were to just say those two words, it 61 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: would set off totally different sets of alarm bells. Hiring freeze, Well, 62 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: let's pause, at least for a little while. That's not 63 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: what's happening. What's happening is we have an actual hiring 64 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: freeze at Tennessee. So here's what's happening. Okay, you can 65 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: read this piece over on ESPN dot com. I think 66 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: it's free and so here are the nuts and bolts, 67 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: and here's what's going on. We've talked about this already 68 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: on the show. Right now, it's a mess at Tennessee. 69 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,679 Speaker 1: There's an internal investigation going on. The timeline has essentially 70 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 1: been this pruit comes into the season, he's cool, then 71 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: they start losing games. Then there's talk about him being 72 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: on the hot seat, and then there's some people like 73 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 1: me who push back and say, you're gonna put a 74 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: guy in the hot seat just because he lost in 75 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,399 Speaker 1: twenty twenty. But be that as it may. The answer is, yes, 76 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: we are going to. But then if that wasn't going 77 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:20,959 Speaker 1: to be enough, then you also have internal investigations popping 78 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: up for improprieties and recruiting violations maybe or internal violations. 79 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: Maybe we'll see, because that will eventually come to the surface, 80 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: and then you have an entire new set of problems, 81 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: and that kind of gets us to about where we 82 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: are right now, and where we are right now is 83 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: nothing can happen there. And you got, on one hand, 84 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: Jeremy Prewitt yelling at the top of his lungs. Wait 85 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: a second, you want me to win, and you're mad 86 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: I'm not winning, But yet you won't let me hire 87 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: new staff, and all my players are jumping into the 88 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: transfer portal and I can't lock up a recruiting class 89 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: because every rival coaching staff is telling him about the 90 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: uncertainty here and I can't disagree because I'm uncertain. And 91 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: then you got the chancellor up there saying, not my problem, man, 92 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: I'm not going to allow you to hire new people 93 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: until we know what's happening with you and whether you're 94 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: going to be around, And therein lies the problem. So 95 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: here is what's happening. What's happening is you are probably 96 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: witnessing the end of Jeremy Pruitt's tenure at Tennessee. Just 97 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 1: to be blunt with you, now, that doesn't mean he's 98 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: going to be fired next week, but either directly or indirectly, 99 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: at this point, I feel like this is probably the 100 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: end for him. If it's direct and there is coming 101 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 1: a day very soon where he sits in a room, 102 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: he being Jeremy Prewitt, with investigators and lawyers, and they 103 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: lay out what they have found on him, and he 104 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: has to refute or defend, or deny or admit like 105 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: all that has to happen. Either that's going to happen, 106 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: and that right there is the end of him being 107 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: at Tennessee, or they're going to be able to have 108 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: Jeremy Prwitz survive, but a lot of other folks lose 109 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: their job. But even then his legs are cut out 110 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: from under him, because by that point, I mean, what 111 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: do you have. You got Jeremy Pruitt with a gutted staff, 112 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 1: a id roster. A lot of guys have gone into 113 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: the portal. I would expect a few more if what 114 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: I'm hearing is true, to hop into the portal and 115 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: a recruiting class that's not necessarily anything to write home about. 116 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: I mean, you'll have all kinds of negative energy around there. 117 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 1: I don't know that he would be able to enjoy 118 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: any kind of strong institutional support, especially to the degree 119 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 1: that Nick Saban or Kirby Smart have. And so what 120 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: do you have going for you? So even if this 121 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: does not immediately cost Jeremy Prue at his job. I mean, 122 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: it's probably irrelevant and it's probably only a matter of time. 123 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: So if he's given twenty twenty one at this point, 124 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 1: even the most optimistic of outlooks would have to conclude 125 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: that it's going to be a do or die season 126 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: for him. And you're going into a door diar season, 127 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: maybe with one or both hands tied behind your back, 128 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: and you have to compete against the best of the 129 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: best and the toughest conference in America with no wiggle room. 130 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: So that is probably where they are right now now. 131 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: I was doing radio with Trey Wallace and the guys 132 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: up in Knoxville yesterday, and you know, we started to 133 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: broach a different angle on this subject, and that is, 134 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 1: I think it's fair to do this now, And that is, 135 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 1: if you start to entertain the idea that prew It 136 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: won't be the head coach there in twenty twenty one, 137 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 1: and I don't think that's unfair again at all. I 138 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: would be fifty to fifty at best right now if 139 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: I had to wager on that. So if it does 140 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: come to fruition that Prowit's out, what is that job 141 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: what's the Tennessee job, because there is, There are wildly 142 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: differing opinions on this, and I think a lot of 143 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: times folks struggle to look past the here and now. 144 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 1: Right now, Tennessee is a program, is a mess, and 145 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: they've got NCAA issues up there. You know, potentially we'll 146 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: see what is born out eventually when those findings are 147 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: made public. But you know, there's no way to know 148 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: even if you get rid of pru It, there's no 149 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: way to know if those sanctions are still there. Are 150 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: you trying to find a coach to take over a 151 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 1: program that is being placed on probation or having scholarships 152 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: taken away? We don't know how that's going to pan out. 153 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: So you got to tack that onto already. As I said, 154 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: a wide discrepancy and opinion on what the Tennessee job is. 155 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: And the reason I'm saying that is because what we 156 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 1: have to ask is who can they get if pro 157 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: It's out? Who can they get? And here's my concern. 158 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: My concern is not enough people out there agree with 159 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: me anymore. My opinion on this has always been, if 160 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: we can assume for a second that there are no 161 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: sanctions hanging over Tennessee. So let's just assume that my 162 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: opinion has always been Tennessee can be a premier job. 163 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: The fact that it isn't is not an indication that 164 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: it's proof that it can't be. I don't think causation 165 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 1: and correlation match there. I think that the cause for 166 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: Tennessee not being an elite job right now or performing 167 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: at an elite level, let's say, has been poor hiring decisions. 168 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: So if Tennessee were to have made the right higher 169 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: post Lane Kiffin, for example, then I think they would 170 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: have been fine. They didn't, and then after that they didn't, 171 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: and then after that they didn't, And so here's the 172 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: pushback though. The pushback is maybe they've made those Highers 173 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: calls they couldn't get anyone better. And that is a 174 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: concern for me because it doesn't matter what I think 175 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: about the job. I'm not in the running for being hired. 176 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: So you know, if the actual coaching market doesn't dictate 177 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: or view the value of that job being on part 178 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: with what I think, then it doesn't really matter. Here 179 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: is my issue. My issue is I think at this 180 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: point Tennessee's probably going to need a bridge candidate, and 181 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: that means this, whoever ends up and this is speculation, 182 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: by the way, if Prue it is indeed not the 183 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: head coach they're in twenty twenty one, whoever Tennessee ends 184 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: up bringing in is probably not going to be the 185 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: guy that they hopefully have in twenty twenty four. I 186 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: don't think the candidate that they want to have themselves 187 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: attached to in twenty twenty four or beyond the caliber 188 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: of that candidate is going to be available right now. 189 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: You're going to need someone to come in steady things, 190 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: show what can be done there, and then hopefully the 191 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: marquee for the Tennessee coaching position looks a lot brighter 192 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty four or twenty five. I'm just going 193 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: to give it three or four years, whatever the case 194 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: may be. Hopefully then the profile of your job is 195 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: a whole lot better than it is right now, and 196 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: maybe in the next run of hiring you can attract top, 197 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: top names. I don't think it's realistic that they can 198 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: attract top names right now. Now. There is one name 199 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: out there and a lot of you obviously know where 200 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: this is going, which is why I teased hiring Freeze 201 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: at the very beginning. It's funny that the entire headline 202 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: from this piece by Mark Schlaball was about a hiring freeze, 203 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: because that is probably your best route if you don't 204 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: go the interim route and just swallow twenty twenty one 205 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: and say, hey, let's just let's put someone in place 206 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 1: as a stop gap. We're not going to do anything 207 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty one of note anyway, Let's get ourselves 208 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 1: a nice headstart on the next round of coaching searches. 209 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:38,439 Speaker 1: Let's do that and then we'll reassess a year from now. Yeah, 210 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,440 Speaker 1: you could do that, But if you don't and you 211 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:42,839 Speaker 1: are adamant on making the big hire right now, it's 212 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: got to be Hugh Freeze. That's what it's got to be. 213 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: I have found it very peculiar. All the while that 214 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:52,959 Speaker 1: Freeze has been suspiciously quiet up at Liberty and Art 215 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 1: Briles all the while resigned as a coach in Texas 216 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: at the high school level, It's been widely speculated, both 217 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 1: publicly and and behind the scenes. Speculated both publicly and 218 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: behind the scenes that if Liberty ever came open again, 219 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: Art Briles would be the guy who takes that job. 220 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:11,439 Speaker 1: And he what did he do? He resigned as a 221 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 1: high school coach, and I was just floating out there. Now, 222 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 1: if you were to put two and two and two 223 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: and two and two together, it's a very complex math problem. 224 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: But essentially, what it feels like is a lot of 225 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 1: folks behind the scenes already know what's coming. And in 226 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: this purely hypothetical situation, that would mean Tennessee's eventually going 227 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: to come open. Hugh Freeze knows he's got that job, 228 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:30,959 Speaker 1: and in turn, Liberty knows that they can hire Art Briles. 229 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,319 Speaker 1: Those would be the dominoes there. That could, just as 230 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 1: I said, be wild speculation, or it could be a 231 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 1: pretty tactical use of context clues. So we'll see about that. 232 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:42,559 Speaker 1: But here's what I do know. I do know that 233 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: much as I said about Tom Herman after the Oklahoma game, 234 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: Tom Herman wasn't going to be fired the day after 235 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: losing to Oklahoma. But yet I thought that Saturday in 236 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 1: the Cotton Bowl put the final chapter on his career 237 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 1: in motion in Austin, And as it turns out, that 238 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: was accurate. I think this news today, if it hadn't 239 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: already this news today about a hiring freeze being put 240 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: in place, Jeremy Prewtt not being able to do anything 241 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: he wants to do right now amid all the uncertainty already, 242 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 1: I think that began the writing of the final chapter 243 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 1: for Prewitt in Knoxville. It's a shame because I mean, like, 244 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: I love him as a coach, but I don't think 245 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: any coach Jeremy PRUITTT or someone much more seasoned than him, 246 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: could be placed in this exact position right now and 247 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: be expected to succeed, even if he is given twenty 248 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: twenty one to do so. On the much more cheerful 249 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 1: topics here, the national championship game obviously is Monday night, 250 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: And so with that, Colin, let's get ready and let's 251 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: cut this preview Ohio State Alabama National Championship game Monday night, 252 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: eight o'clock Eastern time on ESPN. And you and I 253 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: both know that means it kicks off well after eight. 254 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: But hey, what are we waiting on at this point? 255 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: We got a college football season, we got one more game. 256 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: Let's make the best of it. Bama is favored by 257 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,199 Speaker 1: seven and a half. This is, make no mistake about it, 258 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: the best possible matchup college football could have hoped for. 259 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: There was someone out there. Some fool out there was claiming, 260 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: I bet the folks at ESPN are mighty upset they 261 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: don't get Bama Clemson again, like what I know that 262 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 1: Oregon just legalized pretty much everything, and even Oregon, even 263 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:17,559 Speaker 1: state officials in Oregon, would have a big problem with whatever. 264 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: The person who said that had to be smoking in 265 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: order to make their mind believe an executive at ESPN 266 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: would prefer Alabama Clemson Part thirty two over Alabama Ohio State. 267 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: These are the two biggest brands in college football right now. 268 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: What in the so anyway that was incorrect? This is 269 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: the premier matchup in college football right now. And here's 270 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: why I can tell you confidently because I live in 271 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 1: the South, in the SEC blueprint, in the footprint rather 272 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: of the SEC. There's only one non SEC program that 273 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: they view as their equal. It ain't Oklahoma, it's not Oregon, 274 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: it's not anyone other than the Ohio State Buckeyes. That's 275 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 1: the only They may hate them, but they respect them 276 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: because they look at the way Ohio State recruits, They 277 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: look at how serious they take football there. They watched 278 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: how limp for lack of a better term, a lot 279 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: of the rest of the Big Ten seemed about the 280 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: prospect of playing football this year as Ohio State tried 281 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:12,559 Speaker 1: to beat everyone upside the head with the sledge hammer 282 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: to make sure the season happened, and they said, you 283 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: know what, that's kind of the way we'd do it. 284 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: You know, a Georgia Florida at Alabama, That's kind of 285 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: the way we'd go about things. So that program up 286 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: there in Columbus, they got a lot of sec to them. 287 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: They recruit right on par with or better than most 288 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: of the sec They're right there with LSU and Alabama 289 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 1: and Georgia. So that is the one reason why you 290 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: got supreme respect and also a big time competitive rivalry 291 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: with Ohio State versus anyone from the South. And number two, 292 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: you're playing Alabama. It's not just anyone from the South. 293 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: It's the premier brand in college football and they are 294 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 1: the standard, and that is who you measure yourself against. 295 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: That's when every elite athlete and every elite program in 296 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: the sport is working to do. Is finally earned the 297 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 1: opportunity to measure yourself against Alabama. So as we dive 298 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 1: in a little bit here, there is a term I 299 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: haven't used all season that we sometimes use to define 300 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: Clemson actually in these kinds of settings, and that's ascension mode, 301 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: all right. So later on Colin is going to show 302 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 1: you our game capsule for this matchup, and that shows 303 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: just the Vegas number versus what our in house model 304 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: has determined per one thousand simulations of this game as 305 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: its projected margin of victory for the favorite or underdog 306 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: or whatever. There is one great big wrench that can 307 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: always be thrown into that formula, and that is if 308 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: a team is in ascension mode. So what our model 309 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: essentially needs is it needs to have a cap It 310 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: needs to have a basement and a ceiling on a team, 311 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: and if it doesn't have the ceiling, it has no 312 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: earthly idea how to define that team. And the ceiling, 313 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: of course means what is the maximum potential of a team? 314 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: We know the minimum and maximum potential of a team, 315 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: and that way we can sort of work out what 316 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: we should expect from you your A performance, B performance 317 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: C performance in tiers. If we have a ceiling and 318 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: a basement on you, we should be able to define 319 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: that we where's the problem? Ohio State didn't play a 320 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: full season. Obviously that in and of itself is not 321 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: a huge problem because even if you only play six 322 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: or seven games, as long as we have a defined 323 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: ceiling in basement on you were cool. But when you 324 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: are one product through the regular season and then all 325 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: of a sudden, you vastly exceed even your best performances 326 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: in the middle of the season against Clemson, the most 327 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: recent team you played, I mean, they outperformed against Clemson 328 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: what they did against Rutgers. That's a big problem because 329 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: what it screams is either one of two things just happened. 330 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: Either that was a great, just made in Heaven matchup 331 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: for Ohio State, or it's a team that's in ascension mode. 332 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: And if they're in ascension mode, it's like a plane 333 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: climbing very quickly once it takes off. We have no 334 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: clue what cruising altitude is for this team. We have 335 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: no clue what they're capable of. And if that's the case, 336 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: that is one of the paths that could see Ohio 337 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: State pull off a surprising double digit win here like 338 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: they did against Clemson as a seven plus point underdog. 339 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: I think it's kind of interesting as listen to some 340 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: folks talk about this, including some of my buddies back 341 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: home who are Alabama fans, they got kind of worried 342 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: because they only and I want to stress this only 343 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: scored thirty one against Notre Dame. I don't think it's 344 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: reason to worry at all if you've watched them, them 345 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: being Alabama, if you watched them in the past. There's 346 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: a little bit different way Nick Saban has gone about 347 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: playoff games versus regular season games. You know, because margin 348 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: of victory is totally completely irrelevant once you get to 349 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: the playoffs, and really, if you play in the SEC, 350 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: if your Alabama style doesn't matter anyway, because if you win, 351 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: you're going to get in. But just to play it safe, 352 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of times you want to maximize 353 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: and stretch margin as far as you can in a 354 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: regular season game. When Nick Saban has gotten into a 355 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: championship or a playoff situation, that is not the case. 356 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: Once they realize they've got a team that can't trade 357 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: points with them, that can't keep up, they will throttle. 358 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: And I don't mean throttle is in beat to death. 359 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: I mean throttle the game as much as possible to 360 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: get it over with as quickly as possible. They ran 361 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: fifty five total plays last game and scored thirty one points. 362 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: Can't remember what it was, but the ratio of first 363 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 1: downs to total plays run. If you're looking at that game, 364 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: it's what I'm saying and you think, ooh, they were off. 365 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: They were really off against notre name. No, they weren't 366 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,879 Speaker 1: at all. That was a classic Nick Saban versus inferior 367 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 1: team in playoff performance. They did it against Washington a 368 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:21,360 Speaker 1: few years ago. They scored twenty four points I think 369 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 1: it was, and everyone said, uh, oh, well really not 370 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: so much. So I wouldn't worry about that whatsoever. As 371 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,120 Speaker 1: for Ohio State, So we're just going to jump around 372 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 1: back and forth. I like to do these previews is 373 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:35,880 Speaker 1: kind of just a stream of thought. You know, there's 374 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 1: not necessarily five bullet points. Here's what to watch for, 375 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: here's my favorite matchup. We're just going to kind of 376 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: blend all that together. So, justin fields, what do we 377 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:45,919 Speaker 1: think here, Ohio State fans, what do we think? I 378 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: know that we've had some conjecturists to whether he's one 379 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: hundred percent or not. Listen, if he's ninety percent. I 380 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 1: taken ninety percent justin fields over pretty much well, almost 381 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 1: anyone else who plays the position in this sport. My question, 382 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: and no no one's question really is will he be 383 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: able to play? That's not the question. The question is 384 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,199 Speaker 1: how much of him do we get? How close to 385 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: one hundred percent is he able to operate? And I'm 386 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,160 Speaker 1: hesitant to buy into one hundred percent only cause here's 387 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: what one hundred percent would mean. If I get one 388 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 1: hundred percent of justin fields, that means there is no 389 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:22,239 Speaker 1: hesitance in calling designed quarterback runs. There's no hesitancy in 390 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 1: justin fields to create contact on a third and short 391 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: or an open field. There is zero trepidation in using 392 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,400 Speaker 1: his mobility. Now, that can be view two ways. Number One, 393 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: it can be viewed in terms of play calling, and 394 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:37,719 Speaker 1: somewhat I do view it that way, but I'm not 395 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: really talking about play calling. I'm talking about instinct, because 396 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: when you're injured, instinct sometimes takes over. And the reason 397 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: why that reason why it doesn't really sound significant but 398 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: it will be significant, is because if you get into 399 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: a true point trading back and forth type of you know, 400 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: track meet sort of game, which this does have the 401 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 1: potential to do. The ability to fall forward on a 402 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 1: critical third or fourth down one series could end up 403 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: making the difference. I mean, when you're having to maximize 404 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: every single series and you end up giving one away 405 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: because your quarterback physically ended up not being capable of 406 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 1: finishing a play, just physically didn't end up being able 407 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: to fall forward for those extra yards. That could be 408 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: the difference in a game. So that's one thing I'm 409 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: looking for. The second thing, speaking of injury, over on 410 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: the Alabama side, I think Jalen Wattle's going to be 411 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 1: back here. So I guess the requisite follow up is 412 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: what are we going to get from Jalen Waddle? Because 413 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: I know that there is this talking point out there that, well, 414 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:33,920 Speaker 1: if he's in the game, he'll probably be a decoy. 415 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 1: I'm not so sure about that. I don't expect Jalen 416 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: Waddle to catch fifteen balls, let me say that. But 417 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: I also don't think that if Alabama is going through 418 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: the motions of getting him ready to play, if Jalen 419 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,400 Speaker 1: Waddle's on the field, Jalen Wattle's going to be able 420 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: to contribute. And if he does that, boy that adds 421 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 1: a layer. I know you look at Alabama's offensive production 422 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 1: and you think, well, they can't get any better. No, 423 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: it's not that I think with Jalen Waddle on the field, 424 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: it lessens the the risk of a three and out 425 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: in any given situation. It just adds a different level 426 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,679 Speaker 1: of different layer offensively, and when you're looking at potentially 427 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: defending the middle of the field, let's say, especially when 428 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: you have to also account for a back out of 429 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: the backfield and the vertical thread of DeVante Smith. I mean, 430 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: when you add the ability for four to four speed 431 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: drag routes across the middle all afternoon or all evening, 432 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: that's a different element. I mean, that's just it makes 433 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 1: it so hard to get off the field, harder than 434 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 1: it already is, which I guess kind of brings me 435 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,360 Speaker 1: to this point since I'm thinking about it. Ohio States 436 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,880 Speaker 1: wide receivers. So let's switch sides of the ball here. 437 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: Ohio State's wide receivers against Alabama's defensive backs probably my 438 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 1: second most looked forward to matchup of this game. I'll 439 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:45,959 Speaker 1: talk about the other one in a second. But the 440 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: ability for a Lobby and Wilson against guys like Josh 441 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 1: Job and guys like Patzertan, even guys like Malachai Moore, 442 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:54,920 Speaker 1: if he's able to go and play one hundred percent 443 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: in this game. Brian Branch just had a really good 444 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 1: year for Alabama. I really look forward to that. I 445 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,439 Speaker 1: thought the matchup even going into the Clemson game, even 446 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: though I ended up picking the Tigers to whim. I 447 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: thought the matchup wide receivers for Buckeyes versus secondary for Clemson. 448 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: I thought it heavily favored Ohio State. I just didn't 449 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,359 Speaker 1: think that it ultimately would be the deciding factor. But 450 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:17,919 Speaker 1: do they rip Clemson. They won't do that to Alabama. 451 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,200 Speaker 1: They will have success. Please don't misunderstand me. Ohio State's 452 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:24,119 Speaker 1: going to score a lot against Alabama. I hope Crimson 453 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: Tide fans are used to that at this point, because 454 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 1: in these big games, that's college that's not even an 455 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: Alabama thing. That's college football these days. But the difference 456 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: here and the reason it is one of my favorite 457 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: matchups and most looked forward to aspects of this game 458 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: is because, again, if you view this within the context 459 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: of what Ohio State may have to do, and if 460 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,440 Speaker 1: Alabama starts scoring consistently like they have all year, what 461 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: you may have to do is you may have to 462 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:54,439 Speaker 1: answer and answer and answer all afternoon. You may not 463 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: be able to have more than one or two series 464 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: end in something other than at least a three, if 465 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 1: not a seven. The reason why I keep focusing on 466 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 1: certain Joe Malachaimore just because it's the best secondary Ohio 467 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: State will have faced so far. Now that in and 468 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 1: of itself doesn't mean anything until you view it like this. 469 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: That just means the windows tighten up. Doesn't mean you 470 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,200 Speaker 1: can't make plays against them, but it means the windows 471 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:19,680 Speaker 1: tighten up. It means the physicality the line of scrimmage 472 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: and getting off the line of scrimmage changes a little bit, 473 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 1: and it makes the windows tighter. And it's a team 474 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: as good as they've been all year. There has been 475 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 1: the propensity occasionally for Justin Fields and Ohio State to 476 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 1: struggle turning the ball over. Now that again, just because 477 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 1: you've done it before, it doesn't mean it's going to 478 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,120 Speaker 1: rear its ugly head at all. Here Ohio State maybe 479 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 1: plus three turnovers for all I know, any given game, 480 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: it's random, but the risk is there. Just the percentage 481 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:47,359 Speaker 1: chance goes up the better the secondary is that you face. 482 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 1: And so if Justin Fields can navigate around that, well, 483 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: obviously that goes a long long way in Ohio State 484 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 1: pulling this upset off. There's another word that I was 485 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 1: talking to one of the coaches that is phased one 486 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 1: of these teams. That's as specific as I'd like to get. 487 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,880 Speaker 1: For no particular reason, one of those coaches the other 488 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: night kept on texting me the same word multiplicity. Multiplicity. 489 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:11,880 Speaker 1: He didn't say it twice. I just did right now. 490 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:16,679 Speaker 1: Sometimes I do that multiplicity essentially, meaning this Alabama's offensive 491 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:20,160 Speaker 1: talent is obviously better than will anyone has faced all years, 492 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: the best offense in the country. They're more multiple, though, 493 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 1: and what that means is it takes you don't really 494 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: figure them out. There's not something they're doing that's very basic. 495 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:33,160 Speaker 1: Like sometimes, you know, when Malson was at Auburn, defensive 496 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,879 Speaker 1: coordinators around the SEC would tell you, we can tell 497 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: you what plays come in before they even snapped the ball. 498 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:40,879 Speaker 1: It's not hard to figure out, Well, that's not Alabama's offense. 499 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: They got all kinds of different shifts, all kinds of 500 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,399 Speaker 1: different pre snap stuff, all kinds of different formations, all 501 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 1: kinds of different personnel packages. Their personnel themselves are very multiple. 502 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:53,360 Speaker 1: I mean, for instance, Julil Billingsley is a tight end 503 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: at least on his depth chart, and he's a guy 504 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 1: you could easily flex out and go from a power 505 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:01,120 Speaker 1: set to five wide spread and not even have to substitute. 506 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 1: Najia Harris can pound it between the tackles and be 507 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: one of your better receiving threats and you don't ever 508 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: have to substitute. And so because of being that multiple, 509 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:12,640 Speaker 1: it takes away your ability as an Ohio State defender 510 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: or a defensive coordinator rather to sub as regularly as 511 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: you would want to. And so that's what Alabama does. 512 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 1: It's really dangerous to you. Offensively, they got all the skill, 513 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: they got Heisman finalist all over the place, but it's 514 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 1: the multiplicity that really bites you sometimes. And then defensively, 515 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 1: I think it's the same way. Now Alabama again is 516 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:33,560 Speaker 1: going to give up points here. That's not it. Okay. 517 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: If you could tell me we're going to start this 518 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 1: game guaranteeing you that Ohio State's going to score a 519 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 1: minimum of thirty points, I would probably say yet, duh, 520 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,639 Speaker 1: yeah they probably will. It's not that, okay, It's not 521 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: about all this. This is the way that Nick Saban's 522 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: had to adjust his mentality there. It's not about shutting 523 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 1: anyone down. If you can, that's great, but it's totally 524 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: unrealistic to expect. Instead what you're trying to be as opportunistic. 525 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,360 Speaker 1: And you got the skill and you get the multiplicity 526 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: to where you keep showing guys looks. You keep showing 527 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,200 Speaker 1: guys looks. Your defensive backs keep fighting, and maybe they're 528 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,880 Speaker 1: losing some of those battles, but they keep fighting. Eventually, 529 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:09,679 Speaker 1: what happens is you're given enough different looks that a 530 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:12,200 Speaker 1: passing lane that was opened the prior series is all 531 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 1: a sudden clogged here. You get a tip ball up 532 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 1: in the air, you get one or two turnovers, balls 533 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 1: on the ground, and it's the difference in the game. 534 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 1: It happens just like that. You're not looking at the 535 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:23,399 Speaker 1: same look all game like you are maybe against some 536 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:27,800 Speaker 1: college defenses. So the stress on the Buckeye offense comes, 537 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: I don't think in necessarily the amount of talent that 538 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 1: you're facing, or the fact that Alabama's got the best 539 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,880 Speaker 1: secondary you will have faced. It's not that as much 540 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 1: as it's needing to answer all night unlike you've had 541 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: to do all season, and you're having to do it 542 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: against let's say, the best secondary that you faced all year. 543 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: So that's what I would look at if I'm Ohio State. 544 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: But then again, if I'm an Alabama fan and I'm 545 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: looking around saying we're favored by seven and a half. 546 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,360 Speaker 1: But then again, so it was Clemson and Ohio State 547 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:57,359 Speaker 1: blew them out, So how would that happen to us? 548 00:25:57,359 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: Are we in danger of that happening? Blowout would surprise me? 549 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 1: A loss an Alabama loss wouldn't surprise me if it 550 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: were to happen. I think the biggest keys for Ohio 551 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 1: State to pull that upset would be Number one, you 552 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 1: need to move mac Jones. You need to make sure 553 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:15,640 Speaker 1: that you know, unlike Trevor Lawrence or Justin Field, who 554 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:19,119 Speaker 1: have no problem moving in the pocket and redefining the 555 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,439 Speaker 1: launch point, that's not mac Jones's game. He can do it, 556 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: but he's certainly not as fleet of foot, and it's 557 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 1: certainly not as comfortable for him. He is a precision 558 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: assassin type quarterback against the blitz, but he does it 559 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,479 Speaker 1: pretty much staying in the pocket where it's been defined 560 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:37,400 Speaker 1: on the snap. And if you can cause that to change, 561 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 1: it's a lot easier said than done, but maybe not impossible. 562 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 1: But if you can cause that to change, you've gone 563 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 1: a long way and potentially interrupting their offensive rhythm. Now, 564 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 1: the reason I said it's not impossible, even though very 565 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:50,680 Speaker 1: few teams have managed to do it all year consistently, 566 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 1: none have. Actually the way that you could do it 567 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: is Ohio State will have probably the best opportunity in 568 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:01,440 Speaker 1: situationally the opportunity of any team in America this year 569 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 1: of being able to interrupt Alabama's offensive timing and rhythm 570 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 1: from the interior. Because of the loss of Land and 571 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 1: Dickerson at center, combined with the great interior guys on 572 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:15,159 Speaker 1: Ohio State's defensive line, They've got an opportunity to do 573 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:17,640 Speaker 1: something that other teams haven't had the opportunity or personnel 574 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,360 Speaker 1: to do, and that is collapse the pocket or affect 575 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 1: the pocket from the inside. You occasionally face good edge rushers, 576 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:27,119 Speaker 1: but all Alabama does is run the ball right at them. Okay, 577 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 1: that's how they solve that. They don't even give them 578 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 1: the ability to rush the passer. Well, this is a 579 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: little bit different animal, and so all of a sudden, 580 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:35,639 Speaker 1: if you start seeing Chris Owens and the interior of 581 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: that Alabama offensive line not hold up early in this game. 582 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 1: It changes everything because everything you know about Alabama's offensive 583 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,359 Speaker 1: attack is predicated on protection, and if they don't have 584 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:47,199 Speaker 1: it well, then all of a sudden, you know, you 585 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:49,879 Speaker 1: go into the half and Alabama's got sixteen points on 586 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:52,160 Speaker 1: the board instead of thirty, and you're saying, what's happening here. 587 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,680 Speaker 1: What's happening is Ohio State's defensive line is controlling the game. 588 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:58,919 Speaker 1: The third thing they need to do because collapsing and 589 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: moving mac Jones it goes hand in hand. The third 590 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,480 Speaker 1: thing is they cannot abandon the run. Even if Alabama 591 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 1: starts to rack up points. You can't abandon the run 592 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,480 Speaker 1: because it is your best hope in this game. You 593 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 1: have got to do you and do what gives you 594 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,479 Speaker 1: the best chance to win and matchup wise, you know, 595 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 1: it's kind of the inverse of what Alabama used to fear. 596 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:20,880 Speaker 1: I think Alabama used to fear the big time passers. 597 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:23,439 Speaker 1: Now they're so used to it. You know, Kyle Trask 598 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 1: puts some yards on him. Trevor Lawrence, they played him, 599 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 1: he puts some yards on him. Justin fields will put 600 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 1: some yards on him. But what they don't have that 601 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 1: they used to have is kind of a rock ribbed 602 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,440 Speaker 1: front seven. And they prided themselves on folks not running 603 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:37,119 Speaker 1: on them. Well, you can run on them now. I 604 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: mean they've had to change the personnel. They don't have 605 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,719 Speaker 1: an elite defensive line. They got some good edge rushers, 606 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 1: they do not have elite run stuffers. They don't. And 607 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 1: so this is a game that is ripe to have 608 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 1: the complexion of it changed with Ohio State being able 609 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 1: to run the ball an uncomfortable, uncomfortably successful amount of 610 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 1: running the ball. So you know, even if you get 611 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 1: down fourteen to three early, it's a long game, man, 612 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 1: It is a long game. Now you're down twenty eight 613 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 1: to three, that's a little bit different. But fourteen to three, 614 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 1: you know, seventeen to seven, you keep running the ball 615 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 1: and over the course of four quarters, that should work 616 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 1: to your benefit. All right, Colin, let's show them the 617 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: game capsule. Here. This is the Vegas line being Bama 618 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 1: minus seven and a half. Our late kick model. Again, 619 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 1: we simulate the game a thousand times. This is the 620 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 1: average final score. We agree with the Vegas number. So 621 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 1: we've got Alabama minus seven, just a hair under the 622 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: seven and a half. Obviously, I have pretty mixed feelings 623 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 1: on this game. It is extremely hard to look at 624 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:36,880 Speaker 1: what Ohio State's done in the last four quarters of 625 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:39,479 Speaker 1: football and say, yeah, let's go ahead and install them 626 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 1: as a seven and a half point dog. But then again, 627 00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 1: if I look at the entire season and I look 628 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: at what these teams have been, this number is right, 629 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:49,680 Speaker 1: which draws us back around to the great paradox in 630 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: this game, and that is is Ohio State a team 631 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:55,280 Speaker 1: and ascension mode? If they're in ascension mode, this certainly 632 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 1: is too fat a number. I mean, if they're in 633 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 1: ascension mode, there is no numbers just to pick them. 634 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,440 Speaker 1: That's what this game should be. I am going to 635 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:06,160 Speaker 1: ever so slightly lean towards the fact that Alabama is 636 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: still the better team here, and it's why I'm going 637 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,239 Speaker 1: to take Alabama to win the game. I am not 638 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 1: laying seven and a half points against either of these teams, 639 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:16,280 Speaker 1: and so if I am forced to bet this game, 640 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:18,160 Speaker 1: which I'm not going to do, but if I'm forced 641 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 1: to bet this game, I would take the Buckeyes plus 642 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 1: the seven and a half. By far, the most important 643 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: element here is the pick straight up, and I am 644 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:28,400 Speaker 1: taking Alabama to win the game. Monday night, and to 645 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 1: be crowned national champions in a sport that both of 646 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 1: these programs don't ever forget. It fought very hard to 647 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 1: even make happen. So it's only fitting that two of 648 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:40,040 Speaker 1: the most vocal programs to start the year about playing 649 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:42,800 Speaker 1: period R and D playing in Miami Monday night for 650 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 1: a national championship. Let me know what you guys think 651 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 1: in the comments below. I always look forward to intelligent 652 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:52,240 Speaker 1: conversation there. But remember, if you're going to predict the winner, 653 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: do it now, don't wait until after the game. My 654 00:30:54,840 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 1: little sister can do that. Give me your predictions before 655 00:30:57,440 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 1: the game, and then if you disagree with me and 656 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 1: you happen to be right, I'll be happy to ecro 657 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:03,560 Speaker 1: all day long. But I appreciate you guys checking out 658 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 1: these previews all season. Subscribe to the channel. The twenty 659 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 1: four seven sports YouTube channels certainly not slowing down once 660 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 1: the season is over, so I appreciate you guys checking 661 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 1: out the show. Even though it's been kind of different 662 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:16,320 Speaker 1: in the last week or so. Hopefully we're about to 663 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:18,560 Speaker 1: return back to normal, but it's been a very fun time. 664 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:20,920 Speaker 1: So I'm looking forward to this game, and I'm looking 665 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 1: forward to talking to you guys about it until next show, 666 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:27,760 Speaker 1: which will be Sunday Night, or director Colin or producer Jordan. 667 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 1: On the podcast side of things, I'm Josh paid enjoyed 668 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:32,960 Speaker 1: it tonight, Have a great start to your weekend and 669 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:36,800 Speaker 1: God bless