Wow

... a field goal here.

So I, because I...

Like, Ohio State's defense is not as dominant as it was last year.

Like, they, they, they've not been able to shut people down the way they did last year.

They shut down Iowa 'cause Iowa tends to shut itself down.

Now, we'll see with Jerry, Jeremy Hackelinski instead of Hank Brown, maybe that's different, 'cause it looked different against Washington.

Mm.

Mm.

Texas is, is just let Oklahoma hang around, and they end up throwing the crippling interceptions that Matusar was either throwing the interception against Michigan or fumbling against Georgia.

Like, if I'm Kentucky, I'm just keeping the score down.

I'm not doing anything that's gonna make a mistake.

I'm running C.J. Baxter, and I'm gonna let John Matusar do what he's done in these other games instead of having Kenny Minchey do it.

And Kenny Minchey had a pick six against Alabama, but has been pretty mistake-free the rest of the way.

And if, if you look at the way he handled the, the comeback against South Carolina, that whole game against LSU, he is...

Yep.

Don't worry.

[laughs] So, uh, you know, Will Stein happened.

I had Will Stein on my show today, and we, we asked him, you know, about saying at SEC Media Days, uh, "It's because of me.

I'm, I'm the difference." And he's right.

He, he is the difference.

And, uh, they very quickly changed the culture of that program, but what he did evaluating in the portal, getting that offensive line.

And, and, and look, Kentucky's administration deserves credit for giving him the resources to go get it.

Uh, everybody's talking about Arch again, this time not very well.

Hell, even Fox deserves better than what you gave them in the first three weeks this year.

Well, so it's not that he can't see it.

It's that he's going to use it as a negotiating point, and he is.

And by the way, they're going to get 24.

He's going to get what he wants.

All that matters now is that either ESPN or whatever other network is going to buy the extra playoff inventory gets the number right.

The number they're looking for is $300 million for the extra playoff inventory.

It's in Lincoln anyway for an upset here.

But it didn't.

It's almost as if it doesn't matter who coordinates the defense because, like Alex Grinch, who took a lot of blame when Lincoln Riley was at Oklahoma, and then he brought him to USC, and he, he got buried there, he's doing great at UCF now.

Danton Lenz at, at Penn State right now.

Gary Patterson, we know, is one of the best defensive coaches in the history of the game.

So is it them, or is it the culture around the team and the way the head coach chooses to practice and the way, you know, the offense gets treated at practice and the defense get treated at practice, and how much hitting they decide to do? Like, that's really what it boils down to.

I remember writing a column off of the Pac-12 championship game, USC against Utah in Lincoln Riley's first year, and, and Utah just bullied them in the second half of that game.

And it was obvious, like, this is a team that doesn't hit much at practice.

Is there anything at all to the crazy internet chatter [laughs] that they might bring back Jimbo Fisher? And if not him, if the job were to open up, who do you think would be on that shortlist?

But it didn't.

It's almost as if it doesn't matter who coordinates the defense because, like Alex Grinch, who took a lot of blame when Lincoln Riley was at Oklahoma and then he brought him to USC and he, he got buried there, he's doing great at UCF now.

Danton Lins at, at Penn State right now.

Gary Patterson we know is one of the best defensive coaches in the history of the game.

So is it them or is it the culture around the team and the way the head coach chooses to practice and the way, you know, the offense gets treated at practice and the defense gets treated at practice and how much hitting they decide to do? Like, that's really what it boils down to.

I remember writing a column off the, the Pac-12 championship game, USC against Utah in Lincoln Riley's first year, and, and Utah just bullied them in the second half of that game.

And it was obvious, like, this is a team that doesn't hit much at practice.

Is there anything at all to the crazy internet chatter [laughs] that they might bring back Jimbo Fisher? And if not him, if the job were to open up, who do you think would be on that short list?

Good afternoon.

Hi, Paul.

Yeah, Aaron Filo's an interesting guy because it's interesting, I was talking to his high school coach whose son is Brock Vandagriff, who, who played at Georgia and Kentucky, and Aaron succeeded Brock at his high school.

Brock was a five-star recruit.

You know, he committed to Oklahoma.

He flips to Georgia.

That allows Lincoln Riley to sign Caleb Williams.

Um, what do you make out of that game?

And, you know, we're another day

removed.

It's not that there's another clock, Mark.

The clock that the replay officials use in that Michigan-Western Michigan game was a camera trained on a clock in the stadium.

It was a clock that people in the stadium could see, and the players on the field could see it.

When we used to watch games as kids, remember, there would be a camera shot of the stadium clock that was just in a cutout on the corner of the screen.

That's how they told us how much time was left.

it's

Mm-hmm.

And the players on the field can see it.

When we used to watch games as kids, remember, there would be a camera shot of the stadium clock that was just in a cutout on the, on the corner of the screen.

That's how they told us how much time was left.

Now they have all this technology where they can, you know, they can put it in the graphics package, but it doesn't always completely sync up.

I saw a great potential solution that one of the ESPN producers suggested.

So when we, when we cover basketball, when we watch a basketball game, do we ever get confused about whether time's run out? No, because there's a red light that comes on the backboard when the clock hits zero.

So quick thought on the game, and then are we likely to see more contracts like this canceled moving forward?

Mm-hmm, yeah.

And all of a sudden they show up and look completely...

I, I don't think that's gonna happen, though.

We, we talked about this w- on, on our show, and Ari kept saying, "This is not something you can fix in three or four days." And I think that's probably true.

I, I don't think this was a case of just an unusual performance.

I just, I thought he was gonna take a bigger step forward from year to year.

And watching some of the throws, watching the way he handled it, it doesn't look any different.

[laughs]

Where do you put the Hoosiers in the national people didn't

pay any attention.

I mean, even without these guys, Indiana was going to be.

a favorite to make the playoff and a favorite to go deep in the playoff.

But this helps a lot.

And so these guys are not...

in the same boat as say Daquan writers, Avian Harris in the LSU situation, because they did not ever sign an NFL contract.

And what do you make by the way of the week when opponent for the ducks, you're laying 24 and a half against a Boise state and people think that they could be a playoff team again this year.

Where do you put the Hoosiers in the national title? People didn't

pay any attention.

I mean, even without these guys, Indiana was going to be.

a favorite to make the playoff and a favorite to go deep in the playoff.

But this helps a lot.

And so these guys are not...

in the same boat as say Daquan writers, Avian Harris in the LSU situation, because they did not ever sign an NFL contract.

And what do you make by the way of the week when opponent for the ducks, you're laying 24 and a half against a Boise state and people think that they could be a playoff team again this year.

Where do you put the Hoosiers in the national title? People didn't

pay any attention.

I mean, even without these guys, Indiana was going to be, a favorite to make the playoff and a favorite to go deep in the playoff.

But this helps a lot.

And so these guys are not...

in the same boat as say Daquan writers, Avian Harris in the LSU situation, because they did not ever sign an NFL contract.

They may have been in some, some mini camp tryouts, but they didn't actually get signed and go into a camp.

And what do you make by the way of the week when opponent for the ducks, they're laying 24 and a half against a Boise state and people think that they could be a playoff team again this year.

who then Andy I'll ask it this way who is the most interesting team to you in that first bunch that you feel like might have the widest range of possible outcomes or maybe a team or two who you feel like has the widest range of what could realistically happen this season

Well, I think Georgia's really interesting because they've been so consistent in the regular season, SEC champs the last two years, lost in the quarterfinals.

But, you know, that could be luck.

That could be injury luck.

I mean, like when they lost to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, well, they had lost their starting quarterback in the SEC championship game a few weeks before.

So, like, if you keep playing that consistently and being that consistent – you're probably going to get past the quarterfinals eventually.

And if you look at Georgia, their offensive line, they've got some really interesting young guys.

What is North Carolina? And honestly, Andy, what was that game for Bill Belichick? It felt like an old Patriots, wait till you make a mistake type of win.

I mean, where do I get in line to advocate that? So what do you think?

I do not think that's going to happen.

I understand the Sabres are being rattled very loudly right now ahead of this injunction hearing on Thursday in Baton Rouge.

I just keep telling people, believe people when they say things.

Like, I know you cast a side eye at Lane Kiffin saying we will follow all SEC rules.

Well, there's a parentheses there, Paul.

We will follow all SEC rules that are not banned by the court.

Andy, I'm well aware of the organizational chart in Louisiana, but your best guess, who is really calling the shots down there?

SEC's like, we'll take care of basketball too, right? But in general, does this rule have enough authority to do what they hope it can do?

We're going to find out.

And this is something the Big Ten and the SEC had to try.

And it's also important, by the way, that they are different, that the rules are different, because the attorneys for the players are going to try to prove collusion on this thing.

So the conferences need to be able to point to the differences in the rules and say, hey, it's not the same.

So I think so.

And I think the way the SEC structured there is where Greg Sankey has the authority to penalize in a bunch of different ways.

SEC-wise, who's the team that you think surprises and who's the team best suited to really disappoint from areas of high expectation?

... then prevent these, uh, schools from filling up their roster with guys who have played professionally overseas?

They're gonna have to each determine the language within their own conference.

And I think for the conferences, it's actually better if they don't talk to each other while they do it.

It, it, they need to come up with their own individual rules.

And the reason for this, Dan, is, like, the NCAA keeps losing in court.

They, they keep losing because, uh, uh, for the most part, they're unilaterally imposing rules on athletes, the athletes have no say in it, and it's all of the schools getting together and doing that.

Well, that's a, that's a recipe to lose an antitrust case.

Uh, you know, who's got the power in those situations if the SEC says, "We're not going to allow," or Big Ten's not going to allow us, but a judge says, "Well, we're gonna take you to court."

... then prevent these, uh, schools from filling up their roster with guys who have played professionally overseas?

They're gonna have to each determine the language within their own conference.

And I think for the conferences, it's actually better if they don't talk to each other while they do it.

It, it...

They need to come up with their own individual rules.

And the reason for this, Dan, is, like, the NCAA keeps losing in court.

They, they keep losing because, uh, it, for the most part, they're unilaterally imposing rules on athletes.

Uh, you know, who's got the power in those situations if the SEC says, "We're not going to allow," or, "Big Ten's not going to allow this," but a judge says, "Well, we're gonna take you to court"?

Where do you see that headed with roster size maybe or roster costs going up? Do you see it continuing to spike? Do you see it flattening off? Are some teams just not gonna be able to keep up? Like, what's the three to five year picture in your mind on where the roster spending in the SEC is gonna go?

I think it's gonna level off.

I, I think we're...

It's still a relatively new market.

I mean, this has only been going on for five years, and then the rules have changed on it a couple times.

The [laughs] which, which basically means figuring out how to get around the rules has changed on it a couple times.

But I think even if you just uncapped it and, and said you, you can spend whatever you want, I, I don't think it would go up indefinitely.

Is it possible in this era of college football for the three to be good simultaneously again, or was that just an early '90s period anomaly?" So where are you on this as far as can those three be great/elite again together?

Where do you see that headed with roster size maybe, or roster costs going up? Do you see it continuing to spike? Do you see it flattening off, or some teams just not gonna be able to keep up? Like, what's the three to five year picture in your mind on where the roster spending in the SEC is gonna go?

I think it's gonna level off.

I, I think we're, it's still a relatively new market.

I mean, this has only been going on for five years.

And then the rules have changed on it a couple times.

The [laughs] which, which basically means figuring out how to get around the rules, has changed on it a couple times.

But I think even if you just uncapped it and, and said you, you can spend whatever you want, I, I don't think it would go up indefinitely.

And you said, "When I was in high school, Florida, Florida State, Miami were all awesome." Is it possible in this era of college football for the three to be good simultaneously again, or was that just an early '90s period anomaly? So where are you on this as far as can those three be great/elite again together?

Um, would you add anybody else, or does that list feel about right to you?

So Pete Nakos, who is, is our all-star reporter at On3, knows the payroll market better than anyone because he, he, he does the transfer portal stuff.

He's tight with all the agents.

He's tight with all the GMs.

We did a, a list together.

He and I got together the other day and we were just, we were just naming teams, trying to figure this out.

Because Steve Sarkisian said something really interesting, uh, I wanna say during spring practice.

Sure.

What would be the biggest thing you've learned about the teams we've, we've talked to and, and what would be, I guess, the biggest question mark you would have with those teams?

I'm not sure how much we've learned and, and I remember talking to some coaches at Big 12 Media Days about this a couple weeks ago.

They're like, "We don't really know our teams yet.

I, I'm not sure how y'all are expected to know our teams." And I think that's probably the case with, with a lot.

Now, like, Pete Golding, I think probably has a little better sense, 'cause he brings back quite a bit from a, from a really good team.

But there are not a lot of teams, like Kirby Smart can say that, because Kirby Smart took the fewest number of transfers, and he, he's mo- recruited most of that team out of high school.

So he's got a really good pulse on what he has.

If you had to pick this year's Trinidad, and again, maybe not the best player in the, in the SEC perhaps, but a guy that doesn't start day one that is a top three quarterback by the end of the year, who would that be, you think?

But at this point, should I really be doubting Kurt Signetti in any way? [laughs]

Uh, I ain't betting against him.

And, and he kept his coordinators.

And, you know, they, they were really good in the portal.

Like, they go get Nick Marsh from, from Michigan State to bolster the receiving corps.

Uh, we will see about Josh Hoover at quarterback, but I, I don't feel like they're gonna be appreciably different from the last two years.

They're still gonna be really good.

Where do you come down on that?

But at this point, should I really be doubting Kurt Cignetti in any way?

I ain't betting against him.

And he kept his coordinators, and they were really good in the portal.

They go get Nick Marsh from Michigan State to bolster the receiving core.

We will see about Josh Hoover at quarterback, but I don't feel like they're going to be appreciably different from the last two years.

They're still going to be really good now.

their Big Ten schedule is challenging, the way it sets up especially.

Where do you come down on that?

Summerall on the show, so it's not a problem at all.

Boy, I'm going to go Alex Golish at Auburn.

Here's why.

I think to a degree, especially in this era, you have to build success to recruit success.

And I think Golish is going to do a really good job of year one having way more success than people think because of who he's brought with him from USF, because of the continuity on defense.

So I think after this year, he's already going to have a proven product and something he can go to the portal and go to – recruiting homes and go, see what we did in year one? Imagine what we can do in year two or three with you.

So I think he's going to have the advantage of snowballing success a little faster.

and I'm like, that could be really interesting.