There's a lot that goes into that, but-

There is, because part of this too is that Oregon right now is a, a shell of what they were expected to be.

But yeah, there was a lot of good things that came out of last week.

Um, you know, we found out, you know, that this defense is, is, is for real, especially the run defense.

You know, the, one of the biggest concerns we had in the preseason was the, the size and the, the ability of the defensive line, and, and I thought they played very well.

I, I mean, I, I'm still, I'm still blown away by the numbers and how much they really don't match the result of the game.

Uh, you know, Indiana needed to run the football.

Mm-hmm.

What do you think?

The hurricane, uh, should be through there by then, but field could be a little wet, and I'm guessing there's still gonna be some wind involved.

I don't know how that's gonna affect the young quarterback at Alabama.

I really like the Tide this year, but I'm gonna lean Georgia on this one.

John, what do you think?

Well, I have a feeling that, um, games like this, running game and stopping the run is most important, and the team that does that the best usually wins.

Unfortunately, that team is Indiana, with those two great running backs and that run defense.

Um, I, I...

Hmm

... you know, down the sideline last week.

But I think the, the other reason is he, um, he, you know, he threw the pick last week, and it wasn't a great throw.

And it was the first time where you really saw him put the ball in a bad spot or try to force something that wasn't there.

But then immediately after that happened, they came right back, got a couple of quick passes to start the next drive, and then, you know, it, it seemed like it just snapped him back into shape.

And I know there's been an issue at times with him, you know, maybe getting a little too emotional.

We played the clip last hour from Holgorsen.

Ooh.

in the NFL draft.

Yeah.

Well, some of it too, and, and not to defend his scheduling, uh, tactics, 'cause I've lub- dubbed him Cream Puff Kurt, but I mean, there is...

And, and it, it was very similar to what Bill Snyder did at the beginning at O- at Kansas State.

You know, they weakened the non-conference schedule 'cause they, they built confidence, they built wins.

And so by the time they lost their first game to Ohio State in 2024, you know, they had built up enough confidence and enough proof of concept that, you know, they were able to get into the playoff.

H- honestly, you know, two years ago, they got a very favorable Big Ten schedule.

Mm-hmm

I don't know that that gives them enough credit for what they've been able to accomplish, but it does fit a narrative for what we've talked about at this park over the last 15 years.

It certainly does, and I don't dismiss that.

I will say this, though.

Best baseball teams pitch and play defense well.

You rarely see teams win championships and go through tournaments like this, especially a college tournament where you're playing so many different teams in so many different locations, and you can just get through with great offense.

It's always been about pitching and defense, and these two teams, especially North Carolina, they pick it really well.

I mean, watching them play defense... and as a 200-level connoisseur of great defensive baseball, having been around Ed's service for 20 years, North Carolina is one of the best defensive teams I've ever seen.

How early do you think North Carolina is willing to go to him to try to cover to get to either the back of their bullpen or simply to end the game?