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The Texas Longhorns are off to an impressive start this season, boasting an undefeated record and a remarkable win against powerhouse Alabama. Their resurgence and commanding victories have propelled them to the top of the rankings, igniting playoff hopes among their devoted fanbase. In this article, we'll delve into the factors that make Texas a strong contender for the College Football Playoff and analyze the challenges they may face on their journey to championship glory. The Longhorns' Strong Defensive StandOne notable aspect of the Longhorns' success this season has been their exceptional defense. In their recent game against Baylor, they showcased defensive prowess by allowing only 60 yards rushing and tallying an impressive five sacks. This dominant defense is a key factor that can drive their success in the long run, especially when facing tough opponents. Offensive Strategy and Key PerformersWhile Texas is traditionally known for its offensive firepower, this year's team has demonstrated versatility. With a balanced offensive strategy focusing on effective passing and running, they have found success in various matchups. Quinn Ewers, the quarterback, has displayed growth and resilience, showcasing efficiency in passing and contributing critical plays when needed. Additionally, running back Jonathon Brooks has emerged as a vital offensive asset, contributing explosiveness and scoring ability to the team. Navigating the Schedule and Potential PitfallsAs Texas looks ahead, they need to maintain focus and not underestimate any opponent. While they have secured significant victories, they face challenging matchups against teams like Kansas and Oklahoma, which could be potential stumbling blocks. Historically, Texas has faced unexpected losses against seemingly lesser opponents, highlighting the importance of mental fortitude and preparation to avoid these pitfalls. PAC 12 Competition and Playoff ImplicationsConsidering the landscape of college football, an undefeated Texas team could find themselves in a favorable position for playoff consideration. However, they must remain aware of competition from the PAC 12. A strong showing by an undefeated PAC 12 champion could pose a challenge to Texas' playoff aspirations. The voters might be inclined to favor an undefeated PAC 12 team, adding an interesting dynamic to the playoff race. The Alabama Win and Its Impact on PerceptionThe victory against Alabama was a game-changer for Texas. It not only boosted their rankings but also impacted how they are perceived by voters and the college football community. The psychological effect of this win could influence future rankings and potentially sway voters in favor of Texas, considering Alabama's reputation as a college football powerhouse. As the Texas Longhorns march forward in their season, their fate in the College Football Playoff hinges on their ability to maintain their momentum, effectively navigate their schedule, and capitalize on their impressive defensive and offensive performances. The road to the playoff is challenging, but if they can stay consistent and resilient, they have a strong chance of securing a coveted spot and making a lasting mark in college football history. The eyes of fans and analysts alike will be fixed on Texas as they strive for championship glory.
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How Deion Sanders' Coaching and Star Talents Are Shaping Colorado's Remarkable Resurgence In the ever-exciting world of college football, it's not every day that a team like the Colorado Buffaloes emerges from the shadows and takes the nation by storm. Yet, in 2023, that's precisely what's happening, and the ripple effect is being felt far and wide. From ticket demand soaring to the sky to appearances by legendary Hall of Famers and a coveted spot in the AP Top 25 rankings, the Buffaloes have become the talk of the town. At the heart of this football revival is none other than Coach Deion "Prime" Sanders, his talented son Shedeur, and the electrifying Travis Hunter. But amidst all the hype and hoopla, a single question looms large: How far can this Buffaloes team go? In this article, we dive deep into the Colorado phenomenon, examining the factors behind their meteoric rise, the challenges they face, and whether they can sustain this newfound glory. A Surprise in ColoradoIt's only natural to start with a look at expectations. When the 2023 season began, most pundits wrote off Colorado as a two or three-win team. In fact, one sportsbook set the over-under win total for Colorado at a mere 0.5 games. A number that, in hindsight, seems both funny and a tad disrespectful. Why? Because, as it turns out, Colorado possesses some exceptional college football talent. The Buffaloes' early-season success has exceeded everyone's expectations. They're on the brink of going 3-0, making their way into the top 15 teams in the country. Yet, despite this promising start, the college football landscape remains a puzzle, especially in September. The Chaos of College FootballEvaluating teams ranked from seven through 30 in September is akin to predicting the weather a month from now – a nearly impossible feat. College football is notorious for its unpredictability and the parity that exists within the third and fourth tiers of teams. Moreover, Colorado's early-season opponents, TCU and Nebraska, aren't exactly living up to their preseason hype. TCU's defensive struggles and coaching changes have dampened their prospects, while Nebraska continues its tumultuous journey, resembling the heartbreak of Chargers fans. All this adds to the uncertainty surrounding Colorado's true potential. A trip to Oregon in two weeks may provide further insights, but it's a challenge they're expected to face. The Buffaloes, it seems, are simultaneously an enigma and an emerging powerhouse in the making. The Sanders EffectNow, let's address the elephant in the room: Deion "Prime Time" Sanders. The mere mention of Colorado football is enough to get the most football-agnostic folks asking questions. This isn't just about football; it's a cultural shift, and Deion Sanders is at the epicenter of it all. Deion has spent decades mastering the art of being Deion Sanders, and now he's taken that prowess to the coaching realm. Colorado, once a relative football afterthought, has suddenly become the people's team of college football. The buzz around Colorado, the media attention, and the sheer curiosity generated can all be attributed to Deion's charisma and marketing wizardry. Building Toward the FutureBut amidst all the excitement, there's a more profound question at play: Can Colorado build something sustainable? Can it evolve from a flash in the pan to a college football brand, or perhaps even a factory for churning out football talent? The reality is that Colorado isn't the final destination for Deion Sanders. If this experiment in Colorado proves successful, Deion will likely set his sights on the next challenge, the next stop in his coaching journey. And therein lies the rub – Colorado's success hinges not just on popularity and marketing but tangible victories on the football field. The Three-Year PlanSo, what's the timeline for this transformation? Three years. It took Deion Sanders three years to move from Jackson State to Colorado. And if Colorado proves to be a stepping stone to greater heights, it might only take three more years for him to make his next move. The college football world has seen similar transformations in the past, where a coach turns a struggling program into a contender in three years or less. Matt Rhule, for instance, started slow at Temple and Baylor before turning those programs around. Colorado could follow suit, particularly with talents like Travis Hunter, who's only in his sophomore season. The Heisman TalkWhile we're on the topic of talent, let's address the Heisman chatter. Shedeur Sanders has undoubtedly been impressive. His passing stats, particularly against power-five opponents, have turned heads. He's drawn comparisons to the likes of Caleb Williams and is a rising star in the Heisman conversation. But, as Kyle Ledbetter rightly points out, the Heisman competition is fierce. Only four players can be finalists, and Colorado already boasts two legitimate contenders in Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Shedeur's place in the Heisman conversation, while well-deserved, is also a numbers game. The Hunter-Ohtani ComparisonSpeaking of Travis Hunter, his dual-role performance on both offense and defense is nothing short of spectacular. Drawing comparisons to Shohei Ohtani, who excels as both a pitcher and hitter in baseball, Hunter's ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball is a rarity in college football. However, the concern is the physical toll this might take over a grueling season. While it's thrilling to watch him play offense and defense, it's equally essential to ensure his long-term health, especially considering his potential future in the NFL. The Tough Road AheadAs Colorado enters PAC-12 play, they face a challenging path. Six of their remaining nine games are against currently ranked opponents, with four of those games on the road. It's a demanding schedule that will test their mettle. Yet, as their victories over TCU and Nebraska have shown, they are capable of surprises. The Betting FrenzyThe Buffaloes' success has even rattled the betting world. They've garnered more bets to win the national championship than some traditional powerhouses, despite being 100-to-1 longshots. Their margin of victory in games has also left Vegas scratching its head as point spreads are being surpassed. The Buffaloes' New EraIn conclusion, the Colorado Buffaloes' early-season success is no fluke. Coach Deion Sanders has ushered in a new era of excitement and intrigue in college football. However, the journey to becoming a consistent football powerhouse is just beginning, and the road ahead is far from easy.
As the Buffaloes navigate their challenging schedule and their star players continue to shine, college football fans are in for an unforgettable ride. Whether they can sustain this newfound glory and redefine their place in the college football hierarchy remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the Colorado Buffaloes have made an indelible mark on the 2023 college football season, and the nation is watching with bated breath. Stay tuned, because the Buffaloes are far from finished making headlines, and the Deion Sanders effect continues to captivate the world of college football. In the ever-evolving world of college football, conference realignment is a topic that never fails to spark intrigue and debate. Recently, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) made headlines by expanding its footprint to include three unlikely additions: the University of California-Berkeley, Stanford, and Southern Methodist University (SMU). The move has left fans and analysts buzzing, contemplating the impact on the ACC's competitive landscape and long-term viability. A Financial Lifeline in Troubled WatersTo grasp the significance of this expansion, we must first delve into the financial intricacies that propelled these West Coast institutions into the ACC's embrace. Kyle Ledbetter, an expert in the world of college sports, sheds light on the pivotal role of television contracts. The ACC, home to prominent schools like Clemson and Miami, holds a television contract extending until 2036 with its member schools. This seemingly lucrative deal, however, has an unexpected twist. Member schools are trapped by the contract's ironclad nature, making conference jumping a prohibitively expensive endeavor, costing as much as $400 million. This scenario sets the stage for the unexpected. After a whirlwind of realignment, Cal and Stanford found themselves with limited options as the Pac-12 underwent dramatic transformations. The Big Ten and Big 12 had their dance cards full, leaving the ACC as the sole welcoming destination. Desperate for a conference home, these West Coast institutions took a leap of faith. Cal and Stanford, aware of their financial limitations, proposed a unique agreement to the ACC. Rather than demanding an equal share of the conference's lucrative television contract, they humbly accepted 30% of the standard payout. The remaining 70% was redistributed to schools contributing more financially, such as Florida State and Miami. In essence, Cal and Stanford, while receiving substantially less money, secured a coveted spot in a power conference. SMU, on the other hand, exhibited a burning desire to join the ranks of power conference football. The financial deal it accepted from the ACC for the first seven years is nothing short of grim, essentially relinquishing all income. Yet, SMU willingly took this financial hit to escape the American Athletic Conference, a sinking ship post-departure of its prominent schools. Will Competitive Balance Shift? While the financial aspect is intriguing, the true question lies in the realm of competitive balance. In terms of football, the immediate impact might be limited. Cal football's recent struggles are a well-documented tale of woe, with a grim track record that makes its financial demands eyebrow-raising. On the other hand, Stanford boasts a more commendable football history, complete with three Rose Bowl victories in the last decade. The argument for Stanford's value extends beyond football. As the most decorated athletic department in the nation, Stanford shines in a multitude of sports, not just the money-spinners. This rich sporting heritage contributes a unique facet to the ACC's portfolio, potentially bolstering the conference's overall appeal. However, even with Stanford's potential contribution, the ACC's football landscape remains primarily dictated by juggernauts like Clemson. The entrance of these West Coast schools, while intriguing, might not be the panacea for the ACC's football dominance aspirations. Trouble in Paradise: Unhappy ACC MembersThe realignment story doesn't end here. The ACC, like other major conferences, faces a simmering pot of discontent among its members. Schools like Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, and Clemson have been making waves in the rumor mill, yearning for a move to greener pastures. Yet, their ambitious desires have clashed with the daunting financial shackles of ACC's long-term TV contract. While attempts are being made to explore contract loopholes and negotiate exits, it's an uphill battle against the powerhouse that is ESPN/Disney, the ACC's television partner. The looming question remains: how long can these discontented schools stay before a breakthrough—or breakdown—occurs? The Notre Dame WildcardThe topic of realignment isn't complete without addressing the perennial wildcard, Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish, known for their independence in football, have flirted with the ACC in the past, particularly during the tumultuous COVID-19 2020 college football season. However, their recent contract adjustments with NBC and Peacock suggest a different path. Notre Dame's dedication to football independence remains steadfast. Nevertheless, the evolving television landscape, with Big Ten games joining NBC's lineup, could potentially tip the scales. If the ACC aimed to woo Notre Dame, it would require substantial collaboration and possibly financial sacrifices from its major schools. The ACC's expansion saga with Cal, Stanford, and SMU serves as a fascinating chapter in the ever-evolving landscape of college football. While financial woes, membership dissatisfaction, and Notre Dame's wildcard factor are pivotal elements, the true impact of these additions remains to be seen.
As fans eagerly anticipate the unfolding drama of conference realignment, one thing is clear: the ACC has made a bold gamble to strengthen its position in the college sports arena. Whether it pays off, only time will reveal. For now, college football enthusiasts can relish in the intrigue and debate sparked by the ACC's unexpected expansion, knowing that the landscape of college sports is anything but static. In this dynamic world, change is the only constant, and the ACC's latest move is a testament to the enduring allure of college football realignment. 🏈 Exploring the Future of College Football and Conference Realignment! 🤔💥 Join Julian Martinez and Kyle Ledbetter as they dive into the dizzying world of college football's current state and its exciting yet confusing future. From teams switching conferences to the intriguing dynamics of power in college football, they break down the chaos and consolidation. Discover how TV contracts, realignment waves, and school branding play a pivotal role in shaping the landscape. Find out why the PAC-12's demise isn't a surprise, and what's next for conferences like the ACC. Will we see a new era of stability or a mega conference emerge? Plus, explore the potential separation of football from the NCAA and its implications for college athletes. Share your thoughts on the future of college athletics, give this video a thumbs up, and don't forget to subscribe for more sports insights! Stay tuned for engaging discussions and stay safe out there. See you in the next video! 📺🔥 Julian Martinez: [00:00:05] Kyle you know that meme of Mr. Krabs where he's dizzy and just looking around all confused. That's how I kind of feel about the current state of college football, because when I look around, it's all over the place. There's team switching conferences left and right. There's teams that are on the Pacific Coast that are now moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference. We have a BIG-10 division that has like 18-20 teams in it. Now, I just don't know what the current state of college football is now. I think a lot of these conferences honestly have to do a little rebranding. But what is the future of it? Because it seems like we're consolidating. It seems like we're shrinking down and we're we move from power five. Seems like we're a power four. Where do you see this going next? [00:00:49][44.1]
Kyle Ledbetter: [00:00:50] Even the power four is kind of a power or two and a half at this point because like the BIG-12 might put a team in the College football playoff. Your guess is as good as mine in which team it's going to be. Right. I mean, the college football playoffs can expand to 12 soon. So granted, everyone's going to get a chance. But like in the final eight, it's going to be hard to find a BIG-12 team right now that's going to make it to the final eight teams at the end of the season. So it's kind of more of a power two and a half at this point. And the half is the key, which is being held up right now by two things. Well, three things. One, Clemson 2. The money of Florida State and three, a television contract that has screwed over the conference because the next step in college football realignment is that the ACC is going to go to their lawyers and try and break their television contract because the aCC, for those who don't know when they signed their last television contract with ESPN, they created the ACC network. There was a question about whether the conference would exist in the last stage of realignment because Maryland left for the BIG-10 and for a couple months there was like, Oh no, is this going to be the exodus of a bunch of schools? And then the Big East fell apart and a bunch of those Big East schools like Boston College and Louisville move over to the ACC and they signed a television contract with ESPN for 18 years. It runs through 2037. The ACC can't break their television contract because it's too expensive for the schools to buy out ESPN on their TV contract because ESPN is paying them approximately $720 million over 18 years and each member school is getting payouts. It's $40 million a year divided by 15 schools. Each school is getting a three and a half million dollar payout. And to buy yourself out of the contract, the school's got to find a way to pool $400 million, which they can't do right now. So these schools are locked into a television contract. That means they can't jump to another conference. And by the way, if you've been following what's happening, Florida State is running around with like a knife, trying to, like, pressure the commissioner to let them out of their contract and they just can't do it. So they're conferring with their lawyers. They would totally be jumping ship right now and going to another conference if they weren't locked into their television contract. So now that the PAC-12 no longer exists, now that there's 16 teams in the BIG-12, now that there's 20 teams in the BIG-10, and now that the SEC has, they're 16. When you include Texas and Oklahoma, the next step is can the ACC get out of their television contract? And they are lawyering up to figure out if they can break this contract without having to pay $400 million. [00:03:40][170.3] Julian Martinez: [00:03:41] Are you going to miss the PAC-12? [00:03:42][1.0] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:03:43] No, I am not going to miss the PAC-12, because I feel like because there's so many laughs. [00:03:49][6.0] Julian Martinez: [00:03:50] So many good memories. [00:03:51][0.7] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:03:51] It did it served its purpose. And I got a joy going back through the history and remembering that in a six year period, the PAC-12 South saw all six teams Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, Colorado, UCLA and USC. All six teams won the division within a seven year span and they went 0-6 in the conference championship game. Like that division was just absolutely awful and I'm glad that it no longer exists because again, in the last eight years of the College Football Playoff and remember, it's only been around nine years. So if you take out the Marcus Mariota Oregon team in the last eight years, the PAC-12 put as many teams in the College Football Playoff as the AAC. And by the way, the AAC should have had to because UCF should have made the College Football Playoff in 2017. So UCF and Cincinnati really reflect more success in the last eight years than anything the PAC-12 has put together. So good riddance to the PAC-12. They're going to make documentaries about your one day, about how you just royally screwed up this conference. And now four schools go to the BIG-12, four schools take the parachute, the BIG-10 and Cal, Stanford, Washington State, and Oregon state are left in the wilderness waiting to see who will come collect them as part of the next conference. Oregon State and Washington State are definitely going to the Mountain West, Cal and Stanford. This reporting is funny because the ACC, the Atlantic Coast Conference is thinking we can make some money off of Cal and Stanford and Cal and Stanford are saying we'll take 17 years of a television contract as a security blanket WE'RE Cal and Stanford. Stanford's won three Rose Bowls in the last decade and Cal had Aaron Rodgers 15 years ago. So, yeah, no, they're like, we have nothing right now. We'll take the security blanket of a 15 year television contract with the ACc. And according to most recent reports, the vote right now is seven. Yes, eight. No. For Cal and Stanford to join the conference. So, yeah, they are. They need one person to flip. They need one school to flip to admit Cal and Stanford, which is just another hilarious turn of this college football realignment wave, is that we have basically it's just becoming succession at this point, which is like all of the war criminals at Stanford are going to the ACC board and they're like, look, what can we do to convince you to flip? What do we need to do to get your vote to flip? But then so it's basically just succession at this point. Counting votes in board meetings is basically where Stanford and Cal are at trying to get into the ACC again. [00:06:31][160.0] Julian Martinez: [00:06:32] The biggest thing with that situation that blows my mind is just the naming of the conference. Like it's been the dumbest thing for years anyway since conference realignment really took off but teams on the Pacific playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference please if we're going to go any further with any of these realignments, just rebrand, come up with something. I don't care. [00:06:57][25.7] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:06:58] Wouldn't it be wouldn't it be such a dick move if they called it the Pacific Atlantic Coast Conference and it became the PACC and then they called it the PAC 16 or the PAC 17 or whatever it's going to be. That would be such a dick move if they even stole the PAC. Yeah, they stole the PAC-12 branding and just called it the PACC instead of the PAC PAC. That would be hilarious if they just stole the PAC-12 branding as well. But now these schools are branding. Now the BIG-10 is a brand. The BIG-12 is a brand. It sucks that it doesn't make sense in the math, but it's a brand. Now, it would be like changing the NFL to be like the NAFL. It's like, no, at this point they're just brands, so they're not going to change any of the names of the conference. Even if CAL and Stanford get admitted, they're not changing the name of the conference. It's just it's branding at this point. [00:07:47][49.3] Julian Martinez: [00:07:48] Well, I guess, you know, you had you had Hawaii and you had them in the mountain West. Right. And I guess there's volcanoes in Hawaii. Sure, if, That counts as Mountain West. [00:07:55][7.5] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:07:56] Hawaii is Hawaii is technically west. So I guess that that's what they got going for them. So in terms of the future of college football, you have the the short term Cal and Stanford are going to get resolved and then Oregon State and Washington State are going to join the Mountain West and the PAC-12 will cease to exist as we know it. Okay. That's the short term change. The long term is aCC is going to sort out their realignment situation and then we're not going to have much change in college football for a good call it ten, 15 years, because that's usually what happens in college football is you have a three year wave of realignment and then 10 to 15 years of stability. It's basically with every television contract because television is now where the majority of like football related revenue comes from. They still make money from selling tickets to games and also and the gameday experience and stuff. But the predominant amount of revenue for these conferences comes from television deals. And so every time a new television deal comes up, you're going to see conferences switch and conferences realign. And the next step is, one, whether the ACC can break their television contract. But after that's resolved, you're going to have not much realignment for the next ten years and then around 2030 ish, because I believe the SEC signed a 12 year television deal with Disney and ESPN and the BIG-10 signed a nine year deal with like the Fox, CBS, NBC Partnership. So say around 2032 or 2033, that's when you're going to potentially see one giant mega conference that gets formed because they're going to be like, why would we compete against each other when we can just create a mega conference? The seC BIG-10, a conglomerate that all plays against each other in 164 team league because it will maximize television and they will probably get an antitrust exemption and they will form a the new version of a super league with 64 teams or 32 teams or whatever they end up doing. So that'll. The next stage ten years from now. [00:10:05][129.5] Julian Martinez: [00:10:06] Do you think at some point, because obviously we're approaching this from a football standpoint, I'm sure it's going to bleed over a little bit into another profitable sport in basketball. Do you think at some point these conferences will just become about football? Because I just question the economics for sending volleyball teams across the country or soccer teams across the country. Running joke right now is Rutgers having to go all the way to Eugene, Oregon, and having the fifth longest travel schedule of any team, not just college, but team. [00:10:36][30.8] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:10:37] It depends how brazen they want to be about keeping the ball in place, because the reason they're keeping the ball in place of like football funds these other programs, is they don't have to pay their labor If the Supreme Court rules, hey, college football, you have to pay your labor like salaried employees. What's going to happen is that you're going to create a separate football league that uses the branding of all the schools, basically. So it's like the league won't be affiliated with the schools, they'll still play in the same stadiums and all that stuff, but it will be a separate league and the schools will license their branding to the teams and get paid a whole bunch of money for licensing out their branding. Well, it will essentially be a football league where labor is getting paid. [00:11:23][46.3] Julian Martinez: [00:11:24] Well, that would make sense because and the reason I ask this is because I've seen personally, too, even with my own alma mater, how they were in the Sun Belt for football, yet they were still in the WAC for basketball. So I know it can be done. And things think that that might be the future that you're honestly suggesting. I've heard a lot of people suggest this of college football just being its own thing and the NCAA being its own other thing. Should college football separate from the NCAA? I think that's been a question a lot of people have been asking for years. And a certain point it just feels like the money is pushing it in that direction. [00:11:58][33.8] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:11:59] So college football is already separate from the NCAA. They have no I mean, the NCAA is the governing body, but it doesn't essentially govern anything in college football. The conferences negotiate the College football Playoff at this point. So college football is already separate from the NCAA. [00:12:14][15.1] Julian Martinez: [00:12:15] But if the NCAA wants to come down with the suspension, they still can. [00:12:17][2.9] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:12:18] Yes, but that's because the schools still give the NCAA that power. They would rather the NCAA, which is kind of a like fake governing body and like a fake police at this point, they would rather them be the legislators than having to legislate themselves. And at some point in the near future, that's going to change. Obviously, the NCAA puts on March Madness. They pull the rest of the sports into like one collective television contracts, like 40 something sports that they have a TV deal with, with ESPN. The next television deal, the women's basketball tournament, is going to be its own separate television contract, similar to the men's basketball tournament. But right now, the women's sport is all in that group of 40 sports or something. The future is if it's ruled that you have to pay college athletes salaries, you will essentially see a league that essentially operates as college football super League, but it includes all of the schools and their licensing. They will pay them in both salaries and with ability to attend these universities that they choose to play for. That is ideally my version of the future, because that would mean college athletes are no longer being exploited for their labor. [00:13:23][65.4] Julian Martinez: [00:13:24] All right, guys. Well, let us know. How are you feeling about the future of college athletics? College football, specifically in this case, I guess, with the conference realignment. I'd like to hear your thoughts. Please like the video, subscribe to the channel, follow us on all our social media is juju and Kyle. Stay safe, happy and healthy. We'll see you next time. [00:13:24][0.0] [788.5] Speaker 1: [00:00:12] Okay. To our viewers, I first off, I want to say that I wasn't running from the results of Texas versus Texas Tech. That isn't why I didn't post a post-game reaction. You know, just life happens. Things happen in life. So sometimes you just can't always get a video out day of. However, I will say that I was very much disappointed, a little bit distraught, not surprised in the sense that we were playing the backup quarterback. But the problem is I can't even blame the backup quarterback that's in guard actually played pretty well in that game. He did have an interception. Sure, but he did also. You know what? No, no, no. We're not doing that today, Kyle. We're not doing that today. Okay. Anyway, just just to insulin's on this recording. I just. [00:00:55][43.0]
Speaker 2: [00:00:56] It works every time. The whole like, the more the more Texas fans complain about it, the more people want to do it. And it's fantastic. [00:01:02][6.3] Speaker 1: [00:01:04] I'm hurt. You want to hurt me, Kyle? About what? This has turned into that. [00:01:07][3.6] Speaker 2: [00:01:08] I don't need to hurt you. The Texas Longhorns are doing that enough. [00:01:10][2.6] Speaker 1: [00:01:11] For other in podcasting. But. No, but no. You're right. You're right. In fairness, this team has done this to me. This team has hurt me. They have grabbed me by the heart and just ripped it out multiple times. I thought that the Kansas loss was the worst of it, but seeing all those Red Raiders fans storm the field and not pay a $50,000 fine for knocking over players, but that's neither here nor there. Seeing all of them storm the field, throw their tortillas and have fun at the expense of the Texas Longhorns. That did hurt me. On the bright side, we're on to West Virginia. We probably have Quinn Ewers coming back. Things are starting to look up. Is now all doom and gloom in Austin? We've got a home game coming up this weekend. We can look forward to that. The Mountaineers, they are coming off a win. They did beat the Virginia Tech Hokies. And I will say that that Virginia Tech team is not the team of Michael Vick anymore. They are a far cry from that. We're talking about a Virginia Tech team that I think has lost to Old Dominion twice in two years, am I not? [00:02:08][57.9] Speaker 2: [00:02:09] That is correct. [00:02:09][0.4] Speaker 1: [00:02:10] Yes. Yes. Okay. We're playing a team that beat that Virginia Tech version. So it's not their world beaters. West Virginia's two and two, they're not a great football program. Their program that the Longhorns did beat last year. In theory, they should be able to go into this one with similar expectations to win and right the ship, get back to three and two. I was expecting a speed bump. I just was hoping the win have come this suit in the season coming off of the Alabama game. But anyway, stop your thoughts. This game, last game where the Longhorns are. [00:02:41][31.5] Speaker 2: [00:02:42] First of all, is a very, very entertaining game. I will give Texas that. I had it on at work. It was actually quite entertaining, so I will give them that. But I think by transitive property, West Virginia, losing to Kansas means West Virginia is now the worst team in the Big 12. I think that's how you are. [00:02:58][16.9] Speaker 1: [00:02:59] Talking about those four in Ohio, Kansas Jayhawks. So Rock Shop. Yeah, right. [00:03:03][4.5] Speaker 2: [00:03:04] Yeah, you're absolutely correct. I'm just trying to figure out how the transitive property works here because West Virginia's really bad. And like, if Kansas beats Oklahoma one, please let that happen. And two, at like it's just going to be so weird and fluky. So I guess like West Virginia is bad and loss to Kansas. So therefore, I guess West Virginia is the worst team in the Big 12 at this point. And that was kind of my segway to just say that like if Texas loses this game, things will have fallen harder than I thought they would. But we talked about it last week and I'm going to save the same perspective I had from the pre season. Each game is a step up on the ladder for Texas, so beating Texas Tech would have meant you're the seventh best team and then beating potentially K-State would have been. [00:03:44][40.6] Speaker 1: [00:03:44] So we'll get you off just a little bit because in fairness, Texas Tech had it beat them since 2014. So there was that it's kind of a step down in the sense that you should not lost the game. You were up ten points in that game weight and of course your Heisman candidate running back fumbles Bijan right the ship ten point favorites going into this one home game starting quarterback I think coming back I believe when you or should be back I mean he was practicing all last week even in a limited capacity. I don't see why they wouldn't put him in this game to prepare him for the Oklahoma game. [00:04:20][35.9] Speaker 2: [00:04:21] Yes. And I will stick with the healthiest mindset for Texas is each game is a step and evaluation because after that's the measuring stick game. Right. I believe Oklahoma's the next game after West Virginia. [00:04:30][9.4] Speaker 1: [00:04:31] So even though Kansas State kind of threw a little bit of a wrench in that. [00:04:34][3.1] Speaker 2: [00:04:35] Yeah, but I assume Oklahoma will still be at least a touchdown favorite against Texas. [00:04:39][4.4] Speaker 1: [00:04:40] When you talk about PAC 12 stupidity, let's talk about sometimes Big 12 stupidity happens as well because Kansas State, they've kind of been a problem for the Oklahoma Sooners. That's one of those in conference matchups that Oklahoma is like. Why? Why do we always play down to this team? [00:04:55][15.1] Speaker 2: [00:04:55] Oh, yeah, yeah. Oklahoma, that's the reason they're going to the SEC is like, just fuck this. We're not playing Kansas State anymore. Why? Why are we subjecting ourselves in the four years since Bill Snyder has left? Which show that's been. Sir. Hall The shutdown forecast who makes a great case that Bill Snider is the greatest coach in the history of college football since Bill Snyder left, they've lost three of the four meetings against Kansas State. It's absolutely stupid how that keeps happening to Oklahoma. But I digress. Like Oklahoma will still be a favorite against Texas, probably at least a touchdown, and it will be a measuring stick game that Texas isn't expecting to win, although you called it a must win game early on in the season. But it's obviously a game that will be a measuring stick for for Texas. [00:05:38][42.7] Speaker 1: [00:05:39] Again, let me reiterate why Oklahoma is a must win game, because you should have won the game last year. And the only reason you didn't win the game last year is because Lincoln Riley made the smart decision and ended up benching Spencer Rattler in favor of Caleb Williams, who's on his way to potentially a Heisman at this base and with what he's doing with USC. So that was the main reason that I think coming into this year, instead of blowing a 20 point lead, you retain that 20 point lead or at least yet maintain a lead. And I think that's part of my worry about what I saw against Texas Tech, because I told you in the UTSA game, I didn't like how the defense came out a little bit lethargic, didn't have the same effort that they had the week before and then come into the weekend at Texas Tech. Where's the defense? Where is this defense? I saw a shut down Heisman Trophy winner, Bryce Young. Where is that defense? Because they've been MIA for the last couple of weeks. I need them to reevaluate things and put themselves back in that mindset that they were in week two. They were the underdogs and they had a little bit of a chip on their shoulder at the Maryland over showed he should be good to go this week he doesn't have to deal with that targeting call to suspend him for the first half of the Texas Tech game. So you have your entire defense ready to go, ready to rock your quarterback's back. No reason that you should be in any type of danger against West Virginia. JT Daniels, he's a pass. We've seen a bust at multiple different places now. I don't. I don't. [00:07:06][87.6] Speaker 2: [00:07:07] Know anybody. Yeah, yeah. Well, what's funny is that I remember when West Virginia Pit was unlike the Thursday of week one. That's when I learned JT Daniels was the West Virginia quarterback. I was like, God, he has fallen hard. He has fallen hard from being the five star at USC to supposed to be the starter on the national championship Georgia team to now being the starter for a West Virginia team. That is definitely not going to make a bowl game. It's a tough fall for him. [00:07:33][26.1] Speaker 1: [00:07:34] Let us know below in the comments. Which team will JT Daniels be transferring to next year? We'd like to hear your thoughts on that. We will like on the video subscribe to the channel follow us on social media is our juju top sports account Ledbetter 619. And you followed out all that stuff in the YouTube bio. Stay safe, happy and healthy and we'll see on the next one. She? [00:07:34][0.0] [431.5] Speaker 1: [00:00:12] So one of the bigger stories out of college football is another coach's fired, gone. He was on the hot seat for years and I think it was mostly because he built up such expectations for a program that really shouldn't have much expectations. Arizona State. Arizona State is open position right now on college football. Herm Edwards, former NFL head coach. Herm Edwards is gone. What were your thoughts on the decision to let Edwards go? Do you think it was the right call for them? [00:00:36][24.0]
Speaker 2: [00:00:37] Yeah, it was definitely the right call. There was a scenario they were going to terminate his contract with Coors back in 2002 or early 2022 because of an NCAA investigation into Herm Edwards, where during the COVID dead period of quarantines, he was inviting recruits to Arizona State. And basically, just like saying, to hell with the NCAA rules, and there wasn't going to be a decision on that until next year. So it wasn't like something that went on on any. [00:01:06][29.4] Speaker 1: [00:01:06] No, COVID doesn't exist in Phenix. [00:01:08][1.5] Speaker 2: [00:01:09] I guess so. It's just Herm Edwards had a bit of a like cowboy. I mean, first of all, the NCAA, no one should respect the NCAA rules. And at the same time, like, there are certain like rules that you got to at least know and not execute by that standard, because otherwise it's just total anarchy and that's okay and nil, but it's not okay with like breaking public health guidelines. But like so Herm Edwards might have been fired with cause in a year anyways, but based on onfield performance, Arizona State with that hanging over and it affecting transfer portal and recruiting it was it was time and then when you lose to eastern Michigan and they're flying the Mac flag all over the field, which someone pointed out that they bring that to every game in case the Mac wins, which means just in case someone brought it to Toledo versus Ohio State. But flying the Mac flag on Arizona State was kind of the ending point for Herm Edwards. [00:02:01][51.9] Speaker 1: [00:02:02] I mean, we talked about it in our Lakers breakdown that we thought the Lakers were finessing people with HD. I think, you know, Herm in his tenure in Arizona was him finessing the tire world to college football and making them think that the Sun Devils, we're going to become a respectable team in college football. It's eight and 585. A couple of years is a bad for Arizona State, right? I mean, okay, let's look at the history of Arizona State. So best finish ever. Undefeated season 1975 12 and a long time ago, 1975. I wasn't even a thought. That was 19 years before I even came to this planet. Okay. Yeah. [00:02:41][39.0] Speaker 2: [00:02:42] And by the way, just as a side note, they named the field after the coach of that team, just as a heads up, like I think he ended up going to coach the Baltimore Colts after that. But they named the field after the guy who coached that 12, another team. [00:02:53][11.4] Speaker 1: [00:02:54] But it's been a long time since they've been at that level. Right. Okay. Well, you come back. Okay, 20 years later, 1996, they're 11 and one PAC ten at that time, not PAC 12, PAC ten champions. They lose in a Rose Bowl. Good season 8.0 in conference you know OC 1996 at least I was two years old at that time. Jake Paul gets oh we're starting getting into existence right you have a couple of successful 1970 seasons before the 1975 season, recent history. So again in some recent history, 2014, 2013, a couple of ten, ten seasons mixed in their 2007, they have a ten win season, a couple of bowl wins, Sun Bowl, Peach Bowl. That's all good stuff, right? You know, but okay. So we're saying the peak the peak of them in the modern era is a ten win team. Okay, that would be respectable, but that would be something in return. Fell short by that standard eight and five is your best finish as a head coach and a program that has some latency potential to win ten games on any given year. That is a failure. And what we would consider to the constant merry go round of the PAC 12, right? We always joke about how the PAC 12 cannibalizes each other. There is an opportunity there, right? There is an opportunity for you if you are a successful head coach, because what do we consider a successful head coach in college football? Someone that is a great personality that can recruit? Shouldn't that be a guy that has NFL equity? Should that be a guy like Herm Edwards? You know, even you know, we remember even though this is an old press conference, we all remember you play to win the game. It's still something, you know, that we all remember Herm Edwards from. And if I'm recruit I still might know about that, even though that may have been before I was even born. We're talking about this new age of recruits that come in. And you still kind of know about Herm Edwards. [00:04:42][108.4] Speaker 2: [00:04:42] Also one of the Herm Edwards. One of Herm Edwards. Interesting strategies. And I really like this part of her. Edwards in his development as he went to TV, the thing he emphasized is, was never going to cussed at players and was never going to yell at players. He was never going to berate players. This was his like, we're going to change coaching because we are going to be in a working relationship with these. [00:05:04][21.4] Speaker 1: [00:05:04] That's kind of a dangerous, kind of dangerous environment. How that Arizona State man, I mean, come on, it's one of the top party colleges in the U.S. Someone has to hold those kids accountable. I don't know their candidate. I think. [00:05:15][10.6] Speaker 2: [00:05:15] His argument is that as a. [00:05:16][0.8] Speaker 1: [00:05:16] Kid. [00:05:16][0.0] Speaker 2: [00:05:17] Get his argument is there can be accountability without yelling at people and berating them and treating them like crap. And that it's. [00:05:23][6.0] Speaker 1: [00:05:23] It's a tough thing is sometimes you do need a yell. So I wonder if he kind of worked in a little bit of that. Let's be honest. If you're in a war room of an NFL locker room or a college locker room, sometimes you got to yell. Sometimes you have to be the loudest person in a room. I don't know. Did his players respect him? Do they enjoy their time at Arizona State? Were they giving him the true effort, the best effort they could, or was he just falling short on recruiting? [00:05:47][24.7] Speaker 2: [00:05:48] Here's the best way I can describe what Arizona State is, and this is all I know. Some people aren't listening to it like some people don't know college football that well. So let's throw a sport that some people may also not know. Baseball is the American League East. You have the Yankees, Boston, Tampa, Baltimore and Toronto in the PAC. 12 South U.S. is your is your Red Sox, UCLA is your Yankees, and then everyone else kind of. Colorado doesn't exist. Colorado's just terrible. But they're going to finish last place every year we just don't acknowledge Colorado but with. [00:06:22][34.1] Speaker 1: [00:06:23] My man Joel at. [00:06:24][1.0] Speaker 2: [00:06:25] Yeah. But have you seen Colorado this year? Have you seen Colorado the last decade? [00:06:29][3.8] Speaker 1: [00:06:30] Joel. Joel knows. Joel knows. But still, you know, the voice of college football and. Yeah. [00:06:35][5.0] Speaker 2: [00:06:35] And so basically the best way I can describe it is that the Arizona State Sun Devils should have the expectation of the Toronto Blue Jays, which is, you know what, you're under-resourced, you have money, but you don't have as much money as USC and UCLA. You can be able to compete with them every now and again. It might take years to build the program back up. You might rotate coaches. If your coach does well enough, he might leave to take another job. Or sometimes you hire assholes like Todd Graham, like that's sometimes the rotating panel. But you should be competitive every now and again. You can beat UCLA, you can beat you. I mean, UCLA's like the Yankees because they just misuse resources all over the place. But you should be able to compete with those guys, especially given how terrible the last. [00:07:19][43.9] Speaker 1: [00:07:20] Time, right? Okay. Yeah, because the last five years. Right. Though Herms tenure in the PAC 12, there has been a dominant school. I mean, you know, Oregon. Sure. But Oregon still, we talked about the lack of a PAC 12 team in the college football playoffs that kind of tells you there has been a dominant school. So there's an opportunity for you if you're doing your job as a head coach to jump up the rankings. Jump up the rankings. Just at least one season there have won ten one season. If Herm had won ten win season, they might he might still be there. You know, it might be something that he kind of cling to. He could say, okay, I'm sending guys to the NFL. I have Brandon, are you Guy a RINO? Benjamin I had to kill Harry. I know Nicole had returned to her bus, but you're still sending guys to the NFL. You know, first round pick. That's something that help hook them horns. We have we didn't do that last year. You know, Herm sending guys to the NFL draft. See, that's another thing that you got radar on his head coach, right? It's not just wins. Are you sending guys to the NFL? How are your star ratings? Are you like, you know, those are all things that are kind of like baked into like being a successful coach in college football and. Herm I think maybe in the recruiting, I think obviously the winning part just fell short. And I think for Arizona State, how patient should you be? It is five years is fine, right? Five years. [00:08:35][75.3] Speaker 2: [00:08:35] This season. Yeah. If five years and you're headed for a cliff in year five because Utah was going to be better than them. USC all of a sudden. Good. Now, of course, because USC decided to just start spending Boston Red Sox money again and basically just copy and paste Oklahoma. Obviously, UCLA is better now. They're not great, but they're better and Arizona is still bad. But, you know, Arizona might beat Arizona State this year because Arizona State was headed for a nosedive this year in year five. So that's the reason he got fired, was not just like you had to. I think they finished second in the PAC 12 South twice in four years. But this year they were going to finish either fourth or fifth, so they were headed for the nosedive at the end of whatever the peak of Herm Edwards was. And so they're going to hire whoever the next coaches again. Jamey Chadwell always available. Go get them. Coastal Carolina, Ronnie Sandusky. [00:09:26][50.6] Speaker 1: [00:09:27] BYU. Come on. I mean, he's done a good job of there, right? [00:09:30][2.8] Speaker 2: [00:09:31] He's done a great job. It's just that BYU is also headed to the Big 12 and it might be might be a difficult conversation to pry him away. I mean, if you want to go for it, go for it. Like, I'm not going to say people shouldn't hire Deion Sanders. You should absolutely give Deion Sanders interviews. I'm not saying you shouldn't absolutely bring in Deion Sanders. [00:09:50][19.2] Speaker 1: [00:09:50] Now, obviously, I don't think the term is anywhere close to Deion Sanders in terms of name recognition, but I think that was kind of the hope when he hired her. Right. He's a name he should be able to get on TV. Yeah, he should be able to attract people just because he's a name. You know, that's why the argument, you know, and obviously his name besmirch nowadays. But that's what the reason people said even Jon Gruden would have been a successful college coach because guy on TV right. And you know that sometimes that just helps. You know you get your foot in the door, you get there in front of mom, dad, the player, you talk to them, you could sell them on your program. And they're like, Hey, there was that guy I saw Monday Night Football. Sometimes that's enough. And I guess, you know, Arm didn't really take advantage of that opportunity, you know? So now it opens the door for some next coach to step in. And I don't know what the expectation is going to be because expectation at Arizona State, I know that they were good in 1975. They're never going to have that again. That that's not going to be something that we're going to see from Arizona State again. I think that they're best case scenario, like you said, is just to be kind of like good but never great. And I think that's fine for the Sun Devils. [00:10:50][59.7] Speaker 2: [00:10:51] Yeah, the game is changing now, though, because USC and UCLA are leaving. So now the PAC 12, they're in that group, which is the shell of the PAC 12 and whatever PAC 12, Big 12 Alliance might happen. We don't know what's going to happen there. But like Arizona State's kind of just in the shell of whatever's left of the PAC 12. And so that'll make it easier to compete because they don't have to. Imagine if, like the Yankees traded places with like the Miami Marlins in the baseball divisions and all of a sudden the whole construct of the elites changes. But I think that it's going to be fine for Arizona State and Auburn's going to fire their coach. Nebraska's job is is already open like those are better jobs than Arizona State. It's just that Arizona State's going to pick from whatever the next group is. And maybe it's Jamey Chadwell, maybe it's an assistant coach at Alabama, maybe it's a assistant coach even at somewhere like Baylor, like what Texas Tech did last year. Like maybe it's a job like that. Maybe it's one of those Mountain West coaches, although I think most of the Good Mountain West coaches have already been taken, like Fresno State's coach just went to Washington. So there's not not a lot of great options available there. But like it, higher. [00:11:58][66.8] Speaker 1: [00:11:58] School is going to get here. He's available here. He's taking calls. [00:12:01][2.8] Speaker 2: [00:12:02] You know who they should hire is Matt Rhule. They should hire Matt Rhule as their coach. [00:12:05][3.3] Speaker 1: [00:12:06] All these. Great. Okay, you know what? With it, he's not make it to this year North Carolina. I know I was high on the Panthers early on, but that's I changed my tune a little bit after seeing them play football games. Matt Real I think he's going to be on the coaching hotseat moving forward in eight straight losses, but be available pretty soon to start filling those calls. He might be able to take him in pretty soon here. If you're Arizona State, like it. He's obviously rebuilt college programs before. You're the Sun Devils. I think that's the answer. You have to go. I think he could get you ten wins. But anyway, guys, I think wait in the comment section, who do you think should be the next head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils? Do you think they gave her a fair shot? Are you surprised by the decision? Anything and all things Sun Devils, tropical. In the comment section we were like on this video, subscribe to the channel. Follow us on social media at Juju Talk Sports by Kyle Ledbetter and his various social media platforms. We have all below in the YouTube bio. Stay safe, happy and healthy. We'll see our next one. She? [00:12:06][0.0] [697.5] Julian Martinez: [00:00:12] Well, it's time to talk about my 22nd ranked Longhorns. Surprisingly dropped this week despite a win. It was a win against UTSA. The Roadrunners meet me by their gon got blown out by 21 so that felt good but didn't feel good with that first half though, a little bit of lethargic start by the Longhorns. I wasn't pressed terribly by their defense. They are currently going to be six and a half point favorites on the road going to Lubbock, tortillas flying everywhere, I'm sure. I'm excited for this one, but also because you have to think they turned it right on me. Mean a game like the UTSA game as slow as they started, I was impressed by them because a team like that is usually those trap games, those letdown games that the Longhorns have been snake bitten by before and they didn't let it happen. Against a while, coach Jeff Frazier led Roadrunners team, Texas Tech, Texas. What do you think? [00:01:00][48.1]
Kyle Ledbetter: [00:01:01] Well, at the start of the season, remember when we did our our preseason preview of the Longhorns, where we talked about how last year they finished eighth in the Big 12. And in order to climb up the rankings, they would have to beat all the seven teams that were ahead of them because they'll beat the shit out of Kansas, they'll beat the shit out of West Virginia. Those teams aren't any good. [00:01:18][17.3] Julian Martinez: [00:01:19] But this is pump the brakes. They're just Kansas's starting three, you know, just throw it out there. Okay, listen, listen. I don't want to put that evil on myself either. But, you know, all due respect, Lance Leopold's doing something up there. [00:01:32][12.3] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:01:32] He's doing something. I still think they're only better than West Virginia in the Big 12. That's my my thoughts. I could be incorrect, but I believe in Kansas. [00:01:40][7.7] Julian Martinez: [00:01:40] I they we're all be better than my alma mater, New Mexico State, as of a few years ago. So that kind of tells you how much of an improvement they have had. But again, you are correct. Texas, Texas, that's where our focus is. [00:01:53][13.0] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:01:55] Texas Tech. I would regard as the eighth best team in the Big 12. Therefore, this is the beginning of the climb for Texas. Back to the rankings of the Big 12, if you want to think of it this way, a win this week is the jump from eighth to seventh, and then the win next week is seven to sixth. Little by little, this is how Texas continues their climb to relevancy. And of course, we expect Texas to win this game. Of course, we expect Texas to beat Kansas State. We probably expect Texas to be Iowa State, even though Iowa State is three and zero and going to make the bowl game and be pretty good this year like we expect them to win these games. Everything on paper says they're better. The game against Alabama says that the program's ahead of schedule. Of course that's the case. It's just now that little by little they're going to have to happen and avoid the disappointments that sometimes happen to programs. It doesn't usually happen in the programs like Texas when we're talking about the resource advantage that they have against schools like Texas Tech. So they should win this game in year two. It's a game that usually when Texas loses to Texas Tech, someone's getting fired. It doesn't have to be the head coach, but someone's getting fired within the athletic department. So Texas expects to win. They should win. But this is like if they win this week, they're now seventh in the Big 12 and then next week they'll be sixth and then fifth. And then they'll get to the Oklahoma game and it'll be another measuring stick. Okay. [00:03:12][77.9] Julian Martinez: [00:03:13] Okay. I see where you're measuring this is you're looking at it almost like a Mortal Kombat combat tower where you're just kind of working your way up. You're beating everyone up until you get to Shao Kahn. Okay. I respect that. I respect what you're saying here. When I look at this matchup, I think the bigger story for the Longhorns going into this game is going to be the health of their quarterback. Yes. DeMarvion Overshown him not being on the defense. That hurts. But Ewers not being in there. You can kind of tell they played it more conservative against UTSA. They took a couple shots with Hudson Guard, but he couldn't connect, mostly because Hudson cards just not as talented as yours. And I appreciate any backup quarterback that could go in, give a confident effort against the Alabama defense and Nick Saban led defense. But the UTSA game, I don't think the Hudson card was doing anything that really made the Longhorns better, probably made them worse, to be honest. So one thing that took away from Sark on Monday practice, they all practice today, which is positive. Talking about his quarterback room, they didn't all practice last week. If you listen to the broadcast, they were talking about Glenn Ewers and also saying that he was seeing the ball around. He looked like he was ready to go. So what I think is going to happen, I don't think he's going to play this week. I think the Longhorns are going to quite conservatively say, I think we could beat Texas Tech on the road with Hudson Card. I think we can do that. Maybe they do a slow ramp up and have Ewers out there against West Virginia because you're really getting ready for the Oklahoma game that's around the corner for you. That's what your season is going to be made or broken on. As much as you know, you don't want to lose these games because those will feel awful. If you beat Oklahoma, you had that almost game against Alabama. You may finish the season with eight wins. You're feeling pretty good about how the season went overall. I mentioned it in the preseason, I think you beat Oklahoma. That's the win that Sark needs on his resume. So I don't think that you should rescuers being out there against Texas Tech because you should be able to beat Texas Tech without. Donovan Smith. So the quarterback for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, he has the 110th quarterback rating in the nation. That kind of tells you the level of quarterback play. You're going to see the defense if they could play the second half defense that they had against UTSA as opposed to the first half effort that wasn't really there. If they could play the effort that they had against Alabama, they should be able to smother Smith. They should be able to smother this Red Raiders offense even without overselling. So I like their ability to do that. They have some guys on the defensive line that I think can really like overpower that offensive line and just make it difficult for the Red Raiders all around. I'd like them to win this game six and a half point spread. I understand it just because when you're again, talk about a backup quarterback, you're talking about these shootout games because I think the Red Raiders might be able to just get into a shootout. That's that's always within the range of possibilities. Backdoor covers, I think, always are within the range of possibilities in these big 12 games. I'm just hoping that the Longhorns bring that same level of defense and car just to kind of get them by for another week. That's that's why I'm hoping for. [00:06:08][174.9] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:06:08] The spread reflects that right. Like even without your defensive captain in your five star quarterback and your running back playing, but playing with like 80% or 85% or whatever Bijan Robinson's at right now, even with that, they're still a seven point favorite. And part of that is Texas Tech actually doesn't have a great offense this year. And the fact that I bet you you and I both can't name the head coach at Texas Tech if we were given infinite guesses at this point. I know he comes from Baylor. I know he comes from Baylor, but I don't know his name. I think it starts with an S. I could be wrong about that. But anyways, like Texas Tech is a team they should beat. I obviously I'm not invested in the rivalry and like the Red River and the rah rah of Texas like you are in Austin. So like the way I look at it is they were going to lose to Alabama. Now, obviously, they almost beat Alabama and it was shocking. But like going into the year, I assumed they were going to lose to Alabama and there would be three games that would be underdogs in this year Oklahoma, Baylor and Oklahoma State. And if you won one of those games and avoided any embarrassing losses, it would be a huge success for Texas. So like, yes, Oklahoma is the game that would define the season, perhaps because it's the rivalry. I look at it as like if they win one of the games against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Baylor and like don't lose at home to West Virginia, then this will be a successful season for Texas and like something you could build on and perhaps in your last year in the Big 12, go on to potentially finish second place in the conference or maybe win the Big 12 title or whatever you want to set the expectation at four years down the road. But yeah, Texas Tech should be a game. They win and let's not get it wrong. Steve Sarkisian offense is simple. Like I remember I was watching the playoff game for Bama two years ago and basically called the plays that Sark ran for the first seven plays in my living room. But like they will run the simple offensive Hudson card, they will probably win the game. And if they don't or if they play close, we can evaluate like how we got to that point. Were there turnovers? You kind of humbles. [00:08:07][118.4] Julian Martinez: [00:08:07] Whatever would happen a pass and any loss you have with Hudson Card as the quarterback, I think. [00:08:11][3.5] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:08:11] Okay, but if they go to a game, then. [00:08:13][2.1] Julian Martinez: [00:08:14] It's a feel good pass. Yeah. No, no. Well, that's, you know, banking on Ewers missing significant time this season, I would say. Yeah, that's one thing. But looking. [00:08:22][8.4] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:08:22] At their. [00:08:22][0.1] Julian Martinez: [00:08:23] Cap and for that. [00:08:23][0.5] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:08:24] You look at their full schedule breakdown, it's like they have a Mortal Kombat ladder game and then a measuring stick game. So it's like, I mean, they're going to beat West Virginia at home, they're going to destroy West Virginia, but like Texas Tech, then Oklahoma, then Iowa State, then Oklahoma State, then Kansas State, then Baylor. It's like they get one game to move up the ladder and then one game to kind of measure where they stand against the three programs that Texas hopes to one day reach with Steve Sarkisian, even though they were already there with Tom Herman, but they just didn't like Tom Herman. So they just tore it down and started all over again. [00:08:58][34.1] Julian Martinez: [00:08:58] Yep. Hopefully like Sark. More just to read off Joey Maguire, because Joey Maguire is the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. His head coaching resume or his coaching resume, he was a high school football coach from 1995 all the way up until 2016. Cedar Hill is where he coached. Then he became the Baylor tight end coach, 2017, 2018, and he was there all the way up until 2021 when he took the head coaching job at Texas Tech. Joe Maguire Let's not get Jerry Maguire. Don't show me the money. Come, let's win this game three and one on the road. All right. From Juju, from Kyle. Stay safe, happy and healthy. You like the channels, subscribe, comment, all that stuff. And we will see you next time. [00:08:58][0.0] [518.3] Julian Martinez: [00:00:12] This is not going to be easy. Segment record as the Longhorns are currently 20 and a half point underdogs against the Alabama Crimson Tide. And yes, we're still previewing this. Yes, we're still giving predictions. And yes, we'll have to fight through grit my teeth as I'm sitting across or around or in the vicinity of Longhorns haters Kyle Ledbetter and James. Really hard name to pronounce that. I won't even try that. Anyway, guys, Longhorns welcome in the Crimson Tide. Alabama just had a 55 point victory against Utah State. The Longhorns had a good opening game, for what it's worth, against Yukon. Neither one of these two teams were really tested in week one. Alabama, you already know what you're getting. Your game state, Nick, you're getting Bryce Young, you're getting Wil Anderson, you're getting five star players up and down the defense and offense. This is going to be the game that Steve Sarkisian wanted. James, what's your early read on this game? [00:01:05][52.5]
James Puopolo: [00:01:05] It's not good for you. I'll tell you the gun. And I know that goes with what everybody else is saying. I get that Sark is going to put this high powered offense out there. But man top to bottom, this Bama squad is just different. Like I can see this squad being a straight undefeated run. I have that much faith and just will Anderson alone what Bryce Young is doing to on the other side, it's just disgusting. It's disturbing. Maybe not with the same level of receiver firepower they've had in recent years, but it's still a really good squad spoiler. [00:01:36][31.1] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:01:38] First of all, I'd like to point out that the branding of Longhorns hater is just someone who shows the slightest bit of antagonistic zeal towards their team because it's easy to pick on the Longhorns when Texas does it to themselves, though these teams that have high expectations but the performance doesn't meet it kind of like Chicago Bears fans, where it's really easy to kind of like poke them a little bit. But you're at least a better Texas Longhorn fan than most that I have encountered, I would say. So in terms of the game itself, like we talked about last week with Oregon and Georgia and like we talked about with Ohio State, Notre Dame, although Notre Dame did hold their own for about three quarters, changing the measuring stick is the most important for this one. This is not about whether Texas is going to pull off the upset and beat Alabama. There's like a 1% chance that that's going to happen under any circumstance. So what this is for Texas is what does it what does the first two quarters look like? What does your first drive of the game look like? What happens say, if you go up three to nothing, what does your defense look like? The little things like that will be ways to evaluate, not necessarily the state of the program itself, but just how this thing is coming along, how this team reacts. They know they're going into this game set up to lose, and that's totally okay. Obviously, they're not thinking that in their head, but just changing the measuring stick will make it a more enjoyable experience because otherwise it's just going to be a frustrating cycle of recognizing that you are not Bama and you will never be Bama because no one in the history of college football has, and quite possibly never again will be what Alabama has been over the last decade. [00:03:10][92.1] Julian Martinez: [00:03:11] How good is going yours going to be and how good is he really? Obviously, he started off last week with an opening drive pick. That is something that you just can't afford against this Alabama team. You can't have mistakes. They're going to force you into mistakes as is. Just don't give them any freebies for or this is only his second start in two years. So I expect this to be a struggle. This is going to be a hard time again. You have Will, Anderson. Yeah. That defensive line coming at you, they're just going to make it a difficult day outside of Xavier Worthy. I'm not really sure who's going to be that wide receiver that really steps up for the Longhorns. And I'd love to see Brian Robinson really control the clock and make this a difficult game for them in terms of time possession. But unfortunately, Alabama even has run stoppers, so you can't even establish a good running game against them. Ewers is going to be running for his life. James If there was any chance of an upset, how would the Longhorns have to do it? [00:04:03][52.9] James Puopolo: [00:04:04] Man, I think the only thing you can really do is just pray that Bijan can capitalize on the offense and any slight mistake you can get out of Bama you can then capitalize on. Otherwise, I don't think there's much of a case to be had. I don't I don't see it defensively for Texas. I just think Bryce is going to come in and steamroll. [00:04:23][19.0] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:04:23] From the Alabama side. I would want to see how many turnovers they have because if you're looking for like a formula for how do you beat Alabama? Historically, the best Alabama teams have been beaten in those games like last year against Auburn, where Bryce Young throws like four interceptions in the game or three interceptions and Alabama does it to themselves. It's not a game where you win a shootout, except for that one weird time that Ole Miss went into Alabama and scored 40 points on them. But other than that, it's basically Alabama only scores 17 points and you find a way to win it at the end. Because I think the Alabama defense, if you take out the Georgia championship game in the regular season, like once in the last two years, they've allowed more than 20 points in a game. So. The way to win is with defense. And obviously, I don't know a ton about the Texas defense going into this game. I know that they have this prolific offense and five stars up and down, at least at wide receiver and running back and quarterback. And and they have a couple of good offensive linemen who might be NFL guys. So defensively, I think the hope is that they can force turnovers and Alabama makes the mistakes that at least give them an opportunity to cover because it's going to take like three or four or five weird Alabama mistakes to actually swing the tide of the game. That's just a byproduct of being a three touchdown underdog and deserving to be a three touchdown underdog. [00:05:42][78.8] Julian Martinez: [00:05:43] Okay, so we've all kind of like said that this is just going to be an insurmountable mountain for the Longhorns. But do they cover? [00:05:51][7.4] James Puopolo: [00:05:52] I'm going to say no. I'm going to say no. And then I'm going to say UTSA and next week, too. [00:05:56][4.2] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:05:59] That would be fantastic in terms of whether they'll cover, you know, what maybe. [00:06:04][5.2] Julian Martinez: [00:06:05] Or something along those lines. [00:06:07][1.6] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:06:08] Maybe they will. [00:06:08][0.5] Julian Martinez: [00:06:10] Some stats I'll just throw in here towards the ends. Obviously it's about containing Bryce Young, the Heisman candidate, and against top 50 defenses. Last year, Bryce Young was averaging over 300 yards a game against top 25 teams. In general, he has 157 passer rating, so there's just not a lot to really love. But one thing I will want to watch from this this week in terms of knowing what this team is going to be like. You mentioned you don't really know much about the defense. And I think that that's a sentiment echoed by everyone who watches and covers the Longhorns. It's because you are and you had no idea whether or not that was actually defensive improvement or it was just playing a really bad team playing Bama. That's going to show you exactly where your defense is. Again, you know what the offense is going to give you because you have Quinn, you have Xavier, and then you have Bijan. So those are three talented pieces right there. Knowing what you have from the defense that was low effort, had no intensity last year is what Texas Longhorns fans want. I'm going to keep an eye on that. James, having thrown the UTSA thing there at the end, just how dare you? How dare you? [00:07:16][66.2] James Puopolo: [00:07:17] I've seen multiple paths. I saw people like talking about it. It would be like it would be hilarious if they beat Bama. Like, Yeah, let's go then UTSA teams in the next week. Because it wouldn't. [00:07:26][8.6] Julian Martinez: [00:07:26] Be unnatural with the pattern we saw last year where they were fooling themselves after the home game and then Arkansas punches them in the mouth and then they just go on a tailspin. [00:07:35][8.8] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:07:36] So that tailspin that involved losing to Kansas, who hadn't won a PAC 12 road game since 2008. You mean that tailspin? [00:07:42][6.4] Julian Martinez: [00:07:44] Well, I would find it hard for them to win a PAC 12. [00:07:46][2.5] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:07:47] Big 12 big game. But they'll all be give it two years, they'll all be the same conference. [00:07:51][4.1] Julian Martinez: [00:07:52] That might be the case. That might very well be the case. [00:07:54][2.2] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:07:55] Yeah. For Texas's standpoint, we talked about this last week, Texas getting eight wins would be a successful season. It doesn't matter how you get the eight wins, just get the eight wins. And you can at least convince yourself that this is a building point and not two years from now, Stark is going to get fired and you'll still be broke and trying to pay three different coaches buyouts. [00:08:15][19.6] Julian Martinez: [00:08:16] Get this window and you could change the expectations forever undefeated going to the national championship win Texas back. Let's get it right now. [00:08:25][8.9] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:08:26] 1% chance. [00:08:27][0.7] Julian Martinez: [00:08:28] 1% chance. I'll take it. All right, guys, you probably notice the segment's a little different. Not just Kyle and I, but we also joined by guest James. James from Bota. James, we need you to drop all the obligatory plugs. That way, people know where to find you. [00:08:42][14.2] James Puopolo: [00:08:42] Hey. Well, thank you for having me. You can find us everywhere at Bota sports. Bota, Instagram, Tik Tok is the biggest one. There's also a Twitter, but it's really not worth them. 500% honest about it. Yeah, you can find all of our stuff everywhere just by searching about sports. [00:08:57][15.3] Julian Martinez: [00:08:58] Okay, guys, find that below in the bio we will like on this video. Subscribe to the channel from juju talk sports and Kyle Ledbetter. Stay safe, happy and healthy. We'll see you on the next one [00:08:58][0.0] [502.9] Julian Martinez: [00:00:12] Okay. So it was an exciting off season here in Austin, and that's good considering the 2021 season was miserable. Five and seven losses to Kansas come from behind losses to Oklahoma. Oklahoma State, just a pretty miserable first year experience for Steve Sarkisian. But then we started to see some early recruiting results or early recruiting successes for the program under Sark, Quinn, Ewers being the first big find for him as being a five star quarterback or a highly touted quarterback like you or should the transfer portal absolute victory. And considering how shoddy the quarterback situation was last year under Hudson Card and Casey Thompson, the Longhorns just getting better at that position could really, of course, change the prospects. And even though it it doesn't apply to the 2022 season, the 2023 recruiting grab of Arch Manning is obviously got a lot of people buzzing about the future of this program, but we're going to be focusing on the 2022 season in this preview. And Vegas really loves the Longhorns this year, at least loves the Longhorns to do some damage within the Big 12 as they are currently still in the Big 12. Haven't yet quite make that move to the SCC starting off. They've got LOUISIANA-MONROE coming in to Austin. That's going to be their opening game this weekend. And then the big test with Alabama in week two facing the number one school, not looking forward to that as it currently stands. They are a two touchdown underdog. What is your expectation for Sark? Kyle Obviously you're not as tied to this program as I am, so the expectations are a little bit different. [00:01:48][95.4]
Kyle Ledbetter: [00:01:49] So last year I kind of did like a macro level perspective on Texas, where I was saying any program that is replacing their coach and they didn't do it like midseason, like USC did, like USC went through the four and eight season by firing Helton at the start of the year. But like last year was Texas down year, first year with Sark and I give a free pass to any coach in their first year. Like you're going to bottom out, you're going to have to find players within the margins because your team is behind. On recruiting for the year Recruits can commit and transfer without penalty now, which is something that they always should have been able to do. But people got trapped in these cycles of coaches being fired for years. So any time you're going through a first year, you should get a pass. Even when you lose to Kansas, even when you lose to Iowa State, even when you lose to West Virginia, even when you lose to they lost eight games. They basically lost to everyone in the Big 12 last year. So. [00:02:46][56.5] Julian Martinez: [00:02:46] Well, you know, my expectation is I always thought that we'd get to a bowl game, at least be six and six. [00:02:52][5.4] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:02:53] Yeah, no, I agree. Oh, I agree. It was a colossal disappointment. But you also get a pass. Like no matter what happened, they could have gone, oh, in 12 and I would have at least given them a pass, because when you're in the first year of a new program, you're going to inevitably go through some of those struggles. So this year for Texas, going from like eighth to like fourth in the Big 12 is something that should be realistic for any program with the amount of money that's being poured into the team. Obviously we know Bijan Robinson is going to be either a day one or second round pick in the draft. They have that wide receiver who I don't know his name but is incredibly good. [00:03:30][37.5] Julian Martinez: [00:03:31] Xavier Worthy, absolute stud, absolute beast. [00:03:33][2.5] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:03:34] Yeah. And they have Quinn Ewers who there's no guarantee that Quinn yours is going to be great. Remember last year we were talking about DJ or Jungle Play, about him being the Heisman favorite and that didn't work out. So just because you're a five star doesn't guarantee you're going to be a stud. And at the same time, he's going to be better than anything Texas has had since Ehlinger. He might even be better than Sam Ehlinger just based on, you know, his prospects as a quarterback. So Texas being fourth in the Big 12 would be a successful season this year, which if I'm doing that in my head, it would be obviously they'll lose to Bama. Like that's not even without question, no means no. [00:04:10][35.3] Julian Martinez: [00:04:10] I think the hope there for most Texas fans is we don't expect you to beat Bama, but don't look incompetent playing Bama at least show that you've progressed this season. [00:04:21][10.7] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:04:22] It's a measuring stick game. Like most teams that play Bama, Ohio State or George, I mean, we've talked about Notre Dame and Oregon playing Bama. We could talk about Texas as well in that respect that it's a measuring stick game and you're going to lose it, but it's not going to be a disappointment. People will see it and recognize that it's not that bad of a loss. [00:04:39][17.5] Julian Martinez: [00:04:40] It's an easy game for Steve Sarkisian in that locker room in the sense that no one is rooting for you. You got the weight of the world against. Yeah. So if you need a game to rally the troops, that Alabama game has been pretty much the game you've been planning on all year now. I think the danger in that is you don't want to look completely past louisiana-monroe. You still want your team to be focused on your week one game because if you start on one against Louisiana-Monroe and suddenly you're going into an own to start to the season after last year's disappointment, that's bad, but no. [00:05:14][34.2] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:05:14] Yeah, of course. [00:05:15][0.6] Julian Martinez: [00:05:15] But with the expectation and hopes that they win that game. Yes, I understand it's only human that most of your focus is going to be on this Alabama game because that's going to be the big headliner. I mean, everyone in their mother is going to be tuned in to that game. [00:05:28][13.0] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:05:30] Well, at least in the Texas community for sure. I think that there might be great games around that, too, but it'll be a nationally televised game, no question. [00:05:37][7.6] Julian Martinez: [00:05:37] And that's the thing. That's what I'm saying is it's going to be there whether you love it. And one thing I've learned through having this YouTube channel is that people love to see the Longhorns lose. So if you hate the Longhorns, you're tuning in. If you love the Longhorns, you're tuning in. So so that that's kind of the power still in the Longhorns program, I would say. [00:05:58][20.8] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:05:59] Yeah, for sure. And going beyond the Alabama game. So they probably will not be better. I'm just thinking off the top of my head, Oklahoma, they will not be better than Oklahoma. They won't be better than Oklahoma State and they won't be better than Baylor this year. Everyone else I think they should expect to beat and I think the goal should be don't have any embarrassing losses. But if you do have one or two missteps, be to Baylor. I think they play Baylor at home this year, beat Oklahoma State, maybe pull off the upset in Red River, but just like win one of those games, if you're going to have an embarrassing loss along the way, I think like six and three is something you should expect this year in conference play. [00:06:37][38.3] Julian Martinez: [00:06:37] See, I think that's part of why people are so pissed off last year and certainly were pissed off during the previous administration is that you were in these tight window games against Oklahoma. So. Beating rivalries is obviously a big deal in college football. So beating the rival in Oklahoma is certainly. Talk about measuring stick. That's where a lot of people are going to put a lot of how successful was your season the Julie's beat one rival. And considering they came up short against Oklahoma and they came up short against Oklahoma State in that game, though, those were games in which people looked at Syracuse like, What the hell are you doing? How how are you not at least winning these ones, especially because they had the lead? The worst thing that happened for Texas in that game is that Spencer Rattler got benched and Caleb Williams came in and took over Oklahoma. Though they're a program that's going to be dealing with a lot of turnover. You're going from Lincoln, Riley to Venables. So that's a seismic shift in terms of philosophy. So if you're Sark and you have the continuity on your team, on your roster, you kind of have to take advantage. So I think that late in the year. So right now, as it stands, Oklahoma's the ninth ranked team in the country. Texas is unranked. That's another game that I have to mark on the calendar, I think almost this year. I know it's lofty, but I got to say that I feel like that's a must win game for them this year because you kind of want to start giving people hope. [00:07:57][80.1] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:07:58] I get that. Yeah, I get the the idea of wanting to build hope. And like I said, just off the top of my head, I'm guessing Oklahoma's a top ten team. Like you said in the preseason, Baylor is a preseason top ten, although I don't think Baylor is as good as projections say, and Oklahoma State is ranked 12 to start the year. So those are teams that. [00:08:17][18.5] Julian Martinez: [00:08:17] But Oklahoma indication number two or worse and they lost their coach so take advantage this is where this is a team that you almost have to beat this year because you had an excellent off season. You really did. I mean, Ewers, I know what you're saying. He's not a guarantee. No one's a guarantee. Only guarantee is death and taxes. Right? The way the game is going, the way college football is going. And in a way, it's always been this game where you need high level quarterback play. But certainly in college football, there hasn't been many national champions or aside from Bennett with Georgia that have won on the backs of not having a great quarterback or an NFL worthy quarterback. Ewers The expectation when you have that star rating coming out like he did coming out of high school like he did is he will push his college stock to the next level or push the Longhorns quarterback stock to the next level of where it's been. Because you talk about a guy like Ehlinger Alliger, maybe a backup quarterback for a long time in the NFL and that's a win. You know, that's not a bad thing. I mean, you're one of the top 50, top 60 best quarterbacks in the world if you're in the NFL, even as a backup Colt McCoy obviously still in the league. And that's fine that the Longhorns have been able to have successful backup quarterbacks in the league. [00:09:34][76.9] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:09:35] Colt McCoy was one of the great college quarterbacks of all time. This is just back when college quarterbacks didn't translate well to the NFL. Okay. [00:09:41][5.9] Julian Martinez: [00:09:41] Okay, I hear what you say. But my point is, Texas has done a great job of pumping out NFL backups over this last decade and a half. And Vince Young tail end of his career was also a great backup quarterback. You would say you want to see this program start to ascend to the point where they're pumping out NFL starters. Hell, you want them to start pumping out NFL players at all. Last year was a horrible year and a horrible indictment. When you consider, yes, you had zero players drafted and your highlight of the entire NFL draft was that after the draft, the undrafted kicker kicked. DICKER The kicker was picked up by the Rams that that's the best that this program has had. But you look, you mentioned Bijan Robinson, a guy who's coming out and is a highly touted prospect. I haven't personally is a day to pick, but there have been the arguments made for maybe a day. One, if he has a Heisman level season and a year is a competent quarterback and Xavier worthy is he is a stud I know it Xavier Worthy because he was making plays out there with Hudson Card. And again, Casey Thompson, his quarterback, they improved their offensive line. So their offense, I'm very, very confident in that unit this year. I actually would have to say I think I'm fairly confident in their offensive unit. The big problem for them last year, that defense got it. Make a tackle, stop someone, wrap someone up. So I'm hoping that that shifts because you're not going to be able to compete with Alabama if you're afraid to tackle somewhat. [00:11:08][86.3] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:11:08] No, let's actually. [00:11:09][0.6] Julian Martinez: [00:11:10] Yeah, yeah. Okay. You want to go game by game here? [00:11:12][2.0] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:11:12] I don't want to go game by game right now. But I do want to do focus on something that you said you so you said Bijan Robinson being a Heisman Trophy running back and Quinn Ewers being a very capable starting quarterback and they have a strong wide receiver. I don't know that much about their defense, but I'm sure it's like, okay, I guess, and if that's the case, that basically means that they are 2021 Michigan State and 2021 Michigan State went 11 and two with Kenneth Walker almost winning the Heisman Trophy and won. I think it was like the Peach Bowl or something like that. But it was a new year, six bowl game like. They made it to a near six ball game. So like, if that's the case, that's a program builder for Texas where it's like if you have the if you're a Longhorns fan and you have the expectation of Tom Herman, beat Oklahoma, won the Sugar Bowl, and we fired him anyways. So if the expectation is above that, then yes, you you should expect or hope for an 11 wins. [00:12:08][56.1] Julian Martinez: [00:12:09] You want my realistic expectation? Eight wins. If you told me they got eight wins this year, I'm happy I can walk away with the season saying it was a successful season. Of course I want one of those wins to be Oklahoma. I will add that caveat. I do think that if you have eight wins, but that one win is Oklahoma, that completely changes the complexion of your season. And certainly if you get a bowl victory as well, then obviously we're looking at this program very differently and how how successful their season was. Vegas has you as winners in most of your games, and I think that that's something that should be noted. So going through the schedule. So you should start want to know, right? But you also have. [00:12:49][39.9] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:12:49] You out on the road. Yeah, that's a win. [00:12:50][1.2] Julian Martinez: [00:12:50] But you also should start one and one because you're playing the number one team in the country the following week. [00:12:54][3.7] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:12:54] Yeah, they will lose that game by 20 points or 30 points. [00:12:57][2.7] Julian Martinez: [00:12:57] UTSA was a great story last year, but they're a team that you should Big Brother, so you should be two and one. [00:13:04][6.5] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:13:04] That's a win. That's a. [00:13:05][0.8] Julian Martinez: [00:13:05] Win. Texas Tech, this has to be a win for you. You can't have one of these stupid games against Texas Tech where you blow that one. So you should, in theory, be starting the season three and one, right? [00:13:15][10.6] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:13:16] I'll keep going to the next one, though. [00:13:17][1.5] Julian Martinez: [00:13:18] Then you go West Virginia. West Virginia, I think a little bit more of a toss up. West Virginia was a game that kind of gave them a little bit of trouble last year. Late in the season. It still feels like a winnable game, right? [00:13:28][10.5] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:13:29] Oh, absolutely, yeah. West Virginia is one of those mountains they have to climb because that's like the sixth best team in the Big 12. And they're going from eighth best team to fourth best team. So to do that, you have to be to Texas Tech. [00:13:38][9.6] Julian Martinez: [00:13:38] But we're already at the point where you're you're already starting your season. You're thinking you're four and one, right? You're feeling good about yourself. And then you get the big boy you get at Oklahoma. So if you're at the point where I'm saying you are, where I think that you should go into this game thinking you can beat Oklahoma, you almost beat Oklahoma last year in a horrible season. So now that you've improved the talent on your roster and Oklahoma is going through massive turnover, I think this is an opportunity to get that win. So you could start the season five in one potentially, but let's play let's play it, you know, close to the chiefs and let's say they lose that game. Okay, so you're four and two Iowa State. This this is where your schedule start starts getting a little bit tougher here. Right. So you got Iowa State. You've got Oklahoma State coming up. Let's say you split that. Okay. So you're six and three. Kansas State, you should win that one. So you're seven. Yeah, that's. [00:14:27][48.9] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:14:27] A win. [00:14:28][0.1] Julian Martinez: [00:14:28] Rate. TCU, TCU. [00:14:30][2.0] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:14:31] That's a win. [00:14:31][0.2] Julian Martinez: [00:14:32] That's a yeah, that should be a win. [00:14:33][1.1] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:14:33] This is going to finish last place. But well, Kansas is going to finish last, but TCU is going to finish ninth in the Big 12. [00:14:38][5.1] Julian Martinez: [00:14:39] It should. And so you're seven and three, then you go to TCU, so you win that when you're eight and three. Big win for Gary Patterson is now. He's a UT assistant. Kansas. Come on, you can't lose that game. Okay, so maybe now I'm Kentucky myself, a nine and three. Okay. And then Baylor. So you should lose that game. So nine four, right? [00:14:58][19.0] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:14:59] I think that's eight and four. [00:15:00][0.8] Julian Martinez: [00:15:00] But eight in four. Sorry, maybe I'm loss when math is hard sometimes. Okay. [00:15:04][4.2] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:15:04] If they win, if they win a bowl game, it's nine and four. If they win the what would that be? The Texas Bowl or the Cheez-It Bowl. If they win that, then it's nine and four. [00:15:13][8.3] Julian Martinez: [00:15:13] So I said eight wins and I was being conservative. So that's where I think the expectation should be. [00:15:19][5.9] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:15:20] Mm hmm. Yeah, I think that eight and four would make Sark happy, but seven and five is not a failure. Like we were talking about that stretch of Texas Tech, West Virginia, Oklahoma and Iowa. [00:15:32][11.5] Julian Martinez: [00:15:32] State. So yeah. So that's the problem, though, is because if you go seven five, you're losing one of these games that I think is really a game you should win. And I think what's going to turn this program around is you've got to stop using games that you should win. What are the best programs in the nation? Do they win the games they're supposed to win? And that's why we count on the Big 12 every year, because they always have that one game against Arizona State on the road or that one game against wazoo. You can't let that be the case if you're Texas and you have any type of aspirations. And I know we've gone back and forth on should Texas have aspirations? You should. If you're a big time program and you have one of the highest budgets in college football, you should, and that the pressure is on Sark even in year two. And I know that. Okay, so he's going to at least get the leash to get have Arch welcome him into town because you're not going to want scorn Arch now that he selected you, he selected Sark unless he just really loves the burnt orange of Texas, then you're not going to move on from the coach that recruited him. So, you know, he's at least got 20, 23 in the bag, but you just want to see growth. You know. [00:16:40][67.8] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:16:40] Let's let's put this in simple terms here. So Texas finished eighth in the Big 12 last year. Right. And eight wins would get them to fourth in the Big 12. So who do you have to jump to get there? Texas Tech, West Virginia, Iowa State and Kansas State. And those are the four games that, like the most likely scenario is that they go three and one in those games just based on probabilities, three and one, two and two are the two most likely outcomes of those games. And if you're Texas and you go four no in those games. Well, then you not only have a path to eight wins, you have a path to, hey, if we upset Oklahoma State or we upset Baylor, hey, all of a sudden we're going nine and three. And that's a massive overachievement this year. [00:17:23][42.5] Julian Martinez: [00:17:23] So what I want from you, t and this is again well, what I really want obviously is undefeated a national championship. But what I wasn't built on today, this year is I want eight wins. I think the offense is going to be really good. I honestly do think that that's something that's well within range possibilities. So I'm not even questioning that. I think the offense is going to be the strength of this team. So I want to see the defensive unit take a step up. I want to see them not afraid to tackle guys. If they get more competitive on that side of the ball, that's going to determine a lot of their success moving forward. I want to see Bijan have a successful year because I want to see him go to the NFL. In fact, I want to see more Longhorns be on NFL radars. That's that's going to be something that I want from this year. So those are all, I think the big three keys for Sark as Texas enters this year. And I don't think that that's unrealistic. I don't think that that's outside of a reasonable expectation for this program. Before we close it out, why do you agree with my three keys for Sark this year? [00:18:25][62.1] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:18:26] I agree with that assessment. I will again say that Sark will get one more year or two more years guaranteed before results have to be showed. Again, Texas has spent a lot of money on buyouts, so they have a little bit more patience with this coach than they did with Tom Herman. Yeah. And if the goal is to get back to where Tom Herman was, then I think it's doable in three or four years. And if the hope is that Arch Manning becomes the number one prospect in the 2025 class, then, then so be it like that will that will help Texas get back to Tier two of college football teams. And what is Tier two, the teams that will lose by 14 points in the playoff to Alabama or play in sugar bowls and Fiesta Bowls, which if Texas is going to sugar bowls and fiesta balls every year with Archie Manning, that is an excellent building block for your program because they would have to catch lightning in a bottle in order to go from being where they are now to anywhere near a national champion contender team. [00:19:24][58.0] Julian Martinez: [00:19:25] I laid it out. I laid out what I want from the season. Kyle threw in a little bit of hate at the end just because that's what we bring him for, to balance me out, to reasonably put my expectations in check. But that's also what the comment section is for. So couple, what do you think the Longhorns record is going to be at the end of year two facade? How do you think when Ewers is going to be performing? Because that's going to be one of the big question marks of the season. I want to know your thoughts leave a like on this video subscribe to the channel falls on social media from juju talk sports and Kyle Ledbetter stay safe, happy and healthy and horns up. We'll see you next time. [00:19:25][0.0] [1126.1] Julian Martinez: [00:00:12] Okay. Also, so we got another ranked match up. It's going to be another battle of a PAC 12 university versus the SEC school, and it's going to be the return of the national champions as they hope to repeat their title, The End of the Atlanta Sports Curse or the Georgia Sports Curse or whatever we want to label it as as obviously we got the Braves and we got the Georgia Bulldogs winning in the same year. Good. If you're around those parts of the country and I don't see any reason why Georgia necessarily couldn't repeat, they're going to be returning a lot of starters. They're going to be returning a lot of instrumental pieces. And then you just look at the recruiting numbers and the recruiting class. They certainly have a great opportunity to do it, though last year's defense was just remarkable. If you want to break it down, I believe they were like 6.9 points in the regular season and total points allowed. So point this up. So this is only points that the defense allowed for the entire 15 games, 132 So that's not counting pick sixes or special teams failures, 132 points, which averages out to 8.8 per game. That's how stingy the Georgia Bulldog defense is. And obviously they lost some players in the draft. They lost Nakobi Dean, they lost Treyvon Walker to the Jags. So there are some moving parts. But the way that a machine like this is built, they just keep replacing that talent with more talent welcome in the organ dock. So organ, they're going to be moving on from Mario Cristobal or Mario Cristobal moved on from them, I should say. And they have a new quarterback in Bo Nix, former Auburn quarterback. I just don't think that they're ready for this game. They're the number 11 team, but it feels like a country mile between them and Georgia, at least based off last year's Georgia team. And we talked about it in our Utah versus Florida preview, just the perception of PAC 12 universities versus SEC schools. So obviously, if Oregon has a good showing, this could really favor them in the polls later in the year. So it's important for them to go on the road and not look incompetent. But Vegas disagrees with that notion as they have a 17 point underdogs. What say you as you look at this matchup? [00:02:23][130.7]
Kyle Ledbetter: [00:02:24] Well, this is an interesting one because this Georgia team is going to be very similar to like those Clemson teams from the 20 tens, not in terms of like play style or structure. I mean, Stetson Bennett is still their quarterback, the mailman, I call him that, the used car dealership, the Stetson Bennett, Kia Ford Chevrolet of local Athens area. Yeah, Stetson Bennett is still their quarterback and Georgia is going to be like Clemson because this is the hardest game on their schedule this year and they are 17 point favorites. So Georgia is going to make the college football playoff. Georgia is not really going to be tested until Alabama. Now, like those Clemson teams with Trevor Lawrence, there's always the chance they're losing to NC State at half time. There's always a chance that Missouri is winning at the end of a first quarter, or South Carolina pushes them to the wire, like there could be a weird upset game somewhere in the schedule because this year's Georgia team is ranked third in the preseason polls, which means that Alabama and Ohio State, by virtue of bringing back Star Courter, I know Georgia brought back their quarterback, but you know, Ohio State and Alabama bring back star quarterbacks who will be top two picks in the NFL draft. Plus all of their five and four star players means that those teams are projected to be ahead of Georgia and Georgia's a shoo in for the college football playoff. They'll play Alabama in the conference championship game and that'll be really exciting. But on the road there, Georgia's never really going to be tested and I think that's interesting to watch from the Bulldogs this year, which means this game might be a great way to view Georgia. Obviously they'll be a different team by the end of the year than this year. Both injuries, chemistry, play style, you know, stuff like that. That actually matters in terms of like first half. The season is different than the second half, but this this might be the biggest test that Georgia gets during the entire season. [00:04:25][121.1] Julian Martinez: [00:04:27] Might be the biggest test, but. I just don't think it's much of one, you know? Even I feel like even hedging their bets and getting like a PAC 12 University, even a PAC 12 university that's been relatively dominant. It's just a lot of turnover for the same reasons that I knock Notre Dame. I have to come in this preview and knock organ. Change at quarterback, change at head coach are two things that are not easy to handle, especially early in the year. Now, the interesting part about that is obviously you do have the former Georgia defensive coordinator that actually is going to be the head coach in this matchup. So just is he kind of like the branches of that coaching tree starting to form for Kirby Smart as he obviously branched off from Nick Saban and dominant runs? I mean, you look at all the coaches that those guys have around the league and they're really setting the standard for college football and the same way Andy Reid does in the NFL. I will say, Bo Nix, as much as we kind of like this on him for being just kind of like that ilk of Auburn quarterback, at least he has some SEC experience. Yeah, maybe that comes in a little bit handy here, but he knows that level of competition. That's not what a lot of these guys who play at these PAC 12 universities even have the opportunity to do so. I don't know how much it helps, again, when you're facing one of the historic defenses from last year, or at least the remnants of what was a historic defense that only added more four star, five star prospects to it. I think Georgia is going to roll, and I don't have much more analysis than that like I do. I like to kind of like talk about Oregon as if they have a chance, as if this is just a really competitive coast ranked game. But I think part of the problem is the preseason polls is just kind of laying Oregon coast off name reputation. Yeah, I guess if. [00:06:16][108.8] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:06:17] The transfer portal makes it easier for Oregon to turn around immediately, like Oregon lost Mario Cristobal. But Mario Cristobal didn't bring a ton of players with him to Miami. He brought his whole coaching staff. But all together, this Oregon team is at least relatively closer than they were before. Combined with the fact Oregon's probably going to win the PAC 12 North because the PAC 12 North is shitty Stanford, shitty Cal, shitty Washington, who just turned over their coach, Washington State, who's actually okay but just turned over their coach. Oregon State. You know, Oregon just has resources upon resources ahead of Oregon State. So, you know, the PAC, this is going to be a truly terrible PAC 12 year, but Oregon will still probably emerge as conference champion because you mentioned Bo Nix, power to Bo Nix, because he's my favorite story in college football because of I believe that college football players should be paid. They should not necessarily have a union, but collectively bargain. It's an inevitable step. They deserve the rights. They've been restricted for years. And 45% of college football quarterbacks at Power five programs switch teams in the transfer portal this last year. And that includes Bo Nix, who for people who don't know, Bo Nix is the most Auburn quarterback in the history of quarterbacks. This is a guy who grew up rooting for Auburn, going to games as a child, three year starter at Auburn. And because Auburn's coach is going to get fired by week eight, Bo Nix transferred to Oregon despite the fact he's like the most Auburn quarterback in the history of Auburn. And I love that Bo Nix had the ability to transfer to an Oregon team that will go nine and three, make the PAC 12 championship game, either play in the Fiesta Bowl or play in the Alamo Bowl just like they did last year. Oregon is going to be a fine team. Bo Nix is the 12th best quarterback in college football for the 12th best team in college football. [00:08:14][116.7] Julian Martinez: [00:08:15] You think that line holds up as well? [00:08:16][1.4] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:08:17] Yeah, probably. I mean, the only the only reason it wouldn't is if Georgia doesn't score 35 points. But, you know, from all indications, there were backups on that defense last year that were four and a half star recruits. And those players are also first round prospects. Now, it's like how Najee Harris couldn't find the field for his first two years at Alabama, and then he got on the field and just blew up in his junior year and became a first round pick. Georgia's got four, four or five star guys up and down that team, so they should win the game easily. And you're not going to find me betting against that that betting line in favor of Oregon. [00:08:56][38.5] Julian Martinez: [00:08:58] All righty, guys. Well, go ahead and drop below your predictions for this game in the comments. So looking forward to it. It's nice to have football back week one of college football so that's exciting and we'll see. And maybe the PAC 12 maybe makes a big statement. Hey, week one, they certainly have the opportunity to do it. Big game against Florida, big game here against Georgia. So if you're going to prove you're one of the true power five schools, go ahead and do it. [00:09:22][23.8] Kyle Ledbetter: [00:09:23] So Arizona playing against San Diego State. Of course, San Diego State is going to whomp up on Arizona. [00:09:27][4.3] Julian Martinez: [00:09:28] There you have it. All right, guys, while I subscribe to the channel, like the video files and social media, all that good stuff from Juju Talks Sports and Kyle Ledbetter. Stay safe, happy and healthy. We will see you next time. [00:09:28][0.0] [545.2] |