Full Transcript for What Does JMU’s First Loss Mean For The Rest Of The G6?

possessions, 73 00:03:45.689 --> 00:03:48.530 and that is going to give you a higher probability 74 00:03:48.750 --> 00:03:52.050 usual to win than just risking it all on a 75 00:03:52.090 --> 00:03:55.490 two-point play. I know James Madison converted several fourth downs 76 00:03:55.530 --> 00:03:58.330 on that game-tying drive, but they made the right decision. 77 00:03:58.710 --> 00:04:01.419 The wrong decision they made was, whatever they were trying 78 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:03.960 to run on the first play of overtime, direct snap 79 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:06.199 to the running back and George Pedway's out. He gets 80 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:08.240 hurt on the final drive and that could really affect 81 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:10.930 them going forward. Direct snap to the running back. He 82 00:04:10.969 --> 00:04:13.949 hands it to JC Evans, one of the two QBs 83 00:04:13.990 --> 00:04:16.490 of the QB system. App State just sniffs it out, 84 00:04:16.490 --> 00:04:19.069 11 yard loss. And then you are playing behind the 85 00:04:19.110 --> 00:04:22.860 sticks and that's a difficult field goal. They miss it. 86 00:04:22.980 --> 00:04:25.100 App State smells blood. They don't even move the ball. 87 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:27.259 They just trust their kicker to hit basically what it 88 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:30.689 was a 40, like a 40 yarder to win. Yeah, 89 00:04:30.750 --> 00:04:34.949 so that overtime was crazy, and now JMU has a loss. 90 00:04:35.629 --> 00:04:39.569 Rare territory for them. First Sunbelt loss since 2024, and 91 00:04:39.730 --> 00:04:42.870 App State is quietly 5-2. Same amount of wins they 92 00:04:42.889 --> 00:04:43.730 had the last two years. 93 00:04:44.769 --> 00:04:48.769 Why is App State giving this JMU team fits since 94 00:04:49.009 --> 00:04:51.310 JMU made the jump up to the FBS, you think? 95 00:04:53.089 --> 00:04:57.389 It's different reasons. I felt like when App State won 96 00:04:57.410 --> 00:04:59.329 26-23 in overtime a few years ago, that was more 97 00:04:59.370 --> 00:05:01.149 of a defensive driven one. This one, I felt like 98 00:05:01.750 --> 00:05:05.529 it was the offense. Malachi Singleton had an incredible game, 99 00:05:05.790 --> 00:05:07.529 I thought. I know they used some of the two 100 00:05:07.589 --> 00:05:10.189 quarterback system and Hasselbeck had a couple plays here and there, 101 00:05:10.230 --> 00:05:12.250 but Singleton was the one who was really driving this 102 00:05:12.370 --> 00:05:14.970 offense forward. And they had just a bevy of wide 103 00:05:15.009 --> 00:05:19.250 receivers attacking James Madison's defense. James Madison, it wasn't their 104 00:05:19.269 --> 00:05:22.319 most sound game in coverage, I thought. So it's different 105 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:24.550 reasons every year. I mean, this app state team is 106 00:05:24.610 --> 00:05:27.949 nothing like the previous ones, but I think that the 107 00:05:27.990 --> 00:05:31.470 environment and Boone just might be

something else, especially it's 108 00:05:31.589 --> 00:05:34.709 a short, it's a Thursday night. I feel like Thursday 109 00:05:34.750 --> 00:05:37.029 and Friday night home field advantage is just the most 110 00:05:37.069 --> 00:05:40.430 significant home field advantage because gets teams off their practice 111 00:05:40.449 --> 00:05:43.759 schedule and all that, especially with the traveling. And I 112 00:05:43.779 --> 00:05:45.600 think app state got them at an opportune time. 113 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:49.540 So that said, you know, Jamie is sitting here at 114 00:05:49.699 --> 00:05:54.699 seven and one, but, are their college football playoff hopes gone? 115 00:05:54.980 --> 00:05:59.100 You know, I I'd say not completely, but my goodness, 116 00:05:59.139 --> 00:06:00.139 do you need a lot of help? 117 00:06:01.689 --> 00:06:04.449 Yes, I would say that for sure. I mean, I 118 00:06:04.509 --> 00:06:07.410 think their pathway would be a San Diego, they beat 119 00:06:07.449 --> 00:06:10.490 San Diego state already. So San Diego state will play 120 00:06:10.529 --> 00:06:13.610 Boise state later in the season. And that would be 121 00:06:13.750 --> 00:06:15.750 a feasible pathway to get in and say, San Diego 122 00:06:15.769 --> 00:06:18.810 state beats Boise state. Then Boise state wins the pack 12. Well, 123 00:06:18.829 --> 00:06:21.029 there you have a head to head comparison of, of 124 00:06:21.110 --> 00:06:23.829 how both teams performed against the Aztecs, JMU could win 125 00:06:23.850 --> 00:06:26.529 that advantage. So I don't think they're completely out of 126 00:06:26.569 --> 00:06:30.449 the race yet. But due to having a weaker non-conference 127 00:06:30.470 --> 00:06:35.160 schedule than a Boise State, Oregon State, even UTSA, I 128 00:06:35.569 --> 00:06:39.459 think that James Madison definitely took a severe hit in 129 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:41.399 making back-to-back playoffs with that loss. 130 00:06:42.139 --> 00:06:45.339 JMU's strength of schedule is absolutely going to come back 131 00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:47.220 to bite them. And I mean that in a way 132 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:50.230 that Because we all know they were supposed to play 133 00:06:50.269 --> 00:06:53.300 Virginia Tech, and that would have completely changed the equation here. 134 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:57.879 But it is what it is, and they're now sitting 135 00:06:58.060 --> 00:07:02.439 at one loss. Do you worry about them losing again 136 00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:05.199 the rest of the season? They do play Troy at home, 137 00:07:05.220 --> 00:07:09.079 at Southern Miss, at UConn versus Coastal Carolina. Of course, 138 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:11.310 if they are going to make the CFP, they can't 139 00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:13.189 lose again this regular season, and they've got to win 140 00:07:13.209 --> 00:07:17.139 the Sun Belt. Do you think that is still within 141 00:07:17.180 --> 00:07:19.100 the realm of possibility, or do you think this App 142

00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:21.240 State loss is a sign of things to come? 143 00:07:22.839 --> 00:07:26.199 I think that James Madison clears a remainder of the schedule. 144 00:07:26.250 --> 00:07:28.709 I mean, this was an overtime loss, and it was 145 00:07:28.790 --> 00:07:30.670 a game that they led by double digits and just 146 00:07:30.829 --> 00:07:33.389 one that they let get away. I think how you 147 00:07:33.449 --> 00:07:36.949 lose matters, and the fact that James Madison didn't lose 148 00:07:37.769 --> 00:07:40.910 a big one, they just lost in overtime fashion on 149 00:07:40.949 --> 00:07:44.240 the road Thursday night. I think that they'll be fine 150 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:48.779 going forward. App State will control its own destiny now 151 00:07:49.100 --> 00:07:52.920 for the Sunbelt East division. So App State does have 152 00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:56.250 to go perfect, and they can prevent James Madison from 153 00:07:56.290 --> 00:08:00.439 making the conference championship. But at Georgia Southern versus Georgia State, 154 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:03.149 then Marshall, ULM, South Alabama, I think I see at 155 00:08:03.189 --> 00:08:04.910 least one loss in there. So I do think that 156 00:08:04.949 --> 00:08:07.269 James Madison is going to be in the Sunbelt championship. 157 00:08:07.370 --> 00:08:09.189 I think they clear the remainder of their schedule today. 158 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:12.040 and they will be right back there hosting in Harrisonburg 159 00:08:12.060 --> 00:08:13.040 the first week of December. 160 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:16.259 Yeah, I do think, I mean, I've been pretty high 161 00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:18.639 on App State since the beginning of the season. I 162 00:08:18.699 --> 00:08:21.230 saw a bit of a turnaround in those first few games. 163 00:08:22.230 --> 00:08:23.829 So I do think App State is one of the 164 00:08:23.870 --> 00:08:26.149 better teams in the Sunbelt, don't get me wrong, but 165 00:08:26.189 --> 00:08:29.550 you're right. I think this league, there are just too 166 00:08:29.589 --> 00:08:35.539 many potential games where it's a trap. To quote General Akbar, 167 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:40.509 it's a trap. Yeah. I think, yeah, I think JMU 168 00:08:40.549 --> 00:08:43.820 is going to make the Sunbelt Championship, and I think 169 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:45.500 the Dukes win it, and I think they win out. 170 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:48.799 But unfortunately for them, I mean, you look at Boise State, 171 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:55.330 Oregon State, New Mexico, UTSA, you need all of those 172 00:08:55.370 --> 00:08:58.629 teams to lose at this point. And it's possible. I mean, 173 00:08:58.649 --> 00:09:01.970 this is, you know, we just talked about how chaotic 174 00:09:02.049 --> 00:09:04.509 this season has been and probably will continue to be. 175 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:07.740 But I don't know if all of those teams, if 176 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:11.759 you look at each of their remaining schedules, lose at 177 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:15.950 this point. So something to keep an eye on certainly 178 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:19.029 moving forward. Now I wanted to go over the American 179 00:09:19.090 --> 00:09:24.149 here because there are some interesting results. Starting on Thursday 180 00:09:24.190 --> 00:09:28.250 last week, Memphis just barely beating East Carolina in overtime. 181 00:09:29.070 --> 00:09:33.789 Army over Tulsa, a three-point game on Friday. FAU, a 182 00:09:34.110 --> 00:09:39.850 high-scoring game, 51-49 over Rice. North Texas holds on, beats 183 00:09:39.970 --> 00:09:44.710 Navy 49-39. And the only team that really won convincingly 184 00:09:44.909 --> 00:09:47.090 was a team that I've been high on since the beginning, 185 00:09:47.649 --> 00:09:53.029 which was UTSA, a 42-19 win over Tulane. All of 186 00:09:53.090 --> 00:09:55.129 these results stand out to me in their own ways. 187 00:09:55.190 --> 00:09:56.470 Which of them stands out to you? 188 00:09:57.570 --> 00:10:01.820 I would say two of them. It's the road wins. 189 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:04.799 And we've seen this recently and just in college football, 190 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:06.960 how hard winning on the road can be, especially in 191 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:09.700 the big 12 this weekend. But in the American conference, 192 00:10:09.779 --> 00:10:12.419 I think two teams separated themselves by their ability to 193 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:14.899 win on the road this week. And that was UTSA 194 00:10:14.940 --> 00:10:18.299 in North Texas winning by double digits against Tulane. teams 195 00:10:18.340 --> 00:10:20.559 that looked like they were on the upswing right now. 196 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:22.960 Tulane's coming off a big win over Memphis. They've won 197 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:26.200 10 straight at Yeoman Stadium. We have talked endlessly about 198 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:29.110 how good UTSA is at home, but they were 2-10 199 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:32.230 on the road from 2024 to 2025. Those two wins, 200 00:10:32.590 --> 00:10:35.570 over 2-10 Colorado State by one point, and then over 201 00:10:35.590 --> 00:10:39.049 1-11 Charlotte just by 11, which I think, was it 202 00:10:39.090 --> 00:10:41.580 by 11? It was closer than it needed to be, 203 00:10:41.929 --> 00:10:45.360 was the point. But UTSA is now a road team. 204 00:10:45.649 --> 00:10:48.279 They could beat Texas State on the road, and that's 205 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:50.500 a good win on the road. Texas State's really coming 206 00:10:50.539 --> 00:10:52.980 into shape now. And not only do you beat a 207 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:56.360 Tulane team that has been dangerous in New Orleans the 208 00:10:56.379 --> 00:11:00.950 past few years, 42-19, and they were down 7-0 five 209 00:11:00.990 --> 00:11:04.100 seconds into the game. Yes, five seconds. That's not an exaggeration. 14-55, 210 00:11:04.149 --> 00:11:08.990 Tulane had to pick six. They overcame that easily. Six 211

00:11:09.049 --> 00:11:12.169 rushing touchdowns, five different guys contributed, showing the depth of 212 00:11:12.210 --> 00:11:15.100 this team. And the most important thing was UTSA's defense. 213 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:19.559 They forced six turnovers. Tulane didn't score an only offensive 214 00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:23.419 touchdown until like seven minutes remained. UTSA needed that defensive 215 00:11:23.460 --> 00:11:26.100 improvement to be an American Conference contender, and they have 216 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:29.759 shown that. The other game was North Texas. Last year 217 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:32.620 it was Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins, Wyatt Young. All three 218 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:34.940 of those guys are at Oklahoma State. I do not 219 00:11:34.980 --> 00:11:38.320 know how, but North Texas built a big three that 220 00:11:38.899 --> 00:11:41.779 is doing the same thing in the American Conference. Taven Jackson, 221 00:11:41.830 --> 00:11:44.950 he's a regular 300-yard passer, just lighting defenses on fire 222 00:11:45.009 --> 00:11:49.169 every week. Jaheim White, most explosive running back in the conference, 223 00:11:49.210 --> 00:11:52.370 one of the most explosive in the country. And he's 224 00:11:52.549 --> 00:11:54.309 effective as a receiver too, sealed the game with a 225 00:11:54.330 --> 00:11:57.370 really nice catch. And then Justin Stevenson, Now he's 100, 226 00:11:57.350 --> 00:12:01.330 200-yard-type wide receiver. He's the new Wyatt Young there. North 227 00:12:01.370 --> 00:12:03.490 Texas has a big three on offense, and they were 228 00:12:03.529 --> 00:12:06.070 able to get defensive and special teams touchdowns against Navy, 229 00:12:06.389 --> 00:12:08.750 showing that they're a complete team. Both teams remain unbeaten 230 00:12:08.789 --> 00:12:11.379 in conference, and I'm very impressed with those two Texas 231 00:12:11.389 --> 00:12:12.379 teams from the American. 232 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:15.539 Of course you're going with the Texas teams, but I 233 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:18.580 don't blame you because you're right. Those performances do stand out. 234 00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:22.259 You mentioned Drew Messamaker, who is second in the country 235 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:26.080 right now with 2,326 passing yards. You want to know 236 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:31.320 who's sixth? Yeah, that's Taven Jackson from North Texas, 2,173. So, yeah, 237 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:36.279 I don't know how they did it. Going into the season, 238 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:38.519 I thought they would be a solid team, but I 239 00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:42.659 didn't see this coming. Now, do you think those two 240 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.279 right now are the best teams in the American? I 241 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:50.259 tend to lean yes. That game against Memphis, it was 242 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:52.970 a win ultimately. But that's another one that kind of 243 00:12:53.009 --> 00:12:56.120 made me worry against an East Carolina team that's been 244 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:59.419 a little disappointing. So for them to go into overtime 245 00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:02.779 and win that way, I don't know. I think North 246 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:05.600 Texas just has more potential right now. 247 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:09.759 Yes, but there's one team I want to mention as 248 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:12.019 my third team. And right now it's not Memphis, but 249 00:13:12.039 --> 00:13:14.570 they play Memphis coming up. And it's going to be 250 00:13:14.590 --> 00:13:16.169 a big game. Army. 251 00:13:16.710 --> 00:13:18.009 Army, yep. Yep. 252 00:13:18.809 --> 00:13:22.110 My only concern with Army is 10 of their last 253 00:13:22.110 --> 00:13:25.049 12 games against FBS opponents have been decided by four 254 00:13:25.110 --> 00:13:27.769 points or fewer. But they did have the FAU game 255 00:13:27.789 --> 00:13:31.190 where when everything clicks, this offense is super dangerous. They 256 00:13:31.210 --> 00:13:33.019 were able to come back against Tulsa. That was a 257 00:13:33.049 --> 00:13:35.580 weird roller coaster of a back and forth game there. 258 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:40.820 And I mean, Cale Hellams has just been delivering on 259 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:45.700 a weekly performance as a rusher. And yeah, God's power, 260 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:50.139 he chimed in. kind of had that Fenway bowl-type performance 261 00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:53.779 with some explosive runs against Tulsa. I think Army's offense 262 00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:56.919 is just too unstoppable for a lot of American defenses, 263 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:59.659 and they have a pretty manageable conference schedule if they're 264 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:02.159 able to beat Memphis with just ECU and Rice remaining. 265 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:06.990 So Army's right there larking, and their only conference loss 266 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:09.399 was they were a fourth down stop away from South 267 00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:11.629 Florida from winning. So I won't sleep on the Black 268 00:14:11.649 --> 00:14:12.149 Knights either. 269 00:14:13.409 --> 00:14:17.090 No, that's totally fair. Does that, you know, that loss 270 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:20.230 against Louisiana Tech, I mean, what do you make of 271 00:14:20.269 --> 00:14:22.409 that one? Do you think, you know, La Tech is 272 00:14:22.470 --> 00:14:26.850 that good? Do you think that was just, you know, 273 00:14:26.909 --> 00:14:30.029 a one-off and, you know, the Army has since turned around? 274 00:14:31.049 --> 00:14:33.629 Or do you maybe see that the flaws that showed 275 00:14:33.730 --> 00:14:36.649 up in that game could potentially show up as we 276 00:14:36.669 --> 00:14:38.649 get deeper into the season? 277 00:14:39.730 --> 00:14:42.909 Yeah, that was a game where Army's defense wasn't exactly 278 00:14:43.269 --> 00:14:45.909 on point. And their defense hasn't been the best this year, 279 00:14:46.090 --> 00:14:47.820 but their

offense has been so good that it didn't 280 00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:51.799 matter in the Tulsa game. But yeah, that game, they 281 00:14:51.820 --> 00:14:54.759 just got behind. And Army's not good at playing from 282 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:58.700 behind usually. And they managed to have an exception against 283 00:14:58.740 --> 00:15:01.480 Tulsa last week. I know they started ahead. They were 284 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:04.450 up 28-14, but you're down 35-28 in the fourth quarter. 285 00:15:04.470 --> 00:15:06.669 Tulsa's possessing the ball up seven, and they're able to 286 00:15:06.710 --> 00:15:08.889 get 10 points in the final two minutes to win 287 00:15:08.929 --> 00:15:10.909 that one. But I think that's just a matter of 288 00:15:11.029 --> 00:15:13.710 Army playing from behind and being in an uncomfortable position. 289 00:15:13.809 --> 00:15:15.809 And this is a team that knows how to play 290 00:15:15.830 --> 00:15:19.980 from ahead, run the ball well. And when you're having 291 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:22.399 defensive lapses early and your offense may not succeed on 292 00:15:22.460 --> 00:15:26.159 its early possessions, then Army may not have the most success. 293 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:29.200 But if Army can just take care of first quarters, 294 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:33.740 they're as good as anyone in the American. It's so 295 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:39.210 interesting looking at the conference standings. UTSA 4-0, not ultimately 296 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.409 too surprised by that one. 297 00:15:40.429 --> 00:15:43.409 North Texas 3-0, the way they've played, a bit surprising, sure. 298 00:15:43.990 --> 00:15:49.009 Army 4-1, Memphis 3-1. FAU has kind of been a 299 00:15:50.370 --> 00:15:55.000 dark horse rising to the occasion. UAB at 2-1. How 300 00:15:55.480 --> 00:16:00.559 about that? A one-loss UAB team. I mean, do the 301 00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:02.159 Blazers have any chance here, Steve, or no? 302 00:16:03.950 --> 00:16:08.179 I would probably lean no. I mean, I don't know 303 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:11.299 if their offense is able to deliver on a weekly basis. 304 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:14.120 We saw they had 59 minutes without a touchdown against 305 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:17.080 East Carolina and somehow dropped 30 and won that game 306 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:20.929 due to a weird sequence of ending events. I mean, 307 00:16:20.950 --> 00:16:23.789 Jonah Delange is a great kicker. Their defense under Todd 308 00:16:23.830 --> 00:16:26.789 Grantham is approved tenfold. This was one of the worst 309 00:16:26.830 --> 00:16:29.340 defenses in the American every year the past few years. 310 00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:31.460 And UAB is able to get stops and be in 311 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:33.419 some low scoring games and able to win on their 312 00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:35.720 defense like they did against Navy and they did against 313 00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:39.399 East Carolina. They've improved. But I think that Memphis game

314 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:41.440 and how things got away from them in the second 315 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:44.120 half just shows that they're not on the top tier yet. 316 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:46.970 But that doesn't matter because what UAB's goal was this 317 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:50.299 year was to show improvement and to have hope for 318 00:16:50.330 --> 00:16:53.450 the future. I think that's already materializing and bull eligibility 319 00:16:53.509 --> 00:16:55.009 is within reach for the Blazers. 320 00:16:56.289 --> 00:16:58.809 That's exactly what I was going to say. If you 321 00:16:58.909 --> 00:17:01.639 told me If you were a Blazers fan and you 322 00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:04.859 were told that the Blazers would ultimately make a bowl 323 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:08.180 game after what we saw from the Trent Dilfer regime. 324 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:12.240 And not only that, but there was an internal hire 325 00:17:12.269 --> 00:17:15.349 with Alex Mortensen. You kind of worry that, okay, it's 326 00:17:15.369 --> 00:17:17.609 just going to be more of the same. But it 327 00:17:17.690 --> 00:17:21.349 hasn't been. So if you told a Blazers fan that 328 00:17:21.410 --> 00:17:23.839 they'd be making a bowl game going into the season, 329 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:26.880 I think they would take that 10 times out of 10. 330 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:29.819 Something to keep an eye on, though, they are 4-3, 331 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:34.559 and their remaining schedule is South Florida. I'd probably lean 332 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:38.180 at USF. I'd probably lean the Bulls there. Charlotte, I'd 333 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:44.089 take UAB there. Temple, at Temple, I would probably go UAB. 334 00:17:44.109 --> 00:17:48.970 And then UTSA, North Texas. So there's a path there, 335 00:17:49.630 --> 00:17:51.849 but you've got to win the games that you're capable 336 00:17:52.289 --> 00:17:55.900 of winning, in my opinion. So let's hop over to 337 00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:59.190 Conference USA real quick because there are two teams, at 338 00:17:59.230 --> 00:18:01.630 least to me, that are standing out, whereas the American, 339 00:18:01.670 --> 00:18:03.630 you know, it's kind of a mixed bag, a few 340 00:18:03.690 --> 00:18:06.769 teams that could be contenders there. To me, it's two 341 00:18:06.809 --> 00:18:10.410 clear teams, Liberty and Jacksonville State. Liberty is 6-1 right now. 342 00:18:10.789 --> 00:18:15.200 After that season opening loss against JMU, they've won six straight, 343 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:19.119 and Jacksonville State is 5-2. You know, Liberty getting that 344 00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:23.150 34-6 win over Kennesaw State on Thursday is They just 345 00:18:23.190 --> 00:18:26.880 keep winning and keep winning convincingly. Jack State didn't play, 346 00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:32.359 but Middle Tennessee won. Delaware won pretty convincingly over Missouri State. 347 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:36.460 New Mexico State getting the win over Sam Houston. Are 348 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:38.849 you kind of with me here, Steve, that there's Liberty, 349 00:18:39.009 --> 00:18:40.990 Jack State, and then everybody else? Or do you like 350 00:18:41.029 --> 00:18:42.529 another team there to be in the mix? 351 00:18:43.069 --> 00:18:45.549 Yeah, I think FIU's loss to Middle Tennessee kind of 352 00:18:45.569 --> 00:18:48.119 put FIU out of that picture. They've lost two straight. 353 00:18:48.549 --> 00:18:50.960 They have a losing record now, but it doesn't feel 354 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:53.180 like they do. They feel like they're a better team 355 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:55.940 than that from what we've seen defensively this year. And 356 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:58.920 they keep losing close. But yeah, it's Liberty and Jack 357 00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:02.920 State right now. Liberty, that defense has been insane. I 358 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:06.069 keep tallying up the stat every week, but they've only allowed, 359 00:19:06.109 --> 00:19:09.490 they've allowed zero points in 12 of their last 20 360 00:19:09.490 --> 00:19:14.210 quarters now, which is five games. And they've gone two 361 00:19:14.250 --> 00:19:16.960 games without allowing a touchdown in a row now. So 362 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:21.109 they've only allowed a touchdown on, let's see, 11 of 363 00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:24.769 their last 12 quarters they've gone without allowing a touchdown. Actually, 364 00:19:24.789 --> 00:19:28.470 the last two Coastal Carolina game, make that 13 out 365 00:19:28.490 --> 00:19:31.869 of 14. 13 out of 14 quarters without allowing a 366 00:19:31.910 --> 00:19:34.950 touchdown is what this Liberty defense is doing. I know 367 00:19:34.990 --> 00:19:36.849 a lot of people always look at the offense and 368 00:19:36.869 --> 00:19:38.809 the run game that Jamie Chadwell has been able to do, 369 00:19:39.210 --> 00:19:41.230 but it's that defense which is capturing my eye and 370 00:19:41.269 --> 00:19:43.750 why Liberty is the clear front runner in this conference. 371 00:19:44.170 --> 00:19:46.359 Jack state's been good. Jack state does this every year. 372 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:49.009 They start slow. We kind of give up on them. 373 00:19:49.369 --> 00:19:52.359 And then. the rushing offense just gets going kate and 374 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:55.200 creel has gotten going for the second straight year at 375 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:59.680 jack state i mean they've been excellent in cusa play 376 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:02.500 ever since they've joined the fbs and there's no signs 377 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:05.220 of slowing down right now when is that jack state 378 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:08.740 liberty game going to be Oh, there isn't one this year. 379 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:10.160 I was going to say they don't play. 380 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:12.500 Oh, there's your championship right there. 381 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.180 Yeah. 382 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:15.039 That one seems pretty clear

to me. 383 00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:19.599 Yeah. Yeah. That, that stood out to me when that 384 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:24.539 schedule was released or at least finalized because Louisiana tech 385 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:27.880 was going to be in the mix, but yeah, Liberty 386 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:31.789 not playing Jack state, you know, that's two preseason contenders 387 00:20:31.829 --> 00:20:33.509 not playing each other. That's going to help both of 388 00:20:33.549 --> 00:20:36.920 those teams. So, Yeah, I like both of those teams 389 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:40.369 as well, and I think they do play this season, 390 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:44.210 and it'll ultimately be in the league championship. Let's hop 391 00:20:44.269 --> 00:20:47.930 over to the Mac real quick because you're going to 392 00:20:47.990 --> 00:20:50.349 have to help me here. I have no idea what 393 00:20:50.369 --> 00:20:53.789 to make of this conference, okay? Because Ohio is at 394 00:20:53.829 --> 00:20:57.450 the top right now, 6-2 overall, 4-0 in league play. 395 00:20:58.150 --> 00:21:03.440 We've got four teams at 3-1 in Mac play. That's Toledo, 396 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:08.950 Western Michigan, Buffalo, in Miami, Ohio. There's also Eastern Michigan 397 00:21:08.990 --> 00:21:11.789 in the mix at three and two, and then three 398 00:21:11.829 --> 00:21:13.750 more teams at two and two, Kent State, Ball State, 399 00:21:13.769 --> 00:21:18.869 Bowling Green. Unfortunately, I'm looking at that next team, UMass. 400 00:21:19.569 --> 00:21:23.589 After the story, the Minutemen were starting out 4-0. They're 401 00:21:23.609 --> 00:21:27.309 now 4-4. They've lost four straight. So they're ultimately kind 402 00:21:27.450 --> 00:21:32.559 of out of the MAAC championship picture, probably. But, you know, 403 00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:35.069 at least for the story they were, I would love 404 00:21:35.109 --> 00:21:37.650 to see them at least make a bowl game. But 405 00:21:37.990 --> 00:21:42.109 all that to say, who's, who's good in the Mac? 406 00:21:42.190 --> 00:21:43.730 Who's the, who are the best teams here? 407 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:47.599 I think it's Toledo, Ohio and Western Michigan, where it 408 00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:50.480 would be a three team race in Western Michigan. When one, 409 00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:53.000 we haven't seen Western Michigan in a shootout style during 410 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:56.099 this whole past few years, they've been in these low 411 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:58.569 scoring kind of ugly games. And Lance Taylor has even 412 00:21:58.609 --> 00:22:00.690 said before, we don't mind winning ugly as long as 413 00:22:00.710 --> 00:22:03.259 we're winning. That's what they'd did. And they had eight 414 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:06.240 straight wins over Mac opponents until Saturday. That was their 415 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:09.089 first Mac loss in 364 days. So I don't think 416 00:22:09.130 --> 00:22:11.269 Western Michigan is completely out of

it after just one 417 00:22:11.329 --> 00:22:13.910 road loss at Toledo where Toledo has been so good 418 00:22:13.930 --> 00:22:17.049 at home recently, almost all dominations, 10 of their last 419 00:22:17.049 --> 00:22:19.789 11 at the glass bowl and John Allen Richter. I 420 00:22:19.809 --> 00:22:21.809 think he's fourth in the country in passing right now. 421 00:22:21.910 --> 00:22:24.930 He has done a great job taking over quarterback and 422 00:22:24.970 --> 00:22:27.059 he's one of the few holdovers from the Jason candle 423 00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:30.240 era that stuck around there and is now delivering for 424 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:32.269 Mike Jacobs team. I think Toledo is going to be 425 00:22:32.289 --> 00:22:34.210 the front runner. I'm going to chalk up that Buffalo 426 00:22:34.250 --> 00:22:36.950 game with somewhat of a flute for Toledo. So Toledo 427 00:22:36.970 --> 00:22:40.359 is good. Western Michigan, they play a different style that 428 00:22:40.390 --> 00:22:42.859 might not always look pretty, but the Broncos are effective. 429 00:22:42.990 --> 00:22:45.079 They can run the ball really well. Their defense is 430 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:49.259 good enough. And then Ohio, I think Ohio is pretty good. 431 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:51.859 I mean, they're 4-0 in the MAAC. They have a 432 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:56.799 quality-ish non-conference win over Jack State in that four overtime, 433 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:58.700 and they were able to complete that game without starting 434 00:22:58.740 --> 00:23:02.380 quarterback Nick Poulos. And ever since Polos returned, the offense 435 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:05.309 has gotten a little better, as we saw against Central 436 00:23:05.329 --> 00:23:08.269 Michigan and Sac State. I was surprised that Eastern Michigan 437 00:23:08.329 --> 00:23:10.529 gave Ohio as much of a fight as they did. 438 00:23:11.109 --> 00:23:13.470 Ohio didn't run the ball as well as they usually did, 439 00:23:13.630 --> 00:23:16.509 which is crazy because Eastern Michigan was known for having 440 00:23:16.549 --> 00:23:20.410 a terrible run defense last year. But they managed to escape, 441 00:23:20.970 --> 00:23:23.250 and they're still undefeated in the MAAC. And then the 442 00:23:23.329 --> 00:23:25.940 fourth team I'll get to, and this one's only because 443 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:28.259 of the upcoming schedule, Buffalo. 444 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:28.420 Buffalo. 445 00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:32.319 Buffalo is quietly 3-1 in the MAAC, and they're one 446 00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:34.900 yard away from beating Western Michigan. They lost that game 447 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:38.680 on a goal line stand. They have Miami, Ohio, who's 448 00:23:39.369 --> 00:23:43.730 still not the same Miami with their backup quarterback. Ball State, 449 00:23:43.849 --> 00:23:48.029 Central Michigan, and Akron. I think there's a chance Buffalo 450 00:23:48.349 --> 00:23:51.650 could win all four of those games. With the way 451

00:23:51.670 --> 00:23:54.849 they played recently, Messiah Birch has taken over at running back. 452 00:23:55.390 --> 00:23:58.650 He has... five straight 100-yard games, and they're not just 453 00:23:58.819 --> 00:24:01.779 barely crossing 100. He just did 172 and 184 in 454 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:04.680 back-to-back weeks. This is like Jarrett Patterson all over again 455 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:07.700 at Buffalo. He's probably the best running back in the 456 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:09.880 country that's not getting talked about right now. So we're 457 00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:12.690 going to shout out Messiah Birch here, and that is 458 00:24:12.990 --> 00:24:17.769 one reason Buffalo could crash the MAAC championship game. Manageable schedule. 459 00:24:17.789 --> 00:24:20.470 They already have a tiebreaker over Toledo, and Messiah Birch 460 00:24:20.490 --> 00:24:21.509 is running wild right now. 461 00:24:23.509 --> 00:24:27.880 A great shout-out because, yeah, Buffalo is lurking, man. That 462 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:31.140 is a team to watch out for, no question about it. 463 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:36.019 Is it weird that Western Michigan lost, and I wrote 464 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:42.390 about this on my sub-stack, the pool report. Am I 465 00:24:42.509 --> 00:24:45.809 wrong for thinking that I'm more encouraged by Western Michigan 466 00:24:46.289 --> 00:24:49.769 after they lost to Toledo? Because to your point, the 467 00:24:49.809 --> 00:24:52.269 fact that they're able to put up that many points... 468 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:58.289 in a season where their offense has been inconsistent at best. So, 469 00:24:58.309 --> 00:25:01.930 I mean, yeah, obviously you don't want to lose. But, 470 00:25:01.950 --> 00:25:04.910 you know, you're able to put up that many points 471 00:25:06.130 --> 00:25:10.470 shows me that this offense has some life. And long-term, 472 00:25:10.509 --> 00:25:13.230 I'm not too worried about that defense. Obviously, they just 473 00:25:13.250 --> 00:25:19.140 gave up 45 points. But before that, 14.7, 17... you know, 474 00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:21.960 21 against Rice, Boise State, obviously, you know, they lose, 475 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:24.099 but we're talking about them like the clear number one 476 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:26.940 team in the G6 right now. So, you know, allowing, 477 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:30.359 I mean, 13 points, I put that in air quotations 478 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:33.109 against Michigan. I think Western Michigan's defense is going to 479 00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:37.549 be in, continue to be incredible. You know, they do 480 00:25:37.849 --> 00:25:39.970 have some teams that are going to be in the 481 00:25:40.029 --> 00:25:43.109 mix though on their schedule, you know, Bowling Green, Akron, 482 00:25:43.210 --> 00:25:47.660 Eastern Michigan, and Miami, Ohio. So, It's not going to 483 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:49.519 be easy for them to get back to the MAAC 484 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:52.859 title game, but I still think I like their path 485 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:56.900 considering what we've seen from the defense and now what 486 00:25:56.940 --> 00:26:03.490 we've seen from the offense. So let's hop over. Let's 487 00:26:03.529 --> 00:26:04.170 keep it rolling. 488 00:26:04.309 --> 00:26:05.009 The Mountain West. 489 00:26:05.230 --> 00:26:08.569 And really, to me, there's one clear result. I don't 490 00:26:08.609 --> 00:26:13.099 want to totally forget that Wyoming beat Air Force on Friday. 491 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:17.119 That is a huge result. Don't get me wrong. But ultimately, 492 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:20.289 there was one game that everyone was watching. It was 493 00:26:20.329 --> 00:26:23.869 New Mexico, North Dakota State. And New Mexico ends up winning. 494 00:26:24.910 --> 00:26:29.269 Their defense, as I kind of talked about leading up 495 00:26:29.309 --> 00:26:33.160 to the game, New Mexico's defense is incredible. Austin Brawley 496 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:38.460 gets to pick six to not for sure win it, 497 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:41.460 but that ultimately made things really tough for NDSU to 498 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:46.289 come back and win. I mean, the Lobos, the way 499 00:26:46.309 --> 00:26:49.369 they're playing on that side of the ball, Steve, they've 500 00:26:49.410 --> 00:26:51.170 got to be the clear number one team in the 501 00:26:51.210 --> 00:26:54.089 Mountain West right now. How do you like their CFP 502 00:26:54.150 --> 00:26:56.289 chances right now, the way they're building their resume? 503 00:26:57.109 --> 00:27:00.769 CFP chances might be tough. I mean, North Dakota State's 504 00:27:01.210 --> 00:27:04.400 somewhat of a signature win for them, considering how well 505 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:08.299 the Bison started the season. But it's going to be 506 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:11.000 a bit tougher for a Mountain West team, I think, 507 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:14.099 than a Pac-12 or an American team to make the playoff. 508 00:27:15.230 --> 00:27:18.150 But New Mexico does have, if Oklahoma keeps winning, and 509 00:27:18.210 --> 00:27:21.059 Oklahoma's encouraged the past few weeks with the win over 510 00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:24.700 Texas and then beating Mississippi State on the road in 511 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:27.140 two of their last three games. So if Oklahoma continues 512 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:29.220 to do well, I think that could be a good 513 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:33.019 data point for New Mexico is going into Norman and 514 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:35.160 holding the Sooners to 14 points and being in a 515 00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:38.640 close game there. So that could definitely help. But New Mexico, 516 00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:40.579 I need to see a little more from the offense. 517 00:27:41.410 --> 00:27:43.250 I thought North Dakota State had a chance in this 518 00:27:43.289 --> 00:27:44.450 game because I thought they were going to be a 519 00:27:44.470 --> 00:27:47.009 little

more multidimensional with Nathan Hayes in the passing game. 520 00:27:47.029 --> 00:27:51.049 I mean, New Mexico, Faye Ivey, is only thrown for 521 00:27:51.049 --> 00:27:53.599 100 yards, I think, in two games this year. And 522 00:27:53.630 --> 00:27:56.140 he didn't do it against North Dakota State. Instead, I mean, 523 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:58.799 we knew this would be a low-scoring game and defensive battle. 524 00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:01.099 The problem was North Dakota State and those pick sixes. 525 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:04.359 They have two Mountain West losses this year. They've allowed 526 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:08.640 two offensive touchdowns, and they've allowed two defensive touchdowns. And 527 00:28:08.690 --> 00:28:11.710 those pick sixes have been the difference between beating and 528 00:28:11.750 --> 00:28:14.349 losing to UNLV and beating and losing to New Mexico. 529 00:28:14.910 --> 00:28:19.190 So their offense has been taking white points and they 530 00:28:19.210 --> 00:28:21.210 lose this game by five. That proves to be the difference. 531 00:28:21.250 --> 00:28:25.069 So North Dakota state's offense just doesn't, isn't on that 532 00:28:25.130 --> 00:28:27.690 level yet, but their defense can compete with anyone in 533 00:28:27.710 --> 00:28:29.910 the country and New Mexico is kind of built similarly. 534 00:28:29.970 --> 00:28:31.930 So this was a close game for a good reason. 535 00:28:34.069 --> 00:28:36.809 Let's take a moment though. I mean, there's another team 536 00:28:37.049 --> 00:28:40.740 that's four and one in the mountain West Wyoming. I mean, the, 537 00:28:41.210 --> 00:28:43.220 The way they started the season, I did not see 538 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:47.099 this coming. What do we make of the Cowboys right 539 00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:48.500 now at 5-3 overall? 540 00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:52.299 That's one of the records where it doesn't feel like 541 00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:54.319 it matched what I've watched this season. 542 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:54.819 Yeah. 543 00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:58.690 I saw that opener against Colorado State. They couldn't score 544 00:28:58.730 --> 00:29:00.769 in that game. The offense looked kind of lifeless. And 545 00:29:00.789 --> 00:29:02.750 then we saw that the next few weeks. They barely 546 00:29:02.789 --> 00:29:04.849 beat their FCS opponent. They can't score in that game. 547 00:29:05.130 --> 00:29:08.630 They struggle scoring against Central Michigan. And then they get 548 00:29:08.650 --> 00:29:12.500 shut out by North Dakota State. survive San Jose State 549 00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:14.700 in a low scoring overtime game. I just didn't trust 550 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:18.680 their offense to get things done. And they've gotten better 551 00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:21.900 as the season has progressed. I was very impressed with 552 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:25.109 what Tyler Hughes was able to do of kind of 553 00:29:25.150 --> 00:29:29.230 just taking everything into his own hands on Friday night 554 00:29:29.410 --> 00:29:31.750 as both a passer and a rusher. He had 146 555 00:29:31.750 --> 00:29:34.930 rushing yards in that game, had that 68 yard breakaway 556 00:29:35.009 --> 00:29:39.049 run where Wyoming's offense is getting better and their defense 557 00:29:39.069 --> 00:29:43.559 has always been on point. But the but is UNLV 558 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:47.759 and New Mexico loom on the schedule. So 4-1 in 559 00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:51.490 conference play, but I do see two losses probably coming 560 00:29:51.589 --> 00:29:52.369 up on the schedule. 561 00:29:54.690 --> 00:29:59.079 So at this point, if they don't make the Mountain 562 00:29:59.099 --> 00:30:01.359 West Championship but do make it to a bowl game, 563 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:05.109 is the 2026 season a success for the Wyoming Cowboys, 564 00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:05.430 you think? 565 00:30:06.450 --> 00:30:09.269 I think it's already a success. I mean, they went 566 00:30:09.289 --> 00:30:12.970 9-4 when Craig Bull retired. They've really struggled offensively since. 567 00:30:13.549 --> 00:30:16.430 Getting five wins and getting a win over Air Force, 568 00:30:16.450 --> 00:30:18.230 that was a huge win. I mean, Air Force only 569 00:30:18.250 --> 00:30:20.789 had one loss on the season entering that game, and 570 00:30:20.809 --> 00:30:23.670 that was that Week 2 game against North Dakota State. 571 00:30:24.349 --> 00:30:28.500 Even without Lincoln, Air Force was playing awesome. So, yeah, 572 00:30:28.619 --> 00:30:29.119 no question. 573 00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:32.940 Yeah, I think this season's already a success, and you 574 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:36.799 do have UTEP remaining, which no disrespect to UTEP, but 575 00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:39.579 that looks like another win for Wyoming. That's going to 576 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:41.940 be bowl eligibility right there, and I think that would 577 00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:44.160 be a successful season in all regard. 578 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:50.160 Yeah, I agree with you there. But, I mean, it 579 00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:52.890 feels like all the– and it's weird to say this, again, 580 00:30:53.230 --> 00:30:57.849 but it feels like the expectations have changed midseason. Wyoming 581 00:30:57.890 --> 00:31:02.069 went from maybe hopefully a bowl game to maybe hopefully 582 00:31:02.130 --> 00:31:05.450 a conference championship berth. So it's been fun to see 583 00:31:05.509 --> 00:31:08.250 what the Wyoming Cowboys have been able to do. Lastly, 584 00:31:08.269 --> 00:31:13.690 let's talk about the Pac-12. Boise State, Oregon State. Is 585 00:31:13.710 --> 00:31:15.470 that who we're going to see in the Pac-12 championship? 586 00:31:15.490 --> 00:31:18.529 Because that's how it feels. They're both 3-0 in the 587 00:31:18.589 --> 00:31:22.980 conference standings. Texas State, is there a 2-1 San Diego State? 588 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:27.809 All of a sudden, showing some promise at 2-2. And

589 00:31:28.210 --> 00:31:31.230 Fresno State is kind of dropping off after that loss 590 00:31:31.269 --> 00:31:36.470 against Boise State. I think it's really starting to become 591 00:31:36.950 --> 00:31:40.140 Boise State and Oregon State as the clear two teams 592 00:31:40.599 --> 00:31:42.799 in this conference. It is. 593 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:44.920 I do think that Texas State could get in a 594 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:49.460 shootout with one of them. And Texas State could. That's 595 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:54.349 the trap game for both teams. Oregon State gets them in. Corvallis, 596 00:31:54.430 --> 00:31:56.589 and then Boise State gets them at Albertson Stadium. So 597 00:31:56.630 --> 00:31:58.970 both teams do have home field advantage, which helps. Also, 598 00:31:58.990 --> 00:32:01.390 Colorado State can also be in those track meet style 599 00:32:01.410 --> 00:32:02.950 games with teams. We saw what they were able to 600 00:32:02.990 --> 00:32:05.589 do against San Diego State last weekend and against UTSA. 601 00:32:05.769 --> 00:32:08.410 There's been four games with 100 points this year. Colorado 602 00:32:08.430 --> 00:32:11.109 State's been involved in two of them. So Colorado State's offense, 603 00:32:11.609 --> 00:32:13.630 nothing to sleep on. But I do see Boise State, 604 00:32:13.710 --> 00:32:16.880 Oregon State. My concern with Boise State is what is 605 00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:22.079 with them against their worst opponent, I'll just say, worst 606 00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:24.500 opponents on the schedule? They had the FCS game against 607 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:26.990 South Dakota and then this game against Washington State, which 608 00:32:27.069 --> 00:32:29.410 is Washington State's been a mess this season. Their only 609 00:32:29.430 --> 00:32:32.210 wins against an FCS team. Those were the two games 610 00:32:32.230 --> 00:32:35.549 this year where Boise State probably played their worst, where 611 00:32:35.589 --> 00:32:38.759 they had to rely on Dylan Riley breakaway runs to 612 00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:41.559 create separation at the end. Yes, they beat Washington State 613 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:43.180 31 to 10, but that was 10 to 10 in 614 00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:46.960 the fourth quarter. And Dylan Riley, he was stuffed kind 615 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.809 of all game, which was a bit of a surprise. 616 00:32:48.869 --> 00:32:51.720 Washington State, Stevens, they've had their moments this year. But 617 00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:54.599 I mean, Dylan Riley, he had 128 rushing yards and 618 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:58.420 two of those were, I mean, 105 of those rushing 619 00:32:58.440 --> 00:33:00.910 yards were on his two breakaway touchdowns in the fourth quarter. 620 00:33:01.450 --> 00:33:03.269 So Boise State really pulled ahead late, just like they 621 00:33:03.309 --> 00:33:05.809 did against South Dakota. So Boise State needs to get 622 00:33:05.869 --> 00:33:08.950 up for its smaller games rather than just as bigger games. 623 00:33:09.329 --> 00:33:12.380 It's my concern with them. Oregon State, they're just eviscerating 624 00:33:12.430 --> 00:33:14.960 everyone right now. So I do trust the Beavers. 625 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:19.440 So you're saying, you know, we keep looking at Texas State, 626 00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:22.670 Oregon State on Boise State's schedule. Should we be more 627 00:33:22.710 --> 00:33:26.170 worried if we're worried about how Boise State plays against 628 00:33:26.410 --> 00:33:30.069 the lower teams? Should we be more worried about Colorado 629 00:33:30.109 --> 00:33:31.069 State and Hosseini? 630 00:33:33.569 --> 00:33:38.190 Both of those could be concerns for Boise State. We've 631 00:33:38.210 --> 00:33:41.220 talked a lot about on this pod about early in 632 00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:44.000 the season, how Boise State kept allowing some explosive plays 633 00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:46.160 and Texas State and Colorado State have been creating those 634 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:48.019 better than most teams in the country right now. So, 635 00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:50.740 I think that one of those games is going to 636 00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:54.019 come down to the wire, at least from Boise State perspective. 637 00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:56.819 And Fort Collins can be a tough place to play. 638 00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:59.670 They've been bringing good crowds there. I think Jim Mora 639 00:33:59.690 --> 00:34:03.670 is restoring some promise there. And Colorado State has had 640 00:34:03.690 --> 00:34:06.670 a brutal schedule so far. They've had to play BYU, UTSA, 641 00:34:06.769 --> 00:34:10.639 Oregon State, Texas Tech, four consecutive games. They lost all four. 642 00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:14.880 But I think finally climbing that mountain in beating San 643 00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:17.500 Diego State with 56 points, that's going to give them confidence. 644 00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:19.179 And they're going to have a game at Utah State 645 00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:22.239 before they play Boise. So that could maybe springboard into 646 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.510 something better for this offense. 647 00:34:26.570 --> 00:34:30.170 So much good football to talk about. And we're going 648 00:34:30.190 --> 00:34:33.570 to get into next week's games on the next episode. 649 00:34:34.110 --> 00:34:37.440 But before we go, Steve, where can everyone find your 650 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:38.900 work and what are you working on this week? 651 00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:43.219 Yes, most of my work's at Underdog Dynasty on SB Nation. 652 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:45.320 I also have some Matt content on By the Belt. 653 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:48.260 Just writing about a lot of teams right now as 654 00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:52.639 we're recording. Just got back from Salt Lake City. Great environment. 655 00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:57.730 Electric environment there at Salt Lake City. Highly recommend everyone 656 00:34:57.769 --> 00:35:00.630 takes a visit to Rice Eccles Stadium. Beautiful scenery too. 657 00:35:01.309 --> 00:35:03.369 And that was a great game between Utah and Houston. 658 00:35:03.409 --> 00:35:06.429 So putting out some coverage on that. Also wrote something 659 00:35:06.449 --> 00:35:08.590 about North Texas's Big Three today that we talked on 660 00:35:08.610 --> 00:35:11.440 the podcast. And I'll have some previews for some games 661 00:35:11.480 --> 00:35:13.280 coming up this week, like Memphis Army. That's going to 662 00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:14.980 be a big one Saturday in Memphis. 663 00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:19.920 Well, everyone, go check that out because it's awesome content, 664 00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:22.880 as always, from Steve. Thank you so much for the time. 665 00:35:23.219 --> 00:35:25.539 I really do appreciate it. This has been the Pool 666 00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:27.280 Report with Colton Poole. If you like what you heard 667 00:35:27.320 --> 00:35:29.659 and want more mid-major football coverage, make sure you subscribe 668 00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:31.699 and give us a five-star review. You can find me 669 00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:33.250 in the work that I'll be doing, covering the group 670 00:35:33.309 --> 00:35:35.969 of six over on Twitter slash X at CPoolReporter. And 671 00:35:35.989 --> 00:35:38.130 if you're so inclined, you can support my G6 coverage 672 00:35:38.170 --> 00:35:40.579 at the Pool Report on Substack. And now I think 673 00:35:40.619 --> 00:35:41.929 it's about time we get out of here.