Texas & Oklahoma officially join the SEC, HC Hot Seat Rankings & is FSU FINALLY leaving the ACC?

MR. WORLDWIDE!

We kick things off with the blockbuster conference realignments, welcoming Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, and Cal, Stanford, and SMU to the ACC. But that's just the beginning—we'll also share our personal milestones, including the launch of our Chris' new job with the Locked On South Carolina podcast and the pure joy of scoring tickets to a Creed concert.

This episode wouldn't be complete without a deep dive into the buzz surrounding Texas and OU's grand SEC celebration. Imagine an event so massive it reportedly drew a million fans, featuring unforgettable moments like Pitbull's energetic performance and Vince Young reliving his glory days. We also reflect on the electric atmosphere of Austin's music and food scene and the Red River rivalry's enduring intensity. 

As we shift gears, we turn our focus to the Big 12, examining potential boom teams like Oklahoma State, UCF, and TCU. Iowa State's Coach Matt Campbell is also under our microscope as we discuss the challenges he faces this season. From analyzing SEC head coaches' pressure rankings to speculating on possible coaching changes, we've got you covered. Plus, we break down the impact of key recruits and games on coaching tenures, offering insights that could reshape your understanding of college football's dynamic landscape. Don't miss this comprehensive and entertaining episode—your college football season warm-up starts here!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:28

Outro Music. What's going on everybody? Welcome back to Forth and Wrong, Episode 21. Today is July 1st, 2024, which means that we have college football next month. Oh yeah, there's like dude the countdowns that we're getting next month.

Speaker 2: 0:45

Oh yeah, there's like dude, the countdowns that we're getting. What's up Willie Gray? What's up Evan Grimes? The countdown we're in right now is good. I've got Creed in 22 days. I am fired up about that, as you should be. Yeah, conferture alignment started today officially. I start the Locked On South Carolina podcast tomorrow. There was only like two negative comments about that entire exchange, which was like shockingly low. Knock on wood.

Speaker 1: 1:14

Oh, you haven't done that, that's.

Speaker 2: 1:16

Topo Chico.

Speaker 1: 1:18

That's Topo Chico.

Speaker 2: 1:19

Or.

Speaker 1: 1:20

Margarita.

Speaker 2: 1:22

Oh okay, margarita, oh okay, um, yeah, we have that. The the game, the college ball game, will be um in a. What's up, sierra? What's okay? A lot of people in the chat. What's up? M? Um beard dog. We've got a lot of um, a lot of new faces in here. Yeah, so we got that. We have the college ball game is going to release. Media days is in like three weeks, apparently. Media days. The deadline to um. Yeah, mike toscano in here.

Speaker 1: 1:50

We got a uconn fan in here uh, chris, turn your mic down a little bit, okay. Um, yeah, man, big day I I had received some word that um florida state was going to make some sort of announcement today. I thought um told you privately and then you you send me a link that josh pate has gone live and he's talking about yeah, uh, florida state leaving the acc I told you, you gotta tweet this out, get some street cred.

Speaker 2: 2:26

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 2:26

Is this better?

Speaker 2: 2:27

They want me to stop yelling. I think it's just my voice.

Speaker 1: 2:31

I think it's better yeah.

Speaker 2: 2:33

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 2:35

Nothing's gone down yet, but the big obviously you saw today and we're going to talk about it here. In a second, texas and Oklahoma officially joined the SEC. Today, in even more big news, cal, stanford and SMU officially joined the ACC. So, yeah, it's a new calendar year for the conferences and so I believe Florida State if they want to be out of the ACC by next season 2025. They have to announce they're leaving and essentially say hey, we're going to be gone by August 13th of this year. They have to announce that.

Speaker 2: 3:14

I thought you knew your tweet that you had today, because then I think we forget because of all of the news that's around Texas, texas specifically, not Texas to know you, but Texas only, which is where we get a bit all of the news that's around Texas, like Texas like specifically not text to know you, but Texas only, which is I mean you can't, you can't fault the pit bull concert.

Speaker 1: 3:32

That's just high level.

Speaker 2: 3:34

Let's just do it now. Let's just do it now. So I think that there's a lot to talk about with um wait, texas had pit bull performed yesterday this is from holden and the barricades got pushed over and people got trampled off to a heart a hot start. So here's the thing. I was thinking this yesterday and it was like imagine if you would have told yourself in what year that, that the sec, that texas is joining the sec and the way they're announcing it is a Pitbull concert. And then I kept thinking. I was like I don't know if any year would have made sense, like I don't know if there's a year that I've been like, yeah, that's time-sensitive and relevant, like Pitbull has always been. I feel like the same level of, besides, like 2015, I think Pitbull has been the same level of star that he's always been. Dude, mr worldwide, this will lie.

Speaker 2: 4:30

There was a. There was a thing in like 2013 or 2011, when all of his lyrics were him just quoting other people's lyrics. Like he's like. There was some. There was some song that he did the one with usher where he's like. It's like there was some song that he did the one with Usher where he's like. He was like give me everything tonight. And he was like miserable. Wow, when I step in the room I'm a hustler baby. Like what, dude? This is all other people's lyrics. Did you do it with me? Yeah, what are we talking about? We probably shouldn't do a ton of Pitbull lyrics. I'm going to lose some street kid.

Speaker 1: 5:01

I was just in the middle of googling best Pitbull lyrics Of all time. I'll come up with some as you speak.

Speaker 2: 5:09

I don't have anything else. I will tell you that just from a personal standpoint. I'm back home in Columbia, which is nice. I have lost my charger for my beard Trimmer and it's a tough scene right now.

Speaker 1: 5:21

You could always just go razor On the neck there. No, you don't do that. No, I'm not trying to look. It's a tough scene right now. You could always just go Razor on the neck there, fuck that.

Speaker 2: 5:27

No, no, you don't do that. No, I'm not trying to look that good, I'm not trying to look like Pitbull. Anyway, pitbull, I tell you what it's going down on me on Timber Fantastic song. I will say that one.

Speaker 1: 5:43

Here's a lyric. Look up in the sky, it's a bird. What else? Look, here's a lyric. Look up in the sky, it's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's no, it's just me. And a damn thing changed someone. Someone got this article that I'm on the comment is not. A day goes by that I don't see people flying over my rooftop dressed in white linen from head to toe and drinking a capri sun there was, there was, I remember there was this um person that used to do stuff with us with sts.

Speaker 2: 6:05

Her name was lucy, something um, and she was like. She was like a, she worked at an ad agency and she got us to deal with like good year, like we're like good year for the cotton bowl, and they would do this like tire um statue thing like every year for the cotton bowl.

Speaker 2: 6:21

And I remember, like when we had to do these like initial talks and talk about, like what we're going to do for like the social media stuff and that push she very like, frankly, it was like she's like, yeah, I'm a huge pitbull fan. I was like that's funny, that's good. And she's like I'm no, I'm serious, I'm, I'm a huge pitbull fan. I was like why did you even add that information? And I didn't need to know that at all.

Speaker 1: 6:43

It's almost like you would tell that to someone, if you were trying to make them think worse of you.

Speaker 2: 6:48

Yeah, which we do we do that kind of stuff. I was like. You know one of my many flaws I'm a Bama fan. One of my biggest flaws I'm a Pitbull fan. How about this, tyler? Last night, when they did this announcement, there were Texas fans reporting that there were. This, this announcement there were Texas fans reporting that there were. This is actually Barstool, texas, so you know it's true. They said there was estimated to be a million fans at this event. Come on. There's no way right.

Speaker 1: 7:18

What was at the event, aside from Pitbull?

Speaker 2: 7:20

I mean, I could see him getting a million, but what else you could see Pitbull getting a million, but what else you could see Pitbull getting a million people. That was obviously a joke. I was like what?

Speaker 1: 7:36

So did you watch any of it on Etsy Network?

Speaker 2: 7:38

No, I did not watch any of that, yeah okay, tristar. He's been doing his whole. The whole shtick is just like keeping keeping the. What is this? Why is this up?

Speaker 1: 7:52

it's been up since the beginning oh, my bad um.

Speaker 2: 7:55

It's just keeping the conferences like to their original numbers anyway, um last night they were getting ready to announce this and it was like on sc network.

Speaker 2: 8:05

They had a night. They were getting ready to announce this and it was like on SC Network, they had a countdown. They were like live in Austin. And listen, you've been to Austin recently. I've never been. I've heard it's awesome. I want to go. I want to go to Austin. For sure, I got the tacos thing in the background. I heard they got a great lot of tacos, great live music, all of them, great city. So I think that part's cool.

Speaker 1: 8:27

I was in austin last year for uh texas, west virginia. Okay, much better concert before the game, nelly seeing him live several times now.

Speaker 2: 8:37

That that I would have gotten excited about. That was a lot of fun, yeah, um, so they had this event last night and they're explaining everything like, oh my gosh, like this is like gonna be huge. This is sick. We've got this team coming in, we got this guest coming, we're gonna have vince young on. We have, by the way, long longhorn network finally gone. Very last thing, they show, of course, the the rose bowl in 2005, again for the millionth time. Um, the weirdest, yeah, fantastic game. The weirdest part for me was when they were doing this, they had greg sankey comes out and he's talking to the crowd and it's like a big crowd and they've got the cheerleaders on stage, they've got like the big cannon on stage, this whole whole thing, and he's going on about how they're going to have new memories, new rivalries, new championships, new titles. And in my mind I was like man, this is crazy. They're giving this much of attention to Texas, right? He also opened his entire thing by saying all right, all right, all right.

Speaker 1: 9:48

Which I mean you got to you, don't, or you?

Speaker 2: 9:50

don't have to or you don't, you don't at all. And then he closed by saying he goes, he goes, listen, I I know. I know that I'm gonna get out of here because I'm the only thing standing between you guys and pitbull and everyone was like it reminded me, like something like oh my god, the saved by the bell episode, when it's like we've got tony, tony tone a coming up next. I don't, I don't want to sit here between this raucous crowd at the max, like it was awful it was all that it was.

Speaker 1: 10:15

Was mcconaughey building?

Speaker 2: 10:17

in that scenario, I don't know, this is good, yeah, yeah, I like holding good, there's a couple holdings, that's my son's name. Yeah, um, anyway, I thought it was weird. I I just. I think here's my main thing on it is oh no, oh no.

Speaker 1: 10:44

Am I gone or is chris gone? We need some w's in the chat. If chris is gone and I am still here, this is not good. Okay, all right, it's chris is gone, okay, uh, yeah, so pitbull, huh, no, ever try to do a podcast solo when you're used to doing things together. It is, uh, this is gonna be tough. Um, let's get some people, let's get some ideas in the chat here. Um, those, those of you that made fun of Chris for his internet um, you've been rewarded. He's gone. Um, I'm curious to know. So we'll get. We'll get to the OU side of things here in a minute. Um, I saw some comments in the chat of some thoughts that Florida state might become irrelevant if they join the SEC. I actually happen to disagree and obviously I'm a Florida State fan. So that might be one thing. But number two, I actually think they're pretty held back right now. They're pretty negative. Hey, look who it is.

Speaker 2: 11:59

Un-fucking-real. I'm so-fucking-tired of this.

Speaker 1: 12:04

The internet haters have received a reward there yeah, as they should.

Speaker 2: 12:09

I don't, like, I don't. You said the same. I mean, I haven't been home in like a, like a month, so I don't know what the fucking the problem could be. But whatever, you know, we're back all right.

Speaker 1: 12:17

So yeah, I think we were talking about how texas is getting all the pub here, not a lot of talk about ouU.

Speaker 2: 12:23

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 12:25

I did see today. There was a picture of a guy. So they put all the SEC team flags up on OU's team. Someone ripped the Texas one out and threw it on the ground. So yeah, the rivalry is still the Red River shootout, as I don't think we're allowed to call anymore.

Speaker 2: 12:46

All I was trying to say before the internet got decided to be awful again was it's funny to me that a program and fan base that has prided themselves on being above everything like above conferences, programs, other universities they're just above everything. It's wild to me that all of universities, they're just above everything. It's wild to me that all of a sudden they're like oh my gosh, we're so excited to join the SEC. They threw a pit bull concert to celebrate joining the conference.

Speaker 1: 13:17

I just don't know. There's got to be a lot of great bands from Austin Texas.

Speaker 2: 13:22

Had to be, had to be a bigger name.

Speaker 1: 13:24

I'm not seeing where Pitbull fits in in the equation. Anyways, this is going to be fun. I know that people, including us originally, were pretty downtrodden about all the change that is happening. I think it's going to be great to have texas know you in the sec. I think it adds a lot of marquee games to the slate in the conference, a conference that has a lot of marquee games already. Um, yeah, and so we'll see. We'll see who else gets added to the sec. If it happens, I still am under the impression that Florida State will go to the Big Ten. I would rather be in the SEC. Obviously it's a tougher conference, but for me personally, as a fan, I would love living in Atlanta especially. It's an SEC town. I'd love to be in the mix with everybody and it's also easier to get to games on the road for SEC fans If they're wanting to go to games. Tallahassee it's the very top of Florida, so a lot of fans aren't going to have to travel too far there. I think it would fit perfectly. We'll see.

Speaker 2: 14:34

Evan brings up a good point. This is why I don't get it.

Speaker 1: 14:42

Y'all don't have the academics for the big 10. Well, I don't I really. So pate made a point of this last night I watched his show talking about it. This is no longer about, like, the institutions per se, you know, um, and it's not about garnering tv markets either anymore. Um, it's a whole new ball game. So I know the aau status, which is like a, an academic thing. It's not the um elite basketball players in high school. It's all about, you know, if you have funding for academic research and things like that and you have to be a top rated school, um, I don't think that's going to come into to play here, um, so we'll see. I still think big 10, but, like I said, I'd prefer the sec, so we'll see okay, I like it.

Speaker 2: 15:27

Um. Last thing about this, because we are officially in um the power four era now there were some pretty cool goodbyes in social media things. Um that we saw the big 12 doing the toy story 3 so long partner thing. That was pretty good.

Speaker 1: 15:44

Um all the times they've beaten texas and oklahoma in sports. Did they list that? Oh, you didn't see that at the end? No, as it's like fading out and all the toys are left behind, they're looking out into the distance and then they just start showing clips of like tcu beating texas and oklahoma and a bunch of sports oh, that's awesome.

Speaker 2: 16:04

I love that. Um, yeah, I mean because I do. I do listen. I think that these are two awesome fan bases. I've been saying this for years like they'll fit in with the sec, because they're arrogant, they're obnoxious and they think that their team is more important than any other fucking team on the face of the earth. That's why they will fit in with this, with this conference. But, man, they, they both deserve to be knocked down. Uh, a peg or two, like for sure and I don't mean to bring up pegging on this show, because I know we said we'd stop doing it, but I just I think that both those look, I mean, we're not.

Speaker 1: 16:36

We don't kink shame on this podcast. We've've said that for years. So if you're into that, whatever, but let's just try not to get our ass in the gutter Looking at you.

Speaker 2: 16:45

Washington State and Oregon State. Listen, here's the thing. Did you see? The best part from all of this was did you see the SEC shorts video they put together?

Speaker 1: 17:00

Like recently Today. No, no, no, I didn't see it today oh, tyler, it was good.

Speaker 2: 17:06

It was like, like they they don't ever miss. But what they did today was it was so good so they have like the regular cast right of like of people like on the show, but they added several different people from scc comedy, like a little like metaverse, if you want to say. Like like josh mancuso, who I love oh, I was supposed to play. He reached out to me to do some golf thing with him and I forgot to respond. I just realized that, so I guess I'm not doing that anymore.

Speaker 2: 17:35

Um, but josh mancuso, the guy who does the, the videos where he's like, hey, we need to pick out a mascot, and you know, and for Tennessee or for whoever like you know, you don't come up.

Speaker 2: 17:45

Tall, skinny guy with a beard Um, funny, main was on it, yeah. And then the big big guy who does like, all like the food takes, and then the sec stuff and the people from the South on Instagram. You know who I'm talking about. He almost came with the podcast last year and he had to cancel very, very last minute. Those three were on it and they were just like what's that?

Speaker 1: 18:11

You didn't get the invite, huh.

Speaker 2: 18:13

No, I did not, it's dick. I'm funnier than funny man, so suck my dick. Excuse my language um seems like people's looking what yeah, I guess maybe so. Um, my humor's not for everyone because it also involves factual stuff about football and people get very upset about that anyway. So so this whole listen first off. Don't don't talk shit about my comedy. I'll bring up the picture right now of it's on facebook, of you at my comedy show oh yeah, I like it I love it, I appreciate that.

Speaker 2: 18:47

Um, anyway, so we talk like like they do the, they do the show, and there's like these skid rubs like five minutes long and at one point, dude, they're talking about the conference and they bring in. They bring in somebody with an oregon state and a washington state jersey or shirt and they're like, hey, we've got two people that would love to to be along for the ride and play with you guys and blah blah and the guy in the middle is okay, I try, star is wearing this shirt that says not, not the step conference, just the conference that stepped up. And I fucking died Like the stepdad shirts.

Speaker 1: 19:25

Oh my God, it was so good. That is good. Yeah, quick Pitbull lyric for you. Yes, transition Been around the world like the sun. I've seen more breasts than your newborn son he's only seen two, usually right not according to him. Shake, senora, hold on when you breastfeed.

Speaker 2: 19:53

Is it always the same same one?

Speaker 1: 19:56

no, you mix them up. Huh yeah, you know so, because sometimes the milk gets drained down, so you gotta go to the other one. Let it build back up we're learning a lot some perform better than others in most occasions, you know.

Speaker 2: 20:11

But that's what you know. How long do you think it takes for me to completely overreact to what Tristar is saying in the comments?

Speaker 1: 20:18

um. President of the.

Speaker 2: 20:21

United.

Speaker 1: 20:21

States. I don't know what he said. I don't think he knows what he said.

Speaker 2: 20:24

We weren't talking about the debate. That was awesome.

Speaker 1: 20:30

That was unbelievable.

Speaker 2: 20:33

Hey, listen, I want to say something real quick about politics.

Speaker 1: 20:37

Okay, here's the thing.

Speaker 2: 20:39

We're not going to get into politics on this podcast. We're I've. I've finally grown up and learned my lesson. I also have very different politics than I used to. I will say that as well. Um, but just, guys, normalize, not hating people based on who they're voting for. We're like, we all have different opinions, we all have different backgrounds, who, like you know, I, I, you, you feel as, as passionate as you want, but just normalize, not hating someone based on who they vote for, because I guarantee you that makes up a very small part of who they are. That's all I have to say about that that's big 12.

Speaker 1: 21:21

No seamless transition there. Um oh no, the internet's choppy again. Um okay good. I want to cover, uh, the big 12 real quick. We started last week, we don't have to go in depth, but we wanted to pick some boomer bus teams. I'm going to give you a boom team of mine, give it to me.

Speaker 1: 21:42

You ready? Oklahoma State Alright 12-2 in 2021. Almost won the Big 12 title, started out 5-0 in 2022. Then went 2-6 down the stretch. 2023 started kind of inverse. They went 2-2, including a 33-7 home loss to South Alabama. But what I don't think people are remembering is after that game they went 7-1 in their last eight Big 12 games before losing to Texas in the Big 12 title. I forgot that they were even in the Big 12 title game last year. And then they beat A&M in in the bowl, which I don't think bowls are very tough to like. A and m didn't have a coach. I think a lot of their starters were out, but they made it a 10 win season by beating a and m in the bowl.

Speaker 1: 22:31

They have 19 returning starters. Um, the I'd say the toughest team in the in the new big 12 is utah. Probably they get utah at home. Um, they probably have the best running back in the country Ollie Gordon. Their top two receivers are back. I like their schedule. Their quarterback is not Gundy's son. He actually transferred, I think, which is weird, but Alan Bowman last year threw 14 picks, so he's going to need to cut those down. But I like Oklahoma State a lot this year Mike Gundy's 20th year at Oklahoma State.

Speaker 2: 23:08

That's crazy 20 years he's a man he's 60 now, that's insane.

Speaker 2: 23:16

So I don't know if you could say they're a boom team because they're like preseason ranked in Athlon like top, like 12th in the country or Lindy's. Um, I will tell you this. I'm not saying this is a boom team or not, but I I am saying I'm, I'm surprised that we aren't seeing more out of where's the big 12 thing. Um, damn it. Well, I guess I just didn't make one, that's fine. Hey, there it is. There you go.

Speaker 2: 23:50

I'm surprised we're not hearing more about a couple of teams One, ucf. Two I will say this with a lot of restraint and concern TCU. Only because TCU two years ago really really got in the transfer portal and got some elite players. They got a lot from. Alabama Seems like they don't have a ton coming back from an experience standpoint. But that's a team. I just feel like they have to be a team that you always look out for in the preseason, because we know where they were in the preseason a couple of years ago and ended up going to the national championship game. So I mean, maybe that was just like lightning in a bottle, I don't know, but it seems like you know, sunday Night's has been able to do it once. Maybe he'll be able to do it again. I like that they brought in.

Speaker 1: 24:36

They've still got kendall bryles oc, and then they brought in um andy avalos who was oregon's dc and then he was the head coach at boise state and that didn't really work out. So now he's back as a dc at tcu. Um, yeah, I think I kind of like, yeah, you've got jojo earl there now yeah, he's good boise's best receiver he was. He went over a thousand yards last year. He's transferred into TCU. Trey Sanders Nah, he's still there. No, he's still there, jesus Christ. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 25:08

Well, either way, I think they could be good. And Kendall Briles like, whether you love him or hate him, you know he's he's a pretty good play caller. And you know he's a pretty good play caller. And I'll tell you the other one that I'm just surprised about that, like nobody's high on is UCF, and maybe it's because, for whatever reason, I'm still having PTSD of Gus Malzahn in 2013, 2014 at Auburn. I just think that, like, it seems like a lot of people have caught up to his scheme and his play calling and all that kind of stuff, but they have done a really good job at recruiting for one. They have also done a really good job. They had Amari Knight, who I'm pretty sure is a transfer from Bama.

Speaker 1: 25:46

KJ Jefferson at quarterback. So that's the main thing.

Speaker 2: 25:49

They return a lot on offense. They return. Let's see here three or five on the offensive line. They obviously lose. They lose a really good receiver who ended up getting drafted pretty high by the Patriots. What was the kid's name? Because he was at Auburn, Superfan number two. He was at Auburn, he was at Bama and then he was at Trayshon Holden, trayshon Holden. Yeah.

Speaker 1: 26:16

I think he got drafted pretty high Either way.

Speaker 2: 26:20

I understand you lose that. You lose your starting quarterback, but you get KJ Jefferson and no one's talking about him, like no one's talking about him. And Jefferson is not necessarily a dual-threat running back. What's up, robert, we got a lot of old-school people in here today. He's not a dual-th, dual threat quarterback, but he can run and he will be able to be a little bit like I.

Speaker 2: 26:44

I think andrew c nails on the head right here, ucf won't win the big 12, but they will be a pain in the ass for someone in the big 12 for sure. And and like right now they're they're like preseason ranks and lindy's 43rd I think. They're like like seventh or eighth in the conference, like they're they're ninth in the conference preseason. I just have a hard time believing with all of the talent they have like on that roster because because here's the thing too they have recruited well in the big 12 in general and they've also been able to get in like the treasure portal because, like listen, you know just as well as I do a lot of those three-star underrated recruits from Florida that went unnoticed. Those are guys that are absolute stud athletes that are going to pop on the field.

Speaker 2: 27:29

I just think that if you have a roster that's predominantly full of people like that, with a good head coach, a proven head coach Ted Roof is the D coordinator I cannot believe that man still has a job. I waited on him at the brick in like 2007, 2008, when he was, uh, the dc at georgia tech. But I like they. They were ranked 122nd in the country and run defense last year, so that's gotta improve. But other than that man, like they were, they were ranked in the top 10 nationally in total offense and rushing offense Like that part of Malazan's game has not changed.

Speaker 1: 28:04

Yep, and they get RJ Harvey back at running back. He had 1,400 yards last year, 16 touchdowns. It was Javon Baker, by the way. Last year he was 1,100 yards, seven touchdowns. They do return Kobe Hudson who I believe did he go to Auburn, sounds like it. Second team big 12 last year at receiver um. They went six and seven last year but it was their first year in the big 12. This is gus's fourth year there. He's when he's gone, nine and four, nine and five and six and seven. I I think they'll take a step up. Their win total is 7.5 with juice to the over. I like the schedule. They have an interesting matchup against Florida in October.

Speaker 2: 28:51

They won't lose in the first four games. If they beat Florida, they will start out 6-0.

Speaker 1: 28:58

Who knows where Florida is going to be at. I think the hardest part of their schedule is later in the year. But that Florida-Miami game is so interesting to me, man, because I think both teams need that win in a big way, because Miami has the expectations and if they lose that game I think they could be set up for a down spiral and then for Napier. I mean it's just like if you lose to Miami week one, you're going to have no recruiting momentum and you haven't even hit the meat of your schedule yet. Yeah, that's a big game.

Speaker 2: 29:32

Also, you look at UCF like this because they have from the Big 12 standpoint. They play Arizona, utah and West Virginia.

Speaker 1: 29:47

Dude, there's 39 teams at home. There's something that's happening.

Speaker 2: 29:52

Okay, they only play one team in the preseason top five of the Big 12.

Speaker 1: 30:03

Yeah, and it's Utah at home on a Friday night. Ucf, since 2017, is 39-6 straight up at home, including five wins over ranked teams, and one of those wins was last year when they beat number 15, oklahoma State, 45-3. So, yeah, man, I think UCF is definitely a dark horse in the Big 12. If not, you know, making it to a bowl and potentially giving some scares into the top teams in the Big 12. You like? Them over 7.5 this year.

Speaker 2: 30:36

I do, I do. I mean also you just look through the rest of the conference, man, like there's like everyone that they have predicted to be at the very bottom, like, or in the bottom half of that conference, I will say I think Arizona State is going to be horrible. I don't, I don't trust Kenny. Uh, what's his?

Speaker 1: 30:53

name.

Speaker 2: 30:54

Dillingham as the, as the head coach, at like 12 years old. How old is he?

Speaker 1: 31:01

He's legit. I think he's definitely in his mid-30s. Hold on.

Speaker 2: 31:08

See, because his whole thing is like he's trying to build things the right way. He's 34 years old, jesus Christ. He's trying to build things like dude, okay, april 28, he just turned 34. Um, he's trying to build things the right way. He wants people that want to come play at arizona state and I I get that like but if you're a school like I don't know um, help me out here, like colorado, even you can make that. Or if you're like, if you've taken up your alma mater and it's a place like that has had some success, recent success, you can make that claim that's not Arizona State and especially going into year one in a new conference, like you need to get as much help as possible and it's great to sit there and think like I want guys that want to play here. Well, arizona isn't like a talent deficient state from a recruiting standpoint, but it's not like it's full of rich recruiting talent by any means. I think they're gonna be pretty bad.

Speaker 2: 32:08

I will tell you I think the thing that's interesting is houston, which still seems like the most odd out of place. Them in cincinnati seem like the most odd out of place power five school in the country, but you have willie fritz from two lane. That's going to be there at houston yeah, I think they're going to.

Speaker 1: 32:24

They have the lowest win total in the conference at 3.5. The over is minus 160, so they are expected to win potentially four games. But yeah, I mean Houston, arizona State, byu, cincy and Baylor to me are the teams that are going to duel it out for worst team in the conference. I don't know that any of those teams have a real chance at vying for anything. I saw Cincinnati all team name Dante Corleone, who's like a big-time D-tackle for the draft next year. He's having some pretty serious health issues. He's got blood clots going on. So that's a big, big loss for Cincinnati. I think maybe my biggest boom team is. So maybe if we don't count Oklahoma State, because they're already ranked pretty high. Iowa State Matt Campbell's been on the radar for everybody as one of the top coaches in the game. I wouldn't say Iowa State's necessarily. I mean they went 7-5 last year, which Iowa State's one of the worst programs in the country. It's hard to win at Iowa State.

Speaker 2: 33:36

I feel like recently they're always talked about. And then you kind of let go.

Speaker 1: 33:42

I think this is a big year for matt campbell because he's gonna stop being on the radar of all these bigger jobs. I don't know why he's kept staying there, um, no clue. But I totally agree with you. Like I feel like we always talk about them being kind of like a sneaky team in the big 12 and then they don't live up to expectations. But I do like their schedule. Um, let me find them here, but they do have to go to UD, which sucks North Dakota.

Speaker 2: 34:06

Iowa, arkansas State, at Houston Baylor at West Virginia. So you're talking about like Iowa's going to be probably a loss but you should start out 4-1. At West Virginia it's going to be tricky. I mean like they're currently ranked ahead of Westseason, ahead of West Virginia. In the preseason they're ranked 24th. Then you get UCF, texas Tech at Kansas.

Speaker 2: 34:30

So you need to win probably two out of three of those and you should, cincinnati, at home at Utah and Kansas State. I will say this Utah and Kansas State, on the road and at home to close out your season, from what I've seen in Big 12 schedules, I'm maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm overreacting, but that that feels like the toughest close out to a schedule we've seen in the conference, the other thing, was too, is like where do you like you?

Speaker 2: 34:57

you mentioned earlier, ucf is 39 and 6 at home. Since whatever year. You know that Iowa State hasn't finished undefeated at home in a season of football since like 1934?.

Speaker 1: 35:12

That's kind of crazy. I do have a stat here Since 2020, iowa State is 10-3 straight up in home in Big 12 games. So they've been pretty decent, but yeah, they're not. Ames isn't a place that you just feel uncomfortable walking into to win, sure, um, like their quarterback, um Rocco Beck. Rocco, great name, great great quarterback name threw five picks in his first five games last year and then ended the season with 23 touchdowns and eight picks, so he only threw three more the rest of the year. He threw for an Iowa State record in the bowl game 446 yards. He won Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year last year. He set the school record for touchdown passes by a freshman, breaking Brock Purdy's record.

Speaker 1: 35:59

They have a deep running back room. They return their top four pass catchers, nine returning starters on defense and they return 90 starts on the O-line. I love that Very experienced team. Like I said, I think some of their tougher matchups outside of the Utah game Kansas State UCF I guess Iowa's a tough game on the road, but a lot of their tougher games are at home. I think Iowa State could surprise. Their win total is 7.5, so when I say surprise, maybe they're an 8-9 win team, but I think they'll be pretty good man. If they're not, I think Matt Campbell loses his respect as one of those maybe top two tier like as far as coaches that need to go to the next level. Maybe he gets out of the conversation for those jobs going forward If if they're a disappointment again this year it does feel like he's missed his window.

Speaker 2: 36:55

If he's trying, if he's trying to go somewhere else and like you know, that window might've closed last year when they lost to um, when they lost to Ohio at home in week three.

Speaker 1: 37:08

Because that's pretty tough. Yeah, here's a fun fact for you, chris. Do you know the nickname of the Iowa State-Kansas State game? They've been playing it for 103 straight years. Farmageddon. Oh, I did know that.

Speaker 2: 37:24

That's a good one. That is a good one. Farmageddon oh, I did know that that's a good one. That is a good one. Farmageddon is pretty good. Um, I thought it was called the dust bowl or something stupid. That's good, though, farmageddon. I like that a lot um, okay, you want to talk about the coaches?

Speaker 1: 37:34

hot seat rankings yeah, bring them up okay, um, I will.

Speaker 2: 37:39

I'll do it right now. Jesse Simonton, our buddy from three, came out with the pressure rankings for SEC head coaches. I'm going to read them off to you. Tell me what you think. This is, starting with one through 16, one being the most pressure of any team. Ready coach Sam Pittman, billy Napier, kalen DeBoer, clark Lee, shane Beamer, brian Kelly, steve Sarkisian, lane Kiffin, kirby Smart, Eli Drinkwitz, hugh Freeze, mark Stoops, josh Heupel, brent Venables, jeff Levy and Mike Elko.

Speaker 1: 38:23

So Mike Elko has the least pressure this year.

Speaker 2: 38:25

Yeah, Brent Venables has the third least at 14 so here's where I am.

Speaker 2: 38:35

A week ago, so that's probably not one pressure I've been going through back at the top, like Pittman vs Napier, I think from a fan standpoint and a public standpoint Florida there's a lot of people that have they're being more pressure on Florida because they think that Florida's going to be worse and people have been saying Napier's going to lose his job for a long time. I will say this man that debacle that Florida had last year against Arkansas, where they had no business losing that game to a four and eight Arkansas team, that that was a big blow to Napier because he should have made a bowl game after that and they started out like five and two and they ended up the season five and seven. But I agree that Pittman should be at one and Napier should be probably at two. Kalen DeBoer at three I think is interesting because it's a glimpse into right. Behind it is Clark Lee and Shane Beamer. Four of those five coaches Pittman, napier, clark Lee, beamer and DeBoer Everyone on there. But DeBoer is in jeopardy of losing their job with a bad season.

Speaker 2: 39:40

I think that's more just the program status of Alabama and having to follow up saban more than anything right um, and it also tells me that there's like maybe the leash isn't as long as as people might think it is, even with how good of a job he's done recruiting with the board. Is it because every what matters is on the field? Like it, no one cares if you can recruit like if that's all you're going to be able to do. Brian Kelly at six, steve Sark at seven, lane Kiffin at eight, then Kirby Smart and then Eli Drinkwitz. So what's confusing me here is Eli Drinkwitz ahead of Hugh Freeze. Eli Drinkwitz and Hugh Freeze, I feel like, should be much higher on here, because I think with um, what do you call? I think that with like with Drinkwits, people keep forgetting that like.

Speaker 2: 40:30

Last year was great, man. You had an 11 win season. You got a lot of talent coming back. Let's not forget that you had a losing record in three of your of your first three years. So you've had a losing record in three of your four total years at mizzou and then an 11 win season. You're supposed to with with like what the schedule provides for you. From an optimistic standpoint, you should be able to get to at least 10 wins like. Like missouri fans I always say this they're, they are vandy with with a fake id they are. They have logical good fans that understand sports and then understand, like expectations, and they are much more logical good fans that understand sports and that understand expectations and they are much more logical than SEC fans as a whole. But with what they did last year, what they have returning and what that schedule affords them to do, I think if you're not making a playoff this year or you're not in contention for it, you're in trouble.

Speaker 1: 41:24

Yeah, I mean there's definitely higher expectations at Missouri than we've seen since they first joined the conference and they were pretty decent. Yeah, yeah, I mean you can't take a big step backwards. I kind of feel that same way about Norvell. This year he had two losing seasons in a row and then he's gradually gotten back up, but now all those players that got him to where they were last year are pretty much gone. So I feel like there's a lot of pressure there to be like all right, we're still a good program. Wasn't just a couple players here and there? Um and I think you said the same thing for missouri now they return a lot of their talent, which is nice. Yeah, um, they do lose a couple key pieces, but, um, hugh freeze, I think, is interesting, because I just thought it was an interesting move to not bring in a better quarterback in the offseason yeah, you get walker white, who's the freshman four-star elite 11 kid.

Speaker 2: 42:19

I mean I I wonder, like I I don't know where it comes from, but I do know that Hugh Freeze's whole thing has been like he's a quarterback guru and he's a quarterback whisperer. Bo Wallace had back-to-back 3,000-yard passing seasons, so how bad would Peyton Thorne?

Speaker 1: 42:40

have to be to not succeed in this offense. I mean, I think we saw it last year, right?

Speaker 2: 42:44

It's not like he was a freshman, that's, but he also had horrible receivers horrible.

Speaker 1: 42:48

Yeah, they should definitely have an upgrade there, albeit young talent, by far a lot more talent at the receiver position. So I think you got to put your trust and freeze uh, maybe not with um phones, but definitely with offense. And so I think you just say, if he sees the practices every day, he knows that Thorne has the capability. But I just found it a little intriguing that he just neglected to bring. I don't know, did they bring anybody in? Let me look. Peyton Thorne Walker, white Holden Garrett.

Speaker 2: 43:21

And they lost Robbie Ashford. Yeah, they did Robbie Ashford's. Is that where he went? I didn't, I didn't realize that.

Speaker 1: 43:32

No, he's good. I think that's he was. He started his career at oregon. So this, you know, it's just like, yeah, it's hard to keep, but I do think, I do think that with with freeze.

Speaker 2: 43:43

I've asked this on on on shows and like I remember asking this uh, the Duke, um Duke, the school from on three, and I was like hey man, like what, what would it take for him to be on the hot seat? And he was like you would have to be a catastrophe like a three or four win season. And I'm not saying that's wrong by any means. He has his finger on the pulse of Auburn sports way more than I do, but at the same time this is a fan base and an administration and a program that has never had patience for anything. So, with the schedule, with what they have coming back and I think what the expectations of what they should be able to achieve, I mean I just would doubt that they would be like if they go five and seven and they have a like, I mean you have to have a winning record.

Speaker 1: 44:33

they've had, they've had three straight losing seasons like so you have to be five the year before that what's that? And they were six and five in 2020. So, though that is a winning season, that's not good enough at Auburn.

Speaker 2: 44:49

No, no, You're like 6-5, 5-7. I'm sorry, 6-7, 5-7, 6-7. You got blown out in your bowl game, which, again, the bowl game doesn't matter as much. But I just think that with Hugh, I expect Auburn to be good this year. I really do. I think they'll be eight and four, nine and three. But I also think that if they don't and they just stay status quo, like what are the building blocks of keeping Hugh in the positive momentum and optimism going into next season? Like is it, like is it.

Speaker 2: 45:24

Perry Thompson and Hank Coleman going off and having a great year. Is it like you beat Bama, or you like?

Speaker 1: 45:30

landing.

Speaker 2: 45:33

Is it signing Juju Lewis Like, which could easily happen, Like I kind of thought of Napier float at Florida.

Speaker 1: 45:39

It's like he landed this kid that clearly only came to Florida because of him he's a Texas kid, he was loyal to Napier float at Florida. It's like he landed this kid that clearly only came to Florida because of him he's a Texas kid, he was loyal to Napier and like I feel like, if anything, if, if they have a bad year, it's like that is the calling card of of having him stay, because you know, if he leaves the lagways out and you really start with even less talent than you had before um, so maybe if Auburn can steal a guy like Juju Lewis from USC, maybe that gives you the building. Look, you say, look, we had Peyton Thorne to kind of bridge, bridge us to the new era, and that's what you'd have to sell um. And then you bring him in with now second year guys and um, the two receivers. Yeah, maybe at that point, but yeah, I think they've got a, they've got to make a bowl and I think they've got to make a bowl and I think they've got to probably win eight games.

Speaker 2: 46:28

Is there anybody on that list that when you look at it you think who could be unexpectedly fired out of nowhere, Like if they had just a horrible year? I'm pretty sure Mark Stoops restructured his contract after flirting with A&M. I don't know if there's anybody else on the list.

Speaker 1: 46:50

Here's one that I think that could be legit, because it was always questioned to begin with, is Brian Kelly. Why? Because you had a Heisman winner in outstanding offense last year and I don't think anyone really considered them a great team. You went, they did go 10 and four the year before, but if, like, let's say, the defense is really bad still, now again they have the number one quarterback of the country coming in next year. So again you've got a guy that's coming in, but, let's say, nussmeyer has a down year. You're talking about unexpected right, like a lot of these guys, like Clark Lee and um, who are some of the others you just mentioned. I mean, some of those guys are Sam Pittman, napier, like those I think would not be shocking. Um, brian Kelly's one of those guys, just because everyone questioned the fit to begin with, um, where I think it would be like, oh, that's kind of crazy, um, and is within the realm of possibilities. I mean, I'm not expecting it by any means, but who's the guy you you would say.

Speaker 2: 47:53

I mean, I mean I think that, like I, think beamer is if, because because, if he loses to clemson, which they probably should, and they're on the road against clemson, which they probably should, and they're on the road against clemson this year. Um, you know, let me like look through the schedule real quick because I gotta record a podcast with those efforts about them. But I mean, dude, like when you look through there's, there's a lot, I think, about what they potentially have that I'm excited about. Um, you know, like, like nick harbour man, I just cannot wait to see that that I'm excited about. You know, like Nick Harbour man, I just cannot wait to see that. Kid, I'm excited for Lenore Sellers and all those guys.

Speaker 2: 48:29

But you look at, like I'm just going through the Lindy's thing here South Carolina's picked 13th out of 16 teams, only ahead of Arkansas, mississippi State and Vanderbilt. That's not where South Carolina fans want to be. They signed a top 20 class. Now, listen, they also got better up front on the offensive line and that's something that has been plaguing them for a very, very long time.

Speaker 2: 48:51

So I love that part. So the receiver room is short of proven talent. They lose. Juice wells to to Ole Miss, they lose. They really get to a first round draft pick to the Panthers Dude, nick Harbor, nick Harbour, nick Harbour, nick Harbour, nick Harbour. Give that kid the ball and let him go just make plays for you non-stop 6'5" 242. Runs like a 10-flat 100.

Speaker 1: 49:17

That's insane, that's insane.

Speaker 2: 49:21

So going through here, south Carolina, now again they're picked 13th out of out of 16 teams. Their ranking nationally is like 44 um, according to lindy's. Like I said, um dowell logan's coming back as your oc um they were five and seven. A year ago, in year three you lost like the first game on a national stage to north carolina. Remember you played georgia really close um, but you got blown out, uh against nc. You lost florida kind of inexplicably. You got blown out against mizzou, blown out against a and m, like they don't ever feed a and m. Look at this guy.

Speaker 2: 49:55

This year, dude, old dominion's not a bad team like old dominion was a bold team last year. They're not bad at k Kentucky Week 2, let's not forget that Kentucky beat them like five out of six years in a row. Then you get LSU at home and then Akron. You better be 2-2. It would be very helpful if you're 3-1 in those first four games, because then you get Ole Miss at Bama. At Oklahoma you get A&M at home, but A&M is a team that you've beaten one time, I think in nine or ten seasons.

Speaker 1: 50:28

Then you get at.

Speaker 2: 50:29

Vandy, you get in the zoo. Where are the wins man? I can say it on this show. I'm not going to say it on the first episode of me hosting Locked.

Speaker 1: 50:36

On, but where are the wins? That would be your debut episode on, Locked On you're like're like guys, I'm just not seeing the winds this year. I mean, I'm looking here. I think od you could beat you. Akron's got a solid squad. You know that'd be a phenomenal.

Speaker 2: 50:54

It's gonna be tough yeah, also, you get rocket sanders, so that's cool yeah, nick harper though I think debo williams um, I mean, you got some, you got some talent and you have some talent on the back end too. Like you return like three or four serves in the secondary um four or five. You include, like the nickel formation um you return four or five in the offensive line plus you bring an actual legitimate depth there and some good players. Like you, you do not return a starter at quarterback through tight end, so you have no returning starters on your skill position players.

Speaker 2: 51:32

But maybe that's good man I I think that that might be okay like I think that might be like maybe it's a positive, but you know, I mean because, like juice wells quit on this team a year ago and and and some of this, like you know, untapped talent they have um, maybe, maybe they step up. I I'm excited to see it all right, we gotta, we gotta end this, because I you're going in and out my internet fucking sucks okay, um, big 12 media days next week.

Speaker 1: 52:01

We already talked about about Florida State winning the ACC. It's going to happen this month. Yeah, so I mean, we're getting into it. Think of it Big 12 media days start next week in Vegas. Do you see who Colorado's bringing as their representatives? Shadur Shiloh and Dion? They bring four. Shadur Shiloh and Dion. They bring four Shadur.

Speaker 2: 52:26

Shiloh and Travis.

Speaker 1: 52:26

Hunter and their punter Sick. He's probably the only other returning guy on the team, if we're being honest.

Speaker 1: 52:36

Yeah, that's right, all right, guys. So that is done. You've made it through the Big 12 portion of this podcast. We appreciate that. We'll start it through the big 12 portion of this podcast. We appreciate that We'll we'll start diving into the ACC next week. I know you guys are fired up about listening to some Boston college Virginia tech talk, but we will get through that as well before we get to the two big two in the big four big 10 and sec and that will lead us right into the start of the season. So for you, for those of you that have tuned in, there's 750 of you live currently. We appreciate that. Don't skip next week. All right, no, we'll try to bring the fire, we'll bring the flames. But yeah, man, we are just a couple weeks away from SEC, media Days and the like. So if you're in the chat, 750 of you, go hit like, go, hit, subscribe. You can obviously listen to this on apple and spotify, chris, anything before we go sorry for the internet, I'll figure it out.

Speaker 2: 53:31

Bye guys. Outro Music.