Patrol breakdown. Sichel tomon Bridge is here with you. When they look around
the Pigball Congress, as we do, getch it. Every week we begin
with our hot takes in the Big twelve, and Tom, I'm gonna start
out with Dylan Gabriel from a hot take this week. I gonna tell you,
I know everyone's talking about Jackson Arnold and how well he played when he
got to run with the offense in the second half, but I keep it
real when it comes to Dylan Gabriel. As you guys know, I was
very critical of Dylan Gabriel last year. But the efficiency he showed the offense
to command that he put together, he and Jeff Levier on the same page.
He made those receivers look good. I like to let I saw from
from Dylan Gabriel. And granted, Arkansas State's not that great of a football
team, I don't think and Butch Jones in company they might be in for
a long year. But even with all that said, uh, Dylan Gabriel
impressed week. He grabbed my attention and and I think that the Dylan Gabriel
that we've seen since the second half of last year until now is a huge
step in the right direction. I think that Dylan Gabriel's on tracked to be
an NFL quarterback and now lay for fucking Dallas or what quarterback. I used
the term loosely. That couldn't mean a career backup, but in the NFL
quarterback Nonetheless, I do think he's gonna be a pro quarterback, and if
we see more of what he did this past week, he might even end
up working his way to be a first round quarterback. I was very I
think Dylan Gabriel has turned that corner. Tom. That's my hot take too.
Don't let me rub off on you too much. Taking Dallas that's well,
that's hot. Maybe that's hot. I'll tell you what I don't know.
I don't my hot take this week. I gave you one last week.
And what did I say last week? I told you that in Low
and Behold. I was halfway wrong because I said, all right, everybody,
Alan Bowman gets the start in still Water. Well, surprised motherfucker.
He did not, And much to my surprise, because I was three drinks
deep by the time kickoff started and Garrett Rangel trotted this happy ass out there,
and I thought, oh my god, what is going on? Ohs.
She decided to go ahead and play all three quarterbacks. None of them
looked horrible. None of them looked horrible. Garrett Ringle had one pass where
he got hit. They got picked off in the first quarter. Other than
that, I thought he kind of had a ball on the string a little
bit. He looked somewhat impressive. Gunnar Gundy came in shut the game down.
At the end of the game. Bowman didn't have a bad game either.
I didn't like how they went about it. They didn't have a spring
game, so they've been shielded from the media essentially since they shipped the bed
against Wisconsin and the bowl game. No one is kind of known. We
haven't really heard too much from We haven't even heard too much from Robert Allen,
who is just the biggest loud mouth and stillwater about this team. Don't
get me wrong, love Robert Allen, but he's he's a character, and
we haven't even heard a lot from him. And if you watch OSU football
you know exactly what I'm talking about. We haven't heard his goofy ass voice
about this situation pretty much at all. And until you know postgame from Learfield
Sports we hadn't heard ship out of still Water. So whatever reason they're keeping
under wraps, it's really hard to believe that three quarterbacks are so equal that
they haven't decided. I think it is more telling about the lack of football
IQ from Casey Dunn, the offensive coordinator, than it is that the three
quarterbacks are equal. Okay, me and Billy talked about a friend of the
show, Billy Locke. We talked about it, and and to even touch
on the Oklahoma State offensive line, Charlie Dickey's group, Charlie Dickey and Casey
Dunn could die and something could happen and they could die. I'm knock on
wood and I hope they don't, but if something did, I think at
this point Osho was so attached to them that they would build them a statue
and then they'd have the software developers build a Casey Dunn type chat GPT to
call the offensive play. Still, that's how bad so hot take this week
they go to the desert and play Arizona State. I'm gonna keep going with
Osho Hot takes. They're gonna play, They're gonna start Garrett Rangel and then
they're gonna do the second half of Bowman in gunn or Gundy, and Osho's
gonna have to sneak out a three point win in Tempi Arizona. I'm not
putting money in Oklahoma States this week. I'll tell you that much. Nine
thirty West Coast game. I don't have twelve after dark. Yeah, big
twelfth after dark. Now get used to it. By the way, I
watched by U last week. I watched Texas Tech last week. I love
this late night window thing that we're about to experience more of. I'm gonna
b YU. Were you that impressed? I was not. You know,
I love their defense. Granted was Sam Houston. They're they're in conferences,
hey now, But I love the defense. The offense not so much.
I expected more out of Slovas, which leads me to my next question before
we break down this week's games. Who was the biggest loser last week?
Was it it was Baylor? Was it Baylor getting their ass handed them to
them by Texas State? Was it TCU losing it on the dion? I
mean, if we're gonna be frank, it wasn't a good week for the
league last week. Why you didn't look great? Texas didn't look great.
I mean, I mean, who was the biggest loser. I mean even
West Virginia, who we thought was gonna be awful, they actually came out
looking okay. I mean they only lost thirty eight to fifteen. It could
have been worse, and it was a close game in the fourth quarter.
I mean, not a great week for the league all around. The biggest
loser for May time, I mean, Baylor seems like the easy answer.
But Tech, I mean, lose a game you had no business losing,
all the hype in the world, primetime game on CBS, and you lose
to Wyoming. You lost to a quarterback and Andrew Peasley from La Grand freaking
Oregon as you're starting quarterback. I mean, you know, you know what's
funny about that? Jones? I didn't know that. But what's really funny
is I somewhat agree with you. I think it's fifty fifty balor fifty fifty
Tech. It was very, very apparent watching that game. Granted it went
to the overtime. It was at Wyoming. That is the highest stadium in
D one football in the nation, so I'm sure they were sucking air.
You had like play at one point. Yeah, it was spokey. It
was exactly. Here's the funny thing about though, I didn't know that quarterback
was from Grand's Organ and low and behold. I think, and I think
you'll agree with me. Here the just how that game went, how it
looked. It was very evident that they overlooked Wyoming because they've been looking forward
to Oregon this week since last season. I think so. And now they're
playing organ in that quarterback that beat him is from Oregon, right, yeah,
watch out. I expect a better game from Tech this week. I
mean they better. I mean Oregon looked good. Well it's Portland State,
but they beat the dog shit out of him. Yeah, SCS team,
but they did. They put a lot of points up. They did.
Let's go through real fast, one by one. The big twelveth slate this
week. Illinois and Ku Ku. Last week started out a little slow,
made some mistakes on defense, but then it had a strong second half.
Jason Bean got the start with Jaylen Daniels out last week, but Jayla Daniels,
expected to play, had some knee swordness that held him out last week.
I think they held him out as a precautionary measure. He'll make his
season debut, Illinois squeaked out a win at home against Toledo. Two completely
different styles here. KU loves to score and score quickly, spreads you out.
Illinois likes to be physical. They like to play good on defense,
tough defense. Their defense didn't play that great last week. I feel pretty
good about KU this week, even though they're only a three point favoriting until
it all on Friday night time. You know, I think I feel pretty
good about them too. I don't. I don't have any qualms about picking
KU here. I think I think they can, you know, kind of
expound. I think. I mean, you said Jayalen Daniels is not back
yet, Oh he is back? Oh? I mean, so there,
I mean, there you go. I did think, though, Bean is
who's the best backup quarterback in the Big twelve? And why is it Jason
Bean? My it's either Jason Bean or Malik Murphy or Jackson Arnold or arch
Manning. No I didn't, Okay, Yeah, yeah, I mean so
KU's as Jason Bean the most consistency of the quarterback position they've had in years.
I take Jason Bean over some starters in this league. I mean yeah,
I mean I'd love to have Jayson and being in Stillwater at this point.
He I mean, honestly, Jason Bean was really right? Now,
Yes, I mean I think Jason Bean could have came out and maybe put
up more than, you know, more than they would Awash, you would
have won by more than fourteen against Central Arkansas. But but depends on how
the coaching situation is. You can sell it, you can tell it.
I'm pissed off about what happened and Stillwater on Saturday, Tom, real quick,
this is how I see this game going. The difference in this game,
KU scores forty. There's no way Illinois can can keep up at that
rate. Like, I mean, KU's defense might not be that great,
but there's no way that Illinois is gonna have the offense to hang with the
Hawks. No, I'm thinking I think you're actually spot on with forty.
I'm thinking forty twenty three Ku, Okay, I'd take that. I went
out of a state. This game ain't gonna be pretty. I leaned towards
Eye. Well, they've owned this series. The game is in aims,
but expect us to be like a seventeen to ten affair. It's gonna be
low scoring. It's gonna be ugly. This is gonna be like, you
know, a weekend at your in laws. You who are you thinking?
I'd said Iowa. I took Iowa, But I mean it's not gonna be
pretty you think I mean? So, I'll tell you one of the more
shocking teams. We did talk a whole lot of shit on Matt Campbell last
week, and I thought from that game that you know, I thought that
that Iowa State commanding like commandeered that game and had control of that game the
entire time. Was actually pretty shocked. What what we both say that we
would be shocked at Northern Iowa went and took him out. I thought I
always stay handled themselves pretty well. I wasn't then impressed with Iowa last week
either. It isn't aims if I'm not mistaken. I think, what's the
line on the game? Iowall buy four? Okay, so okay, I
gotta go buy Iowa. There maybe by iowall buy a touchdown, but not
more than that. Baylor and a Utah as if we roll through the Big
twelve slate here, uh Baylor barrassing lost last week. Utah strong win with
a backup quarterback on the road back to back Power Five games for Utah future
Big Twelve matchup. Here, Utah is by without a doubt, the better
team, and I'm very worried about the Baylor Bears. Like I think,
even with a backup quarterback and everything, and Baylor's playing with a backup two
because Blake Chapin's out for the next two to three weeks, I can see
Utah just going in at curb. Stopping Baylor. Baylor last week should have
been a wake up call there, there is no excuse, and I'm I'm
starting to have my doubts about Dave Randa here. I mean, he had
what Matt Rowell's kids when he first came in, right, and now he's
probably been there long enough that you know, okay's he's there now. If
Utah goes in and let's say the score is let's just call it forty five.
Let's say a forty five thirteen Utah, and that's maybe being generous,
it was, especially with a backup quarterback. Is Dave Randa on the hot
seed at all? I think? Yeah, I mean, if they go
out there and get just kicked in the dick, I mean, because here's
the deal, Jones, So here's the here's the funniest part about Baylor.
They've taken l against Texas State had no business. And that's not to say
that who's the coach? Savanaugh at Texas State used to be GJ. Kenney,
former TU quarterback. Oh that's right. So they beat Baylor, They're
gonna have UTSA in a couple of weeks. Who's not a bad team either.
I mean, Texas State's probably not overall a horrible football team, but
they go in, they beat Baylor. Baylor's gonna go now play Utah.
I don't know who Baylor has after Utah, but I know after Utah the
day that I moved to San Antonio, they play Texas at home. They
got Island in between. Okay, so they're gonna start. They're easily gonna
start one and three. Yeah, I mean, Dave Randa's on, Like
there's unless Baylor. I don't know who the backup quarterback is. Unless they
got just an old sun bitch back there that we don't know about that's gonna
come out and have a Kurt Warner style game. I mean, I don't
think Utah is gonna show any mercy either, because we knew what Utah was
thinking about having to come to the Big twelve. This is their first shot
had a Big twelve team at home. It's way it's gonna be worse than
Florida for sure. Yeah, games in Waco, but Utah has had a
couple extra days rest with playing on a Thursday night last week, so we'll
see how that goes real quick. Kase State and Troy K State one in
a shutout last week. I don't expect Ka State to have any problems with
Troy. K State's only favored by sixteen and a half, though I'd hammer
this one. K State. I think that they're gonna win this one going
away, and Will Howard and company should have a big day. I think
so too. That does worry mean though that it's only sixteen Troy is not
Troy is not horrible, but sixteen points. I'm like, what does Vegas
know that we don't? And I still like case States cover though, yeah,
are you in Southern Utah FCS opponent all I just want to see more
offense from byu Keaton Slovias and company. We know the defense played well last
week. Let's see that offense get cranking and wake up a little bit here.
Yeah, they need to. I mean, you know, you can
only play conservative like the Mormons for so long. It's time to wake up
BYU. Oh you and SMU oh you favored fifteen and a half. We
mentioned how bad of a team Arkansas State was last week. This is OU's
first real test because SMUs well coached, they get some talent. They're the
favorites to win the American Athletic Conference this year. I don't think Ohu's gonna
have any problems winning this game, but I do want to see how they
fare just playing an actual, real opponent. I mean, this is their
toughest non con opponent without a doubt in this SMU team here. Yeah,
SMU is nobs. I mean I think fifteen and a half I kind of
like the case take game. I would take OEU to cover. But I
mean SMU is feeling real hot and heavy now that they got the ACC invite.
So where's the is the game in Fort Worth? Games in Norman?
Okay? Yeah? You know, if I was a betting manner for it
was legal here, i'd probably i'd probably throw twenty five on OU West Virginia
and Decane. By the way, Decane doesn't even look like the word ducane.
Yeah, I want to they need to use that for the script spelling
bee and we like fix the spelling of decane. I can't take a school
seriously that has a name like that better than advertised, better than I thought
they would be. Go ahead and you know, show show them that last
week. If they played like they did in those first three quarters, then
they should win this one going away. I mean yeah, I mean there's
I mean, you said it, you know, Duke Kane. That doesn't
even make sense. Now if that was like a name of a fancy liquor,
then okay, you might be able to get away with it. This
is a college university, and if we didn't know better, I can guarantee
you both of us before off record, have said this queen, this queen,
yes, before we got It's like someone saying like somehow someone like on
the NBA TV would maybe mispronounced Janna Santa Ta Kumpo. I think we should
intentionally call them the squeen in Squeen Yes Pitt in Cincinnati. That might be
a future Big twelve game. After the acc implodes Cincinnati's seven a half point
dollars on the road, Cincinnati looks really good. Last week. Emory Jones
was fantastic. Pitt's not a bad team. Uh. You and I were
not very high on Cincinnati entering the year, but really good test here.
If they played like they did last week, then they'll have a shot.
Yeah, I think they do have a shot. I mean, I'm if
I was a betting man again, though I wouldn't probably touch this game,
but if I had to, I'm probably gonna take. You said is a
six and a half or just straight seven seven and a half? Oh mm?
See that does change things. Vegas is pretty good. I'd probably to
be honestly, I'd probably start to take pit here. Yeah. Other games
on the slate here, Texas and Alabama my pick later on. I won't
spoil it for you, but I gotta say Texas had this game circle for
a long time. Uh. You know, if you've been listening this show,
I've been drinking the kool aid on Texas here, even though I'll probably
regret it. I have a lot of questions about Alabama's offense and the lack
thereof, and I think Texas is a more talented team here. But you
still gotta play Nick Saban. It's still Tuscalosa primetime game and everything. Is
Texas ready for the moment? That is the million dollar question is Quinn Ewers
and company. Can they go in get the job done. Are they ready
for this moment or is the moment too big for them? Because if if
it's a matchup on paper, tim Texas are the better team, But I
don't know if they're ready for this moment yet. I don't think they are.
What's the line? Alabama by seven, so it was six and a
half. I'm taking Bbama every time. Here's a deal, it's in Tuscaloosa.
That's one one of my favorite petty moments. And I'm so glad to
Texas is getting the I'm so glad Texas is feeling the wrath of this because
here's what happened, and it happened to It happened to os U two the
last time I went to Austin, not last year, but the year before,
and it used to not be like this. Texas puts the opposing team's
band in the upper echelon of the stadium, which you've never been to.
Have you never been to Texas? The Texas is long orange stadium. Darryl
Kay Royal then you just it's it's one of the bigger stadiums I've ever been
to, and it's you might as well be in the fucking atmosphere up in
the upper atmosphere at that point, being that high up. So they put
the band up there. They did it to Alabama, you know, when
I was there, They did it to OSU Alabama. Since Texas is not
yet in the SEC, and the SEC has rules on this that they have
to put the opposing band in the lower bowl. Since Texas is not yet
in the SEC, this is the last chance Alabama can get to also put
them up way up in the upper echelon of you know, Brian K.
Denny Stadium. So at that point, I'm like, you know what,
Hell yeah, Alabama, go out there and kick the dog shit out of
them. Texas is getting a little bit of their own medicine. You know,
they've limited Texas tickets to the game in the same way that Texas is
limited tickets when Alabama played. Texas is getting a little bit on the medicine.
And I in in a weird in a weird occurrence, I am rooting
for Alabama to just kick the dog shit out of Texas. It's gonna be
a very interesting game. You know, if Texas is ready for the ballment
or not. And are they going to injure another Texas quarterback. They've done
that the last two games against you two better than knock on Wood. I
don't like to see anybody get injured. But you have a good point.
Yeah, exactly. Oregon and Texas Tech Organ six and a half point favorite.
We'll pick this game later. Oregon so so talented bo Nicks really turned
the corner last year in the right direction. Texas Tech coming off that disappointing
loss in overtime last week, and I think they were looking ahead and Tyler
Shaff looking to get revenge against Oregon and all that and everything. Organ's more
talent team than than Texas Tech is. I think Texas Tech was drinking too
much of their own kool aid, getting too excited about themselves this year.
I I like Oregon to go in and uh and take care of business in
Lubbock. Won't be easy, should be a competitive game, but I think
this one where Organ pulls away the fourth quarter, I think it might be
a little bit worse than that. I'm I'm gonna go out on a limb
here and I'm gonna say organ by sixteen, Okay, you seef in Boise
State. You see, IF looked really good last Thursday night, a couple
of days rest, playing on the short week last week. Now you go
to Boise and these were the two faces of the group of five for a
long time, and Boise State never got that chance to move up. UCF
now is you know a staple of the Big twelfth Conference in their future is
extremely bright. As the youngest Power five program in the country, Gusmallson's offense
was really rocking last week. Boise State really just got their ass handed to
them by a pretty good Washington team. Might I had last week in Seattle
UCF. I think UCF's gonna come into the surf smurf turf and only an
They're only three and a half point favorite. But I don't see UCF having
any problems with Boise State. No, neither do I know. I will
say Boise State was respectful as a football team in the beginning of that Washington
game. But you're appo right, UCF looked pretty good, you know on
Thursday, granted inferior opponent, but it's not easy. That's a long journey
Jones from Orlando to Boise. That might as well be going from New York
City to La Yeah, Houston plaint Rice battle for the city at Houston.
The game at Rice Houston and nine and a half point favorite Houston one in
controversial fashion last week against UTSA, an upset win at home seventeen to fourteen.
Now taking on this Rice team, just xs and Ohs wise twent level
on the field that that Houston team. I mean, they have their flaws,
don't get it wrong, but they're a hell of a lot better than
what Rice is gonna put out there. Tom. I mean, yeah,
I mean Rice, what for the first quarter? They hung around with Texas,
but I mean it's a rap right right now. They pushed around Texas
his whole line a bit Rice did, but I mean they didn't really do
anything offensively, and that's gonna be an issue. TCU taking on Nichols TCU
last week of valiant efforts. I want to see from TCU what they really
need to do. We know the offense can score, but the defense needs
to show that they can actually get stops. And Chandeler Morris has got back
on the turnovers. He's got to get more accurate. And the two games
we've seen him start, both against Colorado, in the last two seasons,
he has not been accurate, hasn't been taken care of the football. We
know he can throw it across the yard all day long, and he can
score touchdowns and all that, but Chandler Morris, that's what lead this offense.
Be back of this team going forward. Let's got me more out for
one, Yeah, Jones, I'd like to see more out of them.
And I think this is a good chance too for Sonny Dikes and and that
defense too too. You know, they're playing Nichols and it was in Nichols
or Nichols State that BATKU a couple of years ago. Oh it was same
school, Nichols. Yeah, okay, So I don't think that's gonna happen
here. And I think TCU I'd like to see them bounce back and you
know, kind of dominates. So I mean I think they could. I
think they could blow them out of the water. And then lastly, we
kind of talked about in our hot takes os Hue in Arizona State nine thirty
game in Phoenix. We'll talk more about it with Bill Haston here in just
a second, always shoes quarterback situation. They're gonna play all three quarterbacks sounds
like this weekend. I don't think this is gonna be pretty, but Arizona
State's not that good of a football team. I think this is just about
survival for OSUE. I think they go out there, they win this game,
but they're not gonna get any style points out of it. Like this,
this ain't gonna be pretty the main goal, Like, you're not worrying
about trying to impress the selection committee for the playoff for anything like that.
You're just trying to get out of here a live with a dub. Yeah,
I think that's that's so. And and from what I heard from just
the camp and stuff, it sounds like they're gonna play one quarterback a half
and the other two the second half, or however they want to do it.
But I personally am sticking tired of that shit. You need to That's
why you have all offseason to figure that out. This is no time to
experiment. They're not gonna win the Big twelve or anything, but I'd like
to see a better product on the field. And you mentioned at Arizona State
not a great team. But I mean there's no reason, ohs you shouldn't
win this game. But I'm I am nervous. Yeah, I get that,
totally do so with that, that is the Big Twelve breakdown for this
week. Bill Haston gonna join us. Next we'll get a Hastens thoughts on
OU and OSU and the rest of the twelve come up that on the other
side, stay with us, join us now the Joe Sport this week please
to welcome back to the show. It is Bill Hasten from the Tulsa World
covers the Oklahoma Suitors, Oklahoma State Cowboys, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma City
Thunder, and the great high school sports scene there in the state of Oa.
Wells. He joins us right now. Bill, always pleasure to chat
my friend. How we do it? Good, Tyler? Like I mentioned
when we were chit chatting before you pressed play or pressed record, talking with
you as a NaSTA version away from watching the Rangers get beat again. So
I'm and I mean, holy cow, this time tomorrow and I there will
be the NFL season will get kicked off. So we have a very interesting
first weekend in the NFL, and then the college schedule for the weekend is
off the charts. Colorado Nebraska. I can't. I mean, I am
so fired up to watch Colorado Nebraska for both sides, for you know,
reasons that apply to both sides. And obviously Texas Alabama Saturday night and o
U s U is a compelling game because I'm not you know, there's no
uncertainty as to who wins the game. It's just how hello you look?
Will oh you be as efficient and as ferocious and it's energetic you know,
Saturday as they were last week against harvas O State. I was blown away
by OU last week. I was blown away by both quarterbacks. So we'll
see. I mean, that was a great first step. Brow os US
game Saturday night has the potential to be really funky but fascinating. At Arizona
State, who I don't think it's very good yet have a new coach.
In fact, I picked a issue to win this game. And my explanation
in the pick in the paper was in the time that Mike Gundy has been
the head guy Tyler at OSU, Arizona States had five different head coaches and
in the last fifteen years, ow issues one one hundred and forty ball games
and Arizona States one nine. So I just figured, you know, OSSes
quarterback situation is pretty cloudy at the moment. I don't know what they have.
I don't apparently they don't know what they have. But O issue has
an identity of program stability, and they've been finding ways to win for a
long time, and I think they'll find a way to win. Saturday and
Tulsa goes up to Washington, and I saw that one of the ESPN Top
esp and college football people expressed the opinion that Washington may have the best offense
in college football. So Kevin Wilson had a great debut to You, had
a pretty uneven first quarter, turned it over three times, trailed by seven,
could have easily trailed by fourteen or even seventeen, but got it together
one forty two seven over Pine Bluff. So Tulsa up at Seattle this week
hosting oh You. The week after that Tyler, so interesting two weeks coming
up for tu and then of course the high schools a right here are just
ridiculously intense and interesting. In Jinks Union and Friday Night, I'll be at
that one. So just a super great a Cowboys Giant Sunday night. Holy
cow. So what a great, great first full weekend of football. I'm
fired up for I will not be leaving my couch soaking it all in.
I mean Friday night, Jake's Union, I mean my jay Hawks played Illinois.
Good college game two. I mean that is a good game, right,
It's it's stacked all weekend. I can't wait for it all. Certainly
gonna be fascinating to wash. Let's start off with the suitors you mentioned first.
I was there Saturday saw then blow the doors off Arkansas State seventy three
to nothing. Was very impressed when I saw with that Oklahoma team. And
you know, if you looked at the box score bill, it'd be hard
to find any flaws with what Oklahoma did. But if we're gonna nit get
nit picky and look at the film and such, there was a number of
times where did oh you play great? Yes, Arkansas State just made a
lot of dumb mistakes and stood in their own way, leaving a missing wide
open receivers, careless penalties and such like. I came away from that game
great win for OHU. But I mean another team that has a smart coach,
like an SMU or something, it's probably looking at that film and said,
Wow, there were so many opportunities the Arkansas State misst on here that
Mike get exposed here pretty soon. No, I would say, well,
I mean, I don't think anybody came out of the OU opener with any
sort of delusions that, oh my lord, this is the top five team.
They're not. They're not. I don't know how you could possibly know
what they are yet. That's what I vote. Actually that night was is
we won't know really until October seventh. I think we won't really really know
what OU is made of. We won't really know have a clear definition of
this team until you know, mid evening after they've played Texas on the seventh,
and by then, because I mean, I expect, oh you,
I mean, if you look at it, though, you is going to
be favorite and should win each of its first five, the fifth of those
five being now the fourth game. Tyler's interesting now because it's at Cincinnati,
right. Cincinnati lit it up last week. They've got a new coach,
they're rebuilding there there. I don't think they're anywhere near where they were when
they went to the playoff. But but I've talked to Tulsa people for years
who say that playing at Cincinnati is tough. It's tough, and the fans
are right on top of you, and they're very vocal, and it's intense.
And that's Cincinnati's first Big twelve game ever, so those people are going
to be fired up to have Owe you in their house, big nude and
everything. Yeah, first Big twelve game ever, and so that's not going
to be easy. And then Iowa stayed the following week, and Iowa stayed
has a history of winning games against teams with deeper, more talented rosters.
But I mean in Norman, there's no excuses. Come on, I mean,
you don't lose that game. So oh, you should be five and
ol going into the Texas game. I don't know what Texas is made of
either. I mean, they weren't very good for a half against Rice and
then you know, one comfortably. But we'll see what Texas is made of
Saturday night at Tuscaloosa and then certainly what OU is made by the end of
the first six games at sixth game being OU Texas in the cotton Balls.
So but no, I mean they just did Saturday against Arkansas State, Tyler
exactly what you're supposed to do. If if that was golf, that would
have been an easy par I'm not ready to give him a Burrie or an
eagle for being a bad Arkansas State team. By seventy three, SMU probably
will be Well, we'll see. I mean I would, I would,
I would expect SMU to have a cleaner, better performance than what we saw
from Arkansas State. But again, no excuse is this in Norman? Oh
you should win by a million? But how does it look right? That's
why I'm interested in the ball game, you know, And I come at
this from an outside perspective. But when I looked at this Oklahoma team entering
twenty twenty three, Bill, I looked at wide receiver position, adds some
gaps, The defensive line looked undersized, you know, kind of lacking athleticism.
Are what are the issues you see that potentially plagued this Oklahoma team that
could hold him back? Or those are the things you're looking at what catches
your eye which could stumbled Oklahoma's way? I mean well, I mean every
if you're if you're good and consistently good, both are from a performance standpoint
and a leadership standpoint. At the quarterback position, it lifts everything. Everything's
better when the quarterback position is reliable. And I was thinking about this Saturday,
is you know, it does make sense that Dylan Gabriel would come out
clicking at a nice level because you know, this time of year ago,
he had been around Jeff Levy only a few months, right, Well,
he's been with Jeff. He and Jeff Levy have been sitting together in meetings
and shoulder to shoulder on the practice field now for a year and a half.
So it makes a lot of sense that Dylan Gabriel is ready to have
a much better year and that by now too. You know, all those
guys in that clubhouse know him, trust him. The shock, you know,
and a year ago two they were still they were still I think I
feel like they were still jolted by the shock of Lincoln Riley's departure and losing
Caleb Williams and losing a bunch of guys, and you know that was that
was just a tough, tough, unexpected transition to have to make. But
oh no, I see you say, what issues or what position groups or
whatever? Am I watching right now most intently all of them? I mean,
I want to see their offensive line be able to control games. I
mean think think back to five and six years ago, and literally every guy
up front at OU ended up in the NFL, all of them. I
mean, these weren't undrafted free agencies, were drafted NFL level guys. And
I don't I do not see anything near that right now, only because you
know they're they've got some new faces and there just isn't that body of work
yet. But I watched the offensive line intently, the whole front seven of
the defense, and and then just watch to see how they are off the
snap, and then to say, okay, how how are they going to
hold up against Iowa State? How are they gonna hold up against Texas?
How are they gonna hold up against k State? Wait a minute, do
they play KSE State and this is pay k State? No, there you
go. Yeah, And and OLSU doesn't play Texas Tech Baylor in Texas.
Yeah. Yeah, this is a this is an odd season. I'm so
it's like gunned, he said Monday, he was chewing out his couple of
his assistant coaches. He said, are not chewing them out, but talking
with them in a meeting a defensive assistance and said, you know, if
we make this mistake whatever they were talking about. He said, if we
make this mistake against TCU, they'll kill us. And one of the assistants
at coach we don't play TCU. So, yeah, this is a funky
year. No, I'm watching everything from the front of the defense to the
back and the guy's catching it and the guy's running blocking everything at OU because
I just don't feel like we're going to really know what they're running out there
until in the mid season or so. Every game is a I wouldn't say
I prove it deal, but but it's well, not a prove it deal,
but it's certainly a you know, it'll be a revelation from week to
week to week, and you know they should be better in two and three
weeks from now than they are right now. So they should get they should
improve, they should they gotta start, they gotta I want to see OU
control games. Let's see. I mean, hell, Bill, I mean
you go back to last year. They had a great September last season and
things went downhill after that. So it was yeah, from here. They
were sixth in the country coming out of the Nebraska game last year and dominated
that game, won by I think their first three they won by right just
about exactly one hundred points, like ninety eight points, and then uh,
you know, lose at home to Kay State and get blacked by TCU in
Fort Worth and then the Texas disaster and the season was broken and finished yea
point. So you know, that's another thing I'm watching for two. I
mean, I'm kind of looking forward to see, you know, you have
a rough patch over a quarter and a half or something, and to see
how they respond because last year, you know, I mean, how much
how much uh PTSD do they have coming out of last season because they had,
you know, so many tough game games and I mean obviously a seven
lost season. But if they're cornered, Let's say Iva State comes in and
plays remarkably well and it's a in ou trails by three going in the fourth
quarter. I'm not gonna start. I'm not gonna like panic and freak out
and say, oh no, oh, U's a fraud. It ain't like
that, because I have a state has done that to a lot of teams.
But how do they You spun canoe, You get three stops and two
scores and go ahead and win that game. If IWA State shows up and
it's great that day. So that'll that in itself would be a positive step
for you have to win a tough game like that, especially going into Texas.
I'm looking at Dylan Gabriel. You know, Bill, I cover the
NFL from my day job now, and I see Dylan Gabriel as a guy
that's got so much to gain, not only for to make, you know,
be the centerpiece of Oklahoma, being a contender to you know, compete
in the Big Twelve and potentially make the College Ball Ploff, but if he
plays well and continues to show you know, how well he can be as
a passer and accurate, you know, with arm strength, moability, all
that, he very well could play his way to be being an NFL quarterback
here. I mean, the ceiling is is up there. There's a lot
that that Dylan Gabriel can grab on here, no doubt. Well, I
mean it's it's the most important position in the sport, and the NFL is
starved for not only guys who can start, but I mean, how many
teams in the league right now. I don't have the rosters in front of
me, but I mean, really, how many teams in the league right
now? Have a backup who they truly would trust. Maybe how many?
Maybe five, that's a good number. I would say maybe eight, max,
I mean, like Cooper Rush. How many teams have a Cooper Rush?
Not many. I mean, you know, a few weeks ago ago,
everybody thought that the Patriots were happy with Bailey Zappy, and then he
got caught a couple of days later. So yeah, I mean there's a
lot to gain for Dylan Gabriel. I'm I'm very good chance he will get
a chance. There's no doubt. I'm very fascinating. I'm rooting for him.
I hope that he continues to shine this year and he gets that chance.
I mean, if what that's that's the beauty of this season. Though
Tyler is like, I mean, if the season ended today, he would
still get his chance. But he hasn't a chance to work himself way up,
his way into the draft and possibly even as a mid round pick,
maybe higher even. I mean, we've seen some weirdness in the draft.
We saw I'm taking over Stetson Bennett right now, I can tell you that
much. Right we saw some We saw a kid from Florida who completed fifty
and he was to what top five pick whatever. He so yeah, I
mean yeah, Dylan Gazbruls got personally a lot at stake, and OU has
the beautiful luxury of having a five star backup who looked a really good in
the opening so O, OU is beautifully outfitted at quarterback. And then at
the same time they're you know, those two guys completed like ninety nine percent
of their throws the other day. O Shoes got Yeah, a three quarterback
system that I don't There's no way Mike Gundy wants to play three guys,
but I think he's I don't think he's trying to be cute with the offense.
I think he's trying to figure out who who he trusts moving forward.
And I would think all three of those guys will play again at Arizona State
Saturday night. So let me ask you that about that Oklahama State after last
week's performance against Central Arkansas. Where where's the panic meter at right now?
You think it's still water. I think it's more of a disappointment meter right
now, just that because you know what, you know something they did it
still arter this year for the first time ever, was sell out all of
their season tickets. They're sold out in the preseason, they have sold out.
In twenty thirteen they ended up selling all of their season tickets, but
it was like midway through the season before they hit that sell out. From
point, they entered this season having sold all their available every single season ticket
on the board. So you know, to have a sellout crowd, and
you're facing an FCS opponent, granted a pretty good one, but still it's
an FCS opponent Central and Central Arkansas. And and for your run game through
three quarters, Tyler to average three yards a carry. After I would say
nine seasons of the offensive line being either average or below average, I think
it's here we go again. Feeling right now for the OSU fans with regard
to the offensive line, because because I can tell you I was on the
beat and during Mike's first seven seasons on that job, in that job at
OSSUE, and from six through twenty, I would say twenty twelve, Ossue
had the best offensive line culture in the conference. A few of sacks allowed,
led the league in rushing like all but one of those years, controlled
games one games because of their offensive line. Whether OSU was like best of
all time good at quarterbacks like where they were with Brandon Whedon or at times
when they were just they just had like a nice situation at quarterback, like
they did well in twenty twelve. They rotated guys like crazy because of injuries
and still set a couple of team records. I think that still stand for
you, like yardage and whatever. So but no, I think I think
I think it was really demoralizing for the fans to have to watch such a
a bland performance by the offense in the opener when that crowd was ready to
you know, I was ready to rock all night and just didn't get many
chances. And then you have Gunner Dundee, Mike's son come off the bench
in the fourth quarter and lead them to two touchdowns. And for whatever reason,
I'm thinking maybe on a hot night, maybe Central Arkansas's defenders got a
little fatigue by the fourth quarter. But alas, you averaged eight yards a
rush attempt in the fourth quarter versus three through the first three quarters. So
does that mean that they figured out some stuff and it just all clicked better,
or did Central get worn down by that point in the game. I
don't know, but I would say OSU certainly has a more speed and probably
more guys you can trust in a game than Arizona State does. But Arizona
State at least knows what they have a quarterback. They have a freshman who,
like everybody wanted and who was going to go to Florida until an nil
situation fell apart and he ended up at a SU. So that's an interesting
game that kicks off at nine thirty Central. It's your conference game too,
as of next year, it's a conference game, right, Yeah, it's
just you can't. I mean, there's so many matchups on the board where
either recently divorced programs are facing each other or soon or programs that are engaged
to be married. Yeah. You taught Baylor this weekend too. Yeah,
that's hey, that's an interesting game. Baylor didn't want to go be a
start oh and two and I was kind of stunning last week they got Baylor
got handled. They didn't just get beat, they got handled. G J.
Kenny's a good coach and my man, GJ. Man he was a
really good quarterback here at Tulsa for Todd Graham and one season for Bill blanket
Ship and got into coaching his dad as a coach, and here he is
you know younger. How would how old would he even be if he's like
thirty four, thirty five and he's a rising star of a coach. So
good for GJA down to Texas State. But yeah, it's a you know,
Tulsa has a new coach, Kevin Wilson, former o U and Ohio
State offensive coordinator. Tulsa had their starting quarterback though two early picks and ding
his ankle in the first quarter of the other night, Tyler, and they
brought in a Richard freshman who hadn't gotten hardly, you know, any anything
in the way of manyful reps to that point, and that kid lit it
up and had a great night, completed a super high percentage, took care
of the football, got the offense going, and Tulsa wins forty two to
seven. So it's my hope that when ou placed here in two weeks that
to you can stress them a little bit. I mean, I don't owe
you right now. To me, doesn't need to win seventy three to nothing
every week. They don't need that kind of an opponent from them. They
need to They need to get better, and you get better by facing teams
who are better than Arkansas State. Yeah, seems like you mentioned Oklahoma State
with the sellout that they got going on with I heard to you today sold
out that Ou game, first time they've had a cell since twenty oh nine.
I mean, just a lot of energy right now in the state of
Oklahoma. I know OU play OU as a big part of that for both
those schools, but I mean you could sense just the excitement in the era
all around. It seems oh yeah, well, I mean jameson Union play
Friday, and that'll that'll be that'll be a sellout. They will, they'll
cap that had about ten thousand, and they'll be ever bit of that there.
No, I mean I just think think about it too, Tyler.
The more we get removed, I think there was still a COVID, pretty
good COVID hangover in twenty one twenty twenty one, and maybe there were even
people a year ago who weren't quite ready to go back out, you know,
into big crowds and be around people. I don't know. But now
that we this is the third full season, well, twenty twenty obviously was
tremendously impacted by COVID twenty one to some extent, twenty two, we're starting
to really disconnect from COVID with regard to getting a football season played. And
now it just feels like like a lot of people and not just sports,
but just you know, I mean concerts. I mean, tu had a
big rock concert at the stadium a few nights ago, right, Motley Crude,
def Leppard, Alice Cooper and it was a Jay impact. It was
full. So I just think people are ready to get out of the house.
I think people are ready to get their lives back. So in spite
of, you know, the impact of the portal on rosters, I know
it's it's a nightmare for coaches to try to manage a roster when they have
such freedom to move. But and you know, at the same time too,
I was saying eight months ago, how are these athletic departments supposed to
market their programs when there's so little retention on players and familiarity with these players.
And yet Tulsa is way beyond where they've been on season tickets always you
set a record, and ou is at or beyond where they always are on
season tickets. So I mean, obviously everybody loves football, but also I
think people are really energized and ready to kind of put COVID way way in
our rearview mirrors and let's go, let's get our lives back. Definitely,
definitely, So Bill, last year, when we were talking during the season,
you were one of the first people that was all in on TCU and
said they were going to win the conference. They didn't technically win the league,
but you know they went on college frotball playoff, of course. So
I gotta ask you. I know it's very early, but what do you
make of the Big Twelve race this upcoming season? Texas is the favorites,
but last week against Rice, they didn't look too impressive. I know there's
question marks on that opensive line there in Austin, and they'll be tested this
week in Tusca lous So what do you think of the battle among those top
teams in the Big Twelve this year? Well, I mean, I wish
we had more. I mean, I wish we were talking about that three
weeks from now instead of now. But I mean my pick to win the
conference on paper going into the season was Kase State to repeat, and I'm
based that mostly on them being so beautifully coached. I just think Chris Clemon
is me it's pretty remarkable how k State managed to find I won't say Bill
Snyder clone, but with regard to keeping it steady and keeping it on a
straight line, man, Chris Klemon and Bill Snyder have a lot in common.
I mean, right now, I would, yeah, Kay State,
it's a safe pick, which sounds crazy also to say that in a league
with Texas and OU. But to me, Kay State is the safe pick.
I kind of thought, bet Over, take a step back. I
really sensed that TCU because TCU had a portal team last year, Tyler.
I mean, they had so many new guys that came in through the portal.
What are the odds that that many new guys are going to come together
over a period of a few months and jail like they jailed. I mean,
so I certainly didn't in the beginning of the season last year, I
didn't notice. I didn't have any idea to think that TCU would be a
factor at the top of the standings. But after watching them play two or
three times, I mean, keeping mind, Max Dublin was and even the
opening day starter right all right? And I guess Morris was right. And
Duggan has this season for the Ages, so right now, the combination of
having you know, I met Will Howard at all at the Big twelve media
in in Arlington. I had no idea he was that big of a guy.
Holy call, he's a big man. He he really looks like an
NFL quarterback walking around. So I think the combination of his experience and ability
with Chris Klymens coaching and just steady man and they just don't beat themselves and
they don't do stupid penalties. So yeah, that as we speak anyway,
that's my pick to win it all. But to win the league. But
who's got the most talented squad? It's Texas, right, absolutely, it's
Texas. So just Texas. You know that there are a seven point underdog
at TUSCA lousy and they played the heck you know, they played the heck
out of Alabama last year. So that's must see TV Saturday night to get
a real feel for where the Longhorns are, because I gotta tell you,
coming out of their spring game, I was a believer and it's been a
long time since I've been a believer in Texas. And even during the same
Elenger years, I guess they had the one ten win season during those years
but I never bought Texas as a real threat to OU's stranglehold on the conference
championship during those years. I just never did. But I think Texas now.
I watched the special on the Longhorn Network coming out of their spring practice,
and it just everything they said was they said the right things, and
they just they're not dancing around saying we're back there. It's none of that
stuff. And I do think Sarcasian's a really bright guy. So Texas wins
Saturday and you're like, oh my lord, here we go with Texas.
Or if Texas plays respectably and doesn't win Saturday, how do they respond to
a disappointment. That'll be very interesting because there's been some recent seasons when they
lost unexpectedly to like Maryland twice to Maryland and then you just seem to kind
of break Texas's heart and maybe they didn't ever fully recover. So how do
they recover if there is a disappointment on Saturday? And then of course if
they win, then everybody in Texas is going to lose their minds and we're
gonna have a heck of a year ahead of us. We're gonna have a
heck for a year one way or the other. I mean, definitely was
really good. I think UCF is gonna be really good. I think there's
I think the top half of the league is pretty competitive, pretty good,
I do. I think so too. It's done. I'm with you.
I think Texas are really good, but they're not carrying the weight of the
league here. I mean, there's a lot of competitive teams as far as
I'm concerned. Last question, Well, we'll end on this bill, the
carousel that is, conference realignment almost done for now, waiting to see ultimately
what happened with Oregon State and Washington State. But with now that the dust
is almost settled here, what's kind of your thoughts on the way things went
and how things ended up shaking out for OU and os US position here.
Well, I mean I was I was actually talking in the office, our
office yesterday with a couple of guys, and I hadn't really thought about it
in these terms yet, but I said, can you ever remember in the
history of major college athletics a commissioner being as impactful as Brett your mark?
Ever? I mean, there's been some great commissioners in the Big Ten and
the SEC, but they kind of inherited always. They always were in a
position of leverage, and they inherited healthy, powerful leagues. Right, It's
only a few months ago it felt like the Big Twelve was pretty wobbly and
might even fall off the cliff. After over you and Texas announced that they
were going to leave. So what Bret your Mark did at the same time
that the Pact twelve made some bad decisions. Not only did it save the
Big Twelve, but I mean, if you're looking at a geographical if you're
trying to make sense of it geographically, you can't. It's impossible, it's
ridiculous. But uh, if you're looking at viability and the fact that Brett
Gormark scored a really nice TV deal that goes through twenty thirty one, and
you know, I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago, but it
really surprises me and disappoints me that more people aren't upset or don't seem upset
by the demise of Bedlam, because I'm gonna really miss Beddlam. But I
think the OSU people are really happy with Brett Gormark and what he wound up
piecing together, and that the revenue will be not only sustained, but a
little beyond where it has been with the two big schools in the conference.
I don't even know what to say about about the fact twelve. That's shocking,
h you know, to have the LA schools go to the Big ten
and then you felt it felt like those were two massive dominoes that could you
know, I mean, but think about it. That could have been the
Big twelve. What's happening with the back twelve right now, Tyler? That
could have been the Big twelve. So it's either eat or get eaten right
right and break Gormart man, he just came out. I mean, he
just hits driver on every shot. He didn't give a damn. I mean
he's I mean, obviously he gives a damn, But I'm saying he's not
afraid to take a risk. And my Gundy said, he's even had to
rely because apparently Gormart talks a lot with the coaches in the league. He
goes, he texts, he will text or call these coaches a lot and
say what do you think it's so and so? And Gundy said, a
couple of times I've told him, you know, that's that's a little over
the top. Let's not try that. But I love that the commission,
that the conference has a commissioner who's a bold person and came in there with
history more in I mean he did some big things with NASCAR, but I
mean more recently, he was in show business, right with Jake And so
for him to come in there and navigate his way through waters she had never
been in before so skillfully. And did Brett yourmark put the PAC twelve out
of business? Note? So sc and UCLA did that, But what did
Brett your Mark? I mean he did what I mean you have to do.
I mean, there were some nice commodities out west and he wouldn't got
him. And I'm telling you Utah, Arizona State. If Arizona State can
ever figure itself out in football, like I told you earlier, I mean
they had five head coaches in the same amount of time at Gundy's been at
OSU, Arizona State's got to get got to write that ship and have some
stability over a long term. That's a great market. I'm more than happy
to go to Phoenix, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, not just for
a bowl game, and I'm ready to go out there more frequently. You
ever stayed at the Camelback by the Way for a Bowl game. I've not
it is. It is the nicest hotel slash accommodation resort situation I've ever had
in my career. So oh yeah, when whenever you can go, when
you ever reason to go, Okay, that's where they put you. You
get to stay at the nicest hotel situation in the country for the price of
a regular hotel. So make sure you go. All your list. I'm
going to Final four in April, so I might have to make that happen.
So we're final forward this year, Phoenix. Oh, there you go.
But it's at Glendale. Hunt's at the stadium at Glendale. Yeah.
Yeah, sounds like like what I've heard is like the media activities over the
weekend are gonna be in Scottsdale and then they're gonna shuttle everybody to the stadium
in Glendale for He's. One of the great New Year's eaves of my life
was in Scottsdale, So you'll you'll really enjoy going out. I thrive at
scotts Stale. Pill Uh. That's that's my vibe, you know. I
mean, just I've I feel like a mature twenty one year old, you
know in uh in Scottsdale, you know, the best of both worlds.
Even though I'm you know, I'm well passed that now, but I love
going out there, and really especially around bull time because the weather is I'm
amazing. Yeah, fifty eight degrees sixty five for a high, zero humidity,
no wind. I never had taken golf clubs out there, but you
know I should do that too. Yeah. Where can people find all your
work in what you're doing these days? Follow me on Twitter at Bill Hasting
and then obviously I write just about every day for the Tulsa World Tulsa World
dot com. And you know what, I'm really happy and proud of what
we're doing with our staff right now. And we're We've had a great start
to the football season. We're going to have a great mid season and a
great rest of the year. So Tulsa World dot Com look forward to it.
Bell Preship times always, we'll talk to into the line. You're welcome,
see you, Tyler