1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:05,519 Check it out college football on the West Coast. This is Get Off My 2 00:00:05,719 --> 00:00:10,160 Pylon, a look at the PAC twelve and more, part of the College 3 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:15,960 Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast network. Here's your host, Matt Zemi. Welcome 4 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,760 to the latest edition of the Get Off My Pilon College Football podcast. This 5 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,399 is your host, Matt Zemmi. So this podcast, as you know, 6 00:00:23,559 --> 00:00:27,679 during college football season, looks at PAC twelve football, the PAC twelve conference 7 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:34,520 and uh, you know, a light weekend in terms of significant news stories 8 00:00:35,399 --> 00:00:37,920 from the PAC twelve. I mean, you know, most of the stories 9 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,880 coming from Colorado, Like that's where the big news is emerging. Travis Hunter 10 00:00:42,679 --> 00:00:46,799 out for a few weeks, so he's gonna miss the Oregon and USC games. 11 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:52,799 But you know, you had the dirty hit on Travis Hunter by Colorado 12 00:00:52,799 --> 00:00:59,240 States Henry Blackburn, and that's been a point of controversy. And also Dion 13 00:00:59,359 --> 00:01:04,159 Sanders may his second appearance on sixty Minutes, the CBS news show in a 14 00:01:04,239 --> 00:01:10,159 year. He was interviewed by John Wortheim last year when he was at Jackson 15 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,120 State. He gets interviewed on the season premier of sixty Minutes. I mean 16 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:19,480 that gives you an indication of how much the media ecosystem, the media beast 17 00:01:19,799 --> 00:01:25,200 craves anything and everything, dion standers. We also have the news that the 18 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:30,079 USC Colorado game in Boulder on September thirty, if it's a big neon Saturday 19 00:01:30,159 --> 00:01:34,719 game, a USC had to agree to that, had to agree to the 20 00:01:34,719 --> 00:01:38,239 early kickoff, and the Trojans did, like they enjoy publicity, you know, 21 00:01:38,239 --> 00:01:42,280 they enjoyed not having to deal with pactrowelve network anymore, so they signed 22 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:49,319 off on that. And so that's Calas's third big Neon Saturday game of the 23 00:01:49,359 --> 00:01:53,120 season, but more specifically, it's going to be Carle's third big Neon Saturday 24 00:01:53,159 --> 00:02:00,280 game of September. And of course ESPM College Game Day was in Boulder this 25 00:02:00,359 --> 00:02:06,400 past weekend for the Buffalo's game against Caliole State. So like just everyone wants 26 00:02:06,439 --> 00:02:09,400 a piece of don everyone wants to be in on this action. Of course, 27 00:02:09,439 --> 00:02:14,000 with Clarole being three and oh, just that hype train is going to 28 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:19,960 continue. The Buffaloes get the prime ABC treatment in the featured three thirty Eastern 29 00:02:20,039 --> 00:02:24,840 window that game and asten Stadium against Oregon this upcoming weekend. And by the 30 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:28,719 way, you know, so I'm the editor of Trojan's Wire as most, 31 00:02:28,759 --> 00:02:32,280 if not all, of you know follow the folks at Buffalo's Wire and Ducks 32 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:38,360 Wire for complete coverage of that Colorado Oregon game. So Colorado is the main 33 00:02:38,439 --> 00:02:42,639 news generator on a national level in the PAC twelve, but elsewhere, you 34 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:46,120 know, this was the final cupcake weekend. This was the final main non 35 00:02:46,199 --> 00:02:53,120 conference weekend, and now we head into Pac twelve play for everybody in Week 36 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,479 four and beyond, there's been only one conference game played in the PAC twelve. 37 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:02,120 That was USC Stanford, But now everyone gets in on the act in 38 00:03:02,199 --> 00:03:08,879 Week four conference play. Gonna preview those games in a separate episode of Get 39 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:14,080 Off My Pilon, But really just want to take stock of the PAC twelve 40 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:19,960 after non conference play. I mean, the USC Order Dame is a non 41 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,639 conference game, and so you know, so they're just and Stanford Order Dame 42 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:29,919 also a non conference game. But other than that, non conference play is 43 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:37,520 done for the PAC twelve this season for the last time, and the results 44 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:42,719 were rather remarkable. Twenty nine and five for the Pac twelve and thirty four 45 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:49,560 non conference games. That's pretty remarkable. And of those five losses, three 46 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,439 were from either Stanford or Arizona. State. The two worst teams in the 47 00:03:54,479 --> 00:04:00,159 conference, Arizona State losing to Oklahoma State in Fresno State, Stanford losing to 48 00:04:00,199 --> 00:04:03,680 Sacramento State. Those are easily the two worst teams in the PAC twelve. 49 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:11,439 So but other than those two bottom feeders, only two non conference losses across 50 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:16,759 the other ten schools in the PAC twelve. One was Cal out playing Auburn 51 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,600 most of the night in Berkeley but missing three field goals, losing by four 52 00:04:20,639 --> 00:04:28,560 points fourteen to ten, and then Arizona nine point underdog at Mississippi State, 53 00:04:28,959 --> 00:04:34,759 committing four turnovers and still taking Mississippi State into overtime on the road in Starkville. 54 00:04:35,319 --> 00:04:39,600 So really, like the PAC twelve, barely put a foot wrong, 55 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:46,439 Like, barely did anything of note that was wrong or substandard in non conference 56 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,879 play. You know, the weaker teams had a few bad moments and losses, 57 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:55,319 but like none of the eight I mean eight. You have eight unbeaten 58 00:04:55,399 --> 00:05:00,360 teams through non conference play, and you have Washington State facing Wisconsin, a 59 00:05:00,439 --> 00:05:05,519 game that the Cougars were expected to lose. You had, you know, 60 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:13,279 other teams. You know, Washington went into East Lansing and it didn't just 61 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,639 beat Michigan State. I mean it was expected to do that, but just 62 00:05:15,759 --> 00:05:23,480 totally wiped the Spartans off the field, getting a massive lead and cruising to 63 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:29,759 a blowout victory. Michael Pennock's able to sit basically the whole second half. 64 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:35,040 That's a great thing for Washington to be able to rest that many starters with 65 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:43,240 that Oregon game not too far away on October fourteen, and USC's going through 66 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:48,040 a similar situation that the Trojans need to be blowing people out as much as 67 00:05:48,079 --> 00:05:55,439 possible right now so that their starters are fresh and healthy for Notre Dame on 68 00:05:55,480 --> 00:06:00,480 October fourteenth. And also you tak on October twenty one. So the big 69 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:05,079 hitters in the PAC twelve plus you know those middle tier teams, Washington State, 70 00:06:05,199 --> 00:06:12,720 Oregon State, UCLA, they're all handling their business like no team from 71 00:06:12,759 --> 00:06:18,519 the PAC twelve that was expected to be good or very good or great. 72 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:24,360 None of those teams expected to be really good have stumbled. They've all done 73 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:29,000 the job. Yes, Oregon wobbled a bit at Texas Tech, but got 74 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:33,519 it done. Good teams go into those tough road environments early in the season 75 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,240 and managed to come away with the win. It's not supposed to be purty, 76 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:40,639 it's not supposed to have a lot of style points. Just go into 77 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:46,800 that hostile road environment in Texas late at night, early September. It's hot, 78 00:06:46,879 --> 00:06:50,319 it's not comfortable. Just get the win that that's really all that matters. 79 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:56,360 Oregon able to do that. Utah did something very similar at Baylor in 80 00:06:56,439 --> 00:07:01,040 Waco in week two. So you have PAC twelve teams all passing, you 81 00:07:01,079 --> 00:07:06,000 know, not those headliner type tests. You know, those showdowns they're going 82 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:11,079 to come soon enough, but those tricky tests, those games that you're supposed 83 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,519 to win. You know that you're the better team, but it's early in 84 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,639 the season and you do have the rough edges and you're trying to learn how 85 00:07:16,639 --> 00:07:20,759 to play together. It's gonna be a little bit of a bumpy ride, 86 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:25,600 but ultimately you just need to get the result. Pack twelve teams have been 87 00:07:25,639 --> 00:07:30,240 getting the results. So what can we say on a deeper level about the 88 00:07:30,279 --> 00:07:36,079 conference in this twenty nine and five non conference start. What seems like the 89 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:42,480 really salient points to make and what are the important questions to ask. It's 90 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:49,040 interesting that a few key details are interconnected with each other. An unexpected plot 91 00:07:49,079 --> 00:07:56,759 point in terms of evaluating the entirety of the PAC twelve in twenty twenty three, 92 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:01,600 is the Cars State Rams. Now I think about it that that is 93 00:08:01,639 --> 00:08:07,839 definitely an unexpected plot point, but the Colorado State really does emerge as a 94 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:13,160 notable discussion point in terms of how we assess various teams in the PAC twelve. 95 00:08:13,519 --> 00:08:16,319 Now, why is that? Well? First off, Colorado State has 96 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:20,519 played both Washington State and Colorado, two of those really good mid tier teams 97 00:08:20,519 --> 00:08:24,000 that are playing better than expected. You know, Washington State was not supposed 98 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,800 to beat Wisconsin, but it did. Colorisle was not supposed to be three 99 00:08:28,839 --> 00:08:33,840 and zero, but it is. Both teams played Coloradle State and Washington State 100 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:37,440 beat Colorado State like a drum fifty to twenty four in Week one. And 101 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:43,600 that's part of why Calorisle State was a twenty three point underdog to Colorado in 102 00:08:43,639 --> 00:08:46,080 Week three. But Calirale State certainly didn't play like a twenty three point underdog. 103 00:08:46,159 --> 00:08:52,000 Calisle State outplayed Calorisle most of that game, and the Rams were up 104 00:08:52,039 --> 00:08:56,080 twenty eight seventeen with eleven minutes left, and it certainly looked like in that 105 00:08:56,159 --> 00:09:00,799 moment they were going to win. Still looked like they were going to win 106 00:09:00,879 --> 00:09:05,399 when they were up by eight points with three minutes left, and you know, 107 00:09:05,519 --> 00:09:09,799 Klara had to thread the needle. You get a stop, get the 108 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:15,600 ball back, then drive the length of the field, and then get the 109 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:20,759 two point conversion. Was able to do all those things with no margin for 110 00:09:20,799 --> 00:09:26,159 air. Shuder Sanders played a pretty mediocre game for the first fifty minutes, 111 00:09:26,279 --> 00:09:28,720 but in the final ten he was magical. He was outstanding, and of 112 00:09:28,759 --> 00:09:33,559 course he didn't have Travis Hunter to throw to now. Shuder Sanders really struggled 113 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:37,840 with his decision making for most of the game, and it's interesting he finally 114 00:09:37,879 --> 00:09:43,679 began to scramble in those last ten minutes. He finally began to use his 115 00:09:43,799 --> 00:09:46,279 legs, which you know, he's a skilled runner, he's a legitimate dual 116 00:09:46,279 --> 00:09:50,559 threat quarterback. Finally began to use his legs. That opened up Karole State's 117 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,480 defense. You know, it's akin to what Utah did with Nate Johnson against 118 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:58,720 Baylor, you know, not using that added weapon for most of the day, 119 00:09:58,759 --> 00:10:03,399 but finally doing it when you know, the urgency of the moment brought 120 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:09,639 forth more resourcefulness. So Shader Sanders put it all together in the final ten 121 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:15,039 minutes. Offensive coordinator Sean Lewis drew up some great two point plays, the 122 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,600 one that tied the score at twenty eight in the final minute of regulation. 123 00:10:20,039 --> 00:10:26,240 You had side motion stretching the defense horizontally, but then you had the tight 124 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:31,639 end running inside the seam and Carros State was running toward the perimeter. You 125 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:35,200 had you had the pass in the middle of the field. It broke wide 126 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:41,360 open. Great play design from Sean Lewis to rescue Colorado on a night win. 127 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:45,159 Again. Colorado State carried the run of play for most of the night. 128 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,200 Carrale State committed a ton of penalties, almost two hundred total yards and 129 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:54,000 penalties in fact, and yet the Rams were leading or tied for most of 130 00:10:54,039 --> 00:11:00,679 that game and Colorado was chasing the game. Colorado was fighting pill Now, 131 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:03,279 the Travis Hunter injury had a lot to do with that, but even then, 132 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:07,759 Colorado does have better athletes than Colorado State across the board. But you 133 00:11:07,799 --> 00:11:13,279 know, the Buffs were very emotional in this game, like they weren't fully 134 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:20,639 focused. And let's remember Colorado even in its previous wins against Nebraska TCU didn't 135 00:11:20,639 --> 00:11:24,080 really run the ball all that much. This is a This team is almost 136 00:11:24,279 --> 00:11:28,360 entirely built on the passing games on the offensive side of the ball, and 137 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:33,039 not being able to run like that is a limitation which figures to harm the 138 00:11:33,039 --> 00:11:37,840 Buffs you know, before too long, especially as they head to Austen Stadium 139 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:43,799 and Eugene this coming week. But still, Colorado does have better athletes than 140 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:48,559 Colorada State, and the Buffs clearly looked like a team that was distracted, 141 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:52,519 not really focused that you know, all the talk during the week, all 142 00:11:52,519 --> 00:11:58,159 the publicity, the hype, the war of words involving the Colorado State at 143 00:11:58,159 --> 00:12:03,120 all seemed to get Colorado off its game. And so, you know, 144 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:05,799 we could say that Colorado is going to be more focused, more prepared for 145 00:12:05,919 --> 00:12:11,440 future weeks. But it also has to be said that, you know, 146 00:12:11,519 --> 00:12:16,200 Colorado State did carry the run of play for most of this game. Colorado 147 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:20,320 was able to steal it late, tying it at the end of regulation time, 148 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:26,320 and then being able to win in overtime. So Colorado State blown out 149 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:31,679 by Washington State, but then able to outplay Colorado in Boulder for much of 150 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:35,320 the night. So we have to ask ourselves how good is this Colorado State 151 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,000 team? How good is it's going to be. That's going to be a 152 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,879 measuring stick, like we're going to keep referring to Colorado State. We're gonna 153 00:12:41,919 --> 00:12:46,279 be monitoring the RAMS progress in the Mountain West this season, and we're gonna 154 00:12:46,399 --> 00:12:52,879 just, you know, continually continuously use that as a reference point in terms 155 00:12:52,919 --> 00:12:58,320 of how good these various Pack twelve teams are and how much progress these PAC 156 00:12:58,399 --> 00:13:03,960 twelve teams make in their overall evolution and where are you know, in late 157 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:09,440 October early November, how how much value are we going to assign to Washington 158 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:13,600 State for blowing out Pile State by twenty six points in four collins? How 159 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:20,720 much value are we going to assigned to Colorado for escaping the RAMS in overtime? 160 00:13:20,799 --> 00:13:28,440 It's going to be fascinating to see how that all comes together. There's 161 00:13:28,639 --> 00:13:31,559 there's one other Mountain West evaluation point, and that is Boise State. Boise 162 00:13:31,759 --> 00:13:37,759 State lost at home to UCF a week ago. How good is that Boise 163 00:13:37,879 --> 00:13:41,200 State team going to turn out to be? Because that affects Washington's resume? 164 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:46,000 You know, how how much value will we put to Washington's blowout of Boisey 165 00:13:46,039 --> 00:13:50,679 State in week one and Washington State just hammered Michigan State. How bad. 166 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:54,240 Are the Spartan's going to be? You know that that was a team. 167 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,279 Now, as you know, mel Tucker got suspended before that game, and 168 00:13:58,759 --> 00:14:05,600 the news has broken as we record this week's podcast, that Michigan State intends 169 00:14:05,639 --> 00:14:09,519 to fire Meltucker with cause. But you know, at kickoff time on Saturday 170 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:15,519 afternoon in East Lansing, the you know, the official status for Tucker was 171 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:18,440 that he had been suspended, probably on his way out the door, yes, 172 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:22,159 but you know, nevertheless, officially he had not been fired yet, 173 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:30,440 and so you wondered how was Michigan State going to emotionally respond to that situation? 174 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:33,720 And the Spartan's put up very little fight, So that that's that's an 175 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:39,240 eye opener. Not saying this I'm surprised, not saying like that was unpredictable. 176 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:43,320 It was just we didn't know which way Michigan State was going to respond, 177 00:14:43,639 --> 00:14:48,200 and we got a very clear answer. So, you know, while 178 00:14:48,279 --> 00:14:52,559 Washington just stomped on Michigan State from the get go and acted the way an 179 00:14:52,559 --> 00:14:58,200 elite team should act on the road against a grossly inferior opponent, it does 180 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:03,879 remain just you know, just how much can we say that was Washington being 181 00:15:03,919 --> 00:15:09,519 great, that there was certainly a considerable element of Michigan State being bad, 182 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:15,919 and that is something we've talked about with USC and with Oregon other Pack twelve 183 00:15:15,919 --> 00:15:20,759 teams that have played some really cushy schedules so far this season. I'm not 184 00:15:20,759 --> 00:15:24,679 referring to Texas Tech in Oregon's case, but playing Portland State, you know 185 00:15:24,759 --> 00:15:28,000 eight scored eighty one points, big whoop? You know, okay, scored 186 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,679 eighty one points against an FCS team, the Portland State Vikings, and then 187 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:39,240 Oregon just a jog through another glorified scrimmage against Hawaii. So while Oregon, 188 00:15:39,759 --> 00:15:43,080 you know, did what a good team should do, we still don't know 189 00:15:43,159 --> 00:15:48,480 how good the Ducks really are, and that that process of discovery begins with 190 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,519 the Colorado game and it's going to continue throughout the Pac twelve season. The 191 00:15:52,559 --> 00:15:56,519 same for USC. I mean, Stanford just lost to Sacramento State, So 192 00:15:56,679 --> 00:16:03,360 USC beat Stanford, Okay, you know, beating Stanford by ten trillion points 193 00:16:03,799 --> 00:16:08,000 does not mean that USC is a national championship contender. And then USC beating 194 00:16:08,039 --> 00:16:12,039 Nevada, a team that lost by twenty seven at home to Idaho a couple 195 00:16:12,039 --> 00:16:15,440 of weeks ago, and Nevada did put up a better fight against Kansas. 196 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:21,759 Kansas did play a horrible game, but nevertheless Nevada did put up a much 197 00:16:21,799 --> 00:16:26,720 better fight. But it still remains that USC's schedule San Jose State, Stanford, 198 00:16:26,879 --> 00:16:30,039 Nevada. You know, there's just a lot of empty calories there, 199 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,840 and that's not necessarily the Trojan's fault, but just in terms of a resume, 200 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,399 just in terms of a list of opponents, like, there's no there 201 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:42,080 there, and we don't know really how good USC is. We won't know 202 00:16:42,759 --> 00:16:48,519 how good USC is until the Trojans get at least some degree of a test, 203 00:16:48,039 --> 00:16:53,440 at least some measure of resistance and pushback. That also applies to Oregon, 204 00:16:53,519 --> 00:16:59,320 though you know Texas Tech was something of a test. It very much 205 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:03,200 applies to Washington as well. Now, Washington probably is the eye test leader 206 00:17:03,359 --> 00:17:07,160 of the PAC twelve, playing teams that are, you know, probably a 207 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:14,440 little bit better than what USC has played and dominating them. You know, 208 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:17,680 if you're going by the eye test, you'd probably put Washington first, US 209 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:22,440 and second at this point, not that it means a ton. You know, 210 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:25,599 we're getting into conference play and we're going to get into bigger, better 211 00:17:26,519 --> 00:17:30,160 battles that are going to reveal more about these teams. But you know, 212 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,119 it's going to be interesting. How good is Boise State, How good is 213 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:40,200 Colorado State? How good are the opponents of these Pac twelve teams? How 214 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:41,799 will they evolve over the course of the season. How are we going to 215 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:48,200 evaluate resumes a month two months from now? Because you know, if we 216 00:17:48,319 --> 00:17:55,079 get into a college football playoff conversation and Washington and or USC are on the 217 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:57,039 fence, they're in the mix, but you know, not clearly in the 218 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:04,720 lead, then these early season results that we've seen are going to become noticeable 219 00:18:04,759 --> 00:18:08,440 talking points. The other big story, and we've we've alluded to it a 220 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:14,000 little bit is Colorado And it's not so much about coach Prime, you know, 221 00:18:14,079 --> 00:18:17,240 Deon Sanders or anything like that, but just how good are the Buffs? 222 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:22,279 And obviously Travis Hunter being injured will hurt them, But if we take 223 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:26,079 Travis Hunter out of the equation, you know, just how good is this 224 00:18:26,079 --> 00:18:32,720 team and watching Colorado State outplay the Buffs. It's worth known in Calosle State 225 00:18:32,759 --> 00:18:37,000 did not play on September nine, so Calorosle State had two weeks to game 226 00:18:37,039 --> 00:18:41,799 plan for the Buffs. That obviously helped ColorOS State and coach at Jay Norvelle 227 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:48,839 in their preparation. But even then, you know, before the season began, 228 00:18:48,559 --> 00:18:53,119 Colorado figured to beat Colorado State like that was one of the three four 229 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,960 games that everyone thought, Okay, that Carl is going to get that one. 230 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,359 Now, most people thought Klos was going to beat TCU. Of course, 231 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:04,880 the Buffs were twenty point underdogs there. And then, of course Nebraska 232 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:12,759 has the horrible opener against Minnesota, while Colorado surprises everyone against TCU. So 233 00:19:12,839 --> 00:19:18,400 Colorado became a hefty favorite against Nebraska. But you know, in early August, 234 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,519 most people were thinking, oh, Matt Rule against this new Dion Sanders 235 00:19:22,519 --> 00:19:27,240 team. In early August, Nebraska was considered to be a solid favorite over 236 00:19:27,319 --> 00:19:34,359 Colorado. Obviously, people discounted the Jeff Simms factor, Nebraska getting brutal quarterback 237 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:40,240 play yet again. And it's it's notable that Matt Rule wasn't able to come 238 00:19:40,319 --> 00:19:45,000 up with a better answer at quarterback then Jeff Simms. But that point aside. 239 00:19:45,079 --> 00:19:48,480 You know, just the conventional wisdom in early August, well before the 240 00:19:48,519 --> 00:19:53,799 season began, was that Nebraska would beat Colorado. Obviously, during the week 241 00:19:53,960 --> 00:20:00,000 leading up to kickoff for that game, Colorado was a three point favorite, 242 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:03,559 and Colorado you know, covered the spread with ease, winning by twenty two 243 00:20:03,599 --> 00:20:11,200 points thirty six fourteen. But the larger point is that Calias was expected to 244 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,559 be owned to by a lot of people and Carras State was supposed to be 245 00:20:14,599 --> 00:20:18,000 the win. And yet as things have turned out, you know, Colorado 246 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:22,759 State was the team that gave Colorado the roughest ride. Car Asle State was 247 00:20:22,799 --> 00:20:27,920 the team that looked the best against Colorado. So it's it's interesting how just 248 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,960 things have been flipped upside down that, you know, in terms of preseason 249 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:37,599 expectations, car Ale State was supposed to be the easiest of these three games 250 00:20:37,599 --> 00:20:41,559 for Colorado, and yet it turned out to be the hardest of the three 251 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:48,119 games. And this what we saw against Carrale State, Like this was the 252 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:52,200 card team most of us expected to see before the season began. Like this 253 00:20:52,279 --> 00:20:56,880 was the team with rough edges. This was the team that you know would 254 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,839 be limited on offense in terms of run pass balance, and teams would just 255 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:04,720 try to shut down the deep ball, make Shader Sanders work the ball in 256 00:21:06,039 --> 00:21:11,160 down the field in short passes, and then of course Colorado's defensive line not 257 00:21:11,319 --> 00:21:18,519 particularly strong. Karole State was able to protect its quarterback very consistently, and 258 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:22,680 the Rams were able to just throw short passes into the short flats to tight 259 00:21:22,839 --> 00:21:30,119 ends and end receivers very consistently, and the Buffs never truly adjusted. I 260 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,880 mean, they got some stops and key moments, but Calarole State really, 261 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:38,559 you know, had the upper hand for nearly all of regulation time before Colorado 262 00:21:38,799 --> 00:21:45,200 scrambled late to forge that tie send the game into overtime. So it's just 263 00:21:45,279 --> 00:21:49,759 interesting that this was more like the calad team most of us were expecting to 264 00:21:49,799 --> 00:21:56,359 see. Now, you don't have Travis Hunter in the lineup, that's true, 265 00:21:56,440 --> 00:22:02,720 but like Calau had over four receivers catching at least one hundred ten yards 266 00:22:02,799 --> 00:22:06,759 worth of passes against TCU. So it's not as though those other receivers are 267 00:22:06,799 --> 00:22:10,359 a bunch of chumps. Calole State was able to take the deep ball away 268 00:22:10,799 --> 00:22:15,400 from you know, those other three Colorado receivers. It's not as though any 269 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:19,640 one of them really was able to stand out. And that might be a 270 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:26,559 commentary on just how much this team depended on Travis Hunter to stretch the defense 271 00:22:26,599 --> 00:22:32,039 and create opportunities for his teammates. But even if you account for that, 272 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:37,200 you know, all the other players on that Colorado offense weren't locked in, 273 00:22:37,319 --> 00:22:41,599 weren't playing their best, and it does raise questions about, you know, 274 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:47,319 where this Coloradle team is going to go. Now at three and l it's 275 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:51,559 looking extremely likely that Colorado will go to a bowl game. Which let's just 276 00:22:51,599 --> 00:22:55,000 get this on the record here, Caladle goes to a bowl game. That 277 00:22:55,160 --> 00:23:00,480 is a fantastic achievement. Like most people expected three and nine before the season. 278 00:23:00,599 --> 00:23:03,680 If you're projected to go three and nine and you instead go to a 279 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:07,079 bowl game, that's amazing. That is tremendous. But I do think what 280 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:14,640 this Colorado State game did is that it did douse the flames. It kind 281 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:18,119 of it cooled down the fire in terms of all right, this is not 282 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:22,400 a Pac twelve contender. This is not a team that's gonna go to a 283 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:26,680 New Year's six bowl game. This is not a team that's gonna be in 284 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:30,920 the top tier of college football. That seems pretty safe, especially with Oregon 285 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:37,119 and USC coming up in consecutive weeks. It would be a stunner, a 286 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:44,839 stunner if Calad gets even one of these next two games against the Ducks and 287 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:52,000 the Trojans. So that reorientation of Colorado's season, it's trajectory, it's possibilities. 288 00:23:52,039 --> 00:23:57,119 That's obviously a significant story to come for a week three in the Pac 289 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:03,160 twelve conference. Right, get off my pylon. We're sponsored by ticket Smarter. 290 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:07,559 You want to go to ticket smarter dot com or the ticket smarter mobile 291 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:11,039 app to get into the best college football games around. And so this week 292 00:24:11,079 --> 00:24:17,200 in the Pac twelve you have three high end games. You have three games 293 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:22,000 between ranked teams. Two teams both in the top twenty five. So Cal 294 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:26,160 Aisle and Oregon, that's both teams are in the top twenty five. UCLA 295 00:24:26,319 --> 00:24:30,319 at Utah and Salt Lake City, both teams are in the top twenty five. 296 00:24:30,799 --> 00:24:36,599 And then Oregon and Oregon State, I should say the Oregon State Beavers 297 00:24:36,599 --> 00:24:41,400 and Washington State Cougars. Both teams are in the top twenty five. You 298 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:45,160 know, UCLA Washington State are both twenty four twenty five, but they are 299 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,599 in So you have three different games in which both teams are in the top 300 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:52,240 twenty five. 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Nothing did rally 318 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:33,160 to win, but you know, not a particularly impressive performance from Cal. 319 00:26:33,599 --> 00:26:37,559 And yet that Cal team outplayed Auburn most of the way. And it's interesting 320 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:42,240 to now look back on that Cal Auburn game in light of what Cal did 321 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:47,319 against Idaho, you know, struggling with the Vandals virtually the whole game, 322 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:52,759 managing to rally enough to win, but hardly impressing anyone in the process. 323 00:26:53,799 --> 00:26:59,720 Uh that like that should that should be a very sobering occasion for an Auburn 324 00:26:59,799 --> 00:27:06,279 fan ends who might be listening to this podcast. Arizona State, Like, 325 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:11,240 if you're looking for a team that's been swamped by injuries in the first three 326 00:27:11,279 --> 00:27:15,119 weeks of the season, Arizona State is that team. I'm counting over fifteen 327 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:23,079 players, fifteen notable players out for the upcoming game against USC. There were 328 00:27:23,079 --> 00:27:29,839 close to ten players out before this past Saturday's game against Fresno State. Eight 329 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:34,440 or nine more got injured during the Fresno State game. ASU is looking at 330 00:27:34,519 --> 00:27:44,319 having to put in a fourth string quarterback Jacob Conover against USC because Jaden Rashata, 331 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:48,400 the first stringer, he's out several weeks. Trenton Borgette he got injured 332 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:53,640 against Fresno State. Drew Pine then order name transfer, he got injured against 333 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:57,519 Fresno State. Now there's a chance that Pine and or Borgette can play. 334 00:27:57,599 --> 00:28:03,680 There hasn't been a final statement on their status from the ASU program as we 335 00:28:03,759 --> 00:28:07,960 record this podcast early in the week. You know, if you're listening to 336 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:11,039 this later in the week, there might be fresh news. But as we 337 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:18,079 record this podcast early in the week leading up to kickoff, there's been no 338 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:22,680 statement as of yet, but ASU could very possibly have to send out a 339 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:29,720 fourth string quarterback. And then Arizona State is missing five offensive lineman five offensive 340 00:28:29,759 --> 00:28:33,839 lineman out for the Fresno State game. And you saw the results of that, 341 00:28:33,279 --> 00:28:37,640 hey, as you scored zero points, barely passed for over one hundred 342 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:42,599 yards. You know, the offense just absolutely punchless. And that's not a 343 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:47,720 criticism of any of the coaches. They just don't have bodies. That is 344 00:28:47,759 --> 00:28:51,200 a completely hollowed out roster. You know, this is year one under Kenny 345 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:55,680 Dillingham. It's a total rebuild to begin with, and now you're losing all 346 00:28:55,759 --> 00:29:00,519 these bodies on the offensive line and at quarterback, like you No, no 347 00:29:00,759 --> 00:29:07,839 team in an equivalent position suffering all these injuries would be able to make a 348 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,880 go of it. So this is not like anyone's fault at Arizona State. 349 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:15,559 It's not even the fault of athletic director Ray Anderson, who should be fired 350 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,759 for a very different set of reasons. This is just Arizona State has been 351 00:29:19,839 --> 00:29:26,519 hit as hard as any team by the injury bug through three weeks. It's 352 00:29:26,559 --> 00:29:30,759 just kind of remarkable. How you know, when it rains, it pours, 353 00:29:30,559 --> 00:29:36,440 not really in Phoenix, but metaphorically. That's definitely the case with the 354 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:41,200 Sun Devils. UCLA, you know, put put a thumping, but it 355 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:45,319 put a thumping on North Carolina Central. So I don't know how much you 356 00:29:45,319 --> 00:29:48,559 can learn about that. You know, the Bruins have looked very good, 357 00:29:48,599 --> 00:29:56,279 but they've they've played mediocre opposition. And this actually brings up one more plot 358 00:29:56,279 --> 00:29:59,599 point, one more reference point from the Mountain West. You know, we've 359 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:06,039 already talked about Carle State in Boise State, the other notable reference point for 360 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:11,680 multiple pack twelve teams because it's played multiple pack twelve teams, San Diego State. 361 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:15,680 San Diego State played UCLA in Week two and then played Oregon State in 362 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:22,160 Week three. UCLA looked a little bit better than Oregon State did against San 363 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:25,960 Diego State, if you're going to compare those two games. But you know, 364 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:30,759 fundamentally, San Diego State has a terrible offense, So I'm not sure 365 00:30:30,839 --> 00:30:36,039 how much we should say UCLA has improved on defense. But you know, 366 00:30:36,039 --> 00:30:41,599 the Bruins did their job much as Oregon State did. We didn't have to 367 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:47,119 note that dj Uyangelola, Oregon State's quarterback, the key to the Beavers season 368 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:51,200 under head coach Jonathan Smith, he did not look sharp against San Diego State 369 00:30:51,599 --> 00:30:53,720 this past weekend. Now, San Diego State is a good defense, no 370 00:30:53,839 --> 00:30:59,079 offense team, So like, if you struggle against San Diego States defense, 371 00:30:59,119 --> 00:31:03,799 it's not that bad, it's not that alarming an indicator of where you are 372 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:10,079 in your evolution this early in the season. But by the same token, 373 00:31:11,599 --> 00:31:18,880 Uiangolay by not playing his best, he has certainly allowed the media commentators such 374 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:22,640 as myself to say, well, you know, if we're talking about a 375 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:27,279 situation in which a quarterback is checking all the boxes, he's earning top grades, 376 00:31:27,319 --> 00:31:33,039 and he's ready to be the best version of himself with Uyangololay is not 377 00:31:33,119 --> 00:31:40,240 allowing for that conversation. He is certainly allowing skepticism to persist. And that's 378 00:31:40,279 --> 00:31:45,160 that's going to be fascinating to watch for the Beavers as this season continues. 379 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:49,640 So through three weeks, you know, the Pac twelve has done what it's 380 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:55,640 supposed to do. But by the same token, we do have to admit 381 00:31:56,000 --> 00:32:00,599 Pac twelve teams have gone up against opponents that have bad offenses and not very 382 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:06,359 good quarterbacks. And that's gonna that conversation is going to change. You know, 383 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:08,839 these Pac twelve teams, the ones that are unbeaten, they're eight of 384 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:13,599 them that are unbeaten. They are going to have to go up against good 385 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:16,640 quarterbacks very soon. And while it is true that there are a lot of 386 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:21,000 good teams in this conference and you're gonna have teams beating each other up, 387 00:32:21,680 --> 00:32:24,119 you know, because there is so much depth, there is also the argument 388 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:30,920 to be made that some of these teams might just be overrated because they've played 389 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:35,200 bad offenses and that's gonna stop, or at least it's going to become less 390 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:40,160 frequent as the season goes along. So those are the unanswered questions. Those 391 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:45,599 are the lingering plot points for Pac twelve teams at the end of non conference 392 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:51,440 play heading into Week four, and the true beginning of conference play for every 393 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:58,079 team in this final season of Pac twelve football. This is to get off 394 00:32:58,079 --> 00:33:04,000 my Pilon College Football podcast, part of the College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast 395 00:33:04,119 --> 00:33:08,400 network, presented to you by ticketsmarter dot com and the Ticketsmarter mobile app. 396 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:10,240 Thank you for listening.