1 00:00:01,199 --> 00:00:06,320 Checking out college football on the West Coast. This is Get Off My Pilon, 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,759 a look at the PAC twelve and more, part of the College Gridiron 3 00:00:10,839 --> 00:00:16,559 Coast to Coast podcast network. Here's your host, that Zimmi. Welcome to 4 00:00:16,559 --> 00:00:21,239 the latest edition is Get Off My Pilon college football podcast. This is your 5 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:25,440 host, Matt Zenam. Part of the College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast network. 6 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:30,000 And as you know, Get Off My Pylon covers college football in the 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,159 Western United States. So playing to talk about as we end the month of 8 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:40,439 October and we head into November, and in the PAC twelve, Washington is 9 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:45,159 the only unbeaten team in conference play. But if you have to size up 10 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:50,920 the PAC twelve and you look at who's playing the best football consistently week to 11 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:56,280 week and which team is probably at this point most likely to be the PAC 12 00:00:56,359 --> 00:01:00,280 twelve champion with a shot at the College Football Playoff, it's not Washington. 13 00:01:00,359 --> 00:01:07,159 It's Oregon Washington. And Folks, if you followed the PAC twelve for any 14 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,280 appreciable length of time, you know that when Washington goes to the farm in 15 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:15,000 Palo alto play Stamford, weird things happen. And even when Washington is really 16 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:19,359 good and Stanford isn't very good. As was the case this year, Washington 17 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:25,040 had a really, really tough time. If Stanford catches a fourth and two 18 00:01:25,159 --> 00:01:29,319 pass and the receiver was all alone, the Cardinal would have converted a first 19 00:01:29,359 --> 00:01:34,519 down. They had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter. 20 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:40,359 That game was a dog fight for Washington did not play well for a second 21 00:01:40,359 --> 00:01:44,400 straight week against a really bad team. You know, Washington struggled against Arizona 22 00:01:44,439 --> 00:01:48,319 State the week before, as we chronicled here on Get off My Pylon. 23 00:01:48,879 --> 00:01:53,280 So the Huskies played that big boy game against Oregon, arguably the game of 24 00:01:53,319 --> 00:01:57,040 the year in college football, Like, have you seen another game be as 25 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:02,400 impressive as washing Oregon was? I mean, you know, Florida State Clemson 26 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:07,159 was interesting, but Clemson just kept making mistakes, which has been the theme 27 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,879 of the year under Davos Swiney. You know, we've seen Ohio State and 28 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:15,479 Order Dame go down to the wire, but Oregon and Washington certainly brought a 29 00:02:15,479 --> 00:02:21,080 lot more skill and excitement to the table. Definitely better quarterback play. So 30 00:02:21,159 --> 00:02:23,120 Oregon Washington might still be the game of the year. And yet after that 31 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:28,759 game, Washington with two straight clunkers, you know, against Arizona State. 32 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:35,280 That was the hangover from the Oregon game. Very understandable that Washington dragged through 33 00:02:35,319 --> 00:02:38,800 that one. But I was expecting Washington to be much sharper this week and 34 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:43,719 it didn't happen. But maybe the Huskies were looking ahead to USC. Maybe 35 00:02:43,759 --> 00:02:46,159 maybe that was it. So they had the Oregon hangover and then they had 36 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:52,520 the USC look ahead. Maybe that's it. But when a team plays two 37 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:58,120 straight struggle bus games, and you know, if you had Washington playing a 38 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:05,240 half decent opponent these past two weeks, a team you know better than Arizona 39 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,599 State and Stanford, let's say Ucla. If Washington had been playing Ucla or 40 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:15,240 Utah or Arizona these past two weeks, probably would have lost given the way 41 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,319 the Huskies played. But they played the very bottom of the Pac twelve, 42 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,840 and so they were able to get through these two games, and they're still 43 00:03:20,879 --> 00:03:24,879 unbeaten. Oregon, though, is the more consistent team. Oregon goes into 44 00:03:25,039 --> 00:03:30,639 Salt Lake City and puts a thumping on Utah and Bryson Barnes, Bryson Barnes, 45 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:35,000 the walk on the pig farmer, you know all about him. You 46 00:03:35,039 --> 00:03:39,759 know, that's the guy USC made into you know, Vince Young Michael Vick 47 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:46,199 on that late twenty six yard scramble when the Utes beat the Trojans. USC 48 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,159 made Bryson Barnes look real good. Oregon put a stop to that. Oregon 49 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:54,560 was able to defend Bryson Barnes. Oregon was able to put Utah's offense in 50 00:03:54,639 --> 00:03:59,840 its place. Oregon was able to take full advantage of the fact that Utah 51 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:04,400 really doesn't have a particularly good offense without Cam Rising, without tight end Brant 52 00:04:04,439 --> 00:04:09,080 Qweefey. Like, that's what a mature team, a really good team, 53 00:04:09,479 --> 00:04:15,080 a team with PAC twelve title aspirations, does to an undermanned Utah offense. 54 00:04:15,159 --> 00:04:18,319 This is not any criticism of Kyle Witningham at all. You know, he 55 00:04:18,439 --> 00:04:23,519 knew that going up against elite teams without Cam Rising, he was asking for 56 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:28,360 trouble. The difference is Oregon actually has a mature team. USC does not. 57 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,360 Oregon really does look like the class of the PAC twelve. And you 58 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:39,000 know, if we arrive at a scenario where Oregon and Washington have a rematch 59 00:04:39,439 --> 00:04:44,199 in Las Vegas on Friday, December first, in the PAC twelve Championship game, 60 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,439 I mean that game definitely tilts Oregon right because it's not going to be 61 00:04:46,439 --> 00:04:50,720 in Seattle. So the first game was in Seattle and Washington had to scratch 62 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:57,600 and claw for a very narrow, very uncomfortable win. Oregon have Washington on 63 00:04:57,639 --> 00:05:00,000 the ropes a few times in that game, but that was in Seattle. 64 00:05:00,319 --> 00:05:04,560 You have to think, right now, at least one month out from the 65 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:10,360 PAC twelve title game, if Oregon does get a second crack at Washington in 66 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:14,199 Las Vegas, probably gonna end up better for the duckstan for the hustle snow 67 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,839 guarantees. But I think if you're an Oregon fan, you'd like that, 68 00:05:17,079 --> 00:05:21,399 Like, we get a rematch, but it's not on Washington's home turf. 69 00:05:21,399 --> 00:05:25,480 We get a second chance. It's gonna go better for us. We're gonna 70 00:05:25,519 --> 00:05:28,839 be better on fourth down, We're gonna be better in some of these high 71 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,040 leverage situations. It's just gonna be easier for us to get up for that 72 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:36,680 game. Because we lost the first time, we're hungry to win second time. 73 00:05:38,079 --> 00:05:41,600 So right now, if you told me, you know, Matt, 74 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:46,800 you know it's gonna be Oregon Washington in the PAC twelve Championship game, I'd 75 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:53,439 say Oregon definitely has the upper hand even though Washington is unbeaten. So it's 76 00:05:53,519 --> 00:05:58,680 a fascinating plot point as we consider the Pac twelve. Oregon is not first 77 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,879 in the standings, but certainly looks like the best team at the moment. 78 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:06,720 Let's segue into the Heisman Trophy conversation, because Michael Pennix was better against Stanford, 79 00:06:08,079 --> 00:06:12,680 but still it's only Stanford. But he had that horrible game against Arizona 80 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,040 State. But meanwhile, Bo Nicks, he just keeps humming along. He 81 00:06:15,079 --> 00:06:19,600 didn't do too much against Washington State. The week before that game was or 82 00:06:19,639 --> 00:06:27,480 all about Oregon's ground game. Oregon just mashed Washington State into fine powder in 83 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,120 the second half. But this past weekend you saw a little bit more about 84 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:35,240 Bo Knicks striding into Rice Eckles Stadium, and you know, so Oregon shut 85 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:41,079 down Utah's pop gun offense like that was expected. You know, a good, 86 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,439 a good competent team doesn't let Bryce and Barnes have a big day. 87 00:06:44,879 --> 00:06:48,560 That was expected. But the the worry for Oregon really was that they'd go 88 00:06:48,639 --> 00:06:54,680 in to Salt Lake City and their offense would get overpowered by a very good 89 00:06:54,800 --> 00:07:00,160 Utah defense. Kyle Winningham coordinator Morgan's galley. They always field a good defen 90 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,120 in Salt Lake City. Maybe Bonix was going to have a struggle bus game, 91 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:08,480 kind of like what Michael Pennix ad against Arizona State. Nope, Bonex 92 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:12,439 goes into Salt Lake City, Oregon fully in control, start to finish. 93 00:07:12,759 --> 00:07:16,959 Boonix definitely elevated his Heisman chances. Is he the leader? I don't know, 94 00:07:17,079 --> 00:07:20,360 but like you can make an argument. I think the lack of clarity 95 00:07:20,519 --> 00:07:26,120 is itself a commentary that it's right there for Bonix to win. It's right 96 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:30,839 there for him to claim. If Oregon is a steamroller the next several weeks 97 00:07:30,839 --> 00:07:34,319 and wins the Pac twelve and makes the College Football Playoff, odds are looking 98 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:40,680 pretty good under that scenario for bow Knicks to win the Heisman Trophy. And 99 00:07:40,839 --> 00:07:44,240 you know, full disclosure, I was a Bonix critic. I was a 100 00:07:44,279 --> 00:07:48,040 fierce Bonix critic. Saw him plenty of times at Auburn. Thought that when 101 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:51,680 he came to the Ducks that that meant that Oregon was going to be playing 102 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:57,000 for second third place in the Pac twelve. Really hasn't turned out that way. 103 00:07:57,079 --> 00:08:01,480 Oregon's looked great with bo Nix. He's been terrific, He's been outstanding. 104 00:08:01,519 --> 00:08:05,199 He has shut me up. And I have to give Bo Nicks full 105 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:11,560 credit. He is bodacious right now, as that Heisman Trophy publicity Banner said, 106 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:18,319 and he and the Ducks have everything to play for entering the month of 107 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:24,600 November. Elsewhere in the Pac twelve, this was a pretty staggering moment and 108 00:08:24,639 --> 00:08:26,480 one of the more interesting games of the weekend, and it figured to be 109 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:31,800 interesting. Wasn't going to generate the Banner headlines, but it was certainly going 110 00:08:31,839 --> 00:08:35,600 to be a revealing moment in terms of how good really are these teams in 111 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:41,240 actuality. Oregon State at Arizona. Oregon State got a lot of preseason publicity, 112 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:48,440 legitimately, so Jonathan Smith is a really good coach. The Beavers were 113 00:08:48,519 --> 00:08:52,320 viewed as like the dangerous floater, the team that might be able to get 114 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:58,240 into the mix and bust up a potential USC Oregon or Washington USC PAC twelve 115 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:03,120 championship game. Maybe Oregon State could sneak in there with an upset or two 116 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:07,440 and make some noise. So Oregon State had the preseason publicity came into this 117 00:09:07,519 --> 00:09:15,279 game against Arizona was only one loss in the conference, but Arizona played Washington 118 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:18,759 really tough, lost by only seven, played USC tough, lost in triple 119 00:09:18,799 --> 00:09:24,440 overtime, easily could have beaten the Trojans in Los Angeles, but with Noah 120 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:33,039 Fafita taking over for the injured Jaden Dolora, Arizona's fortunes and Arizona's ceiling have 121 00:09:33,159 --> 00:09:39,559 become very different from what we expected preseason, Like this Fifita Delora situation at 122 00:09:39,639 --> 00:09:43,600 quarterback, with you know, the the day one starter turning out to be 123 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:48,200 not very good and the backup turning out to be this revelation who makes his 124 00:09:48,279 --> 00:09:52,399 team so much better. It's a lot like the USC Clay Heilton team in 125 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:58,919 twenty sixteen that he Clay Helton had MaTx Brown starting against Alabama. Nick Saban 126 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,559 stayed with Brown for a few more weeks, us he picked up a few 127 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:09,399 more losses, and then comes Sam Donald, the backup into the lineup about 128 00:10:09,399 --> 00:10:11,600 a month into the season, and then us he takes off, goes to 129 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:16,559 the Rose Bowl, wins the Rose Bowl. A lot of parallels can be 130 00:10:16,639 --> 00:10:22,240 made between the Max Brown Sam Donald dynamic in twenty sixteen at USC and this 131 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:33,679 situation in Tucson with Noah Fafita becoming this dynamic quarterback who has dramatically raised Arizona's 132 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:39,840 ceiling as a football program, as a football team, Arizona being Oregon State 133 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:43,960 shows that the Wildcats are for real. But we have to deal with the 134 00:10:43,519 --> 00:10:50,000 plot point of Jonathan Smith a really good coach. Like everyone thinks Jonathan Smith 135 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:52,799 is a really good coach, No one thinks he isn't all right, everyone 136 00:10:52,960 --> 00:11:00,120 respects what Jonathan Smith has done in Corvallis, you know, not some a 137 00:11:00,159 --> 00:11:05,799 powerhouse program, not a program with a storied, decades long college football history 138 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,840 behind it, not an ultimate recruiting hotbed for ballast. Is a very out 139 00:11:09,879 --> 00:11:15,080 of the way place. I've been there on many a greyhound bus ride from 140 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:20,200 Phoenix to Seattle, you know, living in the West all my life like 141 00:11:20,279 --> 00:11:24,879 that. That's not where you build superpowers. It's not where you build college 142 00:11:24,919 --> 00:11:30,080 football giants. But Jonathan Smith, you know, he won ten games Oregon 143 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:35,000 State last year, came back with a lot this year. The Beavers were 144 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,960 definitely in the mix in the Pac twelve this season. So like, this 145 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:45,240 is a good coach, he knows what he's doing generally, but not Saturday 146 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:50,840 night, just before halftime, Oregon State near the Arizona twenty yard line kicking 147 00:11:50,879 --> 00:11:54,600 a field goal and what was a ten ten tie and just the easiest thing 148 00:11:54,639 --> 00:11:56,799 in the world, Like this is not even something you think about. Of 149 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:01,679 course, with just a handful of seconds left in the half, you're setting 150 00:12:01,759 --> 00:12:05,120 up for a field goal, like, no, you're not faking this, 151 00:12:05,279 --> 00:12:09,600 are you? You'd never fake it, you know, a fake field goal 152 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:13,440 or any fake kick. You do that assuming that once you get the first 153 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:18,679 down on the fake then you have time left to then continue your drive, 154 00:12:18,759 --> 00:12:24,559 to continue your possession. You don't fake a field goal on the final play 155 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:30,519 of a half or a game. That's just not done, and it's not 156 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,080 done to the point of this is not even a discussion. This is not 157 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:39,159 even a debate. So we all are wondering what went on for Jonathan Smith, 158 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:46,879 what happened between his two ears, and what happened between Jonathan Smith and 159 00:12:46,919 --> 00:12:52,200 his assistant coaches when this fake field goal was hatched at the very end of 160 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:56,840 a half. Oregon State got the first down on that fake field goal, 161 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,960 but it was the last play of the half. There any time left. 162 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:03,600 There was never going to be any time left, unless you know, if 163 00:13:03,639 --> 00:13:09,879 Oregon State got a first down and was tackled in bounds as opposed to going 164 00:13:09,919 --> 00:13:11,840 all the way and getting a touchdown. Of course, so if you're going 165 00:13:11,919 --> 00:13:16,200 to fake that field goal, not that it ever should have been up for 166 00:13:16,279 --> 00:13:20,720 debate, never should have been even considered, but let's just play along with 167 00:13:20,799 --> 00:13:24,960 this here. If you are going to fake a field goal on the final 168 00:13:24,039 --> 00:13:28,120 play of the half, or a play which reasonably could be the final play 169 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:33,960 of the half, you have to score a touchdown to make that fake worthwhile, 170 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:37,320 in which case this needs to be a pass fake, not a run 171 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:41,720 fake, because your kicker is obviously not the fastest guy on the team. 172 00:13:41,799 --> 00:13:46,360 You need to be throwing that ball in the end zone where you know the 173 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,320 receiver is catching the ball at the goal line pretty much, and you can 174 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:54,600 get a direct touchdown to call a run fake instead of a pass fake. 175 00:13:54,720 --> 00:14:00,440 With that little time left in the first half, Oregon State just hand runs 176 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:07,200 away three points like organ State just donates Jedfish, Noah Fafita and Arizona three 177 00:14:07,279 --> 00:14:11,200 points. Well, you can all guess what the final margin of victory was 178 00:14:11,639 --> 00:14:20,480 in this game. Arizona wins by three points. Jonathan Smith with the coaching 179 00:14:20,559 --> 00:14:24,080 blunder of the Pac twelve season, and so you know, Arizona's for real. 180 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:28,759 Arizona stood up to Oregon State. This was a big boy football game. 181 00:14:28,799 --> 00:14:33,320 It was a tough, physical game. Arizona State shoved around Oregon State 182 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:37,360 in the trenches late, and Oregon State has stamped its identity on We're gonna 183 00:14:37,399 --> 00:14:41,080 be the tougher team. We have good line play, We're gonna lean on 184 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,840 you, We're gonna wear you down. Nope, Nope, nope. Arizona 185 00:14:46,039 --> 00:14:50,200 was the tougher team up front in the fourth quarter. It has been spectacular 186 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:56,440 to see Arizona so quickly transform its identity under Jedfish. But of course, 187 00:14:56,879 --> 00:15:01,000 if Jaden Delora is there playing, none of this probably would be happening. 188 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:07,440 Noah f Elfita has with his leadership, with his toughness, he has shown 189 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:11,360 a lot of those guys in the locker room what's possible. He has led 190 00:15:11,399 --> 00:15:18,480 by example, and he's been the freshman who has totally transformed the face and 191 00:15:18,519 --> 00:15:22,679 the vibe of Arizona football. Boy. If Arizona had just not stumbled and 192 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:26,960 stepped on a rake late in that USC game, the Wildcats would be right 193 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,679 in the mix for the PAC twelve Championship, So a lot to talk about 194 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:39,480 heading out of that Oregon State Arizona game in Tucson. Our show is brought 195 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:46,679 to you by ticket Smarter and ticket Smarter has the ticket smarter mobile app. 196 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:50,720 You can also find them at ticketsmarter dot com. Hey, ticket smarter has 197 00:15:50,759 --> 00:15:56,200 the most competitive prices on the secondary market to get you into the big game 198 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:02,320 of your choice. This week in the PAC twelve big game is Washington at 199 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:07,200 USC, and the week after that we have Utah at Washington in Seattle and 200 00:16:07,399 --> 00:16:11,240 USC at Oregon in Eugene. And then later in the season we have Washington 201 00:16:11,279 --> 00:16:17,519 at Oregon State in Corvallis, we have the Civil War of Oregon State at 202 00:16:17,519 --> 00:16:22,360 Oregon in Eugene. 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On the other side of our main PAC twelve review 218 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:51,359 from the past weekend, we now look ahead to you know What's What's next 219 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:56,640 and the feature game on November fourth in the PAC twelve, it's Washington at 220 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:02,119 US Seed. It's gonna be abced primetime game, definitely gonna be in the 221 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:07,400 spotlight. But it's gonna be in the spotlight because this is Washington's pursuit of 222 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:12,319 the College Football Playoff. USC is a very secondary story in this game. 223 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:15,920 The Trojans are not in the heart of the Pac twelve race. I mean, 224 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:21,920 they're not out, they're not eliminated, but they are definitely the secondary 225 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:26,400 player here. Like they couldn't beat Utah and Bryce and Barnes and then Oregon 226 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:30,480 comes and beats Utah by twenty nine in Salt Lake City tells you about the 227 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,640 gap between USC and Oregon. So like, even if even if USC does 228 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:40,640 win this game, Tropans will be a clear underdog against Oregon the week after. 229 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,920 And if USC can't win both of these games against Washington, Oregon, 230 00:18:45,279 --> 00:18:49,000 Trojans will have at least two losses in the Pac twelve. That's gonna put 231 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:55,559 them on the periphery of the race. It is fundamentally a Washington and Oregon 232 00:18:55,920 --> 00:19:00,920 chase, and with Oregon State losing, Oregon State has two losses. This 233 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:04,279 is all about the Huskies and the Ducks right now. The other teams are 234 00:19:04,319 --> 00:19:10,920 going to need help. Utah obviously picked up its second loss, so the 235 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:12,880 youths are really on the ropes in the Pac twelve as well. It's all 236 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:17,720 about the Huskies. And the Ducks. It's all about whether the Huskies or 237 00:19:17,759 --> 00:19:23,640 the Ducks can become the Pac twelve's first college football playoff team since twenty sixteen 238 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:29,559 when Washington got there, went to the Peach Bowl against Atlanta in Atlanta against 239 00:19:29,599 --> 00:19:34,920 Alabama and Nick Saban. But of course there is the backstory at USC of 240 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:40,440 wins. Alex Gridche is going to be fired as defensive coordinator, and will 241 00:19:40,519 --> 00:19:47,119 strength coach Benny Wiley be fired as well? Will Lincoln Riley clean house or 242 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:51,720 will he try to justify to new athletic director Jennifer Cohen, who, by 243 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:56,039 the way, was the athletic director at Washington when the Huskies made the playoff 244 00:19:56,359 --> 00:20:02,799 in twenty sixteen. Very interesting dynamic there. It will Lincoln Riley if he 245 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,640 if us he somehow upsets Washington this game. Will Lincoln Riley use that upset 246 00:20:07,759 --> 00:20:10,799 if it happens. I don't think it will. But if it happens, 247 00:20:11,079 --> 00:20:14,480 will Lincoln Riley use that to say? You know what, Jennifer Cohen, 248 00:20:15,319 --> 00:20:18,880 my boss, my athletic director, I actually think that we can we can 249 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:22,359 figure this thing out with Alex Grinch still aboard. Uh is that going to 250 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:27,559 happen? USC fans definitely would not like that, And so it's a really 251 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:32,000 intriguing question. I think. I think it's a question that deserves to be 252 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:36,200 asked, and it deserves to be wrestled with a little bit. Is it 253 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:41,720 better for USC football win this game against Washington? Uh, knowing that you 254 00:20:41,759 --> 00:20:45,079 know you're probably gonna lose against Oregon and Eugenie and Austen stay him the week 255 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:49,599 A week later, is it better for USC football to win this game against 256 00:20:49,799 --> 00:20:55,039 Washington to show that you know, Lincoln Riley still got it, Hayley Williams 257 00:20:55,079 --> 00:20:59,279 still got it, that you can still summon up the magic and and play 258 00:20:59,279 --> 00:21:03,160 a big boy game against an elite team Like There's certainly value in that, 259 00:21:03,319 --> 00:21:07,759 for sure, But would it be more valuable for USC and Lincoln Riley in 260 00:21:07,839 --> 00:21:12,599 the long run? Not talking about short term like beating Washington is the short 261 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:18,119 term value add But in the long run, would it be better for USC 262 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:23,960 if Washington comes into the colisseum and puts a SmackDown on the Trojans, meaning 263 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,440 that there would be no escape for alex Bridge. There would be no way 264 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:34,599 Lincoln Riley could possibly rationalize keeping alex Gridnch on his staff. Is that what 265 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:40,240 USC needs. You could make an argument that that would be better for the 266 00:21:40,319 --> 00:21:42,759 program in the long run, not the short term, but in the long 267 00:21:42,839 --> 00:21:48,960 run than winning this game against Washington. Regardless of where you stand on that 268 00:21:49,079 --> 00:21:52,759 question, it's going to be very interesting to see how both of these teams 269 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:56,759 approach this game. Because Washington, as we mentioned, two straight clunkers. 270 00:21:57,359 --> 00:22:02,920 USC's basically played clunker for all months. Now. Will these teams play well 271 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:07,000 at the same time? Will these teams play up to their capabilities? I 272 00:22:07,039 --> 00:22:11,960 mean, I really don't see this as a highly tactical game in the sense 273 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:15,039 that they've been They've been bad the past two weeks. Now. Washington was 274 00:22:15,079 --> 00:22:19,559 really good through the Oregon game, but Washington's been bad the last two weeks. 275 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:25,359 Is Washington to clean up its act, or is Washington to play another 276 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:29,559 bad game. If Washington does play against USC the way it's been playing in 277 00:22:29,559 --> 00:22:33,119 the past two weeks, the way it showed up against, or rather it 278 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:37,519 didn't show up against Arizona State and Stanford, USC can beat them like that. 279 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:41,960 Is USC's hope that Washington will continue to play at the level it showed 280 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:48,000 against ASU and Stanford. Washington plays well US, he has no chance. 281 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:53,319 But if you if Washington continues to ride the struggle bus, then then USC 282 00:22:53,519 --> 00:22:57,960 has an opening in this game. And as for the Trojans, after a 283 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:03,599 month of bad football, is this team gonna finally show what it's capable of? 284 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:07,039 Is this team finally going to play near its potential? Is Caleb Williams 285 00:23:07,079 --> 00:23:14,000 finally going to have that amazing, sensational, dynamic game akin to what he 286 00:23:14,079 --> 00:23:18,160 had against Order Dame last year or against some of the other teams US he 287 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:22,200 played last year against against Arizona, against Stanford, when he was just putting 288 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:26,480 on a show. He was lighting everyone up. He looked like the best 289 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:30,640 player on the field by miles. We haven't seen that version of Caleb Williams 290 00:23:30,759 --> 00:23:37,279 very much since early September against US. He's cupcake opponents. It's Caleb Williams 291 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:41,480 finally going to look like the Heisman Trophy level quarterback because we have not seen 292 00:23:41,519 --> 00:23:45,759 that guy very much over the past several weeks. It's really about the heart 293 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,599 that these teams bring to the field. Are they gonna play with heart, 294 00:23:49,799 --> 00:23:56,079 They're gonna play with passion, They're gonna play with precision and accountability and toughness 295 00:23:56,119 --> 00:24:00,599 and focus, it's been missing the past two weeks for both both teams. 296 00:24:00,799 --> 00:24:03,880 It's been missing the past month for USC. It's just how are these teams 297 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:08,960 going to handle this kind of stage, this kind of moment. UH That's 298 00:24:10,079 --> 00:24:12,079 really what I'm most interested in. You know, it might seem pretty cliche, 299 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:18,359 it might seem devoid of, you know, deeply substantive analysis, But 300 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:22,680 sometimes the games aren't about the x's and os. Sometimes it's about what's what's 301 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:29,240 inside these guys, what's inside these nineteen twenty twenty one year olds who play 302 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:33,200 on these big stages under enormous pressure. UH. USC has been rattled by 303 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:38,319 pressure for most of the season. Washington has felt pressure the last few weeks, 304 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:44,480 being a target after winning the Oregon game in vaulting to the forefront of 305 00:24:44,559 --> 00:24:49,359 the playoff conversation of the National Championship conversation, does Washington get back to just 306 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:56,000 focusing on playing well and can it block out the playoff noise and distractions? 307 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:00,119 And can USC block out the misery of this season and find a way to 308 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:07,160 regroup before it's too late. It's going to be a fascinating Washington USC game 309 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,480 on Saturday. The other game really worth paying attention to Uh. It's definitely 310 00:25:11,519 --> 00:25:17,440 not California Oregon that's going to be a romp for the Ducks. It's not 311 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:22,319 gonna be Arizona State, Utah at it with a new local time kickoff, 312 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:29,839 Ucla at Arizona. We just saw Arizona handle Oregon State, a team, 313 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,640 you know, with a very physical identity. UCLA has a very physical identity 314 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:37,000 this year under Tip Kelly, the defense has been a lot better. But 315 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:41,599 one other thing about this UCLA defense, you know, it looks like a 316 00:25:41,599 --> 00:25:47,599 good competent defense, But we have to say about UCLA's defense. Hasn't played 317 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:52,079 usc hasn't played Oregon, hasn't played Washington. That defense might be good, 318 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:56,799 but you know it did get smoked by Oregon State. And so this UCLA 319 00:25:56,799 --> 00:26:03,559 defense going into Tucson against Noah Ffita and A and an Arizona team that's extremely 320 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:10,319 confident and is playing really well, UCLA is definitely going to be tested. 321 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:15,000 Uh. And so if UCLA passes this test, then we get to elevate 322 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:19,039 UCLA in the larger workings of the Pac twelve. Then we get to see, 323 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:22,720 or I should say, then we get to say that, hey, 324 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:27,160 this UCLA defense really does look improved. The Bruins do look like the real 325 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:30,759 deal, or at least a team which which can continue to be a factor 326 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:37,079 uh into the month of November. When they get the shot at USC on 327 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:41,079 November eighteen, you know what, will you UCLA be expected to win that 328 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:48,000 game. If UCLA is going to be favored against USC in a couple of 329 00:26:48,039 --> 00:26:52,319 weeks, it needs to win this game in Tucson in order to merit that 330 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,920 benefit of the doubt, in order to merit that level of trust. So 331 00:26:56,079 --> 00:27:02,640 UCLA at Arizona will also be very fascinating. In the PAC twelve, haven't 332 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:06,319 talked a lot about the Mountain West. So you know, the umbrella of 333 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:10,759 this program is Western college football. Haven't seen fit to say too much about 334 00:27:10,799 --> 00:27:15,759 the Mountain West because the PAC twelve has been so interesting. Also because this 335 00:27:15,799 --> 00:27:18,160 is the last year that we're going to have Pac twelve football. Next year 336 00:27:19,039 --> 00:27:23,119 this podcast is going to be covering the Mountain West by all appearances, or 337 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:26,640 at least that's that's the likelihood. So we've been focusing on the Pac twelve. 338 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:30,799 But let's let's duck in a note about the Mountain West. So air 339 00:27:30,839 --> 00:27:34,519 Force has has a stational season under Troy Calhoun Falcons are unbeaten. They're very 340 00:27:34,559 --> 00:27:40,240 much in the group of five New Year's Six Bowl conversation. You know, 341 00:27:40,279 --> 00:27:44,559 they've been special, and so air Force looking clearly like a team that's going 342 00:27:44,599 --> 00:27:48,960 to be in the Mountain West Championship game. Who's going to play the Falcons? 343 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:53,160 Though? This past weekend we got one major plot point. UNLV and 344 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:57,559 Fresno State, both with one loss in the Mountain West Conference. They met 345 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:03,599 and UNLV was dominating this game, up seventeen to seven in the third quarter, 346 00:28:03,039 --> 00:28:07,279 but fumbles a punt in its own red zone and that completely flipped the 347 00:28:07,319 --> 00:28:14,519 game. Fresno State goes on a big run twenty four unanswered points in the 348 00:28:14,559 --> 00:28:19,200 third quarter to take a thirty one seventeen lead. The Bulldogs hang on to 349 00:28:19,279 --> 00:28:23,839 beat the Rebels, and so they now move up in the pecking order. 350 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:30,319 UNLV moves down. Coming up next Boise State at Fresno State, both with 351 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:34,559 one loss in the Mountain West. Winner of this game is probably going to 352 00:28:34,599 --> 00:28:40,799 be air Force's opponent in the Mountain West Championship Game. It's not a lot, 353 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:48,559 but certainly the winner definitely takes the clear inside track to face air Force. 354 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:53,240 And what could be a very compelling Mountain West Conference championship game with air 355 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:59,039 Force trying to get the Group of Five championship and a New Year's Six Bowl 356 00:28:59,039 --> 00:29:03,960 bed, which would be a very special achievement for Troy Calhoun up in Coloridle 357 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,960 Springs. So some very exciting developments in the Mountain West Conference as we head 358 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:12,400 into the month of November. There's a lot to love, there's a lot 359 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:17,160 to look for in the world of western college football. That's what we cover 360 00:29:17,279 --> 00:29:22,240 here on the Get Off My Pylon College Football podcast, part of the College 361 00:29:22,279 --> 00:29:27,000 Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast network. And remember our friends at ticketsmarter dot com, 362 00:29:27,119 --> 00:29:33,680 the ticket Smarter mobile app getting the game of tickets Smarter lwos ten ten 363 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:37,200 bucks off in order of one hundred dollars or more the promo code LWOS twenty 364 00:29:37,559 --> 00:29:42,519 twenty dollars off in order of three hundred dollars or more. Those promo codes 365 00:29:42,559 --> 00:29:48,039 are good throughout the college football season, so on behalf of our friends at 366 00:29:48,039 --> 00:29:52,240 ticket Smarter and ticketsmarter dot com, the ticket Smarter mobile app. This is 367 00:29:52,279 --> 00:29:57,160 Mathasdamic thanking you for listening to the latest edition of the Get Off My Pylon 368 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,079 College Football podcast. We'll see you next time.