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let's get out to the hotline. Welcome in College Football Insider,
the man of Metrics. We got maxed Chadwick on the
line representing Pro Football Focus. Max, how are you there?
Speaker 2: Are you guys doing doing good?
Speaker 1: Man? It's a beautiful day in Brigham Young University Country.
BYU going too the Big twelve championship game versus Texas Tech.
Let's preview this game. I know you guys have probably
delved into it on your podcast. We advise everyone to
subscribe to the Pro Football Focused podcast with Max Chadwick
and his crew. How do you see this game right now?
When you set up these two teams side by side.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it should be an awesome game on Saturday. I
think they're gonna be a lot closer than the game
earlier in the regular season between these two teams. But yeah,
it should be a really fun game. I think BYU
has to perform better in the trenches they did in
that lost tax attach a little while ago. If they
do that, they certainly have a shot at taking down
the Red Raiders on Saturday.
Speaker 1: How do the grading? How does Pro Football Focus view
this game from a great standpoint versus the their respective
strength of schedules. How have these two teams great out
through the regular season?
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think Texas Tech. The number one thing you
got to know about them is that they have the
best defensive line in college football, and I'm sure BYU
fans are very familiar with that after that game. They
were dominant in that game too, and it is the
highest great defensive line in the country. David Baylor, their
edge rusher, is going to be a first round pick.
He leads the country in pressures. Romelo Height is second
in PFF grade among edge rushers as well. Then you've
got a couple of great d tackles in the middle
of it too, like a j Holmes junior who's been
outstanding for them this year, and Lee Hunter has been
really good for them this year too. So that defensive
line you got to stop them first. I know they
have a great linematter behind them too, and Jacob Ardriguez,
who I think should be a Heisman finalist right now,
but you need to win with line of scurbage. The
BA has got a great offensive line. It's been probably
the best part of their entire offense this year. Is
that offensive line. They have to perform a lot better
than they did against Texas Tech in their loss a
few weeks ago.
Speaker 1: BYU has a true freshman quarterback, Baron Blockmeier. That is,
I believe he's the highest rated freshman in college football
in any position group. What do we expect from Bear
in this game? He'll he obviously got to have a
better game than he did the first go around in Lubbock.
He's on a neutral field this time. This go around,
it should be fifty to fifty in the stands. Who
is Bear Bachmeyer this year? What do you like about him?
Why is he one of the best, if not the
best freshman in college football this year?
Speaker 2: Yeah, he's been great this year and I think, you know,
the one thing I'll say about him is that, you know,
he's just been put in a tough spot going into
the year, and he's responding very very well to it. Right,
He's been a guy that just does what he's asked
of him. You know, he's not gonna go above him
beyond his job requirement. He's not gonna lose games for you.
He does some great moments for them too, And I
think this game, especially, you know, if you go back
and watching Texas that game where they lost. They kind
of I thought, hid bear Bachmeyer a little bit too
much in that game and try to establish a run
a little bit too much. If I'm BYU tomorrow, I'm
probably coming out and throwing the ball more than expected, honestly,
just trying to catch textatteck off their guard a little
bit and so they just can't pin their ears back
and run defense and then stop the rungs. They're one
of the best run defending teams in college football. I
think if you kind of try to surprise them a
couple of times and use some play action and have
bear Bachmeier rolled out a little bit, that might be
the way I would go about it if I was
be willing to kind of have the element surprise on
my side.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's gonna be intriguing, no doubt about it. Why
do you think bear Bachmeyer is not listed as one
of the true freshman one of the freshman finalists for
the Shawn Alexander Award when he's grated out so well
for PFF, He's got over three thousand yards he's accounted for. Man,
I want to say I had have to pull up
the stats here but I want to say he's accounted
for almost thirty touchdowns between being on the ground and
then through the air through his passing forays. Ohay, fourteen
touchdowns through the air and then an additional eleven, so
twenty five total touchdowns.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know, that's a good question. You know,
I do know now at least that it's not just
a true freshman award that is a red shirt freshman
are included in that. So I think Julian Say is
going to run away with that award. Probably they are
including red shirt freshman. But yeah, I'm no doubt a
bad I think I would argue that bear Bachmeyer might
have been the best true freshman quarterback that we've had
this year. I think he and Jaron Kave Sunkap hotel
A from Cal have definitely have an argument for that award.
But yeah, I think I think bear Bachmeyer has been
really good this year. You know, I know a lot
of you are You fans think he was snubbed for
that award. I might agree with them too on that case,
but I think because it's including redcherd freshman too, I
think that's probably why bear Bachmeyer wasn't among I believe
like the five finalists they have for that award.
Speaker 1: Yeah, So who would he have replaced? De John Lee
Alabama cornerback, Malachi Tony, Miami wide receiver Drew Mestemaker, North
Texas quarterback CJ. Carr Notre Dame quarterback Julian Saying Ohio
State quarterback.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a good question. I think all those guys,
you can argue it has better years than Barrett Bachameyer's
is what you're what you're trying to argue here?
Speaker 1: Is it?
Speaker 2: Is it the best true freshman or is the best
redhired freshman?
Speaker 1: Right?
Speaker 2: So I think, honestly, if you're giving its the best
true freshman, I would argue probably mal chay TONI the
wide receiver at Miami. He was absolutely incredible this year
and he might have entered next year as the second
best receiver in the country behind Jeremiah Smith. Honestly, that's
how good he was this year. But yeah, if you're
giving the best true freshman, I would definitely at Beart
Bachmeier somewhere in the top five true freshmen that we
saw in college football this year because he was outstanding, honestly,
and I believe because we're letting Rechard freshman also be
finalists for that award. That's why you see guys with
Julians saying CJ. Carr, Drew Messmaker, even though they're in
their second years in college, there's still technically freshman as
racier freshman. That's why you're seeing those guys included for
that war too.
Speaker 1: L J. Martin is healthy this game versus Texas Tech.
He was not all that healthy in the in the
Tech game the first go around in Lubbick. How is
he graded out for PF versus his peers and he
was the Big twelve offensive player of the year him
being one hundred percent healthy? How impactful could that be?
Two questions there?
Speaker 2: Yeah, really impactful. You know, he's been a really good
running back all year for BYU. He's been outstanding at
delivering yards after contact. So having him healthy and fully
healthy out there is huge for BYU. But once again,
it all stems to the offensive line. Because I don't
care how good LG. Martin is, and he is a
fantastic running back, It's hard to do a lot if
your offensive line gets dominated the way BYUS did in
that last loss to Texas Tech. So having it fully
healthy is absolutely massive and that will be huge tomorrow
in that game, but you need the offensive line to
perform a lot better. I believe BYU only had sixty
seven rushing yards against Texas Tech and that loss. That
was a season low for BYU in that game. So
it should be better with LG. Morton healthy, But it
won't be that much better if the offensive line can't
perform a lot better than what they did in the
last game.
Speaker 1: We got. Pro Football Focus is next. Chadwick here on
ESPN the Fan discussing college football BYU versus Texas Tech.
Texas Tech is a twelve and a half point favorite
in Arlington, and what makes you believe that by you
could maybe pull this off? Like, do you have any tenets?
You're like, Hey, this would have to happen in order
to by for BYU to be Tech on Saturday.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 2: I think two things. I think both of it well
from the trenches. One, like I mentioned time and time again,
the office want has to play better. You know, you
can't have Bear Bachmer getting hit as much as he did.
I believe you got hit five times in that Texas
Tech game, which is the season high for BYU and
again season low and rushing yards too, So by all accounts,
is not a great day for It was the worst
game of the year for Yu's offense. This year, that
offensive one has to perform better and the other side too.
Texas Tech has been running a lot of gap scheme
runs this year, and I think b Yus don a
great job depending that it wasn't as good in the
last game he played against them, But I don't think
BYU defense is that bad honestly in that game, I
think it just kind of got tired out from the
offense not doing anything really for their game. So play football,
you know, cons like the last game they had in
that one too, which that was a huge play in
that game. If you stop the run for Texas Tech
and force Baron Morton into obvious passing downs. He has
not been that great this year, and I think BYU
might have the quarterback advantage honestly in this game a
Bear Bachmeyer over Baron Morton. But you've got to make
Texas Tech rely on their quarterbacks. If they do, that's
an avenue for BYU secondary, which has been really good
over the middle of the field all year. That's an
avenue for them to play a lot better. So I
think the BYU linebackers are kind of spotlighting in this game.
They need to be able to stop the run and
not let Texas Tech run all over them because if
that does happen, it could turn into a low scoring game.
And maybe bear Backmeyer can have a few magical plays
in him and just barely edge out Baron More in
that regard.
Speaker 1: If you look at nil offerings, I mean this is
kind of a David versus Goliath type of game. Texas Tech,
I think spent a reported twenty eight million BYU was
at most ten million, and so obviously BoA's a heavy
doll in this game. But they're gonna need their best
players to play at the at their in their best
game of the season order to beat Tech, who have
been per pff bo's best offensive and defensive players thus
far this season, like top three or four guys who
have they been.
Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, don't. I don't if you don't have
the greatest in front of me. But I can tell
you that LGB Moran has been phenomenal, Bear Bachmer has
been phenomenal. I know Bruce Mitchell, their center has been
one of the highest greatest centers that we have in
college football this year. So he's been great. Uh. He's
been a big part of that offensive line, which is normally,
Like I said, the offensive line is normally one of
the best of the country. Just that one game against
Texas Tech and the best d line in the country,
they weren't as good as Defensively, it's all about the
middle of the defense. Honestly, those linebackers like Isaiah Glasker
and Jack Kelly and those guys and filled south Soathkawaala
and Tanner Wall safety. Uh, they have been terrific too.
So I think the middle of the Uyu's defense has
been phenomenal this year. The offensive line for isn't great.
Got great running back in LJ. Moran and a really
good true freshman quarterback in Barrett Backmeyer. Two, they're gonna
have to play big I'm tomorrow to pull off this
game and for BAU to be sent to the playoff.
It kind of sucks that BI using this spot right
now where they have to win in order to make
the playoff. I don't personally think they should be in
that position right now. They should probably be in regardless
if they win or lose tomorrow, but that's the spot
they're in right now by the committee, and they have
to beat Texas Tech tomorrow and they need those players
just mentioned and a lot more of them to be
able to pull off this upset tomorrow.
Speaker 1: Why do you think that BYU has to beat Tech
in order to get into the College Football Playoff? Is
that fair? I mean, I think this is the only
eleven and one team in the College Football Playoff era
that has not been ranked in the top ten. What
makes this year so different?
Speaker 2: I don't know, it's a good question. You know, I
personally would have them. I have them I think like
eight on my personal rankings. And I mean, I'm of
the belief that, you know, whoever makes it to conference
championship weekend should not be removed from the playoffs or
losing it. So if you're a ready in the playoff
and if you lose your conference title game, you shouldn't
be removed because I think it's a reward for what
you've thought all year to be able to play in
that game. You should not be punished for playing that game. So,
for example, like Alabama, if they lose tomorrow Georgia, I
would not remove them for the playoff because they're in
the playoffs already. I would already have BYU in the
playoff two, and I would not remove them if they
lost Texas Tack again and finished off eleven in two.
So I can't answer for the committee, but I can
tell you right now the fact that BYU is already
out of the playoffs at number eleven. They need to
win tomorrow. If they lose, there's obviously no way they're
going to move up into the top ten. And you
have to move into the top ten in order to
make the playoff as in that large team. So the
only way for BYU to make the playoff tomorrow is
to have an automatic qualifier by beating text at Tech
and winning the Big twelve if they if they lose
to Text Attack, there is even though I would personally
put them in, I'm sure you would put them in.
I'm sure all your listeners put them in. The committee
has proven time and time again they will not put
in BYU if they lose Texas Tech tomorrow.
Speaker 1: It's funny, look, we get into conspiracy theories as to
why byus on the outside looking in, Whether it's like
brand equity, right conference affiliation by he was an independent
for a long time. Some people will throw out the
faith element religious elements. Some people will say, hey, b Yu,
just they just haven't been in a power for they
haven't been in the power for power five world long
enough to have the the equity. The other theory is
Mark harlan Uh the the eighty for Utah. You know,
you take into account all of his comments about he
feels like the BYU Utah game was stolen from Utah
at at in Salt Lake last year and has never
been all the all that friendly or positive towards b
Yu even in the ensuing years. B Yu, by the
skin of their teeth, they think maybe beat Utah the
year that he's not advocate. What do you chalk it
up to when you hear all those things. Obviously a
lot of conspiracies, how valid are they? But how do
you chalk it up?
Speaker 2: You know, I don't think the committee has any you know,
I don't think there is a conspiracy or it'thing like
that to keep schools like BYU out of it. There
might be inherent biases that the committee members have.
Speaker 1: And you know what they're from, Yeah one, Where where
would those stem from them? What are the inherent biases?
The human fallibility anecdotal element of it all.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think, for example, like a program like Notre Dame, right,
you know, we always affiliate them because they're one of
the greatest programs in college football, right, we always affiliate
them with success and if they go Since they're right
off ten straight wins, even though I would argue those
ten wins aren't as impressive as what BYU has done
this year. Who's eleven and one by the way, this year,
that's probably why they're getting over a BYU. I don't
know again, I personally would have BYU the top ten.
I think the fact that they're eleven to one, like
you said, the fact that they their only losses on
the road to a top five team in the country
by then their own committee's rankings, the fact that they
beat a top fifteen team by the committee' rankings, in
fact that they beat another top twenty team in Arizona
and utub obviously the two top twenty seams I just
mentioned by the committee's rankings, and some other great wins too,
like obviously they got a wins over Sincinnata on the
road too, for that was a really good win. Again,
I don't personally get it why BYU is being disrespected
like this and not in the top ten. But that's
how the Committee's done it. I can't answer to you know,
any conspiracy theories of what the Committee's doing right now.
All I can tell you right now is that I
very much disagree with how BYU has been treated so far.
And again, I think tomorrow should be all about seating
for BU and Texas Tech. I think both of them
should be guaranteed to make the playoff. But the way
the Committee's ranked right now BYU is pretty much is
a de facto playoff game for BOU tomorrow.
Speaker 1: Let me ask you this. BYU football is number six
in the country against the spread this year the Vegas
spread the lines. How would you evaluate that number six?
Texas Tech, by the way, he's number one in the country,
Ohio State number two, Utah State number three, North Texas
for Vanderbilt five. BYU's nine and three against the spread,
Sandygo State's at seven, Western Tech, Kentucky eight, Western Michigan nine,
Hawaii ten, Alabama is actually eleven, Iowa twelve, South forward
to thirteen, Toledo fourteen, and it's say from Michigan fifteen.
What do you make of that stat you're a man
of metrics.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it says a lot to the program
Kalina Stockey's built and honestly, the expectations for b what
you going into the year. I mean, I'll admit it
to you guys. I think I went on the show
preseason and you guys asked me, like, what are yours
your outlooks from the team this year? And I said
six and six, seven and five maybe, like I thought,
you know, with all the the Jake wrestlof stuff going on,
and how I was very much worried about the quarterback
room going into I was like, yeah, they have a
lot of talent which will drag this team to a
bowl game, but I don't know at quarterback they have enough.
And Bear Bachmeier has proven me wrong, and that entire
BOUS team has proven me wrong. Kalin Stockey's proven me wrong,
and credit to them. Man, this is two years in
a row now where I've been shocked by how good
b YU has been this year. Maybe that's another part
of to it for the committee is that you know,
by you didn't enter this year as the top twenty
five team in the country. Notre Dame did enter as
a top ten team, and you know, maybe that's why
the committee's just kind of taken too long to get
adjusted to that. But I think, yeah, that that statue
just told me nine to three gets the spread as
Vegas too, being like, yeah, we don't really believe in
BYU right now, but they continuously have proven them wrong
time and time again and what like three quarters of
their games so far this year, and we'll see if
they can do it again tomorrow. And again, it sucks,
that's the fact of a playoff game for BYU. But
you know what, at least you're in that spot this year,
in a spot where you can win and get into playoffs,
whereas other schools like Miami for example, they might be screwed. Right,
So I think BYU at least has the opportunity to
win and get into the playoff, whereas other schools that
are on the outside looking in right now, they don't
get that opportunity.
Speaker 1: Max Chadwick here on your Utah ESPN Radio Network representing
Pro Football Focus, Max, best way to support you what
you do, how you do it for all of our listeners,
your platforms where we can follow you and consume your content.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I appreciate that. I host the PFF College Football Show,
which is on YouTube and anywhere you get your podcast too,
and we're doing a live show. We did one live
show today actually going over to the top recruiting classes
and the top recruits in the country, and then another
live show on Sunday morning at TENNYM me from time
and down every single conference title game in its entirety,
and of course reacting live to the updated playoff racket,
which will be ten am Eastern time. I believe this
is a what eight am or seven am Eastern time
for you guys out there in Utah. So yeah, I
can't wait for it. I mean, we're gonna be very
very close to the playoff right now.
Speaker 1: It just kind of feels surreal, crazy times in the
college football world right now. Max Chadwick, ladies and gentlemen,
thanks for joining us. Great segment as always, Thanks Ben.
There you have it. That's Pro Football Focuses, Max Chadwick
and great segment, great commentary. Andrew Peterson. I want to
bring you in loop you in here and get your
thoughts on it. Anything that stood out to you in
that interview that you want to piggyback off of great
segment with Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus, and it
was brought to you by Dental pros of Utah Dentalprosofutah
dot Com.
Speaker 3: Well, the thing that you guys talked about at the
end there. I liked his comment that maybe it's the
starting point where BYU is like, this is he He's right?
This is the second year in a row that BYU
was shocked the nation and shocked everyone. To be honest,
I don't think anyone expected Boa to be eleven and
one this year. Nobody expected them to go eleven and
two last year. I'm just wondering, does if BYU is
able to to keep the core together, say you've got
bear Bachmeers say l J. Martin comes back, does BYU
get their respect going into next season, or does something
happen again where everyone finds a way to not believe
in Byu. I think, honestly, the real, the real, the
real villain here isn't necessarily a conspiracy theory.
Speaker 1: It's the preseason.
Speaker 3: Poll and the fact that the College Football Playoff Committee
is not working hard enough, in my opinion, to do
anything other than look at the ap pole a couple
weeks before their show and then go off of that.
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's it's an intriguing situation, no doubt about it.
It's a confusing situation for many of Kugarnation. You just
want to make sense of it all. You just want transparency.
You want accountability in life, don't you. I mean all
of us want transparency, accountability until we're the ones that
had maybe you have to be held accountable for actions
or decisions, right, but they should, you know, they're the
ones that hey sign up to be committee members. There
should be a bit more. I want to hear from
each and every one of them and see how they voted. Well,
I want that's what I want to see. I want
that's what I want to see.
Speaker 3: What I want the College Football Playoffs show to be
is film of them actually in their discussions, kind of
like we're getting film of the referee reviews, the official
reviews during games in the ACC. I think they're having
the actual like fans get to hear what they're saying.
Speaker 1: I think the Big Twelve is doing that soon.
Speaker 3: I think we should do that with the Playoff committee discussions.
Put out the film, film their discussions, film how they
come up with these rankings, so that we actually have
some transparency.
Speaker 1: Yes, indeed, guys, let's take a brief time out. We'll
be back. Great segment with Max Chadwick. Appreciate him and
all of his commentary on our show that was brought
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