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Gresham for JR tonight on the Infinity Sports Network. Big, big games with big stakes in college football this weekend. Uh joining me now to break it all down. Bill Bender of the Sporting News, Senior Writer. Bill, I see by your Twitter it says Columbus, Ohio.
What does it feel like the night before the big game here in the belly of the beast of Columbus? Oh, it'll be exciting. I can't remember a non-conference game like this since last time Texas came in here. You know, Oklahoma with Baker was huge. But uh that game 20 years ago with Vince Young and Through the late touchdown, the line was sweet.
You know, here you are, one verse three: Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith. It's crazy. Yeah. That you have 32 players that played in this game last year that are in NFL camps. Yeah.
And it seems like this is just as star-studded as it was with all the NFL talent on the field on Saturday. Bill, I know I wouldn't ask it in a way of can Arch Manning win the Heisman in this game. But how pivotal could this game be? to a Heisman campaign for Arch Manning.
Well, I think the last guy that won it in week one was probably Robert Griffith III. You know, I think you remember that game, and then he just took off from there. It would be a springboard. And I but I don't look at this game in that way for him. I I think Long-term expectations for Arch Manning, I think he's going to live up to them.
He's going to be great. I don't know if he'll win the Heisman or a national title. Uh you know, his uncle Payton didn't win the Heisman and didn't win the national title and did just fine. You know, so I think when you bet on him long term, that's great. I actually think the guy with a little more pressure short term is probably Julian Sand, new quarterback following Will Howard.
Three of the four guys before that were first-round picks. that is the to me and then you could tell me i'm wrong but because i live in the bubble here But I just think being the quarterback at Ohio State comes with more pressure than any other position in college football. Bill, what are people in the bubble saying about Julian Saiyan?
Well, I mean, Brandon Innes, receiver at practice the other night, said.
Now you can see the difference after he was named the starter.
Now we're a little more confident in the huddle. It gets the ball out quick. accurate. It was funny to me. I kind of chuckled.
Sarkeesian and Brian Day basically said the same thing about the other team's quarterback. No, athletic fast, uh, quick release. It was like, man, the coach speak is out here with these guys, but they were both complimentary of the other guy. And I think because both of these guys have a five-star background and Young quarterbacks against tough defenses, it might take a minute for them to settle in. That wouldn't surprise me at all.
Bill, when you look at LSU and Clemson. What is the storyline or what will you be keeping your eye on in that game? How does LSU handle that Clemson defensive front? Peter Woods and T. Did Parker.
How do they handle the whole Death Valley thing? You know, and then Klubnik and Nussmar. I think a lot of NFL fans are going to tune into that. His club nickname Nussmeier. Have that kind of first round.
attachment Do them. Yeah, and for me it's does LSU finally win an opener? In five years. Can you go out there and uh Avoid one of those moments we're all talking about the next day with Brian Kelly. I think there's a ton of pressure on.
uh LSU in this game, but I do think it's going to be close. I I I see this as a field goal game either way. Bill, you got Notre Dame at Miami, and that's on Sunday night, 7:30 on ABC. You know, I said this before you came on. Normally, when you have a quarterback who is number one NFL overall, number one NFL draft overall worthy.
You kind of have a special season because you have that guy who is the makes the big impact. Miami had a nice year with Cam Ward, but they didn't have a special year. If uh if Carson Beck Plays anywhere near like Cam Ward, is Miami better ready to take advantage? of a year like that when they fell short last season. Here at the zebra, research shows the average person would rather endure a root canal than search for auto and home insurance.
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I think I'll wait inside. I think so. And this Kim. Ward and Carson got completely different players. You know, Cam Warden.
Great improvise. Uh made, yeah, I can just go back to that cow come back last year. Great player. Carson back more than a lot of big games. 24-3 is starter.
No, an ACC kickoff area of Chris DeBall was very complimentary of what he believes. that Corsenbeck's going to bring to them.
Now, he said he marries what we do offensively well with what we want to accomplish. Shannon Dawson likes him a lot. There's a leadership quotient to that too. Um And everybody says all the right things at media days. I understand that.
But that experience will pay off in this big game environment. I mean, for me, It's really how does CJ Carr Settle in Miami.
Now, I went, I said this all week. I went to a Catholic school, I know the history there. No demands lost six six straight games in Miami. I remember the Jerry Faust game, strangely, you know, like. Uh When Jimmy ran it up on him.
So. Uh Vaguely, I was a small little kid. Uh but I definitely remember the game eight years ago that I was at where my annie put one on them real quick. Bill Bender of the Sporting News, talking college football with Grashoos in for JR here on the Infinity Sports Network.
Something to I may Bill, maybe I'm dead just so wrong on this. There's something about Kalen DeBoer and Alabama That to me just doesn't seem like that's a right fit. How important is a nice looking win. Against a team that has really not been good the last couple of years in Florida State. Is it necessary at Alabama?
So the people don't start, you know, looking for rumors of Coach Sabin wanting to come back. Huge gain. For for both coaches. You know, for Kill and De Boer, it's He's guyed after the guy. I think he's a fantastic coach.
Cook Washington. to a national championship game just two years ago. But you know, to your point, Does it fit? And it's really hard. Meet that guy.
I had to look it up yesterday. I was on another show and. No, I had to look up who replaced John Wooden. I didn't know it was Gene Barteau, and you know why? He was only there two years.
And I think that's something to consider with Kalen. They have to play better on the road. That's what's on the line for them. Or to stay coming off two and ten. If they get hammered tomorrow.
It it'll be bad. Because that to me, that's a program game for them. They don't have to win, but they can't let Alabama come in there and beat them by 40. And I think that would be really ugly for Florida State if that happened. If Florida State ends up making a move, is it lockstock and barrel they make a big run at Deion Sanders?
Well, I don't know. I'm fascinated to see what Gus Malzon does with this offense. If they have success there, Dion, I mean, I'm excited to watch tonight. I'm so happy he's healthy. I had a.
Yeah. So like anybody that that recovers from that, it it means something to me. And I'm really happy for Dion and I want to see him continue to coach and be healthy. I think he's great for college football. I I you know, obviously, if Norvell goes, that's that rumor is going to start popping up because of That's where he went to school.
And his son Sons are in the professional football now.
So And it'd be fun. There's no question. Is there another team, Bill, that you that is maybe, you know. Rank fifteenth or lower. that uh you're gonna pay special attention to this weekend.
In the later windows, here, I'll give you a couple that aren't really ranked that I'm keeping an eye on these. Might be second TV games, I got second TV in there. Michigan and Oklahoma. They're going to win tomorrow, but I want to see Mateir at Oklahoma and Bryce Underwood at Michigan, and that's really the big. uh meal in week two Michigan going down to Norman.
And then late night. I'm really fascinated to see UCLA, Utah. Utah with Devin Dampier. Are they a big 12 contender? UCLA with Nico Iamaliada after.
Everything that happened in the spring through five and seven teams last year. Oh, Pac-12 game ought to be a good one. That one I'll definitely have my eye on in the late window. Bill, just one other thing. You mentioned Oklahoma.
Have you seen that the coaches' press conference was at one time sacred?
Now, at the University of Oklahoma, you can purchase the experience. of going to the coaches post game press conference. For someone who has seen a lot of stops in college football and been in a lot of those press conferences, I'm curious for your thoughts of Oklahoma sort of opening up the curtain for, you know, Uncle Chucky to try to slide in a question at the press conference. You do they're gonna need that like glass window that you have like in the limo. You know what I mean?
Like with the penguins. Yeah, you're going to pull that down, man, because I can only imagine. I go back to last year going into the high state press conference after they lost to Michigan. I couldn't imagine letting fans in for that. In any circumstance.
So, that's tough loss. Yeah, I wonder if the 600 bucks per person that the people or the folks in Oklahoma are paying is ultimately worth it. Bill Bender, you can read him in the sporting news and you can find him on Twitter or XBillbender92. Bill, thanks for the time. Really appreciate it.
Good breakdown, fun chat. Hopefully, we get to do it again soon. Thanks. Anytime. Thanks, Jeremy Lin.
Take care. Here at the zebra, research shows the average person would rather endure a root canal than search for auto and home insurance. Just try to relax. Or be trapped in a car for eight hours with toddlers on a sugar high. or remove a nest of irate hornets.
That's why the zebra searches for you, comparing over 100 insurance companies to find savings no one else can. Compare today at thezebra.com. We do the searching, you do the saving. I think I'll wait inside. Mm-hmm.
