REShow: Bruce Feldman - Hour 2

All I give a damn about you. The Rich Eisen Show. God, I love that guy. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Your Detroit Lions are Detroit Lions.

I love watching this team play because they'll keep hitting you in the mouth. This is the Rich Eisen Show. We're going to kick you in the teeth. We're going to buy the kneecap off.

Where are they going to be the last ones standing? Earlier on the show, NFL Network insider Ian Rappaport, still to come. Fox Sports college football insider Bruce Feldman. New York Jets head coach Robert Sala. And now it's Rich Eisen. Yes, our number two, the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. We've got a lot going on in the football world. College football.

Bruce Feldman about to walk in here. Big game between Ohio State and Penn State. Also in between not electing a speaker of the house. Congress spent some time yesterday talking to NIL. I was over on the Senate side of things. Hypocrisy reigns.

Stop me if you've heard that one before. It always does. I mean, some of the things that came out of the mouths of these senators, man. Yeah. About, you know, players making money in NIL and stuff like that.

Yeah. Who are they getting money from? Well, I mean, honestly, you know, the senator from West Virginia. Who lives on a houseboat in Washington, D.C. Joe Manchin saying it's tough to watch kids who are making millions play college football.

It's like ruining his viewing experience. We feel bad for you, Senator Manchin. But any rate, not to go down that that that path here.

Titians make millions ruin the country. But I do want to ask Bruce Feldman what what how that landed with some maybe league commissioners and coaches and whatever it's being talked about. I knew, by the way, Congress is not coming to the rescue on this front.

Congress is not coming to the rescue on this front. Let me say it one more time. Like, because I kind of I kind of did say to, you know, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey when he was on the program in September, like, really, Congress? For real, that's who's going to come and put national guidelines on on something to make sure Charlie Baker, the new NCAA president, has an easier path to reining this stuff in. The way to rein it in, the way to actually, you know, if it needs any reining in, the way to make it work is to get a group of institutions of higher learning that have similar issues on this front, have similar budgets, have similar levels of play, have similar recruiting issues, similar everything, get together and create a super league. That's it.

That's the way it's going to go. I don't know how many times I've said this. I'll say it again. What do you come up with a number? What do you want? Sixty four. You want to have four more? Sixty eight, like the basketball tournament?

You want to do that? Too many. I don't know. Who knows? Two leagues.

I don't know. You also have a relegation, whatever you want to do. It's going to happen. You started the super team, bro. It's coming. It's coming.

Oldie but goodie. At any rate, we'll talk about it with Bruce Feldman shortly here on the program. Eight four four two oh four.

Rich number to double. Take your phone calls this hour as well. I got my power rankings in just a matter of moments. One other item to talk about for Philadelphia. We spoke about the Phillies last hour and also the beard being a no show at practice today and hasn't been around the team since Sunday. According to Shams of the Athletic, Bruce Feldman again from the Athletic joining us here shortly. One other item for Philadelphia is Julio Jones has been signed by the Philadelphia Eagles.

That happened when we went out the door yesterday. And so Julio and AJ Brown and Devante Smith. Let's see what he's got in the tank.

You know, and can't hurt. And so it's another set of hands for the passing game and then potentially another set of hands to shove Jalen Hurts for a first down. I mean, let's see if Julio Jones has got that lower body strength.

In all seriousness, Nick Sirianni said about a half an hour ago with he and Howie Roseman watch tape. They they had him there to run routes and they think he's got some bursts. He's still got something left. OK, at the very least, they're going to have the coolest looking team with AJ Brown and DeAndre Swifter, those super dark visors like add Julio with the dark. They have the most badass looking team. Imagine these.

He hasn't let himself go. They are wearing against the the Dolphins on Sunday night. I think those Harold Carmichael era throwbacks. The random Cunningham era throwbacks. You see the picture? Seth Joyner. Is that Hurts that was going around?

Yeah, the Kelly Green looks amazing. I know it sure does. By the way, you guys hear their their trademarking brotherly shove as they should. Well, it makes sense. It's better than thankfully not trademarking tush push. You know, but this play, as you know, this play, as you know, is a an automatic for them and it's being discussed by the competition committee in their meetings. And they got as you know, I think it looks ugly and I know that's not a metric, but it looks like rugby. It looks ugly. You can't tell, you cannot tell whose knee is down when and where the ball stopped.

You can't. It does create a gray area to make it tough to officiate and spot, which I think does help the offensive team trying to get the first down. Oh yeah.

And it's got an almost 100% success rate for Philadelphia. It's tough to see anybody else. Attempt it and be successful at it, which is amazing that your Cowboys tried it the other night. I was like, we should have Mozzie in there.

Put Mozzie in the back. And it was terrible. It was awful. Fourth and short.

They didn't make it. And it was clear like that one, like if you're going to make it work, you got to have people jump on top of your quarterback while pushing him. So you don't see if he's made it. You just see the full momentum.

Yeah, you can't mark the ball. Your doc was asked about it in his final question of his press conference Sunday night. Here was his response. They didn't push my tush enough. No, just didn't get it, honestly. Yeah, just didn't get it, which we did.

Obviously that would turn into more points, but yeah. Let's get a new name for that. That's funny again. I don't like it. And I know that I don't like the the TP, I won't say it. You know who should trademark that? Well, it's Sharman or whatever.

Sorry, I get it, you know. In terms of why, how, why it only works for Philadelphia, I'll, I'll say this. In the broadcast, hold on a second, in the broadcast meeting with the Ravens in London, I had one last question of John Harbaugh, and I'm like, is there anything going on that you know? I mean, he's 16 years in the league, man. Belichick's the only, Belichick and I think Tomlin, Tomlin, I think Tomlin's been there 16 years, too. I think they started the same year, did they? At any rate, he's been there a long time.

Belichick's only longer, maybe Tomlin. So I asked him, I'm like, anything over the first five weeks that you've noticed is a new trend or something going on? I gave him a total macro question, which to be honest, I'm sure, you know, in day four of being in London and him having to go to a walkthrough was the last thing he wanted to, you know, get deep in on. And he basically said, no, not really. And I asked him, what about this brotherly shove?

And I'm like, why do you think it works so well for Philadelphia? And his answer was, Kelsey, he said, Jason, Kelsey. Now, he said his center, Trevor Lindenbaum, can do it as well.

Like, I think he made sure, because he wanted to make sure this sort of stuff is not going to be used against him by the media in any way, shape or form. But Kelsey, Kelsey can get low and he can push. He's going all fame, this guy.

And I think this is one of the many reasons why Dan Orlovsky on ESPN was asked, who is the MVP of non-quarterbacks in the NFL? And he said, Kelsey, he said, Kelsey. And, you know, obviously, you can have an argument on this front, but he said, Kelsey. And so that and he also, John Harbaugh also said, it helps to have your quarterback 240 pounds.

As well, so Kelsey and Hertz, and then you could see how how they run it. You look at it like we're showing it against the Chiefs right here. I guess that was in the Super Bowl.

Yeah. You could see how Kelsey's low and the rest of the it's like low man wins and Hertz is getting pushed by Gainwell and, you know, Goddard's in there back there that Johnson that's Lane Johnson on the right. Side, I mean, you got great guys who are doing it. Yeah, I just don't like people shoving other people.

It sucked when USC did it and and and and and honestly, that's my problem with it. Jerry Jones at the owners meeting just yesterday. Or is it today?

Last 24 hours. He likes to play. He digs it.

This is what Jerry had to say. Your thoughts on the tush push. Well, I was surprised I'm all for it and I like to play.

I think that is an excellent sneaker and I was just surprised that we were stopped. And but I completely agreed with. That's the play to run. But you're OK with the play in general.

There's a lot of talk about that with the competition committee with the way Philly is perfected it. You like it? No, I'm OK with it.

I like to play. I think there's a place for the play and I think you've got some options to run off. When people talk about the injury to a quarterback, well, does it push for somebody other than the starting quarterback under center? Yeah, I mean, they did.

They did in London, Baltimore run Mark Andrews. Under center, yeah, and he took a quick snap, but he didn't get pushed. I just like, come on. I don't like the pushing.

That's the only thing. I just don't like it. And it's ugly and it's tough to officiate. And it happens on the goal line with the running back.

Yeah, it was like caught up. I understand you're pushed back and I understand I'm in the minority on this, too. But again, there you have it. I just don't like it because of the Eagles doing it.

I'm sure it is. Also, John Harbaugh, 08 Mike Tom on 07. There you go. I mean, John's been at it a while.

Yeah, a long while. And they're so good, which leads me to my power rankings. Yeah, baby rankings. All right. This one is mine. So are the other previous ones. But this one is a jumbled all over the place. There's only one no change on the list. One out of the other nine spots. Wow, that's how jumbled it is. Here we go.

Staying on the list, but falling down three spots. I still believe in this team, and I still believe this team deserves to be in the top third of the NFL and would beat two thirds of the league if they faced off with them. And I know you might disagree with it, but the Seattle Seahawks are ten.

Oh, wow. I still think they're ten. I still like them. I like their run game. I like their pass game.

I think Jackson Smith and Jig was only to get more involved. Is he on the team? He is. I know, I know. And I like the Browns are right there. They're not on my list. And I understand not on the list. Wow.

They're not on the list. I understand what that would mean when I'm saying what I'm saying. They're like ten a. I just like the Seahawks more than most. And certainly with Deshaun Watson saying he doesn't know when he's going to be back. He could be back this week.

He could be back in a week and another two weeks. And I understand what that defense has looked like. I'm putting the Seahawks ten and having the ninth team be the Ravens leapfrog him and go back on the list.

I saw him with my own two eyes. Lamar looks really, really good. And the passing game, I believe, is only going to get better. The run game is so consistent and the defense is top five, top five. So that's why I don't have the Browns on. Lamar is a difference maker and the Browns have a top five defense as well. I get it. I get it. But that's where I got him. Number eight, one spot up are the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Believe in them and believe in them. They are really a good team. That kid on the screen number one, ETN Junior is becoming a top five back in this league running, scoring, catching. He's exactly what they wanted him to be out of Clemson. And then he got hurt in his first year.

Exactly what they want him to be. Trevor Lawrence, I'm concerned about him not playing this week. And then the Texans lurk.

Guys, we talked about that to start the show. The Texans lurk. The Texans have already beaten them at Jacksonville. But Jacksonville is a top 10 team in this league and they move up one spot. Your Cowboys move up one spot. There's seven. I got him seventh on the list.

Hey, listen, why is that so low? I don't believe they beat any of the teams that I'm about to mention right now. I don't think so. Not right now.

Not right now. And and this game was in it was in in the brink in Los Angeles. And they got great plays from Micah Parsons and Stefan Gilmore to call game. Dak played his best game of the year, I think I really do. Statistically, that might be supported by other weeks. When I thought he played well, they finally fed C.D.

Lamb. I'm concerned they're missing a playmaker. That's my concern on offense. Great. But they're seven. And I got the bills at six. That's the team.

That's no change. I kept them right where they are. I understand the Giants had them on the brink as well, and they did not look good. But I still believe Josh Allen is the man with Stefan Diggs and the defense. I'm still concerned that they're banged up, but I see what the next couple of weeks looks for them. And they're got New England coming up and then they've got after that Tampa at home at Cincinnati, home for Denver, home for the Jets.

I think they can put together and start stacking, to use the Dak phrase. They're six. Number five, down two spots are the Philadelphia Eagles. I popped them down to five.

Jalen Hurts has one more interception this year already than he had all of last year. And again, I just don't know how good they are in terms of being top four. How about that? I'll just keep them at five. I've dropped them two spots after losing their first game of the year.

I think that's good. And I popped the Lions up one spot. I have the Lions above the Eagles.

Okay. I think the Lions right now are the team you do not want to face. Their defense is terrific that they are offensively cruising. I even toyed with the idea of making them number one, but I just need to see a little bit more out of them to say that they're the best team in the league. They beat the Ravens this week. That's going to be a tall order.

Yeah, pal, that's going to be a tall order. I cannot wait for that game. Great game. It's kind of like on the polar opposite of Miami, Philadelphia. And then you got Lions and Ravens where offensively they can put on a nice show and defensively they're going to go swap paint and hit each other. Three on the list up one spot of the Dolphins. The Dolphins are three and then above them, because I do believe at full strength, they would be able to somehow clamp down on Miami. I've got the 49ers at two. I do.

I think that they would be. I do. I know I still love the 49ers. We have your sons on the team. He's on the show tomorrow. Brock Purdy's on tomorrow.

And then number one, I popped him up to one and I made him one again. The Chiefs defense and Mahomes and Kelsey. That's your difference.

That's it. Mahomes, Kelsey, the way the defense is playing. Yeah, but at some point I'm not pushing back at their number one. I'm just saying at some point it can't just be those two guys on offense.

I got it to win you the game. Well, I mean, Pacheco is becoming better. And we I'd like to see I'd like to see Tony. Tony, Toni, Rishi rise, Rishi, Tony. I'd love to see those guys.

MVS. Are they going to go get somebody at the deadline? Should you know that you knock on the Cardinals door and say, if you're selling Marquise Brown, bring Hollywood, go get dehop. I'd love to see the Chiefs do that.

I don't know. But right now you can't discount five wins in a row. And I know Lions fans are like, we beat them. OK, minus Kelsey, minus Chris Jones. You beat him on a night that you did.

They didn't have him. And you were the best team that night. I just don't know if a rematch would be any different. So that's my my power rankings.

Only one spot stays the same. The Bills stay at six and one team hops in the Ravens in Bucks out. And we'll see if the if the Browns will beat the Colts on the road and Gardner Minshew.

And I know people could say they should, but I don't think there's a lot of they should anymore in this league right now. It's so up in the air. That's my power rankings for week seven.

Let's say you eight four four two oh four. Rich number will take your phone calls at the end of the hour. But up next, let's talk college football with Bruce Feldman from Fox Sports and the Athletic, Ohio State, Penn State and more coming up next.

Seasons one and two are available to binge right now and bonus episodes are coming soon. Imperative Entertainment presents In the Red Clay. Get the podcast wherever you listen. Susie Schuster and Amy Trask present offbeat conversations and expert sports commentary as they ask, what the football? When my family found out how long it took me to figure out why Charles Woodson named his wine Intercept, they said there's a reason that you had trouble in school. You know, not everyone knows, you know, what I think about a little intercept. They don't know that I play football. Well, what I've learned is a smooth defensive back can make smooth wine.

That's what it's all about. What the football with Susie Schuster and Amy Trask. The podcast is available Tuesdays wherever you listen. Back here on the Roku channel, the radio audience will rejoin us in less than two minutes. First of two times, I say hello to my friend from the Athletic and Fox Sports in his usual Wednesday spot here. Bruce Feldman, good to see you, sir.

Good to see you. You go to Columbus tonight. So I am it's a red eye and go to go to see Buckeyes and Nittany Lions. Can't wait. Red eye.

There's it's not direct. Where you flying? No, flying through Atlanta. And we thankfully to our buddy Brady Quinn. He's hooking us up with golf.

Maybe getting on in your field. So wow. Oh, that's awesome. Brady Quinn is going to get you on at your field, huh? Brady Quinn is the man, man. He was the man last week in South Bend. We knew that. I mean, what is that like walking around South Bend with Brady Quinn?

What's that like? That was actually the part of I was looking forward to most because, you know, Brady's a big deal. You know, you were walking around with whoever you're walking around with in these college towns. But Brady in South Bend, it was awesome to be around where it's like, first of all, he's a big guy, so he's not going to be sneaking in around anyway. But you're walking around tailgates up to the stadium. It's like, whoa, there's Brady. And he's awesome about it because he's gracious to all these, you know, all these diehard fans. There's people coming up to him going, I named him after you. Is that right?

Oh, yeah, it's happened. There's a bunch of Brady's. Are there any Quinns? Maybe it could be a Quinn, too.

Yeah, I'm sure they're in South Bend. Right. It's a big Irish. So people are pointing to what, like 20 year old kids who were like, I was named after you or whatever. I named him after you. And it's just like, it's a really cool experience because at one point we were we went to a tailgate and we're walking in and it was a big crowd of our group.

When I say big, maybe eight or 10. Yeah. Urban was in the group. Urban's won three national titles. He actually was an assistant at Notre Dame in the 90s. I'm not saying nobody noticed Urban.

Sure. Everybody noticed Brady. Brady was the guy. Do you mean any Rudy's? I think we met the original Rudy. Like there was a I got to duck him.

He wants to fight rich. Did you know that? What?

Did you know you didn't hold on a second? We're about to return to our radio network. We'll get back on the Rich Eisen Show radio network sitting at the Rich Eisen Show desk furnished by Grainger with supplies and solutions for every industry. Grainger is the right product for you.

Call clickgranger.com or just stop by. As Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports and the athletic has, the reason why we're laughing for our radio audience is we just revealed to our friend that Rudy Rudiger wants to fight me. And I found this out from David Anspaugh, the director of Rudy told me that Rudy lives next door to Mike Tyson.

Didn't he say that? There's so much weird stuff going on right now. Yeah, well, and so because, you know, I am, as you know, a diehard Wolverine. So I can't stand the movie Rudy.

I'm one of the few people that just because, again, the moralizing of of all that's good about sports and college football is Notre Dame. Right. And that drives me a little bit nuts. It's like nails on a chalkboard.

I get that. I don't get where we're all of a sudden now. Is it real? Is it real? How fake is the movie? You know, and did he really come up with a sack?

Did he really get did he really get, you know, carried off and all of that stuff? And apparently Rudy has heard this and he wants to fight me over. How about honestly, how old is Rudy now? It's got to be in the 60s, I imagine. Is that right? Do we answer north of 50?

Correct. I am. I am 50. I don't I'm a lover.

I don't want to fight anybody. He's 75. Is that really? Yeah. Oh, you should do it.

You should take him up on that. Rich. OK, I don't know.

He wants to fight a 75 year old. So, yeah, I think this is, by the way, been good for everybody. It's been good for Rudy. People are talking about everything and anyway. So but OK, I didn't expect this this morning. What do we take out of the Notre Dame win over USC?

What do you take away for a few things? First of all, that was the first time I was in that stadium, at least for a game since the Bush push game. Really awesome game day atmosphere. They have really ramped up. And I thought Marcus Freeman's team, you know, is the first first time head coach. It's a big job. He'd only been there one year as an assistant. I feel like he has grown into the job. They have some really good athletes.

I'm interested to see how they take the next step. I thought they had a really good plan for Caleb. They overmatched USC. People can talk a lot about the defense, and it's not very good right now. But it's the offensive line.

When you looked at them, they did not look like a top 10 caliber offensive line. And so what I saw from that is there, you know, Caleb is trying to walk a tightrope and he does a lot of this stuff. And there's a NFL guy who I really respect. And he made an interesting observation. He was like, it's like he's trying to hit a five run home run every play.

And that's what it looked like. And he made three turnovers. They had a bunch of mistakes and he is trying to play.

I don't see it just like the perfect game because one thing to be efficient. It's another thing to make spectacular play after spectacular play. And USC was not ready for the big moment. Notre Dame was. And I don't know where how USC picks puts the pieces back, because remember, that's an out of conference loss, right? So if they somehow can beat Oregon and Washington and not stumble, they go to the pack totally and they still have a chance to make the playoff. But they need to get better, not just the defense, but really they need to get better in a lot of places, including on the offensive line.

So then what is your takeaway from Washington, Oregon? What a game that was. Yeah, I think the way Michael Penix Jr. is playing right now, his receivers are really good. He is, you know, he is playing at a really, really high level.

They stretch you out. They throw deep balls. He's accurate deep. Kalen DeBoer, who's this is his second season. Hopefully the rest of the college, the rest of the football audience is learning who this guy is. He's a fantastic coach. And remember, they were they were really bad when he took over. He came from Fresno State. He's a guy who won a bunch of national titles as an NAIA coach.

Very even keel. I think, you know, I wouldn't write off Oregon. I think Oregon's a really talented all around team. But what you're seeing right now with Washington and again, they may stumble because I like they had their hands full with a good Arizona team a couple of weeks ago. I think I'd be surprised if everybody doesn't get picked off at least once in the Pac-12. Do you think that if that does happen, the Pac-12 is left without a playoff seat?

Do you think that's possible? Because we're going to because if Georgia moves on, they're they're in, right? Florida State moves on. They're in. And I think if there's a one loss Big Ten team, whether if those guys pick themselves off. Right. I think that that would probably leapfrog because then whoever that is would still have a probably as good a win, if not a better win than anything that's going to be in the Pac-12.

Now, here's the caveat to that. Yes, this is the last year in terms of probably for the Pac-12, obviously. But the Big Ten, the Big Ten West still stinks, right? You got a beleaguered Iowa team that is winning in spite of its offense.

And now their offense has all sorts of season ending injuries. So, you know, if Iowa comes out of that side, you're you know, they look maybe they'll be eleven and one or even worse, you know, ten and two, they could you know, the ranking will still not be it's not going to be twenty fourth in the country. The Pac-12, on the other hand, because it's the two best teams, whoever plays in that title game is going to get a boost. I think if there's a one loss Pac-12 team, they're going to get in. You know, even if it's USC, if USC runs a table, that means they would end up having wins over Oregon and Washington and UCLA. And, you know, some, you know, Oregon State, I think, or so did Oklahoma knocks Texas out or what about either one of those two?

That's that's the other wild card. Now, if Texas wins and if Texas is a one loss team in there and they've avenged their loss and they beat Alabama pretty soundly in Tuscaloosa, I think that you'll get the you'll get them there. I just have a hard time thinking something is going to happen here because right now you have North Carolina that's undefeated. You have obviously Florida State is undefeated. I just don't think form is going to hold.

There's going to be teams that are going to get knocked off. Bruce Feldman here on the Rich Eisen Show before we get to the upcoming game in Columbus, Ohio State and Penn State. Brock Bowers getting the tightrope surgery on his ankle.

What does that mean to you? Because my question is, does that show that he wants to play again this year for Georgia to get three championships in a row? Or is he just making sure he is completely cleaned up and ready to go to be a top five pick in Detroit next year for the NFL draft? I think the fact that he got that surgery, you know, on Monday or the, you know, as soon as possible to had, I believe it twice. And the second time was the year LSU won the national title. He actually only missed one game. OK, they had a bye weekend there, but Georgia's had other players, one of their most talented offensive linemen who might be a top 15 pick. He had it and they have a tight end who's also who already had it.

Those guys, it feels like they were on the four to six, you know, weeks outside. So, I mean, if that's the case, you know, he probably gets back in time for the SEC title game. I mean, he's a I think they do need him to win the national title because I don't think their offense is great enough as it's structured now. Like without him, I think they probably lose to Auburn because he took over the game in the second half. Yeah, he's that good.

He is that good. The defense, which I think they expected to be lights out. I know they lost a lot of terrific players to the NFL, hasn't been that great so far. Now, they've had guys who were banged up, too, but it's been, you know, they look good against Kentucky, but that's really been it, right? And so I my hunch is he will come back at some point for the SEC title game, at least. And if he does, then how ready is he to go? You know, I my guess is they'll get Alabama. I guess they could get LSU if LSU ends up rolling through. And and Jayden Daniels has been phenomenal, but the defense there has not. So there's a lot to be sorted out, but I don't think he's done.

I don't because if he was, I don't think he would have gotten that surgery at that point. So then let me give you one more scenario here. Florida State moves on. Ohio State beats Penn State this weekend. Michigan shows up at home against Ohio State. They're both undefeated.

The let's say one more time. The Pac-12 champion is clearly one of the best teams in the country based on how everything else goes on. Is it possible that Georgia gets beat in the SEC championship game and the SEC gets zero playoff teams? Is that a possible scenario here?

It's possible. I think the thing that would would be tricky for the SEC in that regard, because, look, you know, the SEC is this is not one of its best years. Yeah. Which means, you know, treating the SEC like the rest of college football. Is that heresy?

Is that is that a heretical? It shouldn't be. I think the way some of this domino stuff works is if Texas comes out of avenges that law doesn't lose the rest of the year. And then Texas has the win over Alabama. And let's say Alabama is the one loss team and Alabama has one loss where it was like it was at home.

Not a terrible loss, but you can't put text. I don't think you can put Alabama in over Texas, even if they beat Georgia in the SEC championship. It's a great win, but the head to head, it was in your place.

Yeah, I just don't you know, I because at the end of the day, like you're going to look at what the SEC is. Yeah, you have a great win over Georgia. But the SEC West, I mean, then you're talking about they would have beaten what would be a three loss LSU team, at least. And LSU got, you know, got dominated in the opener by Florida State. And LSU has another loss.

It's not, you know, it's not great. So a three loss team. I just, you know, you'd have one great win. The other team would actually have a great win, too.

And it's against the team in question. If it came down to that was the head to head. I also think, you know, if if you have an undefeated Big Ten champ, they're definitely going right. You know, but what about the let's just you know, the loser of Michigan, Ohio State, they're both undefeated.

And then that's that's the end of that. I think if the loser of that team, I don't think you're getting two Big Ten teams in that case. OK, not if you have an SEC in Alabama that's beaten Georgia as one loss.

You're not because let's be realistic, like Michigan's been impressive. They haven't played anybody yet. They have a two game schedule. They have a two game schedule, Penn State, Penn State, Ohio State and Ohio State at home, because, you know, whoever comes out of the the Big Ten East is going to play an Iowa team that no disrespect to Kirk Ferentz.

He's done a really good job, you know, with winning games. But no one's going to look at that, go, oh, you beat Iowa and they're really good. That's that's that's just a really limited offensive team.

And so they're not going to get a big push. So what you're getting really essentially is, hey, you know, if you beat whoever you beat, you have one really good win. And, you know, Ohio State's resume is going to be a little better because they did win in South Bend. And now that win is boosted. Same deal for Penn State as it is for Michigan.

I think it's just not the resume is not going to be very strong beyond the heavyweight wins. Bruce Feldman here from Fox Sports and the Athletic. Let's get to it. Then what's at stake? Ohio State and Penn State just writ large, obviously, for a national championship and both coaches in their current situations.

Yeah. You know, like both guys have James Franklin's done a terrific job there. He's getting paid a ton. If they lose this game, it's not like people are going to go, oh, we got to make a coaching change.

I don't see anything like that. Same thing with Ryan Day. The chatter will be way louder for him. I mean, he's got an amazing record. He can still avenge it, you know, when he plays when his team goes to Ann Arbor, you know, and James Franklin's case, I think he's like eight and one and eight, you know, against these powerhouse programs. He's beaten Ohio State that one time. He has beaten them, but it's just like they've been close.

They haven't gotten it done since. I think this is a really talented team. I think this game if this game was in Happy Valley as it was last year, I would pick this this Penn State team over Ohio State. Like when we were at in Columbus two weeks ago for the Maryland game, I didn't see anything from the Buckeyes that day that made me feel like they're going to dominate this game. I think Penn State's really talented. They may have even better athleticism than Ohio State. I don't know if you could have ever said that in a long time. That's correct.

Right. Their quarterback is like I think Drew Aller is is more gifted than com accord, but he's never played on this this quite to this stage yet. He's played last year, but it's just like now you're you're you're carrying it. I think Penn State has the better offensive line, but they're going to be tested. Ohio State has a good defense.

This is better. They're better than they were last year. They have a bunch of guys on the D line who are very capable.

And one of them last year, JT to him all out, took over the game in the fourth quarter. So here we go. Penn State.

Here's your chance to prove people wrong. So it's so close that the only thing that can tip the scales is if Lou Holt says something in the next 48 hours. Yeah, I don't I don't I don't think Ryan Day needs to worry about anybody giving them added motivation. It's like, OK, how good is our offensive line?

You know, and how healthy are we going to be? You know, Trevion Williams, who's, you know, missed a bunch of time. He's a really gifted running back.

You know, is he going to be good to go and good to give them a difference maker in the backfield so they're not one dimensional? See, one of the many things I appreciate about you, Bruce, is you give me information and you don't take my bait. You just don't take my bait.

You don't give me what I'm looking for. I got sucked in on the 75-year-old man fighting story. Eighty, 85. I think you're you're you're you're you're young and I'm up. You're young and I'm up. All right.

Did you take in anything from the Senate hearing on NLL yesterday? Stupidity. Stupidity. I mean, it's like they can't even control what they got. Like you got one guy who's talking about it's chaos is like, come on. Anybody who's pays one percent attention to what goes on in our political forum, you know, you have no business talking about that when when you're you got a clown show going and you know, in that forum. So no, I mean, because I mean, then what?

Then then why? Why are there some people in power in college? Jackasses, well, you have this thing where you have the ratings have have been sky high for college.

There's been way more interest in college football now than in the last than it over this five year stretch. I would agree with that. Yes. But you have people who are they're clowns. They are clowns.

Why? Like it's embarrassing that they're actually in positions of power. But the idea that they're waiting and they don't know what they're talking about. So then why why again, Greg Sankey and others in power saying, hey, let's see what Congress has to say. I don't because because I think they're uncomfortable with the power dynamic of how it's starting to play out. I mean, there are people and people in positions of power in college football who are talking about things like revenue sharing and things that that are that are awkward and uncomfortable for some, not all, but some of the positions in leadership. I mean, it's a it's a sport that has no real leadership at the top. Now, why they would turn to something else that has bizarro leadership is is ridiculous to me. Well, because I guess they are the federal authorities and can somehow potentially pass legislation that does make something uniform when they're desperate for uniformity. You know what I mean? And so that I understand that's why I'm saying, you know, that way everything's going with realignment, the way everything's going with television contracts, they're they're the true powers, right?

The people who are running Fox Sports and ESPN. Yes, that is right. Like that is the true power right now that team school presidents listen to. And because that's where the money is, right? Exactly.

This is where the money is. So that's why I'm saying that you get a bunch of schools that are like minded that have partnerships. I mean, the Big Ten just, you know, gave the commissionership to a former CBS sports executive. I know Tony Petitti for years.

And so, you know, Greg Sankey's done deals with Tony Petitti. So you get a bunch of people together in a room, figure out who's in the boat, who gets to be, you know, relegated to start, who can then can come back in the boat and you create a new construct where you come up with your own rules that can pass Supreme Court muster for the NIL. That's what I'm saying. Let's put that aside for a minute.

Yes. Because there's a lot of rules that I think frustrate college football coaches at a high level that sometimes get made by people who are not playing the same game or they're not even really involved in the game. But that's how the NCAA is structured. And I think there is, you know, some of the people I talked to were in the sport are like, hey, we need to get them out of the mix.

Who's them? Who's them is the NCAA. Because it's a different it is a completely different dynamic than what happens for women's volleyball or softball or track or, you know, these other sports are just not the same. They don't travel the same. They don't operate the same.

They don't make anywhere near the same money. And so to have or you have like Division two schools or FCS schools, you know, waiting in on this. It's not logical, right? So you will have I heard you say this for 64. I don't know if it's 68. It's right now.

It's not a neat number to sort out. Hey, this is how we're going to run it. We're going to have some form of revenue sharing. We're going, you know, whether it's Greg Sankey or Tony Petitti, my guess is it would probably be one of those two people who would be the Goodell of this new entity. And then I think you're you're officiating his uniform.

A lot of other things or more uniform scheduling scheduling is uniform. Yes. And I think, look, there's a football coach I know well who's working in college, who knows the NFL model really well.

We have talked about this a lot, and I think it will at some point get there because it's more logical. Now, the other stuff you're bringing in from this week, I just sit there and I'm like, these are these are buffoons. Like they don't know, you know, like it's theater to them. Yeah. Like it's it's theater.

It's like you need to have those jackasses involved in this process, especially since many of them just walk off the hearing floor and go do a podcast. You know, it's it's but that's for a different day and a different time. But I just wanted to get your two thoughts on all that.

Two cents on all that. Enjoy Columbus. Tell everyone there I said hi.

I will, because I'm genuinely interested in their well-being. What I'm being I'm being being what? Oh, what's the word for arrogant, disingenuous? Yeah.

Thank you. Not arrogant. Why would I say arrogant, disingenuous? You've been arrogant for two years. Oh, you have no idea how I'm going to be in November. Potentially.

Potentially. Not like this weekend. That's a given. I feel good. Good to see you, Bruce.

Good to see you. You bet. Bruce Feldman. Not taking my bait once again, but it's one of the many reasons why I love having the gentleman from The Athletic and Fox Sports on right here on The Rich Eisen Show back with your phone calls in a moment. You want to explain to me how you what you told me on Monday that Rudy has heard what I've had to say about this subject? This is the best part. I haven't told my guys what about this, but please, I give you the floor. Is this true that Rudy that this what I have said into this microphone has filtered in the direction of Mr. Rudiger directly to Las Vegas, Nevada. Yes.

And it was very interesting. I have not talked to Rudy. Angelo has. OK. And apparently Rudy was pretty incensed, incensed enough to go to his neighbor, Mike Tyson, and ask him if he would train him to get you in the ring to put you where you belong. Hold on a second. Back the truck up.

Hold on. So the real Rudy lives in Las Vegas next to Mike Tyson, who he has apparently asked for like the training, training advice so he could come in. You know what? Rudy could. I heard this to him, but it could have been. I know that Floyd Mayweather, it might have been Mayweather.

Oh, my God. And oh, by the way, not in the movie. What was not in the movie is that when Rudy was at Holy Cross and he was, you know, you know, trying to come up as a Notre Dame student, getting in the cheering section, painting helmets, all that. He also joined what they called and I don't know if they do it today, but it was a campus wide boxing tournament and it was called the bangle bouts and dudes. He won it as a Holy Cross student masquerading as a Notre Dame student.

And he won. And we had it originally in the script, but we had to cut it out. Well, now hearing about his ability to fight, you better start playing nice. Boy, what a great film this is, David. I mean, now you tell me the back story.

I mean, wow, it's it's quite a moving piece of cinema that you put together. Oh, yeah, that was fun. Back in the day, back here on The Rich Eisen Show, eight, four, four, two or four rich number to dial. Let's take a phone call here. Aaron, hit it, Mike. Hit the drop.

Go for it. Where is A.A. Ron right now? He's in Milwaukee right here.

Aaron in Milwaukee. Hey, where are you? Long time, first time. I love the program and all you guys do. Thanks for the time. I just wanted to call with the proposed MLB playoff format fix for you. All right. So I would suggest shortening the regular season to 150 games and extending the playoffs to eight teams per league.

No buys at all. A five game series for the wildcard seven game series the rest of the way. That way, everyone plays the same number of games, prevent making excuses that undermine underdog run because we value that in like the NCAA and NBA playoffs. It doesn't really make sense to do that for baseball. Thanks, Aaron.

Appreciate it. And you know, you know, it's not going to be in the owners. What? Why would they do 150 games? Why would they do it?

Because that's because we're getting it on the back end for playoff game, I guess. Or just win. How about that? Kershaw don't give up six runs. How about you hit Mookie for your 90 gajillion million dollars?

Same thing with Freddie Freeman hit Rangers D backs. You watching that World Series? Nope. So but that first of all, it's not going to be it. That's not going to be it. Why not?

It's going to be Rangers Phillies. How do you know that? Okay. You have the Almanac, the Gray Sports Almanac is a crystal ball back to the future, too. I mean, I do have a script almanac, but now it's the football. By the way, I told you that script that had Rogers lose his healthy Achilles four snaps and you should throw that away.

But I will let you know it gets better for you as you go on. What does it say for for Robert Salas interview coming up? Oh, well, how does it say? I'm just I don't want to ruin it. Hoppin, but it is popping, right? You ain't got no haters. You ain't poppin. That's what it says.

It said that. Oh, yeah, baby said Jack Wilson's actually playing well. Allen Dallas. What's going on now? What's up, Al? Well, my man, my man, Rich Isons, a lover, not a fighter. So, Rudy, you ain't got no shot getting the ring Richard.

Yeah. By the way, we just replayed for our radio and the Roku and the Roku segment explaining the radio audience when David on spot came on. And remember, I told you guys when we came when I came in that I ran into him in the supermarket, wait till he tells the story about Rudy and me. You guys did not know now that he had learned that Rudy wanted to fight me and spoke to his next door neighbor, Mike Tyson. Or as he then said, Wait a minute. Might not, but it might have been Floyd Mayweather.

There was the choice. Not when I'm on the business end of that sandwich. He doesn't want to fight you.

He wants to kick your tuchus. That's correct. So and by the way, TJ, I felt like I was on hold at W.I.P.

earlier in the show. I mean, good God almighty with the Philly talk. It's making me naughty. Hey, look, they're the homes of many champion conference and league champions right now. They're the biggest losers. I'm a hater. I'm a hater.

So I'll come out in a minute. You know, Brockman is 100% right. My man, my main man, Chris Brockman regarding these playoffs. The problem is that when you shorten the series, you give an advantage to the weaker team. You let them survive. And you're right, Richard. You're right. I mean, these guys got a pitch. They got a hit.

But nobody and I mean, and, you know, I live here. So, you know, I'm watching the Rangers, but nobody wants to watch the backs Rangers. They have to come up with something. They have to come up with something better. They're not going to cut games.

You said it. They're not going back to 160. They're not going to take those 12 games off the board. They just have to. They have to make the series. You got to make them longer.

And then TV runs rules. So they're not going to do that. I appreciate the time, Al. We're up against it.

Thanks for calling. Look, I'm just going to give a quick minute treatise here. This has nothing to do with rest and whatever. It has to do with everybody throws 100 million miles an hour out of the bullpen and the way you're dealing with your analytics. All you need is five innings from somebody. And then you bring in six people who throw 105 miles an hour and their off-speed pitch is 98.

Everybody's got them now. And it changed when the Royals did it, right? And the other small market teams, if you will, small market, just get a whole bunch of draft choices who can throw 105 miles an hour and 98 on the off-speed. And it wins every time. It's why the All-Star games are one nothing.

But that's also why you can't afford to have time off. You can't have your timing, what timing, whatever. It doesn't matter about timing when somebody's throwing 105 and then 98. It does matter. And we saw it with the best teams in baseball, not advancing. What it means is that you could say so then you change the format. You won't see Diamondbacks versus Rangers.

Yeah, you will. If they've got eight guys who throw 105 and their off-speed is 98. And that's what it seems like the small market teams can do to compete. Those are my two cents on it.

Robert Sol is about to join us. You know what I mean? So honestly, that's the way it is right now. And the best part about it is it's become more watchable because of the new rules. More watchable because of the new rules because you're not having some right center fielder be a third baseman catching a line drive. And you're seeing better pace of play. Well, I think it's funny too. In the best year we've had for baseball in a long time because of the new rules, we're still sitting here trying to fix the game.

Well, I mean, and that's also a problem. Another reason why it's tough to fix is because when we grew up, it was a national sport. Now it's a regional sport.

If you're not a fan of these four teams, are you tuning in? I'm seeing it a little. Cooper's turning it on.

Only for a real sicko. The reason why I'm seeing a lot of that stuff is my 12-year-old is turning it on, which is great for baseball. A 12-year-old who is locked in. He is locked in on it, which is great.

And I think the new rules help for a 12-year-old to be locked in. But when it all comes down to it, the reason why you're seeing the big market teams lose, I don't believe it's because of rust or anything like that. It's because these other teams, small market teams, lesser if you will, teams have the ability to have the, in this day and age of analytics and whatever, the back end of your pitching staff be just as good.

That's a level playing field. Closers. And big market teams have the exact same advantages, but they've just had a week off. These other teams were playing the whole time and stayed hot. Pitch better, hit better.

I mean, we can have this argument and I think we will for the next week and a half while we're waiting for game one of the World Series. Robert Sala. Yes. Joining us next. Every Monday, Rich Eisen and Chris Brockman react to what's happening in the world of football on overreaction Monday. Dolphins final four AFC team.

Oh, that is not an overreaction at all. I'm with you. You're in.

I am in. The other three final four teams. If you were asking me to call my shot, this is the overreaction limit podcast. Entertainment purposes only.

Unless I'm right. Chiefs. Dolphins. Bills. Ravens. Ravens. Final four. Overreaction Monday. The podcast wherever you listen.