Bruce Feldman: If Georgia Has Their A-Game, They Can Present Problems for Texas

For business owners like you, the American Express Business Platinum Card works just as hard as you do to help you pursue your passions. With its world-class business and travel benefits, you can get more for your business wherever it takes you. The Amex Business Platinum Card offers a flexible spending limit that adapts with your business, enabling you to flex and adapt as your business evolves. And you'll earn five times membership rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com, so that going that extra mile for your business is even more rewarding. See how the Amex Business Platinum Card gives business owners like you the tools and rewards to do more of what you love. Not all purchases will be approved, terms applied.

Learn more at AmericanExpress.com slash Amex Business. This is the Rich Eisen Show. It's a judge-ian blast. The Rich Eisen Show.

This is not your job. This is now coming home to roost. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.

And I understand why Jerry doesn't want to be asked it, because there is no answer for it. And that's what we were wondering during the entire non-playing season is what's this going to look like? Well, now we're seeing it. Earlier on the show, senior writer for the MMQB, Albert Breer. Coming up, Fox Sports college football analyst, Bruce Feldman, MLB Network analyst, Al Leiter. And now it's Rich Eisen. Hey, our number two, the Rich Eisen Show is on the air.

Oh, my gosh. Did we just have a big flourish and finish to our first hour of our program? In case you missed it, in case you're somehow just joining us. Moments ago, something arrived for TJ that I had only hoped would arrive yesterday since Karl-Anthony Towns texted me over the weekend after the Cowboys got spank-a-lank-ed by the Detroit Lions.

Karl-Anthony Towns, a diehard Eagles fan, texted me, you know, like, what's your studio address? I feel like I should send flowers to TJ or something. And then they didn't arrive yesterday.

I'm like, ah, I'll just throw that text up on the screen before the end of the show, which is how we ended our Tuesday program. Right. And then guess what arrived? The flowers. And they're right next to TJ Jefferson right now, 47 flowers in Eagles' arrangement in green and white, and then nine cowboy blue roses, man, to show the difference between 47 and nine, or as he said on the card, because he enclosed the card. It's very nice, beautiful, too. Look at this right here.

Everything is top notch. No Sunday was rough, so sent you some flowers. 47 be exact. P.S., look at the difference between 47 and nine. Wow. Love.

Love the cat. He called you fam too, TJ. That's great. Fam. We're peoples.

We're peoples. And by the way, he's not wrong. Next to one another. It's a jarring difference. Oh, yeah. Forty seven is much more than nine, right? I mean, kind of like five Super Bowls is more than one Super Bowl. Oh, right. Right.

Like kind of like we're using that type of map. But if you look at five, look at one, like that's not that big a difference. Like 47.

In terms of Super Bowls, it is. It's actually more than 47. So nine times five, right, is forty five. So five times one is five. So if you're if you want to do like what? By the way, I'm not very good at this. I shouldn't even be trying to do math live on the radio and TV. So so no, no, it's whatever.

I don't care. So it would be like nine to one. Right. Right. And so so it is a bigger ratio. Yeah.

Being beaten 47 to nine. Right. Right. Yeah, whatever. Five to five to one.

And the cowboy. And it's the same differences. I'm just saying, if you really want to, you know, break it down, just pointing it out. Carl Anthony sounds drinking time out of his busy day. I mean, of not playing in preseason basketball to actually go flower shopping for you.

No way. You see, see how rich even though he's on cat's side, he couldn't help but throw a little dig at him. No, you know what I'm saying? I mean, he's actually took time out of his day to also think about what how will I?

How will I actually do this? And it's a very ingenious way of sending two different arrangements, one in the colors of his team and one of the colors of yours. Give it up, though. That was I mean, I'm sure he didn't come up with it.

You know, I don't know, man. I appreciate that. He came up with it, thought of it, then came up with it, made the call and executed it, nailed it, stuck the landing. Yep.

I would say Miss Jordan had a little something to do with it because I don't think Kat would come up with. Oh, boy. Just don't poke it. Wow. Don't poke it. Because I mean, well, here, listen, the Eagles have the Giants this week.

Cowboys are on a buy. So you know, you're not getting any more flowers. Yeah. OK. Then comes the post by against the forty niners.

Oh, that that never works. I don't know. So what's what's what's you know? I don't know. I don't know what.

Well, they'll win that. What better way to show the difference between two numbers than with flowers? He could have sent some cash next time. OK. Forty seven thousand in this guy, as opposed to nine and unmarked twos. You know what I'm saying?

If you really want to now online, hard cash for streaming television and radio asking for money. Wow. For for the Cowboys.

Why not lose? All right. Listen, spoiler alert. They smell great, by the way. They were amazing. Spoiler alert.

Dallas Cowboys are not on my power rankings. Oh, imagine that. Hit it. Hit it, please. Oh, let's go. Hit it. Let's go.

Hit it. Time for my power rankings. Power rankings.

There are many like it, but this one is mine. Power rankings. Cowboys were tenth on my power rankings.

They'll be back next week. I did those power rankings from London. Guess what? I did not declare on my way back into the country.

Hey, the Cowboys are my power rankings. When they said, do you have anything to declare? I said nothing. No, sir.

Zero. I have or I declare my bad. They are not on my power rankings. They're off. But I did bring somebody back from London for my power rankings. Chris Brockman, your Chicago Bears star.

Yeah, it's what I've been leading this since the draft. Still not giving you your Bears. No, stop. They're Adam's Bears. They're Adam's Bears. But I'm saying I've been the space of this Caleb train.

I'm just saying. I saw it in my own two eyes. I saw it in my own two eyes.

I saw it in my own two eyes. They smoked the Jaguars and didn't even really get much from DJ Moore or connect with him that much. He did have a touchdown call back, placed down at the one. And he's just hitting his back foot and letting it and he's throwing darts, man. And he and the playbook gets bigger for him every week. His field of vision gets better from every week. He is at an all time high in terms of being confident right now.

And we'll see if it can get bigger and better for them. And the defense has been terrific as well. And I know it looks easier for Jayden Daniels. And that's why we don't talk about Caleb as much as we do Jayden Daniels. But guess who's coming up after the bye. It's the Washington commanders who dropped four spots and they're ninth on my list right here. I thought they did very well for a team that nobody expected to be four and two against a Ravens team that is now four and two that everyone expected to be four and two or better.

And Jayden Daniels is the real deal. And defensively, they are playing better. And part of that is because they're not on the field as much. This guy doesn't punt. They put points on the on the scoreboard.

They don't turn it over. That does help a defense that needs to stay off the field. So there's still a top 10 team. They're ninth on my list right now. Up one spot is the Buffalo Bills. I'm keeping them on my list. And why not?

It wasn't pretty. But as I keep saying, there are some of their parts and the biggest part that they have is Josh Allen doing Josh Allen things. Now, he's got a Murray Cooper to help matriculate. And we could see they certainly drafted well with Ray Davis. And we'll see as this team gets healthier throughout the year, what they'll look like.

Right now, they're eighth on my list up one spot. Seven are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who, I got to be honest, I thought that thing was a boat race happening. And then Spencer Rattler made it interesting before Baker Mayfield quieted the crowd in New Orleans. It was a Chris Godwin game on Sunday.

Sure was. And Bucky Irving, right? Sean Tucker.

Sean Tucker. Defensively, I'm wondering what's up. Yeah.

Yeah. But they're still top 10. They're seven. Number six are the Falcons because they beat the Bucks. And the Falcons have won three in a row. And Kirko is beginning to get better. And that one and two start is history. They are now four and two. And let's see what they can do against Seattle.

That's a winnable game, one game they quote unquote should win. They're six on the list. Up one spot, cracking the top five once again on the Baltimore Ravens. They're one spot up at five.

And oh my God, I can't believe they were on two. And every single time I see Derek Henry in purple, it's like, how did the rest of the league let this happen? You know what I mean? Like, you know what I mean? Like, yeah. How did they let it happen?

We said it when it happened in March, when they signed, right? This is going to be awesome. Right? Spoiler alert through six weeks.

It's awesome. And it's exactly what we thought. And then you remember when they were all four weeks, the first two weren't well, no, but you remember, I was about to say in the first two weeks, they scored a touchdown. I was about to say in the first two weeks, we were wondering, well, the chief's game was like, if they knew how to work Derek Henry into their offense, that's gone.

That question's gone. A month later, it's like he's always been there. He's always been the caretaker. He has eight touchdowns in six games. And it is as frightening as the shining as everybody else, because here's Derek. I know. Down one spot, the Texans, you'll understand why I'm knocking them down a spot.

It's not just because, you know, to see, uh, say that, say that again, Texans. Yeah. Yeah.

They're down one spot to see it in the AFC. I understand that they're down one spot and it's not because of what, you know, they, they didn't, didn't boat race Daraque Maia, you know, 41 points. I know that. Okay. I know that it struck, it was, it was, I thought it was going to be on and cracking at the very beginning. It was not, it was 14, nothing. And then all of a sudden it was on and turn it over. I mean, there was not, that was not a struggle on Sunday.

Okay. Number three, well say that to people who have CJ Stroud in their fantasy league, raising my hand, Vikings down one spot because they're on their buy and the Lions just absolutely destroyed the Cowboys. So I moved them up to two Vikings fans are not happy. They might not be, but, and by the way, the Vikings can absolutely beat the lines this weekend. 100% beat the Lions. They're coming off their buy and hopefully Aaron Jones is healthy.

They got Cam Akers by the way, in a trade that got, you know, lost in the shuffle of Davante Adams and Amari Cooper. That fair fauceted. Yeah.

Nice. But it just, in terms of, you know, why the Lions are up two spots, all you got to do is just, can you take TJ Jefferson's camera? Because their flower arrangement that Carl Anthony town's Eagle fan sent TJ Jefferson 47 roses in Eagle colors and nine roses in cowboy colors, 47 to nine. Cause he wanted to tell TJ as he wrote in the note, show the difference between 47 and nine.

It's a big difference in numbers. The Lions just went into Dallas with bad intentions and 19 plays with tackles that are eligible. They got deep in their bag and they just absolutely destroyed the Cowboys.

They're two up two spots. Number one of the chiefs still. And I know I knocked the Vikings down a peg for being on a buy. Why didn't I do that to the chiefs? Because they're the two time defending champs.

That's why. And before they hit there by they hit a stride and I'm assuming, you know, Andy Reed is the king of not losing after a buy. Good luck to the San Francisco 49ers as the two time defending champs come to town. That's my power rankings only team off the list are the Dallas Cowboys. Everybody else remains and just jumbled it a bit. I put the bears on there. I was going back and forth between them and the pet, the peckers. But I went with the team that I just saw.

I sold my own to us. No steelers, no chargers, no 49ers. Well, that would be amazing how we only mentioned the Cowboys. Excuse me.

Hold on a second. Cowboys are three and three. Niners are three and three.

I chose a four and two team that I think is better. And I think the Bears are. Bears are about to change their quarterback, maybe hoping to turn good into great steelers.

You mean what I say? The Steelers or the Bears? Yeah, the Steelers.

I don't know, man. I'm just going with that. Going with that. Going with the Bears team that is ascending. Keenan Allen had two scores. Cole Komet had two scores.

It's one of those types of teams and offenses. It's just like, whose day is it going to be? Oh, it was a Komet day. It was a Keenan Allen day. Next week, it's a Ndunze game.

The week before. Before it was a DJ Moore game. Before it was a Komet game. And then it was an Allen game. There was a Swift game in there.

Swift game in there too. So it's beginning to work. According to next gen stats.

Yes, sir. Cowboys, 28% playoff probability. They still have a chance, obviously. Obviously that makes sense. Bears, 30%.

Listen, the Cowboys are just always going to be discussed because they have a terrific quarterback, a terrific receiver, and when everyone's healthy, terrific defenders. The question is, is what now? Well, you don't right now. That's correct. More than anyone. That's correct. You know, the, the problem is, is that, you know, if, if you don't like it, you can't just change things.

Like Jerry Jones said, he would change people who get a chance to question him every week. Yeah. You should watch out. You have got to be smoking something over there this morning.

So I looked into that. So Jerry does not own the radio station, but they are the official flagship of the Cowboys. So Jerry was implying that he makes a phone call and those guys are out. Yeah. I mean, we all got it. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Like anybody who's, you know, yeah, yeah.

Like that's the way it works. Like he could, he could easily not do that segment, but I think he really does enjoy talking once a week. I think he, like Albert was insinuating, he likes having the Cowboys in the news.

Gee, you guys just took you to 10, 14 a day to figure that out? No, but Tony Kornheiser yesterday said they're an irrelevant franchise. Irrelevant, you said? Yeah. That is not true.

It isn't true. Cowboys are always going to be relevant. In terms of winning and being competitive.

I get it. In terms, irrelevant in terms of who's actually, I totally understand it. Irrelevant in terms of winning a championship this year as any team that looks as mediocre as the Cowboys are, right?

With less of an ability to find the right mix within their locker room to get it done. You know, that's true, but in terms of interest for discussion and interest for fan base, I'd push back on that on Mr. Tony. Well, obviously you have to push back on that. I mean, we've spent 15 minutes talking about them. Like, so irrelevant is completely irrelevant. Totally insane. I mean, if you really want to add, like we're 15 minutes into this segment, we, we, I talked about them for about 40 seconds in my power rankings, the last minute plus, and then thanks to Carl Anthony town, sending you an Eagles arrangement of 47 Eagles colored roses and nine cowboy colored roses. That's, that's taken up the lion's share of our conversation.

Speaking of lines, 47 to nine is what Carl Anthony towns cat, man, cats, a dog. It's crazy. It's like, there's two other team fan bases here who lost and yet we don't know. No, listen, I just think it's, he doesn't, no, no, by the way, I don't care about the jets as much as you care about the Cowboys.

That's a fact. Number two, also Carl doesn't have much of a footing at this point in time about his team. I mean, it's because they are one homecoming trip that everybody circled for Saquon to go off. Like he went off in week one against the Packers. They're one loss away in that game for going back down the turnpike and having a Defcon one situation on their hands at three and three, just like you right now, sir.

So that's a fact, you know, with Nick Sirianni shaving his head, like he's private pile and coming off the by, you know, barking at the fans and then apologizing for it and barely beating the worst team in the league. That does not give a lot of confidence. Yeah.

But if you can only pick one of these teams to make the playoffs, you're picking the Eagles. Absolutely. Yeah. Of that, there is no doubt. I do not, I do not push back on that. What I'm just saying is that there's four quarters while the Cowboys are off that could not go Carl's way.

And he would be in the same as the private pile phrase goes in the world of you know what. Well, I don't have the disposable income that Carl does. So after they lose, he will not be getting flowers.

Well, you can find something else. You should, you can find something donuts, something, you know what, first of all, the giants have to do your bidding first, which is something I know that you're not very happy with. Look, it's baseball season versus Dodgers, by the way, joining us in one hour. I remember rich sacrifice the Cowboys to the sports gods for the Mets to be in this position. I prayed for this and it happened.

Okay. So I just got to take what happens with the Cowboys to see grimace in the Mets go all the way up. It does smell nice in here.

Let's bring Bruce Feldman out here and talk some college football from Fox sports in the athletic that's next. For business owners like you, the American express business platinum card works just as hard as you do to help you pursue your passions with its world-class business and travel benefits. You can get more for your business wherever it takes you. The Amex business platinum card offers a flexible spending limit that adapts with your business, enabling you to flex and adapt as your business evolves. And you'll earn five times membership rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on Amex travel.com. So that going that extra mile for your business is even more rewarding. See how the Amex business platinum card gives business owners like you, the tools and rewards to do more of what you love.

Not all purchases will be approved terms apply. Learn more at American express.com slash Amex business. Let's talk LinkedIn people and small business owning. I'm a small business owner.

Yeah. I might host the Rich Eisen show, but I run it too. Rich Eisen productions is a small business. And when you're hiring for small business, you want to find quality professionals that are right for the role. And that's why you've got to check out LinkedIn jobs. LinkedIn jobs has the tools to help find the right professionals for your team faster and for free. It's not just a job board. This LinkedIn LinkedIn helps you hire professionals.

You can't find anywhere else. Even those who aren't actively searching for a new job, but might be open to the perfect role in a given month, over 70% of LinkedIn users don't visit other leading job sites. So if you're not looking on LinkedIn, you're looking in the wrong place. LinkedIn knows that small businesses wearing so many hats and might not have the time or resources to hire. That's why you got to use them. Post your job for free at linkedin.com slash Eisen.

That's linkedin.com slash Eisen to post your job for free terms and conditions apply. Healthy hydration isn't just about drinking water. It's about water and electrolytes. You lose both water and sodium when you sweat. So both need to be replaced to help prevent muscle cramps, headaches, and energy dips. Now you might think drinking beyond thirst would be a good idea. No, that dilutes blood electrolyte and sodium levels, which could lead to headaches, low energy cramps, confusion, or worse.

A solution isn't to stop drinking water. It's to drink water plus electrolytes enter element created by former research biochemist, Rob Wolf and keto gains founder Luis Villasenor elements has enough sodium, potassium, and magnesium to get you feeling and performing your best. Plus it has zero sugar, artificial colors, or other dodgy ingredients. Also element guarantees you find a flavor you love. Try fan favorites, citrus salt or raspberry salt. Get spicy with mango chili or mixed chocolate salt into your morning coffee.

Element came up with a fantastic offer for us. Just go to drinklmnt.com slash rich Eisen to get a free sample pack with any purchase. That's drinklmnt.com slash rich Eisen. These statements and products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. Bruce Feldman from Fox Sports and the Athletic is here. Good to see you, sir. Where you going this week?

Headed to Bloomington, Indiana tomorrow to see one of the best stories in college football. I've googled them. I've googled them.

There's a lot more stuff to Google right now after the way he's, he's won there. I mean, it's pretty amazing. Kurt Signetty. Kurt Signetty.

Yes. Family, you know, father was a really successful coach from Pittsburgh. He and his brother really worked their ways up.

He's in his early mid sixties. So it's not like he's an overnight sensation. One big at James Madison, as you said, Google me.

And he talked big when he got there and he is backing it up. It's a team that is built heavily on transfers, many from his old school at James Madison. The other thing that's I don't want to say it's overshadowed a little bit, but Nebraska has been very good year two for Matt Ruhl and he's got a terrific quarterback.

Who's been as advertised and that's Dylan Riola, uh, excited about our game this weekend. Yeah. Nebraska and Indiana is a, a, one of those big 10 games.

Nobody really circled in the beginning of the season, but worthy of, of watching. I will be definitely tuned into that. That's for sure.

Yeah. I mean, it's, it's going to get overshadowed by the two, by the really huge SCC game with Georgia going to Texas. Obviously that's the game of the week, but, um, Indiana, Nebraska, just because I think for Nebraska, it's been a long time since they've been decent and they are, and maybe this is the next big step.

I mean, they got to surround, I think they got to get Riola some better skill guys around him, especially a receiver, but he's pretty talented. Like he's really, really special. Um, and so I think it's a good chance for the country to kind of get a look at him while they're getting a look at the Hoosiers. That's pretty cool. That's great. And so, um, flying to Indianapolis, take a car. Is that what we're doing? Uh, I believe so.

Yeah. So it's not, it's, it's actually like we w we went there last year to Bloomington. I've been there a few times, but it's a really beautiful big 10 campus. Dude, you had me at big 10, you know, obviously I'm, I'm a big 10 guy, Bruce Feldman here from Fox sports and the athletic back on the rich eyes and show radio network sitting at the rich eyes and show desk furnished by Grainger with supplies and solutions for every industry Grainger has the right product for you call click Grainger.com or just stop by usual Wednesday spot for our friend Bruce Feldman from Fox sports and athletic to talk some college football, uh, Texas is just appears to be on an absolute role and cannot be stopped. I mean, Georgia's coming in this weekend. Um, what is your opinion of what we're seeing out of the Longhorns right now? They're the one team in the SCC that has been, um, has backed it up. Everybody else has been really shaky.

Um, you look at, at Georgia, especially. So they've had issues off the field and they've had them for a little while under Kirby smart. It feels like they have been significant though. They're not very good at receiver. Um, they're skilled talent. I don't feel like you not only lose Brock by ours, you lose Lad McConkie.

Those are two go-to guys. Uh, you know, I feel like Carson Beck has not been as sharp as he was last year in his first year as a starter, the defense, the run defense, which was great when they were winning national titles and tailed off last year has tailed off even more this year. Um, they're committing a lot of penalties. They didn't, they didn't look good when, when they went to Kentucky, they survived that game. And then they had a week off and then they went to Alabama and Alabama was ready for them, jumped all over them, ended up beating them. And they haven't looked that great since, you know, they beat bad teams and now they're going to play a Texas team. Again, if you look at the rest of the powerhouse teams in the SEC, we thought were going to be good. Georgia struggling around beyond, you know, after the first game against Clemson, they've not been great. Alabama after the big win against Georgia, you know, bad loss to Vandy and then just barely survived last week in South Carolina. You look at Tennessee's offense, looks really, uh, shaky at best.

I mean, they're kind of scuffling around. Ole Miss has been a big disappointment. They lost again last week to LSU.

That was a team a lot of us always going to be on a playoff. Wayne Kiffin's team looked really good against really bad teams. And now that they're in the SEC play, they're, they're struggling. And then, um, you know, LSU had a loss in the beginning of the year to, to a USC team that's not great, but they're finding ways to win. And that's a credit to Garrett Nussmeier, who's taken over and certainly to, to, to Brian Kelly in a really good offensive line.

But here we are with Texas, you know, Ewers got hurt early on. Arch Manning went in there, played excellent. The defense is very good. The offensive line is very good. They replaced a bunch of receivers with a deeper group of athletes. Tight ends really good. They look unbeatable right now.

They look really good. I don't think anybody looks unbeatable. I wouldn't put it out there like that. So who beats Texas? Who would you like, give me Oregon or something like that? Ohio State?

Is that what you're saying? Like Georgia is capable of beating them. I mean, it's a, you know, it's a spread within a touchdown. It's just the way Georgia is playing right now. They look like they could lose by two touchdowns, you know, but if Georgia has their A game, they can present some problems for Texas. I mean, right now, Texas played an Oklahoma team without a very good offense and they played a Michigan team in that game. Their offense is really bad too. You know, now Michigan's defense looked bad that day and that's a credit to Texas, but they haven't played anybody very good on offense so far. So again, I don't want to like, let's pump the brakes a little bit on Texas. They've looked really good. They, I think they deserve to be the number one team in the country, but they haven't played a team that I think is close to a legit top 10 team. Like Michigan was so one-dimensional on offense. It's just, you know, Texas did what they had to do, but this is a much better quarterback they're going to see than what they saw, certainly in Ann Arbor. Dan Lanning absolutely purposefully put a 12th man on the field to take time off the clock, right? Yeah, we believe it looks like that, yeah. Right, because he didn't really dispute it.

No, because of the rules. He's just, you know, he's a really smart situational guy that was an A-plus showing by his program, all from top to bottom. Right, and so do you think that that is indicative of the long run here? I mean, I know Penn State came up with a very nice win here against USC, right? And that they feel good about themselves and your question is like, you know, how good is USC? I understand that. Minnesota took it to them, so yeah.

No, I understand that, but they, you know, coming out here in this crazy world, you're coming from the middle of Pennsylvania flying out to Los Angeles. And we've seen a lot of teams, I think the record's like three and ten or three and eleven teams traveling two time zones, so, you know. We're learning how this is going to work, you know what I mean, in the Big Ten action. So, I'm just trying to pay some respects here before I say what I'm about to say, is that it's just, is this indicative of Oregon coming into a new conference and it's their conference?

Do you think that's indicative? I think it's indicative of an Oregon team that was really coached up well and took advantage of, they brought their A game, you know, it was a great crowd atmosphere. Dylan Gabriel played his best game, they ran him when they needed to a little more. I thought their offensive line, which had been really shaky in the beginning of the year, did a terrific job. Ohio State's defense, which has been touted quite a bit, was disappointing in that game. They haven't played anybody really yet.

No, they hadn't, they hadn't. But they, you know, the secondary has legit NFL guys and Evan Stewart ate them up. He's a former five-star recruit who went to A&M and they, he ended up in Oregon in the portal, looked really good. They ran the ball really well against Ohio State, better than I think most people would have expected. Ohio State couldn't get any pressure or much pressure. I just thought, I see, if you ask me right now, who do I think is going to win the national title?

I'm still picking Ohio State. You are? Yeah.

Okay. I mean, there was nothing I saw that was like, made me like, oh, this team is awful or this team can't do it. You know, they, they have the best group of receivers in the country. They have arguably the best come one, two punch in the backfield. Quarterback's a running threat.

And, you know, I don't think Will Howard is, he's nowhere near what CJ Stroud was, but the talent around him top to bottom is better than what CJ had, especially on defense. Well, let me give, let me give a little push back here. And by the way, this is coming from my Ohio State friends. Okay.

This is not me trolling or anything like that. This is coming from my Buckeye friends. And by the way, I don't know if you noticed, I can say the words Ohio State.

I have no problem with that. Not calling them, you know, Ishigan or whatever the hell they call my team. But what about the fact that at the end of this game, timeout in the back pocket, you know, the kids sliding up the middle, like this is now the, by the way, this just in, you can talk to your quarterback in the helmet. What about the fact that at the end of a game, there was a coaching gaffe or a gaffe by the quarterback that a coach either could have stopped, didn't stop, unable to stop, that that's just something that's going to come home the roost against someone like Dan Lanning, who's like, I'm going to put a 12th man on the field to try and mess with the situation or Sarc. You know, like when it comes down to it, coaching is going to matter. Sure.

What about that idea? I think there's, there's definitely something to be said for that. And also Will Howard is not like last year they had Kyle McCord. I was waiting to see if his eyes would put up there.

He's paying attention. But it was his first year as a starter. Will Howard, you know, led K-State to a big 12 title a couple of years ago. He's played a lot of football, but again, you know, there's still college players and of course, you know, you would hope if you're an Ohio State fan that the next time that circumstance like that comes up, they will be more dialed in. Again, I, I don't think losing at the last second to a really good Oregon team on the road means that they won't, they wouldn't beat them if they have a rematch someplace else. Right. So, you know, I think this was a good test for Ohio State. Again, like if they had gone in there and won by two touchdowns, I'd probably feel more confident in saying I think they'll win the national title.

Right. I do think Jim Knowles will get their defense, you know, a little more, again, uses the term dialed in because they have a lot of good players. I think Caleb Downs is a great player, but they, you know, I talked to an NFL scout this week and he was like, there's, they don't look like they're playing together very well. And again, maybe that was just the first time that they got taken on the mat. Because again, you take a look at their schedule playing somebody, if you will, and there's no slight to Michigan State either, but going on the road, playing Oregon in Oregon for the first time, you know, on the West Coast for a conference game, that is not the easiest first assignment by any stretch of the imagination. And you could either basically say, you know, Will Howard's not making a mistake in the horseshoe. I mean, things get crazy up in Oregon, I understand. So who are we not talking about that we should be talking about?

Like, what's your favorite story that we're not, we're not hitting right now? This is not a sexy story, but it's amazing what is going on with the two service academies, Army and Navy. Yeah. They are both undefeated in mid-season for the first time since the end of World War II.

You know, what is that, 80 years? I mean, that's remarkable. They're both in the top 25 for the first time since like 1960. Their offenses are extremely potent. I talked to a coach who'd played, has actually played both of them.

And I was like, okay, what's the, you know, cause they all, they do get lumped into, you know, they're recruiting a lot from the same caliber. And Army is more physical, Navy is more creative scheme-wise. And Navy, like obviously Kenny and Monte Lolo did a terrific job, but they tailed off in like the last five years. They weren't, they hadn't been, they weren't very good the last few years.

Now all of a sudden they're really good. You know, obviously there's going to be a big Army-Navy game at the end of the year. Who knows if it, you know, if.

Say it, say it, say it. Cause that would be incredible. That would be incredible if Army-Navy is literally for the 12th spot.

Yeah. I mean, but if we finally get expanded, I'm getting goosebumps even talking about it, that we expand the college football playoff to 12 teams for the first time and Army versus Navy becomes a like de facto playoff game, sort of like how, you know, the NFL plays its last regular season game amongst two teams whose last regular season game is for a playoff spot. If college football in this instance sets things up where it's Army versus Navy for that spot, it's, it's possible.

That would be so much bigger than what you just said too, just because the idea that these two are service academies who, you know, 80 years ago they were powerhouses and the sport has changed dramatically since then. But like, if you ask me right now, I think Boise State is the best team in that wildcard spot for call it for what it is. You know, Ashton Gente is a great running back. He's unbelievable. He is unbelievable.

He is, I actually do think now I wouldn't have said this three weeks ago. I do think he can win the Heisman trophy. You know, I mean, he's really, really special. I know one of my colleagues, Petros Papadakis did a Boise game a few weeks ago and talked to Dirk Cutter, who obviously is well traveled, you know, spent a lot of time in the NFL and he compared him to one of your colleagues who's, you know, was a great college player and a really good NFL player. And JD? Yeah.

Yeah. That's, I mean, again, not to go down that, the, the, the, the Gente change, but what I was going to say is, so he's a great player on Boise. I don't think their, their defense is like kind of middle of the pack for the Mountain West. Saying that to get to this point, I don't know who's slowing down him, but I could, you know, if you asked me if they play, I would love to see either one of those teams play, play Boise to see who's better. Now, Boise has to come out to Vegas in a week or so to play, play a really prolific offense.

And we'll see if they win that game. But that extra spot, again, the 12th spot is a really fascinating subplot to everything that's going on around college. Cause Army Navy's done, you know, usually it's played on a championship weekend. It's usually played in that time where the Heisman, the Heisman trophy gets announced, right.

And you, you sometimes, and I love this as somebody, you know, we all grew up or spent time in the Northeast where you can get snow there and it just feels way, you know, way different. And there's been times where they've been really good. This is the odd year where Air Force, Troy Calhoun, terrific coach, been there a long time. This is the year where like they were really good last year. They're not good this year, but the other two academies really look outstanding. I mean, Navy really whipped a good Memphis team that has some legit SEC caliber guys on that team on both sides of the ball.

Again, just let's extrapolate this out. Cause this is fun that as you pointed out, like a quaint throwback game that all of us want to feel patriotic and are patriotic about, right. You know what I mean? And becomes an actual de facto winner goes in contest between the two academies in Army and Navy, right.

The service academies. And, and, and then the winner takes on, has to go visit the horseshoe or has to go visit Oregon. You know what I mean? They would be the five seed, whoever, whoever's the runner up in the big 10 or the SEC, like Army at Alabama, right. Navy at Oregon, Navy at Ohio State. Like don't you remember opening playoff game.

Can you imagine if that happens? You know, like, I want to say both Army and Navy each had one at Oklahoma, one at Michigan. I remember doing well. Army and Michigan, they were set up to win that game. They, and there was a series, I want to say it was like from the second quarter where like, you know, like Michigan didn't get on the field offensively. It was just like going on forever. You know, those are really well coached teams are obviously there's a lot of talented athletes who are there and they, they're always physical. They're always really good at just grinding people out. And it's hard, you know, you're not going to have months to get ready for them.

You might have a couple, you might have 10 days or whatever. It's fun. It's fun. Yeah, it's a lot.

There's miles to go between. So they're both ranked for the first time since October of 1960. Okay. And it's the first time they're both undefeated this late in the year since 1945.

That was your World War II. There you go. And I love it. It's so fun.

It's great. And who's ranked right in between them? Michigan. How are they still ranked, Bruce?

Come on, what are we doing? You could say it. It is, I don't know, because they're the defending champs. That was last year.

Those guys are in the NFL now. Like, I'm not going to get like all worked up over who's in the twenties, but he does have a fair point, right? Well, Michigan at Illinois coming off a bye. You have two fringe top 25 teams.

One's like, you know, over 22, 24 or whatever that is. Illinois almost lost a really bad Purdue team. I know. Freshman quarterback. I know that. And so real quick, Heisman front runner, middle of October, literally middle of October is?

I think it's Ashton Jenti. I mean, yeah, like I still think Travis Hunter is in there. It's good to hear that, you know, Dion says he's going to play this weekend. His shoulder got banged up. He didn't play much last week. I mean, I know they lost to Kansas State, but Chidor looked terrific. I mean.

Yeah, I don't know. Like Chidor is, you know, I think he's a really good quarterback. I think the Heisman guy there is Travis Hunter, to be honest. You know, the quarterbacks to watch, Cam Ward at Miami, they're still rolling. He's made a huge difference on that program. I think he will be around this Heisman race. And usually those guys at the big programs, if they keep winning, tend to leapfrog the stories we like at this time of year.

What about Ewers? Did he get him getting hurt? You know, this is a game which will like he didn't.

He was fine. You know, he looked a little rusty coming back against Oklahoma. Oklahoma's defense is good. Their offense is bad. But this is a chance for Ewers to surge up, you know, there. I mean, you have a Tennessee, Alabama game, which is still people are going to watch it. And you have Jalen Milro, who has been really, really good. And I think they still have a puncher's chance.

I think Dylan Gabriel stepped into the race last week with how he did. Vanderbilt beating Alabama is the biggest shocker of the season so far. You want to say Diego Poppe isn't there? No, I'm just throwing out what, you know, just throwing one more out at you. Yeah. I mean. I mean, Vandy beating Alabama is the shocker of the season.

Yeah, I think so. I mean, Notre Dame losing to Northern Illinois is up there. But I think what kind of muted that a little bit is Notre Dame lost to Marshall a few years ago. And I think it was like, OK, right now, Notre Dame is a good team, but they're still their margin for error feels like it's not as big as Alabama's normally does.

But I think that the game you're talking about is a credit. Clark Lee has built that he hit on some he lost some good players in the portal and he got a really terrific leader in Pavia, who is, you know, it's crazy because you mentioned, you know, you mentioned yours. I mentioned I mentioned Milro. You know, people thought about Carson Beck in their Jackson Dart and great name. You might have Diego Poppe, the guy from New Mexico, the wrestler from New Mexico State, might be the MVP of the SEC in the first half of the season. Real quick, if you're Travis Hunter, you had the injury last week. Would you think about just sitting out the rest of the season? Like every mock draft has him first, second, third overall? Like what?

Why risk it? I hate to answer it this way, but asking me to be Travis Hunter or you to be Travis Hunter or any one of the five of us is kind of preposterous, just because I think he is like the level, the stuff he does, it's like asking me to read a foreign language. You know, I just think he's wired so differently, you know, like the competitiveness and everything else. Yeah.

As as older people, as we all are, I could see us saying, oh, yeah, the money's on the back end of it. But also, if you're him, you are the number one recruit in the country. You chose to go to Jackson State to go play for Deion Sanders. You knew you weren't winning a national title there.

You chose to follow Deion to Colorado. You probably knew the odds of of, you know, it's a big deal, I think, if they go to a bowl game and if they go to a decent bowl game, that's still out there. I think there's also the opportunity for him to still win the Heisman. I mean, you know, say what I you know, what we just said about Gente, you know, like he needs a lot of stuff to break right for him. If if Travis Hunter ends up doing more Travis Hunter stuff and they win eight or nine games in our top twenty five team, I think Travis Hunter ends up like, you know, if Gente runs for three thousand yards and they go to a playoff, maybe. But again, and I get it.

I'm sure there's a big insurance policy that Travis Hunter has. But I don't know. I'm with you, though.

It is. I'm with you in two things that you hit on. First of all, how can you put him, anybody in his shoes, right? Because of what he's done and what he does. I just think Deion has built a unicorn for or shepherded a unicorn, nurtured a unicorn who has a competitive streak in him that I don't think he did.

I don't know him from Adam. I just say he he's got a competitive streak in him or he's not he's not tapping out. Yeah, I'd be surprised. Look, there's great players. I mean, I think this is different than Fournette and Christian McCaffrey when they decided not to play in bowl games. I say, you know, those guys are high, high level players.

They're high level football talents and competitors. But yeah, I'm with you. It just doesn't sound it doesn't seem to be dismissive of your question. No, of course not. I mean, I don't think it's I don't think it's an illegitimate question. It's just like any question you have about anybody who's that talented, you know, wants to keep himself ready. But we're in the middle of October.

I don't know. There's still miles to go right there. Have a good time in Bloomington. Thank you. And look forward to seeing you next week. Thanks again for coming. Thanks, guys. The great Bruce Feldman, everybody from Fox Sports and the Athletic. We're back to talk a little playoff baseball in advance of Al Leiter. Joining us coming up.

But two pro basketball teams with two different arenas. So you need to see the view from your seat. You also need to all in pricing feature.

I've been telling you about. So you get to see your total upfront with no surprise fees at checkout. Take the guesswork out of buying tickets with game time picks. Download the game time app, create an account and use my code. Eisen for twenty dollars off your first purchase.

Terms apply. Visit game time.co over details. Again, create an account. Redeem my code EISEN for twenty dollars off. Download game time today. What time is it?

Game time. Let's talk O'Reilly Auto Parts, people. You love their jingle. You're going to love their friendly, helpful service even better because they're in the business of keeping your car on the road and the parts knowledge they have. It's all you need for your maintenance and repairs. They've got thousands of parts and accessories in stock, either in store or online.

So you never have to worry if you're in a jam. The team at O'Reilly Auto Parts can test your battery for free in or out of your car. If it needs to be replaced, they'll find you just the right battery for your vehicle. Need your windshield wipers replaced?

A brake light fixed or quick service? They'll help you there and find the right part or point you to the nearest local repair shop for help. The professional parts people at O'Reilly Auto Parts are your one-stop shop for all things auto. Do it yourself and you can find what you need in store or online. So stop by O'Reilly Auto Parts today or visit us at OReillyAuto.com slash Eisen.

That's OReillyAuto.com slash E-I-S-E-N O-O-O-Reilly Auto Parts. You're a type of guy that figures if it's not going the Yankees way it's because the way you're sitting or what you're wearing. Oh yeah. You literally believe that.

Oh yeah, I literally believe that. Like somebody can walk in the room and I'll go like, who's this guy? You got to be careful. Like one time my brother-in-law was sitting in a chair against the Red Sox and the guy hit a bomb and then he came the next night and I said, you sat there last night? And he goes, yeah. I go, no, just sit over here. He goes, I can't sit here. I said, sit over there.

You were there last night. You screwed everything up. So that's family. I don't care.

I don't care if it's a brother-in-law. You know what I mean? I mean, I throw my hat sometimes when I get mad that might turn it and I go, all right, leave the hat. Drop the baseball. Leave the baseball. I'm telling you, like last night I brought out the broom and Chapman was starting to sweat me out. I go get that broom out of here. Get the broom out of here right now.

Don't fool around right now with the mojo. I can, you know, I can do that in my house. When I'm at the stadium, at least I'm with people like me that I can relate to.

So I don't have to do that. It's harder to watch than participate because you have no control. It's like on an airplane, your life, you could die. You're like, you know, you go like that when you land and whatever. So you're out of control, at least when you're acting or you're doing the scene.

It's you. But I feel like I could turn things sometimes. I just feel like if I'm there, like even with the Astros, I feel like if I go to H-town, I could beat those Cowboys right in that stadium. Somehow my mojo, I almost did it once in 2001 in the Diamondbacks game seven. It was working.

It was freaking working. People were calling me when Soriano hit a homer. I said, don't jinx it. They go that you're doing it.

You're doing it. I said, I know, I know. And then it was that stupid bunt where Mariano threw the ball a second. Never should have did that. Changed the whole inning.

It did change. I was almost in tears. Imagine driving back in the desert five hours after a loss game seven like that. You're in tears, huh? Oh yeah. Some guy goes, wow, you're a real fan.

I said, yeah, I know. We're two games away from inviting him back. Back on the rich guys and show everybody game time tickets, get this on any mobile device, this app, and start buying tickets to any event in your area, sports, music, theater, concerts, all of it. It's so great.

It's so easy. The game time picks is a new feature that makes it even easier to see your favorite teams play live. If you want to choose sports because it filters out the fluff to show you only incredible deals on great seats. You don't have to waste time searching through thousands of tickets. You can use it again for any event in your area, not just sports. And with game time, you always get the lowest price guarantee or game time will credit you 110% of the difference.

Plus your purchase is covered with the most flexible customer service policy in the ticketing industry. Take the guesswork out of buying tickets right now with game time picks. Download the game time app, create an account and use my code rich for $20 off your first purchase terms apply. Visit game time.co for details.

Again, create an account, redeem my code. R I C H. You get $20 off. Download game time today. What time is it?

Game time. Al Leiter is going to join us next hour, guys. I haven't spoken to Al in a while.

It's been a while. Love talking baseball with him. He's in the New York Mets hall of fame. He is, uh, well, he's a Yankee animate. So he can talk to us about those two franchises. Suns in the big, he was, uh, you know, part of it's a two-time world series champ with the Blue Jays and the Marlins. He was a mid-season pickup for the Blue Jays and the Marlins the whole damn year. Mike, isn't he Tom's river? He might be a New Jersey guy. New York Yankees have not played crisp baseball, but they're up two games to none on an Indians team.

That's really young and really good and just not good enough over the last two games so far. And, um, it helps when you're trying to beat the Indians to make sure you don't see Klassé. Guardians, Rich. Pardon me. They say, oh my God, sorry. I do it too. I mean, how can you not? No, no, no.

It helps when you play the Guardians that you don't see Klassé. That's it. It's that simple. You keep him, it's kind of like, how do you beat a good quarterback? Make sure that that guy's nailed to the bench. Yeah. Not on the field.

That's it. Because if he, if he's, bottom line is in game three. If, if the Guardians go up in the seventh inning, what are you going to see? You'll see, you'll see six outs from Klassé. He hasn't pitched in a week. Yeah, he's coming in the eighth for sure. You know what I mean? Like that's it.

No doubt. Um, and, um, and then Aaron Judge Homard last night. Finally, Homard breaks a nine game postseason home run drought. And, um.

A little bit of an A-Rod special if we're being honest. Oh, that's not true. Don't be ridiculous. Game was four to one. Game was never close. The game never felt like the Guardians had a chance to win that.

That's not true at all. Seventh inning, eh, a little A-Rod-y. Actually the game was, the game was 4-2. Eh, a little A-Rod-y. Listen, it's A-Rod-y. It, it, it allowed them to get a four run lead, which is exactly the way you want to win playoff games. And also it got whatever pressure that might've been on him off of his back. And this is what he had to say about, uh, Homering last night.

I'm excited it went out. You know, you never know on these windy, chilly nights what that ball's going to do when you hit the center here. Um, but the ghosts were pulling it out there to the, to Monument Park.

That's for sure. They're the ghosts in Monument Park. But, uh, according to you, Chris, uh, wasn't this that as well, right? It wasn't, it wasn't the ghosts in Monument Park. Uh, you got that, uh, photograph of, uh, cause they, TBS was panning the crowd of, uh, who was celebrating. Oh, wow.

Wow. I mean, that's Rick Pitino. The vampires of Monument Park. I don't think he was out in the bleachers. I don't think he's a bleacher creature.

Look at that. Richard Pitino is celebrating that, that shot. I mean, he's a New Yorker of throwing through, right? St. John's head coach now.

There he is getting some good seats. You know, I thought that was vampire. I saw him at one point and I was like, that really looked like Pitino.

And then I just forgot and went about playing Candy Way with my son. You watch the game? I can't believe I'm even asking a Red Sox for his opinion. I saw him game one. A-Rod. He went to both games.

A-Rod is the king of the solo shot with them down eight to one. That's what you're talking about. Or up. Meaningless. Not affecting the final score.

Let me ask you a question. When one person gets on and play off baseball against the Mets, how do you feel? One person gets one person gets on and play off baseball. I'm excited. No, no, no. Against the Mets.

If a Dodger gets on first, that person's going to score, right? Like that's the way you feel every single minute. No, I don't feel like that. That's the way I feel that way.

I'll tell you, I guess it's a me thing. Listen, you walk a lead off batter and you're like, this inning's going to be a big inning. Yeah, these pitchers did a good job last night getting out of jams. The Guardians had bases loaded a couple innings in a row. Just felt like they could never get a big hit. Jose Ramirez is slumping a little bit. He did hit a late inning home run.

Oh no, but I was very A-Rod-y. They were down four. Oh no, no, for you. He's slumping. Oh, so he needs it. He's slumping. He needed to break out of the slump. Wasn't slumping at all. Nine straight games. I didn't even know Jeff was playing in this postseason. Right.

Everyone, so you didn't even, you didn't even know. Hey, hey, I got you. Very A-Rod-y of Ramirez, but I'll tell you, as soon as he popped that one out, I'm like, that's a great way for him to go home. Yep.

Maybe. Al Leiter in hour number three coming up. That was a great way for them to go back to Cleveland where they're the best home team in baseball. Yeah, you guys held serve. We'll see if the series, you know, they can get back in it. That's what you have to do. You got to win it, yeah. But it just feels like karmically after last year's World Series of, you know, no disrespect to the Rangers and the Diamondbacks, but you know, not exactly blowing everybody's socks off.

You know. The two New York teams in Los Angeles. That were due for Yankees-Dodgers. We are due for Yankees-Dodgers, don't you think? It feels that way.

I mean, I'm sure some people would think so. Yeah, I'm not rooting for that, but it just feels like we're- And just, you know what, let's be nicer to T.J. because he has- He has flowers! He has, dude, he has 55 flowers next to him.

Amazing! Your team lost, your team lost, you don't need no flowers. 47 of them. Oh, my team lost, but we really won. In Eagles colors.

Well, sure. Carl Anthony Towne sent him flowers. They're beautiful, eh? So good. I want to go sit next to them just to get the aroma. They smell really good. They don't look real, but they are real. Oh, they're very- I touched them to make sure. The green ones looked very shiny to the point where you're wondering how those real. They're very- they're spray painted.

Yeah. We're gonna see how flammable they are in about an hour. Did they spray them? They'll get them across country? They're sprayed.

The green is sprayed green. Oh, I didn't even realize. Do you know, is this a Los Angeles-based florist that he sent it here? I would imagine so. Yeah, I would imagine so. Yeah, I don't know. You have the cargo. They smell really good. You didn't gold belly them across the country, huh?

That's how we would have done it. It's a free plug. You met Lala Kent on Vanderpump Rules. Now Lala and her friend share everything on Give Them Lala. Baby S is giving me money making moves in the world. So I'm going to have one kid who's like, I want to just live in a box and do like artistic dancing and paint. Ocean's gonna be like, it doesn't matter if I'm broke, mom. I'm passionate about it. And Baby S is going to be the one that says passion doesn't pay bills, Ocean. Watch what Lala is talking about on YouTube or search for Give Them Lala wherever you listen.