Cardale Jones Believes Ryan Day Is "Right Guy" For Ohio State (Hour 3)

Alrighty, hour number three of our radio program.

It is the Zach Gelb Show on the Infinity Sports Network. Cardell Jones is going to join us 20 minutes from now. We'll get his thoughts on the world famous Ohio State Buckeyes losing once again to the Michigan Wolverines.

This one probably the most embarrassing because of how much of a blob people thought it was going to be. Michigan was nearly a three touchdown underdog and their quarterback didn't even throw 70 yards of passing in the game, had two interceptions, no passing touchdowns. And still somehow, someway, Michigan found the way to win and Ryan Day found the way to lose. So Cardell Jones is going to join us coming up 20 minutes from now. So I don't know what kind of mood he's going to be in today just because Ohio State lost. Sometimes right, especially when he won a national championship there, you'll get an alum who is fired up and he's going to be ready to talk. Or when he gets on the Zoom and he sees me in a Roman Wilson Hail Michigan shirt, I could see him get all agitated. I don't think it's going to be Deebo Samuel where you hang up the phone. But I could see him looking at me and going, oh, now I got to deal with this guy for about 10 to 15 minutes. So still, I'm fascinated to see what type of mood Cardell Jones is going to be in.

Me too. I think he'll be professional about it, but he's probably not going to be too thrilled seeing the shirt. I don't even think of the shirt. So I wasn't going to wear any Michigan gear today because we were interviewing Spencer Danielson. And I don't know, I think it would have been a little bit disrespectful that crossed my mind, even though Michigan Boise State, no problem. But wearing a Michigan shirt while you're interviewing the coach of Boise State and coach Danielson didn't even make mention of it. Which I'm happy about.

But when Cardell Jones is coming on to talk Ohio State, Michigan, I'm wearing a Michigan shirt. It's almost as if, oh, I know I have to relive it. I know I have to talk about it.

But now I have to basically talk to the enemy. So we will have that conversation for you 18 minutes from now live on the show. All righty. Another NFL week has come and gone on a Sunday. You do have a game tonight. Does anyone care about the game tonight? So you have any interest in this game tonight, this Monday night football game with the Broncos playing? I'll watch it.

I don't know. The Broncos are, I guess, a little intriguing just because of how decent they've been, I guess. Yeah, well, they're 7-5. But this is a game where if the Broncos win, I don't think people will say to Mara, hey, they're clearly a team that can make the playoffs, but it's not as if you're a Broncos doubter, it's not as if you walk away from this game all of a sudden thinking, oh, that's why you're going to the postseason. If you lose this game, though, that's when people will call you fraudulent.

I got to think the Broncos with the way that Sean Payton is coaching right now and the quarterback that you have, the Browns, they got nothing. I know Jamis, right? Anything could happen.

Jamis, it's fun. A bunch of interceptions. Like, I think it's going to be a close game. I would probably plus the six and a half points.

I don't love the spread. I'm not going to gamble on this game. I would probably plus six and a half points and maybe hit the over. But I do think that and the over is only forty one and a half.

So maybe that's the play. But I do think the Broncos are going to find the way to win this game, but nothing will surprise me tomorrow if we're leading with this game. Something really, really awful had to happen in the game.

I'm just being real about it. All right. So let's take a look back at the Sunday games from yesterday with a little no huddle often. Touchdowns, sacks, upsets and last minute heroics. Another NFL Sunday is in the books and we've got you covered with the biggest plays and sound bites from another wild week in the National Football League. It's time for no huddle offense on the Zach Gelb show. All right. Snowy Buffalo last night. That was an awesome scene. I know our friend. This is not a shot.

Our friend Maggie Gray has had to take before that. The bill should play in a dome last night's why they shouldn't play in a dome because that was awesome and a clear advantage for the Buffalo Bills. Niners are banged up. McCaffrey's probably done for the season.

Now Brock Purdy wasn't rocking out with his Brock out and you look at the Buffalo Bills. They're rolling 10 and 2. They beat the 49ers 35 to 10.

The Niners fall to five and seven. Josh Allen was 13 of 17 for 148 yards. Two passing touchdowns. Also had a rushing touchdown and then had this unconventional receiving touchdown, which I don't understand how this is a he gets a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown on this play, which was just interesting to me. Here is Josh Allen on the seven yard touchdown from the lateral that he threw to Amari Cooper and then Cooper lateral it back to Josh Allen. Listen up first goal from the seven Allen under center takes the snap quick hitter thrown behind but somehow caught and now lateral to Allen and reaching for the pylon.

Are you kidding me? It's a touchdown. Unbelievable a catch by Amari Cooper a lateral to Josh Allen and he runs the remaining five yards for the score.

Have you ever seen that one before? I saw Marcus Mariota once throw the ball up then it got deflected in that playoff game when he was with Tennessee up against Kansas City where Kansas City blew that game. I think it was Kareem Hunt who got hurt in the game and he was the league-leading rusher that year and the Chiefs had nothing. That was when Andy Reid couldn't win the big game and they had no response after that.

That's the only one I could vividly remember. I think Lamar maybe had a moment like that to last year in the playoffs in the AFC Championship game, but either way the Bills win. I think Josh Allen's gonna win the MVP. I said it in the offseason.

I don't think Lamar could win the MVP now. Saquon still has a chance, but you know, it usually goes to the quarterback and the Bills are off to the postseason winning the AFC East last night. So still what's the question that we got cooking after the Bills just dominated the San Francisco 49ers with James Cook at 14 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown.

All right, you talked about that cold wintery weather. Do you think the Bills need home field advantage to beat the Chiefs in the playoffs? It doesn't hurt but you said need I don't think so because last year they had the home field advantage up against Kansas City and they still lost that game. They have beaten the Chiefs four times in the regular season. They never got it done in the postseason. Do they need it?

No, would it be nice? Yes, I think it's more mental not where you play. I think it's more mental about getting the job done up against the Chiefs in the postseason.

Alrighty, let's head down to Baltimore. You had the Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens slow start for the Philadelphia Eagles, but they got going and once they got going it's not as if they significantly pulled away. Their largest lead of the game was 21 to 12, 24 to 12, but they were in command for really most of that fourth quarter. And obviously when you talk about the Eagles, even though it wasn't his best game of the year, when you need a big play, when you need to distance the gap between one team and another, Saquon Barkley does that and this put the Eagles up 21 to 12 on this 25 yard touchdown run. Hurts with Barkley to his left, slot to the far side, AJ Brown to the near side. Hurts, this time to Barkley, off the right side, breaks the tackle. He's at the 15, the 10 to 5, touchdown Saquon Barkley!

He's broken 25 yards. Jalen Hurts in this game, 11 to 19 for 118 passing yards and a passing touchdown. Also had a rushing touchdown on 29 yards. Rushing Saquon, 23 for a buck 0-7 and that rushing score. Saquon also had two catches for 10 yards. Eagles beat the Ravens 24 to 19, Ravens now 8 and 5, Eagles red hot.

They are 10 and 2. Stu, what do you got here? Yeah, you had multiple missed field goals as well as they missed extra point from Justin Tucker. Do you think the Ravens need to replace him if they want to make a run here? So he's been miserable. I think this is the Swiftie curse because he went after Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. They had that little incident where I actually thought kind of thought the Chiefs were in the wrong and Tucker was in the right, but since he's mentally fried, he's mentally cooked.

And I think all that pressure is getting to him. But he's one of the greatest kickers ever. He's not Vinatieri. So I'm not going to sit there and say he's the greatest kicker of all time.

I still believe that's Adam Vinatieri. But Justin Tucker, I don't think you give up on him unless if he's hurt. If they have not disclosed an injury that he has and they're not telling us that's different then you bring somebody else in. But with the way that kicking is you could bring somebody else in and they could still be really damn bad.

So I would not replace Justin Tucker, but geez, you do not feel confident when he goes on out there. And how about that hit that Cooper Dejean or I call him Cooper Dejean as a little Philly term. Did put on Derrick Henry.

That was something. Alrighty, next game Chargers and Falcons. Sloppy game, a Chargers victory. Let's hear the big 61 yard pick six for the Los Angeles Chargers. Bunch formation right.

Kyle Pitts left, Bijan in the backfield. They take the snap, looking right, throwing right, intercepted. Left sideline, 30, 20, Tar Heeb still touchdown Chargers.

Oh, fear the turtle. The rookie with his third interception of the season, the second of this game and he takes it all the way to pay dirt. And that he did. That was four interceptions for Kirk Cousins in this one. A lot of bad quarterback stat lines this weekend, 24, 39, 245 yards passing. No touchdowns and four interceptions for Kirk Cousins in his last three games. When you look at the Atlanta Falcons quarterback, no touchdowns, six interceptions.

Bijan Robinson did have 135 total yards and did get into the end zone. But you take a look for the Falcons. They're six and six. I know they beat the Buccaneers twice. The Bucks are now six and six. So at least you have the tiebreaker on them. But this Chargers defense, they lead the NFL with only allowing 15.7 points per game.

Lad McConkie, let me tell you about that Lad McConkie, man. Nine receptions for 117 yards, no other players. No other player had more than 12 receiving yards in this game.

How about that? That was just wild when you look at it for the Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert, 147 yards passing, no touchdowns, no interceptions. And Gus Edwards who now the lead back with JK Dobbins done or out. Six carries for 32 yards.

Stu, what do we got cooking here? Yeah, obviously the Chargers, they rebound nicely from that loss against the Ravens. Where do you rank the Chargers in the AFC?

I would say fifth. They could get up to fourth. I'd still put the Chiefs in front of them, the Bills in front of them, the Steelers in front of them, and the Baltimore Ravens.

I do think that the Chargers are better than the Houston Texans. Alrighty, I thought the Cardinals for a while were going to get a victory here. At one point after Marvin Harrison Jr. got a touchdown, they were up 19 to 6 up against the Minnesota Vikings. Cold like Minnesota, cold like Minnesota.

Minnesota then comes on back. They win the game 23 to 22 in large part because of this play by Sam Darnold to Aaron Jones. Second and two from the Cardinals, five. Takes the snap, four man rush. Sam to the right, caught, and touchdown!

He's showtime! And Aaron Jones saved his best for last. We're tied at 22!

Stu, what do we got cooking here? It's Kyler Murray at 260 yards passing, a touchdown, two interceptions, and 48 yards rushing as his team does fall to Justin Jefferson's Minnesota Vikings. Justin Jefferson had seven catches for 99 yards. Yeah, now 10 and 2 on the year, can the Vikings win the NFC?

I know Daley is a loyal Vikings fan in our YouTube chat. I think they could win a playoff game. Maybe two because of that defense, but do I think that they're going to be able, because they're not going to have the bye, do I think that they're going to be able to win three playoff games to go to the Super Bowl?

I do not, so I don't think they could win the NFC. The Lions or the Eagles, I really do believe one of those two teams are going to the Super Bowl this year. Commanders will be in the playoffs.

They bounced back yesterday. Now Vikings, Packers, both will be in the postseason. Whoever wins the NFC South and the NFC West winner as well, those two divisions are only going to send one team, but I think that it's either the Lions or the Eagles going to the Super Bowl. I just, I think the Vikings are really good. I'm not going to call them great, but can that defense with Brian Flores, can they find a way to shut down and go a little bit of a win streak in the playoffs? I guess it's possible, but I'm not going to be sitting there and expecting the Vikings to go to the Super Bowl. And then finally, another game, another loss for the JTS Jets, Jets, Jets, and the Jets love to tease. They really do.

They're a teasing organization. They were up in this game 21 to 7. They rushed out to a 14-0 lead, and they end up losing the game 26 to 21, and a former Jet and Giant, Leonard Williams, he had a fat guy touchdown. He had a 92-yard pick-6. This made it 21 to 13 Jets, but it did turn the game around for the Seattle Seahawks.

Listen up. Rogers was horrible in this game. Miss Garrett Wilson late, was 21 to 39. Two passing touchdowns, that pick-6, or that thick-6, as they like to call it. Only 185 yards passing for the Jets quarterback. The Jets are now 3-9.

They're 1-8 in their last nine games. Leonard Williams, the two sacks, his first career TD, four and a half sacks in these past two games. Geno Smith, 206 yards passing, one touchdown, no interceptions, did have 20 completions in 31 attempts. And you look at the receiving, Jackson Smith and Jigba, four for 74, DK Metcalf, four for 66, and this one for the Seattle Seahawks. Stu, what do we got cooking here? Yeah, should the Jets, should they bench Aaron Rodgers the rest of the season?

No, and here's why. Because this could be the last few weeks of Aaron Rodgers' career. And the Jets are going nowhere. It doesn't really impact the draft stock if they play him or not. So I actually think if you bench him, it actually could hurt your draft stock, because if the Rod Taylor could come in, maybe they would win a game or two that they're not supposed to win. Rodgers is broken, the Jets are broken.

This could be it. One, two, three, four, five games left in his season. He turns 41 today.

Happy birthday, Aaron, by the way. Maybe we'll send you some ayahuasca. We'll see if the Jets move on from him. I think they would at the end of the year, and then if anyone's going to pick up Aaron Rodgers. So that's why I do believe that they should keep on letting him play, and they're going nowhere.

All righty. That's a no-huddle offense. It is the Zach Gelb show on the Infinity Sports Network. The biggest story of the day. I thought Ohio State was going to win the game.

I'm glad they didn't. But what the heck is going on with Ryan Day? Can he still salvage his job? Is he not going to be brought back as the head coach of Ohio State? And they're still one of the best teams in the country when you look for the college football playoff. So we'll get into all that when we come on back in this wide open 12-team playoff that Ohio State will be a part of. But what a demoralizing loss for Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes. We'll talk to a man that won a national championship, a man that doesn't know a lot about losing with the Ohio State. Cardell Jones will join us from CBS Sports next.

All righty, rocking and rolling. It is the Zach Gelb show on the Infinity Sports Network. Cardell Jones, national championship winning quarterback at the Ohio State now does a great job. CBS Sports College Football, as he's a part of the CBS Sports HQ team as an analyst.

And he'll be a part of CBS Sports HQ's on-site coverage at Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game between Oregon and Penn State, which will air at 8 p.m. Eastern on Saturday on CBS and Paramount+. Cardell Jones also actually probably has the greatest college football tweet I've ever seen when it was, why should we have to go to class if we came here to play football? We ain't come to play school.

Classes are pointless. I will never, never, never forget that tweet. And I thought it was awesome. Cardell, appreciate the time. How you been?

First and foremost, thanks for having me. And unfortunately, I will never forget that tweet either. And unbelievable, great supporters and followers of football and college sports and social trends. They will not let me forget that tweet.

Did you realize it in the moment what that was going to become? Because that was a viral tweet. You know what?

Absolutely not. And I say this and I stick to my guns with this. I said all the time, man, like, listen, I blew up Twitter. That was literally the first viral thing that went out. And I can remember the next morning after the tweet, because it was getting ready, it was two days away from playing in a huge game versus Nebraska in a night game, it was coming in and things like that and watching every news outlet. And that's all I was talking about. Yeah, this college athlete at Ohio State took his thoughts to tweet her and tweeted out. And if you don't know what Twitter is, it's a social media platform where you can express yourself in 130 characters or less.

Yes. Like it was like insane, but never thought that we will be what, 10, 12 years down the road, 13 and people still talking about that tweet. And you had a great run, obviously, at Ohio State. You guys won a championship. The circumstances you guys overcame was unbelievable, but still, every time I think about your name, even though you lost me a lot of money, when you guys beat Alabama, I had two of my best friends went to Michigan, one of my friends, that's like a Fugazi football fan. He's an Ohio State alum.

We're like, all right, we're just betting against Ohio State because we don't want to see him be happy. You lost me a lot of money that day, but still the first thing I think about is that tweet all these years later. Well, I appreciate that.

I'm glad you remember that tweet. And I'm glad that I hit those pockets just a little bit, you know, just a little bit. I was in college at that time, so the bank account wasn't that big. But at the time- I know it hurt. Yeah, I know it had to hurt.

Losing 40 bucks is like losing like a million dollars back then or something like that. So- Oh, that's a month and a half of no eating. Yeah. And a lot of beer that we missed out on, to be clear.

All righty. Let's get to the game yesterday. I didn't think Michigan was going to win. You know, I like Michigan. I root for Michigan. I thought Ohio State, this was going to be their year. How do you process it two days later as Ohio State gets stunned on their home turf?

You know, it's tough. I think stunned is the best way to look at it, because no offense to Michigan did a great job in their game plan, but I don't- this has been one of the lesser Michigan teams over the last probably 10 years, honestly, when you go back and look at some of the players they produced at extremely high levels, some of the games they played in, some of the outcomes they got. And then you look on the other side of the ball of Ohio State, loaded with talent, loaded with great coaches. And I think, you know, we just failed to execute an acute few moments where you can kind of almost circle down and say pinpoint down and say, hey, this would really cost us a game. It was too many of those moments where the lack of execution ultimately cost them in the long run. What did you make of the game plan? A lot of people wanted to see Ohio State throw the football more. I know Will Howard didn't play well, but because of how elite those wide receivers are for Ohio State, how about the game plan that Chip Kelly and Ryan Day devised? You know what, I'm not too critical on the game plan at all. I think, you know, maybe potentially some of the game plan was altered a little bit earlier in the game when Will took a big hit and didn't know how he would respond to that.

Not necessarily how he would respond, but what impact that had on him moving forward. On top of they already- and I said this before the game, guys, I said, you know, this will be the perfect storm for Michigan to actually go and understand Ohio State because you look across the board, Ohio State receivers, quarterback, running backs, everything. I think running backs are very here because Mullins and Edwards are really great backs as Junkins and Henderson. But you look at everything, where is Michigan going to win this battle? And I thought it was going to be upfront because not necessarily that much better because of all the shuffling around that the Ohio State offensive line has had to overcome this season with three key injuries and one less than 10 days ago with your signal caller at the line of scrimmage, which you're sending. And Michigan is really good up front, especially on a D-line. I think that's the strength, that front several, the strength of the whole team and has been for the last couple of years. So and then you look at that rivalry, you look at the stats, you know, the last 22 years, the teams who won that game has dominated and won the rushing battle. Well, what do Michigan do really well? They run the ball, they smother that play clock, they smother the time of possession and they want to get into a one possession game late in the fourth quarter, and they're going to have a shot with anybody in the country at that point using their formula and they executed it.

Cardale Jones here with us. I respect everything you just said, but I think the last few years clearly he's admitted it has taken a toll on Ryan Day as it should. And Harbaugh stressed so much about being a tougher football team, lining guys up, dominating in the trenches, and to keep on attacking Kenneth Graham and Mason Graham, it's almost like Ryan Day said, I wanted to win and I want to kind of win the way that you guys have been beating us the last few years.

That's the way I kind of just interpreted his game plan. Yeah, I think a lot of people was looking at the running game and specifically when you did was calling plays a little uncharacteristic for Ohio State over the last couple of weeks especially with the two great backs that they have. But again, I think that was potentially a product of all the moving parts on the offensive line and trying to find chimps and trying to find Michigan's weakness in the running game. If I was a play caller, will I recall that game differently in the run aspect?

I don't know. I didn't watch all the film of breaking it down and saying, hey, this is where I think we need to win these one-on-one battles. Now, I do got to give credit to Michigan.

This is completely unbiased here because of what I do now for a living. Michigan did a great job of winning those one-on-one battles and that's what it really came down to, those one-on-one battles between the big guys up front. I mentioned that stat earlier, the team who won the Russian battle usually wins that game now 23 straight years and we were just unable to manufacture. When I say wheelhouse, they clearly was unable to manufacture any type of consistent running game that was ultimately going to help us in the long run. If you were a leader on that Ohio State team, because they're still going to the playoff, they still have a talented team, we'll see how they're going to be able to flush this one or is it going to derail them in the postseason?

What would your message be coming off this one to the guys in the locker room? Simple, the ultimate goal is still there. You look at so many stories that came up about this team in the beginning of the season, really dating back to the preseason was national championship robust. I argue that motive in that narrative because first thing is first is beating that team up north, which they came up short, competing for a Big Ten title and usually that runs through the team up north and who stops you from that goal? Well, they did, so you won't be playing for a Big Ten title this weekend and then ultimately put yourself in position to compete and win a national title. Well, that's the ultimate goal and this is no knock on the rivalry, this was all due respect to the rivalry. It will be a little different, but if I'm picking, if I can only pick one, is it to beat the team up north or to be labeled a national champ that year?

Me personally, I felt both of those feelings. I think I'm going with the national championship one more just because it's literally the national championship. It's the biggest stage of college football and this year is going to be the biggest stage of college football ever with the new format of the 12 team playoff system. Do you still believe they could win a national championship?

I do. I do think so and I think when you look at teams all around the country, you see some of these losses from quote unquote lesser opponents or losses that snuck up on people. It's a matchup thing. I just think right now and two days ago, Michigan just matched up a little bit better given them circumstances versus Ohio state and take advantage of those one-on-one battles, but you look at Oregon, you look at some of these other top teams around the country. You look at, um, you look at Texas, you look at, um, who was another time we look at Georgia. Well, I don't think they have as great of interior defensive lineman as Michigan, which ultimately can potentially help Ohio state match up better when they getting back to doing some of the things they was doing against great teams like Penn state of Indiana and going down to the wire Oregon. Cardell Jones here with us for a few more minutes is great job now.

CBS sports HQ. Did you have any problem with Michigan planting the flag after the game and then the response by Ohio state personally? No, I think when you have, um, you got, you know, 200 kids, um, and, and, you know, uh, I guess so deep into that rivalry, one side has never lost one side has never won.

And I think emotions are going to eventually roll over and some type of thing like that. But the way you stop that is you win that game. If you Ohio state, you don't have to worry about that. And then, I mean, why wouldn't I personally expect the Michigan to do something like that? This team is not going through the playoffs, um, all week, all year, they heard how bad they were, um, what Ohio state was going to do to these guys and things like that. And for them to come into Ohio state stadium and take that win in a manner that they did.

I mean, I'm not surprised they didn't do more. And I understand on the flip side of Ohio state responding the way they responded in particular captain leader, Jack Sawyer, he never beat this team and he still has so much fun. This is a Columbus kid.

It's an Ohio kid, right? He has more pride in those guys has more pride to see that happen. Now, when you see, when you saw that happen years ago with the Baker Mayfield situation, well, that team wasn't on the field. The team wasn't in locker room. It was long after before Mayfield planted that flag.

And I personally said, I never had an issue with it either because the way you stopped that issue when that again, but unfortunately they came up short. Let me ask you about Ryan Day. Um, you know, let's say they don't win the national championship. Do you think he's definitely back next year as the Ohio state coach? I think so.

I think so. Um, and I gave this example many times actually going into this game. And when people were talking about the national championship or bus type of scenario, or if he gets, um, if he don't, you know, pull it off versus a team of nor what is going to happen to him, what is his future is going to look like. I give examples of programs like Clemson would dabble Sweeney and Michigan will hard bar his first five or six years where he was owning five, oh, and six, both of them in very similar records to their, um, to their in-state conference, um, in-state rivals, uh, Clemson was South Carolina and then clearly hard ball with Michigan. And after a year, six, seven, and keep going forward, these teams, he switched it. They, they both turned it around and I give a lot of credit to the athletic department for sticking with these guys, believing these guys, seeing all the small steps he's making in other areas, seeing what he's doing outside of that game and saying, listen, he's this close to what is this close to what to really change in that dynamic and what happened in year seven and eight and nine and things like that for these coaches are ball start going into bigger games.

He started winning those top 10 match-ups. Ultimately started beating Michigan when, um, coach Meyer ended up leaving and that was really the same thing, both teams, both coaches having the national title under their belt within the next three years of those. Oh, and five starts with those taking over as head coaches. So I think as, as a Buckeye nation, be patient, be understanding, let's not get ready to throw this guy away so fast when he has done so much great things for his university and for this football program, let's look at the bigger picture versus this one game. I think there's a difference on what should happen and what will happen. I do believe he will be back if they did move on though.

Right. You could throw Mike Vrabel in there. I think Mike Vrabel is going to stay in the pros and get a head coaching job in the NFL. Do you think Urban Meyer would be interested in returning to a college sideline?

Um, no, I don't think so. You made a great point about Mike. Mike is, has always been a pros pro. And I think, um, with the new things you got to deal with in NIL and the portal, uh, you know, I don't think he want to deal with that on a college level.

And then I think, um, coach Meyer as well. Um, the way his, his culture, the way he implement things, I don't think it's the best for this society, which I'm a product of his culture and product with the way he done things. And also when we got the results we want. Now, some of the things that he used to do, he would probably be in jail if he tried to do those things now to build that program, which I never had an issue with, but Hey, we were changing times now.

Um, but I don't think it's no, I don't think you're, you take that risk. If you a university of hitting their reset button, because we saw it so many times around the country. I mean, Florida state is still trying to rebound from losing Fisher, Fisher, go to A&M, Jimbo Fisher, go to A&M, basically trying to rebound now after getting rid of him in three or four years where he was there.

And there's so many different examples around the country like that. I think you stick this right there is the guy let's not, let's not get this thing twisted. It's not like he's making, he's not making the significant changes each and every year to hopefully improve each and every year. And that's not forget an improvement for this guy is basically going undefeated cause he's winning 10, 11 games a year.

So it's not like he's creeping around that eight and four marks like that. So my message to bucket nation, to any coaches around the country in this position, I mean, they just getting ready to throw away Marcus Freeman after that loss versus NIU. And now they in a top five and the whole Congress, I mean the whole country ain't going to make a playoff route. Be patient urban was a tough coach to play for him. I'm shocked on that one.

Yeah, he was. He was a great coach to play for. Listen, I tell people about a reminder.

You like them more when you don't have to deal with. That's unbelievable. One more Ohio state than I spent the big 10 championship game.

Then we'll let you run. When the transfer portal was open, I said, Ohio state in the off season, she should go get cam ward. Obviously cam ward goes to Miami.

Miami's now not going to make the playoffs after blowing that game to Syracuse. Have you been fine with what you've seen from Will Howard? Or do you think maybe they should have done more in the off season to bring in a better quality of quarterback?

No, I have no issue with a brought it in. I have no issue if they kept Kyle Mocor because one thing about all three of those gunners, especially Kyle, cam and Will, they're veteran leaders, right? With this team in Ohio state in particular, that team down in Miami, that team at Syracuse, all they was missing was that final piece of veteran leadership. Kyle was only one year under his belt of starting only 12 games. I expected everything that I saw this year from Kyle Mocor in Syracuse. As far as that jump from year one and year two being a starter, as far as from sitting two years behind CJ's charter to Ohio state and going through the ups and down battles that he went through at Ohio state, I mean, the guy won 11 games. And to see his growth at a place like Syracuse with a lot less talent and just talk to his growth and his leadership and his ability as a quarterback in particular himself, same with Cam Moore.

He played a lot of football over at Washington state and led them to some huge games and was in a lot of those big games because of things he's able to do. Go to a place like Miami where the only thing was missing at that point with the leaving of Tyler Van Dyke was that veteran leadership at quarterback and a little bit more playmaking ability. It looked like Ohio state wanted to get more back to the old days of the JT Barris and Braxton Millers and Justin Fields, a little bit more mobile quarterback.

So they went to go get that and Will Howard, but also another veteran leader who has played a lot of ball, who's won a big 12 championship, who had wielded his team almost single handedly to a lot of victories with K state, putting him in a system like Ohio state with a lot of playmakers. At that point, you really just ask him to take care of the football. And then, hey, once you got to be Superman, once we saw him be in a few plays and a few drives this year, go play your game. And I think all three scenarios have worked out for all three quarterbacks. Do you think McCourt would have beat Michigan this go around if he was a quarterback on Saturday?

You never know. And like I said, I think I don't think the lack of quarterback play or the quarterback play period was a factor of beating this team. I think still you look at the game, we missed two field goals. And even when we win that game, I'm not going to say we won that game because the quarterback playing will Howard play great, even though the two turnovers, that uncharacteristic tournaments from will Howard, they were still in a position to win a game.

So I don't think that one or another quarterback would have gave this team the best opportunity to win the game. All right, let me get your thoughts on this big 10 championship game. I didn't think Penn state was going to be here. I thought it was going to be Ohio state going up against Oregon. We were going to get a rematch. Well, what's your first thought on Oregon going up against the Penn state at any lines? You know, this is going to be good.

I go back to those matchup things. I think Penn state matches up really well with Oregon on the defensive side. And I think, you know, Penn state is not going to look to go back.

I can drop back. I would imagine 30 plus times to throw the ball in the air. I think it's one of those scenarios where they try to limit the time of possession to a high power offense like Oregon and really just control the line of scrimmage. And if that's the game plan, I think they match up really well versus the Oregon team like that. I mean, it's Penn state team really, for the most part, you know, played Ohio state just as tough as Oregon did. And clearly the lack of playmakers really cost them that game. But you look on the defensive side of the ball, that front seven is the strength of this Penn state team. And they're going to have to come up big if they want to stop and win a big 10 championship and be the, I mean, they're my team, the country of Oregon.

It's the only team that's been consistent all year round. He is Cardell Jones, national championship winning quarterback that has a great job as a pretty much national championship football analyst, CBS sports HQ. Cardell will be a part of CBS sports HQ on-site coverage at Indy for the big 10 championship, which will air at 8 p.m. Eastern on Saturday on CBS and Paramount Plus. Cardell, appreciate the time. Thank you. Appreciate things, Zach.

There you go. Cardell Jones joining us on a very busy Monday edition. Appreciate his insight on the game between Michigan and Ohio state and also the big 10 championship game that comes your way Saturday evening at 8 p.m. Eastern time once again on CBS and Paramount Plus with Ohio State not being in it, and it's going to be Oregon up against Penn State. Ticket time out. Update time first, here, Zach. All right, it is Zach Gelb show on the infinity sports network. It's time to answer ask the pros question of the day.

And it's brought to you by O'Reilly Auto Parts, O-O-O-O-O-Reilly Auto Parts. Jay in San Francisco says Zach, who's been more disappointing this year? Alright, the San Francisco 49ers or the Cincinnati Bengals? Man, great question.

You could submit a question by tweeting at INF Sports Net or at Zach Gelb using the hashtag ask the pros, think O'Reilly Auto Parts for all your car care needs, get guaranteed low prices and excellent customer service from the professional parts people at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Both have clearly been disappointing. I'm gonna say it's the Bengals though. And here's why, the Niners, they have just been killed with injuries. They have been decimated by injuries. Now don't get me wrong, there are some games where the San Francisco 49ers have choked those games. Last night not being one of them, they just got their ass kicked by Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. But Stu, if I were to tell you before the season, if I would have told you, what is this, 30 for 30, that Joe Burr would have the most passing yards in the league, would have the most passing touchdowns, would only throw for five interceptions, and would have the third highest quarterback rating in the league, you probably would have told me, hey, did the Bengals beat out the Chiefs for the number one seed? That's what you probably would have told me.

And this is the crazy part. The Cincinnati Bengals, if they just made the postseason this year, and this comes from someone who said Josh Allen was gonna win the MVP in May or June, whenever I said it. I said it all throughout the summer, it's set up for Josh Allen and the MVP this year. People are writing off the bills, if they just win the division, they'll overachieve, and the bar has been lowered too much, where Buffalo's still a really good team, and they're gonna ask Josh Allen to do everything, taking away Stefan Diggs, and the locker rooms are gonna be happier without Stefan Diggs.

But even with me making the case for several months, going back to different seasons, and I'm talking about the seasons in the year, not the NFL seasons, of Josh Allen winning the MVP, if the Bengals would have just made the playoffs, I don't know how you don't give the award to Joe Burrow. Especially with how rancid that defense has been, and the dude, we still got a month left the football, already has 30 passing touchdowns, leads the league, and already has over 3,300 passing yards. So the Niners, I get it, they haven't played well, but you could kind of chalk it up, oh, we've been so close, we've been to two Super Bowls with this group, you know, eventually gonna have an off year, and we've been without Bosa, Ayuk done for the season, McCaffrey barely available this year, there's enough there to, I'm not saying it makes all the pain go away, but you could chalk up some excuses. For most of the season, up until yesterday, trans team was Lena Legan-Sachs, Jamar Chase has been Lena Legan receiving yards, and Joe Burrow's been Lena Legan passing yards, and it's not as if, oh, they've been disappointing, but they're still in the playoff mix. This team is 4-8. They're not going to the postseason this year. You look at it right now, I know they have the 10th record in the AFC, and it's like, most of the Broncos really bottom out, but even so, I don't think they're going to be able to do enough, because I've been saying this all year, what are their wins? Carolina, the Giants, the Browns, and the Raiders. Eventually you are, not only what your record says you are, but you got to examine a little bit and look at the wins that you have, even the wins you have aren't good. Now, you beat the Panthers by 10, you beat the Giants, you pulled away late by 10, you barely beat the Browns, and all right, you beat the Raiders 41 to 24. So Cowboys, Titans, Browns, Broncos, Steelers, that's five games left?

So even if you win out, it's not even a guarantee you get in, and why should I anticipate this team winning on out? So yeah, there's no doubt about it, the Bengals have been more disappointing than the San Francisco 49ers. But that was probably a popular Super Bowl pick for some, Stu, and hey, I don't think the Niners are turning around, and I don't think the Bengals are turning around, and both those teams are going to miss the postseason. And it kind of lets the Cowboys off the hook, we stopped talking about the Cowboys a little bit there, Stu, because they're not going to make the postseason either.

Who have you been more disappointed in? I agree with you, I think it's the Bengals, and it's crazy the way they've done it. You kind of ran through the schedule, but they got blown out by the Eagles, but other than that, every other game has been a one score game, so they've lost so many one score games. They lost in the second half against the Eagles.

Yes, that's right. That was a tight game at halftime, and then Devontae Smith, that catch change, the entire complexion of the game, but how they lost both those games against the Ravens with the leads that they had. Amazing. I think it was borrowed nine touchdowns and no interceptions in those games. Just crazy, absolutely crazy.

All right, that will do it. Very quick Monday show, and a lot to unpack. Georgia just surviving against Georgia Tech, Arch Manning running for that touchdown for Texas over Texas A&M. You take a glance, Michigan beating Ohio State, how about that, Gus Johnson? I didn't think there was any disgraceful acts after that game, and a big thanks to Spencer Danielson for joining us.

Cardell Jones. I know there's a lot of NFL that we could have got to today. We'll get to it tomorrow, but still, there was a lot to pick from. Thanks for listening. We'll talk to you tomorrow at 3 p.m. Eastern, noon Pacific. We have to bye, peace.