Yogi Roth, Pac-12 Network Analyst

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And did we mention it's all free? Download the Odyssey app today. Yogi, appreciate the time as always. How you been? I'm doing well. How are you? Well, I'm doing fantastic.

Let me start you off last week with Oregon, Washington. First off, a great victory for Kalen DeBoer in year number one with the Huskies, but the Dan Lanning decision to go for it on his 34-yard line, fourth and one with under 90 seconds to go. In the moment, I didn't like it.

How about yourself? I know it didn't work out for him. Yeah, you know, in the moment I was calling a game and then I had to go back and watch it the next day in terms of the context of the game flow. I think he kind of referenced afterwards there were some calls for decisions he would have back. I think he'd probably want to use a timeout there instead. I often wondered was it an automatic give? Meaning Ty Thompson, who was the quarterback at the time, did he have the option to pull it? Because if he did, it's a walk for a first down. But I think overall for me, having tracked the teams, that's their DNA. They are going to live aggressive. So, I don't know, if they got it, we'd be applauding what a decision, kind of like we did the onsite kick against UCLA or other fourth downs where he's gone forward in the season and we didn't.

We light him up or can criticize him. But I'm down when teams lean on their DNA throughout the entirety of the season and kind of live and die by it. But I think that Dan Lanning, as we track his young career as a head coach moving forward, as he gets to those types of situations, I'm sure we'll see a variance of calls by him. This weekend, USC has UCLA. USC is the lone hope for the Pac-12 to still get into the college football playoff. They were ranked seventh by the committee last night. How do you think that game will play on out?

I can't wait. When you pack house, over 16,000 students will be at the road goals for UCLA and they're going to get the best UCLA coming off a loss. I'm stoked for the Trojans because, number one, what a turnaround under Lincoln Riley. And then when you look at their path, I think we've seen them get lit up regarding like, hey, they haven't necessarily beaten anybody other than Oregon State who's a ranked team. And I understand that, but if they're able to beat UCLA, able to beat a ranked Notre Dame and then beat, possibly, Oregon or a game against Utah or who knows how the title game will shake out.

I, to me, think they've got an incredible argument to get in the playoff when you just look at the style in which their one loss was, one point on the road. And they're going to be healthy in this one. Eric Gentry, they're all everything middle linebacker, will be back, who I think impacts the game more than anybody, a middle linebacker in college football at six foot six with a seven foot six and a quarter inch wingspan. Sounds like Jordan Addison, Mara Williams will be back at full strength.

So it'll be best on best. And I can't wait because you've got two of the most dynamic offenses in the country. Now you're talking about the case that USC has. What do you think needs to go right for them to get in? Because I kind of think last night the committee kind of showed you once again, they're leaning towards putting a one loss Tennessee team in because you know either Ohio State or Michigan is going to lose next week. Yeah, I'm not that worried about it in that situation that you described. I've done a mock committee selection before where you fly to Dallas and you sit on the committee.

In the year that I did it, I got to pretend I was the chair, who at the time was Rob Mullins, the athletic director at Oregon. And you learn that they really value wins versus, you know, did you value losses and I think for USC to the point of what they have in front of them versus two not ranked teams that Tennessee has, they're going to have at the end of the year, just more quality wins. And when it's close, they value either comparative outcomes, clearly Tennessee and FC haven't played each other, and they value strength of record and they value conference championships in no specific order. And nine conference games, Rice has a chance to make it into a bowl game, Fresno State is top of their division right now in the Mountain West. Like FC I think has a good enough argument, especially when you look at if you do value losses, a one point loss on the road versus Tennessee getting rolled by Georgia.

That's a reality. You know, so I just think when it comes down to it, the committee is going to value nine conference games and a conference championship versus just an SEC conference that we often give the benefit of the doubt. For TCU, you have Baylor and Iowa State still up and then the Big 12 championship game. Do you think they'll be undefeated when it's all said and done?

Yeah, I don't know. I kind of hope not just because it gives a cleaner path for the Pac-12, but I'm also a big Sonny Dykes guy. You know, he was a Cal. He was incredible to us, offered such great access and you'll get his quarterback, Max, like what a story of resiliency for him.

He's hanging in there over the years. So I'd like to see him. I'd like it to often, you know, be as challenging as possible on the committee.

And for Sonny, I'd like to see him get that done. He's clearly one of the leaders in the clubhouse for Coach of the Year in all of college football. So I don't know.

I kind of go both ways. Like as long as the Pac-12 gets in, if TC is undefeated, perfect. But if there's a debate there, I'm not about it. Let's see if Pac-12 will get in. Talking to Yogi Roth right now. Hey, circling back on UCLA, Chip Kelly's done a really good job of that program right now at 8-2. The last two seasons, we started to see some results. We know that they're off to the Big Ten along with USC in a few years. How would you kind of describe Chip Kelly right now as a head football coach? You know, at times I feel like I've been on an island defending him, but I'm a huge fan.

And I think, you know, to your point, a lot of people are seeing that now. You know, it was a total rebuild in his way when he took over from Jim Mora. He valued a different type of culture, a different type of team. Every head coach usually does. He saw a lot of atrophy on that roster. You know, year one when they're playing SC, I think they had 48 scholarship players available at the end of the year.

They're rolling in with the full 85 this weekend for the most part in that rivalry. I think it just has taken him time to build. I think it's a great lesson for even ADs around the country.

The rebuild, yes, can happen suitably overnight to certain programs because of the portal now. But when you're really building a culture and he had to do that, you've got to do it with great purpose. You look at the people he's brought in in the portal, they've only missed on one.

There was only one guy that they got the transport that didn't start and ended up transferring again. He nailed it. And he's taking guys from Alabama, from Notre Dame, from Harvard, from Duke, really successful programs, Michigan and Zach Charbonnet. And I think he's got a way about them. He may not win the recruiting battle and be that team that glotted in an early signing day of having the number one class and star rankings, but every player that they bring into that program fits the DNA of it.

And I think that to me is showing this season for him and his team. And they got a huge stage on Saturday to put themselves in a position to go to Las Vegas for the title and quite possibly play at home in the actual Rose Bowl in a matter of 40-some days or so. Was he ever close to getting that Oregon job this offseason? Because that was always a hot rumor that was out there. I don't know, to be quite honest with you.

I know this. I'd imagine all UCLA fans are excited that he didn't or he chose to remain UCLA and glad he got the extension that he did because I thought it was warranted when you really got to get underneath the belly of that beast and see how he was building it. His team is really about books and ball. They got over 20 guys in grad school. You're not just going there to take basket weaving and play football.

He's really in the development of his players. And I think that's an incredible model in this era of college football because less than 2% make it to the NFL. You're going to have to have a job someday and I love how Chip has really leaned into that narrative within his program. Have you heard anything about the Arizona State job, the Yogi Roth? I hear a lot about the Arizona State job, to be quite honest with you.

I'm curious to see which way they go. The Kenny Dillingham name was often being referenced with that. I think he would thrive there. He was a guy who grew up in that community and would love to have that job, I'm sure. I look at guys like Brent Brennan at a San Jose State who began his coaching career in Tucson and Arizona under Dick Tomy who was recruited in the Pac-12, coached in the Pac-12 and done a hell of a job at San Jose State, which not many head coaches can say.

I'll be curious where they net out. I will say this, that with UCLA seemingly departing the Pac-12, I think if you are a West Coast athlete and you want a metropolitan community with warm weather, there's one school. That's Arizona State. I think they got a great opportunity in front of them.

It's often described as a sleeping giant. I think it actually can do that as the playoffs expand. I'm looking forward to seeing which direction they go after the Herm Edwards era. I feel like when it gets to the Heisman Trophy, Yogi Roth, the winner of the Ohio State-Michigan game, if it's Ohio State, it's going to be C.J.

Stroud. If it's Michigan, it's going to be Blake Corum. If you look at another name like Caleb Williams, definitely in that conversation as well, if USC can be the Pac-12 champs, how do you kind of evaluate the Heisman lay of the land a few weeks out?

I'll say this to my fellow voters. Let's not do what happened in 2015. In 2015, Christian McCaffrey should have won the Heisman.

He went for over 400 total yards in the Pac-12 title game. The problem was, and you may be aware of this, that 15% of the voters voted prior to that game. It drives me nuts. I really think the system should be once the games end, you just go online, you have a password and everything, and then that's when you vote.

Not a few weeks before. Are you a voter too? No, I'm not. We get this link, and I'm always like, why are they even sending it? Just send it Saturday night at midnight, or whenever the last game ends, and you can avoid this entire thing.

You force people to watch, because they say that. I'm going to Washington this weekend. I'm calling the UW game, and you reference their win over Oregon. Michael Penix Jr.'s leading the nation in passing. If they win their next two games, which they could, and if they get some help, they might play in the Pac-12 title game. There's a way with a bunch of losses and a bunch of ties with two losses in the Pac-12, and if he has that stage, shouldn't we be talking about the nation's leading passer, who NFL teams continue to ask me about?

I just say that. We have these frontrunners, and then we pick them apart all season long, and then we think we have our finalists here in mid-November, and it's like, will you play a whole season for a reason? Let's guys play, whether it's Dorian on the West Coast, whether it's Caleb on the West Coast, whether it's Bo Nix. Bo Nix had a hell of a game. He can win.

They made almost six yards of offense. And if he was healthy too, it may have been different. Yeah, so I go back to the definition of the award. The definition of the award is not best team, best player. The definition is excellence with integrity, and which player displays that.

Maybe I'm just not an island, but I've talked to a bunch of voters that I think feel the same way, and hopefully all of us just wait until the games end. But Caleb, to your point, is 100% in the dialogue. If I could take one player today on my team to lead me in a huge game, I'd take him at all the guys in America. And there's a ton of talent. CJ, Bryce, Bo, Drake. There's a bunch of elite players, but haven't seen every snap of Caleb this season. He's just a unique dude.

What is it for you? Because I think a lot of people would say Bryce Young. What is the separation there from Caleb Williams to Bryce Young in your opinion?

I mean, you could flip a coin for both of them. To be honest with you, I've known Bryce and Caleb since they were in high school with the Elite Eleven. I often call up him to Steph Curry, kind of a point guard, dealing, dishing. He's got a way about him, a feel in the pocket.

Clearly he's played and thrived on big stages. Caleb, same deal. You look at him, different body structure, body type, a little bit thicker of a quarterback in that regard. But both of these guys, I think, are going to lead NFL franchises. So I'd be fine if he gave me either one of them.

But to me, for Caleb, I think you've got to, I do at least, I value when the chips are stacked against him. No Jordan Addison, no Mario Williams. Now, no Travis Dye.

Didn't have his best defensive player the last three games. He just said, alright, come on out of my back. Come on.

Just jump on. I got you. He's just done that time and time again. He's truly, to me, shown those types of unique traits, so that's why I choose him. Last thing I'll ask you, Yogi Roth, I just want to get your thoughts on Drake May, because I was talking to Mac Brown two weeks ago. And that probably should be another guy that's a Heisman Trophy finalist in Drake May. And Mac said, you're waiting all year for a freshman to have a freshman moment.

And you mean that in not a good way. And he just hasn't had that. He's really had a sensational year.

Yeah, he's been fun to watch. And I love just what that program has done and what Coach Brown stands for. I think he said it, I think over the summer, he said college football is about two things. The players and the fans. And I think often in college football we talk about so many other things, right? Whether it's the playoff or media rights deals or all these things. Sometimes we can forget the players and we can forget the fans. And I just think when you can play for a guy that totally gets it, has been around the block, he allows you to play free. And that's what I see when I watch Drake May play. Just a guy who's competing really free, really confident.

And part of that is clearly instilled by his head coach. Yogi Roth, great to catch up with you. Appreciate the time. Thanks so much.

All right, bro. Later. The Listening You Love is on the free Odyssey app. Your trusted local radio stations, coverage of your favorite teams, live news from your hometown and millions of podcasts on demand.

Best of all, you can completely customize your listening experience. Follow topics you care about, like leagues and teams. Pause or rewind your local sports and news and add shows to your queue to catch up later. There's a lot to listen to. So get started and download the free Odyssey app today.

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