Future Of Jimmy G? (Hour 1)

Throughout the 60s and 70s, cops hunted down key figures of the Dixie Mafia, including its enigmatic ringleader, Kirksey Nix. I'm interested in making money.

I'm not interested in hurting people. Fifteen years into Kirksey's life sentence, the Dixie Mafia was practically folklore, but that would soon change. I'm Jed Lipinski. This is Gone South, a documentary podcast from C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio. Season 2, The Dixie Mafia.

Available now on the Odyssey app, or wherever you get your podcasts. Throughout the 60s and 70s, cops hunted down key figures of the Dixie Mafia, including its enigmatic ringleader, Kirksey Nix. I'm interested in making money.

I'm not interested in hurting people. Fifteen years into Kirksey's life sentence, the Dixie Mafia was practically folklore, but that would soon change. I'm Jed Lipinski. This is Gone South, a documentary podcast from C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio. Season 2, The Dixie Mafia. Available now on the Odyssey app, or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from the police show, yet not overly ostentatious, studios of CBS Sports Radio here in beautiful New York City, sitting on top of the 10th floor of 345 Hudson Street, welcome on in to a Tuesday edition of the Zach Gelb show across all the great local CBS Sports Radio affiliates, Sirius XM channel 158, and that free Odyssey app. 855-212-4CBS is the number to jump on in.

855-212-4227. You can always get at me on the good old cesspool of Twitter, at Zach Gelb, or on Instagram where we're always straight flexing, same handle, at Zach Gelb, Z-A-C-H-G-E-L-B. We are coming to you live from the Rocket Mortgage studios.

Whether you're looking to purchase a new home or refinance yours, Rocket Mortgage can help you get there for home loan solutions that fit your life well. Rocket can, and joining us at the top of the hour from the undefeated Michigan Wolverines, they will have a Big Ten Championship game this weekend, and looking to go back to back as Big Ten champs. Colston Loveland will join us, and then coming up at 9pm Eastern, 6pm Pacific, former Auburn offensive lineman does a great job now talking college football in Cole Kublick. A whole lot to do today, but first up, producing this extravaganza for the next four hours is no other than Hot Take Kiki.

This dumb producer, Hot Take Kiki. I have a very weird relationship with Jimmy Garoppolo. When Jimmy Garoppolo was on the Patriots, I never wanted to see him start because that means Tom Brady would have either got hurt, got suspended, or Tom Brady would have left the New England Patriots. So everyone kept on telling me, Jimmy Garoppolo was this, Jimmy Garoppolo was that, and then when he got traded, it did feel as if it was an underwhelming return for a guy that some deem was going to be a franchise quarterback. And the last few years, Jimmy Garoppolo has won a lot of games, but he's also compiled a lot of injuries.

And when the Patriots had an opportunity to maybe get Jimmy Garoppolo back once Brady left, then Cam was one and done in New England, or one year and then we all know what happened in the training camp, Mac Jones beat him out for the job. But I always said in that year before they drafted Mac Jones that I didn't want Jimmy Garoppolo because I didn't look at Jimmy Garoppolo as a franchise quarterback. Now it doesn't mean I think Jimmy Garoppolo is horrible.

It doesn't mean I think he is this terrible quarterback. I just think Jimmy Garoppolo's ceiling is being a good quarterback, being an above average quarterback, being someone that is a game manager, but in a big moment and a big spot, he crumbles. You look at the Super Bowl a few years ago when he was with the San Francisco 49ers, still is, he overthrew Emmanuel Sanders.

Then last year they had a lead in the fourth quarter against the Rams, couldn't close the game out. So you look at Jimmy G, he's always been that quarterback. Yeah, he wins games, but I don't like X, I don't like Y, I don't like Z about Jimmy Garoppolo and you'll never win a Super Bowl with him. But the last few years with him as the quarterback and how many times the 49ers have tried to move off of him and away from him, he's kept on finding a way to rise back to the top, rise back to the starting position for the 49ers under center and BQB one and continue to win games. Now the 49ers this year, they're seven and four and everyone keeps on telling me they're a great football team, they're a dangerous football team. You may end up being right, but with what I've seen so far from the 49ers this year, I get it.

There's trust in their past experiences, there's a belief that they'll turn around. We saw them turn it around last year, but with the way that the 49ers have played this year, I have not seen this great football team that has a roster with a bevy of talent play to their potential yet. With that being said though, the last few weeks, Jimmy Garoppolo has played some really good football.

Now it's not out of this world football, it's not jaw dropping football. I know against the Cardinals he was very good. There was nothing really to write home about in that win up against the Chargers and the Saints game, he was, he was efficient.

He was, you got to give him credit. They only scored 13 points, but he did what they needed to do to get a victory. And this weekend, I think it's a major game for the 49ers because if the 49ers go out there and beat Miami, that's their best win of the season.

And it's not even close. Like you look at their wins this year, they beat the Seahawks by 20 points. They crushed the Rams, the Rams have been an awful football team. They beat Carolina, they beat the Rams again, they beat the Chargers when the Chargers are playing three defensive linemen, they're missing both their tackles, they had Keenen Allen and Mike Williams out of the game. They beat the Cardinals, they're a bad football team. You beat the Saints, who are a bad football team. Now you have Miami, who in games this year where Tuatunga-Viloa has started and finished those games, he's not lost this year, he's 8-0. There are only three losses the Dolphins this year have been when Tuatunga-Viloa has been hurt and has been on the sideline. So this is a game this weekend where you have your great defense with D'Amico Ryans, who is going to be a head coach I would think next year, going up against an offense where Tuatunga-Viloa is playing elite. We know Jeff Wilson has been a reliable running back and San Francisco knows everything about him and Mike McDaniel from their time together with the 49ers. You have one of the best wide receivers in football in Tyreek Hill. You then have Jalen Waddle. This is a game that there's so much talent, there's so much speed, both sides of the ball, they're tremendous on defense.

This is a game that just has palpable buzz. And I'm wondering this weekend, because when I asked you right now Hickey, who is the quarterback advantage this weekend? Tuatunga-Viloa with the Dolphins or Jimmy Garoppolo with the 49ers? Just give me the name of the quarterback that you think is better.

I would agree with you. And I want to see this weekend if Jimmy Garoppolo can go out there and win this game. Now he's won a lot of games, but I want to make sure that he's not the reason, even in a losing effort, that they lose this game.

Like if he throws a late pick, if he fumbles the ball, if he comes up short on fourth and eight with the game on the line or takes a sack late when they're in field goal position, then it's a bad look for Jimmy Garoppolo. But if Jimmy G continues to do what a lot of people expect out of this 49ers team, which is to get to a Super Bowl, and right now I would lean Philadelphia getting there, but after that, can you trust Dallas? Can you trust Minnesota? Can you trust Tampa Bay? Can you trust the Seahawks?

Like I think Dallas is a good team, but we thought they were a good team last year. Minnesota, they got blown out by Philadelphia and then also the Dallas Cowboys. Tampa Bay is a game under.500 right now. Seattle is starting to cool off.

They're at six and five. They just lost to the Raiders. So the NFC may be the Eagles going to the Super Bowl because of the fact that the Eagles are A, a great team, but then B, they'll have home field advantage. But if it's not Philadelphia, you could give me a lot of other teams, but in terms of talent, look at the talent of the 49ers. They have a great roster. And if Jimmy G gets him to a Super Bowl this year, and if he wins a Super Bowl, like that's a whole different conversation, or if they're just even back in the NFC title game, and he's not the reason why they lose, how don't you bring him back next year?

And let me be clear when I say this. I would have hated that statement a year ago. I would have hated that statement to begin the season.

I probably would have hated that statement a few weeks ago. But we keep on trying to diss Jimmy G, and I've been a reason because of that. And maybe Jimmy G never wins a Super Bowl. Maybe Jimmy G comes up short once again and it makes him double, triple down on Trey Lance. And they gave up a whole lot in the draft to go move up to get Trey Lance.

And that could be tough. That could be a dilemma when you're John Lynch and you're Kyle Shanahan and you gave up all those assets, you gave up all those first round picks to go get Trey Lance. And he's never really been able to prove to you yet that he's the guy either because Jimmy G was starting last year or unfortunately Trey Lance got hurt this year.

But you got to remember, and we've seen this around the league, and I know each situation is different. Look at what the Jets just did. I know they played the Bears. But it was a totally different offense with Mike White at quarterback because there was a belief in the quarterback. Look at Taylor Ham Heinecke with the commanders. Carson Wentz has more talent than Taylor Ham Heinecke. Carson Wentz was 2-4, Taylor Ham Heinecke now 5-1. There's something, even if the guy doesn't have the best tools, even if the guy isn't the better quarterback, even if he doesn't have more upside.

But there's something to be said in this league about winning games. And whether you think Jimmy G is great or you have questions about him like I do, the one thing we could all agree on is Jimmy Garoppolo wins games and his team believes in him. And what I mean by that is the players in the locker room believe in him. Because Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch, they may like Jimmy G. They may have a level of belief in him, but they did doubt him. Because if they really did love him, they wouldn't have made and had to move mountains and give up a king's ransom to go get Trey Lance, who was a big question mark. And everyone was telling me about Trey Lance's upside and a lot of people, I know scouts are different, but I'm talking about football fans, talk shows. Many people never seen Trey Lance take a snap in college and a lot of people were raving about him. So I'm just going to throw this question out there and I'm going to open this up to Hickey. I'm going to open it up to you at 855-212-4CBS, also on my social media, Instagram, Twitter, at Zach Gelb, Z-A-C-H-G-E-L-B. What does Jimmy Garoppolo have to do this year at a bare minimum to be the quarterback, the starting quarterback of the 49ers next year?

Hickey, my answer is this. I think a bare minimum, he needs them to be back in the NFC title game and he can't be the reason why they lose the NFC title game. Because if he wins two playoff games, wildcard round, divisional round again, and you get to the NFC title game like you were last year, and you are a reason why you lose, then I think Shanahan and Lynch will say, okay, let's stick with the plan, let's stay the course and go back to Trey Lance. But if Jimmy G plays great, let's say, in an NFC title game, and they happen to lose, but they lose 27-24 and the defense couldn't make a stop, and they lose on a game-winning kick as the clock expires, am I really then going to sit here and say I have to get rid of Jimmy G? What the 49ers have been doing the last few years has been working.

And when Jimmy G starts games, whether you think he's the reason or not, he has a lot of wins attached to his name. So I'm starting to think with the way that this season is trending, and I'm more open to it and more inclined to believing in the idea that Jimmy Garoppolo, maybe against all odds, is going to be starting for the 49ers next year. Hickey, where are you at on this one, and what do you think bare minimum Jimmy G needs to do this year to ensure that he's the starting quarterback next year for the 49ers? I would say bare minimum make the Super Bowl.

Bare minimum. Get back to the big game. Because, I mean, look, the 49ers were not shy about moving off of a guy who went to a Super Bowl just two years before he was drafted. And outplayed Mahomes the first three quarters. And then went back to the NFC title game this last year, and they were going into the offseason with their mind dead set on Trey Lance being the starter. So I think it has to be bare minimum Super Bowl.

And I think also, to your point, he has to play really well. That's not something he's really done in the playoffs. Like, they've won games, but Jimmy G has been far from the reason whether it was the Vikings game, whether it was the Packers game in the NFC title game a few years ago, whether it was the Packers game in Lambeau Wright. This past year, where they scored 10 points and didn't have an offensive touchdown and still won the game, or whether it was, you know, the first game against the Cowboys, it was okay, but then towards the end of the game, it was, you know... Oh, he almost gave that game away. Right, some bad throws and some bad decisions that almost led to a loss. He said, Dak, here you go, go take the victory. And Dak and Mike McCarthy said, uh, we don't know how to snap the football. He still has a lot to prove for sure to keep that job for next year.

And here's the other part about it. How much of an investment, if you're the 49ers, you're willing to make in Jimmy Garoppolo? Because once you restructured that deal this year, they cannot franchise tag him after this year.

Like, if they could franchise tag him, no harm, franchise tag him, and then you tell Trey Lance, okay, you may have to wait another year. But you're going to have other teams that are going to be in the market for a quarterback, and he could get a more lucrative deal that maybe he's deserving because there could be a great demand for Jimmy Garoppolo. Like, you look at a team like the Jets. The Jets have a really good roster, and Salah was with the 49ers. They have a really good defense. They have some young weapons at the wide receiver position, and Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore. Jimmy G would be really good for the Jets. Like, we're just asking the Jets to have a game manager, above average quarterback. That's what a lot of people define Jimmy G as. And you have familiarity with that coaching staff.

Now, I'll throw out two other options too, or a few more. Like, a team like the Colts, the Tennessee Titans, just in the AFC. I would rather have Jimmy G than Ryan Tannehill.

Now, I don't know if the Tennessee Titans would move off of Tannehill and only settle for Jimmy G, but I think it would be a better quarterback. Indianapolis? Hickey, I know you're a sycophant for the Indianapolis Colts. You thought they were going to beat the Steelers last night by 10 plus points.

That didn't work out for you all that well. I know the offensive line's bad right now in Indianapolis, but you have Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman. I don't think Jimmy G would be this bad option if you don't love the quarterbacks this year in the draft, and you give him a 2-3 year deal.

I don't think that would be bad whatsoever. I'm out on Jimmy G for the Colts. They're not in the position for it.

You know what? Then the Colts, if your GM, Chris Balitzel, has a job next year, then he should go against whatever you say. Because every quarterback you've advocated for the Colts, man, you really have just ended their careers. Well, Jimmy, he said himself he wants to go to a situation where he can win. I hate to say, but you can't win right now in Indy, especially in, let's say, two or three years.

Commanders? I don't think would be a bad spot. It's an upgrade over Taylor Hamhynick. He's a really good quarterback. You know he's drastically better than Carson Wentz.

I was just going to say. And that's a good roster. Commanders have good young defensive players. Offensively, you have two good running backs that I like a lot in Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson. Who doesn't love Terry McLaurin? Who doesn't love Jahan Dotson?

Commanders would be a good option. And he brings something they are severely lacking. Championship experience. And you could have maybe an NFCE Spitting War for him. What about the Giants?

You know, if they don't bring back Daniel Jones, I don't think Jimmy G is a bad option for the Giants. And I'll throw out, you could say basically any team in the NFC South, assuming Brady leaves this last season. And we don't know if that is going to be the case, but the NFC South could be a landing spot for Jimmy Garoppolo. Probably not the Panthers because they'll draft a quarterback this year, but a team like the Saints, a team. Well, maybe. And why not the Bucks? You have the pieces if Tom Brady leaves.

Potentially. And there's not a better option. Maybe Atlanta, who is a good young, like some young offensive pieces. But how about the Seahawks?

I know it's in division, but if he's a free agent, he could go sign wherever he wants. Geno Smith has played well this year. But let's say if he stumbles down the stretch, you have DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Kenneth Walker at the running back position. And Pete Carroll is trying to build back up that defense.

I know they didn't have a good performance against Josh Jacobs, but there's been some good moments for that defense this year in Seattle. I don't think Seattle's that bad of an option. And you could use some of the draft picks that you got in the Russell Wilson trade this year. It could be the third overall, fourth overall pick this year to improve other pieces of your roster. There could be a market for Jimmy G this offseason, but is San Francisco going to let him get away?

That's the big question. Because if you're a 49ers fan, I know you made an investment in Trey Lance. But if this guy continues to win games, you may be thinking to yourself, hmm, let's be careful what we wish for. We got a blessing this year. Unfortunately, you never want to see it come because of injury. But maybe a reminder, what we have, even though a lot of us don't love him, could be better than a lot of other teams have in the NFL. This is Zach Gelb's show on CBS Sports Radio. How much of a chance do you think there is that Jimmy Garoppolo is going to be starting under center next year for the San Francisco 49ers? I'm more inclined than I was a few weeks ago. That's the way that I'll say it.

855-212-4 CBS. Come on back. We'll look at Michigan's title chances this year. And also, one coach who has consistently been a championship-winning coach is now starting to be questioned a little bit. We'll get into who that coach is next.

So get started and download the free Odyssey app today. So my biggest fear is there's going to be snakes in the toilet. We're all afraid of that one strange thing. I'm Larry Mullins, the host of a new short 10-minute podcast called Your Weirdest Fears. We unpack where these fears come from. A rat climbed into my toilet.

You can learn how to manage them. Listen and subscribe to Your Weirdest Fears on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Throughout the 60s and 70s, cops hunted down key figures of the Dixie Mafia, including its enigmatic ringleader, Kirksey Nix. I'm interested in making money.

I'm not interested in hurting people. Fifteen years into Kirksey's life sentence, the Dixie Mafia was practically folklore, but that would soon change. I'm Jed Lipinski. This is Gone South, a documentary podcast from C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio.

Season two, the Dixie Mafia, available now on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to The Zach Gelb Show. That always cracks me up every time I hear that it is a Zach Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio. The hot take hickey brand continues to grow.

Just got a tweet from Bankrupt 76, real professional adult sounding account. The fact that you didn't start today's show with hickey's hot take that the Colts wouldn't buy double digits last night shows that you are a true professional. I would have opened today's show with that and at least every other show this week. So, hickey, I think you should thank me and I should be applauded that I did not go to that. I did mention in the first segment, let's not get carried away and delirious, but right out of the gate in terms of the first minute or two of the show. I did not bring it up and leave the show with that today. So I should be applauded for that. I think I'm making growth in my maturity. And I also think maybe I'm getting a little bit too old and maybe a little bit senile that I didn't have that easy layup thrown right out of the gate and put the ball in the tee.

And I kind of missed in the first two minutes of the show because I had an easy grand slam lined up. I mean, look, I blame Gus Bradley should not have allowed more than even six points to this hapless Steelers offense. Embarrassing.

I'm sorry. The fact that you think you could beat any team by 10 points is a joke. Like you look at the Steelers like they are the worst team you've ever seen. I might even say the seal is good this year, but Kenny Pickett is a young mobile quarterback who can make some plays. George Pickens is a heck of a player. Also, you have Mike Tomlin, who's a well respected coach in this league, going up against Jeff Saturday, who's what? This is third game as a coach. And the Steelers defense, they got some pieces on it. They have some pieces on it.

Don't shake your head. The second worst pass defense in the NFL. They have pieces on this defense talent wise. It's pathetic. Your team sucks. And how you don't think they that they're better than any team by 10 points is crazy to me. Second worst pass defense.

TGO is invisible yesterday. You got it. You got to beat that team.

You got to beat him down. It's embarrassing. It's the it's the most embarrassing loss of the season for the Colts.

Yes, it is. It's worse than Jacksonville. Jacksonville 24 nothing. It's worse than the Patriots with Sam Ellinger. Considering everyone's healthy, concerning the opponent and their weaknesses, this is the worst loss of the Colts season.

You're wrong on that. It's Jacksonville. How is it not Jacksonville? Missing two of their best players. The offense is still coming together. He didn't score a point. I know.

It was bad. But now there's no I know it's week two. You're still early. New quarterback, new defensive coordinator, new system. The fact that you are still now in, you know, week 12, you should be all assimilated, all comfortable. Well, your team sucks. Well, yeah, they're not very good. Exactly. So how can you say they're not very good, but they're going to beat the Steelers by 10 points last night. They're better than the Steelers.

Oh, my goodness gracious. By 10 points? Yes. You're out of your mind. You know what? Let me see whatever paper you have.

And I need to see how much how much drugs and just covered in alcohol that paper is just marinated in. You know what the worst performance is, though, this year for the Colts? And it wasn't a loss, but the tide of the Texans. They were down big every day that the Texans stink.

That may be one of the worst football teams I've ever seen. So, OK, we got everyone's bashing a picky ticket. You know, if you want to call him up and just talk to him off the air, eight five five two one two four CBS. You know, he needs a little therapy session tonight.

You could talk to him during the break, maybe smack him around like a pinata. How you think your team is 10 points better than anyone is crazy. I mean, you don't fumble, you don't if John Taylor doesn't drop the ball by the goal and you walk in that game, that game could be not by 10, though. You're not winning that game by 10.

He's just not. There was never a point in the game last night, even. And I even said to you after I posted that video at halftime when it was 16 to three and I was walking out of the studio. The moment I saw the punt return or the kick return over the second half, I go, all right, you guys come back and win this game.

But there was no way you ever win that game last night by 10 points. Anyway, to get to a few college football points right now, Hickey, if I had to ask you, where's your belief level in Michigan winning the national championship game? Because the college football playoff rankings are going to be released tonight. Final one before you have the matchups being set next week after a conference championship weekend. So you look at the college football playoff rankings. I think tonight Georgia's going to be one, Michigan's going to be two, TCU three, USC four.

And then the real conversation is who's going to be five and six. And my guess is Ohio State's going to be five and Alabama is going to be six. If the committee is judging it based off resume, that's what I think it should be. But if the committee then gives you the eye test and says, oh, Alabama's two losses to, you know, I have to LSU and then Tennessee were combined four points. Then maybe the committee puts Alabama five, Ohio State six. But personally, I'm going to say after thinking this over, Ohio State's going to be five and Alabama's going to be six. Do you think that will be and should be the top six tonight in the college football playoff when we get those rankings?

It better be. There's no excuse for Alabama head of Ohio State. It better be five, six Buckeyes, Bama.

OK, now off of that, would you agree at this point? Georgia, Michigan, TCU, USC with the way that I think it's going to be ranked tonight, a week from now on the final rankings. Do you think those will still be the four teams that are in the college football playoff? And we're going back to the well, because let me remind you with Hickey, who just, oh, my God, you look like Urban Meyer right now. He just let out a big, deep breath and he just put his hands on his knees and is hunched over right now as we're waiting in great anticipation for his answer. He's now stood up and he has his hands on his hips because Hickey right now knows that he said Oklahoma was going to be a college football playoff team. He said Utah is going to be a college football playoff team. And after giving Clemson and deservedly so, no respect throughout the entire season.

Last week, he said it's not only a question, it's not a question of Clemson is going to be making the college football playoffs. You thought it was likely that Clemson was going to make the college football playoffs. So as we sit here now and as you're about to utter these words into a microphone, you have TCU fans and also USC fans down on one knee looking up to the college football playoff gods, and they're imploring those gods saying, Hickey, please say one of those teams are going to lose. Please say one of those teams are going to lose because so far this year you have mushed a lot of teams. Will it be Georgia against USC, Michigan against TCU when the rankings come out for the final time next week after conference championship weekend?

Yes. My only question is going to be could USC jump TCU depending on how the Saturday, Friday night and Saturday go. But I think those are the four teams that are going to be. What would be the argument for USC to jump TCU? I think if they blow out Utah and you have TCU, it's a struggle, but win against Kansas State, I would wonder and I would possibly think they would jump USC to number three over TCU. Based off resume, though, like and hey, there's always an eye test excuse used out of this, but based off resume, you did have TCU beat Kansas State already by 10 points. If they have a close game, if it's a touchdown or last like Kansas State is what, 12th I think in the nation right now.

So if you have a close game, it's not like embarrassing. But you look at TCU this year, they have one, two, three, four, five top 25 wins. And if they beat Kansas State again, that would be six. What's the argument for USC to other than maybe the Pac 12, just better than the Big 12? But USC has a loss. TCU would not have a loss. What would then be your argument if you're telling me that TCU wins and USC wins for USC to go in front of TCU? Just wondering. Well, I wonder because they've had a lot of close calls at the committee.

It's OK. It's a convincing win by USC. They're peaking at the right time. I just I'm not even saying they would.

That's my only wonder. But what are the great wins for USC this year? They lost to Utah and they beat UCLA. It would be Notre Dame. UCLA was a good win. Yeah, Notre Dame, OK. And the issue for TCU is for TCU. I'm not trying to knock them. I've been a TCU fan all this long. That's the one team you've constantly supported. The biggest thing for them is that the teams they've beaten at the time are ranked and a lot of them have fallen off.

OK. So how do you view TCU? Do you view them at the time that they play, which you think you should?

Or do you view them now? You look at the rankings like there's not as many teams in the top 25 now as it was, let's say, in October when they played four straight ranked teams in 104. I don't know because that's also I can't predict the stupid committee because every week they change their standards and the parameters of what they value more. So I've always been more of a guy on when you play that team. Now, I think a lot of people turn out how that team eventually developed throughout the rest of the season.

But I'm more of an in the moment type of guy. And that's how I think back about those wins. And it's not even close. You have a possibility of six top 25 wins for TCU and not having a loss on the year. The greatest amount of top 25 wins that USC could have is three after this weekend. So I would put TCU in at three and USC at four, assuming that everything shakes out the way that we think it's going to be that TCU is going to win this weekend and USC wins as well. Now, if USC wins, if USC wins and TCU loses, then I think you may end up being right where they flip flop them. But the way you said it was TCU wins and USC wins, I would then be surprised if they do flip flop them.

Anyway, though, if we get Georgia and USC, TCU, Michigan or Georgia, TCU, Michigan, USC, take me through how likely you think it is that Michigan is not only going to be in the national championship game. But then as a chance to win the national title, no matter who they play, they should be the national title game. They're better than TCU. They're better than USC. They absolutely should be in the national title game. If it's come short, it's failure. Now, when it comes to being Georgia, I still think they can be George.

I'll take the dogs. I think they could be Georgia this year because what JJ McCarthy showed you last week. And I know Ohio State defense stinks and Georgia is a much better defense. But if you have, now this is operating that you have a healthy Blake Corum won the time that national championship game is. With the way that they could run the football with Edwards and Corum, I'm not telling you that I'm picking Georgia to lose right now. But I'm starting to feel better and better about the possibility of Michigan. And I've said for most of the year that they're better than Ohio State. And the only reason why I was hesitant last week was because of the Corum injury and also the Edwards injury too. And Edwards clearly wasn't hampered by it.

Corum barely played in the game. I'm starting to go out on that line of thinking that Michigan has a really damn good chance to win the national championship. And I feel like right now, if I put out the poll, maybe we'll do that. Georgia or the field. That's the poll question that we'll do tonight. And I wonder what the percentages would be. I would still probably say 75% of our listening audience is going to take Georgia compared to the field. That's probably what would be my call on that.

So I'll put that poll question out there during the break. But I love what I'm seeing from this Michigan team. Just with the way that they're so dominant in the trenches.

Also, Dabo Sweeney. I know he's coaching for an ACC title game this weekend up against UNC. But this has been another disappointing year for Clemson because the Dabo standard is to get to the college football playoff. I'm not saying that it's championship or bust each and every year. But with how many teams have just fallen off this year. The fact that you were able to survive that blowout loss to Notre Dame.

And still some could say have a good chance to make the college football playoff with how much they were up at many different times against South Carolina to lose that game. The last two years has not been a good look for Dabo Sweeney. I know they had changes in the defensive coordinator, the offensive coordinator this past year. At times looked good, but then at times looked like he was DJ Uenglele from a year ago. Next year it's going to be Cade Klubnick, you know that.

As long as he doesn't transfer. Dabo Sweeney, we all know he's a great coach. But it feels like the way that Clemson was once feared. And there was an aura around Dabo Sweeney being one of these guys that you would just not want to face. In an ACC that has not been all that great the last two years. I don't view Clemson, I don't view Dabo Sweeney as a program right now. That if I'm going up against them, I'm shaking in my boots. Which there was that feel for the last, what, six, seven, eight years whenever you did go up against Clemson. It is the Zach Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio.

Where are you at on that, Hickey? When you look at Dabo and you see your evaluation of the Clemson program. Yeah, no, I'm with you. The surprising part is not just the quarterback, because that's really where you've seen the biggest decline happen. Once Trevor Lawrence left and DJ Uenglele has not been able to pick up where he left off. And even Trevor Lawrence at times disappointed a little. I'm not saying him all the time individually, but the Trevor Lawrence era was not as great as you thought it was going to be with the way that we talked about them. They did win a national title, and they got to two national championship games and made the College World playoff three times. So I'm not going to sit here and tell you it was a failure by any search of imagination. No, no, I'm not saying that.

Or even disappointing. But I think especially to answer your question about this year, it wasn't just quarterback for them. It was wide receiver.

They could not recruit whatsoever. They could not get any big time wide receivers when they were in their heyday. You did have some big time wide receivers making plays.

And even the defense too. You look at their two losses. Notre Dame and South Carolina gashed in both games through the air with Spencer Rattler this past Saturday.

Not on the ground. Notre Dame ran for over 200 yards against them and dominated the line of scrimmage. Now it's supposed to be their big strength as an offensive line. And now it's like even their best area this season especially came up small in the biggest moments.

It's on clubs for sure from what we've seen in the last seven years or so. Yeah, you got to hope that Klubdick turns out to be great and the offensive line just has to get better. But that defense, which we all thought was great going into the year, against Notre Dame, not so hot. Again, South Carolina down the stretch, not so hot in those two games. Zach Gelb shows CBS Sports Radio. We'll come on back.

We will rank some of the new coaching hires in college football on a scale of 1 to 10. Is there something really absurd that skeeves you out? Getting a paper cut on my eyeball. A fear you can't shake? I'm going to leak ocular fluid down my cheeks.

It's going to go into my mouth and I will perish. Whatever scares you, I want to talk about it. Join me, Larry Mullins, on my new podcast, Your Weirdest Fears.

Listen and subscribe to Your Weirdest Fears on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts from. So my biggest fear is there's going to be sneaks in the toilet. We're all afraid of that one strange thing. I'm Larry Mullins, the host of a new short 10-minute podcast called Your Weirdest Fears. We unpack where these fears come from. A rat climbed into my toilet. And learn how to manage them.

Listen and subscribe to Your Weirdest Fears on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Throughout the 60s and 70s, cops hunted down key figures of the Dixie Mafia, including its enigmatic ringleader, Kirksey Nix. I'm in a rush to making money.

I'm not in a rush to hurting people. 15 years into Kirksey's life sentence, the Dixie Mafia was practically folklore, but that would soon change. I'm Jed Lipinski. This is Gone South, a documentary podcast from C13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio. Season 2, The Dixie Mafia, available now on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to The Zach Gelb Show. This Zach Gelb Show on CBS Sports Radio.

So we have had some jobs been filled up right now. Matt Ruhl to Nebraska, Luke Fickle, surprising a lot of people going to Wisconsin. Hugh Freeze, as Hickey predicted.

Yeah, Hickey got it right. Going to Auburn. Ken Dillingham taking the job at Arizona State. And then Brent Key today looks like he's getting the Georgia Tech job and they're going to remove the interim tag on him.

A lot of people. There was a lot of Bill O'Brien. And then the Tulane coach, too, was rumored to basically have the job.

It was reported that Willie Fritz got the job. And then it was announced today and they're on the verge of maybe winning the American Athletic Conference championship. He said, no, I'm staying at Tulane.

So those are the jobs. We knew Georgia Tech was open for a while. We knew Arizona State was open for a while because they got rid of Jeff Collins and Herm Edwards in season. You knew Nebraska was open for a while once Scott Frost was let go. Wisconsin's been open, but no one thought it was going to be Luke Fickle. Everyone loves the Luke Fickle hire, but everyone that you talk to says Jim Leonard's job to lose. And then the Auburn job, like all those jobs are open up for a long time. So now to see them finally play out and see who gets the job. Now we have time to actually react to it.

And a lot of it we spent reacting yesterday. Now we'll give you a number grade on this in terms of confidence. One being no confidence, horrible hire, awful move. Ten being it is the greatest hire in the world and they're going to win seven national championships. I'll tell you right now, as much as I love Luke Fickle, as much as I love Matt Ruhl and think they're tremendous hires, I'm not going to get anyone at ten.

Just the way that I'm grading on this scale that I can tell you that right now. So Hickey, you give me the coach, I will give you the number. One being no confidence, ten being this is the greatest thing ever, they're the next Nick Saban. Let's start with Matt Ruhl at Nebraska, one through ten.

What is your grade? I think it's an eight in terms of Trev Alberts wanted him. He wanted him a month ago. Matt reportedly turned the job down and then they not only made a better financial offer, but with the way the resources could be used at NIL and also getting his guys there and having the money the way it's going to be put on out for staff.

They were able to get on the same vision, have all the alignment, really see that there was a serious commitment. Matt Ruhl is what Nebraska needs because he's a program builder. I know it didn't work out in the NFL, but you look at the college version of Matt Ruhl. He turned Temple into a doormat to Temple having back to back ten win seasons, Temple going to back to back American Athletic Conference championship games, losing the first one to Houston, then beating Navy the next year. And he got college game day to Philadelphia. If you know anything about Philadelphia, Philadelphia is an Eagles town.

That year, Philadelphia for a few weeks became a Temple town. And now you go to a game like I go to games. Now I'm Temple alum.

There's no one at the games. And I know Rod Carey ruined the program and now Stan Drayton is trying to build it back up. But Matt Ruhl took Temple to a level that we've never seen before. And then you go to Baylor with the scandal taking over basically a program that had nothing. And in Waco, Texas, and Baylor, you saw what they were able to do when Robert Griffin was there. But that program and the spot that he took it over after the whole Arbrile situation, you look at where they were.

They were in a brutal spot. One win the first year, second year improved, third year, double digits in a Sugar Bowl in a conference title game. Matt Ruhl's a program builder.

Nebraska the last five, six years has been miserable. Matt Ruhl's going to put in the work. He's going to improve the recruiting. He's going to improve the development of players and Nebraska will give him the patience to install or instill his culture. So I give it an eight. I think it's a wonderful move. How about Luke Fickle leaving Cincinnati for Wisconsin? Nine. Luke Fickle took Cincinnati to the college football playoff.

I'll repeat that. Luke Fickle took Cincinnati to the college football playoff. And what I love about this move, not only is Luke Fickle a tremendous coach, but no one saw this coming.

Because Luke Fickle didn't leave last year. And Wisconsin, it was Jim Leonard, Jim Leonard, Jim Leonard, nothing against Jim Leonard. He may turn out to be a great college football coach, but Luke Fickle is proven. And I do think, not that Wisconsin isn't a major rebuild, it's not like they're that far away, but I do think they will improve immensely. Paul Chris was a good coach.

But I think they'll improve immensely under Luke Fickle because we saw what he did at Cincinnati. Now he has all the resources in the world. Not that Cincinnati is this school filled of no resources, but now you're at Wisconsin just a great brand and a mega brand and a mega player in college football.

So I give it a nine. It was rumored over the weekend, made official yesterday. How about Hugh Freeze to Auburn? Hugh Freeze wins a lot of games. We know that. Won games, beat Saban back to back years when he was at Ole Miss.

He won games at Liberty. We saw what he was able to do with Malik Willis. But the process I don't love. It's not a bad hire. It's not a hire I'm jumping for joy, though, about. It's a solid hire. It's a six to me.

I just don't love the process. They wanted Lane Kiffin. And then as Greg McElroy said yesterday, the reason why he thinks Lane Kiffin goes to return to four staff members on him, Cadillac Williams.

If you want to link Kiffin and you want him to cook the meal, let him shop for groceries. And maybe he would have put Cadillac Williams on his staff. But if that was the deal breaker, then you let Lane Kiffin do what he wants. I think Lane Kiffin is a better football coach and all these things that we'll get into the next hour. They've now just resurfaced or have come out and you're hiring him and you're going to take control of social media. Like you don't trust him to tweet, but you trust him to coach your football team. Now, maybe that's what he needs to stay off social media, because the guys on the field, he's a good coach. But I thought they could have done better. There's a lot of questions. There's a lot of stench around Hugh Freeze, but the guy does win games.

So I put it at a six. How about Kenny Dillingham going back home to Arizona State, formerly the Oregon offense coordinator this past year? You said going back home. I know that always doesn't work, but you have a young, hungry coach and that's your school. I think that is that's very important. He's only 32 years old. And you bring in a guy that is the complete opposite of someone that's well respected. But maybe you could question how much of a coach or CEO he was like.

A lot of people thought Herm Edwards was really CEO and the other people coach the team for Kenny Dillingham. He's going to put in the work. It's a school. It means a lot to him.

I can't tell you and say I know everything about him. He's going to be this wonderful head football coach, but I don't hate the hire. I think it's a 50-50 chance. Young coach, hungry, his school.

So I put it at a five. And Brent Key going from interim head coach at Georgia Tech to now full-time head coach with the Yellow Jackets. I'm always skeptical when you remove the interim tag and I know you did a good job at Georgia Tech at four and four, but I'm always skeptical about that. I think it's almost a 50-50 chance.

I lean more of a four. Now, George O'Leary has great respect for me. He was supposed to go from a UCF and that didn't happen. You know, he has some experience with Nick Saban, Alabama from 2016 to 2018. I know he has the respect of the locker room, but you know the changing landscape of college football, how many of those players are even going to be back?

I put it at a four. I thought they were going to bring in a bigger name, but sometimes just because you're the biggest, the bigger name doesn't mean you're the right hire. Throughout the 60s and 70s, cops hunted down key figures of the Dixie Mafia, including its enigmatic ringleader, Kirksey Nix. I'm in a rush to making money.

I'm not in a rush to hurting people. Fifteen years into Kirksey's life sentence, the Dixie Mafia was practically folklore, but that would soon change. I'm Jed Lipinski. This is Gone South, a documentary podcast from C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio. Season two, the Dixie Mafia, available now on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. 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.