Biggest Week 3 Questions: What's At Stake | CFP Debate | First Coach Fired | Players To Watch & MORE

And welcome back to the cup of three podcast, here on CBS Sports,

“that's Tom Finnelly, that's Buddy Elliott,”

that's Danny Canal, I'm Chip Patterson, fired up to be with you, here on CBS Sports HQ, taking a little time out of the week to get you set for what's ahead in college football, a little step back,

because we've already done upon further review on Monday. We've already done big game breakdowns on Tuesday, our locks that are becoming on Thursday, 11 a.m. Eastern Time on YouTube.com/cover3,

but now we've got some other issues we need to tackle. We've got to get a stock report from day-trained Danny. We've got to get a college football playoff hypothetical and the cover three committee from Buddy Elliott, and so much more, but I wanted to begin with

a couple of the marquee matchups in week three. We're not talking about X's and O's, we did that in big game breakdown. We're talking about stakes, specifically answering the question, who has more to gain, who's got more to lose,

and because it's week three, and because it is, the game that has had our attention for months, we have to begin with, LSU, heading to Oxford to go play Ole Miss,

it is Lane Kiffin's homecoming, it is a top 10 battle, and it is a rivalry that even before Lane Kiffin made himself the main character in it, was already one of the great rivalries in college football history.

So we didn't even need all this extra stuff, but we've got it.

So Danny Kinell, I'm asking you first,

who's got more to gain, who's got more to lose when you're looking at Ole Miss and LSU. Ole Miss, Ole Miss only has this one opportunity to get revenge on Lane Kiffin, to have them prove to the world

that he shouldn't have left, to please their home fans who are desperate to have this win. I mean, we've talked about extra security needed in, because in the bigger picture, a loss doesn't really hurt either one of these teams

in the playout picture. It doesn't really hurt them that much. I also think Ole Miss has turned out to be a jambler where it lost her to him in the Heisman race, we'll see if Sam Levitt's even a Heisman container

at the end of the season. So they're the home team.

“I think it's Ole Miss that has more to lose in this game.”

- I can't disagree. - I think Ole Miss, you have far more to lose in this game than Ole Miss. This is a free money roll to me. If I'm the Ole Miss Rebels,

I've got Lane coming back and if I beat him, like Lane is the one who left. Lane left that program in the midst of a playoff run to go to LSU with the argument that I feel like I haven't easier path

to winning national titles that LSU than I do to Ole Miss. While Ole Miss was literally in the college football playoff with a chance to win a national title in LSU wasn't. So if Lane goes through all that,

takes damn near the entire team with 'em, takes the coaching staff with 'em.

Spends like $50 million on a new roster

that he's taking over to LSU and then he comes back to Oxford and loses. Like what was the point, dude? Like you thought you had a better shot. I think LSU has far more to lose in this game

than Ole Miss as far as like the hype than narrative surrounding it. Because with the Tigers lose this game, what's all the talk gonna be next week? It's like, oh, did LSU make 'em a stake?

Should they have hired Lane? Should he have left? They've got so much more to lose than Ole Miss. This is a free money role for the rebels. - Yeah, I think I grew a ton there.

Like LSU has more to lose for sure. I think Ole Miss has more to gain, right? Like for Ole Miss, it's like, hey, we're still in lead program. It wasn't all Lane Kiffin.

Yeah, he took some of our players. Yes, he left, yes, he trashed us on the way out. Yes, he's trying to play like the victim card this week. We're standing on our own our own name, right? We are more than what Lane Kiffin made us.

So I think there's a lot more to gain for Ole Miss. A lot more to lose for LSU. - But real quick, follow here on this game. How much do you think the stakes will fundamentally impact this game, the stage, the stakes, all the drama surrounding it?

I know that you always do a very good job

of taking all the noise and weeding it out. How much are you willing to consider for this one?

“- Yeah, I think you have to consider both sides, right?”

Like it might be a bit of a worry for Ole Miss. I think Ole Miss will be impacted by this more, right? Whereas the guys to LSU, most of the dudes weren't around last year at LSU or Ole Miss. Like some came from Ole Miss, but for us part,

these guys came from all over the country, right? Now, LSU has history. I think this is for the players more of just another game, another big game for them on the LSU side. I think on the Ole Miss side,

like there's a lot of like the narrative and the story playing into it, which they can use that to their benefit or it could be a detriment. I guess we'll have to see it on Saturday night.

Once you get us started with this next one Friday night

in the Big 12, we got Lubbock Texas, we got the tortillas, we got the red raiders looking to make a statement as truly the team to beat in the Big 12. In comes Willie Fritz's Houston team exceeded expectations

last year, strong performance. Now they're trying to back up that top 25 ranking, so whether it's the Big 12 title race, whether it's just each team running its own journey here in this 26 season, how do you assign the more to gain,

“more to lose when it comes to that Houston Texas tech game?”

- I think Houston has a lot to gain here in that if they win, they've gone on the road and they've beaten the Big Bad Texas tech, the Big Badty on the block in the Big 12 conference race, the team that everybody considers the favorite.

So therefore I think on the other end of it, Texas Tech has far more to lose because if we think of how we've talked about Texas tech these last few years, they were clearly the class of that league in 2025.

They spent all the money on those players and it showed on the field dang near every single week, except for that one road trip to Arizona State.

This year so far, they have not looked incredible

through their first two games and there was all the off-season drama surrounding Brendan Soursby. So Texas Tech was making a lot of headlines this off-season but not for the reasons that they would really want

to be making those headlines. But when it comes to this season and now that the game's just started, you're at home, it's Friday night. This will be the game that most of the country

is watching on Friday night. So this is one of your spotlight opportunities and the other side of this is, be why you's not on the schedule. You toss not on the schedule.

We talked about that as a positive going into the season as far as Texas Tech is concerned. But if they lose this game, this is their one really true opportunity in the spotlight and they don't have another one.

So they've lost what might be their biggest game of the year and they're sitting, then all of a sudden, they're very much looking at a situation where if they don't win the big 12, there's no guarantee that they are going to get in

as an LR to when you start comparing the resume to what they're gonna be competing against with teams from the SEC and the big 10.

“So I think the red raiders have a lot more to lose”

in this game than he used to. I think if Houston goes on the road and wins,

it's incredible for the cooks.

If they go on the road and lose here, nobody's really riding them off because they were expected to lose and they still have a path to a possible big 12 championship. - Totally agree on everything.

Texas Tech has its playoff hopes riding on this one. If they lose this game, there is only one path and that is winning the big 12 championship game. 'Cause they have zero chance of getting into the college football

playoff as an at-large bid with that schedule and with a loss to anybody on the resume. This probably has been, you know, a lot of talk has been Oregon, they have the loss, but I think outside of Oregon,

like Texas Tech should be coming under scrutiny as well because they have not been impressive. Their defense has not been anywhere near as dominant as was last year. The offense has been sputtering through the red zone.

They're trying to figure things out. Thomas Costinalonus was way more efficient this past weekend where I think they were five or five this past weekend in the red zone. I look at this Texas Tech team with everything on the line.

And for Houston, maybe this would get them the type of notoriety and respect that they got. The last time they got any attention on them was when they were not in the conference and Tom Herman was leading them as a head coach

and they were a possible group of five team in the college football playoff. If Houston wins this one, I think people will legitimately look at Houston as a playoff team or at least they should

because if they beat Texas Tech in love it, that shouldn't announce them as a very real college football playoff contender. - Yeah, I'm gonna agree with both Danny and Tom. I think they really nailed it.

Like for me, the cast along this point is interesting, right? Texas Tech this year has not been explosive on offense. The defense I still think is very good. I don't think it's quite as good as what it was last year. But if you're not gonna be explosive on offense,

you have got to cash in those red zone and score in zone opportunities for touchdowns. And I think like Hammond, you know,

“I think he's athletic, but he's also coming off the knee injury, right?”

So if he's not a willing or quite as capable runner, as maybe he would have been pre knee injury, having cast a lot of Sinner to run some red zone packages is probably pretty vital for these guys. I do think you trust Willie Fritz at Houston

to get to a certain point number. Maybe that's 21, maybe that's 24, but Tech's Tech cannot afford here to go out and lay a stinker on offense and put up like 17. Yeah, Texas Tech playing in this position,

now is when they need to rise up. I mean, we did a dad gum documentary about him. We talked about him as the villain of college football. We have celebrated and marveled at everything they have done to invest in this program and level up so quickly.

It is wild to say that there's a must-win game here in mid September, but when it comes to Texas Tech and the various paths that you have to get to the college football playoff, a lot of pressure there.

But coming back to you on this one

And you never really thought you'd get must-win games

“in September, but I think I have found another one”

at least in terms of SMU and Louisville and that competition to be on the other side of Miami because SMU and Louisville don't have the opportunities to play Miami in the regular season. So if they want to take Miami down,

it might have to be making it to the ACC championship game. And last time I checked, if Miami's there, that only leaves one spot. So dare I say a elimination game here, but with the teams with the coaches specifically,

Jeff Brahms lost twice to retlashly in the last two years. SMU wants to make sure that they get play a little bit better than they did against Florida State. How are you adjudging the state assigning the stakes? More to gain more to lose with SMU Louisville?

- Yeah, I think there's a little bit more pressure on Louisville here because of the opening loss that they had an Ole Miss. And I look, I mean, it's a very good Ole Miss team very talented, obviously, you got the best

of trying to add a chance in the final 20 minutes of that ball game. If you look at SMU though, they're gonna have a couple of other opportunities here. They do play Notre Dame and South Bend.

They say what you want about their chances of winning that game, but that's not gonna be like a 24-point spread, you know. So they'll have a puncher's chance, maybe not a strong puncher's chance in that one. You know, for Louisville, like there were many opportunities

from our key wins on this schedule, if you wanted to maybe secure an at-large, especially obviously, you know, to get today's championship race, I mean, they have what Wake, NC State, Florida State, Syracuse, Stanford, Georgia Tech, North Carolina Pit.

How many teams did I just write off? We're gonna make a bowl, guys. Like over under two, two and a half, probably? - Three, yeah. - Yeah, yeah. - Yeah, right, like it's not more than half.

So I do think that this is a, it's like a kind of a half elimination game. If you don't win this, you certainly know our controller on destiny to make the AC Championship game. - Yeah, I think that it's be fair, like Chip, you touched on it.

Both of these teams have a lot to lose in this game, because as you did mention, like these are two of the teams

that are expected to be in competition for that second spot

if we assume my amy is in the ACC championship. So to not only have this loss on the resume and the standings, but to lose the tiebreaker aspect of it is huge for both teams, but as but touched on, I do believe Louisville has far more to lose,

because you've already got two losses, and the two losses have come to who are probably gonna be the two best teams on your schedule. So really, your only path is, you know,

“if you want to win the ACC, you have to win out,”

because you have to get the ACC championship and as if you want to get to the playoff, you have to win to the ACC to get there, because you're just not going to have the resume. So on the flip side, SMU has plenty to gain here

because, hey, there already won it out in the ACC. If they win this game, not only are they 2-0 in conference play already, but they're 2-0 on the road in conference play, which means the majority of their conference games at a remaining,

and it's not the most difficult schedule, but mentioned it. Notre Dame is the toughest game they have left to play after this, and that's not an ACC game. But you're 2-0 in conference play and you're at home

in conference play, the rest of the season. So you're sitting pretty in a very nice position going forward in the ACC title race if you can win this game against Louisville. - I agree with both of you guys.

I do, people are still looking at Virginia kind of forgetting about 'em. That is SMU's one remaining test, but it is at home in this one. I think there's some pressure on Kevin Jennings.

“If you want to somehow be an outside shot at the Heisman trophy,”

there's a lot of pressure on him to come up. He's already 2-0 against this one, but I do think this is about Louisville. What tries me nuts for Louisville, and I think it probably does for Jeff Prom if you ask him about it.

Everyone and their brother talked about Ohio State, looked so good against Texas and it was a great loss. That was a great loss versus Ole Miss, who we think is going to be a really good team. The unfortunate reality is you're not going to get

the benefit of doubt that Ohio State does because of their history and tradition and because they play in the big tent. So this does feel like a must win game for Louisville and their playoff hopes to stay in the stand.

Because it does look like their path is to make it to the ACC title game. If they go through this game and they do lose in a close one to my M in an ACC championship,

I think maybe that first game against Ole Miss

could come back to help them, but you do not want to leave that up to the committee. You have got to take this in your own hands and that starts with a win at home against SMU. - Yeah, sure enough, little precedent there in the ACC.

SMU lost in the ACC championship game, but was still able to make the college football playoff in 2024. You know, the big game, bra, moniker, started when he was back at Purdue.

He comes and takes over at Louisville in 2023. He takes out Notre Dame in 2024. Well, he shows up and he beats Clemson so bad in their own house, their head and for the exits by the start of the fourth quarter.

Then in 2025, he takes out Miami

But here's the problem, big game bra.

This is your last chance to have a big win. Because you've already had the Ole Miss game and then you've got this one. And now all of a sudden, if you lose this one, you know what Louisville fans are saying?

You're 0 and 3 against Rhett Lashley. And that's somebody we measure ourselves against. There's no context about the fact that when SMU beat Louisville last year, they didn't have their starting quarterback.

They didn't have their starting running back and they didn't have their backup running back because of injuries. Nobody's talking about that because fans are emotional. They are not necessarily dealing with concrete details.

The fact of the matter is, if Jeff Brom is going to call himself big game bra.

And if he's going to make sure that he's not getting

lapsed by Rhett Lashley, he needs to win this game.

“That's why I think is a ton of pressure, a lot to gain.”

Who's going to be? Little to gain, a lot to lose when I'm looking at the Louisville position here. Again, wild for me to say, must win game in week three. But just given everything that's on the plate right now,

I would say, don't lose it, Jeff. That's my suggestion to coming up on the other side. We got to check in with the market. That's right. Day trading, Danny, is back with a stock report.

The latest buys sales and more. Next. [MUSIC PLAYING] Back here on the COVID-3 podcast, coming to you on CBS Sports HQ. And yes, we do have to check in with the market.

It's time for a little day trading, Danny. Why don't you get us started as we head into week three with a look at a quarterback from the show me state? All right, I've got, have you guys ever had a stock that you've had in your portfolio and you buy it?

Somebody tells you to buy it and you just kind of stick it away. And it just kind of sits there.

“And then I was suddenly pops and it's like, whoa, what just happened?”

I feel like that's Austin Simmons at Missouri. Do you guys remember? I looked like a genius because I had Ole Miss as a playoff team a year ago, because I was a believer in Austin Simmons being this superstar quarterback that we heard so much about.

He graduated high school early. He was really smart. He was a dual sport athlete. Well, guess what? All of a sudden, he gets badly pimped from Trinidad Chambers.

Everyone forgot about him, but his stock is on the rise. And I am here for it. Seven touchdowns, zero interceptions, a big road when in that Kansas game and the rivalry game, tough environment, back and forth, early in the game.

He stands up there and by the way, he's found a couple receivers to throw to. This has been without a mod hearty there in the backfield. It was still recovering from that gunshot wound this off season. I think there is a really strong possibility that Ole Miss wins their next one,

two, three games before a huge matchup at home against Texas A&M. Camario Taylor might have something to say about that. That big matchup in Starkville. But I am buying Austin Simmons that I bought a year ago that all of a sudden I'm still holding on to it.

It looks like it's a stock on the rise. Yeah, I think you're on to something here. Like if you watched the throws, he made, you can call it offense differently with a guy that gets the ball out. Like accurately with that many RPMs on it, man.

I mean, like that, that just looks different. Some of these wide field throws the Simmons are making. Like just not something you see every day in college football. And it does make you defend the whole field more. Like I still have a lot of concerns about this Missouri team.

You know, the defense at times certainly did not look great against Kansas. If Kansas is quarterback and throw a little more consistently, you know, I think they would have had major success against the Tigers, but he couldn't. And so Missouri, you know, won that game.

But man, like yeah, I think he stocked up and pretty clearly a top half quarterback in the SEC.

Yeah, what we've seen through the first two weeks of the season,

like there were a lot of quarterbacks. We're getting plenty of hype and for good reason during the off season. But I would say that like per throw, the most NFL throws I've seen per attempt. This year is Austin Simmons at Missouri. He, like, bud touched on it.

He's unleashing throws at your typically not seeing a lot of the kids right now in the country. Doing as far as both the, you know, the zip on the ball and the accuracy is putting them in the right place on time and with a lot of heat coming with them. So yeah, no, I agree. I wish I had bought more of this stock last year. I wasn't as smart as Danny.

I was selling my Austin Simmons stock once Trinidad came around. Yeah, that's, that's like got some force. Don't do it. Just got to buy and hold. Just got to have the money and you can't sell it. Danny, it's like, it's like we're cleaning out your grandparents house and you're like, what is this grandma?

She goes, oh, somebody told me to buy stock in the fruit company and it's Apple that was purchased, you know, decades ago. And now all of a sudden, here's Austin Simmons NFL Draft Analyst talking about him like he's a first round pick. Everything's coming in. Danny's cash and for you.

“That's why you listen to Danny Canal advisors.”

I DK, where would you like to go next?

Why don't you give us a sell because it's time that we were mature and we make some aggressive decisions in the market.

Yeah, you got to reallocate some fun sometimes.

“And that's why I am with the Washington Huskies at Big 10 media days.”

I was pretty bullish on the Huskies. We've talked to demand Williams, the growth we had seen him as a leader and just dealing with the media. And I was thinking, Washington could be a team that would be very much in the thick of the playoff discussion going into their last two games of the season. Indiana and Oregon, if they got one of those, they could possibly be in the college football playoff. I am selling that take right now.

They have looked very, very average. I think it is very apparent that the demand Williams is missing the weapons that he had last year and Jonah Coleman in the backfield and Denzel Boston on the outside.

The team is missing a clear cut identity.

They have eaten out, not one, but two victories. And I get to Washington State came. It's the apple cup. It's a rivalry. It was probably one they could have taken control of been more impressive, but they follow that up with a two point win against Utah State.

All of a sudden, I look at the schedule and I see games against USC on the road at home against Iowa on the road in Nebraska. Penn State, all of a sudden, I'm looking at them as possibly a seven win team as opposed to a nine or ten win team. I am selling my Washington Huskies stock. I certainly understand the impulse to do so I'm not going to completely sell on the Huskies yet because you look at the schedule that they have for the rest of the year.

“I think the one thing that they have been off to a slow start, but they're kind of a forwarded one with their schedule and that they don't really have to come out guns blazing because they still got a few weeks until they get really tested.”

And it's like, yeah, that USC game on the road obviously looks pretty difficult compared to what we've seen, but USC hasn't played anybody. And yes, they've looked better in those games, but we still don't really know who the Trojans are. Iowa has to come to Washington, and then you look towards the end of the year, they've got the Indiana game, which still very difficult. It's still Indiana, but it is at Huskies Stadium, and that road trip to Oregon does it look as difficult as it did two weeks ago.

Like that certainly seems like a more win-able game for the Huskies, so I'm not overly confident, but I'm not going to write them off completely just yet. I think that the rest of the Big 10 looks mediocre enough to this point so far that the Huskies might just stick around. Yeah, I'm going to strongly endorse Denny's recommendation here. Like you can get 11% return on your money right now, but in Washington, no, and a lot of our partners to miss the playoff. Guys, every single game after this weekend is Easter Washington for them is lovable, right?

They could lose them in a soda, you could lose USC, you could lose to Iowa. Honestly, if they keep playing the way they've been playing, they could lose on the road at Purdue, it's not likely, but that's certainly not a lock with how Washington's been playing. Like I think they'll be underdogs at Nebraska, they'll be dogs against Penn State.

“Like what's that game right now, based on how they've played at Michigan State?”

They're not favored by much if anything at all, massive dogs to Indiana, and granted, Tom's right, Oregon has not looked good, but like Washington has looked to be my opinion, meaningfully worse than Oregon has. Washington say it's not a good team and you struggle with them in part, and Utah State is a team that just lost to FCS team in week one, and you, like they had a hail merit to beat you, like that, that's, that they're in trouble, I think. This is not look good. Is this penny stocks? Because they are minus 1500 at one American sportsbook to miss the playoff.

So you would have to play, but that's, you know, 100, you know, in a major, that's a, I mean, I guess it's free money. Is that what you're saying right now? I mean, that, what is that? Like a 7 or 8% return over 90 days? You could do worse. A lot of hedge funds would take that. Yeah, there we go. 7, 8% return, DK's got you.

I DK, let's finish on a positive here. Let me give me something else to add to my portfolio. All right. So we have talked a lot about conference supremacy and how the non-conference matchups matter. And I thought it was pretty interesting. The SEC has been dominant. We all kind of expected that with the depth of the league.

But the big 10 has been disappointing. And the ACC made big waves last weekend. Going three and all against the big 10, they're right there just below 500 at five and six. And some of their non-conference matchups after the weekend. I am buying the ACC is going to move strongly over 500 with a three and one.

This, a three and one record this weekend. The wins will be West Virginia, or excuse me, Virginia over West Virginia. We see that Virginia offensive line. I think they dominate Virginia Tech over Maryland. We seen Jan Franklin. We've seen that bad blood with Mike Locksley. I think his team is playing outstanding.

I think they get the best of Maryland. And then NC State has to go into Nashville and get a win over a freshman quarterback in Jared Curtis getting the nod.

His first start in the SEC.

I think that could be more challenging than people think. The only blemish probably Florida State against Alabama. That would be a shocker. But I think the ACC goes three and one this weekend to take a huge step forward

I can certainly see it.

I don't know if it's going to happen.

But that that parlay pays five to one. By the way, if you wanted to put those four results together in a little hookup this weekend.

“I mean, I think Maryland is dangerous for the hokey's month.”

But Mike Washington played extremely well against you. Come on, continuing is nice play from last year. Obviously he like having receivers not dropped all the time. Guys, it's proven it has helped a little bit. NC State's the interesting one.

I mean, they they have looked terrible so far this season in meaningful competition. But you know, Vanderbilt also has looked vulnerable at times and exciting matchup of quarterback there. I'm curious to see how this plays out. It's certainly it could happen.

I mean, I guess I would buy the idea that they could go three and one in these games and get to a winning record. Wouldn't buy the idea that it would make them like a playoff force. Because like let's let's imagine that they win the three games. You just had them winning.

So the power four teams that they've beaten would then be Maryland, West Virginia, Vanderbilt, TCU, Rutgers, Purdue, UCF and Illinois. Not exactly a murderers row of opponents there. It's not exactly a bunch of playoff teams you've racked up wins against. Meanwhile, your losses would now include Alabama, LSU, Old Miss, Tennessee.

So when it comes to facing teams that are of the playoff caliber, you would not have a win yet. Well, I mean, but I'm looking at it. I'm looking at it. But I'm just saying, you know, somebody buried them a couple weeks ago that was a big

big tent.

“I think I helped them in the overall conversation.”

I don't think beating Rutgers Purdue, when Vandery and West Virginia helps get you an at large bit. I think a lot of this comes down to,

are you fighting for a second playoff spot for your conference against the big 12th?

Like, that's where it could matter. Is that where a win against West Virginia could end up holding or how about that? Do you want to share your details over TCU? You know? We were talking about more to gain more to lose.

If Virginia loses to West Virginia, but then wins the ACC. Big 12 is going to get that nod before the ACC does. Oh, that's disastrous. Yeah. Yeah.

It's Virginia could easily lose a noncon, but then go in and wreck everyone's shop in ACC play. And then all of a sudden, it gets a little bit chaotic. All right. One more, Danny.

What's the last bit of the market report? One more. And this one's not true of a harsh of a sell, but if I was repositioning, I might reallocate some of my funds in the big 12.

I had BYU is that potential second team or the team that could upset Texas tech,

even though everything looks a little bit uncertain with Texas tech, looking a little more vulnerable. But I am going to sell BYU as the trendy pick in the big 12. I saw a lot of people picking this one. And while they've been good,

like I've liked what I've seen from barebock Meyer, you know, and the steps that he's made and the receivers that they've given him and his ability to throw the football. But does anybody pay attention to Utah?

And by the way, the Holy War is taking place in Salt Lake City at right of cycles. This is more about repositioning, selling BYU to replace it with Utah. Devin Dampier looks like he has not missed the beat with Jason Beck,

being gone. There was a lot of question marks. What it would look like with Morgan Scally to take an over. I don't think they have missed a beat.

“And I think people have been sleeping on Utah.”

So I would sell my BYU to purchase a little Utah stock. Yeah, I think that's fair. You know, the real thing is like, yes, Utah is look better than we thought they would. But at the same time, text tech has looked meaningfully worse.

Like all summer, text tech was odds on to win the league. And now they're plus money. Utah has looked a little better. I think Arizona State, despite the final score, against tech say them, has looked pretty for real.

They shot themselves in the foot. A number of time down the stretch. But like they played for play. They were pretty much right there with A&M for a large part of that game. I don't think anybody's really believed can't stay with those off to line injuries.

It can go the distance in this league. I don't know, man, like BYU, I think their strategy can work better. Now the text tech appears to be a bit down. Then I thought it could preseason. And like Utah has looked a lot better than we thought.

But also Arkansas would be meaningfully improved by having Danny could have helped like quarterback for them right now. So I'm a little bit unsure of just how good Utah is. Like, no, I mean, they just don't have a cubial. I feel bad for the hogs fans out there.

But like, they can't play. Yeah, I've got, I don't think that I think it's a perfectly solid idea. It's just I agree. Utah has definitely looked better than I thought or at least they've maintained, like compared to the fears of what they might look like after losing their entire coaching staff.

But like they've played Idaho and Arkansas. And Arkansas has a legitimate argument to be one of the worst P4 teams in the country this year. So I'm not, I don't want to overreact to it too much. But that said, I don't think that the gap between Utah and BYU is as wide as maybe the talk is. So I certainly understand the proposition here.

Could I get guys to buy in the BYU and Utah are the two best teams in the big 12?

Because I, I'm, I maybe I should have just sold my Texas tech. Yeah, I'm not, I'm not taking Utah over Texas tech. I don't think I'm taking Utah over here is on the state. I need to see them against somebody that has a quarterback. Okay, there we go.

That, hey, that can be a good advantage, especially when you're playing at home.

I guess the first year head coach and all the other turnover along the way.

We'll come up on the other side.

“What is the college football play all fallout of Ohio State losing at Texas?”

Well, it might not be much now, but what if they lose again? Or maybe a third time? What is a nine and three Ohio State team face in the college football playoff selection committee? We will rule on it with the cover three committee and more next. Back here on the cover three podcast, one of the fun activities we've had so far this year.

And we'll continue to do is allow Bud Elliott to bring to us the cover three committee. Some college football playoff hypotheticals. Because we know the selection committee in all of their grandeur will still have a monumental task of untying the knots of the rankings. So Bud, what have you cooked up for us today? Guys, I think we want to stay topical after Ohio State narrowly lost to Texas.

Bowing that 233 lead there in the final minutes. All right, so we have nine and three Ohio State, nine in the cover title game against ten to my Emmy.

Not in the cover title game.

Let's break it down who they beat and buy how much and who they lost to and same. So Ohio State obviously they already beat ball state. We saw the loss at Texas bounce back against Kent State big win. You know, decided victory over Tom's Illinois team. They go in beat be the close one against Iowa. They beat Maryland. They lose by a fuel goal in Indiana.

They lose by a fuel goal at USC. So they're sitting there with three losses. They come back. They beat Oregon. They beat Northwestern. They get the road win at Nebraska. And they also get the win against Michigan.

They're sitting there nine and three. They are not in anapolis for the conference title game. Then Miami on the other side. So they already want to stay in front. We saw them play a guess a game. But really this criminal against four to hand them.

They went on Friday night at Wake Forest. They beat Central Michigan. They lose by six at Clemson. They beat four to state. They beat pit pretty decidedly.

Again, they lose another road game by a single score to North Carolina. But then they go to South Bend and they beat Notre Dame. They come back. They beat Duke. They crushed it attack.

And they crushed Boston College. They are ten and two. They are not in the conference. Chavich, you've game. Guys, who gets in?

Hmm. I, you know, Sark's right. The high state shouldn't be scheduling these games to get punished for losing them. They don't get rewarded for scheduling.

“I think, honestly, the deciding factor for me here is in this scenario.”

Miami's got the better record and it has the better win. Like, I think that win against Notre Dame. Trump's anything Ohio State has at that point because even if they beat Oregon.

Like, that would be Oregon's second loss at a minimum.

So that means Oregon at best is ten and two in this situation. They might be nine and three hell. They might be eight and four at that point. So I lean Miami now. I think if they beat North Carolina and lose to Notre Dame and have that same

record where they're missing out on the ACC championship game, now it becomes a much more difficult decision. I think this is why there's been so much campaigning by, and it's interesting. Because I think this actually could benefit Ohio State. The campaigning from the SEC and even Sark, who has brought up the non-conference marquee matchups. Why do we schedule what they're only going to hurt us?

I think no, I think Ohio State might get the nod here with this one because of that close loss. Because it's been talked about so much because they do want to see those non-conference matchups continue. Because of the perception of the ACC versus the big ten and SEC.

“I think that Ohio State would have a very real possibility of getting in at nine and three.”

I don't, the win over Notre Dame. I think it would be Miami. I think that it would be more good than the Michigan win at the end could really help Ohio State. Like we said, Oregon, we can't call it the same value of a win because we don't know what Oregon's going to do from here on out. Notre Dame win could be a lot.

I'm talking about the losses. Look at the good losses, which is very much a thing this year. Look how good Ohio State's losses would be. Those would be perceived. You lost to a national champion in Indiana by three.

You lost on the road versus USC. It's still a blue blood program versus North Carolina. I mean, the Clemson with that one wouldn't hurt as much. But if you lose the North Carolina, I'm sorry, Chip. That to me is going to be almost a disqualifying loss for Miami.

I still don't think it would resonate with the committee as much as Ohio State's losses. I mean, it is funny to think that Miami's only losses would be to Debo, as would be to Debo, Swenie and Bill Belichick in 2016. And that those could be bad losses. Yeah, I mean, good point.

But what would you do? You cooked this up.

“Which way do you think the committee would lean on this one?”

Yeah, so I had my simulator. I was like, hey, give me a scenario. Like with Ohio State 93 and find me somebody who you think has, like, at the end of the day exactly even odds based on their scenario. So I was like, I think that's the one that produces like the most debate.

And actually makes you think it. This probably matters like what is Michigan's record here and what is Oregon's record. Like if you're beating, if Ohio State has wins over ranked Oregon and ranked Michigan, that's certainly going to matter. They're conversely how bad are Clemson and Carolina.

Like are you losing to two non-bull teams or are you losing to, like, it'd be hard for them to, I think, to miss a bull if they're actually beating Miami, but it's certainly possible. Like if you're losing to two like seven and five teams, you know, maybe that's a little different.

There's kind of elements here for Miami that are a little bit analogous to last year's Texas team, right? Like Texas had some really nice wins. They also like outright lost to Florida and they went to overtime with Kentucky and with Mississippi State.

“So I think to Danny's point, it's like, okay, are we calling him good losses?”

Or are we just saying like playoff caliber performances? You know, if you're going to go and put Texas as like through your first or second seed and Ohio State played them, covered the one and half-point spread lost, you know, on the last second play essentially, how much are we going to ding them for that? And is the committee operating under a mandate to reward better scheduling of games?

I mean, we're a quarter of the way through the season after this weekend, guys. And like, man, we've had some real stickers out there as far as like windows, and I mean, it's from a TV executive standpoint, but like the night windows have all been great.

Sometimes the noon and after new windows have not always been as good for people who maybe aren't die hard fans in the sport.

We love it because we're watching JMU Liberty. We're watching, you know, all of these good games. So I think there's a lot of factors that we can't control. I think I would go Ohio State here actually. Do you guys slightly, do you see a playoff team?

You've got them 31, 28 losing to USC. That's another one. Where if tech in LA? The playoff. USC is in the playoff. Like if if USC is up there, then all of a sudden,

“I think you could slot them behind these other teams that are in the playoff,”

because much like an Oklahoma last year, you know, you've got some losses to playoff teams. So you slot in right behind them, maybe in that nine, 10 spot, something like that. Yeah, I think it'd be a really hard one for the committee. Yeah, it's also hilarious that the the bloodbott had to spit out a Miami lost to both Clemson and North Carolina to create this kind.

Hey, Melissa Scott football, you know, you never know.

And we'll see those two teams play against each other coming up on Saturday. Speaking of big name head coaches, what big name head coaches are feeling? The most heat under their seat will take a look at a couple of examples of the power conference and more. Thanks.

Thank you very much. See you in the next one. We'll see you in the next one. See you in the next video. See you in the next video.

See you in the next video. Bye.

Ileen Greg Cheyano simply because it's his second stint at Rutgers.

It's his seventh season there and they're in the big ten and they just haven't. They're starting to decline like he's forward 31 and 43 overall. He's 15 and 39 in conference play and you've only been to three bowls in those first six seasons. But remember, one time they got there with they were five and seven. It was simply because there weren't enough bowl teams at six and six to fill out a spot.

That's not great. And then you had been building up to where you had seven win seasons in 2023 and 2024.

You're old and two with a loss to a UMass team that went old and 12 last year and looked miles better than you. It was not a flukey performance. I won't be shocked with some of the games coming up that Rutgers has on the schedule here. US USC Indiana. He might not make it through October.

Guys, he might be gone before then. Yeah. Talon, I'm also going with Craig Shionno here.

“I think if you look at like the natural endpoints for when you'd want to fire Mike Morvelle,”

I think they clearly decided, you know, like decided with Norvelle over Michael Alford, the AD there and tell us, it's not to say they're going to keep Norvelle. But like I don't know that there is a great urgency to fire him like this week or next. Next he does get to play against Central Arkansas, his alma mater. So I think he's probably safe for at least two weeks in Los Bama drops like a 50 burger on

or something and the team just completely quits again. But yeah, what was Shionno like moving now, you could sort of like start to get a better pulse on what you're likely market options are. If you're Rutgers and I do think they probably didn't make a move there. Like this is this is unacceptable to be that bad.

Like you cannot be getting housed by that UMass team. All right, Danny, you had a different name. What's which where are you going? Unfortunately, I think it's Mike Norvelle. Like, and this does have to do with Shionno too because like, do they really care at Rutgers?

Like, are there? I know they're calling in defa and there's some outrage. But I have not been a part of a situation in Florida state that feels as bad and as toxic as this does right now. I think there's a tremendous amount of pressure now on the school president on the

boosters to make this move off Mike Norvelle. The other thing too is Rutgers really in a hurry to get that next head coach. I think Mike, I think Florida state is trying to consider. Can they get to the front of the line of the next big name? And maybe it's somebody out there that's not on a staff right now.

They could get it in faster. But that's me is where the difference is. Florida state sense of urgency to get the next guy faster.

I think is why I think Mike Norvelle could go first.

Yeah, Michael Allford is out bureaucracy is out the window. Process is out the window.

“If you want to be able to move quickly on the whims of a loud board member or a university president,”

or maybe a big booster or famous alumni who's created fabric that can stick to your skin and make you look great as you work out. I don't know. You could choose the next Florida state head coach because there's just no athletic director right now. And so which one could happen first?

My vote was Mike Norvelle because I just think they can move faster. I mean, the old like Silicon Valley like move quickly and break things. I mean, they're hoping it's move quickly and fix things for Florida state football. But I just see a lot less bureaucracy in hoops with Florida state being able to move. Now that they've gotten the athletic director out, I do think both programs will have new head coaches for the 2027 season.

Based on what we've seen from the quality on on the field so far, we'll see who ends up getting fired first.

Coming up on the other side. We love to leave you with a player to watch in the week ahead. We'll tell you who's that and more next. Next. Back here on the cover three podcast, we love to be able to give you something to look for in the week ahead.

And an anxious team's destroy lines. We want these players to be celebrated as well.

“Danny Canal, what player is your player to watch in week three?”

Thomas Costilano specifically has package of plays. Is it growing? Are they given a more responsibility and play opportunity than a lot of scrimmage? I'm going Jackson Harris, LSU wide receiver. I think he's a guy you take a look at here.

They need to go to maybe he could emerge as that guy. I'm going to go with Florida quarterback Aaron Filo who's off to a very hot start to the

Gators first two games, but they're facing their first real test of the season on the road.

I'll be going to pisscat away where we've got freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley is part of this youth movement on the course of the year because most watch network, the network of stars. It's going to be all these freshman patch catchers on full display. Again, you can watch that on CBS 330 PM Eastern time for big time. You can stream it on Para Mount Plus.

Well, you can stream us. The cover three podcast on Paramount Plus, too. You can join us in the cover three tailgate and watch live at youtube.com/cover3. We will be next with you at 11 AM Eastern Time on Thursday for locks. Gentlemen, thank you very much.

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