Spencer: All right, what is up, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of the twenty three personnel podcast. I'm your host, Spencer, joined by Michael. Michael, what's up, man?

Michael: We are enjoying or trying to enjoy the first day of NBA tip off. Have you been have you just been watching basketball all day, Spencer? Y Yes. What?

Spencer: Haven't watched a second of it. What's what's going on?

Michael: You missed LeBron's debut on the Sixers?

Spencer: He's on the sixers now.

Michael: He's on the Sixers.

Spencer: How did I miss that?

Michael: I don't know. I don't know. It's pretty big deal. It was decision two point or are we at three point now? I can't remember. But

Spencer: Wouldn't it be like four? 'Cause it he decided to go from Cleveland to Miami, Miami to LA. Didn't he go back to Cleveland?

Michael: Well, not before LA. I think you did Cleveland, Miami, Miami, Cleveland. Then LA.

Spencer: So so so he went Cleveland, Miami, Cleveland, then LA, well well, Lakers, and now he's with the z set seventy sixers.

Michael: But yeah, so today the

Spencer: No, I didn't watch any basketball.

Michael: well the they tipped off at like three o'clock. The Celtics and the Pistons played and the Celtics blew a glorious lead by allowing D Detroit to score thirty nine points in the fourth quarter. So at one point Boston was up, what was it, fifty eight to well it's forty five. Not crazy. That was half time. But then slowly but surely Detroit just decided, nah, we're gonna outscore him by fourteen in the fourth, thirty nine to twenty five in the fourth quarter.

Spencer: Your Spurs are playing right now.

Michael: I know. They're playing right now. It's it's not even the end of the first quarter and there's sixty points in the game. But they're down.

Spencer: thirty four from the thunder.

Michael: Yeah, my Spurs are down right now, so we'll we'll have to wrap this up quickly so I can finish this game.

Spencer: Mavericks here in Houston at the Rockets tomorrow. Wednesday

Michael: That's right.

Spencer: night. I say tomorrow. Like it's, you know, as we're recording on a Tuesday, as we normally do. we're gonna give you our final thoughts on the Arizona State game from this past Saturday, where Texas Tech finally flexed some muscles and got out to an early lead and did the thing. we'll look around the rest of the country and and recap the craziness that was. We were doing some scoreboard watching, some tuning in the la final seconds of some of the games as we were wrapping up our instant reaction Saturday night. We'll give you the update to the polls. Those have all come out, obviously. Texas Tech checking in on five and eight in the coaches and AP poll, respectively. Look ahead to the weekend's matchup with the Cincinnati Bearcats. Sorry, my children are losing their minds. I'm sure it's coming through just perfectly clear. give you our predictions, wrap up the rest of the conference, rest of the country, big games, soccer, basketball. Michael, you said NBA. We got Red Raider basketball talking about there's a game, a televised exhibition game this week. Regular season tip off. Two weeks out?

Michael: Yeah. Be here before we know it.

Spencer: I don't know how to feel about it, Michael. When I was putting the notes together and I was I was realizing how many different streaming platforms you're gonna have to subscribe to to watch the Tex Tech basketball team was like, your mark is just out there selling subscription services. I was like, maybe he's supposed to? Question mark? To get more money in for the conference? Why is my voice so high? I was like, man, you're gonna have to have a subscription to SEC Network Plus, if you want to watch the Kentucky, CBS Sports Network, ESPN Plus, Peacock, Prime Video, and ESPNU, on top of trying to flip around and watch games on ESPN, ESPN2, Fox, TNT, FS1, and ABC. So I feel like we get the memes of of the Facebook groups of like, what what channel is the is the game on? it's gonna be bad. It's gonna be so bad between November and March of the olds

Michael: Yeah. And

Spencer: trying to figure out what channel the game is gonna be on. It's like, where is prime video? What number is that?

Michael: What what channel is Peacock? Yeah, I I kind of that was that was my Super Bowl for a long time and it it still is. It still drives me nuts because it's pretty it at least knowing what channel the game is on is pretty easy to find. Now knowing how to access it, okay. I understand there there is some gray area there. Like the SEC Network Plus, I think if you're an ESPN plus subscriber, you will automatically have access to that as well. I think that kind of falls under the same tier, but I don't know. I don't know if it falls under ES your ESPN plus subscription or your cable subscription for the the ESPN family of linear broadcast networks, but

Spencer: My thought or hope is, at least for Joe Blow Consumer, that like if you're subscribed to ESPN Plus, you'll get ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN U, ESPN Plus, and SEC Network Plus. That's gonna cover the majority of the things you would need. I say that. And then and then of course you're gonna have to have Fox, TNT, FS1, ABC, CBS, Peak, like, well, Peacock is its own thing.

Michael: Well if you subscribe if you subscribe to EP ESPN plus it does not include ESPN, ESPN two, ESPN U, ESPN news.

Spencer: Mm. You got

Michael: It apps it's separate. Or

Spencer: You have to have that through your T V provider, that's right.

Michael: yes, you either have to have it through your provider or I think ESPN has a standalone subscription service now. I think it's thirty bucks a month.

Spencer: They have to sell you two two different packages to get all of their channels. I love this.

Michael: Yeah. So I think like if if if you were someone who completely cut the cord, you don't have Hulu Live, you don't have YouTube TV, you don't have Sling or anything like that, I think you can get the ESPN family of networks standalone, but it's still I i I I don't know. I hadn't looked into it in a while, but it's it's still pretty pretty expensive.

Spencer: There's a big chunk of what we talk we're gonna talk about for basketball. we'll save the

Michael: Yeah. We'll s we'll skip over that once we get to it.

Spencer: We'll save the the basketball rankings, your schedule was released not that long ago. We can look at that. I remember about this time last year, we were like, Man, this schedule sucks. Can't say that about this year's schedule. so a lot more meat on this bone. Pause. than And last year's schedule. and then look at the the conference matrix. Look at where you're playing whom and which teams, which three teams you get to both home and away. Get to what do we learn? get into our our our Our fall bonanza. It's it's full on, man. Pumpkin spice, jack-o'-lanterns, candy corn, galore. But we're gonna save all that. We gotta talk about some Arizona State demolition, Michael. 5325. It was a it's a sight for sore eyes. It was a thing to behold. It was beautiful, Michael. Forty-three to ten at the half. We talked about it. We didn't complain about it, but we talked about it. You could have had fifty something, fifty-two.

Michael: Mm-hmm.

Spencer: 52-10 in that first half. 43 was what you got. my pregame prediction was 30 31 14, which was a cover. Michael had it 42-17, 21-14 at the half. Michael, you were close to nailing the halftime score at the end of the first quarter. I'll give you that.

Michael: I was. I I actually thought it yeah, I selfishly thought of that. I thought no one is no one in their right mind is gonna care about this. But when I looked up and saw it was twenty one seven and I thought, man, if tech doesn't score here and then you know, it's a long drive and then Arizona State scores and we're looking right at that that prediction, I was right. And I who cares except me. So yeah, the twenty one to seven and th that did not last very long, when Tech scored twenty

Spencer: No.

Michael: two, I believe, in the second quarter.

Spencer: Twenty-two more points in the second quarter. Arizona State put up a field goal. if you look at the did we really get beat that bad graph? last week, TechStech was sorry, last game, not last week, but last game versus Colorado. You were dead last on this thing. Now you are two, four, six, seventh from the top. And that's like like we went we went into detail because like sure, like why is Tex Tex like you you won by by three touchdowns. Why are you so far down there? Because it on a down to down down by down basis, eliminating the big plays and turnovers and explosives, were you able to move the ball consistently? Well, versus Colorado, no. turns out they they do that because the game

Michael: Yes.

Spencer: against Utah this past weekend was a lot closer than many would have suggested or thought.

Michael: Yeah, that one was just underway as we were wrapping up our I think it was it or it might have been fourteen nothing Utah and I'm sure we'll get to a little bit more, but it did not end that way.

Spencer: No, so I Utah got up thirteen nothing,

Michael: Okay.

Spencer: but Colorado halfway through the third quarter took a fourteen thirteen lead. anyways.

Michael: Then I think it was seventeen, seventeen, thirteen, heading into the fourth, but I fell asleep. So I didn't get to watch how it ended. I just know that Utah

Spencer: Well,

Michael: took care of business.

Spencer: Utah won. But we're not talking about them. So you win versus Arizona State. You move to six and on the on the year, three and in Big Twelve play. Michael, of your last 14 conference games, you've now won twelve of them by three plus touchdowns. Twelve straight victories in the friendly confines of the galaxy. Michael, we we hit six wins. And this is back to back seasons where you hit six wins and technically you're you become bowl eligible when like the thought never crossed my mind we have to like gaining bowl eligibility. I didn't even think about it until today when I was like when I saw like your six and I was like sixth win. That used to mean something. That was like something we were we were fighting for in November. And here we are, granted, middle of October because we had a bye week, but we hit it in middle of October. And we're looking ahead like, man, we got six more in us.

Michael: Yeah. Well, I mean, that's that's a great I think that's kind of a a great little microcosm into showing how the expectations have changed for this program and the ability to field such a talented team and have good guys on the sidelines. You know, you know, I I think that kind of feeds into that where before you're thinking, All right, let's just get a good bowl game. Let's let's get one of those those better ones. Let's not go to the Liberty Bowl or Or wherever. Y you know, let yeah, let's not go to

Spencer: The independence bowl, please, no.

Michael: Shreveport. you know, let's let's let's skip the the cotton the one whatever the bell helicopter or whatever it is at the Cotton Bowl or let's not play at TCU stadium. Come on. Yeah. So I I think that shows

Spencer: Armed forces, yeah. We were we're hoping for on a good year and and I I say good year, Texas Act hasn't played in this in almost twenty years, but the the Alamo Bowl.

Michael: Yeah, or the Texas Bowl. I I felt great about

Spencer: The holiday bowl. Yeah, taxes was a lot of

Michael: the Texas Bowl when when they took care of Ole Miss and took care of Lane Kiffin. I thought that was a great a great bowl. Now

Spencer: It's beautiful. Loved it.

Michael: now one of the prestige bowls, and I'm not s I'm not saying this with a hint of sarcasm would be the Pop Tarts Bowl. That would be really fun

Spencer: Yeah, for sure.

Michael: to go to if things weren't

Spencer: Not this year though.

Michael: no, not not this year. Obviously not. the trajectory is the other way. So back to I didn't realize it either, Spencer. It wasn't even on my radar. I think that's just kind of shows how just you and I as fans are adjusting our expectations and our hopes and not just patting ourselves on the back for being bowl eligible by, you know, October seventeenth. But it is significant because in s a lot of years that was absolutely in question. And, you know, that also points out that we are I try I'm trying gonna try to stick with this. We'll see if I can Do it every time. We are now at halftime of our season. It's hard to believe it's already been now. Hopefully we go to overtime. You know. Hopefully there's some

Spencer: Well

Michael: overtime periods past something past

Spencer: There's some sure.

Michael: twelve games. There obviously will be because we're bowl eligible. Hey, look at us. But

Spencer: Unless we decline a ballgame.

Michael: Yeah, that'll show That's what we should do. But No, no, no no thanks.

Spencer: Go 12 and No, we're gonna sit at home. Thanks. No thanks. yeah, because like looking ahead of Cincinnati, they're at four and two. They're not quite bowl eligible. But if you look at the rest of their schedule, they may be looking for can we get to two more wins? Their upcoming schedule, this week versus tech, home versus Utah, at Houston, at Iowa State, home versus Colorado at BYU. Iowa State and Colorado, you got your eyes on, but Colorado is not an easy out.

Michael: No and

Spencer: Defensively, they they they they can muck things up. And if you're not if you're not, you know, on your game that would love to to knock you off. Iowa State better than we thought they would be in year one under Jimmy Rogers? Can they get the

Michael: Yeah, and on on the road too.

Spencer: Can they have four the top four teams in the conference in terms of standings left ahead for them? Tech, Utah, Houston, BYU.

Michael: Well Cincinnati has yet to win a game outside of the city of Cincinnati. So that's something to keep an eye on.

Spencer: Well, they do play Texas Tech in Cincinnati this weekend.

Michael: I know. That's what I mean. Something to keep an eye on

Spencer: And then Utah. All

Michael: both directions.

Spencer: right. we're not there yet though. I I I I keep jumping ahead. I'm so sorry, everybody. Offense versus Arizona State. Through five games, I had been tracking first half, second half stats and said, Like we were a second half team. This one game, Michael, like nearly negated all of that and evened it out. So where you I I mean just to quote a few things that I off the top of my head, your scoring differential went from plus ten first half, second half to plus two. And that's average. Yeah, it went from yeah.

Michael: That's spread out over six games. Yeah. Yeah. That's not just a yeah.

Spencer: And then almost everything else was kind of like squeezed back towards the the the mean there. So it's like, well, as we all knew we are a first half team. Never a doubt. You put up 43 points, 36. If you want to take away the pick six and not give the offense credit for that, but 404 yards, I'm sure you've heard it now. That's the most yards you've put up in a half since a Patrick Mahomes led offense against Baylor in ATT stadium. Ten years ago, his final game as a Red Raider, they put up something 400 yards against Baylor, 209 passing yards at 14, nearly 15 yards per completion, 10 and a half yards per attempt, 195 yards on the ground at no nearly nine yards a carry. Second half, you put up 10 points. Now, granted, you probably sat back. You were doing, you were a lot more, I wouldn't say aggressive, but you were had a very deeper rotation of players on the field in the second half. 98 total yards, which is quite the the whiplash there. You went from 404 to 98, 33 passing yards in the second half, 65 rushing yards. So But for the game, Michael, I caught this on and it just blew my mind. Texatech ran 47 plays in Arizona State territory. That was nearly 75% of all of the snaps the Texatech offense took was on the Arizona State side of the ball of the of the 50. You had 12 plays. Yeah,

Michael: Well that's what you like to see.

Spencer: you had 12 big plays. That accounted for 300 of your 500 plus yards. You only had one offensive ability. It was an offensive pass interference on Micah Hudson there at the goal line. that did turn what would have been like a fourth and goal from the one to a third and goal from the 18 that you ended up settling a field goal for. And then Hammond did not throw an interception, which is the first time in consecutive starts. Granted, he's only been playing for You know, eight, nine starts in his career. But first time he hasn't thrown an interception in consecutive starts in his career for the Red Ridders. Defensively, two interceptions, an another pick six. This now completes the trifecta of your linebackers returning an interception for an intercept for a a touchdown. This time it was Ben Roberts. Jin John Curry also added the other interception on the day. Over the last Four games, your linebackers have picked off six passes. Sorry, on this season, they've combined for six. I think of the last four games, they've had five. Curry has three on this season. Remain two, Roberts one. Four of those six interceptions have been returned for touchdowns. So when your linebackers touch the ball, Michael, they're scoring.

Michael: Mm-hmm.

Spencer: 60% of the time, it works every time. Romaine. As much as we were down on him early in the season, and Kansas State fans were they just love to dunk on us for taking Austin Romain. What what a what a bum he was. And then flipped their tune when he started doing good things like, it's because you needed a a formal Kansas State player to help out. He is the highest graded PFF. Linebacker in the Big Twelve. He has the he's the highest rated linebacker in pass coverage, probably because of his his two interceptions and returns for touchdowns. He's also starting to add a couple of sacks into that. Roberts is number seven in the Big Twelve, but he's also the number one graded defender. Linebacker against the run. So you got the number one linebacker versus the pass, number one linebacker versus the run. And they're two different guys. It's not just like you have a freak doing all of it. Third down, Arizona State found a little bit more success than they typically do in the season. They converted five of their 14 attempts, good for almost almost 36%. They were averaging something like 29% worse than the Big 12. however, this is what kind of concerns me. Arizona State's average distance to go on third down was 9.1 yards, and they still converted five of them. On third down, so they converted three of those through the air where they picked up nine point seven yards per completion. On third down. Two conversions on the ground where they were averaged almost seven and a half yards per carry. One of those Sorry. I'm I'm I'm getting ahead of myself here. defensively you gave up 11 big plays for 266 yards. Textech offensively had 12 for 300. So almost the same. I mean pretty close. One of their big plays, though, you could kind of see as a wash because They picked up ten yards, so they hit the bare minimum threshold for big play on a third and twenty seven. So it's third and twenty seven. You give up ten yards. Technically that's a big play, but they were still seventeen yards short of converting on third down.

Michael: Yeah.

Spencer: but Of the five first downs they converted, none of them were by penalty. So they were all because your defense allowed it. On the positive side, Julian Leventor, Laventor, however you want to pronounce his name, he's really starting to show up on your defensive line. And you love to see it. Put somebody else there next to AJ Holmes. Sorry, not somebody else, like I'm trying to get rid of Iberogba or something like that. I'm just saying. Have somebody be productive next to AJ Holmes and it can really unlock this defensive line. And his PFF grade in the last three games is trending way up. He's now the second highest rated player on your defense. between Holmes and Romaine. Someone goes Holmes, Laventour, Romaine. Love to see it. Two of your best players on the defensive line. Give me more of that. Special teams. We talked about on Saturday. It's a weird day for kicking. a weird day for Harrington, excuse me. You missed an extra point on a touchdown where you went up 33 to 10, four four left four eight left in the first half, and then you missed a field goal from 36. This was in the second half. He did make Field goal attempts from 31, 42, 37, and 34. On this season, Harrington is 11 of 14, 10 of 11 inside of 50. So three of the four he's missed has been from 50 now, which you don't fault him at missing something that long. Ten of eleven inside of fifty is also really good. But you look at the one like 36, you're like, well, what why do we miss that one? It wasn't super windy. I will stand on this. I have been for so many years punt still and will always suck. However If you've got to kick him, please be good at him. Will Carroll. Will? Carroll. Is pretty dang good when he kicks it. Second in the country in punting average at just under 51 yards. Only one touchback, which is tied for first in the country in fewest touchbacks. First in net yardage at 48.3 yards per punt. He was special teams player of the week at least twice. Was it three times now?

Michael: It might have been three, but let's just say t no.

Spencer: It wasn't this past week, he's tweaked once. Yeah.

Michael: Well he only punted once. Didn't have a lot of samples. It was it was a it was fantastic, but I think he only punted once.

Spencer: It was the one. Yeah, the one that was down inside the one. special teams overall, much better as a unit than you were at the beginning of the year. your returns are starting to get a few more yards. You you nearly broke one. you had a long return. versus not Colorado, but Who am I think Sam Houston State. Maybe. your coverage is pretty good. Obviously, your only your net on the punt is two yards. They're picking up two yards. and and that's, I guess, also considering a a touchback. I don't know if Harrington has done a kickoff that hasn't gone for a touchback. I can't remember many of any kickoffs being returned against you. You're also getting much closer to affecting andor blocking punts. So

Michael: Yeah, there were a lot of ooze

Spencer: That's good.

Michael: and ahs in the stadium at least three times during that Arizona State game because people thought

Spencer: Yeah. You got roll gloves.

Michael: yeah, people thought we were about to see one.

Spencer: All right, following this week's games, we talked about the craziness that happened on Saturday. Coaches poll update. BYU moves from number eight to number three. Texas Tech moves from number nine to number five. Utah goes from number 11 to number nine. Houston goes from 18 to 16. That one I don't get, except for maybe because they just had to maintain space for all the the top 10 that lost. They couldn't drop that far. Houston's win at home versus Oklahoma State, and they only got they only got two spots. Only moved up two spots? Well, in the coaches' poll. Oklahoma State dropped out of the rankings from 20th to unranked. I thought was a little harsh. but others receiving verts votes. Arizona, Oklahoma State, and Oregon State still in there. On the AP poll side, BYU moved from eight to second. Texatech from 10 to 8, I thought was a little low, but I'll need to be reminded. This is where I want Texatech to finish. And if you're going to finish 12 and like it's going to be hard not to be outside of the top five. that's that's a long way off, Michael. Let's let's let's pump the brakes here. Utah

Michael: Mm-hmm. That's right.

Spencer: moved from 11th to 10th. Houston in the A P poll got some credit there, moved from twentieth to fourteen. Arizona, twenty-fifth, were previously unranked. Oklahoma State dropped from eighteen to what would be twenty sixth. They are first in others receiving votes. And Oregon State is still showing up there in others receiving votes, which would be thirty second. So Kick time for Arizona has been announced. And I've seen a lot of Wildcat fans bemoaning a 9 a.m. local kickoff. Sorry about ya. That may May get you on on a game day set. We'll see.

Michael: It could. It could if if Arizona takes care of business this week and you know what?

Spencer: And text tech can't see in business. That's

Michael: Yeah. You know what, Arizona, if if you have a problem with nine and kick nine AM kickoffs, let's let's bump the brakes a little bit because we have done plenty of nine PM kickoffs for you. And I think Texas Tech is even hosting Arizona State in Lubbock and it's gonna be a nine PM tip off for basketball. So I I none of this makes sense to me, but it makes sense to the people who operate television networks.

Spencer: Well, the the eleven a.m. kickoff, speaking of television networks, you're going to be playing on ABC or ESPN. So when I said you you could get game day, you're already slated to be on their network at the eleven a.m. You had the eleven a.m. spot for game day versus BYU last year. It would it be the same? No. but Arizona's a good team. Anyways, that's next week. We'll worry about next week, next week. Cincinnati's up first. Up in the land of skyline chili. I'd say gross. I haven't tried it. I'm learning that I used to be bandwagon hate on things that actually weren't that bad. We'll talk about that a little bit low. But they are four and two on this season, one and two in Big 12 play, 53rd in SP. Texatech moved from 10th to 7th. 11 a.m. kick this weekend on FS1. A beautiful day, weather wise, 72 and sunny. Scott Satterfield has the Bearcats at four and two, seven and six last season. maybe looking at a very similar result. We talked about the upcoming schedule so far this season. Michael talked about how they were undefeated in the city of Cincinnati. Home versus Boston College, 34-15. Home versus Western Carolina, 62 to 10. Across the street and TQL Stadium. Home of the Cincinnati FC. They defeated Miami of Ohio 35 31. Nail biter there versus they're the Red Hawks.

Michael: Sure.

Spencer: Surely. They defeated Kansas State there at home 31 26, lost at Arizona, their first time leaving the state, leaving the city of Cincinnati 31. Sorry, 34 to 7. And then on the road in Morgantown, most recently, they lost 45 42. Penalty-wise, they are just a tad more likely to be flagged than your Texas Tech Raiders. Forty-four penalties on the season for 381 yards. That's tied for 77th. Texas Tech continues to climb. Michael, this is fantastic for us.

Michael: It was just three last game, right?

Spencer: Just the three and they were all three pass interference. So

Michael: Well I thought that I thought Hudson had one. I think that was one you just mentioned. you're right. It was offensive pass interference. I I gotcha. I gotcha.

Spencer: Yeah, he had one one offensive pass interference. And then you had two defensive. Yep. So that takes your season total to 32 penalties, 294 yards. That moves you from 21st to 15th in the country. Offensively, when the Bearcats have the ball, Michael, this is what gives me pause for this matchup. They are 28th in SP plus Texas Tech defensively slides from 12 to 13. They have two co OCs, their offensive line coach and their quarterbacks coach. Nick Cardwell and Pete Thomas on the field. They are led by JC French, the fourth quarterback there, number four. He is a transfer from Georgia, Georgia, Georgia Southern, completing 70.5% of his passes for 1,340 yards, nine touchdowns, no interceptions. Does that change this weekend, Michael? Does one of our linebackers get him?

Michael: I think we predicted that happening in a game last year and it happened. So yes. We're we're predicting it now.

Spencer: Stamp it. Let's go. On the ground, Cincinnati has the number 11 rushing offense in the country at 231 yards per game, at just under six yards per carry. That's good for eighth in the country. They convert nearly 50% of their third down attempts because of said rushing game sets them up for success. We talked about Cole Tabb when they defeated Kansas State. being a problem. He continues to be their their lead guy. running back number three, transfer in from Stanford so far in the season, he's got forty-nine carries, four hundred and forty eight yards, nine point one yards per carry, and eight rushing touchdowns. Their other running back you need to be aware of, and I'm gonna, I don't know how to pronounce his first name. Jabran. Jibran Payne. Payne, number six. That's what you need to know about. Payne, number six. He's a transfer from Notre Dame. 69 carries. Nice. 418 yards, 6.1 yards per carry, two touchdowns. And their third leading ball carrier is their quarterback, French, 63 carries, 245 yards, six. Nope. 3.9 yards per carry and six touchdowns. So their top three ball carriers combined for 16 rushing touchdowns and a thousand yards through six games. When the ball is in the air, it's going to JV Gibson, number 11. He's a journeyman, Michael. Started off at the smallest of small schools, Arkansas at Monticello, then Arkansas Pine Bluff. And then made the big jump up to Oklahoma. And now he's at Cincinnati. 25 catches so far in the year, 342 yards, just under 14 yards per catch, four touchdowns. Malachi Henry, number nine, is a transfer from central Arkansas. I mention this because literally every every playmaker or contributor, except for one on this offense, is a transfer. They're all new to Cincinnati. Malachi Henry, number nine, eight receptions. So there's a big drop-off there in terms of number of targets, but 266 yards. That's good for 33 and a half, 33.3 yards per catch. He does have a long of 69 in there and a touchdown. Isaiah Johnson wears number zero. This is the only guy that was on the Cincinnati roster last year. Although that was his first year at Cincinnati. He was at Western Carolina. before that. But Johnson, 24 catches, 227 yards, almost 10 yards per catch and a touchdown. And then their running back tab would be fourth on their receiving list. 12 catches, 134 yards, and two more touchdowns. So he's got 10 total touchdowns. And the red zone, they have converted this. Is I found this fascinating. 21 of 25 attempts into points. They were all touchdowns. No field goals. They get into the the red zone. They score 21 touchdowns, no field goals. That percentage, though, has them tied for 85th in red zone scoring. Texatec is 42nd in red zone defense. Again, this is a percentage of trips converted into points. Eleven of fourteen. The fourteen attempts, Michael, is tied for third fewest allowed. So while Texas Tech is forty second in red zone defense. That's only if they get to the red zone. Texas Tech is top three in the country and not allowing a team to get that far. Offensively combined through the air, 229 yards through the air for the Cincinnati offense, 8.5 yards per attempt, 230 yards on the ground at almost six yards per carry. They convert 49.5% of the third down conversion and score 35 points per game. Not bad so far. Defensively, your Red Raiders are are seeing 190 yards passing, five and a half yards per attempt. Sixty eight rushing yards per game, two point two yards per carry, twenty nine point eight. percent conversion on the third downs and hold on. That's not accurate. I'm sitting here telling you.

Michael: Is it not?

Spencer: Are th those are last year's numbers?

Michael: crap, they are. I know because I thought,

Spencer: Sorry. Yeah, okay. It

Michael: man, wow, sixty-eight yards. I didn't I didn't realize that.

Spencer: First off, that link is broken because I I haven't updated it. So my bad. One second. okay. It is what are we looking at? Pass yards per game. You are giving up 229 pass yards per game at 7.9 yards per attempt. Nope, that's your passing. my gosh. Two hundred and eighty-one yards per game, six point seven yards per attempt. On the ground, you're allowing teams to carry it for 82 yards at 2.9 yards per carry. Third down defense is 38.5%, and teams are scoring seventeen point seven points per game.

Michael: I'll f I'll fix the one below. I'll I'll get the offense right.

Spencer: You're good.

Michael: I'll fix that one.

Spencer: Offensively, when you have the ball, Texas Tech, you are the number eight SP plus offense going against the number ninety-two SP plus defense. They are led as a unit by defensive coordinator Nate Woody. Sorry. they have 14 team sacks, 20 quarterback hurries, 35 total tackles for loss, four interceptions, 18 passes battled down, batted down, nine forced fumbles. That's a huge number. top two guys there. Antoine Peak Jr., who is an outside linebacker. They're their top two tacklers, they're also their top two fumble, fumbles, forced forced fumbles guys. They're linebackers. Antoine Peak Jr. has three. Jonathan Thompson has two. But they've only recovered three. Havoc rate, as as good as those numbers all sound, their havoc rate is only like 15 and a half percent. Texas Tech is still at almost 19%. Their tackling leaders, guys to know, linebackers, Jonathan Thompson, number 22, middle linebacker there for them, leads the team in tackles, 53, six TFLs, two and a half sacks, two force fumbles. This dude does everything for them. He's a great dude. You're gonna see him a lot, show up a lot on defense for them. Outside linebacker Antoine Peak Jr., number three, 45 tackles, two and a half tackles for loss, one and a half sacks, three forced fumbles. Safety, Jasper Bieler, number 18, has got 42 tackles. And then their other inside linebacker, Simeon Coleman, number 31, has got 42 and a half TFLs, a sack and a half. Their leader in sacks, Michael, this was interesting to me. It's a defensive tackle. And he's a big dude, 6'2, 335. Josh Huff. I think he was like number 98, something, but red zone defense. Arizona's defense allowed scores on 22 of 26 attempts they've defended. That is 80 just under 85%. Tied for 74. So just under middle of of the pack there. across the country, Tech Tech offense has converted twenty one of twenty five, which is exactly what the Cincinnati offense is doing. but TechSech has only scored fourteen touchdowns and seven field goals. It's eighty fifth. Offensively, when you have the ball, 230 yards through the year at almost eight yards per attempt, 193 yards on the ground at 5.1 yards per carry. You are converting 42% of your third downs and scoring almost 38 points per game. Since I defense is giving up 294 through the year at eight yards per attempt, 140 on the ground, 4.1 yards per carry. Those two numbers right there sound a lot like the Arizona State defense. And you know you what you did to them? 45, almost 46% is the Cincinnati defense allowing teams to convert on third downs. They are not good at getting off the field and giving up 27 points per game. ESPN has this matchup a healthy 83 to 17% advantage in favor of the road team, your Red Raiders. This line is at. Ten and a half. Advanced metrics show you winning this one by fourteen. Depending on what you want to believe. I've got the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Michael. Winning this one by 14. No stone zone. thirty five twenty one.

Michael: I noticed that.

Spencer: Because I don't think Cincinnati either has a kicker or believes in their kicker. They don't kick field goals. I think being at home, they have the opportunity there in front of their minuscule crowd to have some kind of energy and keep it close. But I think TechSteck wins this one ultimately by two scores, covers and moves to seven and Michael, what you got?

Michael: think this one's gonna get weird guys. I I think we we really got to enjoy a wall to wall belt to rear end defeat of an opponent this last weekend and I'm worried that we're not gonna get to see that on the road this week. it'll be an eleven AM kick on the road. Not that that's you know, something that's damning and nothing that can be avoided, but that's not always the best for the road team. That doesn't always work in the best favor for for them. I'm you know, the there was a very slow start in Utah last year that luckily was able to turn around from. But kind of a similar type of feel aside from Utah not being I mean Cincinnati not being ranked and undefeated. But anyway, their offense does concern me. They're able to move the ball. The fact that they're averaging 230 yards rushing per game on six yards per carry. You've got a guy that's had forty-nine carries who almost averages a first down every time he touches the ball with Cole Tab. yeah, number three worries me a little bit. I know Tech's defense has only given up eighty two yards per game, three yards per carry. This will be one of those this will be a really a a really big test for that rushing defense, which has proved to be very formidable. so far, but I think there might be some some ways they can exploit that. the the secondary, you know, Tex allowing two hundred and thirty passing yards a game. Maybe they lean on their their passing game a little bit more. I've you know, they've got a couple of good receivers that you've pointed out, especially with Gibson and Johnson coming in with about fifty receptions total. That's quite a bit more than our top two receivers combined. So I I am a little worried. I'm a little worried about that. I do think that Cincinnati's defense is not my worry. I've got Tech getting into the forties on this game. I don't think it's gonna be a no stone zone. I think there will be a couple of hiccups along the way, but I've got a little bit closer. I don't I don't actually have tech covering. I've got forty one thirty-five in favor of Texas Tech just because Cincinnati's offense is really gonna test this defense in in multiple facets. They're not a one trick pony on defense or on on offense, you know, when you're averaging two thirty through the air and two thirty on the ground, you've got to be buttoned up. And this secondary I don't know. I don't know, Spitzer. I just don't know. So I'm preparing myself for s something that might be a little bit ugly, but ultimately a Texas Tech win and a move to seven and

Spencer: Here's okay, I I I I hear what you're saying. Here's I I want to present some some stats that may be just some some illumination, Michael. Cincinnati has rushed the ball two hundred and thirty-four times this season, five point nine yards per attempt. How many times do you think Texatech has run the ball this year? Is it same, less or more than than since that he?

Michael: good less. I would say one hundred fifty.

Spencer: TechTech has run it 227 times. There's seven

Michael: Wow.

Spencer: carries that differentiate Cincinnati's run game in terms of total number of carries on the season through six games. TechStech is carrying it for 5.1 yards per carry. So, yes, they are out carrying you by 0.8 yards per carry. And that's not insignificant. I'll give you that.

Michael: It's eighth in the country.

Spencer: Yeah. The Dex Tech is not that far behind. Well,

Michael: That's true.

Spencer: 227 attempts on the season. Five point one yards per carry, hundred and ninety three. I I hate to see this end because it's been one of the things that like I I thought was really cool stat and eventually it's going to end. You have yet to give up a a rushing touchdown. That

Michael: That's right.

Spencer: probably ends this weekend.

Michael: I I would think so. You've got three guys who could carry it in at any given moment.

Spencer: However, you gave up what, like almost 200 yards on the ground to Houston and they didn't run one in against you?

Michael: Couldn't even get a two point conversion.

Spencer: our guy Parker at Stats of War just I say just put out a Big twelve rushing success before and after contact. Texas Tech is third highest success rate before contact. They are behind Utah, who gets thirty two percent success rate before contact, Arizona at twenty eight percent, Texas Tech is at twenty seven. Where would you think Cincinnati lies before contact and their success rate? No, they're 23%. Let's just just okay, 23%, which is

Michael: Okay.

Spencer: let's see, how many were below them? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. So they're top half, barely. After contact, Tex Tech is 19% success rate after contact. Cincinnati, 18%. Whatever this means, your rushing success before and after contact. You're better before contact and after contact.

Michael: Then Cincinnati.

Spencer: In Cincinnati.

Michael: Then the number eleven rushing offense in the country.

Spencer: According to Parker Fleming stats of war. Designed runs only. This is taking out any sneaks. I don't know how much JC French is running, but when you look at it, it's like it's not like these are leading. But

Michael: sure, no.

Spencer: Okay, then let me go to the other thing. I was gonna go back back to Bill Connolly. Okay, his Where is it? Cincinnati. His game prediction, Texas Tech favored fourteen point two points, eighty one percent, thirty six to twenty two. That's pretty close to what I said. We shall see.

Michael: We shall

Spencer: All right. we did the the Big 12 recap on Saturday night. The other only ones I I'll touch on because it hadn't gotten final yet when we stopped was Notre Dame at BYU. Obviously, BYU ends up winning that one 28-24. at the time, Michael, I was I was convinced that maybe there was a second left. there there should have been another play ran. and then I started like I'm seeing all the Zerpruder film investigation,

Michael: Yes.

Spencer: deep dive into it. And ultimately like there's so many variables that like Is the game clock counting tenths of a second, but we just don't see a tenth of a second? Is that tracked? And then I thought about like literally the 200 plays that would have happened before this one. Like, at what level of accuracy am I expecting there to be on plays one through 199 than I am on play 200? Is there a second differential before then? Absolutely. Can you pinpoint where that would be? Maybe. But There were some people that were like literally trying to time it up with the frames, showed that it was like one guy showed me it was like three point eight seconds from snap to the ball hitting the ground. one guy sort of four

Michael: I saw four point three.

Spencer: yeah, anywhere between like four point five and four point three. It's like Okay. You could have said that. The big twelve came out and said there should have been a second left.

Michael: It's so weird to say time is subjective, but it is in football.

Spencer: No. I'm I'm not even talking about the potential flag there.

Michael: If if if you're not having a Yeah, yeah, the the that was a pretty I w that was a surprising no call to me, especially with it being in Notre Dame.

Spencer: But for the benefit of the Big 12 and the benefit of BYU, Cougars pull that one out, win that one 63 63. I'm looking at the time the kickoff, 630. 28, 24. I don't know if it had gone final when we were still recording, but Houston hangs on to defeat Oklahoma State 35-32. and then Colorado hosted Utah. Utah ends up winning that one 27-24. Arizona, UCF, and Iowa State all on buys last week. Around the country, Ohio State at Indiana. the big thing out of this one, Julian Sain, starting quarterback for the Buckeyes, out indefinitely with no timeline for return from a significant throwing arm injury. I think the quote from Ryan Day was like, We have plans to not plans, but we are planning contingencies for him and and to be without him. So sucks for them.

Michael: Yeah, I I think I saw a l a little bit more about that today, where I think it was specified that it was his elbow and that he was pretty much all but officially ruled out for the rest of the season.

Spencer: Yeah. It's bad news bears. I don't know what their

Michael: Yes.

Spencer: backup situation looks like and if if they're gonna need it. I mean they've got Jeremiah Smith who could just be you just get him the ball as as any way you can, whether it's

Michael: J just throw it to four. Yeah. Get it to four.

Spencer: Throw the fade to five. Alabama at Tennessee, Tennessee wins at one twenty-four-tent, and Mizzou at Ole Miss. I think we we covered all those. Those are all afternoon games. this week you've got West Virginia at TCU. TCU is an eight and a half point favorite. I'm betting this is because of the TCU defense who's not getting a lot of credit, but doing pretty well. limited BYU a couple weeks ago and and and had it had it come down to like Just being a really weird game for the the BYU offense, and then completely shut down Baylor last weekend.

Michael: I mean but West Virginia just scored forty five. It's not like they can't

Spencer: Against Cincinnati.

Michael: I yes, this is true. But it eight and a half just kinda seems high. I I would probably take West Virginia plus eight and a half on this. 'Cause I'm a TCU hater as well. It's well documented.

Spencer: Well and and and does the TCU offense they score enough points to be nine in nine points better than West Virginia?

Michael: Yeah, it's kind of like a

Spencer: Mm.

Michael: a poor man's Iowa.

Spencer: Can they win this game 13 to three? Baylor at Kansas. Baylor's a three point road favorite there. Surely Baylor is better than what they showed against TCU, and that they're able to win this one by more than three. I've got Baylor on this one. 12 p.m. on TNT. Number two B.

Michael: That's where I'm at.

Spencer: Yeah, sorry. Number two BYU. Number two. It's so weird to say that. Number two BYU at UCF. They are merely a touchdown favorite. Even without LJ Martin, Michael, and the long cross country road trip, two thirty PM Fox kickoff, give me the cougars to win and cover.

Michael: I'll take it too. I don't think they're gonna have a let down game here. And just to circle back to the Kansas kickoff time, I really appreciate TNT kind of messing with stuff. I like that they they set their kickoff time for noon so to stagger this a little bit where not everything's going at the same time. And TNT just kinda I don't know, the Turner guys are they're not doing everything the exact same way as everybody else.

Spencer: Time's our kick this weekend, eleven. So all right.

Michael: It's a it's eleven. It's good for trick or treaters. you mean sorry.

Spencer: What trunk or treaters?

Michael: You mean yeah, that's probably trunk this weekend and then trick next weekend.

Spencer: Yeah, you get you get both 11, you get 11 kickoffs. So you have two games that have the simultaneous kickoff at 11: West Virginia TCU and Texas Tech Tens Cincinnati, and then Baylor, Kansas, staggered by one hour. outside of that, you've got the next four games are staggered, but just barely. They're the same slots, but just barely. BYU at UCF 230. Kansas State, three and a half point favorite at Arizona State, 245 kick at ASPN two. This is a weird line to me. I think Kansas State should be able to cover that even on the road.

Michael: I'm I'm not picking

Spencer: So I

Michael: this thing. This sounds awful.

Spencer: I don't know. That I that's the game I I I wouldn't I wouldn't even care to to watch.

Michael: I feel like Arizona State might figure something out and and win just outright.

Spencer: Maybe, maybe maybe Mikey Keene with a weeks of practice as a starter.

Michael: He looked pretty decent in the second half.

Spencer: When he wasn't being sacked.

Michael: Yeah.

Spencer: Colorado at Oklahoma State. Oklahoma State State is a healthy 14, 13 and a half point favorite at home. Six PM kick on FS one. Again, I would assume Oklahoma State could could cover this, no problem. But Colorado's offense, or sorry, their Colorado defense has shown it can be like just muddy things up enough.

Michael: Yeah, Oklahoma

Spencer: Sure.

Michael: State may only win by ten or something like that.

Spencer: Yeah, I I don't know. I I would take Oklahoma State to win this one. Not confident on a cover. Iowa State at Arizona. Arizona's his 10 point favorite at home. I have Arizona winning and covering that one.

Michael: I do too. If it was in Iowa State or if it was in Ames, I'd feel differently.

Spencer: And then number 14 at number 10, Utah late kick. This would be one you turn on after you get back from the the church trunk retreat. Utah six and a half point home favorites there in the mountains. I will watch this one because I'm intrigued. and it doesn't compete with anything else besides our our instant reaction Saturday night. I think this one could be a lot of fun back and forth. Six and a half feels like a lot. I guess it will all depend on what the what the Houston travel how how they they acclimate to the travel. But I would take Utah to win, Houston to cover six and a half.

Michael: Ooh, man, I would love to watch that game. That sounds that sounds like a good game. I'd I'll be different here. I'll just I'll pick Utah to cover, but it's just to be different really.

Spencer: Okay. Look around the rest of the games. big noon, Indiana at Michigan. Indiana's a seven point favorite at the big house. News. I I wouldn't turn this on. Game

Michael: No.

Spencer: day is going to be at Salt Lake for Houston, Utah. That's exciting for them. Ole Miss at Texas. Somehow Texas is still ranked after losing back-to-back weeks versus unranked teams. Three and a half point favorites at home. How? Give me Ole Miss. Virginia Tech at Clemson and USC at Wisconsin.

Michael: Yeah, the only reason I picked those is just because they had close lines. They were kind of they were within three or four. There there were a lot that were I thought would be intriguing and then you the line six and a half or thirteen and a half and you think, Well, I don't know, maybe not. Maybe I'm wrong. So I'm I would leaned on Vegas quite a bit on those.

Spencer: Yeah. looking ahead to the Tech Tech Russ and your schedule, I know early on, late summer, early fall, we looked at this and we're man, once we get through Houston, you're you're kinda you're gonna easy sailing, right?

Michael: Sure.

Spencer: I think starting this week, I mean i obviously every game is important, but like it it every game's got got some juice to it. Cincinnati Home versus Arizona. Arizona's been looking really good on offense with Noah Fafita and Seth Dagee there. West Virginia, maybe not as dangerous as they looked like a month ago, but their run game couldn't give you fits. Or if they figured out through the air, because they they kind of flipped the script last week. then on the road at Oklahoma State, on the road at Baylor, and then back home versus TCU. a few more landmines on this schedule than originally anticipated.

Michael: Mm-hmm.

Spencer: So buckle in, get that chin strap nice and tight. Starts this weekend at Cincinnati. Alrighty. We're do soccer or basketball. Next.

Michael: I can do soccer real quick. So yeah.

Spencer: You mean s you want me to start a timer? I'm just kidding.

Michael: See how see how far I can how how quick it takes me. Okay. Texas Tech Soccer went on the road for their third consecutive road game this week and dropped one, their first loss of the season. Their first loss in fifty six matches. their f they haven't lost since November twenty second of last year, which was round two of the NCAA tournament. And this is only their third loss since the end of 2024. So pretty good run. Pretty good run for the Red Raiders, but they do fall against BYU on Friday night, three to two. it was it was just kind of a really an odd paced game. Texas Tech jumped out of the gate in the first minute with the goal, but then allowed three consecutive goals and did you know, did not give up, did not just resign to to take an L, was able to get back on the board in the 71st minute, but went 70 minutes without scoring. And BYU is a tough team. They were able to take advantage of that. And you know, with it being a home game, I'm sure that always helps just a little bit, but I knew that was going to be a tough one going in. And so because of that, The Red Raiders are now 9-1-4. They've got their first loss of the season, as I mentioned. They're 5-1-1 in Big 12 play. That puts them tied for first in a four-way tie with Baylor, Kansas, and BYU right now. So that really helped out the Cougars. West Virginia, who tech plays next, is technically fifth just because of the four-way tie. and they are tied themselves with UCF and Houston. So there's a lot of There's seven teams that are taking up two two spots basically. But I mention that because West Virginia, as I said, is the next opponent. They're nine, two, and two on the season, four, two, and one in Big Twelve play. They they will be in Lubbock on Thursday, and that will be broadcast on ESPN plus at seven PM. Texas Tech then goes up to Utah for one of their last two road games. To take on the Uts, who is four and seven and four on the season and has only one Big Twelve win. They're one and four and two in Big Twelve play, but that'll be Sunday, two PM on ESPN Plus, before coming back home for the final regular season home game of the year versus number nine Baylor. Baylor is kicking some tail, man. They are twelve and two and one, five, one and one in Big Twelve play. So Texas Tech will host Baylor. Friday the thirtieth, 7 p.m. ESPN plus. Try to make that game if you can. I think we're going to try to make that one, even though we'll be right back up into the right back at the Jones the next morning. But that's fine. That's how it goes. And then Texas Tech will then finish their regular season on the road on the 5th of November versus number 18, Kansas. So three of their next four opponents are currently ranked. two of their next four opponents are currently tied for first. And one of their next four opponents is currently tied for fifth, technically, because of that four-way first place tie. So it's still quite a bit of season left. they can really do some damage through here. Maybe getting this one loss on their third and final consecutive road game will get that out of their system. Good to go. ready to take care of business the rest of the year and and see how they turn out in the Big Twelve tournament.

Spencer: I did not start a clock, but excited about the end of the the the season, the schedule here. Not not excited about the season be over, but got a lot to prove with the teams around you and the standings. You can solidify yourself or play yourself out of conference contention over the next four matches. Basketball, Michael, it's coming up, man. You have a Scrimmage on Friday versus Kentucky. You're at Kentucky, which is actually not that far away. Lexington is not that far from Cincinnati. You could see both in person if you were so inclined. it's anybody's guess, actually, where the eligibility issues lie. At well, maybe eligible. D5, I think, is still will. I believe is working on a new new hearing. No, no. You are getting a lot of

Michael: Hey, how far how far do you think Cincinnati is from Lexington? Sorry. You're you're right that it's close. I just wanna know how how close do you think it is?

Spencer: I think I remember I looked it up. It's it's under two hours a drive, 90 minutes.

Michael: Yes. It's under yes, it's under ninety miles. It's like eighty four miles. It's just just blows my mind how close things are in other parts of the country.

Spencer: Because you you think of like you think of Kentucky as like still part of the South, right? But it's

Michael: Sure.

Spencer: it's south and east. And then you think of Cincinnati like Ohio, like that's that's the Midwest. And like eighty miles at separate those two.

Michael: Yeah.

Spencer: Very different not cultures, but very different environments.

Michael: Yeah. Well, and Kentucky is bordered by the Ohio River. I mean, that is what creates the top border of Kentucky, so that all makes sense. But I just still I I just assume I it's probably still at least three or four hours away. Nope. Hour and a half. So you could. Wow, what an interesting man, that would have been kind of cool to have planned that out earlier this year. I've got family in Louisville.

Spencer: We have family in

Michael: Go

Spencer: Lexington.

Michael: yeah, go visit go visit the in laws and then drive east an hour to Lexington and then drive north an hour and a half to Ohio and fly home. Crazy.

Spencer: Yeah. See an exhibition game versus the Wildcats and a football game and a high school equivalent of Nippert

Michael: I

Spencer: Stadium.

Michael: knew I knew you threw something in there.

Spencer: Michael, their their stadium holds 34,000 people.

Michael: It's gonna be full of Brennan Soresby fans.

Spencer: A lot of people wearing red and black.

Michael: Lot of red and black there. Yeah, a lot of Tommy Tupperville fans.

Spencer: Gosh.

Michael: Should be like a PTSD. There should be like a a

Spencer: moment of silence or a or a celebration or a a something.

Michael: E everyone spits at the same time. Just we'll just have a moment of spit. Everyone just at the on the count of three spit on the ground.

Spencer: Anywho's

Michael: Tommy Taberville. That's it.

Spencer: as the basketball season is about to tip off, AP top 25 preseason poll is out. Houston checks in as the highest ranked Big 12 team at 10, Kansas at 17, Iowa State 18, Texas Tech 19, BYU 25, TCU and the others receiving votes. Depending on how you work through your non-conference schedule, which is tricky, and how and when JT Toppin returns to the starting lineup and the kind of impact he has, I've seen people even saying you've got a shot to make a two seed, a one-seed.

Michael: Well yes, there's there's a lot of leeway there. I Money Mainville had a great tweet today and I'm gonna butcher it 'cause I can't remember exactly what it was, but the the

Spencer: if I can pull it up and support you here.

Michael: the gist of it was that voters and much like fans don't really know what to think about Texas Tech this season. So he looked at the individual votes in the within the AP poll and I think ten of the voters had Texas Tech in the top ten. And then I think fifteen voters didn't have Texas Tech ranked at all. So it was a really wide swath of you know, I I I feel like they're getting a lot of benefit of the doubt. And I I love this. I love I mentioned it when before the football season kicked off. Because of Texas Tech's name, I think they're getting a lot of benefit of the doubt of well, yeah, they'll be good. They've they've been good the last few years, several years actually. Competed for excuse me, competed for a national championship, suite sixteens, elite eights, all that stuff. So yeah, they'll be pretty good. But there's probably not a lot of people that realize JT Toppin's potentially out till January. Andor Texas Tech

Spencer: At least, yeah.

Michael: does have a, like you said, I mean, I'm not gonna pretend like some of these aren't cakewalks, but they do have a couple of bumps in the road on the non con. That could derail things. So I I feel almost fortunate that the voters ranked Texas Tech as high as they did. I don't know if I would truly feel that way without topping in the lineup, without having seen them play a single second of basketball. But we'll see.

Spencer: Yeah, y you you you got his his suite right. He said TechStack was ranked in the top ten by ten voters, fifteen were unranked. He finished up with good indication of how much is hinging on the courtroom for this team. All right, your schedule was also released. We talked about the Kentucky exhibition, scrimmage, or whatever you want call it. Your first game tip-off of the 2026, 2027 season is less than two weeks away, Michael. Monday, November 2nd versus Jackson State on CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m. tip. Thursday, November 5th, Bethune Cookman, 8 p.m. ESPN Plus. Tuesday, November 10th versus a number three Illinois, 7 p.m. Peacock. But that is there in Lubbock at home. Your non-con.

Michael: So that is go ahead, that's exactly back to your I'm I'm not gonna go back into the TV stuff too much, but those are three different services you have to pay for to watch the three the first three games. Cause CBS

Spencer: Yeah, this is

Michael: Sports Network will be linked to some sort of quote unquote cable streaming service, then ESPN Plus is a standalone package, and then Peacock has a standalone package. So there you go. There's three different services you have to watch the first three.

Spencer: Yeah. Your non-conference opponents this season, Jackson State, Bethune Cookman, Illinois, Stonehill College, New Orleans, and then you're gonna hit the players era 16. It's a little tournament. You are going to play Louisville in the first game, and then the winner of Oregon or St. John's, Tennessee, Maryland, San Diego State, or Iowa State to finish out that tournament.

Michael: Dang.

Spencer: Omaha, USC, and Dickey's Arena in Fort Worth. Incarnate word, Duke in Madison Square Garden, and then Mississippi Valley State.

Michael: Okay, I think I remember so I misremembered why people were upset about Texas Tech's schedule over the summer until I saw this. And at first I thought, man, I don't remember this really being that tough of a schedule or having any great names on it. I was completely wrong about that. It does. It's just none of

Spencer: It was last year's.

Michael: none of them are in Lubbock except for Illinois. I think that was everybody's beef. Every single

Spencer: Hm. Yeah, the US E's in Fort Worth.

Michael: Yeah, USC's in Fort Worth, Duke's at MSG, all those great names you listed are in wherever that tournament is. So yeah, I think that's I think that was people's gripes was just there will be one really compelling home game between now and January.

Spencer: The players era sixteen is at Mikelobe Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

Michael: Sounds like my kind of place.

Spencer: and then your your your conference schedule, the scheduling matrix. I'm not gonna go through like this day, this time. All those are announced too. And they've all got your your TV lineups are set because they they can do that in basketball. The teams you will play at home, Baylor home only. Baylor, Arizona State, Iowa State, Arizona, West Virginia, BYU. Holy smokes, that's a good home schedule. Right.

Michael: Mm-hmm.

Spencer: Away only, TCU, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Kansas. That one stings. Kansas State, Utah. And then the teams you'll play both at home and away Houston, UCF, Cincinnati. So your home.

Michael: Is this the first time that we've hosted that we've done that with Houston?

Spencer: No, I think you play them twice.

Michael: No, maybe not. I think we did it last year.

Spencer: I th I think you played both for a while now. I don't know if it's like if they've got like protected not rivalries, but pairings where you get them the same. I think Houston's been on on your schedule like this for a while.

Michael: Okay. Well either way I like it.

Spencer: Maybe not. Yeah. So your home schedule is Houston, UCF, Cincinnati, Baylor, Arizona State, Iowa State, Arizona, West Virginia, BYU. And we already mentioned Houston, Kansas, Iowa State, BYU, and TCU are all receiving votes or or are ranked. You don't get a great outside of Illinois non-conference home game, but your home conference slate is it's tasty. Now you will need to pay for eighteen different streaming subscription services to watch it.

Michael: Yes. Yes, you will.

Spencer: But ultimately that money's going back into Texas Tech's pocket, or a piece of it is. The Lady Raiders, Michael, they had their scrimmage versus Angelo State this past Sunday. They won that one handily, 8140. And then their tip off. Thursday, November fifth versus Charlotte, and then Monday the ninth versus Lamar. Those T V streaming service times have not been announced yet.

Michael: They have not. Yeah, they're they're taking their time. I think just today the Red Raiders were it was complete. And usually the women's basketball is always a little bit behind. So I did have quite a few representatives of my family in attendance at the exhibition. we've we've kind of become friends with one of the assistant coaches because his his kids go to the same school as mine and his wife works there and my wife's Really involved in the PTO and everything. So my my wife and daughter and my mother in law all went. I wasn't able to go. I was doing some stuff for my mom. But anyway, I got a report, secondhand report, of

Spencer: How we looking?

Michael: everybody was really impressed with Monterey's own Ambrosia Cole. She goes by Bro Bro. She played 25 minutes, she's point guard. she started, she was four of eight on shooting. Let's see, what did she have? She didn't shoot any threes, but she had why can I read this thing? She had twelve points. There you go. They were really impressed with her and her ability to get the balls. I think she had six assists to her teammates. Jalen Bristow, the lone returning player, had twenty six points. I believe she had nine rebounds, so she was just shy of a double double. really good day. Stephanie Okachukwoo. I've got to get her name right. This is awful. She was on the team last year. She was with the team, but she was not eligible to play. and or I think there was some gray area there where s maybe technically

Spencer: was this was this?

Michael: she could have, but they she's the seven footer.

Spencer: Yeah, yeah.

Michael: And she was eight of nine on field goals and had eighteen points. But one thing my wife noticed too is is something to watch with her. She's just so much taller. Just she's she's like, you don't you don't really grasp it. It's like an adult playing with toddlers because she's so much taller than everyone. And so what my wife was worried about, and I think it's justifiably so, she's gonna get in foul trouble just because She's got to be careful about how she defends and or just moves. And hopefully they won't take advantage of that. I I think she was fifty percent on her free throws, but she only shot four. So I don't know what that means. But but yeah, she had eighteen points, eight of nine shooting. If and that's what my wife said. Like if if she gets the ball and she's at the goal, it's pretty much gonna go in.

Spencer: Yeah, so she's on the roster. Now granted these numbers are are, you know, you take take with with a grain of salt, list on the roster of seven foot one, which on a men's roster, seven one is a big dude. On a women's roster, it's almost unheard of.

Michael: It's she is I think before she was lifted listed as seven one, she was gonna be listed as the tallest women's college player ever. And now she's an inch taller than they thought.

Spencer: Yeah, she joined the program in

Michael: So anyway.

Spencer: January of twenty six. So this this

Michael: Yes.

Spencer: January. Yeah. twelve, eighteen points, eight of nine shooting, nineteen minutes. Only five rebounds though.

Michael: Right. I know. I wish I could have

Spencer: But one foul.

Michael: seen this in person, but yeah. I think everybody was

Spencer: Two blocks.

Michael: pretty impressed with Martina Anyanago. c and Yango, that's it. I added I always add syllables like mini Annapolis

Spencer: And Yango.

Michael: or

Spencer: Six four from Uganda.

Michael: Yes, she came off the bench, had fourteen points, was perfect from the line, had seven of seven on free throws, perfect from three, three of four from the field, I mean, was just kind of everywhere, six total rebounds, had a couple of assists, only one turnover. So I I think she came in and really had an impact and is is somebody to look out for, along with along with Ambrosia Cole. I think that was Those are the big takeaway takeaways from my my crew. My crew that went to the game and took some notes.

Spencer: So their non-conference slate. We talked about Charlotte and Lamar. They've got Auburn on November 13th, Southeastern Louisiana, North Carolina at the WBCA Showcase at State Farm Field House in Orlando, and then Purdue and USF. They're going out to St. Thomas for the Paradise Jam Tournament. They will play Air Force and then the winner of Xavier Santa Clara. And then back home for Texas Southern on the road at Mississippi State, back home, University of North Florida. And then they start conference play Sunday, December twentieth at home versus Colorado. And they do not have a mid conference season non con tournament or anything to break up that. So once they start conference play like a week and a half before the Redditers, then that's what they'll that's what they'll be doing. All right.

Michael: That's it. All big twelve from there on.

Spencer: Yeah, I guess we'll have to start working in basketball previews. Maybe, maybe into the instant reaction after Arizona with the the first men's game being on the second. We'll see. let's wrap this up, man, with what do we learn? What do you say? Right. So Michael, I know I know you you had a lot of things in here for fall. I I want to kick this off and I I wanna realize and I know I think I've said this before. I have been I have been influenced to be on the bandwagon, the negative side of things, just because it was kind of popular to to to to be that way. One thing I've I've taken a hard look at myself. And be like, you know what, let me let me try this for myself. Is it for me? Do I want to believe what everybody else is saying, or is it for me? Michael, I can get after some candy corn. I know it's mostly corn syrup and sugar.

Michael: Have you ever mixed it have you ever mixed it with like dry roasted peanuts?

Spencer: No, I should. I got the

Michael: Yes.

Spencer: the Brock's. Is is that how you pronounce it? B-R-A-C-H. Okay.

Michael: That's how I've always pronounced it, so take for that for what it's worth.

Spencer: They've got their fall or autumn mix where they've got the normal candy corn yellow, orange, white, and they got the brown orange and white, but they also

Michael: Mm-hmm.

Spencer: mix in the pumpkins.

Michael: Mm-hmm.

Spencer: That mix slaps, man.

Michael: So good. I had a I had a pumpkin sp

Spencer: I bought a bag this afternoon.

Michael: I had a pumpkin spice trail mix I bought at Target because they placed it at eye level. You know how Target has these little things in mid aisle and this was all

Spencer: It was just for you.

Michael: it was. It w this was all sorts of pumpkin fall flavored things. And it was I just walked right past it and my eye immediately caught it and it had had honey roasted peanuts and it had like these little Reese's cup looking things that were vanilla flavored, vanilla slash pumpkin spice flavored, and there were little pretzel balls with like a pumpkin spice

Spencer: Mm.

Michael: toffee around it. And then pumpkin candy corn. The pumpkin candy corn was in there. And maybe one other thing, but yeah, I bought that Sunday, today's Tuesday and I finished it today and no one helped me. So it it was good. Just you know, a couple thousand calories of that spread out over three days. It's fine.

Spencer: What what he what it doesn't it doesn't matter. It doesn't count. so yeah.

Michael: No, it's fall. I've gotta I've gotta carb up. Gotta get ready for the the winter.

Spencer: Yeah, you you gotta put a little extra insulation there for the the the cold winter months ahead. Anyways, so

Michael: Yeah, one of one of the favorite things my mom does, which she hasn't yet, but I I anticipate she might. we'll see. But almost every year she fixes me a it's her own little mix and she changes it up every year. But the basic combination is about equal parts candy corn, dry roasted peanuts, and some form of of And sometimes she'll have like

Spencer: no.

Michael: three different types of MMs. Okay, all right. I feel like she should just pick one, perhaps, but she gets she gets into it. And so that is a that is a delight. If anyone's ever looking

Spencer: Does she

Michael: for a super simple it's just it just hits all the things. Because it's got the salty to counteract the sweet. And then if you know if you've got like some peanut Ms are there or peanut butter, man. She'll throw Reese's pieces in there.

Spencer: Yeah, crunchy, chewy.

Michael: I don't know. Th there's too much going on sometimes, but

Spencer: So is it just straight mix or she like do anything to it?

Michael: No. No, it's it's not like it yeah, it's just a straight mix. She just puts it in

Spencer: Hm. All right.

Michael: a bowl, I think, and mixes it all up and then pours it in a little container and I take it home and almost make myself sick and finish it in like a week. speaking of carbing up. So I had this really long post about fall things, but I think I'm gonna wait till next week because I'll probably have even more fall things. I I I love fall. It's the best time of the year, especially if you live out

Spencer: It is, it really is.

Michael: here. It's just fantastic and the the weather's cooperated and everything. But I saw this today, Spencer. I didn't know if you'd seen it. And Whataburger has a new burger, which I I haven't been to Whataburger in a long time. They've they've kind of lost me, I'll admit it. They've lost me a little bit. The one closest to my office has always acts surprised when I show up to pick up an online order and as if they didn't even know that was possible. So there's there's some some issues we have personally, but this may get me back. They have a new burger called the Bacon Blaze Jalapeno Burger, which

Spencer: I was just looking at this.

Michael: which is a Now you can get it as a with chicken or you can get it as a junior or whatever. But it's it's shown as a double water burger. We're gonna go from bottom to top here. Bottom, you've got your cheddar cheese slice, you got your first patty, then you've got your what looks to be your cream cheese jalo or your cream cheese layer, and then your second patty, then bacon, then jalapenos. And then topped with jalapeno ranch. Wood.

Spencer: You know this is missing? Those little fried onion pieces.

Michael: Yeah, you know, I I'm it's funny you mention that because in this photo I thought that's what that was in the background, but that was the that's the wada chicken version in the background. I thought, why does the front one not have the onions? But the there we go. Yeah, it could use a little more crunch. I'd be fine with that. I'd go for that.

Spencer: I the bacon's gonna have a good good crunch on it.

Michael: Yeah. But this

Spencer: Or even even if you wouldn't do like the jalapeno strips, like the fried fried jalapeno strips. I don't know if they do that anymore. I I think there was one burger, one limited time burger they did that had that, but

Michael: I think it was very similar to it was I think it might have been a jalapeno popper. man.

Spencer: Yes, that's what I'm thinking.

Michael: You're right. And it had the cream cheese, didn't it? I I swear there was one with

Spencer: Yeah, it was very similar to this burger. I don't know what's different.

Michael: cream cheese like a year or two ago. You're right. Anyway, that that might get me back

Spencer: Well that sounds good.

Michael: that might get me back in the app. I might have to find my password and try it again. See if it'll work.

Spencer: I've I've been a big fan of their what was hold on, let me let me find it real quick. Their Okay, well it's it's it's it's been replaced by this bacon blaze What was it? It was the the bacon wrangler one.

Michael: yeah, yeah, you do like that one.

Spencer: And I was getting it on on their chicken. The grilled chicken was just

Michael: I wonder I I I think they have d I mean they still have the Green Chili Double and some of the other ones, but I wonder if you can I think in the app you can almost make whatever you want. If you if you want one of the one of the different ones.

Spencer: Well, I I I you you can't find stuff like the cream cheese though. That's not a that's not a topping that they'll

Michael: No, it's not. The jalapeno ranch is available usually or the the creamy pepper ranch. I get that I would get that quite a bit. I did want to ask you, this isn't on here, but just have you seen that Chick fil A is going to release a spicy version of the Chick-fil-A sauce?

Spencer: No. Brother. I'm intrigued.

Michael: I'm I'm I am on the lookout. I'm on the lookout for that. I have a bottle of Chick-fil-A sauce in the fridge right now that any chance I get I use. Anytime we have some like man, the air fryer is so good for so many things, but it for frozen French fries, you know, the few n the few times we have that. yeah, I'm reaching for the Chick fil A sauce for the French fries.

Spencer: Okay. Frozen fries. Do you get the Orida fast food ones?

Michael: I think we get we get those maybe, but there's also like the Checkers brand. I I think we get those

Spencer: Mm. I haven't had the checkers one, but I know the I know those.

Michael: whichever ones we get are almost over peppered and I mean that in the best way. They're so well seasoned.

Spencer: It wouldn't be the Orida ones.

Michael: They're really good.

Spencer: The fast food, crunchy, whatever whatever they are, like the straight ones, they're so good. And

Michael: Mm-hmm.

Spencer: we we air fry 370 or no, 394 minutes. Shake it, 394

Michael: Cool. Yeah.

Spencer: minutes, and they're done.

Michael: Dump out. Get your ketchup, go. another

Spencer: Spicy ketchup.

Michael: yes, I know. Spicy ketchup's one of my go tos as well. But I I discovered something else today, Spencer. Just walking by the candy jar at the office, which our ladies up front keep stocked. And I'm very, very grateful to them. And today something caught my eye. I had to stop and and step backwards 'cause there were some Reese's peanut butter cups in there. The full size ones, you know.

Spencer: Danger. Okay.

Michael: Yeah, and I saw some writing on there and kind of like a pink or purple and I thought, What what in the world could that be? Strawberry PB and J.

Spencer: I'm there.

Michael: It was so good. I went back and

Spencer: I'm there.

Michael: got another one later. Cause it it it's so simple. All they did was they took the peanut butter cup that we love, and just below the peanut butter, they added a very, very thin layer of strawberry jelly or jam or whatever you want to call it. Or let's be honest. Flavoring

Spencer: Yeah.

Michael: whatever it is. Syrup. but anyway, it tastes really good and it does it. It tastes like the most decadent uncrustable you've ever had. But not quite as peanut buttery, obviously.

Spencer: Did did I tell you this is the last thing I'm gonna bring up before we we wrap this up? Did I tell you about I saw somebody that was so bent on cutting crust off of a sandwich? He's like, You give me an uncrestable, I will cut the crust off of that thing too. He's like, Hold on a second. It's literally called an uncrestable. It has the crust removed. It's like, there's crust on this. I'm gonna cut that off too. It's like, how old are you, man, that you can't eat the crust of a piece of bread so much so that like the crimped Edges of an uncrustable,

Michael: Yeah.

Spencer: you have to cut that off too? Brother.

Michael: It's too much texture.

Spencer: And then I was like, you know what? Don't yuck his yum, whatever, do you. But I'm gonna, I'm gonna mock you relentlessly in my in my mind here.

Michael: Yeah.

Spencer: And now on the podcast, because I think that's ridiculous. I couldn't care less if you like breaded chicken tenders and call them boneless wings. I like them. Call them boneless wings. I couldn't care less. Traditional bone and wings are good too.

Michael: There's times you want the sauce but not the mess. There's there are times.

Spencer: Especially if they're spicy. Get get that get that capsaicin off your fingers. Whatever. You do you. I'm not gonna mock you. Cutting the crust off a sandwich, that's weak. Cutting the crust off an uncrustable. Now people have to know. And and and you deserve public shaming for this.

Michael: Well now wonder how does that work? 'Cause increbles are round. Are you my

Spencer: He just just tears it off and like throws half of a sandwich away.

Michael: my gosh. That's so wasteful. He should do that at the beach. The seagulls will help him out.

Spencer: The seagulls need no invitation to help you take your food.

Michael: That's what I'm saying. Like it just I think you just like loosely hold

Spencer: Okay.

Michael: a piece of it up.

Spencer: I said last thing. You said you brought this on, Michael. Before my family moved down to Corpus, one of the last things I late last summer. It was it was real late. It was maybe a week or so before they moved down. I had a hard day at work. I was like, you what? I'm gonna pick up Whataburger on the way out to the island. I'm gonna eat dinner on the beach. I'm just gonna do this. It's gonna be fant fantastic. And I I got a I got a burger without the bun. I was putting it together in a tortilla, made a little wrap. and I hadn't noticed I had attracted the attention of seagulls. And if there's enough breeze in their face, they can just glide and maintain where they are without flapping or making a lot of noise. I didn't see them. I didn't hear them. I took a bite of my my wrap. Was delicious by the way. I think it may have been one of those jalapeno ones we were talking about a minute ago, the jalapeno popper ones. Took a bite, I relaxed my hand. It just came down like this from my mouth. Only joint that moved was my elbow. And then swooping in like a dive bomber, World War II snatched it out of my hand. I was like, Mother effort. This is this is the day you choose to dive bomb me and take my dinner. It surprised me so much that I let it go. I I wouldn't I wouldn't have fought the bird for my food or wanted to put that back in my mouth.

Michael: No, 'cause who wants it then?

Spencer: But I was like, I was so surprised. I was like, what the F just happened? Look down. There's no dinner left in my hand. It's gone. I had one bite, it was gone. Had no idea they're behind me. Those A holes. Well. Luckily, we're far enough removed from the beach here in Parliament that like I have I've seen or heard maybe two seagulls. Again, we're not that far, but

Michael: You're you're allowing yourself to eat outside again.

Spencer: Yes. The seagulls and corpus a holes. Straight A holes are the worst. All right with that

Michael: They're the worst. They s they smell so bad.

Spencer: That'll do it for us here on the twenty three personal podcast, getting you ready for the kickoff versus Cincinnati this weekend, eleven AM FS one. Both of us have the Raiders being successful. hopefully they continue their winning ways, getting off to a hot start. And then we'll be back on Saturday for an instant reaction, maybe sooner than you're used to, depending on how the schedules work out. But until then, guns up, we'll catch you next time.