ROB STONE: It is an unseasonably warm day in Madison, as the Badgers look to spoil the undefeated start of 14th ranked Michigan.
>> A lot of excitement in the air.
[ Music ]
>> This is what we do.
>> Go Blue!
>> You got BBQ back there and you didn't invite me?
Hurt my feelings.
[ Music ]
[ Crowd cheering ]
ROB STONE: Wisconsin has stumbled to seven straight losses to ranked teams, including two already this year.
Can they red light that run by stopping number 14 Michigan.
The Wolverines nine-time national champ, the winningest program in college football. Today they try to answer the question we've been asking for years, is Michigan back?
>> Go Blue!
ROB STONE: Through four games, this Michigan team, it's been one of the best starts of the Jim Harbaugh era.
Coach and his QB pregame. No turnovers for Cade McNamara this season. That is a huge story line as those two walk off arm in arm.
On the turnover flip side about Graham Mertz coughed it up over five times last week. The Badgers just trying to get themselves back up to .500.
Every day is game day with Wendy's practice, the official breakfast of the NCAA. Choose wisely, choose Wendy's.
The leaves here in south central Wisconsin starting to make that soft little turn. Temps expected to climb in the high 70s on the first Saturday in October. We're back in Mad Town.
Twice is nice. Brady Quinn, Rob Stone, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and the coach, Bob Stoops with us.
REGGIE BUSH: A little quiet this morning?
ROB STONE: You know where it wasn't quiet this morning? Langdon Street. A little drive down fraternity row.
REGGIE BUSH: They have a good setup here.
ROB STONE: I see a hint of jealousy from you.
Just a kiss.
Glad you're here with us from Madison. Time for the Discover Matchup Report. Who's going to meet their matchup today? We have four matchups featuring unbeatens. Headline by No. 1 Bama welcoming Lane Kiffin back.
Another perfect SEC showdown, hogs and dogs, game of the year for Cincinnati at Notre Dame.
And in the Big 12, Baylor visits Stillwater in Oklahoma State.
In Athens, the question is, who's going to be at quarterback for Georgia, J.T. or is it going to smell like Stetson Bennett as they host Arkansas for the first top ten matchup. Their first ever meeting between their first ever matchup, the 1969 Sugar Bowl, 16-2 Arkansas win over Vince Dooley's bulldogs. They have been the feel-good story of this college football season already. They check in this week at No. 8, their highest ranking since 2012, they have a quarterback, Matty, that has been a difference maker.
MATT LEINART: They want to run the football and they're doing it effectively, this game comes down to K.J. Jefferson and his ability to throw the ball. The play action works so well because of his ability to run the football. Everyone bites up. This is the one-on-one opportunities on the outside. He proved last week with just seven completions, that he could throw the football down the field.
Brady, we love this next play. Hey, the running back motions back in, it dictates whether it's man or zone, man to man, K.J. Jefferson is allowed to see the defense, how about this play, a little push into the end zone for another big play.
REGGIE BUSH: That's exactly what it was.
MATT LEINART: Spread this Georgia bulldog defense out. Allow him to see what the defense is, a great back shoulder fade here.
Seven completions here last week in a win. They're going to have to throw the football a little more but he proved last week that he can get the job done.
BOB STOOPS: Sam Pittman, second-year head coach, he and his coaching staff are doing something special here at Arkansas. I was in a similar situation, second-year head coach in 2000. Took over a downtrodden program, where the players were sick of being kicked around. Started of 4-0, we had three ranked teams in a row after that. We beat 'em all, two of them badly, our players caught fire, the same thing can happen for Arkansas.
REGGIE BUSH: They're changing the direction of this Arkansas program, by the way they're playing right now.
You know this is going to have recruiting implications as well.
I still think Georgia is it the most complete team in college football. They got the No. 1 defense in college football. They're only giving up an average of 6 points per game.
And then on the offensive side of the ball, J.T. Daniels, we're talking about that QB comparison, who should they play, J.T. Daniels is undefeated, 7-0. I think he should be the starter today.
BRADY QUINN: I like Georgia. He brings a different element to that Georgia offense. The rushing attack hasn't quite been there the way we're accustomed to seeing Georgia play. That's one of the biggest differences for me, and a little concern too. A lot of angry Wisconsin fans out there.
REGGIE BUSH: Whatever you just said. Hey, we have to have a head on a swivel up here.
BRADY QUINN: That's what it is. The familiarity that Sam Pittman has, with what Georgia wants to do. He was there as their offensive line coach. He understands how to prepare the defense. By the way, the defense at Arkansas only gave up 15 points. They played a much more difficult schedule than Georgia so far, having run through Texas by double digits, Texas A&M by double digits. Now the challenge is Georgia.
I don't think Arkansas is going to win this game. Georgia is probably the most complete team in the country right now, but they'll keep it close. There are people out west who have a much bigger number on this team, 18 or 18 1/2 in some books. There's no way this thing doesn't stay a low-scoring, close game.
ROB STONE: We'll transition to Notre Dame Stadium, they're no strangers to big games. This could be the largest regular season game in the history of Cincinnati's program, I hope their band doesn't have any large musical instruments they need to bring inside the stadium this week.
Jack Coan looks like he's going to be a good after last week's game. This one, massive playoff implications, Coach.
BOB STOOPS: I don't think there's any question.
Whoever loses this game, isn't going to be able to survive it, and make the playoffs, Brian Kelly, Marcus Freeman, both have history at Cincinnati, Notre Dame's players are aware of that.
They don't want to see Cincinnati come into their house with two of their past coaches and beat them. I think Notre Dame overall is too big and physical for Cincinnati.
BRADY QUINN: That's going to be one of the biggest keys. Don't forget Mike Denbrock, the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati used to be the OC at Cincinnati. It works both ways. This game is going to be a game of adjustments between these staffs trying to figure out how they're playing this game.
For Notre Dame, it could be one of three quarterbacks in the game at any point in time. We saw Jack Coan got out with injury. We'll see who gets the start.
Then you have Drew Pyne who ends up coming in in relief. He was just slinging it, slinging it.
You have Tyler Buchner who missed last week with a hamstring injury. They bring him in as a change-up with the rushing attack. Which one of the three will it be? Could it be all three? We don't know. That's tough for a defense to prepare for.
Finally, Desmond Ridder, I think the challenge for their defense, when you go back to the Florida State game, Jordan Travis able to extend plays, create some big plays with his legs. That's the strength of Desmond Ritter. Can they contain him and get him down and not allow him to get outside and create big plays?
MATT LEINART: This is a huge opportunity for him.
The Heisman for Cincinnati. He's had some bullet points, quotes out there, this week about playing on the road in Notre Dame. The last game, the game against Indiana, they really took it to Cincinnati's front. A lot of coverages didn't blitz a lot. They had Desmond Ritter running all over the field. He didn't have his best game. Marcus Freeman is now the defensive coordinator. He knows this offense and Desmond Ritter better than anybody.
It is going to be up to them if they can protect Desmond Ritter, his legs could be a big factor in this game.
I agree with you, the size and physicality could be too much for Cincinnati.
ROB STONE: Fair to label this one an elimination game?
MATT LEINART: Absolutely.
ROB STONE: Let's go inside the stadium right now as we welcome in Jenny Taft. A challenging loss for Wisconsin against Notre Dame last week. You met with the Badgers yesterday. Curious, what was the tone that came from them?
JENNY TAFT: Well, Rob, I can tell you that the tone yesterday was much better than the tone after that game last week. You say challenging loss; in their words, it was an embarrassing loss for Wisconsin and there were heated messages from the players in the locker room after that game.
One of those messages came from senior safety, Collin Wilder. He said it was the fourth quarter, the way we imploded. We didn't fight until the end. That is not who we are, but right now we cannot point fingers.
I also had a conversation with tight end Jake Ferguson, he's the kind of guy that said Wisconsin knows our identity. We have to get back to finding that, and we also had an open and honest conversation about quarterback Graham Mertz, and he said, I feel for the guy. He has a lot of weight on his shoulders. There's a lot of pressure here.
Truthfully he has not lost confidence in who he is.
We as an offense have not lost confidence in Graham Mertz.
We see him at practice, we know what he's capable of doing.
Today, it's about the offense coming together, helping Graham, and being prepared to do whatever it takes to get back on track.
ROB STONE: Mertz saying I have to trust myself and cut loose. One of the greatest Wolverines of all time is going to join us during this second hour.
Pro football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson in the house. Let's see if Charles still has some hands.
Matty?
MATT LEINART: This won't be the first time I've thrown to Charles Woodson in a game.
ROB STONE: Where is he? Oh, he's going, he's going.
C. Dog, give us some quotes.
CHARLES WOODSON: Here it is, here it is.
BRADY QUINN: Love it.
ROB STONE: Work the whole crowd, Charles, coming up.
A combo between two men they discuss what could be a make or break year for the Wolverines.
And Tom Rinaldi joins us to share a linebacker leading a Bruin resurgence after overcoming the unthinkable. To the Outkick Bus tour featuring Clay Travis, to the biggest game in the South each week, we take you to Tuscaloosa ahead of tonight's showdown between the Tide and 12th ranked Ole Miss.
Barry Alvarez on the field. That will be named for him starting next year. Barry Alvarez Field at Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin.
We take our act from outside to inside.
REGGIE BUSH: Come on, y'all, we're going inside.
Going to bring the crowd with us.
How you doing? How you doing? Fellas, what's up?
ROB STONE: How we doing? Hold on, one more. You guys are beautiful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara and the Wolverines seek their first win in Madison in two decades, since 2001. Much more on this Big Ten matchup coming up.
Later tonight it's Pac 12 after dark, Arizona State and UCLA. There it is, the greatest venue in the sport, the Rose Bowl, 10:30 eastern, 7:30 Pacific on FS1. When the Sun Devils take the field they're going to have to deal with the Bruins' Mitchell Agude, senior linebacker already has four forced fumbles, tied for most in the country.
But the fact that Agude playing at all is what's most remarkable, and what those around him describe with a single word: Miracle.
MITCHELL AGUDE: I think I had a purpose to do something in this life and do something for my family. That's why I think I woke up from my coma, the purpose.
ROB STONE: Mitchell has such clarity in life, because he came so close to death at just nine years old.
MITCHELL AGUDE: It was like a normal day. I see some boys going down to the skate park with their hat on and everything. So I'm like, okay, they don't need a helmet, I don't need a helmet.
ROB STONE: At the park, Mitchell fell, slamming the back of his head on the back of the concrete ramp and was rushed to the hospital. With swelling to his brain, he was in a coma when doctors gave his parents the prognosis.
GRACE AGUDE: He said your son has a traumatic brain injury. The way it looks, it doesn't look well. He may not recover from this.
SUNDAY AGUDE: Our fear is that his life is gone. And that's what I'm afraid of. The only thing we can do is pray.
GRACE AGUDE: I was helpless that I could not have my child at that moment. Mother would do anything to save my child right now, and I can't even save him. And it was very painful, that I couldn't be a nurse for my son.
MITCHELL AGUDE: The doctors were telling my parents I would have no physical activity, I wouldn't be able to move. I would just be a vegetable. I'm just not conscious of anything.
ROB STONE: The next morning with no explanation, Mitchell suddenly awakened. A few hours later his breathing tube was removed. His cognitive function was completely intact.
GRACE AGUDE: The brainstem was normal. Everything was normal, as it's supposed to be. They couldn't understand it. Even till today they couldn't understand what happened with Mitchell.
SUNDAY AGUDE: It was a miracle. A gift for him from the Lord.
ROB STONE: Mitchell left the hospital three days later. Doctors recommended no contact sports for three years. After that time Mitchell's MRI results remained clear and his mother made a choice about the game he loved.
GRACE AGUDE: The only thing I could do for my son to bless him is to say now you are free to do the sports you have loved to do. Because if God have saved you to this day, there has to be a purpose in your life. And that's football.
ROB STONE: For Mitchell, playing in the Rose Bowl for UCLA became the dream. But his purpose took shape on mission trips to his parents homeland.
MITCHELL AGUDE: The turning point was when I went to Nigeria, my mom does medical missions every year, big all this medicine and seeing all my cousins and family members, they're grasping for any type of resource, any type of opportunity.
I feel like it's on us to take care of them.
CLINTON AGUDE: My mom was telling me he had a conversation with him, what do you want to do besides football? He was saying, to help everybody at home. It's something beautiful to see.
ROB STONE: Half a world away from Nigeria, half a lifetime after his coma.
>> Knock back, knock back.
>> We working, boy. We working, we ain't done yet, though.
ROB STONE: Now, Mitchell Agude is a force in Bruin blue.
>> Ripped down. Take a seat!
ROB STONE: Living in path in passion.
>> Yes, sir!
ROB STONE: And in purpose.
MITCHELL AGUDE: There's no way I could be in this position without God. He brought me back just so I can take care of my family. That's my why. If I can live my dream, I know for sure that my family can live their dreams too.
I'm living a dream by living.
GRACE AGUDE: He was meant for purpose and he was meant to be a great man. He's a miracle child.
ROB STONE: Mitchell's mother Grace was an ICU nurse at the time of the incident. She is still a practicing nurse and believes to this day, there's no medical explanation for his recovery. She credits the family's faith.
As for Mitchell, when he enters the Rose Bowl, he sometimes does so with tears in his eyes. He so overcome with one motion gratitude to play the game he loves for his team and a chance to make a difference for his family here and in Africa.
Still ahead, the two betting favorites for the Heisman trophy meet, Alabama's Bryce Young and Matt Corral of Ole Miss, meet in Tuscaloosa.
And Michigan's Blake Corum hasn't started a game this season but leads the nation in all purpose yards. The Badgers seeking their sixth win in their last eight meetings with Michigan.
So much more when the guys return inside here from Camp Randall.
Fox Big Noon Kickoff is sponsored by Allstate. Save money like a champion with Allstate.
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Graham Mertz most interceptions and turnovers in the Big Ten, he has got to play a cleaner game today.
MATT LEINART: That's really going to be the keys to the game. Taking care of the football.
ROB STONE: Hassan Haskins, a major reason why the Wolverines sport the Big Ten's top rushing offense.
REGGIE BUSH: Keep this simple, hand the ball off to Hassan Haskins as many times as you can, and you'll win the football game.
>> Oh, it is game day here.
>> When you play Alabama, it's a heavyweight fight.
Turns the corner to -- touchdown Alabama.
>> He's in the end zone, touchdown Ole Miss.
>> He's got it, he's in the end zone.
Touchdown Jerrion Ealy.
>> There's nothing quite like it.
>> Over the top goes Snoop Conner.
Touchdown Ole Miss.
>> Thank you, Lord.
>> And another touchdown for Najee Harris.
>> We've had some real crazy games over here, and this was another one.
ROB STONE: 68 first downs and 111 points, 1300 yards of offense between Ole Miss and Alabama last year.
The big staff though, Nick Saban now 23-0 against his former assistants. Lane Kiffin looking to try to end that streak today.
Coach, 23-0 versus his former assistants, that tells me, things are personal.
BOB STOOPS: Yeah, I guess so. In my 18-year career, I've competed and played against a bunch of my former assistants. My record didn't look like that. It was positive, but not like that.
Eventually the law of averages catches up to you, and you can be beat. And I believe Ole Miss got the recipe to beat them: Quarterback play, tempo, Lane Kiffin understands what bothers Alabama, and spacing of the receivers.
All of it together, I see this being a heck of a game, and Ole Miss can win it.
REGGIE BUSH: Ball security has to be a premium for Ole Miss. You go on the road, you're playing a team like Alabama, you have to protect the football. And they've already done that this year at a premium, they've protected the football.
For us, when we were in college, when we had to go in and play these tough teams, we had to protect the football. That was always first and foremost for us. If Ole Miss can protect the ball on the road in a hostile environment, I like them to edge out Alabama today.
MATT LEINART: Coach, you talked about the formula. The problem is, do they have the defensive formula to slow them down? Alabama had 11 drives last year, they scored 9 touchdowns.
They were fumbled going in; they only punted once. For me it literally comes down to the simple thing: Can they get three or four stops in this game. Alabama's offense is not as potent as it was a year ago, but they're at home.
One other thing, too. Can Ole Miss jump out to an early lead, play with that tempo, neutralize the fans, and force Alabama to play from behind, something they haven't done in a long time.
BRADY QUINN: The biggest thing for Ole Miss is they've have had two weeks to prepare for this matchup. They haven't played anyone. Alabama has been tested. They've stepped up. Want to talk about Miami, which I know that doesn't look like as good of a win, but we weren't saying that week one, were we? It was a different story going into that game.
This man, Bryce Young, he's the difference maker. He's the guy you trust to take care of the football, put your team in the best position to succeed. And the difference makers on defense for Alabama, Will Anderson in particular, he is going to be an absolute game wrecker.
Look, after last year's game versus Ole Miss and Alabama, we had Lane Kiffin talk to Nick Saban. I took every single thing that you told me that you hate, and I used it against you, and it still wasn't enough.
There's a reason why Nick Saban is undefeated versus assistants. I think they win this game easily.
It's not even close.
MATT LEINART: We talked about these two quarterbacks going into the season. We weren't really talking about these guys. We were talking about Rattler, Sam Howell, D.J. at Clemson. The two best quarterbacks right now in the country on center stage for the Heisman, for the SEC West, I love this battle. I think it's going to be fantastic.
REGGIE BUSH: And you know Lane is going to have a few wrinkles as well. I love the mindset that he brings to this offense.
BRADY QUINN: It's a 14 and a half point spread. What are we talking about here?
MATT LEINART: He's going to have to start tackling some guys on defense. Maybe they play him both side.
REGGIE BUSH: And Matt Corral can run, too.
That's the other thing that gives Alabama's defense issues, when quarterbacks take off and run. He can do that.
MATT LEINART: So you think it's a blowout?
REGGIE BUSH: I do.
BRADY QUINN: Here is the only thing I would say, is I don't think it's going to be as high scoring as everyone thinks. It is a really high spread, one of the highest we've had in college football this year. I think it still hits under that number.
REGGIE BUSH: What's a blowout to you then?
BRADY QUINN: They're going to win by more than 14 and a half points.
REGGIE BUSH: I'll put some money on that. Let's put some money on it. You ain't gonna shake my hand? Oh, he didn't want to shake my hand on national TV.
BRADY QUINN: You want to shake my hand? You haven't paid me for last year's bets. What's it matter?
REGGIE BUSH: What did I lose?
BRADY QUINN: Notre Dame/North Carolina.
REGGIE BUSH: I did lose that game. I did lose that game.
>> Which you won't, man, which you won't.
ROB STONE: Coach, talk about the law of averages; I talk about the law of Saban, right, in that run against his assistant coaches, an average margin of victory 43-17. They're not even close. They're blowouts, to Brady's point.
Up next, Charles Woodson discusses the Michigan offense and whether we're seeing an evolution from Coach Jim Harbaugh.
K.J. Jefferson slinging it for Arkansas, unbeaten and looking for a major upset today.
MATT LEINART: He left last week a little banged up. It's not going to be his legs. He's going to have to do it through the air against that Georgia defense.
ROB STONE: Linebacker Josh Ross leads the maize and blues with 29 tackles.
MATT LEINART: Yeah, he's had a great year so far.
Part of this resurgence on this Wolverines defense. They're going to have their hands full today. We know Wisconsin is going to come out and want to run the ball early.
Josh Ross leads the team in tackles.
ROB STONE: Paul Chryst has been under some fire here in Madison. He's the head coach, he's the quarterback coach. He is the primary play caller as well. He has to get Graham Mertz going and going early next versus unbeaten Michigan.
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ROB STONE: Camp Randall Stadium, which opened in 1917, the 104-year-old stadium, the fourth oldest stadium in FBS, but she does not look her age. This is just a gorgeous, gorgeous facility. Time for championship impact, sponsored by Allstate, who's going to be celebrating today. Chez Mellusi averaging 106 on the ground, held in check last week, though.
MATT LEINART: Yeah, over 100 yards in each of his first two game. Bottled up really last week against Notre Dame. Season lows in rushing yards and yards per carry.
This whole offense revolves around him running the football, This offensive line, which then takes pressure off of Graham Mertz.
ROB STONE: Teams scheming away from projected first-round defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson.
MATT LEINART: Big No. 97 wears the number because of his father, Chris Hutchinson, a two-time All-American and captain at Michigan. Keep your eye on him.
ROB STONE: Kickoff coming up in 27 minutes. Our teammate, Charles Woodson, had a wide ranging Michigan chat with Coach Harbaugh on Thursday. That's coming up, but here now, a sneak peek.
CHARLES WOODSON: Everywhere I go, fans are excited about where you are right now. You're 4-0. But give me your early assessment.
JIM HARBAUGH: They we're an improved football team on offense, defense, and special teams. A lot of good things happen when players play hard, we're playing better in terms of situational defense.
Offensively, points per drive are up and no turnovers. Nobody's taking a deep long bow, and that comes right from the players. The way they say, We haven't done anything.
ROB STONE: Time for Iconic Matchup, sponsored by the all-electric 2023 Cadillac Lyriq. Let's send it over to Joel Klatt and our Michigan Heisman winner, Charles Woodson.
Guys?
JOEL KLATT: Thanks, Rob. Listen, Lots of changes for Michigan. It started on the staff. Six new assistant coached, young by the way, too. They're all under 45 years old.
But the changes are both offensive and defensive. On the defensive side, a distinctly NFL flavor now for the Wolverines.
CHARLES WOODSON: Yes, they bring in Mike McDonald, and he's running a 3-4 defense, or variations of it at times. It just puts guys in better positions.
For me I think what's most important is Jim Harbaugh brought him in, because he felt like he called a defense that was more suitable to the talent he has.
You talk about Don Brown in years of old who famously said, I'm not changing. This is a different approach with Jim Harbaugh saying, You know what, we must change, and they have.
JOEL KLATT: Speaking of one of those players, and I think the guy that' it's impacted most from a positive standpoint is Aidan Hutchinson. Aidan Hutchinson now is a standup player on the edge. He's a dynamic impact player.
Charles, on the offensive side they wanted two things out of the off season. They wanted to recommit to the run game, get that identity back in the run game, and by doing so they wanted to recommit to the gap schemes. What does that mean?
That means pulling those offensive linemen, guards, tackles and allowing Haskins and Corum those holes to run through. They're a more powerful run team now than they were a couple years ago.
CHARLES WOODSON: Yeah, I think they are. You got to give credit of course to this offensive line, because they are playing outstanding. But to have two backs, two versatile defensive backs like Corum and Haskins, these guys are a little bit different of course in stature, but they're both home run hitters.
Corum of course a little quicker and shorter to the ground. Haskins is a big guy. But don't underestimate the wiggle he has in the hole being able to defeat safeties and linebackers. Having those two guys is a luxury for this team.
JOEL KLATT: One of the things that may be difficult for Michigan today, they're facing the number one rush team with the Badgers. That's a great front seven. Blake Corum, his ability to catch the ball out of the back field, those backs that can line up anywhere, they can give you problems.
CHARLES WOODSON: They can, man, it's hard sometimes, it's hard, difficult for a safety, you're not used to coming down and playing close to the line of scrimmage with your backs coming out of the back field. When you have a guy like that, in the flat, and he's got space, then your eyes get a little wide and you try to figure out, how am I going to attack this guy. But I think it's going to be important for Michigan today.
Wisconsin, we know what they are against the run.
They're going to have to throw the ball a little bit, I'm hoping that Cade can get a little rhythm at some point in his game, he's going to have to throw it. Wisconsin is not going for this run.
JOEL KLATT: It should be an amazing game, no doubt.
ROB STONE: That's two quarterbacks that need to find their rhythm early. The last couple years, we've been asking two questions about Michigan, are they back and what is their identity? We know what their identity is now.
BRADY QUINN: Yeah, they've found it and realize what they can recruit and develop and send off to the next level.
Let's go back the next five years and look at their draft class, they have 36 players drafted. That's a lot.
21 have been defensive players, we know they play good defense.
They've obviously brought in a new DC, changed up the scheme, how they're going about attacking offenses, that's been part of the staple.
The issue has been their offense, Jim Harbaugh, we thought they would want to run the football, more of an NFL style system. You look at the draft picks, 10 of the 14 offensive players they sent to the next level, offensive linemen, tight ends, running backs. They're playing to that now. That's why they've been successful. If they're going to be able to do that, versus the best rush defense in the country
And how does Cade McNamara handle potentially playing from behind.
MATT LEINART: Charles just hit it, you just hit it, to me, that's the biggest question, I love the consistency, the formula so far, he's getting back to his roots, Jim Harbaugh, a really good offense line, good defense. If you want to make a run in the Big Ten, you have to be able to score points and run the football. I don't think you're going to be able to run all over Wisconsin today.
As much as Ohio State has struggled, can you run all over them? Michigan State and Penn State in the Big Ten east.
For me, a lot of the pressure goes on Cade McNamara today.
Can you come out today, throw the ball 25, 30 times a game, if they can't establish that run? Questions are going to be answered today for me, about this Michigan football team.
ROB STONE: Coach, what are you seeing from this new-look Michigan offense?
BOB STOOPS: I love how they're creating big passing plays off the run game. All day long you're going to see this double pull power play, first guy's kicking out, the other guy's coming inside. They're doing a great job running the football with these double pulls. Now off of it, the run-pass option, RPO. You're going to see the double pull, he has the option of handing the ball off, the linebackers' field wide open, easy big play. I can throw that football over that middle. No offense, Brady and Matt.
REGGIE BUSH: Coach, that's all they need to do right there, what you just showed. Run the football well, protect it.
That's the one thing we're not talking about, ball security.
Graham Mertz right now is turning the ball away at a high level. He's giving away early Christmas gifts. I know that Wisconsin has the No. 1 rush defense, at some point, the defense will start to get gassed if they're continuously put in bad situations, with turnovers, you know how that happens, how that momentum can easily be taken away from you when you continue to turn the football over.
BRADY QUINN: I think the challenge for Graham Mertz is, when things are clear, he's able to play well.
He can hit his first read, it's when he has to move off that first read or he's not seeing the field clearly.
Michigan will disguise, they will do that to you. That's going to be the challenge for if he can take care of the football in particular in the passing game.
ROB STONE: Quarterbacks are going to be a focal point today here in Madison for sure. What's impressed Jim Harbaugh most about this team, and does he believe his quarterback can put Michigan on his back if needed?
Coach Harbaugh shares that with our Charles Woodson coming up.
Coach, you like Texas in the Big 12 since they made that move to Thompson at Q.B.
BOB STOOPS: Yeah, Casey Thompson has more maturity. I think he's going to have a good day.
ROB STONE: Matt, we were talking about a lat injury to a quarterback, how impactful it is. J.T. Daniels will not start because of that. Instead it's going to smell like Stetson Bennett today in Athens.
MATT LEINART: That's big news. Obviously Stetson Bennett had a good game earlier in the season, but that kind of changes the dynamic of this passing game for Georgia.
Keep an eye on this. That's big news today.
BRADY QUINN: More mobile, too. I think that's the one thing he brings in Daniels, he can move around a little bit.
ROB STONE: There he is, Reg. He's fast and --
REGGIE BUSH: And he's got the high step.
ROB STONE: FOX Big Noon Kickoff is sponsored by Wendy's. What a ride it has been so far on Big Noon Kickoff.
>> Let's go.
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>> Boomer.
>> Sooner.
>> Boomer.
>> Sooner.
>> Texas.
>> No.
>> There you go. That's how we do it.
ROB STONE: Always fun. Always a party at Big Noon Kickoff. Jack Sanborn has led Wisconsin in tackles in each of the last the last two seasons.
BRADY QUINN: Second on the team in tackles this year, but this is the guy you got to get to get a hat on if you want to be able to run the football.
ROB STONE: The No. 1 safety in the 2019 class, Daxton Hill from Tulsa. 18 tackles, 3 pass breakups. Coach, you remember his brother, Justice Hill, the running back from Oklahoma State.
BOB STOOPS: Absolutely. Great player. And Dax, we recruited him hard. Great, great player.
He'll have a big day today.
ROB STONE: We're going to start our picks right now, with Notre Dame and what Brian Kelly called the best team they played to this point, his old team, Cincinnati.
BRADY QUINN: A lot of familiarity between the two teams. I have Notre Dame by 3.
REGGIE BUSH: Arkansas at Georgia, hostile environment for Arkansas. No KC Daniels, no problem. Smells like Stetson.
I got Georgia by 3.
MATT LEINART: That was great, Reg. I got Iowa State/Kansas. The last two games Brock Purdy and Breece Hall combined for nine touchdowns. By the way, they still have the number one defense in the Big 12. I like them to roll the Jayhawks by 35.
BOB STOOPS: OU at Kansas State. Kansas State likely without Skylar Thompson, their quarterback, and OU's offense gets on track and wins by 15.
BRADY QUINN: The Wisconsin offense has been woeful in the passing game and on third down where they rank in the bottom ten on FBS, but their defense has been NFL-esque. It's going to be low scoring, but I like the Badgers by 3.
With that, we welcome back Clay Travis from Tuscaloosa. All right, my friend, you see the same level of point production in round two of Lane Kiffin versus Nick Saban.
CLAY TRAVIS: Lane Kiffin, Nick Saban Bowl part two. Ole Miss, Alabama. People, you can see behind me, fired up.
I think Alabama gets it done, but they don't cover, Rob.
I got the Tide by 10, but Ole Miss covers the 14 1/2.
You can hear the crowd. Not happy with the lack of cover.
ROB STONE: Enjoy the day. You got a lock on the day today here I am understanding.
CLAY TRAVIS: I do have a lock. I like Reggie's pick.
I think he's right, this game is going to kick off in just a few minutes as well. Arkansas on the road against Georgia. This line is way out of whack. I think the Razorbacks cover.
It's my blood bank guarantee. Go get rich kids.
Have fun up there in Wisconsin. It looks fantastic, Rob.
MATT LEINART: Did he get some sleep last night? He looks a little ragged.
REGGIE BUSH: Looks like he had some fun last night.
ROB STONE: A little hair gel will clean that one up.
We come back to our game. We all see a tight low-scoring affair. Why do you lean the Wolverine way?
BOB STOOPS: I go Wolverines 20-17 because they're going to make a few more plays in the passing game than we talked about earlier.
MATT LEINART: I'm with you I've got the Badgers 24-17. Too many unanswered questions for me with Michigan and their ability to throw the football. Can they get that done? I think Wisconsin gets back on track.
REGGIE BUSH: A couple of weeks we witnessed Graham Mertz fumble the ball with the game on the line. There have been too many turnovers from this offense. They seem to be getting progressively worse. I like Michigan today 21-10.
BRADY QUINN: Michigan hasn't won here in 20 years.
Bottom line is they've struggled in this particular place. I think they have a hard time running the football. I think Graham Mertz will make up for some of those mistakes and take care of the football. Also, Charles Woodson is here.
He's 0-3 with us. So I've got Wisconsin 13-10
ROB STONE: Those are our picks. Invite your friends. Raise the jackpot. Download the FOX Bet Super 6 app. Play for free, correctly pick six outcomes and you could win big.
Coming up next, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and an in-depth conversation with our Charles Woodson.
Cade McNamara getting ready for a huge showdown. First road game of the year for the Wolverines. They're in Madison. The Badgers once again led by their quarterback, Graham Mertz. The Badgers both those losses to ranked teams.
Kickoff coming up in 11 1/2.
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ROB STONE: Wendy's delivery to kickoff.
For a limited time, get zero dollars delivery fee and free six-piece nugget when you order in the Wendy's app.
Summer-like conditions here in south central Wisconsin, as we get you ready for the 70th all-time meeting between the Badgers and Wolverines. Michigan at 4-0, they've outscored the opposition 161-47 so far. Tom Rinaldi joined by a man who's played in more than his fair share of big games for the Wolverines, C Wood.
TOM RINALDI: Rob, you've got the Hall of Famer, you've got to keep going to him. Enigmatic, charismatic. There aren't the many folks that can get Jim Harbaugh one-on-one. You know a little something about one-on-one, Charles. What have you discovered?
CHARLES WOODSON: I'm used to one-on-ones and my fair share of them. I got a chance to sit down with Jim Harbaugh and he's excited about this team.
JIM HARBAUGH: I do need to come back there for sure.
CHARLES WOODSON: Everywhere I go, Michigan fans are excited about where you are right now, 4-0. Give me your early assessment.
JIM HARBAUGH: We're an improved football team on offense, defense and special teams. Nobody's taking a deep long bow. That comes from the players and the way they say, we haven't done anything.
CHARLES WOODSON: You have a one-two punch with Corum and Haskins. Talk about the luxury of having two guys with differentiating running styles.
JIM HARBAUGH: They've both been doing an outstanding job of that. You look at Blake's all purpose yardage when it comes to returning the kicks, catching the ball out of the back field, blocking. Hassan has been a stalwart, running the football, protecting the ball, just two really fine football players.
>> He's got it.
How about that?
>> Holy mackerel. What a play. Touchdown, Michigan!
CHARLES WOODSON: We don't know a lot, I feel, about Cade McNamara and what he can do, if he has to get into a back and forth with a team with his arm. How confident are you with Cade McNamara being that guy, if you get down, he's got to bring you back with his arm?
JIM HARBAUGH: We're really confident. This is a tale of two halves this past weekend against Rutgers. Cade and the offense really was executing in the first half; second half got out of rhythm. I think your point is well taken. If you're running the football well, you have to be able to complement that.
>> Cornelius Johnson has it.
CHARLES WOODSON: The biggest defense to me is watching this defense. You snatch away a coordinator from your brother. Talk about the addition of Mike McDonald.
JIM HARBAUGH: Really our personnel is better suited in a 3-4 type of scheme. Players like Aidan Hutchinson, Josh Ross, they're leading the entire team, not just defense, playing extremely well.
>> Holy mackerel, what a play.
CHARLES WOODSON: This week, you know, the first road game of the season, haven't won a game down there, Coach, since almost back when I was playing, since 2001. Talk to me about this Badger football team.
JIM HARBAUGH: I mean, Wisconsin Badgers, number one in the country against the run. A lot of veteran, experienced players. You're going to get physical. You're going to get -- it's going to be a raucous environment. Our guys are excited for that challenge. I don't expect that our guys will flinch.
CHARLES WOODSON: Appreciate it, Coach, good luck against the Badgers.
JIM HARBAUGH: Thank you, Charles.
>> One on one you succeeded there. What was your takeaway beyond what we saw? What was your experience? What did you learn from it?
CHARLES WOODSON: I think my biggest takeaway is that the questions that we have about the quarterback are really the same questions that he has. He acknowledges that Wisconsin is a stop defense. There is a good chance they are going to stack the box and they are going to stop the run, so Cade McNamara is going to have to step up for this team. He is going to have to make some completions throwing the ball down field to move the ball down the field. Cade McNamara, he does have confidence in him, but still has to questions.
>> Here at Camp Randall, you can see the extended version of Charles' interview with Coach Harbaugh on the FOX Sports app. Now, it's time for a prediction. I don't know that there's a lot of suspense, but you know there is going to be flare from a Hall of Famer. Who do we got?
CHARLES WOODSON: The University of Michigan, we got them in a 20-10 ballgame. We're ranked 4th in nationally in scoring defense. The score is 20-10, Wolverines, baby. It's the Wolverines, baby! Come on. Wave the flag. Brady Quinn pick it. The Badgers? Brady Quinn, you picked the Badgers.
BRADY QUINN: Yeah, I did.
ROB STONE: You notice he's waving that flag a safe distance from the Wisconsin fan base. The Badgers make their on the field.
The biggest matchup on paper, this Wisconsin rush defense, allowing just 23 yards a game versus the Michigan offense that wants to run, run and run some more.
REGGIE BUSH: When you look at this Michigan offense and the way they're running the football, gap schemes, it's a big part of their success. Blake Corum, Hassan Haskins have 14 touchdowns on the year.
ROB STONE: Paul Chryst said this week, he needs to get his quarterback in rhythm.
How does he go about doing that?
BOB STOOPS: He's going to have some easy quick short throws, screen passes, swings to the running back out of the back field, easy throws off the bat.
ROB STONE: Very curious to see what type of game head Coach Paul Chryst calls today. Wisconsin trying to get themselves their first Big 10 win and back up to 500.
Graham Mertz, so many interceptions last week in Chicago. How will he bounce back next versus another ranked opponent in No 14, Michigan? We'll see you at the break. We go upstairs. Joel Klatt, Russ Johnson with the call.
>> Big Noon Saturday is brought to you by AT&T Business from Camp Randall Stadium in Madison Wisconsin. The undefeated and 14th ranked Michigan Wolverines coming to town to take on the Wisconsin Badgers.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports