COLLEGE FOOTBALL STARTS NEXT WEEK! | ESPN's Rece Davis on The Next Round

Intro [Music] the only thing I want to know from reys Davis in this interview brownie is at one point in the first game day show of the year will there be a segment that says Nick Sabin golf clubs were flown to Europe by our friends at wheels up Rees is with us now from ESPN's game day on the Johnston rv.com hotline good to see you again Reese how you been uh doing well how about you guys doing fantastic you heard dunaway's question uh you're going over a bit early will there be any golf in Ireland uh you know what I um I don't know it's possible there there have been discussions but typically people who are serious about golf wisely exclude me from such festivities I am I'm I'm not an I'm not an avid golfer I'm a casual golfer um who I will occasionally play with friends maybe a scramble or two over the course of the year I'm I'm not a an avid golfer so we'll we'll see so interesting year three for both Lincoln Riley and Mario crisal if I ask you who you're you're going right at it no more golf talk no more travel Lance is all football I'm like you I don't play golf either straight business we're going straight business all football from Lance week three LT already but he's ready to go no but we all remember how USC vs Miami good USC and Miami were back in the day if I ask you who gets back to being a a consistant playoff Contender first Miami or USC um I would say probably because the ACC at this point is not as deep it's uh you know Clemson and Florida State have dominated that conference I think winning 12 of the last 13 championships I think was standard reason there are fewer obstacles for Miami to get there but I think both can be good I think it's a really important year for Mario Christal though I mean if you I think he's a game under 500 at Miami he's one game over 500 in his 14-year career now that should be U you should be a caveat there that you know it's it's difficult to win when Mario started his career and he did a good job there um at you know at FIU so I think that I think that this is a really important year for him because of what they did in the transfer portal uh having you know having a dynamic quarterback having cam Ward having Damen Martinez show up there they should be good on defense and you know and their you know their schedule is um you know really I don't think they have Clemson in the regular season they get Florida State at home so I think that this is a huge year for him I do think both can win I think uh some of the adjustments that Lincoln has made at USC assuming that you know they are given full Reign to play and practice the way they want to that D Lynn is a um is a rising star in the coaching profession young defensive coordinator who did a great job at UCLA they've got a couple of other defensive of assistance that have come in there that should help them there's a little bit more of a transition at SC and and more obstacles in the Big 10 at this point in time so to answer your question I would say it's Miami first but I think it's a really really significant year for Miami and Mario chrisal to do well I I want to talk about the game that'll take you to Florida State vs Georgia Tech Europe in that very first game Florida State and Georgia Tech all respect to Jeff Collins who's a friend of the show here and he had that transition from an old offense and and where they were to where they are but are enough people really talking about what Brent key has done taking over for Collins and this could be a very interesting year for Georgia Tech and it could start in this first game that you're over over there for Tech in Florida State man this game is starting to really get me pumped up you know what Brent Key's record is against ranked ACC opponents I do not know 4 and0 wow 4 and0 wow that's crazy that's impressive now you know look I think Florida state is the more talented team but you don't really know until the game start it's a new season um you're you're in Ireland obviously so there's a little bit of or a lot of bit of unfamiliarity you've got new players you got you know Florida state is you know new quarterback guys who's played a lot but it's his first game at Florida State um and Hayes king um I think he led the ACC in touchdowns responsible for now he gave up the football way too much uh last year but there you know he is a very talented guy the former Texas A&M transfer and he had some great moments for Georgia Tech last year so I I share your enthusiasm for the rambling wreck I I do um you know not to give away the uh the end too early but I do favor Florida state in the game obviously because I think they're you know I think they're a playoff Contender and will go to the playoff but but I think Georgia Tech is uh is a better team than um You Know Than People realize they ran the ball really well last year they've got to stop the run they got to do a better job of that so that'll be a big thing for them this upcoming year that game is a Florida State vs Alabama sellout by the way so Reese and the crew should be expecting a good crowd there on the college green for game day next Saturday that game is a sell at in fact ree I mentioned this on the show I've I've had two people in Birmingham tell me they're going so Birmingham Alabama representing yeah you know what it should it should be great um I was talking a few weeks ago with Adam Fuller the defensive coordinator at Florida State and we were talking about you know the team and then we were talking about the trip a little bit and I told him I said um you know I said I've never even had a passport until a few months ago I said the only time I've been out of the country was when you could go to Canada with your driver's license I'm not really sure anyone would care to do that now but back in the day that was fun trip um but um as I digress and Adam said I can go he said I can do you one better he said I've never been out of the country at all so uh so we've got you know I'm making a maiden voyage outside the continental United States or at least outside of North America and so too is the seminal defensive coordinator so um I'm going to do a little more sightseeing as I'm going over earlier than I'm sure Adam and his family will have the opportunity to do uh likely your second show though uh will likely be a little bit warmer than your first show deep in the Heart of Texas there yeah you think yeah I mean you guys may I don't I haven't looked ahead at the 10day there in Ireland but I'm going to I'm going to suggest you will not need the same type of clothing in College Station correct this is correct but man Notre Dame vs Texas AM what a fascinating game we've talked about it a lot that Notre Dame's schedule if they can win this game Over Texas A&M is a college football playoff schedule for them however ree if A&M can get the win you start looking at them and say maybe that's a team I should pay attention to for the playoff yeah I agree um it's it's a huge game for both I mean Notre Dame does have Florida State in November but that game's in South Bend and then they wrap up against USC and I think USC is still talented and certainly uh would figure to be dangerous to anybody but I agree with you if if they get past that game then you know the Fighting Irish are well on their way and remember even if one little thing to remember about this new playoff format even if Notre Dame were to be undefeated in ranked number one in the nation the highest Steed they can get is five but that you know that would give them a home game likely gets to you know the group of five Champion but as it pertains to A&M um there's a lot of talent even though they've lost a lot in the portal I think Elco is a just a tremendous Coach man he did an unbelievable job at Duke I know they've had a couple of injuries in you know in Camp so far but they still have a formidable defensive line Wegman is highly thought of as a quarterback even though he's had a difficulty staying healthy they added you know Nick scorton from Purdue LED Big 10 and Sachs last year he's actually I think was overlooked by the Aggies earlier he's from Brian Texas and and going back home so I think they're going to be um they're going to be dangerous and you know looking at their schedule it it doesn't set up badly for them I mean I think Missouri's going to be really good but they have that game you know field they've got LSU at home they do have to go to Auburn they've got Texas at home so you know things set up pretty well for A&M you make a great Point um you know they've sort of got the anti- Oklahoma schedule in terms of homeing away you know Oklahoma you know everybody's talking about Texas running the Big 12 Oklahoma ran the Big 12 they won half of the Championships in the entire history of the Big 12 when it came into existence in the late 90s yet they play Four the top 11 teams in the country six ranked opponents and I think four of them away from away from Norman so um you know a lot of it with these expanded and Bloated conferences I'm not a big schedule only guy and what I mean by that you say well team's okay but they don't play a tough schedule well they're going to get beat by somebody if you're not good enough a loss will find you but if you're good and you have a favorable schedule then that's a that's a huge consideration and we'll find out a lot about A&M whether they're good enough to take advantage of that right out of the gate I think who plays for Clemson vs Michigan another National Championship again first Clemson or Michigan you you like all of these either or questions you're locked you're locked into this Embrace debate thing um both of them could I'm really I'm really high on both but I've you know on on our podcast this week I pick Clemson to win the ACC um now I think I do favor Georgia and that game at first and I think that Florida state will probably beat them in Tallahassee and Clemson will win the rematch I think Clemson and Florida State go to the playoff so I'm gonna say Clemson I mean uh you know I think reports of Clemson's demise been greatly exaggerated and you guys know davo well and there's nothing davo would love more than to be able to stand up at a college football playoff press conference or better yet stand up there with us giving him the trophy going yep we didn't even use a transfer portal poor little old Clemson here we are again been pulling down another trophy but you know I think both of them will be in contention he Michigan might take a little step back this year certainly from what it has been you know the last what the last three years now but um you know I think that uh I think Michigan is there to say I'm a big fan of shrome War I think he'll do a fine job there they're going to recruit well and but I think Clemson I think Clemson's had a little dip they're very tangible reasons for it wide receiver play quarterback play and you know the little secret about Clemson is that their offensive line play even through their Glory years has just been fine you know it's been they they get it done at the right moments I don't know that anyone say it's been overpowering so they know where the issues are I figure dbo and his guys can fix it and I I expect Clemson to have a really good year this year uh ree Davis Pete THL with a college game day pod out there uh they debate a lot of things LT you know cuts his teeth on that first take every day before he comes to work so he's ready for the bait I'm sorry man you know I'm just messing no no I'm good I'm good re I've got that cold pizza vibe from back in the day with the deuce um I What we miss in college football was on the golf course yesterday and you know bunch of old guys playing golf recent and I was talking about things we miss in college football and I want to ask you what you missed the thing that I went to was before we all had the computers in our hands all the time or Ribbon boards at the stadium I missed the announcer at the game during a timeout saying uh score right now from Tuscaloosa if you're in Auburn for the game and they would say score right now in Tuscaloosa Alabama 20 LSU 21 they wouldn't even do it Sports cast are correct they would do it backwards just to get the reaction from the crowd and they would go crazy you don't get that anymore what is something you missed from yester year of college football boy that's a really good one Jim that's that's a blast in the past our old friend Chris felica who used to be beond game day will would often leave voice recordings in a group message exactly like you're saying you know he would come on and and imitate his version of a stadium announcer you know score from Bloomington in the first quarter Michigan 3 Indiana 7 he would start you know he would start humming the Indiana fights on uh or something like that so yeah that's a that's a great one I think my the first thing that came to mind started your question you went in a different direction on me which I loved but the thing I haven't missed yet but I'm going to and I don't want this to be misconstrued as being against the expanded playoff I'm going to miss the Beall end all feel of a regular season game um you know whether that been hasn't always proven to be the case um you know Ohio State Michigan you know a couple years ago Ohio State got in anyway but on that day day and it had to a very specific set of circumstances had to happen for Ohio State to still get the playoff birth but the feeling in the stadium for a game like that like Alabama LSU in 2019 yep um you know Alabama Auburn 20 2013 you know was a little bit different remembered for a different thing but you know games like that that only college football had in the regular season are going to be part of an Nostalgia like the stadium announcers you know those days are gone and it's it's okay things change and it's probably time to pay that price but I just feel like that that is a cost that is associated with this progress nothing comes for free and I'm for the expanded playoff and the excitement around it arguably makes this the most anticipated college football season ever or In Our Lifetime but I don't think it comes at zero cost and I think that that one of them I like the announcers maybe they should take down the ribbon boards for you know we always have the theme games pen state has the white op maybe you have the one game where no scores allowed inside the stadium until the stadium announcer delivers them ree I am not going to ask you of this or that but how are you guys going to do the pick segment this year I was worried about this I was worried about it you guys How many guys will be doing their picks have so many personalities with s coming on Mac if he coming back how many guys are going to be up there how many guys will actually be doing their picks everybody nothing changes about that except with the exception of obviously Nick's Edition um but everybody will be up there um LC's not going to Ireland starting his 37th year with us he he feels fine I talked to him yesterday he's just decided to uh to Crank It Up in College Station when the when the real games start well it's a real game but when a full schedule uh starts so um you know this week or the first week week zero you know it'll just be all of us with the exception of LC but once the season starts in full week one it'll be you know it'll be all of us up there one of my favorite things ree says is when he says okay let's pick up the pace on this pick because you know it's almost kickoff when ree is telling people to pick up the pace we're about we're about to kick it off baby it's h that that's the thing is that uh sometimes I mean there's a finite amount of time obviously that's stating the obvious but one of the things I try to remind the guys of is our producer Jim guyo is the only one who doesn't get to walk away from screwing up the time and it's not you know it's not his fault you know we get to the end and he's screaming at all of us and I try to you know Co okay let's pick up the face let's go quick Tempo let's go Gus Malon on the ball here you know and and get it done and sometimes they do and sometimes they don't and if we if we mess it up have to drop a game we shouldn't you know uh get a little more time out of the noon kickoff window then the rest of us go oh man Jim sorry about hey hey we'll yeah we'll pick it up next time Jim's the one that gets yelled at nobody the game producer you know for cutting into the guy's pregame or something so anyway yeah that's uh sometimes we do have to do it and we'll all have to be cognizant of that and I'll I'll have to be cognizant of it from my standpoint because I think you know and Kirk and I have talked about this over the years it's nice when I can sort of deliver a sentence that gives the stakes of what the game would be or Trend or something some little note I'm going to have to be really even more disciplined in that regard you know I don't want to just you know say Alabama you know Alabama Missouri you know and you know make a pick and um you know you want to give a little context but I'm also going have to be cognizant of um you know of the number of people that need to make their points too so we'll we'll we'll find the balance but I'm sure I'll have to tell them to pick up the pace a little bit and then one of them will say I'm the one that picked up the pace he didn't pick up the pace you don't have to give this away but uh celebrity picker are we going to have an Irish flavor like a Roy maroy maybe okay okay well I no no I didn't say yes to Roy ma yes Irish Flav yes Irish flavor guest picker announcement announcement coming but I'm not at Liberty to uh deliver that right now yeah uh ree is so familiar with our social media content that we put out do not say I just said yes on Roy M I did not I did not say that that's not and I will I will say this that's not it Rory's in the Rory just so there's no misunderstanding PJ tour playoff FedEx Cup playoffs they're playing for 110 billion it starts this week Rory is not going to pick games yeah even Rory still wants that check Rees thank you and joy Ireland always good to talk with you all right guys have a good one all right you too ree Davis with us on the Johnston RV center.com hotline