ESPN

Ivan Maisel

  (11:59 AM)

Hi, everyone. What do you know? I'm on time! However, I just got through hosting the podcast and I'm all talked out. I may give one-word answers throughout this chat.

Ivan Maisel

  (11:59 AM)

Just kidding.

Rich (New Jersey)

Hi, I saw a picture of Virginia Tech's "Hokie Stone" helmet. Figuring it 'll probably be just a fad for awhile and then go back to their normal helmets and probably bring their new look helmets back for a retro weekend in the future. Your thoughts on the Virginia Tech's new look helmets?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:02 PM)

Rich, always, always, always keep in mind that if you are not between the ages of 16-22, and you do not run a sub 4.7-40, and you cannot bench 225 pounds 15 times, then you are not the target audience for any uniform change. This is all about attracting the attention of recruits, and making the players feel special.

Ivan Maisel

  (12:02 PM)

Rich, always, always, always keep in mind that if you are not between the ages of 16-22, and you do not run a sub 4.7-40, and you cannot bench 225 pounds 15 times, then you are not the target audience for any uniform change. This is all about attracting the attention of recruits, and making the players feel special.

Ivan Maisel

  (12:02 PM)

Man, the world wide internet is slow today.

RAYGORDON REID ( OXFORD MS 38655)

DID YOU WATCH BOOK OF MANNING LAST NIGHT

Ivan Maisel

  (12:04 PM)

I didn't watch it last night. I got to preview it last week. I was captivated by the Manning family story all over again. I have recorded it for my family to watch, which I don't do for any movie made after 1951. That's how good I think it is.

Keenan (Atlanta, GA)

Can Murray silence his critics once and for all with another big win on Saturday versus another top 10 team in LSU?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:05 PM)

I don't get the whole thing about critics and Aaron Murray, same as I don't get the criticism of AJ McCarron as a game manager. Aaron Murray is one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC, which makes him one of the best quarterbacks in the country. I don't think you pin the Alabama loss on him or the Clemson loss. It wasn't as if points were the issue in either case.

Tony (Richmond, CA)

What game are you looking forward to the most this weekend?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:07 PM)

Hmmm. Good question. Probably LSU at Georgia, but there are a lot of games I like: Wisconsin at Ohio State, Iowa at Minnesota, Ole Miss at Alabama, not to mention the two (two!) I am attending: Arizona at Washington and Stanford vs. Washington State.

Phillip (A stadium near you)

Ivan, DC Foster of VT says it not right that they have to play a game on Thursday night against GT after having played on Saturday,do you think teams should play a game on Thursday after playing the previous Saturday or should all teams have a bye week?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:08 PM)

I don't envy Bud Foster, trying to get ready for Georgia Tech's option game in a short week. But he sounds like he just discovered that he doesn't have seven days to get ready. There have been games on Thursday night for 20 years. Sure, it's ideal when teams have the previous Saturday off, but it doesn't always happen. At least Georgia Tech has only five days to prepare, too.

Phillip (A stadium near you)

Ivan,how did it end up that Ole Miss has to play at Bama again this year after playing there last year?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:09 PM)

I'm sure it had to do with adding Missouri and Texas A&M to the league on short notice. A lot of things happened to schedules that aren't normal and aren't equitable.

Zach (Mpls)

Thoughts on the MN-Iowa game? Maybe a little more at stake than some suspected. Can my Gophers pull this one out to get to 5-0 before heading into the matchup at Michigan? Starting to think 8-4 wouldn't be that crazy of a prediction for the Gophs...

Ivan Maisel

  (12:11 PM)

I think what we've all learned, Zach, is that Jerry Kill can coach some ball. He's won everywhere he's been, in that Brian Kelly way, and it's about time that Minnesota became relevant again. It seems like it's been a long time since Glen Mason was winning 8-10 games there. That said, Iowa has come back strong, too. It's amazing what Kirk Ferentz's teams can do when they're healthy.

Tyler (Louisville, KY)

Your thoughts on Wyo QB Brett Smith...

Ivan Maisel

  (12:12 PM)

Shhh! I don't want anyone to know about him. I killed in my ESPN College Pick 'Em league last week because I knew the Cowboys, with Smith running the show, could win at what's a usually tough road game at Air Force.

Tony (Richmond, CA)

Do you think Washington pulls the upset over Top 5 Stanford or Oregon?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:14 PM)

I think Washington is really good -- really good -- and I am anxious to see them Saturday. But I don't think they're as good as Stanford or Oregon. And it's not like the Huskies are going to sneak up on the Cardinal after upsetting them last year. The Ducks come to Seattle (I think?)but Washington has not been competitive with Oregon in recent years. That's a long way of saying that I don't think UW wins either game.

Laura (Va)

Did you see the NCAA just released their list of the top 5 loudest stadiums...what does your top 5 look like? I have Va Tech, LSU, Penn St, Oh St, Florida

Ivan Maisel

  (12:15 PM)

Oregon should be in there. Auburn. I don't think Ohio State is a top five. That's a tough call.

Mike p (Greater KC)

Does Nebraska have a QB controversy on its hands?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:16 PM)

Maybe in the eyes of the fans. But it's hard to find a college coach who won't start a senior who has 40 starts to his name. When the senior is healthy, anyway.

Tyler (Louisville, KY)

As of right now, who gets your Heisman vote?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:16 PM)

As of now, Marcus Mariota. Could change by Sunday, though. And the Sunday after that....

Jay (Michigan)

Off the radar game, can San Jose St upset Utah St Friday night?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:17 PM)

I am looking forward to that game. But I think Utah State is really good. They played USC for 60 minutes last Saturday. I watched a good chunk of that game.

Jon (Seattle, WA)

Thanks for the chat Ivan! Give it to me straight. What are the chances of the Badgers leaving the Shoe with a win?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:17 PM)

I think Wisconsin has a chance. They are running the ball so, so well. That never goes out of style.

Andrew (Strong Island)

Hello Ivan, I understand why OSU wants to start Miller, but have you ever seen such a high performing QB like Guiton get benched like this?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:19 PM)

Crazy, isn't it? The geeks at ESPN Stats & Info put together some amazing stats to illustrate how much better a passer Guiton is. But Miller gives you such a good running threat as a quarterback. What a luxury for Urban Meyer to have. And you know, he struggles so much, it's nice to see him catch a break.....

Zach (Mpls)

Does ESPN hook you up with a Town Car/driver for your trip from Seattle to Pullman or do you do that on your own? Or do you get a plane? Just curious.

Ivan Maisel

  (12:20 PM)

That's the beauty of it. Stanford and Washington State are playing in the Seahawks stadium, which is 10-15 minutes from Husky Stadium. Wazzu plays one game a year in Seattle.

Phillip (A stadium near you)

Ivan, your thoughts on the NCAA announcing a reduction of the sanctions against Penn State? Do you see the bowl ban being lifted in the next year or so?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:23 PM)

As I wrote yesterday, and reiterated on the ColFB Podcast today, I think the NCAA overreached in penalizing Penn State. If Mark Emmert had put down the torch and pitchfork and done what the NCAA usually does, which is launch its own long, painstaking, interminable investigation, it wouldn't have embarrassed itself. It even may have decided it didn't have jurisdiction. Which, according to its manual and its history, it doesn't.

Keith (Seattle, WA)

What does Mack Brown have to do to ensure his return next season? And how big a loss was Jordan Hicks to an already struggling defense?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:25 PM)

Reminds me of one of my favorite college football anecdotes. Gerry Faust had finished his fourth year at Notre Dame, and they couldn't rise above mediocrity. He went into see athletic director Gene Corrigan, and Faust told him how much he loved Notre Dame and how much he wanted to stay, and what it meant to him to be there. When he finished, Corrigan said, "Gerry, win some #$%$#$% games!"

bob nj [via mobile]

hi ivan upset pick off the week washington st over stanford thoughts?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:26 PM)

The Cougars are much improved, as we saw when they won at USC. But I don't think they can mash with the Cardinal. Stanford showed in the first half of the Arizona State game what it's capable of doing.

B Mand (Sarasota, FL)

What do you think are realistic expectations for FSU this season?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:27 PM)

Realistic! You have one of the most explosive, not to mention mature, redshirt freshman quarterbacks to come along in many years. What do you care about realistic? Enjoy the ride! I think the Seminoles are very, very good. I'd like to see them play a team that can challenge them. That will come.

J R (Illinois)

Should be a great game in South Bend sat...who wins and why?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:29 PM)

I am struggling to find reasons to think Notre Dame is the team that we thought they were before the season. The Michigan loss, and the way that the Wolverines have subsequently played, doesn't put the Irish in a good light. The offense has sputtered. And yet the Irish are 3-1. I still think Oklahoma is better. That said, I thought Oklahoma was better going into last year's game. Wrroooonnnnggg. I still will pick the Sooners.

Tyler (Louisville, KY)

Is Paul Rhoads in trouble at Iowa St?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:30 PM)

Man, I hope not. He can coach. And the Cyclones have been more than respectable since he's been there.

Arnold (Chantilly, VA)

Where do you see the Terrapins ending up after there surprising 4-0 start? Do they catch Clemson slippin after an emotional game the previous week versus FSU, and pull the upset?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:32 PM)

We had Randy Edsall on the podcast today. He was adamant that the Terps aren't nearly as good as they could be. But I think they are very good. What a pleasant surprise! The offense has been tremendous with C.J. Brown at quarterback. The defense has 17 sacks and 13 turnovers in four games. Good call on Clemson. We'll see what happens.....

Zach (Mpls)

Let's assume (might not happen, but just for the sake of my question) that Bama and Oregon lose during the regular season...who are the two teams most likely to step into the NC in their place? Stanford and LSU? I realize that many things will happen between now and then, but who has the inside track?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:34 PM)

Well, interesting that you put it that way. Oregon plays at Stanford on Thursday, Nov. 7, and LSU plays at Bama on Saturday, Nov. 9. The BCS race is rarely as simply as you propose, though. Ohio State is lurking, the Clemson-Florida State winner is lurking. Could be a great race.

Hunter Center (ATL)

By all accounts, Saban is a great DB coach. You think the question in Bama's Secondary is talent, or do they just need some time to be coached up and get more experience before they start to gel?

Ivan Maisel

  (12:35 PM)

I think neither Alabama nor anyone is going to have an answer for Texas A&M wideout Mike Evans. Saban will get his young DBs straight. But receivers are changing -- getting bigger, stronger -- and I think teams are going to have more success than we are used to. And than Saban is used to.

Ivan Maisel

  (12:35 PM)

Thanks, everyone. Talk to you next week.