Week 4 of the college football season is over, and many teams are flying high while some have fallen short. ESPN college football analyst and cohost of Marty & McGee on the SEC Network Marty Smith joined Monday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to discuss some of the top college football headlines with Mike Golic Jr. and Mike Golic Sr.
GoJo kicked off the segment by asking Smith about last Saturday’s marquee SEC primetime showdown between Oklahoma and Tennessee. The Volunteers traveled to Norman and beat the Sooners, 25-15. With that in mind, how impressed was Smith by the Vols? Smith strongly believed that Tennessee was the best team in the country throughout the first month of the season. He also gave some credit to the University of Texas, which is dealing with an injury to starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, who Smith said might be the best player in the nation, however, Tennessee is a complete team in his eyes. Smith said that the Vols offer elite quarterback play, an elite offensive system, and tremendous perimeter weapons. However, Smith said believes that the Vol’s defense makes this team unique, especially given they could hold the Sooners in check at home, only allowing 36 yards on the ground. It’s a blend of new school and old school that Marty said he thinks adds up to national championship potential for the Vols.
Senior then shifted the conversation toward the new Big Ten rivalry game of USC vs. Michigan. With Michigan defeating USC, 27-24, thanks to a late rushing touchdown by running back Kalel Mullings, Senior wonders if we all buried Big Blue a little too early. Smith highlighted this as a signature — and necessary — win for first-time head coach Sherrone Moore, especially after the Wolverines’ performance against Texas in Week 2. Smith thought that perhaps Texas had exposed Michigan in what may have been Ewers’ best performance as a Longhorn. Smith said a lot of media members looked at Michigan and said they sent a lot of talent to the NFL, lost Jim Harbaugh to the NFL and now they’re in a rebuilding phase. WRONG! Smith said Saturday’s game was physical, is exactly the type of game Michigan wants and has to play. That being said, Smith said he thinks Ohio State is still the best team in that conference, so we’ll see what happens on November 30 when these rivals square off.
Speaking of Texas, GoJo asks about Smith’s opinion on Texas quarterback Arch Manning and what he has seen from the small sample size. Outside of a few picks against Louisiana Monroe, Smith said there isn’t much to nitpick from Manning’s performance thus far. But, for Smith, it was not necessarily his play that has stood out to him, but more so his ability to be patient and develop his skill set while not atop the depth chart in time where players are not willing to wait things out but instead seek out other teams that will allow them to play immediately. Smith believes Arch’s patience is especially noteworthy in light of his famous lineage that includes his father, uncles and grandfather.
Moving on, Colorado had a crazy win over Baylor and Travis Hunter looks to be solidifying himself as one of the nation’s best players. Although Senior said he is kind of down on the Heisman, he asked Smith where Hunter ranks among the best players in the country and what his Heisman chances are. Smith, who is a Heisman voter, said he thinks Hunter’s chances are high and that he is looking at Hunter very closely. He marveled at Hunter’s gifts as an athlete and how he honors those gifts, especially given how focused he is on being the best version of himself every day. His Heisman hopes also aren’t hurt by the fact that he has a built-in hype show playing for Colorado and Coach Prime. Hunter is +2500 to win the Heisman at DraftKings Sportsbook. Smith doesn’t want to be a prisoner of the moment, but he says the versatility Hunter displays is historic and his athletic gifts and ability to make the most of them are remarkable.
GoJo also gets Smith’s impression of Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin’s team dropped in the AP Poll from No. 5 to No. 6 and GoJo asked Smith if Ole Miss is in that category of top teams in the nation, especially as they enter SEC play against a Kentucky team that played Georgia tough. Smith said he is waiting on that marquee win by the Rebels to solidify them as being in the top tier of college football. He also spoke highly about Lane Kiffin as a head coach and how given the fact he has a great quarterback in Jackson Dart it will be a matter of them getting over the hump and getting that signature win. It’ll be interesting to see how the game unfolds and whether the Rebels can secure a victory this Saturday. Ole Miss is a 17.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: Mahomes’ Chiefs and Lamar’s Ravens Get Ugly Wins, The Steelers & Vikings Stay Undefeated + Cowboys’ Defensive Dilemma
Hour 2: Marshall Newhouse on Andy Dalton’s Return, T-Law The Liability and Josh Allen + Marty Smith on Tennessee, Arch Manning and Travis Hunter’s Heisman Campaign
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
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