In what proved to be one of the most eventful rivalry weekends in college football, ESPN’s Jesse Palmer joined Monday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to break down some of the top matchups from Week 14 and the impact of conference championship games on the College Football Playoff.
One of the biggest nail-biting rivalry games of the weekend was Georgia versus Georgia Tech. Palmer was on the call as the game reached EIGHT OVERTIMES, with Georgia emerging victorious, 44-42. Mike Golic Jr. asked Palmer to process what he saw from the battle with a Georgia team who many think could be a national title hopeful. Palmer shared that he is STILL trying to wrap his head around what happened. He conceded it was a legendary game filled with many back-and-forth moments. Although Georgia started slow, which was the case for them in some games this season, they found a way to BARK back. Despite the close call, Palmer expressed that Georgia fans could leave that game with some hope that they can make a run at the national title, particularly with quarterback Carson Beck, who has avoided the turnover bug in his last three games. Palmer spoke glowingly of quarterback Haynes King for the Yellow Jackets, calling him a WARRIOR, given he ran the ball over twenty times despite not being 100%. With the game going to eight overtimes, Jesse felt sorry for the offensive play callers trying to dial up plays at that stage of the game. With the game being SO close, Palmer said he hated seeing someone lose but admitted that it was a game he would never forget.
Given the many twists and turns this season has witnessed, Mike Golic Sr. asked Palmer if the Georgia-Georgia Tech game is indicative of how wide-open this college football season is, including even the race for the national championship. Palmer highlighted that this year feels especially exciting with the expanded 12-team playoff format. He added that the transfer portal and NIL have transformed the college football landscape, helping teams rebuild rosters and add impactful playmakers. We’re seeing less dominance from just a few top teams, with more parity across conferences. On any given Saturday, Jesse said, any team can deliver an upset with Brent Key at Georgia Tech being a prime example. Palmer said that he has done an incredible job not only with recruiting but also by utilizing the portal and building a strong staff. In just two seasons, he’s elevated Georgia Tech to the point where they’ve challenged Georgia in consecutive rivalry games, making the matchup MUST SEE TV going forward.
With Oregon heading into conference championship weekend ranked as the No. 1 team in the country, GoJo asked Palmer the question everyone wants to know: Who is the best team in college football, if not them? Palmer shared he hasn’t had the opportunity to call an Oregon game this year; however, from the film he’s watched, Oregon is the best team in the country right now.
Palmer noted that the Ducks are complete on both sides of the ball. Dillon Gabriel has been outstanding at quarterback, and they have explosive playmakers at running back and wide receiver. Dan Lanning, who has had experience as a defensive coordinator for Georgia’s national championship teams, has the Ducks’ D playing tough and physical, with speed in the secondary and dominance in the trenches on both sides of the ball. To that end, Palmer emphasized that championships and the best teams are built in the trenches even in an era of uptempo and air raid offenses. Oregon’s consistency week in and week out has impressed Palmer. Whether against tough nonconference opponents like Boise State or in their transition to the Big Ten, they show up every week.
Who does @JessePalmerTV think is the best team in the nation?
"I think right now, Oregon is the best team. I think, offensively and defensively I think they are complete…So I think from an eye test standpoint, from a resume standpoint, how they’re coached to the NFL talent, to… pic.twitter.com/NdJXnTojLx
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) December 2, 2024
Shifting to Fight Club, otherwise known as the SEC, where three teams have three losses: South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Alabama. GoJo mentioned how after South Carolina’s win over Clemson, friend of the show Shane Beamer started politicking for the Gamecocks to be selected as one of the top 12. GoJo asked who is the best of the three and who has a realistic shot of making the playoffs. Jesse highlighted the complexity of the playoff picture ahead of conference championship weekend, spotlighting South Carolina and how they are playing the best RIGHT NOW. He noted that even though South Carolina played the Crimson Tide close, Alabama’s head-to-head win over them is a key advantage. He also talked about how conference championship results could further complicate the narrative. For example, if Clemson defeats SMU to win the ACC title, South Carolina could argue that their road win over the ACC champion would bolster their case. In the end, Jesse thinks that if Georgia wins the SEC championship, the Tide’s victory over the Bulldogs could be the thing that puts Alabama in a position to get in if there is a funky scenario.
"It will be interesting to see how things shake up on College Conference Championship weekend—if Clemson beats SMU in the ACC Championship Game, how does that affect [Alabama, South Carolina, or Ole Miss] getting in?"@JessePalmerTV on what the CFP Committee will do with the… pic.twitter.com/yBtY2EsoeX
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) December 2, 2024
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: Josh Allen—God’s Snow Game QB, Bears Fire HC Matt Eberflus & Michigan’s Flag-Planting Fight at Ohio State
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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