The Big Ten Championship game between Penn State and Oregon is expected to be a “get your popcorn ready”- style matchup. Longtime CBS Sports analyst Gary Danielson joined Friday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to break down the game, discuss who has the edge and discuss the College Football Playoff.
Danielson, known for calling many great SEC games over the years, told the guys this game will be a lot of fun to call. Mike Golic Sr. asked Gary if he got a head start prepping for an Ohio State versus Oregon Big Ten title game prior to the Buckeyes’ upset loss to the Wolverines last week. Danielson laughed and admitted he had already started sending in highlights and plays he wanted to feature in a potential Ohio State-Oregon matchup. However, he explained to Senior that he thinks this matchup is the best for the Big Ten. He concedes that the Buckeyes will gain entry into the CFP despite the loss to Michigan and will have the opportunity to prove what they want to prove. The Big Ten, historically, has been considered a top-heavy conference, with it being Michigan and Ohio State and a bunch of others. Sure, you’ll get your Penn States, Iowas, or Wisconsis every now and then. But, despite Ohio State or Michigan not being in this year’s title game, Danielson believes this is a really good long-term scenario for the Big Ten as a conference.
"Were you casually preparing for Oregon-Ohio State before the shocking upset of Ohio State? 😅" @golic
"I think this is the best matchup for the Big Ten. The Buckeyes are going to be in the playoffs. One of the criticisms of the Big Ten was, 'Yeah, but they're top-heavy.' We're… pic.twitter.com/4GZIhWQI7I
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) December 6, 2024
Zooming out, with so many coaches and athletic directors jockeying for position in the 12-team playoff — even down to verbally sparring in the press about their conference’s strength — Senior asked Danielson for his take on all the politicking. He explained what’s really cool about college football is that opinion does MATTER. Danielson described the essence of college football as the debates and passion it inspires. After a weekend of games, fans flood message boards and talk shows, arguing over comments analysts like him make, such as, “Why did he say that about our team on Saturday? That’s going to hurt us in the rankings.” He sees this as part of the fun of the sport. For example, Danielson recalled mispronouncing Notre Dame player Billy Schrauth’s name multiple times during a game against USC despite highlighting the team’s strong performance. Fans, however, fixated on that mistake, showcasing how even small moments can overshadow larger narratives in college football. Reflecting on the game’s evolution, Danielson noted how resistant coaches have been to change over the years, whether it was reducing scholarships from 135 to 85, introducing a championship, or implementing transfer rules. Yet, he credited TV networks for pushing the playoff system forward, which he believes has been a positive development. He emphasized the importance of giving teams a chance to prove themselves on the field, regardless of opinions from talking heads or experts. Teams like Boise State, Arizona State, Clemson or Indiana, even after tough losses, now have the opportunity to fight for their place, and that, to Danielson, makes college football great.
.@DanielsonCBS dives into the conference politicking behind the 12-team CFB rankings.
"I think what's really cool about college football is that opinion does MATTER…After the weekend, all of the tribal people start to get on the message boards and the talk shows and they start… pic.twitter.com/6PifaJ0VIQ
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) December 6, 2024
Given his many years of covering SEC games on CBS, Mike Golic Jr. asked Danielson if he thought the three-loss SEC teams have a valid argument regarding their strength of schedule compared to teams like Miami and whether teams that lose their conference championship should be penalized. Danielson admitted there’s no definitive answer to those questions, as opinions on what matters most are subjective. He acknowledged that the College Football Playoff committee comprises high-character individuals trying to make fair decisions, but splitting hairs at the end of the season is incredibly difficult. He emphasized the value of playing in top conferences, comparing it to the NFL, where Wild Card teams like the New York Giants have gone on to win championships. Facing tough competition week after week means you won’t win every game, but that doesn’t diminish a team’s quality. Deciding between teams with two losses can be challenging, but Danielson noted that the current system at least debates center on teams ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th rather than the critical divide between fourth and fifth, as in the past.
Digging into Saturday night’s Big Ten title matchup, GoJo asked Danielson what was the most intriguing aspect of the Penn State-Oregon game, in which Oregon is a 3.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Danielson pointed out that it often comes down to who can exploit their pressure points in games like this. Usually, one player forces the opposing team to adjust, and if they can’t contain that player, it disrupts the entire defense. For Penn State, he highlighted Tyler Warren at tight end and Abdul Carter on defense as key pressure points, noting how opponents’ adjustments to them can open up opportunities for other players. For Oregon, Danielson pointed to their overall speed as the defining challenge Penn State will need to match. While Penn State is a deep and talented team, they’ll face a veteran Oregon quarterback in Dillon Gabriel with elite talent around him, making speed on the edges a critical factor.
He also emphasized the pass rush’s importance and impact on the game, citing a distinction between merely affecting the quarterback and actually sacking them. A sack, he noted, energizes the defense and significantly affects the game, with drives featuring a sack having less than a 7% chance of resulting in a score. Danielson believes the game’s story will come down to who can get the quarterback on the ground more.
What is @DanielsonCBS most intrigued by in the Big Ten title game?
“No. 1 is: Who can take advantage of their pressure point…Penn State will create the pressure point with 2 guys, Tyler Warren at tight end and Abdul Carter on defense, and how the offense or the defense has to… pic.twitter.com/NW1BhlKpW0
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) December 6, 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: NFL Week 14 Acrostic, Dan Campbell & Detroit’s Dominance + CFB Championship Weekend Preview
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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