Fox college football analyst Brady Quinn, a former Notre Dame and Jets quarterback, takes a timeout for some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: Is Georgia the team to beat?
A: I believe so, and I think it’s for two reasons: 1) Obviously their track record and what they have returning. I mean, that goes without saying, but Kirby Smart’s to me is the best head coach in college football right now that’s returning. You lose a player such as Brock Bowers, which hurts, but you retain your quarterback, Carson Beck. If you look at the other two rosters that I think stack up somewhat similarly to Georgia, that would be Ohio State and Oregon. The difference is you both have transfer quarterbacks that it’s going to be very much dependent on how fast Will Howard gets up to speed at Ohio State in Chip Kelly’s system, and then how fast Dillon Gabriel gets up to speed and develops chemistry in the guys he’s throwing to in the Oregon system. That, to me, gives Georgia the benefit of the doubt to be the team to beat.
Q: Who plays Georgia in the CFP national championship game?
A: I think it’s Ohio State, most because they should be a top-three, top-five defense. And they feel a lot similar to me how Michigan felt last year, where they got a bunch of guys who could have [gone] to the NFL. They’re loaded, and they’re got a lot of those guys who could have [gone] to the next level and stayed. I think it’s on a mission. They don’t want to end their career not beating Michigan, they want to beat Michigan, they want to win the Big Ten, they want to go to try to win a national championship. And I think with the talent they have at wide receiver — Jeremiah Smith is the kid to keep an eye on. He is absolutely phenomenal and will be the next amazing great one we talk about from Ohio State. But really it’s their pieces on the offensive line, Chip Kelly and the backfield, they have a veteran in Will Howard, he’s got experience. They to me are the next best team I think to give Georgia a challenge to compete for a national championship.
Q: Who can challenge Ohio State in the conference?
A: Oregon’s one obviously, their roster matches up well from a talent standpoint. I would say the other team is Penn State. Penn State’s a team I wouldn’t sleep on as far as contending and potentially being Ohio State’s biggest threat in the Big Ten. [Offensive coordinator] Andy Kotelnicki comes from Kansas, really creative. Drew Allar to me is one of those guys who can be a breakout star at the quarterback spot. He reminds me a lot of Ben Roethlisberger as far as his size and athleticism, and it seems like he just was not in an offense that allowed him to really play to his skill sets. Defensively, Tom Allen takes over at [defensive coordinator], and that’s a defense that is as talented as anyone … in particular moving Abdul Carter to an edge player. I suspect he’s gonna have a big year.
Q: What do you think of Kelly as Ohio State offensive coordinator?
A: The past two years in the Big Ten, Michigan has seemed to be the team that’s wanted to control the line scrimmage, they have. And I think Ohio State’s going to be that team this year. I think they’re going to get back to that with Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. I don’t know how many people really dissect and watch what [Kelly] does, but he’s a guy who likes to use multiple tight ends. He likes to do unbalanced formations and bring in an extra offensive linemen. And he will run the football and if you can’t stop it, he’ll do it again and again and again. It’s the running game and getting back to a dominant style of running the football and that physicality that has kind of been questioned about in the past few years.
Q: How about a threat to Georgia other than Texas in the SEC?
A: When it comes down to it, Alabama’s probably going to be their biggest challenge in the SEC in my mind. I think the world of Jalen Milroe. I just think that kid is an incredible athlete, competitor. They’ve got enough defensively that I think that they’ll still be able to compete with the likes of Georgia from a defensive standpoint. I think the other team’s maybe even LSU. I’m high on Garrett Nussmeier. The one I’m most curious to see I think might have the best talent next to Georgia is probably Ole Miss. Jaxson Dart is an absolute stud. They’ve got a bounty of backs in the backfield. We know Lane [Kiffin teams] can put up a bunch of stats, I think defensively they’re as good as they’ve been in a while.
Q: Do you like the 12-team playoff?
A: I do, I honestly wish it was 16. I think I battle sometimes with the idea of whether or not the top four teams are deserving of a bye, and even then, in certain circumstances — for example my alma mater, because they don’t play a conference championship — they’re not subject at receiving a bye if they are in the top four. So it wouldn’t even necessarily be getting the true top four teams potentially getting byes. I’d rather see it 16, be more inclusive. I think that’s is not only good for college football, but it’s good for that time of year where you see a lot of players opting out during bowl games. I think the more teams are in the mix for a chance of playing for a national championship, the better chance you get for participation, the more excitement you get around it. The combination of home games — there’ll be more home games obviously on some of those college campuses — but also to get more of an opportunity for teams out there that aren’t necessarily the bluebloods of college football, teams that can potentially … I guess I’d give the example of Gonzaga. We used to look at Gonzaga as a Cinderella story, kind of one of those incredible runs they’d make. Now we look at them as a blueblood in college basketball. And who knows, as the playoff expands, we see some of that with some of the teams that are smaller, in a Group of 5, or teams that are outside of the Big Ten and the SEC.
Q: Who would be a sleeper team to be in the playoff?
A: Nebraska has a really, really light schedule. If you look at a team that could legitimately be 7-0, 8-0, that’s a team that I think you go back to last season. Defensively they really started to figure things the second half of the year, played a lot of close, one-score games. Didn’t pull enough of them out obviously. But Matt Rhule’s a program-builder, he gets better after Year 1 to Year 2 and Year 3, and they’ve got a special talent in Dylan Raiola, who’s gonna take over at quarterback. So that’s a team I’ve got my eye on, I’m really intrigued by that could surprise a lot of people, because I think of what they displayed last year is the foundation of their team which is a salty defense, but then a quarterback that could be really special and a couple of pieces top in the skill positions that I think can do enough.
Q: What do you think of life after Nick Saban in Alabama, and after Jim Harbaugh in Michigan?
A: For Michigan — I’ll start with them, probably a little easier transition because we already had a foreshadowing what that looks like with Sherrone Moore taking over for Jim Harbaugh last year. And I think the identity of that team will pretty much remain the same. The tough thing I think for Alabama with Kalen DeBoer, at least offensively speaking, is the offense is so drastically different. If you look at how much Michael Penix [Jr.] was throwing the football in the past couple of years, it’s very different than what maybe Nick Saban had tasked Tommy Rees with last year or any of his previous offensive coordinators, it wasn’t quite built the same. So what does that look like for Jalen Milroe, who I think we’d all say he’s a tremendous dual-threat quarterback? Is his best attribute playing in the pocket? No, it needs some work, and maybe he displays that this year where he really continues to mature and flourishes there. That’s what I’m most curious to see is what that looks like offensively speaking for ’Bama with Milroe in a Kalen DeBoer offense, where I’ve got a pretty good idea that Michigan with Sherrone Moore as their head coach, they’re gonna run the football. That’s the identity of Michigan — salty defense, running the football.
Q: What do you think of Colorado coach Deion Sanders and his QB son Shedeur Sanders?
A: Probably the most intriguing of any in college football, in part because however you want to look at last year, it’s a huge improvement compared to where this program was two years ago — whether you’re measuring on the field or off the field. They’ve got another opportunity I think to instill … I guess for Coach Prime to put his blueprint on things. Shedeur Sanders is one of the top quarterbacks returning, they’ve got a bounty of riches at the skill position, too, they should be just fine. It’s gonna be interesting to see how many wins they can improve upon, that four-win number from just a year ago, and how much they’ve improved in the trenches, they’ve almost got a wholesale change on their offensive line.
Q: Who is your Heisman Trophy favorite?
A: I’d love to give love to Ollie Gordon. We look at running backs sometimes in today’s game, and it seems like we always favor the quarterbacks. But I think this year he may very well run for over 2,000 yards. Had a chance to sit down with him, be with him — really interesting background story, he was a former quarterback in high school, and we kinda talked about just that play impact on his vision, how he sees the play, how he understands the blocking of the play and how things open up. I’m rooting for him, hoping that he’ll be one of the top guys when it’s all said and done. … Jeremiyah Love’s a breakout star, he’s another running back that I’d put in the conversation, the way I think [Notre Dame is] gonna run the football this year.
Q: Some quick quarterback scouting reports: Texas QB Quinn Ewers.
A: Unique arm talent. Can throw off-platform from different angles. But he’s got the ability to be a first-round pick and climb into that conversation. This year, the biggest question becomes health and consistency. Can he ultimately play at a high level consistently enough to be able to I think lead Texas back in to the playoff?
Q: Do you like his backup, Arch Manning?
A: I do. He’s a great athlete, I think he’s got a strong arm, he’s really continued to develop, you saw him kind of grow and mature. He’s every bit as advertised. So if Quinn gets hurt, I think they’re in good hands with him.
Q: Georgia QB Carson Beck.
A: To me, [he] will be the No. 1-overall pick [in the NFL draft] when this year’s all said and done. He’s got everything. He’s got the arm strength, he’s got the accuracy, he’s got the timing and anticipation, he’s got the pocket movement, he’s a better athlete than people give him credit. To me he’s the complete package.
Q: Shedeur Sanders.
A: Love his poise. He’s not afraid of pressure. He stands in the face of it and still delivers. He throws a tremendous deep ball, his downfield accuracy is probably the best of this quarterback class. Throws with great touch. The only thing I wish he did a little bit more was when there is yards to be made, taking off and running, he is a good athlete and he can do it. He’s right up there next to Carson Beck.
Q: Who else is in the first-round conversation at quarterback?
A: I think Riley Leonard at Notre Dame has a really good chance. He’s a big kid, he’s got a strong arm, he threw really well at the Manning Passing Academy. He’s going to have the opportunity to play in front of a national audience and get a lot of attention versus some of the top teams in the country … like Texas A&M to start off Week 1 and Florida State later on and USC at some point. He’s a guy that I think could climb into the conversation. Will Howard I think at Ohio State very similarly can find his way maybe and showcase to people a much better athlete than people give him credit, but also a player that can play from the pocket, he can pass well and he can sit within an offense that can be executed in the NFL.
Q: Texas coach Steve Sarkisian.
A: He’s an incredible offensive mind, I think we all know that. The biggest question is whether or not they can be consistent and they can stay at the highest level where now a different challenge, they got to play in the SEC as compared to the Big 12 like last year. But if they can repeat as a playoff contender and continue to improve … their defense last year was the unsung hero. We know offensively they’ll put up numbers and stats, but it comes down to whether or not this defense can kind of continue to play at a really high level in a conference, that, I think, is a much greater challenge than what they faced last year in the Big 12.
Q: How big a threat is Texas to win a national championship?
A: They’re one of the top eight teams I think that can play for it, maybe nine or 10 teams. But I wouldn’t put them ahead of Georgia, Ohio State, probably not Oregon. I think Texas is somewhere in that next mix of teams, just with some question marks — who’s going to step up on the outside at wide receiver, they’ve obviously been decimated at running back so far, and then again, their defense lost big pieces in the interior of that defense from last year.
Q: You’ll be working the Texas-Michigan game.
A: I think it’s more difficult for Michigan to see if they can instill at home their identity, which is running the ball with Donovan Edwards. Assuming it’s [quarterback] Alex Orji, getting him comfortable enough throwing the football to a guy like [Colston] Loveland, to a tight end who may eventually win the Mackey this year. Defensively, they’re as star-studded as it gets. Will Johnson at cornerback is probably the best player in college football. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s the No. 1-overall pick, he’s that good. The interior of their defensive line is nasty. I think that’s the battle. Michigan is going to try to get Texas to play brand, their style of football, and see if they can get pressure on Quinn Ewers, take away those quick screens they line to throw, and some of the variations off of that, and try to control the line of scrimmage and control the clock. I think for Texas it’s going to be a challenge to see if they can control the line of scrimmage. I would give the advantage to Michigan early on with the home-field advantage, but even just the style of play and see how Texas will have to adjust.
Q: What are your thoughts on Rutgers?
A: Look, they lost one of their best players [LB Mohamed Toure, torn ACL], seems like they’re snakebitten at times, but they’re another team that I think their schedule kind of sets up well for them to be really competitive, to be bowl eligible. Greg Schiano’s trying to kind of build this program back up like he’s done once before. And I think they have a shot of being competitive. It’s just, when it’s all said and done, you’re not thinking of Rutgers before Ohio State, before Michigan, Penn State, Oregon, USC, Washington. All those schools, to me, are much better suited at this point to be able to compete within the Big Ten. I mentioned Nebraska earlier, I’d put them ahead of Rutgers at this point, too.
Q: What do you like and what don’t you like about realignment?
A: What I like about it is I think you get bigger matchups within conference play. You don’t have to hope that teams schedule them in non-conference, you get those matchups now. Before, Ohio State and Oregon for example, was a non-conference game, but now, it’s a conference game and it’s up between FOX, CBS and NBC to get it. We have the ability to, I think, have a bigger even better schedule. I think that’s the good thing about it. The bad thing is the ramifications on all the other sports. I think from the student perspective for me, or the student-athlete perspective, it’s going to pay a toll I think on the other sports and their travel and their school and their lives, how they go about handling all that. I kind of think back to how difficult it already was for sports that kind of had to play throughout the course of the week. Now they’re going to travel potentially even further in some cases.
Q: How much more difficult is it on coaches now with the portal and NIL?
A: I think head coaches in college football probably spend a lot less time actually being a head coach. And they’re more or less managing the entire operation of exactly what you just talked about. And that is roster retention, that is recruitment both at the high school level and out of the transfer portal, which is essentially free agency. It’s become a job that’s not so much based on on-the-field as much, but one that more caters to being able to know what your players are thinking, whether or not they’re going to be staying or going to the next level, whether or not you get them to stay. You used to be able to recruit kids, develop them and then go see kind of the finished product after three, four, five years. Nowadays you’re recruiting a kid and hoping he keeps his commitment, and then once he gets there, you’re hoping that he’s staying more than a year, and that you’re able to be able to develop him, watch him grow as a young man. Instead, often times or sometimes, if they’re unhappy about playing time or even if they play really well in some cases, these players are looking for more money and better opportunity to move on. It just seems like it’s more about the short term right now and then the here-and-now, and that’s a big transition from what it used to be.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Jesus Christ, my dad, my grandfather on my mom’s side, because I never got to spend a lot of time with him, he passed away when I was like 4 or 5 years old.
Q:. Favorite movie?
A: “Tommy Boy.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Chris Farley.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Anne Hathaway.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Chicken parm. I’m actually a connoisseur of chicken parm. It’s a little-known fact, when we travel if we go to an Italian spot, I will try the chicken parm. I have a whole rating scale. I don’t try to like lose or anything or be like Dave Portnoy and his whole pizza thing, but I have a little bit of that going on, I have notes, I made a booklet that I keep on chicken parm.
Q: Where’s the No. 1 spot?
A: OK. Osteria Acqua E Farina in Fort Lauderdale [Fla.]. It’s a little hole-in-the-wall spot, but you have to get the chicken parm. … However, I will say, you have to get it with vodka sauce, not the red sauce. It is absolutely phenomenal.