CFB LIVE - LIVE IN BATON ROUGE

0:00Early morning on a Manhattan sidewalk, a shooting caught on surveillance video. It was an assassination style killing, and everybody saw it. A new podcast series from ABC Audio in 2020 goes inside this captivating case. I'm ABC News legal analyst Brian Buckmeyer. Listen to burden of proof Luigi Mangione, wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to college football live presented by Fire TV. We got ourselves a beautiful day here in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a crisp 87 degrees with a lot of moisture in the air. People are very excited for the big game taking place here tomorrow night. And of course the Tigers, the Tigers, Clemson visiting LSU.

1:04And we've had an awful lot of conversations about LSU, not as many about the exesos and the matchups as we would like. But you know what? We are here in week one and we are excited to talk some college football. I'm Jen Laddett. This is Stanford Steve, Desmond Howard joining us as always alongside the authority Pete Famel. Alright guys, a huge game between LSU and Clemson. We will get to some of the details of that game, but there has been obviously developing news all week long. Here on college football live, let's try to get you caught up. It is of course the legal battle between LSU, the NCAA and the SEC as it continues. Dayquan Wright, Xavier on Harris, currently clear to return to college football after brief stints in the NFL. According to an injunction issued by a Baton Rouge judge last night, that leaves Lane Kippen with a major roster decision to make by the end of the day today. Wright and Harris reacting to the news last night. My most really high right now, you know, this has been a good long going for me especially. You know, all that happened to me. So it's just, you know, a relief really.

2:07So I'm glad to hear you know when I went there. What do you listen to for two about Saturday? Just putting on a college uniform again and going there have fun and embracing my opportunity. It's about student athletes. It's not about coach Kippen, it's not about LSU. It's about treating these kids fairly. It's about the fair application. You're going to apply the rules, apply them fairly to everyone. So today justice was served and justice was served through the SEC. It was served like a cold cup of gumbo. And that just forced them to eat it. Gotta get that bio reference in there. Don't you are people have been monitoring this, covering this for it seems like forever Pete. What is the latest you can tell us? Can you make that up by the way? The cold cup of gumbo from the local district attorney who's a lawyer in the case. It's unbelievable. So where we are right now, picture that big 60 minutes clock ticking tick tick tick tick over us.

3:08LSU has until 1159 tonight to decide whether or not to put day one right in Xavier, Xavier Harris on their roster. You know, the court order significantly encouraged them to do as such to do right by the to the right by the athletes. The SEC through a federal lawsuit has made very clear. They don't want them on the roster. The SEC president has also made it clear numerous attorneys generals have also made it clear the C.F.P. Even throughout a statement today, basically saying they don't want NFL players on rosters to in concert with with the other leagues have done. So there is significant risk if LSU Tulane Kiffin to the budget and to the future of LSU as an SEC member if they put these players on the roster. So the decision has to be made and has to be made tonight. And no one is tipping their hand yet. Everyone is staying silently. I will say this, Jen, if you think about the calculus of this decision and how it's going to get message, there's no better night in college football than to have a news dump than the Friday night before the games. Because come Monday, we're not going to be talking about a backup tight end and, you know, pretty good defensive lineman.

4:09We're going to be talking about the 60 games that have happened and there's going to be wins and upsets and injuries and everything like that. So don't be surprised if it stretches a little bit into the evening tonight before LSU's decision comes. Common sense says they would capitulate. That's what Texas Tech did in this situation. The big 12 filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit to have their own thing. They were going to have a hearing. Texas Tech said, you know what? We should probably fall along. They're going to have the power in this. We're going to go. So what LSU does? We shall see. But the fact that it's gotten this far makes nothing certain. Oh, how long ago the sores be saga. See this month at this point. Yes, what do you suspect will happen? What do you suspect Lane will do? Well, I think that Lane never imagined that this will go this far. I think it was a huge miscalculation on his part. I think Lane said, well, you know what? It would be us LSU against the NCAA. The NCAA, there everybody's punching bag, right? No one likes NCAA. I think that's what he figured would happen in this situation.

5:10But then when Greg Sanky and the SEC said, hold up, pump your brakes. We're not doing this. We don't want to be a part of bringing NFL players to college football. Then I thought Lane had gone out too far. You couldn't step back. And now it became just a standoff between Lane LSU, Greg Sanky and the SEC. I think now with all the lawsuits and this and that, you never imagine this will happen. I don't think he's going to play these players because I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze at this point. That's exactly how much is this worth? Yeah. Like, and to your point going back to the beginning when he had a vision of what it was going to be, there's no way he envisioned this. And now it's to the point is, is this really worth it? So I just worry that, or I will say, I don't know how he's doing dealing with his team and getting ready for a game.

6:11Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Amidst all this. It's all anyone's talking about around this time. We've been here for a couple of days. Yeah. So I just, it comes down to, is it worth it? And that's where I think you bring it. I'm glad you mentioned that. I did a, I did a media availability earlier today. And I told myself there's one coach who I think his personality is uniquely qualified to handle this specific game. Is Lane Kim? Yeah. And there is something to be said for trying to gain a competitive advantage, trying to use every loophole and every advantage to try to put your team in a position to win. Right. But I think to your point earlier, they have the number one transfer class in the country. That's right. That talent should be able to get the job done. I'm not sure you need these additional two players to go out there and win some of these games. All right. And speaking of the game, there is a game that Lane and his team and Dava by extension and his team need to worry about. Time for our players to watch. It's brought to you by Rippling Clemson quarterback, Christopher. What do you say this young man's last name? Vizena. Vizena. Thank you so much.

7:11Vizena. Who I'm going to do that for now, I accept it. Vizena will make his second career start after throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns against SMU last year. His counterpart, Sam Levit, was the top quarterback transfer from this year's cycle. And among the many marquee names that moved to Baton Rouge this year. And I think even my faux pas there is an example of the different stories of these two quarterbacks. We are all very familiar with what Sam Levit has done, what his journey has entailed. And then on the other side, you have Clemson. They've brought some guys in but have been a little bit more hesitant to use the transfer portal like some of these other programs have. have. So Pete, I'll start with you. What are the keys for Clemson to get a victory in this game? Well, I'm going to start with Sam Levit. And there's a question we've been asking on the set of why. Why is Lane Kiffin doing this? I think part of it is Lane Kiffin feels like he has a really good team. And if you're going to play until January 25th, that's when the national title is, you need depth. So that's why he's doing it. But his optimism is based in Sam Levit. 2024 Sam Levit at Arizona State, one of the top quarterbacks in the country. A prospect, the NFL was intrigued by,

8:13do a threat, beautiful arm, accurate. Last year, we got the Liz sprank early in the season, yet's Baylor. And he simply was a different player. There's a huge dichotomy between 2024 and 2025 Sam Levit. They're confident at LSU. They have the 2024 version. And they're going to roll out Lane Kiffin system. And they're going to have a lot of success. Being able to be at practice yesterday, I got, I forgot how electric and elusive he could be as a runner. Yeah, you know, like you mentioned the foot injury. He wasn't himself last year. And you go back to the season before when he led the team to the playoff and winning the big 12. And he's a factor in this game. And I also believe he's going to help in the run game. Yeah, LSU, the last two years, simply gave up trying to run the football. And what did it do? It had a top 10 team last year, got their quarterback banged up. And it was a lost season. They fired their coach. And the one thing that people forget to mention about Lane Kiffin, a Charlie Wise Jr. Their offices are very effective in running the football. And that's what I believe. LSU really wants back as a fan base. You think about LSU. You think about the championship teams.

9:14Being able to run the football and have a balanced offense. Sam Levit healthy gives you all of that with one player. Yeah, tell you what guys, I'm excited to just see this team try to jail. I mean, you're talking about 40 plus new players, you know, going through all this distraction. Everyone's asking them, hey, are you guys going to get these new players? What's Lane going to do? You know, so that's a huge distraction. You guys trying to get used to the lingo, the expectations. Everything else that comes with playing on the new squad. So I believe they're going to have to take it play by play. Series by series. And then try to jail as a unit, offensively and defensively because listen, that one. Those guys are getting on the plane. Just going to just roll their helmets out there and let LSU roll over them tomorrow night. They're coming here to make a statement. They think that they got the best, the best death valley and then the real tigers. And it's like anything else. If even if you think this is a talent mismatch, control the clock, run the ball, win the turnover battle. But longer, you're in this game. The more questions LSU starts asking themselves, right? Because they're supposed to win this one.

10:15And then all of a sudden, you might have an upset on your hands at the hands of the visiting tigers. Let's talk a little bit about our Labor Day weekend college football lineup. We roll it out with Stanford hosting number seven Miami. That game is on ESPN. Then tomorrow, it's a triple header on ABC. You got East Carolina visiting number 13 Alabama, Baylor and Auburn. Then that game Clemson battling number 11 LSU in Death Valley on Sunday on ABC. You got number 24 Louisville and number nine Ole Miss. Every single game we're showing you here is also available on the ESPN app. All right, let's go to the top story stepping away from the courtroom Pete. What else is going on around college football that we should be paying attention to? Well, North Carolina coming off the best moment of the Bill Balecheck era, found themselves in some ugly headlines again this week. Jen Michael Lombardi, the general manager, highest paid GM in the country resigned from his position. Bill Balecheck will need a new GM going forward in Chapel Hill. As for tonight, Oklahoma vs. U-TEP Texas transfer Parker Livingstone, I've been told is available and will play for the Sooners tonight.

11:21He'd missed some time and practice recently with a concussion. He's been cleared and will see the rare long warrant to Sooner transfer, streaking down the field for the Sooners tonight. And finally, in a sneaky good game on Saturday to lay in a playoff team, Duke the ACC champ to lay will be without. It's leading returning Russia, Jamari McClaur, a couple of publications had McClaur as the best tailback in the AAC this year. Without McClaur, it'll be a little tougher to find yards on the ground for the green wave this weekend. Good stuff Pete, as always, coming up on college football live, the preseason AP top five all make their season days use this weekend. What is the biggest question for each of these championship contender teams? We'll break that down next. College Football Live is presented by Fire TV. Welcome back to College Football Live presented by Fire TV. Let's get you some fast plays.

12:33It's brought to you by Good Year. UMass visiting Rutgers last night. Jump to the second quarter. UMass was up 14 to 7 when William Pop Watson connects with Joseph Griffin, Jr. It's a 31 yard touchdown. Great catch. UMass lead 21 to 7. Fourth quarter now, 30 to 14 and inside the red zone. That's Curtis Kimmins the fourth taking at 17 yards to the house. UMass wins 37-21. He's the first win over a power conference team since 1978. How about Colorado visiting Georgia Tech? 42 seconds left in this game. Colorado down. First in 10, that's Julian Lewis finding Charlie Williams for the 20 yard touchdown. Colorado with a one point lead. But Georgia Tech threatening kicking a field goal to try to win this bad boy. And that's Bucarder blocking the field goal. So Colorado holds on. Here's Dion after the win. I told several people in the side of that we're going to make it very, very interesting. But we're going to win this game. That's just the faith I have in these young men and the coaching staff. I told them it was going to be adversity.

13:39Scheminis adversity, but we wanted to implement the adversity, not be the recipients of adversity. But we were receiving. We didn't give up. Obviously, Colorado will hope to take some momentum from that win into the remainder of the season. Steve, your biggest takeaway from that game was how Colorado won? I mean, you think about Colorado in this coach prime era. It's been, you know, glitz and glamour and offense and high powered, you know, offense is defense. Like, you know, you thought this is going to be a high scoring game. They win it with defense, keeping the team to 13. So a drive at the end, you're executing a new offense with. Locking a field and a marion and blocking a field goal. Yeah, let me just haven't seen that in that era. And I think it's a testament to that coaching staff is still putting in the work and not giving up on anything and coming out with a new look. No, you read about that. They were very physical. I was surprised though. Special teams played a huge role in their last night. Multiple black kicks kickoff return for touchdown. I mean, special teams with huge, but got to give credit to Dianne and his staff.

14:42They are out physical Georgia Tech. I did not expect that, but those guys did you can tell and they just rotated back after back after back in Matt Berry. He made the best call that last drive when Julian Williams, Julian Lewis is on the field. Matt Berry said, you know, he hasn't played that great up to this point. But he leaves this game when it touched down drive. Everyone's going to forget about the past plays and he's sure enough did that great game. Great win for Coach Prime. We're going to get our first look at the top five teams in the AP poll this weekend, highlighted with Oregon taking on Boise State, who is also a group of six playoff contender. And the action is not limited to Saturday. You've got Notre Dame beginning its leave no doubt tour from historic Lambo field. They're taking on Wisconsin. All right, guys, going down the list. What are your biggest questions for these teams ahead of the season? Steve, I'll start with you. I look at Ohio State and I look at the questions that we have and I look at Ohio State's offensive line. The last time we saw this team, they lost their last two games.

15:44Julian saying with second and times. Wow. Ten times in two games. They have to be better. Take care of their eyes, but trophy. Hopefully quarterback about Oregon. I think Oregon ducks. If not now then win. I mean, Dante more than quarter back came back. People said he could have been the first. First round draft pick last year. He came back. They have a lot of talent around him. I think they have a manageable schedule. They're landing Oregon ducks. If not now, then win. I'm going to go down to Georgia. We know Gunner at quarterback. We know Nate Frazier, Totten the Rock, but Georgia has 68 first and second year players. It's one of the youngest rosters in the entire FPS that number is tied for fifth. Look for Bulldogs like defensive tackle. Elijah Griffin. He's one of these big inside mallers, space eater runstuffers that Kirby smartest thrived on. We know who he learned that from too, who had all those red tackles. And he's winning titles or for a next saven. So I think the identity is going to form through which of those young players arise. I don't know if it's me guys, but seems like everybody in their mom was picking Notre Dame the winner national champ.

16:48I think I know why CJ cars coming back here at a fantastic season a year ago. He's like a highest man favorite. I think they have a very, very, very manageable schedule too. You look at BYU game. That can be a little tricky, but they get Miami at home and they also get S.M. you at home too. So I think the schedule is why some people say this team is going to run the table, get into the CFP and win it all. And then as you see, you look at Texas is this the year for Steve Sarkies and you know off your last year rough start to the season playing their best football at the end of the season. But they have to be better on the offensive line. They have to be better day that all the problems started last year when they couldn't protect archmaning. What happens when you have a quarterback that doesn't get protection bad habits. Bad habits cause a couple losses. Again, they fixed at the end of the year, but that offensive line has to start well this year for them. You and I noticed a similarity with all of the teams that you guys just talked about the top teams. Great quarterbacks. We are expecting big things from this year that obviously carries a college football team a very long way.

17:4917 new head coaches in the power for this season, which coach can pull a Kurt Signetti and bring their program massive success in their very first year will highlight our favorites next on college football live. College football live is presented by fire TV. Today is going to be special. Holding up the weekend off to it will help start. I'm in all of this. College game day has arrived. The rail to be back and thrilled to be celebrating our 500th road show with Laney Wilson giving us a live performance and doing the celebrity guest picking on college game day 9 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning.

18:53The coaching carousel in college football has been a wild ride. Take a look at this. These new faces. 33 coaching changes this off season, which of course includes Lane Kiffin coming to LSU. You look at this list gang, which head coaches debut? Are you most excited about Steve? I feel like no one is talking about the University of Utah and I look at Morgan Scally, who's a guy who's been there forever played there was on Urban Myers undefeated 2014. And the idea of coach winning all we talked about when you mentioned Utah is what's left. Yeah. Who left? I should say coach winning hand coach back the two first round offensive tackles Scally's got a his quarterback back and a huge opportunity. And that's been a very successful program and a conference where everybody just say Texas Tech is going to do it again. I got to see it first. Utah is a great opportunity this year. Florida is at its best when it's head coach has a little swagger, a little edge, a little chirpiness. When Steve Spurry was there, we saw it when Urban Meyer was there and we only have empirical evidence of John Somerall from the off season.

19:58But certainly the spirit is there. John Somerall's coaching results from his time at Troy and time at Tulane where he made the league title game. All four of those seasons would indicate that Florida is going to be the Florida we remembered with a little bit of swagger with a little bit of edge. And look, it's a talented roster guys. They'd underachieved under Billy Napier and hopefully the sum is now equal to the parts there. Some might get it. Talking about a coach with swag. Look no further than Baton Rouge. I mean Lane Kiffin's debut, I think it's going to be the most debut coaching of any coach in the history of new coaches. I because I had getting them here leaving Ole Miss and then everything that he's going through to get to this point today where they're going to coach and play against Clemson tomorrow. There's so much drama surrounding LSU and Lane Kiffin. I can't wait to see him actually take the field to coach the game against Dabo Swinney and to Clemson Tigers. We talked about everything about LSU off the field and I mentioned I was able to go to practice yesterday to see how Baton Duff, that team is, was really impressive.

21:04I mean coaches are coaching their butts off and Lane's just rolling out everything. It is. Nicely qualified for this job. To handle the chaos that he has somehow created. Absolutely. That was time for GamePix. It's presented by Dick Sporting Goods tonight at ESPN, eight Eastern, seventh rank Miami Hurricanes taking on the Stanford Cardinal Pete. What do we need to know? We need to know Stanford is going to be short-handed Jen. There are going to be down three offensive linemen who are projected opening day starters. There are also going to be without receiver Nico Brown and edge Gabe Kaminsky, who had one and a half sacks against Hawaii. They do have E-40 playing at halftime. Wait a minute. Does it feel a little better? I give credit to Mario Cristobal. He's going over 2,500 miles to play a home game. It's going to be a home game. I think Miami rolls. I think they name the score. I haven't played in the natural championship this year. I think they have plenty to prove with all the toys they got in the off season.

22:04You know you're right about that. I've been a couple of practices in Coral Gables and Darian Mesa. He looks very sharp. He has Malachi Tony who's one of the best and not the best receiver in the country. But keep an eye on this guy. Number three. Why'd receiver Joshua Moore, too? He's starting to come into his own. They have a lot of weapons out there. Like you said, Steve, they might just want to name their score tonight. Yeah. Well, I love that Miami is making this big trip because, again, when we talk about the national championship, that'd be quite the hall as well. Get those guys ready for those type of road trips. Make sure they know that they can do it. Thanks for hanging out with us here on college football live. We have college game day coming your way. Tomorrow morning, 9 a.m. Eastern. Laney Wilson will be the guest picker and it will be a circus celebrating our 500th road show.