Does Sark LIKE This Team? | How NIL is Impacting College Sports Viewership

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1:00Reese's peanut butter cups they go perfectly with music podcasts and welcome back to the show. Even nature sounds. Oh and the thing where someone crinkles tissue and whispers at you hello look I'm not here to judge what you listen to I'm here to judge you for not eating Reese's while you listen to it. Reese's. Actually go back to the nature sounds. Nice. That's really nice. My 16 year old smart Alec remark to that question. He better else they missed on a lot of players. Welcome in. I'm Texas football state of the program time. I'm Bobby Burton joined by Rod Babers and Jerry Hamilton. This episode brought to you by our friend Adam Lowey over at the Lowey law from a couple of topics for today guys. Number one does Sarc like this team he was at the mic yesterday I want to ask both you guys that that does Sarc like his team and then number two TV ratings are up.

2:04Not just for football but basketball to I want to ask you all the question has NIL and the advent of it and the attraction of it. Has it somehow even though we all bemoan it and grown about the lack of rules around it. Has it somehow perversely actually increased viewership this year but let's start with Steve Sarkiesian in his situation in Austin Rod Babers. Can you tell whether or not Steve Sarkiesian loves this 2026 football team. I do believe I saw him blush a couple of times talking about the team up there on the podium. I think he loves this team even gave us a little insight about his formula now to win right. Exposed to play margin turn over margin because he's thinking about that 2024 season when he got really close and essentially what was your tragic flaw. It was your turn over margin like 130th in the country in giveaways but you were second

3:06in the country in takeaways and yet what ended your season a giveaway right that was your tragic flaw. The Kim Kardashian Nicki Minaj's a re-room sauce credit besides Megan the salient size JLo size but is they let the country in Exposed to play that's the cheat code all right we've been talking about for a while that's his his elite trait as a play caller and play designer is that he can design a big chunk yardish place he's a big play I call I call him a big game hunter right that's what Sarkiesian really well he's not necessarily great yet in critical areas third down in red zone but what he can dial up his exposure place in I think last seven seasons he's had four seasons where his offenses have been ranked in the top 10 in explosive place led the country in two of those years so I think that's what he wants to get back to and he was talking about that he was talking about two back sets. Hogan is the Sark talk about pony package and two back sets he brought that up I'm like all Sarkies really feeling good and I think he knows he has a cheat code he knows that

4:06he has a quarterback who's one of the best scrapped in quarterbacks in the college football that can make him right even when he's wrong right that that can even when your offense is off schedule because he wants to be on schedule and on time that this guy can still make plays off schedule and and and off script and I think that's something he's realizing hey I haven't had that really in the quarterback right I wouldn't mad Jones I wouldn't win yours but that is part of archmaning game so I think those are the any knows it's all his own lines going to be better right arch is not going to be one of the top 10 most pressure quarterbacks in cost football you're not going to leave the country in false starts you're not going to be one of the top five most penalized offensive lines in the country you take away that too and I think he knows with this talent the surplus of talent offensively and I haven't even gotten to the defense yet but he knows he's got some special yeah those running backs Rod can hit the big place he reiterated that multiple times in his presence on Tuesday Jerry you think Steve Sarkiesian likes this team hat and if so how can you tell he does well I was thinking about that my 16 year old smart Alec remark

5:09to that question he better else they missed on a lot of players I mean that's what I'm you know that's how I said when I was 17 you can't miss on that many players right I mean that's the reality is they have top five classes back to back to back a number one class is going to the year two there's some we're going to be multiple starters out of that multiple really good players and multiple multiple NFL guys out of that class if they just stay healthy and then your portal class and you know I'd be willing I don't think Sark would tell anybody but does he does he think this is the best one to a quarterback he's had because KJ Lacey is because you know you you know what you got with Arch but I think they're really excited about KJ Lacey I mean I think they just feel like depth is where it isn't when you look it's like Kirby smart for years and pry dabbo for years and definitely knit for years I know how I was saying every year when you look at every position and see a draft pick it's hard not to get excited I mean they just that's the thing is they have so many

6:12NFL draft prospects right now it's really hard not to be excited every day when you go out the practice and you look around I you know look I mean we talk we all talk to people I haven't heard a position that Texas is unhappy with right now now Saturdays are what matters right and there's things you have to clean up as a team going in the next year but I just I just think if you see if you walk out every day and you see that much NFL talent it's hard not to be excited then it comes down to preparation development and execution on Saturdays and it teams that have that much talent Rod but I mean that's really what it comes down to it's crazy how much talent there is I mean the talk among the NFL Scouts at Pro Day yesterday was boy next year is going to be freaky in Austin with all the talent I'll tell you this I was at the press availability yesterday and there were a couple things that struck me about what Sark said in response to various questions he had just

7:13finished talking about how he likes the running backs that can hit the home runs and creating plays and then the very next question I believe was tell us about some of the highlight plays that happened during practice yesterday first thing he goes well if Colin Simmons if I if I let him he just wrecked shop all day long and so he just finished talking about how good all of his offensive pieces are or what he liked about them he comes out and I think he knows he has a freak at if it's been like it's not a guy you like I don't care who they could get in the portal next year he's not Colin Simmons I don't care who they recruit he's not Colin Simmons now maybe they might eventually me but it just it just doesn't happen there these guys don't come around once every year they come around once every four or five years yeah and so I think that's part of the that's part of why you feel so good because you can I mean that's the second time he's been asked that question and I had a very similar response talking about Colin Simmons so that's one

8:18the second one was in in response to another question I asked him about you know the idea of this new rule that could be put in place by the NCA that would disallow teams from taking portal trans or excuse me transfers outside of the assigned portal windows so you basically can roster a non-portal player and the coach if you do this the coach not the team the coach would be penalized six full games could not take part in practice any kind of any kind of thing and Steve Sergei was like I'm all for that rule I like for that now he had to add in there about why he's all for it like you know he thinks it's fair and all this other stuff but I guarantee if Texas needed a quarterback or Texas need a wide receiver Steve Sergei might be a little bit more hesitant I mean I'm not saying starts on his side but coaches could be self-faring at times too right

9:22no he had he was um confidence and resolute about no no let I want to know these guys are my guys and we go and and I think that as much as anything that can be said when a coach says that I'm not saying it's un-unheard I just feel like he is he's got a team and I think he knows it right now guys I think he knows he has the pieces into what Rod said at the first and Jerry reiterated it's all about putting them together and seeing what comes out of yeah can I just say that the two guys I played with in Texas that also had that ability with coach Brown Lilly take take them out of practice for a while so we guess we're done are kind of situate the practice where they couldn't just blow every play up Casey Hampton and Derek Johnson it's probably that guy if Derek Johnson in the mood he's gonna hunt down every damn run it's like all right we

10:22not even getting any work done here guys that's uh let's put some of the guys in there let's have Derek on the sideline and it those are only two guys then I remember at Texas player with that could don't could do that so both ten year NFL guys too I mean just just putting that out there all right hey before we go on to that next question about the popularity of coach sports I want to say thanks to our sponsor Adam Lowey Lowey Law firm if you've been injured in a car wreck truck wreck automobile accident of any kind and think you might be due compensation reach out to Adam and his firm at the lowey law firm dot com that's lowey law firm dot com all right if you've been injured in a car wreck truck wreck automobile accident from ATV to 18 Wheeler reach out to Adam they'll give you a free no strings attached consultation see if you might be due compensation that's lowey law firm dot com thank you Adam for your support of on Texas football um jury and and rod news came out again today all right earlier this week excuse me that NCA march madness

11:22viewership is up well five and percent first time 2011 so 15 year I mean it's not that's not insignificant time period 15 years since it's been up my question for you guys college football was also up yep is is the game itself and because of NIL and retaining more good players and not going off to the NBA or off to the NFL early because of NIL or even because NIL is bringing so much recognition to what's going on with college football is that bringing more in a weird perverse way is it bringing more eyeballs to college sports right now than previous what what do you think Jay I'll start with you I think there may be a little of that also think it's just having a playoff I mean like football for years 85 percent of the teams had no reason have hope now everybody can have hope even to go get dropped from a mid major you have hope of

12:28actually appearing Boise State thought for years they could compete they got their chance they couldn't but at least they got their chance James Madison same thing I mean so I think I think there's some of it for sure I think anytime there's playoff it adds intrigue anytime there's free agency it adds intrigue that follows pro models there's nothing like your first Mac here's what people online are sharing at doctor rain says everything is just so smooth and fast I still can't get over it sinking stuff between my phone and this is just chef's kiss at mr. incredible 488 says apple silicon basically cures low battery trauma that's how they felt with their first Mac how will you introducing the all-new Macbook NIO an amazing Mac at a surprising price find out more on apple.com slash Mac get in the game with the college branded Venmo debit card record team with every tap and earn up to 5 percent cash back with Venmo stash a new rewards program from Venmo no monthly fee no minimum balance just school pride and spending power

13:35get in the game and sign up for the Venmo debit card at Venmo.com slash college card the Venmo mastercard is issued by the bank court bank NA select schools available Venmo stash terms and exclusions apply at Venmo dot me slash stash terms max $100 cash back per month Xfinity tech support how can I help I can't get Jurassic Park back online without oh you just need Xfinity plug in your gateway and you're good all set luckily Xfinity has reliable self-healing Wi-Fi that keeps you safe from threats wow you can even boost speeds to your most important devices get reliable Wi-Fi at one price for five years guaranteed Xfinity imagine that watch Jurassic Park with Xfinity restrictions apply select plans only when you want spring break to feel like in a moment away from the kids to feel like and your reward status to feel like thank you for being a Hilton Honors Gold member enjoy your daily food and beverage credit and now that night cap in the lounge can feel like it matters where you stay with Hilton Honors earn the most valuable

14:41gold status faster and unlock benefits at over 9,000 locations worldwide Hilton for this day so I think it's I think it's a little of both of it and could it also be a little bit of you know some of the pro sports uh you know some people may not like the salaries in pro sports where they're actually escalated to is it given college just because of how things have happened another opportunity here I think there's a number of reasons but I think for agency I think playoffs and I do think in a I think the combination of three I don't know who's what what's one two or three but I think that's leading the down the path of college sports being at an all-time high in terms of I'll also say this Rod and Bobby are we underestimating social media now tip top the attention it can bring you know X Instagram the attention it can bring do people feel like they know these guys more

15:44now because of NIL maybe the players more than the teams in a weird way I don't know I think it's probably a likely a combination of things then I think it's a combination of things so you brought up something good there though I thought Jerry when you were discussing exactly how there's free agency now well that equates to the portal yeah they always had something that equated to the NFL draft that's recruiting but now they have the free agency deal as well and the salary cap that joins in the discussion and it creates more year-round discussion around the sport I think that they have they have they have some evenness there Rod what do you make of it is it NIL or is it other things in your opinion I do I think it's multi-factorial but NIL is probably the the biggest factor because you just keep telling right you just keep more talent in guys football and the transfer reporters you guys say yeah that's there's no doubt I mean we covered the transfer of portal this this all seasons protects us and it was wowed I mean you

16:49compared it's some of the wildest times you guys have had recruiting and we go you don't get that every year and college basketball has that aspect too so there's no doubt there's more of a I would say a feverish discourse about the sports in the offseason I also think there you know platforms like this this one I mean there are lots of platforms we go with that are covering these sports and and giving you really intimate you know detailed and knowledge about these programs um and so YouTube I think those platforms let's not I don't know how much but you know gambling now being mainstream that's that's beyond this guys that's that's a big part of what's uh helping the the ratings are boosting the ratings a little bit so cherish right it's multi-factorial it's a lot of different things but it's just so crazy that the sports not healthy but it's like this like the college football and college basketball and not necessarily healthy but it's there's more interest than ever and we all agree that I don't know this is this is sustainable for a long period of time

17:51but right now it's the perfect concoction the perfect storm of factors and circumstances where the sports are more interesting and compelling than they ever have been you can't deny and like like Jerry said now I know the players yeah now you got players going to rival schools and those the storylines are better than ever because now you can follow these guys and through the NIL promotion and endorsements you get you see the amount of different platforms now brand association with some of your favorite brands whether that be Nike or whether that be your your favorite local I don't know you know eatery whatever it may be it's fascinating all the different connections now that that that you can have to a program and just to certain athletes alone too whether it be social media like Jerry said whether it be through NIL it is it's fascinating now because I think this is the greatest time ever for student athletes but it also may be and I know fans don't necessarily all agree it may be one of the best sounds to be a fan too because you have more ways

18:55now to get to know your program and ever through the athletes through programs like this it's just so many different avenues hey Rob Bobby Bobby I want your thought Rod brought up the what may end up being number one is gambling because it is accessible I mean you can bet on anything anything anything and you know is that part of this growth I think that's I Rod I think that's a very interesting um I think that's a part of it yeah I I agree with Rod and it's not one that I considered heavily um but the element is like it's it's single digits to 10 percent it's it's not huge numbers that we're seeing overall I think I just think NIL has it's met whether we like it in the structure of it or not um I like personally um the fact that I think the college game is a better game now I mean you watch Indiana play football that was a clean football team

20:02and they did it with mostly fifth and sixth year guys right yeah that they were able to keep from going pro I mean Fernando Mendoza could have just stayed at Cal and been part of a an average team right or he could go to Indiana and try to lead another team and take him back right they have the strut I think NIL has created a better product even for for the elite teams in particular I think Texas for example Texas I think has the most talent it's had since 0405 in this team again in 2026 that doesn't happen without NIL in the portal right two dispersed before talent was two dispersed and Texas wasn't one of the teams that was necessarily doing some old SEC work under the table and now it's over over the top right it can be done and I think it's created the the mega teams that like Jerry you were talking about James Madison and Boise and

21:06and that kind of grouping that gets people well the real TV sets are the Texas Notre Dame's Ohio States out of the Georgia's Florida's my it those are the real TV set counts USC right um and that I think has been all of those teams have been buoyed somewhat I mean it allows them to stick their their neck out there a little bit further than other people Michigan's another one right you know can I throw one more at y'all um and I think this is a big part of it this thinking about this conversation right now what's dominated TV the last 20 years reality TV college sports is now the closest thing to reality TV it's ever been before it really wasn't now there's a reality TV chaos element in college athletics and I just it a more of anything goes type mentality you're talking you see them on

22:09kick sock or they get you know getting paid for this or doing that well nobody knows the rules there are no rules it's chaos um what are our ladies watch bravo it's women and chaos um reality TV yeah are we closer to reality TV in college sports is this the only time we've ever been reality TV like in college sports people like aos yeah there's a element that's accurate there because I think the the cloak is off right the the veneer has been uh breached that we're not talking about oh they're just nice guys in college right now some of these guys are are there for other reasons uh I think that's that's certainly fair um and from the bottom of your point though too like you know look it's the men's in the women's side liby done brings eyes to college athletics okay that's what i was yeah that's all i was getting that is a the NIL part of it and it's also here in the NILs turned into the reality TV in some ways because

23:14for liby done's now an actress yeah yeah I had no I didn't know a single gymnast in college bill about three years ago now there's like three or four of them you know yeah that are at least in the cultural zeitgeist right that i would say this like we were talking about men's sports particularly football basketball because they are the money makers but women's basketball is on an epic run and i think Caitlin Clark yes was a cultural movement of sorts that is still following um but follyball baseball even has attendance records now being sent that softball is really up there I I think it's I think there's something going on here and I do the reason I asked you all this is that NIL is supposed to be this bugaboo you know people have this negative connotation about it in general I think a little bit oh it's out of control it's this it's that perversely I think it's

24:14played a role in raising the profile of college sports yeah I agree like you're made in percent but that's quite a bit I think I think people feel like they know the athletes now there's a through NIL and NIL is giving kids a platform young adult a platform and I think people are identifying with with them more than they ever have and feel like they know the athletes more than they ever have yeah especially because it's local too right it's localized a lot of the times NIL so it's local sometimes businesses local brands and we're celebrity-driven culture and NIL can turn you into a celebrity like overnight almost if you have you know that kind of impact you talking about Caitlin Clark that's you know she's the most extreme example but that's exactly with the kind of impact you're talking about no it's it's great to see now I mean look we go and do that thing every Friday right at the co-op on game home game weekends they almost the co-op

25:16almost always has Texas players over there yeah yeah to join them join us you know I will they're doing some kind of hat promotion or you know they're they're just other other places in the store that was it possible before no before they allowed NIL because the players wouldn't be played you say oh the Texas basketball team may be over here for a signing event mm-hmm now those players are getting paid it does change things all right more access to them yes more access to your stars all right that's gonna do it for today's state of the program hope you guys enjoyed it long horns got two big basketball games coming up this weekend at least two a basketball of men's and women's at the men out in San Jose they're on Thursday going uh on Thursday in San Jose women on Saturday in Fort Worth make sure you check them out four rod favors and four Jerry Hamilton I'm Bobby Burton this has been on Texas football brought to you by our friend Adam Lowey and the Lowey Law firm Gimekal you need any help

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29:32slash pays Xfinity tech support how can i help i can't get Jurassic Park back online without you just need Xfinity plug in your gateway and you're good all set luckily Xfinity has reliable self-healing Wi-Fi that keeps you safe from threats wow you can even boost speeds to your most important devices get reliable Wi-Fi at one price for five years guaranteed Xfinity imagine that watch Jurassic Park with Xfinity restrictions apply select plans only