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Preseason polls mean absolute squat.
Ok, that may be a bit harsh but today’s guest on Y-Option, thanks to our founding partner 76, is Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham. His Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the new look Big 12 in the preseason and as we enter November, his squad is in the thick of the Big 12 race. This week, they welcome Central Florida to Tempe and the Valley will certainly be activated.
I’ve always felt that ASU was a “sleeping giant” and in their new league with very few dominant teams, it looks like they are building toward that. With Dillingham, an alum and Scottsdale native leading the way, there is no reason why they can’t become a power within the Big 12. It certainly helps having a Heisman candidate in Cam Skattebo aka That Dude! for them as well. We asked the ASU head coach the latest on Cam’s health too.
While USC is not in the conversation for the Big Ten title, they are always a story, even on a bye week. The Trojans made a change at QB and will start UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava, who thrived last year in Las Vegas throwing for 3,085 pass yds and 17 passing touchdowns while rushing for 277 yards with 3 scores.
We dive into that decision and how sensitive the QB room is.
Finally, we look into the first week of the College Football Playoff rankings, what they mean for the Washington State Cougars and how the committee may be viewing this season with the new format.
I’m off to Kansas City to call Iowa State and Kansas in a Big 12 contest on FS1 at Arrowhead Stadium. And no, I won’t be eating any BBQ (I’m vegetarian), but I am on the hunt for a cool cafe. If you have any recommendations please let us know on social media, @ Y-Option.
Enjoy Week 11 and amid changes in all of our worlds, stay steady.
Yogi
This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production
Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
I feel like the luckiest broadcaster in college football.
Every Saturday I get to stand at the 50-yard line and celebrate the greatest game on earth and attempt to coach the viewer. Those two thoughts have been at the core of my career. But to have any success at anything one must be taught, guided and mentored. Thankfully for me the men I’ve stood next to every weekend have done just that.
But none more so than Ted Robinson.
Ted has changed my life on air, off air and each Saturday while on Big Ten Network (or this weekend Fox Sports 1). His words of wisdom, encouragement and kindness are constantly working in my subconscious and the skills he taught me are hopefully used in real time each weekend.
Thankfully for us at Y-Option and our founding partner 76, he’s also in your world in today’s podcast. The play-by-play voice of The CW joined me to talk about the Washington State Cougars, Oregon State Beavers and the state of college football.
We take a deep dive into the growth of John Mateer, the leadership of Jake Dickert, the state of the Beavs and with the legendary Bill Walton’s birthday this Tuesday, we celebrate that as well.
Jim Thornby and I also detail this week's Go Go Go Awards, presented by 76 and play a game titled ‘Bowl or No Bowl’ as we discuss the numerous teams that are on the cusp of bowl eligibility. If you’re a fan of UW, Cal, Utah, OSU, USC, UCLA or Arizona this is a section you might enjoy.
Back to prep, as Guy Haberman and I are calling the Iowa State vs. Kansas game at Arrowhead Stadium this weekend on FS1. Fun fact, I called that exact game in the Chiefs’ stadium in 2010 where Tom Herman was the Iowa State OC. Time flies!
Finally, the next few days will be stressful on many fronts so let’s all lean into the joy in our lives and as fellow Substacker Dan Rather always says, ‘Stay Steady.’
Much love,
Yogi
This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
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Every quarterback dreams of leading their team to the College Football Playoff, but only few get the opportunity. As we enter November in college football, just over 20 teams are still in the mix for the expanded CFP and John Mateer of Washington State is currently the quarterback of one of them. This WSU signal caller joined the Y-Option podcast, fueled by our founding partner 76, for the first time to talk about this Cougars season, his path from the 119th ranked QB in the class of 2022 to Heisman Trophy candidate and the mindset of “America’s Team” under Jake Dickert in the final month of the season.
Jim Thornby and I also dive into a huge weekend in the Big Ten and the road trips for both the Arizona Wildcats and the Arizona State Sun Devils in the new look Big-12. In addition, will my Pitt Panthers keep it rolling at SMU in a battle of unbeatens in ACC conference play? Plus, we get ready for Halloween as the Dodgers easily made the West Coast proud.
I’m off to Nebraska for the Cornhuskers and the UCLA Bruins with bowl eligibility at top of mind for both teams. As always, enjoy the weekend and be sure to follow Y-Option on social media.
Happy Halloween!
Yogi
The episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
“The games they remember are in November.”
With Week 9 in the rearview mirror, I'm reminded of a quote from good friend Rick Neuheisel and with the nation's top team, Oregon, heading to The Big House to face defending National Champion Michigan this weekend that is easily true.
Today’s Y-Option podcast, fueled by our founding partner 76, features a man who knows the Maize & Blue well. Former Michigan All-American tight end Jake Butt joins the show for the first time to share insight on his school, as he was on this past weekend's call of Michigan’s win over rival Michigan State. The Wolverines finally had consistent play from the quarterback room even as they played 2 with Davis Warren and Alex Orji, showcasing big-play potential against Jonathan Smith’s Spartans.
Jake will also be on the call for USC at Washington this Saturday. The Trojans and Dawgs are longtime foes, but this will be their first contest in the new look B1G.
We also discuss the Big Ten race, my conversation with legendary coach Nick Saban, the upcoming CFP rankings and how the Washington State Cougars are still in the mix for all of the things.
And as always, we celebrate our Y-Option Go Go Go Awards as Fernando Mendoza, Makai Lemon, Ansel Din-Mbuh and Kalani Sitake took home the awards from Week 9, presented by our founding partner 76.
Hope you enjoy today’s episode, let us know what you might have asked Coach Saban if you had the chance on social media
Much love,
Yogi
This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
Week 9 arrives as does ESPN’s College GameDay into Bloomington, Indiana. Last week it was Big Noon Kickoff at IU and this Saturday comes another party, as undefeated #13 Indiana hosts Washington on the Big Ten Network. I’ll be on the call alongside Guy Haberman, Rhett Lewis and our incredible crew.
In today’s episode we welcome Washington head coach Jedd Fisch back to the podcast thanks to our founding partners 76. Coach Fisch and I met back in 2009 while both interviewing for the Seattle Seahawks. He took the job and I pivoted out of coaching and into the media. Since then we have had numerous conversations about building a program, his approach to quarterbacks and much more. Today we discuss the upcoming 9 a.m. PT kickoff and what they call it, what year one at Washington has been like and the impact of Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll and Sean McVay on his vision at UW.
Jim Thornby and I also take a deep dive into the game that might impact the College Football Playoff lens on the West Coast in a major way with #17 Boise State visiting UNLV, as well which of the now 9 undefeated teams (we taped this before Liberty’s loss Wednesday night) will remain without a loss after this weekend’s slate. Spoiler, my #19 Pitt Panthers will keep it rolling in an old school Big East re-match on Thursday night with Larry Fitzgerald in attendance :).
As always, thank you for the love and support and enjoy Week 9!
Yogi
This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
Week 8 has come and gone and college football is delivering in every imaginable and unimaginable way. 2024 has delivered epic wins, a new number one team in the land, wild finishes and sadly, now some coaching changes.
Today’s podcast highlights the Y-Option Go Go Go award winners from this past weekend, a deep dive into the Oregon Ducks, Utah Utes, Colorado Buffaloes and the USC Trojans.
We also welcome into the Y-Option studio, thanks to our founding partner 76, Dan Rubenstein. He co-hosts one of college football's most popular podcasts – The Solid Verbal – and personally inspired me to start a podcast almost a decade ago. As an Oregon alum, Dan is dialed in on all things Ducks and we explore what he trusts the most about this year's squad after their dominant win at Purdue on a Friday night. We also talk about how we both view the USC Trojans, who have lost 4 games by a total of 14 points. Finally, we compare some of the West Coast’s top teams to pizza, as Dan is a well-known connoisseur of pizza. You won’t want to miss that!
Jim Thornby and I also discuss what is happening at Utah, as Andy Ludwig abruptly resigned on Sunday and offensive analyst Mike Bajakian has taken over the play calling. We have a thoughtful and blunt conversation around the move in Salt Lake City, as well as Cam Rising’s future.
Personally, I’d like to say thank you to so many of you who sent in personal notes after reading our Sunday Newsletter as I reflected on my late Mom, who impacted me in so many powerful ways.
Much love,
Yogi
This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
Week 8 has arrived and Y-Option has you covered with college football through the lens of the West Coast along with special guest Max Browne.
To kick things off, we think Saturday has the best individual matchup of the season with Travis Hunter of Colorado facing Tetairoa McMillan of Arizona. Last year, I was able to call that game and it came down to the final snap and this year, all 32 NFL teams will be glued to every snap when the nation's top DB lines up opposite the nation's top WR.
I’m off to the east coast for UCLA at Rutgers on FS1, as both teams need a win. The rest of the slate is full of sneaky good games, trap games or must-win games. Action with the West Coast schools kicks off Friday night with Oregon at Purdue in a classic trap game while the action wraps up Saturday with UNLV at Oregon State and an old school Mountain West Conference game with Utah and TCU. Jim Thornby and I dive into the X’s and O’s of each game, the narrative around Dan Lanning’s “loophole” shared around social media and Cam Rising’s impact at Utah.
Thanks to our founding partner 76, we also had Max Browne, the lead analyst at The CW, join the podcast to share his insight on the ACC and Pac-12 and explain how a fun social media post turned into the biggest interview of his career with the Governor of Minnesota & possible U.S. Vice President Tim Walz at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Max shared insights into how he even got the interview, as well details on their conversation. We also dove into the concept around being a backup QB, how to navigate the world of social media in that role and the reality of being at your best when you do step onto the field.
As always, be sure to follow @YOptionfb all weekend long as our social media is dialed in!
Thanks for the love and support, off to Piscataway!
Yogi
This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
Week 7 is in the books and it was one we will be talking about for the rest of the season. As the CFP conversation begins to heat up, this past Friday and Saturday’s games will serve as a weekend full of data that will be re-visited time and time again in the first year of the 12-team playoff system.
The Ducks took down Ohio State in an instant classic, Penn State and Tyler Warren came from behind to beat USC in LA and the often-called “sleeping giant,” otherwise known as ASU, came to life upsetting Utah at home.
Thanks to our founding partner 76, longtime college football reporter and current NBC Sports College Football Insider Nicole Auerbach joined today’s episode and took us inside her experience on the set of NBC as they had the Ducks and Buckeyes on their network. She also shared her thoughts on Notre Dame’s path to the CFP, Dan Lanning’s program taking up space in college football and provided clarity on recent legislation around recruiting.
Nicole also reflects on her path from a child cheering on the New York Jets to now, inspiring the next generation of broadcasters, as she continues to ascend in her career as both an insider and an analyst on the set of NBC. This conversation will leave you inspired, informed and intrigued with the present and the future of college football.
Much love,
Yogi
This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
It’s finally here, Ohio State at Oregon.
The game we have all been talking about and with both teams ranked #2 and #3 respectively in the AP Poll, its the first ever AP Top 5 matchup at Autzen Stadium. ESPN College GameDay is en route to Eugene (a 2nd straight week on the West Coast!) for 2 teams that mirror one another AND with Chip Kelly returning it’s safe to say this game will have everyone's eyes on it this Saturday.
In advance, thanks to our founding partners at 76, we welcome former Duck and NFL safety Verone McKinley III. In 2021, he had the game-clinching interception on the road against then #3 Ohio State in an epic game. Three years later, the Buckeyes visit the Ducks in a now Big Ten conference game in what will be a phenomenal stage.
We dove into all things “big game” mentality. How do players block out the ‘noise,’ what will Verone and I be looking forward to on Saturday and will these teams meet again in the postseason?
In addition, Jim Thornby and I discuss what was “Upset Saturday” with 5 of the top 11 teams losing - all on the road, the environment as Minnesota beat then #11 USC and some surprises at the top of each conference in college football and how they could impact a potential Pac-12 trip to the CFP.
Be sure to follow @Yoption all week as we preview games in college football through the lens of the West Coast, with a little extra attention paid to the Ducks and the Buckeyes.
Much love,
Yogi
This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
It’s a week of firsts!
ESPN College GameDay is coming to Berkeley for the first time ever.
I’m off to call a game at Minnesota for the first time ever.
And Cal Head Coach Justin Wilcox was a guest on a podcast for the first time EVER!
Thankfully it was here at Y-Option.
I’ve known Coach Wilcox for almost 20 years and while he is gifted as a coach, talented as a leader, and thoughtful as a friend, what always stands out to me is his humility.
The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Dave Wilcox, Justin could have easily felt that life would be handed to him as a player or given a pass as a coach, but none of that happened. He earned it all. First as a QB turned DB at Oregon and then as a young assistant turned head coach in college football. And while a ton changes around him, his humility remains the same – Elite.
He notably states with great pride that he is the ‘Son of a Hall of Farmer,’ as Dave loved being on his tractor on their farm and I can’t help but imagine how much joy his Dad would have sitting in his recliner on Saturday taking in the festivities of ESPN College GameDay and the contest against Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes
He joined the Y-Option podcast to talk about Cal having college football’s most iconic spotlight on it as Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Nick Saban, Desmond Howard, Lee Corso, Pat McAfee and company come to Berkeley. Justin shared that he will be on the ESPN set Saturday morning, what makes this team of 50 newcomers on it a joy to coach and how they will try to stop Cam Ward (a familiar face on the West Coast) and the #8 ranked Canes.
Enjoy this conversion with Cal Bears Head Coach Justin Wilcox, fueled by our founding partner in 76, as he continues to take Cal Football to special places.
Plus a preview of the weekend ahead in College Football as we reach Week 6.
Much love,
Yogi
This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby & edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
Week 6 is here and Bruce Feldman joined Y-Option to break it all down. Bruce was a student reporter at “The U”, as in Miami, and the West Coast is abuzz as College GameDay heads to Berkeley for the first time EVER! He offers insight and analysis into Mario Cristobal’s team, which Bruce thinks is their most talented team in 20 years.
Having played on the same field as that team 22 years ago, I’d have to agree.
This year's ‘Canes may not be better, but they have a QB who is simply special in Cam Ward.
Former Cal WR, founder of Elite 11, and mentor Andy Bark reminded me today that the state of California has always had an impact on the QB position at Miami. Players like Heisman winner Gino Torretta, Ken Dorsey, Kyle Wright, Brad Kaaya and more have been gone from the Golden State to QB1 for the Hurricanes. Ironically, the Cal Bears starting QB Fernando Mendoza hails from Miami and Christopher Columbus High School, which Mario Cristobal also attended. To add to it, Cristobal was high school teammates with Mendoza’s father, Fernando Sr. To say the college football community is small is an understatement when it comes to this Miami/Cal matchup.
We also explore a conversation around how head coaches navigate the “Financial Chemistry” of their locker room, as players are requesting redshirts before playing in four games and exhausting that season’s eligibility.
When it comes to the rest of the West Coast, the Big-12 is wide open after Arizona’s win over Utah and a huge part of that is Noah Fifita, who also won our That Dude! award this week after his role in the victory. Just like our conversation with Bruce Feldman, all of our Go Go Go Award winners are fueled by our founding partner 76…..
And on the final day of September, we also dive into the College Football Playoff, set the record straight on how to get in and who the Cougs and Beavs should be rooting for the rest of the season.
As always, thank you for the love and support wherever you may be watching and be sure to follow us on YouTube for content all week long.
Much love,
Yogi
This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
Week 5 has arrived and in some ways things have changed in college football and in other respects, it has stayed the same.
Arizona heads to Utah on Friday night in a Big 12 clash and while the starting QB for the Utes is not solidified, we do know that the depth, talent and coaching acumen at Utah remains elite. And I highly doubt they have forgotten the last :37 ticks of last year’s game vs the Wildcats.
In this episode we had Bill Riley, longtime voice of the Utes, on the Y-Option podcast to share his insights on #10 ranked Utah football team as well as offer an update on his new endeavor as Utah Athletics’ Director of Broadcasting. Bill has always been a great friend who is both kind and insightful, as well as brilliant at his craft and willing to share his knowledge. It was a fun conversation around a program that had a big impact on my life on-air and personally.
Walking through Salt Lake City on a fall weekend was always a joy, as the Ute fans love their team and appreciate a thoughtful conversation. Take a listen, as Bill is one of a kind and gifted at his craft.
Speaking of gifted, the #8 Oregon Ducks visit the Rose Bowl for their 1st Big Ten contest against UCLA after a bye week while #13 USC hosts Wisconsin in their first home game in the B1G. The rest of the slate for the West Coast is full of compelling conference games with Washington State off to face future Pac-12 mate Boise State, which has always proven to be a challenging place to play on the blue turf. Washington visits Rutgers on a Friday night in what has been deemed a “Blackout” in what should be an electric Piscataway, NJ. Stanford visits #17 Clemson and if they can pull this off, look out Nerd Nation, the Cardinal are back in a massive way.
Finally, Jim Thornby and I had a deep conversation around UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka, which we hope you enjoy. From the financial chemistry of a locker room, Sluka navigating this world for the first time and that this is unlikely “1 of 1” when it comes to players asking to save a redshirt season.
I’m off to Chicago for a weekend in the Big Ten Network studio and will be sure to send some pictures of Ashley Adamson and our crew from the midwest as games will be rolling from 9am PT to near midnight PT. As always, much love and many thanks for the constant support for Y-Option and this endeavor as your support is what allows it to continue.
Much love,
Yogi
The episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
I never got into House of Cards on Netflix. Was late to the party and there were so many episodes that it seemed a little intimidating, as I never felt I’d finish the entire series. But after living through realignment over the past few years, I wonder if that series would have benefitted me in some way.
Regardless, here we sit with news out of the AAC and pending news from the Pac-12 Conference around new additions to the West Coast. I learned last year that I am not a media rights expert and in the fall I rarely have time to dive into the business of football while preparing to call games so today we did the next best thing – had the expert in all things realignment, John Canzano, on the podcast.
We recorded at 11:30am PT and by the time we hung up, the AAC said their schools would remain home but thankfully we dove into other potential additions to the Pac-12, as well as the impact that realignment has had in college football.
I learned that John has a spreadsheet of games that he leans on when choosing which press box to call home each Saturday and loved learning that it was his wife who nudged him to create his own platform at www.JohnCanzano.com. After all, our wives are always smarter than us. FYI, my wife also gave me the final nudge to start www.Y-Option.com.
It worked, and starting this endeavor alongside Jim Thornby also solidified the deal.
Along with talking to John, we share our Go Go Go Awards from Week 4, fueled by 76 as John Mateer from Washington State won the 5-Star QB award, Parker Kingston of BYU was our Go Go GONE player of the week, Micah Bernard of Utah was That Dude!, and Troy Taylor was our Headset Hero as Stanford won on the final drive on Friday night in Syracuse.
Also, we take a look around the college football landscape and give thoughtful analysis from the lens of the West Coast as USC lost a close one at Michigan, Utah shut down Oklahoma State, Colorado remained drama-FULL and much more.
Take a listen and thanks again for the support, it’s felt and greatly appreciated!
Much love,
Yogi
This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
The Pac-12 has owned the airwaves this week.
It began by adding 4 new schools last Thursday morning and continued with Washington State’s epic win in the Apple Cup on a 4th down stop that will be talked about for decades.
While Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould did not call a play last Saturday in college football, she did create the playbook that added San Diego State, Fresno State, Boise State and Colorado State last Thursday. Commissioner Gould has been a friend for decades and when she was hired to lead the Pac-12 months ago, she was not only the perfect hire, but in my eyes, the only person for the job.
On Day One, she stated that she would be bold, aggressive, open minded and intentional. Now well into her 7th month, she has delivered on all 4.
In a conversation fueled by our founding partner 76, Commissioner Gould joined the Y-Option podcast to share her insight and expertise as the Pac-12 completed Phase One of the rebuild and is into Phase Two. We dove into subjects that are immediate, like what WSU will be like on Friday night, where she will be in attendance, as they host San Jose State as well as what the CFP landscape could look like in late November for the Cougs.
Always open and vulnerable, Commissioner Gould also shared that among the 200 plus text messages she has received since the news broke of the Pac-12’s new additions, the ones she enjoyed most were from friends who were colleagues for years in the Pac-12 Conference. Leaders have a unique way to connect to others and allow others to feel seen. In my eyes, Teresa does exactly that and for the new schools on their way to the Pac-12, you are in competitive and thoughtful hands.
While I cannot state for sure what the next phase will be, let alone who the exact teams will be, I can say with absolute certainty and confidence that Teresa Gould will continue to lead this charge and meet the moment that is today’s college sports reality.
As always, Jim Thornby and I also dive into all things Week 4 in college football and share stories from USC/Michigan, the oldest QBs in college football facing off in Stillwater and Jim’s favorite game this weekend in college football (Spoiler: it involves Lane Kiffin, Clay Helton and Jaxson Dart).
I’m off to Bloomington to run the stadium steps with Rhett Lewis. Be sure to track us all weekend on Instagram as we will do our best to convince Guy Haberman to join in and get to know IU’s Memorial Stadium on another level.
And if you watch Pac-12 Insider, you will start to see Y-Option there now as well. We’re fired up to be on that platform and add to the growing community of you all on SubStack, YouTube, Spotify, Apple and more.
As always - none of this is possible without YOU. So thank you.
Much love,
Yogi
This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
Late last week news broke that the Pac-12 was taking its next step toward rebuilding by adding four new schools: Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Colorado State. As we spoke to a variety of people involved in the expansion, as well as coaches around college football, one thing was clear – there was excitement about the historic conference's move.
In addition, there was curiosity about the next play call on Commissioner Teresa Gould’s call sheet. Would she add more teams in the immediate future? Would recently departed teams return? Which schools were calling her?!
All fair questions to be answered in due time, but the current reality is that the 4 on their way to what should be the premiere West Coast conference have a chance to create something new, something special, something necessary.
This week we had longtime coach and respected media member, Mike Sanford, on the Y-Option podcast. Mike played at Boise State under Dan Hawkins and coached at a variety of places around the country such as his alma mater, Stanford under Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw, Notre Dame under Brian Kelly and most recently Colorado where he would become the interim head coach before the Buffs hired Deion Sanders. Bottom line, Mike knows the Mountain West, he grew up in the Pac-10 running around the USC facility as his father coached the Trojans and has an affinity for college football on the West Coast that has expertise and experience.
Fueled by our founding partner 76, enjoy today’s conversation as we take a thoughtful look at the restoration of the Pac-12 with a former player, former coach and current media member, Mike Sanford. And yes, we ask him about Coach Prime, Bo Nix’s growth with the Broncos and we even go down memory lane when Stanford beat USC, when both of us were rocking the headsets and coach’s khakis.
Plus a full breakdown of this weekend’s action involving the West Coast schools. Hope you enjoy!
Much love,
Yogi
The episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
While late November of 2021 may seem like decades ago for Jake Dickert, it was one of the most transformational moments in his coaching life and he can recall every moment. Then the interim head coach at Washington State, he led the Cougars into Seattle to face the Washington Huskies in the Apple Cup which the Cougs won 40-13. That next day, he would lose the interim tag and be formally introduced as the Head Coach at WSU.
Simply, his life would be changed forever.
This Saturday, the 116th Apple Cup returns to the gridiron, but nothing about this year's game mirrors its historic past. The Huskies are in the new-look Big Ten, the Cougs are holding it down in the Pac-12 and the game will be played at Lumen Field in Seattle, home of the Seattle Seahawks.
Yet some things do remain the same: the pageantry, the competitive spirit in this rivalry and the opportunity it poses for players to add to their story. Of course surrounding this game is conversation around realignment, media rights and a September rivalry game. For those who may be frustrated or lead with those topics in mind, we urge you to remember that this game is still – at its core – about the players, the fans, and the ball. After all, How Great Is Ball!?
With thanks to our founding partner in 76, Coach Dickert joins the Y-Option podcast to share his insights on his origin story around the Apple Cup, how 2021 changed his life, and how he is talking to his team in advance of this epic rivalry game.
Take a listen, and to all UW and WSU fans, be sure to get a tickets, as I think this has a chance to be the game of the week in all of college football.
Plus we look ahead to the Week 3 slate across the country through the lens of the West Coast including the Ducks & Beavs battling in Corvallis, weekday night road games for Arizona & Arizona State and UCLA’s first ever Big Ten conference game.
Much love,
Yogi
This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
It’s Rivalry Week!
No, that is not a typo and yes, it’s Rivalry Week in the Pacific Northwest and in the Pac-12 Conference. For the first time ever, these 2 games will be played in September.
The Oregon State Beavers host the Oregon Ducks in the 128th meeting of the game formerly known as the Civil War. This is the 7th most played match-up in college football history and tied for 2nd at the FBS level.
The Washington State Cougars and the Washington Huskies meet up at Lumen Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, in the 116th Apple Cup. This will be the 2nd time this matchup will take place in this stadium as the renovation of Husky Stadium forced the move in 2011.
And with realignment still fresh in all four fan bases minds, there is even more spice added to these epic rivalries. It’s human nature and it’s part of the new world of college football.
I’ve been at both of these games over the years and was on the broadcast for an Oregon State/Oregon game just a few years ago. The energy is different, the passion is through the roof and the distaste for one another is exactly what you’d imagine.
This year, it’s safe to assume that the vitriol from the Cougs and Beavs fan bases will be even higher.
We’ve been saying for months now that the Cougs and Beavs are America’s Teams, and this weekend the nation gets to see them on a grand stage. Washington State is fresh off a dominant win over the Big-12’s Texas Tech, where the legendary coach Mike Leach was inducted into the WSU Hall of Fame. The Beavs also sit at 2-0 and are playing exactly how Trent Bray hopes - controlling the clock, running the rock and winning at the line of scrimmage.
So welcome to Week 3 as we welcome in first year head coach Trent Bray to the show for a thoughtful conversation, presented by our founding partner 76, about his team in advance of the #9 Oregon Ducks.
This Saturday will be his 14th meeting as a member of this rivalry, 4 as a player and 9 as a coach. His expertise in this game is unmatched among anyone associated with it this year and he shared with us exactly how he is talking to his team about this game, what Reser Stadium will feel like at kickoff and how his team has approached the week of preparation.
Also, Jim Thornby and I reflect on what went down in Week 2 on the West Coast and how this side of the country is picking up where it left off last year – winning –as Cal, ASU and others earned key victories over the weekend.
Be sure to check out our weekly Go Go Go Awards, presented by 76 as we will announce those each Monday this fall.
As always, thank you for the support around this new endeavor, it’s been better than we could have imagined and it’s not possible without your support!
This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
It's Week 2! There are so many games of note that will impact the landscape of college football, the power struggle at the top, and factor into teams’ College Football Playoff arguments.
We were able to talk to Colorado beat writer Brian Howell, from Buffzone and the Daily Camera, who knows the Buffaloes better than anyone in the nation. The Buffs, in their first year back in the Big-12, visit former Big-12 power Nebraska in a rivalry that has always delivered. Just recently, you can go from K.D. Nixon’s 96-yard flea flicker in 2019, to the hype train that was Coach Prime’s team last year that captured the nation, to this Saturday’s meeting in Lincoln.
One thing is for certain, both teams believe in their process, players and QBs. It's a grand stage for Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter on NBC and the first time the nation will get a prime time look at Dylan Raiola.
In my eyes this contest will favor the team that can either protect the passer or get after the QB. Expect high drama and high stakes.
For more college football through the lens of the West Coast, visit y-option.com.
This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
Week 1 was here and it delivered in a brilliant way. The USC Trojans met the moment, beating ranked LSU behind a Miller Moss performance that had the college football community buzzing, tweeting & reshuffling their Top 25.
The Ducks final score wasn't what most predicted, but the talent in Eugene remains and as expected, America’s Teams won both of their openers.
We also released Y-Option’s first weekly awards of the 2024 season, the Go Go Go Awards, presented by our founding partner, 76.
The storylines are plentiful so we brought on Rhett Lewis to the Y-Option podcast to discuss week 1 and his first broadcast alongside Guy Haberman and myself on the Big Ten Network.
He shares his path to Indiana as a walk-on turned scholarship wideout, his career arc which began covering Mike Leach (and a young Lincoln Riley) at Texas Tech to the NFL Network and BTN, how he met his wife along the way & we even take a deep dive into parenthood while navigating our jobs in broadcasting.
Finally, Rhett shares what he has learned from the First Family of Football, the Manning’s.
Take a listen to today's conversation, presented by our founding partner 76.
We’re so grateful for your continued support of this venture as we examine and give a voice to college football through the lens of the West Coast. For more insights, go to y-option.com.
This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe -
Bill Walton would often state that he was the luckiest man in the world. Every time he would say that with his infectious energy I’d smile, and I bet you would too. He looked at life through an incredible lens and one that was optimistic and oftentimes inspiring.
Heading into my 16th year of putting a headset on as a broadcaster, I too feel like Bill often did. Over the course of time, I’ve stood next to Steve Physioc, Kevin Calabro and for the better part of the last decade, Ted Robinson. How lucky have I been to have been given a PhD by those three in the school of broadcasting!? Let alone having Lewis Johnson, Samantha Ponder, Jill Savage, Cindy Brunson, Ashley Adamson and more on the sideline. It’s been an absolute joy and it’s an understatement to share how each of those gifted professionals have impacted millions of sports fans, and myself.
This week brings a new season with a new crew, a new logo, and a new network.
I’ll be in a familiar setting - overlooking Autzen Stadium in prime time on Saturday night and next to me will be a guy I've known for the last 12 years, Guy Haberman. What’s so special about Guy is that he truly loves sports broadcasting, having recorded himself calling games as a child. On Saturday night, he will also be living a dream, perched a few hundred feet above a majestic field amid a standing-room-only crowd. Additionally, Guy is a selfless friend, loving husband and extremely talented broadcaster.
While the viewer usually only see’s the TV crew on air, what makes a unit special is the time off the airwaves. Guy and I have called a few games together in our careers and we’ve made Week 1 games our speciality in places like Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City and others. But the best part has always been the week leading up to it – the countless calls, the meals while driving to and from the stadium and even the final stop at a FedEx to print out our materials. It’s a dream, all of it. And this fall I’m so thankful to have Guy as the next guy I get to learn from and celebrate the game with.
In advance of our first game together on the Big Ten Network I had to have him on the Y-Option podcast, presented by our founding partner 76, to learn about his origin story and how he explores the craft of play-by-play.
Hope you enjoy our conversation as Guy, Rhett Lewis and myself are so looking forward to bringing you college football this fall.
Enjoy Week 1 and what should be another magical ride alongside the sport we all love.
For more insights around college football through the lens of the West Coast, go to y-option.com
This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.
Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe - Vis mere
