Saquon's MVP Case | The Ryen Russillo Podcast

The podcast discusses the current NFL and college football seasons, including the MVP race and the top 12 college football teams. The speakers, Ryen Russillo and Todd McShay, debate the merits of Saquon Barkley as an MVP candidate, analyze the potential for a three-loss SEC team to make the playoffs, and ultimately agree on a two-tiered ranking of the top 12 college football teams.

NFL Week 12 Recap

• 00:00:05 The best win of Week 12 is likely the Philadelphia Eagles' victory over the Los Angeles Rams, but the Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers game is also a potential contender. The Eagles are a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but Detroit's performance has been better overall. The worst loss of the week belongs to the Washington Commanders, who suffered a series of unfortunate events against the Dallas Cowboys.

Saquon Barkley MVP Case

• 00:04:27 Saquon Barkley is a surprise MVP candidate, given the rarity of running backs winning the award in recent years. His performance this season is on pace to surpass Adrian Peterson's 2012 MVP season in terms of total yards, but Barkley's injury history makes it unlikely that he'll be used this heavily in the later weeks of the season. The speaker believes that Lamar Jackson is still the better MVP candidate despite the losses, as he's consistently performed at a higher level than he did in 2019, when he won the MVP.

College Football Top 12 Ranking

• 00:19:22 The speakers agree on a two-tiered ranking of the top 12 college football teams. Tier 1 includes Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, and Georgia. Tier 2 consists of Tennessee, Penn State, and Notre Dame. The speakers disagree on the ranking of Alabama, with Russillo placing them outside the top 12 due to their recent performances. Miami, SMU, and Boise State are ranked in Tier 3.

Indiana Hoosiers

• 00:44:57 The speakers discuss the Indiana Hoosiers, who are currently ranked 12th in Russillo's top 12 rankings. Despite their impressive 10-0 record, the speakers believe that their performance against Ohio State was a significant indicator that they may not be as strong as their record suggests. The speakers believe that the committee's rankings are more heavily influenced by standings than actual performances, and Indiana's loss to Ohio State is a significant factor in their ranking.

SEC Teams

• 00:49:19 The speakers discuss the SEC teams that lost in Week 12, including Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M. While the speakers acknowledge that the SEC is generally considered the strongest conference in college football, they don't believe that any of these three-loss teams deserve a spot in the top 12 rankings. The speakers are particularly critical of Alabama's recent performances, citing their offensive struggles and poor tackling.

Life Advice

• 01:01:03 The podcast concludes with a life advice segment, where the speaker, Kyle, shares a story about helping a stranger move a trailer. The story highlights the importance of situational awareness and the potential consequences of being overly helpful. The speaker also discusses the topic of poop in cars, and the importance of being respectful when using another person's bathroom. The segment concludes with a discussion of a listener's email about his fiancée's generous financial contributions to their upcoming home purchase. The speaker advises the listener to politely but firmly push back on his fiancée's offer to cover renovation costs, arguing that it's important for him to be the provider and for her to maintain her own financial independence.

Boat Listings

• 01:06:31 A listener emails the podcast asking for life advice on a situation involving his fiancée's generous financial contributions to their upcoming home purchase. The speaker, Ryen Russillo, advises the listener to politely but firmly push back on his fiancée's offer to cover renovation costs, arguing that it's important for him to be the provider and for her to maintain her own financial independence. The listener's fiancée had previously purchased her own home, and the speaker suggests that she should put aside the profits from the sale in a separate fund.

Podcast Summary

• 00:00:00 The podcast starts with a recap of NFL Week 12, highlighting the best and worst wins of the week. The discussion then transitions to the MVP race, where the speakers debate the merits of Saquon Barkley as an MVP candidate. The majority of the podcast focuses on a discussion of the top 12 college football teams, with the speakers ultimately agreeing on a two-tiered ranking system. The discussion also includes a detailed analysis of the Indiana Hoosiers' recent performance, and a critical look at the SEC teams that lost in Week 12. The podcast concludes with a life advice segment, where the speaker, Kyle, shares a story about helping a stranger move a trailer and a listener's email about his fiancée's generous financial contributions to their upcoming home purchase.