College Football Carnage, Bo Nix Under Fire & NBA Tip-Off | FeOTB Ep 294

There are plenty of weeks on The Far End of the Bench when I tell you that we have a historic weekend to discuss. Sometimes I'm trying to get everybody excited about what's coming. Sometimes I'm just trying to make sure you stick around long enough to hear Niko and me argue about something ridiculous.

This time, I'm not exaggerating.

College football just gave us one of the craziest weekends we've seen in nearly two decades. Five Top-10 teams went down, two of them lost to unranked opponents, and for the second consecutive week, the No. 1 team in America got embarrassed by somebody nobody expected to beat them.

Meanwhile, the NBA is back, Denver is sitting at 4–2 despite an offense that looks completely lost, and for the first time this season, I actually had a better week than Niko in our NFL Pick'em competition.

It only took seven weeks.

Before we got into all that, though, we had something a little more important to celebrate. My co-host and good friend Niko Bryant is officially engaged to Grace! I was fortunate enough to be there with our friends and families for the surprise celebration, and it was one of those reminders that as much time as we spend talking about sports, there are bigger things in life worth celebrating.

Now, with that sentimental moment out of the way, it's time to get back to what we do best.

Talking football, arguing about sports, and occasionally questioning whether either of us has any idea what we're talking about.

College Football Has Officially Lost Its Mind

Five Top-10 teams losing in a single weekend. Back-to-back weeks with No. 1 teams going down against unranked opponents. A completely reshuffled national championship conversation.

If there was ever a season that illustrated how unpredictable college football has become, this might be it.

And before anybody starts telling me that the SEC and Big Ten are still guaranteed to dominate everything, I'd encourage you to take another look at what happened this weekend.

Auburn 27, Georgia 24 — The Bulldogs Finally Blink

I have spent a lot of time over the years praising Kirby Smart and the program he's built at Georgia.

Outside of Nick Saban's Alabama dynasty, I don't think there's been another program that has consistently demonstrated the discipline, physicality and preparation necessary to compete for national championships quite like Georgia.

Which is what made Auburn's 27–24 victory so shocking.

Georgia made mistakes you simply cannot afford to make in a rivalry game. Gunner Stockton's late fumble put Auburn in position to kick the game-winning field goal, and suddenly the Bulldogs went from protecting the No. 1 ranking to wondering how they let a game slip away.

But I don't think Georgia's season is over. Not even close.

A rivalry loss can be devastating, but the Bulldogs still have everything in front of them. They have the coaching, the talent and the opportunity to make a championship run.

What concerns me more is what Auburn's victory says about the rest of the conference.

Alex Golesh is beginning to establish something with the Tigers, and this was the kind of win that can change how an entire program views itself. Auburn isn't necessarily ready to challenge for an SEC championship this season, but I wouldn't be surprised if this turns out to be the moment we look back on as the beginning of its resurgence.

And if I'm Alabama, watching my biggest rival knock off Georgia should make me a little uncomfortable heading toward the Iron Bowl.

BYU 28, Notre Dame 24 — The Cougars Deserve Their Respect

BYU beating Notre Dame was another massive moment, especially considering the Cougars were dealing with key absences.

But what impressed me most was how BYU continued to find ways to win.

This is a program that has gone from competing in the Mountain West to becoming a legitimate Big 12 championship contender under Kalani Sitake. Now the Cougars find themselves undefeated and ranked second in the country.

That's not an accident.

Niko and I both agreed that BYU deserves every bit of credit it's receiving. However, we also discussed the difficult reality of competing in a playoff against multiple physically dominant programs.

Can BYU beat Notre Dame? Absolutely. We just watched it happen.

Can BYU win consecutive postseason games against some of the best Big Ten and SEC teams in the country?

That's where the conversation becomes much more interesting.

For me, the biggest remaining tests are Utah and Texas Tech. If BYU can get through those games, there's no reason the Cougars shouldn't be in the conversation for a first-round playoff bye.

Ohio State 19, Indiana 15 — Don't Write Off the Hoosiers

Ohio State ended Indiana's 22-game winning streak, but anybody who watched that game knows this was not some kind of indictment of Curt Cignetti's program.

The Buckeyes escaped with a four-point victory over a very good Indiana football team.

And I'll say something that I think people need to start accepting: Indiana is going to be relevant in college football for as long as Curt Cignetti continues building that program.

This isn't the same Indiana team that used to hope it could hang around with Ohio State for a quarter before things got ugly.

This is a program that expects to win.

The other major storyline was the injury concern surrounding Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.

I understand that Ohio State has incredible talent, particularly with Jeremiah Smith. But losing your starting quarterback changes how a defense can approach you. If I'm an opposing defensive coordinator and I no longer have to account for the same quarterback threat, I can start dedicating more resources toward taking away Smith.

Ohio State still has championship-caliber talent. The question is whether that talent can overcome an extended quarterback absence if Sayin cannot return quickly.

As for Indiana, a four-point loss against Ohio State doesn't erase what Cignetti has accomplished.

Enjoy this, Hoosiers fans. You're living through a golden era of Indiana football.

Tennessee 26, Alabama 10 — The Standard Has Changed

I never thought we'd reach a point where Niko and I could seriously question whether Alabama is still one of the country's powerhouse programs.

But here we are.

Tennessee beat Alabama 26–10, and the Crimson Tide looked nothing like the offensive machine we became accustomed to watching under Nick Saban.

Kalen DeBoer has talent. He's got highly recruited players. He's got resources that most programs would kill to have.

So where's the production?

Niko made the argument that Alabama has become more comparable to programs like LSU: capable of having outstanding seasons but no longer guaranteed to be the dominant force everybody fears.

I have a difficult time arguing against that.

And for Tennessee, this was another significant victory in a rivalry that Alabama controlled for so long.

Florida Adds to the Madness

Florida's upset of Texas deserves recognition as well.

The Longhorns entered the season with championship expectations, but consecutive losses to Oklahoma and Florida have completely changed the discussion around the program.

Eventually, reputation and talent have to translate into winning football games.

That hasn't been happening consistently enough in Austin.

The 24-Team College Football Playoff Debate

One of our biggest conversations wasn't even about a specific game.

It was about the future of the entire sport.

With the possibility of expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams being discussed, Niko and I found ourselves approaching the issue from different perspectives.

Niko is worried about what expansion could do to college football traditions, particularly bowl games.

And I understand his argument.

The Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl and all the smaller postseason traditions have been part of what made this sport unique for generations.

If everything eventually becomes another playoff game, what happens to those traditions?

At the same time, I'm interested in seeing what a larger playoff could actually accomplish.

We just watched five Top-10 teams lose in one weekend. You're telling me there couldn't be a scenario where a lower-seeded team catches one of the traditional powerhouses on the wrong day?

My bigger concern is making sure expansion doesn't simply become an excuse to hand every available opportunity to the SEC and Big Ten.

If we're expanding access, then actually expand access.

Give deserving programs from other conferences a legitimate opportunity instead of just creating more room for three-loss teams with recognizable logos.

And perhaps most importantly, let the current format actually develop before changing everything again.

College football has undergone an incredible transformation over the last decade. At some point, we have to figure out what we're trying to preserve and what we're willing to sacrifice.

[OPTIONAL EPISODE EMBED — Insert the full YouTube video here for readers who want to watch our complete college football and playoff expansion debate.]

The NBA Is Back, and I'm Already Sick of LeBron James

It took approximately one week of NBA basketball for me to remember why certain parts of the league drive me insane.

Philadelphia spoiled New York's championship banner celebration, LeBron James is now playing for the 76ers, and apparently we're already having conversations about championship whistles.

I cannot tell you how little patience I have for that kind of nonsense.

I've never denied that LeBron is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His accomplishments speak for themselves.

But the constant complaining and belief that every situation deserves special treatment have worn me out.

And now that he's playing in Philadelphia, I have another team to root against.

Niko, meanwhile, is interested in seeing how the combination of LeBron, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown develops.

On paper, the 76ers are loaded.

The question is whether they can establish a hierarchy, stay healthy and figure out how all those personalities fit together.

Detroit, Oklahoma City and the Changing Eastern Conference

Detroit's comeback against Boston was one of the biggest early surprises.

The Pistons erased a 22-point deficit and demonstrated the kind of toughness that can make them a nightmare in the Eastern Conference.

We also discussed Oklahoma City, San Antonio and the level of competition in the West.

One thing I do appreciate about the league's early games is the physicality and trash talk. I want to see players compete, get under one another's skin and actually show some emotion.

I don't want to watch an endless series of foul-baiting possessions.

If the NBA is serious about addressing flopping and rewarding legitimate basketball plays, that's a direction I'll gladly support.

Niko Still Believes in the Denver Nuggets

If you wanted somebody to talk you into believing in the Nuggets this season, Niko is your guy.

He has concerns about the coaching, the roster and what happened to Denver last season, but he's not ready to abandon a team built around Nikola Jokić.

And I don't blame him.

As long as you've got Jokić playing at his level, there's a chance to compete with anybody.

We spent time discussing Denver's roster changes, the importance of keeping Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray healthy, and whether David Adelman can become the coach the organization needs.

We also came back to a familiar name: Calvin Booth.

My issue with Booth isn't simply one bad decision. It's the long-term consequences of roster management that helped dismantle pieces of a championship team.

Michael Malone wasn't perfect, but the man delivered the only NBA championship in Nuggets history. That should count for something.

Niko believes the Nuggets can remain one of the top four teams in the Western Conference.

I'm not ready to hand them anything, but I agree that the talent is still there.

And when you've got Jokić, you have a reason to believe.

The Broncos Are 4–2, but What the Hell Is Going on With Bo Nix?

Here we go.

This was probably our most passionate conversation of the entire episode, and if you've listened to Niko and me for any length of time, you know how these discussions usually unfold.

We start by agreeing on something, spend 20 minutes yelling at each other, and eventually realize we're not nearly as far apart as we sounded.

The Broncos beat Seattle 17–14 in overtime.

Denver is 4–2.

That is absolutely something worth celebrating.

But Bo Nix threw for just 107 yards, the offense produced only 168 total yards, and the passing game looked almost completely incapable of creating anything explosive.

Those numbers are unacceptable if this is supposed to be a team capable of making another deep playoff run.

Bo Nix Needs to Take Accountability

My biggest frustration isn't even the box score.

It's listening to Nix talk about what we need to do better every time he's asked about the offense.

I understand football is a team sport. I coached it. I played it. Nobody understands that a quarterback needs help from his offensive line, receivers and running backs more than the people who've actually been involved in the game.

But eventually, the quarterback needs to take responsibility for his own performance.

He isn't consistently attacking downfield. He's checking the ball down. He isn't using his athleticism the same way he did last season.

Something is different.

And I don't need another explanation about how the entire offense needs to find explosive plays.

I want to know what Bo Nix is going to do to fix Bo Nix.

Niko Makes a Strong Case for Patience

Now, Niko didn't disagree that Nix has been playing poorly.

What he disagreed with was the idea that benching him would accomplish anything.

And he made some legitimate points.

The Broncos went through a brutal early schedule and came away 4–2. Nix is also returning from a serious injury that ended his previous season, and there is a real possibility that the physical and psychological effects of that recovery are still influencing his play.

Niko's biggest question was simple:

If you bench Bo Nix, who exactly are you starting instead?

Jarett Stidham?

After what happened in last season's AFC Championship Game, Niko has absolutely no interest in watching that experiment again.

And I understand why.

There isn't some proven franchise quarterback sitting behind Nix waiting for his opportunity.

Would a Temporary Bench Actually Help?

My argument was more about the mental side of the position.

Sometimes a player needs a wake-up call.

Sometimes taking a step away from the field, seeing the offense from another perspective and understanding that a starting job isn't guaranteed can change how somebody approaches the game.

I'm not saying Denver should throw Nix away.

I'm asking whether there's a strategic way to get him back to playing the football he's capable of playing.

And if you were ever going to consider a temporary change, the upcoming Arizona matchup would be a much different environment than the difficult games Denver already survived.

Niko believes Nix should play through the struggles, especially with a more manageable portion of the schedule approaching.

That's a reasonable argument, too.

Ultimately, our disagreement comes down to how you get the quarterback back on track, not whether he needs to improve.

Sean Payton Is Not Getting a Free Pass

This is where my frustration really reaches another level.

Sean Payton is supposed to be an offensive genius.

He's supposed to be the guy who understands quarterback development, identifies mismatches and creates opportunities other coaches don't see.

Yet after taking play-calling duties back from Davis Webb, the offense has shown almost no meaningful improvement.

So what exactly changed?

The Broncos are winning because they're getting outstanding defensive performances and finding ways to survive close games.

That's valuable, and Payton deserves credit for helping establish a winning culture.

But he also has to be held accountable when the offense looks this bad.

You cannot spend an entire season pointing fingers at Bo Nix while ignoring the person responsible for designing and calling the plays.

Denver has the talent to be dangerous.

The question is whether the quarterback and head coach can figure things out before the defense runs out of ways to save them.

Fantasy Boom/Bust — The Heroes, the Headaches and the Guys Who Never Touch the Ball

Fantasy football is supposed to be fun.

Then you spend an entire week trying to decide whether somebody who's questionable is actually going to play, only for the guy you finally start to give you absolutely nothing.

Welcome to another week of Boom/Bust.

Kenneth Walker III Is Running Like a Man Possessed

My first Boom was Kenneth Walker III.

Nineteen carries, 128 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Walker has given Kansas City's offense exactly the kind of physical running game that makes everyone else's job easier.

He breaks tackles, creates yards after contact and runs like he's trying to prove something every time he gets the football.

I didn't expect him to become this impactful behind the Chiefs' offensive line, but he's proving me wrong.

Kyle Pitts Finally Delivers

My other Boom was Kyle Pitts, who caught five passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

We've spent years waiting for this guy to consistently look like the player everybody expected when Atlanta drafted him.

This week, he actually delivered.

Whether anybody was brave enough to have him in their starting lineup is another question entirely.

Niko also highlighted Luther Burden's emergence in Chicago and Christian McCaffrey's continued dominance.

Juwan Johnson, DJ Moore and Cam Skattebo — Fantasy Nightmares

Niko's frustrations centered on Juwan Johnson and DJ Moore.

Johnson delivered zero catches and zero yards when Niko needed him, while Moore's uncertain availability has turned fantasy lineup decisions into a weekly headache.

My Bust was Cam Skattebo.

Zero touches.

That's not a disappointing rushing average. That's not a couple of dropped passes.

That's an entire game in which a player you're counting on doesn't get the football.

And after his fumbling issues, it's clear that earning the trust of his coaching staff is going to be a significant challenge.

Interestingly, Niko and I also discussed whether Denver should consider trying to acquire Skattebo as another option in its running back room.

If the Giants don't want to use a physical runner who can contribute between the tackles, somebody else might.

NFL Pick'em — Jimmy FINALLY Wins a Week!

Ladies and gentlemen, it finally happened.

For the first time this season, I finished with a better weekly record than Niko.

I went 3–1.

Niko went 2–2.

Now, before anybody starts planning the comeback parade, I'm still seven games behind him.

But after the way the first six weeks went, I'll take whatever momentum I can get.

Official Pick'em Standings — Entering Week 7

Because Niko had the worse weekly record, he received the first selection in this week's draft.

[GRAPHIC 2 — WEEK 7 PICK'EM DRAFT]

INSERT: FeOTB Episode 294 Pick'em Draft graphic with all four rounds, updated standings and both hosts' selections.

Suggested alt text: FeOTB Episode 294 NFL Week 7 Pick'em draft featuring Niko at 19-5 and Jimmy at 12-12 with four picks each.

Our Official Week 7 Picks

Niko opened by putting his faith in Denver, expecting the Broncos to handle Arizona and give Bo Nix an opportunity to get the offense moving in the right direction.

I went with Green Bay over Detroit because I trust Jordan Love against a Lions defense that has struggled against the pass.

Niko followed with the Rams over the Raiders, and I took Houston over a Giants team dealing with all kinds of offensive uncertainty.

Then came the pick that might make me look like either the smartest or dumbest person in the entire competition.

The Miami Dolphins over the New York Jets.

I know.

I know exactly how that sounds.

But I'm looking at two teams that have struggled to finish games, and I believe Miami has enough of a running game to pull it off.

Niko wasn't exactly impressed by my logic. In fact, he made it pretty clear that he has no intention of picking Miami at any point this season.

Finally, Niko closed with the undefeated 49ers over Atlanta, while I took my Cincinnati Bengals to defeat Baltimore.

I need the Bengals to start making some noise in the AFC North, and there's no better opportunity than a divisional matchup coming out of the bye week.

Am I taking some risks?

Absolutely.

But when you're seven games behind somebody who's picking winners at nearly an 80% clip, playing it safe isn't going to get you anywhere.

Fantasy Start/Sit — Week 7 Decisions

Our Start/Sit conversation included a few players who could make or break fantasy lineups this weekend.

Jimmy's Sits

Cam Skattebo, RB, Giants: Until the coaching staff demonstrates that he's getting meaningful opportunities again, I cannot trust him in a starting lineup.

Jameson Williams, WR, Lions: He has explosive talent, but the inconsistent production makes him incredibly difficult to rely on, especially against Green Bay.

I also explained why I've moved away from Courtland Sutton in one of my fantasy lineups. Denver's passing game simply hasn't created the consistency I need from somebody occupying a WR2 or flex position.

Niko's Starts

Denzel Boston, WR: Niko likes his matchup against Tennessee and believes he has an opportunity to bounce back.

Aaron Jones, RB, Vikings: Niko continues to trust Jones, particularly because of the opportunities he can create as a receiving threat out of the backfield.

Jimmy's Additional Start

Jaylen Warren, RB, Steelers: As much as I hate the Steelers, Warren has been receiving consistent opportunities in Pittsburgh's offense. Sometimes the smart fantasy decision is simply trusting the player who is actually getting the ball.

Niko's Sit

Tanner McKee, QB, Eagles: With Jalen Hurts out, fantasy managers may be tempted to chase the replacement quarterback.

Niko's advice was simple: don't do it unless you're absolutely desperate.

There are better options to trust, particularly in leagues that start only one quarterback.

Player of the Week — Junior Caminero and Drake Maye

Niko's Player of the Week: Junior Caminero

Niko went with Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Caminero has been a significant part of Tampa Bay's postseason success, including his home run against Cleveland during the American League Championship Series.

With the Rays advancing to face the Milwaukee Brewers, we have a World Series featuring two franchises still chasing their first championship.

I love that for baseball.

There's something refreshing about smaller-market organizations putting themselves in position to compete for a championship without simply relying on the biggest payrolls.

And it should make for an interesting World Series.

Jimmy's Player of the Week: Drake Maye

I went with Drake Maye.

Not only has Maye continued developing into one of the more exciting young quarterbacks in football, but he's also becoming one of the best decisions I've made in fantasy this season.

The funny part is that Niko traded him to me.

And now I get to watch Maye produce while Niko tries to figure out why David Montgomery hasn't given him anywhere near the return he expected.

That's fantasy football.

Sometimes you win a trade because of what you receive. Other times, you win because somebody else has to watch what they gave away.

Benchwarmer of the Week — Sean Payton and Manchester United

Jimmy's Benchwarmer: Sean Payton

I've already explained most of my reasoning.

Two weeks after taking back play-calling responsibilities, Payton hasn't demonstrated the offensive improvement Denver desperately needs.

The Broncos have been successful in establishing a winning culture, and Payton deserves credit for that.

But the quarterback isn't the only person responsible when the offense struggles.

For somebody with his reputation, the results simply haven't been good enough.

That's why Sean Payton gets my Benchwarmer of the Week.

Niko's Benchwarmer: Manchester United

Niko took us across the Atlantic for his award, and I enjoyed this one because he's been making more of an effort to follow European soccer.

Manchester United is one of the most recognizable football clubs in the world, but that reputation doesn't mean much when the performances aren't there.

Niko pointed to the club's embarrassing 4–1 defeat against Como and brought up a Manchester United supporter who has famously refused to cut his hair until the club wins five consecutive matches.

At the rate things are going, that guy might need to start shopping for industrial-strength hair products.

We also got into European soccer traditions, Niko's interest in Como and the completely different level of historical rivalry that exists among some of those clubs.

Sometimes it's fun to get outside the American sports bubble.

Especially when there's an entire European fanbase available to roast.

A Historic Sports Weekend and Plenty More to Come

College football is complete chaos. The NBA is back. The NFL season is approaching its midpoint. The World Series is set, and hockey is already underway.

We're getting close to that beautiful time of year when virtually every major American sport is competing for our attention at once.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Before wrapping up, we also talked about what I've been putting together for The Morning After, my weekly college football show. I've created a new introduction song, and we included it at the end of this episode for everybody who wanted to hear it.

There's plenty more coming from us as the season continues.

But for now, congratulations again to Niko and Grace on their engagement, congratulations to me for finally finding a way to beat Niko in Pick'em for one week, and thank you to every single one of you who keeps coming back to listen.

Make sure you're following the show, subscribe on YouTube, and join the Benchwarmers for another week of sports talk.

For Jimmy Pallotto and Niko Bryant, this has been The Far End of the Bench.

If you don't stay down and you never quit, come on over here and sit on the far end of the bench.

INSERT: All Gloves Off Sports Media version of the Episode 294 thumbnail featuring College Football Meltdown, Bo Nix Under Fire and NBA Is Back.

Suggested alt text: All Gloves Off Sports Media presentation of The Far End of the Bench Episode 294 covering college football upsets, the Denver Broncos and NBA basketball.

Watch the full episode on @FeOTBpod and find more from The Far End of the Bench at feotbpod.org. Proudly part of the All Gloves Off Sports Media network.

Special thanks to our episode partners, Five Core and Frost Buddy, for supporting sports media and the Benchwarmers.