528 - ASU ends 8-4, 6-3 with loss to Arizona, also Kiffin
·40 min·4 clips
ASU finishes 8-4 with a loss to Arizona, ending the Jeff Sims era amid five turnovers.
The episode opens with Ben and Matt discussing Arizona State's final game, a loss to Arizona that capped an 8-4 season. They detail the game's key moments, including five turnovers by ASU and poor performance by quarterback Jeff Sims, who is graduating. The hosts note ASU's defensive consistency, allowing between 15-24 points in 12 games, but credit Arizona's improved defense. They reflect on the season as acceptable but disappointing given returning talent. Transitioning to coaching changes, the hosts delve into Lane Kiffin's move from Ole Miss to LSU. They express frustration that Kiffin accepted the LSU job while Ole Miss is in playoff contention, arguing it's unreasonable for Ole Miss to let him coach further. Ben and Matt critique ESPN and analysts like Kirk Herbstreit for defending Kiffin, citing potential conflicts of interest. They recall Nick Saban's hypocrisy in pushing Kiffin out at Alabama but now supporting him. The conversation evaluates Kiffin's career, noting he has never won an SEC or Pac-12 title despite coaching at multiple major schools. Hosts predict Kiffin will face high expectations at LSU and could be fired if he has a mediocre season. They also touch on ASU's future, speculating on quarterback changes and coordinator stability. The episode ends with plans to cover ASU's bowl game and basketball updates in future episodes.
