The Yogi Roth Show

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.

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 thro

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 col

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

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 nigh

Pete Carroll changed my life.I can vividly recall calling a few of my teammates at Pitt during my first week on the job as a member of the USC Football staff in the winter of 2005. “Guys, I wish you could have been coached by Pete Carroll and this staff. It’s incredible!”My former teammates would often ask why and while I couldn't nail the answer, I could compete to explain the energy, optimism and education he shared every day.From the moment I met him at 19-years-old to now, there has not been a greater influence in all aspects of my life. Of course in football, as Coach Carroll offered me a lens into the game that very few have. But he also impacted me as a friend, father and husband. I’ve often said that my parents created the clay that is my life and Pete molded it in my 20s. A month before I got married, I flew to Seattle as I just had to get some time with Coach. He had been in the NFL for a while and I’d been building my life in Los Angeles. We would speak a few times a year and each time, I felt impa

There is an on-going conversation around being a multi-sport athlete versus being singularly focused. Being the parent of a 9-year-old, I see these things becoming more and more of a discussion. Sport specific, playing one sport year round, paying thousands of dollars on private coaches or club teams and more. It’s a hard lane to navigate as a parent and even harder as an athlete. This is a topic we are extremely passionate about at Y-Option. Go multi-sport or focus on football, perhaps with a private coach? Guess what — it’s not either/or. It’s all about finding the path that’s best for you, and adjusting it along the way.One conversation in particular has always stuck with me. I was talking with George Whitfield, the first private quarterback coach in the modern social media era. He went on to appear on ESPN’s College GameDay for years, and trained multiple first-round QBs.He said, “Equate the potential of a young quarterback to that of a young musician. If your child truly aspires to grow and achieve as a

Football can change your life.I’ve shared this story a few times but it’s worth repeating. Years ago, I was in Northern California visiting San Jose State and Stanford. I was expected to fly home after practice on a Wednesday but was convinced by both Brent Brennan and Mike Bloomgren to stay in NorCal for one more night. I obliged and had a blast.The next day I walked onto a Delta flight and met the love of my life, my now-wife Amy.I often think about that and am reminded how falling in love with football at age 14, walking on to Pitt in college, moving to Los Angeles to coach at USC and persuading the Pac-12 Network to hire me in 2012 literally led me to my heartmate, Amy, who has changed my life.In a unique way, the same can be said of Khalil Tate.He was a special athlete in Los Angeles growing up. He had a powerful work ethic, a supportive family and a bright future. From the outside, it seemed like everything came natural to him. I vividly recall him at the Elite 11 QB camp, as he would take a snap at qua

“Patiently impatient.”That’s my new favorite phrase when it comes to being a backup QB, or really anything where you may not be in the position you desire.This past summer I sat down with former college and NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky. Myself and Elite 11 head coach Jake Heaps had a conversation with the former UConn star around the QB position which centered around the concept of Chasing What Matters. I’ve spent years seeking the red thread that connects elite leaders to elite organizations to elite performers. I’ve netted out that the best in class truly Chase What Matters with clarity around what matters most, they can state that clarity with a grounded confidence and then attack that notion with a unique discipline. In fact, it’s been my keynote speech over the past year and I've seen it resonate with companies and teams across the country.When Orlovsky, a current ESPN NFL and college football analyst, stated that phrase “patiently impatient” after being asked how he navigated adversity in his sporting l

There is something special about coming home. For the recently hired Arizona State Athletics Director, Graham Rossini, home has always been the ASU community. Last training camp I found myself at Camp Tontozona, or as Sun Devil fans called it Camp T. On the sideline was a tall, sharply dressed man in an ASU polo. I’d always known of Graham, but had yet to spend real time with him. Before practice began we spent 20 minutes together and just talked about life, the Pac-12, West Coast football and more. His acumen was easy to notice, much like that of Kenny Dillingham. His passion for ASU stood out like any Dillingham press conference and his calm demeanor had me thinking, ‘this should be the next ASU AD.’As I drove back toward Phoenix that evening two things resonated above all else: Graham Rossini has an elite competitive temperament and has extremely high levels of emotional intelligence. To get into the world of college athletics you must know how to compete, and Graham lives with a competitive spirit every d

“The only thing that is guaranteed in college is that your career will NOT go exactly as you imagined.”A year ago, the legendary coach, Chris Petersen shared that line with the best high school quarterbacks in the nation at the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles and I watched it land like a Simone Biles gold medal routine.As I criss-cross the nation and watch QBs like Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Penn State’s Drew Allar and today, Will Howard at Ohio State compete in training camp, I keep thinking about that line and as each QB drops back to pass I can’t help but recognize that each of these signal callers have met their fair share of adversity.Like Coach Petersen said: it’s not IF, but WHEN adversity hits.We are in a different era in college football, as 46 projected starters in Power 4 football are transfers. Each of those quarterbacks comes with a story of adversity, and how they had to meet it and compete to work through it. If I'm honest, I think the majority of transfers are leaving their college of choice too

From 2011 to 2016 I would often find myself in Corvallis, Oregon. I’d fall in love with the fall foliage, the beautiful dimes from Sean Mannion, the crisp routes by Brandin Cooks and the production meetings with Mike Riley. But above all of that, what I enjoyed the most were Friday afternoons.Post meetings and post practice I would find myself alongside one of the most positive, optimistic and talented coaches in the nation and for an hour we would run the campus while talking about life, coaching philosophy and his family.If you haven’t figured it out yet, that man was Brent Brennan.Back in the day it was clear that he had a vision for what he felt coaching was and while the X’s and O’s were a major part of that – Brent’s voice always took a different tone when he spoke about culture, team building and leadership. Not a surprise when you learn about his late father, Steve, who played WR at San Jose State. Not a shocker when you learn how the great Dick Tomey poured into him. And definitely not a surprise whe

Jerrod Johnson and I met in 2009. I was working for Fox College Sports and broadcasting Big-12 games each week. He was the starting quarterback at Texas A&M. To make you smirk, that season the Big-12 had two divisions, the North and South. The respective champion of each division was Nebraska and Texas. Missouri and Colorado were in the league and that conference only had 12 teams, how about that!?And if you forgot, future SEC team Texas won the 2009 Big-12 title 13-12 over future B1G squad Nebraska ahead of Colt McCoy leading the Longhorns to the BCS Championship Game.I was in my first true year as an analyst calling games and I always talked to each team's signal caller before the contest. Jerrod, or JJ, was thoughtful, competitive and focused. It was crystal clear that he had a love for the game that was different from most players.Post playing career, JJ explored many arenas: from broadcasting, high school coaching, fashion and more. Yet like most who love what the game of football can do for others,

Mark Harlan is impacting college sports at an elite level. As the athletics director at Utah, he has also served in the Football Oversight Committee and has been in the room during CFP deliberations. To say he ‘gets it’ is a true understatement.Often times, college sports are seen as a business and I get it, it is HUGE business.But more often than not, the ones who are leading athletic departments and serving the sports and athletes we love began on that career path because they too, loved ball.Mark Harlan is exactly that. Growing up in Southern California, he fell in love with college football at the Coliseum and his path to Utah has been one full of mentorship, perspective, and necessary leadership.We sat down during Big-12 Media Days and discussed his origin story, the state of the game, the decision to name Morgan Scalley the head coach in waiting & some advice for Y-Option as we get rolling. I think all fans of sport will enjoy our conversation, presented by our founding partner 76.Todays podcast was

In my time working on the USC staff, one thing became clear – when a quarterback signs his letter of intent at USC he becomes a household name. When he starts, he becomes a Heisman Candidate. Calling games for the past 17 seasons has only proven that theory I learned while on Pete Carroll’s staff. And for Miller Moss, that’s also true. While many factors go into winning the Heisman, I believe that the future for Miller Moss is extremely bright as he has a brilliant mind, can quickly and efficiently process information, is consistently accurate and is an elite competitor. Those traits will allow him to thrive as the USC QB this fall as the Trojans enter the B1G. In today’s conversation, presented by our founding partner, 76, we sat down at the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles and dove into his story - what backing up Heisman winner Caleb Williams taught him, navigating life in LA as the USC QB, his relationship with Lincoln Riley and why his Dad told him to listen to Kobe Bryant.Today’s podcast was executive pro

Meet Dillon Gabriel. A one-time Army commit who would thrive at Central Florida before balling out at Oklahoma and is now in his final collegiate season as the starting quarterback for the Oregon Ducks. We sat down at the Elite 11 finals this summer and discussed his It Factor, why he chose Oregon for his final season, what Marcus Mariota winning the Heisman meant to him and what it’s like playing for Dan Lanning.Hope you enjoy and for more, be sure to follow @YOptionCFB as we will be covering ALL things college football through the lens of the West Coast all season long at www.y-option.com. This episode was produced by Jim Thornby, filmed by Blue Ox Films and edited by Tanner Pierce.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

In today's Y-Option podcast, you'll hear from head coaches Jake Dickert and Trent Bray, as they share how their respective teams have 'met the moment' all off-season in anticipation of their new schedule in the Pac-12. Jaden Robinson, Jermaine Terry II, Kyle Williams and Kyle Thornton also joined me on stage and while all four are stars for the Beavs and Cougs on the field, their stories will inspire you in meaningful ways off it. Each were impacted at an early age by adversity and each celebrated the woman in their lives who continues to inspire each of them to this day. If you love football and have any desire to learn about the humans under those helmets, this episode is right up your alley. If you're pessimistic about the future of the game, this episode will offer you some hope. Enjoy After Hours with the Beavs and Cougs from Las Vegas.Y-Option is a Best Coast Media Production Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe

As the founding faces of the Pac-12 Network, Mike Yam and Ashley Adamson carried the reputation of the league for over a decade but in 2020, amid a global pandemic, Mike learned he would not return to the network he helped build. The three of us never spoke about that day, or the fact that Mike would not return to the place we had such pride in, until now. Mike, Ashley, Jim Thornby and myself listen as Mike shares the brutal impact of that decision on his life and how he has responded to that adversity. It's a beautiful conversation among friends who became family. If you fell in love with Mike, Ashley and the content at the Pac-12 Network this is a conversation that will resonate on powerful levels.Today's conversation is brought to you by our Founding Partner, @76. For more insight on college football through the lens of the West Coast be sure to follow @YOptionFB on Twitter, @YOptionCFB on Instagram and sign up for all updates at www.y-Option.com. This podcast was Executive Produced by Jim Thornby and edit

Mike Yam and Ashley Adamson were the foundation of the Pac-12 Networks and the first two faces to grace the airwaves of that network. In the inaugural episode of Y-Option there was truly no other option--we had to have these two on to go down memory lane with us. And we do just that. We dive into the origin story of the once promising Network, how we all got there and some of the joys, and struggles of being there. Enjoy Part 1 of 2 episodes with two people that entered so many people's lives through their televisions and changed mine.Follow along with Y-Option on Twitter and Instagram as we continue to discuss college football through the lens of the West Coast.Y-Option is a Best Coast Media Production Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe

“So Yogi, what are you going to do now?”Introducing our re-imagined podcast "Y-Option" where we examine the college football landscape through the lens of the West Coast. Get full access to Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth at www.y-option.com/subscribe