USC legend Matt Leinart joins SI on behalf of Coke Zero Sugar. Coke Zero Sugar is debuting the nation’s first FIL – a fan-image-likeness deal to celebrate and reward the “Best Fan Ever” this college football season.
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00:00 So when he says something like that, he's being who he is.
00:04 And I think it's the same thing he said the very first day he took the job when he said
00:08 I'm bringing in Luis.
00:09 So if you guys don't want to be here, get out.
00:11 Well, it's always a great day when I'm joined by a fellow USC Trojan.
00:15 And joining me now is Matt Leiner, who's coming to us on behalf of Coke Zero.
00:18 Matt, thanks for joining me.
00:19 Thank you for having me.
00:20 I appreciate it.
00:21 All right, well, we got to start with some USC football questions, of course.
00:24 USC has lost two games already this season.
00:27 Barely squeaked out a win against Cal.
00:30 You tweeted this weekend that change needs to happen.
00:33 So what changes would you like to see?
00:34 Wow, I see you just coming out the gate.
00:37 Yeah, look, I think I think it's I think I speak for a lot of it's interesting because
00:43 I'm in the media space.
00:44 So you kind of just take your panel analyst hat off your media hat off.
00:49 You just want to be a fan.
00:50 I'm a Trojan, obviously, I root for USC and want everything USC to be be good and great
00:56 and successful.
00:57 Yeah, look, I think change is inevitable.
01:00 And what that looks like, you can look at a lot of different ways.
01:03 You know, I'm not going to sit up here and fire any coach or tell any player that they're
01:09 not playing good if that's not my position at the moment.
01:12 But I think you can see the way that this is going and the the fact that we continue
01:19 to struggle in a lot of the same areas.
01:21 I think at some point, change might be for the better.
01:24 And you can't be afraid of that.
01:26 I would say this is a positive and I try to stay positive online or have a silver lining
01:32 is USC still has a lot of things in front of them in the Pac-12 conference.
01:36 You know, playoff spot is probably not going to happen, but a chance to win a Pac-12 championship
01:41 or get there can happen.
01:42 The schedule is brutal.
01:44 And again, if we don't change some of the stuff we're doing as a football team, then,
01:51 you know, we're going to lose more games.
01:52 So that can come in a lot of forms.
01:55 And I hope I'm sure they got to hold themselves accountable.
01:58 And they got a big one this weekend.
01:59 You know, it's going to be tough.
02:01 Yeah, you mentioned the schedule being brutal.
02:03 They play Washington this weekend and then Oregon and UCLA.
02:06 Realistically, like how many more games do you think they can win?
02:09 Because those are all really good teams.
02:10 Right.
02:11 I mean, I think realistically, they could win all of them.
02:14 I mean, I think I think they have enough talent and they have Caleb Williams and they're dangerous
02:19 enough to win all of those games.
02:21 Now, are they?
02:22 No, I think they I think the one this weekend is interesting with Washington, who's actually
02:26 struggled as of late.
02:27 I think that's a game where USC can actually win that game and they can pull off that upset.
02:33 Going to Oregon is going to be a really, really difficult task.
02:37 I think Oregon is one of the top two or three teams in the country.
02:40 I think that's kind of what this season is going out.
02:44 And the schedule is brutal.
02:45 It's tough, but they certainly have the ability to win all of these games.
02:50 People are talking about Michael Penix Jr. as being a Heisman front runner, Bo Nix.
02:53 There's so many good quarterbacks in the Pac-12 conference right now.
02:56 Who's at the top of your list there?
02:58 That's a good question.
02:59 I mean, this this conference is so deep at that position.
03:03 And, you know, DJU at Oregon State has been playing really, really good.
03:06 Cam Ward, Washington State's kind of cooled off, but Cam Ward is a really talented player.
03:11 Look, I still think I think Caleb Williams is as good as they come.
03:15 I think he's had maybe some struggles as compared to what we just expect from him every week,
03:21 which is probably unfair.
03:22 But I'll tell you what, I think Bo Nix is someone that is as good as anybody in the
03:28 country for what he's been able to do.
03:32 He started his career at Auburn and, you know, maybe up and down.
03:35 And then he's found a home in Eugene, you know, in two years.
03:39 And he has 68 total touchdowns, eight interceptions.
03:42 Their team is primed to make a run here for a potential national championship.
03:47 He can run.
03:48 He's accurate.
03:49 He's elevating himself into that first round draft status, which I don't know if people
03:54 probably thought that coming into the season, but he certainly is playing himself into he
03:59 just he's been special this year.
04:01 And I don't think he's getting enough credit.
04:03 I want to ask you about Colorado and Coach Kron.
04:05 You guys have also obviously been to Boulder this year for big new kickoff and Deion Sanders.
04:11 He's always in the headlines.
04:12 He kind of came under fire this week after they lost to UCLA, saying that he basically
04:16 needs a new offensive line.
04:17 I think their offensive line has allowed like 31 sacks, which is I think the fourth most
04:22 in college football right now.
04:23 What did you make of his comments?
04:24 Well, look, I think if there's one thing that we all and I know I know Deion pretty well,
04:31 just over the years being around him, he he is very unique and he's different and he doesn't
04:38 care what anyone says, what anyone does.
04:41 He's going to run things the way he knows how.
04:43 He's an incredible motivator.
04:47 He's inspirational.
04:48 He's he's a heck of a coach.
04:50 He's all of those things.
04:53 So when he says something like that, he's being who he is.
04:56 And I think it's the same thing.
04:58 He said the very first day he took the job when he said, I'm bringing I'm bringing in
05:02 Louis.
05:03 So if you guys don't want to be here, get out.
05:04 I'm not.
05:05 I mean, like he is very straightforward, but they have major issues up front.
05:12 And by the way, his son is the quarterback and his son is taking an absolute beating
05:16 every single week.
05:18 He's got a plan.
05:19 I think he's been fantastic for them this year.
05:21 He's put them on the map.
05:22 He's made them relevant.
05:23 They're they're they're a good football team.
05:25 You know, they kind of lost their luster a little bit.
05:27 But what he's been able to do in a quick turnaround has been remarkable.
05:31 Do you think he can turn Colorado into a team that's competing for championships one day?
05:36 I do.
05:37 I do.
05:38 I think when you look at the nature and the landscape of college football, NIL recruiting
05:44 transfer portal like he owns that stuff.
05:50 What kind of you know, what kid doesn't want to come play for Coach Braun and what kid
05:54 doesn't want to be, you know, involved, like have all of these people watch them and be
06:00 the center of attention.
06:01 It's not for everybody.
06:03 Turn this program around from one win last year, completely irrelevant.
06:07 Even if they finish the season with four wins, you look at what he's done.
06:10 He's put him on the map.
06:11 He has the attention of the recruits.
06:13 And there's one coach in America that can go in every single household in the country
06:19 and and convince someone to come to Colorado.
06:22 I mean, it's Coach Prime.
06:24 And Coach Prime is just so unique in how he is as a coach, as a man, that inspiration,
06:30 the motivation, all those things.
06:32 So I'm a believer.
06:33 I've seen it firsthand this year.
06:36 It takes time, but I certainly think if he stays there long enough, he can make that
06:41 into a national powerhouse.
06:44 He's unique and also very entertaining.
06:46 You teamed up with Coke Zero.
06:49 Tell us about the partnership.
06:50 Well, first of all, Coke Zero Sugar is one of my favorite drinks, and we are trying to
06:55 find the best fan ever.
06:56 So best Coke Zero ever, best fan ever.
06:59 And the campaign is awesome because for me, and if you're a college football fan, obviously,
07:05 you know, it is all about the fans.
07:06 I think that's what makes college football so unique.
07:09 The fan bases that are literally ingrained in you before you're even born as a kid, tailgating
07:15 the loud, like it is just it is awesome.
07:18 So we are doing this campaign to find that best fan ever.
07:24 We've been to some pretty cool places.
07:27 The kicker is in the big national prizes to find the national best fan ever, which will
07:32 be announced later in the year.
07:35 A winner gets 20 grand in stipend money to go travel to games.
07:39 They win a Heisman like trophy.
07:41 They get the F.I.L. deal, which is a fan image and likeness deal, plus a lot of other cool
07:47 kind of perks and cool stuff that Coke Zero Sugar will provide.
07:51 So really fun campaign.
07:53 Obviously, best drink ever, best fans ever.
07:57 And we're well on our way of finding them.
07:58 All right.
07:59 Well, that's all I have for you.
08:00 I really appreciate you taking the time.
08:01 You guys are going to Texas this week, right?
08:03 Have fun down there.
08:04 Yeah.
08:05 Yeah.
08:06 We'll be in Austin.
08:07 I appreciate you.
08:08 Thanks for having me.
08:09 Fight on.
08:09 (upbeat music)