Will Teams Rest Starters in the Iron Bowl? The 24-Team Playoff Effect | Auburn Football Podcast

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Black Friday is happening now at the Home Depot, and we've got just the tree for your style, space, and budget. Keep it merry and bright, then make it yours with ornaments and trimmings for every holiday style.

With festive favorites starting at just $49, shop for the perfect tree at the number one Christmas tree retail. Find the tree that feels just right with low prices guaranteed at the Home Depot. Exclusions apply. Visit homedepot.com/pricematch for details.

SPEAKER_2 (0:31)

Life is all about making decisions. Sometimes you make questionable ones, like buying a new TV that's too big for the wall because the electronics store employee was a little too good at their job. Then sometimes you make great ones, like protecting your home and auto with Progressive.

You get customized coverage options, so you can be sure you have the right coverage. Get your quote today at progressive.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company affiliates and other insurers not available in all states.

SPEAKER_3 (1:01)

This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required compatibility and availability varies 18 plus.

SPEAKER_4 (1:27)

Jägermeister knows that there's people who watch the game and people who know the game. Knowers know rivalries aren't heated. They're ice cold. They know rankings change, traditions don't.

They know that when you drink Jägermeister on game day, you drink it ice cold. Otherwise, you just don't know the game.

So drink it ice cold or don't drink it at all. Jägermeister, damn that's cold. Drink responsibly. Jägermeister liqueur 35 percent alcohol by volume. Reported by Mass Jägermeister US, White Plains, New York.

SPEAKER_5 (1:56)

Kate holds the key to every brand asset your business has ever made. She's the only person who knows the difference between teal, turquoise and the correct company blue. But she's going on vacation. Luckily, before the company falls into design disarray, you realize you can put Kate into Canva.

Save every color font and logo to a brand kit everyone can access. And Kate can vacation happily in the knowledge that no one will ever use Comic Sans. What will you Canva today?

Mike G (2:27)

You're listening to The Auburn Express.

SPEAKER_7 (2:34)

Powered by The War Rapport.

All aboard the AM departure from platform 334, The Auburn Express. We're running on time and expecting no hiccups. Doing the work, hard work, to bring you the best Auburn Sports content you'll find anywhere.

SPEAKER_8 (2:59)

So, yeah, I mean, so that's like the other thing, right? We were already getting to the place where teams were like, man, I mean, is it, because when the SEC was already getting three, four, five teams into a 12-team playoff, where people were like, maybe it's better if we don't go to the SEC Championship game and rest our players another week before we have to go play in a playoff game. You're already starting to hear those conversations begin to happen. I do wonder, and this is something people talked about when the 2014 playoff became a thing, if we're going to start seeing teams rest players towards the end of the season to try to save them for a playoff run, right? Like, hey, we're essentially already in, right? Like, so Georgia this year, for instance, if Georgia wins their next two games, do they start resting players versus Georgia Tech and just say, hey, we got to go play a SEC Championship game next week, we're not, and we're in the playoff, right? Like, it doesn't really matter what happens at this point, like other than maybe the seeding line changes, you lose to Georgia Tech, and then you lose in the SEC Championship game, you're going to the playoffs. 12 teams, Georgia's getting in regardless. If Georgia is 10 and 1 going into that Georgia Tech game, pencil them into the playoff, they're making it, regardless of what happens in the Georgia Tech game and the SEC Championship.

In a 2014 playoff, if Georgia is 10 and 1 going into Georgia Tech and there is no SEC Championship game, do they say to themselves, we got a couple of guys kind of banged up, we could go out here and beat Georgia Tech, or we can rest our starters in that game and see if we've got enough depth to go beat them without those guys that are like a little nicked up towards the end. Are we going to start seeing teams do that sort of thing?