The USMNT is Louisville with tournament variance
Ty Hildenbrandt
"I think my answer is Louisville."
Context
Ty's USMNT comp is Louisville: a team in an easier regional structure, with schedule advantages, real player-development/recruiting upside, enough talent to pull upsets, but not enough demonstrated top-end proof to be treated as a serious title pick.
The joke works because it gives casual college-football listeners a useful expectation band. The U.S. is not irrelevant and not a favorite. It is interesting with upside, flaws, and tournament variance. Bill endorses the comp partly because it implies a future soccer Lamar Jackson, while Dan adds that modern USC also fits the "talent plus obvious fatal flaws" side of the read.