Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - BIG 10 SQUAD - Do Iowa Hawkeyes have the MOST to gain during spring football?

Episode Date: March 6, 2025

Can the Big Ten's dark horses upset the traditional powerhouses this season? With spring football practices underway, the Big Ten landscape is buzzing with potential surprises. Teams like Penn State, Illinois, and Nebraska are gearing up for a season that could redefine their standings. The discussion features insights from Spencer McLaughlin, Craig Sheman, and Zach Anderson Yoxheimer, who explore the impact of coaching changes and transfer portal dynamics on these teams' prospects.USC's entry into the Big Ten and their quarterback conundrum under Lincoln Riley also take center stage. The hosts debate the potential playoff contenders, including Ohio State and Oregon, and how media narratives might influence playoff selections. Tune in for a deep dive into the strategies and players that could reshape the Big Ten's future. Don't miss out on this engaging analysis of college football's evolving dynamics.

Spring ball is all but upon us. Who feels good? Who's a Dark Horse Big Ten title contender? We'll discuss that and somehow even more today on the Big Ten Squad. You're talking ball with the Big Ten Squad. From USC to Ohio State, from Michigan to Oregon, from Nebraska to Washington, it's the local experts of the Locked On Podcast Network bringing you scoops, breakdowns, and the most comprehensive preview of the upcoming Big Ten weekend. No hurt feelings and thin skin allowed. Squad up, you're part of the Big Ten Squad. Greetings and salutations to all and happy Thursday. Welcome to the Locked On Big Ten Squad. I'm Spencer McLaughlin hosting. Craig Schieman, Locked On Big Ten, is here.

Zach Anderson-Yaksheimer, Locked On UCLA. Jacob Goens, Locked On Hoosiers. Mark Anderson Yaksheimer locked on UCLA. Jacob Gowans locked on Hoosiers. Mark Culkin locked on USC. Zach Seiko locked on Nittany Lions. I am of course locked on whatever neutral arbiter of all things college football as per our usual arrangement. But I want to start with I want to start with you Seiko because I have a feeling that you're going to be feeling as high as anybody metaphor of course, with regards to your team going into spring ball. Is that true? Is no one feeling better than Penn State as spring ball approaches?

Yes, because we're still one of the only schools that's having an actual spring game. It seems every chance left and right, somebody's canceling a spring football game. So at least right now, Penn State still has one. Yeah, I like where Penn State is, of course, I've already gone on the record saying that this is one of the top one of the perennial national title contenders for 2025, 2026 postseason. And they just have to make some more additions through the transfer portal because they're

not perfect. But if they can get some defensive tackle depth, that they can get another wide receiver, maybe two, then I don't know how many weaknesses Penn State has. They're either kind of net neutrals or strengths at this point. So I love where Penn State is at the moment and the spring transfer portal window can and should help them out immensely. Nothing like Seiko gassing up Penn State all off season

so that when Oregon beats them on their home field He can just go back to crying into the abyss. Look at the SP rankings. Who's ranked higher right now? Boy, I love games that are played on paper. Penn State might be going to the SEC breaking news. Oh, there it is. Beach to it. Oh I'm so sorry except I'm not but goings let's go to you The Hoosiers are off the best season ever in the history of Indiana football. They won 10 games because that is something that's allowed in Bloomington, it turns out.

But how are they feeling right now with spring ball approaching? Feeling great. We brought in just about every transfer that we needed at a position that we needed, whether it be a starting quarterback, whether it be two or three starting offensive linemen, and then you got to keep some of your best players from a year ago. You bring back your

two leading receivers, your two all Americans on the defensive side of the football, and you kept almost everybody on the coaching staff, which I feel like is something that is almost everybody, right? Zach Anderson, the Oxheimer, right? Almost, almost everybody new offensive coordinator. Thank you, Jacob. He won't be there long. He'll be a head coach somewhere. I'm convinced. Tino's a great dude. And so you keep almost everybody on your coaching staff, which is overlooked today in college football,

including your defensive coordinator, who led the best defense in the nation a year ago. So yes, we're feeling great. We're ready for spring ball, ready for the portal to tie up some loose ends and then get us to the fall, man. Once the playoff, we'll be there. Don't you worry. Yeah, I will worry about it between now and then.

Craig, you look like you were anxious to jump in there. I got a lot of things I want to say, and I don't want to derail the show because we don't do that here. But first of all, Spencer, I like the new haircut. It's high and tight. It looks good. I'm glad you're not at a fast food restaurant this week. That's also good. Yachsimer looks like he's in the dugout on the third base

side right now. First base side, first base side. I also want to point out that getting hosts together for this show over three time zones has become like herding cats. It's ridiculous. So thank you for all of you being here today. This is much harder, Craig.

Don't kid yourself. And also, I did since when Spencer introduced himself at the beginning, host of everything everything he is everywhere happen to catch him on lockdown big 12 Drake told this week and he immediately started by pointing out that the little thing in the little corner said hey tune in a lot of big 10 next they said what are you doing get rid of that I see everything I see every.

Boy Craig. Well, oh spring football. I'm interested in the quarterback battle of Michigan. I want to look at Bryce Underwood. I want to put eyes on him, the best recruit in the country. I want to look at Ohio State and Julian Sane who's been camping out for a year ready to go. I actually want to see Dante Moore and how he looks at Oregon. Those are the springs that I'm looking forward to and excited about this year. Mark, no spring game or spring get together down there at USC. Why not? What are they? Are they anti-fan down there in Los Angeles? No, they're they're just getting really serious

right now. All of a sudden. Oh yeah. I know that was my reaction. good good good to wait until year four to start getting serious. So the approach this season is no spring game. They'll invite the fans back at some later date for some fan interaction event. But as far as spring camp is going, I still don't know the official date. We know that the spring game is supposed to be on April 26th because that's a huge recruiting weekend for USC. So there will be people on campus. There will be a practice. All of the, finger quotes, top recruits that USC wants are going to be in attendance for that spring game to keep that excitement going that they're kind of generating right now during the offseason. They are owning the off season as far as those headlines.

Chad Bowden's doing this and USC is recruiting that and they've got the number one recruiting class now and they're all in with NIL. So all that positivity is what USC fans get to feast on this spring since they won't get to see the team until they kick off against Missouri State. How's that to look forward to? Owning the off season. I tell tell you what there's a school in Eugene that can tell you about owning the offseason

They have perfected it to a tee a school that has not is your Crosstown rivals Zach Anderson, Yoksimer locked on UCLA The the offseason isn't usually a lot to look forward to for the Bruins. The end season from time to time, maybe, but I mean, going into spring ball, any optimism there for Deshaun Foster or are we still just kind of stuck in neutral? Well, of course, UCLA still the offensive coordinator over from Indiana.

So maybe looking at some more offensive production here in 2025, UCLA took advantage of the Juco. Aim low and achieve, baby, aim low and achieve. Shut up. We're taking a look at, you know, and then after that it's who's gonna step up underneath them to win that number two role that could possibly be the future in 2026 and beyond. And mostly this is the first philosophies that Deshaun Foster's had. So I'm wondering what do the Bruins look like

when Deshaun Foster's been in the Bruins for a while? And what's the first thing you're gonna see when you see him in the Bruins? And what's the first thing you're gonna see when you see him in the Bruins? And what's the first thing you're gonna see when you see him in the Bruins? And what's the first thing you're gonna see

when you see him in the Bruins? And what's the first thing you're gonna see when you see him in the beyond. And mostly this is the first philosophies that Deshaun Foster's had. So I'm wondering, what do the Bruins look like when Deshaun Foster had the whole transfer portal recruiting off season to deal with and the next window as well to see if they can improve their team. I wonder what the Bruins look like

when Deshaun Foster knows how to complete a full sentence and not get stuck after the fourth word. What about Lincoln Riley actually letting his reporters ask a question that doesn't involve like, what can I eat a piece of candy or something? and not get stuck after the fourth word. What about Lincoln Riley actually letting his reporters ask a question that doesn't involve like, what can I eat a piece of candy or something? Like, let's be real. Let's be real about Lincoln Riley.

He's a piece of garbage. Get out of here. Overrated, mean questions. Come on. No spring game, weak sauce. Get out of here. Are you still upset that Dan Tantin is at USC? No, I'm happy with the Kai Kamaloi.

What are you talking about? I am totally fine. I love the Lord. Take Dan. Fine boy. Is it isn't it doesn't that sum up UCLA football in a nutshell? We're fine. Hey, can USC and UCLA just play each other in the spring? Is that possible? UCLA isn't the place to be. It's a legacy. What was that? What was he trying to do? You see, like, isn't the place to be. It's a legacy. What was that? What was he trying to do? I mean, wasn't he embarrassed enough at Pac, excuse me,

Big Ten Media Day? Ah-ha, the old Freudian slip. I knew you still wanted to be in that conference, Mark. I knew it. RIP. RIP forever and always. Zach, did you want to chime in? He did kind of pose something to you there.

And as neutral moderator here of this wonderful show, I just want to give you that chance. So I'm not accused of bias. I mean, I think both coaches are pretty much an embarrassment when it comes to media relations. DeSean Foster, you know, he's pretty quiet. So the big rousing speech, that's not his jam. It's, you know, having a spring game, actually interacting the fans with the players and having something that the fans can see beyond just like early September. That's his goal. Having two events in the spring football. I don't know if they'll be good, but at least there'll be some sort of interaction. I don't know about SC though. You got to generate enthusiasm somehow. Yeah.

You know that. Winning's not going to be it. So you may as well just start talking on the podium and see how that goes. I'm using it, and all I can see is Fast Times at Bridge One High and he's waiting for the young girl to get there. All right, quick show of hands to wrap up the first segment. Who has seen the movie that Mark just referenced? Fast Times? No.

Ah, okay, so just me and Seiko are the nerds in the chat. But I'm gonna assume that Seiko is not completely out of the loop when it comes to Dark Horse Big Ten title contenders. I'm going Seiko first and everybody will get a chance to chime in. That's coming up next. First this episode brought to you by Nissan. The Armada team of the week is brought to you by our friends at Nissan and the all-new 2025 Nissan Armada each week are locked on college basketball experts are picking one team that stands apart from top seeded stars to the unexpected upsets.

These guys showcase the strength and sheer power needed to push their team forward. And you know what? I'm going with Michigan state this week. You know why? Because Matt Sheehan of locked on Spartans isn't here. So we're, we're doing them a solid, we're showing him some love and making sure that Michigan State gets discussed going into Jonathan Smith's second year here on the locked on Big Ten squad.

There is no other real reason necessary. I mean, Tom is, it was pretty good. You know, it turns out over on the Harwood and such. But it's clear that our team of the week is out here ready to conquer the road with confidence just like you can in the all new Nissan Armada or any of Nissan's outstanding vehicles. Take the Nissan Armada, Rogue or Pathfinder and go find your next big adventure shop NissanUSA.com. All right, Seiko, the game we are now playing is name the Dark Horse Big Ten title contender. So you cannot say, I'm going to rule out

Oregon, the reigning Big Ten champs, Ohio State, the reigning national champs, Michigan, who had won the league like 17 years in a row before Oregon won it this year. And you know what? I'm going to take Penn State out of it. Cause as you said, that's, that's a high expectation program right now.

So get out of those four, your pick to win the Big Ten would be who I mean I would never consider those those would be the favorites Oregon Penn State Ohio State Michigan I think is in a category by itself because you assume that they're going to get better but we don't know who the quarterback is the offense could still be a liability. So I wouldn't group them with Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon. It's a three team race for the perennial Big Ten Conference, chair the Big Ten Conference title contenders there.

I'm gonna go with Illinois. Illinois returns a lot of the production. I like Luke Altmeyer. Brett Bielema belongs in the Big Ten. So he's been able to combine his fundamental system with some different looks in the spread and everything. But he's able, they close out games very well. And Illinois honestly actually had a case where Ole Miss and all those nine and three

SEC teams tried to make, tried to beat a drum to say, we belong in the 12 team playoff. And Illinois said, we actually have a better resume than you with the same record. So if anybody should be in as a nine and three team, it was Illinois. Illinois, I think takes a step forward from Penn State's point of view. I'm glad that Penn State does not play them.

I think Illinois is a true actual, is actually a contender that doesn't get enough credit. I don't think they're they're only going to surprise people because not enough people are aware of them. Craig, you buying that a line I picked to the Big Ten Championship game is a dark horse. I thought that would have been a great dark horse pick last year. I still think to this day, people don't realize Illinois was a 10 win team by the time they with the ball win.

And I realize it. I realize it. I realize it. Good. Shout out Sonny Verma locked on a line. I got you man. And you know, Luke, Luke Altmeyer coming back certainly helps. I might as well throw my alma mater Indiana back in there

cause their schedule is kind of light like it was last year and they got to 11 and one. I can't go with Iowa. They don't have the protection of the Western division anymore. Wisconsin's nowhere near Maybe if I'm gonna go Dark Horse if Dylan Raiola really lights it up in year two at Nebraska, maybe I don't know if I can go with the USC Trojans or not yet. I'm not the Jade Maiba. No wide receivers

I don't know so I'll go with the old alma mater at Indiana with my dark horse pick, but I do like Zach's call on Illinois as well. You hear that mark? No wide receivers at USC for the first time in the Lincoln Riley era. There will be no pass catchers. It will be throw. They're going full Penn State. No wide receivers. It's just a tight end and some running back and we take your wide receiver wide receivers to spare Craig. I'm going to take your ignorance with a grain of salt right now.

You will know Mackay Lemon's name. You will know Jacoby Wayne's name by the end of the year, end of story there. And then they'll transfer out like the rest of them did. No, they can't. I know. See, that's the thing. I guess I will allow your ignorance to play a role here. USC actually made an offseason decision to let Zachariah Branch and Deuce Robinson Lee.

You cannot pay for number ones at wide receiver. You can't do it. So they chose the two guys who were actually producing. We'll leave it on that. Now I do agree with you with Nebraska. You talked about a light schedule. Whoa, Cincinnati, Akron, I don't know what HCU is. They host-

Houston Christian, I bet. Yeah, it's Houston Christian, yeah. Thank you. Not Houston. They host Michigan, bi-week. They host Michigan State at Maryland, at Minnesota. They host Northwestern. They host USC at UCLA bi-week at Penn State, Iowa.

That's a dark horse schedule right there. Indiana's not on that schedule so they probably have a good chance. Yeah that's the team everyone's afraid of Jacob absolutely terrified. By the way. It's a shame Romans not here. I want to get it is a shame Romans not here but we'll get them back on the show next week we'll just you know bully him into coming back. But Illinois by the way in consecutive weeks plays the two hosts in the bottom left portion of the show for those of you watching on YouTube at Indiana and hosting USC Jacob will start with you you scared of Illinois and then we'll throw it over to you mark no no I'm not I mean I think it's one of the

tougher games on this not scared you hear that a line I fans he's not scared it was amazing Indiana for talented and we have the better coach. So no, I'm not worried about it. I think it's one of the tougher games on the schedule and a easier schedule. Yes, I'll admit it tougher than a year ago, but still easy compared to some that play in the Big Ten. But no, I mean, again, I think Indiana's more talented and I think we're better coached. And so no, I'm not worried about it.

Mark, you have to go to Champaign Illinois in a classic Big Ten showdown. Any any worry there that the USC will fail to get that one done? No no no. I tell you what wow. I really like what USC has been able to do. We were talking you guys were talking about the coaching staff I don't remember who talked about the continuity. I think it was Jacob. USC was able to do most of that, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. And they might have even upgraded, replacing Matt Enns with Rob Ryan,

just as far as that linebacker position coach. I like where USC is going. Going into Champaign, look, Illinois had one of those nice seasons last year and I get the whole Luke Altmeyers returning. I asked this question to Craig before. What happened down at Ole Miss when you had Lane Kiffin coaching them up? You took stuff off of Luke's plate. He wasn't asked to do as much in Champaign. And I think Dan Lynn, the defense is going to only get better. I just don't know if Luke Altmeyer is going to be able to do it two years in a row. I

think with Illinois Their schedule last year was not a cakewalk But it definitely wasn't a gauntlet either and I think their schedule this year is a little bit more of a hey Prove to me that it's real sort of schedule. They go at Indiana, host USC as I mentioned, they also play Ohio State, they also go to Washington, which is not an easy place to play, and they have to go at Wisconsin. I think that's more difficult than what they had to deal with a year ago, but Anderson Yaksamer, I want to bring you in on this. Are you buying Illinois there as a Dark Horse team? Or do you have another one that stands out?

I want to say Michigan State, but I think I'm going to wait to make that pick until 2026. I didn't really want to agree with Mark about Nebraska, but Nebraska certainly has everything going for them for a Dark Horse schedule. Of course, I'd just be pumping too much shine to Jacob if I said Indiana. But Michigan State is a team that hasn't been thrown out

there where, hey, you got a coach who is highly coveted. He's been there for a year. He's got his quarterback. That would be a team that we're not really talking about that could maybe do things, but I think that's a year too early to make them a true dark horse that can make a run. But as Indiana proved,

you never know who can make that run in the expanded 12-team playoff. Does UCLA have the ability to make that can make a run. But as Indiana proved, you never know who can make that run in the expanded 12 team playoff. Does UCLA have the ability to make that sort of run? Surprise everybody, be the Illinois or the Indiana or the Arizona State of this year? I mean, I think as we saw last year, any team can go on a run, have an easy schedule. UCLA has, maybe it has tough of a schedule last year

where they had all those games in a row. This year, it's not that same type of gauntlet but they'd have to prove it you know by winning games after games they got Ohio State on this schedule they still have to host USC there are games that are tough that they have to win to prove it so I'm not going to say they're a dark horse at this moment but I wouldn't count them out I know I'm more optimistic than you are on the Bruins Spencer in any sport and anytime UCLA's Battling, Oregon or anything, but I can't say they're a dark horse without pumping some roses in there and saying that it's some bias Gotcha. Okay So I'm glad you threw in that bit at the end because I had a whole spiel prepared as you were talking that you gave That politicians answer, you know, like hey is UCLA gonna do this?

Well, you know, it's hard to do this. And then you go on this, follow the yellow brick road mental path all around in circles and whatnot, and lead us astray. But Craig, I wanna go back to you real quick. I think the Nebraska pick is really interesting, but is there anyone in this room, right here, right now? Gosh, I'm not a weatherman. You gotta see yourself, Craig. the big 10. All right, I'll rephrase your honor. What do you make of USC, Craig, besides the fact that you're not up to date with, you

know, who's in who's in their receiver room? Because you know, Mark has a point. Mackay Lemon is exceptionally good and Jacoby Lane makes ridiculous catch. Well, Lemon was on the team last year. What did he do? And it was I mean, seriously, I mean, I. He was waiting for Lincoln Riley to stop horse feeding Zachariah Branch. That's what we.

OK, exactly, exactly. I still remember the Michigan game where he's running up the middle against the two best defensive tackles in the league for an entire half. It's a bold strategy, Cotton. How did it work out for him? But if you watch if you actually watched him play, especially towards the end of

the season, I think you probably recognize that Mackay Lemon is using Amman raw St. Brown type of wide receiver. Notre Dame will admit to that UCLA will admit to that. All right. Well, and again, how you sold on my Ava I mean, we went from Miller Moss to him. Oh, I don't. I'm on record on this show in the past. Okay. This is the season that if Lincoln Riley wants to start a true freshman quarterback because of the way the schedule lays out,

if he knows that playbook, it's not out of the question. Okay. Well, the good news is there's a plenty of time for Lincoln Riley to figure these things out as his buyout drops down year by year and whatnot. But what about in the playoff? How many teams could the Big Ten as we enter spring football be expecting to get into the college football playoff? And who are those teams that's coming your way next? I'm going to go to the next question. All right, Craig, I want to start this off in your direction, and then we shall rotate around as per our usual arrangement.

But I say to you, 12-team playoff, the big 10 next year gets how many teams in? I think we're doing four again. And then after that, that's going to be the mandatory number. And I think it's down to five. I do expect Michigan to be better to fight there with Oregon and Penn State and Ohio State. And will Indiana be in the mix? Those are the five, four of those five teams are getting into playoffs.

That's gonna be the deal again this year. Yaksheimer, you going back with four before it becomes mandatory. And that hasn't been finalized yet, just to be clear. But that is kind of the expectation. Let's go spicy. I'm taking the under with three. Things are not going to play out as planned.

We're going with three playoff teams. Who misses it from last year? And why is it Indiana? Shut up. I'm all in on Indiana. Make it Fernando Mendoza show. Do it. But no, Indiana would be that

likely candidate to definitely miss from last year. Yeah. Goins, I assume you want to push back on everything that we just said in the last 10 seconds. I mean, is it really going to do any good? I mean, in reality, the easy answer is yes. Indiana to be a team that made it a year ago that doesn't make it this coming season. But if things go right, like we did in this past season, then we absolutely could, but sure, it's the easy answer to say, Oh, after a miracle season, there's no possible way that they make it again.

I'm just saying with a manageable schedule and a talented team and a head coach that does nothing but win anything is possible. So my answer is four from the big 10 and Indiana could be maybe somebody that upsets a couple of people along the way. We're not going to sneak up on anybody by any means, which is the difference that I've talked about this off season, but talent is still there. And so does Indiana make it? No, probably not. But I think we'll be in it towards the end. Mark, before you jump in, the interesting thing that popped in my head about this is we don't have a precedent for evaluating a conference from one year to the next on the

12-team playoff. Because you never got two teams in, except the SEC did it a couple times in the four-team playoff, but typically you had four different conferences represented. But now in the 12-team, there's no kind of drawback, which is what I go to a lot because I sit around thinking about college football way too often. There's no comparison of, hey, remember, this conference got this many teams in, and then the next year, they only got this many.

This is kind of that new, we're a stab, it's a new era of it, but it's gonna be a whole two years, it seems, before we expand the playoff. But Mark, if I were to say to you, you asked C to the playoff in 2025. Is that even a possibility in your mind? It's a possibility. I mean, if you're asking me directly, is it a possibility?

Yes. And this is really going to come down to, I mentioned the name Lincoln Riley. Is he ready to take his second year in this conference and stop trying to be, and stop trying to coach like he's still in the big 12? That was, I think, part of the challenge last year is him setting that ego aside

that the passing game always works whenever I want it to work, when it doesn't always work. And to me, what drove the point home was that loss at Minnesota, which again, the officiating suck, but that's beside the point, was when PJ Fleck said it out loud after the game, we knew USC could run the ball, but did they want to run the ball? And that's the stigma that Lincoln Riley has to deal with until he becomes,

I hate to say more balanced because when you look back at his history, he likes to run the ball. He doesn't run it when it's necessary to run the ball. When you have the lead in the fourth quarter, you're trying to work the clock down. When it's your friend, not forcing pass, that type of stuff. Oh, yes, they can make the playoffs this year. Again, I am all the playoffs this year.

Again, I am all in on the defense. In fact, I think the defense is gonna be even better than last year. Last year was pretty good. I know I'm comparing it to 2023. No, it was a good unit. It was a legitimately good unit. When you take away the pick sixes

that USC's quarterbacks were throwing last year, USC's defense gave up 21 points per game. That should be good enough to go undefeated with a Lincoln Riley offense. I don't know about maybe 11. That's a winning recipe though. I'll give him that. Thank you. That's all we ask for. Give Lincoln Riley a confident defense and watch him roll. He had a confident defense last year and you just kept going back and say all right well what's missing? It has to be depth and maybe tweaking things a little bit on the offense that gives your team, gives your defense a better chance to pull it out in the end of the game.

Seiko, you see the big 10 getting five teams in the playoff next year or three, which is more likely? I would say five. I would say five. And I bet I want to, wanted to throw, I bet UCLA would love to have that competent defense. Just, you know. Yeah. Probably would have been bad. The defense wasn't bad.

Probably would have been bad. It was fine. Whatever you do. USC's got something good going on. You guys should mimic that. Whatever that, whatever that was. You should look at hiring that defensive coordinator. See if he's available.

We should look at the argument that we have a good offensive coordinator. He just needs a competent defense. That'll be good. Oh, 2023 Chip Kelly. the 2014 right if we're going with the 12 team format It's just because you the the committee has shown that okay We got to give the SEC a portion and then the big 12 so unless the big 12 and the ACC collapse I think it's gonna be four four two and two So for the big ten just to get an extra team in there You would need a bunch of teams to at least go ten and two and I just don't think that's possible when they're all just Gonna be trading punches. So

10 and two. And I just don't think that's possible when they're all just going to be trading punches. So give me Penn State, Oregon and Ohio State is the safe choices. And then it's kind of anybody between Michigan, Indiana, Illinois taking and that's why I say I'm confident in saying Nebraska, Nebraska. I'm confident in saying because one of those teams will emerge. I don't I can't tell you right now which one but one of them will. So I can safely say four are going to get there, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and then any of those teams that I just named. Well, they'd have to be 10 and two though, because I think we saw last year, nine and three, you're only gonna get a look if you're in the SEC,

which is kind of crazy. Like I think from a narrative standpoint, the big 10 is behind the SEC in that regard, even though the on-field results say something different, but to the point we made earlier, you know, three SEC teams at nine and three are out there getting discussed as, well, can they get in the play? No one's talking about Illinois who's sitting there at nine and three with, you know, a loss at the number one team in the country at the time at Oregon and some good wins. Like, I don't know.

Indiana doesn't get in at nine and three. I mean right now Indiana. No, no way. There's no. I don't know that they get into ten and two ten and two. They would not have gotten in this year. Exactly. It would have been on the bubble. Exactly. They would have been. They would have been Miami and BYU'd. They would have just been left out despite that. It's literally propaganda that literally has to do with SEC and ESPN propaganda because ESPN's job is to make the SEC look as good as possible Fox Sports

I am NOT saying that they should do this but Fox MBC and CBS try to have this neutral because I've seen Joel clatt try to dunk on big 10 teams where you would Just never see that from the equivalent Paul Feinbaum. He's out there saying just never see that from the equivalent. Paul Feinbaum, he's out there saying, well, eight and four SEC teams should be in the playoff. Whereas Joel Klatt saying, Penn State's a pretender and should barely made this college football playoff and everything else.

So that's it. ESPN's going to bat for the conference that it has a contract with. Whereas Fox, CBS and NBC are trying to be neutral arbiters of college football. Like me, like me. Just like yourself. Yes.

That narrative is gonna go on steroids once they go to the 19 conference schedule. So I think that's something that- Oh gosh, he, oh, that's a great point. But here's my next point. I think this is something that the big conference can lead with and really lean into. Especially if we're gonna go eventually get to that

14 team playoff, which I think we're a couple years away from it. We're like one year away. Exactly, so strength of schedule is going to matter going forward. You're not gonna be able to schedule teams like HCU on your schedule. Because if you beat them, who freaking cares?

So once you go to that 14 team model, now you go to a 10 conference game schedule. And I believe one of the out of conference. No, I don't think they would go to 10. I think they would sit in 9. I hope, yeah. I think they should. And then you go that crossover.

One big 10 team plays an SEC team. That's one out of conference game. Strength of Schedule is going to play a role going forward. And I think that's why the SEC team all of a sudden now is willing to say, we'll play nine conference games. Yeah. It should matter.

I would love to have a centralized body to set schedules so that after each season, like the reigning big 10 champ plays the reigning SEC champ. Like Oregon against Georgia in a non-conference battle instead of Oregon, Oklahoma State. Who wants the foot, now Dan Lanning might want. What did you leave before, Spencer? Well, I mean, I'm just saying

from a television viewership standpoint, one of those things is better than the other, but nothing's better than a locked on Big Ten squad. Craig Schieman locked on Big Ten. Zach Anderson-Yaksimer locked on UCLA. Jacob Gowans locked on Hoosiers. Mark Kolkin locked on USC. Zach Saco locked on Nittany Lions.

I'm Spencer McLaughlin locked on whatever all over the place and such. That'll do it for us this week. We'll see you next time and hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.